Being an optimist, I brought a bunch of fabric with me that needed to be cut. I brought a small cutting board, a ruler, a rotary cutter...and it was never used. It was just too windy. When ever I cut a square I was off chasing it through the grass. What was used, though, are my knitting needles. Boy, they travel well. They kept me occupied when we were driving to the camp sight and travelled with me around the festival to be pulled out when we were just lazying around. How great is that?
What am I making? My other half wants a hat. I have no idea how to make a hat, but Leanne convinced me I could work it out. I found a pattern on Ravelry that I understood, which is half the battle. I kind-of figured out how to use 4 double pointed needles at once with the superb help of Ger from Pippablue. And finally I sort-of found the wool my other half wanted....as close to pure, unprocessed wool as possible (hence the "natural" brown).
What's better is that the wonderful Judy of Fundamentally Fiber seems to have SERIOUSLY helped me out in the quest for natural wool. I'll give you more on that story later!
I am really not sure if it will fit, but it seems like it will stretch a bit when it's off the needle. Worst case it will become a tea cozy. Or a wool ball cozy. Seems to fit my ball of wool better than my other half's head right now. Can you see that it's ribbed along the edge and then goes into a pure knit stitch. So far so good!
At the festival there was a vendor selling wool from her wool wagon. If you have a chance, check out Winnie's Craft Cafe. She has a great shop! These wool beauties were going for 2 euro each! I don't have a plan for them yet...they're the beginning of my wool stash! Like I need another stash....
And finally, what was waiting for me on my return home? A care package from my Mom and Dad. I'm in my mid (ahem, late?) thirties and my folks still hook me up! There are few things I miss about the states, but Dunkin Donut's hazelnut coffee and Skippy peanut butter are absolute must-haves. Thank goodness my parents keep me stocked up!
That's the news! I'm off to cut a bit of fabric, ponder Leanne's Mod Pop QAL and package up a few FQs worth of scraps for swapping. Life is good.
23 comments:
Needles of fire (well almost!!).
All that wool is making me itch! Looks great though x
I cannot knit. No ifs, ands or buts. Impressed you can.
Like Susan I can't knit. Well I managed a one ball scarf of that special wool on huge needles. But I must have looked like I was mental as I gurned and concentrated on my knitting. I couldn't use double ended needles for anything though. It would just be a place for the stitches to fall right off the end ;-)
Yup I agree, I took some hand sewing away when we went camping and the sewing just didn't happen. Good luck with controlling the wool stashing ;)
Yes I have given up taking sewing - but will take knitting - socks are the perfect size (though I use the "magic loop" technique - all those double pointed needles make me feel like I'm fighting a demented hedgehog.) And even better I have discovered that I can knit and not get car sick! (I get queasy even when navigating)
Hahaha cutting fabric in the wind that's too funny! At least the knitting was more stable. On my friends blog she bought a gadget for making hats maybe it could help you =D
http://intheboondocks.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/hats-anyone-wanna-make-one.html
So jealous you went to EP. would love to go . Cracking weather too. How you thought that you would have time to cut some fabric.... Knitting sounds such a better idea.
Can't wait to see the hat finished even if it looks a little small ...
you made my day! I sent myself - no my mom does never ever make a care packet - ground hazelnut for backing 'cause I could not get it.
dunkin donuts!! I didnt even leave the country and I cant get that here! Hawaii is a starbucks only place.. unfortunate - guess i know where we'll be meeting up in December? :)
dunkin donuts!! I didnt even leave the country and I cant get that here! Hawaii is a starbucks only place.. unfortunate - guess i know where we'll be meeting up in December? :)
knitting and camping work together. Sometimes embroidery. Sewing in general - not so good.
My sister has lived in Minnesota now for nearly 20 years and she still has us send her Tillamook cheese from Oregon - even though she is next door to the cheese state of Wisconsin.
I am trying to work through Salmiakki withdrawal symptoms after my trip to Sweden & Finland this summer. Unfortunately, one needs to earn more to afford the postage to get it to the next country.
Happy knitting.
Aw so sweet of your parents to send you treats from home! Great job with the knitting! Interested to see what it ends up as - you have a few options there! Jxo
I also cannot knit...the order I placed from you today (which you can leave in 3/8 yd cuts btw) are for the mid pop qal.
Btw...you coming to the state's in December ?
I usually take english paper piecing with me when we go camping. Or embroidery. I learnt to embroider sitting outside our tent with a kit I bought at a supermarket! I think I was pretty bored and was desperate for something to do. And yes, I knit when camping too. And crochet. They are the most portable projects I think. Have fun with your knitting!
Surprised so many cannot knit! What joys they have in store if they take up those needles! Well done for taking on the challenge of knitting in the round Cindy - looks like you are doing marvelously well! The natural wool can be a bit itchy though...but should be hard wearing!
Oh I totally can't knit, even setting the whole wool allergy aside! Why am I having visions of Comp from Last Of The Summer Wine with that hat though?!
Nice that your folks still look after you. The knitting looks good. Di x
It's funny what we miss from our own countries. We took HP Fruity sauce to France for on egg baguettes. Mmmm I'm in the portable embroidery gang..... Though my mum takes her knitting everywhere!
Ahhh I too alas am in the "cant knit wont knit" category. Dead impressed with those that do tho! Specially those who knit "on location"... lol
ps Guess wot I bought this weekend.... REESES M&MS and MARSHMALLOW FLUFF!!!! (age is nothing....)
I have the opposite "problem" -- a fairly large yarn stash and a moderate, still growing, fabric stash. I have to use some before I'm allowed to buy anymore!
If you are knitting the yarn on the recommended size needles, check the gauge on the ball band (eg 22 stitches to four inches). Then divide your total number of stitches by that number (eg 110 divided by 22 = 5) and multiply by the number of inches by your answer (eg 4 inches x 5) to get the diameter of your hat. In my example, this hat would fit a head circumference of 20 inches (approximately 50cm - a bit small for a man's head). Email me if none of that made sense!
Sounds like you had fun.
You are going to have a wonderful hat! It clearly looks like it will fit someone, don't worry, and knitting is the best portable project of all for sure.
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