Hello Hello, I'm Back Again!

My main reason for setting up this blog way back in 2011 was to record my knitting escapades, I call that dark and distant past "BR" otherwise known as "Before Ravelry". How I filled my time before Ravelry I'll never know. I can waste spend hours on the forums, find new friends, trawl the pattern pages and get help with knitting problems, discover blogs, source yarn even find a LYS and knit group. You get my drift. But best of all I can keep details of all my projects so I didn't see the need to double that information and the blog suffered.

However,

For my Christmas this year I got a lovely new camera from my DH (that's ravelry speak for darling husband - have you worked out LYS yet?) Time to reinvent my blog then as I want to take photos of more than just my knitting although I will sneak a few in.





The John Lewis Snowman visits Jo's Gingerbread House



 Let's begin with a few practice shots of Christmas scenes Chez Smith.

The next day I took the camera with me on my dog walk, I always enjoy the lychens and mosses so these were my subjects that morning.    

              

Spinning. (No gym kit required)

The idea of 'spinning' on a stationery bike in the gym never quite did it for me, but yarn spinning - using stinky, fleecy sheeps' wool, now you're talking.

Deborah Gray's drop spindle class is so wonderfully laid back I had to restrain myself from saying "What's next?" and "Hadn't we better get a move on?" At the end of the day I was rushing to ply as much wool as possible and ended up with some extremely chunky yarn. Lesson one; Breathe deeply and slowwwww it dowwwwn. I may not have been particularly good but I learned enough of the basics to produce some rather cute homespun which I wittily named 'I heart chocolate' and left the class feeling a sense of achievement and the desire to practice, practice, practice. It is easy to improve but I have a niggling sensation that I may be well on the way to another obsession. Now, where's the number for The Wool Marketing Board?

Knit more, natter less...

I've finally realised that the only way to improve is to knit and knit and knit some more. Curse that teacher who put me off all those years ago, how good would I be now if I'd kept it up. Mind you, I wouldn't have made bobbin lace. Looking forward to the Perth expo next Saturday followed by the 1st night of a new knitting group at a new shop which has opened in Perth. Might be dangerous...then again I might finally get taught how to knit socks.

Spring has sprung.

How did that happen? One minute I'm casting on a cosy cowl, next minute it's 18c and the knitting mags are full of horrible cotton knits. Bring back the snow! Looks like this may be a winter hobby after all, on the plus side at least the cowl will be finished for the autumn chills. So I guess it's time to concentrate on finishing the Christmas gifts for the sew & sews and, that's right, cast on that cable cardy. I keep peering into the bag and fondling the wool, sad I know but I don't want to put myself off knitting for life by making a pigs ear of my first major project ;\ Saw a nice baby blanket pattern today...
Haven't picked up the pins for quite a few days as we've had technical week for the production of Guys & Dolls in Perth theatre for which I'm company stage manager. Now the run has started I've got more time, funny picking up the pins after a break - immediate feel of relaxation, very therapeutic. So why am I writing this rather than finishing the cowl? Too darn hot!

Look at me ;-)

An item in a day, don't I feel clever. Lovely wee baby hat and just as I'm about to finish it someone announces the birth of a baby girl. ESP or wot?!

Call that a bargain?

£1.50 for an end of batch ball of chunky wool? I'll have that. Find a lovely pattern on ravelry and sit in the car knitting while the boys are on a karate course. Hmm, need more wool. Back to shop, pay full price, best get an extra ball. Spring arrives, anyone need a very cosy neck cowl? A bargain at £6.50!

Knit fest

Burst of energy as I finish off a few pieces but very unsatisfactory. I must stop trying to knit like I cook ie, experimentally. "ooh! That looks like a nice pattern, I'll do it using this odd ball." Except the pattern calls for cotton and the wool I used was so stretchy that Jimmy's cowl will be more use as a cumberband! Nice though!
Took a road trip to Stirling with my knitty chum, Wendy. McV's had everything you could need and some. Stayed within my budget though but let's just say I won't need to shop for a while.