I was going to make excuses for having been away for so long but the only one I have is that I have been so busy! It's incredible how quickly life moves sometimes and so true that you really do have to grasp it with both hands before it slips away.
My blog station called me back following a wonderful episode on the bus...
I am in the process of knitting another pair of Canal du Midi socks for my other half and as they are a secret surprise for his birthday they are my current bus knitting project. I was busily clicking away the other morning and heard, 'What are you making?' I took my earphones out and a little girl was looking at me and my knitting. 'It's a sock' I said, 'would you like to see a finished one?' I got a very enthusiastic nod in return. 'Now, you have to remember that I am making them for my boyfriend and my feet are not this big!' I got another nod.
I have to emphasise at this point that my beloved is long of leg and long of foot and his sock is therefore, well, long! Following a rummage in my knitting bag I produced the finished sock and held it up for the little lady to see. She took a look at it, looked at me, then looked at my feet! By this time the sock had garnered quite a crowd and her reaction to my work and the size of this incredible piece of knitted fabric produced an excellent comedic moment on the bus. It not only made my morning but my day.
Yep, I'm still here and still knitting.
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Knitting after Le Tour
Life is a little strange without the Tour de France Knitalong...I don't really quite know what to knit next.
I have a few UFO's lurking in the bottom of my knitting bag that I should really pick up, plus an ever-increasing blocking queue that really does need tackling, but of course I decided just to cast-on something new instead!
This is the 'With Added Gust Scarf' and will be for my 'nearly' Mother-in-Law. It is in the lovely Caber yarn by The Yarn Yard and the colours are so stunningly delicate I can't stop holding the piece at arms length and admiring the dye work! The best description I can come up with for it is almost like a muted version of Dolly Mixture sweets, full of lavenders, pinks and greens but quite dusky...just beautiful.
I hope I will be able to part with this one as the previous Gust scarf was intended as a present and didn't quite make it that far!
I have a few UFO's lurking in the bottom of my knitting bag that I should really pick up, plus an ever-increasing blocking queue that really does need tackling, but of course I decided just to cast-on something new instead!
This is the 'With Added Gust Scarf' and will be for my 'nearly' Mother-in-Law. It is in the lovely Caber yarn by The Yarn Yard and the colours are so stunningly delicate I can't stop holding the piece at arms length and admiring the dye work! The best description I can come up with for it is almost like a muted version of Dolly Mixture sweets, full of lavenders, pinks and greens but quite dusky...just beautiful.
I hope I will be able to part with this one as the previous Gust scarf was intended as a present and didn't quite make it that far!
Monday, 28 July 2008
Le Tour - Le Grand Fin
I made it!
Did you see me riding full blast down the Champs Elysee with the wind behind me and La Asphalt Chanteuse flapping in the slipstream just before midnight?
It was a hard fought battle at the end, but with grit and determination I made it!
I am left wondering now if I have done enough to earn my King of the Mountain jersey as it has certainly been an uphill struggle at times.
I have learnt a lot of new techniques throughout the course of the Tour...
1) The Double Start Cast-On
2) Using contrasting colours for the cuff, heel and toe of a sock
3) A new heel technique (apologies that I do not know the official name for it)
4) The rosebud toe (which was later abandoned in favour of kitchener stitch)
5) Shaping through the calf to give a better fit
6) Lovely twisty cable stitches done without a cable needle
All in all I am pretty pleased! There are a couple of things that I will do differently next time, for example, I am not that keen on the way the heel sits when it is on the foot and I started the contrasting wool a couple of lines too early but, hey, this is only my fourth pair of socks.
I can't wait to see all my fellow Moutons Volantes cyclists crossing the line with their garments in hand, it has been exciting to see what everyone has been knitting and the gusto with which they and all the other riders have approached this project.
Right I do believe it is time for a well deserved glass of something very cold and slightly fizzy...Salut mes amies!
Did you see me riding full blast down the Champs Elysee with the wind behind me and La Asphalt Chanteuse flapping in the slipstream just before midnight?
It was a hard fought battle at the end, but with grit and determination I made it!
I am left wondering now if I have done enough to earn my King of the Mountain jersey as it has certainly been an uphill struggle at times.
I have learnt a lot of new techniques throughout the course of the Tour...
1) The Double Start Cast-On
2) Using contrasting colours for the cuff, heel and toe of a sock
3) A new heel technique (apologies that I do not know the official name for it)
4) The rosebud toe (which was later abandoned in favour of kitchener stitch)
5) Shaping through the calf to give a better fit
6) Lovely twisty cable stitches done without a cable needle
All in all I am pretty pleased! There are a couple of things that I will do differently next time, for example, I am not that keen on the way the heel sits when it is on the foot and I started the contrasting wool a couple of lines too early but, hey, this is only my fourth pair of socks.
I can't wait to see all my fellow Moutons Volantes cyclists crossing the line with their garments in hand, it has been exciting to see what everyone has been knitting and the gusto with which they and all the other riders have approached this project.
Right I do believe it is time for a well deserved glass of something very cold and slightly fizzy...Salut mes amies!
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Le Tour - Into The Final Stages
Following a quiet second week I have managed to pick up a bit a speed and make some headway with sock nombre deux...
Thought I would show you the 'neglected' back view so you can see the efforts of my ribbing! I love the heel flap stage of sock knitting as I still find it difficult to believe that this strange alien shape is eventually going to fit a foot, and it reminds me how clever knitting is.
I think I should just scrape through the finishing line on Sunday with a bit more pedal power over the next few days.
Allez mes petits Moutons Volante
Thought I would show you the 'neglected' back view so you can see the efforts of my ribbing! I love the heel flap stage of sock knitting as I still find it difficult to believe that this strange alien shape is eventually going to fit a foot, and it reminds me how clever knitting is.
I think I should just scrape through the finishing line on Sunday with a bit more pedal power over the next few days.
Allez mes petits Moutons Volante
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Un Toe et Deux Cuff
Le Tour Update: Somewhere near Pau
As it is rest day I am using the time to knit a new baby hat, but can now update you on The Singing Road socks...
As you can see there is now a finished toe and another new cuff which can only mean that sock one is complete, but I will keep you in suspense to see the whole article until the pair is knitted up!
I am a bit disappointed with the toe and it does bear a passing resemblance to a breast, however it fits quite well so I guess I did alright for a first effort? I will learn to master the kitchener stitch and use this from now on rather than this technique of gathering the remaining stitches together.
I have a train journey to look forward to tomorrow and I always see them as the perfect opportunity for pure unadulterated, guilt-free knitting time so I am hoping to make good progress.
A bientot mes amies!
As it is rest day I am using the time to knit a new baby hat, but can now update you on The Singing Road socks...
As you can see there is now a finished toe and another new cuff which can only mean that sock one is complete, but I will keep you in suspense to see the whole article until the pair is knitted up!
I am a bit disappointed with the toe and it does bear a passing resemblance to a breast, however it fits quite well so I guess I did alright for a first effort? I will learn to master the kitchener stitch and use this from now on rather than this technique of gathering the remaining stitches together.
I have a train journey to look forward to tomorrow and I always see them as the perfect opportunity for pure unadulterated, guilt-free knitting time so I am hoping to make good progress.
A bientot mes amies!
Monday, 14 July 2008
Winter is a comin'
Look what popped through my letterbox on Saturday...
The continual rainy days in London over the last week had put me in a wintery mood so there was much excitement chez moi as the realisation hit me that it is now perfectly acceptable to begin knitting in earnest again for winter...Hurrah!
I won't discuss the content of the latest Rowan book just yet as I don't want to spoil the surprise for all you other subscribers, so I am going to hold off for another week or so. All I will say is that there a stunningly, stylish shoot but a glaringly obvious lack of anything for the men...shame on you Rowan, particularly when you have so many male designers and more and more men are picking up the needles, plus it is winter, the perfect time for knitting snuggly woolens for men. Please do let me know what you think about this as I am going to let Rowan know what I think, as it is so strange that they have cut men out of the book completely.
I also picked up the latest issue of Vogue last week as it has all the new trends in for Autumn and Winter, plus a supplement from the catwalk shows.
As I do have a fashion degree I thought maybe I could try and put it to some use and pick out a couple of the key knitwear trends that will be appearing in magazines and stores over the coming season, but I will be creating my very own individual interpretations at home!
Burberry Prossum have a 'bit of a thing' for luxurious cashmere and silk mix fibres knitted into ribbed and cabled beanie hats and another key accessory, the fingerless glove. Using luxury fibres for small accessories is a great way to treat yourself or a loved one without breaking the bank as you do not need that much yarn.
A lot of coverage of gansey and aran patterns has had me reaching for one of my favourite 'comfort' books by Gladys Thompson, entitled 'Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys and Arans - Fishermen's Sweaters from the British Isles'. It covers a wide range of stitches and patterns traditionally used in making Jerseys and Guernseys and there are some excellent photographs illustrating both the knitting and the fishermen.
I have spent most of the day thinking about 'big' scarves and when I say big I mean big! I want to create a big chunky, statement scarf for this winter but as the weather has turned and we are now once again basking in glorious sunshine just the thought of it makes me overheat slightly!
The continual rainy days in London over the last week had put me in a wintery mood so there was much excitement chez moi as the realisation hit me that it is now perfectly acceptable to begin knitting in earnest again for winter...Hurrah!
I won't discuss the content of the latest Rowan book just yet as I don't want to spoil the surprise for all you other subscribers, so I am going to hold off for another week or so. All I will say is that there a stunningly, stylish shoot but a glaringly obvious lack of anything for the men...shame on you Rowan, particularly when you have so many male designers and more and more men are picking up the needles, plus it is winter, the perfect time for knitting snuggly woolens for men. Please do let me know what you think about this as I am going to let Rowan know what I think, as it is so strange that they have cut men out of the book completely.
I also picked up the latest issue of Vogue last week as it has all the new trends in for Autumn and Winter, plus a supplement from the catwalk shows.
As I do have a fashion degree I thought maybe I could try and put it to some use and pick out a couple of the key knitwear trends that will be appearing in magazines and stores over the coming season, but I will be creating my very own individual interpretations at home!
Burberry Prossum have a 'bit of a thing' for luxurious cashmere and silk mix fibres knitted into ribbed and cabled beanie hats and another key accessory, the fingerless glove. Using luxury fibres for small accessories is a great way to treat yourself or a loved one without breaking the bank as you do not need that much yarn.
A lot of coverage of gansey and aran patterns has had me reaching for one of my favourite 'comfort' books by Gladys Thompson, entitled 'Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys and Arans - Fishermen's Sweaters from the British Isles'. It covers a wide range of stitches and patterns traditionally used in making Jerseys and Guernseys and there are some excellent photographs illustrating both the knitting and the fishermen.
I have spent most of the day thinking about 'big' scarves and when I say big I mean big! I want to create a big chunky, statement scarf for this winter but as the weather has turned and we are now once again basking in glorious sunshine just the thought of it makes me overheat slightly!
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Back in the Saddle
Le Tour: Stages Huit et Neuf
Inspired by the superb performance of British rider Mark Cavendish, I have battled through the rain and nearly reached the end of sock number un...
Team C.A. are putting in a particularly fine performance as we enter the second week and there are socks, crochet squares, cardigan and jumper parts flying off the needles!
Allez Allez Team!!
Inspired by the superb performance of British rider Mark Cavendish, I have battled through the rain and nearly reached the end of sock number un...
Team C.A. are putting in a particularly fine performance as we enter the second week and there are socks, crochet squares, cardigan and jumper parts flying off the needles!
Allez Allez Team!!
Friday, 11 July 2008
Gin, Germolene and Rocky Roads
Le Tour: Stages Cinq, Six et Sept
Well, I really shouldn't have spoken too soon in my last blog entry about the knitting going so smoothly as these last three stages really have been an uphill struggle...
Official descriptions from the TDF website speak of, 'the longest stage of the 2008 Tour', which it feels like at the moment. 'The pack will encounter its first difficulties', and yes I am feeling the burn! And just to bring the first week to a close...'A short, but very nervy stage along the steep roads of the Massif Central. Climbing the Puy Mary before descending on to Aurillac could hold some interesting surprises. The riders need to be careful not to lose precious seconds', or in my case stitches!
The trouble started on Wednesday during stage five when I realised I was going to have to back-peddle a substantial number of rows after getting slightly lost on my chart. I put in a request to Jane for the Le Germolene and a dab of that plus a small gin soon had me back on track!
Progress was then scuppered by a very nasty puncture on the number 12 bus this morning and I had to do an emergency en route repair with my crochet hook. I have a strange love/hate relationship with dropped stitches as I do quite like picking them back up to see how they work but as this one was a 'knit into the back of' stitch it proved a little trickier.
So, unfortunately not much progress, in fact so little I will wait for more sock growth before posting another picture rather than playing spot the difference between one here and that on stage four!
Adios amigos! (my French is failing me today)
Well, I really shouldn't have spoken too soon in my last blog entry about the knitting going so smoothly as these last three stages really have been an uphill struggle...
Official descriptions from the TDF website speak of, 'the longest stage of the 2008 Tour', which it feels like at the moment. 'The pack will encounter its first difficulties', and yes I am feeling the burn! And just to bring the first week to a close...'A short, but very nervy stage along the steep roads of the Massif Central. Climbing the Puy Mary before descending on to Aurillac could hold some interesting surprises. The riders need to be careful not to lose precious seconds', or in my case stitches!
The trouble started on Wednesday during stage five when I realised I was going to have to back-peddle a substantial number of rows after getting slightly lost on my chart. I put in a request to Jane for the Le Germolene and a dab of that plus a small gin soon had me back on track!
Progress was then scuppered by a very nasty puncture on the number 12 bus this morning and I had to do an emergency en route repair with my crochet hook. I have a strange love/hate relationship with dropped stitches as I do quite like picking them back up to see how they work but as this one was a 'knit into the back of' stitch it proved a little trickier.
So, unfortunately not much progress, in fact so little I will wait for more sock growth before posting another picture rather than playing spot the difference between one here and that on stage four!
Adios amigos! (my French is failing me today)
Monday, 7 July 2008
Need For Speed
Stage Four: Cholet Time Trial
Phew, just made it through the time trial!
The official desciption of this stage is 'short and intense, but also smooth', and as I am finding the TDF stages are relating spookily well to my sock stages. I have 'intensely' sprinted through the heel of La Chanteuse and have learnt a new technique in the process. By knitting to the bottom of the foot then beginning even short row shaping you get a lovely right-angled heel cup to sit your foot in.
As you can see I have worked in the Asphalt yarn again for contrast and will pick this up again for the toe. My main concern at the moment is that everything seems to be going rather too smoothly...
Au revoir mes petit pois!
Phew, just made it through the time trial!
The official desciption of this stage is 'short and intense, but also smooth', and as I am finding the TDF stages are relating spookily well to my sock stages. I have 'intensely' sprinted through the heel of La Chanteuse and have learnt a new technique in the process. By knitting to the bottom of the foot then beginning even short row shaping you get a lovely right-angled heel cup to sit your foot in.
As you can see I have worked in the Asphalt yarn again for contrast and will pick this up again for the toe. My main concern at the moment is that everything seems to be going rather too smoothly...
Au revoir mes petit pois!
Le Tour Stages Deux et Tois
Stage Two: Auray - Saint-Brieuc
Following a slow start I feel that I am making good headway and have rejoined the 'pack' in this stage.
The main colour has been introduced and after originally naming it 'Chartreuse' I have change it to 'Chanteuse' the French feminine word for singer. Combine this with Asphalt and in a rough Franglais I have christened my TDF socks 'La Asphalt Chanteuse' or 'The Singing Road Socks'.
This particular section of the race is described as 'short and tense on hilly roads featuring the climb up the Mur de Bretagne “wall”' and it seems to describe perfectly how the sock is progressing. Getting to grips with the travelling pattern is a tense affair and a couple of my little birch Brittany needles have developed a nasty bend but they are hanging in there. There is a relief though as the pattern calls for a knit 2, purl 2 rib on needles 1 and 2.
Having a look at other Team CA projects everyone is putting an excellent first push and probablyjane has posted a superb commentator's report and there is the low-down on all the other competing riders.
Onwards and upwards!
Stage Three: Saint-Malo - Nantes
Moving confidently on to Stage Three with the promise of 'a rolling early part of the stage along the banks of the Rance, through Dinan and Calorgen, (plunging) into Brittany on straight and fast-riding roads to end at Nantes, the farthest point of the Loire area. This will be the first real chance the sprinters have at a stage win.' This looks as though it is time to settle back in the saddle, don my comfiest cycling shorts and knit like the wind down the leg before facing the time-trial tomorrow and the possibility of a heel?
Knit on mes amies!
Following a slow start I feel that I am making good headway and have rejoined the 'pack' in this stage.
The main colour has been introduced and after originally naming it 'Chartreuse' I have change it to 'Chanteuse' the French feminine word for singer. Combine this with Asphalt and in a rough Franglais I have christened my TDF socks 'La Asphalt Chanteuse' or 'The Singing Road Socks'.
This particular section of the race is described as 'short and tense on hilly roads featuring the climb up the Mur de Bretagne “wall”' and it seems to describe perfectly how the sock is progressing. Getting to grips with the travelling pattern is a tense affair and a couple of my little birch Brittany needles have developed a nasty bend but they are hanging in there. There is a relief though as the pattern calls for a knit 2, purl 2 rib on needles 1 and 2.
Having a look at other Team CA projects everyone is putting an excellent first push and probablyjane has posted a superb commentator's report and there is the low-down on all the other competing riders.
Onwards and upwards!
Stage Three: Saint-Malo - Nantes
Moving confidently on to Stage Three with the promise of 'a rolling early part of the stage along the banks of the Rance, through Dinan and Calorgen, (plunging) into Brittany on straight and fast-riding roads to end at Nantes, the farthest point of the Loire area. This will be the first real chance the sprinters have at a stage win.' This looks as though it is time to settle back in the saddle, don my comfiest cycling shorts and knit like the wind down the leg before facing the time-trial tomorrow and the possibility of a heel?
Knit on mes amies!
Saturday, 5 July 2008
Le Tour de France Knitalong 2008
Le Grand Depart - Brest to Plumelec
And we are off!
Well almost!
I have got off to a slow start as the riders left Brest on the first leg of Le Tour, my yarn finished its journey from Edinburgh to London and threw my project plans into disarray. It is so beautiful that I decided my chosen project wouldn't do it justice and have had to rethink at the last moment. I am considering this to be a technical difficulty along the lines of having the wrong saddle for the terrain. On a more positive note my Yarn Yard colours match pretty well with my riding team, Team Credit Agricole, in fact I could not have requested a better colour scheme, although the yarn shows up more bluey in the pictures!
My decision is now made and I am going to knit the Canal du Midi socks from Knitting On The Road by Nancy Bush. This will be my fourth pair of socks and they have a relatively fiddly lace detail on them, a different heel to the ones I have knit before and some shaping around the ankle which are all new techniques I have not tried before making them perfect for the Polka-Dot jersey category.
Cast-on is complete and I have learnt a new technique already, that of the Double Start Cast-On and thanks to the wonder of the internet found a great video to help me. This particular method gives a nice elastic and very neat edge making it perfect for sock cuffs.
Doesn't the yarn look great! I have named this one Asphalt as it has a lovely gravel appearance.
Bonne Nuit!
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Hyperbolic Crochet & Coral Reefs
I have had the most amazing visual overload today that has re-ignited the itch in me to pick up a crochet hook again.
The astonishing Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef is currently on display at the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Project Space on London's South Bank and if you can get there for a visit I highly recommend it.
Daina Taimina picked up her crochet hook about ten years ago with the aim of creating a model of hyperbolic space, which is where parallel lines do not stay the same distance apart but gradually curve away from each other. This goes against everything we have ever been taught about parallel lines and was so conceptually challenging in the minds of the worlds greatest mathematicians that they have never been able to write a formula for it or indeed even visualise it...enter Daina.
Using basic crochet techniques and increasing in a calculated way, Daina discovered that it was possible to see the curving of the parallel lines and invented Hyperbolic Crochet. These hyperbolic crochet models have gone on to be used around the world as demonstration models in universities and throughout the mathematics field and Daina has gone on to invent hyperbolic sewing.
The finished hyperbolic crochet items resemble pieces of coral and inspired Margaret and Christine Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring to begin crocheting a coral reef in order to raise awareness of the plight of reefs. The Hyperbolic Reef is touring and people are welcome to join in and learn about hyperbolic crochet and add their own piece of coral to the reef. If you can't make it to the exhibition but are still inspired there are instructions on creating your piece and it can then be sent to Margaret and Christine for addition to the model, just follow the link for the IFF given above and the details are at the bottom of their page.
It has been a long time since I experienced the Wow factor and this did it for me! The work is incredible. So inventive, colourful, thoughtful, experimental and breathtaking. Craft brings people together in amazing ways and I will just share this last comment with you...
There was a mother with her young son and daughter at the exhibit and they were so excited and the little girl said, 'is this all really made from knitting' and Mum replied with a 'yes', and the daughter piped up, 'well when I get home can you teach me?'
And so from one generation to the next the craft passes again.
The astonishing Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef is currently on display at the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Project Space on London's South Bank and if you can get there for a visit I highly recommend it.
Daina Taimina picked up her crochet hook about ten years ago with the aim of creating a model of hyperbolic space, which is where parallel lines do not stay the same distance apart but gradually curve away from each other. This goes against everything we have ever been taught about parallel lines and was so conceptually challenging in the minds of the worlds greatest mathematicians that they have never been able to write a formula for it or indeed even visualise it...enter Daina.
Using basic crochet techniques and increasing in a calculated way, Daina discovered that it was possible to see the curving of the parallel lines and invented Hyperbolic Crochet. These hyperbolic crochet models have gone on to be used around the world as demonstration models in universities and throughout the mathematics field and Daina has gone on to invent hyperbolic sewing.
The finished hyperbolic crochet items resemble pieces of coral and inspired Margaret and Christine Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring to begin crocheting a coral reef in order to raise awareness of the plight of reefs. The Hyperbolic Reef is touring and people are welcome to join in and learn about hyperbolic crochet and add their own piece of coral to the reef. If you can't make it to the exhibition but are still inspired there are instructions on creating your piece and it can then be sent to Margaret and Christine for addition to the model, just follow the link for the IFF given above and the details are at the bottom of their page.
It has been a long time since I experienced the Wow factor and this did it for me! The work is incredible. So inventive, colourful, thoughtful, experimental and breathtaking. Craft brings people together in amazing ways and I will just share this last comment with you...
There was a mother with her young son and daughter at the exhibit and they were so excited and the little girl said, 'is this all really made from knitting' and Mum replied with a 'yes', and the daughter piped up, 'well when I get home can you teach me?'
And so from one generation to the next the craft passes again.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Wales!
I have just returned from a fabulous weekend in Mid Wales, spent with old friends enjoying the good times!
This was my first visit to the land of the Red Dragon and I do hope to return and see more of it. The countryside is so stunning, very green and lush and there is an abundance of wild foxgloves and of course sheep! I discovered that even though I have spent a lot of time around sheep I never realised how difficult they are to photograph until now...
Our country retreat
Foxgloves
Cardigan Bay
This was my first visit to the land of the Red Dragon and I do hope to return and see more of it. The countryside is so stunning, very green and lush and there is an abundance of wild foxgloves and of course sheep! I discovered that even though I have spent a lot of time around sheep I never realised how difficult they are to photograph until now...
Our country retreat
Foxgloves
Cardigan Bay
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Stitch Markers
As you may know by now I am a keen advocate of 'bus knitting'. It took a little while to get over the initial self-conciousness of knitting in such an enclosed public space but now I don't think twice about whipping my Addi turbos out!
My current bus project is the Gust scarf and today I made a mistake and desperately needed a stitch marker. I had a good rummage around the bottom of my knitting bag but to no avail, so I rummaged around my handbag hoping I could find a substitute.
This is what I came up with...
Can you guess what it is yet? Yep, it's the tear strip off my chewing gum wrapper and it worked a treat for the row I needed it for! It also seemed less snag free than the paper clip markers I caught my Mum using whilst knitting up her beautiful Habu silk cardigan!!
So, I wondered what have you used as stitch markers or other knitting notions when the correct tool isn't to hand?
My current bus project is the Gust scarf and today I made a mistake and desperately needed a stitch marker. I had a good rummage around the bottom of my knitting bag but to no avail, so I rummaged around my handbag hoping I could find a substitute.
This is what I came up with...
Can you guess what it is yet? Yep, it's the tear strip off my chewing gum wrapper and it worked a treat for the row I needed it for! It also seemed less snag free than the paper clip markers I caught my Mum using whilst knitting up her beautiful Habu silk cardigan!!
So, I wondered what have you used as stitch markers or other knitting notions when the correct tool isn't to hand?
Saturday, 14 June 2008
The Lure of the East
Last year I joined a fantastic charity called The Art Fund who are an independent source of funding for UK galleries, museums, and historic houses. In return for funding to buy pieces for their collections the 'establishment' then offers Art Fund members something in return, usually in the form of discounted or free entry to their exhibitions or collections. Brilliant! So I get to contribute towards a little piece of heritage for the UK's galleries, museums or historic houses and I get discounted entry to most of the major exhibitions within London and the 'establishments' get their much needed funding.
Being an Art Fund member has meant that I have been to see a lot more exhibitions than I would have gone to had I just been a member at one gallery as I am not tied to one gallery. This morning I headed off to see The Lure of the East at Tate Britain. I was not sure what to expect so it was a very pleasant surprise!
The exhibition covers work by British artists from the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries who were responding to the sights of the Near East, including Turkey, Egypt and Palestine. It is a very opulent exhibition, full of rich colour and texture making it perfect for anyone interested in textiles and colour combination.
These are my three favourite paintings:
An Arab Interior by Arthur Melville
Leila by Frank Dicksee
Edward Wortby Montagu in Oriental Costume by George Romney
They are not my usual 'cup of tea' but I am so captivated by the colours I can already feel a second visit coming on...
Being an Art Fund member has meant that I have been to see a lot more exhibitions than I would have gone to had I just been a member at one gallery as I am not tied to one gallery. This morning I headed off to see The Lure of the East at Tate Britain. I was not sure what to expect so it was a very pleasant surprise!
The exhibition covers work by British artists from the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries who were responding to the sights of the Near East, including Turkey, Egypt and Palestine. It is a very opulent exhibition, full of rich colour and texture making it perfect for anyone interested in textiles and colour combination.
These are my three favourite paintings:
An Arab Interior by Arthur Melville
Leila by Frank Dicksee
Edward Wortby Montagu in Oriental Costume by George Romney
They are not my usual 'cup of tea' but I am so captivated by the colours I can already feel a second visit coming on...
Friday, 13 June 2008
Repeat After Me
As me and my beloved are heading off to France this summer and I am currently in training for the Tour de France KAL, I have decided that it is time to refresh my French conversational skills. In order to do this with the minimum of embarrassment I have been looking at a few audio courses I can study at home or mutter quietly under my breath on the bus...
This appealed to me because of the word 'Active' in the title but I can still remember a few key phrases from school.
'Taking Off in French' sounds incredibly exciting but I don't fancy completing Le Tour on this bike!
Anything with food on the cover is always going to be a 'guaranteed' sale!
Vive La France!
This appealed to me because of the word 'Active' in the title but I can still remember a few key phrases from school.
'Taking Off in French' sounds incredibly exciting but I don't fancy completing Le Tour on this bike!
Anything with food on the cover is always going to be a 'guaranteed' sale!
Vive La France!
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Socks Are Friends
Last week was about finishing off a pair of socks I have had lurking in the bottom of my knitting bag for far too long and now they are done all I can think of is knitting more and more socks...just as well with the Tour de France KAL coming up!
I only learnt the art of sock knitting in February when I decided it was time to face my fear and attend a short course at I Knit being taught by Jane. It is true that you do catch the 'sock bug'. This pair are the outcome of Jane's gentle and patient teaching and I am so proud of them!
Before I had even finished the first pair I had chosen the yarn to knit up a pair for my beloved...
And then before before I knew it I was casting on a pair of Go With The Flow socks in lovely Yarn Yard Bonny Buxom just for me!
Socks are friends. You can take them anywhere. They don't take up a lot of room in your handbag. They are easy to squish if you need to jump off the bus in a hurry. But, what I have found most intriguing is that socks in progress encourage conversations with total strangers! It's great! I have chatted to a lady who was just curious, another lady about her cousin's generator and a man about his mother who at 90 could still knit on four needles and she was blind!
I only learnt the art of sock knitting in February when I decided it was time to face my fear and attend a short course at I Knit being taught by Jane. It is true that you do catch the 'sock bug'. This pair are the outcome of Jane's gentle and patient teaching and I am so proud of them!
Before I had even finished the first pair I had chosen the yarn to knit up a pair for my beloved...
And then before before I knew it I was casting on a pair of Go With The Flow socks in lovely Yarn Yard Bonny Buxom just for me!
Socks are friends. You can take them anywhere. They don't take up a lot of room in your handbag. They are easy to squish if you need to jump off the bus in a hurry. But, what I have found most intriguing is that socks in progress encourage conversations with total strangers! It's great! I have chatted to a lady who was just curious, another lady about her cousin's generator and a man about his mother who at 90 could still knit on four needles and she was blind!
Sunday, 8 June 2008
Tour de France Knit Along
Just a quick news flash!
I have just been accepted as a member of Team Credit Agricole for the second annual Tour de France Knit Along
Le Tour kicks off on Saturday 5th July in Brest and ends on Sunday 27th July in Paris by which time about 200 riders will have tackled 3,500 kilometers of road and I should have learnt a new knitty technique and cheered on my team! I am knitting for a Polka Dot Jersey, also known as King of the Mountains and it a project that will be a challenge to me.
Watch this space for updates during Le Tour and you can follow all the teams at the main website and cheer on all us sporting knitters.
Right, I better go and limber up!
I have just been accepted as a member of Team Credit Agricole for the second annual Tour de France Knit Along
Le Tour kicks off on Saturday 5th July in Brest and ends on Sunday 27th July in Paris by which time about 200 riders will have tackled 3,500 kilometers of road and I should have learnt a new knitty technique and cheered on my team! I am knitting for a Polka Dot Jersey, also known as King of the Mountains and it a project that will be a challenge to me.
Watch this space for updates during Le Tour and you can follow all the teams at the main website and cheer on all us sporting knitters.
Right, I better go and limber up!
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Zippedy Gust
Following the success of the Hypoteneuse scarf I have just cast on another of Anne Hanson's patterns...
This one is Gust and is in Caber yarn by The Yarn Yard...I'm so excited already!!
This one is Gust and is in Caber yarn by The Yarn Yard...I'm so excited already!!
Thursday, 29 May 2008
Magic Balls!
They have arrived!
My beautiful Magic Balls by the yarn genius that is Sophie's Toes are the current pride of my stash and they were worth the hard fought battle to get them as I am sure you discerning yarn addicts will agree...
Magic Balls have been revived by Emily Parson in her Etsy shop and utilise an age old technique of tying together leftover lengths of yarn and winding it into a ball for it to be knit into a technicolour dream item. Emily uses lengths of her hand-dyed sock yarn and supplies a scarf pattern with each ball, but she has also knitted the most amazing Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise jacket from a ball which is what sold the yarn to me.
Unfortunately all this winding takes its toll and the Magic Balls will not be available again until the autumn but I am going to have a go at home...Google 'Magic Balls Yarn Knitting' and you will find lots of articles on the subject to help you create your very own individual Magic Ball!
My beautiful Magic Balls by the yarn genius that is Sophie's Toes are the current pride of my stash and they were worth the hard fought battle to get them as I am sure you discerning yarn addicts will agree...
Magic Balls have been revived by Emily Parson in her Etsy shop and utilise an age old technique of tying together leftover lengths of yarn and winding it into a ball for it to be knit into a technicolour dream item. Emily uses lengths of her hand-dyed sock yarn and supplies a scarf pattern with each ball, but she has also knitted the most amazing Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise jacket from a ball which is what sold the yarn to me.
Unfortunately all this winding takes its toll and the Magic Balls will not be available again until the autumn but I am going to have a go at home...Google 'Magic Balls Yarn Knitting' and you will find lots of articles on the subject to help you create your very own individual Magic Ball!
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