So close...

.... I knew that I would not be able to manage blogging every day for a month...

The shock at loosing two pounds was too much for me on Wednesday, so I came back from keep fit and more or less when straight to bed...



Thursday I went shopping again - I couldn't find what I needed in Ross so ended up in Monmouth

Has someone branched out into retail ?






And the Friday saw me driving to Nottingham with Ali.

We went to see the location for next year's AGM for the Knitting and Crochet Guild.

It's going to be held at Ruddington.

We found locations, catering and some amusements...








There are some very old knitting machines

There were displays of stockings, including some very short ones that belonged to Queen Victoria.











Saturday was a day of present making - I finished a Tudor Grace scarf (Knitspot pattern).

I cut out lots of bits of tomatoes - all will be explained tomorrow !

And then today I went to Anne's Yardstitch.
As it was so cold we were all in Nutter's Cafe.

There was much eating, drinking, talking and knitting.

Marie had brought her new wheel - I've seen them in magazines and lusted after one, now after trying one - I'm in love...

And look at this tart !

I think she is enjoying moving round the shop :-)

I dont do shopping

But in the last few days I've been to Abergavenny (Saturday), Ross (yesterday) and Leominster (today)

I'm exhausted by it all :-(

Here are some photos of Ross...







I have ended up with a new watch, a jacket (£5 in a charity shop today), several presents..

I did nearly buy a fork handle today for £3, but thought it better to see if I could find a dvd with the correct sketch on first (and I cant, it seems that four candles is not included on best of Two Ronnies...)



And now I'm off to knit the runner (I know I'm repeating myself, but the end is in sight - maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, but by the weekend....)

Mummy's Little Helper

As promised some photos of knitting - this is a tudor grace from Knitspot.

I started it a few days ago, made with Silkwood sock wool, I'm just about to finish the first 50gs.









And with flash the lace pattern is more visible..

As you can probably tell I did have some help while trying to take the photos..











And this is Dun at his most helpful !!












I've also been working on the table runner...

Peeling Bell panel (with cat)

And the centre star.

I'm just about to start the second peeling bell panel, then I will have one bead, two trees and two chevrons and the bell edging and it will be done... probably about ten hours of knitting - better get on ;-)

Where I was...

I took myself off over the border with Wales - not that far it's only about 20 minutes from home.



I ventured to a market town with an interesting dress shop wall...







And this is where I was - Abergavenny.

I didn't see anyone in a periwig, but there were a lot of cafes, and they all seemed full (very strange, if you ask me - dont the locals have kitchens?)

Maybe tomorrow there might be some knitting photos... better go and get clicking ;-)

Adventures

I took myself off for an adventure today.

I went to so different country, where they speak another language....


The Market Hall made me stop and stare...








There were these chickens, chicks and eggs floating in sky...


And they weren't little either...

This one must have been taller than me (ok I do realise that I'm not the tallest in the world..)

He was huge :-)

And for scale - just to show how big they were...

Can anyone (apart from Nic who will probably know) guess where I was today...

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

And now I'm off to knit some runner ;-)

Click click

Today I have been mainly clicking - with sticks and not a mouse !

I'm at the half way point in the runner

It's too dark to take photos of white cotton :-(

Fifteen hours so far, I'm hoping the next half will be quicker, at least there will be less beads to slide on the cotton ;-)

Sunsets

Last night on the way to Hereford I had to stop at the bridge to take photos of the sunset.

As I hadn't taken any of the River for a while - here is a 'Wednesday Wye' photo..

Levels are up a little and the reflection an amazing colour..







These next few are similar...













This is the village church - yes it is Italian looking...











And a far away view...













I drove off (probably after getting some very strange looks from the people in the cars that went past - it was rush hour, kids being picked up from school !)

Then I had to stop again on another lane...

The sun just going down in front of me...







And then tonight as I was on the phone I saw this from the conservatory... sun sets dont usually happen in this part of the sky...

Not as bright as yesterday but equally pretty.

I've had a lovely day meeting Gill & Sue at a wicked shop. We did take over the cafe with lace books and samples - there was frogging, discussing, and enabling... and cake eating...

I look forward to seeing the results :-)

Horrible Child

When I was in Cardiff the other week I was a horrible child.

I was enjoying not being a driver and taking photos as we went along.

When told to take a photo of the lorry we passed on the roundabout this is the outcome.. how did I manage to get me in there as well ?






And there were some tunnels...

Anne wasn't really going that fast - honest !!

I will try and answer all the yarn comments in the next few days - the pile of yarn waiting to be neck & wrist warmers was camel & silk dyed by me..

Snow Forest

I've been busy in the last few days - lots of clicking of needles - and for once I'm using straights :-)

This is Hazel's latest pattern - I'm not doing it totally as pattern.

Using thinner cotton and different beads, which you can just about see ..












It took me 45 minutes for the first of these patterns and 30 for the second ... I'm hoping that the second half will fly off the needles...


















And this is the first end with bell edging, and trees.
















This is how long 160 rows are with scissors for scale (they are dressmaking ones)

Only another 525 rows to go...


I'm using 3mm & 3.25 mm








And just to prove there are some Hereford cattle living nearby - these are in the long fleece sheep field by the river - sorry for the spooky look on it's face, it was dusk

Beep....

.....Sorry I cant come to the blog at the moment too busy with xmas knitting...



But here are some Monkey socks that I've finally finished - I started the second one on 20 Sept and completed them a couple of days ago..

I suppose if I hadn't started so many new lace projects they would have been finished ages ago...

Yesterday

I spent a lot of time reading this...


There are 4 shawls and 4 scarves that I'd like to make...

Better get clicking before I go on the cruise with Nancy :-)

And this was the one that I cast on, for a present. The nupps are getting easier - must remember to be loose with my yarn overs otherwise the language isn't good !!

And I might *have* to cast on something else later - Hazel's pattern is out for this

Saturday Sky

I haven't done one of these for ages...

I looked out this afternoon and thought there was an interesting mix of colours in the clouds...

And surprisingly it didn't rain :-)

Someone was not impressed - he would rather sit on the bed that it on its side in the conservatory..

I'm not sure about getting rid of he bed now, it would be cruel and both of the boys like the hammock effect they have created...

And sickly cat who is getting lots better... this week they have both been demanding, running round like idiots not the elderly men they are - think the full moon had a lot to do with it....

(It is a terracotta chicken that is 'pecking' him..)

Down an Alley Way

There is a Small Gallery

The delightful Anne runs it and made a brilliant sign for the door in the cold weather..

In the last few weeks I have been disturbing her a lot !











This is no gallery really put a haven of woolly goodness ...

I cant remember all that is sold but I dont think there is any acrylic to be seen - wool, silk, alpaca, nettle...







For a small space it is crammed full of stock









And there is also a display of under garments - made by a group in Worcester

And can you see who was making herself known on the counter ?









apparently these all started off as bras

and were then decorated...










So if you are down in Hereford, take yourself off to Church Street (it's near the cathedral !)

From High Town go down the alley by the side of M&S..

Then there is another smaller alley down the side of the cheese shop...

But dont go on Monday's as it is Anne's day of rest ;-)

These are my favorite - cups & saucers !!

Thank Goodness

They are finished :-)

I'm very glad - I nearly got asked to make some more last night while I was waiting for keep fit to start...

They are 17 inches long, they are pink, very girly and I hope she will love them !






I'm off to wind these now... colours not totally right (the light is so bad - it's raining again !)

They are going to be some of these
and pairs of these

Thanks Wibbo

The lovely Wibbo did some clicking for me on a family history site and found out what happened to Great Uncle Kenneth. After reading the report I do remember being told the story once but had forgotten.... It also gives the details of a branch of the family I'd been trying to look in to - hopefully with the correct spelling I might find out more...

And here is what happened to my brave great uncle :-

Joined up Nov 1915 served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 1 April 1916. Came home to train for a commission went back out to France April 1918.

Reported missing after fighting at Maroeuil 9 May 1918 and is now known to have been killed in action or to have died of his wounds on or about this date.
His Officer Commander wrote ‘He volunteered to take out a night patrol to enemy front at Maroeuil and the patrol being under fire …. Went forward alone with bombs. My idea is that your son did this with the object of creating a diversion under which his men could retire – a very fine and brave act. Your boy was only a very short time with us, but we were much struck with him, and only the day previously his company commander was saying to the adjutant and me what a fine officer he was’ and his commanding officer : “ I soon noticed how keen he was, one of the most conscientious subalterns I have ever met. The splendid courage he showed in going forward alone will be long remembered in this battalion”


And now I've shared, I will stop talking about dead relatives and concentrate more on knitting - only one more day of pink knitting for me (hopefully !!)

My Old Soldier

This photo was taken a few years before my Grandfather died aged 95.

He was in the Signals attached to the Eighth Army in WW2.

He did not talk much about what he saw, but he was in North Africa and Italy.


(His brother was Kenneth)

And this a photo of my Mother, Grandmother and Auntie.

Never Forgotten.

Beads, blur & bad

This is how far I've got with my beaded knitting - it is Moroccan Days/Arabian Nights (Rav link)

I'm getting used to using a crochet hook for adding the beads, and it is very slow compared with knitting lace without the beads !!











I did try and take pictures of the lace pattern - this is the best of them..










And this shows how much I love my next door neighbour - these are leg warmers for her grand daughter.

They are pink.

They are in acrylic.

Enough said.



( I have dyed up some camel today for reward when I've finished them...)

Great Uncle Kenneth

This sits on my mantlepiece.

It was always on display at my grandparent's house.

Kenneth was my Grand fathers big brother.














He was in the Seaforth Highlanders.

There are only a few photos of him, this one in his kilt - there is another with fellow soldiers, they have plain coverings over their kilts to protect.

I would love to know his story all I know is from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission War Commissions website.









In Memory of Second Lieutenant KENNETH WILLIAM ALLAN DUNCAN

10th Bn., The King's (Liverpool Regiment)attd. 6th Bn.,
Seaforth Highlanderswho died age 23on 08 May 1918

Son of the Rev. George Allan Duncan and Lilian Susan Duncan, of The Parsonage, Weston Point, Runcorn, Cheshire.

Late of Lloyd's Bank, Liverpool.

Remembered with honour ARRAS MEMORIAL

When the Boat comes in...

I was down in Cardiff yesterday.

We decided to go down to the Bay, initially to see Torchwood but we got distracted...

There was a boat coming into land...

The Westminster.

When they were trying to land the crew were all dressed up with hats on looking towards the land...

I didn't realise that Naval Ships/Boats had a crown on them..

Once the gang plank was down there was lots of activity - people milling round the deck, including men with guns....

I started behaving myself ;-)

There was a yellow thing at the blunt end ...

And lots of guns....

And a very big gun at the pointy end ;-)

There is a warning sign :

'Danger Turret may train without warning'

I think the bloke is safe, too short to be shot...

And what do you do with all the rubbish from when you are at sea... you play pass the parcel to the skips that were stationed up the quay.

They also plugged it into the electric and water mains ....

And I got some replacement beads and threading stuff -- today we have a knitted beaded fringe.. photos soon...

For Hazel

As requested how to make a clampable display stand...


First drill holes in the end of two bits of 1 x2 wood.













The uprights are this length on the long supports (the drop to the table is Daffy length)










And then cut two base bits..

I cant remember why I chose this measurement....











Then attach the two bits together....














And the other side

And both sides...

Then clamp to a surface - here the ironing board !!
I use single hand release clamps from here One of the cheapest DIY places and next day delivery :-)

Another view of the clamp

And the reason for the blanket - to hide the clamp when on display.

I fold it under the wood to protect whatever is on the table.

All that is left is for a ridged green garden cane suspended between the holes and with a sheet, cloth etc threaded on, and there you have it a tall display that fits easily into the back of a car and can be put up easily :-)

Dont mention the beads...

Every had one of those days when you make no progress.
Well that is what happened today.....


I had 2500 beads strung on to my yarn, I wasn't too sure about them being right - then the knitting gods decided for me - my yarn broke.

So I have nothing to show for my hours of threading :-(

And I feel like this rhino (who lives at Chester Zoo)

Remember, remember ...

To check there isn't one of these in your bonfire !

This little fella appeared in the front garden last week, he isn't very big and looks like he needs fattening up before he has his long sleep ;-)

He also should learn how to cross the road - he very nearly wasn't last night when I went out...

How I do charts

I was asked for 'lace help' yesterday.

After a few emails back and forth I thought others might be interested on my lace ways.

I have tried to take photos but they didn't work so you will have to imagine ...

The main aid to charts (be they lace, colour work or cables) is a magnetic board. I will come as no surprise that I have a collection of them, A4, (from an on line needlework shop) and A3 from ebay, and a floor stand from Woolly Workshop.

The next thing I use is a folded piece of white paper. I move this up the chart row by row. If the chart legend is complicated I write the key on the folded paper.

Moving the paper up the chart means that you can see what the previous rows looked like and see if things are not matching up.... So if you were on row 9 the paper will be over row 10 or 11 with only the rows before visible.

Another useful aid is a row clicker, so if the cat jumps on the board and moves the guiding paper all is not lost !

I hope this all makes sense and helps...

Gabrielle - I'm seeing your Mum later, I'll ask her about the smash ;-) Do you need an emergency supply sending or can you get it over there ?

And tomorrow there will be a photo of a new four legged to the area...

Fastest Cardi Ever

I feel lots better today, and a little bit lighter ;-)


It was getting dark as I took the photo so the colour is completely wrong !! It is more of a pinky colour not the usual purple ;-)

The yarn Rowan Big Wool arrived from here on a Saturday morning, I cast on the right number of stitches eventually on Sunday morning (I blame the winter pimms - if you haven't tried it, it's similar to mulled wine only different !)

And I finished sewing up on the Monday afternoon, all it needs is a fastening or two...
Pattern is Brigitta (Rav link)

And you never know there might be more finished knitting tomorrow (if I manage to sew in some ends...)

Not the day I planned

I think I ate something that didn't like me yesterday :-(
I've been asleep for most of the day. The plans for taking photos didn't happen...

I have been watching ITV3 this afternoon, please can someone tell me why anyone would want to buy Auntie Bessie's mashed potato ?

Last weekend

I got up early

And went to Hereford to meet some friends at the food festival.










This was a hairy biker but not the ones that most people had come to see ;-)

We missed the chance to see the biker's cooking demo from the warmth of inside... But on seeing people standing on the steps realised that we could see inside from outside...This is the only picture I managed of Dave...

And then I got someone to stand behind me so that the glare on the window disappeared (we did cause a bit of chaos getting people to stand to block out the light so photos worked...)

But this is Si making a pudding (and the shadow of a big bloke...)

It was cold at the race course, and this sign caused us to laugh - all three of us were wearing glasses !!

While I've been quiet I have been knitting, catching up on sleep, and visiting the vets several times - sickly is now out of his collar, he managed to rub off some fur either side of his head, but his scar is healing well and we are all enjoying him being allowed out :-)

And in a hope of getting back into blogging I'm going to try and post everyday in November...

So tomorrow there will be photos of knitting :-)