BIG SOCK, LITTLE SOCK!

Over the weekend I took a short break from knitting baby clothes and got on with knitting socks for slightly older people who are having a wonderful time at the moment touring New Zealand in a camper van. When we were all together in Malaysia during August I promised them socks for their return in the new year. The yarn was bought when I got home and has unfortunately sat in my bag for quite some time. I needed a kick start to get on with them and chilly weather at the weekend kept me inside and obliged.

This is a new pattern I'm trying, just very plain and easy to follow which I was given free when I was in the Orkneys. This one tells you how many rounds to do for each section so as long as i've turned my counter in the right direction both socks should match.

Now this other little sock is another matter. Very tiny, not complicated, no mistakes and yet on Friday afternoon I knitted and knitted and knitted. It didn't seem to matter how much I knitted I couldn't seem to finish it.
 Why is it that something so small takes so long to do?
Fiddly, I suppose, that's all I can think of.
Just one more to do, well for this particular little outfit!

A DISMAL WET WEDNESDAY

So, the forecast was for a wet Wednesday and indeed that is what we've had. I had to pop out this morning for a while but was quite relieved to be indoors this afternoon with  a cup of tea, some lunch, more tea and the tv on showing a re run of last nights "Last Tango in Halifax" while I got on with my knitting.

(I had my own little nodathon going on between 9 and 10pm last night Oops!)

Here is a sneak preview of the little outfit I'm making for my soon to be grandson. The jacket is also nearly finished but that is in an off white colour. Both yarns are Drops Fabel which I've not knitted with before and I'm finding really nice to work with.

Today also saw the finish of the Drops Harlequin jacket and booties.

I raided my mum's button box and although I have a feeling theses buttons probably came off my dad's old trousers at some time or another, I think they're perfect for the jacket.

I found the booties quite fiddly to make but I think that was because it was quite hard knitting with this colour, not good on the eyes! I am always so relieved when I knit things in pairs that they are actually a matching pair when they're finished.

I'm going to leave you with my post now as I'm off to the kitchen to prepare our dinner, roasted pork followed by plum crumble. Just the thought of it is making me feel quite hungry. Is it me or does everyone feel hungrier when it's cold, dark, wet and miserable outside?

WARM HAT AND NEW YARN

These crocheted hats were a hit with my grandchildren and so quick to make. I did post a photo of the pink one, posing on a salt cellar but they do look so much better actually on a head. I hope you agree!
 I used some left over Drops Big Delight and unusually I managed to use up near enough all of the yarn by also making them both a crochet head band.
They should keep their heads warm on their winter walks to and from school!

I wanted to make them a little something before I start on baby clothes for their little baby brother.

Here is the yarn I have chosen to begin with!

I'm already working on the sleeves of a first size jacket which will also have pants and socks in the blue edging colour.

I know, I have seemed to have bought quite a lot of blue, when there are so many colours out there but, this is just a starting point!

AN AUTUMN LONG WEEKEND AND A NEW HAT FOR JESSICA!

We've just had a lovely long weekend in France, in Carcassonne which is somewhere between Toulouse and Narbonne.

We stayed in the medieval cite which was very busy during the day but at night time, very peaceful!

So nice for there to be some warmth still in the sun, when it was out and to enjoy a coffee or glass of wine while we sat and watched others meandering passed.

Apparently they filmed some of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves here!

And this is the little square where there was an abundance of restaurants and cafes'.

We took a walk through the castle itself and along the ramparts!

I particularly liked the colours of this stain glass window in the cathedral as the sun shown through!

The canal du midi was a nice place to have a slow stroll. There wasn't much boating activity, I suppose because it's the end of season.

When we got back home and despite the fact that I still have one bootie to knit to match the Harlequin baby outfit, I couldn't resist ploughing through the Drops patterns and ordering my yarn for all the baby outfits I intend to knit.

I couldn't resist this crotchet pattern for my grand daughters and spent just one afternoon making this for Jessica with some yarn from my stash.

(I am so sorry about this picture. In my efforts to make it look more photographic and as I didn't have Jessica's head here with me to model it, I draped it over the salt cellar and now I've made it look like a tea cosy!)

I'm now in the process of making one for Charlotte.

At this point, if you've ever wondered, I can confirm that the Drops Delight yarn washes up a treat.

Last night I was just about to tackle the last round of the hat when I had a mishap.

I stopped to have an evening cuppa in front of the tv when the next thing I knew I'd been woken by the feel of gushing tea all over my recently finished blanket, right through to my trousers and beyond.

My crotchet hook was still in my other hand!

Fortunately the hat was not involved in this incident.

I felt a right stupid idiot!

The hat, will hopefully be finished later today!