Thursday, December 18, 2014

Improvisation.

When we were out shopping last week, Simon, for reasons still unknown, decided that I needed some knitting wool that was 'On Offer', this wool came in packs of three balls and was of the chunky variety, also included in the pack was a pattern for a hat, well why not I thought, I might just wear a hat if it gets cold enough. Now many years ago I used to be an very keen knitter, as long as it was an interesting pattern, Aran patterns were always my favourite, but for some reason I stopped being a knitter.
In those days it was easy to find a wool shop, buy a pattern, buy the wool and the needles, assuming you didn't have the right size at home. Not so nowadays, you can buy wool, just, if you want oiled wool or something else equally way out you don't stand much of a chance, needles? just, double ended needles, not a chance, especially if you need size 10 and 12. I looked on line, most would not post to Ireland, those few that would were charging an arm and a leg to do so. Defeated? Never, two lengths of wooden dowel 10 and 12 m, cut to a suitable length, points made and
                                              I have my eight needles.
 It has worked out cheaper than buying them and paying postage, all I have to do now is get in the right frame of mind to start knitting.
One small peg loom  which can easily be made wider.
The rest of the doweling has been made into a peg loom, something I had wanted to have a go at a few years ago, Simon has beaten me to it, but I expect I will get a chance to have a go before the winter has finished. 
Reading a newspaper report earlier this week it appears that Ireland spends more on Christmas than any other country in the Western world, over one thousand euros per person, the UK is not too far behind in second place, this seems an incredible amount of money to spend, unless you give gifts to your remotest relatives, or are feeding a small army. I wonder how much further into debt people become due the  Christmas celebrations, at a time  when personal debt is already at an all time high, no wonder  people spend so little of their disposable income on food, yet still complain that food is too expensive,  just 16.2% of household expenditure is on food. A question of priority's I guess.  

11 comments:

  1. The knitting needs are very clever. Wife wants a knitting machine. We will see.

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    1. Tried them out tonight they work fine, then the kittens came in and interfered, kittens and knitting do not mix. I did have a knitting machine it was fun and I worked out my own designs as well, then good wool became too expensive to justify home knitting ( cheap sweat shop imports) So I gave up all knitting.

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  2. I love the loom, yet another craft I would like to learn. So resourceful to make your own knitting needles!

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    1. Just experimenting with the loom, I do have some ideas though. Lots of instructions on the internet on peg looms.

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  3. Imade a peg loom but never used it.... A very happy Christmas and 2015 to you from Ian and Luis x

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    1. Thanks Ian and Luis, Happy Christmas to you both, I guess your weather is a bit better than ours. You must have a go with your loom Ian, I'm sure you would turn out something fantastic.

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  4. I dont think i even own a knitted jumper or hat so i dont think ill be rushing out to start knitting this Christmas. You however have every reason to knit knit knit. I think it must be very relaxing, once you get the hang of it. I've been away, home, sorry for delayed comment. It was so hot and lots of mosquitoes.

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    1. I hate mosquitoes, we have midges here as soon as the weather get the slightest bit warm and they bite.

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  5. €1000 a person? Yoiks. I don't think we'll be contributing much to that average!

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  6. Clever work with the knitting improvisation, looks good. I'm blown away by that Christmas shopping statistic, grim

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    1. Even worse that the Xmas statistic are the imported food ones. Beef, milk, potatoes, other root veg, cabbage and broccoli, plus yoghurt, crazy.

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