Sunday, March 18, 2012

Embroidered to the Soul

The blog's been a little quiet because I've been so busy knitting, pattern writing, and stitching. I'm working in my studio every day, living the sentiment expressed in Rebecca's Love Sampler:

lovin' stitchin'
Love Sampler by Rebecca Ringquist, from Dropcloth

I've been embroidering lots of wrinkles, using perle cotton and linen. One piece, which I'm calling 30 Days, I'm working on every day, for 30 days, alternating black and white each day:

embroidered wrinkles

I like how the wrinkles, being random and abstract, take me out of myself and my own desires and plans. I follow them and see what happens. It is a free and easy way of making art, quite a change for me. I anticipate that 30 Days will hang unstretched, probably with raw, unfinished edges.

This next piece is finished. I don't have a title for it yet:

wrinkle embroidery in progress

Yesterday I stretched it over a canvas:

wrinkle embroidery

I've been reading the poems of Pam Rehm lately, since I came across one of her books while Christmas shopping at Amherst Books. Stitching metaphors appear in them here and there, so maybe I was meant to discover her work just now:

"I can imagine the body embroidered to the soul" (from "Another Dimension" in The Larger Nature)

"I love to hold onto something / Sew it to myself" (from "Indebted" in Small Works)

On the knitting front, I'm inching along on the silvery grey socks. Given how overextended I am, I decided to simplify them after the upper leg, so that it won't be months before I can wear them.

sock in progress
Pattern: Kelmscott by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn: Fiberphile 2-ply Squooshy Sock in Mithril
Needles: US 0/2.00mm

I liked that Mithril color so much, I chose it for my next pattern (an open-front cardigan knit in Fiberphile's DK weight). Here's a sneak peek—fingers crossed it will be available in April:

new Blue Peninsula design

I'm also working on a second Shallows, as well as knitting up a spring sweater, a top-down pullover by Pam Allen:

Petra Yoke
Pattern: Petra, by Pam Allen
Yarn: Quince and Co. Lark in Bark
Needle: US5

After getting past the stitch pattern on the yoke, I knit it onto two needles so I could try it on. Looks fine—I expect the neck will widen into more of a boatneck once the sleeves and body are knit. Now it's full speed ahead in stockinette, round and round, making this a perfect travel project—just right for heading down to sunny Florida.

Busy, busy, busy. I'm looking forward to a little break. (See you soon, Mom!)

10 comments:

Rebecca said...

Those wrinkle pieces are absolutely beautiful......

Erin Kate said...

I'm in LOVE with everything in this post. So pretty/gorgeous/inspiring.

KnitNana said...

Oh my, now I'm wishing to do a bit of embroidery. But no, I've too much going on right now - too many things to sew, to knit.

But what a beautiful work you've finished and stretched! And the black and white looks great, cannot wait to see where the rambling ends up.

The sweater is sooo pretty. Must go look at Petra.

Have a wonderful break! (and safe travels)
(((hugs)))

Betsey said...

Wrinkles are beautiful! And the knitting, can't wait to see the sweater and Petra looks so fine.

Shelda said...

Oh, I love, love, LOVE the wrinkles and the black and white of it all. What a wonderful piece! I look forward to seeing it emerge.

I owe you a note, and have a card picked out. I was deeply delighted, btw.

And Petra is gorgeous. Gotta check that pattern out.

adrienne *+*(^_^) +*+ said...

your embroidery pieces are just awesome!!

owlmazingmakes said...

Your embroidery is amazing. I especially love the wrinkles and the one you stretched on the canvas. That is just purely beautiful.

Tierney Barden said...

Your progress on your wrinkles embroidery is just like everything else you make, exceptional and a real reflection of you. Bonnie, I love seeing your work and appreciate that you take the time to share it all with us.
Oh, your socks are stunning!

KPiep said...

You have some beautiful things going on at your house!

Fabjan said...

J'adore les tableaux brodés, surtout celui avec du rouge