Sunshine on Black Friday

I finished my Gingko shawlette:

which used the first of my recent batch of hand-dyed yarn. There’s plenty left so I think a pair of stripey socks may materialise some time in the future.

Knit more. Eat less.

It occurred to me this afternoon, having started my third bar of chocolate since Saturday, that not only was it a bad week, but I’d eaten more chocolate than I’d knitted yarn.

The balance sheet currently stands at:

Knitted	50g	Eaten	325g
Dyed	100g
Yarn	150g	Chocolate	325g

I should eat less chocolate. Using dieter’s logic I thought, “I can’t eat any more chocolate until I’ve knitted or dyed more yarn. “

Good plan.

I reckon I’ll dye a kilo of yarn then.

Gorgeous or Gruesome?

I tried four-colour dyeing yesterday and I’m just not sure about the result. The yarn is a merino/silk blend, so that helps.

I think it’s gorgeous, but I’m biased of course. Perhaps it’s my baby and I couldn’t possibly see fault with my own creation.

But maybe it’s gruesome.

Please tell me.

I could have it knitted up in time for Halloween …

Red Red Red

Isn’t Autumn wonderful?

Looking out my window (as I do a lot) I’m intrigued by this combination of red and green. I’ve no idea what the shrub is, although I should, but it looks dreamy, like it’s getting ready for hibernation:

I know this is Copper Beech:

There’s a skein of sock yarn just waiting to be turned into a burgundy/green mix ….

Colours from nature

Once the rain had stopped this morning I found some colour inspiration from nature. Admittedly, these flowers in the War Memorial garden are cultivated

and they’ve taken a battering from the recent bad weather. The three colours are a combination just waiting to be transformed onto a silky yarn.

Down by the river I found darker contrast of red and green on a mature mountain ash. The wind was blowing

but my iPhone did a pretty good job.

Then it was back home to skein my recent efforts at multi-coloured hand-dyeing: a violet/fuchsia mix and a pink/grey/natural. This is so much fun!

Seven day Sweater

Well, not quite. I started a sweater in gorgeous baby alpaca last Saturday afternoon.

I wanted to get it done as quickly as possible so I knitted flat out all week. Seven days later four pieces are finished and blocking.

So it’s ready for the fiddly bits.

In the meantime I rushed into using my Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, picking another one skein wonder.

Most of the designs on Ravelry call for US size 1 needles, ie 2.25 mm. I’ve two sets of 2.5 mm and, although I’m sure the difference would be minimal, I’d rather use the suggested needle. Looks like I need to go shopping …

I’ve dyed some more sock yarn this week using blues and pink, so here’s my stash so far.

I’m cooking up a nice violet/fuchsia mix right now and I’ll post pictures soon.

And did I go for a run this morning? Er, felt a bit tired really, thought I’d do some dyeing instead … I am so BAD!

Scarf and Socks

I finished two one skeiners this week:  a scarf and a pair of socks. So, after a run (yes, I did it again), a coffee and a custard cream, here they are.

The scarf took nearly all of some bamboo/cotton blend left over from a summer sweater project. I like to buy extra, so I feel good if I use up remainders.

Such a clever design (Winter Wonders Silk Scarf by Margaret Radcliffe, a one skein wonder). I don’t have silk, but bamboo works just as well.

The socks are the first for several years and I used Kate Atherley’s Basic Ribbed Socks:

Nice and simple, although I prefer a grafted toe. Hopefully the yarn will soften with washing, otherwise these socks won’t get worn.

Now to choose the next sock design.  And the next sock yarn. From my stash or hand dyed? So difficult!

Yellowday

Yesterday was yellowday. I dyed some sunshine sock yarn:

I’m fascinated by Maggie Magali’s Gingko Shoulderette Shawl and I’ve been thinking about bright yellow yarn for a week or so. Now it’s done.

In the evening, I made some custard and saved some to eat cold today. I took it out of the fridge to photograph but it didn’t last long enough to get a decent picture.

Not everything was yellow. I swatched my cranberry baby alpaca. It’s (UK) double knitting weight and I’ve gone down to 3.75mm just so I can use my Pony Pearls. A plain, V-neck, three-quarter sleeve sweater, I think.

Another blog begins

As I was dreaming through Ravelry today I thought,  ”It’s time I set up my knitting blog“. So here it is.

And it might not just be knitting, because last Sunday I did something amazing. Well, amazing for me, anyway. I went for a run. Actually, it was a walk, run, walk, run … you know, what they suggest in the get-started schedule (thank you, Runner’s World).

It’s quite possible this walk-run-walk will be the first and last.  One thing is for certain, though:  there’ll be plenty about knitting in this blog.