The Lisa Porter Collection

2/27/14

Hand Knit Sweaters

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields,

Photo | Lisa Porter | The Lisa Porter Collection

that it kisses them so gently?

And then it covers them up snug,

you know, with a white quilt;

and perhaps it says 'Go to sleep, darlings,

till the summer comes again.'"

~ Lewis Carroll

Sounds so poetic.

We recently received a fresh blanket of snow. A mere dusting compared to what many are dealing with, but still, cold is COLD.

My water wicking under armor & favorite fleece pull-over would be the call if I was going out in IT ~ but I'm not ~ so instead, I've chosen the warm hug of one of my favorite hand-knit sweaters.

Soft and warm, and made by hand with love.

I've noticed lately that there seems to be a sort of warm & snuggly knitting revival going on. The array of hand-knit clothing & accessories, all beautifully styled and photographed, and for sale, are being fuelled by a culture that seems to be needing to make-do-and-mend. I'm not referring to tight-knit groups of grannies ~

I'm referring to a growing army of men who are winding down with needles & yarn.

Seems that men have been clicking their knitting needles for centuries!

Some time ago, about 200 A.D., fishermen who were frustrated by only being able to catch one fish at a time on a single line, started forming loops with yarn and devised fishing nets!

Enter the 16th century, man invented machines that mastered millions of stitches per minute.

During World Wars I and II, American schoolboys were taught to knit squares to be sewn into blankets for troops.

Photo of a group of boys from Cooperstown High School, who are knitting on behalf of the Red Cross, for the soldiers on the frontlines in WWl (1918) Photo | Pinterest

Best selling author, Andre Dubus III, says that knitting required me to focus and it allowed me to drift too, the way running a long-distance required my feet and legs to do one thing while my mind could do another.

They are a varied bunch who find it to be both meditative & restorative. They are authors, doctors, musicians, artists, and even art gallery owners…

As a matter of fact, an art gallery owner, knit by hand the two beautiful sweaters that I've photographed for this post. Classic crew necks with deep ribbed edges ~ lovingly knit together using beautiful cranberry and oatmeal-colored yarns ~ by my Uncle, Charles Adams.

I'll let him tell you his story…

"I started when I lived in the west village. I took knitting lessons from a woman who had a yarn shop on Greenwich ave. it was 'diverse endeavors.' all I ever learned was a pattern for that raglan sleeve crew neck. she set me up with four sizes. I had the gallery on Bleecker and wanted something to do with my hands while I sat in the gallery. I ended up not knitting in the gallery but reading and knitting in front of the tv at night instead of snacking.

the fastest I ever did a sweater was once at the cabin when I did one in a weekend. I knit them in four pieces. the front, then the back, then the two sleeves at the same time on the same needle, then I would piece them together and add the neck. I would never knit for kids. they grew too fast. I've probably knitted less than 30 sweaters. sometimes I think about taking it up again but I can't remember how to cast on. love chas"

That was him ~ back in the '70s, knitting on the front porch of our family cabin near Santa Fe with his sweet boy Hugo. Also from the '70s, an interesting story about my first trip to NYC to visit Uncle Charles, When I Was A Young Girl.

My mother is still trying to get past it!

Thanks again Uncle Charles for the warm hugs.

1/16/14

The Way We Live

In an unpretentious cottage, a deep sill creates the perfect spot for a small collection.

This is how it all begins ~

Young newlyweds set up housekeeping with the mixed blessings of a few family pieces to start off with. Some are fortunate to be handed priceless family antiques & horsehair sofas. Some are handed their childhood bedroom set and Grandmothers hand-painted china.

a guest bedroom at the Greenbrier, by Dororthy Draper and then redecorated by Carlton Varney

Some consider this a blessing & some consider it a curse. Either way, when we bring things from the past into our homes, it's an opportunity to connect with the stories and people behind them, or in some cases, have a huge tag sale!

Thank goodness we have begun to re-evaluate the old blueprint for the "house of our dreams" which often has us equating value with square footage ~ those who have little rooms and a keen eye for mixing the old in with the new have it made. Thank goodness many channel their talents through their amazing books, blogs, websites, and magazines!

We thank you!

Some have learned over time that comfort has almost nothing to do with the size of a space. It's attained, rather, by tailoring our house and it's furnishings to fit the way we really live.

Every generation has its preferences and priorities ~

Fleur Cowles

Mixing design styles and pushing the boundaries of tradition, allows each generation to give these "hand-me-downs" an even richer story.

Some choose to stay within traditional guidelines when making their design choices, others choose to mix it all up and celebrate their individuality.

They line the dining room walls with books, and suddenly it becomes a real room in which to work, wine, dine, live & learn.

Imagine that!

They believe that Aunt Martha's settee would be much more comfortable in the kitchen ~

And their mismatched lamps, tables, and chairs actually love hanging out together in the "sitting" room!

Some hold on to the notion that there's a reason for every room. A living room, dining room, drawing room, smoking room, music room, etc. Thank goodness along with lifestyles, the names have been changed. The drawing room has become a home office, the smoking room is now a home gym, and the music room grew up and became a home theatre!

Still ~ I'm not very fond of the constraints imposed by traditional lines & conventional spaces. I like furniture that serves several purposes and a room that catches many elements of my day.

Southern-style & the way we live ~

Even though furniture styles often suggest attitudes towards stiff posture and social hierarchy, I think it's as different and intriguing as the people and culture of the region.

Remember, you can't always judge a book by it's cover ~ One has only to cross the threshold of an austere townhouse with its black shutters and solid brass door knocker to realize that…It's refreshingly filled with fine antiques paired with contemporary appointments!

Over time, the way we live gives our environment a rich patina of welcoming warmth. Inhabited by one, two, or a growing family, it's the essence that makes a house a home.