PurlyQueen

Creature comforts

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Originally uploaded by PurlyQueen.

I found this intarsia cushion in my loft yesterday. Rather than leave it to fester in there, I thought it would cheer up my office chair.

This was my first (and last, so far) attempt at intarsia.

The pattern is from a Rowan magazine five or six years ago. I made the main body with an Elle variegated acrylic. The 'trails' were made with some mohair yarn that I think I inherited from another knitter.

As you can tell, I don't believe in a 'tidy desk' policy. Journalists never have organised desks!

View from the London Eye

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Originally uploaded by PurlyQueen.

My sister and I took my mum up on the London Eye this afternoon.
It's my favourite tourist attraction in London - you can see right out to the suburbs - even on a rotten day like today.

Kidding myself

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Originally uploaded by PurlyQueen.

I don't know why I ever pretend that I'm on a yarn diet.

I bought these balls of Sirdar Click from Mavis, which is 20 minutes drive up the M1 motorway.

I'm getting tired of knitting on 4mm needles all the time, so I bought four balls of navy four-ply as well:

It's not like I even need to increase my stash - but the discovery of a new yarn shop that is relatively close to home is reason enough to splash out - don't you think?

If you go down to Lidl today

You just might be able to get your hands on some sock yarn.

I kid you not.
It's 100 per cent superwash wool and costs £2.99 for a pack of 4 x 50g balls.
It feels lovely and soft - plus you get a free sock pattern in every pack.
I bought four packs of grey and one pack of variegated grey from the Cricklewood branch this morning.

Summer's back

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Originally uploaded by PurlyQueen.

OK, so last week I was in Uggs and gloves - today I had my sunglasses back on as I caught some rays in St James's Park.

And the warm weather is set to continue until Friday. Blue skies? Temperature hitting 20 degrees? Let's hope the mediterranean front that's hovering over the UK decides to stay a while longer.

This pelican was enjoying the sun in the park as well. A flock of admirers looked on as it cleaned its feathers and did the bird equivalent of flexing its muscles by displaying its wingspan.

I had no idea pelicans were so big. I thought they were the size of a crow!

Fleeced? No thanks!

Couldn't be bothered to visit the Knitting and Stitching Show at Ally Pally last weekend.
The show is a waste of money, in my opinion.
I resent having to pay £12 (or however much it is these days) to be packed into a sweaty hall to buy yarn.
I used to enjoy visiting the show a few years ago, because it was the only chance we British knitters got to see and feel yarns such as Koigu, Lorna's Laces, Noro and even Colinette.
Now there are so many yarn shops within striking distance of my home where I can see these yarns withour being pushed out of the way by impatient shoppers* or bashed in the face by someone's bulging rucksack.
Don't even get me started on the number of stalls peddling cardmaking supplies and other non-knitting concerns.
The standard of catering at Ally Pally would put Ryanair to shame.
I'd rather spend my entrance fee money with a British yarn producer, rather than giving it to a middleman, thanks.


*Apart from when the sales are on at Liberty and John Lewis, of course!

Winter woolly

Well, we certainly know it's autumn here in London. It's almost as if someone had turned down the thermostat overnight. On September 30 I was wearing Birkenstock sandals (with no socks, thank you!) and my sunnies were clamped to my face.
On October 2 I had the central heating on, my purple leopard print scarf around my neck to keep out the chill and I was seriously contemplating getting my Ugg boots from the loft.

I'm glad I started on M's winter wardrobe in July. I finished this sweater from the Sirdar Chino Knits (302) pattern book.

I found this Sirdar Click Aran at a local Hobbycraft superstore.

Originally I wanted a plain colour, but I'm always on the prowl for boys' colours that aren't insipid and I couldn't resist this mix of primary hues.

.

So far, what's not to love about this yarn? It feels really soft to the skin, thanks to the acrylic/wool mix. And you can machine wash and tumble dry it. Result!

Disaster

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Originally uploaded by PurlyQueen.

I am so upset that I could cry.

That lovely Easy Knits tank top that I made with such loving care? It might as well be a place mat.
It's my own fault for failing to remember the washing instructions. I know the label said 'Hand wash' but I forgot about that.
I only remembered as I opening the washing machine door, and saw that the lovely tank top looked more like a psychedelic envelope.
Mr EasyKnits, if you're listening, how about coming up with a superwash yarn for klutzes like me?

Born to run

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Originally uploaded by PurlyQueen.

Last Sunday, I ran a 5k race for the first time in my life!

And I completed it in 35 minutes! Considering my goal was to finish the race upright and in under 45 minutes, I was pretty chuffed.

My sister Caroline (that's her on the right) talked me into taking part in the Adidas Women's 5k Challenge in Hyde Park back in March.

It sounded like such a good idea at the time. I had just taken up running and I knew that I needed a goal to keep me training.
Finishing this race is one of the proudest achievements of my life. The first time I trained, I could barely run one kilometre - let alone five!
Denise Lewis can rest easy - I'm not aiming to be a professional athlete (they finished the course in under 15 minutes) - I just want to take control of my health and fitness again.

Well, it looks as if I've been bitten by the running bug - I've signed up for another 5k run on Sunday. Now I just have to start training again (gulp).

Henry in action

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Originally uploaded by PurlyQueen.

I love this Henry tank so much that I'm planning to knit a larger one, using another yarn from EasyKnits' Blue Faced Leicester range.

Matthew looks glum in this photo because he was distracted from his favourite activity: rearranging the contents of my kitchen cupboards!

In case my mum is reading - don't worry, anything dangerous is kept under lock and key!