Category: All things craft

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🧶Everything old is new again….

This is the week I became a Grandma for the first time – 31yrs ago.

……Granny belongs to me – Nana belongs to my children…..
I’m Grandma to my children’s children

October 1993

And if all goes well in a month’s time (last week in November) – I’ll become a GtGrandma …….for the fourth time.

(I did tell you I was old🙂)

There’s been lots of head scratching and thinking as to what I can make (not buy) as a welcome gift……which would usually be a knitted newborn ‘matinee’ set ‘cept this will be a ‘summer babe’ with both parents over 6’ tall who were big (9lb+) babies. The needles will be better used making winter woolies – size and sex will be known by then (parents are still adamant about not knowing the gender until baby is born.

’Our little girl’ suggested – “what about those hanging things”
Hanging things? – “The ones you made for Miss S”

Oh yes, I vaguely remembered x stitching some little wall hangings for the first baby – yes, the very same one above…..

Both need a wash and brush up – and a crease removed!

Anyway I’ve made a start on one but by golly to get to this point has definitely been a lesson in patience.

Remember my recent admission of hanging onto stuff …..well that came in handy because I remembered I’d very carefully stored those charts away.
But where….
Teddy chart found, a little worse for wear so The Golfer scanned and printed a couple for me…..
Bother bother bother – nothing is ever straightforward….

……there were no thread numbers on the key.

So out came the ‘supplies’……
OK, I’ll admit to having an awful lot of threads/floss/silks to choose from😉

As you can see the bears are going to be darker than the original…..the instruments will be different as well. It wasn’t supposed to be that way, I found similar colours but decided otherwise in the end.

Corny as it sounds I’m definitely enjoying this refound feeling of contentment that hand stitching gives. Knitting is great but it’s constant movement whereas this is quieter, more precise. You’re attached to what you’re working on…..more involved.
I like it!

Just one drawback…..even on cool days …….I have to work outside
the eyes – the light
And not being a fan of audiobooks, I can’t read🙁

*******.
Oh, and what has become of Miss S….my first little one…..well……
I can assure you……‘she ain’t little anymore’

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It’s Wednesday so I’m linking to Wednesday Words & Whimsy….. click HERE to find out who dropped by

I’ll also be linking this to Kat’s featured post – Unraveled Wednesday……where the talk is all about craft, books and life in general. You can find out what others are up to HERE.

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🧶 Could you do me a favour…..

The opening ‘remarks’ of a phone call from someone I haven’t seen for a while.
“You remember xxxxx (a mutual friend now a family counselor)…well she has a little problem”

The result of the conversation is me, after meeting xxxx and hearing it from herself, has agreed to make up (from the knitted parts I was given) a couple of little cardigans for a client who lives out in the bush.
The gist of it is…….XXXX has a contact who knits for her but has injured her hand so everything is on hold, this particular client has a wee baby, the weather is still cold, yes they are odd colours but suitable for this client…..and could I do them as soon as I can please?

Which is why I’m sitting here outside on a cool wet Monday (because the light’s better) wondering how to resurrect someone else’s work

Enjoying the last Camelia and the first Rose of the season

Mind you, before I begin I’m going to enjoy my coffee and ‘half covered’ biscuits as well as try to sneak in some more pages of this month’s book club book. The Dig Tree – Sarah Murgatroyd 2002

The harrowing true story of the Burke and Willis expedition team who took on the Australian wilds 150 years ago–and lost.

https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/the-dig-tree

*****
This week Ginny (small things) entertained us with her thoughts on life, a little bit of craft – and books

Pip’s post (meet me at mikes) was also about life and craft – and books with a few other bits thrown in as well

I’ll be sharing this post on Kat’s Wednesday feature – Unraveled Wednesday……where the talk is all about craft, books and life in general. You can find out what others are up to HERE.

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🧶 Smiles at journey’s end….

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I’m not sure what makes me smile more……

Coming across fields of cane stretching along the road at Proserpine and knowing there’s less than an hour to go….

June 2024

Or catching our first glimpse of The Dandenongs in the valley at Yarra Glen and knowing we’ll be home in much less than an hour…..

September 2024

Yes, we’re home, home to changes….and being grown up enough having to accept them. Wishing it was the end of a journey and I could smile about it.

Another CT scan after getting home (thank you sympathetic GP ….and Medicare) showed all my aches and pains in Bowen weren’t totally due to ‘the bed’. This report noted far more changes than the most recent one – moving to severe in more levels than before plus pinched nerves (remember the numb foot).
Spinal Stenosis is a pain….. one I certainly didn’t sign up for – diagnosed well over 10yrs ago so you’d think I’d have accepted it by now!

I’ve become increasingly unsteady on my feet lately which had me thinking about my responsibility to those I volunteer for.
Assisting them to and from the hair salon plus on and off the mini bus as well as out and about on outings days, making sure they don’t come into harms way so (sadly) I decided to discuss other less active roles I could take on.
Wednesday sees the start of a new one ….overseeing a quiz activity……possibly including a stylised form of Bingo……..there are some very knowledgeable residents in this particular ‘household’ (same concept but with a different organisation) so I’m hoping they all know the answers 😊.
*******

And on to something else. . . . .well a couple of things……
things that definitely haven’t finished their journey

At last, the Guernsey has a finished front, back & two sleeves – now to rustle up the energy to pick up the neck stitches and work those rows…..remembering I used 2×2 not single rib for the waist and sleeve bands – a mistake made on a previous knit🙁.
Nothing worse than seeing that after everything’s been made up – there’d definitely be no smile then

As for the book I’m trying to finish – even the author said it wasn’t her best work.
…….in her online diary, she told her younger self “Focus on what you’re good at. A BIRD IN THE HAND is a flawed first novel, ….source.
the problem (for me) is the amount of words she uses plus the amount of characters that keep on appearing so I’m thinking of flicking through from p1 and noting names and relationships as a reminder of who’s who – case of the ol’ grey cells are slowing down in many ways.

*****.
The weather has been decidedly Melbourne since we got home – not sure where Spring has got to – we’re past the equinox now (temps and daylight will be going up🙂) and even though spring flowers have appeared Winter is still hanging around… much rain, many cool days and cold nights with the odd sunny day here and there

Definitely C&A time still! …….My mothers play on ‘coats and ‘ats’ –
(C&A were a High Street clothing chain back in the day)

However there were many smiles when I saw that once again my two little clumps of Bluebells had made it to the end of their yearly journey 😊

Past their best but pleased I got to see them. Sept. 2024

Hows your life been recently- would you like to share some of your smiles?

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I’ll be sharing this post on Kat’s Wednesday feature – Unraveled Wednesday……where the talk is all about craft, books and life in general. There might be more ‘life in general’ than books and craft in this post but you can find out what others are up to HERE

Linking also to Min’s weekly feature – Wednesday Words and Whimsy – there’s an interesting world of wonder and joy out there, you’ll find the link HERE at the end of all Min’s posts

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🧶 Now for something different….

For some reason I’ve been tired, weary and rather flat recently….

A bit like this year’s ‘winter shoes’ that have seen better days and will be retired when we return to Victoria in a short while….

I’m just biding my time here now really hoping ‘new shoes’ in the form of returning home and viewing it with fresh eyes will put a spring back in my step….

Kilsyth – A different environment altogether
End of my street looking towards Montrose and The Dandenongs
2km/1.25mi away
A sea of trees – not a wave of water in sight


It’s been such a strange winter up here – earlier on it was much colder than usual and now it’s become exceptionally warm – far too early in the season for day after day of very high 20s/80s. Unlike at home where we’re renowned for the ability to have 4 seasons in one day, here there are only 2….. this link describes it as wet/dry – hot/cool also windy all year round😊

But I really shouldn’t complain – because after my last feeling sorry for myself whingefest a certain someone aka The Golfer said “come on, we’ll go and have coffee at ‘the club’ ….it was so relaxing sitting on the high outside deck enjoying the view along with the cooling sea breeze (such a pleasure to be there) I forgot my aches and pains…..and also to record my delicious coffee and cake🙁

For various reasons we’ll both miss this town – it’s one place I enjoy returning to. A ‘working town’ that carries on living its own life after the seasonal visitors have all left but never complains while they’re here

So what’s the different bit all about??.
Well since unraveling and righting the guernsey ready to finish the front I haven’t touched it again. Enthusiasm left the building right there and then….but I am about to use my fingers in a different way.

Many years ago xx cross stitch xx was my craft of choice – then the eyes started to (we all know about the ageing of eyes don’t we😊) so as yarn is easier to see than embroidery floss it was back to knitting.
Because I’m hoarder person who is loathe to throw/give anything away……I paid good money for that…I might use it again – there are still pattern/design books, silks/threads, tools etc etc sitting in a cupboard just waiting for that to happen- well you never know, it might…..


Before we came away I had a little rummage – had reason to look for something and tucked away in this publication I found a nearly finished slightly adapted ‘new house’ sampler.

Who I had it in mind for and the reason it’s unfinished is long forgotten – after adding a little saying under the houses…..‘Happiness is homemade’ – corny but cute….I’m hoping I can revive it.

I read an article once about creases in Aida cloth.
(I know, it should have been rolled or stored flat)
which involved the freezer and ironing ‘frozen’ or microwave. Must see if I can find it.

A granddaughter has just bought her first house, and unlike some of her cousins (everything must be brand new or definitely unused) she’s been gathering new or nearly new bits and pieces from friends and other family.

“I want a home grandma, not a showroom” which I’m hoping means my ‘new with maybe a little lived in look to it’ sampler will be well received.
*****

And here’s my breakfast table early this morning (Tuesday)…..before it became a fraction on the warm side
Cereal with dried fruit, fresh fruit, cuppa tea…..plus embroidery paraphernalia to sort, a handheld fan and a book.
What else do I need to begin the day?

* * * Ann Cleeves first published novel A Bird in the Hand….a laundry room find……is a bit of a slow starter. Three chapters in I know a local ‘birdwatcher – twitcher’ has been murdered and retired civil servant George Palmer-Jones (who shares the same hobby) has agreed to ‘find the murderer’. Apart from that I have no idea where it’s going but am enjoying how new characters and little bits of the story line are being introduced as though they’ve been in full view all the time.

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I’ll be sharing this post with :- 
Wednesday Words and Whimsy hosted by Min and found HERE. 
Also Unraveled Wednesday hosted by Kat and found HERE

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🧶Oh woe is me, I am undone…

Or at least there’s a fair chance of that happening!

So…..I’ve been working on this little guernsey over the past week or so, thinking …..that considering all the ‘stuff’ (aka creative supplies) brought up with me I really should take at least one finished garment home with me. 

It would have been the end of July I last picked it up so making an effort to get back into the swing of it and cabling merrily along I’m thinking it must be nearly time to cast off for the shoulders – WRONG – as you can see the back is done already…..I’m supposed to be knitting the front! . 

So…..when I retrieve it from the bag I shoved it in… the corner where I slung it in disgust …….so when I next pick it up I will undo the unnecessary rows and carry on finishing it. 
Trying to see something positive in this situation I suppose you could say that one ‘good thing’ is that the rows going up each side of the neck will be shorter and they always seem to knit up faster because you’re decreasing for the neckline!

*****.
The weather has changed again- I mentioned it was raining early last week, at the time it was just a little bit……a little bit that developed into a lot (think tropical downpours) over the next couple of days…….that front moved on down the coast with Brisbane and the south east corner ‘copping it bad’.

Now our days are becoming very warm (27/28c – 80f) with the dreaded humidity plus layers of sea fog all along the coast like you’ve never seen before…well you have but there’s a certain magic each time you do. It’s deceiving how wide and tall the band of fog can be – there is a very large island to the right of each photo – completely obscured in the top one!


Casualties of the east coast egg shortage are the homemade cakes most of the local cafes sell.
Old fashioned ‘eggless’ recipes are being hunted down and a different range of ‘goodies’ are appearing in the ‘ooh, they look good – I’ll have one of those with my coffee’ display cabinets.

And, don’t laugh, as if Queensland didn’t have enough to contend with ….thanks to those unseasonal rains there will now be a strawberry shortage



Casualties of my recent ‘ I’m not really enthralled with these books’ mood are Tom Lake and Sunset Shadows (secrets, lies and murders in the Australian wilderness) courtesy of the van park ‘laundry room’…….
unfortunately like quite a few books I’ve picked up recently these aren’t ‘gripping me’ so will probably find themselves keeping the washers and dryers company again fairly soon

But all is not lost- what I have done is download a copy of this ……A Certain Age Lynne Truss…..a dozen short (humorous) stories (actually monologues presented originally for a radio programme) …….which means if I don’t like the one I’m reading I can always flip on by and start the next one!


*******

It’s those little things that make life interesting isn’t it?
Crafting, reading – simple pleasures – watching the weather, all affecting our lives in many ways. What has been happening in your life recently?

I’ll be sharing this post with :-
Wednesday Words and Whimsy hosted by Min and found HERE.
Also Unraveled Wednesday hosted by Kat and found HERE

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🧶And just like that

There I was on Monday morning complaining about the cold southerly wind that had made life difficult for days on end when by late afternoon it was ‘all change’ – which meant it was smiles all round at ‘my happy spot’ early Tuesday morning
Empty beach – calm seas – pleasant temperatures- book to read – what more could I want 😊😎

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9am Tuesday Aug 6

Well, a large bright striped beach towel would have been nice.
But it’s back home in the hall cupboard!.
10mins down the road the day we left I remembered I hadn’t picked them out when gathering up all those odd tucked away at the back bits to bring so had to make a quick stop at BigW in Mackay as we passed through the day we arrived . No big ones like that anywhere so had to make do with a couple of oversized dark bath sheets instead….no problem though (Animal Aid will benefit) these will just replace a couple on their way out at home.

July 2022 /July 2019
Shifting sands have covered the flat rock. Could be different again in a couple of years time

*******

I had another little think about the ‘baby jacket’ during the windy days and found this in amongst some patterns brought up from home. 4ply – which could work with that yarn….so nothing ventured – nothing gained.
Looked simple, kimono style, straight up & down with some shaping on the fronts along with guernsey style dropped sleeves. I’ll place buttons/button holes where those ribbons are. Plain stocking stitch with a purl stitch at regular intervals to give a little interest.
Well, that’s what I thought…..

Except these are the instructions for what I thought was just a purl stitch!

Does anyone understand them…..
because for the life of me I can’t get my head round them at all!
So I’m using a purl in that spot😊🧶

Now I’m off to enjoy some more of an (ex library) Ann Cleeves – a surprise find in the laundry room. A surprise because I’d only been talking to someone about it recently.
The Crow Trap – Vera’s first appearance (1999) and my first time reading about her.
A really good read that has me turning those pages

Today is the day Kat and friends gather for Unraveled Wednesday – books and craft and ways of the world are the talking points. Why don’t you pop over and see what’s going on

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🧶Some days you just can’t win….

I finished the little newborn jacket (bar sewing the sleeves) such an easy pattern that took no time at all to knit – unfortunately there’s just one thing wrong….apart from the sleeve length (because it was actually ‘knit xxx inches not xxx rows) it’s too small for an average full term babe. The chest and length are about right for a large prem (which wasn’t what the charity was asking for) so a little unravelling has taken place.

It was partly my own fault I suppose, my first time using that yarn – one of those mill end packs – knowing it wasn’t as heavy as most 8ply/dk I still went ahead and used it.
What I could do now is go up a needle size which would probably result in a bigger garment but I think would make the fabric too ‘loose’.
Or maybe try using the yarn with a 4ply pattern and see how that goes…or knit something using two strands and see how the sizing measures up to a recognised 8ply pattern
All ideas for another time because something else called to me.
*****
The Golfer is an ‘old fashioned’ fella – I’m not saying he lives in the past except he does like/prefer things he’s familiar with. Take shorts for example……
He likes the ones he wears at home – short!.
His brand of choice since forever has been Stubbies.

Working life in summer meant ‘longs’ had to be worn rather than tailored ‘walk shorts’ back in the day so the elastic waisted cotton drill ones were and have continued to be his favourite for after hours at home. But over time the manufacturers have altered the leg length. It’s difficult to find the short ones – which means the ones he’s got are really beginning to show wear
Wearing right out!.

Fed up seeing these ones with a large hole in the b*** (they’re alright for the garden he said) I brought them along to have a go at patching – by hand (something not done for years)

I didn’t think I did too badly – he looked and muttered- ‘alright for round the house and garden’ – then do you know what the cheeky so and so said….
‘but you haven’t fixed the hole’
Pardon?…….
‘The little one in the pocket!.’.
*****
Anyway, what I do know is going well, and that is the boy’s guernsey I’m making. Another sleeve finished and up to the cabling on the front.
Along with a ‘literary find’ at the op shop (one I might have read previously but you know….ageing mind sometimes forgets things) plus a new blue mug (because I dropped last year’s blue/white striped one)…..it all adds up to a happy Catherine


You might be thinking all I do is read, knit and sit on the beach
Well, it’s been a quiet week so you wouldn’t be wrong there

Plus the internet has been a real pain up here in the park and I can get a better signal down at Rose Bay. Visiting blogs and commenting has been minimal. Composing posts there has been interesting
I get sidetracked watching the sky, the waves
and lone seagulls having a swim

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Kat is having a break from hosting Unravelled Wednesday – wish her well as she grieves

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🧶Because I can……

Towards the end of May (about 7 weeks ago) I had a little think fest about ‘things to do’ while we were away up here – finally deciding on THESE.
Mind settled I packed the supplies away thinking how clever I was to be so well organised.

Then of course mid June ‘life happened’ and I broke open a bag and calmed myself with THIS.
Always a good way to divert my attention from other stuff is to think about something else.

And those children’s woolies were still to be my winter project…….see I finished the back of the one I began at home, started a sleeve on the way up and here it is done waiting for the next one. This yarn really is proving to be a good buy – easy to knit with, has a ‘wintery’ feel to it but isn’t scratchy at all. Might have to ‘straighten’ a few stitches though….reading and knitting sometimes produces sloppy work.

…..so why (you ask) am I in the middle of making baby cardigans?
Well, just before we left, I heard on the grapevine of another charity asking for 1st size (0-3mths) cardigans and you do know how I enjoy making them. So I might have put some lighter weight yarn in my bags as well😊

This is such an easy knit with its simple decorative but effective bodice/shoulder shaping. It won’t take long to finish now, just have the skirt/ body to do and ‘Bob’s your uncle’, I’m ready to get on with another one

This week I’ve been engrossed with a collection of short stories by Australian Judy Nunn. My first time with this author, I’ve found them easy to read, not too involved, (a few words say a lot) I’m thinking maybe I’ll try one of her novels soon.

How have you been occupying your time recently- the weather’s been a talking point in many countries so I think a few of you may have needed things to take your mind off what’s been going on in the great outdoors. What about reading matter – any recommendations to share???
*******

It’s Wednesday- time to check in with Kat and others at her weekly link up called  Unraveled Wednesday . Let’s hope she’s feeling rested after her break, but look, why don’t you pop over, see what’s going on – maybe stay and say hello.

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🧶 Going up…..

Winter solstice is in two days time….

After the last couple of weeks we’ve had,…..where as well as all the other things going on that I mentioned earlier…… the day my car was serviced they managed to ‘prang it’……moving it over to the car wash area the driver reversed into something!……extra days while it was being sorted out and resprayed, knowing she had things to do and no loan car available did not make Catherine a happy chappy, which meant the cold gloomy weather we had made everything feel worse……so the prospect of daylight going up (increasing, becoming longer) and eventually temperatures going up sounds good…..to be honest……more than good – bloody marvellous!.

To lighten my mood and give me something else to think about I broke into a bag of yarn I’d put aside for Bowen and began one of the sweaters.
Reasoning – it was going to be ‘winter knitting’…..winter was here and it really wouldn’t matter where the knitting took place. Plus little snacks provided by The Golfer kept me happy as well😊

This wasn’t the most expensive yarn, yes it was on special but not ‘cheap’ by any manner of means…..heavier than it appeared through the sealed bag and has the look and feel of ‘wool’ not the acrylic I assumed it to be. Which is why I went up a size making a 4yr not the 2yr I’d planned.
Mill ends have no descriptions just sold by weight.

* PRODUCT OVERVIEW.
Be challenged and get creative with a surprise bag of yarn! Value Ball Mill Ends Packs are assorted 400 g packs of mixed fibre yarns from factory overruns. Each pack will be full of surprises, you may receive a bag of soft and fluffy novelty chenille yarn, lightweight variegated pastel yarn, versatile beige chunky yarn, or a vibrant neon acrylic DK yarn

You can usually judge by looking and rolling a strand to try and get a feel but really it’s like a lucky dip – never knowing and making the best of what you get. I’ve never gone wrong by buying them but there are times I look at what’s on offer in the bins and wonder ‘what on earth would you make out of that?’
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So what I’m making (and have made previously) is described as…..
child’s jumper with yoke patterning on front and back as well as purl fabric ridges above lower bands, at tops of sleeves and at base of neckband.
To me it’s like a guernsey- straight up and down, dropped sleeve, a bit of cabling on front and back with some ridges here and there😊

There’s also been a little reading going on. Nothing heavy – does Julia Quinn ever write heavy?

‘Going Up’ very very soon – to where it’s warm 😎

2,400kms
  • It’s Wednesday- time to check in with Kat and others at her weekly link up called  Unraveled Wednesday . why don’t you pop over, see what’s going on – maybe stay and say hello.

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🧶 The gift that keeps on giving….

Last week F aka Tigger’s Mum remarked on a knitted scarf I’d used as a ‘prop’…..which I said I usually wore outside (or inside) a sleeveless jacket (similar to a gilet but not so close fitting).
There’s a blue colour in the mix so it works well if I’m wearing jeans, I’ve another lightweight one that works in the same way – adding a bit of interest to the dullish brown colour of the jacket…..
….which is one of those ‘comes in handy now and again’ things I’ve had in the wardrobe for years – made from some sort of fleece that weighs almost nothing so was good for o/seas travel – especially on trips like the 2013 one to several Canadian provinces

The scarf was a Christmas in July gift to me – the year after I made all these as Christmas presents for a group of ‘crafty’ friends. Yes we do daft things like that down under – give winter scarves as gifts when more often than not the temperature is in the high 20sC/80sF😊

I’d been given an enormous bag of fine Mohair, Acrylic, Nylon mix yarn which I was loathe to pass on…..too ‘pretty’ to give away and surely I could make something with it. . So what to do with it became almost a 6 month project. No ball bands with needle size didn’t help so there was much trial knitting to end with something that draped. I used 5mm/uk 6/us 8…..a little bit thicker than what I usually work with – and boy did my hands complain!


I started with the lilac colour- knitting it in feather and fan. A pattern I knew – well, I thought I did. How can you mess up a 4 row pattern – 3 of which are just knit and purl stocking stitch – quite easily it seems. My yo’s and k2tog’s never seemed to be in the right place, After getting it sorted and finished It turned out looking more like a baby’s wrap than a scarf so no more of that design.

My stack of old baby patterns – the ones with lacy matinee coats – were long gone and this yarn needed holes not solid, couldn’t ask ‘the group’ as they’d want to know all the ins and outs New baby coming??? everything on the net seemed very complicated so I ended up scouring the op shops

This was in an old Lincraft book – just 4 rows again – ones I actually remembered. Two with the same combination of yfd’s, s1k1psso and k2tog’s intermixed with two purl. Strange how they ‘stuck’ and F&F didn’t.

So come Christmas all finally finished, wrapped in the same paper, in a lucky dip box so each chose their own – lots of oohs and aahs and thank yous.

A few weeks later one of them asked if she could have the pattern hers was made from. Sure, no problem.

Christmas in July is a ‘big thing’ here – it’s cold and often dreary so all the twinkling lights display the way they do in the northern hemisphere during the Christmas festivities up there.
Our little group self catered for a get together each year – our only stipulation was the gifts were to be fun little pressies. Like a Secret Santa – everyone provide one gift- nothing big – a low cost was often mentioned.
Surprise Surprise- no dipping in the box for me – mine’ was actually given to me – “you knit all these and didn’t have one for yourself- so here’s one just for you”.
Lots of oohs and ash’s and Thank you from me😊

The group is no more – I still have my lacy scarf – still giving me warm memories whenever I wear it

Monday Musings – a time to think and ponder.

Do you have gifts that give whenever you see them

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Not an actual ‘unraveled’ post but there was much unraveling involved😊.
Do pop over to Kat’s blog to look at  Unraveled Wednesday  and see what others have made and read this week

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🧶There’s always a ‘but what if’

Gathering ‘supplies’ to take away usually means I have to sit down and actually think about what I’d like to achieve.
With loads of leftovers I thought I’d take a big box …or rather, take some of it…..to use for more ‘coloured’ hats – but you know what happens with that idea…..making them is what I call a ‘spur of the moment’ craft…..deciding what to use means looking at what you have, then tossing it about and wondering if there’s enough of this or of that – and (as much as I’d like to) I can’t take it all (The Golfer packs the car so I can’t sneak more in – what’s this, do you need it, will you use it, is it coming back with us) so those annoying but what if thoughts keep rolling around my mind.

But what if – I don’t have enough of this/that/or the other, you can bet I’d be down the local shop looking for another contrast. Taking more leftovers home than I brought with me!.
But what if – I get fed up making the same things for that length of time

Then dear old Spotlight came to the rescue
(enter if you dare – keep a hold on your wallet if you do)

Large bags of mill ends reduced – sturdy winter coloured 8ply
great for kids easy to knit easy to wear guernseys and other winter wear.

So after time with hot chocolate, little Danish cookies
(and an assortment of pattern books).
plus Mother’s Day flowers that didn’t like the indoor heating

There is much more just like this – just right for Winter Woolies

Several likely designs were picked out….

….ones I’ve made before so there shouldn’t be any ‘But What If’s’
But then you never know😊

One thing I do know is 👇

Kat hosts a weekly link up called  Unraveled Wednesday . which features Reading Crafting Chatting – you’ll find it all there – no reading from me this week but look, why don’t you pop over, see what’s going on – maybe stay and say hello.

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🧶 A Riot of Colour

It began as a way of using up all those bright left overs – A Head Start

November 2023

which progressed to giving away a little bit of love – School starts on Monday –

January 2024

which then developed into a full scale attempt at something I hadn’t done for a little while

Bright isn’t it 😎

March 2024

The idea was to practice my fair isle skills on one of those little ‘me do it’s’
Front and back the same so didn’t matter what way a 2yr old puts it on.
But I decided on a plain back instead
then couldn’t be bothered decided not to knit made it sleeveless

It hasn’t made it to the charity because a friend claimed it for a young grandchild. Thankfully the mother liked it (memories of the return of the red jumper) and wasn’t too upset when I said No sorry to her request for another larger one in different colours

All this hasn’t made much of a dent in the left overs because there’s still oodles left in the box. It’ll be a case of ‘watch this space’ because I’m not sure what I’ll come up with next

🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶

We’ve had misty damp mornings recently, not cold just very autumnal looking. Somehow I don’t think the little Japanese Maple will colour much more- it’s dropping leaves already. I think we might have to think about pruning it as well as the Pittosporum which is dwarfing it.

So with this month’s book club offering having just arrived I spent some time on the deck the other day feeling rather granny like but very comfortable and warm wrapped in a blanket.
I told The Golfer I was resting (like actors do) between ‘jobs’ – waiting for inspiration on what to do next – something interesting will crop up – some little thing will seem just right and I’ll get on with it.
Thankfully unlike actors I’m not dependent on doing that ‘something’ for a living.

Who says you can’t have fun in your old age😊

Coal Creek by Australian author Alex Miller…..2013

Kat hosts a weekly link up called  Unraveled Wednesday . which features Reading Crafting Chatting – you’ll find it all there – pop over, see what’s going on – maybe stay and say hello.

(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)

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🧶 Slowly does it….

Yes, there are times when ‘slowly does’ it is the right way
It’ll get done in it’s own time

A few years ago a craft book called Slow Knitting was published – from all accounts it was fairly well received but as I’ve never actually seen it I can’t say much about it. Being a bit on the pricey side I waited for my library to obtain a copy – which unfortunately never happened. At the time council was tightening its belt and I was told the funds were not available for craft books! They’ve changed their attitude since but unfortunately this one never made the cut
Anyway seemingly amongst other things it talked about slowing down and taking time to savour your craft – To think about and enjoy all aspects of your craft.

“Like the “slow food” movement, Slow Knitting encourages knitters to step back, pare down, and celebrate the craftsmanship of their work. In five chapters centered around the tenets of slow knit­ting—sourcing carefully, making thoughtfully, thinking environmentally, experimenting fearlessly, and exploring openly—Hannah Thiessen challenges knitters of all skill levels to view their practice in a new way. Each chapter contains explorations of fiber types; profiles of well-known yarn types, makers, and yarn suppliers; and garment patterns inspired by the featured fibers. With contributions from knitting superstars Norah Gaughan, Bristol Ivy, and many others, Slow Knitting proposes an approach to knitting that is both minimalist and all-encompassing, and emphasizes what makes knitting a meditation, a passion, and a unique necessity.” source

I’ve been told it also suggested to not stop knitting gifts but not to put yourself under stress by having so many to finish by a certain time.  Now that’s something I learned the hard way a long time ago so if I do knit as a gift I give it when I feel the time is right not because it’s Christmas/Birthday time and that’s when gifts are given.

As always there’s been some knitting going on in my house……really slow knitting this time ……..some that has taken a fair while to finish.  Talk about slowly does it – with my interests lying in other directions recently this little cardigan finally got done all in it’s own time.

Selecting the yarn from my boxes I fingered it, squashing it in my hand, wondering what it could be used best for – a bit dark for a tiny baby so was it to be a toddler size cardigan or jumper/sweater?  Boy or girl style? We still tend to think of boys in blue but girls wear blue as well don’t they?

It’s not quite as dark as it looks but needed something to make it stand out – to be more than just a child’s cardigan – a decorative stitch that did just that.  Sort of like a mock cable – and what about pockets?  Little ones love pockets don’t they!

Simpler than it looks the ‘cable stitch’ is worked over 4 rows – Knit one row, purl one row, decrease with a s1k2pso (slip one, knit 2, pass stitch over)  in the middle of the set stitches on the next one, yarn over in that spot to make up the stitches on the next row.  The grey/blue buttons were all I had (with our winter trip coming up need to save my pennies here and there) but when it was all put together I didn’t think it looked too bad.


Do you remember the Slow TV phenomenon that came to us all those years ago…….well even though today is not Friday – which is the day we try to have Fun…..it turns out that today’s the day we’re going to have some fun in the form of fibre

And in keeping with ‘slowly does it’ – just enjoy some of this peaceful restful video of a group of knitters with their crocheting friends having some fibre fun – in real time – real slow time!!

Monday Musings – a time to think and ponder

What are you thinking about this Monday morning?

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🧶The last of…..

Unless anything springs up and surprises me these will be the last flowers on the table for a little while. I can’t see any more ‘heads’ on the Dietes and most of pink Oleander bushes are starting to look scruffy with loads of dead flowers and the small flowering hardy Fuchsia (David?) which has been growing outside for about 30yrs now did not enjoy that recent dry spell. I see some cutting back happening in the next wee while.

And it’ll be a while before our favourite ‘this time of the year’ snack appears again – no not Easter eggs…..hot cross buns
These were the last two left in the freezer.
Cut and lightly toasted. The Golfer likes jam on his, me I’m partial to butter. Just right with coffee outside on a cloudy (not chilly) morning last week

Nothing like the coffee break on the bright sunny day earlier that same week but look you have to sit out there and enjoy the fresh air while you can, there’ll be time enough for indoors as the season continues to change each week.

Still on my ‘use it up’ quest I thought I’d used the last of the fawn leftovers but it seems I missed a few half balls and as that is definitely the last of the cream I can see a couple more patterned beanies coming up to finish it.

We stayed there long enough for me to cast on, work a few rows of rib and then for someone to say he was hungry – sausage rolls from that shop he likes to frequent are his go to.
Not fantastic- passable – edible.

The book on the table is this month’s book club read. 

‘Less – Andrew Sean Greer (2017)’. 
Receiving an invitation to his ex-boyfriend’s wedding, Arthur, a failed novelist on the eve of his fiftieth birthday, embarks on an international journey that finds him falling in love, risking his life, reinventing himself, and making connections with the past. 

Let’s just say it’s weird different!. 
I’ve another 2 weeks to read it in – It may get finished It may not.
********

If the truth be told I was feeling a bit low that morning
The week before I’d sorted through some boxes deciding to move on some ‘pastimes’ from years ago
Kiera’s grooming paraphernalia turned up….remember Kiera, my little brown shadow?
She was the last of a very long list of all sorts of cats we had – or should I say shared the house with us over many many years
Seeing the brushes and grooming mitt on the table had me looking to my left half expecting her to be there on the wooden bench –
sadly no, we said goodbye to her back in April 2018.

Gosh, I miss having to ‘fight for a spot’ on the table

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Kat hosts  Unraveled Wednesday . which features Reading Crafting Chatting – you’ll find it all there – pop over, see what’s going on – maybe stay and say hello.

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🧶What about you….

Three weeks you say – yes, it’s been three weeks since I mentioned knitting
I’ve been thinking you might think that’s all I do
So I haven’t said a word about it for three whole weeks

But just in case you have been wondering what I’ve been up to
With my knitting that is
I’ll tell you that….

I finally finished the 4yr old which ended up being one of those ‘seemed like a good idea at the time but my heart really wasn’t in it’ things

I had a lot of fun knitting this the first time round and perhaps it was a bad choice for the ‘challenge’ but look nothing ventured nothing gained. And I certainly wasn’t going to rip it out and start something easier

December 2022

And as I’m still in my ‘make something simple’ by ‘using it up’ mood it means I’ve just about finished a classic style boys jumper which by adding stripes of various sizes means I’ve just about used up all the Grey and Royal Blue left overs. It does look very ‘boyish’ but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be worn by a girl

And the book Women of a certain rage – Various authors edited by Liz Byski 2021.

Blurb:- This book is the result of what happened when Liz Byrski asked 20 Australian women from widely different backgrounds, races, beliefs and identities to take up the challenge of writing about rage.

It was an op shop (charity/thrift) find, spotted and almost grabbed off the shelf after another person ‘pinched’ the car spot I was after. Saw the empty space as I drove into the car park, had my blinker on but she came in the other direction and just snuck in – I thought she was going to drive past so I could move in – but no, she just turned her wheels and snuck in there, right in front of me!
Settle down Catherine it was only a spot in a car park – it wasn’t your fault there wasn’t another one to be seen and you had to drive around looking for one. Rage does terrible things to your blood pressure 😡

******.
Last week I parcelled up these as well as a few other similar newborn sets plus everything else in the ‘box’ and dropped them off at a collection point so hopefully by now they’re making their way across town to the charity HQ. .
I’ve just noticed in the photo that many of the stitches on the blue cardigan look like they’re going ‘any which way but where they’re supposed to be’ – they don’t look like that in real life.
Trying to block acrylic yarn often results in a flat out of shape garment so better to not try than end up in tears.

So what are you up to.
‘What’s on your needles’ as the saying goes.
Have you been sewing, knitting, crocheting or making anything you’d be willing to tell us about? And have you come across any books you’d like to tell us about?

Sharing with  Unraveled Wednesday . hosted by Kat

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🧶Knit something simple…..

A couple of weeks ago I was ‘thinking about it’ – then it was all change and I needed something easy and straightforward to take my mind of something else I was thinking about – so I started doing it……again. Which means there are now two plain sleeves to go with the patterned front and I have begun the back. So come the winter an unknown 4yr old will be cosy and warm.

I did also pick through the soft coloured leftovers again
I’m sure (well, more like hoping) that if I keep plodding along making these simple, easy to knit baby hats that maternity wards like for newborns, one day I’ll find my box of white, cream and pale coloured oddments is empty – still got a long way to go before that happens tho’

Also this month’s book club book arrived
Beautiful Ruins – Jess Walter
A very small 18x12cm ‘take along with you in your bag’ sized paperback……with very small print!

I’m wondering how many of the older members will actually read it because
it doesn’t seem to matter how near or far away you are
It’s still very small print!

There’s a waiting list at the library for both the audio and ebook versions 🙁

Kat hosts  Unraveled Wednesday . which features Reading Crafting Chatting – you’ll find it all there – pop over, see what’s going on – maybe stay and say hello.

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Fascinating Friday

Some of you may have heard of Li Ziqi – a Chinese vlogger
May even have watched some of her videos

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Ziqi_(vlogger).

Out of all the videos she has put online this has to be my ‘favourite’.
So put the kettle on, sit back, relax
And enter the world of ‘how it used to be done’


There is no commentary as such – just gentle music..maybe bird song
with the occasional ‘exclamation’.

For a written explanation of ‘what’s happening’ click on this (safe) link

https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/the-life-of-cotton-liziqi-video

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🧶Still at it….

This ‘quest’ to use up those left overs has changed course. Still in the baby dept, just altered focus a fraction.

Abt 2019

After having discovered found – who am I kidding… remembered there was another lot of white acrylic outside in a large container I put the newborn sets to one side.
They were mainly half + balls from when I used to make all white sets for a different charity and I knew this ‘find’ could be paired with other (brighter) half balls of similar weight 8ply acrylic to make cardigans. It also gave me a chance to highlight different ways of doing the colour change.

It looks like I’ve been going hell for leather over the past couple of weeks – not so. Several warm (really hot) days with nothing planned meant plain knitting of small things happened faster than patterned (where you have to think about it).
Luckily our suburb didn’t cop the damage so much as other parts of Victoria did after a storm went through on one of those days.
I’ve been able to add four to the charity box, the same size as before but because it was a slightly different weight it knit up quickly also making a slightly larger garment.

I’ll get back to the baby sets soon but really must continue and finish something begun last November
Trouble is, (and this will probably sound daft) knitting something for a 4yr old to wear during the winter is almost like wishing the summer season away. The front and one sleeve are done so it’s half finished- just the other half to go.
But as it’s such a lovely day while I’m writing this – and there’s a new library book sitting there waiting to be read – Our souls at night…..”This is a love story. A story about growing old with grace” …..maybe tea, bickies and a book are the way to go instead

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🧶The baby cardigan that nearly didn’t make it…


“The charity needs newborn sets for the baby packs”.
is what I was told late last year.
“They’re open to ancient and modern,
so there’s no excuse for you not making some”

Don’t you love friends who talk in riddles - ‘ancient and modern’ to my crafting friend meant soft traditional baby colours as well as loud bright (or dark even) colours – simple basic ‘old fashioned styles as well as different ‘up to date’ ones.
Thinking, plotting and planning is why I had a leftovers sorting session early in January. And as so often happens with me things didn’t go quite to plan

Newborn size.
16” in older knitting patterns – 0-3 months in others – 41cm in newer ones.
Small in size taking no time at all to finish

Do any of you remember the time three years ago when I sewed a sleeve seam to a side seam – well memories of that returned when I began to put the first cardigan together.
The back side seams didn’t match those on the fronts
The back was much too long!

I’m not a top down knitter, prefer straight needles making garments in pieces rather than in the round. And because I’ve knit these little basic cardigans so often over the years I’ve simplified the instructions – instead of ins/cms I use rows. So that side seam for both fronts & back will equal 42 rows – 10 rib plus 32 with cast off for armholes on row 43/44.

The front length is easily calculated by counting the number of ridges on the front button band. The back is different, now and again there’s a quick row count and you can guess what happened – intent on reaching 42 rows I forgot to take into account the 10 rib ones already knit🙁

So it’s unravel it down to the correct number of rows ready to cast off for the armhole.
Finished, ready to sew together again- one side fits nicely – there’s a slight problem with other one.
Not happy Jan! I’ve only gone and forgotten to cast off on the purl row! 

Unpick again- begin again. Cross your fingers. . third time lucky!
The Golfer banished, iPad closed, tv off. Time to concentrate properly.

Sucess, finished, just have the band to sew on the neckline.
Paired with a Babbity hat and bootees it’ll soon be ready to go
Now I’m on a roll – most of a blue/white striped set was finished on Monday
******

Yesterday there was
(shush)
housework – but it didn’t happen until after a break for coffee
and a quick squizz at a new library book

Death of an author – E.C.R. Lorac (1935/reprint 2023)

Link to (freely available) online basic cardigan pattern.
Waterwheel 890

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Kat hosts  Unraveled Wednesday . which features Reading Crafting Chatting – you’ll find it all there – pop over, see what’s going on – maybe stay and say hello.

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🧶 School starts on Monday….

That’s what an old friend told me a couple of days ago –
– she’d been helping her granddaughter out over the past few weeks by minding a little gtgrandchild now and again so the granddaughter could take the older school age one out on occasional days by themselves. Dad left town a year ago, not heard of since, and seemingly our long summer holidays can be difficult for some single parents.
‘I love them dearly she said. . but oh dear my shoulders and knees aren’t too keen on rolling round on the floor with them’

Like my friend (as well as Noodle and Pals 😊) I’ve also been concentrating on ’ head shoulders knees and toes’ this past few weeks


*****



Yes I’ve had fun sorting then choosing leftover bright colours to make more of the tiny trauma teddies I started at the start of the month.

Now it’s fill and finish time.


Here’s a couple I started finishing the other day.
Will get to the ‘eyes and ears and mouth and nose’ bit on the rest soon

But first there’s my tea and a few more pages chapters to finish

The Little Wartime Library – Kate Thompson (2023)

Today is the day Kat hosts  Unraveled Wednesday .
Reading Crafting Chatting- you’ll find it all there – pop over, see what’s going on – maybe stay and say hello.

(And I’ve just noticed it’s the same table cloth as earlier in the month)

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