More Knitting and Happy Mother's Day

 I seem to be busy knitting a lot lately.  Probably because we have been away for several trips in the caravan, and had a bout of Covid too last month.  So sitting at the sewing machine just didn't happen for a while.

So what have I been knitting?  Socks of course.  My daughter chose this pretty pink sock yarn a while ago and I've been diligently knitting away.  As soon as I grafted the toes I just had to cast on another pair of socks, navy blue yarn I received for my birthday, so this pair is for me.  I knit my socks flat, two at a time, and have still to stitch up my daughter's pink pair.  That shouldn't take me too long though, just a matter of sitting down comfortably and getting it done.

Pink for my daughter, and navy blue for me

Now that winter is almost here, I'm pleased I finished these nice cozy triple knit (12 ply) socks for myself a while ago.  Made from gifted home spun wool together with a ball of Speckled Yarn, they will certainly keep my feet toasty warm.  

I had also knitted up four dish cloths in acrylic yarn using "Aunt Ev's Favourite Dish Cloth Pattern" from Make it Do patterns.  Two of these have just found a new home, so I'm pleased about that.  The next dish cloths I make will be done in knitting cotton, and I have several balls tucked away for when I'm ready to start this project again.

New socks and dish cloths

It's Mother's Day here in New Zealamd today.  We were enjoying our early morning cup of tea when I received a text from my daughter, Nicky.  "Happy Mother's Day, have you opened your present yet?"  No I hadn't so up I got to check out my gift from her.  Inside the gift bag was a card, a pretty flannel (face cloth) with crochet edging and a bag of home made chocolate dipped dried apricots.  How lovely.

From my daughter

Then later in the morning I received a phone call from my son Michael, who lives in Christchurch, so I'm a happy Mum indeed, hearing from both of them.

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women out there, hoping your day was a pleasant one.

Yellow and Pink RSC

 I've realised it for a while - going away on caravan trips definately cuts into sewing time.  Now we are home again from a family trip, I'm in catch up mode, stitching away on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge block sets.  

Pink is the colour for May, and I've stitched up some Hollow Nines.  Then as I hadn't stitched any for April, I made a couple of yellow blocks too.

Hollow Nines, done

In making these nine patch blocks, I'm committed to only use squares already cut and tucked away in a little bag.  The blocks will keep getting stitched when the monthly colours are announced as long as I have cut squares in my drawstring bag.  As I'm not really a lover of sewing with little squares, I'll be happy to see the end of them.......but there seem to be so many hanging around.  But we all know that fabric pieces seem to breed in the dead of night, don't we.

Sew Wot Tuesday

 Most of the Sew Wots met at Jude's home this Tuesday, with one lucky lady and her hubby away on an overseas trip.  How exciting, it's been quite some time since we have done that.  After a general catch up, and a look through some magazines looking for a good home, we got down to the always exciting show and tell.  First up was Mary, who had just finished a pair of socks - the sort of socks which let the yarn make a statement.  So pretty in pink and green.

Mary's new socks

Jude had been busy making crochet cotton dish cloths, aren't they pretty.  They look almost too good to use for dish cloths.

Made by Jude

And Heather was justly proud of her selvedge bag.  Which reminds me, I've got one of these waiting to be finished, tucked away somewhere.

Heather's selvedge bag

Mary had a lovely quilt to show us, made for Ray with stitcheries of his interests, and his quirky sayings.  The backing was made with many New Zealand themed fabrics, full of memories of his life.  

Made by Mary

What else?  Carol had made a very pretty 1930s baby quilt, these fabrics are always so nice.  Plus a baby singlet, hat and toy set for donation.

Made by Carol

As for me, I had brought along a nice wooly pair of socks and some knitted dish cloths, finished a wee while ago.

My knitting

Then the tea trolly was wheeled morning tea was served. 

Morning tea time

Thanks so much Jude, for a lovely morning.  There was some discussion about who was the next hostess - oh goodness, it's me.  I had forgotten my turn was next.

Family Time at Hawkes Bay

 The last four days have  been spent in our caravan at Napier NZMCA Park.    There was a sad reason for our trip, to attend the memorial service for my brother-in-law Dennis.  My sister Kathleen passed away three years ago during Covid lockdown, and her husband Dennis died last week.  We were pleased to attend and support my niece and nephew, and their adult children.  It was a nice service, sad at times of course, but plenty of happy memories.  Dennis enjoyed writing and several of his poems were showcased, I particularly liked this one, very apt at this stage in our lives.

Hideout Henry

I'm playing hide and seek with Henry, and I'd better find him quick

I'm wobbly today and kind of dizzy, and Henry's my walking stick

Today we called around to the family home and I collected a couple of bags of Dennis's clothing, to make a quilt for his grandson Adam.  There are shirts and pyjamas to work with, and I decided I will keep it simple.

Plenty to work with in here

There are always a couple of favourite places we like to return to up here when we visit.  Such as Arataki Honey, where Robin refilled a jar with delicious Manuka honey, and purchased a slab of Manuka comb honey too.  So yummy.

Honey time

And we really needed to visit Silky Oak Chocolate for morning tea, well, that's what I decided.  How about an iced chocolate for him, and a hot chocolate for her.

Deliciousness indeed

Of course, I needed some hand work with me to do, so I packed two knitting projects.  First was a pair of socks, but that didn't go well.  I'm up to the heels, but forgot to bring the pattern, so no  knitting on project number one.  And my new blue cardigan, which sad to say, has been unravelled a couple of times already.  The pattern took me a while to get it in my head, but I think I've got it all right now.  

I had trouble getting this lacy pattern right

Gemma always enjoys her time away, and likes to spend a little time outside, safely on her harness and lead.  That's until a noisy car drives by, or a dog appears, then she is back inside in a flash.  Then she is quite happy to look out the window to check things out, maybe she will see a few birds out there.

What's out there, Gemma?

Where is my number five?

 Number 5 is the number chosen for the Chookshed Challenge for May.  But I had two problems with that.  I checked my list of 10 challenges to find that I hadn't anything listed for number 5.  My list went from 4 to 6, very strange.  Then I remembered that I had made kiwi blocks my number 5 challenge, to join in with some of the others who were making kiwis too.  However, mine are embroidered, not pieced.

After sorting that little problem out, I went hunting for the elusive kiwi blocks.  They weren't in my bag with all the remaining challenges, so where were they?  I finally tracked them down to my block roll - there they were, hiding away, and waiting to be found.

My elusive kiwi blocks

This set of stitcheries show Mr Kiwi enjoying a Kiwi (New Zealand) Christmas.  Cooking on the BBQ, toasting marshmallows, decorating the tree, and r4iding on a fine looking ram delivering Christmas gifts.  

What to do with them, that is the question.  This challenge will have to wait for a few days as we are away from home, to attend a Celebration of Life Memorial for a family member.