If Ikea made knitting patterns

Can you tell what it is yet?

Fold flap A to meet tab B....

Sew up and add hood.

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket, for C&T's baby, N.

Made in Marble, so that it will be easy to wash and dry. I do like this yarn, but I did have a few ‘squeaky acrylic’ moments with this. Running back to the sanctuary of real wool.
I must admit, I got bored with all the garter stitch really quickly. When I made my first one of these, I was intrigued by the magic of how it would come together, but I think it’s out of my system now. Makes me wonder if I will ever be able to face tackling Pagode.

Cold light of morning

Bracing sea air!

Whitby Goth Weekend

I love Whitby at Halloween.

Wish I was brave enough to dress up. Maybe next year (although, I think I said that last year...). I think it would probably take that long to make the costumes. I think J would be up for it.

From start to finish

A finished object to report.

First I dyed the top:

Then, I spun the yarn:

Finally, I knit the sweater and designed it - ok, made up a pattern as I went along)

Today, I'm wearing it:

The label in my nightshirt tells lies

I'm afflicted by insomnia at the moment. Still, it's allowing me to be very productive and I'm ploughing through the titles on my kindle at a rate of knots.

It has been a busy day today.

As it's half-term I try to fit all my moveable appointments in. Some, I have no choice about, but some I can get into the holidays. Today it was a routine review with my GP. I was quite pleased as my bloods are ok and I am going to try without my blood pressure meds. On the down-side, they are still 'keeping an eye on me' in case I'm pushing the weight loss further than I need to. I don't think this is a worry, really. My weight has been steady for ages. I'm a size 10 in most things, 12 in others and happy with it.

Had coffee with some friends at lunchtime and explored the candle shop nearby. Any excuse, but I was looking for something nice for a friend's 60th birthday. We may go to Whitby at the weekend and I'm sure I'll get something there.

Filled with a sense of purpose, after sorting out all my yarn this weekend, I'm nearly finished the cardigan I'm making. I'm planning to frog another I started as I just don't really like it at all. I have a plan for the yarn, though. It isn't these, either. This is the full extent of my hexapuff collection so far. I must get moving. Although, I'm only aiming for enough to make a cushion cover, I am only making slow progress.

Step One

I came to believe that I was powerless over my stash - that it had become unmanageable.

Decided to photograph the yarn I have and add it to my Ravelry stash database. 

Home made Saturday Kitchen

I love the Autumn. Autumn half-term is probably my favourite of all the school holidays (except the long one, of course, although I think I'd rather have that in the Autumn).

I love the range of produce available at the moment. We've been getting organic veggie boxes delivered each week and I've been challenging myself to use all of the vegetables in our meals.

This is tonight's dinner - beef and root vegetables in a Rigwelter gravy sauce. It smells wonderful.

Veggie soup with haricot beans. For lunches.

I really need to find something to do with the ruby chard that is still in a bag at the bottom of the fridge. I shall consult River Cottage Veg Every Day later on.

Went to the knitting group at Nature's World this morning. Had a relaxing time working on this:

It's a top-down cardi/vest I'm making from the yarn I spun from the top I dyed back in the summer.

I'm pleased with how it's working out so far.

Browsed through a couple of charity shops in a reasonably affluent area near us this afternoon. Best buy has to be this dress. Still on the website for £97, but hanging, with tags still on, on a rack in Age for £9.99. Did think I was going to have to wrestle for it as another lady came up behind me as I picked it up.

"Are you having that?"

"Yes, I think so."

"It's just that I really like it."

"Yes, but so do I and it's in my hand."

Into the forest

A wonderful day in the woods, courtesy of the West View Project.