Lovely things

Tonight, when we are surrounded by all the hyped up imagery of Halloween, it is good to remember that it is really All Hallows Eve and think about those who are no longer with us. On the way home from Manchester this afternoon I saw a tree with leaves making a very similar pattern to the lacy shawl that my Grandmother made for me as baby. Somehow it felt like she was trying to tell me to get on with knitting my re-creation of it...

Other knitting news is that I have been encouraged by lots of people at K1S2 and the new Purl City Sunday knitting group to write up and publish my purple shrug pattern. I have to tell you, dear reader, that I have grasped the nettle and made a start. With a completely different pattern, admittedly, but I am looking on that as a pilot project (or more appropriately a swatch!). So far I have had to re-learn to use Word (ew), find a chart maker (yay), find a pdf creator (yay) and join them all together seamlessly. Success. Any test knitters for a small bookmark project please apply here.

Here is a detail of my recently finished Monkeys. It amused me to be knitting a Cookie A pattern as a 'quick no pattern needed' job.

Completed!

My 10 days are over...and there is noticeably less clutter. Think I will now set aside one time each week to attack a pile/shelf etc.

In other news the daytime knitting group started successfully and the military logistics necessary to make it happen went smoothly for once. My face must have been a picture when at the end of it all there was a huge parking space right outside music club! It was also a useful chance to check out a potential new car seat for T as getting him into the current one is a bit hit and miss...I think there will come a time soon when I won't be able to do up the fastener and we will be stuck somewhere. He has his clinic appointment today, let's hope they finally discharge him.

Days 6 and 7

Lost count a bit! Think I probably averaged 10 but who knows... between the paperwork tray (too scary for a full foray), the bookshelves and some old glasses. Funny moment when taking old books to Oxfam, the volunteer writes biology textbooks for a day job and knows them well! After 20yrs they aren't actually that out of date, but we certainly don't need them any more. Also gave in my collection of pregnancy books. No need for those eh! Tried to make space on the knitting shelves but the only candidate will actually be useful at Oasis knitting group so that will have to wait until Wednesday.

Days four and five

Not going well... banked some items (is that allowed? Yes, my challenge, my rules!) from day 3 by doing loads of freezer stuff so that will have to count for most of it. Today's was hair stuff, old nail varnish, bits and bobs from my little drawers. Now they all open and close! Result.

Happy Birthday K1S2!

So last night saw the first anniversary party of the Knit1Sip2 group... garments were displayed, cake eaten and beer drunk (and that was just on my table!). One knitter managed her first Judy's Magic Cast on, and another cracked Cat Bordhi's Moebius knitting. In between, we presented the pub with some new mugs, because we like going there and because we like drinking tea (the old ones have been broken). We had two e-models, one former member and one recipient of knitted items. Another party is planned as a Christmas celebration. Watch this space for details.

More pics available at My Photostream

Yesterday was also day 3 of the declutter. A rather lame offering from the bottom drawer of the freezer. Baby food, prune juice (ew!) and surplus-to-requirements milk (now sadly out of date).

day 3

This is getting harder... returned loaned tin, packaging, grown out of hat, two nappy boxes, re-gift for school fair, red project, dead plants x 3 :(

Day 2

Cake tin, packaging, magazines, notice board, knitting bags, summer hats, sun creams, old nursery paperwork, soup, yarn.

Day 1 of the 10/10 challenge

And today's delights were:

Reading material, old buff puffs and a very old horrid shower gel from the bathroom, a beaker from the kitchen, a bag of charity clothes from my wardrobe, a worn out swimsuit (yes really!), three books refiled, spare kids presents out away, and some yarn 'restashed' (hidden for another day). Roll on tomorrow.