We are going to be Naked Knitting Calendar Girls

I have just got back from the monthly Knit Out of the Knitty Noras. I had a very enjoyable afternoon of knitting in great company. Glad to see such a good turnout there today. Lisa and Vicky have come up with a wonderful idea to raise money for charity. The idea is a naked knitting calendar for 2010 to hopefully raise money for Christies. Christies is our local cancer hospital and as some of the Noras have had personal experience of needing treatment at the hospital and the rest of us have had close friends who have had need of the hospital's services it is a cause dear to our hearts.

Lots of ideas were bandied about today and Vicky was taking notes as to some of the suggestions as to what the format should be. Plenty of unusual ideas for photos. Some practical and some more bizarre. We are all up for the tastefully photographed naked knitting themed photos and have got quite a number of volunteers from our group willing to disrobe and knit in aid of charity. I have volunteered even though I am not exactly in the first (or second) flush of youth and am built for comfort and not for speed. I may need far more balls of wool or a larger piece of knitting than some but I still want to be involved as I think it's a great idea.

If you click on the blog title it will take you to the Naked Knitting blog. Please support us and follow the blog which will update you to our progress. I hope that you will buy a calendar or a few, and tell all your friends once it is published.

The doubled hat is finally finished. As you can see it is black on one side and grey on the other. I posted the link to the pattern on a previous blog. It is a very warm hat. The crocheted cream hat is for myself. I have made it to match the scarf that I had bought for me for a Christmas present. The pattern is also available free from the net. It is called Divine hat can be found either on Ravelry or from Rheatheylia.com

Sunday with the Knitty Noras

As promised yesterday - a continuation on Sunday's activities. It was our monthly meeting of the Knitty Noras. I consider myself very fortunate to be offered a lift there by Vicky, especially as I was carrying my latest 5 books. Public transport from out here in the sticks to Bolton is a bit dodgy on a Sunday. We usually take with us any new books that we have bought so that other members can have a good look through them and decide if they want to buy a copy for themselves - or not. Yesterday we had a small library to browse through.

We had a really good turn out yesterday. A couple of new(ish) members so we are growing in numbers. Who said knitting was for old ladies? I am the granny of this club, most are much younger than I am. We occupied two tables. I am never quite sure what the other Costa Cafe users think of a bunch of ladies knitting, crocheting, book swapping and generally chattering away but we do buy several cups of coffee,tea and juice, many buns and sandwiches so I don't think the owners are complaining.

I had a lovely surprise waiting for me with 2 more birthday presents. I have felt really spoiled and pampered this year. Eadaoin presented me with a lovely necklace and bangle in my favourite shades of lilacs and purples. I haven't done the jewelry much justice as it has been very dark today for photography. Eadaoin has been making jewelry for some time now and has her own Etsy site (click on my blog title and it should transport you there as if by magic) with very reasonably priced items for sale. She also does craft fairs along with Jennifer (another talented Knitty Nora) with a variety of things besides jewelry for sale. Eadaoin also makes some great stitch markers, She gifted me a set earlier in the year, a did Vicky and they have been so useful. I have one set for knitting and one for crochet. I belong to a talented bunch of ladies don't I?

Speaking of which isn't the Christmas card on my blog lovely and so appropriate for a knitter? It was handmade by Jean, yet another talented Knitty Nora. I must ask her if she has a sales site as I am sure such lovely hand made cards would appeal to a lot of people.

Sylvia and Kath gave me the lovely coloured crochet hooks. They have obviously heard me say many times that I scatter hooks behind me rather like a farmer sewing seeds so I can never have enough hooks. Whoever follows behind me must have a complete set of hooks by now!

Today I am having a duvet kind of day. I took one look at the weather and decided that there was no way I was venturing out in the cold. I made a big pot of leek and potato soup (enough for a few days) and snuggled up in my robe with the central heating on. Not much knitting or crochet for some reason so far but I intend to try to catch up with a few hours tonight.

Sunday misty Sunday

I have had to make a little cosy for my new phone. It is very slim and shiny and has a tendency to slip out of my pocket or slide down and disappear into the depths of my bag. Now in it's cosy I can spot it and it seems to cling to my pocket lining. The button is from my late mother's button box and is, I think, a button from one of my late father's work overalls.

The February sweater is growing a little. As you know I changed the order of the knitting so now the 2 sleeves are finished and I am working my way down the body. I still haven't decided if it will be my Christmas cardigan or gifted.

The grey jacket is progressing and I am now half way up the second sleeve. The ribbing has to be added to the jacket body and the sleeves, the neckband and the button borders so there is still a way to go.

Last night and early this morning it was still very misty. Not as bad as Friday night when it was freezing fog. I looked out about 10pm and watched Mr Fox leisurely strolling in next door's front garden. He then visited mine briefly and strolled across the road to the house opposite for a rummage in the bushes in their garden. The reason I say Mr Fox is that I am used to seeing a smaller fox in my back garden, who I thought was female, but this one was much bigger with a longer bushier tail. We live quite near to a small woodland so it's not unusual to see various wildlife around and about but I can't quite get used to the rats that occasionally cross my path. Fortunately they don't venture into my garden very often due, I think, to a large colony of cats belonging to various neighbours who are always on a night patrol.

I went to the monthly Knit Out of the Noras today but I will write more abut that tomorrow.