Textile mill; school project

Hi, Olivia here!

I have been busy doing my school project on the industrial revolution, which has taken a lot of time but it wouldn't be complete without a little extra something crafted. I have knitted a textile mill based on Saltaire, which I visited on a school trip to Bradford. I had to make my own pattern which was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be as I obviously couldn't find a knitting patter for a mill or a coal mine. I didn't have much time so I thought that a mill would be easier to design than a coal mine. I started it on Sunday, as was on holiday for the whole of the week before so I only got five rows done and Monday morning I finished one side. One day to finish the other side and sew it up and stuff it. It really was tight! It looks quite cute apart from one of the bottom windows as it has come away from the other color but the rest of it is great. I am just using spare bits of yarn that I have left over from other projects. I have got through quite a lot of white so far and the grey that I am using for the main color of the mill looks like it mite just make it through the project but it feels good not to be buying new wool and using up stuff that I already have in the cupboard. It is a really simple pattern and is just in stocking stitch so I can just pick it up when ever and not have to worry about what part of the pattern I am on. I am glad to see the back of it though as I don't think it was one of my best projects!

Moving off that subject, the Easter eggs are looking really nice hanging off some twigs with yellow flowers on. It looks really summery and colorful. I still have one of the Easter eggs on the needles so I might try and get that finished after handing in my project and textile mill and resist starting a new project before finishing it otherwise it won't be done until next Easter! I think my next project will be my neck-warmer/hat which I will probably start today.
Have a nice weekend!
Olivia
xxx

My super-duper Interview with Debbie Bliss!

Last weekend I thought that I might as well tweet Debbie Bliss to see if she would do an interview with me. It was worth a try! As you might well know she is one of the U.K's biggest supplier's of wool and she is by far my favourite knitting designer, especially for baby knits. Guess what! She said that she would love to. I was so excited!(still am!) And I am so excited to share it all with you. To make things even better, she's now a follower on our twitter page! How cool is that! So, here is the interview...

Q:When did you start to knit?
Debbie Bliss's A:I think I was about five years old.

Q:Who inspired you to start knitting?
A:My mother taught me to knit?

Q:Out of all your patterns which one is your favourite?
A: That's a hard one! Perhaps my bunny booties because they were in my first book Baby Knits.

Q:Do you still get a chance to knit?
A:The design process always begins with a sketch and then a knitted swatch.I also tend to have something small on the go for when I am travelling.

Q:What has been your worst knitting disaster?
A:There has been to many just to pick one!

Q:What is the knitting project that you are most proud of?
A:I can't think of a particular design but I am proud to have been associated with Save The Children the last two years with their Christmas Jumper campaign.

Q:How long does it take yo make a pattern?
A:After working on the design and swatches I send a spec sheet with all the measurements and details to a pattern compiler. It could take some hours, a day or longer depending on the complexity of the design.

Q:Which knitting designer has been your favourite to work with?
A:Melody Griffiths was the first Knitting Editor to commission work for me and we worked together for many years. She combined a love for traditional stitches with a fashion look and I found her work inspirational. Sadly she passed away a few years ago.

Q: Do you have any unfinished knitting projects?
A:At the moment, two bobble hats that need Pom Poms.

Q:Can you remember your first knitting project?
A:I think it was a red cardigan for my doll Betty.

Rowan Lima Neckwarmer

Hi!
Last week I bought some new wool for a new project from Love Knitting ( I f you haven't seen it before have a look. There is a link at the bottom of the post. It is my favourite online knitting shop and they do lovely free knitting patterns on their facebook page!). I am making a neckwarmer/hat from my favourite rowan knitting book, winter warmers. I haven't started yet because I have so many projects on the go but will have a go soon!
Have a nice new year!
Olivia

www.loveknitting.com/uk/

The christmas fair is over!

Hi,
I can't believe that it is all over! All our work that has gone into it, all my 143 hours of knitting! It couldn't of gone better though! All of my 31 baubles sold apart from 1. Maisie sold all of her 8 pieces of christmas bunting and 2 of her normal buntings. Although Maisie's work is over it's not all over for me as I have 2 orders still to do! I thought that it would be horrible letting all my work go, but actually it feels like a weight's off my shoulders! I hope you have a nice rest of your weekend!
Olivia
xxx

       

1 day left!

Only 1 day left! Ahhhhh!

2 days to go!!

4 days to go!

4 days to go until the Christmas fair!!

Big Knit!

Hi,

Hope you're having a great week so far and enjoying this beautiful weather!! 

In the last few weeks I've been KNITTING some hats for innocent smoothies (I can't believe I can actually knit and pearl!!!) Sadly, they didn't ask me personally (they would have asked Olivia anyway!) It's all part of the big knit, which is all part of helping the charity Age UK. Innocent have asked everyone to make or buy a little woolly hat from beginners to experts, and are hoping to get 1 million little hats. Innocent will give 25p of every bottle they sell to Age UK to help keep older people keep warm, well and safe this winter. If you what to help and join the big knit, click on the hyperlink at the bottom of the page and get knitting.

Have fun if you are having a go this year,  if not try again next year!( you've only got until Thursday so get knitting!!!!!) :)

Love Maisie xxx

Click here:

The Big Knit Link