Yarning Along: Hello Summer!

After a week of warm weather, this morning I was woken by the glorious sound of rain! Ironic for the first day of summer, but equally pretty standard for the UK. The rain is a huge relief, the temperature has gone down by 10 degrees (Celsius), and everything feels much fresher. The rain didn't even get in the way of the day's plan, which was to go to the shopping mall about 20 minutes north of us and spend the day sorting out birthday presents for several small people, so hooray for that!

This week is a two-project two-book week.

First we have socks for my son. It's his birthday soon and I said to him that I wanted to knit him some socks. He immediately dashed off to his room and located the yarn that we bought together on Yarn Shop Day and said 'You could use my yarn mum'. Sorted. These socks will be much quicker than usual, and I'm whizzing through them. I've just done the heel of the first sock and am confident I can get the whole pair done by the end of the weekend.

The second project is a children's jumper with a Christmas theme. You can't work out what it is from the 20 rows I've done so far, but I'll give you a clue: it's a self-published version of a pattern that I had published in a magazine a few years ago. Any guesses? I'm re-knitting the jumper in different yarn (Stylecraft Life DK,* which is one of my favourite DK yarns - an acrylic-wool blend that is woolly without being scratchy, and easy-care without being squeaky. Perfect), and I've redone the raglan shaping, as my design skills have improved over the years. Fingers crossed I might have a good chunk to show you next week.

On the book front I am still going with The Lake House. I'm on page 141, which I think is pretty much where I abandoned it last time. I'm enjoying it, but am only reading for a few minutes each day, so am not getting through it quickly!

The second book is The Careful Use of Compliments, which I picked up from a little library shelf at our local swimming pool last week. The book is a very easy read, so I'm keeping it in my bag for reading when I'm out and about. I'm really enjoying it and its easy-going pace. The book is part of the Isabel Dalhousie series by Alexander McCall Smith, and this is the first I've read, though not the first in the series, not that it matters as enough background is given as you're reading. The story is set in Edinburgh, and has a very similar feel to the 44 Scotland Street books, which I also enjoyed.

Oh, and I blocked the blue cardigan I was knitting last week. It is pretty cute!**

As ever, linking up with Rachel for Yarning Along.

*Affiliate link.

**The pattern should be out in the next couple of weeks, watch this space...