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General => The Shed => Topic started by: ACE on October 19, 2020, 20:09:46

Title: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: ACE on October 19, 2020, 20:09:46
Once the allotment has been put to bed for the winter apart from looking after a few brassicas and general tidying I am left with quite a bit of time on my hands. In a former life I would have a saunter to the pub and have a couple or three pints and a  natter. Now because of the pandemic I am at home a lot more. A chance for new hobby I thought, Bagpipes perhaps but I don't think the neighbours would be best pleased, I don't like woodwork and I am useless at art. Rummaging around in the yetis spare room I found some balls of wool. Knitting, worth a try, we used to do it many moons ago when I was sailing the seven seas. Got some online lessons and away I went. After a couple of  hours of  hair tearing, choice words and muddled eyes I had knitted a coloured cobweb, which was supposed to be a scarf. Sod the neighbours, it looks like the tartan octopus is coming out to play.
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: saddad on October 20, 2020, 07:48:53
I still have lots to do before my plots are put to bed ...
May the Tartan Octopus turn many heads!
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: Obelixx on October 20, 2020, 10:32:27
Loads to do here still and plenty indoors too for inclement days - painting and decorating, sewing, embroidery, patchwork, mosaic, re-hupholstering a chair.

Definitely no knitting, crochet or bagpipes!
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: BarriedaleNick on October 20, 2020, 14:00:44
OH learned to knit a while back and has had some good results but the learning curve was steep! 
Never heard such language and needles flying across the front room made me very nervous but I was assured it was all part of the learning experience.
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: Obelixx on October 20, 2020, 14:20:57
I tried when I was sofa bound after having both feet re-organised in 2013.  Hadn't done any since starting a scarf (which a friend nicked and finished) 40 years earlier so I had to go online to find out how to cast on and then again to find some interesting stitches and patterns cos K1 P1 doesn't do it for me.  Trouble is I was watching TV and also being "helped" by 2 dogs and a cat so lots of mistakes and reknitting. 

Concluded life is too short.

Made some lovely circular, wrap around scarves for walkies and outings in Belgian winters but we don't need them here and I never did progress to jumpers which we don't need either.  Don't drink tea so don't even need a tea cosy.
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: Nora42 on October 20, 2020, 22:04:29
nothing wrong with knitting - i have a BA Hons in it- yes you read that correctly. i often hang my dyed yarns (dyed with stuff grown on the plot) to dry on the plot it drives the site sec bonkers - which is why i do it.
Nora
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: Obelixx on October 20, 2020, 22:12:22
Not for me but I have come across women who dye their own cottons and linens to use in patchwork.   That would appeal to me more I think than dying yarns - as long as I could buy the fabric ready woven!
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: pumkinlover on October 21, 2020, 08:07:48
Not for me but I have come across women who dye their own cottons and linens to use in patchwork.   That would appeal to me more I think than dying yarns - as long as I could buy the fabric ready woven!

Eco leaf dyeing is really popular with some people. We had a workshop planned this year at guild (weavers, spinners and dyers) . At the moment it's planned for next year!
 
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: pumkinlover on October 21, 2020, 08:10:07
Once the allotment has been put to bed for the winter apart from looking after a few brassicas and general tidying I am left with quite a bit of time on my hands. In a former life I would have a saunter to the pub and have a couple or three pints and a  natter. Now because of the pandemic I am at home a lot more. A chance for new hobby I thought, Bagpipes perhaps but I don't think the neighbours would be best pleased, I don't like woodwork and I am useless at art. Rummaging around in the yetis spare room I found some balls of wool. Knitting, worth a try, we used to do it many moons ago when I was sailing the seven seas. Got some online lessons and away I went. After a couple of  hours of  hair tearing, choice words and muddled eyes I had knitted a coloured cobweb, which was supposed to be a scarf. Sod the neighbours, it looks like the tartan octopus is coming out to play.

I have just started a Fisherman's gansey Ace, with your maritime history that is something you could look into learning.
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: ACE on October 21, 2020, 10:14:30
Just looked that up, blimey five needles, I would have to buy some more as the bin men came yesterday and took mine away. Must be a northern thing as I use a Newlyn smock when I go angling in a boat.
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: Obelixx on October 21, 2020, 17:00:59
It is northern and, it seems, North Sea fishermen as they have different styles for different places.   

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Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: ACE on October 21, 2020, 19:47:08
When I first enlisted as a boy entrant (sprog)  we were issued with our kit which had a guernsey sweater for wearing in cold weather also in the kit was a sewing kit called a housewife which you had to use to embroider your name on the front of the sweater, not to prove ownership but to identify you if  the ship sank. So I expect these northern guernsey (gansey) sweaters do the same thing, as at least they knew which town you came from if you washed up on the shore.
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: pumkinlover on October 22, 2020, 07:52:14
Interestingly the cast on method recommended is  called the "Channel islands cast-on" presumably from the channel islands, decidedly south. There are also river ganseys and dutch ganseys, lots to look into if you get interested.
Title: Re: Winter is coming and not much to do.
Post by: galina on October 24, 2020, 04:49:27
I had never heard of that method of casting on, but what a beautiful edge.  Youtube to the rescue thank you Pumpkinlover, learned something new and very pretty.  :wave:
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