Handwork Projects

Handwork is quiet work, contemplative work. It takes patience, practice…(p..p…)…purpose.

Patience comes from learning a new skill or building upon ones once learned in childhood. It comes with faith that even in just picking at a project for 15 minutes a day, the piece will by God’s grace be finished someday. It doesn’t have to be slow work, as racing knitting needles will attest, but it is space and time away from the frivolities and urgencies in other activities.

With practice handwork encourages humility that recognizes how foolish or flippant we have regarded our time or our efforts. Rushing through projects only develops a close relationship with the seam ripper. It takes practice to set a stitch straight, just like it takes practice to speak words of encouragement. Practicing confesses the need we have to do so, and the lack we have in our meager first steps.

Handwork is never without purpose. Whether creating something of practical need or whimsy, there is treasure entwined in the product. For what price do you put someone’s time? Someone’s care? How many hours of poking needles, frustrations and failures are hidden in the finished piece? It has value, because the person behind it has value. Creating something is an act of sharing the heart, and the purpose behind that is love.

Let your fingers be busy this winter with something creative. Pick at it a bit at a time. It is good to be silent and to be busy with your hands, making something that reflects you. You’re beautiful in your own way, and we all need a small stitch sampling of the you that God Himself creatively made.

Here are some of the projects lying around our home.

This is an applique I am making for my coffee table. I currently do not have a coffee table, but God just gave me two gently used sofas (yea!) so I am waiting on Him to provide me a table to go with them. I want to be ready when it comes.

This is another applique project I am working on. It is a small quilt using reproduction Civil War fabric. I just love the colors. When I finish it, I am going to hang it above our player piano. I learned to applique about a year ago in a class. I love taking different classes and am so thankful for teachers willing to share their craft.

Speaking of applique, I had a woman scoff at using ironing transfer instead of the (for me) very difficult needle turn. “It’s not quilting,” she sniffed, “it’s CRAFT.” Well…….do you think when I am enjoying my quilts that I will be so very upset that it’s not “real”? I use pumpkins to make pie with that I didn’t grow, but we still enjoy my “homemade pie.” Fooey on the discouragers and distractors. Yes, in handwork (much like cooking), you can do it YOUR way.

Here is a rag rug I am working on. I taught myself how to do with a book, in order to teach it to five lovely young ladies (this morning!). It’s a great way to use up scraps, and I find it relaxing to repeat all of the motions. I will tell you that I have a greater appreciation for the work that goes into these, and can’t imagine actually STEPPING on it!

This is a Christmas gift for someone. And that’s all I’m sayin‘. Some folks recognize the value in homemade, some don’t even acknowledge it. I create things for others because I love them, not because I expect to be loved back (or thanked even). It’s a wise place to sit. But I know this gift will be enjoyed.

I’m trying my hand at paper cut-outs. SO FUN! I bought this pattern from Amy Karol. I’m going to frame it. I don’t know where to hang it yet, but I don’t care. It was worth doing.

I invited an older woman whom we love to craft with us, and this is what she brought for us to do! This project was so fun! She got the pattern from here, and bought sweaters to felt from Goodwill. And speaking of Goodwill, she said that woolen sweaters were a real popular item to buy these days from there, because the thing to do was to make felted purses out of them (hmm..I think I smell a new project…). I know exactly who is getting one for Christmas (and she probably knows it! But be surprised anyway! 🙂

I have a knitted washcloth half finished (for about the last year…) and a quilt I started handquilting 13 years ago (ug! I don’t like handquilting!), and a knitted pillow that is 2/3’s finished, too. My husband bought me a set of Prismacolor coloring pencils that I’ve been hoping to someday own, so I will probably get out the paper crafts soon. I have one friend to visit with as we make our own Family Rules next week, and another to create metal label pendants. Handwork doesn’t have to be lonesome. Or finished in a timely manner, for that matter 🙂

Here is one of my two daughters, who have both taken up crochet (ages 7 and 12). I’m crochet-clueless, but I love the look. And of course I am trying to foster a love for handwork in them, as well.

Diapers and lessons and cooking all keep me very busy. Handwork keeps me happy and quiet, at least until spring gardening shows up. I hope you enjoy your projects, as well.