Colour Inspiration

My new Blue Face Leicester, 4ply wool was customer dyed by Becky King. I love the gorgeous, jewel colours and can't wait to start knitting with them.

Becky is a joy to work with. Having only two photos to work with she's done an amazing job. I can't tell you the technical side of things but our inspiration for the colour combinations came from Design Seeds. The first is refreshing hues.

The second is tropical birds.

My photos don't do justice to the colours but it's murky and wet outside. Just the right weather to get out my pins and decide what to make with them.

Thanks Becky!

Cable blanket

This started out as a cable crochet blanket but has changed identities along the way.

There are three different panels here; a right cross cable, a left cross cable and one that I've named a bobble ladder. I've made six so far and they need to be pieced together with a crochet join.

The pattern for the cables is Lion Brands classic cable throw. The bobble ladder is my own pattern. I wanted more texture with a panel that fitted the twists of the cables hence the odd pieces of lifeline yarn.

Bobble Ladder

I used Aran weight wool and 6mm knitted needles.

MB-make bobble. These are 5 stitch bobbles. For a tutorial Vogue knitting is the best.

Cast on 25

Knit 2 rows (edging)

Pattern 

Row 1:  k2, p2, k17, p2, k2 (right side)

Row 2 and every ws row: k4, p6, k5, p6, k4

Row 3-11: as row 1

Row 13: k2, p2, k8, MB, k8, P2, k2

Row 15-17  as row 1

Row 19: k2, p2, k3, MB, k9, MB, k3, p2, k2

Carry on in pattern until it's the required length. To fit the cable panel; 

Repeat the rows 2 to 6   

Knit 2 rows

Cast off in knit

Big news!

This is the reason I've been absent from blogland for so long.

Yes, it's my very own book. It's taken a year from the initial concept to its publication.

I can't thank the staff at Quarto enough for their help and guidance. They've been wonderful to work with. I'm so pleased with the finished book. The photography and layout are superb.

I'll tell you more about the process in later posts. In the meantime I'm off for a vanity check on Amazon

Deep, hot water

Five shades of Wendy Merino 4 ply and 3mm knitting needles  - a story of unravelling disintegration.
or
What started as an experiment in adding texture to knitting nearly ended in plagiarism.

I wanted a way to add pleats or folds. Slip stitches that pulled up the starting row seemed the way to go. It was intended to look like rolling waves and it worked.

After writing up the pattern I came across a video on YouTube for rolling pleats. It's for a stitch pattern published in the May 2008 issue of Simply knitting and yes, it was almost the same as mine. So it was back to the drawing board.

One thing you might not know about me is that I listen to The Cure while I work. It's appropriate that I found my inspiration while listening to Disintegration.

I stripped it back to the bare stitches. What's the point of slipping stitches on every row when you don't need them? Got rid of them and bring them back when you actually want to work them.

The result was a crisper, sharper fold and much easier to write up. It's original and now I'm not in The Same Deep Water as Robert Smith.

Introducing Dan

Meet Maudie's new friend Dan, the fisherman.

Since Reggie's move to Hong Kong, Maudie has been quite lonely.  She's got a new friend now. I've got a feeling that he's not going to stick around long.

Not only is he ruggedly handsome with a spiffy cabled jumper and roll down sou'wester, the girls will be impressed with his full organic beard.

He likes to stand at the harbourside and show off his catch. Today is not a good day. He's managed to trawl in one tiny fish, a family of starfish and a couple of strands of seaweed. The girls won't be impressed with his fishing skills. Dan said, 'You should see the one that got away.'

Maudie replied' 'So should you!'

We all remember how dapper Reginald was.

If you want to find out more about Dan you can find him here.

April Art Party

This month's Art Party for the Etsian Artists has been completed. Each month we are given a random word to interpret in any creative way. The random word for April was 'timelessness'.

I found this quite a challenge but my mind drifted towards the maths of crochet. The construction of circles and squares, the squaring of circles, spirals, linear patterns and repeats are all based on basic equations. The Archimedean spiral and the logarithmic spiral can all be found in nature both can be created in crochet. The technique of hyperbolic crochet was first discovered in 1997 by Cornell University mathematician Dr. Daina Taimina.

I admit I'm not a mathematician and most of the formula and equations I don't understand. Given yarn and a hook I can demonstrate an understanding of geometry.

Spirals can be made by a simple increases and it's quite fun to see them curl around themselves. Both the mustard brooch  and the pink brooch have been listed on Etsy.

My work in progress looks at concentric circles. Working with organic cotton I've knitted a shawl collared jacket with a matching beanie. I like the simple plain, purl pattern that gives a chunky feel to the cotton. The photos aren't the best. The drought has continued to break all record and it's the wettest April in a century. Today there are over 33 flood warnings and 158 flood alerts. The shortage of natural light doesn't show the shade at its best.

As an added bonus the shaping of the crown of the beanie produced a really interest pattern. I'm sure there's a formula to explain it but all I need to know is it can be achieved by diminishing decreasing on alternative rows!

Miniature Knitter

The days have gone when I knitted Fair Isle jumpers from 3 ply wool using 2mm needles. These days I favour nothing finer than a good old double knit.

Tonight, after a spot of blog hopping via Crochet With Raymond and from there to My Sister's Knitter, I found the most awesome video. The world of miniature knitting a la Althea Crome was revealed. Lots of questions jumped out at me, 'Why?' 'How?' 'Do you need to wear glasses?'

It's not something I intend to take up but you have to admire the skill and dedication shown here. Sit back and be amazed. 

Play it again Clint

This time with emotion! Not misty but foggy. And not the best day for a walk but it's one of those days when it's warm and springlike even if you can't see a thing. It's also been a day of strange happenings.

I got retweeted by our celebrity weatherman. Given it was a pretty poor joke but it was raised enough of a chuckle for him to press retweet. No, I not going to share it with you.

The road to my favourite beach has been changed. My favourite restaurant has closed down. I should have gone more often, drank more wine, been tempted by the desserts. Gone too is the death defying drive along the cliffs. Instead a step climb with an embankment so that you can't see the drop. Now that's my kind of road. I shall be going more often, taking more snaps, taking longer walks.

The beach is strange in the fog. The surf roars so much that you don't where the sea is and figures come out of the murk.

There was no way I was crossing the stepping stones at Ogmore today.

 and the castle looked less than inviting.

Back home to a warming cuppa and I finished this in time for the big match tomorrow.

C'mon Wales!

If Wales wins I'll tell you the joke but I'm not tempting fate. Have a great weekend.

Play misty for me

The weather is no better. I've just got soaked walking around town. You're a wimp in these parts if you put up an umbrella for mist. Midsomer Murders is about to start so I'll get on with the next one. In the meantime I'll leave you with this.

IKEA hacking

It's a wild, wet, windy day. I've amused myself by watching Midsomer Murders and yarn bombing two IKEA clocks. From IKEA they are basic and functional not to mention inexpensive. With a little love and attention they can look like this and this

Yarn Diet

It's the weekend and the sun is shining. The temperature has risen to a barmy 5 above. Yeah!!!

This means that I'm putting off a dreaded chore for another day. The storage boxes are ready and the intent is there but who can waste a day like this in February?

For another day I'm putting off sorting through my wool stash. In fairness all my wool is sorted. I've got organised grouped boxes labelled, org DK, org 4,  nonorg 4, nonorg DK, nonorg CH, nonorg SCH. What I need to do is sort my scraps into the same. I don't throw anything yarn related away.

I've also promised myself that I won't buy another ball of wool until I've used up my stash but any knitter will know that won't happen. The yarn diet is something we often chat about on the knit1treble2 team. You can find their blog full of gorgeous yarn related treasuries here.

One of our team, the lovely Alice from The Sequinned Sheep posted this on Twitter earlier today and I just had to share it with you. Sit back and enjoy!



Have a great weekend!

February

In the poem
January brings the snow,

Makes our feet and fingers glow.

February brings the rain,
Thaws the frozen lake again.

Well, Sara Coleridge might have thought that in 1834 but I'm more inclined to go with the version by Michael Flanders.

January brings the snow
Makes your feet and fingers glow.


February's ice and sleet
Freeze the toes right off your feet

This week has brought all of that, ice, sleet, snow, wind, freezing temperatures. I'm so glad I live here. Continental Europe has been plunged into serious minus figures. Saturday brought this. Through the snow you can just make out the orange chest of a bullfinch.

Here he is in his finery. He didn't stick around long because he was sent packing by this little thug.

I don't know where robins have picked up the cute tag. They are the terrorists of the bird world and will fight any bird that encroaches their territory. The Victorians again probably because they looked good on those new fangled Christmas cards.

With this going on outside it was good to settle down in the warm and start a blanket. I like the way the self patterning wool worked out. It's got an almost 1940s feel to it. Luckily it wasn't 1840s or it would have been very wrong! Finished and listed today. You can find it here in my Etsy shop.

Derek our local weather man has threatened more tonight. He's never wrong, so keep warm!

New Year's resolution

I must lose weight!

My jumpsuits are beginning to rise up. Just look at the before and after Christmas photos!

Catable?

My thoughts on dressing up pets have changed over the years. Our first cat Mickey (after the mouse) liked to be dressed up and pushed around in a pram. He looked good in a baby bonnet and could really carry off a frilly dress.

I'm a grown up now and Mickey went to cat heaven a long time ago. I hadn't thought of him for a long time until I read Marilyn's blog and I found this,

Simply gorgeous from Getting stitched on the farm.

Now do you think Dizzy would oblige? Or perhaps Posie? Oh, heck I might just have to 'borrow' a lamb from my friend Jan!

Hello, October

I knew if I waited long enough September wouldn't disappoint. Three days of blazing sunshine more than made up for hurricane Katya. October has started off at its most brilliant if not a little bizarre. Crochet in the garden with the leaves falling around me, primroses flowering and sycamore helicopters whirling around. It's almost a scene from a good, old fashioned Disney film. The seasons have mixed and blurred and that's a good thing.

A ladybird is the only thing that ruins my day. It lands and is blown away home. It comes back and is blown away home. It became irritating. I had a break and reached for my camera. I stalked it until it landed and then snap!

Can you see it tucked up in the rose? Mmm, I don't think it's a 'normal' ladybird I think it might be a harlequin ladybird. These are native to Asia, and were introduced to North America and continental Europe as a biological control agent because it eats more pest insects than any other ladybirds. Sadly, harlequins will also eat the larvae of other ladybirds and the eggs and larva of butterflies and moths. We have 45 species of native ladybird in Britain and they play a key role in our ecosystem, but the harlequin has the potential to ruin this.

I didn't realise what it was until I downloaded the photos last night. I've sent the photo to the survey website. Perhaps it's an innocent native and not a nasty foreign invader.

On the work front I've joined the Folksy daily listing club, October Owls. I won't be posting everyday as I did in July but I'll give you a taste of my listings.

Those of you who remember Bill the burglar will be pleased to know that he's still living in London with Edward. I've listed two of Bill's friends, Maudie and  Reginald. They're cwtched up in their favourite blankets.

They're also available on Etsy here and here.

Have a good week!

Pantone colours

Nougat

Last week's colour, quarry, was one of my favourites but as Kris of Cat House Prints said, 'Pantone must have been in a hurry the day they wrote the color description!'

Well, this week we have an even shorter description,

A deliciously warm camel tan, Nougat, is tastefully embellished by Phlox, Emberglow or Honeysuckle.

Pantone probably doesn't have to enthuse about these colours because they are staples. The more unusual the colour the more it has to be promoted.

I've been knitting furiously in the glorious, warm weather. Nearly finished are a thick cable scarf and matching headband. Just what you need, not today but in the months to come. Excuse the shadows. It's the blazing sunshine!

It's often very difficult to get exact matches when doing treasuries but this is my take on nougat. Enjoy all the lovely warm caramel on Etsy.



I hope the sun continues to shine for you. Have a great weekend!

PS
Did I mention the sun is shining?

The Last Knit

I found this today. It captures knitting addiction perfectly. How many of us have been so obsessed?

Sit back and enjoy. I'm in the middle of a crochet cushion cover so I can't join you. I have to finish tonight!!!!




Wasn't that good?

Take one a day

Day 26

I've been all fingers and thumbs today, literally. Last winter Rolla had a cute pair of mittens with a fold over flap. They came from a high street shop that prides itself on quality. I was soon asked to stitch the thumb because it had started to unravel. They were a very simple design so last night I searched for a pattern to make a pair.

I'd been wanting to use my circular needles to knit in the round. Do you think I could find a pattern I wanted? Who knew that the world of gloves was so complicated? There are fingerless gloves, thumbless, wrist warmers, arm warmers, convertible, fingerless mittens, flip tops and new to me glittens - cross between gloves and mittens.

I wasted hours searching last night and then came across just the thing I wanted -  mittens with a flap. They're by Pretty Knitty Designs and you'll find them on Ravelry. Even more hours were wasted today struggling with four needles because I couldn't get the hang of the circular one. Eventually I found a great video - Knitting tips by Judy

I used a pretty boring inexpensive acrylic because I didn't want to waste good wool. The pattern worked out well but I've only had time to make one.

They look a little bit like oven gloves because they're way too big. This is my hand! My hands are not big.

It's OK for a first attempt but I can't see me adding them to my repertoire. My hat goes off to all you glove makers out there!

Listed today on Folksy is a brown gingham hanger cover with a blue cross stitch heart. I have a stack of wire coat hangers from  dry cleaners. These disguise the hangers and make them a far nicer addition to the wardrobe.

My Folksy July Jewel today is Sophie's Stuff. This set of pretty buttons is just right for adding a touch of vintage. They're really sweet.  

Take one a day

Day 11

I've tried really hard today to get my little, knitted doll finished but I've had one of those days. Why we haven't got caller ID, I don't know. It started off with the now all too common, "I'm phoning you because you have a fault with your computer." My answer of "Tell me the name of your company," was shouted down by the person on the other end.

Next to follow, "Are you aware of the council's scheme for providing solar panels?"

The agency phoned asking about my availability this week. I thought that one was quite funny as they haven't found me any work in the last six weeks. I told them I was available every day. They won't phone again!

I answered a knock at the door and the double glazing salesman actually backed away. He must have heard me growling!

So my poor day project is almost finished but I had to take photos before it rained again and we lost the sun completely today. It's almost there. I have to sew on a few bows and give the little lamb a decent face and Bill can have another friend.

Excuse the ends and the murky, grainy photo. I promise that tomorrow I'll post a better one.

Today's listing is a mellow, yellow pincushion. It's a differnt colourway to the pink one I finished yesterday. You'll find it on Folksy

You may have noticed that my vintage tablecloth has been used today. It's been well loved in a previous home. I found it at my local charity shop. I was going to cut it into sections and use them for cushion covers but I can't bring myself to take a pair of scissors to it. For now I can put up with the small sections of wear and tear.

My Folksy July Jewel today is from Lynwood Crafts

This hand felted brooch is only 6 cm high but an incredible amount of work has gone into it. I love the tiny daisies, buttercups and yarrow. It lives up to its flower meadow name. Simply beautiful.

I going to finish sewing on arms now. I'll have to think of a name for her. Any suggestions? Be polite!

Take one a day

Pinch, punch, first of the month! It's July and for me that means that start of another year. All presents, cards, bottles of wine and bubbles gratefully received by 7/7 please!!!

I spent most of June waiting for summer to arrive but it's been so cold and wet that I've been in a state of hibernation. Now that I'm, almost, officially older I realise I haven't got time to spare waiting. It's time to get my act together and my **** in gear.

Today marks the beginning of a new me. Productive, decisive, a mean, no nonsense go getter. This month I WILL finish a project a day, I WILL list an item a day and I WILL spread the love.

I plan to keep detailed records of everything I make, finish what's been started and, well you get the message.

Day 1
Finished a blanket that I started way back when the sun was shining. I know this because I took photographs of my progress and posted them on Flickr. It's been on hold for a while because I wanted to lightly stuff it. The wadding that I bought was awful, a really fire risk. I did a flame test on it and nearly burnt the kitchen down. No way was I going to use that. But those nice people (I've told you about them before) at Organic Cotton Biz sent me fantastic organic wadding.

So here it is

It's not the best photograph but I didn't promise myself I WILL for that! It's all organic apart from the polycotton candy stripe cover. It still needs to be pressed and properly photographed before I can list it.

Today's listing as part of Folksy's July Jewels.

My lacy, grey, organic cotton cushion cover

It's already listed on Etsy but it's now on both sites. A definite one of a kind.


Today's love goes to Folksy's Audrey's Cat's vintage mouse. I'm really worried that he's going to have an upset tummy eating those gooseberries.

I hope you've enjoyed today's work. I'm going to have a lie down now. If you can think of projects to keep me busy please let me know.