Shades of Shetland

Did I ever tell you I am easily distracted from my WIP's ? Well I am; aren't there that many things we want to do or make and not enough hours in the day to do it all? In my defense I think I am fidgety sitting and waiting to be admitted into hospital. Still no sign of that ,I should be all done and dusted by now but thank goodness I have the all clear at least . Quite a worry for some time I can tell you and also I have just heard that a few wards in our local hospital have been closed due to the Noro virus so I am kinda glad I am not there !!

Well back to distractions, I have been wanting to make this for some time now(for those not on Ravelry its Kate Davies's Sheep Heid hat) I did look at the kit on Jamieson's but in reality I want to spin it out of fleece so went on the hunt with the help of our gorgeous granddaughter Emily through the fleece mountain for Shetlands.

It has to be in Shetland and so far we have this

I need nine shades all in but only 25yds of each colour so I am hoping to get a few more courtesy of some kind folks. I am also going to make a pair of mitts and might try using the chart to match them to the hat , we will see. Kate is a wonderful designer and I love her patterns.

I have finished Idlewood and love it so have another on the needles . Wasn't what I had intended to start but I didn't have enough yarn for the project I had in mind.

Infuriating really as I thought I had and I would have loved to do it as its in cables and I am sick of plain old stocking stitch, hey ho ,next time.

Not the best pic but here it is.I only used 500gms of Debbie Bliss Angora Tweed .A really useful top

Another pair of socks done and another on the needles as per usual.

More sock yarn , this time 413yds of handspun from a lovely blend of merino, alpaca,nylon .

Its been a lovely sunny weekend here after three days of horrendous mist. I could hardy see were I was going driving to Guild on Thursday and some prats had no lights on at all !!

Oh and just in case you are a rugby fan and who isn't in Wales ;) We won the Triple Crown as well. Great nail biting match ,right down to the last 3 minutes. Fingers crossed for the Grand Slam now

Idle Idlewood

I have been seduced from knitting my Idlewood tunic over the last few days by this....

When Tony saw he it he said 'ugh that's a bit old fashioned isn't it ? not your colours at all !!' Well that's as may be but I still love its bright cheery look and it will look great in the van ,perfect to get us in holiday mood and I think I will make a few cushions to match it too.

I must get back to my Idlewood now though as the weather is still really cold and when I get out of this snug cottage I feel it.

There has been yet more colour going on too with a bit of dyeing for the Etsy shop

I have dyed a really gorgeous Polwarth/Silk blend which I have to say is heavenly and I am keeping one to try it out for myself .

Good news this week I have been given the all clear to go ahead with the operation , they are still keeping an eye on my blood count as its still too high but they reckon it will be okay !!

When the North wind blows.....

.... and we didn't get snow !! All the media hullabaloo of bad weather and all we had was rain but the 'south' got some and of course its the end of the world !!!

We did have the really cold north easterly wind last week which was bitter cold and we are now back to our frosty sunny days which I love. There is still a bit of snow on the mountains opposite us and it was wonderful out walking in the fresh cold air today.

DD came over last week and to cheer us up I dyed and carded up some yummy batts for us to do some core-spun yarn .

Which mine turned into this lopsided cowl called 'WHAM BAM THANK YOU LAMB ' !!! not that you need a pattern for such a simple cowl but I just loved the name ;)

Who needs Noro ;)

I made some socks for SIL (I know they are just boring socks but in the interest of me logging all I make bear with me; I always have a pair of socks on the needles )

I have been wanting to make an 'Inspira 'cowl for some time and have made one at last

The pattern/book was a bit confusing and for the next one I make I will do my own version but I do love the finished effect.

On the needles at the moment I am getting on well with my 'Idlewood' Jumper and on the wheel I am spinning some sock yarn and on the other wheel I am still plodding on with my aran weight for cardi/jacket .

For those of you who have inquired re my health ,first of all thank you and there have been complications re having my operation as planned due to other problems but I am hoping to know more this week when I see one of my consultants . X fingers they can go ahead so I can get on with life and get out and about more .