Wimbledon Men's Final bunting frenzy

While watching the Federer v Nadal Wimbledon final on Sunday, I managed to finish the festival bunting I started a few weeks ago.

I was knitting like a maniac for 5 hours, in between bellowing at the TV "Break his serve!" (Nadal couldn't hear me and I knew that) and pondering about how nice looking Gavin Rossdale from Bush is (and he was charmingly enthusiastic about the game too).

It was quite the most exciting afternoon I've had for a long time.

The bunting is for our Knitting Noras gazebo which we are erecting in the Water Garden at the Larmer Tree Festival from the 17 July. I am hoping it won't literally be a water garden as I don't have any wellies.

It was very easy to make: using 5.5mm needles (if you are a tight knitter like me) and double knitting, cast on 3 stitches and increase one sort of in the middle on the right side.

Carry on like this until your flag is big enough - I went up to 24 stitches and then cast off. I made each flag in stocking stitch with a border of 2 garter stitiches on each side (as my knitting always rolls up).

Make an icord of the appropriate length if you like (or use some ribbon) and presto! party / festival bunting!

It looks OK so far - I don't think there is enough bunting yet as Lisa reports that the gazebo is 10 feet wide but I made a 2 ft or so long icord and there are 10 flags on there.

I am previewing it at my swishing party on Saturday. It will be inside if wet.

We are getting up at 5am on Thursday to get there on time for the afternoon so I shall carry on making some in the back of Jacky's van so there may be enough by the time we get there!

World Wide Knit in Public day hits Bolton

On Saturday I took a big bag of yarn and needles down to Victoria Square in the centre of Bolton and joined 12 friends from Bolton Knitting Noras and 2 Oxfam volunteers for World Wide Knit in Public Day.

As I am sick of the fluffy cushion I am knitting and had frogged the lacy scarf, I thought I would start knitting some squares for the MOMM:1400 blanket project being run by Oxfam Manchester.

The aim is to make a blanket from 1,400 knitted squares, each square representing one of the 1,400 women across the world who die every day in childbirth or pregnancy because of a lack of healthcare or medicines.

I made 1 and half garter stitch squares and we got our picture in the local paper, The Bolton News. I look awful though so I am relieved the photo isn't on the website.

I particularly like this picture of Lisa because of the bemused looking chaps in the background.

Big hat, little hat

I finished Bob's Pirate hat about a month ago and presented it to him on the morning of Linsay's wedding on 31 May.

My first attempt, following the pattern but not using the right yarn was a lot smaller and fitted Roscoe (who is now 13 months old) perfectly.

Grandma Mary took some pictures of them in their dad and son hats but I haven't got them yet so when I get them I will attach them to this post.

Last night I also unpicked the whole of my friend Amanda's lacy stole (in the very nonvegan yarn Kidsilk Haze I'm afraid - it's a gift and she isn't a vegan in my defence your honour).

I started it in November last year, made several mistakes and then ran out of yarn in about March. I also decided it was more of a lacy scarf than a stole so not quite the thing.

As I was heartily sick of it, it has been languishing in my knitting bag ever since.

I did take some pictures of it though before I ripped it apart and feel quite sorry now as it looks quite good in the photos!

I need another ball of yarn I think and then I am going to knit Seascape, from this month's Knitty, which seems much more the sort of thing I wanted.

Yay! Accepted for Ravelry

So I'd better get blogging, quick like.

It looks fantastic and I feel really cool cos I know what everyone is on about now...

6,000 yards of woollen reins

Being a bit stuck for a project to take to the last Bolton Knitting Noras' knit out at the end of March, I found some R2 pink braid in my stash and decided to make a scarf with it.

Using size 20 needles, plus some Colinette Giotto, I used a lace pattern to make a very long and very chunky scarf.

The yarn is actually lovely and soft and ideal for such a project as there is no nasty itchiness round the neck.

I thought this might be just the thing to wear at Summer festivals - not that I'll probably get to any.

All I need now are some pink Hunter wellies to match and a spare 50 quid to buy them with.

Back again for good

Well, it's been 4 months since I posted so suppose I should start again!

I have been busy knitting (honest guv) and promise to try harder at this blogging lark from now on.

Here is a photo of my friend Is' little 'un Roscoe in his Pirate jumper I made for him. He is nearly 11 months old now and I have just had the jumper back for repair.

He is very energetic so his mum says he probably unravelled it himself but I think she is being overly kind and feel it has more to do with my shoddy handiwork.

His dad Bob has now commissioned me to make him a matching skull and crossbones hat so had better get cracking.

Vegan Pal 2 package received

I got my Vegan Pal 2 package today from Cainna in the USA. It's great, a magic yarn ball or orange and beige kinda coloured yarn, teabags, a pen, a notebook, a knitting gauge, some stitch markers which will come in handy. a recipe for butternut squash soup and red pepper dip and lots of stickers.

Stripe immediately started sniffing in a frenzy at the teabag so he approved of that bit.