Feeling better and knitting.

I'm probably feeling better because I decided to have a proper rest on Friday,and did nothing except knit,caugh,drink tea and blow my nose.Allan kindly took up the slack,collecting the chick from school and amusing him.
I'm progressing on Pickpocket,and have just wound up some more yarn.

I'd have made better progress if I'd kept this as my primary project.The yarn is lovely to knit with.Soft and elastic and rich with skin softening lanolin.
Silk Garden isn't very elastic.I don't mind the odd bits of plant I find in it,but do not like the dried shards of seracin in the silk.My fingers are a bit sore and rough from working with it.The silk itself seems very drying [ I keep lathering in my knitters hand balm .Thank you Secret Pal 2 !].Luckily the knitted fabric is lovely.Soft with a slight bloom of kid mohair.I'm in love with knitting Butterfly !

Not a brilliant photo - poor lighting and curly knitting - but you get the picture ! Both sleeves up to the armhole and part of the right front are done.I'm really enjoying it and am going with the flow as far as the colours go.Until Theresa pointed it out I hadn't made the connection between my colour of Silk Garden and a beautiful cardigan she had made last year.Such good taste we have ! :0)
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Whilst I had the swift and ball winder out I wound up the yarn for my Poetry in Stitches knitalong ,cardigan.The knitalong starts on Monday,and could last a while !

I still have my doubts about the mustard yellow,rust red and,especially,the ecru.Without them the colours,although gorgeous,look bland.I'm pondering ditching the row of ecru leaves.Not sure I need them across my hips !

Some of Sissel's gorgeous knitting.

I have been knitting,but I'm not in the mood to write about it ! Not that there's anything awry with my knitting,just that I have a stinking cold.I find it hard to think with a cranium full of snot !
I am more than happy to show you pictures of Sissel's beautiful knitting.
Whilst Sissel was visiting she was finishing the border of Karis,from Rowan 36.Here's the finished lace.Most gorgeous !

On her return to Norway she completed Brier,again from Rowan 36.A lovely design.Understated elegance.

Sissel started her first Charlotte's Web at the end of last week,and finished it yesterday !

Stunning !
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I momentarily cleared my airways whilst boiling cider vinegar !
I turned this

into

my killer [hot !] green tomato chutney ! The rest of my unripened tomato glut has been passed on to a friend's husband to make his version.
Bet mine's better !

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Added later.
For Claudia : Basic Green Tomato Chutney recipe = for every 2lbs of tomatoes[chopped] you add approx [adjust to taste/at whim !]8oz chopped onions,8oz chopped apple [most people use cooking apples,I used the surplus from our garden],8oz sultanas [plump raisins will do !],8oz soft brown sugar,1pint cider vinegar,a scant teaspoon of salt and spices.I used English mustard powder [1/2 teaspoon] and cayenne pepper - start with 1/2 teaspoon and add more to suit you.You can also add mustard seeds,chilli,allspice...
In half the vinegar soften the fruit and onions.
Add sultanas,sugar [warmed sugar disolves better & is less likely to burn],spices and remaining vinegar.Cook on low heat until it thickens but is still runny.Pour into sterilised jars.Allow to mature in a cool dark place at least one month.
Enjoy with cheese - especially a good cheddar - or cold meats.