Lost and Found... Again

For the third year in a row, around the same time as the others, I have found yet another lost item in the back of that cupboard of mine.

This time? A shawl from years gone by that I thought I had given away. It was such a nice surprise as with all hand knits it's not just the item, but the memories of the time that I knit it in which are woven in with the yarn. I can't quite believe this is four years old... where does that time go?

Yarn, Naturally

If you're ever in the neighbourhood, and even if you aren't but don't mind a day out, then you need to visit this little corner of Cumbria - Caldbeck. As well as being a beautiful little village with a beautiful beck to sit and picnic by, there is a sweet little cafe and bric-a-brac shop, an old church (where John Peel is buried [alongside some of my relatives, do say 'hi']), and more importantly, The Wool Clip, a shop of yarny proportions which will have all fibre addicts' hearts a pitter-pattering. The Wool Clip is a co-operative whereby members have pulled together and pooled resources and talents, and there you will find yarn, fibre, knitting needles, hooks, ready-made items, knit kits, drop spindles, buttons, rugs and almost anything you can think of to do with wool. And best of all, it's all locally sourced from the member themselves - from Cumbrian slate buttons, to Herdwick fleece, everything is Cumbrian born and bred.

And that's not all. These entrepreneurs have also, for the last ten years, held the now infamous 'Woolfest' each summer. To my shame, even though it is mere miles away from my family home, I've never attended, but THIS YEAR I have high hopes to make it back up here to support local yarnies, and those from further afield too.

It's very rare in our modern age that we get a chance to support local businesses, and especially local craftspeople, in such a direct way. And so I like to think that is why I always spend so much money whenever I go there, and make the effort to get there whenever I am in the area - it's not really about my yarn addiction. It's about supporting local farmers and craftspeople.

Yep. That's what I'm telling myself. And my husband. And the bank manager.

Foray into Fair Isle

So, over the festive period I managed to acquire a Kate Davies pattern package kit - with yarn enough to cover the hot water bottle that was provided.

My first real foray into Fair Isle knitting I was met with learning a new cast on method from the get-go (Turkish cast on, which is genius pure and simple). The pattern was simple and easy to follow and it wasn't long before I had knit the project up (sans pom poms. I detest pom poms) and was itching for more. So two new small hot water bottles were found on eBay and that's my next mission.








I even dabbled in combining my obsession with my childrens' - Minecraft. We'll see where that leads...


What can I say? I love yarn, but this yarn blew me away. I just love it. Jamieson & Smith 100% Shetland Heritage comes in a number of shades and just goes on and on and on. With such pretty shades, and such a simple concept to produce amazing results (and such speedy delivery times from Meadow Yarn, oh dear) I think it's safe to say I'm not done with Fair Isle just yet.




Oh no, not by a long shot.

The Makings of a Hat

The Peace Fleece was quickly worked up into this, another Butterfly Hat. Every version of this I have so far made has been snaffled by other people, so I'm hiding this one just for me.

Details to follow on Ravelry at some point.

Back to the Yarn

That's most of the yarn rounded up and wound into balls ready for some makin'. The latest skein to enter the fold is this Peace Fleece in Wild Mustard from Meadow Yarn which accidently got added to my basket as I was shopping for some Eucalan (oops, how did that happen?). The other two skeins here are my own hand spun. All are destined for definite projects, and I may or may not (may, actually) have a few other skeins winging their way here ready for some handmade projects.

Yarn. It makes it ALL better, doesn't it?

A Simple Cowl

There is one thing you should know about me - I hate having my photograph taken. I hate it so much that I actually refused from the age of 23 to 30 to have a picture with me in it. Because I never like what I see. And that's silly, because now I have children, they NEED pictures of us for their own memories when we're long gone. The irony that I looked my absolute best at the very time I would not let anyone capture it forever has not been lost to me. I do tell my boys, 'I once looked human - like a real lady, not this brain-dead, sap-sucked, withered specimen you have before you', but alas, without proof they think I'm joking (I actually found my old passport last week and showed the midget - he was shocked, IS THAT REALLY YOU!!?! so perhaps all isn't lost).

But photographs? Not me.

So understand these coming images are hard to share, but as I wanted to show you my new cowl in situ and not just plonked on the bed I thought a recent day out with the boys would be a fine time to get them to hone their photographic skills and to get me into photographic existence.







This cowl took one evening to complete. A break was needed from other projects with no pressure and no deadlines and this fit the bill perfectly. It is the Woodland Cowl knit up on 10mm needles flat. Yarn was two skeins of Seriously Chunky Wool, in Barley.

It's a seriously warm cowl, and seriously easy knit. And even though this yarn is acrylic (I know!) I still like it a lot.

Details to follow on Ravelry.





And now mama would like her camera back. Yes, she would. Yes, she wooooould.....

It's a yarn thing

Yarn: it seems to be the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last thing I think of before I fall asleep - the first thing I reach for over morning tea, and the last thing I put down before turning in.

Some people comfort eat? I comfort knit.

Does it matter that I've got several garter knit projects on the go? In the same colour? In various weights of yarn? Not really. Does it matter that I've got about five (or six. Or seven. Oh my.) projects on the go all at once? Nope. Does it matter that some of those projects have been on the needles for over a year? Hmmm no. Not really.

Because yarn? It keeps me sane, soothes my shattered nerves and lulls my brain from red alert!! to soft amber. When those needles are in my hands my babes know they are at liberty to talk to me till my ears bleed, that they can admit to past wrongs, ask for future favours and generally sit in my presence safe in the knowledge that no nagging, yelling, whining or snapping will be forthcoming, because those needles? They might as well have diazepam in them.

An oasis of calm in the middle of hectic days.