I do hope you'll forgive my recycling an old image here ... it reminds me of sunny days. Long time bloddies* will know it well as it served as knitsofacto's blog header for quite some time. The rain put paid to a decent elderflower harvest here this year, more's the pity, no 2012 elderflower wine for us. In fact the weather has been laying waste to most of our summer pleasures. We Brits have been jolly stoic about it all but if it's as wet where you are as it has been here you're surely as weary of the deluge as everyone at knitso' Towers. I'm a country girl, born and bred, and well aware of the rhythms and reverses of the farming year. But since The Farmer Boy decided to suspend his university studies indefinitely and work on the land instead, the long term implications for our farmer friends of the 'wrong' weather have really sunk in**. Sadly, the NFU reckon the total cost to British farmers of this 'monsoon' season will be tens of millions of pounds, with much of the loss uninsured. It's not the wrong weather for UK knitters though ... a summer where it's cool enough to work with wool has to be a bonus, particularly for those like me who favour animal fibres. Remember the stash diet I mentioned? Ha! Who was I kidding? In my defence, and as others were quick to point out, new yarns fuel the creative process. As does swatching, of the get-to-know-you rather than the gauge variety. What's the difference? Gauge swatching is all about establishing which yarn and needle combo will result in the desired number of rows and stitches per inch. Gauge is critical to garment fit: if you don't want a sweater that'll fit Shrek, gauge swatch! Get-to-know-you swatching reveals what your chosen yarn can do. Fabric density will vary with yarn weight and needle size; lustre, halo, and stitch definition will vary with fiber and spin; drape is a product of all the above. If you're following a pattern then get-to-know-you swatching is essential to successful yarn substitution, if you're designing it's where the fun begins***. I've spent a good few afternoons this summer snuggled indoors with the whippets, swatching for the new knitsofacto baby knits and watching the rain fall, cheering myself with mugs of hot chocolate, and listening to recordings of the Goon Show. What time is it Eccles? has to be the funniest comedy sketch ever! How about you, how do you cope with all this wet? Are you a Goons fan? And, if you're a knitter, do you swatch?
I'm struggling with this rain, it's really starting to get me down, though I am doing my best with the soft fruit, seem utterly mad for strawberries this year. Although I have been known to knit in wool on even the hottest days this is a particularly woolly summer, I have felt no desire at all to knit anything summery.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we're both suffering of too much of our own summer weather! I (and my burnt up yard) would love a bit of rain! But its just brutal sun, which is also hard on crops. From what I've heard, crops wont be very good here as well, which is bad news for everyone. Im longing for the loveliness of fall! And I've been knitting too :D perhaps in an effort to speed fall along!
ReplyDeleteHappy knitting!~
Love that you have increased the sales for Tunnocks Tea Cakes all by your lonesome. We have been having much needed rain here in the south of the US after having a couple of weeks of triple digit heat. I am starting a baby blanket for my daughter who is pregnant with her first child. I crochet (don't know how to knit)and I'm looking forward to working on a new pattern. Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.
ReplyDeletethat was our summer last year - dreary and wet as it is November to March - only it lasted through July. I hope the sun comes out for you soon - there is nothing more wearing than grey skies for days on end.
ReplyDeleteswatching? I'm now fully convinced!
We have the same problems caused by different weather...it's hot and arid here and we have been in a severe drought. It did rain today a bit...hopefully at least to keep the fire danger down but it might be too late for the crops.
ReplyDeleteI have air conditioning so I can really knit/crochet whenever and whatever and I close the drapes and light a few candles and pretend it's cozy for stitching whatever.
I don't have to do gauge on dish cloths or scarves do I? Is it just for fitted things? I haven't so far anyway. Also, are you supposed to block everything or again is it just for sweaters and fitted items like socks and mittens maybe? I haven't gauged or blocked anything yet but maybe I've just been lucky? Thanks for the websites and what's going on there.
I have to admit...I like variety...in weather too. Too much sun or rain gets to me too! I hope it won't affect the Olympics! I will be glued to the set for those with my crochet hook, needles and yarn within easy reaching distance! I didn't join any Ravellenics but I still plan on getting lots of yarn time in durign the games! Have a sunny Sunday I hope! For me...I want more rain! LOL!
Please send us just a bit of your rain......I'm parched, garden is parched, grass is gone---thank goodness for A/C so the knitting hasn't really suffered. (maybe even benefited......can't waste time in a garden that is beyond hope!!!!)
ReplyDeleteOur seemingly endless rain has ended and summer has come out in earnest now, but not before the strawberry season was decimated and left us jamless. The elder flower cordial I was set on never happened, those delicate flowers were no match for the torrents. Our tomatoes, suffering weather whiplash show little sign of promise and rather more mutant night shade. Now though, I'm galloping through sunny days and gobbling them up in case the winds shift again.
ReplyDeleteYour talk of "swatching" has reminded me of a school mate I had once who sported a ridiculous collection of neon plastic watches. I do not knit, but I do crochet with an impulsive nature, so swatching does not usually occur to me until it is much too late. I ought to remedy that.
Have a lovely weekend!
I was talking to a friend who runs a local farm and farm shop, and he was saying that it was a bad year for wool so far. His sheep were too wet to shear and that most of the shearers where still down in Devon, trying to deal with the animals down there, so his sheep were weeks overdue. Maybe that will effect the availability of wool? Perhaps knitting will be affected too? I know my allotment and bees have been adversely affected by all this rain and my hens have gone into an early moult and stopped laying as the light levels are so low. It has certainly been a hideous year weather wise so far.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, as a knitter I'll have to hope that the wool from all these soggy sheep is destined for carpets, which is where most UK wool ends up. But I do feel for everyone suffering from the weather extremes, including the sheep, hens and bees.
DeleteGlad that you are finding some silver linings to the clouds and enjoying your knitting whilst it is not too hot! At least we don't have to spend all the summer evenings watering the garden do we? However a few dry days wouldn't come amiss as I fear we will all have webbed feet soon. I feel for those who are suffering floods and for the farmers too of course - fear it will make for more expensive food this autumn too. However on the bright side - love your recycled photo and it's lovely to see it once again and to be reminded of hot sunny days in previous years.
ReplyDeleteHi Annie!!
ReplyDeleteAs I can see the weather in England this year is really "unkind"......In Italy, even in the north, we are having a hot and sunny summer...as usual....no rain, just over the Alps....luckily we have some wind, but not every day, to cool us...
Anyway, I'm not a swatting person at all, even because I don't knit garments....just some gloves and scarves and a lot of "silly' things!!!
xxxxx Alessandra
Points well made on more than one subject......my hubby is very worried about our winter crops being harvested in only a few weeks, our neighbours (a lot of them potato growers) are having a dreadful time, such an expensive crop to invest in with cultivations, machinery and labour....it leaves you feeling rather depressed, and although not necessarily driven by weather the current deal for dairy farmers (my brother is an organic dairy farmer) is disastrous....who comes out alright.....the supermarket.....only thing is after they finish counting there profits, many farms may well have folded.....rant over!
ReplyDeleteNever a truer word said on swatching, I've always been rubbish at any time of prep and always reap the consequences....think on Faith with that jumper planned this year....losing weight to fit your jumper is not really an option when it would fit a five year old!
Have a good Sunday!
Supermarkets - don't get me started. The hold they have over food suppliers is criminal - and really ought to be criminalised! I do hope all of you depending upon your produce get through this awful climate thingy this year, I think it will be a pretty lean one for you all.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a knitter, Annie, and when I was I realy was terrible at preparation ie guaging. I used to get away with it on the boys annual school jumpers, but Jim and I still remember a HUGE green pulley which I had to 'frog' and re-knit, not once but TWICE! We were pretty poorly off in those days so I had no option but to re-knit, I can't see me having the patience these days!!
I can see the need for swatching - a friend knitted a sweater for me years ago, with wool I had selected, but it was miles too big for me (and still is, although I'm a size 22(UK)). It's maddening, because it'a a gorgeous colour, and has the mandelbrot fractal design on the front, and a Julia (fractal) set on the back - and I don't have the pattern any more, nor the energy to 'frog' it and re-knit it! And as my real (not blog) name is Julia I'd really rather like to be able to wear it!! As it is, I'm still (occasionally) trying to knit a cardi for myself that I started last year, and a sweater for my Better Half that was started several months ago - and I have a multitude of cross-stich projects that were started n years ago and have not been finished, partly because of increading age and inability to thread needles, eyesight that isn't what it was and arthritis in the hands and elsewhere. I don't like getting older!! Please will someone stop the clock or turn it back!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I haven't started my blog yet, but will do so soon - I hope! It's on the way, thanks to Perpetua.
Your photo worked and brought us thoughts of sunny days! We picked some elderflowers when they first appeared, made some cordial which alas has all gone and had every intention of making more. A year seems a long way off until we can do this again.
ReplyDeleteI do feel for the farmers and others who are affected with this awful weather. Maybe you should do some marketing for them after your successful promotion of tunnock tea cakes!
Sarah x
Always happy to see a Knitsofacto post, that helps with the weather. It's actually sunny here today, although it's not warm, but hey, you've got to take what you can get in the UK! Tunnocks Teacakes with a cup of tea, crafting, and sniffing the babies always makes me feel better. x
ReplyDeleteActually I feel very fortunate with the weather this week, my husband has been off and we have had lots of days out with very little rain at all just the odd shower.
ReplyDeleteYes I do like to play with yarn, I suppose swatch is the proper name for it. ;)
Now I'm going to have to go out and buy more Teacakes!!!!
Vivienne x
Ahhhhh! It hasn't been the summer weather I hope for but nevertheless I like how summer presents this year.
ReplyDeleteActually I did until this morning when I hung the laundry outside and had to face heavy rain a bit later. After half an hour I decided to bring the now soaked laundry back into the house. I put it into the washing machine to wind the water out and noticed that the sun had returned. Now I decided to hung only specific pieces outside. Sun's still here ... :-)
It is too hot here to knit and we haven't had rain for an age - and yes, I am on the verge of complaining but won't because I think you've had it so bad in the UK this year, it would seem very selfish of me. It's hard even for me to imagine to be honest, even though I've only been away a couple of years - sounds much worse than anything I remember.
ReplyDeleteI love the word 'bloddies' and the idea that Tunnocks have had a run on their teacakes!! In fact, Annie, I love your blog. Hugs, Axxx
PS - I accidentally wrote this comment under my husband's ID. As he's not into knitting but political theatre, do you think you might remove his name and the link to his work??? Before he finds out, perhaps?
So sorry to hear about your friends and their plight. Being a Canadian prairie girl, I am familiar with the worries and risks associated to the life of a farmer. It isn't always the idyllic life so often portrayed, there are definitely struggles but I'm certain they will pull through.
ReplyDeleteAs for us, the weather has been incessantly hot. Regardless, I am planning on bringing Celes along on our holiday in the event things change. Like you I knit with animal fibre and this is not always conducive to coolness :)
Happy knitting Annie!
Another Goons fan here, Annie. I grew up with them, as the show started when I as 5. :-) Here in Normandy the weather hasn't been as dreadful as in the UK, but is still very cold, grey and damp for July. I will confess to being not as rigorous with swatching as I should be. Sigh....
ReplyDeleteI read in the paper how all this wet weather you are having might negatively impact the Olympics. Weather you can't change, it is what it is so I am glad you are finding it cozy to be indoors with hot chocolate and something fun to knit.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
This weather is just awful. Too hot and dry for us, too wet and cold for you. When I fret about my garden, I always think that at least I don't depend on it for my winter food or my livelihood. I think farmer's have a rough go of it.
ReplyDeleteI've been knitting small things, and reading a lot. I am also happy to go to work in the ac!
Ah yes, a comforting Tunnock's teacake will be just the thing to help me cope with my lack of stitchery effort that always shames me when I visit here.
ReplyDeleteHere in Canada, we have the opposite problem. Drought - we're praying for rain so we'll have fruit and vegetables and grain to eat - opposite but the same...J
ReplyDeleteOur weather here in Germany has been very odd lately, too! It's been pretty warm..... well, sticky. BUT we've had heaps of rain! Indoor playtimes aren't what you expect on the last day of school before the summer hols! Let's hope the weather improves - and quick!!!
ReplyDeleteCarly
x
Im all set to start my next knitting project, swatching first naturally :) as for the British weather, I can now see no end to it's misery and can barely remember it being hot and sunny nd summery at all! Perhaps an Indian summer .. But we say that very year too....
ReplyDeleteWe have been suffering the same soggy weather. The very North West of Scotland seems to have been the only place to get any sunshine this summer.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. Crop-devastating rain for you; crop-devastating drought for us. Sigh.
ReplyDelete"Get-to-know-you swatching" - THAT's what I'm doing when I sit down with a new yarn and some hooks to just play around and see what comes of it. Decidedly where the fun begins!
Loved the bit about "Grandma" in the sketch. :)
hi annie, oh my goodness it sounds like you have had your share of wet weather, i hope the sun shines soon! lovely post and writings about the all important swatch. when i was a young mama i'd swatch but not regularly for the childrens garments and blankets i knit. but i very much do now. i know many people don't like to, for some reason i really do, but then i like to iron too ;)
ReplyDeleteNo wonder you don't always have time to reply to your comments - they are always so long! (you are inspiring people Annie!)
ReplyDeleteI love the term 'wrong weather'. It is wrong. And such a blow for farmers.
We are counting the sleeps til our hols...hopefully it will be warmer at the bottom of France. Will still be taking some wool though....fee x
'New yarns fuel the creative process' - that's JUST what I wanted to hear. You're so right. (But there is a name for people like you. Enabler.)
ReplyDeleteThe answer to your question about wet-weather occupation for me is that it depends on my workload, so - assuming I'm not working - I'd have to say it does come down to the knitting and spinning. A well-stocked wood stove, a good (old) film on the telly or DVD, a cuppa and something good (but not too gripping, or I lose the plot of the film) on the needles. Perfect. All it needs is George Clooney bringing in a slice of almond cake... Or a good book and some good music, but still George.
Did I mention work? Hm.
There isn't a great deal being harvested from our allotment this year but I do feel desperately sorry for those who depend on their harvests for their livelihoods. I'm hoping that the weather improves soon, we go on holiday at the weekend.
ReplyDeleteOh you lovely thing, you! I am twitching about here at midnight because I have keeno 4 tomorrow and you just gave me such a good laugh with that clip that I may be able to go to bed now with a big smile and happy heart. Thank you! X
ReplyDeleteI'm just concentrating on keeping upright on our treacherous when wet drive. (I suppose I could remain indoors to be certain of not injuring ankles. But then who'd replenish the Tunnock's teacakes stash?)
ReplyDeleteNow I don't want to get anyones hopes up....but...I've heard it's going to be warming up next week,in the South anyway.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping over and yes,that is an enamel necklace.It's one of my favourites.
Have a happy week. ;0)
Oh no Annie, I am the world's worst at making a swatch and I have just read your Knitty web link above and think I better change my ways...pronto! Notthat I knit too many garments for myself. I have only knitted two cardigans before. One fits well, the other is too small!!! I do appreciate the need for swatching and will with guilty heart start to do so :o)
ReplyDeleteI cannot think of anything better than just curling up under a mountain of yarn right now. We are supposed to be going camping next week. I fear it might be swamping instead! As for a yarn diet.....well that's another diet I won't besuccessful following xox Penelope
I think stash dieting is far harder than food dieting so I'm not surprised that you succumbed to the delights of yet more yarn. I look on yarn buying as an investment these days (at least that's what I tell H) afterall prices are increasing all the time and well kept yarn usually gets good prices on ebay.
ReplyDeleteI am a useless swatcher. I'm more of a jump in at the deep end and make the thing which is probably why I have a host of failed projects sitting in bags around the place and Amy has a whole army of my failed prototype toys! You are right that swatching is the best way to get to know a new yarn intimately. I think that's what makes new yarn so enticing - the not knowing how it will behave when being knitted and the anticipation of the finished result.
As for the wet weather, well I am fed up with it, as is Toby, he doesn't like being outside in the rain so there is an atmosphere of cabin fever round here. Hopefully we will get some sun soon! In the meantime snuggling up with knitting and hot chocolate sounds like the best plan!
I'm feeling very nostalgic seeing your lovely pic up there Annie...I always loved the beautiful shade of blue in your jug!
ReplyDeleteThis constant rain is depressing isn't it?...Our poor farmers have enough to deal with on a daily basis but at least we can keep buying wool....which will keep us all happy!
Yes, I do swatch but I don't particularly enjoy it and for personal projects I sometimes can't resist jumping in and seeing how it goes..it's an old habit from my teenage years and I think it's more than a little common amongst the knitting population!
Hope you are having a lovely week,
Susan x
My stash diet and finishing the endless half done projects was going quite well... Until today and a big bag came home with me. Well done for all your strength so far! And the wool makes us ever so happy hurray!
ReplyDeleteHope you get sunny skies soon! Maggie x x x