Words of Wisdom

Youth is wasted on the young.

Tuesday 8 July 2008

Crafty Tuesday: A Knitted Cushion

Hello from the icy wastes of Adelaide! It is freezing (well, relatively) here at the moment and, happily for the dams and rivers, it has been raining!! My first post back from blogging Siberia, where I have been since the end of school, is a crafty one. In fact, this is the reason I've been in blogging Siberia.

Since school got out on Friday I have been in therapeutic soul recovery mode. And what do I do when I need soul therapy and when I have time for said therapy? I make something.

However, what on earth inspired me to make a knitted cushion is a strange series of random linkings indeed. I actually picked up a cardigan the Bestie had knitted some months ago when we were enjoying our weekly pizza night at her place last Wednesday. She is a great knitter my Bestie, having created some amazing garments over the years, but in latter times she has developed an aversion for sewing things together. I on the other hand quite enjoy the final process of sewing articles up so I took the cardy thinking, I'll get that stitched up for her in no time. Unfortunately, the BA suggested we visit a local craft store on Saturday to purchase a quick unpick so I could finish a job for her (does anyone else lose quickunpicks at the rate I do????) and I spied the knitting section. Inspired by the Bestie's cardy I perused the patterns for an almost, but not quite entirely, dissimilar garment. I didn't find one. But I did find a pattern for cushions! It looked like the 'cardigan sew up' would have to take second place.

Back at the ranch, I had two cushion covers which were disintegrating rapidly, aided by children who callously cast them to the floor or use them as 'stepping stones' in various games. Perfect! A quick, easy project with a practical outcome (cushion covers I actually need) which would serve ideally to transport my mind and humour as far from the classroom as possible. To aid and abet this flight from reality I called upon a recent canny investment: the entire first season of The Waltons ( 6 double sided discs) purchased for the grand total of $15.00!!!!!!

So as I knitted my little heart out, I pictured myself in the well scrubbed homely parlour of The Waltons mountain home; the smell of baking on the air, children cheerfully completing chores and me rustically producing my own home accessories.

I did mention it was a flight from reality didn't I?

Anyway. I have finished it and I am quite pleased with the result. I am not sure how robust it will be or how it will cope with cat hair and cushion fights, but I am currently coasting on the satisfaction of finding a home made solution to a practical problem. I have bought more wool in a tweedy, greeny, brown colour to do another!

This then is my contribution to Carrie's Crafty Tuesday and I cannot tell you how good it feels to have made something again! I haven't done it in awhile. Do you have anything crafty to share this Tuesday? Take a look over at Carrie's and see what others have been up to.

11 comments:

kim said...

sounds like a relaxing weekend. Love the cushion. I wish I could knit/crochet... all I could ever manage was a basic stitch. oh well.

Jane said...

I love knitted cushions, and this is a lovely one. Glad you enjoyed making it

The Honourable Husband said...

Fifteen bucks for "The Waltons"? You was robbed?

Now, I never knew that the Bestie knitted. In all the time we lived together, I don't recall it. Maybe I was drunk.

I do recall that the woman was a dab hand with a circular saw.

Anonymous said...

Your flight from reality sounds like a lovely and productive adventure!
The Waltons - oh my - I have not heard of them in YEARS! But I loved that show - so simple! Grandma and Grandpa were favorites!
I am going to have to see if I can add them to my Netflix list! : )

I find crafting things to be quite therapeutic, too!

Enjoy your break!
Elisa

Anonymous said...

It's beautiful! I love sweaters so it looks like it would be lovely to cuddle with.

But what the heck is a "quickunpick"? Is it one of those thingys that undoes the seams? Which I call those "thingys that undo the seams".

Christina said...

I am impressed. I can't knit worth anything. It looks so cozy!

Brittany said...

Wow! I love that! It's beautiful! I wish I were crafty!

Maggie said...

You made that?! It looks great! I am totally impressed.

Blueberry said...

that is lovely! you do good work!

Stacy said...

Fabulous! I love it, and even moreso that you did it while watching the Waltons LOL! I have never knitted in my life but it looks to be a very therapeutic activity. I can see how you would be called to the knitting needles after a hectic time at school.

Our cushions that I lovingly constructed are on the floor most of the time, too. Kids!

Unknown said...

Holy crap! So I'm just getting around to reading some blogs from last week and getting caught up - that pillow is GREAT! Your rows are all so straight and pretty and professional looking. :-) Mine never turn out that way...