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Christmassing Inexpertly

December 20, 2016 by The Twisted Yarn 30 Comments

It’s a tricky time here at Twisted Towers. Christmas has completely unexpectedly lumbered into view. I know that some of the wiser amongst you might argue that the fact it’s on the same date every single year does lend it a certain predictability, but I’m telling you, we’ve been caught totally off-guard.

home-made Christmas bauble decoration
Once upon a time (pre-children), I had time to design and paint silly decorations.

Also, we’re not very good at remembering to water the Christmas tree, so the poor thing is shedding needles so fast that we face gathering round a be-baubled Christmas stick on the big day to open our gifts. The twinnage are happy, though. (Don’t worry, we do remember to water/feed them.) They’ve sneaked off with some of the needles, plus the tiny wreathes that I knitted, and some baubles, to make tiny dinosaur egg nests, which I keep finding in obscure corners of the house. Full marks for creativity, boys.

Let’s hope that the catering arrangements are going rather better. The Stoic Spouse largely bans me from the cooker/oven on Christmas Day because – in his words – “If I left it to you, we’d be having cumin-roast turkey with spiced lentils for Christmas dinner. Probably at 10pm.” He does have a point. I do cook a huge tagine on Christmas Eve, though.

Some of my home-made decorations were a mischievous.

Today, I am finishing writing my Christmas cards, and feeling smug because I’m a day ahead of the last posting date. It’s ever-so-slightly tempting to write “Happy Christmas 2017” in them, thus skipping a year and instantly moving from last in the Great Christmas Card Race to FIRST PLACE (by about eleven months).

So I’m dealing with the chaos of Christmas in the same way that I deal with everything remotely challenging, by interspersing frenzied last-minute activity with picking up my knitting for “just one more row” and writing a blog post. That explains all this progress on the jumper, anyway. Here’s a sleeve:-

And on that note, I must go and finish the cards. Merry Christmas, my fine fibrous friends!

 

 

Filed Under: Knitting Tagged With: Christmas, crochet, decorations, home-made Christmas decorations, Knitcol, knitting

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Comments

  1. Martha Stepnowski says

    December 20, 2016 at 1:03 pm

    I have made 14 of your knitted Christmas trees for friends and family. I’d like to send you a picture. How to do that? So enjoy your blog and want to try knitted candles soon. Ah, but Christmas creeps closer! I suppose it will be for next year!

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 20, 2016 at 1:15 pm

      My goodness, wow! I would love to see them. πŸ™‚ You could email them to thetwistedyarn [at] outlook [dot] com. Am I allowed to show them off (with credit to you, obviously) here or on the blog’s Facebook page?

      Reply
  2. feltelf says

    December 20, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    Oh I know this sentence “just one more row”. πŸ™‚ But I couldn’t finish anything at the speed you seem to be able to.The jumper looks gorgeous! And the Twin’s dinosaur egg nests are wonderful. Creativity takes many shapes and forms and clearly runs in the family. Merry Christmas when the day finally arrives!

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 4:10 pm

      Yes it’s funny how easy it is to believe that it’ll be only ‘one more row’, when experience would suggest it’s more likely to be 20 more rows…

      I’m not a fast knitter, I’m really not. But some projects lend themselves to relative speed (round-and-round stockinette jumper, I’m looking at you…) and I can knit whilst walking/reading-to-children/bathing/eating/cooking…

      Merry Christmas, and thank you for all your kind comments in 2016.

      Reply
  3. captelaine says

    December 20, 2016 at 1:08 pm

    Merry Christmas, how clever of you to send out 2017 cards… YOU ROCK!

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 4:07 pm

      Tee hee, thank you, even if I don’t really deserve your kind words.

      I hope your Christmas was colourful and peaceful.

      Reply
  4. Rainbow Junkie says

    December 20, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    They may need to be 2017 cards with the postal strike! Sounds as if you are getting on just fine!

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 4:05 pm

      True, I hadn’t thought of the postal strike. Obviously it would be VERY wrong to blame my late-arriving cards on the strike… Very, very wrong indeed…

      Meanwhile, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

      Reply
  5. wendelika says

    December 20, 2016 at 4:43 pm

    I’m still frantically knitting the last two Christmas gifts. One is almost to the halfway point, the other is more challenging than I expected it to be, so assuming I don’t have to rip any more of it out, it should be finished in time. Thankfully, it’s not for one of my kids, so I can work on it in front of them. The race is on!

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 4:04 pm

      Yikes! I hope you finished them both in time? I am hereby formally telling you off for reading my blog when you should be knitting! πŸ˜‰

      I hope your Christmas was blissful and that your hand-knitted gifts were much appreciated.

      Reply
  6. narf7 says

    December 20, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    Right back atcha Ms T. I have to say, I think Christmas has done some kind of transmogrification this year and maneuvered itself closer to the middle of the year than last year. I also can’t believe I just spelled “transmogrification” AND “maneuvered” correctly! I think I might have to go and have a lay down now as spelling was never one of my high points in life and I think I must have accidentally used up one of my magic wishes on something so trite as “being able to spell!” Bollocks! Story of my life. Have a blast Ms T and remember, when the twinage are up at 4am, that’s what dinosaur videos were invented for…

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm

      As always, your lovely comment made me giggle. Thank you. I hadn’t thought of that – that Christmas might actually be subtly sneaking around the calendar, just to confuse us…

      As we’re now well past the big day itself, I’ll just have to wish you a happy, peaceful, productive, creative new year. πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • narf7 says

        December 30, 2016 at 5:18 pm

        And a hearty three cheers for that Ms T πŸ™‚

        Reply
  7. Christina says

    December 20, 2016 at 7:07 pm

    I haven’t yet started to write Christmas card and will almost certainly leave it until 2017…. it is a bit sneaky, Christmas is. One moment it seems months away and then, before you can blink twice, it is here. Ah well. x

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 3:59 pm

      YES! You’re so right – it lurks in the shadows, and then suddenly pounces out on you! I do wish it wouldn’t be quite so sneaky.

      I hope that your Christmas was blissful and that you got at least some of your cards written in time.

      Reply
  8. sjoriginalsblog says

    December 20, 2016 at 8:38 pm

    Merry Christmas Phyl and thank you for a wonderful year of blog postings. May 2017 be a healthy and happy year for you and yours and may it be full of all things yarny. xox

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 3:57 pm

      Thank you! I’m always touched and honoured by the kindness of my regular readers.

      Meanwhile, I hope that your Christmas was joyful and peaceful, and that your 2017 is filled with colour and yarn.

      Reply
  9. pomegranateandchintz says

    December 21, 2016 at 1:28 am

    Merry Christmas to all at twisted! I’ve given up on cards so you’re one step ahead of me……..

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 3:55 pm

      I think I might have to follow your lead on that.

      Meanwhile, I hope that you and yours had a beautiful Christmas.

      Reply
  10. Born To Organize says

    December 21, 2016 at 6:06 am

    I love the tiny wreaths turned into nests. What clever twins!

    Your jumper in progress is gorgeous. Merry Christmas!

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 3:53 pm

      Thank you! I love watching children’s natural, inbuilt creativity. It’s fascinating and beautiful.

      A very merry Christmas to you and yours.

      Reply
      • Born To Organize says

        December 31, 2016 at 1:07 am

        That is so true!

        Reply
  11. nanacathy2 says

    December 21, 2016 at 8:38 am

    Happy Christmas. Forget the cards and knit some more last rows! Happy Christmas to you, the Stoic Spouse and the Twinnage.

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 3:51 pm

      Ha ha, I’m not sure my family would be too impressed with that… But I guess that friends who knit would understand.

      A belated merry Christmas too you, anyway.

      Reply
  12. leelah saachi says

    December 21, 2016 at 3:27 pm

    Hi Phil, superhugs for Christmas! My daughter and beau is coming over for Christmas Eve – our main celebration day in Norway – and as last Christmas, after our delicious roasted duck meal( with secret dessert made my daughter) we will decorate more trees. ( he is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Norw. Defense, by the way πŸ™‚ So – I would love to send images too – could yu link me up to your Facebook-place, please?

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 3:48 pm

      Hello! Sorry for slow response – I got very distracted by Christmas, there. I hope your Christmas was as blissful as it sounds. I get the impression (mostly from my Norwegian friend) that Norwegians really know how to celebrate Christmas with style and creativity.

      And I’d love to see photos! Facebook is here: https://www.facebook.com/thetwistedyarn/
      …or you could email thetwistedyarn [@] outlook [dot] com.

      Thank you for all the kind words you’ve scattered on this blog in 2016, and I wish you and yours a blissfully happy new year.

      Reply
  13. Marie says

    December 23, 2016 at 10:51 am

    Gorgeous knitting blog. I love your Christmas trees. I have a list of knitting projects a mile long and a lot of them are Christmas related. Now where did I put my needles? Merry Christmas!

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm

      Thank you so much!
      And I hope you found your needles and managed to get some of your festive knitting done. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  14. Katharine says

    December 29, 2016 at 7:17 pm

    Love your great wit — um, you ARE trying to be humorous, right? Sure you are… πŸ˜‰ Thank you for writing. You are an inspiration in both writing and knitting. Now, which shall I pick up again?

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      December 30, 2016 at 3:30 pm

      Thank you! I do like being silly, so I’m always honoured when someone makes such a kind comment.

      As for which to pick up, BOTH! You definitely need both in your life. And knitting leaves your mind free-ish to think about writing.

      May your 2017 be filled with yarn and words.

      Reply

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Oct 23

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Eight years ago today, I started thetwistedyarn.com. It was just a place to talk (and talk) about knitting. Gradually it became a place to photograph knitting and wildlife, too... and garden stuff, which led to the @the.twisted.garden page. Little did I know that my blog would lead to meeting you creative, witty, wonderful lot, plus a book deal, and some treasured real-life friends, a quarterly column in 'Simply Knitting' magazine, membership of the Stylecraft Blogstars, a TV appearance, and plenty else besides.
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If you're thinking of starting a blog, I have one very important piece of advice: DO IT!
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(I wheel this photo out almost every year. It's the cake that the Stoic Spouse commissioned for my first blogiversary. It was delicious as well as beautiful, but unsubtle hints have thus far failed to persuade him to bake or order any further bloggy gateaux.)
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#blogiversary #knitting #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting

Eight years ago today, I started thetwistedyarn.com. It was just a place to talk (and talk) about knitting. Gradually it became a place to photograph knitting and wildlife, too... and garden stuff, which led to the @the.twisted.garden page. Little did I know that my blog would lead to meeting you creative, witty, wonderful lot, plus a book deal, and some treasured real-life friends, a quarterly column in `Simply Knitting` magazine, membership of the Stylecraft Blogstars, a TV appearance, and plenty else besides.
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If you`re thinking of starting a blog, I have one very important piece of advice: DO IT!
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(I wheel this photo out almost every year. It`s the cake that the Stoic Spouse commissioned for my first blogiversary. It was delicious as well as beautiful, but unsubtle hints have thus far failed to persuade him to bake or order any further bloggy gateaux.)
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#blogiversary #knitting #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting
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486 35

thetwistedyarn

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Jan 14

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Uh-oh. #knittingwithcats @stylecraftyarns

Uh-oh. #knittingwithcats @stylecraftyarns ...

227 15

thetwistedyarn

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Jun 21

Open
The twinnage still like to stretch their creativity on 'the chair'. ❀ I'm worried that this chap is repairing the chimney whilst the fire is lit and smoke is emerging!

The twinnage still like to stretch their creativity on `the chair`. ❀ I`m worried that this chap is repairing the chimney whilst the fire is lit and smoke is emerging! ...

188 17

thetwistedyarn

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Dec 2

Open
Re-reading this fascinating book - Interaction Of Colo(u)r by Josef Albers - whilst I write the chapter about using colour in stranded knitting for my own book. Highly recommend the Albers book if you fancy a really deep dive into how and why colours behave so differently, depending on their neighbours. 
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisletechniques #fairisleknitting #fairisledesign #fairislefriday

Re-reading this fascinating book - Interaction Of Colo(u)r by Josef Albers - whilst I write the chapter about using colour in stranded knitting for my own book. Highly recommend the Albers book if you fancy a really deep dive into how and why colours behave so differently, depending on their neighbours.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisletechniques #fairisleknitting #fairisledesign #fairislefriday
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141 2

thetwistedyarn

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Mar 11

Open
Good morning, lovely people. Isn't knitting just the BEST distraction?
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisleknitting #Fairisle #knitdesigner #knitspo #stylecraftspecial #stylecraftspecialdk #knitspiration #fairislefriday #garn #strikke #virkning

Good morning, lovely people. Isn`t knitting just the BEST distraction?
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisleknitting #Fairisle #knitdesigner #knitspo #stylecraftspecial #stylecraftspecialdk #knitspiration #fairislefriday #garn #strikke #virkning
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302 9

thetwistedyarn

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Aug 15

Open
I usually just post stuff like this at my garden account - @the.twisted.garden - but I thought you might appreciate the colour. 
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Love this time of year, because there are so many different crops to be picked. Today: cabbage, beans, peas, broccoli, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, patty pan squash, opium poppies (for seed), plums, Japanese wineberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Yum.

I usually just post stuff like this at my garden account - @the.twisted.garden - but I thought you might appreciate the colour.
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Love this time of year, because there are so many different crops to be picked. Today: cabbage, beans, peas, broccoli, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, patty pan squash, opium poppies (for seed), plums, Japanese wineberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Yum.
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263 23

thetwistedyarn

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Apr 16

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Kittens sitting in the crocheted garden. By the way, someone pointed out that there's a fake account pretending to be me: it's at thetwistedyarn_  I can't view it because they've blocked me, but if any kind soul would be kind enough to report it, I'd be very grateful. Thank you, my Fine Fibrous Friends!

Kittens sitting in the crocheted garden. By the way, someone pointed out that there`s a fake account pretending to be me: it`s at thetwistedyarn_ I can`t view it because they`ve blocked me, but if any kind soul would be kind enough to report it, I`d be very grateful. Thank you, my Fine Fibrous Friends! ...

299 75

thetwistedyarn

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Jan 29

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There's a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com, or see link in comments.

There`s a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com, or see link in comments. ...

187 0

thetwistedyarn

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Nov 22

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Crunching numbers for a pattern for @stylecraftyarns . Crunch, crunch, crunch. I love-hate this stage. 
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#knitdesigner #stylecraftyarns #stylecraft #nevernotknitting #knittingpatterns #knittingpattern #yarn #garn #strikke #virkning #strikkedilla #knitspo #knitspiration #winterknitting

Crunching numbers for a pattern for @stylecraftyarns . Crunch, crunch, crunch. I love-hate this stage.
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#knitdesigner #stylecraftyarns #stylecraft #nevernotknitting #knittingpatterns #knittingpattern #yarn #garn #strikke #virkning #strikkedilla #knitspo #knitspiration #winterknitting
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113 3

thetwistedyarn

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May 3

Open
New blog post! See thetwistedyarn.com or link in bio. Warning: contains personal inadequacy and failure.

New blog post! See thetwistedyarn.com or link in bio. Warning: contains personal inadequacy and failure. ...

228 8

thetwistedyarn

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May 27

Open
Fancy a new blog post? See link in bio or visit thetwistedyarn.com. @novitaknits

Fancy a new blog post? See link in bio or visit thetwistedyarn.com. @novitaknits ...

83 1

thetwistedyarn

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Aug 3

Open
Previous design didn't work, but this one will. This is FUN.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #knittersofinsta #strandedknitting #virkning #garn #strikke #strikkedilla #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting #fairisleknitting #fairisle @stylecraftyarns #stylecrafthighlandheathers

Previous design didn`t work, but this one will. This is FUN.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #knittersofinsta #strandedknitting #virkning #garn #strikke #strikkedilla #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting #fairisleknitting #fairisle @stylecraftyarns #stylecrafthighlandheathers
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271 12

thetwistedyarn

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Nov 2

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Knitting on the rug beside the first fire of the season.

Knitting on the rug beside the first fire of the season. ...

175 7

thetwistedyarn

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Mar 16

Open
There's a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (or see link in bio). It's a little different from normal, as it pays tribute to my recently deceased aunt. But don't worry, normal yarny shenanigans will resume next post. 
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#copingwithgrief #grief #funeral

There`s a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (or see link in bio). It`s a little different from normal, as it pays tribute to my recently deceased aunt. But don`t worry, normal yarny shenanigans will resume next post.
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#copingwithgrief #grief #funeral
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148 8

thetwistedyarn

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Dec 14

Open
There's a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (or see link in bio). Just sayin'.

There`s a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (or see link in bio). Just sayin`. ...

162 3

thetwistedyarn

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Jun 2

Open
Places you can knit: deep underground in a cave!
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#knittinginpublic #knitinpublic #placesyoucanknit @novitaknits

Places you can knit: deep underground in a cave!
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#knittinginpublic #knitinpublic #placesyoucanknit @novitaknits
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109 0

thetwistedyarn

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Mar 5

Open
New blog post, right here: https://thetwistedyarn.com/2022/03/05/blue-and-yellow/

New blog post, right here: https://thetwistedyarn.com/2022/03/05/blue-and-yellow/ ...

174 4

thetwistedyarn

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Oct 31

Open
There's a new blog post in town. See link in bio or explore thetwistedyarn.com.

There`s a new blog post in town. See link in bio or explore thetwistedyarn.com. ...

157 5

thetwistedyarn

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May 22

Open
Sunday morning stitchery, fuelled by green tea. Watching insects bumbling about amongst the #nomowmay grass. Enjoying @novitaknits yarn.

Sunday morning stitchery, fuelled by green tea. Watching insects bumbling about amongst the #nomowmay grass. Enjoying @novitaknits yarn. ...

138 3

thetwistedyarn

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Jul 26

Open
For those of you remember Robyn-the-robin (my cheeky avian friend who fed from my hand and generally bossed me about for two summers), you may be interested in this. Here's a fledgling robin who hasn't even got his/her red chest yet, but follows me VERY closely around the garden. We've just had a little chat over some mealworms, and I'm optimistic that we'll be friends. 
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#robin #gardenbirds #tamebirds #gardenforwildlife

For those of you remember Robyn-the-robin (my cheeky avian friend who fed from my hand and generally bossed me about for two summers), you may be interested in this. Here`s a fledgling robin who hasn`t even got his/her red chest yet, but follows me VERY closely around the garden. We`ve just had a little chat over some mealworms, and I`m optimistic that we`ll be friends.
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#robin #gardenbirds #tamebirds #gardenforwildlife
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573 36

thetwistedyarn

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Jun 1

Open
Knitting and walking in the sunshine. ❀ 
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#knitspo #knitspiration #knitinpublic #knittinginpublic #knittingandwalking  #nevernotknitting @novitaknits #novitaknits #knitdesigner

Knitting and walking in the sunshine. ❀
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#knitspo #knitspiration #knitinpublic #knittinginpublic #knittingandwalking #nevernotknitting @novitaknits #novitaknits #knitdesigner
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130 2

thetwistedyarn

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May 11

Open
View from a sofa, as I contemplate ideas for a new blog post (that'll doubtless take weeks to be drafted and re-re-re-re-re-drafted).

View from a sofa, as I contemplate ideas for a new blog post (that`ll doubtless take weeks to be drafted and re-re-re-re-re-drafted). ...

168 18

thetwistedyarn

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May 2

Open
I finished designing a thing. @novitaknits yarns are lush. πŸ™‚
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedknitting #strandedcolorwork #fairisletechniques #fairislefriday #fairisledesign #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting #novitaknits #novita #garn #strikkedilla #strikke #virkning #knitspo #knitspiration

I finished designing a thing. @novitaknits yarns are lush. πŸ™‚
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedknitting #strandedcolorwork #fairisletechniques #fairislefriday #fairisledesign #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting #novitaknits #novita #garn #strikkedilla #strikke #virkning #knitspo #knitspiration
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352 48

thetwistedyarn

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Aug 3

Open
New blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (see link in bio). Includes happy times with fellow Stylecraft Blogstars.

New blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (see link in bio). Includes happy times with fellow Stylecraft Blogstars. ...

159 10

thetwistedyarn

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May 9

Open
My implausibly awesome friend @buttonspickles has just published this sock pattern. This a woman who seriously knows her cables and her socks, so this pattern is worth checking out. There's a link in her bio for purchase.

My implausibly awesome friend @buttonspickles has just published this sock pattern. This a woman who seriously knows her cables and her socks, so this pattern is worth checking out. There`s a link in her bio for purchase. ...

109 4
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