Slouchy wool hat

Rib and stripes - the easy bit

With stripy triangles to finish the top of the hat

Texture

So a few weeks ago I decided I wanted a slouchy wooly hat.  But could I find one I liked?  Of course not!  Then it occurred to me - I could knit one.
So with the help of my good friend Katie and some books from the library, I've done it.
I started with some rib, then made stripes by switching between stocking stitch.  This was the easy bit and done by the beginning of the week, and then I had to ask Katie's advice on how to finish.  Advice came just in time for me to take my knitting to the Family Christmas Dinner, and rather than be bored in the afternoon, I managed to finish the knitting side of things.  Once home I stitched it all together and a hat was born.
I am so pleased with it.  Its exactly how I wanted it and yet I just made it up.  I love that it came from my own fair hands.  I really can't wait to make some more stuff and try out more stitches. Thanks Katie!

Last Creative Writers of the year

Today we had the last meeting of the year for the Creative Writers group.  
As many of the members are also members of the Poetry group, which meets the week after, and as that would be Christmas Eve we decided to mix the groups together.
What a success!  It was a really good meeting with a lovely mix of poems and stories and even a hymn (which was sung).  And there was Christmas food.
I didn't have anything to read, but I have at least started a new story and I have the idea for a second.  Progress.

No homework this month, but I suggested that if anyone had time for writing they could either use one of the homework's from the past year that they had missed or they could go back to one they had done and review it.

craft&design magazine

I love a competition.  I don't often win, I'm lucky in other ways, but I still love to enter them.  (I love a survey too.)
So imagine my surprise when I received an email to tell me I'd won a years subscription to craft&design magazine along with a wall planner and calendar.  All from a tweet I'd see on Twitter.  
Yesterday my first issue arrive and although I haven't had a chance to read very much of it, the images look amazing.  If nothing else I rather think I'm in for a very inspiring year.
Thanks craft&design magazine.  I can't wait to have a proper read.

Boxes

I love boxes.  And I love making them.  So when, while browsing the web for wedding things, I came across these designs I couldn't wait to give them ago.  Only problem was that when I printed them off they were too small, but this was soon fixed with a little creative photocopying.

There were something like 10 different designs but either they weren't very good designs in the first place or the photocopying messed them up and so they didn't all work.  My favourite design (below) looks great but I can't get the last two tabs down without ripping the card.  Its quite disappointing.  When I have some more time maybe I'll see if I can correct them.

Woollen experimentation

Years and years ago my Dad taught me how to knit.  But although I knew about pearl and plain I didn't know anything else and I just forgot about it.  Every so often I'd think 'I really should learn how to knit again', but I'd never do anything about it.
Then (a couple of weeks ago) I decided I wanted a wooly hat, but I couldn't find any I liked and the one I did I can't get in the UK.  And I suddenly thought - I could make one!

Cue my good friend Katie.  We've been friends for a good 10 years and throughout this time she has always been knitting.  What I like best about Katie's knitting is that while she can and does read patterns, she is happy to try out her ideas without a pattern (her llamas are amazing).  This is my sort of creating.  So over she came for the afternoon, and once we had some wool and some needles we got started.  So far I'm just practicing but if you look (hard) at the above photo you can see the start of some ribs.
This is going to take time and practice and as yet I'm not sure how I'm going to finish it, but I know that Katie will be there ready to help when I need it.  That is, after all, what good friends are all about - I hope I can repay the favour some time.

Hobbycraft - a treasure trove?

Yesterday we went to Hobbycraft.  It was my first ever visit and I was blown away by it.

All my life I have spent collecting materials for making stuff; sometimes out of the bin – cereal boxes or paper that’s only been printed on one side; or from one of my dad’s sheds; or from wonderful tiny art shops where everything you could think of is crammed into this tiny space; or while I was at art college from the old department store across the road from the college who had a great haberdashery department; or even from somewhere like B&Q.

Every project has needed a plan just to get the materials, especially as the wonderful art shops are closing down and I’ve moved to a different location.  So to walk into one big store and find pretty much everything I’ve ever dreamed of and a bunch more is amazing and in away a little scary.

I love those little art shops, you know the one’s where you have to be careful when you turn round that you don’t wipe out a whole display, but they are definitely on the decline and with a store like Hobbycraft around I suddenly understand why. 

So I have mixed feelings about it.  Part of me is amazed at all the wonderful things on offer and I’d happily go back and spend another couple of hours looking round, while on the other hand I would rather spend my money in one of those little shops in the hope that they will continue to exist for a bit longer.  The problem is with the items that the little art shops just don’t have the room to stock.  Where else could I have got the length of balsa wood or the star cutting stamp that we picked up yesterday except maybe the internet?

I think I will have to add it to my list of possible suppliers but just make sure I start with the tiny independent shops first.

Novembers Writers group

Where has November gone?  I turn my back for 1 minute and suddenly realise I haven't blogged for weeks!

Today was the November writers group meeting.  Last months homework gave us a selection of stories about what we think the best things in life are; and my favorite was the description of a wood.  Sounds simple but she had really captured a wood in autumn, with all that colour and rain.  I could see it all quite plainly.
Of course I had nothing to read out myself.

This months homework could be Christmasy, or not, depending on how you feel.  I really will try and do this one.
Grandmother pulled the tray of gingerbread men from the oven and...

Operation Christmas Child

Its that time of year again where I pack a box of goodys for Operation Christmas Child.  These boxes go out all over the world to give a child, who would normally get nothing, a gift at Christmas.  I love this idea much more than just giving money.  I know that some little girl somewhere is going to be given my box and find inside a lovely soft teddy, all sorts of art supplies and a nice warm hat, amongst other things.  Maybe she won't like all of it, but maybe she'll be able to swap some of it with someone else, or share it with another child.  I just hope that she will realise that while I can't do much, I do care.
If you want to make yours the deadline isn't until 18 Nov.