Chapter 34 - Hurricane Knitting

DORIAN

Hurrication 2019

When Hurricane Dorian was still east of the Bahamas, the cone of probability had it coming straight for our little town of Melbourne Beach. So, we prepared to evacuate.

Fast forward to Saturday, August 30. As we sat in our hotel room in Orlando, we watched with horror as Dorian became one of the worst hurricanes in recorded history, destroying Abaco and parts of Grand Bahama. Though it eventually changed course to our advantage, the stress of imagining that kind of devastation, the total loss of not only our home but the entire barrier island, was hard to bear. 

It was helpful to have some knitting on hand to take my mind off things.

This little fish, who I have named Dorian, was started in the days prior to our evacuation. He's from a German patten called Fische that I paid for on Ravelry, but couldn't seem to translate, even with the help of Google.

My knitting friend from Munich, Elfi, was able to walk me through the pattern, so I finally got to make it. 

I plan to sit down and write the pattern in English so I can make it again and again. It's really cute! I used a worsted wool (leftover from a shawl).

Little Dorian is sitting on a granny square that I made out of some old Rowan worsted wool. I really like this classic pattern. Here's the square and the chart:

The name of this pattern is Crossed Clusters.

Baby Dress

I started and finished this dress during our stay in Orlando. In the picture above (it's still unblocked) you can see some mistakes I made. I blame stress. I love the linen stitch pattern of the bodice. 

I'm making a pink cardigan to match, and that will be mistake-free since I can concentrate on it, but unless I redo the pink bottom border of the dress, I won't give the set as a gift. 

The pattern is simply called Linen Stitch Baby Dress, and it's a freebie from Purl Soho. The yarn is a soft cotton called Bio.Sesia 5. I most likely ordered it from WEBS.

Tea Cozy

Don't ask me why I decided to knit this tea cozy. It was staged and ready, with yarn and pattern in a zip-lock bag, so it was easy to pick up and begin. I knit it complete in an afternoon, shortly after we got home from Orlando.

The plain brown teapot is English, and was my grandmother's. While knitting this I was reminded that I gave my Dad my old whistling tea kettle, so I'm in the market for another, hint hint. The tole painted tray in the background is one of my favorite things. It was a wedding gift to my parents in 1955.

The bulky yarn is of unknown origin. It was a destash gift from my friend Bunny. Pattern (super simple) is called Basic Tea Cosy. It's most likely a free download from Ravelry. 

EGFP SUMMER KAL FO

This lovely tank top was started and finished during the July/August knit-along that we (Eau Gallie Fiber Pirates) did together. The pattern is Patons free Sunny Days tank, and the yarn is Knit One, Crochet Too "Daisy."

I've worn it several times, and have run it through the washer and dryer, but it seems to grow longer and longer. Made of linen, silk and hemp, the yarn doesn't want to shrink.

Picture by Elfi Ousley

Even though I made it according to my measurements, it was still too large, and I even compensated by knitting XL in the body and L in the yoke. I forgot that most patterns are for taller people (I'm a smidge less than 5'4") and from now on, I need to knit the shoulders/yoke much shorter. 

WORK IN PROGRESS

Pattern Writing

This is from an idea I've had in my head for quite a while. One section mesh, one section ribbing. The first one I did (see this post) was so quick and fun, so I'm doing this one entirely with Copper Corgi's hand-dyed colors, to resemble gym socks and fishnet stockings, which remind me of my childhood in the late 60s. I plan to write up the pattern and release it for free.

GARDEN NEWS

New Plants

Three basil plants, a couple of types of hot pepper, rosemary, peppermint, and a tomato plant. Ormond did such a fantastic job making the planter! We're having to water by hand, since the bubblers don't seem to be working. (We've got an irrigation specialist coming out soon to fix our sprinkler network.) 

I'll keep everyone posted with progress pictures. That will motivate me to make sure these plants do well!

♕♕♕

And there you have it! Thanks for stopping by.

TTFN!