Ooo, look at this! What a lovely idea! Sadly, the rather 'YIKES' price of £114 (US $223) makes it a little less appealing though...
February 2008
18/02/2008
13/02/2008
More knitted teasets
I recently mentioned knitted china - and Bloesen stars some more...this time by Madieke Fleuren. I just love this knitted-style cup and saucer!
07/02/2008
Seafarer gifts from landlubbers
The British and International Sailors' Society have launched their Woolly Hat Week 2008. You can download their pattern here and their fundraising pack here. They give them to seafarers to keep warm - many unaccustomed to our ghastly cooler climate.
06/02/2008
Belgian knitting!
Our firm have just returned from a wee Jolly in Brussels - and a good time was had by all..! You can see some pics here. I lived in a village just outside Brussels, for some 4 years as a child, so I popped there first to stay with my adopted Granny and help feed the goats and dig up the endives. Lovely to be back...
Mosselen en frites in the wonderful University city of Leuven (right) and an abundance of beers and chocolate...perfect Jess time...
The morning that we were returning to the UK, we stopped at a cafe for a spot of Croque Monsieur and a coffee and I saw a Newsbite on the TV about knitting in a pub (left)! :0)
I did study French for many years but it's all rusted to dust now, I'm afraid. But I think they were saying that people are taking it up to survive the Smoking Ban in Belgian pubs (I'm a little confuddled about the status of the smoking law; some posters implied that it was banned in all public places from 01/01/08 - but we saw little evidence for this being enforced - and some websites imply that it is still allowed in pubs but not in restaurants/work places).
Knitting is a great distraction if you're a fidgeter trying to quit the evil weed (I speak from experience) and there's evidence that it's helped other smokers in the UK.
As an aside, I came across this intriguing article when I was googling this Belgian story and then this hysterical article...bwahaha! Oh the joys of internet browsing....now, I must get back to this freelance editing...sigh!
Chilly chickens
The weather is rubbish. Knitting with metal needles whilst waiting for a bus is now impossible without them freezing to your fingers.
But, imagine if you were a chicken! And a featherless one at that...
Brigitte Hawley from Benenden has been knitting her ex-battery hens little woollies to keep them nice and toastie. You can see the video here!
Last month's knitting merriment
Tuesday's knitting and wine continues to bring winter-cheer.
We met Lisa, who's starting a jumper (and modestly called herself a beginner...I've been knitting for a couple of years and am still working up to The Knitting of a Garment). Good tip from her: use paper-clips as stitch markers! Brilliant!
Helen has, as always, been a busy knitty-bee. She's been working on:
- a preemie bonnet from a 'Simply Knitting' pattern (left above; but from now on knitted without the ties or with the ties sewn on further down - less of a hazard);
- socks from Easy Knit's yum 'plums and custard' yarn (right; but Helen didn't like the Dublin Bay lace so the yarn is frogged, steamed and back on the needles);
- socks with own pattern loosely based on Simple Socks by Lucy Neatby in red Araucania Ranco Solid yarn, using the Magic Loop method (below; there's a good book coming out by Melissa Morgan-Oakes to help us with this Loop of Madness);
- she's made the most wonderful Nancy Bush Mamluke socks out of purple and yellow yarns (reminiscent of above 'plums and custard'). They are just gorgeous - they're blocking now so pics up here shortly...
Jackie's been knitting-busy too! Pudsey (right) is developing fast...two months ago he was just a nose, and now he's nearly fully-grown (except for his insides...)
I've been merrily knitting socks for a secret project (more later) but am a little bogged down with non-knitty matters at the moment (buying a house, yippee; freelancing in the evenings; becoming involved with the local Bath Geological Society; and much winter beer drinking) and still trying to rest my wrist (poor Flibbertygibbet's suffering like I am).
01/02/2008
Knit Couture
Henry Conway has been gracing our newpapers and TV quite a bit at the moment! You will remember that his father has been reprimanded and had the party whip withdrawn for paying Henry and younger son Freddy salaries as researchers with little evidence of work done...
BUT, it would appear that he also recently co-wrote a book entitled 'Weardowney Knit Couture'. Amazon tells us that: "Gail Downey and Amy Wear, owners of Weardowney boutique, carved a name for themselves with their innovative range of intricate handknitted garments and couture and by publishing their seasonal Biannual magazine with each London Fashion Week. This imaginative and informative book will surely inspire knitting mavens and fashionistas alike. In addition to providing the reader with an in-depth knowledge to the world of fashion and knitwear, this gorgeous book features more than twenty designs complete with coloured photography and easy-to-follow instructions. Charming illustrations accompany advanced techniques used in the projects. Weardowney invites movement of a beloved craft, maintaining its unique successful qualities whist extending present limits to promote and progress an infinite medium."
Looks great! Although - given how much he was paid to sharpen pencils (allegedly (said in an 'Ian Hislop tone')) I'd rather not hand him any more cash right now..!
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