Random thoughts and things - or not sure what title to give this!

Plan, I have no plan..... things change.  Today, I was supposed to get my eyes tested and we had based our day around that.  Now, one call, cancelling said test has changed that plan.  I see little point now for going into town. I really don't "do" shopping unless its for something I particularly want. I can see absolutely no point in just going in and out of shops for the sake of it.

It has just rained (again) so the garden is wet (again).  We do have wood to cut and stack and thats a possible job if we get no more rain.

Housework and washing done, so whats a girl to do....... get out the knitting

This is the progress on the dress.  Back complete and one sleeve started. It is a very quick knit and easy pattern.  I decided to get the sleeves done first so that when I have completed the front - the interesting bit - its more or less finished.  I hate when you are itching to see a finished garment that you still have the boring sleeves to knit.

and because I was awake and downstairs at 3:30am yesterday morning, I cast on a oddments cardigan, not the neatest of colour change along one edge but it beats darning in all those ends.

Its been an odd week, I got a bonus visit with the little boys on Tuesday as their Mummy had to go into work, and I have some holiday that needs using up. Here is a  few photos of them both, we have them next weekend so be prepared for a photo ladened post.

We have the youngest and her partner coming for dinner tomorrow as their house is upside down with major house renovations before the baby arrives.  Why do we do this? I can remember being pregnant and then deciding to do major house works, maybe its just easier than doing it with a baby in tow.  We spent a pleasant afternoon yesterday buying maternity clothes and looking at all the lovely baby things. You do have to ask though why they make it so hard to buy something when you haven't decided to find out what the gender of your baby is. White, beige, boring......

Best get on, I can here hubby chopping wood! I hope you have some exciting plans for your weekend.  Do share!

Take, make, recycle

a couple of pairs of free hotel slippers, a few knitted flowers and some buttons........

and turn them into pretty guest slippers

What to do on a wet Sunday

Sort your stash, then blog about it!

Messy desk 

New purchases and oddments basket to go somewhere

stash cupboard  - before

then after - bottom is all wadding and stuffing, so can't really look any tidier!

4 projects bagged up and waiting

Giveaways 

I spent a useful morning having a good sort out.  I neatly bagged up the yarns, made sure I knew what ply they were and made sure each shelf only had that ply yarn.  I went through (again) the yarn I was given earlier this year and tried to be honest, "would I knit with this?" If it was no, then its going to someone who will.  Lots of the ladies at knitting group knit for charity so its sure to get used.  I can now open the cupboard doors and nothing falls out on me!!

I have four projects bagged with yarn and pattern, so if I get bored with knitting that dress, then I can pick up something else.  I also sorted my patterns and did the same.  So now its all neat and tidy...... BUT I cannot justify buying anymore yarn for the foreseeable future

Off the needles

Just love this little pattern - Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea - FOC on Ravelry.

Not sure what to start next.....

the dress for Rachel or the cot blanket for which I have this yummy yarn

A yarny day out

The annual Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace has come around again.  We went yesterday and had a great time.  Stayed the longest we ever have. Possibly bought more than usual, though maybe not. We took a newbie with us yesterday - Jan, who is Stuart's mum, she's not a knitter but loves to sew. There was plenty there for her to enjoy.

Rachel wearing her new top.  Lots of admiring glances, though it may have been for
the baby bump

The first thing to greet us with this yarn bombed taxi - great job Cate and Co.

The picture quality is brilliant as I only took my small Sony, as this fits easily into my bag, but I have no lens control, basically what you see is what you get.

Black Sheep Wools - what did I buy more on that later

Some aisles were a bit of a crush

Toft Alpaca's knitted toys

No sorry I will not make this!

Jan purchased one of these kits

Interesting!!!!!!

 Then a walk through some of the design and needle art displays

Rachel's top was much admired, in fact one lady saw her earlier in the day, then came back to "find" us so I could tell her the name of the pattern and yarn.  She was very complimentary, its great feeling.  Another lady felt it was perfectly acceptable to stroke Rachel's baby bump, she was actually lucky that Rachel didn't deck her!  What makes people think they can do that?

So on to the purchases - these were from Black Sheep Wools, I love their yarn piles

100% wool - £19.99 reduced from £29.90

80% bamboo 20% wool - £16.99 reduced from £39.90

85% cotton 15% kapok - £19.99 reduced from £49.90

 Then on to the buttons, some bright fun ones for a change

4 packs for £10

perfect fit

 Then just some acrylic for a couple of projects on my list

Next, we saw this dress knitted up and Rachel really admired it.  So being a good Mummy I said I would knit it for her.  She purchased pattern and yarn immediately. There is just enough detail to stop it getting boring, plus aran weight so should be a fairly quick knit.

Jan and Rachel bought lots of fabric for a baby quilt and mobile.  We actually got a bit fabric'd out by the end of the show. As usual we ended the day with dinner in Green Lanes. Same restuarant, same meal, we daren't go off piste for fear of being disappointed, and at this place we never have been.

It was a great day out and many thanks to Rachel for driving us and to Jan for joining us, hope you both enjoyed your day as much as I did.