Modelwidow

I've been spoilt

2012-01-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

Recently I have been chatting with Rhonda , another of the moderators over on the Knit-a-square forum on Ravelry , about the lovely yarn she has been using for her charity knits – (she lives on the other side of the pond you see), and she very kindly offered to send me some to try.

So after stalking the postman for a day or two, a squidgy parcel of loveliness arrived.

Not one, but three! gorgeous skeins of Araucania Aysen in two beautiful colour ways. I do wish you could feel it, it is so soft and squishy, and it even smells soft!
Well being merino, alpaca and silk I guess it couldn’t be anything else but wonderful. I am so lucky, and I'm looking forward to deciding what to knit with it.

Now all I can say is if yarn like that is affordable for charity knits in the US – I think I need to emigrate :0)

End of year

2011-12-31T06:43:00.001-08:00

I have found it very hard coming back here after the last post, but I didn't want to end the year on such a sad note - so I made myself come back with a final tidy up of bits and pieces I have knitted/crocheted.

A couple of months back I joined the Baker's Dozen group over on Ravelry after hearing about last years swap on an old podcast. Basically, in case you haven't heard of them, there are 13 of us in a group and each month 12 of us make a 12" square to send to the 13th member (member of the month) so eventually we all get enough squares to make a lap/snuggle blanket. We can specify colours, washability etc and the rest is up to the maker, so
November's request was for a square that had meaning to the maker, with a suggestion of girly colours (if required). As I live in 'The Garden of England' I chose this flower square.

December's request was for purple - and keeping on the theme of Garden of England I decided on a leafy square this time.
January's square is at the planning stage, I'll reveal more later.

Charity knit wise, I finished another blanket for Bonnie Babies - I must like this pattern, it's the 3rd time of making

I seem to have started a tradition of making a Christmas card for each of my 'Lace Friends' which can then be used as a decoration - this year I went for Wreaths

Finally, I felt like trying something different, so I hunted out my Tunisian Crochet hook - sat down with the internet to hand and created a sampler square - it's not perfect by any means, so don't look too closely, but I had a lot of fun and it will be put to good use as it can go off with my next batch to Knit-a-Square

And just to wind up, and purely for my own interest, I do like to keep a note of the books I read each year - much to my suprise I have read 14 in 2011, and they are

* Knitalong by Larissa & Martin John Brown
* Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark
* The Dead of Winter by Rennie Airth
* A Killer Stitch by Maggie Sefton
* Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
* Old Boyfriends by Debbie Macomber
* Yarn Harlot by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
* Darkness and Light by John Harvey
* In for a penny, in for a pound by Tim Waterstone
* A knitter's Home Companion by Michelle Edwards
* Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
* Confessions of a GP by Benjamin Daniels
* Not What She Seems by Victorine E. Lieske
* Free Range Knitter by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

So there goes 2011 - let's hope 2012 is a Happy New Year for everyone.

A big space

2011-12-18T04:37:00.001-08:00

There's a big space in my life right now and I'm feeling rather low.
Thanks to a car I have lost my furry companion, my shadow, my little 'helper'
Dudley
2005 - 9th December 2011

Autopilot socks

2011-11-20T05:23:00.001-08:00

I really don't know where the time goes, it's been 3 weeks since my last post yet it only seems a day or two. I know I have been busy moving offices, making the Christmas cake and pud, doing all the normal stuff and manning the phones for Children in Need but really!

The day after my last post it was my birthday and DH's pressie was a workshop in London called Autopilot socks by the lovely Amy Singer (of Knitty fame) organised by IKnit London.
Not only is Amy a genuinely nice person, she is also very clever, and her way of knitting socks is just brilliant, no more hoping they will fit, no more confusion over short rows and which bit to knit into, just a good logical knit and a nicely fitted sock at the end. The group were very pleasant and much chatting took place (with quiet bits for concentration) and we all came away happy with a sample sock that gave us chance to have tried out all the techniques.

Ok so I admit it, I haven't got around to starting a real sock for myself, but I definitely will and all the bits are ready in my knitting bag to pick up and start (just waiting for a few more hours in the day - or at least some spare time in the ones I do have).
I can highly recommend a workshop with Amy, I would certainly go along if she does any more, but in the meantime all the details of her sock 'recipe' are over on Ravelry under Autopilot sock

Other knitting wise, I am still making the baby blanket and the lace border is being knitted on and is growing nicely, I have started Hitchhiker with the King Cole Riot I bought in The Lakes, (though I can't say I am really enjoying the yarn, it's lovely and soft on the ball but there is just something about it, maybe because I'm not used to working with singles, I don't know, still I will persevere,) and I am making the garland bit ready for all the lovely decorations to hang on from the talented Frankie Brown's Advent Garland (but since that is currently just a grey strip of garter stitch with icord edging it wouldn't make a very good picture.)

And talking of Christmas, my finished item is

A Little Christmas Tree Which is only about 6" tall and will be perfect to go on my new (tiny) desk in my new office because we aren't going to have room for much else in there!

Caught without knitting !

2011-10-27T05:52:00.001-07:00

It's extremely unusual for me to be without knitting, normally there is something to knit in my handbag but on the one occasion that I actually needed it last week with the prospect of a 2 hour wait - I didn't have any! DH suggested I bought a magazine so I could read about it instead, but I had a better idea...
I popped into a charity shop and bought a ball of (weird) yarn and a pair of needles all for the princely sum of £1.50 and while I sat waiting I started knitting this little chap
He's my version of the Angelbear (well it was from memory) done all in garterstitch this time with loopy ears.

We were actually away in the Lake District and unfortunately I was still suffering a bit from the lergy so I wasn't feeling up to walking as much as usual, so on one day I sent DH off to bag some more peaks and happily sat in the rented apartment knitting, quilting and just generally enjoying the view Well, with a view like that from the window it seemed a shame to waste it :0)

While we were up there I also finished my wwwww #1 by Kate Davies of Needled perfect for keeping my ears warm when walking
If you are not familiar with Kate and her work then I would highly recommend that you wander over to her blog and have a read, - not only is she a very talented lady, she is also overcoming a serious health issue too. One of the most inspiring and determined people I have come across in a long time.

Other knitting included the Noro Sekku scarf from the yarn and pattern I got the previous week at Ally Pally but it just wasn't doing it for me so it has now been frogged and having had a wander around Ravelry to see what others have done with this yarn (what a brilliant search tool) I think it is destined to become a Revontuli instead - a pattern I printed off yonks ago but would never have thought of using for this without Ravelry's help. Fortunately I always take far more knitting projects on holiday than I usually need so I had the yarn and pattern to start another charity baby blanket, which is currently just a square of garter stitch so no photo yet until it is a bit more interesting to look at.

Finally, back home I finished off number 4 Christmas Stocking for the charity Bonnie Babies Christmas Challenge (beware of the music on the site if you follow the link!)
and these have now been posted off to grace the cribs of premature and poorly babies in SCBUs over Christmas.

My 'puter is back

2011-10-12T05:38:00.001-07:00

...a bit of a long catch up post

I've been without 'puter for a couple of weeks as it all went pear-shaped and had to go away to have a new motherboard (whatever that might be). It was rather disconcerting to have a man come and collect it and drive off into the sunset, but then a machine rang up every so often to say where it was in the chain of repair, and I am pleased, and relieved, to say that it is back with me now, feeling better, and so here is a quick (or not so quick) catch up post.

A second co-worker left to have a baby, and again she didn't want to know if she was having a boy or girl so I had to choose another unisex pattern
Cardi for Emma's bump
from a Garnstudio pattern

I do hope the next person to leave decides they will find out the baby's gender, I am dying to make a sweet lacy cardi or a cute boys jumper - oh well, this one went down a treat and there were plenty of compliments (isn't it great when you work with people who know the basics but aren't knitters, so they think you are SOOOOOO clever!)

With the weather turning chilly I decided it was time to get over my SMS (second mitten syndrome) and get myself ready for winter - I do suffer from such cold hands, even at the best of times, but this year hopefully I am prepared
Matrix from Knitty
I used New Lanark Aran on 3.25mm dpns (I am a loose knitter) and lengthened the cuff because I hate having a gap between glove and sleeve, and it seems that I may have the makings of warm and toasty hands this winter. (Sorry the photo is sideways - I just can't seem to get it to turn, it looks fine until I upload it, and if I turn it first it ends up upside down!!)

And my 'odd moments' knitting has created this rather strange little chap
A bear for the Angelbear charity
I didn't have a stitch dictionary to hand, and don't know how to do loop stitch so he ended up with plain ears suitable for the under 3s. I think he looks odd (don't all my toys?) but hopefully he might bring a little comfort to a kiddy in need.

So that's what I have made, and now for new supplies.....

Of course it was The Knitting and Stitching show at Ally Pally at the weekend, and I had a great day. I was actually quite restrained and came home with some back issues of mags, enough Click DK to make Amna , some Knit-pro dpns, some Hipknits laceweight in a gorgeous purple and the obligatory impulse purchase - a ball of Noro Sekku which was displayed along with a sample scarf and free pattern.
My impulse purchase

Now anyone who knows me will be aware that 2 of those purchases are rather out of character for me - the only things I tend to knit for myself are scarves/shawls and the like but DH keeps asking why I don't make something bigger for me, I haven't made myself a jumper/cardigan since I was a teenager, so maybe it is about time I did. I bought the Click from the Blacksheep stand (you know the one, where there is an e-nor-mous heap of packs of wool and it is almost impossible not to dive in head first - intentionally or otherwise) and it was a bit of a bargain at £14.99 so if the cardi doesn't work out it will mainly be time that I have wasted rather than money as well. The other unusual items are the dpns - not that I don't use them, I do, but these are for something I don't generally knit, something I desperately want to like making but so far don't, something I am going on a workshop to learn to do in a different way.... all will be revealed at the end of the month.

Talking of workshops, I also spent a very pleasant 2 hours on Saturday learning freeform crochet,
Freeform sample
and no, I haven't a clue what it is going to be when it grows up, but it was fun anyway!

The good news and the bad news

2011-09-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

The good news is that from today my secondment becomes a permanent post.

The bad news is that I lose my Tuesday mornings off.

The good news is that I won't have to go back to the contact centre.

The bad news is that I will have to take a 1 hour unpaid lunch break.

The good news is that I can use it as knitting time! Yay!

Alpaca love

2011-09-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I discovered Appledene Alpacas was having the last open day of the year, and it isn't too far away from me - well as the crow flies anyway, but my SatNav has a very funny idea of shortest and fastest routes, I can tell you. Anyway, after a bit of a scenic drive in which I got mixed up with a large number of bikes doing an 80K cycle ride and had an unwelcome passenger in the form of a bewildered wasp who had been flying along minding his own business when he got scooped in by my open sunroof, I arrived in one piece (and unstung) to find these gorgeous ladies

waiting patiently in a pen, and I was delighted to find I had arrived just as they were about to be scanned - and we were treated to a view on the ultra sound monitor of the little cria that they were carrying.
I do think they have the most beautiful and intelligent faces

And don't you just love the hairstyle?

There were lots more Alpaca in the fields

but no-one wanted to come up and say 'hello' apart from this chap, who quite clearly knows he is handsome.

I shall definitely be going back next year to see the cria when they are born.

Knitting wise, I had a little loss of mojo for a week or two after the show, then suddenly I had the urge when this came up on my knitting calendar and knit it all in one day (then had achy hands for a few days - serves me right)

Wasp Nest Hat
(rather appropriate given my stowaway on the trip to see the alpacas!)

Too tired to knit

2011-09-04T07:06:00.001-07:00

Would you believe I was away all last (bank holiday) weekend and I didn't do a single stitch of knitting! I know, I was amazed myself, but I was SO tired.

I may have mentioned before that DH is deputy editor of a Model Aircraft magazine (BIL is editor) so we had a working weekend.

The British National Model Flying Championships
We were at Barkston Heath RAF base near Grantham, Lincs where literally thousands of model flyers of every discipline attend to compete, watch, camp, socialise, and shop.
(That is only a small part of the traders village in the photo above, and some lovely clouds!). Now the menfolk need to network, photograph and cover the events so this is where DD and I were all weekend
Our 'shop'

It was more of a publicity tent than shop really, though we were selling current and back issues of the magazine and subscriptions plus a few accessories - each day we had to unpack the van and set up the stand, then pack it all away again at the end of the day, then drive off to the Premier Inn nearby where we were staying for a decent shower and a meal- I've camped at the Nats before, twice, and believe me that was two times too many. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, for miles to stop the wind, in fact this year only one tent was blown down, but last year there were several!

DD in the corner at the till

We had a prize draw which was very popular and planes made from the free plans in the magazine on display too

We met some lovely people and had some very nice chats, we met some weird people - like the man who had bought a plan for a model plane 20 years ago from the previous company and insisted on showing us every line on it that was even a milimetre out! and we met some strange people too - like the lady who wanted to know why we hadn't bought any Cross Stitch magazines to sell ....um a) this is a model flying event with 95% of the attendees being male, b) we were there for the specific model magazine not the publishing company and c) rather more importantly, the company don't publish one - not that she would believe us!

All in all it was a very enjoyable, though very tiring, weekend.
However the only downside was the facilities - think a handful of portaloos, a warm weekend and thousands of men, some of whom had absolutely no idea of hygiene or aim and must live in a pigsty and you will realise why DD and I decided that it wasn't only the model helicopters that needed to hover!

Blanket confession

2011-08-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

If you have been over on Ravelry lately chances are you will have come across the Beekeeper's Quilt . Like all of us, I am sure, sometimes I see a pattern and think I must make it NOW, but it isn't often that I act on it and the urge passes - this time, resistance was futile, I tried to ignore it, but it kept going through my mind, and all those balls of sock yarn were calling out from the cupboard. I was just so taken with it that even though I switched off the computer and went off to do something else, I couldn't help myself and logged back on, bought the pattern and cast on.

I have deviated from the pattern a little in that I am using magic loop (knitting on two DPNs just isn't for me) and Judy's Magic cast on - which I need to practice and be familiar with for a workshop I have booked, so this was one of the ways that I justified buying the pattern :0) and I am closing the puffs with Kitchener stitch.
Who knows how many I will end up making, there may only be enough for a cushion seat pad, but on the other hand they are quite addictive so I might have a bedsized quilt, only time will tell.

We have also been talking about blankets over on the Crafty Threads'n'Yarns forum, so I thought it ought to be confession time....I have two other blankets on the go already (but neither of them are as portable as these little puffs where all the bits and pieces fit neatly into a cosmetic bag in my handbag).

Babette is still on the go although I haven't touched it for a while

and there's a Mitred Blanket that has been on the needles for a good long time,

based on the sock yarn blankies that have been popular but using DK oddments, I'd forgotten how cheerful it was and I nearly disposed of it at one point, but I'll be adding a few more squares now, if I can put the puffs down for long enough!

Oh I do like to be ....

2011-08-02T02:10:00.000-07:00

.....beside the seaside.

Hastings looking towards Bexhill with remains of the Pier
The weather was lovely at the weekend, and we didn't have anything planned (for a change) so DH and I decided to go to the seaside on the spur of the moment. We aren't ones for the sandy beaches (I'm still trying to get the sand out of the car from when DD took the nieces over a month ago!) so we headed off to Hastings, our nearest sea and where we used to go a lot when we were courting (lovely old fashioned word that).
We had a really nice wander all along the front towards Bexhill then turned and walked back to the fishing huts at Rock-a-nore and through the old town, ending up with a picnic on the beach.
It's strange how sad I felt to see the remains of the burnt out pier (a result, it is believed, of arson in October '10) considering in all the many, many times I've been to Hastings, I never once went on it, and never will now.

On the way back through the town I popped into Clarks (the shoe shop) just on the off chance that they had the bag that I had missed buying when I ran out of lunch hour and someone had beaten me to it by the time I got back, and I couldn't believe my luck when I found it

Never mind the outside - will you just look at the lining

and what's more it has two sections, one for my purse etc, and the other for my knitting all at the bargainous 70% off price of £13.49 !!! now it doesn't get much better than that.

Mmmmm Muffins

2011-07-24T03:51:00.000-07:00

When I worked part time there were always freshly baked cakes or cookies in the tin, but increasing my hours made it hard to find time for that anymore. Then DD started baking after school - how lovely to come home to the scent of freshly baked goodies, but now she has started working full time too. However yesterday I suddenly had the overwhelming desire to cook so I looked in the fridge, whipped out my cookery book and made

Raspberry and Chocolate muffins
and rather yummy they are too.

And talking of being domesticated, looks like I might have to rewash my skeins of cotton

Dudley looked so comfy, and by the time I found him they were hairy anyway so I left him to it - that'll teach me to put things away in future ;0)

What's a girl to do?

2011-07-19T03:03:00.000-07:00

Much to her delight, DD has recently acquired a car. Now it might be an older car, but it is hers, all hers.
It happened all of a sudden when FILs old next door neighbours, now in their late 80s decided to give up driving - well that is Mrs P decided that Mr P was going to give up driving - and she wanted someone to buy the car who would look after it. They have had it from new (1995) with only 30K on the clock and she didn't want some 'boy racer' to have it, so she was rather pleased when FIL suggested DD might be interested. It doesn't have power steering but DD's arm muscles are coming along nicely and it has given her more independence and saved the difficulties of her and I working different hours.

And having got her car she decided she would like a blanket to go in the boot, stop everything sliding about and that she could whip out for improptu picnics with friends or when looking after the nieces. Have you any idea how difficult it is to find a blanket these days without paying a fortune? So the obvious place was a charity shop (and we were lucky on the 4th attempt, and an absolute bargain at .... £1.25!) Anyway, in the course of our search I came across
500g of Jaeger Contemporary Cotton, now what is a girl to do? It would have been rude not to have bought it, now wouldn't it? So I got busy and frogged, skeined and washed the knitted parts

and now have to decide what to do with it - but even if it ends up as a pile of dishcloths (which I don't think it will) at the equivalent of 25p a 50g ball it doesn't really matter.

On the knitting front I have just finished a Baby Blanket for Bonnie Babies (a quick word of warning in case you click on the link in public - the site has music straight away, annoying music at that)

This is the second time I have used this pattern, and it won't be the last. I love the mindless garter stitch centre and then the lace border, which I knitted on, adds some interest just as I have had enough garter stitch, but is simple enough to memorise (and easy enough to 'read' the knitting) after only a couple of repeats.
I can't think of many other patterns I have enjoyed enough to knit more than once.

It's behind you

2011-07-11T06:41:00.000-07:00

Or Cat and Mouse

DH and I had a few days off and being at a loose end decided to pop up to London for the day on the spur of the moment (living in a town with a Railway station only 50 minutes from London definitely has it's advantages). With no particular plan in mind we put on comfy shoes and bought sandwiches en route to the station and set off, we thought we would just follow our noses and stop, start or turn off where ever it took our fancy, and what a great day we had.

Our first priority on arriving in London was to find a coffee stop and there just so happens to be a nice Costa upstairs in Waterstones near Charing Cross station which fitted the bill perfectly and once fortified with caffeine a quick use of the facilities was in order before embarking on our adventure and having a strange sense of humour the notice on the door rather amused me

Obviously some of the clientele of the book shop need a little help!

Anyway using the principle of 'that road looks interesting' and 'let's turn down this one' we wandered round and came across the Covent Garden Bead shop (though DH had his doubts that this was by luck) and later on found ourselves in Soho Square
Where we decided to eat our sandwiches which was fine until DH brushed a crumb off his lap and four million pigeons descended from no where.
Saville Row followed, and I was fascinated that you can look over the railings down into the basements and watch the tailors at work. Burlington Arcade was so interesting, especially the antique silver and then further along we spotted Liberty London
which I have always wanted to visit, so in we went - well, if you are ever in that area it is well worth a pause, the building is amazing inside as well as out, and apparently uses the wood from two ships. The materials and haberdashery sections were wonderful, but at £35 + per metre I could only dream, however DH did buy me
a cute little cat money box.

So where does the mouse in the title come from? Well, like all knitters with the prospect of sitting on a train for best part of two hours I took my knitting needles and yarn with me and made

Captain Cat-Battler
having seen the appeal (via Ravelry) for Mice for Cats at Battersea Dogs home.

Mice for cats at a dogs home, now I really have lost it ;0)

Finish-itis

2011-07-04T06:20:00.001-07:00

Not that I am complaining, but I seem to be suffering from finish-itis ! Not only did I finish my lace angel (in the last post) but I have just finished off two other things, firstly there is the One Row Lace Scarf

Made from one ball of Colinette Lasso which I p/hopped and I think the colourway was Jay, it was a strange yarn to use, and certainly not easy if you had even the slightest roughness on your hands as anything caught, but the end result feels very nice and makes the perfect spring/autumn weight scarf.

Then I got around to darning in the ends of Damson which I am sure by now everyone knows is by Ysolda Teague.

The yarn was Woolcraft Superwash Sock Yarn which I received in my birthday swap on the Crafty threads'n'yarns forum. The colours are so lovely, all my favourites put together (though the photo, as is so often the case, doesn't really do it justice). The thing that was disappointing though, was that despite having more meterage than the pattern called for, I ran out of yarn before I could do the edging and consequently it curls a little despite a severe blocking. Oh well, it's still lovely and will be used quite a bit what with the air conditioning at work having two settings - off and fridge!

I think I may have just realised what has caused this bout of finishing - could I be putting off knitting the little jacket I have started for a co-workers bump? Once again I am asking myself why on earth did I choose a pattern almost entirely in moss stitch when I hate the stuff - hey ho, maybe one day I will learn - but then on the other hand ..........

Early or late?

2011-06-25T12:21:00.001-07:00

This poor little angel has been sitting on my lace pillow for months, just waiting to be stiffened and put together, so finally, on the 23rd of June, I got round to doing it

Now I wonder, does that make her late for last Christmas or early for next?

She was designed by the very talented Lou Woo from The Craft Corner who I am lucky enough to count amongst my friends.

It feels good

2011-06-19T06:59:00.001-07:00

I had one of those WIPs that has been bothering me. Back last summer/autumn time I started a Mystery Blanket CAL, in retrospect I should have known better, or at least twigged when one week we had 2 squares to crochet and the next it was 16! but I plodded on for a bit, got to 7 of the 16 mitred squares which I hated doing and stalled - that was months ago and the pile of squares has been silently mocking me ever since.

Well the other day I was listening to old Knit Picks podcasts and came across "To Knit or not to Knit - That is the question" and suddenly it was clear - basically Kelley was giving me permission to quit - the gist of what she was saying was, if you aren't happy with your project and you know you are unlikely to finish it then frog it, give it away or throw it away. Handily the squares were 8", just what Knit-a-square need, so I could abandon my project with a clear conscience and boy does it feel good. Daft really, I should have been big enough to think of that myself, but up until recently I've been one of those people who perseveres with a book all the way to the end even if I wasn't enjoying it - though I stopped that a while ago, it obviously hadn't filtered into my craft life but now I am on a roll so

out to the bin go the quilted bits for the bag I started last August and decided I didn't like, I'm never going to finish it, so what's the point of cluttering my workroom. It's great, I have space in my room and more importantly in my mind.
Damn, it feels good. Now what shall I start next?????

No wonder I'm tired

2011-06-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

DH and I decided our garden could do with a bit of a prune and a tidy, so this morning we set to - isn't it amazing when you actually get stuck in, just how much you see that needs doing? Anyway, 3 hours later we ended up with......

and these are the large wheelie bin black bags, and there is still more to trim. I think our shrubs and bushes must be related to Triffids!
Trouble is, now that we have found the fence, we have discovered that one of the posts is rotten and two panels are now waving freely in the breeze - which means taking out another LARGE shrub to get to mend it :( Hey ho, guess that's gardening for you.
Ever have those moments when you wish you hadn't started?

We have had one of those spells of tidying/clearing and recently helped FIL to empty his loft ready to be insulated. This was quite an interesting game, tinged with sadness as we found lots of things that dear MIL (recently departed) had saved including lots of the treasures from when the boys were small. Amongst the favourites were brushed nylon romper suits! (yes we were babies of the 60's) and some of DH's school books including one with the memorable line....

"I am 8 years old and have 2 newts and one brother"

nice to know his priorities!

But the item that I liked best was a rug

It is double sided fur fabric and I love the teddy. I think some of the reason I like it is the thought that DH (6'2", 48 tomorrow, widely known and respected in his field) used to lie on it to kick and 'feel the air' as a bubby, ah how sweet!

Someone will love her...

2011-05-24T00:55:00.000-07:00

...I hope!

This little, er, "lady" was made from the cover kit of Let's Knit, though I changed her skin tone as she will be off to South Africa via Knit-a-square . I really do have trouble with faces, as you may have noticed! but it's amazing what children like (she says hopefully).

I am not proud of it, not in the slightest, I think it's horrible, badly made and downright scary, but the most worrying thing of all is that an elderly friend always used to say that we put some of ourselves into toys we make, especially the faces.
If there is even a grain of truth in that, all I can say is ......"Oh dear!".

Walking the Cumbria Way

2011-05-15T05:27:00.000-07:00

We had such a lovely week, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the simplicity of it all. The weather was unbelievably kind, we only had an hours light rain the whole time, and this is the Lake District we are talking about!

Our days fell into a pattern of getting up, eating breakfast, then donning rucksacks and walking out of the door, stopping to eat/drink/admire the view when we felt like it until we reached our destination where we located the village shop to stock up on supplies for the next day, found our B&B, ate our evening meal and fell into bed tired but happy, ready to get up the next morning and start all over again - no distractions, just wonderful scenery and peacefulness, no internet and no mobile signal (I even used one of the old fashioned red phone boxes to call DD one evening).It was just so lovely to get away from it all I haven't wanted to go on the computer since I came back, trying to preserve the feeling.

We have a heap of photo's but blogger would throw a fit if I put in as many as I would like to so here are a couple of my favourites

Langdale Valley

Looking across Elterwater to the Langdales

Eagle Crag

We stayed in a diverse range of accomodation from the old to the new, in proper hotels and peoples spare rooms, but my favourite was Robinson's Place Farm

It is a traditional Lakeland working sheep farm built in the 17th century and is owned by the National Trust. Vicky could not have made us more welcome, the room was large, comfortable and spotless, and I immediately felt very much at home.
It was lovely to chat with her and I would have liked to stay longer, but with a LONG days walking ahead we had to leave. Interestingly though, we talked about shearing and I was suprised to hear that a fleece only fetches 2p per kilo for dark colours and 4p per kilo for light, and they only get a kilo from each sheep (if they are lucky), then the carrier charges 7p per fleece to 'load them on the wagon'. Vicky's husband does his own shearing but if a contract shearer is used, they charge £1 per sheep (plus food)- so whichever way you look at it, the farmers are working at a loss. As a knitter, looking at the price of British yarn, this seems incredibly unfair.
It wasn't suprising then to see this in the corner of the lounge
all manner of wooly jumpers handknit from Herdwick fleece ready for sale.

To be honest I was suprised at just how much I enjoyed the week and we both came home physically tired but emotionally rested and when I start to feel a little stressed at work I shall just look at my screen saver and imagine I am here again, sitting on the side of Derwent with just DH, the map and my flask......

Scarf, gloves and sun tan lotion

2011-04-29T04:04:00.000-07:00

Guess where I will be holidaying?

That’s right, England, and due to the vagaries of the good old English weather I am having to act like a boy scout and ‘be prepared’.

I expect it has been the same for many of you, but round here last week the temperature was in the high 20s - flip flops, shorts and strappy tops were the order of the day, and many a lobster pink body could be seen. This week we’ve been lucky if it reaches double figures on the thermometer and the winter woollies are back out.

I’m off to walk the Cumbrian way, and who knows what the skies will throw at us, but never fear, I have it all, well as much as I can fit in the holdall – it’s OK, I won’t be carrying it myself, one of the conditions of saying yes to this adventure was that we used a baggage transfer service. The down side though is that I have no option but to walk if I want to be with my luggage at the end of the day as it will be moving on to the next B&B regardless of what I do. Just to be certain that I have the essentials though I will have one lot of knitting in my holdall, and a little project in my rucksack – well you never know do you?

Little things

2011-04-24T01:14:00.001-07:00

I'm in that awkward place at the moment. I have my next project all lined up and ready to go, but I don't want to start it 'til I go away shortly.
With my existing yarny stuff, I'm suffering from SMS (well if you can have Second Sock Syndrome why not Second Mitten Syndrome) and as for the Mystery Crochet Blanket - if I do another crochet mitred square I think I might scream! If I had known what I was taking on I never would have started it, much less bought yarn - yes, I know, me buying yarn from LYS, and at full price even !!! I can't not finish it now, but I hate these squares and there are 16 of them - I'm sure the designer was deranged, or masochistic or just plain misguided if she though 16 of the same, awful, square was a good idea. It should have been finished in time for Christmas, but it's not even going to be done for Easter - oh well.

Anyway, the point of this ramble was to explain why I have been ~~avoiding what I already have on the needles~~ filling my time usefully with small items.

First I made some Flower coasters to catch the drips at work - I still can't find a mug exactly the right size to use with the drinks machine, so when I have to whip it out just before the end I invariably get drips. I made two (in reverse colours) so I can throw one in the wash and still have one to use. After all it's no good using my own mug to save plastic cups and the environment only to work my way through a tree wiping my desk.

And then there is Little Bear, he's been quite unhappy ever since I had him, you see he is definitely a he - you can see it in his face, but he had a very feminine pink and lilac sweatshirt on, and he really didn't like it, so I finally gave in to him and knitted a custom made jumper in blue sock yarn, just to make him happy.

The non-technical approach

2011-04-17T02:58:00.000-07:00

I decided to take the non-technical approach to select the winner for my blogiversary draw, and as DD is looking after the nieces during the school holidays I thought I would enlist their help.

Littlest niece wrote the names on some paper and then of course I had to find a hat - because when you are 7, if you are told we are going to pull the winning name out of a hat, then a hat, and only a hat will do!

Now I don't do hats except for the knitted variety, so we settled on this one, (Coronet from Knitty in case you are interested) - I think it looks quite good upside down as a bowl!

And biggest niece had the very important task of picking a name from the hat.... and so the winner is.........

Congratulations Auntie Noo, if you could let me have your address I will send the project bag to you.

Follow the yellow brick road

2011-04-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Well the footpath across the field anyway.

DH and I are getting some miles behind us in readiness for our walking holiday (holiday being used in the loosest sense of the word!). In a few weeks time he and I will be walking the Cumbrian Way - 72 miles from Ulverston to Carlisle over 6 walking days. I'm sure I will enjoy it, but there are times when I am not sure how the word 'yes' came out when he suggested it - usually about 10 miles into the practice walks! Joking aside, I've always been a walker, walking at least 2 miles a day, plus 4 miles with friends every friday evening and DH and I often do a longer walk at the weekend, just to get away from it all and have uninterupted time together, but this will be my first long distance walk whilst DH has done several.

At the weekend we did 12 miles locally, and for some reason I was really taken with the view along the road under the bridge that used to carry the long disused Hawkhurst branch line

And further on I saw what has to be the absolute typical Kentish scene

It was a lovely walk, with perfect weather, sunny with a nice gentle breeze and we covered the 12 miles in a very respectable 4 hours including a few stops for snacks and a cuppa (there is no way I am walking long distances without my flask!).

My legs were naturally tired, so when we got back I put my feet up and was listening to the Simon and Garfunkel CD I recently treated myself to (to relive the past I think) and DD came in just as it was playing Scarborough Fair
(Are you going to Scarborough fair?/parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme/remember me to one who lives there/ she once was a true love of mine)
DD stood considering for a few moments, then said "It's odd isn't it? I mean, who on earth would suddenly say ' you know, I think I'll sing about some herbs today'?"
Actually, perhaps she has a point!

PS: There are still a few days left to enter my blogiversary draw - it closes on Saturday 16th April

Blogiversary giveaway

2011-04-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

It's my 5th blogiversary! I find it hard to believe but it is. So as is traditional I thought I would have a giveway. But what to give? - well since none of us can have too many project bags (well I certainly can't and I'm sure I'm not alone), I searched my books and patterns until I found just the thing, then dusted off my sewing machine, raided my stash and here it is.

Just right for a small project, or socks of course, the base measures approx 8" across and 2" deep, it is self lined and lightly padded.

So if you fancy winning yourself a new project bag comment on my blog, between now and Saturday 16th April, and I will randomly select a winner to send it to.

Good luck.

Why the weather is better

2011-03-26T09:09:00.001-07:00

Here in the South East we have had a spell of lovely weather - warm enough to go out and about without a coat - and I even sat in the park with my crochet one lunch time. It has been wonderful spirit lifting weather after the horrible winter. So why has it brightened up - well because I have finished my Frame your face cowl of course.

and modelled....

Made from some Schoppel Wolle sock yarn that I bought from Knit'n'caboodle, as they were closing down, on 3.75mm circs, I knit the main part plain stocking stitch rather than the knit/purl pattern suggested just because I preferred it, and having had to frog the body once (because I cleverly managed to pick up the stitches on the pointy side of the lace strip, not the straight side - and no I still don't know how I managed it either) it gave me chance to simplify the design.

It may be lovely weather now, but I'm sure I will get chance to wear it soon enough.

Signs of spring

2011-03-12T11:28:00.000-08:00

To me there are a few things which definitely signal the coming of spring....

Cheerful crocus

(Not quite) a host of golden daffodils

and Dudley enjoying the spring sunshine from his vantage point on top of the car.

And today I mowed the lawn - oh joy, spring is definitely on the way.

Can I finish....

2011-02-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

Here in the Model household someone always wants something when I am drinking a cup of tea. Now I don't think I have a demanding family, so maybe I drink a lot of tea, or take a long time drinking it, but there is one phrase that I seem to be forever saying. It has got to such an extent that DD has had a mug made especially for me.

So now, rather than asking that same old question yet again I will just raise my mug to them instead.....

Blankets,blankets,blankets

2011-02-16T12:24:00.000-08:00

Over in the P/hop group on Ravelry we are making blankets....blankets of all sorts so that everyone can join in. The idea being that we can contribute squares (or strips) to whichever blanket-along we like (or more than one if we wish) and four generous souls have volunteered to co-ordinate a style of blanket, receive the pieces and assemble them.
I decided to contribute to two, the DK log cabin blanket
and the aran weight strip blanket
(and there is also a crocheted square blanket and a barnraising blanket both in sock yarn)

But there is someone far more generous, Christi1 has knitted and donated the most gorgeous blanket all by herself to be auctioned on eBay (do take a look, it's here ) A Missoni inspired merino and cashmere blanket in the loveliest of colours of hand dyed mini skeins from the Art of Zen from a pattern donated by Debbie Orr - and ALL the profit will go to Medecin sans Frontieres. It's just wonderful and I do hope she raises a large amount, she certainly deserves to - if anyone reading this could raise the awareness of the auction in any way I know Christi1 and P/hop would really appreciated it. The bigger audience it reaches the better.

Lucky number seven

2011-02-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

I'm not usually a lucky person - well not in the sense of winning things - I'm very lucky in that I have my health, my family, my friends, a nice house and car, and whilst I'm not rich I do ok but I don't, as a rule, win anything. If I buy a raffle ticket then I think of it as a donation, not a chance of winning something, so when I put a comment on Silvia's blog it was because I often do as I have enjoyed reading Blogging in the slow Lane for a long time not because of her giveaway. Imagine my suprise when the random generator picked out my comment (comment number seven) as the winner! And this lovely parcel arrived in the post.

With a flower tucky, lavender bombs and some cute little stamped tags. I've often admired Silvia's work, and now I am the proud owner - and the bombs smell divine too.
Thank you Silvia.

"It's like a drug"

2011-02-01T02:00:00.001-08:00

I really enjoy knitting for charity, it gives me chance to make some things I might not otherwise make, I can try out new stitches and techniques, if it's to be worn it doesn't have to fit a specific person it will always fit someone, it eats into my stash and lets me do what I like doing best.

I knit for various causes, if I see an Appeal that, er, appeals then I will join in, but there is one consistent cause I knit for and that is Knit-a-square. I feel it would be comforting, if I had nothing, to be able to wrap myself in a handmade blanket. I think it would give me physical and emotional warmth, and that's what I hope my squares will do for someone else.
I also knit hats and the occasional toy for them, and just because a blog post wouldn't be right without a photo, here is what I made in January....

So what's the connection with the heading? I hear you ask. Well, I was reading All for Orphans (the blog where you can follow the issues of the aids orphans and abandoned children that we are knitting for) and the latest post was about the article in the South African on line paper, City Press, in which they quoted Lindie Ngwenya – one of the leaders of the knitting movement in Soweto and part of Knit-a-square as saying

“Its like a drug,” Ngwenya explains, “When you are making a blanket, you think about the child who will receive it and that makes you happy.”

and that just about sums it up for me.

(You can read the whole post here and if you want to find out more there is information on the All for Orphans blog, on the main Knit-a-square website, or there is a friendly group on Ravelry.)

Where does the time go?

2011-01-25T03:46:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago DH and I celebrated our Silver Wedding - yes 25 years! and I've no idea where it went. It's been a wonderful 25 years, naturally there have been some good and bad, happy and sad, there is bound to be during that length of time. I've been so lucky, we met when we were 18 and have grown up together, and I want to be with him as much today as I did then (ahhh, sorry slushy stuff out of the way now!)

But what does one give to the man who has everything - well, as his life revolves around aircraft (model ones) both work and play, as soon as I saw this lace pattern I had the answer

It took months of secret bobbin twiddling and luckily 4 friends and I meet once a week at the house of our friend and lace teacher, to put the world to rights, drink tea, oh and do a bit of lace :) so I had the opportunity. Though there was one scary moment when DH insisted I show BIL my lacemaking as he was showing a keen interest! Fortunately, I suddenly remembered I had a small UFO on another pillow (see UFOs do have their uses) and all was well.
I'm pleased to say that DH was very happy with his pressie and it now has pride of place on the wall.

He makes me smile

2011-01-16T11:44:00.000-08:00

I saw him through the crowd and it was love at first sight. There was something in his expression that made me feel all warm inside.

I tried to resist but it was useless, he kept catching my eye. It was then that I realised we were meant for each other. I made my way to where he was sitting and gathered him up in my arms. I took him ................

to the till and paid!

Now he sits on my kitchen window sill and grins at me every time I pass, and I just can't help smiling back!

Doing my bit

2011-01-11T03:38:00.001-08:00

I always try to do my bit for the environment, you know, recycle what I can, turn off lights, walk not drive etc etc, but the one thing that has always got to me is those washing up sponges, you know the things, they are great at what they do, but they fall apart so quickly and all you can do is throw them out to be added to the landfill. I don't like using a cloth to wash up (though my hand made ones are always around for wiping the worktop etc) and I just hadn't found a suitable alternative until I came across Gherkin's Bucket and her Crochet Dish Sponge
I can whip them up quite quickly, and just used whatever I had in stash, doubling up the thinner yarns as necessary. I throw them in the washing machine, or dishwasher to clean them and when they finally die they can be recycled/composted. So now I can wash up with a clear conscience.

My first ever design

2011-01-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

THE MOCK CABLE HAT

Well 'design' is a bit too grand a term but My first working out with a stitch dictionary, maths, experience and trial and error just doesn't have the same ring to it!

It's quick and easy - (I made it during the course of a film - a longish film admittedly but for me that's still quick) and has some interest with the mock cables to stop it from being boring, but it's simple enough that I could still follow the plot.

Feel free to use the pattern as much as you like (for non-profit purposes) but if you enjoy it, then please consider making one for charity, or popping a few pennies in a collecting box next time you pass one. Thank you.

Mock Cable Hat
To fit from large child to small adult
(this hat is quite stretchy)

Using 2 strands DK held together
5mm circular needle 16”
DPNS or long circ to magic loop

Gauge
Approx 18sts to 4” over pattern (but as it is a very forgiving pattern a slight variation in gauge will not affect the finished hat too much)

Pattern notes
Mock Cable (worked in the round over multiple of 4 sts)
Rounds 1-3: [K2,P2] to end
Round 4: [K2tog but do not drop sts from left needle, k into first of these sts again,
drop both sts from left needle, P2] to end.

Directions
Cast on 64 sts, place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work rounds 1-4 of mock cable 8 times

Decrease for top, changing to DPNS/ magic loop when necessary
R 1: [K2, P2] to end
R 2: [K2, P2tog] to end (48sts)
R 3: [K2, P1] to end
R 4: [K2tog, P1] to end (32sts)
R 5: [K1, P1] to end
R 6: [K2tog] to end (16sts)
R 7: [K2tog] to end (8sts)
R 8: [K2tog] to end (4sts)

Draw yarn through remaining sts, pull up tight and fasten off.
Either leave as it is or add a pompon or tassle and give to your favourite charity

Mine will be heading off to Knit-a-Square where, despite the name, they welcome hats and sweaters as well as 8" squares to be made into blankets for the Aids orphans and abandoned children of South Africa.

(With thanks to my lovely DD who willingly volunteered to model her mum's latest creation)

A KAL and a CAL

2010-09-27T23:53:00.001-07:00

Well the KAS Cuddle is growing nicely, with chunky and DK held together on 8mm needles it kind of has to ;0)
I've even started knitting in my lunch break in the office - I've always been a bit funny about that, happy to knit in public I don't know, in the park, on the train etc but felt uncomfortable in the middle of those I do. Perhaps it's because in my new department we are all that little bit older, perhaps it's because I have discovered some of them are closet knitters too, perhaps it's this particular project but the other day when rain was forecast I thought 'what the heck', put my knitting in my bag, took a deep breath and pulled it out at my desk at lunch time (no rest room to escape to) and do you know what - no one batted an eyelid!

Not content with just doing a KAL (something I rarely do) I've decided to do a CAL as well, fortunately I could raid stash for most of it, and only bought the 4 balls on the top.

This is for the Bernat Mystery Afghan so look away now if you are doing it and don't want to know what Clue 1 looks like...mind you, it wasn't too hard to guess just from reading the pattern.

A Cuddle of many colours

2010-09-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit late to the party (so nothing new there then!) but I have just cast on for the KASCuddle KAL and we are making these...

Sleep sacks for aids orphans and and abandoned babies of Africa.

My tardiness is not entirely my fault - the KAL called for 21oz of worsted weight in 100% wool, which is used double. Well at a quick reckoning that would be well out of my budget - but then I discovered (thanks to the Ravelry forum) that, as long as it's composition is labelled any other fibres are acceptable too. So I dived into my stash, and with a bit of (hopefully) clever yarn combining, I think I have come up with equivalent thickness in a reasonably high wool content, which should be nice and warm - it's just going to be rather multi-coloured, but I don't suppose the bubbies will mind.

Happy to help

2010-09-14T12:01:00.001-07:00

As you have probably gathered by now I get a lot of pleasure from knitting for others, especially charity, and I don't believe I have shown my finished SANDS blanket, so here it is.

It may be a sad cause, but I loved every minute of the knitting, especially the knitted on border and will definitely be using this pattern again, maybe in other colours for baby shower gifts.

Now, I have finally got around to making something, small, quick and brightly coloured, which you may recall was my intention before I started the SANDS blanket!
I work for a very large company who are celebrating 70 years of being by having a Fete in aid of Kent Air Ambulance (our chosen charity for 2010), so when they asked for donations for the 'Made by Hand' stall I couldn't resist. I started by making some phone socks

Three at a time on two circs, using oddments of sock yarn - that certainly caused a few raised eyebrows when I got out my knitting at the Lacemakers group, but to be honest it was a lot easier than two-at-a-time socks - at least the yarns were different colours so there was less danger of carrying on without changing. I did get in a bit of a tangle though, until I mastered the art of turning in opposite directions at the end of each row!

Then it suddenly occured to me - they didn't have mobile phones in the 1940's (doh) still the lady organising the stall said she still wanted them as they were knitted and that was an old-fashioned skill (not sure if I should be pleased or offended!.
However I went on to crochet some Bookworms

Which only took a few minutes each, and came out rather cute, even if I do say so myself, though I will put that down to Michelle's lovely pattern rather than anything I did.

The Eternal Optimist

2010-09-05T04:57:00.000-07:00

Or at what point do you frog?

I’ve been knitting this Moebius Scarf, from Simply Knitting, forever – or so it seems, and I am not enjoying it one little bit, in fact I am having one of those ‘whatever possessed me’ moments.

I really don’t like Rowan Milk Cotton – it makes my fingers feel dirty, it’s not soft and it smells funny. I hate doing moss stitch and the rows are endless. I’m not happy with the colour changes either, I like a nice clean change, not the loops from the stitch below interfering with the new row, and as for carrying the yarn you aren’t using up the side, well there isn’t a side so it looks horrible, added to which I can’t even imagine myself wearing this thing!

And yet I’m still plodding on in the vain hope that it will get better, that I will like it, that I will start to enjoy moss stitch (though heavens knows why I am even considering the possibility – I’ve hated it for the last 30 odd years, so what’s going to change now?) you see, I’m the eternal optimist (or downright stupid, perhaps) and so I knit on

And

On

And

On

until

Ah, that’s better :0)

Walking our socks off

2010-08-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

DH and I enjoy walking and more often than not we do a few miles on a Sunday morning, but DH is in 'training' for The West Highland Way (95 miles from Glasgow to Fort William) so we thought we'd up the mileage a bit for this walk. Just for a change we hopped on the train and I knitted my way up to London. We made our way to Paddington Basin (no sign of the bear as we passed through the station, much to my disappointment) and, after a quick coffee and Muffin to fortify us, we set off along the canal.

The Weather was very pleasant, which unfortunately made the tow path rather busy. I'm not quite sure how we walked all that way without seeing one of the multitude of cyclists ending up in the water! They were swerving and speeding and infuriatingly dinging their bells even when we walkers had already flattened ourselves against the sides despite the fact that pedestrians have right of way over bikes on a towpath - in fact, one or two were pretty lucky I hadn't thought to take my walking pole with me!!! and I'm certainly not usually given to violence or even unkind thought but really!! (Grumpy old woman gripe over!)

We passed by Camden Market and I resisted the temptation to turn in - but oh my, did that food smell good.

And carried on with a backward glance at Camden Lock, and on we walked keeping a nice steady rhythm and eating up the miles til at last

The end was in site, with Canary Wharf in view we knew we were nearly there and made our way via the Underground to the train and home again, tired but happy after a lovely day out.

In all, from door to door we did just over 13 miles, and much to my amazement my legs weren't the least bit stiff the next day - DH was moaning though, despite being much fitter and more used to walking than me. Perhaps I should take his place on the WHW next month instead ;0)

Workshops are like buses!

2010-08-08T05:15:00.000-07:00

It has been ages since I've seen any workshops that appeal, and then two came along in a week.

I went to Knit Nation on Saturday and took the Spinning for Knitting class with Merike Saarnit, it was brilliant. I had dabbled rather unsucessfully before, but it just wasn't the same trying to teach myself and, I discovered, having the right tools for the job makes such a difference - previously I had tried to spin with a bottom whorl spindle, but now I realise a top whorl is the way to go for me.
Merike is a wonderful teacher, patient but not patronising, kind but firm - she had us spinning in no time at all, and we tried all manner of fibres, and had a little of each left to bring home and practice with too. Sadly there were no spindles to buy in the Marketplace (missed business opportunity there, methinks!) and it has taken me a while to decide exactly what to buy online, but I am now waiting anxiously for postie so I can have another play.

Before and After

And because I am ridiculously pleased with my efforts, here's a close up...

My first Handspun

Then, on Thursday, I went down to Kangaroo near Lewes, East Sussex for a Tunisian Crochet workshop run by the lovely ladies from Denise Interchangeable Needles. Barbara taught us in the morning, again she was an excellent teacher, with a pleasant laid back style (and a lovely american accent), and we picked it up very quickly. Using an 8mm hook and Rowan Cocoon (oh so soft and gorgeous - I think I'm in love with a yarn!!!) our little bags grew rapidly, and after a hasty break for lunch there was no structured teaching so I spent a most enjoyable afternoon finishing my bag whilst chatting with the other students and to Linda (who owns Denise needles) about anything and everything, UK and USA. It was such a good day I was not a happy bunny on Friday when I had to go back to work and couldn't chat and play with yarn and hooks all day!

Bonne Bouche Bag in Tunisian Crochet
designed by Barbara Kreuter

Ten thousand gallons of 4* please!

2010-08-03T02:32:00.000-07:00

Well despite the weather - rain, mist, drizzle, fog, downpours, more mist, oh and did I mention rain? - we had a lovely time. On board ship was, of course, superb, gorgeous food, lovely staff and no housework!! but even through the bad weather you could still see and enjoy the beauty of Norway and the Fjords, and we have a very good excuse to go back again.
As you can imagine we took tons of photo's but here are just a small selection.

Couldn't resist this shot of the Ventura berthed at Olden.

Bergen was a lovely town, the old wharf, Bryggen is so attractive even in the rain, I bet it looks wonderful in the sunshine - these old timber warehouses are included in UNESCO's World Heritage list, most are now used as artists studios or restaurants

The narrow little streets and alley ways behind really fascinated me - wouldn't fancy have to traipse all the way up these steps with heavy shopping when they are icy in the winter!

In Flaam we took the scenic railway up the mountain, with sheer drops and a very windy track it made for an interesting ride, there was even a 5 minute stop for photo's at one point, and this is a scheduled train not specifically for tourists - can't imagine BR doing that!

Leaving Olden, I just love the way the mist hangs in the valleys.

A day at sea with little to do, DH decided to be an arty photographer!

And no set of pictures from Norway would be complete without a troll - I thought this was the sweetest we saw (yes saccharine sweet I know) especially as she was wearing a traditional Norwegian cardigan

Getting my priorities right

2010-07-10T13:24:00.001-07:00

It's tatty knicker week in the Model household - yes that's right we are off on holiday in a wee while and all the good stuff is packed, but I've made sure to get my priorities right

I have Rowan Milk cotton on the left to knit a moebius scarf from Simply Knitting, and Panda Silk from Crystal Palace Yarns on the right for Annis from Knitty, though I thought I'd use beads rather than nupps, and of course I have a knitting novel - if you like something light and fluffy with a bit of fibre thrown in then I would recommend Maggie Sefton's Knitting Mysteries.

You may have guessed from the travel sickness tablets - we are off on a cruise again, this time to the Fjords, I'm really looking forward to it, lovely scenery, a bit cooler than the melting weather we've been having here lately, and the only thing I need to think about where food is concerned is shall I have this, or shall I have that (or both possibly!)

Talking of food, I popped down to see Mum earlier in the week and found her cooking lunch - it does worry me sometimes that at 79 she is still deep fat frying, and when I saw her draining technique I was even more concerned - she assures me she only uses metal needles as she doesn't think the plastic ones would be strong enough!!!!!

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

Lace and Tea

2010-07-10T13:05:00.001-07:00

Rather a good combination I think.

I belong to Tonbridge Lacemakers who meet on the second Saturday of the month, and we take it in turns to 'do the teas' (well some of us take more turns than others, but isn't that always the way) and yesterday I and a couple of friends had volunteered. It's not an easy task keeping everyone happy. Until I started doing this I would never have realised how easy it is to upset older ladies by not making a cuppa properly - me, I'm a tea bag in a mug girl, but oh no, that would never do, teapots at dawn if you tried that!
Fortunately (and surprisingly) it is easier to keep the old dears happy with the cakes we provide for afternoon tea - and this time I chose Ginger and Lemon

I did manage a little lace between kitchen duties, and finished a bookmark - designed by a friend, it should have been larger but I missed the bit in the instructions which said "photocopy and enlarge to 150%" - Oh dear, just as well I read small books then isn't it ;0)

Forgive me Blogger...

2010-07-04T05:43:00.000-07:00

for I have sinned, it has been a long time since my last post....

I don't know what happened really - but I'm back.

I've still been knitting of course, made loads of squares for Knit-a-Square and lots of little oddments but my latest decent sized knit has been

Debbie Bliss' Alphabet Blanket

Using Sirdar Snuggly in Vanilla for my Little Cousin's bump due any day now - poor girl pregnant in this heat. I'd forgotten how nice it is to work in 4ply, though it was a bit of a challenge with hardly any two right side rows the same, and a little way in I didn't think I would make it in time, but having worked out a minimum row rate per week I felt more motivated and voila.

Whilst knitting it I promised myself that my next project would be something small, quick and brightly coloured, so as soon as it was off the needles I started knitting this......

Ooops! wrong on all three counts, but having seen the urgent appeal over at SANDS for blankets for their Always loved, never forgotten Memory Boxes I couldn't help but cast on - I'm enjoying the garter stitch, and looking forward to the lace border, which I will be knitting on with a little guidance from those lovely folk over at Ravelry in the British Knitter's SANDS appeal thread

And just to prove I am not completely devoid of colour in my life, though not usually given to impulse purchases, I couldn't help myself.
I've no idea what I am going to wear them with, but they make me smile when I look at them, (and I have been doing overtime lately so I deserve a treat)...Sad eh?

The quick and the slow

2009-09-13T07:47:00.000-07:00

DH and I went up to London to walk along the Regents canal so of course I needed a little something to knit on the train, this little chap just fitted the bill perfectly, magic looped with stash DK he came out a whole 4" tall, and only took the journey to and from London to knit. Should make a nice little handful for a babe in the next Baby pack project pack.

As for the slow, well the Yarn Forward blanket had it's ups and downs, plenty of problems with the patterns but it's done - took 5 months to make but I'm really happy with the results - I think DD is too judging by the fact that she is currently snuggled under it on the sofa watching TV.

I made socks !!!

2009-08-27T06:36:00.000-07:00

I've just finished the socks I started to take on my walking trip in May, and do you know what - I enjoyed making them! simple pattern sock stew which I adapted to knit two at a time, toe up on two circs. Rather enjoyed them, I'm beginning to think I may be converted :0)

I'm even thinking of casting on another pair !!!!

Pins and Needles

2009-08-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

I found a lovely pincushion pattern when I was browsing the web (as you do) and couldn't resist. I used the remains of a fat quarter that DD had chosen for her GCSE textiles (their brief was to choose something to represent themselves !), and thought it would be nice to have a matching needlecase. Then I decided the original pattern for pincushion came out too big for what I wanted, and made a mini version.

I was really pleased with the results, and the pattern is written so well.

I am still knitting, honestly! I have finally finished the squares for the YF Mystery blanket, and now have to sew them all together :0( and decide on a border. I think most of us over on the Ravelry knitalong were rather disappointed at the way Yarnforward suddenly abandoned us. Five months of knitting, giving us different themed squares each month and then suddenly when we were eagerly awaiting clever ideas of finishing, we were told we could crochet them together, back stitch or mattress stitch .... oh and add a border if we liked!
Oh well, hopefully I will have a picture of the finished article soon. Having added a few more squares myself to make it bigger, I now have the wonderful task of sewing 35 squares together. (I'm sure it won't be all that bad, if only I could get started!)

Sad sewing and Beautiful butterflies

2009-08-17T04:28:00.000-07:00

Every so often I feel the need to do some 'sad sewing' I'm beginning to think it could be related to anniversaries of my own losses, but I don't wish to dwell on that and work it out, so I just do my sewing, send it off to Bonnie Babies and get it out of my system. So this is the current sad sewing

burial gowns
Now onto more cheerful things. It was such a beautiful day yesterday, the sun was shining, the bees were buzzing and the butterflies were having a wonderful time on and around my buddleia, so I got out DH's posh camera and had a play

And the last one is not for anyone who dislikes insects - this butterfly looks quite evil in close up, it's face when it fills the screen is sooooo ugly!!!

Strange thing for a knitter to buy

2009-08-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

Well that's what DH said anyway, but I was browsing in a charity shop and saw this bag of knitted squares (well moss stitch rectangles actually but let's not get picky) and decided they needed to be put to good use. When I went to the till the lady said " Oh, I'm glad you are buying them, they must have taken someone a very long time to knit" to which I politely agreed and somehow managed to refrain from adding ' but it didn't stop you only charging 50p for them did it?'

Anyway, after playing around for a while I came up with a layout I was happy with and a couple of evening later I had this....

which will wend it's way with my next Baby Pack Project pack - Very satisfying to have created a brightly coloured little blankie and put someone elses hard work to good use.

Back to the real world

2009-07-24T08:05:00.001-07:00

Shame... I'm back in the real world having just had 8 days on board..

and those two little dots are DD and I! And the little orange dot in the distance is the security man running up to tell us we were too close to the quay side!
We had a wonderful time, even considering the weather - as it was mainly France and Spain and not too exotic the weather thought it would be rather English just to make us feel at home, not that warm and lots of rain. The Bay of Biscay was entertaining too - a force 8 thank you very much, though it didn't trouble us too much, (good old sea sickness tablets) and DH and I quite enjoyed our walk round the deck, leaning at a 45` angle just to stand up, and experiencing near weightlessness as the ship pitched!

Well I only did a little knitting, some sock! and 4 squares for my Mystery Blanket - one to replace that naughty number 4 of colour work

One using the yarn I bought in Lisbon

A stripy one using odds and ends and the 6th of the beaded patterns from issue 15, so the next set looks like this

The reason I didn't do as much knitting as expected was that the day before the cruise I went on a workshop to learn to make Armenian Lace so I was happily practicing my new found skills - it is a knotted lace so only needs thread, needle and scissors and here is what I achieved.

and a close up because I am proud of my new found skill

Suffering from post cruise blues I have ordered 2 books on Armenian Lace and with a few more weeks til I go back to work I am planning to do more.

The prom

2009-07-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

They never had proms when I was at school but it seems to be 'in' at the moment. DD wasn't too keen at first but then when she found 'the' dress, she was a lot happier. Friend was supposed to be arranging the limo - but as soon as I knew which friend, I had my doubts, and I was right. A couple of days before the prom, she admitted she had done nothing about it! So most of the girls were taken by parents in their cars, but fortunately the uncle of DD's closest friend came to the rescue and took, friend, DD and another in his jag - he even dressed in a suit and got out to open the doors for the young ladies, so that they could arrive in style.

I didn't expect to feel emotional - I mean I think DD is beautiful all the time, but in her posh frock all ready for the prom I felt a great surge of pride (and a little sniffly too), so being the proud mum I just had to share a couple of pictures. DD is in purple, and friend with uncle is in the middle.

DD is lucky in that she has both male and female friends, and I rather liked this picture which shows how comfortable they all are with each other - they are just friends not couples, and I think that is great

Unlucky number 4

2009-06-21T06:19:00.000-07:00

I hadn't realised that number 4 is considered to be an unlucky number, but once I started the Mystery Blanket from Yarnforward magazine I started to wonder.
Cable pattern number 4 was incredibly difficult to get square - it was determined to stay kite shaped and had to be blocked to within an inch of it's life to get anything near a square.
Lace number 4 was a bit of a so and so as well - whilst I ended up with a pattern I liked, it doesn't seem to be quite what the designer had in mind!
And as for colour work pattern 4, well! I still haven't mastered it, I fiddled, I tinked and eventually I frogged and I am still trying to pluck up courage to start again.

I'm quite pleased with the 5 colour work squares I have completed, even though I've decided it isn't really my 'thing' ( note the technical blocking system again)

Anyway I have now been told that 4 is the most unlucky number in Japan (and it's pronounciation is similar to the word for death) - so that explains it, and as in Japan they often miss out room or flat number 4 (in the same way as we do 13) perhaps that gives me permission to miss out square number 4 and replace it with one of my own. But knowing me and the fact that I don't like being beaten, I may have to win this battle yet.

The next installment

2009-05-16T07:37:00.001-07:00

I've been busy with the next installment of the Yarn Forward mystery blanket squares, this month it was lace - much more my cup of tea I have decided, thoroughly enjoyed these and there were far fewer errors in the patterns this time than in the previous set which helped me whizz through (whizz being a relative term, I was probably far slower in completing them than most people would be, but at least I had them all finished with plenty of time before issue 14 hit the doormat)

In fact enough time between finishing and issue 14 arriving to knit a few more rows on Buttony (my! those rows are long) and for a bit of instant gratification I made these

BSJ Inspired bootees - Quick, easy and so cute. The pattern is written for worsted yarn, but being a 'relaxed' knitter, I used DK and 3.75mm needles and they still came out new baby sized.
I have now made all the bits to assemble another Baby Pack Project pack, so these will be on their way to South Africa shortly.

One track mind

2009-04-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

I think I must be obsessed. We have just booked a short trip in the Lake District, DH and DD will be coming down from Scotland where they are visiting relatives, and I will go up to meet them in the Lakes, a 5 hour train journey on my own, and my first thoughts – yes you guessed it – KNITTING TIME, woohoo!

So the second it was all finalised I dashed into my work room to choose a project – I have to carry everything including heavy walking boots in my rucksack, so weight and space are an issue, but I will have two long train journeys and the spare time when I am there, so it needs to fill enough time..… Now I know my choice is going to come as a surprise to anyone who knows me – but I have decided to knit socks! I know to most people it is the obvious choice, but I don’t do socks, not that I haven’t tried, I’ve made 3 (and a half) pairs, I’ve tried dpns, two circs and magic loop (and with the last ones DD banned me from ever making socks again because apparently I moaned the entire time I was knitting them), but time is a great healer, and recently I have found that I love wearing the offending pair (the other two were for DD) and I really would like some more, and for a non-sock knitter it is surprising how much sock yarn I have in stash. I searched Rav, and found Sock Stew , adapted it for two circs, my preferred weapons of choice, and cast on ready as I needed to follow my step by step instructions which are spread over several pages and didn’t think that would be very practical on a bumpy train. So I’m all set to go – the only problem is I’ve got 4 weeks to wait!

I’ve just had a thought though - I’m quite happy travelling on my own but with all my luggage and no one to keep an eye on it, it could make it more difficult to go to the buffet car or the loo …..though come to think of it, if I don’t go to the first I won’t need the second !

Two cuties

2009-04-19T06:13:00.000-07:00

Lucy Lamb - (you may well have seen her in M&S) DH bought her for me for easter -he thought she was appropriate given my knitting and the fact that I had a lamb to bottle feed most years when I was young. Only trouble is, I don't want to eat her!

And perhaps I shouldn't say this is cute, but I'll say the pattern is instead

It's the Baby Pack Project bear. This one is made from one strand of something soft, fluffy, variegated and label-less which was acquired from a charity shop for 10p, together with a strand of a harder boucle (again details unknown) from the bottom of the stash. My knitting sat down between the bedside cabinet and bed, and I knit a few rows while drinking my morning cuppa each day and it soon grew into a soft squishy little friend for someone.

Playing with my new toy

2009-04-18T03:04:00.001-07:00

I've finally given in and bought a new sewing machine - my old one, an 18th birthday present from my dearly loved and long departed Nan, has finally given up the ghost, it's been on it's way out for a very long time and I've limped on for sentimental reasons. Twenty seven years is a long time to have a machine, and it has had a lot of use, but it has now been replaced by a rather swish Pfaff, not a computerised one, but top of the range mechanical one, so I have been playing with it's stitches and generally getting used to it and created a little project bag - like I need another one but hey,it was fun, and having also bought a new larger handbag I now have room to carry a little knitting something so it seemed the obvious experimental project.

On to another machine - a knitting one - which I have had for many years but only sees the light of day occasionally. Inspired by those folk over on CT'n'Y I decided to have a little go again recently and created a baby gown for Bonnie Babies.

It was ok, but it's back in the cupboard again and the needles are out in preference. I am thoroughly enjoying making the Mystery Blanket from Yarn Forward Magazine despite all the errors in the patterns (there is a very useful KAL thread over on Ravelry if anyone is interested). Here are the first months, cabled, squares (please excuse the expensive and technical blocking system).
Having now seen the pictures in issue 13, three out of the six were exactly as they should be,one I knew I had done extra repeats (the only way to get it big enough), one is not quite right, though it will do, and one is, in my opinion better. It definitely made me realise just how much we rely on pictures as well as instructions.

It's lace this month, and the proof reading seems to have improved (she says tempting fate) and I am really enjoying this. It is a very long time since I have been so enthused with a project, I like the manageable deadlines, I'm using up stash and I have always wanted to make a sampler type blanket but never got round to working out the squares.

Dish cloth swap

2009-04-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Now that it has been sent and received safely, I can post a piccy of the cloth I made for the CT'n'Y dishcloth swap

I have to say, it nearly didn't get made, there were several errors in the lace pattern, the stitches just did not add up - at one point I even screwed up the pattern in disgust and threw it away, but I liked the design, I thought my recipient would too, and I am a very ~~stubborn~~ determined person and it was niggling me, so I smoothed out the pattern, got out my fingers and toes and did some counting, and hey presto!

The cotton is Anchor Magic (which sadly I believe has been discontinued) and there were some little gifts that went with it too, in matching colours, which I didn't think to photograph.

In my lovely parcel from Aknita there was a beautiful cloth in Rowan Handknit cotton, a lavender bag (I love lavender) some chocolate (ditto, but not together - have you ever tried Lavender chocolate - I thought it was weird!) a sweet painted bookmark of the Malvern Hills and some stitch markers in a cute little box.

She had clearly stalked me and put together a lovely package just for me.

Not afraid anymore

2009-03-21T05:28:00.000-07:00

I may have been knitting for ever, and I don’t think I am too bad at it, but it’s the sewing up that lets it down, I’m not sure whether I never liked it because I wasn’t any good at it or if I wasn’t good at it because I didn’t like it (iyswim), but I’ve seen the light, or rather been taught it.

I attended Jane Crowfoot’s finishing course at Kangaroo at the weekend and it was brilliant, there were several occasions when a little light bulb came on ! Jane is an excellent teacher and showed us so much in the day. The setting is good too, once I got over the shock of going down an unmade lane past small industrial units and a scaffolders – I have to admit that it was then that I severely doubted the ability of my sat nav, though I did it a disservice as it delivered me right to the door. The class was in a nice workroom with plenty of natural light above the shop (very handy for shopping and the kind lending of needles when I discovered I needed to change sizes and had only brought what was on the list – typical me, any other time I would have brought everything but the kitchen sink)

As well as sewing up using mattress stitch (easy when you know how rather than guessing) she taught us different types of increase (found a new one) and decrease (discovered a variation that makes it sit better) how to do neat button holes and picking up stitches round a neck line plus several other little tips. And as for short row shaping, it actually makes sense now!

My little samples don’t look much but I really benefited from the day and am quite chuffed with my efforts.

Would you believe this is sewn up using orange yarn!

And no those aren’t mistakes on the ‘sleeve’ it’s where we practiced increases and decreases, and the buttonholes are examples of the good, the bad and the ugly, though not necessarily in that order!

And of course with a 10% discount I had to do just a little shopping - well it would have been rude not to wouldn't it?

Apparently I'm knitting a sock.

2009-02-20T09:09:00.001-08:00

DH and I went up to London for our favourite walk from the Dome to the Eye, and naturally I passed the time on the train knitting. A wee boy kept staring at me then whispered very loudly to his mum "What's that lady doing?" to which mum replied, sounding very certain, "Oh, she's knitting a sock" Well I know it was on a circ and in the round but really, do I look like the sort to wear a sock like this...

I mean, what on earth did she think the blue fluffy line is all about?
I appreciate there was no reason why she should know it was a comfort doll but why not just tell the poor little lad I was knitting and leave it at that.

This is what my 'sock' turned into

Anyway, it was a lovely day, the sun shone and the sky looked like it was going to throw rain or snow at us at any moment but it waited until we were safely home. We walked our legs off and enjoyed ourselves in the process, I only took a couple of photo's but really had to share this one, to say I was surprised to come across sheep in this setting - in the middle of London with Canary Wharf in the back ground - is a bit of an understatement.

Making the strangest things!

2009-02-20T08:40:00.000-08:00

I'm at it again, making strange things in the name of charity.

These are for Algerian Action as part of Project Washables, and I am sure I don't need to explain what they are for.
Many moons ago, when I used to do patchwork, I bought a large pack of sheeting offcuts and it contained lots of 10" squares (cut from the corners of fitted sheets) which I have discovered are the perfect size for making these. I know they are a strange colour but if the current alternative was a plastic bag or bin liner (!!), the last thing I would worry about was the colour.

They are so simple to make, just an outer pocket and an inner pad made of (in this case) old kitchen towels. I set up a 'production line' and rattled off 8 this afternoon. Just need to find some more old towels, and I'll be off again.

Earlier in the week I did a bit of sewing for me, and made a(nother) knitting bag - this time a small one using dragon(knit)-flys tutorial, very well written and I love the end result - though next time I would make it a little longer.

Night, night sleep tight.

2009-02-15T06:07:00.000-08:00

DH has just come back from his annual business trip to the Nuremberg Toy Fair, yes honestly it is for work (at least he assures me it is ;-0) and on his pillow in the hotel, instead of a chocolate, was this....

and being little jelly sheep he just had to bring them back for me.

While he was away a friend gave me some oddments of 'fancy' yarn, and though initially I wasn't too struck, another friend suggested how good a little lady comfort doll would look in 'denim' jeans and a bobbly jumper - so I had to give it a go, and at some unearthly hour sitting up in bed knitting (well while the cat's away....) I decided earrings would be in order so that it was quite clear that she was a girl. I wanted to make sure they couldn't be pulled off so I came up with the idea of stitching loops of gold thread firmly where her ears would be (round a pen to get them even) and then button holed around them - voila, hoops!

And finally I finished Baby Blocks blanket from The Shop on Blossom Street pattern, although I quite enjoyed this pattern, and don't think it will be the last time I use it, I wasn't sorry to come to the end - there are too many patterns out there shouting "make me!" at the moment.

Not another knitting bag

2009-01-24T06:08:00.000-08:00

Yep! This one is based on the Vintage Cloth Holdall from issue 3 of Sew Hip magazine - though I had to make it smaller to fit the material I had. I have to be honest and say I didn't think the instructions were very clear, but as I have made quite a few bags in the past I didn't think this would be a problem, and set about doing my own thing. I was very careful to make sure the handles weren't twisted and there I was congratulating myself over the finished article, when... I realised I had very carefully sewn the handles together incorrectly, and even topstitched them ever so neatly - oh well, they do say pride comes before a fall.

The saddest things I've ever made

2009-01-18T08:10:00.000-08:00

Angel's Pockets

Sometimes I see an appeal which I know I just have to respond to, and this was one. I've knitted various items in the past for them, but in the newsletter that I receive from Bonnie Babies the challenge for January to April included trying to collect 2000 sewn burial items from supporters. In the past I've seen knitting patterns for these, but didn't realise they could be sewn too, so off I went in search of a pattern.

I know this is a very sad topic and hope it doesn't upset anyone, but Bonnie Babies send so much to Special Care Baby units across the UK, for those little ones that are born prematurely and those who sadly don't make it, and the thanks that they receive show how much it is appreciated by the recipients, that I can't help but draw attention to their work. I feel so lucky that DD was born on time and healthy that I think 'there but for the grace of God, go I'
I'm hoping to find time to contribute to the rest of the challenge which also includes 5000 knitted burial items and 1000 4ply blankets (for which they included a really nice Bubble Blanket knitting pattern) or maybe just make hats or cardis which they always need, but I really do want to try and do something else for them.

First FO of 2009 and a good idea

2009-01-10T11:14:00.000-08:00

This hat took me months to make, and it's only preemie sized!

Well actually there is a very good reason for that - it sat in one of the cubby holes in my car, and when I had to wait a few minutes (or more), usually to pick up DD or DH from a train, out it came and I knitted a row or two, I even got into the habit of parking under a street light so I could see what I was doing! It took a long time to complete - but it was only time that would otherwise have been wasted.

I thought I'd add a picture of a little something else I had at Christmas time that I didn't include in the last post.

When Father Christmas was shopping for bits and pieces for DD's stocking (yes I know she's 15 but you are never too old are you? and actually I'm not sure who enjoys it most - the one buying or the one receiving) this pencil case and little tin was spotted, and knowing what a good girl I've been this year, they were added to the basket just for me - I am keeping stitch markers in the tin and scissors, tape, cable needles etc in the pencil case - perfect, and don't you just love that little sheep.

Now on to the good idea. I was reading Yarnforward (issue 9) the other day, and came across the article by Natalie from The Yarnyard about p/hop, which really appealed to me, so this year each time I knit a free pattern I'm going to pop some money in a pot and at the end of the year I'm going to donate it to Medecins Sans Frontieres. For anyone who doesn't know what on earth I am on about - all the details can be found here over on Natalies 'justgiving' page or from the widget on the right.

Merry Knitmas

2008-12-28T07:30:00.000-08:00

I think my lot have finally cottoned (or yarned?) on that I'm a knitter and as a result 4 out of the 5 books I received for Christmas were knitting related - yahoo!

Mind you, I did do Mum's Christmas shopping for her so having heard a review on the Knitpicks podcast of No Idle Hands I decided I/she could buy that for me. DD arranged for DH to buy me books 2 and 3 in the Blossom street series by Debbie Macomber, as it was hard to tear me away from the first book, and he also paid for my subscription to YF, and finally MIL bought me the Yarnharlot book (though I do think DD had a hand in that too, bless her)
Then at our Lace group we have a secret santa - but instead of pulling a name out of a hat and buying for a particular person, as we are all ladies of similar interests, we each buy a gift pop it in the sack and take turns at 'lucky dip', so how strange that I should get a scarf!

No, this isn't a knitted flying saucer

it's a beret for DD,

we went up to London yesterday intending to have a nice long walk - but I can't remember when I was last so cold so we shortened it a bit - anyway having got completely frozen DD actually asked me to make her a hat!!!!! So I let her loose on Ravelry to find a pattern and she came across A Country Beret I only had one ball of suitable yarn (Jaeger natural fleece) and much to my surprise she liked it! So out came the needles and the beret is now blocking on a dinner plate, with fingers crossed that it fits.

He sees you when you're sleeping...

2008-12-15T13:24:00.000-08:00

He knows if you're awake,
He knows if you've been bad or good,
So you'd better be good for goodness sake.....

You'd better watch out, You'd better not cry,
You'd better not pout, I'm telling you why....

Santa Claus is coming to town!

(with apologies to everyone who now can't get the wretched song out of their heads)

Slowly,slowly, Continent'ly

2008-12-07T02:20:00.000-08:00

Having just read

I just had to knit the Baby Blocks blanket that was used for the beginners class in the book, so I grabbed some inherited yarn in a bright colour (this will be for the Baby Pack Project so I think cheerful is better - I love the idea of a little coloured babe wrapped in a bright blanket) and cast on.

Now I have finally got to the stage that I can no longer kid myself that knitting is not affecting the speed at which my RSI is healing, I have a special vertical mouse at work, weekly physio and daily exercises but though improving I have hit a plateau, So.... I have decided rather than give it up completely (even the thought makes me quiver) I am learning to knit continental style to see if that will help - the theory being less repetative movement of the right hand should have an effect. As you can imagine, it is a bit of a challenge after nearly 40 years of english style knitting - but it is coming..... slowly.

(Incidentally the little dots on the blanket aren't dirty marks! they are different coloured slubs, red, yellow and green - but for some reason they will NOT come out on the photo)

I have also finally got around to mounting the little sock decorations on to cards for my 'Lace friends' but managed to seal two of the envelopes before I thought about taking a photo - duh! Still, I was quite please with the result and am already thinking what I will do next year (provided they go down ok, of course!)

Children in Need

2008-11-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

If you donated to children in need last night, then there is just a chance that we may have spoken. My company was one of the contact centres for donations and I was lucky enough to have the chance to man the phones.

Our office was decorated to within an inch of its life and fun was had by all. Management were co-opted to serve refreshments, clear rubbish and run errands, we had a couple of clowns who came around to 'entertain' though probably the most entertaining bit about them was when the one on stilts couldn't get in through the doors! The fire brigade came in to encourage, hand out food and drinks and parade round the room with posters telling us how much our call centre total was until they had a shout and had to drop everything (but not quite as much as some of the ladies would have liked!!) and dash off.

And as if the enjoyment wasn't reward enough we each left with a little 'party bag'

Though it was really good, it was a long day - I had been on the phones in my own job for 7 hours then for Children in Need for 6, so to the lady to whom I said I was processing her claim (rather than donation) - I do apologise, my brain had gone onto auto pilot and it was past my bedtime!

Wear your poppy with pride

2008-11-09T08:20:00.001-08:00

Based on the downloadable pattern from Knitonthenet in aid of The Royal British Legion, I wanted something smaller than the original design, so I adapted the number of stitches and rows, and didn't 'stuff' the black centre as I prefered it flatter.

I wore it to work today and received many nice comments (and several quizzical looks from the youngsters). With the exception of scarves this is the first time I have been brave enough to wear one of my 'creations'.

Little Brother

2008-11-07T06:39:00.001-08:00

Having decided I needed to use smaller needles for my next comfort doll to get a better fabric for stuffing, I ended up with the first dolls little brother

DD had started this one and has a much looser tension than me, so despite trying to take this into account when changing needles, he still ended up with baggy trousers! (actually I quite like them)

Also off the needles is my Pi shawl, just needs blocking now - if the weather ever cheers up enough for anything to dry I'll do it, but in the meanwhile here is an unblocked picture

I tried several different lace borders, but after knitting, frogging and reknitting umpteen times I still couldn't find anything that looked right to me so eventually I settled on EZ's garter stitch with semi icord, which does the job - though I'm still not 100% convinced.

The Time Thief

2008-10-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

There is a time thief in our house, I swear there is, he is usually only about in the mornings before I leave the house, (and for some strange reason on a Thursday evening making me late for the Lace group) but over the last few weeks he has been working full time! I meant to post after Ally Pally, but he stole my spare time, I meant to post before I went away for the week, but he did it again, and I was intending to post as soon as I got back, but, you've guessed it, I've been back nearly a week and lo and behold, he's still at it. However, I've fooled him this time, I WILL update my blog - and he can nick the time from something else instead!

Well Ally Pally is old news now, I had a great day, all by myself, it's my day out, I pleased myself and didn't have to feel guilty going back for a second (or third) look at the same things. I didn't buy very much just a couple of balls of sock yarn to add to those I already had to make Kaleidoscope some Serenity in black for Wicked and Elizabeth Zimmermans Knitting Around, which I have been eyeing up for ages.

The following week we went up to the Lake District to stay in my old bosses cottage, unfortunately the weather was a bit pants, and we got rather damp but it could have been worse (as it was after we came home with the Mountain Marathon having to be cancelled and all those runners having to seek refuge where ever they could)

We managed to catch a bit of sunshine, and appreciate the gorgeous autumn colours, but boy was it cold and the wind........ Oh and that isn't usually a lake to our left - it's a field

And as the week wore on, the continuous rain meant that there were quite a few impromptu fords, and the Lakes became rather full, to overflowing

Ullswater
Erm, where does the lake end and the road begin?
Thank goodness for the shrubs!

The upside of the bad weather was that we often went out in the morning then came back for lunch and to dry out, and spend the afternoon relaxing and watching the wind and rain from the comfort of the arm chairs, so needless to say, I was happy, plugged into my iPod catching up on podcasts and knitting away

Not much by a lot of peoples standards, but I was pleased to have completed another hottie cover , (I followed the pattern exactly this time, and DD immediately claimed it) and a Comfort doll for icross. The four little socks are for Christmas tree decorations which I will attach to cards to give to my "lace friends"

And there's more...

2008-09-28T11:41:00.001-07:00

to make the total up to a dozen.

Using odd yarns just to see how they come out.

Not sure if I will be making any more, they were fun but I feel like moving on now. I have gone back to my Pi shawl, only 8 more rounds and the border to go, but it's a long way round. I'm also trying to get a piece of bobbin lace finished for 'Show and tell' next week at my Lace group not to mention plenty of walking practice - yes I do know how to walk, but for some inexplicable reason when asked if I would take part in a 22 mile walk at the end of November, the word 'Yes' came out of my mouth! I know I can do it, but with training it is going to be a lot less painful.

Everybody's at it

2008-09-27T05:19:00.000-07:00

I know all the world and his uncle are making little hats for Innocents big knit but I just wanted to show mine.

DD made the pompoms and I added the hats using odments of acrylic, far too small for anything else. Having made a few stripey ones I decided to try a stitch pattern or two, wasn't quite so keen on the Mini bobble stitch - (purple one on the bottle) as it didn't stand out very well, but I am rather pleased with the Knotted Openwork (from The Harmony Guide to Knitting Stitches)

I have plans for a few more using weird and wonderful yarns - funky fur, unidentified fluffy stuff etc. These little devils are addictive.

Ready for winter

2008-09-14T05:35:00.001-07:00

I've been a knitter for nearly as long as I can remember, but over the last 30 odd years there have been a some breaks and a few years ago, after a one such hiatus I spotted a stripy Hot Water Bottle cover in a sunday supplement for some ridiculous amount of money and thought ' I could make one like that' and I did - and hey presto I have been knitting again ever since. Well that cover is now well and truly worn and I've been meaning to make a new Hottie bottle cover for ages, had the pattern printed off for months, but it took the knitalong over at CT'n'Y to get me going, and once I had it didn't take long. Made in unknown inherited aran weight yarn, I'm all ready for the cold weather now.

I adapted the original pattern to make the opening at the bottom rather than the top since I fill my bottle from the tap and regularly get it wet in the sink, I needed a cover I could slip on and off easily, (wet covers are not nice - believe me). So I only knitted half the rib at the top and sewed it closed, and added a flap and buttons to the bottom.

Any Sherlock Holmes out there?
Yesterday at the Lacemakers group we had a collection of 'no longer needed' items available to take in exchange for a charity donation, and this caught my eye....

Sadly the label is partly missing but what is there says....
THE UNIVE
KNITTING P
Full Set. Size 1
So I am guessing along the lines of The Universal (?) Knitting pins, Full Set Size 14 (since inside the wooden case are 9 steel 2mm dpns)
Unfortunately nothing is known of it's history and I'd love to know a little more about this set, especially how old it is, and what it's original use was (surely not 9 dpns for socks) so if anyone has any ideas or knows how I can find out I would love to hear.

Meet the twins

2008-08-31T05:03:00.001-07:00

I always said that every little girl should have a rag doll to love, and over the years I have made quite a few for small female relatives and daughters of friends, I even made one for a small boy who was desperate to have a dolly of his own despite his father being adamant that no son of his was going to have a doll - I dressed it in a BRIGHT orange clown suit with fluorescent green buttons (well it was the '70s) and everyone was happy, especially small boy who took Clowny to bed for several years.
So when I heard about the Uthando project, well there was nothing for it but to get the sewing machine out, and may I present the twins.

The pattern was one I had kept from an old Prima magazine and the original clothes patterns were all knitted, so I got some paper, pencil and scissors and designed his trousers and her dress. I knitted the hair with loops for him (well, a little coloured chap has to have curly hair doesn't he?) and garter stitched the little girls hair then added strands which DD braided (her suggestion, which I think worked well).
All that was left was to choose names for the twins, so here we have

Kuhle
(meaning beautiful)

And

Okuhle
(meaning good luck)

And I bought yarn

2008-08-14T02:21:00.001-07:00

One of the prettiest places we visited on the cruise was Santa Margherita, and because the ship was so large, and the port so small, we anchored out to sea and took a Tender ashore.

We enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the streets and noticed this shop
which looked like a nice little place, and then I noticed something at the back of the shop through the window, and on closer inspection there seems to be a strange combination of goods for sale.
(DH was, at this point, a little concerned what our fellow passengers would think should they notice him taking a photo of ladies underwear!)
Anyway, DD and I just had to go in, all the yarn was in shelves behind or under the glass topped counter with no price labels or any details, and despite the elderly shopkeeper not speaking a word of English, and my Italian being limited to yes, no, please and thank you, we managed to establish the cost and explain (through sign language mainly) how many balls I wanted of what.

In real life the yarn is a little lighter, and to me reflects the beautiful colours of the seafront.

Don't cry because it's over.....

2008-08-14T01:50:00.000-07:00

...smile because it happened

A very appropriate saying for our holiday (spotted on the blackboard outside a pub ) - we had such a great time, I really did not want to come back to reality. We've just come back from a fornight on this

P&O's new ship Ventura
Which was, to put it mildly, wonderful. When I first saw it in Southampton docks my jaw dropped and I wondered how on earth I was going to find my way around without getting lost - I even considered a wristband saying 'if found please return to cabin 503' but in actual fact I didn't get lost, even once - a little disorientated maybe, but lost - no.
I find it so relaxing on a cruise, no worrying about supermarket shopping, cooking, washing up etc, in fact the only problem regarding food is 'shall I chose this, or shall I chose that'. Plenty of time to read and knit (of course) and enjoy the entertainment - though it has to be said that of the 3 ships we have been on this scores lowest on the entertainment/activities/lectures front as there was little to appeal to us, but as far as the cabin went it was the best - and having booked before the ship was even built! we got a fantastic deal and could afford a balcony which was just amazing.

We went down the Med, primarily Spain and Italy where we saw

The leaning tower
The Trevi Fountain
and of course
ate Italian icecream

And one last picture - as DD says it is unusual for me to look so happy in a photo, but then again, sitting on the balcony watching the sea go by, with knitting, ipod and a drink by my side - it just doesn't get much better than this.

Ready to go

2008-07-12T06:40:00.001-07:00

Well, I've got all the important bits ready. I've started the Pi Shawl and got it onto the smallest circs, so I don't have to do battle with the DPN hedgehog while I'm away and my cross stitch is there (not entirely sure the Titanic is the right choice of subject bearing in mind we are going on a cruise - but I certainly hope we don't encounter icebergs in the Med). I've downloaded the latest knitting podcasts and an audio book, selected my reading and with travel sickness pills and mint imperials I am prepared for the journey. All I need now is some clothes!

Back in a couple of weeks.

A little cutie

2008-07-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

It was such a lovely evening, and with DH trying to get himself organised for when we go away in a couple of weeks, and feeling the pressure of so much to do, I suggested we go to the local model club flying field so I could take some photos of his latest review kit, needed for his website. It is so peaceful there (if you discount the noise of the model aircraft that is) that it is no hardship.

There was only one other visitor there, and he looked so sweet the camera strayed away from the little red plane to photograph......

ps I did take the model pictures too

Getting carried away

2008-06-21T06:38:00.001-07:00

I don't usually get involved with anything political - though having met DH through Young Conservatives all those years ago perhaps I should as good things can clearly come of it. Mind you I only joined because I was pressganged by a friend to keep her company as she though it would be a good way to meet a man...she didn't....funny how things turn out. Anyway, I digress, it was more the humanitarian aspect of the Save the Children Knit One, Save One appeal that caught my eye, never mind Gordon Brown. If a couple of hours of my time could potentially save a baby's life by keeping it warm to help prevent pneumonia then I'd knit a hat, just the one, then I'd get on with my top. Erm, but it didn't quite work out like that. They were fun, cute and easy and I got a little carried away. I started thinking perhaps I'd try a different yarn, oh and there's just a little of that left which would look great striped with that one, and that stitch looks interesting on that cardi pattern, how would it work on a hat. DD didn't help, " there's nothing girly" she said so I had to knit a pink one, and a self striping pinkish one and so my one hat became....

and there is yet another on the needles - I think I may be addicted.

Oooops!

2008-06-15T06:08:00.000-07:00

This is what happens to a cat who likes catching moorhens but who loses his footing

And doesn't green muddy pond water smell!

While the cat's away....

2008-05-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

Modelwidow is going to teach herself to spin

Well that's the theory anyway. DH and DD have gone on their annual Daddy/Daughter trip to the Lake District to 'bag some peaks'* so I thought I would take the opportunity of time to myself to try something I've always wanted to do. I've read the book, checked out all the threads on the Crafty Threads'n'Yarns Forum and watched some videos on Youtube, so now it is just a matter of actually doing it. The yarn on the spindle was already there, spun by the seller to start me off.
Watch this space ( or listen out for the bad language as I discover why the contraption is called a 'drop' spindle)

And now for a Meme:

Sarah has tagged me for the Peeps I Want To Know More About meme so here goes:

The rules: Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.
Here are my responses.

1) What was I doing ten years ago?
I was a stay at home Mum, DD hadn't long started school and we lived on the other side of the village. In May I would have been busy on my allotment much of the time and though I was going through a spell of not knitting (shock, horror) I had recently taken up Patchwork and Quilting, and was sewing clothes for DD too.

2) What are five (non-work) things on my to-do list for today:
1.Spin
2.Knit
3.Bobbin Lace
4.Visit Mum and Dad
5.Make Cauliflower cheese for tea with a cauli from Dad, cut this morning. The others hate it so I don't bother when they are home.
Yes it's all self indulgent - but then I am having a little holiday at home this week.

3) Snacks I enjoy:
Fruit, especially bananas, and chocolate of course, and if I am trying to be good, then Salt and Vinegar rice cakes.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Tell work what to do with their job naturally. Then buy a nice place in the Lake District, with cottages/accomodation attached so I could let them out, just to keep the £££'s topped up and give me something to do, and have my friends and family to stay in them (for free).

5) Places I have lived:
Tunbridge Wells in Kent, and 2 villages nearby - and Northampton when I was at college.

6) Jobs I have had:
Forecourt attendant (in the days when we served the petrol) Shop Assistant, Office Admin, Life Assurance claims assessor, Bank clerk and now Health Insurance Adviser.

7) Peeps I want to know more about:
This is the hard part, sorry Peeps - (only do it if you want)
Knityoga
Mandella
Seahorseclaire
Blueadt
and
Helen

* there are 214 Wainwrights (fells described by Alfred Wainwright in his guides), and some strange folk DH and DD included try to visit every one. DH has about 50 left to go, and DD quite a few more, but then again she is several years behind him.

Along the Thames

2008-05-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

(Picture heavy courtesy of DD)
As a family we like walking, we also like London, so the other weekend we decided to combine the two, and DD took her camera along to take some different shots of well known places.
We started out by taking a tube to The Millenium/O2 dome
and then made our way towards
Canary Wharf
It seems strange looking at it like this at the end of a road. We followed the Thames Path most of the time which takes you to
Greenwich Observatory
and through the Greenwich foot tunnel under the Thames which DD did not like one little bit, I have to admit when you are roughly in the middle it does have that damp cold eerie feel. On towards Docklands and
The Traffic Light Tree
I'm glad I was walking not driving - even though it is only for decoration I think if I came upon that in the middle of the roundabout it would throw me completely.
Further on, heading back towards Charing Cross we turned around to see
St Paul's Cathedral
The weather was perfect, warm enough to walk in T-shirts with just enough breeze to make it comfortable and en route we saw or passed so many other sites and things of interest, the Gherkin, the Cutty Sark (or what's left of it), some real Gin Palaces of Yachts in the docks, a Victorian Wooden boat waiting for the lock gate to get out into the thames etc etc, I could have made this the longest post in history, but all good things must come to an end and three tired but happy people made their way back to Kent, and of course DH couldn't resist taking this rather unflattering picture of the best way to pass time on the train.

I have been thoroughly spoilt

2008-05-17T07:56:00.000-07:00

When I accepted Silvia's invitation to Pay It Forward I never expected to be this spoilt. Just look at this beautiful lap quilt.

I just love the 'rustic' look of this Rag Quilt (the name doesn't do it justice). The gingham is not the type of gingham I remember of school summer dresses, but much nicer than that, and the lighter coloured squares have tiny dots and little stars that complement the design so well.
I used to do patchwork and quilting several moons ago, but it is one of the crafts which have fallen by the wayside for me, and though DH brings me home a magazine each month, I read and wish but never make - now I have a quilt of my very own specially made for me.

And not only that, which on it's own is wonderful, but Silvia also included some of her gorgeous handspun BFL

I wish you could feel it, so soft and squishy. I'm going to have to find just the right pattern to show it off, but in the meanwhile, I'm happy fondling!
Thank you so much Silvia.

And now in the spirit of Pay It Forward :

The first three people to join the challenge on my blog will receive a gift handmade by me. I will have 30 days to make and send your gift. You must then do a post on your blog inviting 3 people to join your Pay It Forward and receive a handmade gift from you. Sounds easy enough right. The first three people who leave a comment saying they want to join will receive something made by me.

Please feel free to comment anyway, but if you would like to join the PIF please say, if you don't mention joining in then I'll know you aren't (iyswim - you have no idea how many times I have tried to phrase that so it makes sense. I hope it does because I have now given up trying!)

Keeping the postman busy

2008-04-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

That's the trouble with having a couple of weeks off - easy access to the computer! Actually the first lot didn't cost me a penny because at work each time we achieve something we are awarded stars ( yes it does sound like school and no we don't have a star chart) They are saved automatically on a computer system and we are able to convert them to gift vouchers when we have accumulated a few. I decided to have Amazon vouchers and treat myself, and this is what I bought.

I have no idea who I will be making the Fleecie Pets for, I'd seen the book in the shops and fell in love with the little critters. I expect a lot of you will have seen 101 designer One Skein Wonders already, I just thought there were so many nice little projects in there ( having checked it out on Ravelry) and I wasn't disappointed. Trust me I'm a junior doctor is going to be a good read - I always read Max Pembertons column in the weekend paper, I do find his style of writing amusing, and this book is about his first year after qualifying. And finally, as I've read some good things about Diva's don't knit I thought I'd give that a try too. The CD which just would not be photographed is by Savage Garden cos it was only £2.98 and I like two of the songs on there - I don't often buy CD's but at that price...... Not a bad little selection for free, considering I earnt my stars simply for doing what I consider to all be part of my job anyway.

Then I noticed that Kemps Wool shop had a sale and having been eyeing up Sirdar Ocean for a while, when I saw it for £1.50 a ball I just had to buy some. I've been a good girl, I knitted a tension square and washed it too before I cast on

and whilst I was there I spotted this gorgeous coloured Cotton DK from Patons and since it only increased the postage by a few pence it I couldn't resist buying some for Soleil from Knitty

And finally, just to show I have been doing some knitting as well as buying here is my latest charity knit

Using stash DK and 8mm needles, it knitted up quite quickly and is drapey, but I didn't enjoy making it and won't be using that needle/yarn combination. I thought I'd give it a go, and now know I don't like it but never mind, it will keep some little bubby warm.

Back from Edinburgh

2008-04-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

We decided last minute to take a short break in Edinburgh. DH and I went up a few years back and loved the city, we always said we would go back, so we did! Now that DH's job and hobby combine and he often works from home, the only way to stop him working is to get him away from the computer, so we found a 3 for 2 deal in a rather nice hotel, (with DD staying free, would you believe) and booked ourselves on the train (plenty of knitting time) and off we went. The MacDonald Holyrood Hotel was super (a bit posh actually) and we had ended up with a suite!!! The bed was so large I nearly had to wave goodnight to DH.

DD wanted to see the Castle, which we all enjoyed looking round, and this is the view of the city from it

and from further up including the canons

They still fire Mons Meg and I couldn't believe my ears when I overheard and american tourist asking one of the guides
" What time is the One O'clock canon fired?"
the very tactful reply was "Thirteen hundred hours, sir."
I'd love to see some of the photos - it didn't half make everone jump!

We spent the rest of the day wandering round the city and the following day DH wanted to see the Royal Yacht Britannia, so we caught a bus out to Leith

The audio tour was very interesting and gave an insight into what it must have been like to be on board. There is a very stark contrast between the staff quarters and the Royals - you can hardly believe that this sitting room is on a boat! I was rather amused that the Queen had wanted to have an open coal fire in here, but the rules dictated that a marine would have to stand by it with a bucket of water at all times so she changed her mind.

On the knitting front, I visited John Lewis and despite all the beautiful yarn there I only came out with this

which I am intending to make into a Smoke ring. But I did fit in quite a bit of knitting time mainly thanks to the five and a half hour train journey from London to Edinburgh and came back with this
which is for the Round Robin Gift bag exchange over on Crafty threads'n'yarns and uses the Sweet Stranding pattern, and I also knit most of the 5 hour Baby Sweater

which actually isn't very well named, as it took me a lot longer than five hours. However I did enjoy making it, and next time I will put in some button holes! there wasn't any mention of them in the pattern and I didn't think until it was too late. I noticed a lady opposite on the train watching me intently whilst I was knitting this and I wasn't sure if it was because I was looking out of the window admiring the views at the same time, or if she was mesmerised by the awful fluorescent yellowy-green twist in with the white yarn that makes up the body and sleeves, or the BRIGHT green stripes in the yoke - The yarn was inherited, and yes it is a bit bold, but it is for the Baby Pack Project and can't you just imagine a little coloured baby in it.

Congratulations....

2008-04-03T23:12:00.000-07:00

...to Knityoga on guessing the correct square crocheted by DD in my blogiversary competition.

I have sent you a mail to the address on your blog, if you would like to let me have your address I will pop the prize in the post.

Any one for a cuppa?

2008-03-30T06:26:00.000-07:00

Another item for the Shaun the Sheep Picknit but my efforts this time rather than DD's. The pattern was from Simply Knitting and I liked the way it was based around a disposable cup to give it body and a realistic shape - actually I think mine looks a bit more like a latte than tea - I would be a bit worried if my tea was that frothy looking!

And after yesterdays outing with DD, I really could do with lots of cuppas. She and I went up to Olympia to the Vitality Show, we had a good day and came back with large bags full of freebies including numerous pens, samples of healthy foods, beauty products and even a T-shirt and water filter jug! Unfortunately due to a nasty cold ( first one since sept 2004 so I can't really complain) wading through the crowds was pretty tough going

and I was neither a picture of health nor beauty by the end of the day!

(just a quick reminder that if you are reading this before April 3rd, there is still time to enter my blogiversary competition designed by DD in the previous post)

Blogiversary and Babette

2008-03-21T09:46:00.001-07:00

It will soon be my second blogiversary and to mark the occasion I will be giving away a small prize. Just a little something which I hope the winner will find useful, and a chance to say thank you to everyone for reading my blog and commenting over the last two years.

The prize consists of a small project bag ( great for socks, or any small project, I have a BSJ on circular needles in mine) together with a needle case containing (suprise, suprise) a wool needle and a couple of simple stitch markers, and with the attached fold-up scissors, just add pattern, needles and yarn and you are ready to go. Oh and, of course, some Divine chocolate - after all we knitters need chocolate and since this is Fairtrade, and delicious, everyone is happy!

So DD has designed a little competition for you based on the progress so far of my Babette blanket

We would like you to leave a comment including the number of the square which you think she crocheted ( is that the past tense of crochet?)
If more than one of you guess the correct square the winner will be decided by drawing a correct answer from a hat.
And if no one guesses correctly - I'll put everyones name in the hat.
(perhaps not the standard competition rules, but it's just a bit of fun)
The closing date will be my blogiversary which is April 3rd.

When I first started this blog, I didn't realise how much I would enjoy writing it, or how much all your comments would mean, thank you all so much.
And following on from the last entry - yes, Silvia, I think DD is wonderful too - I am very lucky. She has enough of me in her that we are similar, but enough of DH that we don't clash. I feel privileged to be able to say that my teenage daughter and I are the best of friends.

Happy Birthday DD

2008-03-09T06:52:00.000-07:00

Good grief! how can DD possibly be 15 already? To celebrate we took her and two friends out for a meal yesterday and they stayed over. The easy way to tell they are growing up is that they actually slept. I told them I didn't mind whether they did or not, but DH and I would like to, and they were as good as gold. I never heard a peep after we went to bed and apparently they all went to sleep about 1am. Are DD's friend just lovely girls or is that normal for 15 year olds these days!

DD may be all growed up but she still wanted a fun birthday cake, only this year I just made the cake, and she did the decorating

And following the tradition started by my Dad when she was a toddler, she gave me this lovely bright and cheerful 'Pot Mum'

to say thank you for being her Mum.....but the pleasure is all mine.

Happy Mummys Day

2008-03-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

I was quite spoilt this morning - tea in bed and these pressies from DD

Despite having the mickey taken by her friends whilst out shopping yesterday, she bought me Simply Knitting (quite why a knitting magazine should cause such hilarity I do not know but then I`m not 14 and from a non-crafty background) and added a little pad of sticky notes with a cute frog on,(lovely little chaps, frogs) and also framed my favourite photo of her and DH, and rounded it all off with a handmade card. The best and most thoughtful Mother`s day pressie I`ve had.

Knitting itself seems to have ground to a halt temporarily due to the discovery that the Babette Blanket pattern could be bought as a pdf, So I`m currently crocheting. Having wandered round the web, I found I was drawn by the blankets which used similar or a limited range of colours, so I delved into my stash to find all the pink/red/mauves. It`s only acrylic, but then again at least it will be easy care.

I did however finish EZ's baby blanket from Knitter's Almanac, which enabled me to send another two packs off to the Baby Pack Project. Here's a full shot - really hard to get it to look like the real thing...

and DD's Arty shot which shows the yarn, an inherited unidentified DK.

I got a little bored with the continual stocking stitch, so I decided to add in my own lace motif - in hindsight I should have done this a bit earlier, as I was running low on yarn by then - but Hey, it's the first time I've added my own (albeit very simple) design and I don`t suppose the little mite that is wrapped in it will be too concerned about its placement, and I learnt a lot too.

Having been inspired by the Shaun the Sheep Picknit at the Creative Stitches show a couple of weeks back, DD has taken up the needles and is rightly proud of her leaf, flowers, sweet and strawberry, especially bearing in mind she has only ever knitted a sample square before. I was particularly impressed with the strawberry - she handled two colours like a pro.

From the sublime to the ridiculous

2008-02-17T06:33:00.001-08:00

It took me five weeks to make the socks, five weeks! I`ve decided that two at a time on magic loop is probably the way to go, but I have to confess that I won`t be in a great hurry to make any more. I`m pleased with the finished result, but as DD reminded me when I was looking at sock wool last weekend, I spent the entire time I was knitting them moaning!

Two toe-up socks on one circular needle
in Schoppel Wolle, Admiral ombre 1702
using a 100cm, 2mm Hiya Hiya circular needle
I`m hoping the tram lines will disappear after the first wash, and if I`m honest I may have to undo the cast off and try a different one as it isn`t really stretchy enough, it`s fine when it`s on, but it`s the getting it on, if you see what I mean.

I then went to the other extreme, and using the 20mm needles that came free with Let`s Knit, and a ball and a half of 3 Suisses Claridge (circa 1973) that I picked up for 10p at a bootsale last year, I created a garter stitch scarf in an evening. It`s actually quite cosy, and there is a slight colour variation which doesn`t show up in the picture, this is destined for one of my Christmas shoe boxes (yes I know it is only February but I`m going to reduce that stash somehow).

From 2mm to 20mm needles !

Good enough to eat

2008-02-10T03:41:00.000-08:00

DD and I went down to Brighton yesterday to the Creative stitches and Hobbycrafts exhibition, which was, frankly a bit disappointing. If you don`t make cards or cross stitch, then there isn`t much for you. DD was looking forward to the "Stunning display" of costumes from Strictly Come Dancing - and there were 5 dresses!
But we were impressed by the Gingerbread House.
I knew about it, and even knitted a few flowers and leaves for the garden, but I hadn`t quite realised how large it would be, or how impressive in the flesh. It was nigh on impossible to get a good picture of the outside because of the number of people around it, so DD being tall raised her camera above the other heads and took this great picture of the inside.

I just loved the knitted photos

and for some reason the flower pots appealed as well

However, we couldn`t help but find our blood pressures rising as we sat in the cafe area along side and listened to some women of a certain age decreeing rather loudly that they just couldn`t see the point of all that knitting and that it was a waste of time as nothing could be done with it, unless of course it was dismantled and the toys given away and the squares made into blankets. I was so tempted to explain to them that apart from being rather an achievement involving over 500 knitters, it was actually raising money for charity - but because of their arogant dismissive tones I didn`t trust myself to be civil.

And just to prove how disappointing a show it was for us - I came away with .....a circular needle and a pack of jump rings. Yep, that`s it!

At last...

2008-02-06T12:20:00.000-08:00

Why is it that whenever I am enjoing a cuppa some one always wants something? It`s become a standing joke in our family that I reply the same way so often that when the Grim Reaper knocks on the door I will say it to him too - and have it engraved on my tombstone.

So here it is...

Tombstone Generator

Victorian shawl

2008-01-27T06:26:00.000-08:00

The shawl is finished and blocked and in regular use of an evening while I knit. I was really surprised at just how much it opened out after washing and blocking, but it certainly shows the lace now, and came out at almost the exact size on the pattern - which makes a distinct change for me even when I do hit gauge!

Victorian aran Weight Shawl Jaeger Matchmaker Aran modelled by DD

The socks are coming along, I`m just about to turn the heel - I can`t say I`m enjoying making them, the only thing that keeps me going is when I try them on they feel so nice.

Last night I decided to do a little bit of sewing, as I could do with a small needle case to keep in one of my knitting bags, just so I can have a needle and a couple of safety pins holding stitch markers to hand, I got fabric ready and settled down to stich but then discovered I had a little bit of a problem ....

It`s all Kelleys fault

2008-01-13T04:20:00.000-08:00

I really, really want to like knitting socks! A couple of years ago a made a pair on dpns, then a (still) lone sock followed, but it wasn`t fun. A few months back I made DD a pair, two at a time on two circs, and that was better, but I still wasn`t hooked, so the other day when I was listening to some `back issues` of the Knit Picks Podcast and Kelley Petkun was talking about knitting two socks on one long circ using the magic loop, I thought I`d give that a try. So off I went and found a brilliant tutorial by Cometosilver , and a l-o-n-g circ from Knit n Caboodle .

The very next day postie knocked on the door with this....

Well you can`t just buy a cirular needle on it`s own now can you? especially when the sock yarn is reduced to £3.95 a ball.
DD was quite amused that I became excited when I saw it was in a Purple posting bag, wrapped in lilac tissue, with a free cable needle. Luckily I had just finished the Aran shawl (which is blocking as I write) so I was able to cast on straight away.
The Hiya Hiya needles are quite nice to use, the joins are good and the cable very flexible, if a little curly, and so far I`m enjoying it - though with 32st to 4" and size 8 feet (!) to knit for, they won`t be the quickest socks in history, but I just love the colours - perfect for brightening up a dull january day.

Happy New Year

2008-01-03T06:36:00.000-08:00

Where on earth did 2007 go? Even Christmas seems a dim and distant memory fortunately. (yes I know it could have been much much worse, in truth it was only mildly irritating, and I have just a slightly sore tongue from constantly biting it to prevent me expressing how I felt to certain relatives regarding their and their offsprings behaviour- but hey isn`t that families all over)

Regarding New Years resolutions, how did I do... well I intended to knit 10 things for charity and.....

I actually ended up with more than 10, which makes up for the fact that I failed dismally on resolution no.2 - to get fitter - ah well, gives me something to carry over to 2008!

Christmas pressy wise, I received Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle, and my only problem is ... What do I knit first - there is very little in there that I don`t like
I also had a gorgeous skein of Lane Borgosesia Cashsoft Lace yarn in Nutmeg - it is soooooo soft and squishy, but oh my, talk about fine, I`ve always wanted to try lace weight but, it`s scarily fine. (Yes, yes, I know you are all laughing at me, but you are reading the blog of the person who usually uses dk acrylic!) Despite having the Folk Shawls book, this is most likely going to become Pomegranate from the autumn Yarn Forward magazine, which I love, and because there isn`t really anything in the book that uses just one skein of lace weight!
DH nearly bought me a knitting book - he went off to the shop all by himself and came back with the perfect book for me, 200 Knitted Blocks, then he looked at my bookshelf and in fact found it was so perfect, it`s one of the very few I had bought myself!
So he took it back and bought this CD instead and I can now be found dancing round the kitchen and bopping along while I do the ironing.

Rudolph cakes and Happy Christmas

2007-12-23T03:31:00.000-08:00

I HATE writing Christmas cards, hate it with avengence, so for my work colleagues I came up with another idea

Rudolph cakes which were a very popular and much tastier alternative

The victorian aran weight shawl is coming along nicely, I`m now part way through ball 4 (of 8) and on the third type of lace. DD thinks it looks like a forest of trees, and I can see her point - quite seasonal (or they would be if they were green with tinsel and baubles!)
And because the rows are getting rather long, and I`m still having trouble memorising the pattern I have started a piece of `I-don`t-want-to-have-to-think-about-it` knitting in the form of the babies shawl from February in Elizabeth Zimmermann`s Knitter`s Almanac - though you could be forgiven for thinking that I am knitting a beret!

Just lovely mindless knitting, with the odd yarnover for shaping, so I can chill out when the festivities get a bit much.

Happy Christmas to you all.

What shall we have for dinner?

2007-12-11T13:18:00.000-08:00

A question I often ask myself - I do dislike having to keep thinking of what to cook. But inspiration can come from the strangest sources, for example I spotted this little chap in the corner of the garage.

So what did we have for dinner?

Toad in the hole, of course!