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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!!

Friday 12 August 2016

Birthday bounty....



Today, I am another year older (unbelievable but true) and another year wiser (really?).  I noticed that it is a whole month since I updated this blog.  Summer is always my busiest time.  I have been knitting, but only have a preemie blanket to show for my efforts.  Here it is.  It is so plain and boring that I didn't open it up for the photo.  Just picture this multiplied by four and you get the idea.

This morning, I decided that the weeds and grass can party as much as they want to.  I went to the shops under instructions to buy a new blouse.  I don't need a new blouse.  But, if someone else is paying, I'll attempt to buy one.  The weather here is very warm and summery.  The shops, however, have brought in their autumn jumpers.  No wonder they struggle to get customers through their doors.  I eventually found a lightweight jacket, which I do need, and bought it.

My mind then turned to wool.  I don't need any of that either and have been very good about not buying any recently.  But a charity shop was selling balls of aran wool for £1 each.  I bought two grey balls which will make a lovely scarf as they are an acrylic and wool blend.  I was very restrained because I picked up and then put back two more balls.  They were a sickly mustard shade and even I would have trouble finding a use for them.

Then, I saw a wool stall which is normally only open on a Thursday.  I think it must be under new management because the prices are now very reasonable as opposed to jaw-droppingly expensive.  The range of wool has also improved.  It now resembles what most people would actually knit with.  Before, the wool was so specialist and expensive that I was almost afraid to touch it.

The stall holder was very chatty and told me he was selling 100g balls of King Cole Country Tweed for £2 each because they are now a discontinued line.  He had a huge range of colours and choosing what to buy was difficult.  Eventually, I bought 2 variegated pinky balls and two maroon balls.  Again, these are an acrylic and wool blend.  I am going to look through my patterns and start something today with this lovely yarn.  Decisions, decisions!


9 comments:

  1. It sounds like you are really enjoying your birthday! The King Cole looks pretty and those colours were a good choice; I wonder what you will make with it?

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  2. Happy Birthday Una, I'm pleased that you found something nice to buy up here all the Summer stuff is on sale and really it's just the rubbish that's left. I love your yarn purchases and can't wait to see what you make with it. I'm haven't done a proper blog post for ages either I think most people have better things to do in the Summer, have a great weekend. :) xx

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  3. There are no yarn shops by me any more, and looking at online shops has been useless. Sometimes at art shows I come across the women who used to run yarn shops. I wonder what the half life of these shops is.

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  4. Happy Birthday Una!! I'm glad you were able to find a jacket that you liked. It can be very frustrating when shops bring in next season's clothes too early. I haven't blogged much this summer either. It seems to be zooming by!

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  5. Happy Birthday. There is a lot of work in that preemie blanket. Can't wait to see what you make with your new yarn.

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  6. Happy belated birthday, Una! I think simple off-white or white knitted items, especially baby things, look classic and sophisticated. Can't wait to see what you do with the variegated yarn!

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  7. Happy Birthday, Una! What a nice surprise to find a "new" shop that carries affordable yarn. I am being very disciplined about not adding to my stash. And it's not easy!

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  8. Happy Birthday Una! It has to be the right sort of mustard, not too yellow, not with a touch of sickly lime green in it - it was a good colour on my blanket. Mustard makes a great mix with grey and/or Navy to stop them looking too dull. Nice yarn pick ups. Jo x

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  9. Happy Birthday - a few days late. Ho nice it must have been to find a new, local source of affordable wools.

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