Welcome to Passioned Flower - On this channel I will share my experiences of life on the farm and how I am combining farm life with my creative hobbies and creative business.
At the end of 2018 a lot of things in my life changed, including leaving my job of 20 years and taking the opportunity to move to live on our family farm.
I am developing new routines, learning farming skills, taking time for myself and working on my hand dyed yarn business.
So much happens on the farm, small things and big things. Animals need looking after, repairs and maintenance always need doing, there are weather events and people dropping in. Your life becomes governed by the seasons - it determines what can grow, what jobs need doing and how much rain, sun or daylight is available.
Everyday I am in awe of the beauty of where I am living, the views, nature and how the sun rises and sets is always unique and inspiring. I am also learning and experiencing new things and finding a peace and rhythm.
I understand picking up stitches is so painful sometimes. I’m just merging a few patterns into a sweater for my dad and have used a heap of provisional cast ons at areas where I’m going to need to “pick up” stitches again. Hopefully this will fix the issue and make really seamless joins.
What a great space you have created ! Resting and taking time out from knitting is fine. You were creating in other ways. Your new glasses look great too.
Glad you like the shed, I’m really happy with it. True and being creative in other ways - I’m just conscious of not having projects to share. Thanh’s re glasses!!
Hope you get a bit of a reprieve from the weather! We only lost power once here but for about half a day, ended up just going to bed at about 9pm. I really like the effect of your inverse Lamina, I think that would be a great idea for a smaller set of minis than a full advent.
The shed bathroom is coming along great! The texture on the little love is really beautiful. For some reason I don't have it in my Ravelry favourites, despite having over 200 cardigans on there 😅 but I am adding it now! Good luck with the sheep herding.
I ended up buying the whole e-book of Love patterns, they are all pretty and I prefer an open fronted, no button cardigan. Thanks re sheep moving - I think it will be a challenge! I’m so excited about the bathroom build - I’m rearranging my office space too (now that I have a wall). Hoping to show finished and mostly organized next week.
Thanks! I’m looking forward to it being finished too. Been playing around today a bit with a new office layout - hopefully I’ll be able to show you next week!
Love the Aussie Christmas colours. Thank you for the tips on sock knitting the method of using measurements instead of stitch counts makes says to me. Have a lovely week.
So much to unpack in this episode! The shawl you are wearing is so pretty; potential classes in your shed down the track 🎉; and that Christmas colourway - just gorgeous 😍. Thanks for the sock recipe as well. 🩷xx
Thank you! I’m really happy with how it came out. I might dye it up on a DK and perhaps also a sparkle sock. I’ll announce when it’s available to order. Perhaps if I do offer a few bases I might release a pre- order.
Oh I love the Aussie christmas yarn. What a great idea to do something a bit different from the traditional Christmas colours. There's a very cheesy but funny Aussie Christmas song called Deck the Shed with bits of Wattle. I think the lyrics could provide you with some ideas for a name.
Thanks - there’s always so much red and green and it’s fun to experiment and find inspiration for something a bit different. 🤣 I’ll check out the song - thanks.
I really enjoy the collection I have and also handle it frequently. Buying in Europe and multiple Australian artists throughout the year I have self excluded from a trip to Bendigo this year and really enjoy the local markets. I think Bendigo for me is an every second year mini break with accommodation to really enjoy the whole show and not be overwhelmed.
Great update. I come from a property in central NSW and can appreciate the joys and tribulations of farm life. Love your jumper and your stash organising adventures. I have quite a few crochet and knitted scarves/cowls/ etc patterns for stash busting but would love some tried and tested garment type patterns. Have a great week.
So glad you are enjoying my updates. I’m working on putting together a selection of stash garment projects. So I’ll share them once I’ve got a few more together. Lots of fun ways to use colour.
Hi love your finished shawl. Enjoy your mini break. About a month ago I went through my stash and matched items up with patterns I had been meaning to make. I took photos of the yarn with label and picture of the finished item. I created projects on ravelry, just putting in pattern name and source, basic yarn info, what project it was in or where it was put and marked it as hibernating. I ended up with about 5 crochet and 5 knitting projects in project/plastic bags. They are a mix of portable , larger, complex and tv watching projects. They are stored on two shelves and it has made by decision making for the next project more seamless. I also feel more motivated to finish a project as I can just look on ravelry and know what is ready to go. It won’t be a rigid system, but for me it has reduced the procrastination I was feeling. I’ve finished three smaller projects that weren’t part of this process but did use my stash, as they fitted better with what was happening in my life.
I love your plan! I have done a little bit of organization - which I’ll talk about on the next episode. Sorted the stash, added to Ravelry and updated my pattern queue. It’s quite motivating! And getting out my yarn and seeing it has reminded me what I have and makes me excited for new projects!!
Ros I love how your jumper turned out! The drop sleeves look really good on you as you have the shoulders for them. You must finish that Honeycomb Shawl as that will be beautiful to wear now in Winter! It is looking amazing! Guess what? Last Tuesday I started knitting for the first time and I'm loving it!!! Take care & stay warm! ❤ Susannah
Thank you!! I have picked up the honeycomb shawl, I will have quite a bit of progress to show next episode. I love that you have started knitting and that you love it.
What a shemozzle with the water leak! I have heard some UK based dyers have problems with water pipes in the winter but never in Australia. Winter is well and truly here! I went camping at Kinglake over the public holiday weekend and it was about 2 degrees in the morning (although the weather app said the "feels like" temperature was 5 - I disagree!). Hope you get some cosy time this weekend with a hot cup of tea, some knitting and cuddles with the cats.
Enjoyed your podcast as always. I love that your podcast is real. Some weeks life is busy and crafting takes a back seat for all of us. Have a great shorter working week.
That shawl is so beautiful I love seeing progress even when it is not a lot just to see the colours again. Great jumper, couldn’t see the pattern easily though. Off to ravelry again!
Was great to see you both too! Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!! It was a great market weekend. My first time at Coburg and hopefully not the last.
I have 2 cats, when they come on my lap I give them some attention and then they settle. Once settled i can crochet without a problem. I do have to make sure all my yarn and projects are properly stored or I will come home and find a skein down the hallway. All the best with your new babies.
Thanks Susan. They already definitely like to sit with me and snuggle. So I’ll start to incorporate the knitting (and try to remember to put everything away when I am done).
your jumper is gorgeous! i love the effect that the increases give to the yoke. the handspun has come out beautiful - that subtle colour variation is a really nice delicate look. can't wait to see what you make with it.
Bought the blocked chain mitts pattern. The comments on the projects were reassuring for a crocheter getting back into knitting. Some of Susan’s other patterns that can be used for stash busting are also on my radar. Thanks for the referral to an Australian designer💖
Hope the market went well. Glad you got some much needed rain!! Sometimes it's a bit bleh when it's very grey and wet outside but we really needed a good soaking.
Thanks. The market was really good. When there’s too much rain it can get a bit bleh, but it’s been just the right amount of rain vs sun (and very welcome here!)
Love the new colours in the mosaica shawl. You sound like you’ve been busy especially working as well. I have to remind myself I an only do what I can do and that’s fine. No judgement on myself. Have a lovely week.
YES! No Judgement. I have felt much better this week after ripping some things out and just deciding on knitting on what is making me happy - and the new colours in the shawl are definitely making me happy.
i really like the fade you settled on for the evanescence. choosing colours and the order to use them in can be so tricky!! i think it was worth it to spend the time doing the swatches to see how the different colours play together.
Normally I’m not a fan of swatching, but when it’s to choose a colour order I actually really enjoy it, and you’re right it’s totally worth while to do - especially in a big project like this when you are not going to see the effect of the colours until you are well into the project.
Thanks it is great to know that someone else really carefully selects colours too. I find it incredibly challenging and often change once knitting in larger sections. Recently watched someone who made virtual swatches it was pretty great.
Oh, I love the idea of virtual swatches! Although having the actual knitting with me helped me to decide I think (I took it into different light, touched the fabric, and put it by my face). Colour choice can really make or break a project. I’ve got a good example to show in the next episode!!
