Freedom from ribbing is a knitter's true freedom.

Draped Knitting

 

I knitted this pullover for my third granddaughter, Aubrey Rose, taking only her body measurements and knowing my tension on my favorite needles (9 sts = 1 in). As my work progressed, I draped the knitting on her body, deciding where to switch yarns and where to locate the sleeves. My mental stimuli for this project were springtime flowers in antique, Chinese vases--blue-and-white porcelain, celadon, ching pai, and polychrome.

Draped knitting is equivalent to a dressmaker's pinning and cutting fabric on a mannequin, as opposed to using flat patterns (in this case, as opposed to following a printed pattern).

Do try it. It liberates you from many traditional restrictions.

Alchemy is present in needlework and knitting--or at least in the materials that both require--in a fairy tale titled "Rumpelstiltskin" by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. In this story, the protagonist, aided by a goblin, impresses royalty by being able to spin gold out of straw.

Like medieval alchemy, which dwelt on the conversion of lead into gold, and which socio-anthropologist Carl Jung perceived as a metaphor for the purification of the soul, we, too, can convert our yarn into gold--by knitting works that are works are of art and that can transcend the functional and the utilitarian.

Clotho knits the days and the nights. At sunrise she uses rose-colored yarn, then switches to azures and yellows as the day progresses, then to oranges at sunset, then to deep blues and violets at night.

These are also the hues one needs to paint a portrait.

Knitting rows while contemplating something is equivalent to walking a labyrinth.

The mind, after all, is capable of operating on several levels. That is why you can knit while watching television, deciding what to cook for dinner, and planning an agenda for a forthcoming meeting, all at the same time.

Knitted Gauntlet for My Children's Play "Ignatius of Loyola"

This pair of gauntlets was made of metallic silver trimming and black yarn. It was worn by the character Inigo in my two-act, children's play.

Switching from one type of yarn to another on a work is like lighting a variety of colorful fireworks in sequence.

Anatomy and Knitting

When knitting, ensure that:

1. Your spine is erect, and that you do not gradually slouch or slump in the course of your knitting.

2. Your legs and feet are completely relaxed.

Re-Stranding My Antique Beads

I collected bowls of antique beads over the years. I re-strand them into necklaces whenever I have time. It has a therapeutic effect on me.

The antique dealers I deal with are close friends and, as far as I know, trustworthy. In the Philippines, documentation of provenance is not a priority. It is alleged that these beads date back to the Galleon Trade in the Philippines and that they are mainly from North and South America.

At any rate I myself can't be bothered with documentation. If I like something, I buy it, and the basis for liking is usually a combination of how something looks, whether I think it is beautiful or not, whether I am willing to grow old with it, how it makes me feel, and its capacity to bring me joy. It's the very same basis behind my purchasing yarn!

Red and Orange Carnelians:

Cobalt Blues:

Chevrons:

Ifugao pang-ao (antique glass beads lined with gold foil, from North America):

Amber glass:

Two-Faces:

Assorted Kendi Beads:

While she knits, she reviews her successes and her failures.

Every piece you knit should be as delicious as rich pastry.

A knitter has favorite needles as a warrior has a favorite sword.

My Sister Sylvia's Needlework and Art Construction

My sister Sylvia has been doing needlework and art construction for years. She lives in Sydney, Australia. These photos are from a Christmas project she made for her office.