About the Neighborly

Neighbourly is a free pattern for a children’s vest made by Jennifer Casa (JC Handmade). She gives it away and in return asks you to be neighbourly in one or several ways for instance by donating the money you would have used for the pattern or by giving away the west to charity.

I finished my first neighbourly last week. I used 2 mm size needles and several wool yarns from my growing left over stash. The original pattern is with thicker yarn and thicker needles (5 mm). Made with 2 mm needles and my yarn it turned out a baby size. I would guess approximately 6-9 months size. Too small for Astrid, but then again this is a neighbourly so this one is going to be given away.

Ravelry link

An old lady's wisdom

Thank you everyone for you tips. So many good ideas! I loved the idea of pulling it like a draw string. I would never have thought of that. And if the yarn was shrinkable (I don’t know if it is) that would also be a perfect way of making it smaller which would also make the hat warmer. Thank you for offering your support Sarah, perhaps I’ll call you next time I need to rip up something.



As you can see I went for the rip up solution.

I think I have said what I’m about to tell you before, but a good thing can not be repeated too often. Some years ago an old Spanish lady shared her crafters wisdom with me. This wisdom chimes inside my head every time I have to rip up or redo something. She said:

“Once you finish a project no one is going to ask you how much time it took you, they will only look at the end result”.

She was wise

new needles & the delicious Rowan felted tweed

I finally had the time to pop by a store to by the required needles for the golden autumn, the beautiful hat designed by talented Lucy. I have casted on and Camilla (Bloom) was right, once I started knitting I loved it. The first 40 something rounds are easy just stockinet stitches. I met my first challenge when I was going to fold the hem for the double edging and pick up stitches from the cast on edge. I was doing this late at night and without enough light and I guess that’s why the hem turned out biased. So there was nothing else to do but to redo.


Now I have begun knitting the pattern and it is so much fun. It is difficult enough to be challenging yet easy enough for me to experiencing flow while knitting.

My new challenge is that I think I have chosen the wrong size. I think this hat will be too big for me. What do I do? On the one hand I want to make this hat in a size that will fit me. On the other hand it is so much fun knitting the pattern…and I don’t want to start all over again which will mean another week before I can knit the pattern. Decisions, decisions.

3 -3.5 mm circular needles

What a bummer. I was hyped up to cast on and knit a hat for myself with this beautiful rowan yarn. Only to find out that I don’t have the right sized needles. I’ll have to cast on for another project until I can stop by a yarn store and buy needles. Perhaps I should begin a Neighbourly with some of my left over yarn in the meantime…?

By the way: Remember the days are getting lighter minute by minute and day by day (at least in this part of the world). Hope you are having a good week!

cleaning time

I’m sorry for the absence and quietness over here. It has been 20 days of cleaning. I have been cleaning out Christmas, cleaning closets, cleaning the fridge, and cleaning book shelves.




I have made a chunky vegetable soup out of left over vegetables and Jamon Serrano (Spanish cured ham). And I have ordered my books by colours. It looks more harmonious and I love the fresh feeling of a good cleaning and tidying session.



I have also bought yarn. Lovely soft tweed rowan yarn. After looking for Rowan yarn in a dozen of yarn stores I finally found one store that had it. I could almost not believe my luck when I found the exact colour I was hoping to find. Colourway 150. If you are on Ravelry you can easily find out what is next on my knitting list… If not I’ll show you as soon as there is enough light to take a good photo. I can’t wait to cast on.

Made in Yonder 2009

Happy New Year everyone!

It has been some wonderful and peaceful days here in Yonder. We needed this respite from work and everyday life. And the best sign that it has been a good one is that we look forward to get back at work and into our daily routine.

How was your holiday? Did you get to do some of the things you wanted? Did you get to not do some of the things you didn’t want to do? Are you ready for a new year and a new decade? I hope so.

I’m ending last year by sharing photos of projects I finished during 2009. My slate is clean. I have projects to finish and projects to begin. I’m looking forward to share 2010 with you.

Warm hugs from my place to yours!