Harrogate

So that's another year gone by..... The Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate took place over the last weekend and Isabel and I chose to go on Sunday. Saturday had been an okay day but the weather forecast for Sunday was very worrying, however despite a bit of a snowy flurry before we left it was a lovely, if chilly day. The show was brilliant! We always really enjoy our day out. There is so much to see - not just trade stands but inspirational textile artists and students, fashion shows and workshops. Neither of us bought much but we were full of ideas. We went to the '50 minute fascinator' workshop but I'm not sure I shall be making one for the wedding - what if it collapsed during the service???
I have finished Rosemary's jumper and remembered to photograph it. I now have to work out, in the absence of the Internet on our home computer, how to get it on here.

SP13

The new round of SP is set to run and for the first time in my membership I have been paired in both directions with people in the US. Looking forward to making and receiving parcels again. I have been keeping a low swapping profile as the postage was getting so dear but I miss the postal excitement.

Special Saturday

What a lovely day I had last Saturday! First it was the Rowan coffee morning at John Lewis in Nottingham which has happily fallen on my Saturday off the last several times - it can't last. It's a really enjoyable couple of hours of peaceful knitting and Danish pastries. I had lunch in the coffee shop then crossed town to the Bead Shop where I met Rosemary and Isabel for a workshop in Chain Mail jewelry. What a challenge that was! I haven't done any kind of jewelry making for many years and then it wasn't much so to learn this completely new technique was a really big thing especially as I had just watched someone trying to teach a left hander how to crochet and felt really frustrated. My compliments to the patience of the tutor for the fact that I came away with a wearable bracelet and an urge to do more.

Secret Pal 13 Questions

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I prefer any natural fibres, particularly alpaca. I really don't like novelty yarns at all.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
a) a knitting bag bought by my daughter many years ago b) a woven raffia bag presented to my other daughter's fiance when he completed his gap year teaching English on an Island in the Pacific. c) a vessel I made in a felt making workshop but mostly they just stick out of a basket I have where I knit. I guess I have quite a stash!

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I am old enough to have learned at school very many years ago. The avatar on my blog is a genuine photo of me around that time. I think I am pretty advanced but still have things to learn
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have an Amazon one which I will add later

5. What's your favorite scent?
Single flowers, particularly Rose

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Oh dear yes. Dark chocolate, real Turkish delight, coffee, nuttiness

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I do wet felting and have just done a class in chain-mail jewelry. I am a closet scrapbooker but we don't talk about that.

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 not terribly musical. I like some Jazz, Leonard Cohen, odd things really.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
My colour choice at the moment seems to tend towards greens. I love teal too. I think the only colours I don't care for are powdery pastels and fluorescent.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my husband and Lily-the-dog. We have 2 grown up daughters and 1 granddaughter age 5.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Scarves yes, hats seldom, mittens (fingerless) often, ponchos .....not even the first time around!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I am really enjoying shawls at the moment, fingerless mittens and anything my daughters ask for. Cardis for me when I get the chance.

13. What are you knitting right now?
I am about to embark on a shawl for my daughter's wedding knitted in laceweight bamboo which is rather like sewing thread!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Very much

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Depends on the knit, but always as short as possible. Dpn's for socks. I don't understand the circulars gig, addi lace circular for shawls.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Unfortunately no but I have very convenient knees which just hold a skein

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
See my avatar....I never did complete the second mitten! Actually I have some beautiful alpaca/silk which doesn't seem to know what it's vocation is and has been frogged several times.

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

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Do yarn and needles count? Vintage knitting things. 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, Knitting, Simply Knitting, Yarn Forward.....far too many!

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd like to get more confident with fairisle.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes I like to knit socks. I am an English 4, continental 37

23. When is your birthday?
May 2nd

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
I am although I don't take full advantage. My ID is Mazzam

Didn't we have a loverly time.

Last weekend we had the best time although there was very little yarn involved (yes I took a WIP but that is understood) We went to Buxton for the weekend to celebrate a friend's special birthday. She knew nothing about it and was lured by a ride on a motorbike. She was brought into the pub where 12 of us were waiting. She went to the bar, took her drink outside for a ciggarette, came back to the bar, went to the Ladies, all while we were sitting expectantly. Eventually she noticed us! She was a bit put out at first but we swept her off to the hotel on the pretext of visiting the spot where her mother's waters broke, (forgot to mention that Buxton was chosen as the venue as it was the Birthday girl's place of birth. Someone had mocked up a blue plaque which was outside the hotel. Once she knew what was planned she relaxed and enjoyed the treat. The sewing machine we had clubbed together to buy was a real bonus. It's a pity I still can't add photos. Maybe later.

Didn't we have a loverly time.

Half term

Hooray it's Half Term hereabouts and just like old times. I have had 2 days of Millie this week. Whenever I ask her where she would like to go the answer is a) Ikea b) Attenborough so we went with plan b on Monday and took a trip to our old haunt at the Nature reserve. We had a walk around the Willow garden, fed ourselves and then the ducks, hence to MacDonalds as she now recognises the Golden Arches so I can no longer avoid it. Then TKMaxx where she talked me out of a dressing up outfit which involved a long visit to the changing rooms with arms-full of Ariel, Sleeping Beauty and the one out of Enchanted. We finished up in the Christmas department of Bardill's garden centre where she suddenly remembered there was a coffee shop, so more snacks!
Wednesday we went off to Conkers where it was freeeezing. Well I was, Millie was in a tshirt most of the day but even she decided to put on a cardigan eventually!