`Lace In` (or was it an Eat in?)

As part of the Lace Guild competition entitled `Seven` Tonbridge Lacemakers have decided to dress dolls basing the theme on the seven deadly sins, with small pieces of lace contributed by members and then dyed, each colour representing a sin. A small group of us decided the best way to get said peice of lace made would be to meet up one day and have a `Lace In`, so we duly assembled to begin our task - now me being me, decided I would knit a piece of lace knitting, just to be different (yes it does count) and started off with high hopes and a complicated pattern - now I don`t know if it was the heat, mistakes in the pattern, or just plain old me, but by lunch time I had frogged and tinked, and tinked and frogged and had absolutely nothing to show for it.

In the end with my only resource being a pattern book our hostess produced, I resorted to a very simple lace pattern and produced a square - now I know it isn`t very much to show for a days work, but it was on old fashioned size 14s with fine crochet cotton, and I found it awfully difficult to knit and eat at the same time - almost everyone had decided to make and bring along some goodies, without anyone realising we were all doing it, and it would have been very rude not to try the various cheese straws, cakes, muffins, biscuits and would you believe, some absolutely divine apple crumble and ice cream..... so much for my diet in readiness for my holiday!

Talking of knitting whilst doing something else, I hadn`t realised it was unusual to knit and read at the same time, (I mean we all knit and watch TV dont we? so I hadn`t thought anything of reading instead) I started it many years ago when my Nan had a blind friend who used to knit the most beautiful lace patterns (makes me feel even more ashamed of my little square above) and being an impressionable teenager at the time I thought if she could do that then I really ought to be able to at least knit stocking stitch without looking - so I did, and then being a book worm decided to combine the two - the only problem is keeping the book open!

Mrs P. really was an amazing knitter, her daughter used to record the pattern onto a tape, but she would only need to listen to it for a couple of repeats and she had it off pat - if she ever did drop a stitch, and living alone too, the first available visitor was enlisted to pick it up for her, including the milkman!!!!

Visiting my favourite shops again

Well what else is a girl supposed to do when she has 6 weeks off, and a 13 year old who loves a bit of retail therapy - besides we need some books for our holiday and I much prefer to buy them from the charity shops - they benefit and so does my purse, plus they end up at another charity shop when we have finished, so everyone is happy. Anyway, I digress, I couldn`t believe my eyes when I found Folk Socks for 50p, (50p !!) I have also been on the look out for the embroidery book since I did a weekend course a year or so ago, and had to have the needles, the only size I don`t have at only 20p a pair. Just how lucky can a girl get?

The two sleeves of the bolero are still two at the moment, though I am getting mighty confused at times as to which I have knitted and where I am going as I am using a circ and knitting straight (though it probably would help if I wasn`t reading at the same time!) - I will persevere for a bit, but may have to resort to long straight needles (which I find unwieldy) or only knitting one at a time, if my poor little brain finds itself still befuddled.

Fur coats this weather?!

I know we brits make a hobby of complaining about the weather, but it is a bit warm here at the moment, to put it mildly, but it is the animals that I feel the most sorry for. I`ve put Clover in his run in the shade to let the air circulate, but he is still a hot cross bunny, and poor old Dudley doesn`t know what to do with himself, though biting my ankles seems to help for a few moments!

When DD was a tiny tot, I remember commenting on the poor old puss cat being hot with his fur coat on. Some time later when all was quiet in the other room I looked in to see her examining the cats tummy, "I`m trying to find his buttons" she explained in all seriousness " so he can take his coat off and feel better" ! Ahhh, sweet!

The Bolero (for the much more grown up cat undresser) is coming along and now I remember why I don`t like making cardies, I have done 3 bits and there are still another 2 to go. I am having a go at knitting both sleeves at the same time - any bets as to how long before I forget to change balls of wool and carry straight across both sleeves with the same one?

As for my Bolero, DD and I went shopping yesterday and seeing one very similar to the pattern I have, I was persuaded to try it on......now I have 250g cream cotton DK to find something to knit with! oh well better that than spend all those hours knitting only to find I looked like a grown up in a kiddies cardi! Why do other people look so good in something and I look downright awful?

ps. I am having problems with uploading a photo today, so will try to add something later, blogger permitting.

Manning the phones for Sport Relief

Well womanning them actually, but it doesn`t sound quite the same!

Through a colleague at work I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to volunteer to answer the phones for Sport Relief last Saturday at the BT Tower in London. We went up early as the guys who had done this before were very keen to be allocated to the higher level call centre, I just did as I was told not really knowing what to expect - but I have to admit to being a bit taken aback when I was told we were going to the 34th floor! The lift travels at 1400 ft per minute and took approx 30 seconds to reach our destination! but when I stepped out of the lift with shaking legs and my stomach still somewhere around the second floor, it wasn`t just the speed of ascent that took my breath away.
Any thoughts that I might be afraid of heights were immediately forgotten as I walked round and round the building entranced by the views.

It was just as good when night fell, the lights of London were fascinating, but unfortunately the reflections on the glass made a decent photo impossible.


Once the phone lines opened we got under way, and being part of the relief team (with the lovely orange T-shirt to denote my status!) I spent the evening moving from one desk to another to cover the volunteers breaks, and with no way of stopping the call from coming through, we got change overs down to a fine art so as not to miss any donations.

It was incredible how quickly the time passed and before I knew where I was it was midnight and home time, by now of course all the trains down south had stopped running, so we were provided with a black cab to take us home, typically we were the last cab load to be picked up (possibly something to do with a reluctance on the drivers part to go outside of the M25) - and I finally walked in at 3am, tired but happy.

It`s arrived, it`s arrived!

My parcel from my Oneskein secret pal was waiting for me on my doorstep and just look what was inside. I`ve done my best to capture the lovely colouring of the yarn, hand dyed with Koolaid, but I still don`t think I have done it justice, the variation doesn`t show on my screen but it reminds me of delicate summer fruits, pavlova, cream, and yummy things.(I know, I know, I can`t help it though) It has a curious fruity smell which I can`t quite put my finger on. It really is beautiful and is jumping up and down screaming `Knit me, Knit me` so as soon as I find the pattern to show it off to it best advantage, I will do just that - I`m thinking a simple lace scarf possibly, but not so involved as to detract from the colouring, hmmmmm.


She has made me some gorgeous stitch markers too, so much nicer than the austrian blind curtain rings I had been using!

Actually, I`m beginning to wonder if my secret pal has been spying on me, not only has she sent super yarn, and lovely stitch markers, but the card that came with them is so good too, she must have been watching Dudley! It is entitled ` Some of the places cats like to sleep...`
1- wherever you are about to sit (yep I can identify with that one)
2- on the clean washing (yes again)
3- on a flower (of course, but you throw some of the soil out first)
4- in the way (Oh DEFINITELY)
5- on a tea towel (if he can)
6- in the cupboard (uh huh)
7- on the draining board (well it`s in the sun)
8- in the pram (I`m sure he would if I had one)
9- on the bread board (given half a chance)
10- behind your head (or on it!)
11 - on your pillow (where else?)

Its all excellent, thank you so much, Puss, I do hope you are getting just as lovely gifts yourself.

Knitting amongst the sheep

Wasn`t it hot on Sunday? And I don`t do hot! DD had decided to go swimming with cousins, so DH offered to take me out.....to his flying field! He promised me a shady tree, a canvas chair and a couple of hours knitting, so with just a backwards glance at the ironing pile, I took him up on his kind offer.
Though I know many of the flyers (he has been with the club over 20 years) and I often go to the other site (mainly to photograph his models as the magazine RCM & E he writes for always want flying shots) I have never been to the site at Headcorn Airfield. So there I sat, surrounded by Model flyers and plenty of sheep (and associated mess - you don`t wear your best white shoes here!) for a very pleasant knit while DH threw ....

this around the sky, in a quite impressive way. It has a 5` wingspan, in case you were wondering how big it is, and is powered by a small internal combustion engine, whose specifications I won`t bore you with, mainly because the details do tend to go in one ear........


Once we had got past the stereotypical questions about what I was knitting (DD`s pale pink bolero) with the relevant answers, ie... no, I`m to old to want to go through that again, and DD is too young ...(do people really think the only things we knit are for babies!)... I had a good old chat and knit, and I`ve nearly finished the back - which is not bad for me in less than a week, though I know it`s no where near up to the speed of most of you.

Only snag was, the ironing fairy must have gone out too, `cos the pile is still sitting where I left it :0(.

Two Boleros

Yes two boleros, or what ever the plural of bolero is, on the left is DD`s and on the right is mine. Ok, so not quite, but if you use a big bit of imagination and given time that`s what I will have.

I was very impressed by the service from Diane`s knitting Yarns. I placed the order late on Saturday evening, and the yarn was on my doorstep on Tuesday morning. The only way it could have arrived quicker would have been if they`d driven here themselves! A pat on the back to them for their speed, friendly email and for using Royal Mail rather than one of those annoying delivery firms who will insist on leaving a note saying they tried to deliver and will do so again tomorrow, but with no clues as to how to contact them, which is no earthly good to anyone who works and needs to make alternative arrangements. I`d much rather go and pick it up from the post office, than frustratedly wait in the hope that delivery firm will just happen to pick a time when I am at home or DH is off on a lieu day. Sorry, rant over.

Anyway, the Kool Kotton is very nice to knit with, and hopefully the bolero will grow quickly, even though I had to go down two sizes of needle to get the tension right (I always have tension problems with my knitting being `too loose` and was once told by the owner of my old, sadly missed, now closed down, LYS that I obviously found knitting too relaxing!)
I started with DD`s (aren`t I a lovely Mummy) as it is stocking stitch and so doesn`t take too much thinking about. I hope to have it finished for our holiday as requested, and I can well see I will be taking mine too - though probably on the needles!

Knitting with `real` yarn

I am really pleased to be knitting with `real` yarn again after that horrible ladder stuff (- thanks for the comments and it was only the fact that I liked the finished effect that kept me going). It is taking a bit of getting used to the girt fat circs, but at least it will grow quickly, I am making The clutch you`ll never give up from One skein except that I will be giving it up as it is a pressie!

I need to get knitting though, having tried on a bolero in the shop and not liking the price I decided I would knit the lacy version of this.
DD promptly put in her order for the plain one, she only wants it for our hols in August and so did I! I know that for many of you that wouldn`t be a problem, but at the speed I knit!!!!!! Well I have ordered some Kool kotton and will be beavering away to get the bag off the needles for when it comes (I hope.)

At long last

Hooray, I have finally finished the Firefly stole, and here modelled by the lovely Doris (the dressmakers dummy!) is the article itself. DH even commented that it was nice! but I have never known anything so simple take so long - it was only 50 stitches and garter stitch for heavens sake, but I just couldn`t knit normally with that stuff some how. But at long last it`s done, and I can make something else now.

One skein wonder.

Look what the postman brought me! My One skein pal has obviously been thinking hard and a lovely skein of Noro Kabuto is the result - the colour is so nice too. I haven`t knitted with Noro before, and without any shops locally selling it I have only been able to look at it on the web and imagine - and it is just as nice as I thought it would be. I`m not sure what I will make with it yet, but that`s ok, I`m enjoying fondling it!

The card, in case you wondered, says "Manhood", thought Dickie "is a very serious business" and with the plane in the background is very appropriate (for anyone who doesn`t know, my name comes from the fact that DH spends much of his spare time out flying radio controlled model airplanes!)

So thank you very much Pusscat.

A finished UFO?

Yes, I know it sounds like a contradiction, but here is the picture to prove it. After the trouble I had with this pattern, I`m very pleased with the result and relieved to say my latest creation is proving to be much easier, though there is not enough to show here just yet.

On the knitting front the Firefly shawl is progressing s_l_o_w_l_y, but I will get there soon (I hope).

Is `One Skein` good for the stash?

She who never had a stash (other than odd balls of acrylic from years gone by) is now having to find somewhere to put her newly acquired yarn, and it is all the fault of One Skein
Before I would have cast aside odd balls considering them as of no use, but now I see potential, and here are my latest acquisitions. The Debbie Bliss is actually a beautiful shade of purple, but no matter how hard I try I can`t get the photo to do it justice, and no...I don`t know what I am going to do with it yet. The beige wool of unknown make (unusual to have a label and no clues) is 100% wool handwash only, so that will be a felted something.

I keep finding these wonderful bargains in my favourite shops......if only they sold extra hours in the day too!

Friendship

I`m afraid the knitting hasn`t had much of a look in this week, the firefly scarf has grown a bit but that is all as I have been busy with the lacemaking instead.
Our teacher (though she is more like a friend) suggested a joint piece called `Friendship` where each of the 10 of us lace friends do a small part, so here it is, though you can`t really see my work as it`s the bit hidden by the pins! The thread is lovely to work with and doesn`t come out at all how you expect from looking at the reel - ok so the link isn`t actually the one we are using, as she has sold all of that colour way which was called jewel, but I am using this one in my own piece and it is fascinating to see how the colouring is working out.

I have high hopes of getting back to the knitting this week, having done 34 of the 50" needed, and I am desperate to knit something else in normal wool and in colour, but I daren`t start anything else or this stole will never get finished.

Another day, another town.

I thought I would go to Maidstone today as it has been such a long time since I last went, and here is the sum total of my purchases !
Oh and a cup of coffee in C&H Fabrics lovely coffee shop, but I drank that! The ribbons and bits were in a bargain £1 pack (now there`s a surprise) and are destined to embellish some patchwork if I ever get around to it, I have a half formed idea in my mind, something after the indian red/gold/cerise/general bright colours theme, which I think is stunning, but I can`t quite get it finalised - think I may have to start and see what happens. Though C&H have a lovely yarn section, I don`t really need anything and nothing was calling to me, so after a general wander round the town I called into Hobbycraft and with all that stuff in there I spent a whole 65p on the jump rings which will eventually become stitch markers. I almost felt embarressed to go to the till!

And the cat? Well he jumped up and down on the shelf of the PDSA shop and said "buy me" so I just had to oblige.

Hey, did I mention a charity shop there?!

I`m not addicted!

I`m not addicted, really I`m not, I could stop any time I wanted! but those charity shops do have rather a draw, and you will probably have gathered by now that I like a bargain, and if it is all in a good cause, then so much the better.

Having dropped DH and DD off at the station at 6.20am (Zzzzzz - oops sorry) for their little break, I have the next few days all to myself. So I decided to pop over to Tonbridge for a wander today, where they have no less than 8 charity shops (yes that`s right eight!) and as I had also heard that Beales (mini department store) has now opened a craft department, I really thought I ought to check it out. Well, they have but I found it a little disappointing after what I had heard, but then as,up till now, you would have been hard pushed to buy a sewing needle let alone a knitting needle in Tonbridge I suppose it is an improvement.

Nothing terribly exciting in the charity shops either, but I enjoyed browsing which is the main thing and came back with a few bits
The book is for DD - and in case you are wondering it is called Knocked out by my Nunga nungas (don`t ask... though other titles in the series include `It`s ok I`m wearing really big knickers` and `Then he ate my boy entrancers`! well DD will be pleased she`s been wanting this one and they are rather funny and appeal to a young teenage girls sense of humour - they can relate to the characters and happenings) The address book is so I can get all the websites I use into some kind of order with their relevant details.
And the crafty bits, - the chunky is to have a go at the Ruffle Cravat from One skein, the crochet cotton is for Lace, and the little tin is something I have been after for ages to keep my stitch markers in in my knitting bag!
So actually, looking at it I did quite well after all.

Right now off to knit or make lace, or shall I put the kettle on.....Oh dear life is full of choices!

Rain stopped play.

Isn`t it just typical, this is the first sunday for ages that I have had nothing planned, DH and DD went off early to a Model show (Radio controlled models that is in case you were wondering), so I checked the local papers and decided to go bargain hunting at the Boot Sale. I stepped out of the door, and the heavens opened. A quick phone call to Mum and Dad (veteran bootsalers who have stalls virtually every week) confirmed that it had been cancelled, they had already been, got wet in an earlier shower whilst I was still snoozing, come home and unpacked, and it was still only 8.30 am. Oh well, I suppose I can`t complain too much, I have had a couple of lucky finds this week already having found some patterns at 10p each in a local charity shop which will give me some alternatives for Feed the children when I get round to it again, and also for the scbu. I also found the ball of Kidsilk Haze VERY reduced in my LYS, It wouldn`t be my first choice of colour, I would prefer something brighter/stronger but it will be a good and cheap way to try the yarn out. I have often thought of knitting River but have hesitated to take on something ambitious without knowing what the yarn is like, after all I`ve read on blogs and forums. So this is a good chance to try without the cost. I will probably make Branching out from Knitty, as I have had that printed out and waiting for the right wool for a long time.

I have been asked what I have planned to knit - now that is a difficult question to answer as on the whole I wait for something to find me when I want a new project, as I have a habit of changing my mind, so I prefer not to buy yarn ahead of time, (unless of course it is a real bargain). Having said that
while I was looking around for ideas for the One skein secret pals exchange this did somehow fall into my basket!
I seem to have a million and one patterns saved for scarves of all types and sizes, several bag patterns and a few sock ones too. I am hoping to make Tempting II with some burgundy Rowan Calmer, which I originally bought for the ubiquitous Clapotis, except part way through I decided I wasn`t enjoying it, the yarn wasn`t right for it, and I probably wouldn`t wear it anyway - so I frogged it.
The other thing I would quite like to make is Tubey but being a cheapskate, I`m still on the look out for some suitable yarn (at bargain prices of course!)

I may have to hop

I was having a ferret round in the work room ( anything to avoid actually knitting that horrible Firefly stuff), and I found this, well actually I knew it was there, I`ve just been ignoring it! I know it needs a friend, and I do love the colours, but I seem to have second sock syndrome. This one was knitted in the comfort of the train to and from a lovely long weekend break DH and I had in the Lake District earlier this year - it seems to be the only time I feel like knitting socks - on a train. Now there`s a thought.... I wonder if I could persuade him to take me again, I mean the poor little sock is lonely after all!

Lace and back again

Yesterday (being the second saturday in the month) was Tonbridge Lacemakers meeting. This month it was our `Bring & Buy` and `Show & Tell` Not many were brave enough to Tell, but we had some lovely items on show, and some of the lace I can only aspire to. As I am still in my first year as a member, I didn`t know quite what to expect, so went as an onlooker rather than a participant - but it would have been rude of me not to have taken part in the `Buy` bit, now wouldn`t it?
It`s not as though I don`t already have a large number of bobbins, but you can never have too many, and these were a bargain, I just loved the shapes and the woodgrains. I had to respangle the two pairs - those on there just weren`t to my taste, but that was fine as I had some beads sitting waiting for the right bobbin, so here is my bargain of the day. Not bad for £2.20!


The rest of the day was spent very pleasantly, chatting making lace and, in my case, quite a bit of reverse lace! (Which I suppose serves me right for concentrating more on the conversation than the lace especially when I know what a so and so the pattern is.) This is going to be a UFO - no I don`t mean I am not going to finish it, though if I go backwards much more that is a very tempting option, but it fits in one of those glass flying saucer type things that is a tea light holder.

It`s exciting!

I have just received an email from my one skein secret pal, so hello pusscat it was lovely to hear from you, and here are the answers to the questions - had to put my thinking cap on for some of these -


Which yarn is most like your personality (you can be specific or general with your answer- brand,type, color, fiber, whatever)?

Oh dear, difficult one that - um, something fairly reliable and trustworthy and reasonably soft and forgiving, but classic, so maybe a nice cotton

What is your favorite color yarn to knit/crochet with?

I don`t have a particular favourite to knit with, but I do like purples, mauves and cerise-y type pinks.

Have you ever used variegated, or magic, yarns?

Yes I have, self patterning sock yarns and good old fashioned multicolour yarns too.

Do you tend to favor certain fibers when choosing yarns?

No not really, I`m happy with most things and the choice depends on what I`m making, who for and how much.

Do you prefer to work with center-pull or traditionally wound balls of yarn?

I don`t mind either.

Have you ever worked with organic yarns or are you interested in trying them?

I have never tried them, probably because I have only recently become aware of the wonderful range of wools and yarns available and for many years have been content with basic yarns as much of what I have done has been for charity. I`m now beginning to branch out more and be a bit more adventurous.


How many and what projects have you made in the last year?

Well, there were the eight little chicks at the beginning of the blog :-)
the shawl for DD, two scarves for me, one and a half pairs of socks, some maryjanes for DD, umpteen bootees and a few bonnets for the scbu, a jumper for Feed the Children and some little hats for Innocent and a felted bag that didn`t!, I think thats about it, if you don`t count the stuff I started and frogged


Will you be knitting any gifts this year?

I haven`t planned anything (except the secret pal gift!) but that isn`t ruling anything out, DD has a habit of coming up with suggestions!


What is your favorite one skein project?

Oh tricky one that - I love the bags and the cable scarves but there are loads of patterns in there I would like to try.

How much yarn do you have in your stash and how do you store it?

Not a lot, most of it is odds and ends of acrylics left over from years gone by, that will eventually come in handy, and it`s stored in one of those cheap and nasty checked plasticy bags tucked in the cupboard in my workroom.


Do you have a yarn in your stash that you love so much you can never use it or part with it?

Sadly, no.


Do you knit less or differently in the summer?

I probably do knit less in the summer, gardening seems to take over or just out walking and enjoying the weather.

Do you belong to any knitting groups (online or offline)?

Not sure if you count it, but I do belong to angel yarns forum


Wow what a long blog entry - hope it`s all ok, and just because I feel all blogs should have a picture

I took this in my garden at the weekend, DH told me it was out of focus, but I like it and replied I was going through my `artistic` phase!

Another Chick

The knitting seems to have taken a back seat for the last few days, but I suddenly had the urge to do some patchwork and having been given this
pattern from a workshop that I had been unable to attend at Tonbridge Lacemakers
I thought I would give him a go - not that I need yet another pincushion but I thought he was rather cute and though I quite like log cabin, I had never used a foundation square before. Dudley was quite impressed too and the chick had to be rescued from him. So he promptly went out and found himself two real live birds in quick succession - there is definitely a disadvantage to having a cat flap!