Monday Update

I've not done much knitting this last week. I just seem to be jumping from one thing to another and not really getting anywhere. My plan this week is to finished my Composed Mitts and also my Handpainted gloves. There's only a couple of hours work to do on each of these maximum, and it would be good to get some projects out of the way. Also I could do with wearing them as the temperature seems to have really dropped in the last week or so.

I've been in the garden today and dug out my Miscanthus Zebrinus. It had got huge so I decided to move it and split it into 3 or 4 new plants. I managed to get it out. It has only got a very shallow root ball as it seems to have hit a pan of clay where it was sited. I've chopped one chunk off it and planted it against the fence where it looks pretty good and it will get full sun there which they seem to like. The soil there is much better too so it should do well there. I am going to split the rest of the plant into two. One of these chunks will be planted near to the one already in and the other one will go out front in a gap between my garden and the neighbours. I'll have to do that tomorrow as I've run out of light now.

My Current Projects

I started my Bressay Hap Shawl in August almost the instant I received my copy of Rowan Magazine 42. I like knitting shawls and blankets and had enough Rowan Yorkshire Tweed 4 ply in my stash (bought for another project never started) to substitute for the Scottish Tweed 4ply.

I knitted one of the border panels very quickly and then as usual became distracted by other magazines , patterns and projects. I decided to start work on the shawl again last Friday and completed the second border panel first thing Tuesday morning. Just working on the third edging section today. I did a little yesterday but got distracted by my Jaywalkers yesterday evening and did a few rows on them instead. I'd been working on my Jaywalkers on Monday evening and when I got up Tuesday morning I discovered the sock on the floor, hanging off the needles, chewed and damp. I think Viola must have been fighting with them during the night. Hid them last night to aviod a repeat performance.

Ravelry

I'm completely obssessed with Ravelry. I've got about half my stash on there now and the same with my projects. I keep meeting people there who I've met in knitalongs and other groups. It's great to see other peoples interpretations of designs.

I haven't put up all my wips as it's just too embarassing (and time consuming). Maybe I'll get round to it soon.

I'm trying to finish of a few of my UFOs but don't seem to be getting far as I keep jumping from one to another. Today, for example I've done a few rows of a cardi I'm knitting in Jaeger Roma and have also been working on my Bressay Hap Shawl. The cardigan pattern is good and the yarn feels great but I'm in stocking stitch hell with it. This is always the point when I abandon a project. I've only just starting to realise that this could be the reason for some of my UFO's. Although I think the main reason is that I have no will power and cast on the instant I see a fab new design.

The Lovely Vi

Here are the photos of Viola being cute as usual. She's always on the lookout for new sleeping spots. When I saw her eyeing up the shelves the other day I decided to put her red blanky in a spare spot and see what happened. It didn't take long before she was in there and asleep.

I'm Back

Well it's been a horrid couple of months. The shop closed in the middle of September which was not pleasant. I really couldn't go on any longer with it though as I just didn't have enough customers or the support I needed at home. Coinciding with the shop closure, issues in a close personal relationship came to the fore and I had a very unpleasant and emotional month.

I'm trying to get back on track now. I'm looking for some work and have started working on the allotment again. Thought I'd take the opportunity while I've a bit of free time to get that knocked into shape.

I got some good photos yesterday of Viola, my lovely cat, sleeping on the bookshelf in the living room - very cute. I'll post them here later.