Spinning Frustration

WARNING: Self pitying whinge in progress!!!


OK, I am feeling very sorry for myself because I cant spin on a wheel. My ankles wont let me (long boring medical story) and it just isnt FAIR!!! Stamping feet and pouting are going on here. I am off to Woolfest and I will have to ogle all these lovely wheel, shake my head sadly and walk away (with my stick in my hand)


I love the way wheels look, the faint whirring sound they make, the feel of the wood, everything - but I cant use one.


I dont want an electric one (adopt whiny tired toddler voice here) I dont want a Charkha (been there, tried that, the spindles are too small and the ratios too high)


I feel a serious sulk coming on to get it out of my system before the spin-in where I will be surrounded by wonderful wheels and - even worse - people SPINNING with them.


I love my spindles and can (and do) use them everywhere, but DAMMITT - I WANT A WHEEL TOO!!!


OK, and relax, breathe and think of your blessings woman - rant/whinge over.............thanks for listening LOL

Fabric Stashing - again

Sorry for the delay, life got in the way of me posting this LOL. These are the fabrics I bought at the Malvern Quilt show last week. They are all Oakshott fabrics

All of the above fabrics are 1 metre lengths.

These are packs of fat eighths.

I enjoy using plain and marbled fabrics to highlight the patterned ones, but these are uniquely different. They are woven using mercerised cotton which gives them a sheen like silk. The weft is a different shade to the warp which then appears as a two-toned material. This gives life and depth to the fabric instead of the 'flat' look of true plain cottons. The new range shown here had its debut last week and is called 'Gemstones' and they truly have the shine of opals or jet.

I am going to enjoy using them, along with the free patterns I was given. I have favourited their website so I can order some more online if I 'need' too.

My only other purchase was the new quilting book by Pam & Nicky Linnot called Layer Cake, Jelly Roll & Charm Quilts. The authors were signing the books on their stall so I was able to get a signed copy. I have several jelly rolls already so I am looking forward to using them in the Summer : )

Malvern Quilt Show part 2

I thought this applique cockerel was such fun. It is a wall hanging.
I have weakness for hand quilting on a plain background and applique and this one combines the two beautifully. I love the colourscheme too.

This is a colour combination I would never have thought of, and it works wonderfully. The photo doesnt do justice to the depth of colour in the original.

This is a close up of some of the hand quilting on display:

And this is the whole quilt:

The last one is of appliqued trees and the detail is breathtaking:

Tomorrow I will show what I bought : )

Malvern Quilt Show part 1

Yesterday DH and I went to the Malvern Quilt Show. It was a fabulous day out, the weather was good too, and I thought I would show you a few of the quilts that took my eye. First up is this wonderful quilt which was foundation pieced and aplliqued. I love the colours on this one and the attention to detail was phenominal.

I love this quilt because it is interesting and pretty without being fussy. All the elements here were foundation pieced with no painting or other non-sewing tricks used. Just plain old hard work and excellent piecing skills.
Finally for today is this one. The colours spoke to me, the hand quilting was even and elegant and the piecing of the blocks was perfect.

Not that I envy their skill you understand ; )

More tomorrow when blogger is behaving a bit better.

My New Cardigan

I have nearly finished a cardigan for me. Its this one: Escape 9078 but I am making it in Cascade 220 on 4.5mm nedles and have modified the edgeing on the sleves, front and back and completely re-worked the sleeve shaping. Its nice to be knitting again, and double nice to be knitting something for me : )

Allotment time

We have been at our allotment again. The blossom is out in full force and the sun has been shining.We have slightly raised beds with walkway between them lined with old carpet so that DH can weed etc in comfort. The rhubarb plant in the front on the right is a very old one which came from DH's Grandfathers farm.
The first task was the strimming - as done by DH The next task was watering - as done by DS

And what was I doing while they were working? I was knitting the front of a cardigan for me : )

Wonderwool and Get Knitted

I have finally got to my computer to show you what I bought:


A pattern for Summer cardigans, and some Patons DK cotton. I am making the short sleeved version in lilac and the long sleeved version in baby blue.


Now for Wonderwool Wales!! The very kind Steelbreeze gave me a lift there and led me into the temptation that is Wonderwool. My first purchase was at the stall of Freyalynn where I bought 200g of hand-dyed BFL to spin.

Then I stopped off to visit Spindlefrog, who had a stall of temptation in a class of its own : ) I was very good and just bought this lovely skein of BFL sock yarn - do I sense a BFL theme going on here?

My final purchases was with the Laalbear, where I bought this beautiful set of matching bags, a small one for all my odds and ends, and a large one with pockets for my knitting and sewing projects.

Phew, how will I be able to go to Woolfest and remain solvent with all the things for sale???