Early bloomers.......

........and some late ones. Yes, the sky really was that blue this morning.

The snowdrops are popping up in various places around the garden.




The hellebores are blooming well............

...........and the Winter Iris have been flowering their socks off since October. Unfortunately slugs, and the weather, have taken their toll, so they're looking a bit chewed.

Completed socks

I actually got round to completing my latest socks yesterday evening. The yarn was from Hipknits, but was missing a label so I'm not sure of the fibre . However it is very soft and I would guess that it is Alpaca. To be honest, I'm not sure that they will stand up to hard wear so will probably be lounging-round-the-house socks.







The yarn was D.K. weight, needles size 3.25mm. knitted toe up with short row toe and heel, magic loop. The pattern, Single Eyelet Rib courtesy of Barbara Walker's First Treasury.

Finished with a Picot edge as a cast off edge would have been too tight.

Stash Reduction

I've started the New Year by trying to reduce my stash to managable proportions by
Knitting from Stash. I don't know how long I shall keep it up before falling off the wagon, but will try to continue as long as possible. I've started by trying to use up all the odds and ends for my Log cabin Afghan. These three bags are just some of it. If I can reduce it all to just one bag I shall feel I've achieved something.







I received these this week, but they don't count as a purchase for this year as they were chosen and paid for at the end of December............







This is Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn. On the left, Popsicle, lovely colours but much greener than I expected so not really suitable for the project I had in mind; on the right, Marble.
The Popsicle was intended for a Baby Surprise jacket for a cousin's baby due in the spring. As I don't know the sex I think I will end up knitting two. I eventually started in Jaeger 4ply Merino and some left over Lorna's Laces, colour Jaypond, which I think will be more acceptable for a young baby. The Marble will hopefully make a more 'girly' one. This is progress so far.........

Happy New Year

Well, all the festivities are over and it's back to the old routine. Steven went back to his day centre yesterday so I have more time during the day for essentials, such as knitting and blogging.

First, I was tagged by Steph to list the six most weird things about myself, so here goes, rather late I'm afraid.

1. I love chocolate, cream cakes, puddings etc. Nothing weird in that you may think, but I am diabetic and I know I shouldn't eat them, but I do and suffer and feel ill afterwards. Therefore I try not to have them in the house.

2. I drink very little alcohol, an occasional glass of sherry or wine to be sociable. I don't enjoy the taste and to be honest can't see what all the fuss is about. I would rather spend my money on yarn ( or chocolate.)

3. I don't drive. I lived in London for many years and never felt the need to learn. Given no. 2 above this is considered a waste of a non drinker by others in the family.

4. I also have never smoked.

5. I seem to have a need to be untidy. I feel uncomfortable if I'm sitting down without being surrounded by yarn, magazines etc. Of course, this leads to frantic tidying when visitors arrive.

6. Jobs always get put off until tomorrow, or preferably the day after.

Most people have done this already, but if not, consider yourself tagged.

Now for some knitting content. I'm trying to knit from stash as a new year resolution so have started a Stash Buster log cabin afghan. Here is progress so far.

I'm trying to use yarn that I'm unlikely to need for any other project so some of the colours are a bit dull. However it's a nice mindless T.V. knit and a good way of use up small amounts of yarn, mostly D.K. or 4ply doubled.