Rico Cancan

I have always loved Paris.When Moulin Rouge came out in the cinema ,I couldn't wait to go & see it.I have never visited the Moulin Rouge ,but have a poster we bought in Paris depicting the show & the dancers.I really need to get it framed & hung on our dining room wall.

Rico have just brought out a new yarn,Cancan.

I was given a ball of it to try out by my dear friend Caroline who owns The Wool Bar.I thought I would give you a little insight into what it is like.

Rico Cancan comes in 200g balls.It is like a ribbon ,similar in type to fishnet stockings!It is 100% acrylic & feels similar to cotton.Its very soft to the touch .It knits up to make lovely ruffles which are ideal for a scarf. It replicates to me the frills on the dancers skirts.

Washing instruction are clearly written on the ball band & you can put it in the machine at 30degrees.It is not recommended that you tumble dry ,iron or use bleach on it.

The colourways are lovely.

The ball band comes with directions on how to use it ,recommended needle size which is 7-8mm.

The instructions on the ball band are quite small ,but then there is a lot of detail & some pictures.I have taken some of my own to show you how to use it.Please forgive the bad quality ,I took them quickly .

Rico recommend you finish the yarn by sewing the ends.I started by tying a knot in the end so it wasn't tempted to fray.I have to say it didn't appear to want to fray at all whilst I was knitting my scarf.

The yarn has a right & wrong side.It is important you work out which side is which as this helps the yarn to roll ,creating its curls.The wrong side is the one which rolls in on itself.

The right side is your cast on on side.This will face you as you cast on by picking up a few

threads at the top of the ribbon yarn.Do this at the recommended 4 cm space.To get the distance I measured & cut a gauge in the ball band.You don't have to be as anal as this but my judgement is not that good!

For a scarf that will be about 20cm wide ,pick up 7 stitches.

You then insert needle into the stitch & proceed to knit as for garter stitch .



Instead of wrapping the whole of the yarn around the working needle, catch a few threads at the top of the "ribbon"


The wrong side of the yarn will now face you as you work your garter stitch.


This is how it will look after one row...
Two rows & you can see the ruffle take shape. Repeat until you have reached the length required.Rico state that the yarn stretches with wear & gravity.

The yarn is very strong if you tug it lengthwise, but obviously it will rip if you catch it & it gets pulled across the width.It will take a certain amount of tugging that way & I think is good for its open delicate structure. During the knitting I used half a ball of the yarn.You will be able to get 2 scarves out of this & for approx £10 retail value ,is a bargain!

During the knitting I came across only one join .This was joined by being neatly sewn on the bias & became hidden in the ruffle.I was happy with that.

I cant wait to wear this.I bet it will be really warm & keep out the seaside wind.

I reckon this is going to be the big winter hit in knitting terms.You can get the yarn at Rico stockists.Mine obviously came from The Wool Bar who have a website(its my local yarn store & has great coffee & the most lovely staff!).If its not online yet ,you will be able to give Caroline a call & order it over the phone.She has most of the colours in stock at the moment ,but I warn you ,its going fast.I will be getting some more very soon.

I forgot to show you my new knitting basket...

Isn't it great.I got it from Matalan for a fiver!

It has no sharp bits on it to catch my yarn on & will hold a large project & yarn to stop it getting on the floor.I can let the yarn unravel in the basket avoiding the work picking up any fluff the hoover may have missed .

24 years ago.....

there was a bride & groom.....

Yes, its our wedding anniversary.Of course we are a just a bit older ,wiser ,with less hair(well not me) & a larger waistline.

We had such a fun filled day .Our parents worked so hard to enable us to have a good start in life with a memorable day.24 years later ,the little girl in the picture is now a mum herself,to not one ,but 3 lovely children.We have our own boys who are now grown men.Where has all the time gone?!!

Only a year now till our Silver Anniversary.I wonder what we will do to celebrate that?

Tonight my darling husband is taking me out for a meal.Shame I have such a bad back & now on top of that I have a massive stye in my eye & cannot put any make-up on.I feel a bit like an alien!!Will anyone notice if I wear dark glasses in the restaurant?!!!

Great British Seaside

Many years ago Mr T & I chose to live in a seaside town.We actually live very close to the beach with it really only being about a 150m away.Often those naughty seagulls wake us up early in the morning & we have had a pair of them nesting on our chimney pots this summer.
My friend Christine got a beach hut this year & we have spent more time on the beach at the beach hut.

There really is nothing like the great British seaside .Wind in your hair ,a warm woolly on & tucking into fish & chips wrapped in paper with lashings of salt & vinegar......heaven.

I have found me a little knitted beach hut door stop which I am going to make(eventually).Its by talented designer Suzie Johnson .Suzie is the talented lady who showed TV's ,Kirstie Allsop on Kirstie's Homemade Home ,how to knit & then made a door draught excluder for her children's nursery.

I cant wait to make this door stop.It just epitomises all things British to me.I love it.Here is the link on Ravelry where you can find the pattern.Membership to Ravelry is free if you are not already a member.

Hyperbolic random spike stitch flower....

I belong to an online Knitting website called Ravelry.On this there is so much information & support on how to make just about anything from yarn.It doesn't matter if you can knit or crochet,the site caters for all.

During a browse through the site I can across a group who crochet using random spike stitch.This is basically a single crochet but done into a row or rows below the row you are working on to give a spike effect.

I made these flowers using a pattern devised by the talented Sue Johnson.This lady writes a lovely blog & well worth a visit.She updates her blog daily & will introduce you into the world of colour & texture through crochet.

I had great fun sitting making these & they only take a short time.I used the DK yarn with 2 strands together & the Noro which is an aran weight ,as a single strand.I have not used Noro before .The little bit I used was given to me by my friend Caroline who owns The Wool Bar.She told me to make something gorgeous with it!!Its silk & feels lovely.


What do you think?!!

Ta da!!

Here is my big Ta Da!!!!!

At Knit & Natter at my LYS ,The Wool Bar we have been making a hanging basket filled with knitted Strawberry plants.

The project was to decorate the front of the shop.My lovely friend Caroline who owns the shop was kept in the dark about the progress of the project (which was no mean feat!!).Every one regardless of knitting ability was able to make a contribution to the basket .It was such a lovely project for us all to be involved in & all money in the shop raised for charity will go to the Breast Cancer Care charity.

The strawberry pattern if you would like to make some is here

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/strawberry_...

The pattern for the large leaf from the book “100 flowers to knit & crochet ” by Lesley Stanfield ,is ideal.

I knitted the leaf as described in the pattern ,making the i-cord to a length of approx 5”.I then made two more leaves without the “stem” or i-cord & sewed these either side of the stemmed leaf. The following pattern is the large leaf pattern; Cast on 3 stitches & make cord using 2 double pointed needles.Knit 3 stitches then without turning , start next row by sliding the knitting along to the left & bring yarn behind the work to start new row.This will form the i-cord.Continue for middle leaf to make stem for approx 4-5 inches.
continue for rest of leaf as follows

1st row (rs) k1,yo,k1,yo,k1.5sts 2nd row k2,p1,k2.When knitting the yo stitch ,knit into back of stitch,this prevents a hole from forming.

3rd row k2,yo,k1,yo,k2.7sts

4th,6th,8th,10th,12th,and 14th rows,k working centre st p1.

5th row k3,yo,k1,yo,k3.9sts

7th row k4,yo,k1,yo,k4.11sts

9th row k5,yo,k1,yo,k5.13 sts

11th row k6,yo,k1,yo,k6.15 sts

13th row k7,yo,k1,yo,k7.17 sts

15th row k17 16th & WS rows k

17th row k2 tog,k13,k2tog.15 sts

19th row k2 tog ,k11,k2tog.13 sts

21st row k2tog,k9,k2tog.11sts

23rd row k2tog,k7,k2tog.9sts

25th row k2tog,k5,k2tog.7sts

27th row k2tog,k3,k2tog.5sts

29th row k2tog,k1,k2tog.3 sts

31st row S1,k2tog,psso.fasten off remaining stitch.

Sew ends of yarn in.Sew the two leaves without stems to the stemmed leaf ,either side ,sewing a third of the way up the leaf edge to make the 3 lobed strawberry leaf..

The little strawberry flowers were made by Sarah at K & N .They were gorgeous & she used the most beautiful yarn that was most probably silk!Sarah made the pattern herself for this flower but there is a similar one in the 100 flowers book.Its also the one I used to make the blossoms on the Mary Janes in the previous post.

It took me a week to wire the leaves ,flowers & strawberries & assemble the basket.The underneath is made up of a very expensive felted Noro tank top that I cut up into leaves to make a supporting framework.I had the basket hanging in my very messy craft room all set up at the right height so I could just go in & work on it for ten minutes or so as my back would allow.

Here are the girls.......Rose (with the strawberry & wire cutters!!) & Gwen

Closest to the camera is Penny ,then Rita & Rita's daughter.

The girls at Knit & Natter were really chuffed with the end result ,Caroline loved it & was totally surprised & I was so pleased they all liked the way I put their hard work together.

If you would like to see it for yourself ,just visit The Wool Bar in Worthing! There is always a warm welcome & lots of scrumptious yarn & patterns to make your dreams reality.

Gutermann thread treat!

I popped into town today with a friend to the local fabric shop.I spied there these tins of Gutermann threads .I just had to treat myself ,but at £5.99 with 4 threads inside ,it was a bargain!

Don't forget to pop back later for the unveiling of the surprise!!

Crochet Blossoms

Over last week I made some little cotton Mary Jane baby booties.I made them out of some lovely Creative cotton Pearle dk yarn.They looked a little plain so I croched some blossom flowers to go on the front of them.

The blossoms were made using the magic slip knot method.You then make 9 SC into the loop & pull the loop tight.This forms the centre of the blossom.Into the first sc ,4 treble crochet then the next sc ,ss1.Continue around the centre .Once you get to the last space you should have 5 petals.Fasten off.Stitch to whatever you wish to decorate!

The weather over the weekend has been foul.Last night we had torrential rain.I spent the whole weekend indoors.It did help as it made me rest my back.I also made a start on my Debbie Bliss winter coat.Its the riding coat by Debbie Bliss.I am knitting it in moss stitch.I know its going to take longer being made in moss stitch ,but its gives the fabric much more substance.I am now going to start searching for just the right buttons for it.When you spend a lot of money on yarn for a garment ,its so worth the extra effort.I cant wait to show you how I am getting on with it.I have done just 11 rows so far of the back .I would like to get it finished by October as Debbie will be visiting The Wool Bar on 14th October

I also have something else I have been assembling which I cant wait to show you ,but its a secret at the moment! Shh ,don't tell anyone!!!!I will show you after tomorrow.Make sure you drop by again.You mustn't miss it!!

Celebrity Masterchef Winner 2010

Yay,

my prediction came true!!!Lisa won as those of you who watched the programme will know.

They all did so well.The food was stunning.

I have found a link here to all the recipes. I will definitely be trying Lisa's Panacotta recipe.I have never had it & so want to try.I also liked the look of Dick's Rhubarb crumble tart.

Mr T & I have decided that Christine is the double of our Weight Watchers leader,Dawn.Even her mannerisms are similar!!How canny is that!

I have just had such a yummy breakfast of fresh figs & porridge & a very large mug of tea.I always have the same breakfast but usually with a banana sliced on the top.Yesterday however Mr T picked over 40 very ripe figs off our tree in the garden.Its gone mad,never seen it so laden & with such large fruit.In over 10 years of living here this is the first time we have eaten it .

I am going to have to find a recipe to make fig chutney I think.We cannot possibly eat all these figs & I have already given some away .We also have an abundance of Chilli's.Fig & Chilli chutney anyone!

Lucy Bags.

I just realised as I was writing the previous post ,that I still haven't showed you the Lucy Bags I have made.These are from a very creative lady who writes Attic 24 blog.

The Lucy bags were made from Creative Rico Cotton ,which is an aran weight.Comes in lovely scrumptious colours & is available at The Wool Bar. It forms a lovely firm fabric .Lucy has a description of her pattern here.Have a browse through her little blog.Its really lovely.

Here are some pictures of the bags I have created.

Top Viewing

Over the past few weeks ,I have been watching Celebrity Masterchef.Now although generally in our household ,I don't cook,Mr T does,its not that I cant ,which is contrary to his belief!Mr T does enjoy cooking & I also think he secretly enjoys winding me up by secretly adding things to what I am cooking or re stirring something when I have just stirred it.Now you know why I leave it to him!!I can cook & do it quite well.I did the whole Domestic Goddess thing at school & gained an A level in it!I have also cooked for a very famous person who then went on to become the Home Secretary.Thank goodness I didn't poison him!

Masterchef is great.My cousin took part in a Masterchef heat.Bless him ,he was so nervous ,I am surprised anything got on the plate he was shaking so much.Needless to say he was thrown out.He put salad from a bag on his plate & the judges were not impressed.

Anyhoo ,I digress.This years Celebrity Masterchef has been really good.The contestants have completed some really difficult dishes.Watching the penultimate programme last night ,I so think Lisa Faulkner could win the competition.The Champagne Caviar she made is very technical & I was amazed at the Tiramisu pudding she created.I just wish she would stop crying.!!! Christine I reckon could be second & then Dick.All could just change places though.

Its so exciting.....cant wait for tonight's episode......

I had to look up how to make the "Caviar" , so here is the link to a blog that explains it uses & how it is made.All very clever.