The newspaper has the most interesting news
Posted by knitforpeace on March 17, 2008
I’ve always liked reading the obituaries. It’s a great way to learn about contemporary history or the place where you live.
In Saturday’s New York Times, the obituary of a woman named Chiara Lubich. She was a peace activist working within the framework of the Catholic church. She didn’t seem to be a rabble rouser, but rather started a lay community that had as its key word “unity” and focused on inter-religious dialog. She met with Buddhist monks and preached at a mosque.
Religion, for all its exploitation by governments and fear-mongers to acquire power and subdue other people, also has enormous potential to bring us together, across religious lines.
Today’s knitting-I’m in the Mary Thomas group on Ravelry, where we go through the Mary Thomas pattern books and knit swatches. Knitnerdy and fun. So far (just started this weekend) I’ve done something called Grecian Plait. I also did my own variation, (top of the swatch) where I alternated the twist on alternate knit rows.
karen said
I just came across your blog on a Google search for Mary Thomas – I am seeking more info on that very underknown woman – are there any books or articles or info on her that you might know about? You mention a group on Ravelry – maybe that is a source as well. I love her books and have had them for years but most other knitters just look blank when I mention her.
knitforpeace said
Hi Karen,
Her books are wonderful, aren’t they? I love the little illustrations she sprinkles around. Richard Rutt has a few paragraphs about her (with a photograph) in his History of Hand Knitting-here’s a brief synopsis – born 1898 in England, worked as a fashion artist in NY in her twenties, returned to England, eventually became a fashion editor but then turned to freelancing and, from there she began to write. She started with books on embroidery stitches and then did her wonderful knitting books. She died (1948) while working on a book on crochet. She was interested in women’s rights and, towards the end of her life, she was a Buddhist.
Hope that helps!
Knit peacefully,
Randy