Christmas Pressies, Puppies & Sunny Springtime

I have been madly knitting up another 'Poppy' doll as a Christmas present for my niece - a pattern I love by Ysolda Teague. I kept on putting this off as I had made so many of these dolls earlier this year, and now I only have 4 days to get my big parcel with all of the Christmas and birthday gifts from New Zealand to England as my parents' birthdays late this week!! Oops - hope Dad doesn't mind!! Just finished her...

I ran out of yarn on her dress so made her a small pair of shorts for modesty!!

I have one last one of these dolls to do for a friend's daughter fro her Christmas gift and then I'm putting the pattern away for a LOOOONG time. Have certainly OD'd on this pattern!!

We had a Bank Holiday weekend this weekend for Labour Day, have had a lovely, sunny spring weekend - the whole family took Oscar pup for a walk on the beach, which was so nice.

He's started behaviour lessons & was one of the best behaved pups there - shame it didn't last after the class!!

Scarf City...

Its scarf city here!! I'm knitting up scarves as Christmas pressies as I've got no imagination or time this year to do more complicated projects - I have finished Dad's skinny scarf - just a plain rib made with Vintage Purls Sock Yarn - so soft & cosy - bit difficult to send this one off!!

Also managed to fit a quick scarf in for myself - cost all of $2 to make!! My daughter is now badgering me for a 'sparkly scarf' like Mummy's but I still have one for my niece and a doll to make so she might be in for a little wait!

I've also started knitting up squares of Vintage Purls yarns - this is going to be a LONG project - my plan is to make a beautiful bedspread for my daughter's bed - cosy but thin blanket - so with the varigated yarn I am doing plain stockinette stitch and the more solid colours I am planning on lovely lace squares all in pastel shades. My plan is to do a square after each project I complete. I've got myself off to a good start with 7 squares done this week before I do the last Christmas gift projects and then can get onto some serious Summer knits/crocheting.

Poor puppy had his operation last week to be microchipped, neutered & repair a rather large hernia on his belly - he was up every 2 hours the night of his operation with a very upset tummy - poor little thing! I felt so sorry for him - he's had lots of extra cuddles and love but I am REALLY looking forward to giving him a bath when he has his stitches out next week as he really stinks!!!!

I've been knitting up some Christmas presents - scarves - pink one for Nana Jean, grey one for my mother. I chose some really lovely Soya yarn with metallic thread through it which could take a really open knit with a simple garter stitch - have so far done 2 different colours and am making myself a lovely marine coloured scarf in the same yarn.

Am also knitting up a ribbed scarf for my Dad in lovely Vintage Purls Sock Yarn. Will be hard to part with as its so so so soft!

Spring Fever!

Naughty, naughty - not been posting as I'm too busy outdoors having fun!!

Lots of walks on the beach

with puppy who is growing up quickly!

We also had a visit from my sister-in-law, another trip to the beach to fly kites

and yet more trips to the beach to collect shells with my daughter...

So not a lot of knitting going on here!! Am still working on the drop-stitch scarf which has grown a lot...

and the alphabet blanket Debbie Bliss pattern, which I am hating as I am not concentrating fully on it & keep having to rip it back! Only 3 fifths to go!!

Back to the knitting...

Now pup is settled I've managed to get back to the knitting. I finished the Ariosa Wrap Cardi last night - I love the finished result and got lots of comments when I wore it today.

So perfect for Springtime here...

I've also been knitting a bit of the drop-stitch scarf in the most gorgeous varigated yarn from The Knittery. Looks quite complicated but is actually a very straight-forward and easy pattern.

Pet Madhouse!!

The house has turned into mayhem with the new pup - I am up at 5.30am with him! The 3 cats are none too pleased to be sharing their relaxing space with him!!

He's very persistent though!!

and very lovely when his batteries run out & he flops down asleep for a few hours! I'm trying to work out who tired who out in this photo!! Either way I got a nice hour's knitting in on my wrap cardi - almost finished should be done in the next 2 days providing pup helps out by sleeping a bit in the evenings!

Ariosa Wrap Cardi

I've started an easy lace pattern cardi since I can't concentrate too well with the puppy chewing at my knitting needles whilst I'm trying to knit and have put my mermaid socks aside for a while.