Socks

A very quick post - I am working on knitting socks. Have finished one and am part way through the second. I might even manage a complete pair this time. I knitted one sock once before and didn't enjoy it at all but am determined to master them and found a very good book with simple instructions and very clear pictures. Will post again with book details and a photo o the socks (they are functioal rather than beautiful).
Have also been to three sewing classes now, going through seams, buttonholes and zips. I have sewn zips before, but in completely the wrong way (it was news to me that there is such a thing as a zip foot for the machine).
More updates later, just trying not to leave it too long between posts. Also trying to get through the list of xmas knitting. I think I've removed a couple of people from the list, they don't know how lucky they are :)

Blankets

This is the finished baby blanket. It's now en route to my nephew who is nearly two weeks old and home from the hospital.
I have started another blanket for him for an xmas present, it is a dark blue (sort of denim blue in colour) and is a pinwheel shape, so round but with a pattern running though that separates the sections (from ravelry, very useful for patterns and ideas). I made a small blanket following this pattern once before and it is simple to knit but looks lovely. I went to John Lewis and stocked up on wool for it - this blanket will be Sirdar Snuggly in shade 0353. It really is lovely and soft and nice to knit so should be good for the baby.
I also bought some more grey wool that will become scarf (the alpaca will be a hat and wristwarmers I think) and some purple wool to make another beret style hat.
Which makes me think that I haven't posted anything about the beret hat - another ravelry pattern and knitted in multicoloured wool. Photo of that another time, need to finish this so that I can go and put homemade pea soup through the blender and have lunch.

Wool and Projects

So, at last the baby blanket is finished. I knitted a smaller square one first and then decided to knit a bigger one. They are both yellow and I don't think that I will add any decoration to them as they look quite finished with the pattern and border. I will post a picture soon (when I take one and then work out how to post it!).

And this does of course mean that I can start working with something other than yellow acrylic, and knit some new projects!

I went to the Knit Shop on Lee High Road yesterday (http://www.knitshop.co.uk/) and bought some thick green wool that I had seen a few weeks ago (but didn't buy as I didn't want to be distracted from the blankets). I am now halfway through a tam-o-shanter style hat with it that will be a Christmas present. I won't put a pompom on it - partly because that is not very stylish and partly because I don't like making them. I will knit a purple flower for it instead and put that on the brim.
I also bought some beautiful dark grey angora wool. It is so soft but I have knitted with it before and I know that I'll have to wear an apron when using it or I'll be covered in it. I think it will become a hat or scarf but haven't decided yet.

And now I have a very happy hour or so to plan this week - going through the box of wool and working out what wool I have and what I want to make with it. It is September so it doesn't seem too early to be making Christmas presents. And I want to make sure that I don't run out of time, the sewing course starts this month so I will probably spend more time on that and lose abit of knitting time.

That's all for now, I want to get back to the hat!

Knitting

I am running out of time to knit all the things that I want to make. I'm already thinking about Christmas and what I would like to make, so I may need to start a list. The baby blanket needs to be finished first, but then I have lots of hats and scarves and wristwarmers I'd like to make, and some decorations if I have time. It's going to be a delicate balancing act between the knitting, reading and baking. I like the idea of audio books an some multitasking, but I'll forget to listen while I'm counting stitches or will lose the plot of the story when I'm concentrating on ingredients or patterns.
Maybe I should make the list for Christmas next year instead?! I might be able to finish some socks by then!

Err, I've been busy?

Wow, so only 8 months since I posted, I can see this is going well!
The sewing machine is still beautiful. I have made a few very simple things on it and have taken a pattern from the top that I want to recreate. And I am starting a basic intro course in September for ten weeks, just two hours one evening a week but the course looks like it covers a lot and I think it will help me remember all the things I've forgotten. I'm sure I'll be sewing more when I have my confidence back.
The knitting is coming along very well though, have been making lots of hats (beanies and tams) and lots of fingerless gloves (or wristwarmers) and a couple of baby blankets. Oh, and one sock. I don't like knitting socks, it seems like a lot of time and effort to make something that gets hidden in a shoe and worn out relly quite quickly. I am hoping to finish that pair and make one other to give as presents but I think I'll stop there.
Baking is goingwell. Still making lots of elderflower cakes (made one this evening to take to work on Friday) and I have also made some very good chocolate & cheesecake muffins and converted a recipe for ocolate & guinness cake in to cupcakes as well. I am hoping to try some bread but it seems ot be a bit time consuming and then I get distracted. I've also been doing a lot morecooking, following recipes and freezing leftovers. Using lots of lentils and quinoa to keep my iron levels up.
And I have been reading more again. I really enjoyed Case Histories on the Beeb so I went and bought the three books it's based on and re-read them. I think I enjoyed them even more than the first time round and have read the fourth Jackson Brodie as well now. I really like Kate Atkinson's style and that she manages to convey such sadness in a beautiful way. I also found another Fred Vargas and am going to try and get the rest th have been translated. I could just read them in French but I started in English and I don't think I want to read about Adamsberg in French now as I have the image of him in my mind.
I think that is enough for now. I really am going to try and keep this a little more up to date an include other outings. Which reminds me that I went to the The Princess Bride at Somerset House which was brilliant (and had a lovely picnic with outrageously expensive wine) and Shelby Lynne was great too. And I'm going to see The Civil Wars soon and am really looking forward to it. Maybe I should go through the ticket stbs and remind myself!
Until next time x

Sewing Machine

I got a sewing machine for Christmas, a Janome 1024. It replaces a machine that had had several owners by the time it reached me and was well loved but very heavy and was breaking down more than it worked. It went to the recycling centre and on to sewing machine heaven.
The Janome is light and quiet, and it does feel insubtantial in comparison, but it doesn't take two hands and effort to lift on to the table. It has lots of stitches and one step buttonhole, but not so many features that I'll end up wondering why I don't use most of them. It's easy to set up and to thread. I had a free intro to it at John Lewis (excellent customer service there). Sewing on it is very easy and I think I'm going to like it.
I made my first project on it today. Just a tote bag based on one that I already have but it was a good test of basic stitches. The machine is lovely, so smooth and doesn't sound like a steam engine puffing away. My sewing skills aren't brilliant but it was a good start. I think I'll tackle a simple top next, again based on one that I already own.

With the sound of music

Well, with the sound of my ramblings.
This is attempt number two for the first post. No idea what happened but the first one didn't publish. This bodes well!
I am hoping to write about books, films, music, knitting and baking and anything else that piques my interest. A couple to post today and then we'll see if I ever add anything to it.
On with the show...