There is a chill in the air but it still feels more like fall rather than winter. Heck, I even saw someone at the Christmas market this morning wearing flip-flops! It’s more damp and cloudy than cold, and around 3 degrees, and it won’t really feel like winter until it gets to the minus temperatures and maybe some of the white stuff.
Anyway we found a lovely Christmas tree at the market. It was the first one we saw, it was full and green and just the right size and price, and so it was an easy decision. I didn’t buy anything from the vendors but it was fun to look around. Crochet figured heavily on a lot of the tables. Whilst there was still one person selling what I would call tacky old-fashioned stuff there was also a tasteful table of beanies with faux fur pompoms, scarves, mittens and so on that were made in a controlled colour palette and presented with pretty tags in an attractive way.
I know that, as yarn crafters, we make a very wide range of items, and where they fall on the tacky/tasteful scale is quite subjective. I do not claim to always make tasteful items! I’m sure some people have looked sideways at some of my FOs and thought WTF! However when making things to sell I think it’s worth thinking about current trends, what colours people tend to wear, what fashions they are following. While I like bright colours, I think that the woman selling the well-made neutral-coloured accessories will do well, whereas the woman selling the crazily-variegated blankets and pastel baby jackets will not. Maybe that’s just my judgment. As I say, the tasteful/tacky scale is subjective.
I do love granny squares and I know there are many who hate them. The garter stitch wrap I am knitting right now, with its colour changes every two rows, would probably make some people cringe. My friend said she admired my bravery in changing colours so often. I know she didn’t mean it in a bad way – maybe she was even referring to all the ends I am creating along one edge (which I am definitely not going to be weaving in). But I love it, and that’s what matters because I am not making it to please anyone else.
It’s 12.5″ long now. Only 37.5″ to go! And the granny squares which will be attached along each end are still only partially made. But there’s no deadline for this, and even though it seems like it will take a long time (DK yarn is pretty thin) if I add an inch or two every day it’ll be done by the end of the month. I know I am onto a good thing if I am picturing myself wearing the item and really looking forward to it.
I took these photos outside on my deck at about 3.30 in the afternoon. Surprisingly the light was still quite good. I got another photo of the mittens too as the indoor shot was a bit dark.
I went to see Bohemian Rhapsody last night with a friend. I really enjoyed it. I love Queen’s music and we were singing along in places. I know there have been mixed reviews but I give it two thumbs up!
So what’s on your tasteful/tacky list?
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NICOLA KNITS 