Another (miserable) Bank Holiday

I suppose we're lucky (?) that our lads at rising-14yrs and 16yrs will still come out with us for the day! (without too much of a fuss, I mean! although no.2.son can be a bit picky, they generally like tramping about the mud and hills and we had planned to walk over the Malvern Hills, but as the weather wasn't brilliant we decided to stay home and pop out after lunch to the Lickey Hills which is considerably more local!

Bluebells in the little wooded area, we had to stick to the main bridlepaths as it was considerably wet and muddy and I didn't fancy the job of cleaning trainers!
no.1.son sprinted all the way to the top of this steep hill (below) (you might be able to make out a tiny speck of a person?) and then ran all the way back down at frightening speed! oh to be young and fit again!




When I was the lads' age I used to ride all over the Lickeys with my step sister, Ruth, and my Late Mother it was one of our favourite rides and very popular at the time with the other people we used to regularly meet up with while out riding. You don't see anyone out now on ponies/horses these days, and its changed quite a bit over the years.
My no.2.stepfather, Graham, arranged for a tree to be planted in one of the woods for my Late Mother and we also scattered her ashes here too.

no.2.sock is OTN's at last!

I had almost forgotten about this pattern! such was my excitement at knitting the two socks on 2x circs (still on the go! another hospital appt this week ought to see the foot finished, and another appt next week out to see my toes shaped!)
Cast on over the bank holiday weekend and am loving this very easy to knit pattern!
Ann Budd - Seduction Sock - free from Knitting Daily ages ago!!

My shoulder is behaving itself and I'm taking advantage by knitting like mad while I still have the effects of the recent injection as I don't know how long it will last!!

Vintage Style Cardigan - Debbie Bliss

NOT terribly exciting! nor inspiring! I agree!
Cast on and started "Vintage Style Cardigan" around the Bank Holiday weekend I have hopes for this to be a nice knit!
13 skeins of Debbie Bliss Pure Silk, shade 27008, purchased for half price in a sale a year or so ago.
Three projects caught my eye from the Debbie Bliss Pure Silk Collection book but I decided on this one as a practical addition to my wardrobe which is now mostly empty! due to losing loads of weight and throwing out most of said wardrobe.
Nice yarn to knit with, it twists a bit and then goes all slubby and thick but just feels soooo nice!!

ha! a FINISHED project! (at last!)

At LAST! a finished knitted project!
"Amaya" knitted in Rowan Bamboo.
I shall wear this. (but won't particularly enjoy it!) ok. its just a bit shapeless! and it bags and sags somewhat! but it is a nice knitted garment - casual! in style and rather loose fitting and I'm certain it is growing - sagging and bagging AS I wear it!
I keep having this awful thought, that it might end up by my knees if I were to wear it out! gulp! (or! worse! that it might unravel and I might look down and find myself standing in a puddle of bamboo!)

OK. I've got it out of my system!
I've knitted two bamboo garments now and not had my expectations met never mind exceeded by either BUT this only cost me a few ££'s as it was a tremendous bargain and it was nice to knit up - and very quick and easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!

"Amaya" - newest knitty project OTN's

Sometime last year I had a terrific bargain of some 12 balls of Rowan Bamboo Tape, shade 703/Chalk, now discontinued, for practically a few ££'s only! in a fabulous buy it now its got to GO sale.
I wouldn't have purchased this at full price having been slightly disappointed in my previous project using Sirdar's Just Bamboo but couldn't resist a bargain which included the book "The Bamboo Tape Collection" at less than half price as well, and I started a project in the summer while on holiday which has been ripped off the needles and this time I am knitting "Amaya" by Marie Wallin instead!


I've actually knit up to and started on the back shaping for armholes (big needles! yay!) and did have a few doubts as to sizing and nearly ripped it back to start again but double checking my stitch count I am hoping my measurements are ok as my tension is spot on using size 5.5mm needles.

After my previous experience with a bamboo project which ended up very oversized I was careful to swatch in sizes 4.5mm and 5.5mm needles and I promise I did flatten and pin the squares before measuring my stitch and row counts!!

I've paid a bit for the knitting with a rather painful shoulder this week but I am resolved to ignore the pain and knit-on regardless since it doesn't seem to matter what I do - I get the pain anyway!!
I did mention it to the PT'ist who didn't seem terribly interested (beyond : well don't knit then! - cough ..) And I may well give in and agree to have another injection next week when I visit the GP to frighten him further with updates on both my shoulder and my stomach issues.

The socks are coming along nicely on my rather cheap and nasty circulars, two more hospital appointments in the coming weeks ought to see them nearing completion and I will definitely buy myself some decent needles for future sock projects!

"Martha" is finished

"Martha" is finished! just before the Easter weekend and I wore this out about twice with a tee shirt and a cami and trousers. I'm pleased with this cardigan, the only amendment I made was to add 2" to the cap sleeves which suits me rather better I think!
I would knit this again and would definitely knit with the felted tweed again too!
super pattern, super to knit and super cardigan!

Some sewing! (sort of) customising tees!

I need to take some more photo's really but losing the momentum slightly! Above is one of the t.shirts I decided to customise just before sewing 3xhooks'n'eyes to fasten at the front "cardigan style".

Here you can see that applying the trim to the centre fronts just didn't really do anything to enhance this tee shirt.

Two tee shirts bought in dh's works sample sale for .50p each, 2 sizes too large and an unsuitable for my shape neckline, I was going to just take to charity shop but after feeling inspired to have a go at customising them after reading an article in Sewing World magazine (my last copy as a subscriber!) I've managed to make them slightly more wearable.
I've sewn mini darts in the 2nd, and will take pics and upload (maybe!) ..