To Knit or Not to Knit, That is the Question...

It's not whether to knit or not - that is never a question.  The question is, WHAT to knit.  I am doing my best Hamlet impression and dithering around.

I have my lovely Rowan Worsted Yarn, (makes me smile just thinking of the bargain I got!) and now I'm ready to knit with it.

Such a gorgeous colour - it's called crimson.  I have had on my wish list for quite some time, a cute little cropped cardigan called Miette.  A free pattern.  Here's the pattern photograph.

The pattern is by Andi Satterlund, and it's very popular on Ravelry.  There's some really lovely interpretations of this pattern, which have all inspired me.

So, now in possession of the appropriate yarn, I'm already to cast on.

This is a top-down, knitted in one piece cardigan.  And that's where the problem lies.  I am extremely sceptical that I will like the fit of the finished cardigan.

I have tried only one top-down pattern before and I gave up at the armholes because I didn't like the shoulder shaping.

I'm an old-fashioned girl, brought up on bottom-up knitting, all done in pieces and seamed together at the end.  Whilst I am more than happy to embrace new ideas and give them a try, the internet has made available so many tutorials, I find that the fashion for one piece knitting and no seaming compromises on shape.  What's wrong with a bit of seaming anyway?

I prefer my sleeves set in at the shoulder, shaped to my armhole.  I prefer the shoulders of my cardigan to actually sit on my own shoulders rather than form a funnel shape as some of the yoked cardigans do.

So I've cast on for Miette, but I'm not convinced.

That shoulder looks very narrow!

As I started knitting, I made a back-up plan for what to knit if (and more probably, when) I rip out the Miette.  This Kim Hargreaves cardigan, called Searing, is a possibility.

As is this cropped cardigan, called Cropped Cardigan!

Neither of them get me excited in the way that Miette did.  And Miette is such a nice sounding name for  a cardigan, don't you think?  I won't know until I try it whether top-down will be my new favourite way to knit (I can't see it myself).

Then, on my walk this morning (I do my best thinking early in the morning pounding the pavement listening to the sound of the dawn chorus), I had an idea.  What if I knit Miette bottom-up with set-in sleeves?  I could reconfigure the pattern, keeping the essence of the original cardigan but making sure that I'm happy with the fit.

I like the eyelet detail around the neckline.

So I'm not going to rip out what I've done so far of Miette, I'll put it to one side, I may continue for a bit more, say up to the armholes (or should I say "down" to the armholes!), just to see how the shoulders sit, but then I'll think about whether Miette is "To be or not to be".

In the meantime, I think I need a lie down, all this dithering has fair worn me out.

Baby It's Cold Outside

But inside it's lovely and snug.  I must say one thing about this cold, wet and windy weather, it does mean a lot of time indoors being crafty.

Look how much progress I've made with my squares!

I've re-measured the cushion and recalculated the number of squares needed.  Rather than 9 x 9, I think I only need to do a 7 x 7 square.  49 squares, much more manageable than the 81 I originally thought I have to make.

I love all the colour combinations, but this one in particular is my favourite.

It reminds me of spring-time blossom.  It's so pretty.

Yesterday morning, the winds seemed to have abated although the temperature has dropped considerably.  I took the opportunity to stroll along the beach.  I was fortunate enough to be out at the one time during the day that the sun was shining and there were some glorious views.  Amazingly I had remembered to put my camera in my pocket.

So close, you could almost reach out and touch it!

Looking towards Liverpool - can you spot the Liver Building?

Snow on the Welsh mountains

After my walk the rains returned - so back in the house, snuggle up and crochet away!

Imagining

Relaxing Autumn days.

A walk along the promenade watching the waves crashing in at high tide.

Watching the Isle of Man ferry about to enter the port of Liverpool and imagining a boat trip to somewhere warm and exotic.

Where shall we go?

Just a Perfect Day

The seasons are changing, the lovely summer weather we have enjoyed this year will soon be over.  Here in the north west of England we have been lucky enough to have missed the bad weather that other parts of the country have been having lately.  The weather is set fair for the next week or two.  Better make the most of it.

Yesterday, I woke to a beautiful sunny morning with not a breath of wind - perfect for an early walk on the beach.

The early morning sun cast long shadows across the sands.

We have lovely golden sand (with some muddy bits) on our beach.  It's all very flat and gentle.

There's nothing more relaxing and calming than walking along the shore, looking for interesting shells, as the waves gently lap around your feet.

There were a number of other walkers on the beach, and of course the Antony Gormley statues.

Is that Santa's coat he's wearing?

There's always plenty of shipping activity.

I saw this enormous jellyfish on the beach.

I placed some shells next to it (on the left), so that you can judge the size of it.

What an impressive specimen!

I enjoyed my walk, it was a great way to start the day - and I'm so glad I remembered to take my camera with me.

By the Seaside

The last day of the year and not too windy, so I decided to take my morning walk beside the sea.

The tide was high and it was dull and wet... but still magical in its bleakness.

Can you spot an Iron Man?

Here he is.  All the others are submerged.

The lights of the docks (a bit of a shaky picture).

No one else about. 

Too cold for a paddle.

The high water mark left by the recent storms.

By the seaside ... I'm so lucky to be able to walk here.

I'm looking forward to many more walks during 2014.

Through New Eyes

I can't believe we're well into May and I'm still wearing my winter coat, scarf, hat and gloves on my morning walk!  This morning I also had to take an umbrella.

My walk takes about 20 minutes and it's at a very brisk pace. It's my thinking time - my getting organised and planning time.  Although sometimes I stray down to the beach (it has to be warm - and no wind- before I spend too much time by the sea), I usually just walk the streets of our neighbourhood.

One of my favourite quotes is from Marcel Proust:

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."

Parked cars aren't very exciting.  

The local park is for keyholders only - and I don't have a key.

But using my 'new eyes' if I imagine the railings away - it becomes a whole new world.

I could be in the countryside rather than the suburbs of Liverpool.  No one else is around - apart from the boy delivering newspapers and the occasional dog walker.  I even make new friends...

So peaceful and relaxing - I just wish it would warm up a bit!