Zooming!

It’s been a zooming kind of week here in Winwick.  The month is zooming by – it’s going to be February in a few days and already the mornings are getting lighter and the days slightly longer. Even the days of the week are zooming – how can it be Thursday already?! – and we’re heading speedily towards the weekend.

You’ll be pleased to know that I have also been zooming during this week.  The dog and I have zoomed on our walks, dodging rain showers and big puddles – or at least, I have been dodging the puddles.  I’ve been watching my step very carefully as the paths are very muddy and the exposed tree roots are extremely slippy.  I’ve been wishing for four-paw drive myself!

These logs across the flooded path make me think of crocodiles, or perhaps seals!

I hadn’t realised just how lovely the light was today until I came to look at these pictures later.  I was so taken by the reflections in the water, the pools were much deeper than usual and they were so very still.

Another pair of Split Mittens has zoomed off my needles and are finished.  These ones are in Hayfield chunky tweed yarn and I do like the little flecks of colour very much.  These mittens are so easy to make and so useful, I really love them!

I started a three week series of workshops at Black Sheep Wools this week, based on the original three week Sockalong on the blog last May.  It was great fun to meet people in real life who are going to knit the socks, and all of the ladies who came along have promised to come back next week so I can’t have scared them too much!

I’m also knitting the socks in real time as the classes go along so that we’re all working on them together.  I’ve decided to use mine as an opportunity to practice my Continental knitting technique as I’ve had enough of my small sample.  I’m not doing too badly at all – knitting the small section that I did has helped enormously and I’ve found a way of wrapping the yarn around my fingers which helps the tension to be a bit more even.

What do you think?  It’s not as good as my usual tension yet and I know it will take quite a bit more practice, but it’s certainly an improvement on my first attempts.

I wouldn’t say that I’m really zooming with this yet though.  I’m still quite a bit slower than I am with my “flick” style, but I have to keep reminding myself that I’m still learning.  I’ve taken to timing myself with my phone to see if I am actually getting any faster (I’m not impatient at all!) and slowly but surely I definitely am.  By the time I reach the end of this pair of socks, I hope to have cracked the tension and the speed or at least have had a really good go at it!

Oh, and that’s one of my new Christmas mugs you can see in the picture.  Every girl needs a gold and purple spotty mug with her initial on it! J

So am I taking care of myself in amongst all of this zooming?  Actually, I am doing my best to.  I am making sure that I drink plenty during the day, that I sit down to eat my lunch (ad actually have lunch at all) and that I turn the computer off at a sensible time at night.  I’ve managed to take my own advice for nearly a month, and some would say (my husband certainly would!) that that’s a first.  How are you doing this month?  I don’t tend to suffer from January blues but I know lots of others do.  I hope you are taking care of yourselves!

Don’t forget that I’m going to be at The Makery by Unique Seal at 12 Ormskirk Road in Rainford on Saturday 30 January from 11am till 1pm if you can drop by and say hello!

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11 Responses

  1. Lilly's Mom says:

    I loved the photos of the trees reflection in the water. And, the light is amazing, too. I admire your quest to knit continental. Maybe you have inspired the rests of us to change our knitting ways. The mittens are such a neat idea. I'm going to try and knit a pair as I'm sure I have a spare skein of yarn somewhere 🙂 Enjoy your weekend, Pat xx

  2. Amy at love made my home says:

    Lovely to catch up with you. I hope that the workshops go really well. January seems to have whizzed by this year for me too! xx

  3. sustainablemum says:

    The light is beautiful in your photos. I can manage a bit of zooming but after a while it gets a bit much and I have to slow down. Your workshops sound great wish they were a bit closer!

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Yes, you can only sustain the zooming for a short while! I'm hoping that next week is considerably slower! xx

  4. Unknown says:

    Those logs were perfect seals!!! Good luck with the continental….! xxx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Thanks! Some moments I think I've cracked it … and then others it feels like it's all gone to pot! 🙂 xx

  5. Run Home To Crochet says:

    Lovely post Christine and I know what you mean about time flying by, it's been much the same here. Good luck with your workshops xx Joy xx

  6. Jo says:

    You're such a busy bee with all your workshops, meet and greets and classes, it's no wonder that time is zooming by. Mind you, I have to say that time does whizz, I think it's all to do with getting older, not quite sure why though. I do love those photos with the reflections and as you say, the light is lovely and I love those split mittens too. I'm quite tempted to cast on but I've got so many other things on the go that I'd better not.

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