Hands Up!

The Voodoo put in a request for arm warmers and since I’d said out aloud, many times, how much I’d enjoyed knitting in the round I couldn’t say "no". So I knitted her these.

I have posted the pattern I devised to knit them as my small contribution to the generous community of knitters out there who, are committed to the free-for-all digital dissemination of their craft and genius. Long may their ideas be woven in hyperlinks, mirrored and archived in the continuum that is the internet.

Materials (to fit UK size8):

• 3 balls Jaeger Matchmaker Merino 4ply, shade 639 (actually 2 and ever such a little bit of the third)


• 1 set 2.5mm double pointed knitting needles

Cast on 78 stitches. Divide the stitches equally on three needles (26 stitches per needle).
Mark first stitch by knotting through a scrap of different coloured yarn. Knit 1, purl 1 for 8"
Next round: *k1, p1, rep from * for 14 stitches, k2tog, p2tog, *k1, pl, rep from * for 36 stitches, ssk, ssk (if you can figure it out, purl these stitches together through the back loops, if not just knit them),*k1, p1, rep from * for 14 stitches
Then knit 1, purl 1 for 1"
Next round: *k1, p1, rep from * for 12 stitches, k2tog, p2tog, *k1, pl, rep from * for 36 stitches, ssk, ssk ,*k1, p1, rep from * for 12 stitches
Then knit 1, purl 1 for 1"
Next round: *k1, p1, rep from * for 12 stitches, k2tog, p2tog, *k1, pl, rep from * for 32 stitches, ssk, ssk ,*k1, p1, rep from * for 12 stitches
Then knit 1, purl 1 for 1"
Next round: *k1, p1, rep from * for 10 stitches, k2tog, p2tog, *k1, pl, rep from * for 32 stitches, ssk, ssk ,*k1, p1, rep from * for 10 stitches
Then knit 1, purl 1 for 1"
Next round: *k1, p1, rep from * for 10 stitches, k2tog, p2tog, *k1, pl, rep from * for 28 stitches, ssk, ssk ,*k1, p1, rep from * for 10 stitches
Then knit 1, purl 1 for 1"
Next round: *k1, p1, rep from * for 8 stitches, k2tog, p2tog, *k1, pl, rep from * for 28 stitches, ssk, ssk ,*k1, p1, rep from * for 8 stitches
Then knit 1, purl 1 for 2"
At this point the ribbed cuff should measure 15” Make sure the stitches are arranged as follows: from start stitch needle1 = 14 stitches; needle2 = 14 stitches; needle3 = 24stiches
Knit 1 round
Then k8, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k8, k24
Knit 1 row
Then k8, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k8, k24
Then knit until stocking stitch fabric measures 1" from ribbed cuff

For Right Hand
To start to shape the thumb, knit round to end of needle2 then increase 1.Continue working in rounds but between the end stitch on needle3 and the start stitch on needle1 increase 1 stitch on the first and last stitch, on alternate rows until there are 16 new stitches between the end and start stitches. Transfer these 16 stitches plus the end and start stitches onto a stitch holder.
Then beginning on needle1 cast on 1(site of thumb opening),knit to end of needle3 and increase 1.
Knit for 1”
Then knit 1, purl 1 for 1" and cast off loosely.
To finish thumb: carefully transfer stitches from stitch holder to needles. Divide the stitches equally on three needles (6 stitches per needle).
Knit to end of needle3 then pick up 4 stiches at site of thumb opening on the palm of the glove ensuring that there are no holes at this point.
Continue in rounds for ¾”
Then knit 1, purl 1 for 1/2" and cast off loosely.

For Left Hand
To start to shape the thumb, knit round to end of needle3 then increase 1.Continue working in rounds but between the end stitch on needle2 and the start stitch on needle3 increase 1 stitch on the first and last stitch, on alternate rows until there are 16 new stitches between the end and start stitches having knitted to the end of needle3. Transfer these 16 stitches plus the end and start stitches onto a stitch holder.
Then beginning on needle1 knit to end of needle2 increase 2 stitches (site of thumb opening), knit to end of needle3.
Knit for 1”
Then knit 1, purl 1 for 1" and cast off loosely.
To finish thumb: carefully transfer stitches from stitch holder to needles. Divide the stitches equally on three needles (6 stitches per needle).
Knit to end of needle3 then pick up 4 stiches at site of thumb opening on the palm of the glove ensuring that there are no holes at this point.
Continue in rounds for ¾”
Then knit 1, purl 1 for 1/2" and cast off loosely.

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    The Original Ministry Of Food

Rosehip syrup, another intrepid Food For Free inspired foray into seasonal sustenance. There is a Dog Rose growing just outside the kitchen door. Though I didn't have to go very far to pick a bowlful of rosehips this does count as foraging as I had to brave icy rain and malicious, vengeful thorns. (Perhaps now I can brave the nettles for that nettle soup?).

I followed the directions published by The Ministry of Food in 1943: Rosehip Syrup recipe

I crushed the rosehips with a pestle and morter and not a little bit of sweat and tears (having shed at least an armful of blood earlier picking the rosehips). Do not be tempted to resorting to using an electrical appliance! By saving effort here you are only going to have to spend even greater effort later digging holes to plant trees to offset the carbon emissions accrued.

Do take the time to strain the syrup several times each time using a fresh piece of butter muslin to get rid of all the tiny, sharp hairs.

Once you've bottled up the syrup, the only thing to do is to make yourself a stack of pancakes.

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   Sloe Gin

On the prompt of my copy of Richard Mabey's book Food For Free the Sloe Gin recipe offered the prospect of a walk.

In our underestimation of the seasonal thirst for Sloe Gin we thought the belt of blackthorns we alone had discovered was virginal. Not on your nelly! It is frequented, and its delights and fruits plundered, by all and sundry; an important observation we have subsequently added in addendum to our folio prunus f**king spinosa, and filed under ‘k’ for f**king know-it-alledgeable local (cue banjo 4-beat strum). And, it being late in the season, most of the bushes were stripped within arm’s reach! Tauntingly, above this level there remained a veritable bird’s banquet.

It had recently rained and a gloomy frost began to set in. As we looked up into the bushes and plucked the odd, overlooked berry we were drenched in an avalanche of icy precipitation which trickled down our necks, coursed the hollows of our backs and puddled in our butt cracks. Our fingers quickly numbed and in our fumbling attempts to reach the berries we scored our knuckles on the thorns. The expedition was fast turning into something like a Tess-of-the-D’urbervillian night-of-the-dead-and-dying-pheasants-in-the-hedgerow (bloody, though admittedly without the moribund fowls).

Then, set back off the path and overgrown by Hawthorn, we spotted a sloe-laden bush that had been passed over as it was not for easy picking. We just about filled a pudding basin before squelching a hasty retreat to the car, each clandestinely entertaining the thought of investing in a crook handled walking stick and flat cap. And, coming back again next year. And, beating the ravaging hordes to it!

A perfunctory web search will bring up a recipe for Sloe Gin. As they are all much of a muchness, I’ll save you the effort:
Recipe:

• 450g/1lb ripe sloes,(even better if they are slightly bletted after the first frost)
• 225g/8oz caster sugar
• 1 litre/1¾ pint gin

Prick the sloes and pour them into a clean screw top bottle. Pour in the sugar and then the gin. Agitate the bottle to mix the sugar with the gin. Agitate once a day for a week and once a week thereafter for a minimum of two months.

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