Tuesday 15 July 2014

Tour de Fleece Rest Day 1


It's a rest day in the Tour today, so no spinning for me. Instead, a chance to catch up with what else I have been doing since the Tour began.

School is crazy busy, with lots of deadlines to be met before the end of term next week. I feel totally drained and cannot wait for the holidays to start! I have plenty of plans for knitting, spinning and sewing to keep me busy over the 6 week break. More of that in a future post.........

In the meantime, I have started knitting a new pair of socks. The pattern is Gabriola, designed by one of my Ravelry friends, Kim and she came up with the pattern to cope with 'busy' yarns. With that in mind, I rummaged through my stash and picked out a skein that I bought way back at Knit Nation in 2010. I fell in love with its bright colours and it has sat in my stash since then, waiting for the perfect pattern to come along.


KnitNation purchases 2010 020


I wound the yarn into a lovely, colourful yarn cake - the colourway is called Summer Bunting - and it makes me feel very happy every time I look at it.


Gabriola socks WIP (2)


The pattern is easy to memorise and grows fast. It almost knits itself! I've reached the heel flap already - look! The yarn has decided to stripe, which I wasn't expecting, but I do like it!


Gabriola socks 1 WIP (1)


I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my first squishy parcel from knitspot's Purple Passion club. Pattern release is on Thursday and I hope to have the yarn all ready to cast on as a weekend treat. We have been having a little swapping fun in the Purple Passion clubhouse over on Ravelry. I received my package from Donna last week and it was filled with lovely things.


Purple Passion swap with Donna 001


Donna sent me two beautiful skeins of yarn from Spirit Trail, some exceedingly yummy Reese's Pieces (now sadly long gone!) as well as some purple buttons and an ebony shawl pin. Flo wasn't left out either with a fun purple mouse to chase around.


Purple Passion swap with Donna 003


I've been busy baking at the weekends - chocolate brownies mmmmmmmmmmmm!


mmmm homemade chocolate brownies (4)


and banana and peanut butter muffins (they were meant to have Reese's Pieces in them too, but Mr JK and I were piglets!)


banana and peanut butter muffins (3)


Before I go, I must share a new find with you. My friend Carie has just opened an Etsy shop selling stitch markers. I received my order from the USA in super-quick time and I just love them. She has just restocked her shop again, so why not pop over and take a look. See you tomorow! xxx


Carie's stitch markers

3 comments:

Jennyff said...

I really enjoy the surprise of seeing how a yarn will knit up, that probably explains why it happens so quickly. Rest day over by the way, back to it please.

Unknown said...

Wow, I love your Summer Bunting socks, what a gorgeous colourway. The rainbow pooling is beautiful

melissa said...

the socks look fantastic!
and now i want to go bake some brownies :)