I Knit with Ann Kingstone

Yesterday was my birthday. I had a great day and the highlight was the fab afternoon spent at the shop with Ann Kingstone and other friends. Ann travelled from the north to launch her new book Novel Knits. We had a great time with lots of tea and cake and knitting and a light sprinkling of cider and wine. Below (sorry about the pictures but I had to use my phone as I left the camera sim card at home!) is Ann posing with her book and some of the garments that gorgeously decorated the shop for the afternoon.

Here is some of the cake. I attempted to pretend that I baked these two but I had to admit, eventually, that as I didn't have time I went to Konditor and Cook. Anyway, they were gorgeous, as were the home baked cakes from Liz, Maggie, Jan and Sevitry and thanks to Yvonne for the sandwiches. There was so much cake, as usual, that I have a bit of a sugar hangover today.
Anyway, the book! Novel Knits is fantastic and I'm so proud to know yet another fantastic British designer and I recommend this book very, very much. You can buy it from our online shop. Or if you prefer an electronic PDF version you can buy that from Ravelry! I believe that the US publication of the book is imminent, also!
This is Pemberley. It is inspired by Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. It is really stunning and I think when Ann visited us a couple of months ago, on the day of the first sock club party, she was actually knitting it.
This is Lissuin, inspired by Tolkien. Lissuin is a sweet smelling flower! This sweater is stunning, so much so that Sandra could not contain her excited so snatched it and ran to the basement only to return a minute later to model it for us.

There is so much in the book and they are all stunning, really. There are gloves inspired by the unbreakable curse from JK Rowlings' Harry Potter!

You should buy this book!

back to knitting

so, I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was brilliant. There was a couple of slow bits but I loved it nonetheless.
Now, it's back to knitting. I'd had most of this week off but I did finish the second pair of socks in a row. They are presents and although they were not ready in time I think they will still be welcome. I blame some knackers on a train for ruining my mojo on the fourth sock, I had to rip it back, honestly I believe in democracy and freedom of speech but when it comes to travel I think people should sit some kind of behaviour test. Either that or the national curriculum should include parenting lessons. Or both! The socks are in Easy Knits exclusive colours, they go out to the sock club this week and then the shop will be stocked with the most fantastic range of colours I've seen, Realease the Stars is my favorite, I wish I had had the yarn with me at Glastonbury..."The more that you fight, then the more they will scrutinize and realize just your size, And believe me, you are no match for the public that has seen no ?? Didn't you know that old Hollywood is over?"
I also rediscovered my Victorian Lace Today - I have stalled on my second scarf as I got to the final stage and realised there was a pattern error in the first section! Anyway - I'm going to finish that gorgeous peach Habu Silk scarf this week.
Reading Harry Potter has reminded me how much I miss reading and I will endevour to read more as I knit. Any tips would be most welcome...
I just watched a program on BBC1 called The Great British Village Show and oh how I wish I had time to make jam and grow marrows! I have never made it a secret that I would love to be part of a WI - is it sexism that excludes me?

Gxx

Harry Potter

Recently I have been using this blog as way of confessing, remember - Hello, my name is gerard and I am 34?
Well, today I would like to tell those reading that I love Harry Potter. I've read eveyone and I was very excited to be purchasing the last book last Saturday morning. I sat on a very busy train and sank out of a hangover as I dived straight in. I have ben reading the last book very slowly - I can admit to crying, cheering and biting my nails with anxiety, jubilation and dread.
I am about 150 pages from the end of the book and while I want it to go on forever I can't wait til I get to the end!
other big news this week - Craig is on ravelry. Whatever! Oh and SnB, did we mention that? we've barely slept all week.
Gxx