Woolfest 2011

Woolfest Cumbria 2011. Knitting buddies have all talked about it but this was the first time I have been ... So much to see ....so much to buy..whether you knit, weave, crotchet, spin felt or even sew there was something for every body...And the donors of the wool in the first place ... This friendly Merino sheepand these timid alpacas.... If you haven't been yet put the date in your diary for next year....
and start saving now.I have so many unfinished projects on the go at the moment , I decided that I must set to and finish something off. I am really pleased with my finished piece of textile art, Precious Memories which I made at the Mandy Patullo workshop with Katie a couple of weeks ago. All framed up , I am quite proud of it. And to think I was just playing about with that Miracle fabric paper to see how it worked.

And another UFO finished off - the Moda Honey bun roll made up into another lovely bag- all topped off with a fabric covered button.

The poppies in the fields up and down the Tyne Valley have been quite something this year . And I have never seen one as thick with poppies as this field near Corbridge



Happy Quilting xx

Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket Knitters

As an occasional member of the Cafe Nero Knitting group at Hexham, I was invited to join in their Debbie Abrahams Mystery blanket day. What a wonderful day we had on Saturday. Here you can see Debbie's mystery blanket 2009. Knit from individual squares revealed one month at a time , her designs incorporate colour, texture and embellishment with buttons, beads and sequins.
Although I am not knitting the mystery blanket myself I had a great day and Debbie was a great teacher passing on lots of knitting and finishing skills to us. As with lots of crafts, I was taught to knit by my mother and grandmothers and have just really picked things up as I went along. It was wonderful to be taught some skills and techniques by an expert. Here Debbie was showing us how to sew together 2 squares at the side seams with mattress stitch.
And here joining the top and bottom of the squares together with mattress stitch again. The stitching was completely invisible. Debbie travels around the country running knitting workshops as well as designing projects and writing books. Check out her website here.
Then she showed us how to block out the squares so they are perfectly square. This is the bit at the end of a pattern I have never bothered with before - I am in too much of a hurry to put the garment together. But this gave a really professional finish. Her technique didn't involve any ironing so could be used on textured knitting and knitting embellished with beads.
Past mystery blanket knitters brought their blankets and mystery cushions which looked magnificent all together for the group shot. Thanks to Laraine who was our hostess for the day, providing us with the most magnificent lunch.
And in an effort to work off some of the calories from the excesses of the weekend , I went out for a walk by the River Tyne this evening.
After all the rain on Saturday and Sunday it was good to be out in the sunshine again.

Happy quilting and happy knitting too xx

A little cutie

This wekend we have been to Glasgow to meet with family and to coo over the new baby. Isn't she gorgeous all dressed up to go out in her new hat and the cardigan Granny Kiwi knitted?
We ate ....
and we drank.....
Did a bit of sight seeing ....
and a bit of shopping - this peacock sculpture is on top of a city centre store.

But look what the post man brought today....
A prize in the post . I won the Janome QXL 605 Quilting machine in a competition in British Patchwork and Quilting magazine. I was thrilled and now need to get down to some serious quilting again.

Happy quilting xx