Card making and craft fairs

Hi everyone,

Been a few weeks since I last blogged, haven't been doing much knitting of late, been busy in the garden picking my lovely fresh veg, a bit of cross stitch and am pleased to announce that Towneley Crafts has it's very first craft stall selling our home made cards booked. So excited, have been up to our eyes in gorgeous Hunkydory products making some lovely Christmas cards.  I'm currently working on a pair of socks in Wendy Roan, the majority of my time away from my desk has been spent card making.


I'm waiting for the new Hunkydory At Home USB 3 to arrive from Hunkydory Towers, when I've received it I will post a review.

Sadly the gearing went in our Gemini and it had to go back to Crafters Companion who kindly replaced our machine free of charge.  I have to say that the customer service team at Crafters Companion are an absolute dream to deal with, so understanding and I must thank Sara Davies for that as they are a fantastic bunch of girls.

Hasn't the summer so far been a washout? I really hope the weather improves.  It would seem that tomorrow we are going to be battered once again by more thunder storms.  My poor cat is terrified of them, we have to make him a den to hide.



I've also invested  in a brand new craft product/machine which I'm excited about but keeping it a secret for now.  It will make my card making a dream.

Enjoy the cards below, they have all been made using Hunkydory card kits, hunkydory sticky foam pads (which are the best there is) and also Hunkydory Adorable Scorable and Mirri card.

Snazzy Socks on a Summer Afternoon

Hi everyone,

I finished the first sock of a pair over the weekend this week.  My first time using Stylecraft Head Over Heels.  I like the way the colour has pooled in these, makes them look really different.  Just about up to the heelturn now on the second sock, so hopefully will have a finished pair by the end of the week.  

Love this yarn and would definitely buy it again in the future.

Its made up from 75% Superwash Wool and 25% Nylon, comes in 100g balls and has 437 yards/400 metres in each ball.

Washes in a machine at 30 degrees C.

Ta da, one finished sock, now to work on its mate.

I'm getting really enthiastic about knitting socks, I've never had something that I could carry on knitting throughout the warmer months, so far my socks have been to the hospital and in the garden, they are a really transportable project.  And I'm really enjoying knitting on DPNs, I never thought I would.

I have so many WIPs (work in progress) now, that I really must get something finished.  Too hot to sit crocheting blankets, so sock knitting is the thing for me this summer.  Me and the Bi-focals are doing me proud with my sock knitting.

My sock and the trusy Bi-focals.

A trip to Sirdar Mill, a trip down memory lane.

A few years ago Mum and I went on a Woman's Weekly Knitting Masterclass to Sirdar.  We have a lovely time and it is still fresh in our memories, we got to see how the wool was turned from fleece into a ball of yarn, had a days knitting and learning new techniques with the amazing Design Team and even better got to buy some wool.  I remember our trip home on the train laden with packs of lovely Sirdar Countrystyle DK.  Those were the days when Mum and I could do things like that together.  A memory we both cherish. 

The Trooping of The Colour Flypast

This past weekend was a warm one, Mum and I spent part of it in the garden, we were honoured on Saturday as it was Trooping The Colour and as happens every year we are on the flight path to Buckingham Palace and were treated to seeing the planes closer than the Queen and the rest of the royal household. 

Here are a few more of my finished sock.

A perfect fit.

Almost done the cuff for the 2nd sock.

Look at that perfect fitting sock.

If you enjoy reading my blog, why not send me a comment or give me a follow?  Enjoy the rest of the week and I will report back when I've finished my pair.

TTFN.

Tracy

xxx

TA, DA!!! A very proud sock announcement - I've finished my first pair!

Hello everyone, what a glorious Saturday morning it is.  I've got a trip to the garden centre planned and then a bit of pottering in the garden, sock knitting will be postponed until this evening/late afternoon today.

How are you all?  I've not been too well this past week, ended up with a rotten cough and cold, but now it is almost gone.  Mum had a hospital appointment on Friday and I took my trusty socks with me and ended up getting quite a bit done whilst I was there as we were there most of the afternoon.

I have an announcement to make.....

Are you ready?

The much anticipated first pair of socks have finally been finished using West Yorkshire Spinners Pennyroyal 4ply yarn.  The first time I'd ever knitted wool that was 75% wool and I did enjoy the experience, I have 9 more balls of varying shades to do some more socks.  It feels a little hard to start with but apparently once washed it softens up.  I've been told that it washes and wears very well, so I'm really pleased about that.  I'm addicted to yarn, I have quite a stash of double knitting already, but I fear its going to be staying in the cupboard a little longer as I'm determined to get some more socks made.  These beauties were finished yesterday evening.  Despite an initial set back, getting confused, struggling with small circulars I managed to complete these on DPNs.  I've ended up buying some slightly longer ones than I had and they make things much easier.

Ta, da.  drumroll please, my first socks and my trusty Bifocals.

I've decided to try as many different British yarns as I possibly can and write about them all here.  My next socks have already been cast on and the cuff knitted.  The pattern I follow is by Christine Perry (Winwick Mum).  A link to her fabulous and very supportive facebook group can be found here Winwick Mum Sockalong it is a really supportive group and they are all very helpful.  Christine's pattern is very easy to follow even for a beginner unable to read knitting patterns.

Now about West Yorkshire Spinners (WYS).  They are one of the few remaining worsted spinning companies left in the United Kingdom and are extremely proud of their British Heritage.  They source their own raw material which is then produced at their factory in West Yorkshire, truly home grown products.  I for one am extremely proud to be knitting their yarn.  Here is a link to their website if you wish to find out more  West Yorkshire Spinners.  I think its great that a small minority of yarn companies still produce everything in the UK. They have been very supportive in my venture and I do appreciate it and want to thank you West Yorkshire Spinners for being there.  Hopefully one day I will get to visit your mill and see the process.

My 2nd sock

What fabulous socks!!

My next socks are already on the needles.  This time I'm using Stylecraft Head Over Heels in Etna.  I've found this a lot softer than WYS yarn, And so lovely to work with such bright colours.  Stylecraft is a quite a new yarn to me, I only started using Stylecraft Special DK after being introduced to crocheting again by Lucy at Attic24.  Its a lovely yarn to work with when you are crocheting with such lovely bright colours.  I love bright colours, so pretty excited to be using Head Over Heels.  It looks such fun.  I'm going to end up with a pretty snazzy collection of socks I think.  I am in touch with the lovely people at Stylecraft and reporting back what I think of their sock yarn.

Look at the colours

Some details on the ball band

Just amazing.

The start of another sock

For more information about Stylecraft yarn please visit their website Stylecraft.  Stylecraft Head Over Heels is available in 8 colourways.  It has been specially developed to be durable enough for socks, but also fine and light enough for knitters and crocheters who like to make shawls.  The colour palette has been carefully crafted so each colourway has 3 short colour changes and 3 longer ones to give spectacular striping effects as your project grows.  It is made up from 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon.  I shall keep you updated as my work progresses.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!   Enjoyed reading this?  Why not leave me a comment or follow my blog.

Oh Mummy I like your socks xxx

Look Isla, Mummy's new socks are fab.

Mum's cross stitch

Knitting Socks, British Yarn is the Best!

Hi everyone,

Well what a turnup, I've only gone and done it, after five failed attempts, I've finally gone and finished my first sock.  A very proud moment for me yesterday, I'm soo proud of myself for finishing such a hard project.  My new Bi-Focal's have worked a treat and I could see to pick up stitches if I had to undo any knitting, they are fantastic.  I have already started my second sock and ready have lots of stash. The chances are you have found me by chance, please do leave me a comment so I know you've stopped by.

I've decided that I'm going to stick with yarn produced right here in the UK, nothing beats home grown produce.  My first sock was produced using West Yorkshire Spinners (WYS) yarn, which I found to be really lovely to work with, I don't usually knit with 4ply, in fact, I've never knitted 4ply, so even that was a challenge, but to be honest I really enjoyed knitting 4ply.  I followed Winwick Mum's sock pattern, the link is here http://winwickmum.blogspot.co.uk/.  Christine is such an inspiration and so very helpful.  A big shout out to the Sockalong Facebook Group for their ongoing support and encouragement, without you all I would never have carried on, let alone finished my first sock.  

I really love my little sock, it makes me very proud, no longer will I have illfitting socks that are tight around my chunky legs and not made to measure and the heel ends up somewhere around my ankle as shop bought socks are just not made for a size four and a half foot.

I've got quite a bit of sock wool in my stash, next on the menu is some Stylecraft Head Over Heels.  Can't wait to start knitting that.

I have also managed to get my vegetable garden planted up, potatoes, carrots, peas, parsnips, cauliflower, little gem lettuce, beetroot, runner beans, french beans, courgette and tomatoes and cucumbers already in the greenhouse.  I love growing my own, there is nothing like it, the taste is just second to none.  Our flower garden is taking shape, lots of planting still to be done, I want to fast forward to next year to see the garden as it will be a riot of colour.

I have so many work in progress (WIPs), a Sunny Granny Stripe Blanket designed by Lucy at Attic24, a jumper knitted in Sirdar Denim Tweed, a couple of cross stitches.  My card making is on the back burner at the moment.

My poor Mum had another fall two weeks ago but thankfully didn't injure herself too badly.

Well, enjoy the sunshine and your knitting, crochet or card making, and anything else you dabble in.

I will report progress when I have a pair of socks!!!

 That's the cuff done...

 On with the leg

 The leg done

 Ta da....

 It fits!!

 A lovely delivery from Woolwarehouse!

 The start of my Sunny Granny Stripe Blanket

 Blue skys

My two Cairn's Isla and Millie 

Harmony, Tonic and Tulips

Hi everyone, what a lovely day it was yesterday, a bit of gardening and then on with the crochet.  Am on a mission to finish the beautiful Attic24 Harmony blanket using Stylecraft Special DK.  I've fallen in love with this blanket, though it has taken me a while to get to grips with joining the squares I appear to be making good progress.  Lucy is such an amazing inspiration and I love the bright colours in her designs.  She has launched her newest blanket on Friday the Hydrangea blanket.  Details can be found here Lucy, Attic24.  If you are looking for more inspiration for your crochet, why not have a look at the Stylecraft Blogsters.  Full details here Stylecraft Blogsters.  I find inspiration everywhere.

I have, this week been watching the Tonic Studio's launch on Hochanda - a link to the website is here  Hochanda's website and spending my hard earned cash.  Well done to Tonic and Hochanda for launching such brilliant products.  If you have a Tonic die it is for life, and will last forever.  I managed to make a birthday card for my friend Maggie whose birthday was on Thursday - Happy Birthday Maggie.

I love this time of year in the garden, the bright colours of the tulips waving their previous petals, the magnolias coming into bloom, flowering cherry trees, the birds busy on the feeders in the garden.  The warmth of the sun whilst you are pottering in the garden.  Bring on the summer.  My seeds are growing really well in the greenhouse, I have lots of pricking out to do.

Have a good week.

Enjoy the photos below.

Joining squares

A pile of gorgeousness

Maggie's birthday card using Tonic Dies

Some pretty tulips

Isla, now been with us for a year.

Millie, now been with us four years.

Five strips joined, another four to go.

Such pretty colours...

I love the colours in this blanket.

A Springtime Sunday - well almost!

Hi everyone, not quite sure who reads my ramblings, but its been quite an eventful week, signs of spring are all around the corner, this time of year makes me get excited about the summer and the colours that emerge in the garden, it starts becoming alive with crocus and daffodils.  Our poor garden has been a bit neglected with Mum's fall last summer and her breaking her leg and hip quite badly that she is now permanently on crutches, she still remains cheerful and has put her recovery time to good use and has, at the age of 75, learnt to crochet after being a knitter for most of her adult life.  I am extremely proud of what she has achieved.  We quite often have PJ days here on a Sunday, our day off where we catch up on TV and sit and do our crafts together.

I'm quite excited about the fact I picked up my new glasses this week and have started working on a sock again.  I undone the original one as I kept making mistakes and now I have my new glasses I can see much clearer.  I have started another sock in a plain colour so its easier for me to start with.  Again West Yorkshire Spinners which is such amazing yarn to work with.  I've been quite enjoying knitting a jumper as well during the darker evenings.  I must say huge thank you to Christine Perry and her Sockalong Facebook Group for all the support they have given me during the difficult times I've had starting my first socks.  I'm determined that I will get this sorted and will finish it.

My dogs (two Cairn Terriers) were groomed this week, they have also been enjoying lots of walks this week and playing and running around our large garden.  They really are the best of friends.  We've only had Isla the little grey one for almost a year.  They have bonded so well together and really are my best friends in the whole world.  Always there with a lick and a cuddle when I need one.

I'm all enthusiastic about my garden again, we have a new gardener who is an absolute star and it is beginning to look like our garden again rather than a display of weeds and grass.  I'm getting all enthusiastic about starting off my veg this year and sewing some flower seeds.  I love all this bit of gardening, weeding is what I detest though!

Anyway, whatever you are doing this week, please have fun and enjoy the spring weather.

 Mum and the cushion made with Sirdar Snuggly. 

The back of the cushion.

Little Isla likes the cushion.

Mum starting her new jumper and getting in a bit of a muddle

 with the wool.  It happens to us all doesn't it!!

My first attempt at a sock, sadly this one got 

undone as I miscounted the shaping

The beginnings of a sock and my new reading glasses.

Spring time crocus in a butler sink - mum was weeding this when she fell :(

A beautiful primrose.

My two besties, Isla is the grey one and Millie the cream

Isla is almost 2 and Millie 4.