Amy Karol’s (aka. Angry Chicken’s) Chocolate Cake
from her recipe cheat sheet
3 x 10″ chocolate cakes stacked with butter cream icing

Considering Amy’s recipe uses american measurements, it turned out fine. I made two batches in total as I knew I’d need 3 cakes to stack. The balance of the mixture went a long way. It made 20 regular size cupcakes, 12 mini cupcakes and 4 texan muffins. I think I was also economical with the sugar as well. Maybe using 2/3 of what the recipe calls for.

It was light, delicious and the perfect end to our barbecue.

A simple gathered top for Miss A’s second birthday. Bizarrly, we were watching the final show in the F-Word series last week and Graham Norton was wearing a shirt in the same Liberty fabric.

You can also see the decking is finished. Hoo-bloody-ray!

We’ve been taking a break from the blog for a bit. Too much to do in the garden, like building our deck and other activities are keeping us occupied. I may be here from time to time, who knows but I’m enjoying doing other things for a bit.

See you in September.

You know when you’ve got a deadline and you’re worried you won’t get things finished in time………..and you’ve complained to DH that you’ll need weekend-baby-free time in order to do such finishing……….there’s always a distraction. Just to set me back a few more hours.

Little tote bag for: a drink, teddy, a book and a snack. A little girl needs a smart bag at a wedding.

Vintage Wine Cardigan
from a vintage Robin pattern
fits chest 48 cms so 6-9 months or thereabouts
4mm vintage needles
3 balls King Cole Merino Blend DK #32 Wine

The pattern is from my collection of vintage knitting patterns. I would like to work this up larger for my little girl in the same colour. It really suits her skin tone. I love the yarn and will use it again, soft with great stitch definition and machine washable. Now we’ve lost Jaeger….this is a good alternative to Matchmaker Merino. I just scraped in with nothing to spare on this one. A fiddly bit of sewing up, but I like that part. Maybe next time I’ll work it in one piece to the armholes.

Mods: I omitted a button and the filet ribbon around the neck, not practical or safe! Oh, and I compensated by adding extra stitches to the seam edges so the pattern appeared seamless on the side seams.

Seeing as I’m from the southern hemisphere and I live in the northern hemisphere, I consider myself lucky that I can have two mother’s days in a year! Is that greedy?

Here are the socks I made for my mother for her birthday/mother’s day. The pattern is so easy to memorise and they look fabulous on. Shame my hooves were too large to model them for you. A must-knit pattern for any sock knitters out there.

Child’s First Sock in Shell
Knitting Vintage Socks Nancy Bush
2.25mm circs magic loop

Knitted bolero and fabric = wedding outfit for the little miss

Now I need to agonise over tights or socks……..

Gifted to me from my cousin in the US. Made by me 10 years ago. I love my family.

Simple tie top dress
One of my aunt’s patterns (probably vintage Butterick or something similar)

These socks are the complete antithesis of what’s been happening round here lately. They worked up in a speedy fashion and by only have the motif up the front. I made a mistake on the first sock and blithely carried on knitting, got to the rib and realised I should’ve had two motifs going round the ankle. So, super express they were.

Express Lane by Diane Mulholland
The Natural Dye Studio Mirage merino/tencel sock in Aubergine
2.5mm bamboo addis and dpns

Now there is a story as to why I used addis and dpns. Well, I got all the way through sock #1 magic loop - brilliant! Loved the technique, so easy and much better for little hands that like to fiddle and practise their ‘knit knit’ with the real thing when I accidentally leave it in reach! So, I don’t even get through the rib on sock #2 and my needle snaps right at the join. As you can imagine I was rather miffed. I have been meaning to contact them directly as the shop I bought them from sadly closed down last summer. Has this happened to any of you?

Bainbridge scarf by Minty Fresh
1 and a smidge balls of Louisa Harding Grace (wool/silk)- shade 2
3.75 dpns

Our stay in Lancashire is almost over and so far we’ve:-

:: had many lovely walks on the beach

Later today we’ll all be reunited and we can’t wait! Happy Easter everyone.