More socks!

Another pair of socks completed and modelled by their recipient - my mother-in-law! The socks are made in Opal Rainforest 4 cassandra - it is available from Modern Knitting.

Look what I've got...

Yes, the deluxe set of Knit Pro symfonie interchangeable needles! Very exciting. I can't wait to use them on the felted bag project. They're so smooth and luxurious to touch, I'm sure knitting with them will be an absolute dream!!!

I do, however, need to finish my daughter's tank top first (so nearly there), but I'm chomping at the bit to get some yarn around these lovelies!

I've also ordered yet another project, I know, I know, involving a rather large pair of needles. It's a jacket using Rowan cotton glace and is a cross between knitting and crochet called broomstick lace. The jacket is quite fitted and apparently knits up fairly quickly.

Looking forward to knit 'n' natter tomorrow. Let's hope my 3 yr old allows some knitting this time..

Completed Socks!

Socks for Mother's Day!

Purchases from last weekend

I was away in Mid-Wales last weekend, staying near Newtown - just 18 miles from one of my favourite online wool shops! I dragged my husband and 3 year old daughter cross country in order to visit First 4 Yarns in the flesh. The shop has a great range of more unusual yarns as well as the Rowan and Debbie Bliss lines. We had a fantastic welcome - I had free range to browse the shelves while my husband and daughter had tea and CBeebies in the back room on comfy sofas. I made several purchases (transactions made in whispers so husband couldn't hear!) including some lovely Opal sock yarn and Peaches & Creme yarn in two shades - it's time to start knitting the dishcloths!

Cancelled knitting night out!

Unfortunately tonight's knitting get together has been cancelled. This is due to several factors including, ill children, unwell mums and an identity theft!!!

We will try to arrange another one, hopefully in two weeks time.

Will try and knit something tonight, let's see...

Knitting night out

Went to knit and natter yesterday, did lots of nattering, but no knitting - not even a stitch! My three year old had other ideas, again.

Still waiting for the sock wool and the wool for the felted bag project to arrive. It's probably a good thing that it hasn't got here yet as it's giving me a chance to finish a top for my 10 year old daughter. It's called 'Little Scout' from the Sublime children's double knitting book. I'm using the 'extra fine merino wool dk' in shade 007, which my daughter chose. I'll take a picture of it when it's finished.

I'm looking forward to our knitting evening in the pub tonight. It should be good fun. I bet we get loads done - no distractions (husband, kids, TV etc.)!

You're my wonderwool...

Just a quick post to draw your attention to Wonderwool Wales. This is an annual festival held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, celebrating Welsh wool and natural fibres. The dates for this year are the 25th and 26th of April. I am very excited about a road trip along the windy roads of Mid-Wales to this wool fest!

Work in progress

I have just returned from a lovely weekend in Mid-Wales and am steadily working through the heap of laundry we have managed to generate! My knitting sits abandoned on the kitchen sofa and am itching to get back to it! The work in progress is a pair of socks for Mother's day - knitted in Schoppel Wolle Intarsia shade 1746. I have completed one sock and am frantically working on the second! This pair is intended for my mother - I still need to start and finish a another pair for my mother-in-law. There is nothing like self-induced pressure!

Sock Wool...

I have now gone and ordered wool to make socks! As if I didn't have enough on the go already!!! I did, however, manage to finish the cardi and hat for my nephew, but forgot to take a photo before I gave it! Oh well, I'll have to find something else to take a picture of.

My South African mother-in-law told me something rather amusing. Apparently part of the Xhosa tribe, known as 'the amaPondo' are into knitting, especially the men!!! They probably need to knit as they come from a pretty cold (in winter, anyway) part of the Eastern Cape. She tells the story of a burly cane cutter who used to knit every evening after work! Funny, and many still think of knitting as a 'granny's' hobby. Two of my non-knitting friends fell about laughing when I told them of our plans to create a knitting group and blog! I'll see if I can convert them.....

Finished cardigan

I've managed to complete one of my projects today - hooray! Well, almost, I just need to buy and sew on 4 buttons. It's a cardigan for my 4 week old nephew. Photo to follow. Now for the matching hat...

Knitting Night....

We're having a knitting 'get together' in the Uplands Tavern, Swansea, on Weds 18th March at 7pm. I'm sure the booze will help get the tongues wagging and the pattern ideas flowing!!! If there are any knitters in Swansea out there please join us, you'll be very welcome. We won't be hard to spot, there'll be needles and balls of wool everywhere!! Oh and wine, beer, gin etc.

Funky Knitting Needles

One of the things about knitting that gives me pleasure is in the materials and equipment I use. I can spend hours looking and choosing beautiful yarns ...and hours buying it as well! When it comes to the knitting needles I only use wooden needles. The majority of my needles are bamboo, but recently I have developd a bit of a obsession as far as funky knitting needles go! My collection at present includes Art Viva needles with beautiful dotty tops, made from Tasmanian Oak and some gorgeous butterfly topped Serendipity needles. All I need to do now is slap on the handcream and start knitting some new projects - after I've finished my socks...and my hot-water bottle cover...and my nephew's blanket...and...and...why do I always have so many projects on the go at once!!! Rhian xxx

New project!

I'm very excited! Have just ordered wool to make a felted bag. It's Crystal Palace yarn, and, apparently, felts easily. I've never felted anything before, well, not intentionally anyway, so we'll see. I've never knitted a bag before either, so this really could be an imminent disaster! Let's hope not!!! I must just remember to keep the excitement at bay and read the pattern properly first...

First post on the new site!

Well, here we are at last, a blog of our own. It's still work in progress and some things may change over the next few days/weeks!

We set up our first knitting group today. What a laugh! Managed to swap some ideas and thoughts and show off our knitting. My unruly toddler had other ideas though and I only managed to knit 3 rows in an hour and a half!!!

I've currently got 4 projects on the go, and another 2 waiting on the sideline! Unfortunately, one project has been gathering dust for so long I've completely forgotten where I am, hmmm...

Happy knitting everyone.

Lisa.