Saturday Voice - Roving Reproter Elaine!

On Saturday 16 November l spent a few hours up at Hobbycraft with Lyn raising money for Children in Need.  I baked some cupcakes and using various colours of icing donated by the store l made a sample and then invited any children visiting the store to come and decorate a cake to look like Pudsey Bear.  The demonstration went very well with children of all ages having a go, concentrating so hard, with some being very particular indeed with their decoration.  Lyn also invited the children to try their hand at making beaded bracelets which were very colourful indeed.  The kids seemed to enjoy themselves and in the process helped to raise over £200 for Children in Need - a fantastic achievement!

Janice - November Member of the Month

1. Tell us three things about yourself we might not know.

I am currently doing the discovery award, I'm a Clydesider which is a volunteer for the Common Wealth Games, I was with the air cadets for 5 years even though I hate flying. I have been up in two seater planes thanks to that.

2. Who taught you your first craft?

I learned to knit at school. We had to knit a teddy bear. Everything else has been self taught as my mum didn't do any of these things.

3. What finish are you most proud of?

The t-shirt quilt. I had figured out how to do it before seeing these things on the Internet. Once I was finished I swore I was never doing another quilt that big.

4. What has been your biggest crafting disaster?

Someone bought me a spitfire cross stitch. I got lost doing it and it's still lying there unfinished.

5. What other crafts do you do?

Quilting, sewing and cross stitch.

6. Your list of favourites;

Favourite yarn -  DK
Favourite desgins -  aran
Favourite colours -  creams and purples
Favourite shop - the habidashery down at the forge market
Favourite online shop - ebay
Favourite craft book - essential sampler

7. What would you like to achieve in the future?

I want a big patchwork quilt for myself. I have started already and have a few squares done. Got quite a few to go.

8. What do you like to watch or listen to while crafting?

CSI

9. What words of advice would you give a beginner?

If at first you don't succeed try youtube. Or try here which is even better (knitting group).

10. What craft would you like to learn in the future?

Crochet, it was actually my intention to learn when I first started coming to knitting group. I would also like to learn to knit socks.

11. What are you working on at the moment?

I am working on some patchwork. Doing the squares for that big quilt that I want.

Happy Birthday!

Not our birthday this time. It was the birthday of lovely Noreen. Jean had brought along a cake which we brought out and sang to her. Much to poor Noreen's mortification! We hope she had a lovely evening though.

Margaret is knitting some baby items for a friend and finished this lovely baby hat and cardigan set.

I finished a sock. No, not socks, a sock. Magdalena asked me if I would mind knitting up the partner to a sock she had done herself. It had been so long she couldn't remember how. I was rather pleased that I managed to get them to match.

Lisa crocheted these beautiful baby blankets. The white, pink and orange is done in her own yarn so needless to say it's my favourite. She did this whilst waiting in the car doing the school run.

A number of you may remember this. It is in fact the logo to Magdalena's Stitching A Rainbow. For those of you who might not know, Magdalena makes children's quilts to order. This quilted logo is perfect for those gorgeous quilts.

She also finished her mood scarf. I am more than a little bit in love with this. The idea behind it was that each day she had to crochet a row. The colour she picked out had to match her mood. Hence, a mood scarf. It was doing this that Magdalena learned how to do crochet without the foundation row. The reason being that she didn't want the foundation to be classed as one row since she was only to do one each day. She also used variegated yarn as she said that her mood would change through out the day. The end result is gorgeous. Although Jill did say it would possible be interesting for a psychologist to analyse.

Esther had another finish and it only took some wheedling for myself to get her to show it. Her granddaughter is going to be the best dressed with all these cardigans and sets she is knitting up. This latest is gorgeous. Love the fan pattern and it is certainly beautifully knitted.

This beautiful hat belongs to Kathleen. I love the style of these hats and Kathleen always adds a little something to the front to make it extra special. Kathleen is thinking of having a go at craft fairs eventually. In the meantime though she is going to start up her own facebook page. So look out for that.

Jean has also been busy. This time for Christmas. She knitted this angel which came free with one of the knitting magazines. I love the detail. These angels definitely have character.

Stephanie has been back at the sewing again. She stitched up this lovely patchwork bag. The colours go so well together and it looks fab. Definitely something to be proud of.

You might think you have seen these socks before and in a way you are right. These are slightly smaller than the pair I showed a few weeks ago knitted by the lovely Isabel. This pair is going to her smaller grandson for Christmas. Her grandsons loved the fact that she had knitted herself Christmas socks and asked for some of their own. Hence Isabel's knitting frenzy.

This gorgeous blanket was done by Elaine. I love how a simple granny square can look so different just by switching to variegated yarn. Each of these squares look so different as a result and the effect is fab.

Despite being unwell last week Audrey has been busy. She finished stitching the gorgeous Santa cross stitch. Just in time for the Christmas season.

In getting ready for winter Audrey has also finished knitting up this scarf and hat. The scarf is beautifully done in lace knitting. Whereas the had is a lovely, chunkier knit.

If you were lucky enough to make the Christmas craft day you would have been able to take part in Izzi's lavender sachet lesson. She brought along a shoe box full of lavender sachets she had made up with the leftovers. These are so lovely and they smell amazing. Izzi was selling these ones to contribute to Lyn's charity. Alas they all sold out to the group within seconds.

You might remember Laura's hat from a few weeks ago. She has knitted up another one in reverse colours. I just love the design. I also discovered that Laura is charting her own fair isle design. I look forward to seeing that.

She also knitted herself a scarf. I love the colours and love that it starts with and ends with the same colour pattern. It's also extremely soft and cosy.

I have also been asking people what their bucket list for next year is. That basically means, what do they want to achieve next year. So each week I am going to post a wee list of what people say.

Isabel - love to learn to do traditional embroider and finish my advent calendar.

Elaine - Finish a cross stitch I started when Amy was 4. I also want to do something with Sashiko

Margaret - Finish the fairy cross stitch I started at Gartmore and the Christmas cushions from a few years back. I also want to try Japanese folded quilting.

Karen - I want to learn how to make a mug rug and learn to do tunisian crochet

Audrey - I plan to learn to do cables and to crochet better

Dawn - I want to make a granny square blanket for myself and socks for myself. Next year I plan to make things for myself for a change.

There will be more of that next week. I also did our member of the month interview. So look out for what Janice has to say as well as some photo's of her fabulous work.

Visitors!

You know the weather has turned when evreyone starts knitting hats and scarves for themselves. I keep thinking that it is too soon for this change in weather and then remember that it's mid November. While I am in denial Anthea has been busy with the needles. She finished these beautiful cowls. I do love a chunky knit and the large buttons are lovely. The first cowl is Antheas second shot at giving cables a go. I think we might have a cable addict and as someone who also loves them I heartily approve such an addiction.

Cowls aren't the only thing she has been working on. She also finished this lovely autumn scarf. Autumn colours are really a hit this year and these ones are beautiful. She also finished another baby blanket with some very chunky yarn. This was knitted up using 20mm needles.

Anthea isn't the only one developing her skills. Stephanie too has been hard at work. This lovely glass panel quilt is the most difficult piece Stephanie has attempted to date. She says she will never make anything like it again but I am sure she will be talked into it. It's far too pretty not to be repeated.

She has also been sticking to her safety area in terms of sewing. She made these lovely pencil cases for her grandchildren. Stephanie likes to make a lot of their Christmas presents because they seem to get a kick out of it (and who wouldn't appreciate a handmade gift from Stephanie). Despite the bright colours of the girly cases I am drawn to the one at the bottom.

Janice also had the sewing machine out. This beautiful project purse was the result of Saturday. Helen missed this one (it was a busy day) so I got to photograph this, mwa ha ha ha. I have to say that I am a little bit in love with the fabric.

I am also mightily jealous of another finish. I LOVE mug rugs. I am constantly pinning them on pinterest. Our Janice has tried her hand at them and you can see how fabulous they look in the photo above. This is definitely going on next years bucket list. Speaking of which, I am going to be going round people and asking them what is on their bucket list for next year. Will speak to a few people each week.

Jean also knitted this beautiful cushion. I seriously wanted to pinch it. I also know another Westie loving member who would have snatched it from poor Jean had she seen it. It's adorable and beautifully knitted up. The colours are lovely too. The back sets the whole thing off which was knitted up in stripes and fastened with large blue buttons.

This is why I need to start taking notes. I am positive though that both of these projects were knitted up by new member Sandra. Beautifully done too. I love the little motif on the hat. Sandra actually joined us a few weeks ago and this is the first finish she has brought along to the group. Welcome Sandra!

This is where I give our Esther into trouble! She doesn't like to show off her projects. Poor Noreen has to do it for her. I know anyone else who knitted up this gorgeous cardigan would want to shout out about it. From now on Esther has promised me not to hold back on us. I am trusting everyone to make sure she sticks to that promise otherwise we won't get to see the gorgeous baby clothes she is knitting up for her granddaughter.

Roberta has also been knitting in pink. She has been using variegated yarn. We all love a variegated yarn. It has such an impact on a pattern and can change the look quite drastically. You can see that here with the white stripes through out the cardigan. I also love the cables up the front and up the sleeves.

Lyn is someone else who is being sensible and preparing for winter. Although none of these hats are for her. The reason I am showing off the ball band from the yarn she used is that it's a little bit different. They yarn is supposed to glow in the dark. A small test was done by Lyn and the hats didn't quite glow but I don't think the setting was the best. Even if they don't glow in the dark they still look fab.

Our Lisa will probably have a go at me for this but every time she brings in a custom hook for someone I HAVE to take a photograph of it. These hooks are just too good. All three of these are impressive. As a geek the R2D2 one calls out to me. However, look at the sparkly Christmas tree! I got a photo of that one on the sly as I understand that it's a one off custom hook. This cheek wee elephant was a mistake. He was supposed to be blue rather than purple. Look how cute he is though!

Speaking of Lisa, I got her socks finished using her yarn. The colourway is called rainbow bright if anyone is interested and knits up beautifully. Lisa was delighted with them. We are quite a loud bunch but there has been occasional dances of joy around the room. This is perhaps the first time I have seen someone jump up on a chair.

As the title suggests we also had a couple of visitors. The first was this adorable puppy which was passed around the room. The poor thing must have been terrified but everyone was dying to get a cuddle. He belongs to a friend of Fee's so was a one time visitor.

The lovely Tracy was also back. She was unable to come along last time due to ill health but made it on Tuesday. It's always nice to have her along and not just because she does nails. Nail art is just another side of creativity and everyone is just as fascinated by her skills.

Both Isabel and Roberta walked out with beautiful nails thanks to Tracy.

Whew, that post was a long one and I suspect that's going to be the norm up until Christmas. Speaking of which, we are having a small Christmas party on the 3rd December. Everyone is to bring along a wrapped gift worth no more than £5. It's part of a game thought up by the lovely Elaine. There will also be food and goodies so don't eat too much. Our last day will then be on the 10th. This is just because of difficulty parking. We will be back on the 7th January. Don't worry, I will remind everyone.

Oh, and this week I will be interviewing Janice for November member of the month.