Maybe it’s the gloominess of the overcast mid-November days here in Toronto, or maybe it’s the state of the world (Spoiler Alert: It’s both), but these past few weeks have felt particularly overwhelming. And for me, when life gets a little too heavy, the perfect antidote is to take some extra time to remember (or to actively seek out) the wonder that exists in this world—often in the shape of objects that are otherwise dismissed as mundane.
Happily, this week’s issue of Digits & Threads perfectly captures the wonder in the everyday (and if you detect a bit of a theme in this issue, you’re not wrong!).
First up, we have a story about the Royal Ontario Museum’s recent temporary exhibit, Quilts: Made in Canada. Last month I had the opportunity to visit this fascinating exhibit, where I learned that quilts can tell us a great deal about who we were—and who we are. Experiencing these rarely-seen quilts, I found myself marvelling at the many remarkable ways that people use quits to express themselves, to meet creative challenges, and to provide comfort, hope, or a voice for the voiceless. Curious about the origins of the exhibit, I reached out to exhibit curator Arlene Gehmacher, who graciously shared her time and expertise with me. Find out more about the exhibit itself, as well as the stories behind some of the incredible quilts that were on display, here.
Some quilts tell very specific stories and play an important role in conveying history through time. Regular D&T contributor Nadine Flagel reports on a Textile Museum of Canada (TMC) exhibit, The Secret Codes: African Nova Scotian Quilts (curated by David Woods and organized by the Black Artists Network of Nova Scotia (BANNS) and the Vale Quilters of New Glasgow). This exhibit showcases how the TMC reimagines textile art and encourages interaction and hands-on learning. It also invites viewers to make connections between the quilts as signals on the Underground Railroad and African Canadian quilt making, but, as Nadine explains, some of these connections are historically problematic. Don’t miss Nadine’s fascinating review of the exhibit, the historical controversy, and the incredible work of this group of Black Nova Scotian quilters.
These two stories join several others in our very own D&T patchwork quilt of stories about quilts! Follow the links to read others by Nadine Flagel, Michale Raske, and Leanne Prain.
But wait—there’s more! How would you like a sneak peek of Kate Atherley’s next book, coming in mid-2025 from Nine Ten Publications? That’s right…there’s a new book on the way, and it’s packed with math—math for knitters, that is! In her latest column, Kate shares an excerpt that gives us an accessible, easy-to-understand tutorial on the knitting equivalent of eating your greens…that’s right—gauge swatches.
Read on to find out what stitches and students in a VW camper van have in common (and how they can help you get gauge!).
Here’s to shining brightly—while staying cozy—in these dark months! I look forward to seeing you all at our final Studio Hours meeting in December!
Featured image by Candace Hunter on Pixabay
