New Skills

So I decided to challenge myself to knit a jumper with a fair aisle motif, and with some rather heavy hints - well a list to be exact I received a kit to produce a jumper. The key thing for me is that it was all knitted in the round  - so no sewing!

When I started I realised that along side the fair aisle design working with a chart - my original challenge to myself - I needed to learn German short rows! It was interesting and am not totally sure  I didn't make any mistakes but I have enjoyed the process








 - its not finished - obviously!! But it already looks like a jumper and I have extended my skills.

Little did I know that these were not the only skills I would be learning and re-learning this year. I am not sure I did half of the maths the girls are doing the first time round.

Lockdown has made me extend my knowledge and skills in many areas!

I have learnt that zoom is not simply something you do on a camera!! I have had to learn to communicate in new ways, in different ways and to get over seeing myself on screen!

The children too have been extending their skill set, alongside the challenge of on-line studies.




Rebecca has extended her crochet collection and is reading patterns with minimum help and is working hard on her GCSE art work.

Anastasia is learning to knit, cook and to paint with watercolour.

Sophie has learnt block printing, growing strawberries and practicing cubism as well as extending her
cooking knowledge.

Together we are learning to paint a pear with water colours!
We are about half way through but so far it is looking kind of pear like!



For us we are trying to embrace the opportunities this experience has given us. To recognise that having a task or a focus helps our wellbeing and engages our brain. Over the years rather than crafts being something I 'just' did, I have recognised their value and the positive part they can play.  Never more so than now.

A case full of cute!

Being a crafter means I spend many enjoyable hours trawling through craft sites - as a result my facebook ads often feature craft materials which to be fair is great, though I ignore most of them!!

Shortly after Christmas with one Christmas present  project on the go already an ad popped up for the cutest little knitted dolls - and with a nieces birthday in April I couldn't resist!  I wasn't quite prepared for the learning curve knitting  with a bamboo and wool mix in 4 ply on four miniature needles - something I hadn't done before.




























I was so please with the result - not perfect but very cute.




I found a case in The Works (pre-lockdown!) and knitted a blanket and mattress with some spare yarn.
















I made a sheet and pillow from some scrap fabric to finish the bedding.

















Hope a little girl has fun playing with her dolly.

Challenge complete!

Rebecca did complete her challenge before me - no real surprise there but I did complete it in good time ready to post to Wales for my nieces birthday.
It was while shopping for Rebecca's trainers that she had set the challenge. We had been looking at baby clothes for Ivy's birthday but all the very lovely clothes the girls liked were very expensive (we were in John Lewis!) As we walked past the sewing/knitting section Rebecca commented that I could make Ivy a present.
My reply was along the lines of " I don't knit clothes" - " well that could be your challenge" she responded - now what do you say to that! So she chose a pattern and armed with wool and needles and google!! I began my challenge! To be honest the knitting was miles easier than the sewing but it finally came together and for a first attempt I was quite pleased.

I adapted a beanie hat pattern to match the cardigan and crocheted some flowers to complete the set.
Ivy turned one today and first reports are promising! Perhaps I should listen to my children more often!!

Rebecca's challenge!!

So whilst shopping for the stuff the girls needed for school Rebecca asked if she could have new trainers-hers are a size too small so it wasn't a problem but I set her a challenge if I got her new trainers she had to learn to tie her laces by the end of the holidays!

She then set me a challenge

So watch this space - my money is on Rebecca completing her challenge long before me!

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