Tuesday 23 June 2020

Darn


Thinking of Red's request for more weather talk  I took some photos of the fog last week:


The view from my kitchen window across the neighbour's yard.


Keaghan sent me a photo from his kitchen window.

As an aside, this is the view the money grabbing land lady tried to tell  me was a "city view". I didn't expect a view and have nothing against a few suburban roof tops but that kind of ridiculous "spin" just makes me annoyed.

It's 14°C at my place right now which I know is positively summery for many of you but it's quite chilly for me, especially as the house is no better insulated than a tent. It was sunny today with a top of 17°C and the last few nights have been dropping to 6°C.

The greyhound people say that greys are sensitive, so much so that many of them leave air conditioning running for their dogs when the people are not home and their fussing (the people's, not the dogs') has infiltrated my brain to the point that I think I fuss over Harry more than I fussed over my kids. Then again, I didn't leave the kids on the deck while I went to work for the day. If it's under 20°C Harry wears a shirt, around 16 I add a coat and when it's going to be below 10 I put another coat on  him. It seems to work.


I follow #visiblemending on Instagram and am constantly amazed by the beautiful work people do to keep old favourites wearable (or to rejuvenate a thrifting find) so when the moths got to a cute little jumper of Caitlin's and she was quietly devastated,  I decided to fix it. I haven't done needlework, darning, mending or knitting in the past but I watched a few You tube videos and took myself to the craft store to get supplies. Darning thread came in black, grey or white so my dreams of a cute coloured mend had to go out the window for the time being and instead of an artistic "visible mend" I ended up doing a very practical and "not invisible enough" grey mend. I have to say I'm happy with it though, for a first attempt. Now she wants me to tackle the worn sleeve of a cream Aran patterned jumper first bought by my brother about 30 years ago. We'll see about that!


There were a few holes but this was the biggest, with the most obvious darning attempt 

26 comments:

  1. Harry looks super cute - and even more importantly comfortable.
    You wouldn't like it here at the moment. We are struggling to reach 14. And not sufficiently chilly in the mornings for me to freeze bubbles.
    Yay on the darning front. A talent which has pretty much passed me by.

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    1. I'm looking forward to frozen bubbles, I'm sure it will be cold enough soon!
      I think the darning talent passed me too but We managed to salvage the jumper so I'm calling it a win :)

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  2. I've often wondered about dogs withoy'fur coats' - poor Harry would live in a shirt plus down here. It's a big on the chilly side :) I

    A little tip for you if you're asked to be Mrs Fixit again. If you have the colour but it's too thick to use it's possible to undo/unravel the strands/ply of wool (or yarn as its called these days) so you can get it through the eye of the needle.

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    1. Blasted presumptive text - I'm not that bad at spelling. Without fur coats and bit on the chilly side

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    2. I'll keep your tip in mind for next time, Cathy. Maybe a thinner thread would have been more appropriate, it's very fine knit.
      Predictive text is terrible but great!

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    3. Yes it predicts but it also presumes.....well according to me it does :)
      Where did presumptive come from when I meant predictive??

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  3. Your darning story made me laugh Kylie. :) I love greyhounds - they are special. I've observed that only a 'certain type of person' has a greyhound.

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    1. I wanted to run before I could walk with the darning, I think but that's ok, sometimes you do better if you don't know how hard it's supposed to be.
      Greyhounds really are special, in that kind of ironic way, too :)

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  4. It's amazing the helpful tutorials you can find on Youtube. Well done with the hole.

    I did have to grin at the "city view", not quite what I was picturing in my head.

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    1. I've noticed that tutorials come in all styles, some tell you way more than you want to know and some way less but they are great, I've used them for all kinds of things.

      City view! Pffft! I hope she thought she was joking :)

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  5. Oh I've been meaning to darn my socks. I will do it, as I've inherited loads of threads from my mum, and I want to make good use of them.
    I used to use patchwork to mend my favourite jeans - I loathe saying goodbye to much worn articles of clothing.
    Sx

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    1. I forgot how handy you are with a needle or two!

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  6. 14 Deg Cel is cold for us too. It is quite some days away in the future though. Right now, it is rain and sunshine alternating and playing hide and seek.

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    1. That sounds like a recipe for humidity!

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  7. I do find your weather interesting. Your sense of temperature is so very different ...even for dogs.

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    1. Yes! Having said that I've never before found it necessary to put a coat on a dog. I think most do it as a fashion statement

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  8. Tutorials are brilliant, repairs like these are all in the tension and the weaving of the repair. And of course a good match but hell, you did so well on your first attempt.

    XO
    WWW

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    1. I'm sure you would have anIan eagle eye for these things! It wasn't even close to a match for colouracolour I pulled it a bit tight so it's not smooth. Oh well 😊

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    2. I didn't proof read that real well, now did I? I'll blame predictive text

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  9. I can't help it but I have a thing about greyhounds and not in a positive way either. I had a friend - a lady - who had two and they were a positive nuisance in the house because they seemed to think I was their eternal friend and plaything. The relationship didn't last. Mind you she smoked too.

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    1. That made me laugh! They must have really loved you if they bothered to get off the sofa 😊

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  10. I find darning holes in jumper seams is easy enough, but darning holes anywhere else without a very visible darn is well nigh impossible.

    Our kitchen view is of suburban houses and gardens. If we go to the top floor we have a wonderful view right across Belfast to the hills beyond.

    Harry is very lucky you're so careful to keep him warm when the temperature drops. Temperature here at the moment is well into the twenties - for us, that's hot!

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    1. I love the low twenties, high twenties can get a bit hot especially if it's humid.
      The Uk greyhound people I see on facebook are all talking about cooling coats and so on for their dogs which is kind of funny for me, I start worrying about harry when the temps hit about 38 :)

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  11. Love the foggy photos. Fog is magical and soothing, in my opinion.

    And I love that you are careful with Harry and his delicate nature! I would worry, too, if I had to leave any animal outside for a work day. Does Harry have his own closet yet? :D

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    1. I love fog for some silly reason, probably because it's unusual.
      Harry's clothes didnt have a place to live and I thought I was so clever just last week when I grabbed a milk crate to put his coats and blankies in :)

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