A Year of Projects Update - week 8

 Wow another week passes and we are nearly at the end of our summer break!

Anyway, I have been doing a bit of crafting.

I said I'd give you a modelled shot of ease - so here she is!

Forgive the packing in the background!  We are going away in a couple of days and I am out tomorrow!

This is Ease by Alicia Plummer, knit in Malabrigo Rios, finished a couple of weeks ago. 

I have started another project - I fancied finishing off some linen yarns that I had in stash, so decided on another Tonight top by Lily Kate designs.  It's a bit of a jumble of part balls at the moment,  but I hope to tidy that up a bit when I join in the round!

Other than that, there has been some gardening and some day visits and now packing for our week away.

I hope everyone has a great week 😊

A Year of Projects Update - week 6

 This will be very short this week, but with lots of progress and lots of photos!

Firstly, two finished objects.

I finished ease and I am delighted with it!  But I haven't taken a photo as it is boiling!  So, hopefully,  I will get one this week to show it off.

I also finished my sunshine socks. 

These are knit in a tarn from deep stash from a small company that have long since stopped dying.  I am going to knot a second pair from the same yarn and have already cast these on.

These are pictured with a small haul from my day out today.  Me and my younger son went to Arundel to look around the wetland trust.  It was so peaceful and Arundel was delightful.  Even though it is close to home, I haven't been for ages.

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

A Year of Projects Update - week 5

 I am so close to having an FO!

I have been knitting away on Ease by Alicia Plummer in any spare time and I am very close.

I am currently on the drawstring collar and then will be done.   I am using Malabrigo Rios and although the pic looks crinkly, it really isn't!  I have added thumb holes as I love those in a long sleeve.

I have been away over this last week, as I finished the walk I started last year.  I did 60+ miles last year on my own walking alongside the river Tamar in Cornwall.  I then hurt my knee, so couldn't complete it.  Me and my friend went back last week and finished it and then had a couple of days relaxing by the pool in (what they call) the English riviera.

We had a great time, but it's good to be back to enjoy the rest of the summer holidays!

I hope everyone has had a great week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 2

As we approach the end of the school year here we always have a last minute burst of activity!  So it has been quite busy here.

I have been able to make time for some crafting amongst all the dnd of term jobs.

I am making my way through Ease by Alicia Plummer.   I am using some Malabtigo Rios that is variegated and so at points it looks like a completely different colourway.   But I don't mind that - the top is casual anyway and I love the colours that are in it.

I'm nearly at the hip shaping so if I get some time over the next 2 weeks I think I will have to start thinking about what is next!

I haven't put any time into my summer socks so they need some love this week!

Other than the top I have done very little.  I've been trying to do more walking each day as in 2 weeks myself and a good friend are going to go and finish the walk I nearly completed last year.  Last tear I attempted an 87 mile walk across the Devon/Cornwall border for Macmillan cancer.  Unfortunately,  towards the end I twisted my knee and so couldn't complete it.  Anyway, we will be completing it in 2 weeks so there are a few things to get ready for then and I  am trying to train a little in between school tasks!

I have also been out in the garden a bit and have harvested out first produce.

I have been cutting sweetpeas for weeks - not from the plants grown from seed this year - some perennial sweetpeas that I've neglected and came back this year with a vengeance!!

I  have been replenishing these every other day for weeks ☺️

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great week ☀️

A Year of Projects - week one

 And here we are again.  This is my 14th year doing A Year of Projects and over the years my opening 'list' has changed somewhat. 

When I started in 2013 my list was very tentative as I had only just started knitting.  Over the years it morphed into largely knitting for my wardrobe and me made May preparation.  In the last few years it has become more of a formula than a list.

And this year, I have decided the same.

On The Needles

Ease by Alicia Plummer 

Vanilla socks in summer yarn

Intentions

I want to continue filling the gaps in my wardrobe.

I have the Indyx app and will be logging what I wear each day to help me be more intentional with my making.

It is likely to include sewing - dresses and tops.

Knitting will likely consist of tops and perhaps another dress.

Gifts

I want to do a selection of little scarves for my colleagues at school.

I would like to make progress on mum's blanket and potentially get that finished. (This is a gift for me!)

And I think that is it for the time being. A list of sorts!!

A Year of Projects Update - week 51

 It's starting to get hot over here!  This is not my preferred weather  - I'm a knitter - I prefer winter!!

Anyway,  I have done some knitting on my Stockholm Slipover. 

This is a pattern by Petite Knit and I'm knitting it in Ard-thir by Kate Davies designs.  I'm about to start my last skrin so hope I've get enough!  I am on the finishing so crossed fingers 🤞 

I've done a little on my socks, but mostly I've been trying to keep cool and prepping for next week's heatwave!

I've been trying to do some walking and managed to get some gardening in this morning before it got too hot, but still ended up sweating lots!

Anyway, that's it for this week.  Hope everyone is staying cool where you are and have a good week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 50

 I did not intend to be away for quite as long!  I don't think I've had a four week break in all my years doing a year of projects!

Anyway it does mean I have progress!

I finished the dress.

Excuse the background in the modelled shot!  I am ridiculously happy with this- I used John Arbon Textiles yarn and a few leftovers.  The pattern is called Elsk and is from The Shetland Trader book 3.

So since finishing that I have cast on two new projects.

The Stockholm slip over by Petite Knits.

For this I'm using some yarn from Kate Davies design.

I have also started a pair of socks using some very summery yarn - I can't remember where it is from, but I don't think they are trading any more.

These are just going to be a vanilla sock - I haven't done socks for ages so it's a nice little project.

I have been quite busy the last few weekends - last weekend we went to a racetrack called Oulton Park to watch touring cars and prior to that we went to a Devon seaside town called Seaton and spent some time sea swimming with friends.

So there we go!  That pretty much summarises the last month.  I hope everyone has had a good month and I won't take quite as long to get back!

A Year of Projects Update - week 46

 It's been a couple of weeks since I posted - I've been plugging away on Elsk!  But have done little else.

So I have been working on Elsk.

As you can see I'm working down the sleeves - as soon as the colourwork is done on sleeve 2 it should be finished very quickly!

I have not done anything else!  But half term is looming and I intend to start a few things then.  There will be a little gardening going on today, but then I have a week to get to grips with it in a week.

And that is all this week - just work and a little bit of knitting!  I hope everyone has a great week. 😊

A Year of Projects Update - week 43

 April is flying by!  I have worked on a single project (still)!

I did spend a little time in the garden today.  Just digging a few more rows and cutting back on a little brambles.  We put the potatoes in a couple of weeks ago and I have been bringing on several seedlings, although nothing else is ready to go out yet.

Anyway, the project is the Elsk dress.  I am knitting this in John Arbon Textiles yarn.

It is done bar the blocking and the rest of the sleeves.   It is, however, very slow going at the moment as I don't have much knitting time at the moment.

And that really is it again.  Hopefully I'll have more soon.  I hope every has a good week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 42

 We have had a lovely couple of weeks  weather-wise.  As a result, I  have done little crafting, but that is fine.

What I have done is work on Elsk.  The body and skirt are done, I'm now just finishing off the sleeves. 

I  am using mainly John Arbon Textiles yarn and leftovers for the colourwork. 

This is the only project I have been working on. 

We went to Brands Hatch on the hottest day of the year. 

And yesterday we went to the tulip festival at the farm down the road from us. 

And that was all I have been up to of late!  Hope everyone has had a good couple of weeks 😊

A Year of Projects Update - week 40

Happy Easter to all who celebrate.

 I feel like I have gone back in time!  I must have got out of sync with my weeks somewhere!  Anyway, even though I thought I had done week 40, it seems I haven't!

I have only been working on one thing this week, and that was Elsk, my dress.   I am knitting this from John Arbon Textiles yarn and have nearly finished the body of the dress.

I have also managed to get out into the garden this week and do some digging.  I have got some seeds started and am now ready for the potatoes!

I did some foraging this week and got some wild garlic which I have made some pesto with.  I gave yet to use it, but the bit I tasted was lovely.

It is my birthday tomorrow and I will be going walking and then we are out for dinner.  Otherwise, it is a fairly busy week, after a quiet one last week.  I am out next Sunday  but hopefully,  I will be able to post before I go out.

I hope everyone has a good week and holiday period. 

A Year of Projects Update - week 40

 At risk of being really boring, the only thing I have worked on, is my Elsk.  I am knitting this with leftovers and John Arbon Textiles yarn.   I am coming up to the split for the sleeves - just a couple more inches!

This is all I have been doing!  We have had a few days of sun this week and this weekend has been nice - I didn't garden yesterday, but hopefully,  today I should be able to do some work out there.  We are on our Easter holidays from Friday, so hopefully,  I should be able to get a bit more done next weekend.

Anyway,  that is it for this week, I hope everyone has a great week 😊 

A Year of Projects Update - week 39

 This is going to be particularly short and sweet - I have done very little apart from work on Elsk.

Therefore,  the photo is the same, but Elsk is a little longer!

I think I'm about 7 inches from the sleeves!!

Otherwise, we have had a couple of days of nice weather,  and so, I did do a little work in the garden.  Hopefully,  we will have a few more nice days in the coming weeks, so I will try and spend more time out there!

And that is that,  I hope everyone has a good week. 😊

A Year of Projects Update - week 38

 I can't believe it is March already.  It's nearly a year since we lost mum - time has gone so fast.

I have been pretty much just plodding along with the one project, so there wasn't a whole lot to report last week.  

So the project I have been working on is Elsk. 

I am at the waist at the moment. 

Pattern is Elsk by Gudrun Johnston and the yarn is by John Arbon Textiles on the whole.

I also made a tablecloth this weekend.   I say made - I bought 3 meters of dead stock fabric and hemmed it! 

Other than that, I have done very little.  This Sunday, I did complete a puzzle  - this is a Wentworth puzzle that I am currently into - they do lovely quality puzzles with unusual shaped pieces.  This is one I borrowed from a friend.

And that is that!  I hope everyone has a great week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 36

 I have had a lovely week!  It started with a day trip to Somerset.  The day went very well,  I just wish I had taken more photos,  but I was a bit worried about the charge on my phone!  I am going back at the end of March so will do more then!  I also got to go to Knepp which is an area near us that has been allowed to go back to nature - they don't farm it but allow, dear, cattle and pigs to roam freely.  There are also several walks that you can do, so me and my friend did the 5 mile one.  If was somewhat muddy - I shall put photos at the end. 

I have made good progress again on my Elsk dress.  I am making my way up the skirt and into the body.

I am using some leftover yarns and John Arbon Textiles for the main colour. 

I have also run up a small scarf!

This is my third as I love them!  I am not keeping them all myself, I am now making them for work colleagues for next Christmas!

And that is all on the crafting front.  I will finish with photos of Knepp.