Tea and cakes and things I like

An almost finished piece! The straps still need to be sewed in place, but I don’t feel like doing that right now.

The bag half way through. Not very pretty. Sort of a big shapeless sack on circular needles.

Then, however, I finished it. Here is is, strap and all, ready for felting. It looks quite nice here - the yarn is really lovely - Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran - really strong colours and good stitch definition. However, as it was destined for felting the stitches were a little loose.

I washed the bag and strap on a 60 degree wash twice - the second time didn’t make any difference really. I was hoping it would shrink down a wee bit more, but I’m happy with it anyway.

The picture’s a bit out of focus, sorry about that, but you get the general idea.

What with job changes, college assignments in, and agenerally busy work schedule, I’ve been neglecting my knitting.
I only have one work in progress, and it’s this hat, which is an important one and I want to get it finished, just haven’t had much knitting time recently. I’m hoping posting it up will make me carry on with it.

One finished knitted bag. I just need to finish the strap, and then felt it, so it’ll end up looking completely different to how it does here, which is a good thing, as I probably wouldn’t use it looking like it does right now.

I finished my wristwarmers! There are 2 of them, only the left hand one pictured.
Knitted on 5mm double pointed needles in a 1x1 rib, using Debbie Bliss Maya. The yarn is different thicknesses throughout, which affects how the stitches look together - I like it for these - wristwarmers like this are never going to look smart, so why try to make them that way?
What I really love about them is that they’re made just for me, so they fit perfectly around my tiny childish weak wrists. They’re an adaptation of Voodoo from Knitty, except the yarn is different, the measurements are different, and I used a different rib. So, I changed most of it really, but the end result is kinda similar - mine aren’t so neat and tidy, but I like them that way, they’ll go well with my battered old jeans.

Curly Scarf, made from Debbie Bliss Maya, 100% wool, on 6mm needles.

I like it, but it could be better, it’s a learning experience one.

I think this scarf style would be good on a fine mohair using yarn over increases rather than knitting into the back and front of one stitch.

My addi turbo circular needles arrived today, along with some debbie bliss maya in lovely warm colours. They arrived really quickly, and they sent me a lollipop and a pen too, making getknitted.com my official favourite online retailer.

Above is a picture of my bag. Inside my bag are needles and yarn, waiting to become wristwarmers. I’m in a cafe. By myself. And I’m embarrassed to get them out and start knitting. It’s what I’d like to be doing. I have other things to occupy my time, that’s never a problem, but I’d rather be knitting. Why is it that I’m totally comfortable taking photos of my cups of tea, but not knitting in public. I’m strange, that’s the only explanation.

This is what I thought was green tea, in the Library Bar at the central hotel. When I drank it, it turned out to be peppermint tea. It was nice though, and I was feeling a touch queasy, so it was quite a fortuntate error (peppermint tea helps with nausea).

I was there meeting other people who knit, which was really lovely, and not nearly as scary as I was expecting. I’ll be going again. It’s a shame they only meet monthly, and on a weekend. There are two other groups in Dublin, but I can’t make it to either of them unfortunately, which is a little frustrating.

This is a bag I’m knitting. I’m posting it now as it looks pretty ugly at the moment, but will be beautiful when it’s finished, and I want a record of the transformation.

I’ve learned how to knit in the round, which means in a circle, all in one go, so you can make socks and the like. I’m great, me. (Thanks to mum for showing me how and d for calming me down when i lost my temper with it). Now i’m going to to unravel this and start on a bag instead.

It’s very exciting. I didn’t used to like Christmas, for various reasons that I’m not going to go into. I kind of do now most of the time. I don’t this afternoon, but that’s mainly for similar reasons to not liking it before, so I’m not getting into those either.

Anyway, we have our tree, and I’m delighted with it.

This is the fairy on the top. I think she’s great. She was a Christmas present.

These are the pom poms I randomly decided to make from embroidery thread the other day. I’m not sure why, I just had a sudden craving to make pom poms, and some thread handy. I wasn’t sure what to do with them so I’ve made them into decorations. I’ve been humoured for them, and laughed at for them, but I like them.

I just bought 28 pairs of knitting needles for €10 inc. postage.
12 are coloured plastic which I will probably re-sell.
16 are vintage coloured aluminium, which are the ones I wanted. There are a few duplicate sizes, I may re-sell a few of these.

I’m very excited. I hope this doesn’t become a habit.

I finished it!
OK, I started it last winter. (well, spring really, to be fair to myself). However, I made it all with my own fair hands and I deserve to be proud.
Next it’s a dishcloth or some socks, not sure which yet. Depends on finding the right yarn, there are no good wool shops in Dublin.
(hmmm, note to self, maybe Dublin needs a good wool shop)