Thanks to everyone for the get well soon wishes. We’re all a lot better now.

Just a quick post to say that I have started work on a smaller, woman’s size, version of my Hareton sock pattern.

After swatching a couple of times, I realised it would be easier to modify the stitch pattern, rather than trying to use the same one as the larger version. It’s simple enough to do and will be a much quicker knit than the originals. Unfortunately, they won’t be done within the next couple of weeks because of other knitting taking priority. But they’re on their way!

ETA: Because I am a numpty and forgot to mention the yarn! It’s Rowan 4ply Soft in Tea Rose.

Back at the end of last year, I posted about Pay It Forward, and at the end of last week, I received a surprise parcel from Lindsey, containing an entrelac beret and Calorimety, both knit from her own handspun:

The photos don’t show just how soft and snuggly they are. I really wanted to have modelled photos of them, but we’re all suffering from a nasty bug at the moment, so I look terrible and really don’t want to inflict myself on anyone. But I wanted to share them anyway, because I love that she knit them for ME from HANDSPUN and when you’ve spent the best part of a week mopping up various leakings from small people, a surprise parcel is very welcome. Thank you again, Lindsey. *blows kisses*

Suffice to say, not much knitting has been going on other than a bit of stuff for the Loop. Hopefully normal service will be resumed in a few days. Until then, send bland foods.

I’ve decided that today is my second birthday for the year. A parcel magically arrived from a wizard today, with more lovely birthday goodies!

I have new mittens! And I also have the means to knit even more. The ready-made ones are knit with Wollmeise 100% wool in unknown colourway (I’ll trawl through their site later to find which one it might be it’s Türkis und Karneol, thanks Cairi!) and fit beautifully. (You could say like a glove. Ha ha ha ha.)

The photo doesn’t do the colours justice; they really are jewel-like.

And I have a gorgeous book full of mittens to knit - Knitting New Mittens and Gloves by Robin Melanson. There are some beauties in there and they’re going to make fantastic presents for people who deserve knitted things.

I’m taking a short break from my planned lace knitting to knit socks for the most appreciative member of my family. I actually don’t mind knitting mansize socks. I know that some people are all eek! big socks! but truly these are less effort and take less time than knitting something like lacy girly socks where I have to concentrate on the pattern far more.

These are just basic mansize socks using the usual recipe from the free Regia pattern leaflet (cast on 68, half for the heel flap, etc) and I’m using Trekking XXL in shade #184.

I think Trekking is taking over from Opal as my favourite bog standard sock yarn. I may have whined complained mentioned that I’ve not been enamoured of the Opal colourways recently. The new ones are just more of the same and I like to use self-striping sock yarns when I want a simple, mindless sock to knit. This colourway is knitting up in a very pleasing way and meets the approval of Mr B, which is the most important factor!

I don’t knit with 100% wool sock yarns as a rule because I am rubbish and tend to felt things in the wash. However, I did machine wash the Jules socks for the first time yesterday (30 degrees, wool cycle) and nothing bad happened, which was a relief. I’ve been handwashing them which means they have only been worn a maximum of three times because I am slack and never remember to do it. Now at least they’ll get a bit more wear!

My break from lace knitting was self-inflicted. I did the very stupid thing of trying to knit lace while being absorbed in Masterchef and ended up admiring potato dauphinoise and wrecking the pattern. Unfortunately, it wasn’t something I could fudge as I may sometimes do with other lace patterns *looks innocent* and it had to go. Now I’m having a crisis where I don’t want to cast on again and other patterns are looking more tempting. But more about those in another post which I can make secret and hidden from prying eyes.

It’s been a funny sort of week. I’ve been getting older, not knitting much and have been a bit blergh. Fortunately, the getting older part involves presents, so I can cope with that.

There’s a bit of a purply-pink theme running through my presents. I don’t know where people get the idea that I like those colours. Firstly, from Diane, a giant skein of Dream in Color Baby, which is the same squishy gorgeousness as their Smooshy, but laceweight. From Tess, I received two skeins of Jojoland 2ply Cashmere (the pink), two balls of Angel Yarns Cashmere (the purple) and some Tess Dawson Suri Silk. Much squidging has been happening.

But I also got knitted pressies! From Kai, I received a Mary Jane Pithy Hat knit with dreamy alpaca and SOME SOCKS OF MY OWN!

Here they are being modelled. They fit perfectly.

And then Diane sent me MORE SOCKS!

These ones are Baudelaire, knit with Knitwitches sock yarn. I feel completely spoilt and am going to look after my socks and not get holes in them, even if I have to walk on my hands all the time.

Finally, a self-portrait of The Bunny at 33 Years Old. I think the likeness is uncanny.