Craft projects on the go....

This week I have learnt a new craft! (I'm not sure what you call someone who collects crafts skills, maybe a craftoholic but that sounds really unappealing!). I learnt how to crochet which is fab. I joined in the workshop led by Laura last weekend making 'Crochet Granny Squares' and I actually got to grips with it. Once I got home I manically tried to find a crochet cushion cover pattern published in a Magazine a few months ago and after about an hour I found it. Then things got slightly confusing as I'm not sure that it was an 'English' pattern but in true Running With Scissors style I launched myself into it without worrying to much and now I'm the proud owner of 4 crochet squares (the pattern calls for 36 squares, so only 32 to go.....) I am very impressed with myself!

To add to all things woolly I have put aside my current kitting project (despite promising myself to finish a project before I start another one) and started on a winter top which is all silver and sequins - sparkly and seasonal - I will be a walking glitter ball once completed. Its a good job its on 10mm needles so it will be quite quick to knit. I've started this project as I have been naughty and ordered some wool online which arrived yesterday (it was in the sale!) for a winter top pattern which I've had since last year - its going to be purple and pink!. I have never really understood why 'winter colours' are black, brown and grey when what you really need on English winter days is a strong blast of tropical shades to lift your mood and make you feel better!

The Sewing Projects I have on the go include:
Green linen print top
Reversible skirt
Curtains for our bay window (fabric stored for over a year!)
Purses
Christmas Stocking
Wall hanger with pockets
...and those are just the ones I can remember.

Laura has recently been to the 'Knitting and Stitching Show' in London and its coming to Harrogate this month 22nd - 25th November, I went a few years go and its fantastic, all the stalls have lots of offers and discounts and there are workshops, exhibitions and shows too. Apparently one of the exhibitions is called 'The Unfinsihables' - I think this may be one for me! Here's a link to the show if your interested in all things knitty and stitchy!  http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/viewExhibition.aspx?id=39

Knit One, Purl One

In knitting jargon this is my current knitting project OTN or WIP ('On the needles' or 'work in progress') at the moment. It's a pattern I've had for years which I've knitted for myself and lent to other people and now I'm knitting it for my friend's birthday (after much admiration of my own version!) Some of you may have seen me knitting behind my stall at the Crucible craft fair last weekend.


What I love about the pattern is that you knit it on super chunky needles (12mm) with super chunky wool so it doesn't take that long to do. You start at the bottom of the back and knit up and over the shoulders and down each front. Then you finish off with the ribbed cuffs and border so there's not even much sewing up to do (I hate sewing up knitted things - I just want it to be instantly finished!).

I tend not to do much knitting in the summer, it's more of an autumn / winter thing to do in the long winter evenings. You also get to wear it immediately and it keeps your knees warm while you're knitting it!


I was one of the generation where we were taught to knit at school (briefly) at about aged 8 but I got in a terrible tangle - fortunately my Gran was a great knitter and she used to knit loads of stuff for me and my brother and really I learnt from her. There have been times in my life when I have found knitting very therapeutic, times when it has been a disaster and times when me and my friends have all knitted the same jumper at the same time.

I always seem to have some knitting project on the go and vast numbers of patterns which I want to knit. You can also buy some fabulous wool now. I love the fair trade Mirasol wool made from lama's wool, (or are they alpacas?) I also have a fab book of proper vintage knitting patterns which have been reprinted, but it also shows the original published version from women's weekly magazines from the 1920's onwards. I'll bring along some of my patterns / books and finished items to the workshop on Saturday too. People always seem to be really amazed when I tell them that 'knitting' is really only made up of just 2 stitches (a knit stitch or a purl stitch) - all the fancy patterns you see are just about how you combine these 2 types of stitches.

Happy knitting, stitching or sewing whatever you are up to this week.