For some reason ‘proper’ summer (that is days of constant warmth – not necessarily hot, just warm) has been slow to make appearance but best I say no more or I’ll be accused of complaining 😊
Which brings me to the heading. . when the weather’s not the best
And you’re at a loose end – well, maybe I should rephrase that – when it’s cool and raining outside and there are things that could be done inside but you’d rather not know about them – a trip down some rabbit holes can cheer you up no end.
After a little bit of procrastinating aka utubing – or is it the other way around – (I’ve always wanted to learn how to knit entralac – a skill that sort of passed me by – and this seemed as good a time as ever😊) ……I was ready to move onto that which I was putting off doing – when I saw this 👇 on the right hand side of the screen – that’s the side where all those other videos are lined up – the ones in the same vein as those you’ve been watching that ‘they’ think you might also like to watch.
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Well it seems that being able to knit and purl backwards is also a skill that passed me by BUT now I know how to do it!
Which is quite handy because I’ve started another ‘use up the leftovers’ campaign.
Tiny trauma teddies are so easy to make. They need such small amounts of yarn – of which I still have copious small balls…..that need using up!.
With a max 20 stitches per row they knit up really quickly – it’s almost like you’ve just begun a row and you’re finished – turn around and begin again.
And that’s where my newfound skill is coming into play.
Because it means I don’t have to keep turning the work and don’t end up with a long piece of twisted knitting in my lap!
The trouble is (there’s always a catch isn’t there) I have to actually concentrate and look at what I’m doing…..where before it all came naturally. . . I was able to knit and read simultaneously….and I really want to start the next Mary Westmacott book I picked up the other day😊.
Oh, decisions- decisions!
They look like this when finished
You can read about how I came to make my first one HERE
There are many ‘charity bear’ patterns online – this is the one I use
– link to pattern – .
note UK 11 = 3mm. I’m using 10/3.25mm this time
They’ll go to a local charity that provides backpacks filled with emergency essentials for children/young people ‘in need’
https://www.backpacks4vickids.org.au
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Wednesday is the day Kat hosts Unraveled Wednesday where crafters talk about knitting and books. It’s a weekly link up but I usually only manage once a month and with this being the first one in 2024 I wonder who else will turn up?
Still Waters 
Hi Cathy, I love the Tiny Trauma Teddies. There is a local group we are considering joining and they have a sub group of knitters who meet once a month to knit and chat. They make Trauma Teddies as well. Perhaps this should be my knitting project in 2024? x
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What a great idea Sue – activity you enjoy with friendship attached. . can’t go wrong😊
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Loud applause from here. I love the Trauma Teddies and suspect some ‘big’ people hug them tightly too.
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Somehow I think you might be right EC!
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Oh wow! I’m so impressed! That is adorable. I don’t think my brain can handle this though.
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lol it took a while for mine to grasp it Kay.
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I’m sue some Trauma Teddies go on to long lives with the children. Knitting backwards, the mind boggles.
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Once I grasped the actual mechanics of how it worked Andrew, it all fell into place and actually wasn’t that hard to do. I wonder what the life span of a trauma Teddy is once it’s in its new home.
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Hari Om
Oh yes, I’ve been along similar routes… only with Tunisian crochet, which resembles knitting but is worked on a long hook in a forward and backward pass… it might be just the thing for your wee teddies!
YAM xx
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Like with most newly learnt things the more I‘practice’ the more comfortable I’m becoming with the stitch. Still need to look at my work though.
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Long ago I decided to learn to knit without looking, so I could read a book and knit. (Before the days of downloadable books.) I figured if blind people could do it, so could I. I bet before long you can knit backwards w/o looking.
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I can but hope Joanne – somehow I think it’s going to be a while before I’m that proficient though.
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Knitting backwards sounds like a handy skill to learn on a coolish day!
Your first trauma teddy is very cute, with no sign that he may be first!
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He was supposed to be the one and only ‘cept’ I ended up making more for another group. As for the backwards knitting- well as I found out you can teach an old dog new tricks after all😊
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Sally still has her trauma teddy from a visit to Frankston hospital to have her chin glued quite a few years ago now.
I struggle to keep knitting in one direction!
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It was something to entertain me on a wet morning Caro, something fun that I realised icould be a help.
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There is always a catch but knitting backwards sounds like a good skill to cultivate. The Trauma Teddy reminds me of a smaller version of the Mother Bears. I usually knit a few of them each year for that project. They are fun to knit.
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Mother Bears was an unknown to me so I had a little look – another good cause helped along by the goodwill of crafters. Must cost the earth to transport bears to Africa though.
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I imagine it is expensive. When a knitter or crocheter sends a bear to Minneapolis, Minnesota in the states, it needs to be accompanied by a $3 donation to help with postage. I keep wondering when she will raise that price. She might receive other monetary donations to offset the cost. I usually knit four or five a year. As you wrote, they are good for using up scraps.
>
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Happy New Year
You’ve already set yourself a challenge with your knitting needles, go you 🙂
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You’re right Catherine- an ongoing one with no end date.
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Knitting backwards – I’m impressed but it is definitely not for me – I’m sure it would do my head in. Thank you for reminding me about the Trauma Teddies though. I haven’t knitted any for ages- it’s time I got my needles clicking again and your pattern link looks like a better one than my old one. Your finished teddy looks great.
We are having hot summer weather over here in the West – maybe it will blow over the Nullarbor and arrive in your neck of the woods soon. Enjoy your week.
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There was nothing wrong with it but I wasn’t keen on the Red Cross pattern – also at the time I started knitting them RC were anti people using ‘their’ pattern so this was/is my go to.
Our days have warmed up this week so thank you for that – back to humid maybe wet & stormy next week. Not so keen on that though
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Both entrelac and knitting backwards are on my ‘this is interesting’ list! Sounds like you picked it up no problem at all and may have to switch to audio books while you’re finessing the skill 😁
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That’s the problem- I don’t like audio books or maybe I should say I have issues with narrators. I’m funny over voices, some accents will put me off people – yes I know that’s my problem but I’d rather ‘read than listen’. Also half the time I lose the plot – don’t remember some of what’s been read. 😊
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I find it so difficult to concentrate on audio books! Thought I was alone but I would also rather read than listen 😊
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Those little teddies are so sweet. They go into the shoebox appeals here, fit just right.
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Thanks Cathy. They are a good size, I never get bored knitting them which I’m sure I would if they full size and had to be pieced together. So many charities have benefitted from having them – good vibes for the recipients and good feelings for the knitters.
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What cute teddies! I imagine knitting and purling backwards would be very handy (it would probably also confuse the heck out of me – LOL)
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I’m not saying it didn’t me to begin with Vera😊
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I’m impressed with your endeavor! (And equally impressed with anyone who can knit + read simultaneously. I’m just glad when I get to an easy knitting stretch so I can listen to an audiobook!) I can see how nice it’d be to avoid that constant turning/twisting/piling. Always nice to apply a new AND useful skill!
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I wish I could remember how to knit. Cathy, thank you for your nice comment about Ron being happy for me. Thanks for remembering him.
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Annie – You used to talk about ‘the love of your life, his Navy Days and how he made you laugh – then there was a trip you were going to make, but it didn’t happen because he was so unwell. It’s good to hear you are content again.
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Ok now you have set me a challenge. I have often thought over the years how handy it would be to be able to knit left to right to avoid turning short work. That has to be good for brain traing too.
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