Things I discovered this week.

1) Double knit, doubled, gives me the same tension as King Cole Magnum Chunky, so I can finish my jacket (yes, Jo, I didn't have enough yarn.....)





2) Texere Yarns are brilliant! Not only did they have the two balls that I wanted, they even matched the dye lots!





3) Tucking a needle behind my ear only really works when it's not a circular!

Great Auntie!

Having found out that I'm going to become a great-aunt (not sure how I feel about the name...), it was time to get cracking.

The booties are from a Bernat pattern, the mitts and hat are my own. The yarn is Wendy Peter Pan, which is a nylon/acrylic mix and beautifully soft. I asbolutely love working with it (forgive me, purists). The white is just some acrylic DK from the stash.

The blanket is another made using Rico Pompon yarn.

I'm not sure why, but I found this less annoying to use than last time (just as well, as I used 2 balls for this blanket). The red edge is due to the footballing allegiance of the prospective father (I'm surrounded by gooners!)

I have been working, honest!

The lack of posting may make it seem as though I haven't made anything for ages.

Truth is, I've been busy with commissions, which is great, but means that I can't put my work "out there" until those who are kind enough to pay for it have published it.

So, here are a few cropped snaps to show some of the lovely yarns I've been working with, but without giving any spoilers on the designs.

Zauberball

Alpaca

Merino

More Merino

Georgeous cashmere mix

It's a tough life.......

Hand dyed handwarmers

Been meaning to post these for ages, just never got around to taking the piccie.

This was the yarn dyed at the workshop organised by Jo. I'm delighted with the way that it has pooled.

Bits of silliness

Cakes made to show to a couple of friends how easy crochet can be.
Designed and made in an evening. Two other friends (yes, I have four friends - who knew?) were having a combined birthday party. These are re-usable gift bags.

(using up some more of the Adriafil Matisse as well as some Just Bamboo)

E viva Espana

Ola!



Yes, I've just returned from sunny Germany, oh, okay, Andalucia where the sun shone and the wind blew (but if you build a golf course on the top of a hill, then it's likely to get a bit blowy).



This was a time of R&R as the long suffering one played golf, and I sat by the pool, drinking enough agua con gas to float a battleship.

I took some knitting with me, but this is as much a picture as you're going to get, as it may become a pattern idea, and I don't want to jinx anything.

I also caught up with about half a dozen writing magazines that I hadn't got around to reading. This turned into a very good thing, as I feel quite fired up to crack on with the grand opus and, more importantly, I have discovered a significant flaw in DTD.

As I lay back on my sun lounger, proving that I really can knit (and purl) with my eyes closed, I realised that there was a problem with the characterisation of the protagonist. However, as I'm only one chapter in (still!) I can fix it before it happens. I just need to revise my synopsis and we're away.

To be honest, by the end of the week, I was getting a bit bored on my hols, but boredom is good for us, as it frees up bits of the brain and makes us creative...allegedly. Let's hope I can be even more creative as I plough through the resulting ironing!

Crochet Entrelac

Well, there's been another slight flurry of activity as "Cleo" a little bag made from crochet entrelac is published this month.

Quite proud of it. I have since perfected the technique (kinda), but the method given in the pattern is absolutely fine for this yarn.

Hoping to see another pattern using the stitch, but in a different way. Fingers crossed and watch this space.

While I'm waiting in the car.....

....and I often am, I've started making crochet hexagon medallions out of the DK acrylic that's creating a fire hazard in the cupboard.

I've done quite a few, so it was time to start sewing them up.

I have a feeling that it will turn into a blanket without end, but at least it's busting a little stash. Each hexagon takes approx 30m (which in acrylic is about 10g). If anyone would like the pattern, it's here.

Love and peace to all.