The World of Veganknitter

Lots of time to knit

2008-10-22T13:48:00.005+01:00

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on 17 September, after almost a month of tests and tentative diagnosis.

After initially thinking "I'm going to di-i-i-e-e!" I have tried to keep a positive outlook and as I am on paid sick leave for 6 months, at least I have lots of time to knit and work my way through my stash.

I may even get round to sewing up my projects which have been languishing in my bedroom for over a year.

I have been almost overwhelmed by the support of friends and colleagues and have decided to do as many enjoyable things as I can manage.

So far I have had one chemotherapy treatment - they are every 3 weeks for 6 months - and it was quite pleasurable in a weird way.

I have been told that my hair will fall out so have made a few woolly hats for myself and am getting a free wig tommorrow. So far my follicles are hanging on, which is disappointing in the extreme after Jan from the Bolton Knitting Noras presented me with an array of fantastic hats and a gorgeous crochet shawl on Sunday at our Bliss charity knit out.

I can't wait to wear them!

I have also completed a premature baby blanket and will try and get another one finished by Sunday when we are all meeting up for our monthly knit out at Costa Coffee.

Festie fever

2008-08-14T12:26:00.003+01:00

Having just returned from a very wet Northern Green Gathering, I thought I would devote this monthly post (hmmm, must try harder...) to a description of the fun and frolics the Bolton Knitting Noras have enjoyed while on a tour of some festivals of ye olde England.

In March Lisa devised a cunning plan to get local women knitting a knitted garden. The knitted garden was duly put together for International Women's Day and has been displayed in Bolton since then.

In around May she further decided that the garden should be promoted to a "knitted landscape" and we should go on tour with it to festivals in the summer, teaching people to knit and crochet as we go.

Hoorah for Lisa!

Our first festival was the Larmer Tree Festival in July, set in the gorgeous Victorian landscaped gardens of that title in Wiltshire. We set up our gazebo in the Water Garden on Thursday and were busy throughout the weekend teaching the world, his wife and his kids to knit and crochet.

As we were only in action until 5pm, we had plenty of time to enjoy the wonderful world and roots music on offer and also the shops and fantastic food (to say nothing of the nice cool lager).

Our second festival was the Northern Green Gathering which was a very different kettle of fish. It was very much a festival as it should be / used to be - recycling was the name of the game and the organisers did it properly, with compost loos, designated places to put your rubbish and a nice chap called Compost John touring the site inviting contributions of food waste. The Larmer Tree Festival, like many festivals I guess, said they were green but it was really just lip service - there wasn't even anywhere to recycle the plastic cups they used in the bar.

That said, I really enjoyed the Larmer Tree Festival more, mainly because the weather was pretty good but also there was always some interesting artiste or band to go and see. The entertainment at the Northern Green Gathering didn't really get going until early evening and until then you just hung about "chilling" - not easy to do in heavy rain and gale force wind!

Our knitting workshops went swimmingly well on Thursday and Friday but on Saturday we closed to the public due to everything getting wet in the gazebo. And on Sunday the gazebo blew down so that was the end of that.

Ironically, the weather improved on Sunday afternoon so I enjoyed roaming the site which I hadn't felt inclined to do before and I also indulged in a spot of hawthorn brandy from the charming witches.

The Knitting Noras are on the road again on 22 August, going to Solfest in Cumbria - sans me though as I am going to see my family in London.

Wimbledon Men's Final bunting frenzy

2008-07-08T15:31:00.006+01:00

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

2008-06-16T16:42:00.012+01:00

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

2008-06-13T15:25:00.003+01:00

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

2008-05-15T17:28:00.002+01:00

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

2008-04-17T16:13:00.003+01:00

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

2008-03-17T15:05:00.002Z

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

2007-11-17T13:27:00.000Z

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.

Blog Action Day - wot I did today.

2007-10-15T22:04:00.000+01:00

I was told about Blog Action Day by one of the moderators of Bolton Freecycle and as I have already blogged about using plastic bags to knit with, I thought I would help this global environmental effort by ruminating on how I help the environment.

I have knitted with recycled materials - the aforementioned plastic bags and also video and audiotape. I hope to do more of this in the future.

Also, my stash is so enormous I am working through it and only knitting with yarn from my stash. This will taker me about 5 years to use up so I haven't bought any new yarn for about 6 months - this has had a lot to do with me being broke as well though!

I am also a member of my local Freecycle group and so try to stop household goods and other things going to landfill.

The other great thing about being involved in Freecycle is that I have made loads of new friends in the Bolton area; some of whom are quite creative types. Having lived in Bolton since 1989, I can safely say I have met the most interesting people within this last year through Freecycle.

I am also a keen bookcrosser, which means that I sometimes buy new books but those that I do buy I pass onto to others through bookcrossing. That's the theory anyway - I now have so many books in my house I can't see the floor in some rooms; at least I am saving money on carpet and floorcoverings...

If I can't pass books on or they are too old and battered to be read anymore, I recycle them through the wastepaper collection run through the local council.

It is "bin day" tommorrow so I have sorted out my plastic, tin and bottles ready to go into the green crate, which is collected every fortnight. I also have a bulging bag of wastepaper. (This is collected every week by a company called Paperchase, who raise money for Bolton Hospice I think).

I also demanded a huge green wheelie bin from the council when they came available. They were understandably reluctant as my house isn't big enough and posh enough to earrant a big bin all of my very own. They have been proved right, unfortunately - I only have a small back yard and an even smaller front garden but I still should be filling it to the brim every fortnight. However, usually I only manage a few pathetic onion and potato peelings which lie sadly at the bottom of the bin.

So I should try harder at that really.

I also help the environment by not driving a car - this is more because I am too poor to afford one and also most importantly, I am useless at driving! I have the attention span of a flea, get easily distracted by Lloyd Loom chairs outside shops and the like while driving with an instructor and cannot grasp the concept of clutch control. So I have never managed to pass a test.

I should be a green bike rider and pedal everywhere but I am useless at that as well. I do toy with the idea of buying an adult trike every so often and enjoy dreaming about cycling to the shops like Catweazle. In reality, I would probably show the same road sense demonstrated when driving and thus be a danger to small children, old people and animals of all description.

The other thing I do daily to help the environment is being a VEGAN. People try and make me feel guilty about the rainforests being burnt in order to grow soya but I take no notice - that soya is being grown for cattle feed, not my milk, so there. (I have no idea if this is true).

So I am a bit of a flawed eco-warrior really but I probably do more than most people, maybe.

Under the Hoodie

2007-10-06T13:54:00.001+01:00

In the last month or so I've been busy knitting, rather than blogging which is the way it should be really I suppose!

Having owned the wonderful Stich n' Bitch Handbook for years I thought it was about time I attempted to make something from it rather than just looking at the pictures.

I have lots of Sheena Anne acrylic mohair look yarn which I have accumulated over the years (I think it used to be sold in Poundstretcher) and I thought two patterns in particular would give me the ideal opportunity to use some of these up and reduce my enormous stash.

Having made some gloves and a stripy beanie (which doesn't suit me) from some dark and pale green Sheena Anne I thought the Under the Hoodie project would be ideal to use up the rest of the balls I have.

I also incorporated a trim made from some bright green Sirdar Valentino that Bev passed onto me when I started knitting again.

It didn't take me long to knit at all; about 3 weeks and I am particularly proud of getting the pocket in the right place.

Here it is in progress:

And here it is more or less completed. I just have the sleeves to sew on now so should be done within the next five years.

Of course I have no idea if it will fit my enormous bulk...

The second project is Pin Up Queen by Annie Modesitt. I doubt I shall look like a pin up queen in it once finished, but a girl can dream.

I am using six balls of white Sheena Anne that I got from a charity shop and the gauge seems about right. I have decided to do the neck and front "busty bit" in a mixture of Jaeger Siena cotton in a pale coffee colour and some white Patons Cotton Splash I picked up somewhere or other. This is because I thought a mohair-ish neckline might be a bit itchy and also a bit of texture over my bosoms might be a good idea.

I started it last weekend, just before the latest meeting of Bolton Knitting Noras and I have completed the back already.

Marvellous what you can get done when off work with a sore throat.

How to cut up a placky bag...

2007-10-05T12:40:00.000+01:00

Further to massive public demand (well, one request!) I will dedicate this post to instructions on how to cut up a plastic bag into strips suitable for knitting.

These instructions are my take on those given in Simply Knitting (October issue I think) .

First take a plastic bag:

Cut off the handles (top part) and the bottom (seamed part)

You will now have a big plastic tube.

Now fold the plastic tube up so that there is about 2cms showing at the top.

Cut into the rolled up part of the bag so that there are strips of about 2cm wide. Do not cut up to the top of the bag (if you do, it isn't the end of the world but you will have short strips and you will have to tie the strips together).

You should then have a piece of plastic with plastic strips hanging down.

Cut into the top part of the strip diagonally to the left so that you get a continual strip (like orange peel).

If you cut too enthusiastically or too straight and get shorter strips, don't worry, you can tie them together.

Then roll the strip into a ball and repeat with more carrier bags, knotting the strips together as you go.

Presto! A ball of plastic strips...

Recycled knitting

2007-09-02T11:57:00.000+01:00

After extolling the virtues of recycling at the Rivington Freecycle Festival in June I have been exploring knitting with plastic bags.

Following on from the Festival, I was asked to do a talk about knitting to a local ladies circle in early August.

I had to talk for an hour - normally I don't have a problem with this but was a bit worried about being sensible about knitting for a whole 60 minutes. I thought if I did a practical demonstration and gave them some ideas on how to knit with recycled materials that would go quite well.

As I guessed, many of them were senior citizens and quite a few of them could knit already (and were probably much better at it than me!). So that was quite a good plan.

I dismantled a couple of videotapes and also 2 audiotapes and made a small bag from some Patons Splash I had left and the video tape.

I think they thought I was a bit barmy but some of them had a go, I gave away some yarn (one of them was making Easter chicks) plus they paid me a tenner! At least it was a memorable talk...

And I bought 2 jars of homemade jam.

Since then, I have finished another bag made from plastic bags which I have donated to my good friend Linda to show to her friend Pam who runs a health food shop in Manchester.

I said I would sell them for £10 each but I was a bit drunk at the time and they do take quite a long time to complete.

Plus knitting with plastic strips is hard on the old hands.

I am now knitting with yarn again - what a relief!

Bookcrossing scarf project

2007-08-16T10:41:00.000+01:00

As an obsessive bookcrosser and knitter, when I was given another chance to combine the two (after knitting a square for the Bookcrossing Afghan), I jumped at the chance.

The scarf arrived with a lovely journal full of handwritten entries by people who have knitted a section of the scarf before me.

I spent last Sunday afternoon happily combining green and blue cottons in a stripy pattern and then a considerable amount of time trying embroider my bookcrossing name onto it with silver thread.

I only had room to do "VEGAN", an E and an R - put them all together and you get VEGANER so the KNIT(T) bit was represented by a small red cotton square.

That was quite enough for me and I retired to bed exhausted.

The scarf is now winging it's way to the next participant Minkymoo 76.

For details of the scarf's progress see here:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4321318

Vegan Pal 2

2007-08-16T09:39:00.000+01:00

I have been invited to take part in Vegan Pal 2 and herewith are my answers to the questionnaire:

1. What is/are your craft(s), & how long have you been doing it/them?

I am a knitter, using only non-animal fibres. My mum taught me when I was a nipper, I knitted until my early 20s, gave it up and started again with renewed enthusiasm about 5 years ago.

2. Are you a vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, veg-friendly or other?

I am a vegan (hence the non-animal fibres - I don't use silk either)

3. Is this your first swap, or have you done previous swaps before? What makes a swap enjoyable for you?

I have never been involved in a knitting related swap so I am intrigued. I have swapped books and things before though and enjoy the random / surprise element of it.

4. What is/are your favorite color(s)? Do you particularly dislike any color(s)?

I'm not a big fan of yellow (to wear) as it doesn't suit my pale and uninteresting skin tone but I like most bold colours (particularly red)

5. Do you have any allergies (such as pets, foods, fibers or cigarette smoke)?

I am lactose intolerent. (Hence the veganism). I used to be allergic to most animals but now I only start sneezing in the presence of rabbits.

6. Do you have any companion animals? If so, name(s) and type(s)?*

I share my house with a lovely ginger and white male cat called Stripe. He is very well behaved while I am knitting but likes to gnaw at the moving needles sometimes.

7. Do you collect anything?

Books, 1950s artefacts and yes, yarn. It's not an unmanageable mess, it is a carefully gathered and extensive collection.

8. Do you have a favorite vegan food, snack or dish? If no fav that's vegan (for those who aren't vegan), what's your favorite food? (Hopefully your pal can find a vegan version!)

Here in the UK we can buy a vegan non-dairy chocolate called Swiss Couverture. It is gorgeous and the most creamy tasting vegan chocolate I have ever tasted. Before becoming vegan, I researched it carefully and once I found out that I can still eat cake, chocolate and chips I was converted. I like most food but am not keen on stuff that is supposed to be good for you such as wheatgrass juice.

9. What are some of your favorite/least favorite tastes/flavors? (e.g. sweet, salty, chocolate, crunchy, smooth, tart, sour, spicy, thai, whatever - Help your pal get a feel for what kind of recipes you might like and/or never ever make.)

I will try anything!

10. What tools/supplies/accessories for your craft(s) are you wishing you had but don't? Also, what do you have TOO many of? (basically a wish and anti-wish list)

I would love some of those needles which glow in the dark - ideal for knitting in the cinema or a dark pub. I ditched most of my circular needles when I got a set of Denise interchangeable needles but would love some bamboo ones.

11. Are you on Ravelry? What's your handle?

I don't know what that is when it's at home with it's hat on so I guess I am not on it.

12. Is there anything else you would like your pal to know about you?

I'm a nice person!

13. What scents do you like/dislike?

I like most scents I think - don't have any strong feelings on this one.

14. Do you prefer fall or Halloween or some other Autumn theme?

Not bothered really. As an April baby I've always preferred Spring.

15. Just for fun - tell your favorite Halloween or Autumn related memory.

Playing conkers at school and discovering the delights of black peas when I moved to Greater Manchester.

This is so intriguing! I can't wait for this to get going.

Let's all recycle now, c'mon let me show you how...

2007-07-05T20:43:00.000+01:00

The lovely Lisa organised the first ever Freecycle / Natural Earth festival recently. It was held at the Art and Photography Centre at Rivington on Sunday 24 June and was a great success.

This photo shows Jackie from Bolton Knitting Noras and others having a go at making woven rugs from fabric under Lisa's supervision.

I decided to organise a stall to promote recycling and also publicise my local knitting group, Bolton Knitting Noras.

The plan was to knit with strips made from plastic carrier bags and so show visitors the possibilities of using recycled materials to make something new and unique.

As I am an exceedingly bossy and busy person, I also had a Bookcrossing stall set up next to my knitting stall - both attracted a lot of interest during the day.

Up until the last minute I wasn't sure if I was going to make it so I was rather unprepared; however, in the days before I made some plastic bag samples, some small knitted flowers and created a small bag from 6 cut up Morrisons carrier bags.

I was going to sell the flowers but ended up giving them away to young visitors.

My lovely friends Anthony and Jen turned up to help me run both the stalls - Anthony did sterling work talking to people about bookcrossing while I knitted with plastic bags. I met a young "eco-warrior" from Wigan - he tidies his school and picks up litter, and his dad, a councillor is going to invite me to knit with recycled materials at Wigan schools with the kiddies.

I also sold some Knitty badges and made the grand total of £8 which helped pay for the band's lunch.

They were called S R Gents and were wondrous to behold; I loved the slouchy hats - Tom Waits is one of their friends on Myspace apparently and I ain't surprised as he's been wearing a selection of fine hats for years so I reckon he knows what he's talking about.

http://myspace.com/srgents

Lusting after the band aside (who, me?), I had a great time promoting knitting and chatting to people about recycling. Anthony took a picture of me and "my wares" I think the stall looks lovely though I say it myself, wish I was as equally photogenic (shame about the chins)

Vicky from Bolton Knitting Noras has devoted a page of her wonderful blog to the event, which is rather more professional than this sad attempt:

http://web.mac.com/vhjeffery/iWeb/Site/Blog/ECC684F6-6C4E-4BD2-933E-CE933DBFD99B.html

There is a great picture of me and Jen in action with our needles.

I really enjoyed the event (particularly the performance by the gorgeous band S R Gents and their equally lovely hats) and will definitely do it again.

Lisa has vowed never to organise another one though; go on, Lisa, you know you want to.

Fluffy cushion festival

2007-06-05T22:33:00.000+01:00

The other day I found 3 cushions that Bev had donated to me; one blue and two cream.

They are rather magnificent and fluffy and after being left in my spare bedroom where my cat Stripe has been enjoying lying on them the cream ones are now gracing my newish Robin Day sofa.

I decided to knit a dark brown one to match and it is going quite well. I am using the fluffy acrylic Ostrich yarn I got a while ago and using 7mm needles.

It will probably look rubbish when it is sewn up however.

There's nothing like an English Summer...

2007-05-29T16:26:00.000+01:00

and this weekend's dreadful weather was NOTHING like an English Summer (except, unfortunately, it was).

I finished my Mash poncho on Friday, just in time to wear for the Chester Folk Festival.

It was a fun project, despite several false starts; the original version was too small and the knitting was too tight, then when I changed to 15mm needles it was too loopy.

I also kept dropping stitches so until I hit upon the wizard wheeze of using a smaller 6mm needle to pick them up I had to keep starting again.

The sewing up was a bit of a challenge too - took me ages to work it out. Here it is after I'd lashed it together:
And here is a detail of the stitch, with my chubby arm underneath it.

It is not as big as the one in the book but I am a lot wider then the willowy model so that might be why.

And then in traditional Bank Holiday weekend style, it was too cold and wet to wear at the Folk Festival so I will keep it for when summer does arrive...

It's ponchotastic...

2007-05-23T12:10:00.000+01:00

As I am still off work I decided to start another knitting project yesterday.

I am making Mash from the Viva Poncho book, using some Colinette Giotto in raspberry which I have had for ages.

This is a bit of an experimental project as I am hoping to make one in turquoise shades for my good friend Amanda. Just the thing for her to swan about on the beach at Goa, where she goes every year, the lucky so-and-so.

So if it works out, she'll be getting one too.

Last night was spent untangling the skeins, using my lovely little wooden tool thing I bought at Habu Textiles in New York.

I have cast on 30 stitiches on some 10mm (or so) needles, it is easy but also a little bit more challenging than the garter stitch scarves I've been churning out recently.

It doesn't look wide enough at the moment but I will carry on regardless and see how it turns out.

Bookcrossing blankie and baby blankie

2007-05-21T17:13:00.000+01:00

I have created a square for the Bookcrossing afghan / blanket which is being put together and then will be auctioned at the UK Bookcrossing Unconvention in Brighton at the end of June.

I was trying to do one with an interesting VK symbol on (for Veganknitter) but this was much too hard and I thought my brain would explode, so I settled on knitting a square with a V on.

I used some cream Rowan cotton and it looks OK - it could be better but I only had until the end of May.

My friend Is has also sent me a lovely photo of Roscoe's baby blankie in action - here he is with grandmother Mary. All together now, aaaaah.

I'm a lucky, lucky girl

2007-05-15T19:10:00.000+01:00

On Saturday my friend Caroline presented me with this beautiful handbag that she has made / embellished for me.

She is ever so clever and I'm a lucky, lucky girl.

She is selling more handcrafted and knitted wares at a craft fair in Chorlton, South Manchester on Saturday but unfortunately I can't go as I am going to a wedding instead. (Despite not having a stitch to wear)

Good luck Caroline!

2 down, 3 to go...

2007-05-11T10:18:00.000+01:00

My good friend Lindsay generously sent me 4 scarf kits for my birthday. At my party on 21 April, I drunkenly waved them around and offered to make scarves for four of the people there - Cathy, Janet, Chrissie and Joan.

The good news is that I have now completed two of these for Cathy and Janet. Each kit had 3 balls of fluffy fur yarn, so that's 12 balls of yarn altogether. As I am using the 9mm Boye needles Bev bought me in New York (they are so useful!) I have managed to make 2 long scarves from 4 and half balls of yarn. So hopefully I can squeeze another 3 scarves from the rest of the yarn.

The bad (but good news) is that I am off work with a recurrance of cellulitis in my right leg. Last time I got this, the doctor I had at the time didn't work out what it was and I eventually had about 8 weeks off work and a stay in hospital. My plight wasn't helped by my sister ringing me while I was propped in my wheelchair in A&E awaiting a bed with the cheery comment "I've looked it up on the internet and it can be fatal."

Luckily, this time I diagnosed it myself and hot footed (limped) to the doctors to have this diagnosis confirmed yesterday. I now have a few days of knitting leave...erm, sick leave and a course of antibiotics to keep me going until Wednesday so can now sit on the sofa with my leg propped up, knitting away all day long until Monday at least.

So every cloud has a silver lining...

Ooh Betty...

2007-04-27T15:16:00.000+01:00

My good friend and fellow knitter Linda came round last night and brought the beret I made her so I could take some pictures for this blog. It is from the Hats, Gloves, Scarves book by Louisa Harding and was ever so easy to make.

We got Stripe to model it - he wasn't impressed. What an affront to his dignity. Serve me right if he does a whoopsie somewhere he shouldn't.

Gosh! Been away a while...

2007-04-26T13:41:00.000+01:00

But I have done a lot of knitting, your honour.

I finished the baby blankie for my friend Is whose little arrival is imminent now.

I do hope she likes it and more importantly, baby does too.

Roscoe was due on 15 April and hasn't popped out yet so we are all waiting with baited breath for news this week.

I also made a gorgeous (though I say it myself) skinny scarf for myself using the Lion Brand Fancy Fur yarn and Boye needles Bev bought for me in New York.

I really enjoyed knitting with it - there are little tufts of chenille (like tassels) that pop out on the right side of the knitting (with a bit of persuasion from my needles and fingers).

And there's still a ball left over to make a trim for a bag or something (should I be so inclined).

My other news is that my very own Bolton Knitting Noras were the featured knitting group of the month in the May edition of Simply Knitting.

Fame at last except the stupid twits got my name wrong though - Sarah Edwards indeed...

Gosh! Almost a month since I last posted...

2007-03-26T21:20:00.000+01:00

and apparently, I am a world renowned ethical crafter - see here:

http://www.vegforlife.org/knitting.htm

so I'd better make a bit more bleeding effort...

I have finished my tea cosy bar the sewing up (so yes, it isn't finished...).

Here is a picture of it in progress and one with the teapot it is destined for.

I have also started a baby blankie for my friend Is and her partner Bob's expected boy, Roscoe. I do hope the baby is a boy anyway, or I'm scuppered (although they don't believe in gender stereotyping). I am knitting it in a lovely varigated blue / turquoise Rowan cotton that I got from somewhere or other. The sides keep going wonky though as I am doing them in garter stitch and as it is for a first baby I want it to be perfect; I keep ripping stitches out and going back a few rows.

Since I last posted, the Guardian has gone craft crazy but I am not convinced; I will keep on knitting for a while yet whether it is trendy or not - fancy trying doing the knitted dalek though.

Apart from doing some rather erratic knitting, last Saturday I gorged myself on chocolate at the MVS / MVVG vegan chocolate tasting organised by Caroline - 4 trestle tables literally groaning under the weight of about 100 different types of vegan chocolates, sweets and cakes. (I probably exaggerate, but I did sample most of them...)

My favourites remain the Organica vegan couverture bar (it's like Galaxy, but vegan) and the "Trooly Scrumptious" hand made chocs (I bit into a Jack Daniels one and nearly fell over).

We are planning a wine tasting next - who says vegans don't know how to enjoy themselves...

Another vegan crafter

2007-02-27T18:09:00.000Z

My good friend Cathy, who is a Vegan Society local contact, Bookcrosser, Freecycler and generally wonderful person now has her own blog which I would like to share with you all.

I will probably try to add it to the links on the right at some point but this new Blogger scarily says that I will lose my template if I customise my page using the new tool.

And as it took me several weeks to get all the buttons interactive and in more or less the right place, I'm not going through all that again!

So here is the link to her blog, full of handy hints on how to make cards from recycled materials.

Personally, I am impressed with anyone who has the patience to make cards - I could do a blog on making a gluey mess which is all I ever manage but I don't think many people would be interested in it.

http://ethicalcardmaker.blogspot.com/

So swing on by and leave her a comment, why don't you...

Not all quiet on the knitting front...

2007-02-27T17:22:00.000Z

I've had a busy couple of weeks on the knitting front, mainly due to have the luxury of a full week off work due to college half term.

I was busy doing other things too, the main activity being sorting out 26 boxes of old books from a Sixth Form College in Bury. It took 2 trips in 2 hatchbacks to pick them up and there are still 8 boxes in my backroom but at least I know what most of them are now and are sorted thematically.

I do need help though as I bought another 8 books during half term; 3 of which I had already (they were nicer editions though).

Having given my lurex mobile phone cover to a friend while drunk (it looks good on her phone though), I have made a lovely bright pink one for myself - still to be sewn up...

I also made 2 pink corsages for my good friend Linsay; they came out quite well. I used some bright pink DK from a bargain kit I bought, some pink Whisper-like stuff and some R2 pink lurex tape (bought off eBay I think). I just need to sew some pins on the back which will probably take me several weeks to get round to doing.

I am currently working on a retro style tea cosy in some linen drape from my stash. This is the one from the latest issue of Knitting - there is a mistake in the pattern but I think I've worked it out properly now.

It was a bit of an emergency project as I didn't have anything to take with me to the Bolton Knitting Noras meeting on Sunday. In my traditional style, I knitted most of it at the Knit Out and then unpicked it all when I got home.

The Bolton Knitting Noras group is going fantastically; there were 10 of us at the last meeting, including charming new member Jennifer.

New Rowan Magazine joy!

2007-02-12T16:09:00.000Z

The other day I received my new Rowan magazine but have been unable to post about it due to a disgusting amount of gadding about and my inability to post photos and words together on this new supposedly improved Blogger.

I love the new magazine anyway and was filled with nostalgia for 1970s family hols by the Southwold fashion story - I recognised the location just by the beach huts.

We rented a beach hut every year for the full fortnight and my dad always insisted on us going to the beach every day even if it was raining so we could get our moneysworth.

Suffolk in the 1970s was far from the yuppie playground it is these days but we loved it just the same.

My friend Fran lives in Snape and there is no greengrocers or fishmongers on Aldeburgh high street now but you can buy a Cath Kidston cushion.

Arrrgh! So much to say...

2007-02-02T11:36:00.000Z

and not able to say due to a problem with pesky new Blogger.

However, it all seems OK now - but I've forgotten what I was going to say now...

Oh yes, Rowan have a new yarn coming out (maybe it is out now) - Bamboo Tape.

I can't wait to get my hands on some and am awaiting delivery of the new Rowan magazine with baited breath.

I always appreciate the summer Rowan magazines more than the winter ones - all those lovely cottons rather than horrid itchy bulky wool.

I also got sent this link as a super Knitty fan: very amusing article on how a yarn stash should be viewed as a collection - now I know I can be proud of my random piles of acylics and cottons.

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/FEATcollection.html

Weekend a great success

2007-01-28T23:49:00.000Z

Just had a lovely weekend of meetings with my Bookcrossing group, the Manchester Vegan Society and the Bolton Knitting Noras.

There was an all-time best attendance at the Knitting Noras Knit out today - ten of us, including new members Ann, Janet, Vicky, Jill and my vegan friend Caroline.

There were so many of us we abandoned Caffe Nero for the Varsity pub and most of us stayed for a good few hours.

What a great start to the new year!

I also finished my Water Aid blue square.

Also, Lady Sovereign, the new rapper sensation from London was on Popworld on Channel 4 and showed an enthusiasm for knitting - she used to make pencil cases and said she wanted to take it up again.

Match the jumper to the picture...

2007-01-19T15:44:00.000Z

The baby pirate jumper is coming along well; I've done the back and two sleeves and am a third of the way through the front.

I managed to miss a row out yesterday though so had to rip it out down to the first 2 and a half inches but all seems to be OK now.

Veganism is all the fashion, darlink

2007-01-17T10:52:00.000Z

One of the members of my vegan group posted a link to a recent article from the New York Times on vegan fashion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/11/fashion/11VEGAN.html

(Don't know how to make this work like a link like other clever people who blog)

It made me wish I lived in the US and particularly New York.

Join me on the dark side...

2007-01-15T09:27:00.000Z

I've just returned from a wonderful fun-filled weekend in Sheffield, where I went to visit 4 friends in different parts of the city and celebrated 3 birthdays.

I also taught Isobel to knit - she's a natural!

As previously mentioned, she wants to knit a pregnancy poncho for herself - we had a look at my Viva Poncho book and she's decided on a drapy moss-stitch one.

We've adapted the pattern for Sanchez as it calls for 12.75 circular needles and these are nigh on impossible to get in the UK at short notice.

As baby is due in April, time is of the essence!

Is is using some woolmix double knit in a lovely heathery mauve colour. This is from my stash, donated by someone and was no use to me.

I left her casting on on Sunday morning with 6mm bamboo needles and with a sample of moss stitch I did on 5.5 needles.

I hoep that she will enjoy it and not get too frustrated. She has some local knitting friends who should be able to help if she gets stuck.

Baby blankie nearly done

2007-01-04T11:07:00.000Z

I have now completed 3 of the 4 edgings I need to do for the Heirloom Baby Blanket.

Thank goodness, as I am now heartily sick of the whole thing.

I also ordered 2 balls of Elle Pure Gold baby 4 ply in black from Art of Yarn (via Ebay).

This is for the pirate jumper I am planning for my friend Isobel's little one - I thought black baby wool might be hard to find but obviously there is a growing trend for goth babies.

I also have a sore joint on my left fore finger - I've obviously been overdoing the knitting recently!

I'll keep an eye on it.

Very amused that there was a woman knitting in the Big Brother's Big Mouth studio last night; she wasn't very good at it though and the knitting looked a bit small and uninspiring.

Scarf success!

2007-01-04T10:55:00.000Z

As I hoped, my good friend Angela loved her scarf.

Here's a picture of her wearing it at our Bookcrossing meeting on Saturday.

Two scarves done...

2006-12-28T23:18:00.000Z

While at my mum's over Christmas I completed the long purple scarf on 8mm circulars for my good Bookcrossing friend Angela.

It's her birthday today and I'm hopefully seeing her on Saturday so will present it to her then.

I also finished the blue fluffy "Secret Santa" scarf for my work colleague / friend Mary. As I followed the instructions but cast on too many stitches to make a long scarf as in the illustration, I made it into a muffler with a hole in the middle to pull the end of the scarf through.

I hope that she will like it.

Secret Santa

2006-12-20T09:19:00.000Z

I had a lovely meal with my work colleagues last night and we did a Secret Santa.

My friend Mary got a knit your own scarf kit which I relieved her of.

I'm not usually in the habit of nicking other people's Christmas presents; as she can't knit, I intend to knit the scarf for her.

I also need to finish the baby blanket (only the edgings to do now, hoorah!) and make a fluffy purple scarf like mine for my friend Angela in time for her birthday at the end of December.

Gonna be busy over Christmas...

Winter Markets fun

2006-12-17T21:58:00.000Z

My two lovely friends Janet and Anne visited me today and we spent a delightful day shopping in Manchester. I was going to write that they are old friends too; but they won't thank me for that as they're not that old, but I have known them for almost 25 years.

I was supposed to be buying presents but ended up buying lots of things for myself, including a really rather gorgeous charm bracelet from a stall called Calico Monkey; it has a purple plectrum on it and brings out my inner rock chick.

(Actually, not that far from the surface...)

I also bought a delightful handstitched purse as my Secret Santa gift for a work colleague. We are having a meal on Tuesday and shall exchange gifts then. The purse was from another stall called amusingly dontbitchstitch.

Here's a photo of Janet and Anne looking Christmassy and also one of my stash of goodies.

Mobile muffler

2006-12-17T20:59:00.000Z

I finished the mobile cover for my new mobile.

I used some bronze Rowan Lurex Shimmer I had left from a scarf I knitted for my sister.

Also, amazingly, for me, I have sewn it up.

(Not very well though)

It's a boy!

2006-12-11T11:40:00.000Z

My friend Isobel has found out that she is expecting a boy so I can't wait to make the skull and crossbones outfit in the new Knit 1.

Just as well, as I'm getting bored with the Heirloom (non) Silk Shawl.

I also knocked off a lurex mobile phone cosy for my new moby but of course I haven't sewn it up yet.

Inspector(ess) Gadget

2006-12-06T16:14:00.000Z

After the saga with the Cath Kidston phone, I have been trying to get a new mobile phone that might stay undamaged for longer than a day.

I have been haunting the Orange shop and they finally relented and let me have a new phone on Friday.

(On the way there I was lucky enough to see a tree full of a flock of beautiful long tailed tits, busy tweeting away and being totally ignored by everyone but me. It made my weekend!)

I finally got my hands on the new mobile phone on Saturday and this one is for keeps.

It's a Samsung Blush (I believe it is an X830) and is candy pink, teeny tiny and ever so girlie.

It also came with a box of Benefit cosmetics - a make over card, a plastic makeup bag (quite groovy actually), Hollywood Glo body lustre and a Hoola palette.

I am giving the Hoola palette to my work buddy Gemma as the lippy has beeswax in.

So no knitting for me for the next few days while I work out how to work my new gadget. Think I might break it with my meaty thumbs.

One night muffler

2006-12-02T11:45:00.000Z

I've made a fluffy mini version of my purple scarf for my Bookcrossing NSSFC partner.

I only cast on 115 stitches so it's more of a muffler / tippet thingy than a scarf but I hope that she likes it anyway.

Knitting in public fun

2006-11-26T21:04:00.000Z

There were 4 of us at the Bolton Knitting Noras knitout today, me, Bev, new member Caroline and my work colleague Julie aka "the sock mistress". (She makes beautiful socks all the time, even working on them when we're evacuated from our building - now there's devotion for you).

Caroline is keen to learn to knit and seems to think we're the people to help. Bev gave her some needles and I gave her some mauve wool that had been donated to me.

Bev showed her what to do and Caroline proved herself to be an excellent pupil, mastering the slipknot, casting on, garter stitch and casting off within 2 hours.

She has a natural talent.

We were also more than impressed than the magnificent socks Julie was working on - I forgot to get a photo but will try and take one tomorrow at work.

Lots of fun for everyone today in fact.

Legend in my own lunchtime...

2006-11-25T21:18:00.000Z

Just spent a lovely day in the company of my local Bookcrossing pals and the Manchester Vegan Society; 2 meetings in one day - no wonder I'm knackered.

I haven't been to an MVS meeting for about 3 months so it was wonderful to see everyone again.

The famous Jay Dave graced us with his presence too - he hosts a cookery programme on Veggievision so he is a star of screen, if not stage. I've met him several times but was still ridiculously gratified when he pointed at me and shouted "veganknitter!"

The charming Caroline who works at the Art Gallery also revealed herself as a fellow vegan knitter - hoorah!!!!

I decided to get the bus to Manchester and back, thus laying myself open to aural bullying at the hands of the local feral youth.

What is this thing of playing music on your mobile REALLY LOUD so that everyone sitting near you has to listen to it? I wouldn't mind so much, but why is the music that people insist on playing through their mobile phones that rubbish tinny Kevin techno? Why can't they play something with a decent tune, like the Sex Pistols?

Having listened to this stuff all the way from Bolton to Manchester, the same thing happened again on the bus home. I finally cracked after 50 minutes of being forced to listen to it and asked the young woman in front of me if she wouldn't mind turning her mobile phone music down, adding "Don't you have any Ramones?" (I thought this was a witty touch).

(There were several other people on the bus and I think the music annoyed them too but being English, no-one said anything.)

Bless her, she was very polite back, commenting "I'm listening to me music on me mobile" but turned it down a tad. However, the over large chav on the backseat decided to stick his oar in, shouting at me that "Her music is class and we don't want to listen to old people's music that you like, no-one else has complained."

I reasonably commented "I love music of all kinds, but I don't impose my taste on everyone else, I use my headphones" which just encouraged him to say more of the same but at a louder volume.

Young people today eh.

Today was also Buy Nothing Day (the idea apparently originated in Manchester, factfans).

Well I didn't buy much, just my bus ticket, The Guardian (don't know why I bother and will give up completely when Posy Simmonds stops her cartoon Tamara Drew), some vegan cheese and stuff at the Basement.

This doesn't count, as when not buying essentials I was supporting anti-corporate organisations, so there.

And my new copies of Knit 1 (featuring DR RUTH!) and Knitting were waiting for me when I got home.

(Now aren't you glad that you read this far?)

Crafty book frenzy

2006-11-23T16:24:00.000Z

My good friend Bernie gave me some knitting and craft books the other month and I am just going to register them on www.bookcrossing.com

I have asked knitters and crafters in the Bookcrossing UK Group if they would like a free, random knitting book and I have had a great response.

As it is likely that I won't have enough books to go round, I will have to draw names from a knitted hat.

I aim to send each book with a free minibadge from the stash of stuff I got from Knitty.

Hopefully, in the spirit of Bookcrossing, the books will be able to travel on to other knitters and have exciting journeys. Or maybe not, it's all part of the Bookcrossing serendipity.

The world of one project is not enough...

2006-11-22T14:28:00.000Z

Pathetic attempt at a James Bond pun there.

The baby blanket is coming on very well but I think I may start another couple of quick projects as well.

I think I will make a scarf for my NSSFC (Not So Secret Father Christmas) Bookcrossing partner. Several of us UK bookcrossers have volunteered to send a complete stranger a secret parcel containing at least one book and probably some choccies as well.

While I was at the Bookcrossing Unconvention at Birmingham in June, we exchanged goodie bags and quite a lot of people got knitted gifts. I thought this was a lovely idea so I shall make a fluffy scarf to go into my recipient's parcel.

My god-daughter Evie also asked me to make a scarf and gloves for her and as I already have some Elle Plume from the poncho I decided not to make for her I will make her a scarf for Christmas as well.

She may have to wait for the gloves though...

Make me a Supermodel...

2006-11-16T22:51:00.000Z

well not ME, obviously.

Having just wasted 2 hours of my life watching this on Five I can only agree with Adam Faith's dying words, uttered while watching the channel: "It's all crap, isn't it".

The programme was horribly compelling though - the only person who came over as likeable and real was Rachel Hunter (but then I might be biased as she appeared in the video for Stacy's Mom by the great Fountains of Wayne AND survived marriage to Rod Stewart).

One of the finalists was Jen, who was apparently a "normal" woman of "normal size" and thus had huge popular support probably because she also spent the whole series being attacked for being "too large" by the panel; eg the 4 people in charge, 2 of which no-one has ever heard of.

Of course she is about a size 12 so they all proved themselves to be bodyfascists of the highest order. They didn't even show any remorse when the poor girl collapsed in a faint after starving herself (only Rachel rushed to help her).

Anyway, the worthy winner was the lovely Albert who seems much too nice and intelligent to be successful in the world of fashion.

Throughout the final I was obsessed by one of the judges, called "Theramin" or "NooNoo" (or something) who wore enormous shades throughout which even Roy Orbison would have rejected as too over the top.

It's a sick, sad world alright...

But it beats watching washed up "celebrities" inflicting daily torture and almost certain death on invertebrates on "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here" or Steve Strange nearly taking someone's ear off with his clippers in "Celebrity Scissorhands".

And it's going back...

2006-11-15T08:57:00.000Z

the love affair was short-lived...

Having taken the phone home in it's little plastic bag I noticed that some of the paint was coming off on the front cover.

This just won't do for a fashionista like me so I'm going to send it back.

As it's one of those phones you push up to open and turn on and that's where the paint was missing, this problem would only get worse with time.

I'm a bit disappointed and don't want a new one.

It wouldn't have happened in the 1950s when they made things properly.

Bah.

Can I also add that this experience was not helped by being put through to 3 people when I rang, each one of which asked for all my details again. I was eventually advised to take the phone back to my local branch, which I did. One of the so-called customer services staff in the Bolton Branch of Carphone Warehouse was completely arsey with me when I asked them to send it back, even saying when shown the damage "Well, they're all like that".

Once a (charming) woman took over and sorted it out, he then spent 10 minutes rampaging around behind her shouting "I've lost my mobile".

Buyer, beware...

Hoorah. Le phone nouveau est arrive

2006-11-14T16:41:00.000Z

I was good at French at school, me.

I finally got my mitts on my Cath Kidston phone today; it's been a saga.

I missed the delivery dude on Friday and then rearranged delivery to my workplace for yesterday.

Unfortunately, the guy who signed for it in the postroom used a name no-one knew (he's called George but signed "E Wins" (!!) and also didn't record it in the book and put it in the wrong pigeonhole.

You just can't get the staff...

I went down there today after giving the delivery people a blast on the phone and after a bit of searching my friend Sylvia found it in the Hair and Beauty Department pigeonhole. Get off you hairdressers!

I've now charged it up and put my new SIM in and it still says "No SIM card found".

It looks cute although it's a bit plasticky and you need teeny tiny fingers to get the SIM card in and a degree in physics to work out how to put the battery in.

However, I love it even if I can't actually use it yet.

So now I have the phone to match my Cath Kidston ironing board cover, tablecloth, tent and yards of boat fabric (which I haven't decided what to do with yet).

'Enders - they're all at it...

2006-11-10T15:29:00.000Z

Instead of going to the pub last night to meet my veggie / vegan pals, I decided to stay in with my knitting and was thrilled that there were two (count 'em! - two) references to knitting in Eastenders last night.

In the cafe, Pauline said that she was planning to knit a jumper for her poison dwarf grand-daughter Rebecca "for Christmas". She'd better get a move on, especially as she doesn't even know how to knit but was going to get Dot to teach her.

I also think that gorgeous dimmock Honey was discussing knitting with her auntie, who is played by Una Stubbs; but whenever Honey is on screen my mind goes numb so they might have been discussing cavorting with Cliff Richard, The Shadows and Richard O'Sullivan aboard a double decker bus for all I know.

I also found some Patons Cotton Splash in my stash which will be just the thing for my Heirloom Blanket.

All this excitement has helped me get over the crushing disappointment of missing the delivery man with my new phone.

Curses!

Blimey! I'm famous!

2006-11-09T16:48:00.000Z

One of the lovely members of the Yahoo! Group Veganknitters sent a link to a competition hosted by Peta2, the youth wing of PETA.

Once I'd entered it I looked again and realised that this humble blog is listed as an inspiration.

Have a look at the link on the right for details - it's a wonderful competitionee, and as they say:

"We are firm believers in the fact that everyone is a vegan knitter at heart; you just have to start."

As I'm supposed to such an inspiration to all and sundry, I'd better get on and actually finish something then.

Being famous has it's drawbacks...

I'm sooooo Cath Kidston, darlink

2006-11-09T14:50:00.000Z

When I was in London I popped into The Carphone Warehouse to have a look at the much touted Cath Kidston phones.

They had a few on display and while I was having a play, two other women came flying in and had a good old go too; we were really laughing, going "These are so girlie" and lamenting that they weren't made of bakelite or something else appropriately retro.

Anyway, I now have ordered a Cath Kidston Nokia 6111 phone online! Hoorah!

It's the same one as the one pictured but in the red Pop Flowers pattern instead and I can't wait to get my claws on it.

The good news is that it seems to be on it's way.

But I may not be in to take delivery of it though. Bah.

Arrrgh! YARN FORWARD

2006-11-07T14:13:00.000Z

Spent a frustrating couple of hours last night working on the Heirloom Blanket, redoing it 4 times.

I couldn't work out why I seemed to have one stitch less after 3 rows of the pattern.

It's because on the very first row of the pattern, I knitted 2 together and did the yarn forward bit to make another stitch but not at the very end of the row before I knitted 2 at the end.

I blame the wine...

I should be OK now and hopefully get it finished this year at least.

I also went and collected some Knitty goodies which I treated myself to. I had to pay an extra £10 Customs and Excise fee which I wasn't happy about and which blunted my delight in the badges and cards I got.

London trip a success

2006-11-06T15:42:00.000Z

I had a very enjoyable trip, apart from being bored senseless at the Airport because I didn't have my knitting with me and my iPod decided to die as well.

I went to the Holbein in Britain exhibition at Tate Britain on Saturday - the textiles in the paintings were beautiful. He was a very skilled artist; the pictures look like real people; his drawings are exquisite.

The gallery was full of those annoying people who have the audio guide clamped to their head so stand right in front of you or move around like a load of sheep. As a lot of the pictures were tiny little miniatures or otherwise quite detailed, I had to hop about to get an unrestricted view of the pictures I liked.

I hadn't been to Tate Britain for years and was very impressed with the new layout. It was full of kiddies and parents too which was good to see (apart from when I wanted a seat in the Members' Room!)

I did toy with the idea of going on a boat trip on the Damien Hirst boat down to Tate Modern but decided to squeeze in a trip to John Lewis on Oxford Street.

Of course going on Saturday afternoon, along with all the world and his wife was not one of my more brilliant ideas.

The knitting department was bulging with people and buzzing - great to see! While I was there I peeked at the Rowan Studio booklet - some impressive and trendy designs but not many that could convert to vegan friendly versions I'm afraid.

I got some 4 ply Baby Snuggly wool in white and some cream / sand coloured Jaeger Siena cotton for the edging of the Heirloom baby blanket.

I have since changed my mind though and may get some Rowan Calmer for the edging instead; might be a bit softer for baby.

Knitting on the tube on Sunday, on the way to my mum's for lunch, I got talking to a charming pensioner who told me about knitting socks for her brother during the war to help him with his chilblains. She was off shopping at Petticoat Lane; must try that myself next time I'm down.

As one door closes, more open...

2006-11-03T09:02:00.000Z

Firstly, I would like to apologise for the lack of blogging activity during October. This because my dad died on 18 October after a short illness.

He was a wonderful man, lived life to the full (at least until this year) and survived to the great age of 86.

This meant I spent several weeks away from home and away from computers and also did not feel up to blogging the trivial details of my life.

Thank goodness for knitting though! It kept me busy through a difficult time and I have more or less finished my Cotton Tape cardi (apart from the sewing up part, hmmmm).

Ironically, the day my dad went into hospital my friend Isobel announced that she is expecting her first baby, due in the Spring.

So in her honour I have decided to make a few baby items. Her only stipulation is "no lemon yellow cardies"; not sure if that's for her or the baby...

I think I will tackle the chunky satin edge blanket from Erica Knight's Baby Bloom book but in a soft cotton not that real wool stuff - much too scratchy for baby although the cute model on the cover seeems to like it.

She also wants me to teach her to knit as she wants a "pregnancy poncho".

My good friends Caroline and Pietro are also expecting their second any day now - the blanket I made for their first born Sofia took longer than I thought it would as I didn't follow a pattern but just made loads of squares and sewed them together. It also got absolutely enormous!

So this time I am going to make them the heirloom silk shawl from the same book. Being a good vegan I'm not going to use silk but Rowan Cotton Glace or similar instead.

I'm off to London tonight to catsit my sister's kitties for the weekend so will go to Loop in Islington if I can find it (or maybe just John Lewis on Oxford Street) and stock up.

Because of course I don't have any suitable yarn in my stash.

Craft Punk

2006-10-02T20:44:00.000+01:00

I bought a fab bag on Saturday from Me&Yu's stall on Tib Street in Manchester.

Yes, just what I need another bag to add to the 1,000 I have already.

This one's pretty groovy though.

Lost...the plot

2006-09-27T09:32:00.000+01:00

I watched the final 2 episodes (for now) of Lost last night with Stripe my cat variously curled up on my lap, sitting next to me or attacking my feet.

I lost interest in Lost a while back but it seems to have got better recently with the introduction of the new characters.

While otherwise wasting 2 hours of my life I started the sleeve of my Cotton Tape jumper and half way through decided that I didn't want it to be a jumper after all but a short jacket thing.

I really like the stitch; it's so easy now I've got the hang of it. I think it will look quite good on as the holey design makes it less bulky than a solid knit would (so I might look less like a buxom folk singer in the finished article).

So I have now unpicked the front, pending a redesign.

It may go all horribly Pete Tong yet though.

Shiver Me Timbers.

2006-09-19T11:23:00.000+01:00

Avast me hearties, 'Tis International Talk Like A Pirate Day today, so it be!

And if any of you scurvy dogs be thinking of not joining in, here be a joke to change ye mind:

"Why are pirates called pirates?

Because they arrrghh!"

Courtesy of my bookcrossing pal elhamisabel.

Perhaps I'll start knitting Skully from Stitch n Bitch but perhaps not.

But I've just found this hidden treasure...

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/knitlikeapirate.html

My pirate skills don't stretch to html, I be only good at digging and looking through scopes.

Look ye at ye olde links on the right too.

Bolton Knitting Noras are go!

2006-09-18T22:26:00.000+01:00

We had a most successful meeting of the aforesaid Knitting Noras at Caffe Nero on Sunday afternoon; including a younger knitter, Lisa's son.

Fantastic!

Bev and I then went and paid homage to the new haberdashery department in Whittakers department store, tucked away on the second floor, next to the beds and near the ornaments.

I think they should move the dreary menswear from the ground floor and put yarn and card making things there instead; much more colourful and it would attract the Bolton crafters in in their droves.

We were also scoping out the area because we are hatching a cunning plan to stage a public event in Whittakers or Hobbycraft for National Knitting Week 14-21 October.

I am going to poll the members and see what they think.

Where's me jumper?

2006-09-07T14:06:00.000+01:00

Oh there it is.

Decided to use the bargain Rowan Cotton Tape I bought in Ramsbottom to make a jumper with holes in.

I struggled with the stitch a bit but after 4 attempts I think I've got it right now.

I am trying to make it a bit longer and wider as I think it was designed for Twiggy.

Cat nip toys

2006-09-03T12:26:00.000+01:00

I also finally finished the cat nip toys I started a while ago.

I intended to give these to my sister for her active kitties Bert and Bunty but she reports that they prefer bringing live mice and frogs in to playing with any toys they have been given.

So I am sending them to my friends Amanda and Paul who have been adopted by a fourteen year old chap called Woody, who has moved in from next door where he had to share the house with a big dog, several children and some builders.

I carried out extensive product testing with my cat Stripe. Unfortunately the photos do not reflect the catnip induced frenzy he got into; including rubbing his head on them and also trying a kamikaze style clamber onto the radiator to get them from the top of the bookcase.

You'll just have to take my word for it.

Summer poncho est fini...really

2006-09-03T12:24:00.000+01:00

Yes, the wretched thing really is finished; nothing like waiting in for the gasman to concentrate the mind and make you finish off projects.

I think it looks lovely but am not sure how secure that fringing is.

I heart Home Bargains

2006-09-02T19:11:00.000+01:00

After a tipoff by my good friend Linda, Bev and I went to Home Bargains on Wednesday in search of cheap yarn.

My goodness! I got a bag kit; which is 7 balls of yarn, some needles and instructions for only £2.99. I also got two other balls of yarn for only 49p each.

Marvellous!

Summer poncho finished

2006-08-29T12:01:00.000+01:00

My lovely local knitting chum Michelle gave me some gorgeous pale grey Jaegar Albany cotton at our knitting picnic in July and I wanted to put it to good use.

I made a summer poncho, based on "Desiree" in Viva Poncho. Unfortunately, I couldn't work out the stitch at all so did a twisted double rib instead which I think looks more or less the same.

I have now finished this, apart from the sewing up (which I also don't understand!) and some silver lurex tassels.

So it's not finished at all really...

I also show a photo of the "St Ives scarf" I started while on holiday in yes, St Ives. As there was a yarn and jigsaw shop (something for everyone!) it seemed rude not to buy some yarn.

I got a ball each of Elle Pizzaz, Sirdar Boa, Vegas and some varicoloured Eskimo, plus some 8mm circular needles. I cast on 300 or so stiches and knitted about 2 or 3 rows in each yarn.

It kept me busy on the beach and on the 7 hour train journey home.

Think it is a mite too long though - 153 inches (not quite 6,000 yards of woollen reins but nearly).

I like it though; Tom Baker on acid.

Blankie not popular...

2006-08-09T16:09:00.000+01:00

My friend Gilly loved the blanket but unfortunately her little boy was being christened on what was one of the hottest days of the year; so her attempts to make him pose with the blanket over him were met with howls of outrage.

And that was just her husband.

She did show me a picture of her son with a big red round face, taken just after she took the blanket off him. Poor little thing, I'm not sure that I want to be remembered as a person who provides instruments of torture to children!

Finished Moon and Stars blankie

2006-07-17T11:44:00.000+01:00

Yay!

I finished sewing in the ends on the Moon and Stars blankie while watching the rerun of Lost last night.

All I need to do now is give it a gentle wash, iron and pass onto Gilly for her little 'un.

Moon and stars blankie

2006-06-26T14:55:00.000+01:00

I finished knitting a moon and stars blankie for my friend Gilly's baby in January.

However, being me, I haven't got round to sewing all the ends in. Apparently he is being christened at the end of July - he is wearing a cream outfit so a pale blue blanket would be just the ticket.

So I have about a month to finish it off.

I sewed the ends in on the moon and 3 of the stars yesterday until it got too dark and I got fed up.

Only 7 more stars to go!

FEAST! community picnic

2006-06-19T12:01:00.000+01:00

On Sunday a few of us from Manchester Vegan Society went along to FEAST! in Platt Fields Park, Rusholme.

Despite the rain, we had a lovely spot near the lake, under a tree and ate a feast fit for a queen.

Tam had made 4 cakes so we were able to stuff our faces and also had enough left over to give away to hungry clowns, unicyclists, stilt walkers and children.

I also did a bit of knitting and an interested member of public asked me what I was up to.

Jo from knitweararmy came and joined us too; she is off volunteering at organic farms in the South west so I wished her all the best.

Cotton tape bargain buy

2006-06-19T11:57:00.000+01:00

On Saturday, Bev swept me to the glory that is Ramsbottom, jewel of Rossendale, in her new car.

We had a lovely lunch at a tearoom in town that had vegan food on the menu, raided the charity shops and also went to Clark Crafts, which is opposite the railway station.

It's a huge shop, full of crafty bits and pieces and lots of yarn. We also found some bag handles so I'll be going back for another visit sometime.

I bought 6 balls of Rowan Cotton Tape which were reduced to £1.99 each and also 2 balls of cream handknit cotton which I think I'll use to finish my travel pillow off with.

I should have enough Cotton Tape to knit a garment now, oh joy.

World Cup fever...almost

2006-06-12T14:02:00.000+01:00

I visited my good friend Janet in Thirsk, North Yorkshire this weekend and showed amazing restraint by walking past Sheepish, the town's glorious yarn shop and not going in.

Instead, I was enraptured by this delightfully retro shop window display.

It didn't persuade me to watch the match though...

Anna's Craft Room envy

2006-06-07T15:19:00.000+01:00

I've just has a look at Anna's new craft room and am filled with admiration (Have a look yourselves by clicking the link to "Finally Waking Up")

My back bedroom looks like an explosion in a yarn factory, despite me already having a built-in cupboard.

I am filled with a mixture of green eyed envy, wonder and misery as I am sure that I too could have lovely craft room like Anna's if only I was better organised, was able to declutter and actually had the discipline to get on with it.

So thank you Anna, for giving me something to aspire to. I think I need some bossy friends round to sort it all out for me.

New Knitting Magazine and Summer joy!

2006-06-03T12:14:00.000+01:00

The postie got me out of bed by delivering some items from Amazon (A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian and The Time Traveller's Wife for a friend and the soundtrack to Punch Drunk Love for me) and the new issue of Knitting.

Knitting has greatly improved from it's distinctly grannyish and useless early issues and I am quite excited by this pattern for a circular blankie.

Plus no sewing up, which is always a bonus.

And it's a blessed sunny day today so I can actually foresee an occasion during our English summer when I could use it.

Viva la Poncho

2006-05-31T15:13:00.000+01:00

While away in Welsh Wales camping I decided to make a poncho for my 4 year old fairy god daughter Evie.

She has at least 2 ponchos already but they are good for keeping her warm when she's feeling too feisty to wear something with sleeves.

I'm using some Elle Plume in Raspberry Ripple which I bought from Em's Stitches a while back. It has pinks, browns and purples in so should be just the thing.

I am guessing at the dimensions though so it all might go Pete Tong yet.

Summer Reading Challenge

2006-05-25T16:34:00.000+01:00

Just joined Amanda's Summer Reading Challenge and will try and read 2 books a week.

So that's the knitting taking a backseat then.

Depleted stash

2006-05-25T16:17:00.000+01:00

I was a knitting angel of mercy yesterday!

My friend Denise asked me if I had any spare yarn that her colleague Iris could use to teach some trainee nursery nurses to knit.

I sprang to the rescue and within 15 minutes Denise had a huge bag of unwanted yarn, a beginners knitting book and my knitting handouts from when I taught knitting last year.

Apparently the young women are going to knit scarves and make pompoms over the next few weeks.

Glad to help, ma'am.

And yes, my stash is still huge and unmanageable.

Bit behind at blogging...

2006-05-25T15:58:00.000+01:00

and with knitting...

I have now finished knitting my Marakesh bag in cotton rope; the sewing up will be another matter though.

At the Bolton knitting Noras meetup on Sunday I started some small catnip toys for my sister Jane's kitties Bunty and Bert. They keep bringing baby sparrows in so she could do with something to distract them.

I also got the new Simply Knitting magazine yesterday and am quite excited by the cotton lacy cardi in there although no doubt I will look like a granny in it.

Off camping in Welsh Wales this weekend so could do with something to take with me; will think on.

Duttons for Buttons frenzy!

2006-05-07T22:17:00.000+01:00

I went to Harrogate with Anthony yesterday and frightened him with my enthusiasm for shopping.

I managed to spend nearly £30 in the wonderful Duttons for Buttons - the green buttons were nearly £3 each but they are lovely. And I just liked the "nan's coat" look of the big black and white ones.

Yes, it's all stuff I need. That's my story anyway, and I'm sticking to it.

Anthony was highly amused at the plan for vegan 'taches so I'd better get on with it.

Cotton Rope hell

2006-05-05T12:53:00.000+01:00

After my disastrous shrug project, I have reused the yarn and started the Marakesh rucksack from the Cotton Rope book.

I began it on Monday and unpicked it 3 times before I realised that the pattern was wrong.

So I'm doing my own version of the pattern which looks the same as the picture in the book. (I think so anyway!)

It's hard going though and I lost concentration completely during Lost (put your shirt on, Dr Jack)

Billy no mates on Sunday...

2006-05-02T10:59:00.000+01:00

Further to my excitement at receiving the new Knit 1, I decided to try a version of the travel pillow (in a completely different yarn though).

Armed with my pale blue Snuggly yarn and some Rowan chunky chenille, I made a start at our Bolton Knitting Noras knit out on Sunday afternoon.

Unfortunately, as I had arranged it for the Bank Holiday weekend, I was the only one there indulging in knitting in public.

I got a free coffee though so passed a jolly hour and then managed to complete the front of the pillow by Sunday night.

Thanks Mr Postie!

2006-05-02T10:48:00.000+01:00

I received two bumper packages on Saturday morning.

The green "mohair" is from Anna in Liverpool - thank you Anna. I actually have quite enough mock mohair already but I am just a girl who can't say no.

The Incredible Yarn and Knit 1 are from the excellent Taj Yarns in Bucks. I think the Incredible will become a mesh poncho and I'm quite excited about the Knit 1 magazine, particularly the travel accessories and the pirate gear (Arrrr!)

London Calling...

2006-04-25T09:41:00.000+01:00

I returned from London on Saturday, having completed most of my bag and completed nil moustaches.

I also showed great restraint and didn't go to any yarn shops (but only because I couldn't remember where Loop in Islington was).

My sister Jane, as always, was highly amused by my knitting exploits; watching me working halfway through one side of my bag, she said "What's that? A vegan merkin?" She also decided that she didn't want a lacy shrug so I don't have to compromise my vegan principles by buying any Rowan kidsilk haze.

My friend Amanda loved her corsage and pinned it on her turquoise cardi immediately. Her husband Paul said "Where's my jumper?" - poor man has been waiting 5 years for me to knit him one.

The opinion from everyone around the table at the Tate Modern restaurant was that I should sell corsages on ebay; quite a good idea actually as at least they're quick to produce.

I also nicked Jane's Brora cashmere catalogue to get some ideas; they're charging 20 quid for corsages I note. And my friend Gina paid £40 for one 2 years ago...

We went to see the Modernism exhibition at the V&A, which was a massive disappointment; a very muddled and complicated exhibition. The last 2 rooms were better but by then we'd ran out of time to look at everything properly. Plus the shop was shut; it was torture having to walk through and not being able to buy anything! I want some William Morris print wellies, dammit.

One of my favourite items was a knitted swimming costume by Sonia Delaunay; the caption said it was practical but I reckon it would get very stretched when wet.

The Josef Albers and Lazlo Moholy-Nagy show at Tate Modern was superb, however - I'm fizzing with ideas for an abstract knitted wall hanging / rug.

London project sorted

2006-04-14T17:31:00.000+01:00

I have promised some Rowan cotton to Anna in Liverpool so took the opportunity to sort my stash out a bit.

I found this Wendy Chic, pattern and bag handles, bought ages ago in John Lewis in Sheffield (it will always be Coles to me).

Unfortunately, I hate knitting with the yarn, having made a scarf for my friend Jane's teenage daughter Rachel the other month. I was fed up by the end; it's so hard to knit with I think.

I think the bag will look rather splendid when I've finished though.

Hoorah!

Made another corsage

2006-04-14T17:17:00.000+01:00

I got up bright and early today, ready to annoy the Christians from the church on my street. Every year, they have a "Walk of Witness" from a church on another street to their church; two years ago, which I think was the first year they did this, they carried an enormous cross, hewn from timber and took the opportunity to peer into the houses of heathens en route who weren't on the march. Of course they are quite entitled to do this as it's Good Friday but I found it a bit annoying.

This year, I was ready for them; I had Satan by Orbital cued up on the hifi and was going to pop out and prune my roses just as they walked past.

Well, they didn't appear - what's a girl to do, but do some knitting.

I feel cheated! But at least my friend Amanda has the turquoise corsage she's been promised. I've wrapped it up in pink tissue paper and did a handmade stamp with my rubber stamp kit.

I'll be seeing her next week so hopefully she'll like it.

Vegan 'taches

2006-04-13T11:34:00.000+01:00

On my return from London I will be attending the April meeting of the Manchester Vegan Society at the Basement, Lever Street, Manchester.

We laugh, chat and eat cake. Sometimes I do some knitting.

One of our members, Anthony has a lovely moustache and he is usually at every meeting. However, he missed the last one so we all thought we should have emergency fake 'taches for any meetings that he doesn't come to.

I rashly volunteered to knit some and I have some brown eyelash yarn which would be just the thing.

So there's a project I can work on in London.

I'm not sure how we can affix them to our faces - perhaps we will have to screw up our top lips like Baldrick in Blackadder Goes Forth when he was impersonating Charlie Chaplin (or as Stephen Fry's character called him, "the slug balancer").

The photos will be quite amusing though (but probably only to me).

Need a portable project for next week...

2006-04-12T12:39:00.000+01:00

I'm off to London to see family and friends next week (it's my sister Jane's birthday on Tuesday 18 April and mine on Friday 21 April).

I'll need some knitting to keep me busy on the train down, tube, in queues for lunch etc.

I'll need to do something that's fairly easy and portable as I hate reading a pattern while on the move. I always drop my yarn and needles; need a knitting apron or a belt like the Shetland Islanders used to wear.

Time to rummage in the stash I think...

I've persuaded Jane to come to Liberty's and/or John Lewis on Oxford Street with me to look at yarn; MUST TRY NOT TO BUY YARN....

Sparkly red corsage fun!

2006-04-11T09:07:00.000+01:00

I am going to a wedding on Saturday and someone told me I couldn't wear bright colours as I would clash with the wedding party. Although I had a nice subtle outfit planned, I thus promptly went out and bought a red spotty dress which I will wear with red shoes and handbag.

My jacket is navy so I knocked off a red sparkly corsage to wear last night using instructions in Emma King's 25 Knitted Bags book.

I looks OK and and should finish off my not-very-bright-at-all outfit nicely. At least you'll be able to see me in the photos. Perhaps nobody will speak to me again though.

New Knitty!

2006-04-10T11:35:00.000+01:00

However, just in time to cheer me up and help me recover from my shrug disaster induced gloom, the new Knitty is out!

Hoorah!

And I managed to download a button for it too - clickypoo.

Awww shucks...shrug looks awful

2006-04-10T10:19:00.000+01:00

I finally finished my shrug at the weekend and yes, as I suspected, it looked good on the hanger and rubbish on me!

These shrug things are OK if you don't have any breasticles. The fact it doesn't fit properly has NOTHING to do with my knitting and finishing skills, of course.

So I am going to unpick it and adapt it so that the sleeves are shorter and there is a front to it.

I saw some cotton shrugs in Zara yesterday so am going to try and do a version like them.

Maybe I'll just give up and knit a bag like I was going to in the first place.

That's better...

2006-04-06T09:46:00.000+01:00

Redoing the rib and it looks much better now; many, many more stitches on there so hopefully it will look OK when off the needles.

It will have my rather lumpy body inside it though so maybe not.

I quite like the silver thread combined with the mauve - nice sparkly look.

Been poorly sick...

2006-04-05T11:44:00.000+01:00

So did lots of knitting yesterday with my feet up and some medicinal whiskies next to me. I love those daytime antiques shows...(but maybe not if I had to watch them every day).

I am now knitting the edging of my shrug but think I may have to start again as there are supposed to be over 500 stitches on there and I only have 200 or so.

I will post a picture before "I rip it up and start again" (Orange Juice, legendary 80s indie band, I salute you)

Also got a (very nice) rejection letter from Emma King about the Rowan Knitting Consultant job I went for at John Lewis at The Trafford Centre the other week. Not too heartbroken as the money and hours left a lot to be desired to be honest - think I'll stick to knitting as a non career option for now.

Shrug making good progress

2006-04-03T10:28:00.000+01:00

Went to Sheffield for the weekend and managed to knit on the train, at my friend's house and also during the hour waiting for an uncancelled train to Bolton so made a lot of progress on my adaptation of the alpaca shrug in April's Knitting magazine.

I'm reusing the mauve Rowan cotton rope I got at a bargain price from Stash in Chester; I made a short cardigan in it first but it looked awful so this shrug is my second go at making a wearable garment from it.

The yarn is really easy to work with, I like it. However, the yarn is quite bulky and as the needles are quite big (8mm) and there are a fair few stitches, it's quite hard going.

I did try and do the lacy pattern but managed to snap one of the connecting points off my Denise needles because I knit too tightly so now it's in moss stitch instead.

Managed to add some links

2006-03-31T15:51:00.000+01:00

to my friend Bev's Knitting Blog and also to the wonderful knitting blog of Anna, who is a fellow UK based vegan knitter like me but seems to be much better at blogging.

I want some of those WIP diagrams, dammit!

My first post

2006-03-29T15:57:00.000+01:00

My aim in this blog is to show what knitting projects I am currently working on.

I also have (the possibly vain hope) that I will be given the incentive to photograph and blog some completed garments from the mountain of knitted but unsewn up things in my bedroom.

Why is knitting such fun, but the sewing up so tedious?