Signs of Spring

Lovely sunny day today. Spring seems to be arriving with the pond heaving with frogs (but no spawn yet) and Mrs. Robin collecting nesting material. The crocuses 'Pickwick' are opening once the sun gets to them.




My regular appointment at the diabetic centre was accomplished there and back in an hour, and that included a blood test! I barely had time to get out my knitting, I'd prepared for a whole morning session.


Some knitting has been completed recently. Another Baby Surprise jacket in Colinette Jitterbug 'Marble' and Rowan 4ply soft.

....... and a couple of charity knits. A lap blanket for the local Hospice........

............ and a hat for BISS

Let it snow!

The snow promised yesterday arrived this morning. Not much before 9am but it has been coming down steadily all morning so we have quite a covering now in Wolverhampton so Roo will be pleased!

This should mean a good knitting day, but as the lad is not at day care today, because of the snow, I have to keep breaking off to attend to him. Needless to say, he is thoroughly enjoying lazing about.

Progress

Yes, I am making some progress on my Stash Busting, and no new yarn was purchased during January. It remains to be seen whether I can be as successful through February.



I have one F.O. a Baby Surprise jacket. Another is on the needles but I forgot to take a photo.









The Log Cabin Afghan is making progress although so far I haven't seen much reduction in the bags of ball ends that I'm using. I think they're starting to breed!

I've also cast on for another project. My cousin is keen for me to dress appropriately for the 1940's weekend in September, so I've started a 1940's jumper. This has involved a considerable sizing up from the 34inch bust size all my genuine patterns seem to be (was no one any larger?) and this is the progress so far. Progress will be slow as the wool is 4ply.

I actually have a large amount of the green wool but at least half has been chewed by moths so tends to fall into short lengths. This doesn't matter too much with stripes. This was a charity shop find so I can't complain.

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.

At last

I returned home this lunchtime to find a parcel on the doorstep, containing these.........







....... and on opening them these were revealed........

Yes, my long awaited sock club yarns from Hipknits have arrived. Lovely colours and the cashmere on the right is so soft. I'm sure they'll all make wonderful socks, and all for me! No one else is getting their hands, I mean feet, on this!

Some Christmas knitting has been completed and is now on its way to new owners.

These Booga bags haven't felted as much as I'd like, but it's too late to do anything about it now. I think they're quite acceptable though.

The yarn was Noro Kureyon.

Frustration

I've been having a very frustrating time recently trying to contact Hip Knits. In August I joined their Sock Club, and hoped to receive a skein of yarn each month for four months. In September I got the first skein and Steven now has new socks (see previous post.) Since then I have received nothing. I emailed Kerrie in November and received a reply saying that the missing yarn would be sent the next day, but so far nothing, and no reply to other emails. Has it got lost in the post or not yet been sent? Looking at comments on the Hip knits blog I see I'm not the only one having difficulty making contact.
On a more successful emailing note, Steven now has his picture on Radio 4's Window on your World, page 2, photo number 31. All the photos were taken at 5pm on Tuesday 5 December.






On the knitting front, I'm working away at Christmas presents, both to give myself and for other people to give ( you know who I mean Chris!) Here is a small sample of progress.


Very plain so far but I hope to add a decorative ribbing at the top. Wool came from Texere. No problem contacting them and a speedy delivery. As you can see, I've already started the second sock to avoid Second Sock Syndrome

Quick Post

Just a quick post to show an F.O. Socks for Steven in Hipknits sock yarn.

Simple toe up pattern with short rows toe and heel, K2 P2 rib.

I won't have much time for blogging or knitting next week as I have a friend coming to stay.

Hobbycraft Show

I managed a visit to the Hobbycraft show in Birmingham yesterday. I had hoped to attend the Knitting show at the NEC in September, but couldn't go as Steven wasn't well.
This show didn't have much for knitters, although there were a few yarn related stands. I had a sit down and Knit'n'Natter with Fred, Noonie and Mary, good to meet you all.
I made a modest Stash enhancement.
First some Bamboo sock yarn from Web of Wool. I haven't used this before but it feels wonderfully soft and silky.

Also from Web of Wool was this patriotic sock yarn, for some socks for Steven.

There was another show on at the NEC, Crafts for Christmas. I went in hoping to find some decorations but was disappointed. However I did find this.........

On the left 'Ribble', hand dyed wool and mohair, on the right hand dyed wool. Victoria Smedley sells mohair Teddy bears and hand dyed yarn and scarves, but doesn't have a web site.

As I say, a modest haul, but I'm hoping to indulge in some of Colinette's new Cadenza double knitting wool. I love the colours of Colinette yarns but find them too heavy to wear, so hopefully this will be more comfortable.

Garden again

Not much to show in the way of knitting. I have been working on various projects, but nothing completed. This post is about the garden. I actually managed a whole morning outside today. The summer is lingering on. This is the last rose......

. ........... and passionflower, which flowered poorly during the hot summer, but has come into its own this autumn.

Clematis Cirrhosa 'Freckles' is blooming very well and should continue through the winter.

And finally, last night's sunset behind the Clee Hills. It certainly has been a 'Shepherd's Delight' today.

Birthday

It's hard to believe, but Steven will be 20 tomorrow. We've nothing special planned as he wouldn't really appreciate it but he has a delicious chocolate cake to share with his friends on Monday.
As I type, he's getting great pleasure from watching the shadow of the leaves on the blind. (Sorry for the quality of the picture.)

We've had a busy week, flu jabs on Wednesday, and a meeting with social workers and other professionals on Thursday. Steven has to attend all meetings now he is deemed to be an adult.

Tuesday, we had our usual Knit Chat group meeting in Beatties. We're making blue squares for Knit a River at the moment. It was good to see Fiona, and baby Seth, who slept throughout.

Here are Yucca, Rose, Fiona, Pippa and Steph.

I've also managed to finish a project, socks in Regia Stretch. Just a simple toe-up pattern with short row toe and heel. The problem I find is getting a loose enough cast off. I tried several different methods, and finally used a picot edge loosely stitched down.

Meet Auntie Pearl.........

..........compulsive knitter!

As you can see she is busy knitting a blue square for WaterAid's Knit a River.

( Pattern for Pearl by Alan Dart in the new Woman's Weekly Knitting and Stitching special.)

I don't knit many toys these days as I find the sewing up very tedious but I couldn't resist Pearl.

Also this week, I find it quite humbling that a mere spider can produce a work of art like this......

Bad Blogger

It's been quite a while since I last blogged, life has been getting in the way recently.
Some knitting has been done but nothing quite completed. I've almost finished Steven's jacket. I forged ahead with the second half of the front on Monday when we had to spend a day in hospital ( luckily not all night). Steven has been producing blood in his stools recently which obviously needed investigation. He thoroughly enjoyed the day especially being pushed around the ward in his chair. The only down side was the doctor using him as a pincushion to get a blood sample, but he soon forgets. We had to wait ages for the result as the machine in the lab. broke down. Nothing conclusive was discovered but his next outpatient's appointment with the cosultant is being brought forward.
Back to knitting. It was good to meet up with Ruth again on Saturday in Beatties, although we had to leave early as Steven wasn't feeling too good. Yesterday I spotted these in a LYS. I look in from time to time in the hope they might have something to inspire me, but it's usually just acrylics and fancy yarns. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough of any one colour to make anything large, but I thought this might do for a hat or even a felted bag.

I do have some other things to show when I get round to sewing up.

Garden

I actually managed to spend a morning in my wilderness of a garden, which was much needed. Hospital, weather and prior commitments have conspired against me recently. My robin reappeared in spruce new plumage and followed me closely for any tidbits I might turn up. He's been busy all summer, raising a family.

My grapes are starting to ripen, and I'm hoping they may be edible this year. A bit sour at the moment though.

Here are just some of my WIPs. I seem to be incapable of concentrating on one project at the moment and keep starting new things. It doesn't show the faroese shawl, jacket for myself, various half finished toys, etc.

And at last, Blogger has allowed me to show the wool I bought from Beatties Rowan sale on Saturday. 6 balls of 4ply soft, pure wool, for £8.10, not bad. There may be enough for a top for me, possibly with the addition of another colour.

I now going to try to publish this post for the third time. Blogger has wiped it out twice

Back on Track

Getting back on track with the diet after a bit of a weight gain last week. Food available in our local hospital is not exactly a healthy choice. ( Where are you Jamie Oliver?) The canteen, where you could get at least one cooked meal a day plus vegetables and salad, has closed. Greggs has opened in the main corridor selling pasties and cakes, and everywhere you look are vending machines with fizzy drinks and sweets. Then up to the shop, more sweets and biscuits. I normally avoid temptation by having nothing sugary in the house, but being surrounded by it I find very difficult.


I've finally got round to sewing up Steven's new jumper ready for the winter. Knitted in Limbo from Web of Wool.
I've also started this as I was getting a little bored with all the stocking stitch I've been doing lately, but it's not so complicated that I have to keep consulting the pattern.

Not much to show yet. The wool is a cone of 4ply I got from Colinette earlier in the year.

Yesterday we joined Rose in Beatties for a knit and chat and it was great to welcome Ruth who recently moved back to the Midlands. We had a mooch through the Rowan Yarns on sale afterwards and came away with some bargains. Unfortunately Blogger won't allow me any more photos so I can't show the 4ply soft in a deep pink which I hope will become a top for myself.

Happiness......

........ is Steven back in his own bed again after a week in hospital.

Although we were very relieved to be in hospital last Tuesday with vomiting and a chest infection, it is good to be home again. I managed to dash home for an hour or so each day to collect post and clean clothes. As Steven still goes to the children's ward, I could stay with him. The facilities are very good for parents, a small kitchen with microwave and hot water for drinks, and a bathroom and shower room for parents use. I even got a proper bed to sleep in, usually I have to use a fold out bed.

Steven's new consulant, for Gastro-enterology, came to see him and is quite happy to treat him on the children's ward, as he says the facilities on the adult wards are not suitable for him and the staff would have difficulty coping.

I did a little knitting, mostly a bag in Rowan 'Country' which I'm hoping will be a Christmas present after felting, and some of my sock.

Good news from Fiona, her baby Seth has arrived, a week late but well worth the wait.

Nostalgia

I've had a very enjoyable weekend in the company of my cousin Barry and his girlfriend Brenda. They were taking part in a 1940's reenactment weekend at our local museum.

As you can see, everyone had a good time at the concert of WW2 songs. Even Steven, who has been quite grumpy all weekend, seemed to enjoy himself although I think this was more to do with being outdoors.

My mother even produced her wedding dress, Circa 1942, which is in remarkably good shape considering its age, if a little yellowed. However none of us attempted to get into it.

Not a lot of knitting to report, still plodding on with Steven's jacket which he is going to need soon, although today the weather was quite mild.