Stuck in Covid isolation, Kenn and I have found ourselves bingeing on Netflix or Foxtel. Now this is not necessarily a bad way to while away an afternoon or two or three but I’ve found there’s been some unintended consequences.
I think I’m in danger of turning into a social media meme because I couldn’t just sit or lie on the lounge and watch TV for an extended period of time. I obviously needed to build up my stamina for this new endeavour for I found myself taking lots of breaks to peruse the depths of the pantry or the fridge for a little something; preferably something I had just baked that morning, stashed in the darkest recesses of the freezer or opened the night before. All too soon, my jeans seemed a little tight. This had to stop. I had no desire to turn into a puffer fish. I still harboured dreams of being a svelte sardine!
So to stop my hands wandering on their merry way to my mouth and depositing inches on my hips, I opened the door to my craft cupboard where my yarn stash awaited. As I watched the first season of Prodigal Son, Locke and Key, and Ozark, caught up with some old favourites like Anne with an E and movies such as Ride like a Girl and Downton Abbey just to name a few, I’ve knitted and I’ve knitted. And without meaning to, everything I’ve knitted is a different shade of blue.
Happy with earlier efforts knitting with cotton and cotton blend yarns, I firstly finished a summer top for myself in Drops Paris, a cotton linen yarn which I had begun before Christmas and neglected. And I persuaded my daughter Melissa to model the finished project for me.
This is Sirdar pattern, 7972 and I knitted a size smaller than my usual size as I’ve found that cotton yarns give a little more with washing than wool. 
On the whole I’m pleased with the result even though it is a heavier weight than I thought it would be for a 8ply cotton blend. I would knit a top with sleeves next time to suit Byron’s Spring rather than a sleeveless top designed for Summer.
I was on a roll. Now it was time to knit something for the grand children. Such a joyful thing to do don’t you think?
I found the pattern on Lovecrafts. It is called Lil Rascal and is by West Yorkshire Spinners. I particularly like the neckline. There are no buttons etc and so it is very easy for little ones to put on themselves. I also like the easy cable panel of 0’s and X’s or as I like to call it hugs and kisses.
This is my hugs and kisses jumper. 
The yarn is a very lightweight sparkly acyrlic I got at Spotlight. years ago.
Next came a cardigan for Genevieve. I finished it in time for her birthday a couple of weeks ago. She turned 5! It seems just yesterday that Kenn and I were holding her for the first time in Perth! And she is still as lovely as she was then, a wonderful big sister to Frankie and Harriet. We were a little sad that we couldn’t be there to help blow out her candles but that’s Covid for you.
Once again I found the pattern and yarn on Lovecrafts. I knitted it in Willow and Lark’s Nest which is a beautiful blend of merino wool, cashmere and tencel. It is really lovely to knit with.
I couldn’t get the light right for this photo. The buttons are brighter than this 
I included this pic from the pattern so you could get a proper idea of the colour. It’s a beautiful deep royal blue. 
A simple pattern. I knitted the cardigan in one piece to the armholes then separated for the fronts and backs but other than that followed the pattern exactly.
Well with two knits for two of the girls, it was time for the boys. As many of you know I have two beautiful grandsons who serendipitously live here in Byron Bay. I thought it would be super cute to knit them matching jumpers but in different colourways. But instead of wool, I would knit them in cotton which suits our winter better.
After much deliberation and a long chat with my sister Jenny, I settled on a pattern by Oge Knitwear Designs. Again I purchased this pattern on Lovecrafts and downloaded it.
This is the first time that I have knitted anything with a collar. The pattern was very easy to follow 
The bamboo cotton yarn has a lovely sheen which makes the slip stitch pattern pop.
And then it was time for Jude’s. What colours do you pick for a Botticelli cherub?
Why white of course! The main section and second contrast is knitted in King Cole’s Bamboo Cotton while the first contrast is knitted in Drops Cotton Light. I think both jumpers look great but I personally prefer the feel of Jude’s jumper. Bamboo Cotton is a great yarn!
Practice makes perfect so they say and this collar went on even easier than Hudson’s. 
Anyone for tennis?
Restrictions are now beginning to ease and maybe it’s coincidental or maybe it’s my subconscious at work but my current project intended for Francesca, Genevieve’s sister, is ruby red! The Moody Blues have left the needles.
What have you’ve been crafting in lockdown?
Byron Dreamer 
Great writing mum!
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So glad you liked it but haven’t written anything since. Have to get busy.
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