By Hand No. 9 Nova Scotia

Each issue of By Hand is a place-based celebration of a creative community of artists and makers, focusing mainly on fibre and textile arts. Each issue includes photo essays, day trips, foodie excursions and other write ups of the city or region in focus. And there are always patterns, projects and lots of inspiration.

In Issue #9 we travel the length and breadth of Nova Scotia, exploring the great variety that it offers. We begin our travels in the urban center of Halifax, then travel to the wineries and family farms of the Annapolis Valley, hike the wild trails of Cape Breton Island, and marvel at the stunningly beautiful seascapes and historic villages of the South Shore.

Along the way, we explore Nova Scotia’s history and tradition of rug hooking, meet quilters who blend traditional techniques with modern variations to create art and pictorial quilts, and talk with an artist who fashions delicate jewelry from sea glass found on Nova Scotia’s many beaches, We wander through a maritime yarn store and a fabric store rich with color and texture. We chat with yarn dyers who create unique, one-of-a-kind fibers and hues. One of our most fascinating days is spent with TapRoot Fibre, learning about how flax is grown, harvested, processed, spun, and woven to create linen fabric. We learn about the lost history of linen production in Nova Scotia, and how TapRoot Fibre is experimenting and innovating to bring the crop back in a modern, sustainable way.