Scrappy Sock Yarn Blanket is back on the needles!

Celebrating Easter in the UK, we are lucky enough to have a 4 day Bank Holiday.  After a bit of work on Friday, it was time to make the most of the time off.

The weather was favourable, so I got stuck into gardening at home, sowing seeds in my greenhouse and working down at the allotment.  This went on for most of the weekend.  Even my little fat man was laughing at me!

A perfect weekend you might think. Well my day job is as a......... gardener!  Still rewards were had with these lovely tulips from the allotment, as well as new season purple sprouting broccoli and rhubarb. Plus it's a lot tidier to boot.

Of course, I also managed to sneak in some knitting - well a girl needs some downtime!

So here I go again.  Another WIP (Work in Progress) is back on track.  Way back in 2010, I got a pattern for a double knit yarn blanket from my local yarn store. You create lots of individual diamonds to make the blanket and the best thing - there's no sewing together.  It's all done in the knitting.  I adapted it slightly for 4ply sock yarn, using 3.25mm needles.

A similar pattern is available here on Ravelry.

Well, it then got put in my knitting bag and promptly forgot about with only 20 diamonds done.  But no more! Its my next challenge.

My blanket is 12 diamonds across and nearly 1m in width.  When I started it, I had very little sock yarn, so the colours are a tad muted.  No chance of that now, as I have acquired an awful lot more.

I am now up to 35 diamonds and counting.  Not sure how long it's going to be yet.  Will just keep adding the diamonds until I am happy with it.  My plan is for a lap blanket to snuggle under when I'm TV knitting.

It is, by no means, going to be quiet and tasteful!

Perfect, easy TV knitting, though hopefully it won't take another 5 years to complete. It will have to be put aside for a while, as I need to complete my second sock for a test knit.  More on that soon.

Who would have thought it would be nice enough to sit outside early evening over Easter and do a spot of knitting.  Makes up for all that gardening!

Happy Easter and Happy Knitting all!

Ariel Bias Scarf - Only 2 1/2 years in the making!

So rather a long time ago (September 2012!!!), I was brought back 2 lovely skeins of Americo Original Cotton Alpaca 4ply yarn from Toronto, Canada.  With it came a pattern for the Ariel Bias Scarf.  A really simple pattern using 5mm needles.

I duly cast on my 67 stitches and did 2 purl rows.  You then start the 2 row stitch pattern of Knit 3 stitches, then repeat YO (Yarn over), K2tog (Knit two together) to the last 2 stitches, Knit 2.
Turn the work, Knit 2 stitches, Purl to the last 2 stitches, Knit 2. And so forth.

Except I only got a few rows in and then the scarf got cast aside for a new pair of socks....... and then another!

But 2015 is all about finishing my WIP's (works in progress) that I wished I finished ages ago and using up some of my yarn stash (then I don't feel guilty about buying more).

Its a super easy pattern to memorise and knit in front of the telly (or in a recent traffic jam - at least I wasn't a grumpy driver! I wasn't going anywhere, so might as well be time effective).

I kept at the pattern until I was nearly out of yarn - 200g later and over 2m in length, I finished with the 2 rows of Knit stitch and cast off.

My Ariel Bias Scarf at last.

Its an un-dyed alpaca /cotton yarn from Peru and I just love the colour.

I think it rather suits me!

3 languishing WIP's finished so far this year and its only April tomorrow!

Happy knitting!

Hedera Socks - Look what was in my WIP's basket!

So my plans to do lots of knitting this year are coming along well.  Plus I am working though my WIP's projects (work in progress), that have been hanging around for far too long.  Obviously I'm not finishing things just for the sake of it.  That would be a terrible waste of yarn!  However, sometimes things jump out of the WIP's basket and shout 'finish me'.

I started a lovely sock pattern called Hedera by Cookie A, back in November 2013.  But for whatever reason, I started another pair of socks and the Hedera's languished in the pile.  Such a shame, as I was using gorgeous high twist yarn by Five Moons in the Blackberry Twist colourway.

When I started the socks back in 2013, I knit about 2" of the first sock and that was it.  I used 2.25mm needles and cast on 60 stitches.  My usual number for socks, but normally on 2.5mm needles.  Just a 1/4mm makes such a difference to the gauge and as I was knitting them, I realised they would be a bit snug.  Cue a well timed comment from my Mum with little feet, when she heard I was back sock knitting with a vengeance.  'Well, I could certainly do with a new pair of hand knit socks'.  Subtle she is not!  Well yesterday was her birthday and purple is her favourite colour, so I think it all came together quite well.  I managed to get them finished a couple of days before I went up for a visit. Phwew!  And they fit!

I love to knit and I love knitting socks.  Quite an apt book for me to knit from then really.  The pattern should follow down the top of the foot, but I wanted a smooth foot (except the purl, purl, ktbl detail along each side). Plus it shows off the yarn better I feel.

The yarn gave really good stitch definition.

All in all, a joy to knit and a pleasure to gift.

My Ariel Bias scarf is coming along a treat, especially as I knit some rows in the traffic jam going up north and I've decided on a new sock challenge.  Knitting two-at-a-time.  I must be mad!

Happy knitting!

My Cup Of Tea Socks - The Knitting Mojo Returns!

Last year saw a bit of a knitting hiatus for me.  I only manged to knit 1.5 pairs of socks in a whole year.  Crazy!  Well my New Years Resolution for this year was to get back into doing all the things I love. Running regularly, baking (you might have gathered that from previous posts this year!) and knitting to name a few.

Last year I manged to start and finish these lovely Betula Socks by Rachel Coopey.  They were a Christmas gift for a lady I work for and well received.

I also started My Cup of Tea Socks by Robin Lynn back in July.  They then sat at this stage of Sock 1 in my knitting bag until ......... well, mid January, I am ashamed to say.  But no more!  The knitting mojo has well and truly returned.  That is, when my cat will allow it, as he doesn't care to share a lap with hand knit socks.

I am totally chuffed with myself, as the pair is now finished, ready for the arrival of Spring, which the colours remind me of.  The motif down the front is based on a Crocus pattern,  

Quite apt as the Crocus are starting to open in the gardens around me.

So I aim to finish some more of my WIP's (work in progress) in the coming months, that have been languishing for far too long, including this Ariel Bias Scarf, which I started back in 2012.  Ooopps!

Then again, there are lots of lovely new patterns to try in my Ravelry Library.  Oh the dilemma.

Happy knitting!

Gooseberry & Almond Cake #2 and My Cup of Tea Socks

Over the years I've made and blogged a lot of cakes.  But one of my most popular viewed posts is for a Gooseberry and Almond Cake that I tore out of a Waitrose Food Magazine.  Looking through the recipe books, a cake recipe for gooseberries is a little thin on the ground.  So I've decided to re-blog this one with a few tweaks.

Gooseberry & Almond Cake Recipe

 125g Softened butter
200g Castor sugar
3 Large eggs, beaten
75g Sifted plain flour
75g Ground almonds
3/4 tsp Baking powder
350g De-stalked gooseberries
35g Flaked almonds

Preheat the oven to 190C / Gas mark 5 or adjust for a fan oven.  Beat the butter and 125g of the sugar together until pale and fluffy.  Add the eggs a little at a time and blend well after each addition.  If the mixture starts to curdle, add a tablespoon of the flour.  Fold in the rest of the flour, the ground almonds and the baking powder.  Scrape into a buttered 20cm spring-form tin.  Toss the gooseberries with the remaining 75g of sugar and spread over the top of the cake.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Sprinkle over the flaked almonds and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.  The cake is ready when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.  Leave to cool in the tin.  Remove the ring and base and dust with icing sugar.  Then devour!

The allotment is producing masses of soft fruit this year.  Over 4kg of gooseberries so far and more left to harvest.
.

When I tried the recipe again this year, I followed as above using a static oven.  As you can see its a lot of gooseberries.

The end result being, the cake was really moist in the centre due to so many gooseberries and sunk in the middle as it was unbaked in the centre.

So I gave it another go, but this time cooking it at 190c in a fan oven for 25 minutes to start, then 10 minutes with the flaked almonds.  If it looks like it is browning too much, cover with baking parchment.
I also reduced the amount of gooseberries to 250g and tossed them in 50g of castor sugar, rather than 75g.

The result is a little darker in colour, but cooked in the centre and delicious!

Perfect with a cup of tea or for munching whilst knitting 'My Cup of Tea' socks, my new pair for the Flora KAL over on the UK Sock Knitters group on Ravelry.

 

If you have glut of gooseberries, give it a go. Just don't be afraid to keep cooking it if its got a soggy middle!

Happy baking!

Betula Socks and a Mighty Fine Cake!

I confess, I have had a bit of a slow spell with the knitting recently, but am chuffed to have finished my Betula Socks by the talented Rachel Coopey.  I only started them in January.........  probably the longest time I have had a pair of socks on the needles.  Still I can only speed up.  I was knitting them as part of the UK Sock Knitters Flora Themed Knit-a-long on Ravelry.  As I had actually compiled the list of plant suggestions, I thought I better crack on and finish a pair within the year!

An interesting design that included increases and decreases to create the lovely bobbled effect.  They are a present for a lady with quite large feet.  I just have to decide if she gets them for Xmas or her birthday!

Talking of birthdays, I just had to share a picture of the cake my amazing Mum made me for my recent birthday.  Its a recipe by Frances Quinn, who won last years Great British Bake Off. 

A 5 tier sponge cake with lashings of mascarpone and lemon curd filling and loads of fresh fruit no less.  Delish!!!  The recipe was in this months Good Food Magazine.

It makes my attempt at an Orange Syrup Cake look quite measly.  From Mary Berry's Baking Bible, it was a lovely alternative to a Lemon Drizzle Cake and made its way off to the Cake Stall at a local open garden.

Now I just need to wind my lovely skein of yarn for my next pair of socks.  I think these will be for me!

Happy Knitting / Baking!

Me, My Socks and More Socks!

Now as you may have noticed, I do like knitting a good sock pattern.  This year I'm taking part in the UK Sock Knitters Group Lunar themed Knit-a-long.  My plan at the start of the challenge was to knit only from yarn or patterns I already owned.  So far, so good!

Different lunar cycles have many names around the world, so we had a bit of choice to be going on with.  Each pattern can be cast-on from its start date (Full Moon), but no later than by the start date of the following Full Moon.  Completions of all socks should be by 31st January 2014 to fulfil the challenge.

28-Dec-12 Cold Winter Birch
27-Jan-13 Wolf Ice Rowan
25-Feb-13 Storm Candles Ash
27-Mar-13 Worm Hare Sugar
25-Apr-13 Pink Seed Fish
25-May-13 Flower Dragon Milk
23-Jun-13 Mead Rose Strawberry
22-Jul-13 Thunder Herb Hay
21-Aug-13 Barley Red Blue
19-Sep-13 Harvest Fruit Chrysanthemum
18-Oct-13 Hunter Blood Blackberry
17-Nov-13 Beaver Snow Tree
17-Dec-13 Oak Frost Bitter

So far, I've managed to complete 4 pairs, have 2 pairs on the needles for the Seed and Dragon Moons and am dyeing the yarn for the Strawberry Moon in between typing!

For the Birch Moon, I made Birch Socks and I've kept them for me!

For the Ice Moon, I made Icicle Socks and again they're all mine!

 

 

For the Storm Moon, I chose Wavy Socks.  Well you get waves in a storm right!  They are destined for my Xmas present box.

And finally for the Sugar Moon, I offer my Sugared Almonds, also for the Xmas box.

Best get back to the dyeing and knitting!  I got a lotta socks to knit.

Happy knitting!

Icicle Socks and a rather funky new hat!

Sometimes there's just never enough time to fit everything in - well that's my excuse for tardy blogging anyway!

I have, of course, found some spare knitty time and have managed to finish 2 lovely projects I had on the go.

The first was my pair of Icicle Socks for the UK Sock Knitters Lunar themed KAL on Ravelry.

I dyed the yarn with 3 packets of Berry Blue Koolaid to create a stripy effect.  They do have 2 rows of beads at the top which is hard to see.  It was my first attempt at knitting with beads, using a minuscule crochet hook to attach them to the yarn.  Fiddly, but addictive!

My other project was a lovely warm and soft Kathleen hat in soft merino aran weight yarn.

I need to get it a little more slouchy and perhaps finishing it before it started getting warmer would have been wise!  Oh well!

Whilst hanging out the washing, it dawned on me quite how many hand knit socks I have.......... and that doesn't include the ones made as gifts!!!  Or the third row you can't see :-)

Happy knitting!

For more Finished Object Friday posts head over to Tami Ami's Blog.

Kyla Hat

Well I seem to have steamed through January using yarn and patterns from my ever so large amount of stash.  Now I feel nice and virtuous as its not so large!  Well, only a very teeny bit less, but who's counting!

Whilst waiting to cast-on a new pair of socks for the UK Sock Knitters KAL on Ravelry, I thought it was high time I knit myself a snazzy new hat.  Looking through my patterns, I decided on Kyla, a nice cabled hat that can be made in a sleek beanie style or a more slouchy hat.  I went for the beanie option and chose some Stylecraft Luxury Merino I had leftover from knitting a cardigan a while back.

 

Despite using a cable needle, it knitted up quickly and I'm really pleased with the results.

The yarn has a nice sheen to it and really shows up the pattern well.  Lets hope the weather stays cold, so I can get lots of wear out of it!

And it was all finished in time ready for me to cast-on my Icicle socks.  For this pattern, I'm learning how to knit with beads.  Scary stuff, but hopefully the effect will be worth it!

Happy knitting!

For more FO Fridays posts, head over to Tami Ami's blog.

Olivianne Dress for Ellie

It has to be said, my Niece Ellie is very knit worthy.  Other than my love of sock knitting, she seems to take up much of my knitting time and is a great stash-buster!

I came across a lovely little knitted dress pattern on Ravelry a while back called Olivianne and have been meaning to make it for a while.  Whilst visiting my Sister in Germany we chose some lovely Lana Grossa Meilenweit Doppio sock yarn in gorgeous purple shades.  The pattern asks you to knit it holding 2 strands of the 4ply at a time, so you could easily replace it with a double knit thickness yarn if necessary.

The pattern makes a lovely honeycomb texture and using 2 different balls of yarn, you could create some great effect's.  I chose to use 2 balls of the same yarn, but still got a nice rippled effect.

Its a simple pattern to follow and knits up really quickly.  I made the 24 month size and I think my knitting must be a bit tight as it came up a bit short.  Not a problem as apparently it fits already!

I hope to get a picture of her in it soon, if she keeps still long enough :-)

Now its on to making a new 'going out' hat for me.  More on that next week!

Happy knitting!

For more FO Friday posts pop over to Tami Ami's Blog

Sticking to my NY resolutions!

OK, so I know its only mid January, but I'm sticking to my Knitty resolution so far.  I've finished my Birch Socks, which are the first of 13 in a KAL over on the Ravelry UK Sock Knitters Group with a Lunar theme as mentioned here.  I admit I did purchase that pattern, but I used leftover sock yarn from other projects. 

I've already found patterns and yarn for the next 4 months that I already own, so we're looking good.  January's socks will be Icicle socks and I'll be using some of my own hand-dyed yarn.

At the moment I'm knitting a super sweet little Olivianne dress for my Niece.  I was gifted this pattern a while ago and my Sis and I chose the yarn when I was visiting her in October.  Its coming along really well in the 24 month size.  Room to grow into it that way.

 

 

I'm also working on a scarf pattern that came with some gorgeous alpaca/cotton yarn that my lovely OH bought me back from Canada last year.  Its a gorgeous natural fawn colour and the pattern is so very simple, its practically mind-numbing.  But a great TV knit that will come along in time.

All this to prevent me casting on ANOTHER pair of socks until 27th January :-)

I've also used my first Xmas baking item, a proving basket from my Mum.  I'm making some hodge-podge loaves (whatever is in the cupboard), so this was a good excuse to try the new basket (the smaller one in the photo). 

Its only the second time I've used one of these baskets, the first being one I purchased from the Panary Course back in November.  This time I made sure both baskets were liberally coated with rye flour on the inside to stop the dough from sticking. 

 

You get a lovely ridged effect on the loaf, as well as a good oblong shape.

All in all, the resolutions are bounding along at speed!

Happy crafting!

 

For more 'Work in Progress Wednesdays' Blog posts head over to Tami Ami's Blogspot.