Tired...

Hands up who's tired of winter. I am. I'm really fed up with the grayness outside, with cold weather, with runny noses and sore throats, with stingy wind and lack of sun. It's been so cold here for the past few days. Cold and ugly. And there's February ahead and I believe it's the ugliest month in London. I miss light, colors and warmth. I can't wait for this winter to be finally over.

We've been staying indoors quite a lot, trying to play and read books but being grounded at home with two year old active toddler is not always fun. We really miss going to the playgrounds in the park nearby. They are deserted during these cold days.

How do you deal with your winter blues? I'm planning to bake some cookies...

Happy weekend Everyone!

Yarn, yarn and more yarn...

I promised myself that I would knit from my stash as much as possible without buying new yarns and what did I do last week? I spoiled myself with two bags of new yarns! Seriously, I need to start working on my strong will, stop browsing online yarn shops and pass Peter Jones with closed eyes whenever I go to King's Road. Last Friday I went to pick up C. and on my way I popped in to PJ haberdashery department. I really didn't want to buy anything but, well, once again I couldn't resist... I left with bag full of Rowan yarns (cocoon, colourscape and cashsoft dk). And when we came back home that evening I found a package from online store with the yarn that I had ordered just one day before (new Araucania in delicious colors).

This is it. I'm done. I've stashed so much yarn recently that I should really start seriously knitting it down. For a while now I've been thinking of opening my shop on Etsy or/and Folksy with my little knits (baby hats, scarves, mitts and maybe sweaters for kids).

Little B.

Few days ago I finally finished this little cardigan for my friend's baby. She's expecting a baby boy and I really wanted to knit something special for him. I decided to go against blue color (it was my first choice) and I chose these warm colors instead. I really like this combination.

The cardi is knit from top to bottom and it's seamless. I'm not sure if I will ever knit anything in pieces again. I really love knitting on circulars needles, seamlessly.

I aimed to knit 3 months size but after blocking it more looks like 9-12 months now... Three wooden buttons are the detail I like the most, I think.

***

Few images taken yesterday and today on the way to the shops. I decided to have my camera with me at all times, even when I go to get groceries. The weather has not been great lately so we stay indoors most of the time but when we go out, we try to have fun. Little G. loves splashing puddles, I love taking photos of her.

New gem in my stash.

Tidal Sock Yarn from Solstice Yarns.

"Green Lover"

100g/400m/437yrd

This yarn is so beautiful! I can't wait to knit something precious with it. Its colour cheers me up and reminds me of spring.

Sweet rainbow.

Few days ago I hand dyed yarn for the very first time. For a log time now I've been thinking about extending my knitting passion and starting to dye yarn and this was my first little step into this direction. I decided to use Kool Aid kit for my first dyeing experience just to see if it really is such a fun as some other fellow bloggers and knitters have revealed.

Well, it was. I enjoyed every moment of it. I had a little accident though, I clumsily dropped one of the glasses (it slipped from my hand) but luckily nothing else got stained but yarn.

I was a bit worried how to heat up the yarn since I don't own a microwave. In the end I decided to use my oven. I "baked" the yarn for about 20 minutes in my Pyrex dish, checking every now and then. I think this was the hardest part for me. I wasn't sure when it was time to take it out but I guess I did well: the yarn didn't felt and the colours look fine.

I have six sachets of Kool Aid left so I might be using them very soon.

1/52

First week of 2011 and what we've been up to:

I start baking pastry for breakfast. Such a nice change from porridge oats! It wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for this talented Mama Chef- she inspired me with her snail rolls recipe. Thank you, Cate!

C. bakes chocolate mint cookies. Yummy!

I hand dye yarn for the very first time. It's fun!

G. turns two. I can't believe it.

My new lens arrives. I'm in love with it.

New bread maker arrives too. We're so excited. I guess new year will be all about home baking and cooking.

Happy weekend Everyone!

Knitting in 2011.

My knitting resolutions and goals for 2011:

1. Knit my stash down. I have unhealthy tendency of buying new yarn whenever I enter any yarn shop. I never leave empty handed and usually buy yarn even without a project planned for it. It's time to use my stash and make some space.

2. Knit few little garments (mittens or scarves) for my best friends and at least one big shawl for my Mum.

3. Learn new technics and stitches. In 2010 I taught myself quite a few new stitches and fell in love with cables. I'd like to knit some more lace projects this year.

4. knit at least one pair of socks. Why only one? I have never knitted socks before but I think it would be good to try and learn but at the same time I think I will not be able to fall in love with knitting socks. I do admire other knitters' socks and beautiful sock yarns available but I can't imagine knitting them in a big quantity. Still, knowing how to knit socks might be useful.

5. Knit more of my own ideas and writing them down. Maybe publish some of my patterns.

6. Try to hand dye yarn.

7. Try not to handle to many WIPs at the same time.

8. I will try to keep this blog updated. I had a knitting blog once but it didn't survive. I write about my knitting every now and then on my daily blog but since knitting has become such a big passion of mine I'd like to keep track of my knitting adventure in one place. We'll see.

Happy knitting in 2011!