A wonderful weekend.

I have just had the most wonderful weekend! It was extremely busy and I am so tired now but I had the best time. As if this was not enough in its own right I went to the knitting and stitching show at Olympia. It was a shopping fest but we also got to meet some of the best sewing stars. Tilly and the Buttons had a stall helping was Lauren Guthrie, who was just lovely, petite bubbly and so happy to chat. Next we saw Frances Tobin of The Makers Ateliers, her simple items were made in such beautiful fabric and her ultimate pencil skirt in all sequins was beautiful. But the best by far was Lisa Comfort from Sew over it, she was awesome! In fact I got rather star struck and felt to embarrassed to take a photo (gosh i am so British at times!). What can I say about this lovely lovely lady, she spent time going through her patterns, she had time to talk about the blog and even thanked us for following. We couldn't help but buy three patterns between us. I have to say seeing the patterns made up, I was really impressed, I think they are now my favorite.

Of course we used the opportunity to buy many supplies as  every stall was such good value. My favorite buy is the sew over it shirt dress and the fabric to go with it. Secondly, I am feeling knitting inspired and have pattern and yarn to get going. 

As if this was not enough we spent the evening with the best view in London, and my sister Katy joined in the fun. The Portrait gallery, sadly the Vogue exhibition was fully booked and to be honest we wanted to put our feet up. It was so amazing! The service was outstanding, as was the food. The view was great and we got to watch the sun go down.

As it was also mothers day and I was away from home spoiling my own mummy I was kindly treated by my daddy who took us to a fabulous fish restaurant from breakfast in Royal Tonbridge wells (luckily just around the corner from my parents house)

It has been great, and even though I took a day off work to recover I still feel like so tired. I think driving for four hours to get home after late nights and busy day may have something to do with it. With a few good night sleeps I will be ready to start making, and I have enough to keep going for at least a year! 

Any exciting things happening over mothers day?

Knitting weekend.

For as long as I can remember I have had a longing to be a knitter, someone that can actually wear what they have crafted.  To be honest though I really don't have much in the way of confidence, or skills. Like most though I ease my knitting desires into a pinterest board, and that is where I found this beauty.

Now as you can see this is just a combination of squares, which is just as well as there is not a pattern but a little picture with measurements from a Cila. I decided to make this a guide and make a shortened version without such a long cowl neck.

I frantically managed to knit and put together in one weekend using a super chunky yarn.  I love it, its warm and cosy, so good for layering up. I enjoyed the knitting process, my desire to learn more skills  has gone up a notch. Overall a good weekends work.

My makes low down :

1. to improve on : I think the shoulders are a little wide, they are almost a mini sleeve, so you could shorten or lengthen .

 

2. didn't go to plan : the neck line, needs to be either longer to turn over or shorter to stand alone.

3. what do I love about it : its ease, its warm, it was fun !

4.would I make it again : oh yes!!!

Fall Sew Along

It's been a while since I have joined in any bloging groups of jollyness. And as autumn is one of my favourite times of year I thought I would give it a go. Yes I'm joining in :

 

My first and essntial part of my autumn look will be the Laurel, with a lovely jersey, all on the sewing table as we speak.

The second offering is the same as last year. I still love it just as much and maybe I might even get round to making it up.
 

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I have the most basic of knitting skills but I still dream of knitting my own cardigans, so I will also attempt this

To be honest this will be more than enough for me as dare I say it Christmas present making will have to start some time!!

Refuge blanket completed.

I have been working steadily for a few months and I have finally finished my blanket. As you will know I do not really consider myself a knitter, scarfs and squares are about my limit, although I do dream!

So here we are a finished item! I chose a nice bright but not trashy pink and a neutral cream. I am pleased with the combination.

Each blanket had to be a certain size as I was making it for the refuge, a campaign by the knitter magazine against domestic violence. Si you can download a great booklet for Fancy squares and leave a donation, or you can make blankets or little knotted teddies instead. Follow the link and see loads of updates and great examples of other peoples work  http://theknitter.themakingspot.com/category/tags/refuge

I really enjoyed this project and hope to get my blanket bagged up and in the post this week. There is something really satisfying making something for other be it home made presents or a charity event. Lets do it more often. x x x

Knitting for a cause.

I was lucky enough to have an amazing day trip to London with my Mum and sister in the spring. We went to the Stitch and craft show at Olympia, it was really fantastic I didn't expect there to be so much. Although I am a fan of all quilts and sewing stuff I have to say this was one of the highlights for me

Yes these amazing blankets from the Simply Knitting Magazine stall. They had a campaign called Comfort Blanket in aid of Refuge. http://simplyknitting.themakingspot.com/blog/refuge-comfort-blanket-campaign-the-details

 

I was totally inspired.Every square was just wonderful. Firstly a way to improve my not very good skills, secondly and project that can build slowly. I was thinking a square for me a square for charity, what a way the to improve. 

I then noticed on the making spot/ simply knitting are doing it all over again! Yes the there is masses to be involved with, you can donate to refuge and get a e book full of these lovely designs above.

There is also a competition for designing your own square entries to be in by September 12th.

Day Tripper.

Since the 1st of January I have been looking forward to my annual day trip to London. So get the fullest day possible I was on my train at 6.30am with a serious craft and dressmaking agenda. Meeting my Mum and sister when went to the stitch and craft show at Olympia. I was seriously impressed, there was so much! We didn't get as far as seeing the Downtown Abbey costumes or experiencing the paper craft which before I went was on the top of my list to try!

There was the most amazing quilt exhibition theme Olympics of course. There where hundreds and hundreds of quilts but this was amazing Hearts of Gold.

With so much to inspire I realised that little project can be more achievable and fun. I was taken by the cross stitch and I think I will have a go at some Easter cards.

There where some funny goings on too with knitted best cat and dog in show, so much fun.

What struck me most though in the knitting department was these wonderful blankets. As you may know my knitting isn't professional by any standard but I did think a square at a time.

I had a chat with the Simply knitting stall who explained that the blankets where apart of the comfort blanket campaign for Refuge. http://simplyknitting.themakingspot.com/blog/refuge-comfort-blanket-campaign-the-details  The squares had been designed by famous knitters and where available via an e book. They raised a amazing £2,049.50 .

 All I can say that they where stunning and inspiring and I feel that making a square for me a square for a charity maybe a really good little project of my own come this autumn. Any one interested in joining in?

As I said there was so much that I didn't see a fraction of it really being that we had lots of chatting to do to over coffees and lunch and wine ect. And to complete the shopping we went to Gold Hawk Road for dressmaking fabrics.

Thankyou Mum and Katy it was the best day!

Celebrating out hands 8/31

I hope you are enjoying my journey this month along with Jossie at http://www.myhomemadehappy.com/ . I have had a realisation today that I have only photographed myself or Arthur, my other children are all busy being teenagers with hetic social lives and my darling MrPB has been working away from home without even a visit for the weekend. It has made me realsie how stable and contanted I am to contine without the constant props of others, don't get me wrong I have had a tough week but the thing that stableises me the most is time out via yoga.

Sorry somewhat sidetract!!

Today is my knitting that didn't go as well as I hoped but I was pleased with this picture

It wasn't a straw that broke the camels back!

No it wasn't a straw that broke the camels back it was a knitting needle! I have been working on my first ever follow a pattern item of clothing. Knitting doesn't come easily and I have really wanted to improve, master  it, at least make one thing wearable that wasn't a square. I finished my waistcoat to find one side is longer than the other and that I could have made it several sizes smaller.

Why did it break the camels back, well I'm not one for a big moan I like to try to stay positive but sometimes it's hard. After all the effort! This has also been a realisation of how I push myself to do so so much, this was it. I had a little cry to MrPB who works away from home at the moment.

It's such a shame, such lovely knitting,such lovely colours!

I woke up thinking that I may improve the situation, a belt generally cures all ills!

It's ok, I suppose, I feel like a medieval man done up like a sack of potatoes!!

Lets hope some rest and maybe a make that is more successful may cheer me up.