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‘tiny happy’ was a journal of my handmade life from 2006-2025.

a blue cardigan

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An old merino wool sweater was recycled to make this new cardigan for miss K. I did a bit of cutting around another garment of hers that fits well, and incorporated the existing hem and sleeves to save me having to sew those. I made some bias tape from the leftovers of this coat lining, to trim the neckline and front, added some embroidery and a big chunky dome button for fastening.

I'm feeling pretty depressed about our national election result over the weekend. We now have three more years of right-wing governance and it seems the gap between rich and poor in our country will only get wider, and our traditional egalitarian values are no longer a priority.

We had to distract ourselves by gardening, listening to lots of music, and going to see the Samoan film The Orator, which had the most beautiful cinematography.

Hope your weekend was good one!

 

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26 responses to “a blue cardigan”

  1. nancy Avatar
    nancy

    I am sorry to hear about the election Melissa.
    The cardigan is such a pretty shade of blue. You did a beautiful job of it

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  2. Miss Smith Avatar
    Miss Smith

    The Greens had a pretty good show, though, that was some consolation.
    Love that cardy, it’s ace.

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  3. seaside siblings Avatar
    seaside siblings

    Beautiful cardigan. I am hearing you on the election result and it saddens me that so many NZers have so little social conscious. I take some solace in knowing that the greens hit 10% for the first time though.

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  4. Marty Avatar
    Marty

    Sounds like your country is headed in the same direction as ours. In the US, the right is trying to completely eliminate the middle class. Sad, because the middle class is the backbone of our country. The minds of the misinformed Americans are being thoroughly manipulated and we operate on fear and hatred rather than love for each other.
    The sweater is really cute.

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  5. elmtree Avatar
    elmtree

    I like the bias binding. Do you use one of those little cutters for that , that fold it as you go?
    I feel pretty down about the elections too. Selling parts of our assets, especially the energy companies, is just going to drive up the prices out of greed. It won’t actually cost as much to produce the energy. But at least the green party can hopefully influence them somewhat…

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  6. Catherine Avatar
    Catherine

    Hi Melissa, down sound so down. I was really heartened by the greens resulT.
    I have been buying op shop wool cardies to chop up and convert to girl cardies. I will try it this weekend. Yours looks great. I love bias binding. definitely makes me happy.

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  7. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    Gorgeous cardigan, I’m also feeling crap about the election, I feel like I’ve broken something really special.

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  8. SmitoniusAndSonata Avatar
    SmitoniusAndSonata

    A lovely cardi … you’ve done a beautiful job !
    I’m afraid your election results mirror those everywhere else . The big divide between haves and have-nots will never go like this.

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  9. Jacqui Avatar
    Jacqui

    Beautiful cardi! I’m depressed about the results too – I find it hard to understand why so many people voted them in despite apparently not liking their policies O_o I suppose on the bright side they didn’t get a majority, ACT is largely gone and appears to be on track to disappear completely, if they actually do sell things off and it doesn’t go well they won’t be back in next time with any luck, and the Greens did well. Of course, it might be too late by then…

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  10. Jennifer Lin Avatar
    Jennifer Lin

    Hi Melissa,
    Love how you made sthg completely lovely, fm the old. You r pretty fast & nifty — am amazed at how quickly you can conjure creations.
    Well, politics r the same everywhere. Here in Singapore, the rich are getting even richer. And the poor even poorer. Worrying trend worldwide, this. That is why we need to have ppl who have the conscience to stand for what they believe in and say no to policies which only benefit a certain strata of society.

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  11. Jill Wignall Avatar
    Jill Wignall

    The cardigan is lovely.
    Sorry about the election. I heard it on the news and thought of you.

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  12. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    Hi Melissa. Thanks for mentioning the election. I cried when my husband told me National won, even though I could kind of see it coming. In an odd way it’s nice to know I wasn’t the only one depressed by the result!
    I don’t know how you find the time to make all of these beautiful clothes for K. My kids outgrow what I start sewing for them before I ever get the clothes finished! Well done!

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  13. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    Kia ora gorgeous Melissa
    We were pretty gutted about the results too!! but we did get Damian back in for West coast /Tasman 🙂 and the Greens result was brilliant!
    to cheer ourselves up we were lucky to have Sam Prebble, Bond street bridge…(who also played for the Green party celebration) play at Donovans Store along with Ivy and Will from Luckless! last night!
    I know it is going to be a hard 3 years but it so awesome to know there are some real people out there!
    loads of aroha to you and your family
    ed xxx
    ( i love your wee cardi for K 🙂 )

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  14. Tallulah Maggs Avatar
    Tallulah Maggs

    What a beautiful and sweet cardi, I want one! 🙂

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  15. Margaret Oomen Avatar
    Margaret Oomen

    the think that the royal dollar and the banks that house it are taking over all the governments of the western world. It is sad what this will mean for our children.

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  16. Morgan Avatar
    Morgan

    I sympathize with our feelings on the election results. I live in Ontario, Canada and we have had a Conservative government in federally for two terms and and now have a Liberal minority provincially. Scary times!
    Just a note to say I read your blog everyday & really enjoy it!

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  17. carol wills Avatar
    carol wills

    Melissa,
    The blue cardigan is absolutely beautiful. You did a great job. I am sorry to hear about the NZ politics–as you can imagine, we in the U.S. are in the same boat. I just hope that with steady effort, we can progress out of this mire and get back to the values of mutual caring that (occasionally) make this country great. I know I’ll do my part and I know you’ll do yours.

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  18. Nichole Avatar
    Nichole

    Such a sweet cardigan!
    And I can’t agree with Carol WIlls enough. We’ll all do our part. Our small efforts will make a huge impact, especially if we’re all in it together, across oceans and continents.

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  19. Ariadne Avatar
    Ariadne

    Lovely cardigan! Well we had a socialist government and now we have a temporary government and will have elections in Spring probably! And look where we are! The rich richer, the poor poorer and the medium class poor too.And no one cares! I wonder where it will end up!AriadnefromGreece!

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  20. Cozy Memories Avatar
    Cozy Memories

    don’t talk about right-wing governance to me … I’ll just say I didn’t vote for the penguin who is president in my country. I realized today that I hadn’t seen so many people (of all origins & ages) begging in the streets, than this year. 😦

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  21. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    The cardigan is beautiful. Love the cornflowers too 🙂

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  22. Rosa in the Antipodes Avatar
    Rosa in the Antipodes

    I’m glad Greens did well, it’s refreshing to know we are having other voices to be heard than the conservative ones. For now we can only do our best to fight child poverty in this beautiful country (it is something I never thought I would say since I left my own country to live in NZ). Have a bright week, Melissa!

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  23. jamara Avatar
    jamara

    Gorgeous cardigan 🙂
    It is depressing to see how little we as a whole seem to care for our fellow nz-ers.
    I think really the left needs ti wise up and become more strategic the support is there we just need to get abit more clever with it.
    Having a green candidates running in electorates alongside labour is splitting the vote, which is how the west coast/tasman seat was lost last time.
    Hone Harawira was saying he proposed to Maori that they campaign on electorates and he would party campaign then they could of both potentially won 4 seats each to align with labour.
    Here’s hoping next term we can get it happening 🙂

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  24. Lucy @ motherwho Avatar
    Lucy @ motherwho

    Hi Melissa, what a gorgeous cardigan. I love how you upcycle things to make new clothes for your kids. I find it so satisfying to do that too. Hope your week improves! x

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  25. Adrienne Avatar
    Adrienne

    Love the cardy! I too buried myself in the garden and music to lift my “election blues”.!!!
    Life is cyclical “THEY” can’t stay in power forever. Lets hope the damage isn’t too great to be repaired “once again” next election!!!
    We live in an age and country, of knowledge and futuristic technology and still children suffer!!!
    Thank God for lovely blogs like yours to restore peace and faith in my world. Thank you Melissa 🙂

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  26. lizzie Avatar
    lizzie

    What are those lovely flowers – recognized them from The Lord of the Rings, finished a whole sweater for a seven year old while watching the marathon over Thanksiving.
    Love the little cardi – one of a kind !

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