Catching Up

I have had a busy couple of days hence no blogging done.

I gave up with the Tunisian crochet (temporarily) as I could not get my tension right. If I got my width tension right by going on a much smaller hook then I had too many rows for the tension square and the fabric felt too tight. I think perhaps a bit of practise on something without a pattern or shaping will be the next thing on the agenda then it won't matter if my work is coming out too wide.

I finished off the white, blue and red crochet jacket using a simple pattern by Rindy Carpenter (free on Ravelry) but once again adapted it by using a different pattern stitch and colours. I only had one 50 gram ball of white and as anyone knows white is the worst colour to match so although I had several part balls of white none of them matched so I used the different colours to eke out the 50 grams.

I started knitting a larger size knitted baby cardigan with the James C Brett Bliss DK that I had been using for the Tunisian. The colour changes are rather large so I have finished up with a strangely marked cardigan. It will keep the baby warm in the winter.

The reason I say in the winter is that the foster baby has finally arrived at my friend's house. He is a dinky little thing weighing just over 5lbs as it turns out that he was born premature. I am now rushing through some premature sized cardigans as he will be swimming in some of the jackets that I have made so far. That is the only problem with knitting or crocheting for foster babies they can range from 5-9 lbs when they arrive so it's knowing what size to make. I am not looking after Buster this weekend so I hope to visit the baby and take along his cardigans as he needs them to wear now.

Yesterday I went up to Towneley Hall Burnley again with Rachael. Rachael had to finish photographing the tea cosies and the doilies to keep a record of her project. The sun was shining and it was a lovely day. Fortunately the fire alarm didn't sound today as it did at the weekend when she went up to photograph them so she was able to complete the task. I have put the link to her Artyarn blog (click my blog title) as the photos that she took of everyone's tea cosies came out much better than my blurry ones did. The only two of mine that came out OK were the ones of my tea cosies with a close up of the pink one that I haven't shown you before.

We came back home through Rawtenstall. A place that neither of us had been to before and Rachael bought me a sandwich in a cafe there which although was really nice had raw onions on it. Rachael had a baked potato and beans with salad which also had the same raw onions in it so we were a bit stinky on the way home. I took a photo of Rachael taking her photos.Artist at work. Towneley Hall is really interesting and I really must go back one day when I can walk the grounds and the Hall properly. I have really enjoyed my small part in the project as it has been fun and I got to meet so many nice people in Burnley that I otherwise would have never met and to see Towneley Hall which I am ashamed to admit I knew nothing about until Rachael's project. I am not sure how long the tea cosies will be on display but the rare and antique tea pots will probably be on display for a while longer. The Hall change the exhibits regularly to keep the Hall interesting.

Nice sunny day today so I might do some crochet sitting in the garden. I need to push on with my small baby jackets so the small baby has something to keep him warm by the weekend.

Towneley Hall Burnley

I have never been to Towneley Hall Burnley before even though it is not that far away from me. I really must go again when I can walk around it as I believe it is lovely inside. For today I just accompanied Rachael from Artyarn and sat in the shop crocheting doilies whilst Rachael and Laura did all the hard work of arranging the tea cosies on display. People have been amazing, There are at least 25 tea cosies and one has even been sent from Germany from a lady who married a Burnley man and wanted to contribute. Rachael has to go up again tomorrow and is going to photograph them all and so I will direct you to her blog when she posts the photos.

Whilst Rachael was closing up the shop in Burnley town centre ready for the next artist a lovely couple came in to bring a few tea cosies. They are Pat and Steve from Woolly Thoughts and they do the most fabulous knitting. The do workshops and can be found on Ravelry as Woolly Thoughts. I call the kind of knitting that they do shadow knitting but it has a proper name. When you look at the piece face on it looks like narrow garter stitch stripes but when you view it on an angle words or pictures can been seen. They brought in two tea cosies that look as if they have a moving swirl pattern on them and a couple of strips of knitting saying tea and the picture of a tea pot. Steve brought with him a shawl that at first glance looked like yellow and black narrow stripes but when he moved it about it was the head of a man in intricate detail showing his long hair and his beard. Fascinating stuff. There are many examples of their work on Ravelry but it is something that has to be seen in the wool so to speak to appreciate it's real talent.

One tea cosy that stood out in my mind is a finely knitted one that was smocked together and had lots of beads stitched on to it. Hopefully there will be a photo of that on Artyarn's blog.

Although it wasn't raining today it was windy and cold and Rachael got very cold trying to finish off stitching the doilies around the stone balls. Although she had crocheted loads once they were put on the stone they only covered it partially and so a few more are needed. As I couldn't help out with the tea cosies I sat in Towneley Hall gift shop and crocheted and chatted to a lovely lady called Christine who was tending the shop, filling the shelves and answering a load of phone calls. I was really interested in all the Towneley Hall liqueurs such as Cherry brandy and Sloe. It did invite me to have a taste, on the poster next to it all, but I resisted or my doilies would have been a bit lop sided after a taste of that. It all looked very inviting but I didn't buy anything except a bag of humbugs.

I have included a couple of photos of the outside of Towneley Hall but I believe they have a web site if you want to see the interior. I love the carved owl in the tree where one of the branches has broken or been cut down. The tree is immense and the branches hang down almost to the floor. Many years of tree growth there methinks.

There was a party of excited children there for a while on a guided pond dip to see what wildlife they could find in the pond. Rachael said when she was there the other day one child fell into the water. Today the kids were getting a stern lecture about messing about near water before they set off. I think the guide wasn't taking any chances today. The all seemed to come back dry today.

I have finished the crocheted baby surprise jacket and have only got the buttons to stitch on. I have started another one but this time I am not crocheting in the single loop of the double crochet. Although it does look great it is a bugger to keep even and there are a few wobbly places that I am not really happy with. Hopefully they will even out after a couple of washes. I have started another one in a slightly different colour but this time in plain double crochet.

Time for dinner and a cup of coffee before I put my feet up and relax. I do love my days out. It gives my brain and well needed jolt and stimulates my thoughts. Whilst I am out and about chatting it takes my mind of aches and pains.

Daffodil Tea Cosy

This is my latest contribution to the tea cosy project for Towneley Hall in Burnley.The Daffodil tea cosy. The pattern is from the Scrap Crochet book that I bought last week and is designed by Lisa Marchand Harris. I used up scraps of double knitting.

I was supposed to go with Rachael from Artyarn today up to Towneley Hall but it was raining and cold and as she was going to be outside for a lot of the time we decided that today was not a good day for me to go with her. I am hopefully going up with her on Thursday when we will take all the finished tea cosies up from the shop to the Hall.

I have started a crocheted version of the Baby Surprise Jacket but as it is crocheted in a strange way if I posted a photo of it tonight then it would just be a stripy strip. I am still not sure which bit I am actually crocheting as it is made in a different way to the knitted version. It is a different pattern to the crocheted BSJ that I made before so I am interested to see how it turns out. It's so difficult to judge the size when you don't know which bit you are crocheting. After I have made one then I will know the method.

My knees kept me awake for most of the night so it was probably just as well that I wasn't going out today. I had a PJ day today instead and spent it junked up on painkillers that don't seem to work anymore. Sylvia's legs are giving her real problems as well so we have a little 'moan about legs' phone call most days. Like me she has decided to go for the wooden leg and the parrot look if our leg problems go on for much longer.

Today I had a little old guy keep ringing me. He wanted the chemists and I kept telling him he had the wrong number. All he kept saying was speak up I can't hear you. I finished up yelling down the phone that I was not the chemists and he had the wrong number and he said I am not ringing you any more because you keep mumbling !! I thought I was back at work for a moment. At work I used to dread answering the phone as all the weirdo claimants seemed to have my extension number. Oh happy days.

Two More tea Cosies for Towneley Hall

I have finally finished two more tea cosies for the Towneley Hall Burnley project. If you click on my blog title it will take you to Artyarn blog page and that will show you more photos of the tea cosies already made by different people and keep you up to date on what is going on next.

The first tea cosy was inspired by Spring and the sighting of the odd butterfly here and there when the sun comes out. My butterfly is meant to be a red admiral but I know that it's markings and colourings aren't right, so those of you interested in butterflies please accept my apologies. Call it artistic licence. I decided to embroider the stems as I am not much good at making crochet chain go quite where I want it to go. The flowers are just simple 5 petal flowers and I decided to stick with one colour rather than do a variety as in nature a stalk usually has the same coloured flowers in it. I was intending to make a bee instead of a butterfly but after three failed attempts I decided a butterfly was easier.

The second tea cosy was just an experiment. I made a mesh tea cosy and intended the thread ribbons through the spaces but they kept doubling up and folding over so I changed it to lengths of wool instead. I sewed all the ends in at the bottom edge but got so bored with all of the tails that I decided to tie the strands together at the top and give it a sort of top knot. I would like to try the ribbon threading technique on another project but I would have to make larger holes in the mesh or go out and buy some finer ribbons. Somewhere in my pattern stash I have a cushion that is made from threading 1" satin ribbon in and out of a mesh crochet and over itself in a criss cross to make a woven appearance. It is a very pretty technique. One of those things that you mean to make one day and of course never do so put the pattern away somewhere.

The day is somewhat dull but hot and muggy. I have chanced the washing on the line as it is bedding and it seems to be drying fast. I am keeping my eye out for the rain, My gardener lady is coming today and somehow she always manages to bring the rain with her. She mows the lawn and gives the weeds a pull once a fortnight.

Once she has gone I must try to go to the supermarket as I am out of food basics. I thought of ordering online but I might be out of the house on Tuesday and Wednesday so didn't know when to say I was in for delivery. That's the only problem with online ordering they don't always have time slots when you want them,

I am hoping to make another tea cosy and then it will be back to normal crochet after that.

A Tea Cosy For Towneley Hall Burnley

I have finished off the tea cosy that I started last Sunday when I went to Burnley to knit tea cosies for Towneley Hall. it is inspired by a couple of the teapots in the collection that have delicate flowers on them, This tea cosy is meant to be a flower basket with flowers spilling out of it.

I have also crocheted some flowers and leaves to finish off the 3 colours of pink tea cosy that I made on Saturday and Sunday whilst in the shop. I hope to take photos of it finished when I hopefully get back to the shop on Tuesday or Wednesday. The tea cosy is striped with pale pink at the top medium pink in the middle and deep pink at the base. The flowers represent the colours in the tea cosy.

The baby blanket is now dry and folded up ready to be collected. Sylvia lives just that bit too far away for me to nip on a bus to deliver it. She banged her damaged leg last weekend and is going to see a specialist next week. I don't think we have a good pair of legs between us.I keep looking at mobility scooters but by the time I get one big enough to support my weight then it will be too big to be allowed on buses and trams. It would be great to have one to shop in the local shops. The small ones not only have a weight limit but would not be powerful enough to get me up the hills where my house is situated.Maybe I should enquire if they have free test drives before I buy one. I would probably have to buy a second hand one anyway as they are so expensive. I will wait and hope that they renew my DLA payments to help to pay for one.

The weather is cooler today but still warm enough to have the doors and windows open. I think I will start another tea cosy and sit in the garden to crochet it this afternoon. I will photograph the Tunisian book tomorrow when there is room on my blog to feature it.

Poppy has been in for her morning visit. She had a sleep, sniffed around and then left. Buster totally ignored her which is good. At least it shows that he accepts the way she trots in and out of my house as if it was her own. He no longer growls at her.

Time for a spot of lunch now and then off into the garden. I just hope that we don't have the rain and thunderstorm like yesterday.

Sunday in Burnley

More tea cosies were made yesterday. I have posted two blog entries today as I had so many photos to put on here I decided to do it as two.

Yesterday two more of the Kings Arms Knit Club, Marie and Valpuri (her blog is Purlpurl Handknits) came along to the shop in Burnley for a Knit Out. As the weather was a little cold and the surrounding shops were closed for Sunday we were not sure how many people would come in the shop.

Rachael barely had time to open the shutters before people started coming in. She was kept busy all day answering questions and teaching people how to knit and encouraging the ones whose skills were a little rusty. Everyone had a good time as you can see from the photos in the previous post. The ladies were interested in how to decorate the tea cosies and she was giving a flower and free form crochet demonstration. The time simply flew by.

It was typical Bank Holiday weather and quite cold inside the shop once again. It seems far more welcoming when the doors can be left open but after a little while they have to be closed for the sake of our cold bodies. The shop is in the shade most of the day and the sun starts to come around in the very late afternoon. Last week they were able to put the chairs outside and knit and crochet in the sun. There is one more weekend of the project next week so I am hoping for nice hot sunny weather.

Rachael hopes to have more tea cosies as people are interested and have taken patterns to make them at home. The yellow and brown pleated tea cosy was knitted at home by a lady in her eighties and she brought in in yesterday. There are more finished and almost finished tea cosies than I took photos of. At the end of the day Rachael gathered them all together in one place and took a photo of them so if you go to her blog Artyarn (click on my blog title) you could see more of them there. There is actually a photo of my wrinkly hands crocheting a tea cosy in pink. I finished the bare bones of it but still have to make the flowers to decorate the top. I left the tea cosy at the shop so there won't be any finished photos of it until next week. The last photo is of Rachael wearing a tea cosy on her head.

Today the sun is trying to shine this morning but it is still cold and I have masses to do. I need to run the hoover around and dust etc but that is the boring bit. I want to finish off the crocheted grey aran as I only have to make the neckband and button bands and of course stitch it all together. All the pieces are draped around the living room so it will look a lot tidier in there once it is finished.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my weekend out. It is so nice to meet and chat with people instead of being stuck in the house all of the time. It's amazing how conversation stimulates the mind and takes my mind off the pain in my knees. I feel as though I have had a shot in the arm of energizing thoughts. I hope that my knee ops come soon and then I can take part in things like this on a more regular basis.

Time for breakfast and to tackle those boring chores. I have to strike whilst my enthusiasm for housework is still there. The longer I leave it then the more I don't do it. My energy levels are higher in the mornings.

Back In Burnley Crocheting Tea Cosies

I spent another great day accompanying Rachael with her Art Yarn Burnley Knitting project. The idea is to get the people of Burnley interested in making tea cosies for the wonderful collection of tea pots that are going on display at Towneley Hall Burnley.The other part of the project is to teach anyone who wants to learn the skills of knitting and crochet so that hopefully they can then pass on their skills to someone else. It was a very good day today after a slow wet miserable start. Quite a few people came in who were interested in the project and Rachael held an ongoing class for pupils for most of the day.

The ladies who came enjoyed it so much that not only are they going to call back in for further lessons but they are talking of organising their own knit club when Rachael's project has finished. This is a great outcome as Rachael's aim is to spread the word and encourage people in to doing more crafts. The conversation has been very inspiring today and everyone coming into the shop has expressed their interest in doing something like this. Everyone remarked on how it was reviving the community spirit and the older ladies were reminiscing about their mothers teaching them to knit and the make do and mend era during and just after the war. Quite a few had knitted in the past but let their skills lapse so we were encouraging them to take up the needle and hook once again.

One of the ladies works with people with Alzheimer's and was interested in the surveys that we were discussing that have been done. The surveys suggest that doing a craft can help lessen the onset of this disease. It's something to do with concentration, counting and using the frontal lobe which keeps the brain stimulated. She said that when she has learned to knit she will carry it forward to her patients and see if the ones who could knit before the disease hit can remember how to knit and if they can it would give them something of interest to do.

I managed to finish off the multi coloured crocheted tea cosy that I started yesterday. The pattern is a free pattern from Ravelry if you are interested but I can't remember it's name. Possibly Scalloped tea Cosy. Rachael sewed it together and designed it's rather natty top knot. I have knitted another very plain garter stitch tea cosy and passed it over to Rachael to do the finishing touches. Rachael is the artist and has more ideas on how to decorate them. I don't mind doing the plain bits and leaving her the twiddly bits. I have started another crocheted tea cosy today but only managed to do an inch or so before we realized that we had run well over the time for closing. We practically had to throw the ladies out as they were all having such a good time I think they would have stayed all evening if they could.

I am going up tomorrow for a few hours and Rachael will have more help as Marie, another of the King's Arms knitters, is coming as well. I hope that we have as jolly a day as today. I think that it all went very well despite the rainy weather. Although I am not teaching anyone I think that the sight of people knitting and crocheting is inspiring and they come in for a closer look to find out what we are doing.

Hopefully we will convert more Burnley residents into the art of knitting and crocheting tomorrow. I think that they could definitely do with forming a Knit and Natter group in Burnley. Judging by the interest today I think they will soon find many interested members. Knit clubs are all about swapping information, Teaching your skills to others less experienced, encouragement when novice knitters need some, and it's social event that all ages can take part in. It's great to know that if there is something on a pattern that you don't understand then someone with a bit more knowledge can point you in the right direction. It's soul destroying when you are learning a new craft and have no-one to ask and only books to learn from.