Knitting with Beads

Sometimes I really disappoint myself. I spent two hours – only TWO – standing with a collecting tin at York station yesterday. I felt pretty chilled at the end of my stint and walked home at a brisk pace to warm up. I had some soup for lunch. Yet I’ve come down with a cold like a character in an Austen/Bronte novel. Honestly!

I was collecting for the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society and really heartened by the generosity of the passersby. There was one wonderful lady who donated a nice crisp fiver. Thank you so much!

Since I felt a bit poorly in the afternoon I did some work on my Mystery Shawl KAL. There’s an option to add beads to the border and, since I’m not that keen on the thing so far, I thought I’d use it as my first beaded project. I’d popped into Craft Basics on Tuesday and bought some nice shiny black size 8′s so I was all set. Well, I’m (crochet) hooked! What a satisfying experience!

Of course I’m thinking about what I could do next and I have a suspicion it’s going to be pink with beads.

I’m collecting for the YBPSS again next Thursday in the city centre, but I’ll dress warmer. Now where’s my Urchin?

Fledglings

I’m very happy to say that some knitty folk have bought my yarn!  I spent last week busily creating more stock and braved the rain on Friday to replenish my basket at Sunday Nest:

I’m working on some very pretty laceweight and all sorts of sock yarn. A skein or two of these would make a nice gift at this time of year.

My first Cascade 220 sweater has left my circular needles and it’s keeping me snug and warm.

I love the yarn and I certainly wouldn’t mind walking into a shop that stocked the full range.  In fact I wouldn’t mind owning that shop, so listen up, fairy godmother, and grant my wish!

A Comfy Nest

My yarns have found a comfy nest! Since last week they’ve been on sale at the “dinky but delightful” Sunday Nest in York.  This is a new shop selling handpicked haberdashery (including some very interesting vintage pieces) and gifts – and now my yarn.

The shop is upstairs in Me & Mrs Fisher, a wonderful cake and coffee shop in Lord Mayor’s Walk.

Picture by Jane, owner of Sunday Nest

Notice the brick wall? A happy coincidence. And it’s a building with a very well known gable end.

So I’ve been knitting up a few samples to show what can be done with my yarns, particularly the chunky wrap.  This cowl, based on Cowl’d and Frosty Morning by Kelly Herdrich, took only an hour or so to knit.

I absolutely adore these cabled fingerless mitts, designed by Joelene Wiggins and Allison Blevins:

It’s a shame I have to let them go. The items are in nice autumn colours: brown, red and orange. There’s my Bonfire Beret, too:

This is my second knit of Ysolda’s Urchin and I think I’ll be making more …