2016 - a mixed bag year

Here we are, 29th December and only 2 days left of this year.

As I look through my year there have been lots of good along with the sad. I didn't blog as often as previous years but here are some of the highlights:-

I was 60!. The birth of young Angus (Gus) in May.  A trip to Chelsea. Three good holidays - you may remember New York, France (there are actually 4 posts on this), then of course Southwold .

I have accomplished loads of knitting, according to Ravelry I have completed 58 projects - you can check out most of my projects here. Awards for my bouquet - magazine and 1st prize

I have been getting to grips with my iphone camera and attended a workshop in March.  I have to admit to not using my big camera anywhere near as much, and to be honest I miss it, but the camera phone is always there, no fuss.

So many celebrity deaths, I guess the older we get the more likely that people we have grown up with leave us.  Fact of life, but sad nonetheless. I try not to dwell on the sad things in life, but they are always in the back of your mind.

We had a lovely christmas, I didn't take many photos, but here are a few

We are currently off work, and have been getting out and enjoying the frosty weather.  Here are a few snaps from our walks yesterday and today

So that was our year, I do wonder what 2017 has in store for us.

Wishing you all a very happy New Year from Granny's World - Sue xx

Knitting - 1st WIP of 2016

Good morning/afternoon and welcome to day 2 of 2016.  The trees are down, the house is tidy and I have been having fun with a new project.

This project is for Rachel, she requested a fair isle yoked cardigan and we trawled through Ravelry looking for ideas.  Finally deciding on the Ellen Cardigan by Amy Christoffers

The yarn I am using is Stylecraft Special Aran with Wool for the main, and just oddments of aran weight yarn for the fair isle. I love working top down as it allows you to make adjustments as you go (Rachel is very tall) and also allows for the fun bit right at the start.

There have been a couple of project that I finished in the run up to Christmas but haven't shared on here.

The first was for Rebecca, she wanted a short sleeved but long chunky cardigan, again we went to Ravelry for the source and found this pattern - Best West from Drops  knitted in Drops Andes.  Rebecca decided whilst trying it on along the knitting process that she wanted the neck line to be round rather than a collar and to leave off the pockets (they'd only get filled with tissues and odds and ends from the boys).  This was the end result.  Rachel says the photos don't do it justice but as yet I don't have any of Rebecca wearing it.

There was just enough yarn left over for a matching hat which I made up from a basic hat pattern using the pattern repeat from the cardigan

Next whilst awaiting the navy yarn to arrive I whipped up this little number for Jessica.  Her first jumper/sweater. The pattern is from Sirdar's Secret Garden pattern book and called Design A.  It have a flower design around the bottom but the yarn I used doesn't really allow it to show up. The yarn used was King Cole Twist which is an aran weight.

These photos were taken in bad light so don't really do it justice either

I have lots of plans and projects in mind for the new year.  One being to try and work through some of my stash.  Lots of it has been hanging around for a while and should really be used.  I have several cardigan patterns in mind for myself.  I have yarn for a cot blanket (needed for May).  I'd also like to make another Ten Stitch Blanket, no idea who for or what colourway, but they are such a fun project to do.

So there you have it a new year, a new project and a whole fresh year laid out with no firm plans as yet....... the possibilities are endless