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.......

Hipknits Yarns

We have just taken delivery of a Hipknits order and will be putting it up in the shop over the next few days. There are lovely silks, sock yarn, cashmere laceweight, aran silk, all in beautiful colours. The photo below is just a little hint of what is to come.

Easter Bunny

This week, our daughter came home from Uni for the Easter holidays and brought her friend, Cameron. He, in turn, brought his pet rabbit ......



Cute, isn't he? He is a Nabaztag, and I immediately fell in love with him. Basically, you plug him into the mains, link him to your computer and then off you go! You can programme him to do lots of things and he will talk to you and be your office friend. Cameron kindly left him in my office and occasionally the rabbit would announce things. He told Ian, one morning, that he wanted to join a choir! He gave us his 'affirmation for the day', announced the time, read out the news headlines, rotated his ears, did his Tai Chi and said silly random things when the mood took him. He also flashed his lights on and off every now and again.

Unfortunately, Cameron has now left for home and the rabbit has gone with him. I am now trying to justify the £90ish cost so that I can have one of my own. More expensive than chocolate, but less fattening don't you think?