Day Tripper

This past weekend we had a few days in Kent visiting family and having some adventures. Eleven of us went on a boat trip to see the sea forts off Whitstable (followed by some lovely chips eaten on the sea front) and then a smaller group of just four of us had a lovely day trip to Margate on Sunday. The sea forts were eerie and amazing and I still have that slightly bobbing up and down feeling from being on the boat for an hour.

I didn’t take my latest commission knitting with me as reading a colourwork chart in the car is not easy, but I did take a couple of other projects. My short Leaf & Vine sample was sadly ignored in favour of a second sample for a new design for the North West Winter Wool Festival. As in previous years I’m designing a pattern that will be given to those who purchase an advance ticket for the show. My first sample was in a vivid variegated yarn and I wanted a calm contrasting version, so this one makes use of a set of five mini skeins in gradient shades of brown. I’m really pleased with it and, as there are only 20 rows in the whole thing with a pattern that needs to be followed to the letter, it was much easier car and conversation knitting. I’m looking forward to sharing this design with you.

Now I’m back in Wales and the new commission is going to be cast on today. The pattern is done up to the arm-holes, so I can get a decent stretch of it knitted up while I ponder the best way to shape those and minimise ends to weave in on the section that is worked flat.

I had a little treat at The Yarn Whisperer in Margate, run by the lovely Kitey. I am also delighted to say that you will be able to find patterns (and kits!) for my Seaside Winter Cosy hot water bottle cover pattern there very soon!!

I’ve already made use of one of the stickers I got at the Yarn Whisperer in Margate. It’s gone on the front of this year’s bullet journal – main pic of today’s blog. I’m saving the yarn pride sticker for next year’s journal and I haven’t yet decided what to make with the gorgeous hand dyed skein of yarn in the colour way “4 of Wands” that I treated myself to. The Dolly Parton crochet kit is going to be one of Sue’s Christmas presents – I think it will be wrapped in box form and I will make it after Christmas, once deadlines and yarn shows have calmed down for a bit. The fortune telling fish that I found in the bag when I got back to my in-laws house showed that we are all very passionate!

We also went to the Turner Contemporary gallery while we were in Margate. The David Hockney window will be there until early November.

I had intended to launch my Spring Breeze Hat as an individual pattern by this weekend, but… I had forgotten when I put the date in my journal that we were away and I have also not been able to find one of the samples – the medium size that went to the magazine. It’s possibly still with them. Once I get some more photos taken and added to the pattern I will be able to launch it (hopefully this week!) and there will be an email going out to my monthly newsletter subscribers with a discount code for the launch. Do sign up now if that appeals!

Right, I now need to get that commission knit onto the needles – it won’t knit itself! Have a great week and I hope you get to do some things that bring you joy. I’m so grateful there were many things that did for me this past weekend. K x

P.S. My new roller banner (a reprint of the one I broke by falling on it) arrived last week, but the logo was all blurry (the original had been super sharp on the edges). I’ve been in contact with the company (Instant Print) and they’ve been very helpful. I’ve sent them a new file for the logo with a higher resolution and they’re going to print a replacement, which will hopefully be as good as the original one was, if not even better!