Category: Hygge Ideas

HYGGE AND KNITTING, TWO WORDS THAT BELONG TOGETHER…

Knitting and Hygge are two words that belong together simply implying what Hygge is all about. As Meik Wiking – CEO of The Happiness Research Institute has said, “Hygge has been translated as everything from the art of creating intimacy to cosiness of the soul to taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things.”

 

If you haven’t learnt how to knit before then now is the time to do so. Knitting is back in fashion from knitting simple tea cosies to bed throws and even recycling old sweaters into new ones.

The web has an abundance of sites with some giving tutorials on how to knit and others giving you a choice of many free patterns to start your knitting.

Once we come out of lockdown I am sure the ever popular knitting groups will thrive again. A very popular one is called Stitch and Bitch and there is also a great book from Amazon at £10.99 Stitch ‘n Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook – The Stitch ‘n Bitch Handbook by Debbie Stoller covers every aspect of knitting and the knitting-together lifestyle: the how-to, the when-to, the what-to and why-to. Writing with wit and attitude, Debbie Stoller explains why young women are taking up knitting in droves and covers everything you need to know to get your knit on – from the tools of the trade to casting on and binding off to getting fancy – all with step-by-step illustrated techniques. Then it’s time to pick up the sticks: at the heart of this book are forty stylish patterns that are as hip to wear as they are to knit, as good for beginners as they are for purly pros.

Another popular one is UK Hand Knitting where you all meet for a natter while knitting your favourite jumper. Just click on your area on their map to find your nearest group. Some great sites for knitters include The Daily Knitter where you can find lots of Free patterns and  Knitting Help which has free tutorial videos to help you knit.

According to Wikipedia, Knitting is a method by which thread or yarn may be turned into cloth or other fine crafts. Knitted fabric consists of consecutive rows of loops, called stitches. As each row progresses, a new loop is pulled through an existing loop. The active stitches are held on a needle until another loop can be passed through them. This process eventually results in a final product, often a garment.

Knitting may be done by hand or by machine. There exist numerous styles and methods of hand knitting.

Different yarns and knitting needles may be used to achieve different end products by giving the final piece a different colour, texture, weight, and/or integrity. Using needles of varying shape and thickness as well as different varieties of yarn can also change the effect.

Yarnspirations sell Hygge yarn which is extremely soft and drapey, despite its quick-to-stitch bulky size. The base yarn is twisted with a fur end, which adds a lovely texture that is wonderful to work with, and snuggle up in! This gorgeous braided cable knit throw comes with a free knitting pattern. Just head to Yarnspirations website.

The Independant wrote that “There is an enormous amount of research showing that knitting has physical and mental health benefits, that it slows the onset of dementia, combats depression and distracts from chronic pain.” “In addition to its calming effects, knitting a quilt or a pair of mittens can distract from chronic pain – as focus is turned elsewhere. And the repetitive movements required to create a pattern release calming serotonin, which can lift moods and dull pain, according to the findings.”

A brilliant book if you are new to knitting is ‘The Complete Beginners Guide to Knitting: Everything you need to know to start to knit’, by Sian Brown, Lou Butt, and Janine le Cras on Amazon for £10 From lavish fashion trends to homemade gifts, add a hand-crafted touch to your garments, gifts and decorations. Start by choosing your yarn and needles before getting to grips with casting on, knitting, purling, ribbing and casting off again. Once you’ve mastered the essentials, you’ll put your newfound skills into practice with a range of creative project patterns that are perfect for newbie knitters. Get all the essential tools and materials before mastering simple stitches, Easy to follow patterns . Add a professional finish to your projects with pockets, hems, buttons and more. Refine your knitting skills while creating great gifts, garments and decorations. So pick up your needles today, and you’ll be an expert in no time at all!

ENJOY YOUR COFFEE THE ECO FRIENDLY WAY…

Many of us are trying our best to Eco swap many things in the house and home as well as food and drink. Now is the perfect time to start your Eco swap with your daily drink of coffee.

Ditch the plastic pods for compostable pods with the Dualit, Grind and Blue Goose.

They have three types of compostable pods, including the organic Ethiopian and Colombian blend which are made from corn starch. This may be able to go into your food waste caddy but check with your local authority first. They take 90 days and break down through industrial composting, but cannot be placed in garden waste. The Indian Monsoon box of 10, is £2.90 from Dualit. They also have a selection of teas in compostable capsules.

The Dualit EcoPresx Aluminium Capsule Recycler is a clever device which extracts coffee from used aluminium pods which can then be spread on the flowerbeds. Then you simply put the empty capsules into the recycling bin. It is compatible with all aluminium coffee pods and cost £13.00 from Dualit.

Grind coffee pods are compostable and 100% plastic-free. When composted, they’ll break down in weeks – but even in landfill they’ll break down hundreds of times faster than their plastic cousins. Great coffee, doing good by the planet. All of their coffee is certified organic by the Soil Association. They source our beans directly from smallholders around the world – empowering them to grow their farms, invest in their communities and continue to farm some of the best coffees in the world.

Grinds compostable Nespresso pods letterbox refill pack is from £13.50 and a great way to get your top up in lockdown. You can subscribe for refills in letterbox-friendly packaging, with free UK delivery. Change, skip or cancel your subscription at any time, hassle-free, with a gift subscription from £27.00

Blue Goose have, ethical coffees in plastic-free packaging. their award-sinning speciality coffees help you create wonderful barista-quality coffees without the guilt, whether you enjoy their Nespresso compatible eco pods or their new bean and ground coffees in compostable pouches.

Unlike aluminium and plastic capsules that can take 200-500 years to degrade in landfill, Blue Goose’s plastic-free, compostable Nespresso pods and lid can be put into your food waste bin and they will be processed into compost of liquid fertilizer without around 12 weeks depending on the facilities used by your local council.

Try there Eco Coffee Pod Collection gift pack, full to the brim with our 40 speciality Arabica coffee pods, for £18.

FIVE WAYS TO CREATE A MODERN KITCHEN DINER…

Five ways to create a modern kitchen diner which is so fashionable now.

CONNECT THE SPACE WITH YOUR GARDEN…

The great thing about having an open plan kitchen diner is that it allows you to connect the space to the garden too. You should make the most of this by having modern sliding glass doors in place. These can then open out into a patio area so that everyone in your family can eat on the patio when the weather is nice and you don’t necessarily want your dining space to be confined to the indoors. The garden has become the space that we can easily escape to at the moment. It’s also become the place where we can connect, at a safe distance with family and friends at home.

CHOOSE A DURABLE AND SUITABLE FLOORING…

The flooring you choose in your dining room needs to feel suitable for both a kitchen and a dining context, so you probably don’t want a conventional carpet because that’s not really ideal for a kitchen. You will also want the flooring to be durable and so a stone or hard tile option could be what you need. Kitchens need to have durable, water-friendly flooring, but what is the best flooring for kitchens? Look for reclaimed, recycled, and environmentally sustainable choices to be popular varieties for hardwood flooring. 

ZONE THE SPACE CAREFULLY…

Zoning the space is something that you will definitely need to do very carefully because it will dictate how you ultimately end up using the space. Make the wrong call and you could end up with a strange and dysfunctional space that doesn’t really meet the needs of your family, so dedicate plenty of planning and thought to this. You want the space to be appropriate, don’t you?

CHOOSE YOUR COLOUR THEME AND STICK TO IT THROUGHOUT…

It’s important to have consistency in terms of colour throughout your kitchen diner if you want it to look unified. Remember, you’re talking about one space now, not two. So you can’t have one design in the kitchen part and another entirely different one in the dining area; that would look ridiculous. You could choose white chairs and black tablecloths. That black and white aesthetic is very popular right now. But ultimately, it’s up to you.

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE LIGHTING…

Natural light is really important in a dining space, so make sure you have as much of it as possible. But you should also try to make sure that you have decent artificial lighting for those long evenings when you’re entertaining in your dining space. Ensure your dining table is always lit up with a light source hanging above it if possible.

Kitchen diners are ideal for most people, especially families. It’s good to have that open space because you simply don’t need barriers between rooms anymore. It helps the space flow so much better, and it can also help the natural light to pour through the space without any unnecessary barriers.

Best Track Lighting: Lithonia Lighting Pepper Mill Track Lighting Fixture at Home Depot“With three multi-direction heads, this fixture allows you to light hard-to-reach areas in your kitchen.”Best Recessed: Philips Hue White Ambiance Retrofit Recessed Downlight at Amazon“Once connected to a compatible smart device, you can choose from more than 50,000 shades of light and dim them to your liking..”Best Pendant: Globe Electric Nate 1-Light Modern Industrial Pendant at Amazon“Thanks to an adjustable hanging rod, you can customize the fixture to best fit your space.”Best Chandelier: Latitude Run Breithaup 7-Light Statement Drum Chandelier at Wayfair“Makes a bold statement without overwhelming the room.”Best Tube Lights: Lithonia Lighting Futra 2-Light Brushed Nickel Ceiling Light at Amazon“Its 52-inch design will reduce the need for multiple lights in your kitchen.”Best Under-Cabinet Lights: Commercial Electric 24 in. LED Under Cabinet Light at Home Depot“With a slim, one-inch profile, you can barely even see that these lights are mounted under your cabinets.”