Belated Ta-Da! and Hap update

Finished my blanket

Although laid out on the bed

it is destined for the settee.

143 rows of lazy ripple

in 21 shades of Stylecraft.

Three edging rows, two of single crochet,

the final edging in 'bunting' stitch.** 

Crocheted by me,

test driven by cats,

loved by us.

Yay!

The feather and fan pattern 

has started to really develop,

loving the process of the undulating rows.

Slow going compared to crochet

but

it is good to 'slow'

Feeling 'Hap'py :)

**I modified the bunting stitch from HERE

How are your wips doing?

Anything on the needles or hook?

What slow crafting are you doing?

Keep us in the loop (hehehe) I love to hear what you get up to :)

The music and magic of knit and natter

There is something satisfying about the sound of the gentle clack of knitting needles as they provide the background rhythm to our conversation. The rasp of the tapestry thread as it pulls through the canvas.

Even quieter is the fluid swish of the crochet hook, which requires you to listen very carefully, providing a graceful base note.

Tuesday is our knit and natter day, where we meet and chat and although I suspect we craft less and chat more. It is not so much the creating of wips but more the creating and strengthening of bonds.
We swap stories, we sympathise and we interject our 'two pence worth'. It is our way of keeping connected not only with each other and our lives but keeping us connected with the greater world.

We hear of village news..... did you hear so-in-so's funeral was last week?, we share family anecdotes ..... The fish tank has settled down and the new blue light at night looks good,  we keep each other up to date with local politics ..... that ridiculous ruling the council was trying to slip in has been dropped! ... and so on.

In between the weaving of conversations and the looping of yarn, we drink tea or coffee, hot lemon water and hot chocolate accompanied by frequently passed around treats. Each week we celebrate a goodly selection of calorific naughties, essential and forbidden in the same breath! Fruit and nutty crunchy oat biscuits, chocolate coated digestives, heart shaped lemon shortbread,  freshly made still slightly warm biscuits, fruit cake, lemon drizzle, Viennese whirls, wicked millionaire shortbread ... the list goes on, the selection only limited by our own imagination.

 Some weeks we resort to hastily purchased treats in the haze of a busy day and others we are swamped by frenzied baking which produces tasty delights, demoting the knitting and crochet to forgotten wips on our laps as we chat and chew and connect.

We are an eclectic mix, students, housewives, retired, grannies, mothers, self employed. We are who we are and we should be proud of the magic we can weave, our knitting pins and our crochet hooks are our wands and the yarn is the spell. I look forward to our circle of friendship and the magic we bind.

Now, much later, in the evening quiet of my home, I pick up my hook to continue the undulating pattern of my blanket. I am on my last row. Time to think of a border, time to think of a new project. My blanket on my lap has been privy to many conversations and is already a guardian of memories and secrets. Soon it will be ready to keep us warm and cozy.

And I find that so very very satisfying.

Gentle reminder that the Scavenger Photo Hunt is on for March,

The list of words is at the top right of my page.

Don't forget to grab your cameras,

write your words

and post your pictures

Friday 24th March!

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤Happy TUESDAY to you all❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Saturday's practicing gratitude thoughts

It has been a good day - nothing outstanding, nothing earth shattering but a gentle wonderful positive day.  Chores and routine things have been completed, shopping done and meals cooked and eaten.

I've been building up my stock and quietly adding it to 'my shop' - the silly thing is ...each time I do, I take a big breath, hold before I press 'submit'. Then when its done, a moment of a heady cocktail occurs filled with fear and elation before I tell myself to 'get a grip girl' - oh what a roller coaster of giddiness. 

Already I have had sales and enquires regarding commissions, I must be going in the right direction!

Now, as an antidote and calmative,  I am crocheting more rows of my 'snuggle-rug' (as this particular blankie is quickly becoming known).

I can feel it calling me back to carry on adding more random-ish rows. I am loving the methodical rhythm of the hook as it carries the yarn through, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through ... delicious.

While I work, I can think, I can plan and I can be grateful.

I can think about the future and how positive it appearing to be.
I can plan out new art work and new designs.
And I can be grateful for all the support and belief and encouragement - it is very humbling and makes my heart go squeeeeeee!

Please excuse me, I need to go and rescue Himself, he is having to share the settee with all that yarn which seems to want to engulf him with their happy colours, warmth and cosiness and I think that is MY job! *hehehehehehehehehe*

Enjoy the rest of your weekend xxxxxxxx

Pine cones with a pop of colour and chrimbly counting 7

It had been a cool dark day and we'd driven across the island down to the far end. Even a flat waterlogged slip of sand in the sea lost many men and boys during the wars and on a rare slope of land a proud and lonely cenotaph stood tall, facing the empty lands where once the men would have worked the fields. The silence was overwhelming. We sat briefly and felt the chill. At the base, tucked behind wire netting so they would not blow away, a row of poppy wreathes.

Pine cones of colour

You will need:

A selection of cones

Yarns, threads, wools - any colour, plain or sparkly 

Scissors

Suitable bowl

Optional - additional plain cones and/or decorations

1. Choose cones that have nice open scales, it makes it easier to wind the yarn around the spaces.

2. Start at the top, loosely wrap your yarn between the scales as you wind the cone in your fingers tucking in the beginning the yarn as you work your way down.

3. Keep wrapping, make sure you don't pull tight - this means you would need far more yarn to fill the spaces between the scales and the softer finish make the cone look more cosy and warm :) 

4. When you are satisfied with the depth of yarn wrapping around your cone - look at it from all angles, cut your yarn.

 

5. Tuck your cut end into the tighter scales at the base of the cone. This means you don't need to use any glue.

 6. Arrange your cones in your chosen bowl and place in a suitably obvious place to make sure every one sees your very simple and clever decorations (with the added advantage of using up old scraps of yarn !)

If you have been inspired by my tutorial,

could you be so kind to link back to my blog,

I would love to see how your pine cones of woolly goodness turned out :)

Linking with Julie's Advent

#crafts  #christmascrafts  #handmadewithlove #handicraft #inspiredby #imadethis #livelovecraftme

Thank you 2015 - time to stand down. Your time is done.

At this time of the year, for me, it is a time to be retrospective, time to reminisce, time to realise what is important, time to practise hygge, time for gratitude... Time to say thank you for...

1. The air that I breathe
2. My dearest other half who makes me complete
3. My boys
4. My Mum and Dad
5. My family
6. Friends
7. The warmth of the sun
8. Blue skies
9. The purring of a cat
10. Hearing the crackle of the fire on a cold night
11. Snuggling down into bed, feeling cocooned by the duvet
12. Holidays
13. A brilliant vivid orange sunset or an amazingly fuchsia pink sunrise
14. Jeans that act both as a corset and make me feel good
15. Earrings
16. Laughing til I cry
17. Casting on a new project
18. Casting off the last stitch
19. Walking
20. Breathing in coastal air
21. Camping in new places
22. The earthy scent of a damp woodland in autumn
23. Blogging
24. Hearing the rain on the roof - when we are all inside safe and warm
25. A Scandinavian police drama that makes me wanting more
26. My health - I have niggles but then that is all they are
27. Betty Ferries' Shetland sweet oatcakes
28. Pepparkakor
29. My camera
30. Tea - Scottish, green, peppermint, ginger chai, Yorkshire, valerian
31. Hugs 
32. Beach sand between the toes
33. A good night's sleep
34. Dancing to the radio in the kitchen
35. The coffee brought to me on a weekend to sip in bed
36. Cranberries
37. Weekends
38. A good strong cheddar
39. Silver rings
40. Feathers
41. Mist in the valley
42. The reflections in water
43. My new dustbin in the kitchen
44. Finding cat pawprints around the bath edge
45. blankets to wrap around me 
46. Watching my boys eating the food I cook
47. Having friends around
48. Incense curling around the house and filling my senses 
49. The smell of bread baking
50. The feel of furry cat tummies and their cold feet
51. My garden
52. The hens in the garden
53. The plants in the house
54. Music
55. Land art
56. Waking up and realising I still have several hours of sleep left before I have to get up
57. Reading
58. Hot showers
59. Clean hair
60. Wearing something I have knitted
61. Seeing Himself in the Skepp-o-hoy jumper I knitted him
62. White painted wood
63. Fairy lights all year round
64. Wicker baskets
65. Border collie dogs 
66. Garlic bread
67. The countryside I drive through every day
68. Lambs playing in the fields
69. The sound of waves pulling back through a pebbly beach
70. Bird song
71. How much Himself does for me
72. A really good salad
73. Wool shops
74. Wool festivals
75. Wool....(wool)
76. Friends - dear sweet friends of which I have many - they are what keep me strong, keep me sane, keep me safe. (I know I have already mentioned friends - but they are worth repeating)
77. Hearing rain on the roof and know that by shear luck, the house we bought 15 years ago is on a gentle slope keeping us safe from flooding - especially this year when so much flooding is present
78. That brilliant blue that only the sea and sky on a late spring day can give - the type that fills you until it hurts
79. Sitting around a table of food and family and sharing meals and laughter
80. Watching the hyacinths in moss first peaking out then blooming - filling the room with their sweet sweet scent 
81. Looking for then spotting the first swallow - a sure sign that summer is on its way
82. A vacuumed carpet
83. A freshly mown lawn
84. Watching the hens scratching in the garden finding bugs and grubs that I can never get to
85. The smell of wood smoke in autumn
86. Soup - thick warming soup that sticks to your ribs on a cold weekend after walking
87. The sight of a cat trying to sit in a box that is two (or probably three) sizes too small
    
88. Succulent dates, chewed slowly and preferably with my eyes shut so the flavour fills my head
89. Big sky 
90. Far horizons
91. Watching the sun go down on Summer Solstice
92. Lighting candles for Yule
93. The smell of my home - familiar, safe
94. Books
95. Holding his hand
96. Listening to our favourite CDs 
97. Cooking magazines - they inspire
98. Cheap 'bic' blue pens
99. Water colour pencils
100. Watching my three - a bittersweet mix of Dad and Sons/three men/three friends/three gamboling gangly creatures - my three.

Thank you 2015 - time to stand down - your time is done.

Old Norwegian Cast on Ta-da!!

Firstly thank you everyone for your comments and birthday wishes :) They are much appreciated and make my heart skippity skip happy :)

This last week has been a bit of a full on - so very glad it is over.

As usual the weekend has flown by - like it does and despite squeezing in lots, I feel to have achieved very little.

However, I did cast on a hat last weekend and completed it today .  A simple quick knit 3 purl 2 until the correct length then decrease.

The most exciting part was or rather is - I can do Old Norwegian cast on!

I learnt how to do it (thanks youtube!) but being left handed had to watch it and mentally reverse the process and do it mirror image.  Not has hard as it sounds, being doing that for years and years now :)

Any hoo  - after a few false starts and my fingers thinking they were doing French skipping, I picked it up and am delighted with the results.  The cast on is a smooth elastic thing of beauty - no loose loops or tight stitches. I will definitely use it again - happy happy :)

Now, Sunday evening, sitting in front of the fire I have just woven in the ends and Himself is wearing it - Ta-happy-da!!

Holiday blues

Hi there, 

I'm back - did you miss me? 

Well, we've just returned from a two week break up on the Isle of Skye, Western Scotland. 

We certainly had all the essential components of a successful Scottish holiday.....

Midgies, rain, snow (yes - snow), rain, midgies, wild moorland, rain,

buzzards, seals, whales (be still my beating heart - whales!) 

Wild beautiful rugged coastlines, 

mountains, heady dramatic mountains and finally 

midgies and rain 

(I may have repeated a word or two...)

As we set off, I cast on.

 Three....two...one...
Scotland!!

Woop woop! 

 A break from knitting to give directions.

Our first full day, 

on Camas Ban - a black sand beach.

Knitting of course, picnic and walks

The taste of salt on my lips and in my lungs

The yarn mimicking the colours of the sea and the sky

 Evenings, watching the sun setting

listening to the sea crunching through the pebbles

watching the waves wafting the seaweed

 Magic moments 

knitting while watching whales

on the most

precious spit of land

with the smallest light house

I've ever seen

 The shades of the sea

the depth of blue

my knitting

Often knitting as we travelled about

equally as often

picking up stitches

coz I would be devouring the view

not watching my knitting

Going for a walk 

on airy sea cliffs

watching for eagles

forgetting my boots

getting wet feet

getting brilliant photos

getting bitten by ticks

getting a few rows done

my work grows and grows

Then.

The last evening,

sitting on a shingle ridge

watching the seals

watching the tide

breathing the air

not wanting the holiday to end 

During the inevitable end of holiday pack-up

 I lay out my work

it is taking shape

A sea and sky inspired

Sloppy Joe

Just perfect for wearing with jeans 

The day we left

the heavens opened

rain

rain

rain

the hills wept waterfalls

we did not want to come home.

I cast on the first sleeve

As we navigated around Glasgow.

Tomorrow - Monday 

back to work

* sigh *

Knitting will have to take a back seat.

Quick - I've cast on again!(ᵔᴥᵔ)

Woah!

Having not had the urge to knit for quite some time, then under the pressure of a deadline,

I re-discovered my knitting mojo.

And how!

So, within half an hour of Youngest placing his hat on his head,

I was casting on.

 Two shades of deliciously blue and squadgy alpaca.

And now that I've knitted a few rows,

I know that I've missed knitting,

I'd just not realised how much.

The big reveal will happen soon xx

Now - for Eileen T - You asked how to get the twinkly effect from the cursor - open your layout, 'add a gadget' look for the HTML/JavaScript and insert this code     <script type="text/javascript" src="http://24work-new.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/24work-blogspot/snow-cursor/code/051_lavender_blush2_ebdde2_24work.blogspot.com.js"></script>

I did try several codes before I found this version, it was the first one that worked in blogger. There are many other varieties out there, takes a while to find ones that are compatible. Good luck hope it works for you too (ᵔᴥᵔ)

Edited to add

PS - I'd knitted about 20 rows when I stumbled at the first hurdle....MRl and ML1 - yes yes I know what they mean - I just can't do them neatly enough and they look horrendous!! So back to the drawing board :(

S'prising what you see at lunch (• ◡•)

Summer time in Settle means an invasion of the summery-silly sort   (• ◡•)

Plantpot people and yarnbombing appear overnight like a rash!

Look ! 

Some of 'our' yarnbombing from the days 

when we held our own yarn festival a couple of years ago, 

now adorning stone steps,

corners, trees and light posts

Pot people appear all over town

Ooh look! I recognise this yarn bombing   (• ◡•)

My mom spent aaaaaages making these little woolly knitted clothes.

They get lots of admiring photos taken.

The involvement of the locals is amazing

Scarepots and plant pot people are sprouting up every where.

This green dragon by the 'magic of teenager high jinks'

moves around the town centre each night to a new spot

It has become fun to see where he ends up! 

I love this scarepot's painted toes 

'Exterminate!' 

Ooooh - recognise this chap?! 

He was lovingly made by a dear friend 'Threads through my life' for our yarn festival 

now he lives in the cobbler's shop

smiling at all passers by   (• ◡•)

And last, but not the least...

Two sheeppots made by Himself and I for my work.

The one on the right had a bit of a 'tumble' after a really bad stormy night

he is now lying down while his friend on the left looks over him.

We can hear people giggling when they walk by and stop to take photos of

our sheeppots in their flat caps.

Job done   (• ◡•)

Thank you every one who stuck with me through my 30 days wild - which we (all of us) thoroughly enjoyed- so much so that we are going to continue a similar style challenge when we have our summer hols  (• ◡•)

Enjoy the rest of your week.

hawthorn xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx