Center Parcs

I've just got back from a rather wonderful hollybols at Longleat Center Parcs. It was a fun packed week with all my chums and I wish it hadn't ended!


Its been an absolute age since I did any yarn bombing. I was actually starting to feel like a bit of a fraud when talking to people about it. This holiday was the perfect opportunity to get stuck in again. I've been making large pieces on the knitting machine - its the only thing its good for to be honest - and had one stripey number which would look perfect on a tree. On the cycle path near our villa I donned this lovely tree with its new woolly attire.

Actually, I was not the first to yarn up there. I forgot to get a pic but there were some pieces there done by  Handy Roach


P.S. I've got well into Instagram lately so a lot of my pics will now have a sepia tone!

A scary way to use up scraps

We had a mega tidy and sort out last weekend, which meant I had to do a job I had been putting off for a while - tidying up my yarn stash! I had a rummage through my yarn box and found several unfinished projects a fair few ball of un-started yarn and countless more balls that are either left over from bigger projects or I've inherited from generous peeps. I also have bags of yarn snippets left over from all the colour work I've done. I daren't throw any away - it could be useful one day! Instead of getting on and clearing out the cupboard under the sink, I thought a much better use of my time would be to knit up some of these odd bits of stash.

Enter Scrap Monster!

Its ok... don't be scared, she can’t get you - she hasn't got any arms! She just likes to intimidate with her menacing stare.

I made up the pattern myself (I know, get me!!!!). It’s just a rectangle with extensions for the ears, fold in half, add some tubes for legs and Taa Daaa. I'd knit the body quite tight, using 5mm needle on yarn recommended for 6mm so instead of using toy stuffing I used the yarn snippets. As the knit is so tight, the multicolour snippets don't show through.

During my rummage I also found a monster kit that Paul and Nicole had given to me several birthdays ago. I’m ashamed to say I’d completely forgotten about it. To keep Scarp Monster company I made it up. Haven’t got a name yet though so suggestions are very welcome.

Somethings for Me

One of my New Years resolutions is to make more things for myself.
I've done pretty well in the first month -

Fingerless Gloves with fancy buttons (pattern from Knit Today)

Chunky and Cosy Cowl. I made this with three strands of aran weight yarn on fat 12mm needles and this pattern: http://ttwcreative.blogspot.com/2009/02/new-free-cowl-pattern.html

and I finally finished the jumper I started last summer

I'm super chuffted with all of these but particularly the jumper, it fits like a dream and is one of the biggest and most technical things I've made. As perusual the pattern came via Ravelry: http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/9/Issue9.php

Doctor Who knit bits

We went to the Doctor Who experience for Rob's BDay. It was lots of fun and I got to be Navigator on the Tardis!
There was an exhibition part featuring all the outfits of Past Doctors and their assistants. Now we can all remember Tom Baker's massive scarf but I was very pleased to see knits have featured in other ways throughout the 11 Doctor's appearances.
Here they are:

Tim Koh gets tached

Just got back from seeing the wonderful Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. Got in a better spot than at ATP. Unfortunately the dumb Thekla cut their set short so they could kick everyone out for a stupid club night.


Managed to give Tim Koh a finger tache though. Super chuffed, he seemed like a really really nice chap.

Cottage Inn Space Invader

We went out on the Tower Belle to Beese's tea rooms for my Birthday celebrations on Good Friday. We headed to the Cottage Inn for booze and chips afterwards. I popped up an old favourite while we were there with the help of Sailor Cat.

I popped over the next day and it had been turned round. That happens to allot of my yarn bombs actually - strange.

Nanna does Africa

Well, Well, Well, I have 3 reasons to celebrate today.

1.  Its me Birfday
2.  I’m back in the wonderful Brizzle after our holly bols in South Africa
3. I managed to do 3 Yarn Bombs while I was away!

I had an incident at Heathrow when I forgot to move my knitting from my hand luggage to my suitcase. I had to chuck a pair of needles. Luckily within 1 hr of landing in Johannesburg, I was able to pick up a replacement pair – RESULT.

The pieces I put up are technically not great, but their positioning is pretty impressive.

First up, an old faithful at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. These are very impressive buildings that house the SA government and president offices. Jacob Zuma could well have been watching me as I attacked his grounds! The buildings look out over a really beautiful large sloping garden and here is where Nanna’s SA yarn bomb No. 1 was placed.

We were staying with and being guided around by Gareth, my Dad’s mate from their Uni days. He was really enthusiastic about the yarn bombing and encouraged me to make up a couple of pieces of the SA National Park’s logo – the Kudu.

Here is the logo

Here is a Kudu we saw in Kruger Park (check out those curly horns!)

 And here is my Graffiti

This is positioned in the Berg en Dal rest camp, a short walk from reception. Dad hid me while I was putting it up but as soon as we walked away some rather intrigued staff members started fiddling with it. It was still there when we left though.

Last of all I put another Kudu logo up at the Royal Natal park in the Drakensberg Mountains. It’s a triffic place for walks with some spectacular views. Although this is not technically the logo for this park, I still think it works.

In gratitude for Gareth’s enthusiasm I also did a little sampler of a Rainbow trout to live at his Trout Farm near Dullstroom. Will add a pic shortly.

You can probably tell from the pics above that I only took a few different coloured yarns with me. I also made the majority of the peices in the back of a Landrover hurtling down the N3 and N1.