PawsforThought finally gets to those *some day* projects

Hi all!

I've been lurking in this group for a while but not posted until now because of, well, not having done any crafting for a very long time. But since the corona crisis has led to my having a lot of extra time on my hand at work (I still have to go to work but have basically nothing to do there) I decided I'd pick up those small projects that have been lying around for *ages* and actually finish them.

Today I brought holey socks and some yarn with me and spent a few hours darning while listening to an audiobook. I got three pairs finished and will do another two tomorrow. And after that I have cardigans that need elbow patches. And I have at least two pairs of wooly socks to knit. So I think I'll be able to keep myself occupied for a bit (and be able to finish Middlemarch before it's due back).

My project list:

* Knitting grey woolly socks ✔
* Knitting woolly socks for mum - tricolour yarn ✔
* Knitting woolly socks - from grandma square scraps
* Knitting wrist warmers - from grandma square scraps
* Knitting a neck warmer - from grandma square scraps
* Finishing elbow patches on cardigans
* Felting a trivet (small balls sewn together)
* Crocheting a rug ("rag rug") - from bedding rags
* Making a garden kneeling pad - felting?
* Sewing face masks? - from scrap fabric
* Sewing duvet covers and pillow cases - from curtains and older sheets
* Sewing larger heating pad (neck) - blue linen
* Sewing smaller heating pad - blue linen
* Sewing a large project bag
* Sewing a smaller project bag (Japanese knot bag)
* Making beeswax wraps - from old sheets
* Making a waxed canvas lunch bag
* Knitting a soap saver bag - off-white cotton yarn ✔
* Knitting washcloths/smaller towels - off-white cotton yarn ✔
* Sewing a hot water bottle cover - from old felted cardigan
* Knitting a berry hat for nephew - merino yarn ✔
* Knitting woolly socks for dad - grey yarn ✔

As I said, I haven't been very active in my needleworking in the past, but when I do make something it's generally either knitting or sewing.
Most of my crafting is more "utility-crafting" than crafting just for fun or for art. Hence why my knitting is primarily socks (I have permanently cold feet), and my sewing is usually hemming trousers or the like.
I am trying to be more thoughtful when it comes to the environment so am primarily scouring second hand shops and such for materials. Lately I've been looking for curtains to turn into bedlinen.

I managed to get the uploading to work so here is evidence of my work.



Sorry about the shadows in the pics - it was the best I could do.
It's not Louvre-worthy, but it looks decent and, most importantly, I can wear the socks again!

Hello Paws! I'm thrilled to see a new thread, and from a knitter -- bonus! I admire your darning, that is something I have little experience with..

I knit loads of socks last year, since I had acquired a sizable stash of sock yarn. They are great projects for travel (remember travel? Yeah, someday ....), and for my knitting group because I can usually knit and chat at the same time.

You're located in Sweden, correct? I've just been doing research into traditional Nordic/Scandinavian knitting techniques and designs, as part of a knitting certification program. I'm eager to try my hand at those designs at some point, probably starting with socks or a hat.

>4 lauralkeet: Hi Laura!

I don't have much experience with darning either, I've done it a few times and it was well over a decade ago. But it's really quite easy, just weaving with the yarn and darning needle. The difficult part is seeing what you're doing.

I have tons of yarn, because I'm a yarn hoarder and can't walk past a market stand or second hand shop with wool and NOT buy some.

Yes, I'm in Sweden. I love traditional Scandinavian (and non-Scandinavian Nordic) patterns. I'd love to make myself a sweater/jumper in a traditional style but that'll have to wait until I've worked up my proficiency a bit. I'm quite good with socks, but I've never done a jumper. Socks are a great starts, though, so you're right to try that first.

HI Paws - Nice to see you here. My husband darns some of his socks - the heavy woolen ones he likes in the winter. Back when I used to knit, I did a couple of sweaters with Scandinavian designs and my mother used to do some too.

>6 dudes22: Hi Betty, thanks for stopping by.

I only darn thick wooly socks - I couldn't ever make myself darn the thin everyday ones - that's far too much work for such a cheap purchase. Which isn't a very environmentally friendly way of thinking, but at least they'll do some good in the textile recycling. My wooly socks are all handmade, either by myself or my grandma (or occasionally my mum) and there's a lot of sentimental value there that I'm not willing to give up willly-nilly. So another reason to darn them.

And another Scandi-design knitter! How fun! making a traditional design jumper/sweater is one of my life's goals. I love them.

Welcome to the group!!

Thanks Amber! It's nice to be here. I'm having a look around everyone's threads and getting very inspired.

There is an alpaca farm nearby that sells at the farmers market, so I usually buy him a pair of alpaca socks every year. So yes - only the thick ones. This year I also bought the guys alpaca boot pads to cushion your feet so the cold doesn't come in as much.

>10 dudes22: Oooh, alpaca. I have literal daydreams of alpacka wool. All my socks are regular old sheepswool. One of the online places I frequent the most is having a yarn sale at the moment and there's alpaca among the sale items. I've been thinking about buying some to make a small vest/waistcoat type thing - extra insulation for next winter's cold. And it might be a good first step towards making a full sweater/jumper - less intimidating and faster to knit.

I have always had wool pads/insoles in all my winter boots - a must when you live in a climate like this. Last Christmas my mum got me a special pair that is double layer wool with a layer of birch bark in between. They're magic! Birch bark adds extra insulation and it's also waterproof.

I darned another two pairs of socks today (or rather one pair at work and the other when I got home, because I brought the socks but forgot the yarn). I'm moving on to cardigans tomorrow.

Very nice darning work on the socks! (are you reading Middlemarch or listening to it on audio while you darn?

We used to have an alpaca farm close by, but it moved. I think the real estate got too expensive for them.

Looking forward to you future projects!

>13 avaland: Thank you! I am listening to Middlemarch on audiobook while darning (and also while doing work that doesn't required active thinking) - two birds with one stone!

I wish there was an alpaca farm near me, I love alpacas. I know someone near-ish our summer house used to have alpacas to guard their little flock of sheep, but that was a few years ago and I haven't been by in a while.

The alpaca people usually bring 2 alpacas to the farmer's market. They are so cute!

>15 dudes22: They are absolutely adorable.

Another slow day at work, but I did fix the elbows of two cardigans, so that's good. I have three more cardigans that need fixing but will only be able to do one more right now, because I don't have the right threads for the other two.

Before and after pics (it's the same cardigan, even though it looks like a different colour):

Finished another cardigan today - the last one for now (until I've found more thread, which probably will take a while considering everything).

I'm extra pleased with this one.

Great work, Paws! I like the plaid patch on the one you're "extra pleased" with. It adds a pop of color to the jumper doesn't it?

Looks good. So nice and neat.

>19 lauralkeet: and >20 dudes22: Thank you! If there is one thing I'd ever feel comfortable to brag about regarding my crafting skills, it's that I'm good at invisible stitches.

>17 PawsforThought: I didn't think anyone did that anymore! The plaid one is terrific!

Is the audio read by Juliet Stevenson? Some years ago I bought a 16? CD set of Middlemarch read by Stevenson (how could I resist!?) and told my husband that when I am truly old and in care somewhere that's what I want to be listening to. Zadie Smith wrote an essay on how she thinks the book is really about Fred Vincy's redemption....

>22 avaland: Thank you. I think quite a lot of people still do that, and elbow patches have been something of a "trend" in recent years (though "ready-patched" when bought in a shop). Also, I'm from a diy-family and my mum would yell at me if I threw out a cardigan because there were holes in the elbows.

No, it's a free volunteer-narrated audiobook. Not very good narration, I'm afraid - the woman reading has mispronounced quite a few things ("vice-count") and the audio itself is of varying quality. But it's ok. I'm sure Juliet Stevenson would be a great narrator for this.

>23 PawsforThought: My mum would have likely said the same.

>24 avaland: I should say that I wholeheartedly agree with her. I wouldn't dream of throwing something out (especially if it's something I like) if it was something that could be mended. Particularly in this day and age, when we see the consequences of constantly throwing things away.

>25 PawsforThought: I hear ya. I have a little collection of favorite clothing that are really are not redeemable at this point. i.e. a demin-colored chenille sweater that wore across the front on one side where I carried books. I thought about trying to make a pillow out of the back... (like I need another pillow).

>26 avaland: I've kept a lambswool cardigan (same style as the ones I've mended) that was accidently put in the washing machine and shrunk. I was planning to make a hot-water-bottle cover out of it, but we'll see if I ever get to it.

I haven't done anything crafty since last week. I had a few books I wanted to get back to the library and I wanted to amek some more headway on my jigsaw. I still bring my knitting with me to work - hopefully I'll do some work on it soon.
I've been going through my wardrobe and "throw away" bag - separating clothes I don't wear anymore but are still usable (will be sent to a second hand shop) and the stuff that can't be used anymore (goes to textile recycling). So it's mostly bagged up and ready.

>27 PawsforThought: - I think a lot of us have been going through our closets. Think how organized we'll all be.

>28 dudes22: Yeah, I'm sure lots of people are doing thorough clearings right now. I almost don't want to think about how organized my home would be if I wasn't still going to work.

>27 PawsforThought:, >28 dudes22: Yes, I've thought about my closet. And jewelry, mostly hook earrings. I rarely even wear earrings these days. I'm thinking of making an artsy display of them.

>30 avaland: I went through my jewellery last year and decided to keep about 1/5. I haven't got rid of the rest yet, but it's shoved into a closet for now. A display for earrings sounds nice. I'm on the lokoout for a good jewellery case but haven't found one where the Venn diagram for looks/functionality/price is right.

I'm going to go through "important papers" this weekend. Most of them aren't actually important enough to keep - especially now that you can get 90% of those types of papers electronically (we have a - secure - app precisely for this that I installed fairly recently) - but I have a tendency to skim through and if the contents don't require any action I just let them pile up.

>31 PawsforThought: - I've been through a portion of my jewelry too. Our library has a jewelry sale for a fund raiser each year so I'm going to save some of mine for that. And there's a jewelry store that buys gold and silver sometimes, so I might save the better stuff for that. When we moved a few years ago, I go rid of my jewelry armoire and I had an awful time finding something I liked for a jewelry case. I'm still not happy with what I bought, but I never see anything I like either.

I've been trying to get into the "download/backup" and eliminate some of the paper in my life. Especially since you can it if you need it most of the time. But I need to go through and shred stuff too.

>32 dudes22: Jewellery sale to benefit the library sounds nice. None of the jewellery I've discarded is made of any fine metals, it's just cheap costume jewellery so can't sell to jewellery shops. I'll just donate it to a thrift shop when I go to donate all the other stuff.
I like the idea of the "tray" jewellery boxes/stacks that are fairly popular now, but I haven't been impressed with the partitionings/sections in them. And they're all made of patent leather which I thoroughly dislike - I want natural fibers (or leather).

Darning is definitely a great audiobook activity. I listened to Middlemarch as well. Such a great book. Another Eliot novel is about the only reading that's swept me away during the last two months.

Hi everyone!

Sorry I've been so absent the past few months, but I've not been around LT much in general. There's been a lot going on, and I haven't been in the mood for crafting much.
I'm starting to get the urge again, though - probably because we've had rather lousy weather this month (more like September than July) and it's making me want to knit so I can keep warm this winter. I have a pair of socks that are half-finished and I thought I might try and make a pair for mum's birthday next month. And then I have a use-up-scraps-project that I'm quite excited about.
But of course I can't be satisfied with just that and I'm looking at buying more yarn and making a jumper (sweater). I should learn the meaning of the phrase "pacing oneself" one of these days.

I've also been thinking about sewing a few masks - we've not had any recommendations (or demands) for masks so far and I doubt we'll get them but I'd rather have them and not need them than the other way around.

>35 PawsforThought: - I had to go look at your profile to see where you are that you haven't had to use masks. ANd I completely understand the pacing issue. I always want to do more than I have time for.

>36 dudes22: It's a constant battle between what my heart wants to do and what my head knows I'll be able to pull off.

Alright, I have too many ideas swimming around in my head right now and need to write them down so I don't forget anything. So I might as well write them down here. If any of you lovely, talented people have any patterns, ideas or suggestions, they're more than welcome.
This list isn't really in any particular order (other than the order in which they came to mind), apart from the first two which must be done first. I might go back and edit this once I finish something or come up with another idea.

* Knitting grey wooly socks ✔
* Knitting wooly socks for mum - tricolour yarn ✔
* Knitting wooly socks - from scraps from a grandma square project
* Knitting a hat? (or something else) - from leftover scraps from grandma square project
* Finishing elbow patches on cardigans - patches unknown
* Felting trivet (small balls sewn together)
* Crocheting rug ("rag rug") - from bedding rags
* Making garden kneeling pad - felting?
* Sewing masks - from scrap fabric
* Sewing duvet covers and pillow cases - from curtains and older sheets
* Sewing wheat bag - fabric unknown (linen)
* Sewing cotton rounds - from old pyjamas

Yeah, this could probably keep me busy for a few years.

>35 PawsforThought: That sounds like a creative engine starting up!

>38 PawsforThought: Writing them down and then looking at them can be daunting! That is an impressive list! You know what they say, a great journey begins with the first step....

>39 avaland: It can absolutely be daunting but I'm a list-maker so it helps me more then it scares me. And a lot of these things aren't big, time-consuming things. The biggest issue is going to be finding the yarn or fabric, then it shouldn't take very long to actually make the stuff. The rug might be the biggest thing but people I've taken inspiration from online say it's taken about a week.

And my creative engine is definitely running now - though it hasn't been completely off during the past few months - just on a lower gear and focused on different things (namely foraging and the veggie garden).

I'm making progress! Nearly finished with the first of the grey wooly socks (that I started on literally almost a decade ago). I've made the first round of decreases for the toe. I only just realised that I'm using needles that are half a size too small - the instructions where to do the ankle (which is all in ribbed stitch) on 2.5 mm and then switch to 3.0 mm, but I missed that last part. So my sock is on the firmer side (not helped by the fact that I knit firmly too). I can still wear it, thankfully.

I finished something! Or, well, technically one half of something but considering that it’s a project that’s been ongoing for nearly a decade I’m counting it.
Behold, my grey woolly sock:



I’m not going to start the second one just yet, but instead get started on a pair for my mum for her birthday, which is a month away. I think I should be able to make it in time - if not, there’s always Christmas.

>42 PawsforThought: Congratulations! But sadly, I can't see the photo. I *think* you might be using an incorrect address in the HTML code?

>43 lauralkeet: An errant space had made its way into the code.

Very nice looking. I'm partial to that shade of muted blue or blue/grey - which ever it is.

>45 dudes22: It’s grey, sort of the same shade as steel. It’s most likely the natural shade of the sheep’s wool. I like it too; I’m very fond of natural wool tones.

ooh, those look so warm and comfy!

>42 PawsforThought: I love that color!

>47 lauralkeet: Thanks! They are warm and cosy, important for a terminally cold person like myself.

>48 genesisdiem: Thank you! I really like it. I think I bought that yarn at a Christmas market years ago.

>42 PawsforThought: Very nice sock! You must be pleased to finally have finished at least the one. We will look forward to seeing the pair you make for your mother.

Very nice. Looks so warm and love the color. I always admire people who can knit socks.

>50 avaland: Thank you! I am very pleased.
I’ve cast on for the first of mum’s socks - they’ll be in a tricolour yarn.
Now I just need to find the 3 mm sock needles. I know there is a set here somewhere, but where?

>51 mnleona: Thanks. They *are* warm. 100% wool and very tightly knitted, it’s almost as if they were felted. Good for an ice sculpture of a person like myself. I didn’t know I could knit socks until I did it. The heel wasn’t easy, but otherwise it was pretty straight forward.

Sigh. I took my bike and headed to the bigger of the thrift shops today. I knew they had canning jars that I wanted and I hoped they had knitting needles I sorely need. Canning jars, check. Knitting needles, yes and no. They did have plenty and I bought one set of sock needles and four pairs of regular needles, but when I got home I discovered that the sock needles which had been marked 3 mm where actually 3,5 mm. I had planned to bring my needle gauge but it slipped my mind. So now I still can’t get properly started on the socks for mum. I guess I’ll just get started on darning the socks I found when I was scouring the house for sock needles.

>53 PawsforThought: well that's frustrating! Sorry to see your sock-knitting plans put on hold, although there's always that second sock in >42 PawsforThought: ...

Have you chosen yarn for your mum's socks yet?

>54 lauralkeet: Yes, very frustrating. I’m going to have to start on the second grey sock anyway because I’ll need an excuse to ask my mum for help with the heel - it was so long ago that I did the first one that I’ve forgotten how it was done and the instructions aren’t super-clear.
I have picked a yarn for mum - it’s a tricolour (blue/white/grey) wool. I had a tricolour heather too but I think mum is more of a blue person.

I’ve made some progress with the second grey sock - done with the ankle bit and halfway done with the back of the heel - I think I’ll get the other half of it done tonight. And then I’ll see if I’ll get some work done with mum’s socks. I still don’t have the 3 mm needles I need, but I don’t technically need them until I start on the heels, so I can do the ankles on both and then wait.

Also, picked up a package today - full of yarn. There was a yarn sale at the place I usually buy books and I couldn’t help myself. One pile of merino and one pile of alpaca. I have no idea of what to make from them, except the far away dream of a jumper/sweater. We’ll see in time.

Merino yarn in beige and light blue, and alpaca yarn in white, greys, deep blue and dark red.

WOW! Great colors!

I love the colors too.

Do you use Ravelry? When I have yarn but no specific project planned for it, I like to look at what others have made with the same yarn, and/or search patterns that use the same yarn weight, in the quantity I have on hand.

Thanks. I like them too.

>58 lauralkeet: No, I'm not on Ravelry. I'm not in a hurry to get started on using these yarns - goodness knows I have enough projects to work on right now. I'll just keep an eye out for patterns using the same yarn weight.

>59 PawsforThought: That makes sense. Meanwhile, from time to time you can just visit your yarn and give it a squish!

>60 lauralkeet: Fairly certain that'll be a common occurrence - merino and alpaca is so soft!

My grey woolly socks are finished! Not the prettiest socks the world has ever seen, but I’m pleased. It wasn’t the easiest yarn to work with (especially not when you’d made a mistake and had to rip it up).

Very nice!

>62 PawsforThought: very nice indeed! They look super warm.

They look so comfy!

Those are nice. Good work.

>62 PawsforThought: they look great!

Thanks everyone! I could point out all the flaws with the socks, but I won’t because I finished them and they are the right size and will be very warm and that’s what matters.

I’ve started on mum’s socks and am hoping to be able to get hold of a set of 3 mm sock needles soonish so I can finish them.

>68 PawsforThought: My daughter says I am too critical of my work and I bet you are the same. I say made with love. I think they look great.

>69 mnleona: Oh, I'm absolutely too critical. A perfectionist, which is a family trait. It's a small miracle that I'm capable of finishing any projects.

I finished mum's socks. Not quite in time for her birthday - which ws yesterday, but today. I gave her the one finished sock yesterday and the other one today. She was very happy and is wearing them now, even though it's notfar to warm for woolly socks today.



A pic of the finished work, modelled by me. Mum has slightly larger feet than me so they fit better on her. They're in a tri-colour wool yarn - white, black and bright blue (which you can barely see in the photo but see very well in real life).

Now I'm going to put the knitting needles down for a few days, read a bit, looks at fabrics, hopefully buy some fabric, and eventually pick the knitting needles up again and get started on yet *another* pair of socks. This time it'll be a toe-up style, which I've never done before.

>71 PawsforThought: - Those look so nice and warm. I bought my husband a pair with yarn that is very similar a few years ago. He loves them in winter.

>71 PawsforThought: I love those socks. The yarn is really nice.

>71 PawsforThought: Those are lovely socks! I love that you gave your mom one sock yesterday on her actual birthday and the other one today. That way she still got a gift on the actual day.

Thank you all. I do love yarn like that, not only is it very cozy, but the style also reminds me of childrens books set around the turn of the century, in "old Sweden" (like many of Astrid Lindgren's books), and so gives me warm and fuzzy feelings.
I want to make a pair or two for myself some day but I don't have a yarn for that at the moment.

>74 rosalita: It was always the plan to at least give her *one* sock. Being who she is, mum walked around with just the one sock for a good long time on Wednesday.

Nice job and what a wonderful gift.

>76 mnleona: Thanks Leona! She was very pleased and bragged to dad about them.

>75 PawsforThought: Being who she is, mum walked around with just the one sock for a good long time on Wednesday.

I like your mom. :-)

>78 rosalita: She is pretty great. And she’s the one who taught me to knit (and helped me figure out how to do the heels for the grey socks) so I feel like she has extra bragging rights.

>71 PawsforThought: Oh, those look toasty! I hope Mum likes them!

>80 avaland: Thank you!

The internet is a dangerous place and I probably shouldn’t be allowed on it. I’ve been looking around for ideas for patterns for the leftover yarn project and watching knitting videos to get a better understanding of the techniques, and I just keep getting ideas for other projects I want to do. An Aran jumper and matching socks, an alpaca waistcoat, countless Nordic jumpers... Sigh.

>82 PawsforThought: - oh - I so hear you. I keep seeing quilts on Pintrest that give me ideas. And sometimes there's a free download. I think I need to live to be about 350 to finish everything I'd like to make. And that's if I don't find anything more before I get there. Kind of like books - they keep publishing new ones before I've caught up with all I want to read... ;)

>83 dudes22: 350 sounds about right - both for reading and for crafting. We’re lost causes, aren’t we? ;)

Indeed!

>82 PawsforThought: I can relate! I have so many scarps saved for rainy day projects but I never seem to actually find a rainy day to complete them! There are just so many fun projects to do and so little time. :)

>82 PawsforThought: That's why this group is part support group!

>86 genesisdiem: That may be true but those scraps represents a multitude of possibilities!!!!! It's a very expansive feeling, don't you think? Like looking at the stars at night....

>86 genesisdiem: Not enough rainy days in monsoon season for all my projects...

>87 avaland: True. I’m very glad I found this group. :)

I’ve started tinkering with my “grandma square scraps socks” and I think it’s going to take a while before I feel like I’m really on the right track. I’m knitting toe-up, which I’ve never done before and I don’t like the first attempt at the toe - far too pointy. I think I need to look at more sock patterns (I don’t have just one I’m following but have to cobble together a few different ones - not ideal). And probably go down in needle size.

Maybe I should start with the wrist warmers instead.

> 82 I agree. My daughter got me hooked on Pinterest. So many creative ideas.

>90 mnleona: You’re a stronger person than I am - I can’t go on Pinterest.

>91 PawsforThought: Thanks for the laugh.
Leona

Bad news. Very bad news.

I think I have a moth problem. Or had, I'm not sure they're still there. I notised a few weeks ago that part of the thread of a pair of Christmas socks I'd started on ages ago was broken off. Not the whole thing, but one of the strands. I've never had a problem with moths before so I thought it was probably something I'd done (like stab the ball of yarn too forcefully with a needle) but figured better safe than sorry and put it in the freezer for a week. Yesterady I started knitting a pair of wrist warmers and I see the yarn's completely cut in several places. Into the freezer it goes. I haven't seen any other affected pieces of yarn but when I get home from work I'm going to try and fit ALL of my yarn into the freezer. And put my knitting baskets and bowls out on the balcony. And make a huge order for cedar.
Not only is this a horrible thing in general, but it's terrible timing, freezer-wise. It's harvest season and we're struggling to fit everything into our freezers as it is and I'm trying to "eat it empty" and then this happens.

Anyway, no knitting for me for the next week or so - hopefully my fabric order will arrive this week so I can get started on sewing instead. But the good, properly working sewing machine is in the summer house...
Maybe I should just stick to planning for a while?

>93 PawsforThought: oh damn, that's not good. I hope the freezer does the trick.

>93 PawsforThought: - What a pain when you're already so busy.

Thanks for the condolences..

I’ve pulled out all my yarn, as well as a few socks and a couple of cardigans that were in the same place as the yarn, stuffed them in plastic bags and somehow made them all fit in the freezer - it helps that yarn is squishable and easy to press air out of.
I didn’t see any more moth chewed bits but I could just have missed them.

One good thing - I discovered balls of yarn I forgot I had: one ball of the grey yarn I made my socks from, so now I’m thinking of making a pair of socks for dad in that, and one of the white yarn that I’m using for my leftover project. So unless the moths have eaten a ton that I haven’t noticed, I should be able to do that project the way I’ve imagined.

Sorry to hear about the moths. Sounds like you have the problem in hand, though. We look forward to seeing whatever you are working on.

>97 avaland: Thanks. Right now I'm only working on things in my head. I did buy some lace yesterday for a new project idea - moth repellant sachets!

>98 PawsforThought: Good idea!

>98 PawsforThought: - oh - that is a good idea. I meant to mention to you that my mother-in-law was Swedish. Her relatives come from Knared. One of them was visiting my husband's cousin last year when we were in Texas so we got to meet her.

>100 dudes22: Oh, really? I had to look up Knäred because I wasn’t familiar with it - it’s on the west coast, apparently. Almost as far my neck of the woods as you can get! The west coast is nice, we went the on holiday a few times when I was a kid.

ETA: I have relatives on your side of the Atlantic, too. Mostly in Canada, but one family settled in Minnesota (because where else?)

> 101 You mentioned Minnesota. My husband was of Scandinavian familes. His father's side from Sweden and his mother's side from Norway. As I was doing his genealogy, I found that Minnesota has many Scandinavian families. I also found his high school in Minneapolis was still teaching Swedish in the 1950s. I have his grandmother's Bible written in Swedish. I am not from Minnesota but live here now.

>102 mnleona: Yeah, Minnesota is full of Scandis. Most similar nature, I would guess. Teaching Swedish as late as the 50’s is interesting, people should be third generation immigrants by then. And family bibles are nice - I’m not Christian and my family is not religious but we have several old bibles that belonged to my great-grandmother, her sisters and other of that generation. Late 1800’s. Some are written in Gothic script, which is a treat (albeit tricky to read).
If your husband’s family has connections to Hennepin, we might be related! ;)

Are your related to Father Louis Hennepin? I have read his book that he wrote in 1698 about his travels in America. It is "A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America". It was translated to English in 1903. My library has the book. You can find it online at https://openlibrary.org/works/OL18065015W/A_new_discovery_of_a_vast_country_in_A...

Took time to read it but so interesting.

Leona

>104 mnleona: No, I’ve never heard of him. All my relatives emigrated in the 1910’s and 1920’s.

Well, I bought some more yarn. I might have a problem (there was a merino sale, I would have regretted it if I hadn’t bought some, the fact that a bunch of other yarns also slunk in isn’t my fault).
But like other addictions, yarn- and fabric-oholism seems to run in families. I asked my mum for help with something and mentioned that I was looking at linen for my moth sachets and she proceeded to pull out PILES of linen from a wardrobe and told me to take whatever I wanted. I love my mum.

And the following conversation might ring a bell with some of you:
Mum: You didn’t know I had this here?
Me: I don’t know where you keep your fabrics.
Mum: I keep fabric everywhere.
At least she knows herself well.

> 106 Fun post.

>106 PawsforThought: I love this.

My mom was a quilter, and there was a point where she was no longer able to quilt. I went to visit her to plan next steps for her living situation (she needed to move out of the home she had shared with my dad), and found an astonishing amount of fabric. Some of it was organized in tubs, but there was a lot more than could fit in the tubs. Just having it around was a comfort to her, although eventually I found a way to donate it to a worthy organization.

>108 lauralkeet: Aw, I completely understand the fabric-as-comfort thing. Glad you found some place to donate it - have it comfort someone else when your mother no longer needs it.
We have a few things that we took over when grandma (mum's mum) died, but no fabric (she didn't sew much after mum and her siblings grew up) and barely any yarn (she was too fast a knitter to have any stashes left). But I have her knitting needles, and some other things (and baking tools).

Among the jewels mum and I discoverd/uncovered yesterday was a few dozen unused vintage linen kitchen towels (homemade). People pay good money for those, even used (though clean) ones. Mum had saved them for me, as most were made by my grandmother (dad's mum). And a couple of homemade linen curtains, that are so well made I can't quite believe it. We'll have to go though it all properly soon-ish.

I’ve taken the bags of wool out of the freezer after having had them there for two weeks. Now they’re defrosting while I wait for the oven to heat up and then they’ll have a go in 60-70 degrees C for about an hour. If there are any critters in my wool (I haven’t actually seen any, just the remnants of their apparent feasting) and they manage to survive this, I should win an award for discovering an animal that will survive the apocalypse.

>110 PawsforThought: What a process!

>110 PawsforThought: - I think I've heard of this (or something like it) before. Luckily I never had to do that when I was still knitting.

>111 avaland: It’s probably not necessary, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.

>112 dudes22: I’ve never had moths before in my life, and as I said, I’m not 100% sure that it WAS moths, but I don’t want to risk anything. According to people who know about these things, moth problems are on the rise because we’re using more natural materials and fewer nasty chemicals now than we used to.

That makes sense.

I started knitting something today, and I finished it too! It’s nice when projects are easy and quick enough to get done in one day (although this one is missing a string to pull with, but I don’t have the yarn for that right now).
It’s a “soap saver” that I saw the pattern for when I was looking for something to make with a pile of off-white cotton yarn I’d forgotten I had. I’m planning on making some wash cloths/small towels as well, to match this.
This was also a bit of a training exercise for me as it contained two techniques I’ve never done before. I’ve knitted a fair bit, but it’s pretty much just been garter, stockinette and rib stitch. And now the whole thing was in seed stitch (which is called “moss knitting” over here, btw) and lace. It took me longer than I’d like to admit but I’m fairly pleased.

>116 PawsforThought: well done! I love learning new stitch patterns. Do you think you'll do more lace work?

>117 lauralkeet: Thank you. I was surprised at how easy it was. I don’t know if I’ll do more lace - nothing I’ve looked at so far has lace work in it, but we’ll see what the future brings.

That's really cute. I love when a project can be quick.

>110 PawsforThought: Interesting treatment for moths. I'm wondering what the heat treatment did to the natural oils and moisture in the wool, and if it will have an effect on its elasticity. I had not heard of this before.

Also wondering about the more natural materials / fewer nasty chemicals theory contributing to an increase in the population. I think part of the answer may be that people got away from looking out for moths and the practises for avoiding them. In addition to the freezer method that you mention, fresh air (hanging on the line, beating carpets, etc) and light seem to be mentioned most. With regard to plastic bags, other than for freezer use, there is a feeling that they trap moisture from the wool, leading to problems. Paper or old pillow cases are most often suggested.

Wool surrounds me in furnishings, clothing, yarn and yardage, so the threat is always there. However, I treat all new and used woollen items that come into the house before they get put away, am fanatic about cleaning those grooves in floorboards, and the back of furniture, and not providing dark hiding places. The odd creature appears, but for the most part it works. Here is an article that would apply to all woollen items:

https://www.bradfordsruggallery.com/blogs/the-blog/protect-your-rugs-from-moths

>116 PawsforThought: What fun! It is called "moss stitch" here too, but is becoming more interchangeable with seed stitch due to Ravelry.

>108 lauralkeet: Love the idea of fabric as comfort.

>120 SassyLassy: I don’t think the wool would be particularly affected by the heat since it’s such a low temperature. It’s high enough for proteins to coagulate but not enough for much water to evaporate and oils shouldn’t be much different. According to the articles I’ve read, heating is the best way to treat since it’s basically fool proof.

I’m sure you’re right about people forgetting how to look for moths, but then the reason they’ve never had to is that things have been moth proof. I listened to a radio show where they talked about thrift shopping and things to think about, and the thing they warned people against the most was moth proof blankets from the 40s-70s, because the moth proofing was done with DDT and you can’t get rid of it.

Thanks for the article, I’ll make sure to read it.
While I’m not the most fastidious cleaner (dust bunny farm over here), I am careful about fabrics. I hang bedding and rugs out to air weekly, and am probably the only person in the area who beats their rugs. I did read that plastic bags aren’t great because of moisture, but I don’t like plastic anyway so have been reluctant to use them to keep critters away. I’ve been thinking about making cotton storage bags for longer term storage - that should be okay.

>121 PawsforThought: There are so many creative cotton storage bags - they're an art form in themselves, especially the ones made by quilters. Love to see some of the ones you come up with.

>122 SassyLassy: I'll be sure to show them to you when I get around to making them. It might take a while.

Kitty is trying to be “helpful”...
I’m guessing I’m not the only one who occasionally has this issue.

So cute!

I’ve been absent from this thread for a while. Not absent from needleworks, but posting about it. I started working on two heating pads ( you can see the fabric in the photo with kitty in the post above) but it looked weird so I took a break. I’m going to look at it agin soon and hopefully work it out. I’ve made two wash cloths in seed/moss stitch to match the soap saver bag I made. I’m going to make a couple more, but I want to try another design so they don’t all look alike.
I started knitting a hat for my nephew but realised that my knitting it tighter on round needles so had to rip it up, find needles in a larger size and start over. That took a few days to sink in (I was really pleased with how it looked), but now I’m back on track and have made the first few rows.

The last couple of weeks I’ve spent quite a bit of time helping my parents to clear out cupboard, wardrobes and other storage spaces and we’ve made a few finds. My mum has basically donated all her linen fabrics to me and I can take all the wool yarn I want, so I feel like I’ve won the lottery. Today we went through a trunk that we thought mostly help old games but it turned out to also help a treasure trove of linen fabric and linen embroidery thread that my mum’s friend’s sister had given her. Incredible.
We’ve also found the wool yarn that my mum dyed with natural dyes ages ago - so pretty. I was especially fond of a stash that were all different berry shades.

Wow! You did hit a treasure trove.

>126 PawsforThought: Agree with Betty, that is quite a haul! Do you have any immediate plans for any of it, or is your mind in a state with all manner of ideas at the moment?

>126 PawsforThought: - >127 dudes22: - I should have added that the person who cleans for me has another client who is trying to clean out stuff and gave her a bunch of yarn. I have two friends who knit/crochet and she gave me a huge bag to give them.

>126 PawsforThought: No fixed plans for now but some vague ideas. The linen will probably become various accessories for the home: cushions, table cloths, table runners, etc. Depends on the sizes (I haven’t checked) and what I have need and want for.
I’d like to make a jumper/sweater out of the berry shade yarns, but that will be some day in the future - too many projects planned for now and I don’t feel I have the skills to make the jumper I want from it. I’m thinking an Icelandic style jumper, but I have to see if there’s yarn enough, otherwise I’ll see if I can find something to mix it with.

>129 dudes22: Oh, that’s nice of her. Giving to people who’ll appreciate it is always the best way to get rid of things you no longer want/need. The great clear out here resulted in nine moving boxes and twelve paper totes full of things for the second hand shop - hopefully someone will find treasure among our trash.
I also gave some glass angel figurines to a co-worker who loves angels and she was so happy and grateful. I was just happy to be rid of something I’d had in a closet for 15 years.

I've been working on knitting some washcloths/small towels I mentioned earlier. it is made from some yarn I found that was initially meant to be made into a baby blanket. The "baby" is now 4 years old so there won't be a blanket. I wanted to make something useful out of the yarn so washcloths it is. I've made five so far and am going to finish the one I'm working on and then take a break.

I've also been working on the hat for my nephew but I ran out of yarn so have to put in an order for more.

Knitted towels and washclothes. Hmm. I've never thought of that. Is it common? I have some knitted & crocheted pot holders, neither are very practical. The knitted ones are two thin to protect from heat, and the crocheted ones is a granny square so ...has holes/spaces. I use them both as buffers between stored/stacked pans.

>133 avaland: I don’t think they’re particularly common, no. I had cotton yarn that I didn’t know what to do with so browsed the website of the company that makes the yarn (they have tons of free patterns) and looked and the “home” section rather that clothes and there were a few patterns for dishcloths (which are moderately common) and small towels. Figured it’d be good for scrubbing and such.
I’ve never used knitted or crotchet pot holder, for exactly the reason you mentioned - not thick enough to protect from heat. I’ve been thinking about sewing some using a thick felted wool blanket as “filler”.

I know a couple of knitters who make dish cloths. One is a beginner, and has found it a great way to learn stitch patterns. The other is a more advanced knitter, but makes them as part of her holiday giving.

>134 PawsforThought: Will you have to pre-shrink the wool? It would make a nice filler.

>136 avaland: Not sure. Probably not - the kind of blanket I’m thinking of is felted and very dense so I don’t know that I’d be able to shrink it much more anyway. Having said that, this is a project that only exists in my head, I have non of the fabrics and no plan to start on it any time soon. Some day. I do keep an eye out for ugly old blankets when I’m at thrift shops and flea markets (not often these days).

I’ve finished six washcloths, and that’ll be it for now. I made two each of seed/moss stitch, Irish moss stitch and double moss stitch. Variations on a theme. I wanted them to have some texture but look the same on both sides so moss stitches it is. I’ve put an order in for more yarn in the same quality but a teal colour. That’ll be therapy work for in the future.

Those look great! What type of yarn is it? I'm curious about fiber content and weight.

Those are nice!

>139 lauralkeet: Thank you! It’s been a nice project to work on while watching TV. It’s 100% cotton. One ball is 50 grams, 75 meters. It’s called “Paris”, from Drops Yarns. I always wash towels and such on high (60 C) so I wouldn’t have used anything other than cotton or linen to make something like this.

>140 dudes22: Thank you. I’m quite pleased with the outcome. I like that the textures are similar but different.

>141 PawsforThought: thanks for satisfying my curiosity!

>138 PawsforThought: Those do look great! And I bet they work well.

I had to sit through a three hour long (online) lecture today at work, and decided to bring along something to keep my hands occupied because three hours is too long to listen to something that isn’t a book. So I brought a cardigan that needed mending and I sewed elbow patches on. I’ve been meaning to do this since I did it to another cardigan in the spring. I’m quite pleased with the results but as soon as I was finished I discovered that the sleeve hems are getting threadbare so I’ll have to do something about those too.

>144 PawsforThought: What if you picked up one of the colours in the patches (which go very well with the main colour) and blanket stitched the hems in yarn?

>145 SassyLassy: That could be a good idea, but I’m not too fond of blanket stitches on clothes. I’m leaning towards using the same fabric I used for the patches to cover the hems.

>144 PawsforThought: Time well spent! The patches look great, too.

I like those patches. there's a quilt pattern I've been thinking about doing which is a very similar pattern. Of course - who knows when I'll get to it.

>147 lauralkeet: Yeah, it felt good to do something productive while listening. And thanks.

>148 dudes22: I’m really pleased with the result. I bought the fabric online and was worried about the colour, if it’d be the right shade. I got lucky.
A quilt in that pattern sounds great - hope you get around to it fairly soon.

Very nice elbow patches! I like the fabric.

I haven’t done much lately, focusing more on buying Christmas presents, doing yoga and looking for a new job. But my wonderful mum has been very active. She made an apron for my brother out of old jeans (he’d asked for that for Christmas) and she made a blanket/throw for me out of an old sheepskin coat, a blanket a friend had donated for the cause and leather strips cut from an old leather vest of my dad’s. I love it! So does my cat, who has claimed ownership.



ETA: The picture is askew but I can’t be bothered with fixing it.

I can see why your kitty likes that. It looks very warm. How clever your mom is.

>151 PawsforThought: Oh! I think you just gave me an idea for my niece and nephew. My niece is closing on a house just before Xmas. An apron would be a cute gift for her. Her brother is already big into cooking. Their parents treat them like twins rather than the older daughter/younger son they really are. So, aprons for both might be a good option. Hrmmmm, maybe my SIL should get an apron, too. They could be matchy-matchy aprons. Hrmmmm.

I love your mom! Very creative and resourceful.

>151 PawsforThought: I love that blanket! And the kitty, too.

>153 lesmel: That’s a good idea with aprons for your niece and nephew. I know I’d appreciate getting an apron.

>154 avaland: My mum is super!

>155 lauralkeet: Kitty is very much a creature of comfort. He goes from one blanket to another all day long.

I've made some headway with the hat I'm making for my nephew. Most of the "body" is finished and I've just started in the decreases towards the top.
The good thing about becoming unemployed is that you have more time for knitting.

Nephew's hat is nearly finished: all the knitting is done and now I'm just going to fix the loose ends, block it and sew the leaf on. And I have two weeks left until Christmas! Plenty of time to focus on dad's socks.

I've finished the hat I was working on for my nephew for Christmas. It's a variation on a classic berry hat - the original is meant to look like a strawberry with the seeds and the green top, but my nephew is a "booblerry" lover so I made a blueberry hat. Was a little bit boring with just the blue and a green stem so I added a small leaf - they always make their way in when you're picking berries.

>159 PawsforThought: oh that's so cute! I love the leaf, I agree it adds a nice touch.

>159 PawsforThought: - That's great!

>160 lauralkeet: and >161 dudes22: Thank you!

Ohmygosh, that's adorable! Well done!

That is adorable (and yes, re those pesky leaves when you pick through the blueberries!)

>163 scaifea: and >164 avaland: Thank you! I'm pleased with it, and hoping the little berry monster will be too.

I managed to finish another pair of socks. A grey woolly pair for dad (it's a Christmas present) - same yarn and style as the ones I made for myself this summer. I've purposely not completely finished them (because I'm not certain of the size and it'll be easier to go back and fix if I haven't cut and woven in the yarn.

Nothing else that need to be finished before Christmas or the new year so I can just do what I feel like. I might get started on the grandma square scrap project - at last.

Enjoy your holidays! It will be fun to follow your 2021 projects.

I've been absent from LT for the past week - my brother's family came up for Christmas and we got to celebrate together like we usually do (gatherings of eight are allowed here, and we were six). It was so nice to see them and get to hug and cuddle my nephew again.
The went back today so now there's little else to do but look for job ads and wait for the vaccine.
I'll try to get a new thread set up tonight.

How nice you could get together.