After twenty some years I have started knitting again – sometimes I frighten myself – I first began knitting one day back in 1980 with a little help from my mum, who was an avid knitter both by hand and machine. I was expecting my first daughter at the time and continued when my second daughter came along and beyond until they reached secondary school and then I just stopped. Knitting two garments each time took some doing. At first my knitting was knit one drop one but after a while I was mastering cables and yokes and without the advantage of You Tube.
Now it all feels a long time ago but I am starting to remember quite a bit as I go along and with the help of You Tube –Â although I have had to pull out a few rows when I dropped two stitches accidentally on a decrease row and didn’t notice.
I chose this pattern by Sirdar as it said easy knit (I might question that!) and I like the fact the yarn called Baby Crofter, although random, looks a bit like Fair Isle as you knit.
I took the time to wind off some of the wool so I could begin the second sleeve at the same point in the yarn as the first so they match and also match up with the pattern of the front and back.
I have finished the main body of the jumper and need to press and stitch it together so I can pick up around the neck to continue and knit the hood – that will be fun!
I need to practice the start and end of my rows and make a better job – there are it appears many ways to make it neater including adding an extra stitch at each end – does this really work?
This attempt is for Sweetie to grow into – I deliberately chose a 6-12 months size (she is presently 5 months old) in case it took me a long time to make but the knitting part has been surprisingly quick. It might take me longer to do the sewing part.
I have already chosen the yarn for my next project – this time a plain colour, a lovely soft cotton in pale grey and ecru called Cottonsoft by King Cole to make a summer cardigan or jumper. I found it in Boyes which is a wonderful northern store full of cut price goodies like an old Woolworths. Finding patterns seems harder than finding the wool. I am hoping I will find a pattern for little Freddie but if not it will be another one for Sweetie.
I am not sure if Sweetie will want to wear granny’s knitted effort when I have finished it but she is still young enough not to bother too much whereas Libbie (Little L) will be much more fussy I think so I need more practice before I make something for her. I am thinking of one of those summer dresses with a little knitted bodice and fabric skirt.
A few days of painstaking persistence but a very pleasing pastime. x
Christmas Eve has arrived. There was still a lot of hustle and bustle in the village earlier – the last-minute dash to the Co-op and Post Office for those forgotten items; but in the main people are settling down at home now and soon calm will descend on the village again. We were out this afternoon completing my final Advent task. This is how my Advent days 19 to 24 panned out…
I had just four organic lemons to make some lemon curd – there was enough for 3 jars – one jar went to my younger daughter yesterday and another into a home made hamper for my elder daughter and of course one saved just for me for my toast tomorrow.
For each friend we chose a selection of photos some months included pictures of themselves (unseen footage) and we also found photos of places they might recognise.
With difficult presents I wrap them in tissue paper and then put them into plain craft bags that have been stamped or you could stick a Christmas picture onto the bag from an old Christmas card.
The calendars were wrapped in plain brown paper and then stamped with snow flakes.
I also keep a roll of wrapping paper when I want something just a bit special and try to tie in the colours of the paper with a tag made from …you guessed it…an old Christmas card. 
Two glass owls, 5 baubles in the shape of pine cones and a tiny red father Christmas.
But you will need to keep it a secret until Christmas Eve (and her real name too!)
Day 17 – I swapped my Advent task today to make the mince pies – after all Christmas would not be Christmas without them even though I can only eat one or two as they don’t really agree with me now. I often bake these tiny ones as they make a lovely token gift and this batch was to take in to my old workplace for my former colleagues.
The thickness didn’t affect the taste though, the pastry was ‘melt in the mouth’ with no soggy bottoms. After a dusting of icing sugar I packaged them up onto these little white trays (I collected during the year from Chocolate Mini Rolls) lined with a doyley and added a sprinkling of confetti – green metallic holly leaves. 
I also took in a tray of the chocolates. Well it is Christmas.
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