Yopping Update #46 - Socks, hats, beards and a gansey too

 

The early part of my week was all about finishing the socks for dh's birthday. (Shh.  It is tomorrow). 

Syncopation Socks with FishLipsKiss heel

By the time the socks were done I was already two clues behind on my Gnathan gnome KAL 

I finished clue one and two which turns out to be a cute cabled hat. 

 And the very next day - yesterday - clue three was released.  Thankfully it was a simple, non-cabled, beard.

After the beard was finished I was all set to start the sketching and plotting for my gansey body, but I ended up napping all afternoon instead.  Not sure what was going on there, but I feel much better today. 

I have finished my gansey up to the definition ridge, so later tonight I will start the pattern.  I have most of the pieces cut out and need to plot them on the large chart paper so I won't get totally mixed up. There will be stitch markers.  Lots of stitch markers!

I used an eighth century alphabent script to add my initials to the plain section of my gansey. I have placed them to be on the lower right back.  

secret initial alphabet m a b t

On Wednesday we received three parcels in the mail.  A Mother's Day/Dad's birthday parcel from our son, some printer ink and paper from an online order, and a gift of Knit Picks Palette wool from a dear friend.  She doesn't like to knit with it, and asked if I wanted it. I said I did so voila - look what I got!

I think I am going to turn some of this into my advent sock leg and find a nylon/wool blend for the toe/heel and sole.  I have some red and pink to add to the mix.

Today I have already taken apart the freezer because the drain had iced up, and it was running 24/7 - all good now, but that is a l o n g job.  I learned how to take it apart and put it back together thanks to Ms. Google. 

Now we are spending the afternoon cleaning and repairing my hubby's bbq.  Our son bought him a new grill and gas ring, and while he is re-assembling it, I am putting major elbow grease into cleaning the lid. 

I had coated it in oven cleaner so I could finish this post while the Easy-Off does its magic and now the lid is calling.....and the afternoon is almost gone, so I will leave you with the cutest grand-daughter in the world.  

Sporting Mama's glasses!

Yopping Update #45 - Gansey progress

 

This week was pretty much all about The Gansey.  

I finished the swatch, and washed and blocked it. 

I went on to follow the instructions and made a sampler gansey, which fit my son's doll perfectly. 

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours taking my measurements, and the measurements off of a sweater that I have that fits me the way I want my Gansey to fit.  

happy to have these calculations all done

I also chose a pattern to follow, Eriskay, but I will tweak the placement of the motifs (I want the Tree of Life in the centre), and will incorporate two different fish motifs where the pattern has crosses. 

motif for body

motif for sleeve

In addition to my Gansey I have been working on a pair of birthday socks for my dh.  I am using the Syncopation pattern but did a FishlipsKiss heel instead of a gusset. I also cast on 80 stitches instead of 72.  He really does have hobbit feet (not hairy, but wide and flat).

one more to go and I have another week

I have been walking quite a bit this week, and the blossoms continue to be gorgeous:

Bleeding Hearts - my daughter's favourite

I also love finding these little gems along my path:

Peek-a-boo

And of course all the creeks nearby cheer my heart:

As does this little one:

Wish I was there to sing her Swing me Higher, Obidiah

Happy Mother's Day to all who mother in whatever form wherever you are.  I have been thinking about my mother often on my walks as I pass the wild roses that I once brought home to her hoping they could be transplanted.  I thought of her too this week as I made myself some 'squashed egg' sandwiches for lunch.  She made the best 'squashed egg' sandwiches!