The-freezer-under-the-stairs which defrosted itself at the end of last year has done it again. We checked the fuse in the plug and it was fine. We fiddled with the temperature setting knob just in case it had been knocked by over zealous Dyson-hurling into the cupboard and it fired into life... for about a minute and a half... before turning itself off again. We considered getting it repaired, but in the end decided that it was largely redundant anyway. It was bought at a time when there were four of us in the house, not three, and when we were both commuting, so weekend batch-cooking and a monthly Mega Supermarket Shopping Expedition was the norm. Now, with a veg box, we are using hardly any frozen veg at all and we cook from fresh most days apart from veg-box-day-soup-making-for-the-week-ahead on a Thursday. So it has been taken to the dump. I don't think there is much call on Freecycle for non-functioning ten year old mini chest freezers.
I like Freecycle.
A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to be Freecycled some knitting needles. The elderly lady who was giving them away could no longer see well enough to knit, and was looking for them to go to a new home, and I was delighted.
Gradually, as I have acquired new needles, these donated ones have been passed on to new knitters, and who knows, they may in turn have passed them on a second or even a third time.
In the box with the needles were a number of patterns. I would guess that this lady was in her eighties so the patterns spanned many years.
Despite the Bloke Sweater, I don't consider myself a knitter of large garments, but I have kept these patterns in a drawer, and now I'm wondering if they too need a new home. I am a bit of a hoarder, but I'm definitely not going in for vintage pattern collecting, so I'm offering these up for p/hopping.
There are twenty five patterns, of which these are the most venerable.
Skinny rib sweater. Look at that pocket!
Phone box not included.
His 'n' Hers matching weekend wear.
I think this one is actually quite "retro" and similar to patterns in books on vintage knitting.
The older gentleman obviously grew up in a pre-orthodonic era.
The rest are really 1970's and 80's patterns and probably less interesting. All are for jumpers or cardigans for adults (with the occasional mother and daughter ensemble).
If anyone would like them please let me know via ravelry and I'll pop them in an envelope in return for a p/hop donation (I think the minimum using Just Giving is £2.) I'm pretty sure there are no hidden gems, just everyday patterns (and some screamers).
The French sock is progressing quite quickly. Now that I am taking a daily Knitshot I feel that I need to make some measurable progress each day and I find myself adding a few rows here and there.
Time taken for computer to start - 32 stitches (half a round).
Time taken for kettle to boil - 2 rounds. Having five cups of tea a day produces 2 whole centimetres of sock... who knew?
At the moment I am about seven cups of tea away from the heel, so I am off to make a brew. Every little helps.
n