…by knitting,

more mittens (could be that there's a slight obsession going on here!)

 

 

 

I even like how they look in-side-out

 

and some bunnies in Orkney Angoras St magnus yarn, (50% angora, 50% lambswool) a truly delicious yarn from lovely people

 

…and by listening (and singing along loudly and very badly) to Polly Paulusma's Running with Scissors. She has such an enviable voice and I like her rather dark and quirky lyrics.

All in all it's been a quiet week of settling back into routines. Toby is much happier and I'm building up my energy reserves so I'm ready to plead, beg or battle with social services for an increase in our paltry 6 hours a month of respite care.

Thank you so much for all of the kind, supportive and encouraging comments recently. They mean so very much to me and I am deeply and truly grateful for them and for your visits here.

Thank you x

Like I said in the previous post, I think warm woolies are one of the very best things about winter and over the years I have built up quite a collection of mittens and scarves…

 

I do like to keep out draughts when I'm out and about, so chunky wool scarves are a big favourite on really cold days. My yarn of choice for a quick chunky scarf is Rowan's big wool. You only need 2 balls (160 metres) and a pair of size 8 or 9mm needles and within 2 or 3 evenings you can whip up a new scarf. Here's a simple tutorial:

Cast on 17 stitches and work the whole thing in moss stitch which is basically:

(K1, P1) 8 times, K1

repeat this for every row, joining in the second ball when you run out of the first and casting off in the same stitch pattern when you only have around 12 inches of yarn left. Weave in the cast on and cast off ends and you're all set for a windy winters day.

Of course I do have another one on the go at the moment…

 

 

This time I'm working in Misti Alpacas cloud-soft, hand-painted chunky baby alpaca yarn, this shade is called Swan Lake.

 

 

 

It's not quite as chunky as the Big Wool but works just as well and it really is super soft.

If you fancy grabbing your needles and casting on a scarf or a pair of mittens then pop over to ravelry where there are literally hundreds of wonderful free patterns to choose from.

Happy knitting xxx