Last  splashes of colourful flowers, have no doubt the frosts will arrive soon but these flowers are still hanging on in there!

 

 Fuchsias

 

 Nasturtiums

 Snapdragons with drops of rain.

 

 

 

 

 

 Grey skies all day, two crows in the distance.

 

 

 

  The Wrekin behind the hill is completely invisible, shrouded by mist.

 

 

 

Above two knitted bags that need lining and finishing. On 'Must get around to' list!
The first one was from a free pattern from the web supposed to be in Chunky but did it in Aran.
The second is a simple rib on a circular needle which I will write down the pattern at some point.
Just seem to be knitting at the moment comforting on dark nights maybe? Have started a cardigan. 

It is November 1st 2013. We were lucky enough to avoid the worst of the storms at the beginning of the week here in Shropshire. No frosts yet, the result  all these lovely flowers still in bloom in our small garden. I have taken these photographs over the last few days. Is it unusual to have poppies at this time of year?

 

 The Nasturtiums have gone a bit wild! The leaves are large. Got down low to take these pictures. Like a fairyland to me. I hope some time to be able to start drawing some of the ideas in my head that these images are giving me. If they inspire you please start drawing. Maybe a fairy is sitting under this leaf?  Please mention this blog if you use these images to create from. But please feel free to use them.

Pushed myself to finish Martin Storeys design cardigan.

Had sewn button band on started knitting and sewing on buttonhole band to match. Also sewed buttons on as I went along. I used mattress stitch to sew the bands on

Managed to space buttons fairly evenly and cast off.

Threaded in all the remaining loose ends.

 

Am pleased with the final result although I think I sewed the raglan seams together a bit tightly. This is knitted to the smallest size. I am not very big!  It does actually fit

Have looked in the spare bedroom and found a few unfinished products. To me there are never enough hours in the day!

Halloween Time just flies by!

 

Enjoyed knitting pumpkin once I had got into the pattern. Back down to three needles towards finishing the pumpkin.

 

 

 Followed pattern for stem and leaves used an olive coloured green as that is all I could find.

 Easiest way to shape leaves I thought was to thread end from casting on through.

 

Finished just in time.

 

This pattern is from the Woman's Weekly Magazine Website.  I just added a face.

 

 

Back to short sleeved cardi.

 After sewing raglan seams together, a  challenge for me is the neck.

 Could not find long enough needle to take all the stitches in the correct size,or a circular needle which is ideal for the task!. So used a few DPNs. Bought a bundle of bamboo DPNs in various sizes from an ebay seller in China. Think some people are nervous about buying from China but things I have sent for have always arrived, they take a bit of time but that is only to be expected. So picked up stitches after a few trials and errors.

 And knitted neck rib.

Sewed sides up

After knitting button band, knitted to long so undid some rows after sewing to side. Tried a few times to do this, settled on mattress stitch. I am not an experienced knitter.

Have started knitting buttonhole bands this is me in a hap hazard sort of way working out where to put the buttonholes and hopefully getting the buttonhole band the same length as the button band.

 Wanted to have a go at the Womans Weekly free pumpkin pattern.
Have not got the correct size dpns so started on a different size. Took me ages to get started really fiddly. Acrylic yarn so have to be careful about splitting as well. Found I had split yarn so undid and tried again. Undid and tried several times for various reasons. (Almost gave up).

Finally decided three needles were easier to get started on.

After undoing it yet again, starting on size 3mm needles as I have not got stated size. Started on 3 needles again to get going eventually introducing the fourth needle. So this is how far I have got. I hope I have the discipline to finish both projects soon!

Since arriving back from the Isle of Wight have been catching up on washing etc. plus we have been without PC for a while. Didn't have time to craft but lovely to see family. Mum in her eighties who knits, gave me these little characters just right for the end of the month! Used the Isle of Wight T towel I bought as backdrop.

Three ships sailed by us heading for open sea on our return journey on the ferry.

 The Ventura above

 The Queen Mary 2 Not quite so big and further away

Adventure of the Seas