Teatime treats

Hello there, it doesn't seem a week since I was last here! Only 5 more gettings up until the holidays, and I can't wait! Snoopydog and I have the treat of KnitNation to look forward to. I ordered my dpn in readiness for the sock class, and have watched this video on YouTube, to try and get to grips with Magic Loop! I'm going to have a try this evening to see how I get on.

My Teatime treats parcel was received by Ethmay this week, so I can now share with you the goodies I sent her. I made a felted teacosy, and made some felted flowers to go on it. It needed two cycles in the machine to get a really good felt, and the whole house smelt of wet dog until it was dry. Thankfully the smell disappeared!

I was really pleased with how the roses turned out. I used this pattern from Ravelry. I also made a cupcake pincushion, and sewed some beads and sequins on the top for the sprinkles. It was a pattern from the Knit Today magazine a couple of years ago, and I used up some oddments of Baby Cashmerino.

I found a few more goodies to put into the parcel, and this is what Ethmay received! (minus the teapot!)

She's already promised to send me back a mini-skein of the sock yarn for my blankie, once she's knitted a pair of socks! Now that I've finished that swap, I'm putting all my efforts into the Summer 2010 swap. I just have to finish one thing and then I'm done!

I have been busy with the sewing machine, and have managed to line the Inga Sunny Summery bag. It's not perfect, but I'm really pleased with my efforts! I may get some ribbon and trim the inside seam, just to cover up a couple of slightly dodgy places!

Here's a closer look at the lining. I also backed the straps, so hopefully they won't stretch too much.

The garden is great at the moment. Mr JK dug up a couple of beetroot yesterday, and some shallots, and made a jar of Delia's pickled beetroot with shallots. It's really delicious, and doesn't have that awful overpowering vinegary taste that you may well associate with beetroot. We also picked our first French beans, more mangetout and broad beans, some celery, and the most scrummy new potatoes that we're eating with salad this evening. We are waging war on cabbage white butterflies, and have spent some time this afternoon building a netted fortress around the brassicas to try and keep the little beggars from having one huge picnic!

I'll leave you now with a photo of the buddleia, which has suddenly come into flower this week. It's been a haven for the bees. Have a lovely week, and see you soon! xx