Saturday 19 January 2013

GROW YOUR BLOG!


Today marks the 'Grow Your Blog' party, organised by Vicki at  '2 Bags Full' so, as per her suggestion - 

'Welcome to my blog!'

 (and if any of you are new here then I hope you find plenty to interest or amuse you!)

Perhaps I'd better explain my blog's title (no, I do not go around stabbing people with my knitting needles or garrotting them with yarn!). One of my other blogs 'I Refuse To Go Quietly!' is where I tend to put my fiction works, amongst other items. The name 'The Knitting Assassin!' was bestowed upon me by a writing buddy there because I have, on occasion, written crime flash-fiction with knitting as part of the story. (try 'Stitch'n'bitch' for example)

Anyway, aside from writing I DO love to knit. (keeping my hands busy gives me time to mind-plot stories, too!) I've been knitting since I was a small child but in the last few years I've really been doing what I term 'chain-knitting' - constantly having projects on the go! Since I recently took early retirement from my job in the local town library, I now have more time to indulge my passions, both literary and yarnwise.

Sadly, although I live in a medium-sized town  in the heart of the UK, we have very few outlets for yarn! Most of it is very basic - to purchase more 'interesting' stuff requires a trip to village nearby (and even then there's only a limited range) so I usually trek over to the nearest city where I can at least have more choice!

We are also close to Toft Alpaca farm  - fun to drive along the country roads and spot the Alpacas grazing away, converting grass into woolly yarn!

I like to think I'm a fairly frugal knitter - I really can't afford expensive yarns, so I will usually substitute yarn if I can. Like for this 'Tilt' jacket:
The original pattern required Noro, but would have cost me about £120 to knit - so I substituted a similar but cheaper yarn and it came in at about £35! (and it's a really lovely soft and snuggly jacket!)

Over the years I've knitted all manner of things (including adapting a pattern for baby bootees to resemble a pair of 'baby' Doc Marten boots, for a 'goth' friend's new baby!) - if you trawl through my blog you'll find some of my later projects (and a few pictures, below).

I've recently started investigating how to design my own patterns and I'm always on the look-out for new ideas. I discovered it is possible to 'hybridise' quilting and knitting and found a blog/website with turtorials on how to achieve a knitted 'log cabin' quilt - so of course I had to have a go at that! (see the pink and green 'block' in the pictures below)

Continuing with 'hybridising', I would like to try achieving this lattice smocking:


 - but using yarn.......! I expect it's already been done (there is nothing new under the sun!) but I think it could make an interesting knitted fabric, all the same!

Of course, I also love spending time looking at what other knitters and 'yarn engineers' get up to and some of my favourites are on the blog-roll on the left of this page - try them out for size if you have time!

Meanwhile, thanks for stopping by - please leave a comment (and a link back to your blog!) so I can return the compliment. Remember - we're all in this together! ;-)

~~~oOo~~~

(pics from some of my previous projects.....details are scattered though my blog!)




                
                      (.....and when I'm not knitting....!)

39 comments:

  1. Isn't Vicki the greatest thing to host the Grow Your Blog party?! I LOVE your knittings. All of it. :)

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    1. Hey, Miss Jenny! I didn't know you were on the blog hop, too! (so is Rachel by the way - 'go placidly' in the 51-100 block!)

      Funny, I found you on the A-Z hop and here we are again, still hopping! ;-p

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  2. Hi, Love your blog name! Got a chuckle reading how it came about. Glad I stopped by via the GYBP trail. Will visit again soon.

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    1. Thanks for dropping by! (you know I already had your blog in my blog-list! ;-p)

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  3. You have some great knitting projects, wow. I knit as well, but very basic stuff - sweaters, socks and lots of scarves. I've started to knit for my daughter's dolls, so that's fun. She doesn't really play with them anymore but she loved to design and sew clothes for them. I, on the other hand, don't like sewing at all. But yarn shops - oh so yummy! There is such great yarn in Europe, I always loved the yarn shops there. Where I live now there is only one yarn shop and it's in a part of town I don't visit very often. And just like you, I love to read as well.

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    1. Carola - thanks for calling in and commenting; I'll be returning the compliment and visit your blog ASAP!

      Like you, I DO love yarn shops but they are becoming as rare as hen's teeth over here in the UK - there are many more online traders, but I like to see and feel the yarn I'm wanting to buy!

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  4. Hilarious blog name!! Found you through GYB and I can't wait to read more.

    -Jade @ www.muffinteahouse.com

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    1. Hi, Jade - will be making my way over to you ASAP!
      Thanks for looking in and leaving a comment ;-)

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  5. Hi Sue- It's great to meet you! Your knitting is beautiful and your writing is delightful. I visited your other two blogs and read your ketchup story and loved it. What great talent you have. You have done a very sweet thing for me today. After 1 1/2 years of blogging, this is the first time I have seen my blog on someone else's blog list. It was a bit of a thrill, I must admit. Thank you for sharing your generous spirit. -Derrith

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    1. Derrith - thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Also, thanks for taking the time to have a look at my other blogs, too - I know trying to get around to as many bloggers as possible does limit the time you have, so having you look at all three of my blogs is very much appreciated!

      And yes - I just had to add you to the blog-list! ;-)

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  6. Beautiful work! Your blog name cracks me up!

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    1. Maggie - it IS a great name, isn't it? ;-) I bless the day it was bestowed upon me - the man who coined it doesn't realise what he's unleashed! ;-p

      Thanks for calling in!

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  7. I like the name of your blog and your knits are beautiful. I hope you will visit my blog, too.

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    2. Debbie, I tried to return the favour but I can't get to your blog. Can you leave me a link, please?

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  8. Hi Sue, so glad I found your beautiful knitting blog through the GYB party!
    Definitely looking forward to seeing more of your creations!
    Have a great weekend,
    your newest follower!
    Diana

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    1. Thank you, Diana! Will be hopping over to view your blog right now! ;-)

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  9. Hello, hello Sue, here I am from the GYB hop. You're in the middle of E? I'm in Oxfordshire for 1/2 the year! I wish I knew how to knit. Chloe bought a little knitting machine before Christmas and now we all have the loveliest, warmest touques in the world. I can just about manage to crochet, (self taught) and hope to one day make enough of those Japanese flowers to make a scarf or shawl. Be back soon. :)

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  10. Nice to meet you Sue! You have knitted some lovely things - I'm definitely NOT a knitter, although I have tried...One jumper I made for myself somehow ended up so ENORMOUS I could have fitted two of me inside it! I love your writing style and look forward to following you (which I think always sounds slightly dodgy!) and reading more of your blog.

    I've not read any Peter James but really enjoy Peter Robinson (Insp. Banks - better than the TV series) and Elizabeth George books.

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  11. Hi Sue!
    It is so nice to meet you! I enjoyed reading your blog and look forward to more!

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  12. I love your projects! That is one of the things I still need to learn - knitting. I have tried very unsuccessfully! lol. Thanks for stopping by!

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  13. Wow, love your completed projects.

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  14. Do you think if I keep reading that my knitting might improve by osmosis? Your projects are so lovely and mine are still developing. We have one shop in our region that stocks yarn for knitting, and definitely no farms producing any wool.

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  15. oh yeah! A new found friend!! :) I shall be haunting your older posts when I have more time.

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  16. So glad I found your blog via the Grow Your OWN BLOG party. Any blog title that combines the words Assassin and Knitting is a lost relative in my book. There is nothing like feeling fiber move through your fingers. I am a rabid knitter and the cost of of my favorite yarns may be project prohibitive but I have found a marvelous solution. GoodWill. I have purchased expensive sweaters that are knitted from pure silk, mohair, angora, soft wools, and linen and I take them apart, steam shot the fiber and knit up new items. It feeds my habit. LOL

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    1. I never thought of sourcing yarn that way.....! Excellent idea :-)

      Thanks for calling in, Sea Witch!

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  17. Thanks for popping over to my corner of blogland and saying hi. I'm really enjoying this party. I loved reading your blog post, you have a lovely style of writing. I look forward to following your adventures throughout 2013 :)

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  18. You have a lovely blog. I'm new follower and 'Grow Your Blog' participant. Have fun in at the party!
    Evalina, This and that...

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  19. It's nice to meet you Sue, I'm a knitter, empty nester and Christ follower. Looks like you're a much more prolific knitter than I am, however. I have too many other things that distract me, I guess. I have another friend participating in the blog party, Acorn to Oak, that knits and crochets a lot. If you haven't visited her yet, you'll enjoy her blog. Tell her that Karen said to visit. I'll be back to check up on your next project.

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  20. Hi Sue, your knitting is inspiring me to try it!!! Thanks for visiting me as well! I to am a practicing Christian, still being molded by the masters hand..I seem to have some bumps in my clay :)

    Hugs, and your newest follower,

    Jan from the Pink Geranium

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  21. I would be lying if I didn't admit the title of this blog sucked me in...bravo on choosing it. Enjoying the blog party and was very happy to find you and your lovely projects.
    I raise Shetland sheep, knit, spin, weave etc. If the funds hold out, I hope to be visiting the UK this year, possibly visiting the Shetland Island, Scotland and anywhere I have someone that I can visit. Where are you located?

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  22. great blog title and even greater mascot and team leader! visiting via Vicki's GYB Party and having some giveaways on my GYB post. Like Kelly, I raise Shetland sheep and my oldest ewe, Carly, is living her days out in the yard, pampered.

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  23. Beautiful work.

    stitchinginthezoo.blogspot.com

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  24. Sue...what a fun blog you have...I just dabble in knitting but do love the new varieties of yarn out now..I may have to take it up again!! Come see me sometime!

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  25. Just love your knitting and your attitude! I can totally relate:-) Looking forward to following!

    Hugs,
    Terri

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  26. Hooked on your blog - very fun -- looking forward to following. Hugs from Alaska. Karen (come visit: www.alaskabluemoose.blogspot.com)

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  27. Nice to meet you at the party!
    Beautiful blog and I love your beautiful projects.
    Cheers!!

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  28. Hi Sue, wonderful to visit your blog..What a great way to meet like minded women..Still working my way thru all the blogs..such delight, plus your name is simply the best.

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  29. Hi Sue, yes I'm still making my way through blogs from Vicki's Grow Your Blog Party. I just became your newest follower, can't let a knitter of your caliber get away from my reading list! You are very talented and I truly look forward to many more visits in the future!
    Congratulations on the Liebster Award by the way!
    Hugs and enjoy your weekend!
    Beth P
    P.S. Please pop by my blog for a visit if you haven't already - you might have some sage advise regarding my post of yesterday (Thurs 2 7 2013)

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