Old meets New

Last weekend whislt down at my parents’, we got a phonecall from my grandmother requesting some lace-weight yarn to knit some baby shawls. 2 things: She hasn’t knitted for years due to ill health and there are no babies on the family horizon.  Trawled through the britishyarns website and bookmarked a load of favourites for later perusal! Mum went and dug out one of the shawls that she’s had for over 30 years. When we were photographing other knitting stuff, we took some of the shawl; here they are

The photo evidence

before

after

in anticipation

looks like it might all be happening tomorrow. I donated the £15 this morning, despite my plans to pay a barber the first time…

Christmas, charity, hair, your opinion

I’ve been leaving my hair to be in need of a cut for a few weeks now, as I wanted it cut at the end of next week, ready for all things christmas. Last time I had my haircut, it wasn’t my regular cutter and she didn’t do a good job at all. So, I phoned up at the beginning of the week to guarantee an appointment only to find out that my hairdresser had left! York’s hairdresser’s are pretty inaccessible. I phoned one that looked promising, but apropos their telephone manner, was not suitable due to steps in the salon. I refuse to spend more than £20 a haircut as I have it cut every 5 weeks-it needs it when it’s short. I’m not sure that the hairdressing college is open, but if it is that does remain an option.

The other option is to shave my hair-grade 2 ish. I’ve done it before, when i was too ill to leave the house to get my hair cut, but my long lout hair was driving me nuts… It didn’t suit me particularly well, as my black bags under my eyes took over-plus I was about 1.5stone heavier then.

I then read yarnharlot’s recent entry where she mentions Knitters Without Borders (MSF fundraising) and I thought, I could donate my £15 I would’ve spent on having my hair cut, when I shave it off instead (mum has clippers, so  I really would be saving that money). I then wondered if other’s would donate too. I know my hair is short anyway, but… well anyway, your poll vote would be of interest to me. I’m a bit nervous of the chop, but may be swayed. Please be honest with your answers tho’ (karma is watching lol)

*EDIT: wondering if others would donate if I were to shave my hair off…

		

a brief comment would also be appreciated  

Shews cobwebs away…

Well, no idea if anyone still has this on an RSS feed or randomly still comes along… my absence has largely been due to lack of creativity. I was preparing and doing uni, until I realised that that was all I was doing. Literally uni, bed, study, bed and my health was worsening beyond that! SOOOO I’ve quit uni and am aiming to be back to knitting and occasional baking. AND back to buying gorgeous new boots. if those don’t make me feel funky again, i’m not sure much will!! Went into town specifically to try them on and luckily they fit-I kept them on-putting my trainers in my bag was easier than lugging around the boots in their box-some rather dishy guys paying before me seemed to agree! Got a free makeup case with them too-bonus. I resisted smart shiny shoes-once a year is a high cost per wear ratio. Right now though I should go and take them and my bobble hat off and knit/sleep as I have scrummy new worsted malabrigo and chunky misti alpaca waiting

The tale of Rowan Polar

Bought for a hoodie for myself… it was going to add too much bulk to my slimmed down self though. also not 100% sure about the colour for me.

an unfinished hoodie

unfinished hoodie from front

bought extra wool and it was then a finished sweater for simon, but was a bit skimpy and bulky again!

it was then made into something of a mystery parcel for Tom.

A brown paper wrapped box

YES, another hemlock ring blanket

and a candle flame shawl for my grandmother’s 80th birthday present. It now sits on the back of her chair

Clothkits + parcels

my sister and i sat in a tree wearing clothkits jackets and hats

I thought I’d share a photo of my sister and I wearing clothkits Jackets and Hats as kids. Ysolda’s post about the company and other’s mentioning these cute jackets that had lil pockets for toy stuffed animals, made me think of some scanned pics I have on the PC. Without a sewing machine or the ability to cut straight, I am still tempted by the clothkits kits… the kids stuff is just adorable.

absence makes the heart grow fonder?

well, I was going to update with a picture of a candle flame shawl blocking that I’ve knitted out of the same wool that I used for my friends hemlock ring blanket (the stuff that started as a hoodie) but alas my camera batteries need charging.

My lace was on hold whilst on holiday (only got 1 sock knitted in 10 days away!) in pretty funky location though!

and since I’ve been back, I’ve been busy on the candle flame shawl, ready for next saturday to give to my grandmother. It’s amazing how good this wool looks for blankets.

I’d also forgotten how satisfying blocking is. Once I’ve got the space organised seeing a blob become a shapely piece of beauty is impressive. Tom, I will block your blanket on Friday (so that it can take up as much space as it wants, as we’re away until the Sunday!)

home baked bread

Sunday Simon and I escaped the noise and heat and headed for Dalby Forest. Me armed with my knitting, he armed with his mountain bike. After whiling away a mere hour or so knitting by a lake in dappled shade, we headed off to find a quiet picnic spot and this is where we spent a few hours whiling away the time:

Something else I’ve been meaning to write about for a while is Lidls sour dough bread mix. The bags are basically just flour with the sourdough mix already in it. Monday’s I dump the whole bag in a big bowl, add several handfuls of seeds/nuts and add 700ml of warm water. Stir it with a big wooden spoon until all the flour is encorporated. Cover it with a damp teatowel and leave to rise for the rest of the day.  When risen/I have the time, I empty the risen dough mix onto a well floured surface and kneed with more flour until it’s not longer sticky. Divide into two roughly 450g loaves and let rise in the tins before baking at 200 C (fan assisted) for 50 minutes. It’s like being back in Germany. Very very yummy easy bread. Yesterday it was ready in time for supper! Strawberries in balsamic vinegar vinaigrette are lovely anyway, add a mini gem lettuce and avo and some feta… We could’ve eaten it twice over.

moving on/loving it

The golf club covers I knitted for my dad went down a treat. I just need to grab the photos off him to share with you!

I finished one project of doom and now love it! It’s my second hemlock ring blanket in the yarn that was a hoodie for me and a sweater for simon first. The yarn is perfect for the end project. I need to block it, photograph it and post it off to Tom-I told him it’d be ready for summer. OOPS! The weather is gorgeous, but the need for an Alpaca blanket is not high.

I finished a pair of Opal Hundertwasser socks. They weren’t appealing on the needles, but on my feet and in my shoes, I love them.

I’ve also started my first proper lace project. As in lace pattern, in lace weight wool.

Found myself saying I’m loving it AGAIN, so I think my literary skills are failing me. Hopefully some pics next post