The end of summer

Well, it's the end of the summer meteorologically speaking because, although not terribly awful, it hasn't been one of the best or hottest summers in Northern Ireland.  Every spring they do promise us a heatwave .....

Our 3Ps Autumn project is continuing and although we are tied to a very tight schedule, we are beavering away to the best of each individual's ability.  Some ladies are more productive than others because they have the skill or because they have the time.  'Every little helps' as the supermarket chain reminds us. Together we will achieve our desired goal.

We have been lazily drifting through the summer holidays and next week sees our local school children return to the classroom.  Among our group we have parents, grand parents and teachers all ready to start the frenetic rush to get ready for school, buy uniforms, books, sports kits, shoes or get lesson plans completed for the old familiar school curriculum or prepare for the new adventure into a new school topic.  Others among us have wearily worked our way through the summer always intending to take a few days off when the 'good spell' arrived.

Two of us have been working away on Zooty Owl, aka Zelna Olivier's, Seaside Winter Blanket CAL. If you don't know what this is it's worth taking a look.  We are at the start of week 11 of 12 now and the time has flown by.  I had a few reservations because I hadn't done anything like this before but it is really enjoyable.  I'm only brave enough to complete a single blanket at a time but Zelan herself has 9 on the go!  Many of the other 2119 group members have at least two which they are working on simultaneously.  Brave women each and every one and I am full of admiration for them.  Check out the photos on Facebook - some of the colour combinations are stunning.

Next Monday some of us are going to a special event being held up on the north coast at Corrymeela. The event is called Dreams.  It is a ladies' day away from all that is happening on the home front, a time to relax, unwind, dream and enjoy hearing from the Scottish artist, Pauline Edmiston, and to create some beautiful silk pieces with her.

Ladies remember to keep taking your holiday hookery pics.  The next blog post will be a collage of our pictures.

The 3Ps

Hookery ladies have been asked to complete not one but two similar projects for the Autumn. We are a small, diverse, group of ladies from all backgrounds who like to knit and crochet, some who have been crafting for years and others who are new-comers.  It's a great honour and we are absolutely delighted to have been asked. It's fantastic to think that our skills and commitment are very much appreciated and recognised by the requestor who has total faith in our ability to produce for them.

It has involved some discussion and agreement but everyone is enthusiastic and eager to get started.  Needles are clicking away, crochet hooks have been sharpened and wool has been purchased. Even some novice knitters and crocheters have been enthused enough to go out and buy supplies and to even try knitting/crochet if they haven't done that one before.

Unfortunately I can't tell you yet what the 'Ps' stands for except that the last one is 'project'.

Knitting Kitty

I'm not sure whether Flic wants to learn to knit and crochet or whether it is her stamp of approval ....

My winter waistcoat

Blanket for Tanzania

St Mungo hats for the homeless

Throw for Rachel's bed

New baby -Evie's blanket

Coast picture

New baby - Conor's blanket

My large all purpose bag

Blanket for Tanzania

And if all else fails just hide in the knitting basket!

 If I leave wool down at all she is all over it!

Autumnal afghan

Crochet work at The Hookery has been progressing quite slowly recently but I have some work underway on another big project.  Here are some initial photos taken at home on a lovely bright Saturday morning posed using autumnal items from the garden. 

 I have about half of the blanket crocheted together and this is what it looks like so far.  The colours are a tad washed out in this next photo - maybe I should go back out into the conservatory and re-take the picture on a sunny day?

 Mags, I do admit that my creative photography isn't a patch on yours.

Returning to Autumn Term at the Bookery

Apparently there are some non-Bookery hookers at the Dock tonight, but last week we were all here, some of us briefly!  With the falling leaves and darkening nights Heather Boss, Patricia and Mags are back at work, where it all began. Because only Lindsay and Niqi arrived at the Dock they came to see the source of the fun.  So here we all are, set text in hand.

Tonight in the Bookery Heather and Patrica are well into their  new term project. Mags, obviously, will be working slowly away at all the same things!  Target, though, might be to finish the ripple within a year of its own beginning, which was over the Christmas holidays last year- hmm, ambitious for Mags.....

Autumn term begins for Hookery

After the brief (but welcome) warmth of last week Autumn has arrived and the new term begins. For the time being we are still following alternate Wednesdays at Heather's and The Dock, but we need to come up with a revised plan if founding members are going to be able to attend this side of Christmas. Bring your diaries next week.

This week was quite quiet, but a lot of work taking place.

Knit one

Purl one

Fancy one

New project - cat blanket is complete

Another new project

Progress on another Patchwork Bag

Ripple above and more beautiful samples below

Mum's Christmas present - thanks to Lynne for winding a ball from my skein