tubular.

So, been on utube.  Found lots of different ways of casting on for a tube cast on. All of them showing the 'right handed' method which this leftie couldn't master!! Then found a lady who cast on with a crochet hook. Eureka!! I cast on over the needle with hook in my left and yarn needle in the right. It works for me!! The lady's name is Roxanne Richardson and she has a series of techniques under the header of 'the Swiss army' or something like that. Tried it.  It works!

I'll show you in a sec, for those of you who spot the colour change, I've got bits in my stash that will make this top multicoloured... Least that's the plan. Tubular cast on is what you see on machine knitted ribs on shop jumpers.  

It's All...

... the fault of that TOG down south! Found some yarn in my stash to try that pattern I mentioned.  No circular needles... order placed online, took delivery today. 

Sitting in the garden I decided to try out said needles. Cast on for a Swatch. 

Discovered the challenge of being a north England knitter.... We hold right needle under right arm, yarn in right hand.  Can't do that with circular needles! Got cramp trying to hold it 'free' and controlling the right needle with left hand. What next.......

Ok, I can hear you... Continental style knitting. You tube style.  It's taken all afternoon to learn knit stitch and purl stitch and get a 10cm swatch. It's the right stitch count but the rows are out... 2 rows per 5 cm!!! It'll be 3cm too long... It's top down knitting, so can be adjusted!! Is this face bothered?? Nope!

It's all Jane's fault for mentioning it eons ago!

So.. now to learn tubular cast on!!

 I'd show you the gorgeous bright yellow, but I pulled it out without taking a pic!! Here's the colour...

Chat soon!

Here you go...

Ready for shopping! Well almost..  her hand needs to be holding that pineapple!

What to do next... I've got tatting always on the go. Knitting for Sir too, but I needs something sorta mindless to do when I'm actually watching TV or socially distanced chatting with a friend outside... Just for 15 minutes or so. What can I do without looking at all... Plain knitting!! I found a pattern for a top down tee that can be worn either scoop neck, v back or v neck scoop back! The pattern uses up scraps (bonus), or can be plain. Because it's top down, you can make longer sleeves, either gathered at the cuff, or tapered, and you can make it tunic length!

The pattern I found is on Ravelry, v back tee! Downside? I can't start till I gets the circular needles!!! Drat!!! Hope they're here soon!

Anyway, Sunbonnet Girl bag:

Wow!;

We ran out of veg and fruit... I normally go to the market and pick what I want....

However, markets? Closed!!

We've a guy who normally does other things locally, can't work ... His friend is a fruit and veg wholesaler.. they got their heads together!! Fresh deliveries:

Whats in it?? £20 delivered to my door.

Want to see?

Here She Is...

Nearly ready.

Sunbonnet Girl has been finished tatting. She would already be on the bag, except.... as usual, I've filed my needle somewhere safe... So safe I can never remember where!!

I assembled the bits on my knee so you could see her... Hopefully I'll track the wayward needle down tomorrow! Then I can stitch her together and to the bag!!

Here she is....

What do you think?

The Weekend

There was a lace get together arranged. As with everything else it got squashed! So we held a virtual meeting!

As per usual, it was held over on Facebook! Good fun, including some knitted Cavemen, missing biscuits, a fall of bobbins and some tatting! 

That there other TOG down south, the one that keeps losing BC3, (I know he wanders, he keeps turning up in my greenhouse!!) keeps reminding me of some slightly larger projects... namely a hat, a waistcoat and a monster doily... All of which got shelved in favour of a bobbin lace garter that's now not needed till summer 2021!

So, I did a little lace, a tad more on the doily, and I've made some gorgeous sticky banana bread! Well, it sticks to my hips!!!

Wanna see?

What else?

Have I been up to?? Apart from taking meds to 98 year old mother in law so the carers can administer them...

I don't know if everyone has had the same challenges as round here... during this crazy episode we've seen stockpiling of toilet roll, kitchen roll, tinned food, dried foods, cereals....

For us the worst one was flour and yeast! I've had a bread maker for years and make bread and cakes in it! Banana bread is a gorgeous 'cut and come again' to have with tea or coffee... Tastes good on its own, with butter, or cheese!

I digress... No shop bread, no bread making, no cereal. You expect Sir to eat bacon on its own? Youve frozen the bread and the chickens are moulting so off lay for a couple weeks....

Were fortunate enough to have a garden centre that had to close, but the cafe transformed itself into a 'phone, buy, deliver' farmshop. Fruit, veg, because the chef from the cafe wanted to... we could get brownies, scones, meat pies... and... Plain flour!! Kept their stocks fresh!!  Then there's the other farmshop, sells meat, veg, fruit, bread flour and... yeast!!

Once a week we get milk from the farm in glass bottles, and meat, cereal, etc from the above...

So, yesterday what did I do?

And Then..

This arrived on Monday. Sent me looking for thread and shuttles, after I'd read it of course!

The rainbow taffy match for the bag shouted that it wanted to be used to make this gorgeous Sunbonnet Girl!

Now to find the perfect colour for her hat, bag and shoes. A girl's got to go out perfectly attired hasn't she?

I'll show you her when she's finished.

What Lockdown....

Does to bring a smile!!

A week or so ago I was video chatting with Big Miss, Li'l Miss and Mummy.  Li'l Miss wanted to know what Granny's favourite colours were. "Rainbow colours" was the reply. "Mine too!!". I thought no more of it until Sunday.... 

Mummy knocked on the window and pointed towards the door. Went to the door, one car containing the 3 females on the road and a small paper carrier on the doorstep!

They had a series of tie dying lessons last week. Colour mixing, how to tie dye, washing.... Lots of different lessons! Anyway, they decided it would be good to give Granny and Nanna a tie dyed present to say they were still thought of.  Li'l Miss refused to let either Mummy or her sister help with Granny's... because... 'I know what Granny's favouritest colours are!!'

The present?

Here:

The charms were made by Big Miss!!Going to be my new favouritest bag!! Think I may put a bit of tatting on it.  The colours match Rainbow Taffy!!

Chat later

It Seems Like

A long time ago now, but we went out to Tenerife for Sirs birthday last December. He hates being in the UK for a winter birthday.  Puerto de la Cruz was the destination.  Whilst there I spotted a yarn bombed building. You know the thing... where people cover things in knitting or crochet etc. Anyway I posted a pic on FB, as one does, and couldn't get blogger to work. A comment appeared underneath.

You know what it's like... You know the name of the tatter, and the proverbial penny drops! Corina lives in Tenerife!  A few messages later we met up for coffee, cake and tatting talk! What do Tatters talk about when they meet?? Lol. I was gifted a beautiful necklace and thread...  BTW, I'm the grey haired TOG!!

It's Official!

Today I become a GOP! What's that? A Grumpy Old Pensioner!! As of today I start receiving my pension! Thought this day would never arrive the way the government kept moving the ages!!

Anyway, 'nuff of that.... What have I been up to.... Well, Young Sir was supposed to be getting married in July. Then the pandemic struck. The date is now August next year, which is fine, it gives me chance to do other things like tatting instead of the bobbin lace garter I'm making. Wanna see??

Ok

It's now around 24 inches (600mm). I'll be stopping at 900cm. Then it'll be stitched to its edge...

I have a Dutch friend that keeps asking where the wedding garter came about. I don't have a clue! Anyone know??

A New To Me

You realise when you can't post that something is wrong. Eventually in this crazy world we're in at present, you get chance to play. Reloaded blogger and hope it works!.

A couple of years ago I got a copy of Heidi's reprint of Dora's book. Signed of course! It was a present from my ever loving hubby! Note, one has to ask for specifics and say where from!!!

Anyway, the other day I decided to play with a pattern...

Pretty...

Now look:

I ran out of thread!!! Makes a lovely flower!!

What you think?

At long Last!!

This is to try and post... Let's see if it works!