End of the year

Boredom leads to creativity. Since Christmas have made two pairs of gloves and one pair of mittens largely on the machine. Looking back on the year, I see I upheld my resolve not to do so many events - wasn't invited to so mamy anyway! It will be the year of the machine visits though - Leicester, Shima Seika and Swifts. What a contrast. And resolutions for 2018? Just to chug along, I suppose.

The 19th of December

Yesterday will go down as one of the highlights of 2017. I visited J Alex Swift's sock factory in Hathern. Too much to write here, but the best thing was being able to bring away three different types of Argyle socks. Handcranked on a Griswold, machine made on English Charnwood machine and Italian Sangicomo. Pix show inside and outside. Heaven.

Dear me, it's December

As I write this, I am waiting for the Big Snow. I am knitting yet another pair of top down mittens, this time with a smaller 1 over 1 twist cable. It should have been a wide cable sideways knitted cuff, but I decided there was no way I could join that on neatly. Finished up with an applied I-cord bind-off. Hmm, if I can do I-cord sideways, why can't I knit sideways? Christmas Event at Rudd last weekend was their most successful ever. Nice to be a part of it. Only knitted seven Christmas scarves with visitors, but toasted many more crumpets over the fire. On 1st December released details about Going Round in Circles in Kegworth Sock Machine Extravaganza Encounter Eighteen. Bookings already up to 22 - my break-even point is 21.37, so hurrah! Later - had about three inches of snow on the Sunday. Lasted through Monday. So made footstool cover on the machine. The bag of sock yarn leftovers is at last going down.

Galloping on

Another flurry of mittens - yet I can't wear them for driving! Green ones from freebie at London Yarn Crawl. Double cuff, embrpidered afterwards Because I thought with this style and extra needed for cuff I might run out of yarn, mused about knitting from tip down. Ridiculously easy, and so easy to mark the thumbline - shall certainly so some this way again! The cables at the wrist naturally draw it in. Red ones using the "alpaca" from Stylecraft (20% alpaca, 80% acrylic - how are they allowed to call is just Alpaca?). Used leftovers from Erika's cardi to make her puppet mitts from French pattern which just happened to be almost the same colours. I have now just abut run out of inspiration, so going back to museum handwarmers for a bit. Happy to report I have raised over £1000 for the museum this year, with handwarmer sales, teaching on CSM, the Event in March and French pattern translation for Teresa. CD Museum had craft exhibition over two weekends. I reduced gloves etc to £5 and sold four pieces. After entry fee and commission, made a mere £6 - not much money for a lot of effort, and I really thought some kinchaku bags would go. Hey ho, six of them have now been used to "wrap" Christmas presents.

A cushion for Bobbie

My dearest friend Bobbie was christened Euphemia. She switched to Bobbie aged about 20, then when she went in a Nursing Home aged 84 changed back to Effie - even she doesn’t know why! She has insipred me in the past to do tea cosies and other designs. I love her to bits. She always sits in the same chair, and asked me to adjust her back cushion the other day, so that’s when I got the idea - a cushion with both Bobbie and Effie on it. Bought cushion interior first. 16 inch square from local shop, duck feathers She used to keep ducks when she and Dick lived in France, so she will appreciate this. All sock yarn remnants, back done first, 112 sts x 160 rows to get size, yarn changed approx every 10 rows or when it ran out. Punched a card with Bobbie and Effie. had to make letters smaller than normal to fit. Turned Effie upside down. Four strips of 30 sts, sewn after. All lettering same shade of yellow/gold. I cord of 5 sts in yellow. The pile of sock yarn has gone down a bit, but need to work harder as I bought these goodies at the Nottingham Yarn Expo on Saturday:

Apples, apples, and yet more apples

Our James Grieve apple tree is not very big - I keep it to the height of the trellis, six foot, But it is prolific. When cooked, it does not "mush" down like a Bramley, but keeps some of its shape. It hardly needs any added sugar. Block after block has gone in the freezer, one pot of "compote" is in the fridge, cakes have been made (and eaten). When I France I came across a jam recipe meant for Granny Smith, works equally as well here, but next time I think I will use Calvados instead of vodka Twice as much fruit as sugar. Peeled, chopped. No water. Usual jam set test then throw in a slug of vodka. One variety of apple cake is a spnge mix, topped with sliced unpeeled fruit. Another variety is with chopped peeled fruit inside it (from old Preserves book). We like micnemeat tart that has a thick layer of apple under the mincemeat, then a lattice of pastry on top. All this is taking me away from my knitting! But have completed John's kilt hose and a cardi for Erika. Plus Donegal tweed mitts

Oh October

Today I have achieved my three score years and ten. Do I look it?

Great London Yarn Crawl

Gosh, what a day. Tired before I got to first shop- Left home about 6:45, train from EMP, one underground, one overground tube, then a bus, and into shop at 10:10. Made most welcome though, with tea and cakes. In fact three of the fours shops on the day provided this. Last one didn't even have any chairs, but bus stop right outside for getting back to Tufnell Park and a certain little girl's fifth birthday the next day. Three goody bags, very generous, plus bought Donegal tweed for some mitts, one sock yarn and some paper yarn for my labels. Plus a book I am saving for my birthday, on Dutch Ganseys - my usual favourite format of half history, half patterns. Interesting day, but not enough stamina to want to do it again. One of shops has given a £5 voucher to be used in next year, but no website so have to go in.....

Putting hose before chart

Somehow seem to have missed August! Went on fantastic family hols to Polperro, 22 of us. In the museum was pleased to see the story of Willie Sterr's jumper given some prominence. I came across this story many years ago in book on Cornish Knit Frocks by Mary Wright, and it was lovely to be reminded of it. Basically, woman knits Guernsey. Son (or perhaps grandson) loses jumper. Woman sees jumper a couple of years later, recognises the patterns on it, calls police. Asked how she knows it is that jumper, many others have similar patterns. “Because I knitted a W under one arm, an S under the other”. “What’s your chap’s name?” “Willie Steer”. Pointing at thief - “what’s his?” Making kilt hose for John, did soem measuring up in Polperro. As I am going on a short workshop in November on cables, this made me think I am perhaps putting the hose before the chart, as by then I will probably be quite sick of Aran type yarn.

Hang about

At last got round to making more coat hanger covers. The "scribble" yarn will go on for ever, I think. Also can't think what else to do with it, so flimsy on its own, would lose some of its charm if doubled up. Have used lots of material ends on kinchaku bags - not knitted, but the cords are crocheted so that's how they have worked their way into this blog. Plans for rest of year - Yarn Crawl in London, KHF in London, organise Encounter Eighteen (shh! last one top secret)

Stashbusting

The sock yarn leftovers are avalanching out of the cupboard. I am accumulating them faster than I can handknit diamonds for blankets, so it's time to get out the Knitmaster. First up, a cover for the boxy cushion of K's wheelchair. Successful measurements meant it fitted first time. Then to cover the rather nice cushion interior I bought at Dunelm, 12 ins by 20 ins. I had intended a Harris tweed (also yarn leftovers!) cover for London, but discovered it was filled with duck feathers, and veggie son might object to that, as ducks are not usually plucked until they have been disposed of for food. So sock yarn leftovers, worked short stripe fashion, and with a plain piped surround - cheat piping, five stitches worked flat, it curls naturally. The Knitmaster tends to skip a bit on slipstitch setting for tubes. SO that has used about half a bag (of four). Cannot cover the world in random patchwork, so wondering what to do next...

July - summer's here again!

Into the swing of things and had an urge to make beaded jug covers. Did a batch of six for the museum, backed with lemonade recipe. They are having a vintage fair later in the year (day after we come back from Polperro, so can't take part)

East Midlands Techology

Should have oosted this earler to record two rather intriguing visits. Earlier in the month went to Abbey Pumping Station, which is Leicester's Museum of Science and Technology. As it was a small group of Friends of Ruddington FKM, we were let in the Storage Shed. Dozens of old frames and machines jammed in there, including this rather splendid massive circular knitting machine. Only 9 days later, thanks to Google news snippets, I was at the Open Day/Private Show of Shima Seiki, which, amazingly, is here on the industrial estate in the village. The latest machines for Whole Garment Technology use slide needles now, not latch needles, so I will have to be amending my talks! I have found a website that explains bearded, latch, and slide needle: https://www.slideshare.net/jijomathewz/knitting-needles-41819204 WGT machines have four flat beds, arranged in to V's so they are actually form an X. They can knit down to one needle. The computer aided design system can scan apiece of yarn and project it into every knitted stitch and print it out - had to touch the paper to establish it wasn't actually a piece of knitting stuck on the page. I am very proud to be part of this continuous thread, from William Lee via the frame knitters, the circular knitters and beyond. Despite the b**** racetrack, the airport and the frequent road jams, I couldn't be in a better place.

Nights drawing in?

Just past the Solstice! And a week of weather that was just a tad too hot for me on a couple of day s- hottest June since 1976, they say. I remember that well, queueing up for shops in Quorn by 9am to be able to get back to cool house ASAP. Made a Jane Austen dress and shrug which came out so horribly small (and not having E to try it on) instantly cast on for another. This went well, not needed second ball of yarn so cast on for a third. Thanks to a new fabric shop opening next door to wool shop in Breedon, cold get yarn and material on same day. Material was at end of roll, so can just squeeze two dress lengths out of it. Now thinking what next project should be, especially with family holiday in Polperro coming up, followed by another trip to France.

In tune with June

Hols went well, but there were so many flies we demolished the fly swatter and had to buy another! Made the Estonian hat inside the first week. Far too big for Erika of course, but a tad too small for me and only know if I would have the courage to wear it. Went mad on the string bag front - Using base of a Tote bag pattern as it was pretty, and less solid looking, than the original "Aunt Lydia". No, I haven't got an aunt called Lydia, I think the original was using the cotton of that name. Margaret had given me two small squarish cones of red cotton, so I'm well away. It is better if both bases made first and joined. Base is 15 sts, every other round is loops of 3ch. Sts eventually increased to 120 with no spaces between, for 40 loops for sides (1 dc miss 2 ch method). Started with loops of 4ch,for two rounds, inc to 7ch on this thickish yarn. Don't think I need to go up to 9ch. UP to about 12 inches, then 4dc in every loop for four rounds, handles over a quarter, using dc foundation chain, then another round, putting trebles over handles, dc over sides.

Also made one glove in red on two needles with a two row pattern repeat. Stopped there, as needed to weigh the ball of yarn to see if I had enough for second glove (I have). The finger seams do not lie quite where I would have expected though. Cast on for a similar four needle version (in grey) which has a three row pattern. Have now ordered shorter glove needles from Woolstack, as 15cm or 20cm long ones are a blasted nuisance at finger level. Back home, after tackling the jungle that is the garden --- Amazed to see how big that one weld plant had grown, especially after unloading all my dried weld on Lesley at the Vendredi Club! Cut side shoots for drying, leaving main stem for now. Continuing Jane Austen dress top for Erika - far, far too small, will pass this to Emily I think. Investigated new fabric shop in Breedon next door to wool shop (oh, so handy!)and got just over a metre of owl fabric (roll end) so may split into two and do one for Jessica for upcoming giant family hols in Poplperro.

May be okay

The day after picking up the new car started with a sore throat, which developed into that blasted coughing virus again, and has lasted a full four weeks. Not much enthusiasm to do anything, and gearing up for the hols. With that in mind, and knowing we get a fair few flies over there, made a beaded milk jug cover and a string bag that is so small it is ridiculous! So then dug out my old pattern (original made in pink), but using stitch from cream bag for a black one. As using huge 6.5mm needles, found that just yo, k2tog creates large enough holes, rather than double yo. Also cast on two strands of Harris wool. 15 sts, moss st. Will create a cushion cover in my "make a strip then knit sideways" method. Noticed that Wilko's have some square cushions for just £1.50 - will see if I can torture one of these to make an oblong. Too many silly bits of work on the go at once, with sock yarn blankie no.3 int he background all the time, of course.

New car

Not knitted, obviously. Used for first time to take stuff to Long Eaton Machine Knitting Show. It may be the last time this show is held, it is certainly shrinking every year. Lots of interest in the sock machine, and in the new plastic Penguin kid's knitting machine. Somebody at the Co-op knnitting group had passed on a freebie from a magazine she had just bought, awful sparkly purple acrylic. Instantly tried it on the machine, came out a very stiff tube, and then decided to turn it into an owl. Stands up on its own without stuffing.

Not another hat, Granny

I came across rather a fetching Estonian Hat in Piecework, Eesti Muts. It's the shape of a bonnet, with an off-square back piece and a stand up rim. It's reminiscent of the bonnet I had as a child, for which I found the pattern. The photo of me wearing it, with cardi and shorts, on Skegness beach in the 50's, still brings back the shudders of that freezing cold, windy place. Intriguing though to compare and contrast the two patterns. "Mine" is called a Plaid Bonnet, and has turned up elsewhere as a Scottish bonnet - maybe because Patons was a Scottish firm?

Similarities and differences - Estonian shaped back panel knit first, three sides picked up and knit on. Bonnet square back panel worked last from one edge, other two sewn down after. Both have stand up frill, hemmed afterwards. Both have a short neckline and string right round neck. Grand-daughter has refused another hat, says hats itch her head. SO I ended up crocheting dresses for Sylvanian rabbits instead ...

Going Round in Circles in Kegworth, March 2017

Think I can allow myself a small pat on the back and aglow of satisfaction. Single-handedly organised a conference for 52 circular sock knitting people at local hotel. 45 in room on Saturday, 36 on Sunday, 29 at official conference dinner. Three days later still recovering from the sheer physically of it, but knew I could do it, and I did it. Organising ahead on paper a doddle, marshalling 45 people into room with heavy equipment was almost Bedlam. Made a decent profit for the museum of £200, plus 10 people visited museum or joined Friends, so with Gift Aid worth £300+ to them. And they all want to do it again next year.

February fever and Esefen Gloves

Nearly missed February! Pancake night tonight as well. I have been busy organising Circles 17. This is a gathering of circular sock machine knitters. I did small events in 2012 and 2013 at the Framework Knitters Museum., getting 20 people each time - bit of a squash. Then in 2014 my pal Jane did an event in Coventry, only 7 of us but I w=think we all learnt a lot - the excitement there was one of the brand new machines from NZ. 2015 saw a weekend event in Bristol - 28 people. We all loved it, and sat around waiting for JO to do the same thing last year. She couldn't as she was out of the country. Summer and autumn have so many other textile events a date clash would have been inevitable. So we all sat around some more until last November I thought "Sod this" and went to look at a couple of local conference hotels and sent 80 invitations out. Now, a week before the event, there are 50 people booked in. Wow! I am not sure I will be any good at crowd management on this scale! The ever faithful Margaret will be by my side. So, I was frantically knitting socks to have in a "guess the yarn" competition. The only other knitting I was doing for myself was Esefen gloves. I had bought the book A Shetlander's Fair Isle Graph Book. One page was roughed out as the palm and back of hand patterns for a glove, entitled Norwegian. I called mine Shetland Fair Isle Norwegian, SFN, or Esefen for short. Looked up the word on Google and it exists as a type of Ibuprofen! For speed, the ribs and fingers were knitted on the Knitmaster. As usual, my tension is rubbish, especially where changing from one needle to another and there being a single contrast stitch on the edges.

January

Not too far into the New Year! Organising a gathering for circular machine knitters in March. Some parts seem easy, some other parts have details which are taking far too long. Finished my Newstead Mittens. On looking at the chapel floor photo again, I see I didn't use the scrolley blue and white left edge because of fine detail. I also left out yellow lines - would have made the cuffs too long. However, added in to the general cuff pattern would make a rather nice circular yoke jumper I think. I have not other "personal" knitting on at the moment, but increasing production of socks and handwarmers for the Framework Knitters Museum and of course they roduce leftovers for the eternal bnalnkies.