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8 November 2012

Yarn Along and Autumn Evenings

Belated Yarn Along, as is so frequently the case, these days are getting away from me somehow and each one just doesn't seem to have enough hours in it.  The dusk comes on swiftly, turning everything such a complete black.  The electric lights around here are the slow orange barest glow, old eco bulbs that don't give enough light to read comfortably by.  I refuse to replace them before I have to.

The children are going to bed earlier than usual, and getting up as usual around 7 (sometimes later for the older two).  I have read Essio Trot, The Enormous Crocodile, and The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me with Morgan this week.  Finally, time to read beginner chapter books with her, snuggled up on the sofa in a huddle of blankets.
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And my Christmas knitting is coming along.  A hat for my brother and Jenna's requested short sleeved cardigan, done and nearly done.
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The hat is Dembow Hat by Susan Dittrich and it was really fun to knit - all the "cables" are just clever increases and decreases to make the two by two rib meander up to the crown.
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Jenna's hoodie is the Collecting Cardigan by Ella Austin.  A couple of her patterns have really leapt out to me recently, and Jenna totally fell in love with this one.  I didn't think I would get it done for Christmas, but once I finally got on with that hood, it has worked up quickly in a cheap wool aran.
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I have just finished reading The Island of Dr Moreau and am a good way into Cross Stitch (thanks for the recommendation!) - the former is still eerily powerful, and the latter is so far engaging and clever.  I might have just found another series to keep me spellbound for a few of these cold months (another advantage of the ereader - in such low light I can't manage print easily)

I also picked up the third of the obnoxious and pretentious Giordano Bruno (S J Parris) series, because I have no self control where books are concerned (and I'm secretly hoping - likely in vain - that she kills off the unlikeable hero.  Oh look, though, yarn!  ;)
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I don't know how that happened.  I wasn't buying yarn this month.  And then, well...  Heath's happened to me.  Yarn paradise!  In my defence, it's for more Christmas knitting.  ;)

14 comments:

  1. I love the cardigan for Jenna, did you buy the magazine to get the pattern or can you get it somewhere else? Hope you get it finished for Christmas.

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  2. I bought the magazine when it came out. I don't know if the individual pattern is for sale yet, but you could always get in touch with Ella Austin, she has an Etsy store. :) http://www.etsy.com/shop/BomBella Seems only to have her animal kits at the moment though. :) xxx

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  3. I love the hat and cardi you knit! Great patterns and you chose great colors for the projects.

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    1. Thanks! The beige is my hand-dye, dyed specially for my little brother who loves neutrals. The green is a cheaper version of the yarn my daughter really wanted but that would have come in at over £30 for the cardigan - so I just looked around until I could get a cheap colour match! ;)

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  4. Lovely, adore the cards for Jenna

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    1. My mum has already asked if I can't size it up for her. :S Well... At least it doesn't have sleeves!

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    1. It's a lovely pattern - the bottom section is all cable and lace! I think it might take me a while still!

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  6. such pretty knits, i understand how yarn can unexpectedly follow you home ;)

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    1. Yeah it does that - sneaky stuff, yarn! :)

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    1. Indeed! They remembered Rowan, too, and she waved shyly from behind my legs and said, "That's the man who made me a flower!" :)

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  8. I love the hood for Jenna. Have you seen Tiny Owl knits? It reminds me of her patterns. I want to make her 'Meow Mittens' but I worry they will be too difficult.
    http://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/patterns/

    Mitts >>
    http://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/meow-mitts/

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    xxx

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    1. What a lot of gorgeous things! I've seen a few before, but now I reeeally want to figure out colourwork to knit the robin mitts... xxx

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Penny for your thoughts? :)