Stitch 'n Dye

The Knitting, Stitching and Comfort Food Show...

2007-11-28T10:26:00.000Z

What a fabulous start to a new phase of my life, the last week has been. 16th November was the last day of the past 13 and half years of my 9-5. I am going to undertake temporary work until I sort my ideas out for the next phase of my life.

The first week of my new life began at Kings Cross, on Tuesday 20th - catching the 11:10 train to Leeds, and then the connecting train across to Harrogate. A kind train guard helped me and two bags onto the Harrogate - little did he know he would have been even more useful on the way home... As I tried to retrieve my knitting from my bag - he commented 'No one does that anymore do they?' I explained, and showed the socks I was knitting. he liked the colours - much nicer than the yarn his Mum and Sister used to use.

Walked across The Stray - with my trusty map and directions provided by Wye Sue to the house we were to share for the week. As I got nearer (after having taken a wrong turn and getting hot and bothered) I saw Sue and Yvonne, funny that we all arrived together. It took some time to figure out how the central heating worked, and even longer to figure out the idiosyncracies of the hot water!! Yvonne's first shower, and my first bath a little on the cool side!

WyeSue had arrived, via Coldstream Mill, and we had extra guests... three cones of gorgeous silk (two of which you can see in the picture).

Being tired - we only ventured out (it was also raining and very cold) to the local Sainsbury - where ingredients for Sausage, mash, fried onions and beans were acquired. A yummy first meal in our new home for the next week. I cooked and the others cleaned up, with the help of the dishwasher!

Wednesday morning, down to the Conference centre where I helped WyeSue put up the KCG stand. I really enjoy doing that sort of thing, and the finishing touch was the positioning of 'Sue's Knickers'. You need to go to WyeSue's blog (see link alongside - no I have not yet learnt how to put them into this text) to see about those! Here is a picture of the resulting stand.

Yvonne had made sure that all we needed for the 4 days teaching of Knitting and Crochet, had arrived at the Relax and Knit stand. This year we also had a back board on that stand - which did give us protection from the awful draught from the back door of the hall.

Then to a serious shop at Asda, and the ingredients for a delicious lamb and apricot stew, Chickpea and Potato curry, and Yvonne's delicious Meatball recipe. We also acquired the ingredients for an ice cream dessert both Yvonne and I had seen on Nigella Lawson's TV show; and a packet of chocolate eclairs at the hefty price of £1.

That evening we had Yvonne's delicious meatballs for dinner, plus the ice cream, which we really really wanted to eat, which meant the only way was to microwave for a short time, turn it out onto a plate and using the carving knife and fork... It was incredibly delicious.

You can also see here, my bargain haul of Appleton's Crewel Wool - from the Oxfam Shop in Harrogate - absolutely delighted with that and Yvonne came away with a cone of red yarn.

Further bargains were had at TK Max - where I acquired a new knitting bag, what you might call a 'bling' bag! and Yvonne a beautiful purple cashmere sweater.

Of course we just had to show these delicious dishes:

In the picture collection here you can see the improvised mortar and pestle, (cereal bowl and the sugar bowl!) what you can't see is the black peppercorns jumping out of the bowl! Chickpea and potato curry and delicious bread from Betty's. The last shows, WyeSue, Lindy and Yvonne, sitting down to delicious food. With the small team we were, and a little effort, we all agreed, far preferable to the B&B and eating out every night - which is the usual experience of a show for many of us.

We did of course go to Betty's for supper one evening, and also had a great fish and chip supper with Sarah and David of CraftyNotions, and also, Lindy and two Chris's from KCG. Seriously the best fish and chips for me in many years - the batter on the haddock quite delicious and I ate it all. Here at home I almost always discard it. The fish and chip evening was a hoot, lots of silliness and giggling, more of the ice cream etc.

For more information about this picture, again you will need to go over to WyeSue's blog to see the reason for this and the end result. It was huge fun, even if I had to get up 15 min early, shower and breakfast quickly, so that I could sit and crochet the edges so that we would be ready for the gift giving first thing the next morning.

Of all the fun and the hard work that it can be teaching for 4 days, with shopping breaks - the highlight for me was siting down with Mary of Jamieson's, who helped me to sort out where I was going wrong when knitting the corners of my hap shawl (which corners I have knit and unpicked 3 times now. ie. dealing with knitting and then unpicking back to the central square around 400 stitches, each time!

I knit a small square of Jamieson's Ultra (lambswool & shetland blend) and sat with Mary whilst she guided me through, showed me how to sensibly mark the actual corner stitch, and I knit a few rows so I could see the end result.

Mary was also working on a Hap, which was in several pieces, all partly connected. She showed and talked me through how she knits and constructs the shawl in the traditional fashion, vs the modern fashion I chose to use to knit mine. Isn't it great when you're read but not quite grasped the principles, but someone shows you practically, how to do it, and the missing pieces in your understanding finally slot into place. I could see how it works and will knit my next shawl using this method.

Getting home began rather ominously... We figured we needed to offload the bags and me to the far side of Harrogate station for the train to Leeds. Yvonne went across to the ticket office to buy her ticket. There I sat with three bags of mine, and two of Yvonne's, in my very bright pink, but warm and cosy Land's End coat. I had sat for a few minutes, took out my knitting and then I heard this:

'It is my solemn duty to tell the lady sitting on platform 2, in the pink coat, that if she requires the Leeds train, she is on the wrong platform."

My then vague recollection of last year catching the Leeds train from the same platform that I had arrived on rang true. I calmly began to move the very heavy bags across to the lift (thank goodness there was one) - when he piped up again: "There is no need to rush (I was not rushing) there is 20 minutes til the train."

Then I saw Yvonne appear from the ticket office - obviously laughing hard!! She came back across and we hauled all our bags over to platform 1. I went in search of the gentleman, shook his hand and advised him -"You don't get service like that in London." Thankfully the rest of the journey was uneventful and I even managed to get home from Kings Cross, via Thameslink train and taxi in less than an hour!!

Now life gets serious again - a very messy, overfilled flat to cull, and CV etc to write. A fabulous time had by all and special thank you to Sue, Yvonne ie. the other two founding members of the Jamieson's Fan Club - and to Elaine and Mary of said Jamieson's for the icing on the cake of the week.

The Seaside - in November!

2007-11-04T18:54:00.000Z

Saturday was a really lovely day. Set out with http://brigidhj.typepad.com/thumb_gusset/ - we went to visit http://wibbo.typepad.com/wibbos_words// at the seaside.

Well it was - as they say 'a grand day out'. We had a nice drink and long chat about sewing machines, then off to the Museum at Brighton for the Indigo exhibition. The exhibition is fabulous - really nice textiles, lots of information and you can watch the video of indigo dyeing in W Africa (but that is 50 min long) so am going to wait til I can buy a copy. Apparently there is a part II of the exhibition - at the Hove branch of the museum.

Then we had lunch in the basement of a very nice Italian cafe/restaurant. Pizza, Lasagne and Pasta and some sock knitting going on too.

Then came dessert. There was mango dessert, a pie type thing with chocolate (forgive me Brigid) I can't recall what that was as I was a little overwhelmed by the tennis ball size of the profiteroles I had ordered - with what seemed like half a gallon of yummy chocolate sauce.

I did take a funny picture of Jan and Brigid taking photos of their dessert and I did - they are my witnesses - take a photo of mine before I attacked it. Also cos it was funny - I took a photo of the after - as in after demolition!! However, the camera in it's infinite wisdom has lost those pictures, as well as the nice one I took of Jan and Brigid against the beautiful sunset.

After lunch we walked down the seafront along to Hove. Beautiful sunset, calm sea, balmy evening, no breeze. It was a perfect day and most gratifying to see how Jan is loving her new life at the seaside.

Do need to go back again - so we can do part II of the exhibition and a bit more knitting and nattering.

A really great day, travel not too painful - once we got ourselves on the correct train... and most enjoyable company.

Here are a couple of pictures of the sunset that the camera did decide to keep!!

The last picture is to celebrate another very important event last week. My youngest niece was 1 on 31st October, a lovely birthday party was organised by my sister with witchs, devils and assorted ghouls invited. A good time was had by all - and here is the birthday girl with her favourite present - supplied by doting big brother.

Liberty Treats - Yum Yum

2007-10-20T09:32:00.000+01:00

Hi

Small gathering at Liberty last Thursday, including two new girls, sent along by the Relax and Knit people at Ally Pally. Here is a picture of Yvonne who heads up the Relax and Knit volunteers, with Yasmin who was new to knitting - but did really well mastering the basics.

They're enjoying the yummy's given to us by the cafe. Little pastry cases with chocolate filling and candied orange peel tops - delicious - but I'd already eaten a big piece of chocolate cake along with my healthy apple juice...

Knitting and Stitching Show

2007-10-14T13:12:00.000+01:00

Hi

Great day yesterday at Alexandra Palace at the annual Knitting and Stitching Show. Once again I volunteered a day on the Relax and Knit stand. Always great fun - but it can also be VERY hard work. The day started with one of the highlights for me - sharing a teachng table with Prudence Mapstone - famous for her wonderful freeform knitting and crochet. Lovely to have Prudence teaching along with us. We also had a lady over from Sydney on holiday - Jan - who also came along and volunteered - at her first ever visit to the show. Word about our good work is reaching far and wide.

Later in the day a chance to catch up with all sorts of people both on the embroidery/textile art side and the knitting side of things.

A few things acquired during the day - very restrained for me at this show:)

Some interesting resin type things that would be good scarf holders of attached to the ends of cords for bag closures; silky scrunchy bits and green threads for the embroidery side of thigns - from Dale and Ian at Threadstudio - where we had an interesting Rugby discussion; mohair from Knitwitches and also some from Fybrespates and

my favourite buy of the day - now that I no longer believe knitting with set of double pointed needles is like wrestling with porcupine quills ggg.... Sox Stixs from Lantern Moon - I love their things - so yummy. You can also see my little black sheep also from Lantern Moon - but you can't see the Ladybird version - which was a pressie for Beth - which she received last night - whilst myself, Beth and her baby sister took over my nephews bedroom to watch the match on his big TV. Both Beth and I were very excited watching the match and made more than a few rude remarks about the French (well you know in the spirit of the game...).

A bit more sock yarn - from Get Knitted and also from Drops - with a great website Garnstudio with hundreds of really nice knitting patterns available for download - completely free of charge...

and lastly - here are a few images of our stand - really great stand this year - and we were not right next to any very noisy and repetative fashion show this time. We were in the Great Hall - sorry I didn't get to take more pictures of the show etc. I am going to Harrogate for the full 4 days in November, so hopefully can get a few more pictures there for you - and see a few more of the exhibits that I missed yesterday.

Thats Roberta on the left - one of the regular volunteer team, and in the lilac top in the middle Yvonne who is our Leader and guide and does such a grand job each time I can't put it into words. Yvonne is a walking knitting encyclopedia and born to do this wonderful job. I so admire her skills and dedication to this craft that she truly loves.

And I HATE blogger - why does it have to be so damn difficult to upload photos in the right place in your text, and why has it underlined this last part of my post when I did NOT ask it to do so...

I almost forgot, towards the end of the day we had another visitor - Xenobia Bailey - who Yvonne immediately knew - as a friend of Yvonne's had previously stopped Xenobia in the street in New York to admire a coat that Xenobia was wearing at the time. Wow can she do great things with corchet!!!

and she asked Yvonne if she might come back on Sunday for some knitting tuition. Here's a picture of Xenobia in a great outfit. Ever since I have been doing this volunteering, I have met so many great and incredibly creative people - it really is so inspriring.

Byzantium

2007-09-01T13:29:00.000+01:00

Hi

Been very busy since last posting - yes months ago. I decided to do rather than write about what I might do...

Have been dyeing - which I love more and more than I ever did - and I still have SO MUCH to learn. Been doing a little piecing (patchwork) with some of my dyed colours. a little knitting etc etc. Still dabbling and doing bits here and there - and of course some of the dabbling I had my helper Beth (niece) - who loves the new dyeing method with all that measuring and pouring.

We have together done several value gradations of our favourite colours.

Also took nephew, his girlfriend and his little sister - my niece Beth to Istanbul for a long weekend - where a fabulously wonderful time was had by all and Beth was completely delighted as it was the first time she had been on a plane.

My real achievement over the past few months is that I completed a piece of work and entered it into Festival of Quilts - Quilt Creations Category.

A few years ago I used to atttend a masterclass 4 times a year with Cherrilyn Tyler and a small group of fellow students. One of the ladies lived near our venue and those of us who stayed B&B were often very kindly invited over to dinner on the Friday evening of our weekends. These evenings were huge fun and quite delicious.

We became 'Footlose on Friday' and decided on a group entry to Festival of Quilts at Birmingham in the summer of 2005. We each made a shoe and a shoe bag - the idea being a shoe shop. All the usual pains of working to a deadline etc - but ultimately we enjoyed it.

Last year I did not enter anything. But this year's entry we had decided on corsets - and as I've always wanted to make a textile art one - I joined in again.

I chose Byzantium as my source material - all the photos and sketches etc etc Ihad collected over several visits to Haghia Sophia in Istanbul.

I looked through all my accumulated books, postcards, photos etc and chose my colours. I went to my new colour Bible from my class back in April and chose those colours, the recipes and dyed my colours in cotton lawn, silk organza, cotton scrim and viscose/silk velvet. I was SO pleased with the results - the colours I really wanted and it was so easy.

I did some sketchwork and some samples of stitchig around a mosaics theme, and I had a pattern for a 16th century corset that I wanted to use as my 'canvas' for the embroidery etc.

Delighted with the end result - which was achieved after a week and half of early mornigns to bed ie 1 or 2 each mornign, and the last night 04:00 to bed!!!!!!! For once though I wanted to push through and finish it rather than give up - I knew this was going well and part of the cause of the very early to bed mornings was that I was off sick with a very nasty stomach bug for almost a week - during which time I had zilch energy to move the project on so I lost a significant number of hours that had to be made up.

Anyway - I was pleased with it on display at the show. I should also say that the person who won the Amatuer award for that section was a fellow member of our little group, Joy and her piece based on coral reefs was a delight and I was so happy to learn that she had won - an extra treat as she had been quite poorly for a while - so something definately to lift the mood. My friend Pam and I attended the show and took great delight in calling her on the phone as we stood next to her piece and watched other people's delight too.

Colours to Dye for... Pt 4 - I achieve my Holy Grail

2007-05-01T21:38:00.000+01:00

believe it or not the above is a picture of my personal Holy Grail. For more years than I care to admit - but going back to City and Guilds days - and I finished that course in 2000, I have been seeking the perfect shade of AUBERGINE (US readers that translates to EGGPLANT). This photo on my screen looks a little brown - but in real life it truly is aubergine. Can you tell I am a little mad about this colour gggg...

I have achieved burgundies, or shades of purple, or brownish burgundies - but never AUBERGINE. The piece to the left of the Aubergine is a very pale version , then a piece of viscose/silk velvet dyed with greys and then a piece of silk - in which the red took hold very quickly and the blue washed away - so no aubergine on the silk. I know now, how silk reacts differently to procion than cotton.

There is a little story to my aubergine:

When we as a team resorted our final samples after our marathon sample dyeing exercises, we had one missing. We'd pressed them all and sorted into order.

Looked and looked and couldn't find it. I then decided to go back into the dye room and have a look there. The samples were small - maybe one had fallen under the table. I found a bucket of red that had not been emptied. I emptied it and there was our missing fabric. It was then washed and dried and there it was. The PERFECT shade - my long sought Aubergine.

Can you imagine how happy I was. I know had a recipe for Aubergine and I understood why I had not acheived it before.

I wondered at times - before I left home - whether I was not a little mad to be flying over to the USA for a colour / dyeing course. All I can say was that the course and I were destined to come together one day.

As a friend wrote to me today. The ability to be precise gives me huge freedom. it certainly does.

Carol, THANK YOU.

Colours to Dye for... Pt 3 results

2007-05-01T21:28:00.000+01:00

Part way through our dyeing - a batch out of the dryer. This was a magical week. colour everywhere... I was truly in heaven - and not the only one who thought so.

We wandered around the room ooohhhing and aaahhhing at the contents of all those buckets.

Some oranges and yellows etc etc - THE END result... Part of the story. To give all credit to Carol and her awesome course I will not show any more detail.

A gradation of green.

Colours to Dye for... Pt 2

2007-05-01T21:16:00.000+01:00

Beautiful tall trees alongside the barn. Lovely countryside.

This is the fabulous wet room where we did our dyeing.

We were awash with buckets, bottles and tubs. For water, soda, salt and dye.

We stirred and stirred and stirred and stirred and stirred. We even did relay stirring - we needed even colour not mottled. It seemed like a chore - but we made it fun and had an ace timekeeper in Kay (on our team) and it was most definately worth all the effort.

Colours to Dye for... Pt 1

2007-05-01T20:31:00.000+01:00

This is Nancy Crows Gorgeous Barn. It is where I spent a week recently, studying with Carol Soderlund. The barn has a fabulous wet room for dyeing etc, a classroom alongside and upstaris there is a gorgeous studio for stitching and non wet work, and also a kitchen and dining room. We were fed the most delicious food cooked up each day for lunch and dinner by Margaret - who flies over from Seattle to cater for the classes that Nancy runs at the barn. Margaret also 'cooked up' delicious snacks for afternoon tea.

The Course we studied was 'Colour Mixing for Dyers'. Carol is a superb and passionate teacher. Her passion really is colour and everyone really seemed to catch the colour bug. We were learning to control our colour mixing in a more precise way than I've ever come across with creative dyeing before.

This is the fabulous classroom at our disposal for the week. 20 people on the course.

These sunflowers are made by Nancy Crow's husband - aren't they fabulous.

Majestic Lions Keeping Warm

2007-03-20T20:06:00.000Z

Hello

I know I'm overdue for a report on the fabulous weekend away in Yorkshire spinning and knitting and loads and loads of shopping. Sorry - haven't sorted pics etc properly - as I get my final installment of the fibre/yarn mountain I bought back tomorrow evening - going to pick it up from the lovely person who bought it back in their car. All will then be revealed.

However, today I paid a visit to Trafalgar Square - it was very cold and windy - but I had to go. My favourite Lions - every since we used to visit them when I was quite small - along with a visit each time we visited the Lions - to St James's Park to feed the ducks from the bridge.

The lions were getting warm cuddly scarves - knitted to raise money for Cancer Research - a cause close to my heart as my Dad died of cancer.

Here are some pictures of the very beautiful majestic Lions looking fabulous in their warm cuddly scarves. Certainly put a smile on my face today.

You can read more about this project at http://www.stitchandbitchlondon.co.uk/

Message for Joyce? a great week

2007-02-22T21:27:00.000Z

Hi all

this won't be a long entry - more a taster... Joyce - you left a comment on my blog but I have no way to contact you - please send me an e-mail to suemsanderson@yahoo.co.uk.

I had a great Monday - playing on a Babylock Embellisher, and then discharging some black velvet - Will blog with pictures over the weekend. Then tonight - I had the great pleasure to meet Sheila and Jonathan Bosworth of www.journeywheel.com. They are in London for a short holiday and came along to liberty this evening to join the knitters for tea. Sheila kindly gave me a lesson in spindling and I have acquired two of their beautiful spindles - a purpleheart (first choice as purple is my favourite colour) and a zebrawood one. I even mananged to spin a little presentable yarn. What fun it was. Again - more of that later over the weekend - when there will also be even more fun to report... roll on Saturday.

Hooks and More Fabric

2007-02-06T20:32:00.000Z

Hi there

Here I am again - so soon - but I couldn't wait to tell you all - and show you about my arrivals in the post yesterday.

Just look at these GORGEOUS hooks I found online. I got this set of Japanese hooks from an ETSY vendor. Saw them and could not resist. They remind me of those pretty jelly shoes we used to wear on the beach as kids:) They have yummy soft handles and are shaped for great grip etc. The brand name is Hamanaka.

They come in a lovely clear plastic box. Aren't they just great. I also got my FolkWear pattern for my dressing gown - i am pleased with it. Really gets me into thinking about costume. I intend to print / dye some fabric and use it to make up some pieces that are costume or costume inspired.

I know that some of you enjoyed the photo of my screen printed linen. Here is another peice I'm working on too. It had two layers of space dyeing - to give the lovely greens etc. Even before it was dry - I had rinsed the fabric after dyeing it and had hung it on the line at the studio - to dry. I walked past it again and again back and forth to the tutors house during that lovely sunny afternoon last autumn.

One of the other students that day had mixed up some blackcurrant thickened dye - used for screen printing - with procion dye - so that the hand of the fabric isn't changed. She was using it to print using this big square foam block - the colours were so lovely. i love deep purply / aubergine colours.

Well I looked at that fabric again - it just would not let go - so lovely blowing about in the sunny breeze - and suddenly I saw it - it told me it needed those words printed using the blackcurrant paint. i was very pleased with the result and when I'd printed the blue linen the other day with the metallic paint I liked the dark gold and it is good as another layer ontop of the blackcurrant. it's not yet finished - will probably need more printing - I have a couple of ideas for it - but need to talk them through with my tutors.

The words - in case anyone is wondering are : from Tennyson's Morte d' Arthur - about the Lady of the Lake.

"A voice of the waters, for she dwells
Down in a deep, calm, whatsoever storms
May shake the world"

I was struggling with several major issues in my life about a year ago - and through using some ideas/themes that I started with during city and guilds and at a workshop with the committed to cloth tutors - I 'found' that quote in the poem - and it was exactly what I needed at the time. It summed up so much.

Here is a closeup.

The other item that arrived in the post is my pattern for the dressing gown. it's the Entari - shown clearly on the diagram of the separate garments.

Here is the pattern I will use for the gown. I'm also just - as I'm writing this - that I might print and dye a lining - not with metallic ink - but procion dye. I had wondered how I would deal with the sleeves as they are so long and the wrong side of the fabric would show - the inside of the sleeve - but dyeing and printing some fabric for the lining might be what it needs. I am thinking that with no facings etc on the gown that dyeing some silk might be the answer for a bias binding finish all round the edge.

Off again to the studio on 15th and 19th - so hoping it will develop then - I'm sure it will.

January Come and Gone...

2007-02-04T19:05:00.000Z

Hi

Well it's been a while - January has come and gone - thankfully!! Never the best month of the year for me.

Creatively been busy - sadly none of the pictures I really wanted to show you - as the camera memory card decided to throw a wobbly today and all my recent pics - including a couple of beautiful baby ones are gone:( So much for modern technology...

Beth and I have dyed some gorgeous Blue Faced Leicester Sock Yarn (superwash treated), some 50% Suri Alpaca/50% BFL in 4 ply weight. Partly cos I found a source of undyed yarn in quantities and at prices that I find OK, partly cos wanted to play with dyeing yarn - can do fabric etc - but wanted more practise on yarn, and partly cos a few of us got together for a post xmas/birthday bash at a cafe we like to meet at now and again. So Beth and I dyed the yarns for our friends. I'm so sorry I can't blog the yarns close up so you can see the beautiful colours. But the recipients enjoyed their pressies - you can find two of them at "...and all that stash..." and "Knittiotheraphy" and no I still cannot add links etc to my blog.
A couple of the BFL sock yarn skeins that I did to play with the colours and a BFL Lace weight are shown here - but sadly not the ones we did for the girls.

I also had two days in the studio at Committed to Cloth last month - one the regular day and the other for a day i missed late last year due to the 9-5. I dyed 5m of silk/viscose velvet - to make a dressing gown. In lovely peacock colours. Here are a couple of pics - but of course you can't easily capture the richness of the colour or the texture.

I also screen printed a piece of linen that I'd previously screen printed. The first layer was a lovely swirl that I had printed with blue. Over that i screened a piece from Tennyson's Morte d Arthur - about the Lady of the Lake. I had typed it into Word and then tweaked it with WordArt. Very pleased with the result. Here is a pic - close-up. I used the same text on some green that I'd previously dyed - a sateen cotton.

I must be careful though - have hurt my hands/wrists/arms with the screen printing - i realised I hold the squeegie far to tightly and put too much effort into it - I must be careful - as almost three weeks later and post a visit to the osteopath I am still suffering.

I am also looking forward to going to SkipNorth in early March - we go and stay at a hostel in Haworth for the weekend and can learn about spinning (which I would like to do), dyeing etc and get the chance to visit the Knitting and Crochet Guild and also - of course - go shopping. I missed last years - but am told it's great fun.

In the next few weeks must make time to finish my CV and get it out and about.

I have made a little progress on my various pairs of socks. They grow a little here and there - as the mood takes. I finished the middle garter stitch square for the hap shawl and am now on row 14 or 15 of the borders - I picked up all round the square and am therefore knitting the border in the round.

I also found a lovely pattern for an aran weight beret with beautiful bobbles - designed by Ruth / WoolyWormhead. i am knitting it in a tweedy violet yarn from Rowan - but it's also troubling to the hands - specially those bobbles - so a I do a row here and there - and am getting there. it really is lovely and as someone who finds hats not the most attractive on me - but knowing I have managed to get away with a beret from time to time in the past - I am keen to see this one finished.

that's about it for now.

Two days of Knitting, Crochet and TV

2006-12-27T10:55:00.000Z

Hi everyone

Hope you enjoyed the last couple of days as much as I did. Christmas and I don't agree with each other too well. So I stay at home with my knitting and the TV and some good books. Just whats needed after a busy and changeable year.

So wracking brains about what to do for new baby niece Eloise - I recalled a big pile of granny squares my mother made for me years ago - that I intended to make into a big throw - but we ran out of yarn - Lightweight DK by Rowan - now no more - so they've sat around - as I didn't know what to do with them.

So this is what I did. Took 16 - crocheted together and then put the icing round the edge. I know that she will be inundated with new clothes and toys - so I did this for her - and am hoping that it will become her favourite - no pressure from Aunty Sue then gggg....

Then the other major achievement - I finished Beth's Moon. It was supposed to be made for her 4th birthday - I did bits here and there - but couldn't seem to get it finished. Well I just sat down with the beads and sequins yesterday and finished it. She will be 8 in February!!!

I know she will love it - she has seen it from time to time and I know she has a space for it in the newly decorated bedroom the girls will be sharing. Shes told me about that space frequently lately - a very polite child - not to just say 'Aunty Sue - FINISH IT!!!'

I have completed the inner square for my hap shawl - and am thinking about - note thinking... starting to pick up all the stitches around the edge to start the fun bit.

Well that's about it - looking forward to tomorrow - will see the kids etc and give them their pressies. Then Beth and I will troop off to Liberty for the Knitting evening (she hasn't been for a while and loves it so - seeing some of our knitting chums) and then on Friday we have a date to go and see Happy Feet at the cinema. Then the weekend spent writing my CV. I'm looking forward to 2007 - the last few years have not been great and 2007 I intend to make some long overdue changes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all.

Socks that Rock Yarn

2006-12-10T13:12:00.000Z

Lime green blog post to hi light the lovely yarn that I received last week in the post. My first two skeins of Socks that Rock yarn. One in a yummmmyyyyy Lemongrass and the other in Watermelon TOurmaline. I also got their fairisle book and was sent a postcard of socks part knitted which is a lovely to look at and drool over... and a great sticker - which I couldn't find for the photo.

I do have xmas socks for someone to finish - with bells on - thanks to Noonie at Harrogate for that idea. I know they'll go down well. But when they're done my socks that rock will jump to the needles - think I'll use my new knit picks to knit them with - and I'd like to try the Jaywalkers pattern that I found on Dawn's blog - a link to MagKnits - the pattern was from Sept 2005.

Here's the pic...

Making stockings

2006-12-10T12:14:00.000Z

Hi I'm Sue's neice Me and aunty Sue are making stockings for Sue's friend Penny, Baby Eloise and me Beth.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR OWN STOCKINGS HERE IS HOW TO MAKE THEM:

Draw a stocking shape on a piece of paper. Cut it out.!!
With the stocking shape put it on the felt then draw round the stocking shape. You will need two stocking shapes for each stocking.
Cut out your stocking shapes.
Then if you have beeds or buttons you can put your buttons and beeds on the cuff of stocking on both sides.....
Pin two stock sides together, wrong sides together.
Zig zaground the stocking edge and leave the cuff part open.
Find a nice present to put inside your stocking!!!!!!!!!

If you dou't know what I mean you can look at the pictures to help you...

SUCH a lucky girl!

2006-12-04T20:03:00.000Z

Came home today to a HUGE box on my doorstep. (The door outside my flat - within the building). I am taking part in a sock yarn swap for the festive season.

I will spare the blushes of my new friend - she knows who she is and those others who need to know also know. Also not sure what the form is - so don't want to embarass anyone.

Two yummy lots of drinking chocolate, sesame snaps, two sock patterns and two lots of knit picks sock yarn - plus a natural one for me to dye.

A magazine and smarties and a pudding with two sundae glasses that have flashing lights:) Also a magazine, handcream and music.

I also get to try the famous knit picks circular needles.

Thank you very much for your generosity.

I almost forgot - a jar of Billy Bee honey for a certain young niece who loves the stuff - thank you too on her behalf - she will be absolutely delighted.

Isn't the internet a wonderful thing - it brings the potential for new friends almost on a daily basis.

More Knitting and Stitching AND the Jamieson's Groupies:)

2006-11-27T20:50:00.000Z

Thanks to my friends I got to have my first dinner at Bettys on Friday evening - we had to wait for about 30 min - but boy was it worth the wait.

Such yummy food.

Wye Sue, Yvonne and I were joined by Ann from Scotland - Yvonne spotted Ann joinign the queue a few folk behind us.

It was a great evening as Yvonne had gone down with a nasty cold and was feeling rotten - but thankfully Betty's helped her to feel much better.

We had gorgeous food and completely divine dessert. See Yvonne and Ann - and Those chocolate desserts...

Ann and Yvonne were slightly good but as you can see both Sue's indulged big time. It was one of the nicest meals with friends for ages - so relaxed and good fun and of course lots to talk about as we all have lots in common.

Went back to my B&B after dinner - which thankfully was warmer - but very noisy as someone in the flat upstairs was running up and down til after 11pm!!

But I retired to bed with the Shetland Hap Shawl book - THE LAST COPY that Jamiesons had on their stall - I succumbed to that late on Friday - thought they only had a sample copy and went for a look - but they had one left. It is fascinating reading about the history as well as method of knitting. I went to sleep buzzing as I felt I'd found a shawl I could cope with as a beginner.

I know many think I'm capable of it - but I am nervous to take on something like that as I find it very tough remembering pattern repeats in my head - and I do so hate pulling things out when they've gone wrong.

Saturday morning I was at the Jamieson's stall before Elaine - the stall holder.

Choosing yarn for my first shawl - a shetland hap. Elaine came along and helped with the very tough decision on colour. I tried many combinations of the pretty ultra colours they have (a blend of lambswool and shetland wool - that is lovely to knit with). We hit upon the cream natural colour with three shades of fawn for the edge. I would never normally use such colours but they do look so lovely together.
Then I went back to our stand and cast on the one stitch. I could not however grasp the wrap to increase at the beginning of each row. John to the rescue. He showed me with a flick of the wrist how it was done. As you can see in the picrure I've made a little progress.

We taught more finger knitting and even persuded a few people to have a go at knitting Sue's finger knitted ball of yarn with the huge needles lent to us by Wool n boat.

Here you see Nell - down from Glasgow - with her hubby Bob to volunteer - with the big needles. Theyre a great hit - but physically hard work. The tinsel that Sue had finger knitted into her yarn was very effective - if inclined to shed.

Here's how to have fun with finger knitting - these two young ladies had a race to knit to match their lengths.

Sue organised lunch on Sunday - from Bettys - I'll probably get sent to Conventry for posting this - but hey - what the heck - are they enjoying or what? Those cakes were delicious and I didn't need anything else for lunch. Thanks Sue:)

NOW! to dig myself into a deeper hole:) I present...

The Jamieson's Groupies with their acquisitions.

I hope that with my yarn for shawl purchase and the book i will be allowed to join the Jamieson's Groupies.

One small concern I have is that from what I saw of my two friends and their experience - their example shows that it takes an awful lot of time and dedication - I lost count of the number of times they were ' just nipping up to the Jamiesons stand... during Sunday. But the end results looked worth all that effort.

Helped pack up Sunday afternoon and then train to London. Finally arrived home at 22:30 and fell into my own bed. AAAhhhh!!!!

Please can I do it again next year?

Harrogate Knitting and Stitching

2006-11-27T19:25:00.000Z

Well it's been a while since I updated. Been busy with a new niece - who is as beautiful as her brothers and sister. Also - just busy and often tired and couldn't face more time at the computer in the evenings to update. There - you have it - I couldn't be bothered...

But have decided to try again and what better start than a report on the great time the past few days at Knitting and Stitching at Harrogate - as a volunteer with the Relax and Knit gang.

I'd left it late to bok B&B - so ended up a bit outside Harrogate and was not impressed with the place - shall not be staying there again. Not the level of service one would expect - but hey the rest of the weekend made up for it.

Left home just before 06:00 on Thursday for the 07:35 out of Kings Cross - to Leeds. Off the train at Leeds and I bumped into Liz - from the blog Knitting on the Green (no I still cannot do links). We travelled along on the 'arrogate (well that is how the announcer announced our arrival) train together - a great start.

Then got stuck in. I liked the layout in smaller halls than the - everything crammed into one huge space - as at Ally Pally.Taught lots of finger knitting to school girls as well as more conventional knitting.

Met Kathleen, John, Anne for the first time. This is John - who knitted a couple of scarves during the weekend as well as taught lots of people - including showing me how to start my first shawl. Well it was early on Saturday and I was not 100% after two nights of not very sound sleep. John also is wearing a beautiful sweater he knitted himself - from gorgeous Wensleydale yarn - it's one of my favourite types of wool.

Also became reacquainted with Mavis and Janet - whom I'd previously met at Birmingham. We had heaps of fun and Mavis made some lovely gold and silver finger knitted bracelets which many of us proudly wore all weekend. It helped enormously with the inevitable 'but what is it for?' question re finger knitting.

I had lunch with a friend who I hadn't seen face to face for a long while - in fact since the last time I visited Harrogate - but for the old Madeira show - which must now be several years ago.

Friday I did my main shop and bought far too many things:)

A couple of books - Folk Shawls and Folk socks - as both garment types are increasingly of interest. A baby pattern book and yarn for some bootees / knitted shoes for the new baby.

Yarn - far too much - but only one or two balls - sock yarn for myself and for a swap in which I am participating, some swedish yarn for a simple garter stitch shawl and some fine stuff from Renaissance for sampling.

I finished several things at the show. Including a sock - after one of the volunteers kindly showed me how to finsh the toe, also my hat - it has been knitted for over a year - but I hadn't managed to get the velvet ribbon from Mulberry Silks that I knew would finish it off.

Also my fab scarf. Crocheted with Baby Alpaca in aubergine in the middle and crystal palace violet blue mohair and little flowers to finish it off.

Also my angora fingerless gloves - which I cannot at this moment lay my hands on to photograph. They are a violent purple - so you will just have to imagine...

I learnt how to knit an icord, and a new cast on and edge courtesy of Sarah Lawrence needing lessons from Yvonne (and which lessons I gatecrashed).

Last chapter - Bringing up to date

2006-09-10T12:36:00.000+01:00

Have also been dyeing. I am taking part in a round robin on a yahoo group I belong to. The first two pictures are fabric that came to me space dyed. I struggled for weeks about what to do with it. I eventually decided - form expereince with my own pieces that a second space dye was in order to enrich the piece. The photos are not good - they just do NOT capture the colours etc. You just have to trust me that the results are gorgeous:) The fabric has been sent on it's way for the next layer.

The above lot are dyeing a rainbow - with my niece - don't they look gorgeous deep colours. They are wet in the pics above. However, I believe I may have got the short straw with the fabric - everything has come out relatively pale - and I believe the fabric may have been polycotton - but sold as pure cotton for dyeing. Got it mail order - lots of it!

Unfortunately I don't have time at the moment to try a test of dyeing a variety of other cottons I have and including this percale - to see what the result might be. I know of no other way to know whether the fabric has any polyester in it.

Disappointing to say the least. I do like pale colours - but for this exercise ie. dyeing metres and metres for a course I'm doing in October - this is far from a good result. Also a huge waste of dye - cos obviously it washed out!!!!!

Anyhow - most recently. Yesterday my sis and I visited the yummy yarn store 'Stash Yarns' in Upper Richmond Road - Putney. We went - cos I hadn't been yet - and also cos I will be an aunty again soon - 5 weeks time ish - and an aunt for the 4th time. My sis wanted some dk yarn for a friend to knit her some baby things. i don't have time at the moment - for anything other than a pair of booties or socks. i am behind with a few things including one very special project for someone else.

Anyhow sis bought some mission falls cotton - which is really nice - in pure white and also some rooster almerino in a lovely soft greenish blue. Also a mixed yarn hank to knit a scarf for herself in yummy shades of green.

Me - I got some sock yarn - a german one and a fleece artist one, a copy of interweave knits funky mag - knit scene, and one of those knitting row/stitch counters I keep meaning to buy... I tried to use an old one that fits on the end of the needle the other night - horrible nasty little thing...

Good to finally meet the two ladies in the shop and also to find an old friend sitting there - Jan and I met at Ally Pally last year. Good to catch up again.

We had a few bits to do in Putney - and as we were walking to the bus stop I asked if sis minded if we popped into the Sewing Room - a sewing shop in Lacy Road. I wanted to talk to the lady there about software for my new machine. I had understood correctly that the software is more or less compatible - the restriction is that it must be able to save designs in the file format that suits your machine. This is good - we had a long chat - she gave me some brochures - but it will have to wait a while - as it will be a bit costly - and as it doesn't work on Mac I will need a basic laptop for it.

Also they have some yarn in the shop - they have some adrafil and some gorgeous fine alpaca from garnstudio. Yes that's the other yarn in the pic that hasn't yet been explained. I spent ages last night on the net looking through the garnstudio website for the free patterns. You buy your yarn and all the patterns are free - downloadable from the website. What a great idea.

Clarence is the sleepy puss cat. It never fails to amaze me where cats will sleep:) She is my sister's family cat and now 16 years old - bless her.

Well that's enough to be getting on with - more or less up to date. Must go and iron and pack now - YUK!!!!! And TRY AGAIN - to get hold of someone at BA who can tell me if I can currently take my knitting on the plane...

Bringing up to date Chapter 2

2006-09-10T12:26:00.000+01:00

Attended Festival of Quilts in mid August. Friends had entries - the only one of which I managed to get a decent picture of was Pam's wrap. Beautifully machine embroidered and beaded.

Leslie Morgan (picture) and Claire Benn of Committed to Cloth (where I attend a class one day a month) were there with the 'virtual studio' - which really is a fab idea. I also got to see one of the fused quilts made by Melody Johnson - whose blog Fibermania - is a must for me each day - I don't manage very well to keep up with all the blogs I'd like to keep up with. This quilt (pic is a closeup) is one of the Matchstick Moon quilts - I adore her sense and use of colour.

I stayed over at one of the hotels at NEC. Nice hotel - but prices for food were a disgrace! I travel a lot on business and have never experienced such high prices for room service meals. But at NEC you are more or less stuck with no options really. The alternative to travel back each day into Birmingham. Did that during the Sewing for Pleasure show back in April - but with the trains etc being almost every weekend 'up the creek' because of engineering works - that becomes almost impossible.

Aside from the food prices it was lovel to stay over and then be able to go along again the next day.

To bring things up to date

2006-09-10T11:50:00.000+01:00

I'm off again this week for some intensive iron and steel business workshops for work - to China. I'm told that someone from our Australian office is also organising some touristy stuff fof the weekend that we're there - we might be off to the Great Wall of China. Also need to do more shopping:) I have requests for some pearls and knitting bags - and will be acquiring more of those cute little pin cushions with all the little people round the edge - I would like a couple more - for my different types of pins and one or two people I know would like one too.

I will be away for almost two weeks and want to have this more or less up to date
before then.

I have been to the British Museum - with my friend - who came to stay for a few days back in early August. We love the great Court - and also looked properly at the Parthenon exhibits - which are quite phenomenal.

love folds and pleats - like fortuny work - and have adored the pictures by Burne-Jones - whose pictures are often of garments with goreous folds etc. So I took some close up pics at the BM of the sculptures - as they might be useful for artwork development at some stage.

We also visited the Globe theatre in Southwark - and did the tour which was great.

Shopping Report

2006-08-21T19:06:00.000+01:00

Further to the update re Shanghai etc. On my return and during my week off (we're back in July now...) the second nicest thing I did was buy a new Bernina:)

A 630 with an embroidery unit - and several different sorts of feet etc etc... as you do.

Also invested in a proper trolley suitcase for it. It cost heaps - but it's to protect my investment - and I do now have three machines (each one special in it's own way) and I have to say that I really wouldn't trust any of my machines to the vagaries of the other machine trolley I purchased a couple of years ago. It has not held up well - gone a bit wonky and rarely been used for a machine. But it is good for classes that I go to where only heaps of fabric etc is required - and no machine.

The nicest of all though was to stay for a few days with my mate Pam - up in Shropshire. Oh it was just what I needed. We gel so well together - can be in the same house, doing creative stuff - and not in each other's pockets - if you know what I mean.

Arrived on Thursday evening (the trains were kind for once). We had yummy fish and chips for supper and then sat and chatted, and looked through books, discussed projects, ideas etc...

On Friday we visited Castle Court Quilters in Whittington - a shop owned by a friend of Pams'.

They have a very nice selection of quilting cottons. Also a nice big workroom where Pam teaches from time to time - embroidery classes.

Basically - we both just chilled. Later when we got back home - sat about in the sunshine in the garden which is absolutely charming (all put together by Pam's hubby)and did ZILCH!!!! Neither of us could recall the last time we just were - without needing to rush and DO SOMETHING!

Saturday more sitting around sewing etc - and being served strawberries and ice cream whilst we sat in the garden - byt Pam's hubby. We had our strawberries and ice cream before dinner!!! Which included the yummy yummy broad beans home grown.

Sunday - home. A great few days. and ready for work again...

2006-08-12T09:22:00.000+01:00

Been very naughty and not updated for a very very very long time – not since mid June.

Was away on business for the last part of June and early July. Bonus of this was I got to visit my favourite city - Istanbul. We stayed at the gorgeous Four Seasons - which to me is 'The' only hotel in the whole world. Sadly – only for one night. It's so gorgeous and right on the doorstep of Haghia Sophia. We had a very short time after business to do a visit to places so I took a couple of colleagues on a very superficial, fast whirlwind tour of the major sites of old Istanbul. They really enjoyed it.

Then a week in Shanghai for workshops and forums. Sounds fun you say... Actually it was - it's great to finally meet all the people on the phone list etc... Learnt a lot about where things are going with the company and found time for good food (I did not eat the jellyfish or the swordfin that was on offer) and good company.

Huge amounts of smog though. We visited a new container port – built on an island 35km off the mainland and joined to the mainland by a 35km long bridge and the smog went a fair way out to sea.

Did some shopping too. Got gorgeous pearls for embroidery and bags galore for my favourite bag ladies (sister, and nieces etc etc).

Here are a few pics of things bought.

On my return I had booked to have a week holiday. I did lots of things that had been outstanding for a while. Bought a new special mattress for my bed, new ironing board (one of those big brabantia ones – yes boring details – but with the ironing involved in all that fabric dyeing – it’s essential).

Stitching

2006-06-11T21:46:00.000+01:00

Hot here in London. So only ventured out this weekend for shopping. Don'tlike hot weather - makes me irritable. Also commuting each day is even worse than usual - specially the getting home.

I'd planned to do a bit of journalling/altered books this weekend - thought it would be helpful to air some of life's horrible bits in this way. but couldn't face gluey mess etc.

Have been knitting a little on the gift I'm doing as part of the knitting exchange I take part in for the past few years. This year the theme is hearth and home. I'm making a cushion - but won't say more at the moment about that. Suffice to say it's going well.

But I have stitched this weekend - I mean embroidery. Just found that I wanted to pick out a piece of canvas and stitch. I like canvas stitching from time to time. Generally not formal stitching, ie. not strictly geometric - but more free.

I also have reaslied that I like simple things - that don't necessarily say anything - and I find myself taking lots of pictures of flowers and leaves in the parks - they are so beautiful and colourful.

But the stitching I really emjoyed. I used acrylic paint to sponge colour onto a piece of canvas. Then stitched it. But I also found a smaller piece of canvas that I'd started to stitch a heart onto yonks ago. It wasn't working and so was abandoned. But I unpicked the stitching and started again this morning - and have completed a small piece in a day... Quite a satisfying feeling.

Here are some pics for you to see - this weekends work.