Finally....

...winter has come and gone and, at long last spring has appeared!

 And with the change of seasons I have finally finished a project...

 Pattern: Whippoorwill by Carina Spencer

Yarn: My hand-dyed (Skein) Frog and Toad Sock, colourways used 'Knight' and 'Beach Shack'

Needle Size: 4mm/US6

This pattern was love at first sight. I loved the wavy eyelet section and the combination of two contrasting colours, plus I really liked the shawls crescent shape.  The project itself was very enjoyable, quick and easy..I cant say enough good things! 

Also, I have a new project on my needles...

 

...Cecily Glowik MacDonald new pattern Candelia,  a top down, in the round cardigan with pockets, sure to be  a great new addition to my spring/summer wardrobe.  I decided to road test my Merino/Cashmere yarn for this project, which is knitting up wonderfully.

So finally, after such a long time away from the blog, I hope that you are all well and are enjoying the long awaited spring sunshine or admiring the beautiful colours of Autumn. 

Another Obsession

I finally did it, I bought a spinning wheel!

After nearly having a nervous breakdown trying to assemble it, I finally sat down and attempted to spin some Corriedale fibre with the help of Judith MacKenzie McCuin's book (Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning), and YouTube (such a great resource!).

And this is what I have so far...

...yes its a big mess, but it is so much fun, oddly very relaxing and like knitting its has become a daily activity which I very much look forward to.

Shop Update

Just a quick shop update....

...spinning fiber now available!

I've been having a wonderful time hand-painting BFL, Corriedale, Falkland and Superwash Merino which is now available over on etsy, more colours will be added over the next week.

Have a great weekend!

Wow what a busy week! So busy I haven't laid a finger on my knitting, I have however been busy dying up yarn which I LOVE to do...

...and browsing Etsy...


Hit the North Belted Top by Fink


Handmade Vegan Ballet Flats in Pink Satin and Hemp by The Generation


Silver Locket Necklace - Enchanted Golden Owl by The Enchanted Locket


Made to Order - 6oz Tea Cup Knitty by Circa Ceramics


...and trying to stay warm!



Have a great weekend.

Buttons found!

Have a great weekend.

Honey

A few days ago I cast on for the Honey Cardigan by Veera Välimäki (Ravelry link)


I'm using Cascade Venezia Worsted, so lovely and soft! Its only taken a few days and I have already finished the cabled yolk

I love the cables.

Now to find some buttons...

FO: Equinox

Pattern: Equinox Raglan by Debbie O'Neill
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, Colourway 279
Needle Size: 4.5mm

Simple knit, beautiful yarn...

...very happy!

A Fine Weekend

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Etsy Yarn Store

My Etsy store is now open!

Come and have a look and let me know what you think.

Quilts, Scooters, Spots and Stripes

This week I have been overtaken by the quilting bug. This all began when I stumbled upon the lovely book 'Material Obsession' whilst browsing the local book store. I have a fabric stash, and I love fabrics, so its strange that its taken me this long to finally delve into the world of quilting. Anyhow, I have decided to make a very simple quilt from the book, which is made by sewing together small fabric squares, all the same size, using some fabric from my stash as well as some fabric which I bought especially for this quilt.

While browsing the wonderful online fabric store Duckcloth for my quilt fabric, I came across this funky fabric with scooters, stripes and spots, which I'm hoping to make into a couple of cushion covers....I think I know who will also be enjoying these cushions.

Otherwise I have cast on for the Equinox Raglan (Ravelry link) by Debbie O'Neill.


As soon as the Noro yarn arrived I just HAD to cast on straight away. I get immense pleasure watching this yarn knit up into stripes of such wonderfully rich colours, Im enjoying this so much that I cant put it down, so I should have it finished in no time at all.

Happy Easter!

FO: Clair Bennet

Pattern: Clair Bennet (rav. link) by Ariane Caron-Lacoste
Yarn: Jo Sharp Silk Road Aran Tweed- Colourway Jewel
Needle Size: 4.5mm/US 7
Notions: Two 1940's vintage buttons from The Button Bower
Alterations: 1) The cardigan body was knitted in one piece up to the underarms, then
each piece was finished separately.
2) I didn't need to pick up as many stitches on the button bands.
3) The sleeves were grafted onto the body rather than sewn on.

I originally made this cardigan because I really liked the long ribbed neck, which I thought would be great in winter, but once the cadigan was finished I found that it also looked good with the neck turned down which is perfect for the cool but not yet cold autumn weather.


I also love any pattern that incorporates large buttons!

In the Kitchen

I seem to mainly post about knitting, so I thought this week I would talk about another interest of mine, cooking. I really only became interested in cooking a few years ago, before that I found cooking to be such a chore, I'm not sure what changed my opinion but I think it had a lot to do with a) my love of gardening and realising the importance of eating seasonally and b) my discovery of travel cookbooks.


I love food with a lot of flavour and I love cooking with spices and fresh herbs, I will never forget going to visit the Egyptian Spice Bazaar in Istanbul, ahhhh the smell was just heavenly all those wonderful spices! However I have found a much smaller substitute, the Fiji market in Newtown (see He Needs Food blog for great photos and write up on the market and all things culinary), smaller yes, but they have a HUGE selection of spices, just about every spice under the sun! I assure you that's no exaggeration.

So this weekend I cooked sweet-sour lamb yahni with black-eyed peas and almonds, a recipe from Greg Maloufs cookbook Turquoise. The recipe called for sour cherries, which I couldn't find anywhere, so I substituted them for cranberries (frozen cranberries) which just looked so good I had to take a photo, and in the end worked really well as a sour cherry substitute.

On the menu tonight...mushroom risotto with a garden salad and dry white wine!