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. 

Christmas spirit

Usually when I get a magazine I tend to disguard the free gift, especially if it's a thing to knit. I prefer tools like stitch markers, tape measures and scissors.

For the the kits are useless. I don't knit toys and have no interest in knitting santa, hedgehogs or puss in boots.

So I was very surprised when my latest magazine purchase came with a kit that I really wanted to make...

I thought this was something different, something I hadn't seen before with a magazine. It was finished in a night and I really quite like it.

It just goes to show that every now and again magazines can surprise you.

Aftermath

Tuesdays update didn't happen for one very good, fluffy and cute reason.... we refused to hand back my mum's 3 year old Westie,  Gibbs.

My dad stole him back last night so normality can resume.                                                           

Dublin this year was great as always and we finally managed something I've wanted for years.... a new yarn colour wheel!                 

Just remember that I contributed to the colour wheel, I didn't buy all that yarn despite what some people think. (Although in the past I could have created a wheel all by myself)

There was much knitting in the evenings and by the time we got off the train in Belfast I had just the rib to finish on my socks.

And finally, the moment you've been waiting for....may I present the new stash.

Everything in the new stash has a plan...sock yarn for socks, yarn for a really pretty cowl, 2/3rds of a shawl and yarn for another shawl. This time round it's quality not quantity so there's a lot of indie dyed yarn too...close up pics next time!