Holiday in Madrid

Happy May Day.  The suitcases are unpacked, the washing machine is on and I've just taken a delicious Victoria sponge cake out of the oven ready for afternoon tea.  Now I can settle down and tell you all about my wonderful holiday in Spain. 

The holiday was a special treat as part of my 50th birthday celebrations.  I've been looking forward to it ever since we booked it last year. 

My DH and I flew from Liverpool airport (very convenient) last Sunday and arrived in Madrid and we were immediately driven to Salamanca where we stayed two nights. 

What a lovely city - we had a guided tour and then just wandered through the streets seeing the beautiful buildings and visiting the Plaza Mayor.  We had a great view of the cathedral from our hotel window.  Here are some of the photos we took in Salamanca. 

After Salamanca we visited Avila and Segovia on the way back to Madrid.  Again we were impressed at how picturesque they were.  The only downside was the weather - it was freezing and I hadn't packed enough winter woollies for the trip - I got plenty of wear out of the two (only two!!) cardigans that I did take. 

Here are the pics. 

We then spent four nights in Madrid.  We explored Madrid and its wonderful art galleries.  The Prado is so impressive - it would have been possible to spend more time there but we wanted to see as much of Madrid as possible.  We loved the many plazas - each had its own character and atmosphere.  From Madrid we also visited Aranjuaz, Chinchon and Toledo.  Fortunately, when we got to Madrid the temperature improved and I was able to shed the scarf and jacket.  However, by Friday and Toledo the rain set in and it went cold again!

Here are the pics. 

It was an amazing experience - a great birthday treat - one I'll always remember.  Now after all that excitement I need a rest!!

Hello Everyone

I've just got back from a wonderful holiday in Spain.  I'll write more about this shortly and share photos. 

I'll also respond to the many comments I have received over the past week as quickly as I can - until then, I had better start unpacking the suitcases!

Easter Cards and Cakes

I had fun making these colourful cards for my girls for Easter. 

They are a patchwork of fancy papers with two strips of punched lace and a few little bits and pieces. 

I've also made them some quick cakes -topped with mini eggs. 

Very sweet and tasty. 
Have a nice Easter everyone.

Freshly Baked Bread

I've just baked some bread and the smell is so delicious.

It must be lunchtime by now!!!

Stash Basket

This crochet pattern for a basket for your stash is a great idea. 

It's generously sized and very easy to make. 

The pattern is available free from Purl Bee and uses worsted weight yarn.  I used aran weight yarn from my stash.  I wasn't sure if I would have enough of one colour to finish the basket so I used Rowan aran in Blood for the base and Stylecraft aran in cranberry for the sides and handles.  I used approximately 300 metres of yarn for the whole basket.   

Very useful and a great way to use up bits and pieces - it would also look good striped. 

The Arrival of the Easter Bunnies

Easter weekend is fast approaching and it's time for the Easter bunnies, chicks and eggs to come back out of storage.  Here are some of them.

Now to arrange them around the house for a nice jolly Easter.  No doubt the collection will be added to again.

Cropped Cardi Finished

Well it only took just over a week but I've finished my mohair cropped cardi. 

The pattern is from Designer Knitting magazine S/S10.  The pattern is for three-quarter length sleeves but I didn't have enough yarn for this so settled for short sleeves instead.  I must say I'm very happy with the short sleeves I think they work well on the cardi. 

The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn but I used 4 ply mohair used double throughout.  I used Patons UK Misty which comes in 25g balls - using a total of 7 balls. 

Nice and quick to knit with an interesting pattern - it will make a lovely cover up for the summer evenings.

Cute Little Bluebird

Grace is constantly searching Ravelry for interesting patterns - I'm sure she's supposed to be revising for her exams!  The other day she spotted this pattern for a cute little bluebird.  I thought I would knit it up for her as a surprise. 

The pattern is by Berroco and is available free here.  The bird is only about 3 inches tall.  I used aran weight yarn but the pattern calls for worsted weight yarn so should result in a smaller bird. 

I made the beak of my bird shorter and fatter than the pattern because when I originally knitted it up, it didn't look right.  The new beak fits just perfectly.  The body is knitted in the round - so no seams.  The wings and tail follow the same pattern.  Quite quick to knit and very cute. 

Delicious

We're just about to sit down with a cup of tea and some of these lovely biscuits I have made. 

They're chocolate sandwiches, filled with chocolate butter cream.  Mmmm delicious.

Raine Finished

Here is the lovely black cardi I have just finished. 

The pattern is Raine by Kim Hargreaves from the book Cherished. 

As always with Kim's patterns it is really well written and clear to follow.  The styling of the cardi is great.  Double breasted with 4 buttons, a lace edged peplum and a double rib pattern up the front. It's beautifully fitted around the waist. 

The pattern is knitted in double knitting weight yarn - I used Sirdar Balmoral in Butler Black.  Full details can be seen on my Ravelry page here.

I am madly in love with this yarn at the moment.  Last year I knitted  Bea in pink Balmoral.  I have worn it so many times and it has retained it's shape and there has been no bobbling.  It has a lovely expensive feel to it even though it is very reasonably priced.  At the moment Black Sheep Wools have a sale on - the Balmoral is only £1.68 a ball.  I've bought as much as I thought I could get away with - so I've got plenty to keep me going for a while. 

A Weekend of Sports

We have quite a few interesting days for watching sport on the television this weekend. 

In the morning it's the qualifying session for the second Formula 1 race of the season from Malaysia.  Lunchtime sees a televised football match between Everton and Wolves.  In the afternoon it's the Grand National (not that I enjoy seeing those poor horses falling over the high fences).  In the evening it's day 3 of the Masters golf tournament from Augusta. 

Sunday morning is the Formula 1 race and Sunday evening is the final round of the golf tournament. 

With all this wonderful sport to watch I need to carefully plan my knitting (sitting and doing nothing else is completely out of the question - I can't sit still that long).  I am just sewing up a lovely black tailored cardi that I had put to one side while I knitted Eve's cardi.  I'll be able to show you pictures shortly.  So now I am excited about a lovely cropped cardi in one of my many magazines.

It's from the Spring/Summer 2010 edition of Designer Knitting.  The pattern calls for Worsted weight mohair yarn.  I'm using some 4 ply mohair from my stash but knitting it doubled.  Here's what I've done so far. 

The pattern has three quarter length sleeves.  I would quite like to have full length sleeves but I've started panicking about the amount of yarn I have.  The length of the sleeves will depend on how much yarn I have - it may well end up sleeveless!  We'll just have to see how it goes. 

Enjoy your weekend - even if you're not watching any sport.

Afternoon Tea

The school holidays have begun.  Eve is busy studying and revising for her ever nearing exams.  So we treated ourselves with a little afternoon tea. 

I made cheese scones (delicious when straight from the oven), dainty sandwiches and lots of cranberry chocolate muffins.  Don't worry we didn't eat all the muffins - we saved a few for when the others get home!

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day.

Here are the cards I made for my Mum and Mother-in-Law.

I hope all Mums everywhere have a wonderful day today.

Pot of Primroses

PDF version
This dainty little pot of primroses stands less than 3 inches tall. It is made using mostly thread weight yarn and each flower is decorated with a few beads in the centre. The pattern could be adjusted to make a larger pot by varying the yarn weight and the size of the pot used.

A translation of this pattern into Spanish is available here, thanks to Ana for this. 

I used:

Anchor crochet cotton in brown, green, yellow and pink, plus a small amount of double knitting weight yarn in brown for the soil.

A selection of seed beads in pink and green.

Hooks – 1.5mm and 3.5mm.

Row marker

Small plastic plant pot (mine measured 2 inches high).

PATTERN

English terms used

dc (English) = sc (American)

htr (English ) = hdc (American)

tr (English) = dc(American)

dtr(English) = tr(American)

POT

With brown crochet cotton and 1.5mm hook make 2 chain.

1st round: 6 dc into 2nd chain from hook. Join with a slip st into 1st dc.

2nd round: 1 ch, 2 dc into same stitch as chain, [2 dc into next dc] 5 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (12 dc)

3rd round: 1 ch, 2 dc into same stitch as chain, 1 dc into next dc, [2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into next dc] 5 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (18 dc)

4th round: 1 ch, 2 dc into same stitch as chain, 1 dc into next 2 dc, [2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into next 2 dc] 5 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (24 dc)

5th round: 1 ch, 2 dc into same stitch as chain, 1 dc into next 3 dc, [2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into next 3 dc] 5 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (30 dc)

6th round: 1 ch, 2 dc into same stitch as chain, 1 dc into next 4 dc, [2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into next 4 dc] 5 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (36 dc)

Keep increasing 6 dc in each round until your work covers the base of the pot. I worked up to a total of 48 dc in the round.

Next round: 1ch, 1 dc into back loop of same stitch as chain, 1 dc into the back loop only of each stitch to end, sl st into first dc.

Place a row marker at the start of the round. Using the plastic plant pot as a guide, work in a spiral so that the work fits cosily over the pot. Increase as before as and when it is needed. I eventually increased to a total of 66 dc and completed 28 rounds. Continue working until 2 rounds beyond the top of the pot have been completed.

Next round: 1ch, 1 dc into back loop of same stitch as chain, 1 dc into the back loop only of each stitch to end, sl st into first dc. This forms the fold line for the top of the pot.

Work one more row without any increases. Fasten off leaving a long tail. Fold over to form the lip of the pot and use the long tail end to slip stitch this in place.

SOIL

For this I used dark brown double knitting weight yarn and a 3.5mm hook.

Work as given for the base of the pot until it reaches the size of the top of the pot. Fasten off.

FLOWERS

With pink crochet cotton and 1.5mm hook make 2 chain.

1st round: 6 dc into 2nd chain from hook. Join with a slip st into 1st dc. Break off pink and join in yellow.

2nd round: 1 ch, 1 dc into same stitch as chain, [2 ch, 1 dc into next dc] 5 times, 2 ch. Sl st into 1st dc. (6 spaces)

3rd round: 1 ch, [1 dc, 2 ch, 3 tr, 2 ch, 1 dc] into each 2 ch space, sl st into 1st dc. Fasten off.

Make enough flowers to cover the soil so that their edges overlap slightly. I made a total of 6 flowers.


LEAVES

With green crochet cotton and 1.5mm hook make 2 chain.

1st round: 6 dc into 2nd chain from hook. Join with a slip st into 1st dc.

2nd round: 1 ch, 2 dc into same stitch as chain, [2 dc into next dc] 5 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (12 dc)

3rd round: 1ch, 1dc in same stitch as chain, 1dc in next dc, 1 htr in next dc, (1 tr, 1 dtr, 1 tr) all in next dc, 1 htr in next dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc, 1 htr in next dc, (1 tr, 1 dtr, 1 tr) all in next dc, 1 htr in next dc, 1 dc in last dc, join with a sl st into 1st dc.

I made four leaves in total to sit around the edges of the pot.

MAKING UP

Neaten all loose ends. Sew 5 seed beads into the centre of each flower. Arrange the leaves and flowers onto the soil and stitch in place.

With the plastic pot inside the crocheted pot, stuff the pot with something that will give it some weight and fill the pot to the brim. I used an old sock (clean of course!).

Slip stitch the soil piece to the inside rim of the crocheted pot, just above the rim of the plastic pot.

Place your pot on display, stand back and let it be admired.

Mothers' Day Approaches

It's Mothers' Day on Sunday.  I made this little pot of primroses for my Mum.  It's only about 3 inches tall - very dainty.

Everything is crocheted, including the pot, using thread weight yarn

The primroses have pink and green beads in the centres.
I'll type up the pattern shortly and post it soon.

Made in Dagenham

We saw the film Made in Dagenham at the cinema when it first came out.  We loved it - great 1960s fashion. 
Now it's out on DVD - and our copy has just arrived in the post. 

Pull up the sofa - bring out the snacks and fizzy drinks - we have our evening planned!