Miscellaneous

I’m immensely fond of knits that are frayed, decayed, falling apart with years of use: there is no more fitting and dignified end for a knit. Even a lace shawl snagged on a fence on a Highlands walk – far better than sitting forgotten for decades in the bottom of a drawer.

This pattern, Small Rabbit with Sweater (Ravelry link), is better known in our home as Robert. I’ve knit the pattern (sans sweater, because nobody wears a sweater in bed) in its entirety four times, as well as a number of body parts – replacement arms, legs and ears. For about 3.5 years now, Robert has been a member of our family. He has travelled with us almost everywhere we have been (just last week, Robert was the only one who could staunch the tears on the beach when sand was firmly rubbed in to the eyes of his best friend). When Robert gets lost in a dark bedroom, we all wake up to find him, a 3am adrenaline hit, followed immediately by comfort, and sleep.

We started out with three Roberts, one was misplaced, replaced, found again, then two lost; before our holiday last week we were down to two Roberts, both looking rather the worse for wear. His feet and paws are chewed on at bedtime, and become gangrenous; to look at him is to start to limp. His ears are stroked, smoothed, rubbed over a sleepy boy’s eyes and inevitably start to wear. So before we left I needed to refurbish the two remaining Roberts and create a new one to bring us back to our usual complement of three.

I love Robert, truly, and relative to the amount of love he receives, per stitch, he has been an economical knit. I love his doleful expression, and how Stanley yet insists he is happy, and wearing a smile. But this new baby will be encouraged to take a muslin cloth as a lovey – or at most, a simple square of cotton garter stitch.

Category : Miscellaneous &Other people's designs

I’ve always found it hard to make quick decisions, to trust my gut. Perhaps because my gut is notoriously unpredictable and utterly untrustworthy. But this tendency to over-think is reaching new heights as a parent. The stakes being, I suppose, so much higher.

This week I’m faced with a decision about nursery provision for my precious boy. To leave him where he is or change him to a new place. Extensive lists of pros and cons have been drawn up. Tears (many) have been shed. The various options each have potential to be very wrong, or very right, and I am sorely wishing for a sign, a fairy godmother, a flash of inspiration – anything to bring resolution, and relief.

So, while I try to predict the future (will she be an easy baby, or difficult? Will Stan be happier at a new place, or where he is? Will our businesses thrive, or flounder?) I knit. This beautiful yarn was a birthday gift from my aunt, who handed it to me with the words, “I know you don’t need any more yarn…” She’s right, of course, but who couldn’t find space for this exquisitely dyed sock yarn, which is turning into a ‘February’ baby cardigan. I would link to you the dyer but alas she does not have a website – a pity, as stuff of this quality deserves a wider audience. The shade is predominantly green with flecks of pink, burgundy, blue, grey, dried-leaf-yellow: an impressionist’s summer wildflower meadow.

anna
x

PS: Interested parties may wish to note that the Doe Hare Sweater (originally published in Yarn Forward 36) is now available for sale. I have heard comments to the effect that large intarsia motifs should only be worn by kiddies, to which I say ‘pah!’ Large intarsia motifs should be worn by anyone for whom they provoke a smile. And if this one leaves you stony-faced, in this pattern you still have a wardrobe staple of a classic v-neck with some interesting details in the rib and the shaping – just omit the hare. Neither she nor I will be the least offended.

Next up is a really lovely Obi style belt, previewed here (top right). Not perfect for apple shapes, I grant you, but wonderful for a pear shape atop an A-line skirt, or to emphasise the waist on an hourglass or athletic figure.

Category : Blog &Miscellaneous

It was a long, long time ago that I first started my first blog. Anyone remember ‘My Fashionable Life’? It was the first incarnation, and by far the most successful in terms of readership but also in terms of momentum. It was a journey. The blog had it’s own trajectory. I started it without even knowing what the eventual subject matter would be – then I re-started knitting following a long hiatus. Then I discovered that people (normal everyday people, like me!) were designing knitwear – and oh my goodness, so much of it was hideous!

Next I tried my hand at knitwear design (remember, all of this was happening ‘live’, on the blog) and discovered, to my delight, that I could do it! I pushed myself, I did more, the blog audience grew, I published some patterns, people bought them… so exciting! I had so many readers, so many comments – and for a shy extravert like me, who simply thrives on feedback from others, it was intoxicating.

Life is so different now. For a start, ‘fashionable’? Not really. Back then, I worked in marketing, had client meetings to attend and expendable income to indulge myself. These days I am a work-at-home mum with a preschooler and one on the way. I usually manage to brush my hair and teeth (Stanley is three-and-a-half now, after all), but fantasise about hiring a personal shopper who will help me put together stylish and comfortable ensembles suitable for working at home. Yoga pants and jeans are comfortable, practical… but oh, I am so bored of my reflection in the mirror.

To an extent, that depresses me. I do still love fashion, and style, but it’s just not something that realistically fits into my every day life. I don’t have any spare income, and even if I did how would I justify spending it on clothes that nobody will ever see! But on the other… well, this is who I have become. The landscape of my existence has totally changed. In many ways I am happier than I ever was – but I do miss that flow, the excitement, the thrill of feeling that I was good at what I was doing.

I still love knitwear and designing, but after a three year hiatus from doing any serious, dedicated work on it – well, there is a pretty big mountain to climb in terms of getting that kind of momentum up again.

Honestly, I don’t even know if it can be done. I don’t know if it’s the ‘right thing to do’ to keep going with this, or even if there is a right thing… it doesn’t feel particularly right, but then it doesn’t feel wrong either, and I am less sure of myself and my direction than I used to be.

Gah… I’m a writer, a writer and I can’t seem to find a conclusion here. Maybe there just isn’t one yet. I will press ‘publish’ and at least be glad that I’ve written something, put something out there, and maybe the next time will be less daunting, less burdened by history.

Category : Miscellaneous

8. My real name is not Amelia Raitte. My real name is Anna. Amelia Raitte is a pseudonym, the name of a character in a story my husband wrote. I asked him if I could use it. If you say it out loud, it sounds like ‘ameliorate’, which means, to make or become better.
9. I can ride a horse. By which I mean I am a horsewoman, not that I can sit on a horse without falling off.
10. By day, I am a copywriter for charities. That means I write junkmail, but charity junkmail. I get paid, the charity gets paid, everyone’s happy. One day I will get a full-time knitting gig.
11. I am from a long line of liberals, of which I am proud.
12. I take things to heart. Very much.

Category : Miscellaneous

A few things about me:
1. This year I will be 33. I’m still young, but I’m older than I was.
2. This year, I will be married to Mr Raitte for 8 years. We met on the internets. He’s from Canada.
3. I spent all of my adult life with severe mental illness, apart from the last year. Being well is like feeling the sun on my face after the longest, coldest winter.
4. I never play piano any more. I never make time.
5. My great great great (etc) grandfather, Sir Roland Hill invented the postage stamp – the ‘penny post’. It’s true!
6. I know a little bit about a lot of things.
7. I hope to have children, before it’s too late.

Category : Miscellaneous