Estonian lace scarf chapter 2

I am really enjoying this!  So far no dramas, but I am having to learn that when doing the nupps, I have to keep the tension REALLY lose!  I have started using my lifelines, I am putting one at the end of every 12th row, with is a good old purl row, and also the last row of the pattern.

I have worked out that if I can do minimum of one pattern every day, that will be about 30 days, plus another two weeks for the borders, that will take up to about Christmas!  So, I have set myself a challenge, I want to lose 4kg while knitting this scarf.  My weigh-in was last night, and I lost 300g, so that is a start.  I definitely forget about food when I sit down with this knitting, and because I am now making my knitting my reward for a day of good eating, I haven't even been dipping into the bickie jar at work!

Of course this time of year is always difficult to stay on a healthy eating plan, we are out for dinner tonight and tomorrow night, but tomorrow night is at a friend's house, we all have to take a sweet, so I am going to make a big bowl of fruit salad, there are some lovely summer fruits appearing in the shops now, so should be able to make it a really nice one.

Today is my day off, oh, how I love my Fridays!!  I have my hairdresser's appointment this morning, then a few hours at home (to do my knitting) before I have my dietician's appointment.  It is going to be warm today, 31 is forecast.  Tomorrow I have my group exercise class in the morning, then home to do some cleaning :(  but Sunday, I am keeping free, I am going to have a knitting day, to celebrate my 300g weight loss! (nearly 2lb, not much I know, but it is a start).

Well, off to do the dishes (I made some lovely porridge in my thermomix for breakfast),
Happy knitting.......

Estonian Lace scarf chapter 1

Oh, I am in knitter's heaven.  I am really enjoying making this scarf, the pattern is so intricate.  But, let me tell you about my eating yesterday.

I only took good healthy food to work, but over in the corner of our office, where the little kitchen is, there was one container full of my favourite biscuits, and another container full of..... chocolate cake, oh, yum.

Oh my goodness, how I wanted to devour some, especially the biscuits, I don't know why I had such a craving.  So I decided to take one hour at a time.  I was a little naughty and put my work down, got my Estonian lace knitting book out of my bag, and just sat for 10 minutes studying the "how to" section.  It completely took my mind of food, and I was able to concentrate on my work again.

Then, when the bell went for the end of the day (I work in a school library), and I have to stay an extra hour on my own supervising students, the biscuits were calling to me again!  Just hang on, I kept telling myself.  Just hang on, knitting tonight, knitting tonight, knitting tonight, but only if I behave myself.

It worked, I got home from work, got the exercise clothes on for a session with my PT who also happens to be my youngest daughter, then had a nice dinner of left over chicken with salad, and toast.  I made two pieces of toast, because I was really hungry, but then, I threw a piece on to my hubby's plate. I really didn't need it, and felt quite satisfied with what I had.  I then treated myself to a little low fat sweet treat, then got stuck into my knitting.  I am so glad I stuck to my eating plan, because the knitting was worth it.

I added about another inch, and I have put my first lifeline in, so now I can do the next few rows with a feeling of safety and security, funny that, the knitting lifeline saves my knitting, but my knitting is becoming the lifeline that saves my health from my bad eating habits!  A win win all around. 

Now, to get through today !!!

Happy knitting.....

The lace knitting has begun....

Well, here it is, the first progress shot of my Estonian hand knitted lace, this is going to be a scarf.  The pink crochet chain is temporary, this will be removed when the stitches are picked up for the border. Out of interest, I am timing this project, this tiny amount of work has already taken 3 hours!!  I have never used lifelines before, but think at the end of the next pattern repeat, I will put one in, I really don't trust myself to get through this without some unpicking!!

Off to work,
Happy knitting.....

The latest project, all finished

 

 

Well here it is, my little summer sweater all finished.  It is for a newborn up to about 3 months.  I used Paton's Dreamtime 3ply pure baby wool, and I am really happy with how it turned out.  There was quite a bit of anguish though!  Two rows were very similar, an I kept messing them up, had a lot of unpicking to do (or unknitting as I call it ).  Still, it has been worth it, I just love it.

 

And the best thing about finishing this little garment is that now I can start a new project, I am going to attempt an Estonian Hapsaalu scarf.  

 

I started it last night, you have to do a "provisional" cast on, which I have never done before.  You use some scrap cotton (I used 8ply or DK), make a crochet chain about 10 chain more than the stitches you will need, then you knit into the crochet chain.  The chain appears to be acting as a stitch-holder, and will be taken off when it is time to add the border.  I am so excited to be starting this project, I am in awe of the designer, Nancy Bush, I think she is my knitting guru!

 

Well, off to work,

Happy knitting......

New project

So excited to be starting a new project tonight.  It is an Estonian lace scarf, I have never tried anything like this before, so I am a little apprehensive, but what is life without challenges!

I am going to use Misti Alpaca hand painted lace, I have a lovely hank of a lovey creamy beige colour which I think will look stunning in this scarf.  I wound the hank into a ball last night, so am all ready to start the knitting tonight.  Instead of casting on, you crochet a length of chain, then you knit the stitches into the chain, which then acts like a stitch holder.  You then pick up these stitches later to knit the border. 

I have to dart off to work right now, so hopefully will be able to post some photos tonight of my just finished baby's sweater, and my new project.

Happy knitting....

Melbourne Cup

Well, yesterday was Melbourne Cup day here in Australia, this is a big horse race "The race that stops a nation", and I REALLLY HATE IT.  I always feel the horses have no choice, and, once again, a horse broke its leg in the race and had to be killed, funny how the news channels never report this, I think they don't want any negative publicity, too much money at stake.

I was glad to see our ABC news reported it this morning, and they used the word "killed" instead of destroyed, which is very true.  The reporter said he used this word deliberately.

At work we had to have our Melbourne Cup lunch (even although we are on the other side of the country to Melbourne), which meant I couldn't do my knitting.  Needless to say, I was in a bad mood all day, and turned, once again, to food.  Grrrrrrrrrr and double grrrrrrrrrr.  I weighed myself this morning, and thankfully, no damage.  So today, back on track.

My knitting is all ready to take to work, hooray, lunch break taken care of!!  I have just had my lovely breakfast of cereal, topped with pear, banana, strawberries and blueberries.  I have put out an orange to take to work for morning tea, so  I won't be tempted with the biccies, and lunch is leftovers, small amount of mashed potato and sweet potato, and about 50g of left over steak, and a whole pile of salad greens to go with it.  Tonight I have an exercise session, so will probably just have an omelette, which I will pack full of mushrooms, tomatoes and capsicum (bell peppers).  THEN, it will be a minimum of 2 hours knitting tonight!  Can't wait!  I hope that doesn't make me sound too tragic.

I would like to lose 2 more kilos before I finish my current project!.  There you are, a challenge for me!

Well, off to work, happy knitting......

Desperate dieter pt 2

Very briefly, I need to go to work!  Last night was another DISASTER, after eating too much at afternoon tea yesterday, I continued to eat too much last night.  Still, today is a new day and it is always easier to eat well at work, so here's to a great day.

No knitting got done last night, as when we got home from the airport, I was just too tired.

Just had a lovely breakfast, wheat flakes with bran cereal, with pear, banana, strawberries and blueberries!  That should keep me going till lunchtime.

You can check out my new facebook page:   http://www.facebook.com/slimknittings  Please feel free to "like" and share my page.

Happy knitting......


Happy

Diary of a desperate dieter Pt 1

Well, I have well and truly fallen off the wagon.  All my old habits have returned, over the past few months I have put on about 7 kilos!  So, it is time to take action.

I have been knitting at night in an attempt to stop eating, but it hasn't really been working.  I LOVE knitting so much, I have decided that it will now be my reward for a day of healthy eating.

I have started this beautiful Perth morning with a lovely healthy juice (made from kale, lemon, ginger, cucumber, parsley, orange and apple), with some beautiful whole grain toast.  Very enjoyable, and I am now going to enjoy a nice cup of jasmine green tea.....

 

Then it was a toasted cheese (low fat variety) & tomato sandwich for lunch, with a nice juicy orange.

 

Then made a batch of banana & raspberry muffins to share with some friends who are coming over this afternoon, these are a Weight Watchers recipe, so one should be OK !

And my current project, a vintage top, in pale lemon, will soon be finished, the pattern is a lot trickier than I thought, there are two row where the pattern is very similar, but in a reverse order, and you have to have your wits about you!  Still, I am really happy with how it is turning out, I have finished the front, nearly finished the back, then just the little short sleeves to go.

 

 

I won't have much time to knit tonight, as we are off to the airport to pick up Michelle, who has been enjoying some time over in Canberra and Woollongong, at two weddings, one of which she was a bridesmaid, so I am looking forward to seeing her photos.  We should be home about 8pm, so may get an hour or so of knitting in before I head off to bed, ready for work tomorrow.

 

Hope my food intake is better this week !!

 

Happy knitting...

 

 



No knitting today

A busy day today, had boot camp this morning, always a struggle at 8am on  Saturday, but leaves you feeling marvellous afterwards!  Then it was off to a morning high-tea for a very dear friend/work colleague who turned 70 today!  Yes, 70 and she still works full time, she tap dances, an amazing person.  But I have an awful feeling the high tea won't help the weight loss :)

Now I am home looking at my pile of ironing which doesn't seem to want to go anywhere :(

Then I have to make a pavlova to take to my sister's house tomorrow, as we are going there for lunch, and then I think I will crash.  Well, I am not going to cook tonight, the hungry hordes can sort themselves out, there are plenty of leftovers in the fridge.  We are going to have a dvd night tonight, I think the very first original  Star Trek movie will be showing!  Trouble is hubby likes to watch movies in the dark, which means the knitting will be staying asleep in it's bag all day (unless I feel a food attack coming on, which means knitting will replace ironing he he)  Still, there's always tomorrow.

Happy knitting....

Kalgoorlie part 2

OK, so the last day in Kalgoorlie we wandered around, had a leisurely breakfast, and we did a tour to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which has a base in Kalgoorlie, really interesting, they do an amazing job servicing remote outback areas.

 

And more wildflowers....

 

 



We also learnt that former American president Herbert Hoover was a mining engineer in and around Kalgoorlie, before his presidential days.  He lived there for some time, and one of the restaurants in one of the hotels is named after him, the Hoover Bar !!  He loved the people at this hotel so much, that when he returned to America, he commissioned this amazing mirror to be made and sent over, and it still has pride of place in the foyer of the hotel...

We had a truly amazing time, and would like to go back and explore more.

Now it's back to the real world, back at work, but only 7 more weeks and that will be school finished for the summer holidays. 

Meanwhile, my eating plan has been slipping a bit.  However, I was really happy that when I weighed in last night, I hadn't put any weight on.  Hadn't lost any either, but that's ok.  I have really been slipping back into pig out mode lately, so I am now going to have my knitting handy, and when I am at home (where most of my pig outs happen), I will just sit for an hour and knit.  It really does take my mind off food.  The knitting diet is born !

My latest work in progress is a lovely little vintage sweater:

I asked my daughter to look through my vintage books to pick out a pattern, and this is what she picked, her reason being that if they were adult sizes, this is what she would like.  I am knitting it in Paton's Dreamtime 3-ply baby wool, it is a lovely pale lemon colour, and is coming along really nicely, but I wonder if anyone else finds that when knitting from really old pattern books, some of the instructions are a little vague.  I think so many people used to knit in those days, that a certain amount of knowledge was "assumed".  Still, it is coming on well now, and am really enjoying it, and it will always remind me of my trip to Kalgoorlie, as I started it on the train.

Happy knitting....

Trip to Kalgoorlie

Wow, that was a fantastic couple of days.  I never realised how much history there was in Kalgoorlie!
The intrepid trio set off on the "Prospector', the train which runs between Perth and Kalgoorlie.

 

 

This is a seven hour train journey, so of course, the knitting had to come with me, it stopped me from buying cakes to eat !!

 



We arrived in Kalgoorlie at 2pm, and 36o heat !!  It was hot !!  Still, we checked into our hotel, then had a wander around the main street, including coffee and a late lunch.  The next day we headed off on our big adventure to Menzies, an almost abandoned mine town, full of history ...

Then it was off on our adventure to Lake Ballard, first time I have EVER driven on a dirt road!  Saw some beautiful wildflowers, and amazing great big lizards on the way, but they were too fast for me to get a shot of them!

Then, finally we arrived at Lake Ballard, where we wanted to see the "Inside Australia" exhibition, a series of sculptures by the artist Antony Gormley.  This is an amazing thing to see, out the back of nowhere, very eerie!!!  However, we were struck by a dust storm, which made it very unpleasant, so we only managed to see about 5 sculptures, and we had to fight the raging winds, grit, sand, dust, salt and goodness knows what else, to make an emergency dash back to the car.  The photos don't really pick up the wind, but believe me, you could barely stand up straight!

The residents of Menzies were somehow scanned, and the sculptures were based on these scans.  We met a lovely gentleman in Menzies, who proudly informed us he was No. 14!!  Unfortunately, the conditions were too bad for us to find him !!

I have to rush off to hairdresser now, so will post some more later.

Happy knitting.....

Another project finished

Well, it's been a while, but haven't been that well, first I had a dreadful cold, then did something to the muscles in my neck and was in a bit of pain for a week, and couldn't even knit, which was just dreadful.

However, all is good now, and my latest project is finally finished:

I am so happy with it, I had a few hiccups, I have never done "bobbles" before, and had a little bit of unpicking to do at the start, but once I got the hang of it, there was no stopping me.  I just love these teddy bear buttons that I managed to find.  It is hard to find really nice novelty buttons around here, so I might have to do some investigating online next time.

Tomorrow I am heading off for a few days, to a place called Kalgoorlie, with my eldest daughter and my mother-in-law.  It is a 7-hour train journey, so I will get my new knitting project all packed tonight to take on the train with me.  It is a vintage, yes, really vintage, pattern from a Paton's knitting book, no publication date on it, but the price is in shillings, so it predates decimal currency, which I think came in in 1966.  So it is an old one!  Have some lovely 3-ply lemon baby wool to do it in.  I just love starting a new project.

So, I am really looking forward to my trip to Kalgoorlie, it is an old mining town, and we are hiring a car to go and see this:  http://www.menzies.wa.gov.au/tourism/things_to_see/lake_ballard.html
It is really in what we Aussies call "The outback", we will have to take lots of water and food with us, just in case we break down, and we will have to let our hotel staff know what time we expect to return!  Bit scary, but very exciting.  Not many people get out to see this amazing site.

Cheerio for now, will hopefully have some amazing photos to post when I get back.
Happy knitting...

Yahoo

Well, it wasn't a great weight loss, but every one helps, I lost 400g ..  feels so good to be heading in the right direction again.  Just rushing off to get my hair cut and do the food shopping, will post some photos of my knitting later..

Happy knitting....

Weigh-in day

I just can't believe it is weigh-in tonight, where did the last week go!  Have had a good week, but the scales at home don't show much change, oh well, never mind, it will eventually show.  I am feeling much better, finally getting rid of this cold I have had for over 4 weeks, and have started exercising again.

My fingers are getting plenty of exercise with my knitting, I really didn't want to eat anything sweet after dinner last night, so got straight into my knitting after dinner.  I was trying to be too clever, I did the sleeves first, on one needle, then thought I would do the left & right fronts together on one needle as well, got to around where the first button hole should be, and realised that I have to COMPLETE the left side first, then mark the button places on it, then work the buttonholes to match on the right side!  So the right side got put on a stitch holder, where it will stay until necessary.

Thought I had finished the left side last night, then it says, keep on with pattern until it measures the same as the back!!  What??  I haven't done the back yet!  So know the left front is on a stitch holder, until I complete the back!!!  So much for being smart!  Oh well, never mind.  It is turning out really well, I am so happy with it, and Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino must be the softest baby wool ever.  I will post some photos when I finish work for the week.  Well, off to work, knitting all packed for my lunch break..

Happy knitting......

Rainy days

Doesn't it just get your back up when you finally get a day with some decent rain, and windy too, perfect knitting weather, but oh no, you are at work !!  Just as well I love my job!  In my rush to get to work on time this morning, I left my knitting at home, what a disaster, I felt so weird at lunchtime, one of my colleagues even asked, where's the knitting !!
Well, I will certainly be getting stuck into it after dinner.  I have nearly finished the right front of my jacket, yahoo!  Then just the left front, back & collar to do !! And the dreaded sewing up of course, and will have to go on a shopping trip to find the perfect buttons.

OK, time to post my "before" photos, here goes.....

 

 

I shall have to have a look around for some "now" photos, although I still want to lose about 12 - 15 more kgs.

 

Happy knitting.....

Happy healthy eating

What a great day I have had.  After having a few meals out over the weekend, it was time to take action and get back to healthy eating, even although I think I made fairly good choices when we were out.

Breakfast this morning was a mixture of Kellogg's Special K and Vogel's Ultra Bran Soy & linseed, with some skim milk, and topped with some cut up fruit - pear, banana and strawberries, absolutely yum.  I just love this breakfast, I could eat it every day!

Then it was off to work, had a mandarin for morning tea (some of the beautiful citrus fruit purchased out at Chittering Valley yesterday), then lunch was a small tin of tuna in springwater, with a green salad, and some Arnott's VitaWeat biscuits, the 9-grain ones.  Afternoon tea was a small tub of low fat yoghurt, and now I am home, and going to have left-over homemade chicken soup  for dinner with some toast.

I know a lot of people would not eat so many carbs, but I need them, I get so tired without them.  I haven't done any exercise today, but usually I have Monday off from exercise.  I am going to attempt getting up early tomorrow morning and going for a walk before work!  Hmmm, we'll see !!

So glad dinner is easy tonight, because then I can sit down and GET STUCK INTO MY KNITTING!! Don't you just love that time of night, and once I start knitting, the urge to pick at food disappears.  I have so many knitting projects that I am dying to start, but I am going to finish my current project first.  Next will be a pair of socks, then a top for my beautiful daughter, and so it goes on!  Oh well, I do like to keep the wool stores in business!

Tomorrow I am going to post my "before photo", be ready for a shock !!

Happy knitting....

Father's Day

Well Father's Day here in Perth was  a lovely day, it think it got to about 22o, overcast but the rain has stayed away.

We took our two beautiful daughters, my hubby's brother, and their mum & dad out to the beautiful Chittering Valley.  This beautiful part of the world is only about a 30 minute drive from our house, lush green rolling hills, grape vines, orange orchards, just beautiful.  We stopped at our favourite orange shed to buy oranges: Golden Grove Orchard and had a Devonshire tea in the old shed, it was so lovely.   I think I bought about 6 kilos of oranges, they are straight from the tree!  And then the owner, who knows my father-in-law, loaded up bags of mandarins for us, for free!  He said he can't sell them to the stores as the skins are blemished!  What a society we have become!

 Then it was back home for more tea and coffee, and after everyone went home, daughter Nicole & I went for a 5km walk.

So, now, thankfully I have a pot of chicken soup made for dinner, it will be feet up, watching the Masterchef final, which of course will be watched with one eye while the other eye is on my knitting!

The weekend has flown by again, but this is the first weekend in ages where I have kept control of my food intake, even although we have been out quite a bit.  It is a good feeling to be back on track, bring on the next weigh-in!

Happy knitting....

Disappointed

Well, the news was not good at my weigh in last night, I gained 400g.  Not too much of a tragedy I know, but  I really hate putting it on when it is so hard to get it off!  I am blaming the TimTams!  Well, myself really for putting them in my mouth :)
However, the good news is that I stayed for the meeting, which put me back in the right frame of mind, and feel very inspired today, have been eating healthy food all day, now just have to deal with going out to an Italian restaurant tonight for dinner...

Today was my day off from work (I have Fridays off) and I had to take my car to get it serviced this morning.  Instead of getting my daughter to follow me and bring me home, I decided to stay and wait.  It only took about 2 hours, and, naturally, I took my knitting with me.  I got a few funny looks, as you just don't see people sitting around knitting any more, well, not here in Perth anyway. Then, lo and behold, a lady came and sat near me, also waiting for her car, and out came a GIGANTIC blanket that she was crocheting!  It was just really cheap yarn she had bought at a $2 shop, a multi-coloured yarn, and it was looking just stunning!  Made me want to learn to crochet. I felt like we had a bond, secret knitter's business he he.

Now for the photos of the beautiful alpaca yarn that my lovely friend Jill gave me at work the other day..
.

 

Jill has even "met" the particular alpaca that this beautiful yarn came from, her name is Amber Rose, and the business is called "Cosy Yarns", you can find them at www.cosyyarns.com.au     I will be putting in another order some time soon !

 

Well, we are out for dinner tonight, so no more knitting for me today.

 

Happy knitting....

The tension builds....

Thankfully my healthy eating has been back on track, had a great day yesterday, got stuck into my knitting last night, and managed to stay away from chocolate biscuits!  Tonight is weigh in night, not sure how I will go, have had a rotten cold/flu thing for a few weeks now, and I can't exercise, because as soon as I exert myself I get short of breath.  If I stay the same I will be happy.  My own fault for eating all those TimTams !!!

I have started on the front sections of my baby jacket, although I am used to the pattern now, I still have to have my wits about me.  It gives you the instructions for the row with the buttonholes, but doesn't tell you which rows to do them in!  So, I am just going to judge the first one from the picture, and as the pattern is 16 rows, will do a buttonhole on the same pattern row each time.  I am definitely challenging myself with my knitting these days, and tackling things of higher difficulty!

Hopefully my daughter will take some photos of my new yarn while I am at work today, and I will be able to post them tonight, along with a (fingers crossed) weight loss figure !!

Happy knitting......

An amazing gift

Well, what a fantastic day at work.  A bit of background, many months ago, just before Easter, my wonderful work colleague, also a Jill, had an accident and fell off her pushbike.  She ended up in hospital for 3 months with a badly fractured pelvis (apparently in 30 places), and a fractured wrist and shoulder.

While she was in hospital, we had a relief at work, well, she was the relief from hell.  I pride myself in getting on really well with almost anyone, but this one was the most difficult person to work with.  It was a very long term.  Thankfully, Jill made a remarkable recovery, and came back to work at the start of this term (about 5 weeks ago).

Today, she arrived with presents for both myself and Carole (my other workmate), to thank us for putting up with everything while she was in hospital (she really didn't have to).  Guess what she gave me?  Six balls of PURE alpaca wool, all natural, no dyes.  Her brother & sister-in-law own a property in New South Wales and they have their own alpacas.  They get them shorn once a year, and get the wool spun.  It is 8ply and just beautiful, so soft.

Now I wonder what I will make.  It is about 450 metres in total.  I have found a nice shawl pattern on Ravelry that might be a winner :)

Trouble is, I just wanted to leave work immediately and do some knitting!  Oh well, have just finished dinner, the knitting will be coming out shortly.  I will post some photos of the new addition to my stash as soon as I have a day off.

Happy knitting........

Keep on knitting

Well, last night was a disaster for me.  I was so tired, I put my knitting away, as I didn't want to make any mistakes (this is quite a complex pattern).  But what happens when I am sitting at night, one daughter was out, the other daughter was watching a movie in her room, and hubby was having an early night??  Well, I had a TimTam  (chocolate biscuit), then I had a second one, then a third, then before I knew it the whole packet was gone!  Oh dear, well, back into it all today.

Today is a holiday for me, I work four days a week in a very nice private school.  This weekend was what we call "boarders' weekend", we send our boarders home for a long weekend so they can catch up with their families.  The good thing is, the whole school closes for this, so I get to enjoy a nice long weekend.

And, the best thing, it has been raining on and of today.  Now, I live in Perth, Western Australia, and rain is quite a rare event for us, even in winter, which we are supposed to be in now.  It was 26oC the other day !!  So, thankfully today is only 19, and fantastic knitting weather.  I went out this morning, did a bit of food shopping, bought a new chair with my tax refund (I say this rather glibly, but it was damned expensive), however, it is going to be my new "knitting" chair!  I have a nice sunny corner in my dining room that is crying out for a beautiful chair.  It is being covered in a regency style fabric, it will take four weeks, I can't wait.

So, this afternoon I have been enjoying watching "Emma", a BBC adaption of the popular Jane Austen book, and have been getting stuck into my knitting. 

 

I have just finished the sleeves, and have zoomed in close so that the pattern is more clear.  It is quite complex, but I am getting the hang of it now.  I always like to do the sleeves first, as I do them both together, and next I shall probably do the left and right front panels, as I will also do them together on the same needle. After dinner tonight, I am getting straight back into it, those chocolate biscuits will NOT get me again!! Just a shame I have to go back to work tomorrow .....

 

 

Happy knitting......

My first post of my new blog!  I love to knit, I find it relaxing (well, unless doing a complicated pattern), and keeps my mind off food.  I also love food!  I have always had a weight problem, so I took up knitting again two years ago, to help keep my mind off food.  It worked!  I have lost 25kg to date!   But I am now absolutely addicted to knitting.  I love visiting yarn stores, oh, if only I had a lotto win, I would open my own store, as there is none close to where I live.

This is my latest project

 

 

This is made from Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn, I loved knitting with it.  It is basically a 4-ply yarn but there are section where the colours become thick and luscious, which has given the wrap a lovely texture.  This pattern is "Hitchhiker" from Ravelry, and I just loved it!  Very easy.

 

Now on to my next challenge - a Debbie Bliss baby jacket, full of bobbles and cables, not quite so easy, but loving it.  Will post some photos next time.

 

Happy knitting :)