Hello!!

From a very snow blown island.  The west facing side of our house is freezing cold and of course that’s where I find myself.  My small little work room is probably the coldest room in our house, with huge gaps between the old wooden floor boards and a large window facing the westerly winds.   Over the past couple of years, we’ve managed to fill all the pesky holes around the window that let the wind in (I remember coming into the room and there being snow or rain gathered in the corner of the sills!).

I enjoy writing here because of the light.  The light and the swaying trees that dance outside.  When the snow comes down, I enjoy it even more.  And although it may look dark in the above photo, it is much lighter than the basement where we have been hibernating in all winter.  Going into the latter part of January, I’m grasping at whatever light we have.  Dreaming of running in the forest and planting seeds.  So soon, I can not wait!

But for now, we must embrace the weather.  I live in eastern Canada, surrounded by the temperamental sea.  Our weather can change in 5 minutes.  We experience blizzards and hurricanes.  20 Below in the winter to 40 with humidity, accompanied with lightning and booming thunder in the summer.  Weather plays such an integral role in our lives.  I think this is part of the reason why knitting speaks so strongly to me.  I’m someone who is constantly looking for connection to something other.  The earth, Fae, our ancestors.  I seek constantly for meaning in connection.  Knitting cements your connection to the earth not only because of the natural fibre but also because of the crucial element of safeguarding yourself against weather.  Creating garments to protect yourself and loved ones from the wind and snow.  To protect but also to encourage you to go out and join her (and to feel wonderful doing so)!

And so!  I have wanted to create some very simple knitting patterns that are essentially staples.  This one in particular is called the Canadiana Tuque simply because it’s a classic tuque that every kid  growing up in this country wears (I say that… but when I was growing up, literally every kid had one of those hats that had an extremely long tail and dragon scales ..?.. or something so you looked like you had an alligator tail on your head… I wasn’t cool enough for one but this is a strong memory of mine :D).  Tuques are simply knit caps decked out with a pom-pom .  Named after the French and Métis fur trader’s caps, the name has carried out in our lexicon to simply mean a knit hat.  It’s one of our unique Canadian terms that yes, we are proud of 😀

My very special human asked me to make him a hat for Christmas this year.  He has a very large head (I think because he’s SO smart but he seems to think otherwise) which has made his life finding store bought hats (or helmets) difficult! While I was visiting in Nova Scotia, I leafed through old 50s patterns for hats looking for something simple.  I think the challenge and increasing competition for knit designers forces them to constantly be thinking up new and exciting things, thus leaving simple.   The result is amazing, intricate and really inspiring human ingenuity.  Simultaneously, I think so many makers are looking for just that, simple.  I know that I am always on the hunt for classic essentials and I’m so often hitting walls when on this search.  And so, I created a really simple pattern, inspired by vintage knit hats to accommodate Jamie’s noggin.   And it worked, he opened it on Christmas morning ( a total surprise as I lead him to believe I had absolutely NO time to knit a hat for him, how cruel!) and it has been fitting him since 😀  I liked it so much that I knit 2 more and have put the pattern up on the shop if anyone else would like to make one as well.

The wool in question is our local Belfast Mini Mills Merino 3 ply superwash.  I LOVE this wool.  It’s so soft, it’s affordable, locally made and dyed.  I hesitated making a pattern for publish with this wool simply because they also don’t have a regular online shop.  If you would like to purchase this wool (which if you can’t find a local equivalent, I strongly suggest you do because it’s awesome and I want everyone to know just how awesome!!) you must contact the shop directly – they will in turn send you a photograph of what they have in stock and you can choose and payment can be arranged etc.  I personally, really like this idea but I know that those who are so use to the convenience of seeing “mulberry wine in stock” adding to cart and waiting for that parcel may find it a little daunting.  Trust me, it’s beautiful wool, the people are super friendly and the colours change regularly, making it an exciting venture!

OH but there is so much more to share!!  Yes, of course, a hat and Jamie having an officially warm head – but that is all hum drum compared to what else is new in our lives!  Meaghan, My sister and life long friend / knitting companion gave birth to a healthy baby boy on January 7th, 2020!!!  His name is Leigh and he’s beautiful, wonderful tiny little being.  Little but bursting with all the good things in life.   I’m so grateful and thankful that they are all healthy and that I could meet him in his first week.  My sister Meaghan has no inkling of social media (neither does my brother.. or actually much of my family) so you will not find her there but I can assure you that I have not seen such blissful happiness elsewhere than in parents at the beginning of a flame of life (tired, yes, tired but happy).  It makes me happy to just think of them.

A baby and a new passionate endeavor!  I have a WORKING (for the first time in my life) sewing machine – and I can’t even articulate the way fabric and sewing has been making me feel.  It’s cathartic and I’ll share with you my tiny and humble projects soon ❤ The whole process of finding fabric, the sound of scissors cutting fabric and sewing is liberating and an exciting way to express creativity.  I may start making bunting and putting it in the shop, because fabric is expensive and I may need a way to fund this hobby!  More on this soon<3

Thanks so much for reading about my random life and makings ❤  Here is a new little banner for you that I drew as well ❤  Just a tangled fox in the bramble going to make her way down to her den.