Getting ready...

Hello everyone! After the weather we have had here in the last week or so, I'm sure you will all agree that Autumn is on the way!

I've been getting ready. I love Autumn. Love it. It's truly my favourite season. I love seeing the leaves decorating the ground, hearing them crunch under foot, seeing the misty sunrises and sunsets, the darkness slowly closing in. I love wrapping up in boots, woolly hats, scarf and gloves and going to rambles in the park or across the fields. Yes, all my likes about Autumn are very cliched, I know, but they're true all the same. I guess there's a reason why these things become cliches!

I always seem to churn out a series of scarves every Autumn/Winter. This year will be no exception! I've already finished one cowl (sadly have not had a chance to photograph and share it with you yet!). However, I thought I would try and mix it up a little this year by knitting some hats too!

I've already completed one in grey - this lovely design is called Pasha, and can be found  here.

The hat is finished, but sadly I only have 'in progress' pictures for you today - another thing I need to photograph in it's complete form!


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S and I made our quarterly pilgrimage to Bristol to see his folks last weekend. I've grown to love Bristol over the years, particularly the lovely area known as Clifton. It has an arty, crafty village-y vibe to it. I though I'd share some of the love with you by sharing some snaps. Yup, some of them are a bit random - my journey of learning how to take better photographs always seems to see me veering into still life territory by taking shots of things like vegetable stalls and flower shops! As evidenced by the pictures from Borough Market that I shared last month.

There are so many great independent retailers in Clifton - the one in the shot below is called Sky and sells a mix of gift items, cards and stationary and prints - I love browsing there.

If only I lived near enough I would make sure I was a regular customer for all these little shops to help make sure they survive. I think it's so important to support these smaller stores, and I really hate clone-town high streets that have only the same big name stores on them.

Before I go, I just want to say thanks to all of you who commented on my (nearly) finished throw in my last post - I don't think I've ever had a post receive so many lovely comments so quickly before!

Stay snug everyone!

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Slowly getting back to normal

It feels like life is slowly settling down again this week (though perhaps I shouldn't speak too soon!). Problems seem to be resolving themselves one by one - I hope it lasts! Thank you so much to the people who commented on my last post - it's nice to see that some of you feel the same sometimes.

I had some time today to play with my new camera - I'm still figuring out all the settings!

I loved photographing these - I think they are Gerberas? I always gravitate towards them at my local supermarket - love the colours.

I also remembered to photograph one of my recent completed projects - a shawl!

Sorry the photos don't give much idea of what the shawl is like - I don't have anyone to photograph me actually wearing it! It's the Cameo shawl - you can find the pattern here.

I feel good that I have managed to finish something. I really must be more disciplined about my makes...I just get frustrated with all the half finished projects lying around...it doesn't make me feel any better!

Projects

I have too many projects on the go again. I think I've gotten a little carried away with my stash busting project!

Two of them are knitting. The one above is something I am attempting to make using some of the yarn I won in the Mrs Moon prize draw in December. It's Louisa Harding Mila yarn, and as soon as I opened the parcel and saw it, I though "summer sweater". However, I haven't been able to find a pattern anything like what I had in mind. So, I've decided to take the plunge and try making something for myself from scratch! It will only be something simple, with no waist shaping and dolman style sleeves. I really hope it works out!

The other project is a shawl, which is from a pattern found on Ravelry. It's stripey, and I'm knitting it with some luxury yarn bought from Loop last month! I do love to knit something stripey.

I've been doing a lot of de-cluttering and organising of my storage space (which has made me face up to the amount of yarn I have - eep). I've also been inspired to put more of my crochet work on display around the flat, including my hexagon throw, which is now back on my sofa after having been in a cupboard for a few months. I love seeing the neat shapes tesselating together!

Right, must get back to knitting now. S and I have booked a lovely holiday to Cornwall coming up in less then 2 weeks now, and I am hoping to have my sweater finished by then, so I can fulfil the vision I had of myself strolling down the beach wearing it!

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Adventures

Hello everyone, how are you? I hope you are doing well! We have been enjoying some lovely weather here in the UK - today we had 18 degrees C - in March! I hope it continues!

Well, I've been very busy over the last week or two, that's why I haven't been able to stop by here for a while. But, I'm back now, and have a few things to share.

Nature really has been bursting back into life here. There are flowers everywhere, it's lovely. These crocus are growing on the green at the top of the high street near may patch.

I took these blossoms in Greenwich Park in London yesterday. I know to a lot of people, daffodils say spring, but for me it's cherry blossom. Nothing screams spring as loudly as the sight of gorgeous fluffy cherry blossoms showing pink and white against a blue sky.

Having said that, I do love daffodils too - I associate them more with Easter than with spring in general - not sure why.

Last weekend I finished my song of the sea cowl. This was the first project I started after trawling Ravelry and Pinterest for knitted shawl patterns. I really enjoyed knitting it, though I did find the smaller waves in the pattern a little fiddly.

 You can find the pattern here.

Hope you've all had a great weekend. See you again soon.

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Going Loop-y

Hello again all, I'm back after another longer than intended absence. I think I have to accept that at the moment I can only be a semi-regular blogger!

I've just spent the last couple of weeks trying to establish my new routine as a person living alone, and basically starting to enjoy having my own space.

I've baked (cupcakes) and spent a bit of time poring over recipe books in bookshops - no purchases yet, but I've been working out what I want to buy.

I've started a couple of new knitting projects (I just couldn't help myself) including this one, which is a moss stitch scarf. I question the wisdom of my yarn choice for this, but something compelled me to it. It's fingering weight yarn - Madeleine Tosh to be exact in shade Briar. I had two skeins in my stash that were crying out to be used, and somehow I felt it had to be a moss stitch scarf. Knitting this on 2.75 mm needles is going to take me forever, but I think I might manage it. Everytime I think of all the thousands of stitches I still have to work, I look down at the fabric I'm creating and know it will be worth it, no matter how long it takes! What can I say, it's a purple-moss stitch-4 ply love affair!

I've also been poring over my stash and day dreaming of possibilities. Below is the moss stitch scarf I'm already working on with several skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas Silk. Do you know the joy-mingled-with-frustration of having such a gorgeous yarn that you are at once desperate to make something with it, but also feel that no possible project will ever do it justice?! There should be a term for this!

More yarn - sigh!

Last time I asked you for suggestions for shawl patterns. Thanks to those of you who made comments and suggestions. Several people suggested Ravelry, and I now have a few patterns lined up. The first project I have, which I've already started, is not a shawl but the Song of the Sea cowl. I just couldn't resist the art-deco waves! More on that next time though.

With all the excitement over the patterns I found on Ravely, I felt I have to buy some new yarn (yes I know, as you can see from the shots above, there is plenty of yarn already in my stash!).

So, on Saturday I made a visit to London's Loop, one of my all time fave independent yarn shops. If you ever get the chance, go! It is utter heaven! I spent a bliss-full 30 minutes caressing various skeins (S and I were heading to the cinema, so I was on a short time frame - probably just as well, or who knows how much yarn I would have ended up buying!). The long suffering S was forced to lurk outside (along side other slightly bored looking males, presumably associated with the other ladies that were also floating around the shop on clouds of yarn induced happiness!) while I indulged my yarn habit, but he's always very patient about these things!

Eventually I choose some skeins of pure superwash wool, Eden Cottage dk, in shades of green and silver-grey. I've already started on my cowl, photos next time!

That's all for now!

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This week

This week has been so windy and wild and wet. It's been all about trying to stay warm and keep the spirits up. Luckily for me my are isn't near any rivers so we haven't experienced any flooding. 

I've been cosying up on the sofa with knitting, hot water bottles and lots of cups of tea!

One of the hyacinths is now blooming- the white one.  The pink is lagging behind rather and is still refusing to come out and say hello.  Well maybe this will be the week.

I've spent a lot of the last few weeks, when I've had craft time, browsing for a knitted shawl pattern. I'd really like to knit a triangular shawl, but I need something simple to start with. Does anyone have any ideas?  

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Waiting and wishing for spring...

...with roses

......bright yarn

 

....cosy moss stitch...

..............and crochet!