Jun 2014

I realised that whilst I created this blog to talk about knitting, I haven’t actually talked about it for a good few months! So here is an update on what has been occupying my time and my needles of late.

The 3rd module of my C&G course has been marked and returned, all ok apart from one sample in the joining seams activity. I had seamed 2 pieces of garter stitch but I had joined one side upside down – DOH! So I need to re-do that and send it back off with the next module.

In a recent post I mentioned some yarn that I had bought in America, well the skein on the left (Ella Rae Lace Merino) just wouldn’t leave me in peace until I had made something beautiful from it.

I did a Ravelry search for a pattern that would do it justice and came across Holden by Mindy Wilkes. This is a beautiful shawl pattern with the right balance of stockinette to show off the yarn and a lovely lace edging for some fanciness. Here is the result:

So pleased with it 🙂

Just look at the pretty stitches…the picot bind off just makes it!

Whilst making the shawl I signed up for a Craftsy class ‘Lace Shawl Design‘ with Miriam Felton. I found this course really useful in understanding the different ways of constructing shawls, how to chart the patterns and getting to grips with the maths. I have another skein of yarn in my stash – Jilly Bean’s Knot Another Granny Yarn in the Misty Moor colourway which I really want to use to try a fast increasing point up triangular shawl. I don’t think I will have enough for a regular shawl as I only bought 1 skein..anyway, this will be my next project in between the C&G course.

And in other news, I have finished a pattern design! Ages ago I posted about a design I was working on inspired by a trip to Paris. Well it took many hours of knitting, frogging, re-working, changing design ideas completely and battling with maths to eventually knitting the sample and being happy with it. I have just sent the pattern off for tech editing and then will put a call out on Ravelry for it to be test knit. Here is a sneaky peak!

It will be available as a Ravelry download once tested so do check back for links to the pattern or follow me on Ravelry – jemarrowsmith

Last week was spent with the girls in Turkey. This was our 3rd year of returning to the Flamingo Country Club, a stones throw from the hustle and bustle of Bodrum. It’s such a lovely place, we pretty much have one of the many pools to ourselves and going this time of year are usually pretty much guaranteed a week of sunshine and relaxation.

The resort is ideal for us – the apartment sleeps 4 very comfortably and has a roof terrace, perfect for a pre-dinner drink (or 2!). There is a little bar / cafe less than 2 minutes away and a supermarket down the road and a good choice of restaurants and beaches to visit.

This year we weren’t as lucky with the weather as we have been previously as it was overcast a couple of days – but even that didn’t stop us trying to sunbathe in gale force winds!

When we could we spent our days by the pool.

And on the Saturday when the weather was forecast to be the best we spent the day at ‘My Beach’

….which was bliss until this happened… there were actual hailstones – that was a first for us in Turkey!

On one of the overcast days we took a taxi into Bodrum. Bodrum is a lively city and although famous for it’s nightlife we have never been for a night out there although judging by the amount of bars and restaurants there, if we did it would be a good one! There are great shops too.

Check out this cool cat cushion cover!

During the week on our little walks I also came across some pretty and unusual flowers. I don’t know what these are called but there were a few colour combinations going on.

And these were just growing along the roadside

Aren’t they pretty!

The cooler evening temperatures did have a plus side however, it meant I was justified in wearing my favorite ‘Sweet Pea’ shawl. I made this about 5 years ago and it goes on most holidays with me.