The excitement of new fabric

So it turns out that life got in the way of really getting going with this blog.  Hopefully it lets up in the next wee while!


Anyway I was very excitied this evening when I got home to find that this absolutely fantastic fabric from Makower, which I purchased from Wind the Bobbin yesterday, had arrived!  Was not expecting it to arrive quite so quick.  


Its very topical given the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and Olympic Celebrations this year and I have a few projects already earmarked for it.  Will keep you posted!

All together

London icons 

Bus scatter

London blocks

Crowns

Exciting times....

Today two exciting craft things happened to me.

The first is my copy of Coastal Knits arrived. I only ordered it from Tangled Yarn on Sunday evening and it arrived yesterday (Tuesday).  Unfortunately I was not in work to pick it up but was really impressed with their service. Very exciting!  I need to have a proper look at it (I unfortunately I left it in my desk drawer) but even from my quick flick through there are two projects that are fighting for first project status!

The second exciting thing was tonight was my first sewing class at The Life Craft.  C and I decided at the end of last year to sign up for the 7 week class which teaches you how to use a machine then you make a tote bag, bunting, lined make-up bag (with zip), cushion with piping and then two weeks to do the project of your own choice.

Tonight was just the introduction class to how to wind the bobbin, thread the machine and learn about tensions.  I remembered quite a bit of this from being taught by my Granny so didn't find it too bad.  We were just practicing by experimenting with all the different stitch types before moving on to do a straight hem.  This was all relatively easy.  We then moved onto a French hem.  This was a bit more difficult but I think that my first attempt was quite good (even if I do say so myself).  I decided that this was more than likely a fluke, but my second attempt also worked well.  Whether or not I can replicate it at home is another matter!  Looking forward to trying though.

Would put up a photo of my sewing attempts but white thread on light cream fabric does not really show up very well!  Next week it is a tote bag so I looking forward to having something to show off then.

Hmmmm just a bit too short

Ok I blocked the shawl but I think I have may have done something wrong!  It was about 39 inches long by about 17 inches deep when it was on the pins.  However, it has now 'relaxed' to 36 inches long by 15.5 inches wind!  To be honest it feels a bit short on.  May be ok under a coat but not sure.

Taken a picture with my webcam for illustrative purposes. What do you think?

To frog or not to frog??  Hmm .... think I will leave the fate of this scarf to another day.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I wonder what 2012 will bring?!

I thought I would start the year by doing something that I have never done before.   I decided to join my first kal on Ravelry to make my first shawl (ok I know that is actually two things I have never done before!). The pattern we are following are 198 yds of heaven. I was rather worried by the pattern as I have only been knitting for a year but actually it was very easy to follow.

I chose a lovely squishy red  merino worsted weight yarn by Malabrigo.  I really enjoyed knitting with it as it is  my first project with this wool.  It was actually a treat to myself when I was investigating the lovely Yarn Cake store in Glasgow for the first time at the beginning of December.

It was actually a really quick knit with this being my progress from day one (sorry about the poor photo). Not bad since I was just picking it up when I could.

By the 2nd January I was only four rows away from finishing the main pattern.  However, due to other activities I only finished it yesterday (5th January).  Not bad going I thought.

Just about to come off the needles. (Note all the markers - a godsend, although I did find out quite near the end that it saves time if you count stitches between markers as you go rather than at the end of the row...!)

In the process of blocking....

I ended up reblocking the shawl this morning to get another two inches out of it.  Really looking forward to it drying so I can go show it off.

I also popped into town today to see what wool I could grab in the sale. More of that later I think!