What I'm Up To...

Hello again!

Having finally joined Ravelry (and learned how to add links), I thought that it really was time to put fingers to keyboard and start writing again. My friend Libby is a brilliant blogger and she has something to say pretty much every week. I can't promise I'll be that prolific, but I am going to try and make a bit more of an effort...

Since I last added to Sparkleknits I did manage to finish a few projects. I made a pair of mittens for Piney, a baby jumper for Jen and Neil's gorgeous baby boy, Sam and a second one for the fabulous Oliver Rufus, who was born to Claire and Nigel in March. I have done everything except the blocking, pressing and making up of a pink cardigan for myself.

The main project that I'm working on right now is a Flicca cardigan from Anna Bell's beautiful collection of patterns to buy on My Fashionable Life. It's a slightly unseasonal project, but at the rate I knit, I might actually finish it for when this wonderful weather runs out.

Gorgeous Joe!

My dear friends Angie and Robin sent me this lovely picture of their baby son Joe, who was born just over six weeks go. Isn't he just gorgeous? And he's modeling the teal Debbie Bliss baby jumper that I made for him too...

Work in Progress

It's been a while since I last posted an entry, but I've not stopped knitting. I've been working my way through the list and have knitted a cell sock for my sister's birthday. Piney's mittens and even a co-ordinated hat from Knitty's Calorimetry pattern, although I have still got to block, press and finish them off. I'm also precisely half way through one pair pf pink socks for my sister. I have so many things that I want to do, but never seem to have the time to finish things off...

I'm also nearly finished with Jenny's baby jumper, I would have finished it ages ago, but I managed to either run out of wool (or not buy enough in the first place)! More wool has fortunately arrived thanks to the wonders of internet shopping. I've got some lovely yarn for Nic and Andrew's baby, and I'll need to buy even more as I've had the wonderful news that Claire and her boy Nigel are also expecting. I'm not buying the wool just yet as their mid-December scan will determine (and I quote Claire here) "the sex of the piglet"!

Promises, promises!

I had a lovely day out yesterday in Bath with my dear friend Piney, including a luxurious treat of a two hour session at the new Thermae Bath Spa followed by one of the nicest fried veggie breakfasts I've ever had. On the train journey Back to Salibsury, while trying on my newly finished mittens, she reminded me that I had in fact promised her a pair of her own (well over a year ago!). We stopped off at the local yarn store on the walk home and she picked out some blue aran so that I can make a pair for her in time for a Christmas present.

This does however bring to mind that I may have overstretched myself in the number of promises I've made to various people:

Socks for Amanda

Scarf for Andy

Baby Sweater for Jenny and Neil

Mittens for Piney

Another Baby Sweater for Nic and Andrew

Black Beanie (complete with Skull and Crossbones) for Rich

I think I'd better get off this journal and get knitting! (Perhaps I will start with Piney's Mittens!)

Commission!

How very exciting! I have received my first commission and have been asked by my pod-buddy Andy to create him a scarf. I showed him a few patterns and he's decided on Henry a lovely sideways-knit herringbone scarf that is published in the latest edition of Knitty. He's ordered the yarn and in exchange for the finished article he's going to commission a piece of jewellery from Juliet his housemate, who also works at Walker. I do so love a bit of bartering!

Two Pairs of Socks

Libby's socks that she started during my sock lesson are certainly coming on a pace. I received this photo in a text and I'm delighted that she's making the pair for little old me. I shall certainly wear them with pride! Mine are getting on a little bit slower, but I'm just about to start turning the heel, so watch this space...