Sunday 26 September 2010

Bag lady

Beaten! 015

Hello there! I admit it - the cold, damp weather has finally beaten me, and today I put on my first pair of socks since May! I usually manage to hold off until half term, but I'm conceding defeat as I'd rather have cosy toes! It has been truly miserable here in Norfolk all weekend. The rain has been lashing against the windows, and the wind has been well and truly battering the garden. Mr JK and I went to see Marty Wilde and the Wild Cats on Cromer pier last night, and it was so windy that you could actually feel the whole pier shaking inside the theatre. A little disconcerting!

Mr JK did venture out into the garden in a dryish spell, to pick some veggies for dinner.

wind-swept garden veg

The cabbages and cauliflowers are looking great, and we've had a bumper crop of celery. Far too much for us to eat, so Mr JK is taking a whole load into work tomorrow. We've made a couple of batches of soup, and they are in the freezer, but I must admit that I don't know what else to do with it. If you have any recipes, please do share them with me!

I finally finished sewing up the baby stripes cardigans. Mattress stitch no longer scares me, and it is extremely satisfying pulling the yarn up and watching the little seam pop itself over. But I have had enough of matching stripes for the moment! The green and deep pinky/red colour is for baby Art, born a week into September.

Baby stripes 3 018

I know I keep going on about it, but I just can't get over how much the sewing up makes or breaks a garment. I shudder when I look back at some of my early attempts - bodged oversewn seams! A thing of the past!!

Baby stripes 3

The other babystripes set is still waiting for its buttons, as the baby isn't due for another week or so. I have some perfect 'girl' buttons, but am less happy with my 'boy' ones. I just haven't seen anything really nice. If you know of any online, please point me in the right direction. Thanks!

Babystripes 2

My stripy sock is progressing steadily with the odd snatched minute in the staffroom, and my Katerina shawl now stands at 11/40 repeats.

I've joined two Knit-alongs on Ravelry. The first is a mystery sock KAL, with 5 clues to be released weekly from 1st October. I've never knitted something without a photo to see if I'm doing it right, so it's going to be a bit different! Do you fancy joining me? If so, all the information you need is here. I've chosen my yarn - it's a semi-solid yarn from The Thylacine in a shade called Flax Lily. I'm all ready now for clue 1!

Mystery KAL WIP (3)

The second KAL I've joined is in a newly formed group on Ravelry. Some of you may already follow Amanda's blog. She has an incredibly talented daughter, Lily, who must be about 12 or 13 now, and Lily has started creating her own designs. The group is supporting Lily and the first KAL is just starting - the McCafferty shawl. I'm using some of the alpaca I brought back from France, in a soft grey colour. The name is 'brume' which translates as mist, and I'm hoping that it will make a lovely light shawl to wrap myself up in this winter. I've unearthed some beads, and will contemplate adding some when I get to the border. I haven't got very far, as I need a circular needle, so I couldn't stretch it out very much for the photo. I'm using my lovely, non-snagging stitch markers. They are great!

McCafferty WIP

I have two new bags to share with you this week. The first one I have been lusting after since KnitNation, when they were given out at the Ravelry party. They proved so popular, that more were produced, in a tote bag style. I think it's pretty true to say that I have been stalking the Ravelry shop on a daily basis waiting for them to appear. So as soon as they did, I put two in my basket (one for me and one for Snoopydog, of course!), and they arrived extremely quickly. I just love all the little details that have gone into the design - lots of knitting and crochet notions included. See how many you can spot! (And yes, it already has yarn in it!)

KnitNation bag (2)

The second bag is a new handbag. Now I don't really 'do' bags, but this one called out to me last week when I went to Norwich, and I couldn't resist it. It has lots of separate sections, so I can organise my stuff. My current bag only has one big compartment, so finding anything requires a lot of digging and delving! No longer. Just look! (And it goes rather well with my purple jacket that I bought 'for best' last year, and so consequently, never wore it! So I'm wearing it every day now!)

bag lady!

Henrycat didn't want to be disturbed today, so this is the best that I could do. I think he has the right idea, bearing in mind what it's been like outside all weekend!

Don't disturb me please

Well, I think I've caught you up with the happenings in Josiekitten's little world this week. I'm off to have a mug of tea and some hot, buttered crumpets. Yum yum! Have a good week, whatever you're doing! xx

9 comments:

snoopydogknits said...

Thank you so much for the bag. They're great, aren't they! Thanks also for the KAL link. I spotted on your Rav page. Thought I'd join in too, as it would give me the opportunity to choose and wind yet another skein of yarn. I just love you little 'stripys'. They look beautifully finished. Love the little flowery buttons! Look we have both spent the weekend in a similar way :) Have a good week. Ros

Clicky Needles said...

Your wood burner looks right posh! We've got our going for the first time today as well.
Love the cardis.

Anonymous said...

Henrycat looks so comfy there! I think that's one pose I've never seen mine in :)

And the baby cardies are very cute!

Stadtwaldvogel said...

Your baby cardigans are cute again! I bought some pretty buttons at the German dawanda. There you can get very nice buttons that look like a little monkey or something like that. I will join the KAL, too, thanks for sharing, Helen! It will be my first KAL.
Your new bags are very cute, have much fun with them! And have a nice week, too!
Yours, Julia

Aussie Maria said...

Those baby sets are gorgeous

melissa said...

love the baby sweaters! they look fantastic!
and mr.josiekitten's produce is amazing!

you're right - henrycat knows what's up - he looks perfect snuggled up like a sweet little kitty-ball.

Anonymous said...

Henrycat is so wonderful! And so is your new handbag! Lovely post with autumn vegetables and small knittings with beauty colours!
Wishes Teje

Jennyff said...

I'm embarrassed now at the slap dash way I stitch up my knitting, maybe that's why I prefer socks. Those little baby sets are beautiful and the way you've matched up the stripes is perfect, you deserve that new bag and the lovely HC too.

knittingsandwich said...

ooh i love your baby stripes! both of them! so beautifully sweet.
and speaking of sweet, that picture of Henrycat is too adorable for words!
-cmv