Knitted throw - a progress report.

I have been knitting furiously in 'spare' moments but I am still a little under half way there.

You may remember from an earlier post, that I am intending to use up supplies of blue, grey, yellow and white yarns from my stash. I am  knitting the squares in the traditional way for a throw - diagonally increasing one stitch at the beginning of each row, to a total of 50 stitches, using garter stitch. After one straight row I than decrease one stitch at the beginning of each row back to one stitch. I am using 'double knitting thickness' and this is giving me squares of just over 7 inches. I shall need a total of 100 squares and will then adjust the size by the addition of a border.

Once I had completed a dozen or so squares I tried laying them out in a random pattern to see the effect. It is actually quite hard to achieve a random placement in which squares of the same colour, or similar depths of colour do not cluster together in areas which appear to have their own unintentional pattern. After trying for a while I gave up and found some squared paper. I have sketched out a plan, by 'colour group'. I shall still have to pay attention to depth of colour when sewing the squares together. According to my plan I shall need 9 white squares (now completed), 9 yellow/cream squares (also completed), 16 striped squares (two completed) and 66 blue/grey squares (27 completed). I make this a further 53 to go - nearly half way.

The kitchen scales have taken up residence next to my knitting basket. Since many of the yarns are part balls I am checking that there is enough ( about 18 g) to finish a square before starting. A quick check showed me that I would need a further 3 100g balls ( and possibly something for the border) to finish the throw. The yarn I am using is of mixed quality - much of it acrylic. this would not normally be my choice, but many of the part balls were left over from knitting for my son when he was little and he didn't like the feel of pure wool. It has meant a very inexpensive project and, since it will cover the spare bed and will hopefully look pretty, without getting much wear, I am hoping that the yarn will not lead to too much stretching or pilling. Most of the yarn I already had - the three new balls were purchased at our market for a total of £4.47! I have plans for embellishing the final throw and I am hoping that all the materials required for this will already be in my stash.

The collection of squares so far -

Bargain Bundles

 ......... and this one was definitely intended for me!!

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When I was growing up, fabrics and yarns could be obtained from numerous places. There were several local, high street shops; thriving market stalls in three local towns and mail order suppliers who advertised in various magazines. 

My mother's sister was a keen knitter and bought much of her yarn from a couple of mail order companies. In those pre-internet days, the first step was to buy a shade card against which to make choices and place orders. Yarns were very keenly priced but she ordered exactly what she wanted - any element of surprise would have been most unwelcome!

My mother favoured 'bargain bundles' - a 'by-weight' package of specified quality and type - colour and other characteristics being a complete surprise. I can remember the excitement of tipping these packages out on the dining table for inspection. I still have the left-overs of some of them in my stash all these years later - some large felt pieces, a narrow lace bundle, a mixed trimmings (inlcuding broderie anglaise), and a mixed denims bundle. The latter was the only time that I remember the inspection process resulting in disappointment. Dungarees were in fashion and my mother was determined to make me some. There were some small pieces of lovely blue and white striped denim (I still have one piece!) and some solid blue, but there was only one piece which was large enough for her purpose. Unfortunately for me, lilac was neither flattering or fashionable!!

As I started to enjoy crafts I caught the bargain bug. Laura Ashley shops ( I bought from Chester, and also from Guildford - when I lived there after university) sold mixed bags of printed dress cotton off-cuts for patchwork. The bags were densely packed and, although clear cellophane, it was only possible to see the outer layer, the rest remaining a lovely surprise. I bought many of these bags, and made several items - I still have many of the fabric pieces - now considered vintage and thus more attractive than they were when new. 

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I recently happened across Etsy shop - WorldofWoolShop. They have mixed bundles described as follows:

Basically this is top waste. It consists of dyed tops, dyed fleeces, natural tops, end of runs on the blending machines. Brilliant for felting, needle felting and spinning. This is perfect for beginners. PLEASE NOTE: This is waste, so every delivery will be different and could also contain blends and synthetic fibres.     


Wonderful! A bargain, a surprise and I love the idea of creating something from waste or left over materials. I thought I had better wait until we returned from our week end away before placing the order. It came this morning

Now this is a completely random bundle - they couldn't have known the designs which I currently produce, and yet, on sorting the bundle I found that I had:

 - meadow grass

 very suitable for my meadow designs such as this pincushion

- lovely sunset colours (there was also some bright yellow for the setting sun)

suitable for use in my sunset designs such as this bookmark

- and lovely 'moorland colours'

of the variety that I use to produce my moorland design - as shown in this brooch

Our visit to Bodnant Garden at the week end, has prompted me to reconsider a design idea which first occurred to me several years ago when visiting the gardens of Haddon Hall in Derbyshire. More about this in later posts. It will be necessary to have fibers suitable for felting a 'stonewall' and I looked through my collection only yesterday and realised that I did not have very much that was suitable. Just look what came in today's bundle:

That new design is obviously meant to be!!!

In case you are wondering the fibres have been pictured on the recently-swept conservatory floor where there is good light quality (a 'spillage-free' zone - unlike the kitchen floor onto which I would not tip a fibre bundle - just in case!). As pointed out in the sales description, the bundle does contain non-wool fibres. I am sure there is a 'correct way' to identify one from the other - I find the 'sniff' test to be very effective - sheep have a way of 'naturally labeling' their fleece which persists through all the various processes - at least well enough for a discerning nose to pick up! Everything sent appears suitable for felting - particularly when blended with existing stocks and I'm anxious to get started!

Craft Room Storage

There are several reasons for making items for my home. A genuine wish to recycle to reduce waste, a wish to have something which looks good (to me at least) in its place and economy are among these reasons. I suppose all three apply to my efforts to improve a collection of shoe boxes by covering them with wrapping paper. Many of the boxes had been in use for some years - storing tapestry wools etc, They had displayed their original brands and contents until last week. They are sturdy, fit neatly on the shelves, amidst books and other storage tins and boxes, and were free. The paper was inexpensive and I had several part rolls of double-sided adhesive tape. So here are two of them:

Here they are with the others on their shelves ( I'm not happy enough with the rest of the room to show you just how small the space is yet!)

The only problem I now have is remembering what is stored in each - I just used to reach for 'last winter's boots' etc!

Bodnant - Beautiful Blocks of Colour

I have spent several weeks having a clear-out and planning 'home improvements' however small they may turn out to be! The process is by no means finished, although the conservatory and my craft room (AKA our spare, and smallest, bedroom) are now tidy and free of un-wanted stuff. Both need decorating but will have to wait until the rest of the house is similarly sorted through and then they can take their place in the 'schedule of works' - yet to be drawn up. In the meantime, I shall continue with several craft projects aimed at low cost ( in materials at least) injections of practicality and personality ( some may say a new generation of clutter - but I shall keep them to a minimum) into these two rooms at least. 

A much needed weekend break gave us the opportunity to visit Bodnant Gardens. The peculiarly cold spring has upset the flowering times for many of our gardens. This may have been in our favour, since the azaleas and rhododendrons were still in full flower and gave exactly the views I had hoped to see. I have yet to edit the majority of the (150 - thank goodness for digital photography) photos which we collected. 

Just to get started I thought I would show you a few blocks of beautiful colour and texture - panoramic views of the gardens to follow in a later post.

Beautiful inspiration for stitching!

A Basket's Tales

A short trilogy.

Part 1
We know the chap who made this basket. We most frequently see him in the company of other folk musicians at 'gatherings' hosted by my husband's cousin and partner in their beautiful old farmhouse. Just the right size for a small project, I bought this from Ted at a craft fair at Ellesmere.

Part 2
The basket is pictured on the desk top in our smallest bedroom - AKA my craft room. More about this in future posts. Suffice it to say that this desk has not been fit to show you for some while having disappeared under a miscellaneous heap of (mainly craft-related) stuff. Unable to use my work space, my activities have gradually colonised the entire house. Its a situation which I had allowed myself to accept - telling myself that I am too busy to take a break in making in order to improve things.

I am always envious of the work-space photos posted on other blogs. Some re-purposing furniture and storage, others modern and efficient, with many times the floor area which I have, and wonderful work stations. My allocated space may be small, but the light is good, the view is great and it was fitted out many years ago, by a local joiner, in order to get best use of a small space (which still has to fulfill the purpose of a spare room!). I just needed to 'see it' with fresh eyes, realise I was wasting a lovely opportunity, find time and Get ORGANISED!

Most of the space is not yet fit to show you, but the desk is usable so I feel I'm getting somewhere. The basket looks quite at home here.

Part 3
My stash of yarns has been distributed about the house - much of it in 'laundry' baskets in the conservatory, but other bundles in under-bed drawers, in top-of-the-wardrobe cupboards - intended for out-of-season clothes storage...... I think I have been a little afraid to admit, even to myself, how much I have. I have spent three days gathering it together and sorting it for more efficient storage. Recent purchases have been mostly natural fibers - wool, cotton, some linen, some silk blends, alpaca..... Some of it is from known brands, other hanks are hand-spun and/or hand-dyed and bought from fellow craft workers. Some has been bought as souvenirs from recent trips. When my children were young they didn't like the feel of wool or thought they didn't! The odd balls I have from that time are mostly mass-produced and synthetic fibers.

As with many 'improvements' we are coping with a period of increased chaos whilst I reallocate storage and try to discipline myself into 'clearing out' any unwanted items/supplies - clearly no such items exist but I have to reassure the rest of the family that I am serious about trying to find some! I have invested in many ( I would be embarrassed to admit how many) vacuum storage bags and yarn has been sorted into categories - suitable for wet felting, 'multi-coloured' and suitable for brooch backgrounds and other 'embellisher felt' projects, one or two (possibly 5 or 6 ish) bundles bought for garments for me ( I'll find time one day!), fancy (eyelash etc) yarn and then 'all the rest'. This last category is mainly of a lesser quality but too good to throw away. Almost all of this has now been stored in the 'magically shrinking' bags. It now all fits in the various laundry baskets - and the lids close!!

I have kept out three collections. The first is a mixture of odd balls, of 'double knit' thickness, of my 'lesser quality' yarn, in shades of blue, grey, yellow and white. I am knitting squares which will form a throw for the 'craft room' bed. Ted's basket holds a small selection of the yarn, and the squares knitted so far. I am part way through the tenth - I expect at least 10 x 10 so at least another 90 to go. More about the remaining two 'collections' in future posts. Here is the 'throw' so far:

In Conclusion
Once I have accepted that change is necessary and possible it will happen and, as improvements begin, the 'buzz' is great and enthusiasm grows. Time for me to move the basket from the desk and get on with some felting!

Ludlow - Part 2

The trouble with a downhill stroll on the outward journey is that it turns into a little of an uphill slog on the way back - I'm not very fit at present and we had been walking for about three hours by the time we  decided it was time to cook tea.

Ludlow was a walled and gated city - strategically built on the top of a hill as the first photo in the last post shows. This house was, according to its plaque, a gatehouse:

set into the town walls:

The river is beautiful - it would once have been a center of activity, with mills and tanneries. Some of the old mill buildings survive. The light was failing us at this point, but the following give you some idea:

If I had to describe Ludlow to someone from my part of North Wales, I would say, in size and feel, it reminds me of a combination of Whitchurch, Oswestry and Ellesmere - local, small, Shropshire market towns which I love; combined with something of Chester (on a smaller scale) - particularly near the river. Setting aside Chester's prominent Roman remains, the black and white facades, the weir - almost beneath a main crossing point, and the resident ducks and swans all felt familiar. This particular duck was absolutely beautiful. I have no idea what he is. He was perfectly visible to the eye, but the failing light has caused him to blend into the river a little too much! I'll have a go at showing you anyway - please let me know if you can identify him:

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I have been stitching a series of felted and embroidered bookmarks - each one is unique in composition and the flowers grow organically out of the felting.

This one - a felted panel with ribbon tails, was listed, and sold, yesterday:

This has just been listed in Lynwoodcrafts' Folksy shop - a larger felted and embroidered panel:

Ludlow

A lovely week-end in Shropshire with good food and lovely views.

Our daughter had embarked on a practice expedition for her Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award on and around the Long Mynd. Not wanting to stay at home, whilst required to be responsibly available to retrieve her in the event of an unexpectedly early finish, we decided to find a campsite fairly close and settled on a new one in Ludlow. She left with a friend at about 6.30 am. We left 'a little later' and called at the Ludlow Food Center on our way to the site.

A quick lunch, grab walking boots and very warm clothing - it was a very pretty but very cold autumn day, and we set off to walk into the town. We spotted this photo opportunity on the way in, but were anxious to catch the market before stalls started to close so this was taken on the way back. I've shown you now since it gives a good flavour of Ludlow for those of you not familiar with the town.

Ludlow is renowned for good food and lovely architecture. We treated ourselves to some venison steaks at the Food Center, we had brought fresh veg and some garden produce with us and were anxious to see what else we could find in the town.

The following are dreadful photos from a technical and composition point of view, but they do show you something more of Ludlow:

One of the main reasons why I like our little motorhome so much is that our kitchen travels with us. I follow a wheat and gluten free diet, but like to shop locally and try local specialities when I can. The ability to cook with suitable flour etc to hand puts the finishing touches to a holiday for me - the only downside is the washing up which also accompanies me on holiday!

We had brought leeks, onions, baby potatoes, green beans and sugarsnap peas from home. Venison and some lovely plump chestnuts had been added at the Food Center. We found a punnet of lovely juicy redcurrants and some mushrooms at the farmers indoor market. The steaks were pan-fried and mushrooms, redcurrants, a good splash of red wine, a little tomato puree and the chestnuts were added - wonderful!

Other market stalls had yielded two local cheeses and some gluten free, hand-made pork and apple sausages for the following day. We need to do plenty of walking during our weekends to balance the amount of eating which we do!!

I must confess that, in the midst of all these culinary delights, the first shop which leapt out at me from the top of the street was the local wool shop.

The lovely background wool for this brooch was too pretty to leave behind!