violas | The Little Room of Rachell

Vicki and I have followed each other on social media for years. I read her blog long before Instagram. And once volunteered to test a crochet sock pattern for her. I don’t dwell on that really; since my stitch count definitely did not tally with the pattern’s. I kept on thinking it would magically resolve, but we all know how that ends. I remember giving up and embarrassingly bowing out with a “Well, you’ve got plenty of other testers, oops!” The fault was all mine.

I’ve been promising to visit her newish shop String in Cheltenham, a town in Gloucestershire, for ages. Saturday was finally the day. I went with excellent intentions; I would have a look around and introduce myself, but not buy any yarn. For reasons of stash. I crumbled. How ridiculous to go to a beautiful shop like that and not buy any woolly products! I don’t know what I was thinking really. It would be like going to Italy, and not eating a single bite of pasta or pizza…

As you see I didn’t crumble spectacularly, but I love this skein of DK ’Hendricks’ so much that I’m already anticipating my next visit to String. It’s a bright space filled with very good things! (And a very nice maker, designer and shop keeper too.)

Here’s Vicki’s site, Vicki Brown Designs where you can make heart eyes over her small batch hand dyed yarns. She’s also to be found on all the socials.

I then took myself off for a walk in Cheltenham’s most beautiful park. I have family connections to the town and a visit without a wander around Pittville would feel lacking.

Information about the history of the park and the Pump Room

Lovely to see the candles on the horse chestnut trees. Everywhere is looking so lush and green now. England in May is spectacular.

Eye catching planting

*Cheltenham is the most complete Regency town in England and one of the few English towns in which traditional and contemporary architecture complement each other.*

http://www.Cheltenham.gov.uk

A Victorian postbox. VR for Queen Victoria which stands for Victoria Regina. Regina means Queen in Latin

And now I shall put my beautiful skin of Hendricks away, hopefully just for a little bit, while I finish my blanket and shawl.

I’ve had a hiatus in crafting lately, but I feel inspired again after a visit to String.

Have you been on any trips lately? Met anyone in real life you’ve ‘known’ online for years? How did it turn out?

I didn’t exactly plan to but yesterday I ended up wandering somewhere I hadn’t been for quite a while, after tootling along in my little car glancing at lush green fields and daffodils opening on the roadside verges. When I got to a quaint market town about 15 miles from here I made a beeline for the posh yarn shop, but got distracted by a kind of ‘everything you could want and plenty you don’t need’ shop. This is where lots of items are priced at £1-1.99 and you get lured in by the cheap, cheap prices then end up spending at least £10.00.

That might have been me….

BUT in my defence I have been wanting to make this scarf from the Cute and Easy Crochet book (see link in the sidebar) and it’s rapidly becoming Spring. So obviously I need to crochet it quickly, and for that I need yarn. (Still surpressing a shudder, but again I can’t in all honesty call it wool. It’s 100% man/woman made…)

I think it will be lovely in pink. Debbie Bliss Como isn’t made anymore and this pink marble chunky is 200g for £4.99. Of course I didn’t plan to end up in the market town or the ‘everything you could want and plenty you don’t need’ shop or buying yarn. So wasn’t sure how much the pattern called for. I bought two just in case, you understand?

Umm and also a ball of this….

…for an Easter thingy or two I’m planning to make.

Last night when I tried to start the scarf I found that Como is/was obviously even chunkier than chunky; so had to work out doubling the initial chain and pattern as it should have been about 10″ wide and mine was 5″!

The next pit-fall was dtr, what’s hard about trebles?

Nothing. I can confidently say.

But double trebles are a nightmare!

I had thought I’d progressed to intermediate, rather than a beginner crocheter – but oh my goodness those double trebly things have finished me off!

The 2yo thingy ended up all twirly around the hook; that’s when I could get 2 yos without one slipping off altogether!

I have asked about this dtr thingy on Ravelry and see I’ve helpfully been given some links to online videos.

Watch this space for progress…..

Aren’t these violas lovely? Such happy little faces when I return home. There are tulips coming up in amongst them and they were a complete surprise. I’m waiting to see what colour they are, when they open.

Have a nice evening/day/ now I’m off to see The Woman in Black at the cinema with friends. The book scared me, the play scared me, maybe I’ll be brave for the film?!

:-)