Knitting... but it's not winter?

I don't usually knit in the spring and summer. It's an activity that I keep for sitting by the fire in the autumn and winter months. The rest of the year I find that I don't tend to sit in our sitting room because it's not as cosy without the fire, therefore no knitting. But the weather is all over the place and with my Mum being ill and my going up to see her quite often I've started a couple of knitting projects to keep my hands busy. I also feel very guilty about the amount of wool I have in my stash. I bought quite a few skeins at Easter from Coldharbour Mill and then the Kid Classic from John Lewis that I used for the brown hottie. As if that wasn't enough I bought some more Kid Classic off e-bay for a bargain (to be made into more hotties). So I thought I really ought to start using it up winter or not.

This is the french market bag from knitty that I've wanted to knit for ages. I'm not mad about the colour combination I've used but that's all I had. Boy was it tricky to start off. I challenged myself to doing it the hard way so I do feel proud of myself that I managed to start off with two stitiches on each of the four needles. I didn't twist them at all (but I did curse a lot). We're going up to my Mum's this morning so hopefully I'll be able to knit in the car and this evening (Tom's driving by the way).

Amber, inspired by my hottie has started one of her own. She's using this pattern but as we didn't have short enough circular needles she's doing a front and a back seperately. I'm a bit concerned about her tension and therefore the size of the piece but it'll have to stretch and maybe we can make the back piece a bit wider!?

My time with my sister and her children went far too quickly. We have all had such a wonderful time. My sister went up to my Mum's yesterday morning and I had all six children. Then a friend of Rohan's popped over and I had seven but I swear seven is easier than three. They took themselves off for a picnic breakfast down to the stream in the morning and in the afternoon I took them to the park and playing field. I sat and knitted for two hours (any opportunity I can find) and they played football. Then they played on the swings and things and we came home 3 hours later. They had such fun. Then after supper all six went up the road to use a neighbour's trampoline while I - no I didn't knit - I tidied the house. Ofcoourse, they were nice and tired at bedtime but hungry again. So after a round of toast each they collapsed into bed (four in one room and the oldest two in their respective rooms). I also collapsed into a chair read 'A Room With A View'.

This was supposed to be a quickie before we shoot off. My Mum maybe coming out tomorrow and I am going to try and bring her back with me cos my Dad can't look after her (he's 87). Thanks for all your kind wishes for her recovery. Now I have to pack a little and find six children and get them into the car.

Comments

[Erin]

I've admired that bag before as well. Good luck!

[weirdbunny]

Is amber your daughter, and she's knitting that? wow how hold is she?

[Pamela]

I love to knit during the winter months too! You have a very nice site!

[Helen Middlemas]

Just fallen across you by accident. Wow, I love the strawberries, you don't happen to sell them do you. I am knitting a strawberry blanket, but need strawberrys to sew on it

x