What Katie Did

Things to do while snowed in

It looks like this outside still

So some indoor activity is required. Another log on the fire, another cup of tea and some circular knitting! I love knitting in the round. Firstly, you never have to purl, not that I don't like purling, but it does come second in the contest with the knit stitch. Second, the row never ends you just go on and on and on. Lovely. Third, there are no seams to sew up. Fourth when you get to the armpits you've already done the front AND the back. It has a lot to recommend it. What makes it even more fun is if the wool changes often. Kaffe Fassett taught me all about colour changing. I have always intended to knit his Poppies Waistcoat and even knit a sample once

 but not the whole thing, though I did once make this cardigan

Today though, I am knitting for a small person with this ball of wool that I tied together this morning from all my pink/red/purple wool 

and that should keep me out of mischief for a while, though Poppy appreciates the snow more than I do.

 

Woolfest 2009

Its that time of year again! Time to visit the wool and fibre phenomenon in the UK calender.
WOOLFEST!
This was the best year ever... of course we started with breakfast at the Village Bakery
followed by a drive through some of the most magnificent scenery in the UK to ... WOOLFEST!
I keep saying that don't I?

hmmmm - start with the furry things that provide the fibre
and many more of these this year
looking so soft and sweet with their long necks and big eyes...just sheared hence the attractive ribbing.
And now I find that I didn't take enough pictures of the wool! though there were plenty of lovely things to see and inspire

like this stall of lovely rug hooked pictures ...
 
and this green wool that I resisted - I have so much wool already!

but I did bring this home to play with
this is Feza and the nice people at Pavi Yarns sell it and I have in mind another pair of these
I know someone who is going to a wedding fairly soon - how about a pair of these Gloria?
Another day of Woolfest tomorrow if you are anywhere near the north Lakes. Poor you if you aren't.

Finished

First there was Geoff's now Owen's
next.....
this fabulous wool was given to me some years ago - it is all hand spun by a retired farmer's wife of my acquaintance, Brenda, from their own sheep. Marvellous.
Lots of white and creamy colours left.  I don't really like white, thinking I might dye some with natural dyes, what? how? when? all questions I have no answer to yet.

And for the observant among you - check out the hair and beard cut I gave to Geoff the other day, compared with the Christmas link picture - vast improvement? He looks less Biblical now! check it out

we did this again and I think you could say that Geoff won, but there wasn't a lot of interest in the winning - more the taking part and getting your breath back after walking to the top of this hill

Lovely

PS I've enabled this 'link within' thing at the foot of each post - what do you think ? annoying? helpful? It has kept me amused for hours re-reading posts from the past - I'd quite forgotten all of that stuff - I'll stick with it for a while - if only to see what the strange bit of software chooses to link me to!

Be Happy

Woolfest 2008

The Wool Event of the Year has come and gone and did not disappoint the Wonderful Knitters of Hexham. Anne says that if you do something three times it becomes a tradition - so the raspberry porridge and apple pancakes at the Village Bakery are now part of a tradition.
This year, I think there was more felting than I remember from previous years with much more fibre for sale. Some of my old friends were missing - Pavi Yarns for example and Laughing hens and Web of Wool - all absent, but plenty to keep us all entertained nevertheless!

These Estonian Lovelies seen here showing their rare breed sheep's wool in an interesting way!
My hit of the day was the Natural Dye Studio stand. I really love the way all the colours blend together

so, after much deliberation, I bought some DK and signed up for their blanket project. I risk derision and ridicule from my fellow knitters, but I have plans to make something like this

but maybe with a green background and lots of pink. I love green and pink! And maybe not so big?
Yesterday was the last day of Art Tour in my shed and luckily, one of the visitors was able to help me decipher the pattern! It is a spectacularly easy pattern, but I was having a problem with half trebles and trebles. When you read a word often enough it starts to look unreal. This had happened with 'trebles'...treble treble treble treble ......and I stopped understanding! Help was forthcoming and I am back in the saddle so to speak! Watch this space for progress. I have to do it now that I have told all of you!
Lots of really lovely visitors to the shed yesterday including Ellie and her kids and friends. Ellie is a wonderful felt maker with an amazing house and workshop in the north Pennines. She does great courses too. And Jet and her kids who is about to rescue some battery hens so came to have a look at my girls.
I will miss Art Tour, though it will be good to have the shed back to a work space rather than a shop! I have plans to open the shed here in the virtual world, so another 'watch this space' project!
And here is another - knitted bunting - just the best thing!

The Wonderful Knitters Of Hexham!

Just when you think Tuesday Knitting can't get any better....it does. Today we had people who are still on holiday who can't usually come to knitting. We were quite a crowd. I was really good to see everyone's knitting.

And we have a secret project on the go. Lara's baby is due in two or three weeks and we are making a blanket (she doesn't read here so I can tell you).
We decided to knit three inch squares. I am always amazed by how people interpret a simple instruction like that! the end result is going to be WILD! I have done one edge thing and Pauline took it home today to do another. I think the end result is going to be exactly what Lara loves! Bonkers.

We have all had a go at sewing up and today Dorothy did another stint.
There is another secret bit of knitting on the go and Geoff doesn't read here either so I can show you this too

This is going to be a sleeveless pullover using all the blue and green double knitting I have. the needles are very appropriate for my wood-obsessed husband, they are circulars with ebony ends and they are a delight to knit with, so soft and smooth.  Although you can't see it very well, the rib has cables and I have always been a bit afraid of cables. Turns out they are easy after all.
Isn't knitting wonderful?

Wonderful Harrogate

where to start? fabulous fabrics

wonderful wools

beautiful buttons

errr ... ravishing ribbons?

fantastic fleece

sensational sock yarn

and so much inspiration...

below is the House of Hemp with such beautiful muted colours

batik is another of those crafts that I wonder about trying - but how many hours are there in a day?

loved these parrots - how about a bird cushion?

I have many more photos I could share with you - I really enjoyed having the chance to take everything in which two days allows you to do. Now I am going to the shed to unpack everything and take stock of what I bought. There will be some new necklaces and some knitting projects for the rest of my life the winter, an amazing piece of pink fabric for a shawl....
I bought some stunning yarn from Turkey sold by Parvi (no site) and began knitting fingerless mitts. Pictures to follow I promise.
Right now I have to go and unpack and thank Magrethe for her driving, her company and her organisation - great B&B! We have reserved our place for next year!

Look!

My Mum taught me to knit and all the time I was growing up, the sound of the needles gently clicking away was always in the background. She made so many Aran cardigans and jumpers, and other warm and lovely garments too numerous to remember.
But for the last several years, Mum has turned to quilting and needlework. She even gave me all her old needles and wool. But my Dad and brother now wear hand knitted socks and this chap emerged from the needles last week. He is going to be clothed I believe - and photos of his wardrobe will be forthcoming.

National Knitting Week

Tuesday is Knitting Day for me, and in this National Knitting Week I got a double helping. In the morning I was invited to go to the waiting room at the Cancer Outpatients Department in Newcastle. Ali and Rachel work there involving patients who are waiting for treatment in all sorts of craft activities. Ali had written up the weeks events and billed me as 'The Knitting Artist'  which is a very grand title and the nicest thing I have been called in a long time!
I had taken in a variety of yarns, needles, patterns and was wearing most of my favourite knitted clothes! I think I must have looked a bit strange in my collection of Kaffe Fassett carigan, Noro Silk Garden Clapotis, and Opal socks dragging a large wheeled suitcase and wearing my bright pink Crocs.

I had a really interesting time. People were reminiscing about their knitting triumphs, I got a pair of guys winding hanks of wool, we did a couple of squares for Wateraid and another two hats for the Innocent Bottles. And one of the people awaiting treatment was the father-in-law of one of the founders of the great Innocent dirnks people! We had a fine old chat!

it was a really amazing place to be - such a mixture of people with so many stories. I think the 'Room for You'  is a terrific idea.

I drove back along the A69 at a great pace to get to our weekly Knit-in at the cafe - we had such a good turn out and the local paper came for a photo and a story so we'll have a look at that on Friday!

Dorothy has made this for her daughter who teaches primary school.

and Annie made this for her daughter, modeled here by my dear friend Sue - the White Witch Of Haydon Bridge.

She usually looks much prettier than this! But she is completely mad so what can you do?

the total number of hats for Age Concern is now .......

                   twentysix!!!!!

I will send them tomorrow with the best wishes of all the creative knitters who were mad enough to make them!!

And finally - Owen is making crab apple jelly. Here is the start of it.



more on this story as the news breaks.

Silk Experiment

I have had this idea for a while and yesterday I tried it out. I go to jumble sales whenever I can and I buy every bit of silk I can find. There are always silk blouses for 20p or so in magnificent colours. I used some of them to make the hooky mat for the bed head (and foot) for Geoff's birthday last June - the amazing colours were just right for these anenomies.

But I have lots left. So yesterday I cut some narrow strips with the old rotary cutter, tied them together and knit with them. I am going to make a bag using THIS pattern from Knitty and here is the first of the four sections -

We went to have tea with Izabela and Richard last night and after the most sumptuous meal, we all sat and tied ends together ready for me to start knitting during the England game this afternoon (fantastic goal from Beckham)

But do you like the other side better?

votes please - I think I know which it will be - and I will be getting the opinions of the Knitters on Tuesday. Before you dismiss the messy side though be assured that in real life it is lovely and soft and textural! One pragmatic suggestion was to make it reversible!

Yes Annie, those are your scissors. I will bring them on Tuesday.

Owen is packed, ready, excited and off in the morning! He is taking the camera, so I have the challenge of writing this blog using photos I have already. There are millions, so I will treat you to some archive!

Knit A River

Imagine the squares are numbered from the top left
1 2 3
4 5 6 and  errr 7

1. Dorothy - ripples of water in a knit and purl pattern
2. Rene - diagonal garter stitch with an unintentional line down the middle which looks just fine (she was forgiven momentary lapses in concentration as this was her first outing without the baby!)
3. Mine - boring old garter stitch, back and forth, back and forth, but I liked the colour
4. Anne - she chose ripply yarn and then changed stitch pattern as she got bored, which was often
5. Annie - for some reason this got pulled out three times but the end result is perfectly lovely
6. Anne - very nice mohair cable. I couldn't work out why she had a sock needle between her teeth for the whole time until the end when the cable was revealed
and finally,
7. - Sue - what can I say. Sue lives life to the full and sees every opportunity as a chance to express her uniqueness. We love her for it.

This is just the start. the Hexham Wave will continue at Knitting on Tuesday and then we will send them all to Wateraid and wonder who is going to sew them all up?

We all started off with the same idea - knit a 15 cm square in blue. The end results are all so different - just like each of my knitting friends! Ahhh!

And finally - this one from Geoff is a work in progress