Millie's New Outfit

Millie was very pleased with her new top today. It is Tait a hooded top by Sarah Hatton in Rowan Cotton Glace with the addition of a Hello Kitty from an old Chinese knitting book that used to be in the library. It must have been withdrawn - sorry I missed that one but I had photocopied this motif which I used on a sweater for baby Millie.



Unfortunately for Grandma's wallet, it apparently needed a whole new outfit to show it off. Thank goodness for Tesco's sale rail!

Once again time has whizzed by with no record making. Too much time is spent lurking around Ravelry. Yesterday I received a package from the Ravelry Secret Scarf Swap (#2 Whimsy) It is a lovely cowl, happily not too whimsical but knitted in the softest of green Malabrigo with a jaunty red rose.



This is the one I have sent off for the same swap. This probably only just scrapes by as whimsy. It is Myrna knitted in Knitpicks gloss in purple. Beads curtesy of the leftovers from the bridesmaid's wraps. The dangle at the other end I took from a necklace.



Although I thought a cowl wouldn't suit me because of my lack of swan-like neck, it actually sits cosily around the base of my neck and has been very welcome in this cold snap.

I have been mostly knitting kidsilk Haze in the delightfully named 'Drab'. I bought 6 balls of this in the January sale in John Lewis and have managed to knit 2 Lacy tops, one for Isabel and one for me although you may notice mine is distinctly unlacy. I forgot to photograph Isabel's before I gave it to her as usual.



I have also knitted Travelling woman #3. It's for another swap. Maybe I'll make one for myself one day. It is a good satisfying knit.

Ravelry Spring Swap

When I saw the size of the parcel that had arrived I thought Susan may have smuggled herself over in it - I hoped so, she sounds nice.



Well there was no Susan but there was all this;



The wool was dyed for me in such lovely colours, perfect for a small shawl. The mitts are knitted from hand spun wool and Susan sent the rest of the lot. Will it be a little hat or a small something to warm the neck - not sure yet. See the beautiful green pottery leaf - love that, a silver journal a beautiful bauble which I have hung in the conservatory as it is too pretty to save and can you see that needle case at the back? Well inside was this;



Soap and a bath bomb, notebooks, tea towel, chocolate x 2 and coffee.Also a bookmark and postcard from her library.

What a fabulous parcel. Then after pouring over everything and taking the photos I read the letter and realised there was something else....I checked the needle case again and there in the pocket I found this pendant with stitchmarkers that Susan made for me herself. These are the best stitchmarkers ever, really efficient. I have some in use already.

SP 15 Questionaire revisited

What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?Natural fibres, not usually thicker than aran..

What fibers do you absolutely not like?

100% acrylics, eyelash, boucle



What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

A rather elderly knitting bag bought for me by my mother as a gift from my daughter 20 years ago



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 for many years, I can't remember how I learned. I know we had lessons at junior school but I think I knew how before that. I think I am a good intermediate



Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/wishlist/HTOA0ORNWS24




What’s your favorite scent?

Rose

Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite
candy?

Yes, I have a sweet tooth. I like dark chocolate and turkish delight




What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

sewing, gardening, wet-felting



Do you spin? Dye?

neither

What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your
buddy wants to make you a CD)

I don't play music much



What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?

Blues and greens, rose pink and plum

What is your family situation?

Married with 2 grown up daughters and a 6 year old grandaughter



Do you have any pets? Are you allergic to any pets?

One dog. I have a slight allergy to cats but it seems to be getting better

Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or
ponchos?

Scarves yes usually in the shape of shawls, hats if it is really cold. Mittens yes, ponchos NOOOOOO

What is/are your favorite item/s to
knit?

Socks and shawls. I knit cardigans because I like to wear them

What is on your needles right now?

A bag, socks ( always my travelling project) Martha by Sarah Hatton, one of my favourite designers. A shawl which is currently resting because I've stupidly lost my place in the pattern.


Do you read knitting books? What kind of books i.e. technique, pattern, fiction?

Yes, all of the above.

Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

yes, very much



Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I like bamboo straights but aluminium circulars, depending on what I am knitting.

Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I have a vintage and inefficient swift

How old is your oldest UFO?

About 5 years old

What is your favorite holiday? What
winter holiday do you observe?

Christmas is my answer for both

Is there anything that you collect?

Beside yarn I collect stoneware baskets


Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?

Made in Brooklyn



What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Vogue Knitting ,Interweave Knits, Piecework, Knitting magazine

Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?

I'd like to improve my fairisle



Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I knit socks but mostly for our daughters and their partners. My foot is size 4 / 37


When is your birthday?

May 2nd

Are you on Ravelry? If so, what’s your ID?

mazzam



Are you on KnitPicks Knitting Community? What’s your username?

No

Scarf swap

I went to get the car out and found that once again there was a package there! The post lady kindly slides things under the door if there is a gap as Lily-the-Dog likes to check them out for any enclosed sweeties.
This is what I found inside.....



You might be able to guess where it came from thanks to the extras but mainly it is the scarf! It was woven by Heidi and the weft was actually spun and died by herself. It is lovely to have something I would never have done myself and I shall wear it with much pleasure and new socks!

Concentration

It's obviously genetic - check the black and white to the side.

The disappearing shawl

I was putting on my Icarus getting ready to go out with Millie and she asked if I would knit her 'one of those fleece things'. When we arrived at my house there was Travelling Woman lying around waiting to be blocked. 'Do you mean something like this?' I asked. 'Oh yes! I like that one. I like those colours. I will have that one, thank you.'
I had to convince her to block it which we did together but it wasn't quite dry by the time she was leaving so it isn't quite as blocked as I would have liked. Millie is quite happy with it though. It is knitted from some lovely soft yarn I got in the Christmas swap on Ravelry.





I just hope the person for whom it was intended will be just as happy with the replacement I had to quickly knit!