London town...

This time last week we were in that there London. As well as catching up with friends, we got to visit the Power of Making exhibition at the V&A. A fantastic array of different crafts on display, though it was extremely busy! A trip across the city took us to Kate's crochet market, a tongue in cheek crochet homage to the supermarket. Great stitching and I particularly like the yarn puns.
Back home in Glasgow now, it is very sunny - maybe it is time to knit a swimsuit?
A kitsch 80s charity shop find. Not quite sure it is the way forward though!

Orkney holiday knits...

So I said I would share my gift knitting that I did in Orkney...
Two sets of Saartje's booties and two simple baby hats. One set in newborn, and one set in baby size, using Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino. Soft & very cute!
Now with autumn here, time to knit another hat for me!

Holiday Hat!

Good news! My hat was finished in time for my holidays! Bad news (well bad might be pushing it) is that it is a little big. I mean it fits, but you wouldn't want to wear it on a windy day. Good news though, as it is wool, I am hoping a hot wash will make it a bit more snug. Though there is always the risk that I might shrink it too much, and it will end up as a hat for the guinea pigs. They, of course, do not wear hats (it would mess up their hair). Also do you realise how difficult it is to take a picture of a hat whilst wearing it. After much trying, and many pictures of me frowning, I decided that the blurry picture was the best.
Holiday to Orkney was lovely, I'll let these pictures speak for themselves.
I did manage to do some holiday knitting (after all what is a holiday without knitting?). And will share this with you soon. Ps, Wacky Wendy Woo sent me a link to the most amazing thing - a knitted garden! You can read more about the project here.

Gentle knitting...

After a busy few weeks, time for some gentle knitting. Firstly off the needles my second herringbone rib sock. The first sock was finished last November!
They really shouldn't have taken as long as they did, though I managed to lose them in the abyss that is the spare room, which is my excuse and I'm sticking to it. If I hadn't had such a long break whilst making these, I'm sure I would have found them much easier. The pattern is well written and relatively straightforward, however it took me a while to get the herringbone rib pattern memorised. And then by the time I'd remembered it, I then put the half-finished socks away for months and months, so that by the time I looked at them again, I had forgotten the pattern!
Because of this there are a few holes, or shall we say - personal design touches? But as they are for me, I really don't mind. Next on the needles is another project for me. I'd read some great reviews of The Gentle Art of Knitting by Jane Brocket, and I also enjoy reading her yarnstorm blog, so I treated myself to the book. After admiring the many lovely patterns, I've picked the simple squishy slouchy hat to start, using some Patons Moorland Tweed DK that my mum gave to me.
The pattern is nice and simple, perfect knitting whilst watching the TV. And the yarn is quite pretty, with flecks of colour throughout. I wonder if I can get my hat finished for my holiday?

If tears could build a stairway...

I recently made a cross-stitch for my mum, based on a poem she saw on a plate.

I used KG-Chart for cross stitch package to make the chart, and am happy with how it turned out. I have attached a pdf of the chart to my craftster post here should you want to do something similar.