There's a ho-le.... in my stock-ing ..... dear Li-za... dear Li-za...
There's a ho-le.... in my stock-ing ..... dear Li-za, my love...
and it needs fixin'...
It won't be the first time... they have lived with me for years and I have mended them several times now...
I found a window with good light and a comfy seat... a darning needle... some of my own hand-spun natural cream-colored Border Leicester wool ...from strong, long-fibered fleece.... this time it is still on the spool... it is only single ply so I used it double...
... the evidence of earlier mending... also evidence that I had more time then and a more appropriate color... my socks are showing me the patterns of my life...
...that time I used natural brown Suffolk handspun... soft springy fleece...
...this time it was purely for function... not beauty... service... doing what time allowed... and what was needed...
I have a hard time throwing things away... especially things that have served me well and made me feel good... besides just a little wool ... a few stitches... and they will work as well as before...
Almost done.... didn't take long................
All mended... Feels warm and soft... no drafts... back in use...
... looks perfect from this angle... never know I did a thing to them, at all...
......But I forgot how others may feel when they see them... from their direction.... helter-skelter little stitches going this way... and that...
...like a mad man had had his way with my needle...
...But after careful observing by Pirate... they passed the test...
Guess it doesn't bother dogs... seems they just want a warm leg to lean on...
26 comments:
Wow! Wish I knew how to do that! I have a great. Loose weave shawl--it reminds me of a messy fishing net-- that has somehow developed a hole: very distressing! I have to somehow figure out how to mend it.
I love seeing, when I visit your blog, all the various natural elements you incorporate into it, and into your life.
Well I prefer the view from the bottom of the feet, hahaha, they look like a faithful pair of socks..haha. Fun post...
s
I really like this post and how your are able to incorporate your daily life in such a way that it's interesting and inviting. Oh, and the socks are definitely keepers....very cozy!
I wish I was there Laura to see your shawl... sounds lovely...
This bit of mending is really something I probably shouldn't have shown... If I had done it properly... I would have went carefully back and forth and up and down in a very basic over/under pattern as if I were doing plain weaving... This was just a speedy job on the road to warm feet.
hey Sandy you are right...I guess the dog and the socks go together as far as their faithfulness goes...
Sharon, I have had these old socks for so long they are like members of the family... probably if I whistled for them, they would come!
Great job Gwen saving some much loved friends! I think of my favorite socks as friends. Like when I've had a tough day and I need comfort, put on my friends and it's "Aaaaah!"
Hey, I used to sing that song when I was little in elementary school. Is there a verse that goes "There's a hole in my bucket, Dear Liza...Dear Liza....? I haven't thought of that in years!
Brings a tear to my eye. I'm reminded of my grandmothers, Pearl and Maud. Aside from their daily routine of dealing with men demanding meals, they found time to do this kind of work. As well as needlepoint and quilts that to me are quite the artistic expression. But the men were grubbing for the cash to keep the family going. Farmers. the men but artists the spouses.
I'm happy I came here after Bill's comment. An already great post got even better, thinking of wives down the ages being the artists, in simple homes where survival was the main goal. I know you knitted those socks to begin with, Gwen, and as far as I'm concerned they only got better with the mendings. They look as though they are even more padded for comfy walking now.
I just can't tell you how happy it makes me to know you are up there living this life of arts - homey arts and the fine art you sell. I don't really have words to tell you what this post does to and for me. But you know how I feel about it.
Gwen, I seriously think you have just displayed a big seller in your art store. I really believe tourists (and I) would buy socks made like these look! How quaint and folksy can you get? I'll bet you could make two pair, put a good price on them and they would be gone the first hour. By the way, I adore them. How much for two pair?
Sometimes I think we don't give enough attention to our dear ol' feet...
I really like making things last as long as they can...that may be making do... but that seems just right...
I love to hear about thoughts that are triggered by other things... all these thoughts tucked away for safe-keeping ...only needing a spur to bring them back to the front of our visual minds...and with their attached associations... it fills up our worlds so... and when we look around we are the only one there.. How busy our minds can be...
I appreciate all of your generous thoughts and ideas and triggers and visions and humor... Thank you so much... it is food...
Gwen...they look so cozy and warm...so understand how parting with them would just not be an option! I looked at the pic of the tops...and you'd never know there was any defect from that angle...but must admit I giggled when I saw the bottoms. Just struck me funny that sight...the things we do for warm toes.
Marie, can you imagine one of your designs on the bottom of a sock... now that would be a surprise for the observer...
It's winter here in New Zealand and I have just stopped the draughts in my husbands favourite pullover. Your sox made me smile. I really enjoy reading your blog. Parallel things on the other side of the world.
Hi There
Nice blog. Nice artwork too.
Do you have any other blogs?
My main blog is slysidonia at the Live Journal site. come check it out!
I love meeting other artists and seeing how different their perspectives are.
See you again soon!
Jewel
Hillary that is co cool that we were both stopping drafts at the same time.... I guess it is moving towards winter there... thanks for checking out my blog
Thanks D.jewel, but i only do this one blog and put everything in it... my work and garden take the rest of my time...
I don't think i would be able to keep more than one straight!
Gwen: I recently put up a post about hands, but after seeing these socks...I wish it had been about feet! And great vignette in the first photo too.
Those socks could become a trendy item if you let too many people know about this!!
My brother and I recently came across our mothers' sewing basket with darning needles and and two of those wooden darning thingies (I'm sure they have another name, just can't think of it at the moment) and we were laughing at it and saying: who would we ever give these to? no-one darns socks anymore. Well, well.
Violetsky... weren't they called darning eggs... I used to have a couple of them long ago... this time I had to use a light bulb...
That doesn't sound familiar to me, but my mother was Scottish...
If they are still around I should send them to you. A light bulb sounds rather fragile. But maybe you are a gentler person than I would be!
Violet Sky, very cool to hear that the Scottish had their own name for them... I have a bit of Scottish in my past before they moved to Ireland... is that the part that makes me frugal... glad for it anyway...
Yes it's very OK... Thanks so much!!
Lovely texture and colours your darning has produced.My first visit to your blog must go and poke around some more now.
Hi Embellisher, It was a quick fun little task... now I am going to visit you.
To mend is to delight! Thanks
I agree!! no cold floor getting through.
Great job Gwen. No need to hide to hide the mending, it is like the wrinkles of character we develop on our faces.
I like your reenforcing of the weak spots as well as darning of the heel. So much easier next time they need mending.
Thanks Arija, I have always enjoyed mending... and seeing how long I can make something last... sort of a little contest with myself..
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