And So, To New Year.

Ah, Christmas seemed to be over in a flash.  As is our tradition, the boys and myself have travelled across England to spend new year with my mum and dad.  Here we will have our second Christmas - hurrah!
It also means I can spend lots of time knitting.  So far I have made lots of progress on my waving lace top.

And I hope to make good progress on my Solstice socks.
Whilst I am here I am hoping to frequent the local fabric store - I'm looking for something with a bit of stretch to make a tunic top and a dress.
Reading wise there is not much going on!  I simply can't seem to find any time, I am reading blogs (of course) and I read knitting magazines, but that is it for a minute.
Right, back to the knitting!
Linking with Nicole and Ginny

A Year of Projects Update - week 26

Gosh this week has gone fast (as always).
In amongst the festivities I have managed to do quite a lot.
Firstly, I finished Rhombing Around - just in time for the start of the self indulgent KAL with the yarniacs podcast - I will be doing Hitofude.

I also knitted up a quick Olaf!!  I was going to give it to one of the boys, but I may keep it for myself.

I have made progress on the Waving lace top.  It is lace weight yarn and lots of stockinette so I'm taking it with me to my mums and hopefully will be able to get through quite a lot there!

I also decided to cast on a pair of Christmas socks before I get my first installment of yarn from the Knitting Goddess sock club (a pressie to myself).  This colourway is also by the Knitting Goddess and is called elf - I love it!

I've updated the list - note that I have put the Christmas jumper back another year!!  I have promised my form group I will be done next year.

WIP's and Deadlines

• Christmas jumper - timetable is here - hope to finish by Christmas (2016!)
• Socks  - I aim to complete 6 pairs this year - Hector - finished July - I want to do the Rachel Coopey MKAL, Otis and Jesse
• Rhombing Around - finished December 
• Outfit A Long - Vianne by Andi Sutterland and Megan by Tilly Walnes - finished August 2nd
• Second chance frog cowl - made with my frogged yarn from my cardi - finished
• Test knit - for Celtic Knits - Finished September 
• Test knit - for Jenni Santopietro - Finished November
• Test knit for Betsy - finished December 

Projects for me - knitting

• From Way Back - mellifera yarn
• Hitofude - Mellifera yarn
• Samantha
• Miranda - Sweater using Madelinetosh Pashmina worsted
• Wind Wave by Jo Allport form The Knitter magazine
• Drumcliff - vest from The Knitter magazine
• Byeline - by Jimenez Joseph
• Waving Lace Top - Joji Locatelli
• Worsted Boxy - Joji Locatelli

Projects for me and the boys - sewing

• Pyjama bottoms for me
• Coco top
• Sailor Top by Fancy Tiger Crafts - third finished 17th Ocober
• Outfit Along - Megan by Tilly Walnes
• Knickers!!
• PE bags - Finished
• Pencil cases - Finished

Gift knitting

• Quilted owl for mum
• Sun hat for Daniel
• Rainbow hat for Daniel - finished August 11th
• Ongoing swatch baby blanket - yarn bought - patterns from Lets Knit

Products to develop

• Hot water bottle covers - Finished November 
• Furry hats - started July 25th
• Hat and bootie sets - finished November 

Techniques to learn

• Double knitting - September - now to do some socks
• Quilting

Finished Projects

• Rhombing Around
• Cuboid socks
• Cable mitts test knit
• Featheround test
• Dagda test
• Bluejay
• Jesse socks
• Curiosa socks
• Hector socks
• Vianne
• Second chance frog cowl
• Christening present

Wishing everyone a brilliant new year - hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Gosh it's been busy, I can't remember the last time I posted on a Tuesday.  I had great intentions but I always forget how busy this term is.
I have been busy crafting and have done a couple of craft fairs.  Christmas knitting is all done and dusted - I have been doing a few test knits, all of which have ended up as gifts.
Featheround a test for Jennie Santopietro can be found here.

Dagda by Ruth McKeon can be found here.

And the last one hasn't been published yet but I will link when it is.

 

All three patterns were quick knits that were perfect for Christmas.
I am still plugging away at my Rhombing Around - but I am nearly there - just one sleeve to finish then the neckline.  I hope to finish for Christmas.

I finished my latest socks yesterday - these are Cuboid by Claire Devine. Love them and they fit perfectly - the yarn is skein queen, one that I have had in my stash for a very long time.

On that note, I was going through my sock yarn this morning and decided I have far too much!  I have enough for socks for a lifetime, especially since I have signed up for the Knitting Goddess sock club.  I also have loads of leftovers so have decided to start a blanket using mitered squares.
Are you ready for Christmas?  Our grocery delivery came this morning and much like the sock yarn I have decided we have far too much food - we have enough fruit pouches (pouches of pureed fruit that my boys are addicted to even though they are definitely not babies any more) to feed a small army.  I did some baking and found a recipe for chocolate brownie cupcakes on the good food website that was brilliant and the resulting cakes delicious.  Oh yes and some mince pies too.

I hope you all have a joyous holiday and wonderful new year.
Linking with Nicole and Ginny.

A Year of Projects Update - week 25

Happy Christmas!!  Well for a few days time!
We all broke up for the holidays on Friday so now we are very excited!  We went to see the pantomine yesterday.  Much more successful than last year (there were lots of tears and terror last year), we had a great time.

No finishes this week but progress has been made on Rhombing Around

I'm now making my way down the second sleeve, it shouldn't take too long from here.
I have also done some work on the socks again not much further to go.

I'm not getting too excited but have decided to join a KAL to spur me along with one of my next projects - Hitofude.  I have had it there in the queue for ages, I have now wound the yarn - a gorgeous silky sock from Mellifera yarn.

Hope you all have a great Christmas and make lots of time for yourself (! - well try).

A Year of Projects Update - week 24

Gosh, another week flies by - am I ready?  Actually, I think I am!
I finished the test knit on Friday.  It was a lovely quick knit, which only used less than 50 g of dk yarn, so a great stash buster.  These will be gifted to my grandma.

I have made progress on Rhombing Around.  I am up the the striped section on the right sleeve - hopefully I should finish this sleeve by the end of the weekend then just one sleeve to go!

I have also made progress on the cuboid socks - I have turned the heel so thee should go quite quickly now.

And finally a gratuitous shot!  I don't go out very much and am not really into posting my every meal!!  But I did go out last night and this was my pudding - it was as gorgeous as it looks.

Hope you are all having a great weekend.

A Year of Projects Update - week 23

I'm a little late posting this week.  It's starting to get busy around here!!
Yesterday heralded the last craft fair of the year, and then today we did lots of preparation - finishing the decorations and lights, finishing the cake and a little bit of wrapping.
In terms of knitting, I have taken on another test knit - just a quick pair of mitts for a friend.  These have knit up fairly quickly - I have finished the first.

I have also been working on my socks this week and a hat for my son to wear as daddy bear in his Christmas play.  I will post pictures next week when hopefully I will have made significant progress.
To fill the gap the I will show you gratuitous pictures of my boys last week visiting father Christmas and around the tree!

A Year of Projects Update - week 22

I hope everyone that celebrates, enjoyed their Thanksgiving.  I have a nice long weekend this week as we have Monday off (and the boys are at school). I am so looking forward to it, I don't have many plans, just going for a coffee, wrapping some presents and knitting!
In the meantime, I have made progress this week and finished two items.
Firstly, Bluejay is now finished.  This was a lovely knit and fits Daniel nicely.  He wanted a yellow pompom and a yellow pompom he got!  Love this yarn too, it's Gilliatt by de rerum natura.

I also finished a test knit for Jennie Santopietro - featheround.  This was a great knit as well, quick but interesting.  I am going to give this to my son's teacher.

I have also done a little more to Rhombing around - I'm down to the single colour section of the first sleeve.  I'm hoping to progress on that this week so hopefully next week there should be a real progress shot!  And I have done another repeat on my socks, but again, at the moment not enough to show off.

We are off to see father Christmas today, so we are very excited.  To see other Year of Projects posts click here.

A Year of Projects Update - week 21

I feel as though Christmas is speeding up at a rate of knots!!  I did my first Xmas craft fair yesterday and next weekend we are going to see Father Christmas - how many days to go?!
I have been making steady progress on my knitting - I am making my way through the hood of Bluejay, still feel like I have forever to go on this though!

I have also taken up a second test knit from the same designer (Jenni Santopietro) - this time it is a hat pattern.  It is not a secret so here is my progress on this.  I am using Eden Cottage Oakworth DK in plum, leftover from an earlier project.  This will end up being a present for Daniels teacher - hopefully.

I haven't worked on anything else as I was getting ready for the fair.  I have another in 2 weeks and have a few things to replenish, but otherwise should make progress this week.
Check out what everyone else is up to here

A Year of Projects Update - week 20

And yet another week flies by!  I've been quite busy at work this week so progress has slowed down.
I have mainly worked on Bluejay and have made good progress on that.  Here it is as of this morning.

I have finished the body and am now on to the hood.
I also did some work on my socks and have knitted 2 quick baby hats for the first Xmas craft fair next week.
This week will probably be much of the same (busy!!), but hopefully I will knit up some baby booties to go with the hats for the stall and finish Bluejay - that is the plan.
To see what the rest of the group are up to check here

A Year of Projects Update - Week 19

Back to work this week after the half term break, but I still feel I have made reasonable progress.  I have, as I like, lots of projects on the go - so here they are.
I have started the sleeves on Rhombing Around and I am now trundling through the short rows.

I haven't worked much on my socks but they have progressed a little.  Love this yarn, it is by Skein Queen.

I am onto the stockinette section of the tank top, so this is my mindless tv knitting at the moment.

And what started as a test knit has morphed into a knit a long as the designer wanted to release the pattern for the Indie gift along.  I got an advance copy of the pattern though so I am already onto the body section.  It is Bluejay by Jennie Santopietro.

To see how everyone else is progressing please see this thread.

A Year of Projects Update - week 18

Having cast on all the projects in the week, I have made reasonable progress!
First up is Rhombing around - I'm pleased to report I have CO the body - hurrah!  I had to take a certain artistic licence as I feared I may run out of my main colour.  I need a little for the arms, but now I should be ok.

After much umming and ahhing and starting other patterns I settled on Waving lace by Joji Locatelli.  I am nearly at the end of the bottom bit of lace.

I started a new pair of socks, two at a time again as this makes me happy!
Pattern is Cuboid by Claire Devine - I wanted some reasonably straightforward socks that I can knit mindlessly!

Otherwise, we went to a theme park on Thursday to see the animals (my boys aren't thrillseekers - yet).

We carved the pumpkins and went to a party yesterday.  Today we are off swimming.

Have a good week, to catch up with more see this group.

Yarn Along - There's Something Spooky Going On

It's our half term break, much needed by all, and the clocks went back, not needed as since we have been up at 5:30am every morning!
So what have we been up to?  We went to Hever Castle on Monday and took part in some ghoulish goings on!

We also visited a farm near us well known for its Halloween festival.  My boys don't really do spooky and they certainly don't like rides, but they do like a good trail and love carving pumpkins, so we are now ready for the latter.

I have not been idle in this time, I finished my socks at the weekend and wore them today.

I have made good progress on Rhombing around, I am now torn between finishing the body in my second colour, saving my main colour for the arms, or finishing my main colour on the body and finding a match in stash to do the arms.  I don't honestly think I have enough to do the body to the length I want so I think it will have to be the first option.

Having finished my socks, I'm feeling a little low on WIP's!!  So I cast on a vest top in some new Louisa Harding yarn I just got.

I shall of course, need some new socks to CO, not sure what pattern now but do have a hankering for some lovely self striping - maybe this yarn?

Reading has not been progressing well and I think I may have to abandon The Seas for a read that keeps my attention.
Linking with Nicole and Ginny.

A Year of Projects Update - week 17

Some more progress this week.  I finished my socks.  These were Jesse by Rachel Coopey.  They were my first colourwork socks and I'm very pleased with them.  I knit the stranded portion inside out and they fit perfectly.  They knit up pretty quickly, given I knit them one at a time (something that I am loathe to do!)

I also knit up some more hot water bottle covers.

And worked on some baubles.

Photos aren't great this week as I took them early on my phone, and of course, it wants to turn them round!

It's the half term break this week, so hopefully, in amongst some day trips I should get some good knitting time.

For more updates check out our group here.

A Year of Projects Update - week 16

We have had a somewhat busy week what with meetings and parents evenings, but just one to go before the half term break.  This weekend has been nice and relaxing however, and I have managed to get some crafting done.
I finally finished my third sailor top.  I bought the material ages ago, so it was good to finally get it done.  I think this will be my last sailor top for a minute as I have come to the end of suitable material!!

I am plugging away at items for the stall as I have a couple of craft fairs coming up.  I am just doing another hot water bottle cover and am making lots of baubles.

I am also making progress on my second colourwork sock.  Pattern is Jesse by Rachel Coopey.

I thought now was the time to update the list.  We have a quiet day today apart from a party later this afternoon, so I am hoping to make progress and have a serious think about gifts this Christmas!
WIP's and Deadlines

• Christmas jumper - timetable is here - hope to finish by Christmas (2015!)
• Socks  - I aim to complete 6 pairs this year - Hector - finished July - I want to do the Rachel Coopey MKAL, Otis and Jesse
• Rhombing Around - sweater using Mellifera yarn in stash
• Outfit A Long - Vianne by Andi Sutterland and Megan by Tilly Walnes - finished August 2nd
• Second chance frog cowl - made with my frogged yarn from my cardi - finished
• Test knit - for Celtic Knits - Finished September 

Projects for me - knitting

• From Way Back - mellifera yarn
• Hitofude - Mellifera yarn
• Samantha
• Miranda - Sweater using Madelinetosh Pashmina worsted
• Wind Wave by Jo Allport form The Knitter magazine
• Drumcliff - vest from The Knitter magazine
• Byeline - by Jimenez Joseph

Projects for me and the boys - sewing

• Pyjama bottoms for me
• Coco top
• Sailor Top by Fancy Tiger Crafts - third finished 17th Ocober
• Outfit Along - Megan by Tilly Walnes
• Knickers!!
• PE bags - Finished
• Pencil cases - Finished

Gift knitting

• Quilted owl for mum
• Sun hat for Daniel
• Rainbow hat for Daniel - finished August 11th
• Ongoing swatch baby blanket - yarn bought - patterns from Lets Knit

Products to develop

• Hot water bottle covers - in progress October 
• Furry hats - started July 25th
• Hat and bootie sets - started August 11th

Techniques to learn

• Double knitting - September - now to do some socks
• Quilting

To catch up with more click here.