What next ...........?

Hello there! Hope you've had a good week. Mine has been extremely busy as I had a big exhibition to put on with my class. It all went really well, but I was completely brain-dead by Friday evening, and also had very little knitting time during the week. I did however finish my Circles socks for Charlotte's birthday. Just as well really as I gave them to her when we went out today for a girly birthday lunch with another friend Rachel. She loved them - it's always nice when your hand-knitted gifts are appreciated!

We went to a local pub for their Sunday Pudding Club. My word, what a sugar-fest! Think of your favourite pudding and it was probably there - trifle, bakewell tart, crumble, rice pudding, ginger sponge, baked cheesecake, pineapple upside down cake, chocolate tiffin, milk jelly, pavlova plus the essential jug of custard .........I didn't quite sample ALL of them, but came pretty close! Let's just say I won't be needing any supper tonight!!! (and maybe not even any breakfast tomorrow either!)

I started searching for a new portable project to replace the socks. Where better to look than in one of my new books - Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders.

I admit it - I am a sock yarnaholic! I'm always on the lookout for new delicious skeins, and whenever we go away, you can guarantee that I'll have researched where all the yarn shops are! A skein of yarn is a relatively cheap way to bring back some memories of a holiday. I dread to think exactly how many skeins of sock yarn I have - more than I'll need to knit socks for the next few years anyway!! So I started browsing through, and stash-diving.

There's these rather pretty Vidia socks, with a skein of Wellington sock yarn from The Thylacine. They are toe-up using a figure-8 cast on, and have some really lovely patterns on them. (Yes, I know I said that I had enough socks for the moment, but I could make these for someone else!)

How about these chevron lace fingerless mitts? They've got a picot cast on and cast off, and would look rather pretty in this skein of Sphinx from the Natural Dye Studio.

Perhaps a slouchy hat? I think that Emma's Star would be perfect using a skein of Wollmeise, nice and sproingy with great stitch definition.

As you know, I'm a bit of a scarf addict, and I love the pretty ruffled roses at the ends of this one. A skein of Colinette Jitterbug called out to me here!

I do like this pretty shawl - I can see it being useful sitting outside in the evenings during the summer, when it starts to get cool. Another Natural Dye Studio yarn, this time Angel. It'll be like being wrapped up in a cloud!

I love this little baby cardigan too - and this skein from EasyKnits is lovely and bright and cheery. I don't especially like the more traditional baby colours, but this would look really zingy!

A crocheted bag to keep in my handbag would be a great idea too - and a bright Laughing Yaffle yarn to match!

I wonder what I'll cast on? Or maybe I'll find another knitting project to distract me! You'll have to come back and see what's new on my needles. See you soon! xxx