Hello!
Our recent holiday was a pretty multi-locationed one, covering a lot of ground and involving buses, trains, ferries, sea planes, also including a few long loooong waits in airports thanks to flights getting annoyingly delayed by fog, and two long looong ferry trips of a WHOLE day each. And because I am the eternal optimist about Getting Stuff Done, even whilst away, I had tossed into my luggage some sock wool and needles, just in case. And thank goodness I did ‘cos consequently I finished two new projects. As they say in Canada, O yaaa! #AirFistPunch
Item ONE! … or should that be items one and two?
A pair of sockeroonies… photographed against the majetic forests of Hanson Island in beautiful British Columbia, Canada… I’m poking my feet outside the tent we camped in, on our absolutely wonderful canoeing trip…
Yarn; Morris Empire Merino 4ply in col 449, delightfully called Cha-Cha Pink; and the small bit of Sheen Green colour way is leftover from my hand warmers. I used my go to sock pattern, from a 1960’s Patons pamphlet that I’ve inherited from my grandmother.
also here in the stunningly beautiful houseboat we stayed in, on the Khutzamateen River. I think I’d juuuust finished them here and popped them on for a photo opp immediately!
Item TWO! or should that be… items three and four?!
A pair of adorbs little hand warmers… photographed against the majestic back alleyways of Vancouver in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Pose is thanks to a grapefruit mimosa and the influence of a group of hilarious Vancouver ladies with whom I spent an awesomely fun few hours… thanks so much to Melanie, Sue, Sveta, Barbara and Louisa for a fabulous morning!
from left: Sue, some random tourist, Louisa, Barbara, Sveta, and Melanie and yes, those ARE indeed the aforementioned grapefruit mimosas, ahem…
this pic and the one below both courtesy of Melanie… thanks so much Melanie!!
me with my loupe sister, Melanie… we’re both wearing our magnifying glass “loupes” made by Melanie’s talented husband Osamu Kobayashi… I’m proud to say I was Osamu’s very first customer! I wear my loupe every day and it’s absolutely brilliant for reading menus, labels in Spotlight or in the supermarket when I can’t be bothered hauling my spectacles out of my bag….BRILLIANT, I SAY
and I’m wearing my cha cha pink glovelets, natch! Right here they’re hot off the needles by about maybe an hour, tops !
Anyway… the deets, I’d taken two balls of the cha-cha pink and of course there was plenty of leftovers, and I thought there’s sure to be enough to do something… And fortunately there was plenty!
I just made them up as I went along, pretty simple; and I’ve written a little pattern which I am happy to share. Please feel free to use, I just ask as always that if you do then please do credit me and link back to me here 🙂
Simple hand warmers:
Note: one size, fits most ladies
Materials:
approx 120m (135 yd) of 4ply (fingering weight) yarn… I used Morris Empire superwash merino 4ply wool … this pattern uses only about two thirds of a 50g ball
set of 4-5 double pointed needles 2.5mm (US 1) or whatever gives the correct tension as stated below.
Tension (gauge): 31 st and 45 rows to 10cm
Cast on 60 st and distribute stitches evenly onto 3 needles, continue working in the round…
K2 P2, repeat for 10 rows/rounds
Switch to K stitch,continue knitting for a further 22 rows/rounds, turn
sl 1, P59 st… turn.
sl 1, K59 turn
Rep previous 2 rows for a following 20 rows, turn
sl 1, K59 then join work again in the round and continue knitting for a further 12 rows/rounds
Commence K2 P2 rib, continue for 35 rows/rounds.
Cast off loosely
Repeat second hand warmer the same way.
And I’m wearing them today too… wanna see how I “styled” them? I know what you’re thinking… those things don’t go with her outfit AT ALL. No, they don’t. They really really don’t. But I’m wearing them anyway, hehe. #SayNoToGoodTaste #GoodTasteIsEvil
Details, above:
Blouse; Sudley by Megan Nielsen patterns, in mustard silk crepe, details here
Skirt; Axel by Megan Nielsen paterns, in terracotta pleather, details here
Cardigan; Miette by Andi Satterlund, in Debbie Bliss Donegal luxury tweed in colour Gold, details here
Leggings; self-drafted, in over dyed cotton jersey, details here
Socks (not seen): knitted by me, details here
Boots; Roberto del Carlo, from Zomp shoes
Details, at top:
Tee; self-drafted in striped jersey knit
Skirt; Jade by Paprika patterns, in charcoal cotton jersey
Tights; self-drafted, in black stretch, details here
Shoes; Merrell
Ah…you one drink screamer, LOL. {Did I get that right?}
Over here at A Colourful Canvas, pink is a neutral…goes with EVERYTHING!
You know what, I’ve just looked it up and the colloquialism is actually “two pot screamer”, but I guess my generation has always gone with “one glass screamer” since that’s all it takes to tell!
Travel projects are like travel snacks – totally mandatory! I love your socks and I have one of those Patons patterns, inherited from my mother, and they really are the best.
thanks Sue! I find one basic sock pattern is all you need, it’s pretty easy to add your own variations on a theme, like cables and whatnot, if you want to … also sock-knitting is such a portable hobby to take along and it’s easy to memorise the pattern 🙂
You were in my neck of the woods on your holiday 🙂 I live in Victoria BC and oh yaa I guess we do say that a LOT 🙂 What a brilliant holiday you had Caroline – you cover SERIOUS ground when you go travelin’ I must say!
thanks so much Kathleen! Yes, it was pretty intense but we were thrilled with everything, everywhere we went. You certainly live in a most beautiful part of the world 🙂
Still making while you are away, you are a hard core crafter! I love that colour it was a favourite of mine in the eighties. x
thanks so much Dianne! yes I find it’s always worth tossing in a small, portable project even when on holiday… I might not get time to do anything but if I do then that’s just a bonus 🙂
I LOVE the color combination in your last photo. It is unpredictable and stimulating.
thank you so much, Carol! I’m surprised at how much I liked it in the end too 🙂
Hey Sue – You stole my line! Except you got here first. I totally agree. HOT PINK GOES WITH EVERYTHING! I only drank water so there was no screaming from my quarter. But it looked like fun.
Carolyn – Love your outfit and really, I do think that hot pink goes with everything.
thanks so much Barbara! It was lovely to meet you… and hopefully we kept the screaming down to a minimum. Maybe a dull roar, at most 😉
It was so lovely to meet you IRL, Carolyn! You definitely got into the spirit of things. Those ladies are irrepressible, aren’t they? (Even without mimosas!)
I was taught that a colour scheme can be improved with a little “poison” added to it. Pink isn’t one of my favourite colours but it works perfectly in this outfit!
thank you Louisa! and yes,a little poison describes it perfectly… my Mum has always pointed out how Liberty prints always have some slightly clashing colours thrown in, or at least a little black in with all the prettiness and it adds a little edge to the sweetness. It was so lovely to meet you girls too, thank you so much for coming out to meet me 🙂
Great colour! Love a bit of chacha pink!
thanks Sarah!
You know I’m going to love those pink hand warmers with that outfit. I think they are a great match – complementary colours. And the name cha-cha pink is perfect. I am happy I got to see them for real. Plus your socks look right at home in the forest. Great shot.
We so enjoyed meeting you and C. Truly. I think we were all a bunch of one glass screamers, and Barbara too even with water. We hadn’t even planned the alley stop but these things tend to happen. Visiting fabric stores can make one lightheaded as well. Heh. Knitting while travelling is a great idea. I would just have to learn how to knit, and, uh, maybe travel too.
thanks Melanie! Please do learn how to travel, and come over here! xx I enjoyed the morning so much, you girls are heaps of fun. I just wish I could come over again!
Your gloves add such a brilliant pop of colour to the outfits, both of which are perfectly coordinated!
thank you very much! Maybe pink is a neutral after all? 😉
I love that you take projects on holiday too – now I can assure my husband that I’m not the only one . (And great projects too!)
thank you, Kim! You are definitely not the only one! I saw another lady knitting on the plane too… Socks are my go-to; so easy and portable, although I’ve taken embroidery in the past too. Not quite as portable, but you sure get lots done in the hours of travel time 🙂
Speaking of colloquialisms… that “GTFO” is an interesting placement.
I think it’s so special you have that pattern book.
Haha, I wondered if anyone would comment about that! I briefly thought about photoshopping it out but well it was there, so … (shrug)
Loved the photo you shared on IG of your meeting with the ladies! And love these sweet hot pink hand warmers! You make ALL colors work and work well together. 🙂