Crochet and cake

Hello! Thanks for calling in. It feels like ages since we last chatted! Mr JK and I were in Germany for the Jubilee weekend to celebrate a family silver wedding. Mr JK does the autobahn driving, so I'm left with plenty of craft time. My companion this time was the ripple blanket. I was about half way through before we left, and now it's all done! I do love this pattern - you can find a step by step guide over at Attic24. I decided to do five rounds of double crochet around the edge and then finish it all off with a picot edging. I love, love, love it! I bet you can guess who else is giving it the paws up, can't you?!

 

 

Yes, Florence, the resident blanket tester and yarn snuggler approves! I do have some leftover yarn, and should be starting a mini-ripple for Flo very soon! The finished blanket measures 100cm by 80cm (much too big for a pussycat!!). I'm really pleased with how the edging turned out, I pinned each bobble during the blocking.

I also finished another pair of plain vanilla socks in a Regia yarn. They are for one of my Uni friends. I still have another three pairs to knit before our get together in October. I use the sock generator pattern from Violet Green as I find it's usually a good fit.

We had a lovely few days in Germany. I must confess to some gluttony in the cake department, but I just cannot resist those delicious cakes and pastries!! From left to right, we have streuselkuchen, fresh strawberry cake and Dutch apple cake (on our return journey!)

While we were in Germany, we visited a very interesting museum. It's really a large collection of objects from the last 100 years, to represent all aspects of daily life. Many of the objects have been collected from local families. There are sections on shopping, the household, farming, school, crafts and much more. It's a hands on museum, where you are encouraged to pick things up and handle them. In fact, we sat around the table and had tea and cakes using china from one of the displays!! I was especially interested in the handicrafts section. There were a number of spinning wheels, lacework, stitching and knitting. There was a lady demonstrating the loom while we were there.

On our way back to the UK, we stopped off in Delft again. We first went there last summer on our way back to Hoek van Holland to catch the ferry home and liked it very much. Our first stop was for lunch - a Dutch pancake of course! (I think I had the same pancake last time too!)

 

Delft has a number of canals running through the centre. I don't think there can be many boats travelling on them as many are covered in waterlilies.

I even found a little yarn shop tucked away. It had lots of beautiful crocheted things on show including a fabulous lightshade. If you are ever in Delft, you might like to pop in to Knotten.

Since returning home, I've been busy playing catch up with all the jobs I put off doing before I went away! That included tidying up the craftroom, and putting away various fibre-related acquisitions. I received a fantastic parcel of fibery goodness from a dear friend, Kat. Do you think she knows what my favourite colour is?!!

I shall see you soon when you'll be able to check on the progress I've made on Flo's blankie! Bye! xxx