The Shawl is Finished and on The Stretcher!

I am happy to tell you I have FINALLY finished knitting the shaded shawl in the natural colours of Shetland fleece and last night me and hubby put it on the stretcher. (We ALMOST fell out at one point, but managed to stay friends!!) I just have one scarf to finish now for the local show at the beginning of August. The other two scarves are done. One is already washed and 'dressed', (I'll post a photo of that as well.) The other just needs that final treatment.
I've got one of 3 jars of different types of chutney made, my strawberry jam which I hope will do well again this year after taking the best in show trophy a couple of years ago. My rhubarb jam is also made, which now just leaves 7 jams and preserves to make.
I am submitting 12 photographs which have been ordered and should arrive soon.
Phew!! I'm exhausted just writing about it!!! lol
So I maybe won't get another post on here til after the show, which is the first Saturday in August. I'm hoping to have something to report back about by then!
In the meantime, thanks for stopping by, please comment or say you've been and where you came from. I love visiting other peoples' blogs too.

And this is the photo I'm submitting in the 'digitally enhanced photo' section of the show........

Stay cool and creative folks!

Three Quarters of the Shawl Finished

I'm very chuffed to say that I've got three quarters of my shawl knitted and I'm quite pleased with how it's looking. I really didn't think when I started it that it would go so well and almost ""boo-hoo"" free!!
Here's a photo......



Today I've been thinking of what I need to get knitted for the local shows this year. Where I live there is a local show that takes place just over our garden fence! Not far to travel to that one. The year before last I came home with 5 rosettes and a trophy. The trophy was for "Best in Show" jam. It was strawberry jam and I think the jar was empty next day!!
Last year I had been ill for several months and didn't manage to get anything made to enter. Hoping this year I'll manage knitwear, chutney, jam, maybe some artwork too. We'll see. The lace shawl and some scarves is my main goal.
Well, I'd better press on. I've got holes to make in some knitting!!See you again soon.
Until then, stretch your boundaries and discover new heights!

Further Progress on my Shawl

Hi, just a quick update today after taking a couple of photos of my progress. I apologize for the pics not being completely blur free but I have a problem with my joints at the moment and I have a little difficulty holding the camera still. Yes, I should have used the tripod!! But I hope you like what you see nevertheless.




The borders are actually sewn together using herringbone stitch once the shawl is completed but I have 'butted' them up to meet each other just to give you the idea of how the colours come together. I'm off to do some more knitting! Back soon!

Start of New Shaded Hap Shawl

Hi, I'm happy to report I've made a start on my new shaded shawl today. In Shetland we call a shawl a "hap" so I will probably just refer to it as that from now on. Here's a pic of the few rows I've done. This hap begins in the centre and then works out to the border and peaks, as in the photo in a previous post ( just scroll down).



I'm not exactly sure yet how I'll use the colours and I'll probably use a couple more shades as well. These are lovely natural colours of Shetland sheep and the wool knits beautifully.
Watch this space for my next installment plus photos from The Wool Brokers.

Stay creative!

Welcome To My Knitting Blog!

I decided to start a knitting blog because I aim to work mainly in Shetland lace and other Shetland wools and I thought others may find that interesting.
But let me begin by showing you a couple of reprinted Shetland postcards depicting hardy Shetland women from generations back,walking home from the peat hill with a "kishie" of peats on their backs and knitting their Fair Isle garments or lace scarves or shawls as they go! These women were certainly a breed all their own! I can't see many women or young ones today being able or willing to tackle such chores in this way, but to them it was a way of life. It was all they knew. Their husbands would have been away at the fishing or perhaps the whaling and they were left at home to see to the children (often large families too!), making sure the winter fuel of peat was safely taken home and then they also earned a little extra money by way of knitting, or 'makkin' as it is known in Shetland.
Here are the postcards.......



My current project though is a gilet for my hubby. He chose the pattern and the wool and I should be able to finish it in the next few days. This is the pattern and wool. The colours are gorgeous and very suited to this time of year as we seem to be saying goodbye to the summer we never had and are being blown quickly into autumn!!



Once I finish the gilet I am going to start learning how to knit a Shetland shawl. I think the pattern below is the one I will use. It's beautiful and will look stunning in the natural shaded colours of Shetland wool.

What do you think?





Off now for a cup of tea and to knit a few rows on the gilet.
Please call back or start following now to keep up to date and find out more about Shetland and it's world famous wool!