Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Tuesday, Tuesday

Tuesday was hot, high 80s, but manageable, and I made it to the knitting group. At the library I picked up  

For Tuesday evening viewing pleasure. I've seen it before, but after a few clips on YouTube I felt like watching again.

Then the Tuesday knitting group, moved to a different room.

What a fun group -- three new members, friends, came in together to learn crochet. Or maybe review it, because they were up and running in no time, with the help of our teaching member. 

Meanwhile others of us continued on projects and I demo'd the 18th century adjustable skirt I wore, that goes with the Lucy Locket pocket, which I also brought along. These both went over to quite a bit of interest.

And we shared cast-ons. My thumb cast-on was new to some members. 

We also talked about the many anti Catholic laws in the UK. This led to my describing the massive annual Corpus Christi procession in my hometown, when laws were suspended for one day per year, the Feast of Corpus Christi, to permit Monsignor to appear in the street in his priest vestments and to carry the consecrated host through the streets.  Neither legally permitted since the Reformation.

Thousands of Catholics walked, kids in white. June in North Yorkshire could be bitterly cold and windy, but you wore your little white dress anyway.  Adults often wore warm coats. 

All the town bands loyally learned the Catholic  hymns, including the Salvation army, whose big bass drum kept the marching time, heard miles away. Bands from local industry joined in. Big deal. It really was a big deal, groups usually hostile to Catholics suspending it for a day and bringing music. 

We also, the knitters, not the bands, addressed travel, crochet with aged parents, eye care, financial planning, loud music at outdoor pools, and more. Lovely afternoon with friends.



We met this time in the science section of the kids department on the third floor.


New members plunging in



The green box contains yarns, needed supplies and simple instructions for beginners, the idea of the librarian who hosts the group.

Then home to a pot of tea and Textiles and Tea with Anastasia Azure, a weaver of fishing line and wire. Her works range from small jewelry to huge wall pieces.  

There's a video at her website showing the process. Not a live link, a screenshot of the link, for you to cut and paste.







Here she is with a large piece, and holding a small one




She dyes fishing line, which I didn't know you could, and uses a fearless array of line, wire and other fibers on a floor loom. Amazingly.

Happy day everyone, as Ana would say, if you have an idea, what if you try it? Then you'll find out! Words to live by.

Sez Ted and Big Ursy








40 comments:

  1. Wire and fishing line must be tricky to work with, but the results are stunning.

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    1. So tricky that very few people can do it. It's lovely.

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  2. I love Elizabeth Williamson’s work! Corpus Cristi here is a day when gorgeous murals (mosaics) are created on the pavement using only flower petals. My mind had a little spasm and I imagined your monsignor getting dressed in the street.

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    1. The artist is Anastasia Azure, whose website Williamson, the producer of the episode, put on the screen.
      I can't imagine the dignified Canon, then Monsignor, Dunne robing in the street!

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    2. I only changed it in case Elizabeth reads in here and wouldn't want credit.

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    3. Predictive text gah. I didn't change it. I explained it. Dang it

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  3. The dyed and woven fishing line artworks are exquisite! We saw "The King's Speech" in the cinema many years ago when it first came out too. At the emotional and dramatic climax of the movie, when the King opens his mouth to try to make his radio speech without stuttering, at that precise moment of tense silence, the Rare One's cellphone rang. Probably ruined the moment for everyone in the theatre, LOL, but c'est la vie.

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    1. As long as you weren't ushered out! That movie brought Beethoven's seventh into my life, where it's been ever since.

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  4. That's a great movie. I re-watched Fried Green Tomatoes the other night. Haven't felt like paying to see other interesting newer movies lately with "rental fees." Using different kinds of fiber to make art is always interesting!

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    1. The King's speech is oddly timely, fighting back against Nazis.

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  5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. Hit the wrong button. As far as I can remember, AC liked the movie from seeing it long ago when it first came out.

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  6. I have had a longtime girl crush on Helena Bonham Carter. I'd forgotten she was in that movie.
    Looks like a great group at the library today. I really should find a group here. I need help for sure.

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    1. She played the part well. Why not, they're her people in real life!
      The group is lovely, like minded people who get along easily, all with something to offer.

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  7. The King's Speech was a really good movie.
    Your knitting and crocheting group sounds like such a good one!
    Fishing line?! That's amazing!
    Have a day filled with wonder. :)

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    1. Most of my days are filled with wonder. Some of it's about wondering where I've put things, but quite a bit is just marveling at what's around me.

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  8. I did not know England still had anti Catholic laws. I saw that movie long ago but do remember liking it.

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    1. Laws don't often get removed, for various reasons, not all good.

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  9. I didn't know there were anti-Catholic laws in the UK, or about the marches. I suppose it makes sense since Henry VIII took charge.

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    1. It was a single annual very reverent religious procession with prayer and hymns. Bear with me, but the torture and murder of my York ancestors who would not betray their priests doesn't "make sense" to me. You may not know this history, so this is not a criticism of you, but my family lived it.

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  10. Interesting to hear about the feast of Corpus Christi. I wonder what the tradition is today?

    The knitting group always sounds rejuvenating, good for the spirit. Friends one didn’t know until you meet there.

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    1. The group is very cheering. I always feel reconnected when I get there.

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  11. I just love that movie. The book on which it was based was excellent and I was lucky enough to see it on stage in England in 2009. Sigh.

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    1. I can't find the book in my library.I gather it was written by Hogue's son and a collaborator. I never knew it was a stage production though.

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  12. Anti-Catholic laws? England is more backwards than I thought--but then so is the U.S. these days.

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    1. They date back to the reformation and for various reasons haven't been repealed.

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  13. What a fascinating craft! Beautiful, creative!

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    1. Isn't it lovely, very slow. The weaving is only part of the process. Finishing the ends takes even more time.

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  14. Incredible that she creates those shapes on a floor loom. Amazing stuff.

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    1. The fabric is woven on the loom, then the shaping and finishing are whole other processes before the artwork appears. She's amazing.

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  15. I loved The King's Speech so I know it's well worth a second watch. Read the book too and it was equally as good. Perhaps your library can get a copy from another library?
    Fishing line - who knew!!

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    1. It's not available anywhere here, nothing even on ill. Also one of my libraries will not allow the reader to leave with an ILL book! You have to read it then and there. So I explain that's not on.

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    2. Not leave with an ILL book? That sounds a bit extreme. What's the point of allowing ILL if people can't actually read the book they're interested in.

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    3. That particular library hates people using the multi system card as I do, and make up stuff like this, I swear!

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  16. Always learning something from you -- Corpus Christi, Anastasia Azure (her name sounds like music to me!), and Lucy Locket pockets are good (and alliterative) examples today. Well, you wrote about the pockets before, but I you're the one who taught me about them! Smart fix for an everyday problem. I love a good solution! So satisfying.

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    1. I wondered if Ana's name is a nom de loom, so lovely. I love historic solutions which still work, like the pocket. I hadn't noticed the alliteration before.

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    2. I, too, wondered if it were a nom de loom! (didn't know that lovely phrase but figured a "professional name" was a possibility)

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    3. I made the phrase up. I did think based on her fairy wairy way of speaking if she'd invented a name she liked.

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Please read the comments before yours and see if your question is already answered!