Its raining, the wind is blowing, the heating is on, and I want comfort food……Fortunately we have a big box of apples from the orchard of my fiance’s parents farm. I’ve already made a gluten free carrot and apple cake, but i still had a load of apples left. Then I found this recipe in my Phil Vickery Gluten free cook book (Its a great book worth getting for anyone on a gluten free diet) Its an apple compote – basically apples, sugar, cinnamon all stewed up and smelling divine. I’m going to enjoy eating this with my yoghurt this week…. it tastes a lot better than it looks – honest!
Ooops, I knit it again!…. October 31, 2009
Yes, and another one…. I love this beret, so soft, and again, matches the lace scarf made in the same James C Brett Merino. Cheap and cheerful knitting for the Autumn.
I’m still struggling to fit knitting in around my job and wedding planning, hence it being quiet here on my poor neglected blog…. but I did cast on a baby blanket last night.
Yes, Another twilleys beret! October 31, 2009
This is the fifth time I’ve knitted this pattern – I love it. made in Twilleys Freedom Spirit in a green/purple colour to match the lace scarf. Warm and cosy and just my colours.
Finally, I finished the cardigan! August 12, 2009
Its was started a year ago… and I’ve finally finished it! This is the blue Patons 100% Cotton DK lace cardigan that I’ve knitted for my future mother-in-law. It was neglected for a long time, I’m afraid I put of knitting it as the lace panel was never ending! This is the second one I’ve knitted, I made one for myself a couple of years ago in a toffee colour. I’m pleased with how its turned out but I’m also pleased to get rid of it!
I am still here! February 20, 2009
I’ve not fallen off the face of the earth…. I’ve been very busy (excuses, excuses) Alas, I’ve not got any knitting done for weeks – its all been wedding planning! My new favourite passtime is wedding planning, and I quickly realised that its a mammoth task. Its like having another full-time job.
Anyway, I will be back, and I will do some knitting at some point. I’m just having fun with other things at the moment!
Knitting Resolutions 2008 December 22, 2008
I’ve been thinking about new years resolutions and this prompted me to look back on the ‘knitting resolutions’ I made at the start of this year….. how ambitious I was!… I know most people fail at new years resolutions, perhaps I set too high expectations for myself?! Last years resolutions are as follows:
1. Stash bust – I have done this to a limited extent. I have knitted from my stash and I’ve sold on and traded things that I was never going to use – I’ve even got my mum knitting a top for me that I was never going to get around to doing! However, I have ‘added’ to the stash to, so technically this resolution is a FAIL.
2. Try more felting – I purchased a load of New Lanark aran and bought a pattern for a felted bag with the intention of making it…. and its still sitting around in my stash. I’ve incurred another FAIL.
3. Get out my fear of colour knitting and try intarsia – No progress made here what so ever. I’ve never attempted intarsia or fairisle and its looking unlikely. To be honest, I’ve not actually seen any colour knitting projects that I would want to knit yet. Maybe I will change my mind when I have more time on my hands (like that’s going to happen) but for now that’s a – FAIL.
4. Try to join a knitting group – well, as with most resoloutions I started well but fizzled out. I did go to the Birmingham Stitch and Bitch a few times, but to be honest its a bit too far away and since I started my new job I no longer have free time at the weekends. Guess what? its another – FAIL.
5. Learn how to knit two socks at a time on two circulars – I bought the book, I looked at the book, I chose a pattern and I purchased the yarn…. and its all sitting un-knit at the bottom of my stash box. FAIL.
So, what have we learnt? Claire cannot keep her new years resoloutions! I think I was too ambitious, in an ideal world where I don’t have to work and spend all day knitting I would have achieved all this – but life gets in the way don’t you find?
Since I made these I joined Ravelry, which is a blessing and a curse. On the upside you can research patterns, organise your stash and your queue and gain inspiration from others. On the downside there is just too much choice and temptation and you end up with a huge queue of things you intend to make (fat chance!)
So this year I’m not going to make any resolutions, I do intend to knit from my stash and I would like to complete the projects I’ve talked about, but no resolutions! I suppose I should step out of my comfort zone and try something new, like cables or the ‘two at a time’ sock method, but I’m not going to commit myself!
Christmas holidays at last December 21, 2008
Well, Christmas has finally arrived and school has finally broke up for the holidays! Its been a very long and stressful term and I have really been looking forward to the break from work! Christmas is my favourite holiday time, I love everything about this time of year and most of all I love the fact that I have time to knit!
As I’ve been so busy all term I’ve done hardly any knitting, this is the grey baby hat set that I managed to finish for a friend at work, she is having a boy in January. I use Patons ‘Washed Haze DK’ again and I think its a great baby yarn, the pattern is from an old copy of ‘Simply Knitting’ magazine.
Now the holiday is here I’m hoping to get back to knitting the blue lace cardigan for my boyfriends mum. She requested it over a year ago and I have barely touched it! I have been guilty of ignoring it as I really didn’t want to knit this pattern again, I made it for myself some time ago and the lace is never ending.
If I can get it done and out of the way this holiday then I can at last get back to knitting for myself! (I admit, I’m a selfish knitter!) I have some lovely purple yarn from a swap for ‘Liesel’ (Ysolda Teague cardigan) I also have a sack full of various DK weight yarn in my stash and my Ravelry queue is getting longer and longer….. Merry Christmas, I’d better get on with some knitting!
Gathered pullover – finished pictures November 16, 2008
Finally I’ve got my act together and got these pictures up. They are not great photos as the light is not very bright today (Typical British November day!) but its the thought that counts! The pattern is the Gathered Pullover by Hana Jason: http://shop.interweave.com/store/Gathered-Pullover-P325C40.aspx?AFID=12
I love this jumper, it only used 5 balls of ‘Rowan Felted Tweed’ in shade ‘Bilberry’. It was knitted on a circular needle and I used two circular to make up the sleeves – this meant very few seams to sew up when finishing! Its a very warm jumper thanks to the lovely felted tweed yarn. I made the medium size (36 I think) but on reflection i should have made a smaller size as I’ve lost weight and it turned out larger than I anticipated – having said that it is very fitted.
I’ve still got some felted tweed left which I think will make a nice tank top (or ’sweater-vest’ of you are American!) And maybe another beret….. no, I don’t need another beret!
Winter Beret October 31, 2008
Just to prove I’ve got my knitting mojo back, here is my latest WIP finished in two evenings. Its my Autumn beret in Wendy Fusion yarn, the pattern is the beret from Twilleys Freedom Spirit 455 book. I’ve made this pattern before and loved it and I’d planned to use this yarn for a beret for ages. I’ve got a matching scarf I’ve made in this yarn so I’m sure I will be wearing both all winter! I do love this pattern as it fits really well, love the colours too.
I’m having a few issues with uploading pictures to WordPress today, I can’t seem to upload them to the right size! Hopefully this post will work.
Tomorrow I’ve really got to do some school work…. and I confess, I’ve just cast on that gorgeous alpaca yarn I got in my Christmas swap parecl for another beret! so I might have to work on that too. Its good to be knitting again!
