Toys

Lexi got a stuffed animal at the car boot sale.  Her eyes light up and gets very attentive when there is a stuffed animal on the scene.  I decided to try her with stuffed toys again because before she used to destroy and eat them.  It wasn't good.  Now she is a mature lady of 2, she has just been playing with the toys the last couple of days.  I am still keeping an eye on her.

Socks are finished!  The Vestigial pair is finally finished.  I finished a plain pair of socks as well.  I almost finished the first sleeve of a sweater.  I also found a ball of yarn that I needed to find to finish a sweater that I spun and needed to finish the sweater.  Didn't even go looking for it and I wouldn't of found it.  It was in a project bag for another sweater.

Haven't sewn a stitch in a while.  Maybe this weekend.

I made applesauce.  It's my not favourite thing to eat but I had nothing to eat for breakfast.  I added too much sugar and it was like eating apple pie filling.  I added more apples.  Now I have lots.  I hope it's nicer now.  Going to make more chutney, hopefully this weekend.

Wednesday

The sock is also the second sock of the Vestigial pattern.  These I am hoping to finish today.  Had high hopes of finishing them last night but it didn't happen.  I love the Halloween print on that box bag I made.  It's September and it feels more like summer than August did.  Though in honour of Fall coming, I got out my Autumnal project bags.

I also like to spend my time thinking about what I am going to do with my sock yarn leftovers.  I am constantly tempted to crochet myself a blanket.  I have been looking at these blankets.  I really like these- Simple Solid Granny Square, the Little Hug Blanket and the Hexagon Blanket.  Another option is to use the sock yarn leftovers as stripes in other sweaters or scarves/cowls.

Isadora

Looks like Isadora is dancing on a scanned page of a very old college notebook. 

Looks like there is a very strong colour theme going through my knitting at the moment.  I dyed all the yarn photographed.  One pair of socks, that I am knitting, is a pattern by Hedgehogfibres.  It is called Vestigial.  Got into the sock buzz again.  And as soon as I get this sweater done, I want to finish one of the 4 ply cardigans that I have on the go.  Might alternate Aran and 4 ply jumpers because knitting 4 ply cardigans can get a little bit boring or 'Are we there yet?'  I was very grateful for the one 4 ply cardigan and sweater that I did make for myself this summer.

I got chips last night and the man in the chipper was laughing that I was already back into the winter gear.  I was wearing a lightweight cowl and hat.  

Was walking by the donkeys in our town (few can say that I am sure) and this little toddler cut loose and just walked out in the middle of the road.  Maybe he was from Dublin and was heading back.  I was walking Lexi and saw this.  I started running towards them shouting and pointing.  "The toddler is in the road.  Baby in the middle of the road.  The baby!"  Cars were beeping.  The little fella kept on trucking.  His family realised and all is well.  The little guy must prefer Shetland ponies to donkeys. 

Off The Needles - Socks

Off the Needles!  I just finished these.  It's as dull as dish water outside.  It's a bit gloomy and grey.  I like how these are bright and cheery.  Reminds me of Easter colours.  Makes me want to eat jelly beans.

The weather is pretty dismal. It's just one of those days.  I'd love to drink a litre of coffee but it'd do me no good.

Sweaters Always Make It Better

I am on sweater making buzz/roll.  Trying to finish projects and keep starting new ones.  I am a cold blooded gal, so I am preparing for fall/winter.  Keep Warm 2013 Project in full effect!

I knit socks while I drink coffee in the morning, after eating my breakfast as I read.  I was reading Les Miserables but at the moment I am taking a break, When it is finished and ready for the public, I hope to share where you can go so you can read it.    Really enjoying it.

I love reading and knitting socks, almost as much as I love knitting sweaters.

I am knitting a pair of socks for my sister at the moment.

I just started a project or a knit a long with my friend Rachel.  Can't wait to see our projects done just to see what we do with the yarn we choose.

First sweater- I dyed and spun the wool.  Superwash Merino
Second sweater- I dyed and spun the lighter blue yarn and knitted it up with Garnstudio Drops Andes Navy blue yarn. (Super warm sweater!)
Knitted socks- I dyed a 2 ply high twist merino and nylon yarn.
Socks to be knitted- Socks for my sister.  I don't think my sister reads my blog so I think my secret is safe.

Create your own visual style.  Let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.

-Orson Welles

Socks and More Socks

The purple socks with the black heel was finished ages ago but I just weaved in the ends today.  I dyed the yarn and called the colourway Priscilla Purple.
Brian's socks are the blue socks were knitted with another yarn that I dyed.
The other socks are Schoppel Wolle Crazy Zauberball, that I purchased about 3-4 years ago in The RDS Knit and Stitch Show.

Hopefully, I will get my sock knitting mojo back and finish presents for loved ones and getting cracking on other sock projects.

I went apple picking on Sunday.  I didn't take any pictures because it was lashing rain.  I might take a photo of my spoils tomorrow.  

Knitting and Cake

I have a bit of birthday knitting to do yet.  Still slugging away and it is all late.  Lucky for me, the birthday folk are flexible.  Weird year for birthdays.  Our family's birthdays come in clumps and mine is the last one.  The July-August group have 2- 3 weeks between each.  Usually by the time my birthday comes around, we are all fed up of cake and borderline diabetic.  One year, there was so much sugar in the icing/frosting that none of us could sleep the full night until the cake was finished.

This year, my mother didn't want a cake.  My brother is crazy busy at the moment, so we will celebrate or I will make him a cake when he gets time off.  I don't think this soon to be birthday girl (me) will be having a cake as well.  I am trying out the Autoimmune Protocol Diet this summer.  Anytime, I try and go back on any of the no list, I am not well.  As much as I love cake, I don't want to be sick on my birthday.  It is mad to think that this is my first year without a cake but it is a worthy sacrifice to feel good.  (Not 100% easy all the time)

This is a raglan that I am working on and hope to finish soon.  It is actually a remake.  I followed a pattern that is one size fits all.  I must of made a mistake.  Not to worry!  I finally ripped it out a few months ago and finally started cracking this summer.  I have a lot of projects on the go.  I love starting new projects the most.  Trying to finish more projects!!!!

The mitten is knitted with some Studio Donegal and some of my handspun from batts I made myself a while back.

Mint Julep

These are simple socks knitted with Merino yarn that I dyed with tan commercial yarn that I had in my yarn stash for ages.  I finished these on my holiday in Rome with my family in March.  I didn't weave in the ends for ages.  Love the colour.  Sea Foam was my favourite Crayola crayon.

Many Socks On The Go

One of my favourite things is hand knitted socks.  I pretty much only wear hand knitted socks.  I am going to start photographing more of what I am making.

I knit socks every morning after breakfast while reading my kindle and drinking my coffee.  I love reading and knitting my kindle.  I found it difficult to knit and hold a book open as I knit.  MacGyver could have learnt a thing or two from me, I tell you.  I was getting very creative with ways to keep the book open as I read using hair bobbins and whatnot.

I started sewing box bags so now I have more happy homes for my sock knitting.  I have big plans of starting socks and have the top, ribbed bit down and ready for a trip in a car or to the cinema.  As my 7th grade Social Studies teacher said 'Organisation is the key to success.'  I have a few pairs always on the go.  Can't wait till the organisation embraces other avenues of my life.

The pink socks were finished and photographed in Rome.  Was there in March 2013 on a family trip.  The green pair are modeled by the lovely Lexi.  I had 3 skeins of this yarn that I dyed.
The pair that Lexi is wearing was for my father.


I am going to cast on another pair of socks for my brother soon, as soon as I find a pair of needles not in use. I got a nice thank you on Facebook from him. He was delighted to put them on after work after coming in from a typical rainy, Irish winter night.

I have opened an <a href="http://http://www.etsy.com/shop/EllieAndAda?ref=search_shop_redirect"></a>Etsy shop called Ellie and Ada.  At the moment, I have some stitch markers for sale.  I am hoping to have more products for sale soon.  Have a Fun Friday!  It is sunny day here in Ireland, a rare and welcome gem!