Monday Makes - (with terrible photos)

Firstly, appologies for the photos, I just can't capture the true colour, you will have to trust me that the colour of this yarn is much better than my awful photos show!

This was the Stylecraft recreat yarn I bought in April - The photo I shared previously, below, is a much better reprsentation of the colour

I've knittied the Salty Air Tee by Samantha Guerin before and I love wearing it.  This one is a bit heavier but will be perfect for cooler Summer days.

The pattern looks complicated but is really simple to knit, and with the use of stitch markers to keep track of the repeats it's easy to spot if you've made a mistake.

I knitted the sleeves just a tad longer than my last one and picked up six extra stitches under the arms to eliminate those gaps you get when picking up stitches.  I had a couple extra stitches in my sleeves to what the pattern says, just because I don't like clothes to fit too tight.

I'm really happy with the result and will probably knit it again in the future because It's such a nice top the wear.

-X- 

Whats been keeping me busy

 You may remember a while ago that I mentioned that I'd been offered an allotment plot.  I did end up declining that particular plot as it was very overgrown and would have taken a lot of work to get it up and running.

However, a few weeks ago I was talking to a lady down at the Roots allotment and she mentioned that she had taken on a council run allotment near to where I live.  Turns out that she didn't even go on a waiting list, someone she knows told her about one that was available.  I mentioned about the one I was offered and she said she would ask about plot next to hers as she was pretty sure It was free. 

I didn't think anything would come of it but a couple days later she messaged to say yes, the plot next to her was available and she had passed my name on to one of the committe members.

I went down on the off chance on the last Bank Holiday and luckily there was someone there to show me around.  I was shown and given the choice of three plots, two of which would have been a bit of a challenge but the one I had gone to see wasn't too bad.  It has a shed and some tools that the previous occupants had left, there is a makeshift pond, (a bath sunk into the ground, lol), a plum tree and two apple trees, (which hopefully produce edible fruit) along with some fruit bushes and various herbs.

So... dispite what I said before I now have an allotment.  I will continue with my Roots plot until late Autumn because I have things planted, but once everything has been harvested I will be giving it up. 

I signed the paperwork for it and paid my annual fee on June 1st and have been down there for a few hours most days to make a start.  I'll share progress photos as I go along, I know some of you may not be interested in reading about my allotment journey but this is what has my interest at the moment and I hope that at least some of you will like to follow and see what I'm doing.

Something else before I go.  

I have wanted to change the name of my blog for a while now and seeing as I'm starting a new adventure now seemed as good a time as any. 

You may have already noticed my new blog name in my header - 

Needles, Greens and Everyday Things

As I'm still going to be sharing my knitting and stitching, (when I have any), and life in general I thought this covered all things, lol. 

Ok, I think that's all the news I have for now, I'll be back soon and share some of the progress I've made on the allotment.

-X-

The weekend

I had planned on having a relaxing weekend but It didn't turn out that way.   Mark was at work yesterday and I thought I'd give myself the day off as I'd been busy all week, but then I went out into the garden, and we all know that is a sure fire way of time getting away with you.  

I ended up running the mower around to pick up all the debris from the wind, then I potted on all my tomatoes.  The shed has needed a tidy up for weeks so I did that aswell and the green house got a sweep and a tidy up too.  Later on I popped down the allotment to harvest a few things.

I saved a few roses from the garden, the wind has been blowing the petals everywhere.

This is my harvest from the allotment, I'm so chuffed with my cabbages this year.  I shared the cabbage and broad beans with my sister as Mark doesen't like either.

A few strawberries too, there are more to come, just not ripened yet.

Oh and I made myself a curry for tea and some banana and toffee muffins.  I'll definitly make those muffins again, they were very moreish.  I use a basic banana bread recipie that I have modified and made my own over the years, this time I used fudge peices instead of chocloate chips - so good.

Not the day off I was planning but it was productive.

Sunday Is my upstairs cleaning and bed change day and then Stevie came round with Freddie for a few hours.  He is growing so quickly.

Perhaps I can schedule a day off in the week, that would be nice.

Hope you are all well and have enjoyed your weekend.

-X-

So that's where it was hiding!

 I've mentioned a few times that I've not had the urge to stitch for a while, in fact I haven't picked up any stitching at all since last November when I went to the Kingfisher reteat in Someset. While I was away that November weekend I started North Pole by Kathy Barrick.

As you can see I got a fair bit of stitching done on that Somerset retreat but since then It's been sat in a bag.

This weekend I attended another two day stitching retreat, closer to home this time and of course North Pole came with me and as you can see I got the rest of the left hand motifs stitched and most of the right hand side, along with Santa's face and eyes, (I'll leave the rest of the facial stitching until the end incase the long stitches get pulled).

The retreat was held at a local to me hotel and I could easily have traveled it but Mark was going to a retirement 'do' at Newbury races and staying over so he treated me to an overnight stay at the retreat hotel.

I had a fabulous time, great company and food and lots of laughter, just what I needed and I found my stitching mojo :-)

I really enjoyed stitching again and I'm going to try and fit in at least one evening of stitching a week, you never know there may be a new Santa finish for Christmas, ha ha.

BTW, in case anyone is interested I'm stitching on 20 count cream evenweave using the DMC conversion.

-X-

An allotment update

 I've had my name down with a local Allotment Society since last year and they called me a couple weeks ago saying that there was one available and did I want to go and have a look.

It was actually a half plot, which would be enough for me, and this is what It looked like.

I'm on a couple allotment groups on fb so I know that compared to some this isn't too bad.  What you can't see from the photos is that the previous occupant had dug holes and piled up the dirt so the ground wasn't level.  It was mostly grass that would have to be cleared but the top end was really overgrown and again had been banked up, nothing grown just some tulip bulbs planted randomly around.

I seriously thought about it, weighing up the pros and cons for a week before I called back and refused it It would have been way cheaper than the Roots one I have now butthere were quite a few drawbacks.   It had no shed or storage, I would have to buy compost, manure, extra tools and some water storage, plus a shed, which is a big expense.  The Guy that showed me round said that he didn't blame me for not taking it on, (which made me realise I'd made the right decission), and that I could stay on the list and see if something more suitable came up in the future.   

 I've spent a lot of time on my Roots plot these last two weeks getting it ready for planting and thinking that I definitly made the right choice.  I think I've said before that with Roots all the tools, compost, manure and wood chips are there for you to use freely, plus seeds packs twice a year and regular plug plant parties and coffee meet ups.  They might be more expensive but you have to take into account what you get for that money as oposed to buying it all yourself.   Plus, everyone is so friendly and helpful, sharing plants and even offering to water If you are away or can't get to your plot.  I didn't get the feeling there was much community spirit at the Allotment Society one, I think you would be pretty much on you own.

Anyway, the decission has been made and I think It was the right one, for now.

This Is how my space looks at the moment.

Strawberries are growing well, but the rhubarb hasn't been too good this year though, I had to remove a flower head so perhaps that's why, I have noticed that a lot on other plots had flower heads this year too.

I'm very very happy with my cabbages.  I planted four and have already taken some of the outer leaves to eat.

I planted out my broad beans this week.  Only three plants survived the pigeons from the Autumn ones, so far the Spring ones haven't been touched.

I planned on having tomatoes in this section behind the seat but when I was clearing the weeds this week I discovered several raspberry plants, so I'll leave those and put tomatoes elsewhere.  There were also lots of poppy plants, presents from the birds or blown on the wind?   I've planted sweetpeas around the trellis since I took this photo.

I origionaly shared two plots with my daughter Joanne but she Is too busy with the children and other things at the moment so now I'm going it alone with just this one.

Mark has been down there with me today and made a bigger brassica cage for me and I've got many more things at home almost ready to go in, including some cauliflowers and more seeds to sow.

 The rest of May is going to be a busy time and hopefully there will be less bare soil next time I update.

-X-

What I've been making - April

 Thank you for all the lovely comments on the safe arrival of Freddie, he is absolutely gorgeous and has been really chilled in his first week, considering.  He was quite marked and had bruising from the forceps, he still has a little bit around one eye but it is fading a little bit every day.  I didn't realise they used forceps with a ceserean.  Steve was told it was a difficult birth with him being so low down in her pelvis, so no wonder she is so sore.

I managed to get one pair of socks finished during April.

These are knitted in Yarn Smiths sock yarn, it's lovely and soft to knit with but a bit on the splitty side, I think they came out lovely though.

Obviously there has been baby knitting going on for a few months too.  I've only knitted a few cardigans and one blanket as we will be going into the warmer weather, I will knit a few things for the Autumn/Winter in the coming months.

These two are from commecial patterns and seamed together

The white cardigan below is the Baby Aosta cardigan, (pattern on Ravelry) and is knit top down.  While I do like knitting top down I much prefer how a seamed cardigan looks and fits.   Having said that I have alomost finished another Baby Aosta cardigan in a bigger size and It does look better than in the smaller size.

My favourite make is this baby blanket.  When Stevie sent me the link to the pattern and asked me to make it I thought It would be too difficult, I'm ok at basic crochet but not fancy stitches.

But the pattern was so clearly written and there were no fancy stitches so I finished it in about a week.  Absolutely loved making it.  The pattern if anyone is interested is the One Stitch at a Time blanket by Kerry Jayne Designs.  The pattern also includes instructions for a large sofa throw in the same design too.

Yes all but one of the baby makes are cream, Stevie is the queen of cream, lol.  We knew early on that she was having a boy but she still wanted neutral colours, I must say that I prefer baby clothes to be white or neutral too, especially when they are tiny.

Can you beleive It's the end of April?  A third of the year gone already, goodness!  We are having some nice weather at last though, after what seemed like months and months of rain were seeing some lovely sunny days.  I mentioned before how I don't like the lighter nights but I'm trying to pace myself and not find things to do just because it's daylight. lol.

-X-

And then there were five

 I hinted at the begining of the year that there was something exciting happening this year and at last I can tell you that I am a Nanna again, grandchild number five is here!

If you are a regular visitor to my blog you will remeber that my youngest daughter, Stevie has been through IVF twice before, the one in 2025 ended in a bad experience for her.   

She decided to give it one more go at a different clinic and is now a very proud momma.

They have called him Freddie with Mark as his middle name, as well as Mark being hubby's name it was also Darren's dads name.

He was born on Friday 24th and weighed 8lb 12oz, so a chunky monkey, lol

Her labour was quite a journey.  They don't usually let IVF go full term and the fact that Stevie has Antiphospholipid Syndrome, (this was discovered through tests done before she started this round of IVF), meant that she was to be induced, but after two days she hadn't progressed and she ended up with a caesarean.  But he is here safe and sound and that's what matters.

Stevie is doing ok, obviously sore and it was a long few days with no sleep so she is very tired but Is back home now.  Darren has four weeks off work and I am on hand to help when they need it.

I'm so proud of her, she has been amazing, eight years of trying and three rounds of IVF and she is now the Momma she always dreamt of being. 💖

-X-