Spicy Squares Throw - Latest design for Simply Knitting

 

 

I was rather pleased when Simply Knitting asked if I could create rich, spicy colours for this month's design as I've been planning to make a throw in these colours for some time but never quite got round to it (nothing new there!).

We own a lovely blanket, handknitted by Pete's Nana as a going away present when he went to University. That was, erm, let's just say quite a few years ago, and it is looking a bit "well-loved " (which it has been). Not only that, but now that Will is nearly as big as his Dad, there just isn't enough of it to go round so we all try to curl up under it and fight over who gets to sit in the middle as they get the warmest spot!

So, as soon this blanket makes its way back to Tomkies Towers it will be an excellent addition to our living room and will hopefully be as well-loved as its companion.

(Of course, then it will be two blankets between three of us - hmmm, I feel another design may be required....)

Ooh and nearly forgot, there are two lovely new shades in our squishy Bluefaced Leicester Aran yarn, Paprika and Cinnamon and, even more exciting, all the shades are on offer at £8 instead of £8.90 per 100g skein.

Make It Monday Tweet Prize!

A little something for my Twitter followers today! If you already follow me on Twitter, you can re-tweet my "Make It Monday" tweet for a chance to win one of my Kool Aid Funky Dye Kits. If you're not a Twitter follower yet, add me to your follows and I'll include you in the prize draw too : )

(You'll find me as dtcrafts - not very imaginative but easy to find at least!).

Holiday - the final day

It might have been the last day but we were determined to enjoy it! A trip to Padstow for souvenir (er, well, fudge and chocolate) purchases, Cornish pasties (what else?) and a going home present for me of a hand-drawn henna tattoo. I've always fancied a real one but I can't think of one design I'd want to have for the rest of my days so I went for the more flexible alternative. I think I shall have to learn how to do henna painting myself as I could get seriously into this!




There was also a rather unexpected, last-minute surprise.

Sitting in Padstow harbour was the Dawn Treader! Yes, for Narnia fans out there, I can report that the next installment is on the way and there is, indeed, a full-size Dawn Treader. And you could go on board too, how totally cool! Doesn't it look amazing?



Oh, and just before we left the house the boys wanted a picture of their cereal tower. I could try to explain how this was a prototype for a chimney to send carbon emissions outside the galaxy to solve the global warming problem but you'd probably think we were bonkers. It is, however, a lot of cereal for three people to have eaten in a week!

Club pics August - Red Rubin

In between busy shows, teaching at Knit Camp and the school holidays, I was planting up my first dye garden (more of which to follow). I hadn’t thought of basil as a dyeplant but apparently there are lovely yellows and greens to be had from the flower tops. Even if they don’t pan out, I can always use plenty of basil and this one, Red Rubin, has the most fabulous deep red-burgundy-purple leaves, perfect for a yarn colourway! So August's colourway was Red Rubin, after my new seedlings (which, incidentally, are still alive although a bit windswept by the recent weather).

To show off the glossy tones of the basil leaves I chose shiny fibres ; )

Merino/tencel for Sock Club members...

Roving Medley was a lovely merino/tencel roving....

And for Fibre Adventure Club members - merino/tencel roving, cheviot fleece and a gorgeous mini-braid of lustrous, pure kid mohair.

Club pics June - Game, Set & Match

A whistle-stop tour of the last few month's clubs starting with June...

For sock clubbers - alpaca/wool/nylon blend - almost too soft to part with : )

Roving medley was an equally soft organic merino/alpaca blend. The alpaca is a natural pale beige which lends interesting extra tone to the colourway.

And Fibre Adventure Club for June was a tasty blend of organic merino/alpaca roving, romney fleece and some gorgeous baby camel/silk roving.

The inspiration for this month (in case you hadn't guessed!), was Wimbledon. (Wow, those hot, sunny days are like a distant memory!).