Catch Up!

I've been on a bit of a rollercoaster the last few weeks, which caused me to have an enforced rest. I spent most of my time with my computer, talking to some amazing friends I have met through Twitter and Ravelry.

Several of them made me realise I should get of my backside and actually do things instead of just talking about them. So I am. I had been wanting a new project bag and finally got my sewing machine out to make myself one.

I decided to use fancy fabric both on the outside and inside, this means the bag can be used inside out if I am planning to knit with a light coloured yarn.


Inside, the bag you can see a treat for me ... this is Coral Reef by Laughing Yaffle. I have to admit I was really unsure about this colourway when I saw it in the skein but it is so adorable how it knits up ... a real feast of colours.



Yarnwise, I have been busy spinning and have finished Blue Skies, hand dyed roving by Flutterby Creations. It spun really well and I totally love it.

I was very flattered when my designer friend, Alison, agreed to do a yarn swap and she asked for some handspun. I spun Heathland, again dyed by Flutterby Creations and I was so pleased Alison loved it.

In return, I received this sweet sock yarn from The Yarn Yarn. The colourway is ice cream and it reminds me of neopolitan with a dash of lime on the side and additional chocolate.


I have also been busy with my needles and am now over half way on The Return of Lizard Ridge. I do still love this blanket and have been fairly monogomous, something that has shocked my friends.

I also managed to finish Kicking Kermits. These are based on Wendy's toe up sock pattern which is enjoyable. Unfortunately, they are slightly too big. You know how it is, you talk and knit and kerpow! the thing it too long. I did frog back but not bravely enough. Anyway, I do think they are beautiful although they share slighly less characteristics than I thought.


Isn't the yarn stunning though? They were knit using Fybrespates Echo Self Striping Sock Yarn in Kermit using 2mm needles and the intensity of the colours and gorgeous patterning is just amazing.

DH and I have also been to a couple of concerts. The first was hosted at the Spiegeltent, a wonderful caberet tent errected on The Rec in Bath.


With booths, cut and stained glass and a velvet ceiling, it is a magical place.


Who did we see? The wonderful The Handsome Family who entertained us with songs of romantic songs about insects, birds, holes and swamps. If you haven't heard them before, do listen, they are funny, witty, and great story tellers.


We also saw the wonderful Seth Lakeman at Komedia and his new songs sounded excellent, can't wait for the new album.

Last year Oxfam started a campaign to create a giant baby blanket, with each square knitted representing a mother who did not survive pregnancy or childbirth to be able to care for her baby, because she couldn't access the medical care she needed. Each square represents the number of mothers who could have been saved in that time if decent healthcare had been available.

On 17 September, more than 14,000 squares were handed over to the Prime Minister's wife, Sarah Brown, at Number 10.

It wasn't possible to assemble all the squares that were donated into an entire blanket. However, Oxfam is now arranging for the squares to be made into blankets. The finished blankets will then be put on display at galleries, exhibitions, town halls, and other public places - as part of Oxfam's campaign to raise awareness of the lack of decent maternal care in poor countries. Oxfam also plan to sell the blankets in their shops or at festivals to raise cash for Oxfam's work to overcome poverty.

I admit I did not knit a single square for this worthwhile campaign. However, I have signed up to sewing a blanket. Each blanket is comprised of 48 squares (6 squares across and 8 down).

Below is the planned layout for the blanket I am working on.




It is lovely to think of all the people who have given their time and love to provide knitted squares. I shall try to sew the blanket with as much care as possible and to weave in caring thoughts for the person who purchases it.

A Great Break

I am so just enjoying chilling and not being at work. Today, I have spent most of the day catching up on blogs and sorting out photographs. I have (with Iain's help) sorted out the bedroom. I have drastically reduced my shoe collection and will finally be saying goodbye and eBaying my collection of DM boots. I am sad but my feet have grown over the years and I fear I will never fit UK size 5 again.

The good news is that my DH gave me the loveliest pair of boots for Christmas.

I am hoping my sister will drop by tomorrow. I will then be able to thank her for my presents, which included:

Yes, that's right - both Mason-Dixon books. I think these are great, they are fun, informative and encourage you to do your own thing. I really want to make the following:

a mitred blanket and also a log cabin blanket (not pictured)

A knitted quilt (this one is flying geese).A swatch blanket. I just love the denim blues.

I love this dotty blanket and think this would be perfect for Kauni yarn. Yes, I am aware I seem to have a fixation on blankets since knitting Lizard Ridge.

I also loved this simple but clever shawl in Rowan Kidsilk Haze, something I seem to have quite a bit of in my stash.
I love the bodice of this cardigan. Maybe the lyrics from a meaningful song:


And I believe in Love
And I know that you do too
And I believe in some kind of path
That we can walk down, me and you
Into My Arms by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

I think my neice would like a huge stocking for next Christmas...

Talking of Christmas knitting, the only thing that has saved me this is year is I don't see everyone before Christmas so I have been using my Christmas holiday to finish off the knitting. I shall bve very happy to finish the last of them tonight.

Finally, I have a really cute reindeer:
He is staying with us until 12th night. Then he shall hide away until next year (boo hoo)!

Anyway, DH and I are spending the New Year with Matthew and Sam. We will also be joined by Mel, all the way from New Zealand. I can't wait to see them all.