Sunday, July 26, 2009

Rowan 46

The new Rowan magazine has arrived, full of lovely things. I really want to knit Stockport but must first acquire 6 balls of Cocoon. In the meantime I am contenting myself with Windsor, the simplest Kimono shaped cardi in the world, in the double knit I bought from the Colinett workshop

It's wonderfully soft and is knitting really nicely.

School's Out!

The school holidays have started and it's gone crazy at the library. We are getting lots of children signing up for the summer reading scheme which is good but is making us extra busy.
After long discussions on Wednesday morning Millie and I decided to go to the science museum at Snibston but about 10 minutes into the journey we changed our minds and went on to Conkers. We had a good time although we had to dodge a few showers.
Millie discovered the principle of the Archemedes Screw.

Finished!

Here then is Rosemary's cushion cover, completed in good time before her August birthday. Now I just have to find a cushion to fit it.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Progress (of sorts)

The Union Jack cushion cover is knitted and blocked and waiting to be sewn up. It's only two seams. Come on get on with it!
The Glace cardigan is almost to the point of separating the sleeves. The rows are endless but soon will be more manageable. Come on what are you waiting for?
The shawl is pretty and a simple lace but I've left it for a while and forgotten the pattern. Come on you could easily re-establish it!
The Kidsilk Haze cardigan languishes in a bag left off when it was too hot to knit fluffy stuff. Come on it has cooled down now!

So I am knitting vanilla socks.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Secret Pal 14 Questions

Here is my questionnaire for SP14

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I really prefer natural fibres. I don't like the fancy eyelash type ones.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a really old knitting bag bought by my older daughter and my mother many years ago, plus a vase I made in a wet felting workshop

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting since I was about 6 years old. The avatar on here really is me.
I am pretty competent I think.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have one on Amazon

5. What's your favorite scent?
Rose

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Unfortunately I do. I love dark chocolate, coffee flavour things, Turkish delight.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin. I wet felt occasionally.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I'm afraid I don't listen to music much

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like greens and blues, also pinks and plums. I'm not keen on acid colours.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my long standing, slightly faulty husband and Lily-the-Dog. We have 2 grown up daughters and one grand-daughter

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Scarves yes, hats not so much, mittens yes, ponchos no way

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
At the moment shawls but also socks and cardis

13. What are you knitting right now?
A shawl, socks and a Union Jack cushion cover

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
certainly

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
It depends on the project but always as short as I can get away with.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
An inefficient vintage winder no swift

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
24 years

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?
Christmas and Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Besides knitting stuff Pottery baskets

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I subscribe to Interweave knits and Yarn Forward.
I'd really like the Berroco Norah Gaughan leaflet 3

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd like to improve my colourwork

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I knit socks but mostly for my daughters. I wear size 37 shoe

23. When is your birthday?
May 2nd

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
I am. Mazzam

New Shawl obsession

I have received a parcel from a Secret Pal swap swap on Ravelry. It is from rdodo and here it is

There are lots of rosey things in there, coasters, address book, candles, chocolates, post-its, a tiny knitted sock on a keyring with some stitchmarkers hidden inside, bamboo sock yarn and some lovely Fyberspates lace weight. It was such a pretty tempting summery colourway I just had to get started on a new shawl and having sworn off Icarus had to look for another pattern. I found the North Roe on Ravelry and decided this was the one. Here it is so far

and yes, it is the one!

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Last week was Isabel's birthday. This coincided with an inset day for Millie so the birthday girl decided we should pick fruit.

We picked yummy raspberries, strawberries. gooseberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants. I couldn't believe how busy the fields were as it was a weekday but when we had our fruit weighed it was really cheap so people were probably stocking up for freezing and jamming. We were just doing it for eating.

I really don't like colourwork. This is why I have a pack of beautifully coordinated Jamesons shetland sitting on a shelf which has been there for about 5 years, suposedly waiting until I find the perfect pattern. Well it will have to be perfect for me to tackle it. However when Rosemary suggested she would like a tapestry cushion for her birthday I baulked at the £50 price tag when a day later I found the perfect pattern in a magazine, knowing I already had the yarn in the stash. Amazingly I have quite enjoyed watching the emergence of the design which will match the painting Rosemary did and hangs on her wall.


Having reported my enjoyment the back of the cushion will deffinately be stripes!



You'd think I'd be sick of Icarus by now but here's another;


I am going to try something different next though honestly.