Arwen Skirt Pattern Now Available

The Arwen skirt pattern is now available after test knitting & tech editing. At the moment it is available from my etsy store. There may be a delay in receiving the PDF depending upon when you purchase it due to me having to physically send it to you. The alternative (where it is an immediate download) will be available on Ravelry in the next 24 hours. If you're not a member of Ravelry you will still be able to access pattern downloads via a link I will put on the blog and website.

500 Pencils

I stumbled across this website last night.
How amazing would they look displayed across a wall!

I'm not drawing much these days but can't stop thinking about having 500 pencils & how inspirational it would be........I'm so close to clicking that "buy now" button..........just over $1/day includes shipping........ so close.

Let me know if you do.

Simple Yet effective

Tangled Yarns has been having monthly KALs with each participant in the draw for a prize.

Last month the KAL was the Simple Yet Effective Shawl by CosmicPluto. I purchased the kit from the stores website and started knitting. The kit contained Noro Silk Garden Sock, the pattern calls for Noro Kureyon Sock or at least 400yds of other sock yarn.

I've only just realised that this is where the problem was. Silk Garden Sock contains 328 yards (not 400). The result is a lovely scarf but it is very small.

I've just ordered another ball of the sock yarn. I'm going to unpick my cast off, unpick the few rows of lace edging and knit it a few more inches bigger & add a nice edging. This will make it a more wearable size.

My other problem is it is December 16 & I have done NO (!!!!!) Christmas shopping.

Etsy News

It's been a while since I blogged. I've decided today would be an etsy update. My poor etsy shop has been a bit neglected lately. I was hoping to have a stack of new altered journals ready in time for Christmas shopping....but only one was completed.





It's a journal suitable for a fisherman or woman. Somewhere to write their special secret fishing spots, baits & lures to try or just a journal for writing notes, shopping lists, etc.

In other etsy news I sold my recently listed Handwoven Wrap.




I hope the new owner gets as much pleasure out of wearing it as I did making it. I really enjoy weaving & am feeling the urge to get my loom warped ready for a new wrap. I uncovered lots of special bits & pieces in a big clear out of my studio so they might just find their way into a freeform piece on the loom.

I'm A Cover Girl

I had some exciting news recently.

Earlier in the year I entered a competition run by Yarn magazine. The requirement was to knit/crochet/weave something in a Feather & Fan design. I ummed & ahhed about whether to enter & came up with a few design ideas along the way but never did much about it....the ideas never felt right, didn't feel true to me. At the last minute I was inspired to enter something & the result was Flamenco.

This one felt right. I love the mobius design.....it's really very simple but such an interesting knit. And using a lot of different yarns is something else I really like to do. The name of the design & the colour scheme came from the traditional flamenco dancers....the swirls of hot colours was perfect for the feather & fan stitch pattern.

I didn't win the competition but was asked if I had written the pattern & would contribute it to the magazine for publication. Of course I said yes, submitted the pattern & also knit another version in blues & greens. Now for the really exciting news. My Flamenco design is in the latest issue of Yarn magazine and the blue/green version was chosen for the cover!

You can see the cover pic here on the Yarn website . If you click onto that page & scroll down, on the right hand side of the page are all the patterns & there is a collaged picture of my design, showing different ways of wearing the Flamenco.

My Week In Review

I seem to have been so busy lately but, looking back, it's hard to see what I've actually accomplished.

My eldest son graduated from high school & turned 18, all within the same week.

I'm told this (non) styled hair is all the fashion.

I finished knitting a simple (yet effective) shawl in a KAL .....pics to come.

And I've been neglecting my garden, as usual. Do flowers need dusting too?

That about sums it up.

The Sound of Music Cardi

I can't help it...I always associate the name Liesl with The Sound of Music. I love the movie & have always loved the character Liesl....I guess I was a little girl when I first saw the movie & I wanted to grow up to be just like Liesl...you know, 16 going on 17, in love, dancing & jumping on benches ~

Liesl by Ysolda Teague.

I used 2 1/2 balls of Cascade 220. For some reason I didn't do a gauge swatch & just knit. The size I chose should have allowed for some ease. But my error in not swatching has resulted in a cardigan that is a bit snug :)

Did you notice I failed NaBloPoMo?