Sunday 15 June 2014

Loose ends


I breathed a huge sigh of relief as I finished writing the last of my school reports today. I'm ahead of schedule because they don't have to be handed in for another week, but it feels soooooo good to have them out of the way!! That's one big task ticked off my list!
 
I've been working on my 64 Crayons blanket at odd moments this week, joining the panels together. It's actually gone much faster than I imagined. You have to pick up stitches using a circular needle on next door strips and then join them using a 3 needle bind off. I've actually joined all the strips together now - three wide and three narrow - but have decided that I want the blanket to be symmetrical, so am going to knit another narrow strip to join on one side.  I want to do some kind of edging too, and wonder if some kind of I-cord might work. I need to do a little more research to see how easy it is to knit and join one as you go. Here's a sneaky peek at the blanket. I love it! It's been knitted using lots of odd balls of Noro yarn that I have collected since I started knitting again. It was the gorgeous bright colours of Noro yarn that lured me back into a yarn shop way back in 2007.
 
 
64 Crayons WIP 001


Of course Florence thinks it's all for her. While we were out walking earlier this evening, she investigated it, as you can see from the pussycat shaped indentations on the blanket! She's looking totally innocent in the photo, naturally! There are lots of ends to weave in, but I am inspired by how lovely it looks to get it finished over the coming weeks. It'll make the perfect blanket for snuggling under this autumn.
 
 

64 Crayons WIP paws up from Flo 002


We finished a jigsaw this week too - it's been sat in its case on the dining table since Christmas. It's not that we haven't wanted to do it. It's more that every time we sat down to do some, we had a little 'help'!!
 
 
Flo helps with the jigsaw (2)


The jigsaw actually didn't take us that long when we finally got the table to ourselves!


cat jigsaw (1)


I received a lovely swap parcel from Cherie in the BareNakedKnitspot swap. She sent me a skein of locally dyed yarn, along with an assortment of treats, including some unusual chocolate - with maple bacon in it! It was different to anything I'd ever tasted, but not at all unpleasant!


BareNakedKnitspot swap with Cherie 004


Cherie very kindly included a couple of homemade mice for Flo, filled with catnip from her garden. Florence was delighted and pounced immediately!

 
BareNakedKnitspot swap with Cherie 002


It's only two or three weeks now until the Tour de France (and therefore the Tour de Fleece) starts. I am really looking forward to fitting in some spinning each day. I love doing it, but somehow never seem to find the time during the week. I have some fibre ready and waiting - these two beautiful braids are from Marianne's luxury fibre club and arrived last week. I'm pondering how I could use both braids in the same pattern. Any suggestions? I wondered about a Citron shawl, starting with the multi-coloured braid. If I spin it either as a single or N-ply it, I will get some lovely long colour changes. Then as it gets bigger, I could carry on the edging with the semi-solid colour. I think it would look beautiful.
 
 
June luxury fibre club (1)


I'll love you and leave you with a couple of photos from our walk on Friday. Mr JK and I decided to go to Blickling Park rather than walk our usual route. It's such a beautiful setting as you can see, we must do it more often. Have a good week. xxx
 
 
Blickling Hall (2)

Blickling Hall (4)

6 comments:

Claire said...

That is one posh house. Plenty of space for a sewing room. Those two fleeces look lovely. I can't wait to see your shawl from them.

Helsie said...

You are so lucky to have these lovely walks near you. I really love your new blanket and what a great way to use up all your left over wool.

Christine65 said...

The blanket's looking lovely, but I think I'd want it to be symmetrical as well. I think there are several tutorials online for a knitted-on i-cord. It's not something I've ever done, but when I finally get round to finishing my mitred square sock-yarn blanket, I might finish it with a garter stitch border and then a knitted-on i-cord.

Cherie said...

I think a knitted on i-cord will look lovely on the blanket. I've done it (though not on such a big thing as a blanket) and it's not at all difficult to do. Thanks for sharing!

knittingsandwich said...

oh goodness is your blanket ever stunning?!? i love it! flo is right to call dibs! your cat has good taste :)

i might just have to do the tour de fleece this year... my spinning could definitely use a jump start! the fiber you have lined up is gorgeous!!

Lynne said...

Your blanket is looking great, and I laughed at Flo claiming it before it's even finished!