August Break: In my bag

After some thought and input from DD#1, I've decided to feature an old project bag, I really should push through and finish this old WIP, it's so close but the problem is, I've lost the momentum and making the second sleeve match the first one is a challenge due to my modifications and poor note taking!

In my green project bag:

An almost finished sweater using the 147-8 Candy - Jumper pattern by Drops.

Two empty packages for size 10 circular needles, I'm knitting the 2nd sleeve with these two needle sets.

The much scribbled on paper pattern.

The pen for the scribbling.

A set of size 10 bamboo dpns, just in case I want to use these for the sleeves knit in the round.

5 yarn labels for the balls of yarn that have already been used, this is Debbie Bliss, luxury silk DK, 100% silk  in the hollyhock colourway.

Two small balls of the remaining hollyhock yarn, will this be enough to finish the second sleeve I wonder?

A ball of Debbie Bliss luxury silk DK in purple in case I run out of yarn, or the sweater is too short, perhaps I'll finish it off with some plain purple.

August Break: Orange

I'm treating August Break as a challenge to improve my photos and also to post on my blog everyday. I take my daily photo before looking at any of the other amazing blogs so that I am not influenced. So here goes with Orange, a colour I don't like very much and certainly never wear. I do like it in nature though.

 I have two friends that love orange and wear it well, one of them has been waiting for this trio of washcloths to be ready. Each time she sees me I'm knitting on something else, so I hope that she will be pleasantly surprised when I give her these orange dishcloths later in the week.

That lovely orange flower is pole beans bursting in to bloom, followed by beans in a week or so I hope...........

I sprinkled the beans with the magic garden dust since some leaves were curling inwards a sure sign that all was not well, but after the weekend of rain, more powder needs to be applied.



Happy Monday.

August Break: Window

This is the window I look out of when I spend time knitting in my new studio, it was a dilapidated sunroom.

The lawn hasn't yet recovered from all the construction and a large pile of pine logs is awaiting removal. We had several white pines cut down earlier in the spring. In the vase, painted by one of my darling daughters (DDs) is the last of the purple gladiola from my garden this summer. These purple gladiolas have been making it through the winter in my Connecticut garden and multiplying, a bonus that I don't have to dig them up in the autumn.

It's been a rainy weekend so I'v enjoyed a lot of day time knitting. Please pop over to some of the other blogs participating in August Break 2014. The photography is impressive....I'm just using my iPhone 4S.

August Break: Pattern

The word pattern brings to mind knitting patterns and my current WIPs (Works in Progress), my latest strategy is to focus on 3-4 projects at a time. This works well for me, enough variety so that I don't get bored and also a mix of easy knitting for the tired times when I just need some simple mindless knitting and more complex patterns for the times when I need the challenge and  concentration. Also a mix of selfish knitting and gift knitting, but not too many projects so that I actually see some progress each week and an FO (Finished Object) is not too far off in the distant future.

Current Patterns:

Nymphalidea by Melinda VerMeer ~ a shawl for an 80th birthday gift.

Rosa's Sleeveless Cardi -Jumper by Emma Fassio ~ a blue ribbon top for me.

Hitchhiker by Martina Behm ~ adding to my KORT (Knit One Roast Too) inventory, this is one of the most popular patterns on Ravelry with 15,435 projects!

Windowpane Dishcloth by  MaDonna Marie ~ the last of a trio of orange dishcloths for Lisa.

August Break: Lunch

Last night I harvested this beautiful cauliflower, it had keeled over in my raised bed in progress.

It has hues of purple and I must say I'm very proud, this is my first successful cauliflower. It's not lunch yet, in fact it's sitting in a jug of water adorning my kitchen.

Lunch today will probably be eaten at my desk, partly so that I can leave work early, after all it is Friday! Most days I bring my lunch to work and today it's coq au vin, parsley yoghurt mashed potatoes, French green beans and peas. Bon apetit.

August Break

Lately I've been listening to the lovely Martine on her I Make Blog and Podcast, she is a very crafty lady living on the Island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. In a recent post she mentioned the daily photo challenge of "August Break" and using it to revitalize her blog and I thought, YES, I would like to try that. Let's see if I can manage 31 days of short sweet posts. I'm up for the challenge, but it certainly will be a challenge for me.....

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