Desk

Panic knitting

It's the first birthday of my friend's baby girl tomorrow, so I decided what she would really love is a Baby Surprise Jacket. I dug out my copy of the Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmerman, and trotted off to the LYS for some appropriate yarn. I then duly cast on on sunday, and have managed to do about 3 inches worth of garter stitch so far. The thing is, I think I may have left it a bit late. I've got well over two thirds of the thing left to knit, not to mention the blocking time, and its her birthday tomorrow. Which probably means knitting til midnight tonight.

I even got up early this morning to do a few rows in the hope that even a few minutes knitting here and there would help overcome this huge Baby Surprise Mountain.

Nothing like working to a deadline!

:)

Ravelry

Oh my goodness I just got my invitation to Ravelry! Squeeeeee!!!

X

The Great Winter Coat Hunt

I've been on the lookout for a new winter coat for ages. Since last winter in fact, when there was just nothing out there that suited my shape and would last for more than a couple of seasons fashion-wise.
I was trawling various ladies fashion sites yesterday, looking for inspiration - I had in mind a nice military-style, high collared long jacket, perhaps with a belt or epaulettes, but all I could find were big shapeless sacks and pretty little things with bracelet sleeves and smock fronts - cute but entirely impractical for a UK winter. I also want something I can wear in Paris in the spring when Mr B and I go over for a long weekend, so it had to be chic darlings.
I was becoming distracted by work so almost gave up my search when it occurred to me to check out the Belstaff website. Of course, my search was over as soon as I saw the Barkston Cloak. (Unfortunately its a flash site so I can't paste a photo...) It is glorious - dark grey wool with a belt, high collar, front pockets and great voluminous cape sleeves.

Unfortunately for me, its £400.

*sigh*

So the search goes on for something I don't have to re-mortgage my house to buy!

BF

New entries and non-movers in the knit parade

Its about now that I should probably introduce Mr Bullfinch to the proceedings. He's a dapper chap, and finds my creative outbursts rather charming and a source of gentle novelty. He's also lately realised the value of having a knitter in the house, and commissioned me for a number of articles for his wearing delight, including a hat.

I've been reading a number of craft blogs for a while now, secretly lurking and shying away from the comments sections - I am awfully shy about posting comments to complete strangers, I get that quintessentially English sense of awkwardness when confronted with the opportunity for such public engagements. But I am there, and I have picked up an untold wealth of information and inspiration from fellow knitters and crafters through this medium - for which I am deeply grateful. A recent addition to my list of bookmarked blogs is Brooklyn Tweed, who has turned me on to Elizabeth Zimmermann and also written a fabulous pattern for a hat (Red Light Special) which would suit Mr Bullfinch just dandy. So after much rummaging through yarn, changing my mind at least 3 times about needle size, yarn gauge, colours, etc, I finally cast on yesterday afternoon. I envisage this being quite a long slow knit as its not very portable with 3 balls of yarn in use at any one time, so it will be for home knitting only, but hopefully will be ready before the end of the month when I leave poor Mr B on his own for a week. Pics and a rundown of the process will be posted on completion.

Also in progress: monkey socks and my so-called scarf, both stalled in favour of the boy's hat. More work will take place on them today.

Chin chin
BF

Eureka moment #1

OMG I've just discovered how to knit in the round on two circs... why have I never done this before?!!!

BF

On the Needles and On the Horizon

As a complete swot, I've already started my Yule knitting, and even finished one piece - a pair of socks. I loved the pattern so much (Monkey) that I'm now making another pair for myself, in Colinette's Jitterbug in the marble colourway.

Also on the needles is a version of My So-Called Scarf in some lovely purple / olive / grey shade of Manos. I'm planning a possible hat to go with it as I've got 5 skeins. Not sure whether to gift it or keep it, we shall see how much I love the finished article!

In the planning stage, there is a clapotis for my rambling husband, in some lovely bluey cashmere from Axelle. Also 2 Baby Surprise Jackets for current babies of best friends, and a pair of bootees for the future baby of another friend (admittedly not due for about 6 months, but if I don't knit them now I never will). I'm also planning assorted hats and slipper socks but they are very much in the conceptual stages at the moment.

Meanwhile, here's a picture of the quilt I made in the summer.

Juno the Hare

This is Juno, my first attempt at making a stuffed animal. He is knit on one side (Lorna's Laces shepherd sport in 'flames') and fabric on the other side (some Amy Butler quilting fabric I think).
I made his tail by wet felting a ball of felting wool, and sewed on a button for his eye. He was a gift for my friend's baby who was born in September.

To begin again

Its not like this is the first blog I've started. In fact there have been 3 or 4 in various guises, but this time I mean it. This time I'll put in the effort, update regularly, post photos, maybe even have one or two readers after a while.

This time I've realised why I want to have a blog - not just as an online diary to record what i'm doing and thinking at any one time, but also as a catalogue of my creative work and the processes behind that creativity. I imagine being able to see the threads weaving from idea to finished product, and to grasp them and bring them together to form a more coherent body of creative work, to see the themes running through my work, and the progress I make from one piece to another.

So here we go, the inaugural post. I'll post some pictures of various things when I figure out the best way to do so.

chin chin

Bullfinch