I've got squished boobs!

Y'ouch! Went for my first mammogram today. After all those blog posts I read in October about checking your boobs etc, I took myself along to the GP and turns out I have a second benign condition to add to my first benign condition, which was diagnosed about nine years ago. The squished-boobs scenario was just an extra check and I've to go for a further blood test and go back to see the consultant, but the signs are good. (And the mammogram wasn't that bad! It was fine.)

Now, here is something knitterly I should've posted a week ago. The famous Chevron scarf is Off The Needles, blocked and finished! Oh, are you ok? Have you fainted? I'll just get the smelling salts!

And another shot:

And a final one:

I so enjoyed knitting this and hope to get another one on the needles in some SQ yarn very soon - just got to start the Delicato Mitts and finish more knitted lavender hearts first - oh, and there's all those knitted Christmas presents which aren't looking as if they're going to happen after all.

I did get another couple of lavender hearts done in preparation for the `Christmas at Hillcrest' Studio Opening - only two weeks to go - not panicking at all!

This heart is made in some of the Lavish yarn I dyed up at Debbie Tomkies' workshop in October.

How about a sneak preview of the shop update - I'm aiming for tomorrow evening:

This is Rose Gold in Entice

And this is Gold Rings - the next in the 12 Days of Christmas collection
I was attempting to be an Alchemist and turn yarn into gold - there's actually six different shades of gold, beige and pale yellow in this
And a new yarn type for me next - it's a 4 ply 75% merino 25% nylon sock yarn which I've called Endure. Ideal for hard-wearing socks.

There's more to be listed but I just wanted to show you this. The Endure yarns above are as yet unnamed but the top one reminded me of the Mystery Machine in Scooby Doo, so I decided to have a bit of fun and here's Velma in Divine yarn:

Craft is the new luxury

As Giorgio Armani recently said: “The defining change in luxury has been a move towards personalisation and customisation, and a growing desire for true exclusivity.”

This quote is taken from an excellent article in the Sunday Times for 28th October called `The Birth of Nu-Craft'. I can't help thinking that Etsy surely has to be part of this re-emergence of craft and the fact that many forms of craftwork are being taken more seriously.

Then I came across a second article in the Times Literary Supplement for the 26th October by Tanya Harrod. As I haven't got a subscription to the TLS, other than at work, I'll attempt to summarise some of the main points:

In this Commentary article, sculptor Phyllida Barlow realises the craftsperson is competing with materialism on a gigantic scale and wonders how one competes with a giant global industry of objects.

It discusses the development of a 21stC arts and crafts movement in China - a turn to painstaking handwork as a response to destructive modernization.

The article also explores the relationship between craft and replication and the assumption that craft is traditionally viewed as a second-rate activity to art.


US sociologist, Richard Sennett explains why more and more people are turning from the workplace to craftwork. He claims we live in a world that singles out comparatively few for recognition, yet where we are endlessly assessed and judged. And argues that skills won through long experience appear to count for nothing and identities eroded as a result and so an increasing number of creative people "refocus" their energies on perfecting a craft for oneself.

To sum up, craft exhibition co-curator, Kate Westerholt says, "I see echoes of the Arts and Crafts movement. At the turn of the last century, people were tired of industrialisation; they craved individuality. We’re seeing a return to that. It’s like, I want beautiful things in my home, and the best way is to make them myself.

Buy handmade - support Etsy.

And keep knitting, crocheting, silversmithing, jewellery-making, bag-making and making beautiful things that make you happy. You're a talented bunch!

100th sale!!

Congratulations to Annette - she wins one free skein of her choice.

And thank you to those of you who participated in the other 99 sales and for your continued support. I am still a bit flabbergasted as my original target was 50 sales by Christmas.

Dear Customers' projects

There's some click-clacking being going on and two Dear Customers took the trouble to send me photos of their beautiful projects using SQ yarn.

Lindy in Australia sent me these photos of her gorgeous scarf in Raspberry Mocha 2 ply cashmere/silk. She's working a 2 row chevron repeat on 9/4.5 mm needles and I know she likes the bamboo needles.

Here's the original Raspberry Mocha yarn skeined up:
And here is it made up into a yummy yarn cake:
And the lovely Annette in the UK, knitted up these gorgeous, silky soft delicato mitts made out of just one 55g skein of SQ Lavish cashmere/silk in Fragrant Stocks colourway:

Annette knitted seven repeats of the eyelet rib on the cuff and three at the top and says they are a perfect way to try out different colourways. These have moved to top of my queue for my next project now that the Chevron scarf is finished.

Thanks for sharing - they really are beautiful.

Free yarn...

for whoever is my 100th customer! One skein of your choice for the lucky winner. (Update - offer now closed - we have our winner.)

You could win this:Poseidon

Or this:Pegasus

Or this:

Medusa

So good luck over at my Etsy shop which is here.

The rules are pretty simple: if you buy more than one skein, you can have the most expensive skein for free. If you buy only one skein, I'll refund your PayPal payment including postage.