One of those sad posts

It's taken me 4 weeks to complete this blog post.  I've written it and deleted it and started it again.  Some things look crap no matter how you write them though.

4 weeks ago today my mum died.  On Thursday, as a handful of family and closest friends, we said goodbye at the green burial she wanted.  Most days it's a dull hurt in the background with the flare of pain that is the realisation she won't answer the phone when I call, won't be here for Christmas... 

I miss her so much but she will always be here with me, I only have to look in the mirror to see her.

She was the most wonderful, beautiful, creative, stubborn woman.  I'm strong because she was proud of me, I'm holding my head high, because I am my mother's daughter and I will not let anything beat me.  

I love you, mum, always <3

Casting off...

...always makes me squeeeeee!!

Ok, so these technically are grafted with kitchener stitch but there was still squee-ing :-P

Happily adding Hand Held Hearts to my FO pile, a really quick enjoyable knit which look fantastic IMHO  They'll definitely keep my hands warm this winter!

Hand Held Hearts Mitts

Following the return of my knitting mojo (yay!) I decided it was time to move to some seasonal knits, with the added bonus of stash busting my rather overflowing yarn boxes.  In the mood for some stranded/colourwork mitts, the Hand Held Hearts pattern by Mette Jin Mayland instantly grabbed me as perfect.  A bit of stash rummaging came up with a combination of the gorgeous cerise Cascade 220 yarn and Noro Kureyon 240...oh look, my favourite colour combination!

The pattern is fabulously quick (although knitting with DPN's whilst breastfeeding does result in the occasional boob stabbing!) It took a quick google to learn the technique for the Vikkel Braid (I used this youtube video) but this...

quickly (well, for me!) became this...

I'm a bit *meh* about the odd orangey pink flecks in the section of the Noro below the thumb but hey, that's Noro for you!   I'm just casting on the second mitt now but am also considering a matching slouch hat as I have more than enough yarn.  After that, I most definitely need a green shawl and have some gorgeous handspun yarn I *need* to knit up too... 

Finally...a FO

It would appear that having the smallest one has stolen my knitting mojo...as has having the husbeast at home!  Hence my Color Affection WIP has taken an absolute age to complete, literally doing an odd row here and there on the odd occasion I was sat breastfeeding with my knitting bag close and nothing else to do.  Add the fact I detest garter stitch, yarn barfs...I've been ready to frog the lots several times but finally managed to cast off this weekend.  Wash, blocked and dried I'm happy enough to forget how long it's taken and enjoy it!