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I’m slowly working towards some simplicity within the home, but hey! It’s a lot of hard work!

I love having a go at growing my own veges and always use herbs fresh from my garden. I try to plant from seed whenever I can and have learnt to save and share my own seed for the following year. I make Award Winning preserves and pickles; and my husband brews Award Winning boutique beers as well. I love to stockpile and try to limit quick trips to the shops. I dabble in bread making and enjoy making my own stocks too.

I enjoy feeding my family good hearty meals, nothing like those tiny restaurant stacks you have to look for on the plate. My husband maintains our vehicles and machinery and we both enjoy fabricating on a small scale mostly relying on metal & timber recyclers for any materials needed.


While I don’t always have time to reply to comments, I love reading them. I hope you enjoy your stay and I hope you learn something new because I love sharing what I learn, and I'm always looking for another new skill myself.

Cheers!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Dish Cloth swap

I have recently taken part in a dishcloth challenge where I had to make a knitted dishcloth.....To first be part of the dishcloth challenge....I would have to learn how to knit.....so I did....via you-tube......
I have been knitting dishcloths and it took the first 4 before I made one without an error....

Feeling slightly confident....I also took part in the dishcloth swap at Down to Earth......We have had an enormous response with the swap...and people are now starting to send their dishcloths on to their swap partners.....I have just finished my 7th one and passed it on to my swap partner....
I received my swap in the mail yesterday....and......

I am truly humbled by my swap partners generosity....and how lovely and neat her crocheting is....I received 3 gorgeous delicately soft dishcloths and a doily as well.......Words cannot express nearly enough ....Thank-you so much Becci...I shall treasure them dearly....and show them off of-course....to everyone....I hope you like the dishcloth I sent you with a cake of my home-made soap...it is a lovely facial soap.....and the dishcloth I gave you is the first one I have added stripes into....


I also want to thank all those involved in organising this great swap...it was my first ever swap...


Thank-you so much Becci


UPDATE INCLUDED 07 April 2011......


Even though I had to learn how to knit to join the dishcloth challenge..and then the swap...I too had concerns of my own quality of my knitting.....


I Pm'd a few ladies from the forum...and without naming anyone except for myself...this is what I wrote....and the replies I received back.....


I wrote: I think its a great idea, but I don't know how people will feel if they get a plain knitted one....some are just so beautiful. how will that work if someone sends off a really pretty one, and gets a plain one say like the ones I knit....and possibly other new knitters.


Ist reply: I would be more than happy to receive a garter stitch dish cloth in the swap. To me its more about being part of the swap and encouraging others no matter what ability level they have. Have a look at the pin cushion swap or the christmas decoration one, we all have our own skills and experience 


2nd reply: I agree with X. Part of the beauty of this forum is that despite our differing levels of skill we are all supportive and appreciative of each other. I am not a beginner knitter but would certainly not class myself as experienced. The only dishcloth pattern I have attempted is the waffle weave one! It is all about the sharing.


3rd reply: I agree with X and Y. It's not the article, it's connecting with others and support that's important. If you feel it's not enough though, you could include a cake of your soap or two dishcloths. It's not necessary but it might convince you to join in.


4th reply: The philosophy that Z has encouraged and embraced for all the swaps I have done for her is "give it a try-make a friend, learn a new skill or practice an old skill, and have fun while doing it." I have found over the years that it really doesn't matter how good you are at something or how much of a beginner you are; the main thing is to give it a go and make a friend. It has never ever been a problem for newbies to swap with the more experienced girls-we don't do it to get some fancy thing, but to encourage a community, a village you might say.


I replied back and said: Well in that case, of course I would be in on something like that.....I was just worried that mine may not be good enough....but looking at the real reasons for the swap doesn't even relate to the quality of the swap...after having a afternoon sleep, I see it alot clearer.......I have never been involved in a swap ...yes I am enjoying doing the dishcloths now...
Thanks for pointing out all the loveliness of everyone involved.....it sure feels good to be a part of it

..........and that is why I joined the dishcloth swap!

4 comments:

  1. can we see a pic of the one you made? I have made 2 or 3 but still have mistakes as i too am just learning :)

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  2. I didn't take a photo of the one I sent Becci, as I wanted it to be a surprise when she received it in the mail....I had no idea she would send me 3 and a doily though...Here is a photo of one of my earlier ones....

    http://justlikemynanmade.blogspot.com/2011/03/have-go-why-not.html

    See the update I have added which convinced me to join the swap, even though I was only learning.....and still a learner...I cannot fix my own mistakes yet...thanks mum.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm really pleased you joined in, Narelle. I felt quite proud reading your post about the forum. We have many wonderful girls there.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, those dish cloths are so pretty I wouldn't even want to use them! Next time there's a swap I'll have to join in...

    Katie x

    ReplyDelete

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