Sweet November

It's been a diverse and busy November here. I continued to struggle for workers' rights and equal pay and I also took a posh trip - to England! The irony of this does not escape me. However, that may be a discussion for another day. 

I'm in the process of sorting through the 200+ photos I took in London. I think maybe only thirty or so are any good and of those I shall choose the best to create a holiday photo post here in the coming days.

A Bill Passes and I Was There

Usually, I keep politics out of my blog. Today, however, I can't. Here are the details of the labour law reforms that passed today in Ontario. 
And here is my Facebook post about my happy reaction to watching this unfold:

"I am reflecting this evening on the experience of sitting in the Legislature today watching Bill 148 pass final reading. 
Three years ago, I called Workers' Action Centre for help with a labour dispute. I was welcomed into this crazy group and my life changed. Other than helping to raise an amazing human and citizen, the small contribution I've made to WAC and the Fight for $15 and Fairness, is my proudest achievement. This diverse group of hard working, inclusive, and ever-so-attractive individuals has been tirelessly organizing in the province for years - phoning, visiting MPPs, flyering, postering, handing out buttons, writing letters, marching, making speeches, educating, protesting, talking to anyone who will listen, and relentlessly s**t disturbing - to make life better for 1.6 million Ontarians. Tonight, I am happy and grateful.
It's not over yet. From here we push for enforcement and strengthening of existing laws . We must make sure government knows we are still paying attention. Tonight though, we celebrate a little."

Bright and Delicious Sixties

One of my vintage magazines  (1967-8 McCall's) has completely fallen apart and is headed, sadly, to the recycling bin. Naturally, I've clipped my favourite patterns. However, I wanted to share the best adverts with you too. In knitting mags, just as in regular fashion periodicals, often the ads are the best part.

These gals have spunk for days mixed with awesome accessories, hair and makeup. Love the bright colours and the sassy sixties attitude.

Best legwear ever.

Serious posing.

Check out the stitch pattern of the pink cardigan. It's the same bubble pattern used in PomPom's Bombus from this past spring. I noticed it because, as you know, Bombus is my current project. Indeed, everything old is new again!

Turn, Turn, Turn

You may recall me posting about breaking my umbrella swift and attempting to repair it with glue and spit. Well, the damage was just too great and I had to finally admit that it was unusable and needed to be replaced.

That unhappy occurrence turned happy quickly with a friend's recommendation that I try an Amish style swift. I'd always been curious and it certainly is much more affordable than the umbrella style, so I bought one. I just love it. It turns so smoothly and quietly. The set up and tear down are simple with no clamping required. Best of all, it breaks down into four flat pieces and a small bag of pegs so storage is easy. The only disadvantage I've found is that the ability to adjust to the skein size is not as precise as my old swift's but I can certainly live with that. 

I highly recommend this swift, especially if you live in a small space.

Make Do Monday

So it's Slow Fashion October again. Though I don't really take part, it is an opportunity for a bit of reflection. This past Monday, having the apartment to myself, I spent the entire evening listening to podcasts** and catching up on my mending. When you buy second hand and wear and wear your favourites for years, frequent maintenance is required. Seams wear, straps fray, buttons fall off. Some of these skirts have been in rotation for over 20 years. It's a small accomplishment, but I am proud of it.

Another aspect of slow fashion that I've been thinking a lot about is laundry. You hear more and more about plastic fibres from our clothes getting in the ocean. All those yoga pants being machined washed! To keep my natural fibre prints clean, I of course hand wash with vegetable based soaps - when I wash that is. For here's a secret. I hardly ever wash my skirts. Unless I spill something on them, they only get laundered about every tenth wear. Honestly with a freshening iron or steam, the fabric looks just fine to wear many times. Dresses need more washing for obvious reasons. However, I find that with light wear, a spritz on the underarm area of the garment with homemade fabric refresher***, is often enough to make the dress ready for a second or even a third wear. 

There is a label I want to share.  I rarely buy new and that's a function of economic necessity as much as it is a reflection of social conscience. When I do, it has to be special. Inside my new organic cotton dress by Toad & Co. is this:

Dirty is the new clean.
Wear more, wash less.
Wear it out or pass it on.

Sounds right to me.

**Re the podcasts. Listen to Clara Parkes reading the Debbie Stoller chapter from A Stash Of One's Own on Pomcast. It will make you cry.
***Mix a few drops of essential lavender oil and tea tree oil with distilled water in a spray bottle. It works wonders.

Business Casual

Pattern:  Business Casual by Tanis
Yarn by Orange Octopus 

After losing it once, finding it again, skipping a pattern repeat, ripping out the toe and restarting - they are finally done! I sent this snap to The Daughter right after weaving in the ends. They are becoming her socks because, despite my efforts, they are a tad too big for me.

Still, they're pretty cute, right?