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!

Is it a Sheep? No! It's a Horse!!

Well, it's been a busy day. I had the first of my appointments today that I mentioned yesterday. There's something about appointments, even if they're GOOD, that makes me get all worked up and anxious. So, just to ease the stress a little, after the appointment, hubby and I visited a second hand store with a neighbour and look what I came home with!!!



That's right. A rocking horse for the cats!! It also doubles up as a handy 'step' to help them get onto the bedroom window!

Yes, I know I'm daft. But it made me feel really good! Retail therapy for the furries. You can't beat it!

So I'm now off to relax with a book, ready to make noticeable progress with my shawl tomorrow. I may even get a photo of it posted on here.
Stay tuned and keep challenging yourselves to new things. Email me with any photos of your own knitting or wool related hobby and I'll be happy to post them on here if you'd like to share them.
Back soon.

Fair Isle Jumper for Sale

Hi again folks!
For anyone following the progress of the shawl I am knitting in natural shades of Shetland wool, I am happy to report that I am almost finished the third quarter so it may not be too long before it's finished and on the stretcher. But I have several appointments this week that will very annoyingly keep me from my needles!!
However, I would like you to feast your eyes on this gorgeous HAND KNITTED Fair Isle jumper made by my very talented niece Victoria.



Victoria, who is also a brilliant artist, has an exceptional eye for colour blending as this beautiful garment shows. I have never actually seen these colours used together on a Fair Isle jumper before. It is finished to a high standard, both inside and out.
At Victoria's request I am offering this jumper for sale for the very reasonable price of £180. If you do an online search of HAND KNITTED Fair Isle jumpers you will see that they can sell for a much higher price. Machine knitted ones are cheaper for obvious reasons.

The measurements are as follows:-
Underarm to underarm (or as we say in Shetland "oxter to oxter") - 20 inches
Oxter to rib - 14 inches
Back of neck to rib - 26 inches
Oxter to cuff - 21 inches

Here's a closer look at the colours and pattern..........



And I love the way the rib, neck and cuffs are worked..........



The jumper can be sent to anywhere in the world but please contact me if you are interested in buying so I can let you know the postage and packaging cost for your country. And of course because this is a one-off garment it is being sold on a "first come first served" basis so the first person to email me will be given first offer.
Should you have any questions at all please email me by clicking on the sign at the top right hand side of my blog.
Please also let your friends and relatives see this jumper. Someone would LOVE it as a birthday present!! Or even a Valentine gift!
Catch up with you soon. Hopefully with photos of my shawl on the stretcher!
Thank you for popping by. Feel free to leave a comment to say you were here and follow to be kept up to date with all things "woolly Shetland"!
Until next time, keep on clicking!

A Fair Isle Recipe ( Of Sorts!)

Hi again, if this is your first visit to my woolly blog then a very warm welcome. If you are a follower or regular visitor, then thanks for popping by again. You are always welcome back!
Anyone who knows me will be aware of my love of books and my inability to pass by an old Fair Isle garment knitting pattern and I have a great one to share with you today.
Here's the front of it.....



I found this one on a well-known online auction site and just HAD to buy it.
You know how it is!

There are three things I really love about this little leaflet.
First of all, it has those three gorgeous child's beret designs to choose from.
Secondly, there are NO CHARTS!
I know some people are great with knitting charts and even prefer them to knitted instructions, but for me a chart is a little bit like reading ancient history. It's all Greek to me!!!
And finally something that made me smile. I think this is so cute! Look at the picture below and see what they call the 'instructions' for the patterns.....



RECIPES!!!
Isn't that just fab!
I've never seen knitting instructions being called 'recipes' before! But I think it's just so delightful and amusing.

On the back page of the leaflet they advertise 4 other leaflets. Here are the designs for those, plus a close up of the three beret designs.












If you'd like any information on these please email me and I will try to help you out.
I hope you're enjoying my blog posts. Please tell me if there is something in particular you would like me to write about on the subject of Shetland or Fair Isle knitting, wool and sheep.
Until next time, stay on the creative side of the street!!!

A Belated Happy New Year

Happy new Year and a warm welcome to my new followers!!
I'm running a little behind my planned schedule as I wasn't very well at the start of this year but I'm doing fine now and plan to get back into my knitting next week. Better late than never eh?
As a new year dawns I always challenge myself to learn a new skill or take up a new or 'revised' hobby! This year I would like to try calligraphy and Zentangles! Anyone tried Zentangles? They really look fun!
I have also joined "GOODREADS" online and have challenged myself to read at least 50 books this year. Well,so far, I'm already two ahead of myself! I wonder how long that will last ha ha!!
Please feel free to join me at Goodreads.It's a great site with loads of inspiration, reviews, members etc. I like historical fiction, history, biography and autobiography and am very interested in Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.

I will update my knitting progress soon and add any new photos or news with my next post.
Please share your hobby plans for this year so we can all be encouraged to try something new!
Until next time, keep busy and happy.