Wednesday 29 February 2012

Yarn Along

Last day of summer for us in the Southern Hemisphere today and although I have been knitting over summer, there have been a few way too hot days where knitting was just too sweatily impossible. Looking forward to cooler days and actually being able to see some of the knitting worn!


This week I am reading The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. Historical fiction, my favourite. It is set on an isolated plantation in Virginia in the late 1700s. There are the usual cast of characters for a novel with this setting:-

* The benevolent but usually absent master
* The weak, slightly hysterical, laudanum dosed younger mistress of the house
* The cruel overseer who is stealing from the master and blaming the slaves
* The daughter of the master and a slave who the master doesn't quite know how to treat
* The kindly mama slave who takes quiet control of the mistress

Even though it is formulaic, still an enjoyable read.

Knitting wise, I am knitting some (we will see how many!) hot cross buns for Easter play, using this pattern. As you can see, I quickly knitted a few rows of the first one to take a photo! So will comment next week on the pattern.

Also making some rainbow gnomes. I dyed this 4 ply in rainbow colours a very long time ago (the yarn was originally used to make my daughters some gnomes and they are now 16 and 14!!) I already had the pink one from years ago. They are knitted using the Little Knitted Gnomes pattern from The Gnome Craft Book. They are the perfect size for finger puppets.


Look forward to seeing all the beautiful knitting over at Small Things.

12 comments:

  1. I'm looking forward to the cooler days now (not that we have had much of a summer) and we even have flood warnings today! Your knitting looks lovely :-) I borrowed, and borrowed The Gnome Craft Book from the library and finally purchased a copy for myself - can't wait to try out some new gnomes (you can never have too many gnomes right?)

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    1. I think hubby thinks I am a bit mad, knitting gnomes and hot cross buns!! But true, you can never have too many gnomes!!

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  2. Oh,I had to read that twice--you're knitting hot cross buns!!! The pattern is very cute!

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    1. It is working out well too, so I am pleased with the finished result.

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  3. Hey, formulas are formulas for a reason! What I love is when someone takes a tried and true fiction formula and just executes it really, really well. I read "Sylvester" by Georgette Heyer last week, and it was like that. Proud lord, intelligent young miss . . . but it was brilliant and real and perfectly-done. Not a cliche to be found. From the first page, I just relaxed, because I knew I was in the hands of a masterly author.

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    1. Oh, I know, it is a great book - really gripping now that I am getting to the end. I didn't mean to denigrate by any means; it really is a fabulous read.

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  4. Oh wow those gnomes and buns rule! So cute! I can see some little chickies in there too. I hope it gets cooler for you all soon. I for one tend to swoon in hot weather. ;)
    xo,
    Ang (peach coglo)

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    1. They are cute. I too am NOT a hot weather person!

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  5. The pattern for the hcb looks so fun. Maybe add in some felted raisins? :) Isn't it funny - your dyeing yarn to make something all those years ago - that happens to me too. I plan and hope but then it doesn't come to fruition because life happens. Looking forward to seeing these gnomes.

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    1. Ah yes, we do NOT want to look in my cupboards (and other secret yarn hiding places) and see all the yarn that was definitely for some purpose, but somehow has ended up put away instead! Felting the raisins sounds like a good idea - for the first one, I just used black yarn and did some big French knots before I sewed it up.

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  6. The hot cross buns look like such a cute pattern. I do hope you share some pics of your finished ones. Love the photo of the rainbow yarn. :)

    Cynthia @
    brambleberriesintherain.com

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    1. I have finished one and will post next week. Just hopped over and love your blog - you are so talented!

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