Monday, March 24, 2014

Knitting up a storm

Yes indeedy, I have been knitting up a storm the last two weeks, but I am afraid that my patterned jumper didn't grow as much as I would have liked. No, no...it's not that my needles have been sitting idly in my knitting basket. Quite the contrary, the constant clickety clack tune of my needles as my fingers and hands knitted in a frenzied state, and at the risk of carpel tunnel syndrome, have knitted row upon row of lovely patterns. Indeed my little fingers have knitted themselves in such a crazed, repetitious fashion that I was quite sure they would combust into a pool of melted corpuscles!!


But, and this is a very big BUT; I continually made little boo boos, which though tiny, had to be unravelled. It's amazing how one little stitch in the wrong place can upset the pattern and look positively ghastly. I do apologise for being melodramatic.......but 'tis the truth!! One's eye doesn't see the lovely rows of  different patterns.....one just sees the glitch...and I might add that the glitch seems to be magnified....aggravatingly so!! The problem with one, finding one's little boo boos, is that one doesn't seem to notice them until one has knitted countless rows!! To put it politely, 'tis a pain in the royal derriere!!

But...hallelujah I have finished the back of my jumper!! I know, I know....I took my own sweet time, but here 'tis.

The two patterns that I added are another cable (I just lurve cables) and a bicolour tweed stitch.

I have decided that I will knit one of the sleeves next, as there are less stitches and they are quicker and more fun to knit. I will knit the front after the sleeves are knitted.

I did intend to start knitting the sleeve today but some friends and I found ourselves at a little cafe at a little seaside town. Our husbands went for a little bike ride of about 25kms and we followed in the support car. Oh I was such a support, waving my husband to the finish line in the comfort of a rather cushy automobile. You really didn't expect me to feverishly propel one of those velocipedes did you?? Firstly I don't do lycra!!!!! AND, secondly there is no way on God's sweet earth that I would sit on one of those mighty uncomfortable, itty bitty saddles seats pedalling for dear life, up and down hill and dale for one kilometre, let alone 25 kilometres!!

Then, glory be.....the making of my day. Have a lookity look at what awaited me standing tall and proud on the deck of the cafe. A gorgeous tree arrayed in a bevy of colourful knits and crochet lovelies!! Don't you just love it. I must admit that I slipped into a state of apoplexy. It's just as well that a few capuccinos were on hand to revive me. Me thinks that one or two of our trees in our li'l garden need a winter woolly or two, to keep them warm and snug this winter, protecting them from that pesky wintry varmint, Jack Frost!!
  

Very avant garde, don't you think. Perhaps I should revisit the cafe, attired in my 'jumper of many colours' when it is finished. Me thinks me and my jumper would look perfectly at home in these gleeful surroundings.

And now for the piece de resistance.......a bicycle complete with basket, wrapped in a smothering of colourful knits!! Now don't that beat all'!! I really, really NEED one!! I really, really do!!


So there you have it, a perfect day, sitting and chatting with friends over a capuccino or two, enjoying colourfully knitted surroundings......aaah such bliss!!


Linking up to Janine's lovely blog Rainbow Hare "Wool on Sundays"




16 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! Your jumper is looking fab and you MUST go back to that cafe wearing it! Maybe even ride the bike - just a little way...I've never seen so much knitting inspiration in one blog post :D
    Thank you very much for linking all this lovely colour with Wool on Sundays :)

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  2. The back looks fab lot of colour and patterns it will be gorgeous when it is finished! Love the colourful tree and the bicycle splendid :)

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  3. I have never seen the likes! How fun is that tree and those bikes? Your jumper is looking wonderful. Your work is amazing. Keep up the good work, girlfriend!

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  4. wow, inspired knitting. Is that all free-form? Its like Joseph's coat of many colours.

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  5. I love your jumper and yes, you must return to the cafe wearing it... I would have thought they would give you free coffee just to sit there! Julie x

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    1. Thank you, Julie. Now there's a thought.....I'll pass on your brilliant idea to the cafe proprietor!!

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  6. I love the patterns you have knitted into your jumper. The finished item is going to look amazing. Well done. Imagine wearing it sitting on that bicycle! Philippa xx

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    1. Thank you, Wendy. I would certainly add a dash of colour to an already vibrantly coloured cafe-scape...wouldn't I !!

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  7. You are such a colourful writer. I think I learn at least five new words every time I read one of your blog posts. I love it! Your jumper looks great. I am still so amazed at the patterns and texture you are able to incorporate. And the yarn bombing...well, I could look at photos of knitted trees and bicycles all day long!

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  8. I laughed out loud at your 'I don't do Lycra' . Me either : ) Your sweater is coming along nicely. So much pattern and texture. I cast on last night for a baby hat because I really wanted to try the pattern having an issue with the wrap and turn when turning to a purl side. I shall ask my coworker today. She knows everything.....

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  9. Thank you for the knitting fix! I love your husband's yarn-bombed bike ;) No wonder he can pedal 25 km with such ease (oh, what? it's not his?!). Lycra & wool together ... hmmm. Your sweater is looking amazing!! I just can't seem to think what to knit lately, and so I knit a little eyeglass case. Instant gratification :) Wendy x

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  10. Your "jumper", which sounds ever so much more fun than "sweater"' is going to be amazing! I appreciate your efforts at staying true to the pattern and not "upping" the original with an even more incredible pattern of your own making!

    Yarn bombing has always confused me. I would never part with my precious stash of fabric for something similar in the quiltey vein, why would a knitter or crochet-er (?) part with their yarn? LOL

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  11. I could never imagine someone knitting on a tree or bicycle~ gosh am I ever smiling!!! Love this unique surprise!

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  12. I often sit under that tree (i live in the little seaside town) and work on my knitting while i treat myself to a slice of cake and a nice coffee. It is a love place to sit, especially in the warm weather.

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    1. Lucky you, living in that gorgeous li'l seaside town. I couldn't think of a better way to while away an hour or two, sitting under that colourful tree, enjoying a delish coffee and cake....sheer bliss!! Thanks for visiting!!

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  13. I can see that you are an accomplished knitter, too. I taught myself to knit when I was younger but now all I do is make dishcloths!! BTW, did you get yourself a 'knitted up' bicycle? 'A bicycle built for Kim' should have been a sign on it.

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