Off the Needles

::A flurry of activity over the past couple of months has seen quite a few projects flying off my needles::

::Avana by Annie Rowden was lovely and quick to knit with an unusual construction::I used the natural undyed Ullcentrum DK/Worsted for a lovely summer cover up::

::Then there was the very pretty Kiva Beach Shawl by Yellowcosmo::I was so taken by basilandbelle's Coast to Coast Kiva Beach Shawl test knit that I made an exact copy::the Mabel & Ivy Coast Merino and Cotton 3ply yarn was absolutely wonderful to knit with and I have plans for more knitting with it::It has a beaded lace section which I achieved by threading the beads onto the yarn and introducing them at knit stitches on the right side::

::Now, of course, it is Tour de Fleece::I am in the Fondant Fibre team::We have to use her fibre which is absolutely never going to be a problem::Punis in the Silent Movie colour way in merino, kid mohair and sparkle, were my first stage of the race::we are spinning every day that the Tour de France is on and resting on their rest days::there are prizes on the Ravelry groups for several aspects of spinning::

::having spun 100g I could not wait to start knitting a project and have decided on a pair of Victoria wrist warmers by Louisa Harding from her book Knitting Little Luxuries:: 

::Everyone seemed to be knitting the Waterlily from Pom Pom Quarterly magazine::so I did too::

::I also visited Cowslip Farm near Launceston on my way home from a trip to Mevagissey in Cornwall::I fell in love with this little pillow and made one for myself::

::My free gift from my Rowan subscription in the Winter was Big Wool and a Wickery Cowl pattern by Diana Krawchuk and it was quick and easy to knit::

 ::Dani of Little Bobbin Knits organised a swap and we had to send a mug cosy and tea to another participant::I had fun knitting a cosy, coaster and teabag holder for Emily and she sent me a lovely package with a beautiful blue cosy in return::

::Here is the finished result of my fat quarter tote::I absolutely love it::And it's purple handles are just perfect for the fabric::

::A double gold star for my Fancy Silk Sock for a Child by Nancy Bush at the Essex Federation of Women's Institues Summer Show at RHS Hyde Hall::

::More sewing and a lovely Washi Tape Dress in a Swiss lawn cotton::very happy to have found something simple but pretty to sew::

::Spurred on by my success I made this charming little Sailor Top in a cotton fabric::

::I am off to Shetland to join in a wool holiday and there was a free bobble hat pattern that I adapted to make this cute head band::it is very windy there::they are having the coldest summer since 1947::thank goodness I am a knitter::

::the road trip to Cornwall saw me making a start on the Lus by Mer Stevens from the Spring Pom Pom Quarterly::it will be a long knitting 'trip' for this one::

::And what would a knitting life be without a little stash enhancement::And a little reading too::

::Whatever your summer brings you I hope it includes some handicraft work or some reading::

::Teresa::