Barley And Madeline

 The hat pattern is Barley by Tin Can Knits.  It is a great free pattern.  It is a bit slouchy and fits my head nicely which is what I love in a hat right now.  I highly recommend the pattern and I see myself knitting a few more of these.

The yarn I purchased a couple of years back!  2011!  haha!  A yarn has a time and a pattern, some take longer to figure out.  The yarn is Madeline Tosh 80/10/10 MCN Worsted, colourway Toulouse- Lautrec.  It is a stunning yarn and I completely understand, Madeline Tosh's popularity.

Actually, after I made this hat, I stuck it in my bag and it fell out.  I couldn't find it anywhere.  I went out for a walk with Lexi (the regal part beagle above) and she stopped and I couldn't budge her.  I noticed what she was sniffing, it was my hat!  I dropped it on my road on the way to the supermarket.  It must of smelt like me.  I was delighted.  Even the story of its recovery makes the hat more adored.

I made another hat, Cocoon, I had a look for it today.  Hopefully, I will find it.  I guess due to Ireland's changeable weather has me in a habit of taking hats off and tossing it wherever.  It's another free pattern that I love.  I didn't even get a photo of the Cocoon hat.  I knitted the Cocoon hat with leftovers of my grey and yellow Drops Nepal sweater.
I have another one casted on in blue.  I like to order slightly too much yarn then use the leftovers to make hats and mittens.  I like having a good collection because in Ireland, you can get rained on each time and nothing is nicer than a warm, dry hat!

Happy May Sale 20% off in Ellie And Ada Shop

Spring Sale! Enter COUPONCODE - HAPPYMAY and get 20% off all your purchases! This is a sale to say thanks and celebrate Spring/Summer 2014. The coupon expires June 1, 2014.  The sale is on from today till June 1, 2014.  The sale is here in my Ellie and Ada Etsy Shop.

I'm working on putting up new prints in the shop.  I am also working on new prints.  Today wasn't as nice, weather-wise in this neck of the woods so I worked inside all day.  Looking forward to relaxing and knitting this evening.  I'm watching Selfridges at the moment on Netflix.  I am going to finish the first sleeve of a cardigan, I have been working on.  V neck cardigan in 4 ply.  It might become part of my new summer uniform.

I treated myself to some Jane Richmond patterns so I can't wait to cast on a few new projects...  Must knit faster!  She has a sale on in Ravelry.  3 for 2 which is a great sale!  Her Linden mittens look great.  I don't have the best circulation so I almost wear mittens/fingerless gloves all the time and a pair of 4 ply weight mittens would be very welcomed addition to my collection of mittens.  Mittens, cowls and hats are great dog/Lexi walking gear.  The best part of having many hand knitted items in Ireland is, once your hat, scarf and mittens get wet in the rain, you can grab dry things for the next excursion.  The joys of being toasty and not wet and soggy.

 This Birds and Little Polka Dots.  It'll be in the Ellie And Ada Shop soon but it is already available on my Ellie And Ada Society6 Page.

Belated White Rabbit, White Rabbit, White Rabbit

Not a peep out of me during November!

These mittens are felted and super warm.  I call them the dog walkers because I wear them whilst walking the dogs.  I need to make more!  I only put them through the machine once.  Might see what 2 times looks like the next time.

Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.

- Mark Twain

Let Me Tell You About My Best Friend

The last while was a bit mental and trying.  Poor, little Lexi wasn't well.  It was very trying and there were moments that I didn't think she was going to make it.  The local vet's are amazing.  They are wonderful people to deal with.  Lexi is much better.  It is so wonderful to see.  To say I am delighted would be an understatement. 

The photos are of the mittens, I will be wearing this winter.  I will probably make a few more.  Irish weather = rain and wet knitwear.  It is good to have a few pieces of knitwear on the go.  I dyed the wool and spun it.  Didn't like the outcome, so overdyed it then knitted mittens.  I really like the outcome now.  The budgie with Lexi is Grizzly.  He is my favourite budgie.  He is so tame and great to play with.  Lexi is well behaved lady.

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

                                                                                                              - Anonymous