You see how picky I am about my shoes and they only go on my feet.

A round-up of the last Year of Projects.  It's been fun.  I've not completed everything, and I keep adding to it, which sort of screws up the whole "list" idea.

Things I have finished:

Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan
A pair of simple socks for the children - Lucy, Hattie
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas
Sparkly Owlet for Hattie
Ringo mittens
Aiken
Striped jumper for Lucy
Nicholas' POP blanket

Lucy ripples

Hattie rainbows

Miette for me

Things I have almost finished:

The Weather in the Streets blanket

Lots of progress on this one.  Yay.  Just got to crochet them on to the main blanket, but as it's too hot to have a massive heavy blanket on my lap.

Yellow squares - 134/143 done - 9 to go
Blue squares - 64/72 done - 8 to go
Grey squares - 90/102 - 12 to go
Turquoise squares - 8/11 done - 3 to go
Red squares - 8/10 done
Pinky-Red squares - 8/10 done

Orange squares - DONE

Pink square - DONE
Purple squares - DONE
Dark Green squares - DONE
Pale Blue square - DONE
Pale Yellow square - DONE
Dark Blue square - DONE

Vianne cardigan - Irritated by this.  I had to rip it back, and ripped back too far, so now I've got to start again, and it's taking FOREVER.

Wisteria jumper - Still needing a bloody sleeve. It's too hot.

Hexipuff Blanket - least said, soonest mended.

Peacock Mitten

These are for the next list.

Knitted Coco

Coraline cardigan 

Owls for Robin
Socks for me
Petrie top
Burton Bear Cowl for Hattie. 

Elwood mittens for Lucy.  

Rainbow jumper

A Little Birds jumper with no steeks .

Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon

So that's that for last year, and onward into this.  You can pretty much tell what the list is going to look like from reading the list of unfinished projects. 

My knitting is as boundless as the sea, My stash as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.

What a weekend.  We went to Paris very early on Saturday morning and came back on Sunday night.  I am EXHAUSTED, and the children are foul, as they would be with so little sleep.  It sounds so glamourous, 48 hours in Paris; does it break the spell to say that it was my grandmother's 90th birthday, and we didn't stay in Paris itself but in a small but anonymous hotel in her village, half an hour out of the centre?  Probably a bit, but we had a great time, and I have some photos once I get them off the camera.

Some things from the list:

A FINISHED OBJECT

It's Andi Satterlund's Miette cardigan, which will go with my two Miette skirts.  I made it with the wrong weight of yarn, DK instead of Worsted, which was a bit of a mistake, but it will be lighter weight for Summer.  I wore it today, and it was a bit too warm, but then it's been rubbish and humid in London today.

NB It looks better on than in the photo, but I am having a bad hair day so there are to be NO PHOTOS.

Stuff I am actually working on actually.

The Weather in the Streets blanket

Even slighter progress this week on this one.  I've got 18 loose squares now.

Yellow squares - 123/143 done - 20 to go
Blue squares - 63/72 done - 9 to go
Grey squares - 79/102 - 23 to go
Turquoise squares - 4/11 done
Red squares - 8/10 done
Pinky-Red squares - 8/10 done

Orange squares - DONE

Pink square - DONE
Purple squares - DONE
Dark Green squares - DONE
Pale Blue square - DONE
Pale Yellow square - DONE
Dark Blue square - DONE

Vianne cardigan - another Andi Satt pattern, this time for the outfit along 2015.  Because I am awkward, I am making it with a plain back. It's a good pattern, but I've never been one for masses of lace everywhere.  I knitted quite a lot of it on the plane yesterday, and it's coming along well.  Turns out I only have about 6 balls of the yarn I've earmarked for it, so I will use that up and probably (totally) buy more for the Petrie top.  



Stuff I am not really working on, but saying I am as it makes me feel less like a grasshopper and more like an ant.

Wisteria jumper - Still needing a bloody sleeve.
Hexipuff quilt - least said, soonest mended.
Peacock Mitten

It is doubtful whether these will be started this month.

Knitted Coco

Coraline cardigan 

Owls for Robin
Socks for me
Petrie top

These are not being started until the weather turns crap again.  I have no guilt.

Burton Bear Cowl for Hattie. 

Elwood mittens for Lucy.  

Rainbow jumper

A Little Birds jumper with no steeks .

Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon

These are DONE and are therefore my favourite projects

Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas
Sparkly Owlet for Hattie
Ringo mittens
Aiken
Striped jumper for Lucy
Nicholas' POP blanket

Lucy ripples

Hattie rainbows

Miette for me

The new list is shaping up to be depressingly similar to the old one; ho hum. Fewer socks for the children though as they keep on growing, and it wears me out. 

Uh, no, Miss Stoeger? I have a note from my tennis instructor, and he would prefer it if I didn't expose myself to any training that might derail his teachings.

Errr mi gerd, I have been a bit busy recently, what with one thing (Rainbows sleepover) and another (horrific food poisoning - marginally worse than the sleepover).  All the EMOTIONAL PAIN of the last few months and years have been worth it, and I am in Year 2 doing lots of fun stuff next year - Art, Geography, History, Creative Writing, Science, what's not to like.  Fantastic.  Still got the essay of doom to do, but that will be done sooner rather than later, and at least getting one done means that I'm on track for the second one.

Anyway.  Knitting, knitting, knitting.

Stuff I am actually working on actually.

The Weather in the Streets blanket

There's been some progress.  Slight but some.  I think I've got about 16 loose ones now, I'll sew them together when I get to 20.

Yellow squares - 122/143 done - 21 to go
Blue squares - 63/72 done - 9 to go
Grey squares - 79/102 - 23 to go
Turquoise squares - 4/11 done
Red squares - 8/10 done
Pinky-Red squares - 8/10 done

Orange squares - ALL DONE

Pink square - DONE
Purple squares - DONE
Dark Green squares - DONE
Pale Blue square - DONE
Pale Yellow square - DONE
Dark Blue square - DONE

Miette cardigan - Done, except for buttons and a block.  I need to buy buttons; despite having jars and jars of buttons, I never have 10 matching ones.

Wisteria jumper - Still needing a bloody sleeve.

Hexipuff quilt - least said, soonest mended.

Petrie top - There's been a change of plan here.  The yarn I had earmarked for this is going to be put towards a Viane cardigan for the outfit along 2015.  I'm starting it as soon as I've finished typing.

It is doubtful whether these will be started this month.

Knitted Coco

Coraline cardigan 

Owls for Robin
Socks for me
Petrie top (with the remains of the yarn.  I have about 10000 balls of it, job lot, and I should have enough for two projects)

This is a WIP I have lost

Peacock Mitten

These are not being started until the weather turns crap again.  I have no guilt.

Burton Bear Cowl for Hattie. 

Elwood mittens for Lucy.  

Rainbow jumper

A Little Birds jumper with no steeks .

Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon

These are DONE and are therefore my favourite projects

Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas
Sparkly Owlet for Hattie
Ringo mittens
Aiken
Striped jumper for Lucy
Nicholas' POP blanket

Lucy ripples

Hattie rainbows

I've done a lot of knitting since last July, and a lot of sewing.  It's a wonder I ever get time to teach.  My children are horrifically neglected in every way, although they have A LOT of blankets.

Sewing lace on widows' weeds, And filigree on leaf and vine

Me Made May is over for another year.  It wasn't a challenge this year, because I have a lot of handmade clothes now.  I'm not yet able to get through an entire month without repeats; but then I wear the clothes I love, and most of them are handmade.  My blue and white Miette skirt was worn pretty much once a week, which tells me I need to make more and more of them; good shape for me, good length and super easy to make.  I lost the instructions for the skirt, so I've been making it as a wraparound with buttons instead of ties.  I don't really need more fabric around my waist.

I did make another one, using some Cath Kidston fabric I got half price.  It's a very upholstery fabric, so it holds its shape pretty well.

There will be more of these in my future.  IKEA, where the fabric for the first Miette came from, has some really nice stuff in, and it's pretty cheap.  Look at this one:  

and this one:

I can see skirts in both of these in my future.  Hurrah.

For next year, I need more plain tops that will go with massively patterned skirts.  I've obviously got some fabric for them, I just need to get on with it.  I'll make some plain jersey Coco tops and probably a tunic too, and maybe the Comino Cap pattern from Kitschy Coo, to go with my new pants.   I can make a Coco in an evening, even less if I cut everything out the night before. The Bronte top by Jennifer Lauren is another one for the wardrobe; doesn't it have lovely shoulder details.  I've got some plain knitting to do too; tee shirts, light jumpers and cardigans.  Also, a Dolores batwing top would be rather special too.

Anyway, here is my Me Made May round up, and even though I gave up on taking photos after about day 25, I've pretty much documented all my clothes.  Roll on next year.

All romantics meet the same fate some day. Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark cafe.

How long, how long.  Have I been busy?  It's been half term, sure, which meant picnics in the park, trips to London to see the stuffed animals, hamster funerals (sob), play dates, trips to the theatre (Simon and I - High Society, so good), trips to the cinema (Simon and I - Age of Ultron, so adequate), dentists, haircuts and lots of running around.  A bit of an experience all round, and we are very much missing our darling little chap.

There's even been some knitting and sewing happening; I've taken to making the girls pants, in the hope that it might, cough, encourage improved, well, hygiene in the younger one.  These ones come from the off cuts of a dress I made for myself.

The pattern is from Kitschy Coo, and is super, super simple and quick; I think they took me thirty minutes each. I'm getting her grown up pants pattern soon to make some for me too. If I start talking about making bras though, do please have a word. Mind you, that's more like metal working than sewing for me, and the engineering is complex, so it's unlikely to happen in this life. The waistband on Lucy's pair is on back to front, but it helps me tell them apart, so it's a design feature, not a maker flaw.

The list is still going on.  There's now a month until the end of this Year of Projects cycle, so I'm starting to think about next year's list, which will be mostly projects I haven't managed to finish yet. 

Hexipuff Quilt - No change. Hey ho.

Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - Done, done and done.  

When Lucy was sad about Charlie on Thursday, she wrapped herself and Hattie in the blanket while they cuddled and watched TV.  Even though I was very sad too, it warmed my heart to see them using my work to cheer themselves up.  I can't wrap them up in cotton wool and keep them indoors, but I can wrap them in love and time.

Wisteria jumper - It needs a sleeve.  Which won't take forever.  She says.

The Weather in the Streets

So close now to being done.  I've sewn together 320, there's 14 loose ones, and I've got less than 70 to go.  Happy days.  I've tried to do 2 a day recently, it's made a real difference.  Who knew that if you actually crocheted something rather than leaving lying on the sofa it would make it grow bigger?

Yellow squares - 120/143 done - 23 to go
Blue squares - 63/72 done - 9 to go
Grey squares - 79/102 - 23 to go
Turquoise squares - 4/11 done
Orange squares - ALL DONE
Pink square - DONE
Purple squares - DONE
Red squares - 8/10 done
Dark Green squares - DONE
Pale Blue square - DONE
Pale Yellow square - DONE
Dark Blue square - DONE
Pinky-Red squares - 8/10 done


Hattie's 4th birthday blanket - Also done, done and done.

Not a great picture, but she loves it to bits and back again, so I don't think I care too much about that. 

Miette cardigan - nearly finished the body.  It's looking good.  It'll go well with my as yet unblogged new Liberty skirt.  Which needs buttons.  Will the chores never end?

I'm keeping these here, with the some of the same notes next to them.  Still no progress.  I've put them in a possible making order.  Just in case.  You never know.

Knitted Coco - selfish knitting project.  Got the yarn, just need to make a start.

Coraline cardigan - I'm going to start this once I've finished the Miette cardigan. It is too pretty to keep on putting off.

Petrie top - I want this for August.  So I'd better get started.  It's June now.  

Peacock Mitten - At almost a quarter of the way through this, I'm quite excited that I might even have it finished before it gets cold again. 

Socks for me - I found some sock yarn. I will take socks with me on holiday with me. Might even get a whole pair made. We're there for two weeks.

Owl Obsession blanket -  I think I'm going to make this as a bunch of circles, with some owls. They'll basically be pretty plain, no mucking about.  That's what I didn't like about the pattern as written, too much mucking about with quite unnecessary lacy bits.

Burton Bear Cowl for Hattie. Autumn project.

Elwood mittens for Lucy.  I'm sure I've started these.  I can't remember though.  Aargh.

Rainbow jumper - this is an Autumn project.

A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - I still need to shred the stash for this. But I'm pretty sure I bought some yarn that didn't arrive. Hmm.

Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - Measure once, knit twice. This is probably an Autumn project too.

Done:

Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas
Sparkly Owlet for Hattie
Ringo mittens
Aiken
Striped jumper for Lucy
Nicholas' POP blanket

Lucy ripples

Hattie rainbows

The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.

What on earth has been going on?  Where has all my time gone?  It's been WEEKS since I posted anything.  It's nearly the end of Me Made May, and me has been wearing all the handmade clothes, as have the children, and I've been sewing like a demon too.  More on that TOMORROW.  PROBABLY.

KNITTING, KNITTING, KNITTING.  There's been knitting happening, but no photography, as I really haven't finished anything.  Aargh.  It'll be the end of this YEAR OF PROJECTS soon, so the majority of my list will form the basis of next year's list.  Hem.

• Hexipuff Quilt - No change.  Hey ho.

• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - My Lucy considers this to be done.  I'm going to add two yellow stripes to it, and one purple, then an orange border around the whole thing, and then it will be done. 

• Wisteria jumper -  It needs a sleeve.  Just one sleeve.  *sigh*  But, as it is thick, thick wool, and cables, it's not going to be needed for a few more months.  Hopefully.

• The Weather in the Streets 

I've done a couple more squares, but I forget which, and I've not made a note, so these numbers will have to do, and I'll have a count tonight or tomorrow and get up to date.

• Yellow squares - 109/143 done - 34 to go
• Blue squares - 56/72 done - 16 to go
• Grey squares - 69/102 - 33 to go
• Turquoise squares - 2/11 done
• Orange squares - ALL DONE
• Pink square - DONE
• Purple squares - DONE
• Red squares - 7/10 done
• Dark Green squares - DONE
• Pale Blue square - DONE
• Pale Yellow square - DONE
• Dark Blue square - DONE
• Pinky-Red squares - 7/10 done

• Hattie's 4th birthday blanket - currently getting a pink border.  So, so close to being done.

• Miette cardigan - cropped cardigans are not very me, so I'm going to add 6 inches to the body, and then call it long enough.  

There has been no progress on any of these, so I'm going to call them the start of next year's list, despite the tiniest little outside chance that I will complete one of these by the end of June.  Tiniest chance on the planet, but still a chance.  

• Burton Bear Cowl for Hattie. Autumn project.
• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons.  I had a go at making the owls, and didn't really like the way they looked, so I am going to make him a different sort of owl blanket.  Probably one that's like the Repeat Crafter Me blanket I made Hattie.  I'm using the wool I bought for him, so it won't be exactly the same.  It'll be more controlled, colourwise, as I've got a variegated main colour and white for the edges.  I'll need some brown for the owl body, but some acrylic aran weight will be great for that.  
• Peacock Mitten - At almost a quarter of the way through this, I'm quite excited that I might even have it finished before it gets cold again.  
• Coraline cardigan - I'm going to start this once I've finished the Miette cardigan.  It is too pretty to keep on putting off. 
• Petrie top - it's time for a bit of selfish knitting, I think I'll start it, and see how it goes.    
• Knitted Coco - same with this one.  I'm so close to finishing the girls' blankets, I'll need some projects to put on the sofa to wind Simon up.
• Socks for me - I found some sock yarn.  I will take socks with me on holiday with me.  Might even get a whole pair made.  We're there for two weeks.
• Rainbow jumper - this is an Autumn project.
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - I still need to shred the stash for this.  But I'm pretty sure I bought some yarn that didn't arrive.  Hmm.
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - Measure once, knit twice.  This is probably an Autumn project too.

Done:

Myrna Cardigan

Hattie's cardigan.

A pair of simple socks for the children

Garter Yoke Cardigan

An Owlet for Lucy

Lucy's Cowl

Hattie's Cowl

A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy

Simon's socks

Boreal

A tiny jumper for Nicholas

Sparkly Owlet for Hattie

Ringo mittens

Aiken

Striped jumper for Lucy
Nicholas' POP blanket

Oh, I don't think I'm a lot dumber than you think that I thought that I thought I was once

What a terribly busy weekend and couple of days that.  My nephew turned one, I went to Bristol for a day trip to see a friend and spend money at the Outlaw Craft Fair (great), and we spent Monday walking around London, looking for more Shaun the Sheep statues.  So a fine time has been had by all.  There's even been knitting happening.  

• Nicholas' POP blanket - Finished and done and given to the birthday boy, who was predictably unimpressed by it, but my sister in law loves it, which is the main thing really.   30 circles, 30 squares, the blue border made from the remains of my Elsa jumper.  I've only had the kit for 18 months, so that's a pretty good rate of progress for me.  

• Hexipuff Quilt - It's something like 180 out of 250.  Which is great. STILL.  

• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - Nearly done.  I need to finish this now, although I honestly need more wool for it; some more orange is needed as it's her favourite colour. 

• Wisteria jumper -  Still the same.  It's too warm to work on this.

• Burton Bear Cowl for Hattie. I'm going to move this to next year I think; it's really too warm for this too.

• The Weather in the Streets 

Still 98 to go, so no photo.  I'm still pretty happy about it, although I'm thinking that I should really just get on and finish it.

• Yellow squares - 109/143 done - 34 to go
• Blue squares - 56/72 done - 16 to go
• Grey squares - 69/102 - 33 to go
• Turquoise squares - 2/11 done
• Orange squares - ALL DONE
• Pink square - DONE
• Purple squares - DONE
• Red squares - 7/10 done
• Dark Green squares - DONE
• Pale Blue square - DONE
• Pale Yellow square - DONE
• Dark Blue square - DONE
• Pinky-Red squares - 7/10 done

• Hattie's 4th birthday blanket.  This is going really well.  I've made and sewn together 20, and there are another 3 to sew on at some point.  I can finish 4 more of them, but then I have to wait for the wool fairy to bring me some more wool to finish it. I've been putting empty ball bands under my pillow every night, but nothing. 

• NEW: A Miette cardigan.   I've seen lots of these on the internet, and thought it would be just the thing to make myself to go with my soon to be finished skirt.  The skirt is gorgeous; red roses, Liberty print, salvaged from something my mum was getting rid of, which makes it super amazing: vintage, upcycling and handmade.

• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons - it's for his second birthday.  Next up. 
• Peacock Mitten - I'm almost a quarter of the way through the second mitten.  Still.
• Coraline cardigan - I've wound the wool for this, but I need to finish the Wisteria jumper first.
• Petrie top - I should probably start this one soon.    
• Knitted Coco -see above.
• Socks for me - I have no suitable sock wool that I like.
• Rainbow jumper - still depressed about losing jumper 1, and in mourning.  
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - still planning.  I need to sort the stash to see what I've got of this.  I might even need to sort out whether I've got the wool.  I think I bought some, but I don't remember.  How awful.    
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - Oh Lord, I keep putting this off.

Done:

Myrna Cardigan

Hattie's cardigan.

A pair of simple socks for the children

Garter Yoke Cardigan

An Owlet for Lucy

Lucy's Cowl

Hattie's Cowl

A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy

Simon's socks

Boreal

A tiny jumper for Nicholas

Sparkly Owlet for Hattie

Ringo mittens

Aiken

Striped jumper for Lucy

So that's your lot.  There's been sewing happening, but no photos.  Too busy and important these days.  

I ate a whole bunch of fiberglass insulation. It wasn't cotton candy like that guy said. My stomach's itchy.

Bank Holiday Monday night.  We've been busy today; Simon is training for the London to Brighton bike ride in June (Fathers' Day, we each do our own thing on our respective thing) so he rode out to Princes Risborough, and because I am kind and do not think he has to cycle 70 miles in one day, I took the girls out to pick him up in the car.  One of my ex-colleagues moved out that way with her family; I miss her at school a lot, so it was nice to see her and catch up.  Her son is the same age as Hattie, and her daughter is 18 months, which meant that Lucy was a bit at loose end, but she coped with it all remarkably well, and it makes a change; normally it's Hat who's the third wheel.  We drove back the way Simon came, through Little Missenden, which has a lovely playground next to a cheapish pub, somewhere to come back to, especially when the girls are a bit older and ready for the Roald Dahl Museum.

Anyway, all that driving meant I made 3 hexipuffs on the way back, which makes a good segue into the next bit.  Smashing that fourth wall.    Or something.

• Hexipuff Quilt - It's something like 180 out of 250.  Which is great.  

• Nicholas' POP blanket - No change here.  I've blocked the two sets of six, but I need to make more circles that aren't purple.  So it's still 16 out of 30. 

• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - 40/57 rows done.  Lucy loves this and doesn't think it needs to be longer.  I think it does.  She wants to keep it upstairs in her bed all the time.  I want to work on it.  

• Wisteria jumper -  Still the same.  I am not going to start anything new until this is DONE.  Hnnnggggghhhhhh.

• Burton Bear Cowl for Hattie. It really is Spring now.  The need for this is lessening.

• The Weather in the Streets 

Still 98 to go.  Same photo as last week; I'm still pretty happy about it.

• Yellow squares - 109/143 done - 34 to go
• Blue squares - 56/72 done - 16 to go
• Grey squares - 69/102 - 33 to go
• Turquoise squares - 2/11 done
• Orange squares - ALL DONE
• Pink square - DONE
• Purple squares - DONE
• Red squares - 7/10 done
• Dark Green squares - DONE
• Pale Blue square - DONE
• Pale Yellow square - DONE
• Dark Blue square - DONE
• Pinky-Red squares - 7/10 done

• Hattie's 4th birthday blanket.  12/36 Rainbow Granny Squares done.

• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons - it's for his second birthday.  Not being done.  Being thought about but not done.
• Peacock Mitten - I'm almost a quarter of the way through the second mitten.  Still.
• Coraline cardigan - I've wound the wool for this, but I need to finish the Wisteria jumper first.
• Petrie top - I should probably start this one soon.   
• Knitted Coco -see above.
• Socks for me - I have no suitable sock wool that I like.
• Rainbow jumper - still depressed about losing jumper 1, and in mourning.  
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - still planning.  I need to sort the stash to see what I've got of this.  I might even need to sort out whether I've got the wool.  I think I bought some, but I don't remember.  How awful.  
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - Oh Lord, I keep putting this off.

Done:

Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan.
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas
Sparkly Owlet for Hattie
Ringo mittens
Aiken
Striped jumper for Lucy

ALL THE KNITTING ALL THE TIME WITH ALL THE CAPS LOCK STUCK ON.

When I was your age, television was called books.

Everything keeps getting in the WAY of blogging.  Whether it's cooking, or looking after the children, or working, or not writing my essay, the blog has taken a bit of a back seat recently.  Which doesn't mean that I don't want to write anything, just no TIME to do it, and when I have time, I don't have the energy.  

Anyway, there's quite a lot of knitting going on, and sewing, and even running.  Not much running, and not very fast, but at least it's happening.  

• Nicholas' POP blanket - lots of change here, I've made 2/5 red circles, 2/5 orange circles, 2/5 yellow circles, 3/5 green circles, 2/5 blue circles and 5/5 purple circles.  AND I've SEWN 12 of them together, which is brilliant.  It properly needs a good block though, but here is a poor quality in progress photo.  I've got another month to finish the knitting, sew it together, reblock it, line it and give it a border.  Hurrah.  16 out of 30 isn't bad, but it's not great.

• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - 38/57 rows done.  Lucy loves this.  I'm tempted to call it done, but I don't think it's quite long enough, and it does need a border.  It's quite wide and not very long; she says it covers her, but I'm not so sure.

• Hexipuff Quilt - It's still 172/250; I'm going to put it in the car for our next long trip.

• Wisteria jumper -  Still the same.  I am not going to start anything new until this is DONE.

• Burton Bear Cowl for Hattie. Brown wool found again.  Hattie isn't showing any particular desire for a cowl, so I will put this on the back burner.  Plus, it's technically SPRING now.

• The Weather in the Streets 

Woohoo!  There is progress with the blanket.  There are now 98 squares to finish.  ONLY 98 LEFT TO GO.  It still looks the same, but it is bloody MASSIVE.

• Yellow squares - 109/143 done - 34 to go
• Blue squares - 56/72 done - 16 to go
• Grey squares - 69/102 - 33 to go
• Turquoise squares - 2/11 done
• Orange squares - ALL DONE
• Pink square - DONE
• Purple squares - DONE
• Red squares - 7/10 done
• Dark Green squares - DONE
• Pale Blue square - DONE
• Pale Yellow square - DONE
• Dark Blue square - DONE
• Pinky-Red squares - 7/10 done

• Hattie's 4th birthday blanket.  6/36 Rainbow Granny Squares done.

• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons - it's for his second birthday.  His birthday is in SEPTEMBER PEOPLE.  I started this.  I used the wrong yarn, but the pattern is pretty clear, until you get to the ears, at which point it becomes obtuse, so more thinking needed.  
• Peacock Mitten - I'm almost a quarter of the way through the second mitten.  
• Coraline cardigan - I've wound the wool for this, but I need to finish the Wisteria jumper first.
• Petrie top - too cold to think about spring weight tops.  
• Knitted Coco -see above.
• Socks for me - I have no suitable sock wool that I like.
• Rainbow jumper - still depressed about losing jumper 1, and in mourning.  
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - still planning.  I need to sort the stash to see what I've got of this.  I might even need to sort out whether I've got the wool.  I think I bought some, but I don't remember.  How awful.  
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - Oh Lord, I keep putting this off.

Done:

Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan.
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas
Sparkly Owlet for Hattie
Ringo mittens
Aiken
Striped jumper for Lucy

ALL THE KNITTING ALL THE TIME WITH ALL THE CAPS LOCK STUCK ON.

You should never, never doubt something that no one is sure of.

It's been a while.  Life keeps on happening, in its boring and inevitable way.  Module 1 of my course is now over, and I still have 2500 words of my essay to write. The title has changed, along with the focus, but nothing else.  Module 2 has started, what terrific fun it all is.  There have been a few minor health niggles, nothing serious, so no running at the moment.  I've got either the start of a terrific cold, or something I can shake off easily, so I'll have to get shot of that before I go out again; I dislike being unable to breathe when I'm running.  

Anyway, enough about that.  There's been some knitting going on.

• Lucy's stripey jumper.  Finished and done.

• Wisteria jumper - I've just finished the body of the jumper, "just" the sleeves to go.  I need to try it on and make sure that everything is OK, and also see how much more going round and round on the sleeves I need to do before the tricky cable bits.

• Nicholas' POP blanket - Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.  

• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - 38/57 rows done.  Lucy is using this, so I am going to do 2 more rows and a border, and call it done.  

• Hexipuff Quilt - I've managed to do about another 10, which is fantastic, and I'm very pleased with myself.  172/250, which is my target for this year.

• Burton Bear Cowl for Hattie. Brown wool found again.  Hattie isn't showing any particular desire for a cowl, so I will put this on the back burner.

• The Weather in the Streets 

The numbers are depressingly the same.  Ho hum.  We're on a break.  Still on a break. 

• Yellow squares - 107/143 done
• Blue squares - 52/72 done
• Grey squares - 64/102 done
• Turquoise squares - 1/11 done
• Orange squares - ALL DONE
• Pink square - DONE
• Purple squares - DONE
• Red squares - 6/10 done
• Dark Green squares - 5/7 done
• Pale Blue square - DONE
• Pale Yellow square - DONE
• Dark Blue square - to do
• Pinky-Red squares - 6/10 done

• Hattie's 4th birthday blanket.  6/36 Rainbow Granny Squares done.

• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons - it's for his second birthday.  His birthday is in SEPTEMBER PEOPLE.
• Peacock Mitten - oh God, this is too depressing.
• Coraline cardigan - moved to be finished by April; this is Britain, it will still be cold then
• Petrie top - too cold to think about spring weight tops.  
• Knitted Coco -see above.
• Socks for me - I have no suitable sock wool that I like.
• Rainbow jumper - still depressed about losing jumper 1, and in mourning.  
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - still planning
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - March project

Done:

Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan.
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas
Sparkly Owlet for Hattie
Ringo mittens
Aiken
Striped jumper for Lucy

You win some, you keep some the same.  Again.

There's also been some rather exciting sewing happening too; my Mothers' Day present was a two week, two Sundays, sewing course, making a lovely Mortmain dress with Jane of Handmade Jane fame, at Badger and Earl in Chiswick, so I've been doing that.  The dress is beautiful, so far, and I'll have it finished and ready to photograph next week.  I'm going to need some new shoes to go with it too.

What's new with you?

What a life it would be, If you could come to mine for tea, I'll pick you up at half past three, We'll have lasagne

The immortal lines of the Nineties finest lyricist always go through my head when I'm cooking for the family, especially when I'm buggering about making a white sauce, stopping Simon from smashing the printer in sheer frustration and comforting two hysterical girls who haven't realised that Lilo and Stitch isn't a documentary.  I was always team Blur though; shame that they are now a coked up twat, a friend of the Prime Minister, a bit of an arse and Dave.

Still, you don't come here for tales of indie bands from ages past, you come for the knitting, and there has been knitting happening this week, as well as super exciting other crafty things.  Oh yes.  

• Lucy's stripey jumper.  One sleeve done and stuck on, one sleeve started. 

Those are different sleeves, promise.  The bottom photo is from yesterday, I finished that sleeve last night while watching Rich Hall at Battersea Arts Centre.  He was very good, and the sleeve is surprisingly good considering  it is stripes knitted in the round in the dark.

• Wisteria jumper - this is now nearly at the place it was when I ripped it back last week.  *sigh*  There's not a lot left to do on the jumper body, just the last bit of the cable, and strangely, it doesn't feel as insanely complicated as the time before.  Although, you know, ask me again in a week.

• Nicholas' POP blanket - I found the yarn.  I realised that one mini-skein will never make 6 circles.  It is now going to be 30 squares, not 36.  30 is not a square number.  This is now giving me maths heebie jeebies.  On the plus side, it's that bit closer to being finished, so yay.

• Burton Bear Cowl for Hattie. Brown wool found again.  

• The Weather in the Streets 

The numbers are depressingly the same.  Ho hum.  We're on a break.  

• Yellow squares - 107/143 done
• Blue squares - 52/72 done
• Grey squares - 64/102 done
• Turquoise squares - 1/11 done
• Orange squares - ALL DONE
• Pink square - DONE
• Purple squares - DONE
• Red squares - 6/10 done
• Dark Green squares - 5/7 done
• Pale Blue square - DONE
• Pale Yellow square - DONE
• Dark Blue square - to do
• Pinky-Red squares - 6/10 done

• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - 38/57 rows done.  So over HALF WAY.

• Hattie's 4th birthday blanket.  6/36 Rainbow Granny Squares done.

• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons - it's for his second birthday.  His birthday is in SEPTEMBER PEOPLE.
• Hexipuff Quilt (I'm aiming to get 250/500 done by the end of June 2015) NO
• Peacock Mitten - oh God, this is too depressing.
• Coraline cardigan - moved to be finished by April; this is Britain, it will still be cold then
• Petrie top - too cold to think about spring weight tops.  
• Knitted Coco -see above.
• Socks for me - I have no suitable sock wool that I like.
• Rainbow jumper - still depressed about losing jumper 1, and in mourning.  
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - still planning
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - March project

Done:

Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan.
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas
Sparkly Owlet for Hattie
Ringo mittens
Aiken

You win some, you keep some the same.

In other news, I made Lucy a World Book Day costume.  It needs a bit of refinement, in the form of a kitten to hold, a black sash belt, and a heart on the apron, but I channelled my inner Sewing Bee, and altered a rather fragrant tee-shirt of Simon's, and turned it into a dress for a little girl.

With some striped tights and a white top underneath, she'll make a passable Alice.  Hattie wants to be the Gruffalo; we have brown leggings and tee-shirt on order, and purple prickles will be forthcoming.  Exciting times.  

I'm not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?

Another week nearly over, and my acute awareness of the passing of time tells me it's the end of FEBRUARY, which is just insane.  This year is galloping away far too fast; someone stop it please.  

I have a meeting with my boss on Monday to talk about her thoughts about my job for next year; basically, I don't want to be in Nursery, I would like to be a full time SENCO, but work shortened hours so I can still drop the girls at school.  Life needs reordering at the moment for family reasons, which isn't my story to tell, so I'm keen to have order and control in one aspect of my life at least.

This.  I can control this.  I made a very severe and sober Coco dress.  It is beautiful in an austere way, and needs a bright purple cardigan (pattern?  Myra?  Agatha?) to make it a bit more daft.  A bit more Julia.    

It also needs a hem and two oversized purple pockets, but we shall gloss over that.

Also, please don't look at the mess in the background.  The children put all their toys in the attic of the dolls' house, and I can't face tidying that, even though it means that the panel won't fit anymore. At least they put things away.  Be grateful for the small things.  I read this article/advice thing, and it is lovely and helpful, and I love Annalisa Barbieri for all the reasons, especially that she now follows me on twitter, so please read her and love her too.  

What else?  There is wine to drink, there is knitting to do, and there is Charlie Brooker to watch, so that.   There is no running happening at the moment, curses on this sodding ankle.  The bloody thing flared up today and started really hurting while I was observing writing behaviour in Year Two.  It's a real thing.  I wasn't even standing on it.  It stopped hurting after a while, and is fine now, but it is a bit of a worry.  This 2 and a half hour goal for the half marathon is already pretty unrealistic; I really need to get out there and get on with it.  

This young man is fine by the way.  No limps, no permanent damage, and need to trouble the vet.  Thankfully.  Hurrah for hamsters brightening up our lives.

Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody.

It's Sunday, it must be time for:

WHAT HAS JULIA BEEN KNITTING THIS WEEK?!

Hello and welcome, and people who have been reading this far might remember that it was HALF TERM last week, that glorious week in the middle of February dedicated to hair-cuts, going to the dentist, visiting the museum and generally regretting anything outdoors because it is still freezing bloody cold the whole time.

Knitting time has not been limited, but it has consisted of FINISHING THE BLOODY WIPS, which is neither exciting or thrilling to photograph.

• Aiken is FINISHED.  Hoo-bloody-rah, is all I can say, despite absolutely loving the pattern, yarn and everything about it.  I messed up the sleeves as written, so I just made plain sleeves: repeat after me "I have altered the design to suit my personality".

Things I have learned: I totally need to knit a smaller size.  My body is really quite short, so a cropped knit would have looked very out of proportion.  Cascade 220 is the best yarn in the business and I love it.

• The Weather in the Streets 

These are the numbers for this blanket.  I'm adding it here, because I need to keep a better record.  Plus I can see how far I've come in a week.  Or not.

• Yellow squares - 107/143 done
• Blue squares - 52/72 done
• Grey squares - 64/102 done
• Turquoise squares - 1/11 done
• Orange squares - ALL DONE
• Pink square - DONE
• Purple squares - DONE
• Red squares - 6/10 done
• Dark Green squares - 5/7 done
• Pale Blue square - DONE
• Pale Yellow square - DONE
• Dark Blue square - to do
• Pinky-Red squares - 6/10 done

• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - 38/57 rows done.  So over HALF WAY.
• Lucy's stripey jumper.  Got up to the arms.  Shouldn't take that long.  She says.
• Hattie's 4th birthday blanket.  6/36 Rainbow Granny Squares done.
• Wisteria jumper - ripped back because it is just too tight and too uncomfortable.  I have to knit 25 rounds and then start on the cables at the bottom again.  This nearly made me cry, ripping it back, but I'd rather have a bit of baggy thing that I actually wear, than something I keep in the cupboard. 
• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons - it's for his second birthday.  His birthday is in SEPTEMBER PEOPLE.
• Hexipuff Quilt (I'm aiming to get 250/500 done by the end of June 2015) NO
• Burton Bear Cowl for Hattie.  Brown wool lost again.  Curses.
• Nicholas' POP blanket - I can't find the yarn for this.  EMERGENCY.
• Peacock Mitten - oh God, this is too depressing.
• Coraline cardigan - moved to be finished by March; this is Britain, it will still be cold then
• Petrie top - too cold to think about spring weight tops.  
• Knitted Coco -see above.
• Socks for me - I have no suitable sock wool that I like.
• Rainbow jumper - still depressed about losing jumper 1, and in mourning.  
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - still planning
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - March project

Done:

Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan.
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas
Sparkly Owlet for Hattie
Ringo mittens
Aiken

So there is some progress, and I also took a terrible photo.  Tune in for more next week!

All these teenagers are gonna start coming here for their queer horror

Finally, I took my own advice, and wrote some of the damn essay.  500 words are now done; just got to do another 4500, and it's finished.  That only worries me a little bit.

Look!  Things about knitting!

The amazing Sonja from Ginger Makes has made a jumper WITH HORSES ON.   I love it and plans are afoot.

This is an amazing pattern from Andi Satterlund.  I can't decide whether to make it or not.  It doesn't look mindless.

I've got 16 yellow squares to make for the weather blanket for September.  It was 22 originally.  Progress is progress.

Hattie wants to use sparkly buttons on her next jumper.  The little so and so won't wear her Sparkly Owls jumper, so I am not entirely pro the whole idea.  The sparkly buttons originally were to go on her new glittery purple skirt.  I convinced her they wouldn't go.  Photo of the sparkly skirt to follow.

Things about running!

I'm thinking of signing up for this.  I don't know if it is a terrible or a terrific idea.

Things about books!

The plan to only read books by women writers hit the barriers when I was lent "Foxglove Summer" by Ben Aaronovitch.  Read his books, they are brilliant.

We have been listening to Harry Potter in the car recently; we've nearly finished the first book.  Both girls have absolutely loved it, and followed the story really well.  No worries with their verbal comprehension.  Hurrah.

Nothing like a bit of getting on with it to put you in a better mood.

That guy wanted to buy me a drink? I already have one. Do you think he'd buy me mozzarella sticks?

Sometimes the best solution to stressing out over writing an essay is just to get on with it and write the damn thing.  I've already done a bit of the literature review, a pen portrait of each of the children in my intervention and a table of assessments, but nothing else.  I think once the rationale is done, I'll feel a bit more clearheaded about the whole thing.  The other thing that's stressing me out is how to get results.  I think I'm going to have to use thematic analysis, and record how many movements the children are able to copy in a given session.  If all else fails, I'm just going to make it up.  Further research is needed.

It's so stressful writing serious things, when all you ever write is light-hearted drivel about knitting.

• Ringo mittens.  DONE AND DONE.  Hattie, delightful child, has even consented to wear them twice.
• The Aiken is going quite well.  I have altered the design of the sleeves to suit my personality, and am half way through the first one.  Won't be done by Valentine's Day, might be done by the end of half term. 
• The Weather in the Streets - on hold.  It is doing my head in. 
• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - I've done another half a dozen or so rows.  Lucy is starting to complain that she hasn't got it yet.  Each ripple takes me about 30 minutes.  I crochet REALLY SLOWLY.
• Lucy's stripey jumper.  It's my go to project for sitting at ballet.  
• *NEW* Hattie's 4th birthday blanket.  Only 3 months late in starting this.  36 Rainbow Granny Squares.  2 done.
• Wisteria jumper - sleeve island.
• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons - it's for his second birthday.  His birthday is in SEPTEMBER PEOPLE.
• Hexipuff Quilt (I'm aiming to get 250/500 done by the end of June 2015) NO
• Burton Bear cowl for Hattie.  Brown wool lost again.  Curses.
• Nicholas' POP blanket - There are still 9 completed squares.  Again.  Next week, there will be 10.  Yes.
• Peacock Mitten - oh God, this is too depressing.
• Coraline cardigan - moved to be finished by February; this is Britain, it will still be cold then
• Petrie top - too cold to think about spring weight tops.  
• Knitted Coco -see above.
• Socks for me - I have no suitable sock wool that I like.
• Rainbow jumper - still depressed about losing jumper 1, and in mourning.  
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - still planning
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - March project

Done:

Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan.
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas
Sparkly Owlet for Hattie
Ringo mittens

In running news, I have signed up for another 10k and a half marathon.  I need to get my speeds up.  Unfortunately, the sodding job is so busy that I can't find time to run at the moment.  Hurry up Spring and lighter evenings, so I can go out for an hour at least when the girls are in bed.  I really don't want to get up any earlier.

I will nag about sponsorship at a later date.

I wouldn't say you were thoughtless. Not just any guy would walk a gal to the morgue.

A bit of an update.  I haven't written anything for ages because I'm so tired and fed up with the whole thing and only knitting will help.  Honestly, I'm working every hour there is just to stand still, and I'm getting to absolute breaking point.  One more thing, and I'll scream the place down.

Anyway.  Nice knitting.  Playing with string and sticks is the only thing at the moment.

• My Aiken is going really rather well, I'm nearly finished with the body, then just the sleeves to go.  It's a very quick and satisfying knit.  I do like the pattern very much, and I think I might make a couple more.
• Ringo and Elwood mittens.  One down, half of the second done.  Another lovely quick knit.
• The Weather in the Streets - January to August done AND SEWN TOGETHER.  September in progress.  I've got 6 more happy squares to add to it.  I'm having a break now, it's doing my head in.

The rest of the list is depressingly familiar to how it was before.  Still.  Ah well.  Long time until June.

• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - on hold.
• Wisteria jumper - I would quite like to wear this now, it's jolly cold in the house at the moment. 
• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons - it's for his second birthday.  I've bought the pattern.
• Hexipuff Quilt (I'm aiming to get 250/500 done by the end of June 2015) Ho hum. I've sewn the ones I was sent on to the blanket, and they look great. 
• Burton Bear cowl for Hattie.  Brown wool found.  Placed in knitting bag with pattern and needles.  Awaiting cast on fairy.
• Nicholas' POP blanket - There are still 9 completed squares.   Needs to be done by April, so not that long to go.  Aargh.
• Peacock Mitten - one done, started the other.
• Coraline cardigan - moved to be finished by February; this is Britain, it will still be cold then
• Petrie top - I have some rather fine Peacock coloured yarn to make this with, but it is a spring weight top, so it is on hold until February 2015.
• Knitted Coco - got the yarn, found a different pattern which I need to buy and print out,  just got to start.  Also, see above.
• Socks for me - meh
• Rainbow jumper - I have more Kauni wool, I just need the background colour.  Then I'll start it as soon as I finish the Owlet.
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - still planning
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - apparently, he does want me to do this.

Done:
Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan.
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas
Sparkly Owlet for Hattie

And I would have definitely gone to my reunion, but the boat I was educated on sank.

I'm out of class a lot this week.  Today I've been to a SEND reforms conference, which was a combination of far too much information and very, very interesting.  The best bit was hearing from young people with additional needs talking about their experiences - Ealing is a very good borough, and our young people are intelligent and articulate.  Hurrah for us.

Anyway, no more about teaching or SENCO-ing for now.  I've started my intervention, and it's good fun, and the children seem to be enjoying it.

• An Owlet for Hattie - FINISHED.  Have a crappy photo.

• The Weather in the Streets - January to August done AND SEWN TOGETHER.  September in progress.  I've got 6 more happy squares to add to it.  I need a break from the damn thing soon.
• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - rippling away quietly in the background - one or two stripes every couple of days.  I might do a couple more over the weekend.
•  Ringo and Elwood mittens.  I've finished the right hand one of Hattie's pair.  Now to make the other one, and then to make Lucy's.
• I started a new jumper for a selfish knit along.  It's an Aiken by Andy Satterlund, and you can find the pattern here.  It's very satisfying to knit a lace panel in worsted weight wool.  

The rest of the list is depressingly familiar to how it was before.

• Wisteria jumper - I would quite like to wear this now, it's jolly cold in the house at the moment. 
• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons - it's for his second birthday.  I've bought the pattern.
• Hexipuff Quilt (I'm aiming to get 250/500 done by the end of June 2015) Ho hum. I've sewn the ones I was sent on to the blanket, and they look great. 
• Burton Bear cowl for Hattie.  Brown wool found.  Placed in knitting bag with pattern and needles.  Awaiting cast on fairy.
• Nicholas' POP blanket - There are still 9 completed squares.   Needs to be done by April, so not that long to go.  Aargh.
• Peacock Mitten - one done, started the other.
• Coraline cardigan - moved to be finished by February; this is Britain, it will still be cold then
• Petrie top - I have some rather fine Peacock coloured yarn to make this with, but it is a spring weight top, so it is on hold until February 2015.
• Knitted Coco - got the yarn, found a different pattern which I need to buy and print out,  just got to start.  Also, see above.
• Socks for me - meh
• Rainbow jumper - I have more Kauni wool, I just need the background colour.  Then I'll start it as soon as I finish the Owlet.
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - still planning
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - apparently, he does want me to do this.

Done:
Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan.
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas

You’re wise, Liz Lemon. Like a genetically-manipulated shark

I always, always forget how wiped out the first week back after Christmas leaves me.  It's been a good week, but extremely tiring.  I've got a new project to work on at school, because I'm not busy enough, and I've got to start my Write Dance SENCo course intervention too, which will be amusing.  My outline is done, I just want a couple of people to read through it before I hand it in. It didn't help that Simon was away for a few days in the middle of the week either.

A long winded way to say that I've not been blogging much or doing anything except working recently.  Anyway, I've signed up to a couple of crafty things, about which more later in the week; this week I've just been sitting and knitting quietly away at the list.

• The Weather in the Streets - January to July done AND SEWN TOGETHER.  August in progress.  Those squares in August that have been done have been sewn onto the rest of the blanket.  Still got to do the happy days squares.  *sigh*
• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - rippling away quietly in the background - one or two stripes every couple of days.
•  Ringo and Elwood mittens.  I've finished the right hand one of Hattie's pair.  Now to make the other one, and then to make Lucy's.

• An Owlet for Hattie - I've made the body, joined one of the sleeves and am working on the second - should be finished before the end of the week.  Still no photos.

The rest is the same as before.  I'm going to blitz them as soon as I've finished the Owlet and the other mitten.

• Wisteria jumper - I would quite like to wear this now, it's jolly cold in the house at the moment. 
• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons - it's for his second birthday.  I've bought the pattern.
• Hexipuff Quilt (I'm aiming to get 250/500 done by the end of June 2015) Ho hum.  Someone sent me 3 spare ones, I need to sew them onto the blanket.  
• Burton Bear cowl for Hattie.  Brown wool found.  Placed in knitting bag with pattern and needles.  Awaiting cast on fairy.
• Nicholas' POP blanket - There are still 9 completed squares.   Needs to be done by April, so not that long to go.  Aargh.
• Peacock Mitten - one done, started the other.
• Coraline cardigan - moved to be finished by February; this is Britain, it will still be cold then
• Petrie top - I have some rather fine Peacock coloured yarn to make this with, but it is a spring weight top, so it is on hold until February 2015.
• Knitted Coco - got the yarn, found a different pattern which I need to buy and print out,  just got to start.  Also, see above.
• Socks for me - meh
• Rainbow jumper - I have more Kauni wool, I just need the background colour.  Then I'll start it as soon as I finish the Owlet.
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - still planning
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - STILL not proving as popular an idea as I thought it would be.

Done:
Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan.
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal
A tiny jumper for Nicholas

Stop eating people’s old French fries, pigeon! Have some self respect! Don’t you know you can fly?

For the first time this year, the Sunday night KNITTING KLAXON.

The knit list.  There has actually been some change since my last update.  How amazing.

• A small jumper for Nicholas - FINISHED

OMFG, but I love it, and I want one in an adult size.  Totally sizing it up and making one for EVERYONE. 

• The Weather in the Streets - January to July done AND SEWN TOGETHER.  August in progress.  Those squares in August that have been done have been sewn onto the rest of the blanket. 

Look how beautiful it is.  Funny story: I counted wrong, so I am 10 squares out.  So I need to remove 5 from around the blanket, and sew in five Lipstick pink ones, as well as adding another 5 for the remainder of the year, for 10 happy days.  Whoops.  Good thing I don't need to count for my job, or anything. 

• Lucy Attic24 Ripple Blanket - I've now completed, I dunno, about half?  It's on hold for a bit, but gaze upon its beauty.

It is still meant for Lucy's 6th birthday.  She'll have by the time the weather is good enough to go camping again.  

• Ringo and Elwood mittens in grey and brown - I started Hattie's right hand one the other day.  Oh mi dayz, but it is an easy and sweet little pattern, and I love it to bits and back again. 

LOOK.  LOOK HOW SMALL YET BEAUTIFUL IT IS.

• An Owlet for Hattie - I've made the body and some of one of the sleeves.  No photo, because it's boring at the moment, but the yarn is pretty sparkly and pink and purple, and Hattie loves it.
• Wisteria jumper - I need the needles for the Owlet, so I did one round before shelving it for a bit.  IT TOTALLY COUNTS.

The rest is the same as before.

• Owl Obsession for one of my godsons - it's for his second birthday.  I've bought the pattern.
• Hexipuff Quilt (I'm aiming to get 250/500 done by the end of June 2015) Ho hum.
• Burton Bear cowl for Hattie.  Brown wool found.  Placed in knitting bag with pattern and needles.  Awaiting cast on fairy.
• Nicholas' POP blanket - There are still 9 completed squares.   Needs to be done by April, so not that long to go.  Aargh.
• Peacock Mitten - one done, started the other.
• Coraline cardigan - moved to be finished by February; this is Britain, it will still be cold then
• Petrie top - I have some rather fine Peacock coloured yarn to make this with, but it is a spring weight top, so it is on hold until February 2015.
• Knitted Coco - got the yarn, found a different pattern which I need to buy and print out,  just got to start.  Also, see above.
• Socks for me - meh
• Rainbow jumper - I have more Kauni wool, I just need the background colour.  Then I'll start it as soon as I finish the Owlet.
• A Little Birds jumper with no steeks - still planning
• Reknit an unwearably large jumper for Simon - STILL not proving as popular an idea as I thought it would be.

Done:
Myrna Cardigan
Hattie's cardigan.
A pair of simple socks for the children
Garter Yoke Cardigan
An Owlet for Lucy
Lucy's Cowl
Hattie's Cowl
A Burton Bear Cowl for Lucy
Simon's socks
Boreal

I've also discovered the joy of Hama beads, thanks to Pinterest and lovely, lovely Lucy from Attic 24.  It's all crafty goodness here.

I think I need a new pair of mittens.  Hmm.