And they're mine!!

Yes, finally got a pair of these socks that I can keep for myself.... (the others went to mum who's not been that well and loves having them to wear about the house as they're very cosy so that's okay really) which is just as well cos I'm starting to think it would be nice to do a different pattern! It's fyberspates space dyed blue faced leicester sock wool and ridge and furrow pattern. And the blanket is growing - it did really need more wool so I sent off to Shetland for about another 600 grms - there's nothing worse than a too short and too narrow blanket when you're trying to snuggle on the sofa. So, what should I try to finish off now?

Blanket done!

Well, it's not as big as I'd have liked, but I've used up all the wool - so I guess it's done. It's actually a good size for over the back of the sofa ready to get put to use while telly watching or reading in the evening -so I'm happy! And it was getting rather awkward to knit....

Absorba to the rescue!

I bought this cotton almost two years ago now. I can remember it was an impulse buy at a fancy yarn store nearby me and felt guilty about buying it, all the way home. Then I started knitting it up. It was horrid. The pattern was probably only okay for an anorexic model, it made me look like a demented Michelin man. So I ripped it out, and knitted it into a lace pattern shawl. But it never got used, I mean who would use a chunky cotton shawl? So it sat in the spare room and made me feel bad. Then on day on Ravelry I saw that someone had used this same cotton (Araucania Patagonia) for Absorba the Great Bathmat from Mason-Dixon. Wow we thought, that would be cheery. And so it was. A quick knit on on 10mm pins and three strands at a time, and some left over for a washcloth and scrubby too. So now I have a soft and cheering bathmat. Me like.

Second summer instalment

The nephew gets introduced to the fine art of holding a hank ... ah childhood memories!! Other holiday pics are the sea pinks which clung to the rocks and edges all over, the amazing shapes of the Giant's Causeway, and the start of Absorba the Great Bathmat - think I have finally found something to do with that Araucania yarn. Yes it will be the most expensive bathmat ever but at least having ripped it out twice already I'll hopefully get some use out of it. Another hot summer day here and I'm bushed again, but hey two blogs in a row!

The Ballband Cloth!

I've loved the look of this since I got the Mason Dixon Knitting book last month, so of course I had to try and track down some Peaches & Creme and give it a go! I love the bright cheery sunniness in the kitchen.

Getting bigger!

Blanket update - the soft shetland is, well, softer than the shetland heather wool so having tried it I ripped it back out and decided to just see how far I can go with the heather wool I have. Maybe the soft shetland could be a big border if needed. We'll see. I've gone onto circular needles as it was getting too big for straights and have discovered I seem to knit a bit looser on circs... oh well. Still loving it though, and it's another sunny morning here, so if you don't have to go far in the snowy showers then it's fab! I've been doing more of the tidying etc, and that feels good - have just shredded all my old tax and work stuff up to about 2002 - that was a big bag of paper I didn'tneed in my life!

A sunny day!

Love these sunny winter mornings - it's nice and peaceful to get yourself up and sit in the sun with a cup of tea and some knitting, and know that even though it's cold outside it's like a little conservatory here! So that makes me feel a bit better this morning. And the blanket is growing apace, very addictive knitting this. Think I'm going to add in some Shetland Soft, oyster which should match in well. I've already used up 230g and have 680 left of the Heather naturals but think it would be best to make a really nice big snuggly blanket so using up some of the shetland soft might be the answer.And Happy Birthday to mum who loved the needle cozies that royal mail delivered today.... though it took a suggestion from brother in law before she realized what they were! But she loves them and I can't wait to see them all displayed full of needles!

Rolling along...

This is a great project - fab wool, lovely natural colours, lots of great memories of buying it on Shetland on hols last year, it keeps the lap warm as you knit, it's all garter stitch so you don't need to pay much attention - zen knitting for sure! At the minute I'm still on the sketch but making it in miniature if you know what I mean, so will need to branch off soon but think I'll just keep going following what looks like a good colour scheme. I only have about one ball of each colourway so just seeing how things go. On more antibiotics again so another week in to recuperate, which is just as well cos I don't think I could face the big bad world out there at the mo. My sis is ill as well at the moment so weekend plans look like being cancelled - shame cos she does love a good cybercrop (at UKS)!

Log cabin fever

This could get addictive! Think I've got the gauge sorted now, and am making the panels a bit smaller to reflect the amount of colours I've got. Very relaxed knitting, just as well as my brain is retreating further into the flu fug.

Blankets of snow

Gosh it was fascinating sitting watching those great big snow flakes all flurrying down this afternoon.... off and on in mini blizzards all day! Not as bad here as some other places, but still made you feel good to be sitting inside knitting a blanket!This is the Moderne Log Cabin from Mason-Dixon Knitting, which kind of slipped into my Amazon basket one night in January, and I've had great fun with it so far with felted boxes and now trying out this blanket. I'm using a mixed bargain bag I brought back from Shetland last year, in Heather Aran, all naturals, so will need to amend the square sizes I think just to fit what I've got, but that'll be all part of the fun! The cough is still there and feels more like a good old fashioned head cold now ... wonder what tomorrow will bring!