A few days before our Canadian Thanksgiving holiday in early October, my husband convinced me to sign up for the “Turkey Trot”, a 10 km (6.2 mile) run around Vancouver.
Somewhere I had heard that they served little courses of traditional turkey dinner at each kilometre marker and that it was just a fun run. I don’t know what made me believe they would actually serve turkey dinner on the race course, but I thought it would be a hilarious and great idea to do the run… with no training and having not run at all for over a year, at least.
Well. Race day came and there was no Thanksgiving dinner, only bananas and chili at the finish line. But the race itself became a meditation on all the things I am thankful for. No lie, halfway through the race, I nearly burst into tears with how wonderful it all was.
The race started at Granville Island, a vibrant community of artisans and craftspeople, including Diana Sanderson’s Silk Weaving Studio, Maiwa, and the Emily Carr University of Art & Design. I’ve been a frequent visitor to the “island” for years now, as I studied graphic design at Emily Carr, took classes and bought my dyes from Maiwa, and fawned over nearly everything at the Silk Weaving Studio. I was thankful for the creativity and craft resources that have been foundations of my passion and work.
Running along the north sea wall of False Creek, under a canopy of stunning autumn leaves, I passed the spot where my husband and I took our engagement photos over five years ago, and then passed the two spots that were venues for the past Diner en Blancs that we enjoyed with friends. It reminded me to be thankful for my relationships, my husband, my family, and my friends.
And finally, we ran along the south sea wall of False Creek, passing by the neighborhood of our old townhouse that we lived in before we had kids. That place was small and cramped, had single-pane windows and was cold almost all the time despite paying obscene fees for heating, but it reminded me to be thankful for the blessing that we have a roof over our heads and warm beds at night.
I don’t know if everyone had the same experience as I did on the Turkey Trot, but this run around False Creek was the perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day and be reminded of all the blessings we enjoy. Wherever you are in the world, I hope that you are enjoying this fall season and a spirit of thanksgiving.
Enjoy your fall knitting and spinning!
Felicia (@sweetgeorgia and @felicialowong)
Yarn // Bulletproof Sock
We love our new Bulletproof Sock that was designed to make smooth and strong socks. Bulletproof Sock is blended from 50% superwash merino, 15% silk, 15% mohair, and 20% nylon. Slightly finer than our Tough Love Sock, Bulletproof Sock knits up at a gauge of approximately 8 sts per inch on 2.25 mm (US 1) knitting needles. Each skein of 3-ply light fingering weight yarn has approximately 437 yards (400 m) per 3.5 oz (100g).
Fibre // Wensleydale
Wensleydale is one of those fibres that I find fascinating and I want everyone to have a chance to work with it. We are so often spoiled by super duper soft, short stapled wool fibres like Merino that we forget that wool comes in all different types and textures. This month, spin outside your default yarn and favourite blends and try something, perhaps, new to you! If you find the Wensleydale a little too coarse for your taste, consider carding or blending it together with something softer but along with a longer staple length.
Interested in seeing what some of our Club members are making with their yarn and fibre? Check out Rachel’s spinning posts about what she’s been spinning from our monthly fibre. And welcome Katrina, who has been knitting up each month’s yarn into something spectacular!
— Enjoy colour, Felicia
Each month, we dye a brand new, unique colourway for our Spinning Fibre and Sock Yarn Clubs. This post is all about what we sent out to our members in November 2016.