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Chargement... Unravelling Canada: A Knitting Odyssey (édition 2021)par Sylvia Olsen (Auteur)
Information sur l'oeuvreUnravelling Canada: A Knitting Odyssey par Sylvia Olsen
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Inscrivez-vous à LibraryThing pour découvrir si vous aimerez ce livre Actuellement, il n'y a pas de discussions au sujet de ce livre. I really loved this book about knitting and travelling and history. I'm just sorry I didn't get into the workshops the author held as she travelled across Canada from BC to Newfoundland (or as the inner front flap describes it "from the Salish Sea to the Atlantic Ocean"). Sylvia Olsen has been knitting for a long time but she is also a knitting historian with a Ph.D. in the field. Her knowledge of knitting styles, particularly bulky sweater types, is prodigious. The well-known heavy sweaters with animals or hockey logos are often worn by men but in most cases they will have been knitted by women. (I knew of one notable exception when I was grown up as a neighbouring farmer knit a number of sweaters.) They are called by various names, Cowichan, Siwash, curling, and maybe Mary Maxim or Buffalo for two of the largest wool and pattern companies. Sylvia Olsen is adamant that the Cowichan name only applies to handknit sweaters from the Coast Salish indigenous peoples. In fact, the Cowichan Tribes have registered the names "Cowichan" and "Genuine Cowichan" and "Genuine Cowichan Approved" as trademarks. Olsen married into the Tsartlip First Nation when she was seventeen. She would often knit with her mother-in-law who taught her the techniques and designs. Sylvia and her partner Tex conceived the idea of this tour in part to publicize Sylvia's book "Knitting Stories" and teach the colourwork technique used by the Coast Salish peoples. But Sylvia also wanted to hear stories from other knitters across Canada so each stop would be a workshop and storytelling. And because of her connection to First Nations people she wanted to explore more of their history all across Canada. She hoped she would be able to answer the question "What is a Canadian?" She says she didn't get a definitive answer but she has these final thoughts: "If knitters represent what it is to be Canadian, then we are a country of hard-working, caring, creative people leading meaningul lives. We are interested in who we are and where we come from. We are intentional and brave, read to hear the tough stories of our past and use them to forge a new future." A complete joy to read even if you aren't a knitter. I seem to enjoy everything that Sylvia Olsen writes. I can’t help but relax into what she says because it is so personable and personal, so simple and so wise. So here we go from BC to Nfld, in the car with her and Tex, questioning, observing, dropping into lots of cozy yarn shops that are so much more than that of course, thinking and learning about Canadian issues like borders, bridges, our history. I’ll probably give this as a gift and could easily read it again. aucune critique | ajouter une critique
"Toques, mittens and scarves are all associated with northern climates, but the quintessential garment of Canadian knitting is surely the bulky and distinctly patterned West Coast cardigan. In the early twentieth century, Indigenous woolworkers on southern Vancouver Island began knitting what are now called Cowichan sweaters, named for the largest of the Coast Salish tribes in the region. Drawing on their talents as blanket weavers and basket makers, and adapting techniques from European settlers, Coast Salish women created sweaters that fuelled a bustling local economy. Knitters across the country copied the popular sweaters to create their own versions of the garment. The Cowichan sweater embodies industry and economy, politics and race relations, and is a testament to the innovation and resilience of Coast Salish families. Sylvia Olsen married into the Tsartlip First Nation near Victoria, BC, and developed relationships with Coast Salish knitters through her family's sweater shop. Olsen was inspired to explore the juncture of her English/Scottish/European heritage and Coast Salish life experiences, bringing to light deeply personal questions about Canadian knitting traditions. In 2015, she and her partner Tex embarked on a cross-Canada journey from the Salish Sea to the Atlantic Ocean with stops in more than forty destinations to promote her books, conduct workshops, exchange experiences with other knitters and, Olsen hoped, discover a fresh appreciation for Canada. Along the way, with stops in urban centres as well as smaller communities like Sioux Lookout, ON, and Shelburne, NS, Olsen observed that the knitters of Canada are as diverse as their country's geography. But their textured and colourful stories about knitting create a common narrative. With themes ranging from personal identity, cultural appropriation, provincial stereotypes and national icons, to "boyfriend sweaters" and love stories, Unravelling Canada is both a celebration and a discovery of an ever-changing national landscape. Insightful, optimistic, and beautifully written, it is a book that will speak to knitters and would-be knitters alike."-- Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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Google Books — Chargement... GenresClassification décimale de Melvil (CDD)746.43The arts Graphic arts and decorative arts Textile arts Needlework Yarn CraftsÉvaluationMoyenne:
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This sounded really promising, but ended up being too lightweight for my interests. I’m an avid knitter and have learned about the history of the craft, as well as traditional designs from Great Britain and Europe. I was eager to broaden my knowledge, but Olsen offered only the most basic explanation of Canada’s Cowichan and White Buffalo sweaters, with no supporting photos or drawings. As a US citizen, I found her discussion of Canadian identity somewhat helpful. It increased my awareness of ways in which Canadians are reckoning with their country’s past and hoping to forge a better, more inclusive future. But again, Olsen did not go deep into this topic, relying instead on repeated mentions of indigenous culture that didn’t really go anywhere. And finally, by the time Sylvia and Tex reached the eastern part of the country it felt like her attention span was wearing out. After listing several yarn shops in Nova Scotia she admitted she hadn’t actually visited most of them and hoped to do so in the future! Compared to her coverage of British Columbia and Alberta, it felt rushed.
I’ve read elsewhere that Olsen’s tour across Canada was at least in part intended to promote a recently-published book, which might explain the lack of research to apply towards her thesis for this book. That’s too bad. ( )