KAL completed!

Here is my finished hat! There is more green than shows in the photos, but I'm very happy with it!

2012 Mystery Hat Knit Along

I have signed up for Woolly Wormhead's 2012 Mystery Hat KAL, the idea is that you buy some suitable yarn and knit as instructed- the instructions come in installments- and at the end of November you have a hat!
I'm planning on using this, but I have yet to buy it! Unfortunately I don't have anything suitable in my stash!
Will post photos as I go along!( As if I didn't already have lots of things to knit!)

(Trying to) Learn to Spin

I spent a day last week at the lovely shop in Modbury that is Hulu, I have shopped there in the past both online and in person, but this was the first time I signed up for a day-long workshop on learning to spin and colour blend.

We started the day by choosing some fibre and then using the drum carder to blend it and make a batt ready for spinning.

We broke for lunch before turning our attention to the spindle! Having had a go once before and also watched Youtube tutorials I had a vague idea of the method! We practiced on some white fibre and ended up with a small skein and then had a go with our own batts! A slightly slubby thick/thin yarn ensued! I have more of the batt to spin before I can knit anything, I am awaiting my newly ordered spindle, this could become addictive! My efforts on the spinning wheel were a bit erratic, I'll try and master the spindle before I think about that again.

We had an excellent teacher in Terri Bate she was great fun and very patient! Will post a picture once I have spun the yarn and knitted it up!

Visit to Brighton

Despite my best efforts Isaac kept crawling off the rug!

Sophia modelling my latest knit for her!

Up a tree- Hannah in a long dress! Nothing changes!

The Sophia trap!

Left the madness that is Dartmouth in the run up to Regatta, to visit Brighton and the Pinafore crew. Had a lovely few days, visited Stanmer Park and went Blackberrying on the Downs. There were plans for jam but it might just be crumble this time!
Thanks for a lovely time!

Fibre Appreciation Thursday-again!

Last time I participated in this I hadn't bought any of Danielle's yarn- but now I have!!! Some lovely classic rainbow DK. I have plans to knit for my grand-kids! Should get a hat (or vest) each out of the two skeins!

Yummy isn't it!! Thanks Danielle!

Fibre Appreciation Thursday

I have reading the blogA Stash Addict for a while now and although I haven't bought any of her lovely yarn yet, I plan to!! I enjoy seeing the beautiful yarn, especially the Rainbow! But the chance to win yarn, particularly in such a lovely colour is not to be missed!

Torch Relay

Joined a group of others to see the Olympic Torch run(walk!) up College Way and hand over to another runner . Looking  at the live coverage no body seems to carry the flame for very long. An awful lot of accompanying police bikes and support vehicles.

Ten Tors 2012

Team Captain and Navigator for the Sea Cadets' 35 mile team

The starting guns have just been fired.

Little Bo Peep and his 5 sheep!

Medal presentation.

Phil and I enjoyed a very sunny weekend at Okehampton Camp in support of the three Dartmouth Ten Tors teams. There were 2 teams who completed 35 miles and 1 who completed 45 miles.Much exhaustion and many blisters ensued but it was a huge achievement by the young people and a great privilege to see it close up.

Julia is already planning to do the 45 next year! 

Yarn Along

Joining again with Ginny at Small Things, not a very good picture I'm afraid!
I have just finished reading 'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett ( which has just been made into a film), I enjoyed it very much. Once again I have two projects on the needles! The green yarn is going to be this, a lovely thin scarf. The grey is for my youngest daughter a sweater with a stranded work yoke,looking forward to finishing the rib so I can move up a needle size!

Finished objects!

Hannah,Sophia and Isaac came to stay last week and Hannah very kindly dressed Isaac up in a selection of  my knits! A pair of stay-on booties which are just out of shot ( and apparently they really do stay on!), an Aviatrix helmet (such a sweet pattern) and a Baby Surprise Jacket( my first! ).He is very cute! The photo above ( don't know why blogger rotated it?) is the finished 'Get Ziggy'- plenty big enough!

Yarn Along

I am joining in with Ginny of Small Things again this week. I have the yarn to knit a sweater for Julia, but as Hannah,Dan,Sophia and Isaac are coming to stay this weekend I thought I'd use up some yarn from my stash and knit Get Ziggy for Isaac. I love the envelope neck and cables. I'll start Julia's once I've finished!
I am reading 'Farewell to the East End' by Jennifer Worth, it is the third in a set of books about the author's life in the East End of London in the 1950s when she worked there as a district midwife and nurse. It is a fascinating insight into life after WW2 and into the history of midwifery in Great Britain.The first book has been turned into a BBC TV series entitled 'Call The Midwife', if it makes to your screens in the USA I'm sure you will enjoy it, and if not the books are well worth reading.

Yarn Along!

Here I am joining with Ginny of Small Things for Yarn Along.
I am reading 'The Reason for God' by Timothy Keller, I bought it for my daughter who is at University, I thought I had better read it first and my husband wants to read it too! I think she will find it helpful when talking to friends who question her about her Christian faith.
I am knitting an Oatmeal pullover from Rowan Purelife Renew. I am on to the first sleeve, so nearly finished!

Home Ed and Exams

It was very remiss of me to fail to mention that Julia took her first public exam in October last year, the results were published towards the end of January. She took CIE O level R.E. and got a B- so well done Julia!
For all of Lydia's IGCSEs we used an exam centre in Bristol which was very expensive in time and money although we had no complaints about the centre itself. We used the same centre for this first exam for Julia.
After a bit of Internet searching I found a school in Torquay which accepts external candidates for Edexcel IGCSEs. Julia and I went to visit the examinations officer and all is now in place for her to sit 3 IGCSEs in May/June this year. So lots of Physics, History and English Language work going on at the moment!

Visiting Isaac

 We have just come back from a week in Brighton, visiting the Durdin clan, and meeting our grandson Isaac for the first time.

Here is Sophia cuddling Isaac( don't worry there were adults nearby!)

Isaac 

Sophia's new boots!

Sophia breakfasting!

 He is a lovely calm little baby, his big sister Sophia is very loving to him- lots of kisses and cuddles.
The arrival of three extra bodies was more than Pinafore could stand so Hannah and Dan's friends Matt and Jo very gallantly offered to swop living spaces so that the week was spent in a flat and not on a boat!
We are all looking forward to our Easter holiday, in the Lake District, with all the family( including Daniel and Sara- but no dogs!), it will be the next time we see Isaac and I'm sure he will of grown loads!

Yarn Along

Joining once more withGinny of Small Things in the yarn along.

I am working on the second fingerless mitten for my husband ( I knit the first for a friend's son, discovered it was too big for a ten year old!!) I knitted him a smaller pair and am now finishing the other pair for Phil. My lovely daughter bought me the Yarn Harlot book for Christmas and I have just finished reading it.


These are the finished objects from my pre-christmas yarn along post- the Amaryllis hat drying over a dinner plate! It looks lovely but was a real brain fryer, the combination of stranded work and dpns was a challenge. Next time I'll do a sweater, or maybe mittens!

And this is the Dr Who scarf, very much appreciated by my youngest daughter.
My next knitting project is going to be for me!