Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Well my good intentions for the weekend included going to the gym at least once for a run, cleaning the bathroom, washing the kitchen floor, getting the weekly shop done and doing the laundry.  I have managed the shopping and the laundry (just) but thanks to the kettlebells class I did on Friday morning I am practically crippled.  Literally can't bend down.  Even sitting is uncomfortable.

What's worse is I am not allowed to take ibuprofen.  It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDS which are know to increase lithium levels in the blood and so are therefore extremely bad for me.  Which is extra bad because goddamn it my back hurts!!  I knew the class would be tough and I knew I would ache afterwards but blimey, I did not expect this level of ouch! 

So all of this has meant a lazy weekend and an extra lazy Sunday afternoon spent catching up on season 6 of Criminal Minds (<3 Penelope Garcia) and progressing with Sophie, the rabbit I am knitting for Little H's birthday next month.  So far she is going well:

Quite good for only a couple of hours' work.  Head and body done and first leg halfway complete so far.  I'm knitting her in Sirdar Snuggly Kisses which is a nylon/acrylic mix and is much nicer than the plain Sirdar Snuggly I made Elijah in.  She's fluffy soft just like a bunny should be.

And now, back to my psychopaths and lunatics in Criminal Minds...not sure it's the most fitting accompaniment to knitting a fluffy bunny, but hey, this is me after all!

One Elephant

And he's all done...what a productive day :)

The only thing is I hate giving away things that I have made.  I'm a very selfish crafter.  I want to keep all my projects for myself and continue to enjoy them after all the hard work I've put in!  I'm sure he'll be appreciated in his new home though.

Mixed Bag

I don't really like Bank Holidays.  Don't get me wrong, I like time off work as much as the next person, but the Other Half doesn't get Bank Holidays off work so I often find I have a free day to myself and limited transport due to the buses only running a Sunday service. 

And so I find myself sitting here this morning wondering how I am going to spend my day.  I spent the weekend doing my usual weekend stuff - doing the food shopping for the week, catching up on laundry, getting more of my knitting done - so what does that leave me with for today?  I was thinking about hitting the gym but due to the Sunday bus service running today I'm not going to be able to get there until later.  Plus the weather is supposed to be turning nasty later and I really don't fancy getting soaked on the way to the gym!  Although looking at the weather at the moment you wouldn't think we were in for heavy rain today.

This is the view from my bedroom window...isn't it glorious out there!  Makes me want to go for a long walk but it is actually really cold so I am going to stay here in the toasty warm with my fluffy socks and my central heating!

I could spend the day finishing Elijah:

 As you can see he now has arms and I have just started on the first ear.  Looks painful doesn't it?  If you have ever knit with double-pointed needles you will understand just how incredibly fiddly they can be and when you add to that the fact that you are picking up stitches on an irregularly-shaped and already-stuffed piece, well you can guess how tangled my fingers get!!

Another option for the day is to catch up on some reading.  I have quite a few books part-read and unstarted that are sat on the window sill waiting for my attention:

Unfortunately for me I have trouble reading when my moods are high, as they are at the moment.  I have trouble concentrating on anything for more than 10 minutes and sitting still to read is only really possible when I am confined to the bus on the way to work!  Saying that, I have trouble reading when my moods are very low as well so who knows when I will get through that lot!!

Ah well, with so many options I'm sure I will manage to fill my day somehow! Happy Bank Holiday everyone!

Legs!

Elijah finally has legs:

As cute as he looks, I'm still not happy with the wool choice :(  I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK last time I made him and it looked and felt so much nicer.  But I will persevere - can't come all this way and not finish him!

Once Elijah is done, I think I will make Sophie Rabbit for Little H, my niece.  The ears are incredibly fiddly to do but I think she's my favourite of the three patterns.

Want!

Oh I am in love with these needles:

Aren't they fantastic?  Am saving up some pennies next month to get a set :)

First!

I thought I'd start with my current knitting projects.

This is Elijah by Ysolda Teague (oh, how I love Ysolda!) http://ysolda.com/patterns/toys/elijah/.  I made an Elijah for some lovely friends of mine when they had their little boy last year. As a result the Other Half told a work colleague of his who was expecting and she requested an Elijah too.  I'm not normally a fan of repeating patterns once I have made them but Ysolda's patterns are so delightful to work and the results always look so good!

So far I have his head and body made:

I'm making him in Sirdar Snuggly (Bluebell Mix) but I have to admit I'm not overly happy with the choice of wool - despite being quite soft when it's in the ball, once you start to knit with it you can feel the plastic-squeakiness of acrylic in there.  But, I suppose for a toy that will be thrown around and grabbed by sticky little fingers, it is ideal as it is washable and hard-wearing!

This is Prairie Polo by Lisa Richardson, the other project I have on the go at the moment:

 I am making this for my youngest niece, Little H, in a gorgeous deep pink:

The wool is Blue-Faced Leicester pure wool and is a dream to work with, if a little fluffy!  I'm not a huge fan of baby pastels so most of the things I have made for my nieces have been bright and bold.

I get so inspired when I look at pics of what I've done so far and things I've made in the past.  There just aren't enough hours in the day for all the knitting I want to do!