STASH-BUSTING IN 2021 #18

Swatching. ..

My next big project is going to be a crocheted throw for Lucia the camper. Now I’m not a natural hooker but I would much prefer to do something in one piece and I don’t think I have knitting needles long enough to hold all the stitches that I need 🤔

So I have been experimenting with stitch combos

As can be seen these haven’t been blocked but I’m just practising the hook movements. I quite like the trebles with the raised circles but think that might be a bit ambitious plus my maths may not be up to the task of working out the spacing evenly. I really got my knickers in a twist with the basket weave stitch but thought I could manage the chevron.

Obviously that is only a tiny chevron so ta dah

*A bee kindly obliged and visited the clematis while I was taking this snap. I returned the favour and waited until he had finished before removing my chevrons!*

I have done a few rows to give me an idea of stitches/width and blocked it. So my throw is going to be all ziggy and zaggy😉

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

WOOL THERAPY

Or Storage Wars…

I have taken to crocheting little baskets as a means of de-stressing. There is a bit of a history in basket making and the troubled mind. In the grim days of institutions for those suffering with their mental health a key therapy was basket weaving! Admittedly they were proper baskets made with willow not my woolly numbers.

*A single brown basket and a cluster of blue/yellow baskets*

The multi-colour jumble contains 3 storeage baskets.

If nothing else my double crochet stitches are improving and I have worked out counting for the round. I have used aran weight yarn from the stash and a 4mm hook to give a tighter weave.

Over the weeks I have made quite a few of these and now I am running out of things to put in them 😄

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

SELF-HELP IN 2021 #4

A walk and a squalk….

Or rather a hiss!!!

I walked into Bewdley for some fresh air, exercise and some milk (I don’t even drink the stuff!) and I came across the goslings. I tried to get close enough for a picture of a scruffy but nonetheless cute gosling but sadly I incurred the wrath of the adults 😶

Calming down with a cup of tea I am about to sew up the raglan parts of the cable knit for my nephew so that I can do the neck – yes still a little bit of knitting left. Apologies just this progress report, no photo.

Wishing you all a wonderful woolly weekend.

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

SELF-HELP IN 2021 #3

I don’t appear to be helping myself much….

A couple of days ago I went for a good long walk through Bewdley, across the fields to Ribbesford and then back along the river home. It was a bit blowy but great to get some fresh air. Passing the Old Grammar School I had to take a picture of some flowers arranged by the Guides for Bewdley in Bloom.

*I wonder if there is still a flower arranging badge? There was in my day but I could never aspire to it😄*

We have goslings on the river as well. Very cute but the parents are very protective so no chance of getting a close-up let alone a selfie with them 😏

Now I walked into town today to get some bread and got soaked, it was hammering down with rain. The geese and goslings were on the same patch of grass. Well all except one little gosling. Bless him he was trying to work his way up the steps but they were much bigger than him. His mum was having a right go! But for my healthy respect of the adult geese I would have gone down and given the poor guy a hand. Happily on my way back he was with the rest of the family tearing up grass with his beak 😊

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

WINDING UP APRIL

An up and down month…

The month started with a cute chick and lots of bunnies!

But since then I feel I have been resting on my laurels…

I have been working on my nephew’s cable knit aran. I have completed the front and back and before the month is out (ie tonight) I should have completed a sleeve!

But I have done some reading this month which fills me with a real sense of achievement!

May May be more woolly and booky😉

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

STASH-BUSTING #13

Unlucky for some…

The weather has been glorious today. After mowing the lawn and pulling up some troublesome stinging nettles I have enjoyed an hour’s al fresco knitting. All that vitamin D should help my immunity 😄

I have been working on the first sleeve of my nephew’s cable aran.

**Half a sleeve is better than no sleeve!**

Please ignore the dying primula in the background. The warm weather has taken me a bit by surprise and I haven’t really got into a watering routine yet😕

So back to the sleeve. Another 20 rows to go on the increase sequence and then once it is the desired length I will start on the raglan shaping. He’s not going to get it for chilly spring days but he does live in Scotland and there is generally a chill all year round 😆

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

SELF-HELP IN 2021 #2

Now I’m not a book review sort of girl but…

I probably haven’t read a book in over a year with all the pandemic pandemonium I have been unable to focus but I have just finished The sixteen trees of the Somme by Lars Mytting and what a read!!!

The story is about 16 very old walnut trees that grew in the Somme, were poisoned which made the wood very beautiful and desirable and then disappeared. Ok I hear you thinking?

Actually the trees impact 3 families in the 20th century. Starting with massive loss in the First World War, with tragic consequences in the Second World War and devastation in the early 1970s and finally unearthing the mystery of the trees towards the end of the century.

The action takes place in Norway, Shetland, Scotland and France. We find out about potato farming, all kinds of woodwork, sailing, war and the Resistance. And of course love and loss and the reasons men make the choices they do.

A thoroughly good read, well worth putting my needles down. I don’t think my review has done it justice though 🤔

Back to some knitting in the sunshine.

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

SELF-HELP IN 2021

A bit like Cinderella…

Places have started to open. I called into Hobbycraft yesterday but was so overwhelmed by the choice I didn’t buy anything – very good for the stash!

I have managed to book a hair appointment, not until 30th April but so excited 😉

We visited N’s granddaughter on Sunday, her first birthday. We sat in the garden while it snowed but so good to visit.

N’s daughter had some slippers which I thought wow I could make some of those.

I have made one so far. So like Cinderella I only have one slipper 😄

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

AWOL

Very little yarn craft ….

I have been absent from these pages for a week or two. Work has been horribly busy and I have hardly had a chance to click my needles together and I have to admit to missing the benefits.

I have made this storeage basket.

It’s a very chunky yarn that I bought from Aldi a couple of years ago and a size 10mm hook. I have actually managed to hook this in the round. I think the thicker yarn and hence bigger stitches helped me with my counting. I made it up as I went along but ended up with 96 stitches.

It’s going to be a toy basket. Tyson the tiger looks quite comfy in it.

Hoping that the next week or two will be less hectic and I can get a bit done on my nephew’s cable aran.

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

STASH-BUSTING IN 2021 #7

And so it begins….

Just thought I would offer a sneaky peak at how my nephews cable knit jumper is coming along.

So we have a single rib, some cables over 4 rows, the diamond twist pattern done over 24 rows and the textured stitch which I think is called blackberry stitch or perhaps I’ve made that up because it looks a bit like blackberries 🤔

I have worked just over 100g of the Paton’s wool blend and I am liking the finish 🙄

The sun is out so hoping for a lovely weekend after a tough week at work. Hope the weather is as kind to everyone else as the sun certainly lifts my mood.

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡