Belated Happy New Year!

I've been neglecting my knitting over the last few months as I've been sewing a lot! I've completed a few quilts and have been quite pleased with the results, especially considering I only started quilting in September! Over the Christmas period Sophia girl myself were quite poorly with what we assume was the flu - as miserable as it was it was a perfect opportunity to finish those UFOs!

I finished another baby blanket using the cable blanket pattern from 'Simply Baby' by Debbie Bliss. This time I used 'Cotton Cashmere' which is a lovely but sadly discontinued yarn. I also been making very good progress with my Noro mittens - well until I realised I had knitted two left hands!!

Fabric Obsession

Well, I haven't written anything on the blog for about a month! The start of the school year has knocked me for six, and it has taken me a few weeks to find a rhythm in my daily life now that Sophia is in full-time school! I have, of course, been knitting, and have turned my thoughts to Christmas gifts - most of my projects will be coming from Noro Designer Mini Knits Two by Jenny Watson. I'm currently knitting some gorgeous fingerless gloves - a very quick knit and as it is knitted in Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn, the self striping nature of the yarn keeps me amused!
The picture above reflects one of my new found interests (or obsessions, as my husband would say!) - I have joined a quilting group! It is something I've wanted to experiment with for some time, but didn't want the commitment of a college course or evening class. I've found a lovely group of very talented ladies who meet on a Friday morning in an informal, pay-as-you-go setting, which is perfect for me. The fat quarters in the picture are all fabrics by the amazing designer Amy Butler which I shall be using to make her Pink Bliss Quilt. I've a long way to go though, as I haven't cut out all my pieces yet - I just like looking at the fabric!!

Baby Blanket

Well, things have been a bit quiet on the blog front - I blame the Summer holidays! Over the weekend I completed this baby blanket for my friend's third baby, Emily. I had a sneaking suspicion that she may be a girl from the start, but in a moment of panic just before she was born, I ripped back the very lilac project I was working on an made this neutral offering instead!! I should have stuck with my gut instinct it seems! This was a great project to do - the pattern was easy to remember so it could be picked up and put down whenever. The pattern is taken from Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby and is made in her Rialto DK in beige which I happened to have in my stash. I've decided to use this pattern as my stock baby blanket! I've another friend due next week so I may make another one - this time using another stash yarn: cashmere cotton. It is another Debbie Bliss yarn which has sadly been discontinued.

Frustration on the sock front!

For some reason, only known to myself, I have decided to make ALL my family socks for Christmas. That's 22 pairs, or 44 socks, as my husband kindly reminds me on a regular basis!

Anyway, I have completed one pair, for one of my four sister-in-laws, using the very tried and trusted Regia pattern, and gorgeous fyberspates yarn. I have started on another pair for my brother-in-law Martin, this time, excitedly, using a pattern from my new purchase, The Little Box of Socks. The twisted German cast on proved to be the first 'challenge', and as I started to knit, it wasn't looking good. Thinking I could 'get away' with it I carried on. Several silly errors later and after trying this very large partially finished (past the heel turn and way down the foot) sock on my beloved's foot I decided it wasn't to be... Ripped!

After several deep breaths, I have now started the socks again. I've gone down a size, the twisted cast on looks much better and I seem to have learnt lots of valuable lessons. I'll post a picture of the finished socks soon (hopefully).

Lazy Saturday

I've been confined to the house today with a sore throat and runny nose. This has been coming on for a few days but probably wasn't helped by a 4 mile run in torrential rain yesterday morning! Early worries that I may have swine flu have disappeared as am decidedly brighter by tonight. This morning's post brought some welcome additions to my stash in the form of Peaches & Creme cotton which I plan to use to make the 'Absorba' bathmat - of Mason-Dixon fame. The majority of today was spent drinking tea, watching cricket and knitting socks. I am trying to fight off the urge to start a new project and complete the socks as well as putting the finishing touches to my 'Willow' tank top.

This afternoon, between overs and sneezes, Sophia and I got the guest bedroom ready for my brother, Gruff. He is returning from a year of travelling and should be here lunchtime tomorrow! Sophia and I made him a Victoria sponge in honour of his return!

American Sock

I had hope d to finish these 'Stars and Stripes' socks in time for July 4th! Once again time has marched on and only one sock is completed! I must learn to complete a pair before moving on to the next ones - I seem to have an ever increasing pile of odd socks. This wool was purchased at Web of Wool and is a Socka Fortissima yarn. The pattern used was the ever faithful Regia pattern. Now to finish the other socks - father's day socks (very belated, I know) and a pair for my daughter's teacher! Surely a pair of handmade socks will be a welcome gift among the countless chocolates and bath products!

Potatoes!!!!!

Ok, admittedly this post has nothing to do with knitting in the slightest but I just had to share my excitement! Here is the firstfruit of my labour - my first-ever homegrown potatoes! This evening, whilst watering my raised bed, these two were pushing up through the soil. As I said, nothing to do with knitting, but a domestic art none the less!!