Emerging Beauty

Spring has arrived! We didn't get the snow and slush that hit Chicago and Traverse City this past weekend. Instead, we got a cold blast of wind and a bit of frost on our lawns. Some friends got a bit of sticking snow, but by afternoon it had melted and the warm sun was shining. A lone snowdrop welcomes us as we enter school. As we depart, a happy scattering of purple and yellow buds are peeking through bright green leaves. Our hearts dance at the sight! The first graders found tiny daffodils blooming in the playground gardens. They look with admiraton and respect, and make sure the delicate flowers do not get trampled.

Here is our school nature table, a familiar sight near the front entrance. I was tempted to put a bit of wool snow around the flower children, but couldn't bring myself to do it after all. Mrs. Thaw has diligently swept it all away, and Lady Spring is here to stay, despite that bit of snow we had outside. Old King Winter can play his tricks, but I am not taking him out of the box again until next school year. I put bits of green moss here and there, and I will add more as the season progresses. Doesn't that shade of green make you smile?!

My favorite color is beginning to appear all around. How refreshing! Here's a wild looking bit of land in the middle of the suburbs; a spot just off the highway called The Plumbrook Drain. I pass by here every morning and get about a two second view. This time, I pull off the road to take a picture. There are geese and ducks going about their business, ignoring the traffic in their own morning commute.

Kerstin made this lovely Pussy Willow Lady for our school nature table. It will remind us of her when she has gone back to Germany. We are blessed to have such talent for a few more months. Her other original designs include a Rainbow Maiden, and most appropriately, a Forget-Me-Not. Here is a Snowdrop Lady she made for a friend.
My Daffodil Girl stands triumphantly with her flowers at home. All this Nature Table show and tell is a fine distraction, but what about the knitted farmyard blanket?

Here are the squares for blanket number two. Three new designs have emerged among nine old favorites, so this blanket will be different than the first one.

We are talking about what to do with it when it is finished. After much discussion, we have decided. We will display it around town for a few months, and then raffle it off at our annual Holiday Bazaar in November. That way, friends and families who don't yet know about our wonderful school will have a chance to learn about Waldorf education. Share the wealth, share the joy ~ the more the merrier!

The first stop for our blanket is the Earth Day Expo in downtown Rochester on April 18th and 19th. This is a wonderful free weekend that features green ideas and living well, including organic foods, farmers' market, and family fun. Oakland Steiner School will have a booth. Stop by to see Kelly and friends! The event is presented by Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center. Learn more at http://www.earthdayexpo.org/

Denise has decided to donate her farmyard blanket to the school. She has enjoyed knitting her squares, and says it inspired her daughter to knit beside her. They shared many wonderful moments together, and she sees this as the true benefit of being in the group. She has chosen to live in the moment - and enjoy the journey. Thank you for your generous spirit, Denise, from all of us.

Child's Play

One lucky bidder made the purchase and her children are delighted! Our gratitude goes out to Paula and her family for a generous donation to the school. We are pleased that the Farmyard Blanket has found a home.

Now its time to accessorize. Ostheimer and Kinderkram wooden farm-life figures are especially pleasing to hold, and a nice contrast to the soft wool. The Gnome Home, our school store, has a nice collection of these for sale. Of course, you can make your own knitted or sewn figures too.

Here are all twelve of the squares in our first Farmyard Blanket. The next twelve will soon be turned into a second blanket, and sold on our etsy website.

The Vegetable Garden
Fern and Wren are not the only ones who love this square. It was knitted in Minnesota by their grandmother Carole, and embellished in Michigan by their mother Leah. The needle-felted lettuces, beets, and carrots look good enough to eat.

The Barnyard
Did someone say food? Marna, mom to Liam, knitted this cozy barnyard for the piggies. She found time to knit between catering jobs and cooking for her own family this past year.

The Sheep Pasture
Judi and Yvonne joined forces to create this field. Judi did the knitting, and her daughter-in-law Yvonne needle felted the details. Six year old Jake is proud of the work his mother and grandmother have done.

The Flower Meadow
Denise, mom to third grader Ariana, created this lovely square with gentle hills and needle felted flowers. A tiny visitor wanders over to take a nap in the comfort and shade of this misty meadow.

The Horse Pasture
Shannon learned to knit so her daughter Alena would have a farmyard blanket of her own. She worked her way through online tutorials in the wee hours of the night until she had it just right. What an achievement!

The Raised Beds
Toni has two shares in this knitting co-op. Here is the first, and the second is a hayfield. She is making a big blanket for Miyo, but we just might catch her playing with it herself while her daughter is at school.

The Pond
One homeschool family divided the knitting task evenly between themselves. Three girls, Latifa, Danah and Mariam, and their mom Judith, enjoyed making the ponds. A thankful groundhog family enjoys the taste of fresh Spring flowers.

The River
The pattern for this beautiful square was designed by Natalie. She and her husband Paul manage a Waldorf-inspired daycare in Clawson. Both of them are qualified kindergarten teachers, and have worked at the Children's Center at OSS. Now they care for young children at Joyful Beginnings, as well as raising their own teenage daughters.

The Plowed Earth
A clever fox takes a rest on his way to the henhouse. Trish's children, Joshua and Clare, can't wait to see their farmyard blankets turned into bedspreads. What a lovely way to fall asleep each night.

The Hayfield
Trish also has two shares in this knitting co-op. She made this bright yellow hayfield and ironed it flat because stockinette tends to roll. It worked like a charm.

The Cornfield
Debbie's four children will enjoy her hard work for years to come. That includes her youngest, George, who started preschool this year, her gradeschool age daughters, Olivia and Julia, and her oldest, Abigail, now in college.

The Wheat field
Katherine, our school administrator, will be donating her finished blanket to the Children's Center. It will bring joy to the youngest students at Oakland Steiner School.

Knit 'til the Cows Come Home

For five days in a row, Shannon and I got together to complete the roads, assemble the Farmyard Blanket, add finishing touches, and finally, attach a backing. Our families shared a few meals and lots of laughs as we worked overtime on the project. Look how Shannon painstakingly lines up each stitch when sewing the squares together. It was well worth the time and effort; the result is a seamless work of art.


Shannon's experience as a quilter was invaluable in this last phase of work. She recommended a layer of cotton batting, which gives the blanket an extra bit of cushion. The children will appreciate it when playing on the floor. We made a label for the back and appliqued it on with tiny stitches. We plan to create a certificate of authenticity with the knitters' signatures included. The highest bidder will have a nice record of the artisans, as well as care and cleaning instructions.


Our hands have completed our task with patience.We have done our work with care. Our fingers have worked as friends together and we have our friendship shared.

The smile on Shannon's face tells the whole story. After a week of late nights and frantic needle work, we have finished. It is our finest work!



Here is the description for the Auction Program:

Ten months ago, twenty four volunteers from OSS and beyond got together to make this Knitted Farmyard Blanket. Some were seasoned knitters, others were new to the craft - as green as a sheep meadow. We have spent countless hours knitting, and present to you tonight the fruit of our labor - a bright and beautiful farmyard blanket. It is entirely handmade of all natural materials: 100% wool, mohair, cotton, and TLC. Original needle-felted details and hand-embroidery make it a one-of-a-kind piece. The back is reinforced with cotton for extra durability, and lined with cotton batting for playtime comfort. It is signed by all of the artisans. This is a play mat for children and grandchildren, a twin bed blanket, a tapestry for your favorite room. It is an heirloom your family will truly cherish for generations to come. A functional work of art valued at $1200.

Oakland Steiner School's biggest fundraiser of the year is our annual auction. This year we celebrated our 20th Anniversary in style at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester. Everyone had an enjoyable, relaxing evening with friends and family. The school was blessed with generous donations of all sizes. Take a peek at the banquet room here - http://www.royalparkhotel.net/index.html

Caught in the Current

The Paint Creek - Clinton River is moving fast through Rochester Hills Municipal Park today. There is similar beauty and power in the handwork room at OSS. We are caught up in the excitement of the school auction, taking place this Saturday. Many busy hands knitted and needle-felted in a combined effort to complete the farmyard blanket. Thanks to all for your willing efforts.

An afterschool trip to the duck park was a welcome break from our work. The children were delighted! Mr. and Mrs. Mallard invited them in for a closer look at the water. The moms were grateful for rubber boots. Everyone is enjoying the change in the weather. Even the groundhog was out of his burrow and nibbling near the roadside.

Winter has kindly stepped aside for awhile, allowing spring to take hold of the earth. Last week, we experienced the mighty winds of March. This force of nature sent garbage can lids sailing down the driveway, along with windswept children holding tightly onto their hats. This week, we are graced with the golden rays of the sun, plenty of smiles, and warm children asking to remove their coats. This afternoon, at a park not far from school, we had a chance to bask in it. How wonderful to be outside - carefree and happy amidst bikes and strollers and dogs.

I worked on joining two blanket sections, beginning where the river meets the pond. A simple knit stitch allows for easy transition of colors and quick completion.

Shannon tackled the complicated road between the hay field and the corn field. She managed to finish it despite my vague pattern, three varied stitches, and six strands of color. In case you can't tell, its a two track road that dead ends into shrubbery. I think everyone who has driven in the country has seen a road like this. Thanks to Melissa for quickly knitting the long gravel road in seed stitch. Yvonne has added a few rocks since this picture was taken.

Kim used the basketweave stitch to make our cobblestone path. Its a repeating combination of 5 knit, 5 purl for so many rows, then reverse. Brown Sheep's bittersweet and praire wildfire create the brick red color.

Kathleen is making a dirt road to connect her plowed field to the flower meadow. I appreciate her willingness to learn color changes. It will come in handy when she makes roads for her own blanket.

Our first photo of farmyard blanket makers in action was sent in by Yvonne. At the top, Judi, her nother-in-law, knits a sheep pasture while Yvonne adds her trademark needle-felted rocks and blades of grass. Her son Jake enjoys watching them work. Her husband Jeff must be up in the maple tree taking the picture. The Stefani family visited Kensington Metro-Park last Saturday to see how maple syrup is made. Many of the Huron-Clinton Metro Parks host similar maple syrup events in March. It is a seasonal occurance, unique to our region of the world. Check out the link for nearby parks and a schedule.

Attract and Engage

The heart of our wonderful story is that knitting brings people together. I'm not just talking about the twenty people who joined our group to make a farmyard blanket. Of course, we are bound together in friendship. We're a knitting family of friends. I'm talking about complete strangers. The ones who watch curiously from a distance. The people in the waiting room or the ice arena who can't help but ask, "What are you making?" They are amazed, impressed, and inspired by the project. The sight of someone working with her hands, the sound of the needles, the beauty of the rich colors, the warmth of the wool; all of these things draw people in. Conversations are started, smiles exchanged, acquaintances made. Perhaps the curious onlooker will decide to visit a yarn shop and finally sign up for that class.


I hope everyone had a chance to get outside for more than a few minutes today. The past two days have been unseasonably warm. Temperatures soared into the high sixties, nearly breaking a state record! These turtles warmed their backs and watched a goldfish at Metro Beach.


Here is Natalie's river, an original pattern, complete with a goldfish of its own. She chose blue skyways to show swift, sparkling waters, oatmeal for the quaint beach and oregano for the wetland grasses. I imagine a canoe or kayak can put-in here quite easily.

Not far from Metro Beach is the farm at Wollcott Mill. Its a metropark that welcomes visitors year round. Their main attraction is the cow barn, but I prefer to walk outside and visit the other animals, especially the horses. These strong gentlemen will put in a good day's work when the time comes, but not this Saturday. Notice the dusting of hay on big red's back from rolling on the warm ground. He's enjoying his day off. Soon these eager workhorses will make deep furrows in the nearby fields.




Here are Toni's raised beds, a warm and dusty combination of sable and roasted coffee. The knitted and purled rows create a ribbed effect. She steamed the ribbing to keep its shape and to match the size of the other squares. The extra step paid off, as you can see. It looks just right attached to the horse pasture. The road in between them is roasted coffee, mixed with forest shadows and spruce.

Knitting is a sure way to mix business and pleasure. Its portable and lightweight, so you can take it wherever you go. There never has to be a dull moment. We happily add rows while doing other things. We knit and purl while our children play music, practice gymnastics, horseback ride, Irish dance, swim, ice skate, or ski. It gives us a sense of accomplishment to finish a row while the children finish a lesson. Whole farmyard fields emerge while we travel to a vacation spot, relax at the beach, wait for a car repair or to see a doctor. The fun and convenience of handwork should not be overlooked.

Still Winter

Some locals say that we have four seasons in Michigan: almost winter, winter, still winter, and warm weather at last! We are definitely in the still winter season. The ice is almost completely melted on the trails and creeks, and patches of brown-green grass are everywhere to be seen. There is happy birdsong in the air, and teenagers wearing thin layers of clothes, trying to look warm. The sun is here to stay, and blue skies make us think the temperature is above 25 degrees. My daughter and I took a drive north, in search of local farms. We spotted a few cows and horses in the pastures, and a few farmers here and there getting work done.


Along the way, we listened to an audio version of Freddy Goes to Florida by Walter R. Brooks, one of my childhood favorites. Its an imaginative tale of Mr. Bean's barnyard animals, who decide to migrate, on paw and hoof, to greener pastures. They have many adventures along the way, and return home safely in Spring. Not a bad idea!


Check your local library for a copy of this beloved book and others in the series. If you'd like to own a copy, visit Chinaberry http://www.chinaberry.com/family/freddy-detective-freddy-florida-flip-book.shtml

We returned home and enjoyed the last day of mid-winter break doing practically nothing. I washed and ironed some fabric, with the help of a couple of kittens.

Amber Waves of Grain

Toni and Trish are working on the hayfields. A blend of sunburst gold and prairie goldenrod add depth and interest to this square.


A lovely Canadian farm on the way to the Pinery, taken last summer. These rolls of hay are a familiar sight throughout Michigan too. What fun to try to make some for our Farmyard Blanket.


Here it is, a roll of hay to complete our farmyard field! I cast on three inches and then knitted for a length of about three hand-widths, then switched to a loop stitch for about two hand-widths, then cast off. The children find it irrestible to roll and unroll this hay.


We've got an acre of corn, and so far the coons and the crows have left it alone. The cornfield is a combination of kiwi and prairie goldenrod. Its the only one of its kind, and Debbie planted all of those kernels by hand.


This plowed field by Trish is an earthy combination of sable and wild oak. Kathleen is making her plowed field in sable and chocolate souffle. It will be featured in the second blanket.

Three of our knitters have two shares in the Farmyard Blanket. That means each of them is knitting a total of twenty six squares! No wonder we've given ourselves a year to complete this project.


The wheatfield is made with a slightly different loop stitch than the oatfield. Katherine is following the pattern, and Debbie has modified it slightly. The double strand is a combination of sun yellow and sunburst gold.

First Squares

Here's the oatfield in progress. I bravely learned a new stitch and have been enjoying it ever since. It feels as good as it looks! I am making twelve of these oatfields, plus one for the school. What an eye-catching combination of ocean waves and kiwi.


Everyone has turned in a first square - that's twenty four squares! Our first blanket is finally coming together. It will be ready in time for the annual auction on March 21st. It is our school's twentieth year, and we are excited to celebrate this milestone. A second blanket will be ready soon after, and we plan to sell it in our shop. In May, we'll have a grand exchange. Everyone will gather with excitement to swap their squares.


Here is the first blanket coming together, slow but sure. We fussed on paper and on knitting needles to choose colors and textures for our roads. Our patience and hardwork is paying off!

Country Roads

The roads will connect all twelve of our farmyard squares, and have the important job of unifying the whole blanket. When we laid out the squares, we decided that loop stitches would help to lead the eye from one area to the next. Certain yarn colors appear only once and look a bit lost, so they will be incorporated elsewhere. We want the finished piece to look intentional and well-planned, rather than accidental. We are a persnickety bunch, aren’t we?

Here are some ideas taking shape. We can play with color and texture before making a final decision. The first sample is a two track road in stockinette stitch. The second one is done in seed stitch, for a gravel effect, with loopy grass in between. The third is a sandy path leading to the water, with tall grass on either side. Which one will we choose? All three perhaps...