happy new year

Thanks for all your birthday messages, I had a really nice and relaxing day. My HH got me the yarn and pattern book, and I started straight away on Haven. Heartfelt is a beautiful book, very inspiring, I thought I would just make Haven but several other patterns have jumped onto my queue.

I really like Haven so far, I think this might actually be something I've knit that I get a lot of use out of. A lot of my other projects haven't really made the leap from well-loved to well-used. It knits up quickly of course, with 8mm needles, but surprisingly feels so light, not bulky at all. I'm using Rowan Cocoon in Bilberry, which is lovely and soft. So far I've done this much....



So did anyone else get some novelty yarn from well-meaning but clueless relatives? My in-laws rather sweetly bought me this horror....Schoeller Stahl Big Ball Funny...as you can see it looks like I've skinned a soft toy : )




Luckily I knitted this swatch up while they were visiting and they saw the funny side, so won't be expecting me to make and wear the shawl pattern given on the label.

Finally, its time to make New Year resolutions, mine are all knitting/sewing related...

1. To knit things this year that improve my wardrobe, ie things I will actually wear and don't look awful
2. To knit something really nice at least once a month (haven is my january knit)
3. To design my own sweater, and then actually write a pattern and knit it
4. To learn a bit of real dressmaking, and make myself a pretty dress

Happy new year everyone!

birthday? drastic stash improvement!

vintage beret - finished

I did indeed finish the vintage beret last night, it is officially a one-skein project. I'm really pleased with the tweed effect, though the colour variation means the lace detail is hard to pick out. It's warm and comfy for 6.30am walks down windy streets. Here's a picture of me looking like death warmed up and flu ridden, and for more detail of the beret (read: easier to photograph) my bear Schlep kindly agreed to model for me.

It's very useful for tucking your hair up, by the way.

vintage beret

Have decided to cheer myself up with a quick knit, using that gorgeous manos I've been hoarding. Its the vintage beret from the latest Rowan magazine...I'm going to try and complete it ready to wear on Monday morning.

Finally, finally a pattern for Nerys

I finally have some basic instructions and a chart available for Nerys. But, I don't have the software to turn it into a pdf file so if anyone would like these documents (MS word and excel) email me and I'll email you a copy. I'm hoping to get a pdf version sorted soon though, and then of course I'll put it on ravelry.

I'm feeling utterly rotten as I have flu and it's my day off work, but at least I had no excuse but to sit at the computer and get this done finally. I swear any future patterns of mine will be sooooo much simpler!

gateau

hey it tastes good too, and I can recommend making your own candied peel, its surprisingly easy and yummy.



Here is your virtual slice Johanna ; )

cake in the making

Here is a gateau to die for...lemon and orange white chocolate gateau, mmmmmmmmmmmm



I'm baking this for my HH who has a thing for white chocolate. And I get to test the oven mitts I made yesterday, which took about as long to make as it's taking to bake the cake.



Including the production of this lemon and orange curd filling...



...the 'pocket' for hands is sewn into the seam (no bias binding!)...



...so it can be flipped over so the outside becomes the inside; reversible oven gloves!





This is how many white chocolate buttons you need to get 200g of white chocolate...



Sickly sweet? Finished pics will be up tomorrow when everything has cooled and been assembled.

Calling all West Wing fans

I created a West Wing quiz at helloquizzy.

I like tartan too, do you?

My friend amy was here has reminded me how cool tartan is at this time of year, so I dug out this skirt I've had for years. One of the few things I've ever bought from Monsoon. Do you like tartan too? Do post a picture....

patchwork practice

Patchwork practice for the quilt...a cushion for Lizzie to match the applique butterfly cushion she had in June.