Veggie gardens are like kids. If you don’t watch closely, they might grow up and go rotten while you’re not paying attention.

This I discovered with my newly planted patch. It’s yielding so much so quickly I have to keep a daily watch. It helps that it’s in my front yard (the sunniest patch) so I can’t avoid casting an eye out whenever I walk to the front door. It was planted just before my trip to the USA in June and by the time I returned home 3 weeks later, there were all kinds of exciting developments.

Mizuna (below) which I had never tasted before, wins the prize for being most productive in the fastest time (not that it’s a race).

I can’t toss it in enough salads or lay enough grilled salmon on it to keep pace. It’s unstoppable and delicious in its slight spiciness.

Bok Choy was the first to go to seed, in a good way.

Lovely yellow flowers developed, reminding me of the phlomis I used to grow in Santa Monica. Although I was reluctant to harvest it and spoil the Sissinghurst effect, it was expanding and threatening the silver beet with extinction, so steamed bok choy it was.

The fava beans (called broad beans here in NZ) were hiding discreetly behind the other veg, drooping all over the ground and needing to be set upright so they could continue to flower.

When I asked David if he’d buy a few lengths of bamboo and some string at the hardware store, I thought his quizzical look indicated a reluctance to do the errand, which would be out of character for him. But no, he was remembering the bags of yarn strewn around our house. Silly me.

So my Favas were propped up and tied with some leftover Habu linen paper (photo below), which may make them look pampered but I do love favas, and want them to go forth into the sunshine and multiply! A bag of Favas from the grocery store is never quite enough, is it?

It used to be that no vegetable was served in my house without butter or cheese sauce. Mmm.

However, I have been dairy free since developing asthma almost the minute I arrived in New Zealand. My doctor suggested I give up cow’s products. What, no butter on your morning toast? has been the reaction of many, and I’m happy to say that jam, honey, or even something savoury like vegemite and sliced tomato tastes just as good. Sheep and goats cheeses don’t seem to cause my airways the same problems so I can happily sprinkle pecorino on my pasta and goat feta on my Greek Salad.

I’m going to eat my favas as I do all other veg, with a dash of olive oil and Bragg’s natural seasoning which I learned about from my LA friend, Anna. It’s available at markets in the US, and I found it at Harvest Wholefoods in Auckland. The flavour is somewhere between marmite and soy sauce and it’s delicious on all vegetables, even steamed potatoes. Try a little garlic sautéd in olive oil in the bargain. Butter will be a distant memory.

p.s. There are a few snails who have come to love my vegetables as much as I do. Does anyone have an organic  solution to this problem?

what an exciting week!

I’m in this month’s issue of Your Home & Garden magazine….. and it’s the September Issue!

They’ve published some of my knitting patterns, and I was asked to choose ten of my favourite things to photograph. Here’s a little taste of the lovely photos that were taken at my house.

We are so lucky to have such a beautiful magazine in our little country. Here’s a link if you’d like to subscribe.

That’s my dining room above, with 1940’s Australian sideboard and my dining table designed by Mark Mack, Los Angeles architect and our former neighbor on the Venice Canals, where we lived for a year or so. When we left there to live in Santa Monica, he designed the table for us and in return we gave him and his family our old Hiawatha-style canoe that we wouldn’t be needing any more since were moving to a regular street. Hard to believe you can have a canoe parked outside your house in a city like Los Angeles, but it has many secrets that are not obvious to those who rush from the airport to Disneyland. The best thing about having the table built was choosing the colour. It’s orange, my favourite. The shape is inspired by school cafeteria tables, complete with horizontal bar underneath to put your feet on, and the top is made of layers of plywood.

That’s my mum’s old glass jug filled with tulips. It has a gold rim and two flying geese on one side.

Below is the photo they took of me, knitting guru?  No that is not a swift on my head. It’s the light over the dining table.

I’ve mentioned my David’s patience when it comes to craft projects littering the house. Well, here’s what I have to put up with. Multitudes of guitars. Not much of a trade, really, is it? They are so beautiful, if he asked me I would agree to hanging them on the wall. So far, not a peep.

First, I want to say how much I enjoyed reading the lovely stories about your knitting Supporters after my last post!

It seems that there’s even hope for men who have to be won over! I love the ones who take it upon them selves to buy yarn, and the daughter who hunts for yarn bargains in thrift shops. When you have a passion, everyone knows how to please you, right?

Although it’s not one of my favourite colours, I decided this week to embrace my inner purple, and make a scarf with two hanks of Manos Silk Blend (now on sale here).

There was method to my madness. A knitter asked me recently to demonstrate the technique for making a loop (ML) that is included in the pattern for Daphne’s Baby Cape (below) in Knit 2 Together

The loop decoration (you can make the cape with or without loops) was inspired by one of my favourite books,

Knitting Essentials, a collection of wonderful 19th century patterns for everything from lace edgings to a football sweater and hunting cap, with petticoats and bonnets in between.

I’ve posted a lesson on how to “make loop” in the menu at right.

Now to the loop boa and the question of whether it, or something like it, has a place in your wardrobe.

Even if you’re a minimalist, you have to admit that there’s an occasion in everyone’s life when the outfit at hand requires a touch of intrigue. Enter the frouffy scarf. There’s no better way to feel and look fabulous.

How about this look from the designer who always manages to combine avant-garde with ultra femininity, a delicate balancing act: Vivienne Westwood. Who else could include bows and loops and keep it modern?

There are many lovely patterns for frilly boas. Here’s one of my favourites, the ingenious Elizabeth:

but Elizabeth requires a lot of knitting, in a fine mohair. If you’re in a hurry, my loop boa is your answer. It can be made in an hour or so.

I used 2 hanks of Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blend, and a size 10 mm [US15] circular needle. With 4 strands held together I cast on 128 stitches and made two consecutive rows of loops, binding off the second row as I made the loops.

Isn’t knitting marvellous that it allows you to make beautiful things so easily?

I wonder if these Los Angeles firefighters really were knitting? I don’t recall where I found this photo, but if anyone knows its history, please enlighten me?

There are many men who knit for real.

Here’s Ryan, who is studying for a PHD in 20th century art history at Princeton. When he’s not studying he knits with gusto and designs for a yarn company.

Knitting while sunbathing is impressive. I wonder if he knits in the movies? Probably.

Of the men who don’t knit, there are two categories:

Support and Hindrance

Supporters are those who love that their partners have a hobby and never EVER complain about how much they spend on yarn.

They do things like this:

Michel (Jean Louis Trintignant), the patient guy who marries flirtatious Juliette (Brigitte Bardot) in Roger Vadim’s classic  movie  “….and God Created Woman”, helps his mother wind her skein of yarn while his jealous, macho older brother skulks. Nice guys finish first!

and sweetness is rewarded.

Hindrance

This man is most likely to complain about how much his partner spends on yarn and he usually has an expensive hobby himself, like motorbikes, cars, boats, golf, or ski-ing to name a few.

He might also be prone to jealousy. Of your knitting, that is. He’d prefer it if you spent all your time cuddling him instead of counting stitches.

[disclaimer: even if your partner is the most patient Supporter type, it's advisable to put down your knitting once in a while just to show your appreciation]

But even the complainer is not as bad as the man who tells his partner that knitting makes her/him look OLD. This man is more than a hindrance. He’s a Saboteur!

I’d never thought about men’s attitudes toward knitting until I heard this complaint for the first time from a woman who was learning to knit. I felt sad for her knowing that she would probably not continue to knit, and grateful that the men in my life, father, husband, son, daughters’ boyfriend, all understand the benefits of knitting, not the least of which is the thrill of making something yourself!

The Saboteur needs to ponder this:

When I met David he asked me a question: are you sane because you knit or do you knit because you’re sane?  I had to give it some thought and I’m not sure of the answer. But I’m glad he asked.

Meet my new toy. I found it in New York and have now managed to import a few to share with my fellow Kiwis here.

If I hadn’t already been hooked, I’d be tempted to try my luck at good ole crochet just because I love a beautiful thing, and this is. It’s the crochet equivalent of the I Phone. Form and function, and it’s ergonomic. Comes with 6 hook sizes.

Once I cradled my egg shaped wooden handle in the palm of my hand, I could sense the panic of all other hooks in my tool kit, fearing an imminent trip to Goodwill.

Let’s talk about crochet, a much maligned craft.

Every once in a while you read something like this from a fashion reporter:

“Your grandma is being channeled on high-fashion runways this spring, with crochet appearing on everything from dresses to swimsuits, handbags to shoes”.

It’s usually referring to something elegant such as this

why grandma, even though grandma is adorable? It must be because of the “granny” square, so named I know not why.

I’ve always loved crochet squares and have never thought of them as hippie or grannie or anything other than fun and colourful.

Which is why I loved it when Cate Blanchett stepped out of  everyone’s comfort zone and appeared on a red carpet in Melboune last year wearing this dress by Aussie designer Romance Was Born. There were shrieks of “ugly!” “how could she!” “wearing her sofa!” Lets face it, Cate can do anything, wear anything and is fearless when it comes to fashion and her profession. That’s why we love her!  She doesn’t play it safe is always elegant and best of all, seems to not take herself too seriously. The wit of this dress is evident and suggests a hard up housewife who has made her blanket into a dress. What’s wrong with that? I would think this should be applauded in the age of recycled chic.

One person in high places got it. Paul Smith, who always enlivens his preppy style with dash and humour, put this on the runway a few months later. It really does look like she’s draped herself with a blanket. But why not?

Hands up those who have never admired a pair of crochet shoes?

I used to own a pair of blue suede Valentino oxfords, the uppers of which were crocheted mesh made with strips of said blue suede. They were spectacular and I wish I could show them to you. note to self: never again sell shoes in yard sale without first taking a photo.

Not to worry, there are other designers understanding the appeal of crochet.

Chloe

Rachel Comey

Tory Burch

John Galliano outrageous beauties

If you can’t afford designer shoes, there’s always, as we well know, DIY.

Here’s some inspiration: the leg warmers are knit, I believe, but they’d be even more fun in crochet. Kind of like wearing your sofa around your ankles?

As I was working in my veggie garden today it  crossed my mind that

weeding generates a fertile mind. ideas spring forth.

it’s frosty here and I would love to knit a hot pink helmet

also, a version of this pullover worn by Jane Birkin, seen here in the 60’s clutching her signature basket which inspired Hermès to make the legendary Birkin Bag so that she could grow up and be a proper lady with a handbag.

Being my mothers daughter (leave a little to the imagination, dear) I have no intention of being naked under my Birkin style jumper. I thought I’d wear it more like this one, seen on another style icon, Françoise Gilot, former wife of Picasso. Habu fine merino for the gossamer effect  and wool stainless steel for structure, would do the trick, I think?

Françoise again, here in the famous Robert Capa pic wearing the dress I have always longed for. For those of us with less than perfect legs, when, oh when, will ankle length return?

We can blame the short skirt on the fabulous Jean Shrimpton (also wearing the pink helmet above), first real supermodel. Here she is in her accidental mini, causing a sensation with her bare legs at the Melbourne races in 1965.

We may not have to wait too much longer for the maxi. I spotted a khaki version of this Comme Des Garçons skirt on the sale rack at Barneys, alas not in my size. Where Commes go, others follow……

OK then, back to work.

By nature I am really a homebody, with no desire to go anywhere except my sofa, kitchen and garden where I would happily knit, cook and potter for months on end, if it weren’t for my beloved family who live too far away. I miss them so, and the time comes when I just have to jump on a jumbo and go see them.

Here are some snapshots from my recent trip.

Above, beautiful waterlilies in the Brooklyn Botannical Gardens.

Below, the window and delightfully old fashioned signage of one of my favourite stores in the world, Tender Buttons, on E 62nd St. It’s a tiny store lined with vintage and new buttons exquisitely displayed and one of those places that sets your heart racing the minute you walk in…if you’re a button lover, that is.

Around the corner from Tender Buttons in Central Park, on my way to the Met, this elderly gent was walking ahead of me. How chic and comfortable he looks in his bright green shirt and suspenders.

Inside the Met I was, as usual, agog at the beauty and the level of excellence possible in such a grand institution.

Below, the marble ceiling which was echoing with the sound  of a chamber orchestra.

I spied this display case tucked away in a corner next to the lift down to the cafeteria.They’re folded cloth napkins! Can you believe that someone has gone to the trouble of following the instructions in a 16th century book of napkin folding? Wow! What fabulous dinner parties they must have had back then Royalty, no doubt.

Here’s a closer look at the pages, in case you need some inspiration for your next formal dinner…..

Upstairs was a Picasso exhibit. I loved the deliberate composition of this self portrait. He’s so stylish. Is it a smock, or a jacket? Either way, I want to make one!

Up on the roof of the Met was this spectacular structure made of stems of bamboo tied, yes, tied! together. It’s a work in progress, and the day I was there, a woman was perched high on top, tying in more lengths to an already vast work. If you’re game, you can take a tour and walk up through it.

Downtown late in the day to meet India after work, I couldn’t resist the window at Lion Brand’s Studio, 34 West 15th St. I know they have more resources at their disposal than your average independent knitting shop, but the attention paid to detail in their store is impressive, from the sampling wall to the hand woven blinds on the windows at the back of the store. They employ talented and creative people, too, to create displays like the one below: Coney Island created with yarn.

Out on Long Island for a few days with my family, I was stunned by the beauty of the North Fork. We stayed at a cottage on Long Island Sound where the beach, because it’s stony, is empty and ideal for beach combing.

I loved this delicate arrangement of twigs deposited by the tide.

Bright green seaweed was smeared along the shore, and in the stream that came from a small lake down to beach.

Back in NY, I sheltered from the extreme 90 degree heat the same way I sheltered from a snow storm many years ago: in the museums. In the courtyard at MOMA was Yoko Ono’s Wish tree.

Some of the wishes:

that there were more tags available to write wishes on

that every day was my birthday

world peace

to find the right man, have a child and get my dream job but it will have to happen soon because I’m almost 40!

I didn’t write one, but if I did it would have read: to live closer to my kids!

Here I am in New York, after a stop in Los Angeles, where I explored yarn shops (of course). Visiting Wildfiber is like going back to my childhood home, with one exception: it is as big as I remembered, with lots of space to sit and knit, which I did last Wednesday night in the company of some old friends I’d not seen in three years. It was a lovely way to begin my trip to the USA.

The next stop on my shop tour was Knitter’s Studio, on 3rd Street in West Hollywood, followed by Twist, in Manhattan Beach. Both are charming, with beautiful selections of natural fibres. Cathy Karen, of Twist, has her very own selection of beautiful yarns she dyes herself.

Now that I’m in New York, having spilled a glass of tomato juice all over my lap during the flight and arriving without my luggage which took another 24 hours to show up  – amazing how helpful a little shampoo and a hairdryer in a hotel bathroom can be when you have no other options and you’re late for dinner – I’m excited that Abigail, a new cardigan I designed for The Knitter magazine, is on the cover of Issue 20, out this week.

Abigail is inspired by the blouses of the 1950’s and 60’s which I love. Think Betsy of Mad Men, and a pair of slim pants or a full skirt.. It could also be lovely worn open, over a dress.  I gave it a tailored, Peter Pan collar which I’d wanted to try for some time.  I’m excited at the way it turned out!

It’s very fun to knit (one piece to the armholes) with no dreaded button band to pick up or attach later. It’s all done as you go. One of my favourite details is the touch of eyelet gathering on the sleeves and pockets.

Sizes are 81cm(32″) to 117cm(46″) chest. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Eco Baby.

Now I’m off to explore New York with India. We’ve heard there’s a new knitting shop in Brooklyn that has a liquor license!  Now that’s a new angle.

But before I go I have to mention String, on East 65th St. It’s a lovely shop, airy and light, located upstairs in an old brownstone. Linda Morse, the owner, imports cashmere  and has it dyed by  Koigu in some of their Kpppm colours.

This an easy hat pattern, but sometimes such a thing is hard to find.

I made it for my son, Pete, who is very particular in his taste. Like most knitters I fear that my efforts will end up on the rag pile, so on one of his visits home I asked him for specific instructions on just exactly what sort of hat he would like to wear.

The result was two versions, one in butterscotch, a gorgeous golden shade of chunky, soft Blue Sky Worsted (worn by Polly, above), the other in an evergreen shade of Koigu Kersti, a classic dk. They both have long bands of ribbing that can be folded back watch cap style.

The circumference of both hats is 33cm[13"] in 2/2 rib unstretched and will fit a medium-large head 48-56cm [19-22"]

Here are the instructions.

POLLY’S HAT:

Materials

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes; 1 skein  2022-butterscotch

Size 5mm [US8]  40cm circular needles

Size 5.5mm double pointed needles (DPNs)

tapestry needle

stitch marker

Cast on 72 sts on smaller needle. Join in round, taking care not to twist. Place marker.

Work K2, P2 rib for 16cm.

Change to DPNs and work 9cm in stst (all rounds knit).

Begin decreases:

Round 1: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * to end. –63 sts.

Rnd 2 and all even rounds: Knit

Rnd 3: *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end. –54 sts.

Rnd 5: *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end. –45 sts.

Rnd 7:*K3, k2tog; rep from * to end. –36 sts.

Rnd 9: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. –27sts.

Rnd 11: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. –18 sts.

Rnd 13: *K2tog; rep from * to end. –9 sts.

Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Pull tight and with tapestry needle, weave in ends on WS of hat.

PETE’S HAT

Worn above, with the ribbing folded back twice.

Koigu Kersti; 1 skein shade K1510

Size 3.75mm [US5]  40cm circular needles

Size 4mm[US6] double pointed needles

tapestry needle

stitch marker

Cast on 104 sts on smaller needle. Join in round, taking care not to twist. Place marker.

Work K2, P2 rib for 16cm.

Change to DPNs and work 9cm in stst (all rounds knit).

Begin decreases:

Round 1: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * to end. –91sts.

Rnd 2 and all even rounds: Knit

Rnd 3: *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end. –78 sts.

Rnd 5: *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end. –65 sts.

Rnd 7:*K3, k2tog; rep from * to end. –52 sts.

Rnd 9: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. –39 sts.

Rnd 11: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. –26 sts.

Rnd 13: *K2tog; rep from * to end.–13 sts.

Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches.  Pull tight and with tapestry needle weave in ends on WS of hat.

Tomorrow I leave on my trip to TNNA in Ohio and then New York. Shipping for South Seas Knitting will continue while I’m away. In the meantime, happy knitting!

Time flies when you’re having fun, even faster when you’re knitting.

This is not so good on a rainy Sunday afternoon that you’d like to last for days, but excellent on a long haul flight.

I’m about to embark on just such a thing, to a trade show in Ohio, USA. I always knit on flights, and I’m shocked when people ask me if it’s ok. I thought that had been resolved a long time ago but it seems not. I’m told that knitting is forbidden on Qantas flights. Can this be true? It’s years since the USA airlines officially approved knitting. How cranky of Qantas.

My favourite needles for travelling are bamboo circulars. They’re compact, friendly-looking, and there’s no danger of a needle dropping and rolling under the seat of the person three rows in front.  A knitter crawling along the aisle peering under seats is bound to cause an international incident.

I will be taking a nice lightweight project on my circulars, perhaps a small mohair shawl in a light coloured yarn so I can see it when the cabin lights are dimmed.

Speaking of trips, let’s head back to the 90’s. Hard to believe it’s more than a decade in the past, and that soon we’ll been talking about the 10’s in sepia tones.

During that decade I was, for the most part, designing knits for LL Bean of Maine while living in Santa Monica. It was a happy time. My children were big enough to ride their own bicycles but not yet demanding to dropped off at the mall.

1993. The cardigan above and below was so dear to me that I wore it for most of the decade. It’s a little bit South America, a little bit Amish quilt.

Then there was American Quilt (below) which was a best seller in 1995.

Here’s a pattern that combined my love of Native American motifs with Maori weaving patterns from New Zealand.

This abstract floral cardigan  (note in all of these the emphasis was on the motifs, not the shapes, all of which were simple and boxy) was inspired by some stenciling I’d seen on a wall in India.

Later in the 90’s I did some designs for a company that made, of all things, cowboy shirts. The beautiful ones with piping and embroidery. The owner thought some cowboy themed knits would work well in places like Montana where it’s cold out on the prairie. I designed several and although they didn’t really work for the cowboy market, they’re enjoying newfound popularity with my son Pete and his friend Polly here. This one is based on the classic 1950’s shawl collar jacket.

In resurrecting some of these designs it made me think I’d like to update them. Picture knits are coming back, I think.

If any of my knitting compadres from Wildfiber read this, I’m going to be there on Wednesday evening, June 9, 5:30 -7:30, and I’d love to see you. Come and join me for a knittin knit in!

–Mel