Hats for Hannah

I just love this little hat I made for Hannah!  Its a gorgeous pattern but at the start I wasn't sure of the sizing. Using the Elle Pure Gold Baby DK and a 4.00mm crochet hook, the sizing turned out just perfect.
Hat Pattern click here 

It took no time at all and fits snugly, which is just what I wanted to go under the Hoody part of her sweater.

Having made one, I now can "wing" my way through a thicker yarn (or double strands of a 4-ply) and a bigger hook to make it a bit bigger for me...

Barefoot on the Beach

Good Morning to you from a warm, sunny Ballito Beachfront.  Now let it be known -  I am NOT a Summer girl, as I find it uncomfortable being shiny and sticky, but there is no denying, no matter how adamant I am not to put away my winter woollies, we have officially passed through Spring and landed smack into Summer!  Some super hot days lie ahead.  Beach and Sun days, swimming weather, braais and shorts and thin cotton T-shirts.  Sandals.  Barefoot even...

As I walk, the smells of Summer envelope me and close around me like a cloak.  Wafts of Coconut Suntan Lotion, Shampoo emanating from passersby (last of the holiday-makers..) which vie with the fresh smell of the sea, as families of small children are herded onto the warm sand - to play and while away some hours before the fierce intensity of the sun forces all but the real "die-hards" under some shade or indoors.

Lazy beach days, morning breakfasts outside on patios.  Friendly greetings and waving amidst the welcome smell of bacon and sausages and eggs and coffee, as I pass each holiday apartment.

Interesting and colourful displays, carefully laid out on the verges, draw the eye and I particularly loved these playful caps and bags made from re-cycled tin cans.

Sylvester Mokoene steps forward to engage me in pleasant conversation and obligingly lays down some vinyl to display the pieces of can he uses to construct his caps, bracelets and bags.  He is keen for me to photograph his display and volunteers a full interview of what he does.

Tin can caps lined with vinyl - how very innovative!

We discuss the merits of displaying so close to the sea as there is the inevitable rust issue, but explore the ways around that...perhaps a good spray with a good transparent varnish?

Sylvester Mokoene proudly displaying his cleverly made things.  He explained that he encourages small children to collect the cans, thus helping to clean up the environment and pays them 50c per can.  This not only provides a small income but teaches children from an early age that work pays off.

He then cuts the cans himself, purchases rivets and vinyl and other requisite raw materials, then trains older youth in the various manufacturing steps. They then go back to their homes and work their newly acquired skills, which Sylvester then pays them for and brings the wares back into town to market.

He maintains (quite rightly) that this keeps the otherwise unemployed young people from boredom, mischief and other wrongful practices, whilst providing them with gainful employment.  He thanked me for stopping by and shaking my hand, with a big smile on his weathered face, announced I had "made his day"!
Oh, I wish you well Sylvester, for you have made my day as well!

On the homeward stretch back to the car park, surfers wait patiently for their perfect wave

Bobbing on their boards, ever on the lookout for that special swell and the exhilarating ride back to the beach

 Sand Art

and the Sand Artist hard at work.  Entrepreneurial spirit present everywhere I look this morning

Another beautiful day, another beautiful walk, another beautiful reason to be very thankful and glad to be alive

xx

Knitting Little Things in BIG Colours

I SO love knitting these little Hoody Sweaters!  This one is for a 4-year old and endless possibilities of colour and stitch combinations are what lull me to sleep each night as I think about the next one....
















Little Girl ones are next and I'm dreaming in pinks and soft "Ice-Cream" colours for Hannah.  Scarves and mittens to match.



And then..... a couple of Baby ones, for 1-year old Jordan to take with us to the USA for our family holiday.

This very versatile and easily knitted (and worn) pattern for sizes from Children's age 2 up until Adult Extra Large can be purchased here http://cottagecreationspatterns.com/

Weekends and Wool

It's the weekend and I love lazy Saturdays and equally lazy Sundays.  Barbecues are the norm in our household, particularly because the weather is so lovely most of the year.  Mr Big likes his wooden  "resting board" prepped and ready aka Jamie Oliver so that his meat, fresh from the fire may sit and recline a bit prior to carving.

I normally gather up a sprig of all the garden herbs I can find, parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, etc and finely chop with the zest of fresh lemon and a de-seeded ripe red chili (because you want warmth and interest but not intense heat).  Add a splash of the freshly squeezed lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil, then work the whole lot into the wood with your fingertips.  That's right, smear it all over the board.  Sprinkle with a grind of rock salt and black peppercorns and the board is ready to receive the perfectly-cooked steak or chops or chicken to rest.

Try it, it makes all the difference

My sweet grandchildren with their latest knitted Hoody Sweaters.  I just love having these little warm offerings on my needles and in between crochet time, I imagine the different colour combinations.  (Wonderful when you have the odd ball of coloured yarn leftover from various other projects!).   They knit up in no time at all and before I know it, they are off my needles and in the post with some sweeties and a Disney magazine or two as a treat.

(Note to self:  Josh is shooting up like a beanstalk - I need to make the 8 year old pattern a tad longer in the sleeve as well as body)

  Unfortunately I cannot share the pattern as it is copyrighted, but if you click on the link above, you will find where to purchase it.  Well worth it!

I tried quinoa (high in protein) in a layered lunchtime salad instead of couscous (high in carbs) and it was as healthy as well as it was delicious.

If you haven't tried it before, purchase a packet (looks like couscous grains) from your nearest health food shop or good supermarket and follow the instructions to prepare.  Simple - I make up a batch and keep it over for something else during the week, hot or cold.  You should try it warmed up with a veg and bean curry!


Don't you love the tablecloth?  I got it for a song at one of our local supermarkets because it reminded me of Cath Kidstone's typical colouring, but at a fraction of the price.

I love quick and easy over the weekend because there's much yarny business to attend to.

Cheers!

Colouring In Quietly

Colours!  Glorious Colours!  
What makes a certain mix so alluring?  What is it that appeals?   What is a "magic" combination and what is just plain WRONG?
What colours make something look vintage?  Olde-Worlde?  Romantic? Rustic?

What are true primaries?  What are Tertiaries?  What are Complimentaries? How about Split Complimentaries?

I found the following link to Basic Colour Theory to be a good basic start.



(a)Your Basic Primary Colours are just three - Yellow, Blue and Red, that's it!

(b)Secondary Colours are the "in betweens" - a mix of two Primary colours sitting next to one another on the wheel, i.e. Red and Yellow mixed = Orange
Yellow and Blue mixed = Green
Blue and Red mixed = Purple
and again, that's it!

(c) ahhhhh....Tertiary Colours are those that go even deeper into the mix, i.e. from Red going into the Yellow spectrum  we get Orange but with a little more red it becomes Salmon, or with a little blue to create a brown shade, you get a little Mustard or Saffron....these combinations can go on, ad infinitum.  

Now, as we all know White and Black are not colours but are vital to give contrast, to provide nuances, mood...and mixed with any Primary or Tertiary colour will change the HUE, the shade.  The lights and darks of each shade (hue) come about when mixed with either white or black, softening or deepening as you saturate....




When choosing colours for, say, a multi-coloured blanket for instance - this is where you could create something visually wonderful or quite "Bleh" or even...horrors, a vision of downright nasty...!.

Just remember - Complimentary colours are those which are directly opposite one another on the spectrum.  
Glance at the Colour Wheel - you can see opposite colours are Red and Green, Purple and Yellow and Blue and Orange.

Split Compimentary colours on the other hand are taking colours opposite one another, then splitting them by choosing one on either side of the opposite.  Look above, e.g. violet, yellow-orange and yellow-green (lime). A good tip to remember when making a striped blanket or garment and you need a little help in choosing which colours to place right next to one another....  

Keep a comprehensive colour wheel handy to refer to when choosing yarns for your next project and soon it will become "second nature".  You will move into the realm of "personal preference" without making colour blunders.

By Jove!  I think she's got it!
Now you KNOW the Rules - go ahead and BEND them!

Woolly Wednesday - a Vertical Strip Tutorial

Happy Days!  It's nearly the weekend....
Well, okay not quite, but fast and furious move my knitting needles!
Whilst knitting quirky sleeves for my favourite Hoody Sweater - The Wonderful Wallaby which I purchased a while back from Ravelry, I discovered a way to make a vertical stripe as opposed to a horizontal one (okay, perhaps to other more experienced knitters it might not be a new concept, but to me it was a huge revelation)!  Here's the little cuff (this one is for a 4 year old) ready to roll.... 

 
This is what I mean - see, vertical stripes instead of the usual horizontal ones

With your chosen colours - (in this instance, I chose green and brown), I first knitted one whole row of brown - right round until the colour change

Now, dropping the brown yarn, pick up the next colour (green) and knit one stitch, slipping the next stitch (brown) purlwise all the way round to the colour change.  i.e. knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, slip 1, etc. to end

Drop the green yarn and pick up the brown yarn, repeat, but this time, knit the brown stitch and slip the green stitch (purlwise) all the way round.

  Remember to keep the work slightly loose because you are "carrying" a stitch of the opposite colour across the slipped stitch at the back, creating a "weave" which looks like this....

 I found that the "doubled" yarn created a thicker fabric so had to match the feel to the other sleeve.  It makes for a warmer, padded garment.  This time a different look was created but I followed the same principle as above.

A whole world of exciting different concepts and colour combos has just opened up!  This particular sweater is called "Little D's Crayons Sweater" and I will show the whole garment once I am finished.

Colours and Cream - The Start

It's late in July and the weather is quite undecided.  She blows hot and then cold and I fear there's some sort of competition going on between the elements - like an ongoing saga from one of Aesop's Fables.
The sun says:  "Bet I can make her take her coat off;"
and the North wind blows icy breaths and challenges:  "Bet I can make her put it back on again..."

The hot sun says:  "Crochet light throws and tops in beach colours using cotton" 

The chill North wind says: "Use up the Double Knit Wool and go for scarves, beanies and sweaters..."

What's a girl to do?
Well, she knits.  When she is finished knitting and her arms grow tired of holding the work growing in her lap -
She crochets!
Unless, of course she is planning...
(dozing, dreaming, thinking, plotting, scheming,laying on her bed, soft pillow under her head.....)

Planning is hard work!
She surveys her Wool Kingdom, her Private Knitting/Crochet Paradise and does a quick stock-take and then, over a cup of tea, she plans afresh.

What she should make next (after the next one), always thinking ahead about replenishing her ever-dwindling stock supplies.

She dreams in colour
and crochets in cream.


Colour is inspiring, the infinite combinations of primary, complimentary and even split complimentary palettes swirl in a never ending heady mix of yarny goodness, to provide endless combinations of blankets, rugs, afghans, throws, from king size, queen size, double down to cot sized snuggly warmth.

Cream is relaxing.  Cream is like a holiday for the mind, peace and quiet.  Sort of like wiping the hard drive clean, defragging the old hard disk on your computer;   compacting and clearing out the cobwebs, making space.

Every now and then, a girl has to relax her mind with cream.



So that she can begin colour-mixing her imaginary world again...

Beyond the obvious feel of the yarn to the touch and the correct match to a particular project (one can't make baby socks with super-chunky wool, for example..you can't, unless you know something I don't), and you simply cannot (ask my grandchildren) make children's sweaters out of hairy scratchy wool, no matter how stunning the colours, and you can't (ask my grandchildrens' Moms) make their everyday sweaters or other wearables out of mind-staggeringly expensive pure wool, which needs extra care in the washing process.  Simply put, kids get dirty, quickly, and its quite seldom that a garment is able to be worn more than once or twice without it being tossed into the wash.  And....its a simple fact that Moms are busy creatures and haven't the time or energy to "hand wash" delicate sweaters made from delicate wool and dry them flat for days on end. 

Washing machines and tumble dryers are today's norm in the laundry room and I have seen, firsthand, what woolly havoc can be wreaked on a normal washday.

So, beyond the obvious suitable matching of a particular garment to yarn, comes colour and this is a wide subject which opens up into "sky's the limit" imagination, bridled only by personal choice.   

I love imagining unusual colour combinations, but am still learning so much along the way that it sure helps to know the Rules before setting about breaking them.