Toby has been quite poorly over the last week and a half. He's gone for days without eating and has not been sleeping much but it's been hard to know what is wrong – no temperature, no sickness – just lethargy, paleness etc. Of course he can't tell me how he feels but it's been clear he's not the little chap we are accustomed too. Still he seems to be on the mend now – he's now eating a little and hopefully the sleep will follow soon!
Anyway, this coupled with the murky, dull weather that has followed the snow melt has left me feeling a little blue and so to cheer myself up I'm making myself a cardi.
It's been over a decade since I knitted anything for myself other than scarves or mittens and I'm quite excited at the thought of wearing it. The pattern is Shalom – a generous freebie from Meghan McFarlane and is a quick and simple knit made with nice chunky needles and knitted from the top down. I'm also pleased as I was able to use up some of my attic stash – a bag of Annabel Fox Chunky Donegal, vintage 1993!
little cotton rabbits 
Cheer up chicken!
We have snowdrops appearing in the garden so spring can’t be far away.
Cardi looks great.
Lots of love
Mum XX
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Sorry to hear that Toby has been poorly, happy to hear he is on the mend xx Love the cardi pattern had a quick glance on the website. I know what you mean about not knitting yourself something I have’nt in ages either – I have been so busy knitting bears and hedgehogs and giving them away – I even gave away my knitted hand warmers to my daughter who had her eye on them!! and I said I would knit an aran jumper for a friend – I too am thining what about me??
Davina x
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best wishes to Toby!
your shalom top looks pretty; i like tweed!
i knit one too, but it’s not tweed, so i may need another before spring… 🙂
best – annri
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I have just finished something for myself as well – a scarf – it’s funny how we always end up at the bottom of the “make for” list, but I always get so much enjoyment from giving hand made items away.
Feel better Toby!
S.W.A.K.
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Sorry Toby is poorly, I hope he is fully recovered soon
I love your cardigan and it’s true we always end up on the bottom of the make for pile
Hugs Jackie x
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What gorgeous coloured yarn – be sure to show us the finished article! Glad Toby is on the mend, that must have been a worry for you. It’s so difficult when your child can’t specify just how they are feeling.
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Poor Toby – a similar virus is doing the rounds here too. We could all do with a bit of midwinter sunshine I reckon. Failing that, our village shop has daffodils in stock – yes, they’re overpriced and probably imported but just now they are doing the trick in my gloomy kitchen!
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Hope Toby is back to being himself again soon, poor thing. The cardigan looks lovely. I know what you mean about not knitting for yourself. I never do. I’m knitting slippers for a swap, a cowl for my daughter, slippers for my daughter and desperately trying to finish writing up a pattern but I can’t get the photos right.
Good luck finishing the cardy, best wishes Lynne xx
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Poor Toby, hope he feels better soon, this post snow weather is really dreary.
Love the cardi, such a nice colour. I haven’t knitted myself anything for years, I, too, must investigate the stash, but I don’t think I’ve enough of anything for a grownup garment. Just knitted a fuzzy bear who is quite a cheerful addition to the household.
Hope things brighten up soon.
Best wishes
Jane
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hope your toby is feeling himself again soon. your cardi looks lovely i have been meaning to try a top down knit for ages but am still plodding on with my noro jacket!! i’ll get there eventually!!
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I’m so sorry that Toby hasn’t been feeling well. It is so frustrating when they can’t tell you what’s wrong.
Love the cardi. What a pretty color!
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Lovely yarn.
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That one’s been on my knit list for a while. Hope Toby is feeling better – we all need a big dose of sunshine to perk us up, I think.
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Hope Toby is back to his usual self before too long. That’s a lovely pattern.
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I hope Toby feels better soon and you get some sleep too. Lovely looking jacket and yarn. Jane x
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Hope he continues to improve ad you all get some much needed sleep. I’ve only made hats, scarves and socks for myself – a cardi seems daunting! Love the yarn.xx
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Sorry to hear that Toby hasn’t been well. It must be quite frustration for you both.
I found the last few days to be really dreary…hard to feel enthusiastic even for the best of us.
Love the cardi you are working on…bet it will be just the thing to brush away the January blues.
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Wish you well Toby. Love the look of your cardi, how much yarn for someone who does not have a stash? I copied the pattern but no amounts, many thanks.
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Hello,
I also downloaded the pattern – though as a knitter of limited experience I’m strugglig to follow it! Can you give more advice about the yarn, and any brands to look out for? Thank you. Hope you all have a good weekend.
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Toby. I felt a little like that this morning. For some people, no direct sun is like no hope. I’m usually not that way. But this morning—everything was too heavy. I wonder where he goes at times like this? What place inside of himself he seeks out for rest and safety? Surely it is quiet. Bless him.
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My email was wrong, darn it.
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Do you suppose Toby could be going through a growth spurt sort of thing? I seem to remember my boys going through phases where they either ate everything or very little. I hope he’s back to normal soon. LOVE that pretty color — what a beautiful sweater!
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I glad you are feeling a little better Julie – A jumper and a keepsake for you for many years to come!
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Oh how we all need some sunshine! Poor Toby and poor you. I’ve been coughing for a month and everything hurts! But you’ve inspired me to take action and to make something for myself … before the year is out!
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i so hope Toby gets better soon – i think we all need a little bit of sunshine and colour to cheer us up! I love the colour of your jumper, i’m sure its going to be gorgeous.
Esme says hi to Toby and sends a hug!
xxx
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So sorry neither you nor Toby are feeling yourselves. It’s such a such a tough time of year isn’t it?
Your knit is both thrifty and beautiful – lovely Julie. I hacked into the jungle on my patio for the first time since the summer today. I found:
Lots and lots of hellebore buds
The first flower of wintersweet opened and smelling beautiful
Lots and lots of clusters of daffodil spikes
Little maroon primroses flowering.
I hope this cheers you a teeny bit.
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Sorry that Toby has been poorly…we’ve had a “all overish” bug in the village here! Glad he feels like eating again. We convalesce on mash, sausages gravy and ice cream…on different plates usually! Love “Shalom”….such a great pattern for spring. Snowdrops out today, so it’s on its way!
Jenni x
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Wishing you better Toby x
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I’m sorry to hear that your little boy is not feeling well- sending good vibes your way so he’s back to his old self soon! Beautiful sweater too.
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Hope Toby is feeling better soon 🙂 PS love the cardy….i too have little time to knit for myself, always doing projects for other people xx
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Hope Toby is feeling better xxx
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Oh Julie I hope things pick up. But is knitting in blue a good idea??? ;o)
Lucy xxx
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Poor Toby… hope he’s on the raod to recovery. Great cardigan. Love the colour.
:0)
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A treat indeed to knit something for yourself especially out of stash. So pleased Toby is on the mend, as a Mom it must be so hard not been able to communicate these details. I always feel so inspired as a Mommy when I read your posts. I love, and I mean love, that as a popular blogger you really blog about real life. I thinks its amazing and inspiring. Keep knitting, looking forward to the photo of your wearing your knit.
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Hi! I’m sorry Toby has been feeling poorly-maybe it’s just JANUARY!!! I was excited to see that you are knitting this sweater as I have been thinking about making one myself. I’d love to see the finished product! Did you see the one that Soulemama made? Very pretty! Love your blog!
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I nominated you for a Sunshine award on my blog – you’re inspiring always
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The blues or winter are never fun are they? I hope you find Toby half way up the stairs with a selection of snacks sooner rather than later. Thinking of you.
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Sorry to hear that Toby has been ill – hope he is better and that you are ok too as I know how it feels when you have a poorly child. It does feel good to knit yourself something so hope that this has cheered you up a bit!
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I really miss the snow. It makes everything look bright, cheerful and clean even on a grey day. I like outside to feel cold but with the sunshine for cheeriness. Keeps the bugs at bay too. I can’t bear grey, moderate, drizzly nothing days in January. All my three have been poorly with chesty coughs, sick bugs and heavy colds (and all since the snow went!). Hope Toby feels better soon poor love and good on you for doing something for you for a change – you give so much to others the rest of the time.
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oooh, the shalom. i know it from ravelry and it’s a lovely cardie. good for you.
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Sorry to hear Toby is ill – hopefully he’ll be running around his usual self again soon.
I was very impressed that you could remember the year you purchased theyarn and that you still like it – I seem to remember 1993 as the year of yellow mohair.
As for the murky weather, at least you will appreciate the good weather when it comes and it makes it okay to humker down and knit.
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Your designs are continued inspiration
Hope Toby feels better soon & your family well
I have awarded you my Sunshine Blog Award.
See here for information http://uniquelysnowflake.blogspot.com
Amanda.x.
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Hi there,
Just wanted to let you know that I have put a link to your wonderful blog on my blog – I do hope this is cool 🙂
Although mine is essentially about art and creativity, I have finally put a post about living with aspergers (my son who is 7 has it) and referenced other sites, of which yours is one. It feels a brave thing to do, as I want to share, but feel scared too . . . It’s so nice here that you weave your story and continue to create. Inspiring, and needed for the links with others that are made.
Hope Toby is better. My son can be ever so sickly and has been much of his life, but we muddle through with remedies, diets, all sorts of things, and hope all the whilst we as carers, grow in character 🙂
Amelia.x
(at: http://www.101birdtales.blogspot.com)
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Your Mum is right the snowdrops are peeking through – there is a liht at the end of the tunnel. Glad to hear that Toby is showing signs of improvement.
The vintage cardi pattern is lovely – good for you to knit yourself something.
Before Christmas I knitted the grand children your small bear pattern for the Christmas trees. One dressed in pink for a certain little girls pink tree and two in red for traditional trees. They went down very well with both Mums and children. Thank you for a delightful pattern. Next year it will have to be your mini stockings! Diane
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Hi Julie,
Have enjoyed reading your blogs for a while and am now taking the plunge with starting one myself. I enjoy knitting too, but not as clever as you! Your rabbits are lovely. Following through links on your blog i found the Allsorts site and got inspired to get fininshed a quilt started years ago and then to start a new quilt. Now I’m keen to keep going.
Now think must start blogging myself so am trying to get one started. Hope to keep in touch
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