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<\/p>\nI have been away a while due to hand pain and, recently, breaking my elbow. \u00a0But I am feeling very guilty at my neglect and abandonment of you, dear reader, and I have made a promise to myself to try very hard to \u2018get better\u2019 at this blog writing lark.<\/p>\n
Of course, we are taught that our goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time constrained) – and \u2018get better at\u2019 is hardly any of those things. \u00a0So, to be a bit more focused, I will try and write a blog post once a fortnight. \u00a0There, that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n
I also need to fix the problems I am having with uploading photos. \u00a0In the meantime I am experimenting with Instagram if you would like to follow me over on that – basically it\u2019s random photos of things that inspire me or catch my eye. \u00a0There\u2019s no \u2018theme\u2019 or snazzy filters or anything. \u00a0I am forcing myself to snap something 4 times a week (in an attempt to also improve my photography skills – though obviously doing that with a smartphone camera is not as productive as getting out my actual camera where I have much greater control over the settings)<\/p>\n
So this week\u2019s brain snag in a crafty vein was seeing an article in ES – the magazine that comes with our regional free paper. \u00a0Apparently, due to the famous British weather, the evenings can get a \u2018bit nippy\u2019 in the evenings.\u00a0 A designer (Alex Gore, who worked with Alexander McQueen, don’t you know) has come up with the (apparently) novel idea of using \u2018fine gauge\u2019 yarn (ok, “super-fine Hawick cashmere and Bologna yarn to be specific) to knit a lightweight but warm sweater to keep away those evening chills. \u00a0The result? \u00a0A \u201ccocktail sweater\u201d. \u00a0Seriously.\u00a0 I’m not saying knitwear isn’t awesome – because it is and if it wasn’t my hobby would be more than a little pointless, but the ‘cocktail sweater’ being a new idea?\u00a0 Every other page of my 1950\u2019s pattern collection is one of these things.<\/p>\n
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On the same page of the magazine there is a further celebration of Warsaw designer Magda Butrym , who showcased \u2018handmade crocheted\u2019 dresses in her catwalk this year. \u00a0Wonderful. \u00a0Really genuinely pleased that crochet is getting some air time – and Russian lace crochet is really, really gorgeous. \u00a0But surely, given there isn\u2019t a machine in the world that can crochet (this is a whole other post) it has to be \u2018handmade\u2019 by default?<\/p>\n
Right now, I have to continue with preparations for the course I am teaching next weekend – but I promise (as per the opening of this post) to be back soon!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have been away a while due to hand pain and, recently, breaking my elbow. \u00a0But I am feeling very guilty at my neglect and abandonment of you, dear reader, and I have made a promise to myself to try … Continue reading