The Highland Shawl From 'That' Show

Ah, Friday nights, they are great aren't they. I now have to work on a Saturday so its not the same as it used to be, but there are no classes in the studio its just my little shop open. I have some great Autumn projects in the pipeline including some knitted items inspired by one of my favorite TV shows, Outlander, (FYI, yes a bit saucy and a bit bloody, but very Scottish and a visual feast of the landscape I know and love). Anyhoo, first up, this amazing shawl designed by Carolyn Macpherson who blogs at THE NEXT BEAUTIFUL THING.

Carolyn has very kindly given me permission to make up shawl kits using yarns I have for sale in the shop and print off and pop the free pattern into each bag. I have just knitted one up for myself in an alpaca and wool blend and its super yummy. Keep a look out on the shop site for more details about the kits HERE


So, yes, back to Friday night. I am going to do a spot of knitting (what else), treat myself to a wee bar of M&S white chocolate (because I am allergic to milk and dark chocolate). And watch a wee bit of Highland high jinx







Unluckily for me I don't have to fight off the unwanted advances of a big kilt wearing red headed Scotsman. Life is not without its dangers though. There seems to be a merciless attack coming from the south !

Have a great weekend
xxx

Its Autumn

And what does Autumn mean? Well to me it means YARN

These are all Ice Yarns, very well priced and all currently in stock in the shop.

I am working on THIS from Ravelry.

And my poppy corsage collection is ever growing.

Pop in and say 'hi' if you are passing.

Sew Over It

81 Meadowside

Dundee

Free Pattern, Yesterday's Knit In A Night Neckwarmer

Free Instructions

Using chunky yarn and 7mm straight pins cast on 30stitches
Row 1 - Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5,
Row 2 - Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5,
Row 3 - Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5,
Row 4 - Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5,
Row 5 - Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5,

Row 6 - Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5,
Row 7 - Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5,
Row 8 - Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5,
Row 9 - Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5,
Row 10 - Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5,

Repeat Rows 1 - 10 another 8 times (90 rows in total)

Row 91 - Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5,
Row 92 - Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5 , Knit 5
Row 93 - Purl 5, Knit 2, yfwd, K2tog, Knit 1, Purl 5, Knit 3, yfwd, K2tog, Knit 1, Purl 5,
Row 95 - Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 5,

Cast Off Knit Wise.

Fold the rectangle scarf as the picture above and place a pin in the right place to match up with button holes knitted on the last row.
Stitch on 2 medium to large buttons.
Thats you done!

Knit In A Night Neckwarmer

Well, its turned a bit chilly here all of a sudden. It was still very much like summer until a few days ago and then bam, its Autumn. We are not quite at the woolly jumpers, wellies, bonfires and apple chutney stage yet but its not too far away.
Last night I had a wee rummage in the baskets of yarn under my bed and pulled out some chunky berry coloured wool, with sequins! I am 99% certain I bought the wool from Poundstretcher back in the springs and despite having some really lovely wool on order from Ice Yarns, I was in the mood to make up an easy pattern and get started right away, And so we have the 'Knit In A Night Neckwarmer'

I think I will write the pattern up as a freebe on my shop blog, keep an eye out for it OVER THERE

Trials And Triumphs

The last few days (weeks, and months), have been a little crazy. We have changed almost every aspect of our lives, Oscar and I.

Oscar started school, my marriage ended, we re-homed the pets, re-homed ourselves, made some new friends, got a new pet (Tilly Tiger Lilly, the kitten), started a new business and then expanded and started a new new business, and then moved in to P2 at school, all in just less than a year. To say I am feeling a little over whelmed would be an understatement.

Being self employed brings a whole new set of worries, and on top of running a home as a single parent, It makes me one busy Mama. Oscar is, as always, my top priority, and since we can have a giggle and a cuddle at the end of every day, I guess we must be doing something right.

I have finally had a snippet of time to do a little knitting (and write this blog post), and its baby hat therapy. There will be little hats for sale in the new shop, but really, they are a labor of love.

And while we are on the subject of labor, I heard I am going to become a Great Aunt this weekend, (baby Noah is on his way). A Great Aunt ! Still, its almost worth it to be able to call my wee Sister 'Granny'.

Change is the only constant they say, I guess they must be right.

I wonder what the next few days (weeks, and months), have in store for us.

Work In Progress

Work is in progress in our iMake studio. We are moving to a bigger studio and shop, hopefully over the next week. The little iMake studio has been a great little starter home for us, and although we love it, its time to move on to bigger and better things.
I thought I would share a few pictures of the old space before we take it all down and move to our new premises.

The new studio and shop will be at 81 Meadowside, Dundee, and will be 'Sew Over It' and 'iMake' combined.

Making

Knitting

Crochet

Yarn

Knitting

Yarn Along

              

Knitting

I am knitting blankets for the very early babies again. 

My church has taken up this idea as a service project and I am now

so thankful to all the sisters who are knitting for the tiny babies born too soon.

This is just your basic, cast on 3 stitches, and garter stitch each row,

increasing one stitch at each end of every 2nd row 

(increasing in the 2nd stitch, not the first). 

Once I have the length I want (about 30cm),

I will decrease in the 2nd stitch of every 2nd row.

This little blanket will have a white crochet edge,

and some daisy's added to it.

Reading

 

Now we can all agree that most of the books we buy

our children are actually for ourselves cant we?

Good.

This is the cutest book ever, about a little boy

who asks him Mummy to tell him what she was like when she was small.

The story is sweet, and the illustrations are beautiful

Oscar loves it.

AMAZON LINK

Thanks for stopping by

(FYI I know the blog looks a bit wonky, 

my darling husband is going to fix it for me)

Joining in with GINNY and friends for Yarn Along

Valerie

xxx

Yarn

Knitting

Reading

Yarn Along

Knitting

I am currently knitting a snood for myself.

I tried a few patterns out, and ended up not liking them much.

This one, I am making up myself, I am really just keeping my fingers crossed,

since my knitting isnt 100% the best.

The yarn is acrylic (I wouldn't experiment with expensive wool),

and although the picture does not show it too well,

it is white with a sparkle in it. 

I figured the acrylic would be lighter for this time of year anyway.

(they are £1 for 1x50g ball or £2 for 3x50g balls from Poundland 

(they have a few colours, I bought the navy blue sparkly as well)

Reading

We are lucky enough to live in a nice little suburb with the beach at the end of our street, lots of little cafes, an Italian ice-cream shop and a castle. 

We are however part of a fairly large working class city

on Scotland's east coast.

I don't think we could live a life any further removed from the life

the Amish community lives.

 I find their whole lifestyle fascinating.

It helps that they live a very Christian life of course,

but that aside, the peaceful simple life still has an amazingly strong draw.

I am enjoying this book, but there is nothing startlingly new in it

If you are interested in the Amish lifestyle this film is good

Joining in with GINNY and friends for Yarn Along

Valerie

xxx

Yarn

Knitting

Reading

Yarn Along

Knitting

Oscar decided he needed a new hat (for spring, it is Scotland after all).

I asked him what colour he wanted it to be (colour, single)

and he said, yellow, blue, and purple with a green pom-pom.

All very spring like, I am sure you will agree.

Reading

Well, I gave up on the bodice ripper I was reading a few weeks ago, because in the end, I decided it was too saucy for me.
I was in the mood for a good dose of fiction, but after the last book I wasn't sure what to read.
 I decided I couldn't go too far wrong with a book about the Amish. 
I was right, its fairly innocent in terms of hanky panky and the language is completely 
appropriate.
Sisters Of The Quilt is a 3 book collection and I was glad I didn't buy them
separately because I am already a bit in to book 2.
Amazon Link


The 2nd book is a non fiction book, and I am really loving it. 
You can find the author HERE on her blog.
This book has really helped me overcome some of my creative blocks,
and so far I have -
Started a sketchbook journal,
Identified what I need to do to allow myself to draw/paint/sketch
Arranged specific times for me to 'work' (starting from next week)
And set up a work space (in my bedroom).
These are massive achievements. I cant wait to get started.

Amazon Link

Joining in with GINNY and friends for Yarn Along

Valerie

xxx

A Catch Up

We made pancakes on Tuesday 

I made two banana cakes