Not very flaming June

Must be the coldest on record. Fed up of it. The hols were okay-ish - went up to 34 degrees one day but lower 20's most of the time. Went to the amazing simplypermaculture place near Eymet, wil go bak again next time. My flower garden doing okay, but veg not. First courgette plant just sat there and died. I know how it felt. Following my resolve never to do heels and toes on the CSM again, but detrmined tom ake some socks, I thought I would try tubes, but with rib to bring the width in, as over-wide feet were the other problem. Made a couple of ribbed tubes on the CSM, one at 5x1, one at 3x1, changing to half stocking stitch at heel level, waste yarn knit for that half row. First pair have standard afterthought heels and toes, which do not press neatly. Second pair has Danish band heel found in Nancy Bush's Folk Socks book. I looked in my own Heels booklet and found I had no mention of a band heel at all, either the German strap heel which has a gusset, or the Danish, which doesn't. The difference is that with the latter the heel turn decreases start before the chain sides are completed, so the stitch counts ends up the same. It means grafting 84 sts, but I donlt mind that. Very different.

Mayday

I fought the sock machine yesterday with some Red Heart American yarn. The machine won, I think, and I have resolved never to bother making socks again. I still like making the handwarmers, they sell well at the museum, and I will still try to find new designs for tubes but turning heels and toes - no! Tomorrow I am spinning at Calke Abbey. Weather, as usual for this event, is cold and windy. Think it will be the last year I turn out for it. The Shetland fleece I bought is having to be picked over, taking more hours than I am prepared to spend. Lots of cuchion stuffing there, very little decent wool. Forecast for France from 19th May at least looked dry and warm, if not toally sunny.

March of time

Mid-march already? Gearing up for two Lambing Days at Long Whatton. Had to buy in some fleee, and have acquired Shetalnd. Forgot how much it has to be carded, but this can be part of the demo as well. Have actually made a pair of socks on the CSM, first for several years. SOme teaching days at the msuem have been set up, and representing them at the Machine Knitting show in Long Eaton in April. Holiday booked later on - in fact planning ot go to France twice this year.

Helene enfin!

I had the great good fortune to get a last minute place on a knitting class with Helene Magnusson. After several years of correspndence over insoles, the scissors keeper and the Giant's Footstep Cushion, we met in London at last, and it was lovely. The class of seven, in Loop's basement, studied Icelandic steeks. They ony have two stitches and are finished by sewing machine. Learnt SO much more than this in the three hours. How to make a swatch in the round without having all the loops at the back - you have them at the side instead by calculating how much yarn to pull out for your next row. At the end of the swatch she made us cut that left edge then try to unravel it! Proves it doesn't. Prior to this, had an excellent veggie lunch in the Gate in Islington with J, C and E. What a smashing day all round. Oh, and saw a man walking by DOlphin Square with a green parrot on his shoulder!

Shortest Day of the Year

The craft fair was pretty good again - didn't take as much as the year before, but more than two years ago. The msuem shop has now got 17 baubles, but I will fetch the residue back after Christmas. Three had sold by the Christmas Event there. All Christmas gifts now dispersed, cards posted. Just the food shopping to tackle now. There will be no surprises this Christmas, the day itself is going to be something of an anti-climax. So my mnd was looking for some inspiration to ward off the doldrums. I found it in Lithuanian or Latvian mittens - two sources, virtually identical patterns. When I went to draft one, I found I had drafted the other some 18 months ago, but apparently never knitted. This time I did it 75% on the kntting machine. The cuff was a 7 st repeat so ha to be done by hand, plus the top shaping. Made a mistake at top of second one, corrected it, but somehow got the row count wrong and it ended up a whole pattern band shorter. Did first one with hand knit thumb, second with machine knit, just to see the difference. They look good in a photo! Also pegging away at the B&W Dordgone. Had to take back six whole diamonds on sleeves as I had gone past gusset areas. PLus unravel half of four more diamonds to get the slits in. This means about 8 hours more work. Also spent a day spinning plain white for next band. Determined to finish it before doign any more handknitting, but don't think it will be done by the end of the year.

A lot happenig in November

Annual Knitting History Forum in London. Always something to linger in the mind afterwards - this time it was the Visible Mending Programme by Tom of Holland (and amusement at Sandy not being able to pronounce his real surname!) Went early and had a mooch around Tufnell Park where the kids have bought a flat. Then on to Guildford to meet Emily and the slow train home. Following week, it was the 7th anniversary of K&cklers in the Coop. I think we mustered nine in all, plus cake. Really buzzed. Went with Margaret to Knitting Exhibition in NTU. One of exhibits by Amy Trigger Holroyd, who had been at KHF week before, and whose work links with Tom's - she cuts "found" knitting, drops ladders down, works thme back up as purls to make letters and patterns, then mends final line with a contrast colour. M found some crochet to interest her as well. Getting ready for the best event of the year for me as a seller. Sutton Bonington Famers Market, extended to a craft market in December. A captive audience of some 900 students on campus, plus staff, plus sregualr visitors. The sheepy handwarmers go down a storm, and I maek more money here than all the rest of my events a year put together. The venue is lovely, an octagonal shaped dining room with pointed ceiling - you could almost imagine it was an architectural college. The student gives us some Christmas carols, the vension man outside sells hot "reindeer" burgers. Only downside is having to re-park the car a good five minutes walk away after unloading. So I have been increasing my stock of handwarmers, still not having to buy any more Shetland this yeear - even my three shades of white lasting out (bleached, natural and oatmeal). This has been very much aided by my electronic scales, as I can now weigh accurately what is left on a cone. The yarn feeds much beetter off a cone than a wound ball, so I leave it on as far as possible. Besdies completing the rainbow of sheep, I have also made a half dozen pairs this year in small Shepherd'd Plaid pattern. I don't have to keep swapping the background colours over for this, so it is quicker, and fewer chances of mistakes or snarled up yarn. Christmas gifts are well underway as well. Lots of crocheted lavender bags, with flowers from the garden. A silly corcheted goose for Emily, baubles for all the Guildford kids, stocking for Erika from last years Shetland Heritage yarn. Pan scrubbies using left over "goose" cotton. Requested last month to make seven baubles to go with a long stocking Helen at the museum was making. Requestor, after seeing phtos, said they were not red enough, so made more, then the blighter decided she didn't want them after all. I could get very annoyed about this, but I just put tags on them all and Helen put them into museum shop stock (sold three straightaway). They were mostly machine made, I hung onto my laboriously handknit ones. Must see if I can make some on the circular machine, but I fear they will look very gathered top and bottom, liek Swedish Dumpling Dolls.

Dang, I missed October!

Well, we were a bit busy. Couple of weeks of sorting out the shed, the utility room and the kitchen. House to be re-wired, old kitchen units into utility room, brand new kitchen. What an upheaval. And the packing for the hols so we were out of the way. Came back day before my brithday - all done, but then had to move stuff the other way and clean up the plaster dust from the new ceiling which got everywhere in the house. There is still major painting to be done, which will start 1st December. Also, on the 7th, new grand-daughter, Emily. So the garden has taken a back seat. Increidbly warm here yesterday, evidently wartmest Hallowee'en since records began. Promised to be very cool next weekend. Planted some tulips in tubs, but not enough energy to sweep up the leaves.