free knitting pattern (Debbie Bliss blackberry stitch beanie)

I was asked to write a small interesting piece on a topic of my choice for this month’s Iwade Observer. Normally I would have chosen gardening but at this time of year there isn’t much going on especially if we have snow/ice on the ground. The ground is too frozen to work on and you don’t feel like being outside in the cold unless it’s to build a snowman! I did buy some garlic but that's as far as I got and its not planted out yet. For now I am just jotting down what to grow in my veg patch and choosing seeds from catalogues in the warmth of my kitchen with a hot cup of tea.

In the winter months I switch to my other passion, knitting and more recently crochet. Most gardeners split their time between gardening in the warmer months with knitting, sewing and crochet during the winter months. I tend to combine both all year round, but concentrate on knitting and crochet during the winter months.

I’m not sure where it all started but my earliest memories are off my grandmother and my granddads cigar box full of odd buttons and helping her wind oddments of wool into neat little balls. My first real jumper was made for my son now 21 and I guess that’s when it took over. Sewing and knitting was also something taught in my junior school and the revival is about to start in the UK again this year. These skills follow you in your life and are handy when you need to sew button back on, sew a scout badge on your child’s kits or knit a quick scarf for a friend’s birthday.

There are a lot of talented crafters in Iwade where I| live, some with old skills and some who have mastered new skills more recently with the help of a friend or neighbour. It’s not just for your grandma; many of us new to knitting/crochet are using this pastime as the antidote to our stressful workaholic lives making it great for your health too! Most evenings I am putting another row onto my new granny stripe blanket but last night I did start a new project, just a quick one! It is a slouchy hat using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in sage colour. The stitch is new to me, Blackberry but once you've knitted 4 rows of the pattern you see the pattern emerge and its quite exiting. Hopefully by the end od this week it will be finished. Here is the link to the pattern