And the Celebration Keeps On Going...

With the last mailing of the Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket we had it confirmed that the theme was "A Celebration of Sport" and I had it confirmed that I needed to get on with knitting my remaining blocks (especially as I had overcome my fear of intarsia).

This is my progress so far, less the block and a half strip which is currently on my needles and being knitted.

Admittedly this is before the final details have been added and no squares have been blocked, but I'm starting to really like this blank.  The finished blanket is 7x7 and with how tight I knit that is going to work out as a small lap blanket.

I have really enjoyed the challenge of making this, but I have decided not to sign up for next year's. Nothing against the concept, and I love Debbie's designs (I've had her books for years but never been brave enough to try anything) but I think my next long term knitting project may be something fair isle. Then again I could try finishing off the squares for an Aran blanket that my mum and I started ages ago. We'll see!

Great South Run 2012

 

On Sunday, around lunchtime, I completed my fourth Great South Run. A 10 mile run around the city of Portsmouth, the cousin of the Great North Run. I completed this year's run in 2 hours 1 minute and 23 seconds. Very pleased, as that was nearly my target time, and now very achey!

Getting There...

Does anyone remember the monster batik wave quilt top I finally finished piecing a couple of months ago (hopefully my sister does as its for her!)

Today I finally got it basted.  As it's approximately 3m square I've been having trouble finding a suitable space in which to lay it out.  But at today's Bath Quilters Sewing Day, using an adjoining room (apologies for being somewhat antisocial) and taking the best part of 3 hours to press, layer, baste and grab a quick lunch it was done.

(Basting in progress on a large table)

And as I think I've figured out how to quilt it (though still toying with the easy option rather than the correct option!)  This will hopefully be done by the end of Nov.

I seem to be in the mood for finishing off, partly to clear a little space, but mostly so I can start new projects which I have planned!

London,Baby!

With a week off work and my littlest sister visiting from Scotland I decided an overnight trip to London was required.

We did a museum...

 And dinner and a play...

(Picture to follow)

Bumped into some famous people whilst wandering along the Thames...

And generally took in the views...

We also squeezed in a little shopping in Covent Garden (visiting a store selling a brand of t-shirts my other sister loves and failing totally to buy her anything from there!).  A good time was had by all.

(Slightly limited as to the number of photos we could take as I forgot to put a memory card in my camera so we had to rely on the camera's memory.  How did we ever cope with film cameras and only 27 shots???)

Mystery Blanket Update

I have been slowly working my way through Debbie Abraham's 2012 Mystery Blanket (a knitted one), and I mean slowly.  We received the patterns and yarn for the last squares at the beginning of this month and I'm now working my way towards them.

Finishing has been a little held up by my fear of the intarsia knitting technique.  Finally I've taken the plunge and completed my first ever intarsia square...

...which will eventually become a bicycle wheel.

A few more to go...