It was too hot, and Aichbee was too small, for me to be knitting very much this summer.

I did knit her a cardigan, which I finished while we were in Lyme Regis. However it somehow got mixed up in the giant pile of washing that came home with us and was shrunk in the wash. So sad. So I went back and bought the exact same yarn with the intention of knitting it again. I should start that soon to be honest.

However this is the hat that has just come off my needles. It’s a mixture of DK Toft Alpaca and some old Rowan merino which I once knit a jumper from. It was a mindless knit, small enough to get on and off the needles quickly despite the busy-ness of everyday life. And it looks wonderful with her new winter coat.

There is enough of both yarns for me to knit her some mittens to match, which are currently on my needles.

Next up – according to Ellarr – is a hat for her. In blue.  (Hopefully I’m getting to the point when I can start shopping from myself again and knit it in Oxford Kitchen Yarn.)

Talking of which, here is a sneak preview of this autumn’s dyeing…

(The amazing kite Efbee made.)

A short list of things:

• Autumn is my favourite time of year
• But I’m not ready for it to be Autumn this year (probably because…)
• We had a lovely Summer (even though…)
• We didn’t do very much
• We played at the park a lot and saw our friends
• We set up a friday afternoon children’s craft meet up with a handful of other families
• It was great
• Now it is September we are officially a home educating family
• And Ellarr has started at the same nursery that Efbee went to (and loved)
• Aichbee is sitting up, eating with us at the table, cutting teeth, charming EVERYONE
• I AM DYEING YARN AGAIN!
• There will be yarn in stock at Darn it and Stitch by the end of the month (stay tuned!)
• There will be Sock, DK, Aran and Chunky
• I am planning to open my online shop again soon.
• But it needs lots of work doing to it before that can happen
• I am knitting (a hat for Aichbee that I will photograph and post about later this week)
• sewing (fleece trousers for the winter for Efbee)
• and gearing up to spin an important project (with a Christmas deadline)
• we are also baking along with the Great British Bake Off
• I left a bit of my heart it Lyme Regis this summer
• We’re hoping to go back to check on it again in the spring
• the image below amuses me a great deal
• because – really – I’m still a bit of a child 😉

(Dorset Knob Biscuits *snirk*)

This morning, on my way back from my morning walk with Aichbee, I found a huge lilac branch that has snapped off a tree at the top of our road during the winds and rain we’ve had over that last few days. I probably looked really silly struggling home with it on my shoulder, but it was blocking the path and the blossoms were plentiful and in great condition. Plus what was the original owner going to do apart from have to tidy it away so that it was no longer an obstruction?

After taking my share of the blossom for our sideboard I let the children loose on the rest, and they have spent a fair chunk of the day in the garden, covered in mud.

Btw, in the interest of honesty – here is what the other half of the side board looks like:

In other plant related news we have been watching The Edible Garden on youtube, having followed a link from Duofiberworks. Efbee has his own little vegetable patch this year so he finds the episodes fascinating as well as completely accessible. As a re-watch for me, they are even better than I remember. Well worth checking out, imho.