Knitting
Jumpers/cardigans
I bound off my Avena using the sewn method which is my preference for rib, although it is very slow. It has been blocked but it’s taking an eternity to dry. Laying flat and damp it appears to have no more lumps….obviously once it is dry we shall see if that’s true. 🤞🏻
I spent hours looking on Ravelry for a new jumper pattern, but I just can’t find anything I like as much as those I’ve already made. So I’m going to have a go at making a 2nd Winding Down jumper using New Lanark Aran yarn. The first one I made was in Malabrigo Rios. It’s a very dark blue with tiny paler flecks that I’ll be using, so I’ll have to see if the cables stand out.
Spinning
I made a start on spinning some unknown fibre, after some investigation it’s 100% bamboo. It’s Christmas colours that I think will get muddied if I ply it on its own, so I plan to spin up some undyed Polwarth fibre I have and I’ll ply with that. I’m still only spinning on my weekly spin call with a friend, I don’t seem to have the urge outside our calls which is odd as I enjoy it so much on the call 🤷♀️
Weaving
Inkle loom
I’ve started to warp my Inkle loom for a new tablet weaving pattern. It took 2 hours to thread the first half of all the cards/tablets. I suspect I’ll do the other half during this month’s weaving interest group that is the end of the month.
Other News
I made another sourdough apple cake and another sourdough loaf. I tried putting some poppy seeds and sesame seeds on before cooking but lots dropped off during baking and the others jumped off when carving a slice. If anyone has any tips for keeping them on that would be great.
We had a scare with our dog earlier in the week. It’s tricky when you have an ancient dog knowing when is the right time to say goodbye. She has rallied though and still has some life in her, especially when her mortal enemy Cockerpoo is on the other side of the road to shout at.
This is a Year of Projects post. Officially the Group is in its 14th year, but this is my 7th year participating. If you would like to find more about the Year of Projects Group on Ravelry, as you’d be very welcome to join us.
HighlandHeffalump 
Your newly finished jumper is elegant. It looks like the way a hug feels.
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Thanks very much.
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The loaf of bread looks delicious. I love the jumper colors. Sorry to hear your dog gave you a health scare – glad to hear it looks like he is on the mend.
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Thanks
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Your jumper turned out fantastic. Soo pretty. Definitely looks very smooth. Looks like the sourdough baking is going well. Sorry about your puppy. It is so hard to figure out what’s right to do. My kitty at the moment will only eat canned chicken. I know this isn’t great for her kidneys/liver but she won’t eat cat food, the prescription cat food, treats, canned tuna, etc. Sadly my son is the one that is likely to have to deal with the final decision since we are heading south.
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We are mixing in some sweet potato with her kibble and some fresh chicken and she is eating it, she’d gone off her food. Definitely seems her anti inflammatory painkillers make her drink more. Today we will be increasing them back to a full tablet from half and will have to see if she starts having more accidents in the house. She’s too sore on just half the tablet.
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Your jumper is so pretty. I think you blocked it all your troubles out of it. It is very hard to have a senior pet. So glad your rallied around. She is such a special animal. I have no clue how to keep the seed on SD. Maybe by using an egg white wash with them?
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Someone else has said egg wash so I’ll give it a go. Honestly the table and floor had more seeds than we ate.
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Your Avena is beautiful!!! If you have a sweater that fits well why not find a color work you like and put it on the sweater that fits well. Well unless you are like me and math challenged, lol. I’ve been following the Arne & Carlos color work stocking knit along this year, some of the designs are really pretty.
The Winding Down sweater is pretty, I love cables and textured knitting!
I love my spinning when I sit down and spin but making my self sit down and do it is the issue, sigh, I understand. How does bamboo handles when you spin? Is it a drapey finished yarn? The palwarth should give it a little bounce :).
On your sour dough bread, that question makes me wonder how thy get the seeds to stick on reg dough like with buns. I’m guessing sour dough is a stiffer dough and harder to push them into it (which is the only way I can think of)? Wish I had any suggestions.
I’m glad your dog is ok, I know as they get older we worry about them and when we will have to deal with end of life stuff :(. I hope it doesn’t happen for a long time, losing them is hard. 😦
Our weather is goofy, hope yours is better!!
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I had just tried pushing them in, someone has said egg wash should work so I’ll try that next time. I don’t remember ever spinning any 100% bamboo before and the single is on the bobbin so I’m not sure how it’s going to be. It felt okay spinning it and has a lovely sheen. I love Polwarth for the squish factor so I thought if I spin that a bit thicker and wrap the bamboo around it would kind of be candy cane-ish. I love it too just struggle to get started if I am not spinning whilst on a call or with others. I like the fit of my fern and feather and did wonder if I had it in me to tweak the colourwork on that pattern. I’ve started the winding down now so that’ll keep me busy into the new year I think.
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I look forward to watching your progress on the Winding Down sweater 🙂
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Thanks. It’s going well so far, although in electric light it’s hard to see the cables on the dark flecked yarn. It’s fun to knit cables again though after such a long time so I’ll continue.
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I absolutely love knitting cables. I love watching how manipulating the stitches brings those lovely cables. I didn’t try cables for a long time after I learned how to knit, because they looked like they would be hard, but when I finally tried them, I couldn’t put them down!
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Even though the cables aren’t going to be super obvious in the dark yarn it’s definitely making it more interesting than just knitting stocking stitch.
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What did you use to try and get the seeds to stick? I have had good luck with egg, well beaten and brushed on.
Your Avena looks gorgeous – I hope blocking really was the answer. I don’t remember; was it a top down knit?
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I had just sprinkled them onto the dough and pressed them in a bit with my fingers. I’ll try with an egg wash next time, thanks for the tip. It was knitted top down. I really hope it’s going to dry soon so I can try it on. The temp here is below freezing today so the heating should be on a while which hopefully will help.
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Your Avena is just gorgeous! You have so many cool projects going – can’t wait to see what you make of them! The bread looks so tasty! So sorry you are going through this with Ylva – that is rough. Good that she has her mortal enemy to keep her going 🙂
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I am pretty sure its what motivates her on walks. Her eyesight is failing and sometimes she mistakes a shopping bag for a dog, but she has no trouble spotting that poodle.
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I love Avena, and your bread looks delicious!
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Thanks Lucy.
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Avena is beautiful, I really hope the lumpy problem is all solved!
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