Bags & Izzy's Knit & Natter Group

Have been going through some of my old stuff to get some ideas of some projects to make that aren't too big and found some of my old bags which I knitted about 2 years ago at the 'knit & natter' group I started with a friend. Irene one of the ladies with a wealth of knowledge was the pattern designer and she designed this very simple bag for the group to knit for the school's craft fayre. We made bags, scarves, socks, dolls clothes .. oodles of stuff. I really miss the group and will visit on my next quick trip back to the UK to see them all and what they've been up to. Even to get the update on Ally Pally which I'm sooo envious about not being about to get to.

Penny the 'lollipop lady' became the master bag knitter and churned out the most beautiful bags and scarves. She is a perfectionist and even though no one else would see a mistake she'd unravel and wouldn't be happy until she got 110%... oh how we all ribbed her ! hehehe 'ribbed' !

Ok here's the very basic instructions Irene gave for the bags but you might need to do a bit of your own thing to it as we did in the group to make it your own. Penny's were made with doubled up yarn (using 3 strands) and I used 2 strands through out and just a dk for the top edge. I'll try to find a pic of Penny's later.

Basically its just cast on 26, knit 11 rows, inc 1 st at each end on next and following 3rd row.
Knit a further 30 rows then dec 1 st at each end on next and following 3rd row.
Then knit 11 more rows straight.
Cast off.
Sew up then do a round of sc/dc around the top and a further 5 rows of sc/dc.
Line the bag with a colourful lining and stick a pin or button on as a fastener. For the handles just ch 3 and sc/dc as many rows as you want, then sew into place. That's the basic pattern but make any changes you want to get your own look.

If you live in the Portsmouth area the girls would love to see you. I'm not sure how much it is now (approx £2.50) but you get drinks, biscuits (usually Penguins) and use of the pattern library and the expertise of the ladies in the group. They meet on a Friday afternoon (school term time only) and are called 'Isambard Brunel Knit & Natter' in the North End area. Just email me for more details.
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Just found this little bag on Garnstudio which looks pretty interesting.

Dentist... Internet ... Dentist ... Internet

Well we had the internet engineer out again last night and that seems to have solved the problem again (for how long we can't be sure cos it only seems to last a short while and then goes down again) so making the most of it for a bit and trying to catch up on emails and blogging and Ravelry !

Been to the dentist at Saad hospital ... again ... this morning. I have spent so much at the dentist since coming out here 6 months ago and hoping to be pain free very very soon. Why is it that teeth cause such big problems when you have a big change in circumstances. I've 2 root canals, and got 5 other fillings to get done. Not complaining about Saad though cos its a beautuful hospital and I think I have one of the best dentists.. he's just wonderful ! I used to be a phobic at the dentist and had been been for years, but 6 months here and I don't mind at all. The only snag is that its pretty expensive... no nhs !

Its warming up ... and I have fingerless mittens !

Ok, its certainly warming up here in Saudi but I still have the urge to knit socks AND now fingerless mittens and sat by the pool yesterday finishing these beautiful soft alpaca mittens. I then (after my swimming exercises) ran onto the craft group which runs on a Tuesday, to show the girls...now they've all been pretty unimpressed with the progress of the sock knitting until they are finished and now were suitably impressed with the mittens. I think we finally have a group becoming interested in knitting something. Dishcloths were another interest shown which I can quite happily deal with as I use to make my own back in the UK and also made a couple out here too but there's more interesting things to make. Maybe in a few weeks (months more like) I'll be posting pics of the groups projects, maybe I'll do that anyway cos they're all making something, from quilting, painting, oh all sorts of things so I will definitely be taking my camera along next week.

Am at a bit of a sticking point right now as not sure what to make next as there are so many projects I want to get started on.. the only problem being obtaining the yarns I want. So going to have to sit down and make a list and buy on line and wait for 2-3 weeks for the delivery. I had started making a top for myself (also at the pool) yesterday but ripped it out in the end when I realised I was never going to fit into it ! One Size ... yeah alright ... but its not my size. Need to get some ideas on what to make with 2 balls of (50gx2) Omaghi Filati Capri ribbon yarn. Any ideas ?

Ok... stuff for what to make... then its another pair of socks !

Pattern and yarn from Alpaca Select, Fabiola Mittens.

Yippeeeee Simply Knitting Arrived !

Finally my long awaited stash has arrived with this month's 'Simply Knitting' and 'Knitting' mags with the fab freebies. Not getting alot of knitting done again as just been flipping thru the pages to see what I can get on with as soon as I've finished my current list of 'just got to makes'.

Had a great day by the pool reading them.. can't wait for the next issue of Simply Knitting but it looks like its a definite 2 weeks wait for the post to arrive. Might have to subscribe to Knitting as well ! Just can't go without a knitting fix once a month. Snail mail is worth waiting for in these instances !

Scamp's Favourite...

... another basic rib by Kate Atherley from her Wise Hilda Knits blog.



Have finally finished this pair of basic rib socks but this time I didn't follow the rib pattern all the way thru and stopped at the cuff. I also made them on a larger needle as I am a very tight knitter and found that they were a better fit for me.

I am wearing the socks non-stop to see how they wear... made from 100G OF KING COLE ZIG ZAG SOCK YARN IN RHAPSODY

Update: 31 March... well I've worn them everyday and washed them (obviously several times) and the verdict is... perfect hardwearing with no sagging or shrinking. Will definitely buy this yarn again.



I just love this pattern and will keep coming back to it !

NITS ! Yep Nits not Knits !

Well I am now sitting here with my hair covered in conditioner as we found a colony on my daughters head tonight... uky... off to chemist tomorrow to get some weed killer or whatever they use nowadays or more to the point, what they use out here !

I didn't find any on me but I can't stand the thought of 'em...I did have my hair coloured and cut yesterday and my hairdresser said a few cuts back that hair dye will kill the little blighters so I should be ok. Poor Heather however, has about 3 weeks of hair dragging and scraping and she had them once before and is dreading it.

That's that then... did some more of my sock today at the pool and did 8 lengths (swimming that is) and hope to work up to 65 !!! That's what some of the girls do out here so I'm aiming for that too.

Right... off back to the nits... not knits !

Internet ... arrrrrrhhhhhh !

Well I've not been able to do very much on the blog lately as the internet seems to be more down than up at the moment... again ! Its so frustrating as I know that I've only a limited amount of time to get something on the blog this morning as it will probably go down again in a short while ... until tomorrow sometime !

So, well... I've still been making another pair of the basic rib socks by Wise Hilda Knits but they're taking a little longer this time as its been so hot at the moment that I've spent most of my time at the pool or gym or sunbathing or coffee morning it. Coffee morning isn't what you think ... out here (in Saudi) its a big big thing. I'll post pics as soon as .. but don't want to lose the link just yet so I'll edit them in in a bit so you can see what an event it is once a month.





I was the first to arrive and took some pics of the display tables which are always beautifully laid out with a freebie to take away with us.

Ok, so whats so special about 'coffee mornings' ? Well for 10 saudi rials (around £2) you get the freebie which this month was potted flower, as much food as you can eat from cooked english breakfast, french pastries, salads oh just everything imaginable along with juices and of course tea and coffee ! Then the raffle ! Oh and all the food is served by waiters and there's a fresh pancake or waffle maker on hand too. Also at these coffee mornings are local vendors from around Khobar and I guess a few from further afield. The rugs and carpets are always spectacular along with the pashminas and silk scarves. Lots of arabic jewellery and just .. well.... take a full purse along. The ladies tend to dress up as its also pretty much the only place (unless its a private do) where you don't have to wear an abaya !





I also won a prize at the raffle... again, as I won one last month too which was some soaps...not ordinary soaps very expensive soaps and I should have the face of a camel when I get round to using that one.



Next month is the Easter Bonnet contest so I'll have to get on and make something for that and the month after is 'International Day' where we'll all wear our national dress... Brits ! What have we got...apart from the string vest and hanky hat, or the Union Jack shorts !

Right going now as got a spinning class and want to try to get a couple of pics up before I go or the internet.