Half a pair!!!

I've just finished the first of the pair of the Friday Harbour socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the road. I love this book so much, this is my second pair from the book and I think I will get round to making nearly all of them eventually!!!!
The sock swap for my Harry potter partner is coming along ok too but I'm finding it really hard to get a photo which shows the pattern! SO....... I've enlisted the help of one of my cyber buddies, and she is going to use my pattern and knit a pair in plain yarn just so I can get a decent piccie of the pattern!I'm hoping to get the pattern up on the swap blog to earn some extra points for Hufflepuff:-)
I cast on for Tempting II last night! The 1x1 rib is a little slow going but I'm enjoying using the calmer yarn which I've never used before, its very soft once knitted, almost chenilley!!!I've a lovely mother of pearl buckle for it to finish it off, hopefully before I go on holiday in May:-)
I've had a funny few days knitting wise, I've had time off work but haven't really got much done, just hunted around in stash for new things to start *roll*
My training for the great north run is going ok, I can feel myself improving each time I go out, whihc is good cos it's keeping me enthusiastic!!!!

Cherry

Pattern: Cherry, by Anna Bell
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cathay, 7 balls

sock swap started!!!!

I've made a start on my harry potter sock for the swap!!!! The pattern is original, inspired by flying owls and the lightning bolt scar on harry's head! You can't see very well on the picture (I must learn how to use this camera properly)but there are cabled sections which look like birds and then a centre panel which has a textured lightning bolt! I'm really pleased with how they're looking so far, just not thrilled with my photography*roll*

Cotton Cabling

I finished the back of the cotton sirdar jacket and have made a start on the first front. I remember reading somewhere that wool is best for cables because of its natural stretch, and that cotton is not so good due to its lack of elasticity. But I think the cotton is cabling fine, I like the way its looking so far!
I'm trying to plan may harry potter sock swaps.I'm hoping to design something original so that it makes some housepoints for hufflepuff house, so currently hoping for inspiration..............maybe I should spend the afternoon knitting and watching the HP films:-)

Fairweather knitting

Yesterday wasn't such a nice day, so I did manage to get a bit of knitting done!
I cast on for something new, nothing quite beats that excitement does it! ( or maybe its just me?????)
I'm using some jaeger monte cristo that I've had in stash for ages, its a discontinued cotton blend, but lovely and soft and really nice to knit with. I've managed almost up to the armholes of the back so far.

And its going to grow into this!

I've made this jacket before, a couple of years ago for my sister but in a brushed yarn. Its long enough ago for me to have forgotten the pattern, and its looking good in the cotton:-)
I've done a little more on the union market square pullover, but I feel in the mood for cooler knits so its been a little bit neglected! So much for my intended finishing off WIP's before starting new ones!!!!!!

I've enjoyed the bit I've done so far, and learnt a new cast on method! It's got a hem too! see??!!

That's my boy!!!!!!

The weather has been glorious today!!! Nothing productive to report, but here's me and scooby, enjoying the sunshine:-)

Secret pal is a gryffindor!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found out my secret pal for the Harry potter swap is a Gryffindor! How exciting, she could almost be Harry potter!!!!!! I sent a message to chrissy of bright dyes asking if she could dye me some Gryffindor inspired yarn and here it is!!!! Isn't it fabulous!And so quick too:-) The rest of the sock will be a secret I'm afraid as I don't want to give the game away to my secret pal. I'm considering patterns at the minute, should I go plain or patterned, I just can't decide!!!!!I've got till the first of May to decide anyhow as thats the official start date for the swap. I love swaps, they're so exciting!!!!!!! I need to get a move on with my keyring swap for the crafty threads forum too, I still can't quite decide what I'm going to do for that either *roll* Nothing like a deadline to get results though:-)

Harry potter sock swap questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?
Hufflepuff

2. Shoe size?
UK 3 (Europe 36)

3. Foot Length?
8.5 inches

4. Foot Circumference?
8 inches

5. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.
a.Brittany Birch 5" 2.5mm
b.Clover Bamboo takumi 16cm 3.0mm
c.Clover Bamboo takumi 16cm 2.0mm

6. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?
I'd love to try some knitpicks dpns as we don't get them in the UK, any size or length:-)

7. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?

8. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?
Yes

I can't wait to find out who my pal is and start knitting!!!!!!

The kindness of strangers

It always amazes me how generous the knitting community is! I've taken part in a few swaps now and I always find I'm thrilled with what has been chosen for me! My postie delivered a lovely package yesterday,I was so excited on my way home form work after my hubbie told me there was a parcel from the USA for me!!!! I knew it was going to be my knit the classics swap:-)

The idea of the swap was to send a book from a series which you had enjoyed, and hopefully your partner would enjoy them too. I sent Mists of avalon to my swap as I love the book, and I received the first two books from the Ellis Peter's Brother cadfael series! I'm really pleased actually, cos I love any historical fiction and I'm sure these will be just my kind of thing! Isaac sent loads of extras too, some berooco alpaca in a gorgeous green colour which I think will become a hat for my dog walking:-)

A dishcloth, I love homemade dishcloths, and the most gorgeous set of stitch markers!!!!! How lucky am I that these were made especially for me:-)


Isaac has just started a blog of his own and I'm sure he'd love you to drop by!
Big thankyou for my swap, I love it:-)

Harry potter swap sock

I got the link to this blog from Audrey, I pondered a little but then thought why not! I love the harry potter books, and anything to encourage me to make socks can only be a good thing!So I've been sorted, and I'm a hufflepuff, and just waiting for my invite to join the blog now:-)

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

I've been working on the union square market pullover for a few days now, its coming along great but as I've chosen to do it in black, its really hard to photograph and be able to see anything, so I think you'll have to wait till its in the blocking stages:-)

I think I mentioned a while ago that I would be doing the great North run this year for the Toby Henderson Trust. I've started training properly this week, and have been out jogging early on a morning before work! My sister, who's daughter is autistic is doing the run with me, she hasn't started training yet but I wanted to crack on as I'm a little afraid I'm not up to the challenge!!!!!! Thats why I've started early cos I really don't want to let them down:-( Will need lots of positive vibes come the end of september I think!!!!!

Forest canopy shawl

Pattern: Forest canopy shawl
Yarn: Handmaiden seasilk
Colour: Glacier
Needles: Brittany Birch 5mm straights

Forest in a flash!

I've deliberated over what to make next for a couple of days after finishing wicked, and eventually after chatting to jeanette who suggested I try lace, I cast on for the forest canopy shawl last night. It's off the needles and blocking,(unblocked piccie above) I can't believe how quick it was to make, about 5-6 hours of knitting. It's my first proper lace project, and never has blocking been so amazing! I know everybody says it but I think it has to be witnessed in person to see the transformation that occurs when you block lace!


I've already downloaded Spring things shawl and I think I may cast on for that this week aswell!!!!!
I think I may have found a new addiction:-)
Finished photos to follow as soon as its dry!