Loom Knitting

Just a couple of pictures, as requested, of the loom knitting.  First Sandra, who is knitting a hat: 

For a hat you would continue knitting in the round, but Linda made a scarf by going back and forth.

This is the hat I made, being modelled by Freya, who joined us at Pitch and Stitch today:

She knitted the little boy she is holding herself.  She's so good at knitting!

And, after all the moans and groans about when I am turning to the winter menu for lunch (ie, soup),  I'm finally giving in.  Tomorrow we are having tomato soup, from practically the last tomatoes in the greenhouse!

 

That's poor old Bo (Mr Bojangles) in the background.  He can't see anymore (he's nearly 15) but when I took Mattie out for a walk yesterday, he insisted on coming with me...slowest walk I've ever had,  and I had to talk constantly so he'd know where to go!

Season of mists...

Beautiful morning!  Looked out and saw a whispy mist hanging over the valley:

Had the loom knitting workshop yesterday, with Amanda Bond teaching.  What a morning!  Two ladies signed up just the day before, so although I had bought enough sets for those I was expecting, I was two short.  That'll be fine, I thought, they can share.  Well, of course they couldn't - they all wanted to work on the same size looms.  So, over to Hungerford I dashed, and managed to fine one kit in Crown Needlework, but although I checked in the Hungerford Haberdashery I couldn't get another.  Brought the kit back, so that was one sorted, and then remembered that Sandra in the village is crazy about loom knitting so dashed into East Garston and she very kindly lent us a hook and hoop!

It was a good day though - and I think loom knitting is great for people who can't get on with needles, but less inspiring for people who have knitted for years and are used to needles.

Bags

Had a brilliant workshop on Wednesday with Clare Kingslake - making lovely satchels.  Last time we ran it there wasn't space for me, but this time I was determined to take part.
It's Victoria's birthday today and I wanted to make it for her.
So.......all you doubting Thomas's at the workshop...............here it is!

Not perfect - but not bad either,  And she likes it so that's okay.

Open Day on the Allotments

Had a lovely afternoon on the Marsh Lane Allotments on Sunday.  Following her kidney transplant, my sister and her partner found a love of gardening and took on an allotment at Marsh Lane in Hungerford.  They were there from the start, when it was just an overgrown, stubbly field.  Now it's all beautiful gardens with grassed pathways and flowers and vegetables everywhere.  Belinda and her friend had put up signs with carrots on them all around Hungerford, and you followed them to get to the allotments.  They had a barbecue, veg stand (I had already got some pork from the Farmers market in the High Street, and bought potatoes and a cabbage to go with them for our Sunday supper.  It turned out the cabbage had come from Belinda, so I needn't have bought it, but it went to a good cause!  With my beans and courgettes too, we had a delicious supper.) and Belinda had organised the tombola:

The sun shone and I chillaxed for the afternoon.

Lovely.

Sadly.......I didn't get to Newbury Show for breakfast, but you can't do everything!

Afternoon on the allotment

My sister, Belinda, is having an open afternoon on her allotment tomorrow and I plan to go along - which means I'll go to Newbury Show for breakfast!!

 

Her allotment is fantastic but whenever I come home I do feel like tarmacking our garden!  Like quilt shows: equally inspiring and demotivating!

Full Moon and Quackers

Just went out to shut up the animals and couldn't get over the amazing harvest moon:

These pictures really don't do it justice - it's HUGE!

 

Also, here is the fantastic quilt Jackie has made for her soon-to-be-here grand-daughter

 

Enough to drive anyone quackers!

 

Bags and Cosmos

Anthea came to Pitch and Stitch and brought along the bag she made at the Clare Kingslake workshop:

 

And Jo sent me a photo of the bag she made out of strips of fabric:

She hadn't added the straps yet.

Really beautifully made.
We are running this workshop again in the Autumn Schedule - and places are going fast!

Also, couldn't resist taking some photos of my Cosmos yesterday evening.  I only started growing it a few years ago - the name put me off.  With the bad weather this year I planted the seeds very late, and planted them out much later, so we won't have so much time to enjoy them before the first frost.