Although it’s been a month since I last posted my work in progress, I’m afraid there hasn’t been a lot of progress – partly due to being busy and party due to three weeks of me falling asleep on the settee most evenings, because Mr Hicks was unwell and getting me up in the middle of the night. Although I’m pleased to say he’s now been sleeping through since last Saturday 🙂
The positive in the not knitting is that I haven’t had to make a decision on whether to frog the blue scarf. I like the pattern, but it needs an edging and I’m not sure what will work to my satisfaction. Any thoughts?
Of my other ongoing projects, I’ve only knitted a few rows of LH’s Christmas sweater, cast on and knitted a tiny bit of my second green sock and made no progress on the Mitred Mystery.
Of course there would have been a little more progress on these, if I hadn’t revisited a project I started last Christmas. I picked it up, because it’s autumn and if I don’t finish it now, it won’t be able to publish the patterns in time this year.
You may recall that in a moment of madness last December, I challenged myself to knit and post the pattern for one Santa sack a day to make an advent calendar of Santa sacks.
I shared the patterns for free last December as an advent giveaway, but took them down in January as I knew they were far from perfect. When I picked them up again last week, it was quite shocking to see how imperfect some of them were – I couldn’t believe I’d charted this snowflake pattern as a green snowflake on a white background!
On top of the mistakes, there were things I knew I could make a lot clearer as I put them all together as a collection. I set about checking the patterns through and kicked out the worst ones. If you were reading the blog last December, you may remember this – you guys guessed it was a tree, a bell or an angel. I thought it looked like a stingray…
I designed five new patterns and set about knitting the new designs, plus some of the original designs that I’d given away as presents…
It’s been far more time consuming than I’d hoped, but I now have 28 patterns I’m happy with, only 5 more Santa sacks to make, plus sewing up the 3 above.
So that’s my knitting progress, hopefully, since the nights are drawing in and things are getting quieter, I’ll have this project finished and more knitting progress to report very soon.
Dartmoor Creative - Bekki Hill 
Fantastic work on the little sacks, I think you’ve done loads!
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Thank you. Hopefully making up for lost time now 🙂
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No thoughts on scarf edging I’m afraid but I like the Christmas pudding.
Puppies or elderly dogs – it’s like having babies again isn’t it?
I’m glad Mr. H is feeling better. I let Taz come out for a walk with us this morning as he seemed more sprightly but he took advantage and nipped down to a side entrance that only he knows about into a normally fenced off area of our garden which contains both the compost heaps and a place where the cats like to poo. You can guess the rest.
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The Christmas pudding is definitely my favourite new one – don’t tell the others.
Unfortunately with Hicks’ chequered health history it’s not just been the puppy and elderly stages, I’ve felt like I have a baby. I keep thinking if I’d had two more children instead of him I’d have had more freedom – but I wouldn’t have swapped having him for the world. Although maybe I should have applied for carer’s allowance?
As for Taz – Hicks says, ‘Well Done Mate! Great to see you can still get one over on the humans.’ I’m saying nothing and definitely not laughing.
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I made all your Santa Sacks and had great fun with them. Will you be offering you new and improved set for purchase soon? I’d love to give them a try again. I ended up doing some lovely ones in deep greens and browns with bell ties ion them plus some little pagan touches😃
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Wow! Great to hear you made all of them. Your colours and additions sound wonderful. Are there pictures of them anywhere? I’d love to see them.
Delighted to hear you’d like to try them again. I am putting together a new and improved set of patterns and they’ll be out as soon as I’ve finished putting it all together. So, all being well, should be in the next couple of weeks.
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I enjoyed your Santa sacks last Christmas though I never made any up. These new ones look even better! I wonder if the scarf could have a lacy edging – maybe even a crochet one either in the blue used or maybe a different shade? Or white? It’s such good news Mr Hicks is holding his own – you guys are often in my thoughts. xo
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Thank you – hopefully they are improved – at least no stingrays now! Glad you enjoyed seeing them last year. I was wondering about crochet, might be easier to add?
Hicks is doing okay – although bit of a juggling act going on with his meds. Thanks for thinking of us 🙂 xx
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Yes, to the crochet. You can make stitches really easily and even freestyle a lacy pattern. Give Mr Hicks a hug and a lick from us xoxo
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Thank you. Hicks sends hugs, licks and snuggles right back xx
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Love the Santa sacks,and great to see Christmas making an appearance now in blogs as well as Halloween, the year moves on. I really like the scarf pattern, does it need an edge really? Here’s to the Christmas jumper and falling asleep on the sofa!
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Thank you. I’m not keen on Christmas in the shops so early, but in my book, when you’re crafting, you can’t start to early. I don’t tend to do Halloween now the kids are grown up – mind, if I get some sort of mad inspiration that will change 🙂
Glad you like the scarf. If I am going to edge it, I’ll have to finish it first, so can certainly try wearing it sans edging. That is, of course, if i don’t frog it. As for Christmas jumpers, I’m just about to design the chart for the picture on the front. I probably should be doing something else, but what the heck? 🙂
Have a fab weekend! xx
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Oh it’s going to be a picture jumper. I hadn’t picked up on that, of course it will be its a Christmas jumper, I thought you meant it was a Christmas present. This is even better, I love a Christmas jumper, I mourn the passing of picture jumpers, I love picture jumpers. Hurrah, hurrah and hurrah. No moving from the sofa till the chart is done. You have cheered me up no end. Will there be a small version too, please say yes.
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Hello! So pleased I’ve cheered you up on such a damp dark day. I too morn the passing of picture jumpers – we should start a comeback. I’ve been doing it at my desk, but only left to see to Hicks (which I know you’ll forgive), to sustain myself with lunch and cups of tea and to look for lovely eldest’s jacket- long story about not being able to find her passport!
It is a rather large motif – because, obviously, LH has a large manly chest 😉 but I’m knitting in Aran, so I dare say I could conjure up a small size pattern in DK.
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🙂 I am wondering if the scarf edge will be okay once blocked, but I dont see any bright ideas I’m afraid. Brain not functioning well on a Friday. 🙂
Santa Sack time already. How this year has gone by. You are so good! I love the new patterns and designs. Super cute.
Glad Mr. H is also coming along and feeling better. Good that he is sleeping better again.
xxx
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Thank you.
Good point about blocking – it can work miracles.
It’s rather nice to have done most of the knitting and thinking on the santa sacks already. Although sorting the patterns and getting them in a sensible format is extremely time consuming still!
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Oh those santa sacks look lovely! Might have to try some of those this year to use up my random bits of wool! Sounds like you’ve been up to quite a lot actually!
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Hello! Thanks for dropping by and commenting. Thank you. Glad you like the Santa sacks – you’re right they are excellent for using up left overs.
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You sound almost as frantically busy as I do! Here’s hoping Mr Hicks gets better and you being able to sleep enough continues!
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Thank you. Yes, full night’s sleep are continuing.
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