Connecting with indigo

There is something about the colors that come out of an indigo vat. 

What starts out a green that is sometimes shockingly bright then transitions as the dye oxidizes to blues.  Depending on the fiber, the vat strength, the length of time (and probably the air temperature), the blues vary from a murky, muddy puddle sort of faded blue jeans shade, to rich, dark, strong blues--not quite navy.  No, in my opinion, the darker shades are never really navy.  They are always, always indigo.  Dark indigo, sure, but indigo.  Indigo at its core.

Indigo dyeing has been around so long and used by so many in so many different places (Egypt, Israel, Africa, Palestine, Chile, Peru, China, Japan, Mali, India, Europe, and America) that it is impossible for me to pull a hank of yarn out of a dye vat and not feel connected.

Indigo dyeing connects me to the past as well as to the present and future, both here and in other parts of the world. I think about people living lives that bear little resemblance to my own, but who also dye with indigo thousands of miles from my backyard. As I stand here in my yard, where once thrived a Colonial indigo plantation, I also think about the people who grew and processed the indigo crop in the 1700's for the family who owned the land. What would they have thought about me putting my thoughts about indigo on a blog, on a website, on the internet, that would then get read by people all over the world, on their phones? Crazy, when you think about it.

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Last week I fired up the indigo vats for the first dyeing of 2015, accompanied by other seekers of indigo blue. We are all from different parts of the world, in different seasons of life, with different daily lives, different motivations, different past experiences, and different expectations for our indigo journeys.

Indigo was the common point of connection for us that morning. We shared the vats as well as the excitement and awe of the colors that came out of the vats. We shared the appreciation for the story of Eliza Lucas Pinckney and her successful indigo production here in the Charleston area. We shared the desire to try just one more technique in the vats, creating fabrics that glowed with the fire of natural indigo. 

Like knitting, indigo can bring people together across cultures and eras and connect them in ways that bring beauty to a world that can always use just a little more beauty. 

If you or someone you know would benefit from adding the beauty of indigo to life, be sure to check out my Indigo page.

Of knit nights and afghan blocks

I am so honored to get to hang out with knitters. We had our monthly Knit Night this week and it was such fun. I learned a little, I knit a little and I had a delicious burger at the Green Goat, and thanks to the generosity of knitters, I picked up 25 afghan blocks for our Charity Knit-a-Long!

The Green Goat was delicious and very accommodating of our group of knitters. And our knitting.

Want to unravel something and knit something new? Why waste time on making a new ball when you can just knit from the old piece!

My burger was not this pretty, but it sure was delicious!

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Being handed twenty-five afghan blocks in one night was so exciting. One blanket needs 49 blocks, so that's more than half of one blanket. I'm thrilled that we are making this Charity Knit-a-Long a reality. I can't wait till we start sewing them up (did I say we would do that in December? Can't remember).

If you're not in a knitting group, I highly recommend you find one (or form one). If you're not knitting for charity, I highly recommend that, too. Few things are more satisfying to me than to put my time and talents to use to help someone else. Judging from the number of knitters who are participating in this project, I'm not the only who feels that way!

Thank you to all who came out this week and to all who have been knitting blocks. Remember to get as many blocks turned in as possible by April 30 to have more chances at the drawing for our awesome prize pack. We will continue to knit for the rest of 2015, and I have some other giveaway ideas for the future, too!

It's a journey...don't give up too soon

"The goal is necessary, just as is the process toward the goal."

 Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

One of things that makes me happiest is teaching knitting.  Sometimes I think I like that even more than knitting!  When I first starting teaching, my goal was to create more knitters so I wouldn't be alone in this obsession that had gripped me.  Now, my goal is to create more knitters so we can take over the world.  It's important to keep raising the bar, right?

In my frequent contemplations of How Knitting is Like Life, I have noticed these parallels:

1.  It's a journey.
2.  Mistakes are not failure.
3.  Mistakes have lessons to teach us if we will listen.
4.  It's a daily thing.
5.  Some people will just never understand.
6.  Lots of people WILL understand, and they will also gladly join forces with you to take over the world.
7.  There's always something new to learn.
8.  Never give up. 

I say this to students and fellow knitters, as well as to myself, A LOT:

"Don't feel bad about starting over again because it's all part of the learning process."  

The reason I stress this so often is that, when I was a new knitter, I felt like such a tragic failure when I made a mistake and had to start over. All that time wasted!! Now I know better, and I want to make sure those whom I teach don't get too frustrated when mistakes happen or when they can't figure out a pattern or when their knitting mojo gets dimmed by using too much lower quality yarn (splitting, the struggle is real...).

In the meantime, if your knitting hits a snag and you're grumbling under your breath about starting over, AGAIN, take heart.  Yes, that finished project, that goal, is important and someone might even be waiting impatiently for you to finish it, but the things you are learning as you find and correct your mistakes will make you a better knitter and a better person.  Never give up.

Need some tips on how to find and fix mistakes in your knitting? I have a class coming up Saturday, May 16: Intro to Fixing Mistakes.

Free Pattern Friday: The Aunt Dahlia

I am a huge fan of humorous author P.G. Wodehouse. I first came across his works in connection to his "Jeeves and Wooster" stories, then discovered that this prolific man had written over 90 books, the lyrics for over 250 songs and 15 plays. He created dozens of memorable characters, among them Aunt Dahlia, Bertie Wooster's favorite aunt: fond of gambling, fox hunting and keeping her husband Tom happy (especially when asking him for money to subsidize her women's newspaper Milady's Boudoir). I see her as a mixture of tough practicality and sweetness--beneath her brash exterior she actually likes her nephew, especially since he brings along his very clever manservant Jeeves when visiting her home, Brinkley Court. She's pretty clever herself, as she knows Jeeves can get her out of whatever predicament she finds herself in.

Just like Aunt Dahlia, this pattern is practical and hard-working, with a touch of polish.

Available right here, right now, or download from my Ravelry store: The Aunt Dahlia

MATERIALS

Yarn: Worsted weight, about 150 yards Needles: US size 6
Cable needle
Button

Yarn needle for weaving in ends and sewing seams

GAUGE

Approx. 5 sts = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

FINISHED SIZE

This fits my iPad mini in its case, which measures 8” x 5 3/4”.

NOTES

C6F = slip 3 stitches from left needle to cable needle; hold in front of work. Knit next 3 stitches off left hand needle. Knit the 3 stitches off cable needle, or transfer stitches back to left hand needle and knit off left hand needle.
P = purl

K = knit
k2tog = knit 2 together
Backward loop or thumb cast on: Wrap the working yarn around your thumb from front to back and pick up the loop you just made on your thumb by picking it up (from underneath) with your right-hand needle. Online tutorial at craftsy.com by the awesome Ashley: http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/05/thumb-method-cast-on-knitting-tutorial/

MAKE IT!

Cast on 30 stitches
Knit one row then begin pattern as follows: Row 1 (wrong side): p10, k2, p6, k2, p10 Rows 2 & 4: k10, p2, k6, p2, k10
Rows 3 & 5: as row 1
Row 6: k10, p2, C6F, p2, k10

Repeat this 6 row pattern for 17” or twice the length of your device, ending having just knit Row 5.

Make garter stitch flap with button hole:
Knit every row across to last 2 sts, then k2tog.
Work decreases until 17 sts remain.
Work buttonhole:
Row 1: k7, bind off 2, k across to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Row 2: k7, cast on 2 using backward loop or “thumb” cast on, k across to last 2 sts, k2tog. Work decreases as before, until 4 stitches remain, then bind off.
Weave in ends. Attach button on front of case to line up with buttonhole.
Sew seams. Enjoy!

(Read more about Dahlia Travers in the works of P.G.Wodehouse, including Right Ho, Jeeves.)