As I’ve mentioned before, I have all my best ideas in bed. Hearth is another one of those ideas.
My daughter likes company at bedtime. Either parent will usually do, though sometimes there’s a preference. This was a night when I was the chosen one, and as usual, snuggles were required. The snuggles are specific – both arms must be in play, and it must be quiet with minimal movement. Oh, and she likes to fall asleep in our bed. Specifically, on my side.
As every parent is, we’re usually pretty tired by bedtime. It’s dark, it’s cosy and warm, and there’s snuggles.
There’s a distinct possibility that the parent chosen for snuggle duty will fall asleep on the job.
So there’s only one thing to do: THINK. Not the calm, lullaby thinking of my over-active mind at MY bedtime; no, this is a different thinking. This is thinking to stave off both sleep and boredom.
Puzzles. Problems. Things that require active thought.
This night, I was thinking about fairisle patterns. I had a half-formed idea in my head and was trying to tease it out, but I couldn’t quite see it.
Instead my mind wandered to Christmas, and place settings. I remembered a picture I’d seen on Pinterest of some crockery with hand-painted hearts around the edge. It had that fresh, rustic, pretty-country vibe, and I thought back to the last time I’d hosted a big Christmas, and how I’d printed the menu onto card and wrapped it around gingham napkins to make a pretty place setting.
Hearts and red gingham squares came together with the thoughts about fairisle and suddenly there the idea was, perfectly clear and fully formed. A little bit festive, but not overtly Christmassy, in light blue – a nod to country vibe – and red, of course, for hearts and my gingham napkins.
Hearth
Knitting • 4-ply • £5
A simple introduction to stranded colourwork, Hearth uses just two colours and only has a couple of rounds where it’s necessary to catch your floats, so they’re a great first colourwork project. Knit in Giddy Aunt Yarns Highland 4-Ply, the yarn is perfect for colourwork and has a beautiful tonal finish.
