Crafty Cat Knitty Bits

Thursday, 18 June 2015

Growing season

Everything is in full growth! The baskets and tubs look lovely, the lawn is sort of recovering from the assault of dogs and chickens over the winter! My new beds despite the odd chicken attack are starting to bloom...it must be finally Summer!

I was reading an article about ancient seasons (Celtic) and how they compare with what we still have now. Spring for them was Feb, March, April, Summer May, June, July, Autumn August, Sept, Oct and Winter Nov, Dec, Jan. Last year when I read about this it made more sense to me so I started to take more notice, and in mid August the quality of light changed and the nights seemed noticeably darker and leaves started to turn brown and curl on some trees. In Feb about the 12th the light suddenly changed again and there was a slight hint of warmth and promise of Spring in the air. Maybe it's just me but this year I'm running to their seasons so June for me is midsummer although the calendar summer is only supposed to start on the Solstice.

Some lovely poppies have taken up residence on our street and I'm enjoying their short lived blooms. I do have some of these coming up in the back garden as I sprinkled a head in my borders last autumn. They're nowhere near as spectatcular as this one though.

I think we shall be eating our own strawberries this week! They have done really well in the hanging baskets up out of the way of hens!

On the craft front I was inspired by Lucy from Attic 24 harmony blanket and her colour block cushion .It was her image of the colours for the border of the blanket that clicked and I rummaged throught my yarns to find approximate colours. I know from experience it's actually just better to go and buy the right yarn but luckily I had bought lots of stylecraft earlier in the year for the knitted flower wreath so I could make a start.

I shall pop over to the Wool Stop in Thornbury and pick up the shades I'm missing and try and not get tempted by all the other yummy yarns that reside in Tina's shop! I still haven't learnt to crochet so I made up a simple lacework pattern for a square that knits up rather quick and happily looks more complicated than it is.

Size 4 needles CO 21

Knit 5 rows of garter

Row 1 K3 purl 15 K3
Row 2 K3, K2tog, YO, K3, YO, K1, Sl1-K2tog-PSSO, K1, YO, K3, YO, SSK, K3
Row 3 as row 1
Row 4 K3, K2tog, YO, K4, YO, Sl1-K2tog-PSSO, YO, K4, YO, SSK, K3

Repeat until when folded to a make a square the bottom edge lines up with garter border and then knit 5 rows of garter and cast off.

Not sure whether to stick with knitting in all the same pattern or to make some up with another...I'll keep you posted on what I decide!

Saw this yesterday and it looks a fab little fast shawl to knit as only 100 rows. I shall source yarn for it too! Lionberry Shawl

Monday, 1 June 2015

Rainbow felt weekend

Felted pouch weekend from start to finish and assisted at several times by the cats! Love the end result! I put a piece of silk in between the roving to make it that bit thicker. Simple embroidery as the sewing machine was being very naughty with tension and a button.

Baskets are starting to look good. this is my new basket with lots of little pockets around the outside so it should look magnificient.

This pot is real hotch potch of what caught my eye at the nursery so hopefully it won't clash too much.

Some of the crafty cats have an outside afternoon snack, mainly to keep them out the kitchen whilst I was felting!

Hmm hello summer and a pretty petunia!

Friday, 15 May 2015

Food for the soul

Sometimes you just need to get away from the hustle and bustle and craziness of life even if for only a few hours. We came up to Coaley peak on the most perfect of May evenings to just sit and still our souls and simply look. We didn't even bring the dogs as we just wanted peace, but we did both feel very guilty about leaving them behind! We were on the top of the Cotswold escarpment looking over the Severn Vale and above is the view South to Cam Long Down.

The view is just amazing. You can see right the way over to Sugar Loaf mountain near Abergavenny . If you have binoculars you can see the Severn bridges, Oldbury Power Station and Sharpness Docks all along the river Severn snaking it's way though the landscape.

The patchwork fields looked simply beautiful and the sound of the tractors silaging and the land being worked seemed right too. it wouldn't look like this if it wasn't farmed. I grew up in this kind of landscape and I used to love peeking in the hedges to see the bird nests and walking though the summer hay fields..aahh such memories!

You can see the Malvern Hills too, they dominate the view north west, their distinctive ridge back dominates the landscape for miles. I once heard they are the tallest mountains if you head due East until you reach the Urals...? Maybe?

This little section of the cotswold way has the nympsfield long barrow and hetty peglers tump too. Perhaps ancient man thought it was a good place to bury their dead with a view. There is Uley Bury hill fort too so this place has been inhabited for a long time.

It did us both good to drink it all in and watch the sun go down, readying us for jumping back into the fast pace that life seems to try and sweep you along at these days. I'm feeling tired with life a little and this was a welcome little break.