Hello!
The last instalment in my series ‘Places to Sit and Knit’ was over 6 months ago, so high time for another one. It’s about an hour’s cycling from our home to get to the place I have in mind, along narrow roads and bicycle tracks. We’re cycling through Weerribben-Wieden National Park, the largest lowland bog in Northwest Europe.
It’s lovely, cycling here, but it’s also a warm day and I’m glad we’ve reached our destination. So, where exactly are we and why here? Well, look:
Today’s place to sit and knit is a very special bench in the village of Wanneperveen. The people living here have decorated it with mosaic, showing local highlights. The back shows a ewe with a lamb, a farmhouse, a bell tower and a monument with a stepped gable.
And this is what the front looks like:
We’re in an ordinary street, and the view from the bench isn’t very special either:
Today it’s all about the bench itself, or rather the Social Sofa, because that is what it is. The aim of the Social Sofa project is promoting social cohesion by working on a creative project together, as neighbours, and ending up with a beautiful place to meet and have a chat.
Here are some of the details that these people have so lovingly created together. Several black-and-white Friesian-Holsteins:
A mallard:
And a water lily flower, with leaves in many shades of blue and green, and the date:
I think it’s a lovely place to sit and knit and have a chat.
So, what is on your needles? Do you have anything on your needles at all? If not, why not? Do you feel uninspired or is it too hot for you to knit at this time of the year? What do you do if you’re not knitting? Crochet? Other crafts? Draw or write? Or do you give yourself a break from crafting and creativity? I’m really interested, so do leave a comment if you feel like it. If you don’t feel comfortable with that, just reading my writings quietly is fine, too.
And what have I got on my needles? Nothing very interesting, really. To be honest, big life events, even good ones, always unbalance me. No matter how wonderful and positive the birth of our grandson was, it had that effect on me, too. For a while I felt totally uninspired. But my hands need something to do, so first of all I finished every WIP (Work In Progress) in the house. When there was absolutely nothing on my needles anymore, I started with some simple and familiar things. First of all the most basic of socks.
Yarns (from left to right): Zitron ‘Trekking XXL’ shade 104, Lana Grossa ‘Landlust Die Sockenwolle’ shades 503, 406 and 501, and Regia ‘City Streets Color 4-ply’ shade 02898.
The Landlust ones have strange memories attached to them. I bought the yarn during a lockdown last year, when non-essential shops were only open by appointment and no more than 2 customers were allowed in simultaneously. It seems like a long time ago. Will it remain a thing of the past?
The next simple thing I cast on for was a stocking stitch Library Vest (with pockets – I love pockets) by a familiar designer. I had some dark blue tweed yarn left over from a cardigan, and was able to get three more skeins (in the same dye lot, yay!).
It’s a really nice project, but I’m writing this on a hot day, with a thunderstorm threatening. And just looking at this picture makes me feel like: what was I thinking, starting this woolly, tweedy thing at the beginning of summer?
And here is the third simple and familiar thing I started – another Thús 2.
I’ve knit this tiny house lace pattern so often now, that I can knit it in my dreams. I’m very happy with this as a summer project. It’s a summery colour, not too big and warm on my lap, and I can easily take it along.
That’s all of my knitting at the moment. I think it’s time for something a little more interesting now, but what? A more complicated knitting project? A detour into another craft? I don’t know yet, but ideas are starting to bubble again.
What do you think, shall we cycle on?
As of next week I’ll be looking after our sweet little grandson one day a week, when our daughter is going back to work. I’ve already spent two days at his home as a trainee and feel fairly confident that I can do it.
I don’t know what this means for my blog, though. I may be able to keep on publishing a blogpost once a week as before, or less frequently, or less regularly, or shorter posts. One thing I do know is that I will keep blogging – I enjoy it too much not to.
For the next couple of posts I have planned some textiles-filled cycling tours. I hope I can find the time and also that you’ll join me again. Bye for now! xxx
Another lovely posting!
When I’m not quilting, I’m knitting. I’m currently trying to finish the last 7 blocks for a quilt for my granddaughter, but I’m too wrapped up in a summer tee that I’ve started. It seems to be how I roll lately. If I was smart, I’d finish piecing right now & have the quilt on top of me this winter as I quilt it. Not sure that will work out though.
Enjoy spending the day with your grandson. Looking forward to your next blog.
That’s interesting – I don’t know many people who both knit and quilt. I wonder why that is? Finishing the blocks for your granddaughter now sounds sensible, but finishing your summer tee so that you may get to wear it this summer doesn’t sound like a bad idea either ;). I think, on the whole, it is a good thing to have several projects on the go, but it can be hard to choose what to work on first. Enjoy working on your projects!
How I love it that you ask! I rarely get the opportunity to expound on my knitting.
I’m knitting a tee from a lovely turquoise yarn, Malabrigo Susurro. I’m on my third attempt at least, and second pattern and finally I think I’m happy.
Stocking stitch would probably be the best alternative to show off the beautiful shades of the yarn but it’s too boring. My first attempt was a complicated lace pattern and the result was too busy.
Second attempt with a new pattern was more promising but the pattern called for yo’s in every row with a very holey result. My third attempt is to add alternating rows of stocking stitch to the pattern to fill it up a little.
It is taking loads of time, but after all knitting is a pastime, isn’t it?
You can talk to me about your knitting anytime! Malabrigo has lovely yarns. Haven’t come across Susurro yet, but I see that it is a nice and summery blend of fibres. It’s always a problem with those variegated yarns to get a nice result. Your solution of stocking stitch with some lace sounds as if it’ll look good and be enjoyable to knit too. It’ll be lovely and cool to wear.