New patterns, my lovely SP11 and finally, Sloppy Joe

Issue 4 of knitonthenet went live a couple of days ago and in my usual disorganised way I'm only just managing to blog about my new patterns. I love this issue. I am planning to make Limulidae cowl and hat by Neal Swain Its a beautiful design and would be so useful.

The first of my designs is my first foray into sock pattern writing.



These are Love Heart socks named after my favourite sweeties of the same name. I used Natural Dye Studio's gorgeous Alpaca and Silk 4ply yarn. It is beautiful.

I normally make socks up as I go along so it was a good discipline to write a properly structured pattern this time.

I'm really pleased with the gusset on these socks. Come out so nice.



I've talked alot about Giles Deacon this season and my Giles bag is my homage to his oversized cables.



I so enjoyed making this bag and particular loved making the handle out of a giant sized cable.



There's so much more I want to explore using cables like this.

And finally my lovely Blanche



This is going to be one of those patterns that I'm going to knit again and again, sometimes with some changes, sometimes exactly as is. It is just a perfect sweater for every occasion and so flattering. I love her.



I struggled naming her though. In my head the whole time I was designing her was Elizabeth Taylor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof but in it she's called Maggie (the cat) but the name just didn't fit. So I ended up having a Tennessee Williams moment and thinking about Streetcar named Desire thought about Blanche Dubois and the name seemed just right. I'm going to make a green Blanche over christmas. I would also like to make an evening version using something like Tilli Thomas Exotica for the neckline.

I went and picked up a BIG package yesterday from our sorting office from my lovely secret pal Eeva also known as Rieppa, who has spoiled me so completely its as if christmas came early.

Here is my package



There is a gorgeous tin box featuring the Moomins (which my daughter loves, but isn't getting!) beautiful beads, these wonderful surface protectors



aren't they just fantastic.

Now for the yarn



from the left is Novita Florica 100% wool. I have a couple of Novita pattern books and love their yarns. Next is Merino Oro from Ornaghi filati of Italy, pure wool. I dont know this make but the yarn is beautiful and would make a lovely shawl.
Next is an Estonian yarn Evilla with fabulous sea kelp shades of green and advise from Rieppa about a pattern for it.

And if all thats not enough, this gorgeous hand dyed wool/alpaca blend from Juuli



I'm speechless Eeva, what can I say? Thank you so much.

And now, drum roll, long overdue, the first part of finishing off Sloppy Joe from Rowan Studio 6.

My first step was to do Short row shaping and three needle bind off on the shoulders so there is no internal bulky seam on the shoulders. This is how it looks from the right side



with just a nice line of chains sitting on the shoulder. The stitches highlighted on this photo make it a bit clearer which are the bound off stitches.



So, to work this method you have to work differently to specified in the pattern from just before 'shape shoulders and back neck'. Instead of finishing with a RS row facing, stop with a WS row facing and then knit the row, stopping at the point where your cast off stitches would be on the next row. I'm knitting the large, so in my case I would knit up to the last 11 sts on the left needle, wrap the next st by slipping the st and taking the yarn round it, turn the work, and work back for 14 sts (for the large), turn, leaving rem sts on holder.

Cast off 3sts for centre back neck, knit across rem sts, knitting wrapped st in with wrap. Leave these sts on a holder.

Cast off centre sts as directed in pattern then work other side to match reversing shapings.

The front shoulders are worked in the same way. To be sure you have each shoulder right remember that shoulder shaping slopes down from centre back. Place shoulders of front and back together with WS facing inwards, the slopes should match. Put stitches back onto a needle each, then with a third needle knit 1 stitch from 1st needle together with 1 stitch from 2nd needle, repeat, then cast off 1 st on 3rd needle off over 2nd st on 3rd needle. Continue until all stitches are cast off. Repeat on other shoulder. If you turn the sweater inside out there is no seam at all.


NEXT TIME - PICKING UP NECKLINE STITCHES

for now, (I'm going to lie down in a dark room)
Ruby xx

Not quite but nearly

This last week has been so, so crazy busy that I really can't believe its Monday again already. I have new patterns that I am itching to reveal that are in the latest issue of knitonthenet, but it isn't quite ready yet. It will be out in just a couple of days and then I can show them. But then once they are 'out there' I am going to spend a few weeks getting organised. I am going to do a list of WIPs, prioritise them, and get them done. I normally go away for a little while over christmas but I need to be careful this year as I have my house extension to furnish, decorate, floor, heat, light etc etc.

So anyway, during my two weeks off I am going to knit and sew, and sew and knit all the time. Even on christmas day I shall knit. I plan to have designs ready for submissions, for some commissions I'm working on, some exclusive patterns for the forthcoming justcallmeruby website and a number of other things that I can't talk about right now!

The first thing I am going to do is finish off Sloppy Joe's photos and post the finishing techniques I used on the blog. I PROMISE.

I also need to do some remedial work to my lovely extension. My lovely wooden doors and windows that I designed have been fitted and my builder kindly offered to undercoat them as he owed me a favour or two as he's taken so long doing this job. Anyway, I offered to mask the glass and my stylish art deco handles but he said it was fine, they would do it. I finally got a good look at the finished job at the weekend, and there was undercoat all round the glass and all over the handles. They hadn't masked or cleaned up after themselves at all. They had also closed the french doors while the paint was still wet and the doors where stuck together. We had to climb through the living room window into the extension to force the doors open!

Can anyone recommend an efficient but relatively speedy way of removing the undercoat from the windows? I could scrape them all but each door alone has 21 panes of glass!

Maybe this is how I'll actually be spending christmas.

for now

Ruby xx

Lots of vintage goodies

I went to the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching show at the weekend. There weren't as many yarn stalls there as I would have liked, Rowan weren't there at all which was very disappointing, and I missed the one stall selling the latest Rebecca mag and they had shut by the time I found them, BUT...

I got some fantastic vintage patterns. The first one is this Simplicity pattern, which is just a wonderfully wearable simple dress.



The proportions are lovely, you could add sleeves, you could reverse the neckline and have a v neck front. So versatile.

The next on is this fantastic 'Slenderette' dress suit. The green dress in the centre is just perfect. Think will make this one exactly as is.



The third pattern is a skirt suit with amazing shaping on the jacket and is a Vogue Couturier design original. For just a skirt and jacket there are 16 pieces to the pattern. I love the hat in the illustration as well, but don't think I'll be wearing one.



And my favorite is this beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful, lovely Simplicity dress pattern



The scoop neck front is the one for me. The description on the pattern reads: Misses' one-piece dress with detachable cummerbund. Bodice styled with a box pleat at center front, small tucks on each side of pleat and sleeves cut in one with bodice. Full skirt is gathered, with version having a low neckline trimmed with a band that ties at center front. It requires 5 and a half yards of fabric.

I also bought three lots of fabric which I will TRY and photograph. I am still failing miserably to even get colours looking anything like reality. I would really like to invest in some lighting but not got the money right now.

I also found this Stitchcraft from November 1950 and fell in love with this jacket on the back cover.



The original was made using Patons Beehive DK yarn and 4mm needles with a standard double knit tension. Have a large stock of Jo Sharp DK wool that could come in very handy.

My other pattern purchase was the Crochet me book by Kim Werker published by Interweave press

There are quite a few designs in it that I really like including 'mesmerize' sweater, 'Victorian Wrap' and this one 'i'm a convert' sweater. Love this one.



Have my Sloppy Joe making up instructions written up but still waiting for good enough photos I'm afraid, but will be on their way soon.

The next issue of knitonthenet is out next week. Looking forward to showing my designs. I've done my first sock pattern using Natural Dye Studio yarn. It was a joy to knit with. It runs through your fingers like a dream and is soft yet strong (like the loo paper).

Will be back soon with more,

but for now
Ruby xx

Sick of the weather

Have tried unsuccessfully to get some good useable photos of Sloppy Joe but the lack of light is causing me a lot of problems. Have noticed when blog reading that everyone's having the same problem. It really is just so dark and dismal. I am going to have another go again today. I also have finished projects from members of TLC to show aswell. Trying to photograph them last night was a complete disaster. Their first finished garments and they look great. Can't wait to show them. In the meantime have you seen this incredible fashion shoot of Giles Deacon's work in Wonderland magazine.



It has become a fabulous art installation. Love/hate?

Hope to see you tomorrow with some photos of my own.

for now
Ruby xxx

Internet problems

I've been trying to fix my blog according to internet explorer 6. I didn't realise there was a problem as I use Firefox so found out unexpectedly that my blog looks wrong on explorer 6. All my links to free patterns, online groups etc were all at the bottom of the page - next to the first post of each month. Which means most people probably never see them if they are just reading the latest post.

This all came about whilst discussing the forthcoming NEW www.justcallmeruby.com website with the website designer (my beloved). Some techy stuff which I don't profess to understand was being explained and lo and behold the blog was viewed on explorer and the problem revealed itself. The complexities and differences between systems leaves me baffled.

Anyway the blog is fixed now and here is a little sneaky preview of my new homepage



And this is the navigator bar. Don't you just love the cutting line and scissors.



Its just so lovely. Its been great to be able to say, I'ld like this and I'ld like that and everything I designed on paper or asked for is there. Extra links and pages are already being built in so I can add my dresses to it when I'm ready, ready made knitwear and 'sewing patterns'. These are going to take a bit of working on but I will get there.

I was so excited to see my designs all displayed at the Stitch 'n Bitch day. Here's a photo of a section of the knitonthenet stand with Lost in Music, Angora hearts cardigan, retro cloche and Unshaped shrug all in shot.



And as this little beauty has now been on public display I can show you the Frilly Jumper from 'A Stitch in Time' in all her glory.



The garment is made in Habu natural dyed 'Kusaki Zome' Silk and the frills are edged in Habu A-20 Stainless Steel. I just love the idea of using the natural silk with the man made steel and I've finally got something to show on the Habu KAL

I'm going to start posting tomorrow on finishing off Sloppy Joe from Rowan Studio 6.
I'll be starting with the short row shaping for the shoulders and picking up the stitches for the deep V neck.

but for now
Ruby xxx

Where does the time go?

Yet another week (and a bit) have passed without the chance to write up my blog. There really has been so much to do I'm meeting myself coming back. In addition, my daughter has started her mock GCSE's and needs someone to help with revision. My french and spanish accents are dramatically improving even though I don't really understand what I'm saying. I'm sure she'll do well despite her constant worrying.

I received two early christmas pressies from my beloved this week. The first is the book of the exhibition at the V&A (Victoria & Albert) 'The Golden Age of Couture' Paris and London 1947-1957



It is a beautiful book with a very detailed history of the era with particular reference (obviously) to Christian Dior and Balenciaga. Every garment in it is as contemporary today as it was then.

Then to follow on with my couture experience an equally wonderful book



which is a fabulous techniques book aimed at the home dressmaker. For example there are eight different buttonhole techniques:

blind
bound
chanel
hand-worked
keyhole
plain
stranded
&
two colour

It really is fantastic.

At the weekend I met my lovely ex-secret pal, Emma, and had a lovely if far too brief conversation. I look forward to seeing you again Emma.

It was lovely to see my designs for knitonthenet displayed at the Stitch 'n Bitch Day and it reminded me that first and foremost I am a fashion designer. There was a definate cohesion amongst the designs and it was great to get feedback on people's opinions of them. It was also very complimentary but VERY scary, to be told there was a fashion designer asking if they could take photographs of my work. They were politely declined. There is no such thing as a truly original design anymore but I can't think of any reason why a fellow designer would want photographs of my work unless they were thinking of copying it. It has happened before and its a horrible feeling. Maybe I'm being too suspicious but...

I am absolutely, 100% definately, going to post within the week this time, I'm determined.

but, for now,

Ruby xxx

knitonthenet group on ravelry

I have set up a ravelry group for knitonthenet fans. There seems to be a group for everyone else so knitonthenet have got one now. If you're on ravelry do come along and join me there!
I've never hosted a group before. Does it make me important? Don't think so somehow.

Two things got me thinking about Kim Hargreaves' influence on my knitting over the last few days. I received a copy of Heartfelt, Kim's new book of patterns.

And I took Rowan book 26 off my bookshelf on Sunday night, looking for something, and went through the book page by page. Before reading any information I knew the name of the designer of each and every pattern! We're on book 42 now so that's EIGHT years ago and I still knew who had designed what. And of course, the majority of the designs were Kim's. And it dawned on me that I have knitted more designs by Kim Hargreaves than by anyone else other than myself. In fact, I've knitted so many I've lost track. I've knitted Core three times. I noticed that Jane over at Yarnstorm had also listed Kim as a major influence and I'm sure she's influenced many more people.

So back to her new book. I just love it. Its everything I love about Kim's work. Design pared down, with beautifully thought out detail. The colour palette and design of the book itself are lovely too. Thank you Kim.

My eight year old niece has also taken up knitting. Her school has actually started an after school knitting club. Fantastic. Here she is working very hard.





She couldn't put her knitting down when she came to visit and went out with grandma who bought her some more needles and yarn.

On a personal knitting front I've been helping getting everything ready for the Stitch 'n Bitch day on Saturday, so haven't got a lot to show right now, but if you are going to the show there are going to be some beautiful garments on display and a preview of the next issue. There are also going to be hard copies of the patterns available if any one wants a 'proper' version, and I've just got my lovely new business cards back from the printers which will be available to take away!

but for now,

Ruby xx

Thank you secret pal

I received a wonderful parcel today from my lovely secret pal from Finland. Thank you so much Eeva. I was very worried when I first saw the package as there was a sticker attached to it from the Royal Mail apologising for damaging the package and they hoped nothing was broken or missing! But when I opened it everything was intact and present.



At the front is Drops Alpaca from Garn studio, I've never had any of their yarn before and I'm so excited. There are also two skeins of Lanka Pirkanmaan which is a pure wool produced in Finland



There is also a beautifully scented natural soap called Forest Magic with this beautiful write up on the back:

"All seasons of the year are magic in the forest. Each season has its own special smells, colours, and music. My favorites are the fall and spring. Fir trees have a special scent, almost as if they are getting ready to slow down for the winter. Sap runs more slowly as the cold weather approaches...."

In addition to these wonderful presents there is also this wonderful wooden fox



Such a great idea, you put it on the edge of a saucepan to hold the lid up to let the steam escape. I love it.

Finally there is a beautiful wooden charm necklace that I'm wearing now and forgot to photograph but is gorgeous and will photograph next time. You can just see it in the first photo.

Thank you again secret pal.

I went into the garden at the weekend and took some photos of the garden before it goes to sleep.

This is my little oak tree now one year old



Hopefully he will be here long after I have gone. The garden has been a building site for a whole year now and yet nature still finds a way. This plant/weed - don't know which - had found a place to grow amongst the debris



and this lovely dandelion clock looking absolutely perfect



I treated myself to two skeins of this gorgeous yarn by mirasolperu called Hacho. Its 100% hand dyed merino wool spun in Peru. A portion of each sale goes towards the funding of a school in a remote part of Peru. There's something about the colours that despite them being olive and sage greens, mustard and gold they seem bright and summery as the sun is shining through them, especially when photographed on this cool piece of 1970's fabric from my stash.



Plans now afoot for all manner of lovely things.

for now
Ruby xx

Knit a poppy

This last week has just gone by so quick - I can't believe its over a week since I last blogged. And to be honest I haven't got a lot that I can show as yet. I have been working on my sketches and swatches to send to Knitscene. I'm really concerned how long it might take for my package to reach them, I just hope it gets there on time.

One thing I am able to show however is my poppy brooch that I have designed for knitonthenet's Knit a Poppy campaign. It is in support of the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal and I'm thrilled to have had the chance to do something to help. The download pattern only costs £2.00 with all proceeds going to the Poppy Appeal.



Remembrance Sunday on November 11th has meant a lot to me all my life. Both my granddads where in the Second World War. My 'Albert' granddad - married to Ruby - was only 18 when he was conscripted. He couldn't even read or write and had never been out of Liverpool before and was taken away from his family for five whole years. My 'Billy' granddad became a prisoner of war and after many escapades eventually returned home with his hair white. My great grandfather was killed during the First World War after the ship he served on was sunk. I have always thought it important to remember and to learn.

The pattern uses double knit yarn and is great for using up scraps. You could be really flamboyant and add extra petals or knit the same pattern using bigger needles and chunkier yarn and have a huge fab poppy. I've added black sequins in the centre to look like sparkly poppy seeds, but you can keep it plain if you prefer, and it can easily be completed in a couple of hours - so why not make one for everyone you know!

for now,
Ruby xx

Tomorrow.........is always a day away

No matter how hard I try, whenever I say I'll blog tomorrow - I don't. Well, can't. Something always happens which stops me blogging for days. So I'm never going to promise to blog tomorrow again.

My lovely finished Phyllo has been worn and admired. Here she is:



I'm just so pleased with it, the fit is perfect, the length is perfect, and I love, love, love the yoke







I don't even mind the stocking stitch edge. It somehow seems to fit in with the design. I wanted to completely give myself over to a pattern without making any adjustments, even minor ones, and see how successful it was. I knew I could trust Norah.

I have also finished the back and part way up the front of Sloppy Joe



Not quite as quick a knit as you might imagine, as you have to use a cable needle to twist the dropped stitches round each other, which is kinda fiddly and slow, but the finished result is lovely. The Rowan Cocoon yarn is just gorgeous and I'm already thinking what I can use it for next. However, its not the most exciting garment to photograph at the moment, so I will probably leave it till a big reveal when its finished.

I have yet to cast on tree jacket for the sexy knitters KAL, as can't decide on yarn, likewise the silver belle KAL which I've also joined as I haven't enough of the yarn I was going to use, particularly as I'm going to make it longer.



I have also signed up to Wardrobe Refashion for two months. If you don't know about it let me explain. You pledge not to buy anything new (there are certain exceptions - footwear and handcrafted items - you can also buy yarn and fabric) and make or refashion what you need for whatever period you sign up for. I joined last week for two months and have found that it is making me not buy. Which is really, really good as finances are a bit tight at the moment. It will also finish early December so I can treat myself to a christmas dress. Saying that I may make this one if I can find anywhere that stocks the pattern.



Its from blue sky alpacas but I can't find it at any of the UK stockists that I know about. If anyone knows where I can get it do let me know.

Otherwise, I'm working on an idea based on this gorgeous dress by Nicole Farhi.



I have a plain black jersey dress which could be refashioned into this dress very easily and may very well mean I don't even need to buy anything for christmas.

I'm also working on some submission ideas for Knitscene and Interweave but obviously, can't share these. Really like them though, hope they do too.
I've also got at least one design to get finished for knitonthenet but am not quite there yet. In the immortal words of Clive Dunne, "Don't panic Captain Mainwaring. Don't panic!"

for now
Ruby xx

As time goes by

Can't believe a week has passed and I haven't had chance to post. I have finished projects and new projects to show but will have to wait until tomorrow as TLC (Teens Love Craft Club) has moved to Tuesday night for one week only. I will hopefully have some photos of their fab projects aswell.

I have completed Phyllo and am half way up the back on Sloppy Joe. I have also been having a stash sort and have over three bin bags full of yarn to sell/swap. I am putting a list together tomorrow.

I am going to cast on tree jacket tonight for the Sexy Knitters latest Kal. After reading Robin's blog I'm going to make the neck a good inch shorter as she suggests.

until tomorrow
Ruby xx

I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want...

is to craft if I want to.

I'm sure most of you already know about this particular yarnstorm but if you haven't read about it I encourage you to leave my blog (temporarily, of course) and go take a look, and then don't let the Telegraph tell us what we want to do. I love Jane's blog and am affronted at everything the journalist has written but would rather express my opinion as Jane herself has.



Gastro porn apparently. An egg custard to you and I.

Its so simple. I use frozen shortcrust pastry and make two custards at a time.
Earlier on in the day I roll out the pastry, line two pastry dishes and bake both blind for about 15 minutes at 180 degrees. Take out of the oven and leave to cool. Remove baking beans.

To make the custard, break 4 large free range eggs and whisk.
Bring a pint of full cream milk and 4 tablespoons of unrefined golden caster sugar to the boil.
Pour over the eggs and whisk again. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
Pour equally into the two cases.
Grate some fresh nutmeg over each custard.
Return to the oven at same temperature for approximately another 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and cool.

And that's it.

I also made a brioche loaf (using my bread machine!) and boy was it good.



I've also been knitting away at Phyllo and am nearing the end of the second sleeve. As everything to this point has been stocking stitch I haven't bothered taking any more photos yet. Either later tonight or tomorrow I should be picking up the stitches for the yoke and things get more interesting.

I have also treated myself to Rowan's new yarn Cocoon which is just lovely, with a similar feel and tension to Polar. Its very very soft but with a little mohair in it to strengthen it up and stop it from pilling in the way that Polar did. I'm feeling good about it at this point.



I bought it after buying the latest Rowan studio book (book 6) and falling in love with this 'Sloppy Joe'



Just the sweater I need right now and should knit up really quickly. Not that I should be casting on anything else right now, but when has that ever stopped any of us?

The sexy knitters latest project has also just been decided on and its Tree Jacket from Zephyr style which I've been fancying for a while.



I have a large stash of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk aran from the John Lewis sale which would be just perfect. I can't seem to get a good photo of the colour though so I'll try again once I have cast on.

I also love the model's hair do and must have a go



Isn't it lovely?

for now
Ruby xx

Teens Love Craft night and much more

Don't the girlies look like they are really having fun. They have taken to it like a duck to water. On Thursday night to make things interesting we got the wool winder and a load of odd balls of yarn and got the girls to design their own multicoloured and multistranded yarn. Here is one of them



They each picked between 4 and 6 strands of yarn to make a chunky (bulky) weight yarn.
We have used the unshaped shrug

as our starting point with each of the girls knitting a rectangle to reach from midway down the upper arm, across their back, and to the same point on the other arm.
There are a mixture of garter stitch and stocking stitch garments being made. Before we commence the next step of ribbing, the girls will learn to purl and then rib.

They really concentrated for over three hours -



with one of the girls on her third ball of yarn since Thursday night.



Moving on, Phyllo is progressing slowly but steadily.



I do love how Rowan Calmer knits up, particularly in stocking stitch.

I bought this lovely 1940's stylie dress in a sale a few weeks ago



The fabric is really lovely



I love floral prints and this is a particularly lovely one. However I have a problem and can't decide what to do. I think the hem really spoils the dress.



What do you think? I think it should be a nice straight hem. I have to be honest I didn't even notice the hem when I bought the dress (guess who didn't bother to try it on) but would have bought it anyway.

I've pinned the 'hangy' bits up on this picture



and I think it looks better, and more appropriate for the style of the dress. However the skirt is created by a number of gores which just have a raw edge which has been overlocked and the 'hangy' pieces are cut on the bias, which is going to make it very difficult to create a perfectly straight hem. I'm worried about hemming by overlocking the raw edge as it might look horrid. Any suggestions?

And one other very annoying little thing which I come across again and again. Have a look at this photo and see where the belt sits around the waist, and see where the side belt loops are positioned



They're going to have to go. I don't know how many times I have had to remove belt loops in silly places. I'ld far rather they didn't bother with them in the first place.

And finally, back to knitting, I have been asked to create a design using this beautiful yarn from the Bowmont Project, called Bowmont Braf, and the colour is called Periwinkle, and guess what dress it goes with perfectly?



I've actually got 8 balls I think but a neat little fitted cardigan is suggesting itself to me at the moment.

But, for now

Ruby xx

quick, quick blog

Its not often my blogging is so thin on the ground. I can't believe its nearly a week since I blogged. Home is in chaos with drilling and hammering and grinding and dust and dirt everywhere. Yes, the builders are here, doing a very good job but making life quite difficult. I haven't managed to take any photos of on going projects yet but will try today - two windows are coming out today and plaster board and stuff being removed from round the windows - black dust to follow apparently - so I'm not making any promises.

I also wasted SIX whole hours yesterday searching for my husband's passport. SIX hours and where did I find it eventually - in my handbag. I'm relieved I found it but so annoyed at myself for wasting so much time.

The first meeting of TLC (teens love craft) went very well, with the two non knitters going away able to garter stitch. They also apparently took their knitting into school the next day and knitted at every opportunity. Fantastic. I'm so proud of them. Next meeting tomorrow evening.

I have started Phyllo yoked pullover from Knitting Nature with the Rowan Calmer that I had bought for Fifi.



There's not a lot to show yet as it is stocking stitch up to the yoke, but that was the plan as I really need something I didn't need to think about too hard. My beautiful Habu project for Stitch in Time is progressing nicely. The body should be finished in the next day or two and then some exciting finishing touches involving Habu stainless steel - can't say any more.

Also I am getting my SP11 parcel ready today. Lots of lovely goodies for her.

Hopefully, photos etc to follow later, if I can find somewhere to go.

for now
Ruby x

A little bit of TLC

Tomorrow evening I will be hosting the first meeting of TLC - Teens Love Craft!

My daughter and a few of her friends have all asked to be shown how to knit, sew, embroider, applique etc., so who am I to say no. My daughter can already knit and sew but her skills need to be improved. Her friends can sew (a bit) but not knit, so tomorrow night is our first learn to knit class. Wish me luck.

I think its great that they are all so keen to learn but find it sad that they have had to get someone else's mum to show them.

Have a big post to do tomorrow with lots of photos but I have to stay off the computer for now as 'we' (not me) are trying to register for Led Zeppelin tickets. I have offered to spend the day at Libertys if he gets a ticket and spend the £125 there instead. Very generous of me I think.

Until tomorrow,
for now

Ruby xx