From the heart

Why the handmade matters

The Afflouncement Shawl

Every Friday I send out a newsletter for paid members of my Everyday Knitter community. Once a month - or when I feel I’d like to share with more people - I do a free one for everyone to read.

From the heart

Following on from the conversation about the role of AI in the creative process I have been musing on why handmade items matter so much to us. And crucially why I would love to see people sharing more images of their handmade crafts.

I often hear people say they are nervous to post their work online. Fear of criticism or from some sense of perfectionism. But really we just love to see handknit stuff on our timelines. And the more of it the merrier.

Can we really have such a thing as too much colourful yarn on our social media feeds?

If there is a tiny error or two, the chances are that no-one will spot it. Even if, to you it’s like a fluorescent pink highlighter stain on a white shirt.

It's only knitting and it's one of the few times in your life when there are no bad consequences to a mistake.

-Stephanie Pearl McPhee

And even if some eagle-eyed person does spot it - what of it? Much like a ceramicists unintended fingerprint on the bottom of a mug - it proves that a human made it. That actual human hands were involved in it’s creation.

If we wanted shiny, polished perfection we would just go for something mass produced. Popped off a production line by a series of robots and machines.

But instead we want warmth, we want connection. And yes, we want to see your mistakes.

Please use this link and the code HANDMADE26 if you’d like to share the joy of making something new with your hands this weekend. The code also works on Ravelry if you prefer to buy there.

What’s making me smile this week

🌿Foot exercises - not my usual content, I grant you. But now I’m in my 50s I have developed a baby bunion after years in my teens and 20s wearing terrible shoes. Keen not to have it progress further, I came across the fabulous GaitHappens account on Instagram and they have a fab set of exercises to strength your feet and get your poor toes moving again - highly recommended.

🌿 And - at the other end of the body - these hand exercises are well worth a bookmark. Since we are talking about stretches and strength.

🌿Slightly late but I loved this alternative look at the Chinese New Year - the Year of the Fire Horse but as applied to textiles and clothing.

🌿I saw a video of this little gizmo the other day and was utterly gobsmacked. It’s a little i-cord tool, it might have a fancy name, I’m not sure. But either way it’s going on my wish list before I need to do my next i-cord bind off.

🌿Colourwork heaven - I have seen photos of the Dragonfly Sweater Dragon (Ravelry link) by Elenor Mortenson from testers and it looks incredible. Complicated but incredible. The pattern is now on full release and was straight into my queue. Although when I will actually be ready to knit it is anyone’s guess.

Paid members: Don’t forget to check the member resources tab at the top of my Substack homepage. There is an A-Z there of free patterns and resources available to you as part of your membership.