red cowl

Don't you just love when things come together nicely?

My second attempt at the Manos Jacket was not as successful as my first. I cast on; knit; bound off; tried it on; couldn't stand what I saw in the mirror; frogged it. Immediately.

With some of the frogged yarn I knit a baby blanket for a friend who, unbeknownst to me, doesn't think red is an appropriate colour for babies so I'm keeping the blanket for me.

Thus for about a year, the remainder of the frogged Manos yarn sat patiently waiting for a rainy day. Well - it's raining! (metaphorically and literally)

Last night, I cast on for a Möbius cowl/neckwarmer. Aaaah, Möbius knitting. Something that's been a long time coming - been wanting to try my hand at this from the moment I picked up knitting again (Iwona will attest to this) but was not willing (read too cheap) to purchase the book which wasn't carried by my local library at the time. Anyhoo, I checked out this video (by no less than the lady herself) and away it was!

I am very excited at the prospect of wearing my red cowl with a red hat and a pair of red fingerless mittens (hat and mittens yet to be knit) and my red shoes and red satchel! Is there such a thing as too much red? Perhaps it's time to stop claiming a dislike of the colour red. I've embraced green so why not red, the final frontier.

Part of the reason for my excitement is that I'll finally have a matching set of hand knits! You knitters out there know exactly what I mean. How many of you wear or have ever worn a green hat, purple scarf, red socks, mustard fingerless mittens (or an equally conflicting mix of colours) then openly (and rather proudly) declared, "what? I knit them all!" when observed with a quizzically raised eyebrow?

I know I did it - looked like a throwback from the 80's or a not-quite-ready-to-be-let-on-stage member of Village People.

Thankfully, these days I accessorise with just one hand knit at a time.

mothers, sisters, daughters, teachers

Last night was swap night with the nutty knitters and though I wasn't participating in the swap this time around, I wasn't about to let that stop me from witnessing the squeals of laughter and gasps of delight at the thoughtful gifts of hand knits and baked goods from friends to friends.

That would have been enough joy on any other night but last night was that little bit extra special. We had amongst us two new little people and another special little one on the way - due today actually. I got to say hello to this special being by placing a hand on the bump. It was such a beautiful moment.

I felt fortunate to sit with these beautiful mothers, sisters, daughters, teachers, knitters that I've come to regard as my friends. At times like these, I look forward to joining the sisterhood of motherhood.

{Middle Hill, Devannor}

                                                           

the show came to town

I have had an AMAZING weekend! I attended the Knitting and stitching show yesterday and was not disappointed. In my opinion, this year's show was much better than last year's. Perhaps due to there being a lot more exhibitors selling yarn and fabric but it's more likely because I was in the company of the ever lovely Gwen and her mama & Diane and her mama, Anne.

My first stop was Pure Purl's stand where I got to hang out with PurlPixie and AnneOlly while admiring the handiwork of the nutty knitters. I indulged in Malabrigo Yarn - enough to make myself a Featherweight Cardigan and 2 fingering weight shawls. I'm yet to settle on exact patterns but I'm thinking something by Evelyn A. Clark: a designer whose shawls are of interest to me.

The artists exhibition section of the show was very interesting too. Most folks did not permit their work to be photographed but here is a piece of work I was allowed to take a picture of

lovely, isn't it? Below is a close-up of the 'quilt'

made of Guinness cans, how ingenious! (In my yarn fume induced haze, I didn't take the artist's name so if anyone reading knows please pass it on)

Thanks to the lovely blomeenee, I now know this is a piece by Becky Knight.

My other stops included: the Wensleydale Wool Stall; The button lady; Fiddlesticks Fabrics and emma garry. On the whole I was very restrained in my spending - unsurprising as I bought a pair of shoes earlier this week.

You may have noticed there's been no talk of work this post, that's because I've done none, nada, nothing, nein, zero, zilch. The first weekend in 4 where I've done no work! So how did I spend my time? I knitted not one but two hats yesterday and you know what this means? Yep, Christmas gift knitting has officially begun!

Today, I cleaned my home in anticipation of house guests arriving later in the week. I also drafted a design for a baby quilt in a size I am trying for the first time. I've got my creative mojo back!

I hadn't realised just how badly I needed a time-out till Thursday. I'd begun to feel overwhelmed by my workload. On Friday I took steps to re-arrange (read reassess and ditch the inconsequential) things and now I have a more manageable lot. And time to do the little things that make me happy (& sane). like knit. and sew. and clean. and yoga.

Dear Aunty Gok...

...so I've been watching how to look good naked lately and it's got me thinking of my wardrobe. Again.

I dream of re-inventing my look; not that there's anything offensive about my fashion sense per se but my clothes could do with being more 'interesting'.

I never wear slogans, don't do advertising, no graphics, nothing! except maybe a button here, a gather there... but nothing to excite.

I'd love to wear more lace and ruffles, more smocking and blind tucks, more ribbons and sashes and quirky, feminine, comfortable, flirty and fun clothes - something for every phase, every mood, every nuance. I have no problem finding shoes to do the job, so why are clothes so flipping difficult? Short of making my own I can't think of a solution.

I still love Noa Noa though and hope to find more designs like theirs.

1st of the season

Today is the first really cold day of the season: a typical British winter's day. Cold, crisp, clear with a touch of ground frost.

I adore getting up on such mornings; breathing air so clean you feel you're the first human to sample it; even the birds seem extra-happy to see each new day as they sing their little beaks off.

It looks as though a new pair of shoes are in order. An appropriate pair for winter: waterproof, arch and ankle support, suitable for town and country, goes with anything and everything.

It's lovely having an excuse to shop for new shoes albeit a functional pair.

current earworm: flight of the bumblebee

a week

Lately, it feels like life goes by in weeks. Gone are the measures of minutes, hours and days but a week is still a week and I have one week off; a whole week! How is it going, you ask?

Well, I've rested well; knitted; made new friends; caught up with old ones; done a little work (can't be helped); bought the boy a couple of presents which he loves; cleaned my home and now I'm planning a bonfire night dinner party to be held on Saturday.

The entertainment - bonfire, fireworks, music, candied apples and such fair fare - is to be provided by the council + local radio station. I think that will be sufficient entertainment for the evening but if we do need more, I'll whip out board games or 2 decks of cards.

I've finished S's socks and moved on to a baby blanket, The Old Favourite. I hope to complete this this week so I can begin working on Christmas presents before my return to the grindstone.

{some of the squares that'll make up The Old Favourite}