Hello honey bunches!
How are things at your place?
Although I could easily do another few blogs about all the spoon carving that's going on around here, I thought I should shake things up a bit and write about something else.
So my twelfth (what a strange word both in spelling and pronunciation), blog is about the three things that I am making whenever I can squeeze in a round, or a row, or a coil.
Firstly, there is the basket.
I'm not sure why I started making this basket the other day, but there I was sitting on the floor of my craft area with Pepper doing her weaving and I just started coiling. I haven't done any basket making for about ten years so it took me a little while to get it started but then I couldn't put it down. And haven't really wanted to ever since.
I'm using baling twine (AKA farmers' friend) as the base and odd balls of cotton for the top. I'm doing three coils and a figure eight into the row beneath each time. Around and around and around. It's slow going but I'm loving it.
Secondly there is the sock blanket.
Each time I cast off a pair of socks I knit the leftover yarn into my blanket. It's probably a bit optimistic to call it a blanket, sock yarn is pretty fine and it's going to take a long time and a lot of pairs of socks before it'll even cover my tootsies, but one square at a time hey.
And thirdly there are the stripy socks.
Each time I look over at my farmer boy carving another spoon and am tempted to have a go myself, I remind myself of this pair of socks. I cannot wait to wear these socks and cannot afford to fall in love with another craft right now. So he's shaving curly bits of wood and I'm knitting colourful bits of wool, practical and perfect.
What are you making these days anyway?
I hope your tootsies are warm wherever you are.
Big love xx
Happy Birthday Abby! xxxxx
As usual, just beautiful and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteLove the basket. I hope you will share the process some more, I've never made a basket and I'm intrigued.
cheers Kate
Looks beautiful; all of it. I am back in blog land, after a lengthy absence. I've been loving reading your daily posts.
ReplyDeleteI'm knitting all the big things, which is great in the Summer weather. Or, you know, not. On the other hand, as I'm working my way through another row on the lacy yoke of my cardigan, I allow myself to imagine how cold I'll feel as I reach for the finished cardigan and it helps keep the heat at bay for a moment or two.
ReplyDeleteLove that basket you're making - it looks very clever and colourful.
Thank you for the time you've taken to write your blog every day. It has been my treat each evening to sit down after the kids are asleep and see what you've been up to all day. Much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteOh those stripey socks are edible. Basket making...is there no end to your accomplishments!? Love reading each day's post. Thanks for sharing it all with us xxx
ReplyDeleteOh I just typed a comment and now it's gone! I'll try again and hope it doesn't get posted twice!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say hi and tell you how much I enjoy your blog, it's my favourite! It reminds me of my childhood a little bit, and your youngest daughter reminds me of my little sister :) I look forward to reading it, I always feel so inspired and warm and fuzzy!
Right now I have a few craft projects on the go - I have 2 crochet projects, 1 is a ripple stitch blanket in 4 ply cotton with a 3.5mm hook, so it is taking a looooong time, but I love the repetition and the colours. It is getting quite heavy now and because it's been hot lately, I've started a smaller project - crocheting bright coloured flowers to be sewn together in a garland for my daughter's room.
Then I also have my string art project, sewing projects, at least 3 more crochet projects lining up... And now after reading your post tonight, I want to make a basket!
Keep up the wonderful work! X
Hi Kate. Could you please tell me what carving tools you got for your farmer boy and where you purchased them? My husband has always wanted some and I have no idea what to get him to start with..thanks. Lots of love Julie
ReplyDeleteWe bought hime some Mora knives to get started but he's been looking online to find himself an axe and some tools for the girls. There are many sites that sell the Mora knives. Also I highly recommend youtube, there are so many wonderful, instructional videos to get him going. x
DeleteI come from a family of brilliant knitters, my Mum and my Nanna, but I have never really been that tempted to knit (I crochet instead) until I saw your sock posts, now I really want to knit some socks!!!! It is lovely to see your family spoon making and so happy working together. Can you believe I am making Christmas cards, I am still hanging on to a little festive spirit to make some cards for the 2015 season! Your basket looks wonderful too. Elaine x
ReplyDeleteLove your colorful post-sox are delectable, they look edible !~! Your basket made its debut to a roaring crowd of fans-another enormous success !~! And the blanket's colors play so nicely together, don't they ?~!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to your Farmer and your Family as we begin another flight 'round our sun. Thank you, Kate for this blog and all the joy it brings to so many of us here in the wider world. I'm in Northern California and without the Web likely would never have met you and gotten to love your chooks--even if they are dumb like dirt-standing shivering inthe cold rain--what's the matter with them, anyway ?~?
LOve your basket!!
ReplyDeleteThe basket is amazing, I love those zingy colours! :) xxx
ReplyDeleteThat basket is so beautiful! It would be lovely if you would do a tutorial!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a pretty basket. Like Sarah, as soon as I saw it I wondered if you would share the 'how to' or even, given your busy life ( and working on not being so busy ) where to get instructions. Just wondering where one would find bailing twine in Sussex...OR could fabric be used?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz
trying to finish my cardigan, but having started putting it together, something isn't right. Will be unravelling and starting the finishing off process again tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteLove your crafty projects. I've got the crochet bug, me who thought I wasn't crafty, and I so understand having many on the go at once! Who knew I'd be so addicted :) I'm doing a 'happy flower' blanket and have a cushion on the go for an aunty....I need some new victims!! Jan x
ReplyDeleteI am in love with that basket and now I'm going to have to learn how to make one. It. is. beautiful. I'm really excited to be starting a crafting evening with a friend. Right now I'm 'making' a trad crochet blanket (making in the loosest terms, having completed about three of the necessary 36 squares); crocheting heart shaped bunting for a crafting swap; knitting ugly socks and desperately resisting the urge to cast on the self striping socks that I really want to knit. Thank you so much for the daily blogging. Is it difficult finding the time to do it? I've started a daily diary for 2015, just to record events, and it's a real effort to get it done. It makes me appreciate your daily posts even more!
ReplyDeleteAll lovely. I can't believe the basket is made with baling twine! It looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI am currently knitting a scarf and a washer. xo
Oh WOW, your crafting is beautiful. You have my utmost admiration and thank you for sharing all that you do.
ReplyDeleteAnne xx
I love the sock blanket - beautiful colours! :)
ReplyDeleteWhich yarn did you use for your socks? I love those colors!
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous isn't it, it's called Trailing Clouds - Nimbus - self striping sock yarn
DeleteI've never tried basket making but yours looks great. The sock blanket with be lovely whenever you've made enough socks to make a big enough blanket! And I love those socks - the colours are so good together.
ReplyDeleteI love your basket! I'm coiling a basket at the moment too using shopping bags as my base- I'm new to weaving & I love the stripy effect you have here- I must give it a try, not really sure what you've done but will experiment :)
ReplyDeleteI've rediscovered the joys of appliqué! Love the socks and your basket. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteLovely work. I have a vision of a handwoven basket full of beautifully handcrafted spoons and each one has a sock to keep it warm. I know that is silly..but I saw spoons, and then socks and put them together in my head! ;-) I am now remembering making puppets from wooden spoons as a child - draw a face on the spoon's bowl, and then create clothes for the handle, glue yarn or fabric on the top for hair...very daggy, but we had a lot of fun. I hope this makes you laugh.
ReplyDeletePlease, you must teach us how to make baskets like yours, pretty pretty please *hops from one foot to the other*
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