De-clutter bug

I'm in the grip of a de-cluttering frenzy. I don't quite know how it started - no, actually, I think I do know how it started. It was when the boy and his friend were trying to find something to use as 'pretend snow' the other day (don't ask) and I suggested that the holes from the hole-punch would make good snow. Thence began the search for said hole-punch. It was not in the desk. Not in any of the (4) kitchen drawers - sorry, bottom-less pits - that it could have been in, not under either of the staircases - i.e. general dumping grounds. In fact, after looking in about 10 different places it kind of struck me that perhaps it should not be so difficult to find an item such as a hole-punch. Especially if you have a desk - which is where it should be. Obviously.

The revelation that I am a bit of a clutter-bug has been complete news to me. Being, as I am (or thought I was) a bit of a Bree Van Der Kampf (Desperate Housewives) who is really a desperate Martha Stewart, I was quite sure that clutter was not my style. Until I asked my husband if he thought I was a horder. He sort of looked shiftily sideways and said 'um'. Nuff said. I understand. I get it.

I must admit I was somewhat shocked when I decided that first up, I'd tackle the magazine pile(s). It turns out, I have magazines dating back to July 2007. That's 3 years worth of magazines - say about 3 or 4 a month -!!! Not good. These enormous Tesco bags are too heavy to lift up, actually. I may need assistance getting them into the boot of the car. There was a very slight exclamation about how much money they may have cost us - until I squelched that one right on the head with the mention of the word beer.

Just in case you were wondering, I did of course go through each and every magazine to check that I had cut out anything I wanted to keep. I'm not that daft ;) The question is ... what next? ...

Still Knitting

Okay, so I've finally finished this. I made it shorter than the pattern - it should have been 10cm longer on the lacey bit, but I wanted it to sit just above the hips, on the waist, so I shortened it. And I'm glad I did because it's just right like this.

It looks much better on! Especially with a white T-shirt underneath, as you can really see the lacey bit then. In fact I like it so much that I decided to use that luscious blue yarn I got from Woolfest to make another.

Only problem is - I don't have quite enough - arrggghhhh! However, luckily - and in an extremely rare fit of organisation - I managed to write down which stalls I got all my yarns from at Woolfest (I know, stunning, eh), so I know that I got this from Woolfish and I've been in touch to order another skein.

Meanwhile, as I wait for more blue yarn to arrive, I thought I'd start on this fabulous number - from the Kim Hargreaves Misty book.

As you can see, the back is shaped rather interestingly, and it's this bit you start with.

I've never done anything like this before, but you use a technique called wrapping. This is where you knit, say, the first 3 stitches, then you turn and knit back - but - you don't just turn, you do a sort of convaluted wrap-over thing with the yarn, so that you don't get a hole in the knitting. Then you knit back to the beginning. Then, the next row, you knit past your 3 stitches again picking up the 'wrapped' stitch, then carry on to say the 6th stitch and then wrap and turn again. So really you're just doing some shorter rows at one end of your needles. For this (above) you had to wrap and turn until you got to the 31st stitch. then you carry on across the needle to the other end and reverse it all. Very effective though, eh? It was made slightly more complicated for me on this because it's moss stitch and the wrapping technique is all about taking the yarn to the opposite side of your work before you wrap - so I had to really think about which side I should be wrapping. I know - this probably makes no sense whatsoever, but if you look it up on utube (as I did) you'll (hopefully) see what I mean!

It's knitted in this gorgeous Rowan Lenpur Linen, by the way - you can probably see it has a sort of sheen on it so that it reflects the light - beautiful.

At one point last week I randomly decided to knit a teddy bear. God knows why because I think they're a bit naff really, but this one just sort of appealed to me. So - here he is - named Timmy (by the boy). As you can see, he is wearing a rather lovely pair of pygamas (made from an old pair of the boy's!!). He is now the new bedtime teddy. I'm still not sure about him but he certainly looks chuffed with himself.

Tank Top Love

You know it's a funny thing, but I have just realised that I am a bit obsessed with Tank Tops. For years now, I have been on the holy grail of finding the perfect Tank Top. You see, being the classic pear shape that I am, my thinking is that the bulk/extra layer of a tank top on your top half kind of helps to balance out the hips. And yet, somehow, so many tank tops do not look right. Some do - I have 2 in my wardrobe that I wear - but I also have lots of others that look catastophic. Actually, tank tops are pretty hard items to find in the shops (perhaps because they are about 30 years out of fashion? I don't know, it could be that:).


Anyhow, it suddenly occurred to me the other day that a tank top would be the most perfect item of clothing for a 5 year old boy! Hurrah! An excuse to create my (well, his) very own tank top creation!

I used up the rest of my Rowan Milk Cotton on this, imagining it as some sort of 'cricket' top (NOT that he plays crickets, of course not), or teamed with some navy shorts.

I think it's turned out okay. So I'm going to start another one in this glorious yarn that I got from Woolfest. A perfect colour to go with jeans, no? I do hope the boy likes it (he hasn't seen it yet). Me thinks he might just be in for a few more tank tops in the future ...

Baby Love

So. The boy's teacher is having a baby. Soon. I mean she's huge, god love her. And she's such a lovely teacher that of course I've been wanting to give her (or the baby) a little pressie. We don't know what sex it is yet, which does make it slightly tricky when you're planning presents, especially if you need time to make it.


Anyhow, I came across a fab idea in this book - Sew Liberated by Meg McElwee. I got it ages ago - it's mainly about embellishment and applique - but I haven't made anything from it yet.



Anyhow, the idea is for a felt book.


All the patterns for the motifs are given at the back of the book, so it's just a case of tracing them, cutting them out and then finding suitable pieces of material to use. Now I haven't got a huge amount of felt - just a few colours really - so I decided that any material would pretty much do, if bondawebbed onto the panel before handstitching around the edges.


This is the panel for the front of the book.


And this is the first page.

And this the next, which will be opposite a 'cats' picture. Luckily, a couple of months ago I picked up bags and bags of embroidery threads at an antiques fair (of all places - I don't think they were antiques!) for 30p a bag! Must have got at least a hundred of them for under a pound!! Which makes this whole exercise a pretty cheap one, as I'm using what I've already got. NOT that thrift is the name of the game here - just a bonus. Of course, this book has the added bonus of coming under the 'educational' banner (just) which is a double whammy for a teacher's baby, don't you think? hee hee.

Woolfest 2010

Oooh what fun we had! It was my first time at Woolfest in Cockermouth and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I went with some ladies from my sewing group - 5 of us - and we had a really great day, totally indulging ourselves in all things woolly, creative and crafty. We paced ourselves - regular breaks and a packed lunch - and took our time looking at each stall and gathering hundreds of ideas and inspirations along the way.

I have to admit that I didn't take any photos of the show - because I'm a bit shy when it comes to getting my camera out - but I can tell you about come things that really caught my eye. Firstly, there was the lady who was knitting with what appeared to be broom handles! Her needles were huge! She was knitting with huge balls of strips of fabric, about an inch or two wide and making rugs! Fabulous idea. One of the girls bought 4 balls and a set of needles - enough to make a sizeable rug. Perhaps I'll get a picture when she gets going with it.

Secondly, the whole place was ablaze with stalls selling the most beautifully coloured yarns. Mostly hand-dyed, fabulous mixes of natural fibres - angora, alpaca, mohair, etc. It was very hard to know where to begin with it all - I was thinking in terms of knitting scarves and hats as xmas pressies this year, but I ended up being seduced by the wonders of knitting a lacy shawl. Oh, they were as light as a feather and just so beautiful. I don't know if my photos are going to do the colours justice - this is a lace-weight yarn that is hand-dyed and has flashes of orange, pink, rust and 100 shades inbetween.

Here I have started my first ever shawl, and first ever project with lace-weight yarn - I can tell you it's a bit like knitting with something as thin and delicate as a spider's web! Also - bizarely - and it took me ages to get my head around this - instead of starting at the V part of the triangle you are creating, i.e. the pointy bit - you actually start at the longest straight edge, but only cast on 7 stitches. Eh? And they you increase with the lacy pattern in the middle so that it pushes the edges out and when it's off the needles it will be straight. Guess we'll have to wait until it's finished to get a grip on that.

Here is a yarn - oh - it's kidsilk! It's like candyfloss (only not so sticky!). And again, the most beautiful shade of tuquoise with hints of grey.

And another shawl yarn - this time in a rich plum and this time a sock weight. Lace weight or sock weight are fine for shawls, I discovered.

And here is a DK weight in a fabulous blue - about the same colour as the boy's eyes, so I'm going to make him a tank top with it.

Skeins seemed to be the order of the day, although there were regular balls for sale too. I guess it's because people are spinning and dying their own.

Ahh - now this one is another DK weight one which I simply could not resist - look at those colours! Makes you want to dive right in there, doesn't it? We thought perhaps a long, thin scarf for this one.
And finally a few notions - the above are little felt beads - there were some fabulous examples of necklaces and bracelets around, made from felt beads, large and small.

And some interesting buttons! I also got some patterns for the shawls and some bags. So all in all, we came home loaded down, happy, exhausted and eager to get knitting!!

Keep on Knitting

So, of course you remember this - yummy pattern ...



Well things are progressing ...



... and I'm half way up the front now too.

I've shortened it quite a bit - by a good 14cm - as I want it to rest on my waist, not my hips. I'm figuring on wearing a vest/T-shirt underneath which will come down longer, if you know what I mean. Am loving the Rowan Milk Cotton too - very nice to work with and very soft and stretchy.

Now. On Saturday, our sewing group is going to Woolfest, in Cockermouth (only an hour away). (Yes, I know it's a sewing group, but many of us are knitters too). So, in preparation I was perusing the website, as you do, and one thing led to another and the next thing I knew I was having a browse through this new book -

... and with every (virtual) turn of the page, all I could thing was ... drool ...

I want one of these ...

... and one of these

... and maybe one or other of these ...

... definitely this one

.. and definitely this one too. But oh dear I thought. What if I get to Woolfest and there are no books left on the stand to buy? I mean, surely everyone is going to be heading straight for this stall and this very book? Surely it would be better to buy it now, then I can decide which pattern I could start first and then purchase the wool on Saturday? Eh? :-) Let's just say I am going prepared with a big empty bag.

Meanwhile, I have not been idle, oh no, no, no. I just had to launch another shirt into the world, for the boy. Knit. Shirt. Knit. Shirt. Knit ...

Ooh it was a lovely sunny day yesterday, although there was a stiff breeze. Pefect for flying kites on the beach though.

And perfect for wearing your new shirt that your wife has lovingly made for you!

Have to admit that I was dead chuffed with this one!

I also have to admit that I stole this label idea from the fabulous Alicia. Of course, hers was a little more intricate than mine, but you get the idea. I wish I'd put 'by' Bridget now, would have made more sense, but there you go. You live and learn, don't you?

Have just finished that unravelling project, you might remember. I unravelled a top that I knitted a couple of years ago and never, ever wore - this ...

and have now made it into this ...

Which is much better, although I think the bottom of it is a bit baggy. However, it's really comfy to wear. I suppose it might shrink a bit in the wash ... possibly ... I don't know!

Let's hope I wear this one!