And they're off -Or day two

Well I had couple of days until the tour started with not much to do. So I cast on Tropicana, I bought the lovely silk at woolfest and although I had a couple of false starts I finally got my swing on Thursday. I had a long journey on friday evening and again yesterday and easily memorised pattern was perfect for this. I am really enjoying knitting it and in someways I am a little frustrated to be putting it down to start the Eyelet Chemise.Maybe I will sneak a few rows in everyday:)
I was away over the weekend so had a late start on the Eyelet Chemise. I cast on last night. Knitting in cotton after silk is a little bit of a shock to the fingers. Though the cotton has a lovely stitch definition and seems to knit up really quickly Which is very useful when it is pattern based on inches rather than rows!

Tour de France Kal

Tomorrow is the start of the tour de france. It is also the start of the knitalong on Ravelry! It is not that I am particularly interested in bike riding but, I do like the idea of a knitalong. Especially when you actually make something you really want to a deadline.
I have decided on the Eyelet Chemise by Terese Chenynoweth. I have wanted to make it since the Summer 2006 interweaves came through my door but somehow have always got sidetracked.
I am unsure if I will finish. A new job and a trip to Canada make things in the middle of the tour make things a little more hectic around here but I am going to have a really good time trying.

Ishbel

I once heard unblocked,knitted lace, described as looking like a bag of cat sick! I think this is a little unfair but, it is true to say the metamorphosis is similar to that of Caterpillar to beautiful butterfly.
The last week I have been knitting Ishbel a lovely straight forward pattern by Ysolda Teague. The first was in Collinette Jitterbug,
the second was from stash three balls of Rowan Damask.
It shows great versatility on the part of the pattern that it looks equally lovely in both yarns. The first is warm and cosy perfect to keep out winter chills
the second is crisp and summer. I was a little worried that the Damask may not hold its points but, it turns out the points are lovely and crisp whilst the shawl has a great drape.
Unfortunately neither are destined to be mine. Though I have two equally gorgeous yarns earmarked to make it in sometime in the not too distant future. Maybe I will get to keep one of them.

Scrappy Nine Patch

A few weeks ago, I came across Crazy Mom Quilts and her one a day quilt along. I thought that it sounded like a good idea, one block a day, and a great way of using up scraps but, I had so much on the go that I probably wouldn't bother. I mentioned it in passing to my quilting buddies the little blue tortoise and J who got really enthused. We decided to pool our scraps so that we would all have a variety of fabrics. I had a major clear out of all the little bits I had pieces going back to my earliest quilts. Every Thursday for the last couple of weeks we have grabbed great handfuls of 2.5" square and handed over our nine patches. The rest of the week has been a frenzy of nine patch piecing as we tried to catch up. At the end of thursday evening the nine patches have then been spread across the floor and we have each picked one till they were gone. At day 53 we have 59 each and the target is 70 which makes a single bed size. We still have a lot of scraps and I am still enjoying the rhythmic piecing so maybe mine will end up a double.

Hey Jude

It is gorgeous! The fabric is heavy and very luxurious.The colour magnificent. The buttons a perfect match. The stitch pattern was interesting without being too difficult.
But Why did it have to take so much effort to finish? It has been my nemesis, my only garment for me this year.
It has been like a creative sponge zapping my enthusiasm for all other projects. The whole thing was so stressful it had to be pulled out so many times firstly because I made too large a size then because it was too short. If I hadn't wanted it so badly it would definitely have joined the never to be finished pile. The buttonhole band alone took about four attempts to get it set up straight. Would I do it again? Yes, I love it!

Catching up!

We have just had our annual visit to Brugge to visit the inlaws. I have been there so often I forget that it really is quite pretty. Anyway I got busy with the camera and brought you back some delights of the city.Hmmm Chocolate

There is a story about Brugge and the swans. I am not entirley sure of it but basically the people of Brugge did something wrong and were punished by having to feed the swans.
I spent my second wonderful afternoon in Hema with the knit and knatter group that I met through ravelry. The bright green pile is Jude or as I have renamed it the rip stitch sweater as I have pulled it off the needles so many times.

I also visited my favourite shop in Brugge (more than once)De Lander it sells gorgeous patchwork fabrics,patchwork and bear kits as well as lovely home gifts.
Katie who owns it was busy telling me how she hates having her photo taken (I guess she will hate it even more when she realises what I have done with it!) LOL!Though all of the quilts you can see Katie has made whilst sitting at the counter.

The sleepy canine is called Lander, I guess you know who the shop is named after.
Mario and I were sat on the square having a drink and watching the world go by,it was very civilised.

Sometimes you just need an Angel!

I seem to be very behind with everything at the moment. A combination of lethargy,lack of time and a wrist that doesn't quite do what I want. Which is why the day before the Little Blue Tortoise's birthday I still hadn't organised making her present.
I had decided on this Tilda Angel last year as it is just perfect for her. Then I ended up making something else. The fabric has been sitting waiting on the shelf looking at me for months. so on Wednesday I drew around the pieces. The sewing on the machine wasn't difficult and I whipped it up Thursday morning before work. However stuffing it was a bit beyond me. Luckily I had two little angels of my own to help!
They really enjoyed it even though it was a little rushed(we did it as we got home from school). I can see more of these popping up around the house very soon.
I think everyone has now received my Handmade Happiness Gifts so I shall reveal what I made. The posie pattern is from Lucy at Attic24
the needlecases and the bookcovers are my own design.I am very pleased with the book covers and one of these days I will make one for myself.

There are some very complimentary things said both Here and Here.
Mousie here was given as part of the exchange but was really for a very pernickity cat called Jack. The lure of cat nip makes him like me a little better.

The booties are for a soon to be arrival.