1) Knit one hat each week for The Innocent Big Knit.
2) Do something nice for me.
3) Choose a non fiction book from the library.
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I've gone back to Alison Hogg's Big Knit hat pattern this month, but as you can see, I've knit the hats in two tone. I think it makes them look a bit different, and I'm still loving this pattern. You can find it on The Creations of Crazy Dazy blog.
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I think these little flowers just finish the hats off nicely.
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I had a lie in for my nice thing for April. I can't tell you how long it's been since I've slept in past eight in the morning, and even eight's late for me. I'm not a very good sleeper, I'm usually awake during the night unable to get back to sleep and I wake very early. The slightest thing disturbs me, and the slightest worry or niggle keeps me awake. I walk around exhausted most of the time as I know I don't get enough sleep, so when I woke one weekend morning and managed to get back to sleep, I took advantage and didn't stir until about ten, I couldn't believe it. I even stayed there even longer and read my book. A rare treat indeed.
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I've found, through researching my family tree, that my ancestors have lived in Leeds since 1777, perhaps even earlier than that as I haven't been able to trace my tree further back yet. This has piqued my interest in local history, I often wonder what the area was like when earlier generations of my family were alive. The book I've chosen from the library for April is Blue Plaques of Leeds by Dyson and Grady. The blue plaques have been placed on buildings in Leeds and a short description on the plaque tells something about why it has been put there, but this book has more in depth information. It's so interesting reading about the people and places in Leeds from many years ago and why they have been commemorated in this way.
It's been a quiet weekend here. Mick was supposed to be playing cricket on Saturday but the match was cancelled due to rain, though I think the decision was made rather early as it brightened up and we managed to do a bit of gardening. Eleanor spent the weekend revising for her GCSE's which are now just two weeks away. A scary thought.
This months hats are beautiful! I really like the two tone effect. Glad that you had a good weekend and that you have enjoyed your lie in! xx
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased with how the hats have turned out, it makes them a bit different from the last lot I knit. The lie in was wonderful, it's amazing how refreshed you feel when you've slept well for a change.
DeleteI've been to the innocents big knit site and there are a couple of patterns that are quite basic so I love it when you put links for more difficult ones , so thanks for that. Eden's revising at the moment, we have the number of days until her first exam told to us every tea time! Stressful time for them x
ReplyDeleteThis is my favourite big knit pattern, the hats are just so pretty, I can't resist knitting them. There's a few other patterns on Ravelry if you type big knit in to the search box. Exam time is stressful, I don't know who's more nervous, me or Eleanor, me I think, Eleanor seems to be taking it all in her stride.
Deleteyour two tone hats are very pretty.....thanks for giving me a mention!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I'm not clever enough to make up a pattern myself so I'm very grateful to those people who share theirs, this is the one I love the most out of all those I've come across.
DeleteI sympathise as I generally don't sleep well, and I can't remember the last time I got up at 8am let alone later.
ReplyDeleteThat book looks like being really interesting, all the more so in view of your family history research. Flighty xx
I'm just the same, I don't know how I managed to sleep so late on this occasion, I'm usually up well before eight usually. The book is really interesting. I enjoy reading about places I know and people who have a connection to the area.
DeleteThe hats are awesome, they look like little sombreros. I'm glad you had a nice weekend. That book will be very interesting, maybe a nice walking tour too this summer.
ReplyDeleteThey do look like miniature sombreros. Visiting all the plaques in the book would be a great idea, so interesting to visit the buildings on which they're placed.
DeleteThe wee hats look gorgeous, Jo. Good luck to Eleanor! :o)
ReplyDeleteThey're such cute little hats and it's a lovely pattern to follow. Thank you for your good wishes for Eleanor, she's really working hard so I hope it pays off.
DeleteI an't believe another month has gone by and here we are doing our challenge updates again. I do like these little hats. I've made five again this month only the basic bobble hat pattern not as clever as yours. Had a disaster with a pom pom last night so was not a happy bunny. Hope Eleanors revision is going ok. I always get more nervous about things than the kids do must be part of being a mum I guess. Only one/two sleeps left now. I will be making the last square in the morning and finishing everything off ready for my reveal yeah.
ReplyDeleteI know, the months are just flying by. The pattern for these hats is so easy, that's one of the reasons I like it so much. I'm rubbish at pom pom making so I ended up buying some. Eleanor's come in from school and she's revising again, I do hope that all her hard work pays off. I was never nervous about my own exams so I think it must definitely be part of being a mum. Can't wait for the big reveal, and to hear that Number 2 is back on home soil.
DeleteGorgeous little hats, I will download the pattern and make some of those to add to my collection, they look really pretty with the ribbon rose. My hubby loves to read those blue plaques on buildings. Exams are a worrying time for all concerned, I'm sure Eleanor will be fine. Willow has SATS in 2 weeks and I'm a nervous wreck for her!
ReplyDeleteIt's a really easy pattern, I enjoy knitting these little hats. Eleanor started her revision early so I hope she's well prepared but we'll never really know until she gets her results. She does have to work hard for her grades, it doesn't come easy to her. I remember Daniel and Eleanor going through SATS, I really don't agree with exams at such a young age, it was like a wasted school year for them as all they seemed to do was revise what was going to be in the exam. Good luck to Willow, I'm sure she'll do really well.
DeleteI love your little hats Jo! I like to see them on the bottles in the supermarkets later in the year.
ReplyDeleteThere are loads of blue plaques around Wakefield too and its nice to read them.
I'm looking forward to seeing the hats on the bottles once they're in the supermarket, I shall be looking to see if I can spot any of mine. I always stop to read the blue plaques, they're so interesting.
DeleteYour hats are lovely Jo. I have been making them too (have done for many years) but mine are really simple to get a larger quantity made; I challenged myself to make at least 50 in April and to date have made 51 so can ease up a bit now and return to a bit of reading or crochet. I think a realistic target for this year will be 250, but will aim for one a day for next year, however I will not wait until March to start knitting which is what happened this year!!
ReplyDeleteWow, my target for the whole year is 50, you put me to shame. This pattern is really simple, I think it looks as though it's going to be more complicated than it actually is. Good luck with your target, if you can make 51 in a month, I'm sure you'll crack it.
DeleteThe little hats are sooo cute. I can understand the not sleeping part, as most mornings I wake around 5 am and that is my trouble, I'm always tired. Six hours sleep is just not enough and like you I wake at the slightest sound and stress about everything. Enough said. I must chase up some of my family tree, especially my Dad's side as they were stonemasons from the Penines. Interesting as I've been in love with stone houses since a small child, but only found out about the family in the last few years. Hope the book is a great read and a mine of information. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI haven't always been a bad sleeper, I don't know if it's just because I'm getting older or if it's because I stress so much about everything these days. I find it really hard to just relax. It sounds as though you've got lots of interesting things to discover about your family from the Penines. It's fascinating what we uncover when we start researching our family tree.
DeleteYour hats looks great, you must be fast at them now! How many have you made so far? Family history is interesting, nice that you can put yours in one place, mine are all over! Makes it easier to find out about them.
ReplyDeleteI haven't counted them up, but I'm making one each week and I made a few to start me off so that I could get to my target of fifty by October, so I think I should be at about twenty eight by now. It's only my dad's side of the family on his dad's side which originates in Leeds, the rest, like yours, are scattered all over the place.
DeleteThe hats are really sweet! Well done with the lie-in. It's horrible when sleep just doesn't come and most of the night is spent tossing and turning. Jx
ReplyDeleteI'd read in bed when I can't sleep but I don't like to put the light on in case it wakes Mick. I think a Kindle would be great in this instance so I've got one on my Christmas list.
DeleteI left a comment yesterday, Jo, but between yahoo and aol, it seems to have gone into the ether! (See my blog post today for a vague explanation!)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I love the wee hats. I'll need to keep an eye out for yours when the time comes. Good luck to Eleanor for her exams. :o)
I've got yesterday's comment, it was just waiting on moderation, but I hadn't been notified of it by email. I know there's been some problems with emails on AOL and I'm trying to get it sorted out. I shall be looking in the shops for my hats, I wonder if I'll manage to spot any of them. Thank you for your good wishes for Eleanor.
DeleteThe hats look like little Easter bonnets with the flowers on the side, very sweet indeed.
ReplyDeleteA rare treat indeed sleeping until that time and then to top it off with some reading. I bet that felt really decadent.
You are finding out so much about the area you live in with the choice of books this year. And I'm really impressed with how you've managed to go so far back with your family tree.
Lisa x
They're such sweet little hats, I love this design and they're so easy to knit too. I couldn't believe how long I slept for, I bet it's a long time until I sleep in till that time again. I'm really interested in the history of my local area, I think it's since I've started researching my family tree, it throws up lots of names and places and it's fun looking in to the history of it all.
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