By Hand Magazine No. 11 Vermont and New Hampshire

By Hand is a serial produced by Andrea Hungerford three times per year that explores locations around the country that have developed their own unique 'maker communities' where people who love to make, love to learn to make, and love to support makers have found a common sense of purpose.

Each of these geographic 'clusters' has its own unique characteristics, and those characteristics influence the artists who live and work there. Each issue of By Hand is a place-based celebration of these communities of makers, focused primarily on the fiber and fabric industry, as well as highlighting artists in other media who share the same philosophy as fiber and fabric artists of functional beauty. Additionally each issue includes patterns, projects, photo essays, day trips, foodie excursions, and other write-ups of aspects unique to the featured city or region.

We are 'making communities' even where physical proximity isn’t possible, by sharing our stories and journeys and images with each other.

TRAVELING THROUGH NEW ENGLAND IN THE FALL

In Issue #11 of By Hand Serial, we visit New England as we travel through Vermont and New Hampshire at the peak of the fall foliage season. We journeyl along the shores of Lake Champlain and Lake Winnipesaukee, through the granite mountains of New Hampshire to Mt. Washington, and into the small farms and towns tucked into wooded vales. We spend several magical days in the village of Harrisville, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977 as one of the few remaining textile communities in the country, where we explore the Harrisville mill and learn how deep-rooted traditions are paired with 21st century sustainability and economics. The New England makers we meet have a great love and deference for their land, their communities, and the region’s history and traditions. These artists pair local resources with traditional forms of creating: milling yarn, weaving cloth, sewing garments, making baskets for daily use. Form and functionally mesh seamlessly, creating beautiful materials that find use and purpose in our everyday lives. It is a joy to learn more about these makers, their materials and motivations, and the work they do to keep alive the values of hard work, handcraft, and artistry.

The patterns and projects in By Hand Serial Lookbook No. 11 echo the region’s celebration of pairing style and functionality to create garments and accessories that are both beautiful and integral to our daily lives. Sewing projects include your next core wardrobe basic: a beautifully crafted white tunic, complete with a touch of hand embroidery at the neckline. Foraging, painting, and quilting combine to celebrate autumn with stunning quilted leaf panels. Knitting projects include a shawl, mittens, and three garments, all of which are designed to showcase the locally milled yarns of Harrisville Designs, Green Mountain Spinnery, and Wing and a Prayer Farm. Finally, pie baker extraordinare Tammy White of Wing and a Prayer Farm shares her pie making secrets to help ensure that your next foray into pie baking is a delicious success.