issue 24, down the rabbit hole

and a few questions for you

hey everybody,

Recently, I fell down a creative rabbit hole. It started after watching a documentary/movie about The Avett Brothers called May It Last. Part of the documentary features the band in a recording session that took place in music producer Rick Rubin’s Malibu recording studio. Rubin is also the author of the inspirational book, The Creative Act: A Way Of Being, which I already know that I love. And part of “Will You Return,” an Avett Brothers song, was used as the theme song for Vivian Howard’s TV show A Chef's Life (listen for that part at the 1’33” mark in the linked video). So, I’ve been listening to The Avett Brothers’ music in my fiber studio, re-reading parts of Vivian Howard’s cookbook Deep Run Roots, re-reading parts of Rubin’s book, and thinking of all sorts of new ideas and projects to get myself into. Things like starting a new freeform project, taking an online freestyle rug hooking course from Deanne Fitzpatrick, learning about drawing from the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards, assembling yarns for future projects, sketching up more design ideas that combine freeform crochet with other fiber arts, and developing a new class to teach using some of my 100 Day Project spirals. After clearing the decks somewhat and finishing a number of WIPs in the past few months, I’m not too surprised to be kind of all over the place now.

a new freeform project

My most recent freeform projects have been slightly fussy. Since measurements were a factor in these pieces, the freeform sections needed to be a particular size and shape for the pieces to be successful.

I spent lots of time making the freeform fit against a straight edge or into a corner. There’s nothing wrong with this, and I really do like the end result, it’s just that it can get tedious. Sometimes it just feels good to let things flow a little more organically.

Take the River Run Shawl, for instance. Knitting it last month reminded me how fun and freeing it is to work on a piece that has a prescribed shape, generally, but is knitted in such a way that it grows into something that you can’t completely predict. The micromanager and free spirit aspects of my personality are both satisfied with this sort of project.

Controlled chaos in the River Run Shawl

So, for my newest freeform project, I’m taking inspiration from its designer, Christie Furber, and a few other designers who also specialize in manipulating knitted short rows like Jane Thornley, Kim McBrien Evans, and Karen of KDgeckoknits. Short row knitting plus freeform crochet for a new wrap, why not?

I’m combining some elements of my Favorite wrap pattern and this leaf swatch to make a top edging for this new wrap. The short row knitting and the freeform crochet sections will all flow outward from this edging. Here are a few photos of what's happening in these early days:

Next steps will include fleshing out the freeform crochet wedges, then knitting some wedges using German short rows. I hope to have interesting progress to show in the next newsletter.

other projects on the go

Meanwhile, I’m using a few more spirals from my 2023 100 Day Project to develop a class on wonky, organic spirals.

Then there's the rug hooking project that continues to bump along. Thanks to the online class I’m watching, I’m loosening up a bit with it, which is good for my arm and shoulder muscles and good for the flow of the project in general. I may rip out some of the more tightly worked sections and let the whole thing relax.

I’m also experimenting with a Freeform Favorite shawl, a variation that has freeform wedges throughout instead of a freeform border along one edge. That one is too new to even get a decent photo. We’ll see if it survives until the next newsletter.

freeform classes?

I’ve had some eye issues going on since January, but since things are just about worked out, it's time to start teaching online freeform classes again. Before setting up a schedule, I have some questions to ask about class content and timing. If you’d like to, please feel free to share your answers in the comments. Thanks for your input!

1. What freeform topics would you like to see addressed in a class?

2. Do you prefer classes that are based on a project or classes that focus on a particular technique?

3. Are you more interested in weekday or weekend classes? Daytime or evenings? I’m in the Eastern Time Zone, living in Wake Forest, North Carolina, in the US. If you would be watching classes from another time zone, be sure to let me know your city and country so I can make the conversion.

4. Anything you’d like to add or ask about potential online classes that I didn’t already ask about?

Thanks again for your comments here, they will be much appreciated.

a couple of things you might like

Aafke Bennema’s exciting textile pieces use color texture and a variety of techniques.

Need a technique for a sturdy bag handle? This video shows a very elegant flat cord demonstration.

That’s it for today, thanks for reading!

Lisa