I like making things: Filling in time

Monday, September 12, 2011

Filling in time

As I am waiting for my knit radar patterns to arrive before starting on another sweater I decided to go on an internet hunt for my missing punch cards. When I bought my machine the only things missing were 10 of the original punch card set of 20 and the knit radar patterns. I have purchased one set of kid's knit radar patterns from ebay UK and can purchase a man's set later from them, so am on my way to getting those. Still need to locate a woman's set or the original set which I believe had men's women's and kid's patterns

I found one site that had two images of all the patterns in the original punch card set and miraculously I found a pdf file which had images of each punch card individually. I printed the ones I was missing and have started on punching them.

As several of my missing cards were for tuck patterns there are a lot of holes to punch lol!

I have done three so far. Two were perfect but on the busiest one I made a mistake. Had to get out the nail varnish again! At least this is something I can do in the comfort of our living room.

I also found a site where I could purchase the original set of punch cards for $24.95 plus shipping and might at some later date purchase them but for now I will punch away! I need other stuff first.

Any recommendations for a good wool winder? Do I need to buy a jumbo one or will a standard one suffice?

2 comments:

PhilSeptember 13, 2011 at 5:19 PM
Good on you for doing all that punching - I can't stand punching out punch cards, i get bored with it. I bet you can't wait for the patterns to arrive, you'll be knitting loads of jumpers off with those!
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maureenlthompsonSeptember 15, 2011 at 9:21 AM
For sure it is tedious Phil lol, but it's also something to do while I'm waiting and it's something I can sit and do downstairs. Been away for a couple of days for my husband's hospital appts but back home now so can get on with it again.
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As in the words of Thumper: If you can't say 'nuffin nice don't say 'nuffin at all.

Glad you stopped by

I started this blog in 2011: Ever since my Mum taught me to knit at the age of about six or seven I have made things. Back then it was doll clothes. I was also inspired by Mrs Levitt an elderly lady who had a sewing room in a conservatory type room on the back of her house. I would sit and watch her in awe as she sewed.

When I was a child living in England the school system was such that you started at 5 years, did two years in Infant School, then four years in Primary School then five to seven years in Secondary School, depending on whether you chose to stay on after fifth form to get qualifications to go to University. I can't remember much of the Infant school other than making the standard square doily thingy from fabric that had holes in it so you could embroider patterns into it. A bit like the modern day cross stitch fabric but with bigger holes and spaces to make it easy for small hands to use. I also remember with great joy getting a toy sewing machine one Christmas which sewed only chain stitch but I did make doll clothes on it and that was before I started Primary school. I do have very vivid recollections of Primary school and having sewing and knitting lessons. In Primary school I knitted gloves and made a dress from scratch hand sewing it all.

Secondary school continued on with sewing by which time I had progressed to using full sized sewing machines and was making more intricate skirts and dresses. My parents bought me a proper sewing machine when I was thirteen. I used that same machine right up until I emigrated to Canada at age forty six years.

I have always had a fascination for sewing machines and knitting machines. I bought my first knitting machine at around age twenty one from an ad in a newspaper for twelve pounds. I had absolutely no idea what one was just that I wanted one. I trundled on the bus to the address in the advert and handed over my twelve pounds having absolutely no idea what I had really bought. Fortunately it came with a manual. It was an aged Knitmaster, very basic and I loved it. I wore it out. Next was a Brother push button one which I didn't keep because it was at a time in my life when things were difficult. Later on in my life, around forty, when things were better I bought a brand new Brother punchard machine with a ribber attachment. I loved it and made many things. Life took a different turn, I moved countries twice and along the way, regrettably I sold it.

Now, through the universe's blessing I now have another machine. It is a vintage one because they stopped making them early 90's but works perfectly and I love it. So I decided to make this blog to document my knitting progress and include sewing projects.

In 2013: we embarked on a new hobby, leather-work. My husband got started with it and it drew me in. It is something we can do together. We have a workshop so have plenty of room to work. We added another workbench for me to work on in 2013. We already had one but we were tripping over each other both trying to work at it. We only make things we want to make. It is strictly a hobby. We made some things for our good neighbours who help us out a lot. I am also working on Christmas presents. So this blog now incorporates the leather-work. Knitting and sewing will always be my first love though.

Fast forward to 2023 and now age almost 75 years. I have seven sewing machines, four knitting machines, several ribber attachments and a garter carriage for one of the machines. I am blessed beyond words, but I know that I have more than enough machines to keep me going in my lifetime so I don’t think I will be adding to my collection any time soon……….unless a nice embroidery machine manifests itself very cheaply.

I am a Brit living in the USA, sometimes I spell like a Brit and sometimes like an American. Sometimes I use slang and even make grammatical errors. I blog for the pleasure of it and to record my endeavours in the event that my memory fades, as I am sure it will with more age. I will be able to look back and remind myself of the things I have made along the way. So please forgive my mistakes when reading about my life making things here in the hinterlands and I hope you get as much enjoyment from my blog as I do from reading the blogs I follow.

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Monday, September 12, 2011

Filling in time

2 comments: