A quick note to say that there won't be much blogging for the next few days - I'm at the Sewing for Pleasure SHow at the NEC and like an idiot forgot to pack my network cable so can't access the broadband connection in my apartment!
Yesterday was quietish but I had the fun of being filmed teaching an ITV reporter how to knit - luckily I didn't make it home in time to see myself on the evening news but did get a couple of calls telling me that I didn't look a gibbering wreck.
The lure of new yarn has called and instead of working on my sweater I spent yesterday playing with Rowan's "Damask" - more on this when I get to take a photo.
Matt's 50th Birthday was spent at Marwell Zoo. He loves visiting there so part of his present was an Annual Pass and I hope to spend many more happy hours playing photographer's assistant.
Until he gets round to downloading his photos here's a couple of my favourites taken before I got the shakes and before the batteries in my camera ran out!
I've always loved watching the snow leopards. We were at their enclosure a few minutes after opening time and spent ages watching this one try to decide where to settle for a snooze
This young giraffe is one of the reasons we went. I spent hours watching the two babies play and am looking forward to visiting them again soon
The drive was good for knitting and I've made progress on my sweater, so much so that I'm hoping I'll finish it in the next week!
SP10 is underway and I've managed to contact my pal and heard from the person spoiling me! Our list Mom said " I'd like to see what you're all working on! Please make a post, where you pick one of your favorite current projects and explain why you love it so much! What yarn and pattern are you using? Who is it for??"
No photos as I left the camera at work!
I'm working on a Just One More Row pattern and have finished the front. The yarn is RYC cashsoft dk and is a joy to knit with. I chose this pattern as Jill's deisgns look complicated but are very easy. I wanted something that I could pick up and put down whilst knitting at shows but was also interesting enough to make people stop and ask questions.
Today was the first day of the show at Olympia and it was a quiet day, very few people found us so I was able to enjoy myself and work on my own knitting for a while. One of the traders stocks Jill's patterns and sent a couple of ladies over this afternoon to learn how to knit one of the stitch patterns. They got on so well I hear they went back and bought more of her patterns!
My favourite pattern of all time is the Diamond Patch Sweater and I love my pink version so much so that I have enough of the same yarn hidden deep in storage to knit an identical one when this one wears out!
How many bloggers can hand over a blog prize in person? I took great delight in dropping by Dawn's office on Friday to hand over a skein of Dusky Strawberry cashmere. Hope she can find something to do with it!
This is the latest project , I do enjoy working Jill Vosburg's patterns - simple enough for stressed brains to cope with but just quirky enough to keep me interested. The yarn is RYC Cashsoft DK
Two years ago the divine Ms P decided that I needed to blog more often and with more style than the fledgling blog I had on Blogger. She performed the technical wizardry and let me play - what a wonderful gift!
Reading through your answers to my question about what's on the needles there seems to be a concensus that I should be knitting the Peacock shawl. It will be on the needles sometime this year but the Glasgow project is a top using the RYC yarn that Jacinta gave me for my birthday last year.
The pattern is this from Just One More Row which means that Dawn is the winner!
Prize will be with you in the next few days!
It's that time again and I'm looking forward to a new exchange - I got the details of the person I'm sending to tonight and after a quick look at their blog I hope I'll get things right....
Here's my answers...
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I'll knit with most yarns if they fit the purpose! My all-time favourite and staple yarn is Jaeger Extra Fine Merino, I also enjoy using silk and cashmere. I'm not a great fan of eyelash yarns but enjoy playing with other textures.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Most of them are kept in a 6 drawer cabinet - I'm trying to get it organised to keep US and UK sizes in different drawers and to keep the circulars seperate!
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting for as long as I can remember and will tackle most things - with variable success.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes I have both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk lists - they do need updating though as I've just been on a book buying spree
5. What's your favorite scent?
Roses and Lavender. I am allergic to Vanilla. I also love the smell of good coffee and new-baked bread
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I do but I'm diabetic so try to keep the indulgences to a minimum! These days I'm more likely to indullge in a coffee
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I crochet, dressmake and occasionally embroider. No spinning as yet!
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Fairly eclectic tastes and I can play MP3's.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love reds, blues and purples. I'm also into oranges and browns. Just no pastel or beige shades please as they make me look ill!
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married to Matt for 25+ years. No kids of our own but 2 nieces age 4 and 6 to knit for.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I knit hats and shawls. I'm not a fan of long scarves and ponchos are a definite NO!
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Shawls
13. What are you knitting right now?
A top for me, trying to finish my Hap Shawl, trying to get motivated to start my WRS that I swatched for in November!
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Love them!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer circulars and have recently discovered Rosewoods that seem to help my hands
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Both
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I don't even want to think about that - if I could find it it would be at least 15 years old and only needs the neckband adding!!
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas and anywhere when I can sit outside in the fresh air and knit in peace and quiet
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Dust bunnies, yarn and patterns!
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I subscribe to most of the magazines available to the UK but have difficulty getting copes of Creative Knitting from the USA
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I've been asked to teach entrelac at the last 2 shows and have forgotten how to do it so must relearn that. I need to improve my crochet as well!
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I'm not a sock knitter as I have problems knitting to tight gauge. My handknit socks are precious. I need a UK 8
23. When is your birthday?
Aug 3rd
It's been an interesting show, the punters seem to come in waves - one minute we're manic the next it's quiet! There has been a steady stream of interest from all age groups and the volunteers have worked their socks off!
I really appreciate the range of knowledge and skills that each of them brings to the stand - this sentiment is echoed by the return of a number of people we have taught over the years, most asking us to take them to the next skill level. I love the fact that the age groups are so mixed and that today I had 7 year olds teaching 70 year olds how to knit!
Some of the comments you overhear are funny - I think the people genuinely believe you can't hear them when they comment on the way you hold the hook or needles and as for what they say when they see a man demonstrating Tunisian crochet..... Bob continues to be a great crowd attraction!
There doesn't initially appear to be a lot of yarn at this show but some judicious hunting reveals some treasures....
Jamie Possum meets Silkwood!
With inevitable consequences - samples of Possum Paints are now in my suitcase!
One of the joys of the shows (for me) is putting knitters in touch with each other. This was the moment that Yvette and Minxxy finally realised who each other was! Yvette had been the person who knitted for Minxxy in the 2005 Rowan Exchange.
A few moments later Yvette introduced me to Heather - Heather has since left me a comment on the blog saying she hadn't realised I was that "Yvonne" - likewise I hadn't realised she was that Heather until I got back to my computer!
Wonder how many more Blog / group friends I've missed meeting?
Well my Glasgow jinx has struck again, last year it was snow - this time it's a strike that's affecting all the trains.
On the wednesday evening, I try to visit K1 Yarns and then go to their knitting group. I'd remembered to pack my loyalty points card and was ready to claim my discount (after only 2 previous visits!). I normally manage to get there using the trains and underground - due to the strike that wasn't on and I couldn't find my way by bus and didn't fancy the walk through town so spent a quiet night in.
The show was weird today - hardly any members of the public due to the strike but those that were there did stop and talk to stall holders and then spent more than usual! The classes were well attended and we kept busy for most of the day - not the mad rush it usually is - but a constant flow of people. It was lovely to have time to chat with the volunteers and catch up on everyone's news.
On the knitting front there's not many stalls but there is plenty to buy and at some sensible prices. My favourite of the day - discovering that Jamie Possum had just received some samples of handpainted possum yarn and that they were done by Tess from Silkwood - she kept that quiet!
My knitting has progressed slowly tonight. For those trying to guess the project the design company has been mentioned but not the pattern or the yarn.
I'm finally home from work after a stressful day and now need to pack for my trip to Glasgow for the ICHF show at the SECC. I thought I'd be safe from spending at this show but I've just learnt that Jamie Possum will be there.....
I love doing this show as I really enjoy the company I keep - they make me smile, relax and laugh - much needed at present! I travel up tomorrow and back home on Sunday night after the show - last year's March trip was an adventure with Glasgow cut off by snow.
I'm finding it difficult to settle on any project at the moment and have started on something new from one of my favourite designers, using yarn from stash and I'm hoping that I will make significant progress on it over the next few days.
This version of my blog will be 2 next week- so as a birthday competition - Anyone want to take a guess as to the designer / pattern /yarn?
Prize will come from my Knitwitches Stash!
Thursday night saw me back at Liberty's - I'm determined to attend as many as I can of these meetings before the new caterers take over!
Here's Jill being bashful - for as long as I have known Jill she has always said that she cannot knit lace. Here is the evidence that she can - I'm delighted to see the yarn I gave her for xmas put to such beautiful use.
I got to meet Susan - she was the person sending to Sarah in SP9 and Sarah was sending to me - I do wish we could have had a photo of the 3 of us together!
New knitting on the needles - yarn bought from Silkwood at ExCel and the pattern is the Fabulous Filigree Shawl which I have made a couple of times before but have also given away before - this time it is for me!
