I've been mostly in the back of the car

I haven't posted for ages I know, it's difficult to do so hurtling across Europe in the back of the car.  Yes we've completed our annual road trip to Italy, this time in the company of my brother and sister in law.

We drove down to Yorkshire for Esme's christening, which was beautiful, a wonderful service in the village church followed by a family prepared lunch for 80 guests at the local cricket club, children romping on the pitch and adults playing football or lounging on blankets in the sun.  Next morning we left at 6 am for the noon tunnel crossing and on into France.  We had some great stops, a gorgeous B&B in the champagne region, a dash through Switzerland which is far too expensive for overnights, a night on lake Como in a perfect small hotel with pool, a night on lake Garda, many many miles of tarmac and impressive scenery.

We arrived exhausted and spent a couple of days lazing at our house before Chris and Val flew back to Yorkshire and their farm yesterday.  Mr FF and I plan to relax today but no doubt I shall be in the garden which has run riot in 5 weeks and he will find light DIY duties to perform.  The weather is gorgeous, hasn't been below 15 ever since we arrived and a maximum of almost 30 up on the mountain, even hotter in the village and much hotter in Rome where we had lunch yesterday with friends after the airport drop.  So we are switching to our other life, the one with blue skies and afternoon naps, we will soon be recovered and have no plans at all to get back in the car for a while.

Knitting now - in a colourless way

I don't seem to be knitting so much at present, strange as generally the weather is awful and we have been settling down in front of the stove in the evenings.  Here's what I have done

I finished off a cardigan for a friend, there wasn't so much to do just a sleeve and a half.  Fortunately the boring front band had been finished and the stitching up didn't take too long, hurray for chunky wool.

I made this little bolero for Esme from the Rowan Studio book 30 using just 100 g of pure cotton dk from my stock.  The sleeves were supposed to have the same pretty band as the body but I didn't have enough yarn, don't tell Esme, they looked just fine plain.

A plain pair of socks for me using up a ball and a half of Sunbeam St Ives 4 ply.  I've made Mr FF several pairs of socks with this 80% wool 20% nylon yarn, it washes and wears beautifully and the subtle colour mix takes a pattern well, such a pity its discontinued.  

Finally this little cardigan for newborn Anna, another granddaughter for my friend Ann.  Its Puss baby cardigan from Patons, an old pattern that I liked because the body and yolk are all knitting together leaving very little stitching up.  The yarn is Freedom Gorgeous 4 ply by Twilleys 75% bamboo. 
All a bit sombre aren't they, just like this bloomin weather and sadly it's not much better in Lazio.  Things had better improve soon as we will be heading that way shortly, I'll keep you informed.