Look I've been knitting !

Just to prove that I can still knit here is a nearly completed hap shawl, from Sharon Miller's Hap book.

I cant remember exactly how long I've been knitting it for but it is about 3 weeks.

I did get a lot done last week while I waited for Neil to have some MRI scans. He was in the machine for 2 hours - it was not a good day (I was sat watching the budget in the waiting area)

The next two days neither of us were functioning well.

Tomorrow he has a pre op assessment and a CT scan.

This time in Bristol, he will probably be there for about 3 hours.

I'm going to go shopping








Today we have been dyeing.

First we made some extra long skeins (using an old bit of bed)

Then I mixed the dye under strict supervision before we both painted halves of skeins.

After a steam this was it cooling.





And this is now long the skeins are...

And I do know I'm only short but they are taller than me !!

The plan is to make a crocheted waistcoat, in stripes. I'm going to be spending a while spit & splicing over the next few days before I start hooking...











The boys both enjoyed a lie out in the sun. If you click for bigger you should be able to see the ducks who have worked out that they cant be caught if they sit at the far side of the pond or get on the water...

So another long day of hospital visits tomorrow, hopefully the last for a few weeks. Neil has been 'pencilled' in for his op at the end of April. It wont be before the 19 as the surgeon is on holiday until then...

Get Knitted

Yesterday saw a mass shop at Get Knitted. I managed to be one of the first to get there and get a seat of one of the sofas, and being remote from my camera didn't take any photos until late in the afternoon..

As you can see we had a good time - there were bags everywhere...







And the usually clear tables were covered with knitting, cake and patterns....












And more bags littered the floor round the other table/sofa...

There were people from all over - Wormhead came from London, Mary from Long Eaton, Kate from Somerset. Others (whose names I cant remember, sorry) came from Hampshire, Devon, Cornwall, and there were some locals.. Thanks to Terri for suggesting it - a good day was had by all !!











And for ages this was all that I bought... two pairs of very thin needles... I have a habit of bending needles and can knit lace easier on straight - so the plan is to eventually cast on the WRS (for the third or fourth time) and try and get past the first few rows...








And the someone mentioned that there was a box of variegated yarn out the back...
Dave was persuaded to bring it in... and we jumped - I have been looking for some for a while and this jumped me...

And I think it goes well with the cone I was gifted a while back....

Not sure of which pattern to use, think I might do another of the cardi pattern but with my own design...

And now I must go and try and finish that aran jumper - only the front to go, and then I can knit with some nicer yarn :-)

Tis the season

First I really must show some goodies that have arrived recently.

From my secret pal all the way from Australia - some wonderfully soft wool, sweetly smelling traditional soap, chocolate with coffee, and a bookmark of the Harbour Bridge as well as a sticker with a kangaroo.
And look at the bag they came in - why dont we have bags like that over here ?



And my pal also sent me a postcard of the sheep with lots of wool (memory not what it should be, cant remember his name)

And I got some other sheepy stuff for being a good girl and not going to Ally Pally.

You might need to click to read the card - so true !!

I've not grown the sheep yet, time and motion problems....


Thank you secret pal and not so secret friend (sock yarn was wicked, and will be on the needles before the end of the year...)


And now some season fruitfulness...

And while I was clearing up recently I found this - it still needs to be finished after several years sitting in a bag. It was going to be a cushion but now I need to do some more edging so it can be framed...

Designed by Elian McCready.







And the shawl from the last post was the Autumn mystery shawl from Goddess Knits.

Here it is sitting the churchyard, not easy to photograph as it's rather large...

Yarn is Colinette old DK in sahara colourway.



I've been busy since my last post, doing lots of knitting ans sewing in ends, all will be revealed soon.

I went to Get Knitted on Saturday and met Rain and Terri and sat and spun on Sue's comfy sofas for most of the day. Rain brought along her friend Steph who has only been knitting for a week and brought more yarn than the rest of us ! It was so good to see such an enthusiastic new knitter and I look forward to seeing her blog and what she makes with the pack of yarn she went home with !!
I was good and only came away with yarn with a purpose, which I'm not sharing as most were for presents...

Beware where conversations can lead....

It all started with me needing to go to Worcester...

Do you want to meet for lunch ?

I'm on holiday, said Spinny

Do you want to go on an adventure ?

Yep, ok then....

And where did we end up ... well we went south and a bit of east ... and it wasn't hailing this time so I could get a picture of the full sign....


We had a little look round the shop and then went to lunch....

There is a 'gurt lush' (in local speak) cafe just down the hill.

Spicy chicken baguettes and amazing coffee...






And then the girls went shopping, the other Sue was very good and didn't buy any yarn (apart from a ball of sock which she gave to her Mum).

I ended up with some sock as well, I did take out all the other balls someone put into my basket, but this one wanted to come home with me...

I seem to have a pattern developing, two cones of discount yarn and the same book that Sue bought... Modern Classics by Lousia Harding.

Last time I got two cones and the same book Diane bought...

And I've decided I'm not going to go anywhere near Bristol for a while.....

And I admit I'm addicted to lace, I've already cast on Tina shawl