A quick snap from the car coming home from Healesville – the blue sky over the newly growing vines gave a false sense of security
Because this is today’s forecast. Certainly not cold but very grey and miserable……with a ‘promise’ of things to come
I took time in yesterday’s afternoon sunshine to calculate how many more squares I’d get from the ‘left over’ yarn. These have been easy (portable) knits which is what I’ve needed recently. Those in the group who do the putting together say they like 36/20x20cms all the same weight so I’m about half way through at the moment……adding more colours once these are done. Making one now and again has been calming, only having to remember to stop increasing at a certain number then begin to decrease…….oh, and remembering once decreasing has begun not to count the stitches then begin to increase again because you think you hadn’t reached the target figure. You end up with a funny shape doing that🤭
Then a quick look at a ‘oh, you must read this – you’ll love it’ book. Take a newly formed book club, the lives of the female members plus their families and the storyline starts there. I’ll see how I go but there seems to be an awful lot of relationships and situations to get my head around and that’s just in the first chapter
Not a nail but those two little balls of brown wool!
IfI’d remembered them – If I had put them with the rest of the garment then Mia’s present would be finished. Looking on the bright side there’s only a little more work needed (apart from making up and the neckline) and then it’s finished. And there’s plenty of time between now and Christmas to do that.
Lookee here my friends- what did get finished while we were away is this – sized for a 4yr old (24”) rather than the larger one I’d planned. Not intentional- just a case of realising (after working several rows) I’d cast on the wrong amount of stitches – so decided it was easier to carry on rather than faff about adding more😊
And here’s the next one – in the same design ….because I forgot to put the other patterns in (sigh) …..finished apart from making up and doing the neckline that is
🧶📘🧶📘🧶📘
Now all you crafty ones – what about this for a new hobby! This came home from the library so I could find out what it was all about. There were lots of instructions – easier to read if enlarged
A little bit of fun but I’ll give it a miss – somehow it just doesn’t look as calming as conventional needle knitting…also, what do you do if you need to go to the loo in a hurry????
I think I have lost my dislike of fine yarn and thin needles. This little 4ply jumper sized 20”/51cm/12 month has turned out much better than I expected…..so I may even make another 😊
In the meantime…..
…..there are a couple of similar sized cardigans waiting for the button bands to finished.
It’s those finishing touches that take time, knitting the final rows – joining the two together then attaching to the neckline
I’m old fashioned- not a top down knitter – preferring bottom up with seams – so know what I’m up for when I get this far.
Just have to find some buttons when we get home and into the box they’ll go, joining others waiting for their new homes
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Now this might be of interest to those who need to know who’s who, what’s what and where’s where…....
Some of you probably remember the little map in the front of the Milly Molly Mandy books
Many younger readers may never have heard of the little girl in the striped dress or the books featuring her (that a lot of us read in our childhood) so you won’t know that at the front of each book there was a map of the village where Milly Molly Mandy lived with her Mother and Father, in the same little cottage as Aunty and Uncle along with Grandma and Grandpa.
The explanatory map isn’t a new idea – lists of characters and surroundings are quite helpful at times……especially in family sagas and novels filled with Eastern European characters 😊
I had a little smile recently when I opened a library book and discovered a similar who’s who in the village map . The fictional village of Tindledale is the setting of a light cosy series called (what else but) Tindledale! https://www.goodreads.com/series/250305-tindledale
…..it tells the story of Sybil, a jilted bride who anticipates a lonely Christmas but instead finds herself in the tiny village of Tindledale, where the residents share her obsession with knitting.
When life unravels, it’s time to knit…
The idea of decorating a LYS window with hand knit Christmas themed sweaters turned into a much bigger venture than Sybil anticipated. A fun lighthearted read that filled a need at a time when I craved something light.
I wouldn’t say life has been unraveling lately, just a bit restricted so craft (and reading) has been very light. No complicated plots or patterns……what about you – how’s yours been?
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If you’d like to see what others are knitting, reading and talking about just click on ‘Unraveled Wednesday ‘…….
Does anyone remember the big bag of blue yarn I had trouble with last year……when trying out a new to me pattern….it turned out much smaller than I expected
July 2024
So I found something else and began again…..
But once again it just wasn’t right and (once again) ended up like this….
November 2024
So since last November it’s been a case of let sleeping dogs lie (and rest out of sight) because it seemed whenever I touched the yarn it wasn’t happy……until early June this year when a little Aran jumper caught my eye. And you do know I just love the combination of stitches that go into that style
Peter Pan Baby Book 210. Sweater T213
Use 4ply it said, well, as the old saying goes….nothing ventured nothing gained …..so out came the needles and the blue yarn. Start with a sleeve – not so many stitches – use suggested 3.25/ uk 10 and see how it goes. Yes I could have knit a swatch but you know me….all or nothing
But, just for curiosity I did do a little row/stitch count when I arrived at the decrease spot and wouldn’t you know it…..it had knit to gauge. Maybe it was 4ply after all.
So it all came along with me and the rest of my supplies on the premis – ‘use it this time or definitely lose it’. Both sleeves and the back are patterned in a rather monotonous 4 x 4 box stitch and surprisingly knit up quite quickly…..it’s funny how when you have a regular stitch count like that you tend to count them in your head – so I’m not missing the little insistent voice saying knit 234, purl 234 over and over…..necessary because I’d forget to change from knit to purl/vice versa and end up with a half row of 4 x 4 and the rest in knit or purl!
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This week I’ve reached the armhole shaping on the front, just a few rows off dividing for the neckline so hopefully it’ll be a fast finish. Of course it’s still to be made up and the neck band sorted – picking up stitches neatly is not one of my talents so there might be a few choice words spoken. There’s also a little tidying up to do on the wrong side….some of the crossovers seem to be gaping a bit so a little sewn stitch here and there pulling them together will solve that problem
These two Fiona Lowe books were a ‘laundry room’ find……an Australian author I’ve never read before so aren’t quite sure whether it’ll be a ‘flick through- nah, not for me’ or sit down with coffee and become engrossed. Her about me pageshows mention of Ruby awards (Romantic writers) so I’ll open the books with an open mind. Both have mixed reviews on various sites so that’s another reason for an open mind, and if they turn out to be a bit too chick lit I’ve another Stuart MacBride waiting to be picked up. And of course, you never know what’s to be found in the ‘drop and swap’ book exchange in the laundry room 📚📚
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Unraveled Wednesday at Kat’s happens weekly on the First Wednesday – last Wednesday- and any Wednesday in between. Why not pop over and see what’s going on
It’s Wednesday again – what I think of as the halfway point of the week Some days have been and gone- some have yet to arrive It’s the 3rd Wednesday in July….middle of winter here – middle of summer elsewhere
Did you know January 1st this year was on a Wednesday so it’s 28 weeks since 2025 began Or put another way July 16th is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 168 days remain until the end of the year. It’s past the halfway point already (and I’m still asking what year it is when I date a form😊)
And here’s another little piece of information for you all – Christmas Eve is on a Wednesday this year….in 23 weeks time!
🎄🎄🎄😊😊😊 🎄🎄🎄
There are times when my grey cells works in strange ways…..you’d think with all those ‘supplies’ I packed I’d have been clear in what I wanted to do up here. Mackay (190kms/2hrs south on the Bruce) is the last ‘big town’ we pass through before reaching Bowen. About an hour before we got there I had a sudden feeling I wasn’t going to be content with my planned projects (all children sized rather than ‘baby/toddler’) so decided we’d drop into Spotlight-to see what they had – well we had to drive past so weren’t going out of our way (and they had a sale on) and you can never have too much….can you?
Luckily I had brought my ‘online ideas folder’ along – this simple boat neck pattern is sized for a 20” chest/18 mths but with the body being straight up and down (no shaping) it’s easy to make larger …more stitches/wider….more rows/longer…plus add extra stitches/length for a larger sleeve. With both sides the same – no front or back, I call them me do its. Those favourite words of 2/3yr olds (apart from No and Why🤭)
As you can see the pattern is actually worked in a decorative stitch but often, like with these three from a while back, I make something that looks entirely different.
This time I’m working it the way the designer suggested, yes, in acrylic but so soft and definitely not scratchy.
The alternating 2×2 knit/purl interspersed with 2 rows stocking stitch is giving it a warm puffy/squishy feel that I hope looks just as good on the body – the yarn colour also has a rich warm look about it.
****** Because of the recent weak signal in this part of town I’ve missed out on everyone else’s news….so I’m going to remedy that (in a cheeky way) by asking ‘what are you all doing?’
What are all you other crafters and readers up to – I’m interested to know what’s on your needles or hooks – under your sewing machine needles or even on your hoops – as well as beside your couches and chairs and on your bedside tables
Oh and Wednesday is also the day Kat hosts ‘Unraveled Wednesday ‘…….if you’d like to see what others are knitting, reading and talking about just click on the link
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Well the least said about some days the better I think….
Blog posts that disappear- internet signals that are patchy – weather that doesn’t act the way you want it to…..
Anyway enough of that, this is just a little post to say we’re here and I’m sure it won’t matter too much if you don’t read about our journey…..that post is languishing somewhere out there – I know not where because it’s not in my published, drafts or deleted folder
So far we’ve just been taking things slowly, enjoying the change of pace and scenery, it’s definitely warmer in the daytime than at home – there has been rain (lots of it) but maybe not as much as at home (enough to stop a certain person from golfing on a couple of days though ) – the warm nights from last week have disappeared for a while, there’s been a rather strong cool southerly blowing (Blowin’ Bowen living up to its nickname) so the overnight tonight (and tomorrow) has dropped to 9c/48f – there’s a blanket on the bed and there might even be a sighting of a hot water bottle later this evening 😊
One sunny morning I managed to reacquaint myself with a favourite spot
And realised there’s even a sort of ‘magic’ about the spot on wet and wild days
And this is how I amused myself on those days Toes wrapped in blanket – Needles at the ready – Book to read
All those supplies I packed come in handy now and again 😊
I’ts been a while since I began a book and just read and read and read losing all sense of time….Winter Solstice has had that effect on me. Something about it is keeping me engrossed and at the rate I’m going it’ll be finished some day very very soon.
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It’s the first Wednesday in July so I’m popping in to Kat’s – her Unraveled Wednesday link will be open soon. Click the (safe) link to see who’s been there and what they brought with them
‘Want to come for a drive…. ’What today…. ’Yes, I need to go down The Bay… ’What today…. ’Yes, I need to go to a golf outlet in Dromana …. ’I’ll buy you lunch while we’re out…. ’Say no more, what’s another drive in the rain in the last week of Autumn…. as long as you promise I’ll get to see the sea when we’re there….
We left home under cloudy damp skies and returned to those same cloudy damp skies
10am4pm
And true to his word I did get to see the sea Under cloudy blue skies not a drop of rain to be seen Just what I needed
And he did buy me lunch ~ sort of😊
My view of the sea (Port Philip Bay) from ‘our table’
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I’m finishing off the last of those seasonal knits (for the time being). I have these three newborn cardigans (similar to the ones given to nephew recently) they just need some work done on the neckline then they’re also off – not to the charity as planned but to a friend’s new gt granddaughter. A ‘tiny wee baby’ so she said, which means they’ll last a while I replied- no she’ll grow into them was her reply. Reminded me of turning up hems and rolling under cuffs when mine were little. *****
A really good well written read – well at least I thought so!
A family saga relating the goings on in the lives of a wealthy upper class family in post WW1 New England – too much for me to summarise. The wiki article sets it out better than I could ever do. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Autumn
Kat has open house on Unraveled Wednesday . click the (safe) link to see who’s been there and what they brought with them
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May is the third and last month in our autumn, a time when some days are still ‘shiny bright’ compared to others which are cooling down (definitely colder overnight) preparing for the real go slow part of the year. I’ve been feeling a bit that way this past few weeks – some days were great with a bright and shiny go get ‘em attitude evident from morn to night……others a bit cold and dreary, need to stay home and hibernate. Mind and body have played up so (as per usual) I retreated mentally as well as physically ‘into my shell’ until I felt safe enough to face the world (IRL as well as online) again.
As you can see, the charity box was going to benefit from my sit down and rest calming knitting sessions (top photo) then our youngest nephew became a father…..of a daughter instead of the predicted son….I gifted them a couple of newborn sized cardigans (lower photo) and laughed at their remarks about babies not being concerned about boy/girl clothes as long as they’re warm and comfortable so followed up by sending them a slightly larger one in a traditional girly pink shade. ‘Love it, so pretty’ was the new mother’s reply……sounds like she isn’t as modern as I thought! **** What has been on my mind is that the garden certainly suffered over the hot summer months. There’s still so much ‘catch up’ to do outside which is going to have to wait a while because even though things are slowly improving I still can’t get down enough to clear and weed….those forecast rainy days haven’t been that rainy out our way but the soil has softened a fraction so once mobility becomes a little easier let’s hope rose pruning and maybe a bit of ground clearing will be achieved
We’re on track to make our way up north about the middle of next month and if the pruning is done that’ll keep them happy until growth begins again in the spring – and honestly what’s a few weeds between friends😊 *****
As well as needing ‘simple easy’ craft to occupy my mind during that time I also wanted – what else but – something ‘uncomplicated’ to read so ended up rummaging around various online sites (going to the library meant I had to actually socialise with people) and found these with a seasonal flavour- that is they had autumn in the title
Quartet in Autumn – Barbara Pym (Libby) An easy to read, relatable 1977 Pym novel about the lives of four people in late middle-age – Edwin, Norman, Letty and Marcia – who work in the same office, are all nearing retirement and suffer the same problem – loneliness. A really good read!
A Breath of Autumn – Lillian Beckwith (Internet Archive) A ‘delightfully soft, humorous at times and very descriptive’ story by a new to me author of life on a small island in the Hebrides owned and inhabited by Kirsty McDonald along with her small son plus a stepson. The regular pattern of her solitary slow life changes with the seasons and as strangers appear needing her help and involvement in their lives other changes happen. Some she slowly welcomes- others she spends a great deal of time contemplating. One of those ‘could not put down’ books where even though the pace is slow you can’t wait to read more https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Beckwith
The Autumn After Next – Margaret St Clair (Project Gutenberg) What can I say – this is exactly what it is about … a different, interesting sort of read that makes you think
Famous and Classic Science Fiction Novel Being a wizard missionary to the Free’l needed more than magic—it called for a miracle!
The Autumn After Next” by Margaret St. Clair is a science fiction novella written in the early 1960s. The story explores themes of magic and cultural dissonance through the experiences of Neeshan, a wizard missionary trying to teach a lazy and indifferent tribe called the Free’l about the proper use of magic. The novella highlights the challenges of bridging different worldviews, especially when one party lacks the motivation to engage with the teachings being offered.source
And look here, as well as being able to read the very short story on screen – you are also able to listen to it being narrated by William Sky
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This post has become rather on the long side – word brevity has never been my strong point – so thank you to anyone who has reached here.
I have to say that one thing that helped me a lot over these past weeks were the simple thoughts of loving kindness meditation (directed to myself) and I often found myself muttering or repeating them silently ‘in my head’ adding love into the mix ~ it’s strange how unloved one can feel even when surrounded by it.. The Golfer would have a fit if he heard me say that because supportive is definitely his middle name
My love to you all – thanks for reading- see you soon Cathy
I know this isn’t exactly whimsical or crafty but I’m joining Min’s link up as well as Kat’s as a way of saying ‘I’m back’
So what do you do when you think the longed for rain is on it way but when some actually arrives it fizzles out two seconds later leaving everything slightly damp but not wet…….and not as warm as you’d like it to be?
Looking for something to do sounds good (wash clean cook iron…..no definitely not those sorts of things 🤭 ) something like rustling up a book plus something to keep your hands busy while you wait a while in a comfy armchair until the front has passed and some warmer air plus sunshine arrives
I gave up on A Lesson in Dyingvery early on. Couldn’t relate to it at all, picked it up – put it down- after a while decided I wasn’t in the least bit interested in who did the headmaster in. So……chose Lying beside You from ‘the pile’…..see this post
Here it is propped up by contents of my knitting bag (a very handy book rest – if the balls of wool wouldn’t move each time I turned a page).
Starting to renew my acquaintance with Cyrus and Evie (this is book 3 in the series) it’s been a while since I read the first two so some revision in the form of glancing at online reviews had to take place. The back of Mia’s jumper also got an airing and some rows added. The pattern says knit 102 rows then shape shoulder……by golly it seems to be taking forever to knit them. But then my mind has been elsewhere ……concentrating on the charity knits from a couple of weeks ago
Ta Da……Two boy’s shirts are finished – there are plans for more when I get round to it
Slightly off topic…..
Not me…
Our cooler Autumn nights now mean changes to nightwear…..sleeveless cotton nighties have been retired, arms (and legs) need covered so my silky pyjamas have made their seasonal appearance once more. Why the emphasis on silky ones?
So I can roll over in bed is the answer 😊
For some reason other pyjamas cling to the sheets which means I’m waking up feeling a bit ‘strangled’ in places, floundering about straightening tops and bottoms and having to sit up to roll over. Any attempt to do it lying down often results in some strong language coming out of my mouth as twisting can cause discs and nerves to come in contact with each other – I’m certainly not happy when that happens
It’s a different story when I wear my slippery silky pyjamas – they just slide and glide over the bottom sheet so there’s no friction at all. And they have a smooth sleek s*xy feel to to them as well…..nothing wrong with that is there🤭😉
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Unraveled Wednesday … ..hosted by Kat encourages bloggers to chat about their craft, reading and life in general – pop over, see who’s come to visit- stay and say hello.
(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)
Well, it was her along with a couple of others but here’s what they wrote….
Don’t you know that you can do anything You can take anything and make it your own Don’t you know that you can do anything And you don’t have to do it alone
The song is in no way linked to handicrafts and the online community of crafters but the sentiment is the same…….
This week I’m back to filling my charity box with little knitted shirts…
……using a tried and true pattern from a very old – pre 1972 (because it came with me to Australia) well used now out of print book
……taking measurements and instructions as a base, making them my own
Like these made over the years
After an altercation with a shopping trolley last week in a very uneven supermarket car park ( my trolley would you believe it….acting like a 3yr old wanting to go where it wanted and not where I wanted it to go) which in turn stressed my spine, things have been very ‘ouch, ouchy, which means retreating (after doing ‘I don’t want to but I need to’ stretches) and not doing anything strenuous – knitting is always a good way to take my mind off other things…..result – two sleeves and one front finished plus the back begun. So No.1 is nearly finished!
And to keep me company I’ve been contemplating knitting my own boyfriendSpotted on the library shelf this little book just had to come home with me
I could make him short and stocky or short and thin…..I rather fancy my own surfer guy – with his bleached hair and all over tan I think he’d be fun to have around…..but what about a computer geek, now he’d come in handy at times…..and the thought of my own action man has me wondering how high could I fly😊
But really I don’t need to knit one – I’ve got a real live one of my own
1961 – 64yrs yesterday
Unraveled Wednesday . …..Kat’s open house link up – click the (safe) link to see who’s there and what they brought with them
(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)
The past few days have been pleasant Sunny and dry – not hot – just comfortable The sting has gone out of the sun now
Knitting has resumed….. Outside on the deck where it’s certainly been calming Appreciated because of a few things going on at home at the moment
Plain stocking stitch means I can close my eyes Think of nothing…… Just concentrate on feeling my fingers ‘make the stitches’
Sounds great doesn’t it ‘Cept for these words that were rattling round my brain Inch by Inch Row by Row (Gonna make this garden grow)
Where did it come from……I’ve no idea……those pesky little ear worms have a habit of just appearing But….. It could have been because earlier in the day I’d been measuring the first sleeve (in inches…..yes I’m old😊) plus counting rows to double check
Mia’s teddy jumper has progressed to the point of having both sleeves finished – the front (with Teddy waiting to have his bow started) is tucked away in the knitting bag for the time being……which leaves me working on the back…… inch by inch – row by row In slow methodical eyes closed calming stocking stitch
Well that was the crafty part which has me feeling pleased because I thought I’d never get those needles moving again……want to see what’s going in the literary dept.?
What could be better- a book about chocolate manufacturing accompanied by the same chocolate…..and finding in my pantry a box of cocoa powder (age unknown) made in self same factory!
I got a bit fed up reading The Country Girls – yes I know that’s almost unheard of …I’ll get back to it sometime – so started The Chocolate Factory. A novel whose storyline follows the early 20th century (1921) decision to build a Cadbury chocolate factory in Tasmania (which is still in use today) blending it with the fictional life story of one of the employees ‘brought out’ to start things off
Such an easy read I had it finished in a couple of days – the historical content was interesting, not just about the company but social history as well….attitudes to women post WW1, mental health of returned soldiers and more ( plenty of research put to good use)…the addition of industrial espionage seemed right as well (seemingly the ingredients for making Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate are still secret to all but a few employees)
So with the weather being what it is……Summer extending into Autumn (and how)…..it should be cooling down slightly by now especially overnight but nature seems to be thinking otherwise. A drop of rain- the first for a long, long time is forecast for Wednesday – forecast being the word. It could arrive or possibly like the recent cyclone Albert go walkabout, do a U-turn, and end up somewhere else. If it does turn up it’ll will be welcome relief from the heat and humidity
I’ve put the knitting to one side. Not because I was frustrated fed up with it but because my hands were getting sweaty…..knitting in the heat doesn’t usually do that…..’cept there’s always a first time for anything and this humidity was definitely proving that point.
So when I ‘explored’ a box of crafty bits tucked away at the back of a cupboard and found a xstitch embroidery kit…..no idea how long it had been there, probably bought on a whim to make a gift for ‘our little girl’ (given name starts with F) all those recent never again- think of the eyes thoughts were forgotten.
It’s begun – I’ve made a start- and surprisingly found there have been no sweaty palms…….
although I have found the grey cells are finding it more difficult to count up/down than they do sideways😧.
The plan is to finish the curly bits on the top and sides before the floral parts in the middle. That way I’ll be able to place the different colours without too many problems- like counting tiny squares!
Many years ago I read (and enjoyed) a book called Still Waters (Jennifer Lauck) smiling at the title being the same as my blog. And look at what I found in an op shop……another one with the same title- a debut novel (2008) by Australian author Camilla Noli . But I do wonder if someone would be interested if they only saw the very brief blurb on Goodreads……see how it’s described on Fantastic Fiction. Guess I’ll find out once I begin to read it
Hot weather rabbit hole time meant I discovered there are over 50 books listed on Fantastic Fiction with those two words as the title – many more with them included in the title. I lost count on a couple of other sites😊
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Unraveled Wednesday . .. is a link up hosted by Kat which encourages bloggers to chat about their craft, reading and life in general – pop over, see who’s come to visit- stay and say hello.
(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)
(Forecast Wednesday 26 February 36c/96f — 12c/53f) Northerly winds = hot. No rain – again!
Sunrise and sunset times are changing Very slowly the days are becoming shorter – nightfall is arriving slightly earlier.
I have to accept the season changes – there’s not much I or we can do about that….it’s the letting go of the light that bothers me, that gradual loss of daylight. I don’t mind the cooler temperatures (to a point, says she who can’t get away fast enough when the cold arrives) but that loss of light drags me down.
It seems like only recently there was light in the sky at 5.30am. Now ‘all of sudden’ daylight isn’t arriving until 7am…..how did that happen The evenings are starting to draw in with indoor lights being turned on about 8pm This lovely season is slowly coming to an end…. and whether we like it or not Autumn will be here in a few days.
To those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, enjoy it……but don’t forget to send it back when your turn is done😊
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This cold virus plus everything else that went on beforehand certainly had me living the quiet life during January/February I read quite a lot but did very little on the craft side – or even social media. I’m reading a few blogs but my comments are few and far between…thank you to those who’ve left comments here…..I’m sure (well I hope) my ‘mojo’ will return sometime soon
The front of little Mia’s woolly hasn’t grown at all – I’m at the start of the bow, began the first row, checked the chart several times but couldn’t keep the count correct so pulled back to where I was – and then cast on a sleeve instead. Nice and easy, no armholes so straight up and down, not quite mindless because of increases but not far off.
There was also some more finishing off of newborn cardigans for the social worker friend of a friend. She’s obtained some life sized baby dolls to familiarise young girls (some who have never been near an actual babe) with ‘handling’ and dressing. The suggestion for those who were knitting was…..keep the garments simple, no ‘frilly lacey’ ones or outrageous modern styles – soft colours are pretty – bright is good but not dark. These girls have enough ‘dark’ in their lives. I was happy with that!
I found it in a ‘free library’ – appears ‘alright ’ I thought – it also appears (as far as Goodreads is concerned) that I read it back in 2017. Maybe a reread will refresh my memory😊
Don’t laugh (and please do tell me this happens to others as well) …..but the same thing happened last week – I ‘fancied’ an Elly Griffith’s book recommended on a blog. Well according to my library history I have ‘previously read it’…….in 2021…..you’d think I’d remember that one 😟 . So just to be on the safe side, this week I’m getting comfortable with a couple of Claire Keegan’s I know I definitely haven’t read before – Foster (short story 2010) plus So Late in the Day (a collection of short stories 2022). I’ve heard good things about both of them.
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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 – stay and say hello.
(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)
Just because the ‘picture in the book’ suggests it’s a girly knit most knitters know it doesn’t have to be. It’s often the actual knitting stitches plus embellishments that dictate how a garment is seen and there wouldn’t be many ‘home knitters’ who haven’t changed things around to suit
Here’s my first finish of the year – using as a base the stitch number plus measurements of what is presented as a cardigan for a girl but with a little boy in mind substituted the lacy stitch with stocking stitch/ 1×1 knit/purl every 4th row – mind you that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t suit a little girl
Over the years I’ve had a lot of fun with that basic chunky square style. Remember the baby sets made using up oddments early 2023
And of course the picture knits that appear now and again when I want to make something different
Not forgetting the stripey versions – another way to use up oddments
Being such an easy style to knit you never know what I’ll come up with next
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It’s the same with books – just because somebody says….. I’m lending you this book which you really must read – ‘it is riveting’….that doesn’t mean you will feel the same way
I tried, I really did…..but unfortunately found reading the question/answer style a little annoying. Yes it was a written record of an interview (questions/answers obviously) but the answers were a little quite long winded at times so on reflection think perhaps I might have enjoyed the audio version much more. It wouldn’t be like ‘reading a book’ where you have to listen and concentrate to absorb the storyline (and sometimes grimace at the narrator’s voice). I feel it would be like taking part in a conversation- a silent part – listening to the other people speak, nodding and smiling as the words are flowing.
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I’ll share this later on Kat’s featured post Unraveled Wednesday It’s usually full of lots of talk about craft, books and life in general….click the link to see what’s been going on
Oh, and what have you been making recently……and how do you cope when a ‘looking forward to reading’ book doesn’t thrill you?
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Some of the time I did, just keeping The Golfer company (at a distance) some reading might have happened during that time as well and maybe a bit of knitting. Been a while since that’s happened 😊
Plus some cooking!
Christmas Puddings haven’t been made for the last couple of years so Catherine thought she’d return to kitchen and ‘rustle up a few’ The idea has been there for a while – the recipe had come out of hiding…. Yes, Aunty Pam’s well used recipe, actually it’s the one her sister Betty gave her but it’s always referred to as Aunty Pam’s…..
…..ingredients had been gathered together, Stir up Sunday came and went and still no puddings made so as I chose to stay away from the nursing home the first week (me testing neg. didn’t mean I wasn’t infectious) I used that day to get down to business.
Oh and look, I had an accident with my big mixing bowl last year (they don’t bounce) so had to resort to using a big soup saucepan – it’s not quite the same but there’s no chance of breaking that if I drop it. Enough there to make four small and one medium…..
Ready to be filled
Ready for steaming
…….a couple will go in the fridge and I’ll ‘open’ the others, cut into quarters and freeze the pieces, we’re then set for ‘comfort treats’ for a while. I’m not too keen on fruit cake but a serve of these (plum pudding) is great warm with custard or cold with cream/ice cream. *****
Now there are some who say I’m a sucker for a hard luck story but I’d say I know what ‘lack of’ means and not having the means to do something because of a lack of funds strikes home so when a friend told me about the problems a granddaughter was having I knew there was something I could actually do.
What do you think of this little cabled jacket, the first of several winter garments for her newborn gt grandson. I do like the look of cables, they change a plain knit into something different and even though it doesn’t show on the photos a purl stitch has been added at regular intervals to take the bareness off the stocking stitch.
This is sized for 12 mths but I’ll do a couple of slightly smaller ones for when the weather starts to cool down (sized 6-9 mths)….strange to have to think of that when we’re only just getting summer weather. Anyway they weren’t requested, not even mentioned, so will be a real surprise when I’ve finished them *****
Do you remember that Bill Bryson book I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, well it turned out to be a flop for me, just couldn’t get on with it at all. Book Club this coming Friday will be interesting – word is some thought it hilarious, others like me not. So for something different I picked up the Dickens Christmas Carol – firstly because it’s seasonal, also I’d never actually read it……and because of a special treat we had planned for this past weekend……more about that another time.
And that’s me up to date after a quiet couple of weeks. The Golfer wasn’t too badly affected this time round and (thankfully) tested negative late last week. I seem to have been lucky this time….maybe not having to nurse him as consistently as the last time as well as sleeping in the other room helped. Anyway Monday was a warm one so we stayed close to home which means today was his first day back doing what he enjoys. Reality came calling when the GP said he was of an age that needed to be careful and rest…..not go gallivanting round the golf course too soon!
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When Kat’s featured post Unraveled Wednesday opens up later, I’ll share this over there. It’s usually full of lots of talk about craft, books and life in general….do pop over and see what others have to say.
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Well this isn’t quite finished yet….in fact it’s back to being nothing. The fronts just weren’t working so a bit of unraveling went on
This……
Changed to this….
I will put the soft blue yarn away for the moment, possibly I’ll try it out on something else sometime next year and if that doesn’t work somebody rummaging around in the op shop will get a lovely surprise
but look – that is…finally finished!
That…..
A few hot muggy days had me looking around for things to do that didn’t require much energy. The guernsey finally had its neck band knit, sleeves attached and seams sewn. I don’t think I’ve ever taken so long a time to finish a garment – go to whoa, June to December
Making up is just a case of sewing together which this time happened quite easily. The sleeve cast off was at the right tension so the length fitted between the two (back/front) garter stitch bands without having to stretch (or undo to get it right) and I’d worked the same number of rows up to the garter stitch band on both back & front so the side seams matched perfectly with no surprises.
Not having read any of his works I’m not sure what to expect, also blurb like “Laugh out loud funny” don’t always make me do so. So I’ll open the book with an open mind
But I must tell you the best thing to happen recently is that a baby girl was born and I finished this in time for her homecoming
(sorry, no baby photo- mum said no)
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Its time for Unraveled Wednesday hosted by Kat… Why don’t you pop over and see what’s going on – lots of talk about craft, books and life in general
So in a bid to do something different that didn’t require me to concentrate – backstitching on the baby sampler is driving me potty – I’ve picked up the little blue cardigan I was experimenting with up Bowen. Remind me how I prefer knitting with 8ply because this fine yarn is also driving me potty – the feel is entirely different to how I remember it…..and it keeps sliding off the needles …..but as I said, as long as I don’t forget when (and where) to do the purl stitch it’s a change. The back and both sleeves are done, two fronts to go, so it’s three fifths – 60% finished….not counting making up and finding a suitable button
November 2024
Now you might find this funny- to me it just reminds me how I can remember one thing but not another…..anyway this photo is the one I took when I began working on it back in August…..
August 2024
I was going through my media file – way way back looking for something I thought I’d posted and I see this….
And this….
October 2013
Same pattern!
I certainly don’t remember ever having tried it before 🤔
The date I uploaded them sent me looking at very very old drafts (yes there are some sitting there from that long ago) and I find an unfinished post talking about how I’d used a purl in place of the ‘too intricate to fathom out’ stitch. Why didn’t I end up publishing the post – who knows – did I ever finish the cardigan- who knows…….but it’s reminded me (visually not mentally because I don’t remember it happening) of a warm sunny day working on the deck with my lovely brown shadow Kiera keeping me company. ****
Keeping me company when I wrote this the other day was – The Cryptic Clue (Amanda Hampson) – a Tea Ladies mystery Yes, I’m back to reading while I knit….as long as I put the purl stitch in the right place. Passed on at my casual book group so only just begun, a very light read, a bit wordy, lots of dialogue…..haven’t read the first in the series so not sure if I’m missing any background on the various characters.
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This morning I’m sharing with Min’s Wednesday Words and Whimsylink up found HERE
And later I’ll be linking this with Kat’s weekly 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
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.
(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)
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.
***** 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.
(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)
(Photos will enlarge with a tap/click or using two finger spread). ******
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
Still Waters 