Knitted Socks for the Tree

Little socks for the Christmas tree made at the workshop on Saturday at Moonstone Yarns. A lovely day sitting knitting and chatting and eating cake. What's not to like. Keep an eye on Moonstone's website for future workshops and comment if there is anything in particular you would like to learn how to do. We can probably make it happen.

Pretty Interchangeable Knitting Needle Cosy

Storing interchangeable knitting needles can be a problem, the plastic pouch I bought my set in was ugly and started splitting almost as soon as I started using it. A solution needed to be found. So I made one of these for myself a few months ago and have found it solved the problem. This is the second one I have made with modifications on the first and for a friend at Moonstone Yarns Knit Group. 

This fabric is much prettier than the one I made for myself as I was trying out and didn't want to waste lovely material if I messed up or it didn't work.

There are thin pockets for the needles, large pockets for the cables and small ones for the needle stopper and the little metal things to help attach needles to cables. The small square pockets have velcro to keep things from falling out. I'm still not happy though and want to find another method of keeping the small pockets closed. There are more than enough pockets for additional items. I keep small scissors, small tape measure, little flat box of sewing up needles, needle size gauge and row markers in the pockets and there is plenty of room in mine. Hope you like it Mandy.

Busy Knitting

Just finished this lovely beret and scarf. It's Louisa Harding's new yarn Amitola. When this yarn fell out of the soft tree it hit every branch on the way down. It's merino and silk and the colours are gorgeous. This took just under 2 50 gm balls. Kathy of Moonstone Yarns puts new yarns on the table when we have a knitting lock in, so hard to resist!  

I think it's too new for the patterns from this book to be on Ravelry.

This is the next project, I've had this pattern for years and have finally decided to knit it up, this gorgeous purple yarn is by Blacker Designs, unfortunately I couldn't get it any more so I have gone with this Shilasdair luxury DK. There are lots of cables and twists so I doubt it will be a TV project.

The colour is perfect to go with a green skirt I have just bought, well in the top half of the picture it is, I'm not sure why there is a line across the middle, there isn't on the original. Anyway I'm going to cast on tonight, I've wound one skein into little dumpy puddings with my ball winder so I'm ready to go.

I Have a New Toy - No Not Like That!

No longer do I have to fight the kids at school for the glue gun as I have my own. I needed a secure way of attaching the felt back and brooch pin to the fabric flowers and this was the answer.

This little batch of flowers is going to Moonstone Yarns for their coffee morning for breast cancer research. Hence the pink, I know there will also be knitted cupcakes and other bits and pieces as well as coffee of course. Check out the website for the location and be there on 19th October between 12 and 3.

See what a neat job the glue gun made of the back. Now what else needs glueing??

Sock Knitting Workshop

Today was the first sock knitting workshop I have run. Held at Moonstone Yarns, it was lovely and very easy because we only had one punter. Still, Mandy got lots of individual attention and is now able to knit socks, she couldn't before. I wish I had done a workshop when I first started knitting socks, it would have stopped all the ripping out and restarting because of all the mistakes I made. Hopefully this was the first of many workshops as I would love to do more.

My Sock Knitting Workshop!

I'm running a sock knitting workshop at Moonstone Yarnshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif on Saturday 13th August. It's a day long course in which I will teach you how to use DPNs, turn a heel, shape the toe and finish the toe with kitchner stitch. All materials will be provided and a buffet lunch. Only room for six, so book your place! I'm really looking forward to it. At £55 for the day its a good deal, all that expert tuition and lunch, its a win, win!