The ladies of the Fenton Knitting Group will be meeting this evening as usual. There will be a very special chocolate mousse cake, courtesy of the lovely Mary Berry, and a few other chocolatey treats. And yes, despite our slightly sticky fingers, we will be working at the table as usual, underneath the Valentine hearts hanging from the ceiling.
This little footstool has been in the family quite a while and has already had a couple of makeovers whilst it’s been in our care. This time I felt it needed a really different look. The legs have had the full chalk paint, sanding and wax treatment. The fabric was worn and had to go (yes, we really do use it as a footstool, so it gets worn!) It’s been replaced by a piece of Laura Ashley vintage brocade. All topped off with a length of sparkly ribbon. It’s still the prefect place to rest our weary feet, but so much prettier now, somehow!
As is so often the case on a Sunday evening here at The Barn, we were busily crafting, sitting at the table, engrossed, this time, in making burlap roses. But of course, whatever is going on at the table, there is always some knitting lying around, just waiting for busy hands to pick it up again.
So maybe Ailbe thought he could help. Sadly, his settery paws aren’t built for fine fibre work, especially when they’re tired, having spent the day carrying him for miles and miles and miles and miles along the beach at Sutton on Sea.
Ailbe got himself into a bit of a pickle with the wool – something of a cat’s cradle, you might say. He knows he’s not really supposed to ‘play’ with mummy’s knitting. He also knows that a lot of wriggling around will usually tend to make things worse. His tactic on this occasion was to lie quite still until somebody noticed that he needed unravelling!
I’m probably not even Fenton’s fastest knitter, so I definitely won’t be taking part in this competition, though I might secretly record my PB just to see how I measure up to the champion knitters. But what I may lack in speed I definitely make up in enthusiasm!
To try your hand(s) at being the fastest, follow this link for all the details of the UK Hand Knitting Association‘s competition. Or you can visit one of a number of fabulous stitchy events coming up around the country to take part.
As fog and frost continue to shroud Fenton with only an occasional burst of watery winter sunshine to dispel the general January murk, this little woolly bird has arrived in handmadebysoo’s garden to cheer us all and remind us that Spring really is just around the corner.
Pattern source
blue tit: 75 birds, butterflies ans beautiful beasties to knit & crochet, by Lesley Stanfield
garden spade: handmadebysoo original!
Members of the Fenton Knitting Group will be crafting again at The Barn this evening from 6pm, catching up on all their crafty achievements over the holidays. There will be handmadebysoo Christmas cake to sample and something for the chocoholics. New Year’s diets do not apply on Tuesday evenings!
Looking forward to seeing everyone again.
Soo x
Soo enjoyed a restful and refreshing New Year break in North Yorkshire. There were lots of very muddy walks with Ailbe, huge pub lunches and a little bit of knitting, too.
handmadebysoo is currently on holiday in Yorkshire, walking on the moors and doing lots of knitting, too. The Fenton Knitting Group will resume next Tuesday at The Barn. Till then, keep knitting and Happy New Year!
Soo x
