Avicraft Ltd

Sharon's Blog

8th March 2010
Oops did someone steal February?
I've been so busy with my knitting. The daffs have now blossomed in the knitted window box (more about that coming soon in it's own page!), Jack Frost and Gwendolyn are tucked away with the Tree from Christmas and Lucky the Leprachaun is sitting amoungst the flowers...no I haven't started to hallucinate I am just having the most amazing fun with my knitted window display. I sit at my desk and watch people stop and do a double take, tug the sleeve of their companion and smile at the window...you have no idea how fantastic it makes me feel putting a smile on someones face.
Glitterwitch (my new hand made jewellery and accessory business with Jan) is starting to take off. We had a little sale at the weekend and raised a few coffers for the pot. I should get the Glitterwitch page up and running soon. 
Had a rough time lately with my medication - so I seem to hurt all over at the moment and fall asleep almost as soon as I sit still - I'm great company in the car as I drift off before we've even got to the end of the road! I've had a run of migraine so have new pills for that (total 30 a day now) and, touch wood, all seems well at the moment. Some day's I couldn't knit!!! So I thought about knitting!!!
I have been very extravagant adding to my knitting library and organising my patterns. I have even got the stash sort of orderly...The trouble is all the spring summer stuff is in now and the shop looks so bright after the muted colours of winter and I just have to knit display stuff. I've splashed out on the new NORO and I do mean splashed out, it's quite pricey but the colours are so gorgeous it makes me really happy and that's got to be worth a few quid (well more that a few but it's not quite ouch!)
Matt has a girlfriend! He did the full dozen red roses for Valentines (no body ever bought me red roses) and she's cooked him dinner a few times...I guess I will have to have "the talk" although I know he will groan, my friends suggest giving him a pack of condoms and saying "any questions?". I can put it off a while as his lady is currently laid up in hospital with a spinal problem, I'm sending her lots of love and good wishes...I would like to send her something but she is a goth and only likes black and knitting in black actually makes me feel sad but she should have something. Thinking cap on!
I'd like to tell you a little story of have one small random act of kindness can make you feel a million dollars. I knew a lady, I'd met her once or twice but a mutual friend kept me up to date with her, this lady made me smile, She is bright, gregarious, warm and funny but was going thru a very troubled time. I knit her a shawl, it wasn't anything spectacular, it wasn't expensive yarn, it didn't take very long but it has forged a bond between us. I gave her the shawl to be her "hug" when the going got tough and no one was there to hug her. Her life got much sadder for a while, she wore her hug and when things were almost unbearable she wore her hug. The hug is quiet worn and I considered making her another but that isn't necessary for the original hug did all it was meant to.
Whenever you make something for someone who is troubled you are telling them that you care about them. I could not do anything practical to help her, I am not physically able to help many people nowadays but I can knit. I love that song...I'd like to teach the world to sing..... well I'd like to teach the world to knit!
If you're passing come and smile at the window or email me about hugs you've sent people. Cos, trust me, that simple act has given me hours and hours of great feelings. If you do something for someone else without thought of gain or reward the payment you recieve is warmth, peace and oodle of love. What more could you want!
well now, back to the sticks... Lots of love, til next time Sharon xxx 





8th January 2010
It's Elvis Presleys 75th birthday today...really useful trivial information! It's also, just in case you are reading this from the tropics, very snowy and cold here. So what better to do other than, make a cuppa sit by the fire and knit (or crochet). I've been doing hats and scarves for display in the shop. I must get the photos on site of the Christmas window.  I was really pleased with the way it turned out complete with totally knitted 3ft Christmas tree, dancing knitted penguins, drunken gnomes, santa, robins, a knitting knitted snowman and holly! The window, like the lounge, looks very bare now hence the furious hat knitting. As a non hat wearer - I much prefer the versatility of a shawl that can be casually thrown over head and shoulders - I am finding it very hard to get inspired. Having delivered all my knitted socks for Christmas presents I am now attempting to get ahead of myself for December 2010. I know it won't work and I shall, like so many other knitters, be frantically doing the midnight knit, but the plan is to avoid that.
I made 2 personal resolutions and 1 for the shop: I will not use my credit card again until I have cleared the balance (you have no idea how hard that is will all the online wool sales), I will lose at least 3 stones (after being very very ill just before Christmas due to my lupus and APS medication I know that if I lose weight I will feel better and may even be able to reduce some of the 25 tablets I take a day). For the shop I resolved to only have display items showing patterns and yarn I stock...but I am, right now, creating a very strange scarf because I was bored doin g a plain one, so I either accept that the resolution has gone or I write the pattern out! mmm I'll have to let you know how that progresses.
Matt has been offered a conditional place at Bishop Justus school in Bromley very close to the shop, so he must now work on his grades to get in. I was very impressed with the school when we visited so I am thrilled that he may be going there, getting the right school for your kids is soooo hard. I have to confess we've not yet sorted out Counting Caitlin. She is almost potty trained now - after all the effort and damp seats last Easter we just took her nappy and trousers off all over Christmas and she just took herself off to the pot every time she needed it without any prompting from us. I didn't even realise what was going on until I heard her declare "I'm so clever....blue sticky star please". It's not so easy at the shop because I really don't want her wandering around half naked, but I really believe she's sorted herself out. There is no truer saying than you can't make a child dry they will do it themselves when they are ready.
She is called Counting Caitlin because that's what she does, she counts everything. As you are driving along she counts cars, she counts peas in her dinner, she counts bubbles in the bath, she counts all flipping night (loudly). She is absorbing so much information at the moment and repeating it back parrot fashion, we've really had to be careful with language and spelling it doesn't work either as she just repeats the spelled swear words at very inappropriate moments (is there ever an appropriate moment to spell swear words?)
The cottage conversion has ground to a halt, winter weather and 7 days a week opening really meant we had to do interior work only and as we've now reached the wall building stage we will have to wait until there is no more snow. I have be overwhelmed by the offers of help we have received from architects, builders and friends. For my part I have bought a mug and teapot set for my new kitchen and some artwork for my new bedroom (neither of which exists yet!) still colour schemes are very important.
Christmas was quiet and restful (much needed) even though we bought Matt an electric guitar and Caitlin an acoustic one, we also acquired a piano (what a musical family) but that is living at the shop. Mum did Christmas lunch this year so it really was easy.
I wish you and yours a very happy, healthy and peaceful 2010. Keep knitting and being creative...it really is so good for you.
Lots of love
Sharon x




22nd November 2009
Here I am again...it's been frantic. New stock, lots of knitting and school hunting. Matt is looking at 6th form and Caitlin at primary...it's really hard! Matt is now head down studying hard for Mocks knowing that he needs A grades to become the Quantum Physicist he currently wants to be. The shop is now open 6/7 days a week and late night every Thursday so free time is zero! We have started converting the workshops back into living accommodation with the plan that by August 2010 we will be living in the shop....have I died and gone to heaven...living in a wool shop!
I've finished knitting 2 friendship shawls for very special people I know who are going thru a hard time at the moment. Socks for birthday presents and 2 Rowan Jumpers (for customers). It was my first go at Fair Isle and I am totally addicted now.
But now I am knitting snow, robins, holly and tree decorations for the shop Christmas display. All my knitting friends are making me green knitted triangles and next week I am going to turn them into a Christmas tree (not exactly sure how yet but something will work out). My robins, apparently look like malteasers...have a go yourself and see, the pattern is on this site.
I even managed to make a Rowan jumper for myself...gorgeous Lima yarn. I did find a pattern I liked, although I didn't do the hood or pockets or put buttons on. Oh and I didn't do the bobble (I don't like bobbles) so it sort of vaguely resembles the pattern but not much.
Don't you find that's the beauty of knitting, you can change anything you don't like and create something completely unique.
We've been knitting and crotcheting with wire and beads making jewelery....great fun.
It's tipping it down outside and there's a leak in the roof so I have to find a bucket. Caitlin needs changing (yeah I know...still in nappies!) so I had better away. I promise to be back sooner next time.
Love
Sharon x


28th September 2009
What can I say? It's been ages since I last blogged but I have not been idle! The shop has had a complete refit in the Wool Section and now I am setting my sights on bringing the rest of Avicraft up to scratch as well as building our house! I am so excited that this time next year we will be living on site...that means more knitting clubs and more knitting time, no more hour commute to work everyday. I must brag about the new look wool shop...I am so proud of it. Jan, Rob Chris and myself worked our little socks off for a week to make it brighter, more spacious and a really lovely place to sit and knit. A massive thanks to the team. I do have photos and I will edit them and put them on site soon.
Matt has done 2 weeks of work experience at Lloyds Bank computer support centre and....absolutely loved it! No one was more surprised or delighted as us...and I have to confess I did have a good cry on the first day when we dropped him at the station all dressed in his suit and tie, newspaper under his arm, to catch his train into London. When did my little boy get so grown up? Of course he did have the i-pod firmly installed and the straightened hair all over his face but he isn't my little lad anymore. He is still a lozy slob and his room still needs fumigating but he now has an idea of the "real" world of work and loves it. On top of that he has got 2 As and 2 Bs so far in Maths and Science GCSEs so I am a very very proud Mummy.
Okay confession time, Caitlin is still not dry! She is such a busy person all day (and thankfully so am I with my customers) that she just doesn't mind being dirty. She fills her day whistling (I know it way quite unnerving when she started to whistle), putting stickers on everything in sight and bossing her toys around. She talks almost properly now, recognises all her colours, shapes and numbers and can even read a menu in Taste Bud Cafe! But she still wear a nappy! I guess you can't have it all and now that we have decided against Nursery school we've got until next September when she starts school to get her to use a toilet.
Well I had better get back to work. I have several display garments to knit, the obligatory socks, flowers, leaves and my latest venture which is crochet wire jewelery (very addictive). I am also attempting to write up all my designs for publication... oh well I think I'll just knit for a bit while I think about which job I'm going to tackle first!
Lots of love
Sharon

18th August 2009
I actually have a day off! No work and no kids!!! I have sorted my stash cupboard and now I have at least 100 projects I must do now. I've sorted all my patterns and magazines into box files (not sorted within those files though) and have a bag full of half finished projects. I pledge to finish all those before I start anything new (oh yeah I don't believe it either).
I was supposed to be meeting a friend today but she is unwell so I send her lots of love and hope that she is sitting with her feet up and needles out. There really is nothing to beat knitting when you are commanded to rest.
The shop is really exciting at the moment - I am actually getting organised and am anxious for the beginning of September when we reopen after our decorating and have lots of really scrummy new yarn in. I've been playing with the samples of Rowan I received and buying posh needles and lots more sock stuff.
I'm also hoping to get knitted dolls clothes and dressed dolls for Christmas. It seems odd to be thinking about Christmas when the sun is shinning but I have the air con on in here and it is deliciously cool - just perfect for knitting.
Now that everything is sorted I can crack on with knitting this afternoon.
Caitlin is amazing us every day now singing all the songs I sang to her when she was tiny - word perfect. It really is incredible how much information has been absorbed into that little head. She seemed to take such a long time speaking and all at once she has cracked it. Maybe the toilet training will happen the same way - hopefully before she starts school!
Made a big decision this month to not send her to Nursery school - we have such a great time together at the shop and she is learning and interacting with people all the time. We will take her places to mix with other children so she knows that there are other small people in the world and we do introduce her to every child who comes into the shop. I know there are some that will totally disapprove but we can't get her into a school nursery (I didn't realise you had to get their name down at birth!) and we can't afford to pay even with the subsidy. So rather than struggle we choose to educate her at home and hope that we can get her into a school near the shop next September (2010!).
I have inherited a huge box of knitting and crochet patterns dating from 1908 right through both World Wars up to the present day. My little shop will be 5 years old in December so I would like to have an historic knitting display then...well that's what I'd like and you know that I don't always get round to it!
Matt is due to start work experience in September - I think the experience of work is going to be a great shock to him. We've been trying to give him and his friend some practice during the holidays but it's driving us round the bend. Teenagers bore easily and so flit from task to task without actually completing anything! So they create more than they complete and leave us with loads more to do. The idea was that they relieve us of some of the work at the shop but it hasn't worked that way. He is doing his own washing now, because I got fed up with him running out of clothes and blaming me when they had spent a week on his bedroom floor. The latest load is still sitting in the machine after it's second cycle - he hasn't grasped that you need to take the wet clothes out to dry....he may be going commando tomorrow!
Well that's enough knitting time spent on the computer. I hope you are enjoying your holidays.
Love
Sharon x

26th July 2009
The weather is perfect (for knitting) and I've now lost 8lbs. It's been a very funny week. Owing to power failures locally we gained another teenager (they can't function if the power supply to their x-box is cut) for the week and then lost both of them for the 5 hours we were powerless (they rang round all their friends to find the one with power and all descended on him- I pity that mother). Matt and his friend Chris have had me in stitches and pulling my hair out. They are both at the shop all summer trying to earn enough money to buy an I phone each by September. They spend hours calculating how many days they will need to work at what rate of pay to achieve this and yet manage to waste time when they could be earning. An acceptable rate of pay was agreed on and they started work. Started being the operative word as they have started a number of tasks but are yet to finish one. They seem to enjoy anything that involves demolitions or big tools. Within 15 minutes of startiing ripping a fence out they had put a concrete fence post through a window. They then moved on to sanding and painting (1 can sand because the noise makes him feel sick and the other can't paint because it doesn't work!...and he's doing art gcse!). So they started painting but gave up leaving the brushes to go hard and open tins on the pavement! So they were give buttons to sort but, after emptying all the tubes from the racks they decided they didnt' have the patience for this and gave up (my calf muscles remind me today that I spent an hour kneeling on the floor yesterday picking all the tubes up). But they are hysterically funny and it is better than watching a comedy doube act. They have their own strange language and they don't stop eating - I am learning not to give them packets of food as they will eat everything. So we are close to bankrupcy buying food for them all day and we still have masses of work to be done!
Emma and I have sorted all the sale yarns and are ready for clearance throughout August so that we have space for Rowan. And the shop is really starting to take shape. Ooh it's so exciting my first Knit pack arrived this week (a freebie from Rowan to knit a display garment) and I have started. I spent the time before it arrived finishing blankets (or blanklets as Caitlin calls them), flowers, another shawl and making 2 pairs of gloves- okay I have to admit shawls, gloves, socks and flowers do appear to have become totally adictive.
Rob has been laid up with an awful flu-like bug and an injured leg so things have not been easy...he does everything indoors for me and the place is looking dreadful at the moment so today will be knit free and clearup time (for as long as I can take it). He took a long time to recover because he didn't stop working...it's not easy when you have your own business to take time off...so it takes longer to fight off germs.
Caitlin has managed 2 wees in the toilet and 1 on each cushion in the house! I am convinced she's doing it on purpose now...she is completely dry at night and soaking all day (I always thought babies were harder to get dry at night). it doesn't surprise me that my daughter is totally contrary.!
Well I had better get on...once the house is tidy and clean (or less of a health hazard) I will get back to my knitting,,,I have resolved not to start anything new until I have only 1 unfinished project...mmmm! I shall try..I am getting better with the self control, I even went to the John Lewis sale last week and didn't buy any yarn (even tho I was really tempted by 2 bags of Noro)
Love to you all
Sharon x



3rd July 2009
The sun is shinning - but not too hot. The pills are working and I lost 2lbs last week! Monday was my birthday and I have had a fantastic week. The best bit of all is that I have been almost pain free for all of that week too. I did have a bit of a scare before then with chest pains but it seems that I have inflamed rib cartilege now and nothing more sinister. But I did have to stop knitting for 2 days and now can only knit if my arms are fully supported. But I have managed a dozen or so flowers, 2 blackberry stitch shawls, a crib blanket and a trip to John Lewis Yarn Clearance. It started last Saturday and Emma and I braved hailstones as big as 50p pieces (I kid you not it was terrifying - the noise in the car was painful) to go there as soon as Avicraft closed (Emma in her Avicraft Wool Shop T-shirt). Bearing in mind that I have a wool shop and Emma's stash is so big she has to store it in 2 countries we thought it prudent to only spend a couple of hundred on essential yarn (isn't all discounted yarn essential?) and we did leave some behind for less brave knitters than we. I don't think Rob could believe it when I bought yarn for a blanket!
My two have been challenging to say the least lately - it's been the season of birthdays - Caitlin first and she was more than satisfied with a tea party at the shop, chocolate cake and boxes. Matthew's came at a greater price - why is it the smaller to box the bigger the price tag. I ended up with 5 15 year old boys crammed into his bedroom playing on the x-box after they had been to the pictures and gorged themselves on Kentucky. I kept the rest of the family safely in the lounge and just threw in the odd pack of sweets and biscuits. Eventually they dwindled away leaving that eau de locker room aroma but one of his friends said that I was "safe" which is a good thing (well it's better than the things I used to get called at the Jobcentre).
He did managed to stitch his dad up for a pair of imported all star boots honoring the Grateful Dead (are they still going?) which he bought over the internet with his dad's credit card! Had to laugh because his father's aversion to Bluewater (and any shopping) cost him nearly £160!!!!
And then it was my turn - clothes, smellies, bags and knitting books and the complete set of Black Books DVDs from Emma. It has become a bit of a joke in the shop about my Under the Counter Yarn - which is basically the stuff I want for myself or am saving for a particular customer cos I know they will love it. So if you ever pop in always ask to see the special stuff - but not too loudly else everyone will want it!!!
Take care
Now I'm feeling great I may get round to this blog thing more often - don't forget to check out the pattern page and make me a flower!
Lots of love
Sharon x


27th May 2009
What happened to the past month? Did I miss it? I've been knitting the same baby jacket 5 times (it's strangely relaxing repeating a familiar pattern) in Debbie Bliss, Baby Cashmerino. That's 5 different jackets that are all the same style rather than knitting 1 jacket 5 times (hey I'm not a perfectionist and I really don't mind the odd design modification so I really wouldn't unknit something 4 times to produce the same garment).
Now sit down because I have something shocking to tell you.....I haven't knitted any socks! That's right I have been sockless! (sorry about the font I've hit a wrong button somewhere and I don't know how to change it back). I have discovered knitted roses and fingerless gloves - totally addictive. 1 50g ball of pure wool (such as Twilleys Freedom Spirit), a pair of 4mm needles and a darning needle and I can knock up 6 roses in a couple of hours. I've been chucking them in the machine with the jeans wash and they come out beautifully fulled. That's right "fulled" - i've looked it up and it's the correct term for "felting" spun yarn, it's only called "felting" when it's unspun yarn!
We had a wonderful Rowan Workshop at the shop last week. It was all about finishing techniques and different cast ons....I actually enjoyed sewing up the last couple of things now I know I can sew up without ruining my knitting. And I defy anyone not to love the tubular cast on or continental cast on.....want to learn how to do them? Talk to me nicely (chocolate or coffess speaks my language) and I'll teach you.
And now for something really exciting......TUESDAY 2ND JUNE 2009 at 9pm on BBC2, watch out for Mary Queen of Charity Shops, part of the programme was filmed in my little shop. I have no idea how much of our bit ended up on the cutting room floor but it might be worth a look. I'm buying a DVD recorded especially for it....
Well the font seems to have corrected itself and as I'd rather be knitting I will be off now - I promise I will get another pattern and book review on the site really soon.
Lots of love
Sharon x



29th April 2009
The blanket is finished! It certainly isn't the prettiest thing I've ever made but what 14 year old boy wants a pretty blanket! I think it is a success - it has disappeared into the pit that is Matt's room!
Caitlin has had another trial day at Nursery - all went really well, but she still won't use the potty or toilet. We were devastated to find out that the school (Baston School for Girls, Hayes) will be closing in July. The Nursery/Kindergarten will be staying open but it means that we will have to throw ourselves on the mercy of Bromley Council for an "out of area" school place for her. Unless, of course, we suddenly come into enough money to move into Bromley...otherwise I will be asigning everyone a subject to swot up on and tutor Caitlin in the shop!!! (Please don't give me Maths...I did enough of that over Easter).
Blankets have started to come into the shop for the Bliss project. So far only 1 person has said we'll never get 14,500 blankets by next year so I am sharing the faith and belief that the world IS full of wonderful people who want to something for others.
I am still walking with a grimace (I don't recommed a cortisone injection in the pubis symphis - look it up! ) and I've had to change my job in the Jobcentre as I can no longer work standing up - still I got to sit down all day there yesterday and didn't have to go straight to bed when I got home (as usual) so I am looking forward to learning a new job and sitting down!
I am so lucky to have 2 fantastic jobs; 1 gives me a great bunch of colleagues and a brilliant pension; the other gives me the chance to meet nutty knitters, sit on my bottom all day and knit whilst surrounded by wool. Okay, neither gives me enough money to buy a 3 bedroom house but each one makes me happy so that's good enough for me.
So what's on the needles? Believe it or not....no socks! I'm doing the basic shawl (pattern on site), baby cashmerino jackets for twins, 4 cushion covers (crochet) to go with the blanket and in the shop I'm finishing a tiny guernsey style cabled jumper in Gorgeous (amazingly soft bamboo yarn) from Twilleys. I do have a lone sock to partner up, flower brooches, sock key rings, dolly sweaters and a multi coloured jumper for me in the planning stages so I had better get a move on.
I hope you like the changes to the site.
See you soon
Love Sharon x


14th April 2009
Hope you all had a very restful Easter break. We had a wonderful day on Easter Sunday catching up with old (and new) friends and discovering that swings are the best thing in the world when you are nearly 3 and Daddy will take you back again and again to them if you throw a spectacular tantrum. We have also discovered that Caitlin doesn't like wetting herself (toilet training in full flow!!! Pun intended), it's not very comfortable running down your legs so she makes herself comfortable on the sofa, armchairs or bean bags and pees into the lovely absorbant fabric (I am guarding my yarn stash ferociously). So once we were sitting on bed pillowed chairs and the cushions and bean bags were drying outside and on heaters indoors and the carpet had been throughly scrubbed I have GIVEN UP! I admit defeat, my daughter is clearly more stubborn than I (and that's saying something). Either she doesn't like the loo (or potty - even the one that plays a celebratory jingle when you tinkle!) or the soft furnishings or she really doesn't want to go to Nursery next week. I just hope she will back down before compulsory school starts!
I have learned masses of GCSE Maths and Science this holiday...and Matthew is now up to date with his coursework and homework (first time this academic year!).
I'm off to the I Knit shop in London tomorrow to spend my voucher on some obscenely expensive and impractical yarn. I will report back later. And I haven't forgotten my promise of a pattern page and book review (and yarn review) page on this site before the end of the month. Have to confess I was supposed to do a stock take over the Easter break but the sight of all those buttons makes me shake...any volunteers to count buttons!!!
I'm still churning out socks and have knit a Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino baby jacket (just the sewing up to do) - such a delicious yarn to work with. Progress is going on with Matthew's blanket. Other than that there is a crochet baby blanket on the hook and another blanket for the BLISS project on the go at the shop.  My only problem is dozens and dozens of new sock yarns just come in stock and I don't have enough hours in the day to knit them all.
Just a last note to wish Emma a Happy Birthday for Saturday and then I had better get back to the knitting.
Lots of love
Sharon x

30th March 2009
Okay another month is fast disappearing and my to do list is increasing. I've had a housebound week due to health problems (and a coughing child) and have managed to knit a sock a day and start at least 2 other projects. I have to be honest, Matthews blanket will not be finished this Easter - it's not that I haven't got round to it, I just don't like it so am redesigning it and reknitting it (that's my excuse). I've even started a jumper for myself (virtually unheard of as I am a size 20 and that's a whole lot of knitting) but I've changed the pattern and am knitting it in the round so there will be minimal sewing up (hooray).
Speaking of patterns - I promise as my Easter present to you all - I will be opening a pattern page on this site during the month of April and a book review site. They will be a wide range of books either about knitting or loosely related to knitting and the patterns will be whatever I feel like doing. Patterns are great but they take a lot of proof reading, waste knitting hours typing them up and invariably how you mean something to be interpretted is not how someone will interpret it so....I will give you the patterns on the understanding that you point out any mistakes in a constructive manner!!!!!!
What's been going on? Well Matthew has had his hair cut and now refused to go to school if it doesn't "go right" when he straightens it EVERY morning! I really didn't think I'd be getting up early to straighten my teenage sons hair. He has also taken to exploding deodorant cans in his bedroom so the house has a men's changing room smell to it constantly (largely due to his unchanged bed linen, dirty washing floor decorations and the aforementioned deodorant). We've all had colds so haven't been able to fully appreciate to aroma yet but the spray makes us all wheeze like heavy smokers. I have learned with Matt if you largely ignore what he's doing he stops it eventually cos it's boring but I'm not saint and patience it not something I am afflicted with so I can only ignore so long before all electronic toys are removed from his room and he is banned from seeing his mate.
Caitlin is bored too (least that is my excuse for her current spell of distructiveness). Hopefully when my medication starts to work and I am more mobile I can get her out and run off some of her energy, failing that there is Nursery in September!
Went to the craft show at Olympia for Mothering Sunday (thanks Natasha for the tickets), subscribed to the new Crochet magazine...hey I know I get 6 knitting magazines a month but this is the first crochet one so totally essential. I also met the writer of A Stitch in Time - amazing book, very enthusiastic lady (Matt said, as we walked away from her, "are all knitting people insane?" What could I say??? Other than that the show was a little disappointing and very quiet...hope that means poeple are buying in wool shops now!
Better go and see what Caitlin has broken now!
Lots of love
Sharon x


16h March 2009
Here she is in all her weird glory - Evil Alien Bunny -let me know what you think!


For anyone interested she is knitted in Peter Pan DK Surprise baby yarn and Peter Pan DK white, the pattern is also one of the new ones from Peter Pan.
Have a laugh - I've been knitting a display garment I don't like. I had almost finished the back when a customer bought the rest of the yarn! I was so happy to frog the jumper and start something smaller that I like!
So it's back to Matthew's blanket and socks.
Love
Sharon x



15th March 2009
Happy Spring...yes I know it doesn't officially start for a week or two yet but it's been such a glorious day today that I have a definite spring in my step... either that or the increase in the medication is working!!!!
I've been busy moving the shop around again to fit in all the new yarn that's been arriving for Spring/Summer and so I'm knitting display goods and trying to make something more original than a baby cardi from the new Peter Pan yarns. Which brings me right to Evil Alien Bunny. I think my bunny is lovely (I will photo her and put her picture on the site later this week for you to judge for yourself). The first Bunny was finished and sewn together and then I find that her ears make a great teething rag and tissue for Caitlin and her cold! So I knitted Bunny II. Rob thinks it looks like an alien and a small child in the shop on Saturday said it was an evil alien.  Well I love her and Caitlin seems very fond of Snotty Evil Alien Bunny the first.
I have been totally abusing my friends this Saturday, just about any one of them who appeared in the shop ended up serving customers! Never fear they are paid well in coffee and yarn.
Matthew's blanket is growing but I do feel like I am cheating a bit now that I have decided to crochet alternate panels, still I have made him another 2 pairs of socks while he's waiting.
I'm often asked which sock yarn is my favourite and I would have said Regia Silk until last week when I discovered schoeller and stahl Fortissima Socka mexiko (in the shop now but get it quick cos I am knitting like mad with it) it's the softest sock yarn I have ever come across that isn't fluffy. Sorry but I just can't do fluffy yarn, it makes my face itch....I know it's heresy but I don't like mohair, alpaca or angora. Just give me wool and silk and I am blissfully happy.
Highlight of the week for me was an article I was given about a talk I did for the local synagogue. It was such a buzz to get such lovely feedback, I enjoyed doing the talk so much I was thrilled to know that others enjoyed recieving it. Sometimes I think I come across as a bit too excited about all things knitty...there's nothing more anoraky than a hobby bore....but I am excited and thrilled by it so I can't pretend to be otherwise. I am a nutty knitter, I can live with that.
Our Bliss blanket charity project got a whole page in this month's Knitting magazine and I hope to visit them before Easter (you have no idea how excited I am about visiting a knitting magazine) and I have a Rowan workshop to go to soon.  All that and I still haven't got to I Knit yet to spend my voucher (I won it at last year's I Knit show for knitting an alien!). So it's a very exciting few weeks ahead.
I fully intend getting the picture gallery running on the site (I'd love to recieve any pictures of your odd knitting, no offence intended) and a book review as I am passionate about knitting books and stories  before the end of the month so I had better get organised - knit a bit less and type a bit more....hell, we all know that's never going to happen.
A million thanks to all the wonderful people who have emailed me about the blankets...
See you all soon
Love Sharon xx


26th February 2009
Okay so who stole February? It has been a busy month of 4 hospital appointments - changes in medication (forgive me if I am a little more spacey than usual) and lots of knitting. I just can't get inspired with Matthew's blanket at them moment so it's really arduous knitting. I have promised myself I will get it done for Easter - oh that's only 39 days away! I have made up to him with 2 pairs of knitted socks. All the knitted socks I have been doing for Bliss are now adorning the feet of a number of Jobcentre plus Security Guards. I also had a first bash at shadow knitting and produced a naked pole dancer in a scarf - the effect is amazing (the pattern is in one of the Stitch and Bitch books) - looking straight at the scarf you can't see her but looking down the length of the scarf reveals her very shapely form....this adorns another Jobcentre plus Security Guard!
I fancied having a go at picture knitting too after seeing the Rupert Bear jumper in Womans Weekly (they still have a pattern in every issue) - Caitlin adores Rupert but not jumpers so she will have a tank top instead - saves me from knitting sleeves too (which I find very hard going). I don't mind raglan but set in sleeves get bigger and seem to go on forever.
As usual I have added (considerably) to my pattern and knitting story book collection. I've read all the Debbie Macombers and am now thoroughly enjoying a whole series of knitting murder mysteries. They will all join the shop library when finished so pop in and charm me...I may be persuaded to lend you one.
The whole house was in total upheaval yesterday as we had a major gas leak under our exterior stairs and the lovely men from the Gas Board had to totally reroute our supply through the front wall, under the lounge floor, under the hall floor and all the way down the flat to the meter cupboard. Today you would not even know they had been....I will not hear a bad word about British Workmen!
So it's lent and I have given up bread, biscuits and cake....I actually started lent 2 weeks early as I looked at last year's diary...it hasn't been easy giving up things I really like but getting the date wrong did mean we had 2 pancake days!!!
Well that's me done for a while - I've got socks to make, a tank top to finish and a 3ft by 6ft blanket to finish!
Lots of love
Sharon xxx

2nd February 2009
I'm having a break from the knitting to stare at the snow and catch up on this blog. It has been a very busy couple of weeks. After the Tram do there has been some disappointment with Transport for London deeming knitting too frivalous for them to be associated with it. As a consequence they are not publishing our photos. Controversy reigns and I am still hopeful that we will have pictures for you to see. At the end of the day we raised money for Bliss and won the Knitting Magazine prize of a Rowan workshop and a hamper of goodies. Also 12 of the group got a free annual subscription to Knitting Magazine...thanks very much for that.
Mary Portas (of Mary Queen of Shops fame) visited the shop last week with a film crew and we are taking part in her latest series Mary Queen of Charity Shops in partnership with Save the Children shop in Orpington. It ties in nicely as we have given Save the Children all the blankets from the tram (with the exception of some which have gone to the Cats Protection League) and will be giving them more stuff over the year. They would like us to start a knitting group in their shop so if any of you would be interested in joining an evening group in Orpington get in touch with the shop and I will let you know what's going on.
I was also privileged to be asked to speak at the United Reform Synagogue in Bromley last week about knitting... I'm amazed that people want me to talk to them about knitting but apparantly they do and I really enjoyed the experience (not to mention some lively debate over a delicious lunch).
Caitlin broke her elbow a couple of weeks ago and is now out of plaster and has joined a playgroup. She seems to like it...now begins the 10 years of fridge pictures! I have a box of Matthew's still in the loft!
Last time I mentioned the lovely Debbie Macomber, and the delightful lady has sent me a book of blanket patterns so I really must start knitting my blanket for this year's challenge.
I had a fantastic day in the shop the other Saturday when Emma came in to work for the day. Most of the Thursday night group appeared during the day and indulged their compulsion for tidying...I think I may have the next group at my house!!!
Mind you it did make this Saturday very lonely as no one popped in for a chat other than a lovely lady for her sock knitting lesson.
So back to my knitting - socks, mini socks and blankets (although I did crochet a shrug and 2 scarves over the weekend for a bit of knit relief).
Keep warm and safe
Love
Sharon x

15th January 2009
The tram scarf photo event was great fun on Sunday but left me totally shattered. I have photos but not on this computer so will update you and include pics later this week. Am knitting socks, socks and more socks at the moment as Knitting magazine kindly donated some beautiful sock yarn to our charity knit and I am making them to order at £15-£20 per pair (all the money going to BLISS of course). And I have finished all the Debbie Macomber knitting story books. I can totally recommend them for a bit of light and happy reading - just the sort of thing we all need in this current depressing climate. Each book has some fab pattern support with it...been reading about prayer shawls and I know that I have one or two very dear friends who I need to wrap in woolly love so I hope to get started on one very soon.

7th January 2009
Okay,I know, I haven't got round to this blog for a while- there are a million reasons and excuses but I won't bore you with them...I'll just wish you a very very Happy New Year and we'll say no more...okay?

I've been unpicking and re-knitting scarves this week - I loved the yarn and colours so much (Handmaiden Sea Silk) but had lost interest in the scarf so have revamped it. Isn't it amazing that you can do that with yarn, unpick it, reknit it and have something beautiful again - I wish everything was so simple.
I've also been teaching sock knitting and in the process re-writing my basic sock pattern into more of a tutorial...I will be selecting some non-sock knitters to test run the pattern later this month (Yes, hubby dearest that does mean you!). My husband is truely amazing, first he indulges my knitting (and nags when my arthritis is really bad but I continue to knit), then he does all the child care (and me care on my bad days), cooks, cleans, shops and knits! That's right he knits...he learned to knit for the charity blankets for the Tram last year and is now willing to have a go at socks to test my pattern.

Talking of charity knitting - our Wooly Tram will be wrapped in its scarf made from all the blankets this weekend - Sunday 11th at Croydon Tram Depot - why not come along and see (and get more info on this years challenge).

Now it's back to paperwork for the shop - it is my resolution this year to reduce waste...that means wasted time as well, so I figured if I get organised that would be a good starting place. And I hope to reduce my waist too! And I'm going to try to only shop in local stores (using cash only)...at this point said husband is wetting himself laughing, knowing, as he does, my inability to not buy knitting books off the internet. Oh I'm also going to use up 50% of my yarn stash before adding to it..... That will be easy because I don't count any wool stored at the shop (even if it is mine and out the back) as part of my stash so I will just have to bring more in from home.... the most important thing about resolutions is to make it easy to keep them!
Catch up soon - why not email me with your resolutions or any wooly news
love sharon x

!7th December 2008
So now I'm blogging on Wednesday but I wasn't very well last week and I have such exciting news. Debbie Macomber has emailed me her support for Challenge 2009.Okay so some of you won't know who she is....Debbie Macomber is an amazing knitting lady who writes books and knits for Warm up America and supports World Vision. Just google her and you'll get free knitting patterns and all sorts and let me know if you want to borrow any of her books I think I have them all in the shop library.
Every day I am blown away by the knitters (and nutters) who are happy to get out their needles and knit for someone they don't know.
2009 is going to be the most amazing year for us...it will have to go a long way to beat 2008 what with the plastic bag knitting, the pamper night, the table top sale, the knitted blankets, an email from Debbie Bliss, and getting to know my wonderful Knitting club friends. Not only that, the shop is really developing into somewhere I love. It somehow doesn't seem fair that others have to work at jobs they don't like when I can come here and knit all day, surrounded by wool and other knitters.
I have been busy clearing out my stash at home and sorting out my pattern books. As a result the club library has now doubled in size and I only have 4 yarn projects on the go at home....yes that's right... only 4 and 1 of them has come about because I make one sock 2 inches longer than the other so am now having to knit 2 more so that I have pairs!
We back to the socks.....

6th December 2008
Yes it's Saturday today but we have a complete day off tomorrow to catch up on all the exciting indoor jobs such as my knitting magazine pile (watch out for new old ones in the shop next week), the amazing wasps nest in the loft, a dripping tap, blocked plughole and other lovely domestic stuff!
The wedding was incredible on Tuesday - forget all those people that say summer is the best time for a wedding, there is simply nothing like a country manor house at Christmas time. The wedding stole was the talk of the day and Claire looked amazing.


I've also finished 24 mini knitted socks and they are looking great over the fireplace. Fancy a go at one?
Use 2.5 dpns or 2.75 dpns and your left over sock yarn. Cast on 20 sts and distribute over 3 needles.
Work 6 rounds of K1, P1 rib. Then knit a further 18 rounds. Divide sts onto 2 needles (10 on each).
Working on just 1 set of needles, work 13 rows in st st, slipping the 1st st of every row.
With RS facing, sl1, k5, k2tog through the back of the st, turn
Sl 1, P2, P2tog, turn
Sl 1, K2, K2togtbl, turn
Sl 1, P2, P2tog, turn
Sl 1, K2, K2togtbl, turn
Sl 1, P2, P2tog, turn (4 sts)
K2 sts
GUSSET - Needle 1, K2, pick up and knit 8 sts. Needle 2, K10. Needle 3, pick up and knit 8 sts, K2
Shape Gusset - Round 1 - Needle 1 K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1
                                   Needle 2 Knit

                                   Needle 3 K1, K2togtbl, K to end
                     Round 2 - Knit all sts
Repeat last 2 rounds until 20 sts remain.

Knit 12 rounds

Shape toe - Round 1, Needle 1 - K2, K2tog, K1. Needle 2 - K1, K2togtbl, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. Needle 3 - K1, K2togtbl, K2,
Round 2, Needle 1 - K1, K2tog, K1. Needle 2 - K1, K2togtbl, K to last 3 sts, K2tog,K1. Needle 3 - K1, K2togtbl, K1
Round 3, Needle 1 - K2tog, K1. Needle 2 - K1, K2togtbl, K2tog, K1. Needle 3 - K1, K2togtbl, K2sts from needle 1

Turn sock right side out and graft toe


Just email me it you can't work out any of my abbreviations!

I am just stuffing my 14th kni-tit and next is the life sized one!!! Just Matthews blanket to do now so I've started crocheting snowflakes and then I will have to find something else....I had a notion to knit myself a life sized customer.....watch this space!

love to you all
Sharon xxx




30th November 2008
Hi, hope you are all indoors and keeping warm knitting - it's really cold out there. We've been celebrating Caitlins half birthday today (we always do half birthdays in our house because 12 months is too long to wait for the next birthday).  So now we have a Night Garden pop up tent in the lounge! It is destined for the shop in the New Year when we do the next refit. We are expanding the shop floor area to make a much bigger sit and knit area and better access to customer's to see all the yarns.
The best news this week is that Emma, the internationally travelled knitter, will be joining the shop one Saturday a month from January to help with all your knitty problems, organise my stock and just bring a really good club to Saturdays.
From January there will be new clubs Monday morning, Friday pm and Saturday pm so no excuses for not getting to a sit and knit.
Sorry to say the Thursday club is still full (well I'm not sorry as it's a great group of friends but sorry that I don't have a bigger premises).
Matt's blanket has ground to a halt while I do my last 8 advent socks (I'll get the pattern on the site next week) and my kni-tits. My kni-tits have caused a real stir. I have orders now for even more than the original dozen for Lewisham hospital! My gay friends think they make great stress relievers! What can I say............
We've raised £2500 now for Bliss, thanks to £1000 from Tramlink and are looking forward to making a giant woolly scarf out of all the mini blankets to keep a tram warm in January 2009.
I will post a new page next week with the 2009 challenge details and patterns for the Bliss blanket.
Then after the festive season I promise to sit down, write up all my patterns and sort out getting them published for you.
Hope to put some of Claire's wedding photos on next week
Love to you all
Sharon x





22nd November 2008

Hello there to all who know me and all those who are yet to become friends. I thought I should join the internet knitting world and blog!
In addition to crocheting together all the blankets for the Tram, I am knitting 24 mini-socks for my advent calender - at this rate I will be knitting them the night before they go on the fireplace each evening in December...the kids won't mind as long as they are done and filled with chocolates!
It was number one son's turn for a knitted offering this month and I could have throttled him when he asked for a knitted blanket...having just finished my 6th Tram blanket I thought he was joking, but no! So I am knitting 3 x 2 metre strips which will then be sewn together to cover his bed.  I'm changing yarn colour and pattern every half a metre which gives me a great opportunity to try out a few new patterns (some of which have been inspired by the amazingly beautiful blankets knitted by my wonderful knitters).
I have to make a partner for my latest lonely sock - regia silk....gorgeously soft yarn...I don't stock it but you can get it easily enough on line.
The wedding stole is complete and no photo does it justice - tonight it is blocked out and air drying in the shop having been thoroughly rinsed in comfort pure....is it just me or does anyone else find raw silk really really smelly! I can't wait to see it draped round Claire on December 2nd with the candle light making the crystals in it sparkle.
And then I must get on knitting boobies.... or kni-tits as I prefer to call them. That's right knitted boobs with a variety of shapes, sizes, colours and nipples.....I haven't completely lost the plot, apparently they are a really valuable resource for midwives and health visitors who teach breast feeding.
So I will be spending November and December surrounded by blankets, mini socks and breasts....who said my life was strange!
Avicraft Knitters have made the knitting press again this month with great articles in Let's Knit and Knitting magazines with our Bliss fund raising. Apologies to all those involved - I did not call us Team Sharon!!!
I'm in the planning stages of project 2009 which will again focus on raising huge amounts of money for Bliss and will need support from everyone...it involves knitting (surprise surprise) but I'm not telling any more just yet.
Be back soon
Love
Sharon x