— Michael Bridge

With COVID-19 hanging over the entire world like a depressing grey cloud, I am quite content to stay home in order to help ‘flatten the curve,’ since I have a few tasks begging to be finished.

There is bedding sitting on my sewing machine, stories on my computer and a new venture waiting for me in the attic. The new venture won first place. I decide to crochet a rug for our back door, where its rich hues and homemade warmth will welcome all who enter. I’ve crocheted doilies, afghans, potholders and other small items, but never a rug. The idea of working with a cumbersome rug draped over my lap, never appealed to me. Until now.

An ample amount of yarn, tucked away in the attic of my new home, kept calling me to do something with it: one never knows where the next nudge to create will originate. A loving mother had unravelled sweaters and meticulously sorted and stored this yarn, likely dreaming of creating lovely rugs. However, God saw fit to take her home.

I didn’t know Sara well, having met her only once. From all accounts, she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother – whose beautiful family I adopted by marrying Michael. I am humbled, that in God’s divine plan, I am now part of her family, blessed by the work of her capable hands and loving heart.

Kneeling beside barrels and boxes brimming with beautiful yarn, in a variety of hues, felt strange at first – like I was going through someone else’s belongings. As my eyes scanned the multicoloured skeins, I wondered which ones Sara would have chosen to make a rug. I held up a green and a black ball towards the light. Would she have liked this combination? Or perhaps she would rather have gone for something bright, like blues and yellows? I finally settled on a mixture of red and white contrasted by shades of grey. I put my selections into two tuckers, dragged them downstairs and started mixing and winding a number of thin strands to form one thick one. A few hours later I had two large balls of yarn ready for my project. I was excited about trying this traditional Hutterite skill.

Crocheted rugs have graced Hutterite homes for many decades. Years ago they were simply made, following no particular pattern, using mostly leftover balls of yarn from knitting stockings and mittens. Repurposing yarn from unravelling sweaters was also quite common. Today, complex patterns are used to create attractive works of art, which sometimes requires new yarn.

My rug leans more towards simple, as the pattern consists only of interchanging four rounds of red, and then four rounds of grey. Still, grey and red will look striking in a rug. If nothing else, it will always serve as a reminder that it was created during the coronavirus lockdown. Grey, for the dismal veil hanging over the whole world right now, I muse, as I start crocheting, admiring the contrasting hues. Red signifies strength, hope and determination to stay positive through this pandemic.

I’ve always found my crocheting hobby relaxing and gratifying. My mind meanders, as hook in hand, timeless treasures are turned out. It’s also an ideal time to dream, reflect, plan and listen to music, pondering messages in the songs.

As I make my way through another round, I hum along with Amos Raber, playing on my phone:

If you read the paper and turn on the news,

It doesn’t take long and you’ve got the blues…

There’s better times a-coming, but they ain’t here yet…

I wonder what’s in store for us with this vicious virus. It’s mind boggling to think that this pandemic has most of the world in the same predicament. I tried to imagine what our Easter holy days would feel like as I worked. Here in my new colony, we’d already postponed baptism and the same would be true for communion. I ponder the plagues God sent over the Egyptians, before freeing His chosen people, Joseph’s descendants, from bondage, since it’s basic to our annual communion service preparation teachings. This year, the mere mention of plagues will strike a raw chord, as one is leaving a devastating trail around the globe.

Numerous questions churn in my brain: Are we being careful enough? What colony would have the first corona case? Would we lose loved ones? What will students have lost, when school resumes? When will I see my family next? This was highlighted when I heard that my eighty-four-year-old mom, who doesn’t quite understand this social distancing, keeps asking, “Why does Linda no longer come to visit?”

Visions from yesteryear scroll through my mind when Mom was still crocheting rugs. After every few rounds she was on the floor with her creation, patting it down, stretching it in all directions, then standing up and tramping it down, all to get it to lie flat. Sometimes she simply had to unravel it and start over.

Yanking days of work apart, she stated, “Ich erger mich la anmol. I’m only perturbed once.” I can relate to all of it, as this is my first rug and I have done a fair share of my own yanking. Watching me one evening, Michael reassuringly, but with a hint to mirth, whispers, “I promise not to tell anyone how often you’ve unravelled it.”

I started out with no pattern, just advice from my sister, Sonia and my Aunt Susie and my own crochet experiences. Apparently that is not enough. Finally I got my hands on a pattern. However, I could make no sense of it, as the abbreviations were nothing like the ones in my crochet books. It may as well have been from China.

Then one day, our minister, Eddy Vetter and his wife, Judy Basel stopped by. I told her of my dilemma and she was able to explain the pattern to me since she’s used the same one many times. The symbols indicating the various stitches are still strange, but at least I understand them now and my rug is growing again. Best of all, I don’t have to spend so much time on the floor trying to tramp and stretch a bubbly rug into submission. It’s gratifying to see my once unruly rug lie beautifully flat.

Woven into my rug are a few heartfelt prayers: asking God to protect family and friends, to give wisdom, strength and courage in dealing with this pandemic, and patience while we stay home until this plague is contained. I pray for our leaders, health-care workers, truckers and businesses… all of whom strive to keep us safe, and ensure needed supplies are available. I thank God for His protection, love and omnipotence during this anxious time, the friend who lent me a stack of German novels, family and friends who call and write, the cooks who prepare delicious meals for us to take home, for my family, and the lovely Easter lily with which my husband just surprised me.

I’m reminded of a drama we did years ago, “Grandma Says.” In it, Grandma is always knitting. All day long, while family and friends stop to share their worries and woes. Each time, Grandma, barely looking up, calmly offers advice, but keeps on knitting, which serves to frustrate her visitors. After each one leaves, Grandma prays for them. The message is simple, yet timeless: stay busy, stay calm, trust and pray.

Hopefully in the years ahead, I’ll become more like this wise Granny – something to work towards. Nonetheless, thanks to Sara’s stash of skeins, I’m hooked on my new hobby.

And I long for the day when everything will return to something approaching normal. Until then, my ‘work of the heart’ will help fill these COVID-19 isolation weeks. I’m grateful for this skill and my supply of resources to engage in this immensely therapeutic work.

Linda Maendel is author of Hutterite Diaries and she now writes for Crystal Spring Colony, where she’s relocated to, due to her marriage.

The post Work of our hearts appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

They don’t take a full closet for granted. Earlier generations didn’t have one, and it took a long time to make anything to wear, say the two 12-year-olds at Miami School.

“We have it much better than they did,” says Dyck.

They learned about that last year while in Mrs. Elaine Owen’s Grade 6 social studies class — where they also learned to card and spin wool and to knit and crochet.

Owen introduced fibre studies and handcrafting into her Grade 6 classroom a couple of years back while looking for a new way to teach social studies, with its focus on Manitoba becoming a province.

“I was thinking about something unusual I could do with my kids that might stand out in their minds,” she said.

• Read more: Quilts warm hearts of L’Arche Homes residents

What better way, she thought, for them to connect with the values of their own families, and to respect hard work, she thought, than by having them learn to make small items of clothing, and understand the processes that go into it.

She didn’t set out to teach all that herself, though. A self-described “OK knitter” she called on the youngsters’ grandmothers, who were happy to come to class and demonstrate knitting and crocheting techniques. While little fingers kept busy, they heard about how past generations made do, while seeing how great it is to know how to make things yourself, says Owen.

They’ve learned to appreciate that something handmade is valuable in other ways too.

“If Grandma or Auntie gives you a scarf or tuque or mitts or whatever they’ve made, they’ve put a lot of their time and love into it,” says Owen.

Donations

The resources to do this came from a community as excited about the idea as Owen was.

“People have been very kind,” she says.

Fundraising by the parent council produced two spinning wheels for the classroom. Antique drum carders were donated. Owen wrote to the Scottish Tartan Authority about what they were doing and received a package of swatches and information about tartans. She connected with Briggs and Little Woolen Mill, Canada’s oldest woollen mill and it sent them a beautiful box of wool samples. Owen was so excited about that she had her class actually phone the mill’s owner and ask questions about the mill for a history lesson.

Of course, all the yarn, wool and needles are donations too. “I’m lucky I have so many drawers in my classroom,” she says. “They fill up quickly.”

But they empty out fast too. She tells her students people have donated to this, so it’s important to give back too.

“So our motto is ‘make one item for yourself, make one item to donate,’” she said.

The students have given items they’ve made, like scarves and neck warmers, to Genesis House shelter in Winkler and Main Street Project in Winnipeg.

Meanwhile, this focus on fibre makes the difficulties of Canada’s earlier generations so much more real. While they work on their projects, they’re learning about fair trade, the monetary value of labour and relations with First Nations people too.

“We’ve talked about the Coast Salish Knitters,” says Owen. That group integrated its own ancient wool-working traditions with those of the Scottish and English settlers to make the iconic Cowichan sweater. But they weren’t always paid fairly for them, says Owen. To bring that point home, she had her students, familiar already with how long it takes to knit something, sit down and calculate how much time it would take to make one of these sweaters.

“We looked at wages and time and cost of the yarn. We had watched a video and read about how originally they were getting paid less than $50,” she said.

Ongoing

Her main hope is that these studies are creating “something that will last” among her students, she continues.

“Lots of these kids have these skills from their moms and aunts and grannies,” she said. “It’s important to keep that connection strong.”

Clearly, the kids enjoy it all. So much so, many continue on with their knitting and crocheting projects after Grade 6 in a lunch hour fibre club at school.

That’s the club that Dyck, who is now in Grade 7, is in. She’s made slippers and scarves, and even tuques using a circular loom.

“It’s a lot of fun to learn how to knit and crochet,” she says.

Her friend, Alyssa Bruce, agrees. She’s made needle felting pictures to give as Christmas presents. Now she’s making a scarf. This is a fun club and she likes what she’s learning in it, she said.

“It will help me when I’m older. If I need to repair something or make a scarf, I will know how to, instead of going to buy one.”

The post Wool studies help students see value of hard work — and generosity appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Warm fall colours and cosy textures are great additions to take you from summer to winter. This doesn’t mean that your décor has to be dark and gloomy but think about switching out light, summer fabrics, such as curtains, for textural, medium- to dark-coloured fabrics on the windows and on furniture. Comfy furniture throws and toss cushions in rich, earthy tones will stave off those winter blues and create a cocoon of comfort on chilly days.

Change the bedding to reflect the colours of the season and also trade in the light blankets for comfy quilts, duvets and blankets. Flannel sheets are soft against the skin and offer comfort during the cold winter nights. Consider purchasing area rugs or throw rugs to stave off cold feet near the bed as well. A bedside basket filled with fuzzy slippers will be a welcome addition, especially in a guest room.

The feature photo has bedding in rich colours, layered with textural accent pillows and an area rug for warmth underfoot. These are all easy changes to make your room stylish and inviting.

Some fabrics to consider are knits, fleece, faux fur, suede, or tweed. Small touches of these fabrics in toss cushions or blankets are easy additions that can change each season. If you can find fabric remnants at the fabric store or thrift store you can use them to make simple cushions covers for your current toss cushions.

If you have artwork or pictures that are summery in feel consider switching them out for ones that will set the tone for the season. Black and white photos of winter scenes in black frames is a good start and is a fairly easy do-it-yourself project.

Summer accessories, like light wicker accents or seashells can be replaced with vintage, hardcover books, chunky candles, gourds and dried flowers or twigs in a decorative vase.

A fall/winter-inspired table runner is a great addition to the dining room. Set the table with stoneware, coloured dishes and large coffee mugs. Create a centrepiece with fall flora.

If you are up to painting you can make small changes using rich, warm colours on focal walls like the purple wall behind the bed in the photo. This adds instant warmth and richness to the room and is a small painting project. Other places where you can add a splash of colour are walls above a fireplace, small powder rooms, a niche in a dining room or a partial wall in an open-concept space.

You might also consider adding both colour and pattern by hanging wallpaper on these walls instead of painting.

Small changes and additions are all you need to make your home wonderfully warm and cosy for the long winter ahead.

The post Create cosy rooms in your house this winter appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

These cuddly, colourful teddies are distributed mainly to children in hospitals. Doctors claim that those with their own teddies to cuddle tend to be cheered by them and improve faster than those without. Each child receiving a teddy takes it home.

As Smith knits, she thinks of each child who will receive one and says that knitting these bears has saved her life. To date, she has made 90 little bears to be snuggled and loved.

There’s an ongoing need for these teddies, and anyone wishing to make some can find the information by Googling Teddies For Tragedies and follow the links.

– Eva Krawchuk writes from Winnipeg

The post Teddies For Tragedies appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Materials:

– 12x2x2-inch

Styrofoam ring – Thin knitting needle, darning

needle or skewer – 30 inches of 44-inch wide orange,

yellow and black cotton fabric – Glass bowl

– 3 floating candles Instructions:

Cut the fabric into 1-1/2-inch squares. Press the thin knitting needle, the end of a darning needle or the blunted end of a wooden skewer into the centre of a square of fabric. Push this about halfway into the ring. Repeat in random order until no white on the ring is visible. Once finished, snip or pluck off the loose threads. Set the bowl, half full of water and the candles, or potpourri, and even dried leaves into the centre of the ring.

A colourful addition to any fall dinner.

– Dana Ramstedt is a freelance writer and preschool

teacher of 18 years.

The post Need A Centrepiece For Thanksgiving? appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Materials:

– 1 ball of knitting worsted yarn – Size 5 knitting needles

Instructions:

Cast on 60 stitches (child) OR 68

stitches (adult). K2, P2 to make turtleneck to desired

length. Slip 30 stitches (child) OR 34 stitches (adult) onto stitch holder.

* With the 30 OR 34 stitches left on the needle cast on 8 stitches to each

side. Row 1: Knit 6, Knit to end of row. Row 2: Knit 6, Purl to end of row. Continue these two rows to desired

length.

The last five rows or so, knit every

row to make a garter stitch. I usually make the second side shorter, because one doesn’t need it so long in the back.

– Both projects from Joanne

Rawluk who writes from Gypsumville, Manitoba

The post Simple-To-Knit Neck Warmer appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Materials:

A ball of yarn and a set of four No. 10 knitting needles.

Instructions:

Cast on 30 stitches and divide

on three needles. Knit two rows.

Row 3: K1, wool over, and repeat this K1, wool over until the end of the

round (30 st). Continue knitting until desired length. (The scarf will be double the knitted length when you finish. For example: 12 inches= 24 inches approx.). Next: Knit 1, drop 1 stitch to end of

round. Knit 2 rows. Cast off.

Pull stitches (starting at the end you cast off) to make runs from the stitches you dropped and you will have created a beautiful lace-like scarf which lengthens as you pull on the stitches.

To finish make a fringe on each end.

The post Novel-Knit Scarf appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

If you have lots of old rubber sealer rings in your canning cupboard, here’s a way to recycle some of them. I made this trivet for the Christmas turkey by using variegated Sayelle yarn in festive colours, but the choice can be as varied as the hot dishes under which you place these table savers.

Materials:

7 rubber sealer rings

Sayelle knitting worsted or similar yarn

Needle with large eye

Paper stapler

Directions:

For each of the 6 outside rings: (Each ring is done separately.) Thread needle with yarn, knot the end and pull first stitch through rubber to secure. Keep winding the yarn around the ring until it is entirely covered, including the knot that you made at the beginning. Hide end of yarn on same side as knot by running your needle under a few strands of initial winding. This will be the back of your sealer rings. Cover 6 sealer rings in this way.

For the centre ring, wind yarn around it all except for the last inch or so. Do not cut yarn, but cut the sealer ring. Placing the outside rings right sides up on a flat surface in the position shown, weave the cut sealer ring in and out of the first six rings. Butt the cut ends together and staple. Finish winding the yarn around the centre ring to complete your trivet.

– Alma Barkman writes from Winnipeg

The post Make a sealer ring trivet appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Joan says she used Size 6 round needles and cast on 192 stitches. She did the pattern six times and then changed colour and used three colours. Four sets of colours will make a 4×5-foot afghan.

The post Knit up an easy afghan appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.