A yarny day out

The annual Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace has come around again.  We went yesterday and had a great time.  Stayed the longest we ever have. Possibly bought more than usual, though maybe not. We took a newbie with us yesterday - Jan, who is Stuart's mum, she's not a knitter but loves to sew. There was plenty there for her to enjoy.

Rachel wearing her new top.  Lots of admiring glances, though it may have been for
the baby bump

The first thing to greet us with this yarn bombed taxi - great job Cate and Co.

The picture quality is brilliant as I only took my small Sony, as this fits easily into my bag, but I have no lens control, basically what you see is what you get.

Black Sheep Wools - what did I buy more on that later

Some aisles were a bit of a crush

Toft Alpaca's knitted toys

No sorry I will not make this!

Jan purchased one of these kits

Interesting!!!!!!

 Then a walk through some of the design and needle art displays

Rachel's top was much admired, in fact one lady saw her earlier in the day, then came back to "find" us so I could tell her the name of the pattern and yarn.  She was very complimentary, its great feeling.  Another lady felt it was perfectly acceptable to stroke Rachel's baby bump, she was actually lucky that Rachel didn't deck her!  What makes people think they can do that?

So on to the purchases - these were from Black Sheep Wools, I love their yarn piles

100% wool - £19.99 reduced from £29.90

80% bamboo 20% wool - £16.99 reduced from £39.90

85% cotton 15% kapok - £19.99 reduced from £49.90

 Then on to the buttons, some bright fun ones for a change

4 packs for £10

perfect fit

 Then just some acrylic for a couple of projects on my list

Next, we saw this dress knitted up and Rachel really admired it.  So being a good Mummy I said I would knit it for her.  She purchased pattern and yarn immediately. There is just enough detail to stop it getting boring, plus aran weight so should be a fairly quick knit.

Jan and Rachel bought lots of fabric for a baby quilt and mobile.  We actually got a bit fabric'd out by the end of the show. As usual we ended the day with dinner in Green Lanes. Same restuarant, same meal, we daren't go off piste for fear of being disappointed, and at this place we never have been.

It was a great day out and many thanks to Rachel for driving us and to Jan for joining us, hope you both enjoyed your day as much as I did.

Coming along a pace

Good afternoon, and thanks for popping in for a look at this weeks' works in progress.  As the title suggests I am making headway with Laurie's Ten Stitch.  Some of the yarn I used when I made the one for Rufus has run out so I am having to improvise a bit, but they will be near enough the same. Three rounds to go, it just keeps getting bigger!

Next on the needles is what I'm calling No pastels here!! - the pattern is Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea. So why no pastels?  As you possibly know if you are a regular reader, my youngest daughter is expecting a baby in February.  She likes brights, no pastels for her.  My problem is that we do not know the gender of the baby, so I am trying to choose patterns and yarn that can 'do' either sex. I plan to make some girly bits as add-ons if we are graced with a little girl.  To be honest new babies grow so fast that anything I knit will soon be grown out of, I'm only going with a small size until the baby is born.  So along with this cardigan will be a navy one with cream spots, something in a dark jade/blue and something multi striped.  Its quite surprising how many people put babies in dark colours these days.  I actually love them too.  The yarn I'm using here is Caron Simply Soft, and it is!

As usual more WIPs at Tamis and Yarn Along

Views from the weekend

Saturday morning in St Ives, monthly farmers market, coffee on the quayside

Love this duck's hair do!

grey skies forced us home, but actually the rain held off

The garden is still in bloom......

We chopped and stacked wood, cleared some of the veg garden, cleaned windows, in fact a very productive weekend.

There was still time for some knitting on Sunday afternoon

Roll Up cardigan

Last of the beans and some (finally) red tomatoes

I also popped into the WI craft group taster morning on Saturday. They have a craft group every Monday afternoon, and you don't need to be a WI member to attend (not sure its for me). So I have been along today, 3 newbies so I didn't feel like Billy no mates, they were all very friendly plus it turned out I knew 3 people there anyway.  So another knitting/craft outlet for me to attend in the village.

Right, off now to have a mole removed, wish me luck!!

Shades of grey in action

Last evening my daughter came round in the new top that I knitted her.  I'd say it was a perfect fit, what about you?

BTW the new knitting group at the White Horse, Swavesey went really well, nice group of ladies, so we will be going again (-:

Its Wednesday so it must be time to share

This week I have several things to show.

Some slippers for Laurie

This cardigan again - so simple

Blackberries and apples

Laurie's ten stitch, making progress now the cooler weather is here

turning into

Granny Jam for Rufus

Rachel and I are off to a new knitting group at the White Horse Pub in Swavesey tonight, started last month whilst we were on holiday, so time to check it out.  They meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:30 in the lounge bar. Maybe see you there