Log Cabin and home

Happy almost the end of February, my friends. Just wanted to share an update and photo of the log cabin pillow cover on the needles this month.

With the extra snow this year and long winter nights, I’ve been thinking about warmth and home.

The first quilt I made was a traditional log cabin quilt. I gave it to my parents and it has since come back to me after my parents’ consecutive illnesses, Dad’s passing, and the inevitable move to the nursing home for mom.

This same quilt is on now my bed and when I look at it, I remember my Aunt Margaret, my quilting teacher, the hours we spent together and the times she helped me to quilt it when it was in the frame; I remember mom helping me pick out the fabrics and encouraging me to learn a new skill.

The few things, most of them handmade, that I have kept from my parents’ belongings all have separate, individual back stories, providing a link, a thread to follow back and forth, from memory, loss, joy and laughter and back again.

This February, with Valentine’s Day, with my focus going to family, home and connection, an idea for these knitted, wool log cabin squares came to mind. These squares are knit on a 4.5mm needle, the size of needle my mom used to teach me to knit all those many years ago and the garter stitch pattern was the first lesson I got. I still have her old needles; the end is snapped off one of them and they are both a little bent and wonky now.

Making things for others creates a connection and provides a way to say, you matter to me.

The wool for the pillow cover comes from Steele Wool Farm near Blyth and Revolution Wool Company, Wallenstein; the natural dye colour colours were created by Revolution Wool Company and Jennifer, owners of FACTS in Blyth.

Happy Stitching, everyone! 🙂