It's done!

My Debbie Abraham's throw is finished and now I have the pictures to prove it!



And the 'texture shot' -



Now that it's completed, what do I think?

1. It was so worthwhile doing - only make sure that you chose a design that you love, yarn that is recommended and put your heart into it.

2. It is not just a throw - it's a unique, rewarding and inspiring work of art that represents the triumph of discipline over a quick result.

3. Allow almost as much time to make it up as to knit it. Take time picking up stitches and conquering mattress stitch - it's really worth it. Don't forgo the border either, it is the frame that sets the whole throw in context.

4. I am going to knit another one, but not just yet!

Shetland Tea Shawl

Here is the completed shawl - I don't intend to use it as a table cloth though! (I'm not really sure what to do with it, so it is stored away safely until inspiration arrives!).

I am really pleased with the finished result although I think I need to work on my grafting - I can do ordinary stocking stitch grafting but did struggle with the purl and lace stitches here, so I fudged it a bit and hope to keep that part of the edging away from detailed inspection!

It's been a year?

I can hardly believe it has been a year since I past posted! That's been a reflection of what this year has been like. Work has been an all-consuming entity really combined with the fact that I have had to complete my PGCE as well, on a part-time basis.

If you factor in the time I've used to keep up with family life, church life and crafting, then my blogging time really hasn't figured at all.

However, I have finished the Shetland Tea Shawl from A Gathering of Lace and the end is in sight for 'Fish', hopefully within the month after I complete my last clinical teaching assessment tomorrow and my final portfolio assignment by 7th September. Phew!

Pictures to follow in the next post.

New addition to the to-knit-list

I was recently given 8 balls of 'Kinair' by Filatura de Crosa, in white. It reminds me of Kid Silk Haze - it has similar yardage but is a little softer to handle and not quite as 'fuzzy'. What to knit?

Since it came from a friend in the Shetland Isles, I thought that a lace shawl could be an idea. having been inspired completing 'Birch' this spring, I was ready to tackle another project. As you can probably tell from the ball price in the picture above, this has been stashed for a while, so I am looking forward to knitting it up.

I have looked at the Gathering of Lace book by Meg Swansen to see if any patterns there would suit the amount I have. One possible option is the circular Shetland Tea Shawl, which seems appropriate enough. However, I am attracted by the Traditional Lace Shawl book by Martha Waterman, although I do not have a copy. Has anyone used patterns from this book and could you recommend it?

Stitches of a different kind

Don't you think this hydragea is a lovely bright colour? We have acid soil and it wreaks havoc with pink hydrangeas, turning them a murky, dirty lilac colour. Last year we transplanted them into pots, adding some lime to the compost - and it seems to have done the trick nicely -

I can't believe that I haven't posted anything for such a long time! I have had a bit more time to myself over the last few weeks and have used it to get several jobs completed that have been outstanding for a long time. Although this hasn't involved any knitting, it has involved tiny needles and acres (?) of fabric:
Firstly, I decided to make two pairs of curtains for our home - one pair for the dining room (with a matching runner from the offcuts of length):




Secondly, curtains for our living room and cushions to co-ordinate:

Needless to say this has curtailed my knitting time, but I do now have two full strips of my 'Fish' throw completed, now I just have to get started on the third one. And I am going to promise to try to post more regularly in future (!)

Peace and harmony

The results of my machine embroidery workshop are as follows:

All the machine sewing and the bonded applique were done during the workshop. However, most of the hand-embroidered blanket and stem stitch had to be done as 'homework'.

Although I did do some patchwork at school, it never was one of my favourite crafts. The workshop was taken by a lady who had, at one time, owned a fabric and craft store, and she had brought lots of samples of her work. She has developed her skills towards painting and embroidering fabrics and creating lovely works of art. It was an inspirational day and I now have to add some sewing someday into my creative stitches.

'Fish' is making slow progress. I managed to complete the first 9-square strip at the weekend and so have 6 more strips to get through. I think Christmas is a realistic deadline for finishing it, as 'real' work is seriously limiting my personal leisure time at the moment - maybe it might be time to look for another project to do when I get tired of the squares?

Dinner with Birch

Last week I had a chance to take my new Birch shawl to dinner. It was quite an affair, hosted by the Royal College of Nursing, to bestow the 'Nurse of the Year' awards for Northern Ireland. One of our student nurses was awarded joint 'Student Nurse of the Year' so we were really proud of her.

And for the full effect:

I have had a love/hate relationship with Kidsilk Haze. It often takes me several attempts at casting on to start knitting an item and I am left struggling with a twisted, fluffy one or two row strip that has to be consigned to the bin. This may explain why I tend to run short of yarn with my KSH projects! Once I get going however, things seem to settle. The main project I have knitted with KSH has been 'Dew' by Kim Hargreaves. Her kits are so beautifully presented it really is like receiving a gift you have sent to yourself!

The colour is 'Dewberry' - familiar to many of you, I am sure, so apologies in advance for decimating the actual shade in my photo taking!

I have no further progress to report on the fishy squares - no knitting needles have been in my hands for the past week. However, I spent last Saturday at a machine applique workshop which was a new venture for me - but not a replacement for knitting (!) - too stressful getting all the pieces to line up! Pictures to follow.