A little update

Life has been a little busy recently - but that hasn't stopped me from playing with wool and needles. When I think that, back at the beginning of the year, I had never tried knitting with dpns, it feels almost like I've had an epiphany......I just love them - the work grows much quicker than on straight needles, and (icing on the cake) there's no sewing up at the end!


So, currently on the needles we have:


Express Lane socks for the dearly beloved:

Claudia Handpainted in Donna's Favourite (heel is in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in Mole); needles 2.75mm; co 68 stitches to account for a BIG shoe size!

Then we have the Faberge gloves for li'l sis's birthday at the end of March. The pattern calls for mittens, but I thought fingered ones would be better for her. I started these at the weekend, and I've already almost finished the first glove. I just love the beaded effect - and couldn't believe how easy the trellis stitch was to actually knit. The index finger on the first glove is a little big - might have to do something sneaky to tighten it up when it's done.

Even better, it looks like I'm going to have half of the wool left over, so I can make her a matching hat (which I have been promising for months....)

2Di4 Duo in blues / greens; needles 3.75mm; co 42 stitches

Those are the works in progress - here are the completed projects:

First, Mum's birthday present. This is bit of a hybrid - I tried several patterns and was beginning to think that I would never find something that worked.....in the end, I took the herringbone stitch, doubled up the yarn and just knit it all straight, adding in a keyhole one-third of the way up so she can loop it around her neck. Hope she likes it!!

GGH Cumba Print in Turquoise; needles 6mm; used 3 whole skeins!

Next, I'm still working on the last of my Angels & Elephants Aran - this was how I used the first skein of Tintagel (which I honestly think is the nicest of the three colourways I bought):

Stella Hat in Angels & Elephants Aran (Tintagel); needles 5mm

Apologies for the dark picture on the last one -the light has just been awful the last few days - bring on Spring!!!

I'm sure that you have all seen the recent coverage of the awful devastation caused by the Australian bush fires.

I simply can't imagine losing all my belongings, memories, precious possessions - it's just unthinkable.

Thanks to the huge amounts of financial donations that have been flooding in, the Australian Red Cross (and other organisations such as the Salvation Army) are able to meet the immediate needs of the victims.

However, other organisations are taking a more long-term view, whereby the victims' needs for comfort will be met - and this is where YOU come in.

Handmade Help have launched a number of 'crafty' initiatives, including:

- Re-Stash a Crafter: there will be a lot of crafters out there who have lost the means to craft, who will be starting from scratch. Knitters without needles, sewers without thread, felters without fibre. They'll need their craft more than ever while they cope with the stress of rebuilding their lives.

Most of us crafters have more stash than we really need and duplicates of things we could afford to give. We can help in the way crafters have always helped each other, by passing on the tools of our trade.

Pull together some crafting supplies and make a re-stash kit. Something like:

- yarn, knitting needles, yarn needle and little scissors
- yarn, crochet hooks, yarn needle and little scissors
- fabric, threads, needles, pins, scissors
- felt, threads, needles, pins, scissors
- rovings, drop spindle, bobbins
- canvass or linen, embroidery hoop, threads, needles and little scissors

- Handmade Donation Drive: Anything lovely that you make (or someone you know could make) would be a perfect donation for a family or person who has lost everything. We want these people to know that we were thinking of them - and making plans for their comfort and happiness - in the long term.

Handmade Help is looking for the following:

- Handmade quilts and bed linens
- Knitted and crocheted blankets
- Handmade table-cloths and napkins
- Handmade Jewellery and Accessories
- Knitted and crocheted winter clothing
- Hot Water Bottles with Covers
- Handmade Cushions
- Handmade Toys

So, if any of you are able to help out with either of these initiatives, please check out the Handmade Help website for further information, and send your donations to:

meet me at mike's
63 brunswick street
fitzroy
victoria 3065
australia

Please mark your parcels with the mention 'Handmade Help'. If you are donating craft supplies, please also mark your parcel with the mention ' Re-stash a Crafter'. Thanks in advance for all your contributions!!!

Reaching out....

I'm sure that you have all seen the recent coverage of the awful devastation caused by the Australian bush fires. I simply can't imagine losing all my belongings, memories, precious possessions - it's just unthinkable.

Thanks to the huge amounts of financial donations that have been flooding in, the Australian Red Cross (and other organisations such as the Salvation Army) are able to meet the immediate needs of the victims. However, other organisations are taking a more long-term view, whereby the victims' needs for comfort will be met - and this is where YOU come in.

Handmade Help have launched a number of 'crafty' initiatives, including:

- Re-Stash a Crafter: there will be a lot of crafters out there who have lost the means to craft, who will be starting from scratch. Knitters without needles, sewers without thread, felters without fibre. They'll need their craft more than ever while they cope with the stress of rebuilding their lives.

Most of us crafters have more stash than we really need and duplicates of things we could afford to give. We can help in the way crafters have always helped each other, by passing on the tools of our trade.

Pull together some crafting supplies and make a re-stash kit. Something like:
- yarn, knitting needles, yarn needle and little scissors
- yarn, crochet hooks, yarn needle and little scissors
- fabric, threads, needles, pins, scissors
- felt, threads, needles, pins, scissors
- rovings, drop spindle, bobbins
- canvass or linen, embroidery hoop, threads, needles and little scissors

- Handmade Donation Drive: Anything lovely that you make (or someone you know could make) would be a perfect donation for a family or person who has lost everything. We want these people to know that we were thinking of them - and making plans for their comfort and happiness - in the long term. Handmade Help is looking for the following:

- Handmade quilts and bed linens
- Knitted and crocheted blankets
- Handmade table-cloths and napkins
- Home-made Curtains
- Handmade Jewellery and Accessories
- Knitted and crocheted winter clothing
- Hot Water Bottles with Covers
- Handmade Cushions
- Handmade Toys
- Handmade Stationery
- Handmade Kitchen Linens
- Handmade Clothing

So, if any of you are able to help out with either of these initiatives, please check out the Handmade Help website for further information, and send your donations to:

meet me at mike's
63 brunswick street
fitzroy victoria 3065
australia

Please mark your parcels with the mention 'Handmade Help'. If you are donating craft supplies, please also mark your parcel with the mention ' Re-stash a Crafter'.

Thanks in advance for all your contributions!!!

London Transformed!

As you probably know from seeing / hearing the news, London is currently snowbound in the most major, fantastic, awesome way........this was the scene from my bedroom window at 6.30am this morning:

I honestly cannot remember seeing this much snow on the ground in 'central' London in all the time I've lived here - it's so beautiful!

Unsurprisingly, all buses have been withdrawn from service, there are very few Tube lines running. Our friend has been at the local train station for over an hour waiting for a train - he'll be lucky! The nursery is closed due to the staff not being able to get in - so a great excuse to build a snowman!

and little Miss A after she had a load of snow dumped on her head by her Daddy (naughty man!)

I shall leave you with some random pics of snowy beauty from the local neighbourhood: