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.