100 years of Elizabeth Zimmermann

August 9, 2010 at 10:41 pm | Posted in Knitting | Leave a comment
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Elizabeth Zimmermann born August 9, 1910 -Died  November 30, 1999

A little blog post about the women who inspired knitters of all ages from all over the world and through out the past to present. Elizabeth Zimmermann, I noticed while pattern searching on Ravelry today they are celebrating 100 years of EZ and wanted to express my love of her work.

Yes I’m a young knitter at as young as most but i do understand and love the true talent and craftsmanship of Ez’s beautiful hand knits. From her colour work, Construction, methods and timeless sweaters that have been reproduced by hand knitters everywhere. If you don’t own an EZ book yet go out and purchase one they are all beautiful and full of great understanding of knitting. Ez’s love of sharing knowledge has helped many knitters create good sweaters of there own using her schematics and percentage systems.  Her range of patterns are amazing from socks + tights to hats + mittens to sweaters and jackets to shawls + blankets. All her works have been fantastic and a lot of loving knitters will think of her has the best for many, many years to come.

Two of the books i own of EZ’s are The opinionated knitter + knitting without tears.

Patterns i adore are as follows- February lady sweater, Baby surprise jacket, Spiral hat, Icelandic yoke sweater, seamless raglan sweater, fair isle yoke sweater.

Also check out Schoolhouse press who she worked with for many years.

And god bless you Elizabeth Zimmermann You’ve taught me much and will for a long time x

Save the pigeon

June 30, 2010 at 9:25 pm | Posted in General ( day to day stuff), Knitting | Leave a comment
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A few days ago we had a small visitor in the hallway of our flats. A small white and black pigeon with a bald back and a bad limp. Unfortunately when we woke up Monday morning it was gone again. Then late Monday evening after Pete finishes his shift at work our guest pigeon was back on our landing again. This time the poor pigeon had been hurt even worse and more feathers had been ripped off his back and his flesh was red raw. I tired to get hold of him but he kept flapping about and hopping about the place and figured i was making him more stressed, He may already be in shock so i left him alone.

Instead i brought out a small box with some bedding in and a bowl of small flakes and a bowl of water. I figured i’d leave him to rest in hope i’d find him in the box to catch him. Unfortunately Tuesday came and he still hadn’t gotten in the brown box. Then this morning i thought he’d gone so from over the top of the box i peeked in to find the poor thing resting inside. So before he noticed me i grabbed a towel and popped it over the box so he wouldn’t get away. Thankfully i noticed the pigeon had rings on his ankles so they maybe able to track where he came from. I then took him on a trip to our local RSPCA to find it doesn’t exist anymore so to the vets i went to find out the number to see they are closed till late afternoon.  So i asked my landlord politely to call them, Thankfully he did and the bird was taken this morning hopefully they’ll be able to help him better than me.

I’ve also today re-casted on the Ysolda Teague Coraline sweater due to me losing weight the sweater wouldn’t have fit without being too big. What a pain having to rip back and cast on.

Right now I’m enjoying watching family guy while designing a new hat  pattern.

Nessa xx

Woolfest 2010

June 29, 2010 at 10:02 pm | Posted in General ( day to day stuff), Knitting, Spinning | 1 Comment
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The Woolfest 2010 weekend started at 6am wake up call by my Pucca alarm clock, at this point i had to get up and get dressed most of my bag was packed the night before so i was pretty prepared for the weekend ahead.  I’d taken the essentials such as pj’s and undies and tooth brush and paste, I also packed my trusty camera and knitting plus my money (all of my weeks wage). My lovely partner Pete had stayed up all night after he got back from work to make sure i didn’t sleep in and he prepared my lunch so i could have a little coffee before i needed to leave the house. I’ll just added this has been the first weekend we have had fully apart for 3 years, he usually comes along to places i go apart from knitting group.

I’d set off to my meeting destination outside Charlie Browns  Car Stuff Shop. On the way i picked up a newspaper and a can of coke it was a lovely warm morning. Then Lisa and Andrew picked me up around 7:10 am when our car journey to Cumbria, Cockermouth.

(Picture-  Lisa and Andrew fighting for fudge on car journey)

On the way we discussed early mornings, the scenery, the amount of sheep and cows and excitement for Woolfest .  Unfortunately i couldn’t knit on the journey like my friend Alison but the cardigan she brought was coming along wonderfully.

We then arrived at Woolfest about 9:40 am when we parked up and then purchased tickets. Once in a 10 am we went in and had a slow look around the entire Festival. Slowly pondering the sheep and yarn.

(pictures- Sheep and Alpaca’s)

This photo is a favourite due to the Afro Alpaca

The gorgeous little lamb

So we saw a mass of breeds while there and some lovely Angora Rabbits which i purchased some of there coats 2 lots in fact to spin 275g of Angora fiber it is so soft.

After looking round once we then went for our lunch, I had sandwiches and a Victoria sponge and a apple and blackcurrant juice box. Then we went for a look round for a few hours on our own to get what we wanted to buy and so we didn’t slow each other down.  By 3 pm we left for Beverley near hull to stay with Lisa and Andrew for the evening. Where we Shared with each other what we had purchased, It was like a Show and tell session.

This is my massive selection i Bought which includes, daisy buttons, pick ‘n’ mix fiber, Angora fiber, Sock yarns, lace yarns, Sari silk, Kid mohair yarn and a Elizabeth Zimmerman book ‘ The opinionated Knitter’.

My favourite purchase and first purchase due to me doing research before i left, the gorgeous Fyberspates faery wings 4 ply in ‘ rich plum’ It’s a mix of silk and kid mohair and costs £16.  I’d been wanting a skein of this and so purchased it first so it didn’t sell out.

This is Also one of my Favorites, I’d also looked at sari silk for a while online but it can be expensive sometimes and so pretty but wasn’t sure about it’s texture but i touched some at Woolfest and needed it too much to see it pass me by.

I loved the entire time at Woolfest for my first time there i found it awesome and would go again. Later that evening at Lisa’s we had a great dinner, Andrew had made us vegetable risotto it was really tasty and would have loved a second serving. I wasn’t cheeky enough to ask, we then knitted to later on then we went to bed.

We woke up the next morning and had a lovely breakfast made up off, crisp bread and a sweet bread some lovely cheese, also peanut butter and jam, also strawberries, English breakfast tea and  orange juice it was lovely. We then spent sometime ball winding our wool and picking up on bad knitting magazine pattern choices lol! Then we traveled back to Wakefield for knitting group unfortunately we were tired and too hot so left quite early afternoon.

What a super weekend thank you Lisa and Andrew for taking us.

I hope you enjoyed the Woolfest update

Nessa xx

Started work on a new cowl

June 8, 2010 at 10:25 pm | Posted in Knitting | Leave a comment
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Thats right peeps i’ve started work on a new cowl pattern which should be ready by the end of the week, It’s worked in the round, skill level isn’t difficult which is sometimes appreciated after long harder knitting projects. I’m using DK weight yarn. There can also be buttons included in this cowl if you so choose i’m going to take photo’s of before and after buttons so you have a choice of which you’d prefer. The buttons will just be for decoration and no real other uses. I’m thinking of making two possible sizes one for adults and another for young children, many young girls would like them for winter i’m guessing it’s gonna be cute. I bet i’ve gotten you intrigued know.

Anyways better get back to work lots of knitting and pattern writing to do.

Nessa xx

Book Ideas

June 6, 2010 at 11:31 pm | Posted in Knitting | Leave a comment
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I realised today that I haven’t done much work on my e-book at late, But was putting some thoughts together on how I’d want it to look. At the minute they are in a rough layout that seems a bit too cheesy, I feel my layouts should be entirely different. So over the next few days I’m going to be making changes to my patterns layouts and book design.

I’m going to collect ideas and put them fully into action. Most of my close friends don’t realise i have lots of work to do, in order to get the book ready and out there. So most of my planning has been rushed or put aside. Well no more, My friends seem to think i don’t have anything better to do when I’m not working through the week and tend to come round whenever they feel like it. They don’t realise that in fact just because it’s not work i have to go to an office to get it done means i can drop it whenever and it’ll be fine. It’s not so and I’m getting tired of being disrupted when working on important business. So now I’m going to put my head down and if they insist on popping round when I’m  working it doesn’t me I’m dropping it to entertain or to put on the kettle. This may sound harsh but my ambition has to come first and i feel i support everyone elses and they don’t support mine.

Anyways back to my main point, My ideas to style the book are inspiration mainly from looking at layouts in interior magazines that look fresh but also welcoming due to their Domesticity. I purchased a few books that make me feel happy to just pick up and nosey through them even for the delightful photo’s. The first is ‘ The Gentle Art Of Domesticity by Jane Brocket, also known as Yarnstorm. This book is simply appealing to me and my eyes just can’t get enough. Whether it’s yarns, sweets, fruits, patchwork, crochet or sewing. The book generally expels colours from pretty much every page, It is used greatly and would want my ebook to be very similiar. Also when making a knitting pattern it’s good to be able to see all angles of the pattern you are about to knit and so pictures are a great essential. At the same time i also want to get that home feeling popped in there, It to me brings warmth to a book.

Another book is Homemade – Gorgeous things made with love By Ros Badger and Elspeth Thompson. I think this book says it all in the  title, It is made with love the entire book makes me feel it’s been made with alot of heart and caring. The book as a recycled theme about and Homemade beauty. Alot of books can’t captured this great presence but i love it so. In fact that much that i end up purchasing it for it’s information but also mainly it’s look. It’s too hard not to want it.

And so over the next few days I’m going to get some layouts made and ideas and then choosing time. Yikes. I think it’s time to get it done. xx

Budding Leaves

June 3, 2010 at 8:07 pm | Posted in General ( day to day stuff), Knitting | Leave a comment
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As you know I started growing some lovely herbs that unfortunately didn’t make it and i’m struggling to keep my parsley going which is disappointing. Although parsley is still going just not so strong, I had to get rid of the others some didn’t even appear through the soil. Since it been such nice weather these past fews days to help the growth of my new buds they have been having fun outside our upstairs flat.

Thats right on the window sill, It seems a little dangerous to place them there but it’s needed they just aren’t growing otherwise. So they spent most of the day soaking up the sun, I just have to make sure there bought inside if the wind picks up. Don’t want them falling on anyone, that wouldn’t be good. While tending to my new herbs, I’ve also been taking interest in a design idea I had a while ago for a shawl, Which I have started it’s been a week of hard work and i’m still writing up the chart but while i’m doing that I figured i’d cast on and start the beginning shaping then the easier bit is done and ready for me to the charts.

It seemed to take forever to find the perfect green yarn, although it looks more blue in the sunlight. It’s a soft emerald green but it’s gorgeous. Most lace yarns seem to come in mushy pea greens or darker shades or just washed out and dull. So I went on a major search to find a nice colour and came across Hipknits 100% Cashmere laceweight. The cashmere is beautifully soft when knitted and comes in a 750yds skein/ 686mtrs.

I’m hoping to have the shawl ready with the next month or so, And it will be apart of my Ebook -Eclectic Knits. Price wise i’m think Five pounds for the individual pattern, but if your holding on for the book that will be priced around twelve pounds. Although if your not waiting for the ebook then eat your heart out cos it’s going to be lovely. I promise.

And just to gush a little more about hipknits I purchased this lovely silk aran which luxurious and soft and the prices are very reasonable i’d say they were a bloody Bargin.

And before I set off on more shawl designing here’s Ysolda Teagues Ishbel which I still haven’t Blocked but I wanted to post it too much. So I couldn’t wait and took some lovely photo’s for you to gander at.

So delicate and pretty she’s put some hard work into the pattern and deserves the support she gets. You can purchase her patterns on ravelry and even download her books you can also get a paper copy if you prefer.

The Ishbel is a gorgeous 4ply shawl which used a yarn a friend had purchased me for a christmas gift last year from Posh yarn online store which is only open for custom from 7pm on sundays and you have to be fast to buy.

I hope you enjoyed my post Keep up on the comments I love feedback and it’s also helpful for improvements. Remember I have a new pattern store go check it out it’s super organized and also has go to links at the top of each pattern page to make navigation easier for you all (not too much scrolling to do).

Love to hear from you all soon nessa x

Xmas over, New year Comes, Patterns are made!

December 30, 2009 at 1:49 am | Posted in Knitting | Leave a comment
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Thank God Christmas is over it was a tiring one for me, Thursday was my ownly christmas shopping day since i’ve been working constantly at work this month, so i was in a mad rush to get presents bought and wrapped, I got back home to get a call from my mum to find out she was picking up the presents in 45 minutes and i had to get them all wrapped in that time. Yea!!! I did manage too, Thankfully. Christmas eve as you know we opened our presents early which was fun :) .

Christmas day we woke up at about 10:30am had some poppy seed bagels and cream cheese and a warm mug of coffee. While we waited till 3pm For my partners parents to pick us up we watched Blackadder as Pete got the boxset for christmas from my Parents. We then went for dinner, We had prawn cocktail and salad for a starter and Turkey, brocolli, carrots, Roast potatoes, Pigs in blankets (sausages wrapped in bacon) and Gravy for main course and Pavalova for dessert. Pete’s dad got a Wii console so we played Beatles rockband and did some bowling. We left for home at about 8pm so i could have an early night as i was working the early shift on boxing day. Boxing day i woke up at 5:00am and headed off to work at 5:30am i was there until 11am and then got picked up by my dad, Me and pete then went to visit my nan, Aunties and uncles basically my side of the family. My little brother showed off his nasa space suit he got for christmas and his telescope, he’s so cute i’m glad he’s alot younger than me, It means we are less likely to fall out :) We came back home at about 6pm for dinner at home. It was so much more tiring than i thought but i slept that night for 13 hours and i have to say i needed it.

Sunday night i went and visited the rest of pete’s family at an open house night for a few hours, and had some great homemade foods and monday i met up with his auntie Ioene for a coffee and my local coffee shop (Nero’s) And recieved the knitpicks yarn she’d ordered for me and bought over with her from canada :) They ownly deliver to the us or canada which is such a great shame but the yarn and colours are gorgeous.

On more Knitting based blogging i finished the Veyla mitts By Ysolda Teague

I finished these last night after i realized i wasn’t far from done i stay up till 3am and made damn sure i finished them, They are so petit and pretty so very delicate.

I also Casted on today the Cotton Reel Mitts by Ysolda Teague With the Knit picks yarn in Palette Yarn. The  Colours I’m using are Bison And Cosmopolitan

 

I also Started a hat pattern with my orkney angora, And i wrote out the pattern for the cabled area’s and the lace, there was a few ripping backs but not as many as i thought i must have changed  the pattern about 4 times to make it right.

I can’t wait to finish it, the yarn is such a beautiful colour, i want to show it off on my little head and wear it proud.

I think I broke the ice!

December 22, 2009 at 12:26 am | Posted in Knitting | 2 Comments
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Well I think it was last Friday when it started to snow and my was it beautiful, until morning hit at sub zero temperature and froze it over, and every time we’ve had a snow fall since it’s decided to freeze over again and again our street is an icy death trap as i figured out this evening coming home, Yes this is a rant of an annoyed, full of cold, Christmas lover, who wants to let it all out lol!!

Last Thursday I did some Christmas shopping i didn’t get much done due to spending money on myself i found more items i loved then others would lol!! I purchased a new t-shirt, new jeans (I’ve dropped a size Yea!!) and a new bag. I Love bags way too much. On topic i caught an evil cold i was out all day in the coldest weather known to man, And because god seems to be smithing me i had to walk an extra 20 minutes due to my bus braking down and setting fire only a few minutes after getting on it. Just my luck!!

I Awoke with a horrid cold which seems to not like any food which I’ve been eating there for non of it settled and have thrown up every morsel, until today and an evil cough which hasn’t aloud me to sleep and has pulled some muscles in my back and ribs. Then (wait for it) Today coming home i fell flat, straight on my back on some thick ice near my home and have hurt the base of my back which isn’t good, I’m now a bit worried of stepping out of our home due to the roads and paths around our street and the neighboring ones are covered in ice which the council have greatly not gritted, And i am done ranting!! Thank you for baring though i needed to vent lol!!

On knitting related topics

This is a new project which i started Friday and completed Sunday, My partners new hat which was for Christmas but it’s been so cold i let him have it early. I used the Style craft Life DK yarn which as a low wool content but is really quite nice to knit with and doesn’t squeak on the needles  i didn’t use a pattern but it’s turned out great i did find a dropped stitch which you can see i saved on a dpn to fix once I’d finished.

I also started the Veyla fingerless mitten by Ysolda Teague i tried these on when i met her at the Baa Ram Ewe knit night and they were beautiful, I’m using a Regia 4 ply which i bought from Kemps at £1.20 a ball bargain or what!!

On the Yarn front i purchased some New Lanark yarn  DK 50g balls for £1.95 an is 100% pure wool some have silk in too, they are very beautiful.

And off i go mentioning Kemps again i bought one of there Rowan Assortment bags 500g for £5 and i received my joyous surprise, I’d got some Rowan Classic yarn ‘Natural Silk Aran’ It’s so pretty and what a bargain, I’ve got project ideas flowing through my ears at the speed of light lol!!

I will most likely post through Christmas an let you know about my presents i received :) and what I’ve been up too,

Have a Great Christmas, And a Happy New Year to all, Enjoy yourselves

And let me know what you’ve been up to I’d love to hear some festive stories

See You All Soon Nessa xx

Never ready for frost bite!

December 11, 2009 at 11:09 pm | Posted in Knitting | 2 Comments
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I woke this morning to a find a layer of frost had landed.

I ordered some more yarns and some new buttons for my peak island hood. The buttons are wooden with moomin’s face carved into them. I had to purchase some it needed to be done, i couldn’t live without.

I also purchased some 4 mm, 40 cm circs which i needed for one of my new designs, I started a cowl in wensleydale long wool and thought the yarn  looked too  holey for this cable cowl so I’m going for a Double knit weight approach, all i need now is my needles.

I also started a New hat design also for my new book, using the st magnus Orkney 50% wool 50% angora. I have to say this yarn is like working with heaven. I just finished the band this morning and I’m know designing the chart for this little wonder.

I’m also so very proud as i sold another one of my patterns, Happy knitting for those who have purchased, And don’t be scared to purchase i will give help and advice to those who need it.

I felt horrid this morning i was so wrapped up in getting my parents Christmas gifts that i forgot my dad’s birthday was today and had to give him his Christmas gift as a birthday present. With all the extra shifts at work and moving and worrying to get my gifts on time i forgot his birthday present ( How Poop am I )

I am completely overwhelmed by things this Christmas  that i think i may have lost my brain lol!!!

Just so you all know i have a new pattern out ( Happy Christmas Nautical Cowl) is My new pattern which is free for you all to enjoy, and it’s perfect for a beginner . Happy knitting x

Project scarf & American Gifts

November 27, 2009 at 11:10 pm | Posted in Knitting | Leave a comment
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So i haven’t blogged for about a week, which i feel a little naughty for not doing so sooner. But i have an excuse, Yes I Do. I’ve been starting new projects, one of which is Ysolda Teague’s Peak island Hood.

I started this project straight after the Ysolda night at Baa Ram Ewe where i also bought the yarn for it and new Addi Circulars. Cast on and started the scallop edging but then hit a curve ball with the instructions and ended up ripping out 3 times until i decided to face embarrassment and ask for advice. Which was greatly given too me by Sarah one of Ysolda’s friends (cheers by the way). After that there’s been no struggling and I’m steaming ahead.

Me and Lisa also got our photo’s on Ysolda’s blog which is pretty cool, I look a bit special in one due to me waving both arms in the air lol!!

Also most of this week I’ve been designing the rest of my new cowl pattern, Designing chart, Swatching and Test knitting so I’ve been a busy bee with that. I’ve also noticed I’m going to have to block the cowl out to define the stitches which i loath doing. It has to be done so i can’t really moan.

I also got a great present from America my partners mum went for her holidays and brought me back so knitting goodies such as some lily Sugar ‘n’ Cream Yarn in hot pink and Hot Green, Which i have toy knitting plans for. Also some ‘Red Heart’ Baby Clouds yarn And lots of kool aid for dying my hand spun yarns Yea! ( Thank You Hazel).

And my last bit of news, I went on a crazy baking binge yesterday and bought a new book called ‘Cupcakes Galore’, Yes i decided to bake even though i haven’t done so for about 6 or so years. I have to say i impressed myself, I made a cupcake called ‘ Peanut Butter and Jam Swirl cupcakes’ I bought the ingredients and Baked my ass of and they turned out beautiful. There nearly all gone as well but it was worth the making. x

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