Claire's Wooly Thoughts

Falkland Chunky!

2011-09-21T17:56:00.000Z

OH has dyed up some Falkland Chunky in his shop in 300g hanks that are perfect for the Monkey Puzzle Scarf.
I used 300g for the test knit, but had it in 100g hanks, which meant I had ends to join in and weave in as I went - not my favourite pastime!
This yarn is so soft and squooshy, and would knit the Monkey Puzzle all in one, and you'll know that the colour will be true through the scarf (although OH dyes skeins together, there's normally some variation due to how he dyes semisolids and variegated yarns). I've swiped a Scarlet Ibis, as I really fancy a soft, warm chunky scarf in a bright red to keep me warm this winter!

We Love Our Supplier...

2011-08-04T19:05:00.003Z

...who managed to find 8 cones of the Falkland Chunky I originally designed the Monkey Puzzle Scarf in. OH will be dyeing up 300g skeins, which is enough to knit the scarf, without having to join ends (or weave anything in other than cast on/cast off).

While OH is busy dyeing up the chunky (and preparing for a couple of shows we'll be attending - one near Edinburgh on 20th August, and one in Coldstream on 27th), he's having a sale to clear some space.

There's also some delicious local fibre listed. The Shetland and Shetland/Bowmont come from a farm just north of Alnwick, and the Manx is from a community grazing project - these sheep were in the country park where OH volunteers last summer, so we knew some of the sheep whose fibre he is selling! I've spindled the Manx, which was a delight, and have just started with the Moorit Shetland. The prep is sliver, which is a woolen prep, and is therefore good for soft and bouncy yarn.

In other news, I've started with this year's Guild Challenge - so my next post will include buckets, onion bags, and a human spin dryer!

Fresh Designs: Scarves - Monkey Puzzle Scarf

2011-07-22T19:59:00.002Z

I’m proper published and all now.

Fresh Designs: Scarves went live late last night UK time, and is available as an e-book via http://www.ravelry.com. There are ten designs in the book, many of which I really want to knit myself, and my Monkey Puzzle Scarf is in there as well.

The inspiration for the scarf is exactly as it says in the title – the Monkey Puzzle tree with its parallel arrangement of thickly covered branches. I wanted to design a scarf that would be a quick knit, even for someone relatively new to knitting, which would be warm and snuggly, and which would keep out the winter chills. So it’s very basic. If you can cast on, cast off, knit, purl and count, you can knit this scarf. It uses stocking stitch and reverse stocking stitch to create the texture. I’m also around to answer any questions you may have.

The book is currently only available via Ravelry, but will be available via the Co-operative Press website very soon. Both print and ebook versions will be available.

Another factor for me was that I wanted to showcase some of Jon’s beautiful yarn and for a quick and snuggly knit, the Falkland Chunky he was dyeing at the time I was working on this design (about a year ago) was perfect. Soft. Good stitch definition. Takes dye like a dream. Chunky, therefore quick to get results with. And here’s the hiccup. The base yarn he was using was discontinued, and trying to find a supply of a similar chunky has proven problematical. We thought we’d cracked it when our main supplier stocked up for winter last year with some Shetland Chunky (mmmmmm) – but sadly, he lost most of his stock in a fire before we could order. Thankfully, nobody was hurt in the fire, and he was insured, as not only are his yarns and fibres of the absolute best quality, but he is also one of the nicest people that you could ever hope to meet. Sadly, though, the chunky was not replaced at that time. On the brighter side, Jon has some beautiful Romney fleeces that he is going to get spun to the same specifications (fingers crossed, as the new machine to do this isn’t at the mill yet), and we are hearing rumours of a chunky British BFL yarn that will be available to us in the Autumn. Jon’s also doing his level best to find alternative, suitable, and economically viable chunky yarn (easier said than done, as “chunky” is a spec that covers anything heavier than aran weight, and there are massive discrepancies in the grist, thickness and characteristics of this size of yarn).

So bear with us!

Finally, I must say a massive THANK YOU to some wonderful people. To Shannon Okey, founder of Co-operative Press and the brains and elbow grease behind this whole operation. Shannon has been fantastic to work with – from the very clear call for submission, right the way through to the message that the book was launched last night. To Abra Foreman, who interned with Shannon over Summer 2010, and put up with strange questions, organised the submissions and was a lovely person to boot. To the wonderful Jon of Natural Born Dyers who not only provided me with the fabulous yarn, but who is also the love of my life, and who has shared all the good and bad (including me bouncing up the stairs at bedtime last night saying “it’s been PUBLISHED!!!!!”). To the other designers – it needed ten of us to make the book – and I will be knitting many of their scarves as well. And to anyone who has defied boredom and self-promotion and gushing and general me-ness to survive this long and thinks “I might just have a look at this book”. Especially if you also buy it and knit some of the patterns.

The photographs in this post are copyright Fractured Photography, and are used by kind permission of Cooperative Press.

Antici......................................pation

2011-07-14T18:44:00.003Z

I'm starting to get excited. I mentioned a while ago I have a pattern in a book being published by Co-operative Press, Fresh Designs - Scarves - and a couple of nights ago, I looked over the final edit of my pattern and the photos for it.

If that's not enough, Shannon's posted a picture of the covers today (apologies to those without a Ravelry account - I'll link to another picture as soon as one's available).

So it's real, and I'm getting VERY bouncy!

I don't know the publication date as yet, but Shannon assures us we're nearly there now!

New Pattern - Bassenthwaite Shawlette

2011-07-11T16:38:00.005Z

Bassenthwaite is the only Lake in the English Lake District – all the other bodies of water commonly referred to as lakes, such as Coniston and Windermere are meres or waters! We love the Lake District, and have holidayed a few times on the shores of Derwentwater, always making the short trip north to Bassenthwaite to walk in the woods, or try to spy the Lake District Ospreys.

This shawlette is knitted from side to side on the Baktus principle – so you knit the first half until you are approaching the half way point of your yarn, then you start to knit the second half – the idea being that as long as you start decreasing before the halfway point in your yarn, you won’t be racing the yarn down to the last half inch to finish!

The shawl is knit with a garter stitch body, with a scalloped lace edging that has been taken from

Barbara Walker’s “A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns”. It is relatively “easy” lace, requiring only a knowledge of knit, purl, yarn over and knit two together to complete the lace pattern. Knit into the front and back of the same stitch and slip, slip, knit are needed for the body increases and decreases respectively.

The pattern is available via Ravelry if you want to take a further look, we will have it with us at Coldstream's Wool Festival on the Saturday of the August Bank Holiday weekend.

I am very proud of someone...

2011-05-16T20:12:00.002Z

OH and I reached an incredible number of years together over this weekend. We celebrated up in the Scottish Highlands.
Now I'm home, though, I can show you just one of the reasons I love him so much, and why I'm so proud of him.
He's going to be at Woolfest this year - and a very special announcement has been made.

A Secret Sort of Revealed...

2011-04-04T19:27:00.004Z

I've been sitting on a bit of a secret.

I'm not very good at keeping secrets.

Today I can finally go SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! and tell you I have a design going to be published in a book later this year! The book is "Fresh Designs: Scarves" and is being published by Co-operative Press, the brainchild of the amazing Shannon Okey. It's a scarf, and it's designed to be a very straighforward knit, in some of Jon's yarn.

Now - Shannon is doing her level best to publish this series of books (there's 10 in total covering everything a person could want to knit), but despite how superhuman she seems, she really does only have one pair of hands. To help get this series out more quickly, she's put in a bid for a kickstarter campaign - if $5000 is pledged by April 30, then there'll be a matching fund provided, which will really speed along the publication. To encourage donations, there's some pretty good prizes up for grabs, from PDF copies of Shannon's own latest book, "The Knitgrrl Guide to Professional Knitwear Design" right up to 3 days of private fibre art tuition one to one. Even a single dollar will help get this off the ground more quickly!

That's all I can reveal at the moment - my scarf's not available for a sneaky peek as yet - but hopefully, soon...

In Dreams Clue 1

2011-02-16T18:18:00.001Z

InDreamsClue1
Originally uploaded by Panperoxide

This is the beginnings of the In Dreams shawl - a mystery KAL being run by Susan Pandorf which I mentioned in my blog post yesterday. The yarn I'm using is Fyberspates Sparkle Merino / Silk Lace, and the beads are 8/0 beads from Rosarama, my local bead shop (how cool is it that I have a local bead shop - especially one packed to the brim with beautiful beads and findings, and run by a lovely lady who's a skilled beader and designer in her own right).
So far, I'm loving the design - it's going to be semi-circular, and dripping with beads. The yarn is absolutely beautiful to knit with as well - I love all of Jeni's yarns I've tried - it's all really top quality, and her colour-sense is amazing (not to mention she is also one of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting), and this one is no exception. The sparkle is subtle, but visible - not too in your face, but it adds a shimmer, and doesn't fight with the beads.
So - three blog posts in three days - and I've still got stuffs to share! And on Saturday, I'm off to a beginners' weaving workshop at my local Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, in Stocksfield - so another craft to have a play with!

And Hot on the Heels.... Shawl #3 - Little Leaves

2011-02-15T18:27:00.001Z

LittleLeaves
Originally uploaded by Panperoxide

And here is my third shawl of 11 - Little Leaves by Susanna IC, knitted in Posh Yarn Eva 2 Ply. This pattern was fantastic to knit - an easily remembered lace pattern, and a great shape - easy to wear as a shoulder shawl or a pretty scarf.
The yarn is pretty special, too - Eva is 55% silk, 45% cashmere and soft as butter - Dee at Posh Yarn gets limited stock of this beauty, so it is very precious - the put up is 55g / 400yards, and this shawl uses up less than one skein.
The next shawl is on it's way - I'm taking part in the "In Dreams" KAL run by Susan Pandorf, which is a semicircular shawl, knit from the top down, and part of her Lord of the Rings series - it's based on Galadriel's crown, and as Galadriel's one of my favourite characters from my all time favourite read, I was sucked in. The clues are out every 2 weeks, so that one will be a slow, steady reveal (and there are 5000 beads in the pattern!). I've also got the pattern for Galadriel's mirror, knit in 1200 yards of 4 ply. So that's 5 of the 11 taken care of - 6 more lovelies to choose!

Batik - Shawl #2

2011-02-14T17:25:00.001Z

Batik
Originally uploaded by Panperoxide

Finally - Shawl number 2 for 11 Shawls in 2011! This is Batik which combines cables and lace for an incredibly textured shawl, which looks fabulous knit up - I've used Wollmeise 80/20 Twin sock yarn for this (the other skein from my grab bag, which included the yarn I used for Haruni), and the deep saturated greens really work well with the pattern.
It's knit from the bottom up, so there is a bit of a race to the finish as the rows get shorter and shorter, and the ball of yarn gets smaller and smaller... I can fudge a top-down shawl where I may run out of yarn, but haven't yet figured out how to do this with a bottom up, without ripping back or pleading in ISO/Destash threads.
Shawl #3 is hot on the heels - I'm just enjoying having a couple of ready made blog posts here!

Haruni - First Shawl of 2011

2011-01-08T14:00:00.001Z

Haruni1
Originally uploaded by Panperoxide

Haruni by Emily Ross
Knitted in Wollmeise 80/20 Twin sock weight, colourway WD Lila Ludmilla
Cast on 01/01/2011
Bind off 03/01/2011
Blocked 08/01/2011
Yardage used - one full skein - 510 yards / 466 metres

Love it - taking part in 11 Shawls in 2011 on Ravelry, and this is No 1!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T11:33:00.001Z

Tree 2010
Originally uploaded by Panperoxide

Merry Christmas everyone - and I hope you all have a lovely time, with best wishes for 2011 to be happy, healthy and successful for you.

New Free Pattern - Helter Skelter Cowl

2010-12-02T13:03:00.002Z

helterskelter1
Originally uploaded by Panperoxide

Introducing the Helter Skelter Cowl - a very quick knit in time for Christmas and a very simple pattern to boot - if you can knit, purl and count using one hand, you can knit this!
Knitted in Natural Born Dyers Wensleydale Aran, this cowl is snug and warm, and has been roadtested during a two hour journey to work through the snow and ice. Available for free from Ravelry:

download now

Camping

2010-11-07T15:24:00.002Z

Camping
Originally uploaded by Panperoxide

I've finally blocked and photographed my EZ 100th Anniversary Camping Pi Shawl - I knit it in Natural Born Dyers yarn, colourway Tropical Lagoon, and I think the greens and blues really complimented this wonderful pattern.
And yes, I know the pattern is written for fingering weight, and this is a fine laceweight - but EZ was all about having the confidence to go "off piste" and adapt a pattern to suit - so I knitted on with confidence!

Liesl

2010-09-12T12:10:00.001Z

Liesl1
Originally uploaded by Panperoxide

This is my very first handspun sweater. I span the yarn as part of the Tour de Fleece this year. The fibre was Polwarth, colourway Hay Sunrise from Southern Cross Fibre. In total, it was 832 yards of something between an aran and chunky from 28oz - perfect for Ysolda's Liesl.
Very quick to knit, easy to memorise the pattern and NO SEWING UP!
And the dye job and fibre from the lovely David was perfection!

Testing, Testing

2010-09-07T19:19:00.001Z

Mitts1
Originally uploaded by Panperoxide

I've been spending some time test knitting the past week or so. The pattern is Tulip Mitts, which is a new design from Laura Patterson of Fiber Dreams, which is to be offered as a kit from Posh Yarn in the near future.
I've test knit once before, and while I am still knitting something I want, it's a different process from knitting for me.
1. I have to pay Very Close Attention to the pattern. The whole point of a test knit is to pull out any little hiccups or typos or ambiguities. It's not OK to fudge it, or think you've worked it out - the designer needs to know now - that's why it's a test knit.
2. I have to go fast. Now this isn't a requirement from Laura, or for the previous designer I worked with. It's a personal thing. For me, I feel that if I haven't got the time to give it a decent stab and spend some time on the knitting, then I'm holding up the process - the designer wants me to check the pattern works, so she can get it out there.
3. It's not a way of getting a free pattern! Well - it is, but that's not got to be the prime motivation for this. For me, I like to feel I've helped in the process (and yes, I'll feel a little proud when this kit is released into the wild).
4. I have to be frank. I feel a bit nitpicky sometimes, but the only way the pattern is going to be right is if I say what's wrong (to be perfectly frank - not very much with this pattern).

So - if you can bear to knit within the lines, are happy to turn an item around quickly, and can be honest (but gentle - this is someone else's baby, after all), then go on and offer to test knit. I have a lovely pair of mitts out of this one!

No photos... but a hidden gem

2010-08-16T20:00:00.002Z

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me on Saturday, but a new shop opened in Newcastle upon Tyne, and I had to take a look...
The Knit Studio is hidden away within Blackfriars in Newcastle upon Tyne - for those who know a little of the Toon, if you walk up Stowell Street from the Newcastle Arms end, and turn left at the end, just before the City Walls, then left again, through the archway at the Blackfriars Restaurant and Meeting Rooms, you come to Blackfriars Green - face to your left, and you're opposite a short flight of steps - up them, then up the stairs to the left, and you're in the new shop.
First impressions are of an airy space, beamed, and lined with tempting treats. Anne, the owner, was there to greet me, and was very welcoming. In the middle was a large table strewn with yarn, information and tea and cakes. There is plenty of room around the room to browse the yarn ranges (now this is from memory, so apologies for anything I leave out), including Rowan, Artesano, Lang, Colinette and Schoppelwolle. As well, Anne is stocking some harder to find, UK based brands - these are going to rotate, and on Saturday, there was fibre (yes FIBRE) from Wheeldale Woolcrafts, and yarn from the Natural Dye Studio, the Nude Ewe, The Flying Flock and JC Rennie.
Notions and needles included DuppDupp, Lantern Moon, Boye and Brittany Birch.
Plenty of reading material - Interweave magazines, a large range of knitting, spinning and crochet books, sewing books and fabric - and a reference library - sited enticingly behind two of the squishiest sofas I have ever seen.
I snaffled "Respect the Spindle" and a one-skein project book (useful for using my handspun!), a couple of Interweave magazines, two Zauerballs - one lace, one crazy sock, a pair of Lantern Moon straights, DuppDupp buttons, and a Boye circular. Well - one has to sample, yes?
All in all, it feels like a comfortable space. There are various objects placed around the studio that make it feel like an extension of someone's home - someone's home where you're comfortable enough to pop in, settle down with your knitting or a good book, and have a good natter.
I will be returning - to shop, to knit, and hopefully to learn, once Anne has workshops up and running. Go visit!

The Champs d'Elysee

2010-07-27T19:01:00.004Z

So the Tour de Fleece finished on Sunday. In that time, I spun up a whocking great (for me) 2225 yards! Here it is in all its glory...So how did I do on my challenges?
I managed 832 yards of Polwarth from Southern Cross Fibre which is going to make a soft and squooshy sweater. Tick.
I taught OH the basics of spindling, Andean Plying and Ply on the Fly. Tick. He also made himself a Plying tool during the Tour, and one evening, stopped Parking and Drafting, and said "isn't this what you do?" as he drafted with the spindle going. I've lost my Bossie Zebrawood Maxi for good, but what a star he is - and more than worth it!
I didn't spindle the full 100g (boo) but got 130 yards of 3 ply from 50g... I also span up another 100g on the wheel... It was the pretties, I tell you, the pretties!
I also spun silk hankies for the first time - 152 yards of singles from .5oz...
Now - when's the KAL for all of this yarn...

Tour de Fleece

2010-07-05T21:52:00.003Z

I'm busy spinning, spinning, spinning. While the Tour de France is running, there is a spinning challenge going on. I'm participating over on Ravelry, and I have three challenges on the go.

Spin a sweater's worth of yarn - I'm using Polwarth from Southern Cross Fibre in the colourway Hay Sunrise, and in two sessions, I've spun up 8oz of singles. I'm going to spin 3 lots of 4oz, then ply it off as I go, so I can then start spinning my next load of singles on the ends of the "leftovers". This is for Team Monkey Farts
Spindle 100g of Spinning A Yarn Downland English Wool Tops. I've not spindled for yonks, and so am using this to get cracking again. This is for Team Spinning a Yarn
Teach my OH how to spindle. This isn't for a team per se, but he has joined Team Spinning a Yarn, and is progressing better than I would if taught by someone like me.

Before I got going on the Sweater Polwarth, I span some more SCF Polwarth as well. Anf yes... if there are no pictures, it didn't happen...In other news, we escaped the chaos surrounding yesterday's terrible news (one of the shootings was very very close to us) and went up to collect some more fleeces. OH has blogged about it here. What he doesn't say, is that he very kindly treated me to a delicious carvery Sunday lunch in return for my services as driver. But let's face it - fleeces as lovely as those are their own reward!

Woolfest 2010

2010-07-02T18:01:00.007Z

Phew... catching up sloooooowwwwwwwwwwwwly....I have a major confession to make... I didn't take ANY photographs at Woolfest. So I am nicking one of OH's (tee hee hee) to show you the lovely Jacqui's stall
All in all, I had a great day. OH had bought 3 fleeces before I'd even got in through the door - and he loved the day - his blog (with more pictures - ahem) is here
I got cranky mid-afternoon, because I'd not managed to stop and look at stuff. A quick bit of sympathy and bum kicking from Jacqui, the Diva and Sarah, and I was off - this is the fibre I managed to acquire:In there is Merino/Nylon from Fyberspates, Merino/Viscose and Sparkly BFL from Felt Studio UK, Oatmeal BFL/Silk and BFL/Silk/Seacell from The Thylacine.And I bought some yarn:Pink silk from Artisan Threads, yummy 4 ply Teeswater in 3 purply shades for a Big Shawl, Natural Dye Studio Precious Silk Lace and Dazzle HT sock, and Fantasia Sock Yarn from Wild Fire Fibres.
Yeah - so I didn't really get much at all...
In addition, I bought a Starburst bag kit from Sheepfold (in Herdwick, so it was my holiday souvenir), some KnitPro tips from P2Tog, and a car sticker.
I bought OH some beer, and he bought me some delicious cake (sorry - they moved way too quickly to be photographed!)

A Week in Heaven

2010-07-01T20:15:00.002Z

I love the Lake District. The hills, the lakes, the get-away-from-it-all feeling, and the grounded feeling I get from being back in the North West of England make it one of my favourite places in the world.
A few years ago, OH and I treated ourselves to a few days away to celebrate having been together ten years without either one of us killing the other. We went here, which is on the southern shores of Derwentwater, down the Borrowdale Road, and we vowed to go back. To cut a long story short, life ended up in the way, but when I was stuck for inspiration for OH's birthday this year, I remembered how much we'd enjoyed it, and booked us a blissful weekend.
And with the Ash Cloud, and the pound somewhere in the basement, and because I've been away a fair bit with work, we decided to holiday in the UK this year - and booked for 5 nights at the hotel.
Funny, isn't it, that we checked out just as Woolfest started? With it only being 20 minutes away?
It was a completely relaxing few days, during which we walked, drank good beer (bringing 23 bottles home with us!), ate wonderful food, and completely relaxed. We managed to pack it in, for all we relaxed, visiting Crummock Water, Buttermere, Loweswater, Grasmere, Hawkshead, Coniston, Keswick, the Ospreys at Bassenthwaite, and then a gentle 10 mile wander to Threlkeld (and a truly excellent pub) coming back via the stone circle at Castlerigg.
Pure Bliss. With sheep in the garden!
Woolfest tomorrow!

Pine and Ivy Shawl

2010-06-30T18:45:00.004Z

I love Anne Hanson's patterns and have been hankering after doing a Pine and Ivy Shawl for some time. It's knitted lace, with patterning on both sides, and only a very few "rest rows" (purl all the way) in the entire piece.
When OH was dyeing some "Silky Lace" merino/tencel laceweight, there was one skein that he was not 100% happy with in terms of the colour distribution, which he didn't want to list in the shop. Before you could say "overdye", I'd whipped it and cast on!
A couple of weeks later, these are the results - the whole thing took a little under the 800m stated, and while it was knitted lace, the pattern (as usual) was so well written, that it flew along.I've also been on holiday, and to Woolfest... I will catch those up later in the week!

And a Bit of Knitting...

2010-05-07T22:11:00.004Z

This is my interpretation of BrooklynTweed's Romney Triangle. I made it from the 240 yards of merino in Molten that's in the post below, following the notes on Jared's blog. I love how this knitted up!

Spinning Around

2010-04-26T21:16:00.009Z

I've been indulging and spinning these past few weeks...
The Delightful David of Southern Cross Fibres got so enthusiastic about some Targhee over at Spunky Eclectic, that I went and bought some, not knowing what on earth it was. Now I love Amy's fibres, and David supplies my fibrelust on a monthly basis, so combine the enthusiasm of one with the skills of the other, and it's a pretty safe blind buy - I bought two lots of 4oz - one in Abyss, and one in Tempest, and was over the moon when they arrived. Targhee descended from sheep including Corriedale, and the fibre was soft and squooshy.
I try to take part in the Woolly Wormhead monthly KAL, and this month's was Aeonium, from her new Twisted Woolly Toppers book. It called for aran/worsted weight, so I set to with my Abyss Targhee, and my beloved Darry the Mazurka, and produced the skein on the left there.

I cast on, and shortly had myself an Aeonium, which I am really pleased with. This is the first time I have ever spun anything for a project - I normally spin and allow the fibre to become the yarn it wants to be. Of course, since I finished it, the weather's been beautiful - so no chance to wear it!
Aeonium was a great pattern to knit - much more straightforward than it looks, especially if you can get the hang of cabling without a cable needle. And Targhee is a delight to spin. It drafted like a dream, making it very easy to keep a consistent single. The striping was a complete happy accident - that's just how it came out - and I am really pleased with the results!

After that, I went to my first proper Guild meeting at Tynedale Guild in Stocksfield. While there, I began to spin up some Australian Extra Fine Merino in Molten, the March installment of David's Southern Cross Fibre Club. I'm not normally a "yellows" person, but this has jumped out at me, and ended up as 240 yards of roughly DK weight when spun up as a 3 ply.
I'll be going back to Guild regularly - a full day to sit and spin with other fibery people. Very welcoming, and this month coming is the Spinners' Gathering, so there will be Shopping as well!

Finally, I leave you with my latest WIP - another Southern Cross Fibre - this one is Polwarth/Bamboo Viscose in the colour Border Crossing. This is my first bobbin of singles, and the second is on its way. Just one more little wisp of fluff to go now. This is beautifully soft, with a shimmering sheen that my lack of photography skills didn't quite capture. But I love it, and will take more photos once it's plyed.
This week, I have bought some laceweight, and will be starting the GoddessKnits Anniversary Mystery KAL. This is a "choose your own adventure" shawl - so Renee publishes 4 charts each week, from which you choose one to knit. Choices... choices... there's a potential for 256 combinations by the time the last clue is published, so I may be a little time with this one...

Overambition

2010-03-01T22:44:00.005Z

Just over two weeks ago, I set out to enter the Ravelympics. I picked out my projects, which were to be a challenge for me to complete, wound the yarn, and got set. I had 4 projects to complete - a hat - Woolly Wormhead's Marina (I have never ever managed the stitch pattern used in the hat before), two pairs of Jorid Linvik's Cat Socks (I have never knit colourwork socks before) and Roro socks (never knit toe-up).
Full of enthusiasm, I managed the hat in one day:

It was a straightforward knit - Ruth's patterns always are.

I used Babylonglegs British Merino Aran, which was a dream to knit with.

The hat is knitted on straight needles, with short row shaping, and then finally, the last row is grafted to the cast on. Very very clever.

I already have Ruth's book on pre-order, and have another skein of Sarah's yarn ready to go. The hat I will be knitting is Medici, from Twisted Woolly Toppers, which is the March KAL on the Woolly Wormhead Ravelry Group.

So - onto the colourwork.

Count 'em - that's 2 pairs of socks!

The blue pair is for Jon, the pink pair for me. This was a fantastic pattern to knit - I love the details in this pattern - the fishbones and the paws.

I used Dalegarn Falk for this, which is a DK yarn. Despite this, and using 3mm needles, an old friend resurfaced about a week ago - I started to get a bit uncomfortable in the wrist, and even though I slowed down the knitting, I ended up back in the splint with pins and needles last week. Ah well.

Unfortunately, that meant that Roro were abandoned for now.

I'm still pretty pleased, though!

In pre-Ravelympics news, I completed another Woolly Wormhead hat on Valentine's day - this was Weekender, from Yarn Forward 22, and I used Jon's Natural Born Dyers Falkland Chunky yarn, colourway Ice (there is some in the shop!)

So - busy busy!

BBC - Killing the Music

2010-02-26T22:10:00.001Z

So what do the following people have in common?
Phill Jupitus; Lauren Laverne; Jarvis Cocker; Russell Howard; Craig Charles; Bruce Dickinson; Andrew Collins; Liz Kershaw; Guy Garvey; Stuart Maconie; Jon Richardson; Huey Morgan; Marc Riley; Gideon Coe; Steve Lamacq?
They are all current or former presenters on 6Music, one of the BBC’s digital radio stations, and one, along with Asian Network, which the BBC is apparently planning on cutting in order to save some money, and prove that the license fee is value for money. Andrew Collins argues very well for it to be saved on his blog, Phill Jupitus has written an article for The Guardian explaining why it should be saved, Twitter has been a-Twitter all day with messages of outrage and support (how I first heard of the story), and even presenters from rival commercial stations are chipping in their support.
I listen to 6Music. With the lineup on a Sunday, it is my station of choice for the weekend. I am outside the target demographic for Radio 1 (and really do have trouble listening to it for a large amount of time, I am, I fear, turning into my parents) and as the country’s major publicly funded pop station, it plays popular music. Not necessarily great music, but then nor was the music I listened to when I was an avid Radio 1 listener, back when I did fit the demographic, despite being resolutely “alternative” in my preferred musical tastes. I am, according to the BBC’s latest report, within the demographic for Radio 2 (thank goodness – Radcliffe and Maconie – I AM allowed to listen to you), however, with the call for more content to appeal to the 50+ listener to be broadcast at peak hours, I am worried that I may miss out on the bits of Radio 2 I do enjoy. The target audience for Radio 2 is so wide, that there is going to be a minimum amount of programming which will be loved by each micro-demographic. For goodness’ sake Auntie – you can’t have a radio station which appeals to both me and my Dad – we’re close, but the defiant generation gap still remains! He was a Beatles fan, me Duran Duran – there’s a big difference in what appeals to us, so try to hit us both at once, and you are going to miss!
I’m not a classical music fan, so don’t “do” Radio 3, but strongly defend its right to exist. It is popular, and obviously hits the market it is aiming for.
Radio 4 – I’m not an Archers fan – but for the reason of that one programme alone, and its amazing fan base, you can’t take it away. Radio 4 provides a mix of programmes which can’t be found anywhere else. It’s an Aladdin’s Cave of broadcasting – take it away, and we lose something from our nation.
5 Live – Ah. Yes. The one thing my Dad and I do agree on when it comes to broadcasting – the BBC do news and sports commentary like nowhere else in the world. Long may you thrive and continue (waves to Victoria Derbyshire who was a couple of years ahead of her in school).
5 Live Sports Extra. Take my Aggers and Blowers away, and You Will Know About It Auntie.
6 Music – My musical home. Classic alternative songs, and cracking new bands. 6 Music has put me back in touch with pop and rock. It is daring, it is different, it inspires a passion in its presenters. It represents the spiritual home for punk/indie/new wave/Britpop and all the other names that have been given to a gang of mates in a garage, or a back bedroom with a couple of guitars and a Passion. Classic archives, John Peel sessions, new music, old favourites that nowhere else plays. I challenge the detractors to listen to Huey Morgan, who has the most chilled, eclectic, Sunday afternoon show I have heard – or Guy Garvey, who lulls me into relaxation on a Sunday evening – playing scratchy old swing and jazz tracks up against Joan as Policewoman, and loving them all.
1Xtra – Not my cup of tea, and too much crossover with Radio 1 for my taste, but if it is your cup of tea, then good for you. I can’t really comment on it, as it has never appealed to me – but diversity and a place for it should be what it’s all about – keep it on air, and keep it loud!
Asian Network – never really listened, but the only national radio station which caters for this demographic – so something unique that would probably not be commercially viable – public service broadcasting – is this not the BBC’s raison d’etre?
Radio 7 – Dr Who and Torchwood plays; book adaptations; classic comedy – well worth a dip.
So the BBC covers a large audience – why then is it intent on cherry picking out the 6Music audience, and abandoning is to the Mammon of Commercial Broadcasting? Not many people have heard of it – not surprising when not many people have made the full switch to Digital – many listen to the radio in their car (hence the ratings for breakfast and drive time shows) – the car hasn’t got DAB – so there’s a potential large audience who can’t get the radio station – once we go 100% Digital, then maybe more people will happen across the digital stations. Ever heard of Marketing, Auntie? If only 20% of the population have heard of the product, however of those who listen, the vast majority are loyal and enthusiastic, maybe it is less to do with the station and more to do with the organisation?
I wonder where the duplication is with Asian Network and 6Music commercially. There is a little overlap with 6Music and Radio 2, however if the recent report is implemented, and the Radio 2 offering does become aimed more at the over 50s, where do my generation go? You know, the generation who peaked the sale of the single? The generation who grew up with Punk, New Wave, 2Tone, and so on? The Factory Generation, the Smiths Generation – possibly the most productive and creative musical generation there has yet been (not to say that there’s been nothing good since the 80s – just that there seemed to be a vast explosion of originality and “diy music” throughout that time – and now anyone who is any good has to beat the talent show tie in to get heard – anywhere but 6Music, that is).
I pay my license fee – and the BBC I use the most is the website (oops – I hear half of that’s disappearing as well) and 6Music. Why should I pay a tax to provide others with tailored content, when I cannot find the content I require anywhere else? Commercial Radio largely caters for the over 50s and the under 30s in terms of the musical programming – but not necessarily for the people I know in their 30s and 40s – ever heard a “Gold” station play The Buzzcocks or Hendrix, or a chart station play anything which hasn’t yet charted? Surely the fact that it was largely the 6Music type of audience who was ready willing and able to usurp the Cowell-dictatorship of the charts this Christmas should show the BBC the potential for the alternative market that is out there? Good music which is not necessarily commercially successful, can only become commercially successful via airplay and exposure, something there is precious little of outside of “alternative” sources such as 6Music.
Just ask yourself. When you think of “Geraldine” in association with music, who do you think of? Your Glasvegas Social Worker, or Peter Kay? And who would you rather think of in the future? Lose 6Music, and we risk being told which anodyne music to listen to by Simon Cowell… God Help the lot of us.

Natural Born Dyers... is born!

2010-02-09T19:08:00.006Z

For the past few months, my beloved OH has been working away with yarns, fibres and natural dyes. Today, he has finally taken the plunge, and has launched his website and his Etsy shop.
There are yarns and fibres - chunky yarns, sock yarn, laceweight and some Falkland batts. All have been naturally dyed using either homegrown, locally collected, or purchased dried natural dyestuffs (there is more info on the website).
Please pop over and pay him a visit - we're excited about this, and I'd love for him to make a success of this!

Fade into the Sun

2009-07-08T14:42:00.002Z

LOTS OF PHOTOS!

Thunder played Newcastle for the final time last night, and like the trooper I am, I was there. The gig was fantastic - the Quireboys were supporting - which rounded things off for me, as the first time I saw the band was at the Monsters of Rock in 1990, where they opened, and were followed on stage by the Quireboys. I can't recite the set list, as the whole evening seemed to pass in a blur, but from the opening signal of "Backstreet Symphony" to the closing screams of "Dirty Love", the boys were on top form. As were The Quireboys - I love those guys as well, and they know how to get a party going!

We had a small pyro incident - Danny's monitor caught alight, but he was saved by a brave roadie with a towel - bless that man. I'll add the set list later on, but I'm pleased to say I made it through to "Love Walked In" before I started bubbling - it suddenly hit me that this is it - the last time you're going to hear this live - and off I went. It didn't help that "A Better Man" was the first song of the encore, either!

Once I'd dried my eyes, I was lucky enough to have passes for the meet and greet. Jon, as ever, was on hand with the camera, making sure if I blinked, or looked a bit drunk, he caught me. I'm not showing the picture he took of me and Harry - I look as if I'm about to collapse and start singing - but he did get this one of Harry looking as though he's about to attack...

Danny was just himself - chatty and fun, and seemed genuinely happy that I'd enjoyed the show.

Ben - just a sweetheart - love him to bits.

Chris - so sweet - when I started to bubble, he gave me a big cuddle and calmed me down. Lovely, lovely man - and yes I will be going to see the Illegal Eagles.

And Luke - the songwriter, axeman, and sweetheart. I could run away with this man.

Now, Jon also managed to get a photo of Luke with Spike from the Quireboys - I love this photo - it seems to capture the pair of them.

And you saw my TShirt? This is an antique - 19 years old, and was the 1990 Donington TShirt. Thunder are at the bottom, and the Quireboys up a little to the right. Spike caught sight of it, and insisted we get the next photo - what a star that man is... Come to think of it, maybe I should have just taken them both home!

Where have I been?

2009-05-19T22:00:00.004Z

Goodness... It's 4 months since I last blogged... Look at the sidebar to see what some lovely people I know have done with the time...

These are items from Etsy shops run by ladies I go to Stitch n Bitch with - aren't they great spinners?

Yes I have been knitting, and spindling, but no photos tonight... Soon - I promise!

Project 365 - Week 3

2009-01-18T17:57:00.004Z

Already it's week 3 of Project 365, and so I have another 7 photos to show. I've also got a bit of chatter about yesterday, but pictures first, and expeditions later...
On Monday, I switched on the Lava Lamp. I love my lava lamp - I find it relaxing to watch. While it was heating up, I saw a face in the "Lava" and so had to capture it for posterity...

I love the light in here through the liquid, so will probably be taking more of the lamp.
On Tuesday, I had my dyeing evening, and my picture for then is my yarn drying...

Wednesday, I had to turn to my book of ideas, as I was a bit out of ideas. I have a very pretty Karatstix WPI Gauge in the shape of an Alpaca, so this got snapped.

On Thursday, it was my sock pattern day, so I used the photo of my Wibbly Rib Sock as the day's photo:

Then Friday, I decided my hand dyed yarn was dry enough to skein, and took a picture of the skein. This is quite probably going to turn into the delicious and addictive Forest Canopy Shawl.

Now yesterday was the Posh Day Out in York. I left my camera on the coffee table, where I couldn't possibly miss it. And missed it. It could have been worse - as I was going out of the door, I realised it would be a really good idea to take my train tickets with me... So, as I have no photos of the day (poo!) I compromised with a picture of some of my acquisitions:

Then, this morning, it was beautifully bright and sunny. When it's like this, Holly takes up residence on the windowsills, and sunbathes. We've also got some excess Aiji Chillies drying there, and this morning, she was fascinated by the yellow chillies. I had to snap her...

So there's my week in pictures.
Going back to yesterday, on Ravelry, the Posh Knitters Group arranged three meet ups - one in London, one in Shropshire/North Wales, and one in York. I went to the one in York, and had a great time. I travelled down with the lady otherwise known as Jammam, and her little one (who when she wasn't smiling, was sleeping, and an absolute angel), and met up with other Poshites from Yorkshire and Lancashire for a day of nattering, knitting, shopping, and general fun. There were some lovely shops to see in York - Sheepish on the Shambles, with lots of lovely yarn. Duttons for Buttons, which is where the stash enhancement that provided yesterday's picture came from - that place is Aladdin's cave for buttons, and I bought one of their mixed bags, which was amazing value - there's a good 7-8 complete sets in the bag, plus assorted single buttons. Then a lovely lunch and knitting session at the Slug and Lettuce, followed by more ambling to Craft Basics (oh my - what a cornucopia in there - and they had Fibre from Winghams - the first time I have seen fibre on sale other than online or in a show), and the Viking Loom. All very nice. The day went way to quickly, and coming home, there were 2 trains due in - one was direct to Newcastle, and the next was to Darlington with a rail replacement bus for the rest of the journey. Thinking we were being a bit clever, we got on the direct train. 2 1/4 hours later, when we arrived in Newcastle, we weren't so sure! At least I had good company, and we didn't have to negotiate lots of ramps and the bus with the buggy - and we got a nice scenic tour of the diversion route...
But all in all a great day, and I can't wait for the next one!

Dyeing Days

2009-01-16T20:24:00.003Z

Back at Woolfest, in June, I caved and bought a Kool Aid Sock Dyeing Kit from DT Craft and Design. I've never dyed before, but Debbie was very persuasive, lol. So on Tuesday night, armed with my kit, and my Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook by Lynne Vogel, I went into the kitchen. First I soaked 100g of Alpaca sock yarn in some water with a little squirt of washing up liquid.

Then, after leaving it an hour or so, I squeezed the excess water out, and made up a solution of Lemon and Lime mixed with Lemonade in about 700ml of water. I dropped the yarn in there, and left it until the water went clear, and the yarn went green.

Then, I mixed up some Orange, and dipped one end of the yarn into that.

This portion of the yarn went gold. Following the orange, I repeated with Strawberry and then 2 packs of Grape, overlapping the sections.
Then I rinsed, and cooked the yarn in the microwave.
And hung it up to dry...

Finally, I skeined it up, and took a photo of it all finished.

I thought Kool Aid would give really bright colours, but I'm very pleasantly surprised at the softness of them. I think this is going to be a shawlette of some description.
So... This week I have completed 2 things I have never done before... Published a pattern, and dyed a skein of yarn.

NEXT!

Wibbly Rib Socks

2009-01-15T22:10:00.005Z

This is my first proper pattern! Wibbly Rib Socks are inspired by my favourite sweater, and are a rib with a difference. Knitted in Fyberspates BFL Superwash sock, they are a straightforward knit. If you can knit, purl and do basic increasing and decreasing, you can do these. Any questions, please send me a message, or leave a comment.

Instructions are for a pair of socks to fit leg circumference 7.5" to 9.5" and as written are sized for a UK Size 6-7 foot.

Click this button to purchase for £2.

Project 365 - Week 2

2009-01-11T17:41:00.002Z

So this week was my first full week of Project 365. It's been back to work for me, after two weeks off, which has limited my opportunities for taking photos. I have no car at the moment, so I leave for work before it is light, and arrive home after dark. It's also been a little cold this week, which has left me feeling too nesh to think about going out! I have still managed to take seven photographs, so here they are.

Monday's shot was of my La Novia scarf. I'd finished the scarf over Christmas, but had not photographed it, so it was a good excuse. I got down quite low to take the photo, as I wanted to capture the texture in the scarf.

This is some 70% BFL, 30% Silk fibre from Warratah Fibrecrafts on Etsy. This was a prize in a charity draw run by Ramblings of a Yarn Junkie, in memory of her mother. The fibre is as beautiful as it looks, and I am so glad that Laura reached her £1000 target.

On Wednesday, it was late, and I popped to the front door and saw the streetlight shining through the sycamore tree - the same tree I photographed last week. I thought I would give it a go, and see what came out. I'm going to photograph this tree a lot, I think - it's one of the first things I see when I open the curtains or leave the house, and I'd like to track its life throughout 2009.

Thursday finally saw me photographing my Golding Cherry Tsunami spindle, surrounded by The Yarn Yard's Merino/Silk roving, which is my current spindling.

Friday was a bit panicky. It was late, I hadn't taken a photo, and I was stuck. I looked at the table, and saw my musical frog looking back at me. He was a Christmas present from Jon a few years ago, and if you remove the stick from his side, you can run it up and down his back to make a not unpleasant noise. I wouldn't say it was great music, but it's better than I thought it would be.

Remember Thursday? Well yesterday, I plied my first spindleful of yarn from this roving. I got 71 yards from it, of very lustrous yarn, and it's coming out at about 14 wpi.

Finally, Jon and I went for a walk earlier today. There are a number of old industrial sites very near to us, which have been developed as nature reserves by the local ranger service. This one is the old Percy Pit in Lemington. It was a blustery walk, but it helped to clear the cobwebs. In terms of wildlife, we saw magpies and pigeons, but not much else. In the spring, we get lots of wildflowers, so the area will be well worth investigating then. As it was, we called in at the local pub on the way back, so any health benefits have probably been lost...
So that's it for Project 365 for this week. I'm writing ideas down as I go in a little notebook, so hopefully I can have more ideas than there are days in the week, and build up some ideas, so I'm not stuck at half 11, thinking "what on earth can I photograph today?"

French Lessons

2009-01-05T22:42:00.002Z

I am very bad with languages. I have O'Levels in French and German, and a smattering of various others (mainly picked up so I didn't embarrass myself too much on holidays and business trips - the most embarrassing moment I have had being trying to mime out something I wanted in a shop in Milan - I'm a quarter Italian, for goodness sake! - although that was a giggle for both me and the lovely man in the shop), but it isn't something I have ever actively kept up. I work for a French company, so deal with people in France who speak English beautifully.
So when work offered me the chance to take beginners' French classes for an hour a week, I jumped at the chance. The first lesson was tonight, and I'm pleased to say that so far, so good. I've not learned anything completely new, but I have recalled a lot of information that's hidden away. That's good, because hopefully I can ease into it, and start relearning what I have completely forgotten, and recall what's still in my mind. I don't expect to be fluent within the year (or even 2 or 10), but hopefully I'll be able to understand what people are saying, and leave "Parlez-vous Anglais, s'il vous plait?" at home when in France.
I've also taken some knitting pictures. The first is a current WIP - the White Queen's Bag by Lynda Sorenson of Lilypad Knits.

I'm finding it a well written pattern, and must thank Taliesin on Ravelry (here's her blog) for the enablement.
I've also photographed La Novia, which I love - Manos Silk Blend, 5.5mm needles, and a quick knit from the ever-impressive (and lovely) Anne Hanson.

What a scrummy, textured pattern... The second photo is also todays Project 365 photo, so a sneak preview, too!

Project 365 - Week 1

2009-01-04T16:17:00.003Z

So... for Project 365, I'm going to post a blog entry each week, either on the Sunday or the Monday. This should mean I keep on top of things, as I'm terrible for taking photos and leaving them to languish on the camera. I'm a happy snapper rather than any sort of good photographer - my best photographs all happen by accident! But my photos are going to be a record of my year - hopefully I can look back when 2009 is all done, and see what I was up to each day (If anything).

So - the first (half) week's batch...

This is January 1st, and is a picture of the Cotoneaster bush that I have in my teeny tiny garden. I chose it as the subject for picture 1 as the shiny green leaves and red berries are a nice reminder of Christmas.

January 2nd is Holly the Cat. She likes to play out and sit on the path, watching the birds, passers by, or bits of interesting air. She was completely refusing to do a cute pose - she'd be poddling around, would look all cute, and then as soon as I focused the camera on her, she'd be off. So I got the back of her.

January 3rd - Holly on her cushion (are we getting a theme here?) - I had planned yesterday's photo to be a picture of the Penguin lights Jon bought for Christmas, but I couldn't get a photo of them that wasn't blurry and quite frankly, pathetic, so I snapped Holly snuggled up in front of her heater.

I took this one a few minutes ago, as the sun (? - Big Light in Sky) was setting behind the sycamore tree that is outside my house. I love the trees on our estate. It is one of the reasons I like living here. I just looked up, saw the colours of the sky (I love it when the sky is lavendar and orange like this) and nipped out with the camera.

So.... I have to get 7 more by next Sunday. Hopefully they won't all be Holly, but for 5 days I'm at work within the hours of daylight, and for security reasons, I'm not allowed to take photos. I may have to be creative...

Goodbye 2008... Hello 2009!

2008-12-31T18:56:00.003Z

So this is my last post for the year. I hope anyone reading this has a happy, healthy and successful 2009. 2008's been neither the best nor the worst year for me... Sort of middling. Although I have started learning to spin, which has been amazing.

For 2009...

I am joining Project 365 - so I will be taking a photo every day for all of 2009.
I will publish my first pattern. It's a sock. It's nearly knit up and written up, and will be released soon.
I will start my little Folksy trinkets store - I'm making my own beaded jewellery, and have had positive feedback so far from people I trust to tell me when things aren't right. So I am working on creating stock, and will be photographing and stocking the store hopefully by mid-January.

I think that's enough to be getting on with...

For now at least.

Books Meme

2008-12-05T21:16:00.003Z

From the Big Read, via Carrie Anne and Dreamcatcher's blogs...

-----------------------------------------------
This one is originally from the Big Read. Apparently they reckon most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here.

Instructions:

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Underline those you intend to read. - underline's playing up for me... going to put a note instead...
3) Italicise the books you LOVE.
4) Reprint this list so we can try and track down these people who’ve only read 6 and force books upon them.

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6. The Bible
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - J D Salinger
19. The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger - Will Read
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy - Will Read
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy - Will Read - if only for the knitting!
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34. Emma - Jane Austen
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini - Will Read
38. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41. Animal Farm - George Orwell
42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown - so what's the opposite of Italics?
43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48. The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50. Atonement - Ian McEwan
51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel - will read
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68. Bridget Jones’ Diary - Helen Fielding
69. Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72. Dracula - Bram Stoker
73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses - James Joyce
76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal - Emile Zola
79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80. Possession - AS Byatt - Will Read
81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87. Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton - just rebought the 1971 un-pc-ed versions...
91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad - Will Read
92. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94. Watership Down - Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

H'mmm 61... Maybe I should get out more.....

I Love You More Than Rock 'n' Roll...

2008-11-27T15:17:00.002Z

Last night was The Night - I still didn't truly believe that I was going to go to the meet and greet until I picked up the pass from the Box Office. I actually went with mixed feelings, as Harry James, the drummer, had kidney stones, and I'd had an email that he wasn't going to make the tour. Now Thunder are great, but our 'Arry - he's special. They say all drummers are a bit, erm, eccentric, but Harry is a character and a legend in his own lifetime. His performance of George Michael's Faith is fantastic (including the bum wiggles), and I still remember seeing him do his turn in Aylesbury Civic Hall in 1990, when he donned a blue nylon wig, and crooned "Blue Moon".

However, I didn't care as the AC/DC track played, and the chant of "Thunder... Thunder..." rang out. We'd got seats central to the stage, third row. The band opened with "Backstreet Symphony" and were on absolutely top form. The set favoured the earlier songs, with the first album contributing its classics. The main set finished with "I Love You More Than Rock 'n' Roll", and the encore was "Higher Ground" and "Dirty Love". Just fabulous, bluesy rock, with the singalongadanalongalaughalonga performance.

After the gig, we were allowed downstairs for a drink with the band. It was great. The guys just circulated, and spent time with everyone. I got my CD signed, and Jon took pictures of me with Ben:

Chris

Luke

Danny

And...
.
.
.
Harry James - Drummer and complete trouper.

Well - it wouldn't have been a Thunder gig without our 'Arry, now, would it?

And Luke kissed me as I was leaving... I'll let you know when I'm down off Cloud 9.

Oh yeah - knitting - that's what I'm meant to be doing here. In the last few days, I've finished Meret, the Mystery Beret from Woolly Wormhead in Posh Yarn Amelia, colour Pleasantry.

And my first stranded colourwork - Cat Mittens by Jorid Linvik - in natural brown Alpaca and Jacob. I love these.

And another hat - this one a present for Jon's mum. It's the Starcrossed Cabled Slouchy, and it has come out lovely and smooshy in Posh Yarn's Helena Aran in Cherry:

I'm going to finish off a pair of Waving Lace socks for Jon's sister, and then do another pair of the cat mittens, this time in red and black Jawoll sockwool for Jon's mum. Before Christmas. EEK!

Mixtures

2008-11-17T17:07:00.003Z

It's been a mixed few days... First, the good - I'm off work! Loads of knitting and spinning time! I'm also going to sort out my stash, and possibly have a cleansing destash, or possibly not.
On Friday, I went to my friend Carrie Anne's house for a play evening, and had a lovely time. Four of us were there, and we knitted and spun and chatted, and petted Willow and Ash the cats, and ate pizza and nibbles. Carrie Anne had her wheel, and had set up her Heddle Loom. The wheel I was hopeless on. Great at "unspinning", but it was a bit too much like patting my head and rubbing my tummy! I think I'll stick with spindles! The loom was a different story - I found it very hypnotic and relaxing, and was really pleased with my contribution to the woven cloth. It was just a lovely evening, and Carrie Anne was a great hostess.
Then today, I visited Ros for a morning of knitting, spindling and chatter. Patti was also there, and it was just nice to relax over a cuppa tea. And Ros' daschunds are absoloutely gorgeous - Millie and Maisie. If only Jon wasn't allergic to dogs, and if Holly wasn't psychotic, I could be very tempted.
But as always, once I start to enjoy myself, the rain falls. I had a letter from the hospital today. And I quote:
"Your MRI cervical spine does show a small disc which probably accounts for your symptoms. It is likely that only conservative management is appropriate as usually in these circumstances things settle on their own, but perhaps I could review me myself in clinic to discuss things further."
After reading it a few times, Jon and I have translated it to mean "Yep - there's something out of line in there, but I'm not the one in pain, and if you ignore it, perhaps it may go away. I may have a little time to patronise you if you care to ring".
Oh boy. Is he in for a shock. I am in pain. I am not sleeping without prescription painkillers. This has been going on since April. I am paying him, via my NI every month, so he can firstly, stop talking down to me, and secondly, give me some constructive advice on how to sort it out so it doesn't feel like someone's going to rip my arm off. If he had cared to ask, in the 4 months since I have seen him, then I would have told him that the situation has deteriorated. And he thinks it will resolve itself? I am steeling myself for a frustrating conversation on the phone tomorrow. And then for a face off in his office. I shall be perfectly polite, however, he will have to do something. One card I have up my sleeve is that my company does private health care. So I can play that one, and also the one where I am persistent as heck, and have no fear of bureaucracy - yes - the NHS Complaints Procedure.
To Battle!

Posting Madness!

2008-11-11T18:28:00.002Z

My goodness... I've never posted so much!
I have Arm News. Last night I took one tiny Codeine tablet and two paracetemol. When I lay down, there was no pain. When I rolled over, there was no pain. I slept. Soundly. Right through to the alarm. I was prepared to give it a few days, but it's helped already.
OK - so now my body has slept, it's thinking "oooh - I LIKE that idea", so I've felt really sleepy all day, but I'm off next week, so I'll spend all that time sleeping, knitting and spinning!

A Post! With Photos!!!

2008-11-10T18:54:00.003Z

I’ve not been wasting my time… Finally there was 10 minutes of light yesterday, so I took some photographs. Here we have three handspun yarns. The top one is the End of September club yarn from The Yarn Yard (Bramble Crumble). The second one is also from The Yarn Yard, and came un-named – as I was spinning it, I realised it made me think of Refresher sweets with all the lovely sherberty colours – so I have named this BFL Superwash Refreshers. Finally, there is Lafant Glas – Falkland from Mam a Mi. You may notice that there are only 2 skeins – more on that later. I got 300 yards or so from each 100g, using my Golding Cherry Tsumani for the singles, and then my Louet spindle for Andean Plying.

I’ve also been a bit busy knitting. Firstly, the reason why I only had 2 skeins of Lafant Glas left to photograph - my Spiraluscious. I love this neckwarmer. I love the yarn, the pattern, just everything about it. It’s an Anne Hanson design, and wow – that woman can design good looking but straightforward lace, can’t she? (Yes - I cast on Friday, and grafted the edging together Saturday - have noted in the "omigoditschristmasnextweekandIhavenothingspecialfor..." file!)

Then, I snaffled some Helena Aran from Posh Yarn a couple of weeks ago, and turned it into a Darkside Cowl by Sarah Fama, and a Woolly Wormhead Spring Cap (wishful thinking!).

And, a pair of Aran Island Slippers from Interweave Knits Holiday 2008 for my MiL knitted in Rooster Almerino Aran.

Oh... and I got them off my hands long enough to take a photo! My Cranford Mitts - from The Yarn Yard Kit I bought at Woolfest.

Busy, busy, busy.

On the spindle at the moment is 2oz of Gotland that I got as part of a Spinners Set from Spindlefrog. The Spinners Set is a brilliant idea - 2oz each of 6 unusual fibres all dyed in the same colourway. I love it, as I get a chance to play, and can decide before I commit to a load of something which may be quite expensive, and which I'm not keen on. The Gotland is lovely. Very silky with a long staple.

On the needles are the Estonian Lace Christening Shawl, my Guess at Tess’ Shawl, a pair of Undulating Lace Socks in Wollmeise Suzanne for a Christmas Present, and a Booga bag (adapted slightly by using smaller needles and more stitches to accommodate finer yarn) in Kauni.

In Arm News, there is little news - still waiting for the MRI Results, however things have Deteriorated, and after having negligable sleep for nearly a week, I went to the GP this morning. So I'm on Codeine, which isn't the best, but it has to be better than lying there, tossing and turning, and trying to find somewhere to put my arm where it doesn't hurt!

Busy, busy, busy… But Fun, Fun, Fun!

Good News!!!

2008-11-09T17:10:00.001Z

So... I've loved Thunder for years... Have seen them a dozen or so times, and am doing so again later in the month - I've just found I'm going to meet the band after the show in Newcastle!!!!! Excuse the happiness, but this has just made my day!!!!!!!!!

Go See Littleberry

2008-11-05T20:26:00.001Z

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But no cancer restricts itself to one month per year. Go and see Littleberry and pop a bid in. And let others know.
And check. You know you should.

Just a Quickie!

2008-10-13T17:09:00.003Z

I need some decent light! I have a nearly finished Forest Canopy in Noro Sock Yarn, a chunky scarf in Colinette Point 5 (knit in one evening!), a swatch of cables lace and general playing in a new yarn from Linzi, the Alpaca Spinner, which I am so going to stalk her for, a little progress on the Estonian Lace Christening Shawl, and 4 lovely skeins of my very own handspun to show off - but when the light's been good, I've been elsewhere, and when I've been here, the light's been non-existent! Ah well - it will come.
In other news, it was a mad week last week... Monday off, Tuesday normal, Wednesday and Friday covering earlies (yawn) and the MRI Scan on Thursday. It's not an experience I want to repeat in a hurry. There was no pain involved, I was seen on time, the scanning team were brilliant - as well as being very capable and experts in their field, they radiated a reassuring confidence - but I did not feel good. It was being out of control in a confined space that did it for me. I was strapped in, with a shield over my torso, and while I had hold of a buzzer, I was in a tube where it felt like the roof was an inch or two above my nose. If (and yes, I know this is a Big If), anything went Really Wrong, and the buzzer didn't work, I was incapable of escape. There was no way I could have wriggled out. But nothing went wrong, I'm here, I'm fine, and now I need to wait for the Registrar at the hospital to interpret the results (I've been told 6 weeks, however when I was told 2-4 weeks, it took 7 and a lot of pressure from me to get them, so I'm not holding my breath).
That's it for now. More if we ever see daylight again while I'm in reach of a camera and my little doings!

Oops

2008-10-06T12:25:00.003Z

Well... More tomorrow I said... Oh well. Our computer decided to die on us last week, so unfortunately I've taken a little hiatus from being online. We now have a new computer, and I am getting to grips with it (I love it, actually - it's lovely and fast compared with the old one, and the colours on the screen are a lot better) but that means that I have no photos to share.
I have been spinning - I received my Yarn Yard fibre on Friday, and have spun up about a third of it - and it is beautiful. The Shetland seems to have spun itself on my Golding Tsunami, and it is the most even yarn I have spun. Completely yummy. I love being in the Fibre Club - for a start, I love surprises, and the anticipation once Natalie says she has posted is great. Then when it arrives, I read the letter, and try to guess what the fibre will be like. Then I open the pack - and it's even better! As a beginner, it's giving me the chance to try different fibres and find out what happens with fibre dyed in different ways. I have just finished plying the first of this month's (when it arrived on Friday, it was so lovely that the pack of fibre and my Golding went straight into my handbag and came with me), and I love what I have spun. I need to skein it, but I think it's about a fingering weight, so I'm thinking a delicate scarf...
We've been away this weekend - Jon's dad turned 60 on Friday, so we drove down to Cannock on Friday (it took us 3 hours to do the first 40 miles, thanks to an accident on the A1, but we got there eventually). When we got there, it was great - we'd got his dad a digital photo frame, and Jon had scanned a load of slides from when he and his sister were little - his dad was very touched with it all. Saturday night was his party - which was great. I have now found I am skilled in the art of balloon arch making! Everyone had a great time, and we tootled back up the road yesterday afternoon. 6 hours 30 minutes to get there, 4 hours to get back (and that included a big stop for a cup of coffee, so that was good going). Today, I have been plying my yarn (amazing how much I managed to spin, given how busy we were), am catching up on the 'puter, and then I will be settling down with the last episode of Tess, which I recorded last night (I watched the Harry Potter film, which was just what we needed) and my Estonian Lace Christening Shawl while Jon's out at college.
Back to work tomorrow, and hopefully some photos (maybe).
ETA - I am now booked in for my MRI Scan - this Thursday at 9am - so credit to Alliance Medical who operate this for the Trust - at least someone round here seems able to shift their stumps and sort things out. The good news is, I may know what on earth's going on in a couple of weeks.

Falling Sideways

2008-09-29T18:13:00.003Z

This post was going to be about my progress with the Estonian Lace Christening Shawl, and a little bit of spinning and gawping at my new Golding Cherry Tsunami spindle. And a little about how my left hand is getting on... That will all come, but sometimes, Stuff Happens.
Firstly, and importantly, READ THIS POST on The Yarn Yard Blog by Natalie. Go on, scoot over there and have a look. I'll be here when you get back (and if you happen to slip and anything falls in your shopping basket while you are there, I take no responsibility - but if you've never been there before - yes, it is all even better than it looks!).
To my shame, I used to be a blood donor. I started when I was in my first job - they put on a mini bus, and took you to the local power station, where you had a wee bit of time off work, a lie down, a cup of tea, and a biscuit. In return, you had a needle stuck in your arm and had to play with a squeezy ball. And possibly, someone lived. Or at least was given a fighting chance.
The statistics are horrifying. At current levels, in England and Wales, there are only 3 days of stocks of some blood groups. If, for some reason, blood donation had to stop tonight, by Thursday, people who were having operations, having babies, or (heaven forbid) were in an accident, would have reduced options if they needed that blood group. And, if there was a major emergency somewhere, those stocks would disappear very, very quickly.
I stopped giving blood after I was on a medication for a short while which meant I wasn't allowed to. And, to my shame, I never went back.
That has changed. After I read Natalie's posting, I went to here, entered my postcode, and found when the next session was, near to me. It turns out it's on October 17th, so I requested an appointment (you can do it all online, it's very quick and easy) - so I'm back. Heaven forbid I or anyone I know needs it, but I've been and gone and done it.
I appreciate not everyone can give blood, and not everyone wants to. That's fine, but if you're OK with the ethical side, and reasonably fit and healthy, and all that's stopping you is that you've never got round to doing it, please give it a go. And I'm speaking as a squeamish person who has a fear of needles (shall we say that when I had to have a General Anaesthetic for a minor operation, they gave up and gave me a tablet after 3 people were having trouble restraining me - I find it proper scary) - when I have given in the past, the person setting me up has distracted me.
Let me just get off my soapbox...
And now to my poorly hand. I have been getting Rather Annoyed in the past few weeks. I had a nerve conduction test on August 12th (I remember it well - it was my birthday, however, I took the appointment, as they're busy people). I should have had the results within 2 to 4 weeks. Nearly 7 weeks later, after 2 weeks of chasing and being Rather Annoying, I have a one paragraph letter dictated by, but not signed by, the Registrar who saw me in July, and was absolutely convinced I had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The good news is, I don't. My test came out as normal. The bad news is, he now thinks it may be in my shoulder or neck, and I am going to be booked in for an MRI.
Speaking to his secretary (a lovely lady), I found out the delay was due to him being on holiday. And being behind with his work. Charming. I have got progressively worse over the past two months, to the stage where I am not sleeping, and am in a reasonable amount of pain and discomfort. I didn't book a holiday, as I thought that I may have an appointment that clashed, or that I may get worse, and didn't want to ruin it all. I am keeping all the letters, and notes on my treatment, and shall be complaining bitterly when this is all sorted out. I know that the NHS is overstretched. I know I am small fry. But it ain't free. I've paid my stamp, as has my employer, and let's face it, if I had to wait for a mail order delivery for nearly twice as long as I had been told, and had had no communication from the vendor, I would have cancelled the order. What annoys me isn't the time it takes, it's the attitude.
All I can do is knit and spin, and keep my powder dry. But they've upset the wrong person now...
Hopefully, some pictures of knitting and spinning tomorrow...

Feast or Famine....

2008-08-29T16:28:00.004Z

It's definitely feast or famine round here... I have finished Edgy by Susan Pierce Lawrence (yes, the lady who brought us the Forest Canopy Shawl), and it is blocked and photographed (insert smug look here).

And a close up of the lovely laciness!

It's a lovely pattern to knit, and is available for free via the Knotions magazine which is well worth a look - mine's only the second live project on Ravelry after Susan's! I knitted it in Posh Yarn Lei, colour Peacock, which is lovely iridescent deep blues and greens. It doesn't show up too great in the photos, as the light here has been rubbish since I unpinned it. This is version B, which is for 4-Ply (a DK version is available).
So now that my Ravelympics projects are complete, what's next? Baby things - that's what! My Auntie's friend is due to have a baby in November, and that baby will be kitted out in a BSJ in Colinette Jitterbug in Mardi Gras (mad bright rainbow colours) and Hazel Roots' Estonian Lace Christening Shawl, which I am knitting in the lovely undyed laceweight from Andy at Bluefaced, which is now available from Nicki at Laughing Hens in single skeins (look under Bluefaced, then Angel). 1200 yards per skein is pretty good value - it's cobweb weight, but with a slight halo, and is feeling so soft and snuggly as I am knitting it.
Oh yes - and MS4 is starting next week - sign up now via the link on Pinklemontwist's blog. For this, I'm going to be using Fyberspates Nef Lace in Lilac, together with some transluscent opal seed beeds (the beads are an integral part of the pattern this year, and so not optional. Pretty, pretty colour:

OK - so you're probably all linked out now.... so I'll go.

Ravelympics

2008-08-25T14:34:00.002Z

Well - thank you Ravelympics! During the Beijing games, Ravelry's been inviting members to knit a challenge, the start time being the opening ceremony and the end time being the closing ceremony. I committed to 4 projects - to finish my Slow Bee shawl in WIP Wrestling (I was really enjoying the pattern, but with over 800 stitches per row, I was really flagging by the final 2 clies), to knit a Whisp Wrist Warmer from my own handspun, to knit Anne Hanson's Orchid Lace Scarf from Knitspot, and to knit Susan Pierce Lawrence's Edgy Scarf.
So how did I do? Let's see the evidence...

This is the Slow Bee 1 - a Faeroese Mystery Shawl by Monika Eckert. Lovely pattern - using over 2000 yards of laceweight and nearly 2 large tubs of Gutermann 9/0 beads. I've not blocked it too hard, as I wanted a snuggly winter wrap, rather than a gossamer weight wisp of a thing. It's massive - I'm 5' 7", so you can probably get the scale from the photo. I used 100PureWool Merino Lace from Uruguay, bought from Ebay.

This is my Whisp - pattern my Mazzmatazz, and published in the Guardian newspaper (although I am currently having some issues with the Guardian - it seems to be using knitting in a peculiar fashion at the moment). The yarn was some merino fibre from Shunklies on Etsy, which I span myself to about a DK weight on my spindle from Whorl Drop Spindles, then knitted up. This is my second handspun that could be called yarn, and since then, I have joined the Yarn Yard Fibre Club, and bought more lovely fibre from Mam a Mi, so I can quite safely say I am addicted. This may only be a teeny tiny knit, but I am so proud of it.

Finally, my Orchid Lace Scarf from Knitspot. I knitted this with Posh Yarn Eva 2-Ply in Faraway Tree, which was a deep, dark forest green with paler flashes. I love the pattern - simple and elegant. Anne Hanson designs such beautiful patterns that are a joy to knit.
I "failed" on Edgy - I am currently 21 repeats through out of 30. I am loving the pattern, and am looking forward to finishing it in the next few days.

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud!

2008-08-20T19:51:00.003Z

This is going to be a short post, for reasons that will become clear as I type... It's been an interesting month or so. I've had pins and needles in the fingers of my left hand for a while, and when it hadn't gone after a while, and was pretty irritating, I took it to the doctor, expecting to be told that it was OK, and rest would be just the thing to sort it out. Unfortunately, she had a good look, felt my wrist, asked me to move my fingers and bend my wrists, and grip her hand, and came out with the scary words "neurological deficit". Really scary, until she started to speak language I understood, and told me she thought I may have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, when things started to click into place. I'm careful, but I've worked with computers for a lot of years now, and have quite possibly developed this through working over a long time. So. I've been to the Neurology Department at the hospital twice, and have had tests, including an EMG last week (on my birthday, no less, but at least being out of work early, I got to see the climax of the Eventing at the Olympics - every cloud etc), and I'm now waiting for the results of that. If it indicates CTS, I will be discharged to my GP, then referred to the plastic surgeon for the release op (apparently they don't do BOGOF, so my nose will have to stay bent). So it can be painful and annoying to type. It is going downhill visibly - although I now wear a wrist support, I am getting more pain and less pins and needles, and the pain is travelling up to my shoulder. But, all being well, it's fixable, and OK - I know there's going to be a period after the op when it's painful, and I can expect weakness for 6 months to a year, but at the moment, it hurts, and it's embarrassing when I drop things.
So why the mud? Well this week, Jon and I went to the V Festival, conveniently situated 15 miles from his dad's house (so we don't have to do the cold and damp camping thing - clean and warm bedroom and bathroom for me Thank You), in Staffordshire. We had a great time - Saturday was overcast most of the day, and we got to see The Stranglers, Squeeze, The Feeling (fab covers of Video Killed the Radio Star and Take on Me, as well as a great set of their own), Travis, The Kings of Leon (and was I proud when I recognised their intro music - Mozart's Lachrymosa from his Requiem - and yes, I did know all the words, and sang along), Echo and the Bunnymen (perfect as always, AND included People are Strange in the set) and The Verve, who I first saw 10 years ago when they played V98 in Leeds, and who were magical. Unfortunately, during The Verve, and on the way back to the car, the heavens opened, and we got wet through. The rain didn't stop all night, and by the time we arrived for Sunday, the site was deep in mud. When I say deep, I mean that when I was trying to dance, my feet moved, but my wellies didn't! But the weather was warm, and I wouldn't have missed The Futureheads, Maximo Park, Paul Heaton (I must buy his album - the songs are just fab), The Stereophonics, and Muse, whose stage show was amongst the best I have seen - lasers, lights, and over 90 minutes appearing to be over in 90 seconds. We missed the accident on the A5, so managed to be back in the house by midnight as well - where we promptly undressed on our waterproofs, and put the horribly muddy clothes into a black bag. Jon was a hero this morning and washed it all!
So that's it for now - with my knitting, I have finished the Goddess Knits Anniversary Mystery Shawl, and the Slow Bee 1 (a WIP for the Ravelympics), and am on with 3 more Ravelympics projects... Then I will be knitting Hazel's Estonian Christening Shawl. And that's about me. Photos and more soon, promise....

What I did at the weekend....

2008-06-30T20:03:00.003Z

I went to Woolfest, and had a fabulous time. I met a lot of people in person, and spent a lot of time squinting at Ravelry badges... I won't namedrop, as I'm bound to forget people but it was lovely to meet you all, and was a fantastic day out.

I bought loads, and won't post too many photos... let's face it, it's all beautiful stuff, but some of my highlights were the lovely laceweight from Andy of Bluefaced.com...

This is going to be the baby shawl that I really need to start swatching for...

And I fell in love with the Cranford Mitts kit from The Yarn Yard...

These are so pretty. But need to be added to a ever-growing list of projects.

Then there was this fella, who seemed to delight in covering himself in his straw...

Finally, for now - I took a Hand Spindling workshop with Spindlers 2 (no website that I can find, but fantastic people - I spent an hour being tutored by very patient people, had fun, and came out with my very first handspun:

I may spin finer, more even, longer yarn, but I will never spin yarn I am more proud of.

And with other purchases under my belt from Fyberspates, and a Kool Aid Dye kit from DT Craft and Design and fibres to practice my spinning with, I shall toddle off to roll in my ever increasing stash...

SPLAT!!!

2008-06-23T18:03:00.004Z

I'm having a busy week this week - not much progress on the knitting front - I'm working away on Moni's Slow Bee Mystery shawl - although it's designed for slow bees, I'm still having to pedal very hard to keep up. I've also started the Goddess Knits Anniversary Mystery Shawl - I'm just onto Clue 2, and it's my first Pi Shawl, and I'm loving my pattern - I'm saying "my" pattern - Renee of Goddess Knits has designed a "choose your own adventure" shawl based on the theme of a Mandala - signups are still open until June 30th, so if you haven't, go on... you know you want to... go to the Yahoo Group and sign up... Go on...

I'm also working on a Cobblestone Sweater for Jon - I'm using New Lanark Mills Donegal Silk Aran Tweed for it, which is smashing value (whole sweater will be knit for under £20) and lovely to work with. It's knitting up into a good hardwearing sweater, and I'm up to the armholes on the body, and am approaching the end of the first sleeve. It's a Jared Flood pattern, and I'm sure he won't mind me saying that it is welcome, mindless knitting - round and round and round with very few fiddly bits. It's my first sweater in the round, and with my aversion to sewing up, it won't be my last.

Jon's mother and sister came to visit for the weekend, and here's where we get to why I've titled this blog post as I have... We took them up to Seahouses for the day on Saturday, and went on a Billy Shiels trip over to the Farne Islands. I love this trip - out on a little boat around the islands, with stops on the way to see the seabirds on the Islands, the seals hunting, and the site of Grace Darling's rescue of the Forfarshire survivors, and then an hour on Inner Farne. There were some lovely birds to see - Eider Ducks, Shags, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, and these little fellas:

Everyone loves Puffins, don't they?
And who would have thought this little critter would turn into an Attack Tern - but he will - once he is old enough to have his own chicks, he will rattle like a machine gun, and attack anyone who he sees as a threat. But for now, he's just fluffy cuteness itself. Everyone go "aaah"...

Finally....

The one....

The only....

The money shot....

Jon had it worse than me... but we were both blessed as you can see. We were looking at a Shag nest, with 4 fluffy chicks in it, clinging to the cliff edge of Inner Farne, when the parent lifted its tail, and the wind did the rest. Oh well - it washes off.

Next stop - Woolfest...

ETA - No Handknits were harmed in the creation of this blog post. Jon and I both make sure we wear old clothes when visiting birdy places!

Now - I'm sure I've forgotten something....

2008-05-13T19:33:00.003Z

I'm back from Darkest Cheshire where I went for the weekend for my "baby" cousin Jenny's 30th birthday party. The lilac Swallotail in Posh Yarn was for her present, and I remembered it. I remembered all the bits for my outfit for the party (it was a Wild West theme, and I was a cowgirl, complete with pink sequinny cowboy hat - it's amazing what you can pick up at a major supermarket these days). I remembered my knitting (but was having such a good time, I didn't knit a stitch ALL WEEKEND!). I remembered my 12p for the toll bridge into Lymm. I remembered my way - which is hard for me - I have the sense of direction of a spinning top. What I didn't remember was my camera - so I have no photos, which is a shame, as the weather was beautiful, and Jenny looked absolutely beautiful dressed as a saloon girl. She loved her Swallowtail, and wanted to wear it, but didn't, in case of spillages.
It was lovely to spend a couple of days with my family - I feel comfortable there, and it's great to see them all again. My Aunt has also asked me if I will make a shawl for her friend - so I am going to attempt to make up my own pattern. I'm not "designing" - what I am doing is compiling, I think. I have Traditional Lace Shawls by Martha Waterman, which has a lot of traditional patterns in for Shetland Lace, and what I'm doing is a little bit of swatching. I'm not sure, so I'm doing a 40 x 40 stitch swatch of the centre, then popping on a border, and maybe an edging. That way, I'm not committing to something I'm going to be unhappy with. It also means I can play without frogging. My rules for this are to go with something I think I like, and see how it looks. No frogging unless I make a boo-boo. That way, something I'm maybe not keen on to start with may do an ugly duckling on me.
What I probably will get is a lovely set of lacy dressing table mats! I'm horrificly indecisive, so I'll probably knit 10-15 swatches by the time I decide (or give up and go and buy a ready made design). I'm only on swatch 1 at the moment, so I will post swatch pictures as I get them.

Best Laid Plans...

2008-05-06T20:24:00.002Z

Oh well... I was going to try Baltic Blossoms, or Melon, honest, but it's my niece's first birthday soon, and so I'm ploughing through a cardigan for her. It's a Tiboodoo pattern, and it looks lovely, and it's an easy knit, but I'm finding it slow going.
And I'm having an Anne Hanson thing going at the moment... I've knitted one Cardigan sock, and I'm itching to start its mate. Great pattern, and it looks fab - pictures when I have a pair. Then in the past few days, my Cranapple laceweight's arrived for my Whispering Pines triangle, and today, my Blue Moon Fiber Arts Haida arrived, for Irtfa'a... And they're calling to me, seductively, from their gentle squooshiness...
Not to mention I scored with Posh Yarn this week too - with three skeins earmarked for the Wallis Cardigan from the Summer Interweave Knits.
So, like, yeah - I'm really going to knit all this, aren't I?
Well maybe not this week, but yep I am.
And it's my cousin's 30th this weekend, so hopefully I can get some pictures of Jenny's Swallowtail in action!

Blocking Day

2008-04-25T12:43:00.003Z

Today, I have been mosty blocking...

I have upstairs, drying, a Spiders Web Shawl in Cherry Tree Hill Merino Lace, Winterberry (could not get a decent photo); two Swallowtails - one in Posh Yarn Eva 4 Ply, Frock (a lavender / silver one), destined for my cousin's 30th birthday present, and one in Knitpicks Alpaca Lace.

I've loved this pattern. It's such an impressive knit, and once I had my head around the nupps, really straightforward. The Posh Yarn one was part of the Posh Yarn Swallotail KAL on Ravelry - if you're on Ravelry, and love Posh Yarn, or think you may, pop along to the group - it's one of the friendliest going (except for Sundays at 6pm, when it's every Poshite for her/himself).

I've also blocked out my Gust by Anne Hanson of Knitspot. Again, a very well written and straightforward pattern, with lovely results. I've got wool for two of Anne's other designs, irtfa'a and Whispering Pines (both shawls, both stunning) on order, and I'm itching to get going on them.

It was a little difficult to get the photo, but I couldn't resist the contrast of the wispy warm earth tones of the Posh Yarn Sophia against the green of the new growth in the "garden". It goes beautifully with my new shawl pin from Leslie Wind - absolutely beautiful in its simplicity. I was spoiled for choice amongst her designs, and have already mentioned to Jon that I would love the heart shaped one for a special occasion pressie - such as my birthday, maybe?

The closure is a pair of long tabs - so no pins, and it sat on the wispy cashmere laceweight like it belonged there. It's going to get well worn!

I'm working on Victorian Ruby from Victorian Lace Today at the moment, and am about halfway through the bottom border - after that, it's either going to be the Melon Shawl in Kidsilk Haze (nothing if not ambitious, me) or Baltic Blossoms by Evelyn Clark (more nupps!) in Posh Yarn Lucia... Nice decision to have to make...

Freedom tastes so good!

2008-03-17T18:25:00.002Z

Finally, after 6 weeks and one day, I am off Jury Service. I appreciate that people need to do it, and that we need a cross section, rather than those for whom it may be convenient, and that everyone charged has the right to a fair trial, but sometimes, you wonder who is on trial. I have had 6 weeks at right angles to my life, with things going on as normal, but where I have been sitting with different priorities. Without going into details, the trial has been complex, and we can't forget that this is not a logic puzzle; that the people accused, giving evidence, and referred to are all real people, and all have a lot hanging on what the Jury eventually decides. It's taught me a lot about myself - I thought until very recently that I was quite good at dealing with things, that I could divorce myself from what was happening, but that has proved impossible. I became emotionally involved, and have really felt under a strain. I have spent a lot of the afternoon crying, which came as a surprise to me.

Now I am finished, I need to pick up my life and put the pieces back into place. It's going to be hard to click back in. It's as if I have to forget about this, and let go of the last 6 weeks of my life, where I have eaten, slept and breathed nothing but this trial, shared with 11 other people who I became close to, but will now probably not see again. It's Jon's birthday tonight, so we will be celebrating quietly, free of this hanging over us, which is good. The support I have had from Jon, my family and my friends (both "real world" and "online" has got me through this - so thank you - if you are reading this, you probably count in one of those categories).

So - I can let all the detailled data ooze out of my mind, and get on with making honey and lime glazed chicken for Jon's Birthday Tea!

Confessions - from right at the bottom of a rabbit hole...

2008-03-01T17:51:00.002Z

Oh dear. Please will someone stop me, tie my hands, hide my purse, anything to stop me from buying even more yarn? After a quick enable from a couple of members of the North East Yarn Fiends on Ravelry, I visited Woolaballoo in Crawcrook. It is amazing - they have beautiful yarn. They are lovely people. They have Colinette, Noro, Regia (including the new Galaxy yarn), Artesano, Ranco. They are good value. The displays are lovely - I can see what things look like, and feel the luscious yumminess of the yarn. They are sitated 5 minutes in the car from my house. They are too near...

5 Skeins of yarn, 2 circulars and a book later, I am at home, and I am torn. I have a Local Yarn Shop which is local, and beautiful. I also need to discipline myself, else I may as well ask for my wages to be paid to Woolaballoo each month, and I can then just go and pick up my goodies! I shall be back, and I shall be buying. Again. What a lovely shop!

Knocking one off the list

2008-02-21T18:39:00.002Z

So - I can prove that I have tackled Magic Loop. I've decided to use it with a couple of old favourites - Monkey Socks by Cookie A (although I have done the version without purls), and Posh Yarn Emily in Pretty Young Thing.
This is the second sock - the first is all done:

I'm nearly there, and can't wait to wear them - and there is nothing to fear from Magic Loop - I used a You Tube video to see how it was done, and it took a few rounds to "click", but when it did, I found it straightforward. I will use it again - probably for socks with a regular pattern, until I get a bit more used to it.

And my Marilinda, again by Cookie A are finished.
I used Fearless Fibers Superwash Merino Sock in Imagine for this, and for such a complex looking pattern, it was really straightforward to knit. I loved the pattern, and really recommend it. The "sock blocker" is actually half a dozen carrier bags - I wanted to be able to show the pattern, and this was the best option I had!

Still in court... but nearly halfway there now!

It's oh so quiet....

2008-02-15T10:11:00.002Z

I'm sorry I've not been posting much, however these past two weeks, I've been on Jury Service. And shall remain so for the next four weeks or so, unless something unforeseen happens to the trial I've been assigned to. As I'm not allowed to say anything about the trial (but what I will say is that thankfully it is not one which is upsetting to sit on), and I am shattered each day, and I have to fit the rest of my life in sideways around the court, there's not much to blog about at the mo - although I am ploughing through some good socks - Melanie, at http://pinklemontwist.blogspot.com has a new sock pattern out - well pair of sock patterns, as she has bundled one complex sock with travelling stitches (Scarborough Fair) with a more straightforward pattern (Caledonian Mist). I love the concept, and I'm loving the pattern - two for the price of one! I'll post some progress pics soon...
And, I am confronting my fear - I have tried looping the Magic Loop - one No-Purl Monkey down, one to go (and yes, proof will be forthcoming). I still love my dpns, but have confirmed that there is nothing to be afraid of, and will be using it again - especially when travelling about.
Off to court to be one of the 12 good men (and women) and true....

Being Fearless

2008-01-23T20:41:00.000Z

So. I have signed up to Knitting Daily's Fearless Knitters, as I am guilty of sitting in my comfort zone. Too many projects have passed me by because "I could never..." 2008 is going to be a year where that is banned. I can be fearless. I can! I hate heights, yet have abseiled down both the Dental Hospital in Newcastle (100 feet) in the snow - including ending up hanging upside down on the end of a rope because I was listening intently to what the very nice gentleman at the top was telling me, and he hadn't said anything about moving my feet - with a medial ligament injury to boot, and also the Baltic Art Gallery in Gateshead (150 feet). On the Baltic, it actually didn't feel as scary - there was scaffolding up on the edge, so I climbed on that, then I could hold onto that, and feel the rope take my weight before I went scooting down (and scoot I did - Jon has the video evidence that what goes up, does come down - fast!). The Dental Hospital was a leap of faith - stand on the edge, and lean back, and go. The funniest bit of the video evidence is when Jon doesn't realise our camera does sound - on the Baltic, there is "Don't die on me" which is sweet, until you realise the batteries were low, and, more like him, over the Dental Hospital is something about needing a wide angle lens as I drop into view, bottom first.

But, you see, I am avoiding the topic. So. How am I going to be fearless?

I will "do" a sock with Magic Loop. Never tried it before, and been avoiding it, just in case I can't.
I will knit something ambitious from A Gathering of Lace, which so far, has been a "look book".
I will design and knit a pair of socks - and show the results on this blog.

I have just received the right yarn for this as well - 2 skeins of delightful "Fearless Fibers" sock yarn, one each of Lust and Imagine. Anne Hanson often mentions it, and wow - it's worth waiting all of one week for it to arrive from the USA (a WEEK - it can take longer for stuff to be posted from the next town - does Deb use a tardis for a post office?). And I also have some lovely sock yarn in "Wicked Vampirella" from Gemini Knits, and also some Blackcurrant Lacweight - again from Gemini Knits. The lovely Piglottie enabled me here - she has mentioned Gemini Knits before, and I went to look - and I KNOW you look with your eyes, but I ended up looking with my credit card... Both Gemini Knits and Fearless Fibers are on Etsy, which I love.

So - hold me to my fearless pledge - or make me take the button off my blog!

FO Eye Candy

2008-01-08T18:39:00.000Z

You know I've been a busy little bee lately - well I finally got a Round Tuit (feel free to groan - this is a reference to many holidays in the Lake District...) and got busy with the camera...

First, we have Jaywalkers:

Yarn - Posh Yarn Lucia 4 Ply/Sock
Colour - Garden Party
Needles - 2.75mm DPNs
And a quick edit - I have "fluffy" ankles (12" when measured around from the point of my heel in a diagonal) - I knit up the "large" size Jaywalkers, with a cast on of 84 stitches, and they fit me perfectly.

Next, we have Nutkin:

Yarn - Posh Yarn Laura 4 Ply / Sock
Colour - Gypsy
Needles - 2.75mm DPNs

Then, we have a Bonfire Night Scarf in Noro Blossom...

And in more Noro loveliness, a Felted Ruffle Bag in Kureyon:

Clapotis in 100%Wool's Merino Worsted:

And Jared Flood's Koolhaas in Posh Yarn Victoria Aran, colourway Cavern (yes - I finished it, in secret, for Christmas for Jon!)

Finally for now, a WIP - the wonderful Jon bought me Victorian Lace Today for Christmas - what a beautiful book that is. And I couldn't resist. I have my Knitpicks Harmony Interchangeables, I have a ball of Cherry Tree Hill Merino Lace, and I have a photo of the Spider's Web Shawl (Half Hexagon) in progress:

It looks a little scruffy at the moment, however it will block beautifully.

I had a lovely Christmas - I spent the week before running round frantically, before heading down to my Uncle's in Cheshire for a family get together the Sunday before. We headed back on Christmas Eve, and I got my Mince Pies baked and Carols from Kings watched.

Christmas Day was quiet - we spend most of the day together, just the two of us, opening presents, cooking and eating a mountainous Christmas Dinner, and listening to Christmas music. Jon excelled himself with knitting related goodies for me - VLT, Interweave Scarf Style, and a teddy and a Shaun the Sheep kit. Plus lots of little surprises. All good. No stinkers (there never have been, in nearly 15 years). We went to my Dad's in the evening, for a warm cuppa and a natter, then relaxed for a couple of days.

Saturday 29th was Jon's Mum's birthday, so we headed down to the West Midlands for a tour of his family, which lasted through until 2nd January, when we headed back up via Salford, so I could visit the family grave on my Mum's anniversary.

In short, I've done everything I wanted to. We've relaxed, and had a warm family time, which is what I wanted from Christmas this year. Last year was shocked, upsetting, confusing and most of all, busy, with me never being in the right place at the right time - my Mum was seriously ill in Atlanta, so I flew out there at the last minute, booking and changing flights like a professional Travel Agent, then flying back into Paris, on the last leg, I found out Jon's mum had been taken into hospital. All the plans we had were swapping and changing, and neither of us know if we were coming or going. It got sadder, however, we're through it now, and have been able to celebrate and commemerate this year, and spend some time with Jon's mum as well (although she was home by the time we got to Walsall, she wasn't well, and so we didn't want to add to her woes by staying over).

I shed a tear this New Years - mainly because this year has to be a better bet, and I was wrapped up safe and warm with Jon's family.

And - he'll probably kill me for this - but this is he - "posing" in his Christmas present...

Seasons Greetings

2007-12-24T18:22:00.000Z

Seasons Greetings to you, if you happen to be reading this. May you have a safe and happy holiday period.

The presents are cast off, and wrapped, the mince pies are out of the oven, and Carols from Kings is on the television. Compared to last year, when at this time, I was on my way to Atlanta airport, hoping the flights would go smoothly, and I would be back in Newcastle on Christmas day (I made it back onto UK soil at 16:05) it's been a calm period of preparation, and all is back to normal - or as normal as things can be round here.

Looking forwards to waking up in my own bed on Christmas morning, and sharing the day with Jon and my family.

Here's hoping 2008 will be a good year.

Early Christmas Presents

2007-12-13T18:51:00.000Z

My Harmony Needles arrived today - Well done http://www.getknitted.com - fabulous job - email yesterday letting me know that they were on their way, then that Christmas Eve feeling, and then, today, when I called Jon he said "you've had a small parcel from Get Knitted". I wasn't able to sit still for the rest of the day! They are every bit as lovely as the pictures look, and so smooth, and the colours so vivid. So far, I have unpacked them, and arranged everything in the lovely neat little case, exactly where it should be, and looked at it, and then taken everything out, piece by piece and looked at each one, then put them all back in, and admired them, and tried to get Jon enthusiastic about them, then given up on what is a bad job (he tries, but has trouble enthusing over a set of wooden interchangeable needles - after all, I have so many needles!). So I shall take some photos (I'm planning a photo shoot over the weekend) and post them. Maybe someone here will pass by who appreciates the multi coloured wooden lusciousness!

Honey's dress is now onto the sleeves, and Icarus is in the 4th of 5 repeats. I'm onto the foot of my first Jaywalker in Posh Yarn Lucia, and I have started Jon's Koolhaas. There was a Knitting Group (ok - pair - it's getting near Christmas) at Borders last night, and I got on with a few rows - again, it's in Posh Yarn - this time Victoria, a cashmere/silk aran, which is making me want to keep it all for myself, in shades of black. It is delicious, and I'm hoping it photographs well.

And I break up from work tomorrow until after Christmas! We didn't manage to go away this year, so I had a slight excess of holiday left over. Which means I get all next week to shop, knit, get the car MOT-ed and get my hair cut. But mostly knit!

Long Time... No Blog

2007-12-07T17:42:00.000Z

It's ages since I last wrote a blog post... Mainly due to lack of photos - I've been wanting to take some, and somehow never got around to it... Maybe this weekend, I'll post some photos of FOs. I've been working on Christmas, having suddenly realised it's only a couple of weeks away (puts hands over ears, screams and runs away). Luckily, this year, my family have made the decision that we're only doing presents for the youngest generation, which cuts down that list from 10 to 3. But still... there's Jon, and Jon's family... and the three girls (my nieces). I have some clues, but not many - and I've been knitting like a loony to try and finish the ambitious present for the youngest, Honey - she's 6 months old, and I'm knitting her Debbie Bliss' Sheep Dress and Shoes. So far, the back of the dress is done, and the front is nearly up to the waist - but there seems so much of it for such a little one, and, shall we say that I have never really done any colourwork before, so the intarsia sheep have been a little time consuming (not to mention tangly). Then the cably pattern on the bodice (can babies have bodices?) has taken forever - so I have cast on Icarus as well, in Skein Queen's Merino Laceweight in Pegasus (it seemed fitting). And I've entered Sockdown for December via the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry...
I've been catching up on my reading as well - years ago, in school (and I mean back in the Dark Ages), I read Martha Quest by Doris Lessing for my English A/S Level. After Ms Lessing won the Nobel Prize earlier this year, I decided to re-read all of the Children of Violence series (of which Martha Quest is the first). Unfortunately, while I had a copy of Martha (I was reading it last Christmas - and considering it largely describes a difficult mother-daughter relationship from the point of view of the daughter, and some chickens came home to roost on my relationship with my mother - although there are big big differences, I abandoned it), I couldn't find the other 4 books in the series, and it looks like they may be out of print.
After a frantic scrabble around Barter Books in Alnwick (highly recommended if you are up in the North East and an avid reader - this place is second hand Book Heaven), and lots of Ebay searches, I now again have the complete series, and am working my way through them. In (ahem) years, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed these books, and wish I'd re-read them earlier. I have more experience under my belt now, and am getting more from them than I did at the age of 16.
So - just a shortie for now, as I need to return to my Christmas knitting. Maybe I'll finish in time, maybe I won't. Just as long as I finish this dress - after doing 2 sets of intarsia blinking sheep, she'll have grown out of it before the next chance I have to give her a pressie! Not that I'm not spoiling her anyway - she has a little pile of pressies here waiting for her - including the piece de resistance - a Guns 'n' Roses Sweet Child O'Mine babygro - she's already been to inspect her Daddy's bike, and I'm sure he'll appreciate it, even if no-one else does - am I an evil auntie?

Newsflash!!!

2007-11-13T14:57:00.000Z

Knitpicks Harmony Interchangeable and DPNs are now on pre-order at GetKnitted. I've been waiting and waiting for these, and have pre-ordered some...

Lucky, lucky me!

2007-11-13T14:03:00.000Z

Although I wasn't thinking that until just now... This weekend, the kitchen tap jammed. Solid. All the wrenches, hammers and WD40 in the world wouldn't do. So Jon looked under the sink, and was a bit wobbly about well maybe he could, but then again... We had no hot water to the kitchen sink - this was not a disaster, there was hot water in the bathroom, we have a kettle - but then he took the cold tap apart, to see how it all went together, and then that started to dribble... And so we managed to fiddle on, and got back to just being the hot tap broken. So the plumber's been today and put two new taps on. Uck.

And then the car. I'm a proper girl when it comes to the car. I just drive it, and put petrol in when it needs it, and, um, that's about it. And it wouldn't start. Lights on, nothing turning. I think it's the starter motor, but I'm not sure. So my lovely man from CB Motors in Cramlington, who has kept that car going against the odds, and is fab, and doesn't overcharge me has been round this morning and took it away to try to fix. So I'm on the bus to work this week, which is icky. Crowded, smelly, noisy and slow. But only £10 for a week's travel... However, I need to be somewhere tonight where I could have been in an hour from work in the car. But can't, as it involves at least 2 buses, and they don't go from the same area of town - so there's a 10 minute walk in the middle. So to heck with it - I've taken a half day, which is why I'm here blogging, not working.

So how is all this lucky? Well - it's not been too much hardship - I've got working taps, the car will be sorted (this man works miracles), and the buses aren't too bad if I organise myself (I'm missing knitting group tomorrow, as there's no way I can get there without a car, as there are precious few buses after tea time, and I'd rather not wait at a stop on an industrial estate, in the dark - but I can cope with that). The wonderful, glorious, unbelievable thing that has happened is that I have arrived home to two, 6th row tickets to see Thunder in a couple of weeks! Yay! For some reason I didn't hear about the tour (boo) and by the time I did, the only tickets were right up at the top of the back balcony, where I'd have trouble seeing. So, desperate, I entered a competition on Planet Rock, and I must have won! I've seen Thunder many times over the years, and they always, always, put on a good show, bless them.

And I have finished Clapotis - just in time for the cold snap! And also my second felt ruffle bag for Christmas. Royal Snail is still holding onto all my parcels, though...

Tree News

2007-11-09T17:38:00.000Z

I have good news on the trees! We contacted the head of arboreal services, and he has surveyed the area himself, and the trees are going to stay! Thank you to all who commented - we did feel a little alone at some points. I've also got a summary in writing which we can wave at anyone else who feels that they can just chop things down. He is going to do some pruning, which I can live with, and he will remove one stump, which again - I loved the tree, but the stump just reminds me of what was once flourishing there. It just goes to show that persistence, and pushing the right buttons (I went through the Tree Policy with a fine toothed comb, and raised a few points where reality differed from the published policy), things can get sorted out right in the end.
So we'll still have the birds around next summer, and when the insects come to the trees, the bats will come back, too. And I won't have to look at The Conservatory.
Clapotis is coming along nicely - there will be photos soon. I can recommend 100%Wool on Ebay - it is from Uruguay, but it arrived really quickly, (almost with more stamps than there was room on the envelope), and is beautifully soft, and knits up with good stitch definition. It is very clingy, which normally, if I were to drop a stitch, I'd love, but as Clapotis requires stitch dropping and unravelling to make ladders, it can be a little bit of a pain (the Long Nails help at this point, to wiggle the bars free). But I am very happy with it.
The Royal Snail is still letting me down - I've been waiting ages (more than 2 weeks) for some parcels now, so whatever they say, beware. It seems to be items I'm ordering from the North East for delivery in Newcastle, so it could be a double whammy if they're really backed up, but it's starting to really annoy me now (turns green and starts growing).
Been quiet this week, as we went to see the opening night of David Gray's tour on Tuesday, and I can't do late nights any more... He was brilliant, and I would recommend him to anyone who sort of likes him - he has a wonderful voice, and it's even better live than on record.
And finally - I'm thinking of anyone at sea level on our East Coast tonight - I do hope you don't get the sea in your homes - it happened to us 30 years ago (almost exactly - 11th November 1977) when we lived on the sea front at Fleetwood, and had a good slug of the Irish Sea come over and into the house. I was still at Infants School, so don't remember too much, except for being woken up in the middle of the night, and evacuated to Poulton le Fylde. It's not much fun - and I'm thinking especially of those of you who've already suffered the floods this year. I'm crossing my fingers for you, and hoping the surges pass you by.

Better Karma...

2007-11-01T21:02:00.000Z

Well - Honeybee is hibernating. I have finished my Bonfire Night Scarf which was knitted in 2 skeins of Noro Blossom to this pattern. I'm really pleased with it.

I also started my Clapotis in 100%PureWool's Merino Worsted. Lovely to knit with, and available on Ebay, at very good prices, even when you add on the postage. I've just dropped my first stitch, which was one of those naughty feelings - I looked over my shoulder before I did it, and made sure no-one saw. But I can mention stitch-dropping here - you know I'm meant to. But I left it at work tonight - oops.

And I get itchitis. Where I sometimes need to knit. And I'm trying to limit the number of projects OTN at the moment. Mr Greenjeans is still awaiting a circular needle, which is ordered, but somewhere within the chaos that is the Royal Mail at the moment (I've been waiting for one parcel for 2 weeks now - I can get sniffy if I want to). So I had to start a new project. Only thing for it. I do have a Christmas present to knit, and the wool for it came yesterday (see - Dee from Posh Yarn knows how to charm the postmen into delivering her Pink Parcels of Joy quickly - all us addicts would beseige the sorting offices if not!). It's a pattern in Interweave Knits Holiday 2007 (if Jon isn't looking, click here), and I will be knitting it in Victoria - a Cashmere/Silk blend, which is beautiful. It's another yarn to sniff and stroke. But - guess where my IK Holiday 2007 is? Yes - in the post. So no guilt-free-gotta-knit-it-by-Christmas to assuage me.

Oh heck - I've had to start a handbag, for me, in Twilley's Freedom Spirit, from Freedom Spirit 455. Shame - but it had to be done.

And, get well soon, Meatloaf - I went to see him at the Arena last night, and he's not well. He stopped the show as it was coming up to the climax, and declared it his last ever show. I sincerely hope not - I just hope he can get himself well.

Pride comes before a fall...

2007-10-28T18:07:00.000Z

... and I fell with a Big Bump. The Honey Bee has been frogged, and is awaiting a time when I am worthy to complete it. I took last Friday off, to block out my Hanami stoles that I have made for presents, as well as my Icelandic Shawl. (The latter remains unblocked, as Hanami took a loooong while to dry due to the unusually seasonal weather!). The other point of taking the time off was to relax and knit on with the Honey Bee. I developed a slight headache while pinning out the stoles, and stupidly continued knitting afterwards, noticing a dropped stitch later on. I managed to resuce it with a crochet hook, and it passed the Lady Godiva test, but I still decided Honey Bee needed a rest, so I put it away, and started on my Mr Greenjeans cardigan in my now favourite Posh Yarns Helena yarn. That has come on a treat, and all I need to do on it now is seam the arms (I decided not to invest in 5mm dpns, just for sleeves, so knitted back and forth), and, when my beautiful Czech glass button arrives from Pavi Yarns, knit on the edgings, and sew on the button.
I fetched Honey Bee out of the bag yesterday morning, after having a week's rest, and found lots and lots of dropped stitches. In my arrogance, I had not used life lines, so the whole lot has been frogged until I deserve to have another go. I need to take a wee break from it, so that I don't curse it when I return to it (if I think I'm going to be careless, I will be, and so I prove my own doubts). Instead, I started on a Felted Ruffle bag for a Christmas present, using Noro Kureyon. So simple, and so pretty. Number 1 awaits the washing machine, which I will do when I have Number 2 finished. It was good motivational knitting for me - instant gratification (I knitted it yesterday evening), very pretty, and another item off the to do list for Christmas.
Also yesterday, we went to Alnwick for the day. Now, I last visited Alnwick twenty-ahem years ago, when Larkholme Junior School's 4th year trip took us up here for a week. I have meant to go back (it's only 30 miles up the road from where I live now), but have never made it. I think recently, the whole Harry Potter as Tourism thing has put me off - I love the books and the films, and also love the way the series has made reading cool - and yes, I queued at Midnight for the Deathly Hallows, and yes, I did cry at one or more points in the book - but it is always a little disappointing to see a film location in the flesh for me, and realise that it perhaps isn't in the same reality I inhabit. But anyway. Alnwick was lovely. I spent way too long in Barter Books, and way too much at the Wool Shop on the market place. The Wool Shop is lovely. It has a really good range of the staples, at good prices. I picked up some Twilley's Freedom Spirit that had plenty of stock (at £2.79 a ball, pretty good value for something I don't see in most shops). And a limited, but lovely range of Noro - I bought 2 skeins of Blossom, which are currently being worked into a Diagonal Scarf. The sock yarns were also very nice to see - Opal and Trekking, in a wide variety of colours. I'll be going back, as good LYS are like hens' teeth, and the prices in there were equivalent to standard Internet prices, but without shipping, and with the instant gratification of being able to handle the wool the minute I was out of the shop! Thank you to the North East Knitting Fiends on Ravelry for the tip as well.
The Freedom Spirit is going to be a felted bag from the Freedom Spirit pattern book, btw. And, to get me back into Lace without tears, I'm going to have a go at Brooklyn Tweed's Hemlock Ring, sooner rather than later. Big needles, chunky wool!
And, I'm going to take part in my first swap. I'm a member of Cup A Tea on Ravelry, which is a group for those of us knitters who enjoy a nice cup of tea - so I shall have to find some tea, some yarn, and some other little bits, and send them off to my assigned tea drinker. I'm looking forward to it, as it will give me a chance to see what's out there for someone else's likes, and may put me onto something I may like!
So, as I depart for a nice cup of PG, I need to thunk about what's going to go over the Atlanic...

FO Frippery

2007-10-15T17:55:00.000Z

I've been a busy bee this past week. Firstly, I finished my second Hanami stole. This is destined for a Christmas present, and is in the queue for blocking on Friday (I am taking a day's holiday to block my two Hanamis and my Icelandic Shawl - I will take pictures of the truly FOs and post then.

I went to my first knitting group as well on Wednesday - it was at Starbucks in Borders in Gateshead (oh dear - new magazines, books, coffee...) and I'll be going next month. A lovely bunch of ladies.

I've also finished my Tyrolean Stockings from Interweave Kits Fall 2007 in Posh Yarn Helena in Myrtle. I'd never worked in Helena before, and it's a dream. Really squooshy (if that's a word) and lovely and toasty for my toes. See photos as well!

And then... more FO - Artyfartykat had a picture of her Elisa's Nest Tote on her blog, and kindly published the link. I set to with some Patons 4 Ply cotton, and this was the result:

I think it's pretty good - and it saves all those horrible carrier bags. I'm working on a bigger one now (as it was a bit of a force to get a melon through the opening) as well.

Then finally, I've started my Honeybee Stole from the wonderful Anne Hanson's Knitspot. I'm getting on for halfway through the first section now (yes - it's Posh Yarn again - this time Eva 2 ply in Old Gold) - and it's a joy to knit. The pattern is very clearly written, and I can "see" the pattern in my knitting, which is helpful.
Isn't it pretty?

As for the trees - they are still there, and we're trying to find out who to speak to - it's a bit of a ping pong game at the minute, but I don't give up. Thank you for commenting - I appreciate it, as I did rant on a bit last time... but that's me - up and down like a seesaw.

Of Trees and Fighting

2007-10-09T19:13:00.000Z

Tonight was going to be a nice blog post about how well the second Hanami is doing (onto the final cherry blossom chart now), and how much I'm looking forward to going to a knitting group for the first time ever tomorrow evening (it's at Borders in Gateshead - I'll give it a go, as they do have a great range of knitterly books and magazines, so even if I find it's not "me" I can go for a browse). However, I'm in a right paddywhack and all over three lime trees.

We live on a modern (about 25 year old) estate. And I've been here for 12 years or so. I like the area. One of the reasons I bought the house, is that while we both love the country, Jon doesn't drive, so being on good bus routes is a bonus - however the estate has loads of street trees around, which enhance the visual aspect. We're 20 minutes or so from the Toon by bus, about half an hour from the coast, and a short walk from local nature reserves at Sugley Dene, The Brickworks, Percy Pit, and Newburn Riverside Country Park. It's convenient, it's nice, and considering how some estates can end up as soul-less MacMansion collections, I find the trees break it up and make it appear more homely.

We have a small carpark in front of our house, for the use of the four houses in our block (if you imagine a big square, flat on the ground, we each have a quarter square of that). Until earlier this year, there were 6 mature lime trees along the side, adjacent to another house's garden. Earlier this year, the people who had lived there 12 months had a conservatory erected, all UPVC, and but for the trees, uncomfortably visible from our upstairs. They then had three of the trees cut down by the council, on the grounds that they were blocking out their light. It was a done deal - no consultation, or anything - and we were promised that no further trees would be cut. By the way - under English Law, no-one has a right to light per se - there are cases when the erection of a new structure can interfere with your light, but these trees to my knowledge had been here for 9 years longer than these folks, so they hardly sprung up overnight.

Today, Jon rang me at work, distressed to his wits end. He's prone to stress and has suffered its effects in the past. Apparently, the council were back and had an order to cut down the trees at the request of the same neighbours. Again - no consultation or anything - just what they want, they get. I told Jon to call our local councillor, who's a complete star - 100% for the area, and has so much time for everyone, I don't know where he gets it from, while I called the council. When I got through to the right person, I was lovely and polite, with my very best Bury Grammar Girl tones (Thank You Miss Batty for insisting we learned how to speak without the Lanky accent - even though I only ever get the elocution out for "posh" - normally I'm broader than a very broad thing). He explained the request was because of property damage (or its potential). So I asked him to not cut the trees down, as we think they contribute to the area.

So the work is stopped for now - we now need to try and get a TPO placed on these trees. Apparently Neighbour is threatening to "take" the council. So we need to hurry. And find out more about Lime Trees (lots of cases of applications for felling on the same grounds being turned down - but only where there's a TPO). And Tree Preservation Orders. And living with awkward wotsits. I think it's less of the "property damage" - there are loads of these trees closer to houses on the estate, and nobody's house appears to be falling down yet - and more what I heard a muttering about last weekend - which was what a pain it is when the leaves fall off, and what a mess they make.

I feel sometimes that this is trivial, but then, how many more trees need to be taken down one by one until we all live in Concretia? I know they can be a pain, but they're a feature of the estate. Don't buy a house next to a sewage farm if you don't like the smell - and don't buy one next to 6 mature trees, unless you're prepared to sweep!

That's enough for now - I need to do lots of stress-busting knitting now to calm myself down a tad. I'll be fine - just wrong woman, wrong day.

A Learning Curve

2007-10-01T18:38:00.000Z

Firstly, I have learned that if Flickr isn't playing, it's wise to make sure that one is logging on with one's correct account. (ahem).
Newcastle also does not have congestion. That is Official. Even though it took me one hour and ten minutes to get 10 miles tonight, it is not congestion. That is why we will not be getting a congestion charge here. Which I would pay, as it's a pain for me to get to work by public transport - not to mention I'm not happy about hanging around dark bus stops on my own - especially not with Bonfire Night coming up). It would also be cheaper than moving house.
Someone is looking after me - I had got in too late for the Posh Yarn that I wanted (boo!) but Dee had a cancellation - and it was for the yarn I wanted - I was browsing and dreaming, and nipped on and got it.
So I'm feeling a lot better about things. I need to stop being grumpy, as with me, it just breeds grumpiness. I also picked up a Knitmaster Wool Winder for £4 + postage on Ebay, which is going to be great for winding all my skeins. And it's just like the one my Mum used to let me wind her wool with when I was younger, so I got a bit misty eyed when I was playing with it tonight. Small things and all that.
We had a pretty good weekend - Jon is from Walsall, and supports the football team - they were playing in Hartlepool on Saturday, so I drove us down, and we had a really good afternoon. Hartlepool's a great ground to visit - the fans are friendly, there's tonnes of free parking, the food's good (meat and potato pies - heaven for a Lancashire Lass), and there's a pretty good pub on Jackson's Wharf. Then we went to the local pub quiz last night (are we spotting a theme here?), and came second - which was much better than we expected. AND I got the yarn I wanted in the Posh Yarn sale last night.
Good things do happen to me - I should just notice them more. I'm cracking on with my second Hanami, too - I'm into the Transition chart now - and from now, the charts are all different, which will keep me on my toes. I've also been getting on with my second Tyrolean Stocking. Unfortunately, there's no pictures as yet - when I dug out the camera, I remembered that I needed to recharge the batteries... Silly me. Maybe I'll get myself together for next time.
But now I shall go, as Murphy's Law is on tonight, and Jim Nesbitt is a tonic for any female!

Rough Day

2007-09-24T20:04:00.000Z

Bit of a whinge-fest today - I've felt a bit icky all day, and it's been raining, which never helps. Then I've had to cover late-ish at work, got caught up in what appeared to be a flash mob of cars in the City Centre (30 minute queue for about half a mile, then everything disappearing, without anyone appearing to have turned off) and now Flickr's not playing with me. So Grrrrrr!

But to try and look at some positives, I'd like to thank everyone who has left comments on the blog over the last few posts. It makes me feel better to read them, and it doesn't half perk me up and make me feel that the world's not completely full of twits (just the car in front of me ;-)). I knit, largely for me, and it's lovely that you think that I'm doing some nice work. I'm always a bit funny about posting photos - I think I'm "showing off" sometimes, and possibly showing myself up (especially when I see some of the work others do) - so thank you again for your comments and keep them coming (now I have an ego, I need to feed it!)

I've been poddling along with the knitting - I have finished one of the Tyrolean Stockings, and I love it. I've been wondering if I can get away with wearing odd socks, as I'm really getting a compulsion to wear it. It's the lovely cabled design, coupled with Dee and Tony's wonderful Helena wool in Myrtle - toning greeny variagated loveliness. But, it's twin is having to wait, as I've begun Hanami No 2 - this time for a Christmas present. I'm using the same Colourmart Cashmere as before, and have managed 2 repeats of the basketweave so far. I'm using the second Tyrolean as a motivator - there's 7 repeats of the basketweave, and I found on my first one that if I'm not going to muck up the pattern, I need to break every now and then, so it's one repeat of basketweave to 12 rows of sock at the moment, to keep the variation. It's not that I'm getting bored, but giving myself a little bit of a change every now and then is helping me stay fresh at it.

And I've been so good this week - I have not dipped into the Posh Yarn shop this week, as I am building up quite a stash, and think I should get cracking on using some of it up before I indulge again... I do try to be good - but sometimes my halo slips a little and there's something I've got to play Fastest Finger First for!

And - if anyone liked the Mystery Stole 3 - Swan Lake that's a couple of posts further down, but didn't get onto the sign up in time, Melanie has now relased the pattern, which includes the stole as knit, plus directions for a Symmetrical pointed stole, plus a divine double winged version. For us UK knitters, the pattern's on the good side of bargain at $6, and can be ordered via Melanie's Blog. I found it a challenge, but tackling one chart at a time, and not thinking about the final item meant I could knit it one stitch at a time. Melanie's directions helped as well - I found the pattern easy to understand.

So - back to Hanami - it's a lovely knit and it's keeping me sane this evening.

Thordis, Hanami and Finland...

2007-09-17T19:36:00.000Z

This will teach me to update my blog regularly or pay the price with a long blog post... I have finished knitting the first of three Hanami Stoles, designed by Melanie. This one is knitted for a birthday present, and requires blocking out properly. I've used Colourmart cashmere for this, in Honeysuckle, a soft, warm pinky-peach shade, and it knitted itself. I've got plenty of the cone left for a second one (for a Christmas present) and will be knitting a third, for myself, in Posh Yarns Eva 2 Ply in Petal. All will be beaded on the cast on edge, as well. This picture is of the Cherry Blossom pattern:

And this is the Basket Weave.

The pattern begins with a beaded cast on, reminscent of light spring raindrops, and then moves into the Basket Weave, which is taken from a traditional Japanese quilting pattern, symbolising friendship and family. It then transitions into a pattern of Cherry Blossom falling. Hanami is the Japanese term for watching the Cherry Trees shed their blossom.

Next, I have finished the Thordis (Icelandic) Shawl. The pattern was from Piecework magazine, first published in 1996 by Interweave press, and was found by a member of the MS3 group, and has been Knit A Long-ed by a couple of Yahoo groups. Interweave kindly released the pattern via their Knitting Daily newsletter, and Sarah Siegel made up kits of Jaggerspun Maine Line. It was a very quick knit - just under two weeks from casting on to finishing the crocheted edge, and used a variety of lace stitches. I've been busy at work these past two weeks, with trips up to Aberdeen and Finland, so it's not been a time where I could dedicate myself to knitting too much, but I found the shawl very easy to pick up and put down. And I cannot recommend Sarah's Yarns enough - prices are very keen (especially now, with the dollar to pound exchange rate), and her service is exceptional - from Brooklyn to Newcastle upon Tyne in a week - during the UK's postal strike as well. Lovely lady, good range, and good prices - AND she'll wind you custom sized balls as well, which is great, if, like me, you're not very good at joins...

More Lace News - I won Piglottie's Lace Booty Auction, in aid of her friend Charlotte's charity trek to Peru for the Rainbow Trust. And what booty it is, too - a Fiber Trends Leaf Lace Shawl pattern, enough Fyberspates Laceweight in Ocean to complete the shawl, three fab Piglottie Productions cards, and a lovely little bag, which is the perfect size for a sock project. So thank you Piglottie, and GO CHARLOTTE!!!!

Finally on Knitting News, I've cast on again... I tried Pomotamus, I did, but have put them aside for now. I don't know if it's me, or the pattern, or the wool (not likely, as I love Fyberspates wool), but it's not gelling, so not for me for now. Maybe later, I'll be in the right mood. What I am getting on with, is the Tyrolean Stockings from Interweave Fall 2007. I'm using Posh Yarns Helena in Myrtle, and they're looking lovely to me - they look like snuggly winter socks, and the weather is putting me in mind of snuggles, and wrapping up.

And in non-knitting news, I've been somewhere I've never been before. I was sent to Finland for work, which was great - My main problem was getting there. I'm a very nervous flyer - I panic about it, and can't help it. But KLM and FinnComm looked after me without any drama. All 6 planes on time, and the flights were even quite enjoyable. But I have to admit that my favourite sound on a plane is "Welcome to Newcastle". I found the Moomin Shop, and now have Moomintroll hanging off my phone. I also discovered a new range of alcoholic drinks to enjoy - Finnish Vodka with Arctic Cloudberry Juice was very moreish, and I have brought home Licorice Vodka (yummy) and Tar Schapps (made from the sap of a tree in Finland, and tastes like alcoholic BBQ sauce). And Stroopwafelen from Schiphol (can't go through there without picking up a box - even though they do sell them in Lakeland, it's not the same). What I saw of Finland from the local plane looked beautiful - forests and lakes in abundance, but what I saw on the ground was largely hotel, factory and airport. I shall definitely book some holiday if I am lucky enough to go there again.

Then last weekend, I drove up to Eyemouth, and we had a lovely Sunday. Fish and Chips on the front, and a nice wander - and (the reason why we went) a chance to feed the seals in the harbour. I'll leave you with one of our new friends for now - if anyone's still reading the marathon entry!

Pictures of FOs!

2007-08-27T16:03:00.001Z

So here we have some photos. The "model" has not done her hair, is wearing weekend attire, but is proud as proud can be of her efforts. Firstly, we have the Fir Cone Shawl, in Merino laceweight from http://www.handpaintedyarn.com/. It is in soft shades of brown and russet, and just suggested Autumn to me - hence why I used it for the Fir Cone. It has blocked to a beautiful soft shawl, which will be great for when the Autumn breezes start to bite (although to get Autumn, we're meant to have had a summer, and apart from one Wednesday afternoon in mid-May, we've not been getting that round here.

Next, we have Swan Lake, aka Mystery Stole 3. It is in Fiddlesticks Jaggerspun Zephyr laceweight in Ebony, (from the Knitting and Crochet Guild stall at Woolfest), beaded with black 8/0 beads from Pogles (also Woolfest) and I used Addi Turbo Lace circulars in 3.5mm. I love it. No other words for it. I keep unfolding it, and just looking and marvelling at it. I would like to thank Piglottie, who first mentioned the MS3 in her blog. She enabled me, and for that I am grateful. Artis-Anne, Artyfartykat, Arianwen, and Carrie Anne for their encouragement. Everyone who took part in the KAL for their advice, questions, encouragement, tenacity and humour. And finally, Melanie, who designed Swan Lake, and ran the KAL. Christine, who kept an escrow copy of the pattern, just in case anything were to happen to Melanie, and who co-moderated, and provided tech support (I twist my knit stitches too, Christine, and now, I too have stopped!), and Georgina Bow, mother of Melanie, another Keeper of the Pattern, and the designer for MS4 - starting sometime in Autumn 2008 - can't wait for that one now!

So - we have pictures - proof that I CAN finish something. I have learned so much on these projects - not least that I can do lace!

Happy Dance Sunday!

2007-08-26T19:56:00.000Z

Today's been a Good Day. So far, I have blocked out my Swan Lake (Mystery Stole 3) and my Fir Cone Shawl. Jon has promised to take pictures tomorrow, so I will post then, hopefully. Both are absolutely beautiful - I was in love with Swan Lake as I knitted it, went a little doubtful on the wing, but have fallen madly back in love with it once blocked. The Fir Cone has been well worth it, as well. And whoever first mentioned the Strimmer cable as a blocking aid has my heartfelt thanks. It worked like a charm, and was well worth the muttered curses as I threaded it through the straight edges of Swan Lake, and the straight edge and points of the Fir Cone.
Then, after arriving home nearly 2 hours late, the Helena I had my eye on on the Posh Yarn shop was still there, so I snaffled that as well, as a reward for my blocking.
Finally, upon checking my email, I found my Ravelry Invite! So Panperoxide is now officially there, and will be adding her stash bit by bit. This is going to be a revelation to me - all those skeins of wool I have hidden in nice little hidey holes are going to be forced out into the light for all to see. Ulp.
I've also got up to 5 repeats of the basket weave done on my first Hanami. It's looking very pretty - but I need a little distraction after each repeat so I don't start to get bored... Once I get off the basket weave, it's a new chart every 32 rows, so there's no chance to get bored - not a criticism, just I am a very impatient person, and I'm likely to muck it all up by thinking - well - six isn't so much less than seven, if I'm not careful.
So - more photos tomorrow. Off to carry on happy dancing...

Back from V and under the 500...

2007-08-22T18:52:00.000Z

Finally, I can see a Ravelry invite with my name on it! Now I need to get organised - only 436 people ahead of me!
We arrived back from the V Festival yesterday, and I immediately printed out the final MS3 clue - beads galore! I've knitted a few rows last night after driving back 250 miles (not a bad drive, but every time I blinked last night I saw brake lights). There were some good acts on this year we got to see the Goo Goo Dolls (I've loved "Iris" forever, and now find I like their other songs), Stephen Fretwell, a little bit of Mika, Cherry Ghost, a bit of KT Tunstall, James, Kasabian and the Killers. Then on Sunday, the Proclaimers, The Thrills, Paolo Nutini, Sinead O'Connor, Snow Patrol and Primal Scream. I've already booked tickets for next year.
So knitting has taken a back seat this weekend - we stayed with Jon's family, who live about 20 minutes from the Weston Park site, which is great for us - hot showers and comfy beds - I'm too nesh for the full festival experience now! I did do half a repeat on Pomatomus, but that was my lot. Still. Long Bank Holiday Weekend and Business Trip to Aberdeen coming up!

Frustration

2007-08-15T19:04:00.000Z

I am feeling a little frustrated at the moment. I have finished Clue 6 - the penultimate clue - of the Mystery Stole. It is unusual, it is beautiful, I am dying to see how it finishes. The final clue is to be published on Friday - when I shall be driving down to the West Midlands, 200 miles or so, and so won't be able to download the file until Tuesday when I return.
Oh well, never mind. Since I finished my Fir Cone Shawl (oh yes I did!), I've been knitting Hanami, also designed by the talented Melanie in Honeysuckle Cashmere by Colourmart, with Japanese silver lined clear beads. For a member of Jon's family - so that can't come with, as we are staying with the intended recipient. I think I need to think a little...
I'm now about 1300th in line for Ravelry - so maybe I shall be a little more organised once I am on there for everyone to see? But then again, maybe not!
Nuff for now. Photos soon...

A quick giggle

2007-08-08T20:57:00.000Z

Just a quick giggle from a fellow MS3-er...

http://thepassionatemind.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-many-does-it-take.html

And I'm now less than 2000th in the Ravelry queue - 1891 ahead of me in line!

Happy Dance!

2007-08-07T17:54:00.000Z

I'm doing a happy dance today! Look what Anne at Knitspot has published today (please look, please do - NAYY) - her Honeybee Stole! Isn't it beautiful? I was tempted by the triangular shawl, but heard a rumour of rectangular loveliness, so waited patiently. Now what I need to do is find something to knit it in (hint hint Dee & Mr P - something in an amber-y honey coloured 2 ply Eva would be divine, if only I could get to it first!) Of course, this may test my new-found confidence in my ability to knit lace (I just typo-ed "knot" there twice - is my subconscious trying to tell me something?) - it seems most of my "To Do"s at the moment involve laciness - although a couple of them are for Christmas presents - so I think I may be excused...

I also treated myself to a couple of Posh Yarns last night, which has me happy dancing even more. Lucia in Garden Party (which may end up a Christmas present, once knitted, but then again, maybe not), and Emily in Beryl - what vivid greens! I nearly bought something with a similar green in it at Woolfest, but when I looked closely, it had lots of joins in it, which isn't really what I want in my socks. I know I can rest assured that my PY will be one long thread, which suits me much better.

And I'm nearly in the centre of the edging on my fircone shawl. Can't wait to finish and get it blocked out and worn! I must concentrate on that, and not on the future loveliness, or else my magpie brain will start thinking "must knit the pretty..." and I will neglect the poor shawl.

Clown Feet and Photos

2007-08-05T19:44:00.000Z

Well - Jon's socks are finished. I used Regia DK I bought at Woolfest from Web of Wool, and their DK sock pattern, although I used the rib option, hence why the socks appear to be for someone with very skinny, long feet!

And I have some photos of my Field of Flowers Shawl - some from when it was blocking, a photo of the finished article, and some close ups of the stitch patterns. I used Posh Yarns Eva in Just Peachy, and it worked beautifully.

I'm loving how it looks and drapes, and am now so looking forward to using it for "Leda's Dream".

Talking of the wonderful Melanie, and her designs, I finally have my pictures of completed Clue 4. Lots of Cat's Paw, which I loved:

And, Ta-Da! I finished Clue 5 yesterday - the stole is now turning to make a "wing" shape, hence why it looks a bit bobbly. Some of the MS3-ers aren't keen, but I think I'm going to love it - and if not, well, someone's got their Christmas box sorted out already!

So - lots of knitting done, but still lots to do - my fir cone shawl needs finishing, then there's the Icelandic Shawl, then, Leda's Dream, then Hanami, and someday my prince will come with my Ravelry Invite (only 2246 ahead of me now - woo hoo!), and then that's my evenings gone for a few weeks, while I play! But loving it...

Claire x

Delayed Update

2007-07-30T21:55:00.000Z

I've been meaning to blog, but have been putting it off as I've not downloaded my photos from my camera yet. And still haven't, but if I put things off any longer, I'll be writing War and Peace.
Jeff Fest was brilliant. Great bands, great night. The Quireboys were on top form to finish the night, and took me way back to a muddy field in Leicestershire in the early 90's. Got a kiss off Spike as well - and this probably isn't the place to mention I had a bit of a thing for him back in my youth...
I had the next day off work, supposedly to recover, and did my first ever blocking - my Field of Flowers shawl in Posh Yarn Eva "Just Peachy". I thought it was pretty to start with, but once I had it streeeeetched and pinned on the bed (see - had to get up early) the lace took on its own life. I'd heard how lace is transformed, and was loving the shawl in its unblocked state, but after a soak and a stretch, it looks fantastic (if I say so myself).
Later, I got cracking on my MS3 Clue 4. I broke off late that night to go and queue for my Harry Potter - which I had finished by Saturday teatime! Then back to MS3, with a quick finish on Monday night. Pictures will follow, I promise. This clue should have been the easiest for me - it was a relaxing repeating pattern I've done before, but I probably tinked this one more than all the others put together! I think I got complacent, and thought I could do it without concentrating. Clue 5 and Theme Reveal this Friday!
Then, I've started a pair of socks for Jon in some Regia from Woolfest. One down, and part way down the cuff of the second.
Finally, tonight, I've started the edging on my Fir Cone Shawl. And I'm finding it tricksy. I'm sure I'll get into it though!
Just a quicky - but proof I'm still here.
Love,
Claire x

Another FO...

2007-07-17T17:22:00.001Z

I got a little bit itchy the other night, and actually finished something off! I now have a pair of socks in Eva from Posh Yarn in the colourway "Harem", and I love them. I just knitted them plain so it shows off the variagation well. The socks are slightly different colours - they were from 2 skeins, which looked exactly the same skeined up, but knitted differently, but I love them. Slightly odd socks for a slightly odd woman! And as I tend to not be at my best in the morning I have worn odder! Will post piccies here and on the Posh Yarn group later in the week. And I'm now expecting some beautiful laceweight from Dee in "Morning Star" - so my fingers were fast enough on Sunday - that's already allocated to "Leda's Dream" which was the first "Mystery Stole" - I fell in love with the pattern on Melanie's blog, and as she says, I've fallen down the lace rabbit hole.
Still persevering with the Fir Cone shawl - it will be worth it, it will. It's just that I'm now 27 repeats in, and itching to start on the edging - but I want it to be big, and snuggly, and to wrap me up in, so I need to be patient. Not one of my few virtues, unfortunately. Little Miss Instant Gratification, me.
And I'm planning to block my Field of Flowers on Friday. I'm out on Thursday night, at Jeff Fest in Newcastle (The Quireboys are headlining, which makes me very happy), and have decided not to inflict myself on my work colleagues on Friday - gone are the days when I could fall into bed at 3, and still be up for work the next day. Not to mention the next clue for MS3 is out on Friday, and it's a biggie - and with the new Harry Potter out on Saturday, I need to start managing my time (or finding another couple of days to put on the week!).
Nuff for now.

Claire x

Waiting...

2007-07-15T18:48:00.000Z

I'm blogging tonight while waiting for the Posh Yarn shop to open. Dee is one of the nicest traders I've "met" online (and I have met some really nice people, and had really good service) and I keep returning again and again to play "Fastest Fingers First" on a Sunday evening. Dee has an excellent selection of yarns, all very reasonably priced, and in beautiful colours. Then, in addition to all that, she packages them up in pink, posts them out almost before you've finished paying for them, and is extremely pleasant and friendly to boot! This week, I've been drooling over laceweights since the preview went up, and am hoping to get my paws on one or two lots. There's one in particular I have in mind to use for "Leda's Dream" which was the pattern for Mystery Stole 1 by Melanie.

I am still knitting Melanie's third Mystery Stole, and have now completed Clue 3. The clues are nice and manageable (100 rows for clue 1, and 50 each for clues 2 & 3). Next week's will be a challenge - at 135 rows, it's designed to compensate for the Harry Potter launch, and should last us for 2 weeks. The real killer for me is that Clue 7 & final is due to come out on Friday 17th August - and as I am driving down to the Midlands that day to see Jon's folks, and go to the V Festival, it means I shall be clue-less until the Tuesday! (All funny comments on being clue-less to be swallowed, please). We should know the theme of what we are knitting in about 3 weeks' time, but at the moment, I'm enjoying the knit. Looking at the charts, it's not something I would have attempted if I had seen it all together, but I'm glad I signed up - it's introduced me to reading charts, Jaggerspun Zephyr, and beading - none of which I had ever considered before.

Short post for now. Here's the pictures of MS3 so far.

Love

Claire xxx

Now tell me if I'm boring you...

2007-07-09T19:32:00.000Z

...But I have Mystery Stole itis. I started Clue 2 a decent 2 hours or so after I printed out the clue on Friday, and had it done by about quarter past midnight on Saturday, despite having a bit of a busy Saturday afternoon. It's looking beautiful. Melanie is such a talented designer, and a great teacher. I've not done much in the way of lace before, and I am finding this a challenge, but not an insurmountable one. There were around 6700 knitters signed up to this by the time the group closed on Friday, which is an amazing number of people, all over the world, all knitting (or thinking of knitting) the same project. How Melanie keeps up with us all I'll never know - and hats off to this lovely lady who's allowed us to knit her beautiful design for nothing more than joining her Yahoo Group.

Hats off, in fact to all of those talented and generous designers who share their designs with the rest of us. I appreciate what you do - it's not something I've ever attempted, so I cannot share, and I would not have the talent (either from the artistic or the engineering side) to even be bold enough to try! It's your livelihood - and I know how ratty I can get when it's assumed I do my job for the love of it, so to offer it freely is so generous, and much appreciated.

Talking of talented and generous, I just want to mention that Annie Modesitt, who is another talented and lovely designer, has serious illness in the family at the moment. Please spare a moment to think of her and those close to her. Google her if you'd like to know more, but at least spare a thought.

I'm getting on with my Fir Cone shawl as well - 25 reps and still not on my second hank... will get there at some point. And if it's ever going to be more than that, I'd better love you and leave you. Take care,

Love

Claire x

Burble! Pictures Galore

2007-07-01T20:29:00.000Z

Well, I went to my first Woolfest yesterday, and I am still recovering. It completely blew my mind - plus it was great to see everyone there that I saw, Carrie Anne, who has hardly changed in the past (ahem) years I have known her had told me how fantastic it was, yet I still wasn't prepared. What was great was seeing the animals, and being able to get to see stalls where unless I was prepared to drive the length and breadth of the country, I wouldn't get to see. In all my awe, I never got to take an overview picture, but did get some of the Alpacas and some sheep - although others did see me coming and hid!

I fell in love with the Angora bunnies as well, but Holly is a jealous cat, and would not be at all happy if other small and fluffy people came to live here.

In terms of purchases, I think I'm set for the next year or three....

What we have here is a failure to moderate my purchasing. From top left, going clockwise, we have Fyberspates sock yarn in blues / turquoises, Regia DK Sock Yarn for Jon, a Tiboodoo cardigan kit for my new niece, a couple of skeins of mohair, one in blues, one in greens, from MoBear, hand dyed Opal sock wool, and 10 balls of beautiful Cumbrian Alpaca.

Then next - oh yes, there is a next...

The Cumbrian Alpaca is still there, supporting Olaf, another Alpaca's, coat, which I plan to spin on my new Drop Spindle. Either side are a couple of grab bags of coloured merino to practice on first! And 10 balls of Rooster Almerino Aran.

This is not to mention that I also bought "A Gathering of Lace", for the beautiful patterns, and well explained how tos.

Finally, I bought my Zephyr in Ebony, Black #8 beads, a 0.6mm crochet hook, and 3.5mm Addi Lace needles so I could finally make a start on Mystery Stole 3. I started this last night when I got back, and I have now finished Clue 1.

So far, I think it's very pretty. There's still time to join - the list is open until the end of this week. So far, there's approaching 4000 people knitting this worldwide, which is pretty amazing.

I returned home last night, full of a headache to end all headaches, but happy.

That's me for now. Love to everyone x.

Counting Down....

2007-06-25T20:34:00.000Z

I'm off to Woolfest for the first time on Saturday - I'm really looking forward to it - I've never been before, but from what other people are saying, it's going to blow me away. I'm going with an open mind, and an open purse (if my bank manager is reading this, I am very, very sorry). No real shopping list, except for about 1000 yards of nice laceweight something in black, white or a variation, in order to start on Mystery Stole 3. And anything else nice that I can think of. It's a lovely drive from here as well - straight along the A69 (A696 if the weather's nice, and I feel brave). I just hope this rain stops and no-one else gets flooded out, and everyone who wants to go can make it. We've been OK up here, but we were flooded out when I was little (Carrie Anne will probably remember this as well), when I woke up one morning to most of the living room furniture stacked in my bedroom, and the Irish Sea in the house. It was exciting when I was 6, (I got evacuated - first to Poulton le Fylde, then to my Uncle's in Stockport) but I feel for anyone affected. I'm thinking of anyone who's having to suffer it.

I'm currently up to 15 repeats on the fir cone shawl, and flagging. For some reason, I seem stuck with a fir cone neckerchief. Perhaps the knitting fairies will pop round and make it grow? Sometimes I seem to get stuck, and suddenly I get a burst, and my WIP comes flying off my needles. Other times, I end up with yet another UFO. And I've started a tie - first of a pair for Stuart Maconie and Mark Radcliffe - I suggested a song for "the Chain" on their radio show on Radio 2, and got on air - they asked what my hobbies were, and of course I mentioned knitting - so we had a chat, and I ended up promising to knit them a couple of ties. Which I've started, so watch this space.

And with Honey Florence arriving, I'm getting a yen to knit cute pink things. I've got my eye on a dress in Knit Today, if I can find a few spare days from somewhere. Hopefully, she's bringing her Mummy and Daddy down to visit soon, so I can dote on her in person, rather than by webcam. Not to mention Deb Barnhill's Coupling socks on Knitty.

Well, nuff for now. Another repeat on the fir cones to do...

Love,

Claire x

Back in the Land of the Living

2007-06-15T16:21:00.000Z

Finally, my PC has come back home! It arrived back while I was in France, but got delivered to work, which was a pain, as Jon then couldn't start using it. So I'm busy catching up. Rouen was beautiful - although with the amount of training I was having, I never got a chance to go wool shopping (boo).

And, I also have a new baby niece, Honey Florence, born two weeks past Thursday. I sent a pile of little knitted bits up, only realising after the event that I hadn't taken any photos...

Photos of other items will be coming soon - promise.

Apology...

2007-05-30T19:31:00.000Z

Even longer with no blog - although I have a range of very good excuses - two weeks ago, my trusty 13 month old laptop lost power. Yes - 13 months old, as with everything that decides to go wrong, it does it the month after the manufacturer's guarantee ran out. From calling the "helpline" it looks like I may be without it for a little while. Despite the fact it needs either a new power lead, AC adaptor or motherboard, and it has complete cover, arranged with a company who tell me they're the biggest computer reseller in the UK. All I can say is last time we needed a motherboard replacing at work, it took 1 call, which was followed a day later by a lovely engineer, who had it sorted in an hour.

Apparently they're busy. Once it's returned to me in good condition, I may mention the name of the company.

I'm using my very very old computer at the moment, which is extremely slow, and therefore frustrating to do any more than read emails on. Let alone do anything with pictures. So I'm sorry.

I've also been a-visiting, to my relatives in Darkest Cheshire for a birthday party involving a barbecue, copious alcohol, fire, rain and thankfully no pictures!

And next week, off for some training in Rouen, France. I can't wait - I've been looking up yarn shops, and there are definitely two, so I shall try to fit in a little shopping. I just hate flying (OK - I'm scared), and it's an hour and a half from Newcastle to Paris, and my needles must be in my hold baggage. Looks like I'll be losing my nails, then!

So that's all for now - more blog, and definitely pictures, when my laptop returns home.

Love Claire x

Long time, no blog

2007-05-16T16:55:00.000Z

Deary, deary me... Please forgive me, it's been - oooh - ages since I last wrote anything. I made a vow to myself that I would do this regulary, but things happen, I start wondering what to write, get myself as knotty as my yarn on a bad day, and decide not to bother.
Thank you Carrie Anne - I did bung the Felted Ruffle Bag in the washer, and it's turned out great - so I'll be making a couple for Christmas boxes as well. As long as I remember, seeing as it's May, and I tend to get good ideas for Christmas, then forget all about them before the end of the summer.
I abandoned the Ripple Scarf, as when I'd done a few repeats, it didn't really look me. I wonder if anyone can guess what I'm planning with the yarn? Could it be snuggly socks?
I'm currently knitting the border of Fiber Trends' Field of Flowers shawl in Posh Yarns Eva in Just Peachy. I'm loving the knit, the lacy patterns seem very rhythmic, and the yarn is like knitting with the smoothest softest thing imaginable. It's a shame it's knitting up so quickly - I can see me wanting to do more - perhaps this will be my new addiction.
I will post some pictures soon I promise - I'm a bit scatty like that...

Of Flowers and Peaches...

2007-05-04T16:05:00.000Z

I finished the Monkey socks this week, and love them to bits. I'll post some photos, but aside from a slight panic when the ball seemed to be getting smaller and smaller, yet the foot was stubbornly not growing at all, they went really well, and once I got into the rhythm of the pattern, I was knitting them everywhere (except when driving, although with the drive to/from work taking about an hour each way to cover 10 miles, I have plenty of time when the car is stopped... No Claire NO!

I also fell in love with Carrie Anne's Felted Ruffle Bag - it took me two evenings (I'm a slow knitter), but I now have a baggy bag, and am in a dither about the felting. I've never done it before, and don't want to ruin it! I may get the courage up to open the washing machine door this weekend, however I may use the excuse of too much real laundry to do...

So onto my most ambitious project yet - Fiber Trends' Field of Flowers Shawl in Eva 2 ply in Just Peachy from Posh Yarn - the yarn is beautiful to hold (I spent 10 minutes stroking it before I began to wind my first skein), and Piglottie is right - whatever Dee does, it smells delicious. I'm one pattern repeat of the central garter lace in, and so far so good. I want to tackle it in chunks, as if I think about the whole project, it will go to the back of the cupboard, and letting that yarn lie unused in the dark would be a sin! Of course, I may end up ripping it back, and thinking about something else less ambitious to do, but I hope not. I think I may punctuate it with a couple of pairs of socks - I have a hank of Fyberspates in Heather Mist, and some more Posh Yarn for socks, however I'm trying to resist the urge just now!

Take care,

Love Claire x

Rip it up and start again

2007-04-30T18:47:00.000Z

Oh dear. Poor Monkey socks. I managed to turn the first heel, then had a panic that I had used too much of my wonderful wool. The fabric was coming out very close knitted, and I seemed to be eating the wool somewhere. So I weighed the remaining yarn and found I'd used getting on for half - I had a choice - either very short legwarmers, or back to the beginning, have a thunk and start again.

About half an hour later, with new needles (3mm), a slight alteration to the pattern (14 st per needle, instead of 16), I started again, and this time, it's working for me. I've got 2 pattern repeats to do on the foot of the second sock, then I can see the end, via the toe. They've knitted up so quickly, and I've enjoyed the pattern - it looks good, but it's quite easy for me to remember, which was good, as I had half an hour to spend in the dreaded Metro Centre tonight, before I had my hair cut, and the Monkey socks kept me company over a cup of tea.

My experience in the Metro Centre set me thinking - it's Europe's largest, yet there isn't a single yarn or needlecraft shop now that House of Fraser has dropped its Habadashery department, and The Wool Shop has closed (it's now a shop selling pink things). I find it quite sad, that in all this shopping extravaganza, that you can't even buy a knitting needle. Thinking about it, we seem to have a lack of real world yarn shops - or I am looking in the wrong places. Don't get me wrong - I'm well served by the wonderful world of the web, and there are many online stores I "visit" that would be well out of my reach armed with only my beloved old car and my trusty AA Roadmap of Britain (I fell out with multimap when it started telling me how far I had to drive up sliproads), however there are times when only a squidge will do.

I am quite lucky - we have two department stores (Fenwicks and John Lewis) in Newcastle itself that have decent ranges, but when hankering for something special, only Ring a Rosie in Whitley Bay will do - it's an Aladdin's cave, stocked with a rainbow of yarns, and offers such wonderful customer service as they call it these days - in other words, you can drop in for a natter and a bit of advice. I wish there were more shops like this - niche and friendly, and stocking some different bits and bobs. My poor father was despatched there for my Christmas present this year, and was soothed through his purchase with ease. I suppose I can't have the best of all worlds, but when I see the same identikit shops in shopping centres that sell the same old stuff, I do wonder why we can't have more interesting shops. But then I guess I wouldn't be able to shop on tinternet. I don't know what the solution is, but I'm so lucky to have Ring a Rosie, as well as the Internet for knitting support and essential supplies.

So it's on with the Monkey socks, and if anyone knows of a good yarn shop near to Newcastle, be sure and let me know.

Love

Claire x

PS - Yes - the bag on the to do list is the bag Carrie Anne just knitted - I can't resist!

Monkey!

2007-04-23T16:44:00.000Z

Just a short note as I'm off to see James in a short while (the price for Jon liking Rock is that I also like Indie...), but I finished the waffle socks (pics to follow) and have, along with what appears like half the world, fallen for Cookie A's Monkey Socks from www.knitty.com. They're currently OTN and going well.
The comments, and the having a blog has been very motivational for me, Queen of the UFOs to actually get on and finish things, so thank you all!

Love

Claire x

Some Progress - With Pictures...

2007-04-17T20:09:00.000Z

Thank you everyone who's left me a comment, and thank you Carrie Anne for pointing people over here. I have finished Roza'a Socks from Interweave, knitted in Fyberspates sock yarn, and Jon has taken a photo of them, which I can proudly show...

The feet are all my own, and I'm really pleased with how the socks have worked out - I like the way the colours spiral down the sock, with the vertical (well - they would be if I pulled my socks on properly) lines of the rib pattern. It's my first pair of patterned socks - I've knitted a plain pair in Opal's self patterning yarn before, but never any with texture in them, like these.

So now I'm addicted - my order from Posh Yarn arrived a few days ago, and the Baby Camel in Flames went straight onto the needles. I found a "Blueberry Waffle" pattern I liked (http://www.azhreia.net/socks/waffle.html), and set to. Last night, I realised, halfway down the cuff, that I'd been a little enthusiastic, and that I could probably get both feet in at once! That'll teach me to not knit a tension square, but the yarn was so inviting, I felt I had to get going... After casting back on, I've sped down, and am about to pick up along the sides of the heel flap.

The colours are subtle and beautiful, and the yarn's beautifully soft. I must stop buying yarn - I have a stash I could open a small local yarn shop with at the moment, and keep finding more.

Here's a close up of the waffle pattern (right side) that shows the colours a bit better.

So that's about all for now - I'm going to get back on with these socks, as the quicker I can reduce my stash, the sooner I'll feel less guilty...

Take care,

love

Claire x

Beginnings...

2007-04-13T16:17:00.000Z

Hello, and welcome to my wooly thoughts - mainly about knitting and crochet, but other stuff may creep in as well. I'm Claire, originally from Lancashire, but now exiled in Newcastle, and have been knitting and crocheting with varied degrees of success for a couple of years now, so I've still got my L plates on... And with regards to the blogging - this is my first, so please be nice to me.

My good friend, Carrie Anne (visit her blog at http://acrylik.blogspot.com, and her website at http://www.acrylik.co.uk) has encouraged me to start this - I first met her when she was 11, and she's as enthusiastic and friendly now as she was back on that first day at senior school.

So, I love the knitting - I've just finished Louisa Harding's Jezebel jumper in her Kimono Angora Pure from the Winter's Muse collection, and while it is beautiful and snuggly (and very, very purple), it's also very fluffy, and much too warm for all this lovely weather. Planning was never my strongest point... I'm currently working on a pair of socks from the Spring Interweave Magazine - they're a simple brioche and rib pattern (it would have to be simple for me!), and I am working them in Fyberspates sock wool in pink and mauve, which has beautifully intense colours and knits beautifully (www.fyberspates.co.uk). I shall put some photos up when I get around to it...

So that's it for now - looking forward to a quiet weekend, and hopefully getting on with my socks - there's going to me more on the way using some Posh Yarn (www.poshyarn.co.uk) in irresistable variegated oranges.

Love,

Claire x