Monday 4 May 2020

Jack of all trades

But I'm master of none.

I can knit, stocking stitch, garter stitch and rib. I knit scarves and face cloths, nothing complicated as I struggle to follow a pattern.

I can crochet granny squares and blankets, I cannot follow a pattern as I  cannot remember which stitch is which.

I can sew, I can use a sewing machine but I tend to choose simple patterns nowadays.

I can cook, I can follow a recipe and 9 times out of 10 what I cook is edible. My food is never decorative, presentation is not my strong point.

I can write stories for my grandchildren, the story may be rubbish but I write about them or their family so they think the stories are wonderful.


12 comments:

Angela said...

It is far more useful to have all those skills to a minor degree than to be an expert in one thing and nothing else, imho

Col said...

Well, you can knit, which I can't....you may as well give me javelins as knitting needles, I'm utterly useless with them! I started a scarf for my husband, garter stitch, as simple as is possible, and after seven years of dropping stitches, increasing or decreasing at random, and generally making an enormous mess of it, I undid it all, got my crochet hooks out and two days later presented him with his long awaited scarf!!!
I'm fine with a crochet hook, my Afghan crochet's not great yet, but it's getting better. I can follow patterns with no problem and make all sorts of jumpers, jackets, hats etc for our Grandson, but nothing for myself. I'm a bonnie lass, and don't fancy the time it would take to make something to cover the expanse which is me!
I can cook up a storm, my soufflés are famous amongst friends and family, and I can bake, cakes, biscuits etc, but my pastry skills leave a lot to be desired! Even using ready rolled stuff from the freezer doesn't work, my pastry is trash! Oh, and presentation's not my strong point either, I'm not arty, in any way!
As I said a few days ago, my sewing skills these days are more or less zero, so you're way ahead of me there too!
I do have two things which I'm naturally good at, mental arithmetic, and spelling! If I ever use a calculator, I check the answer in my head, and I have never consciously learned to spell anything, somehow I see the word in my mind, and it's always correct! I'm not much of a typist though, so there may occasionally be 'scribble' in my posts!
All in all, I'd rather be able to knit and sew!

Ellen D. said...

That is a lot of talents! And don't forget you can manage to live on a boat with all the skills needed for that. And you are a caregiver and that requires super skills! So all in all you do sound very amazing!

JanF said...

I think you do a lot and you are always helping other people as well as being a caregiver in a very demanding situation. Furthermore you are so interested in all that is going on around you and keep all your readers entertained day by day. I now check your blog first of all when I get up. We are 8 hours behind you so there is usually something new. What Angela and Ellen D say is true too.

Anonymous said...

Hi, do you need to be a master? I think not.
You have so many skills including the most important given your life situation, patience, kindness , compassion and caring.
A few more people with your skills and the world would be a better place.
Love Jane.x

The Weaver of Grass said...

That sounds a lot of skills to me.

Theresa Y said...

Sounds like me. But we can still make a scarf, a blanket, and our grandchildren think our stories are the best thing since sliced bread. Ahhh...Life is good!

walking in beauty carmarthenshire said...

Also you can write a blog and amuse people and you care.Well done. xx
Kathy

Sue said...

I'm exactly the same. I can make you anything you want as long as it's square or rectangular. I can sew with or without a machine, but haven't for ages, and I can cook. I'm actually better without a recipe as I seem to spend far too long reading and re-reading it. I'm better at just winging it.

My Piece of Earth said...

You can do a lot of the things other people have no idea how to do. Dont bash yourself, at least you can make useful items, you can eat good food even though its not looking like it came from a fancy restaurant. Your grandkids love your stories, those little things count the most. I have to have a recipe, or a pattern, if not, cant wing it.

Chin up

Hugs

Lyssa Medana said...

You are an awesome writer!

Sewing mamie said...

Like you I can knit but cannot follow a pattern , having seen a lovely cardigan pattern I got over confident and decided to try it , my friend a much more accomplices knitted started knitting it as well . Fast forward four months she has completed three quarters in between making other things I have done two inches . Four times now I have had to take the knitting to her so that she can sort it out , the last time I did she wrote the pattern out stitch by stitch to help me , but i have lost my nerve it hasn't been touched for about two months goodness knows if it will ever be finished .

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