A trip over Blubberhouse Moor.

On Saturday, we took a trip to Harrogate for the Knitting and Stitching Show.

The day was glorious and the drive over full of chatter.

I didn't take many photos because its just soooo busy. 

But I did make a few purchases, no fabric for a change!!

In the lovely handmade paper bag is the beautiful Knitting book below.

Soo all I have to do now is find the time, in between all my painting, to locate the wool and needles!!!

Our other trips to Harrogate are here, here, here and here.

Finally I have two. . . .

So my sock knitting journey started many weeks ago.

I can say its definitely been a learning experience.

Many of the mistakes will be invisible to the 'non sock knitters' out there.

But they are finished !!!

The pattern was a free pattern off the internet.

Will I be using it again?

No way!!! 

 

Next time (yes there will be a next time) I will research my pattern and make sure its easier to understand.

I might even try knitting two socks at once to avoid 'second sock syndrome'.

Lunch break.

Today after my lunch I popped outside to do a few rows on my socks.

I'm now heading towards the toe . . . . .

What a beautiful start to October.

I could really love October if it stayed like this!!!

Anyway back to work !!

One needs to be two . . . .

I've got the books, I've got a pattern, bought the wool and got the needles. So nothing is stopping me!

Yes I'm knitting socks

It has been a little stressful, ooh what a heal!

 (don't mix knitting socks with drinking wine, otherwise you may need to pull back)

Anyway I have completed one sock. . . . . . Yes I am starting another but I think one pair will be plenty

Crafternoon (at last!!)

Well its here at last!!

I, like many others have been waiting for the release of The Comic Relief Crafternoon magazine. Finally the release date arrived and my store didn't get it!!

Fear not, I travelled to 'the big shop' and finally got my magazine. 

Now I just need to decide what to make!!

Just keep knitting . . .

Way back in August last year I started a knitting project. . . The first project was a hat for my daughter which I finished.

The next thing I started was a 'Winter Cape' for me.

I didn't buy the wool suggested (I know what your thinking  WHY?,Well the wool shown was expensive. If I start a project thinking I 'overspent' I don't enjoy it.)

So I started the knitting knowing I would have to adjust the pattern. I'm not very good at this!!

Everything was going well, But I couldn't try it on as my needles wouldn't fit around  my body!!

I showed a few people as I went along, asking how long should I make it? They all kept saying 'OOh I'd knit a bit more'

So I just kept knitting. . . . 

Finally I cast off and tried it on. . . . . 

It was about two months worth of knitting too long, ooh b#gg#r

So I marked where the excess was then carefully pulled it back.

Then ever so carefully picked up the stitches. (it was very tense)

So I redid the rib around the bottom and cast off. I was obviously still pretty tense, because the cast off was tooo tight. So once again I took it back.

 Finally after casting off  'with relaxed shoulders, breathe, keep it loose, concentrate, relax. . . '

Its finished, have I worn it? No
Do I like it? Not sure.
Will I make another? No
Will I listen when people tell me to just keep knitting? NO

Why, why, why. . . . .

 Why is knitting in my head so quick?

Why do I have a list of knitting projects as long as my arm?

Why has it taken weeks to finish a simple snood?

Why does my daughter look better in things I make for myself, than I do?

Why did I buy the wool for a huge knitted 'garment'?

Why oh why have I cast on. . . . . . 

Summer knitting cont. . . .

So rewind a few weeks and you may remember my knitting project.

Most of the hat was completed before my holiday, just the sewing together needed to be done.

Then what to do with the left over wool ??

What about a snood!!

My stripy knitting produced loads of tangled ends to sew in. . . . 

Then the button selection *see button buying at the end*

So what do you think? I really like it.

But more importantly my Daughter does!!

*Button Buying. I have loads of buttons but not quite the right colour or quantity. So I headed to Abakhan fabric shop. . . . . .and came home with some buttons.*

(and two more balls of wool and some circular needles)

Winter knitting in summer.

My Little boy is doing a reading challenge over the summer at our local library.

On a recent visit, just to pass some time, I had a little look in the knitting section.

Luckily I had my library card!!!

What to knit? ooh the debate.

On the short list are:

The super soft cape (for me),

The hat with horns (for my daughter),

or the gloves with acorns (for me).

A lot depend on whether or not you can get the wool. . . 

So after a trip to the wool shop, I am now knitting the hat with horns!

Its great to be knitting again.

The hat is done and now I'm knitting an ear.

Ooh how I hate knitting two of anything, but I'm told

 'the hat will look silly with one horn and one ear'

Yes I know!!

On my lovely table. . .

On my lovely table this week (well last week actually) is a lovely gift from a good friend over in Sweden. Its a traditional Swedish Princess Cake (sadly not edible). The lady who makes them can be found here!

Also this week we had the finished snood/cowl. (A big Thank you to all who left a comment, they really are appreciated)

Next we have a little bit of Christmas creeping in. All my cards are now written out and ready to go and we have received a few too!

Lastly we have Albert and Violet...

Its a long story, but we have Elves to stay in the run up to Christmas.

They arrive by 'magic' and are suppose to watch out for good behavior, to report back to Father Christmas.

But the are very mischievous and play tricks on the children when they are out at school or overnight when they are sleeping.

(having written down the 'Elf Saga' I realise just how crazy I sound)

Knit Nordic

The other week I headed out to the local library for a book on Jelly Rolls Quilts.

I got slightly side tracked and came home with 'Knit Nordic'  by Eline Oftedal.

Inside the book there are some amazing projects.

Although the hotpants  - I don't think are for me!!!

I chose a simple Snood. I already had a ball of grey wool (left over from my hat) so I bought a couple of balls of cream wool and cast on.

It did take quite a bit of concentration, I can't really hold a conversation whilst knitting anything other than plain knit, also watching TV is out!!

Whilst the children had breakfast this morning I started the last few rows of k2 p2.

Back from the school run and I cast off. (no I haven't sewn in the ends, but hopefully later today)

The finished Snood!!

I will be hopefully wearing it later today on a very windy walk to school.

(If you live in the UK, its very windy)