News & Updates from Patricia Platt · Page 4

Millie is watching the garden and all the new things sprouting up. We now have tulips, hyacinths and daffs to name just a few flowers blooming in our little garden. The plum tree is blooming too this spring.

I just hope we dont get a frost as the past few years, because we didnt get any plums. The apple tree is playing smart and waiting to bloom in about a week. Poor Brian has had the job of shifting my raised beds from one end of the garden to the other.

The trees were shading them too much. Hopefully this year we will finally get some veg.

The fruit bushes are starting to leaf out and some are blooming too. The rhubarb is already for a good crumble now.

I have been busy doing the charity knitting and crocheting here the past couple of months, but decided it was time to do something for mean and Brian for a change.

So I have learnt to knit socks.

I did a pair for myself first the orange ones on the left in the photo. As you can tell they are different sizes. LOL Oh well the first one I was so chuffed with and went around like Dobby the house elf saying I have clothes.

I then knitted the second one and was starting to run short on wool so it is slightly smaller than the first one, but they fit like a dream and I love wearing them.

My feet and legs tend to swell and these are so comfy and dont cut off the circulation like store boought socks.

I then knitted the second pair but took notes this time to make sure they were the same size. And I was pleased with them too.

So afterwards I knitted a pair for Brian. He likes them so well that he wears them just about every day. Says they are more comfy than store bought ones too. I need to learn to knit faster as it takes me about 2 weeks or so to knit a pair.

But that is with everything else too.

I am now totally addicted to sock wool too.

I have been keeping busy making more toys for Knit a Square, recently I finished making 3 Monkeys and 3 bunnys for them.

My friends from Knit and Natter, Michelle - Whispy Willow Lane and another friend also named Sharon and I went to a wool Show last Sunday.

We were in knitting and wool heaven. :) There was lots to look at and lots to touch. You can not go to a wool show and keep your hands in your pockets, you just have to touch.

I decided this year I was going to learn to knit socks, so while at the show I picked up a few things to help me in that process.

I also love spinning wool. So bought myself a new drop spindle and some lovely dyed wool to give it a try. As you can see by the blue and white hank I need some practice. I am good at thick and thin spinning, Now trying to get a more even yarn.

The sock knitting is coming along and hopefully this Saturday, Michelle can give me a tip on how to shape the heel part of the sock. :) I had to get my head around using circular needles and I think I finally got that sussed. :)

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. I dont normally do resolutions, but this year I will have at least two. My first is to get fitter and loose a bit of weight in doing so.

We have already started here by going for long walks with Millie. I did a 2 mile walk the other day and only had a bit of pain in the last bit before we got home.

For me this is really good, as I suffer with Plantars Fascitis. My second is to do more knitting and crocheting for my charities.

Which again I have been busy already doing. :) This months theme for Knit A Square is toys and I love making toys.

So I have made some teddy bears, a cuddle bug and some monkeys for the children already. I find my fingers get sore after a while of knitting as I am not used to doing knitting. So when that happens I switch over and do crocheting.

Nice to be able to do both. :)

I have been knitting alot lately and one thing I have never done before is knitted toys. My friend who knits for Knit a Square charity said that they were low on toys this year so my goal is to learn to knit toys.

I can crochet and have done quite a number of crocheted toys, but I needed a challenge and so I knitted a doll.

I will have to do more so that I can get quicker and better, but I think some child will give my little doll a lovely home.

I also knitted a hat and some matching hand warmers.

I also have another challenge this year with my knitting and that is to learn to knit socks. So watch this space......