Wednesday, July 9, 2014

knits and knots and natters

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The other day I went looking for a bag of green flecked wool that I knew I had but couldn't remember where I'd put. I searched high and then I searched low and found it under my bed with a bunch of other bits and pieces of the woolly persuasion including the start of a granny hottie that I hooked up last year. Fancy that! I fully remember making that red one but I wonder why I started and then stopped this green one. I'd better finish it off don't you think.

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After I found the green wool I cast on some Emerald Fingerless Mittens to swap with a potter for some beakers. It feels a bit funny to be making something for someone I've never even met in real life but a bit fun all the same. I hope she likes them.

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In the middle of all this I turned around in my desk chair one day and contemplated the stacks of vintage sheets that I have been collecting but neglecting for years. Piles of them all neatly folded and colour coded. I thought about cutting out and sewing a dress for someone but it's not really sundress weather. So I pulled some down, tore off some 3cm lengths, found a 10mm hook, crocheted a 26 chain stitches and started a rag rug.

The beginning was quick and fun but then it started hurting my hands and curling up at the edges so I took a break. It's so cold and there's so much knitting to be done that I can't really afford to hurt myself right now. Or ever. I think I've got a 15mm hook around here somewhere that might help  to make it looser and easier.

If you were an oversized crochet hook where would you hide from me?

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The minute before I put my rag rug aside to rest it occurred to me that my time would probably be better spent making something woolly and wearable. In these crazy cold days something that protects against the chilliness must be valued higher than something pretty, every single time.

So I systematically searched through my stash, found three bandless balls of something that looked 12plyish, found a pattern on Ravelry, swatched and cast on. And despite the fact that Indi said I would never wear that colour, I knitted on.

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It was a quick knit and after about two nights I found myself nearing the end of the first ball which in turn made me happy and then concerned. Happy because I could imagine myself wearing my thick, cuddly cardi by the end of the week. And then concerned because there was no way I was a third of the way into the knit and yet here I was a third of the way into my wool.

That's when I realised I had underestimated the amount of yarn I would need. And I got out the kitchen scales and weighed it all up and realised that I was right, I was way under. Oops. I'm so used to knitting 8ply that I had forgotten that the same weight of 12ply would give me less length. And being wool from the Bendigo Woollen Mills back-room I knew there wasn't much chance of getting any more. Bum!

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After that I knitted up some Small Fry Fingerless gloves for Pepper. Look at her cute little meditation hands.

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Next up is socks. Wish me luck.

IMG_0214 Or maybe I'll have to put all that on hold to knit with the smooshiest yarn ever that just arrived in Jodie's Jellywares Winter yarn club. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Decisions. Decisions.

So that's me all caught up creatively.
How about you? What've you been up to?

I hope you're feeling inspired and creative. I hope you've got a fun project on the go.

Ciao!

xx




35 comments:

  1. lovely post Kate. Blogger ate my comment, so I'm just saying Lovely Post.
    I always enjoy your blog it's one of my favourites.

    cheers Kate

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    1. Kate this has been happening to me too! If I write a long comment I've started copying it before pressing publish, just in case. It is so annoying!

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    2. sometimes I think I'm so dumb, why did I not think of this.

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    3. Oh how annoying! My comments always disappear when I'm using my phone but generally on my laptop they stick. Sorry you've had to deal with it tho. Stupid blogger. xx

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    4. Kate @simple life, you are not dumb! You prob just have more important stuff on your mind. xxoo

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    5. So pleased to know I am not the only one this is happening too.

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    6. Thanks Julie Maloney, I know I'm not really dumb, sometimes though I just wonder how I didn't think to do something when it's such an obvious solution....once it's been pointed out to me! LOL

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  2. Lots of lovely yarn there and projects Kate. I found a you tube video that says if the edges curl up on your rag rug to do some stitches where you crochet into a hole twice instead of once. I haven't learnt crochet terminology yet. LOL! The lady also said if you keep the stitches lose that the rug is more forgiving. I look forward to seeing your progress on your projects!

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2HmGiV0bnT4

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    1. Ahhhh makes sense. I'll definitely continue with the 15mm then I think. x

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  3. I love the look of the Jellywares Yarn Club! Pity I missed out :-(
    Some much knitting and crocheting going on where you are...makes me wonder why it seems to take me so long to get anything knitted finished :-)

    Sarah x

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    1. Jodie's club is gorgeous, you could join in spring? And I'm only getting the small stuff finished, I have lots of half made bits and pieces too. x

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  4. You are such a busy crafty lady! I wish I had time for something crafty but right now nothing is happening. Hopefully soon but not now xx

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  5. Your speedy craftiness is very impressive, its inspired me to get a few more WIPs happening. T x

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  6. Squeal!!! - followed the link over here from your Facebook page and super excited to see a gorgeous picture of what you received in this months yarn club package Kate... I can't wait to see what you create with this absolutely divine yarn.... xx

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  7. Hello!

    I've reached that wonderful stage after finishing a big knitting project I'm getting quite giddy wondering what to make next. It is so much fun fingering yarn stash and looking up patterns on Ravelry. Dreaming is part of the knitting process although I am aware that whilst dreaming of knitting I'm not actually knitting!

    Aside from that I am busy making up my usual hare and doll orders and juggling/enjoying my lovely three children and the beginning of the summer hols.

    Stephanie

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  8. Wow, I have been reading your blog for a while now but have never left a comment. After reading this though I knew I had to comment because your knitting/crocheting is such an inspiration!! I have thought about crocheting before and your posts have screamed DO IT at me. I loved your children and what you make for them. Please write more and more, I love the crochet posts :)

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  9. Bonjour Kate
    Always beautiful pictures!
    Lucie

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  10. We had a FROST this morning!! FOR REAL!!

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  11. 4 ply socks?? Good plan! Those cranberry coloured ones I posted on Instagram the other day are 3 ply and the stitches are teeny and knitting them is a little tedious...
    I love peppers meditation hands. Her school seems so cool!! I especially love her warm winters hand knits!

    So nice to see what you've been up to.

    Xoxo

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  12. Lots of fun projects. I've been doing shawls for donation. I've started to teach myself Tunisian crochet and that's been interesting.

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  13. All your projects look so lovely and the picture of Pepper's hands is great. But the thing I love about this post is the number of projects and the reassurance that I'm not the only one.... At the moment I'm crocheting a ye olde style granny square blanket for a double bed, trying to face up to unravelling about 25% of a 4 ply/3mm needle cardigan I didn't swatch for (lesson learned) and thinking about my crochet orders: 4 hot water bottle covers, a baby blanket, a cushion cover and heart bunting.

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  14. Loving all that wool and colour. Hope it warms up soon for you.

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  15. Love that green wool Kate! I'm so enjoying my new found crochet. I just blogged my photos of my latest project ~ well actually my first 2 ever projects. Addictive isn't it?! Just perfect for this winter weather. Warm regards, Jan

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  16. wow, you have loads of gorgeous projects on the go! I have too many started projects that all need finishing, and a baby was born way earlier than expected so I need to get cracking! x

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  17. Make all of the things! At the moment, I am unofficially aiming to make a pair of socks a week and although I secretly wish they were all for me, I absolutely love giving them away to friends and family. I am hoping my knitted skirt will keep me warm when it's done, too.

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  18. Have fun knitting socks Kate, you will love them. I love the cabled knit - pity you wont have enough yarn for it. Your blue yarn is gorgeous from Jodie's club. I got a pretty light green in mine but still dont know what to knit up. Stay warm xxx

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  19. Wonderful projects!!! What a pity about the cardi yarn though! My mum recently made a miscalculation with BWM and due to it my sister will be the lucky recipient of 12 balls of 8ply instead of 6! Ha ha, whoops! I'm working on lots of bits and pieces... a hoodie for Nick, a cardi for me, mittens for a sister and a hot water bottle cover for another sister who is due to arrive back from London this weekend!

    Have a beautiful week! Linda. x

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  20. Love the way you move from project to project. Love that you provide handmade and homegrown for your family. Love that you make do and mend. Hope the weather is kinder to you soon. It's cold here is Brisbane so I can only imagine how cold it is where you live. Thanks for continuing your blog. I love reading about all your adventures.

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  21. hi again. I LOVE that rug!! I keep making t-shirt yarn and sock yarn and basically stripes of any unusable clothing that I can find and saving it up for my own bathroom rug one day :) I moved to England a few days ago and summer is in full swing here, so I am doing lots of gardening :)

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  22. Oh what lovely creativeness Kate. I have so many projects that need finishing! Sometimes I don't know where to start! And I too recieved my box of gorgeousness from Jellywares Yarn Club, so now I'm off to buy another set of circular needles to start my cowl!! Oh dear

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  23. I think .those gloves. look ACE !! *excited face * !! Which reminds me , when my kids were little they said GUBBS instead of gloves

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  24. What a lovely creative post. Enjoyed every bit of it. Sounds like a wonderful day! How I wish I could knit... Maybe this winter will be the winter when I learn.
    Xxx
    Annette
    My Rose Valley

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  25. Gosh you've been busy - all these lovely knits. I'm procrastinating on my own rag-rug for the same reasons as you - it's hurting my wrist and is wrapping and I don't have big enough hook. Since the weather is so chilly I'm wondering if I should attempt to knit socks for myself.

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  26. Ohw I just love your creativeness...especially your knits...I just love it...it looks so simple and easy to make and has given me hope maybe I will knit something sometime to and I've started a baktus shawl and that's coming on alright and then I've started a sweater...but aaahwww what a horor...it doesn't work...but I won't give up!!!!! And keep on visiting your blog and be amazed by the stuff you make :0)

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

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