Writing funny blog posts is tricky when things go well. It's easier when your day turns belly-up and you leave your dignity somewhere up a tree in the supermarket car park, but there's nothing hilarious about things working out as intended. That's why I'm finding it hard to write this post about Saturday's Yarn Shop Day event. I can just about work a World War Two air raid shelter and a Victorian actress's underwear into the story without stretching the truth, but beyond that, I got Continue Reading
A Finished Thing
This week, I finished a thing. Is it just me, or does everyone have a Guilt Project languishing in a basket somewhere? I'm talking about the mega-project that seemed like a r-e-a-l-l-y good idea several years ago when you bought/inherited/spun-from-raw-antelope-fibre the 80 balls of yarn that it requires. The Guilt Project is always three quarters complete - you've come too far to frog it - and it nudges you into a flicker of shame every time you trip over it on your way to the wine-rack Continue Reading
It’s The Knitting And Stitching Show!
Wow, what a day. For those of you not in the UK, the Knitting And Stitching Show is the yarn-related event of the year in this country, held amidst the splendour of Alexandra Palace on a hill in London. It started today, and runs until Sunday. May I just at this point thank Stylecraft Yarns for my complimentary ticket - very much appreciated, you kind people. Settle in, my friends. This threatens to be a long post. With many photos. Help y'selves to some of that wine. There will be moments Continue Reading
K1, k1, k1, (sip 1), k1, k1, (pause for imposition of real life), k1, k1, (berate toddler twinnage), k1…
...And meanwhile, far in the background, (so very far that it looks a little hazy), the Arne and Carlos blanket swells, garter stitch by easy garter stitch. I just thought I'd give it a teeny bit of blog-space again. 'Tis my mindless go-to project at 3am when work stress pokes my brain awake, or a twin or two tries to pull my nose off, or some Lego intrudes painfully on my lower vertebrae. I'm disappointed that the blanket isn't finished yet, because I had visions of the twinnage and I snuggling Continue Reading
Channelling Autumn
Autumn has definitely sneaked into our quiet little corner of Oxfordshire. And in its sneaky sneaking, it's brought a very familiar damp chill to our old house, as well as rich new colours to our surroundings, and some birthdays to be celebrated (not mine - I'm plenty old enough already and don't feel the slightest need to advance any further). Birthdays bring visiting relatives and peaceful times around the log fire. This time it brought a happy new novelty, too: companionably knitting with Continue Reading
*hums* Never Smile At A Crocodile…
...cos you can't get friendly with a crocodile... *here endeth the hum* Sorry, bad habit, humming. Sometimes, since having children, I've caught myself walking down the ward at work humming 'Row, row, row your boat'. Not very professional, is it? Anyway, back to the crocodiles. TheTwistedYarn, the Toddler Twinnage, the Stoic Spouse, and the in-progress Arne and Carlos blanket have been on (a very short) tour. Look! Here we are, pottering through the Oxfordshire countryside in the cool autumn Continue Reading
We have a winner! (And autumn colour is lurking.)
And.... we have a winner for the signed Arne and Carlos books giveaway! Chosen randomly by the helpful algorithms at random.org, the winner is entrant number 58:- ...which on my list of entrants translates to Mary Beth Wiggins' entry over on Facebook. Wa-hey! Congratulations. :-) I'll be in touch to get your address, and then two lovely shiny signed Arne and Carlos knitting books will be winging their joyful way across the globe to you. Thank you to everyone who entered - you made it Continue Reading
It’s The Arne And Carlos Giveaway!
Righty-ho, peoples, it's giveaway time. Lemme hear ya say, "Oh really? How delightfully intriguing." So. (At this point TheTwistedYarn sneezes, sits down, clears her throat, and attempts to adopt her best, most official voice. Unfortunately the voice comes out sounding more than a little squeaky. Ah well, no matter.) Those of you who've been following the 'Yarn for a while *waves and thanks you enthusiastically* will know that this blog won the Deramores Award recently, which entailed Continue Reading
Blogs of Much Loveliness.
The Arne and Carlos giveaway is coming really soon. Disclaimer: I'm not actually giving away Arne and Carlos themselves - that'd be more of a coup than I can pull off. It's just signed copies of their books, OK? Meanwhile... Psst! Yes, you! Look! Over here! I've got things to show you. Good things. Entirely legal things, in case you're worried. One of the best aspects of blogging is getting to know other blogs, as well as the writers behind them. There's a treasure-trove of wit and Continue Reading
Knitting Arne and Carlos
Oops, that was an especially ginormous gap. I have been here, at the brewery. And sometimes I've been knitting, but also I've been painting the living room (photies soon) and doing all sorts of other bits and pieces that sadly didn't involve yarn, such as doing final final edits on my MPhil in novel-writing degree coursework at three in the morning, and trying to remove rampant ivy (so dense that birds are nesting in it) from our tower, and digging the allotment, and seeing lots of patients Continue Reading