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!