How Gloucester Got Into My Knitting
I seem to be talking more about knitting than writing right now but that is all the fault of the needlework group on Saturday. Obsession is a beautiful thing.
Shortly after I moved to Gloucester I wanted to knit something that would express my love of my new home. I considered a fisherman sweater but that seemed too hopelessly predictable so I designed a “picture” sweater weaving into it all the things about maritime history that I found fascinating - most especially figureheads.
When I lived in Salem I spent a lot of time in the figurehead hall of the Peabody-Essex Museum making drawings of the many excellent examples there. I still have my book of figurehead drawings and it contains drawings made from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Nantucket. But the figurehead I designed for my sweater was my own invention.
It took a long time to draft the drawing and get it right. I added the two stone tower lighthouses on Thacher Island and lots of seagulls (perfect for Gloucester) and waves. After much deliberation I settled on Brunswick’s BallyBrae yarn and the sweater turned out beautifully though considerably larger than I needed it to be. I even kept the nautical theme going by knitting a whale’s tale onto the back of the sweater.
The truth is, it hasn’t worn well. Maybe I didn’t knit it well. It is still warm but I seem to do a lot of repair work on it. I still have the charts in my binder of ideas and maybe someday I’ll knit it again on smaller needles in a tighter gage.
There was quite a bit of yarn left over and I was watching an Elizabeth Zimmerman video in which EZ talked about a little man she once knit and how she did it. So, since I now lived in Gloucester, I decided to knit myself a fisherman using her technique. I started at his feet and worked my way up to the tassel on his cap. He sits on my desk overlooking my computer and keeps an eye on me while I blog.
Thanks for reading.
posted by Kathleen Valentine at 6:59 AM
6 Comment:
I love your fisherman. Do you have instructions available for that? You should think about it.
What a great sweater. that doll is too cute. Suz is right you should publish the instructions.
Love the sweater. Where is that photo with the lighthouse? Is that you?
Tina
Kathleen - I just stopped in after seeing your comment over at my blog and wanted to say I'm looking forward to reading all of what you've written. This is lovely.
Your stuff reminds me of the best of New England, the part I truly miss.
I don't know if I could write instructions for much of anything. I can tell how I made it but as for writing instructions --- I'm not sure.
The lighthouse is Cape Ann Light off Rockport. It was taken from Flat Rock on Eden Road.
Thank you, Franklin. Your blog is wonderful. Thanks for coming by!!!
hi there
i'm a former cape ann resident (rockport 30 years, gloucester 1 year) and obsessive weaver and knitter...isn't it great? i live in florida now on lovely anna maria island off bradenton which is on the west coast. heard about you thru my friend leslie wind the jewler. currently getting ready for a show 3-12 and obsessing about haveing enough stock. ah the life of a weaver, the many threads and tangles!
recently attende a knit-in here in florida with other knitters and it was really fun. lots of trading of ideas and encouragement!
cyndy
Post a Comment
<< Home