Gothic Prague Shawl & Gifts for Baby

Yesterday I spent the day at Carols, a very enjoyable and relaxing day, as ever! Not to mention the box of choccie biccies on the table! I was determined to finish my Gothic Prague shawl, with just under two balls to go, this seemed achieveable. I called it 'Gothic Prague' for two reasons. Firstly, when I started it in March, I was watching 'Most Haunted Gothic Prague'; and secondly, it's in purple and black - tres goth! The stitch is simple - half a granny square. It did start life as a 3/4 square, but it didn't quite work out how I anticipated, so it got frogged and I went for the original half square. I used a 15mm hook. It took 8 50g balls of Katia Surprise, which I got from Yarn Gathering of Stone. I will try and get better photos as this one doesn't really give it justice. But I took the photo at 07:30 and there was no-one around to help take photos! So it's draped over the end of the chicken run, it did get investigated for eating properties but failed on that front - thankfully!

Linda gave me a set of mittens and bootees for Baby - so pretty and soft! I was over the moon with them! I can't wait to use them, Baby will look a toff, a very warm, pretty toff!

Shoulder Shawl

At Knitting yesterday, Jo was sporting a rather gorgeous Shoulder Shawl that she had made using Noro Silk Garden Chunky. I viewed it very much with Green Eyes, you knitters will know exactly what I mean - you see, you want, you stash surf, you knit!

Once home I found the pattern - it's on Ravelry - and wrote it down. I dug out some James Brett 'Marble' Chunky, the nearest thing I had to Noro, well colourwise anyway. It said on the pattern to use 10mm needles. The ball band said 6mm, so I compromised and used 8mm (straights then circulars). Jo's looked fairly loose, so I thought that seemed an okay size to use.
I cast on like one possessed and off I went for an hour or two. I picked it up again this morning, put the idiot box on and off I went, thinking I would not stop until I finished. 'Ghost Hunters' and half of 'Most Haunted' whooshed by. I was getting restless and tired. The shawl seemed an okay size to cast off. I can remember Jo saying something about 16" or you could do it longer. Mine measured 27" along the neck side. Where oh where did the 16" come from? Never mind. With the end in sight, I cast off.

I promptly posted on Ravelry. I then thought I would revisit the original pattern - I had written it down instead of printing it. This 16" was playing on my mind a little. My shoulder shawl sat a little up my neck and Jo's had not. Hhhmmph.

Then all became clear. The 16" was the measurement from the centre of the neck edge down to the point. Mine is only 12". Theme and variation. And a moral or two in there. Write the whole pattern down, especially when it's a simple one. Read the whole pattern before you start. Especially the simple ones. Tsk Tsk! On the upside that pattern does lend itself to theme and variation, whether you mean to or not!!

I like it anyway - it'll be good when I'm sat in a draft, with my hair up or when I'm driving!!

More from the garden!

This picture is especially for Paula! Me and Spudletta! Just under 13 weeks to go yet........ HobbitKeeper (aka Poppa Bear!) having a well earned break - is that from gardening or looking after me?!

The ever handsome Mr Rhinog!

Yours truly! A coupleof weeks ago. It was bright, hence the hat, but getting a bit nippy - any excuse to wear my Lush Shawl! And it was so toasty and snuggly!

The garden is growing

We managed to spend some time out in the garden on Sunday. It wasn't the warmest of days, but the few hours spent our there was much needed!

This is the lettuce for the Chooks, growing in the potting shed. I'm not sure what sort of lettuce it it, it has a slight peppery taste, might be all year round lettuce. Also a few tomato plants lurking in there as well! The Rhubarb! The first crop of the season. After this I pulled most of it, half of it has now been made into jam, the rest may be a crumble by the end of the day......

Onions. The first time we have grown onions, so far so good!

Some of the Early tatties, seeming to do well. 13 out of 15 plants had come through when we looked last evening.

More lettuce. It's growing opposite the Chicken Run, and by gum, it drives the girls nuts

being able to see it and not eat it!

Bradford Fire 25 Years On

Thoughts and Rememberences to all who lost loved ones due to the Bradford Football Stadium Fire, 25 years ago today.

56 RIP

Notions Bag from BrooklynIrishGirl

Last week I recieved my parcel from BrooklyIrishGirl, in the April ItsyBitsy Swap. The parcel was really lovely, lots of goodies! I can't wait to start using the things that I was sent. Karen sent me some stretchy sock yarn, the sort of which I don't think I've seen here, Plus a few patterns for socks! A good kick start for me for my Year of The Sock! Karen also sent some garden themed buttons, a pretzel mould, a tea towel and a bookmark.

Here is a close up of the bag, I love the colours. At the moment I have it hanging off my lamp, so it is easy to access and use!

So big Thanks to Karen - aka BrooklynIrishGirl!!

Friday

Friday saw my last day at work. A strange day. I don't think I'd properly mentally prepared myself for it. Train of thoughts at times went.... I can do that after the weekend, got that meeting during the week etc. Until it hit me like a wet kipper each time that after the weekend I will be at home and won't be at work to attend that meeting...... weird.

At lunchtime a Fuddle had been organised. It was lovely, with lots of lovely nibblies and I renewed my liking of profiteroles! I spent a good few hours grazing. Charl & I started with crisps and dip at just after 10am. Needless to say by the time I got home I didn't want any tea as I'd eaten enough!

I was presented with a pretty bunch of flowers, the photo doesn't do them justice.

So, now I think I will be around here a lot more. I seem to have missed out on blogging so much over the last few months due mainly to me being so tired on my days off. All will change!