little green

Two Arrivals

 

Well, the little knitted squirrel is finally available (it's in the sidebar, which takes you to Roman Sock's pattern shop), and I’m amazed that so many people want to make it; thanks everyone who got a pattern, I hope you have as much fun making it as I did!

 

I’ve been busy for the last while preparing a bundle for a new little baby, who has finally arrived!

 

 

I like to try to make a little hand knit something for any babies that I know are on the way.

 

 EZ's February Sweater - with comedy pompom hat (baby's head really will need support!)

 

There is nothing so lovely as a baby in a hand knit, but it also symbolises more for me. Each stitch marks a moment in time and therefore has meaning and value. Regardless of whether it is something that I am making or something I have received, I am always struck by this intrinsic quality to hand crafted things.

 

Mitred baby hat by Gros Blog

 

Albeit that I knit for my own pleasure, I don’t think that any store bought gift can compare to the thought and love that is woven in each little stitch. So, what better gift for a new baby, to welcome the little one into the world.

 

Cashmere baby ankle socks, made my favourite way - toe up on 2 circs!

 

I knit my favourite baby set, EZ’s February sweater, with a matching hat and booties, I made the cutest mitred baby hat that I found on ravelry here, as well as some little cashmere ankle socks that I made up and a big aran baby blankie.

 

There is something so right about aran, cables and bobbles! Especially if the cables are owls and the bobbles are berries!

 

I’ve seen lots of these owl cable designs around, and thought that an army of guardian owls could impart wisdom and guidance to a little one, or just look cute tucked inside the pram!

 

The volumous mass of blankie (but surprisingly quick to knit!)

 

I don’t know that it is really worth making the pattern, as it is so simple, but I will probably write up something from my notes, even if just so that I can recreate it in the future, if I want. I like how it gently frills because of the increases, which is emphasised all the more by the frilly picot edge. I think I'll definitely make another, now I just need the stork to bring some more babies!

 

Going around the bend...

 

 twit-twoo

A field guide to squirrels in the wild

Squirrelicus Kniticus

 

OMG, I birthed a squirrel! Now I get to feel a little of what Roman Sock feels, though my job has been to replicate, as closely as possible, her original creation. It feels pretty cool and has given me confidence to maybe start making some of my own creatures.

It seems to me that confidence is the key in this. I’ve been knitting, adapting patterns to fit my own style and even making my own things from scratch for a while, but I never really felt it was worth sharing, or showing, to anyone.

 

I think it may be part of being painfully shy, which I have been all my life. I once read somewhere that shyness is a form of arrogance: to think that the whole world is so interested in looking at and scrutinising you! But even that, amongst other things, couldn’t make me fold out the way instead of in.

 

I’ve come to the conclusion that even if it does come from being insanely tall (6’0 from the age of 15) or from having the most outrageous and gregarious mother (in the best possible way!), it doesn’t matter. It’s who I am, and who I always remember being.

Anyway, this little guy is the opposite of shy, but he is probably a little arrogant, as he's just so good as finding the tastiest nuts!

 

No nuts were harmed in the making of this photograph.

 

And he is brave, to the point where it almost tips over into stupid!

 

What are you doing squirrel? Don't jump!

 

I think we got the breed wrong, maybe he's a flying squirrel.

 

Whippee!

 

Watch him soar!

 

Whoosh!

 

With Darwin's lessons about natural selection and survival of the fittest in the back of our minds, we will understand that when you get a red squirrel and a grey squirrel, or a crochet squirrel and a knitted squirrel, that naturally they are going to compete for resources.

 

"Hey, this is my tree." "No, it's not, I was here first!"

 

But it looks like these two get on pretty well.

 

"Grrr, if you don't get off my tree, you're for it!"

 

There might even be some squirrel kissing going on!

 

"That's it, I'm going to get you!"

 

And squirrel cuddling.

 

"Grrr, Bye die!"

 

Or maybe I've been misinterpreting their signals. Don't worry, crochet squirrel survived his plummet of doom! And knit squirrel seems to have some backup from Great White Betty.

 

 
"We're the kings of the castle, you're the squirrely wee rascal!" 

 

They really shouldn't gloat like that!

 

"Maybe we should be friends! I've got some hazelnuts we could share."

 

Aww looky, crochet squirrel forgives knit squirrel. That breed is always praised for its big heart!

 

"Nighty night, knittysquirrel, that will teach you to throw me off my tree!"

 

Or maybe it was just a ruse to get close enough for a sleeper hold!

 

Cove Love

River Clyde from Tut-tut's spot, near Cove.

 

I’m the kind of person who is always thinking far ahead. I have 10 year plans, 5 year plans, 1 year plans, 1 month plans, and so on. My life is listed in every single way. Ways that probably aren’t actually that helpful; writing lists wastes an awful lot of time!

 

Anyway, living in Cove has shot to the top of every list that I have. My mind races with plans for how to construct a life which involves waking up every morning in that most beautiful little village. It has fully toppled my previous plans for how I can create a future that involves living in Blissford, with its houses nestled quietly in lanes cut through old deciduous woods and Shetland ponies and donkeys roaming freely around. Blissford was bliss, but Cove is more. The Argyll hills, the river Clyde and its sea lochs spread out like fingers reaching, and the light...It spoke right to the heart of me.

 

I lived across the Clyde from Cove for much of my life, but had no idea of its existence. From the other side of the river, life was much harder. But from Cove, I could look across at my old self and smile that I am different now. Better.

 

Tut-tut mad - no, really, he's happy!

 

Among many lovelies, like Cove’s awesome architecture, we discovered a rock on the way there which some wise fellow had transformed into a sphinx called tut-tut. He’s way too friendly to be guarding the place, so I think he’s a friendly lion-person, saying keep going, you’re nearly there!

 

coo

 

Another thing off my list is these Bella mittens, which were the best thing about the Twilight movie. I’m always watching out for gorgeous knits in movies and tv shows, especially Marples and Poirots, and these mitts immediately grabbed me. I planned on working out the pattern, but then found that subliminal rabbit had already done it for me. I've ravelled it here. The little steiff woodpigeon just had to get into the shot.

 

I've also been working on trying to render Roman Sock's amazing Ultimate Squirrel into a knit version. It has been tough. Head too big. Head too small. Ears always curly. Body too baggy. And on and on. I've knit so many, and so many various body parts so many times that my index finger has developed a callous. But I think I've got it now. The pattern will be coming soon!

 

Betty and the squirrels