I wrote a book. "The First Historical Guide to Pawnee." I wrote it as a reference for myself, but then my campaign advisors said we should make it a big wide release. So we had people contribute, we added pictures, and we removed a lot of my poems and emotional ramblings and pictures of unicorns and here it is!

I'm not getting into a rhythm at all at work.  Well, I am, but it's not really a sustainable one.  Now I've actually got my job, I'm going to try to set my own hours to a certain extent; baby steps.  I feel I'm going to be full time before I really want to be.  Ah teaching, the job that keeps on taking.

Still, there's been a bit of a break in the clouds today, in the unlikely shape of Hat having a very high temperature and fever and Simon working in town, meaning that I had to stay at home and not go in at all.  In between fetching and carrying and doing my planning, I was able to knit, bake bread, make soup, dye a jacket and do two loads of washing, and bizarrely all these things meant that I could reset my brain.

So.  In the last month, what have I made from the never-ending list?

I finished my Wisteria jumper this afternoon.  It has taken FOREVER to make, with its complicated cables that require concentration.  I immediately wondered whether I had it in me to make a grey one out of Cascade 220; turns out, I don't.

The jumper is made out of Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted, in the Prairie Fire colour.  The yarn is a mohair blend and very fuzzy and gorgeous.  I used 6 mm needles, in the round for the body, and DPNs for the sleeves.  It took such a long time because I spent a lot of time willing it to finish itself, and I didn't really want to work on it during the summer.  A couple of kilos of mohair on your lap is not conducive to keeping cool.

A very dear friend of mine had twin boys, so they needed a gift.  Each.  I felt that they needed a separate but matching vest top, in vibrant rainbow shades.  I used the same pattern for both and the same balls of yarn but in a different order, and I think they are pretty striking.  The necklines might be a bit tight, but I stretched them out over a pretty big pumpkin and they went over fine, and the boys have smaller heads than the pumpkin.

I made an Urchin hat as part of the FESA thing, but I haven't photographed yet.  Too busy wearing it constantly.

Hexipuff Quilt: I think it is now 195 out of 500.  Not sure.  I should probably count them at some point; I think I will make another ten and then count.

Vianne cardigan: Finished.  I gave it a new button band, and a new ribbon and I'm really pleased with it now.  It sat on my new dressmaker's dummy for a while, and looked smashing.

Simon's massive man socks: I've made one.  I can't now find the other ball of black flecked sock yarn.  Bum.  It's either in the stash somewhere, or I went mad and only bought one ball.

The Rainbow Raglan: Still waiting for sleeves.

This One's for Parties Vintage Jumper: I'm not entirely happy with this.  I've shelved it for now, and I will get back to it.  Maybe a 2016 vintage pledge.  Hem.

The Yellow Petrie: I want to say I've finished this, but I can't.

These are things that are waiting to be started.  Still.  They will (may) get made before July, or they may not.

A present for Robin: I don't like that owl blanket.  I'm going to make him a vest in the Knit Picks wool I bought about two years ago.  

Finish the Peacock Mittens

Miette cardigan in Lemon

Cream and Beige Coco style boatneck striped top

Sun-Ray Ribbing Vintage Jumper
Ishbel scarf thing
Waterhouse Mittens

Reknit Simon's Cobblestone jumper

Mini Hetty cardigan with sleeves for Lucy 

Bright Rainbow Blanket for Lucy

Burton Bear cowl for Hattie

Mini Hetty cardigan with sleeves also for Hattie
Minion blanket for Hattie 

My generation never votes. It interferes with talking about ourselves all the time.

I seem to have dropped into a routine I don't particularly like.  I'm working so hard during the day, I don't feel like blogging or sewing or doing anything beyond sitting in the evening.  So I'm only blogging on a Sunday night, and it's not really what I want to do, I like writing and I would really like to do it more often.

But you know, blah blah blah, work is HARD, I'm TIRED, life is BUSY, all that jazz.  I always maintain that you have time to do all the things you want to do, so maybe I just don't want to blog enough.

Enough of that.  I have been knitting quite a bit recently, plus I have PROPERLY finished the weather blanket, with a purple border and everything.  I decided against making the border too big, and it is now on our bed and we sleep under it every night.

Have a crappy iPhone photo, I haven't managed to get upstairs with the good camera, and honestly, can't see that happening for a while.  But anyway.  It is done and finished.

Hexipuff Quilt: Still at 193 out of 500.  Which sounds like nothing, but has taken a while.

The Rainbow Raglan: Inertia is still stopping me from knitting the sleeves.

This One's for Parties Vintage Jumper: The ribbing for the front is done.  I'm going to do some rows (maybe 10) with the new needles and see how it works out.

The Yellow Petrie: Still just a front.  It's not warm enough to think about summer knitting.

Simon's massive man sock: getting bigger.  I'm on to the foot of the first one.  It is yet another labour of love.

Vianne cardigan: still the same.

These things are still the same.

Miette cardigan in Lemon

Cream and Beige Coco style boatneck striped top

Sun-Ray Ribbing Vintage Jumper

Finish the Wisteria so that when it gets cold, I will be warm

Finish the Peacock Mittens, ditto

Reknit Simon's Cobblestone jumper

Mini Hetty cardigan with sleeves for Lucy - bought some yarn for this.  Hurrah.

Bright Rainbow Blanket for Lucy - I'm a bit over crocheting closed granny squares, but I'll get this started in the next couple of weeks.

Burton Bear cowl for Hattie

Mini Hetty cardigan with sleeves also for Hattie
Minion blanket for Hattie - same as Lucy's blanket.  *sigh*

Owl Blanket for Robin's Christmas present

The rest is silence.  Because we went to see Hamlet the other night and my massive crush on Benedict Cumberbatch is just getting more massive.  

Hey, nerds! Who’s got two thumbs, speaks limited French, and hasn’t cried once today? This moi.

This month is whooshing past far too fast.  Last week was a blur of long days at work, celebratory cakes and champagne, knitting and cutting out skirts and not writing.

For those of you interested in my glittering career, you will be amazed/pleased to hear that I passed my NaSENCO course, and am now a fully qualified SENCO.  I've still not been appointed to the role, as they have to advertise internally, but no one else is qualified or wants to do it, so it's just me.  It will mean more money and more hours, but I'm already working the hours, so bring on the money frankly.  The job is interesting but really, really hard work, but this moi hasn't had a proper meltdown for at least three days now, so let's say it's going well.

One day I will write a devastating piece on the absolute absurdity of SEND funding and the lip service paid by government to the education of children with extra needs, but today is not the day, and anyway there's knitting to chat about.


Our top story this week:  THE WEATHER BLANKET IS FINISHED.  Well, the main body of the blanket is finished, and I'm about half way round the first border round.  I will do two, and then it will be done and finished and I'll never have to think of it again.  It will go on our bed, not the spare bed, and it will be beautiful and there will be photos next week.

Hexipuffs: Currently standing at 193 as of last  night.  On our trip to Brighton yesterday, I made 6, sewed them on, and I'm now sitting on it as a cushion to stop the wicker chair bruising my delicate bum.


The Rainbow Raglan: The body is done.  It looks like this:

I love it.  It's a funny shape if you look too closely when it's not on, but it fits well and hugs the curves beautifully, and skims over the tummy.  Hurrah for fitted knits.  I will finish it before the end of the year.  Probably.  It needs long sleeves, and I've found the right place in one of the yarn cakes, so there's nothing stopping me but inertia.

This One's for Parties Vintage Jumper: The silk is dyed and dry and ready to be knitted up.  It looks like red string.  I'm not 100% pleased with it, but I've knitted about two thirds of the ribbing and it looks OK, so we shall see.  It's all rather exciting; I've not used a vintage pattern before.

The Yellow Petrie: Still just a front.  It's not warm enough to think about summer knitting.

Simon's massive man sock: Still the same.

Vianne cardigan: still needing a new button band.  I found the missing yarn to make the button band.  It's on the list.

These things are still the same.

Miette cardigan in Lemon

Cream and Beige Coco style boatneck striped top

Sun-Ray Ribbing Vintage Jumper

Finish the Wisteria so that when it gets cold, I will be warm

Finish the Peacock Mittens, ditto

Reknit Simon's Cobblestone jumper

Mini Hetty cardigan with sleeves for Lucy

Bright Rainbow Blanket for Lucy - I'm a bit over crocheting closed granny squares, but I'll get this started in the next couple of weeks.

Burton Bear cowl for Hattie

Mini Hetty cardigan with sleeves also for Hattie
Minion blanket for Hattie - same as Lucy's blanket.  *sigh*

Owl Blanket for Robin's Christmas present

The list of things that are still the same should be either shameful or depressing, but aren't, because the WEATHER BLANKET IS FINISHED!\

I got rid of all my Colin Firth movies in case they consider it erotica.

How is it October?  How?  I've been back at work for nearly 5 weeks now, and it's absolute chaos.  People keep asking me how the whole "Year 2/SENCO" thing is working out for me, and I cry, not loudly, but there are real tears.  It's hard work.  I'm getting the hang of things, but it is super hard work, and I'm basically working full time for part time money.  It's hard.

Yesterday was a bit of a write off, as I was suffering from a mystery bug; nothing to do with the three bottles of "Italian White Wine" I shared with my colleagues, followed by at least two double vodka and tonics at the Aeronaut, and all the karaoke and the dancing and the having a fun time that happened on Friday night.  I got home at 2, and had a little sleep on the sofa before going to bed in my clothes.  Whoops.  Still wasn't able to drive on Saturday morning, and my stomach muscles and legs are quite sore now.

Anyway, enough shenanigans, on with the KNIT LIST.

Hexipuffs: I've lost count.  I don't know how many I've made.  I will count them soon; I think I need 500 to make a blanket big enough to cover both of us on the sofa.  Must keep knitting.

The Yellow Petrie: Still just a front.  It's not warm enough to think about summer knitting.

The Rainbow Raglan: The body is nearly done.  Woo hoo, get me.  Making a fingering weight adult jumper is jolly hard and really quite boring.  But the colour changes make me happy, because I am simple.

Simon's massive man sock: Sock 1 is half finished.  I've turned the heel, and am about to begin on the mindlessness of the leg.  It looks pretty dull, but I think he'll like them.  He'd better.

Weather Blanket - there are now 3 squares left to make.  THREE! Once the body of the Rainbow Raglan is done, I will finish it off.  Finish it! After all these months!

This One's for Parties Vintage Jumper: I've dyed a bunch of silk yarn from Texere.  It was off white and looked like grubby string, and now is bright, bright red.  As is the kitchen, my apron and my hands.

Vianne cardigan: still needing a new button band.  I might need to buy some more wool to finish it off, and I don't want to do that at the moment.

These things are still the same.

Miette cardigan in Lemon

Cream and Beige Coco style boatneck striped top

Sun-Ray Ribbing Vintage Jumper

Finish the Wisteria so that when it gets cold, I will be warm

Finish the Peacock Mittens, ditto

Reknit Simon's Cobblestone jumper

Mini Hetty cardigan with sleeves for Lucy

Bright Rainbow Blanket for Lucy - I'm a bit over crocheting closed granny squares, but I'll get this started in the next couple of weeks.

Burton Bear cowl for Hattie

Mini Hetty cardigan with sleeves also for Hattie
Minion blanket for Hattie - same as Lucy's blanket.  *sigh*

Owl Blanket for Robin's Christmas present

Now I'm heading home for a nooner, which is what I call having pancakes for lunch.

Well, now this is happening.  I'm doing another sewing/knitting challenge thing, Will I be able to see it through, or will I forget all about it, like I do most things?  WE SHALL SEE.

These are the categories:

Fashionable Foundations for Frosty Weather

Chic Chemises for Cool Climates

Fabulous Frocks

Underneath It All

Tender Tootsies

Those Cozy Nights 

Baby It's Cold Outside

and you can find out more about them here.

But what Julia, I hear you cry, are you going to actually make?  Readers who pay attention might have seen my post about the Yarn in the City Pop Up Market Place that I went to the other day.  I bought enough yarn to make some really lovely things, and these are on the new list.  Where possible, the new list will coincide with the old list, to ease things.

Fashionable Foundations for Frosty Weather
I have some very lovely red tartan fabric I want to turn into a Clemence skirt.  So that's the first thing I'll be doing.

Chic Chemises for Cool Climates
I've made a grey and brown (nicer than it sounds actually) Coco (blog post to follow) for this.  I'm also going to finally finish my Wisteria jumper, and at least start the "This One's for Parties!" jumper too.  I might try to start the Tambourine cardigan in the Kettle Yarns grey wool.  A bit more on the Rainbow Raglan too.

Fabulous Frocks
I'm thinking about making an Emery dress in black watch tartan; I've had both the pattern and the fabric in my stash for TIME, and they need to be used.  I'm also going to make a black and white polka dot Bettine dress to wear under my Tamborine cardigan.  Three guesses which one will be finished first.  Oh yes, and a grey and white striped Coco dress with a contrasting pink yoke.  Go me!

Underneath It All
Might make some more pants.  Probably will.

Tender Tootsies
Might start some socks for me.  Might.  Will probably finish at least one sock for himself.  Probably.

Those Cozy Nights
I'm not sure if I want to go down the loungewear route, but I might make some Margot pyjamas if I'm feeling particularly lazy.  Maybe.  Don't know.

Baby It's Cold Outside
These mittens, in sophisticated orange and grey yarn from TravelKnitter.  A gorgeous deep blue green Ishbel in Triskelion Yarn and Fibre.  Find and then finish the Peacock Mittens.  Maybe a hat.  Maybe.

That'll probably do.  The sewing seems likely, the knitting less so, but we've got a lot of long car journeys coming up, and I do love to knit in the car.

Global warming? Sorry, sir, that's just scientist talk. The same people who say my grandfather was a monkey. If that's true, why was he killed by a monkey?

Well, it's Monday night and no one in the Croyden household has been sick for at least 72 hours, so I'm going to tentatively stick my head above the parapet and say that we are better than we were.  What a delightful few days it has been, but it's a new week now and I'm full of energy at the moment.  This may not last.

Two weeks ago, I went to the Great London Yarn Crawl Market Place, organised by the women at Yarn in the City.  I've started listening to knitting podcasts, a hobby my husband finds amusing but indulges me in provided I don't ask him to listen too.  I've found a couple that are not to my taste: basically, if the woman's voice makes me want to stab my own ears, I stop listening; and I've now found a couple that I really like.  The Knitmore Girls Intergenerational Hour is my favourite, but they are on maternity leave at the moment.  Video podcasts annoy me far more than seems rational, but now I've discovered I can use my phone for other things while listening, I'm a lot calmer about them.

Back to the Market Place.  I spent a bit of money on lovely things, lovely things for me and no one else. Some beautiful grey wool from Kettle Yarns to make a Tambourine cardigan, oh my goodness, it is so luxurious and gorgeous.  Some hand-dyed yarn from TravelKnitter to make these mittens, orange and grey, sophisticated.  Her Etsy shop is on a break at the moment, but know that the yarn is Blue Faced Leicester Superwash Sock, and dyed in Walthamstow, E17.  So I will be singing while I knit.  Some beautiful wool from Triskelion Yarn and Fibre to make a scarf , a beautiful deep blue green colour.  A renewed subscription to PomPom magazine, which I love, but haven't made anything from yet.  Too busy catching up with patterns from 2008.  

It was a lovely afternoon, and a lovely venue.  Next time I'm going to buy from Midwinter Yarns; googling them shows me they'll be at Yarndale on Saturday.  I can't wait.  All the knitting, all the sewing, all the time.  Hurrah!

They're twelve years old. I would have killed to have seen a bag of hands at that age.

Be careful what you wish for because it may well come true.  Teaching in Year 2 is proving to be a lot of hard work, being a SENCo is hard work, moving into a new school and unpacking and setting up a classroom is hard work.  Lucy has now been in Year 2 for 2 and a half weeks, and we're already behind on handing in homework and listening to her read, and don't even mention piano practice.  Getting into any sort of routine is proving to be a bit too much for us, particularly with the gastrically interesting week I've had.  There's been a tummy bug going round Hat's class; she had it on Thursday, and I had it on Tuesday.  Hurrah!  Nothing wipes you out like a vomiting bug.  I was so exhausted that I went to bed at quarter past 9 on Tuesday, and slept for nearly 12 hours.

But never mind all that.  I'm finally making it through the fog to sew up some stash, and I've got two dresses made already.  It's not taken a lot out of the stash to be honest, mostly because there is just LOADS of it, and even though I'm not thin, 3 metres of jersey fabric is a LOT of jersey fabric.

I finally finished my Made Up Initiative pledge, and made the Lady Skater dress in stashed jersey that I got from the Knitting and Stitching Show in April.  I was going to use it to make a wraparound dress from the Sewing Bee book from last year, but I don't like the pattern in the book, so I turned it into a Lady Skater.  It's a brilliant pattern, just like the children's one, and very quick to make.  I actually got it finished on the 9th, just before the cut off date, but I failed to notify Karen, mostly because it was then Lucy's birthday and party and all that means.  For those not in the know, she is 7.  We went to a pizza restaurant and made pizzas and there were 12 little boys and girls, and I will say no more about any of that.

Anyway, here is the beautiful, gorgeous dress.  I've worn it three times and washed it twice, and it looks great and is very comfortable, and when I twirl, the skirt sticks out a bit and is SUPER COOL.

Bit of a crappy Instagram picture, but you get the general idea.  I love the pattern, and I've got a whole bunch more planned.

The other dress I made is a bit more sober and sensible.  I bought some greyish brown jersey at the same fair, and decided to make a Coco with it.  BUT, having made the Lady Skater, I decided that I wanted to try the neckline of the Lady Skater on the bodice of the Coco, with the neckband instead of turning it under.  The dress is also severely plain, so has some pink rick rack around the hem to cheer it up a bit.  I only finished it on Thursday, so I haven't worn it yet, although I've tried it on and it looks good.

Again, another crappy Instagram picture, and the light wasn't great.  I'm not patient enough at the moment to take self portraits with a clicky thing and my good camera, and my photographer makes me look like an idiot, so what can you do.

I also made pants for me.  They are amazing.

I will not be posting a modelled shot.