It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

YorksLass

Thanks all for the suggestions for throws.  I've done quite a few knitted ones in the past, either long strips or squares sewn together and have even mastered the art of mitred squares that don't need sewing together - very useful since the sewing up part is the bit I don't enjoy.  I just thought I would challenge myself to a crocheted one as it's the one craft I've never mastered, despite my best efforts!     I know granny squares are supposed to be easy but, if they prove to be beyond my capabilities (and I suspect that may well be the case), I might try a straight forward stripe as per Katiehound's suggestion.  They are like cellular blankets aren't they, and I like the idea of knee blankets.

Jackie, I love the mental image of women knitting by the guillotine!   Like you, I find knitting very relaxing whilst listening to the radio or watching TV.  And I remember your tale about the much hated yellow and brown striped jumper!  Good idea too about sourcing cheap wool from CS, boot sales etc, although I'm finding of late that hand knitted garments seem to be conspicuous by their absence.  Sometimes though I can find odd balls of wool to add to the stash.

I also enjoy cross stitch and embroidery but find they take a bit more effort, especially when following a chart.  Plus my eyes aren't quite as sharp nowadays.     That said, my current on-the-needles knit is a lovely lacy cardigan in a dusky pink; only a 6-row pattern to memorise but even a slight lapse of concentration throws everything out.

As for the mushy peas, I've found an acceptable cheap tin (28p) in Sainsburys so they will do for now if I can't find the boxes of dried ones anywhere.

ETA: Thanks JIL, they're the ones I like but sadly I don't have a Mr T near me.

-taff

London_1 said:

I like poached eggs on cheese on toast .my late ma-in-law used to make her cheese on toast the way her second husband taught her to. (he was a lovely little ex miner from Tredgar in Wales.
In a saucepan with some dried mustard and milk and butter I have tried to make it this way but never suceeded to get it the same as hers it was delicious. he also taught her to make welsh cakes which were gorgeous

Are you sure she wasn't making Rarebit?

euronorris

Lovely crocheting and knitting going on. I've sewn a christmas gift bag, and some little reindeer things out of felt (not sure how you describe them, but you put a couple of candy canes in to look like antlers). Made out of stuff I had in my stash (admittedly I added to that stash when visiting my mum and dad last week).

Struggled to find Rinse aid this weekend. No own brand to be had at all round here. Luckily got some branded for a decent price in food warehouse.

weenancyinAmerica

I may be on jury duty next week - and they have specifically said no knitting needles. And that would be the ideal time to do it. Can't take metal ones on planes either. A friend of mine used to go to baseball games with her husband and knit throughout the game. Always thought that was the smart thing to do. when she ran out of knitting, she would make needlepoint ornaments at the games.

Woolsery

Floss said:

CKhalvashi said:

I'm going to refrain from replying to that because it really will upset the management.

Have a good weekend

Use the Ignore feature 😉

No need, I'll absent myself from the thread now.

Yesterday I mentioned a video I'd seen which described in very broad terms how I'm feeling, especially the frustration of having no obvious way to push back against the profiteering which has gone on over the last few years. In it, a practical measure was suggested to remind those in positions of power that the people still have potential to link together and vote with their feet, rather like many of us have done with the BBC. That suggestion wasn't discussed, presumably because the presenter's personality and previous history got in the way. It was a non-starter.

I'm still not sure myself if what was proposed would make much difference; it's not an optional thing like deciding to boycott a network, but it did go a bit further than Martin warning the government. Anyway, that's irrelevant now.

What I did wrong was tease CK without knowing her background. I know a little more now and I apologise. I don't wish to cause anyone offence. While those on this thread appear to be experiencing similar things, I'm not interpreting them in the same way as most others, also because of background, so it's better I leave it.

Finally, I was in both L*dl and S'brys today and there was a plentiful supply of salad cream, including Heinz. To be honest, with the exception of rice in the former, there didn't seem to be many gaps. It's the holiday season, of course; cars with surf boards on top everywhere. Perhaps the supermarkets are giving our area star treatment? Another conspiracy? (Yes, I'm joking! )

Shropshirelass

Long time follower of this group here, I learn a lot from you all. A lot of us are rightly worried and upset, let's stick together with support and sharing our skills and information. Can't remember who brought up the subject of tinned mushy peas, they make the most delicious soup, especially with a stock cube, fried onion, and a bit of bacon/ham added. I just sneaked a peek at JackieO's the Linus Trust's lovely website and they have lots of blanket patterns, knitted crochet even quilted. Very tempting, and they do keep you warm while working on them.

pennib

Long time follower of this thread. We were really poor back in the 50's and we had to make do and mend. Unravelling jumpers to make mittens etc. Having glass bottles with hot water in it for bed, they sometimes broke in the bed!  Frost on inside of window and etc.
 Talking of blankets/throws I was thinking of ways to use up the never ending stash of miss matched wool. So here is the start of the 'Cottage Blanket' still a long way to go tho. But at last, the large bag of yarn has started to dissipate.
(Sorry about large photo I did decrease it as well!) 

borefest

@pennib………that cottage blanket is fabulous👍

tooldle

-taff said:

London_1 said:

I like poached eggs on cheese on toast .my late ma-in-law used to make her cheese on toast the way her second husband taught her to. (he was a lovely little ex miner from Tredgar in Wales.
In a saucepan with some dried mustard and milk and butter I have tried to make it this way but never suceeded to get it the same as hers it was delicious. he also taught her to make welsh cakes which were gorgeous

Are you sure she wasn't making Rarebit?

Definitely sound like Rarebit. Welsh cakes are a very simple make. I put a spoon of cinnamon in mine. Cook them in a frying pan if you don’t have a griddle. Best eaten warm.

London_1

It probably was rarebit ,but being a London lass and my late ma-in-law being a caulkhead on the IoW we were only used to sticking grated cheese on toast and sticking it under the grill. Her second husband was a lovely little welsh chap so she learned from him.  

Ah Yorkslass and angry wasp jumper still haunts me over 70 years later, the most hated item of clothing I ever wore  

There is a group on facebook that knit a ten-stitch blanket which goes in a round pattern ,probably similar to diagonal joining of stitches. I've not tried it yet though .

I do knit odds and ends up in my squares in different colours so I get a nice striped effect, and every scrap of wool possible gets used. I also use oddments to make toys and stuffed small animals I did have a pattern for stiped coloured balls for babies and made 12 for my eldest great-granddaughter .My grandaughter's fellow mums saw them and all wanted a dozen. She then put it on Mumsnetand I ended up making them by the score for several months and my granddaughter sold them and I raised over £100 for charity.Used up lots of oddments of wool this way.

I have a pattern for small covers for the Terry's chocolate oranges that you buy at Christmas so I am going to make 7 of them and embroider an intial on each as my grandchildren love getting one on the table on Christmas day.
The patterns are for either a Christmas Pud or a Santa  and I have a large ball of scarlet wool I have set aside to do this .
The four youngest lads all argue about who's been at their chocolate oranges over Christmas so their own cover with their initial on will hopefully stop the argueing a bit
I love to hunt through for odd patterns I remember having a pattern for a brownie outfit for a doll that I made for a relatives little girl.She took it into a meeting and I ended up knitting around 15 for the whole pack  

My needles are never still   

JackieO xx