Quilts, hats, scarves and socks!

Stephanie was as pleased as  punch to show off her completed Quilt for Yorkhill Hospital. This is a charity run by Val Lennox and supported by the Village Patchers in Bishopbriggs. It provides quilts for seriously ill children. Stephanie had fun doing this one.

Roberta has been busy working on these two crocheted scarves and hat. She doesn't let the grass grow under her feet.

Karen has been developing her crochet skills by creating decorative edgings to display her completed cross-stitch projects. I am truly impressed with these. In a spare moment she also had time to rattle up a pair of socks and this lovely little baby blanket for the Yarnigans charity for premature babies. What a star!

Margaret just loves knitting baby garments. This lovely little jacket has such cute buttons to set it off.

Yvonne has used Rico Pompom yarn to create this cosy scarf.

Jean was delighted to show off this minaiture bag that she crocheted in cotton with size 11 seed beads done with 0000 needles. As an added extra she remembered to showcase this delicate beadwork bracelet.

Janice had a special request from her son to create a minion doll for his girlfriend for Valentine's Day. She adapted a pattern and was delighted with the end product. Janice has caught the sock knitting bug and has completed another pair of socks for herself.

Isabel loves loves to do colour work and is now passionate about socks. I love this colour combination.

Talented Magda was really pleased with the way this cowl worked out. The yarn was from B & M.

I wondered where this photograph had gone! This is the book that Noreen is using at the moment to knit more baby clothes.

Anthea has been in a hat mood recently. The grey hats she crocheted for her daughters and the little pink and white hat is for the Yarnigans charity. Anthea has also completed a colourful slouchy peaked hat and scarf for herself. Her last photograph is a tubular crochet hook case which she recently completed.

Fiona completed this trendy poncho while she was at the group on Tuesday night. The wrist warmers she made for Lisa.

Zuzanna is following in her mother's footsteps! Learning new skills beautifully. Here she has crocheted blocks for a baby blanket for the Yarnigans charity. I can't wait until it is finished. It will be stunning!

Janet is a new member to our group. She brought along samples of handmade soaps that she had made with her children. The soaps are chemical  free and good for skin conditions. The soaps were Lavender, Sea Breeze, Coconut and Sesame seeds, Sesame and Mustard powder and my favourite, Peppermint. Janet kindly donated these samples as a prize for the raffle. No fighting now, you can get a raffle ticket with you display any of your completed projects.

Just as the evening drew to a close, Magda completed this amazing baby blanket for the Yarnigans charity. Stunning!

Anyone who wants their nails done next week please let Elaine know so she can tell Tracy.

Our group charity, knitting Hats and Balaclavas for sea-farers ends on June 24th 2014. Plenty of time to knit two or three hundred! Each completed donation enters you into a special raffle so get knitting.

It's a Wrap!

So a few months ago Helen started up giving raffle tickets to people who completed projects. Each month there is a lucky dip and the chance to win a wee prize. Isabel won the November dip but she was away. Back for her last day we re-enacted the moment.

Seriously, the stage is missing a truly great actress. Isabel was delighted to be a winner and was lucky enough to pick out a ball of yarn that will knit up into one of these fancy scarves. Isabel does love a scarf (even if she loses them) so it was good that she picked out something that she would use. Helen was the December winner and picked out a pin cushion.

Janice has been going to quilting classes for a good few weeks now. It's with the class she has been learning to do her large squares to make a quilt for herself. She also learned to make these beautiful glass-stained Christmas hangings. The Christmas tree was the one she was taught in class. As she had some Christmas fabric she decided to make another and designed the stocking herself. Very impressive.

Janice also has a new addition to the family. Her son recently got engaged. Not wanting her to feel left out she has made her future daughter in law this lovely Christmas stocking.

Her son also couldn't be missed out and she made him these Christmas minions. These were actually requested by her son. Love the bells on the tops of the hats.

Norma has been busy working on a commission. A friend of hers asked her to make a crochet bag. The bag was to be done in cotton and Norma isn't a fan of crocheting in cotton. However she managed to get it finished. I think it looks stunning. The lining matches the colours exactly. If her friend isn't happy with it I know a good home which would happily take it in!

Norma seemed to have a finish every five minutes on Tuesday. These beautiful baby blankets are for a friend and she finished them on our last evening. The deep pink is my favourite. The boldness of the pink is set off by the black edging. It makes a nice change from lots of pastels.

Fiona also had a finish. She finished this gorgeous baby blanket for a friends wee boy. The yarn is super soft.  It will make a fabulous blanket but it can also see baby using it as a play matt. I love the little flecks of dark blue throughout.

Helen is making sure that she stays warm this winter. She knitted up this cowl so that she could wrap it beneath her jacket to stay warm. It can also stay on when the jacket comes off. Love the colours! Also it's nice to see Helen knit something for herself for a change.

Margaret has been busy too. Her last cross stitch card was revealed. She stitched this gorgeous owl card for myself. I do love an Owl. I may have to find a wee frame for it once Christmas is over so that I can hang it up next year.

She is also continuing with the baby knits until she uses up all her baby yarn. This is the latest cardigan to be done in the pink. Like the others she has done over the last few weeks, it is for the hospice charity shop.

I have also been busy getting Christmas presents ready. I needed help in thinking up something I could make for friends when Lisa suggested mug cosies. This is what I cam up with. I filled it with hot chocolate and chocolates. Then decorated it with a little cross stitch tag.

I also have the last of our bucket lists. If there is anyone I didn't get round to I apologise. It's been a busy few weeks. Plus there is always next year. This list is longer because I forgot to list some of the previous weeks. The lovely Helen went round asking the question this time as I was giving a little impromptu sock lesson.

Lyn - Learn to knit socks, dye yarn and finish the snowman I started a year ago. Also would like to do more sewing

Fee - learn to do more sewing, taking up knitting without tossing it and finish everything I have started

Fiona - try to move on from blankets and scarves and actually do something I have saved or bookmarked.

Lisa - knit socks, master amagurami

Carol - amagurami

Janice - knit socks and learn to crochet. Finish my quilt

Stephanie - learn to crochet, learn to do applique with Val

Noreen - knit socks and learn to crochet

Norma - learn to knit socks, learn to sew and quilting

Susan - I would love to learn tatting. I've seen it done on TV and I'd love to give it a try.

This post is over a week late but that's us done for the year. We are back on the 7th January. We are having a swap night then so bring any unwanted craft items and you might get inspiration or pick up something you like. I will also be starting sock lessons that night.

Until then I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and an amazing New Year!!!!!!

Minion Madness!

Minions have become a quick favourite of the group. Janice in particular is smitten. Or rather her grown up children are. She promised her son one and now they all want one. She personalised them by adding initials to their overalls. She even made a few girl minions.

This gorgeous pom pom baby blanket was knitted by Jean. She also made these cute little booties. The booties are meant for hanging on the hoods of prams. She has made them to sell at a coffee morning charity event. With projects like these it will definitely be a success.

The group always love to see new things even if it hasn't been made by someone they know. A friend of Elaine brought these bags back from a holiday. Knowing we would get a kick out of them she pinched them off him for the evening. Although an avid fan of owls I would find it difficult choosing between the two.

We also had another scarf for our scarf charity. This was donated by Isabel. She is fast becoming our biggest contributor.

I know it seems early but Elaine is organising Gartmore 2014. She is struggling for people to come forward with their deposits. If you intend to to go please hand in your deposit over the next week or two.