Zoë's Knitting Bag

New Moon Mittens

Emerald green in Rowan's Cocoon for me to wear at the New Moon showing next month. These Bella mittens are so nice to knit. I am looking forward to the new film very much and am still reading Breaking Dawn.  I make it last by just reading a few pages at a time as I do NOT want it to end. Sad or what?  Meanwhile I am enjoying the vampire fest around now by watching Being Human with the gorgeous, smouldering Aidan Turner who was brilliant in Desperate Romantics as Dante Gabriel Rossetti. As well as the obvious (!), hasn't he got lovely teeth? Also I've just got into True Blood which is a far more violent and x rated version but I looooooove the title music.

Dare I show you this ::

A new blanket made with Rowan Felted Tweed and Porridge coloured Scottish Tweed for the background.  I am joining this one as I go along.

Please don't forget to leave a comment.

From Wool to Waterhouse

I'm still in recovery mode today after a great weekend of extreme pleasures. LOL!  iKnit London was good, very good and a few little yarny purchases were made.  Sophie is very happy that I am going to knit her a bead Alpaca necklace.  I've already started on this earlier today and have strict instructions to finish it before returning to the Shetland Granny blanket.  The yarn is the softest British Alpaca ever and a lovely natural Biscuit and the beads are stuffed with the fleece fibre.  Sophie also got some Alpaca in Oatmeal for some cabled wrist warmers.  I might just have to visit this farm soon to see the lovely Toft Alpacas, although I think there are some up at Mundesley which you can walk through the fields.  I must look into this.

I bought some beautiful Unicorn and Angel yarn and a pattern from The Natural Dye Studio to make some crocheted lace weight scarves at some point.  Amanda gave me some helpful advice on joining the flowers on her Morgana scarf pattern.  I also managed to crochet a few more flowers on the train.

Then on to buy some Wensleydale DK :: a skein of dark chocolate for a pair of wrist warmers to match my winter jacket. I also picked up some buttons (photo top of this post) and woven ribbon from another stall.

 

The Circle and Victoria lines were closed and this somewhat disrupted our travel plans and so we bussed or taxied about London.  We met Jamie in Picadilly at Eros's statue and in a mad moment ditched the idea of lunch at our usual Italian restaurant and went to the Rainforest Cafe. Even though we sat near the gorillas and had a leopard nearby and wait for it: experienced at terrifying thunderstorm - it was great!!

Sophie loved the bar stools and decided to have her arm painted ::

 

After all of this excitement I went off for more thrills, to the RA for the Waterhouse exhibition and they went shopping along Regent Street stopping at Abercrombie and Fitch and then on to Sophie's Mecca :: Top Shop.  I planned to meet up with them in Liberty but that was not to be.  For the first time ever, I did not pre-book my tickets for an art exhibition and had to queue for 2 and a half hours.  It was worth it though to see, especially again, "The Lady of Shalott" in all it's splendour.  Somehow, my ornately framed print in our bedroom will never look the same.  Although for me, Millais' "Ophelia", "Autumn Leaves", Sophie Gray" and Holman Hunt's "The Light of the World" are still my favourites ever.

The weekend was rounded off with a small box of Macaroons from Ladurée, Picadilly.  Heavenly. Now what could be better than that?

Granny, Kat & Garden

I've just dashed home from work to cut the grass and then the Heavens opened.  I'd almost finished the lawn and wanted to show you my Granny squares in the natural light. I'm so very excited about this project and am pleased that I've managed to crochet over 80 of them.  I had planned to spread them out on the garden bench but now it's too wet.  So here they are in their storage box on the bird table.  I hope to finish the blanket to take with me on our trip to Wells Beach to use in the beach hut.  I love this wool and the smell of lanolin is lovely.

I noticed this lovely sunflower in one of the borders and can't believe I've not seen it before.  Gorgeous Autumnal colours.

Then if you'd like to take a few paces closer to the vegetable plot, here's another squash plant forming an archway over the gate ::

Can you just see the Berlotti beans climbing up the back fence?
Now turn around and walk towards the Summer House border, where you will find these voluptuous beauties ::

Shall we go inside now as it looks like rain again?  Here's a glimpse of Kim Hargreaves' new pattern book Precious and the start of Kat in Rowan's Crushed Velvet Kid Classic.  Those cables look just right for Autumn.

Soul Slouch Hat

Sophie went back to college this morning wearing her new slouch hat.  Although she barely had time to stand still for the photo!

Pattern:       Soul by Kim Harding (minus the beaded rib).
Yarn:           One and a bit balls of Rowan Kid Classic in Navy (shade 846)

Congratulations to Kate Winslet for a well deserved Oscar.

Ice Cable Hat

Oh yippee it's finally warming up, so we nipped down to the beach and took Alfie for a long walk.  Finally used my Malabrigo Forest wool that Jamie me bought me for Bday 2008.  A Martin Storey Rowan pattern. 

Model: Sophie.
Background: Alfie.
Location: Scratby Beach, Norfolk.
Temperature: 10 degrees C

Alfie had a great time as always.

He even got his name written in the sand.

Then we saw a little starfish washed up on the beach.

 

But Alfie was more interested in playing with his beach find - an old washed up branch. Enjoy half term everyone.  Back next week.

Apple Green

Another pair of Bella's mittens done.  These are the pair for my sister in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino chunky in Apple Green.  She seemed pleased with them and they fit her nicely.

Thanks for the Cath Kidston hand cream, Michele.

It smells lovely - just the thing for knitting hands.

Oh must dash is that Jack Valentine that I hear knocking on the front door.  Read this old post if you've not heard our local customs!

Alfie update

The model patient has returned and apparently he was as good as gold at the Vets.  He even came home with a get well card from the surgery - nice thought. I'm happy to report that Alfie is just about back to his naughty self after a very quiet and sleepy time yesterday afternoon.  The Elizabethan collar, (they only had girly pink left!), has to stay on for about 10 days and he has to go back for a check up then.  Thank goodness for dissolvable stitches - I couldn't see him sitting still whilst he has sutures removed.

Here are a couple of shots of Sophie wearing her Bella's mittens.  The garden looks in a sorry state.  Everything is gloomy; the ground is muddy and  the trees are mostly bare.

Bella's Mittens

Tell me to grow up if you like but I really don't care.  I am smitten with these mittens and with a certain VAMPIRE. I'm not quite sure if I should admit to this or not and as I know some long standing friends read this blog (but never seem to comment!!) and then I think they might think me a little crazy but surely they know this by now and know how obsessive I could become over things I like(d) in my teens and twenties.  Well, I have seen Twilight now three times and could honestly watch it over and over.  I picked up the first book just by chance when food shopping in a local supermarket as I was intrigued by the title and as a teenager I LOVED reading horror stories and watching the Saturday night thriller on telly - does anyone remember them - circa ''73 onwards?  Then a few days later I saw an interview with the very English Robert Pattinson on GMTV.  I could remember watching him in the drama, The Haunted Airman a couple of Christmases ago.  All this must have stuck in my mind and as I devoured the book  (the best in my opinion in the saga although I've yet to finish Breaking Dawn) and I was totally smitten by the dazzling beautiful Edward Cullen and can certainly see what all the fuss is about.  Robert plays him so well.  It's a love story and not really a horror story at all. The book translates to film very well, although I feel that you have to read the book to understand more the relationship which builds slowly on the written page between Bella and Edward.  The sets, location and actors are just as I imagined them and it's well worth a viewing if only for the beautiful knitting and crocheted accessories.  I spotted Bella's mittens and just had to have a pair for myself.  I found a free pattern here which is extremely well written. Thank you Subliminal Rabbit. Mine will be the browny Rowan British Sheep Breeds undyed which is appropriately called Jacob (I prefer the blood suckers myself),  Sophie's will be the russet coloured ones in Rowan's Cocoon and my Sister chose the trendy apple green ones in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino chunky.  Now which ones shall I finish first?

It's January - so take the decorations off the Christmas cake and re-ice it for Zoe''s Birthday ( well that was the case when I was a child)! - mostly

Where have the past few weeks gone?  Time has flown by since Christmas and almost two weeks ago I passed another Birthday which brings me frighteningly closer to a "milestone" one.  Not looking forward to that but as long as stay young in my head then I suppose I will be OK?  I guess I'm still in my early twenties then?  How about you Dave?  Or Katie then, how have you got so much energy?  I think it's why I don't like this time of year because another year has passed ( I HATE New Year's Eve) and another Bday comes close by.  I love the Autumn and the build up to Christmas and Christmas Eve is magical but even on Christmas Day afternoon I have a feeling that it's all over for another year and it's a long way to go to get through the bleak days of January, February and even March.  But I will buck myself up and shake off the cobwebs and get out in the fresh air a bit more. 

Alfie is growing fast and is so much fun - I love his joy of life and naughtiness - yes he is thoroughly spoilt and gets away with far more than Jasper ever did. Next week he will be going to the Vet's to be neutered.  I've always thought that it's the responsible thing to do.  I will be playing nursemaid and chief comforter and will take a few days leave to look after him. 

I want to share a few photos of Christmas gifts from dear blogging friends.  It's so nice to get parcels in the post.  As the sun is bright this afternoon, I took a few photos in the conservatory.  I hope the neighbours didn't look through their back window and witness me lying on my back with my feet in the air.  Whatever would they think??????!!!!

The first photos are of the most beautifully knitted socks from Dave in Boston.  He has laundered them to perfection and made a sock cuff label for them.  He even marked the socks as " Women medium".  Dave, that means a lot to me with my big feet (size 8)!!!!

 

I have the most incredibly high instep - you should see the arch when I point my toes!

 

Here are my Emu boots in cinnamon - a present from DH and MIL.  So warm and comfy and they suit my Hobbit feet.

 

From Julie of Little Cotton Rabbits, I received this finely knitted miniature teddy Christmas decoration.  Julie, it's too pretty to hide away until next year so she will reside in my kitchen amongst the red and cream decor.  Thank you both very much.

Blue and Pearl

I finished another little beaded bracelet last night.  These little projects are very satisfying to knit.

Sophie has requested a purple one with pearl beads for Tuesday night.  She wants to wear it at her GCSE presentation night at her old school.  They have to wear smart clothes and no jeans are allowed.  I'd better get a move on and get those beads threaded as I have a hair appointment myself today and the house really does need a good clean up too and and yes there's a (not so little any more) puppy to be walked.  Maybe I could learn to knit and walk at the same time!

But first I have to share this photo with you of a pattern which I bought online yesterday.  This has really inspired me to knit a big project.  I can just see me wearing Sylvi on the beach when taking Alfie for a winter walk.  I really do love hoods.