Almost-autumn is here. The twinnage returned to school last week, with all the swagger that a matching pair of eight-year-olds in a small village school can muster. (Trust me, that's quite a lot of swagger.) Meanwhile here is a cormorant, having a scratch. The days are cooler, and no evening is complete until somebody has said "I can't believe it's dark already. Look! Look how dark it is! Just look, will you?!" Isn't it a beauty? It's been a low-achieving couple of months. Last Continue Reading
Soon
We're starting to see the odd teaser for Season Three (autumn) of 2019. It's surprisingly cool here this morning, and I'm wearing an actual jumper. Confession: I bought rather than knitted it, and one of the twinnage would like me to make him one, but I'm puzzled by what the stitch might be. Here's the front (left) and reverse (right). Any thoughts please, wise yarn-lovers? I'd love to oblige him by making one, especially as I fear we're reaching the end of the Mum-is-cool years, and fast Continue Reading
Summer
It's a controversial opinion, but I think long hot summer days are the best. When you've spent 99% of your life shivering into your knitwear, it's a marvellous luxury to be able to go outdoors - or even indoors - in short sleeves. And then there's the joy of pulling off your cardigan to reveal the wanton nakedness of only a single layer of stocking-stitched merino beneath. Look who's been busy laying eggs in the pond! The problem - in my case - is that it's too tempting to spend every Continue Reading
Outdoors Inspiration
I was browsing Facebook the other evening, when I came across this post by Koliber Anna Droździoł. Freeform crochet landscape dresses. How beautiful?! She's done a stupendously brilliant job. I love the exuberance, the colours, the technical skill, everything about this. (Also, I would so wear this.) It got me thinking, and now I'm wondering whether I should make a dress or a skirt based on the landscape around here in Oxfordshire. If you've been here for any longer than it takes the twinnage Continue Reading
Summer
Woah, a busy few days carpe-ing the diem with my delightfully crazy aunt who came to stay (and then a couple of days at work). I love my aunt. Having a vegetarian to stay (aka a herbivore, in the Toddler Twinnage's very carefully considered opinion after I explained that we wouldn't be eating any meat/fish for a few days) was a happy excuse to cook lots and lots of curry stuffed with veg and chickpeas, and to drink sparkling wine and talk about love. Not that vegetarians/herbivores have a Continue Reading
In Which Life Imitates Art. Or Vice Versa. Or Summat.
Well, I'm back. Properly back, but more on that later. The ridiculous thing was that in my IVF-befuddled state, I clean forgot to mention that my column is in this month's Simply Knitting. Here's a sneaky peek. I really must get on with writing the next one. Anyway, to the point of today's post... There comes a point in many big projects where the novelty of the early stages has well and truly worn off, but the end isn't yet sufficiently in view to draw you closer. You just have to keep on Continue Reading