It is once again our pleasure to tell through knitting a little of the story of life in Newfoundland.
Writing our first book, Saltwater Mittens, was like casting our bread upon the waters and having it come back with butter and molasses on it. That book spoke to experienced knitters, career knitters, returning knitters, and beginning knitters. For a short while we foolishly believed we had said all there was to say, but, as time went by, we realized there were still many stories to tell. Ideas began to sprout and bloom in our minds like hyacinths in winter. New designs for classic Newfoundland garments foamed off the needles. We dusted off our big computers and got back to work. The projects in Saltwater Classics touch on our history and geography, our weather and music, and our strong love of home and family.
You leave a bit of Canada behind when you wash ashore here. After all, where else do vamps, a type of footwear, still form part of a winter wardrobe? Our place names ring with expression. Caps with names like Noggin Cove and Tickle Cove come with smiles from home in them. Vamps from Little Heart’s Ease offer a sense of security and protection. To bless with food, clothing, and, above all, with love is the Newfoundland way. To provide good warm garments for confronting harsh, ungovernable elements and shocking hardships is the work of the saltwater knitter.
Something was not quite right but it didn’t click until I saw Nan rocking in the window. It meant there was a hard blow coming and Nan would be spending the day in her chair. We didn’t get many summer storms so it was a surprise to see my Nan quivering like a bowl of crabapple jelly. The weather looked fine to me, hardly anything except a gentle breeze from the east. I made the tea and brought Nan a mug and a biscuit. She ate and drank without a word. She didn’t take her eyes off the harbour.
—Mary C. Sheppard, Seven for a Secret
We need such blessings. We struggle against great forces. Our culture has been shaken by diaspora and resettlement. People and wealth drain away from Newfoundland like blood from a wound. Our Hello Goodbye Mitten is a tribute to all the comings and goings throughout the history of this place. The Helmet, inspired by life at L’Anse aux Meadows, celebrates the Viking exploration of Newfoundland. Plaisance Gloves for Ladies commemorate the rich, historic Basque and French fisheries in the Placentia Bay area. Mockbeggar Mitts for Youngsters speak of the experience of early settlers at the Mockbeggar Plantation in Bonavista. Past and present mingle here in an extraordinary way.
There are those among us who aspire to California dress of course, but for much of the year the snow is just too deep, the wind too boisterous, the fog too thick, and the rain too sideways to sustain tropical illusions. Our classic designs for head, hands, and feet are pure, enduring, Newfoundland all-season style. Consider each project a personal voyage into a time and place. You’ll be as happy as a gull with a herring. We promise you.
There is one sure thing that can be said about Newfoundland: it is unforgettable. Anyone born there remains a Newfoundlander, first and foremost.
It’s said that Newfoundlanders are always easy to spot in Heaven. They’re the ones who keep nagging God to let them go back home. Who could blame those disconnected spirits for wanting to go back home? Where else will they find a stranger who feels like family? Where else will they find a stranger who often turns out to be family?
