Hemlock Ring blanket

I am such a bad blogger. Here's le Tour de France over for another year days ago, and have I shown you my Maillot Jaune project - non!

Apologies mes amies, et regardez vous ici. Voila, le Hemlock Ring Blanket.

I used 4 skeins of Cascade 220 in # Kansas from their Heathers range, with 5.5mm needles.


This is the Emily Ocker method of casting on for circular shawls, and it's fab.

Here is the central flower emerging.

I am really pleased with the blanket. The edges are a little frilly which makes for patient blocking, but the end result is well worth all the effort.

I thoroughly enjoyed this year's Tour de France KAL which made the transition from Blogger to Ravelry brilliantly.

Le Tour de France

Bonjour et bienvenue à mon petit blog. Oui, mes amies, it's that time of year again, the Tour de France KAL is with us.

This year it is Ravelry rather than blog based, and it's made the transition pretty darn well I'd say.

I am trying fr a Maillot Jaune this year and am attempting a Hemlock Ring blanket. More of that to come in another post.

This is my own little personal Time Trial project - yes, that's right, it's the perennial Forest Canapé mes amies, c'est très jolie n'est pas.

I do believe my franglais is improving ;-)

This was knitted using an as yet un-named yarn from The Yarn Yard, it's a merino/nylon/cashmere mix and it's wonderfully soft to knit with. I used 5mm needles and it's destined to be a gift for a friend

More KAL news in my next post.

Woolfest 2009

Goodness, it's that time of year again! This was my third, and by far busiest Woolfest, and I enjoyed it immensely. But boy was it hot!

Mr A and I were directed to the overspill car park at 10:15 on the Friday morning which was an indication of the busy morning to come.

We soon made some new friends :-)

Sock blockers in all sizes imaginable on the Laal Bear's stall

We spent a lovely morning there on Friday, and then Mr A and I left to enjoy an afternoon on Ullswater which provided a welcome respite from humid Cockermouth. We took a lovely trip on an Ullswater Steamer which was the perfest way to see the area.

The weather closed in somewhat though which gave us a different outlook altogether.

But we did see this mum and her babies out for an afternoon swim - aaahhhhh!

On Saturday I attended a masterclass in Estonian Knitting with Nancy Bush. Nancy's calm and gentle outlook and obvious passion for all things Estonian made for a wonderful day - even if it was so hot it almost turned into a felting class ;-) I promise never to uses an "easy" way to knit a nupp and will always use the traditional method!

Some of Nancy's lovely work.

After the class therewas time for one last wonder around. The Laal bear again.

Fibrespates

The Yarn Yard

p/hop were situated very conveniently in between the ice cream and The Yarn yard :-) they were wonderfully successful, and their sale of p/hop patterns, together with the generous donation from Kindred Knitters and the shawl raffle raised a staggering £894.78. Well done to Ambermoggie and Wye Sue for all their hard work on the Kindred Knitters stall.

This lovely stall was the University of Cumbria.

This was the Kindred Knitters area - a haven for weary Ravellers and bloggers.

This is Mr Mogs looking on while Lou from p/hop being presented with the kindred Knitters donation.

Our last night out saw Mr A and I head for The Bitter End, a pub with it's own brewery. Much better than the dreadful restaurant we at in the previous evening ( the restaurant and it's food were lovely, it's clientele leaves a lot to be desired )

Our table looked right into the brewery - now that's what I call a table with a view :-)