Happy Christmas!

Just a quick update to wish any readers I have left all the Joys of the Season. Unfortunately, my email has decided to take a holiday too, and I'm unable to send, or receive. It has been pretty unstable for a while and has chosen the holiday season to pack up completely.

BTW I finished the gloves and all my other present knitting in good time so here is a picture.

4ply sock yarn, not quite enough in 50gm. ball so used a plain colour for the ribbing.

Christmas Knitting

I thought I was well ahead with my present knitting this year until someone requested gloves. Note that, gloves. With fingers. Definitely not mittens. Not something I have tackled before as far as I can remember, and especially not a month before Christmas. However I'm always up for a challenge so these have been cast on and this is progress so far............


Not television knitting, lots of stitch counting, picking up stitches etc. The fact that I'm using bits from three different patterns doesn't help.

I've also had a frustrating time with my computer lately. Got a bug of some sort which my virus checker didn't pick up making it impossible to use Google, just got a load of advertising. I had to restore right back to August to get rid of it. Then my wireless keyboard and mouse refused to comunicate with the computer which left me in a fix but luckily I found an old plug in mouse which worked and finally got this sorted. My Email is also a bit iffy and I'm not sure that my messages are getting to the right places.

Ah well, back to the knitting, at least it's easy to frog if things go wrong.

Another post

What's this? Another post so soon? Maybe I'm getting back into the habit of posting.

I got several balls of this

reduced in Rackhams (HOF) in Birmingham the other day and have made two hats for BISS
who have a Woolly Hat week each year. I'm sending them via Loving hands who have them as one of their winter challenges.

They should be very warm being Wool and alpaca. The pattern was an old Patons pattern, which I adapted to knitting in the round to avoid sewing up, and got both hats from three balls.

Finally, a couple of pics from my autumn garden. The passion flower is doing better than it has all summer and even has a couple of fruits which considering the dire summer is quite surprising.

and this rose, Bonica from David Austin, is doing very well.

Long time

Well, it's been a long time, but at last I can get round to a blog entry. Life has just been getting in the way lately. Several hospital/doctor/solicitor appointments and a couple of visits to the wheelchair clinic mean we have been quite busy. At least Steven is more comfortable in his chair with a new moulded seat and we've both had our 'flu jabs.
Some knitting has been done. These socks, which were intended for Steven's birthday last week, aren't quite completed but half of one was knitted in the long wait at the hospital diabetic clinic. I think the yarn was Regia.
These socks have been completed for a while, and are a Christmas present for a non-blogging friend. I think Socka with bamboo, sorry but I'm hopeless at remembering labels.

Both these are my usual toe up, short row pattern. I've also completed these bootees for charity from left over sock yarn. Pattern mostly out of my head, Icord ties.

Finally, we had a sprinkling of snow yesterday and unusually for October it has hung around. Not enough to cause any problems though.

NEC

Managed a day out at the NEC last Thursday. It was good to meet up with Fred and other Bloggers, hi Noonie. I taught several students to knit but I'm not sure how many will keep it up. They really need ongoing help, maybe they will find a local knitting group.

A few purchases were made, sock yarn naturally and also some BFL from Fybrespates who were in Birmingham for the first time. I got enough aran weight to make something for myself and have started the Casual Friday Vest slightly adapted to have a cable down the front. The yarn is lovely and soft, a little thicker than I usually knit with but shouldn't be uncomfortably warm as it is sleeveless.

The Sock yarn blanket came along to the NEC and was admired. I've decided I need it a little wider so am adding squares on the right which is a little complicated but possible and at all costs I want to avoid sewing.

The respite for Steven is almost nonexistent at the moment. A carer came along the other day but she had no training in PEG feeding or use of the hoist so was useless.

Bantock

Well, it was a very successful 1940's weekend at Bantock House. Numbers were down a bit on Saturday because of the dire weather but large numbers turned out on Sunday. I could have done with a larger table for my display of knitting ( must try to go more vertical next year, perhaps a display board of some sort.) People were fascinated by the sock knitting especially as I was using DPNs (I much prefer Magic Loop!)

We displayed my mother's wedding dress from 1942. She came along on Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed herself answering questions.

Brenda brought along her spinning wheel which created a lot of interest.

There was also another knitter there, making a Fair Isle sweater. I think her name was Claire.

On Saturday, another lady (? Louise) brought her crochet, but she couldn't manage Sunday. So all in all crafts were well represented. In previous years we only had rag rug making.

And finally, I couldn't resist this shot of hungry reenactors tucking in to their lunch.

Preparations

No photos today as I'm busy getting ready for the 1940's weekend at Bantock House. I'm planning a display of 1940's knitting and a few other bits and pieces I've collected. I have quite a collection of books by Jane Koster and Margaret Murray and also found this site useful.
My mother is full of gloom and thinks no one will turn up because of the dreadful weather, but I'm remaining optimistic and at least I will be indoors.
I've just had a wasted journey to hospital with Steven. Apparently his appointment had been brought forward to the 3rd, but no one let me know. Next week we go to the wheelchair clinic, hopefully no hitches there.
Hope to have some photos next week.

Diversions

Why am I so easily diverted from what I should be doing? Procrastination has always been my middle name. With the 1940's weekend at Bantock House rapidly approaching, I should be finishing off a multitude of WW2 garments, most are just waiting to be pressed and sewn up. At least this childs pullover is finished. The yarn was a give away from Texere a while ago, very fine lambs wool which I used double. I couldn't get the right effect with locally bought modern yarns, and this seemed ancient enough.

Instead what have I been knitting? This..........

yes, it's Shelly Kang's Sock Yarn Blankie. The idea is to use up all those odds and ends left over from knitting socks. (But it is oh so tempting to buy yarn just for the blanket!) Any way this must go on the back burner for a while, although it does keep calling me. You have to have a bit of colour in your life.

Back again

I can't believe it is over a month since I last updated. Time just flew away. Well, here is a post for my loyal readers, ( if I still have any!)

Life has been pretty busy as I've had no respite carers for Steven. We both had colds but are now recovered. I did manage an evening out last month at a cousin's golden wedding celebration, which was very enjoyable. Congratulations Sheila and Roy.

The knitting needless to say has continued, not much else to do stuck at home. I'm still knitting for Loving Hands. I like this charity as they always have a variety of recipients, babies, older children, adults or animals, take your pick. Sadly, Lou, the founder and organiser of the group has had a terrible accident and is at present in intensive care. We are still knitting but holding on to our contributions for the time being. I did manage to send these off before I heard. They are going back to Africa with the
Singing Children.

The triplets have arrived and are now at home and doing well. Here are the jackets I made for Joseph, Elliott and Noah. I used sock yarn, silk and wool.

I've now been tempted by another project. More about this in my next post, whenever I get round to writing it. It has taken me a week to get this one posted! Blame the hot weather, I'm just not used to it, and Steven has been pretty gloomy about it too.

Busy, Busy.

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I have been busy knitting as I have some deadlines in sight.


First some charity knits for Loving Hands. These have to be sent next week so I must get a move on. This blanket needs the sewing up completed and an edging ( if I have time).

I'm also busy with three BSJ's. One of Steven's carers is about to become the father of triplets! I was hoping that at least one would be a girl as I have a pink jacket all ready made, but no, they're all boys.

This is progress so far........

I'm using sock wool, some already in the stash but also a good excuse for a visit to Leamington Spa and Web of Wool. I think the Regia Silk is particularly soft and suitable for baby garments, and machine washable and dryable.


The imminent arrival of the babies and another carer off sick mean I'm having difficulty getting respite carers this coming week. Hopefully this will be resolved next weekend as I'm off to a Golden wedding celebration.

FOs

I've finished off a baby jacket which has been hanging around for a while. I haven't really enjoyed this project, but wanted to try the EZ February Jacket. The yarn seemed too heavy for a lace pattern (Elle pure wool DK) and the colour wrong for such a 'girly' pattern. However it is going for charity and I'm sure the recipient won't care, as long as it is warm!



I've also finished the knitting on my 1940's school pullover but it still needs blocking, pressing and sewing up. The yarn was some ancient lamb's wool on a cone which was free from Texere when they were having a clear out a while ago. It feels quite 'itchy' but hopefully will soften up after a wash.

And finally, for Roo, the bluebells were in Park Coppice, a small wood near Colton Hills school.

Summer

I see I have had another long gap between postings. In that two weeks we have gone from winter to summer, one week central heating on and winter coats, the next almost a heatwave! I've had a friend staying, so we took the opportunity to get out and about. We visited the local bluebell wood, always beautiful in May. Unfortunately, I thought we could take a short cut through the school grounds, only to find the gate at the other end locked, so we had to go the long way round after all.


On the May day bank holiday, we visited Moseley Old Hall where there should have been dancing round the Maypole but the grass was too wet after rain in the morning so the dancing was in the barn. You will see that the Maypole is decorated in the old way, with flowers, apparently decoration with ribbons was a later, Victorian custom.

And what do you know, the Noro socks are finished and are a matched pair! Not yet worn so I can't comment on how they are in use.

Lots of things on the go, including some crochet, so more to show later.

Garden

I seem to have been neglecting the blog recently. I didn't realise it was so long since I posted. Not much to show on the knitting, although progress has been made on several projects. I've started the second Kureyon sock, and so far the stripes are matching, which pleases me.

I've also made some progress in the garden. Sadly, not my own work, but something that needed to be done. This cherry tree has been ailing since I had it pruned a few years ago. Last year it lost its leaves mid summer and looked dead. I gave it a chance to revive this spring, but it was not to be.

So it is now reduced to a sweetly smelling pile of logs.

I don't have an open fire myself, but have a friend who burns logs so they will be going to her, when she can arrange transport.

Also garden related, my tomato seedlings are making progress, if a little slowly. However it will be a few weeks before they can go outside, so should have grown a bit by then.

Knit-Chat

We had a good crowd in Beatties (House of Fraser) today in our Knit-Chat group. Lots of chatting, and a fair bit of knitting.

We now meet in the Haberdashery department, which is a Coates franchise. Rowan and Patons yarns mainly although there is now some sock wool. As you can see, it sometimes gets a bit cramped around the small table.

I've recently bought a new phone with a much better camera, but I need more practise at using it, so one photo was too blurred to use.

Kureyon Sock review

The first sock in Kureyon sock yarn is finished. I used a size 2.5 circular needle and Magic Loop. The yarn is very different from other sock yarn I've used, single ply and so tightly spun it kept twisting back on itself and getting into knots. It is also not as soft as most sock yarns and made quite a firm fabric. I can't comment on wearing/washing so far, but it is hand wash only.
The yarn was free of straw and other foreign matter but did have a lot of uneven spinning, in some places it was very thick although I haven't come across any areas too thin. Of course, the colours were wonderful, as Noro always is. Now to cast on sock number two.

Arrivals

No sooner had I published the last post, when the postman delivered this..........

......... issue number 5 of Yarn Forward. I haven't done more than glance through it so far, but there are some interesting articles and knittable/wearable patterns.
As I had resubscribed, I also got some beautifully soft yarn and a pattern for a shawl. Not all that keen on the colour, though. Maybe it will grow on me.

I had two arrivals on my pond yesterday. These mallards appeared at lunchtime and stayed until dusk, paddling around and frightening the tadpoles! Hopefully they also ate some of the weed.

Compulsive reading.

Much to my shame, I have to admit I have found the Hipknits/Magknits saga on Ravelry, in the last few days, compulsive reading. I had a problem in 2006 with none delivery of sock club yarn and difficulty communicating, happily sorted out eventually. I won't go in to the problems with Yarn Forward magazine (worryingly I have renewed my subscription, hope it doesn't go the same way as Magknits.)

On a lighter note, my cousin and I had an enjoyable day last week, getting lost in Shropshire. But who minds getting lost, with views like this to see?

That hill on the horizon is the Wrekin and from this angle it is clear that it was once a volcano.

Finished at last

Steven has a new pair of socks. These have been OTNs for far too long, with only an inch and the casting off to do, so I set to last night and finished them. Yarn was Fortissima Socka colour 521. They are fraternal twins as the stripes were too difficult to match up, but Steven won't care.

Completing these of course means I can cast on a pair for myself. ( As if I need any more WIPs!)
When I was in Chester last week I visited Stash and this Kureyon sock yarn jumped into my bag. I've seen a bit written about this on the internet, so now is my chance to try it out.

I'm also somewhat distracted by various charity appeals. I find it difficult to ignore these especially if children are involved. It is also an excuse to use up my ever increasing odd balls. These will hopefully become a blanket for Loving Hands summer challenge.

Not knitting

I promise, not a mention.
On Tuesday I did a bit of family history research with my cousin and her granddaughter. We possess, in the family, a sampler made by a several greats aunt in 1849, aged 11. ( I can't imagine a modern 11year old having the patience.)The sampler depicts the hymn sung by the school children at the laying of the first stone of St. Peter's church, Cookley, Worcestershire.

Freya was interested in seeing the church mentioned on the sampler, so we went to Cookley and visited St. Peter's Church.

Yesterday, I took this photo of Steven, completely absorbed in the University boat race. He is taking more interest in the television lately, and always has a smile when his favourite weather presenter is on! ( Carole Kirkwood as it happens, I think he should start a fan club!)

Startitis

I'm suffering from a bad attack of Startitis at the moment. I've just completed a BSJ for a neighbour's baby. I usually play safe and stick to pastels or bright primary colours, but thought I would step out of my comfort zone for this one. The yarn was Patons Diploma Gold DK.

In addition, I've joined an Elizabeth Zimmermann Knit-along to make a Gull Stitch Sweater. Yarn Elle DK.

I saw a request this morning for baby hats for Ray of Hope so what do you know, I've cast one on!

And finally, a sock for Steven. This is the second one and is my 'knitting on the move', mostly done on public transport.

This is almost finished so next will be socks for myself.