Breathless
This is what the Provincial Waistcoat looks like right now, with the fronts and the back (almost) done:
It constricts my breath just to look at it – and not only because it is so pretty: it’s barely sixteen inches around at the waist! Am I actually knitting a corset?
And yet, periodic trying on through the knitting process indicates that it does indeed stretch like a hungry anaconda’s mouth and envelop snugly and elegantly my ample middle. Miracles may yet happen; I might yet finish and model this in a few days.
Anyone peer closely at the measuring ruler pictured above?
I got it as a gift, and it marks history in space (76 inches) and time (two millennia) – from Late Antiquity to Modern Times. It’s called "History: 2000 Years by the Meter." It’s a terrific, everyday example of the ubiquity European history as universal history, as simply the passage of all time. Interspersed into the broad, brightly coloured eras are smaller historical punctuations and movements. These begin with Ovid, and end with Globalisation – Modern Times includes Materialism, Revolutions, Historicism, Capitalism, Communism, and, hold your breath, Arts and Crafts. Interesting and packed times, these Modern Times! I should take it to class someday to illustrate what we mean by teleology.
Too bad they didn’t add a few more inches for Postmodern Angst. What little eddies might that little strip include, you think? Someday, if I get into woodwork, I’ll make a subversive measuring tape – Slavery, War, Serfdom, War, Enclosures, Labour Alienation, Empire, War, Conspicuous Consumption, Environmental Destruction, Decline of Unions, Postmodern Apathy, War. How’s that for a more accurate and inclusive global measurement.
But in case you’re wondering, this wooden ruler does work very well for gauge.
Wow… you made me laugh out loud at work. Won’t you please work on a subversive measuring tape? I love it.
Pretty knitting. I can’t wait to see it on. And I think that the Baroque era is rather fitting for the waistcoat’s present shape. Sigh, if only everyone would ask, “who’s history” exactly are we counting as History. Looking forward to your subversive measuring tape and its application to knitted guage.
“like a hungry anaconda’s mouth”? LOL I love it! Looks gorgeous, BTW. Can’t wait to see you model it.
Love the contrast between the thoroughly 19th-cen. European-inspired garment and the postcolonial critique. The ruler is amusingly awful.
I was reading your post too quickly and I thought you mentioned “Decline of Unicorns.” I’ll read more carefully next time.
Love your blog!
what a great ruler!
that sweater is going to be amazing – I can’t wait to see it done!
Ha! Thanks for reminding me (again) why I love reading your blog. But I’m thinking that a real alternative to the teleological timeline ruler would have to include rejecting the progressive, linear form of ‘ruler’ altogether … probably not as useful for measuring gauge.
And I do hope the sweater stretches as much as you need.
wow it is coming along nicely, and i love the color even more now!
i looove that tape, and all it tells us, Euro history and nothing else, time is segmented into definable sections and ner the two overlap, and arts and crafts – well its right at the end, nearly.
Love the tape measure
The waistcoat is pretty nice, too. It will be wonderful when finished!
Your ample middle?? Desiknitter, please. Hardly.
It’s lovely, and I like the subversive ruler idea, too. It reminds me of those wall charts of world history they’ve got, too, where Europe shows up really pretty late in the game.
which province?
I am utterly miserable, looking at this gorgeous vest you are able to make “itkya sahajpaNe”, as they say in Marathi. The color and the pattern are both really beautiful.
Also, what a wonderful teaching aid that ruler would be. Do you know where it can be bought?
I’m a little late to the game. I found your site through ravelry. I must have that ruler immediately. Too fabulous! As a historian of the early American contact period, I would pay very good $ for a subversive ruler as well. Your work is lovely and quite inspiring.