pickI loved the premise of this: during Covid, the author sets out to make a sweater from scratch. Not just knitting it, but going all the way back to the starting point by learning to shear a sheep—and then learning all the other steps in between. I expected more about the process of making, but there was a fairly even balance between the mistakes and triumphs of shearing, spinning, dyeing, and knitting, and the author‘s reflections along the way. ⤵️
BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) Orenstein includes her own musings on grief, in the wake of losing her mother & watching her father‘s decline due to dementia. She also explores context I‘d never thought much about: where exactly do our clothes come from and what is involved in textile production? Her focus on sustainable practices when it comes to clothing was illuminating. This was a low pick for me—it touched on so many topics that I wanted to explore in more depth.⤵️ 1w
BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) But at the same time, it wasn‘t the author‘s objective to delve deeply into grief, or the impact of the clothing industry on climate change, or any of the many other topics she touches on. I enjoyed her journey and it gave me food for thought as well as further exploration. Thank you to @monalyisha for another great #AuldLangSpine recommendation! This is one I‘d never have come across if it hadn‘t been on your list! (edited) 1w
