Finished project

Yes, this is finally finished. I actually knit it last year and even did the sewing...but then I took my time getting the ends sewed up. The yarn is great, but since it is like a tube of cotton, just weaving the ends in wasn't enough. I used sewing thread to sew up the ends and that work great. It is a bit tight, but I'm losing weight (I hope) so it should fit better soon.

Kiki Mariko rug

I'm having a great time working on this rug...rug you say...it looks like you are doing it in the round....well I AM. How cool is that. The pattern is from "Mason-Dixon Knitting: Outside the Lines". I've had this book for awhile and I love the Fair Isle patterns. So, when my friend Kate and I went to a Fair Isle workshop I figured it was about time. Plus, the place we went (Get Knitted in Bristol) had the yarn it called for so I thought it was a sign. The workshop was great and I'm so proud...I CAN KNIT WITH BOTH HANDS!!! I never though I would master English/American knitting...but I can now and it has made this rug so much fun to knit....oh and the knitting in the round. Well it is much easier to knit the stitches with two hands then purl, so doing it in the round you don't have to...but you do have to cut your work apart. AAAHHH...I figured that since this project is to be felt first it should make it a bit safer!

I like the colors, though I was really limited to what they had. I think my color sense is getting better!

Wednesday is craft day!

I'm very happy with myself today. I actually crafted! I saw some work by some ladies where they took bluejeans and cut them up and made material out of it. I liked the idea, because I've been wanting to recycle and jeans can look a bit....well....naff in some projects. I've been wanting to make a bag that I could carry my embroidery around with me. I had a freebie that worked really well, but I needed to replace it. So here is what I've been doing. All material is from the same pair of jeans, just one side. I wanted the checkerboard effect more then the stripe, but though both sides don't have to look the same! I've zigzaged around the outside and then used a thiner zigzag on the horizontal lines. I don't want it to be perfect and so I've left the vertical so it can fray. My idea now is to use a fabric for the top and use another piece of jean to sew the bottom together. I want it to have a bit of a box like bottom to it. My scary part will be the zipper, but I found a good tutorial I've been saving here.

So Hurray for Crafting Wednesday!!!!!

Snow 2009

How cool is this??? Was so surprised when Rich said there was lots of snow on Monday morning. Just walked out and was amazed by how beautiful it was....of course I'm bored of it now! Now that I've had to walk to the train station in it!

Right....it is about time I get on the stick....

I'm starting to sort myself out. Since I'm feeling so much better, the house is getting a bit on my wick....but we are getting there. I can't believe that I've lived in this house for so long with out redecorating more then just the bathroom!!! And that took about 4 years......

I'm going to try and get back to crafting again. I've actually went through my room and cleaned it out, I was so impressed by how little time it actually took. I got rid of just a few things. Now I'm starting to think of how I'm going to arrange the room when I move it to the big room...so watch this space. Wednesdays are the days. I've had a lot of stupid appointments on Wednesdays and with the boiler not working...seemed like I never stayed home long enough to actually craft.

I have been knitting like crazy for Christmas, but no pics....

Few things to tell you about though.....


Met this Layla in Much Wenlock and fell in love with her stuff. We hit to off and I can't wait to work with her a bit. I bought the above print for one of my nephews. They are so lovely.

Well, off to try and get some more embroidery done!

World unraveled.....

This is awesome...you must see it......

Franklin Habit

Last night was the best. Went to London and had a bit of shopping and then to I Knit London tot to meet Franklin and Tom and have my book signed. It was wonderful. Here is a pic taken by the guys at I Knit to prove it....

It is a small world as always, turns out Tom has family that live around Mattoon where my Grandfather has owned a cabin on the lake there for ages. So it was really good for me to get a little of Illinois for a very homesick girl!

I bought stuff of course....couldn't resist. I'm going to make this hat for one of my sis's....(scan down a bit and see the red hat.) I also bought some orange yarn to make me some gloves. We saw some really nice ones at Liberty's....but I just couldn't buy them when I can make them......especially at that price!!!!

Sorry no real pictures. I'm going to get myself a more compact camera so that I can actually carry it around with me more.