The Best Postman In The World

Sometimes you can really relate to the saying: "it's the little things that count".

I walk or drive my children to school every morning of the week (depending on the weather, and sometimes the mood). The timing seems to coincide with the time the postman delivers my mail, which is OK for bills, but if I get a parcel that doesn't fit through the letterbox, I have to wait until 4.00pm before I can get my package from my local post office.

While this is not a huge inconvenience, you must be aware of how much knitters love their wool; I can't even start describing the trauma we go through when we have to part with our yarn (can you believe that some flights don't allow knitting needles or crochet hooks on planes? What's a knitter supposed to do when traveling, it's bad enough leaving lots of wool at home - On the other hand, think about what treasuries can be discovered in the yarn shops of faraway countries). But I am straying: let's go back to my postman:

I had been waiting for a yarn delivery and expected it to be delivered on Monday but I had to walk my children to school. I spotted the post van on my way home and when I got home I took off my shoes and jacket and I had just started doing my morning housework when I heard the doorbell: I was my postman who said he had turned around when he saw me walking towards home and guess what he had for me?

 6 balls of Wendy Serenity Super Chunky in Celery shade: of course there are only 5 on this photo as the last one has already been turned into this (you'll have to excuse the picture quality, as I haven't had a proper photo session since last weekend:

 I love my Postman!

My New Snood (Just for me!)

Just a quick post to share the snood I just finished.

This one is just for me and made in King Cole Riot Chunky yarn. It is very soft and contains 30% wool AND is machine washable (will still go on the wool cycle if I put it in my machine, though).

I am waiting for a delivery so I can make a matching hat and mittens (all for me too). My excuse for being selfish is: if I don't show off my work, who will (other than my 2 daughters who are waiting for the first chance of stealing it;)?

Girlie Hand Knitted Bag

I knitted this bag out of some lilac and white cotton "Colorado" knitting yarn.

I used the I-cord technique to make the string used to tighten and close the bag, and also for the over-the shoulder strap.

I Think My Top Is Finally Finished

This has taken me about 4 weeks to do, which is why I'm not too keen on knitting any more adult size clothes; I'd rather knit some accessories or baby clothes (I'll have to borrow a nipper from one of my neighbours to make sure I have the correct sizes, which is not very practical).

The yarn I have used is Ice Yarn lycra/cotton which feels a bit strange to knit, slightly elastic, which must be coming from the lycra content, and I find it easier to use bamboo knitting needles for this, as it tends to get stuck on metal needles. This yarn slides more easily on bamboo needles.

I am not sure what to do about the neck; should I add something to make it look a bit less like an unfinished item? I was thinking of crocheting a border because I don't have the energy to knit and sew a collar.

The sewing bit is what is stopping me and another issue is that I have no crochet experience, but as always when I want to learn something new, there's always YouTube!

So, what do you think? Should I add some kind of border to the neck or not?

I am aware that the way I'm standing in this picture is making me look like a granny (no offense to grannies); I really need to start doing something about my posture!

Some of my knitting stash...

Buying new knitting yarn is great, knitting it is even better, it's looking for patterns that are suitable with the yarn I own that is causing me a little trouble.

So far I have knitted an over sized black cardigan for myself, sweaters and ponchos for the kids as well as slippers, a blanket for a pet tiger (a toy one, I'm not into bringing wild animals into my home, I won't even let cats or dogs in), trousers and a dress for a Barbie doll, slippers and even a duster cover (I have attached it to an old duster handle, at least this one won't be shedding synthetic feathers all over the house).

I will post pictures of what I have knitted so far with these yarns, and I am still looking for ideas on how to use what's left.