Thursday, 29 October 2009

A little history...

I cast on last night for a Baktus. Those who are Ravelry related will know exactly what that is, but for others it is a sort of scarf. It is a "kerchief" as such or a very shallow shawl used to wrap around your neck. Anyway, I am getting off topic!

While knitting the first few rows of my Baktus I started wondering about the history of knitting, when did it all start, who were the first knitters, why did they knit, how did they knit?

After a little research I found the most information on wiki and it is really interesting how knitting has evolved over time, for those who are interested you can read all about it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_knitting

Then I was wondering about the history of the scarf, it is the item that most knitters knit first so it had to have an interesting history and found an article here (mmm, death by yarn, worse ways to go I guess)
  http://dresslikeme.co.uk/scarf.php


Of course then my enquiring mind went further and searched on the history of shawls, wiki again had a good write up about them, and I found it particularly interesting that back in the day they were worn by men and woman!  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawl

I think though out of all the research I did, the article in knitty.com really encompasses it all. http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEAThistory101.html

Wow - what a great history for such a great craft.

And just to make the post a little prettier - here's a picture of my latest knit for my niece.


Tuesday, 27 October 2009

More dyeing

After a week of this nasty flu, I finally felt better enough to function yesterday, besides this stupid lingering cough, so I decided to do some more dyeing. I have moved on to Sugarflair and I think they certainly provide a bigger palette of colours to work with. I did two skeins of lace



 

Then I did two skeins of sock yarn. They both turned out beautifully, unfortunately this happened to the first one

 
 
What a massive spaghetti mess :(  But the second one turned out ok



Then I moved onto a skein of Trekking XXL which I had in my stash but didn't like the colourway so I changed it from this.....


 
 
to this......



Happy days. They are all up for sale on my Ravelry stash page, except for the nasty spaghetti mess which is winging its way to America for a lovely Raveler to untangle and hopefully turn into something beautiful.


Friday, 23 October 2009

Understanding South African



I got this email this morning - bloody brilliant, it makes me a little homesick :)

A special little lesson in Afrikaans language and culture for our overseas
family and friends - See you at a braai in 2010!

Subject: Understanding South Africans - Tips for 2010 Visitors

Braai What is a braai? It is the first thing you will be invited to when you visit
South Africa . A braai is a backyard barbecue and it will take place whatever the weather. So you will have to go even if it's raining like mad. At a braai you will be introduced to a substance known as mieliepap.

Ag - This one of the most useful South African words. Pronounced like the "ach"
in the German "achtung", it can be used to start a reply when you are asked a tricky question, as in: "Ag, I don't know." Or a sense of resignation:"Ag OK, I'll have some more mieliepap then." It can stand alone too as a signal of irritation.


Donner - A rude word, it comes from the Afrikaans "donder" (thunder). Pronounced "dorner", it means "beat up." A team member in your rugby team can get donnered in a game, or your wife can donner you if you come back from a braai at three in the morning.


Eina - Widely used by all language groups, this word, derived from the Afrikaans,
means "ouch." Pronounced "aynah". You can say it in sympathy when you see your friend the day after he got donnered by his wife.


Hey - Often used at the end of a sentence to emphasize the importance of what has
just been said, as in "You're only going to get donnered if you come in late again, hey?" It can also stand alone as a question. Instead of saying "excuse me?" or "pardon me?" when you have not heard something directed at you, you can always say: "Hey?"

Izit? - This is another great word to use in conversations. Derived from the two
words "is" and "it", it can be used when you have nothing to contribute if someone tells you something at a braai. For instance, if someone would say: "The Russians will succeed in their bid for capitalism once they adopt a work ethic and respect for private ownership." It is quite appropriate to respond by saying: "Izit?"

Ja well no fine - This is another conversation fallback. Derived from the four words:
"yes", "well", "no" and fine", it roughly means "OK". If your bank manager tells you your account is overdrawn, you can, with confidence, say: "Jawelnofine."

Klap - Pronounced "klup" - an Afrikaans word meaning smack, whack or spank. If you spend too much time in front of the TV during exam time, you could end up getting a "klap" from your mother. In America , that is called child abuse. In South Africa , it is called promoting education. But to get "lekker geklap" is to get motherlessly drunk.

Lekker - An Afrikaans word meaning nice, this word is used by all language groups to
express approval. If you enjoyed a braai thoroughly, you can say: "Now that was lekk-errrrrrr!" while drawing out the last syllable.

Tackies - These are sneakers or running shoes. The word is also used to describe
automobile or truck tyres. "Fat tackies" are really wide tyres, as in: "You've got lekker fat tackies on your VĂ´lla, hey?"

Dop - This word has two basic meanings, one good and one bad. First the good: A dop is a drink, a cocktail, a sundowner, a noggin. When invited for a dop, be careful! It could be one sedate drink or a blast, depending on the company. Now the bad: To dop is to fail. If you "dopped" standard two (Grade 4) more than once, you probably won't be reading this.

Saamie - This is a sandwich. For generations, school- children have traded "saamies"
during lunch breaks. In South Africa you don't send your kid to school with liver-polony saamies. They are impossible to trade.

Bakkie - This word is pronounced "bucky" and can refer to a small truck or pick-up.
If a young man takes his "girl" (date) in a bakkie it could be considered as a not so "lekker" form of transport because the seats can't recline.

Howzit - This is a universal South African greeting, and you will hear this word
throughout the country. It is often accompanied with the word "Yes!" as in: "Yes, howzit?". In which case you answer "No, fine."

Now now - In much of the outside world, this is a comforting phrase: "Now now, it's
really not so bad." But in South Africa , this phrase is used in the following manner: "Just wait, I'll be there now now." It means "a little after now".

Tune grief - To be tuned grief is to be aggravated, harassed. For example, if you argue with somebody about a rugby game at a braai and the person had too much dop
(is a little "geklap"), he might easily get aggravated and say.: "You're tuning me grief, hey!". To continue the argument after this could be unwise and result in major tuning of grief..

Boet - This is an Afrikaans word meaning "brother" which is shared by all language
groups. Pronounced "boot" but shorter, as in "foot", it can be applied to a brother or any person of the male sex. For instance a father can call his son "boet" and friends can apply the term to each other too. Sometimes the diminutive "boetie" is used. But don't use it on someone you hardly know - it will be thought patronizing and could lead to you getting a "lekker klap".

Pasop - From the Afrikaans phrase meaning "Watch Out!", this warning is used and
heeded by all language groups. As in: "The boss hasn't had his coffee yet - so you better pasop boet" Sometimes just the word "pasop!" is enough without further explanation. Everyone knows it sets out a line in the sand not to be crossed.

Skop, Skiet en donner - Literally "kick, shoot and thunder", this phrase is used by many South African speakers to describe action movies. A Clint Eastwood movie is always a good choice if you're in the mood for of a lekker skop, skiet en donner
flick.

Vrot - Pronounced - "frot". A expressive word which means "rotten" or "putrid" in
Afrikaans, it is used by all language groups to describe anything they really dislike. Most commonly intended to describe fruit or vegetables whose shelf lives have long expired, but a pair of old tackies (sneakers) worn a few years too long can be termed "vrot" by some unfortunate folk which find themselves in the same vicinity as the wearer. Also a rugby player who misses important kicks or tackles can be said to have played a vrot game - opposite to a "lekker" game but not to his face). A movie was once reviewed with this headline: "Slick Flick, Vrot Plot."

Rock up - To rock up is to just, sort of arrive (called "gate crash" in other parts of the world). You don't make an appointment or tell anyone you are coming - you just rock up. Friends can do that but you have to be selective about it. For example, you can't just rock up for a job interview.

Scale - To scale something is to steal it. A person who is "scaly" has a doubtful
character, is possibly a scumbag, and should rather be left off the invitation list to your next braai.

Ja-nee - "Yes No" in English. Politics in South Africa has always been associated
with family arguments and in some cases even with physical fights. It is believed that this _expression originated with a family member who didn't want to get a klap or get donnerred, so he just every now and then muttered "ja-nee". Use it when you are required to respond, but would rather not choose to agree or disagree.

Monday, 12 October 2009

Over the Rainbow Shawl





I knit this little shawl for Kayla in two evenings. It can be made as big or as small as you wish. The pattern notes are rough and it can be changed to suit you. Yarn and needle size are not important to this shawl nor is gauge. I used 100% lambswool dyed by myself (approx 330 m) and 3.75mm needles.

Pattern:

C/o 7 stitches, k for two rows

* Increases are on every rs row by doing yo’s after two stitches, one either side of centre stitch and one two stitches before the end.

1. Knit in stocking stitch (ss) for as many rows as pleases you.

2. Knit (garter stitch) two rows, knit one row of yo k2tog, knit two rows (eyelet section)

3. Knit another ss section

4. Knit 4 rows moss (seed) stitch

5. Knit another ss section

6. Knit another eyelet section

7. Knit another ss section

For a bigger version just repeat steps 1 - 7 before the garter section.

8. Knit in garter stitch for as long as you want

Knit an eyelet row, knit one row, knit another eyelet row, knit three rows garter stitch and cast off.

Block lightly and enjoy your shawl :)

Sunday, 6 September 2009

Yarn to Dye for!!






Yesterday I took my first leap into Kool Aid Dying some yarn. What a blast! I can see this becoming a new obsession. I basically mixed the KA with warm water. Soaked the undyed skeins for about 20 minutes. Then I gently squeezed out the water and lay the skeins onto some clingfilm. I also used newspaper underneath to protect the table. Then using a syringe I squirted the dye where I wanted it on the yarn and gently patted it with my fingers to ensure it went all the way through the skein.

Then I wrapped the clingfilm around the yarn and into the microwave it went. Two minutes on high, two minutes to stand, repeat. One last go on high for 1 minute. I took it out of the microwave - and glory is it hot!! Unwrapped it from the CF and let it cool. Then I washed it in some soak and left it to dry. I then wound it into cakes and ta-da... beautiful hand dyed yarn. How on earth anyone would want to drink this stuff is beyond me...bleh!

I can't wait for more supplies to arrive and try different colourways. Total, messy fun!!

Tuesday, 1 September 2009

At last, an update.





So much has been happening in my life at the moment. I had an interview today and I have one tomorrow so I could soon be back in the land of the working parent. Less time to knit, boo, more money, yay! I have been knitting my butt off and loving it. I have also opened an ebay shop selling shawl pins and stitch markers which I have made. Let's hope it takes off. I am taking part in my first knit-along on Friday which I am dead excited about with a bunch of fabulous ladies.

I have knitted so much over the past couple of months it would take all day to upload photos so I will just do a few.

My mom in law was here for a few weeks over the summer and it was great to see her and my dad in law arrives on the weekend for a few days, can't wait to see him again. The best news of all is that my tickets are booked for our SA holiday and we only have three months to go!! So exciting. Kids are back at school, happy days!

Thursday, 28 May 2009

One year gone!




I can't believe that I have been a Ravelry member for over a year now. The list of things I have learnt and friends that I have made would go on for an eternity. Back on the home front I have a serious case of startitis and just keep casting on for new projects. Some will get finished, some...probably not!! I joined the gym last week in a last ditch attempt to get fit and lose some weight - so far so good. Knitting wise I recently finished a bolero for myself, a summer top for Kayla and a bunny for a friend.