Just sittin' doin' a little knittin' by the river, in Cafe Flava in Gourock! Wednesday Mornings find me in Once a Sheep yarn store with my chums. Its not a bad old life .
not sure if summer is over here, on the West Coast of Scotland, or just been temporarily suspended! Just knew if I hung out a washing to dry, yep, down it would come! Still it was that lovely fresh summer rain.
Well , tonight is just one of these evenings for a good cup of tea and some knitting - enjoy!
and suddenly everything's fine! Well done to all the girls who took part in the Race for Life - Pats on the back all round! I took the lazy option of just sponsoring, but one of these days.....
Spent a lovely afternoon at the Tramway, knitting and chatting. Poor Maggie turned up later due to problems with her car, then proceeded to have problems with her yarn. Heather was knitting some beautiful socks, and Catherine was crocheting away what looked like a lovely shawl. Nan was knitting with some gorgeous pink tweedy yarn (forgot to ask what it as), and Fiona was knitting with Rowans Bamboo tape .
I'm still knitting away on the 4-ply, and getting on a bit better than I thought I would. I took it out for "Knit in Public" day, where a few of us from Flavaknits met at Gourock front . Unfortunately it was so hot (yes you read that correctly HOT!), that we all decided to return to our cool shaded gardens ! Still we got a few comments and remarks! I think the Smoothie hats may have to wait until the cooler weather .
Off to do a bit of knitting and watch the BBC's Edwardian Supersize me with Giles Coren and Sue Perkins - boy, the food looks good!!!
Last night at Flavaknits night, there was a good turnout. We were discussing the Knit in Public Day - Karen had received some patterns/coupons from Rowan Yarns, the patterns are for beanie hats for Innocent Smoothie drinks, to help raise money for "Help the Aged" . Weather permitting we'll be sitting out at the front at Gourock, may even pop into the outdoor pool, otherwise we'll be in one of several cafes'. If you'd like to join us, give us a shout.
My pal Kathleen will be putting together a slideshow of photo's given to her , showing us Knitting in Public, on her blog .
Today was the first time this year I took Junior Jnr to the Gourock outdoor pool - it was a wee bit cool to start with , but we soon warmed up, splashing about, jumping in and out and trying to swim (JJ that is, I was just the support for him!). The pool is normally very warm, but because it is closed on a Thursday (until Summer Hols), it had gone a bit cold. I was feeling a wee bit teary today, JJ was registered for Nursery, and although I know he's ready and able, still ,he's my baby. So the splashing about in the pool was just the ticket!
My friend Gale brought in the Inspired Cables book last night, it is really lovely, I got a chance to look through it at my leisure . And Kimberley had visited K1yarns and spent spent spent! Habu yarn with steel core (can't remember the name) Hip knits Silk , Colinette Tao silk, plus a lovely Colinette pattern book .
Had a look at Tigerliliths blog the other day, and she mentioned another blogger Claudia who is doing a sponsorered bike run (150 miles - respect!) in aid of MS . If you visit Liliths blog you'll get all the details how to donate, and perhaps a chance to win some donated yarn! Claudia is hoping to raise $30k - she's already raised about $20k, and there is only 2 weeks to the bike run.
Hopw you all enjoy "Knit in Public Day" (or weekend or month......)
While in NY, I bought the "green" issue of Knit1 - and read up about eco-friendly yarns. Most natural yarns with the exception of cotton are "green", and the closer to home the yarn is made the better. It also touched on recycled yarns (sari yarn) , and frogging old sweaters to use the yarn for something better .
There are a few organic cotton yarns on the market just now - Angel yarns sells one, and the Annie Sherburne site sells several - and there are probably plenty American sites that sell it too. Ordinary cotton is a bit of a no no - the pesticides and chemicals required to grow it, as well as dye the finish product are a bit of an environmental disaster area. Also, many growers are not offered fair trade prices, and end up living a hand to mouth existence. One article I read in the newspaper quoted a cotton farmer explaining how his cousin, another farmer, died after spraying his fields with the chemical pesticides - very distressing .So going forward, I will be trying to use eco/grower friendly yarns - I still have some local Wensleydale yarn in my stash produced in the Isle of Arran (the scottish island, where Jack McConnell is from!). And its Organic, or the sheep are anyway.
I will try and list some good sites (note to self - get blog site updated for this!) at the end of this post, for anyone who may be interested. I am sure some other bloggers will have some other great sites too.
The K1 yarns newsletter had some excellent news - they will be stocking banana yarn - Yes, thats yarn made from banana fibres! (which is another "green" type yarn). I think a little visit to K1yarns will be made soon .
On the knitting front here - still progressing with the Parisienne shawl, and have started the cotton 4-ply (must be mad) - have a look below .
Yes, thats all 8 rows of the 4-ply cotton - the shawl is still more of a kerchief just now too - maybe have a few nights without TV/Mac access to knuckle down!
The colours in the Parisienne are gorgeous tho' - I do like this colour .
Well off to do some more knitting - sites to visit are listed below - also if interested have organic/fairtrade fabric sites too.
Annie Sherburne (does recycled material yarn!)
Angel Yarns - organic cotton
Email Penny Hamilton for some Arran Wensleydale - good for sturdy sweaters/blankets etc. 50g ball casts about £4, good value. knockankelly@fwi.co.uk
K1yarns in Queen Margaret Drive Glasgow, stocks Sari yarn, SWT Bamboo and now Banana Yarn .
Stitching Time in Hamilton also stocks a good selection of Jamiesons Shetland Yarn and addi turbos (I'm digressing!)
Organic Cotton Fabric here
And some Hemp material here
Happy Knitting!
Now this blog was really meant to be about my knitting, and a little on family life, but something I read in the newspaper this morning really fired me up. Yes , I am feeling a little crabbit this weather, but as my friends know, nothing fires me up quite as much as sexism. And nothing quite fires me up as much as sexism, as sexism with violence! So today when I read an article on Women broadcasters in Gaza, I was outraged.
A text send to one broadcaster read " You are without shame and morals, we will cut your throat vein to vein if needed to protect the spirit and morals of this nation" Can anyone spot the contradiction ? Apparently, if these women do not wear the hijab they will be beheaded , no doubt by these "spiritual and moral" men!
One lady said she refused to wear the hijab, and would not bow to pressure, even with the threat of death - what courage and presence of mind. Unlike this cowardly group of pathetic creatures who "have no shame or morals"!
Knitting chat resumes tomorrow .
Okay , Nan has tagged me (I received this information after a morning spent playing games and doing craft -the Franklin type- with the under 8's!)
I've to list 8 interesting things about myself, which is hard, I'm not that interesting a person. *groan*,
1. I have only ever taken part in Karaoke once, at a "fun day" for work - I had just started the day before, and here I was singing in front of my Director (and I won a bottle of wine!)
2. I have worked in a Psychiatric unit as an auxiliary nurse during summer holidays when I was 17/18 - I grew up during those summers .
3.I was nearly arrested in California (hope you're having fun Thea) for driving the wrong way down a one way street - FIVE police cars came as backup to the first one, I got off with a warning ! I'm not sure if the earthquake I experienced the next day was in any way related .
4.I am scared of heights, but have managed to fly in a hot air balloon, and go up the London Eye!
5.As a child I was incredibly shy, and I still have moments where it is hard work not to be shy. With people I am relaxed with, I can be very social.
6.I have gallows humour, sometimes I just can't help laughing at things I know I shouldn't - the scene from the film Small Faces, where the guy wakes up just in time to turn off the gas fire that is slowly poisoning him, then lights up a cigarette! Or the guy who was awoken by the noise of an earthquake, thought it was an intruder and got his gun, accidentally shot himself in the foot and when the police accompanying the ambulance turned up , they discovered the gun had been stolen so arrested him on the way to hospital!
7. I used to play five aside football when I lived in Perth -, we played against other (female ) teams and also took part in the company five aside tournament (got to play with, I mean against boys!)
8.I love sushi - I would love to learn how to make it and go visit Japan, just like my pal Elaine , I have a soft spot for most things oriental .
Now its time for a cup of tea, and a wee peek at Franklins' new niece, she is sooo cute. I am not passing this on to anyone, as I think most folk I know have done it anyway .
Well it took its time, but finally, about 6pm this evening the sun came out - my two were paddling about after dinner in a new paddling pool. We had spent a lovely afternoon over at Lomond shores, toys were bought from Jenners, and much fun was had at the Playground. Didn't see many ducks today, perhaps next time.
Had a lovely evening at Flavaknits last night - we were trying to assist Evelyn with her lovely aran sweater which is.... ten years old. All would have been well if there had been enough yarn to finish it, or if she could have got an exact match - unfortunately she didn't ! I think the contrasting colour was the preferred solutionin the end!
Kimberley and Lewis were back from their Honeymoon, along with some photo's, and CAKE! They had a lovely time, and the photos showed it. And not a pirate in sight! Gale had finished one of her winter sweaters, and is almost done on her mohair. The first sweater had some lovely knitted flowers around the base of the neck - she hadn't been too happy when picking up the stitches for the neck, and redid it 17 TIMES! Thats prefectionism . I wish I had got a photo as it looked wonderful (n.b. to myself, must try and pick up MY mohair sweater again!)
Thank you all for your lovely comments on my postings about my trip - it seems like ages ago now, and I must say, NY is a keeper - will definitely be going back - but it is lovely to come home - here are some pictures of my pals street!
Nan has sent out her monthly Newsletter - still can't get into it. Tried and was successful last month, but have forgotten what I did to open it.Oh, well , maybe get a copy at the next Tramway Knits - best get on with the ironing now (by -product of a sunny evening, dry washing!)
