Photos Of Big Issue Knit Out

These are some photos taken at the Big Issue Knit Out. They were taken by Audreym (Ravelry name) and also feature photos of yours truly theurbangypsy (AKA the big blue crocheting whale) - who is crocheting along with Roger (Ravelry name Thatroger) and the bottom photo is Lucy (I-Lucius) and Cara ( Pinkerton). They are knitters from the 8th day knit club and are part of the Manchester Massive Ravelry group that I am also a member of. Although I don't manage to get to the 8th Day for the knit outs I do bump into these ladies from time to time at functions such as these and Roger is a fellow member of the Kings Arms Knitters of Salford. Audrey has kindly allowed me to "pinch" these photos from her Flickr for my blog.

As you can see from these photos that there were quite a few young knitters. These photos show a fraction of the people who attended. If I find any more photos then I will post them at a later date. So many people had cameras that I am sure that there must be loads more eventually.

My friend Sue from the Knitting Noras called today. Nice to have a chat and a catch up with gossip and to see photos of her new grand daughter. I haven't finished the outfit intended for her as last night I finished off the crochet hat that I had started at the Knit Out and have started another one exactly the same as I had enough wool left over. The baby outfit is coming out more for a six month old anyway so it will still fit the next time that I see Sue.She is making a lovely crocheted pram blanket for her new grandbaby. She has chosen lovely subtle shades of pinks, creams lilacs and beiges in a lovely soft cotton and the blanket is 6 larger multi coloured granny squares with a border around. The colours were lovely. I hope that she posts a photo on Ravelry when she has finished it off.If she does then I will "pinch" it and let you see it.

I am going to carry on making hats and scarves but in and between other projects as i think that I will get rather bored with just churning out hat after hat.

Nexus Art Cafe Big Knit Out

I went to the Big Knit Out at Nexus Art Cafe in Manchester today. What a good afternoon. I thought that there would maybe be a dozen or so knitters but when I got there the place was full. So lovely to see so many young knitters. People always think if knitting as a bit of an old lady hobby but if they could have seen all these trendy young people knitting then they would have to amend their thinking.

I met up with Marie and Roger from the Kings Arms Knitters,Sean from the Bolton Knitting Noras and 3 ladies from the 8th day knitters, Debbie Tomkies and a few other people whose faces I recognised but the names escape me.Sean managed to win one of the raffle prizes but as he had gone home when they drew the raffle I don't know what he won. I Lucius (Ravelry name) from the 8th Day knitters also won a prize of card making papers and a cross stitch pack.

Nexus have an art and craft afternoon every Sunday between 3 - 5pm so if anyone wants to donate any knitted or crocheted hats, scarves or gloves then you can pop them in then. Or if you just fancy meeting up for a chat and craft go along. The cafe makes delicious sandwiches too and they are very reasonably priced.I had a hot chicken and stuffing sandwich served with some chopped peppers, onions and cherry tomatoes on the side. Very nice.

I started another hat whilst I was there but didn't manage to finish it off whilst I was there. Marie gave me some navy wool to use for some more hats until my next supply of wool arrives. There is enough navy to make a scarf and hat set. Marie has also given me a chunky half mitten knitting pattern that I can make also.

People were taking loads of photos of the event but as usual I didn't take my camera. One guy was saying I could view them later on Twitter but as I don't do Twitter I guess I will have to hope that he puts them on Facebook too.

Last night I was crocheting the baby angel top and have almost finished it. It needs buttons and ribbons yet.Tonight I will either finish off the crochet hat I started this afternoon or carry on with the matching knickers and sun hat for the baby.

The sandwich that I had for my late lunch was very filling so I am not in the mood for any dinner tonight. I will probably have a snack later, it was a bit miserable on the way home as the rain is coming down again. Never mind I can shut the curtains, make a coffee and turn on the TV and hope that there is something good to watch.

Eleven Hats for the Homeless

The latest two hats I have made are more for the ladies. Unless of course any of the men would like to wear a hat with lurex thread and a flower. Well these days one never knows. I have now made eleven hats. Ten crocheted and one knitted. I am hoping to make it to a dozen at least before I go to the Knit Out on Sunday.

Today is, once again, dull and rainy. I think that I will save up for one of those light lamps for S.A.D as I am sure that I have a touch of that as I definitely feel a lot more lethargic and miserable when there is no sun around. I am sure that I was born to the wrong mother and was destined for a hot climate.

Today I got the sign off letter from the specialist that I saw on Tuesday. He is very efficient. Usually I get copies of these letters up to a month after my appointments.He has said that whilst he is happy with my spine after his operation he is unhappy with the knee pain and lack of treatment that I have received which is preventing me from doing the exercise that I need to be doing to maintain my mobility following this operation. Let's hope that my knee specialist picks up on his recommendations when I see him next week.

Thanks for your message Enid. I have tried to add you to Facebook but as usual Facebook was acting up and playing silly beggars so I don't know if you will get my invitation.

Today I really must do a bit of housework. I have brought plastic bags of oddments of wool downstairs whilst I have been hat making and so my front room looks like a rummage sale and I dread anyone calling. I think it's time to re-organise my stash again. It's funny but after eleven hats I can't see any difference to the size of the oddment bags! I can see more stripey hats in the future as a lot of the balls are too small to make a hat in one colour.

Coffee time and time to watch Loose Women.

Hats For The Homeless

Not the most exciting hats that I have ever made but I am on a mission not only to clear some stash but to help others with the fruits of my labours. As I mentioned before Nexus Art cafe are having a day where they would like donations for the homeless of hats, scarves or gloves. They have listed it as a knit day (click on my blog title for more details) but I hope they are not averse to a bit of crochet as I can make more hats with crochet than I can picking up my needles. Enid asked me for more details. I have not yet visited the cafe but I Googled it and it is on Dale Street which is off Oldham Street and not far from Piccadilly Gardens. The Knit Day is Sunday 24th Jan from 2 - 8 pm. If you don't live in the Manchester area and would like to take part I am sure that there must be a similar scheme in your neighbourhood. I found out about the day from Facebook having been invited to join in another Knit Day last year which unfortunately I could not go to. Since then I have been getting event invites but this is the only one that has mentioned knitting so as it is a worthy cause then I thought that I would like to participate.

My hats may not be the most glamorous hats but if a guy doesn't have a hat then my hat will keep him warmer than no hat at all. Maybe this will be an ongoing event and I can make more hats during the year to participate again later on. I shall know more after Sunday.

Buster has gone back home. I am sad in many ways as I do love his company but it isn't fair to keep an animal if you can't take care of it properly. I could not do the daily walk regime. I might manage a walk on a good day but with dogs they need every day. It upset me to see the look in his eye over the weekend knowing that he wanted a walk and the guilt in my mind as I knew that I could not walk him.

I feel good today as my tiredness caught up with me and I slept until 10.30am this morning. I slept right through my alarm and would still be in bed were it not for the guys across the street having new windows installed so the workmen woke me up with their hammering and banging to get the old window out. It's a good job that I have caught up with my sleeping as tomorrow I have an morning appointment at the hospital to see my spinal surgeon. If I miss that then I will have to wait months to get another one.

I have just got my credit card statement and that has endorsed my 'no wool buy' decision for at least another month or so. I always try to pay off anything that I put on the card at the month end but with Christmas purchases, some new crochet hooks, a new spinal support and a couple of books then the amount has crept up on me so I will have to be frugal this month as today is Emily's birthday and I have my son and my ex husband's birthday also this month and my brother's birthday next month. Thankfully I have restocked the food cupboard again.