SELF-HELP #29

Lock down telly 😷😷😷

I am still working through the current crisis and feel so lucky that I still have structure to my days. My partner must be running out of box sets…

However I did discover something called the wonderful world of crafting in which crafters who would like to make a living from their work set up a stall at a big craft fair. They are given advice and get to meet professional crafters. Sadly there were only 4 episodes 🙁 I have only done a couple of stalls at church fairs but thoroughly enjoyed them. I have been making a few hats and scarves for possible sale next Christmas but with the current situation I wonder if there will be any Christmas fairs or if people will have any spare money to spend. These really are uncertain times.

So with the current uncertainty I have been concentrating on little hats for the baby unit. They are going to the warm baby project. I have started on an incubator blanket for a bit of variety as I have the attention span of a gnat!

On a brighter note the depleted stocks of baby wool at the Co-op have been replenished. So not just the dodgy colours to choose from.

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

STASH-BUSTING #28

Finished on Friday 😉

I have finished my baby blanket, just a couple of ends to sew in and a bit of blocking.

And a client has asked for some bits and pieces for Birmingham Children’s and Birmingham Women’s hospitals. Apparently they need hats, sizes tiny preemie to newborn, mitts and booties, as well as incubator blankets (20 x 22 inch). I suppose with all the knit and natter groups closed down supplies have slowed down.

The mauve hats are tiny preemie and the blue and white hat is 0-3 month. The other hats are my adaptions of the patterns to adjust the size. Any way I will carry on. More hats to follow 🤔

Have a lovely weekend.

Woolly wishes

Jane ♡♡♡

STASH-BUSTING @ EASTER 🐣🐣🐣

The little heart is something else taken from Fiona Goble’s knitting with your leftovers.

Easter at home. The weather is beautiful so most of the day will be spent in the garden. There is a little girl in the house next door so I have made up a pack for her – knitting needles, pink wool, French knitting doll kit, 2 little felt animal kits. All from my stash, I really don’t know why I buy some of this stuff. Does it count as stash busting do you think if you give it away??? Not sure how popular I will be with her mum as I don’t think she knits so if little girl wants to have a go she will have to check out YouTube or something 🤔

I have made another set of birds for a man who I care for. He loves budgies and birds in general. He has bird feeders in his garden so lots of birds visit but sadly the aviary that he likes to visit is closed due to COVID-19. Love this pattern so I think I will be making more – thank you Fiona Goble!

Finished the length of the baby blanket. Just need to pick up stitches on the sides and rib the side borders.

Wishing you all a safe and peaceful Easter.

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

FELTING FRIDAY

The sun is shining so let’s try a new craft al fresco…

What a glorious Good Friday! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and we are all staying safe at home 🌈

I am in shorts an t’shirt – the ones I normally save for hols where no one knows me🙈 And have had a mooch through my stash of crafting kits from Aldi and picked out this one-

Quite a lot in such a little box!

So I have read the instructions, pulled off a piece of wool and stabbed it to a pulp! And what do I have to show for it – a hard lump of woolly fibre and sore fingers where I have stabbed myself 😭

I have put it back in the box, perhaps Friday is not such a good day for felting? Lots of wool left so they obviously expect idiots like me to get it wrong!!!

Are you trying something new while stuck at home?

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

STASH-BUSTING #27

Fly away Peter, fly away Paul 🐦🐦

Not so long ago I bought a book called knitting with your leftovers by Fiona Goble and I have just completed some hanging birds.

Not usually a fan of small toy knitting all of those ends to sew in and the embroidery detail but I have found these very therapeutic in these mad times. Stocking stitch, French knots, chain stitch, a crocheted chain and a tassel. I have used up lots of little bits. 😉

I think they will look quite nice hanging in a nursery.

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

STASH-BUSTING #26

Vintage buttons ♡♡♡

I have got my act together and finished the little salmon pink jacket to match the little hat I had already made. I was in a bit of a quandary over the buttons??? All of the non-essential shops are currently closed. What was I to do for buttons??? And then I remembered the jar of buttons my great aunt gave me. Now normally I would not have been as daring with my choice of button but I am quite pleased with the contrast of the pearly buttons against the pink. These had never been used and looking at the card date back to the fifties or sixties. They are non toxic and laundry safe I hasten to add.

*The sun has made the pink brighter than it actually is 🌞*

The hat and jacket are made from Sirdar pattern 264 Gorgeous Babies Knitting Book using double moss stitch and embellished with blanket stitch.

Just waiting for baby to come along so that I can pop in the post 📮

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

MARCH ROUND-UP

Or March Madness…

Apologies that this is a few days late but I have been working but have a day off today – what bliss. And the sun is out so I have done a bit of knitting Al fresco!!!

So little traffic 😊

March has been a mad month. First waiting for the river to go down and then the clearing up. Then COVID-19 and having to stay at home unless absolutely necessary – work, groceries, exercise, medicine, care of the vulnerable. Lots of pictures of worn out dogs on social media. Some of them have never been for so many walks 🐶🐶🐶

Knitting has been somewhat sluggish during March and mainly for a new baby who is due over the next few days.

So quite a lot unfinished and that doesn’t even include WIPs that I haven’t even touched this month.

Grey and pink cardi with matching beret complete;

Baby blanket over half finished and my go to piece at home as the repetitive nature of the pattern suits my mood;

Salmon pink cardi and matching hat, the hat is finished but the cardi needs assembling and finishing;

An ombre scarf, this is at work and what I pick up at night.

Hopefully April won’t bring too many showers but will bring back my knitting powers 🌦🌦🌦

Stay safe 🌈

And woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

SELF-HELP #28

The things we miss..

Work is hard at the moment as is daily life for everyone. With all day services closed I miss things like the care farms we used to visit.

Craft sessions

*I made what looks like the love child of Jabba the Hut and Kermit the frog …*

Bird feeding

Trying to explain why we can’t do any of these things is not always easy.

Looking forward to a brighter future.

Woolly wishes,

Jane xxx

SELF-HELP #27

It’s so quiet. ..

I had the day off yesterday back to work at 5pm today for another 24 hour shift. Got the lawn mown yesterday and I did a 40 minute walk yesterday and today. I have said hello to everyone I have passed. My theory being some of these people may live on their own and if they are only allowed out once they might need a little chat. Mainly older ladies who have developed conversation beyond hello, lovely day 🌞

And that is the thing the weather is beautiful and it is so peaceful. The slower pace of life has a sort of holiday feel AND then you remember we are here because people are becoming so poorly or worse. 😷

*My garden, still some clearing up to do after the floods!!!*

We all clapped for the NHS last night. We all came together but not together which was very special. The sound of the clapping echoed across the river.

I have picked up the little jacket that I am making for N’s granddaughter who is due at the beginning of April. We will miss those first few weeks as we will not be able to visit 😥

*The pink is more salmony. Working in double moss stitch which makes a change.*

I have been taking my knitting outside to enjoy the sunshine while I can. I am not a sun worshipper but believe a bit of UV does us good and so many do not have this opportunity at the moment.

Please keep safe 🌈

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

RECENT OBSERVATIONS

Here in Worcestershire we have had floods, now we have pestilence. Should we be preparing for plagues of frogs and locusts? 🐸🐸🐸

As I have previously stated I work in adult social care so I am still free to work. It is quite eerie driving to work as there are so few other cars, just walkers and cyclists. Possible bonus – an improvement in air quality???

I have been to the supermarkets to do clients’ shopping. Other customers are obeying the rules and keeping to social distancing recommendations 😊 Still no loo paper or pasta 🤐 but the shelves are looking better than they were last weekend!

My three ladies share a house but are only allowed out for a walk but one of them won’t walk so that means none of them can 😣 They have a lovely garden so the opportunity to do exercise and get some fresh air. Sadly they won’t do this together? So during a four hour shift I did 3 separate exercise/workout sessions in the garden. Other than a nice walk and a bit of gardening I try to limit my intake of exercise and sunshine. I knit because I like to sit in a comfy chair and create while possibly watching a bit of rubbish telly 😂

And what about my knitting?

My lofty comment about liking to create… Currently I only have the wherewithal for something nice and repetitive so I am making a baby blanket, just have to remember to twist every 12th row (just for a bit of interest)!

Social distanced hugs to you all. Keep safe.

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡