All About the Colours!

  

  

 

 First of all apologies for the lateness of this post. I have had computer problems. This is being posted from the university library (shhhh, don't tell anyone).

Our seafarers hat charity has gone off to a fantastic start. We had our first balaclava handed in thanks to Margaret. She also posed with it on but I didn't think she would appreciate me posting it. Roberta also got two hats done. She combined the leftovers from previous hats to make these stripey numbers. Think that's a fab idea, it uses up yarn and it makes them slightly more colourful (men like colour too people). Esther also handed in a hat for us. That's 7 hats and one balaclava already.

 

 Poor Norma had lost her crafting mojo until recently. She just finished this beautiful, hooded baby blanket. It's for a friend who is expecting. I love the stitch style. It almost reminds me of the blocks from tetris. The yarn is also super soft.

Norma's husband has also been busy. You might remember a photo similar to this before. This one was made for one of the ladies in the group who very much appreciated it.

After seeing Lisa's t-shirt rug last year I've been dying to have a go at making my own. I had wanted a red border but I couldn't get the shades of yarn I needed to finish it. So I had to make do with alternative. I'm happy with the outcome but not so happy with the yarn.

I also used some of the leftovers to make this basket. It's a little lopsided mind you but sturdy.

  

 

 How beautiful is this blanket? This was made by Stephanie. It's another quilted blanket going to Yorkhill. Some child is going to be delighted with this. I just adore the dinosaur material.

 

 Our Izzi might not have been well enough to come along to the group as often of late but that doesn't mean she hasn't been doing anything. This beautiful baby blanket is for a friend. The colours go wonderfully together and I love all the different fabrics that are used. So many lovely ones I don't know which is my favourite.

 How fab are these? She also quilted some bibs. Who isn't going to be delighted with them? They are so unique and yet useful too. I love the fact that they use velcro rather than ties.

Last but not least is the lovely dolls blanket. This is made up of little scraps of leftover fabric that have them been quilted onto backing fabric. I love the effect of it. On the evening Izzi was working on another one so we got to see her cutting leftovers and piecing them onto fabric.

Magdalena has got a new range for her stitching rainbow business. I love the fact that she started with quilts (which she still does) but is constantly developing her range. The latest are these notebook covers. I was lucky enough to be able to purchase the one at the bottom. I can't wait to start using it but will have to think of something special for it first. The larger one with the birds went to Isabel who bought it as a gift for a friend who is moving on to a new job.

Anthea has been decorating her youngests room. For a crafter of course, that never just means a lick of paint. You have to think about all the little accessories  that you get to hand make. This beautiful granny square blanket is one of them. I love how the squares were cleverly placed together to produce a gingham effect. 

Meanwhile Anthea has also found a new hobby - Spinning. She brought her spinning wheel along on Tuesday so that we could all see it at work. What you are seeing int he photo is exactly what we saw. A wonderful blur of colour. I imagine it would be quite therapeutic to do.

She also brought some of the yarns she spun. How fab are these? Imagine creating something and being able to say that you not only knitted or crocheted the item but you also spun the yarn to make it.

Our Donna has also been busy making things for little Abigail. She saw a Winnie the Pooh soft book on the internet. It came as a kit and you stitched it yourself. She was dying to have a go and thankfully Caroline was able to find the exact one that she was looking for. This is new even to our group.

She has also been making things for Abigail's room now that they have moved to a bigger house. She has made a few cushion covers but couldn't resist the Winnie the Pooh design. She also stitched a duvet cover. This will look fab when Abigail gets her big girl bed.

These are in progress but I couldn't resist taking some photo's. These are hand stitched nursery rhyme books which Donna got from America. Abigail already has her favourite nursery rhymes. With books like these it would be difficult not to have favourites.

On Tuesday Donna also took names for people wanting to learn to crochet, both beginners and intermediate. If you haven't put your name down please let Donna or myself know with some idea of what stitches or patterns you would like to learn. The sock class is starting to wind down. So hopefully there will soon be dates for when this class starts.

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!

Celebrating Finishes!

First of all an apology to Margaret. She knitted these beautiful baby cardigans. A few weeks ago she gave them to Helen so that they would go to the Hospice charity shop in Baillieston (who were delighted with them). However, I forgot to post the photo on the blog. This time it was my fault and the photo hadn't done a disappearing trick.

We are also celebrating finished projects again. Helen came up with a fantastic idea. Every time someone has a finish they are handed a raffle ticket. At the end of the month a ticket is drawn and they can pick out something from a lucky dip. So Tuesday night everyone was handed out raffle tickets. The prizes aren't big but some of them might be pretty and some might be useful. It's just nice to show appreciation for everyones talent now and then.

Margaret had a couple of finishes again on Tuesday. She is clearly preparing for winter. The cross stitch was actually a kit that Roberta was giving away. Margaret likes Santa's and immediately pounced on it. It looks good in the boxed frame. She also knitted these gorgeous mitts for her youngest. The yarn is chunky and super soft. She then spent Tuesday working on another Christmas cross stitch. This time a snowman.

Stephanie had a few finishes herself. She knitted up these beautiful baby items. All of which are off to the Hospice charity shop in Baillieston. The shop has actually asked to pass on their thanks for everyones generosity. They have loved all the baby clothes and the customers having been ooing over them too. Stephanie (along with June) was knitting scarves in an unusual yarn. Hopefully it won't be long before I can get a photo to show it off.

A friend of Helen's is expecting. She doesn't know the sex of the baby yet. So Helen is being prepared and is planning on knitting for both. This lovely baby boy cardigan is the first of many. Helen spent the evening working on some socks which will be a Christmas gift for another friend.

Fran finished this gorgeous baby blanket. Done in crochet and set off with a ribbon edging. It's more stunning in person and the yarn is lovely and soft. Helen decided that since Tuesday was the first night of giving out raffles it should also be the first night of selecting something from the lucky dip. Fran had the winning ticket and won herself a cross stitch pin cushion.

I had a couple of finishes too. I stitched this frog prince which was a kit that came with a book. I glued it into a hoop and attached some ribbon so that it could be hung from a hook. The socks I finished the week before. It's from the large spools of yarn from Roberta. These socks are for my sisters Christmas. I spent Tuesday interviewing Anthea and knitting up socks using yarn hand dyed by the lovely Lisa.

Look out for Anthea's member of the month interview in the next few days. I have added a new question. Magdalena suggested that we start listing what people are working on. This is something that was done back in the early days. However, with over 30 members I could be there all do. What I will do though is take some 'works in progress' photo's during evenings where there are few finishes. Not all, but a few.

Hooks and Needles at the Ready!

In case some of you haven't heard, Norma now has her own crafting studio which has been built for her. We have all been jealous of the photo's she has been posting. It is working too as she has managed to crochet these baby hats in a short period of time. So pretty and cute. The grey one is for Fiona who wanted one for her niece. The rest will be part of a collection Norma plans to sell at a craft fair. Someone has managed to talk her into having a stall at some point in the near future so her crochet hook has been busy. As soon as I find out the details I will pass them on.

A while back Val had come along to one of our craft days and taught us to do Sashiko quilting. We were all intrigued by it and a few of us planned to do more. However, Helen has been the only one who has managed it. She stitched this gorgeous bag and book cover. I love the book cover. My favourite has to be the bag. The white thread on black fabric is very striking. Helen got the designs from a book and they are beautifully done. Would love to have another go myself.

We have another dark horse in our midst. It would seem that Kathleen is another beader. She goes along to beading nights along with Jean. They recently went to a new one and Kathleen decided to bring along a couple of projects that had been lying around unfinished. These beautiful bracelets are the end result.

Fran has also been busy with her crochet hook. The blanket she had been working on in purple and green and her son is now the proud owner. It has already been much loved by Kyle and who can blame him. The vibrant green and purple are striking together. She also crocheted this lovely yoga bag. I had always seen these in mags but this is the first one I've seen done in person. It looks fab!

Fiona's sewing lessons have continued. This lovely dress is her latest project. She isn't 100% happy with it but I think it looks fantastic. The sequence round the band really sets it off. The straps are a little different in that they tie at the top. If it was me I would be proud of it.

Aileen has also got the sewing bug. Donna had recently sent round an email letting people know about a sewing maching offer she had seen. Aileen got herself a lovely little Singer sewing machine as a result. She brought it along to get some advice on setting it up to which Helen was more than happy to help. I can't wait to see what projects she whips up.

On Tuesday I did the August member of the month which I will post soon. Lyn was the latest victim. She brought in a few finishes to photograph for it. Along with that she also brought in some scarves for the charity. Isabel had also brought one along just to ensure she is in the lead.

Amilee was with us again on Tuesday. She kept herself thoroughly entertained by popping bubbles in some bubble wrap. I have to say I was a little jealous.

Speaking of Amilee, I'm not sure if I had posted this here. June had sent this photo to me a while ago. It shows Amilee not only enjoying her ice cream but wearing a jumper that June had knitted for her. Amilee had requested it and when it was finished she refused to wear it. Now she refuses to take it off. The fickle minds of toddlers.

We also had Tracy along again on Tuesday there. A few people once again had their nails done. Sadly I didn't get any photo's of them finished. I do know that Dawn had the Cath Kidston nail art. Tracy will be back along on the 27th.

Elaine is still waiting on people getting back to her in regards to their deposits for Gartmore. Please ensure you have it in over the next two weeks to ensure your place.

Remember to look out for Lyn's interview!

Oops, forgot to mention that there is a new edition under members blogs. Magdalena gave me the link to her personal blog. Lots of yummy images of her projects! http://www.megannismaking.blogspot.co.uk/

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.

Charities

Every year from 2009 we have done something to charity. I honestly don't remember who thought of this one but it's something we have all enjoyed taking part in. Plus the generosity of the group members has been amazing.

For our first charity we knitted up items for premature babies. They went to the local maternity hospital. I still remember how much everyone enjoyed knitting them. At one point we even had links here to some free preemie patterns.

 

In 2010 I had a list of suggestions and everyone voted for the charity they wanted to knit for. The Knit A Square charity one and I must have posted four huge bags out. The squares would later become blankets for children in orphanages. Everyone had fun with colour combinations and there were some gorgeous squares in there. Our top square donator was June who contributed over 100 squares. She became quite addicted to them.

Our Linda has taken part in the Shoebox Appeal for a few years now. It involves filling shoe boxes with goodies that get handed our to those in need at Christmas. We decided that in 2011 we would help her with it. A few people like Helen filled up a box themselves. Whilst others like Izzi made and donated items. The great thing about this one was that it wasn't restricted to knitters.

Last year we really didn't have just one charity. We first of all helped out Roberta's church and knitted up some jumpers that went out to kids in Africa. There was a set pattern and the only stipulation was that we couldn't use white. Actually not a problem for our group since our motto is 'the more colourful the better'. We then made those little hats for The Big Knit which is a campaign ran by Innocent for Age UK. We even had a little competition for most creative and largest contribution. Caroline and Margaret won that won.

Sadly we have yet to have a charity this year. So if anyone has any ideas we would be more than open to them. It would be preferred that it was something local this time though. We have donated a little to Izzi's charity, Dress the Girl, but that's not the same as actually creating something for a cause.

Just one more post to go and then I will be updating about last night. For now all I will say was that a brilliant time was had by all.