Happy thoughts - late start

As ever, I am a little late to the party with this one, but I have been inspired by several other blogs namely: Notes from the Slow Lane and Little Tin Bird.

It is the 52 weeks of Happy; to blog each week about 4 things which have made you happy. In my attempt to focus on the positive in 2013 (rather than getting hung up about things I should have done) this seemed like the perfect idea. I'm going to try and do this every Friday to remind me of the good things about the week and to remind me that even though it has been a typical week in the Madmum household (sick child, knackered car, too much rushing around) there are lots of Good Things to celebrate too:


So, for this week's installment:

1. A new finished sock pattern (name to be decided) but the pattern is fun and quick to work.

2. A fabulous winter wonderland walk in -8 degrees. Bracing and good for killing germs!



3. An exceedingly tasty chilli which I made, after the previously mentioned walk (to warm us up again)

4. Watching DS1 and DH snuggle on the sofa in front of a fire, DS1 reading to his daddy before bedtime - a rare treat.

A quick hat

Just a quick FO to share today: a beanie hat for a friend using up odds and ends of Patons Diploma dk. I based it on the Oliver's Cap pattern, but cast on 110 stitches (he has quite a large head) and did a 5" ribbed brim as he likes hats that can be pulled right down over the ears.

It needs to be wrapped up now and gifted so I just bribed my DS2 (aged 6) to briefly model it for me. I had to bribe him with chocolate which is why is has a slightly odd expression - his mouth is full of my best Green & Blacks organic white chocolate!

Inspiration rules

As if I needed any more encouragement on the recent sock enthusiasm, I came across a fabulous KAL idea recently - hosted by the lovely Crafts from the Cwtch. Rather than opt for a traditional pattern-based KAL Sarah had the wonderful idea of a 'next steps' sock KAL - to challenge yourself in your sock knitting journey.

Now I have tried most different methods of sock construction, some more successfully than others but I have never managed to master two at a time. I've bought books, watched DVDs and You-Tube'd until I'm blue in the face but I still end up with an unholy yarn tangle and some very cross words.

But, I'm a grown woman. I can, and will do this.

Wish me luck...I'm going in!

Alive and kicking

I've been taking a little blog break over Christmas and New Year as I normally like to keep things here light and upbeat. Suffice to say that I was feeling a little below par and putting too much expectation on myself to achieve the 'perfect Christmas'. Something which I think we all have a tendancy to at that time of year.

We had a lovely (slightly scruffy) family Christmas and then took ourselves off for a completely spur of the moment holiday in the Lake District for new year which was fabulous and gave our collective batteries a much needed recharge. We did a little walking, but most unlike us, there was a fair amount of lounging around in PJs, watching films and generally just chilling. It was long overdue and did us all the power of good.

My little bloggy break also proved very productive - knitting-wise with several new sock designs fairly leaping off the needles. It must have been all that fresh Lakeland air.

I am taking part in the UK Sock Knitters Lunar KAL - the idea being that for each of the 13 lunar months there are three words which various cultures have attributed to that month. So for December we have - Winter Footsteps (for Winter Moon):



The pattern is being tested as we speak and I hope to be able to publish it early in February. In the meantime I am busy working on the next theme of Rowan. It is great to have a series of words with which to kick start my imagination and I am really enjoying it so far. My stash is also feeling the benefit as I have been rummaging and unearthing some half-forgotten skeins in search of the 'perfect' yarn.

Fabulousness

My word for the day is Fabulous...

And with these little smashers it is hard not to smile, whatever the weather.



Aren't they fabulous.

I must 'fess up here and admit that I didn't buy them, but rather I won them on a facebook competition on the YHA website.

But they are so amazingly comfortable that I may well buy more pairs in the future.

Normal service is resumed

A bit of knitting to share with you today - the crochet blocks being on the back burner for the time being.

With Christmas rapidly approaching and no sign of the missing yarn I have on order to finish mum's sweater I decided that a Plan B might be a good idea in case it doesn't turn up in time. I have no desire to be blocking the thing with a hairdryer on Christmas Eve, and I can always re-purpose it as a Mothers Day gift later.

Sometimes you see a pattern that you want to cast on immediately and this one did it for me. The Crosswords at the Coffee Shop Shawlette was designed by the very talented Karrie of the KnitPurlGurl podcast who tragically passed away very recently. A KAL was being held in her honour over on Ravelry and it seemed like the ideal way to join in the celebration of her life, as well as mourn her passing.




Using just 1.5 skeins of Cascade 220, this little shawl/shawlette knit up in a few evenings and it is perfect for my petite mum. Large shawls and scarves can swamp her but this is perfect to just drape across her shoulders or to wrap once around her neck for a cosy scarf.

I haven't knit much lace with heavier weight yarns before this, but I can certainly see the attraction. A very quick and satisfying knit - so much so that I'm tempted to make one for myself. Next time around I might just start off with a few rows of garter stitch to prevent the predictable curling that occurs at the bottom of the lace section, but otherwise, this is perfect.

Bitten by the bug

Yes, I know that I should be industriously working my way through a pile of Christmas gift knitting, and that I still have two sleeves to go of a sweater for mum, but some chance wandering around the web lead me to this rather wonderful group: SIBOL (International Sunshine Blankets of Love).

Am amazing and inspiring bunch of crafters who create lovely crocheted and knitting squares to be sewn into blankets and given to elderly residents of care homes, some of whom have little outside contact and few friends and family to provide comfort. I must admit that I was rather touched and more than a little motivated to browse their patterns and lovely, friendly ravelry group.

Next thing I knew, I had a crochet hook in hand, and guided by this fabuluous tutorial and I was cranking out Granny Squares like nobodies business,




I must admit to feeling rather pleased with myself. My previous attemtps at crochet have not been without their problems and although I have done a simple Ripple Blanket before - a la Lucy of Attic 24 fame, my previous Granny Squares have been decidedly mis-shapen and often, not very square which is a bit of a problem when making a blanket.

But this time, something clicked and I was away...

Now I really must get on with the Christmas knitting!