A birthday gift

 

I like to make handmade gifts, I am already planning for Christmas gifts; well its Auntie Bettys birthday today.   Happy Birthday to you..

A few weeks ago I thought I’d made this very simple lace scarf for a birthday gift.  I prefer to crochet rather than to knit and I’ve not tried lace knitting before.  The pattern looks simple, short rows only 39 stitches, with a 16 row repeat and only one skein of yarn so why not. 

It wasn’t all plan sailing and I did make a few errors – I’d forget which row I was on and would get frustrated.  I finished it a couple of weeks ago and then had to block it. [Stretching wetting and drying]

 

You can see from this photo that you can see the pattern until it’s stretched out

 

So I thread my blocking wires through the edge, lay a towel on the floor ( I have limited space that suitable and that's cat free!!), pin and then spray with clean water and leave to dry.  This only works with natural fibres.

 

 

TaDah the final scarf 

 

 

 

MummyHen X

 

Distractions…

Wanted to post this earlier but I got a little distracted.

Ta Dah – Cornish Mice finished.  Not too sure about the face of the boy mouse but they are done and I am happy with them.  I don’t really like doing fiddly but I did enjoy these two little mice.

 

I have finished another knitting project but the ta dah will have to wait as it’s a gift and I know the beneficiary visits here!?!?

Gift for a new bloggy friend Fostermummy – the pleasure is all mine in the giving.

 

The distraction – another of my interests is genealogy. Overnight I had an email from someone who was looking for information about my mums’ side of the family. An email or two later just to confirm she was not name hunting and we had a real connection; yeah.  I have found another distant cousin in Australia.  As a result I spent the most of today, between meetings (I do work – yes really I do), looking at the information she sent about one of mums Gt Aunts (Granddads sister; Mum was brought up by her maternal Granddad & Grandma); the family (Mum & Dad plus 7 children) went unassisted to Australia in 1889 only to returned in 1896 (still not 100% sure why; perhaps Leslie (new cousin) will be able to shed some light). I do like a mystery.  Two of the older children stayed in Australia and two returned a few years later after marrying in England. 

Off to see mum at the weekend so will have to pick her brains to see if she and her sister can remember anything more.

Do you have old photos of your ancestors – I find them so interesting; the style of dress, the way they look; the formality of the photo; just wonderful ephemera

MummyHen X

Are you sitting comfortably? Then let the games begin

Well I have a few UFOs that need to be completed so I shall take the opportunity over the next two weeks to finish the three UFO that I have on the go. Olympics on the tele, may be a glass of vino bad idea as mistakes happen after too much vino, cup of green tea, feet up, hook or needle in hand; sounds like a plan.

I did manage 30mins in the garden today; work has been absolutely manic the past few weeks so not much time for me; I managed to do a full repeat of a knitting project (can't say much as the recipient reads this blog).

I also managed to hook up some squares for bloggy friends bloggy blankets – not sure if the colours or if the sizes will work but I have some ideas of design.

I have a half-finished mouse that’s waiting to be stuffed and be born – so I think he’ll take priority as his companion mouse has been waiting for some time for her mate.

MummyHen X