Delaying tactics!

It's something I'm rather good at actually. You see, I'm meant to be writing my school reports at the moment, and suddenly, everything else seems much more interesting. Dusting? Why not! Ironing? Mmmmmm, yes please! Cleaning the bathroom? You bet! I work far better under pressure and the pressure trigger has not been pulled yet. It's close, give me a day or two and then I really will knuckle down in earnest. In the meantime, I have done a little sock knitting. We are spending the Easter weekend in Germany with Mr JK's aunt and cousin. The last time we met up, Hermi asked if I could knit him a pair of socks that he could wear with toe-post flip flops. He wanted a cotton blend yarn that matched his flip flops too! I searched high and low and eventually found a yarn that 'would do', and said yarn has sat in my stash for at least a year. Now of course (yes, the pressure trigger has been pulled for this one!) I need to get them knitted. I cast them on last Thursday evening and have got to the heel flap on the first sock. Until I get to the point of dividing for the big toe, they are easy knitting. I am not wildly excited about the yarn. All those beautiful self-patterning sock yarns and this is the only one that remotely goes with his flip flops! (I shall be mighty peeved if I find out that the flip flops have been replaced!)

I promised you a photo of my Magic Loop Continental knitted sock progress too, didn't I? I am certainly no speed merchant with this way of knitting, although I think I could be a Magic Loop convert. But I love the sock yarn, so crazily bright! It's a self striping yarn from Easy Knits and is perfect for brightening up the dullest days. Sunglasses at the ready, you've been warned!

The sewing machine has been in action again this week. I made another cushion for a friend's birthday. This time, I used a cat print fabric for the border. It's called 'Flo's Friends' so how could I resist?! I need to sew one for myself one of these days! Just look at those little kitties! They definitely are Flo's fabric chums with their yarn love!

I watched a really interesting programme on BBC iPlayer yesterday. The series is called 'Fabric of Britain' and the first programme in the series is all about knitting, 'Knitting's Golden Age'. You can find it here, it's available for another 10 days and is well worth a watch. This is what it says on the website: 

Documentary exploring how knitting rose from basic craft to the height of popular fashion in the 20th century. It's a craft that has given us scratchy jumpers, sexy bathing costumes and the infamous poodle loo cover, has sustained Britain through the hardships of war and shown a mother's love to generations of little ones. Today, knitwear has become a staple of every wardrobe thanks to a prince's golfing taste, the Beatles and 1980s breakfast television. Warm-hearted and surprising, this is the story of the people's craft, and a very British one at that.

Oh my word, what a trip down memory lane. I did smile when I saw the poodle cover. We had one! I think my Mum won it at a fete, it held a bottle of bath salts. And those picture jumpers! I loved them!

It's Mother's Day here in the UK today, so I shall leave you with a photo of my lovely Mum. She taught me to knit many, many years ago. Thanks Mum! xxx