Bella Hat

Above is the Bella Cable Hat I made for my best friend Bev for Christmas.  This particular photo doesn't do much justice to the lovely green colour but the one below of me modelling it does.
The pattern is from Rowan's 'Winter Warmers' book by Martin Storey  - a collection of cosy accessories knitted in chunky alpaca and Rowan's Lima/Lima Colour yarn.  The hat uses the latter.  I must say I was a bit dubious about the yarn when I bought it - it has a chain like construction - but it knitted up beautifully and is wonderfully soft.  It's a relatively quick knit on 5mm and 5.5mm needles and the cable design maintains the interest and is relatively straightforward to remember.  As I was pressed for time I made the body of the hat a little shorter than the pattern specified so the result was more snug than slouchy.  Bev absolutely loved it and has been struggling to take it off.

One of my knitterly resolutions - and I really should list them on here one day soon - is to start my Christmas knitting earlier this year.  I probably said this last year as well!  My plan is to decide on the knitted gift relatively soon and not deviate from it - part of this time's problem was I couldn't decide between socks, mittens and hats so I made some of each!  Better, I think, to stick with one project type for all.  My indecision of October/November meant that I had no time left to knit some Christmas projects I had in mind for my home.  You live and learn but you don't always end up putting it into practise!

Happy New Year!

This blog has been sorely neglected for the last three months!  I grossly underestimated how much more hectic life would be with my Busy Boy at half day school ... yes, I do have two and a half hours every day for just myself and Baby M but I am on the road all the time!  Never mind, as busy and hectic as it is I am thoroughly enjoying the hustle and bustle and general madness that three children brings!

Despite this I have kept my hand in with my knitting.  As I've mentioned before knitting is my main creative outlet at the moment with it being far more sociable and portable than sewing.  I thought I'd share my first finish of 2015 - 'Oleum' socks:

I confess to have started these back in September but my fraught Christmas knitting got in the way and the poor second sock lost it's way amongst Christmas jumpers, hats and mismatched mittens.  This leads me to share my first knitting resolution of 2015 - I will finish one pair of socks at a time ;-)

Anyway, 'Oleum' is a fabulous pattern by Rachel Coopey for Baaramewe in Leeds/Harrogate.  The pattern was released in August at the same time as this lovely limited edition 'Titus Goddess' yarn in 'Shades of Aire' colourway.  I love the lace panel in the middle of the sock and the garter stitch toe detail - just beautiful.

I have another pair of Rachel Coopey socks I'd like to finish by the end of January (I've been inspired by a winter knit along on Ravelry) and an ever growing stash of Titus Goddess/Titus that I must start making a dent in soon so I hope the next few months will be productive!

Varsity Socks

The 'new' term is no longer that new.  School is in full swing and parking there is increasingly difficult because of it's proximity to the University.  However, the weather has been largely good allowing plenty of walking to and from school and I love the hustle bustle of my local area, especially as Autumn deepens.

The above socks were made as a gift for my friend's daughter who has just started University in Bristol.  Moving away at 18 is such a big step - I remember being so desperately homesick for the whole of my first term at University.  There is nothing better at such a time as surrounding oneself with a few home comforts and what better comfort than a pair of hand knitted socks!

The pattern is the basic Regia 4-ply sock pattern and the wool is Fortissima Socka stars and stripes.  I've had it in my stash for a while but it was perfect for a new student who is a lover of all things American.  It really is the time of year for sock knitting!

Summer's End

The new school term is upon me and I am not quite sure where the holidays went. We have glorious weather today but despite the blue sky, there is a cool breeze and the sunshine is that odd sort that indicates that Summer in waning and Autumn is around the corner.
For me, this is no bad thing because Autumn is my favourite season, but this year the end of Summer signifies a milestone in family life as my Boy started half-day school yesterday. I know he is going to love it and will thrive there, just as my eldest daughter has, but the days this week have been tinged with a little bit of sadness none the less!

Many knitting projects have been worked on over the school holidays, some even completed. Wherever I went my knitting went too - although even I thought taking it to a spa day was a step too far but I'd be lying if I didn't say I considered it!

An exciting development here at home has been the opening of Swansea Bay Yarns quite literally in my stomping ground. It is a fantastic shop, owned by the lovely Morgan and it has a beautiful selection of yarns. It it there I purchased a ball of CashmeRed - a glorious 3-ply 100% cashmere yarn which is just divine and as a bonus you get to chose a free pattern when you buy a ball! This is what I made with mine ...

... a very cute bag hat :-). It is knitted in one piece on 3mm needles and not only knits up beautifully but it luxuriously soft. Perfect for baby gifts - as long as the baby has trustworthy parents who will hand wash cashmere! This hat was made for baby Arianna who is three months old. I couldn't resist trying it on my little munchkin before gifting it though ;-)

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Preparation

We're going away next week - a few days with grandparents, a few with the cousins in Leeds and a few exploring Yorkshire as a family.  The latter will hopefully involve a visit to Baa Ram Ewe - my favourite yarn shop.  I've ordered online many times and made some purchases at their 'Wonderwool' stall back in April but I have never been to the shop in the 'flesh'.  Well, shopS actually - one in Leeds and one in Harrogate - but my husband doesn't  understand my need to visit both branches of the same shop .....

Time away necessitates some knitting projects so I've been sorting through patterns and yarn in preparation as well as finishing up some bits and bobs.  Above is the last piece of knitting for a friend's not so new baby which is now very nearly sewn up and ready to give.

I've been trialling a pattern for Christmas gifts as well - something quick and useful that I can make a start on over the school holidays.  It sounds a bit crazy organised but if I don't make a start now Christmas will be on top of me.  The trial has proved challenging though as a certain small person likes my knitting a lot!

Who needs a cat when you have a baby girl!

Weekend Baking

I've been in a cooking rut of late.  Ordinarily I love cooking and menu planning but recently I've really struggled with finding the inspiration to do either.  I still get healthy and wholesome food on the table but it's not very interesting.  Over the weekend the husband was on call which means we are largely installed at home as he is back and forth to the hospital throughout the day and given the rainy weather I thought I would potter in the kitchen.

I managed to make pancakes/pikelets for breakfast - some with added sprinkles as an experiment (next time I need to add waaaaay more sprinkles!!) - also rhubarb and blackberry custard pie (in a homemade sweet pastry!) and finally some homemade granola :-).    I also made a delicious lasagna  for Sunday and yesterday made Bara Brith.  I may yet photograph the latter as there is some left in existence!!

I may have the groove back.

A Yorkshire Hat

I'm knitting a hat.  I know it's July but I like to be prepared :-).  Also, despite being the British Summer, nights at the beach can be chilly and come the start of the rugby season in September, a late evening kick off also can necessitate a hat.  I think it will have much use before Winter is upon us.

The hat pattern is called 'Northallerton' by Rachel Coopey from her book 'Toasty'.  I've been a big fan  since I bought her sock book at last year's 'Wonderwool' so acquired "Toasty' as soon as I could.  I bought the wool at this year's Wonderwool - 'Titus' by Baa Ram Ewe which is my current favourite yarn from my current favourite yarn shop.  Here is my progress:

A knitting surge over the last two days has resulted in me finishing the large yellow colour work section as well as the second duck egg blue repeat so I am nearly done.  Incidentally the colours I've used are called 'Coal' (black/charcoal), Bramley Baths (duck egg) and Filey (yellow).  The Titus  colour palate and their names are evocative of Yorkshire where the yarn is spun and dyed.  The fabulous Baa Ram Ewe where it is sold, has shops in Leeds and Harrogate.  We will be visiting my sister-in-law and family up in Leeds in a couple of weeks so i am hoping to visit at least one of the shops!

It is quite appropriate that while I have been knitting 'Northallerton' with Yorkshire yarn while the Tour de France has been on - Leeds being the location of the 'Grand Depart'.  Shame we are going to Yorkshire two weeks too late!

My brother-in-law sent us this photo though:

They were in Otley - three hours of waiting and then over in a flash!