plain ol' simplicity

Making bread for your loved ones, using freshly milled flour, sourdough method, bake in the mass oven. Shearing, spinning, dyeing, knitting hats to keep them warm. Down-to-earth, simple joys!

Little S (not so little anymore) wearing his 'Buggerloo' - pattern found on Ravelry; here. Also to be found here. His way of 'asking' me to knit this for him, went like this: 'Mama, I want you to make a hat from Lyra's wool (his bunny). I will card the wool and you can spin and knit it. I expect you can have it ready in a week'. What could I do but comply?

The No-Waste Scarf

When I was created – in the melting pot, you know, I think they used a outdated housewife mold from the 50ies or there about. Throwing things away, food, clothes - well anytning - is just something I cannot do. I guess it was also just the way of things when I grew up, 'no biggie' as they say nowadays; we didn't make a big deal out of it - just the ordinary life.

Lately I've realised it actually makes me quite modern. All that re-using, mending, composting, thrifting, homemade, 'stop the food waste' thinking that the western world is finally beginning to get the grip on, well, that's more or less everyday life here ...

No-Waste Scarf

 This scarf was made of something I actually was on the verge of throwing out. I found a bag with some wool I've dyed with madder root at some point, and then forgot about (or repressed). The thing is - the wool was short-stapled and not soft at all (like steele wool), and I wondered what I've been thinking about when I chose to dye it. Beats me. Not wanting to let the wool – and the water, soap, madder root, energy for heating it all up and time spent on it already go to waste, I decided to make something usefull from it. So I carded it with some angora and silk I had laying around, in order to make it softer and more skin-friendly, spun it chunky and softly on the drop spindle and knitted a very simple scarf-in-the-round. And I used every little bit of it up.

I'm sorry, but my stylist had the day off - and likewise the photographer, my hairbrush and mascara ... you get my point, right? - But my newly turned 8 year old was luckily available, and he did it all for free. Well, skipping the styling and make-up and went for the fun camera part - but for free! I know I've said it before - but there's just something very satisfying in using things up to the last thread - or making stuff from scratch, from materials that could have - but didn't - go to waste.

Domestic chores on hold

Sometimes a woman needs to quit the domestic chores for a while - and just sit down and read. And re-read. ... And knit ...
So that's just what I've been up to lately.

Reading and re-reading:

Barbara Kingsolver: 'The Bean Trees', 'Pigs in Heaven' and 'Prodigal Summer'

Priscilla Cogan: 'Winona's Web', 'Compass of the Heart' and 'Crack at Dusk, Crook of Dawn'

 ... and India Flint: 'Second Skin'

Knitting mittens on two sticks, I'll never go back to four! Free pattern here, including pattern for both two and four sticks (using my own natural dyed yarn; walnut and indigo for these).

And the Rikke Hat for me, using some vintage yarn I had lying around, just enough for the hat and a little mouse. Free pattern too - here !

It isn't a coincidence I've never posted a photo of myself here before. I have a strong aversion to being pictured, not really sure why. But here's a snap of a bit of me, in the sunset and all.