Post Christmas knitting

This year I planned a little treat for the hubby and myself. After all the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas, Christmas day itself and the eating yourself silly over the course of 2 days, I thought it would be nice to unwind and relax on an old steam train journey.

The journey started on a very foggy Sunday morning in whitehead where, once I got my seat, the sock promptly came out.

By the time we reached dublin some 4 hours later I had made little progress, mainly because we played cards the whole way down!

Determined to do some actual knitting on the way home, I managed to complete the foot and am now sitting in Starbucks about to do my heel.

Our train was called merlin and the journey was great! I would recommend a steam trip to everyone.... there are special easter and Christmas trips so have a look on their website (printed on the bottom of the flyer)

Not just knitting

The knitting is done, presents are very nearly wrapped so that only means one thing: time for the Christmas baking to start.

Last night the hubby and I made toffee. Usually it's not a two man job but I'm rather accident prone and he likes to keep an eye on me.

All the ingredients were thrown into a pot

Stir like a mad thing until everything is all melted together and smooth 

Crank up the heat and keep stirring until you reach 120 degrees....which takes forever

Stick it in your mould and leave to set.

Tomorrow we get to cut it up and decide if it should have chocolate on it 

.... . . everything should have chocolate!

Fine fish

Wednesday was ALL about yarn. It was our Christmas swap and delivery of our fine fish Christmas gradients club. 

I'm very much a blue and green girl and so this was my yarn, bag and cute little Christmas stitch markers!

My swap buddy got me some lovely fine fish dk in my favourite colours,

And here's my swap present in its entirety.

If you want to get your hands on some lovely fine fish yarn, just click the link.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/afinefishyarns 

Decisions decisions

While sitting in Starbucks last night I asked my fellow knitters for their opinion on my 'over Christmas knitting' while I ate the cream off my hot chocolate with a spoonSo, do I :

1.  Finish some wips like the dress that just needs it's ribbed bits done, or my sisters cardigan. ..

2. Start a beaded knit night for me,

3. Make a start on a multi stranded blanket that will eat miles of yarn, or

4. Tackle the sock stash (This large bag is just SOME of the sock stash)

It started to look like the sock stash tackling would win, so I'm throwing it out there.

And, while the jury is out, I'll get on with knitting my reflective hat.  Health and safety begins at home after all. 

A little bit at a time

Tonight at knitting I brought a few things to work on...a cowl to sew together, mitts to sew up, a hat to finish and a scarf to knit.

By the time we left the hat, cowl and mitts were finished and I had a few more repeats of the scarf done.

Knitting night lends itself to simple easily memorable projects as you don't want to be having to concentrate too much and miss out on all the fun.