Lots of activity, not much to show

I've been really busy this week, chasing my tail. This always seems to be the way when you return from holidays, doesn't it? It's been a cycle of washing, ironing, cleaning, work (which is mental) and trying to squeeze in some knitting time too.

I made my Christmas puddings this weekend which was a bittersweet occasion. This has always been something my Mam and I did together and it was a day of great fun. This year she wasn't interested at all even going so far as to (gasp) suggest we buy one from a shop!(/gasp)

So, I took matters into my own hands and made them on Saturday. I was up until 2am steaming the first two, so I got this finished while I waited!

Pattern: Toasty Hot Water Bottle Cosy

Yarn: Donegal Tweed Aran

Needles: 5.5mm

This knit up in no time and Alice is thrilled with it. "It's so huggy Mom" she said last night taking it to bed. Aww. I used two colours as they were essentially scraps I had left over. This picture doesn't really show the cables very well, but it turned out nicely I think.

Yesterday while the last pudding steamed (7.5 hrs) in between making breakfast, dinner, tea and Alice's swimming lessons I got cracking on this:

It's going to be a communion cardigan for Alice, allegedly. My crochet instructor says so anyway.

I measured Alice up and am going to make this an almost bolero style cardi that just comes to under her "bust" as her dress has a high waistline.

It's bloody difficult! I'm using a 2.5mm hook and some cotton thread held together with some lurex "for sparkle" the instructor says. Gotta have some sparkle apparently. It's so slippy I keep dropping the thread and my tension is all over the place.

This was the progress made by lunchtime yesterday. By bedtime last night I had finished the 4" up to her armpits to split for the sleeves. It's really hard to see the pattern here, the cotton is so stiff it kinda needs to be spread out to show it properly. Alice doesn't like it, she thinks it's too hard to the touch. I reckon washing would sort that, but tbh, I'm not feeling the love.

I think I might see a sneaky knitted alternative hiding in the wings.

Another FO, my first ever crochet project!
Crochet Tea Cosy, no pattern.

Yarn: Misc Acrylic
Hook: 4.5mm

Sorry for the crappy photo, taken on my mobile in Mam & Dads kitchen.
This was my test piece in class where my instructor taught me how to crochet. She took it home when I had finished and joined the front and back and wadded it for me. I gave it to Mam & Dad as chez moi is strictly a tea bag in a mug type house and Dad loves it!

This is a crochet scarf that I have no pattern for and no idea what stitches to use. I'm just doing trebles at the moment, but must see if I can find a nicer stitch than that.

Absolutely no progress on the second garter rib sock for Dads Christmas present, I must get going on that soon.

Hourglass Sock 2:

Again, nothing much doing. I was determined to get the crochet cardigan and the hot water bottle done so everything else seemed to suffer a bit.

I'm almost glad to be back in work today (I said ALMOST) for the break! What an exhausting weekend.

Yipee

I am so hyper it's unbelievable. I am sitting at my desk, starting my last day at work before my holidays! whee! I don't think there's going to be a wink of sleep had tonight...
I have my knit picks basket filled and ready to checkout today when I get home to make sure it arrives when I'm there. I am a bit stuck on other yarns to get this year though. Without a specific project in mind, it's a bit hard to know quantities either, so I may have to wing it a bit when I hit the lys(s).

I've no pics today, but project progress:

Garter Rib Sock - one down one to go. I finished the first one last night
Crochet Tea Cosy - my class practice piece is done. The instructor is going to wad and line it for me.
I have cast on for the Hourglass Socks for the plane. Just a round or two done, enough to get past the fiddly first stage when needles are likely to fall off and roll under the seat in front and my nice and skinny daughter has to go scrambling to retrieve them.
I have begun a crochet scarf for the class now. I've no idea how it's going to turn out, I'm just going to try lots of different stitches out.

On a side note, the things we women do for vanity (and laziness in this case). I got my legs waxed last night so that I wouldn't have to shave on holidays. OWIE. I've had them done before and no biggie, but this time it was really sore. I have hairy toes. So, I'm sure do a few others (humour me that I'm not bigfoot). Getting them waxed is SORE. 'nuff said. Last night in bed they were still throbbing like a Looney Tunes cartoon hand after it gets hit with a hammer. But, I'll have shiny legs on holidays! yep. It's worth it.

I doubt I'll get any blogging in over there, but you never know. If not, sayonara!