Unbelieveably hot

As I am sure everyone else is......
Couldn't work out why I was so tired until I realised I have dyed 25 kilos in 2 days, and not just half colours, but the whole finished skeins.

Have been working on my next practise cushion top piece, it is the snakes from the sutton hoo buckle and so far I think I have the maths right.
I have gone a few stitches astray in the middle some where, but I am quite pleased with it so far.
Finished it should measure 14 inches square so will fit a cushion, but guess who forgot to allow for seam allowances!

I have finished dyeing until we come back from the big chill, so no more dyeing for 2 whole weeks, I feel rather lost, there is no new wool in the house, everything has been dyed. The last few skeins are drying waiting for the winders.
Both of which are really suffering in the heat,, their fingers are clammy so making a neat skein is impossible, that and the fact that all 4 of our electric umbrella skeins are playing up and they are taking it in turn to use the working ones.
I should be printing patterns and stuff, but am too tired so going to sit in the garden and knit or maybe go down to the beach later for a swim - its handy having the sea at the bottom of your garden.

And forgot we now have a window at the farm - yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Just the one for now, but who know we might have 2 soon.

Finished tree & maths

Toooooooo hot, but I guess everyone else in the country is suffering too.
The studio is unbearable, I have weld simmering and if I leave it too long it will go off.

This is my finished tree, completely the wrong size and shape, it needs lots of maths to be able to turn it into a cushion, am working on my sutton hoo snakes, have pulled it undone 3 times and still can't get the maths right, but at least I have researched cusion sizes - stupid me why didn't I do that first.
Each time I measure the tension it comes out differently, the first time 8 stitches per inch and the next time 11, its such a big difference.
I might just give up on the small needles and use dk instead, at least its easier to work out the tension.
I think I have collected enough colours, I did start with a few rows of moss stitch, but several stocking stitches up it began to look like a frill - don't want frilly cushions!
Am now going back to playing with alpaca/silk dk and working on tensions.

Tree base

Practise, practise and yet more practise....

I am sooooooo proud of my tree base and pinning all 3 pieces up together, has sent my mind racing with ideas, too many to fit in, where do I start and I should be designing sweaters and shawls, but all I want to do is this.....
I don't have the time to be an artist anymore.
I guess you need a photo explanation
The top piece is knitted on 3mm needles,
the second on 2.5mm needles
and the bottom on 2mm needles, this is or rather will be the finished piece. Its all knitted with our alpaca/merino sock and alpaca/silk sock yarns.
Please buy lots of these 2 yarns, so I can dye lots more and have a bigger range of colours - :-)

The dining room is full of bins of wool, 45 kilos arrived this morning, another 10 to come on thursday and I might have found a cotton yarn supplier - fingers crossed

Back to dreaming about being an artist again and being proud of knitting on 2mm needles.

Quiet

Its very peaceful, Feppy has gone back to London, I have dyed almost everything we have and everyone seems to have stopped knitting for the summer.

I am now knitting my tree for the 3rd time, the first attempt was on size 3mm needles, the second size 2.5mm and now I am knitting with 2mm needles. I have never used such thin needles and would be going mad if it wasn't for the fact I was knitting intarsia.

The spin drier is mended, apparently I had over filled it. When Val went to pick it up the man the shop kept telling her that old people get confused and she ought to show me how to use it, she said she did consider getting me a zimmer frame on the way home.
So now I am old and unable to read instructions - lol

I put in an order for 50 kilos of wool, am hopeing to get it all dyed before we go to the Big Chill in 3 weeks, poor Dais and Val will be winding in their sleep.
Which reminds me I had better go and get the wool out of the cochineal.

Wall

My design/swatch wall on which is the "Natalie Flowers", assorted practise pieces including my first attempt at a socks, slippers and wool samples. All my visitors love it and I just wanted to share. Of course there will be a much bigger one when we move to the farm.

Not moaning at all & intasia

I stupidly decided to play with some intasia designs, this is what I used to do at art college. I should be knitting hats for the big chill, but am now obsessed with designing and knitting practise pieces. I need a lot of practise before I can knit without it looking lumpy, but am now on my second piece.
The lovely Kaffe has advice in one of his knitting books, I was catching every stitch as I knitted, Kaffe says every 3rd stitch and he should know. Have decided to design a range of cushion kits, which gives me the chance to do lots of designing. This is the "Natalie Flowers" of which I did a series of collages and embroideries when I used to be an artist.