Shufu in Stitches

Sweet Charity

2011-04-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Passing my local Charity shop, I noticed a plastic tub of yarn in the window. A quick rummage revealed Koigu, alpaca, sock yarn, Noro, Debbie Bliss and Hipknits silks. Each cost 50p a ball, a great price and the assistant was happy to see them go. Sometimes sifting through piles of acrylic yarn can be dispiriting but it pays to persevere.As well as helping a particular charity, it's good to help the planet by recycling. As well as wool, I have found packs of buttons and bags of embroidery threads and tapestry wools.

Lizard Ridge in the Sun

2011-04-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

The minute the skies drop their leaden grey and everywhere is bursting with green, I am seized by the urge to declutter and wash everything in reach. This urge never lasts very long, so I move quickly before it fizzles out. These throws live in the busiest room in the house so were the first things to be thrown in the machine. Yes, I know they should be hand washed and carefully blocked. They were the first few times but now I know they will survive a cold wool wash in the machine using ecover's wool product. Careful matching of seams and pegging means they stay in shape and dry very quickly. The finishing touch is a thorough going over with my battery operated debobbler.

Laura Aylar's Lizard Ridge blanket appeared in Knitty fall 2006 and was based on a pattern by Barbara G Walker. I don't know anybody who didn't fall in love with her design, however, most were put off by the cost of buying so much Kureyon. When I visited Japan the following summer, the pound was very strong so I spent just under three pounds a ball. I also managed to track down twenty different colourways.

After the heat and humidity of a Japanese summer I always feel it is autumn when we return to London in August so I started knitting this project right away. I set myself the goal of one block a day and it flew off the needles. Knitting with Noro is wildly exciting as I can't wait to see which colour appears next. I had intended to sew up the blocks as I went along but quickly realised that the vast range of colours meant a more pleasing result would be gained at the end. For several days the blocks lay arrange on the lounge floor. People would drift in, swap a few around until I took the plunge. As I'd steamed each block into shape, the sewing together with mattress stitch was not too painful just time consuming. I loved the result and it really is a blanket;large enough for a single bed.

I knit the second throw because a Noro cardigan had developed a hole. I decided to recycle the yarn and alternated it with black aran wool. Instead of knitting blocks I knit strips which eliminated a lot of the sewing but was not as heavy as trying to knit the whole blanket on a long circular needle. I used the same method for the third throw which was made using all my left over green aran and Noro.

Knit Your Own Dog

2011-04-10T22:11:00.000-07:00

As a present for her sister, Gillian knit the border collie from "Best in Show" by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne. It turned out so well she decided it deserved its own sheep and set about designing one. The group were really impressed by the finished product. She is a talented lady.

Unravel Best in Show.

2011-04-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

This amazing tea cosy was the winner of the Best in Show competition.It really is a work of art.

Raspberry Frappuccino

2011-03-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

Another frothy scarf for a classmate of Akira's. Petra is a girly girl so the scarf had to be pink!

Frills and Frothiness.

2011-02-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

Emily brought a wonderfully frothy scarf to the library group and showed us how it was made;knitting with a net like ribbon. Apparently, this yarn had been the big hit at Ally Pally last Autumn.
I decided to make one as part of a birthday present for Akira's classmate, Manuela. This was knit with CanCan by Rico designs which has 60m per 200g ball. This particular scarf is colour 010. It is just under £10.00 a ball but some of my group members have made two scarves from one ball. I preferred a wider and longer scarf. There are other brands around; somebody had managed to buy a much cheaper version at Lidl.A quick knit but I wouldn't recommend it for an absolute beginner.
I guess it's the closest a nine year old girl will get to a owning feather boa.

Unravel 2011

2011-02-27T08:47:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed Unravel so much last year, I was a little worried I'd be disappointed this time. That I'd feel that I'd seen it all before but it was a fantastic day and well worth being at Waterloo before 8.00am! I was impressed that the organisers had not just rehashed last year's exhibits but had commissioned new items and organised new displays.

One of the main attractions of this festival is that there is so much to do and see. I begrudge paying for some knitting events as it involves paying a considerable sum just to buy yarn. The free talks are a major attraction for me.

This year I went to two; "Combing and Spinning the Hills" by John Arbon and "Knitting from 1800 to Today" by Joyce Meader. Joyce is hilarious and could be the world's first knitting stand up comedian. I loved the tale of a lady bathing in a knitted swimsuit and a young boy's observation that her lungs had fallen out!

Jen and I went to a workshop on how to make Dorset and bead buttons. Mary Brown, the teacher, was clear and patient so we spend a relaxing 90 minutes learning a new skill. The workshops at Unravel are realistically priced and prove that you don't need a knitting celebrity, just somebody passionate about passing on their skills and knowledge.

My stash has grown beyond amusing, past embarrassing, to the point where I start to feel sick with guilt when I think of how long it will take to knit up. Consequently, I had a strict budget and guidelines of what I needed to buy. Buttons for specific projects I got from Textile Garden and yarns for dyeing came from Fibre Harvest. I looked for purple laceweight for a 60th birthday later in the year, I didn't get anything on the day but will probably buy from Fyberspates. As I'm on a yarn diet,I allow myself to buy patterns so I bought one for a cut lace cardie from Debonnaire. My only splurge was a hank of both green and rose yarn (which at £2.99 each doesn't count) and a hank of Fyberspates Scrumptious Chunky to knit the Tamesis Cowl.

Visit from Amy of "Nest."

2011-02-27T08:13:00.000-08:00

Amy came to the last Hendon library knitting group meeting with a sample of yarns and projects. She talked about her interest in knitting and how that had evolved into opening a shop. Although she had brought leaflets about Nest and their knitting groups, she wasn't pushy and happy to talk about anything related to knitting. The afternoon was a big success and we managed to recruit a few new members.

The group was asked to feature in one of the knitting magazines. As there was heavy snow on the ground only a few of us made it, so the photo looks a bit sparse,however, Lauren did a good job of collating our interests and histories. As a thank you we received a sack of yarn and patterns. I took two balls of a lurid fluffy pink yarn with gold thread for a schoolfriend of Akira's who is learning to knit. She was thrilled. I also took two balls of Foxy as Alan Dart's Christmas Gnome is one of the few novelty patterns I like and I need Foxy for the beard.

I went to Nest the next day to meet friends. I never seem to leave the shopempty handed. I bought Drops Delight to knit Pogoda by Stephen West and Drops Alpaca to knit the Chrysanthamum mitts in Knitty.

Tiger Bargain

2011-02-22T02:10:00.000-08:00

Akira and I wandered up to North Finchley yesterday and popped into Tiger. This shop often has yarn, usually acrylic but occasionally wool, so it is worth checking regularly as stock changes weekly. At the moment they have Bumbo Mohair which is 51% mohair and 49% acrylic. Each 25g ball is 100m and a £1.00 a bargain. It doesn't feel squeaky like some synthetic yarns. the colours are warm not garish and I'm curious to see how it knits up.

Tiger have the traditional French knitting bobbins for a couple of pounds and the larger ones for three pounds. They also have bags of beads for £1, wood and plastic.

Cactus heart

2011-02-14T22:18:00.000-08:00

After psyching ourselves up to battle the hoards at Wembley Ikea, we discovered the halogen bulbs we required had been discontinued ....a year ago! Dispirited we sought refuge in the cafe and consoled ourselves with Swedish apple cake and cinnamon buns. When we had regained our sense of humour, we ventured out and made Ikea an adventure; sat on every sofa, tested every bed, spun on each office chair, munched on biscuit samples, sniffed flavoured teas and coffees, planned kitchens , marvelled at wardrobe storage options and giggled at the hazard tape across the display toilets. Our expedition was halted by a call from Koji demanding we came home 'cos he was starving!

On the way to the checkout, we passed through the plant department. Akira has a fascination with cacti and was very keen to buy a three foot monster. After some gentle persuasion, he was thrilled to buy some lucky bamboo and a heart cactus.He read the care instructions and proudly put them on the fireplace in his room. It says a lot about this family's ability to nurture houseplants when he came to show me a chart he had drawn to record which plant died first!

On a crafting note, Ikea has some attractive embroidered cushion covers with a vintage feel. Of course, they are not the same standard as those you could make yourself but good value.

Knitty 34 Winter 2011

2011-02-14T02:13:00.001-08:00

I've just caught the latest Knitty edition. My favourite is Cartouche, a shawl by Janelle Martin. It is so different to the many shawl patterns around at the moment. I love the intricate geometric shapes and the way the cable outline really pops out. Her instructions are very detailed and include useful photographs of techniques. This might just be my Japan project this year which is very apt as Janelle lists Japanese stitch patterns as her current obsession.

The name of the designer also made me smile; the only Janelle I've ever met was a friend of my housemate in Spain. She was a larger than life New Yorker whose enthusiasm for life was contagious. We'd all bounce around in the wake of her energy and good humoured irreverence.I remember her delight when in Gibraltar she discovered Sobranie cocktail cigarettes; bright pastel shades with a gold filter which she declared "fucking orgasmic!"

At some point I will knit Fleece by Kieran Foley. Of course, I just happen to have enough Zauerball in my stash.Palisander is worth a look as I like scarves which are patterned on both sides but is not on my immediate list. Whereas, I have already printed out Joanie but will have to do something about the floppy neck. The Sweetheart socks will be good for using odd hanks of light worsted which, hopefully,will mean they are a quick knit. The Chrysanthemums are gorgeous but will I really commit the necessary time to mitts I will leave on the bus? Shetlander, for me, life is just too short!

"Woven" Fingerless gloves

2011-01-31T04:51:00.000-08:00

I've completed my first project from Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders. I own the whole series but this book is the best yet. The Woven Fingerless Gloves are a quick, easy knit. The only change I made was to use 2.5mm needles. These were knit using the skein of Koigu I bought at All the Fun of the Fair. I have 10g left so I should have been braver and made the wrist ribbing a bit longer.

I always used to think that fingerless gloves were totally useless as it is always my finger tips that freeze but I find myself wearing them more and more.They are so practical when pegging out washing or cutting rosemary in the garden. I may knit a pair of pink 4ply gloves to wear underneath or felt some mittens to go on top.

The Observer Knitting Style

2011-01-30T13:02:00.000-08:00

The style section of today's magazine features knitwear with the aim of avoiding bulk while keeping warm. The belted look is great on this model but just look at the jumper on the far left. It looks like it has been knitted from snowflake or teddy bear fur! I can't believe it is by Whistles! I hope it looks better in the flesh.

Exchange rate blues

2011-01-30T12:27:00.000-08:00

During Hiro's business trip last week, I received the usual call from a store in Dusseldorf to talk me through the yarn. My kind husband has quizzed many assistants in shops all over the world;language differences and lack of knitting skills are no obstacle in the quest for new and exciting yarn. The pound is so weak at present there was no way I could justify more sock yarn when there are several kilos of the stuff hidden under our bed, so I told him not to bother. Instead he arrived home with a box of spring chocolates, a new leather handbag and one ball of yarn. Obviously the exchange rate doesn't bother him as much as it does me but I'm very grateful.

Tendresse aux pommes

2011-01-29T12:35:00.000-08:00

In The Times magazine last weekend, there was an article about Christophe Vasseur and baking quality breads. It included a recipe which caught my eye because its chief ingredient is stale bread. We always have plenty of this because people forget/ neglect to put the lid on the bread box or tie closed the bagel bag. Another key ingredient is sliced apples. The boys take lots of fruit in their packed lunches but some of it makes the return journey, arriving a little bruised but good enough to bake.

I suppose Tendresse aux pommes is a kind of bread and butter pudding. The bread and dried fruit are soaked overnight in milk, then mixed with eggs, sugar, apples and rum, baked and dusted with icing sugar. I didn't have rum so I used brandy which always works for me. Cut into pieces, it makes an easy snack. As the bread I used is half rye, I can convince myself that along with all the fruit it is fairly healthy.

Diamond Geezer

2011-01-23T22:16:00.000-08:00

These socks for Hiro were started a very long time ago but were quickly put to one side because checking a chart does not make relaxing TV knitting. Nothing wrong with the chart but variegated yarn meant I couldn't read my knitting enough to knit from memory.

The design is Diamond Geezer from Easy Knits and I used a sock flat by Flatfoot called Marine. I knit straight from the roll which didn't cause any problems with the tension. I think a monochrome yarn would be better as this doesn't do the design justice. Although I love intricate socks I'm still not convinced that an item which so few people see is worth all the effort. Hiro is very happy with his socks.

Kenobi Jacket

2011-01-17T21:24:00.000-08:00

This weekend I returned to the Kenobi jacket and the tedious task of blocking. I never block before sewing up a garment but this project demands it. The strips of different stitches pull the pieces out of shape making them lop sided. It probably doesn't help that I used an oiled yarn from my stash which has no bulk to it. However, when I washed my swatch it fluffed up beautifully so I remain optimistic.

The Kenobi jacket is by Norah Gaughan and appeared in Knitscene Spring 07. This is for Makoto who resisted my knits after the age of eight. Adrienne gave him a jumper and some socks which he liked and has worn a lot. I knit him Skully and the Antler scarf from "Son of Stitch and Bitch" which received lots of compliments, so we have slowly won him over. A month before he went to college he went on Ravelry, selected four designs and asked if he could have them for the start of term!

Bad,bad girl.

2011-01-12T09:57:00.000-08:00

Adrienne had mentioned bargains at "All the Fun of the Fair" in Kingly Court. So of course, when my appointment in town today finished earlier than expected, I just had to go and have a look. Luxury yarns at £5 a skein were too good to miss so I bought:
Drizzle 4ply Sock BFL
2 skeins of Smooshy Sock
Smooshy Baby Laceweight
Vancalcar Acres Flock Sock
Cariad merino and cashmere
Smooshy Classy worsted
Koigu KPPM

I also picked up some vintage ribbon, organza, some Christmas buttons and a gorgeous hand stitched tapestry pin cushion. Yes I've been bad but it could have been so much worse....or better!

Rowan No.49

2011-01-10T05:06:00.000-08:00

The new Rowan magazine arrived on Saturday. I've been disappointed in recent years as I felt too many old designs were being rehashed in the latest yarn. I didn't even bother buying the last summer issue which is unusual for me. This edition isn't very exciting either. Of course the photography is good and the shoots are beautifully stylized but there are only a couple of knits that really interest me.

The first is Fancy by Erika Knight in Kidsilk Haze. The shape is simple but the stitch pattern is beautiful and true to the idea of a summer knit. I often wonder if Rowan work on the principle that if they include one truly spectacular design the magazine will sell no matter what else is featured. This design has definitely made it on to my mile long to do list.

The second design is Daydream by Marie Wallin in Purelife Organic Cotton 4ply. This is a stunning victorian feel design but will I seriously knit a high necked cotton jumper? I love the lace stitches so I think that this could be one of those designs that I knit even though I know in my heart that it won't suit me and will just end up cluttering my wardrobe. Dangerous!

There are other designs that I reserve judgement on until I see them in the flesh. Some of Rowans best deigns have been totally uninspiring in the magazine but wonderful knitted up.I'm wondering if I could add sleeves to Allure or if the whole garment would just sag and look shapeless. I like the cut out cable of Cicely and perhaps would use that to knit something else. Pimpernel looks wonderful on the model but I know it is not for me.

First Knit of the New Year

2011-01-07T04:25:00.000-08:00

I've completed yet another pair of socks for Koji. This time I used Lion Brand Magic Stripes Brown/Blue Pattern colour 205. I think I picked up this yarn at one of Adrienne's yarn swaps. The yarn is 75% superwash wool and able to go in the dryer which makes it perfect for a teenage boy.

I followed the pattern for basic socks given on the ball band. The only change was using 3mm instead of 3.25mm needles. Of course I knit the foot a bit longer to allow for his rapidly growing feet.

These are slightly thicker socks which will be brilliant in his walking boots, especially if we are hit by snow again.

Whilst knitting these socks, I have been snuggled in one of my Lizard Ridge blankets sitting on a sheep skin. My father-in-law gave us two sheepskins when we bought leather sofas because he said they were too cold for the winter. At first we just humoured him but now I have to confess that there is always a tussle over who gets a sheepskin.

I've also been reading Agatha Christie which is a first for me as I've never really been interested in detective novels. This particular book was regarded as one of her masterpieces. It is certainly clever and a great read for on the tube or the beach when you need something easy to pick up.

Gingerbread Train.

2010-12-31T13:56:00.000-08:00

This years gingerbread offering is a train. Once again we cheated; kit from Aldi. This was a bit trickier than the house to put together but still a lot less bother than the agony of starting from scratch.

Christmas Cake

2010-12-31T13:49:00.000-08:00

I finished icing the cake on Christmas Eve. The cute marzipan Santa and tree are from Dunn's.

Christmas Outing

2010-12-31T13:26:00.000-08:00

As Pauline was leaving us for the USA, the Foyles group had planned a day trip to a lovely National Trust Pub. Weather reports said the snow would hold off til the weekend but conditions changed overnight and so we decided to cancel. We met at Adrienne's house and were enjoying a cup of tea by the fire when the first flakes fell. very quickly there were several inches on the ground and so we drove to Nest. Once again, i was unbelievably good and resisted the yarn but I did buy some Drops pattern books and some Addi Lace needles. It is such a lovely shop I want to support them.

Pauline arrived carrying Koji's skateboard which she'd kindly lugged all the way from new York. After a quick browse, we headed to Crouch End for lunch. The food was amazing as ever and we swooned at the cake selection and educated Jenny in the ways of meringue. Then Pauline educated us in the authenticity of a Pavlova.

Although it wasn't the day we had planned, It was very enjoyable. Foyles will be very strange without Pauline.

Stopped at Dunns before getting the bus and bought these fabulous cakes for the boys.

Secret Santa

2010-12-31T13:18:00.000-08:00

Santa was very generous again this year. A Just Enough Ruffles scarf and fingerless gloves in cashmere, some wooden needles and a pincushion. Lovely!

Bulgarian Socks

2010-12-31T13:04:00.000-08:00

The boys returned from their ski holiday to Bulagaria with a present of these hade knit socks. They are really thick and warm, just what I need to wear in my snow boots. Brilliant choice.

Unfortunately, the holiday wasn't such a hit. They ended up sleeping at Gatwick due to the snow disrupting flights only to find that Bulagaria was having the warmest winter for 90years. The ski equipment was dated, there wasn't much snow, Hiro and Akira missed two days skiing because they caught cold and Koji had an allergic reaction which left his face so swollen I didn't recognise him when he arrived home.The food was so salty they couldn't eat it and my boys eat anything! Yet, inspite of it all, they still say they had a good time.

Spring Forward Socks

2010-12-31T12:56:00.000-08:00

I finally got round to grafting the toes of my socks. I love this pattern as it is only two rows and so really easy to memorize. I hate having to keep checking charts but am bored with plain socks. These socks were made with Lorna's Laces sock yarn. I bought some odd skeins on one of our trips to Get Knitted which is why the cuffs, heel and toes are in a different colour.

Fruit Salad Citron

2010-12-31T12:39:00.000-08:00

The Citron pattern on Knitty must be the most popular pattern since Clapotis. Of course I had to join the crowd and knit one. I had this yarn in by stash. it is Eva by Posh Yarns. The silk content makes it really soft, just perfect for round the neck. I would have loved to have made it larger but of course I only had one skein.

I call this my Fruit Salad Citron because it reminds me of the chews by Trebor. I had to buy some to prove the point but found they'd updated the packaging and the sweet wasn't as bright as I remembered in my chemically enhanced childhood.

Sweater for Koji

2010-09-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

Koji is a rare being, in that he always knows exactly what he wants and has very definite ideas about what he likes. Consequently, he is an absolute joy to knit for as there are never any mistakes. Designs are quickly dismissed or accepted and he is very exacting when it comes to colour. We once left Liberty's empty handed as he decided they didn't stock the right green. His number one priority is that the yarn must be soft and not itch. He suffered from childhood eczema so he is the only one of my sons who doesn't think it is bonkers to walk around with a skein of yarn stuffed down his T shirt as a test run.

He chose this pattern by Kim Hargreaves because of its simplicity. I did change the collar a little. The yarn was bought on ebay and is made of several strands wound together. I am convinced it is at least part alpaca as it is so light, springy and soft. A joy to work with.The finishing touch was the vintage buttons Koji found in my button tin.I can only see one problem with this sweater; that it does not grow with its owner. despite being a perfect fit when it was finished earlier this year, it is now starting to look too short.

Interweave Fall 2010

2010-08-06T22:59:00.000-07:00

Fell through my letterbox this week and a few items went straight on to my never ending to do list.
I will make the Alpen socken and the Bavarian Tulip mittens as I already have the yarn in my stash. I do love the Proverbial cap but will probably never make it as I don't suit beanie type hats. The Plein Air tote is a possible; the double stranded yarn would make it sturdy. Also considering the Cloisonne Jacket in two shade of grey and talking Makoto into the Point Gammon Pullover. I like the Leyfi Pullover but the neck looks a little uncomfortable and I'm concerned that it will make anyone with boobs look huge. I am improving in selecting projects that I will actually wear.
I was particularly interested in Leitmtif Cardigan by Carol Feller. At the Zimmerman talk at Ravelry Day in Coventry last year, there was a woman in front wearing a great knitted top so I asked her about the design. It was Carol and one of her own designs. She probably doesn't even remember , but I love being able to put a face to a name. She was very friendly and talked about getting the yarn from the USA and the Lizard Ridge I was knitting, so of course I looked her up and have been following her designs ever since. Several are on my list mainly because of their wear ability. How many things have you knitted that have never made it out the house?

Too busy stripping!

2010-08-06T21:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've been a bad blogger. In truth, I haven't really been knitting much at all because I decided that I was mentally and emotionally strong enough to re enter the world of home improvements. When we bought this house I had great plans which quickly evaporated when the reality of expenses and dealing with builders kicked in. As the boys were young and wrecking everything in sight, it didn't seem worth the stress. I would really like to continue to hide my head in the sand but we've now reached the stage where work absolutely needs to be done. This is an Edwardian house which requires skilled workers. Most take one look and then never come back!

We sent Koji and Akira to Japan on their own this year so I could devote my time to the house. I am exhausted. I have looked at so many bathrooms, paint charts, architects plans etc I can't make a decision any more and all the while pound signs keep flashing in front of my eyes.

As a distraction I have been stripping wallpaper. Tedious but strangely satisfying as I can actually see some progression. With a face mask,goggles and a towelling turban to keep the dust out of my hair,I am a fright. This look is completed by a pair of giant earphones as I can't stand those torturous tiny ear plug things. Since the end of Lime n Violet, I've been searching for something to take their place. Sadly, nothing competes. I discovered their podcast after my Dad died and laughed till I cried. I did enjoy a podcast by Stephen Fry on " iTunes Meet the Author" about the development of computers and the Internet age. Fascinating and entertaining , even for a technophobe like me.

Bee Stripe Jaywalkers

2010-06-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite sock patterns, I thought the thin stripes of Lorna's Laces Bee Stripe would work really well but just look at the black pooling. I did try to convince myself that the black abstract pattern added interest but it didn't work.

Frogged!

Bobbin Lace

2010-06-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

Hendon library have started a Knit and Knatter session every fourth Thursday. Its a great idea and Lauren, the librarian, does a great job of making everybody welcome and sharing information. The group are very different to the Foyles group so it is really interesting. One of the ladies is about to retire to France and brought some of her lace to show us.

I have always fancied trying this craft. I always knew it would be time consuming but after discovering that this tiny little piece is about two hours work I really don't think its the craft for me. Here I must confess that I do have a cushion and selection of bobbins stashed in the loft.

Clapotis

2010-06-10T12:54:00.000-07:00

I finally wore the Clapotis I began when the snow scrambled my brain. It knit up quickly enough but it took me until April to sew in the ends, just in time for the crocuses. Even the snowdrops were two months late this year.

I bought the Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb in Sweetie from Pauline at the last yarn swap. I love Lion and Lamb and have completed two other clapotis using this yarn. I admit the colourway is bright; Pauline hated it and eldest son said it was disgusting but I am a sucker for anything purple. The dropped stitches help to stop it being overpowering.....I think!

Bella's Mitts

2010-06-03T22:58:00.000-07:00

For somebody who knits I have an amazing lack of scarves,gloves and not a single hat. How can this be? I suppose most winters here are so mild there's no real incentive but this winter caught me short and I had to resort to rummaging through the boys things to find a beanie which wasn't emblazoned with skulls and vaguely hygienic.

I tend to avoid knitting mitts/gloves because I am so careless I always return home with just one. I can't bear to think that I've wasted all that time. The shops could only supply cheap and nasty or eyewateringly expensive, so I decided to take the plunge. This pattern by subliminal rabbit is fun and knits up really quickly. I cast on at the Unravel festival but have only just got round to sewing in the ends . I used three skeins of Mirasol Sulka in Pepper. Thick, beautifully soft and a haze of colours makes this interesting. It is not a flat block of colour.

I have decided that through the year I will commit to knitting winter accessories instead of waiting till my ears are freezing and my fingers are numb!

Big Montana Tunic

2010-06-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

Hiro brought me some chunky Noro yarn called Circus back from Japan. Mainly black and grey with streaks of cerise and lime green. I loved it but unfortunately he only bought six 100g balls. I rooted through all my patterns and couldn't find anything which didn't require more yarn. When I saw this tunic in Interweave, I thought it was the answer. I started with a rim of cerise around the bottom ribbing and was really happy with the way the yarn handled and the design. It flew off the needles but before I did the armbands I decided to try it on. Disaster!

The lines of bright colour formed chevrons. It was as if I had a huge arrow pointing to my boobs!

If I'm honest I knew in my heart of hearts that this was not the right design for me. Chunky yarn when you're top heavy is never a good idea. However, I loved the fact that it made my flat bum look rounded.

Unravel, a festival of knitting.

2010-05-31T12:54:00.000-07:00

I've been reorganising my stash and finally got round to storing my purchases from Unravel, the knitting festival at Farnham Maltings. It was one of the best events I've ever been to, simply because it was a whole yarn experience; starting with yarnbombing in the car park and being greeted by Gotland and Southdown sheep at the entrance.Throughout the building there were sheep farming artifacts, displays of vintage buttons and knitting accessories as well as examples of finished projects.

The foyer pillars had been decorated by local groups with a variety of themes. I loved the humour and fun of the knitted snake and the intricate detail of Laura Rose Kimber's "little Treasures" inspired by children's stories and dolls houses. It made me think of Beatrix Potter.

I didn't sign up for any of the workshops but they were very reasonably priced at £12 to £20. The talks were free so I went to two.

The first was "The History of Fibres and Spinning" by Jan Blight. This lady really should write a book or do a podcast. Entertaining, informative and extremely modest, she is totally engaging. Jan was wearing a beautiful flame coloured jacket that she had spun, dyed, designed and knit. She knits in an instinctive manner allowing the yarn to suggest what it wants to be. Photos really don't do her work justice.

The second talk was meant to be "The Jarmson Sisters of Shetland" by Susan Crawford but the bad weather had prevented her travelling to do research. Instead we heard about vintage knitting patterns and rationing During and after WWII. It certainly explained why 3 and 4 ply patterns were so popular. I was intrigued by a pattern for socks that had no heel and was designed to grow with the wearer.These would be fantastic for my boys as they outgrow socks as fast as I can knit them.I must check to see if she has posted the pattern on her website.

The market place provided many opportunities for stash enhancement but I was very restrained; some merino and some laceweight from Coldharbour Mills and some zauerball that was very reasonably priced from Fibre Factory. I first discovered Textile garden at the Ravelry day in Coventry last year so was pleased to see them again. I bought some lovely ribbon and very cute Russian doll buttons. Many yarns have been added to my wish list.

2010-03-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

The New Year got off to a great start with a traditional Japanese breakfast, sake and a trek round a very frosty Hampstead Heath. Then, like Hobbits, we went for second breakfasts at Kenwood House. A lazy afternoon meant I could complete my first project of 2010.The Ruffled Edge Wrap is from an old edition of Vogue, knit completely in garter stitch with lots of short row shaping. I had bought some wool boucle on eBay because the colours looked interesting and it was a bargain. The yarn is beautiful, I love the colours but they just don’t suit me. However, they are perfect for a friend about to have a shoulder operation. The drapey wrap is just her style; the colours will compliment her green eyes and auburn hair beautifully. Hopefully, it will be a great pick me up.

It’s hard to believe that I actually wrote the above at the beginning of Jan and its now February! Unfortunately, my laptop started making grinding crunchy noises and then died. My sons need to be resuscitated if parted from MSM for more than a few minutes so I have to beg to use one of their computers.

The wrap was passed on to its new owner who loved it! I’m pleased as a minor disaster meant it was nearly ruined. Second son, Koji, received a gadget from Santa to create a “Soda Geyser” using Mentos and cola. As there was snow on the ground, the terrible trio decided to set up in the lounge then detonate in the garden. A tube was screwed on to the top of the bottle, the safety pin set in place and the Mentos dropped into the tube. As he picked up the bottle to move into the garden, Koji didn’t realise that his foot was on the string attached to the safety pin. Panicked, he put the bottle in the middle of the room. Eldest son bravely ran out of the room and youngest son froze, wide eyed at the fountain of cola that was now hitting the ceiling. I screamed, leapt across the room and put my thumb over the eruption; forgetting that there were holes in the sides where the safety pin had been, so now there was cola shouting out sideways in two directions. Thank God the instructions recommended sugar free soda; we were drenched, the walls and ceilings dripping and my completed project in need of another hand wash. They should be grateful I have a sense of humour, especial when the physics of the situation was explained to me; how I’d made a terrible mistake trying to stop the flow of cola. Also how I shouldn’t worry, we had another bottle of coke and just enough Mentos to try again outside!

Snow, snow, snow.

2010-02-22T05:24:00.000-08:00

Returning to England after nine years of living abroad, I dreaded Winter. We were lucky to enjoy years and years of mild weather but this year we have had snow on and off for months and it actually lay on the ground for a week. You would think that it would be the perfect excuse to sit indoors and knit but it appears to have scrambled my brain. I have been starting projects and loosing interest. Starting projects and changing my mind about the yarn. Starting projects and then wondering what the hell I was thinking. Consequently I've been doing a lot of frogging. I decided to return to a classic; Clappotis

2009-12-25T14:25:00.000-08:00

I was spoilt by my Secret Santa this year:

15og of soft, springy sock yarn.

Jeans sock pattern byAndrea Bogdon.

Stitch markers

A slab of chocolate covered almonds which mysteriously vanished by evening.

Yarn given together with a pattern is a lethal combination and I cast on as soon as I got home. I sometimes think that the saying "I can resist everything except temptation" should be my motto! Consequently, I still have to knit the sleeves of the Durrow sweater and sew the zips into Teva Durham's zip-off color-block yoke sweater.

Twelve years ago, I found an article about Gingerbread houses in a Christmas special from Australian Women's Weekly. Inspired, I decided to make one with my eldest son who was then five years old. It was to be a fun project. We would enjoy time together and get into a festive mood.How hard could it be? Very, as it turned out! After several hours,much cursing and a few tears, we achieved a slightly lopsided house held together with pounds of icing. You think I would have learned from this experience but no. This stressful event has been repeated many times over the years and made more tortuous by the boys deciding to design churches or luxury mansions. One collapsed minutes after completion under the weight of jelly tots, smarties and silver balls. This year we cracked it! The answer is CHEAT! I was Aldi when I saw a Gingerbread House kit; I had to buy one. The gingerbread pieces were all pre cut and there were holes in the base which were filled with icing and then the house sides slotted into the holes. Brilliant! In the past we'd balanced the pieces around a small cardboard box. Another useful tip was to make the icing with 250g of icing sugar, an egg white and a few drops of vinegar. This produced stiff, sticky icing which was easy to pipe but perfect "cement." Aldi, I salute you.

2009-12-25T11:39:00.000-08:00

About five or six years ago, in the early days of the Foyles knitting group, Pauline did her best to persuade everyone to create a blog. Some entertaining and successful blogs emerged as a result of her enthusiasm but there were three members who remained immune. Perhaps its no coincidence that we are roughly the same age. After more cajoling, Jen finally caved. That is when the guilt set in, my ally joined the bloggers; my shame was complete.......but I still didn't cave.

During its time, our group has shared a divorce, two marriages, two babies, exams, job interviews, visa problems,illness, the loss of a parent and a lot of knitting. Tuesday mornings have become a major part of my life. Inevitably, other commitments mean people move on but the blog remains. So here it is, my blog. My Christmas present to you Jen and absolutely nothing to do with your ability to bully me from another continent!