FO: Griffin

 

I have a new favourite pattern. I was lucky enough to be a test knitter and it's just been released on Ravelry.

Griffin by Georgie Hallam

Griffin is a saddle shouldered vest, knit in the round with a kangaroo pocket and deep set neckline. There is also a hood option and a sister pattern (Gwendolyn) for a longer dress version. It's a fun knit and a construction (saddles) I've not done before.

I really loved testing this that I actually made three!

A little bitty 3 month version in Tri'Coterie Donegal Tweed DK. This was SO soft to work with, plump and squishy with a white nep that keeps things interesting. I think this one is definitely rocking the 70s vibe.



Then I made a 3year old version to give to one of my nephews for xmas.  I used some Utiku Smoke (Wool Company) that I have had stashed for ages, and a little bit of contrast charcoal plain 8ply to do the pocket and collar. I really loved how this one looks with the contrast. It's little boy smart I think.



 I let Miss 5 try on the gray one - I'd previously tried to convince her that she would look great in one of these - and she was finally convinced. I let her stash dive and she picked some Tri'Coterie DK  in a bright orange vareigated colourway named for Aslan from the Narnia books. This another cool throwback to the 70s! I really love this one too and it suits my little tomboy to a T.

Griffin is a wonderfully versatile pattern and is written in both DK and Aran weights. As with all of Tikki's patterns it is well written with lots of helpful notes on getting the correct size and photo tutorials for any new things. As you can tell I am big fan :)

 For more information on my projects including yardage etc find them on Ravelry

Settling in

This morning we awoke to chickens outside in the garden - actually they were waiting at the door like we might open it and let them in! It was so windy last night, the gate to their pen blew open.

Already I can personalities emerging, and perhaps a bit of a pecking order. Hermoine (pictured) is definitely the bossypants and she'll peck your toes if you go out to feed them in your jandals. She probably talked the rest of them (Flopsy, Henrietta and Harriet) into having a little explore this morning!

In the end I enticed them back to their pen with some breakfast. Easy peasy.

We've had a week or so of no eggs which I hope was just getting used to a new diet (food scraps....yum) and settling in. This morning there were 2- I'm still amazed by the sheer size of the eggs. One of them lays eggs so big they don't fit in standard egg cartons! Omlette for lunch today I think :)

New additions

Meet our (yet unnamed) additions to the family. There are actually 4 but they were a bit shy and wouldn't pose together!

I've wanted chickens for a long time and last week a visit from my clever DIY-genius stepdad resulted in an old horse corral being turned into a chicken run. The girls have a little house with nesting boxes and a perch and a huge fenced area to roam around.

They seem pretty happy. Day 2 and we had 3 eggs this morning so I'm going to assume they're pretty pleased with the new abode.

I love going out to check them, they're quite friendly and already I can see distinct personalities. And nothing beats your own fresh eggs!