Monday 21 August 2017

A Year of Projects Update - week 8

The summer here is whizzing past in a blur of camping and knitting - definitely not complaining.  We went to the New Forest here in England last week that was absolutely gorgeous.  We stayed in a campsite right next to a steam railway and subsequently caught the train on the days we were there.
So that was the camping and this is the knitting - I have FO's!
FO's
I have finished a second pair of shortie socks.  These are knit in Mellifera yarn in bluebell.
I also finished my Bon Bon mitts from Pom Pom magazine.  These are knit from Malabrigo Arroyo in the Archangel colourway.  I love these and will omit the pom poms as I think they will get in the way.

WIP's
I, as always, have several.  I am making my way down the first sleeve of Breathing Space.
I have cast on my August socks in Up, Up and Away from Little French Meadow.  These are a splendid colour and I am going to be using the Spattergroit pattern by Knotty Gnome.  I will be taking these with me this next week (as we head off for our last holiday to Cornwall).

My triangle socks and Sevilla are still ongoing.
And finally, I have cast on my Christmas jumper.  I shall be following the tender heart pattern from Heart on My Sleeve.  They suggest you use the sleeve as a swatch and given that I don't like to swatch this is a great idea.  I shall adjust the sleeve as I go and then take my gauge from that to knit the body.
I am using John Arbon Textiles Knit by Numbers DK which is gorgeous and was going to insert a photo here but then my computer broke so it is not to be!
Acquisitions
I received the third instalment of the surprise club this week, but here is a sneak peak at parcel two.

I also signed up for their advent club so that I can knit some scrappy advent socks.  And that is that.  Next week we have our last holiday but I will try to post when we return - it will probably be late again!  Have a lovely week.

Tuesday 8 August 2017

A Year of Projects Update - week 6

Ok, so I'm late again!  This week I was at my mum's at the weekend, and it's just easier to update at home.
I thought I might evaluate the list this week, since we are now into August.

Sewing
Skirts:
  • Gathered skirt - one done
  • Delphine skirt - one done
  • button through skirt
  • yoked skirt
Tops:
  • Tunic top
  • t-shirt style top
I have made progress on this section, two skirts made, the fabric cut for both the button through skirt and top.  I hope to make the top today.

Knitting
Sweaters:
  • Breathing Space - in progress 
  • Epistrophy - Coldharbour Mill yarn
  • Tell it Slant - Eden Cottage Yarn
  • Christmas Jumper - Tenderheart - John Arbon Textiles knit by numbers
  • Cropped sweater for winter - using my De rerum Natura  Gilliatt - Finished July 2017
  • Chuck sweater - Coldharbour Mill yarn 
Accessories:
  • Bonbon mitts - in progress
  • Socks - I am not going to specify a pattern as new ones come up and I always want to do them
  • Shortie socks - to use up stash
  • Knees up
Again I have made progress on this section.  Cropped sweater is just waiting for the appropriate weather to wear it in!  I bought the yarn for a second cropped sweater over the weekend.  A lot of the others are now in progress - the Christmas sweater is just about to be cast on, Bonbon mitts are still going and socks are progressing nicely.  Breathing space is at this stage
I now just need to do the ribbing and bind off and I am on the sleeves.
The test knit socks are ready for the pattern part, so far, as always, the pattern has been lovely to follow and I have done my first gusset toe up with ease.  The pattern is by Knitterarium.
I have also started a new pair of shortie socks - seen in the picture. 

Other items
Gifts:
  • Socks - dad, Luke and a second pair for mum to do
  • Scarf - Sevilla - in progress for a friend
  • Bath bombs - for pressies and myself
  • Christmas jumper for Thomas - follow tenderheart as for me but add colorwork from Anders
Craft fair/other crafts:
  • Embroidery - develop to make myself some bags
  • Dog coats - knit some more
  • Hot water bottle covers
  • PE bags and pencil cases for the boys
I am hoping to do the pencil cases today and I have finished a gift knit for dad, so more to do in this section.

Finished items:
And that is it for this week.  I am linking with Frontier Dreams as well as a year of projects this week.

Tuesday 1 August 2017

A Year of Projects Update - week 5

I'm late this week for A Year of Projects  but thought I would post anyway and combine it with Craft Along.
We have been camping - hence the late post.  We went to watch the Touring Car championship at Snetterton and again had a brilliant time.  Here are the boys with one of the drivers

FO's
I have an FO!  I finished my July socks.  These are My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth socks by Ruth at Knitterarium.  Yarn was Life in the Long Grass in arcade.

WIP's
I have not worked on a lot of my WIP's as we have been away, but I did make some progress on my test knit.
These are again by Ruth at Knitterarium - yarn is Little French meadow in the every flavour beans colourway.  I have just started the gusset increases.  This is the first time I have done this type of heel toe up so I'm interested to see how this fits.
I have also cast on another pair of shortie socks.  I took them camping but there was a lot of rain so these did not get much attention.
These are the Rose City rollers toe up and the yarn is West Yorkshire Spinners at the moment and then some Knitting Goddess.

Acquisitions
I subscribed to a surprise club from Little French Meadow a few weeks ago and have not been disappointed yet.  The first installment was Up, up and away which is pictured here.  It came with yarn, a notions pouch, sachet of tea and stitch markers.  I love it all.  I love the second installment as well but won't post yet just in case some people don't have it and read this (unlikely but you never know!)
The big skein I am going to use for my August socks and is already caked up ready to go - the contrast mini skein I think I will use as contrast to some Christmas socks.

 Other crafts/reading
I have not done any other crafts or read a word, so I am still on A Handmaids Tale by Margaret Attwood and waiting to watch the finale of the series recorded while we were away.

We are going to my mum's this week so more knitting will be done and we will have to see how the blogging fits in with that!