2012年9月26日水曜日

Tigger

 
You can see his white chin here.


2012年9月24日月曜日

Another try

 
I started this pattern of cardigan and got almost to the arm holes - only to decide that the fabric was too limp and take it back. Then I tried other ideas - and didn't like them either. So I am back with this version - this time using the yarn doubled. I am happier with the result.


2012年9月23日日曜日

Another minion

 
I managed to finish a second Minor Minion. The sock yarn I used for the body has the convenient habit of forming two eyes and a mouth quite naturally.


2012年9月21日金曜日

Tigger

 
He was looking right at me until he saw the camera - when he decided to turn modest.


2012年9月17日月曜日

Spinning

 
I wasn't getting on at all well with a Russian supported spindle so it was suggested that I try a Spindolyn spindle instead. And as you can see I am doing well with it and really enjoying the process.


2012年9月16日日曜日

2012年9月15日土曜日

Minion

 
I have been so unwell lately that I have been struggling even to knit. But this pattern Minor Minions by Heather Sebastian is so quick and easy and such fun that I enjoyed knitting it.


2012年9月14日金曜日

Hydrangea

 
I'm really surprised at how well the hydrangeas have stood up to the bad weather.


2012年9月13日木曜日

Hot water bottle covers



 
I don't know what I would do without hot water bottles in cosy knitted covers - such a comfort when feeling seedy. I just bought two new bottles - which meant two new covers to knit. I have made many covers down the years but find that plain stocking stitch is nicest to cuddle up with. I don't follow a specific pattern but just knit to fit, starting at the top of the button band, working down to the bottom and back up until I can cast on for the buttonhole band and then carry on in the round. At the neck I cast off at the beginning of one side and for the other side I fold and do a three-needle cast off - so I work flat from that point but only have one side to sew up. It sounds complicated but is really easy to do and makes a well fitting cover as you can try it on to get exactly the right length to the shoulder.
 
 

2012年9月12日水曜日

Hanging Baskets



 
The baskets have done better than I expected considering the bad weather this year.
 

2012年9月10日月曜日

Pollenless lilies

 
This type of lily doesn't have any pollen so I don't have to worry about the cats' safety. The flowers smell lovely too.


2012年9月7日金曜日

Dahlias

 
The bad weather this 'summer' has been hard on the dahlias - but this one is doing its best.


2012年9月6日木曜日

Ginger and Sunny

 
They are so hard to tell apart these days. Ginger is in the background with Sunny in the foreground. I thought I was airing the bed - they thought differently!


2012年9月5日水曜日

Dress

 
My figure problems make it so very hard to find a dress that fits and suits me - so I am knitting my own. Black 100% cashmere and 2mm needles. It will be nearly ankle length (for winter warmth), high-necked and long-sleeve and stocking stitch. I must be mad - but this is the second one and the first is so comfortable that I can't bear the thought of it wearing out.


2012年9月4日火曜日

Ginger

 
Ginger tends to sleep in what I always think of as 'dead cat' pose. I promise you he is merely asleep!


2012年9月3日月曜日

Tigger

 
I always seem to have photos of Tigger sleeping - but then it is his favourite activity!


2012年9月2日日曜日

Poachers Pockets

 
Walking with elbow crutches makes carrying things a problem, and outside pockets are too liable to catch on things to be safe. So all my cardigans have large knitted poachers pockets added to both inside fronts. I bought a cardigan very cheap in a clearance sale recently and here you can see the pocket I have knitted and slip stitched inside the front.


2012年9月1日土曜日

Streptocarpus

 
My husband seems to have a magic touch with these houseplants. I particularly like this unusual yellow one.


2012年8月31日金曜日

Cardigan

 
Considering that my need for a new cardigan is becoming acute, I have taken an age to make up my mind what to make. This is yellow 100% cashmere. I love Mari Dembrow's Pebble Cardigan, but I am just too clumsy - I catch the surface threads on things impossibly often. So I have decided to go with the ribbing pattern from that pattern for the whole thing. I will probably convert it to a raglan while I am about it as that makes my twisted spine and uneven shoulders less noticable.


2012年8月30日木曜日

Lilies

 
You can see here how I nip out the pollen bearing anthers from lily flowers. Lily pollen is extremely toxic to cats so I make sure to do it first thing as soon as the flowers start to open.


2012年8月29日水曜日

Dahlias


I can't remember whether my dahlias are small this year because of the weather or because I bought a smaller variety - maybe a bit of both.


2012年8月28日火曜日

2012年8月27日月曜日

Lap time



 
Sunny has discovered that my lap may actually be quite a nice place to sleep - but only if I'm in the garden. So far she won't come on my lap indoors.
 

2012年8月26日日曜日

Different mitts


I enjoyed knitting the last pair of mitts so much that I have started a new pair (in the same green and yellow yarns despite what the camera thinks!) This pattern is Fingerless Texels. I love the scalloped edging - amazing to be able to knit something like this.


2012年8月22日水曜日

Poppy


I love poppies - they are so fragile and so ephemeral, but they glow with beauty.

Sorry for the gap - I've been ill and am still only convalescent.


2012年8月14日火曜日

Garden Three


The far end of the garden. Just past the plum tree there are two small ponds that you can't see here.


2012年8月12日日曜日

Which?


I'm not sure if this was Ginger or Sunny enjoying the sunshine - at a distance they are hard to tell apart these days though Sunny is definitely smaller.


2012年8月11日土曜日

More garden


A view of the garden. The garden is nine feet wide by twenty-five feet long - but no one would believe it without measuring.


2012年8月9日木曜日

2012年8月7日火曜日

The printer!




I was printing a pattern from Ravelry when Ginger discovered the joys of the printer. The two shots are not very good but I had to snap what I could without disturbing him!

2012年8月4日土曜日

2012年8月3日金曜日

2012年8月2日木曜日

2012年8月1日水曜日

Hydrangea


Hydrangeas do not have to be pink or blue - they can be creamy-greeny coloured instead.

2012年7月31日火曜日

Mitts


I was intrigued by this pattern for DoubleTake Mitts so I am making them as a Christmas gift. The yarn is 100% cashmere so they should be nice and warm. I was pleased to find a pattern that included an XS size for me to knit - most mitt patterns are too big for me and mine.


2012年7月30日月曜日

2012年7月29日日曜日

Lilies


I love these white pollenless lilies. Lily pollen is extremely toxic to cats - so lilies without pollen are ideal for my garden.