Oh, never mind!
I finished the balaclava and sent it away just as the weather here is warming up a little. Still, I’m sure it will come in handy at some point over the next couple of months. As you can see, the slit in the front is pretty small. This version, the Quick and Easy Balaclava by Helen Fleischer from Homespun Handknit covers all of the head, neck and face except the eyes.
I didn’t wash or block it but I’m sure the recipient won’t mind. I did, however, put in a little note about not going into the bank with it on though, just to be on the safe side!
I decided to spend the first part of this year finishing off some of the WIP’s from last year. I thought the mystery yarn socks, ( or as I later found out thanks to jamie12 from Ravelry, Austermann Step) aka Nutkin by Beth LaPensee deserved to be the first.
Remember these? Well, I’d knitted the first one and then just stalled. They were supposed to be finished in time to go in with Mums’ cardigan but just never made it.
These do bias quite a bit. I’ve read that it can be due to not having knitted the cuff together exactly stitch for stitch when you turn it over. I made sure that everything was exact but they still twisted. It didn’t matter though as I didn’t extend the pattern down the feet and for all that said, it’s a great pattern so I can completely forgive it this small thing. The only changes I made was to limit the pattern to the leg and replace the three needle bind off on the short row toe with a grafting so they are seamless. It will be hard to let these go, they’re so comfortable.
I’ve started a quick, plain pair of socks in King Cole Zig Zag sock yarn. I need to replace a few pairs this year as several of mine have been lost recently through wear and tear or various washing errors!
Aptly named! I just hope the other one does the same. The yarn is quite thin so these are on 2 mm dpn’s. At first I wasn’t sure if I liked them but they have a funny feel good thing going on and are growing on me fast.
Next up for finishing will be Anne Evilla.
I put this aside just before Christmas to concentrate on knitting gifts. When I left it, I had only a few stripes left to do before knitting the lace yoke or collar. I’ve read over the pattern again to try and remember things and the instructions don’t seem to be as clear as they were somehow; one of the problems with putting knitting aside is re-acquainting yourself with the pattern each time. Still, I’m hoping to get to grips with it soon, probably not this weekend though unless it rains as the jobs in the garden are mounting up.
I always fall into the trap of believing that in winter there is very little to do but this is rarely the case. There is a hedge that needs sorting pretty soon and I have just received 10 bare rooted strawberry plants that must be put in within the next couple of days at the latest. Also, I didn’t put in any garlic again this autumn. Last years’ was a success from a January planting so I had planned to get that done this month too. The only spare time I have this weekend will be Sunday afternoon so it looks like it will be a busy one!
These beauties keep visiting the blueberry bush on the deck. They are Long Tail Tits looking for insects and check back here regularly.
There are about half a dozen in total and are so full of character I can’t help but stop and watch every time I see them. This one is hanging on a bay that was badly burnt in the cold.
Oh, and I’ve been spinning. More of my plan to finish things up, so hopefully I’ll have that to show next week.
May we all have a peaceful but productive weekend!
