First of all, thank you so much for all your lovely birthday wishes – they really made my day!
At our wedding ceremony the vicar, knowing how much we loved hiking and hill-walking, spoke beautifully about cairns, the piles of stones that act as landmarks or were used to guide travellers on their paths. He used them as a metaphor for events, such as a wedding, that mark moments in our lives. The image has stayed with us over the years, as we have taken various twists and turns on our journey together. This week we have arrived at a cairn that marks the start of new phases in both our lives.
On Sunday I started my yoga foundation course, which is the first step towards training as a yoga teacher. I should be fully trained and have just started teaching by the time Alex leaves home to go to university. (That moment will be the beginning of a whole other phase!)
And Steve has gone back to work this week after a three month sabbatical. He flew off to Chicago yesterday, the first of many trips there and elsewhere around the world. I’m excited for him about his new job, as I think it will be one that he’ll love and on which he will thrive. But I am feeling quite sad at the change from having him here every day, to him being away for perhaps half his time.
These thoughts of old phases and new, of cairns and turning points, reminded me that I have not yet shared any of my vintage knitting collection here. I love collecting, both the tools and the products of the handiwork of previous generations of women. I find that these relics in themselves act as markers, as comforting reminders, of how our craft has been passed down from one generation to another.
These are my grandmother’s knitting needles. They are not at all good to knit with, as they are sticky, bendy and all round unpleasant. But I adore seeing them in a jug on my shelves as they transport me back to my grandmother’s house, to her teaching me to knit tiny scarves for my teddy bears while she made amazing outfits for my Tiny Tears and other dolls.
The tin is a metal sewing box. It’s too rusty to use, but again, I love it. It has compartments inside for such essential items as glove buttons, pearl buttons, studs, darning needles and linen buttons, all of which sound like relics from another world.
And how about this illustration? I think it would have both obsessed and scared me when I was a child!
oh Anna they are beautiful!
I understand your feelings about Steves absence, O has been travelling tons last year and this year will be much the same. As much as I am really happy for him- I also miss him.
xoxoxo
I love that tin, how wonderful, it must be lovely to have a connection like that with your grandmother, sharing her craft
The needles and memories they evoke are so lovely!
I hope the time your Steve is gone goes quickly, and the time he’s there home with you lovingly slow.
I love your vintage collection, it looks great.
I’m sure you will miss Steve a heap, especially after having him home for so long. But hey, I’m sure there are great yarn stores in Chicago that he can visit…
Good on you re the yoga – I really admire that you are taking active steps to make positive change in your life – sometimes I feel a bit stuck where I am and unable to do anything about it, so I think it’s great you are doing stuff.
Wishing you well as you start this next phase.
Love these items, I have a few too and feel just the same as you about them. It’s wonderful to be working on a craft now that stretches so far back into our histories.
It’s so nice to have old things that are passed from Mother to Daughter through the generations even if you can’t use them. Just knowing they are there is a joy.
I had a Tiny Tears, in fact she is upstairs in the loft!
The yoga course sounds fantastic, if you were near to me I would be booking for lessons. I hope the travel for your husband goes OK and you don’t miss him too much … lots of knitting!
I can see you’re putting that Nikon to good use! 😀
I know you’ll miss Steve so much but you have your lovely boys to look after you. I’m sure Steve will be famous in the Chicago yarn stores very soon!
Wishing you happy thoughts on your new phase! Love the vintage needles.
Your vintage knitting collection and sewing tin are great! I love going into antiques shops looking in all the nooks and crannies for random sets of needles and other vintage craft items!
The sewing box is really neat. I love little tins and boxes myself–I have to hold back from buying every vintage one I see. I actually travel more often for work nowadays than my husband…and I know he misses me like crazy!
Yogaluscious. V exciting!!!!
Mario was at sea until my Eldest was 5 you do get used to it. Plus when they get home it is really special. Good luck with the yoga sounds like great fun.I have all of my grandmother’s needles and hooks they are mainly metal so still good to use. Casting on with them always reminds me of her.
Hi Anna
Hope you had a lovely birthday. Good luck with the yoga I am sure you will enjoy it and may even convert me when I have time! Steve I am sure will enjoy the new job but it must be difficult to get used to him being away again. Can’t help thinking how quickly the time goes and it scares me when I look back and remember the wedding can’t really be that long ago. Ax
Thank you for that post. I was touched to see your Grandmother’s needles and metal box. This week I lost my Granny – she was 93 and passed away peacefully with my sister at her side after a stroke the week before. She is the one who taught my sister Melissa (teamouse on Ravelry) and I both to knit and we are avid knitters today. We are going to miss her very much. Its wonderful to have tokens like yours to trigger our memories of people and the past.
I love your vintage needles, even more because they’re a family heirloom. It makes them all the more special.
I love seeing your grandmother’s needles – I have some of my mother’s needles, and they always take me back to my childhood (I had a Tiny Tears doll too!). The box is too funny – love the illustrations! Good luck on your yoga classes, and I hope that Steve being away isn’t too hard (and that they are short trips!)
Your post made me smile.
I have my grandmother’s knitting needles and one of her crochet hooks in a vase on a shelf in my living room. I don’t use them, but I like looking at them and feeling connected to her (she passed when I was 6 years old).