Worldwide Knit in Public Day 2019

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dining carriage, dining cart, handdyed, handknitting, handmade, heidelberg, heidelberg beers, heidelberg breweries, heidelberg station, heidelberg station museum, heritage beer, heritage beers, knit, knits, knitted, Knitting, luna fibers, project bag, project bags, scarf, Shawl, steam locomotive, steamtrain, steamtraintrip, the culinary express, train, traintrip, travel, umbala yarns, worldwideknitinpublicday2019

This weekend saw the 2019 Worldwide Knit in Public Day on Saturday.

The local steam train group Reefsteamers joined in, and planned a steam train trip for all to the town of Heidelberg, with stalls and a market and lunch and much more.

So Saturday morning was a lovely early start to the station to meet “Susan” the 100 year old steam locomotive and train carriages that would take the group to Heidelberg and back.

It was a beautiful day.  The train ride was stunning, and we all got a load of knitting done.  I started two new projects, and took the one with the least concentration required.  Snacks and cupcakes and coffee were available in the dining room.

The lovely Luna Fibers rode on the train with us, and had a bunch of yarns and other pretty goodies for us to look and purchase from her.  She even had little gifts, specially for all the knitters. I got a very aptly names skein from her, “Traveler”  🙂

At Heidelberg, the “Old Shed” was converted into a mini market, with stalls and goodies.  I got a beautiful skein on Umbala lace yarn, new to me.  I also met a local seamstress that makes the most interesting bags.  I loved this one, with its pockets for patterns and goodies, and big enough for a notions baggie and a project bag.

The museum that is now housed in the old station building was a delight, and the tour guide most knowledgeable on history.  I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation.

 

Lunch is served in a train carriage / dining car or outside under the huge palm trees.  The menu has everything from snacks to perfect burgers and grills. The salads were nice big portions.

No trip to Heidelberg is complete without a quick visit to the Heidelberg Brewery to see their impressive kettles, and enjoy the aroma of the various beers.

I finished off the day with some goodies for Miekie.  She got a new sweater, and who could resist this lovely princess bed.  🙂  I traveled home with it, and she was so impressed with it, she made herself comfy in it and immediately slept in it.  Definitely a good purchase.

A stunning day from very early to a very late arrival back on the outskirts of Johannesburg.  Loved the train ride, and the old station.  A day to remember.

 

 

 

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Time is not standing still

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baby alpaca yarn, cottonyarn, cowl, crescent shawl, frisenvang, fynbos, hand knitting, handdyed, handknitted, handmade, hartlam, lace scarf, lace shawl, lacecottonyarn, laceyarn, leave cowl, scarf, scarves, Shawl, stellarfibreworks, yarn, yarns, Yarnstash

Time is definitely not standing still this year.  It is February already.  And a week into the month already.

It has also been a pretty crafty time so far.  I have received beautiful yarns, some in swaps, and some that I bought, and some from my stash that I caked and got ready to start knitting them.  🙂

Yarn Cakes

The dark blue yarns were some of the yarns that my son in law brought home last year.  It is from Frisenvang in Copenhagen, and they get all their yarns from alpaca breeders in Peru.  The yarn is hand spun and naturally dyed.  It is so very soft.

The seagreen yarn was from my swap buddy in December, in the #SAFestiveswap.  I loved the colour so much, I could not put it away, so it was caked rather.  I have a pattern ready for it too.

From my stash I took out these 3 pretty pink 100% Cotton Lace yarns dyed by Colourspun, that each is slightly different from the other.  They will knit a pretty fade from dark to light.

And since I could finally get my hands on the “Fynbos” colour from Hartlam Yarns, I ordered two skeins.  🙂  which I have caked too.  I am keeping my eyes open for a pattern for them.

 

The blue has already been cast on.  No surprise there, as I just love blue yarn, and I had been gifted a gorgeous scarf pattern by Marianne at Frisenvang, specially for this yarn.  It is a very dark yarn, so I can only knit mostly during the day.

That was then a good reason to cast on the pink cotton for a small crescent shawl with a pretty and very easy lace border.

New on my needles

My leaves cowl is just about done, just the ribbing and some blocking to complete this lovely project.  I really loved using this yarn, and since I have a bit left I may knit something extra with it.

Leaves Cowl Progress

Happy crafting all.

Off to a good start in 2018

Tags

bear, bears, cowl, hooded scarf, Mini Bears, miniature bear, new zealand yarn, possumyarn, scarf, scarves, Shawl, shawlette, triangular shawl, tunisian crochet

2018 is off to a good start, or so it seems at least when it comes to crafting and completing projects.

I am so happy with the way Old Blu turned out.  He is so cute, and reminds me a lot of a Russian bear.  He has a cousin Old Ned, that is red and green, that I will attempt next.

Old Blu Mini Bear

Since I had a relative amount of the grey lambswool left after completing my grey sweater, I decided to use it up and knitted a hooded scarf with it.  A quick and easy knit, and ready for blocking.

Hooded Scarf

January was a very peaceful month at the office, and I could sit and knit quietly in the gardens and enjoy the shade of the big trees and warm summer days. It was just perfect to finish this mini Shawl already.  It needs to be blocked, in order to open the leaves around the bottom edges.  I have knitted this before, and loved it.  Always a good pattern to knit again.

Shawlette

When I received yarn from my Stitching Santa buddy that she got while visiting New Zealand, I immediately loved it.  It was gorgeous grey and a dusty dark pink colour.  Not the usual blues I always seem to buy and love, and I loved that she opted for something different to send.  Of course, I could not put it away and kept it around.  Now that I finished these two projects, it was just the right time to cast on this pretty yarn.  I am starting a cowl for myself for the winter, which is still a few months away, and it will be ready well in time.

Green Leaves Cowl

Green Leaves Cowl

Something that I have been interested in learning and teaching myself is Tunisian Crochet.  Yes, after all these years, I have never learned this craft.  But it has been on my mind, and I had a book on my “list” of books I want to get.  I was very happy when my daughter gifted me the book, so I can get started.  This will be new to me, and I really look forward to giving it a go.

Tunisian Crochet Book

And so that is January already.  🙂  A good month indeed.

And Miekie says a happy hello to all as well, she is still enjoying being the spoiled little furry baby she is.

Miekie

 

 

 

 

 

From Germany with Love!!

Tags

birgit freyer, die wolllust, laceyarn, scarf, scarfkit, schoppel, schoppeledition6, schoppellace, schoppellaceball, schoppelwolle, schoppelzauberball, Shawl, shawlkit, stole, stolekit, wolle, wool, Wrap, wrapkit, yarn, yarns, zauberball

Along with my Danish / Peruvian yarns, I decided that my second order would have to be with Birgit Freyer of Die Wollust in Berlin.

I have been wanting to try out Schoppel Wolle for some time.  Whenever I saw these beauties being knitted, I could not keep away from the beautiful shades and colours they had.

I choose very carefully.  I would have chosen way to many if I could. I got a selection of stunning colours, in Laceball, Edition6 and various Zauberball.

De Wollust Berlin Germany

But I wanted some of Birgit’s fine lace yarns too.  I spoiled myself with a very pretty sage silvery green lace yarn.  And a kit for a lace stole / scarf / shawl that is in the most beautiful colours.  I was gifted the pattern for the shawl, and it is so well written and easy to understand.

Thank you Martin and Birgit, for making shopping with you (even from very far away) such a lovely and warmhearted experience.

 

 

A Little bit of Mohair knitting lately

Tags

crochet, duckies, Knitting, love jozi, mohair, mohair knitting, projects, purse, purses, rain, rains, scarf, scarves, Shawl, weather

I bought the most amazing mohair from Natural Yarns, and could not wait much longer to get started with some knitting projects on it.  It is so amazingly soft and light, you hardly feel it.

So I knitted a triangular shawl / scarf in a blue gray, for a colleague of mine, that is having her birthday next week.  We share the same office suites, and are so alike, it is lovely.

The brown and beige is my best colour to wear to the office, as it makes getting dressed just so much easier.  So this pretty scarf is just right for it.  It knitted up amazingly fast.  And with the rainy weather we have been having, it is actually perfect timing.

And then I crocheted my first ever purse and used these cute handles with the duckies for it.  I always thought it looks so complicated, but it was not at all.  It was a lovely project, went really quickly, and was very easy.  I have more purse handles, and will be making more of these in the future.

And just in case you may be wondering about the weather here, this week had been a rainy and very wet week.  It rained most of last weekend, and it may still rain most of this weekend as well.  We are grateful for the rain, as we needed it so very much.

This was the city and the streets during the week.  Very damp, cloudy, foggy, low clouds hiding the buildings, and roads that flooded into little rivers at times. But we are still loving it.

 

Completed winter projects

Tags

alpaca, cowl, crochet, Handmake, Knitting, scarf, Shawl, swap goodies, swaps, winter, yarns

With the weather suddenly warming (literally overnight) to the late 20’s here in Johannesburg, I think I finished the warmer knitting just in time.

I finished knitting my grey Alpaca Wrap, and even got some cute labels and a tiny ceramic flower to add to it.

It turned out beautifully.  I may keep it around during Spring and Summer even, as we may just have a cool evening so such that I can drape it around me to snuggle up nice and cosy.

Grey Alpaca Wrap

Grey Alpaca Wrap

Grey Alpaca Wrap

These two wrap scarves knitted up in a matter of days.  The yarn is amazingly soft and light.  If we have another chilly day or two, they will be perfect.

Wrap Scarf

Wrap Scarf

I also received a beautiful package all the way from Slovenia.  In the package was awesome treats and goodies, including very fine crocheted earrings.  So delicate.  I got Slovenian knitting yarn, and the finest crochet cotton I have seen in a very long time.  These I have to try, but I will be looking for a very special pattern.

Package Gifts and Goodies from Slovenia

Package Gifts and Goodies from Slovenia

Package Gifts and Goodies from Slovenia

The doily is already in use in my kitchen, it is perfect, and adds a gorgeous splash of summer sun and colour.

 

Got a lot done!

Tags

crochet, daughter, handmade, Handmake, Knitting, lace, lace knitting, lace yarn, Little black Dog, scarf, Shawl, vintage, yarns

Here I am!  Back Again!

I had a little medical emergency that landed me in hospital for a week. And then another week at home resting up.  But I am all well and healthy and on the way to recovery.  I have DVT (Deep vein trombosis) and could not walk, but I’m back on my feet now and making very good progress.  I had a nice window and could see a little bit of garden outside.  The weather was cold and some days were cloudy.  I was very well looked after and the treats and snacks were just superb.

My view

My view

Treats

Of course my little doggie had to go and visit with my daughter and son in law, and she absolutely love being with them, but I did get the impression she was much happier keeping my legs warm when I returned home again.

Missing my Mommy

My Mommy is Home!!

I got a lot done, I must admit.  I knitted my daughter’s light grey speckled cowl, and cast on a dark grey speckled cowl as well.  And I started a beanie for my son in law.

Light Grey Speckled Cowl

Light Grey Speckled Cowl

Dark Grey Speckled Cowl

Dark Grey Speckled Cowl

Nic’s Beanie

Nic’s Beanie

I was able to finish the little tapestry I was working on.  I am thinking I want to make a project bag maybe, and have the tapestry as part of it.  I also blocked my lacy leaf shawl and vintage look doily, and the doily is already in use.

Lacy Leaf Pattern Shawl

Lacy Leaf Pattern Shawl

Lacy Leaf Pattern Shawl

Tapestry Work

Vintage Look Crochet Doily

Of course I also had lots and lots of time to read, and I absolutely loved these 2 books that I had time to work through from beginning to end.

The Knitters Bible

Crochet 2

These are beautiful, and I intend using some of the new ideas and techniques in them that I found very interesting.  One always seem to learn something new somewhere in a day.

Happy crafting to you all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some finished items, a bit of progress and a new project

Tags

chunky, cowl, crochet, crochet doily, daughter, filet crochet, handmade, Handmake, Knitting, lace knitting, lace yarn, scarf, Shawl, tapestry, tapestry stitching, vintage, vintage crochet, winter

Finally I was able to finish the Leaf border shawl I was working on, and I also finished the Vintage Doily I was working on.  I want to crochet more, this is always such a fun time and one of the crafts I absolutely love.  They both still need to be blocked, but I will wait for a lovely warm sunny weekend firstly.

Leaf Border Shawl

Leaf Border Shawl

Leaf Border Shawl

Vintage Crochet Doily

Vintage Crochet Doily

Vintage Crochet Doily

My little tapestry with the Kitty on is nearly done as well.  Just a few more areas and then the white.  It gets dark earlier now, and I am really only able to work on this little one during the day when I am at home and its bright still.

Tapestry stitching

Tapestry stitching

And I am ready to cast on.  This is such a beautiful yarn.  Warm and chunky with a super cute colourful speckle in it.  It is a little something for my daughter, and it is going to be a super quick knit.

Grey Speckled Cowl

Grey Speckled Cowl

Grey Speckled Cowl

Back to Normal…….

Tags

autumn, bear, fall, fall sweater, handmade, handmade bear, Handmake, handsewing, knitted bags, Knitting, lace, lace knitting, lace scarf, lace shawl, lace yarn, mohair, mohair knitting, project bag, project bags, Rowan summer tweed, scarf, sewing, Shawl, Summer Tweed

There is probably nothing quite like a bit of cooler weather and the promise of a change in the seasons to get me creative again.  It has been a great summer and I had a wonderful, long summer break.

But I find that things are slowly getting back to normal.  For me at least.  I am on a creative crafting roll, and have so much that I would like to start on.  But I have to keep myself at bay and set limits, to some extent at least.  I am slowly working on the blanket, although with my fingers itching for other projects, I have to wonder if it will be ready for winter.

I did finish off my Smocked Lace Scarf in Burgundy Mohair.  It is amazingly soft, and I look forward to wearing it in the coming winter.

Since my scarf is off my needles, I am starting a shawl.  I don’t have a set pattern for this, as I just have an idea of what I want it to look like in the end. I am keeping my fingers crossed on this one.

And I really think it is time for a bit of needlework and stitching.  This cute 30cm bear has been around for a while, and I finally cut the pieces.  Now for some sewing!  She is pretty easy and straightforward to make.

 

Two other knitting projects are also lurking in the shadows, and may just find their way onto my needles in no time.  The Rowan Summer Tweed is for a Fall top/sweater for when the days turn cooler, and the bulky yarn I have taken out to knit a project bag or carry all, slightly bigger in order to carry the bigger knit or crochet projects.  I will be on the lookout for a pretty piece of interesting fabric to use as a lining.

It’s February already!

Tags

blanket, daughter, handmade, Handmake, Knitting, lace, lace knitting, lycra, mohair, moss and diamond blanket, scarf, silverspun, socks, tweed yarn in Oatmeal, winter

Wow, it’s February already!  Where has January gone to?

I look at my calendar, and wonder where the month has gone.  Its been a pretty hot summer month, lots of sunshine and heatwaves.  With a little bit of rain, finally.

I did finish my daughters socks.  They turned out great, even if I have to say so myself.  This yarn is absolutely fantastic for socks, and with the bit of lycra in it, the stretch makes for the most perfect fit.  She wanted cabled socks, and I love knitting cables, so they have a little cable running up the outside of the sock.  They are soft and comfortable and I am sure will make for great winter comfort.

 

My Smocked Lace Scarf in burgundy mohair is nearing the end.  I have finished the middle section, and have started the last lace section.  Only a few more inches and pattern repeats and I can finish it off.  I love this yarn and colour, and look forward to wearing this scarf in the coming winter and showing it off.

And I did work a bit more on the blanket I am making for the winter.  It does not look very wide, but when stretched, its just fine.  I just want a small blanket to cover one up in the winter when relaxing on the sofa with a book or a movie.  I am thinking it needs a pretty border, and I know I have an old pattern (from my grandmother) somewhere that she always used to add to her knitted blankets.  I just may need to dig deep in my old patterns and goodies, or maybe there will even be a similar version out on the web.