Hank and Skein is getting bigger !!!

Well this week I have not stopped knitting, mostly for the magazines I design for, but also for the event Sarah and myself will be attending in  November. 

We have been busy designing and putting together knitting kits and knitting and crocheting extra cowls and scarves to sell at 'Ladyfest'  https://ladyfestmanc.wordpress.com/ take a look at the Blog page. We are really looking forward to being part of this great event!

This is our crochet denim scarf kit in our new organza bags.

Amazing crochet scarves that we will be selling in different yarns and different colours.

We have also been working on chunky winter cowls in an amazing array of colours.

Table mats, extra chunky, extra Funky !

Beautiful crochet cowls or crochet kits with all the different yarns you can use to make your own.

All of these are for sale, we will be putting them on our facebook page, but keep watching as we are also going to be opening an Etsy shop.

Alongside these we also have a brilliant knit kit for children 'Two Faced Ted'. It has everything inside for your child to knit the Ted, needles, yarn, buttons, stuffing sewing up needles, it is perfect for beginners. 

All of these are for sale so if anyone is interested then please get in touch, message us, ask any questions, we are more than happy to help. 

Yarndale and a Finished Project!!

Hello!! Well I have so much to share with you this week. First of all... I have now completed my Hubbies jumper and he loves it!

He looks very handsome in it but was too shy to model it!

I am so pleased with the finished jumper

I am now, I believe a 'Finisher Completer' at last!!

I was inspired to get on and complete my outstanding projects when I attended Yarndale 
http://yarndale.co.uk/ last month. I find it so inspiring to see all those wonderful creative people, so full of ideas selling fabulous products. 

Helen and I discussed the blog and I was initially going to show you pictures from the show, however I have seen so many pictures on instagram and other blogs that I decided to show you my purchases! So, here goes!

As you can see I was quite restrained but let me take you through them.

I had told myself before attending the show that I did not need any yarn (this had to be my mantra for the show). I did very well and only purchased one ball which I have definite plans for (Watch this space in a few weeks). Like most of us knitters I have a huge stash and I decided to look through it all before heading off for Skipton, this was a novel idea for me as I am usually an impulsive purchaser. 

My first purchase! Can't wait to cast on

 Toft was my first stall to call at. I just love their displays every year and Edwards Menagerie was top of my purchase list. I am not by nature a toy knitter but I feel that these are so much more, and make lovely gifts for children and grown ups alike. I follow Toft on instagram @toftalpacashop  https://instagram.com/toftalpacashop/ and have really fallen for all the knitted creatures. I always love the free postcard patterns too and cannot wait to get cracking on this years fabulous shawl pattern. You can find them at http://www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk/

How cute is this little fellow?

 Well after a good walk around I came upon the Sue Stratford stall, as mentioned earlier I am not a toy knitter but anyone who attended the show must have gasped as they saw her Christmas displays. I of course had to purchase her Mini Knitted Christmas book (It will use up my stash) and I hope my tree will be adorned with the stunning items in there this year. Sue was also giving away a postcard knit, which is this adorable mouse who sits in the palm of your hand! Divine! He has been in lots of pictures this week and gets a guaranteed awww.. from all who meet him. Sue also has some lovely kits, take a look at her kits and books at http://www.theknittinghut.co.uk/

I have often looked at the pompom magazine so I made a purchase
and found lot's of lovely patterns and articles inside

I like a publication which is fresh and up to date and I felt that pompom ticked the boxes. You can subscribe at http://www.pompommag.com/ they have a podcast too.

I always visit the needle man and this time was no exception

 The needle man (The name that my Friend Julie & I have for him) has the best display of knitpro needles and is always an important stop at the shows, and I even got my only ball of yarn from his lovely other half, I can't wait to cast the wool on my fab new needles! You can fin them at: http://www.knitproneedles.co.uk & http://www.knitting4fun.com/

You can never have too many buttons

 The button lady is my next favourite stop, you can never have too many buttons but I was very restrained this year with this small selection. Find their fabulous collection at http://www.textilegarden.com/buttons-intro.htm 

I cannot wait to block socks on these beauties!

 My absolute must purchase this year was sock blocks and after much walking around I finally settled, you guessed it, on the first pair that I saw ( I liked the humour - with the bones). I bought these from a lovely gentleman and you can find them at http://www.fivemoonsyarns.co.uk/

The catering was great as usual and to add to the whole experience we had music to entertain us too. All in all a great weekend was had.

Thank you to the Ukulele band that entertained us when regrouping for coffee

Thanks to the laughing alpaca and his lovely friend! A huge thanks to all involved in organising Yarndale, a fabulous exhibition for woolly folk!

And finally thank you to the publicans of Skipton for their hospitality

Thank you for taking the time to drop by and read our blog. Helen & Sarah xx

Until next time it is goodbye from me! 

All that stash !!!

Firstly let me tell you about a new cafe / bistro in Urmston that I went to. It is called Bevano Lounge off Eden Square. You must call in  for a coffee as the decoration on the walls is amazing! It has so many beautiful lamp shades hanging from the very high ceilings and pictures everywhere it's a must if ever you are down there. Here are a few snaps I quickly took when I popped in for lunch with friends.

lots of pictures and mirrors and clocks all over the walls.

Big leather sofas to sit in as well, it's just a lovely relaxing place.

But now to my stash. I have a very large stash of one of my favourite yarns, Rowan Felted Tweed DK. It is and always will be a beautiful yarn. Over the years I have collected so many colours and balls of this yarn and below are some of them, this is just about quarter of what I have hidden away in my loft.

I have a few projects on the go so I thought I would show them to you. First is a blanket I started last year, I will finish it eventually, maybe it's the colours that aren't exciting me anymore !

Another project is, I think, going to be another blanket or maybe a set of cushions, I'm not sure yet but whatever it is I am going to wash it so it felts. I love this yarn when it is slightly felted, it goes very soft and matted .

Here is the  pattern I am using, it is great for making squares for throws and blankets in any type of yarn.

Basic sqaure 

sp (sps): space (spaces)

ch: chain

sl st: slip stitch

tr: treble

beg: beginning

dc: double crochet

Make 6ch, sl st into first ch to form a ring

Round 1: 3ch (counts as first tr), work 15tr into ring, sl st into 3rd of 3ch at beg of round.

Round 2: 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), [ 1tr into next tr, 2ch] 15 times, sl st into 3rd of 5ch at beg of round

Round 3: sl st into first 2ch sp, 3ch (counts as 1tr), work 2tr into first 2ch sp, 1ch, [3tr into next 2ch sp, 1ch] 15 times, sl st into 3rd of 3ch at beg of round

Round 4: sl st into each of next 2tr, 1ch, 1dc into first ch sp, 3ch, 1dc into next ch sp, 6ch, *1dc into next ch sp, [3ch, 1dc into next ch sp] 3 times, 6ch rep from * twice more, [1dc into next ch sp, 3ch] twice, sl st into first dc

Round 5: sl st into first 3ch sp, 3ch, work 2tr into first 3ch sp, into next 6ch arch work [5tr, 2ch, 5tr] *3tr into each of next 3 3ch sps, into next 6ch arch work [5tr, 2ch, 5tr] rep from * twice more , 3tr into each of last 2 3ch sps, sl st into 3rd of 3ch at beg of round

Round 6: 1ch, 1dc into each tr to end, working 3dc into each corner sp, sl st into first dc.

fasten off

I will show you the finished blanket in a few weeks, my aim now is finish the many things I have on the go so these 2 blankets are first on my list. 

Happy Hooking !!! 

Thanks for that Helen, I am hopefully going to share some pictures of projects which I have managed to complete in the next couple of weeks, I have lots of pieces being blocked at the moment. I will also share my purchases from Yarndale, I had a fabulous time, unfortunately Helen could not come this year but I think she will like what I bought!

Ta ta for now xx

Very Slow Progress

Well I have had a beautiful week away on the lovely Isle of Anglesey, staying in a lovely apartment at Rhosneigr bay. The view from the window was stunning I would recommend booking to anyone who just fancies getting away to somewhere beautiful. Take a look at where we stayed it sleeps four and is really lovely  http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/rhosneigr/ I took lots of knitting but soon realised that the needles to cast on sleeve two of my hubby's jumper had been left at home, luckily my big sister was coming for 2 of our 4 days so she saved the day, with just a pair of 4.5mm needles!

Rhosneigr beach

We visited Beaumaris whilst we were in Wales too. It had been many years since my last visit as a child and I was so impressed with this beautiful town. We revisited later in the week to see the beginning of the Tour of Britain Bike Race. It was bustling with an electric atmosphere and lots of men in Lycra! The local craft shop had gone to lots of effort decorating bikes to celebrate the occasion please see more pictures on Instagram: Hank_Skein. Beaumaris also has lots of beautiful independent shops selling gorgeous wares.

I have finished non of the projects which I had on the go in our last post I have however made some progress with the above mentioned Hubby's sweater. I have sadly pulled back the mystery knit along but will persevere!! Oh and two baby hats have been completed.

It was back to work last week and not much knitting time at all, but I must admit that with the Autumnal feel to the mornings and lots of people posting how close Christmas is on their Facebook accounts my knitting and crochet fingers are itching to get going again.

Helen and I had a lovely get together on Friday and will be hopefully sharing our ideas with you soon. 

Until next time keep safe and healthy.

Sarah & Helen xx

For the Love of Knitting!

I must start with an apology, my leaves are still in progress with many having been knitted, but alas too many ideas spinning around my butterfly brain to put them together in any sort of beautiful way! I am currently toying with an idea which I hope to complete this week and post as soon as possible. 

A very small sample of my leaves, yet to be gathered together
and made into something beautiful

I have I feel had a little bit of a yarn meltdown and when I sat down to reflect about it all this week, I think I have come up with an answer.......I love knitting! Worse still I love knitting things for other people, all they have to do is mention something and off I go casting on and heading off at a tangent with yet another project. 

So this is my week to confess to all the projects I am currently working on!! The reason for this confession is the fact that we had a show and tell at my knitting group last week and when Doreen's lovely husband came in proudly wearing his beautifully knitted jumper made with love by Doreen I suddenly thought....I must focus and finish my projects one at a time! Starting, naturally with the jumper for my husband.

My husbands jumper, just the sleeves and sewing up to go!

So why does the cardigan which I started before this, for myself, sit unfinished in my loft?

Well..... maybe because I won't need this until winter.....honestly!

My beautiful, unfinished cardigan, started months before my hubby's jumper

Why with  these two on my needles did I ever cast this on??

Because.....I just love this jumper.

A fabulous jumper, I have made it once and my daughter now has it
so I had to start again!

Oh and the Mystery KAL on Very busy Monkey?

Well.... because it is good to have a challenge!

A shawl which I did not need to start but just love knitting it!

I must also mention the experimental crochet project which I started for the summer..... but the summer never really happened so I haven't finished it yet!

A summer top in progress

I think with Autumn fast approaching and a week off work ahead I will focus on being a finisher completer and intend on sharing these projects with you as I do.

Life has been busy over the last couple of weeks for both myself and Helen with each of us having loved ones falling ill, this puts unfinished projects into perspective.

Every project we embark on takes time and love so when you receive a knitted or crocheted gift always remember you are loved by the giver and each stitch represents that love!

Finally I must mention a shop which is due to open its doors tomorrow, I don't live near enough to visit but if you do then call into The Old Pharmacy which is in Faversham Kent. Take a look at the website and like them on Facebook. It looks fabulous!!
http://www.theoldpharmacyfaversham.co.uk/

Until next time....take care, Sarah & Helen xx