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The article referenced SamuraiKnitter’s<\/a>\u00a0online brouhaha with Josh, so of course I had<\/em> to check that out. \u00a0But really, who cares about that, when there is a world of fun on this site! What cave have I been living in?? \u00a0Ms Samurai Knitter is the perfect anitidote to dearly missed\u00a0You Knit What?<\/a> \u00a0I could barely tear myself away, and had a good half hour of gut busting laughter reading the author’s insightful reviews of various issues of “Vogue Knitting.” \u00a0There’s nothing like \u00a0laughter to start a day!<\/p>\n And speaking of publications (as I think blogs are firmly in that category), earlier this summer I got to catch up on all the periodicals I missed while we were off sailing. \u00a0In this year’s issue #1 of “Vav Magazinet,” which was entirely devoted to the color white, I read quite a moving article by Birgitta Nortstrom. \u00a0Ms. Nordstrom is Senior Lecturer in Textile Art at University of Gothenburg, Sweden, where she received a grant to design baby blankets, with an outside layer \u00a0that would be a visually pleasing weave structure and the inside layer would be fulled to create the softest fabric to touch a newborn’s skin.<\/p>\n This alone would be such a beautiful idea for a project, but her idea went further. \u00a0Hang on to your hat….. \u00a0these blankets would be available at hospitals to be given to mothers whose newborns did not survive birth. \u00a0These blankets would actually be shrouds.<\/p>\n The moment I finished reading the article I wrote an email to Ms. Nordstrom, telling her how moving I found her project and that this project that should be done everywhere<\/em>. \u00a0I asked if she might consider writing a book about the blankets. \u00a0It was late July before I heard back from her (she was away in the remote north for a holiday), and it turns out she did write a booklet as part of the process. \u00a0She asked for my address so she could send me one<\/em>.<\/p>\n So now I feel quite driven to do something with this marvellous idea. \u00a0Anyone want to join me? Stay tuned….<\/p>\n Here is Birgitta’s description of her project:<\/p>\n Is it possible, by making shrouds for the smallest, to ask questions of grief, touch, and the wrapping of bodies?<\/em><\/p>\n Weaving, inch by inch, has been practiced for thousands of years. \u00a0Out of both need and desire. \u00a0It is a patient process, repetitive and deceptively simple. \u00a0In the end the weaver’s patience is rewarded, producing fabrics far greater than their humble beginnings.<\/em><\/p>\n We have aimed to weave a series of blankets that are soft, shimmering, unique, and quite simply the most beautiful blankets we could imagine. \u00a0In the process we have asked ourselves and others about the need for ritual and meaning.<\/em><\/p>\n Can a small, exquisite blanket be a language of touch? \u00a0Can it say something where words fail amidst the grief of the loss of a child?<\/em><\/p>\n Humianity has often understood both life and death through metaphors and references to textiles. \u00a0Through history and myths they have helped us understand and navigate these moments. \u00a0They anchor us, as threads, to both joyous and difficult times. \u00a0We have chosen to follow these threads.<\/em><\/p>\n I think I’ll stop here, except to include a bit of our lovely Connecticut River scenery. \u00a0I know this post has been a bit weird, going from snarky knitting reviews that had me rolling, to the subject of grief and loss…. well, maybe I’m thinking of summer turning to autumn….There are only 10 days left in summer, but since school has started, and since it’s past Labor Day, most people think it is already fall.<\/p>\n![\"2014-09-11](\"http:\/\/www.argoknot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/2014-09-11-15.06.39-1024x768.jpg\")
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![\"2014-09-10](\"http:\/\/www.argoknot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/2014-09-10-18.33.21-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>Yesterday evening, Bob and I took a dinghy ride up one of the estuaries near where we live on the Conneticut River. \u00a0It’s a narrow and winding stream with water hyacinth and tall grasses on both sides. \u00a0The grasses were full of red winged blackbirds that all took flight as we passed. \u00a0This swan family opted not to fly away….maybe the younger ones aren’t good flyers yet. \u00a0So their tensions were mounting as we all headed up this little estuary. \u00a0In the end the mother and cygnets turned a corner too shallow for our dinghy, but not before the father tried some diversionary tactics to lure us away from his family.<\/p>\n![\"2014-09-10](\"http:\/\/www.argoknot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/2014-09-10-18.34.13-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>And didn’t it become obvious to me that we are all more similar than not. \u00a0The family made a phalanx as best they could to protect the cygnets, and when that failed the father tried to draw us away.<\/p>\n