Monday, September 28, 2015

Progress. I got up the hill to John Lewis yesterday and bought the square pillowcases, and on to Thornton's for a large and luxurious-looking box of chocs. It feels like a day gained. I mustn't waste it.

Today's job is to decide on new tables, and perhaps purchase. My husband will need something better beside the bed than a chair piled high with books. We often eat in front of the television, with plates balanced on our knees. He will need something more secure for that purpose.

I left the rugby yesterday at half-time, to set out on my shopping trip. Scotland were trailing the USofA ignominiously. After buying the pillowcases I went to the electronics dept, because my husband fancies he wants a tablet. Everyone had abandoned the pursuit of electronic delights in favour of standing around the big television sets to watch Scotland score an important try. I got home in time to see the final one. Another secure win. Next we play the mighty South Africa – who were recently humbled by Japan.

Lots is about to happen. Alexander will be here tomorrow to interview a private care-provider, and again on Friday, perhaps with Ketki, for the great Homecoming. And James and Cathy will arrive that evening for the weekend, staying in Greek Helen's nearby flat and promising me a Japanese take-away (=carry-oot) from Bonsai.

Knitting

I finished the second Dunfallandy square and cast on the third. I tried to spend the evening curled up with Downton Abbey and the sleeveless vest, but found it boring and went to bed. The vest is at that stage where no matter how much one knits, there is still an inch and a half to go before the underarm.

Flipboard likes to insert amongst the items relating to knitting, a list of other topics I might be interested in. I often click through to Personal Organising, just for a giggle. But I've signed up for something called 101 Days To Christmas and am trying to follow its programme. A suggestion is emailed every day, most of them, so far, irrelevant in my situation. But I have found the gift list, as suggested, and made sure it has been successfully ported over to the current computer.

And now they suggest I think about knitting things for people. They phrase it more generally: “craft”.

I doubt very much if there'll be time this year. But I remembered that I have mentioned the dread word here a couple of times, and I tracked the references down. One was the big cowl on the cover of the latest VK – the pattern stitch is too fiddly, I fear, on close inspection. The other was felted slippers from Arne & Carlos' new book, which I haven't seen yet.

Can you felt things in a front-loading washing machine? I've often wanted to try, but have never actually attempted it.


And there's that nice two-colour cabled scarf on the cover of the new Rowan book.

Non-knit

Here is a link -- if it works -- to a YouTube video of last weekend's wedding. I didn't spot myself anywhere, but it's first rate for the feel and look of the day.

18 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:41 AM

    I've felted things in my front loader. Put it on a high temperature wash and add something to help the process such as a large towel. Works perfectly
    liz phillips

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  2. Anonymous9:41 AM

    I've felted things in my front loader. Put it on a high temperature wash and add something to help the process such as a large towel. Works perfectly
    liz phillips

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doesn't the water spill out when you open the door to check how much your item has felted? That's what I've always heard, and why I haven't looked at front-loaders . . . .

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  3. Anonymous9:53 AM

    Sorry Jean. I must have pressed publish twice
    Liz

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  4. Make sure the table will fit over the required chair comfortably - a lot of them won't. For the over the bed one, will a portion of it tilt so that your husband can read comfortably? And will it be wide enough to go fully over the bed - the smaller ones are not much use if you want to read or eat in bed. The same applies to the over the chair one.
    The disadvantage of felting in a front loader is that you can't check the progress and thus control the size of the finished article so well. You can felt in a tumble dryer if you put, say, a pair of jeans in with the article.

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  5. My mother really likes the lap trays with a bean bag layer underneath. Exciting times in the rugby world cup!

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  6. I am sure I saw you in the wedding video, Jean--about 1:40, sitting in the front pew, glimpsed behind The groom standing at the front of the church. Thank you for sharing it--it's a joy to see you at a long-awaited day. I'm so glad you made it! Good luck with your husband's homecoming--I hope it all goes smoothly.

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  7. Some excellent shots of the pocket square and the Unst shawl in action. Felting in the top loader is challenging, as Hat said, there is very little control. I made visit to the laundromat for my last felting adventure.

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  8. A beautiful wedding!
    So glad you went!

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  9. What a grand time everyone looks like they are having, thanks for sharing it!

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  10. GrannyPurple2:05 PM

    And the cake is exuberant perfection!

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  11. I too am sure I saw you there. Oh the flowers - the heather headpieces, and her bouquet is seasonal flowers that could be from my garden. Lovely!

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  12. Anonymous6:20 PM

    So glad you'll be supported on Homecoming Day. Thanks for the wedding link - looks like such a lovely, intimate ceremony, and such a fun party.
    - Beth in Ontario

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  13. Anonymous7:46 PM

    The Wedding Video is terrific. What a nice, relaxed, happy time. Your family sure knows how to party - wish I'd been there.
    Carol in San Diego, CA
    FYI: I think I spied you dancing a jig with one of those too-many-men.

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  14. I have felted in a front loading machine but would never do it again as the fuzz and fluff blocked my washing machine up and I ended up paying a hefty repair bill. Hot hand wash and soak and tumble drying is an alternative but it is hard work and time consuming so I do not felt anymore well not on purpose anyway!

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  15. Anonymous9:02 PM

    How is Dunfallandy pronounced?

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  16. =Tamar11:21 PM

    I have fulled (not quite felted) a dozen or so hats, though not in a front-loader. Since the fuzz will clog a washer, I always put the hat inside a zippered pillow cover; before I had one, I hand-basted a pillowcase together with the hat inside it. The zipper makes it easier to check the progress of the felting.

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  17. The wedding looks to have been a lovely happy day and very Scottish. Thank you for sharing. I did see you, per the comment above, at 1:40. A front loader worked in felting slippers and hats but not as convenient as my old top loader. The back/forth agitation of the top loader seemed to add a certain tightness to the fabric.

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