Tobys' kimono

I have just realised, that with all the excitement of the Ravelympics, and working on the House, I did not show the finished kimono which I made for Bella's new boy,Toby.
It is from 'Natural knits for Babies and Mums' by Louisa Harding. I substituted Jeager matchmaker for the recommended yarn, as I like working with it, and it will be an Autumn/Winter garment. It was very easy, and knitted up quickly. Buttons from Hayes wools,Taunton,as was the Yarn.

On Leave,but no Holiday

Best beloved has been on leave for a week, and has been instaling a solar hot water system.It was so exciting to hear the pump going, and know that it would be making an impact on the electricity bill.
So this week, I am on leave too. We have had a flurry of finishing off small projects, like hanging blinds in the bedroom,and the study. Yesterday, we went to Bristol Ikea. Not a bundle of laughs, but we bought another blind for my sewing room (sounds grand, but it is also the spare bedroom), some lovely off-white linen curtains which I will re-make as curtains for our bedroom,and various teatowels and the like in Scandinavian blue and white. Yes, blue and white in the Kitchen again.

The fun bit of the Ikea trip -We went via Get Knitted. B.B. was very good,had a wander around,then sat and read various magazines, while I drifted around the shop in a daze. It is as amazing as I had heard.Quite a large shop floor for a Yarn shop. Well laid out.The staff were very helpful indeed, in a calm,unshowy way. And patient. What did I buy? Only a few little things....All five sizes of cable, and a Knit Picks Harmony 4mm and 5mm tips, and a 4mm tips in the metal. Some buttons for Nicky's waitcoat. A sweet pattern I will make up as a present for someone special. And a few things to go in my Gifts box, against the coming of the giving season.
And I managed to complete a knitted blanket on the way home.(B.b. was driving!).
Poppy says 'I thought Holidays were meant to be Fun.You two are boring.'

So much has been going on, that we haven't had time for the computer. In the last two weeks, I have emptied out two bedrooms (the smallest and the largest), stripped wallpaper, and completely decorated both rooms. Today, the carpet fitters came and laid new carpet in both rooms. I cannot believe it is our house! I'm so pleased with it all. We are finally working our way towards finishing the renovations.

And the Ravelympics are in full swing. I have managed to complete my races.As I was so distracted with the house, I stuck with small goals.

I entered several things in the Hat Dash-the first was a pattern by Elizabeth Zimmerman; A spiral hat, made in Mirasol sulka. A beautiful yarn...merino, Alpaca and silk.

And I entered five hats for Premature babies, which will go to the local hospital. No formal patterns for these, and I used oddments from my hoard. So now I must concentrate on finishing a couple of projects which have been languishing in my basket for a (long)while!

Harvest

Dave at Hayes wools is having a sale at the moment......I went in to pick up any knitted squares for Oxfam that may have been left there, and got side-tracked.
Today is Lughnasa. In the Pagan calendar, it is the celebration of the start of Harvest. It is also the begining of Autumn.

First of the Harvest

There has been a lot of Harvesting going on over the last two weeks.Tractors, pulling trailers of tall, swaying, loads of straw, creep along the roads.The Barley is all in store.The Wheat is within a day or two of ripeness. I was delighted to see this picturesque scene on my way home from work on friday. The field is less than two miles from home, so I rushed back with my camera. Not sure when I will see the like again.

And here is my secret project. A New Arrival gift for Little K., Ness and Lisa's little one. I have already started a knitted kimono cardi, for Toby, another new arrival.

Open Day

At last, the first Sweet Peas of Summer! I just love them, and have to grow some every year. Unfortunately, I had trouble germinating them this year. After the third attempt, I gave up, and just bought random pots of seedlings where I could. So, instead of four carefully considered colours, a kalaidoscope of colour. Nevertheless, a joy.
And a teaser of what is on my needles.

I went to the Coldharbour Mill Open Day, on Saturday, and met some friends from Close Knit there.Jacquie, and Ness with her little one, K. We had a lovely time pottering around, looking at the Exhibitions and watching the demonstrations. One lady was sitting and using a sock knitting machine. Fascinating! I have never seen one before.We had lunch (very good Restaurant!) And spent ages looking at these lovely Alpaca. Four boys, all about fourteen months old. The second from the left is the leader of this group, apparently, and he spent all the time we were there, making the sweetest, gentle cooing noise. I had to be dragged away, to look at the shop. Naturally, we spent ages looking at the wonderful Yarns, and stroking them. Some purchases were made. (That is all I will say on that subject).

Wool Lust

I had to go food shopping on Saturday,so on the way to Tiverton, we made a little (?) detour, and went to Coldharbour Mill. Well, they've moved the shop around again. The lovely Coldharbour spun wool, still there. The squishy Alpaca, still there. All the hand-made things. Yes, still there. And so many additions! Lots of books. At least three times as many as before. All crafts covered. Oh, but you should see the new yarns....... Silks, thin, thick, nubbly. Hand-spun Alpaca, Alpaca and Blue Faced Leicester. And lots else, besides.

Well, I admired and stroked them all. What did I buy? A 50g skein of Laceweight Alpaca/Blue Faced Leicester. I'm now struggling NOT to start a lace scarf.
While I was there ,I noticed a poster advertising
COLDHARBOUR MILL
OPEN DAY and SUMMER ART SHOW
SATURDAY 19 JULY 11 -4 FREE
CRAFT DEMOS and HAVE-A-GO
SPINNING, WEAVING, FELTING
ALPACAS IN ATTENDANCE
Sounds good, does it not?