Something crafty!

Prompted by a nudge (well actually a nice big shove would be more of an apt description) from my lovely friend, Alison, I thought it was about time I made another post. I've got some pictures to post too but I still haven't figured out how to do that...

So, what have I been up to? Well today was a gloriously sunny day so me and Alison took our friend Janes' dog (Ollie) out for a walk at Fine shade wood. My sister came along too and brought my niece and nephew, Ollie had a fine time chasing his bean bag toy and jumping in the mud and my sister had a not-so-fine-time pushing around Emilia's pushchair with a flat tyre. I had a really good chat with Alison about plans for my stall at a local craft fair that's coming up. I've decided to test the water with some cute baby clothes and maybe see if I can drum up some interest in knitting to order. I'm going to be sharing stand space with Jane, who will be selling an assortment of yummy yarn, and I can't wait to see how we both get on.

I've also been trying to arrange a stash swap (with May 22nd as a provisional date) so that I can get together with knitting friends and do some swapping. I'm not sure what I'm going to swap but I'm sure I've got something hiding in my stash looking for a new home. I'm not sure where the swap is going to be held yet so watch this space or get in touch if you have an idea for a venue. Who knows? If the weather is good, maybe I could hold it in the park

Oops! To run a blog, one must blog!

Ok, so it's been over a month since my last confession......er, I mean post and as my friend Lizzie (more on this fabulous lady later) told me yesterday, it's no good having a blog if you're not going to blog is it? Um, no, no it is not so here I am.

I've been busy playing with my new toy, a lovely, shiny and sleek new phone which takes amazing pictures, reads my emails for me, screens my calls and runs my life and...you get the picture (yes, I've finally joined modern life and got myself a smart phone and yes, all I've really done with it so far is take pictures and play chess - and yes, in case you were wondering, my phone always beats me), anyway, I have a new phone and I am now able to take half-decent pictures of my knitting projects, my life is complete. Sort of.

So, here is a picture of the very, very super cute cardigan that I recently finished for my niece. It is as lovely as she is and of course it's too big! (Well? E was only 6lbs when she came into the world and her mum is a shorty like me so of course it's too big - E will grow into it, hurry up and grow little one, I need pics for my blog!

Picture to appear soon....once I've figured it out.


Now then, yesterday I went round to see my old friend Lizzie for a cup of tea and a natter. Lizzie has recently set up her buisness, Do it Momma, and is doing really well (may I direct you to the linkydink on the right hand side of your screen, thank you). Lizzie makes beautiful bespoke quilts (and many other wonderful handmade goods) and I wanted to ask her if she would have a go at making me a patchwork table runner for the big blanket chest in my living room. It is of course, full of yarn and knitting projects and I need something homemade and handsome to protect it. While I was there she roped me into helping her out by asking me to hold up one of her recently finished quilts while she skipped around and took some artful photographs, I was more than happy to lend a hand. Oh and if you're planning on getting married any time soon, Lizzie is also earning her pennies as a wedding photographer too. Needless to say, distracted by all the crafty talk and tea, I completely forgot to ask Lizzie if she'd take up my commission! I did show her my current knitting project though, one of my favourites so far, my Kouyou shawl. I've been knitting it every spare chance I get and I'm in love. It is now finished and I'm waiting for my newly purchased blocking wires to arrive so that I can block it and wear it. Hopefully, a picture will appear below (I'm having trouble figuring out this posting photos lark so bear with me).

Hang on, pic is coming...


Hmm, so now that I've finished my shawl, the question is what do I knit next?
Well, I could finish one of the many UFO's that are lurking in my blanket box but that would be too easy! I'm off to Ravelry to pick out my next pattern. I have a delicious skein of Sanguine Gryphon sock yarn which I'm itching to transform - so watch this space!

Sit and knit a bit for International Women's Day

100 years ago on 8th March, International Women's Day was first celebrated but, 100 years on, women still go missing every day due to gender discrimination. 100 years, 100 million women still missing worldwide.

Why, 100 years later, are they still missing?

They are missing through gender provoked infanticide and abortion.
They are missing through sex trafficking and slavery.
They are missing through lack of education.
They are missing because men are given medical priortity over them.
They are missing through underepresentation in the media.
They are missing for 100 million reasons.

garterstitch100 are asking for knitters everywhere to sitandknitabit, to create 100 million stitches to represent those 100 million women. They are asking for 50,000 (6x6") blanket squares to create an enormous blanket which will be displayed as a centre piece for loop as a reminder of those 100 million women.

Guess what I'm going to be knitting next?

You can find more information on International Women's Day and the blanket project here: http://garterstitch100.posterous.com/