Knitting - Smockie

Another addition to Miss J's autumn wardrobe is complete.  I love this pattern and have done it many times.

Pattern - Smockie by Sublime

Yarn - Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo - 80% bamboo 20% wool - Black Sheep yarn dive at the Knitting & Stitching show last year

Buttons - charity shop

Flowers - from the Knitting & Stitching show a few years ago

I can see this teamed with a long sleeved T-shirt and wooly tights not that I'm wishing the summer away before its really got started.

We are off to the Gansey Exhibition on Saturday in Sheringham, there is also a yarn market and the promise of a seafood lunch, sounds like the perfect day to me.

Knitting - an experiment

Friends of my daughter have just taken over a soft play business in Stamford, its called The Yard.  They have a really nifty logo which I thought would lend itself nicely on a hat.

First I copied their logo

I then ran it through a pattern generator - I used Stitchboard.com wizard.  It is very simple to use and is ideal for knitting or cross stitch.  I limited my request to 10 colours, otherwise it gets a bit crazy.

Once I printed it out, I enlarged it on the photocopier and then just tweaked it a bit to get a final chart I was happy with. This also made it easier to follow as it was larger, eyes aren't what they were!

I took a basic beanie pattern, using oddments of DK from my stash and 4mm needles, casting on 102 stitches. The THE, eyes and legs I sewed on afterwards.

I stranded this, but think I should maybe have done it with intarsia as its a bit bunchy.  The features aren't too great either, though will maybe look better once I've blocked it - (it did but didn't take any photos)

Not sure I'd want to make anymore of these but it proved that anything is possible to knit.  So if you have a favourite picture that isn't too detailed then give it a go.

Weekend - it was a foody one

Goodness our whole weekend has been very food related.

Yesterday it was Burwash Manor, and yes Joan its on the list for your visit. We went into St Ives last evening for a curry at Sultan. For a change I resisted my usual dhansak and tried something different.  I went with the chicken green massala it was yummy and a dish I'd have again.

Today we popped into Cambridge to meet Rachel, Stu and Jess at the Mill Road Food Feast.  It was a beautiful morning and we sat and enjoy a superb coffee from Caffe Mobile, followed by a bacon roll from Duke of Pork, bought brownies from Gourmet Brownies, bread from The Earth's Crust and goats cheese Cam Cattle.

When we got home I started a batch of elderflower cordial

Prepared a gammon joint for dinner, with which we had the asparagus bought yesterday

and then I spent the afternoon on the patio in the shade.............................. clearing my ironing basket.  Why oh why do I wear cotton and linen, its makes so much ironing.

I hope you had a lovely weekend.

Family - Taking tea

Saturday, we took Peter's mum out for the afternoon.  We popped over to Burwash Manor.  Right on our doorstep, but would be believe, we had never been before!

There are a good mix of unique shops (see link above for details), a tea room, alpacas, pigs and a lovely deli/butchers.  Of course my camera came along and I managed to take a few pictures to document the afternoon. We will definitely be going back

super toy shop here

The Larder - we got asparagus, pancetta, boudin noir , bacon, lots of yummy things to choose from

The Florist

Stockist of Providence and Farrow & Ball paints, such lovely colours

Mother and son - she looks good for nearly 87 wouldn't you agree

Afternoon tea, we didn't manage 2 a piece so the rest went home

Knitting - all in a day

Yesterday, was a public holiday.  Time to do what you want.  Unfortunately, I went down with the "family sickness bug" in the early hours of Monday morning, so spent the day on the sofa in the barn with some knitting, mint tea and dry crackers.  It was a productive knitting day.  I chose an Aran weight project which would knit up fast, though I hadn't actually expected it to be quite so quick.

We listened to Dark Fire by C J Sansom - one of the Shardlake series - very good especially when read by Anton Lesser just love his voice.

Pattern -  Ribbed Baby Cardigan by Debbie Bliss - link to FOC pattern.  Only modification I made was to add a buttonhole rather than use a press stud

Yarn - Kirkton House Craft - Rustic Aran - from Aldi - colourway Grape

Button - from  Granny's button tin -  I have dipped into this tin many times over the years since Peter's grandmother gave me her button tin.  The boys love going through it and finding "treasure"