Hello July..where was I?

Oh Heavens above!!..it seems dear little blog I have neglected you for far too long.

How can make it up to you?

I've been uber lazy watching far too much TV (including Wimbledon & parts of the World Cup). I've watched oodles of movies and also worked my way through HBO's 'Rome' & 'The Tudors' boxsets (watching all that romping caused me to drop a stitch or two, haha).

Will some photos of colourful knitting perhaps go some way towards making amends?

This is my latest project and I am considering it somewhat of an experiment. I needed to try new things and stop playing it safe with simple garter and stocking stitch projects. This is called the 'Old Shale' pattern but is known more commonly in the UK perhaps as 'feather & fan' . A while back (I'm talking at least 2 years!) I attempted a cardi in this stitch pattern and made a right old mess of it (it still lies abandoned in a bag way back in my yarn cupboard). I didn't take the time to try it out slowly and therefore quickly lost patience and interest.

I just decided to knit up scraps of acrylic in random colours but I'm starting to quite like the way it looks. 48 repeats should be suffice for a small blanket...so only 34 repeats to go.

Other knits in the last month have included a very ugly jumper in a very ugly yarn called Wendy Mosiac..ughh. My Knit Club bought 60 balls of the stuff when it was being sold very cheaply at Perth Knit Show. There was a very good reason it was cheap! Ghastly stuff. However I played my part and used up 5 balls to knit a jumper for Project Peru. I wasn't moved enough to take photos...it's no great loss..haha.

An old school friend of mine was very pleasantly surprised to find she is pregnant with not one but two babies. So, I decided to whip out my Dulaan pattern once again for two cute little twin sweaters. I used James Brett Marble DK and each one took only 90g of yarn.

Quick Check In To Blogland

Oh..hi there!

I am so behind with my blogging I don't know where to start. There is no exciting news that has kept me from you, or long-winded excuses. Just plain old laziness (and possibly a new found addiction to Mahjong on Facebook).

I'll leave you now with a little something that's kept me busy today. A favour for a friend who has just redecorated her kids room in a space theme.

Once I'd started it was quite enjoyable pottering about with paints again. Maybe this simple project will spur me to do something a bit more ambitious later on. In the meantime there is lots of knitting to be done.

I've just recently finished a new batch of Teddies For Tragedy. They are so quick to knit whilst watching movies with the Mister, but they take a bit longer to sew up and stuff. For a couple of weeks teddies 'carcases' have been lingering. Thankfully they are now done and will be sent off to orphans in Malawi soon.

Gavin says lined up they look like a teddy boy band. So I give you...'Bear-Zone'.

Okay, it's time for me to share with you what I bought at the Knit Fair in Perth. Well, to be truthful I didn't buy a lot because I am saving all my yarn purchasing kudos for when I go to Knit Camp in Stirling this August. However....

I did buy a whole kilo of James Brett Marble Chunky because despite its acrylicness its beautifully soft and smoochy and the colours are wonderful. I bought the blue colourway as it reminds me of the beach...water, sky and sandy hues.

It was a bargain at £15 too.

There is enough in this pack to knit perhaps 2 jumpers...I need to check out some simple patterns.

At the British Yarns stall I bought some wool..yes REAL wool from sheepies. It's a Shetland 4ply in 2 very nice greeny shades that remind me of tweedy jackets often worn with kilts.

I did buy 4 balls but alas I must have dropped one on the train.

I tried not to cry too much but thanked the yarn gods that it was not my 'prize' buy I lost.

Ohh so now you are perhaps wondering what that may be?

Okay..I'll share..

It's a skein of lovely, lovely Colinette Jitterbug in the brightest colourway I have ever seen. It's called 'Mardi Gras' and I feel some party socks may be required from this. Any pattern suggestions?

Of course at £9.95 it wasn't really within the days planned budget (and I have a heap of sock yarn in my stash already!) but imagine my surprise when I opened my packed lunch to find this little letter and a £10 note from my beloved.

Isn't he a star because not only did he prepare my delicous sandwiches (I was in a rush as usual)
but he funded my yarn habit. He's a keeper for sure xxx

On Saturday I attended 'Scotland's Only Knitting Show' in Perth with some members of my local knit club. We took the 45 minute train ride from Kirkcaldy to Perth then hopped on the free shuttle bus which took us up to Perth Racecourse where the event was held.

The knit fair is in it's third year, the location is great, the sellers fantastic but it hasn't really grown much since year one which is slightly disappointing. It is run by the machine knitter's guild so initially the emphasis was on machine knitting and although there are now more merchants catering for us hand knitters there seems something still lacking. I would have perhaps like to have seen more outside (it was a beautiful day albeit a teeny bit breezy) and perhaps even a bit of alfresco knitting going on. I think everyone was too busy filling their shopping bags to take a step back and just enjoy the day.

Also I forgot I had my camera with me (doh) until just before leaving..so hastily I snapped a few shots. Let me show you some of the good bits.

Some pretty handspun yarn from Ripples

Yummy Noro yarn..that I fondled.

I also met Jo Watson from British Yarns. She is also the lady responsible for organising Knit Camp 2010 taking place here in Scotland this summer.

It was really nice to met her in person as I am so excited about attending the event in Stirling this August. I've been saving all my pennies for this, hence the reason I resisted all the lovely yarn shouting my name at this fair.

I'll share with you in my next post what I DID buy and maybe the knitters amongst you can help me decide what to knit with it.

Normal service will resume shortly!!

Knitting..it still happens

I know I haven't posted about it for some time but there has been knitting going on. Granted nothing astounding but knitting all the same. The jumpers above are from a pattern on Feed The Children's charity website. I've knitted it a few times previously and its quick and easy. I knit the stripes in rows of 10 so I know at a glance exactly how many rows I've done. There's no raglan so shaping is minimal but my favourite thing about this particular pattern is the neck. You pick up stitches around the neckline ,knit 2ins of rib then double it over and sew the cast off edge inside. Its thick and stretchy with no need for buttons.


I've also knitted up another Dulaan jumper for charity. It's another speedy knit but it's really cute. Done in a nice yarn this can look really special despite it's simplicity. I use arcrylic for my charity knits..it's cheap and easier to wash.

Pictured are also 2 different baby mitt knits..handy (excuse the pun) use of odds and ends that linger in my ever growing stash.


Awaiting blocking is my third go at Mary- Heather Cogar's Simple Things Shawlette. I used some left over sock yarn..it took around 60g (of 4ply).

It's an unusal colourway..perhaps not everyones cup of tea. I like to call it 'Mint Choc Chip'

Also awaiting blocking (I find that process so tedious) is my own variation on the same shawl. I just did more of the yarn over repeats.

I used some Paton's Studio Mohair (now discontinued but still available at reduced price from MCA Direct) which I found lingering. I bought this yarn originally to knit myself a cardi which fell by the wayside.

Currently on the needles is another teacosy for a friend..share that with you when I'm done..hopefully after the weekend.

Country Air

Good thing: I have been getting out and about with the Mister, in the car.

Not So Good Thing: It leaves me too tired to keep up with my blogging.

Irony: I've actually had some kinda interesting things to blog about.

So, first of all let me tell you about my day out yesterday..there was some spontaneity which occurred mostly due to the one day heatwave we experienced. I have no idea what the temperature was but it was warm enough for the Mister to don his shorts!! You read correctly..shorts..here in Scotland..in April! He is usually such a cold blooded creature and complains incessantly of not being warm enough.

We took the short 20 minute drive North to visit my dear Mother in Auchtermuchty (what a difference having the car makes..it used to be a 3-bus trip spanning 2 and a half hours!). I think it's the first time since we got our car 'Bella' that we haven't had the heating at max. We drove along with our sunglasses on, windows open, singing along to Lady Ga-Ga (well I was..and quite badly..ha ha).

Departing dear Mama's we headed in the opposite direction from home..seeing where the road would take us. We hadn't headed far when we felt a bit peckish and saw a sign for 'Loch Leven's Larder' and deduced that 'larder' meant 'food'.

It turns out 'Loch Leven's Larder' is the loveliest farm shop I have ever seen..a real find. As we entered the car park we were greeted by this particular friendly face.

Isn't she a beauty? Her name is Marmalade but she was too busy chomping on some huge carrots to give us much time.

The farm shop had some of the loveliest produce and a great spacious cafe serving scrummy food.
I did mean to take a photo of my meal but must have been so impressed I forgot and tucked in at double quick speed (it was a very tasty panini filled with locally produced chicken and roasted peppers with a side of salad and rice..yum!).

Situated between the Lomond Hills (seen in the very top photo..still showing tiny traces of snow) and the breathtaking Loch Leven (which I hope to get closer to and spend some time at another day), it was a really pleasant place to visit on a sunny day.

Post Script: Sun didn't last long..today is mostly cloudy and decidedly chilly..ah well.