Yoshimi Knits

2008-12-07T05:29:00.000-12:00

More spinning

2008-11-15T07:15:00.002-12:00

I must be feeling very spinny this week, I just seem to want to keep starting things. Instead of finishing my apple sourz spinning that I started last week, I decided instead to start on some BFL humbug top that i have had for ages, It was from Wingham I think.There was about 160g, so I decided to do a 3 ply, using 2 plies of this, and a single ply of plain brown BFL I had.

I spun them long draw from the fold, and the resulting yarn was 10wpi, a lovely squooshy soft aran yarn

Which is now fast becoming this scarf for Lee.

I've also been doing a little spindling over the last couple of weeks, this is the Chameleon Colorworks BFL I bought at the socktopus opening, I'm about 25g in and it's (fingers crossed) going to be a self striping 2 ply laceweight.
(sorry the pic is sideways I have lost all patience with my computer by this point)

And finally the natural dye studio silk I finished spinning a couple of weeks ago, just because I haven't posted any pics of it anywhere yet

And the scarf it is being knitted into

Sand & Shingle

2008-11-11T11:06:00.003-12:00

Fibre: merino Tencel from Fyberspates in Gold & Brown

Yarn: 3 ply 14wpi 300m 96g, plied at 10:1

Singles 36wpi, spun at 12:1

I split the yarn length wise into three, the colour didn't quite penetrate all of the fibre so 1 length was very deep colours and the other two had some whit running a long side each colour.

I broke off each colour segment and spun it from the fold, resulting in 1 ply with very solid colours, and 2 plies that barber poled from taking from the colour and the white at the same time.

I plied the singles with a very controlled plying, inch worming to ensure that i maintained an even ply throughout. I didn't try to control the colours plying together to achieve a varigated effect which was helped along by the barber poling in the individual plies.

oooh look another post

2008-11-11T09:27:00.002-12:00

Seeing as a couple of people have commented, meaning you are actually reading, I thought I better give you something pretty to look at.

This is Fyberspates merino tencel, from Iknit day

It's 3 ply, about 14wpi, and just under 100g. Now if I can only decide what to knit with it!

And some of you have seen the half finished version of these, Hubby's hand spun socks, it's a cable plied corriedale, dyed with gaywool dye in rosemary. No idea what the wpi or yardage is on these, but he's happy, (so my life is quiet). This was my first time trying an afterthought heel, and my god was it terrifying cutting something I had knit, I thought I was going to pass out!

And finally, this is some BFL, one of my early food colouring dying attempts, and yes it really is half red and half green, and kind of reminds me of apple sourz. Again it's going to be a 3 ply sport(ish) weight yarn.

I'm back

2008-11-07T11:12:00.002-12:00

having been bugged by Nora at the Socktopus launch party last sunday, I have finally revived my blog. I don't know if I'll keep us with posting, but I can but try.

Hopefully blogging via email on my mobile will help me keep on top of it a little, but we shall see. (of course that depends on whether I keep my mobile charged, but that's a different issue)

I've got some ideas for some posts that might actually e interesting to other folks too, so we'll see how I get on with that. Anyway, I'm not used to all this any more, and it's tired me out, time for me to have a lie down I think.

I passed

2008-05-24T04:25:00.000-12:00

I'm so happy, I finally passed my Google adwords professional exam last week, and just to prove it, here's my adwords professional logo! How cool is that!

Skeptical?

2008-05-21T08:11:00.002-12:00

Last night was the first meeting of the Leicester Skeptics in the pub. A forum where people can go and, well, be skeptical. For the first meeting Simon, the organiser had arranged for Simon Sing, a BBC presenter and producer, and author of a number of books on an array of subjects from cosmology to alternative medicine, to speak. His talk was about the truth behind alternative medicine, based on the meta analysis of numerous studies, by his co-author Edzard Ernst, the first professor of alternative medicine in the UK.

The talk he gave was informative, witty and balanced. He acknowledged the scientific evidence that some therapies had areas in which they could be proven successful, for instance acupuncture seems to have some benefit for some types of pain, and chiropracty has some benefit for back problems, however he also showed that some forms of treatment simply overextend themselves, and yet others are nothing more then placebo effects.

I'm really looking forward to going to the second meeting next month, although the speaker isn't yet confirmed, and I know Hubby is looking forward to July's talk on "Mars Myths".

There are a number of Skeptics in the pub groups, you can see on their website, also Simon Singhs site has more about who he is and what he does. His book, Trick or treatment (which I bought and it looks fab) is available on Amazon.

The Joy of Freecycle

2008-05-21T04:21:00.000-12:00

I love Freecycle, so I managed to get rid of so much stuff at the weekend, and picked up a book on Herbal remedies. This is my latest thing, I'm hoping that in future when Hubbyand i go walking, we will be able to pick herbs and plants that we can use to help us and the rats. Seriously, what otherplace can you get rid of all of your own rubbish, and be sure of finding someone elses rubbish that you really want, all for free! Did i mention I love freecycle!

Meet Elijha

2008-05-19T09:29:00.002-12:00

Isn't he just the cutest thing! He is from a pattern by the fantastic Ysolda, who I met last week at MissMalice's and he was knit completely iin the round, in just a few hours. I started him for a friend who is due her first child in a couple of months, but Hubby has fallen in love with him, and doesn't want to let him go, so I may be knitting Elijha a brother very shortly

So what have I been up to?

2008-05-17T04:29:00.002-12:00

I finally got round to taking some picures of my recent knitting...the way this blog has been going lately you would be forgiven for thinking that it was no longer a knitting blog, well no fear, here it is;

This is some of the yarn I bought from the lovely Alice of socktopus fame last week, it's cherry tree hill, and is just perfect for these lovely swirly socks.

I also managed to get this knit up while I was at Alice's, It's Whisp from last years Knitty, and if I ever get round to adding some buttons, It will be fab!

And finally, these I have been working on for a few months now; A cabled jumper for Lee

And this lovely vintage tie neck jumper

Which with only 1 sleeve and the neck edging left to knit, I would really like to finish while it's still cold enough to wear.

New job

2008-05-09T23:09:00.003-12:00

I've been out of action for quite a while of late, my job was really getting me down and I was so exhausted I really didn't feel like knitting, or blogging, or doing much of anything really. To make matters worse the desktop pc blew up, leaving just the laptop, which me and DH were constantly fighting over. Well I finally have a new job, and a new laptop, so I am hoping to get back into the habit of posting again soon. At some point this week I will try and upload some pictures of the bits and pieces I've been working on.

Getting there

2008-03-13T18:40:00.003-12:00

I decided to knit myself a jumper in time for tarting my new job, so with 5 weeks available I started knitting The tie neck jumper from vintage purls, in 4 ply! Ok so I was feeling brave, and happened to have some lovely grey rowanspun 4 ply in my stash that I was desperate to use. Would you believe it, I'm actually n schedule, I have knit front and back, and am 2/3 through the first sleeve.

Not only have I become a one project knitter, but I haven't been knitting obsessively, not even every night, and it turns out I love knitting in 4 ply on straights! I must be loosing the plot. Can't wait to show you all what I've been up to finally though, it feels weird not having any knitting to show off in so long.

I'm Late

2008-03-05T18:53:00.002-12:00

It was my blogoversary on the 26th Feb, and i thought (as yu do) well, perhaps it's time to finally turn the blog into a website, so I did, and it only took me a leeettle longer then expected. Ok so in fairness it's still not finished, but I'm proud of it non the less.

If you want to change your links or feeds or such the new feed address is yoshimi.me.uk./atom.xml and the main url is yoshimi.me.uk.

In other news I have been celebrating, I got a new job, YIPPEEEE! It means a longer commute, (from 5 minutes to an hour each way) but the working day is 1 hour shorter, so I think I can live with that. I can't wait to start at the end of the moth.

I'm also working on a lovely tie neck jumper from Vintage purls; the hope is that I will be able to wear it to my first day at work (a whole jumper in 4 ply in a month, over stretching...me...NEVER)!

I've been knitting!

2008-02-11T03:56:00.002-12:00

I finally finished the dreaded second sleeve on hubby's jumper, and I've started some socks and a shawl too! I'm not up to my previous level of obsession, but I'm well on the way. Can we have a chorus of YIPPEE

Of course the rodents have been taking up a lot of time, not least because there seems to have been a population explosion, 3 has become 5. No they're not breeding, but we are "aquiring" more rats fairly reguarly, it's just a case of getting hubby to agree :)

This is Saga

Who is a little terror, and is learning lots of annoying tricks from the big girls already, and Hnoss

Who is too lazy to even get up for food!
The 2 babies together

And everyone snuggles in a rat pile

Now I know you didn't come to see pictures of rodents but aren't they beautiful. We are getting 3 more girls from a breeder in the summer, and may be taking on some boys in the next couple of months too....Who needs knitting when you have this lot scuttling about eh! I have even gone mad enough to consider changing the craft room into a rat room! luckily there is a smaller room that the rats have been able to have, so the craft room remains...for now!

Knitting Slump

2008-01-12T04:18:00.000-12:00

Do you want to hear something amazing...I have no knit a stitch all year, nor have I spun anything!

I don't know what it is, it's just not exciting me at the moment; I look at the stash and it's not giving me the excited feelings it used to! I have a jumper that is half a sleeve and a yoke away from completion, prob less then a weeks work, and it's just sitting in the knitting basket staring at me; I have a beautiful pair of socks that I look at and knw they are beautiful, but do I want to put the effort in...nope!

I miss the excitement that I used to get from knitting, I just seem to have lost the zing...

Hello again

2008-01-03T20:22:00.000-12:00

Wow, I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted. Happy new year to you all. Everything has been very much up in the air over the last month, between getting ready for Christmas, a very busy work schedule, and taking care of the rats, I have barely had a minute to think about knitting or blogging.

I have done little bits and pieces of knitting, I've nearly finished a chunky jumper for lee, and I've finished a pair of socks that ave been on the needles for months but that's about it.

The rats are pretty much fully grown now, and we have added a third to our mischief; This is Skadi (freya, Sif & Skadi are all norse goddesses, we thought we would follow a theme)

And here are the three girls together posing

She is an absolutely beautiful girl, both to look at, and in temperament. We are even considering entering her into a local rat show (yes such things exist!)

Having 3 rats is far more work then I imagines, as we have to spend at least 20 minutes one on one with them each day at the moment to get them properly socialised (because the first 2 were from a *spit* pet shop, and Sakdi had not been treated well by her original owners, if we had had them from a rescue centre or rat breeder they would have much better temperaments) then we give them at least an hour to run around. We have had to cover all of the wires in the living room, but it's been worth it to watch the excitement on their faces when they get to run around.

I used to think people were mad when they cooked meals for their animals, but I regularly find myself worrying more about buying veg for the rats then I do about buying food for me, and even their base dry food is specially made up for them! I must be nuts! Despite all of that though, I am still considering getting more of the little darlings, but that will have to wait until I can buy a bigger cage, or extend the one we have, and really we need to get Freya and Sif through the "hormonal phase" they seem to be going through at the moment (teenagers, honestly what a handful,, at least these teenagers can be locked in their cage when they are driving us nuts!)

lee and I had a lovely lazy Christmas, and got lots of wonderful prezzies; I'll try and be good and post more, and I will be trying to email everyone over the next week or so to arrange get together and catch up drinkies (even if they're just metaphorical online drinkies)

I WON!

2007-12-03T00:57:00.000-12:00

Yay, I won, I won, I won. Yippee (dances around office like someone sprinkled something illegal on my breakfast cereal this morning!)

In the last 2 weeks there have been 3, count them, 3 Lyra patterns on eBay! If you have never heard of Lyra, it is an out of print pattern by the Lace meister Herbert Niebling. Soo knitted one recently, and you can see the beautiful job she did of it here.

The first pattern up this week went for $150. The second for $122.50, and I nabbed mine for $96. Yay for me. Now I just have to clear my knitting calendar for the next 6 months, first to translate the German instructions, and then to actually knit it!

Thank you

2007-11-28T06:50:00.000-12:00

Thank you to everyone who emailed and commented, I've been taking it much easier, and do feel much better as a result.

It's funny the things I've noticed since my self imposed posting ban, I know I have been 2 weeks without posting before, but not letting myself was different somehow. I started reading over old blog posts and noticed how the voice that i write in has changed, which shouldn't be surprising, but it was.

i also noticed how little care I take over my photographs. I must make more of an effort to take better daytime pictures of the things I knit, I'm really not doing them justice! I've also been knitting less, which was really hard to start with, it reminded me of quiting smoking, I kept looking for things to do with my hands, and like when I quit smoking I always end picking it back up again, but I'm thinking about what I want to knit a little more now, and horror of horrors I've stated swatching, properly swatching (neaty was obviously one lesson too many, I keep having to unpick the button bands and re-knit them further in, then the yarn stretches some more, and the whole thing starts over, but I am determined not to re-knit it)

So in the last couple of weeks I have sent a PIF parcel to Crafty librarian, and a spindle to viking knits, and some handspun bits and pieces to sewIknit2, and have generally relaxed. So now I'm full of energy, and wondering what I should knit :D

Oh and don't let me forget to post the pictures of the fabulous sock yarn I saw at Alice's after the SnB day!

Sometimes we just need to say stop!

2007-11-13T04:08:00.000-12:00

After a wonderful weekend spent with Alice, and going to the SnB day down in London (which is what I had intended to blog about) I got home on Sunday on top form.

However, I got home from work last night, and collapsed under the weight of it all. It was one of those revelationary moments where you see everything all at once, and what I saw, I didn't like. I have been taking on more and more recently. I think I have been taking things on, to hide from the overwhelming amount I already had to do, talk about going round in circles.

I have been neglecting work, and hubby, and a lot of other things that I really should have been paying more attention to. So I have decided that I need to step back, and take a break! I will get the UK swap partners sent out, finish up the swaps I am currently taking part in, and a couple of other bits and pieces that need doing, and then I will be off line until I get my head together. I have taken on so many things, and now need to stop everything that I can stop, to give my head a break.

So apart from a couple of smaller posts when swap parcels arrive and such, you won't be seeing much of me until after Christmas, and probably not until February. I will be checking in on Ravelry on occasion, so people will still be able to get hold of me there, but for now I will say au revoir, and see you in the new year

xx

Yellow Green?

2007-11-06T00:29:00.000-12:00

you are yellowgreen
#9ACD32

Your dominant hues are green and yellow. There's no doubt about the fact that you think with your head, but you don't want to be seen as boring and want people to know about your adventurous streak now and again.

Your saturation level is higher than average - You know what you want, but sometimes know not to tell everyone. You value accomplishments and know you can get the job done, so don't be afraid to run out and make things happen.

Your outlook on life is brighter than most people's. You like the idea of influencing things for the better and find hope in situations where others might give up. You're not exactly a bouncy sunshine but things in your world generally look up.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Damn these quizzes, I wouldn't mind, but I must actually be transparent! (nicked from Riggwelter)

If only

2007-11-04T07:36:00.001-12:00

every weekend was as lovely as this one has been. hubby & I drove down to London yesterday to go to the camouflage exhibition at the imperial War museum. We had meant to go last time we were in London, but ran out of time, and as there were only a couple of weekends left of this particular exhibit (and as hubby is as obsessed with Camo as I am with wool) i made the executive decision to surprise him with a day trip.

The museum is fantastic, we barely managed to see 10% of what was there, but what we did see was amazing. With the amount of war museums we visit it's rare to see something new, but the IWM had so much that I'd never come across before. There were even computer terminals where you could search through the people who were killed in WW2.

The best thing about the day though, was being able to take my camo sock pouch, with my knitted camo sock, to the camo exhibition. Sweet!

A Year in images

2007-10-30T23:40:00.000-12:00

As I'm sure most of you have noticed, when it comes to taking photo's I'm useless, not only do I not take the time to get good pictures, but I rarely bother to take them.

Baring this in mind, it may surprise you to find that I was once a very keen photographer, and am even capable of developing my own prints. As a teenager I was almost never seen without a camera in hand, and would take photos at all of the local gigs, and of, well everything really.

I don't know when this disappeared, but it has, Hubby and I have almost no photo's of the last 4 years together, and many of those we have nabbed from other people. It's a shame really, as I would love to be able to look back on things a little more. So with that in mind, and thanks to Heldap, I have decided to embark on a year of photos. I'm starting now to get into practice, but my intention is that in 2008 I will take at least one photo every single day!

I have started a photoblog, which you can see here; ~~http://www.photoblog.com/yoshimiknits.~~

I'm now blogging this with Heldap at CanYouSayCheese@blogspot.com
Wish me luck!

Irish Cottage Knitting

2007-10-29T23:22:00.001-12:00

I have noticed that since I posted last year about Irish cottage knitting, a lot of people have been visiting my blog, having found me on Google for that term. Probably looking, as I did, for more information on this obscure form of knitting, that is often only referenced in relation to Yarn Harlot.

In the hope that I can save someone else some time, here's what I've managed to find out about Irish cottage knitting.

It is essentially lever arch knitting, whereby the hand is not taken away from the needle at any time, and the right hand needle is supported between the forefinger and thumb of the right hand. The first or middle finger of the right hand is levered out to throw the yarn around the needle to create the stitch. The only real difference between the yarn harlots style, and that of other lever arch knitters (that I have been able to discern) is that she extends the middle finger, as opposed to the first finger, which seems to be the more common form.

In the straight needle version of this style, the right needles is held under the right arm. This is a leftover technique from the days when the right needle could be anchored in a sheath to allow faster knitting, and Greater dexterity while enabling the knitter to move more freely with their knitting, i.e walking, looking after children etc.

With the right needle anchored thus, the right hand only needs to move the yarn, while the left hand makes the stitch with the left needle. I does seem that due to the smaller movements involved this technique is faster then other methods of throwing knitting. I will be adding a tutorial for Lever arch knitting within the next couple of weeks.

Where do all the good days go?

2007-10-27T23:05:00.000-12:00

This weekend was supposed to be productive and relaxing. I had a list of things to do, all things that need doing, but that I would enjoy. Yesterday i was going to go into town, buy some new jeans, prezzie for my mum's b.day, some bits for the knitters coffee swap. Then come home, tidy up, ball the wool from the projects I have decided to give up on for the sake of my sanity (I can't have UFO's lying around if I know I won't finish them, it stresses me), and do some sewing up on the never ending blanket.

Then today i was going to finish the blanket, solicit hubby to help me take some Pics of my recent FO's, update rav, and start making progress on Baudelaire. No such luck, and now I'm hungover.

so here's what happened instead. Friday night I decided the cabled socks, after 3 attempts to complete the second sock failed, needed to go, so both socks were ripped, and balled, and are now back in the stash. This left me with some knitting time that needed o be filled mindlessly...Lutroja mans, reams of stocking stitch, perfect. As I hadn't knit on it for so long I re-checked my gauge, waaay off. There was no way this jumper was going to fit hubby. Another one for the frog pile. I really don't have the energy to start this one all over again, but hubby wants a hoodie, so in the spirit of my Christmas challenge I have started again, but this time I am doing an EZ circular raglan...This way is much more enjoyable and I am even knitting it continental, as I have hurt my right hand, but it has thrown my plan off somewhat!

Saturday, I got into town, and within 1/2 hour our friend Dean called to say he was nearly in Leicester as he was coming over for a few drinks. By the time I got home, I just about had time to tidy before he arrived! No blanket sewing, none of the shopping I needed done, nothing! And now we are all sat here with hangovers, the house looks like a bomb has hit (actually i think it was 2 bombs, as Hubby & Dean sat up till 6am drinking whiskey, and now both think they are dieing)

With a bit of luck I will still get all of the pictures taken, and may nip out to the shops, but the blanket will have to wait till another week, as will the balling up of projects. ho hum, never mind. Lot's of coffee, and mindless TV for me today. If I'm feeling really energetic later, I may post some pictures up.

Patterns & Tutorials

2007-10-25T00:03:00.001-12:00

You'll see in the right hand side that I have finally gotten round to starting to post some of my patterns, yay me!

I will try and add to these as I go along, and I have added in a few tutorials on things people have asked me about too.

This is my first foray into pattern writing though, and I have not had these test knit, so please if as I post patterns you run into ANY difficulty, please please please let me know.

The aliens are landing

2007-10-24T20:08:00.000-12:00

or that's what you would think looking at all my UFO's for the last 2 weeks. Admittedly most of them were very close to completion, and had been languishing at the bottom of the basket, and my casonitis had reached terminal levels. Having said that I am so proud of myself that my oldest UFO was Tomten, from June. Anything that I am certain I won't finish has been ripped, more yarn for the stash!

I have also been quite amazed at the number of projects I have knitted in this last year, for yes my friends it is 1 year this month since I became a knitting addict (in fact the bug bit on my honeymoon, weird yes, better then marriage counseling, definitely). I had learnt to knit as a kid, and tried various things ovr the years, interspersed with attempts at crochet, cross stitch and dressmaking. I have knit and finished 32 projects in this year, including;

5 adult cardigans
2 adult jumpers
12 pairs of socks
2 blankets
2 shawls
2 doily's
3 scarfs
and 2 hats

phew I'm exhausted just thinking about it! Ravelry is certainly a confidence boost when you think you don't get to do as many patterns as you would like.

My 1st Wedding aniversary

2007-10-20T01:55:00.000-12:00

Number 10
I got smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and champagne in bed for breakfast this morning, and am being taken to the champagne bar for dinner tonight...need I say more?

As I haven't got a lot of time to post today, I thought I would just show you some of the pictures from our wedding day. You can also follow this link to see us on BBC news on the day, (please feel free to laugh at us, we did!)

10 Things, Numbers 4-9

2007-10-19T01:04:00.000-12:00

Number 4
He always does the washing up :)

Number 5
He never shy's from telling me "yes your bum does look big in that

Number 6
He brings me flowers home for no apparent reason

Number 7
He doesn't always let me win

Number 8
He sometimes lets me win

Number 9
This is how Lee proposed. After another rather drunken night (are you spotting a theme here) we were sat in the living room with some friends who had stayed over, when Lee turned to me and said

Him; "You're going to marry me one day"
Me; "F@*K off"
Him; No seriously
Me; Shut up, you're still pissed!

A few hours later, when the friends had headed home, he turned to me again

Him; "I meant what I said"
Me; "when"
Him; "earlier when I said you would marry me"
Me; "are you proposing?" (as you know from the "I love you" fiasco, it's best with Lee to make sure he's saying what you think he's saying)
Him; erm yeah
Me; "great, October ok for you, that gives us about 6 months to plan"
Him; erm, well...I ...erm. OK

The most romantic proposal a girl could have, don't you think?

p.s You might have noticed in the sidebar my Christmas and Woolfest challenges, if anyone would like to join in, let me know and I'll consider making a button or some such.

Two additions and a FO

2007-10-17T09:57:00.000-12:00

There have been 2 additions to the family today, meet Freya

And Sif

Aren't they the most beautiful girls! I've also manage to finish one of my Christmas challenge knits tonight, Tomten, although I'm calling this one Tomnine, as it only has itty bitty sleeves;

And yes I know I'm behind on my 10 things, it's not that I ran out of lovely things to say about hubby, I just haven't had time, i promise I will catch them all up before our anniversary on Saturday!

10 Things; Number 3

2007-10-13T12:54:00.000-12:00

Ok, it's 2 am so i have officially missed day number three, I knew this would happen, so as I am going to bed now I will make this a short one,

One of the reasons I love Lee is....He puts up with my ceaseless knitting! Including annexed rooms, fiber everywhere, no conversation during tricky bits, and feedback on what he thinks of my projects. Could any knitter wish for a better husband then that (except perhaps one that had limitless cash for limitless yarn)

Enough said, I'm off to bed. G'night.

Knitters Coffee Swap Questions

2007-10-12T22:01:00.000-12:00

Yay another swap! I got may partners details this morning, so here are my question responses.

1. Whole bean or ground?
Whole bean. There is nothing like he smell of freshly ground coffee, and my grinder is one of my prized possessions

2. Fully-loaded or decaf?
What's decaf...I live on caffeine, and have a sleep disorder, so really do need caffeine to stay awake!

3. Regular or flavored?
Regular, although I do occasionally enjoy almond or hazelnut.

4. How do you drink your coffee?
Black or white with 2 sugars, although most of the time Black, unless it's a really strong blend (or really cheap instant, like at work)

5. Favorite coffee ever?
I don't really have one, anything with a smooth caramel flavour is great.

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do?
I never met a cup of coffee I didn't like, but I definitely appreciate quality beans. I worked in a coffee shop during college, and we were well trained in what qualified as a quality cup.

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee?
Chocolate (strong and dark 70+%)

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?
nope

9. Yarn/fiber you love?
I'm going through a lace phase at the moment, so anything thin and squishy has me swooning, having said that I never met a yarn I didn't like either! (I knit and spin, so soft quality fiber does it for me too!)

10. Yarn/fiber you hate?
I don't do bulky, I have little hands so struggle with anything over a 7mm needle.

11. What's on your needles?
2 pairs of socks, Neaty from the latest rowan mag, a lace shawl, and a few Christmas bits

12. Favorite colors?

Green, red and blue at the moment, my wardrobe is full of tones of brown, so anything that goes with brown really. I'm also having a blue / teal phase

13. Allergies?
None

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest?
Being in the UK, getting yarns that we can't get over here will have me doing little dances round the house.

10 Things; Number 2

2007-10-12T04:01:00.000-12:00

OK, episode 2...the I love yous

Well from me it was all quite simple, a month or so into the relationship, while lying in bed one afternoon ;) I told Lee that I loved him. His response "That's nice". Hum, not quite what I was hoping for, but I let it slide.

A few weeks later we went out for the night, and staggering home with friends in the wee hours of the morning we started lagging behind the group, as we stood at the corner of Lee's road, both excruciatingly drunk, he said it...Yep he told me he loved me....But you never believe a man when he says that drunk right? so the next morning the conversation went something like this

me: Do you remember what you said last night?
him: Yes?
me: all of it?
him: yes?
me: and did you mean what you said?
him: yes!
me: I love you
him: that's nice

not perhaps what I was expecting. For all of the following week I kept waiting for him to say it again, after all when you've said it once, saying it some more doesn't seem so hard. But after a week nothing was forthcoming, so the conversation that weekend went something like this;

me: you know I keep asking you if you remember what you said last weekend
him: yes?
me: and if you meant it..
him: yes (sounding rather exasperated at this point)
me: well I don't think you remember all of it
him: why
me: Do you remember telling me you loved me?
him: errrm
me: did you mean it?
him: no...

All credit to the man, a lot of people would have said yes just to avoid the associated stress, and I had already figured this out by this point, so wasn't overly put out.

So when did he say it I hear you cry!

Well we'd been going out about 3 months, when he went to Nottingham for a friends stag do, I offered to pick him up the next morning, and go into town to do some shopping. When I arrived the boys were all very much worse for wear, and Lee asked if I could take his friend Bri to the station. Seeing they were both a little green around the gills, I decided to have some fun, and bunny hop the car at traffic lights, turn too sharply round corners, and generally make the journey as uncomfortable as possible, before pulling a handbrake turn in the (empty) station car park. Both boys got in looking 20 something and got out looking 40 something.

There's nothing quite like humiliating someone with a really old picture right? This is Lee (centre) and friends in 1997, that's right this was 10 years ago...and wasn't he a looker then ;)

Lee and I went into town, and sitting by the fountain at the town hall square in Notts (If you've ever been there you'll know that the town hall square in Nottingham is quite pretty) he finally said, and meant, I love you.

To this day I wonder if it was love or the slightly queasy feeling caused by my driving...

10 Things; Number 1

2007-10-11T03:34:00.000-12:00

This time last year I was in panic mode. this time last year there were only 9 days left before my wedding, and there was so much left to do.

But this year, there are 9 days until my first wedding anniversary, and that's a good thing...right?

So, to celebrate, I thought I would share with you a reason that I love my DH, or a story about us, every day between now and the 20th, Our anniversary..So here's number one of "Ten things I love about Lee" (& I promise it won't be as overly sentimental as it sounds), you'll get 10 pictures too, so you can truly appreciate just how gorgeous he is!

Today I've decided to start at the beginning, and tell you how Lee and I met;

It was 11th July 2003, and i was walking home in my multi-colour polyester bank uniform (fetching I can tell ya) when I walked past a pub window, and saw some friends sat in the window, being a sociable type I popped in for a drink. I knew everyone there, except this one bloke in a corner that I just couldn't take my eyes off, and no matter how hard I tried to catch his attention, he was having none of it! That was my first real sighting of Lee.

This is Lee (right) on a recent camping trip. The sexy bum on the left is our best man Craig...Yes ladies that bum is single!

I waited until he got up to leave, and then left myself, thinking he would at least offer to walk me to the taxi rank, but no, he went off on his own, pretty much ignoring me. I rang one of the friends who had been at the pub, and instructed them that I HAD to meet that guy again, so they invited me to his birthday party the following Wednesday.

Wednesday evening after work, I called this friend to get the details, and was told that Lee had asked for me not to be there, the excuse was that he didn't want any girls there as he would look an arse, as he intended to get so drunk (I found out later in the relationship it was because he didn't like me, and didn't really want to see me again, such a romantic tale).

As the boys got drunk, one of them decided to give me a call, and I ended up going to the pub to meet them after all. The were all truly out of it. When we moved pubs I offered the birthday boy a drink, and we got chatting. We turned around half an hour later to find that all our friends had gone. Well I couldn't let a drunk man (especially not a sexy drunk man) walk home on his own could I, so I drove him home, and that was the start of that!

Not exactly the most romantic of meetings, but it turned out well, I think tomorrow I'll tell you about the first time we each said I love you...Again not as romantic as it could have been, well not at first ;)

To my spinning and felting friends

2007-10-03T20:30:00.000-12:00

I am taking a trip out to Wingham wool on Sunday, if you would like anything fetching back, let me know!

I caught the bug

2007-10-03T04:08:00.000-12:00

As many of you will remember I got my ravelry invite quite early on, June in fact (on my b.day, yay) however at the time I didn't really do anything with it, and so it has just sat there, a few projects detailed, not many pics, I wasn't really getting it! Then over the last few weeks everyone I know has got their invitation too, and suddenly I'm never off. my stash and projects have been uploaded, and I'm commenting on gazillions of forum posts every day, I even belong to some stupid number of groups...Perhaps I should start a 12 step program. So if I seem a bit vague of late it just means I'm in withdrawal, and in need of a fix of Ravel!

In other news, I started Neaty from the latest Rowan magazine on Monday, I was going to put up progress pics, but it's nearly finished already, so not much point in that. It is a beautiful knit though, and Rowan cocoon is so scrummy! I should have some photo's of the finished item by the weekend.

I've also developed an urge to do some more drop spinning, and as my Bosworth is currently occupied, and my other spindles aren't pretty enough for me to want to spin on, I have decided to make some of my own. There are a couple of people I know who I might make additional ones for too (yes you both know who you are, and I'm sorry I know neither of you need another hobby, but tough, I refuse to be the only one getting drink and playing with a silly twirly thing!)

So Lunch time today I popped to the local DIY store, and Knitting will be on hiatus for the evening, while I make lots of mess all over the dining room. (note to self, need wood glue!)

This also means that I will be able to justify another trip to Wingham wool for some more fiber!

I have had two people tell me that they would like my Pay it forward gifts, I will email you both about it soon I promise guys, I haven't forgotten you just got a little caught up in the raveling goodiness, but that means there is still one skein of handspun sock yarn that I would like to give away, sometime after Christmas, and as before the first person to post a comment saying they would like it, and are willing to pay it forward, shall have it. If no one says they want it, I will nominate someone who has commented previously and they can have it as a gift :)

Pictures

2007-09-29T23:08:00.000-12:00

Finally, as promised here are some pictures of my recent efforts;

This is my work to date on Hubby's hoodie, I feel like I have been knitting this forever, which I suppose is what happens when you try to knit a mans jumper in 4 ply!!! He better like it when I finally finish!

And here is my first ever aran jumper; also taking forever, but at least I can see it growing!

My sock pal socks!!! The top pair are bamboo, and are the yummiest softest pair of socks I have. Both pairs are simply beautiful!

Tempting no? This was a weekend knit, and I love it. I replaced the ribbon with an I cord and button, but have ribbon too, for nights out. It's knit in Debbie bliss DK cotton, and I have to admit I'm contemplating a second.

And these are pics of the exhibition I went to yesterday. The war of the worlds piece is a tapestry, I can hardly believe that someone had that much skill and patience. It was a local exhibition organised by my LYS, and babylonglegs and I had great fun as I took my spinning wheel, and she her knitting, and everyone who came in came over for a chat. Viva the knitting! To top it off, everyone who went to the exhibition got 15% in the shop....I know have a silly amount of knitting to get through...Better get started!

Playing again

2007-09-25T12:03:00.001-12:00

I'm playing with my template again, so sorry of some of the site is a bit squiffy!

oops

2007-09-24T06:14:00.000-12:00

Yet again I promise to post, and never get round to it, but in my defence I have been far to busy playing with all of the scrummy yarn I bought at the socktopus launch. I can't even begin to describe it, you are just going to have to go see for your self. This is truly going to be my first stop for sock yarn from now on!

In other news, I have decided to join Rigewlter and Pay it forward;

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. 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.

Ok all three of my giftees will get 100g of handspun sock yarn, made by moi! I will get it sent to you as soon as I can, but it may not be until after christmas, I will have to see ghow it goes, but it will be worth the wait, I promise.

Oh I feel good just for offering, Me and my warm fuzzy feeling are off for some tea now :)

Woohoo!

Socktopus launches tonight

2007-09-13T21:48:00.000-12:00

I can't wait, all of the yummy goodies that have been promised. I will tell you all about it on Sunday when I get back from the big smoke, and I promise to try and get pics, but my record with that hasn't been great recently as you know.

Make sure you check it out www.socktopus.co.uk

I also wrote (well altered a very well known) song (not that I get overly excitable about things you understand)

I'd like to be under the sea
In a Soctopus's garden in the shade
She'd let us in, knows where we've been
In her Soctopus's garden in the shade

I'd ask my friends to come and see
A Soctopus's garden with me
I'd like to be under the sea
In a Soctopus's garden in the shade


We would be warm below the storm
In our little hideaway beneath the waves
Resting our head we'd knit instead
In a Soctopus's garden near a cave


We would sing, knit in the round,
Because we know we can't be found
I'd like to be under the sea
In a Soctopus's garden in the shade


We would knit and not rip out
The crystal yarn, beneath the waves
(Lies beneath the ocean waves)
Oh what joy for every girl and boy
Knowing they're happy and they're safe
(Happy and they're safe)


We would be so happy you and me
No one there to tell us what to do
I'd like to be under the sea
In a Soctopus's garden with you
In a Soctopus's garden with you
In a Soctopus's garden with you

Hee hee! Have a nice weekend all!

Paranoid...ME?

2007-09-10T06:51:00.000-12:00

Ok the universe hates my photography. mean it, some one somewhere is deliberately making sure you never get pics of my knitting ever again.

I found the camera this morning (hubby had it hidden in the bedroom, If he's been taking pics of me in my sleep, he's managed to hide them. Knowing how I look when I get up in the morning, I'm sure they're for blackmail purposes as opposed to anything kinkyer) and when I got home this evening, I started photographing all of my knitting. I even had the post written up and saved to drafts.

So what gazumped me you might ask, well I have the USB cable to connect the camera to the pc, but blow me, I can't find the Gizmo that connects the camera to the cable!

So as I have been promising you pics for so long, I thought I would show you what some of my favourite bloggers have been doing instead, ok?

Mochi Mochi has been doing her first quilt, I'm so jealous I could cry, I can't sew for toffee!

Riggwelter
has been doing this beautiful long scarf, in steel wool. I have to admit it makes me think of pan scourers to imagine knitting with steel wool, but I can see Riggwelter has proved me wrong!

And babylong legs has been doing more of what she does best...aren't they the cutest

& I promise, you will get pictures of what I've been up to, just as soon as the gizmo turns up!

Still no pics

2007-09-09T10:12:00.001-12:00

Ok, I know I said that there would be pictures today, but I started knitting Tempting yesterday afternoon, and just couldn't stop until it was finished. I've just added an I cord with button instead of the ribbon as in the pattern, as I wanted it to be a bit less frilly for day to day wear. I'm going to buy some ribbon this week though, so I can have it as evening wear too, and I think I might wear it to the Socktopus launch next Friday.

I wasn't going to start anything new this month as I have 2 long term WIP's that I'm not making as much progress with as I'd like, but I had a need to finish something that wasn't socks, and knew that this would be a really quick knit. I cast on about 2pm yesterday, and as hubby and I were having a lazy weekend round the house, I had loads of time o knit, in between a little bit of cleaning and sleeping.

The house is looking wonderful, and I can't believe how easy it is to keep tidy now that I've had a proper blitz. The 2 bedrooms have still to be done, which caused a lot of embarrassment when hubby came home Friday night, drunk, with friends in tow who were unexpectedly stopping the night (it was 3 am when they rolled in, so last minute tidying was out of the question). Hubby's version of cleaning the spare room was throwing everything off the bed in the spare room (where it had been temporarily stored) onto to the floor!

Well I have a night to myself tomorrow, and am determined to find the camera, charge it, and overwhelm you with pictured of all of my WIP's, latest FO's, and Sockapalooza socks.

G'night

New look

2007-09-07T12:38:00.000-12:00

Well I've finally given my blog a new look that I'm happy with, for now anyway. I've been teaching myself web design, and was going to do more (I haven't knit all week, instead I've been sat sourcing pics etc to design myself a proper site) the problem is that I just can't decide what I want.

I finally realised that all of the time I was spending trying to re-design the blog, was time I wasn't spending knitting or blogging, which seemed a bit silly! So I'm back. I really must try and make more effort to write more, there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day lately.

I've had a really tired couple of weeks, which hasn't helped, although on Tuesday I took my max dose, and didn't sleep a wink, I swear, I must have aged 10 years during Wednesday, trying to get through the day, I can barely remember it. Oh well lesson learnt.

Hopefully I'll get the opportunity to post some pics over the weekend, but in the mean time I'd love to hear what you all think of the new look.

Super hero?

2007-08-31T05:36:00.000-12:00

Well still no camera, so no pics I'm afraid, but I have started a couple of knitting projects, a Debbie bliss cabled jumper, and Lu...Mans from the summer IK. i am determined to be (somewhat) faithful to them, so you will get lots of pics as things progress...if I ever find the camera

No the camera isn't really lost, but I have been spring cleaning. I decided that it was time I turned this rented house into a home, so last weekend, I set to. The living room was first. CDs, & DVDs were put into alphabetical order, books were re-arranged by size, shelves were cleaned, furniture was rearranged, and a lot of knitting needles were found. Anything that didn't belong in the living room was put in the dining room for sorting. Same process with the kitchen, which revealed that I have a lot more cupboard space then I thought, and this weekend it's the turn of the dining room & bathroom. I promise you after pictures, but not before ones, partly due to the lack of camera, and partly because it was such a shameful state I couldn't bare to share it with the world!

No, Super hero...Hubby has just told me that he and his colleagues were discussing what sort of superhero they would be today, and he decided that I would be Knit Girl (not Nit Girl OK!) he described me going to an apocalyptic city, where people were freezing to death, and, using my magic needles, and super alpaca blend (yep his words, he really is learning about knitting now) I would clothe all of the towns people, before racing to a collapsing bridge, where I would knit a safety net for all the people who were falling!

I love this idea, not least because it would be sooooo cool to get all of those projects done so fast, if I could do that there would be a chance I could get through my entire "to knit" list within my lifetime!

FTP & Computer info

2007-08-21T22:51:00.001-12:00

WoollyWormHead recently posted about how she would like her blog to be on her site rather then on blogspot, but didn't want to faff around with HTML and things every time she wanted to post!

It is possible to have your blog hosted on your own site, while still using the lovely easy blogger interface, so I thought I's post on how to do this! (before I do though, I need to say sorry to my sock pal gifter, I promise that as soon as my camera is working I will post about the lovely socks you sent).

OK there are 2 ways to do this.

1. If you only want to use the site for your blog, you can contact your hosting provider, and ask them to point your DNS to Bloggers hosting. Then all you need to do is give blogger your URL, and they do all of the hard work. You can also buy a domain direct from blogger and they will set it all up for you!

2. If your blog is only part of your site, here's how you do it!

change your blog to classic template. When you go to do this, blogger will show you a box with code in, before you revert the template, copy this code and paste it in a text file (notepad on windows will do) save it for later, then click revert.
go to settings > Publishing
Select publish via FTP (not SFTP!)
these are the fields and what you put in them;

FTP Server: this is your website address without the www, so; example.com
URL: your full site address; http://www.example.com
Path: in most cases this is Public_HTML
File name: This can be whatever you want, I recommend blog.html Make sure you put.html at the end of whatever name you choose. This means that with the file name I've just chosen, the address for the blog would be www.example.com/blog.html
Feed file name: Atom.xml (you can let all of your readers know beforehand that your new feed address will be www.example.com/atom.xml) - Bloglines will let you claim your own feeds, but it doesn't always work with blogger, so make sure you post the new feed address, so you don't loose anyone!
FTP User name: This is the user name that your hosting company will have given you, it is the same one that allows you to upload files to your website, or access your control panel (usually)
FTP Password:This is the user name that your hosting company will have given you, it is the same one that allows you to upload files to your website, or access your control panel (usually)
Pings: choose whatever you had it set to before (usually yes)

Then click republish!

Once your blog has republished, go to template and you will see the same box of code as before. cut the code from that box and paste it into a second text file (this is just a backup) now paste the code from your first text file back into the box, and re-publish.

when you view blog, it should look just like it always did, only it will now be on your own address. Don't forget that if there are any links on your site pointing to your blog, you will need to update them to the new address.

You can carry on using blogger just as you always did for all of your posting!

I will put a permanent link to this post on the sidebar, so you can come back to it!

ed: Val has asked how to revert to classic template, good question cos it isn't in the template list...if you go to settings > Publishing there will be 2 little blue links one that says "allow everyone to see your blog" or "edit permissions", something like that, and another that says "revert to classic template"...it's the second one :)

who killed the monkey?!? & Sockwars update

2007-08-20T02:31:00.000-12:00

Well it turned out she killed herself. If you have been looking for sock wars, or Yarn monkey, she has re-invented herself at http://yarnivation.blogspot.com I'll let her tell you why!

On another note, I have received my sock pal socks (a week ago in fact) have been so busy I haven't had time to post, but I promise I will spill the beans later this week!

Naughty, Naughty Blogger

2007-08-10T05:24:00.000-12:00

I am indeed! I have been so lax in my posting, and after my self pity at my lack of comments a little while ago, I have completely neglected commenting on other people's blogs! 10 lines for me young lady!

Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder,........OK that's enough of that!

Sock pal one can now be revealed! She is none other then Yarnie extraordinaire Middlearthknitter. Knitting for this lady has been absolute hell, only for the reason that it has meant I couldn't buy any of her scrummy yarns for fear of being found out. Everyone must check out her Etsy store...She has lace on sale, go on, go now, I can wait, I have more lines to do

Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, ...oh you're back, Nice isn't it!

Middlearthknitter was the recipient of the purple seven sisters cable socks. Sock pal 2 has yet to receive her socks, so I can't reveal who she is, and mine haven't arrived yet, but they are coming all the way from Germany, so Royal mail being what it is, I'm prepared for a wait (for some reason have have a sneaking suspicion that the German postal service is scarily efficient in comparison).

As if to make me feel extra guilty for my lax blogging *wink* Missmalice has given me an award. I couldn't stop grinning for hours after I saw it (I have been reading everyone, just keep forgetting to let you all know I'm still here), and here it is
How cool. After I saw it I had a mad urge to go back and find the first time me and missmallice spoke, it was only a couple of months, and it made me marvel, yet again, at how quickly we build real friendships, with people we have never met, through the combined power of knitting & blogging.......If only everyone knew, world peace in under a year!

So now it falls to me to nominate some bloggers of my own to pass this prestigious honour to!

Firstly there's Riggwelter I picked her first because she is the most lovely, supportive & reliable commentator on my blog, even though I am severely lax in returning the favour (how many of those lines do I have left to do? I have an urge...)

Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder,

Second goes to Babylonglegs, Purely because I know how much this will please and irritate her at the same time, and for being t6he queen bomber on Facebook (seriously, she bombs me, even when I have nothing to steal, that's dedication)

Third is to Fuzzarelly, or more accurately her bunny YOSHIMI! Yep I have an angora fleece, and am really hoping to get my hands on some of that fluffy yumminess, can you imagine, grown by, spun by and knit by Yoshimi...how cool!

And last but by no means least, Jen. This is an award for being so unbelievably brave, while having her arm in a pot & being completely unable to knit...I couldn't have done it!

So now, I have one more line to do, then I have to go leave comments for these people to let them know about their awards!

Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder, Must try harder,

Done!

sockapalooza

2007-08-08T10:46:00.000-12:00

Both pairs of sock pal socks are finally on their way. Unfortunately though I couldn't take pic's as I had a bag stoled last week, with my phone (and hence my camera) in it. But their done and on their way...Let other knitting resume!

another change

2007-07-26T18:32:00.000-12:00

I have suddenly decided this morningm that I needeed to re-design my blog...again. I know it's looked a bit shoddy lately, mainly because I haven't bothered to update it much, so I'm having a bit of a tidy up.

Please bare with me.

The diagnosis is in

2007-07-26T02:00:00.000-12:00

As some of you know, I have been going through the process of getting diagnosed for a sleep disorder over the last 6 months. It took me 2 years to get to the point where the doctors were no longer fobbing me off with "your depressed" (I don't see how smily sunny optimistic me could ever be thought of as depressed, unless you count the fact that I was miserable because I was tired!) Today was the big day I got all of my test results back and an official diagnosis!

Well after waiting an hour over my appointment time at the hospital this morning, I finally saw the consultant who then tried to tell me I had delayed sleep phase syndrome, because the Actiwatch results showed I wasn't sleeping until 2am?!?

I pointed out that I am always in bed by 11, and that i am always asleep within minutes, we were all quite puzzled until hubby pointed out that they weren't my results...ahh the joys of the NHS!

Anyway, when we finally got that sorted, all of my results confirmed that I have Idiopathic Hypersomnia. The doc has said that the best thing is for me to stay on the Modafinil, and self dose with anything from 100-400mg throughout the day, at what ever intervals I find most helpful.

Essentially, I am always tired, and they have got me on a tablet, that allows most people to stay up for 48 hours, and still feel alert. It just about get's me through the day!

He even said that If I wanted to take extra to go out for the evening that was ok, and that if I wanted to take it through pregnancy (not that I am or even planning, but 24 and just married, I guess he figured it would happen eventually) then most doctors were ok with that too, even though it's not licensed for use in pregnancy.

I really thought I'd be relieved, but TBH I feel like crying. It's like someone just came up to me and said "it's a life sentence, you will go through the rest of your life feeling like you've only had 4 hours sleep!"

I suppose it's just that now it's official, all the other possibilities, slim as they were, are gone. I'm trying to look on the bright side, after all if this is my cross to bear, it's quite a small one in the grand scheme of things.

Just had to get that off my chest. Thanks for listening.

xx

Busy Busy

2007-07-22T08:02:00.000-12:00

I did think that I had quite an un-productive week, until I sat down to blog, and realised that I've done quite well.

I've finished one palooza sock;
It's actually a lot brighter then this, but I couldn't get the colour to come out right on the camera, It's a sort of grass green.

I've nearly finished a second palooza sock;This is the Cable down the back.

Ive started a baby blanket for a friend who's expecting in September;

I've died some Roving;

And I've finished spinning 100g of rainbow roving (about 50g done this week), and started on hubby's new jumper... I really thought I'd had an un-knitty week!

Hubby & I have also joined a re-enactment group this week, we went along on Wednesday and really enjoyed it, Hubby is going to learn to fight, and it has given me another excuse to look into spinning techniques that were used at the time. I don't want to go into too much detail until we've been a couple more times.

Not much time for blogging though...Harry potter is waiting.

Oh before I go though, the yarn eating moster has struck again, the 100g I finished this week, was going to be 200g, but it seems that 100g has disappeared! The plot thickens!

Sigh

2007-07-12T10:12:00.000-12:00

Ok, you know the Sock pal socks, the ones that were in a depressingly early stage in my last post, well i decided last night that I needed to make some headway, so with a fair amount of gusto, I set to work on the Teal ones. Only when I looked I noticed that the short row heel was full of holes. OK I Thought, I can live with that. Then I thought I better check I had enough yarn, and guess what, I'm about 2oz short!

Now when I spun this yarn I know I had enough, so I have come to the only possible conclusion. My DH Has a secret yarn eating fetish. I have taken him to task about this, and he denies it in no uncertain terms but it is the ONLY explanation.

Un-deterred I thought I would go to work on sock pal 2's socks, but now I realise that the yarn completely obscures the pattern. So with less then 3 weeks to go, I am back to the drawing board, and 4 socks to go.

2 questions, 1. Why do I always leave things to the last minute, and why in my infinite wisdom sis I decide that 2 sock pals would be better then one?!

I'm Back

2007-07-07T04:53:00.000-12:00

Be Warned, this post is long, and with a lot of photos' so you might want to grab a cuppa before you start :)

Well I'm back, feeling rather burnt and sorry for myself (seriously, one day of sun & I could barely drive home. What I wouldn't give to not be so pale!) Well as I mentioned a few weeks ago, I have loads to catch up on, but things have been so hectic that I can't remember anything before my birthday, so I'll start from there (I've put things under titles, so you feel free to skip bits :)

Birthday
Well it rained, and rained, then stopped, and rained some more. The weather didn't hold out long enough for us to actually BBQ so hubby came through, and stood in the kitchen cooking, while the rest of us sat in the living room drinking. Unfortunately the chap with the camera hasn't sent any photos through yet, but I did manage to finish this cardigan in time to wear on the day. My present to myself.

Woolfest
I had a fantastic time at woolfest. Sarah & I drove up to the campsite on Thursday evening. We arrived late, and had to put the tent up in the dark, now my tent is quite big, and a little temperamental, also it transpired that some of the poles were cracked, so this wasn't the easiest job in the world. I promptly fell asleep (sometimes having a sleep disorder has it's up sides) while Sarah didn't sleep a wink all night. We got to wool fest just 40 minutes after it opened on Friday, and it was already jammed. Sarah has posted some great pics on her blog of just how overwhelming the whole thing was. Any way to the nitty gritty, I was really well behaved, and didn't spend too much, my biggest purchase was this beautiful b osworth spindle, Which I haven't put down since.

I also bought 2 whole fleeces, a brown and a white Shetland.

And some gorgeous Alpaca, it's so soft, i can't wait to start playing with it.
I also picked up some pencil roving, which is probing a little difficult to spin at the moment, but I haven't tried it on the wheel yet, so we'll have to see with that one. and a Turkish spindle, just because I wanted one!

I also got to meet the wonderful woolly wormhead, her mum, and blog less aunt, and Susoolu, and to see the lovely wye sue, and her spinning wheel. Unfortunately there were others I missed, like missmalice, but I look forward to seeing more people next year.

Holiday
Hubby & I had a wonderful week in Devon, and even managed to catch some lovely sunshine, although as already mentioned I am now burnt to a crisp. I had some great knitting and spinning time, and after meeting the great woolly worm head, i just had to knit a hat, so here it is. You may notice that I've had my hair chopped off since the birthday photo too. Anyway this was actually ripped and reknit the next day, as it was a bit too small, but the resulting look was pretty much the same, and I wanted to keep this pic for posterity.

I did lots of spinning too, and managed to spin in the park, and on the beach, hubby developed a liking for photographing me when I was spinning, so there are some of that mixed in with all of these lovely holiday snaps.

Sockapalooza
Finally progress is being made on the sockaplooza socks. These are the socks I am doing for sock pal 1 theyareteal handspun merino and it's doubtful that they will still be boot-socks, but I'm really pleased with them, they're in stocking stitch, and will have a simple band of cable just below the cuff. I've nearly finished sock one on this pair.
This is the start of sock pal 2's socks. I love this yarn, but it has a very small variation repeat, just too short to be a stripe. I'm not sure about this pattern yet, and think I may opt for a simple diagonal rib in the end, to show off the yarn a little more. (sorry it's a really bad picture.

Other WIP's
Here are the few other things I've been working on lately

Camo socks - For Hubby, I spun the 2 greens, and over dyed with a brown/red. This is sock 2 and they're just a plain 2x2 rib

Red Roving - I dyed 4oz of this just before we went on holiday, It's come out with some lovely pinks, reds & oranges. These are the 2 oz I've already spun, and I'm going to ply it with a thicker fluffy off white I think.

And lastly there is this lace shawl. It's a bit difficult to tell, but it's a really simple, pattern, and I'll post it once I get round to writing it up, and once I have a finished blocked shawl to show. Right that's enough for me, I have fibre to be playing with.

Holiday

2007-07-04T09:35:00.001-12:00

Just a quick note vm say i'm still here. I'm on holiday. So i'm trying vm post by email? Me and dh are having a lovely time. The weather is holding and i'll tell you all about it when i get home. X

To much to tell; part 2

2007-06-24T06:37:00.000-12:00

It's been a really busy couple of weeks here in Leicester, so I'll start at the beginning.

I went for my sleep study late last month, and they had me wearing a monitor watch all this month. I finally got to take it off on Thursday, and weirdly I miss it. I'm thinking of buying a watch (which I have never worn) as my wrist now feels completely naked?!? I get my results at the end of July, it's so hard waiting, but it's the NHS so what can you do!

In Knitting news, I had a really slow month. I think having so many projects on the go, kind of made me less focused, so I was working on nothing, rather then picking up any particular project. So lase weekend I decided to remedy the situation. I finished the second of the oil socks , and finally managed to finish the secret project I'd been working on. I also got all but one sleeve finished on my Sirdar cardigan which then had to be finished at 2am Friday night, so that I could wear it to my Birthday BBQ on Saturday.

I had a wonderful Birthday yesterday, and thanks to facebook, I had lots of well wishes from people I hadn't seen in ages. My Sockapalooza pal sent me an e-card from Germany, Thank you pal, it was lovely, and I had lots of friends come round for a BBQ, which turned into a non-BBQ due to the rain...The joy of British summers! My best birthday present however arrived very late at night...My invitation to Ravelry. There is so much info I will have to put in there. I wanted to do it today, but in my hungover state, sleep & TV have proved much more important.

Lastly, I'm now counting down to woolfest. Only 4 days,until Sarah & I set off to the Lake district, and after that Hubby & I will be going down to Devon for a weeks holiday, so I'll be doing the UK end to end next week.

Right now I'm off to curl up on the sofa to feel sorry for myself some more.

Sing-a-long

2007-06-22T19:44:00.000-12:00

Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to Sarah
Happy Birthday to me

Ok, now I have to go open some presents, and ge ready for the people coming round this afternoon. I hope it doesn't rain, I'm supposed to be having a BBQ!

Too much to tell

2007-06-22T01:08:00.000-12:00

I have so much to tell at the moment, that I haven't blogged it for lack of time, but I thought maybe I was neglecting my blog, so I thought instead, I would tell you the 5 reasons I know I'm totally addicted to knitting!

I now not only think "I could knit that" when I see nice knitwear, I also think "it would look lovely in Rowan cotton glace in that red I saw the other day"
I can't remember the last time I went a single day without knitting at least one stitch
My none knitting work colleagues bought me knitting goodies for my birthday
If I think I am going to be stuck with no knitting, I go into panic mode, and have to find a yarn shop, no matter what.
When my friends saw the new shreddies ad, they called to see if I could knit them some shreddies, and I considered it (you can see the add here Shreddies - Knit by Nana's)

I'll fill you in on all that I've been doing at the weekend, and I promise pictures.

Second Sock Swap

2007-06-13T02:46:00.000-12:00

I have just set this up, Second Sock Swap. It's a swap, so that you never have to suffer from second sock syndrome ever again. Please people join up, It's a little lonely in there just for me :)

Feeling Loved

2007-06-06T23:14:00.000-12:00

Wow, I have just read all of the comments from my last post, and I feel so warm and loved, it's amazing how good knowing that people you have never met care! Thank you everyone who commented!

A couple of people mentioned that bloglines isn't working for my blog (this is why I use Netvibes instead) I'm trying to claim the blog, so that I can correct the feed, so hang on in there for me!

This was sent to me by my boss today, as a cheer up to all of the office. If any one is having a bad day at work, this will cheer you up!

If you are going to resign, do it in style!!! Actual letter of resignation from employee at Zantex Computers, USA , to her boss who apparently resigned very soon afterwards!

Dear Mr. Baker,

As a graduate of an institution of higher education, I have a few very basic expectations. Chief among these is that my direct superiors have an intellect that ranges above the common ground squirrel.

After your consistent and annoying harassment of my co-workers and me during the commission of our duties, I can only surmise that you are one of the few true genetic wastes of our time.

Asking me, a network administrator, to explain every little nuance of everything I do each time you happen to stroll into my office is not only a waste of time, but also a waste of precious oxygen.

I was hired because I know how to network computer systems, and you were apparently hired to provide amusement to myself and other employees, who watch you vainly attempt to understand the concept of "cut and paste" for the hundredth time.

You will never understand computers. Something as incredibly simple as binary still gives you too many options. You will also never understand why people hate you, but I am going to try and explain it to you, even though I am sure this will be just as effective as telling you what an IP is.

Your shiny new iMac has more personality than you ever will. You walk around the building all day, shiftlessly looking for fault in others. You have a sharp dressed useless look about you that may
have worked for your interview, but now that you actually have responsibility, you pawn it off on overworked staff, hoping their talent will cover for your glaring ineptitude. In a world of managerial evolution, you are the blue-green algae that everyone else eats and laughs at. Managers like you are a sad proof of the Dilbert principle. Since this situation is unlikely to change without you getting a full frontal lobotomy reversal, I am forced to tender my resignation, however I have a few parting thoughts.

1. When someone calls you in reference to employment, it is illegal for you to give me a bad recommendation. The most you can say to hurt me is "I prefer not to comment." I will have friends randomly call you over the next couple of years to keep you honest, because I know you would be unable to do it on your own.

2. I have all the passwords to every account on the system, and I know every password you have used for the last five years. If you decide to get cute, I am going to publish your "favorites list", which I
conveniently saved when you made me "back up" your useless files. I do believe that terms like "Lolita" are not usually viewed favorably by the administration.

3. When you borrowed the digital camera to "take pictures of your Mother's birthday," you neglected to mention that you were going to take pictures of yourself in the mirror nude. Then you forgot to erase them like the techno-moron you really are. Suffice it to say I have never seen such odd acts with a sauce bottle, but I assure you that those have been copied and kept in safe places pending the authoring of a glowing letter of recommendation. (Try to use a spell check please; I hate having to correct your mistakes.)

Thank you for your time, and I expect the letter of recommendation on my desk by 8:00 am tomorrow. One word of this to anybody, and all of your little twisted repugnant obsessions will be open to the public.

Never f*** with your systems administrator. Why? Because they know what you do with all that free time!

Wishing you a grand and glorious day,

Cecelia.

Was it something I said?

2007-06-02T21:52:00.000-12:00

I'm feeling a little lonely over here in blogland at the moment, no comments on my last 2 posts, a girl could think that no-one loves her :)

On a chirpier note, I have been doing some stash re-organisation this weekend, The IK summer tunic, has been completed, was big enough for 2 of me, and so has been ripped back. I have decided to re-knit it with a few alterations, which now I think about it, will mean that it isn't the summer tunic at all, but more on that another day.

I picked up fabulous flirty crochet at my local waterstones last week, and have started a cardigan out of it this week. I had forgotten how quick crochet6 is, and I'm loving that this will be finished do soon.

And now for my best piece of news, Babylonglegs is coming to woolfest with me. We are going to have a girly weekend camping out, so let me know if you are going to be there too, as i would love to meet all of my blogging friends in real life!

Picture update

2007-05-27T11:11:00.000-12:00

I mentioned in my last post that just can't help casting on more projects, and I've done it again tonight. I think I have sock fatigue, and although I have loads of socks I need o do, I just can't seem to bring myself to do any more. saying that i have 2 second socks that I am determined to finish this week, leaving me free to concentrate on my other project for June. I've decided that sock pal socks will simply have to wait until July.

So here are some pics of what I've been up to;

These are the finished tea and coffee dyed socks, I finished last week for my brother in law's birthday.

This is the secret project I have been working on. Almost finished now (thank goodness, i don't think i could have looked at it for much longer!)

This is the Camouflage yarn that I have been spinning for a pair of socks for hubby. Navajo plied, I'm thrilled with it, but it still has to be over dyed with brown before I can start knitting, and it doesn't seem to want to dye!

A finished sock. My first done from the toe up. The yarn was a present from babylonglegs, and has a beautiful shine to it that reminds me of rainbows in oil! You can also see my attempt at a short row heel using the yarn over method that was in the summer 07 IK. I'm not very happy with it, not least because I managed to make a sock with a teat. Hopefully the second sock will be an improvement.

My most recent spinning. The colours are lovely and tweedy, and I think I will Navajo ply it, and knit a shawl with it. but i might change my mind once it's done.

This is the start I have made on the summer tunic from the latest IK. Only started tonight so hopefully it will knit up quickly.

This is Luvtröja Måns from summer 07 IK too. I have ordered the yarn to knit this for hubby. Hopefully I will have it finished by autumn.

So as you can see I have been quite busy, and lots left to do! I'll keep you posted.

Casting on again!

2007-05-25T11:01:00.001-12:00

I can't believe I'm casting on another project! I've decided I want to knit Cozy from knitty. It's coming along really fast, I've done 3 pattern repeats this evening, although I'm not sure I'm ever going to memorise the pattern! so that makes my current WIP's
Cozy shawl
secret socks
first toe up socks
& Click cardigan

And my need to do list
2 pairs sockapalooza socks
Luvtroja Mans from IK
Camo socks for hubby (currently being spun)

In other news, I went for my sleep study on Wednesday night, it took them an hour just to wire me up! I then had to stay the night, and all of the following day, while thy kept sending me to bed to monitor my naps! Each time I was asleep within about 5 minutes. So now I have to wear a movement monitor for month, and hopefully I will have my diagnosis by the end of July, which will make it 7 months from initially seeing the GP to getting a diagnosis, not bad for the NHS!

Anyway, I promise that I will post some pic's later this weekend, and hopefully I'll be able to get my sidebars and things updated.

Socks Socks everywhere, and not a pair to wear!

2007-05-21T04:17:00.000-12:00

I finally finished the trekking socks for my bro in law's birthday (which was this weekend just gone). He absolutely loved them, and proudly spent all morning pottering around the house in them, while diligently clearing up from the party the night before. So with those out of the way, I now seriously have to start thinking about sockapalooza!

I have spun about 3 1/2 oz of 2ply for my main pals socks, and it's beautiful. I want to do a pair of knee high boot socks, with cables, but I have a mental block when it comes to using other peoples sock patterns, so rather then using one of the fabulous designs from CookieA, I am manically trying to make something up. This has resulted in about 100 pages of drawings, and 10 frogged attempts!!! I have dozens of patterns that I could conceivably use, but none of them quite feel right for these socks.

In a final desperate bid, I have ordered the Vogue Cable stitchionary. If that doesn't provide inspiration, I will have to resort to a bought pattern **weeps**

I have also signed up to be a sock saviour, now these I haven't really given any thought to. Would it be rude to knit long socks for pal 1 and ankle socks for pal 2? I also want to spin the yarn for pal 2's socks, she seems to like bright colours, so really need to start thinking about what to do for that, as I don't have all that many bright colours in my stash. - I'll try to post some pics later

I am also spinning 2 shades of green, so that Hubby can have a pair of camo socks (I'm randomly changing the shade of green throughout the spinning, then will over dye with some brown, to create pooling), and am finishing up a new pattern design, which I am keeping secret for now!

What is driving me slightly potty, is that I rarely wear socks, but I was looking for a pair to take away with me this weekend, and realised that I have only ever knit myself one pair, and those are slipper socks! So it has been decided that I will be keeping secret pair for myself, as my reward. I'm so glad that I will be getting a pair from my sock pal, socks for me is a novel idea.

In other news, I go into hospital over night on Wednesday, for my sleep study, so shouldn't be too long now before the doc can give me a firm diagnosis. I'm quite looking forward to it really, a whole day, where all they want me to do is sleep (they are trying to diagnose a sleep disorder). Wish me luck!

7 Things

2007-05-15T19:59:00.000-12:00

Oooh I've just been tagged, my first time (I'm no longer a tagging virgin, Miss Malice you popped my cherry!).

Here are the rules:
"Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog."

My seven things:

I'm a manager in an IT company, even though I'm quite useless with computers.
I'm a Hypersomniac, which means I could quite happily sleep 16 hours a day, and the Doc's made it official.
I crashed my mum's car within 3 hours of passing my test.
I eat nuttella straight out of the jar
I love camping, the more basic the better. I am happiest when there are no other campers, and no mod cons (yep that goes for loo's too)
I have birthmarks on both my feet, which grow when I'm stressed.
I can remember the words to songs I only heard once (even if it was a long time ago,) and I'm quite happy to sing along, completely out of tune.

OK now I get to tag some folks;

Babylonglegs
Riggwelter
Funfarieknits
Jen
Some bunny's love
Seanna Lea
&
Marigold

New addition to the family

2007-05-14T09:16:00.000-12:00

Meet the latest addition to my family. Her name is Bazurka the Mazurka, and she is simply beautiful! I took a trip to Wingham Wool Works on Sunday with Babylonglegs to buy her, and I can't recommend them highly enough, not only are they based in the most beautiful sleepy village, but the staff were really helpful, and they had a selection of fibres to die for!

There is a room full of wheels which they were happy for me to try out, and three barns full of fiber, in over 120 colors! This is the range I bought, although you can't really see all of the colours, there are 2 lots of natural BFL, and 1.5KG of various merinos.

This is the one I chose for my sock pal, who is lucky enough to be getting socks made from the first ever batch of yarn spun on my wheel. I haven't decided what pattern to do yet, but I'm sure once I have balled the yarn (yup I've spun 4oz already) It will come to me!

Update on my weekend

2007-05-08T10:19:00.000-12:00

First the camping

Camping was great, apart from getting lost and getting to the campsite in the dark, and so having to set the tent up in the dark, it was fab. We had a lovely time, but unfortunately forgot to take any picks. We were up near Matlock Bath, which is a beautiful little resort (very popular with bikers) in the middle of the Peak district. For anyone who hasn't been it is well worth the trip, and if you like walking (this goes out to my sockapalooza pal) I can't recommend it highly enough!

Then Sockapalooza

I am having such a time trying to figure out what pattern and yarn to use for my pal's socks!!!! There are so many possibilities. I have had some lovely yarn from the Natural dye studio hanging around for ages, so I have started working on a new pattern, which if it works out I will repeat in a colour my downstream pal will like.

My upstream pal has also been in touch, and it turns out she is from Germany. This has made hubby very jealous, as he is a bit of a deutschofile (is that a word?) at heart. I have been taunting him with the fact that I'm getting German socks and he can't get any!

And finally shopping

I have gone a bit mad lately, not only have I managed to get the Knitpicks options set, but I have also bought the Vogue stitchionary, and a few other knit books (it's getting late and I can't be bothered to walk upstairs and look up the titles). So I have no excuse, I must use up some of my stash......How many times have you heard that

ooh and before I forget

Thank you for your suggestions of what hubby can buy himself, I have put them all to him and he is thinking it over (don't hold your breath for a decision). I'll let you know what he gets in the end.

One last thing

2007-05-04T03:28:00.000-12:00

before I go. I have just seen this on the knitting niche and couldn't resist posting it, so here goes

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Off for the weekend.

2007-05-04T01:16:00.001-12:00

Phew, what a busy couple of days, first things first though, my Knit picks options set arrived today. These are like gold dust here in the UK, and I am just thrilled to have it, thanks to a new friend met over at sockapalooza. I recommend visiting her here. So now I have to start a new project so that I can start using them. I'm thinking of using up my debbie bliss DK cotton for either this or this?!? ho hum, I really can't decide!

We (hubby & I) are going camping this weekend, so probably not a lot of time for knitting, but I'm sure he will let me get some done, when he's not dragging me up a mountain. He is such a sweetheart, I don't think I mention that enough here, he has agreed to let me have my spinning wheel, and I have agreed to let him spend an equivalent amount on a gift for himself. Bless his cotton socks though he has no idea what to buy!

So if any one has any ideas of what a man in his 30's who has all of the latest consoles, and a fab PC already, who doesn't drive, whose hobbies are painting & military history, and is already a snappy dresser, could spend the equivalent money to a spinning wheel on, I'm sure he will be very grateful to hear them!

2007-05-02T09:51:00.000-12:00

The first lot of spinning is off the spindle for my first ever home spun socks. I think I have enough to do the first sock (I hope so anyway) It's 2 ply, 1ply white, and the other dyed with coffee for a caramel colour, and I have spun in some emerald green nylon thread for strength (although you can't actually tell that it's green now that it's spun in). Here is the wound ball

And here is the start of the sock that is being knitted from it. I have managed to keep a remarkable consistency, with relatively few slubs, and it's even sock thickness. I was worried at one point that these might end up being really thick slipper socks, but no, it seems they are going to be remarkably wearable, even under shoes!!!!
Hopefully when this pair are finished it may be enough for me to persuade hubby that a spinning wheel will be a good investment. Although I may be satisfied for another few months when I receive the journey spindle (bloodwood and walnut, and simply beautiful)I've ordered. I'm also trying to persuade him that a couple of angora rabbits would make the ideal pet, as he won't let me get a dog or a rat (my favourite pet, which I have now been 3 years without!)

Perhaps this is one occasion where nagging isn't going to work?

Quiz potty

2007-05-02T04:39:00.000-12:00

I've gone a bit quiz potty lately, but all was vindicated, when I took this quiz....The results speak for themselves!

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting and do it all the time. While finishing a piece is the plan, you still love the process, and can't imagine a day going by without giving some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation involves leaving ample space for the stash and supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn ends and you begin.http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

This is superb, wha't not so great though is that to add to my result of being a nerd, it seems I am also a closet trekkie. Gutted!

Too much to do

2007-05-02T01:22:00.000-12:00

Work is manic at the moment, and between that and a massive to knit list, I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed. So I have decided to scrap a few of the things I wanted to knit, and concentrate on what needs doing I have also reduced my reading list to a manageable level.

My old to knit list looked like this;

80 Afghan squares

Stash busting blanket

Click cardigan

9 pairs of socks

Erica Knight Military jacket

Erika Knight Mademoiselle jacket

the new list you can see on the right hand side. I feel like I have just had a spring clean, and I'm ready to face the day again! I've reduced my to do list by millions! Now if only I can do the same with my work list!

The Last Knit

2007-05-01T02:47:00.001-12:00

This is the best thing I have ever seen. Nothing has captured the true terror that is knitting addiction (that time when you were up determined to finish that jumper, despite the fact that it was 4 am, you had a whole sleeve to go, and had to be at work at 8am) as well as this does. BRILLIANT!

Knitting addict

2007-05-01T02:24:00.000-12:00

I just took the knitting addiction quiz, which you can find here.

Amazingly this is my score

You scored 61%. You are a recreational knitter. Although other people accuse you of addiction, you are not addicted. Nope. Knitting is just fun. You could quit any time. Really.

now perhaps hubby will stop telling me I am using knitting to cover up some deep rooted psychological problem. I am a recreational knitter, and this un-scientific internet quiz proves it!

A weekend to recover from the weekend

2007-04-30T06:51:00.000-12:00

That's how I'm feeling after this particularly busy Monday. You see I spent the weekend at London Excel, doing an exhibition for start up businesses. Apart from the fact that the whole thing was manic, and I was on my feet for 2 days solid, I drew the short straw, and had to give a seminar to 100 people on online networking.

It all seemed to go ok, and I got home Saturday with the distinct feeling that it is going to take me a year to recover! On the upside, someone else drove there and back, which gave me a chance to complete a pair of trainer socs for me, made from the left over yarn from sister in laws socks. I wore them all day yesterday, without even sewing in the ends. I needed the comfort.

I spent all day yesterday madly spinning, and now have enough in cream and brown to complete 1 sock, the only downside to this is that I think I have second sock spinning syndrome, to accompany the second sock syndrome on bro in laws birthday socks!

The sockapalooza matches were announced today too, so now I have to start thinking about that pair, and the sock contest I have entered, and the interweave knits entrelac pair......

Someone remind me again why I do this?!?

Off for tea and a nap now.

Finally finished

2007-04-29T01:39:00.000-12:00

I have been playing with this all day, which is not quite what I intended doing, as I lost yesterday, working at an exhibition. Exhausted is not the word. But finally the new template is in place, and I'm happy with it.

My html must be coming along, because I have had to edit everything in it! I think I need a cuppa, so I'll leave the proper post about my adventures this weekend until tomorrow.

Changing template

2007-04-25T21:30:00.000-12:00

Just in case you all think I've gone mad, I am in the process of changing my template as the last one didn't have enough room, so my blog won't be working properly until Sunday.

I Want this Cardigan

2007-04-25T20:22:00.000-12:00

So I'm perusing through Yarn harlot's blog, and I come across a post about a sweater she wants. now I'm not a great follower of links, but this time I did, and I came across vanessa's blog, with this picture. Is that not the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.

Even more amazingly it is adapted from this, rather less beautiful
sweater >
So now the cries of I want one can be heard echoing. I am going to try and get hold of this pattern asap! I wonder if it would work in rowan spun, as I would be more than happy to unravel the Mademoiselle jacket that I just know I am never going to finish for this.

I think a call to the un-blogging Claire, the queen and keeper of all beautiful patterns is in order.

2007-04-23T19:58:00.000-12:00

You Are 44% Nerdy

You may be a bit surprised with this score, but your more of a closet nerd than an actual nerd.
Stop denying your inner nerd! You're truly dorkier than you think.

How Nerdy Are You?

Nerdy me? Ok so I work in IT, but I'm the sales manager, and yes I have the entire 5 season box set of Babylon 5, and the original Battlestar Galactica on DVD, and so what if I love Zombie films, and anything with Simon Pegg in it.

Humm, perhaps I should re-name this blog the knitting nerd!

A busy weekend

2007-04-21T06:32:00.000-12:00

Sill no word from Curious yarns, I think I may have to wave goodbye to the money I spent there. I rate my chances of getting it back as slim to none.

However to cheer myself up I have been having a very productive weekend. The undyed sock yarn arrived yesterday, and I promptly got to dyeing it. This was my first real go at dyeing, but always one to try something new, I went against convention, and did not use Kool aid, food colouring, or proper dye. As Iwanted some boyish, subtle colours, I decided to use tea and coffee to get some nice brown tones. I also added some roving that I had into the coffee pot, and here are the results. I have to say I'm very pleased.

This is the drying skein

And this is the roving, I've photographed it next to some undyed so you can see the difference

This is what it looked like re-skeinedAnd this is the half finished socks it is making
I then decided that it was time the spare bedroom / craft room had a makeover, So after a long tidy up, some furniture shifting, and some stash re-organisation, it now looks like this

These are my fabric and hand knit stash,
My machine knitting stash

and project corner in the living room

And finally I went to my LYS, to buy some new DPN's and came away with 6 balls of Debbie Bliss DK cotton, as I decided I wanted to knit the shrug from the Erika knits classics book in a different colour (I did the first in baby pink Debbie Bliss Cathay) It's a lovely summer shade of dark blue and I can't wait to get started on it.

This purchase also lead me to the conclusion that I am going to gracefully bow out of the stashalong. Although part of me knows I need to de-stash, when it comes down to it I simply don't want to, so that's that. Phew, time for a cup of tea I think!

So it's come to this

2007-04-18T19:41:00.000-12:00

With exasperation and frustration, I have asked for my money back from Curious yarns, although they haven't replied to any of my other emails, so I don't know why I think that they will reply to this one. I am sure that I will have to ask Pay pal to do the refund in the end.

This of course means that I have no sock yarn for brother in laws socks! for sister in law I was ok as I could use some of the girlie colours from my stash, but I don't think bro in law would appreciate pink socks! So I have decided to be adventurous, and have ordered some undyed sock yarn from Get Knitted. I placed this order at about 5.30 last night, and have had an email this morning saying that my order has been dispatched. Now that's customer service, so thank you Get Knitted, for restoring my faith in buying yarn from the Internet. You are being added to my favourite shops list right now!

Bamboo Socks

2007-04-17T18:43:00.000-12:00

Yay, another project finished. These are the Bamboo socks that hubby has been waiting ages for. I'va also taken my curious yarn socks off my to do list as I still haven't recieved the yarn i ordered ages ago. So I'm going to do the Interweave knits entrelac socks instead.

April
~~1. complete Regia pink cotton socks for SIL b.day~~
~~2. complete Regia bamboo socks for hubby~~
3. complete mademoiselle jacket for me
4. complete 1st pair of socks on the knitting machine
5. Interweave knits entrelac socks

6. 5 Tote bags (sewing)

Handspun

2007-04-15T09:29:00.000-12:00

I've just finished my first ball of hand spun yarn, and here it is

You can't really see it here but the yarn is a lovely pale green, and quite consistent for a first go. While I'm on the subject of nice yarns, this is the 2 colourways I got from the natural dye studio a couple of weeks ago
The left skeins are Dye Studio's Merino Fine Sock Wool in Raspberry Spring & the right skeins are Hand-dyed Alpaca/Silk Sock Wool in Sugar Tiger. I would love to be able to show you the yarns from Curious yarns that I ordered at the same time, but unfortunately they haven't arrived yet, which is starting to become very disconcerting, as the site has been down for 10 days now, and they are not responding to emails......Hopefully everything is OK, and my yarn will arrive soon, but I have to say I am very disappointed, and won't be ordering from there again. Which I think is a bit sad, as I have heard such fantastic things about the quality of their yarn.

If anyone else is having problems, or has received yarn they have recently ordered from there I would love to hear from you, I'll keep you posted if I hear from them.

A spinning revelation

2007-04-12T18:31:00.000-12:00

I joined another yahoo group the other day, SpinToKnitSocks, and this has been an absolute revelation to me. I bought a drop spindle 4 months ago, and felt like a 3 year old trying to paint a Van Gough, yes the yarn I spun was that bad, having read the posts from the lovely people in this group, I have made a couple of changes to the way I spin, chopped a few inches off the doweling on my spindle, and voila, yarn so thin I'll be able to 2 ply it and make socks.

Oooh i can't wait till I have enough.

Birthday socks

2007-04-11T18:25:00.000-12:00

At last, I have finally completed one of my projects for this month. The Pink socks for my sister in law's birthday. here they are.

I used a ridged eyelet pattern, that you can't see very clearly, but they look ever so pretty.

Right, on to the next!

April
~~1. complete Regia pink cotton socks for SIL b.day~~
2. complete Regia bamboo socks for hubby
3. complete mademoiselle jacket for me
4. complete 1st pair of socks on the knitting machine
5. 1 pair dark blue curious yarn socks
6. 5 Tote bags (sewing)

Where are the woods?

2007-04-09T03:41:00.000-12:00

As it is the last day of the bank holiday, hubby & I decided to go for a walk. Originally I wanted to go up a mountain, and tick another one off the list. But living in Leicestershire there aren't many mountains within reasonable driving distance (well none actually) and I didn't fancy getting up at the crack of dawn. So instead, we decided to go for a woodland walk.

Out came the trusty OS map, and I found an area of the National forest within a 15 minute drive. We donned the walking boots and off we went. I am now wondering if I can sue OS under the trade descriptions act. Not only did the map, not correspond with any of the marked routes,but we managed to walk through only 3 feet of forest, despite the fact that the entire 4 miles was meant to be woodland.

The day wasn't a complete washout though, we managed to see 2 sets of frogs matingwhich at least made me titter And a beautiful little church on the edge of the resevior, and as it was such a nice day, I was just glad to be out of the house. So now I'm determined to do nothing in anticipation of going back to work tomorrow.

Bad hands

2007-04-07T05:45:00.000-12:00

I have spent the last 2 days knitting fair isle socks for my sister in law's 30th birthday.They were going to say 30 all the way round, with her name. However after ripping them back twice, I have given up, and decided to just do some pretty pink ones in self striping wool (I already have one done in my UFO box, so shouldn't take too long). This none stop marathon has given me bad hands though, so i am trying to give them a rest today. Instead, I have taken the opportunity to re-do my "to knit list" and have set myself some targets of things to get finished. This will take me right up to the end of June, so i have no excuses to buy new yarn. So here it is, feel free to hold me to it. I have also included some of my sewing projects.

April
1. complete Regia pink cotton socks for SIL b.day
2. complete Regia bamboo socks for hubby
3. complete mademoiselle jacket for me
4. complete 1st pair of socks on the knitting machine
5. 1 pair dark blue curious yarn socks
6. 5 Tote bags (sewing)

May
1. Military cardigan
2 pink & peach natural dye studio socks
3. green socks
4. long machine socks
5. Spare fabric skirt
6 5 tote bags

June
1. grey socks
2. white machine socks
3. light blue curious yarn socks
4. Click Cardigan
5. 5 tote bags

July
1. stripey Natural dye studio socks
2. double colour stash blanket
3. 20 afghan squares
4. 5 tote bags

Once all of that is finished, I have another 60 afghan squares to do, another 10 tote bags, and some lovely blue rowanspun to find a pattern for. Phew, i need a cup of tea just thinking about it!

2007-04-05T03:07:00.001-12:00

Babylonglegs had this on her blog, so I thought I'd have a go, not really my thing, but mentions sleep, which is very relevant for me...hummm

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

No seam socks on 2 needles

2007-04-04T23:27:00.000-12:00

Ok, I have had an epiphany moment, for no seam socks knitted on 2 needles. Impossible I hear you shout! well maybe, they came to me this morning, so I haven't had chance to give them a try yet, but I needed to get the pattern down quick before I forget. So If you're feeling brave, or just like being a test subject feel free to give them a try. (they do assume that you have knit socks and particularly a short row heel before. If you have never knit socks, keep checking back. I will post the full pattern once I have had chance to try it myself)

Cast on 60 st (or however many you normally cast on for socs. It needs to be an even number though)
move half onto a second needle (one that you're not going to use for knitting)
now with the second needle from the pair you are going to knit with, pick up one stitch from each needle alternately.

All rows: k1 sl1p, p1 sl1k until you have an inch or so of rib (this is the bit I'm not sure will work, but bare with me)
once you have finished the rib;
all rows: k1 sl1p until you have the length of your sock right down to the bottom of your heel.

slip alternate stitches onto 2 separate needles, you should have found that you have made a tube? If so then now you see where this is going...if not it's probably my instructions, so frog it, use the yarn for something else, and pop back in a few days when i have had chance to have a go my self.

knit a short row heel

move all of the stitches back onto one needle, alternating as before
k1sl1p on all rows, until you have reached the desired foot length.

Toe shaping
1 & 2) k1sl1 pkso k1 sl1p across (pkso = pass knit stitch over)
3 & 4) sl1p * k1 sl1p* across
5 & 6) sl1p k1 psso sl1p * to * across
7&8) k1 sl1p across

Repeat these 4 rows 14 times more

split back onto 2 needles & cast off / graft toes

Hope this works. Let me know if you give it a go. I'll post back when I finish it myself.

Getting the hang of this now

2007-04-04T06:22:00.000-12:00

Ok so i am a useless blogger, probably brought on by the fact that I know no-one is looking, so I have no need to write. Catch 22, I don't put by blog address anywhere, because there is nothing on it, so I know no one is reading it, so I don't bother writing anything in it. Ok time to start writing, and adding my address to things.

Also time for a bit of a catch up me thinks. I have been beavering away with all of my knitting projects, I have finished my pink shrug (pic to follow) and am currently working my way through a small mountain of sock yarn. I have come to the conclusion that i prefer short row heels, not lease because when I do heel flaps, I always end up with a sock 4 inches shorter then I thought it would be - As with this pair I finished for him indoors last week

So i am working on numerous socks, including a pair for the sister in law's 30th, which I bought yet more sock yarn for, from Curious yarns. As you can tell the yarn diet is going rather badly. Oh well. I'll keep at it.

2007-04-02T22:30:00.000-12:00

I am a naughty naughty knitter, I have bought far too much yarn lately. I am determined to stick with the stash busting, and have also joined wadrobe refashion this week. Here is my pledge.

I Sarah Goodwin pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recylcled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings! Signed Sarah Goodwin.

Wish me luck

Blocking

2007-02-27T10:48:00.001-12:00

I'm quite a lazy knitter really, and up until now I haven't blocked any of the things I have knitted (blocking is basically pinning out a garment and steaming / leaving damp garment to dry, to make sure that it takes on the right shape). But tonight I have blocked something for the first time. I'm knitting a lovely Erika Knight shrug, in Debbie Bliss Cathay yarn, and it's so pretty, I wanted to make sure that I got it right.

Other than that I've had a quiet day, it was stitch & bitch night tonight, so a lovely catch up with the girls, and a lot of knitting along the way.

Tired Today

2007-02-26T09:25:00.000-12:00

Well today feels like it has been a month long. I almost fell asleep on the bus on the way home tonight. But I started a beautiful silk/cotton shrug at the weekend, and the thought of getting home, giving my husband a big hug, and doing some knitting kept me going. I decided to do the shrug in dusky pink. God knows what possessed me! I have never worn pink in my life. This tiredness must be addeling my brain!

Ooh, just incase anyone ever reads this, I should explain. I'm an avid knitter you see, barely a night goes by where Im not sat clacking my needles making something or other. I'm also ill at the moment. Although I haven't been formally diagnosed (hospital appointment on 15th march) I think I have Hypersomnia. it's a condition, where basically, no matter how much you sleep, it always feels like you haven't. So I've been this tired now for about 6 months, but it's crept on gradually, and so I can't actually remember the last time i felt fully awake.

Well I'll keep you updated on the progress of the knitting, and the hypersomnia, and anything else that happens along the way.

Chaos

2000-01-01T23:03:00.000-12:00

You know those days where everything is so unorganized, and you yearn for some order to come from the chaos? Well it was on one of those days that I decided to design chaos, to remind me that sometimes, what appears to be random and without reason, is actually a structured and logical thing.

Chaos is based on the digits of Pi. These have been proven to be random in their order, but put them all together and they not only make one of the fundamental principals of mathmatics, but they also make a pretty beautiful pattern when knitted.

This is a shawl scarf, It's knitted in a light yarn, and knitted wide, so you can wrap it round, or use it as a scarf with equal comfort.

Yarn: 4 skeins of Chameleon colorworks in Figgy Pudding
Needles; 4mm
Gauge; not important

To get the same pattern effect I did cast on 120 stitches, however casting on varying amount of stitches will create equally varied patterns.

There are 2 rows that make up this patter, all even rows are
*Kx, k2tog Yo* (repeat to end)

All odd rows are purl

I have detailed 400 rows, but you may not need this many. Knit until you are happy with the length, or you run out of yarn. Then block to the desired size.

Rather then write out every row, you simply replace x in row one with each of these numbers in turn; Where the pattern shows K, knit this row

2,0,3,0,4,8,1,5,4,2,4,7,8,6,8,2,1,1,7,3,5,1,5,3,2,2,7,2,1,6,8,4,k,1,7,7,3,0,8,6,0,5,8,2,8,8,
2,6,4,0,k,4,7,1,k,8,7,3,8,3,3,4,8,1,2,k,6,7,0,5,3,k,5,1,7,5,1,k,7,8,8,7,5,1,7,k,2,3,7,1,4,2,3,1,0,0,6,k,
5,6,8,7,1,0,3,7,k,7,5,4,0,2,1,7,1,2,k,5,5,3,6,k,8,2,7,3,3,5,k,8,4,4,k,4,7,1,1,2,0,6,1,4,2,4,8,3,k,
7,0,1,7,3,7,0,0,0,6,3,4,k,1,7,3,0,k,1,6,k,0,8,2,7,4,1,0,0,k,4,4,4,8,5,3,3,5,1,1,8,3,7,8,4,3,8,2,k,2,7
0,8,5

Avalon Socks

2000-01-01T03:07:00.000-12:00

Yarn: Cygnet wool rich
Needles: 2.5mm dpn's

There are 4 main rows to the pattern; ribbing row; *k1tbl, p1* repeat for 1.5" pattern: *p1, k1tbl* 7 times, p1 Pattern reverse *k1, p1tbl* 7 times k1

Cable: p1, slip next 5 stitches to cable needle, hold to back, *p1 k1tbl* twice. knit stitches from cable needle as follows; *p1, ktbl* twice p1

Cast on 60 stitches, work as follows

Ribbing row 10 times
Round 1-6; k44, Pattern
Round 7: k44, cable
Row 8 - 20 k44, pattern
Repeat rows 7-20 three times more

Heel flap
k37, place last 30 stitches knit on a stitch holder,
*k7, cable, k7
p7, pattern reverse, p7
k7 pattern reverse, k1
repeat last two rows 4 times more
p7, pattern reverse, p7*
repeat *to* once more
p7, pattern reverse, p7
k7, pattern, k7
repeat last two rows twice more
p7, pattern reverse, p7

Heel turn

k14, k2tog, sl1 turn
p1, p2tog sl1, turn
k2, k2tog, sl1, turn
p3, p3tog, sl1, turn
k4, k2tog, sl1, turn
continue in this manner until all stitches have been knitted,
k to last 2 st, k2tog (14 stitches on needle)

Gusset,
pick up 15 stitches up side of heel flap, k30 from stitch holder, pick up 15 stitches down side of heel flap, k7 stitches to center of heel, mark this as center of round. (74 stitches)

Gusset decreases
Round 1: k20, k2tog, k30, ssk, k20
Round 2: k51, k1tbl, k to end
Round 3: k19, k2tog, k30, ssk, k19
Round 4: k50, k1tbl, k to end
Row 5: k18, k2tog, k30, ssk, k18
Round 6: k49, k1tbl, k to end
row 7: k17, k2tog, k30, ssk, k17
Round 8: k48, k1tbl, k to end
row 9: k16, k2tog, k30, ssk, k16
Round 10: k47, k1tbl, k to end
Row 11: k15, k2tog, k30, ssk, k15
Round 12: k46, k1tbl, k to end
Row 13: k14 k2tog, k30, ssk, k14
Round 14: k45, k1tbl, k to end

Foot
K all rows until sock reaches ball of foot. Knit your favorite toe, or use this atanomically correct toe from persnickety knitter, or this plain toe

Tea & Coffee Dying

2000-01-01T00:05:00.000-12:00

In May 2007 I knit a pair of socks for my Brother in law, These socks in fact;
The yarn was Trecking un-dyed, and so I decided that Tea & Coffee would be a bit of an adventure. It wasn't, if anything it was far too easy! so here's the stupidly simple instructions on what I did!

Materials

2 big pans
a jar of cheap coffee
a bag of cheap tea bags (why waste the good stuff right!)
a large jug of white vinigar
100g undyed yarn, tied in a meter skein

How to do it

1. Put your yarn in a bowl to soak, you need enough water to cover it, and a 1:5 solution of vinigar, leave it there while you start getting everything else ready

2.in one pan, disolve around 4 tblespoons of coffee, with a good 3 second glug of vinigar, in the other put in around 10 tea bags with a similar amount of vinigar

3. Bring both pans to simmering point, giving the tea bags a good simmer to make sure the tea is stewing

4. put one end of your skein in one pan, put the other end in the other, you should have some yarn in the middle, between the 2 pans that is not immersed.

5. start spooning the tea up the un-immersed yarn on the tea side, and the same for the un-immersed yarn on the coffee side (spoon coffee onto it...the solution not the granules ;). Keep this up for around 5 minutes, or until you can see some colour on this section of yarn.

6. Make a mug of your favorite tea or coffee, sit and drink for about 40-50 minutes, going back and ladling some more tea and coffee on the exposed yarn around ever 10 minutes (you only need to make sure that there is some colour going into the yarn, you don't need to stand there for 5 minutes each time)

7. IMPORTANT POINT the yarn will not take up all of the colour of the tea and coffee!
after about an hour, take the yarn out and leave it to cool somewhat.

8.once the yarn is cool enough to touch, rinse it in water the same temperature as the yarn,

and voila, tea & coffee yarn!