Of Spoons and Arm and Wrist Warmers

One of my two talented nephews took up wood carving recently as a hobby and has found his niche in hand carving spoons.  These are just a few of his recent  ones.

From selection of the wood to the final spoon, everything is considered and everything using only hand tools from start to finish.  These are works of art and it has been enjoyable following his increasing knowledge, and the large variety of shapes and woods that he is using to create unique spoons.

I was absolutely delighted to received a little spoon early in the new year, and have just had it on my corner shelf in the kitchen admiring its beauty. It is the first spoon that he has made in Olive Wood.  

Mr S normally does the butlering duties, but with one thing and another I was doing it, filling up both sets of salt and pepper grinders: oh yes, he had hurt his wrist!

The spoon may remain on display, or it may sit on the pepper  corns.  I'm not sure that sitting on damp sea salt crystals will do it any harm, but this is a precious present that is to be cherished, and I think it safer cradled on dry pepper corns.

I was delighted to have something hand made. Having contacted Nephew Stasher No 1, to thank him, I wondered whether he would like to have something handmade from me, and straight away he wondered whether he could have some arm/wrist warmers just like the ones I made for his mother last year.  

These were in green Alpaca wool from my stash.  Having been given his range of colours, I went to my stash, pulled out a couple of balls of Pure Wool and then had to go in hunt for needles, but needed to order some fixed circulars.  Everything seemed to take time, from selecting the stiches I would use, to designing mittens, given a totally different yarn, and of course to suit and fit a man.  I came across a stitch pattern called Aran Rib 1 in The Knitter's Bible, and having got out the calculator to assess the number of stitches to cast on, I was away.  But the progress was slow, sometimes you get a mental block!  Each mitten is a mirror image with the cable reversed, but it doesn't matter which hand you put them on.  

I had Mr S on hand to keep trying them on, and of course measurements sent.  I asked Nephew Stasher 1 if they were to be used whilst spoon carving, but surprisingly I heard that they were for wearing when he is carrying out his work which is something to do with working on the graphics for computer games. Ha!  I don't know anything about computer games, but I do know your hands can get cold working on computers.  Mr S has ordered a pair such as these that almost reaches one's elbows.  I too want a pair, fortunate therefore that I have all summer to make them.

Laverne Socks No 2

 I haven't picked up my knitting needles since I finished these socks in July.  What with one thing and another, but now it is cooler, and I have received the hint that I am not sitting down enough, it was time to look through my knitting bag, sort it out and think of something interesting to knit.

When I came to pack these socks away, I found that I had knit the same pattern back in 2016.  There they were nestled up in my stock of new socks box. 

I've decided to move along and knit some wrist warmers to send to my sister.  I'm trying out a pair to judge the construction as I would like to knit ones that are longer in the arm for her.  I found a pattern on Ravelry called Spatterdash which I am attempting, but may well try different patterns after all, they are probably a little quicker to knit up that socks, and will make surprise Christmas Presents.

With all the challenges to use less fossil fuels, but the importance of keeping warm and comfortable, I think that wool will be making a great comeback, not that it ever fell out of favour in this household.

Made to measure tea cosy

I can hear one of my friends laugh at this...no its not dressmaking, or making of other bespoke garments...but a real essential if you like tea.  Its a tea cosy.  I introduced Marie Claire to the joys of tea made in a teapot with a teacosy, soon after we met.  This is the third cosy I have knitted for her.  The first one fitted a tall teapot which sadly met its fate when it fell onto a stone tiled kitchen floor.

Marie Claire's teapot this time is a round glass pot.  I had a nice grey brown aran weight yarn, which would blend in nicely with any tea stains and begged a length of red yarn from a knitting friend at the Almanack Knit and Natter group for a little red understated embroidery highlights.  The teapot had to come and stay here for a couple of weeks, as there were several fittings.

I had my brief...everything covered including the spout...so I made a heart shaped flap, which bends back easily for pouring.

Of course a base to keep the bottom warm, and shield any table, catch drips etc...knitted in the yarn doubled up.

When I thought I had finished I could see the red plastic strip of the handle along the glass, so knitted up and sewed in a 'fly' which easily tucks in and I had fulfilled my brief.  Yesterday I took it round, and there were hoots of appreciation!

Lacy Heart Socks

I always mean what I say, and my friends do know this...so was not surprised when Kay took me at my word when I offered to knit her a second pair of socks.  Her husband had been teasing her that he would have to pull her socks off her and wash them in the night and then return them, as they do with their grand children's snuggly toys!  She loves to wear the pair I knitted for her recently in the evenings when she is sitting with her feet up...no slippers for this lady! (Of course she has been washing them regularly)

Kay found some lovely yarn, during one of her middle of the night scans on her ipad, and came up with a hank of Titus by baa ram ewe, in 70% British Wool and 30% UK Alpaca.  Each time I have to wind up a hank, its lovely to get out the wooden swift and the winder, but I do have to look up the instructions!

It is indeed a fine yarn and very warm...but now I know why I personally err towards lighter colours.  It was not easy to knit this one by artificial evening light.

I had started with a complex lace pattern, but realised that even counting the stitches was hard.  I frogged the sock and started again.  In the end I decided to knit up a fairly plain  pair of socks as long as I thought I could get out of the wool without my usual panic, with some little hearts.

Even counting the rows was difficult so used a contrasting yarn to weave in and out every 10 rows...for the second sock it was every five, as this much easier to see and very quick to count up.  I used this out of desperation, and now I have a technique to help me through other projects.  For most of these photographs, I have lightened them on the PC.

Here are the socks finished...the hearts are on the outside so there is a left and right sock, and I had just a comfortable amount of the cake left, and I had a little more in the bottom of my project bag left from frogging or pulling out the little of lacy sock that I had given up on.

With that I knitted up a little bit of rick rack..as I just could not find the right sort of ribbon!

Kay gives so many hours of her time to making things for other people, and also leading our WI craft group each week...its lovely to think I can make her something!

New tin and new cake recipe

I was very happy to receive an early Christmas present from Penny.  Not only did I get my bundt tin which I had hinted that I would like, but also a long narrow loaf tin which came in the same pack from Lidl.  Thanks so much Penny.

On Friday when David went out for his curry evening with friends, I was going to make my first cake in the bundt tin, but instead opted to try the long tin.  I chose Mrs Post's Lemon Drizzle recipe from How to Bake by Paul Hollywood.

I had not made any lemon curd so used extra lemon peel, and also used a couple of tablespoons of cream cheese which needing using up.  Penny would approve of this.  We were only talking recently of our little foible of using everything up, and not wasting food!

At the same time, well in between, I was washing and drying two of the lovely Maluka scarves knitted in hand dyed cashmere from Posh Yarns, in a lovely shade of Robin's eggs.  We normally see the Robin's red breast at Christmas, and I thought this was a lovely link for the Christmas theme.  After I knitted my first Maluka scarf  in a beautiful pale green, which I sent to a dear cousin in the Netherlands during the summer, I knitted these two during a knit along with my Kenilworth knitting friends.  I think we have knitted quite a few between us.  I have had this yarn stashed away for some time, and its been lovely to knit with.  I have enough to knit a third just for myself!  I had a long evening to myself, and boy did I spread over the whole of the living room floor.  By the morning the scarves were dry, and I got the space cleared before he upstairs came down!
 

Knitting the Maluka Shawl

Some time ago I thought it would be nice to knit something for a cousin.  I managed to catch up with this cousin through face book, or some such forum.  Since then we have communicated and I have gradually got to understand some of my early history, with aunts, uncles etc.  My father was the youngest in a large family, and when I was young there were only a couple of aunts and uncles left where we lived.  I feel a lovely connection through our common grand parents, and have enjoyed learning about her life.  She moved to Europe and our lives separated.  I had met her a couple of times at Aunty Suzanne's who lived opposite us in Mauritius, when I was about 8 years old, she was a very glamorous older cousin.  It was Aunty Suzanne who taught me to embroider.

Well I saw just the pattern on Ravelry.  This is a world wide forum and fantastic facility for knitters and other wool and stick crafts aka as crochet....I read all the useful comments from fellow knitters on how to tweak the pattern, which was written by Bea Schmidt.  I think it is a German Pattern and translated into English, which is where a little help in interpreting the pattern notes comes in helpful.  Usually I work from a chart, but in this instance wrote down the stitches line by line for the 12 row repeat lace border.

In my stash I had a lovely ball of pale pistachio green baby alpaca and silk yarn.  I have cherished this for years, having bought it at the same time as I was being mentored by my great friend and knitter Judith.  So when I was knitting this shawl I enjoyed many happy memories as well as thinking about my cousin.  The other item I knitted from this was for my friend Marie-Claire.  What a coincidence, both ladies from Mauritius!

I also managed to use one of the lovely stitch markers made for me by Sue to mark the middle of the scarf.

Washing and pinning out the shawl takes a little time, but I was listening to some lovely music at the time.  I use a couple of 'discarded' pilates mats from my Pilates Teacher Jane Bilsborrow, and remembered to do a few stretches during the process.  I like to take a picture of the blocked shawl, as it is easy to see where little adjustments have to be made.  A few after this photograph was taken made sure the scarf was symmetrical and even.

Picked this little posy in the morning, and thinking of my sister in Australia....

May going going gone

Its just not like me not to post for so long, so what have I been up to during May.  Lots....too much really, and not enough time to blog.

I've very nearly finished knitting a jumper which has been on the pins for too long.  I have a cushion project on the go.  In the meantime this month I knitted a made to measure bespoke tea cosy for my friend Marie-Claire.  It took me several attempts to get it just right, starting with a clever little stitch called rick rack.

 

 



 Plenty of baking of course, mainly bread, including a batch of muffins, sourdough spelt, wholemeal, white and baguettes, and this great batch of pizza for his and hers, with enough for three meals at least, some in the freezer for busy days.  For me a layer of pesto, then roasted red peppers, topped by buffalo mozzarella, goats cheese and olives, roasted tomatoes some squashed for him.

Its been a very cold late spring but the garden looked a picture.

During the last few very wet days, the slugs has eaten my little courgette plant right down to the ground, and my runner bean plants are just hanging in.

Had a few days away exploring around Frome which has some interesting streets

 

Had several friends round during the month, last ones included Penny with her daughter and new grand-son...



Gothic Shawl Complete

When a lace shawl comes off the needles, there is a texture given by each set of stitches, which shows up beautifully in the low winter light.  The designer Jane Sowerby was inspired by the arches of Jervaulx Abbey in Yorkshire and Cothele in Cornwall.

Washing and blocking the shawl removes some of the texture.

It takes patience to ensure that the shape is balanced, measuring tape, steel rods and pins help with this , and then there is the day or so when it is drying, where the floor where it is drying is a no go area .  As the sun was bright, I covered the shawl with a sheet, as I was not sure how the yarn would stand up to strong light.  As soon as the shade arrived, the sheet was whipped off.

The shawl is now folded with tissue paper in a box ready to take up to my aunt. There were some tears at first, as half way, I discovered a serious error, and this required me to undo the whole lot, which in itself took over two hours.  I decided that I must start again, or I would falter, and perhaps never start such a project again. 

A second period of worry came towards the end, as I wondered whether there would be sufficient yarn.  This is the first time that I have knitted a shawl starting at the widest, decreasing every other row, till there are only 11 stitches left.  Phew there was sufficient yarn!

The colour very nearly matches that of the unglazed pancheon bottom, it is light and warm, and is probably the best item I have knitted.  Its taken just nearly two months to complete, with at least two hours each day.  There were many batches of dough rising in the pancheon during my knitting, and now I also have one friend who lives just round the corner who comes to collect a small loaf each time I bake!

Gothic Shawl by Jane Sowerby

This is name of the shawl designed by Jane Sowerby, featured on the front cover of The Knitter Issue 37.  Coming back home with my pancheon, I had in my mind my offer to knit my aunt a shawl.  I am ready to tackle some complex lace knitting again, and when my latest magazine offered this beautiful design, I felt driven to accept the challenge.

One of the substitute yarns suggested was one by Old Maiden Aunt.  After looking at her site, I emailed my aunt, and she was able to view the yarn I had in mind.  On Thursday I ordered it and it arrived Friday morning. 

Hand painted in shades of brown and chestnut, with the wonderful feel of baby suri alpaca, fine merino and silk, this will knit up into a beautiful lightweight and warm shawl.

  It took me just over half an hour to wind the yarn, using my wooden swift.

I found a size of needle suggested and knitted up a trial swatch.  I need to buy more needles: two 100 cm needles, and for hours I was wondering whether I should get the addi turbo or lace needles.  I tried the knitting shop in Warwick, but no luck there.  As I knitted the swatch on bamboo, and I know that with my hands as they are, wooden or bamboo needles are much kinder, I decided to stick with my hunch.  It was like looking for needles in a haystack, finding the right top quality ones, right length etc...and now two Addi Bamboo Circular needles  are on order from English Yarns.  Next week when they arrive, I shall start in earnest.

More Knitting and Baking

When some of our friends came up for Swindon in the Summer, I promised Maegan that I would knit her some more socks. I finally got round to asking for the measurements last week, and when I got my old knitting note book, I found the page where we drew round Maegan's feet in May 2007. As she was just a little girl then, there was plenty of yarn left over which I found in my stash. The colours are a little softer than above, and when they are tried on, and I have a report back on fit, then I'll be able to adjust my pattern if necessary, and made another pair in a different yarn.

I've started my Christmas baking and present giving, and baked these hazel nut and cranberry cookies which I took over to Rita's. Over a nice coffee and a biscuit, I then read her some poetry, from a little book we came across when I helped her sort out through some old papers. There is something wonderful about reading poetry aloud. Most old people of Rita's generation used to learn poetry by heart when they were young, and it really gives them a boost when they can remember some lines. Its certainly a lovely thing to have a picture of a host of golden daffodils on such a cold and dreary day!

Special Presents

I did have some lovely presents from friends and a very nice 'challenge' present from Mr S. We challenged each other to find a nice gift for £5. Well we spoil each other in so many ways during the year, and this year we decided to spare our efforts and just enjoy Christmas, its festivities and the various social and cultural does which this year started at the beginning of December.

As a crafter, the types of gifts I most appreciate are normally hand made.

From Matthew and Veronica we had a handsome wicker basket filled with all manner of hand made goodies ranging from Turkish Delight, toiletries, soap, sloe gin, cider, chocolate fudge etc., all home made and beautifully packaged and presented.

From my friend Judith, a superb hand knitted bag, embellished with beaded flowers and lined with 'recycled hand-knitted socks'. There were Liz Earle toileterries in the bag...but what a bag!

Also I count this as a 'Christmas Present', from Diane, a Knitting Friend to baby W. I took it over for Baby W's Mum on Boxing Day, and she was tickled pink! I think it will fit a one year old, but I guess it will be coming out several times before that, just to be admired.

Finished Projects

In the run up to Christmas when I ought to have been in a flap choosing or making presents, cooking etc., I seemed to have gone into the knitting zone. For a friend's new grand-daughter, I was determined to use up the whole of the two balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino yarn, and made up some indoor shoes and some bootees ready for the colder weather, to go with a first born and the next size up baby hat.

During the last couple of days when it has really been too cold to venture far, I have completed my big project which is a baby blanket. Some friends were amazed when I said that I would be knitting one in 3 ply pure wool baby yarn. It took a lot of planning, designing and knitting and now it is finished, I am delighted with the outcome.

Knitting shawls & hats

For baby Wastell, the scheme for the shawl is based around Guernsey stitches, with pride of place in the four corners being the Humber Star. The main body is nearly complete, and I shall soon be knitting the border of points.... more pictures to follow in the new year for this project.

In the meantime, Papa to be Wastell, aka my son, has asked for some socks, and yes the yarn is now in the stash, but little heads and new babies just cannot wait.

So for Kaye's new grand-daughter, I've knitted up a couple of super little hats. The pattern 'Leaf Top Hat for Baby' comes free on the Internet, and in Baby Cashmerino by Debbie Bliss look like big bluebell flowers. The first hat was knitted on 3.25 for the main body, but at Kenilworth Knit and Knatter, we thought it would fit a new born or premature baby, so I've knitted a second hat on 3.75 needles. It is slightly bitter and with the looser tension, will stretch for a much bigger head.

The effect is just lovely, and reminds me of the flower hats worn by 'the little people' in fairy tales. I think I shall knit up a little collection for Baby W: I can just think of ones which the Primrose and Strawberry fairies might like to give her.

Crazy climate

Its November the 5th, and the leaves on the trees outside my bedroom are very nearly down, but cram your head to one side, and down the road you can see a huge oak tree, still very green and full of leaf. Yesterday I swept all the leaves off the front garden, and planted 12 more heathers. This time they are winter flowering types.

I love the light of sunny autumn days, one just has to cherish these, even though they are getting markedly shorter. When I sit in the conservatory, I love to watch the clouds scuttle past, and have even gone so far as to have my book on clouds to hand, but sometimes I just like to look at the shapes.

I've started my autumn chop in the garden, but am amazed at how so much colour remains. The penstemones are still visited by late bumble bees, so I am leaving these for the last forays for nectar for the year. This late rose is scenting the room.

Apart from that I am clearing and cleaning ready for my sister Lizzie's arrival tomorrow. I'm busy knitting her some warm socks. Well when I am sat down resting that is. At least they will be ready by the time she leaves as she goes off to stay with Jenny in Spain.

October Knitting

I think that wool socks are definitely the best - hand knitted, with no seams across the toes, in bright or subdues colours. Anyone who has them, can knit, or have had them given, would be hard pushed to disagree. I had been thinking of increasing my personal stash of them, but just as one pair leaves the needles someone who needs some springs to mind.

I was at my friend Rita's a few weeks ago, and was surprised that she had the heating on, even though she is in her eighties it was warm. When I asked if she was poorly, she said no, but her feet were cold. Marie-Claire who was with me, and is already in receipt of one pair from me, was thrilled when I said I would knit Rita some. Rita tried mine on and could not believe how wonderful they felt. I took careful measurements, as one does for 'bespoke' tailoring, and was given very clear instructions as to what colour etc she wanted.

Rita is one of those very elegant ladies, who loves to choose her clothes, jewelry and make up to look her very best. Wearing usually dark trousers, I chose some sock yarn from the wonderful array at Web of Wool.....and now Rita is so thrilled that she has even worked out that she can wash them in the evening, and have them ready to wear the following day. I think I shall have to knit her a second pair for Christmas.

Tea cosies and jam

My friend Marie-Claire loves her cup of tea, she loves it hot and bright. When I go round to her house, we sometimes share a cup of very special Mauritian Vanilla Tea. When she had one of my brew, she was amazed by the quality even after a few minutes, so I introduced her to the secret of tea cosies.

I have a lovely tea cosy knitted by a great friend, and received by post, with amongst other things, a tea pot to fit, as a house warming present. So everyday, several times a day I think of Judith!

With superb rare breed yarn, I designed and knitted a cosy for Marie-Claire's big tall tea-pot.

Her eldest daughter has worked really hard and is now a very important person, and we are all very proud of her, and guess what, when over to visit her mum, she tasted some of my strawberry jam, and phoned up to ask to have a master class. I explained that she'll have to wait till next year. Well, at least for now, she is returning to London with a pot of my finest, which I was very pleased to give her.

Trellis Scarf by Evelyn Clark

I'm a great fan of Evelyn Clark. I have her Knitting Lace Triangles book. The first time I saw one of her scarves completed was when Judith, my knitting guru, from Swindon days, completed the Trellis Scarf published in Interweave Knits. I have finally got round to using some of my original yarn from Posh Yarn. I've had it about three years, and it came as one of the shawl club consignments. I think it is cashmere and silk, there was no band with it, and it is so soft and a beautiful pale almond green. I think it was this pattern which led me to subscribe to the magazine from the US.

When I came to cast off, I felt the end was not wavy enough, and took the scarf and pattern to Web of Wool in Leamington, and Anna helped out by suggesting a modification. Thanks Ann, what a generous gesture, I really appreciate her help.

This scarf, I knitted for Marie-Claire. The colour really suits her, and she just loves it. I took it round on Wednesday when I spent the day with her, passing on my marmalade making skills. In the middle of the exercise whilst I was sitting down cutting up the peel, MC rustled up a lovely lunch.