A Year of Projects Update - week 42

 I seem to have managed to have missed another week!  

Life seems to be quite busy at the moment.   I do have a couple of projects to share though.

Whilst at my mum's, I made a baby cardigan for my sister in law's new niece.  She had asked mum to make it but she was not up to it.

This was knit using a free pattern on Ravelry and some yarn mum had.

I  also started Maywick from the Shetland Trader.   It has been a while since I knitted lace and I am really enjoying it!

This is also using lots of stash and leftovers so a win all round.

I haven't done much else  - a little in the garden but that is it.

Hopefully I will get myself organised to be back next week.   And I hope everyone has a good week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 40

 I'm a day late!  Had all good intentions to do this yesterday, but somehow the day got away from me.

I made quite a bit of progress last week.

I finished the belt to go with the Delovely skirt.  I haven't worn it yet but may try it out next week back at school and will report back then!

Squidney knits (Sidney Crabaugh) has just brought out a dress which I love quite a bit!  Having just bought the dress pattern from Vera Valimaki I feel I already have enough knitted dresses, but still think I may have cast this on by the end of the year!

I also started my hat - the Withy hat from the John Arbon Textiles annual number 3.

I have done more now and hope to have it off the needles by tomorrow.   I am going to Sonerset to visit mum tomorrow for a few days so want to take a new project with me.

That project is likely to be the Maywick sweater from The Shetland Trader book 3.

I got some potatoes out in the garden this week, but most things will have to wait a bit as it is still do wet!

And that is it - the rest of today will be preparing for my trip to Somerset and then return to school next week.

I hope everyone has a great week 💓 

A Year of Projects Update - week 39

 I completely missed last week.  There was no particular reason, just ran out of time.  This week, however, I am on holiday, so have plenty of time!

Having more time does not translate to more progress though!

I have finished the Delovely skirt- just a belt to go.

This is knit in John Arbon Textiles Yarnadelic.

I was going to start a yoga top, but as I was going through my fabric stash I came upon an old top that had perished under the arms.  I also had some old leggings, that I have upcycled together to make a yoga top.  I have bound them at the neck and now just have to hem the armhole.

I have lined up a top and a hat which I will write about next week as hopefully   they will be WIP's by then.  I have done a little gardening this weekend and have got some potatoes sown.

We also had our first bbq last night.

So here's to a productive week!  Hope everyone has a good weekend. 

A Year of Projects Update - week 37

 This week has been a bit difficult, but we got through it!  Mum had her first chemo on Wednesday and it went as well as can be expected. 

I have worked a bit on the Delovely skirt and am now so close to finishing - I think I would like to do one last repeat - about 10 rounds.  I'm looking forward to having this done and then I can decide on the next project!!

And that's the only project I have worked on - I have planted out some seedlings this morning, made some bread yesterday and a cake this afternoon. 

Hopefully this week will go smoothly and I might get the skirt finished.  I hope everyone has a nice week. 😊 

A Year of Projects Update - week 36

 The weeks are flying past at the moment.   January took forever and now February went in a flash!

I have got a little done but I  have been so tired when I get home from work, I rarely knit then as it puts me to sleep!

So the only project I have progress on is my Delovely skirt. 

I got a bit bored of going around, so I have put in the waist elastic and now I will return to going around in circles!!  I don't think I have too much further to go - I will certainly finish this skein and then see where we are.

I am using John Arbon Textiles Yarnadelic.

I spent a little time in the garden yesterday but it was only a little tidy up, I think next week I will try to do a bit more out there in readiness for the planting season!

Mum starts chemo his week so although I am not down there, I will be talking to her most days and checking in.  I hope to go down during the holiday that is looming.

I hope everyone has a great week. 

A Year of Projects Update - week 35

 I finally took my photo today!

You will have to forgive my hair!  I had just come in from the garden!

This was the jacket I made a few weeks ago.  I really like it - it's nearly the weather to wear it out.

I have done some more on the Delovely skirt and am onto the third skein!  No photo this week  but trust me it is coming along!

What I have got is a pic of the back of the garden.  I have been so motivated in the garden this year.  I think it is the removal of the tree.  There is still so much to do but I'm getting there bit by bit.

Today it was lovely and sunny and I started to dry out some of the tree stumps to make a little seating area at the very back.

This was a mass of brambles and nettles - but it's getting there.  I had a friend this morning!

And that is it for this week.  I hope everyone has a great week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 34

 We have had a fairly normal week here in the South of England!  Despite that I still don't have a photo of my jacket - hopefully next week. 

I have made a little progress on my socks and my Delovely skirt. 

It's coming along nicely   I am using John Arbon Textiles Yarnadelic and am now beyond all of the calculations and just going round and round increasing occasionally. 

I have done a little bit on my socks, but not enough to finish them this month - not to worry!

I have managed to spend a bit of time in the garden this weekend,  I  have done a bit of mulching of raspberries, set up a new compost bin and organised a few pots.

We also had the second of our Swedish nights yesterday.  We are holidaying there in the summer so we are preparing by having some Swedish evenings where we eat the food and practice some phrases.

Anyway - my aim this week is to take more photos and get round to commenting on the other blogs!

A Year of Projects Update - week 33

 So I said I would prepare a proper update this week, but it isn't to be.  By the time I return home I will have to get us sorted for the week ahead so will not gave time to do it properly. 

I have finished my jacket, but do not have a photo, so will post that next week.  The only thing I  have  is my socks for this month.

As you can see, they are only just started.  They are being knit in Fine Fish Yarn.

And that is all I have time for this week.  Hopefully, we will be back on an even keel next weekend. 

Hope everyone has a great week. 

A Year of Projects Update - week 32

 Oh my, so I nearly missed this week as well!

I think, despite the fact that I have made progress on my projects, I will do a quick update and work towards a proper update next week!

A couple of weeks ago my mum got taken into hospital.  She was there for a week while they put in a bile duct stent and found a tumour.   She is the sole carer for my dad who therefore, had to be put into respite care.   Mum and dad live 4 hours away and so my brother stayed with her and looked after dad in those initial days.  When she was due to come out she obviously needed someone there which was me.  So I went to Somerset for last week to look after her.  I returned Saturday morning and am going back at the end of this week for just a couple of days.

So all in all, its been a bit crazy and hence no update last week.  This week is half term and so hopefully, I will be able to do a proper update next Sunday.

I hope everyone is well and has a good week. 

A Year of Projects Update - week 30

 It has been a busy week here, what with moderators and parents evening.   However, I have managed to get a bit done on my skirt and made good inroads to another project!

Firstly, we have had some lovely weather this weekend which makes a change from the wind of late!  Therefore,  I spent sometime in the garden yesterday.  I carried out the big garden birdwatch and dug over the rest of the veg plot.

It was a bit chilly first thing though!

Having done that I got stuck into a new project which is a Vogue pattern jacket.

It's coming together quite nicely although I want to pull in the side seams a bit and finish it inside with bias binding.

I have also made progress on my Delovely skirt and am nearly at the end of the first skein of yarn. 

And that is it for this last week  - hopefully,  this next week should be a little calmer!

Hope you all have a great week 😊 

A Year of Projects Update - week 29

 This week has flown by and little was done during the week.  Next week is due to be a bit stressful, with the moderator coming to school for A level biology on Monday, the same day as my older sons birthday,  and then later in the week it is his parents evening!  So I don't foresee much being done this coming week either!  At least it gets it all done!

Anyway, I do have a finish this week.  The first pair of socks for the year.  Knit in a skein from Eden Cottage that I got in their secret stash box a few years ago.

I need to weave in the ends, but I consider them done.

I have also made some progress on Delovely.

I have completed the waistband (that was knit in part back and forth) and have now joined in the round to start the hip increases.  I am using Yarnadelic by John Arbon Textiles. 

Other than those, I have done some baking today in preparation for the week ahead.  I made a chicken pie and a quiche, so that is two dinners sorted!

And so, that is that, I am not looking forward to the week ahead, the weather is supposed to be horrible with high winds (at least we no longer have the tree!) but by next weekend I will have done it all so that's what I'm aiming for!!  Hope everyone has a great week.  😊

A Year of Projects Update - week 28

 Here we are in the longest month of the year!

I think I have been reasonably productive this week!

Firstly I made a list!  I like a list (one of the reasons I am part of the YOP group) - but despite having the list I made on here as part of that group, I really like a hard copy, hand produced list - I'm a bit of a technophobe at heart.  So I made this list

Anyway, of these projects, I have made progress on my socks.

I have turned the heel and now making my way up the leg - so going well!  This is a yarn from Eden Cottage yarn and I'm using the blueberry waffle pattern.

I have also cast on the Delovely skirt in Yarnadelic by John Arbon Textiles - I haven't got too far yet!

Otherwise, I did a bit more in the garden and made some bread and butternut squash soup for the week.  I used to be into making bread but stopped for quite a while.  It didn't help, that I was using up old yeast that I had bought in bulk, which wasn't working.  Now I have new yeast and hope to get the bug back again!

I  also cut the fabric for a little jacket, so hope to get that started this week.

I think that is it - now to put the dinner on!  I hope everyone has a great week!

A Year of Projects Update - week 27

 First week back at school and, of course, my productivity has taken a hit!

That said, I do have a finished object and plans are afoot for the next. 

My Tolsta tee is done.

Forgive the hair and leggings!  I had just come in from the garden.  This is knit in a set from Lay Family Yarn and I really like it - I see more in my future - perhaps a lacy one next time?

So what next?  I still have my Hitchenbrook on the needles, but I  think that is a project to get finished by next winter.  I also still have a pair of socks on the needles which I will pick up again later.

I  recently joined the Squid school of vintage knitting on Patreon and she has a skirt pattern from just over a year ago, called the Delovely skirt.  So that is my next project.  I have the yarn - Yarnadelic by John Arbon Textiles.   And... I am currently doing ....a guage swatch!!  I never do these! But to get the stitch counts I really have to.   So, for the first time ever, I am!  Anyway, by next week, I hope to have it on the needles and will show you how I am doing then.

I have also been in the garden today.  I dug over one strip of the veg patch and dug up the brambles in another (very small) area - there is still lots more to go.  But I have knit cardboard over it to try to suppress the weeds for a moment.

And that is that.  The weather's supposed to be improving for a couple of weeks - less rain and colder - which is how I like it!  I hope everyone has a lovely week. 😍