The last couple of days have been the perfect autumn kind - misty mornings with dew festooned cobwebs…
…dissolving into warm days of sunshine that sparkles through the rich colours of the leaves.
I'm so glad to live somewhere that has four distinct seasons, each one bringing changes in what we eat, what we wear and what we do. Autumn always makes me feel like baking; tidying the garden; airing the winter weight duvets, blankets and winceyette sheets and unearthing the the jumpers, scarves, gloves and snuggly socks from the backs of cupboards and drawers. I've been baking lots of biscuits and quite a few apple cakes (this has been such a good year for apples and we've had bags and bags from our neighbours tree). Our current favourite cake though is a lovely lemon and thyme cake from a Nigel Slater recipe. It's really delicious, very moist and lemony and good with a dollop of cream. It's a tad messy in the making, although that may just be me – I am useless at zesting lemons.
Autumn is also a time to be knitting things that are toasty and warm, ready for the colder months to come. I've finished off my mittens and am really pleased with this Purl Bee pattern, I'll use it again in future as I really like the rounded mitten top and the placement of the thumbs.
I've made myself a slouchy beret too. I messed up though by increasing too many stitches and didn't notice until after the border. I couldn't face unpicking so pressed on and the finished hat is probably a bit too baggy, though very comfy to wear.
Pattern: Ethel Beret by Andi Satterlund
I'll use the pattern again as it's very sweet (though next time I will concentrate better when I work the increase row). I love the little knitting needles on the border and had lots of fun making the pompom, I even got Toby to help a little with winding the wool for it.
Well, that's my news. It's half term break here next week so I'll be busy keeping Toby occupied. Luckily he is still enjoying some of the presents from his birthday, especially his duplo (and the box which doubled as a hat) and the huge helium balloon which is still buoyant and providing much delight two weeks on.
Thanks for dropping in and visiting with me. Til next time, keep well and happy
J x
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PS: I knew there was something else I'd planned to say, I am such a scatterbrain at the moment.
We are having another photo contest on the little cotton rabbits ravelry group. It starts this coming Monday (October 28th) and will run until November 10th. The theme is autumnal animals and it's open to anyone. All you need to do to enter is to take a fitting picture of an animal you've made from one of my patterns. We'd love to have you join in, all of the details are here.
Tausigma has also started a photography club which will be a great place to share tips on taking better pictures, ask questions and share ideas.
little cotton rabbits 
Nice gloves
A greetings from Spain
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beautiful knits!!!!
xxx Ale
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I always feel a spur of cheeriness and inspiration when I visit your beautiful blog, Julie! Thank you for that and happy half-term to you.
Stephanie
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Though I love all the seasons for different reasons, Autumn being my favourite, usually means winter and dark nights just around the corners. When I am in the middle of winter its fine its the approach I am not so keen on as the nights draw in. The day after I put my summer clothes away for winter, we have a blazing hot day, English weather!! Love your mitts, must look that pattern up, thanks.
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HI Julie
Yum, the cake looks absolutely delicious, I bet it smells gorgeous when its cooking.
Your mittens and hat are so beautifully made, your work is so perfectly precise.
Enjoy half term and make sure you get some knitting in somewhere !
Kate x
justpootling.blogspot.co.uk
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Lovely Autumnal post, fab knits I love the mitten so cute. Have a good half term.
Clare x
http://summerhousebythesea.blogspot.co.uk/
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Oh Julie….the mittens are so lovely!!!! I adore autumn….it’s absolutely my favorite …we are having such a beautiful one here. Dry though…we need rain.
So happy Mr. Toby is enjoying birthday gifts!!! Have a wonderful week!!
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Hello!
Your mittens are beautiful Julie and your beret too, I also love the fact the you went a little wrong (in a very nice way, of course), my knitting goddess, it gives me a little hope! although you’d never know, it’s beautiful, I love the knitting needles detail, so cute and very appropriate.
Happy belated birthday to Toby and wishing you lots of calm and happy for next week.
love jooles xxx
P.S I have a Christmassy giveaway happening over at mine if your interested x
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Hi Julie. Great mittens and fab photos of Toby. His cardboard hat is very swish! Xx
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Your photos are beautiful Julie! I love the change of seasons too — I could never retire to someplace warm. Love your mittens and hat — especially that cute little line of knitting needles!!!
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Two weeks since Toby’s birthday and he still has you all celebrating it with him? Good man Tobes, I am all for dragging the celebrations out as long as possible.
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Why is it that boxes are just as appreciated as the toys inside? Love the mittens, they’re a great shape and that cake looks delish.
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Lovely photos, especially the second one. I like autumn a lot, and yes, what a year for apples. My stock comes by the bag load from my mum’s garden.
I’m back into knitting, you’ll be pleased to hear. In fact I’m knitting a Fairisle beret too (you taught me well!).
Hope half term is good – I’m off to Cornwall. My first time and so excited.
xxx
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Such lovely things, I wish that I could take spiders web photos like that. Try zesting your lemons on to a sheet of greasproof paper and then you can just funnel all the bits into your bowl, and they don’t end up everywhere, also a microplane grater is very useful for zesting. I too am a messy zester, so I speak from experience – try the paper! I’m new to your blog, but looking forward to reading lots more.
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that’s a great tip Amy, thanks so much, I will give the paper a try over the weekend (we need more cake). I have been pondering a microplane but feeling a bit fearful for my finger tips!
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Ah, I can’t get over those amazing mittens! And that lemon and thyme cake looks delicious. Glad to see Toby still enjoying his toys, Duplo is such an awesome gift, box and all! We keep a zip up container of them in our car, too.
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Happy birthday to Toby! He’s looking older now. Your mittens and hat are lovely, nice work.
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Lovely autumnal post Julie! 🙂 The cake looks delicious, I love the little speckles of thyme through it. As always amazing knitting, the mitts look very cosy and the knitting needle pattern on the hat is lovely!
Wishing you a calm and peaceful half term. 🙂
V xxx
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Julie,
I am so very curious about what looks to be a “textile fragment” mounted above the stove/fireplace behind your son, is it tapestry or some other special textile?
As always, such lovely photos and beautiful knitting!
Regards,
Wendy
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I’ve had a few hats to big too. Adding some elastic band or thread on the inside of the ribbing has been the magic tric most of the time :-).
Love seeing Toby enjoying himself, hope you’ll be able to spend some time outside with him during the break!
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Love your slouch hat Julie and the gorgeous mitts too! Beautiful Autumn days here in Worcestershire…wish my photography skills were on a par with yours! Great to see Toby enjoying his presents. OOOH, I could Smell your cake. Lemon cake is the cake of choice in our house, every time! Do beware the dreaded microplane… I’m back to zesting with an old fashioned grater into a pan (round with a small curved edge) from a measuring scale.. Love and best wishes for a peaceful half term.
Jenni xx
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Oh I do love that beret! The colours you choose are always the colours I would choose too. 🙂 I love that they have little knitting needles in the design. 🙂 And that cake….oh gosh…I want to make one now! Toby looks so happy in his duplo-box hat! Thank you for a lovely, Autumnal post. love, Tina xxx
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PS. The mittens are adorable too! 🙂
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Thanks for the pattern details. I have been looking for something on Ravelry but had not come across the mittens. Roll on new mitts in randon yarn from Lidl!
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Beautiful Autumn post Julie, such beautiful pictures, I am so glad too see the mittens finished they look fab, as does your hat, lovely colour choice too……Glad Toby is happy playing with his Birthday gifts….and the cake looks truly scrumptious yum! I also love Nigel Slater recipes, and will definitely give this recipe a go…. have a lovely time half term with your family, and enjoy the lovely Autumn days ahead…lots of love to you and the family 🙂 xxx
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Hi Julie, what a lovely post, nature, baking, knitting and family. All the good things in life, Toby looks like he is having fun – the helium balloon looks like a great – and cheap – form of entertainment, you will have to remember that one for school holidays when Toby’s routine is different. Enjoy your cake! XxBrenda
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Julie, I love looking at the world through your eyes. Thank you so much for sharing. You do such an incredible job filling the needs and wants of others (including impatient knitters who press you for more patterns). Please remember to take time for yourself and nourish your own soul.
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I love Autumn too Julie. It makes me want to bake as well. The lemon and thyme cake recipe is very intriguing. I would love to give it a try. The mittens are so lovely! I never had store bought mittens when I was little, my mum used to knit them for me in all colours and patterns. So special. Really like the perl bee pattern.
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Microplaners come with guards/covers so the zest stays inside and then you just tap it on the side of the bowl to release. I suppose you could hurt yourself with one (horrible thought) but it just takes a bit of care. After all, graters can be just as risky.
I’ve followed you for years but rarely comment. So glad to see Toby in your posts, dear soul.
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I have knitted two girl rabbits for my two grandchildren and one fox now, they adore them. My grandson now wants a fox with no clothes on it? I am only to pleased to knit him one, as I love doing them, thank you for giving me so much pleasure,. I have the pattern dresses as well and have knitted some spares of them.
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Your photos are incredible! I love the seasons too and can’t imagine not having them. I have a sister who has moved where she doesn’t have the seasons and I wonder how she stands it! I get bored too easily I guess…..
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who makes a mess of zesting lemons, oranges, limes, etc. I make the biggest mess as well and love that your recipe is written in hand in a notebook. I don’t know why, but I love that. Makes it personal I guess…….
Levi has been playing with a helium balloon as well. I just blew him up another balloon this evening because he was having a hard time. For Christmas I usually buy him a little helium tank so he can have his balloons from time to time.
Very much in love with your mittens and slouchy hat. I also adore the lady who is modeling the slouchy hat. 😀
Hugs and kisses!! XXXX
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I just found your website and I love your cotton rabbits! I see purchasing your rabbit pattern in my very near future! I haven’t knitted in a very long time, so I’m just getting back into it. I love the rabbit that you did all in one color with the lace at the bottom. Wish me luck! I have come across a very interesting book on autism written by Dr.Natasha McBride, it has a lot of very good information on autism, since her son has the disorder.
Anyways, I will be back to your blog on a regular basis!
Diane
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Your photos are lovely, Julie. You have a gift for capturing a moment with all its beauty. (Even messiness contributes somehow to its glory!)
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Beautiful autumnal post, Julie, such atmospheric photos. Love your pretty hat and mitts…….the knitting needles motif is so sweet on the hat border. Wishing you a happy week.
Helen x
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Hello lovely lady … adorable hat and mitts, the cake sounds scrummy, and Toby looks jolly happy there. Hope you have a good half term and this storm doesn’t bother you too much x
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hi julie, lovely pictures and i really like your mitts. we just had george’s birthday this weekend, it’s a good time of year to have a birthday, I think. Happy Birthday to Toby.
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Hi Julie! I love the pictures and I completely agree about loving all of the seasons. Here in Ohio where I live, we have autumn leaves in such beautiful colors now! I have put away most of my summer things and am enjoying re-discovering my warm winter sweaters! In an earlier post I saw these wonderful mittens you were making and they really turned out beautifully! I am also loving your bunny and fox patterns! I am finishing up my fourth animal, the boy fox. I absolutely love making them! I can’t thank you enough for sharing!
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Lovely knits Julie… just wish I could wear hats and not look ridiculous! Have a good half term and hope to see you soon.
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Hi Julie… beautiful knits and that cake was so yummy looking I shall have to make it.
I have knitted my first little rabbit today and have just bought the selection of dresses as I intend to knit a lot more.. it was a lovely little bunny to knit.
Happy Knitting
Chris
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As always, your photos inspire! Also, thanks for the contest plug–hope we see as many great photos as the last contest! 🙂
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Thank you for the fabulous new-to-me word ‘wincyette’. I had not heard it before. We call them flannel sheets in the States and we love them though we haven’t unpacked them yet.
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Julie- I love the mittens, tho I have never made any myself. And I want to try that cake. Love your ideas and your blog. xxoo JO
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Hello Julie, I’ve hopped over here from another blog after seeing one of your bunnies knitted and made up – they are so adorable.
Loving the slouchy hat, it looks really cosy and comfy.
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I LOVE those mittens Julie!
and I love autumn and the onset of winter… it gets my inspiration fired up.
That cake looks delicious… btw I can recommend those microfile lemon zesters, something for your Santa list 😉
Celia
xx
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CAKE LOOKS LOVELY AND MITT’S AND TOBY HAVING FUN.
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Ask for a micro planer for Christmas–makes zesting lemons a piece of cake! cheers, Karen from Struan Farm
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That picture of your lemon zest made me laugh!
Your mittens and beret are adorable. 🙂
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Hi,
I have just read your blog and wanted to share a tip with you I received a while back. If you freeze your lemon you can shred the whole lot with your grater and use it not only in that scrummy looking cake but on or in most of your other cooking/drinks.
Now I am going to enjoy your knitteds in more detail and stick you on my ‘favourites’ list.
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I’m an avid reader of your blog but have become very remiss at leaving a comment of late:(
I love your hat and your cake and wish I could take cobweb photos! I’ve neglected my knitting for crochet recently and have been showing many others how it’s done – which isn’t bad for someone who struggled herself for years!
I must do some bunny knitting as your patterns are lying in wait.
I hope you’ve had a decent half term. xx
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love love love the mittens!
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