Tea & Possibilities Episode 61: Return To Form

INTRODUCTION

You can find me on Instagram and Ravelry. We also have a Ravelry group where the Episode 61 Chatter Thread is live!

Today’s tea is Earl Grey - I got in quite late (or early, depending on your viewpoint!) so I need the caffeine! But I'm so happy with my new mug! It's my Rex Factor Privy Councillor mug which I got as I'm now a patron of the podcast.

We have a tea recommendation thread on the Ravelry group, if you're looking for something new to try.

WIP'D UP

Very little knitting to be had this episode... July has been quite busy with trips to Vienna and Lake Como (see Instagram for pics! #NikkisVienneseWhirl and #ComoToItalyNikki) and birthday parties.

I was considering not podcasting today as my FO/HO streak has come to an abrupt end and I've not got lots to share. But we all have ups and downs in our productivity, so let's be real here!

WIPs:

Christmas Socks #2 (First Time Toe Up Socks!)
Pattern: How To Knit A Toe Up Sock series by haalu
Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners Holly Berry (Christmas 2017 colourway - I think!) and Cayenne Pepper

Using my Jiggles & Beans gingerbread stitch marker because Christmas! And yes, I'm shamelessly copying Amy of Stranded and making my own advent box of socks!

This was my first attempt at toe up socks - before I ever managed a cuff down, what was I thinking?!

Thank you to Mevy Van Rooij (I hope I got the pronunciation right??) for the haalu recommendation. They have a lot of great tutorials and I'm following the How To Knit A Toe Up Sock series.

Find the #SOSKAL2019 Chatter Thread in the Tea & Possibilities group (prizes pulled from this Chatter Thread!)

Bittersweet
Pattern: Bittersweet by Veera Valimaki

Yarn: The Yarn Collective Bloomsbury DK in Moss

Inspired by Rachel of the Crafty Historian podcast who recently knit this jumper. I'll be copying her mod and doing stockingette sleeves instead of moss stitch sleeves.

Coming Up:

I made some fruity baby hats last year - a Pumpkin and an Apple - and they were so much fun and so quick to knit, I've decided to knit a couple more.

I'll be making another Pumpkin as my boss is having another baby in the autumn and as my friend is due any day - a summer baby needs a Pineapple hat.

Summer of Socks KAL 2019:

I've wound Circus Tent and Ice Skating Party by Stranded Dyeworks and Binti by Third Vault Yarns - so they are ready to be cast on as patterned socks as soon as I have brain space! I'm looking forward to it!

But now let's talk prizes!

For those of you who don't know, I used to work at Love Crafts (previously known as Love Knitting / Love Crochet). I contacted them to see if they'd support the KAL and they sent me some Paintbox Socks skeins - Love Note, Tulip and Rainbow Stripes.

From Yarn Tattoo - project bag, laser cut stitch markers, wooden buttons and measuring tape bracelet (very jealous of that last one!)

Cat In The Bag Crafts has donated a large cat project bag. Because I'm a doughnut, I called them Cat In The Bag Creations in the episode - my bad!

Butternut Handmade has donated a project bag in my current favourite colour - mustard!!

Sharon, of Sharon's Crafty Creations on YouTube, has donated a project bag made out of recycled fabrics!

A lovely viewer, who asked not to be named, has donated Northeasterley by Skeinanigans. There are also pattern prizes from Vikki Bird Designs, Yarnia Designs and Knit10instone

There are also coupon codes that you can use until the end of August - you'll find them in the first post on the SOSKAL Chatter Thread!

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who donated a prize and shared coupon codes - it's incredibly generous of you and really very much appreciated!

Ha, I guess I did find plenty to talk about! Hopefully more actual knitting next time tho - I'll see you then for another cuppa!