Thursday 25 April 2019

In The Making - April 2019

A roundup of the things I'm working on at the moment.

To be honest, I haven't done much knitting at all since my mum died. My time has been limited because of everything we've had to do as well as spending much more time with my dad, and also the desire to do anything has just dropped. I've picked my needles up a few times but they've been put back down again before I've really got much done.


I started a new pair of socks before my mum died. I'd seen a couple of people using this Bergere de France Goomy 50 in the Imprim Jaune colourway and really liked it so I treated myself to some. I've gone with a plain sock this time as I think there's enough pattern in the colour. I'm dressing them up a bit with a twisted rib cuff and an eye of partridge heel which I'll show you once they're a bit further on.


I managed to start one of the sleeves on the cardigan before my mum died but haven't done much more since. Sleeves aren't my favourite things to knit so I definitely haven't been reaching for this project in the last few weeks.

I'm sure my knitting mojo will slowly return as I come to terms with the loss of my mum. I think I need to begin a new project to get me on my way. Watch this space.

36 comments:

  1. I love your sock yarn, I agree with you the colour is enough design on the sock. I not a fan of knitting sleeves. I have to finish my shawl and hubbys sock, then I have crochet to do.

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    1. I've seen a couple of people knit socks from this yarn and really liked it, though it's not as soft as some sock yarns, I don't mind that too much for socks. I'm not a fan of sleeves either and I'm not looking forward to picking up and knitting the neck band either.

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  2. Definitely need a new project!Is that a top down pattern for the car die?Can you recommend one?
    It will get better but you are still raw.Take care.Barbara

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    1. I've got a new project in mind, I just want to get a bit further on with the cardigan first though. The cardigan is top down and it's an easy pattern. This is the Shapely Boyfriend pattern by Stefanie Japel, free on Ravelry and it's easy and very straightforward. I'm trying to get back to a bit of normality now, it would be so easy to sit and wallow but I know my mum wouldn't want me to do that.

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  3. It takes time, Jo and it's hard to focus your mind on anything right now. You're not only dealing with your own grief, but your dad's and others as well. Take care of yourself and do whatever you need to do to help you cope. Best, Jane x

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    1. I'm trying to keep my mind occupied as it wanders to places I don't want it to go when I'm not doing anything. You're right about dealing with my dad's grief as well as my own, it's good in some ways as I've got something other than myself to focus on but hard in other ways too. They say that time is a great healer and that's all we can hope for.

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  4. I know how you feel believe me. Life will always be a bit different. I hope your dad is coping, good that he has you nearby.Take care x

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    1. My parents lived a few miles away from me until 2011 when they moved to within walking distance, now my dad is only about a fifteen or twenty minute walk away so it's good that he's close by. I think life being different is the thing we have to come to terms with when someone we love dies, it's so hard to imagine a life without them in it.

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  5. Great job on the knitting. I have not done any of that in a couple of yrs. Like you, I have not done any crafting, painting or anything like that in months since losing my mom. I do however have a wedding I am shooting coming up and there is a special prop I need to work on......I need to, I will do, I hope to get it done....

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    1. I'm sure the distraction of the special prop will help you to focus on something other than your grief. I know how you feel, it's all consuming, but at the moment my mind is filled with the last days of my mum's life and that's a place I don't want to go so if I can fill my thoughts with something else, it can only help.

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  6. I like the colourway of the socks, they will look good when finished. Your mojo will come back, you must give yourself time …

    All the best Jan

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    1. I'm not rushing myself into anything at the moment but distractions are helping me to achieve what I want to. As you say, I'm giving myself time.

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  7. Glad to see you are gradually getting back into things, Jo. It will take time. Love the colorway of those socks. Pam x

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    1. I must admit that my desire to do anything is pretty much non existent at the moment but trying to gain some sort of normality is helping.

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  8. Your sock yarn looks interesting, very pretty. Take care Cathy x

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    1. I really liked the look of this yarn when I saw a couple of other people using it. I'm a big fan of yellow anyway.

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  9. I'm sure your knitting will be a great help. The yellow wool is very unusual and really nice.

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    1. They say that crafting can be great therapy, I'm using it as a bit of a distraction at the moment and it's definitely helping.

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  10. The colourway in the socks is different, but oh so pretty. I need your expertise to focus on actually getting a pair started, let alone done! The way you are attacking those sleeves is interesting? Baby steps Jo, your feelings are a natural progression of loss. Take care & huggles.

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    1. You really must get on with a pair of socks, just think how toasty your feet will be through winter if they're wrapped up in snuggly yarn. I know there's various stages of grieving so I'm taking things slowly but at the moment it's good to have a distraction.

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  11. IT will come back. You need to be doing other things now. Its ok!

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    1. I can understand that my mind's on other things right now but it's good to have a distraction otherwise my thoughts wander to places I don't want them to go. It's how I'm coping at the moment.

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  12. A new project might be just the thing! Love your sock in progress.

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    1. I've got a new project in mind and I think it's definitely one I'll start in the not too distant future, I just want to progress with the cardigan a little further first otherwise I can see that being cast to one side.

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  13. Love your makes, Jo, that green yarn is so beautiful. I'm sending a big strong hug.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thank you. I'm a bit stuck on the cardigan at the moment, the sleeves aren't what I'd choose to work on at the best of times, but I'm enjoying picking up the sock now and then to work on.

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  14. Love both your projects, the sock yarn colourway is fab. I'm syure your mojo will come back, take care. x

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    1. It's such a fun colourway. I know my mojo will come back, I'm just picking my knitting up as and when I fancy it at the moment.

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  15. It's interesting to see how you're knitting the cardigan sleeve which I think is knitted all-in-one. I would love to be able to follow a knitting pattern. At times I've found plain knitting of a scarf therapeutic, crocheting too since I've learned that skill. A new project sounds like a good idea. I'm sure that'll be helpful and you can pick it up when you feel like it. Take care of yourself, Jo.

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    1. Yes, the cardigan sleeves are knit it the round, I'm using double pointed needles, so there's no sewing up at the end. I think crafting can be very therapeutic, especially plain knitting where you don't have to concentrate too hard. It's good to have things to pick up and work on when I feel like it at the moment.

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  16. Loving this new sock colourway, very springlike.
    Healing of the heart really does take some energy, more than we realise I think. Quiet moments are sometimes needed and i'm sure your knitting will give you comfort again in time to come.
    much love x

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    1. I know that knitting can really help in troubled times, I'm not feeling it really at the moment but I know my mojo will return in time.

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  17. Not sure what happened but it seems like I've missed a few of your posts, so now I'm catching up. I know what you mean about the enthusiasm for doing "normal" things just not being there - for me, it was a slow process & it took a long time to get back to it. The sock yarn is lovely - I think you made the right decision leaving them plain.

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    1. I think I've got that 'What's the point' mentality at the moment, normal things just don't seem important in the grand scheme of things. Just another of the grief stages I expect.

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  18. Love that sock yarn. Oh yes....start a new project.xxx

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    1. There's a new project on the needles now but not the one I was thinking of.

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