I've not been doing much blogging much lately. I think my new little man is sapping what little time and energy I have, to the extent that if there were 48 hours in a day I still don't think I'd be able to get everything done, nevermind get enough sleep in! And trust me when I say I don't place housework at the top of my Things to Do List. In fact if it makes the list at all then it's doing well! Don't get me wrong, our house doesn't resemble a squat, it's just not the spotless dolls' house I grew up in. "Lived in"; that's what the neighbours call it, quietly!
Knitting. Aah. Well - there's always time for knitting. In the last few weeks, we've been putting Zac to bed a little earlier so now he's tucked up in bed by 8pm which means it's time to sit down with Mr C and whichever selection of teenagers are gracing our dinner table that day, eat dinner and then knit! Yey! I make a rule that unless I have a pressing deadline that evenings are strictly for "me knitting". Sometimes that's a little something for me or Mr C; other times it's something for the kids.
So lately, I have started and, in some cases, even finished:
1. Juju Vail's Layering Shrug - just need to weave in the ends on that. I can't decide whether it needs blocking though. If you've knitted this and blocked it/not blocked it please let me know how you got on. I did love this pattern but wished my yarn was more grey than green. Hey ho.
2. One of Rebecca Danger's monsters for Ol. I did actually finish this. Ol called him "Chicken Monster". I don't really know why because he looks nothing like a chicken. This pattern was a doddle and with hardly any sewing up to do meant he actually got finished (see 1 and 3 - ha!). I think I used a combination of Cascade 220 (green) and Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (sapphire heathers) on 3.5mm DPNs. A great use for some part stash balls of yarn.
3. A pair of vomit socks for me. Although they are much less carrotish than Mr C's. I've just got to finish grafting the toe on one and weave in the ends and they are pret-a-porter! This yarn was Socka Fortissima and although is no where near as gorgeous as the alpaca Artesano Hummingbird I was knitting with last year does feel incredibly comfortable on my feet. The pattern was one I mostly made up to fit my feet based largely on a lot of stocking stitch and 2.5mm dpns.
4. A squid for Sarah. Yes - a squid. It's from Amigurumi Knits. I'm almost there, just need to finish the eyes and the last fin. A challenging pattern with a lot of short rows and a lot of picking up stitches. I'm not sure I knitted any of the tentacles the same way twice but I figured I could wing it. Looking at it, I think you'll agree that you can't see any of my mistakes. I love how toys can be so forgiving! I'm fairly sure that both colours were Cascade 220 which is just great for making toys and my trusty set of 3.5mm dpns. These 3.5mm dpns are turning into my new favourite needle size. Did I just type that? I mean, really - who has a favourite needle size. *show of hands* Ok - I feel better now!
I tweeted yesterday about making another tentacled wonder, this time for Alex. He fancies the octopus, again out of Amigurumi Knits and having seen @ponddrop's finished version yesterday I think it will be on the trusty 3.5mm dpns very soon!
Pen x
