A Year of Projects Update - week 27

 This will be a short and sweet post today!

We are all ready for the day so thought I would quickly check in before we properly get underway. 

I have no photos today but I will tell you I am getting along fabulously with the garter marler sweater and it has inspired my Christmas eve cast on!  By next week, I should have some finished things to show you. 

So that is that - if you celebrate, I wish you a fantastic Christmas day and by the next blog there will be a new year,  so happy new year to you all! 🥳🎉

A Year of Projects Update -- week 26

 I didn't post yesterday,  despite good intentions, as I got a bit carried away with my new cast on!

Anyway, I am posting today as it is the start of my Christmas break - hurrah!

I have been wearing See You There all week when I can and me and Daniel have managed to get out in the crunchy snow this weekend.

So, my cast ons ...

First, I cast on some Christmas socks 

Not a brilliant picture,  but they are knit in Stranded Dyeworks Christmas yarn from at least a year ago - I have a Christmas Red to do the heel and cuff.

My other cast on is a garter marler sweater by Stephen West.  It is knit in fingering weight held double, so you can use up all your bits.  Which is exactly what I intend to do!  Here it is so far.

I am hoping to get a lot done this week, in amongst the Christmas prep!

I hope everyone has a great week, and for those that celebrate, have a brilliant Christmas. 

A Year of Projects Update - week 25

 I'm crawling my way to the Christmas holidays!

My buttons came and I was able to finish See You There 

I've already worn it out and about and I love it!

I also finished Tegna. 

Modelled by Patricia here, this is knit I some Lay Family Yarn.  

I don't know quite what sweater to cast on now so I'm giving myself a week off and then will decide!  In the meantime I have cast on a pair of socks and a dishcloth (mine are looking a bit sad!)

Me and Daniel  went to our local nature centre where they were having a small Christmas Market this weekend,  so I will leave you with a scene from the park.

I hope everyone has a lovely week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 24

 I completely missed last week, I have no excuse!  Just ran out of time.

Mind you, it means that this week I almost have an FO!

Almost,  because it needs buttons - I thought I would be able to rake them from my stash but I didn't have enough of the right size, would you believe?!

See You There is finished!  It needs buttons and ends woven in, but the knitting is done and I love it!  This is by Joji Locatelli and yhe yarn is de Rerum Natura gilliatt. 

So now I am going to finish off my Tegna (which only needs sleeves so may be done by next week.

Me and Daniel went to a Santa experience today - he is now a bit old but we went and enjoyed hot chocolate and the market stalls.   We had a lovely festive morning.  I am feeling very unprepared for the festive season  but hopefully  I can get it together in the next couple of weeks!

Anyway,  I think that is that for this week  I'm not totally sure what sweater may be next, so that is exciting!  I hope everyone has a great week 💓 

A Year of Projects Update - week 22

 It's been a long week!  Parents evenings and meetings, but we are getting there, and next weekend is a long one!

I managed to finish the yoga socks this weekend and that means I can gift them.

I used a very old skein of Knitting Goddess yarn and will gift it tomorrow. 

I  have also made quite a bit of progress on See You There by Joji Locatelli.   I am now on the bottom ribbing.

This is in de Rerum Natura gilliatt. 

I may have to buy buttons soon!

And that is that for this week - I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving that is celebrating.

A Year of Projects Update - week 21

 Just a quick one this week.

I have done some more on the gift yoga socks, but they are not quite finished.

I have also done a fair bit on See You There. 

I'm still really enjoying this - I'm knitting it in de Rerum Natura gilliatt. 

I've not got much else to report and very little going on this week.  Just work and a patents evening on Thursday. 

I hope everyone has a good week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 20

 It's been a dreary week here in Southern England!  We have had lots of rain and a bit of wind.  I'm not complaining, it could be much worse, it's just dreary!

I haven't done much other than work and a bit of knitting.  Oh and yesterday I had my covid and flu shots so am feeling a bit sorry for myself!

All my projects are coming along, but they still feel a way off.

Tegna now just needs sleeves.   But it is more of a spring - summer garment so I've left it until See you There is finished.

Not the best picture, but it is dreary!

Speaking of See You There, I have made progress and am about to split off for the sleeves and body.

I'm knitting this in de Rerum Natura gilliatt and it is speeding along.  I would really like to be able to wear this, this year so this is my main project at the moment. 

Thar said, I would like to have a gift finished soon as well.   It's not for Xmas or birthday,  so no actual deadline but it would be nice to gift them soon.  Maybe next week 😉

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

A Year of Projects Update - week 19

 Looking backvat the last few posts  all I  can see is my Christmas dress!  This is not a bad thing, but it is nice to have something else!  

This week I have been mainly working on Tegna.   I have split for the sleeves and knit up the back.  I am now working on the front.

I am knitting yhis in Lay Family Yarn  in the Sweetpea cottage colourway.   I really like it, but it is difficult to tell when doing bottom up as I  can't try it on.  But I have my fingers crossed it will be OK!

I have also started work on See You There by Joji Locatelli.   I am using de Rerum Natura gilliatt.  I have used this yarn before and it is lovely. 

I  already know I am going to love knitting this - I really do enjoy cabling. 

I have also started a pair of yoga socks for my friend,  but no pic yet.

We have had a lovely relaxing week, finished off with a trip to the beach on Friday.   It was a bit too rough when we got there so we paddled  ate bacon rolls and had hot chocolate with cream and that was perfect.

Hope you all have a good week. 

A Year of Projects Update - week 18

 Ta da!!

It's done!  This is the Festive yoke KAL by Skeindeer Knits in Navia Duo.  It has taken me the best part of a year, but I love it.  It needs to be blocked to sort out the bottom ribbing (which is flipping a bit), but otherwise it is finished. 

I have also knit a few rounds on Tegna and I have started a pair of yoga socks as a present.  No pics of these this week - I shall treat you next week!

We are now at the half term holiday which is lovely - we have few plans just relaxing and probably making a few Christmas plans.  The forecast for this week isn't great, but if we get a chance I would like to get out in thd garden to bring some things in and if it stops raining, me and Daniel may take a trip to the coast for potentially the last swim of the year.   

I hope everyone has a great week 💓 

A Year of Projects Update - week 17

 I missed another week! 🤔  We went to the season finale of the touring cars.  I had really good intentions to get something ready on the Saturday, but that never happened. 

So I am here today, although I only have progress on one project,  but it is exciting progress!

So, my festive yoke KAL is coming along nicely. 

As you might be able to tell, I am nearly there!  I have done one further motif since I took the pic and intend to do one more and then the ribbing and it is done.  This is the Festive yoke KAL by Skeindeer  - I am knitting it in Navia Duo and ever since she launched it and suggested it could be turned into a dress, I knew that is what I was doing.  I  am really hoping next week it could be done.

I have not worked on anything else.  I have made my first batch of gingerbread traybake of autumn and there is only one more week of school before the half term break - yay to both!

Yesterday, me and Daniel went to see Dinosaur World Live at our local theatre.  It was brilliant and I will leave you with a couple of photos.  Hope everyone has a great week and I will be back next week!

A Year of Projects Update - week 15

 This is late and is going to be ridiculously short!

I was feeling under the weather on Saturday and lo... turned out to be Covid...yay!

I  can't go into work this week but haven't felt up to doing much  so little progress has been made.

I am getting there with the Festive yoke KAL 

I  have also done a few rounds on Tegna,  but no photo.  I  am away next Sunday  but let's see if I can get my act together to put out a post before I go!  Have a great week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 13

 It's been a bit of a strange one this week.   The queen's funeral was on Monday, which we watched most of.  The rest of the week, although shortened, seemed to stretch on forever!  Last weekend we went to the Goodwood Revival which I will talk about in a moment and today we are going to the beach to go swimming with a friend. 

In terms oc progress, I have done a few more rounds on Tegna 

I have also completed another motif on my festive yoke KAL dress  but not enough to photo.

While we were at Goodwood (which was fabulous - 2 days of dressing in period and Period car racing!) I spotted this jacket/cardigan.

I took a photo to remind me - as I knew I could make something like that (as you do as a knitter!)  I also thought I had a similar pattern on my YOP list.  As it turned out it wasn't on the YOP list  but I had bought ghe pattern and that is See You There by Joji Locatelli. 

As you can see I have printed the pattern and bought my yarn - Gilliat by de Rerum Natura.   I havd resisted the urge to cast on as I can't have 3 sweaters on the needles at once - none would get finished!

Anyway,  must finish up as I need to make a flask of hot chocolate to accompany our sausage baps our friend will make on her camping stove whilst at the beach!  Have a great week. 

A Year of Projects Update - week 11

 I don't have much to report this week.  I  went back to work properly  (with students) this week and so had less time to knit. 

All I have done is another motif on my dress. 

And the lacy part of Tegna.

So chugging along.

I don't know what to say about the late Queen Elizabeth II.  I am sad and I will miss her being there - I think she did a lot of good for our country.  I am not sure about King Charles, so for a minute I will just say goodbye to Elizabeth and reserve judgement!

Next Sunday we will be paying our respects and will be busy all day so there is likely to be no post (I have a ridiculous week at work as well so unlikely to do much knitting).

So I hope everyone has a really good couple of weeks and I will catch up later.

A Year of Projects Update - week 10

 Well, I think it is week 10?  I have not posted the last few weeks as we have been all over the place.

Three weeks ago, me and my youngest son went camping at Snetterton to watch the touring cars, which was really good but a bit warm (we went during our second heatwave!)

On our return we had a couple of days turn around and then went off to Yorksire as a family.   This again was wonderful, but next time we will visit for longer.

When we returned from Yorkshire we again had a couple of days turnaround before heading off to  first my mum and dad's, and then to Cornwall and St Ives.

Here we had a brilliant time with lots of sea swimming and hiking.

And now (last Thursday) I am back to work and the boys return to school this week (they will both be attending my school from this year).

With all of that going on there has been little time for crafting, but I have got a bit to report.

Firstly, a finish!  I took these on the drive to Yorkshire and was able to finish them off when we returned. 

These are my spring socks (they have been on the needles that long!)  The yarn is from West Yorkshire Spinners snd I think it is mojito.  Pattern is just a plain sock, toe up, short row heel and 1 by1 twisted rib to finish.

Another finish was an impromptu foot rest made from a box and some old work jumpers of my husband's!  It is currently being used as a footstool and housing several WIP's. 

I also took m Festive yoke KAL with me and have done a little on that.  I decided to get the sleeves done, so now all I have to do is keep going straight for miles!  I am going to make this into a dress.

And finally, I have a new cast on that I am loving.  I have cast on Tegna by Caitlin Hunter.

This photo does the pattern or yarn no favours  but I loved the way the sun hit it!  The yarn is from Lay Family Yarn in the Sweetpea cottage colourway and is beautiful. 

And finally,  that is that.  As I havd already mentioned,  we are all at school this week, so less may get done, but we shall see!

I hope you all have a great week. 

My Capsule Wardrobe - post 1

 Here is my latest project!  I am going to document it here and on it's own dedicated page so that I can follow my own progress. 

Post 1

This year I would like to work on (mainly hand sewing/knitting) a capsule wardrobe.

And this is the plan as it stands today!  I have made the Soorik and a tunic length top.  I have started both a t-shirt and a elasticated waist skirt.  

I am hoping to do most by hand - although I will do some of the zig zag stitches on the stretchier fabrics by machine.  I also hope to use my stash fabrics for these projects.  I bought some cotton linen from Minerva for the saguaro set, so I should have stash for everything else.

 So next up is to finish the t-shirt and skirt - I only have hemming on both to go really.  I think I will then start on the saguaro set.  Both of these will have to wait until we return to school as I am a bit busy prior to that.

Books and Films and Other Things

 I've been listening to a few books at the start of the holidays, I thought I would document some here.

In no particular order:

The Castaways (Lucy Clarke) - I really enjoyed this.  It is narrated by two people as it is written from the point of view of two sisters in two different times - then and now.  There were a few twists and turns along the way, but you always wanted to find out the next step.  I would recommend this.

Somebody I Used to Know (Wendy Mitchell) - again  I really enjoyed this book.  If enjoyed is the right term.  It is all about a person's descent into early onset dementia.  It is written by the patient (she wrote a blog  to remind herself ) and is amazing.  Not full of pity, from either the sufferer herself or for the reader.  Just a well written insight that I am really glad I have listened to.

Where the Crawdads Sing (Delia Owens) - both book and now film.  I found the book amazing - I couldn't stop myself listening to it and on one memorable afternoon found myself in floods of tears walking down the road to pick up Daniel.   I am pleased to say the film was very true to the book and I wanted neither to end.  I loved both book and film.

The Thursday Murder Club (Richard Osman) - I read this a year ago and really enjoyed this too - there is  theme, you may notice - that is that I don't finish books I don't like!  I,  like many before me, found this gripping and again, a book I did not want to put down.

Dear Fatty (Dawn French) - I  loved listening to this (an autobiography)  - I really like Dawn French and this book (narrated brilliantly by Lisa Tarbuck) was heartwarming and at times, laugh out loud, funny.

Nitram - film about a  mass shooting in Austalia.  Like Where the Crawdads Sing  I went to see this on my own and thoroughly enjoyed it.  There was no unnecessary violence and just showed a sequence of events that led up to the shooting (a true story).  How true to life it actually was, I am not sure,  but if it was accurate, you can see exactly how it happened and were left wondering why no one noticed and put a stop to it.  But  I guess hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Minions and Lightyear  - I went to see these with the boys and thoroughly enjoyed both.

Notes From a Small Island (Bill Bryson) - this was, as promised very funny.  And for an English person, I found it hilarious in part and very relatable. 

I am currently listening to Isaac and the Egg (Bobby Palmer) - I'm really enjoying it, but it is quite strange at the moment  - I  think it will enlighten me soon!

I have also bought myself an actual book - Wilding by Isabella Tree.  It is supposed to be about rewilding a farm near where I live, so I hope it will be good.  I will be taking this book on our adventures over the next few weeks.

On that note, we are all over the place in the next few weeks - Snetterton comes first (camping at  motor sport track), then North Yorksire for a few days hiking and finally, Cornwall for more hiking and family time. 

A Year of Projects Update - week 6

 Week two of the holidays has passed!  Me and the boys spent it with my mum and dad in Somerset.   We had a nice time and still the weather holds

  We are supposed to be getting another heatwave towards the end of next week  which we are not looking forward to.  Me and Daniel however, will be outside next week as we are going camping in Norfolk at Snetterton race circuit.  So as long as we can get our tent pegs in the ground, it should be ok!

While I was with mum and dad I was able to make some progress.   I only took my festive yoke KAL sweater and so made good inroads to this project.  I have spilt for the sleeves and now am working down the body. 

I am knitting this out of Navia Duo yarn and will be making it into a dress.   I think I may do one more motif and then put it on waste yarn to try it on and then do the sleeves.  I only want short sleeves so hope they won't take too long!

Other than that I have done a bit of Sewing, but I will report on that in a couple of weeks when we return from Snetterton.

I have also been enjoying a few audio books, but, again, I will put that into a separate post. So, it is a bit short and sweet this week,  but I will try and add some extras during the week. I hope everyone has a great fortnight as I will be in a field next week and unable to post!

A Year of Projects Update - week 5

 OK, so midweek blogs did not happen - maybe next week.   I have been doing much crafting, but it doesn't 'feel' like I have.   Perhaps it is because I felt like a project was nearly finished and all I have really done is finished that.

Anyway, what did I finish?  There are technically 2 things.

I finished my ripple bralette/camisole.  I actually love it and think I could be brave enough to do a bralette version...

I knit this in some Yorkshire Dale's yarn (who are not dying anymore).   I still have at least half a skein left and I'm toying with making the bralette in the leftover skein.  We will see - I made the straps double the thickness on this version  so I think I would have enough.

The other thing I finished and packaged up is my mum's advent calendar. 

This is now ready to take to mum tomorrow when we pop down to see her and dad.  Then I don't have to worry about it in the post. 

So on that note I am spending the best part of the week in Somerset with mum and dad.  I'm taking both boys this time (even though Thomas would rather stay at home now).  Crafting wise, I am only going to take the Festive yoke KAL  and see if I can put a dent in that.

I will leave you with a couple of shots of the pond where we walk most days - it's just down the road from us, so only takes about 10 minutes to get there - we are very lucky.

Have a great week everyone. 

A Year of Projects Update - week 4

 We made it!!  It is now the summer holidays!

This year seems to have gone in a flash and dragged all at the same time!  But we are there now, and I am so looking forward to long days filled with walking, crafting  baking and listening to Audible.

This week has been quite good craft wise - we actually worked from home on Monday and Tuesday due to the heat.  I think I might have said last week we had 35/36 - 40 predicted and we are just not built for those temperatures - our houses and schools are not built for heat - no air con and few fans  so in school with 30 students in a room - it is like a greenhouse.  Anyway I worked from home and it was a bit better - fan aimed at my face all day!  It also meant I could fit in some crafting.  

I did a few bits of embroidery this week.

These are destined for cards to give to my mum in her advent calendar.   I have decided I want it finished by next week so that I can rake it down with us and then I don't have to rely on the post nearer the time - but it does mean I have to get moving.

I also worked a fair bit on my ripple bralette.

I know this does not look like a bralette, but this is my trail camisole version.  I do not know if I will like it as a bralette, I don't know if I will like the negative ease of the bralette and I have 2 skeins of this lovely yarn.  So a camisole version it is and if I like it - I will dig out another single skein from stash and knit it as a bralette.

On that note I got round to sewing something that I have has my eye on for a while.  I bought the Waves and Wild superstar bra pattern ages ago and this week finally sewed it up.  

This was a brilliant stash buster as I have loads of bits of stretchy fabric (this and pants are going to be my go to stash using project).  It only took me a few hours to finish it although at this stage I had got a bit carried away and finished it without my customery trying on as I go.  Had I done that, I would have realised the straps were far too short and I should have lengthened them.  I have now fixed it (not a pretty fix but you can have everything) and I love the finished article - I may try it for my yoga at home and see how it holds up - I see more of these in my future (it would also work well as a bikini top).

And.. on the Waves and Wild theme.  I also got a free pattern of theirs - the sandcastle bucket sun hat.  Again, I used lots of stash/leftover fabric and produced this..

As you can see, it is fully reversible (although the chickens are sometimes upside down - and forgive me for being in pyjamas!)  Again,  I love this, it used stash and only took a couple of hours.

And I think that is it for this week.  I will be able to get round to everyone in good time this week and I'm thinking there may even be some midweek blogs on the horizon!

Until then, I hope everyone has a good week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 3

 After a couple of big finishes in a few weeks,  I now feel like I have done very little!

This week I have solely worked on the ripple bralette.

The yarn is by Homespun wonders - who do not dye anymore.  I have 2 skeins of it that I havd been waiting for the right project.  At the moment it looks little like the ripple bralette because I have made it 2 sizes bigger (I'm too scared to do the negative ease this time) and I'm making it much longer (I want to use up both skeins).

If this works well and I like it as  camisole I am going to dig out another single skein to make it as a bralette - that is the plan.

Anyway,  it is coming along quite nicely and may have some more time tomorrow.  It's quite hot here and because we have a red warning the school is shut tomorrow.   I know lots of places have it hot for longer and indeed, hotter, but we are just not geared up for it.  Our houses and, more so, the schools, do not have air conditioning and most classrooms no fan, so it is like a greenhouse!

And that is all I have done.  We had the pizza oven out last night which was nice - we are having pizza night about once a week at the moment!  Will be trying to stay cool over the next 2 days and hopefully get a bit of progress in.  We break up for summer on Thursday and I for one, can't wait - see you all on the other side - have a good week!

A Year of Projects Update - week 2

 Well it's a good job I haven't posted  progress for 3 weeks as I haven't done a lot this last week!  

However,  prior to this week I had finished one project and nearly finished another - both fairly big projects.

So the finish object for two weeks ago was my hand sewn summer dress.

Here it is  in the wild  in the garden.  I really enjoyed making this, and now am looking for the next one!  It is entirely hand sewn and fully lined.

In my hands is also my next finished object.   All I had to do this week is the finishing  which included knitting the pockets in the round, steering them and sewing them on.  Steering was not a problem  (the top part of the pinafore is also steeked) - I  havd steeked before and I have every confidence in this yarn (John Arbon Textiles Exmoor Zwartbles).  In fact I haven't even reinforced it, I am that confident!

So there she is - Soorik from The Shetland Trader book 3.  It is unblocked, which I will do in the week, but I know I'm going to love it!

Now I should really put some time into my festive sweater KAL, but, as predicted   my head has already been turned by the ripple bralette by Jessie Maed designs and I've cast on already!  I will show you that one next week.

I haven't done much else this week as school is starting to wind down for the holidays, but there is still a lot to do. 

I hope everyone has a great week.