Among the activities keeping me focussed these days . . . Missing my grandkids, but/so I’ve been making things for them. . . These little knit dolls (pattern here, if you’re tempted; I knit mine all in the round) are in various stages of completion. The one in the middle was knit at the wrong tension (so that you can see the filling through the stitches) — I was experimenting to use up stash yarn, and thought that red cashmere-merino-silk mix would “bloom” more. . . I’m going to send it to the intended recipient, recently turned Five, because I think he will love it as is (the cashmere makes it very cuddly), but I’m also readying the needles in case he asks for one with stripes as well.
The stripes on the left are for a Just-Turned Two, and on the right, still awaiting arms, is a doll for his Big Sister, newly Five. . . Once these are delivered, five of my six grands will have a doll (Here’s the one that started it all, and here’s the second, made for someone who’s Seven now but was newly Five when she met her little knit friend.
The Eleven is the only one who won’t have a handknit doll, but I’ve promised to start hers this week. As soon as I’ve finished the socks I’m making for her. . . . Cheery, right? The stripes are from a pair of socks I knit my husband — she asked for the foot to be made in “a bright colour” rather than some of the dark neutrals I had in my stash, also leftovers. . . I obliged, and I’ve had fun knitting these up — while watching Sex Education (much better than I’d expected from the title and trailer, made us feel uncomfortably prurient at times, but overall thoughtful and perhaps necessary. . . and entertaining! Some great young actors, a pleasing variety of faces, several in particular I hope we’ll see more of). . .
I haven’t been sketching as much as I thought I might (trying not to say “as much as I should“ because, hey, it’s supposed to be fun, not an obligation ;-). . . but over the weekend, I made a short video of myself reading this book (Emily Gravett’s Again!) and posted it to our family’s WhatsApp chat for the grandkids to listen to. And then realized that the cover illustration might be fun in my journal. I’m quite pleased with how this turned out, I have to say. . . .Although as soon as Pater told me how good he thought it was, I squelched the compliment by saying “I was just copying”. . . I did check myself, though, recognizing that “just copying” this was a skill absolutely not in my wheelhouse ten or so years ago. . . notuntil I took a class. . . .
That’s some of what I’ve been up to recently, taking advantage of time at home. . . .
Still thinking of those whose shelter isn’t as secure, or who, within that shelter, have much more to worry about than I do, or than I can even imagine. . . . Thanks for your supportive and trusting and vulnerable comments at my last post. Nothing useful comes from feeling guilty about being comfortably sheltered and managing this confinement reasonably well right now. But as well as staying home and supporting public health efforts to contain and mitigate this outbreak, we contribute by holding space for those who arrive at this crisis already struggling in ways we don’t know.
I took this photo this morning from my couch. . . a few hundred metres away, across a busy street, a construction worker has climbed up the crane’s ladder to enjoy a contemplative view before most of his peers arrive. . . .He stood like that for at least five minutes, no arm movements that might have indicated he was smoking. I wonder if he was imagining all the people sheltered in all the homes spread before him. . . . Or just breathing that clean air, “physically distanced” as we’ve now learned to say.
That’s it for my Monday Morning wave to you all.
I’d love to hear from you, as you know. For now, I’m off to stuff and sew some little pink arms on a chubby knit doll. . .
xo,
f
Love the dolls and socks, loved Sex Education as well. Currently watching Succession, which is appalling and mesmerizing. The writing made me curious to know if it was an all-male writer's room, but Nope, just writing that, I think, is meant to show the traditional old-style male vibe of this business world while also showing the strength of the women, who are as unpleasant and treacherous as the men. We've seen up to S1E4, so much is left to be revealed. Hope you and yours are staying safe and well.
These handmade presents mean a lot.
My grown kid still has the lovey made by my aunt. It has come out again, to sit on the bed in this difficult time, perhaps a way of going back to the safety of childhood.
Lovely dolls and I agree with Eleven,we need more rainbows in our life!
Keep sketching when and if it makes you happy-it is beautiful! You could think about writing and illustrating a children's book while at home…..maybe about una ragazza e un arcobaleno 🙂
Dottoressa
My mum in law knit dozens of these for the paramedics to have on hand. Each one was different and helped in often difficult situations
I'm going to guess the man was simply looking at the astonishing sight of a nearly-empty city. Here, only the occasional car makes a fleeting sound past our windows. The dolls are delightful, bound to be treasured.
Dolls are a lovely way to use up yarn scraps. They'll become a real 'memory' item, too. Haven't pulled out any yarn yet–can't quite get in the mood, but will likely pull out some cotton fabric today to sew some masks. Those are likely to become memory item, too.
I so wish I had a stash on extra wool. I'd love to try knitting something right about now. Love those little dolls. And the bright socks!
The knitted dolls, especially the middle one, remind me of my own doll an adored older cousin knit for me when I was about 4 years old. I treasured her for years and then left her in the bottom drawer of my parents' cedar chest. That chest is now in our own home and whenever I pass it I'm tempted to open the drawer even though I know she's long gone. But the memory remains and I'm sure your grandchildren will treasure their dolls just as much.
Frances in Sidney
Your knitted dolls remind me of the tiny knitted dolls an acquaintance makes for the Canadian Armed Forces to carry and give to the children they meet in Afghanistan and other locales in their peace-keeping missions. I believe she called them “ Izzy dolls”, named after a fallen soldier, and they stand about 3-4 inches high. She uses scrap and donated wools to craft gloriously attired girls and boys with wild, shaggy hair or cute little caps. Has anyone else ever heard of this initiative?
My sister has knit a few fir this cause which a friend of hers has made hundreds.
Such gorgeous dolls, so cute and cuddly. It’s getting cooler here so perhaps I’ll add knitting to my stay at home activities. So far it’s yoga, meditation, walks round the neighbourhood not stopping anywhere or touching anything, reading and some online study. And the inevitable cleaning and cooking. Hard to imagine it could be like this for many months. The changes to liberty and routine that so many people have made in such a short time are staggering. I worry about the health and other essential service workers and people without homes or other means to stay safe. And all those who have lost loved ones. For some reason I’m finding Mondays hard and after that my week improves.
I really like the term physically distance rather than what we are using in the US "socially distance." The first is not only more accurate, but it feels so much better. We need social closeness and physical distance as your wonderful dolls prove.
How lovely! What a delight for your grandchildren to receive. If I ever have any grandchildren, they're going to have to get plants from me – as you may have gather, I have only ever knitted anything under extreme duress! You could have a little home business going for those of us who don't knit.
Thanks for all your comments, especially the "Likes" for the dolls.
Susan: I looked up those "Izzy" dolls, and they seem to be linked to Health Partners International of Canada — there's a pattern for them on their website and instructions for where to send them. Ingeniously, they're used instead of styrofoam peanuts to stuff boxes sending medical kits to countries where those are needed — and then the dolls can be distributed to children by medical professionals.
I love the little dolls, Frances. Each with their own personalities. Which size did you make? I have collected little tins with hinged lids with a goal to make tiny teddies for inside, but due to my dislike of making fiddly things, I procrastinate and soon all the grandkids will be too old to want them- so brava to you! I am sure the kids will treasure them. I find I am very distracted these days and have so many projects on the go and more fantasies about others I hope to do that I am going a little batty! Can you relate? On the plus side, I am using some of my gargantuan stash. 😉😉. Jennifer B