SPEECHLESS.............

.......except to say, I LOVE IT!

Oscar wanted to come in when he saw it. He thinks it's for him!

Please Mum, let me in!

I think it's big enough!

The corners worked out just fine.  I was a little worried that they wouldn't.

Now I need to start Sophie's mini version for her 'baby'!

ALMOST THERE.....

Well, it's nearly there...... the blanket is and also the kitchen.  So, so close to be going done. The trauma of choosing paint colours and then finding the testers look nothing like the colour samples in the brochures, has again led to lots of wasted time, gggrrrrrr! The decorator arrives tomorrow and still no firm colour choice. No worries though, there's still time. 

There's still time for the blanket too; four weeks to go, in fact, before the baby is due. I deliberated over a suitable border, before deciding on a couple of rows of trebles, followed by a couple of rows of doubles and finally, a scallop edging from the Edie Eckman book shown above.

It's going well and I think it suits the blanket really well.

I'm sure I'll be able to reveal the finished little beauty in all its glory next week. I'll leave you with this little hint of Spring, snapped as we walked home through the park from the city this morning.

NEARLY THERE.......

HEY! GUESS WHAT? I'M NEARLY DONE! 

I'VE JUST FINISHED SEWING IN THE ENDS. NOW I NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE BORDER. 

WATCH THIS SPACE.........THERE MAY BE A 'TA-DA!' MOMENT ON SUNDAY!

I've been pretty much stuck in the house since Monday, which is why progress has suddenly speeded up.  It's half-term, but we still have lots going on in the kitchen; sadly, none of it involves cooking up yummy meals on our yummy new hob yet. Today, it's the turn of the flooring department. By this evening there will be a beautiful slate Amtico floor in place. Tomorrow, it's place is filled by the granite worktop fitters; rescheduled from Friday! Then Friday, the kitchen fitter is back to finish off. 

What's that I hear you cry, 'Hooray! It's finished'. Well no, sadly it's not as there is quite a bit of redecorating still to go all next week and into the following one too. 

BUT, we're getting there; slowly but surely and it is starting to look really lovely. I'm not going to worry about curtains and blinds until everything else is done, so that I am making the right choice. Thanks for all your thoughts and comments on the choices last week. I also have number two as my favourite at present, but that's not to say I won't find some more lovelies to consider. 

I'll see you on Sunday, with a fantabulous finished blanket to show you...... hopefully!

TRUE TO MY WORD

True to my word, I've touched no other project but the 'Granny Stripe' blanket this week. My aim was to crochet at least four stripes each evening. Fat chance! I didn't quite meet the target, but i have made some seriously good progress.
I had just laid my handiwork out on the floor for the briefest of brief seconds, to check out the how the size was coming along and estimate how many more stripes might be needed, when look who speedily leapt on and laid down. he laid down so smartly, as if pretending that he had been laying there asleep for ages and I shouldn't disturb him. He was pretty resistant to moving himself!

There is still some way to go. I think I may have started with a few too many chains, because it is looking pretty wide and therefore needs to be VERY long, in order to appear in the right perspective. The yarn does seem to be going on and on forever though. I have only used one of the two packs bought! That seems to be indicating that there may even be enough left over to begin a Ripple for the sofa. That thought fills me with very sweet pleasure. This yarn is certainly extra good value for money!

I received a couple of lovely yarny packages this week. The first contained two yummy skeins of Hazel Knits Artisan Sock ( 90% merino, 10% nylon) and a skein of Hazel Knits Entice (70% merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon) ; a little January present to myself, to beat the gloom! Hazel Knits yarn has a lovely tight twist, giving great stitch definition and make fab socks.  The colourways are (from the top) Aquarius and Jam Session. The skein of Entice at the bottom is in colourway Ruby Love.

My second package contained two skeins of beautiful Miss Babs Alpaccacita; a 2ply lace weight in a 70% alpacca  30% silk mix. It is so, so soft and the 'Winter Rose' colourway so, so pretty. It's the January FIFC2012 club yarn. I have been a pattern only member, but managed a yarn swap with the lovely Liesel (modeste). So pleased with it!

So, it's been a yarny week, one way and another! I need to keep the pressure on this week too, so that at least the blanket has a chance of being completed before the birth of little granddaughter number two!
Have a good week everyone.

IN NEED OF LOVE AND ATTENTION!

Holy moly!! I need to be speeding along. I've had too many projects on the go and I've not been focussed on time (or lack of). I want this finished before the new little baby girl arrives; that's around March 24th. This Granny Stripe definitely needs some love and attention!
 

I'm guessing, I need to give this little beauty the full attention that it so dearly deserves. So, no more dipping into other bags, no more doing a little bit here on my sock or a little there on my 'Monkey Bread'.

STOP NOW! All this dilly-dallying just has to stop and there needs to be some concentrated effort on the task.

Once in the zone, there is exquisite delight to be had from the beautiful colours: some soft and calming, others zingy and vibrant.

There are heart-stopping choices to be made as the end of a colour stripe approaches. What will it be next? Digging deep into the woolly depths of the bag, the next little beauty is ready and waiting. 'Pick me! Pick me!' he cries.

Soon, before you know it really, a wondrous sight is there to behold! I'm not meaning those ghastly ends, of course.

They are being completely ignored until I'm ready and set to attend to them. That won't be for some   good time yet, so they can stop trying to be noticed and just settle down and be quiet.

Oh but look, just look, isn't looking lovely!

I need to keep my focus and attend to my 'one and only' for the next few weeks, I think!

I'm just loving those 'nextdoor neighbour' colour changes.

With a little bit of love and affection, I'm sure we'll make the date!

Sophie's hoping for a little mini version for her own 'baby'. She left her at home yesterday though, to go sledging with her daddy and Scott. It looks like the snow's on the way out at long last, so I'm glad she got to enjoy it.

Have a good week everyone!

MERRY CHRISTMAS.....

Well, we're nearly there! Not long now until someone, somewhere in the world will be unwrapping their presses and sharing good times with family and friends. The end of term couldn't come quickly enough for me, but at last I can now catch my breath and enjoy some well earned relaxation. All preparations are miraculously complete, except for some present wrapping, sausage roll making and mulled wine concocting later on this afternoon.

The younger Miss Snoops is already home and Miss Snoops the elder and her husband arrive on Boxing Day. Our son and his wife, with little Sophie arrive on New Years's Eve. So, we have a two week flow of visitors, which will be really lovely.

Knitting has become an all too rare treat these last few busy weeks. I plan to make up for lost time, that's for sure! My 'new baby' blanket has had a few more stripes added.....

......  and I've started 'Potter' from Rowan's new baby knits book. All the patterns use the new DK merino wool and silk mix. It's really soft and is knitting up beautifully so far.

Hopefully, Father Christmas will deliver some little woolly treat to make Snoops Christmas complete!! Ha ha!

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

SMILE, IT"S A SOCK........

 A week's worth of socks hanging to dry. No chance that they would dry outside this weekend, as the weather has been well and truly foul! They made me smile, as I carefully matched up the pairs. Hmm, OCD! Nevertheless, they added a very welcome touch of colour and lifted my spirits on a very dull, windy and wet Sunday morning.

My 'Granny Stripe' is coming along slowly, but surely. I try to manage one stripe an evening, at least. I'm loving the colour changes and the cheerfulness of this gorgeous fabric.

It's so addictive and relaxing, a great combination for some great 'me' time!

I have this little colour combo ready and waiting to begin a new project for little granddaughter number 2! It's ready to make a cute all-in-one suit, from Rowan's latest baby and toddler book. I spent ages choosing the three colours, changing my mind between pales and brights. I think I'm happy with the final choice, especially for a new-born outfit.

The 'Dougie Dog' scarf is almost complete too. I just have to 'gear up' to tackle the upside down scottie dogs at the end and then it'll be done, apart from sewing in the ends and doubling it over to seam. Hopefully, my 'scottie dog' mojo will have returned during the week and I'll be able to show off the finished set next time.

Have a great week!

NOVEMBER TREATS.....

This was last evening's November sunset, at around about 4.10p.m. We had just got out of the car, to go and order our wood burner and arrange for the fitting. As I captured this stunning sky, behind me was a rainbow, albeit too feint to photograph successfully. It had been a really dull and wet day too, so the lovely evening was an extra special surprise.

At last, after stashing the yarn for  couple of months now, a new 'blankie' has officially been born.   On finding out that little Sophie will indeed be welcoming a baby sister next March, it seemed fitting to make a start! I showed you the first stripe last time. Just feast your eyes on this snuggly, colourful, stripy goodness.......

It is just the best relaxation ever and so amazingly satisfying to see the colour combinations emerge, each one snuggling in so happily next to it's neighbour. Bliss!

I do need to get Sophie's little Dougie scarf completed soon though, as it is a Christmas gift for her. I have been managing a few rows here and there, but it is quite a lengthy process, as the scarf is made double width and then folded and seamed. It will give a lovely warm, thick fabric when complete.

I would prefer a fairy to wave her magic wand over it though, as the draw of the pretty 'blankie' stripes is just too great. I managed to get the majority of my schoolwork done yesterday,  so this morning were able to go out and enjoy a stroll in the park with Oscar, soaking up the pale November sunshine and crunching through the leaves. Heaven!