Charity Knit II

Modelled by DD. This is Center Square Hat from the winter issue of Knitty, I know I don`t need it until next November when it will form part of the Love in a Box that I do each year through work, but I needed a break from my lace scarf (not difficult but I`m getting a bit bored) and just fancied trying this pattern. I used some DK from my stash and it worked out fine. I did wonder if I should have had some more cheerful colours, but by the time I thought that I was too far down the line to undo it and start again, and besides, having picked up a pair of black knitted gloves in Dorothy Perkins sale for £1 this will go nicely with them.

Yesterday DD and I went to a `Card day` held at a friends house. Louise has all the gadgets you could wish for in her chosen hobbies and generously thought it would be nice for a group of us to get together and have a play. We all know each other from Tonbridge Lacemakers (except DD who was made very welcome) and so the seven of us had a lovely day. I am not a cardmaker but it being the one craft that DD shows an interest in, I was more than happy to go along and encourage it, and anything crafty is worth spending some time on.
We each took a contribution for a buffet lunch with Louise providing the drinks and we had a great time, recycling last years Christmas cards and generally learning, playing and giving and receiving ideas and techniques.
My efforts are left, DD`s to the right.
I still don`t think it is something I will do a great deal of, but it was great fun to try.

Charity Knit I

Well I never said they would be big things did I? In fact this is absolutely diddy, but since it is destined for the special care baby unit no doubt there will be a wee head to fit it.

That`s the good thing about charity knitting - no tension squares, after all the recipient will be found to fit the item, rather than having to knit to fit. So this little hat was made with an unlabelled ball of something or other, little dpns that looked about the right size, and a pattern I had printed off the internet sometime ago from `I haven`t a clue where` - what a fine pedigree, still it`s cute and if it helps keep a prem babys head warm, that`s the main thing.

Yesterday was the Tonbridge Lacemakers meeting, and my turn on the tea rota. So off I went armed with my cakes (Paradise Slice) and rubber gloves (some washing up liquids make my hands itch so better safe than sorry) to do my duty with a couple of friends. I do volunteer every year, I feel it is only fair to take a turn, but I can well see why others don`t....I`m so sorry, but I really can`t make tea the the perfect strength for each and every one of the 70 odd of you - I do my best, you can even add your specific amount of milk yourself if you like (though even that isn`t right for some of you since the milk of course should be put in the cup first..grrrrr) but at the end of the day I am only human! And how about those that moan the most volunteering first next year, huh?

Anyway, rant over.
I was so taken with the poem in the back of our newsletter (not lace or knitting related though), that I thought I would share it with you. I can`t give credit to the author as they are unknown.

Grandma and the Computer

The computer swallowed Grandma.

Yes, honestly it`s true.

She pressed `control` and `enter`

And disappeared from view.

It devoured her completely,

The thought just makes me squirm.

She must have caught a virus

Or been eaten by a worm.

I`ve searched through the recycle bin

And file of every kind,

I`ve even used the Internet

But nothing did I find.

In desperation I asked Jeeves

My searches to refine.

The reply from him was negative,

Not a thing was found`online`.

So, if inside your `Inbox`,

My Grandma you should see,

Please `Copy`,`Scan` and `Paste` her

And send her back to me.

Better late than never

HAPPY NEW YEAR



I know, it`s already the 7th and I haven`t updated the blog yet this year. My excuse, poor one though it is, is that I have now started working full time, for the first time in 14 years. I thought it would be really tough, but actually (so far) it has been good, and I feel less harrassed than I did working part time. No longer am I clock watching to make sure I finish dead on time to meet my friend to walk back to the car, and I don`t need to rush to beat DD home, and if a call goes into my break it isn`t so bad as my break is longer and I can afford to lose a little time where as with quarter of an hour break every minute counted.
Long may it continue - and I still have the school holidays to look forward to.


We had a lovely New Years Eve as expected, and didn`t get home til 2am. DD was a tired bunny so on New Years day she curled up in front of a DVD wrapped in her favourite crochet blanket made by Nan. It wasn`t long before she fell asleep, and quite some time later woke to find she was unable to move and couldn`t work out what was wrong - I could though

Some one had made themselves very comfy and was pinning the blanket down!

Well, I suppose it is traditional to make resolutions at this time of year - often I don`t but for 2007 I have decided on just two, one knitting, one not :-

........By the end of the year I want to have 10 knits for charity

.........And I want to have got a bit fitter, as I`m beginning to feel as if I`m slowing down and being in my early 40`s that is just not good enough!

Shouldn`t be too hard to succeed, she says, watch this space and I will keep you posted.