A holiday week almost over

Have JUST finished my first pair of gloves. Really rather proud of them. Folded the cuffs back to get a better fit. Now to wear them out in angur! Has taken me eight days with about an hours knitting each day including all the unravelling when I went wrong. Not sure I will do gloves again. Thoughts are focused on the next project now. Think I will crochet the knitivity stable.

Tricky second glove

Reversing the pattern for the neighbour has led to a couple of unpicking sessions! Think I'm on the right track again. These windy Cornish roads aren't ideal for knitting - feel rather sea sick! Have been reading some self-help books while here .... one was on decluttering (inadvertently picked it up - I'm already a fan of Flylady). But it did make me think I've got to tackle my hot spots before I reward myself with knitting! Next project will be knitivity stables for Xmas! And I need to make them pretty...

First grey cable glove finished!

Have finished one. Gloves are quite a time-consuming business but they are far better than shop bought, come right up my arm and are toasty warm! Started Thursday on the train up to the NEC... lost one of my needles in the cupboard on our stand and had to write up notes on day one of the conference instead of continuing. When I got home realised I actually had five needles so didn't need to get another set of size 1s. Pleased about that. My knitting in the round is getting quite neat now - can't even tell where the gaps between the needles are. Must be spending hours each week knitting. My DH reckons longer than I spend at work. I think my frustration at work is actually making me throw myself into my hobby more. Managed to find an excuse to make more purchases in the local craft shop in the village. Didn't want to run out of projects while away in Cornwall at half-term! Oh what horror if I was lacking a current project! Though I'd have a go at socks. They don't stock very much exciting yarn and found myself discussing my dream of setting up a yarn shop with the two lady sales assistants and signing myself up to an intermediate crochet class run by one of them. Read that the first knitted hotel room had come into existence this week in Brighton. Ha ha.

Ears and eyes

Knitting all the ears and eyes etc and sewing them on the dog and cat mittens takes such a long time! Really do like not having to join up mittens after you've knitted them on 4 needles though. My mittens got better with each one I made. Didn't need to do any extra joining on the thumb gusset on mitten 5 onwards! Godson B's are parcelled up with Haribos in each one to send off for his bday. My mum has asked me to knit a stable to go with the knitivity characters I made her last Xmas. Imaging some stripey walls...

Animal mittens

Bought myself an instrument to measure needle gauge so have figured out what sizes my short double-pointed needles are. Bought the smallest size in bamboo 2.25mm too and am redoing the rib with these smaller needles for the first pair of dog mittens. Have also made second dog pair for my daughter... haven't done the features (ears, eyes etc. yet). Feel an urge to do some snuggly winter socks now I'm becoming more proficient on 4 needles. However, after the kids mittens I am going to do a pair for myself - found 2 balls grey Debbie Bliss cashmerino dk in John Lewis. Will attempt to do slightly longer length on wrist/lower arm. Or maybe dare to do gloves? Have a glove and mitten book purchased a long time ago that I've avoided because of not knowing how to knit in the round. Hmmm.

Knit & Natter at local pub

How wonderful. My local pub the Victoria has started a knit & natter evening - first Sunday of the month. Took my animal mittens along and the four needles seemed to impress. Got some tips and realised I am creating in a partial silo - apart from the odd blog I read or short chat at the wool shop in the village. Will definitely become a regular now. There were eight of us - five knitting & one learning.
Finished the cable bag. Have had many admirers and its bright and snuggly and cheers my heart in this dull, colder weather.
Started on animal mittens. First pair (dogs) rather small for my two so will be for godson Ben who is three this month. Have adapted the pattern for H and F wants the cat version. His little hands are only 1cm shorter than dear H's.