Tag Archives: Knitting

A Postcard from Wales

Hello, my lovelies! I hope you’ve had a wonderful Easter break and didn’t eat too much chocolate. We did…I feel a spot of dieting w?ill be in order after our hols.

As my iPad is on hand, and the Wifi isn’t too bad, I’m writing my latest post in sunny Wales and share some of my holiday snaps. It’s so beautiful here. This is the view from the conservatory of the cottage we are staying in.With the door open, all you can hear is the sound of birdsong, interspersed with chickens, the cockerel, geese and ducks and occasionally, Dylan the sheepdog. Over the hill there are sheep……and lambs! I’m afraid I’m just a bit soppy about lambs but I don’t think Higgins would be too impressed if I took one home.The hills been rather a strain on my poor flatlander legs but we’ve found some beautiful places to walk and my head is filled with the colours of Spring. This time of year there are so so many shades of green as the new leaves start to open, and Wales is particularly blessed with spring flowers. The fields are golden with the bees’ favourite, dandelions and the woods are carpeted with bluebells. I’ve never seen so many wood anenomes which spring up along the roadside… …and the gardens are full of blossom.Having decided that my latest crochet project was too big to bring, it was absolutely necessary for me to find a yarn shop (or two) for supplies to keep me busy in the evenings. So, I started with some super chunky and a pair of e-NOR-mous needles which was super fast to knit…Which meant an expedition to find another wool shop (I have a long suffering husband!) Abergavenny came up trumps with The Wool Croft, and an irresistible half price offer on this gorgeous Louisa Harding wool/silk blend…There are so many different hues in this yarn, every row has a different flavour!

I’ll be home next week, feeling refreshed and full of ideas so I’m looking forward to being back here with you.

Autumn Planning – looking ahead

Hello…and Happy Sunday! I hope the weather is being kind wherever you are. Here in Norfolk we are presently bathed in beautiful Autumn sunshine, which is trying very hard to dry up the huge downpour an hour ago. But it’s warm, the doors are open, Higgins is sunning himself and all’s right with the world…well on Planet Penny anyway.

Looking back over the blog I find I’m usually a bit moany around this time of year and I realise it’s not the autumn I don’t like because it can be beautiful. The colours and the angle of the light. The misty mornings and sparkling dew on the leaves. It’s looking ahead to the lack of light that lowers my mood. I find it really hard when the sun sets ever earlier rises later and later, and the clouds don’t lift all day.

So I’m autumn planning, determined to find lots to do, and lots to share and to try to keep motivated this time round. I hope you’ll join me!

So here’s a little glimpse of what Higgins and I have been enjoying on our dog walks this week… Mini dachshund in autumn planning As you can see…he’s just a blur!

So many gorgeous colours and textures… Autumn Colours - autumn planning We’re going to keep enjoying it for as long as we can! Autumn sunset So, coming up, I’m going to show you some cosy knitting in a fabulous autumn colour… autumn planning - knitting and an irresistible fabric purchase from my favourite shop, Arts Desire.

And on Friday I shall be taking part in a Blog Hop with Sew and So …here’s a little clue! Autumn planning blog hop I’ll leave you with some winners. The TWO lucky winners of the fabulous crochet book from this post are Susan and Julie. I wish I could send everyone a copy though, thank you all so much for entering the competition.

And if you didn’t win the book, there is still a chance to win the lovely Happy Crocheting bag on the newsletter. Just subscribe via the yellow button below to take part.

See you soon…x

The Complete Beginners Guide to Knitting

If you’ve always wanted to knit but don’t know where to start, or if you have a friend or family member begging to be taught, this handy infographic sent to me by Clippers Ireland, The Complete Beginners Guide to Knitting might just be what you are looking for!

(And it’s pink!)

beginners-guide-to-knitting-clippers-ireland-infographic6inch You might have to zoom in a bit, but I hope you find it useful.

I’m away for a few days now, off to the seaside, (hooray!) so I’ll be packing my crochet and my knitting to keep me busy.

I’ll be back soon…x

Planet Penny Cotton Colours – Ice Cream Shades

Those of you who signed up for the newsletter will know that the new Planet Penny Cotton Colours Ice Cream Shades selection is now available in the Etsy shop. And despite the ensuing flurry of of orders I’m pleased to say there are still some packs available!

I’ve really enjoyed playing with this new palette of colours, especially as I have got just a little bit obsessed with making these gorgeous crochet roses from the Frank & Olive Crochet CAL. It’s a super simple pattern, and if you would like to join in you can help Ruby with her wedding flowers!

The yarn is exactly the same super quality as the Planet Penny Cotton Colours Rainbow Shades, a lightweight DK, and the packs of 10 different Ice Cream colours in 50g balls is £26.00. It comes with a 3mm crochet hook, which I recommend if you are making amigurumi and need a denser stitch. For blankets, throws etc I use a 3.5mm hook or knitting needles.

Find it in the Etsy shop right HERE…

I’m off to work on the second new collection, a Pastel rainbow this time. It’s going to be soo pretty for baby things, and with a new baby for the family putting in an appearance in the Autumn I’m going to have fun with it.

I hope you love the new Planet Penny Cotton Colours as much as I do…

I’ll be back soon…x

Spinning a yarn…

Probably the last thing I need right at the moment it a large consignment of yarn…

My home is full, the studio is full and also the shed. Full of masses of stuff I’m just not ready to part with at the moment. But hey, why not just add to the fun and throw in a mountain of colour!

And it’s worked…

Planet Penny Cotton Colours Yarn New Colours

Great excitement today when the yarn arrived. I had samples of one of the colour collections over the weekend so I’ve already been experimenting and I’m itching to have a play with the other colours, a pastel rainbow. Plant Penny Cotton Colours pastel yarn I hope to have these ready for the Etsy shop very soon, I’ll let you know.

As a little aside, do you like cross stitch? I’ve inherited sooo many knitting, crochet and needlecraft books from my mum and I’ve had to be stern with myself and say that the one thing I’m not going to have time for is cross stitch. But I do have these lovely books… Cross Stitch books

…from Donna Kooler, Jane Greenhoff, Katrin Cargill, Patrice Boerens and Better Homes and Gardens. If you are interested do get in touch via the contact form.

So, I’d better to get to work. I have a basket of cotton yarn beckoning to me!

See you soon…x

Knit for Winter with Sunrise Senior Living

A while ago I was invited to join a virtual Knitting Circle, helping to raise funds and awareness for the plight of the elderly in the winter months with Sunrise Senior Living’s Knit for Winter campaign.

We are all knitting hats, scarfs, gloves and mitts which will be donated to various charities to be sold in their stores so they can deal with issues such as people not being able to afford to run their heating in cold weather.

I was sent some pretty pink yarn and a pattern for Peekaboo Mitts, and I’m just about to pack them up ready to send off. They are extremely cosy!

Peekaboo Mitts for Knit for Winter

#KnitforWinter - peekaboo Mitts

Sunrise Senior Living are planning to extend the Knit for Winter campaign next winter, so if you would like to join in with this very worthwhile project, head over to their blog where you can find out more, meet some of my fellow knitters and explore some new blogs!

Will you be joining me to Knit for Winter this year? I do hope so…