Not another wool order

Oh yes, the curse of the wool addiction continues.  This time in the form of a Ravelry pattern that I've seen loads on pinterest, and most recently on Sophie's blog nest. 

How gorgeous is this sweater?  Incredibly so, in my humble opinion, and I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. It's called 'climb every mountain' which just made me want it even more! I've just downloaded the pattern - and kind of freaked myself out by how complicated it looks, but I've committed now. 

This is the version I saw on pinterest in straw

An email to wool warehouse two weeks ago informed me that they would have a new delivery of Cascade 220 sport wool in shortly (as I wanted the straw colourway - totally mirroring Sophie here).
It has now arrived in stock, so 7 balls of wool will be winging their way to me shortly.  I am envisaging lots of evenings at home alone soon so will have lots of time to read, knit and craft. Hopefully!

G x

Beekeeper's Quilt

After debating it for an age, I finally decided to take the plunge and buy the Tiny Owl Knits pattern for the Beekeeper's Quilt.  If you haven't seen it in all of it's glory - feast your eyes on this:

Made up of over 300 hexipuffs this is a year long project and I wanted to give it a go.  Only problem is that it involves double pins and I hate using them (cause I'm rubbish)!

I decided that to begin with I'd treat myself and order some Jamieson's Spindrift Shetland Wool and promptly purchased 6 balls - my choices were mainly based on what they were called!

I started this Friday - and failed.  I started again on Saturday - and failed.  I then spent another age trying on Sunday and eventually a hexipuff started to come together. 

It must be right because even Stephanie herself favourited it over on Twitter!

I think I am knitting it the wrong way round though as I have to turn them right side out when I get to the end, but I'm doing it, and as of yesterday, one hexipuff became two!

I'm going to keep going and hopefully I'll get quicker as I'm going along.  They aren't perfect but I'm hoping that once they are sewn together, all flaws will disappear in it's beekeeping glory!

G x

Julie Arkell

Oh my goodness me, I meant to blog this super day out at the Hope and Elvis studio weeks ago but I've been so busy I haven't had a chance.

At the end of last month I was very lucky to get a coveted place on the Julie Arkell stitchy day up at Louise's studio.

There were less than 20 of us there on the day, but over 150 people applied to go - such is the draw of the wonderful Ms Arkell.  To say I was in awe of her is an understatement, but she is super nice and friendly - and if she ends up on Instagram, it's all down to me!!!!!

We started off by making wooly war brooches.  This is mine - I don't know if you can see, but it says Happy on it, because that is how I always feel when I go to H&E.  I always seem to end up sitting with the naughty, giddy people though - Louise must think I'm such a rogue!

We were having such a good time I barely took any photos though!

In the afternoon we were able to make our own Julie Arkell inspired thingy.  I chose to make a watch, using one of Louise's own vintage watch straps that she had recently acquired.  I don't think it is finished yet, for I believe it needs more adding to it - when I have a mo that is!

Julie 'admiring' my watch!

I finished stitching it at 2:50 pm

I wanted so much to buy a piece of Julie's work but alas and alack the pennies weren't flowing sufficiently for that to occur - her stuff is not cheap, no siree bob it's not, but I did get some postcards to sit alongside my books.

I hope I can meet her again for some more making!

G x