Yarn Along 6 - New Starts

I did lots of sitting down over the holidays, all those films to watch, peaceful afternoons and evenings but yet manged to do little knitting, if any.Maybe it was the frantic present knitting catching up on me.

The few projects I did start, have now been pulled down, yarn rewound.

New Year, New Starts.

And, so I cast back on the first project rewound, a winter cowl for my boy, yesterday and it felt good.

Pattern from Amanda Blake Soule's Rhythm of the Family, which I am also reading along with an old James Herriot,Let sleeping vets lie, kindly borrowed from a dear friend, it makes for a peaceful bedtime read.

Afew rows in and all is well again in my Yarning World.

Come, Yarn Along at Ginny's http://www.gsheller.com/



Off the needles and into the shoeboxes

Our home, full of friends.

Teapots, jugs of milk and pots of coffee.

Cake stands stacked high.

China cups and saucers, pretty tablecloths.

Children running in and out,

trees climbed, rabbit stroked,

friendships rediscovered,

cakes devoured.

A pile of shoe boxes, bursting with gifts.

Colourful wrappings,

Bright smiles

LOVE aplenty.

Thank you x

Shawl for a Mama

A gift for a Mama.

From my heart to warm hers.

Little Treats.

Knitted using bamboo yarn, what a joy.

Perfect for tucking into packages to give the gift of a smile and a clean face.

At the Croft

After a long drive, night in a hotel and a ferry ride, by now we will be settling into the joy of visiting with friends on the Isle of Lewis.

Yes, this post is coming via the wonder that is scheduling.

Today, has been filled with hunting for mittens, hats, warm socks and the warmest of outfits,

all needed for our Scottish adventure.

These hand warmers, fresh off the needles are now wrapped and packed, a gift for our hosts hands.

A small token of our thanks .

                                           

Details of patterns and yarns used here http://www.ravelry.com/projects/nocton4

Garden Gnomes

My lovely husband declares these Mushroom Gnomes to be Snow Men in disguise.

Pattern can be found here
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cuddly-mushroom-gnomelet

The gift of knitting

Knitting to me is a complete pleasure, the best legacy my beloved Nana ever gave me.
There has always been the means to knit, yarn and needles tucked away somewhere throughout my life, even in my teens when a project was left on the needles for months, years and normally finally finished by my Nana.
I remember my first "go it alone" project, using the brightest colours and the wonkiest of stitches, a pinafore dress.I felt so very grown up, purchasing the yarn from a shop in Portland, Dorset and settling down seriously to a project with someone so special in mind, my new God daughter.I was 17 and the pride on my Nana's face when I showed her my first finished project, stays safely tucked in my heart.
Knitting has helped my through some tough times, given me purpose and healing.
The joy of creating to welcome a new life, a birthday celebrating toddler, a girlfriend, a family in need, friends, family,strangers is a gift, a true gift, one I cherish each and every day.
Recently, I passed on my legacy at The Mother Camp, sharing the knowledge given to me.I passed out Nana's needles to knitters, new and those that just needed reminding how to and together we created a blanket for a lovely couple, who were handfasted at camp.A true community effort, sparked, inspired and enabled by Mrs Ethel Joan Head, my Nana.


Poncho for a new little girl, perfect for baby wearing.

Yet another Pickle pattern.

And a bigger one.

Little socks, in rainbow colours for new little feet.

This Mama knits and this Mama sews.

Chicks finally arrived for our spring nests.

Bamboo face cloths for birthday friends.

Dolls for the Woodland group fund raiser.

And then along came the dinosaurs.

This Mama is sewing and her boy is loving it.

Egg Fun

Blessings of the Season.

March Catch Up

A weekend in Haworth, Yorkshire, with knitting friends.
Visits to mills stuffed high with gorgeous yarns, exotic Indian stores, cakes and cuppas always to hand.

Workshops to share skills, lovely meals, great company and plenty of time for knitting, even while waiting for the coach.

Views to inspire.

Farm visit with friends.

New babes to delight.

Flowers, cards and love, so much love from friends.
Remembering our little girl
6 years.

March with all its beauty, heartache and renewal.

*First yellow butterfly of the season, dancing in the garden 19th March*

Yarn Along - 3

Hello and huge thanks to all the Yarn Alongers, who left such wonderful comments on my first YA post, much appreciated, knitters what a great crowd.
Feel like joining in the fun ? posting a current WIP and your book of the moment, visit here, it's a real treat http://www.gsheller.com/

I am noticing a habit with my knitting, find a good, straight forward pattern and then knitting it several times, so it's with no surprise that I find myself on my third plain vest, pattern from Pickles and very happy with them all too, this one, size 4 is for a birthday girl, who will be partying on Saturday, so must get a move on.

The lilac yarn is a gorgeous, soft delight, perfect for looking forward to Spring.It came, along with many, many friends as a woolly-tastic gift from this fantastic blogger http://when-i-get-the-time.blogspot.com/ thanks again honey, oh the fun to be had with 2 brimming bags of yarn, what plans I have.

A new book, Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn, new author to me, came in a set of 8, so fingers crossed I like them !

Daisy Dalrymple is, I think, going to turn out to be the Miss Marple of the '20s, swapping twin set and pearls for flapper style attire, while solving many a mystery, perfect for this late winter reading.

A Read and a Knit - Yarn Along 2

The Read - The Garden Cottage Diaries by Fiona J. Houston, a year of stepping back into 18th century living, a perfect choice for the holidays, so easy to pick up and put down, snippets of daily chores, recipes, hardships and lovely nature notes.

The Knit - Plain Vest by Pickles number 2, first was cast on Solstice night for O, perfect silvery yarn reflecting the snow and ice, this one is going to be a gift for a friend's child turning 1.
Size 1 of this pattern is available free on the Pickles website.
http://shop.pickles.no/en/products/patterns/patterns-w-yarns/plain-vest.html
I added some extra length for O's size 4 and will do again on the littler version.

Go share your WIP and latest reads over at http://www.gsheller.com/
they're a very friendly crowd.

Keeping Mum & Dad's Hands Warm.

Gifts for my parents.
Patterns from Last minute knitted gifts.

Gentle, easy knits before holiday fun began.

Hoping the holidays have been restorative for you and your families and wishing a happy, healthy 2011 to you all.

and finally ....

Anyone remember this ? http://abigsmile4.blogspot.com/2008/10/joining-queue.html
Pattern and yarn bought to celebrate O turning 1.

So, it made it off the needles by the time he was 2.

And, I've finally managed to blog about it, now he is 3 ( and 3 months )

Good job I knitted it big, still be around by the time he's 6, by my reckoning.