STASH-BUSTING 2021

Posted yesterday, received today so I can show and tell…

The chunky cardi is off my needles and away 😃 I have actually made 2 of these for N’s daughters. Sadly one of the girls had a bit of a wait for her’s but I finished it on Saturday, blocked Sunday and posted yesterday🎁

I bought some better hangers for Show and Tell purposes but N and B have squirreled them away for their own outfits – BOYS! So I had to make do with one that the dry-cleaning came back on 😣 It doesn’t hang that well🤔

The pattern came from Let’s Knit and is made using Stylecraft chunky, parchment. The pattern is worked over 10 rows:

Rows 1-3 Knit, rows 4, 6, 8, 10 k2, p5, rows 5, 7, 9 Knit

The nice thing about chunky knits is they knit up quickly although as I was nearing the end not quickly enough. And then there was the issue of buttons!!! Happily I bought enough when my local wool shop was open between lockdown 2 and 3!!!

Celebration time, all ready for packing up and posting 🎈🎈🎈

A couple more items to finish and then the Christmas knitting is all done and then I can fill my head with something new 😄 But my knitting basket looks almost empty now the chunky cardi has gone😉

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

INTO LOCKDOWN AGAIN!

A winter walk 🌫🌫🌫

The big announcement that most of us were expecting was made last night – another lockdown to contain and control COVID!

I have worked from home today doing admin. Not one of my strong points!! However I did take a break at lunch time for a walk. I didn’t want to leave it until I had finished because it would be dark and very cold.

The river is slowly going down.

The gulls are all lined up on the riverside railings. I don’t know if that means that the weather is bad on the coast or that they are too well-fed inland? Probably the latter!!! I lived in Morecambe (an English seaside town) when I was a student and this reminds me of Morecambe in the winter, no one around and lots of gulls waiting for some unsuspecting soul to get takeaway fish and chips😮

Finally I had a walk around Jubilee Gardens and just look at this rose in winter – very Beauty and the Beast!

So a bit more admin and then I can get back to my knitting. Still plodding on with my Christmas knits, so tempting to start something new – I really do have the attention span of a gnat – but if I do the Christmas gifts will be written off until next year so plod on Jane 😄

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

A FAVOURITE GIFT

The scarf that never lets me down!

It’s quite chilly here at the moment and we keep having the odd flurry of snow, happily after last week they haven’t amounted to much ☃

Walked into town this morning to get some fresh air and pick up a newspaper.

I took this photo to show off my scarf. It must be 20 years old. My much younger sister made it for me when she was still at school. She does more reading these days than knitting, check out ladybookdragon.

Such a shame!

Look at this scarf, isnt it fab? Worked in garter stitch with 4 little tassels at the corners. I understand she got bored of making them 😂

But it keeps me nice and snug.

Who else has a favourite gift that has stood the test of time?

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

DECEMBER ROUND-UP

2020 done and dusted. ..

Happy New Year to you all! 🍻

I was very quiet on the blogging and knitting front during December. We are into a new year and I am still plodding on with my Christmas knitting 😶 My bad back has really set me back but happily I am much more mobile now and can sit for longer and knit yay…

Nothing completed in December so sadly no show and tell.

The river was rising just before Christmas. It is slowly going down, leaving very muddy footpaths along the banks. We have had snow this morning but not enough to cause problems.

And just look how close to the river wall the swans are …

Resolutions :

Finish the Christmas knitting and get it posted with suitably grovelling notes.

Pay more attention to blogville.

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

STASH-BUSTING #44

Pom pom joy…

My back is starting to feel a bit more like it so I have managed to start knitting again in short bursts. The Christmas knitting will be late this year but as the government cancelled Christmas yesterday I don’t suppose it will make too much difference 😥

I have had a lovely afternoon watching the Royal Ballet The Nutcracker on an arts channel – Christmas starts with the Nutcracker. While watching the ballet I have been having fun making pom poms!

Not sure if I can rescue this one though, don’t think there will be much left if I start trimming it!

Hopefully my posts will be less haphazard now I am more mobile.

Woolly wishes everyone,

Jane ♡♡♡

NOVEMBER ROUND-UP

A bit behind…

December is well underway and I am well behind with the old Christmas knits😶

In my defense I have pulled something in my back so I am currently hobbling around like an even older lady than I actually am!!!

Sitting is a problem so hence behind with my knitting.

Didn’t actually complete anything last month so the WIP list is growing:

2 beanies awaiting pom poms (I normally can’t wait to start pom pom making)

Knotty cowl still awaiting a few more centimetres (putting that one off because of weaving in all those ends)

The chunky cardi still needs a bit more work.

The pink Guernsey just needs sewing up (never my favourite task)

The colour work is complete on the top of the Christmas stocking just the leg, heel and foot to do.

LKKNITALONG is on hold until the Christmas knitting is complete.

But on the bright side I did make B a birthday cake 🎂

So it is December – bring it on!!!

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

CHARITY KNITTING

Stash nibbling for a good cause 💟

I was delighted to hear from Jo at Age UK this week. She advised that the Big Knit was back on and would I help out.

She didn’t need to ask twice. Trendy little Innocent Smoothie bottles will be sporting little woolly hats again at the beginning of 2022 and Age UK get 25p for every one sold😉

Check out http://www.thebigknit.co.uk

*Here’s one I made earlier, well on the last campaign!!!*

So once my Christmas knitting is done this is how I will be occupying my needles and what a great way to use up those yarn ends 😊

Woolly wishes

Jane ♡♡♡

STASH-BUSTING #43

Supporting a good deed…

One of my son’s primary school teachers spends her Christmas day each year putting on a Christmas spread for ex soldiers who would normally spend Christmas alone. She asks for gifts.

A couple of beanies nearly completed. I feel the excitement of pom pom fun on the horizon 😉

They will be packed along with toiletries and chocs.

How is everyone’s Christmas knitting coming along? 🎅🎅🎅 yo ho ho!

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

SELF-HELP #37

Fresh air and a bit (of knitting) on the side….

The blog has been somewhat neglected over the past couple of weeks. Autumn is in full swing – cold and damp with the occasional frosty morning. Work is frantic. Exercise and knitting are struggling for space in my itinerary! !!

I was walking by the canal a few days ago in Kidderminster. This photo is taken just round the bend from Caldwell Bridge. I love the rust colours of the leaves but not the shorter days. Less likely to walk in the dark 🌜

On the knitting front I have started working through my Christmas gift list – no details available at the moment 🤔

But I have been picking up the knotty cowl from time to time for a bit of stress relief. I have another 15cm to go…

*The knots aren’t as evenly spaced as they should be 😄*

But look at all the ends to weave in! That is when the stress will start 😉

Getting back on track!

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡

OCTOBER ROUND UP 🎃

Stormy more than spooky…

The month has been windswept and interesting. Quite productive on the home made front.

N has been busy preserving and he has presented me with the little mug this morning, claiming that my friends from the coven left it – cheeky so and so!!!

But look what it does when you make a cup of tea in it

I am easily entertained…

I am planning making pumpkin and chilli soup this afternoon. My lovely dad has been keeping busy growing veg so it would be rude not to use them🎃

On the knitting front I have completed all of the parts of the chunky cardi so looks like I will start November putting it together. The knotty cowl is coming along, about another 12 inches to go and then all of those delightful ends to work in 😥 And I have just got 5 squares to complete the KAL well behind everyone else but I am getting there!

Planning my Christmas knitting list, it will be a thrifty homemade festival this year but need to get a crack on as most will need to posted as no big get together this year 😷

Woolly wishes,

Jane ♡♡♡