Peterborough

Just got back from a pleasant weekend spent in Peterborough.

We had to take Eve back to Cambridge on Friday so we decided to make a little holiday of the trip.  Peterborough is about an hour's drive from Cambridge so after we had unloaded Eve at university we drove back up to our hotel.

The weather was kind to us and we had a very relaxing time there.  Here's what we saw...

The Cathedral

Very impressive

An Antony Gormley statue

These iron men get everywhere - maybe Antony Gormley is planning to take over the world with them.

Katherine of Aragon's burial place

The red fruit placed on her tomb are pomegranates - these were her symbol - and people leave them, along with flowers, as a tribute to her.

Cathedral Square looks quite continental

The River Nene

Catching the sun in the Cathedral precincts

Edwardian costume display at the museum

This dress is actually from the Television series, Downton Abbey, it was worn by Elizabeth McGovern who plays Cora, Countess of Grantham.

A lovely weekend, and now back at home feeling recharged and ready to go!

Fair Isle Wrist Warmers

Typical - just as I make myself some lovely snug wrist warmers, and type up the pattern to share with you, the weather starts to improve.

Nevertheless, these wristlets are so pretty, they will look good whatever the weather.

They are lined with lovely soft Rowan Cashsoft 4 ply and the Fair Isle in knitted with Rowan Fine Tweed.  I used a total of nine different colours for the Fair Isle.  Just small amounts needed so it is an ideal project for using up small bits and bobs.

The pattern uses a number of techniques, including knitting in the round, Fair isle, provisional cast on and picot cast off.

The pattern is available as a free PDF download, here.

You can see full details of the finished project over on my Ravelry page, here.

Delphine - Finished

At the start of the year, I seemed to have lost my enthusiasm for cardigan knitting!  Usually I have a number of cardigan projects on the go - with numerous others on the wish list.  But January and February saw a lack lustre attitude to cardigan patterns - a seriously worrying trend.

Thankfully, I have now recovered from this temporary situation.  Hot off the needles is Delphine.

This is a Kim Hargreaves pattern from the book Winter Blooms.  It is a fitted cardigan, with cabled panels in between double moss stitch panels.  It has a curved peplum with a lovely nipped in waist and buttoned detailed on the wrists.

I used Sirdar Balmoral double knitting yarn in the shade 'school grey'.  Sadly this yarn is now discontinued.

The only modification I made to the pattern was to alter the neckline.  The original pattern has a round neckline but I felt that a small collar would suit the style better.

As with all Kim Hargreaves designs, the styling and fit are perfect.
Full details of this project can be seen on my Ravlery page, here.

And so, onwards and upwards - bring on the next cardigan pattern!

Sweet Little Birdie

Some time ago I bought a copy of this book...

Stitch and Sew Home by Eline Pellinkhof.

It's full of beautiful and inspiring projects.  Lovely photographs.

Although I'm not much of a sewing fiend, I have urges every now and then to make and create something beautiful.

Going with the flow, I couldn't resist making one of the sweet little birdies.

I decided to go with bright colours to give it some jolliness.

Lovely - urge now satisfied - back to the knitting and crocheting.

Mollie Makes - Farewell

The latest edition of Mollie Makes magazine has just come through the letterbox.

I have had a subscription to this magazine for the past year but this is the last edition I will receive as I will not be renewing the subscription.

The magazine was lovely and colourful, and at first, very inspiring, but after a few copies it became obvious that each month was predictably the same.

So as a final farewell to Mollie Makes I want to end on a positive note by highlighting the good things about the latest edition.

Firstly I like the idea of revamping an old T-shirt with crochet sleeves.

Eve loved this picture of a pug plushie.

Glorious yarn-bombing - I adore this idea.

And finally, cute idea for covering an old stool.

And it's - So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye.

Afternoon Tea

What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon, when it's cold outside, good company is inside and yummy cakes on the plate....

Lemon butterfly cakes, mini spicy fruit muffins and fudge brownies - the perfect afternoon tea.

Yarn-Bombing with Love

When Eve returned from University a few weeks ago, I decided to surprise her with some yarn-bombing in her bedroom.

I quickly crocheted up some hearts and hung them around her room.

I can't remember which pattern I used for the small red heart, but there are millions like it on Ravelry.

The large colourful hearts are from this pattern called Simple Sunburst Hearts by Bunny Mummy.  These were especially fun to make and would look good made into bunting.  I'm going to try her Sunburst Granny Hearts next.

So which room can I yarn-bomb next?

The Yellow Phase

It's lovely and sunny - gorgeous blue skies - but still horribly cold.


At the moment the garden is in its yellow phase - soon it will be the blue phase when the bluebells come out - but at the moment yellow dominates.  Such a jolly scene, I had to take pictures.

Even the weeds are yellow!

Whilst taking these pictures and trying to be artistic! I was visited by the neighbourhood cat (known in our household as 'Demon Cat') so I thought I'd take some photos of the demon - the cat had other ideas!

Oops, missed!

Not quite!

Nearly!

Not the best angle!

Finally a picture I can publish.

And then, having had sufficient cuddles, it's off home

- and back into the warm house for me.

Good for the Soul

Embroidery is good for the soul.  So relaxing, it can't be hurried, rushed or speeded up.

Just take your time and produce something that grows organically, an individual piece, unique and personal.

I made this for Eve's birthday recently.

I don't embroider as much as I used to - my eyesight is sadly very poor for close up work.

But once in a while it's lovely to sit back and paint some flowers with thread.  Now that it's getting lighter in the evenings, I may just find the time to indulge some more.