Saturday 16 July 2011

Knitting Loot !!



On a short break to Truro, I ventured into a shop called 'Truro Fabrics' recommended by other Ravelry knitters.

On the upper floor there was a good selection of yarns for me to drool over and plenty of other little knitting related goodies - so this is a picture of the 'treasure' I picked up! (and I was pretty restrained, I can tell you!)

So: two patterns; 2x50g balls of Sirdar Crofter DK in muted natural tones (have used this in a different colour-way and it's delightful to knit with!); 100g ball Wendy 'Happy' 4ply Bamboo/nylon (used this before - so silky!); 2.75mm circular needle; set of 2.75mm bamboo dpns and, finally, a size 4mm Tunisian Crochet hook!

I tried TC ages ago and was fascinated with it, although I had to improvise by using an ordinary crochet hook, so I could only do a small swatch. At the time (over 25 years ago) I found it impossible to find TC hooks - I remember walking into yarn shops and meeting blank looks when I made my request!

I'm afraid you'll have to wait to see what I produce from this, although the short-sleeved cardigan pattern (pink) has me wondering if I should frog out the navy 4ply jacket I started last week.......!


Also - I picked up a copy of 'Simply Knitting' magazine as I was strolling round Truro this afternoon and came across the mention of an excellent blog - well worth a visit! (anyone who mixes knitting and books is a must, as far as I'm concerned!)

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Red and Yellow and Pink and Green.....




I knew I had some photos knocking about of some previous projects - here's a few in mouthwatering shades!

My first ever pair of short-row 'toe-up' socks!


A cuddly 'Thomas'!
There's a story behind this - I knitted an original version of this for my son 20-odd years ago - he had a TT plastic shape-sorter that he would try to take to bed to cuddle, so I measured it up and recreated it in wool - much more snuggly. Recently, when my Great nephew was born, (named Thomas, of course!) I decided to create TT#2 - much to my son's horror! (he's nearly 25, for goodness sake - you'd think I'd given his original away!)

Ruby Slippers!
My daughter is a 'Wizard of Oz' freak - so one Christmas I created these for her using sparkly red 'eyelash' yarn, and sewed anti-slip mesh on the soles so she didn't keep falling over on her laminate floors!

'Stained Glass' blanket
This was designed to use up bits of stash wool - I'd crocheted 'Granny' squares but had never tried hexagons! With the uniform black edging it does indeed look like one of the 'rose' windows you see in old cathedrals!

Well, that's all for now - on with the knitting!

(and thankyou for allowing me to 'show off' my wares!) ;-)

Monday 11 July 2011

Interruptions....!




Don't you just hate it when you're halfway through a project and you get the urge to pull out that gorgeous yarn you bought a while back and get stuck into it?

I'm knitting a navy wool jacket with lace panels, but my mind is fantasizing about the 'Reflections' wool I bought to make a cobweb-lace shawl.....

I'm so tempted to push the jacket down into a bag and start casting on for the new shawl.....but I already have another scarf on the go, too, plus a half-finished pair of socks and I need a small-ish project to take away on holiday.....and I fancy a go at another 'granny-square' quilt.....

Still, they say a change is as good as a rest!