These wool pieces are in memory of G and my evening walk on the beach at Risser’s Provincial Park in Nova Scotia during our honeymoon. I purchased the yarn – Milarrochy Tweed from Kate Davies Design and Co – in January 2019 with plans to submit a pattern for her Warm Hands collection. Then we moved and evenings were very busy, and I didn’t knit at all for most of the year. It feels good to have completed these pieces. Ends woven in and blocked and all. The process was relaxing and rewarding and now I enjoyed wearing them as the last of this spring’s cold weather lingered on.

I knit the mittens first. Inspired by maritime Canada’s thrumming technique, in which a lice pattern is made with bits of roving, I carried four colors of this single ply yarn together for the lice stitches. The effect is similar to thrumming, though less poofy inside and out. I hope that they insides felt nicely with wear and the outsides hold up well.
The neckwarmer is not quite big enough to be called a cowl, this style of neck accessory has become my favorite. It’s just what I need while at home on a winter evening, baking or playing with my child. Never in the way, no wrapping necessary, and can be layered under any coat without bulk. I loosely planning the approach for this and then improvised away, thinking of the edge of the beach, where waves have darkened the sand and progressing past the strewn about seaweed, inland to the vibrant green herbs and then the forest growing well above high tide line.
