It's been a busy old time for me, so much so, that I've not blogged about anything for yonks, although I have been keeping up with reading blogs. (Which to my mind is much more exciting)
Along with knitting away at lavender hearts and Alpacas for the Alpaca farm, I've taken on two commissions for knitted items, a lovely 2ply knitted lace christening shawl, and a fairisle tank top from a very old pattern, that is now back in fashion. My lovely customer decided that the tank top had to be knitted in the best quality yarn, so now I'm using Rowan Classic Wool; absolutely beautiful to knit with, lovely stitch definition and leaves your hands feeling really soft. Even for me, as I am allergic to wool, but I am not having too many problems with this one.
As I cannot knit anything like this for my lot, they wouldn't wear it, I am very privileged to be able to produce it for someone who will appreciate it, wear it and look after it. I think this is one of the reasons I love commissions, to be able to knit things I wouldn't normally get the opportunity to try.
I had a phone call from the magazine, The Knitter, on Valentines Day, to tell me that I am a runner up in a design competition they ran last year, and I have won 4 balls of Gomitoli 4ply yarn. I am so looking forward to getting them. I designed a knitted handbag (the competition was to design an accessory using Gomitoli yarns) and I dug the design out the other day with a view to perhaps developing it further. My reasoning being that if the judges liked it enough to make it a runner up, then perhaps there is a market for it. But need to get the commissions done first as they are both due in May.
