A RETROSPECTIVE ......

Thought I'd have a little retrospective this evening! A little look back over the last year. I dug out some photos of all the completed projects from 2010. There was definitely a better range of projects last year. In other words, not so many socks! Last year also saw an obvious increase in the number of baby items made. I wonder why that was? ;-)  The very large, crocheted blanket for little Sophie, took up a large amount of my knitting time at the beginning of the year and the end of the year was a mad rush to complete one or two Christmas gifts. All in all, not a bad haul really.

There's not been a great deal of knitting going on over the Christmas period. A houseful, definitely limits 'needles' time! We had a lovely family time though. Now I need to think about making a concerted effort, to finish all the unfinished items that are lurking in bags, all in various stages of unfinishedness. I am now on the second sleeve of the aran coat for my youngest daughter, so my immediate aim is to complete the coat before next weekend. You never know, there may be a grand 'showing' next Sunday! I also have two pairs of socks to finish. This one just needs a partner...

...but this pair has rather a long way to go!

Then there's the crocheted cushion cover....

... and the 'Granny in the Middle' blanket...

Oh, and there's the little coat I started for Sophie.....

and the poor, lonely 'cat mitten' ......

and the 'Swallowtail Shawl' that I was so keen to get going on.....

...and not forgetting, of course, my long-term project, the 'Sock Yarn Blankie'....

Hmmm! Think this little lot might take a year to complete, never mind any new projects.  Lets just say, that I need to keep in mind that these projects do need to be finished. That's not to say that some new, exciting yarn may just have to jump onto the needles along the way. Lets hope it's yarn from my 'stash'! That's another story for another time methinks. I guess I'll focus on the socks, the cushion cover and the little jacket and then the two blankets can just jolly along with me; gorgeous to look at and squish and maybe they'll even get a few extra squares added, on the way. Who knows! Best not to be too rigid with New Year intentions............. SMILE!

See you all next week!

HOOKED ON BLANKETS........

 Good evening to you all. Hope you've had a lovely weekend doing whatever  you need to do to make a weekend lovely. I certainly have....... doing as little as little as possible, save some dog walking, friend talking and crocheting. In fact, doing ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING that will deter me from writing reports. Yes, I know they have to be done and my plan still sees them being finished by half-term, but I'm now counting on one per night! Hmm, a little optimistic I think.

Just look at that beautiful lilac that has been in bloom for the last week in our garden. Lilac is one of my alltime favourite flowers, beautifully fragrant and always such pretty shades. It made sitting in the garden this afternoon a 'must'. Reports can't be written in the garden because the laptop screen isn't visible enough. Oh dear, what a pity! :)

There's been no knitting this week, as I have been quite busy in the evenings...... busy thinking about NOT report writing. But, as I've pottered about and passed my little (well quite big actually) stash of bits and pieces that are sitting in a pile, waiting for our new little grandchild to arrive, I've been thinking that the Rainbow Ripple blanket didn't look quite finished. So, yesterday, I double-crocheted a border, just to finish it off. I'm glad I did. It needed it, I think. What do you think?

Oh dear,..... just noticed Oscar hairs........crocheted in.................

I've got quite a bit of yarn left and am really keen to start another blanket. I played about with this hexagon motif from Lucy...

Hmm, not too sure about how long this one would take and I quite fancy a fairly quick result, so then tried these 'Granny in the Middle' squares from Jan Eaton's book '200 Crocheted Squares'.

I liked the simplicity of these squares, with the added benefit of a border of several rounds of double crochet that will, hopefully keep the squares nicely in shape, if the blanket turns out to be quite big and heavy.
 So welcome to the 'Granny in the Middle' blanket. I think it should be called the 'Granny in Waiting' blanket, as our little grandaughter still hasn't made an appearance. Her due date was last Monday and she still hasn'e made an appearance. One thing is for sure......... by next Sunday I will have some news and maybe even a little photo or two!

That's it folks, except to leave with a pic of young Oscar chilling in the warm afternoon sunshine.  See the holly leaf? Oscar seems to have an addiction to them. I'm sure they must prick his mouth, but he finds one in the garden on an almost daily basisand proceeds to go absolutely crazy with it; throwing in the air, rolling on it and racing around the garden. Very strange, but as long as he's happy...

Have a good week everyone. I'm so excited .................................................. :) Too excited to concentrate on reports :)