Thursday 9 June 2016

I'm Ready, Are You?

It's been an interesting few days.  My husband and I had a lovely two nights away in Oswestry, but since we got back, I have not been well for a day or two - achy and shivery and no energy.  It sounds like a bug to me but my husband reckons it could be an allergic reaction to the countryside!  Today I'm starting feeling more normal again - the bounce is slowly coming back.

Oswestry was a fairly last minute decision.  And it worked out so well.  The weather was gorgeously hot and sunny.  We had picnics in the park, a walk around Oswestry, we visited Chirk Castle, lots of pubs and ate far too much.  On the way home we stopped off in Rhuddlan and visited the castle - you can't beat a Welsh castle.


Chirk Castle

Embroidery Exhibition at Chirk Castle

The Fox Inn, Oswestry

Rhuddlan Castle

Today, I am taking it easy, watching the cricket (third test match against Sri Lanka), watching some cycling (Criterium de Dauphine) and catching up with my knitting.  You know you're ill when you don't even feel like knitting!

I've been knitting an aran cardigan (in this heat!) to use up some yarn that Grace had leftover from a hat she made.  I started it on the 1st June and by the end of the 2nd I had completed the back and two fronts.  I was fairly optimistic that I would get it finished within five days, but sadly I had to eat and sleep, so not quite possible.  I didn't take it to Oswestry with me, so I have only just picked it back up today.  I just have the sleeve head on the last sleeve to do - not sure I have any suitable buttons, but apart from that it will be finished this afternoon.


For my car journey to Oswestry knitting, I frogged a shawl I made a while ago and started knitting up a scarf with the yarn.  The yarn is Sirdar Crofter in lovely pinks, purples, cream and grey, so in theory some of my favourite colours.  Sadly every time I knit it up, I'm never happy with the finished article.  Prior to being a shawl, this yarn was a sweater - it has been multi- frogged.  This is its last chance to please me.

Scarf is knit on the bias


In our house, we are all ready and waiting for the football tomorrow.  The European Championships kick off tomorrow evening and then after that there'll be at least two matches a day for a considerable time.  There will of course be lots of other sport that we will need to fit in, the US Open golf championship is on next week, there's a Formula 1 Grand Prix race this weekend and the Tour de France cycling race starts at the beginning of July - whew, that's a lot of knitting time!

For the duration of the Euorpean Championship, I have decided to knit socks - I'm hoping for a minimum of five pairs.  I have three unused quantities of sock yarn, plus I would like to use some older leftovers.  Each pair will involve a technique that I haven't tried yet - can't wait to cast on and get started.

I'm not going to just knit socks though.  I would also like to start a new cardigan - Fair Isle - yes please.  Look at those pretty colours.


So that's the plan for the next month or so.  Will you be watching the football?  Who will you be supporting?  I will be cheering on Wales (Land of my fathers!).

18 comments:

  1. I shall try my hardest not to watch any sport and spend the next few weeks rocking in the corner. Joking aside I hope you are recovering from your bug. I need to finish my hitchhiker scarf before starting more for Christmas presents, I've also got three cardigans in various states of WIP. I love visiting Chirk Castle and will have to plan another visit to see the embroidery display. xx

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    1. I think it'll probably be very difficult to avoid the football over the next month. Thankfully the bug was short lived and I'm feeling so much better now.

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  2. What a lovely trip. Crofter looks nice on that shawl. Hope you are well now x

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    1. Thank you, I'm feeling so much better now, it's good to feel like me again.

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  3. Hi Janet glad you are feeling alot better, and glad your spontaneous break was lovely x

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  4. Sounds like a wonderful break away, apart from the bug of course. I am not a sports fan but my husband is so I am hoping to get on top of a few more things for the Grandchildrens stockings.

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    1. Sounds like you could get up to some mischief while your husband is distracted!

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  5. Bless your heart Janet, hope you are feeling better. Love your photo with that cute sweater on. I am knitting and crocheting several different things right now, but when the Olympics start I will be only working on one sweater trying to get it finished.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Thank you Meredith. I do enjoy linking my knitting with a sports event, it makes it so much more fun.

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    2. Thank you Meredith. I do enjoy linking my knitting with a sports event, it makes it so much more fun.

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  6. Your break sounds really fun. I like the look of the embroidery. The socks sound ambitious, but I am sure you will do it. I really like Sirdar Crofter, as it is the wool I used for a lot of my shells.

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    1. Thank you Ginny. The Sirdar Crofter is lovely yarn, I think it's just me out of sorts with it. I'm sure this scarf will work and I'll fall in love with it!

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    2. Thank you Ginny. The Sirdar Crofter is lovely yarn, I think it's just me out of sorts with it. I'm sure this scarf will work and I'll fall in love with it!

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  7. Glad you had a lovely time away. Hope you are feeling alright again now. The embroideries are beautiful aren't they!

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    1. Thank you Amy, back to my bouncing best now. The embroidering are lovely and so inspiring.

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  8. I hope you are feeling better now Janet, your photo's are lovely I love the embroidery, I'm sure that you will have that sweater finished by now no one can be as slow as me haha, the scarf is very pretty, that's a lovely stash of yarn you have there have fun using it. :) xx

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    1. Thank you Linda. I'm enjoying all my stash busting, I'm finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel!

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