Yay! Patrick’s scarf is finished.

Sorry the pictures are so bad but I was rushing this morning to take them before work as I remembered this morning that I needed to take photos (unfortunately didn’t occur to me last night!)

I love using thick wool – it knits up so quickly!  Thankfully this scarf is finished so this job can be crossed off the list, which I always love to do.  The scarf is very simple and is knit 2 rows, purl 1 row, repeat.  That gives the lovely ridges which I think gives a nice pattern to what otherwise would be quite a plain and boring scarf.  I’m not great at adding patterns and counting stitches, etc – I can do it but it requires more concentration and focus then I like to give my knitting.  I love to knit in front of the tv and as I tend to knit in the evenings I am also quite tired and my poor brain is slowly switching off.  It can handle simple knits but nothing too complicated.

Next to do is the 4^th blood drop and then finishing Fatties and Daisy’s pencil case.  George’s scarf will be the final project to be finished but hopefully it will be done on time.

1. Finish Fatty for Andy’s mum (18th Jan) 
2. Finish dog pencil case for Daisy (8th Feb)
3. Finish dragon scarf for George (8th Feb)
4. Finish Rebecca’s Fatty (8th Feb) 
5. Make 5 blood drops for NHS project (deadline 31st Jan) - 2 more needed
6. Make 12 crochet squares for the Children’s Society (deadline 25th Jan) - just sewing in needed
7. Finish Alzheimer blanket (18th Jan) 
8. Finish scarf for Patrick (8th Feb)
9. Knit a Christmas bauble REMOVED UNTIL FEBRUARY
10. Start Easter bunnies (Deadline April) REMOVED UNTIL FEBRUARY
11. Finish scarf for Nan (birthday 21st Jan) 
12. Make a spare scarf for Nan (birthday 21st Jan) 
13. Knit 3 charity chickens (Deadline Feb)  REMOVED UNTIL FEBRUARY

I am looking ahead to February already and am trying to think how I can fit in knitting my friend Sam a bag before her birthday on 13^th February – that doesn’t give me much time as the Ireland gifts are likely to run over until the 8^th February when we actually go and see them.  I am hoping that I can take it with me on the plane and it will be my project for when we are there.  We aren’t checking luggage so I have checked both our airport and the Irish airport to see what we can fly with – knitting needles are out but I have flown several times with my crochet hook without an issue.  The only problem I may have is that I will need to have a pair of scissors with me – hmm!  The Irish airport will allow scissors with a blade less than 3 cm – so I need to measure my snips and see how big they are.  I am hoping that they will be small enough to fly (although they are very sharp).  As a back up I may put a pair of nail scissors in my boyfriends hand luggage and see if they get through (ooh I could also see if a pair of nail clippers is strong enough to cut through my wool??)

I have my pattern which is a simple 10 granny square design – I am just struggling at the moment with what colour/colours to use.  The pattern used one colour which looks very effective.  I have some lovely grey cotton wool that has a sparkle through it but it may be too dressy and I want this to be an everyday bag; I have 10 balls of Stylecraft DK which I have bought for the baby blanket but wont need all of them which I could use; I also have a lilac 4ply wool which would be very pretty and some cream 4ply but not sure if this will give me the grown up everyday bag that I envisage; or I could buy some black and tan/gold DK which I think would look nice??????????? Decisions decisions!  I think I will check the grey wool that I have already and see if that would be suitable otherwise I think I like the black and gold/tan bag the best as a back up plan.