....... just to stand still!! The last few days have been very busy, and I still have photos from Friday and Saturday that I want to show you, as well as all the wonderful stuff from yesterday's Woolgathering. So, let's get started!!
The table mats and runner which I was sewing in Friday
The brown areas are chenille = the texture is lovely
This is the swallow tail shawl, soaking in tepid water, with 'Ecover Delicate', for about twenty minutes. I then rinsed it thoroughly and squeezed out the excess water (NEVER wring your knitting!)
I rolled the shawl in a towel, to soak up as much water as possible (I left it rolled up while I had lunch!)
Ready to block the shawl - a clean sheet, my new blocking wires, pins and tape measure
It took a little while to carefully thread the wires through the top edge and then through the points of the swallowtails - but then it was so easy to stretch the shawl out to the correct size and shape and push pins into the carpet to hold the wires in place. (if you have never blocked a shawl like this - it is a long job if you are pinning each point and trying to get them even!)
lovely even points!
I knitted the shawl to wear with my good winter coat (which I've had since 1996) - I think it looks fabulous!
Many thanks to Helen for the beautiful yarn (it's alpaca, silk and cashmere) - and the shawl only took 32 grams - so I could do another two!!
So yesterday, it was off down to Chesters for another Woolgathering, organised as ever by Lindsay. who was experimenting with some needle felting (do you remember Lindsay's lovely holiday cottage? She still has some vacancies, so if you want to come and see the glorious Borders, do check out her blog)
Fiona was doing some more work on her amazing felted ram
Janet was spinning using her wonderful new spinning wheel
Lizzi was busy with her needlepoint
Tricia is getting to the end of her latest knitting project
Lorraine was working on her sampler quilt - it is entirely handstitched! (and she has another one the same well on the way to completion!!) (LtoR Tricia, Lorraine and Janet)
What was I doing? Well after a bit of needle felting, I was working on my knitting that I can't tell you about, but Janet took this photo of me eating cake!!
Some of those there yesterday said I showed too many cakes on the blog - girls, girls, there is no such thing as too many cakes!! So you know that I am going to finish with cake related photos!! I got up at 5am to bake these scones - they looked so good I thought they deserved Granny's traycloth and pretty china for afternoon tea
Would you like a closer look - oh yum yum
Oh dear, I've just told you a great big fib - of course I didn't bake the scones - I bought them this morning in Morrisons! Complete with raspberry jam and fresh cream!)
That was a bit of a marathon post, but now I've caught up with all the things I wanted to share with you - I hope you have enjoyed it!