rose hip

still here...

 

 

... in my little world where, if I'm not playing with yummy fabric scraps, I might be browsing for ideas as to what to make with my big stash of thrifted woolly yarn (I have vowed to use this stuff before buying new stuff!...), or better still, in my garden thinking on how to improve its many patchy spots... While I am still doing all these things, I feel like I have been sputtering lately, not having blogged since January and feeling more lethargic and less inspired than usual, and definitely very troubled and overwhelmed with what's going in our very big world, and yes, specifically in long-suffering Ukraine...

 

 

Being of Polish descent, I feel connected to the Slav part of the world; my maternal grandfather was born in Lwów, now Lviv, where at the time of my grandfather's birth, many Poles made their home. Since February 24th, I have often found myself in tears watching the horrific daily news coming out of Ukraine, unable to wrap my head around the brutality of the invasion and of the atrocities being committed against human beings who, before February 24th, where going about their normal business, living lives like you and me...

 

 

At the same time, I have also found myself tearing up when watching how so many incredible people have opened up their hearts in so many different and creative ways, bringing much-needed aid to so many displaced, desperate, heartbroken and traumatized Ukrainians -- so inspiring!!... And yes, inspired I became, realizing that maybe I could also help, very, very, very, very modestly for sure, but still... I could help with a fundraising idea of mine: send all proceeds from patchwork fabric bundle sales to help refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. And yes, you guessed it, the bundle in question sews up into the patchwork featured in this post, a collection with very definite blue and yellow accents, but also made up of many fabrics (many of which are vintage) that, for one reason or another, make me think of beautiful Ukraine. Now, as far as what refugee aid organization I would like to support, I'm not sure yet, but it just so happens that I am off to Poland this week to visit my 96-year-old aunt, so I should have an idea soon... I would so appreciate your help, so please stay tuned for bundle news which will be coming here and on Instagram upon my return home at the beginning of May ... And as always, thank you so much for popping by!...

 

 

 

my January stitching...

 

 

... this year has been all about making scarves which I guess is fitting given that I spent December stitching mittens!... In the last while, I've grown to really like wearing scarves as soon as chilly weather sets in, appreciating how they really keep you toasty and snug, especially when made with soft and warm natural fibers. So, thinking about what yarn would feel nice against my skin as well as keeping me warm, I dug into my stash and found a lovely batch of heathered grey wool-alpaca blend yarn which I had bought at a local thrift shop and,..

 

 

... using measurements of one of my favourite scarves and hook in hand, I started on my first scarf which you can see a bit of below -- it is the lightest grey woolly yumminess in the middle of the pile...

 

 

Having really enjoyed making my first scarf and being pleased with how it turned out, I turned to my family to see if there was any scarf aficionados and sure enough, Nico, my youngest, raised her hand... So digging into my reserves again, I unearthed a very lovely yarn, also found at a thrift shop, and definitely of a certain vintage given its 80's like labels which indicated that the yarn was made in what was once called W. Germany... Now, this yarn was a sweet find as it is 60% silk and 40% wool, a truly delicious blend, lovely to the touch, a perfect fiber for a scarf... Nico likes her scarves wide and long, so this is how it turned out...

 

 

I went on to make two more scarves this month, one for my other daughter, Alexandra, who so liked Nico's scarf that she raised her hand too; she wanted the same camel colour as Nico's so, after a bit of searching in local yarn shops, the closest match I found as far as colour goes was a lovely alpaca wool blend in worsted weight, Berroco's Ultra Alpaca Natural, which is a beautifully soft and warm yarn, ideal for a scarf. I also ended up making another one for myself with some lovely scrap merino yarn I had lying around in blacks and greys -- if you look at my pile of scarves, it is right on top...

 

 

Now, if you're wondering what stitch I used, well, I was wholly inspired by one of my favourite crochet books...

 

 

I've loved this book since I first bought it a while back, smitten by its stitches and projects which have a beautifully simple, natural and deliciously textured look to them; I finally satisfied my itch to make something from it by using one its showcased stitches for my scarves, the woven stitch,...

 

 

... the simplest of stitches based on a very easy pattern of chain and single crochet stitches,...

 

 

... which gives a beautifully subtle texture,...

 

 

... made even more beautiful when using lovely natural fiber with character, whether it be heathery and rustic, or silky and luxurious...

 

 

I do hope your New Year started well and your January was as calming and crafty as mine was with all my scarf-making... Thank you so much for popping by for a visit today, and I hope you pop by again soon as I have a bunch of new rosehippy goodies to share with you in the upcoming months... And, of course, please don't forget to check out Rose Hip on Instagram...

 

 

 

Happy New Year!...

 

 

... Yep, it's time again to say goodbye to one year and welcome a new one -- how do you feel about that? I have to say that I'm quite happy to see 2021 off, as I found it to be a rather troubling year for so many different reasons; who knows what 2022 will bring, but there is always that feeling that a new year is a fresh start which might bring on better things, something that I'm clinging on to right now!...

 

 

How have your Christmas holidays been so far? Ours are ones that we will remember, but not for being the merriest -- Covid came to our house right in time for Christmas with the potential of infecting all 6 of us... In the end, it wasn't so bad as we ended up with only one positive (we still can't believe that!...) along with a bunch of time in self-isolation!...

 

 

So given our little Chrismassy Covid chaos, I never got around to blogging before Christmas as I had planned to about the woolly sweater mittens I made to gift family and friends with... They were so much fun to make! As a starting point, I used this pattern I found on Etsy which I tweaked a bit here and there, with the biggest change being that I crocheted the ribbing instead of using already made ribbing from sweaters. I used felted thrifted sweaters, yummy DK weight wool yarn and grey woollen fabric as lining. With their two layers of woolly loveliness, I do think they will keep hands nice and toasty, perfect for us right now in Vancouver as we are in a winter wonderland brought on by a chilly arctic flow...

 

 

I hope this post finds you all enjoying a safe, healthy and happy holiday with your loved ones... Thank you so much for popping by to visit me here throughout this nutty year of 2021, and I do hope that 2022 will bring all the very best to you and yours!...