Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Hardanger rocks!!

What a week I had last week with the boy child constantly being sick. It seemed to go on forever and I appreciate all your lovely, caring comments, happy thoughts and prayers. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.

It was touch and go on Friday as to whether I would get to go to my stitching weekend thingy as dh started getting very ill as well and I was all anxious about what to do. I felt bad about leaving him to it but in the end I went. Tracy arrived in good time at my house and we had a nice drive down to Nuneaton to the meet up with some girls from Jane's Attic. We got to the hotel which was lovely (and cheap!) and just decided to chill out there for the evening after having had such a long week. We stitched and chatted and ate cake yum!

The following day Lynn (organiser) and Vicky (India Grace Designs) taught me some hardanger. In particular, I wanted to learn woven bars and dove's eyes and finally after one or two mishaps I got the hang of it. I made this:

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Which I then turned into this:

Front:
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Back:
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(and yes Chris - if you're reading - this is the fabric you gave me in my goody bag from the March meet up!)

I love it! I am so pleased to have this new stitch added to my bow strings. I have been getting excited looking at all the Victoria Sampler stuff that I might be able to do now and Loopy Lou stuff - I do have one ready to start.

Recently on the JA forum, there has been a lot of discussion about doing a Just Nan SAL. I have never done a JN design but was quite excited at the thought of doing one. Barb gifted me with Snowfire Christmas and even included the fabric and Perle thread! Here's what it looks like - so pretty. Can't wait to get started on it.



And while I have been about it, perusing all the JN band samplers, I came across this one. It's called "Nan's Garden".



I thought I'd stitch it for my mum whose name is Nan and who also has the most incredible garden.

So if anyone is interested in joining this SAL then pop over to Jane's Attic and put your name down!

Just Nan SAL

Oh and I nearly forgot, look at what Tracy brought with her when she came to mine:

Think Pink from Tracy Oct 09

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I was her Think Pink partner on the Stitcher's Showcase! Isn't it wonderful! The finishing is so neat. Perfect and all by hand too. My exchange is parcelled and ready to send out tomorrow hopefully.

And last but not least, and just to show that I too can knit, a bit, and actually finish things, here's my lovely dd modelling the headband hat and scarf I made her. She is suppposed to wear her hair outside it but she prefers it in. The wool is Softie by Sirdar and the headband hat is a freebie from Ravelry and can be found here.

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So that's it from me. I really need to get cracking on some exchanges and get BP finished before the end of the year. Not to mention all the Christmas ornies I wanna make. The new Just Cross Stitch ornie mag is wonderful! Have a lovely, crisp, autumn week! xx

27 comments:

Carmen said...

your hardanger look so pretty,and yout knitting too.

Patricia Lessell said...

So glad you had such a great weekend. Love your hardanger an your DD is so pretty as is your knitting. Patti xxx

Cathy B said...

Hi Hazel. Your daughter is adorable. Her new hat and scarf look warm and cozy - she's ready for winter!

I love to do hardanger. I find it to be quite relaxing. Your fob is very cute!

Glad you were able to enjoy a weekend away with stitching friends.

Kathy A. said...

Glad to hear the little one is doing better. Hope your DH's illness was short lived. Love the daughter in her new hat and scarf.
Bet your stitching weekend was fun. Your hardanger turned out lovely and made a great fob.

Cindy said...

Congrats on your first hardanger finish! It is quite fun once you can get over the fear of cutting the threads - LOL :)

Your knitting is wonderful, and your daughter is so cute modeling it.

Loraine said...

Sounds like a fun weekend. I'm glad you got to go with your friends.
Your Hardanger is beautiful. I love the scissor fob.
I have done the Snowfire Christmas and it was a delightful piece. Good luck on your new starts.
Cute little girl you have there! That hat is perfect.

Christine said...

Congratulations on mastering Hardanger, your fob is lovely. Great pictures of your DD too

Cheryl said...

Knitting, stitching, hardanger...are there no ends to your talents!?!
Your weekend sounds fun, wish some of my friends were into stitching.
Hope everyone is well and healthy in your house this week :)

cathymk said...

Lovely finish Hazel! Congratulations!

Julie said...

Well done on the hardanger, its not as bad as you think it would be is it? once you get the hang of it.

Well done the knitting too, DD looks wonderful in the scarf and hat

Hope DS and DH are both fit and well again and you came back nice and relaxed after your stitchers weekend away.

Susimac said...

Great Hardanger its smomething I just haven't managed to master so double wow from me I'm in awe. Love dd pics of her new hat and scarf.

It sounds like you had a great time meeting up the girls from Jaynes attic.

Louise said...

Hazel!
Your daughter is just so beautiful!!
Oh those blue eyes!! So big and gorgeous :)
Your stitching is beautiful as always too.
You knit wonderfully.

Send some of your talents my way please!

Raggedystitches,
Louise

Kathy said...

Congrats on the hardanger piece. It turned out really pretty. You knitting is almost as pretty as the model. (Beautiful girl!)

I hope everyone is on the mend and the sicky bug has vanished from your home.

tintocktap said...

Your DD looks lovely and snug! Hope she's wearing them today - it's really chilly outside!

And I have that many JN designs in my stash, that the SAL sounds like a good idea!

Deb said...

The scarf and cap look wonderful. So soft! And I love your hardanger fob. That thread you used for it really makes it stand out!

CindyMae said...

Your hardanger looks gorgeous, great job! Love the pink exchange! The scarf and hat looks gorgeous as does your daughter!

doris said...

Cute knits on an even cuter little gal. She looks cozy.

Isn't it fun to try new kinds of needlework? I haven't done hardanger for ages, but it's very satisfying. Be sure to try it again soon, because if it were me, I'd forget what I had learned.

Siobhán said...

Your daughter is adorable! I love the knitting projects. I'm glad that you had a good weekend! Lovely stitching--both yours and the items you received. :)

Jan said...

Your hardanger and knitting are so pretty, Hazel! I do so pray that you guys are feeling much better by now. What a darling daughter you have!

Sally said...

Hope everyone is well on the mend now Hazel.

So glad you managed to get away to Nuneaton and that you had a great time. Your hardanger piece is so pretty.

I'm joining in the JN SAL too and am really looking forward to it. I've hardly been on the forums for months and I feel really out of touch and guilty for neglecting my stitchy friends.

Candi said...

Wow your hardanger is beautiful. I really need to learn how to do that.
~*Candi*~

Brigitte said...

Oh Hazel, such a great hardanger fob. Well done! It's always great to learn something new.
I have stitched Nan's Garden a couple of years ago and it was a real delight. I love JN's band samplers. What a great idea for your mom.
Lol! Such a cute picture of your daughter. I love her smile.

stitcherw said...

Beautiful hat and scarf, she looks very happy with them. Your hardanger turned out wonderfully as well, what a lovely fob it made. Glad you had fun on your get away, hope everyone is feeling better now. Looking forward to seeing your JN piece grow, her designs are so pretty. I did a SAL a while back, Creativity, and loved working on it.
Sue

Anonymous said...

Lovely hardanger finish, congrats!!

Cindy F. said...

Hazel, you dd is just too cute!!!
Love the scarf and hat you made for her! Very pretty:)

I've always wanted to try hardanger. You've made a gorgeous fob and maybe I'll try that soon too!

Hope ds is feeling much better now:)

Karan said...

Hope all are well at yours now.
Sounds like you had a good time at the meet-up. Love the cute fob - well done you! :0)
Lovely exchange gifts & your DD looks so cute in her woollens. Like your JN choices too. :0)

♥ Nia said...

Your daughter is sooooo sweet! Beautiful eyes :D