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Showing posts from 2012

Some knitting done

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Two down, on to the third cowl. One week to go.

Sewing is not knitting

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but it is fun. This is the second of my sewing groups, two to try and ensure I can attend at least one every month. I was working on my first commercial pattern today, a Simplicity skirt, managed all the cutting out which the big tables are such a treat for.

The cowl challenge

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One month, three Honey Cowls, sounded just the right side of not possible when I started, am one cowl done (in the rich, bright blue of Rico Essentials Merino DK) and one a strip in (in a much more lovely in person green Shilasdair) and just two weeks left to go. Hmmm, well at this stage only one thing about whether I can get three done is certain, typing on a keyboard isn't knitting.

Next question -

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did I buy enough yarn? Looks like that's a yes! The top haul are treasures from Nest and Loop where I travelled yesterday on a super fun yarn crawl. Both shops are overflowing with beautiful things, and I particularly loved Nest which has a little cafe area and is such a welcoming place. That super pink lace-weight was the only off plan purchase yesterday, it's Scrumptious in every sense of the word. That was what I was hunting for in the also fabulous Wool in Bath for a couple of lovely Ysolda patterns but they didn't have a colourway in Scrumptious that called to me. They had some rather fine alternatives though with this cream and soft blue green . Hmmm seem to have acquired a substantial yardage in lace-weight suddenly. Better get back to the gift knits so I get a chance to get on to these treats this year!

Did I bring enough knitting?

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Just coming to the end of a week away, here's my current holiday knitting spot. Some may say I have more projects than required, I make it five plus the patterns and now the yarn after a stop at Wool Bath for a few more. A perfect amount, something for every mood!

Insanely beautiful sky

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I tried not to take too many photos of this overwhelming glory. Knowing all the time how futile it was to try and photograph it and remembering to just look at it and let it sink in as well. Still you can't blame a girl for trying and I think even the half glimpses the camera has captured of tonight's sunset are worth holding on to.  

Bubbling up

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Since coming back from SquamItalia! it's a wonder I haven't cast on thirty new projects. Spending that time with inspiring teachers and knitters has led to me feeling much more creative than I have all year. Combined with the bite of autumn, I've found a wellspring of ideas for new projects has bubbled up. As I sat down to write this I was thinking of the shawls and cowls that have been catching my eye: Xeni by Kitman Figueroa  This beauty is from Amirisu an online knitting magazine like Twist Collective  which is published in English and Japanese and was co-founded by lovely Meri who I met at Squam. It's only the feeling that I want to finish my Aestlight before I begin my next lace shawl that has caused me to pause before jumping in to this one which has so much texture to it as well as a beautiful lace pattern. Aranami Shawl by Olga Buraya-Kefelian Time spent with my Rowanspun has got me wondering whether I have enough in different shades for a shawl I&#

Counterpoint

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The shores of Garter Triangle Island are out of reach as I bob about in the waters of Bird's Eye Lace Lake. They are gentle waters really, a simple two row repeat to make this wide open lace but they are the kind of waters that I like to have a little of my knitting wits about me so that I at least catch when I've missed something or done something unprescribed before I'm working back and discover it on the the next row. Handily I already have the perfect counterpoint piece in my current WIPs. A long, vertically striped garter stitch scarf in various shades of woolly, soft Rowanspun. The perfect piece for my week night evenings when I generally lack much in the way of wits having left them trailing behind me in the day's work. These plumper, snugglier stitches require so much less concentration. They help smooth out the brain waves in an echo of their ripple and get to work on repairing the wits for the next day and for the next voyage out on the Lake.

Guest post

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Percival here. Well obviously my name is not really Percival it's Simon but she who sewed me thinks Percival the Polar Bear has a nice ring to it, so you know, I'll go along with it to keep the peace. She has been promising me some friends all week but all I've seen her do is disappear out of the house muttering something about 'work' and when she's here she just plays around with some green string. Not sure how she thinks 'a whole bear troop' is going to get created unless she gets her needle out. She keeps reminiscing about how fun it was creating me. She had a day off this work thing apparently and sat around drinking tea and eating macaroons with another one like her who shares my birthday before heading out for an evening of cocktails. Apparently the lateness of the hour on a school night may be to blame for limited productivity for the rest of this week. Hmmm I think this all may be a ruse, she may be on to my plan for world domination and thin

There's always the knitting

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The sunshine of Italy is feeling like a long time ago as I sit under murky grey skies this end of the week. The irritations of daily life are doing their best to impinge on my shiny, squam exfoliated outlook. I mean really, even if Squam is a fortnight ago I should still be on new friend high after a super decadent meet up with two very lovely squammers and their very talented friend . We all went for afternoon tea at The Savoy on Monday but even that seems a long time ago. Though - oh my - the lavender eclair - will never be forgotten! So I have no excuses for feeling a bit flat but luckily when life seems a little humdrum again there's comfort close by with the needles and yarn. This is a Squam inspired comfort. These lacy stitches are the start of an Aestlight which I chose as my class pattern. Gudrun definitely inspired me to stretch out my shawl skills and try some proper laceweight and this interesting, traditional construction. It begins with just one stitch and you

I've been squammed

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A week on and the freckles are fading but the effects of my time at SquamItalia! will be with me forever. I have pictures and I have a full heart. I'm not sure I have the words. I keep writing sentences and deleting them. It's so hard to explain exactly what it was like and why it has such an impact. The ingredients meant it was bound to be fabulous: a sunny hillside in Italy with views of the sea one way and the mountains the other, talented teachers and a whole group of powerful, creative women brought there by the vision of one to have fun and learn. The magic is in how those people come together and in the creation of a space so removed from everyday life that I found I could cast off some of the restrictions I've learned to put on myself when I've come up against challenges and challengers in the past. Thank you so much to everyone I met for making my time unforgettable. When do you ever get the chance to

New toys for the weekend

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It's a bright and sunny morning here in Oxford and I've got some bright and shiny new toys to play with this weekend. I gave in to my scissor obsession (I want these one day, you know the lottery winning type day!) and bought some beauties from Posie along with this year's felt ornament kit and then was delighted to receive another, very reasonable quality pair, free with the latest issue of Mollie Makes . My pincushion is stuffed and ready for action so it promises to be a happy, crafty weekend.

My hat

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Knit in my beautiful Squam yarn and ready just ahead of SquamItalia (next week!!); here's the hat I had the urge to make for me after finishing up the Mr's . Pattern: Butterfly Hat by Sofiya Cremin Yarn: Jill Draper Makes Stuff - Superwash Merino - Squam colourway: Deepest Depths Needles: 4.5mm DPNs and 16in Circ Started: September 2012 Finished: September 23rd 2012 Ravelry page While the s omewhat abrupt arrival of deepest autumnal weather yesterday here in England means it'll see some use straight away, that very same weather makes it even more delicious to note, that you could say it's not likely to be the most  essential item for my suitcase given the current weather where I'll soon be knitting. Weather  for  Abruzzo, Italy 24°C |  °F Mon Tue Wed Thu Partly Cloudy Wind: E at 4 mph Humidity: 78% 33° 18° 28° 18° 28° 18° 31° 18° None of these photos does any justice to the really amazing shade of this yarn. It's the most indescribabl