Up and running

.... well sort of.

After a very long break from blogging and knitting my mojo is finding its way back to me. I've also come out at the other end of renovation and decorating with my sanity intact (just). I have lovely new storage for my knitting paraphernalia - that's the only thing that made it all worthwhile!

Now all of my UFO's are squawking loudly at me from their dark resting place. Here are just a few:

Fontaine is in need of half a sleeve

.

Smoulder is in need of a collar and a sleeve

And heavens above a finished project. Only because there was a tight deadline and it was for my friend. This is the Panel Jacket by Louisa Harding. I used Wendy Pearl dk for the main body and Louisa Harding Glisten for the edging. The Pearl yarn has been discontinued and I didn't have enough - the Glisten yarn complimented the Pearl and the colouring of the recipient. I also had to make the sleeves end at the elbow rather than have them full length.

I'm trying to be be realistic and unfortunately summer passed me by without any new summer projects under my belt. If I'm lucky Smoulder will be finished for Autumn. This puts me right on track for finishing last winters projects in time for this year and maybe slipping in a couple of new ones. The upside - I know I will be warm and toastie this year. I will be posting some of my 'new' winter projects in the next post.


The pace of the allotment is finally slowing down and I am enjoying the fruits of my labour. I am truly grateful for my pickings right now and I will never moan when it rains ever again.

Peas

Strawberries

Marrow

Still here

I'm still about, not a lot of knitting has been going on over the past 2 months. I've been out in my allotment. That is all about to change as the plot is beginning to tick over without needing my total undivided attention.

I have about a million projects to finish, so with the lovely long evening coming up, I'll be steaming ahead with my UFO's!!

Oh boy

Or not as the case may be. I have a teenager in the house!! A teenager who does not want to be "mothered". Do they flip overnight? Did I miss something? When did he become taller than me!!!

He is still my young man and we are proud.

As you can see, my trauma over young man reaching his teenage years has stopped me from being productive in any way. I've managed to complete the back and one front on Fontaine. The 2.5 mm needles are really sticking it to me now - I am however fighting the urge to start another project on much bigger needles, but that may change........

Finished!

The Mystery Blanket aka In the Country

Finally pulled my finger out and finished it. As you can see, I have found a worthy recipient - she loves it!

My reward is a new project, Fontaine

Smoulder is on hold. I'm sure that I'm going to run out of one of the colours and until I can find a substitute for it,I can't go any further. However, it's coming along nicely. I'm hoping to complete it for the Spring.

Nearly

Time is flying unlike my knitting projects. February already!!


We do have a few finished objects and a couple that are nearly there. My January deadline has slipped for both the blanket and the curved edge cardigan, but there has been progress.

The blanket is now in one piece. All squares are knitted and ends now sewn in. I just need a long cold dark evening, lots of chocolate and a good play on the radio to finish it once and for all.

I'm trying to be a good girl and not start anything big before I finish the blanket and the curved edge cardigan (Smoulder doesn't count - I've stalled on it for the moment having run out of one of the colours. I'm hunting for an equivalent)

Not sure what possessed me to knit a pair of leg warmers but here they are and already put to good use.

Pattern details:

Pattern name: Mosey by Susan Power
Pattern source: Knitty, Spring 2008
Yarn used: Debbie Bliss Cash merino Chunky
Size: Smaller size
Needles: 5.5 mm
Started: 8/12/08
Finished: 2/2/09
Comments: I omitted the OXO pattern because it would not be easily seen in black yarn. I used larger needles because I used completely different yarn , hence knitting the smaller size. They are incredibly warm and versatile. Good stash buster.


The young man is off on a skiing holiday in the next couple of weeks, so the needles have been busy with hats. Here is the latest.


Just in time for the recent offering of snow. He was nice and toastie. The hat stood up to the riggers of several snow fights and being worn for the entire day!!

Pattern details:

Pattern: Alpaca ear flaps

Pattern Source: Oz yarn

Yarn used: Debbie Bliss Cash merino aran in cream, Louisa Harding Grace in light grey, Wensleydale Longwool aran in dark grey

Needles: 4mm

Started: 20/1/09

Finished: 1/2/09

Comments: no alpaca used, but warm and toastie anyway. I don't do well on intarsia ans chart reading for colour work. But the pattern was easy to understand and clearly written.

Alas, the curved edge cardigan has stayed in the bottom of the basket, but I'm hoping to rectify that this month

2009

Another year has gone and so we (I) lurch onto 2009. Very little has changed. I'm still trying not to start too many projects and I'm still trying to finish those I start!! Some of the projects have been festering for too long.

Currently I'm working on:

Smoulder from Rowan 31 a lot of substitution has taken place due to discontinued yarn, but I've loved this pattern from the moment I saw it - I have no idea what took me so long to start it . I managed to start is 3 days ago and I'm loving it. However, I made a pact with myself. Starting Smoulder means I have to finish 2 old projects, of which there are a few.........

The Mystery blanket, which is missing just 3 squares. 2 borders are done - must finish this soon. This is one of the pact WIP's.

Print 'O the waves stole. I've now completed 6 repeats. I had delusions of completing a repeat per evening. Instead, this poor WIP has been stuffed in a corner until a few nights ago. However, as I'm sure many will know, you have to be in the right frame of mind to read a chart.

Don't ask me what possessed me to knit myself a pair of leg warmers. They are gorgeous though. I've half of the second one to complete.

The curved edge cardigan is luscious pure silk. This has been languishing in a corner for months. This is the 2nd of the pact WIP's. I just need to sew the border on - however, that's not as easy as it sounds!!

Picnic. This is a long terms project so my conscience is not pricking me so much on this one. But I'm aiming to be a bit more disciplined in order to finish it this year.

Of course this does not include socks and, well we just won't go there!! Now all I nned ot tackle is the destash.......