Cinderella you will go to the ball ....

One down one to go .....

The shawl is completed, finito, done and I like it!! I am going to the 'work's do' on Saturday, it will have its first outing!! The scumble is still being worked on ....

A Little Irish Pal ...

When reading Simply Knitting (Issue 38 March) I stumbled on a cheeky little fella! I haven't made toys for a while and I'm certainly tempted by Mr Leprechaun!!




I have a day off work tomorrow so I intend to 'scumble' as much as possible, I am anxious to finish it. I have soaps, Mistresses and Torchwood to catch up on!!!

Just finished reading the Friday Night Knitting Club, was a bit disappointed, don't think I will go to see the film. Won't say why I was so disappointed in case it gives the game away for ones who haven't read it yet!!

Was quite upset over the loss of Heath Ledger, a beautiful talented young man ... so sad!!

Anyway .. on a lighter note I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head at the moment, am planning another little something for 'knitonthenet', watch this space.

Catch u soon
love Aruba xx

She's back ...and raring to go, well almost ..

Trains

After my bout of the bug I went to stay with my friend in Stranraer. What a train journey that was!!! The train left late from my own location so I missed every connection, the journey took nine and a half hours!!! Its a good job I took a couple of Mills and Boon with me, seriously I did!! A friend lent them to me and they were modern romances and by heck they were saucy!!! I left them on the train and hope someone else reads them, it will certainly give them a giggle!!!

Next time I travel I won't have a suitcase, once you have lugged them over several footbridges and run like the clappers to the relevent platform it does your head in!!

On arrival we decided to hit Dr Vodka then finally went to bed, after chats and giggles, at 5am, fantastic!!!

Scumble

As my friend Ellen is a raving loony knitter as well, we got a lot of needle tweaking done too :)!! I took my crochet scumble random thing with me! It seemed easier than taking knitting needles!!I have nearly finished and its making a cute warm jacket!!



Its been a really interesting thing to do. Because its not structured and there is no formal pattern you can add anything to it! I tried to incorporate varied patterns and the photo is just a sample!!


'Knit on the net' Knitting

On Thursday 17th we had our first knitting group it was great!!! We had fun chattin, knittin, crochet, drinkin and eating delicious cakes. (Thanks again Sue... our wonderful cake maker)!! Its really good to share a craft you are passionate about with like minded people of all ages. Keep it up you teens! No matter how experienced we think we are, there's always something more learn. Its great to share. I have spent time as a 'lonely knitter', it great to be able to socialise it gives a real boost!!


Step back in time .....

I found a dog eared copy of Paton's Treasures in my stash of patterns. It was published by Patons and Baldwins Limited in 1973. (A 'life on mars' moment or what!!) I knitted a santa toy from it when I was a teenager, for my Auntie, she still has it and it goes under the tree every Christmas!!
..



..anyway I found a crochet shawl pattern (page 27) which I have made previously for babies and now I'm makin one for me. After the cat disaster I still had nothing to go with my green dress till now ..
I found some lovely Jaeger Siena 4 ply, 100% mercerised cotton, in a sale at The Black Sheep no less. Its a shade deeper than my dress and is beautiful to work with..






Its really easy to do once the first few rows are established, I am debating whether to put an edging or a fringe on it, its made on a 5mm hook so its crochets quick as well!

For hand spun yarn ....
Check out lazykate.net for beautiful yarns, she went to our knitting soiree and I've seen the yarn its gorgeous!! Well done Kate!!

Catch you soon,

keep tweakin

love Aruba Blue xx

ps I am having real trouble with the colours on my photo's an accurate colour of the Siena is the pic with the book!! Cheers!!

Happy New Year to All

I have one of these wonderful cold viruses thats going around. Thankfully its not the gastric one!! Taking it very easy right now not doing much on the knitting front. Will be back soon!!

Festive fun and PURRfect CATastrophes ....

Hi fellow tweakers,

Hope you all had a fab time at the holidays, I spent time with family and we had a karaoke, it was total madness and laughter I would recommend it to liven things up!!

Father Christmas came and look what he brought .. 9ct gold charm bracelet.

From the top left anti clockwise theres a sweet, a bible, a bell, a piggy bank and a teddy bear.

I guess you have now realised that the photograghs are in the wrong place, I am in the library and only have a short time to blog. (I'd probably get it wrong if I tried all day but at least I'm getting better!!)

The knitting books are great as well by the way!!

As for the purrfect catastrophe, to cut a long story short my three cats left me exclusive personal presents in two bags of knitting, so they are now in the bin, and I am sad. Turns out the cat flap was jammed and they couldn't get out. It wasn't deliberate and I do still love them!!

The gorgeous green Anny Blatt project has gone, and a rose pink creation in Click which I loved has gone.

On the up side I feel that I can now buy new yarn- yeeha!! As David Essex sang ... ev'ry clouds gotta silver lining!!

Bye bye for now and enjoy the rest of the festive season.

All the very best for the New Year.

love Aruba xx

Family time

Well I'm glad to say folks I have now finished work until Thursday 27th December. Work has been really busy and kinda stressful. Time to have quality time with my man and my kids. We have just been out for breakfast a real relaxer and catch up!!

On the knitting front to be honest I havent had much time. The scumble is progressing well dont want to jinx the proceedings by giving too much detail, as I am getting a real self made reputation as a regular frogger!!!

The green cardigan is still a work in progress the back and fronts are completed and I am on the first sleeve, its unlikely to be finished for Christmas Day as I still have lots to do beforehand. The Anny Blatt yarn I am using is pictured above, apologies for the photograph quality it certainly does not do justice to the actual colour, my photographic and IT skills are shocking!!!

Will catch up soon have a lovely peaceful time everyone xx

Happy Birthday ...........

Happy Birthday, knitonthenet. What a fantastic year they have had, the mag just gets better, a real inspiratiion, and I consider it an honour to be able to contribute. Well done Gavin for his first patterns its great to have more fellas crafting.

Check out the Blanche pattern and the book review.

On the home knitting front the green cardigan is still on the needles, its looking good. The cape has been frogged - decided it was not for me!! It is being replaced by a scumble a kind of crochet abstract, freeform job, watch this space for photos. Its great fun to do!!!

Got to go in a rush as usual.

Catch u soon

xx

Been busy .......

Its been ages since I've blogged, been busy with different projects and work is busy, something to do with the forthcoming festivities, I reckon.
Finally got some pictures for you.

The Cheshire Cat, Innkeepers Lodge at Chester.



The barges on the canal at the side of the inn.



The wonderful autumn scenery at Chester



The cape is on hold for the moment. I have mixed views on it. I have a feeling that I may look a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple. Other projects have become more important so its still on the needles as we speak.

I have been designing and knitting for the next issue of 'knitonthenet.com' which is due out in the next few weeks. Which I'm sure you will find interesting!!!!

I am selling my house at the moment so a lot of things are packed away. The weather has become increasingly cold and I found out I had no hat and scarf, voila a new hat and scarf knitted in Bouton D'or, Eskimo. Knitted on 7mm and 10mm needles it was quick to do and the yarn has a lovely feel and is really nice to work with. The beret is an adaptation of a pattern in the second issue of 'Lets Knit'.



Easy Scarf Pattern
Using Bouton D'or Eskimo and 10mm needles cast on 20sts.
P1st, (*yrn P2tog) repeat from * to last st P1
Repeat this row to length required cast off knitwise.
Takes 3 to 40 50gm balls depending on length required.



(This pattern is very easily adapted using different thicknesses of yarn together, and different sized needles the possibilities are many).

I am also working on more Christmas tree decorations, as my tree goes up on the 1st Decembermas without fail. They are all made in crochet from Twilleys Goldfingering, I have used single yarn thickness and have stiffened them with craft wire. Saves on using excess yarn as it can be quite expensive.



I have also crocheted a Gothic style cross to hang in my window above the tree.



I am still working on more decs and am making a green cardigan to wear with a green dress on Christmas day.

Catch u all soon

Happy Knitting
x