Friday 30 January 2015

Cosy

Another cold and wintery day.  I have it off from work and plan to do a whole lot of cosy. Maybe some baking, a pot of soup and definitely some knitting.  I think I will take a cue from the furry little kitty below and rest. I feel the need for deep winter rest.




 


We are expecting more snow this weekend.  Fortunately, I love the snow and nesting. If you are experiencing more of this, stay warm and cosy and take the opportunity to nurture yourself.

Thursday 29 January 2015

More snow and granny square blanket

Its been snowy here.  Getting around has been difficult as the plows and road crews are having trouble keeping up.  There seems to be ice under that snow and slush. It is also incredibly beautiful.  





I have been working on this granny square blanket for quite some time.  I consider it my long term project.  I do have it draping anywhere that I can get a good look at it.  Every now and then, I add a row but in the meantime, it is large enough to be a lap blanket and gets used just for that.


I have finished some new dishcloths.  I do enjoy hand knit cloths.  Enjoy your day.




Tuesday 27 January 2015

Some Knitting, Cats and Snow Day


We had a storm overnight.  Not as bad as was expected, I think. The cats were actually watching the two squirrels below.  Little rascals.



Someone did not appreciate being out in the cold.


There has been lots of knitting going on here.  This is The basic Raglan pullover by Jane Richmond.  I have made this sweater several times.  It is top down, and very easy, very warm and comfortable.  I spend a lot of time at the rink with a hockey playing son, so this suits my lifestyle perfectly.  It is made with Fleece Artist, River and I forget the colour way. They are a local Nova Scotia company with beautiful yarns. Needle sizes 4.5 and 5 mm.


As always, I have socks on the go.  I give socks away as gifts all year long, so I am never without a pair on the needles.  I do stray from them, but when I need a quick or mindless knit, I pick them up.  I can watch a movie while knitting socks, I cannot knit a lot of thing while watching movies.  My knitting skills run to the basic.  Below is Peerie Flooers by Kate Davies. This is definitely out of my league.  I struggle when working with multiple yarns and reading patterns.  This hat has been hanging around since last winter and I hope to finish it off but I lost my place in the pattern and may just have to wing it.

I am fortunate to have a large selection homemade socks.  I wear a different pair every day, thereby lessening the risk of developing holes.  Some of these I have had for years.  I do wash them by machine, wool cycle but and this is the key, use a wool wash detergent. I use Eucalan.  It is expensive, but you only use a little at a time, so it is worth it. Also, wouldn't want to ruin something that takes so many hours to knit. Recently,  I put a sweater in the wash on the wool cycle but accidentally used regular detergent and it came it many times smaller.


I have lots of little balls of leftover sock yarn.  I have been planning to make some scrap socks.  I do make baby and toddler socks out of leftovers but still have lots to work through.


Oh, and almost forgot, also got some new sock yarns for Christmas.


Well that's it for now.  For those of you in the middle of a snow storm, may your day be warm, cozy and fibre-filled.

Sunday 25 January 2015

Here and Back again

I deleted my blog some time ago.  I am not really sure why.  I do feel, however, that it is the right thing to do in bringing it back.  I miss blogging and as more people are letting go of theirs I feel the need to bring it back.  So here it goes.  Snippets of my Saturday.