Life LackaDaisiCal

on the RMS Segwun.........for more information on the Segwun and her sister ship, click here . We went on the 4 hour "Millionaire's Row" cruise this year -- it takes you past some of the most amazing "cottages" and you can see why they named the cruise the way they did...... There was a large party of people on board.....so they had the first luncheon sitting.....so for almost 2 hours it was like it was our own personal cruise.  The bartender made us hot chocolate, with Baileys Irish Cream and whipped cream on top - yummy! After our turkey with all the trimmings luncheon, I found myself a spot in the sun - it was another fabulous trip on the Segwun!

Go all out with an "afternoon tea".  Get our your tea set. Cut your sandwiches up - to be authentic I should have cut off the crusts LOL! Home made raisin tea biscuits, with jam and cream - yummy!

I'm loving this striped ribbing!

Knits were everywhere in London - this is a M&S window - Knitted scarves, sweaters hats, dresses - all layered -- lots of  stripes, chunky knits and "fair isle" type items.

You know the old saying, a picture is worth a thousand words.  Well, enjoy! (I was looking for my chunk of knitting - walked past it twice before I saw it!  Wonder how it will stand up to two weeks in the weather......I'll have to check on that!)

Friday - Sept. 10 - a quick trip on the Tube down to Victoria Station, a ten minute walk, and we're at the Horticultural Halls........ I was registered for a workshop with Marie Wallin -- but it turns out she was ill and couldn't make it - disappointing. Oh well, while we were there, a bit of Retail Therapy was required to quell the disappointment! A new Orange Herdy mug - and a matching tea towel. A few copies of Alice's updated and expanded Aran Knitting and an I Knit London bag to carry my new loot in!

Saturday morning - 9:00 am - back on the Subway down to Victoria - a 10 minute walk to the Horticultural Centre - up the stairs to the third floor for my Workshop with Alice... Alice explained her charting system, and the way she starts and ends her infinite cables that are required for Celtic style cable type knitting....and we all knit away on our swatches. Just lovely! We also got to see, examine, fondle and drool over, swatches in the new Bainin yarn, the actual Boudiccia braid sweater (both inside and out) and the new Eala Bhan design, both knit by Alice herself in her 2 ply Hebridean Yarn - all things Alice available at Virtual Yarns . Alice said that she had worn her Eala Bhan sweater on Friday but it was just too hot to wear it on Saturday.  Alice was very stylishly dressed -- wish I had photographed her shoes (heels, with high laced fronts - open toes and cut outs) -- with a pin tucked pleated skirt and silky blouse. While the class was busy knitting our Celtic infinite l...

On Friday night - although feeling a bit jet-lagged - we went on the London Eye, and then over to the theatre district to see Phantom of the Opera.  (We - my SIL Irene came down from Yorkshire for the weekend to join me.....Hubby stayed home with "the kids".

The "I Knit Weekend" in London.......hopped on a plane Thursday night - was there bright and early Friday for the weekend. THIS is the Millenium Bridge !  Last year Hubby and I thought we were crossing the Millenium Bridge - NOT! LOL!!!

What a conflicting day -- September 11, 2001 - Stonehenge - Sept. 10/01 DH and I had arrived in the UK and had travelled down to visit Stonehenge - I'd always wanted to go and this was the first opportunity for us to visit.  I wasn't blogging at the time, but I used this photo on She Ewe Knits.  Stonehenge was truly magical. The morning of  Sept. 11/01 - we stopped by Stonehenge for the last time, and then headed off  to Telford, for Hubby's model railroad exhibition.......we stopped for gas and that's when we heard the news......I'll never forget it..... This year September 11 is the day that the Cambridge Bridge event officially opens.....remember I showed you the piece of knitting that I sent in?  Wish I could be there to see the official opening....but September 11 is also... The Kitchener Waterloo Knitters' Fai r -- I've been going to this even ever year - well, almost every year.  I enjoyed the years I was there as "She Ewe Knits" - what a th...

I read Attic 24 - a fabulous, colourful, fun blog mainly about crochet.  Lucy, the blogger, has these "Ta Da" posts - when she finishes something and shows it off. When you spend a bit of time, or a lot of time, creatively....you've put effort into something that you are doing just for fun...this should be celebrated.  Like other knitters, I've tended to diminish the wonder that is knitting.....you start off with some string, and you use some sticks, and with manipulation you end up with WOW - I made that! So in the spirit of all things Shetland, I'm instigating the "Applöse" post........from the Shetland Dictionary.... Applöse - (v) offer; make available; make known. So from now on, finished projects will be made known, Applösed, where I share with you my utter joy in a completed project. So here it is......my Hibiscus Cardigan Applöse moment....... Hibiscus - 9 rows longer, the sleeves are significantly longer but still 3/4 length - buttoned up - I lo...

First it was buttons on the right, loops on the left -  but somehow that didn't feel right -- off to check the closet - oh no!   Buttons on the left, loops on the right.....ah, that's much better! Buttons courtesy of Carolyn at Main St. Yarns - my LYS - she has the best taste in buttons and can pick out just the right one every time!

Here it is, (still Sat. Sept. 4) - a cold blustery day - and my Hibiscus has 6 blooms and about 4 more buds ready to bloom.....it has been encouraging me all through the knitting of my Hibiscus Cardigan. My next choice will be no buttons, one button (as shown on the pattern), or buttons up the front. 

Then it was time for a bath in Eucalan - I used the Grapefruit scented one this time. Then onto the Wooly Board - or Jumper Board - drying time is less than 24 hours for me when I use my Wooly Board -- the frame itself gives a 1" space between layers of the sweater -- so air circulates and dries so much quicker.  It was a windy dull day here this past Saturday so I put it out on the deck, under the awning and it was pretty much dry in a couple of hours.  I left it over night to ensure that it was completely dry the next day.

Tidying up your ends as you go lets you see how nice your underarm sleeve seam is......

I've learned to sew in the ends as I go along -- this is especially good when doing sleeves -- it can be really daunting if you leave the ends until you've finished the whole sweater.  I only had about 20 rows of ends to tidy up when I cast off on Saturday afternoon.

Literally just cast off the 2nd sleeve...about 1:00 pm Saturday, Sept. 4

when walking through the mall..... Some pretty cute sheep -- and boots too! This is the first time I've seen this brand - Flurries Sheepskin - anyone have an opinion on how these relate to UGGs?  Very similar in price - but definitely more stylish than the basic UGG......just my opinion - UGG lovers no offence intended! Unfortunately, they don't sell the life-sized sheep - pity!