Tuesday 29 March 2016

A Relaxing and Productive Couple of Weeks

We have just started the spring break here.  I have been quite productive and cast on all the things.
I finished my Bracken last week.
And I finished my first sock club socks - Whitby yesterday.
I never thought I'd be the sort of person who knit socks (too much second sock syndrome), but since discovering taat I'm away and now I have a whole load!!
Me and the boys have travelled to visit my parents, and now I have started mitered triangles, that I have been planning awhile.
This is also the only book I have going.
I have also CO worsted boxy and the Donder and Blitzen hat by Amy Miller.
So there we go, when we return I have a whole host of gardening to do and I shall be taking the online class from Tilly Walnes to sew a skirt.
Linking with Nicole and Ginny

Sunday 27 March 2016

A Year of Projects Update - week 39

Happy Easter, if you celebrate, and if not, I hope you have a restful few days.
FO's
I have an FO!  I finished Bracken at the start of the week.
I also finished Daniel's socks, but he wore them, so there are no photos!

WIP's
I have made some progress on Whitby, hopefully, I will finish this very soon.
Having finished two projects I set to making an owl bag for the stall
And I cast on my worsted boxy, although there is not much to show for it.
I also cast on my donder and blitzen hat.

Acquisitions
I have none this week, but I'm going to Coldharbour mill next week and intend to stock up (since it's nearly my birthday!)  So I will share next week.
So anyway, we have my brother and his two children staying for the weekend and we are ready!! (They are chocolate eggs).
To see the rest of the group, click here.

Sunday 20 March 2016

A Year of Projects Update - week 38

Oh the holiday is getting tantalising close!  I have been becoming increasingly obsessed by podcasts of late (you may notice the influence today - including the use of the word obsessed!)
WIP's ( I have no FO's)
My Bracken for the anything goes KAL is progressing nicely and I am now up to the sleeve separation.  I am loving how this is coming along although I am about to make a few mods which will be on my project page.
I have also purchased some gorgeous buttons for this and will show those off in a bit.
My sock club socks are coming along.  Just churning away the foot, but I'm nearly there.
And lastly, at the moment, I am nearly done with Daniel's new socks.  This is the second sock - so I have a HO!  (A half finished object - common in podcasts!)  Again I'm making my way along the foot, but his are much smaller!
Acquisitions
Oh I have saved a few of these up.
My yarn from Mel - sadly her shop is now empty and will be full no more (luckily I have quite a stash of it already).
I also received my next sock club yarn a little while ago, but still have no pic.
I ordered and recieved the previously mentioned buttons (and a few extras that caught my eye).  These are from Textile Garden here in the UK.
 
Future Plans
I have started to keep a knitting journal and have bought washi tape!
My next sock project is going to be from the book New Directions in Sock Knitting - mitered triangles.  Now this actually calls for 18 yarns, but I have decided to do it as a memory blanket type affair.  So these are the yarns (leftovers) that I will use.  Some I only have enough for two triangles, but others I can get several, so no need for 18.
I have also become quite obsessed with project bags, however, the budget can only stretch so far and I have a sewing machine and lots of fabric.  So that is my task for today - to make two.  Edit - here they are!

Join us in the Year of Projects group here



Sunday 13 March 2016

A Year of Projects Update - Week 37

Yay, I have a FO!
I finished Hitofude and I love it.  I loved knitting it (I love a bit of lace!) and I love the yarn.  I wasn't totally sure if the shape of it would suit me, but I think it does.

I love this yarn and I have been quite saddened this week by the news that Mel (of Mellifera yarn) is stopping dying (I thought she might be as she has not updated for a while).  I know there are lots of others but I did love this yarn!!  I did indulge in some of her last skeins and she sent a bonus skein, I have yet to take photos but I'm sure I will soon, I can assure you they are lovely!
As a result of finishing this, I have not made much progress on the other projects.  I have finished one of Daniel's socks and am in the middle of the heel turn on my socks.  Again, hopefully, I will be able to post more progress next week.
I thought I would check the list!  It's been a while.
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 
  • Hitofude - self indulgent KAL
  • Bracken - Anything Goes KAL
Projects for me - knitting
  • From Way Back - mellifera yarn
  • Hitofude - Mellifera yarn - finished March 11th
  • 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 - finished January 
  • Worsted Boxy - Joji Locatelli
  • Bracken - top by Katya Frankel
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 - finished February
  • 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

Sunday 6 March 2016

A Year of Projects Update - week 36

I'ts short and sweet this week!  I have been making steady progress on most of my projects, but now am knitting monogamously on Hitofude as I am nearly there.
I have 2 and a half repeats to go and then it is the bottom ribbing and I am done.  I am loving knitting on this and the pattern is easy to memorise, but interesting to knit.
I am up to the heel on my sock club socks but have stopped for a moment as I finish Hitofude.
And I cast on a pair of socks for Daniel and again am up to the heel on the first one.
I have done nothing on Bracken but hope to pick this up again when I have finished Hitofude.
I took receipt of the next installment of my sock club yarn this week and I am afraid one of my favorite dyers is closing so I had to snap up a couple of skeins and had to break my yarn diet!  I will share the new goodies next week when hopefully, I will have a FO.
To see what everyone else is up to please click here.