Larger projects

I know I haven't posted for while, for a couple of reasons. I have been working on larger projects, also, I haven't been so well so progress has been slower than usual.

The top picture is a chunky knit cardigan in stocking stitch, so quite quick to work. As you can see I have almost finished the second front. This pattern is odd to me, as I am used to knitting the back of a garment first, then the fronts, then the sleeves.

The lower picture is of a double knit cardigan with cables, at one point I couldn't find my regular cable needles and was using a plastic bent needle, which totally annoyed me. I was quite happy when Shadow's teeth found it. Just glad she didn't hurt herself on it.

I will post pictures of the finished cardigans, as soon as they are done. I have also cut out two aprons for my Mum, and am going to make some reusable shopping bags for her, for her birthday. It was yesterday, but she's in France right now, so I have a few days grace.

I am considering starting a seasonal cross stitch project, but don't want to bog myself down too much.

still fidgetting

I haven't stopped making things, just the stuff I have been working on lately is bigger than the small projects of late. Will post photos when they look something like.

Octopus

This took me a little longer to make than I anticipated. I think the main reason for that was that my TV went on the blink, so I watched programmes online, and watching online isn't very well paired with knitting. I'm quite pleased with the result, however if I tackle another I might plump for a size smaller needle to give a firmer fabric.

Bent cable needles?

Would anyone like these two bent cable needles I have?
They were free with a magazine. I presumed that they were easier to use. Maybe they are if you are new to Aran and cables. But I'm not...I made my ex a four ply cricket type jumper....all in Aran stitches. The bent cables slow you down if you are a confident Aran/cable knitter, although I can see how they help a beginner. No chance of dropping the cabled stitches.
Anyway...I'm serious..anyone who would like these...they can have them. They are blue plastic, one for work up to about 5mm size needles, and one for thicker work.

Working on a UFO

I haven't been lazy since I finished the shawlette last week. After washing it etc. I started to sew some beads on it, but they were quite frankly too clunky and looked numb. Luckily I'd only sewed two on when I decided this.
On the needles at the moment is a cardigan, and I'm making an amigurumi.
I have got three pairs of trousers to turn up for Becki, Edwin's gf, have done one, two to go. I won't share a picture of that. I'm also making myself a couple of very simple underskirts, a bit like a dirndl skirt in grey anti stat lining.
The UFO I am currently working on is one of giraffes, will post on here when I finished. I joined a UFO blog, to "spur" me along. The blog is called "I've started so I'll finish...eventually"
Think that's about it.
I get The Knitter magazine monthly, and follow a couple of knitting blogs. It's nice to see what other people are doing. One blog said how difficult Kitchener Stitch is...for a seamless finish. So I searched for a video. There were quite a few, but this one is fairly simple and only 2 and 1/2 minutes long.

5 to 10 in the evening. I've done the other two pairs of trousers, done a bit of mending, and only have to thread elastic around the underskirts. No photos, cos there's nothing worth taking a photo of, at the moment.

Shawlette

Tonight I cast this off, wove the ends in and washed it as the pattern says. It is now drying on a towel. I am deciding whether to attach beads to the points, as they aren't obvious at the moment. I love the shape of it. As I said on a previous post, this is from a "one skein" book. The ball of wool I used had more yardage than the one specified, but I had to scour the web for a second one of the same shade. I must have knitted looser or something.
However, I am really pleased with the shape of it. The rest of the second ball will be used to make gloves in a few weeks I think.
I have almost completed all the projects I wrote down at the start of the summer break, so am quite happy. The back bedroom project is slow, but part of the reason for that is because I had to pay the excess after I was run into in my car at the start of the holidays.

In the picture Spark is inspecting my work, I just put it on the floor for ease whilst taking the photo. I will take another picture tomorrow after it has dried, and after beads are attached, if I decide it needs them.

Big Fidgetting

It is now over 8 years since I moved in here.

What with one thing or another I have not been able to finish the decorating. [The whole house needed doing]

The stairs and one bedroom have not been done. However, Edwin is moving bedrooms into the one that is not finished, but not until it is finished. I finished doing the painting last year, but as I said above, due to ill health, I have not finished.

This has annoyed me, as I hate not being able to do things I used to do without thinking twice about. So, yesterday I put up the baton for the curtain rail, the curtain rail, and the curtains. With Edwin and Becki's help. When I finished I was ready for a rest.

This morning I stained the wood of the floor to ceiling cupboard frame, prior to putting in shelves, filling in the sides and attaching doors. Once that is done, it should swallow most of the stuff that needs storing. Some I might put in plastic boxes with lids, and try to store in what little loft space I have.

The pictures show the curtains, and part of the cupboard frame, stained. [For some reason the second picture hasn't taken, mind you, tiz only blue stained wood.]

I have been continuing with knitting as well, and have two projects on the needles at the moment.