Sunday, July 29, 2018

Yopping Undate #4 - Welcome home


I am home.

Coffee and breakfast with my dh on the back deck. Laundry drying outside.  Slowly unpacking in the heat. Sorting mail. Making cookies. All the things I do when I get back home to my little house surrounded by cedar trees.

And. I did get some knitting done this past week.

And some unknitting. 

Wait. What?  

Well, actually it was uncrocheting. 

At the Free Store on my sister's little island I saw a bag that contained a half finished crocheted tunic.


It is a mohair blend and I could totally see making a Prairie Lace Shawl out of it. 

So for the next three days I was un-crocheting instead of knitting.  I ended up with 575 gms:


I got this book from the freestore (well I actually got about ten books, but this was the only knitting related one.)



And I found this great pattern for a stash-buster sweater:


My sister then gave me this book she found at the free store too:  It matches my Knit your Own Dog book she gave me a couple of years ago.

I have already picked out two cats I want to knit.  Stay tuned.

I did finished my sweater,


and then raided my sister's button jar.  It still needs blocking before the buttons go on.


I started another hemp pot-holder as a gift for a dear friend and I hope to be finished before I see her next Saturday.  She was born in the year of the Rat and this symbol is the Chinese character for Rat.  It is double knitting so the pictures show the front and the back.



I took a water colour painting workshop on the little island and here is my painting:


I have lots of ideas for future water colour paintings so I know I have found a new hobby.  I need to get to the art store this coming week to buy paints and brushes.

Sunflowers must be trying to tell me something because when I got home my Simply Knitting magazine had arrived and look at the little kit that came with it -




When I arrived home I was also greeted by this:


so my orchid is blooming, and my Hoya isn't far behind.


I had a wonderful week with my sister - two long walks, four long swims, and lots of good food, music and talks.  It was the perfect way to unwind after my busy teaching week. 

So how was your week? 

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23 comments:

  1. Glad you had a good week with your sister and sounds like it was also YOP productive.

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    1. Yes, good weeks are becoming my norm. Which makes me very happy.

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  2. Welcome home. Sounds like a lovely trip and so glad you and your sister got to make some lovely memories.

    What a grand find at the freestore for the mohair yarn. I am sure it will make a lovely shawl for you.

    The sweater turned out swell and the buttons are perfect for it too. So glad your sister has a button box.

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    1. Yes, she has my granny's button jar - plus ones she has added over the years.

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  3. It sounds like you made some lovely finds as well as lovely memories on your sister's island.

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  4. I look forward to seeing the cat. Too cute.
    The sweet scent of your Hoya reached me across the miles and
    Sunflowers seem appropriately happy for your successful week.
    I wish I had a sister!
    Xxx

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    1. She is the best sister ever. I posted an even better hoya blooming picture in my next blog post. Just for you.

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    2. Thank you, my friend. It is magnificent.

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  5. It sounds like you had a really great week with your sister and relaxed lots while at the same time doing lots of fun and interesting things. What a great find in the half finished tunic and now it will become something new.

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    1. I know - 575 gms will probably make two large shawls!

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  6. Lovely traditional cardigan... and so many buttons! The buttons look great. How handy that your sister had so many matching buttons.

    I’ve read about repurposing fine fibre from thrift stores but I never seem to stumble across fingering weight options that I could repurpose into socks.

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    1. Yes, it is hard to find 10 matching buttons in a button jar.

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  7. So glad you had such a lovely week. That sweater looks great. Are you going to knit that stashbuster sweater? If so, I can't wait for photos.

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    1. I am definitely gonna knit the stashbuster sweater - just have to wait a bit until I have enough stash of the right colours!.

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  8. So many lovely things... from your blooming orchid to enjoying coffee and breakfast on the deck under cedar trees. Sigh. I love that green sweater. So pretty! And what a great rescue of yarn in that partially crocheted sweater. The Lacy Pioneer shawl looks amazing! I'm glad you enjoyed your visit with your sister. It sounds lovely, too. I hope you have a great week, Mary-Anne.

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    1. Yes green seems to be my colour these days. I think it might be because I taught botany this summer.

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  9. What a great time you had! I love the sweater you made and the plans for the next one. I've never thought of 'un-knitting or un-crocheting' anything but now it's in my head when I go to the thrift store. Love your watercolor...you are truly talented for sure....your first watercolor? Amazing! Your orchid is beautiful and the double knitting is gorgeous...I have yet to try that technique. Do you like the knit your 'pet' books? Have you made anything yet? They look difficult...for me anyway...not for you I'm sure. You have inspired me though to take classes and knit outside my comfort zone. Glad you are home safe and sound but that you had a wonderful time! Welcome home!

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    1. I have never knit a cat or dog yet, but I am definitely going to. Maybe before the end of Yop 18/19.

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  10. Welcome home! And breakfast on the deck and taking it easy sounds like a good way of coming back to everyday life.

    Your watercolour looks really nice, and amazing that you got your orchid to flower again! I'd also be quite interested in seeing how the knit your pet patterns turn out, they look good.

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    1. I think the orchid flowered due to benign neglect. lol

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  11. I love your watercolour sunflower - such a happy picture. What a great idea to recoup the yarn in the sweater, I can't wait to see your shawl that you knit from it.

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    1. Yes, the sunflower is growing on me. I am my own worst critic, but I think with more practice I will not be so harsh with myself.

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