Hats and Dogs!!!!

After finishing the alexandra jumper on Monday, I had a full ball and a bit of the plaid left over, so made a hat which I thought would be great for dog walking duties when the weather gets a little colder! The pattern is called cool, and its from the Rowan Plaid collection. I used less than a ball to make the hat,and it means I don't have an odd ball hanging around!!! Great:-)
I was looking for monkey related items on Etsy last week to include in my package for the monkey swap, and I stumbled across some weimaraner stitch markers which fell straight into my virtual basket! I've photographed them as best as I can, but they are BRILLIANT!!!!! I love them, and if the seller ever makes a set of great danes, I'll be first in the queue!!!!!!

I did it!!!!!!!

And with time to spare too:-)

Pattern: Alexandra from "fitted knits" by Stephanie Japel
Yarn: Rowan Plaid in "seagull"
Needles: Boyes needlemaster no 11

Progress for BHC!!!!

I'm getting on OK with the bank holiday challenge. The body is now finished, so just the sleeves to knit down now. I doubt I'll finish tonight, but you never know, and I should be finished at some point tomorrow if not:-0 I'm enjoying using the rowan plaid, its nice and cosy!
I went to see a Globe production of Romeo and Juliet at alnwick castle on saturday night. It was brilliant!!!!! It was within the castle grounds, but an outdoor stage. Its the first time I've seen a play in that way, and I enjoyed it so much. Everybody had picnics and sat around the stage on blankets or rugs. I spent the hour waiting for the play to begin, complaining that I'd forgotten my camera *roll*. It did get chilly later on, so if I go again next year, I'll be sure to wear something a little warmer:-)

Plain Pastels!

I started these socks last friday, and finished them last night. I think thats the quickest I've ever made a pair of socks, because I normally take an age to get the second sock started! I'm really pleased with them. The yarn is a german sock yarn that I got from somebody last year but can't quite remember who??!!
I think I will be starting my monkey socks after the weekend, but for now, I will be concentrating on the bank holiday challenge! Will be starting any minute, no cooking food tonight, more knitting time if we get takeaway! Hopefully there will be progress piccies tomorrow:-)

Melody's Bank Holiday challenge!!!!

You might recall the last bank holiday challenge by Melody, to knit something start to finish over the bank holiday weekend. You may also remember me failing to finish what I started ( I can't even remember what it was now). But August Bank holiday and I'm off work, so going to join in!!!!!
This time, I've picked a chunky knit from Stephanie Japel's Fitted knits, in Rowan Plaid,not sure which of the two colours yet, and I think I can do it in a weekend! I'm going to a play on saturday evening, and a christening on sunday, but hoping that this project is still do-able for me:-) We shall see!!!!
The Crafty forum has just added a Wardrobe refashioning mini forum, and although I'm not up to rewesing due to no dressmaking skills, I do have a couple of pure wool jumpers that I bought from Next, and never wear any more, and I'm wondering if I may be able to felt them and make a nice bag.........I think I'll bung em in the machine and see what happens!
Last shift at work this afternoon:-)Then 17 days off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Progress!

I've been quite productive over the past few days, despite having been at work, which is unusual for me cos I tend to knit a lot on my days off, but procrastinate on the days I work (not AT work I hasten to add).I started a sock on Friday night, which I finished last night, just plain but speedy none the less,

and I also made a start on a cardi from the Rowan plaid colection pattern book, which I bought about 6 years ago when plaid was first released, but at £8.95 a ball it was far to expensive to knit anything out of it:-( However, as its discontinued, I will get my snuggly cardi afterall! The yarn is nice and soft, and I bet its soooooo cozy to:-)

I ordered some jamiesons before my stashalong, to make the venezia pullover from IW. I saw a completed one made in two colours which was gorgoeus so thought I mgiht do the same. I chose lilac and cream, I actualy thought it was grey rather than cream, but thats what happens when you go off computer colours. I'm sure the colours go together fine though! No idea when I will start that, maybe a case of One day!

I have my monkey pal's name, so I will be hunting through stash for some yarn to knit for her with, and hopefully I'll have them finished before I go back to work in september.Two more shifts to work, and then I have 17 days off!!!!!! Yippeeee:-)

Stashalong.............. AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!

This time, I definately HAVE to stashalong!!!! I did do ok, for a few months, but then made up for my months of yarn freeness, and bought loads all at the same time!!!!I've got the yarn yard club, and the merino club for three months, but after that, no more yarn till my birthday next year!!!!!!!!
I have got a few parcels pending though......... but once they come, nothing more, zilch, zero, nil points..............do you think if I repeat it like a mantra it will become second nature? I MUST NOT BUY YARN! I MUST NOT BUY YARN!!!!

Monkey sock swap!!!!!!!!

I seem to have a bit of a thing for sock swaps at the moment! I've the second hogwarts swap ongoing, and then when I saw that ,Rebecca was running another Monkey swap, I just couldn't resist! I wanted to join last time, but just missed the deadline for signups, but I'm in plenty of time this time around:-) If anyone else fancies joining in, details can be found here, and signups finish at the end of august.


Monkey Sock Swap THREE Questionnaire

The basics:
Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep?
Hmmmm, intermediate to advanced I think.......fairisle fills me with terror, but I'm pretty good at cables and lace!

The measurements:
Shoe Size: UK 3, eur 36
Foot circumference: 8 inches
Foot length: 8.5 inches

Yarn Preferences:
What colors do you love? I like rich colours, reds/burgundys, anything autumnal!

Do you prefer solids or variegated?
I love both, But my stash is mainly variagated, a bit of solid colour thrown in would be great!

Do you prefer wool, cotton or acrylic yarn?
Definately wool! I'm a cold feet warm heart kinda gal!!!!!

What colors would you never wear?
None! I like all colours really.

What are your favorite brands of yarn?
I like Lornas laces shepherd sock
Yarn yard yarn (which is from a UK based shop)
Cherry tree hill

Are there any new brands you would like to try?
I'd love to try knitpicks, as we can't get it here in the uk!

Cookie A. Patterns:
Which of her patterns have you already knit?
Hedera

Which pattern(s) would you like to knit and don’t already own?
Twisted flower sock pattern is gorgoeus! I'd love to have a go at that:-)


Other pertinent information:

Would you be willing to have an international Monkey Pal or do you prefer one in the US?
I have to say international really don't I!!!! LOL!!!!

Do you have any allergies?
No

Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals?
I have two dogs. I don't encourage them near me when I knit, but they do sometimes have a sniff of what I'm at!!!!

Are you on Ravelry yet? If you don’t mind having new friends, what is your Ravelry name?
No:-( still waiting for my invite...........:-(

my daemon!

I'm reading Northern lights by Phillip Pullman at the minute, and really enjoying it!! I've already decided I will go and see the film in the run up to christmas this year, I love the cinema at christmas time, don't know why its any different really, but I always like it more in December???!!!! Anyway, I can't decide if my daemon really reflects me or not....... what do you think??

Girlfriend shrug

Here is the Girlfriend shrug, from Wendy of Knit and Tonic. Its for my niece but as she lives a car drive away, its being modelled by toby the terrier, who probably doesn't show it at its best, but he's trying hard!!!!
I used SKD Fabel sock yarn, and the 4-5 years size took just under 100g, so a bargain at less than £4!!!!!!

Just a taster............

Here's a snippet of my pals sock. i don't want to show a full picture and ruin the surprise, but the first sock is completed, and I'll be casting on just now for sock number 2:-)

And the winner is.......................

SEAHORSE:-)

If you let me know your address via the crafty threads forum seahorse, I'll send your prize out to you!!!! Thanks for commenting everybody! I think I'll have another little yarn giveaway just before christmas!!!!

No knitting to show today, I've been working on my harry potter socks. The first one is almost done, but as the swap is not anonymous, I don't want to show the socks here and spoil the surprise for my pal............:-(
I've two days off after tomorrow, so maybe I'll have a little knitting to show then!
I'm even thinking of making another clapotis to give to my mil for chrsitmas, we'll see:-)

Posh Love!!

I eventually got round to finishing these socks which have been on the needles since February!
Yarn: Posh Lucia February sock club colourway
To fit size 3 feet
Pattern, made up by me!
Needles: Addi circs 2.5mm