I am going to post a bit about my newest obsession - spinning, but first I have to do lots of house stuff
Until then, arty shot
Showing posts with label wool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wool. Show all posts
Friday, September 27, 2013
Friday, January 27, 2012
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Poor neglected blog. It’s been quite a few months now..….. Surely not that long?....... Wow! OK, a catch up
I’ve been having interesting times, somewhat like the alleged curse. I’m still in them, partly, but I’ve habituated I think
At least my spell of unemployment has come to an end – albeit temporarily. My current employ blocks access to all blogging and forums / chat rooms so agonizingly I can’t even look at Ravelry – the horror!
Creativity-wise, I’ve been contentedly knitting, star of which has to be the Trinity shawlette I’ve made with some soft and wonderful Babylonglegs Semi-Precious.
There was enough for me to do extra repeats and then when my courage ran out, to extend the border somewhat. Off the needles and preblocked it was 39” wide, 18” tall up the spine and 26” on the diagonal. After measuring, I soaked, rinsed (many times – what a lot of excess dye there was!) and towel blotted my work – always a tense time as I’m forever convinced that despite my best gentle efforts I’ll either tear or felt the work. I’d treated myself to some blocking wires (hulucrafts – fab service, particularly when there was a mix up with some needle tips I ordered at the same time) especially for this shawlette and they were a pleasure to use – definitely worth the investment. I measured during blocking and after – there was only a loss of ½” from one to the other. Finished blocked measurements were 53” wide, 25 ½” tall and 36 ½” on the diagonal – big enough to sit over my shoulders and upper arms, protecting me from the worst of the air conditioning in the office
I am very pleased with how the shawlette turned out – the interaction between the pattern and the beautiful semi solid wool (50% silk and 50% SW merino) is perfect and the weight and sheen of it – I am one proud knitter! It must have been good – DH asked ‘did you knit that?!’, then he asked ‘when?’ – just goes to show how miraculous blocking must be as he had no connection between the blue lumpy thing I’d been working on and the finished article
I wish I had some sewing or patchwork to report on. I did try to make a bag as a present for my neighbour, but messed it up and it has been punished through solitary confinement in a drawer ever since. I keep intending to make myself a nice lunch bag instead of the greenie meanie reuse of bread bags that I’m indulging in at the moment, but to no avail. I’ve taken a break from morsbagging too – somehow it all got tangled up in my interesting times, so I took a break from it.
Recently I went to the NEC to help out with teaching knitting on the Knit One Pass It On stand and although I looked out for the morsbags crowd, I don’t think they were there. Oddly enough, as I was thinking about it last week, a woman who was meant to drop off fabric in the autumn finally called me and brought around two bin bags full of curtain fabric, so I will take that as an omen and contact the inimitable Rosie.
I’ve been having interesting times, somewhat like the alleged curse. I’m still in them, partly, but I’ve habituated I think
At least my spell of unemployment has come to an end – albeit temporarily. My current employ blocks access to all blogging and forums / chat rooms so agonizingly I can’t even look at Ravelry – the horror!
There was enough for me to do extra repeats and then when my courage ran out, to extend the border somewhat. Off the needles and preblocked it was 39” wide, 18” tall up the spine and 26” on the diagonal. After measuring, I soaked, rinsed (many times – what a lot of excess dye there was!) and towel blotted my work – always a tense time as I’m forever convinced that despite my best gentle efforts I’ll either tear or felt the work. I’d treated myself to some blocking wires (hulucrafts – fab service, particularly when there was a mix up with some needle tips I ordered at the same time) especially for this shawlette and they were a pleasure to use – definitely worth the investment. I measured during blocking and after – there was only a loss of ½” from one to the other. Finished blocked measurements were 53” wide, 25 ½” tall and 36 ½” on the diagonal – big enough to sit over my shoulders and upper arms, protecting me from the worst of the air conditioning in the officeI am very pleased with how the shawlette turned out – the interaction between the pattern and the beautiful semi solid wool (50% silk and 50% SW merino) is perfect and the weight and sheen of it – I am one proud knitter! It must have been good – DH asked ‘did you knit that?!’, then he asked ‘when?’ – just goes to show how miraculous blocking must be as he had no connection between the blue lumpy thing I’d been working on and the finished articleI’ve also made spiral tube socks for DD, am working on some much longer ones for DH and have started a Featherweight (I think – I am muddled without internet access – whichever is the paid for, Featherweight or Whisper) for myself. I also made a cute elephant that was going to be for a work colleague, but DD fell in love with it so had it instead. Top tip – if you make one, put toy beads in the rear or something else weighty as the trunk pulls it over
I wish I had some sewing or patchwork to report on. I did try to make a bag as a present for my neighbour, but messed it up and it has been punished through solitary confinement in a drawer ever since. I keep intending to make myself a nice lunch bag instead of the greenie meanie reuse of bread bags that I’m indulging in at the moment, but to no avail. I’ve taken a break from morsbagging too – somehow it all got tangled up in my interesting times, so I took a break from it.
Recently I went to the NEC to help out with teaching knitting on the Knit One Pass It On stand and although I looked out for the morsbags crowd, I don’t think they were there. Oddly enough, as I was thinking about it last week, a woman who was meant to drop off fabric in the autumn finally called me and brought around two bin bags full of curtain fabric, so I will take that as an omen and contact the inimitable Rosie.
Otherwise, life has been full of family, pie making and general baking, knitting club (including a new member flashing a photo that made us all wish for brain bleach), friends and general day to day living and all that entails (usually washing and ironing!)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Picking up the reins
I have a lot of things I want to blog about, not least of which is a wonderful giveaway that I won. I've failed in getting my photos of that one so far (too busy using a lot of what I won!) so I shall post that one another day.
Today though - a fun day. I started off with an interview - still waiting to hear on that one, so shh, no tempting fate. Now I could have gone straight back to the train station and gone home, but instead I walked from one side of Nottingham city centre to the other, up to a new wool shop that's opened - Knit Nottingham. On the way I walked past a wee lad in a fancy dress costume. I waited until I was almost level, then just at the right moment and volume, gasped 'Ooh, Buzz Lightyear', then floated down the road to the sound of his delighted, secretive giggles.
I found the wool shop without any problems - it's only a hop and skip up from the Victoria Centre - close enough to town to be buzzy, far enough away to make you feel as though you're in a lovely community and supporting a truly local business. All the time I was there, people were popping in- for sales, advice, details of upcoming workshops and even just for a friendly chat. I really enjoyed the inclusive, welcoming feel that Eleanor, one of the co-owners is building - to the point where I happily sat, knitted and had a cup of tea with her. Definitely not the treatment you get in larger establishments, or my nearest craft shop come to think of it.
The shop itself is quite small and as I described it on Ravelry is a good range of basics spiced with some fabulous artisan makes, mixed with vintage and served with a great slice of friendliness. I saw some beautiful handspun / hand dyed and great handmade crochet hooks - all mixed in with good value acrylics in shades that your usual Wilkinsons etc don't carry. There was a good variety of wools for the size of shop - I was a bit mind blown by my interview to remember makes etc so apologies!
I was frustrated that I had no money in my purse - they are still waiting for their chip and pin machine so that might be worth bearing in mind if you visit. There is a fee charging cash machine nearby and a free one about a 5-10 minute walk away, but by this time it was chucking it down so I resisted temptation. I did scrape up £1 to buy a pack of knitters finishing needles - finding them is like hens teeth sometimes so that pleased me!
So, in summary - a good addition to Nottingham's wool shops that I hope is going to grow over time
Today though - a fun day. I started off with an interview - still waiting to hear on that one, so shh, no tempting fate. Now I could have gone straight back to the train station and gone home, but instead I walked from one side of Nottingham city centre to the other, up to a new wool shop that's opened - Knit Nottingham. On the way I walked past a wee lad in a fancy dress costume. I waited until I was almost level, then just at the right moment and volume, gasped 'Ooh, Buzz Lightyear', then floated down the road to the sound of his delighted, secretive giggles.
I found the wool shop without any problems - it's only a hop and skip up from the Victoria Centre - close enough to town to be buzzy, far enough away to make you feel as though you're in a lovely community and supporting a truly local business. All the time I was there, people were popping in- for sales, advice, details of upcoming workshops and even just for a friendly chat. I really enjoyed the inclusive, welcoming feel that Eleanor, one of the co-owners is building - to the point where I happily sat, knitted and had a cup of tea with her. Definitely not the treatment you get in larger establishments, or my nearest craft shop come to think of it.
The shop itself is quite small and as I described it on Ravelry is a good range of basics spiced with some fabulous artisan makes, mixed with vintage and served with a great slice of friendliness. I saw some beautiful handspun / hand dyed and great handmade crochet hooks - all mixed in with good value acrylics in shades that your usual Wilkinsons etc don't carry. There was a good variety of wools for the size of shop - I was a bit mind blown by my interview to remember makes etc so apologies!
I was frustrated that I had no money in my purse - they are still waiting for their chip and pin machine so that might be worth bearing in mind if you visit. There is a fee charging cash machine nearby and a free one about a 5-10 minute walk away, but by this time it was chucking it down so I resisted temptation. I did scrape up £1 to buy a pack of knitters finishing needles - finding them is like hens teeth sometimes so that pleased me!
So, in summary - a good addition to Nottingham's wool shops that I hope is going to grow over time
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Leicestershire Woolfest
Leicestershire had its own tiny woolfest today - it was great! I met up with various members of Loughborough Knitters, the Big Knit and random woolly minded people (I'm not saying which categories those pictured below fit into!);
wandered up to meet sheep and the alpacas that guard them;
and had a thoroughly great time. Hopefully this is the start of something great for Leicestershire!
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