Day 3.

Have done knitting but not socks yet. Knitted hexipuffs in the car and on the bus to and from Local Studies today, think this will be last one in Rowan 4ply pale green. Traffic bit slow, so well on way to finishing.

Also completed quite a large area of a square using wool from Freecycle haul, just pick up the work when maybe on loudspeaker phone or waiting for something to cook.

As far as socks are concerned, have undone knitting so will have to pick up heel flaps again and try to achieve right number of stitches this time. If it doesn't work will go to knitting group for assistance as time is running out. Had hoped to make a cowl before walking weekend, this is some chilly autumn this year.

This is an experimental blog, for once didn't fire up my lap top, instead worked out how to write it on iPad, with Bloggers new style template.

Let me know if it is too bad.......

Day 2 of 31

Not a great knitting day so far, did complete the 150th hexipuff, so able to start a new one.

Actually started it in Squires Garden centre café as there for lunch with other ladies from the parish. This is the second one, couldn't make last month, but there is nought else socially for ladies at our church. The men have a monthly meet up in the local pub, it is my understanding it has been very successful in terms of friendship, fellowship and laughter.

Anyway, whilst we waited to see who else would be joining us, sat on squishy sofa and commenced another hexipuff, but just time to cast on 20 stitches, and transfer some to the magic loop needles. Suspect casting on was a little tight as it is proving tricky to do this.

All knitters will appreciate I'm taking stitches from red needle to wooden needles alternatively.

Was not able to continue after the meal, for although we sat around chatting, I was showing the others information from my iPad about the Local studies CALM website, found details of the woodwind orchestra in which the organiser of today's lunch plays. This is at the church at the other end of our urban village.

Now back to the socks. They were left in favour of ironing yesterday, so today will try again but can concentrate whilst watching British bake off?

31 days in 2012

No way can I take any credit for this title, I read about this on The Bookworm's blog, so went to her source,

http://www.thenester.com/2012/06/31-days-in-2012.html/comment-page-3#comment-293153 which is the blog of The Nester.

Confused? Don't worry, so was I, but basically one blogs every day in October about a chosen topic. Some of the topics chosen are amazing, I suspect one would spend all of one's October reading them all.

I have decided to just post daily about my knitting progress, especially as I was making good progress with the socks but having joined the sock flap back up, picked up the stitches from the sides, then asked to knit 10 more stitches, I am confused as it will mean I think I will have too many stitches.

Any way, here is a picture of the socks so far .....

There is a deadline for finishing these, I would like to wear them when I go walking the weekend after next.

Of course, all may be well, but I shall leave my laptop, go and iron, then return to the knitting. These are the third pair I have made, perhaps I shouldn't have knitted and watched Downton Abbey at the same time.


to be continued tomorrow. Day 2/31.

Chatting about stuff

Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

This Week: 26th September 2012

The weather ... Wet and windy with gales and some very heavy downpours.

I am wearing ...  black East dress, orangy-red CC cardigan and brightly coloured Tradecraft scarf. Dress is so comfortable, not fitted at waistline, I dislike the feeling on being strapped into tight clothes.

I am reading ... Salmon fishing in the Yemen, haven't read much, but am enjoying it so far.

I am creating .. hexipuffs, chunky quilt, phone cover and finally socks. Bought the yarn in Shoreham a few Saturdays ago when we broke our train journey back from Martha's. There was a very large yarn shop there,  Shoreham Knitting and Needlecraft, so bought sock wool. Decided to make both socks simultaneously, found circular needles, off I went but broke the needle pulling the yarn tight to avoid the 'ladder' effect. Found another circular needle, measured carefully, was sure both were same size although different brands (Pony and Knit Pro) and have almost completed 19cms before starting heels. (Knit down, not knit up). Measuring and row counting showed a miniscule difference, so on Pony will probably knit an extra round so knitting is same length.

 
Colour not very good here, the colours are much more vibrant.

Anyway, have bought two pairs of 3.25mm KnitPro symfonie yesterday, the helpful lady in the shop and I decided that there was no need to undo the knitting. It is very difficult to see the difference, but before working the heel I'll transfer both socks to the new needles. As socks will be worn with walking boots or inside ordinary boots it won't notice if there is one extra round on one. After all, my feet and legs aren't exactly the same size.

I am listening ...  well whilst ironing was listening to pod cast of confessions from the Radio 2 Simon Mayo drive time programme. Takes a lot to amuse me, but some of these succeeded.

I am watching ...   Downton Abbey, Great British Bake Off, Who do you think you are?, Love and Marriage: a C20th romance, all whilst knitting.

I am enjoying ...  my efforts at meeting up with friends, some of whom go back to school days. Last week went to Museum of London, saw nothing of the exhibits but spent over 5 hours chatting and catching up with friend who lives up north. Apparently I haven't changed in nearly 50 years!

Learning notes ... Ian received his final TMA for this course today, as he opened the envelope he said that he felt he hadn't done very well. Mmmm, so 77% isn't doing very well. I hope the result gives him confidence for the exam.

On the menu ...  not sure, we have bread I made yesterday and banana bread made the day before. 

On the calendar ...  meeting at Local Studies about the Building our Borough exhibition, although this clashes with a day walk with the walking group. Weather may play a part in choice of which activity I choose to do.   


A picture from last week ...  from our bedroom window showing the more open aspect now Ian has cut down, pruned, pollarded the trees and shrubs in the back garden. Our kitchen is much lighter too, a compensation for the loss of light from next door's extension.

My thanks to The Bookworm from whom I copied this format. Never quite sure whether to make my blog a kind of journal or diary, or a more reflective muse. Think it kindest to make it a chatty journal, rather than a catty view of this parish's recent events and meetings. 

Still here

MONDAY,septEMBER 10, 2012

Simple Woman's Daybook: 10th September

Outside My Window ... ought to mention that Ian has been cutting back the jungle that our back garden has become, a combination of the heavy rains earlier in the Summer and the brief, recent warmth.

View taken from the back bedroom window.

I am thinking ... about the Panorama programme this evening about pensioners and alcohol. It is very much assumed that one will have a drink, I have a fear of having even one drink and driving, even if I will not be driving that day I'll not have alcohol. Occasionally we have been trying cider, we test the specialist brews when they are on offer at Waitrose or Lidl's. Certainly no scrumpy these days.

From the learning rooms ... Ian's last assignment for MST208 has been posted; revision continues whilst the course materials for MST209 have arrived.

I am thankful ... for a quieter week ahead, for last week was busy. On Tuesday I went to the monthly Prayer & Meditation group at church; then we went onto  a U3A lunch in a beautiful Surbiton garden followed by a train ride to Vauxhall, bus across the river to a meeting of ALMA reps. ALMA is Angola, London, Mozambique Association, established by the Bishop of London to give support to the Anglican churches in these two African countries. Ian and I are the reps for our church, our sewing group made a banner for our link church in the Mozambique town of Mecanhelas. I think it is in the Niassa region.

From the kitchen ... like much of the country have begun to bake again, made quiches to take to Ian's U3A lunch in someone's garden (I was invited too!) and last weekend my family signature bake, those coconut slices. 

 

I am wearing ...  light grey trousers, white shirt with Monsoon cotton jumper with swans on it. Too warm for red cardigan, it came off.

I am creating ... 3 projects: hexipuffs, have reached 149; the freecycle throw continues to grow, am casting on 11th when laptop goes slow and have started a pair of socks for myself. Same Regia pattern as before, but have two  Magic loop needles so knitting both socks together. Have broken a Knit Pro nedle whilst trying to ensure there was no ladder in the ribbing so using Pony bamboo one I had in reserve. As the socks and hexipuffs both are made on 2.5 mm needles will have to buy another one as haven't a third one for hexipuff.

I am reading ... well will be, London: portrait of a city by Reuel Golden, published this year by Taschen. Also, will be starting book for reading group, its Salmon fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday.

A picture, or two, thoughts I am sharing ...

This robin was pictured at the Millbank café, outside Tate Britain. I had met my friend there to see Another London: international photographers capture city life 1930-1980, of course we needed coffee before going around the exhibition. Well actually, we had coffee and lunch before going round the exhibition. 

A little gripe: the captions were stencilled on the wall, but nut under or near the photos to which they related, so we were bobbing back and forth trying to read and then view. An interesting collection, some of the views reminded me of London when I was a child, certainly the greyness and fog and others recognised the me I was in the sixties clothes and look. 

Mmm, rather late will add more ramblings some other time, have been reminded that I need to take evening medications. This is not a quick task.

Interesting the link between meditation and medication, both should do some good.

 

Find instructions and links to other daybooks at The Simple Woman

Crafty things

Very pleased I have finished the hat to match the sports coat for friend's grandson. The collar of the coat was garter stitch, most of the hat is garter stitch too. the brim is stocking stitch so it curls up a little, making it slightly less beany style.

Have checked, you haven't seen a picture of the coat, well not this version of it in navy Sirdar.

to coordinate, here's the hat,

Rather difficult to have an idea of scale, but I have made the garments for a one year old, because I knit a bit tightly sometimes, to allow the child to grow into the clothes, not all children come in British Standard specifications for their age and who knows what may have interrupted my knitting.

Have completed 141 hexipuffs so far, but they are an out and about project, so once the baby hat was finished I looked around for another project. There is quite a stash here, so marrying up what I would like to make or need with what is in those ziplock bags is fun. I see a pattern, then think, oh, that would be good, then the yarn doesn't line up, I am torn between making items for my home or for me to wear. So far I have made just two pairs of socks, would like to try the toe up technique; have patterns and the book but would need to go out and find the yarn. Given the thunderstorms we've had this afternoon it is a stay at home day.

Last November I acquired a huge amount of yarn from Freecycle, don't know what the weight or make is, but decided to knit some up into a square. Found some chunky wooden needles size 7mm I think, the how to knit a square pattern  - cast on one stitch, increase one stitch at beginning of every row till square is a big enough triangle then reverse the process. Have made two following the instructions, third one I have modified the instructions so first stitch is slipped and this has made a tidier edge.

This is much quicker knitting than hexipuffs, 36 stitches before I decrease again, so I am using up the cream and will make quite a few garter stitch squares before using moss stitch, or even double moss stitch. Will make at least 4, or a multiple of four of each design and use all the cream wool before starting on the other neutral colours of which there is less.

The wool I have started is on left of picture, colour isn't clear but it a natural creamy colour. Am considering crocheting some squares too to give a different texture to the throw, need to mug up on techniques, it is a long while since I was hooked.

Lastly, am not sure how to proceed when turning sheep's wool in its raw state to beautiful yarn for when we went on the walk a month ago I gathered some wool from the hedgerows. A few days later I was given considerably more so have washed it all, dried it by hanging a netting bag on the washing line. Now, for the next stage, can the fluffy wool be turned into thread without a spinning wheel? Wouldn't want to buy one just for this quantity.

Any thoughts, criticisms, ideas, comments all more than welcome, but in the meantime, enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend and the Paralympics.

Cake recipe

As it is Saturday evening and for many years my mother made cakes at this time I shall give you the recipe of our family favourite - coconut slices. Sorry, there will be no pictures as we have no cake to photograph.

The recipe came from the side of a Viota coconut packet, I think it was first made shortly after we moved across the River from Richmond to Twickenham so not a new recipe.

2oz butter or margarine
3 oz caster sugar
2 eggs
4 oz dessicated coconut
2oz flour.

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs with a little flour. Fold in coconut and rest of flour. Vanilla essence is an optional extra.

Bake at 190C, 375F or Gas mark 5 in a square flat lined tin. (We have used Yorkshire pudding one) for about 20 minutes.

Ice with water icing when cool, top icing with a little dessicated coconut and cut into slices.




As we have two Yorkshire pudding tins I frequently double the quantities and cook two together. The uniced cake can be frozen, as it is fairly shallow will not take long to defrost.

If anyone wants more detailed instructions for making this cake just leave a message and I'll expand it but am assuming most readers are familiar with the creaming method of cake making.

Other news.

It is a year today since I started knitting hexipuffs, have achieved 141 to date. Not quite the number I had hoped but other knitting has been done.

Good night all, enjoy your baking.