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

...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**

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....

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

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...

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

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...

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