Distracted by...

pretty fabric.

The sun came out on Saturday between some heavy rain showers and I couldn't resist playing with these bright fabrics.

Squares and strips make a few square blocks.

Then the cold set in for the evening and it was back to the couch for some serious knitting.

More knitting Sunday and a little finishing off today - I have another nearly pair of socks.

As I am not a perfectionist and my toes are currently cosy I am not concerned about the odd row out!

The pattern is Cable Cuffs from the book 'Fab Feet and Cosy Toes' by Anna Tillman. The construction is very clever with the cable cuff knitted flat, then joined into a round. To knit the leg you pick up the stitches along one edge of the cuff which folds back over the sock when worn.

The yarn is Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4 ply - a pleasure to knit and soft and cosy to wear.

Now I have a pair to wear while the others are drying.

Hope there was some sunshine in and out of your craft space this weekend.

Knitting Along

Still in sock production - the first of the Green Cable Cuff socks is done.

The pattern is from 'fab feet and cosy toes' by Anna Tillman.

Professional reading and plain knitting are a perfect match, it knitted up in no time.

I have cast on the second one and will be working on it while continuing to read.

The book 'I Did (but I Wouldn't Now)' by Cara Lockwood is a light read for late at night when the other stuff is just not making sense.


Now I have my very own book of sock patterns. I like the idea of mixing things up a bit and this will be a very valuable resource. Lots of basic information and plenty of variation.

There is ample yarn in the stash to try at least a few of the possible combinations.


Hope your week has just the right amount of creative and reading time.

Joining the Knit Along here for lots of inspiration.

Sunny Snippets...

The sun is shining and all is good in the land.

Playing along with TinnieGirl.

Ten cosy toes...

Finished the second sock - Yippee!

That is my new toy there next to my feet - I was just doing some homework. I only needed to listen.

Warm toes for the rest of Winter and they fit comfortably with my boots. 

They may be slouchy but they are very snug and warm.

The finished socks are from the Knitting Knee-Highs book by Barb Brown, the design is Maid Marian

For my first pair of hand knit socks in a very long time I am very happy with the result, even if there were some ambiguous instructions in the pattern. 

Yarn is Bendigo Woollen Mill 4 ply luxury in colour Mink.

Next some pretty green socks.

Using the pattern Cable Cuffs from the Fab Feet and Cosy Toes book by Anna Tillman.

Loving the woven look of this simple cable design.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

Because 1 is not enough

I have been casting on again without finishing my in progress projects.

My sock is almost done - this is the second one. Yay - cosy toes in the very near future!

My mitt has progressed but as these are odd yarn leftovers, I am undecided whether I should finish this one or make the second one up to here so I can see how much of each colour I have left for the hand part.

Oh, and the green is the start of something new - guess all will be revealed when I get more done. So far it is very nice - I am liking the softness of the cable detail.

Reading another lovely tale set in the 19th century by the same author as last week - 'Hope' by Lesley Pearce. Mostly set in the UK it highlights the gap between the classes there in this period and the fact that married women had virtually no rights.

Interesting.

Joining in very late over at the Yarn along.


Edit: The sock pattern is Maid Marian Knee Highs from the book Knitting Knee Highs by Barb Brown.

Bird or fish?

So last week while I was out of town for training there was a little shopping - one needs to make the most of these opportunities right?

I know the purple swirls at the front and the blue/green circles on the left are fabrics I already have, just topping up the supplies while I was in the neighbourhood.

A little red and green for some Christmas fun - they are not specifically Christmas fabrics which is part of the appeal for me as they will complement lots of fabrics in my stash.

 

 Do you see the little birdie in the top of the picture?

That is a Creative card pattern - Chubby Birds by Jodie Carleton.

Too fun 

Even if my first attempt looks more like a fish!

I won't be put off by that I will just practice by making more.

Back to my knitting - I may have ten cosy toes by the end of the week.

Hope your week is off to a great start.

Yarning along

When I met J's mum for a little shopping last week she gifted me with this sack full of delicious goodies.

I didn't eat or use them all yet but I found the perfect use for the sack - my new knitting bag.

What you see in here is the beginnings of the second sock - there may yet be two to keep all my toes warm.

All the knitting of late has left my hooks idle, so I thought a little project with some yarn from the stash may just ease my yearning to start a much bigger hooky project when I really should be finishing some of my started projects.

Enjoying this little piece in pretty colours - no pattern following here, just making it up as I go and looking forward to new mittens to keep my hands warm while I knit.

Reading this week has been this intriguing tale by Lesley Pearce entitled Gypsy - the story of four young English migrants adventures in America and Canada in the late 19th century.

Joining all the talented participants yarning along this week.

It wasn't all about the socks...

last week.

There was much sewing together of lots and lots of little squares to make big squares - all of 8" unfinished.

These were then sewn with the framed blocks to make a quilt top, which is now just resting waiting for my next sewing marathon - stuck on making backing at the moment.

Friday there was socialising and shopping of the non craft materials kind and after playing with my new 'toy' for a big portion of the weekend I decided to make it a cosy cover to protect it while we're travelling later this week.

These were the fabrics I picked from the stash to choose from. 

I really needed to get this done today as I am busy out of the house all day tomorrow, including dinner out with friends.

My intention was to use more than one fabric to add a little interest.

After a text consultation with J's mum the purple and green from the above selection won. They were joined by orange dots to make this stripey piece.

All done a new home for my new Sony Tablet, which may become my best friend or my best excuse for not achieving anything else.

Hope your week is warm.

Nearly...

warm toes. 

Wonder if they can share??

The toes that is.

I made that much progress at my knitting group today.

This is only the first one - promise there won't be any more pictures until the next one's done.
(Who knows when that might be - next week is busy?)

Hope your weekend is warm.

Sock knitting...

 started well before a small disaster.

Yes, it broke while it was holding stitches.

I have always preferred the old plastic needles and these were inherited from Grandma so I guess they have  been busy in their time, I am hoping this one is the only casualty though.

Now I am using the rather odd combination of 3 DPN's and one circular needle - saved wasting knitting time driving to the shops.

After all the plain shawl knitting I chose a pattern with some interest - I like that the little cable, which runs down both sides of the leg starts in the band.

Oh, then there is a simple lace pattern to fill in the remainder.

This is the Maid Marion sock from Knitting Knee-Highs by Barb Brown.

It really is coming along nicely.

Taking things easy this week, so it could be a while before my toes are cosy?

Joining the yarn along.