Knitting

It's funny how some weeks I knit lots and others practically nothing, that has been the case for me these past two weeks.  The 'lots' of knitting was in part due to two long car journeys to visit my parents, I mananged to knit up a pair of slippers one in each direction!  These were knit for my nephew for Christmas, I am now wondering whether they will fit him by then, his feet have grown a whole size since I last saw him, if he carries on growing they will be too small.  I may give these to my eldest and knit my nephew another bigger pair, oh these children who grow.  I have knit nothing much since until yesterday when I cast on another pair and have knit most of the sole.  I have also been knitting a wristwarmer and a few rows of a sleeve on a jumper for my youngest, in between times.

I have not been reading much lately either, writing this I am wondering what I have been doing!  I have been dipping in and out of Free to Learn an introduction to Steiner education.  I have read about several different types of education recently including Charlotte Mason and Montessori, we don't really have a particular style or method to our home education and it is always interesting to read about the different methods and how they work in practice.  I pick and choose the bits that I like the sound of and that might work for us!

Knitting

I have been slowly working on the slippers this week.  I have finished knitting one and have knitted the sole of the other.  I am knitting these away from my husband as they are a present, this is easier than last year because he is now out at work (last year being self employed he was in and out) however I have a few pairs to make so I am glad I started now so I am not rushing to finish in December.  Thank you to those who gave advice last week on the sort of sole I could use to make these more durable.  I am going to look into leather first, so when these are knitted they are far from finished!

This week I have been reading a book I recently bought after reading a review in a Sunday newspaper.  Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way for Parents is about discovering your creativity something I thought I could do with doing more of, I read blogs where there are pictures of all the wonderful items their children have created whereas I have non to share.  As I read through this book, which is full of exercises, I am already doing so much of what she suggests.  I could feel aggrieved at buying a book which is not telling me anything new but it has been a great affirmation for me and made me realise that I am doing something right in that part of my children's education.  I have been reminded that creativity is not all about paper and glue.

Joining in with Ginny and Tami for sharing of yarny creations and reading.

Knitting

I am still working on the jumper for my youngest, I am part way through the second sleeve.  The weather has turned much cooler now so I need to get it finished so it can be worn, she has been doing some growing lately and does not have many jumpers that fit now!

I have also been working on some slippers which seem to be knitting up at the right size finally.  I have had to up a whole mm in needle size to get the correct gauge, it was either that or adapt the pattern to knit on the needle size suggested.  Thankfully these knit up really quickly so although I have cast on several times already it does not take long to get back to where I was before.  I am going to knit a few pairs of these as Christmas presents in the hope that they would be quicker than the socks I knitted last year.  I am proposing to cover the sole with something, probably leather to help them last longer, has anyone ever done this before?  What have you used and how have you attached it?

I have put my book on hold this past week or so as I have been busy with other things.  I have been doing some autumn planning and have been reading books for ideas for crafts, walks and other autumn activities.  I have been dipping into The Children's Year, The Bumper Book of Nature, Sacred Celebrations and The Nature Corner amongst others.

Joining in with Tami for sharing of yarny work in progress and Ginny for sharing what folks are knitting and reading.