Stitches Galore

Highlights and blessings this week... Sunshine The first flower on our camellia Birthday number 40 Successful validation of a degree course that I helped to design Two desperately needed weeks away from work to reconnect with the people I love

It was time for another blanket. Something colourful, easy to pick up and work on.  A project I would love - both in the doing and the using.  So I took a plunge - to crochet the Jamieson's Shetland wool shade card.  Yes.  In full.  All 200 colours.  Epic or crazy or what?  But I am loving it sooo much!!! These are the first 25 colours - resulting in: Then there are: And: To make this: Still lots more to do - but I love, love, love getting the yarn and appreciating all the gorgeous hues and textures to the colours. It is just the perfect project - with no concern about what colour to put next - just follow the shade card.

I am going to try to get my life in order and try to post more frequently than every 2 years. So much has been happening, both good and not so good, that it has been difficult to carve out time to process my thoughts. So here goes with developing better blogging habits!

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!

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!

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.

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?