Lately my knitting has not been going well. I tried to use up a ball of alpaca to make a little triangular necker. I find these useful for wearing about the house when the heating isn’t on. I have a mustard coloured one that has been much admired and those I’ve gifted have been well received. However my latest effort is just too small, I may give it to Elodie’s doll Baby Jonas. I also knit some fingerless gloves for a friend using up stock, they seem enormous so I am hoping he has extra large hands.
However my knitting experience is looking up since I discovered and ordered sock wool from Northern Yarns a wonderful ethical supplier of goodness.
The ball band tells you everything you need to know about the British wool and recycled nylon. I can vouch for the soft silky texture and beautiful shades, my lovely parcel even included a quality tea bag to get me started.
Now that January is over I feel much happier. Sunday morning bright sun was streaming into the kitchen and the nights are getting lighter. Several other things have lifted my spirits lately.
Most importantly I discovered last week a box of 6 mince pies in the cupboard. I thought we’d finished the many half price ones MrFF bought after Christmas. Of course I take no notice of use by dates so this is special.
I am immersed in literature. Last year I read Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall then Bring up the Bodies, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed once I became familiar with the many characters. I wanted to read the third and final book, The Mirror and the Light, which in the paperback edition I borrowed from the library 3 weeks ago has 875 pages of small print. I managed to get maybe a third of the way through before fortunately being able to renew for another 21 days. I have to admit it’s hard going, I commit to reading for an hour or two in the afternoon then more when I go to bed, on both occasions I usually fall asleep. The Cromwell trilogy is such a wonderful work of literature recognised by 2 Man Booker prizes, I’ll feel like a winner myself when I finish, at present I am almost half way. However I had notification that a book I reserved a while back is ready for collection. I have about 10 days to collect it then 21 to read it, I doubt I shall be able to renew it. The pressure continues.
We were at a family Sunday lunch last week to celebrate my brother’s 75th birthday. My lovely grand nieces were there and, I assume after the success of baby Jonas’s blanket and hat, I had a request from Isla to knit red wellingtons for her Paddington Bear. I explained they would not be water proof which was accepted, in fact I knitted a pair of long red baby socks and posted them off to York. I am now knitting from stock fingerless gloves for a friend who I noticed had holes in those he was wearing.
And my final lift was finding bargains in a charity shop half price sale. I’ve been looking for some smart black trousers for ages and found them last week, not the greatest fabric but with a little stretch they are flattering yet comfy. On a roll I also found a FatFace cotton tunic top with pockets. Total cost of outfit £7.25, the socks are models own.
The photo was taken in front of the new full length mirror, my friend says it makes me look fat and I should return it. For clarity the trousers are size 10 the top 8.
