crafts & knitting

grey mostly

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)

I think February must be the greyest month of all and the one in which summer seems most distant. Like most of the UK we've had far too many grey skies of late, sometimes a light silvery grey but mostly dark, brooding and full of rain. We have been very lucky though and are not affected by the flooding but I know some who are and I hope for all those affected that we see a big change in the weather very soon.

Here inside is warm and bright but I've still been drawn to greyness and have been working on lots of February coloured woolly things… 

Shawl

… a recently started shawl

Pattern: Dream Stripes, by Cailliau Berangere

Yarn: SofTrope soft singles in 'netsuke' and 'raku' bought from Meadow Yarn

 

Crochetscarf

… a finished scarf

(details of pattern and yarn here) It really needs a proper blocking to bring out the delicacy of the pattern but I've been a bit too lazy and am already wearing it. It's like a soft cloud and despite my numerous mistakes (mis-counting stitches etc) I'm really pleased with it.

 

I have also been quietly but industriously working on a new pattern for a grey animal, I'm sure you can guess which one 😉

Eles

I'll keep the blog updated with details as soon as it's ready to share

 

At least the mood here is no longer greyish and I'm feeling far more positive than I did at the start of the year – thank you all so much for your good wishes and kind messages about my eyes. At the moment they are stable and I'm just waiting for an appointment to have some further inner eye images taken. Hopefully the results will be fine and I can just go onto regular monitoring appointments and no further problems will develop.

There is also happiness at finding colour in unexpected places. This beautiful small tortoiseshell butterfly is currently hibernating in the corner of my windowsill. On the greyest days he looks lifeless and still but when the sun comes out he crawls up the window for a spot of sunbathing.

 

Small tortoiseshell

Hopefully he can make it through the rest of the winter and when the weather turns warmer I'll be able to open up the window for him to fly away.

 

I hope there is a little colour and happiness in your days right now, will you be pleased to see the back of this winter?

wishing you all the best for Valentines day, see you soon, J xxx

 

54 thoughts on “grey mostly”

  1. You have made grey beautiful Julie, in all it’s forms!
    Your shawl is going to be incredible as is that lovely snuggly scarf and I shall wait with baited breath for Elephant news.
    I’m so glad you are feeling more positive and I hope your appointment goes well x
    I too will be glad to say goodbye to winter, my poor son has had glandular fever since mid November, it feels never ending for sure.
    Sending you lots of love on valentines day lovely Julie, love Jooles x x x

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  2. Your greys look lovely 🙂 By contrast I’ve been drawn to the very brightest colours lately – maybe that’s my way of coping with winter! It’s lovely to hear from you xx

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  3. Love all your grey themed projects, my favourites are the elephants love how you put them all together in the basket, soi very cute indeed x

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  9. Oh I do so love grey, what a wonderful post. The scarf is gorgeous, I’m very envious, and I absolutely love the basket of elephant heads. Hope you all have a good weekend.

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  10. i never thought grey could be so warm and inviting! Beautiful projects as always Julie, and im so pleased everything seems stable on the eye-front!
    Cant wait for the Ele-pant pattern!

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  11. Apart from skies, which I prefer to be blue, I do love grey! Your grey wooliness is all beautiful and that basket of elephants is beyond cute! 🙂
    So glad ‘life’ for you isn’t grey though and best wishes for your appointment!
    Bless that little butterfly waiting for summer, I know exactly how he feels! I have a butterfly chrysalis in the corner of my front porch, I keep checking it, I really hope that it will turn into a butterfly when the weather warms up.
    Happy weekend Julie,
    V xxx

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  12. Just love the shawl! A soft gray is so soothing. Those elephant heads are precious. I have just downloaded the rabbit pattern and hope to make some by Easter.

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  13. Hello Julie
    So lovely to see a post from you, and such a gorgeous one too !! Love, love, love your knitted shawl. I am in awe of your knitting even more than usual having just decided to have a go at it again after many years, I have found some lovely shawl patterns in a book from Loophttp://justpootling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/try-and-try-again.html , and would love to make them all. Really looking forward seeing to yours when its finished.
    And your photo of beautiful grey elephants in a basket made me exclaim out loud – I am in Love !!
    Stay warm and dry,
    Kate x

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  16. Your grey is so lovely, enjoy your scarf, it looks so soft and comforting! I understand why you are just enjoying it, you can block it later!
    Look forward to seeing your grey pattern completed, the progress is darling in your basket.

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  19. I can attest that your scarf feels like a soft cloud. 🙂 I get compliments on mine ALL THE TIME!
    It has been grey here as well. I’ve been forcing myself to leave the house every morning and go and workout to try and help with the doldrums and depression. I’m never sorry when February ends. Good thing it is such a short month!!
    I am working on some knitting projects I need to post on my blog. Once I get them finished I’ll post photos.
    I do hope your eyes stay stable. Eye sight is one of those things that I take for granted and to not have it, such a huge thing!
    Your little butterfly is an omen. An omen of good things to come this year. 😀
    Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your loved ones!!
    Much love to you!!
    XXXXXXX

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  20. Hi Julie, I’m writing from Vermont in the northeast of the US. We are having yet another powerful snow storm so I’ve seen lots of greys and whites this winter. I love your grey combinations and especially your large cup of tea nearby. As I look out my window at snowflakes, snow banks and an unplowed dirt road there are some dark red sumac bushes offering a bit of color to the landscape! Our flocks of wintering robins seem to enjoy them as well as leftover apples on the apple trees. I love your blog and look forward to each entry.

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  21. We have had enough grey skies… But your grey wools and knittings are beautiful. Oh these little elephants are so cute! I wish you a lovely Valentine’s day, Anne

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  22. I love the shawl you are working on! It is beautiful and so cosy looking. I am VERY excited about your new grey pattern that will soon be available:)

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  26. I think this long, overcast and wet winter is affecting everyone. Nothing else for it but to keep on knitting. Your knitting projects and photos are as ever truly lovely.

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  29. Your scarf is beautiful. Thge pattern looks so soft and has such great texture. Of course I have been hoping for elephants every since my friend told me about your blog and your wonderful patterns.
    Hope there are some blue skies headed your way. We are still pretty cold here in what we now call Chiberia (Chicago). It is warming a wee bit so maybe spring will inch our way.

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  32. Oh yes a new pattern!… I’m so excited! I really love your patterns… and my children too ! I tried to transform your little rabbit pattern to get an elephant, I got a beautifull head, but i had some trouble with ears… so i’m happy to see that the pattern is almost ready! I’ll be one of the firsts to buy it! (I’m not sure with my english… so excuse me for the mistakes… ;-))
    http://apresecole.blogspot.fr/

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  33. I always wanted an elephant … Hopefully I will get the chance to make one soon ! It reminds me of all the ‘How do you know if you have an elephant in the bed’ jokes’ x

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  36. Snow here in Maryland USA, so glad that the UK floods and gales have not affected you.
    I check your site from time to time and am always cheered when there is a new entry. Keep it up , your influence spreads far and wide!
    c

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  40. It’s always a lovely surprise to find a new post to read on your blog ! I enjoy them so much 🙂 Warm thoughts from Italy (…only the thoughts…the weather is more british than yours …grey, drizzly, damp and depressing ! ) barbara

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  41. Such beautiful work! I always think that soft grey is a very thoughtful colour. Are the elephant heads are placed with their trunks towards the door? My Grandmother had three ebony elephants, and always placed them so, because she said that was the luckiest way to display them! We, too, had an overwintering butterfly last year…in our sun lounge. The day we let her/him out was truly magical! Jxx

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  42. Hello Julie, love your little basket of elephants. I know they are grey but they are still utterly adorable !! I’m bringing Spring into my life knitting lots of daffodils for Irish Cancer SOciety. Would love if you were able to mention it on your blog as I know every knitter I have ever spoken to knows your blog. Totally understand if you can’t as I know it all gets a little political with charity knitting etc.
    Your shawl is simply stunning, but everything you make always is. Hope you’re getting pockets of sunshine to brighten your day – Spring will be here soon (hopefully!!!) to charm that gorgeous garden of yours and fill it will blooms and veggies xx

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  44. Grey … my favourite colour … needless to say I was delighted by this post 🙂
    I have a Dream Stripes lurking in my WIP basket somewhere because the yarn I’d chosen wasn’t doing it for me, and I was eyeing up that SofTrope yarn only the other day … what a dilemma you’ve plunged me into Julie … do I frog and follow your example … it’s so tempting!

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  45. I love reading your grey, wintery comments! Here in Melbourne, Australia, we are sweltering through a long, hot summer with 20 days in excess of 40 degrees Celsius (I think this is 104 degrees F). While it is not really knitting weather, I am loving your shawl and can’t wait for the elephant pattern. Glad to hear that life is looking up for you a little with this post Julie – you are always so positive despite everything. Take care. xx

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  47. Grey such a relaxing colour your lace scarf is amazing looks lovely soft and warm…so excited about the new patterns 🙂 Thank you Julie for all you do, such a pleasure to see the wonderful things you make always so beautiful…..Love to you and your family xx

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  49. Hi Julie, I recently bought the pattern to make the little outfits for the bunnies and fox. I am curious if you will be releasing any other stuffy clothing patterns. I LOVE the plaid.

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