hello 2013 & Woolly Wednesday....

Happy New Year to you all! 2013 is the start of more new great things I'm sure!

Now I know I didn't spin this myself but it's wool - right?

In late 2011 I started this Kaffe Fassett throw for my mother - in that time there have been many ups and downs and it sure has been a challenge. 

  

But I finished it. All 300 odd rows, crocheted edging and velvet lining. It nearly defeated me several times - I kept having to wander off and find something small and less demanding to knit.

I could just sit and stare at it for ages....

 

It has a new home now (a tidy home.) I miss it - sort of. I don't miss the fact it sat in my work basket staring me out in a threatening manner until I picked it up.

Now I can be selfish and concentrate on spinning, knitting and making for me (until the next lot of elving starts)

ps... Suzani is Ravelled here

elving ~ part 2

the list is slowly getting shorter - but not by much...

• chilli relish and chilli jams ~ tick!
• Chilli vodka ~ tick!
• Knitting ~ almost tick....
• quilt one ~ tick!
• everything else waiting patiently for attention....

I am stupidly proud of the bias binding I made for the quilts - yes I know, making bias binding is easy but this is my first and it's very pretty...

Also, stupidly I decided to cast on something yummy for myself (not on the list) which my brain tells me 'won't take long.' To be honest it's something I can knit whilst watching The Killing reading all those subtitles (if I don't keep up I haven't a hope of figuring out what's going on!) The pattern is the Lonely Tree Shawl by Softsweater (ravelry link) knit in Rowan Little Big Wool which I had in my stash... Honestly it's so awful out there that it's best to stay home and knit. It's raining and stormy again and the flooding around here is amazing (and not in a good way.)

Hope you are warm and dry wherever you are and Happy Thanksgiving to all those in the US!

in my basket

I have one of those wonderful clever mothers who encouraged me to make, taught me many skills and supported me in my craft. Right now in my basket is something just for her. Something that only another maker would appreciate, with love worked into every stitch. Made in Rowan Summer Tweed, designed by Kaffe Fassett it has the tones of a beautiful old kilim. I plan to line it with rich velvet and give it with much love. I've Raveled it here

my handmade year: giving, part 2

I finished Bloom just in time for my sister. She looks great in it, so much so that I am tempted to tackle the evil tiny, tiny needles again to make one for me. Given how many people I have to make for elving for next year, I am ashamed to say, has started already...

my handmade year: giving

The best bit about making for those you love is the giving. I made these sketch books for Kim who is currently working hard on her MA.  She fills sketchbooks faster than I make them though.