Not your average garden gnome - or owl!

Gnome with a bobble hat and a full mophead of hair. Filled with out-of date-lentils. Mostly knit in the circular machine, finished off the taper of the hat by hand knitting. Although a red pompon was called for in the original pattern just did a bobble of knitting and stuffed it with a miniature ball of wool. No embroidered features, just that nose which is a piece of the face grasped with elastic band. Wonder what would happen if I left it outdoors? Here's a shaky owl. Being stuffed with out-of-date rice, he is growing fatter and fatter as it settles.

Knot a Tube

I have been wanting to make a Celtic Knot cushion for some time. Found I could stuff as you go SAYGO?) the tube on my sock machine. Made too much, so shortened it and made the simple love knot cushion as well. The latter can double as a draught excluder! I would love to be able to do a more complicate Celtic knot, and there are certainly plenty of ideas on Pinterest, but it is so difficult to calculate the length needed.

New Year - out with the old, in with a bit of "new"

Having a rigorous clear out of old magazines. Why I kept some in the first place now escapes me, couldn't find much to inspire. Saved 8 out of about 80. Spotted a nursery/nursing rocker in local antique shop. Went back a week later and bought it. Very low seat, very high back, very neat wooden rockers and perfectly balanced. It is going in my knitting room as my "thinking" chair. I had found half a cushion cover int he attic (bit more clear out from there as well), so rapidly machine knit a back to go with it for the chair,. The old rush bottomed chair that used to be there has to go out, and this might mean the tip. Pink mittens - finished. More progress on hand dyed top down chevrons jumper. Sadly, none on poncho or crochet curtain...

December - end of the year

There's a lot of things need finishing here. Pink mittens, pink poncho, leftovers jumper, endless handwarmers and socks for the museum. Time to look back and reflect on the good things this year. Brilliant event in March. four figure donation to the museum. Extra event in September, quieter, but still a contribution. Invitation to the Old Bailey on the back of my success. Knitting in public. Visiting sock factories, lecture about Smedley's archives plus small exhibition. Tour of Nottingham's historic Lace market. After teaching the rudiments of circular sock knitting to two modern day apprentices, Matt and I made a return visit to Urgo in Shepshed, who make bespoke medical hosiery for diabetics etc. I was really impressed that the order contains the customer's name at every stage, and the order number is knitted in sideways. It is finally packed by a real person, and can get back to the customer within 7 days of ordering. Even the warp knitted bandages (allegedly on a "crochet knitting machine")with 800 threads were fascinating to behold. Matt made a video and slowed it down to a speed one could actually see. No wonder they wanted the apprentices to see knitting at our speed! The Christmas event at the museum was as good as ever, and the chestnuts were back! I toasted some crumpets in the cottage with my mob cap on. I've never been 100% happy with my head gear for my Victorian costume, but had a brainwave mid-afternoon, and put my Shetland shoulder shawl over my head, securing it with a fine paintbrush grabbed from the teashop. It stayed on the rest of the day. The frameshop was candle-lit for the last couple hours, it was really wonderful. We experimented with optimum distances for candles and globes, and the amount of light that could be had was amazing.

November

Made a mini jumper with Rudolph on the front for advent calendar pockets- but you have to be told it is a reindeer. Back plain,, knit tight, front far too loose. Need to address that if making more, perhaps different size needles, Whole thing bloomin' fiddly anyway, thinking about adapting pattern to kit all in one (but top of sleeves are shaped. Sigh.) Had been using Drops Flora wool/alpaca mix for handwarmers, four pairs. Enough left over to use all four shades to make a fifth pair, which will keep because it is so soft and warm. Drops is such an economical buy. These are pair no. 546 - isn't that remarkable? Had another stocktake from the museum today, sales going really well in all areas.

It's all go in Nottingham

Did Nottingham Yarn Expo on Sunday with the trusty team of Matt and Anne. Getting the big case there on the bus is no joke, I'll swear the street up the side of Debenhams gets steeper. All in all a good show, nice and steady, talked to a lot of people, handed out even more museum leaflets. Sold five of my items and two books, and Matt sold his very first pair of socks. With some museum shawls and Santa egg cosies, took about £200, of which I think £150 goes to the museum. Sent the rest of my handwarmers and heel-less socks off to the museum to catch the Christmas trade, and now I can can a short break from thrashing around making HW and HL for a bit. Celebrating 235 years of knitwear, John Smedleys put on a lecture at the Uni. Next Monday we are off to a visit to G H Hurts Shawl Factory in Chilwell, organised by Matt. At home, finished third of second batch of "retro" fluted tea cosies, and started on gloves using scraps. So long since I did any I had forgotten parts of the pattern!

First Frost

First frost this morning, along with some fog. Brrr! Made a long Victorian style nightdress with crochet trims. The wider trim is an elongated bookmark, the narrow trim is a treble foundation cast on with the same cream edging as the wider one.