party pig

a little pink knitted pig pal for a friend's 60th (don't believe you bill!) birthday - a pig keeper to boot

The stylish past...

last saturday, whilst visiting my parents in the cotswolds, we took a trip to the black country museum, so fascinating to go temporarily 'back in time' to the beginnings of the industrial revolution, wonderful history - but what impressed me most was the simply stylish, yet thrifty, interiors of the old, workers' cottages. i took reference shots with the plan to perhaps emulate this simple style in my own home...

Thank you teacher...

an apple for you, wrapped in these crocheted apple cosies - another pattern from mollie makes mag and just right for an end of school gift we think. it's the last day of term today; last day for a while of blissful peace and quiet... but then again last day for a while of getting up early to prepare packed lunches - for every negative there is a positive!

Baby Party

a new pattern collection, also available here - ravelry - for your knitted baby boy or baby girl... to keep you busy over the (sadly a bit wet here in uk!) weekend ahead...

my mollie make...

mollie makes is a fabulous new(ish - three out so far) craft mag (as if your haven't heard of it already!) & this ring is one of the freebee make projects (materials included) from the last issue & i love it - maybe i'll make some for one of my gifts for christmas this year! - oh my, can't believe i just uttered/thought that!

Have a go: needle felting

i've recently had a go at needle felting to make a small gift for my daughter's best friend - it cost very little to buy what i needed - the rather scary needle, a pad and the 'wool roving',  i had to give it a go because i was so inspired by this artist's truly wonderful canine creations - my technique needs a heck of a lot more practice buy she's still rather cute don't you think? may, my daughter made her bed.

simply strawberry jam

for me one of the best things about summer is strawberry jam making, and especially strawberry jam because of that tantelisingly sweet sugary strawberry smell your kitchen acquires as it boils along and that glorious jewel like ruby red that fills your jars, i put my filled jars on the window sill so they glow even more - tastes pretty nice too! i read somewhere once to warm the jam sugar in the oven first - helps for a quicker setting time - really works!

busy, busy June

it's that time of year again -  school fair making frenzy time...

so being busy is making knitted hair fancies, bagging up sweet treats, sewing aprons fashioned from tea towels, baking and packing chocolate brownies and bagging up lucky dip treats - busy work, but awfully good fun... tomorrow - jammy efforts

but on the other hand...

big is beautiful too... i'm loving knitting this cabled rug on super large 15mms and with chunky yarn from my stash - the pattern i've taken from jane brocket's fabulous new knit book 'the gentle art of knitting' - love this book!

small is beautiful

i've decided, i really do love knitting small things - i use my little dpns even on just flat knitting just because i like to have the knitting and its workings contained within the confines of my palms, it makes me feel neat and delicate. socks, gloves and baby doll clothes like the one shown above (soon becoming part of a new collection for knitted baby party wear) do it for me.

blooming lovely...

i'm well over the bike now! truly i am.... ish.. but into the beautiful bounty of blue bearded irises that have bloomed since end of may in my garden (please excuse the over exuberant alliteration! i just can't help it!) i've waited for them to bloom so for four years - 'though this one sadly fell in battle against the crazy winds we've been having so i'm enjoying her in the house - isn't she lovely?

I want

or as my mother would say - not i want  -  i should like - ok - 'oh! i should really, really, dearly like one of these very much indeed... i've been cycling with the children to school these last couple of weeks, which has been lovely, but one of these would surely enhance my trip, isn't it lovely - they have one in pink too (groan)

Knit & Purl Pets errata

please email me or go to this site for the errata.

All hail street parties!

i think there should be a reason to street party every month! hope you enjoyed yours if you had one - we had two, a human one and a dolly one! and the weather and the food was perfectly fine for both!