Christmas knitting

I saw this cartoon on the Lion Brand Knitting Newsletter and I thought I would share it. How is your Christmas knitting going? I have 2 scarves left to knit but as I have 2 Craft Fairs this weekend and they both are all day I should get some knitting done in between talking about my knitting. I found a new website this week "A new Stitch a Day"  Full of helpful videos and new stitches.

Knitting Tips and Tricks

Knitting Tips and Tricks I saw these tips on Knitting Daily and I thought I would share them with you.  Weave in Yarns as You Go Place the needle in the next stitch and, before wrapping it, lay the yarn tail over the working yarn. Now work the next stitch; the tail is now fastened in. Repeat this for about 1 to 2 inches making sure to carry the yarn tail loosely to avoid puckering. This technique is a real lifesaver when you're knitting a striped project. This is the correct orientation for adding new yarns. Positioning the yarns this way created a continuous length of yarn and will make your joins invisible. Joining Yarns Hold the old and new yarn together so that the tail of the old one overlaps with the tail of the new one, creating a continuous yarn. Knit with both strands for about 4 to 5 stitches. Then discontinue knitting with the old strand and continue on with the new one. On the next row, treat the two yarns as one stitch, not two. This join can be used for light- to worsted-weight yarn. Tracking Your Project Needle Size Take a very long piece of contrasting scrap yarn and tie the exact number of knots to represent the size of your knitting needle. That way, if you remove your needle for use on another project, you will always know what size needle you were working with on the unfinished project. (This is one of my favorites! I hate doing gauge swatches again just to see what needle size I used.) Tracking Your Cable Rows Tie some scrap yarn with the cast-on yarn tail when working a cable. Take the scrap yarn and flip it over the needle every four rows—it looks like a running stitch up the project. You will always know what row of the cable you're on as you only have to count four rows. Why do it every four rows? Because so many cables are based on a multiple of four rows.

Busy Week & another Fair

Another fair, this week at the Cowes Yacht Haven.  It was a fantastic place to have a fair, very spacious and there was a continuous flow of people.

As for what is on my needles at the moment.

My Mother's Scarf

Aquamarine Scarf

I started to knitting another Peridot Scarf. Also today Mum asked me to knit her another Peridot Scarf but with a wider lace part so I am thinking about that, which will make 2 Scarves.

Also several people commented on the aquamarine Scarf especially how the beads sparkle. However the one I have for sale is knitted out of silk and alpaca is £45 so I would like to knit another one but with a different yarn and hopefully slightly cheaper.

f

I love Wight Christmas Fair

Christmas Fair season has started. :-) The first one was last Sunday. This is the first time "I love Wight" has been run and it was a huge success. So good that they are hoping to run one for Mother's day, and in the Summer as well as next Christmas.

 It was a lovely sunny day and loads of people came to look at all the stalls. Here is a link to some photos taken by Sara of IOW Makers of some of the stalls.
Photos from the Fair

Unfortunately the lighting was quite poor where I was, but I still had several people interested in my items and organising a knitting workshop. 2 lovely children, helped by their dad, bought a lovely scarf for their mother's Christmas present.

Update on the Local yarn

I have finished the Beatrice shawl. I like the colour but I am not too sure about the feel. It will be interesting to see what comments I get at the Christmas Fairs I am going to to.

I have also started the Caplet. This wool is defiantly only suitable for an outer garment as it is quite harsh to touch, but I am very please with the stitch definition and I think it will make a lovely caplet. I just have to get some more balls. :-)

Local Yarn

A couple of weeks ago I was looking for Alpaca Farms on the IOW and came across Godshill Park Farm. 

Although she did not have any Alpaca yarn for sale until December she did have Pure Castlemilk moorit (sheep) wool (dark brown) and a blend of Alpaca, llama and Castlemilk moorit (caramel).  I bought some 4ply in the mixed yarn and some Double Knit in the Castlemilk moorit.  Neither of them would I describe as soft, but as an outer jumper or jacket would knit up well.

Kathy Kelly Cable Caplet by Renate Haeckler

I have nearly finished Beatrice in the mixed yarn and I have started Kathy Kelly Cable Caplet in the DK.

Beatrice by Goddess Knits

New Outlet

At Easter I was contacted by a shop in London, NICOLINA lifestyle boutique, saying that they were interested in featuring some of my shawls and scarves. At first I thought it was a hoax but after some emailing back and forth it seems it is for real.

I had to have high-resoultion photos taken of 3 shawls and 3 scarves and they could only be made from silk, merino, or cashmere. These are the 6 items which I used.

I sent the photos off and now I have a page. Have a look, I would love to know what you think.

Scarves and Shawl

Workshops

I have been asked to run some workshops/classes in a new wool shop (the only shop only for knitting on the Island).  Strictly Knitting :-) Hopefully we are starting off with a "Beginners Class" for Adults, and "Introduction to Knitting" for children and we will see where it goes from there.  The idea is the adults will be either morning or evenings once a week for 2 hours for three weeks. The children's classes are going to be Monday to Friday for a week in August for 2 hours in the morning.

They are going to stock an amazing range of yarn, it is going to be bliss surround by all the yarn. The shop opens this Saturday and I am going over for a couple of hours so I will have to take some photos and put them on here.

As for knitting I am trying to get Tibetan Clouds finished as I have decided my Mystic Star Shawl is just not going to be warm enough to wear to Kayte's wedding, even though it is in June. The weather here has been so cold. I have the middle finished so it is just the two sides.

May Bank Holiday

My 1st buyer has left a fantastic comment:

"A truly beautiful item, so soft and luxurious. Well wrapped with a sweet 
accompanying note. Special delivery, first class service. Thank you!"


 So that is a relief. :-)

It seems that it is going to be another wet weekend, I feel sorry for the holiday makers. They will be spending their time going from one cafe to another and looking in shops. No going down to the beach, well if they want a brisk walk to blow the cobwebs away perfect, but no swimming or sunbathing. After fantastic weather in March the weather forecasters are saying the temperature is the same as Christmas week. Oh well the plants are looking green and healthy.

I found a bag of Drops Eskimo wool which I had forgotten I had. It is classed as bulky so perfect for knitting up quick shawls. I have managed to get 2 shawls out of it. The 1st was Lightening. and the 2nd is  my attempt at designing a shawl. It is nearly finished so once they are blocked I will post pictures.

Sold a shawl!

I have finally sold something to somebody I don't know.... I have sold a shawl on Folksy!

Ok friends and family have bought things but this time somebody has clicked the buy button.  She left a lovely message when she bought the shawl.

" I love this shawl and intend to wear it to the opera with my beautiful black retro dress!"

I do hope that she likes it when it arrives.


Hope everybody has a great weekend. It looks like there are going to be heavy showers all weekend. Perfect excuse to stay inside and knit.

The Stitch and Craft Show

I forgot to post about our visit to "The Stitch and Craft Show" in London.

Mum and I caught a coach to The Stitch and Craft Show. It is held in Olympia in London. It was the first time I had been to this show. There was so many people, but thankfully I have bought 2 VIP tickets which allowed mum and I in an area where we could get somewhere to sit down. It was worth it.  It was very crowded but mum found a cross-stitch kit which she liked, it is of a three-mast sailing ship which is for my nephew's birthday. She also bought a lamp you click to you chair to spot light where you are working.

I bought yarn. :-)

Black Sheep Barn had a half price sale and I bought 8 skeins of Yuzen which I plan to knit into entrelac shawl.  I could have bought a lot more as they had a fantastic selection.


 


There was a competition Knitted Model Village and an author signing a book she had written on knitting dogs.  The dogs were adorable.

There are some really clever people.

Things that are finished

Echo Flower 

Oh gosh doesn't time go quickly! It is nearly a month since I have updated this blog. :-(

The weather has been amazing so I have been helping mum sort out the garden. We have moved her Agapanthus to a new been and bought 3 roses which she needs to plant. We have also started a herb container, I now need to split the mint and put it in new pots and give my brother some.

Ok what have I been up to with my knitting.

Well, firstly some photos to post.

 First is a shawl I have knitted for sale. It is made of Tencel and Rayon. Did you know Tencel is wood pulp? It is hard to believe, but I like it as a yarn. It has a silky feel. This is 4ply yarn so quite thick but I am not sure how warm it would be.

I had enough yarn left over to make a shawlette, very simple to knit and perfect to do while watching the TV.

You can just about see the beads

There are beads along the edge, which you can just about see in this photo.

This is Joshua's finished Entrelac Scarf. I am pleased with how it turned out.

Joshua's Entrelac Sca

The next thing I would like to try is a Entrelac shawl. I have seen several ideas on Ravelry, but that will have to wait as I have to start my circular shawl to wear to Kayte's wedding.

I wanted it to be made out of 100% Tencel and after a long hard search I have found some. Just Our Yarn.  It is described as "Indigo, navy, loden and kilt green" 

Hopefully it will work out fine as I am doing Mystic Star so it gives the idea of a knit sky and I will use some rainbow clear beads.


I gave Julia her shawl at the weekend and she was very pleased with it, which I am glad.



Hope everybody has had a good Easter holiday.

Finish one and start another

Sunshine, well after the fog clears. For the last three days there has been a thick sea fog, but by 11 o'clock it has clear.

Sunday morning mum and I went out in the garden and did some pruning and all you could hear was the deep sound of the fog horns resounding around.

With all this sunshine I have been able to get into the garden and take some photos. The next thing s to get some shawls up on Esty and Folksy for sale





Julia's shawl is finished and I think it has worked out well. It is light and the beads add sparkle but don't stand out. She is planning to come down to the Island at the end of March so I will give her the shawl then.


At first I thought Tencel was going to be hard to use but apart from the stitches seemed to get stuck on top of each other it was not too bad.  In fact I have decide to knit a circular shawl in Tencel. I want a shawl to wear to Kayte's wedding which is a bit different. It is between Urdr or Mystic Star . Both are by Anna Daivi - Knit & Knag.

It has to go with a skirt I have so poppy red or green, so now I have my thinking cap on and seaching around for some yarn.

Olympic Yarnbombing!

This must have taken ages!

Simple Ways to Relieve & Prevent Hand Pain

I am on the final stretch for Julia's shawl, the long rows which seem never ending. ;-) and I have noticed that my hands are hurting. I think it is because the yarn is thin. Anyway this arrived in my inbox today from Lions Brand and I thought I would share it with you.

Have a good weekend. 

When your work with your hands as much as knitters and crocheters do it’s important to remember not to strain or overwork your body. Knitting and crochet should be hobbies that help you relax and relieve stress. There are several ways to reduce stress on your hands and body, and these simple tips will help you avoid injury and treat existing symptoms.*

	Pay attention to how you are sitting. Sit down as though you were about to begin crafting. Is your back supported? Is there enough light to see well, and enough room to move your elbows and arms freely as you work? You may be straining your hands to try and compensate for one of these other issues. Examine the places you craft for simple fixes you can make to add light, support and space.
	Remember to take breaks while you craft. While it can be tempting to power through a few more rows when you are tired, listen to your body and put your project on pause. Breaks should vary the motion of what you are doing; try doing small, rewarding activities during your break like taking a short walk, watering houseplants or playing with a family pet.
	Massage and stretch your hands. This is a wonderful (and relaxing) way to rejuvenate your fingers, wrists and palms. Try different methods and go easy on yourself; only rub or stretch your hands to a point that feels comfortable. There are some great hand stretch suggestions on LiveStrong.org (click here).
	Choose ergonomic tools. If you’ve only ever tried straight knitting needles or metal crochet hooks, it might be time to try something new. Many knitters prefer using circular needles when possible because of the bounce-back of the cord that connects them, and crocheters are raving about this ergonomic crochet hook set that fits in the palm of your hand.
	Wear stress relief gloves. Wearing these stress relief gloves allows the muscles of your hand to relax while you work. These gloves have been specially designed with crafters in mind, so they are completely fingerless and stand up to long-term use.

Julia's Shawl, & Spring

After a lovely weekend with lots of sun we are back to cloudy, leaden skies. :-( But I saw two trees full of blossom today so hopefully Spring is just around the corner. In fact I think the birds think Spring is on the way, we have two Blue Tits chasing around the garden and I saw one inspecting the nest box just outside my bedroom window. The daffodils are all up and starting to open which is always a good sign.

Julia's shawl is coming along I am about half way. It feels odd to knit with as the yarn is so thin and feels like thick sewing thread. I am glad she went with the square beads, they positively glint in the sunlight.

Ok today is the 29th Feb, the extra day. I don't think I will be doing anything different, Aunty Freda is coming for coffee and that is about it. Oh except for knitting. :-)

Have a great day.

Lola celebrates the leap year.

I another Lola from Lion Brand website, I love the logic. I hope everybody has a good weekend.

Facebook & Open Studios

Last night was the 2nd Open Studios meeting. 

 "Open Studios embraces arts and crafts in all forms, from traditional to contemporary and experimental on the Isle of Wight."


Some of the people in the Cowes are are going to hire Northwood WI Hall and I am going to join in with them.  


Rachel's very kind husband has agreed to build a display backing for me and I bought a foldable table on Wednesday so I am slowly getting there.  I just need to buy a table cloth or maybe make my own to cover the table. 


I have finally set up a Facebook page for Wrapped In Colour. It is one of the things I planned to do but never really got around to doing it. I have added some photos but not much else.


It looks like it is going to be a busy but exciting year ahead.

Finishing off weekend

We had lovely weather this weekend, so mum and I got out into the garden. Mum has two cherry trees in her garden and last year both had nests made in them. Last year mum started pruning the one which a gold-finch had nested in before we realised so the top never really got pruned properly, and the one at the side of the house we never started as I saw a pigeon making a nest in that tree. Mum was determined we will get both trees pruned before the birds start nesting so out we went and got them both done.

 As for knitting I got my Basic, Basic, Basic Course - Lesson 2 Swatches finished and I sent them off yesterday. 

Teal square beads

The beads arrived for Julia's shawl so I knitted a swatch to see which beads work well with the yarn. I have sent an email off with some close up photos and I am waiting to hear what she thinks.


Basically it all depends on how Julia is planning to use the shawl. If she is going to just wear it as a shawl then I would suggest using square beads, if she wants to wear it as a scarf as well then I suggest the round beads. 

Metallic and teal round beads

Round: For colour I would go for a mixture of metallic and teal beads. If she just wants the sparkle then go for clear.

Square: If she just wants sparkle go for clear. For colour no sparkle then frosty, and if she wants sparkle and colour - and really notice the beads - then teal square. 

Frosty Square beads

The yarn is Yarntopia Treasures 10/2 Tencel

It is a very thin yarn and it seems that it is going to give the impression of a spiders web when it is finished. I read on Ravelry that a person used clear beads and it looked like dew drops on the shawl which sounds nice.

Entrelac Scarf

The start

So far so good I have started Joshua's scarf. The instructions are very clear and once I got into it fairly easy to remember. It is only the triangles at the ends which I have to check how to make each time. I have found when you make 8 stitches down the side of each rectangle it is better to leave a bigger gap at the beginning than at the end but I had to always put the last stitch were the 2 rectangles meet in the row underneath otherwise I had a small hole there. 

The other problem I seem to have is occasionally the last row and the one I am doing are the same colour so if I leave of in the middle of a row I have to really think which way am I going. The yarn id lovely to work with and seems to knit hard when you have finished a shape but when you go back and feel my knitting it seems to be softer.