Distraction

...seems to be the word of the week. Or perhaps it should be procrastination. Despite my best intentions I'm still struggling to get up any momentum, and even get my good old homemaking routine back in action. I think I am waiting around for something to click, but perhaps something a bit more involved is needed. 

I did make a resolution to give away a lot of my houseplants and have begun with that. I haven't been keeping count, but have put at least 10-15 outside on the front wall, and then have almost all disappeared. I also left a note out saying more to come, and a planning to give away all but 2 or 3 per room. I have ended up with so many, and really all they are is clutter, and something else to care for. It isn't the same as caring for a garden, and I think that was all I wanted really. 

So that will be something, being able to get to the windowsills again and having a bit more light coming in might make a huge difference, especially in these darker months. 

I have been busying away working on Christmas presents. I have finished one, and have a couple of works in progress for the girls. I need to keep up momentum as I would like to make a jumper for all of my close family, with the exception perhaps of Will whose might need to wait until the new year, we'll see. 

While working on the girls' projects in the evenings after they go to bed, I have also got my swimmers jumper on the go to pick away at here and there. 

I have finished the front and back, and rather than go straight into the sleeves I decided to add the swiss darning to the front at this point, and then if it was awful I would have the option to redo the front with intarsia instead. 

I did the colourwork yesterday, and generally I am pleased. Nobody would be fooled into thinking the design is knitted, but the effect is quite fun, and I would definitely use it again for small designs. It was certainly more enjoyable to do than intarsia. 

Below is my design - I added in a few fish for fun, and then the image from the pattern for reference.

The only thing I particularly don't like about this method is that it slightly distorts the stitches around the design, but I'm hoping when the garden is worn it won't be too visible. 

I have a busy day today - I must at least do the washing up and hoover through in the morning, and then I have an opticians appointment. After not wearing glasses for several years, I feel that my eyesight has gotten to a point now where I will need to begin wearing them again, at least to drive. While in town I am also going to go charity shop hunting for white sheets - the plan is to be a family of ghosts this Halloween, and I've been tasked with making costumes. Could be worse!