Recycling

Recycling is so very 'now'.  But recycling has been going on for ever.  Then again, recycling can mean something quite different depending on the era.

This book was published in 1915. 

WW1 was raging and recycling was a necessity for most people, so, it was often a topic of interest, especially for women trying to make ends meet.  I find the difference in how we 'express' ourselves in different eras interesting.  Back in 1915 we 'explained' what we meant with a lot more words.

A good example was the 'Preface'.

War is a hard, stern teacher, and its lessons are bitter in the learning; yet some of its teaching we badly needed - and not the least important of its main lessons is the one it inculcated on the criminality of waste.

To so many of us "waste" was a word with a comparative meaning. What was waste in one woman was not necessarily waste in another, we argued.  It was wrong for the factory girl to let her skirts drop off her for lack of mending: but not wrong for the better-off women to discard their clothes directly they showed the least sign of wear, because they could afford to buy more, we said; and besides, it made it good for trade - that was a favourite argument used by the extravagent to excuse their wanton waste.

Harsh words indeed.

On reading this book I had no idea that you could use old crockery for beads.  It seems like a lot of work.  We can purchase beads at a very cheap price today, maybe this is something that will change over the next 100 years?

What I was looking for was drawings, rather like those of Margaret Clarke, to use in my 1920's quilt.  The only thing I found was these illustrations in advertisements.

I might use the faces of the girls looking over the wall and the flowers on the cover could translate into an applique.  Or maybe these?

 

What I can't see myself doing is turning the collars of my husbands shirts.  If he wants that he can do it himself!

Some old work

As I am spending so much time at my son's home I thought I would do some tidying up for them.  They are due to move into their new home in a few weeks time and have stuff everywhere.  Amongst this stuff was a quilt I made for him when he first left home.  I was into dying at the time and this was made from the samples that I had made.

Now this was over 20 years ago but the dyes still look good I'm pleased to say.  I knew I had put a label on the quilt with the date etc on it but...

Shows I need to sew the details on labels not just write them in fabric pen.

The next thing I found was an old knitted rug I made him.  The colours are really dated but the knitting is good.

I must say I was very chuffed to think that he had held onto these pieces for so long.

And while I was doing this Nugget gave me the  sweetest look.

Silly dog.

The all over club

To aid my learning of colour-work knitting I decided to join Kate Davies "All over club."

This club is about:

"Celebrating colour in our knitting. There will be weekly colour-work design releases, essays exploring colour in history, textiles and art, and blog posts from talented guest contributors well-known for their distinctive work. You’ll also gain an insider’s view of the creative process of working with colour, as we share charts, templates, palettes, and technical tips to help you create your own colour-work designs (or modify existing patterns)."  (Text from the Email.)

I have decided that I really want to learn how to knit colour work designs and this looks like a great way to get started on this.  I would also like to get a copy of the Philosopher's Wool Company video of how to knit 2 handed colour work.   Anne and Eugene were Canadian knitters and wool producers who made this  video.  Anne died in 2020 so I'm not sure how I will go about getting this.  I might find a pre-loved edition on-line?   Whilst looking for more information I see there are lots of videos about two handed colour work on You Tube. I might have to settle for that.

 

A wonderful discovery.

My sister, who is really into knitting, rang me to tell my about a You Tube podcast called "Fruity Knitting."   She was sure I would find it interesting.  This show started back in 2015 and she gave me a link to a current episode.  But, me being me, I went back to episode 1, because if it was any good I wanted to watch it in sequence, starting at episode 1.

She had watched several episodes of this show and noted the similarities to my early life and the life of Andrea the presenter, but didn't tell me this.   Andrea has lived a life as a classical musician before these pod-casts.  That was what I had planned for my life before I met my husband.  This might have been my life if I had kept on my original path.  It is rather strange to come to this realization.  A bit like that movie "Sliding Doors".  My sister, also didn't think I would go back to episode I, so she didn't tell me that Andrew would develop a fatal illness later on and die.  I had totally fallen for this lovely man and sat there and sobbed when I read this in the comments.  I thought about not watching it again, knowing what was coming in the future, but I have prepared myself for this now.  ( My friend Mary's 6 year old grand daughter has just been diagnosed with the same illness so she will walk this same path.)

This podcast has shown me knitting I haven't even imagined, starting with Alice Starmore. 

Where have I been not to know about this woman?  Her work is so beautiful and so revolutionary in many ways.  So, for Xmas and Birthday presents I have asked my family to give me money so that I can buy her Creative Course 1.  In this course your knit and embroider all of the hats below.  (I have one daughter, two grand daughters and three nieces one for each of them.)

This is going to be one of my major projects for 2023.

I don't think my life is going to be the same after finding this.

Frozen Planet 11

The weather has turned wet and cold here, just when I had changed over all my winter woollies.  Now which draw did I put those into?

Perfect weather for sitting knitting or watching TV but there is nothing on except football.  So, onto you tube.  Now, this isn't on yet but I am looking forward to it arriving.

Frozen Planet 11 and the music to accompany this clip is great.

 

I do love these videos when they come on TV.  A great excuse to sit and knit.

Knitting

After a month of searching for a pattern to knit a sweater for winter 2023 I have finally narrowed it down to two designs, both by Kate Davies.  I have a whole collection of her books but what I wanted wasn't in those.

I thought I had got "the one" but then she released another pattern that I like.  Now I have to decide which one I will knit.

I think that this is the No 1 contender.

But then she came up with this and I'm not sure.

I still have a month or so before I have to start but I think the first one would be less stressful as the pattern isn't so intense and I could put it down and still find my place.  But I do like that new pattern.

School Holidays

The island is full of holiday makers including my grand daughter Jasmine, who is staying with me for a couple of days.  She made pancakes for breakfast but hasn't learnt about cleaning up just yet.

She has finally got the hang of crochet and is busy making hats for her dolls one of which is my knitted izzie dolls.  She choose the colours of the wool and said "how long will it take?".

I sat up late and knitted it over night.

The look on her face made it well worth the effort.

I think I might try to knit elf ears on some dolls and I'm thinking hobbits as well. 

WIPW

I am working on quilting pieces to make project baskets.  There will be 5 baskets and each will feature a different quilting pattern.

These are really labour intensive and I started the process at my stitchie weekend up at Toowoomba.  I thought that I would achieve a lot more on these than I have.

Unreal expectations!

Still working on the dolls.  Have 12 sewn and stuffed and now need to add the faces and ears etc.  These are great little stress busters as I can knit them without thinking and then think when I have to do the finishing.

I'm not sure how to knit these ears.

And the pin cushions continue.

The wool has arrived

So the post man came with my parcel, and being a local, opened the door and put it on the hall stand.

Oh dear! was I ever that young as in that photo?  It was taken just before my daughter was born here on Coochie.

I am never quite sure what the colour of the wool will look like until I open the parcel.

I can live with that.  Now the parcel is stored in the cupboard for when I an ready to start it.  I still have to decide on a pattern as yet.

It has to come undone.

I knitted this cardigan a couple of years ago but it shrunk slightly when I washed it.  (I did not put on weight!!!)

It is just too uncomfortable to wear anymore.  I could give it away but pure wool is so expensive these days I think I need to unpick it, wash the wool again and then start again.

Bendigo Woollen Mills is the source of most of the wool I knit with.  It is good quality Australian wool produced locally and although not cheap is affordable.  I have an order in for some wool to knit up for next year.  It was on special but the wool for a sweater will still cost $70 and just a few days later I see it has all sold out.  (Looks like there are other knitters out there.)

It has taken me a life-time to realise that I really should plan my knitting a year in advance and not try and get a whole garment finished in the couple of months before winter hits.  It has to be said that in years past there was no air-conditioning and it was too hot to knit in summer but I now have air-con and I can knit summer or winter.

Now that I am retired I find that the pressure to complete things in a short time line is gone.  I think I must be slowing down?

WIPW

We are back in home schooling every day this week so it is mainly knitting that I can do as we do our lessons and trying to keep some order in my sewing room where my grand daughter sleeps.  Now, there are two other spare bedrooms downstairs, but, she likes grandma's workroom so she can be close to us.

These little Issie dolls are great to keep the hands occupied but allows you to think of other things at the same time.  Problem is I never seem to have the colour I want, even though I have 9 boxes of yarn!

I also have some ideas for the pincushions, I can work on these before and after school.

These are on black fabric that to the eye doesn't show all that lint that the camera sees!

But, there is no getting anywhere near the sewing machine.