There is always a way

Fuelled by determination, coffee and flapjack

Sometimes I can knit for 8 hours per day. Sometimes I don’t manage 8 hours in a whole week.

No prizes for guessing what kind of week this has been. But I have been determined to squeeze a little bit of knitting into every day - even if it means buying an overpriced slice of flapjack and a coffee in order to do so.

I know - the cake was optional obviously but it was the last one in the cafe display and it looked a little lonely by itself.

For US readers: I am now aware that flapjack means something different for you (more of a pancake?). Here they are generally bars of oats, sugar, butter and syrup mixed together, often with dried fruit added. They sometimes masquerade as health food - and if you are hiking, cycling or doing any other strenuous activity they are fabulous. Practically indestructible, dense and calorie rich they are perfect.

Whether I needed one for a light 10 minutes of sock knitting is another matter but it was delicious anyway. And gave me the time and space I needed to clear my brain and get this sock underway.

It’s not complicated but some maths needed to be done and I just couldn’t concentrate at home.

🌿 Knitting can burn 80-100 calories per hour apparently - sounds like a good reason to knit more🌿

What’s making me smile this week

🌿 New stickers for my Hobonichi Cousin journal (plus the fact that we are into June and my journal is still in use and not gathering dust - surely a record). I discovered these Suatelier Design stickers a while ago and I love how whimsical they are. I got them here if you are in the UK.

🌿 This photo is from a few weeks ago - it’s probably faded now or the blooms have been bashed sideways by the relentless rain. But this laburnum arch made it’s way onto my phone lock screen as it made me smile so much.

🌿 Toe-up socks. Generally my preferred way to knit sock for myself for so many reasons (some listed here) but I usually do them with the increases at the sides. After someone here - I’m afraid I have forgotten the name - said they prefer a rounded toe I decided to have a fiddle around and play with doing just that. A rounded toe but starting from the toe up and I think I have got something I am happy with. More shortly but expect my next design to have a rounded toe with options to work cuff down or toe up.

🌿 I’ve made a Ranunculus (Ravelry link) before but it was a cropped - over large version, designed to be worn over a dress. I saw this more fitted version recently, worn as a summer tee at a tighter gauge and fell in love with it. I need to find the right yarn though.

🌿 Coffee themed self striping sock yarn. Well, I couldn’t resist ☕☕Nicole Mendez is an EU-based indie dyer who does the most amazing self stripes. I missed out on her 5 stripe Coffee Break yarn the other week so I wasted no time when this weeks update came out.

I hope you have a lovely weekend - with coffee, yarn and whatever cake based goodness you require.