KNITTING SEASONS

my race against time to free-knit clothes to fit children in our changing climate

the whole creative process from ecosystem inspiration to problem-solving, always keeping kids in mind

Summer 2022, I “free-knitted” a baby sweater with the theme of “forest garden” for a baby with a late July due date. Baby’s mom is into gardening and I’m into regenerative agriculture. I wanted to see if I could knit something that reflected the wild and less-cultivatedness of a food forest in the process itself. I had a rough template for shape and measurements, but created it without a pattern or clear plan. Figured out some vague proportions of a newborn’s body and let it grow.

finished sweater hanging against wall with flowered wallpaper — 11 aug. one year later, it doesn’t fit anymore, but has a place of honor

mom and baby in lush garden. irma is dropping a squash. — 10 aug. one year later, everyone is growing

tall reddish sunflowers on farmland, bright fluffy clouds in Swedish summer sky — 10 aug 2023. one year later, garden is in bloom

brightly colored, many textured baby sweater front-deep orange, mustard yellow, fuchsia pinks, blue mixed with earthy browns-with knitted radishes, carrots, blueberries, chanterelle, flowers. on a backdrop of star moss. — 1 aug. finished front on star moss

brightly colored, many textured back of baby sweater-dangling carrots and green vines. on a backdrop of star moss — 1 aug. finished back on star moss

brightly colored finished baby sweater draped on birch tree stump — 1 aug. so natural, looks like a part of the environment

front of knitting work-in-progress, flowers, radishes, and green textured leaf lace — 25 jul. ready to seam it all up

newborn baby portrait — 22 jul. she came early! hi, irma. i’m working on getting you clothes.

knitting work-in-progress, half-way done — 21 jul. casting on the front, so many ends to weave later

knitting work-in-progress with tea and cake — 18 jul. pacing myself, I’ve got time

library book page showing measurements for seamless baby sweater — 17 jul. the general idea

knitting work-in-progress with a long stretch of live stitches — 17 jul. skinny arms and starting to have doubts

dangling I-cord carrots beneath soil brown sweater rib with bright green loops of yarn like carrot tops — 16 jul. casting on carrots in the hammock

cover of a book about forest gardens in Sweden — 24 jun. confirmation! find this book at friend’s house

minimalist iPad sketch of a muddy brown baby sweater with carrots, radish and dandelion designs — 15 jun2022. i have an idea for food forest themed sweater

2 sep. i remember why I’d been avoiding this. pain in the ass.

30 jul. one sleeve done. last one to go.

4 jul 2024. picking this up again after almost a year

complicated brioche knitting project freed from needles, still needs sleeves — 22 sep. i don’t want to talk about Italian bind-off.

Tupperware full of yarn on lap sitting on balcony — 17 sep. it’s not a very portable project

front of knitted work in progress with 14 skeins of yarn hanging off it — 10 sep. 8 cm more of this

front of an unfinished knitting project with muted coral, seafoam, pale yellow colors — 3 sep. #FallFinishAlong inspired me to keep going

back of unfinished knitting project with intricate white rivers of brioche — 3 sep. #FallFinishAlong is peer pressure

knitted work in progress on a round tray with many balls of yarn, but facing front — 5 aug. yes, my invention is just a tray

knitted work in progress on a round tray with many balls of yarn — 5 aug. MacGyvered a kind of lazy susan thing to keep yarn from tangling

elaborate brioche ribbing in a curved shape — 13 jul. short-row shaping in 2-colored brioche SUCKS

iPad sketch of cardigan sweater with colorful ribbing — 5 jul. the plan of action

iPad screen with scribbled numbers and diagrams — 5 jul. the matrix math

white-haired knitter with everything she needs in front of massive corner windows showing green outdoors — 25 jun. i’ve made a nest, the river is at my back

textured knitting swatches in browns and blues — 22 jun. false start swatches

Fall 2023. WORK-IN-PROGRESS! I’m slowly knitting this 2-color brioche intarsia cardigan for a friend’s baby River. They live in Astoria, where the Colombia River meats the sea, so I took inspiration from branching tributaries and the different qualities of light on the ripples in water.