happy granny

I’ve been hoarding the pattern for Simone’s happy granny (here) for a long time and the other day, when I was looking for something else in an insanely disorganised bookmarks folder, I came across it again.  After a lot of Ellas and penguins, this looked like a perfect no-fuss quick make.

Simone’s hat is for a baby, but I wanted to go big.   I used a chunky Elle Timber and a 5.00mm hook, so ended up with a hat that fits Carol loosely.  I was going to follow the pattern exactly and have the same sort of beanie look but by the time I’d done the two brown rows, I realised that the wearer would have to have an unusually large noggin.  (Rob has quite a big head, actually, but I know he doesn’t like raspberry pink).

So I just winged it after that – did 2 rows of grannies with some decreasing, then one row of dcs.  That’s given it a kind of puffy beret look instead.

We’ve had a really sharp and sudden icy spell in Cape Town- it’s much much colder than it usually gets in winter, and it’s started a lot sooner.  There’s even been SNOW on the mountains – we say that here with such genuine amazement as to suggest that the snow, surely, has picked the wrong country?

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blowing my own …

Sometimes you just have to, right?

Slippers on happy feet in Australia, ordered through our etsy shop:

and cheerful red mitts warming the hands of a budding novelist, as he slaves over his keyboard late into the Cape winter night:

In other news, I have a pal over in Omaha, Nebraska (where? hell, I don’t know, one of those big blocky-looking states over in the middle of the US sort of, a very veeeeery long way from here…) who has just started her own etsy shop, so have a look at YarnChick40 when you get a moment. She’s got some nice stuff going there, and I think I might have to order myself the pattern for the ipad cover. 

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owl mitts

A shout-out to Janette at The Green Dragonfly for her lovely owl mitten pattern earlier this year. I note that she says she “whipped up a pair” for her daughter, and for some reason I spent days working on these (in between 6,000 other things).

I made these for Ms Anita and Ms Tanya Grasser, up in frosty Johannesburg.

A couple of these guys look a bit cross-eyed, but that is completely deliberate, ok, for extra character…

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mitten smitten

I’ve been busy with fingerless handwarmers lately. Doreen had given me another pair of legwarmers, which have now been repurposed for man paws:

because Rob says he also gets cold in winter…

Following on the success of Nicola’s cowl last week, I made another one with matching fingerless mitts** and added a bit of furry yarn top and bottom. I posted this on the Jam Tarts facebook page and had a buyer within 15 minutes. Thanks, Mr Zuckerberg.

And how’s this weather!? This pic was taken two days ago – Alex was in a bikini lying on the grass in the sun when I asked her to model up. It’s supposed to be WINTER here, hello!!!

Today a few of us gathered at Mama Roma in Newlands to celebrate Gwen’s birthday (although any excuse for a grub-fest will do). She’s still doing the early-morning school run, so I made her some mitts** in shocking pink to keep her hands warm on the steering wheel. Everyone thought they were cute (but not as cute as Gwen herself!)

** My “pattern” for these mitts: with dk yarn and a 5mm hook, ch 31. Work 18 rows in htr. Fold in half and stitch the seam, leaving a short gap for your thumb. Optional – work 1 or 2 rows of dc top and/or bottom in a contrasting yarn.

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