Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy

In a world of never ending happiness
Told deep in every lies
I heard the old man hollering
To the flowers that have died

He told them of their stories
Of hate and those unloved
Simplifying anger just to make a point

Can you see the trees and how they are the same?
Some are covered in orange leaves and some are covered in rain

Can you see the grass beneath the trees?
And the texture of their blade
All this anger built up
Yet the wind still makes them sway

Butterflies take to the sky
In all their different shapes and sizes
Singing songs of laughter and other songs of disaster

Up fly the moths with their grey colour cloths sings similar songs about their lot
Which one of them is the wiser? Which one is not?

Oh please, old man who speaks
Tell me what is true?
Why is passion and opinions always hiding behind dispute?

Can it be from what you see?
Everyone needs a victory
Regardless of the message, regardless of the Hypocrisy

Old man sits down on a rock
Holds his hands out to the Sun and the clock
Simplifying matters is as foolish as it is not
He sighs at the coming rain and the pebbles glistening in the stream
Whispers words to the Northern skies of hope forever lost

It is true, the flowers of blue
There will never be an end
Not when one and the other will not see they are the same.

He lays down his weary head and turns away from sight
Wonder what will become of those silly flowers that died.
~Deena Thomson~

The View Outside

The View Outside

I look out this window

At the great big world out there

And I really have to wonder

Is there anyone left who cares

The years of life keep passing, each day and each year

And with it, I can’t help it

Is this growing, knowing despair

Can it really be, this ugly?

Is there no kindness anywhere?

Is mankind always hateful, no matter who we are?

Can this be? This reality?

Humanity crashing down on its knees

Over zealots people overjoyed by other’s dark deeds

I sit back from the window with my heart beating low

Darkness all around me chills me to the bone

I wonder where’s the happiness gone and if it was ever there

And I shutter by the coldness of all that hate steals

Can it be? This reality?

Humanity crashing down on its knees

Hopeless, hateful people

Saturating every once of air we breathe.

A small hand reaches up from the darkness

Holds a necklace made of weeds

Here’s a dandelion promise

That I will be good and work hard to be kind

Don’t let the darkness suck you up

Don’t let the hate win

Take my hand Mommy,

We have to try again

It can’t be? This reality?

Not all humanity is on their knees

Hopeful, loving people are still trying to breath

Stand up

Close the window

Hold the hand of the Jeweler

I can’t stop the hateful

But I can change my view for his future

~Deena Thomson~

Scarlett's Moppet sweater

My friend Serena wanted a sweater from a popular pattern that I have eyed myself for some years. She really wanted one for her new daughter Scarlett. The problem was the sweater she wanted didn't come in the size she wanted which is size 12-18months. This isnt' really a problem but a good excuse for me to tackle the sweater and see if I could come up with the same look all on my own. 

I enjoy these challenges. In fact I kind of OCD on the idea that I can make the item based on just looking at it. It's like my crack.

Now the thing we both really loved about this classic swing coat, is the pattern on the bottom trim of the coat and sleeves and around the hood. This was really the only challenge to create the look we wanted, since I was going to use the pattern Moppet By Norah Gaughan that I found free on Raverly to actually construct the sweater. I would then add a hood instead of a collar at the end.

Interestingly enough it didn't take me long to find the stitch pattern on several free patterns to create dishcloths. It's a simple yet very effective Basket stitch. 

And so I began. I have to say I really am pleased how it turned out and really wish I could try it on a 1 yr old asap!! But alas I don't know any 1 yr olds near me right now, so I will just have to wait till Scarlett is old enough to fit into her Moppet with a hood sweater.

Think I may do this for my girl but alter the Libby pattern by leslie friend -- I would want it much longer than the Libby pattern. But there are a few swing coat patterns out there I really like. So who knows.

Here are my notes of what I did to to achieve the sweater.

Basket stitch

Row 1 (wrong side): Purl.

Row 2 (right side) k3, slip 1 with yarn in back(wyib), k3, repeat from to end of row.

Row 3: , slip 1 wyib, k2, slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), k3, repeat from to end of row.

Rows 4 and 5: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.

Row 6: knit.

Row 7: slip 1 wyib, purl.

skirt section

Repeat Rows 2 – 7 for 6 repeats ending with a Row 5. 
Next Row (right side- knit)until total from cast on measures 8 inches decrease 10 stitches evenly across- every 17 rows or so. for a total of 10 (165 stitches) 

Starting on WS 
about 1.5/2 inches of basket weave before arm 
11 inches arm to bottom counting hemline (total skirt area around 11 inches.

Start instructions for sleeves but use 12 month instructions for sleeves binding off but 18months for length)8.5 inches for sleeves not the length given in Moppet pattern

added hood by picking up 55 stitches starting from front openig- (5 stitches) then 6 across shoulder, 33 across back, then 6 across shoulder and 5 across front

two repeats of basket weave in font shaping face, 
in mid center repeated increases 4 stitches every 3 or 4th row until I had 67 stitches total then knit unti piece measured 9.5 inches turned it inside out and did a 3 needle bind off.

I hope that makes sense for anyone interested in achieve the same look!

Chapter 14 of The Last Boy

Chapter 14 of The Last Boy is now up! HERE

 

Also my other book Poppies is availble to download as  free ebook HERE

Little Princess hat DONE

I finally finished my third attempt at the little princess' bonnet, just in time to see several version online already. That is ok, I needed to get my ocd out of my system and I knew I could construct this bonnet if I tried. Since I was half way done with this final hat I decided to add my own twist to it and not worry about it being exact.

 

Here is what I did

3-6month (this fits a newborn but stretches to fit up to 6 months)

Sock yarn of choice (I used  Patons Kroy sock yarn in FLAX)

Five 2.75 dpns

I am not going to be really formal here since there are more than one pattern out there and growing. 

THESE  are my notes in the rough. NOT a offical pattern.

Bonnet

Provisional Cast 40 stitches--

Row 1- knit

Row 2-knit to last 13 rows place marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2

Row 3- knit 2, purl 3, knit 2, purl 3, knit 2, purl 1, knit remaining row

Row 4- knit to marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2

Row 5- knit 2, place working yarn in front, slip next stitch as though to purl, purl 2 stitches, slip slip stitch over, last two purled stitch, (PSSO), knit 2, slip next stitch as though to purl, purl 2 stitches, slip slip stitch over, last two purled stitch, (PSSO), knit two, purl one, slip marker knit remaining rows

Row 6- knit to marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit1, y/o, knit 1, purl 2, knit 1, y/o, knit 1, purl 2

Repeat rows 3-6 until piece measures 8/10/12 inches

Cut yarn and leave stitches on spare needle

Go to top on side of hat (cables will be horizontal now and at the top- in center pick up 17  stitches above the cabling

With separate dpns pick up 20 stitches on either sides of the 17 middle ones

Knit back and forth for 30 rows- (you can k2toger on end of row for each side but I found one side had nice ridge and other looked messy every time I did it so I decided to seam the sides together instead and make sure I had a nice even ridge on either side.

Pick up the remaining stitches on provincial cast on stitches-40/17/40

Starting on WS- knit one stitch then  knit in st st for 6 more rows then purl one row knit in st st for 6 rows cut yarn very long and grab bottom of stitch where front band began and put tapestry needle through first stitch on needle pull off and repeat till end so that hat brim is folded and sewn together

Cast on 4 stitches, icord for 10 inches do not cut yarn

Pick up 45 stitches on bottom of hat (pick up the little bump ridges caused from the garter stitch) with needle holding 10inch icord continue to do I-cord bind off across the 45 stitches, then I-cord another 10 inches for other side of strap

Cut yarn and weave in ends

That's it! I hope it makes sense! It doesn't look that great until it is on a head then it is adorable.

I also have instructions for worsted yarn and different sizes

3/6/9 months

here they are!

with 3.5mm dpns

Provisional Cast 28 stitches-

Row 1- knit

Row 2-knit to last 13 rows place marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2

Row 3- knit 2, purl 3, knit 2, purl 3, knit 2, purl 1, knit remaining row

Row 4- knit to marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2

Row 5- knit 2, place working yarn in front, slip next stitch as though to purl, purl 2 stitches, slip slip stitch over, last two purled stitch, (PSSO), knit 2, slip next stitch as though to purl, purl 2 stitches, slip slip stitch over, last two purled stitch, (PSSO), knit two, purl one, slip marker knit remaining rows

Row 6- knit to marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit1, y/o, knit 1, purl 2, knit 1, y/o, knit 1, purl 2

Repeat rows 3-6 until piece measures 8/10/12 inches

Cut yarn and leave stitches on spare needle

Go to top on side of hat (cables will be horizontal now and at the top- in center pick up 15/17/20  stitches above the cabling

With separate dpns pick up  stitches on either sides of the middle ones

Knit back and forth picking up a stitch on either side of the 0 stitches until there are no more sitches

Pick up the remaining stitches on provincial cast on stitches-

stitches around face knit in st st for 6 rows then purl one row knit in st st for 6 rows cut yarn very long and grab bottom of stitch where front band began and put tapestry needle through first stitch on needle pull off and repeat till end so that hat brim is folded and sewn together

Cast on 4 stitches, icord for 10 inches do not cut yarn

Pick up 35 stitches on bottom of hat (pick up the little bump ridges caused from the garter stitch) with needle holding 10inch icord continue to do I-cord bind off across the 30/35/ stitches, then I-cord another 10 inches for other side of strap

Cut yarn and weave in ends

 Not sure how well the different sizes are going to work out. Haven't played with it enough and now my ocd is calmed and I don't feel like knitting on it anymore. That's what happens with me. I am all fired up until... I am not. 

HAHA! 

Probably some errors in there also but it's not an offical pattern. Just my rough notes.

Chapter 13 of the Last Boy

Chapter 13 of the Last boy is now up HERE

A bonnet fit for a Princess

Let me start off by saying this. I LOVE that BONNET. It is gorgeous and as a knitter I instantly want to knit one.

I love the blanket too but the bonnet is what I am attracted to more. I want it! I do not have a baby in my future to knit it for but that is besides the point. There are always going to be babies that need an adorable bonnet.

I really find moms are going back to the classics and this bonnet (and blanket) hit the spot. I haven't a clue what the new little princess' name is but her little knitted ensemble is to die for. A perfect gift for an expectant mother.


So that said, I was up till 2 am trying to knit this little hat up. I need to work through some quirks and I didn't pick a great yarn for the prototype- it looks like it would fit a 6 month old not a newborn but I think I am very close!


I am assuming eventually there will be an official pattern release from the real designer? I hope so. This little bonnet is a keepsake in the making.


Update! First prototype pictures- It fits a 6 month old, and I should have used different yarn, the model is a doll so the ears are pastic and stick out- also not sure if what I did for the cabling is correct as in the original. Can't think of what other type of cabling it would be??

Anyways here are the first pictures of my first attempt