A hat and a bracelet

 I finally finished the hat I started knitting before Christmas. Not before time as I needed to wear it today as it has been cold and windy. Thankfully we have not had much snow here. I think the snow is lovely to look at but not really to go out in, especially if you need to drive.

This year I decided I would like to keep my One Little Word visible throughout the year. I managed to find this bracelet with my word BELIEVE on it on ebay, so I just had to order it. I think it is lovely.

Some finished knitting

As promised here are my latest finished knitting projects.

The first one is done in Jamiesons Shetland Heather Aran and is a pattern by Debbie Bliss.

This one is done in Rowan Summer Tweed

A spending spree

Oh dear I seem to have gone on a bit of a spending spree and added to my wool stash. Fyberspates is changing from an independent dyer to concentrating on her wholesale line, so I really had to buy some of her lovely wool to add to my stash (which I will get round to knitting - eventually)

Araucanio

Rural Charm 4ply

Twizzle Silk 4ply

 Vivacious DK

Not sure what this one is - it was a lucky dip hank.

 Elegance Lace

Oh and before I went on holiday I just had to visit John Lewis sale and got some Rowan Summer Tweed

but I have actually started knitting with the green one!

Fun

This page is for my Attitude of Gratitude Journal run by Bernice. The theme was Fun and it certainly was fun to do this technique. First you put a thick layer of Gesso over the page, then heat it with a heat gun until it bubbles, then you can add more gesso and repeat the process. I then used chalks to add colour and also some spray mists. I really enjoyed this technique.

I have finally blocked this shawl I made many months ago. It is knitted in Noro sock wool and I loved watching the colours change.

I am feeling better, although still tire easily. I have started at Cardio Rehab which is good and tomorrow I start back at work.

A new hat

As I don't think we are quite finished with the cold weather yet I have knitted myself a new hat. This slouchy beanie hat was knitted in Rico Creative Galaxy Chunky wool. This wool is lovely and soft and has some sequins through it for a bit of glitter. Quite pleased with it.

Wool-tastic

On Sunday afternoon my sister, mum and I visited the National Museum here in Edinburgh to see the Wool-tastic event that was advertised. I had expected something bigger, it was really just some people sitting around knitting, but there was this knitted tree and we got to try finger knitting.

I don't think finger knitting is something I will get into in a big way but it was fun to try it. I am not sure what you would do with what was knitted.

A weekend away

Every weekend at the moment seems to have something going on. Last weekend I met up with my friend, Pauline from Aberdeen. We stayed at The Murraypark Hotel, Crieff - it was lovely. Good food, nice surroundings and good company.

On the Saturday we visited Karelia House Crafts. A real treasure house of different crafting materials - knitting, quilting, felting, stamping, scrapbooking. They also do yummy cakes and scones. So of course I just had to buy a little bit wool - well it would have been rude not to!!

I got a hank of a lace weight wool, 70%alpaca/20%silk/10%cashmere. It feels lovely and soft. What am I going to knit - well I have not actually decided that yet!!

This weekend is also busy - a certain son has a certain birthday - photos will be posted next week.

Brrr it's cold

Well the weather has turned decidedly chilly in February, although we have not had any of the snow that other parts of the country have had. So I thought I had better knit myself a hat (just in case). I also knitted a cowl to keep my neck warm, the cowl still needs to be blocked I think. I used New Lanark Double Knitting.

The February ATC challenge was to use some fibre of some sort - so I used some of my fibres to make a needle felted heart. I do like needle felting so must try and do some more. Have never yet tried wet felting but you never know...

Some Christmas Gifts and Knitted Socks

I thought I would share with you some of the presents I got for Christmas. Both husband and eldest son got a Kindle in the summer last year and have really liked it - so I fancied getting one too. So far I think it is great and have downloaded lots of free books! Now to find the time to actually read them!

My sister knitted this lovely  scarf for me.

I am going to be busy knitting something with this lovely coloured Noro wool.

I also got a set of Promarker pens which I am keen to try out.

Over the holidays I managed to finish this pair of socks for myself, knitted with some sock wool bought in Germany.

\i

Fingerless Gloves

Well the carpet is down and I have almost got all the furniture back in. Also have a large pile of books which will be going to the charity shops so the bookshelves look much tidier now! Am thinking of getting a Kindle for Christmas, husband got one for his birthday - this might help the place be a little less cluttered with books - as we hate to get rid of books!

No pages done yet for my Gratitude journal - but I have been creative. I knitted a pair of fingerless gloves using Patons Linen Touch cotton. They were really quick and easy to do.

A finished project

I have finally finished knitting this jacket for myself - well actually it has been finished for some time except for the button - which my sister kindly sewed on for me when she was down recently. It is knitted in Rowan Cotton Jean wool and the pattern is Lynton from Rowans Coast book. I am pleased with it although perhaps should have knitted it a little longer.

Holiday Knitting

While I was away last week I managed to start and finish knitting this scarf. It is a simple pattern but rather effective  I think. Pattern is The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief found on Ravelry. I used almost 3 balls of Rowan handknit cotton.

The other news today is that John got his Higher results and is very pleased with 4 As and 1 B. He now needs to decide what courses and at what universities he would like to apply for.

My first socks!

I have finally finished knitting my first pair of socks! I started them during the summer holidays last year and finally finished them last week. The wool is a lovely soft sock wool from Fyberspates. My toes are now lovely and warm.

I have a confession to make - I have absolutely no willpower! Despite telling myself that I would not sign up to Shimelle's new class 'Something from almost nothing' I have went and gone and signed up for it. It really is the fault of friends blogs that started saying how good the first prompt was - I just had to go and sign up. Don't like missing out on something. At least I know I have plenty of stash for it and don't need to buy anything, expect perhaps........

Hats

Yesterday at Church we had a 'Hats for Haiti' day, where everyone was to come along wearing a hat and asked to donate some money for relief work in Haiti. Eldest son decided that he like wearing this hat and would just wear it all day. He thinks he looks like Indiana Jones!!

I did not get to Church yesterday as I have a sore throat at the moment, but I do have a hat to show you. I have just finished knitting this hat and scarf set, done in Patons Diploma Gold DK, which is a lovely soft wool.

What to knit next I wonder?

Just in time!

I have finally finished knitting this jacket with Jaegar Natural Fleece! The first one I tried I ripped out as I didn't like it, but this one is OK.

I finished it in time to wear it today under my jacket for a walk along the beach. The weather was cold, but nice. Unfortunately it wasn't windy  enough for the boys to fly kites so we just walked!!!

Some photos from our walk.

Andrew likes to collect stones and shells from the beach, but we managed to convince him that this one was too big to take home.

After our walk we went to the local tearoom for tea and scones which were yummy!

Facecloths

Mum and I have been teasing Andrew for the last couple of weeks about what we were going to knit for his birthday. Suggestions ranged from hats, gloves, scarves and socks to the more silly - trousers and shorts. And of course we were going to knit them in pink. So we decided we should actually knit him something - we decided on these facecloths (a change from dishcloths!). They both have HP on them for Harry Potter and a golden snitch!

Then of course we had to take a photo of him actually using one - washing his face is not one of Andrews favourite pastimes!

Cotton Top

Before I packed it to go away next week I thought I would take a photo of this cotton top that I knitted. It is knitted in Sirdar Calico Cotton. Hopefully the sunny weather will return so that I can wear it.

A start

Well we made a start on the garden today. Gordon cut the back grass and I started cutting back some bushes and trees, they seem to grow so quickly. We have a big garden but it is full of trees and bushes which are all overgrown, so we are trying to tame it a bit. At least we have made a start.

I have also knitted another dishcloth, this time with some Peaches & Creme cotton.

I have also signed up to Facebook and Ravelry, which is a knitting/crochet forum. I will have to be quite strict with myself and not spend all day on the computer, as I think I could get rather addicted!!

Good News...and Bad News!

Yesterday was a day of mixed news - good and bad!
First the good. I had an appointment at the Voice Clinic, as I have been troubled with my voice for the past two or three years, thankfully there is nothing wrong with the vocal chords. I have to go back to see the speech therapist for a session on voice care.

Then the bad. I came home to discover my washing machine had flooded the kitchen! Mum had had to clean it all up. The machine is 9 year old so I suspect it is time to replace it - not what I really wanted to do at the moment.

I have knitted another dishcloth, this time a diagonal ripple one, I rather like this one.