Recently I have been found with my nose very firmly wedged within the pages of this book…

10 Secrets of the Laidback Knitters by Vicki Stiefel and Lisa Souza.

What can I say? The authors claim that this is a holistic guide to knitting yarn and life….and you know, that might very well be what it is!

It is certainly an entertaining read, which showcases lots of designers, knitters and spinners. It’s also a great resource book – not only does it have a lot of ‘yes, I really would make that’ type of patterns, but it’s also brim full of websites on every aspect of yarn and knitting.

Most of all though, I like it because it’s quirky and deep down it’s really all about putting the fun back into knitting. It brims with enthusiasm and the belief that knitting enriches our lives and that the world is full of wonderful yarns and ideas and people.

And you know, I think they’re right. This is a definite keeper!

Helen

Today in the post I received the fabric for my next god-daughter quilt.

May I introduce you to Amelia – by Me and My Sister Designs for Moda.

This is a really fun fabric range – and perfect for a little girl! (Oops mustn’t say that…she’s not so little anymore!). I probably won’t use the blacks and whites and I’ve ordered one of the lighter purples for borders and backing and I’m going to bind it in purple stripes. A purple stripy border – how cool is that!

Now I just have to decide which pattern to use. Mmmm….this could take a while….

And first I anyway have to quilt Rachel’s quilt. I’m going to do swirls and loops again the same as for my last quilt. They were a breeze to do and make a quilt look happy and a little whimsical.

A word of warning – if you have an injured hip, crawling around the floor basting a quilt really isn’t a great idea 🙁

Helen

What is it with this most ridiculous of fashions? It has been hanging around for years and truly….it’s SO STUPID!

You boys out there – we don’t want to see them and you are making yourselves look totally deformed…..and I’ve seen what it looks like when you have to run for the tram and believe me….IT ISN’T COOL!!!

Helen

It’s hard to believe it’s October already. The summer is gone, or it should be. After not having much summer in July, the last few days have been a delight – foggy and autumn in the mornings and then once the sun burns through delightfully summery in the afternoons. What the Swiss call an Altwiebersommer – old woman summer and the Brits an Indian summer. I wonder where those names came from…

I’m slowly trying to cut back in the garden and prepare for the winter. It’s slow because my stupid hip is still playing up. Last week – for no reason (I had been behaving!) – my hip pain got much worse and I ended up having a cortisone shot from the doctor. The hip pain is definitely on the mend now, but the rest of my body doesn’t seem to like the cortisone at all and I’ve had a horrible chemical-induced headache for the last few days. It isn’t bad enough for me to take to my bed, but it’s enough that it just nags away at me, making me forgetful and cranky. I hope the cortisone level will start dropping soon and I’ll feel a bit better.

So everything is going in slow motion, a little here and a little there. No great achievements, but gradually getting nearer my little goals. I’m slowly working on projects and starting to think about a little gentle Christmas gift sock knitting. I haven’t knitted any socks in a little while and I’m actually really excited to get down to it again – sock knitting is soothing and eminently satisfying – and I love sock yarns. I’ve been doing the first auditions and  I think I know who this year’s prospective recipients are. As I have a quilt to finish and one to start for Christmas too I may have my work cut out for me. But that’s OK. There isn’t much work thats nicer than sitting infront of the fire on a cold gloomy day and clicking away at a pair of socks!

Enjoy your Sunday. Here’s hoping it’s a peaceful one!

Helen

I’ve finally got the 56 blocks for Rachel’s quilt sewn together. 50 square in a square blocks and 6 randomly placed stars. The pattern is Simple City by Carrie Nelson.

In Carrie’s instructions she states that blocks should be cut down to 9 1/2 inch squares before setting together. I had several that were smaller, so in the end cut everything down to 9 inches – and they went together like a dream. It’s certainly way easier to put the blocks together and avoid any puckering and unevenness by trimming them like this – although (amazingly) it’s something I’ve never done before on a quilt. I’ll certainly be doing it more in the future! The little mountain of offcuts accumulating in the bin was indescribably satisfying – pale multi-coloured spaghetti!

As you can see, the quilt is very soft and understated – it has an old-fashioned femininity which I love and is delicate and definitely girly. The Beach House fabrics worked well together and I had just enough to get the blocks made – but not enough for a border – so that’s one decision I don’t have to make!!

Hopefully I will get it quilted and finished off over the next week.

Have a lovely Friday. I’m planning an evening of self-indulgent Strictly watching, accompanied by a little knitting….and maybe a glass of pink wine. My poorly hip has been playing up dreadfully, resulting in a cortisone injection at the doctor’s yesterday – so I’m well-justified in putting my feet up!!

Helen