Knitting and cats.

Well, Liz has just taken possession of her new v-necked jumper. I finished it last week. This is the Dickinson Pullover.






Coco decided she just had to have her photo taken - she had watched me take photos of the jumper shown above. This pose is not just an invitation to tickle her tummy. She is seeking attention and admiration.






This is my new project. A rather nice fitted jacket design from Drops. It is knitted on circular needles, but not in the round. The knitting goes forward and back. A rather interesting project since I have not used circular needles in this way before. I couldn't resist the bright red.






This is another project. It was ongoing, but I ripped back the four squares I had already completed yesterday. I just wasn't happy with them. The three squares I have completed since restarting yesterday are far nicer. I rather like the curved pattern of holes I have accidentally made while increasing.






The ruler gives an idea of scale. This project is part of the Elizabeth's Year group. Its the April project from "The Knitter's Almanac" by Elizabeth Zimmermann. The original design asks for a much thicker yarn, but I decided to go for the double knitting weight instead. This will lead me to need an awful lot more squares to make it the same size as thhe project in the book. As you can see, I am using the remnants of yarn left over from Elizabeth's pullover shown at the top of this post.

Quiet times.

Well, I really thought I wouldn't have anything to post about again this week. Then I started thinking.............. Thinking is definitely a dangerous past-time.




I've been busily knitting since I last wrote. Liz's pullover is now ready for the addition of the neck. Its taken me rather a while to get to this stage. Its been one of those projects where I have had had repeatedly to rip back and reknit sections because I have made a mistake. Usually really silly mistakes, which makes it all the more irritating. Since the jumper is being knitted for someone, I find myself unwilling to put up with even minor mistakes.

I have also completed the design work for the Band Robin. I can't show you my design just yet, since I need to show photos to the Stitching Sisters group first. Its taken me rather a while to get the design finished so I do hope that Jenny, the owner, likes it. The next stage is to get on with the stitching.

Recently, I became involved with a new Quilting Group, Hartford Quilters. This is going to be a really active group. We have already started a joint project making strips for a series of lapquilts. The strips are 6 inches deep and 42 inches wide (finished size) in pastel shades. The finished lapquilts will be given to the local Hospice, who have suggested the colour scheme we are using. I have put all my pieces together, but have not settled on a design for my strip yet. I'd better get a move on with this before I get left behind.

A second group I have become involved with recently, is the Borders Knitting group meeting at Cheshire Oaks. The group meets inside Borders, the large book shop. (Thats me on the bottom right hand side of the photo.) This is the first knitting group I have ever been a part of. Its so nice to meet people with a similar interest. Its fun to sit around and chat and to learn new ideas too. I got to hear about this group through Ravelry, one of the Internet groups I belong to.

An interesting day.

This morning I woke to a really fairytale sight. Snow had fallen overnight - only a light snowfall, but everywhere looked so pretty. The photos were taken at 7am, when the light was really lovely, almost pink.

Felix was not impressed. He doesn't like getting his paws wet.

The snow was not destined to last, after only a few hours it was gone.

This afternoon, we have sleet. Not quite so pleasant. Good weather for knitting and getting on with bits and pieces, though. Here is Liz's second jumper, the Dickinson Pullover. The front is now finished and I am well over half way up the first sleeve. Aggie is looking after it for me since pinning it up like this keeps it safely out of the cats' way. (I don't fancy pulling black fur from such a pale coloured aran pattern.)

My sewing machine is back and working beautifully once more. I went back to collect it yesterday.