A tale of two buttons

Two weeks ago I finished knitting this cardigan and went to my local yarn store to buy buttons for it. I bought nice looking buttons, they are rectangle and a paler blue green than the yarn. I sewed on three buttons and tried on the cardigan.

My husband told me they made a great cardigan look frumpy.
Really!!
Lucky a few days later we went to the West End and visited Liberty's. I wore the cardigan with the three buttons and bought some more buttons. I choose pearly buttons with a pattern on it.
I think the husband was right, the new buttons look much better.
I wore the cardigan a few days before I changed the buttons. I am sure I made the right decision. The green buttons are going back to the yarn store.
I was hoping for some sunshine to take some photos. In the end had to settle a rainy day.
Husband took one photo before I had to rush off to drive him to the station.
I am very happy with the cardigan and have been wearing it a lot. Giving my February a little break!
The pattern by garnstudio was easy to follow, I did find the instructions on the sleeve cap a bit confusing. Glad my cap fit my armhole perfect.
I made a few small mistakes or altered the pattern, depends how I look at it. I only made six button holes and not seven. I made the rib section longer because I knit to much.
I used Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk. I don't know how it compares to the Drops Silke Alpaca. Both yarns have the same composition and almost the same length. On ravelry there are a few knitted in either yarn.
Another lot of stash has been used up. My next project is using brand new yarn. I am knitting a request and did not have appropriate yarn at home. I'll talk more about this project once I have something to show and not just a finished back.

Small knits

Or how to keep your child warm. Way back in November I was looking for yarn to knit Sylvi. I had ordered a skein of Malabrigo chunky and a skein of Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky.

I spend a lot of time on Ravelry trying to look for patterns that use one skein.
I found the Spring Pixie hat. It was a very easy knit. I used up all the yarn. The plats are a little short, I did not have much yarn left to do them.
Next up was a pair of mittens. We found the Bella mitts. Miss N loves anything with Twilight. I knit the mitts shorter. The pattern asks for two skeins, I found plenty knit in the Lamb's Pride Bulky yarn. It took me two evenings to knit the mittens. Sadly all the snow has gone now and we did not get anymore today. But winter is still long and cold.
I have been making some comfort food recently. Miss T loves to keep me company in the kitchen. She usually nibbles onions or other vegetables. Well now she has discovered Indian flat bread making. I made filled ones the other night. We like Aloo Paratha, potato filled flat breads.
Now I have a little helper when I take out the rolling pin. Lucky I have small one, Miss N is not very interested in helping anymore.
On these long winter evenings I have been busy knitting. My own cardigan is coming along nicely and I went to buy buttons today. Once we have a bright day I will finish the sewing and take photos.

Winter Warmer

We have been in London now for 10 years and it has never been so cold nor has snow stayed for this long.
A real winter, only problem is that London can't cope very well.
Our road has become a no go area for the refuse collectors. The postman still has found his way to our house.
I have been knitting a bit, having the almost finished fronts and back on my lap has helped keep me warm.
Last night I went to our monthly Stitch and Bitch and started the sleeve there. I was not going to carry the big body around with me.
We have played outside in the snow every day. Sadly our sledge is in Switzerland. Each year I wonder if we should get a plastic one to have here in London? Somehow I think if I do it will not snow again. I did use our snow shovel yesterday and made ourselves a little path to the pavement. It is good exercise.

Our cat Perry has been outside a bit. We can exactly where he went. Looks like he has been busy.
Miss N had to go to school again yesterday, it was the end of her three week Christmas Holiday. They started an hour later to give everybody a chance to get there. We may get more snow over the weekend and see what happens for Monday morning.

Happy New Year

We wish you all a very Happy New Year.
Hope 2010 will bring everybody happiness and good health.
We spend the last evening of 2009 with our family.



Here is my last FO for 2009, a pair of Fetching fingerless mittens, I made them for my next door neighbor. I think she will like them. I used left over Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran.
I started a new project just before Christmas.
It is a Drops pattern, Jacket with Rib.
I am using Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Aran. Johanne got it for me when she went to the Debbie Bliss stash charity sale. I have used the same yarn and colour to knit Lara. The Lara cardigan is one of my favourite cardigans and I have been wearing her a lot. It is starting to show.
Hopefully this new jacket will be a favourite to. If I had a different colour I may have knit myself another Lara. Sadly I was unable to find the yarn in the sales.
We did go to the shopping centre on Sunday and I got myself 20 balls of Debbie Bliss Prima yarn.
Has anybody knit something wonderful in this yarn?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from all of us here in London.



Hope everybody is having a great one and enjoying time with loved ones.