So what's going on?

Hello! How are you? Long time, no see but life just gets busy sometimes, doesn't it? I wanted to pop by to just show the little knot bag I've just sewn up. It was knitted from a pattern by Get Knitted - I was lucky enough to get a quick visit to their shop when I went to Bath a couple of weeks ago with Pixie (who has just turned eleven - such excitement!). We had a lovely time, interspersing educational visits to the Baths and Costume Museum with a little shopping and sitting in coffee-shops. Such a luxury!

A little simple garter stitch project was just perfect for the train journey. I like how knitting is such a conversation piece when I'm traveling about. My favourite conversation was with a very conservative-suited business lady who positively lit up when describing her own knitted project. I know how that feels, don't you?

Cheerio for now. xx

Birthday Beads

Hello! How are you? Keeping well, I hope?

I'm another year older since we last spoke - it was my birthday on Saturday. I celebrated in fine style with a beautiful meal cooked for me by my husband. He was so sweet - made up the menu and everything. The funny thing was, he told me that he was recreating a surprise Valentine's Day meal that he'd made for me about, ummmm, twenty years ago although I remember that meal being a delicious nut roast not the Homity pie that I was eating on Saturday. Memory ain't what it used to be.......

My darling daughter, Faerie, made a bracelet for me. I think it's called Peyote Stitch? I'm very proud of her because she taught herself how to do it and stuck with it to complete the bracelet. AND she used all my favourite colours. Perfect. I love the way the beads feel - that sort of cool slither.

Elfine and Pixie clubbed together and gave me this beautiful necklace so I'm feeling extremely well accessorised at the moment. Also, there was a voucher included for breakfast in bed which I might take advantage of this weekend. Lucky me.

It's also been half term since we last spoke and, without going into details, it was quite simply the most extraordinary half term I've ever spent. We've had to re-evaluate a number of things and take some decisions. Nothing dreadful but just thinking about change has shaken us all up somewhat. We're all feeling a little discombobulated at the moment.

I snatched a few moments to make some more granny squares for my colourful blanket (must think of more imaginative name...). Small steps just now until I get my mojo back, I think.

Cheerio for now. xx

i heart u

Hello! How are you? Feels a little odd to be writing on a Sunday but it feels like the right day to show you these few photographs. The bits and pieces from last time? They became the clever little "I Heart U" pattern from The Knit Knoodler and were a gift for Elfine. Do you like her alphabet letters with faces and background stories? Aren't they fun?

Another pile of knitted pieces became this (ghastly) little knitted bear from Knitables. I've put this photograph here deliberately to show that it's not all sweetness and light around here - sometimes I have knitting disasters, ahem. Toys with faces are astonishingly difficult (for me) to make. I couldn't attach the ears in such a way to look appealing and I thought that I'd make up for the weird ears by giving him big eyes - because big-eyed creatures are usually appealing, aren't they? - but then his eyes just looked TOO big and his snout was funny and, oh...... He does have heart though - embroidered on his chest instead of horns - he was a little Valentine's gift for Pixie. She likes him although did request arms.

Just time for one more - a knitted cuff for Faerie who's big into bracelets and such. I had to brush up my intarsia-in-the-round skills for this one. Phew, little knitted gifts always seem like a good idea but, in reality, take up quite a lot of time. Maybe I'll stick to chocolate next year.

Hope you're having a lovely Valentine's Day!

Cheerio for now. xx

knitting only a mother could love

Hello! How are you? Keeping well, I hope.

Just a quick post today - I can't show what I'm knitting right now because it's SECRET. Things for Valentine's Day for my girls because I'm soppy like that. There has been some speculation here in my house that I'm either knitting knickers or daffodils. Hmmmm. We shall see. Finished pictures to follow!

Have to dash now - hope you have a lovely weekend!

Cheerio for now. xx

thoughts turn to spring

Hello! How are you? Good, I hope. It's perhaps a little optimistic to think too much of spring but the days are definitely getting longer here in Cornwall - that extra hour or so of daylight is VERY welcome. My daughter, Elfine, brought me home some daffodils on Saturday which was such a treat. I regularly see flower-pickers in the fields near me - always bent double, usually in the rain - cutting and bunching daffodils to be sent around the country. I have to say that it looks like jolly hard work and I imagine the pleasure of outdoors work pales fairly quickly. My daffodils are beautifully scented which helps my own (small) labour of washing up the dishes move along quite nicely.

I've been working on a little sleeveless wrap cardigan on and off for a few months now. I remember thinking when I started it, "This will be quick - no sleeves.". Hmmm. Turns out that's not true. I haven't especially enjoyed the yarn which is Sirdar Crofter - the fairisle effect is enjoyable but I find the yarn just a bit too insubstantial. I think the picture conveys something of the lightness and slightly candy-floss nature of the fabric - all a bit floaty light. It is actually a double-knit weight - maybe I'll enjoy wearing the lightness of the cardigan.

In the meantime I need to at least produce two fronts that are identical. I tried to sew up the shoulders TWICE last night before finally realising that I had omitted the shoulder shaping on the second front by which time I had only enough patience to unpick the cast-off edge and return it to the needles.

Back to the drawing board again. Second verse, same as the first. At least it's not orange.

Cheerio for now. xx