My forum anniversary was 3 days ago and I have had over 80 people join in either the anniversary CAL or KAL for the 2 designs I wrote about in my last blog. The last time I did a KAL I had only 5 join in, so over 80 is quite astounding!

The most interesting thing for me is that 60 of them are doing the KAL (knitting) and only 25 for the CAL (crochet). Why is this interesting? Well, for most of the last year I have concentrated on crochet design, and done very little knitting design. In fact the last knitting design I published was in October 2012. So the design for the KAL is my first knitting design for 10 months. I do have a couple of knitting designs hibernating so maybe I should dust them off and progress them. Here’s a couple of ‘not so good’ photos:

What do you think? Should I progress these designs?

Happy Knitting and Crocheting xx

I spent 2 hours in the land of the sewing machine this afternoon. I confess it has been sadly neglected for many years. But working on my sewing machine brings back so many memories. I recall when I went to grammar school, I did one year of ‘home economics’ – which basically was cooking and sewing. Both of which I appear to have mastered beforehand. My mother was a traditional cook and, when I was young, I was encouraged to peel the potatoes and shell the peas, as well as set the table for dinner. Then when I was older I helped in the cooking, indeed my cold hands worked marvels with the pastry (it ended up being my job!). So when I did a term of cooking it was like water off a ducks back – easy and very enjoyable. Then I moved to a term of sewing – if cooking was easy, then sewing was a complete doddle. My mother had taught me very well, I was left alone by the teachers, just to make whatever I fancied because they couldn’t teach me anything. Throughout my teens I carried on sewing, and it was invaluable when I was at uni – I just couldn’t afford to buy clothes. By then I was knitting (taught by my favourite aunt) and crocheting. So I carried on making my own clothes in various media. It was very rewarding. But as many have said before – my working life took over, I no longer had the time to sew, knit, crochet.

As you all know, I came back to knitting and crochet a few years ago and, so far, 2013 has been the year of sewing. So today has been glorious, I quilted (for the first time!) and I made a cushion cover. Sewing is so much quicker than my other crafts, which give instant gratification.

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And it made me think a little, about all the crafts I have dabbled in. So not only do I have a new cushion cover (quilted!), but I have also started to reach my old cross stitch and embroidery from the attic – now where on earth will I hang all this?

Happy knitting, crocheting and sewing xx

Well I haven’t blogged for a while, so you may think I have nothing to say. But that isn’t the case – I’ve been rather busy, or perhaps I should say engrossed, recently. And I have been a little spontaneous.

I have been working on the last 2 designs for my crochet ebook – Crochet Diamonds are Forever……. The book was published on Ravelry a few weeks ago and I’ve been adding designs to it. The latest was published today – this is it:

I just have one last design to finalise and then it is all complete. The book is a result of my obsession with a crochet stitch that I have used in all the designs. I think my obsession has run its course for now…….but who knows? Those little diamonds are lovely and go with so many things………

I was so engrossed with the diamonds that I almost overlooked a special date. On the 27th August my forum on Ravelry is one year old. So it is time to celebrate! And how am I celebrating? I didn’t take much persuading – I am doing a KAL (Knit-along) and a CAL (crochet-along) on the forum. But for these I decided I should design something new, so whilst finishing my diamonds I have also been busy designing a crochet scarf and a knitted sharf. I can’t show you the finished designs yet, but they are well advanced and will be revealed soon. All members of my forum on Ravelry will be able to join the KAL and/or CAL and they will receive the pattern free. I love these CAL/KALs – I get to see my designs in many different yarns and colours, which is special to me.

For now I will give you with a tiny sneaky peak at each one:

Finally my spontaneity was a visit to The Festival of Quilts at the NEC. It was an opportunity I could not miss, and I am so glad I went. I saw so much, bought rather more than I planned and was so inspired! But I think I’ll leave that for another blog!

Happy knitting and crocheting xx