History is in our hands.
Let’s celebrate how we got here.
Inside: celebrating crafting & our handmade history, textile explorations, a new fantasy read, thoughtful recs + intriguing art.
As inspired by a recent visit to a textile exhibition, (more about that in the Yarn All Over segment), I’ve been reflecting on the story behind the stitches we craft and the people in our lives who’ve been makers before us.
It’s so wonderful to think how we're all part of this long, crafty lineage. I was taught to knit by my Mama who’s my mother’s mother and also my Mum.
So in light of that, I thought about some ways you could learn and discover your own crafting history:
So one idea is try some Retro Stitches: I've been knitting for ages, and I still find stitches that are new to me. Take a break from your favorite techniques and try something from a vintage stitch or pattern book. You never know, it might inspire a new project!
And start taking notes: Often having a crafting journal to track your projects, setbacks and triumphs is a great way to look back on how far you’ve come and help you remember everything you’ve made. It could even be like a time capsule, and who knows? Maybe future generations of your family will look back on it someday.
Pass It On: Have you got someone in your life who's keen to learn how to knit? Make the time to show them how it’s done! They’ll be learning a new skill and it could foster in them a love of making. Then you’ll have something to bond over and watch the person you’re teaching progress, which I think is really rewarding. I know I found that when I helped my youngest to learn how to knit, and the progression they made was super fast. So I imagine if they continue knitting they will be an amazing knitter.
Another idea is Spread The Word: This is about making others aware of your favorite maker or pattern designer. It’s really great if you can share that via your social media accounts, tell your friends in the groups that you attend. The thing about that is there are many wonderful fiber artists working to develop new techniques and keep the old ways alive, like the amazing work done by indigenous women I’ll tell you all about in the next segment…
And another question for you: what’s something interesting you’ve learned or like to learn about fiber arts? I’d love to hear your story.
A trip down memory lane…
In the yarn all over segment I mentioned before, a few months ago while looking for things to do on his day off in Chiang Mai, my son found a privately-owned Arts & Crafts Cultural Center called Kalm Village which is in the Old City.
They have a mini gallery with rotating exhibitions focused on local handicrafters, artisans, and makers. The exhibition at the time was on textiles made by the Chin indigenous people, so I definitely had to go and have a look!
A little bit about the Chin people, they originally come from what’s now known as western Myanmar, northeast India and east Bangladesh, but they live all over South-East Asia, including in Thailand.
This gallery that I attended is called the “Museum Of Makers”, and it’s abbreviation is “MOM”, and amazingly it’s really fitting, because one of the many meanings of the word “mom” in Thai and other Asian cultures is “creator.”
The handiwork and dedication of these textiles displayed was incredible!
In the pop-up store at the back of the complex which complemented the exhibition, you could purchase textiles and handicrafts made by the local Chin women, created to provide them with a space to earn a living and keep their traditions alive.
The shop also had a mini documentary which showed the process of a family who made these textiles. It’s all done by hand and the delicate weaving is really quite extraordinary! The skill involved is awe-inspiring!
What I’ve loved this week: reads, listens, visuals and gratitudes…
I’ve finished listening to the audiobook of A Song Of Comfortable Chairs by Alexander McCall Smith and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s such a fantastic mystery series.
Now I’ve borrowed from the library, Book 1 of a series that was recommended by Kelsey over at Working On here on Substack. The title of the book is The Dark is Rising and the author is Susan Cooper.
Kelsey said “Mixing high fantasy with King Arthur vibes and some good old-fashioned mystery-type adventures, they are fun, instantly engaging, and really magical to read.”
So I thought, right, that’s a wonderful recommendation. I’m going to search for that and sure enough I was able to place it on hold. And I’ve only just begun so stay tuned for my thoughts about that next week.
And
talked about what small nourishing habits you do, the tiny things that give you the most joy. And mine is probably making my coffee each morning. What are yours? Have a look at the comments too, it’s such a lovely discussion.
Sabrina from
here on Substack has launched a new weekly series of seven thoughtful recommendations for each of the senses, which I thought was very clever.While future issues will only be for her paid subscribers, this week it’s free for everyone to read. I loved her mini guided meditation.
She also publishes curated recommendations around a specific theme each month. And I highly recommend subscribing!
I mentioned painted murals last week and I thought I’d share another that caught my eye at the park I go to on my daily walks. I love the blue color scheme and the interesting composition.
I’m not sure if I’ve talked about it before but Chiang Mai has a neighborhood called the Old City, which is within the boundaries of the ruins of the walls of the city. There’s a moat the whole way round.
The corner closest to where I live is lovely, as it’s been restored and has so many flowers growing alongside it! There are beautiful old flowering trees lining the moat too. They change throughout the seasons. There’s oranges and reds, and soft pinks and purples. They’re truly magnificent!
I'm thankful for the crafty folks who were doing this long before us. Because they stuck with it and kept their skills alive, we've got this incredible mix of techniques to play with and discover new ways of creating.
A thought for you to ponder this coming week…
I thought I’d share this wonderful quote with you by Vincent Van Gogh: “Great things are done by a series of small things put together.”
So, may you pick up your craft this week and take a moment to think about the lineage of makers before you. You're part of a long, beautiful history, and that’s something to cherish.
How’s your crafting journey going? Leave a comment or press reply!
(Disclosure: Any purchases made through links may earn me a commission.)
Before you go…
“what’s something interesting you’ve learned or like to learn about fiber arts?”
I recently purchased the “Knitter’s Book of Yarn,” because I know very little about fiber. I tend to buy yarn that’s recommended by patterns but want to know more about how yarn behaves so that I can have greater flexibility.
Susan Cooper’s The Boggart — for when you want to laugh, feel lighter…