First Person
Letter from Paris: Mysterious Intent
Dear friends,
Of course we’re still miles and miles—excuse me, kilometres and kilometres—from spring. Yet there are hopeful signs of growth … on my face.
My eyebrows are growing back.
Chemotherapy is over.
I’m supposed to ease my way towards full recovery. However, after seven months of drowsy, foggy immobility it’s difficult to pace myself. There is so much unfinished business beckoning from the workroom, and at the same time so many new things I want to plunge into.
The practical thing to do, of course, is tackle unfinished business first. So I’m trying to be practical. We’ll see how long that lasts.
About a third of the worktable is occupied by my knitted crazy quilt.* The sewing and wet blocking were done months ago.
After that, I folded it neatly and set it aside. I hadn’t touched it again until this week when I began the first stage of embellishment: embroidering all the joins between the patches.
I’m not using a hoop or frame. The bare tabletop supports the fabric, which I turn and fold as needed to get at the area of interest. I’m working from the center out. Occasionally, I unfurl it to take in the overall effect and decide what color and stitch to use next. I enjoy embroidering my knits, and taught others how to do it for years, so it’s very relaxing. My doctor approves.
The embroidery yarns come from the same pile of leftovers that I used for the knitting. I already know I like the way all these colors play together. To make choosing easier, I’ve divided them into three camps: Neutrals, Greens/Yellows/Browns, and Everything Else.
It’s a pleasure to see the formerly towering pile of stashed odd balls gradually melt away. Makes me feel downright thrifty.
Embroidery along the seams is, as I said, only the first stage of embellishment. After that, I’ll follow the time-honored custom of further decorating the quilt with embroidery inside the patches.
Those decorations are the crowning glories of many old (especially nineteenth-century) crazy quilts. Some are purely decorative, others are rich with meaning. Along with initials, names, and dates, there are motifs whose messages are clear (horseshoes and spider webs for good luck), and motifs whose personal associations passed away with the maker.
Wool crazy quilt, ca. 1880-1900, maker unknown (likely American), Metropolitan Museum of Art, gift of the Zelanka Family, in honor of Bernard and Rhoda Zelanka, 2016
I have a special affection for textiles that serve as documents—and the more mysterious the document, the more I love it.
So I intend to put more than a touch of mystery into this piece. I foresee lots of signs and symbols that are important to me … possibly only to me … or perhaps only to me and one other.
In the comments to a previous letter, a kind reader urged me to label the finished crazy quilt with my name and the date, at the very least. And I will.
Yet I am tickled by the idea of some future textile hound, as yet unborn, pondering the tattered remains with a furrowed brow and wondering … and wondering … and wondering …
Cordialement,
Franklin
*There’s no pattern for the quilt, as such; it was made using a bunch of different techniques I detailed in an educational series for my Patreon patrons. If you’re interested in that, and the other things I do over there, check out patreon.com/franklinhabit.
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So happy to hear you are feeling (and looking) more like yourself and up to working on such a beautiful quilt.
Stashbusting projects are such fun, and I’ve just finished a flowery intarsia jumper knitted with the aim of using up all my 4ply wool miniskeins. However just like you found after your lap blanket, I swear there is more yarn left in my tray than when I started. The upside is that I smile every time I see the 93 colourful small yarn bobbins now waiting for me to find something for them to turn into (and yes I did just go and count how many bobbins there are!
So glad to hear you are on the mend and I love the beautiful quilt. I love the embroidery and the unique touch it brings and the creative expression you are adding to your quilt. Years ago I made a fabric quilt and then embroidered each square and the borders too. It’s a cherished keepsake. My love of crafts began with an embroidery project my mother taught me to do. It has been a wonderful journey over the years. Crafts have been my coping skill when the world is too much and offers me a creative way to survive. Take care and thanks for sharing your life.
Beautiful colors, beautiful quilt, beautiful person. Wishing you continued recovery and all the best. You are an inspiration.
Your quilt is beautiful; a labor of love and unique significance. It is important to mark those pivotal moments in our life’s history, even if it means we are the only ones who will understand the message our creativity bears. Thank you, Franklin, for continuing to write your “Letters From Paris,” as they are the contribution to this website that I look forward to the most. Best wishes for a healthful future!
I love those little blue flowers.
Love that you are feeling more like yourself. I so look forward to your letters each month.
Thank you for sharing the news that chemotherapy is over and you are easing back into full recovery. It is the very best news to hear.
The crazy quilt is beautiful. It is inspiring. But then again you are inspiring to all of us that follow you.
Wishing you all the best life has to offer,
CJ
Glad you’re on the mend! I have my great grandmother’s crazy quilt. I never met her or my grandmother. They were illiterate and tried their best to put the initials of all the family members on the quilt. Talk about a mystery!
I love your crazy, embellished, patchwork, knitted quilt. There is no limit with the fiber arts. Thank you for sharing the project. So much love and support from me as you restore your health.
Godspeed as you continue to recover and inspire.
So glad to hear you are feeling better and on the way to recovery. I love your quilt and I love the embroidery. I have always loved embroidery on knits. I am planning on knitting a sweater and embroidering flowers or something like that on it. Can’t wait to see your finished quilt. I always love reading your column.
So glad you are feeling better. Love the quilt.
So glad you’re feeling better.
Wonderful to learn that you have turned the corner regarding your health. I would love to see your blanket when it is finished!
Your blanket is so beautiful! I can’t wait until it is finished!
So happy to hear that things medical are going well and that you are beginning to return to a degree of good health. The knitted quilt is beautiful and your embroidery embellishments will enhance it to an even higher degree of beauty. Take care my friend xx
So glad you are on the mend, I love your letters.
So inspiring to read your words, and to know you are feeling well after your ordeal. Best of futures to you.
Such beautiful work. So glad your health is improving
It was a joyous occasion the day I noticed eyelashes returning after chemo! I am so happy to hear chemo is done and you’ve entered recovery. Travel softly – the tireds will continue to hound you for a while yet.
God bless you as you recover and enjoy working on your projects! Your crazy quilt is beautiful – what a treasure!
What a joy to wake up to one of your letters! And new eyebrows – yay! Your quilt is reminiscent of the embroidered and embellished quilts you showed on your YouTube vlog a while back. So lovely and I can’t wait to see as the mysteries develop. Bonne santé!
Glad you are regaining your strength and being able to get back to what you love and educate and entertain us along the way.
Eyebrows really animate a face – I well remember being without eyebrows and could no longer raise one to emphasize a point or raise two in surprise. What fun to have them back again, even sparsely! (actually, having those nose hairs back was even better – no more having to carry tissues around to catch the sniffling) Hoping that the other souvenirs from the Land of the Unwell (neuropathy, iffy balance) don’t follow you, and that there are sunnier days ahead filled with yarny energy.
Beautiful! Can’t wait to see the finished piece. So thankful you are on the road to recovery
Hello,
I’m wondering what yarn you used…it looks soft and squishy. Was it all the same brand?
I always love the letters from Paris – but especially when they contain good news!
Oh, Dolores and Harry must appear somewhere on the quilt. That future historian will go mad trying to figure what this smiling ball of yarn portends.
Such great news! So glad you are on the mend. The quilt is beautiful and your embroidery adds a unique touch. I love your writing and your wonderful sense of humor. Always glad to see a post from you on MDK!
Take care of yourself and Be Well Soon!
Wait, wait! Back up. Spider webs for good luck?
So much good news today, and I’m glad the fog and struggles are lifting. Eyebrows! You have such expressive eyebrows. 🙂
The quilt is really coming along and is beautiful. Something to cherish. Thank you Franklin for this happy letter to start my day.
Your voice has been so missed! Welcome back and continue to thrive!
First of all, I am so happy you are done with chemo. I hope you feel so much better. The knitted quilt is beautiful. The colors just glow. Embroidering the seams just makes it better. I can’t wait to see the finished product.
I’m so glad you are on the mend. I also enjoy embroidery on knitting. It’s fun!
I LOVE it when Franklin has a letter. I so much admire his creativity, wit and overall bravery. I love you, Franklin.
It looks magnificent already. I can’t wait to see the finished product.
This is beautiful. Thank you, Franklin!
Sometime in the 1920s, my grandmother began patchworking and embroidering a crazy quilt of velvet scraps, intending to make it into a “Joseph’s coat” or short kimono-shaped lounging wrap, which was a fad of the day. Then she had kids and put the patchwork aside until after WWII, when she said the heck with it, backed the lap-sized rectangle with satin and called it done. I have that quilt today and love it, even though some of the velvet patches are shot from age. I hope your quilt will live and be loved at least as long.
I’m so happy for you to learn you have finished chemo! Congratulations! You and your quilt are very inspiring. I’ve been sorting through numerous yarn scraps of mine and my mother’s. Many will be donated, but those of a certain size and fiber content have been kept, perhaps for a crazy quilt – I’m sure I will tire of knitting hats. Again, congratulations on finishing chemo!!!!
Always so happy to see your posts. Even happier to know that you are finding your way back to what you love.
Three cheers to your providers and your own constitution!
Very happy to hear you are on the road to recovery. Enjoy Paris in Spring time
So happy to see your creative juices are flowing again and that the chemo and all the treatment didn’t even get close to drying that up! This quilt is amazing and beautiful. I love a knit/embroidery combo and hope someday to be so good to combine the two. Enjoy the process and thanks for keeping us in the loop with all the loveliness surrounding you in Paris.
I am delighted that your chemotherapy is over and you have energy! This post is so inspiring–I had never thought of embroidering knitted joins. I have done fabric crazy quilts in the past but ! Thank you Franklin, as always.
So glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. I have been waiting and looking forward to your return. The crazy quilt is looking great. A label is a must. I made a Temperature Blanket for 2023 with the High temp. in Buffalo N.Y. and put a label in it for history. Maybe 30 or 40 years from now someone will do a year to see the changes. The very best to you as you work your way back. Take it slow and easy and do what the Dr. say. Look forward to your next letter.
Thank you Franklin. You bring joy with each post! Diane
I enjoy your column to the hilt! Glad you are on the mend. That quilt is to die for and inspiring me to tackle something with my leftovers.
Thank you for sharing a lovely bit of happiness. Please post more pics of your quilt. Would love to see your embroidery. Your eyebrows are coming back in time for spring! Just like tulips, yay!
Delighted to have good news, dear Franklin! The blanket is stunning, and I look forward to seeing the finished product. Keep doing well and inspiring us.
It’s so beautiful! And I’m so happy for your recovery! You are a joy in my life.
I’m glad you’re feeling better and I can’t wait to see what mysterious things you embroider on the quilt. Of course, the odd balls will keep multiplying like tribbles – you’ll never use them all up. That quilt will get an edging or two, and fringe, and tassels, and….
I am so happy your chemotherapy is over, and you are slowly easing back to full recovery. You still are in my prayers.
Great to see you SLOWLy going back to what you love and gettign your strength back
Lovely! BTW – loved the mug and bag with your quilted likeness that Lynda at Dyakcraft has released. Love them, love their needles, and you’re just the best. Take care and continue to thrive.
So thrilled you have chemo behind you. I’m so excited to see this crazy quilt progress. I’m considering one of my own.
What fun! Adding embroidery to projects. I’m attempting to finish a sweater for a friend (got stuck when I realized at the neckline of the front that I started with 10 less stitches then was called for, so I’ve been sitting and staring at the project for months) and here is great incentive to get ‘er done! I’ll look forward to adding a little something here or there for fun and personality! And ever so glad to hear your eyebrows are coming back. I learned to raise one watching the Million Dollar Man and I would hate to lose that ability to express myself!
So glad to hear that you’re done with chemo! Here’s to your continued good health & resurgence of eyebrows.
This is always one of my morning reads. Today was very touching to hear about your health and healing. Great news. And you also gave us such a beautiful, creative journey through your project. Just incredible knitting and embroidery . Thank you
So glad to hear that you are on the road to wellness. I love the colors of the yarn in your crazy quilt. May continued health and wellness be yours each and everyday.
Happy knitting as you progress through your projects.
It’s just beautiful! As are you. Glad you’re feeling better.
Great idea, wish that I had thought of it by myself. Thank you for sharing. I shall embroider down the joins of my sampler afghan which needed some added color.
I’t is a beautiful work of art!
love your writing and knitting. so happy you are recovering. all my best,
So glad you are on the other side of kemo! And the glimpses of your crazy quilt and embroidery are beautiful 🙂
All of this is one big ball of good news, and I am thankful that you’re feeling better and are healing.
So glad that you are on the road to recovery! May each day be better and better so you can continue your amazing work….
Oh happy news! Huzzah! And the quilt is gorgeous
I wouldn’t have thought of doing anything more than a simple feather stitch on a knitted blanket. It’s looking amazing already!
The best news of spring is the rebirth of all things that have been dormant or resting. And your news of coming through and feeling “fiber-y”, is a joy for my mind and heart! Bravo and may the colors and fresh air continue to heal you!
You do such beautiful work! Glad you are feeling better. Prayers continue…..
News from Paris is what I wait for – and the good news is the best. I can picture seeing the spring approach and looking forward to outings again. In the meantime that crazy crazy quilt is the perfect healing project to pass the time. I look forward to the finished piece and like everyone else wish you speedy recovery and a return to being in Paris proper.
I am *so* glad you are finished with chemo, and are feeling well enough to tackle embroidering your knitted crazy quilt! Just seeing the colors and bits of embroidery in the photos cheered me up, so I hope it’s doing the same for you.
So glad the chemo is over and you are feeling better. I love the quilt and I thank you for the embroidery idea for the seams. The visible joins were always something I disliked about blankets made with squares. But I do love to embroider. So a new blanket may be in store one day. Bless you and continue to get better.
I’m so happy to hear you are on the mend. I wish you continued healing and strength.
Great letter Franklin. I’ve been about the quilt. It’s nice that you’re able to work on it again. Best wishes in you recovering health.
How wonderful to hear from you!!! I am glad health is improving. You are prayed for quite often- it is a blessing to share your thoughts and fun ideas. Continue with Spring thoughts, and regrow and bloom to your fullest, my friend, our friend!!!!! ~A
Wonderful news that your treatment is over and that you can start to regain your energy and inspiration for fibery things!
So pleased to hear that your body is recovering from your chemo. And what a great project to return to.
I have just finished my stash of WIPs – the oldest of which was cast on in Summer 2016!! WtF???
Here’s to woolcraft springcleaning and hope that spring brings you back to full health. x
So, so happy for you that chemo is over!!!!!!! And the eyebrow reveal on Patreon was smashing…
So glad to see your quilt again. I love the little branches with flowers.
Enjoy the slow journey back home to yourself…
Your blanket is a work of art. I can’t wait to see what you add next. So happy to read that your treatments are finished. Every new day will bring new energy and hope. Spring time in Paris will be wonderful ( and extra special ) this year. Absolutely love your posts and always look forward to each one.
Oh Franklin, I am so happy that you’ve made it through chemo. That takes so much courage. Best wishes for a full and happy continuing recovery. — I love your beautiful knit crazy quilt. The embellishments are so lovely. All of your work is inspiring! You have gifted me the ambition to finely add pull out a cotton cloth memory quilt I made many years ago for my mother where I embroidered her parents names, dates and those of her children and grandchildren so that she would have them as her memory slipped. I want my granddaughter someday to have it so I’ll be sure to add my name as the quilter too. Thank you, Franklin. Keep well.
What a nice surprise to read your Letter from Paris this morning, with the good news that you are on the road to recovery. Absolutely beautiful quilt, and a true inspiration. Your letters are one of my favorite things on the whole internet!
Your crazy quilt is really beautiful. It is already fabulous, I love the decorative stitching at the joints.
Franklin, your quilt is so beautiful. I hope that working on it makes you feel better! ❤️
So glad you are regaining your energy (and your eyebrows!). Your letters are such a delightful gift, and I am grateful for you.
I’m so happy that you’re starting to feel better Franklin ❤️. This quilt is magnificent already. I look forward to seeing the finished article xx
Wonderful you’re stitching! When I knitted and embroidered my crazy quilt sweater, I added my initials in cross stitch, a little departure from traditional embroidery embellishment. Can’t remember if I used waste canvas, it was over 30 years ago, but I think, yes, in order to not be limited to the size of the knitted stitches, for my x’s.
Be well and rest often as you recover!
So glad you are coming around since chemo. It can be brutal and effects hang on longer than we are patient. You are doing a magnificent job with the quilt, and the embroidery is such a unique touch. Continue with your recovery and creations.
So enjoy these writings, and glad to hear chemo is over. Love the concept of handmade articles as documents, and now have lots of ideas percolating. Definitely sign your finished quilt.
Am so very happy that your chemo has ended! Will continue praying for your full recovery. I enjoy reading your posts and seeing your beautiful knits. Now you have me interested in embellishing.
Eyebrows returning? Hurray!! Like the first flowers in spring. It’s so wonderful to know that you’re on the mend and easing back to normal. Keep resting as needed and creating as (always!) needed. What a joy to see the crazy quilt put together. I watched the process on Patreon and it was amazing. Such a beautiful piece. Suddenly I was reminded of a dress I made decades ago for a niece. Sewed a simple dress in dark blue and embellished the neckline with embroidered red and white flowers. She wore it until it was getting to be way too small!! Anyway…seeing your gorgeous embroidery has encouraged me to get back to doing some of my own. Thanks for sharing and lighting that spark again! Stay well and warm and keep healing. Hugs and good wishes from California. ❤️
So, so looking forward to future peeks at your quilt, which I’m sure will be stunning.
I’ve very happy to hear you are regaining your strength and are back to doing what you love. And YAY for eyebrows!!!
I started my own stash-busting knit log cabin-like blanket awhile ago and never thought of embroidery. What a good idea! Also I’m happy to hear your chemo is over. I, as many others, enjoy your column and ideas. Stay positive! Keep getting better.
So happy to hear your latest good news Franklin!
Love your quilt – beautiful, unique, personal. Hope you post updates on it now and again. Thank you!