First knitting project of the year

On my List for the year is Creativity through knitting. Years ago I knitted - a lot.

I was given my first knitting set by an Aunty when I was four years old. It had 4 little balls of brightly coloured wool and a pair of red plastic needles. It was a gift to help ease the experience of my first visit to the dentist to get a tooth out. I don't remember what I made, but I know by the age of twelve I could follow a pattern enough to make the front of a cardigan that mum was making for me, and it just went on from there.

After moving to a much warmer climate, I eventually stopped knitting, but my interest was rekindled a couple of years ago. My sisters were knitting a "love rug" for our mum, and I knitted a few squares while visiting them. It was fun, and relaxing, too. On that same visit my mum gave my daughter a pattern for a hot water bottle cover. It appealed to the practical streak in me, as here was something that I could use. So I knitted three of them in time for winter.


These are the first two. I used them as a sampler for various stitch patterns (from a book from the local library). The purple one was knitted first and is more elaborate than the red one, which came next. That's because I found it hard to watch Battlestar Galactica without making mistakes. All those changes in patterns did not go well with all those Cylons!


This is the last one I made, and it is for our dog. It is the simplest - just a row of hearts along the top to show the luurve. This to keep her warm in winter when she has to be left alone outside during the day, she's only little, and one of those trembly breeds - have to treat her right.

I love the textures created by the different stitch patterns. My favourite is the diamond sort of pattern on the red one - King Charles Brocade. I think I love the name as much as the pattern.