er taught me to knit when I was very small and I almost always had some work in progress. Then, eleven years ago, I became decidedly one-handed and gave up knitting altogether, until I learned that I was to be a grandma. So, I've just taken up the needles again, rather tentatively, to produce hat, mitts and bootees to keep the March baby's extremities warm.Having achieved this minor triumph, I saw dovegreyreader's post about Gift Day and decided to take up the challenge. I've made one scarf for my daughter and started one for a homeless person, one more to do for my (soon to be) daughter-in-law when the yarn arrives. They're far from perfect but not bad for a one-hander! If you want to make a pledge for Gift Day you can sign up here.
I too learned to knit when I was five years old from an aunt who was left handed, so I had to adapt to a right handed technique. I merely hold one knitting needle steady under my left arm and knit or purl using only my right arm. This could be reversed if your good side is reversed or you could try crocheting. It goes faster and I find it more relaxing and easier on the arms. Plenty of adorable patterns for baby stuff available and the afghan stitch lends itself to cute patterns too.
ReplyDeleteHere’s the little drummer boy pattern I made as a wall hanging some time ago for a friend’s grandson.
The little layette is completely adorable. I'd forgotten just how tiny these fantastic creatures are when they're born.
Sorry try this The Little Drummer Boy
ReplyDeleteAlas, my gift plan has failed. The green and blue scarf in my picture is a gift for my daughter and I'm sure she'll appreciate it. The larger, blue scarf was intended to go in a parcel for the homeless, to be distributed in London at Christmas. I don't know if homeless people have become rather choosy or if it is the taste of the good ladies of Dorset who make up the parcels but my scarf was rejected - not fashionable enough, apparantly. They would have been happy to accept the Japanese silk, mohair and lambswool one but not the woolly offering. That's me told!
ReplyDeleteThat'll teach ya. No good deed goes unpunished.
ReplyDeleteI'm still reeling from the shock,e.
ReplyDeleteDon't feel badly, monix. Erp just sent a bunch of laptops to Africa to help pull the kids into the 21st century, and they all came right back. Apparently it's Pentium Dual-Cores or nothing.
ReplyDeleteVery consoling, Peter.
ReplyDeleteI apologize for commenting as editor, but I’m going crazy trying to maintain a public forum blog for our community. Please click here if you can help.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Peter, you may disagree that making laptops available to third world kids will help, but you must see it would be much cheaper and less dangerous for them than much of the other “help” they’ve endured, including that of religious groups.
monix is seriously upset, both because her heartfelt effort was rejected and because she has been disillusioned by those she may have previously held in high regard..
Sarcasm isn’t always appropriate and IMO should be saved for those who appreciate it.
e, please don't worry on my account - Peter and I usually sing from similar hymn sheets and my response was in a sarcastic vein, too.
ReplyDeleteI admit I was shocked about the scarf but, having had time to think about it, I suppose the problem is with the snooty woman, not homeless people. I really can't see someone sleeping in a cardboard box preferring a stylish silk scarf to a warm woolly one.
e, I looked at your appeal for help but it is beyond my technical abilities.
ReplyDeleteAfter I wrote the appeal, my brain had a quick spasm of activity and I've gotten a bit farther on than I was.
ReplyDeleteMy problem, among others, is that I don't have the patience to really learn the code and how blogger works. I only want something I can copy and paste into the proper box so it will do what I want.
Like most quick fixes, it's neither quick nor a fix.
Thanks for caring.
erp:
ReplyDeleteWe really must have a drink some time. I assure you I am as appalled by monix's story as you and monix, amd maybe more. You either rail against the modern madness and risk a heart attack or be humble and see the eternal cosmic joke.
Ah Peter. You are too late, I can't even drink coffee anymore, but I thank you for the invitation. Next time out, have one on me.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons I have so few brain cells left is that I haven't as yet learned how to completely ignore the madness around me and railing against it only makes it harder on me. The b*st*rds go on without missing a beat.
erp:
ReplyDeleteThe self-abnegating humour is to remind us that we haven't even begun to figure out everything about life ourselves, despite all our experience and effort. The sarcasm is because we're nevertheless obviously miles ahead of the selfish patsy-brains behind us.
Peter, please keep on putting things into perspective in your inimitable fashion!
ReplyDelete