my vintage valentine

Look! I came across this old photo of us while searching for something else entirely.

 We were moving into our first apartment together, Valentines week, in college. "Coupla hippies", groused a son when I showed it to him. (That's his main complaint about us now, too). I guess we haven't changed that much?  Suddenly I want to own a flannel shirt again. Dave still does...

For Valentines 2013, we played hooky part of the day, which somehow feels more special than rushing out to dinner. We swung by the newly renovated Yale University Art Gallery.  It's one of the real perqs of living around here. It's  free,  with  a fabulous collection--and wow, the reno is spectacular. After viewing a few favorites in the collection (some Albers, f'rinstance) we went to the Indo Pacific Art gallery.

It's amazingly fiber-rriifc. (yeah I do think that is an art term). Like this? it is an ancient  Indonesian high priest's staff.  Love that ball of yarn topping it. There was a lot about spinning, spindles , cotton yarn , looms , tools and a swift too, in display cases.

 I don't know much about weaving but it doesn't take a scholar to be awed by this.

Chickens, also valued by the high priests.


The Valentine activity I didn't quite pull off: I was going to knit bulky reverse stockinette hats for everyone with a big heart on each, in dusky colors so it wouldn't be too cutesy-poo. Maybe with a large pompom and even edge crochet for the girls. 

I'd figured out the pattern: knit flat and seamed, intarsia heart.  And the  yarn: Berroco Peruvia Quick .  Time wasn't on my side, but I did make up this nice chart. I'll share it with you.

I love this knitting graph paper, how it shows the stitches instead of misleading squares.  It's from Laylock.org   If you don't follow her site,  go check her out. Great stuff!