Sunday 18th August

Hello friends, many, many apologies for my absence in the last few weeks. We have had a very trying time as we sadly lost our beautiful dog Skye fairly suddenly on May 25th. She was diagnosed with a tumour on her spleen which was successfully removed but sadly succumbed to a heart attack two days later. It was so unexpected that it took the wind right out of our sails and I found it impossible to write anything until now.
I have also begun a new chapter in my working life becoming a volunteer in the PDSA shop in nearby Musselburgh. This was prompted by the wonderful care that the PDSA vets have given to not only our pets but also us when they sadly passed over the rainbow bridge. I am truly finding great reward in doing my two stints a week, knowing that my effort goes to help pets in need.

Knitting has happened, however, and a number of projects have been completed. You can find my finished projects on my Ravelry project page.

The Sunday Sock this week is my own simple 4-row pattern, knitted top-down using magic-loop and incorporating the Fish Lips Kiss heel by Sox Therapist. This short-row heel gives great results with no wraps or gaps and once you grasp the idea is so easy.

I used Drops Fabel sock yarn in the colour 916 and I am very pleased with the resulting sock. I am sure you will see many more of this design in future.

Our dearly departed Skye and Gibbs

This beautiful painting of our much-loved dogs was done by disabled artist Darren Ainsworth, you can check out his work on his Facebook page, Art by Darren.

That's it for this week. I promise I will try to get back to regular posts.

Happy crafting

Mary


I will try to remember when I want to cast on "all the things" that I have only one pair of hands and therefore can only knit one thing at a time!

Sunday 19th May

Hello friends, I hope you have all had a good week. We have been blessed with some lovely weather here in East Lothian this week and on Tuesday morning hubby, the dog and I headed out for a wee stroll along the shore from Cockenzie to Port Seton. We started in a beautiful public garden where we found this stunning sundial

And this colourful mosaic art

Continuing along the shoreline we came to this beautiful wee beach

Then on to the harbour at Port Seton

Where we stopped for a coffee and to soak up the sunshine.

It was a lovely wee walk and one I am sure we will now do whenever the weather is kind.

FO's

I have two finishes for you this week.

Firstly, I finally finished the cowl for my Aunt.

Again this is the Downtown Chicago pattern I shared last week. Finishing this project means I have now knitted this 9 times. It is such a good pattern for so many different yarns and always gives a beautiful finished object. The only modifications I make are to do 12 rib rows on both sides and I use 3mm needles.

Secondly, I have finished my socks from the sock blank.

I loved knitting these fraternal socks as I just never knew how the blank would knit up. I did treat myself to a biscuit when I finished them. As you can see I have a fair bit of the blank leftover to go into my Happy Scrappy Blankie.

WIP's

I have 2 main wip's this week.

First, is this colourful granny square, which I shared the start of last week.

I did say then that I was going to do two and join them together but during the week I received a call from a receptionist at my Doctor's surgery asking if I could do some lap blankets for a local elderly day care centre. So, plan changed and this will become the first of those lap blankets.

Next, some more socks.

This pair will be for my lovely friend Marillyn who was complaining of very cold tootsies just before the beautiful sunny weather arrived. She chose the colour from the huge bag of yarn which I shared with you last week.

I have also been doing a few rows on my Still Light tunic but have no real progress to show you.

Incomings

The lovely Aoife from the Stash Knit Down group on Ravelry sent me this ball of Debbie Bliss Rialto 4ply to use for toes and cuffs when I start knitting socks for Operation Christmas Stocking 2019, along with the wee mini skein for me. 

Many thanks, Aoife.

Tour of Scottish Burghs

My two finishes this week bring us to two more Angus towns. Brechin and Forfar are both Royal Burghs. 

Off to the Frog Pond

I knitted this pair of socks in 2014 but have rarely worn them as they were just too big. I made the decision after wearing them during the week that I would rather frog them and re-knit the yarn to the right size, so when I finish this post I will be ripping them right out. I love the yarn and I am sure once the fit is right they will be a favourite pair.

In my Ears and On my Screen

This week I am listening to Jerusalem by Alan Moore, this is another huge book which I am really enjoying.

On TV we are still journeying around Italy with the Giro and last night we had a musical journey around Europe with the annual Eurovision Song Contest. Sadly the UK came last but well done to The Netherlands who scooped the win.

I think that's it for this week. Have a great week and happy crafting,

Mary

Sunday 12th May

Hello friends, firstly let me apologise for my absence for the last few weeks. I have little excuse other than I had nothing finished to share and I was feeling pretty low. Things are now looking up thanks to two doctors at my surgery. The first doctor has started a health walk once a month and on Tuesday morning I trotted along to join the group. The walk was a gentle stroll along the shore of Cockenzie and Port Seton, stopping periodically for him to talk about various aspects of mental health and new ideas for coping with some of the stresses of life. It was so interesting and I discovered hidden gems of sanctuary that I never knew existed practically on my doorstep.

Looking towards Edinburgh

Port Seton Harbour

The Secret Garden

A Love on the Rocks find in the Secret Garden

The second doctor helped me on Friday, I had a telephone consultation at 2.30 regarding my medication. I happened to mention to him that I had a very painful clicking thumb which had been bothering me for around six weeks. He was concerned about this so asked me to come along to the surgery at 4.30 for him to have a look. By 5pm I was out and had had a steroid injection at the base of my thumb for trigger finger. Our NHS takes a bashing in the press and media but this past week my local surgery has been simply outstanding for me. Tomorrow is my chance to give back a bit as I go to the community centre to give my pint of blood to help save lives.

Also this week I have been forward planning. Last year I knitted 4 pairs of socks for Operation Christmas Stocking. This is an initiative where a podiatrist and a knitter teamed up to offer a free foot treatment, pair of socks and a wee chocolate treat to the homeless in the Edinburgh area. It was such a success that it is happening again this year. Lizzie, the knitter, asked her friends to knit the socks and I think she collected about 60 pairs. I wanted to do more pairs this year so when I discovered that Wool Warehouse has a Drops sale for the month of May I blew my yarn budget and bought 18 balls of Fabel and Delight.

This will enable me to knit lots of cosy socks for the project. 

FO's

At last, I have some finishes to share with you.
This first one, a Downtown Chicago cowl, is from March and was part of my Mum's birthday package.

The second, the same pattern, was part of my step-daughters package.

Third, is a pair of perfect socks for me.

You may remember that a few months ago I discovered that my favourite fitting pair of socks was done with 52 stitches, well, I did this pair the same and they fit like a glove.

Finally, I made another crocheted baby blanket.

WIP's

I have three current WIP's which are moving along due to me changing the way I am working on my projects. I am now working 10 rounds of a sock, 1 round of a bigger knitting project and 1 round of a crochet project then repeating. It is working a treat for me as I am seeing progress and not getting stuck in a rut.

Firstly, I am turning this sock blank,

into another pair of socks for me.

Next is the cowl for my aunt, again this is the Downtown Chicago pattern.

Finally, I have another charity blanket on the hook.

I have an idea about this one that I will do two squares and join them together to make a single bed size. I will see how it goes.

Incoming

As you have seen already I had a big order of sock yarn from Wool Warehouse. Since I last wrote I have also had the May mystery Beatrix Potter box from Rosie's Moments.

Being a cat lover this Tom Kitten inspired box sang to me. Sadly I missed out on ordering the June Beatrix Potter box but I have ordered the accessories box instead. 

Scottish Burghs

Four finished projects mean four burghs for you to investigate if you choose. We are concluding our tour of Aberdeenshire with Rattray, Rosehearty and Turriff and beginning our tour round Angus with the beautiful coastal burgh of Arbroath.  

In my ears and on my screen

The book in my ears at present is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I am loving this huge tome, (62 hours) and am listening to it at every opportunity. The story is giving me a lot of pause for thought and the narrator, Scott Brick, is excellent.

On the TV hubby and I are having our yearly 3-week tour of Italy with the Giro. We love watching road cycling and as we cannot travel far anymore these races give us the chance to enjoy a holiday from home. 

I think that is all for now, until next Sunday, happy crafting

Mary

Sunday 21st April

Hello, friends welcome to The Sunday Sock. A very happy Easter to those who celebrate. What a lovely week it has been here in East Lothian with the weather heating up nicely and giving us some nice sunny days. I have been scooting along with a new purpose in my knitting and crochet. I have joined in with the Stash Knit Down Ravelry group's Race to the Bottom challenge in which you give yourself a goal to have gotten through a yarn amount of your choice in the next 18 months. The categories have different yarnie names and amounts ranging from Dryer Lint, (1000 yards) to Yarn Shop, (150.000 yards). I have signed up to attempt Cashmere, (30,000 yards). This amount will make but a small dent in my stash but it is something to aim for and I have set up a ticker in the side-bar to track my progress.
Also, new this week, Lucy of the Attic 24 blog released a new crochet blanket pattern and I was smitten. The Dune blanket uses 15 different colours and is made up of rows of shell stitches. I immediately forgot all the other wip's and trotted off to stash dive and find some suitable yarn. I came up with this palate for a blanket of my own.

FO's

I have finished 2 items this week. First up is this fun wee tea cosy which was a commission from a friend. This item takes us to Oldmeldrum on our trip around Scotland's burghs.

It was so difficult to photograph without a teapot but I'm sure you get the gist.

Secondly, taking us back to the coast of Aberdeenshire, and the fishing port of Peterhead, is this baby blanket for charity.

Both of these projects were quick and easy and satisfied the instant gratification that crafters sometimes crave. 

WIP's

As mentioned earlier I dug out some yarn for the Dune blanket and have completed 5 stripes.

I am just loving how this is crocheting up. There are 100 stripes, (2 rows per stripe), in the pattern and I think I am going to aim to do one per day.

Next, on the needles is the Downtown Chicago cowl, (paid pattern), for my aunt.

I do have other wip's out there but have no photos at present to share. 

Incoming

Nothing this week, much to the delight of my ever suffering DH.

Outings

I will be out and about with my Knitty friends for lunch at Joli, Longniddry on Friday 26th April at 12 noon. I am hoping the weather stays lovely and we can have lunch al fresco and get some nice photos of crafting in the wild for next week.

I think that's it for this week, other than to say if you don't want a huge spot appearing on your chin a la teenage angst, don't read The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole. Have a great week and happy crafting.

Mary

Sunday April 14th

Hello friends, welcome to The Sunday Sock. I hope you have all had a good week. My week has been mixed with a lovely day out to my old work with my friend Robert from Northern Ireland. It was fun to see things through the eyes of a visitor and great to see my old colleagues again. Then came the not so good when a migraine hit and I was floored for almost a full three days.  Knitting was the furthest thing from my mind and I just mostly slept. Also this week hubby and I decided to see what all the fuss is about Game of Thrones. We have never watched it so started at the beginning as luckily we have Sky box sets available to us. Three episodes in and I still don't see the attraction but hubby seems to like it.
Now for some yarn crafts.

FO's

Two things were finished this week. One I can show and one I will have to keep for later. The one I can share takes us to Huntly on our tour of Scottish burghs and is a wee crochet blanket for charity.

This simple granny square was fun and quick to make and I finished it with a round of crab stitch for a neat edging. I used a 4mm (G) hook and Stylecraft Special DK in White and Rico Baby So Soft Print in Candy. The whole blanket used just 1 ball of each yarn.

WIP's

Of these, I have a few. I have another charity blanket on my hook.

This is a granny c2c blanket which I am finding a lot easier and quicker than the usual c2c.

Last week I showed you the yarn I had chosen for the Downtown Chicago cowl and it is now wound and cast on.

Finally this week I have cast on a hat. 

This was because I needed something really simple to work on whilst watching TV. 

A really short round-up this week as I can feel my headache creeping up again. 

Have a good week everyone and hopefully next Sunday I will have a bit more to share.

Happy crafting

Mary

Sunday 7th April

Hello friends, welcome to The Sunday Sock. I do hope you have all had a great week. My week did not go according to plan. Yesterday I had been hoping to go to The St Abbs Wool Festival in Eyemouth but a conspiracy of bad weather, really bad headache and really, really poorly bank account made it an impossibility. Not to worry, I think I have just enough yarn to keep me going for a while.

As it is the first Sunday of the month I have an Around the World update for you.
In March I knitted 1316 rows and have moved along the A2 a little.

 I am now just a few rows short of 10,000 since I started this mammoth journey.

FO's

I have one FO this week. The Minecraft Socks are finished and have been gifted to their recipient.

I have it on good authority that they were well received.

Close up of the pattern.

This free pattern was knitted with RipplesCrafts BFL sock in the Smokey colour, toe-up on a 2.5mm circular needle using magic-loop and a Fleegle Heel.

This finished project, of course, takes us further on our journey round Scottish Burghs. This time to the Aberdeenshire fishing port of  Fraserburgh. This finish also takes me to 9 projects completed so far this year. it also adds £4.64, 1p per yard, to my yarn savings. 

I did have one other finish this week but being the numpty that I am I parcelled it up and posted it off completely forgetting to take a FO picture. I will ask the recipient to do a picture once it has been opened.

Wip's

I have two main wip's this week. One I can share and one I can't. The one I can share is my Good Vibes shawl.

I have finished the main section and am now into the stripes. This is a lovely pattern and not at all boring to work on.

Forward Planning

I have a wee list of things I have to do for gifts and such and now that I am nearly finished the WIP that I can't share yet I went stash diving for my next project. 

This gorgeous skein has been in my stash for many years and was part of The Orkney Collection of skeins dyed by Ripples Crafts. Helen did this collection after she and her hubby visited Orkney for the first time and she was inspired by the colours she saw there.  This particular colour is called St Magnus Cathedral Floor Tiles and is destined to become a Downtown Chicago cowl This will also be gift knitting but I will be able to share progress photos as the giftee, my aunt has no online presence. 

Incomings

Just one wee thing came into my possession this week.

Another gorgeous project bag from Sew Ray Me. As you will know I have quite a number of one skein project bags from Rachael but I needed something bigger for my shawl knitting so I ordered this beauty. It is plenty big enough for a three skein project and is deliciously well made. 

I think that is all for this week. Have a great week everyone

Happy crafting

Mary 

Sunday 31st March

Hello friends, welcome to The Sunday Sock. May I wish a very happy Mothers Day to all you mums out there whether it be to human kids or fur kids. Today also sees the start of British Summer Time here in the UK so I hope you remembered to put your clocks forward an hour last night.
It has been a much quieter week here than the previous week. It took me a few days to recover from the excitement of our visitor and EYF and for some weird reason, I had a huge panic attack on Monday after everything was over. This was a departure from the norm as I usually have these attacks before having to go somewhere, rather than after. Luckily I have some Diazepam on hand if I need it and it worked a treat in bringing me back to a semblance of normality quite quickly. I do hope, however, that this will not become a regular occurrence.
Another odd feeling this week is the realisation that I will not be returning to work. Usually with the beginning of April I would be gearing up for the new season and all it may entail. I will admit to feeling a bit lost as this is not happening this year but I am sure this will pass. If any of my former colleagues are reading this I wish you a great season with lots of laughs and good times.
Looking forward, I will be taking myself off to the St Abbs Wool Festival next Saturday at the Eyemouth community centre. This is a much smaller event than EYF and has been going for a number of years. Eyemouth is around an hour's drive from me and I am looking forward to seeing a few friends and maybe even making a small purchase or two.

And now for some knitting.

FO's

The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that last week I was wearing my finished Sorrento Shawl. 

This glorious pattern by Marsha Ibuki was an absolute joy to knit. The pattern is fully written out with no charts and is very easy to follow. The yarns I used were from left

Isager Strik Tweed in Turquoise, La Bien Aimee in Wee Rainbow on a Vespa and Mothy and the Squid in Industrial Accident. I used my Hiya Hiya 4mm 100cm needles which are great for knitting lace and are very slick as was needed for the Tweed as it has a mohair content and was sticking on my Zing needles.

Continuing our tour of Scottish burghs this project has now been named Ellon.

WIP's

Still on my needles are Minecraft socks and Aramis socks. These are progressing very slowly but I need to get a wiggle on for the Minecraft ones as they are needed for a birthday present this week. 

As it is the last Sunday of the month I will share my progress on my Happy Scrappy Blankie.

I am trying to do at least one row per day and Penelope Penguin will move up a fair bit today. 

New on the Needles

I have cast on two new projects this week. 

The first is the Good Vibes Shawl by Nadia Crétin-Léchenne

Picture from Ravelry

I had originally put together these three yarns to knit another Sorrento Shawl

But the yarn told me it wanted to be something else. I am using the Wollmeise Clemintine on the left and the EasyKnits Wickedlets in the middle.

I have gotten a bit further than this but as you can see it is knitting up beautifully.

My other project was cast on last night and sadly I cannot say a lot about it as it has to remain a secret for a wee while. This is all I can show you

The yarn is from my Rosie's Moments January sock mystery box and the colour is Twinkling Lights.

Incoming

Talking of Rosie's Moments, the April Beatrix Potter mystery box arrived on Friday. Once again it was packed with the most amazing themed goodies. The theme was Mr McGregor's Garden and boy can Rosie make a magical surprise package. I cannot adequately express how much I love these boxes.

Rosie has moved away from Etsy and has developed her own website, you can find it here https://www.rosiesmoments.co.uk/. She has three mystery boxes each month and other yarns and kits available.

Lastly but certainly not least I received a lovely surprise gift from my dear friend Candice.

This super wee book appeared in my letterbox totally out of the blue. I love it and have been dipping in and out daily. Each page has a passage to mull over and gosh do I see myself in many of the pages, it is a perfect gift for any knitter. Thank you Candice, it will give me many hours of wonderous revelations about myself.

That's it for this week, I hope you all have a great coming week.

Happy crafting

Mary