One stop shop at John Lewis Store, Oxford Street

Another week has flown by and the local schools will be finishing for their summer break.  We live on the route of many school kids attending both Infant, Junior and Senior schools and so there is a lot of traffic as well as the teenagers walking past.  So by the end of the week, 19th July, the road will have much less traffic and the buses will be a lot quieter too.

At Christmas 2018 I got a great gift from Frank and I think I posted about it but I shall repeat myself a little, he got me this book and the yarn to make the socks on the front cover.

Frank said the lady in the store went through the yarn needed and purchased them.

I decided the other day to start knitting them and it is an absolute joy however, one of the colours was incorrect and that was the reason for going back to John Lewis Store, Oxford Street today.

I was so eager to start the Fir Tree section and when I realised that the colour was wrong, I could have said a few chosen words but was a good girl and didn't.

Frank went to the Stratford John Lewis store but they did not have it and that was the reason we went to Oxford Street today.

I am going to sound like a right bore now!  I really hate crowds of people, I would have much rather purchased them on-line but because we took the Grandchildren back to their Mum yesterday, we went to London.

Frank loves it, he thinks nothing of getting on a train or bus and seeing where it takes him whereas me, I like to go get what I want and then come home.

Anyway, we got the green fir colour that I needed and also got an extra ball of white for the socks because I don't think the one ball that I had was going to be enough.  They had the samples on display in John Lewis and they are so gorgeous, I cannot wait to do some more.

You can see the purchases we made in the photo above and it is a gorgeous green colour.  In case you're wondering what the name of the pattern is called, it is Cabin in the Woods.  The pattern book has got such a lot of lovely sock patterns and I know I will be doing at least 3 of them.

We also got a set of Knit Pro Symphony's double pointed needles which start from a size 2 mm.  We had a look at the Prym DPN's too that Arne & Carlos said that they use but oh boy, they are £10 for one set.

I decided a while ago that I wanted to challenge myself with my knitting and doing colour work is a challenge.  I was put off a bit when I knit the Latvian Mitts because there were 3-4 colours per row which I got rather frustrated with.  Also, when you watch a lot of youtube podcasts and the techniques that others use when they do colour work it can get a bit overwhelming so when I started these socks, I thought I would just do them the way that is comfortable for me.  So because it is only 2 colours at a time I am not going to knit with a colour in each hand, I am just going to do it my way.

As I knit I drop the colour, grab the other colour and then keep doing that.  I also keep the balls of yarn on my lap and pulled from the centre so the balls don't roll around.

I do know that I have quite a few sock patterns that I want to do but also after watching a podcast on youtube called Ellinesscrafts I have felt inspired to knit a garment.  Here is the link for Lorraine's podcast.

 'https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaBo4oNYesohizAOQ-VUBjw


I do hope you find the time to have a look,  I binge watched them all over a couple of weeks and she is very inspiring.  She only podcasts once a month, doesn't get into too much personal life or opinions etc and just concentrates on the knitty gritty stuff.  Lorraine has made such gorgeous summer tops and I definitely have a few on my to-do list.

WHAT'S NEXT

We had a lovely fish and chip dinner in John Lewis's so I don't have to cook a meal today and that means more knitting time.  I am going to finish this blogpost up, grab another drink and start on the next part of the Nordic Socks and then maybe, I will do a bit of ironing. 

I have Doctors in the morning and am going to request blood tests so I have to fast from tonight and boohoo, I cannot have a cuppa when I get up which is gonna be hard.  But once I've had my blood test I can come home and knit.

I have been progressing well on my Hedvig Crochet Blanket but must admit I want it finished now, it is a big project and I should have waited till nearer the winter time to do it.  Never mind, it is going to  be a great heirloom piece when it is finished.

Have a good week and hopefully, I may have a finished pair of socks to show off!