A need for WInter Woollies!

The month has slid from autumn to winter. Did the new Winter Woollies event last Sunday in Nanpantan. Although indoors, it was very, very cold, starting at 10 degrees and only rising to 12. I bought a couple of sock blanks from Babylonglegs' bargain basket. So pleased with them, I emialed to ask for more, which were even better colourwise, and are going to keep my busy onf the sock machine. Otherwise, gearing up for the major event of my year, Sutton Bonington Christmas Farmers Market. Goin to try for acouple of bargain boxes myself, although it may end up looking like a jumble sale. Just wish all the odds and sods knitted over the years would actually sell.

My cup of (F&M) tea

Our French twinning friend Dominque came to London this week, with latest feller and one grand-daughter each. We met up in St Pancras, with himself in a wheelchair - first time via train, and excellent customer service from East Midlands train staff. It was a beautiul day, the last good day of autumn. Lunch in the Betjeman Arms, then a walk round the new area of Kings Cross (via Platfrom 9 3/4 for the girls, Harry Potter fans). The 1,080 fountain jets fascinated us all. On then to a brand new Waitrose in the old Goods Yard, a beautiful blend of old and new. Back into Fortnum & Mason's in St P for Afternoon Tea. Ooh lal la! During this I gave the girls (11 and 13) a pair of my CSM handwarmers each, which were an instant success, and amusem Clander for the grown-ups. We had jsut finished tea when John, Chi'e and Erika jioned us. As usual, Erika was the star of the party and charmed the pants off everyone in three languages. We "reapired" to the Champagne Bar on the platform for another cosy hour discussing and drinking English "champagne" - evidently they have smaller bubbles - who knew? All in all, A Grand Day Out.

Thirty years on

30 years ago Keith and I had our first date. What a lot of water has flown under the bridge since then. Celebrated by spening the morning in the dentist as he has broken his top plate ...... Knitting goes apace. Have just designed tea cosies after a museum volunteer said there was a gap in the shop. Pricing remains a huge dilemma - worked out the Shetland wool cost £4.60 for the 36 grams it took. One hour's labour at £6.50, inclulding crocheting round the openings, washing and fulling. Designing and printing labels, etc. Asked half a dozen people at the musem on Saturday what they would pay - it varied from £4 to £12, so going to try them initially at £10. The other tea cosy there, in material with a couple of scaprs of triangels and buttons on it to represent birds, is on for £18.

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!