Total apathy

Here we are still in lockdown. I must admit that my Lockdown Lethargy has morphed into more or less Total Apathy and I'm not really getting anything creative under way.  One thing that's almost finished this week is this:

Cardi_buttons

Cardigan with short sleeves knitted in two strands of Regia sock yarn (frogged from an unworn garment - can't remember what it was) which is blocked, yarn ends trimmed and ready for buttons.  Buttons are black btw - rather rubbish photo.

On the go is a crochet shawl in Wollmeise Lacegarn, colourway Barisa (from stash). Nice simple stitch pattern but I'm not happy with the way the colours are working. They're too patchy for my taste so I'll overdye the shawl once it's finished. Not sure yet what colour dye to use, probably some shade of blue which will turn the green into turquoise. On the other hand, I could go for a 'nice serviceable purple'...

Crochet_wollmeise

I'm slowly adding more items to my Folksy shop when I can summon up the energy to sit at the laptop. Quick preview of this week's additions which will go live by Friday - sets of six twisted ring stitchmarkers and two progress keepers.

February_22_four


Opera in the kitchen and crochet

I love the free Nightly Met Opera Streams from their archives. Each opera streams for 23 hours and because of the time difference, I'm off to catch up with Wednesday's offering after I finish this blog post. It's Puccini's La Rondine starring Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna from January, 2009. Pic is from one of  last week's operas - Gounod's Romeo et Juliette - which had fabulous costumes.

Romeo_Juliet

There's been some crochet going on. This is my variation of Katya Novikova's Summer Memories shawl pattern. The body is worked in Wollmeise 100% Merino Superwash, colourway Ooohm, with stripes in Amazonas and Campari Piccolo. 

Lockdown_crochet_shawl

That's about all I have to report. Life goes on much the same day after day and I'm doing my best to stay cheerful and keep busy.  

 


Staying at home

i don't really mind staying at home (I'm over 70, so being very cautious about Covid-19). Self-isolation feels rather like working freelance from home which I did for many years but this time it's without the work! 

My studio table is tidy and today's plan is to get out the pdf sewing patterns that I've printed on paper and stick the pages together. I'm in need of new clothes and have lots of fabric washed and ready to cut out.

20200321_172831

Apart from sewing clothes, I have plenty here to keep me occupied and happy. Music, books, audiobooks are all essential to my mood (thank goodness for Spotify, Kindle, Audible and library apps) and there's a sizeable yarn stash to keep my fingers busy.


Best of 2017, part two

Best_nine_2017

My best nine posts on Instagram this year; lots of knitting as expected. From top left, Swallowtail Shawl for Steph, Celestarium blocking, Celestarium in progress, detail of my design Mysteria blocking, antique shisha embroidery from India hanging in my living room, Gudrun Johnston's Hansel blocking, Ashton Shawlette blocking, Malabrigo Sock in Fresco y Seco, my Find Your Fade shawl.

I'm @wibboswords on Instagram if you want to check me out....


Coughs and sneezes

INF13-188-(3)-Coughs-and-Sn

Herbert Mayo Bateman, from the "Coughs & Sneezes Spread Diseases" series commissioned by the Ministry of Health, England, 1942, image © The National Archives.

There has been a lot of coughing/sneezing over the past week or so; I'm feeling much better now so here's a quick round-up of what's been going on here. 

Two_flowers

The amaryllis flowers are now over, but were lovely while they lasted.

YAK_yarn1

A new LYS has opened in the city - YAK Yarn and Knitting at 16, Gloucester Road, Brighton, BN1 4AD. Opening times: Tue - Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 11am - 4pm. I managed a quick visit before the cold germs struck. YAK's official Grand Opening is this Saturday, February 7th, 2pm - 6pm.

The 2014 Advent Calender Scarf is coming along nicely; I have four more patterns left to knit. The impossible-to-photograph yarn colour's darker/richer/nicer in real life.

Days_17_18_19


This, that and a Christmas elf

Christmas_elf

David, the Christmas elf, on my stall at Saturday's Christmas Market. Lovely sunny weather and plenty of people wandering round made for a good day.

Tidy

This is the one tidy corner of my living room; off camera, everywhere else is, er, rather cluttered and needs a good tidy but I've run out of steam with housework. Possibly I've been sidetracked by making these...

Blanket_1

Blanket_2

Blanket_3

Crochet squares for a blanket - they're 7cm square and so far I've made 240 (and sewn the ends in as they were made). The coloured threads secure them in stacks of ten for easy counting and I reckon I'll need to make another 160 or so...


Swatch

Swatch_tw_str

Those of you who know me in real life may be surprised by an actual swatch. Swatching is something I rarely do but this is for a garment (a change from my usual sock/shawl/blanket repertoire). The yarn is Kilcarra Aran Tweed (discontinued) and it's been in my stash for far too long. I'm thinking shortish and boxy along the lines of Tweedy Stripey without the stripes.


What's on the needles?

Green_tgv

I've knitted several stripy TGV's this year, mainly as gifts so not bloggable until after Christmas. This TGV is for me using Dream in Color Smooshy leftovers in Happy Forest (Thanks, Jutta!) and Knitting Goddess mini skeins in shades of violet. 

Cr_sqs

I usually have a crochet blanket on the go - this one may take some time because the squares are only 7.5cm (3 in) across. I'm using superwash DK oddments mixed with two strands of sock yarn in pink, red, blue, purple, turquoise and grey.

These are my only WIPs, apart from a couple of pairs of socks. But I do have plans!


That was the cold that was

A particularly beastly cold has been had. You know the sort - no voice, hacking cough ('twas a 3-bottles-of-Benylin-event), sore throat and snot. Lots of snot.

Not much happening at Wibbo Towers as a result of the above - a little gentle sock knitting done, books read, audiobooks heard. I also started this

Bella_start

which is looking rather good (and the pattern doesn't need much concentration). The yarn came from Woolly Workshop a good few years ago; it's a wool/silk/nylon mixture which should soften up nicely when washed and blocked.