Wrist Warmers or Fingerless Mitts

 In this cooler weather, whether inside or outside keeping one's wrists warm makes such a difference.

Felicity Mitts for my sister

Last year my sister was delighted with the pair of fingerless mitts I sent her, and then my nephew asked for some as he was a 'computer professional' and his hands got cold.  These were made to my design and knitted in pure wool which is machine washable.

As I type this post I am wearing something similar to the ones I knitted for my sister except I forgot to add the eyelet row required for the fancy tip at the top, but did make both to match. Both pairs were knitted in fine Alpaca 4ply, which I had in my stash! 

Once you get the hang of knitting in the round which I do on fixed circular needles, they are really easy to knit.  On the back of 'parading' my mitts at a gathering of WI friends making a lovely Christmas table centre decoration, demand was such that someone suggested setting up a Knit and Natter group but not just to knit wrist warmers I ought to say!

I've just asked a non knitting friend and Queen Bee of the WI here, if she would like me to knit her a pair of wrist warmers she said yes.  And after she said what her favourite colours would be, I couldn't believe it that she chose colours which just matched a pair I have in my 'Stashed Box'!  I won't post the picture until she has been given them though.

I've have just found a resource which gathers together a number of  patters for Fingerless Mitts and Gloves: some for free and some you will need to pay for,  so do go there to choose a pair to knit!

Laverne Socks No 2

 I haven't picked up my knitting needles since I finished these socks in July.  What with one thing and another, but now it is cooler, and I have received the hint that I am not sitting down enough, it was time to look through my knitting bag, sort it out and think of something interesting to knit.

When I came to pack these socks away, I found that I had knit the same pattern back in 2016.  There they were nestled up in my stock of new socks box. 

I've decided to move along and knit some wrist warmers to send to my sister.  I'm trying out a pair to judge the construction as I would like to knit ones that are longer in the arm for her.  I found a pattern on Ravelry called Spatterdash which I am attempting, but may well try different patterns after all, they are probably a little quicker to knit up that socks, and will make surprise Christmas Presents.

With all the challenges to use less fossil fuels, but the importance of keeping warm and comfortable, I think that wool will be making a great comeback, not that it ever fell out of favour in this household.

Thistle Socks

 With another 'plant named' socks on my needles, I find comfort in knitting in those odd moments.  These have been on my needles since 12 December 2020, so have been knitted over the Christmas period, and should be finished before the end of January. This hand knitted pair of Thistle Socks will then be stored in my box of socks.

When I could no longer fit all 'The Knitter' magazines in all my boxes, I realized that it was time to review why I was keeping them, and what I should do going forward.  I ditched over 100 magazines, tearing out patterns that may appeal, and the majority were sock patterns. It was a very hard thing to do, as there is so much eye candy.  I still have another 59 stored! I've also stopped my subscription to the magazine.  I have sufficient patterns to use, and enough yarn to knit up for at least three years. 

I have a few more magazines till the end of the current quarter, and my interest was piqued by an article on historical knitting of Welsh Wigs: an interesting article and so well written up Penelope Hemingway.

The enter and they leave the newly knitted sock depository.  

Covid Cardigan in Alpaca

 I remember knitting my first Trance Pattern up in red wool, and I am still wearing it over fourteen years later.  Trance is a knitting pattern by Kim Hargreaves that appeared in Rowan Magazine No 26, which I still have. With a nice stash of Alpaca yarn, I have others too, I checked the tension and that I had all the right needles etc.  It is finished now and is just finally drying off.

In the true spirit of using what one already has, I went through my button box and found some Fimo buttons which I had made at a workshop with Henlen Clues. I know they will last, as when I got back from the course, I sewed a button on the side of one of my hand knit socks, which I have worked out have been machine washed around 200 times. 

Liked them so much I made two: Teapot cosies

An old unfinished project was frogged: aka technical knitting term for undoing yarn.  The first teaccosy made on a knit, unknit, reknit xxx times till it was right.  The second one was just a copy, and worth while doing whilst I had all the notes,  but with the addition of my favourite colour: green as a contrast.

The polo neck, surely they are due for a resurgence, was added to accommodate the knob on this lovely stainless steel pot.  Mr S manages to get three full mugs which he drinks at each sitting....

It is Mr S who has tea, but I do look at the teapot on the table!  Mats were colour coded with an addition of a 'crocheted' edge.

I have a friend Diana who is a wiz with colour work.  I find it tricky but using the technique known as mosaic knitting manage not to end up with unruly and untidy backs. 

Knitted Tea Cosy

New made to measure tea cosy and base completed today.  The old one was nearly ten years old.

On old incomplete project in lovely wool and alpaca was unraveled, unkinked, and used....must find some green yarn somewhere to made a second one....

Sweet Chicory Socks

Knitting socks is just the sort of thing to take one's mind off the weather.  I had this pattern lined up after having come across it when I was supposed to be sorting out my old Knitter Magazines.  As I was leafing through the most recent magazine Issue 147, I came across a 'Master Class' on tubular 2 x 2 cast-on in the round.

 As Sweet Chicory starts off with this type of rib, these were the ideal socks to start on.

Another useful lesson was using 2.75mm needles together with the method, has lead to a really comfortable cuff.  As I like long socks, with more repeats of the pattern, and slim ankles, I changed to 2.5mm needles after 4 repeats.

Another pair to add to my stash!

Teasel Socks

Early January my friend Maggie having returned from one of her trips brought me a gift.  We are both knitters, and all the way from Australia this fine hank of yarn was gratefully received.  Of course it was soft,and a subtle pink shade called Cowrie.

Saltwater Yarns from Western Australia

One evening I brought it out, and hung it on my swift, and spent time gently winding the yarn into a 'cake'.  The only cake being the woolly kind.

Swift mounted yarn

I was supposed to sorting out all my copies of The Knitter, trying to turf out old copies.  I came across 'Teasel Socks' by Jane Burns on the very day I was sorting out my seeds and found some Eryngiums seeds.  Eryngiums are not quite teasels but not that dissimilar, so the pattern was decided. I haven't yet found one edition I am prepared to part with yet, but I ought to get round to it.

I am completely converted to knitting socks on circular needles.

With a little adjustment to the pattern, the ribbing on the cuffs runs well into the body of the sock.

Twisted Ribbing flowing into the  stiches of the pattern.

The pattern is easy to follow from the chart, which I had written up on a grid, and mark as I finish each row.

Knitting is a soothing and mesmerising pastime and helps to ground me even when storms are buffeting the house.

These have taken me just about one month to knit.....

All good gardeners need warm socks

Extra long wool socks with wiggly path pattern are just the ticket for keeping me warm.  I've been knitting these over the Christmas Period, and are now ready for the sock drawer.  It is a lovely pattern and looks great in a solid colour.  Yellow for cheeriness even when it is cold and damp.

Garden Path Socks

In a Vase on Monday - First Hard Frost

I've let myself off today.  Early on it was obvious that there had been the first hard frost, even without stirring, I knew this as I could hear a windscreen being scrapped of ice.  Sunrise was colourful, and as we sat having our breakfast the colours were being reflected off the tessellated  icy surface of the birdbath.  First time this year there has been frost in the back garden, and still it has not reached under the shelter of the Oak.

Ever since the summer an arrangement of Quaking Grass: Briza Maxima, in a cloisonne vase, has been floating around the house.  For the moment it is in the dining room and at last it has its place on IAVOM.

The reflection is of a Wild Australian Cockatoo.  I bought a pair of prints some time ago and love the saying on the leaves:

This is an extract from the The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám.

I could be going down the garden path later, instead I am working on my socks the pattern is called Garden Path Socks!  This isn't the first time I've knitted this pattern.

After reading some Musings by Alan Titchmarsh

 I am still waiting for my Book-club's next read for December to arrive, and during that wet weather felt in need of a little escape, and found a novel by Alan on the shelves.  I have enjoyed both books.  With the Grand Tour, it got me looking up old photographs from our first Grand Tour of Italy over 25 years ago, and then checking out places Mr Gandy visited on the internet...I enjoyed this 'no air miles' holiday.

I wonder what Cathy will have posted this week...off we go: yes it is something small and sweet, and also linked into Cathy's post are comments and contributions from myself and many others.

Phloem

Intrigued by the title?  I too was curious as to what this meant.  The internet informed me that this is a term applied to living tissue in vascular plants through which organic compounds made during photosynthesis is moved to parts of the plant where it is needed.  As a lover of plants and trees this was interesting.....

However in this post I present Phloem as the name given by Rachel Coopey to her sock pattern.  She was inspired by the structure and clean lines of leaves and buds in the spring.  Left and right socks mirror each other, with a lace leaf motif running down one side of the leg and a pattern of buds running down the other.  Now that I have read this...I may just be on the lookout for some more soft luxurious sock yarn to knit up a second pair.  I came across this pattern several years ago and had it in my 'to knit' folder, ready printed off.  It was completely coincidental that I had first picked a ball of West Yorkshire Spinners sock yarn from my stash then went to research for a pattern to use.  If you would like to  knit it,  the free pattern can be found on the Knitty Website.


With the legs a little longer than the original, here are my socks complete a couple of weeks ago.

I love the detail of the pattern with the interesting cuff

Hand Knitting Socks - Second pair of Portmeirion Socks

This is one of my activities which I call yoga for the mind......I find it very relaxing.  I enjoy what is termed 'piquant' level or at least for me in knitting patterns.  Socks are small things to knit and very portable.  With using just the two circular needles, it makes it easy on so many levels.  I have a little 'stash' of special socks, unworn, and waiting the day to be gifted or simply taken out of the pillow case in which they are stored, to admire, or maybe choose a pair to give away.

A little way back I had selected a pair of lovely socks in my favourite but now discontinued and unobtainable yarns to send to a friend.  They were quite hard to part with...but still having the pattern and appropriate coloured sock wool from another manufacturer, I set to and finished a pair for myself;

This was early in the year during January......then I had to look for another knitting project.  The knitting mojo is having a bit of a rest, and I am really trying to use up some of my stash!

Down the Garden Path Socks

 Loved the name of this pattern...and very easy to knit too, after I had worked out a few simple corrections to the pattern.  As usual transcribing the pattern to graph paper and colour coding stitches helped me to read the chart easily and follow my progress.  These socks were mainly knitted up during those moments when you have to sit down a little:  waiting for coffee to cool, sitting keeping Mr S company when he is watching TV or listening to the radio.

Without wearing the socks myself and contorting myself in order to take a reasonable shot of the socks, its difficult to show off socks that have matching but 'opposite' patterns on the outside of the foot. Are they mirror images?  Each pattern for each sock is different.  There is therefore a right sock and a left sock.

For a long time I have been admiring the wooden sock and stocking forms or blockers in Museums, and were aware that there were modern ones in plastic.  Of course they are quite unnessary when knitting socks...but its a great way of showing off the patterns of socks such as these.  I was delighted to source some nicely made ones. 

There is a tiny little problem in that I like to knit long socks...but the maker has pointed out that as I am interested, they may start to make longer versions.  I just love the little sheep and stars that came in the package too.

Knitting and Baking

Its been a quiet few months as far as knitting is concerned.  Other things have been taking up my time.  I finally finished my Paulie Cardigan:  this is a free pattern and if you are on Ravelry you can see just how many variations there are of this pattern.This is a lovely seamless garment, knitted from the top down.  I had planned on knitting this several years ago and had some lovely baby alpaca yarn in one of my favourite colours stashed away in a gauze bag. 

I started this project at the end of January and called it 'Spring Fever', as it was green, and I thought it would be finished in time to wear out as a 'Spring Jacket'.  I have picked up the project from time to time.  With everything knitted on circular needles, with the sleeves 'in the round', the only sewing up were a few ends, and the buttons.

The buttons came from the local haberdashery shop, and with the jacket washed and blocked, it is now ready to wear.

Feeling much better today after a few days of coughing and spluttering...well enough to walk into Town, and pop up to the market.  Maybe it was the sunshine that helped me recover. It is the 20th October, and only one week till the clocks change, yet it has been warm enough to sit out and eat lunch in the garden, with bumble bees still dipping into late flowering nasturtiums.

To remind us that it is indeed autumn, I have just baked Apple Buns.  The buns today are one day late, as when I started them yesterday, which is our normal bun day, I saw that the recipe required a 24 hour autolyse of part of the flour and liquid.  This technique develops flavour in the bun, and makes the dough easy to handle and shape.  This must be at least the third time I have baked these buns...

Swallowtail Shawl

I took the yarn, needles, and instructions for the Swallowtail Shawl on Holiday.  It was very soothing re-knitting for the fifth time this lovely pattern, and spent siesta times on our terrace knitting and watching the local swallows flying around.  At Knossos there were swallows nesting in the shade of the reconstructed chamber....

Back home the weather continues as hot if not hotter than it was in Crete, and having finished the shawl just before the flight, I got down to washing and blocking it.  With the dry weather, and very low humidity, even in the shade it took less than two hours to dry to perfection. 

Everything feel into place with this shawl:  the perfect present from a friend, a lovely holiday knitting pattern, and the connection with Swallows.

Mr S decided to celebrate my official birthday.  During a special breakfast I opened my present....

Its a clear glass stacking cup and saucer and infusion pot.  I love to be able to grown my own 'tea' and this lovely dry weather is just the ticket for drying the Lemon Verbena.  The shrub that remained outside all winter is growing away well now, despite having also been moved just before the last snow.  This is the harvest from the small shrub which I overwintered in the shed.  Once it starts to regrow, I'll take more cuttings to overwinter.

Its so warm and the sun so very hot,  that some of my plants are being scorched.  Geraniums in pots have been moved to shady spots, and the row of beetroot and lettuce is sheltering under white fleece.  Normally the fleece is used for winter protection, but here it is acting as sun protection.  I waterlast thing at night, and leave the fleece off to aid air circulation.  In the morning, I pick that days lettuce...currently thinnings, and replace the fleece just before the sun comes round.

Swallowtail Shawl

It was particularly hot on Friday, and in the small amount of shade by the house, we were sitting having our lunch.  Answering the door,  Mr S returned to the garden with a parcel.  I was intrigued..nothing had been ordered or was outstanding.  On opening the jiffy bag this is what I found.

A note with the one word 'ENJOY' and two skeins of hand dyed lace weight Pure Kid Mohair yarn in the most delicate mixture of lime green and blue.

As I continued my painting of skirting boards and door architraves during the afternoon, with peace and quiet I mused on several aspects concerning this parcel.  There was no postage stamp or cancellation mark to indicate where the parcel was posted...the printed postage paid label issued by the Post Office gave no clue. There were only neat capital letters on the envelope and a one word entry on illustrated notepaper.

Before the advent of emails, easy phone calls etc, keeping in touch with friends by post meant  recognising handwriting, pens and ink, as well as the telltale cancellation mark on the stamp showing the origin of posting areas, time, date etc.  All these would let you know which friend had written to you.  Indeed when I first wrote letters, it was customary to write one's own name and address on the back of the envelope.  Times have certainly changed.

Following on from this, I started to think of who would understand me and my passion for knitting, and my love of fine yarns.  Who might guess that a thoughful present may just be the thing to light a little spark of enthusiasm.  It suddenly came to me....and the handwriting then seemed familiar.  When Kay gave us instructions and directions at our WI craft meetings, or would slip some note through my front door, the short and to the point details were in this script.

A phone call during the evening confirmed my thoughts, and had I checked my emails I would have known, but also I would not have spent such a lovely few hours painting and thinking about the sender.

This is the gist of what Kay had written to me:

Our speaker last night talked about wool, spinning and knitting.  It was a real fun evening.  Lots of noise and laughter as we all tried different methods of spinning. Ancient and modern.  Lots of information and knowledge about different types of sheep wool and lots of samples to touch and feel.  The speaker  takes the wool from fleece to garment all natural processes and materials including the dyes.  After the talk I was looking at her samples and she had some beautiful little triangular scarves, not as beautiful or intricate as yours, but how they reminded me of you.  I am sending you a little gift, as I could not resist it, to knit yourself a little bit of spring.

The Kenilworth WI was a lifeline for me when I moved to that area and particularly the craft group, where over the years I learnt many new skills.  As a parting present Kay made me this beautiful sampler which is now hanging on the wall.

Following our phone conversation I mused on what I would knit.  I looked through my Ravelry wishlists, through my lace knitting books, and notes.  I dug deep, and still could not decided, so slept on it.  It came to me in the middle of the night.....It would be The Swallowtail Lace Shawl

I lost my shawl many years ago...and I miss it. I used to call it my tucker.  And each time I wear it, another opportunity to think of my dear friend.

Portreath Socks Complete

The pair of socks called Portreath...can be worn right way

or inside out...

Oh to be besides the seaside with a little sunshine!