Margaret Rose Stringer's Blog, page 36

M wants knee-warmers !

I cannot deny him this latest obsession, as he is about the kindest friend of the male variety I’ve found in all the years since Chic went away (and oh, how he didn’t want to leave me).

I went looking on Ravelry for a pattern – where else ? – and thought I’d clicked on ‘knitting’ in the filters. I was deeply disappointed by the paltry result. And in my usual fashion, I immediately emailed SpinningAnna begging for help.

Then I thought “hang on … those weird leg-warmer thingies aren’t knitted –...

Thoughts one shouldn’t think

Been thinking about this business of the weight of years. One does, that’s all I can say. It doesn’t mean anything sinister or depressing: it just means that my nails need cutting and I’m sitting here putting it off, so have time on my hands (so to speak).

The loss of stuff is the main irritant: collagen and the like, you know ? The backs of my hands ! – how can there be so many little sharp wrinkles ?! How come I keep finding little places on my skin (not my hands) where odd dry bits are; an...

A step in the wrong direction

I’ve already written of my impending move. Today I started the behind-the-scenes infrastructure organising that’s needed with every move I make (someone should write a song, etc., etc.), and with my second call ran into an almost insoluble problem.

My ISP is unable to accommodate me – as they always do, with every etc., etc. – with a continuing supply of cable Internet. It’s not them: it’s the place I’m moving to. Because it’s supported by the guvmnt, it has to bite the bullet and bow the kne...

Sighh …

Seems I can’t do anything right, at this time. Well, in terms of C&K, anyway. Grrrrr …

Here is the WIP with which I replaced the failed brioche lapghan: this is a simple knit stitch called ‘mistake rib’ (as probably everyone else in the world knew all along). If only one or other (or all) of the gods would chuck down a thunderbolt that enabled me to take even remotely acceptable photos, I would be a lot happier — a whole big lot !

The problem is that it isn’t wide enough.

It will stretch, pro...

Time for KNITTING stitches, I reckon

This lady is no slouch: I refer to Barbara Breitner, who has written a book called “Knitting on the Net”.

You could visit her (ugh !) Facebook site ifyou need to track it down. But on the other hand, you can just follow the link behind the image below to her website and find a really good list of knitting stitches. As, for instance,

[image error]

There are dozens of ’em, all very clearly written up and described in terms of why you might want to use ’em.

I’ve been browsing for knitting stitches because of...

Off-topic again – sorry …

My life has suddenly and unexpectedly changed. Well, its framework has. Its setting, I suppose.

When I arrived down here in early 2016, I fairly soon discovered a lovely retirement village called Sirovilla. Yes, I did say ‘retirement’: in your 70s this isn’t a word (thinks: gosh ! – I suddenly recall all the posts I once made on words and their wickedness) that causes dismay – especially when you are without assets. I put my name down for the Highton one and struck it from my mind for the nex...

An early project

[image error] In my friends’ living-room

There you go – the project that turned me into a yarn fiend.

I’m a sucker for colours (the more, the merrier !); so this square from Love Crochet appeared to’ve been designed for me. I embarked upon it with enthusiasm, having discovered a gorgeous fully mercerised yarn from Crochet Australia that was once called Clever Country  but is now otherwise named (thinks: what the devil is it ?!); which didn’t pall as I progressed !

That’s my problem, you see: I have not onl...

I need putting out of my misery :\

Maybe a bit OTT, that title …

But the time I’ve had in the last several days is not that which I’d wish on anyone else. Nope: while the end could possibly be said to justify the means, them means oughtn’t make such demands !

First, I had new carpet laid. Not easy, inasmuch as I was obliged to have my lovely removalist take away all the furniture from the lounge and the two bedrooms – prior to which I had to empty everything (of course). Stashed as much as possible in the bathroom/laundry (gre...

Here’s something I finished !

[image error]A husband cardigan (and his favourite mog)

The husband is Chic: the mog is Captain Kirk, known simply as The Captain.

So what d’you think of the cardi I knitted for Chic (many years ago) ? – I thought it was pretty ace, myself. And without wishing to blow my own trumpet too loudly, so did he.    :)

We were living down in Melbourne for a while, working on a film shoot (for which he was never paid, btw: the 2-man production team were total (_¤_)s and two-faced bastards). A short time before the...

Do my eyes deceive me ?!

[image error]

That’s called Sedge stitch . Looks good, I reckon. I started trying it out with the thickest yarn in my stash – something like DK – and pretty soon realized what I was making looked nothing like THAT.

Then I found another pattern using Sedge stitch, on the same site:

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which provided a third version of it.

I thought: ‘Oh well, there you are, you halfwit: if you expect a stitch you like the look of to come out as in its picture, you have to use the same yarn weight. DUMMY !’

Yes: I am very oft...