Hi everyone,

Six months, says my newsletter client. Whoops. I and my household spent the summer in what I am referring to as “the catastrophe hole”, where practically everything that could go stressfully wrong did, repeatedly, for months.

We are out of the personal catastrophe hole (though I know some of you are still in your own, and I’m sorry, it sucks) and so, ah, here is the societal catastrophe hole, still digging.

But I’m still here!

This is a quick one to let you know about some recent news: a queer dance class I’m teaching on Saturday on zoom, a recent poem, a few textile projects why not.

Let’s listen to “The Bones of You” because I just heard it on a playlist in my car and I like it.

Class

The time sensitive one: I’m teaching on Saturday! Sign up here. It’s free and online, 3pm Eastern, in Jo Troll’s queer dance series. Last year I taught object duets for this series; this year we’re doing at-home floor technique. Probably you can also do it on a bed! We’ll figure it out. All levels, all kinds of queer bodyminds. I’d love to see you there.

Poem

In August, my poem “An Ache With No Name” came out in Small Wonders. I really, really love this poem and I am very proud of it. It’s a love poem to disability community, and blends together several models of disability and ancestry in that community. It also has bejeweled, haunted/possessed ribs, name-magic, and tea.

Some things I’ve been making

I am of course still working on A Singular They. Patrons got a preview of some in-progress footage in September. I’m still doing refinement edits, as I work on audio description. I’m thrilled to report that the first batch of description I sent out for feedback got a glowing review, so the time I have spent working on it the last few months, as well as the years I have spent paying attention to access and language, have been well-spent. Onward! Light at the end of the tunnel!

In September I made a quilt for my nonbinary crip reading buddy who needed major surgery. Obviously the answer was to give them a version of their bookshelf they could cuddle, complete with depictions of some of their real-life shelf guardians.

I learned foundation paper piecing for this, which was very fun, and I’m so pleased with how closely the result matched what I had in my head. It’s all from stash scraps, except the backing and binding. Closeups available on instagram.

I also decided to learn brioche knitting this fall, which is slow going but so nice to touch. (Yes, the stitch name is related to the bread!)

I did not think the zigzags of garter stitch would complicate life as much as they do and it’s breaking my brain, something no charted knitting pattern has managed before, I’m kind of impressed.

That’s all for now

It’s beautiful and chilly and breezy and sunny outside and I want to get out there before the season gets properly too cold to tolerate. A hammock lined with a duvet with a knit or crochet afghan inside makes an absolutely luscious cocoon at this time of year and I intend to go enjoy it right now. You should give it a try if you have the chance.

If I can stay out of the catastrophe hole, hopefully regularly-scheduled updates will resume. I have thoughts for you all! Thoughts!

Remember to sign up for class for Saturday!

I hope you are well and your own catastrophe holes are not inescapable. Best autumn wishes (or spring if you’re below the equator),

Toby