I came across this on the ‘birdy’ site (X – Twitter).
Some of you may be able to watch
If not I found it elsewhere
Weeks – Days – Hours – compressed into 5 minutes!
Does anyone else find it fascinating – I know I do!
🧶 When the weather’s not the best….
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?
🧶 And so it begins. . .
That virus (or whatever it was I had) certainly got the better of me and lots of things went by the wayside including (blog and book) reading and knitting so I ended up only making a half dozen of the fair isle beanies – a small effort compared to a couple of years ago for a different charity. I popped In (masked) for a short while the night they were ‘due’, only stopping long enough to hear what the next challenge’ was.
- “Now you all know 4 year old boys don’t want to be little kids – they strive to be big ‘uns. . . trouble is they’re too old for toddler type clothing yet sometimes older styles don’t look quite right on them. Let’s get the grey matter working and see what we can come up with”
It took me a little while dithering around before deciding that my contribution will be a jumper along the lines of The Trio – which will also be a way of using up some of the ordinary ‘run of the mill’ acrylic I favour. It may not be top of the range (remember my run in with the yarn snobs) but it knits well (wears well is what I’ve heard from others with children) and – unlike the red acrylic my ‘friend’ asked me to use – is soft..not scratchy.
A touch of Aran means there’ll be small 4st/4row cables and columns of ‘knit/purl through the backs’ that are crossed at times plus honeycomb up the middle – plain side edges, back and sleeves though….because it’s easier (and less bulky) 😊
And this is what came home from the library the other day
Perfect to keep me company between rows as I set the pattern
Kaffe Fassett in the Studio
I wish I could remember the name of those yellow roses – they and most of the others were planted about 15years ago….as per usual I never wrote it/them down and labels don’t last that long – so I just enjoy them for what they are each year.
The spring flush is coming to an end. Some very hot days, cold wet ones as well as windy ones have given us a mix of blooms with old, current and a few ‘promises of what’s to come’ on all the bushes at the same time
All will be having their summer haircuts very soon
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Wednesday Words &Whimsy can be found HERE.
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Also being Wednesday it’s time to thank Kat for hosting Unraveled Wednesday
Said many a knitter. . .
There are a lot of flying hours between Australia and North America or Europe. Across the Atlantic as well
Those hours are not happy ones if some official decides to spoils your fun.
These days I’m prepared with a spare ‘set’ in my big bag in the hold
Trying to explain to the other half why I needed a craft shop in a strange city wasn’t a good way to start a 6 week overseas trip. 🧶❤️🧶
🧶A head start…..
A couple of weeks ago this suggestion was made at my ‘after hours’ craft group – it followed on from general chit chat over what to do with all those half balls and scrappy bits of leftovers that we know disinterested family will more than likely just bag up and toss because in their eyes ‘full balls are so much easier to rehome’
“Daft as it might sound, there are memories in leftovers. Most of us remember when we used the main quantity, what we used it for and who we made it for. So in a similar vein to a quilt made from left over or preloved material that has memories the maker can talk about, think about making something to donate incorporating your leftovers. Tell us all about those memories and if possible show us.”
The chat then moved on to – ‘the weather’…..predicted heatwaves, cyclones, bushfires, floods…….the sort of things Australians talk about before summer (all year round if the truth be told 😎)
When someone jokingly said, ‘forget summer – Heads up, I can tell you it’s going to be cold next winter!’ I knew what I was going to make.
Something I’ve publicly declared as ‘I’d willingly knit anything but these’
Yet here I was thinking, ‘yes, I could do that!.
So once I got over the ‘shudder, shudder, casting on of 90 odd stitches, I was off and running. Show and tell night is in a couple of weeks time and seeing the amount of ‘little balls of colour’ still in the bag there’s probably going to be more than just these three on show😊
* * * * *
Another library book to start the month. Reprints of older publications – this one from 1944
Absent in the Spring – Mary Westcott (pen name for Agatha Christie)
“ Returning from a visit to her daughter in Iraq, Joan Scudamore finds herself unexpectedly alone and stranded in an isolated rest house by flooding of the railway tracks. This sudden solitude compels Joan to assess her life for the first time ever and face up to many of the truths about herself.”
Definitely sounds like an interesting read – I wonder what Mrs Scudamore will discover?
^^^^^
(I’m adding this here because it may be of interest to some of you).
I’m not really a ‘groupy’ sort of person, I tend to get distracted and end up talking/listening and not ‘working’ – yet really enjoy this evening group – it’s made up of people of all ages….not just grandmas looking for kindred spirits- there are several much younger members- some still out in the work force.
Which means topics of conversation can range along the lines of….
* walking to work in the city in heels
* the reaction of other commuters when knitting is produced
* best local places to buy fruit & veg
* how to persuade a teenager to get out of bed at the weekend
* what’s on special in the wool dept of the big store down the road
and recently from our crafty city worker who loves her heels….
* the perils of train travel wearing a ‘boot’…..necessitated because of the so and so who pushed past her and caused her to trip on the kerb, cracking a small bone in her foot. Ouch!
Just one topic not allowed- politics in all shapes sizes
local, interstate and international!.
* * * * *
SO…after the previous ‘scraps’ discussion two weeks ago, (see top of this post) last week this ‘old chestnut’ was raised.
“If you died or were unable to knit, what would happen to your projects on the go?”.
The consensus was ‘tucked away in a cupboard and forgotten or tossed without a care or op shop’.
Well…thanks to a younger (more aware) member we now know there is a group called Loose Ends who will try to find a volunteer to finish the garment. Not just knitting but many other crafts as well – not just in the USA but in many other countries as well.
https://www.looseendsproject.org
Loose Ends (group) – Ravelry link
FAQs about Loose Ends Ravelry link
Washington Post – loose ends fibre arts projects
Isn’t that a great idea 🧶❤️🧶
^^^^^^
Following on from Denyse’s withdrawal from blogland, Min is now hosting a Wednesday link up called Wednesday Words &Whimsy.
Why not drop in HERE and see who her visitors are – perhaps you’d like to join in as well
Wednesday is the day Kat hosts ‘Unraveled Wednesday’ .
Pop over and discover what others are knitting, reading and talking about.
All steamed up. . .
I have a special liking for steam trains. They’ve always fascinated me. Doesn’t matter where I see them or in what form – real or imaginary – there’s something about them that always puts a little smile on my face, a feeling of excitement. I suppose it’s sort of in the genes – my paternal grandfather was on the railways in Ireland (most of the males in his family were as well) Like his brother he ‘rose up through the ranks’ to become an engine driver but others were engine firemen, station masters, porters and a generation before ‘gangers’
The engines always look like big monsters needing all that coal and water to make the steam to ‘turn the wheels’. I’m not that cluey to understand how it works but THIS might help if you really would like to know
This mural is in George Street Bowen depicting locomotives used in Queensland.
B1079 – – – C17
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We have an organisation here in Victoria called Steamrail – https://www.steamrail.com.au
Steamrail Victoria is a not-for-profit volunteer group established in 1965 to restore and operate historic locomotives and rolling stock used on the railways in Victoria, Australia.
Source – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamrail_Victoria
8am Saturday 24 March 2012
I’ve no idea aka I can’t remember why we were at Spencer Street Station so early but this was a a real surprise. Steamrail were obviously having a day trip / tour somewhere. Hissing and steaming, providing photo opportunities, putting smiles on peoples faces, promising a good time for all.
A bit of history on locomotive K153 – https://www.steamrail.com.au/k153
Min is now hosting a Wednesday link up – Wednesday Words & Whimsy.
Why not drop in HERE and see who her visitors are – perhaps you’d like to join in as well
🧶 Up for a challenge…
Now the days are getting longer (becoming lighter earlier/ getting dark later – daylight savings just begun) I’m more comfortable driving after hours…I’m now back at my local evening craft group where the Spring Challenge is assisting another local charity to build up their stock.
Each of us were ‘given’ sight unseen (eyes closed put your hand in a box, take your pick a bit like lucky dip) -a ball of yarn – ply plus gm weight unknown then ‘told’ to make what we can of it – which means I’m ‘back in the bub’s wear dept.’ again- making their recommended top down large premature size baby jacket from here.
Recommended yes, in fact it’s the only one they will receive:- .
Do you accept donations other than the items listed on your website?
We have worked closely with hospitals to ensure our patterns meet hospital safety and infection control guidelines. For this reason, we can only accept items listed on our website. Source
Maybe not my favourite construction method, it’s a fairly easy straight forward knit, one I’ve made many times before in larger sizes, not always in soft baby tones though, in fact the last time was in much darker colours.
( I veer away a little from the published instructions but the result is the same)
I scored some soft 8ply in a strong baby pink so toned it down by adding 100gms of cream from my stock and managed to do a little mix/max thing ending up with two sets 😊
Guess who didn’t weigh and divide her gifted yarn? On the premise that if I could get one set out of half I could get another.
So I had to knit both bodices and sleeves first, then cross fingers I’d have enough for contrast on the hats/bootees – sneaked in with the tiniest amount left. Now just have to add the cream skirt on to the stripy bodice.
My latest library book arrived. After reading (well, finishing) a big fat zero (yes, nothing at all) during September I’m hoping this will get me going again.
Three women and a Boat – Anne Youngson aka The Narrowboat Summer. (2020)
I’m late to the party I know…Goodreads has over 3.5K * ratings..some good some bad mostly in the middle. Wonder what I’ll think of it ??
* * * *
And months after they were begun these little beauties are finally finished and now residing in my charity box where they’ll be joined by lots more various items over the coming months waiting for when the charities shelves are restocked early in the new year.
And a little laugh with the hope that this month is better than the last
Sharing with Denyse’s weekly link up Wednesday’s Words and Pics. .
#WWandPics
Also joining in with Kat and others at Unraveled Wednesday
🧶All square..a bit of a ramble
It’s nearly time to start gathering up and packing away my ‘playthings’….I had all sorts of ideas for things to make during our time here but in the end just gave into ‘Ease & Simplicity’ and spent time on blanket Squares.
They say it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind – well I’m definitely a woman and certainly have had experience in changing my mind (big smile there)
so in the end decided that as well as the red destined for squares, I’d use other yarn brought from home (with different projects in mind) to help someone else fulfil their charity commitments.
In a similar fashion as last year’s Christmas in July beanie drive, all will go towards next years Winter in July effort “Gonna build a Mountain – of blankets” (apologies to Anthony Newley).
As a knitter not a joiner upper, I’ll be interested to see what becomes of these (40+) also some others I knit earlier in the year plus more that are likely to come off my needles over the next few months.
❤️🧶Many squares do a blanket make 🧶❤️
So what now…..
More squares ???
No – fingerless mittens
Early in the year another ‘crafty acquaintance’ told me of her plan to supply all the ladies in a nearby retirement village with fingerless mittens – then she damaged her hand.
Oops, not going to happen this Australian winter (June-September) so with the help of others she’s working towards next year.
Over the years I’ve knit quite a few of them.. This pair – adapted from a Ravelry pattern – knitted sideways in a pinky grey mix of colours (Patons Jet) were especially for an elderly friend who suffered with cold hands indoors as well as out.
With there being no instantly visible ‘thumb hole’, people would look at them not knowing how they were worn – so sometimes it was fun to make and then gift them in a little ‘display hand’ like this,
Very simple and easy to do – they’re an alternative ‘easy knit’ for those can’t be bothered with stitches measurements and shaping times. I rather like the garter stitch detail on the side after they’ve been sewn together.
Here’s my ‘rewritten’ 8ply pattern
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These are a slightly different style – Rhonda Jean’s 2 needle pattern – one I’ve often used since she posted it quite a while ago (2008) – made with love for a young granddaughter waiting for the school bus at 8am on cold wintery days.
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Finally finished at the end of August:-
The Day of the Triffids – John Wyndham
Not as far fetched as I thought it would – although I’m sure if I’d read it as a young person when it first came out (1951) I’d have had the collywobbles – with conspiracy theories, sudden catastrophes, ‘things’ grown in labs then released, a mysterious virus/plague outbreak, suggestions of ‘free love’ colonies plus human nature observations there was enough to keep me interested 😊.
It was a learning experience as well – the mention of a 4 wheel drive vehicle had me referring to Mr G – I didn’t realise the technology (in various forms) had been around that long
* * * *
Have just begun:.-
The School for Good Mothers – Jessamine Chan
Book blurb.
Frida had fed and changed her toddler Harriet. She had a work deadline- an article to finish, a job hanging by a thread, a file she’d left in the office. She would go get it. Harriet would be fine. But then the neighbours heard her crying.
(The novel concerns a woman, Frida, who is sentenced to a period at an experimental facility intended to rehabilitate mothers accused of even minor parenting infractions.) source
Oh my, real or otherwise it certainly makes you think – haven’t read any reviews, will make up my mind when finished
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And as usual on the first Wednesday of the month I’m back to visiting Kat and others at Unraveled Wednesday……if you’d like to find out a little more of they’ve been up to – you really must pop over and see.
That came around quickly…
August is the 8th month of the year – one which has 31 days
June & July came and went (quickly), today is the 2nd of August, the 63rd day of Winter here in Australia, which means that..…wait for it
Spring will arrive in 29 days😊.
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Finally after four weeks life has slowly settled into some sort of a routine – a quiet non hectic routine nothing like at home. . .
Here I’m perfectly happy to look at gardens around town and know I don’t have to tend to them
Over the years I’ve been to local service clubs as a visitor but have decided to give them a miss this year.
With no choir or book club to join, any singing I do is confined to the shower and of course I can read anywhere and maybe tell you about the books I read.
There’s a ‘weekly ‘gathering of ladies’ for craft* in the camp kitchen – which I avoid….if I want to whinge about life I’ll do it at home with people I know….and where some handiwork gets done at the same time (*here people make a show of leaving it on the table but not doing anything*).
Something different though – is that we eat out far far more often (it’s a first world problem for me but cooking with electric in a very confined space is not on my list of ‘things to do’ – I’m a cooking with gas, give me room to move gal😊) . . and (another first world problem) the internet signal/reception for all carriers is lousy in the area we are staying!
* * * *
It’s been a sort of hit and miss week- I finished a couple of ‘small’ books and a few more of the little blanket squares but the ‘big things I wanted to get done never really got a look in. I began to read Fled but was sidetracked by those smaller books – the same thing happened when it came to making up the brown fair isle jumper, front, back and sleeves were sewn together but when it came to picking up for the neckline – well those easy to knit squares were suddenly far more interesting! It’s a good job there’s no deadline on any of these activities.
I have to say it’s been a while since I’ve been reduced to tears when reading a book – in fact I’d be hard pushed to remember the last time – yet it’s happened twice over this past week and all because of those two little books
Who says books written for children are only of interest to children and war memoirs are only of interest to men??.
The Odd Angry Shot – William Nagle. . .1975. 137pages.
Recollections of time spent in Vietnam, written as only an Australian could. Thoughts about happenings – then “Remember?” .
Seemingly larrikin behaviour mixed with dark humour mixed with emotion followed by ‘didn’t see it coming’ violence.
Do try to get a copy if you can – not a novel, not a full blown record of events – just one person remembering.
Seven Little Australians – Ethel Turner ….1894. 177pages.
Reminding me at times of The Railway Children and Little Women – this is a story about children, their father and their stepmother in late 1800s Australia.
Very ‘normal’ individual high spirited (described by the author as naughty) children aged 16 down to 4 – a young stepmother (with her own young child from the marriage) who took on the raising of (and lovingly caring for) those six children when their own mother died . . . she is the go between them and – a father in the army who tends to be strict yet caring.
Life just happens along full of daily ‘adventures’ – some that might seem strange in these days but were as possibly would have been then. Growing up is never easy – unexpected things turn up – some of them funny, some of them very dramatic, some of them very sad.
Yes, it’s described as a children’s book….but so so readable by an adult
#enjoyeverymoment
Sharing with Denyse’s weekly link up Wednesday’s Words & Pics.
Also joining in with Kat and others at Unraveled Wednesday .
🧶 Seeing Red..
Even though we’ve experienced life in these cabins over countless winters since 2008 I am still finding it a struggle to keep our ‘tiny house’ tidy. I’m continually picking up and putting away. It’s not that we brought our whole life with us – I think we’ve just got out of the habit of containing all our stuff like we’ve done in the past.. I had some thoughts (HERE) on this size of living space in a blog post a few years ago and still can’t make up my mind on it
Consequently (as I’ve often mentioned) we ‘live’ outside – (which is how it should be considering we’re up here in The Dry Tropics to enjoy the warmer winter days) – we’re just not living quite as outside as those around us though. The camping in all guises lifestyle would be great in sunny weather although I’m not so sure about it when the skies are dark and grey and heavy.
And even though, more often than not when the skies darken here at this time of the year nothing ‘comes of it’, I definitely feel better retiring under the solid roof of my ‘tiny house’
This year there’s been an awful lot of afternoons spent in the little sitting area outside the cabin. True to form books and craft are always at the ready with plastic tubs and esky coming in handy as makeshift ‘tables’ – or footstools. Blanket squares are the go at the moment- there was a huge amount of red left from the large bag my friend provided for the notorious stranded jumper so I’m using it to help out another acquaintance with something I know won’t be returned. No nonsense simple easy 40sts 20cm 8ply garter st squares
means I can read or watch tv at the same time – or even just close my eyes
Sunday we took a drive up the hill to look down on the harbour. Mainly to see how much traffic there was in the marina but also to watch the sky. It definitely looked like Storm clouds were a comin’ ….yet we were foiled again! They moved on inland.
Not so on Monday – am & pm – wasn’t exactly tropical, was it😕
And like most everyone else in the park who ‘stayed home’ waiting for the weather to break and the temps to rise, this is how I (and The Golfer I might add) ended up spending most of the day. Lounging around on the bed with a previously unread children’s classic (and those easy knit squares) to keep me company.
No complaints from me though
dry sunny is forecast here for the rest of the week
cold and showery with possible frost back home!!.
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Sharing with Denyse’s weekly link up Wednesday’s Words & Pics.
Why don’t you pop over and see who’s visiting her today
Also joining in with Kat and others at Unraveled Wednesday .
Where there’s lots of knitting and reading and general chit chat going on
And Don’t Forget – if you want to see it best……Click/ tap or finger slide to enlarge
🧶 So what..
So what have you been up to this week? – a constant query from family
Honestly when I’m home we can go from one week to the next without hearing from any of them….leave town …and they’re like helicopter parents
(of an 80yr old) 😊
So I told them… it’s been a very quiet nondescript week…
Where there’s been a little bit of knitting done
Two plain sleeves for another of the fair isle jumpers – which had me thinking that if I just concentrate on finishing the fronts for these two and make them up I can then look at some of the other projects I had in mind.
Also a little bit of reading
I picked through the pile of books from last week, – after a couple of false starts 2 went back to the library unfinished 😕…..I did finish one of the ‘come from home’ lot (The Beekeeper’s Secret – Josephine Moon) and some of the others have been lent to other campers.
Along with some eating out and shopping!
On one of the days when the strong winds were making life uncomfortable and ensuring the town lived up to its nickname of Blowin’ Bowen we went out for a pub lunch, laughed at some ‘dad jokes’ while waiting for it to arrive and then popped into the op shop next door when we’d finished.
Last of the big spenders came out with a lighthearted Monica McInerney plus crockery…crockery? he said – yes, I’m missing my China and am fed up with that thick white stuff in the cabin ((and it won’t go astray at home)
And to finish the week an early morning visit to Rose Bay was in order – from the moment day broke today there hasn’t been a cloud in the sky,. Just an hour on an empty beach, soaking up the sea air and warming my bones in mild temps (22c/71f) will boost my spirits no end – then it’s back to the cabin for coffee.
Joining in with Kat and others at Unraveled Wednesday
There’s always lots of knitting and reading and general chit chat going on
Apologies for the small sized gallery photos. Just click and they will open/enlarge/enbiggen- then scroll side to side
More than I can chew??
Flushed with the success of actually finishing a book I came back from the library on Monday with three……all written by completely unknown to me Australian authors. A couple of historical fiction (19c & early20c) plus a crime which seemingly is riddled with humour..
The Tailor and the Shipwright- Robert Westphal . 2019
Perfect Criminals – Jimmy Thomson. 2018
Dark Angels – Ron Thomas 2018
If you add those to several others brought up from home, as well as the download of Northanger Abbey I’d planned for Jane Austen July , there’s certainly a few weeks worth of material there. Here’s hoping I can carry on the way I’ve begun and can say ‘job well done’ on at least some of them at the end of the month….I’ll keep you posted.
I do wish my local library would use those little ‘roo icons – that way readers would become more aware of lesser known Aussie authors and they would get the recognition/publicity they deserve. They’re all on the shelves at my local but knowing nothing about the authors I’d have bypassed them all.
I wonder what other countries could use to signify their ‘national’ authors?
Maybe they do already
Any ideas?
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Last week might have been a worrisome one but wasn’t quite the write off it appeared – staying close to the cabin/ not going anywhere had some benefits…. I was able to knit a couple of sleeves for one of the fair isle jumpers, adding a couple of repeats of one of the borders for interest. I had visions of being overwhelmed thinking about the 3 fronts and 6 sleeves still to be knit yet here we are with a third of the sleeves done already. They look a little crumpled – caused by a bad habit of just stuffing things in a knitting bag instead of rolling in a tea towel as my mother used to do (‘keep it flat, it’ll look much better’) I’m sure once the whole garment is finished and made up it’ll be much smarter.
Joining in with Kat and others at Unraveled Wednesday
Where there’s lots of knitting and reading and general chit chat going on
🧶 But wait, there’s more..
( Crook – sick, unwell. That’s been me for the past week
Stayed offline – hopefully better now)
The disappointment of having the child’s red woolly returned has gone now, it was a slightly different feeling to that from a couple of years ago but for a little while there left a sour taste in my mouth..
I did get a note from my friend saying how upset she was with her daughter and how sorry (and embarrassed) she was it happened.
Let’s just say (sadly) for her grandson, his loss was my gain – win win in fact – the charity receives and I happily use skills learnt and …as mentioned in that post…plan another venture.
Unfortunately nothing more has happened to the royal blue jumper since then, there’s still just the back waiting patiently….
So…as per usual when I get an idea running through my mind….I charge in wanting to see if it’ll work
Which means …that now there are two more ‘backs’ waiting patiently…
And I’m thinking the makings of 3 fronts and 6 sleeves are going to have to come along for a ride sometime in the near future and be knit elsewhere.
📘 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 📘
You might be interested to know that after I don’t know how long I’ve actually found a book that’s holding my interest – A Shilling for Candles.
A novel given to me by someone who knew I was struggling.
“An old fashioned crime mystery will get you going again”
I’m three chapters in and it appears
“…no hearts were breaking because Christine Clay was no more….the world was dusting off its blacks and hoping for an invitation to her funeral….”.
I’m all ears (well eyes actually) tell me more 😊
It’ll also be coming along for the ride and I’ve been given the ok to pass it on to someone else when I’ve finished.
… … … …
#keeplifesimple
Sharing with Denyse’s weekly link up Wednesday’s Words & Pics
Why don’t you pop over and see who’s visiting her today
🧶Stranded…..
I am now officially finished with knitting for ‘friends’!
I should’ve known better but this one wanted to give her grandson something to wear this winter that was entirely different to anything else he had.
To begin with she wanted a fair isle jumper – as In the whole of the garment completely covered in bands of colour.
Similar to this 👇
It’ll be too busy for a two year old I said, too heavy as well. It’s almost like two layers of knitting and where we live our winters don’t warrant that, also his mother won’t thank you when it comes to washing/drying.
Maybe something simpler like half and half would be be the thing – plain sleeves with front and back having small bands of stranded patterns below the armholes. He’ll have ease of movement at the top as well as interest at the bottom.
This is what she chose from my pile of patterns – ‘love the red, he’ll look good in that’.
‘ It doesn’t have to be red’ I said.
She dropped off a bag of red 8ply (acrylic mill ends manufacturer unknown) a couple of days later!.
That was much earlier in the year.
It was returned – unworn – three weeks ago.
‘My daughter doesn’t like it, it’s too bright. She says to put it in your charity box’
I don’t mind too much, someone will benefit from it and I definitely enjoyed knitting it (even if the wool was a bit rough in texture). Making it gave me the idea on how to use up some of the left overs as well as looking at a different way to reduce the large amount of yarn I have waiting to be used …..the supply of knitting material I have gathered.
So the idea at the moment is – I want to make more of these –
What do I have I can use?
Original Sirdar pattern for sizing – library and online resources for band (peeries) patterns. Various colours for the body plus white/cream for contrast.
Never one to let an idea pass here’s the nearly finished back of my next one
And….I have enough cream to use as a contrast with this denim blue as well the tweedy brown. And….look what I found on the library shelf
The very easy guide to Fair Isle Knitting – Lynne Watterson
It’s all out there just waiting to be discovered!.
(As was the last of this year’s Roses and the first Camellia)
Thank heavens for plain knitting The Golfer said when I reached the end of the last pattern row. I was driving him batty with my mutterings of 1 2 3 – 1
as I counted the colours along the rows
Just wait until he finds out I have more in mind 🧶😊
*****
Joining in with Kat and others at Unraveled Wednesday
Lots of knitting and reading and general chit chat going on
Why don’t you pop over – you never know who you might see there
🧶 Can’t do them all
At times we are our own worst enemies – I get carried away thinking I can do it all but there just aren’t enough hours (or even the means) to do everything I want to do. I’m not talking about household management or maintenance here by the way😊
(Think colourwork, stranded or intarsia – that beautiful ‘all over’ look of Fair Isle being a favourite. Aran with all its different interpretations of cables. Baby and children woolies in all shapes, sizes, styles and designs- get the picture 😊)
A ‘favourite’ blog I like to visit and ultimately get lost in is Gansey Nation – written by Gordon Reid, who lives in far north Scotland, in the small town of Wick (just south of John O’Groats). It’s a blog about ganseys/guernseys – his current project on the needles, (on which there’s a weekly report) and how to knit them. As well as – sometimes very humorous – daily happenings in his and others lives.
The website address is: http://www.ganseys.com. ‘a blog celebrating the traditional hand-knitted pullovers worn by the fishermen of the British Isles.’ source
So when I saw this in the libraryI knew it had to come home with me. A pick up/put down large sized book – not quite what I was expecting – just a little about the history, mostly (as the back cover says) The ultimate sourcebook for Gansey knitting techniques and stitch patterns.
The sections on ‘gussets and shoulder strap’s’ would definitely be useful if I were to knit a traditional Gansey – in the round . Pages and pages of stitch pattern designs with knitted samples to look at, tidbits of information like possible origins and interpretations of the motifs eg cables/ropes made interesting reading.
Close to the end there’s some author designed ‘projects’.
This one for a child caught my eye
……until I saw this ?project/review on Ravelry and changed my mind
Instead I’ll take the idea and work it into those little ‘me do it’s’ I make
Which meant that even though I’d been eyeing up some more ‘left overs’ to use up, with the word Gansey/guernsey running round my mind I fished around and pulled out some full balls of fawn instead. There’s a ‘simple’ version of one in this book – one I’ve knit before
And have started again!
Its time for Unraveled Wednesday hosted by Kat…
Why don’t you pop over and see what’s going on
Leftovers again!!
You know how some shelves in your freezer seem to be dedicated to ‘left overs’ ( things too ‘good’ to throw away, that can maybe be added to other ingredients to make a meal) well I seem to have accumulated an awful lot of left over yarn. Bags and bags of it shoved into stored in other larger bags.
So here we are following on from my attempt a few weeks ago and working with the principle that ‘from little things big things grow’ (combine lots of little things….) plus ‘make hay while the sun shines’ (because sunny autumnal days are never to be sneezed at) – I’ve an idea in mind and look I even found some cute buttons (in my large collection of left overs of course) that hopefully will work. So as they say – watch this space!
And for once I have actually begun to enjoy my reading
the world without us – Mireille Juchau. (book club)
Two chapters in and eager for more
It has been six months since Tess Müller stopped speaking. Her silence is baffling to her parents, her teachers and her younger sister, Meg. But the more urgent mystery for both girls is where their mother, Evangeline, goes each day, pushing an empty pram. When their father Stefan discovers a car wreck and human remains on their farm, old secrets emerge to threaten the fragile family. A storm is coming and the Müllers are in its path
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And look at this , just by magic- because I didn’t publish this post earlier in the month – here’s the finished cardigan (now tucked away in the charity box) plus a ‘lovely little book’ spotted on a library shelf, sitting there waiting for me to find it. Lots of short ‘stories/essays’ by knitters about- what else but – their stash of yarn. It’s been a great book to dip into, with each chapter just the right length to enjoy while resting my hands. Have any of you read it?
Its time for Unraveled Wednesday hosted by Kat…….As Kat Knits……
Time to pop over and see what’s going on
🧶 Gosh, what am I going to do with that…
My initial reaction to a gift I was given late last year
…..”Mum ordered this online – it’s described as Pale Marigold but isn’t exactly what she thought it would be, she thinks it’s too bright . She knows you knit for charity and you’ll welcome it..
(‘Mum’ is a longtime friend who moved to another suburb
daughter lives locally)
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By the time I took this photo back in early March (for a post I had in mind but never got round to) I’d had a rethink – yes, it’s a bit bright – not quite orange..not quite yellow…youngsters like bright, I’d rephrased my thoughts to something like – Never look a gift horse In the mouth – because I knew it would be welcome wherever it went and by whoever wore it.
So another tried and true pattern had come out of the pile. Styled for a little girl, with a lace panel on the front and sleeves but easily adapted for a boy by leaving them off.
Then I got sidetracked and this was put to one side – it’s only just recently I’ve been able to say that from the 300gms I’d been gifted I managed to produce both a jumper/sweater and cardigan (similar sizing) adding the same lacy design to both of them
With a mind going round in circles recently, I’ve begun to take slow walks again.
The piles of recently fallen leaves at the local park reminded me that nothing (or very little) lasts forever and to enjoy life in whatever way you can.
Those thoughts plus the addition of some beautiful sunny days helped chase the blues away
So what if I had to drive to a place that was within walking distance – those extra 500m downhill one way (then uphill coming back – with no conveniently placed roadside benches,) would have had me exhausted.
It’s what happens there that makes the difference 😊
And the book I began – In a Strange Room – well unlike the knitting, I didn’t return and finish it…..it’s sitting on the shelf waiting for me to pick it up – sometime.
It’s Wednesday again
the first Wednesday in a (another) new month
This time it’s the first Wednesday in May 2023.
So I’m sharing today’s post at Denyse’s weekly link up called Wednesday’s Words & Pics . Why don’t you pop over and see who’s there this week
( Does anyone know where April went?)
#staypositive
🧶 They’re all the same…just a little bit different
Say hello to some little things I’ve had bubbling away in the background. A couple of little newborn sets for the baby programme…..knit over the last few weeks using left overs from other projects….from years ago in some cases 😊
Those odd ‘bits of this, bits of that’ half & less balls were getting out of hand
or should I say…..filling the bag and needed to be used up.
There was enough for backs as well as fronts on another two, not all 8plys are equal so they turned out slightly larger. The charity welcomes ‘traditional baby colours’
Made using a ‘favourite’ adaptable pattern…..we’ve all got them haven’t we😊.
This one couldn’t be easier if it tried – after the rib band the back is straight, on the fronts the only decrease to think about is for the neckline starting half way up and the sleeves consist of a rib band, several side increases then straight knitting with the cast off all in one line.
Here’s some others I prepared earlier 😊
It’s a style that lends itself to so many interpretations…. Over the years some worked – others, well they weren’t a fail, let’s just say I wouldn’t try it again (the fisherman’s rib pattern was too chunky for the sizing- but that’s what the recipient wanted)
Sometimes where reading is concerned – a bit like food and knitting when things aren’t going the way you’d like them to – ‘comfort’ books are all you want. What I call Australian historical is often where I go to….especially to those written by Darry Fraser. They are ‘lose yourself’ novels many of them about strong females in a man’s world in 1800s Australia
Elsa Goody Bushranger – Darry Fraser
When Elsa Goody’s father and brother George die in quick succession she and her sister Rosie are in trouble. Pursued by an unpleasant suitor with dubious motivation, Elsa leaves for Victoria on the hunt for a fortune in gold coins that her brother has hidden. If Elsa can find it she will be able to save Rosie and herself from married slavery.
….. Unraveled Wednesday hosted by Kat…….As Kat Knits……
is on again! Pop over and see what’s going on.
#enjoyeverymoment
🧶 I call them..‘me do its’
It’s Wednesday again – that middle of the week day.
Some days have been and gone – some have yet to arrive
I don’t know why but this year seems to be galloping along at quite a pace, this is the last Wednesday in March…..one month of autumn gone already – and to make matters worse the clocks go back this weekend 🙁🙁😕…..
A while ago in amongst their requests the charity was asking for children’s woolies.
Jumpers/Sweaters were included – unlike 2019 when they were frowned on
When a friend sent me the message she had reworded it this way
2/3yr olds need functional – added colour optional.
Functional to me means serves its purpose
works well with no stress
So I dug around in ‘the pile’ and came up with an old Totem booklet
And what could be less stressful (and oh so quick & easy to knit) than these little *left hand blue* ones that I call ‘ me do its’
Easy to put on, no recognised front or back, no problem with getting it right.
No stress on child trying to be independent…..or supervising adult😊
These four are now sitting in the charity box ready for delivery soon. I had fun doing the little cars, one row on the chest and the other near the hem added a bit of interest…..not as much as the frequent tangled threads situation. Three different colours plus the main in use on every row was interesting. I really enjoy intarsia….but prefer fair isle where I have no problem whatsoever.
(I was working on the royal blue/yellow one during that ‘interesting’ craft morning)
My reading has come to a standstill
As much as I wanted I just couldn’t get into A Sand Archive……the March selection at what I call my ‘real book club’.
It’s all well and good the library encouraging readers to open their minds to different authors and supplying the books but sometimes those choices sound ‘good/interesting’, start off great then turn out to be strange – and very disappointing
So we’ll say no more about this month’s offering!
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Today I’m sharing my post at Denyse’s weekly link up called Wednesday’s Words & Pics
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Wednesday is also the day Kat hosts ‘Unraveled Wednesday ‘.so I’m sharing my post – and if you’d like to see what others are knitting, reading and talking about just click on the link
🧶 There are websites and there are deep rabbit holes……
You know your friends know and understand you when they send you things like this
One also sent me a link to a section at Trove containing ‘very old’ knitting patterns – https://trove.nla.gov.au/about –
Trove is an Australian online library database owned by the National Library of Australia in which it holds partnerships with source providers National and State Libraries Australia, source
Vintage knitting patterns from newspapers & magazines : https://bit.ly/3NsUt1p
And….if you love old magazines, here’s a copy of The Australian Women’s Mirror dated 26 August 1953 to read
📷: https://bit.ly/3mhFyLL
And….as a treat perhaps this might interest you
Cosy knitted brassiere – using ‘silver sheen’ 2ply with UK size 11/3.00mm
The pattern can be found here – https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22174651
This is one rabbit hole I’m not going to want to come out of 😊
~ ~ ~
And talking of rabbits – we grabbed a quick photo
before my friend took these off to her house for safekeeping
I do have some other things on the go….
A bit of craft for those in need – back to the little ones….must use up some odds and ends before they breed 😊
And the new book club read – A Sand Archive – very Australian…not too far from here
Seeking stories of Australia’s Great Ocean Road, a young writer stumbles across a manual from a minor player in the road’s history, FB Herschell. It is a volume unremarkable in every way, save for the surprising portrait of its author that can be read between its lines: a vision of a man who writes with uncanny poetry about sand.
in the mean time, now my eyes are ‘under control’ again, I’m changing my name to Alice (which just happened to be my mum’s name😊) and am going back down, down down deeper than down….’you know where’
I’m sharing this post with ‘Unraveled Wednesday ‘ hosted by Kat
Still Waters 