I was rummaging around in my patterns and could not find anything that was right, so then I just pinned the fabric onto my modelling doll and started cutting…The front panels go over into the collar, so the both front panels and collar are one continuous piece.

Then I did not want to make it too stiff and I was messing about with how to make the sleeves when I suddenly remembered I had an old grey wool somewhat felted jumper. I cut off the sleeves and dyed them the matching burgundy.

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Back in Holland such an attempt would not even have been considered..

Our ancient Toyota Hilux was in dire need of some fixing and after having diagnosed the problem (long live the internets) and doing some research as to what a rear driveshaft might cost we went to the local car mechanic to see whet the selfsame part might cost here. Because we wanted it now and not in a week or so…well…we decided to wait after finding out it would cost 10 (yes you read right 10 whole times) more to get the part locally. Well I literally burst out laughing when I heard that and we walked away giggling and proceeded to order it online poste haste..

In less than a week it was delivered to our gate and within half an hour it was put in place and the car with Martien in it zoomed off purring like a happy kitten..  

Ah what life on the edge of the world will make you learn! Sometimes a real frustration but we have learned so many new skills since coming to live here

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I really wanted to use it at once, patience is not my very best feature..and while pottering around with my things my eye fell on a cone of yarn which was just a bit short for a whole jumper. I combined it with the Noro and some wool fabric I had remaining from a dress I made earlier. Always good to save up those odds and ends…you never know when they come in handy. The wool fabric is beige so I dyed it. As a first instinct I took the burgundy to dye it with but halfway to the boiling pot I suddenly changed my mind and realised it had to be teal. I feel a teal thread running through my mind these days it seems..

When looking for a zipper ..lo and behold…the only suitable one was teal..how peculiar.

There we go then , one burgundy teal cardi…

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I make these on my ancient flatbed knitting machine, and aside a seam along the side they do not differ from socks knit by hand on knitting needles. Well the main difference is of course they are made waaaay faster.

Here is a nice youtube video on how they are made

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Martien is less delighted as the pipe that leads the water under our road and it is blocked somehow, so the water runs over the driveway, across the parking lot and then across the field. It should of course run through the pipe and along the spring riverbed in the woods…oh well…spring has sprun! Who cares!

And in the mean time Martien made a gazillion little pots and is sowing seeds like we need to get through several hungerwinters in future..I hope most of them will thrive. Marianna sent me most of these seeds, she is a crafty friend who also happens to be an expert veggie grower!

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And yes it works, ha had a bit trouble getting into the shoe, but is wearing thick woollen socks still so without them they fit like a glove..

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The ballet shoes are great for high summer, the boots fantastic when it is -20 celcius but I needed something in between.

And these are it. No insole so you are really close to the ground, truly a barefoot experience. They tie up well so they do not slip around the foot. The soles are rubber so you do not get wet feet though the fully sewn construction makes them easily usable in water as they will not become unstuck.

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