Week 4 of 2023 maybe influenced by what's to come in week 6 !

 

Winter hibernation is doing great things for my reading and knitting! This is book 4 of the year, Clarissa's Warning and the yarn is Urth Yarns Uneek Sock kit in a limited edition colourway, OranGGE. I've never used this make of yarn before and never knit anything with orange stripes, should be fun.

This weeks chosen book and knit kit may have something to do with what's coming up in week 6 of this year. The book is set in Fuerteventura, a ferry ride away from my destination, whilst I don't need anything to build my excitement it will certainly get me in the mood, and the yarn of course is going to be my holiday knit project, I'm aiming to get the socks all cast on ready to go! 

Not a lot of anything really.

Time is, as usual ,disappearing. Over a week since my last post and my hope to post more regularly has slipped before the end of the first month of the new year.  I'll be honest, there really wouldn't have been much to post. Juggling work and post covid fatigue means I've not done a lot of anything really, other than develop my winter hibernation skills.

I did take a trip into 'town' with no 1 son to see the new Avatar film, World of Water. We both loved it. No 1 son has seen it twice and I'm tempted to go again, the cinematography is stunning. I was a bit wary before hand as its a 3 hour film, but time flew by. We went to the first showing on a Monday morning, including us there were only 8 people in the cinema! We had planned to go and eat after but we were both tied so came home instead, light weights !

Dodging the rain and enjoying down time.

My first Wednesday off is going well.  After a bit of a lie in, I got up  grabbed a cuppa and read some of my book. I decided to cook myself a little breakfast, hubby didn't want any but no 1 son jumped at the offer, no 2 son was still asleep! Just a simple scrambled egg on toast but it was so nice to share a breakfast with him. No 2 son, either has a very early start or a later start so its rare we are having breakfast at the same time. 

Then hubby wanted to take Stan the van out for a run as he's been sitting silently in the garden since our last trip away. The forecast didn't look great so we filled a flask and decided to head out to Weston-Super-Mare. Not to far from home but would give Stan the run he needed.

It was blowing a gale and blooming freezing, but we managed a short walk on the beach with Rosie dog before the heavens opened. Then it was back to Stan for a nice warm cuppa.

There is something rather nice about winter days at the beach. Wild and empty but refreshing. 

Home to read some more book

and get the spinning wheel out, I cant remember when I last spun some yarn

2 x50g batts pulled from stash. Not sure what it is but the colours seemed apt for today. Spun each batt separately and will then ply. Not sure what will happen to it, probably end up back in the box with spun yarns...

Now I am off to grab a coffee and spend some time with hubby planning our trip later in the year. We are going to do the Scottish 500 so want to start planning the route and book some overnight stops for Stan the Van.

I think I am going to will like these midweek days off.

The first official 4 day week!

This week is the first real week of my new 4 day working week. Last week didn't count as it was a bank holiday. I have alternating Mondays and Wednesdays off, and tomorrow is my first Wednesday off. I am really looking forward to it, I'm tired already this week. I have no great plans other than I want to take Rosie dog to a beach for a walk, weather dependent, she's a fair weather dog.

Having a snuggle, she likes an armpit !

My hopes for these Wednesdays are that I use them well and get out and about in Bristol more. We have such a lovely city with so much to see and do its a shame not to appreciate it. 

I'm also looking forward to being able to shop on a week day rather than a weekend, is that sad?

Week 3 of a winter of books and yarn.

I had a lovely slow weekend. I managed 2 social engagements over the weekend but blooming post covid fatigue is still a problem, seriously need to nap after I have done anything. But it was a nice weekend and this week feels like the new year good and proper. 

It's week 3 of a winter of books and yarn and I am managing to keep up. I did struggle to keep focussed on last weeks book but am hopeful the covid brain fog is easing so this week should be better. I pulled a lovely chic lit type book which shouldn't be too taxing from the bookshelf and decided to cast on another Twixtmas cowl. 

As part of the 2023g challenge I pulled some handspun from my stash and some mohair silk and am knitting them together. I love the handspun, its a bit uneven but the colours are glorious, it should be a subtle fade. 

I think I may be getting addicted to small  projects, I've seen some gorgeous gold handspun in my stash box and am itching to cast that on, maybe next week, and maybe a hat? Though I really should be finishing up the last sleeve on my sweater. Oh well, what will knit will knit. 

A walk at Westonburt Arboretum.

 Our lovely Cornish friend had bought us all tickets to visit The Arboretum over Christmas. Due to blooming covid and her forced early departure she left the tickets with us to use up. Monday gone was my last day at home before it was back to work so we decided to head off. This was my only ' trip out' over the whole Christmas period. It was a glorious day and Rosie dog came too.

We had a lovely walk around and grabbed a light lunch and drink before heading home. Although it wasn't a massive walk I was so tired when we got home I had to go and sleep for an hour. I am struggling with the post Covid tiredness. 

A Firecracker Twixtmas Cowl.

 The first finished item of 2023! The lovely Twixtmas cowl. This is such an easy project and I really like how it fits. I used a larger needle as my yarn was quite dense and wanted it to drape slightly, not be rigid. It knit up really quick and I might have to cast on another. If you want an easy TV knit this is the one, a very simple  4 row pattern repeat.

 The yarn is a great colour, not captured well here. It is a DK weight yarn in  'Firecracker' colourway from Folkestone Harbour Yarn. I used 149g's in total towards my 2023g challenge.

The Wednesday Sweater.

 I have resisted the urge to start new projects remaining focused on trying to get some finished!

This week's project choice is my beautiful Wednesday sweater.

I love everything about it. Though its probably going to be too hot to wear unless we get an artic blast!

The pattern is the Wednesday Sweater by Petiteknit. It's a joy to knit and I particularly like the half twisted rib cuffs.

I used Drops Alaska held double with Sysleriget silk mohair in 'Unicorn Party' colourway! The combination is glorious. The Syslerigret was a treat but I would definitley buy it again. This is  going to be a favourite sweater.

For my 2023g challenge I think I'll just weight the balls for weight that I knit rather than the sweater for weight as its huge. I am hoping I can get the 2nd sleeve done this week then it will be ready to wear when we get some old weather. 

Book 1 of 2023 and week 2 of a Winter of books and yarn.

The bookish life of Nina Hill

The prompt for a book in week 2of a Winter of books and yarn was a feel good book.

Hopefully this will be an uplifting palette cleanser to start my reading off in 2023. The past year I read 39 books, this year Id like to see if I can hit 40 books. As with my yarn I have a large stash of books to read and really shouldn't buy more, but in reality I know that's not going to happen as I just love books! Maybe I should aim for a 2 books read and gone and 1 in? that would reduce my pile but also let me gently feed my book habit.

My yarn project is my Twixtmas Cowl. This is where I left it off

Currently knit 55g and started with 200g.

I've used a bigger needle as didn't want a dense knit around my neck. I was also knitting with Covid brain and despite it being an easy 4 row repeat  kept forgetting it. But it's for me so I am not really bothered by any mistakes. Its a really pleasant TV knit and I love the colours. 

2023g in 2023

I have a huge yarn stash , its actually quite shameful. I don't think I would need to buy yarn for many years if I really thought about it and 'shopped'  from my own collection. It's also a waste as my tastes change and what I once thought was beautiful now just sits unloved in a storage box. 

Whilst perusing Instagram I came across a 2023g challenge. Prompting you to aim towards knitting or using up 2023g of yarn across the year. I think that equates to about 20 100g skeins of  yarn. Easy. I  have way more than that in storage.

I am not wanting to cast on any new projects yet as I have a couple of WIPS that I need to finish, so what the challenge suggests you do is weigh your WIP and then subtract that weight from the finished project. You then have the amount you have actually knit from your stash.

So that's how I am going to start the year. Knit up what I have got on the needles then go ' shop' from my stash and cast on a new project. I think my first cast on of 2023 may well be a Christmas sweater for next year!

Santa Baby by Hanne Rimmen

Photo from project page on ravelry

Happy New Year !

Happy New Year !

I'm not making resolutions as generally, based on past experience, I don't achieve them, and I'm not going to be fooled into signing up to diet clubs or gyms, though I have reactivated my swim membership, but that's because I really enjoy early morning swimming.

 This week is the start of my reduced working week, [down to 4 days] and as my leisure time increases I  want to spend more time being active, being outdoors and exploring my own city. That's really my only goal for this year,  

 To my little group of readers I wish you a happy and healthy year ahead.

 Here's to 2023 and all that it may bring.