Didn't we have a lovely time...........

Isn't this what summer is all about?

The longest sock I've ever knit

All 5kms of it! Well I suppose, strictly speaking, the sock isn't 5km but that's how far I walked with my Gourock SnB friends whilst knitting at today's Race For Life.


I had to learn Magic Loop (thanks Kimberly for the last minute lesson) so that I could walk without the fear of dropping my DPNs. Turns out I really like Magic Loop and it's so fast too, well it has been so far on this vanilla sock at least. I'm using Meilenweit Mega Boots which is knitting up really nicely. I haven't done a plain sock since I first learnt to knit socks and strangely I am really loving this sock.

The day was great fun including the warm up aerobics complete with knitting, thanks to the nice man who held on to me as I almost fell (I didn't want to let go of the knitting you see).


This is where Kimberley dropped a stitch whilst negotiating a particularly tricky aerobics step!


We were really lucky with the weather which was bright and dry without being too hot, though the ground around Eglinton Country Park was still pretty muddy in parts. There were only a few casualties (dropped stitches) and we finished the course still knitting. (Kimberly, Rhona and I brought up the rear, Marion had Pete the dog and he wasn't hanging around for us and Mhairi had been told she had to win the race by her youngest son so she had to make it over the line before us!)


I managed to raise £185 against my target of £100 so I am very grateful to everyone who sponsored me. Perhaps by next year we'll be able to run whilst knitting! I wonder how much you would all sponsor us for that?From left: Rhona, me, Kimberly, Marion, Mhairi

On to more sedentary knitting. I completed a pinwheel pram blanket for Paul's cousin's baby when it comes. I'm pleased with the way it turned out and will definitely do it again. It's knitted with Adriafil Ice Cream which is 80% wool but so soft and snuggly.


I finally blocked Paul's Flaming Filey and finished it, he likes it so that's a good sign. Maybe he will even wear it.


My whirlpool socks are destined to be frogged the swirl pattern is pulling too tight and I don't like the way the beads sit. You can see what I mean! The yarn is far too lovely (Cherry Tree Hill) to be used on socks that I won't wear.


The sock started on RFL is now finished and I have started on its partner.

I have also finished knitting a square for Sandy's Stitches on The Bridge panel, but had to frog it twice to get the proportions right. It should only have taken an hour but actually took three! (Sorry no photo before I passed it on to Mhairi for her square).

Finally I have made a little more progress on my Unicorn scarf but I think I already mentioned the yarn just seems to go on forever so this could turn into a scarf Dr Who could be proud of.

Just look what the cat dragged in.......

Friday night at about 10p.m. Bitsy (the cat) skulked in clearly having been up to mischief. On closer investigation we saw something in his mouth, flapping its wings. We gave chase and as he dropped his little victim and it flew through the house we realised it was a pipistrel bat! This isn't the first time he has caught a bat but it is the first time one has survived.

We managed to trap it under a pan and found the Bat Lady on the internet. She gave us advice on how to put the poor wee thing into a box with a roost and some water. The next day we took him over to Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust. I've never been there before but what a fantastic place it is. It's set in 20 acres of land in Beith and is entirely funded by public donations. They will give him antibiotics and then contact us when he has recovered to release him back here where he belongs.

Here he is:


On to knitting. My unmatched pair of socks is finished and I am not hurrying to knit their partners as I'm happy to wear them as they are.


I started my May socks which are the Whirlpool Socks from Knitting socks with Handpainted Yarn. I really don't like the way they suggest incorporating the bead so after three repeats of the pattern I have changed to a more straightforward technique. The finish is much better but I am worried that the spiral pattern and small needles (2.25mm) are resulting in a tight fit. I need to put the sock onto a circular needle to check whether it fits. Frankly if it doesn't I am happy to frog it as I'm not feeling the love for it yet!

Maisy turned 5 on May 1st and despite us all having been laid low by a bug, we had a really lovely party attended by 20 of her wee pals. She was totally spoiled and received some quite fabulous gifts.


My Unicorn scarf is coming along nicely and is about 3ft long with no signs of an end to the yarn. The yardage is 400m but it feels like more. I love the feel of this yarn so soft and always slightly cool to the touch. The objective of the Unicorn club is to guess the composition of the yarn aided by a series of clues over the next 9 months. I'm thinking Angora or Alpaca with secell or silk. I think I need to get a few more clues before I make my mind up. The scarf is knit with my April Unicorn and I have now received my May Unicorn. Sadly I can't remember the name of the colourway but it is a subtle combination of pinks, reds and oranges.

I have had lovely news this week too, one of Paul's cousins had attended the fertility clinic to begin a course of IVF only to be told she couldn't have the treatment as she was pregnant! So I am now knitting for this special baby as well as another due in July to another of Paul's cousins.

I really need to get quicker at knitting as I have so many things I want to do! My poor spinning wheel is not seeing much action these days.

Jetlagged knitting!

It's hard to believe we have been back from Florida for over a week, apart from the fact that I still feel jet lagged, it seems to have been over so quickly. We had a fabulous time in a beautiful villa away from the tourist area but close enough to be easy to get to. We walked our legs down to stumps, shopped till we dropped and relaxed and swam in our lovely hot pool every day. This is where we stayed, the villas are surrounded by the golf course (golfers would love it, shame none of us actually play).

We aren't going back next year (this was our 3rd time in a row) but we will definitely be going back before too long.

A couple of things cheered me up on our return (apart from the fact that we left the day a tornado arrived). It was lovely warm weather which meant I could get out in the garden and get everything back in shape. We have plans for some hard landscaping so it was great to be able to do the plans actually outside instead of from the window!

Also my first order of Unicorn yarn arrived. It is so soft, just stunning. I decided to knit the Crest of The Wave Scarf with it and it's co-operating beautifully.


Flaming Filey is now finished and just needs blocking and finishing. I hope Paul likes it and it gets worn as it's been a bit of a labour of love (and it doesn't even have sleeves!)

You may have noticed that a little knitting took place on holiday though the heat and tiredness did limit how much I achieved. I knit one ankle sock in the June Apple Pattern from Yarn Forward and am 2/3rds of the way through a different ankle sock Inspiral Socks, also from Yarn Forward. The idea is that I will get round to knitting the partner socks but this way I won't get bored with one pattern.


Before we went away I held my Earth Hour Party, and thanks to all who came along, it was great fun. It was lovely when all the lights and music went off, much more atmospheric. I think I'll be turning the lights off more often (though not perhaps when I am knitting!).

I have now also booked accommodation in London for the Iknit Weekender in September. I got up at 6 a.m. on Thursday and managed to bag two nights for three of us at the Travelodge in Southwark for just £39 in total. Not bad! I am really looking forward to the weekend as much for the company as the workshops, yarn and fibre.

You'll see here that I have exceeded my target for Race for Life so thank you to everyone who kindly donated, Iguess that means there's no backing out now. I am planning to knit my way round the course so it could take twice as long! To anyone else reading this please don't be put off donating just because I have hit my personal target, the more the better!

Finally the applications for One & Other opened this week, I have applied and if successful plan to spin on the plinth for my hour. There are 207 places available for Scotland so do apply, there's a good chance you'll be picked! You can click on the link to find out more.

Knitting in the sun!

I am making small progress on my ankle socks but it's not easy knitting in the heat you know!

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

And we don't want to be dull do we?

Just a few snaps from yesterday!

It is not Spring until you can plant your foot on twelve daisies. (1863)

It is officially Spring in my garden! But how much better it looks now even when it returns to wet and windy weather.

Spring usually calls for a bit of a clear out and the start of new things, well that's my excuse for not finishing a few projects and starting on a new one!

Having been enabled to buy some fabulous Jamie Possum 4 ply at the Creative Stitches show in Glasgow recently, I just had to cast on. I started a pattern of my own making based on the Fibonacci principle but having got as far as the toe I fell spectacularly and unexpectedly out of love with them. I had no option but to frog as the yarn is far too lovely to be spent on unworn socks. As an alternative I found a free pattern on Ravelry called Midnight Waves,

I have almost completed the first sock with a few modifications of course. I am much happier with them now and am still feeling no inclination to get back to Filey. (Paul's vest top from Rowan 45).There is something about big garments that makes them much easier to cast aside when new yarn is calling.

The Gourock Stitch n Bitch volunteered as in previous years to help out at the Learn to Knit stand at the show in Glasgow. I went along on the Sunday but due to a change in the running of the stand I had only a very little time to peruse the stalls myself. I still managed to acquire the aforementioned Jamie Possum and two very large hanks of New Lanark DK. It was great to meet so many people wanting to learn to knit and I had so much fun chatting as I taught. It was a shame the stand wasn't quite as convivial as usual but who knows next year may be different again.

Mhairi, Kimberly and myself have now booked our tickets for the IKnit weekender in September. This year the event is on both Friday and Saturday and we're looking forward to a long weekend of knitting and fibrey goodness.

With the recent warm and sunny weather we have been grabbing every opportunity to get out into the garden and get ahead of the game. Potatoes are planted,

greenhouse repaired after the windy weather smashed a few panels, water butt reinstated, seeds planted, shrubs all pruned, weeding done and deck pressure washed.

All with the able assistance of Maisy of course! Most of the soil seemed to end up in the house on her clothes and ultimately in my washing machine. Still you've got to get them interested young.

Talking of environmental things (nice link eh?) I am having a wee bash at the weekend to coincide with Earth Hour. We'll be drinking and eating in the dark when all the power goes off at 8.30 p.m. I'm hoping to see darkness descend over Gourock as everyone does their bit to save the planet. I'm also hoping for not too much spilled food and drink before the lights go back on!

You'll also notice that I am doing the Race for Life on May 17th along with Mhairi, Kimberly, Marion and Rhona. If you haven't got charity fatigue by then, please do sponsor me I've made it really easy just click the link. Thanks!

Sunday was Mother's Day and was such a lovely day for me. I was woken by Andrew with a lovely cup of tea and then showered with cards and gifts. I got beautiful chocolates Lindt and Green and Blacks, both my favourites, but they will have to wait until after my holidays as I'm crash dieting this week! Andrew also bought me a fabulous sheep called Nellie,

created by Toni Goffe. The story goes that he and his wife were out walking when she observed that the poor sheep in the nearby field looked cold without their fleeces. Toni immediately set to sketching designs for handknit wearing sheep. He then produced a series of sculpted sheep called Ewe and Me,with individually designed knitwear. Nellie is gorgeous her expression is so funny as she sports her matching fairisle jumper and bobble hat! I think she may be a blue faced leicester!

As the day lengthens so the cold strengthens (1631)

First things first, I have still only completed one of Paul's Valentine's socks!
But really it's not my fault, honestly it's not. I had left Rowan 45 on my office desk, as you do, and Paul had picked it up and found Filey (see the picture on the left, and yes he is rather handsome, the model that is!). Other than socks, Paul isn't a great fan of knitwear, hats are a definite no go and the only jumper I ever knit him is to be frogged, never worn. But he rather fancied Filey, (the top that is not the model!). So in a fit of extravagance I bought the yarn, the actual Rowan Summer Tweed yarn (70%silk, 30% cotton), in the actual colour, Reef, to knit the actual top. (Lana Pura, excellent value for money and ultra quick delivery if you really want to know). The back is now complete and looking very good, even if I say so myself, but the yarn, despite the price tag is quite horrible to knit with, it's sticky on the needles and feels papery and rough, but it does actually knit up beautifully. So there's my, rather long-winded, excuse for not yet finishing the valentine's socks, maybe by next year eh?

Still on socks, I received Socks a La Carte in the post. I really like the concept of this book, featuring flip pages you can mix and match the cuff, leg and heel and toe combination. Where the book lets itself down is in the photography and the poor choice of yarn. The socks are all featured in the same yarn a dark variegated pink colourway that does nothing to show the stitch definition/patterns. The socks are all photographed flat, not on blockers or even on a real leg so again the stitch definition/pattern is totally lost. It seems a pretty basic error to me and I am disappointed, I think had I seen the book in the flesh so to speak, before buying, I would not have gone ahead and bought it. So no recommendation from me on this one I'm afraid.

Funny old weather for the time of year! It's been really mild some days, the daffodils are coming out already, and then freezing the next few days. I have been able to get out into the greenhouse though and got the tomatoes, cucumbers, rocket, radish, onions, coriander, parsley, basil and chives all going! It was so good just to be out in the garden even if I was still indoors! It may snow tonight so I made sure the propagator was on and the little heater too. I really need to get the raspberries moved before it's too late and I have found a little cranberry bush to plant which I'm quite pleased about.

Finally if any of you are readers of the Greenock Telegraph, please vote for my daughter Rhona who will be appearing in the Teen Idol competition! She (and I) would be awfully grateful.

A short horse is soon curried (1350)

As I haven't posted much recently I though better a short post than none at all. So here we go:

• At last my Anna socks are finished, I love them in the Kramer Sterling so pretty when they catch the light, the photo can't do them justice.
• I knit some of my New Lanark handspun into a Doorstop, stuffed with uncarded fibre and loads of rice. It looks good and works well, not bad for a design made up as I went along. Think I may do some more as all our doors are sprung (fire prevention idea but a danger to little fingers!)
• I had conceived a great idea to knit Paul some lovely red socks (Rowan 4ply oft in Honk) for Valentine's day. Well it seemed like a great idea at the time but after frogging 4 designs, I settled on knitting a self made design. Sadly that come out big enough for an elephant, and I was left only enough time to knit one as the love of my life was working from home for 2 weeks so no covert knitting was possible. He did however appreciate the sentiment and all the witticisms of my SnB group, mainly relating to his having only one leg, or only having one sockful of love etc. I frogged the sock again and am re-knitting an entirely different pattern!
  
• As I couldn't knit the aforementioned socks at home I had to cast on something else to avoid suspicion from himself. So I began the Spring Leaves top in Simply Kitting 51, in Jaeger Mohair Art. It's coming on fine, so far I'm liking it, the mohair doesn't seem scratchy at all. It's knit in the round so, whilst it seems that little progress is being made, it is growing the front and back at the same time. I like knitting in the round....no seams!
  
• My lovely friend Gale has her computer set up at last in South Africa and has signed up on Facebook. If anyone else is on she is here oh and I'm here!
• I have also signed up on Twitter which is quite absorbing once you understand what on earth it's all about. I signed up really to follow Stephen Fry but have found other lovely people (fellow knitters) too. Here I am on Twitter.
• Did I show you my washcloths? Trying to use up some cotton that was lying around, if I already have, sorry but here they are again!
• I sorted through my entire stash! Some I passed on to mum (I'm an indian giver I hope she'll knit for MJ with it!). Some went to the charity shop, Ardgowan Hospice, who are happy to take ball ends and odd balls for charity knitting. Two lots are to go on ebay and the rest is for projects. It was oddly exciting to do as I found all sorts of yarn I had forgottem about and had lots of fun trying to work out what on earth I had bought it for.
• I had some lovely comments from MJ's ballet teacher today. I had knit her a Garter stitch Loop Through scarf for Christmas. She said she wore it constantly through the recent snowy weather and she and her friends had nicknamed it "Maisy's mummy's marvellous muffler", how nice does that sound?
  

Well for a short post that wasn't bad was it?

The best of friends must part. (1385)

Well my Anna socks remain unfinished, I have been sidetracked by spinning this week. I finished off all my Wensleydale and am now spinning some lovely cherry Alpaca which I am thinking of leaving as singles to make socks with. It will depend on how energised the yarn is when it comes off the bobbin.

Other news:

On Saturday one of my friends (a fellow knitter) Marion hosted a Burns supper in aid of the RNLI. What a fantastic night it was with a few kilts and some fabulous food including a delicious haggis. Allister, Marion's husband, addressed the haggis and later Marion recited, no she performed, Tam O' Shanter. It was the best rendition of it I have ever seen, she was amazing! We had such a good time we didn't leave until 2:00 a.m. and as we staggered up the hill (did I not mention the fine whisky I was plied with!) it was snowing!

On Tuesday Carrie, Matt and Abigail headed back to the USA for an extended holiday (conference for Matt). It seems they ran into a terrible ice storm and were caught up in New York for two days before finally making it home to Lexington. I hope the weather eases a bit for them so they can visit all their friends and family safely. Looking forward to seeing them back in March!

The week continued on a high note when my lovely friend Gale emailed to say that she had been granted citizenship and was to make a flying visit back from South Africa to attend her citizenship ceremony. She arrived late Tuesday and on Wednesday morning mum picked her up from her hotel so that she could come to our Wednesday morning knitting which she used to come to every week. It was so lovely, just like old times, then the two of us went off to the ceremony. Of course it's a very solemn and sombre event so it was just typical that we got a case of the giggles before it even started. Things were made worse when they played the National Anthem on a very old tape recorder with a very abrupt finish halfway through the final line!
But it was touching and poignant too and I am of course secretly (well it's not very secret putting it in a blog is it?!) hoping that it means Gale will come back some time soon to live here permanently.

Wednesday evening a group of us went out with Gale for a meal and it was really lovely to be all together again, it was as if she had never gone. We're all hoping that once her computer arrives from Scotland she will be Skyping and blogging so that we can all keep up with her news.

Thursday night was SnB at Flava, with the twelve of us and a packed cafe it was extremely hot and loud. All of the knitting on show was fabulous but Margaret's lace shawl was simply stunning, I really have to dig mine out again and put a bit more effort into it. I am too easily diverted and keep thinking of new projects for all my lovely new yarn.

It's nearly February now and so I need to think of which sock pattern I am going to move on to next, let's hope once I have chosen it I can get the time to knit it!

You cannot put an old head on young shoulders. (1591)

This week I mean this literally. Here is an excerpt from an email I received just yesterday.

Dear Karen,

I am a TV Producer from Endemol UK, I am looking for social groups from Scotland where the ladies are 60-70 to take part in a new charity show for ITV1.

Its called The Feelgood Factor and its being hosted by Eamon Holmes and Myleene Klass and its off the back of a government campaign called Change for Life – which is about getting the nation fit and healthy. We are doing a Pound for Pound pledge where groups from all over the UK are doing a sponsored slim for charity – where every Pound you lose, family members and friends donate a pound towards their chosen charity.

I saw the website with Stitch and Bitch and thought you might be able to help us.

Well, I'm afraid we had to turn down the offer of a TV appearance as we have only one member over 60! I'm not sure why the stereotypical image of knitters persists, especially in the media, I thought the 'Knitting Revolution' had become a wider spread phenomenon. Perhaps not!
I'm not really affronted it gave me a wee chuckle anyway.

Not that much knitting this week again, unfortunately dad has been rather poorly and was rushed into hospital last Thursday. After an emergency operation to remove his gall bladder and a hernia, he is now starting to make a recovery.

I am still working on my Anna knee highs, one down, one to go. I am still loving these socks and am desperate to get them finished so that I can wear them out. I'm not sure the photos do the sparkle justice, they really do twinkle in the light. I am also really keen to get at least one and maybe more new pairs cast on. I've got a real sock knitting thing going fuelled by some sale purchases of lovely sock yarns.

Paul has also got the sock thing, whilst in London he popped into iKnit and bought 2 skeins of yarn for socks for himself (not that he's knitting them you understand!). 1 skein of Malabrigo Merino and 1 Lang Jawoll Silk. Only the best for himself then?

I have also bought 1 skein of Opal handpainted, 1 ball of Meilenweit Mega Boots, 2 balls of Rowan 4ply soft in a colourway that I just loved the sound of "Honk". Oh and 7 balls of Kidsilk Haze also fell into the cart, don't know how that happened!

In a rush of guilt at having fallen so spectacularly off my yarn diet, I decided to use up some stash knitting a series of dish/wash cloths. The first came off the needles in little over an hour and is knit up in Sirdar Denim Cotton. I'll be tackling the Exfoliate Dalek pattern next which looks just fantastic.

One might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb (1662)

Having joined the Unicorn Quest this week (thanks Mhairi, you enabler you!) I proceeded to break my yarn diet. Answering a question correctly gave me a discount at either Natural Dye Studios or Fyberspates. Checking my answer on the NDS site a skein of Sweet Violet Merino/Bamboo 4 ply accidentally fell into my shopping cart. And it's here and it's beautiful. Having succumbed to one purchase I then proceeded to totally bust the diet by taking advantage of the 40% off (yes that's nearly half price) at Fankle Yarns. I can't even remember what I ordered now but I know it included 7 balls of Kidsilk Haze, I think the yarn sale "rush" has totally fuddled my brain.

I can justify (most of) my purchases as I have also signed up to the Pair a Month challenge here (Ravelry Group: The Great Sock Off of 2009). I like this group as you have total free rein of what yarn or pattern you want to use.

For the January socks, I finally finished my Vanilla Socks started at the end of November on my trip to London. I think they took so long as the pattern was quite dull, but I do like the look of the FO. The Kaffe Fassett colourway is really bright and cheerful. I guess they are a bit of a cheat as they weren't cast on in January, but I have cast on a second pair immediately that I also hope to complete this month. They are the Anna Socks from Rowan 40, in Kramer Silver and Silk, Tuxedo. So far I am totally in love with these socks. The yarn and pattern complement each other perfectly.

I think the knitting MoJo is back with a vengeance!

Oh and congratulations again to Andrew who has received an unconditional offer to Glasgow Caledonian University. Who's a clever boy then?

A woman's place is in the home (1844)

Or so it felt over Christmas. I didn't manage to leave the house at all until New Year's Eve. (Not quite true in fact as I did get to Mum's house a couple of times but then she is just four doors away).

So many visitors, so many meals, so much entertaining, so little just relaxing and enjoying the festivities. Christmas day was magical of course with no one undermining Maisy's belief in the big red guy. There were 12 of us unwrapping gifts and it seemed to go on for ever, no credit crunch in this household it seems. Everyone got just what they wanted and more.

My knitting related gifts included The Knitting Circle (already finished, wept almost all the way through), The Yarn Harlot calendar Never Not Knitting, (lovely daily dose of wit and wisdom), the fabulous Knits to Care and Share and the brand new Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn, 3 pairs of beautiful Rosewood needles in 3.25mm, 3.5mm and 3.75mm from The Little Knitting Company.

As we had visitors throughout the holiday I didn't manage to get my knitting out at all, not once! I think that's the longest I have gone without knitting for years. So following on from the 5 loop through garter stitch scarves for teachers (sadly not photographed before being given away) I have no fo's to show off. I feel a kind if knitting lethargy may have set in. May be related to my general lethargy post Christmas.

My New Year's Resolutions however include the following:

1. Continue with the destashing and yarn diet
2. Finish my outstanding wip's
3. Spin every Tuesday night
4. Blog more

I would love to commit to join Mhairi in her one pair a month sock resolution but fear I may fail at the very first hurdle having not even completed November's socks yet!

Wishing all my very good friends and lovely family a very happy and peaceful 2009.

Ah Ha! I remembered a FO to show. My draught excluder knit New Lanark Aran, Cherry, felted and stuffed with 5kg of rice!

Procrastination is the thief of time (1742)

It's been a few weeks since I last posted, and frankly I have no excuse. It's not like I have been short of things to blog about nor do I lack the tools (being the owner of a nice new netbook), I think the problem is inertia. Do you get that, especially at this time of year when really there is so much to do and think about that you just cave in and do nothing?

Maybe it's just me!

To update the blog I'll briefly run through the highlights of the last couple of weeks:

Sunday 16th Nov was the spinning day hosted here which was taught by the uber talented Janet Renouf-Miller. My knitting friends Mhairi, Sandy, Ali and Kimberly came along. What a real pleasure it was to be surrounded by wonderful fibre, great friends and doing something so pleasurable for a whole day, uninterrupted (except by the tirelessly curious Maisy).

Mhairi and I learnt how to improve our technique for slippier fibres, Sandy and Ali took their first steps at wheel spinning (with fantastic results) and Kimberly improved her technique with the spindle (I never knew you could spin so finely with a spindle). Thanks to all for such a fun day.




You can click on the images to see them larger.

Paul and I have also had our trip to London sans enfants! 3 nights/4 days of not being talked at, moaned at or whined at. No being a taxi service to and from swimming/ballet/table tennis/guitar/DoE/friends houses. No cooking, washing, ironing or cleaning. Bliss! It was cold but dry and beautifully clear.

We walked our little legs down to stumps and visited amongst others, The V&A, The Natural History Museum, Tate Modern, Chinatown, Covent Garden, The London Eye (yes I went on it and kept my eyes open the whole time , almost), Carnaby Street, Libertys, Harrods, Selfridges,












Hamleys etc. We also went to see Bill Bailey at the Gielgud and ate at the Mermaids Tail on Leicester Square, Windows at Galvins on Park Lane and The Athenaeum at Mayfair. We drank beer at lunchtime and champagne every night. We stayed at a lovely hotel at Lancaster Gate right on Hyde Park near the fountains on the Serpentine.

And all too soon it was over and we were back in Scotland. Back to the lovely knitting group and then a very sad farewell on Friday to one of the group Gale, who had become such a dear friend but has now gone back to her homeland of South Africa. I don't think she knows how much I will miss her. I hope she will get Skype once she has drawn breath then I can keep in touch properly and perhaps even indulge in a bit of online knitting!

Talking of knitting here are a few finished projects, the knitting has been a bit sparse the last couple of weeks but I feel the need to complete some projects before starting anything new just now. "Skully" the beanie is my first attempt at fairisle and I'm pretty pleased with it. I used a standard beanie pattern and borrowed a chart from Domiknitrix.


















I am currently knitting a pair of "vanilla" socks cast on for ease whilst flying last week and I have made only a little progress on the Silver Stardust. I would be knitting just now but my boiler has broken down again and my house is freezing. The timing is as ever as bad as it could be, this being the coldest day so far.

I have been busy ironing and dusting to keep warm, ah London seems a long time ago already! On the upside the "biggest ice maker in the world" (see previous posts) will be delivered on Friday.......like I need more ice just now!