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March 22, 2008

Easter holidays

Easter weekend. Earlier than it has been for 110 years (if you are a Gregorian calendar follower) and cold enough to freeze yer bollock off, if you are unfortunate enough to have them. I don't like Easter at the best of times, apart from the long weekend off work, but when the weather decides to throw hail and snowstorms at you with temperatures of -2C (which is cold for here at this time of year), it's pretty unpleasant. What with the frenetic worshipping at the altar of consumerism, the encouragement of gorging on chocolate, and little acknowlegement of what Easter is actually all about. Now I am no religious person, and I do not consider myself a christian, but there is not even any real reference to the pagan beginnings of Easter shennanigans. Easter bunny? Where did that come from? It was only an American thing when I was a little lass....

However, I have had some genteel moments today, nestled in my warm flat in a haze of drying clothes and knitting. The sunshine was quite nice earlier, and I had to fight the cat to make best use of the sunbeams, but I am quite pleased with these progress shots of a Habu scarf kit-78, given to me for my birthday by Ganaimn back in December.

Knitted holding a strand of Habu Super Fine Merino A-177 in Bordeaux with a strand of Habu Silk Stainless A-20/21 1/20 in Terracotta. It's growing quite fast, but in the vein of everything I am knitting that has no cables in it, it is plain stocking stitch....... I MUST knit something other than cables and stocking stitch soon...

Posted by glittrgirl at March 22, 2008 07:20 PM

Comments

Rabbits and hares give birth to large litters in the early spring and as such became symbols of the rising fertility of the Earth at the Vernal Equinox, according to Wikipedia. Regardless, I'm pretty sure that the Easter Bunny originated in the breeding of the Mad March Hare, since there were no rabbits in Britain until the invasion of the Romans, so I'm almost certain it's not as recent as the American "Invasion". Anyway, I have now switched pedant mode off and shall just comment that your knitting is lovely, as always.

Posted by: Mrs Firestarter at March 23, 2008 12:33 AM

How does it feel though, the Habu? Can you bend it into shapes like chicken wire?

Posted by: Skitten at March 26, 2008 01:03 PM

But we didn't have the easter bunny bringing us eggs when we were babes did we? I can't remember, but I don't think the easter bunny visited us.....

Posted by: glittrgirl at March 26, 2008 10:00 PM

The Habu feels soft and once it is felted will, I am sure be even softer. And yes you can bend it into shapes. It is mad stuff, but quite lovely.

Posted by: glittrgirl at March 26, 2008 10:01 PM

As babes we gathered wild flowers in pinks and yellows, and bound them around the best of the chickens' eggs with string and old discloths. Or layer after layer of onion skins made from a dark marbled effect. They're a fertility symbol, aren't they? Preludes to a fruitful summer, and a prosperous season of crops.

When my own children were little, we sat at the kitchen table and painted empty egg shells with faces, sticking yellow strands for hair and beads for buttons. More adventurous ones were stuck atop yarn cones and toilet roll holders and whole outfits were created for them. Some of these lasted until the following easter.

I only came to find out about the Habu. Chicken wire, you say? You're probably at the Bridge, where I could have enquired in person.

Posted by: brendadada at September 9, 2008 07:30 PM