It’s difficult to blog when the knitting is trundling along without any major catastrophes. There’s only so much anecdotal mileage to be had from, “I’m knitting another colour combination of a skirt for the book and yeah, it seems to be going OK so far.” Here it is, in case you’re curious. It looks a lot less terrifyingly yellow in reality:-
Please don’t get me wrong. I don’t sit here hoping that my knitting will spontaneously combust just so that I can write about the experience. But if my knitting did – heaven forbid – burst into flames, then my second thought on the matter, immediately after I’d got off the phone to the fire brigade, would be, “Well at least I’ll get a blog post out of this.” I can’t help it; it’s just how your mind works when you’ve been blogging for seven years. That’s probably not a healthy thing, but it’s undeniably a thing.
So here, with no amusing sidenotes at all, is another skirt-to-be, worked in Rowan Felted Tweed. I’ll be sure to let you know if it catches fire or if I notice that I accidentally knitted sleeves into its waistband.
Meanwhile enter stage left the twinnage, aka two nine-year-old boys with far too much time on their hands. One of them became a keen baker during lockdown (I’ve had to increase my running mileage to compensate) and now he and his brother have opened a cafe in our kitchen. There is a yarny component to this tale, I promise.
They decided there was a need for staff uniforms, so I was roped in to help. I love the fact that a little yarnery enables us to make our children’s wishes come true. Well, perhaps not the children’s real wishes which involve unlimited screen time and chocolate, but their second-level wishes, at least. I began to crochet, and then I pinned and sewed:-
The twinnage both declared themselves satisfied with the results.
Given the exorbitant prices that the twinnage charge in their cafe, I’m glad my minimise-covid-anxiety plan involved growing ALL THE VEGETABLES in our little garden.
I can avoid being fleeced in my own kitchen by wandering outside to graze on various beans and tomatoes and plums and lettuce and a couple of dozen other crops, all whilst feeding mealworms to my friend Robyn-the-robin.
It feels like a strange time, now we’ve moved from proper-lockdown to semi-maybe-slightly-lockdown, where lots of things are officially permitted but are probably still not wise. I hope you’re surviving the experience?
We’re taking a cautious approach here at Twisted Towers, but we realize we’re fortunate to have the countryside on our doorstep. I’m running plenty, although my wonky ankle would prefer that I didn’t.
We’ll get through this, though, won’t we? One day soonish, the craziness of 2020 will be in the past, and most of us will still be here, and we’ll look back on these days with a sigh and an eye-roll.
In the meantime, please look after yourselves, my fine fibrous friends.
Phil x
Hi, thank you for another entertaining blog post, sometimes it’s good to know things can just go smoothly if not in life then at least in knitting. The skirt looks absolutely beautiful, I hope it’s path continues to run smoothly. Best wishes to all at twisted towers from Helen x
First, do you have the skirt pattern memorized yet? Of course they all are stunning and so far beyond my skills these days. My last knitting project with intricate color changes was a globe sweater for Thing 1. These days I want simple as I spend my days gardening for hours with the harvesting and now planting the cold weather crops for the fall. We started spring in lock down and as fall approaches we too are allowed some activities but the darn covid numbers keep climbing because large gatherings aren’t following the safety protocols. Our rural county here in southern Michigan, USA was doing well until last week when a church camp infected 21 including children.
At least my crafting is keeping me mostly sane and now I have one more project to finish before I (gasp) start Christmas presents. Love the Twisted Cafe, what an easy way to include math, science, penmanship and manners into the twinages’ day.
Your posts always leave me with a smile even when you just share the little things. Thank you. Teresa
Surely there was some bartering done…… provision of uniforms for provision of fine baked goods……?
I missed a trick there, didn’t I?!
I love this skirt so much, I can’t wait to make one for myself. When is the book out?
Thank you. You’re very kind. The book was due spring 2021, but the publisher seems to be in a tiny spot of financial trouble right now. I will say more once I can…
I always love to read your blogs. Even if the knitting is going smoothly. I’m living in the middle of COVID chaos here in Southern California. It wonderful to see your pictures and read about what’s going on in your part of the world. I only have tomatoes and yellow squash in my patch of dirt. But oh my! It keeps me happy to putter outside in it. Stay safe and can’t wait to read more about your smooth knitting! Thanks, Lynn
I bet those tomatoes will be gorgeous in the Californian sunshine, though. Please stay safe…
That pathway ! – only in England ..
I smiled as soon as I saw your post in my Inbox: left it till last, as always.
The twinnage’s creativity is wonderful – I mean the idea (everything else would be down to you, I realize); and I am impressed to see the straightness and width of the young shoulders of half of them. Your heart must swell, Phil.
If you were designing a skirt for moi if would be A-line and Very Long; so it’s as well for you that you don’t have to include large ladies in your plans. Besides, the last time I wore a skirt was in 1976 – I remember it clearly.
Sighh ..
The beans look pretty drool-worthy !
I should prefer a NEW photo of you; but even I can understand that there aren’t the necessary people around to take one. Not too long now, perhaps – for you lot up there. Meanwhile, we down here in Victoria are hanging our heads in shame as we progress further along the charts as The Worst State in terms of cases.
Sighhhh ..
I forgot to ask you to please convey my best to your tiny friend with very thin legs – and also to ask if the mealworms are live or dead ?
Beautiful skirt in all its color variations. I see you have a handful of “broad” beans?!? Like scarlet runners? I grow them mainly for the hummingbirds. How do you cook the beans?
Think of the stories you can tell your grandchildren about the time we lived through …
That skirt looks amazing! It would be a shame if it caught fire. Or suddenly sprouted sleeves. Or -gasp!- even pockets…
that path might warrant a blog post of it’s own…or perhaps be the next twisted knitted mandala type thing. I love the skirt with the swirls moving into the different colorways.
You made my day. I’m a twin, too, so I automatically love all twin stories. But your stories I love way beyond twin stories. You are a great writer. I want to buy your book when it is available. Thank you for once again making my day.
I so enjoy the way you write. I’m a lot older than you and I thought life would slow down a bit but that hasn’t happened yet so I don’t have as much time to knit as I would like. That’s where you come in and I get to see your beautiful work and hear about your wonderful life and family. Your book will be much appreciated when it’s ready. I really want to make your skirt for my daughter. Take care and be safe
Hello!
I agree with M-R about those healthy young shoulders! Love the Twinnage’s creativity in the kitchen too.
Your smooth knitting astonishes me. The intricacies of the patterns must require a lot of concentration? Or will you confess to being able watch telly, chat and do the family accounts at the same time?!
Poor Robyn looks a bit ropey. Is she in moult? She looks quite thin too. I hope she is ok and simply tired raising her brood(s).
The path picture is a beautiful. Helps the mind wander along, imagining where and what it might lead to.
I meant to comment on your last post with the great pix of the yarn bombing. Brilliant community efforts to great effect. I bet the whole project gave a real lift to any housebound people who could see any of the works from indoors – they seem pretty well scattered around the very pretty village.
As others have said above, your posts always bring a smile Phil. Thankyou so much.
What a beautiful path! Looks very peaceful and cool!
The colorwork skirt is coming along Beautifully! As for all the rest…knitting 4ever, housework whenever. That includes crochet or X-stitch or whatever. That pathway looks delightful & U probably wouldn’t hav to don a mask. The same issues continue here in Houston, cowboy hats & masks, we’re beginning to look like Billy the Kid. Stay safe & take care
That path, and the coolness – we could really do with that here in the city centre. Mind you, being among Victorian terraces means there is usually shade to be had somewhere!
The veg look amazing. I think you’re doing well putting in things for next year. Even if they get working vaccines up and running we’re going to need Kale next year. With the twinnage charging exorbitant prices in their A&Mazing cafe, you’re going to need it!
I’m not doing Large Knitting at the moment though, too hot & smothering. Well done you!
I love the skirt pattern and think it would be fun to knit. My only problem with a skirt is the bagging sagging factor. How do you deal with that after you’ve sat down in it? Maybe working in two colors helps keep it firm. Would love to know your thoughts on that issue.
Fab Phil! Xx
Your boys sound adorable! I love their uniforms. That is a beautiful running path. I love finding spots like that!
I described my sister-in-law’s mosaic grouting under my inexpert tutelage today as ‘blog-fodder’ since it’ll be my second post in a row to feature her!
Also – separate side note – that path looks like the levadas (water channels) in Madeira – do have a Google!
Your boys seem to have your energy, creativity, and humor. As for Robyn, she is looking rather ‘end of summer’ isn’t she? I hope she returns for mealworms again next year.
If you waited until your home was ready, you’d never get anything creative done. I’ve taken that notion to the extreme, but I do get a lot of fiber-related things finished.
I started writing a daily email to a group of friends at the start of the stay-at-home orders. I live in the northern California foothills and we’re very scattered. Anyway, I started writing a daily letter just to keep in touch and let people know how I’m feeling and what I’ve been doing -like a blog without pictures and every . single . day. I wrote #142 or 143 this afternoon. They won’t let me stop no matter how boring I make them.
Your posts are always lovely. Good job. Your skirts are wonderful too.