Bucket Lists and Festive Knits!

We were back to our usual busy evening last week. Was nice to see so many come along, especially since we finish up soon. Quite a few people were hastily working on projects for Christmas as the time has been flying in.

Helen though, has been steadily working on her quilting. She finished this beautiful stained glass window piece. If you look back to last week Stephanie said that she was never doing another one of these. Helen said the same thing. How long do you think before either of them cave or move onto something even more complex?

While we are all awaiting Christmas, Helen is awaiting another arrival. She knitted up these beautiful cardigans and hats for a friend who is expecting her first baby. The designs are gorgeous!

Roberta has been back into the crochet. She made this beautiful large granny square blanket. I love the fact that it's mainly white with small hints of colour through it. I am hoping that my memory is correct and that she is keeping this for herself. I know I would be keeping it if it was me.

Roberta also knitted up this lovely elf. I feel festive just looking at him. The pattern was from one of this months knitting magazines. I think it's one of Alan Darts patterns (looks like an Alan Dart pattern).

Margaret had some yarn left over from another knitting project. She decided to use it to knit this lovely hat and cardigan set. I love the little apple buttons. They go perfectly with the set. This will be passed on to the hospice charity shop in the new year. Margaret plans to knit a few more items before handing it over.

Elaine has done a first for our group. These festive little jumpers are for dogs! I love a Christmas jumper so I'm not lying when I say that I am jealous of whatever dog gets to wear them. Think the snowflakes are my favourite.

Noreen is working on a project for a neighbours little girl. She is getting a boy doll for her Christmas. Turns out boy dolls clothes are hard to come by. So the lovely Noreen is making some (which will be far superior to shop bought anyway). These adorable dungarees are the first of a few items she plans to knit. I love the wee pocket on the front.

Stephanie picked up this yarn online. She liked the look of it and thought it would make an unusual scarf. It doesn't have a brand name and just comes as you see it in the first photo. Sadly Stephanie spent the entire night trying to unfankle it with the help of the lovely Janice. Even then she still had a bit to go by the end. I am sure though that it will look amazing when knitted up.

It's also that time of year when the Christmas fairs start. Magdalena had her first one on Saturday there and from what I hear it went very well. Elaine and Norma are sharing a table this Saturday (7th December). It will take place at Airdrie Town Hall from 11am to 2pm. So if you want to pick up some special gifts pop along.

I managed to get a few more bucket lists from people too which I will list in a second. Tuesday 3rd December is our Christmas party. There will be prizes, nibbles and a secret Santa game. It's always good fun and I will actually be able to make it along this time. The last time was at our first Christmas party. Should be a good night although busy. We finish up the following week and I will be able to squeeze in our last member of the month interview before we break up. Don't fret though as we are back on the 7th January.

Helen - Next year I plan to learn to crochet so that I can use my shiny new hook. I also want to make mug rugs and to do a bit more Sashiko

Yvonne - I want to learn to crochet, to knit socks and to knit mitts

Roberta - I plan to learn to knit socks and to knit some Santa slippers (slippers with Santa's on them and not slippers for Santa in case you are like me and wondered).

Ally - I plan to finally do something with the James C. Brett mohair that has been lying there for a good few months.

Caroline - Finish Ally's 50th birthday present (Ally's 50th was this year).

Izzi - I would quite like to take a course in millinery. I don't wear hats but I used to enjoy making dolls hats.

Fingers crossed I get more bucket lists from people this week.

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.