Bologna with Pooh!

'The Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca is sited on Monte della Guardia, in a forested hill some 300 metres above the plain, just south-west of the historical centre of the city. While a road now leads up to the sanctuary, it is also possible to reach it by traversing a 3.5 km monumental roofed arcade consisting of 666 arches, built in 1674-1793 to protect the icon of the Virgin Mary, allegedly painted by Luke the Evangelist '.

We naturally did it the hard way.

Gilly and John both looking very dashing in two scarves knitted by their kind friend...me!

Grapevine shawl

Who could resist these colours? certainly not me. Hand Maiden Casbah yarn (merino/cashmere/nylon) brought on late summer wool shop crawl in London- at Loop, Islington.

Guaranteed to brighten up any foggy autumn day.

One way to while away a Sunday afternoon....

as temperatures dropped and the cat crept closer to the fire I made a very satisfying cosy pair of Johhny Rotten mittens (by Suzanne Stallard).

And as every fashionsita knows, the Union Jack is set to dominate trends over the next twelve months.

Just right for autumn!

Dasiy by Debbie Bliss (with thanks to Meny for dashing round to LYS and posting off the extra balls of wool needed for second sleeve).

Front view.........................

Back view.

Shawls and the suchlike

So as not to disappoint my friend Patty I have, as is my custom, been knocking up things for Christmas as temps soar to near 100. A wonderful way of using up those georgeous skiens friends have sent me.

Beginning with a hat made of Koigu fingering that Nancy sent me. It is actually a slouchy streetwise model, not clear in the picture



Swiss Cheese scarf in a ball of Zauberball laceweight. Shading from ornage to fuchsia to purple and back again. A rare sight: Lin in a handknit. Fascinating knitting

After recieving a pimpelleise shawl in a swap from Ceri I caught the bug and have made no less than 4 (with more to come) . Great car knitting and use just one skein of sock wool

Here we have legendary malabrigo merino sock wool bought in Barcellona. Another again from Nancy and a denim Zauberball.

Its no use, I feel the urge coming on, got to go and knit another one....

Back again

Well a couple of my fans have asked me why I havent been blogging. The answer is simple the Rann/Onfiani household has been cameraless all summer.

But that doesnt mean we havent been busy, here's a clue.

I finally got to carry out a cherished dream, a wool shop crawl of London.

I found Loop, IKnit and several other lesser known stores but in the end didnt buy much, prices were higher than online at times and I didnt fancy fighting with ryan air baggage restriuctions. But I did get plenty of ideas on colours and qualities, not to mention patterns. And adored playing the tourist and cruising down the Thames

And I also found several other shops in Sussex.

Including a rather small but well stocked one in Worthing. The Wool Bar was just as I d been led to believe from reading on Ravalry, like meeting up with an old friend ,chatty, tea and coffee.

Naturally being the usual indecisive me I returned two times just to make sure Id got enough wool. While I was dithering hubby and daughter ate their m&S sandwiches on the beach.

http://www.thewoolbar.com/aboutus.html

I had never thought of making a cardigan from laceweight wool before but I'm so glad I did. Rather sexy, sheer and the most georgeous peacock blue.

Pattern:faetherweight cadigan by Hannah Fettig. A top down design. The front bands were a nightmare though and it took me three very long attempts to get them reasonably right.

Oh and of course I bought the wool at The Wool Bar.

Fruit picking and knitting

Maybe it was the wet July but V's grapes are coming along fine. Very inspiring...

I just had to make/knit some of my own and then I couldn't stop, strawberries, cherries, pears and apples (must get some orange yarn to finish off the bowl though).

and no comments about my banana please. It can be zippered closed.