tiny happy

making journal

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Hello! I feel like I haven't been here in ages. I've had a small, unintentional break from my usual weekly blog routine that can be pinned down to a general midwinter murk and lack of non-working time. I hope this finds you well, dear reader!

I've also found myself losing my usual verve when it comes to making, which has been a bit sad and strange. Doesn't often happen to me! No matter how busy I am, I still dream of projects and keep my sketchbook around. But not this winter, for some reason. 

Here are some photos from the past few weeks:

A crisp early evening from our front door step, with a pearl moon out early.

A batch of crumpets made on a quiet Saturday morning (so yum toasted with butter and with a cup of tea alongside… I used the recipe from a book I mentioned in this post, The Little Library Cookbook by Kate Young).

A stack of new linen in berry colours, sent by Susan of Loop for some new project bags to send to London in the spring. And a very sweet little pair of Japanese scissors for my embroidery toolbox, she sent as a gift. I love these! Very, very small but also sharp. And with a leather pouch to keep them in.

Other things I've been doing lately have included reading: I finished Motherhood by Sheila Heti which I really enjoyed. It explores the deepest thinking about the meaning of being a mother, or not having children, as the case may be.

Knitting: still working on the same slow projects (could these be the source of my dampened enthusiasm with making? Hmm). Hope to finish both garments soon, and move onto new things.

Projects planned for spring:

+ One of these Kochi Kimono jackets, in a fine black linen (I think it would be a very useful work garment, or to wear while lounging around anywhere else! 
+ A couple of tops like this one, for the warmer weather (do you like how I'm writing as though winter is almost over? It's not even close!)
+ Knitted rabbits. I have some soft natural angora yarn and would love to knit up a couple of soft rabbits for my baby nieces, but I haven't found a pattern like the idea I have in mind. I am going to try to make my own.

What about you? How are you feeling these days, and what projects are you planning?
Thank you for visiting, as always.

+ = + = + = + = + = + = +

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16 responses to “midwinter dispatch”

  1. Betty-Ann Avatar
    Betty-Ann

    I have made a very cute rabbit from a little cotton rabbits pattern. Her patterns are delightful, but to tell the truth, it was a bit of a fiddle. Her patterns are knitted flat then sewn up, which adds to the work. Animal and toy patterns by Susan B Anderson are knitted in the round which I find more satisfying – easier to get the right shape, less sewing up. I have also made the Touch bunny pattern; similarly cute, but also fiddly.
    I do think there is potential for designing a rabbit pattern with simple lines, and I think you could be the woman to create such a pattern! My younger son’s fiancée is a bunny nut (works in a bunny vet clinic in Melbourne, has her own lovely bunnies), and I would make her any pattern you designed!

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  2. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    Lovely to have you back! The crumpets look scrumptious and those tiny scissors – all the heart eyes!

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  3. tinyhappy Avatar

    Hi Betty-Ann, Thanks for this lovely message! So great to hear your experiences with knitted bunnies and interesting that youve found patterns hard to source too. Thanks for the tips – will have a good think and start work on one soon! 
    Hope youre well,
    Melissa

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  4. tinyhappy Avatar

    Aw thank you Laura!
    M

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  5. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    That Papercut jacket looks so cool. I’m knitting a hat for my husband using the same Purl Soho pattern you mentioned in an earlier post. Trying hard to concentrate on this and ignore the yarn that’s just arrived from HRYC (Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, destined to become a Willard jersey)…

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  6. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    I’m making your ginger slice. We are having a fundraiser at work for the Aust. farmers, now in drought conditions. Will send some with the truck drivers taking donated goods out west. Have a good weekend, Melissa.

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  7. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    Lovely to have you back x.

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  8. Meg Avatar

    Love the colours of your new Loop fabrics. Gorgeous! Meg:)

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  9. CJ Avatar
    CJ

    Your posts are always a bright spot in my day. I love the photos and your thoughts are quirky and interesting.
    Looking forward to the next one already!

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  10. Rebecca Goddard Avatar
    Rebecca Goddard

    Hi Melissa,
    My rabbit pattern recommendation is from Debbie Bliss Toy Knits; I knitted both my boys these and have had to knit replacements as they’ve been loved to thinness over the years. They are, in our house, always called John the Rabbit and I think I knitted them first to accompany the lovely Elizabeth Mitchell track Oh, John the Rabbit. I remember making the legs, ears and bodies longer and more floppy. One incarnation got lost from the buggy on a trip up the hill to the shops. We made LOST posters and to our delight the landlord from the local pub had rescued him from kids who were throwing him up into trees outside the pub – he was very floppy, and so he probably looked great mid-air. So, John the Rabbit was retrieved from behind the bar at the Oxford Pub, loved once more.
    Love reading your words and feel the making slump too.
    Becky.

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  11. Mary Gordon Avatar
    Mary Gordon

    Lovely post – inspired to look up that book.
    Great to have had sun this weekend in Wellington, I’m feeling hopeful of more…
    Have just knitted Kaarre beannie by Nuku Nuku (ravelry) – same grey with mustard band (a happy result of not enough grey).
    Saw “The Wife” movie – hadn’t realised it was by Meg Wolitzer whose book ‘the Female Persuasian’ I’ve just finished and enjoyed.
    Thanks as always for the beautiful posts.

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  12. KarenLR Avatar

    Hot and humid and heavy air here in Vermont. Kind of saps the energy.
    I have some grand baby sewing in the queue. A bonnet pattern via Purl, made with some precious Liberty. A sunhat made with Lotta Jansdotter fabric. A needle case for a far away friend. Maybe tomorrow…
    I do love to pop by here. It’s been one of my fave blogs for years.
    xo

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  13. tinyhappy Avatar

    thank you, karen! hope it cools down for you there soon.
    – melissa

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  14. tinyhappy Avatar

    Hi Mary, thank you for your update – I had to look up the Kaarre pattern and I love it!
    Mustard and grey is always a good combo. Heres to more sun in our city, soon… M

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  15. Manda Avatar

    I hope you get out of your not-making funk soon. I always tell people that creating is one of thing things that helps keep my mental health in check and if they notice I don’t have any projects on the go then probably something isn’t right with me.
    I’m planning a few tunics from the uniform cardigan book, when I can steal a day to get behind my sewing machine. In the meantime I want to attempt my first pair of knitted socks. If you have any pattern recommendations for a newbie then let me know. At some point, I’ll knit a hat for Jay too. Probably not before Spring hits us though!

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  16. tinyhappy Avatar

    Hi Manda!
    I feel just the same about knitting and general mental health… youre not alone there 🙂 
    Im keen to check out that uniform cardigan book… so many good designs! And hooray for your first sock project! I usually use the same pattern to make my socks, and its a pretty simple one – https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-ribbed-socks There are probably heaps of other good simple patterns too, and ive read that this is a good one to start with as its written in a very helpful, conversational style – https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/smooth-operator-socks
    Have a lovely week Manda X

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