My "textile life"

May and June are very busy months for professors. Writing articles, books, supervising the writing of our student's thesis, going to conferences, etc. If I've done a lot of knitting-by-night, I didn't have a single minute to dedicate to this blog...

July is almost finished and soon I will leave for the magnificent Prince Edward Island for a 10 days vacation. (photo: www.gov.pe.ca)

It reminds me of the rejuvenation of my knitting passion. Last year, at the same period, I was in Cavendish. On a rainy day, as it wasn't possible to go to the beach, I decided to take the car and go for a ride around the hometown of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables. I finally "landed" in a little village - North Rustico - were I discovered a cute boutique selling yarn: North Shore Island TraditionsPast & Present Rug Shop.

As soon as I touched one of the skeins that were displayed on the walls, I almost fell on my knees... It was a Fleece Artist Goldielocks skein (56% kid, 24% Silk, 20% Nylon; 4mm; 20st/4"; 500m/125g). Soft, masterly dyed in colors looking like a sunset fire. I was subjugated. I bought the skein, some 6mm needles and started to knit that "incredible" yarn (I had stopped knitting in the 80's, when acrylic was "canon"; so, imagine my surprise and my delight to find Fleece Artist).

Since July 2006, multiple projects had been on my needles: hats, shawls, sweaters, mittens, etc. It was a revelation to take up knitting again. I had have, before university, a textile life - even been a professionnal weaver for two years in my 20's - but all that had been put aside when I became a professor in 1998. Too much work, no time to do anything else. Last year, I decided that one of the most important part of my "past life" had to reborn. And that was it! Since, I'm delighted each night I grab my needles to knit a few (well... many) stitches.

Work is important, for sure, but pleasure is essential!

Johanne, a.k.a. Litandlace

(Apologies for my bad bad bad english)