the wool sanctuary

Kirstie's Homemade Home Letters - it's about time!

 
I have put the pattern for the knitted letters on Ravelry, you know the ones I designed for the title sequence for Kirstie's Homemade Home. It has only taken me two and a half years to write the pattern. The letters can be knitted in any weight yarn. The ones I did for the titles were in Rowan Wool Cotton and Rowan Cashsoft DK for the words and Rowan Big Wool for the individual letters. Not sure why I decided to write the pattern tonight but knitters have been asking for them for a long time now, so the wait is, at last, over. Here is the link the the pattern.

 
I am freezing, I ran a bath just as I started to write the pattern for the letters, just went to get in it and it is freezing cold, so have emptied the bath and have put my electric blanket on instead.

 
I have a plan, I am going to suggest that as a team building exercise  my colleagues renovate a bathroom- my bathroom. There will be a cooked meal in it and a knitting lesson for them all. I will suggest it tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

 
Did I tell you that when I went into Bristol on my scooter, the night of the riots, I wore my best underwear? I had heard on the news that people were having the clothes stollen off their back. If I was going to be on the national news stripped I wanted to look my best - matching underwear all the way!

 
It is Knit Club this Saturday, I have 20 ladies coming to knit, chat, drink tea/coffee and eat toast. I am pacing myself with the cleaning this week, I will start tomorrow thought, can't be bothered tonight.No mad rush at 6am this Saturday. Just going to put the onion away.

Knit Club, Beryl Cook, My Toilet and Litter

 
My friend Richard came round for dinner on Thursday night, I had forgotten he was coming but managed to rustle up a spaghetti bolognase. He broke my toilet, some excessive flushing and the toilet was broke. I managed to fix it with some Rowan Handknit Cotton.

 
It was Knit Club this morning. Helen brought the most gorgeous lemon muffins and Jo made a gorgeous apple cake. We had toast and jam too. I had a cold bowl of porridge, so no change there. Managed to get through a whole knit club without microwaving my coffee, but only because I didn't get a chance to drink any. I sat down to watch 'You Only Live Twice' after everyone had left but must have fallen asleep almost immediately because the next think I knew was James Bond was in a dinghy that got lifted out of the water and the titles came up. I slept through the whole film. I do like falling asleep in the day though. Sometimes I wake up and I don't know who what I am.

 
I went to see a Beryl Cook exhibition in Bristol last weekend. I absolutely loved it. I love the colours and the style she painted in. She has inspired me to design something knitted in her style.

 
I was up at 7 this morning, getting the flat ready for Knit Club. I needed to get some fresh bread, milk and butter so decided to walk to Tescos. On my way there, I did what I normally do and picked up litter, putting it in the bins as I went. A man commented that it was not my job and that is what the council were there for. I expained to him that his attitude was not good and that if we all picked up some litter then the council wouldn't have to spend our coucil tax on paying someone to pick up litter. My workds were wasted, completely wasted on him. On the way back I did the same, only this time I passed an old man with an illuminous jacket on and a bin bag in his hand, he was across the road from me. I smiled at him and said 'Oh sorry am I doing your job', thinking he might laugh, but instead he shouted at me across the road 'What did you say? Come here and say that'. I told him that he was very rude and not to be so aggressive then went on my way.

 
The next Knit Club is on Saturday 17th September 10-1pm. I only sent the e-mail out for the next one this evening, and already it is filling up. I am secretly looking forward to the winter for a number of reasons, more knitting, winter clothes and snuggling up. Not long now until Dean Friedman in Bath in October (my duet) and not long until the Knit Club holiday to Meadowgate, it is looking more and more likely that there will be another trip to Meadowgate early next year, it has been overly subscribed- again.

Preparation, preparation, preparation and the Egg

 
I am getting ready to go to Fibrefest tomorrow. This involves packing all the yarn I need along with making up knitting kits. It also involves packing the ribbon, buttons, table, tablecloth, calculator etc. etc. I have been doing these fairs for over 3 years now but still I spend up to 6 hours the night before preparing. The mini has to go, it simply isn't big enough, oh and I have fallen in love with a Land Rover Defender, matt black. I simply can't carry on cramming everything into Olive (my mini is called Olive) she just isn't up for the job.

 
I must have printed off over 100 patterns this evening. I daren't wash my hair. I had it cut yesterday and I love it, but I know as soon as I wash it, that the big fringe I have had cut will be gone forever. I am going to try not to wash it for as long as possible. I did a similar thing when I was on 'The Weakest Link'. I had my make up done for TV by a professional make up artist and it looked so nice I kept it on for 3 days, even then I only washed it off because I got an eye infection. And no, I didn't win before you ask, I was the fifth person to be voted off- when I wasn't the weakest link. I'll tell you more about that another time.

 
Okay, there is only one way to say this and that is to just come right out with it. I cooked an egg in the microwave today and when I took it out of the microwave it spoke to me. It made this groaning noise like it was saying 'ohhhhwww'. I am sure there is a rational explanation to do with trapped air and change in pressure.

 
I am thinking of doing a 'Mystery' something next year, like a knee blanket, or a group of objects. What do you think? Is this something you might be interested in? For those who don't know what this means it is when I design something and each month you would receive a pattern and the yarn and not know what it is that you are making until you have made it. Just have a think and let me know.

 

Last month it was Kings of Leon, this month it is....... Edith Piaf. I am going to learn the words to 'Je ne regrette rien'. I am listening to it now on YouTube. Let me sort the link out for you, hang on. un moment. Hope that works. Thought you might like to look at the disected Draught Excluder that I designed for Kirstie Allsopp.

 
There you go, there's the whole thing. I am taking it to Fibrefest, if I wear it round my neck people recognise me off the tele- might boost sales. Can't wait for tomorrow, Buzby is coming with me, she is great on the stall, she is like Mrs Bucket, she puts on her posh voice. Ok, back to it, can't put it off any longer.