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Hello and thanks for visiting my blog. I have been knitting on and off for 50 years and I recently learned to crochet. I love looking for wool bargains and making them into something useful. I mainly knit for charity. I occasionally knit for myself and family members if I find a really good pattern or if they ask nicely!!

Saturday 25 January 2014

Grow Your Blog Party 2014



Welcome to all my old and new readers.  I'm taking part in this year's Grow Your Blog Party which is hosted by Vicki at the 2 Bags Full blog.  This is a great event which helps to introduce bloggers to each other.  It worked for me in 2013 when my blog was still quite new.  I'm hoping to find many more blogs to follow this year.

I have lived in London, UK, all my life and am a very busy person.  I used to work full time in a library until 2011 when my employer decided that making me and 25 other colleagues redundant was part of the solution to the world's economic problems. Luckily, I was just the right age to take early retirement, so I now work only one day per week in a library and the rest of the week is spent enjoying a new lease of life. 

After a few weeks getting used to being a lady of leisure, I had the brainwave to return to knitting which I used to do many years ago.  I had given away all my knitting needles and didn't have one ball of wool in the house.  I restocked my needles, built up a good collection of wool and the rest is history.

I started my blog at the end of 2012 mainly to record my knitting projects.  I used to have a gardening blog with a total of 6 followers.  I didn't have any higher expectations for my knitting blog, so reaching the dizzy heights of nearly 100 followers has amazed me.  The figure is only approximate as some of my followers use Bloglovin', some use Google Friend Connect, some use Ravelry and some follow me through other blogs.  

If you have come to my blog as a new reader, I would love you to follow me.  I write about knitting, crochet and sewing.  Knitting is my first love and I have been doing it for over 50 years.  I am a competent sewer and occasionally make girls' dresses for charity and tops for myself.  I am teaching myself to crochet and very slowly making some progress.  

I don't think one day goes by without me picking up knitting needles or a crochet hook.  I mainly make things for various charities and seem to concentrate on blankets, hats, scarves, and babywear.  I sometimes make things for my family and just recently I vowed to make my own knitwear instead of buying it.  That could be interesting!

I find that reading other blogs and seeing what other people make is very inspiring. I follow many many blogs and have "met" some lovely, generous, helpful bloggers.   There are some great blogs out there!  I love reading them and looking at the amazing photos.  Let's all have a great party in 2014!


44 comments:

  1. it's kind of my dream to be made redundant so I can craft ;0) I think it might be a bit of a financial problem mind... Nice to meet you!

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    1. I was very lucky in that I qualified for early retirement by just one month when the redundancies were announced. Otherwise I would have had money problems as well. There is a good work/life balance for anyone who can afford to work part time.

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  2. Good morning Una! I've been enjoying following your blog recently. So nice to hear a little of your background. I'll bet you never get rid of your knitting needles & yarn again! Enjoy the party :) Wendy x

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    1. You are right. I will never get rid of my needles. I still regret giving away the first lot as some of them were quite old and had memories attached.

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    1. Thank you. I've just been admiring your very clever craft work. Lovely.

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  4. Good Morning! I just love these get togethers! :) Visiting and giggle with friends is the best!!

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    1. Yes, I've been waiting nearly a year for this party. If it is as good as the last one I will be a happy bunny,

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  5. Very nice to meet you. I enjoyed my visit to your blog.

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    1. You have made your blog look very professional and colourful. I enjoyed exploring it.

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  6. Lovely Una I am so sorry to have missed the grow your blog but I have been away for a few days from Blogland. I just love your blog and always look forward to your posts. Have a happy weekend Una, sending you big hugs and cuddles
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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    1. It's great to get good feedback. I've just enjoyed reading your latest post about the gorgeous material.

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  7. Hi, I'm Linda from craftygardener.ca and I found your site from the Grow Your Blog event. It has been nice browsing through your blog. I'm off to check out some of your knitting posts.

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    1. I hope you enjoy them. I love writing this blog.

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  8. A lovely post Una it's so nice to learn more about everyone who is taking part in this party, I was going to take part myself but I left it too late maybe next year. :)

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    1. Linda, I think you are busy enough with your stash busting and square bashing parties!

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  9. Good Morning Una :) I'm Karen, one of Vickie's helpers. This morning I'm hopping around the internet checking out sites for the GYB party. Yours looks just great! Thank you for participating. I also knit and crochet and sew and about 12 other things :). Funny, but this winter I also decided it was time to knit something for myself! Got a lovely gray wool sweater on the needles right now about half done. Have a happy GYB party :) Karen Gass

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    1. Thanks for popping by and for helping with the party.

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  10. Hello Una, your knitting projects are gorgeous. I do not knit but I do crochet and have been doing only a short while. I am your newest follower. I love the UK but only have visited the south of England once for 5 days. Hugs Judy

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    1. You have a very pretty blog. The UK is cold, wet and windy at the moment. But it is beautiful in the summer. Spring and autumn can be nice too. Just avoid our winters!

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  11. Hi Una, Stopping by from GYB - lovely blog, Vicky

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    1. Thank you. I'm following yours now because I love bargain hunting and recycling.

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  12. I can tell your blog is just a perfect fit for me :) I have what is known as a "yarn addiction" too -- and I love it! Can't wait to see all the fun projects you're working on. Thanks, and come visit my blog too, if you have time.

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    1. Thanks for visiting. I just popped over to visit Oriental. You are lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

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  13. Hi Una,
    I'm stopping by via gyb too. Pretty blog and so nice to meet a fellow knitter. I hope to retire in the not too distant future and spent even more time with my yarns.

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    1. I've been following your blog for a while. I thoroughly recommend "retirement" and spending more time with yarns.

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  14. Hello Una, I've been following your lovely blog for a little while via email and thoroughly enjoy seeing your projects. I also knit for charities and absolutely love doing that. I also signed up for Grow Your Blog and hopefully you get a chance to 'visit'.

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    1. Thanks for visiting. I will enjoy following your sunny adventures.

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  15. Happy to find another knitter and crocheter. I'm here from Grow Your Blog. Following you now.

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    1. I've just become your 99th follower. I think your crochet work is amazing.

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  16. Grow Your Blog is an interesting concept. You have got lots of comments, so it must be working! :-)

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    1. Yes, it seems to be one of the main ways that people find my blog. I'm trying to reach over 100 followers. I notice you have passed that magic number.

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  17. Hi Una, just found your blog through the GYB party. Nice to meet you! I love your knitting projects!

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    1. Thanks for popping by. I've just been admiring your embroidery. I wish I had the patience for that type of crafting.

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  18. :) Hello Una! You are getting closer to 100!!! I'm certain this Growing Blog Tour will push you over the top! :)

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    1. Fingers crossed, but only when I'm not knitting!

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  19. Hello Una. You certainly make a lot of knitted items! We have lots of wool here in New Zealand with all the sheep we have.

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  20. Hello from the Midlands! Just popping in from the bloggy party and looking forward to following your knitty & crafty adventures :-)
    xx

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  21. Greetings from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. I've been knitting for most of my life - but not as often these days. Nice work.

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  22. I've been following you since last year's party and have totally enjoyed your blog. I've even attempted a few patterns :-) So nice to see you again at the party! Hugs, Terri

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  23. Thanks for sharing your blog! Feels like I will never finish this list of blogs, but it is great seeing what is out there. Please visit my embroidery blog if you are so inclined. (I'm in the 1st group.)

    aprilsongstress

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  24. So nice to meet you - my only real exposure to knitting is scarfs. I find them very relaxing and calming. Since one can use only so many scarfs I too donate the bulk of them to charity. My true passion is jewellery making. I did truly enjoy my visit to your blog. Thanks for sharing.

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  25. Hi Una, nice to meet you. I am visiting from Germany with the GYB party (late, I know...) and love what I see here, so I am following... I am a knitter, too, know how to crochet, have a sewing machine that gets nearly no use at all. Your craft skills are amazing, keep up tthe great work#1
    Tina

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  26. Hi Una - I have arrived here via Vicki's GYBP - I live in Australia and do a lot of crafts - knitting and crochet being just two of them. I have enjoyed looking around your blog and viewing your creative talents!!

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