Making Miscellany: 4
Dandelions, mushrooms, nearly finished trousers and lots of yarn-y WIPS
Hello, hello!
I hope this finds you well and enjoying the end (?) of April showers. With the weather improving, we’re spending more time outside, and I’ve resumed work on a different kind of project: a couch to 5K program, hopefully building up to 10K before summer’s end (a distance I’ve never achieved, so we’ll see!). I am by no means a capital-r-Runner, but it’s easy to want to run here on a beautiful spring day. My go-to is a nearby canal, with it’s forgivingly flat tow path. This time of year, I get to wave hello to the pair of nesting swans, who feel like old friends … we’ve seen them nest in the same spot for four seasons now! Sometimes I’m treated to other bird-y sights: a kingfisher darting into the bank or zipping along the water (a rare treat) or a heron doing a spot of fishing. And the trees and hedges that line the waterway are suddenly bursting into life. By summer, portions of the canal will be almost unrecognizable from their winter aspect — and much of the litter that strews the canal and its environs will be hidden by the growth (just in case the scene was sounding a bit too idyllic).
The other day as I was running—by which I mean, walking quickly, with regular bursts of slow jogging dotted in—I was struck by how really spectacularly delightful the dandelions look this year, an observation that felt silly to think, and feels even sillier to type. But really, they were putting on quite a show, big blooms, some nearly two inches wide, the most cheerfully bright yellow, nearly carpeting the ground in some spots — a really happy sight. It got me wondering, at what age do we stop finding dandelions spectacular? My three year old has loved them for as long as she could reach out a grab a stem; I vividly remember crafting beds for my playthings out of dandelions in summer as a kid, or trying to recreate Belle’s artful toss of dandelions seeds on a breeze while singing "Provincial Life”. So that’s been me the last week or two, ogling the dandelions, pointing out spectacular examples to my family on every walk and spurting off the dandelion facts I’ve been gathering up …
On The Needles
My yarn-y projects feel a bit like dandelions at the moment (let’s pause and appreciate the tenuousness of this transition, as I try to justify that dandelion tangent): cheerful and bright, if, maybe slightly ordinary and everyday. I’ve cast on a new pair of my own Shorty Shorty Shorties pattern (Ravelry link) in the same yarn as one of the pattern samples (which I gave away). After working the short rows that lift the back of the cuff and form the heel at the beginning of this month, I popped this sock on my super short 2 mm ChiaoGoo needles, and … it sat, barely growing, for weeks. I knit it back onto a long-enough-for-magic-loop needle this weekend, and as if by magic(loop), it’s nearly done. This is the second pair of socks running I’ve tried to get to grips with a short circular, and I think it’s time to just admit it’s not the method for me! Different strokes for different folks, etc. (Related query: Anyone fancy a 2 mm short circular?)
I’ve also been crocheting away on a spring summer cardigan for Hazel, the Squared Up Baby Cardigan (Rav link) using this amazing gradient Urth Yarns Gusto Wool Echoes from one of my lovely local yarn shops, Ethel and Em. After refreshing my memory on the required crochet stitches, I’ve really enjoyed watching this hexagon grow (even if my elbow is a little less happy about it — is crochet elbow a thing?). Although I have to say, I think I was a little optimistic in my estimation of how long this project would take. My crochet experience is shallow, and, I realize in retrospect, mostly confined to DK-weight yarn and above. “Crochet is quick” I told myself, “she’ll be wearing this in no time.” But, it turns out, 4ply yarn is 4ply yarn whether you knit it or crochet it, and only becomes a garment so fast if you only work on it a little bit at a time … funny that! Luckily, the pattern is very flexible (extra lucky as I think my gauge is off), so I can just keep adding onto this hexagon until it reaches the size I need … and then, er, work the same again for the second side. (I’ve been amusing myself while working on this thinking about it becoming some comically neverending project, with me adding “just one more round” to keep up with a quickly growing babe into perpetuity … but I’m sure I’ll catch up to her at some point!)
And last but certainly not least, I finally settled on a project for me (after all my indecision last month)! I’ve cast on the Corran Cardigan (Rav link) by Rebecca Clow, in Retrosaria Mungo yarn I bought on our Lisbon babymoon four (!) years ago. It’s funny what a difference a little stitch pattern can make; even though this pattern, like my last, is at it’s heart just knits and purls (but with some yarn overs and decreases thrown in), I’m finding it so much more engaging and quick growing—I guess big needles help! I’m already planning a second long-sleeved version (and I’m not even usually not a repeat garment pattern knitter). The only thing keeping me knitting on this all the time is the desire to get H’s crochet cardigan finished sometime in the near-ish future!
On The Sewing Desk
Last month, I shared I was about to start work on some Arenite Pants … and this month, inserting cuff elastic is all that stands between me and some amazingly orange finished trousers! I’d hoped I’d be sharing some finished pictures and thoughts here this month, but c’est la vie! These trousers have been a big learning experience for me, but I’ll save my thoughts for when I can actually show you what they look like!
I’m really enjoying being back at the sewing machine semi-regularly and have been trying to keep my sewing project pipeline in motion … so I’ve already got my next two fabrics prewashed, patterns traced and ready. I think together they’re going to make a fabulous summer outfit! More on that next month …
On The Table
One of the things I really miss where we live now is going to a proper farmers’ market. For most of my adult life, I’ve lived within walking distance of a weekly farmers’ markets, and while Lancaster has a lovely twice-a-week market with plenty of yummy food stalls and some nice shopping options, it’s not really a place where you can go buy seasonal produce from people who grow it. I really start to feel the lack the closer we get to summer — of course thinking more about the ripe heirloom tomatoes, the juicy peaches, the delicious greens we’d fill our bags with, and not the long walk back home laden with 20 lbs of produce on a drippingly hot summer day in Baltimore! It’s the Baltimore Waverly Farmers’ Market I think of most often, a year-round market that expanded and contracted with the seasons. On Saturdays in the summer, there was (and still is, I hope!) a huge spread of stalls, some with deals to be had (a bursting grocery bag of kale for $1), others with much dearer delicacies (fancy baby salad leaves of all kinds; fresh goat’s cheese!). Amidst it all, no matter the season, was a small table laid out with beautiful mushrooms and, in the winter months, a steaming cauldron of mushroom soup that you could take home by the pint. Luckily, the woman who sold the mushrooms and made the soup was generous with her knowledge, should you wish to buy some mushrooms and make her tasty soup at home. It was this recipe, she said, adding that you had to be sure to use dried dill (don’t be tempted to swap for fresh), and suggesting you serve it with a dollop of sour cream, extra sprinkle of parlsey and lashings of sriracha (which we do!). I’ve always thought of it is a hearty soup for winter, but I had a hankering for it so I made it for dinner this week and can report it works equally well as a spring supper, with crusty bread and a zesty salad.
On My Mind
Me Made May is fast approaching, something I’ve come to really enjoy in the last few years — there’s just so much amazing inspiration! If you’ve not come across the challenge, you can read about it over on the SoZo blog. Anyway, I’ve been trying to decide on the parameters of my personal challenge. The past two years, I’ve aimed to wear at least one handmade item every day — that was especially challenging last year as I had a growing belly! I don’t wear handmade every day on a regular basis, but committing to wearing one handmade item doesn’t feel like so much of a stretch or challenge this year. At the same time, I’m not sure I’m quite ready for completely handmade outfits each day for a month! So I’m trying to figure out an in-between that will be 1) a challenge 2) useful in helping me to figure out wardrobe gaps and 3) concrete — because I tend to do better with the specific rather than the general! Maybe I’ll strive for completely handmade on weekdays (not that the week v. weekend has a huge amount of significance for me at the moment)? Or all handmade, with a handful of pre-selected shop bought items in the mix? I know my wardrobe needs some attention — I’ve noticed lately there’s too many dark colors, that aren’t bringing me much joy, and also it’s overfilled with clothes that no longer fit my life (or, in some cases, my body). I don’t buy tons of clothes, but hang on to what I buy … a good quality to a point, but if I bought something 10 years ago and I haven’t worn it in five .. well maybe it should move on! Anyway, I’m hoping that, whatever challenge I land on, it will help me focus my limited sewing and knitting time going forward on things that I’ll love to make AND wear, that will fill useful holes in my existing wardrobe. Are you you participating in MeMadeMay? If so, I’d love to hear your plans, either in the comments or in reply to this email!
In My Dreams (Or, Things I Like That You Might Like Too …)
I spotted this cake recipe this week … it had me at crumbs and lemon curd. All that’s stopping it from moving out of my dreams and into my tummy is a jar of lemon curd, which I’ll hopefully pick up this weekend …
My beloved Merchant and Mills bucket hat (a free pattern!) is currently missing (green linen hat, if you’re reading: please come home!). I very much hope it’s just been shoved in a bag that I’ve forgotten about and will appear soon, but regardless, I’ve been dreaming of making at least one more bucket hat for myself for this season … especially since there’s now a longer brim option! While I’m at it, I’d like to make a pair of Twig & Tale Sunny Hats (another free pattern) for the girls. Ahh, for a bit more time to make all the things!
My quilt daydreaming continues, even if I’ve made no progress on anything quilty. I love the look of this forthcoming crossbody bag and I’ve also been dreaming of starting some Grandmother’s Flower Garden blocks with a bundle of Liberty scraps I got (give it a Google, or browse the hashtag on Instagram if you use it!)
I love the idea of this pullover in a wool-cotton blend … I never used to understand summer sweaters (having always lived in hot, humid places) but find them very necessary for English summers.
One of the things I love about life with small children is getting to learn alongside them … my three-year-old loves the outdoors and is always asking for the names of birds, trees, plants. So I was so happy we were able to go on a family friendly foraging walk the other weekend with the amazing Julia Russell … she runs a wonderful Instagram account where she shares loads about the history and uses of different plants, which I highly recommend (and if you live around Lancaster, I highly recommend her walks as well!)
Phew, I think that will about do it! Thank you for choosing to share a little bit of your day with me … if you’d like to tell me about something you’ve been working on, I’d love to hear about it in the comments or you can reply to this email! I am sometimes slow to respond, but I am always so appreciative when people share little glimpses into their own crafty lives! We’ve had a very busy week (with the rare treat of family visiting from overseas!) so planning for as quietish weekend. I am hoping to fit in a little sewing and looking forward to a crafty workshop with my three-year-old!
Happy making!
Katherine