Catching Up

 Catching Up

Oh my oh my has it really been that long since I blogged? I am still here honest! I don't know where the times goes. Having 3 active children is always an absorption of anyone's time but yes life in general is just busy busy busy. My eldest is growing up so fast and has been on her work experience week this week, my middlie will be a teenager in just a few short weeks, and my baby, MY BABY is preparing for leaving primary school ready to go to Secondary school come September. Wow that makes me feel old! I blinked somewhere between nappies and pushchairs and now they are proper big people. It's lovely watching their personalities blossom (MOST of the time) sometimes wonder if the terrible two's come back when they hit puberty though.

What else have I been doing since I've been so silent? Well I've been involved in something very exciting for me but I can't share that just yet, it's top secret hushity hush. As soon as I get the nod I'll will share with great gusto.

I've even been helping in the orchard thinning the plums!! Now that's not something I thought I'd hear myself say and no it's not a euphemism. 

And later today I'll be thinning the apples and pears too! No not cockney rhyming slang.

Project wise I've been busy too, there's been one of these:

The pattern is Peggy Sue  by Linda Wilgus. It's everything I needed in a cardigan for summer. It's cropped so it looks great with dresses especially vintage inspired ones, fab with jeans and shorts and the colour.....................oooooooooooooooo the colour! I knitted it with Drops Karisma Classic from Wool Warehouse and it was a bargain at under £2.00 per ball.

And there has also been one of these William  by the lovely Ann Kingstone.

 This was my first proper fair isle project. It comes from this book 

Which demystifies fair isle. It's so concise and easy to follow with THE most glorious patterns in it. This was the first knit from this book but it most certainly won't be the last. Go forth and buy! It's a treat in book form.
There have also been several pairs of socks which I'll save for another time.
I hope you are all well out there and I shall do my best to be a better blogger and write more often!
xxxxxxx

Tangled River

When it comes to hat designs, few can rival the amazing  Woolly Wormhead. Her unique designs blend, shape and colour in such a fantastic and individual way. As you can probably tell I am a big fan. Woolly has a design to suit everyone and I mean everyone! If you have ever been to her stall at a yarn gathering and played the game of letting Woolly find a hat for you, you will know exactly what I mean. Few would argue with the result.
 I am a big fan of hats in general. In between bigger garment projects I am usually knitting socks or hats. I love the instant gratification of casting something on and having a finished object in a couple of days. I have had Tangled River in my library for such a long time I don't know why it's taken me so long to get round to it.
Cast on while having a coffee with my buddy * Jacqui from Happy Making Designs (we'll come back to Jacqui in a bit). Even my husband who doesn't know much about knitting at all other than he mustn't talk if I'm counting (or I start to count REALLY loudly) said "Nice Cables!" 
There is something so satisfying about knitting through the back loops isn't there? Or maybe that's just me. This pattern used ktbl through out so added extra pleasure for me.
 I'm so happy with it and I haven't taken it off my head since, well apart from going to bed and in the shower.
The colour is a great clash with my hair too.

I have now just begun my first pair of socks from Coop Knits Socks by Rachel Coop. Rachel is to socks knitting designs what Woolly Wormhead is to hat knitting designs. Exquisite patterns that make sock knitting into wearable art. This is the book I bought the book at Unravel

 

I'm beginning with Paignton. 

I'm using the most gorgeous coloured yarn from Danielle, A Stash Addict sock club that I joined last year. Sadly Danielle no longer dyes yarn and I have been waiting for the right project to use this one.

It's been a while since I've knitted socks on dpn's but I'm really enjoying it!

* And so to Jacqui. Whilst at Unravel we stopped by the Alafoss stall. 

The quality of their yarn and the gorgeous colours was a pleasure (not to mention that they were pedlar's of free chocolate treats too) Unfortunately we missed out on the amazing offers on sweater packs. The lovely ladies at Alafoss emailed us codes to get a discounts because they didn't have enough packs on the day but EVEN better than that they gave Jacqui one to use on her blog so we can share the Alafoss love!! You can get your code here at Happy Making Design. What a bargain for a pure wool sweater kit.

I Want To Be A Dwarf!

I have come to the conclusion over the last few years that I should never ask my children the question of "What kind of birthday cake do want?" or  "What do you want to dress as for World Book Day?"
These two simple questions have caused me more sleepless nights and aged me more than I care to think about over the years. From wheat free, egg free, gluten free, nut free, soya free Disney princess catles cakes to A 3d whale cake. From dressing as cyclops to Tiddler the fish from the book of the same name. You name it they've asked for it.
This year was my last World Book Day as my youngest child goes to secondary school in September. Youngest came home brandishing the annual announcement of the schools intentions for the day. Through gritted teeth and wincing muscles I asked the following question, "Ok matey, hit me with it! What's it to be this year?"  The reply was "DWARF! My Favourite book is The Hobbit so it's a no brainer" 
My reply was "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggg!" 
At least that's what was occurring in my noggin. 
How do I turn a skinny, 11 year old, Sheldon Cooper in to a dwarven battle lord?
In my search I turned to the ever reliable  and old faithful Ravelry. I was not disappointed!
I stumbled across this bad boy.

Dwarven Battle Bonnet 2 by Sally Pointer of Wicked Woollens

The relief for me was indescribable. I could do that, I can, I can, I can!!
Brilliant pattern. So easy to read and all yarn from stash left overs so in my book that makes this project free (apart from the pattern purchase)
Thus the mini me became a somewhat slender Dwarven Battle Lord.

He's going to be warm if nothing else! He will also be mimicking my Scottish accent all day if I know him at all.

Let's Start with Unravel

Hello! thanks for stopping by. I hope some of you will follow me from my old blog and it'll be lovely to have some new followers too. You are all welcome.
I've been a long time gone so where to start? Let's start with Unravel.
Did any of you go to Unravel? For those who don't know Unravel is a yarn festival in Farnham, Surrey. I went last year and had the best time. This year I stayed overnight in a hotel with my lovely and very talented friends Sarah from Crafts From The Cwtch , Winkie from A Creative Being , who sadly live to far to see often, and last but by no means least my Thelma and Louise style travelling partner, shenanigan seeker and all round good egg Jacqui from Happy Making Designs.
There was so much to see, so many inspiring people to meet. I will let the photos speak for themselves.

Knitted Pigeons pointing the way to Unravel

A well needed cuppa before more shopping and shmoozing with Sarah, Winkie and Jacqui

Jilly of Jillybean Yarns

The Natural Dye Studio

Needle Felted Animals

The Main Hall

The lovely @Allidecks on the Sweet Georgia Stall

The gorgeous and talented Susan Crawford

Meeting up with Kirsty from Mosstitch blog

The ever effervescent Ruth from Rock and Purl the fun Jacqui of Happy Making Designs 
The lovely Kate Heppel editor of Knit Now  and myself 

The glorious bag given to me as a gift from Winkie of A creative Being

My Modest Haul of gorgeous merino DK from Jonn Arbon Textiles, can't wait to cast it on A felting kit from GillianGladRag and an exciting book full of amazing socks from Rachel Coopey

 

It's always a fantastic trip out and if you've never been to a yarn festival I would urge you to try it. It is 90% social for me and 10% shopping but always 100% good fun! I have come home with a head full of ideas and my heart full of happiness and friendships old and new.
Thanks for reading and please be understanding I might change the look of this blog slightly as I go along trying to regain my bloggy mojo again!