Terri knits

It's been a month..........

2008-09-29T08:44:00.002Z

And my poor blog has been neglected!!!! In my defense, I have been on holiday for a fortnight. Not much knitting has been going on over the past month, a little secret knitting, but nothing excting that I can blog about.
Gilraen sent me this award last month, thanks very much for that, and apologies at my snail pace response to it.

In return, I'd like to pass on the award to the following bloggers!

Rebecca
Sarah
Sue
Yarnsnob
Angie

Poor scooby has been unwell since we got back off holiday, and had a short stay in the veterinary hospital. Problems with his back they eventually decided, although they didn't seem to really get to the bottom of it. He seems ok now, so fingers crossed its just been a one off thing. Trying to get a great dane down a flight of stairs and into the car when he can't walk is no easy task...... we should have a plan in place really!!!!!
Hopefully some knitting content next time:-)

Baby knitting....

2008-08-28T15:07:00.002Z

I've had a pretty eventful couple of weeks to say the least, and its flown by in a whirlwind. Needless to say that my ravelympics jumper was NOT finished by the timne the flame went out, but it was knitted by the end of the following day. It's waiting to be sewn up, but soon, as the weather seems to be heading away for the winter now.
So firstly, my friend had a baby!!! Not that eventful in itself, people have babies everyday I hear you say, and you're right, they do!!! But not when they didn't know they were pregnant!!!!! I kid you not! Her Gp thought she was constipated... I for one have never had to try and flush away a 6lb turd, but there you go. Mum and baby are doing well, and hopefully might get home in another week or so??? And it's a good excuse for me to knit baby clothes:-)

It's a pattern by Elizabeth Zimmermans from the knitters almanac. Its a brilliant pattern (and book), very ingenious!!! I used some silk stream which was left over from green gable last year and its nice and soft. I know I chose blue, which isn't traditional for girls, but I think babies look good in colour rather than white all the time???????
I fell off my bike whilst cycling to work last week......... everyone at work thought I was talking about a motorbike, but no, I injured myself falling from my push bike.... Embarassing to say the least! Actually, my shoulder is quite badly injured and I'm wearing a collar and cuff much of the time. I can't go to work as I'm unable to move patients or carry out resuscitation if needed, so I'm at home with dvd's and tv reruns, which aint so bad! And I'm still managing to knit, so it definately could have been worse:-)

Classy shrug

2008-08-15T22:37:00.002Z

I finished this shrug just before the start of the olympics, but just had the chance to take pictures. This was my first experience of Dream in color classy, and I LOVE it!!!!!!! Definately a yarn I'd like to knit with again:-)
I've done the back and half a sleeve of my ravelympics sweater, so getting along ok with that......... I've got two days off now, so hoping to make some good progress before I'm back to work on monday.

Olympic addiction....

2008-08-14T07:52:00.002Z

I'm not a massive fan of sport, but I LOVE watching the olympics!!! Obviously I have my favourite sports within, but I enjoy watching it all, and this year is no differant. I'm missing out on loads though because of the time differance, between here and beijing, so having to make do with the highlights in the evening when I'm home, but I shall be staying up on staurday night to watch the marathon:-)
When I saw Ravelympics on ravelry, I was so excited to join in, and signed up for the sweater sprint and the sock put. I thought I would easily finish two projects within a fortnight..........at this point I had failed to realise that I would be working 14 of the 16 olympic days!!!!! Which means I've had to rethink what I can achieve in the time:-( I was hoping to make Coraline, but realistically don't have time, even though I don't think the actual project is a difficult one, I don't have the hours to knit it. So....... I've swapped my sweater sprint project to a plain st st v neck sweater which I might be able to wear over a shirt for my new job:-)

I'm half way up the back so far two days after starting, which isn't too bad when I've been at work. I'll be knitting like crazy this weekend! My sockput project is coming along ok, although again, not sure I will finish in time, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for one sock finished!!!

Through with the February lady!!!!

2008-08-05T16:36:00.002Z

In a good way though:-) I finished this yesterday morning and its been blocking since. It's a great pattern, I really want to make another in some Dream in color classy...........

This used 10 balls of the Jaeger, I could have used less as the yarn grew more lengthways when blocked than I thought, but I like the length that it's turned out, much better than I thought I was going to have to make do with from the yarn I had IYSWIM????!!!

February lady, thats me that is!!!!!

2008-08-02T17:50:00.002Z

Well, my birthday IS in February, so it kinda is me:-)
I started this on wednesday late evening, and the body is almost done. I'm holding off on the garter stitch border until after I've done the sleeves. I'm hoping that I have enough yarn to do full length sleeves AND make the body longer, but we'll see! I'm hoping to finish this over the next few days. I'm thinking of making Ysolda's Coraline for my ravelympics project..... what do you think????

Le rectangle cest finis!!!!!!!

2008-07-29T16:37:00.002Z

And I LOVE it!!!!! Hope my mother in law feels the same:-)
I decided against the edging in the end. I did attempt a bit, but it looked silly with a small edge, so I pulled it back and went ahead and blocked it without. It's plenty big enough without the additional size that the border would have added, so I'm pleased:-)

The end is in sight......

2008-07-28T09:21:00.002Z

I've finished the main panel of the stole, just the edging to sort and then I can block:-) I'm a little disappointed that I didn't finishe this completely yesterday to coincide with the last day of the Tour De France, but I should only be a couple of days behind. I didn't plan to finish this within the 3 weeks, but as I got so close, I wish I had iyswim..... Anyhow, it looks the same as in the last post but longer. I'm planning on using an alternative knitted on edging so that I can finish within the yarn that I have, if it looks rubbish I can always frog and give in and buy additional yarn, but I think a differant edging will look ok????
I'm on annual leave this week, I had been hoping that the sun would shine, and although its really hot, the sun is reluctant to make an appearance:-( Lot's of knitting time though, which is always a bonus!!!!

I'm gaining speed!!!!!

2008-07-19T08:06:00.002Z

Fifteen repeats done now, so thats half of the main panel of the stole! I can hardly believe how quickly its knitting up:-) I do have a potential problem however......... I've nearly used half of the yarn. The pattern says 1200yards, I have 1260 over two balls, and one ball nearly gone, so I'm gonna run short for the knitted on edging I think?? Unless I get a few more repeats out of the part ball left. I'm going to have to wait and see, but I can definately envisage me having to use a narrower edging and work out the math, or try to find some yarn in the same colour and dyelot as when I bought this over a year ago.................. nevermind, we'll just see!

I got it!!!!!!

2008-07-15T17:29:00.001Z

The job I mean:-) Thanks for all the good luck vibes, they certainly did the trick!!!!

And now I can crack on with the TdF stole, I've done 7 repeats, so almost a quarter done. I'm hoping to catch up with the rest of the pelaton now the interview is out of the way!!!!

Les Rectangle....

2008-07-11T12:32:00.004Z

I've made a little progress on Les Rectangle...... Little being the key word!!! Not because its hard, just because I haven't had much chance to knit:-( Although progress is slow, I'm enjoying the little bit that I have managed to get done, its going quicker than I thought, two pattern repeats has taken about two hours, but for my first attempt, I don't think thats too bad! The yarn is lovely to knit with, and definately not as scarey as I thought it might be!!!
Its interview day on Monday, so the weekend will be taken up with preparation for that, but come monday evening I'll be through the warm up of the past week and a bit, and ready to start sprinting up those mountains:-) I have to say, I'm really enjoying watching the highlights of the Tour de France each evening. I've never watched it before and its great:-)

On your bike!!!!!

2008-07-05T09:17:00.002Z

Ok, so day one of the Tour de France today, and I've eventually settled on my polka dot jersey project!!! I was going to attempt lamanaria, but as this will be gifted to my mil for her 60th birthday, I thought she would get more use from a stole..... So I've picked a rectangle from Victorian Lace today.

The yarn is jaggerspun zephyr from stash, its a lovely ruby colour, just hoping I'll be ok with the proper laceweight thickness........
Sadly, I can't cast on today as I'm at work on the late shift, but I have an early half tomorrow, so I should get a few hours knitting in then. I'll have to mix my TdF knitting with my interview prep for the first week of the tour.

I've signed up for the Ravelympics too, to start in August. I love joining in a knitalong:-)

Butterfly garter rib socks

2008-07-02T18:14:00.003Z

Made in Opal rainforest butterfly.
Size 2.5mm addi circs
Garter rib socks by charlene church in sensational knitted socks

Just a quick update!!!!

2008-07-01T19:21:00.002Z

To let you know I've been shortlisted for the job and will be interviewed on the 14th of this month. I have a presentation to prepare, but I think thats sometimes better than being asked questions as you can prepare better...... do you think???
I've got a place for the great north run too! SOmebody dropped out of running for the toby henderson trust before redeeming their coupon so I got first refusal:-) I'm very happy!!!!!!
Only sock knitting going on as I've been working, my first pair from sks should be finished tomorrow and I may have pictures!
Back soon, I'm off thursday and friday and hoping to get ready for the Tour de france knitalong, I still haven't decided what I'm going to make........

And MORE Monkeys

2008-06-23T19:33:00.003Z

No matter how many times I knit Monkey socks, I never seem to tire of them. This time I made no purl monkeys, and while I do like them, I prefer the original pattern. As my fourth pair of monkeys they won't be my last, and I'm still a long way off matching Gilraens epic stash of monkey FO's!!!!!!!!!!!
I've made a start on a pair of socks from sensational knitted socks which I bought a couple of years ago. I'm doing the garter rib socks, which are nice and quick, and looking pretty good in some opal rainforest butterfly yarn. It's the first time I've attempted anything from the book, and its really easy to follow. I'll be asking for the second book for christmas I think. The shetland shorty is almost done, just the bands to knit on and then a little finishing off, but tbh, it's easier doing socks on the days when I'm at work. I've been cycling to and from work recently, so 5 miles cycled 5 times a week, and I'm still finding it a little bit tiring. I'm trying to get out running a few times a week too, although only about six miles a week over three runs at the moment. Still no definate luck with finding a running place for the great north run later this year:-( The meningitis trust did have some places left so I've sent an application off, and just waiting to hear whether I was in time for one of their final places or not, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. My sister and I are looking into doing a Marathon in May of next year around lake windermere, but I'll need to get a few formal runs in before then I think........
No word on the job front yet either, I'm hoping to hear something this week about an interview. AND, only 11 weeks until we go to benidorm on our jollies:-)

A little progress......

2008-06-13T15:22:00.002Z

Thanks for all the comments about Tempest, I've worn it already, which is definately a good sign!!!!!!
I've been working on another sock yarn project since yesterday morning, thanks to the new Knitty being released this week. I've cast on for Shetland shorty in some "blue jeans" sock from The yarn yard, and its looking good so far. The ties took ages..........!!! Actually, I have about 50 yards less than the pattern suggests, so keeping everything crossed that I don't run out!

I've done a little more on the deep v tank aswell, not the two handed technique though as it hurts my fingers and wrists... perhaps I'm doing it wrong??? I'm shaping the neck anyhow, and almost up to the armholes.

I just found out that I don't have a place for the Great north run this year...... places being overbooked with the charity, I've emailed a few today to see if they have places left but no luck so far, so now considering that I might not get to do it afterall, which will be a shame, but I'll still be there cheering my sister on....!!!
I've applied for a new job today too!!!!!! I'm really excited, but worried that I will be dissappointed. I've just spoken to HR to make sure my application arrived (which it did) and they said there are a lot of applications for it:-( Its a monday to friday job, which I've been looking for for ages! I've done shifts for over ten years, worked eight christmas and new years in that time, and just really wanting something without all the unsocial hours. Its really difficult to commit to anything outside of work as you just can't guarantee that you won't be rostered to work. Keep your fingers crossed for me anyway, and I'll be needing a group hug if I don't get it!!! I hope I get shortlisted..............hmmmmmm.

And finally, just because I love her.............Terri:-)

Tempest!!!!!!

2008-06-10T21:41:00.002Z

Finished, from choosing yarn to wearing in 6 days!!!!! I'm really pleased with it, I like the colour, although I did have some trouble lining the stripes up in the small stripe section...... just due to the similarity in coolour I think.
I used almost 100g of the Main colour and doubt I would have had enough for the second size, despite the pattern suggesting I would iyswim.....
I like the buttons, and think they look fine, but they're too small to stop the cardi from popping open but I doubt I'll wear it closed anyway.
Now I just need to think about my Tour de france project:-)

As promised....

2008-06-06T09:37:00.002Z

I said I would do the current meme thats doing the rounds.
here goes...

1.What was I doing ten years ago?
I was living in London, working in a nursing home after dropping out of my electronics degree at Brunel university.

2.What are the five things on my to do list today?
Firstly, I intend to spend most of the day knitting, I'll probably read for a couple of hours too, label some parcels for my sister to take to the post office later, and have a quick tidy around before DH gets home, thats only four things......... oh, off to the docs this evening too!

3.Snacks I enjoy
Peanut butter and banana on brown toast.......delicious!!!

4.Things I would do if I were a billionaire
Never feel guilty about yarn buying again!!! Leave work without a doubt, shop lots, pay off my families debts.... the normal stuff really:-) I would probably fund an animal shelter for abandoned dogs too.

5.Places I have lived
Scarborough, Blyth, Durham, Newcastle, Uxbridge

6. Jobs I have had
Paper round,Supermarket worker whilst I did my A levels, worked in burger king for one day when I was at university, Care assistant, staff nurse, ward sister....... any suggestions for a new job greatly appreciated;-)

7. People I'd like to know more about
Picitsh, Aknita, Mrs J,auntie Noo, and anyone else not already participating

I also did this little quiz, I like these, even though your result depends totally upon your current mood!!

Your Personality is Very Rare (INFP)

Your personality type is dreamy, romantic, elegant, and expressive.

Only about 5% of all people have your personality, including 6% of all women and 4% of all men

You are Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

I'm getting on well with Tempest, although I pondered over which yarns to use. In the end I went with the two pinky shades, the pinky/blue was quite dark once wound which put me off a little. The back is finished and I'm cracking on with the fronts, here it is so far

I've finished another monkey sock too, its not a great picture, but its very pretty. I've done the no purl version this time, with a plain foot.

I'm hoping to take part in the Tour de france knitalong, I sent my email request this morning so hopefully I'll be in!!!!!!

decisions decisions.......

2008-06-04T10:36:00.002Z

I've been a little off colour for the past week and not really done much knitting other than a little bit on a pair of Monkeys. However, as the sun is shining today, I'm ready to pick up my sticks for something to match the weather:-) I've decided to have a go at Tempest and now just need to decide on a suitable coupling of yarns...... I thought I had decided which to use but when I went to retrieve said yarn from its hiding place, I saw lots of other possible combinations and now I can't decide which to use!!!!

I think all of the coloours here could match to the colour next to them.......????

Gilraen tagged me for a meme, I'll do it sometime this week when I've thought about my answers:-)

Horse shoe scarf

2008-05-31T15:48:00.003Z

I made this scarf as the first of my christmas knitting projects. It was really quick to make, and used some left over Rowan Plaid which I had in stash. It's lovely and soft.......maybe I'll keep it for me:-)

Yarn: Rowan Plaid 2.5 balls
Needles: 8mm straights

CO 32 stitches
Work till desired length using 4 row pattern rpt as follows

Row 1 k2, p1, (k8, p1)3 times, k2
Even rows p2, k1, (p8, k1) 3 times, p2
Row 3 k2, p1, (C4B, C4F, p1) 3 times, k2

Cast off, block as desired.

Ideal for using up leftover chunky yarns.

Yet another.......

2008-05-28T19:30:00.004Z

Pair of finished socks. I only have one single sock now, which I'll pair up at some point:-) This pair are made in Skeinqueen Plushness, which is a gorgeous yarn to knit with! very soft:-)
The eunny vest is coming along ok, maybe progress piccies next time. I'm almost up to the armholes, so nearly half way through........ the cutting of steeks is getting closer!!!!!!

Rib and cable socks

2008-05-26T18:58:00.003Z

I'm trying to finish off some sock wips before starting on a new pair of monkeys!
These are the second pair of Rib and cabled socks I've made from the fall 05 IW pattern by Nancy Bush.
Yarn used is Lucy Neatby celestial dream in Blue vesuvius, and very nice yarn it is to knit with! Luckily I have another two colours in stash:-)

Monkey parcel:-)

2008-05-24T20:23:00.003Z

My monkey swap parcel arrived earlier this week, and what a parcel!!!! My spoiler was Ronnie, and the socks she made me were just perfect!!! Such lovely colours, and so neat!!!!!

Thankyou very much Ronnie, I loved the parcel:-)

Evolution socks!

2008-05-20T15:36:00.002Z

Made in two days. Socks by Gilraen, designed for evolution sock yarn, but I subbed with Yarn yard merino. I'm really pleased with how they have turned out! Very snuggly:-)

Something new:-)

2008-05-15T12:10:00.002Z

This week has been a flurry of new experiences!
On Tuesday, I went to my first knitting group in Costas in Morpeth. There were 4 of us there, and it was great fun, spending two hours just chatting knitting:-) We're going to be meeting once a month, probably at a differant venue next time as Costas was pretty noisy. Perhaps the back room of a pub if anyone will have us, but its all very exciting, and I'm sure I'll be a regular attender.
I've also made a start on the Deep v tank by Eunny jang, it's my first proper attempt at colourwork.

I did attempt the endpaper mitts last year, but my colour choice was a bit rubbish and so they are half knitted in a bag somewhere. I'm really enjoying the tank so far. It's coming along surprisingly quickly, and its much simpler than I had envisaged. It will be my first attempt at steeking too when I get that far, but the instructions look really comprehensive, so I'm sure I'll manage:-)
I'm going to work on the tank for a few days and see how far I get, Ii've done 25 rows of pattern already, and thats only since yesterday afternoon, so possibly a speedy FO!!!

Finished Darling

2008-05-10T17:57:00.004Z

I've finished off the little girls cardi that I started last week, it was a good project to do a little of each day before going in to work for my night shifts. I want to do the embroidery but will need to look for online tutorials to show me how........!!!!

The pattern is available from Marie Grace. I used some leftover stylecraft aran for this which was in stash from the rogue I made a couple of years ago. I used at most 200g, so could probably make something else from the remainng leftovers.

The Montego bay scarf I finished off a couple of weeks ago was gifted to a friend who I work with, she loved it, which was a relief as she's not really a crafty kinda gal. She came back in the following nightshift after I gave it to her, and asked if I would be able to make one for both her mum and sister too, as they also really liked it. I said yes........ at least I know it will be apreciated:-) I'm going to make one of them with some cherry tree hill sock yarn, and the other with some yarn yard merino tencel, will post piccies when I make a start. I haven't used the MT before, so looking forward to seeing how that knits up.

ALmost on cue as my boiler was fixed, the sunshine has arrived in abundance!!!! I love the sun:-) I spent a couple of hours outside on thursday and friday, not doing gardening, but lying soaking up the sun. After reading a few blogs, people seemed to be getting their gardens in order so I decided I would do a little weeding and tidying up in mine today. It never happened though, and instead, I've spent most of the day laid on our hammock, turning a fetching shade of lobster LOL!!!! Actually, I'm not burnt, but have definately changed colour! Good job I had put cream on isn't it!
Scooby and Terri have enjoyed being outside too, although after an hour or so it was too hot for them and they headed back indoors.

I'm working on a nice summer hoodie at the moment, so hopefully I'll have piccies of that soon:-)
Hope everybody else is enjoying the lovely weather too!!!!

Mr Greenjeans!!!

2008-05-03T16:52:00.003Z

I finished this off tonight, just in time to take to work with me, although if the night shift is anything like last, it will be too warm to wear it!
Pattern: Mr Green jeans
Yarn: Rowan All seasons cotton 7 balls
Needles: 5.0mm Boyes interchangeable circs

The only modification I made to the pattern was to make full length sleeves. I always have cold hands so I like to be able to pull cardigan sleeves right down over my fingers if I'm feeling particuarly cold:-)
The boiler is fixed too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, off for food then to work. One down, five to go!!!!!!!!

All change....

2008-05-01T10:28:00.002Z

I'm talking about the weather of course:-) One minute warm, then raining, then windy, then glorious once more! Our boiler STILL isn't repaired, so I'm keeping fingers crossed for warmth, although my requests are as yet unanswered:-( The Gasman came yesterday with yet another part ordered to replace in the boiler, only to find it was faulty and they would have to re-order *roll*, so he's coming back today, and bringing his boss with him in the hope that between them they can get things sorted.
A couple of FO's, and these reflect the fact that the weather is so changeable!
Firstly Urchin, which I bought the yarn to make ages ago, but everytime I looked at the pattern, I couldn't really follow it. For some reason, I thought the hat was made of wedges sewn together by reading the pattern, but knew from others who'd made it that this wasn't the case. Once I cast on though, it all became clear, and this was a really quick knit, perfect for the cooler days we're experiencing at present.

The other project I've finished off is Montego bay as mentioned in my last post. It's been blocking overnight, and now finished, although I haven't decided finally whether to add tassles or not???!!!!

I enjoyed using the handmaiden seailk yarn, its so smooth, and really nice to knit with:-)
I've also cast on for Darling after seeing the gorgeosu jacket made by Clarabelle. It's for a friends little girl and intended for when the cooler weather arrives in the autumn. It's knitted in the round, which is a method I love as I absolutely loathe sewing up seams!!!!!

knitterly goodies!!!!

2008-04-29T17:08:00.003Z

I took part in the current round of secret santa on the crafty threads forum and my gift arrived today!!!
Some chocolate, yummy!!!! Some gorgeous handmade buttons, and some Habu silk/steel laceweight!!! It's a lovely gift and I'm thrilled with it. I want to make a scarf with the laceweight I think, just need to find a pattern suitable for it. Looking on ravelry, the Habu seems to have been used for plainish scarfs, but I was thinking something airy and open lacey iyswim..........
I've just been doing easy knitting whilst I've been on nights as knitting time has been limited. I started Montego bay last year and only did a couple of inches before it was dropped in one of my many WIP bags, but I rescued it before the weekend, and its now finished!!! It's lovely. I haven't decided whether to add fringing or not yet?! It's blocking and I'll take a picture when its finished off properly.

The sun has been shining today so I've been laid on our hammock in the garden. I love it when its sunny, I like to lie and listen to the world go by, no music, no book, just quiet....... Bliss:-)
It's a good job it's warmed up a little, our boiler has packed in and we've had no hot water or heating since saturday morning:-( Hiopefully it will be sorted tomorrow, cold showers are definately NOT fun!!!!!!!!

All work and no play.....

2008-04-25T11:32:00.002Z

Or at least thats what it feels like to me!!!!
I have been knitting, but haven't make much progress on anything, rather I've been doing little bits on lots of differant projects.
As I think I've mentioned before, I have one of the bedrooms which is my knitting room. I keep all my stash, patterns, notions and Wips in this room. It's probably my favourite place in the house tbh, although it's small, it's cosy, and truly representative of the things I love.(It does have photos of DH in there......)
Although I'm generally a very tidy and organised person, this room is somewhat a paradox! I'm always in there, tidying, clearing up, sorting stash, yet it never seems tidy......... I put things away when I've used them, so not sure why this is the case. Anyway, as days off often end up with me tidying this room yet again, I've spent all morning in there, not knitting, but sorting! I've had all my WIP's out of bags!

Why is it that I always find WIp's which I'd forgotten about???!!!! And it always lead me to renewed enthusiasm for things started months ago, but as there are so many of them, I can't decide which to tackle and inevitably,no WIP progress is made at all, and they return to a period of hopeless abandonement in yet another project bag *roll*. Needless to say, all the above are now safely returned to their hiding places of previous months:-) I reckon if I leave them long enough, they'll almost feel like a totally new project!!!

I signed up for the mystery stole knitalong last year, I think I kept up for the first clue and then I moved onto another WIP! I've done another couple of clues over the past couple of weeks. I'm using yarnyard laceweight merino, which is like a cobweb lace weight, so I only manage a couple of hours on this at a time otherwise my hands start to ache, but I think I will keep getting it out once a week as I'm loving how its progressing.I'm really looking forward to blocking it, although I have a long way to go before thats gonna happen!

I'm back on nights on saturday night, so in preparation have been trying to make myself a navy cardi in time to wear. I've been working on Mr Greenjeans from Knitty, and its going along quite quickly. I have the body done, just need to start on the sleeves. I doubt I'll have it done for saturday night, but I have almost three weeks of night duty ahead, so hopefully I'll have it to wear at some point during the three weeks:-) I'm using all seasons cotton, which is nice and soft, I do like this yarn and have another lot of it in lilac in my stash.
Ok, enough of my witterings for now, maybe I'll get back to regular posting some time soon! I need to win the lottery so that I don't have to go to work I think:-)

Blue Monkey's

2008-04-13T13:12:00.002Z

I've been working for the past ten days, so not a great deal of knitting sadly:-( I did manage to finish the Monkey socks for my monkey pal though!!! She said in her monkey questionnaire that she liked blues, so I thought this yarn from brightdyes was perfect. I'm really pleased with how these turned out, and 4 weeks before the deadline too, I've even amazed myself:-)
Only three and a bit weeks to work, then I have a fortnights annual leave, I'm really ready for some time off:-(

River rapids.

2008-03-30T20:39:00.002Z

Finished!!!!!
River Rapids socks by Sockbug
Yarn: Posh Lucia
Colour: April showers
Needles: 2.5mm addi circs

And now I can cast on for Monkey socks for my Pal:-)

Rapids of time........

2008-03-29T16:19:00.004Z

I've been working, so not much knitting to report really:-( I've been making some river rapid socks for a birthday gift, intended for a non-knitting friend of mine. I'm using posh Lucia, and hoping she will like them. The colourway is April showers, which I thought was ideal for her April birthday. I'm hoping to finish sock number two quite quickly and then it will be onto the Monkey socks destined for my secret Monkey pal:-)
Other than socks, I've been working on Juno from Rowan 40. The body is all done, it just needs blocking before I work on the collar, which is knitted to fit. I'm using Rowanspun aran, which I've never used before, its nice, and much softer than I expected too! Shame it's discontinued:-)

Both projects are using yarn from stash, I've managed to refrain from any yarn buying at all so far in 2008!!!!! Although I have to admit, although I've made a few things and sold a few bits of yarn too, I haven't made much of a dent in my stash..............
Life seems really busy at the moment. I'm finding it dificult to find time to blog other than on my days off, yet I can't see what has changed, and why time is suddenly an issue, when it wasn't a few months ago????!!!!! Very bizarre.

Ding dong, round Four!!!

2008-03-24T09:18:00.002Z

Monkey Sock Swap Questionnaire

The Measurements

Shoe size:UK 3 eur 35

Foot length in inches: 8 1/4"

Circumference:7 1/2"

Yarn Preferences. I like something with a little nylon in for socks, lots of my purely natural fyber socks haven't lasted very long:-(

What are your favorite colors? I love purples/ pinks/ reds

What color clashes with your wardrobe?None, any colour goes with Jeans right???!

Do you prefer solids or variegated yarns? I like both

What are your favorite brand sock yarns? I like them all I think:-)

Is there a new sock yarn you really would like to try? probably something hard to find in th UK

Cookie A. Patterns

List the patterns you do not have but would like to receive:
Trystero
stricken
mingus sock
mona

Allergies

Do you have any allergies that your pal needs to know about? (animals, fiber, sensitivity to smoke etc.)
None that I know of, although angora makes my eyes water:-(

Will you knitting be exposed to animals?
Yes, I have two large dogs. They don't sit in the room where I knit, ut they do take an interest as soon as I leave my knitting unsupervised!!!!

Will you knitting be exposed to cigarette smoke?
No

Shipping

What country do you live in? England, UK

Are you willing to ship outside your country? Yes

It's snowing!!!!!

2008-03-22T12:36:00.002Z

YUCK!!!!!!!!!
I hate Snow, it's too cold:-(

Lazaro!

2008-03-19T15:46:00.004Z

This is Lazaro, from the Mirasol collection by Jane Ellison. My sister bought me the pattern book for my birthday, and althopugh the origianl is made in a variagated yarn, I like how this has turned out:-) I used DB merino DK, and I really enjoyed knitting with this yarn, nice and soft!
When I bought Lizzy the dummy, I ordered a petite size, to reflect myself as thats what I intended to use her for. I always assumed thats what I had got but tbh, there is many a time when I have tried something knitted on her, and its looked quite tight!!! Assuming that she was the right size, I've just assumed thats how the garment will look on me. Now if I had measured her when She arrived a year ago, I would have noticed this..........

The shirt in the picture fits me, but is 6" too small for Lizzy:-0( How did I miss that, I was convinced she was the right size! She even looks my size!!!!! Probably best not to try and use her for anthing fitted or it'll get stretched:-( She's so pretty too..........
I've been working on an assignment for the past few weeks on and off, mixed with work it hasn't left me with much time to blog, but its now handed in, and finished with, unlessI fail that is!!! So two days off after today, and I'll be knit knit knitting:-)
Our neighbours are having their roof replaced at the moment, so there is scaffolding up for the roofers to get up and get done. Unfortunately, (for DH anyway) the scaffolding is interfering with our sky signal, so we've had no TV for almost a fortnight. I'm not really bothered tbh as I've got my talking books and knitting to keep me occupied, or even a proper book, but DH is bored. I think he's quite appalled that he now has to converse with me at mealtimes rather than chuckle away at The simpsons, hehehe, poor thing, maybe he should take up knitting:-)

Mist

2008-03-10T21:33:00.002Z

Mist by Kim Hargreaves
8mm needles,
Rowan Chunky Print Yarn

I can hardly believe I've been absent from blogging for almost a month!!! Our internet connection has been on the blink, and alhtough it's now fixed, my laptop has decided to pack in, so I'm having to use DH's intermittently:-( seriously thinking of buying a macbook, but will ponder a little longer I think!
Will update properly over the next few days, but for now, it's nice to be back:-)

Central park hoodie 2!

2008-02-12T18:06:00.001Z

Central park hoodie from Knitscene 2006
Wendy aran with wool
I like version 2 far more than my first attempt. I think I'm just not so in to tweed yarns..........

Cast on Crazy!!!!!

2008-02-08T14:43:00.000Z

I seem to go through phases of either sticking with one project, or casting on madly for mulitple WIP's which will undoubtedly take me months to complete. At present, my mood matches the latter, and my WIP count has gone up in rapid succession *roll*, but I'm happy, so its all good:-)
After much deliberation, I cast on for the Karenina socks for which the kit was installment 1 of the socktopus club.

I think they are knitting up really nicely! I know a few people had sizing issues with these on 2.5mm, but as I have small fet I decided to go ahead with the recommended needle size, my tension is right on the st st areas, but I do think that these might need to be blocked before I can get them onto my feet.........
I also cast on for Thermal, prompted by a knitalong going on over on the crafty threads forum. This is so much nicer knitted up than I thought it was going to be. I had the impression that it was going to look a little bulky despite teh 4ply yarn, but its not at all, and I'm really pleased with my progress on this. I'm using some jaeger matchmaker merino 4ply from stash to make this, and rather than knit it in the round, I have decided to knit it on straights. This is purely because I can knit much faster on straights than I can on circs because of the way I hold my needles.

I cast on for This shawl from Yarnforward, but I suspect it will be a long term project. The yarn is supposed to be a 4ply, but in truth it seems a similar weight to much of the laceweight I have in stash. It's lovely and soft though, and I am enjoying knitting with it. I'm having a little bit of difficulty with the chart for the lace, not becasue I can't read the chart, but because its thewrong way on the page, and really hard to get the magazine to stay open to read it without totally ruining the spine iyswim.......

I did consider also casting on for another forest canopy shawl using some fine sari silk form my stash, but thought that was going perhaps a tad too far on the WIP front lol, maybe tomorrow;-)
I've got a central park hoodie otn too, but will post pictures of that once its nearer completion:-)

Little Monkeys!!

2008-02-06T19:31:00.001Z

I've just finished making myself a pair of Monkey socks in some Cherry tree hill yarn from my stash. This pair knitted up so much quicker than the pair I made for the monkey swap last year!!! There is a definate advantage to having size 3 feet:-) I love this pattern though, and its great for busy yarns too!

I like to have a pair of socks otn most of the time, but can't decide which pair to make next. I've been wanting to make a pair of Jaywalkers for ages, a good couple of years, but had a pair of zebra ones in mind. I've got the zebra yarn, and they were going to be my next pair of socks, but that jojoland quartette that I got for my birthday would look great for this pattern too, so now I can't decide:-( Plus, I've yet to start the socktopus club sock pattern from december, so I could cast on for those????
The Lovely Piglottie sent me a voucher for Socktopus for my birthday, so I chose this lovely Duet sock yarn!

It's so pretty, I'll have to have a think of which pattern to use it for to show it off to its full potential though!!!
I bought myself the Jane Brocket book before christmas, and have been reading it over the past week. Its a great book, full of amazing photography, and loads of crafty inspiration. Having seen her cupcakes, I decided I'd make myself some, I mean, it can't be that hard to bake and ice some fairy cakes can it:-) Actually, the cakes turned out really nice, very tastey! DH had one warm form the oven, but I told him to wait for another as I was going to ice them!

They look pretty good yes???? One major problem I had though............. I didn't realise how WRONG icing could go!!! Seriously, its not that easy to make icing is it? It said in the book to make thick icing, like a paste, yep, I get that. Cue adding water to bowl....anyone see whats coming here? I put what I thought was a small amount of water in the bowl and then added icing sugar to it, little did I realise that my small amount of water was epic in terms of icing *roll*. So, half a packet of icing sugar later, and my icing was still runny:-( But not to be deterred, I slopped it onto the buns regardless, added the hundreds and thousands, and assured myself that it would set ok. Sadly it was not! The icing just soaked though the buns, they did taste fine though, and they all got eaten, but definately learnt a valuable lesson in the art of cake icing:-)
As we're now into February, a quick update on my stashalong......... I haven't bought ANY yarn!!! None whatsoever:-) Its been relatively easy too, I've just hunted through what I have and planned what I'll make next rather than looking at new yarns and searching for a project to use them on!!!! DH says I've received as much yarn as I would have bought...........obviously many of my purchases were hidden prior to his return form work LOL!!! I'll leave him happy in that thought!!

Birthday girl!!!!

2008-02-03T15:17:00.000Z

Today is the first day of the last year of my twenties! I remember being a teenager when I longed to be "grown up", and now as my thirties are in sight, I almost wish I was fourteen again. I think that because I work with the elderly, I am very conscious of the trials and tribulations of old age, and how for may of us, its not something to look forward to. Luckily, I'm not old enough to worry seriously about getting old, but I do often consider at work, as people die, that one day, these people were like me, with hopes and dreams, aspirations, poeple they loved, and lives they touched........and wonder what my legacy would be:-(
ok, I'll stop being morbid now, and get onto the business of pressies!!!! I took part in a birthday exchange on the crafty threads forum, and recieved my gift fform Nevisknitter, and what gift!!!!

The jojoland is so soft, I'm planning to make a pair of jaywalkers with that:-) The pink/blue yarn is Shunklies which I think is handspun. I want to make a scarf or mini shawl with this so will have to keep an eye out for a suitable pattern.
My sister bought me a gift voucher last year for Janettes rare yarns, and I was expecting the same thing this year, as she knows I love to knit, but as she doesn't is never really sure what to buy for me. How wrong I was..........

She'd been to John Lewis and bought me three skeins of the gorgoeus Llama Miski yarn from Mirasol, and she bought the pattern book by Jane ellison to go with it! I have to admit to being seriously impressed that she managed to buy something so lovely!!! I also got some Lush goodies for the bath, and The Rose of Sebastopol, which looks really good! DH bought me a portable stereo so I can listen to music or the radio in any room in the house, so have been listening to radio 4 as I cook, and its great:-) I got some book vouchers and amazon vouchers too form cyber friends, so have been fillinf my basket on amazon this morning, happy days!!!!
I started the cph yesterday, and this will be my february sweater, I think I should get it finished no probs, and I have a weeks annual leave, so loads of time to knit:-) And LOST starts again tonight, does it get any better than this???!!!! Piccies of knitting content next time!

Ribbed shrug!

2008-01-26T15:11:00.000Z

Another FO for January:-) This time the Ribbed shrug form issue 3 of Yarn Forward magazine!
I used Rowan Plaid rather than chunky print as suggested by the pattern, but only as I had the plaid in stash. Its nice yarn, very snuggly and warm:-) I dropped down to 8mm and 6mm needles to allow for the differance in yarn, the tension of the Plaid and the chunky print are the same, but on differing needle sizes.

Mrs J, from the blog On the Hill awarded me an award today!!!How exciting:-)The "you make my day" award is for the blogs you read daily, and the idea is to then go on and award to the 10 blogs that you read daily yourself. i have a fair few blogs that I follow, but only certain ones that I read properly everytime they are updated, even if I don't always comment! so I would like to give the award to the following bloggers, (the button is in my sidebar)
Piglottie
Auntie Noo
Clarabelle who has already received the award but I LOVE her blog and she always makes me chuckle!!!!!!
Gilraen who has amazing stash piccies on a friday!
Queen of the froggers
Sarah
Jane who designs amazing socks!!!!!

I'm onto the second monkey sock, I may finish before next friday too I think:-) And have been continuing on with the bergere jumper, I think I should finish that off within the next couple of months as its my inbetween project WIP:-)

The weather here has been so horrid for the past couple of days! Sooooo windy, I hate it when you lie in bed and hear the wind rushing underneath all the roof tiles, not nice at all! We've had two tiles blow off altogether, and a few whic are now loose, just hoping we don't start with rain, cos none of the roofers will replace the tiles until th wind has settled....... Don't really fancy the prospect of the roof ceiling plus loads of water falling in whilst I'm in bed!!!!!
I'm working nights again tonight, but this time its overtime....... not that I relish the prospect of going in to work on a saturday night, BUT.... the extra money should pay our holiday deposit. I'm thinking Spain, probably in September when the schools have gone back. After my burning last year in Tunisia, I'm a little loathe to go in August incase its too hot!

Finished Frances!!!

2008-01-18T15:47:00.000Z

I finished off this over the weekend last week, but its taken me a while to sort photos cos I've been on nights all week:-( I'm not thrilled with the result, I have to say!!! It looks fine if my arms are in the air, but when I stand, it looks really baggy around my chest, the st st section above the rib, and its putting me off wearing it tbh........... I could do with a little stuffing in my bra I think, then perhaps it would fit better!!! We'll see, but I suspect it will be one of my "in the house" handknits, which is a bit of a shame. I used stylecraft dk pure wool, which is machinewashable, and gives nice crisp stitches, quite similar to the tess dawson merino I used for Cinnabar, but a little rougher. I think it will soften after a wash though, so pleased with it really!

I've started a pair of monkey socks for me! I loved this pattern when I took part in the monkey swap, and thought I would get a pair otn! I have a few skeins of Cherry tree hill supersock in my stash, but this is the first time that I've actually knitted with it, and I really like it! Nice and soft:-)

I decided that once I had finished my sweater a month sweater, I would work on socks and wips, so apart form the monkeys, I've been working on the Bergere V neck jumper which I knitted the back of over a year ago. I really like this jumper, and the yarn, so have been enjoying knitting the front of that. I might get the front finished in january I think, and then I can move onto another wip next month. i think that I will make another Central park hoodei for my february sweater. Probably in some wendy aran whic I can throw in the washing machine. I wear my first CPH for work on night shift, and always get lots of compliments form my patients, who generally ask if I made it myself too:-)
And finally, my new favourite accessory!!!! Piglottie made me a gorgeous bag for Christmas, and its brilliant as a sock bag! Just the right size to carry about too, this has been to work with me the past week on nights too:-)

Not quite so SAD today!!!!!!

2008-01-06T21:47:00.000Z

I feeling a little happier than I was last week.......... It hasn't rained quite so much over the weekend, so I've been able to get some fresh air, and I think its done me the world of good:-) Still wishing spring would hurry along though....

I've managed to do some knitting this week. I decided to join up to the ravelry group for a sweater a month through 2008, and "Frances" from Jane Ellison's Laines du Nord book 5, is my january sweater. Its almost knitted, just the collar to knit, and then the sewing up, but thats often the part of the process which I put off, and normally at this point something gets tossed aside while I cast on for something new. I've still three weeks to finish though, so happy I will finish within that time!

So....... what to do for the rest of the month??????

Just call me grumpy........

2008-01-03T16:56:00.000Z

I can't remember feeling so GRUMPY for a long long time:-( I'm thinking its the cold weather, or maybe the dark days, but I wish winter was over....... Literally everything is getting on my nerves, and I can feel my patience straining much of the time at the moment. I even snapped at one of the staff at work the other day which is soooooooo unlike me........aaaaaaaggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
Maybe I need more chocolate cake, and lots of tea drinking in front of the tv with my knitting?! Of course, my knitting is not pushing its luck, and as always, I'm perfectly happy with my needles clicking away, maybe I need a week or so of just knitting??!! That made me smile:-)

I never usually make new years resolutions, cos I never manage to keep them, so see it as a bit of a waste of time. Previously, I've searched for something to be resolute about, and having found nothing, have come up with something ridiculous like resolving to go swimming every week, or stop eating chocolate.......... I hate water other than the bath, and love chocolate... nuff said really *roll*
BUT, this year, I am resolute that I WILL NOT BUY YARN!!!!! AT ALL!!!! The crafty threads forum has a thread dedicated to stashalonging in 2008, and I have opted for total abstinence. I've been looking through patterns and yarn that I have, to pick out 12 things I'd like to make for the sweater a month throughout this year, and actually, this would hardly even put a dent in my stash *roll* , I could knit for ten years without buying any yarn I think, and perhaps I would be better spending my spare cash on something else... Like a new bed, as the springs in our mattress are beginning to push me out of bed on a morning, not good!!!
I'm going to try and exercise three times a week too (not swimming though I hasten to add...)I really enjoyed jogging when I was training for the great north run, but the weather is too cold for me to venture out at present, so I'll use our cross trainer three times a week until the spring, and then get my running shoes on again. I'm going to do the race for life at Gosforth Race course this year, so need to get my fitness levels back up before May. Maybe the exercise will banish little miss Grumpy, and Little miss sunshine will return...... fingers crossed!!!!
No photos of anything today, as its so dark, but I have been doing a bit of knitting. I started another Central park hoodie in a plain purple aran, and also a bit of lace:-) Did I mention resolving to finish off some WIPS???
Hope the Grumpiness isn't catching, and I'll try to be in a better mood next time!

Socktopussy........

2007-12-23T15:47:00.001Z

As I think I've mentioned before, I joined the socktopus Bells and whistles club, and my first parcel arrived on saturday. I'm so glad I couldn't resist, the first parcel is brilliant!!!!

The yarn is a cashmere blend from The Knittery, which is an Australian Dyer, and the colours are so good! The pattern for this yarn is by Jane, the very talented designer behind the spiral socks, and check your breast socks...... also included was a sock pouch, which is great, and the first one I own, and finally( nearly forgot the chocolate) an audio book, which jane listened to whilst designing the socks! Cool or what!! I love audio books, so was especially pleased at getting another in addition to the two i get from Audible each month. I can hardly wait for the february parcel now!!!!!
I've been knitting quite a lot, and avoiding the internet to a certain extent. Less surfing certainly equals massive increase in knitting productivity:-)
This is Sherbourne, by Jane Ellison. Made in Noro Iro. Its not quite finished, I need to source and sew on a zip, and the sleeves are not seamed a yet, but I really like it!

It was my sisters birthday today, so gave her the yucky hourglass sweater, and she loved it!!!!!!!!! It fits her really well, and looks so much better on her than it did on me!
I've still got gift wrapping to do for the big day, and as I'm working tomorrow, I'd better get a move on! Merry christmas:-)

Buttony

2007-12-15T13:52:00.001Z

This is Buttony, my big sisters christmas present! On time, unlike last year, and tbh, I'm kinda wishing I'd made this for me, I like it so much!
The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino chunky, which is lovely and soft, and easy care too. It took me a couple of weeks of knitting on and off, but finding the right buttons for this has taken much longer, however, I'm happy with the ones I picked in the end:-)

Agnes!

2007-12-03T20:37:00.001Z

So its been over a week since I last blogged, but I HAVE been knitting:-)
"Agnes" from Simply Noro.........

I'm really pleased with how this has turned out! The kjnitting only took five days too, which I was thrilled with:-)

Santa came early!!!!!

2007-11-26T10:08:00.000Z

I've been taking part in a decoration swap on the forum this month, my decoration is yet to be finished, but others are far more organised than I!!!!!! So postie knocekd at my door this morning with a parcel:-) I knew for once I wasn't expecting anything that I'd ordered so knew it had to be my decoration swap:-)

All gorgoeusly packaged, with a lovely hand made gift tag, I'll be using this as a book mark, its so pretty!
And then inside...........

The man himself!!!!!!!!!
I'm absolutely in awe of Farmgirl who made this for me, he's brilliant!!!!!! I'm not feeling so confident about my own efforts now though *blushes*
Thankyou so much Farmgirl, looking forward to getting my tree out now so I can put him on display:-)

Buttons for Buttony!!!!!

2007-11-23T11:38:00.000Z

I'm getting on quite quickly with Buttony, I've been knitting on it for a little while after work each night, and its been great as work is really busy at the moment, and a little easy knitting helps me to wind down (along with a little glass of wine!)
I've used 7 of the 10 balls of cashmerino chunky I bought to make this, and ended up buying a second pack of the yarn today from Janette, I only have three balls left, and I think I will run out, actually, I'm almost certain I'll run out!!!!!! Of course, with an extra pack, I'll probably have 9 balls left, but I thought I could make an Irish hiking scarf and include it in the parcel for my sister. I've been looking through my button box to see if I have any suitable buttons to use. All of these are from Scandinavian knitting design and I like them all, so a bit undecided as to which I need to order, as I don't have 12 of any of them?! What do ya think?????

I've been to chatting to the lovely, but sadly Blogless Pictish, about my stash, and thinking Of attempting a yarn free year!!!!! I know it sounds ridiculous, and I hear whispers of "she'll never do it".......but, I think I could. Tell you why! I will be getting a yarn parcel every other month from the soctopus club, which is already paid for.So that will give me somthing to llok forward too! And if I manage the year, I will buy something special for myself as a reward. Maybe some Buffalo Gold yarn!!!!!!!! Gorgoeus or what, and I bet its just so cosy on cold feet:-)
I joined the sweater a month group on ravelry. I'm not going to join in until January, but I'm quicker at bigger things than I am at socks, so we'll see how that one goes! I'll stil be attempting to make socks each month aswell, so far this year I've averaged a pair every other month, which isn't too bad, but I'd like to get the twelve pairs in 2008.
Today is the first of three days off, so I'm going to knit knit knit!!!!!!!!:-)

Felting fun!!!

2007-11-15T15:47:00.000Z

I bought the kit to make this bag From Pavi yarns last month, and decided to start it yesterday. It's knitted up so quickly, and has already been through the machine, and is now drying! I'm thinking this will be a christmas gift. Just need to find some nice material to line it, and maybe a metal clasp to click it shut.
Here it is pre felting....

and after.......

I've got some lovely handles to finish it off with too, I'm really pleased with it:-)
The last installment of my Yarn yard merino sock club came today. Gorgoeus as always!

I'm having difficulty deciding what to do about my sock club memberships at the moment. I think I will renew my standard yarn yard sock club, but not sure about the merino one, as I've yet to actually knit any of it up! I joined the Soctopus sock club, which is a yearly club, the first parcel will be due in December, so now thinking that perhaps one sock club is enough.......but I LOVE the yarn yard colours:-( I think even if I DO decide to renew my current membership, I'll have to make sure that thats the only woolly purchase I make!!! My stash is growing quicker than I can knit, and its all getting a little ridiculous tbh, so new year, new spending habits!!!!!!!! I know I've said it before, but I almost have enough yarn to stock a small shop.....hmmmm!!!!

Chasing time!!!!!

2007-11-13T15:31:00.000Z

I love this time of year, cosy nights snuggled on the sofa with my knitting or a good book, but somehow, the time seems to trickle by so much faster than in the earlier months of the year.It must be the darkness I suppose, but I never seem to get as much done in the dark months leading up to christmas. Over a week has gone by since I blogged, with little to show on the knitting front really:-( I do have a few other things to share though!
I took part in the crafty threads autumn secret santa, and my gift arrived last week from the lovely LoobyJ, who I think is blogless??? Some lovely aracunia sock yarn and a sock pattern, along with some Noro Daria Multi to make a belt, bath melt form Lusg,and candles and sweeties as almost obligatory in these swaps! I always worry a little bit in these kinds of swaps, both that my present may not be well received, or that the present I send may not be well received either, but none of that this time round, I was thrilled with my goodies:-)

I pledged to take part in the Pay it forward ethos on my blog, and have to admit, although I have thought og what to make for my receivees, I've yet to start anything. Aknita however, is far more organised than me, and this gorgeous Forest canopy shawl also arrived last week. Its made in Colinette cadenza, and its so snuggly! I didn't really think I was a shawl kinda girl, but I've worn it lots already! I think the colour is hard to see in the picture, but its a gorgoeus mossy green, even DH was impressed, which is quite something!!!!Thankyou so much Joy:-)

My sister and I went christmas shopping on saturday, and having never visited the haberdashery department in John Lewis before, I thought I'd pop in for a quick look and see if I could find anything which I don't already have in stash! And look.......

some lovely DK merino, which I think I will make a hat with, and......

Some baby Llama, which is soooo soft, I think this will become some mitts for me:-)
And just to prove I did make SOME progress on the needles, here is my latest sock wip, just a plain pair of socks for me in the kaffe fassett designer line regia yarn, which is lovely!

I need to get a move on with a handcrafted christmas decoration for another swap on the crafty threads forum, the deadline is the end of the month, and I've yet to decide what I will be making *blushes*

Monkey Love!!!!!

2007-11-05T19:57:00.000Z

My monkeys arrived on saturday. They're brilliant:-) All the way from the netherlands, and made by Eve! Aren't the colours gorgeous! They're just so perfect for this time of year:-) Eve is the recipient of the monkey socks made by me, so I'm hoping she likes them as much as I like the ones that she sent here! As well as the monkey socks, eve sent me the twisted flower sock pattern by Cookie a, along with the most gorgeous green merino superwash yarn to make them in! A handmade dpns holder in monkey print which is great! some chocolate, a mobile phone monkey charm, and some cinnamon tea! There was a little box in the parcel which had three lovely monkey stitchmarkers inside. Made by the same lovely lady who I bought my weimaraner stitch markers from:-) A great swap, I really enjoyed it, and I love the monkey pattern. I think there will be a few more monkeys appearing around here soon:-)

Check-ed Neck-ed!

2007-11-02T22:05:00.000Z

Pattern: Check-ed neck-ed
Yarn: Tess Dawson merino aran, 3 balls
Colour: Teal
Needles: 5.5mm Boyes straights

I've been working all week, so not a lot of knitting to show tbh. I cast on for this scarf a couple of days ago after seeing a lovely natural coloured one made by Clarabelle, I even attempted an arty finished piccie too:-) This is for me either to wear for walking to work or out walking the dogs, and despite its simplicity, I really like it! Great mindless knitting to wind down after a long day at work:-)

Harry Potter swap socks, finished!!!

2007-10-29T17:09:00.000Z

Uptown boot socks form Favourite socks IW press
Yarn: BFL/Alpaca from Bright dyes
Colour: Ravenclaw
Needles: 2.75mm Boyes DPNS

Monkey socks, finished!!!!

2007-10-29T17:03:00.000Z

Monkey socks by Cookie A.
Yarn: posh yarns Lucia
Colour: Merry Berry
Needles: Addi 2.5mm circs

Hour glass sweater.

2007-10-19T17:39:00.000Z

I finished this today, intending to give it to my sister as a christmas gift, but I'm not thrilled with it tbh...... Maybe it will look better after blocking and on a real person. It looks like a sack on me cos its too big, but my sister is bigger, so should fit her ok.......Maybe I should get her to try it on and see if she likes it??
Anyway, the yarn is Kilcarra donegal tweed, and the pattern is from last minute knitted gifts.
I just need to crack on with the second monkey sock now.......
I'm feeling much better, thanks for all your well wishes! Back to work on Monday for four night shifts:-( No chance to knit either, and I hate nights! I don't sleep for very long through the day, so end up absolutely exhausted:-(

Katy

2007-10-14T15:41:00.000Z

I'm having a bit of a finishing off few days! Tryng to make all the wips in the side bar 100%, so I can change them for some of my other lonely and discarded half done projects LOL!!!!
Pattern: Katy, by Debbie Bliss
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora, 9.5 balls
I really like this, and will hopefully get lots of wear out of it over the winter months:-)

Monkeys, one down!

2007-10-10T20:52:00.000Z

I finished the first monkey sock today, pheww!!!! I was beginning to think I'd left it a little late, now thats not like me at all is it LOL!!!!! I still have the second sock to do, but considering last week I had one harry potter sock done, and half a monkey sock done, and now hp socks are finished, and the monkey socks half done, I think thats pretty good!!!! I really like the monkey pattern, and will be making a pair of these for myself once these swap monkeys are all wrapped up!
As its Breast cancer awareness month, and pink socks are popping up everywhere, I'm going to make myself a pair of pink socks for october. Using the sugar mice yarn from skeinqueen, they should knit up quite quickly cos the yarn is a bit thicker than standard sock yarn.
I've pulled the union market pullover out of hiding, and hoping to make some good progress on that over the next couple of weeks too!
I'm still feeling a bit unwell. The GP thinks I have glandular fever, so I'm waiting for some blood results to come back, and if it is that, I'll be off work for a couple of weeks I think......... So aside from feeling grot, I should get plenty of knitting done!!!!!! I always like to look for the silver lining:-)

Cinnabar

2007-10-08T21:32:00.000Z

I finished making this up tonight. I'm pleased with how its turned out, and I really like the rowan buttons which I chose.
Pattern: Cinnabar
Yarn: Tess Dawson dk Merino
Colour: Chocolate
Needle: 4mm brittany Birch
Size: 33.5"

I haven't blocked it yet, but its machine washable yarn, so I'll just throw it in the machine over the next few days!
I can hardly believe where the last week has gone. I had a week of annual leave and it went by so fast, I felt like I got nothing done:-( I was a bit unwell both in the run up, and after the GNR, I think I've had some kind of virus, and have felt a bit yucky!!!!! I've been back to work today, and definately not feeling the benefit of a week off at the moment! Only 9 weeks to go to the next weeks holiday:-)

I've totalled up my fundraising efforts, and have managed to raise just over £400, so I'm really pleased with that. Big thankyou to everybody who supported me with this!

For the pay it forward post from a couple of weeks ago, there were a few comments, so I've tried to sort who's already been picked for pay it forward elsewhere, I may have it wrong though so I do apologise...........??!! SO.... Paula, Aknita, and Ladybird Linz will be my pay it forward recipients. I think I have all the addressess already, so you'll be surprised at any time ladies:-)

I've finished my harry potter socks for the Harry potter sock swap, but I can't post them here as my pal knows my blog............ Pictures once she will have received the parcel though, so sometime later this month!

Fundraising Raffle!

2007-10-01T09:31:00.000Z

I am holding a raffle over on the crafty threads and yarns forum, to help me raise money for The Toby Henderson Trust, Autism charity. This is in conjunction with my doing the great North run for the charity on the 30th September! There are quite a few prizes, so rather than post all the pictures here, if you're interested in entering, all the details can be found Here

I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-09-30T17:05:00.000Z

Just a quick post, as I'm shattered and just heading for the bath!
I completed the great North run, in just under 3 hours, we had a few p breaks, so we probably ran for about 2:40, so I'm thrilled!!!!!!
The day has been very emotional, particularly as we crossed the start line and the red arrows flew over head:-)The first 8 miles went by quite quickly, and I thought that the whole 13 miles wasn't going to be too much trouble, but have to admit, the last few miles got harder, and the final mile seemed like the first 4 of the race! But we did it, and I feel very proud of us both!
I'll be drawing the raffle tomorrow, so will be back then with prize winners, and to let you all know how much I raised:-)

Heres to Friends!!!!

2007-09-29T19:16:00.000Z

I can hardly believe that race day has come around so quickly! I'm feeling very emotional about tomorrow, both for the charity I'm running for, and also for all the support from those who have sponsored and encouraged me. I feel very privileged to have so many Friends, who I've never met in real life, but who ARE my friends in the truest sense of the word! Thankyou all!!!!!!!
I saw the BBC advert for the tv coverage of the race tomorrow, and it says "The great North Run, where 50,000 people become extraordinary", I'll let you know tomorrow if I feel it:-)

Pay it forward!

2007-09-19T16:43:00.000Z

Never one to turn down a good swap, I've decided to take part in the pay it forward concept which is circulating blogland at the moment!
this is how it works!!!!

It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. You all know I’m already a PIF type of person. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Fab or what!!!!!!! My gifts will PROBABLY be knitted as its what I'm best at, but you never know:-)

I made a start on the chevron scarf, and I'm loving knitting with the yarn! The pattern is really simple but I think for that reason it will take me a while to knit........ I get bored easily, so will have to keep picking it up in between other bits and pieces!

I've made good progress on the cinnabar pullover too! I have two days off, so I MAY get the sleeves done. I even have buttons picked out ready:-) The cold weather over the past few days means I really need a snuggly jumper at the moment!!!!

knitty knotty sockkies:-)

2007-09-14T20:12:00.000Z

I've been working on a pair of socks for Posh yarns Helena, or yarn yard Merino! They're coming along great, nice and quick, and looking good methinks!!! I think I will try them again in a variagated yarn to see how the pattern looks with more colour???!!!! They fit me quite snuggly, which I like, but as my feet are on the small size, I think they would need extra stitches for a bigger foot.......?
I MUST learn how to use my camera! It's a lovely camera that I got for christmas, but I never seem to manage decent pictures, no idea why, unless its the resizing when I upload to blogger. I think I will try white background like Blueadt does, and see if I achieve better results!

Only two weeks till the run, I'm so nervous about it now! I went running on wednesday, and had really bad shin splints, which I've never had before:-( I've rested for two days, so will go out for a nice gentle run tomorrow, and keep my fingers crossed that my shins are behaving.....

Knitting normality.........regardless!

2007-09-11T13:59:00.000Z

I'm making good progress on the cinnabar pullover. The back and front are now both done, and it hasn't taken that many knitting hours really! Its an enjoyable knit, simple, but the linen edging gives it a little bit of interest so I haven't been bored.

Close up of the linen stitch.

Its ironic how normality continues, irrespective of other things going on around you isn't it! Today was my first day back to work after my annual leave. The ward feels very sad at the moment, as one of the staff nurses, Val, who worked with us until last year, died on Friday after struggling for years with Breast cancer. The final stage of her illness was very quick, and this just wasn't the outcome anybody was expecting:-( I won't be going to the funeral which will be held on Thursday, I'll be working on the ward so that as many of the other staff as possible can go and say goodbye. I always find funerals very difficult. So I've been a little melancholy, and in a reflective mood. Since I qualified as a nurse 6 years ago, 4 nurses I have worked with have died, another two have been diagnosed with Cancer, and at present, one of my staff nurses is undergoing Chemotherapy for breast cancer:-( It certainly makes you realise that life is for living, because you never know when it will be snatched away:-(
Goodnight Val, God Bless xx

random rambling!!!!

2007-09-09T15:13:00.000Z

I went to see Atonement last night, and it was one of the best films I've seen for a long time!!! I hadn't read the book, which I think made the film better for me, and I loved it! Very romantic.......needless to say I was in tears *roll*
I won't ruin it by going into the plot, but I would highly recommend the film :-)

It was nice and sunny yesterday, so I made the most of it, and sat in the garden. Its torturous when its this hot at work, so I'm hoping that the hot days of the past week cool a little by tuesday when I go back to work. Also keeping my fingers crossed that its not hot on race day at the end of the month............speaking of which, my race number and tag for race time came over the weekend, only three weeks to go!!!!
I decided I will start making small christmas gifts over the next few weeks. First up is the chevron scarf from Last minute knitted gifts. I'm going to use this

which is a gorgoeus cashmere/silk blend from skeinqueen. Its gorgoeus yarn, lovely and soft, and her customer service is excellent, my order arrived the next day:-)

I gifted the black cotton pullover to my younger sister who didn't believe me at first when I said I had made it!!! She's thrilled anyway, which I'm pleased about:-)
Had a quick visit to Borders yesterday too, and bought these

Both look really good, and there are projects in both that I will make:-)
The cinnabar sweater is coming along ok, halfway up the front, pictures when the front and Placket are done!!!!

The secret Garden!!!

2007-09-05T08:00:00.000Z

Well, not so secret, but I did feel like Mary Lennox as I walked around Alnwick gardens yesterday. It was a lovely sunny day, and the last day before Keira started school, so thought we would make the most of the weather.
This is the great cascade water feature, which is the main feature in the centre of the gardens.

Water features are everywhere, and they periodically have fountain episodes, to soak the kids I think LOL!!!!

At the top of the great cascade, is a large maze type garden, which is gorgoeus! Bet you need a good few gardeners to maintain it though!

After wandering round the gardens, and a quick trip to the gift shop for a squawking bird, we went to the tree house for lunch. I forgot my camera, so my sister took pictures, but we forgot to stop and take one of the tree house before we went in. To eager for food I think:-)

And poor Keira was STARVING LOL!!!!

Lunch was gorgoeus, if a little pricey. I'd like to go back for an evening meal in the treehouse, maybe at christmas time. The inside of the restaurant smells "woody", and they have a waist height pit fire,the whole place is just very atmospheric, and I bet it looks great when theres snow on the ground:-)
Before going home, we popped to Barter books, which is a massive secondhand bookshop. If you're organised, where I wasn't, you can take in books you no longer want and they have a lok through the ones thy would like, and you get credits to spend in there. SO theoretically, you could get a load of new books, trade in your old, and not spend a penny:-) I got a reference book about the kings and Queens of England, and The man in the moss by Phil Rickman following Seahorse's reccomendation of the author. I think I'll go up on my own another day so that I have more time to browse! Half an hour flew by so quickly!

Drops 15-101

2007-09-04T08:47:00.000Z

Pattern: Drops 15-101
Yarn: 1050g Muskat
Colour: Black
Needles 4mm Addi bamboo straights

I finished blocking this pullover yesterday, and although the picture isn't great, its lovely and neat, I finished it really neatly, and its just really nice!!!! However, after blocking, its too big............!!!!!! I don't know how it happened tbh, I tried it on pre blocking, and it was slightly big, but I can live with that after I washed it, its grew sooooooo much:-0( I'll have to gift it to one of my sisters I think, which is a shame. I wonder if its because I spun it in the machine?? The yarn says machine wash, and I used a low spin speed of 800 compared to my normal 1600.... I just don't know what I did wrong:-(
Nevermind, one christmas gift done I suppose *roll*

The lovely Jacquie awarded me a rockin girl blogger award, which has cheered me up no end! Thanks Jacquie:-) I'll have to think long and hard about my 5 bloggers to pass it on to becasue I think most people I know in blogland already have it.....hmmm, will have to ponder:-)

The Cinnabar pullover is coming along ok! I have just passed the armholes on the back, so I may have that piece finished today. I really really like the merino yarn I am using, and it looks lovely in the chocolate colour. I'm tempted to make the swing jacket from the front cover of the current IW next. I should get one project out of the way before I start planning the next shouldn't I LOL!!!!!!

I was supposed to be starting two university courses this month, one for mental health issues in the elderly, and the other for mentoring. I was looking forward to the first, and doing the second as a job requirement. And guess what........The mental health issues one has been cancelled:-( I had enrolled on an open university course in management, so I may still do that, but the down side is, I will have to self fund, whereas the course which now isn't running, would have been paid for by my employer. Woe is me;-) On the plus side, if I only do the one course, not as much impact on knitting time:-)

Monkey Progress, an FO, and new WIP!!!!!

2007-09-03T07:58:00.000Z

I've been working on the Monkey swap socks for an hour or so an evening over the past few days, nearly down to the heel flap, and I'm LOVING this pattern!!!!!! Its the first time I've knit Monkey socks, and now I want to keep them for myself LOL!!!

I finished the drops pullover that I was working on over the weekend, and its blocking out on the decking as I type! Hopefully I'll be able to take a picture of it tomorrow. It's black though, and I always find it hard to get a decent picture which shows any detail:-(
As I finished a WIP, I thought I deserved to cast on something new!!!! SO last night, whilst watching Messiah, I cast on for the Cinnabar Pullover from the current issue of Interweave Knits. The borders are knit in a linen stitch, which I've never used before but its so effective! Almost doesn't look like a knitted fabric at all! I'm hoping this will be a relatively quick knit, as its mainly stocking stitch. I'm making it in some lovely soft merino from the new Tess Dawson range of yarns, at £2.50 a ball, you can't go wrong really, and its lovely!!!!! I'm using Chocolate brown, very autumnal, but thats my mood at the moment! I wish summer would stop messing about, and then we can move onto my favourite season:-) No pictures of the cinnabar yet, but possibly in the next couple of days!

Only one week to go and then I'm back to work:-( I haven't been as productive as I hoped either *roll*, so better make the most of the next 7 days!!!!!I went bowling on Saturday night with my sister, needless to say that I lost, in a spectacular manner!!!! So you mean you don't get points if you manage to bowl and dodge all the pins?? No?? *roll*
I'm planning on going to see Atonement at the cinema on saturday night with my sister too, and I'm really looking forward to that:-)

Hats and Dogs!!!!

2007-08-29T13:29:00.000Z

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!!!!!!!

2007-08-27T22:04:00.000Z

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!!!!

2007-08-27T14:46:00.000Z

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!

2007-08-24T17:27:00.000Z

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!!!!

2007-08-23T08:35:00.000Z

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!

2007-08-21T15:32:00.000Z

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!!!!!!!!!!

2007-08-19T15:54:00.000Z

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!!!!!!!!

2007-08-16T16:47:00.000Z

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!

2007-08-15T17:54:00.000Z

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

2007-08-10T17:33:00.000Z

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............

2007-08-08T19:14:00.000Z

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.......................

2007-08-06T21:01:00.000Z

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!!

2007-08-05T14:34:00.000Z

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

Post number 100!!!!!!

2007-07-30T10:17:00.000Z

I can't believe that I've posted 100 times on my blog! In some ways it seems like I've always blogged, but I still remember with vivid clarity, my bungling about trying to figure out how to start a blog on blogger LOL!!!! I think its a good job I have a computer whizz in the form of DH, not sure I would ever have been up and running without him:-)
So to celebrate my 100th post, I have about 300g of gorgoeus red hipknits aranweight silk.Its not a pinky red like it looks in the picture, but a deep "true" red, I think thats a good way to describe it?? There would be enough to make a clapotis, or if you don't fancy that, then I'm sure you could find something to do with 540m of aran silk???!!!!!
SO, anyone who comments on my blog between now and sunday 5th August, will be entered into a draw for the silk, just to say thanks for joining me on my blogging experience:-)

HPSS

2007-07-27T08:44:00.000Z

I collected my swap parcel from the post office this morning! My pal was Dee! The socks fit perfectly, and I wore them in bed last night whilst I read the last few chapters of the book (which was fabulous!), dee also sent me the american release of the book, so I'll have something that not many others in the UK will:-)Thanks Dee!!!!!

Party!!!!!!!!!

2007-07-22T13:45:00.000Z

I've spent part of today at my Niece, Keira's, birthday party! She's 4 years old next week, where does the time go????? The party was at soft play in the local sports centre. I didn't manage too many piccies as I was having so much fun playing with the kids:-)

Keira, the birthday girl!!!

Kiki, with aunty S !!!!

Monkeying about!!!

Soft play

Sisters!!!

Blowing out the candles!!!!!

Ever expanding stash!!!

2007-07-21T07:28:00.000Z

The rest of my woolly orders turned up yesterday, so as promised, an update with piccies! Firstly, some Rowanspun aran. I bought this to make Juno from Rowan 40 after seeing Kendra's that she had made, so much nicer than the book too, don't you think??

Also some of the new yarn being stocked by skd, Iceland its called and I'm going to make this lacy hoodie with it!

I did buy some Rowan Plaid aswell, but have a few ideas of what I might make with that, maybe a nice wintery cardi???
I also caved and bought some Fabel sock yarn for this!!! I think jasmine and keira will look so cute in them:-)
I have so many knitting plans and PIW's, really I need to retire so I can do it full time LOL!!!!!!
I have been knitting aswell as spending! Almost finished the twilleys wrap!

I have the ties otn, but they're so boring that they're taking me ages to do! although I'm sure the other knitting in between isn't helping me finish them any quicker!!! I cast on in the black Muskat for this pullover, and have almost done the back. The Muskat looks nice knitted up, its quite soft too, although I have to admit that I'm more of a snuggly woolly girl than a cotton one (not literally but you know what I mean), hopefully I'll get plenty of summer wear out of it once summer eventually decides to arrive !!!!!!
Lastly, I ended up ordering some Kauni yarn from germany to join in with the likes of The yarn harlot in making the Kauni cardigan. The yarn arrived this week too, and its lovely! Not my typical colour choice, but as the weather is a little autumnal, I thought it was perfect:-)

Now, I'm just sat waiting patiently for the postie to bring my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.....................

Stashalong?? What stashalong!!!!!!!!!!

2007-07-18T08:29:00.000Z

After managing to stasalong really well since the beginning of the year, I've gone a bit mad this month! OOOpppss!!!!!!!!! I've only a couple of piccies to show though, as Royal mail are taking there time getting everything to me! I hope they're not this slow on saturday with the new HP book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Firstly, some Lornas laces shepherd worsted to make The twisted float shrug from vogue fall 2005. I've wanted to make this since I first saw it in the magazine, and as Get knitted had the blackberry boucle in their sale, I thought now was as good a time as any to buy the yarn:-)

I also got some Cotton from SKD to make this, this and this.

What amazes me most about our postal service, is how they manage to be so rubbish! The gk order was posted first class recorded on friday of last week, and just arrived this morning! The order fome skd was dispatched yesterday, and one of three of the parcles arrived today! So how do they manage that? Three parcels sent at exactly th same time, from the same place, but only one turns up????? When I sent my sock swap parcel for the HP swap to the states, I used DHL, and the parcel took less than 24 hours between my house in the UK, and my pals house in the USA. I think we get a bit of a bum deal from Royal mail tbh:-(
So I still have a few squishy parcels to look forward to, maybe by the end of the week if I'm lucky, and will update with piccies then!

I've almost finished the knitting part of the twilleys freedom wrap cardi, so should have some pictures of that to show you soon aswell:-)

Bookmark bonanza!!!!!

2007-07-15T12:52:00.000Z

These are the two bookmarks I received from Franney for the crafty threads and yarns monthly swap! They're both great, I love them, and a bookmark always comes in handy:-)
I've been working on the twilleys wrap cardi that I started about a year ago, onto the second front at the moment, but keep getting distracted by other things *roll*.
I'm going ok with the mystery stole, although I'm not up to clue number three yet, and I'm desperate to make Hanami aswell! where I hope to find the time to do this, I'm not really sure, but I have a week off work now, so will hopefully make a big dent in my current pile of wips:-)

And just in case anyone is wondering why my posts are now signed agatha quafflepuncher, this is my HP sock swap name, and I was too stupid to realise that really I needed a totally separate google account *roll*, so for now, AQ is me!!!!!

Harry Potter, round 2!!!!!!!

2007-07-10T07:46:00.000Z

I have signed up for harry potter sock swap round 2, as I had so much fun preparing my socks and goodies for round 1!!!!!
So here is the obligatory questionnaire:-)

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?
Hufflepuff, of course!!!!!

2. Shoe size? Foot length? Foot circumference?
I am a uk size 3, my foot is 8.5" long, and 8" circumference

3. List your three favorite sock yarns.
a.Lucy Neatby celestial merino
b.Lornas laces shepherd sock
c.Opal (cos I love to be able to throw in the machine without worrying!)

4. Would you like to try a new brand of sock yarn? If so, which brand?
I have so many skeins of sock yarn, that I can't think of one I haven't tried ......... Would be happy to try anything though really as I love all my sock yarn:-) I haven't tried any of the bamboo sock yarns yet!

5. Do you prefer variegated or solid sock yarn?
I like both! Solid or semi solid for patterned socks, and variagated for plain!!!

6. What colors would you like to add to your sock yarn stash?
I like blues, but don't have a lot in my sock stash.

7. What kind of sock patterns do you gravitate toward? Lace? Ribbed? Fair Isle?
I love making socks with cables on! I like a little bit of lace, bt have yet to try fairisle!

8. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, animals, etc.)
No

9. Will your socks be exposed to cigarette smoke or animals as you knit them?
I have two dogs, so I'm sure that counts as exposure even though they don't come in my knitting room with me??!!

10. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?
Yes, absolutely!!!!

The swap opens for new members on the 14th July, and you can join Here, its great fun, so come on, you know you want to;-)

Lightning flight!!!!!!

2007-07-07T15:57:00.000Z

Harry Potter swap socks
Pattern: Lightning flight by terri
Yarn: Bright dyes gryffindor yarn
needles: 2.5mm addi circs

How does your garden grow????

2007-07-05T18:56:00.000Z

well, mine not particuarly well tbh, but dads allotment, pretty darn well I think! Yesterday was the first of his veg ready, so I've had fresh cabbage, new potatoes, lettuce, cucumber and radishes, all delicious!!!!!! Why does shop bought never taste quite so good??? Lots of beetroot too, and as I didn't have the right jars or copious amounts of vinegar needed for pickling, I decided to try my hand at making bettroot chutney!
and soon, this......................

Became this.................

I haven't tasted it yet as its far too hot, but hoping to have cheese and chutney sarnies to take to work tomorrow!
In knitting news, I've almost finished the second Harry potter swap! Yippee!!!!! I'm desperate to get these in the post asap, not only because I want them to arrive in the states by the 21st, but also because I want to sign up for round two of the swap:-) sign ups open officially on the 14th of July for new members, but current members can join up for round two as soon as their parcel is winging its way to the recipient!!!!!!! And move onto year two, slightly differant swap, and soooooooo exciting LOL
Second clue for mystery stole released tomorrow too and I still have 20 rows of clue one to do:-( Nevermind, I'm not too far behind.................yet!!!!!

Jazzy!!!!!

2007-07-01T19:32:00.000Z

I've just finished sewing up the cardi I started last week for jasmine. I'm pleased with how its turned out, I just need to sew the zip in:-)and give it a wash and block!
As its for jasmine, I've called it "Jazzy"!!!!

Pattern: My own
Yarn: fantasia by filati
Needles: 4mm Addi bamboo straights

Roll up for the mystery tour!!!!!!!

2007-06-30T15:49:00.000Z

I've always loved the Beatles! Lots of times I'll have a thought and it leads me to sing some half related song for the rest of the day. Today, its the Beatles magical mystery tour, I've been humming it for the past couple of hours, and can only think that I thought of it because of the mystery stole??!! Strange I know, but the song was dragged from the back of my brain by some illogical connection LOL!!!! So heres what I've done so far! I've finished the first chart in clue one for the Mystery stole, and I think it looks great so far! My picture isn't the best, but pale grey is a nightmare to try and photograph!!!!!! So 50 rows done so far, another 50 to do before the next clue is posted on Friday:-)

I've almost finished the cardi I'm making for jasmine too, just a couple inches left to do on the hood, and then the sewing up to do! I even found a matching zip, so that saves me buying one and waiting impatiently for its arrival:-)
I'm heading towards 100 posts now too, I think this is number 90, so will get my thinking cap on for a little prize giving as seems traditional with knitting bloggers:-)

House stitch markers

2007-06-27T17:47:00.000Z

The deadline is fast approaching for the harry potter sock swap, my beads arrived today for the compulsory stitchmarkers which must go in the parcel, I have the compulsory needles too, and now just need to finish sock number two, maybe add a few little extras, and the package will be off to the states and to my gyffindor pal!!!
I'm really excited to receive my own pair of special socks through the post too, I shall be wearing them as I read the new book on the 21st July.

My beads have arrived for the mystery stole 3 too, and I'm hoping to start swatching tomorrow evening after work. DH is off to london for a works do, so I'll have total peace and quiet:-) Oh, and my new addi lace needles to try out too.....Happy days!!!

Lacy Days!!!!!!!

2007-06-26T21:12:00.000Z

I seem to be developing something of a lace yarn fetish, despite having only made the Forest canopy shawl so far, and that wasn't even in lace weight yarn!!!!!!!! I joined up to participate in the Mystery stole 3 Knitalong and trying to stick to the recommended colours to match the theme of the stole, I ordered this gorgoeus Grey Yarn from Natalie of The Yarn Yard, the bluey yarn I have seen in progress pictures of for a Print o the waves stole, and the colours go so well with the pattern, that I had to have a skein of that too *roll*

I managed to convince myself that I didn't really have any lace weight in stash that I could use, but when I've had a little rummage, I do have a few skeins of laceweight yarn hiding in my stash afterall.........

Not loads though, but I just seem to want to buy more laceweight, without having knit any of my existing stash up! I have a few balls of ksh too, but thats not for lace work, its for a nice top if I ever get round to making it:-)
ANd just to continue with the lace theme, I made a start on Montego bay form the Current IW mag! Its a really simple pattern, and I love the way iots turning out so far, apart from the wonkiness at the bottom, I'm not quite sure how I managed that, but hopefully a little blocking will resolve that for me! The yarn is handmaiden seasilk, which I used for my fcs, and I really enjoy to knit with:-)

Terri is much better now, her nose isn't quite as scabby, although she does look a little funny with bald patches dotted about her snout LOL, bless her!!! And thankfully, the little puddles have dried up too:-)
Talking of puddles, what on earth is with the weather:-O) Poor Blue and Piglottie are having an awful time with flooding in their local area:-( Thankfully not too much damage to their own homes, but still, it must be really frightening seeing the water rise and worry whether it will start to seep through your front door:-( The weather has been bad here too, but nothing like as bad as elsewhere, we've had bursts of torrential rain, rather than the constant downpour, so we've been lucky! I'm hopoing the weather will brighten up by the end of the week. I had planned to visit Alnwick gardens at the weekend with my sister and two nieces, but if the weather continues as is, I doubt we'll be going anywhere:-(
My first harry potter swap sock is done, I just need to crack on with the second one straightaway so that I can sign up for the next round of swaps:-) I have ordered the beads to make the stitchmarkers for my pal, and hoping they will arrive tomorrow! I know what I'll be doing on my days off at the weekend:-)

It's a Dogs life!!!!!!!

2007-06-21T19:29:00.000Z

Poor Terri, although over the worst of it now, has had a bit of a poo time over the last week:-( Last sunday she got nettle stung all over her nose, and little blebs on her nose, soon turned into rather large bleeding, pussy, lumps!!!!!! Her eye was even swollen shut, poor little love! After a visit to the vets and a prescription for doggy steroids, the lumps settled down really quickly, thankfully, but with a rather unpleasant side effect!!!!!!! Doggy incontinence:-O( Apparently its common in dogs, even on only short term courses of steroids, just hoping it settles down as soon as the tablets are finished! I think her nose will be scarred actually, cos its almost like craters on her face where she's scratched:-( But at least she's on the mend, maybe not with her former looks intact, but mummy still loves her:-)

All the colours of the rainbow!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-06-19T16:09:00.000Z

Well, maybe not quite ALL the colours, but thats what this yarn makes me think of:-)
I'm making a hoodie for Jasmine, inspired by the cph, can you see the cabling down the edge?? I'm making the pattern up as I go along but it seems to be working out ok!!! So far..........LOL!!!! I decided to stick with Raglan sleeves, because I just think they're the easiest to get right, same number of rows and all that Jazz anyway, so keep fingers crossed!
I was searching the net last night for buttons, but because its hard to judge colours acurately on the monitor, I've decided to buy a zip for this instead, hopefully I'll find a nice metal one with a fancy zipper upper and downerer thingy..........You with me???? NO?? Nevermind!!!!!!
I bought the yarn from this seller, based in germany, and although the auctions are all in german, and I don't speak any, I managed to order with a little help from my friends!!! Jo has A LOT to answer for;-) But at about £5 for 500g, I was always going to find it hard to resist wasn't I!!!!

Socks, silk, and socks!!!!

2007-06-17T18:49:00.000Z

I know its been a week since I posted, but apart from having nothing much to report, seeing Jasmines face everyday when I turned on my computer really made me smile:-)
The training is coming along ok, although I haven't been running in the past week as much as I would like and so I must try harder this week or I will fall behind with my training plan!!!!!!!
I've done a bit more knitting on the sock swap socks for my harry potter pal, who is in gryffindor, here they are so far, looking good even if I do say so myself:-)Just need to get a move on as I really want to post them by the end of June to allow for delivery to the states, I'd hate for them to arrive late!!!!

I started the Unbiased bag from knitty with the banana silk that I got in the secret santa swap. I really like the yarn, and the pattern knits up speedily and is very simple, so I may make another one of these with some sari silk that I have in my stash:-)

I've been doing a second pair of socks too! Rib and cable socks from IW fall 05, and I'm using Lucy Neatby yarn in "Blue vesuvius"! This is the first time I've knitted with the Celestial merino and its lovely and soft! Good job I have another lot in my stash:-)

Let me introduce.....

2007-06-10T10:59:00.000Z

My niece, Jasmine!!!
Jasmine is 6, and has autism, and for that reason, my sister and I are running the great North run this year, for her! Jasmine was diagnosed with autism when she was 2, and since that time, has benefitted greatly from visits to an autistic charity local to us in Morpeth, called the Toby Henderson Trust. They've provided supportive therapy sessions for jasmine, and have been on hand for advice whenever my sister and her husband have needed it, so we decided it would be nice to try and give something back to them, to say thankyou for there help with Jasmines needs.
Over the next four months, in the run up to the race, I will be auctioning a few items to raise a little money on the Crafty threads and Yarns forum, and would be grateful for any support, remembering that support isn't just in the form of money, but in words of encouragement when training gets tough, and the goal seems beyond my reach!!!!!!!
I've been training for a couple of months , but the hard train begins now I ran 5km this morning in just under 40 minutes, which I was pleased with, but realise I have a long way to go if I am to manage to sustain that effort over 13 miles
Wish me luck
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