A Small Step Forward (Again)

At last, I have finished a sock, almost to my satisfaction. Anyway, without further ado, here it is:

Here is a close up of the lovely yarn

I am really pleased with the yarn. It is from shop stock and is the exclusive Jacky by Easyknits. Jon dyed this particularly for Great British Yarns and I think it works really well. It is very hard wearing yarn and doesn't seemed to have suffered from constant knitting and frogging. In fact, I was impressed that it didn't split at all.
I am now so encouraged by my progress that I am going off to start another project. Not socks.

A Backward Leap

What is it about knitting socks? I have tried and tried to enjoy it, but cannot seem to get it right. For the second time, I have reached the shaping for the toe and then realised that either the pattern is dreadful (version 1) or that I have made it for a giant (version 2). So, back to square 1 (or 3). Hopefully a photo later this week of a completed and rather lovely sock!

A Backward Step

I said in the last post that I hoped to show you a picture of the half a sock I've been working on. Well, I was showing husband yesterday and he said he didn't like the pattern. I didn't like the pattern either but had been desperately hoping it was just me. Apparently it wasn't. So, my sock tally now stands at 1 completed sock, 3 to go. Still, the rate this is going the two pairs of socks will also take care of friend's 51st birthday as well.

Huge Progress on the Sock Front

Ha, thought this would get your attention, but sadly is it not wholly true. I have finished one sock for my friend's 50th birthday, which, by the way, is today. Here is the proof:

It's better in the flesh, so to speak as it looks as though there are snags going up the leg of the sock, which I think are just shadows. The pattern was a Charlene Schurch, I'm amazed at how these work if you just follow the instructions accurately. The yarn is UK Alpaca Moss Green Sock Yarn, snaffled from shop stock. It is really nice to knit with, but feels a little oiled - I am sure this will come out in the wash and get softer and softer as it is washed and worn.
I have started another sock in the Easyknits Jacky and hope to show you this later in the week. So, one down, two and a half to go.

10,000 Steps

We do try to walk 10,000 steps each day in order to lose some weight and generally get a bit fitter. Today, it was a fairly easy task as the weather was so lovely. In fact, we not only had a long walk with the dogs in the afternoon, but went out again after tea. Here is Rex looking impatient to get on with it.

We are very fortunate in that we have lovely walks on our doorstep and this evening we went to Berry Head Country Park and walked through the woods to the cliff top. On our way through the woods we spotted these wild cyclamen.

Lovely aren't they?

Old Maiden Aunt

I have just added some Old Maiden Aunt hat kits and handspun yarn to the shop. This yarn really is wonderful. Handspun and handdyed by Lilith in Scotland, it is supersoft and has a real depth of colour. The hat kits are great and each contains three charms which relate to the theme of the yarn. You are not just buying a hat kit here, you are buying a piece of art!

Just in case you need further persuasion, here is a photo of the handspun skeins.

One Down, Two New .....

I have now finished daughter Lucy's new jacket. Picture shows her modelling the garment. Unfortunately she was having a bad hair day and didn't want her full photo shown. Looks good, though doesn't it?

It was quite enjoyable to knit, although did get a bit tedious, especially when a good bit came on the tv and I forgot to change the knit, purl in the basketweave pattern. There is shaping at the waist on this and it does make it sit nicely. As mentioned in an earlier post, this was made in Sirdar pure cotton, not pleasant. The yarn splits endlessly and I thought it was poor quality for the money.

By the way, you might want to know why I am using yarn that I am not selling in the shop........ Well, the answer to that is that I am trying to destash. This may take several years as I am as equally enthusiastic about buying as I am about knitting (more probably).

I am, however, using some shop stock for some socks I am making for a friend's 50th birthday. A keen walker, it seemed a good idea to knit him two pairs of socks using the lovely UK Alpaca Sock yarn in moss green, and a pair in Easyknits Jacky. This was several weeks ago. Unfortunately we have been very busy lately, starting the shop, visiting elderly relatives, having parents and children to stay and trying to get out and walk, plus, of course, finishing the above jacket. All in all, I have knitted almost one sock , and frogged the same. His birthday is 8 April and the parcel needs to be with him by the 4th. Chances? On a postcard please.......