Friday, December 29, 2006

Playing Catch Up

My feet are back on dry land. Will post more about my travels later.

My mum loves her cardigan, it fits perfectly. I had to get her out of her cozy bed when I went over to my parents house for a 2 minute stop yesterday - just so I could make sure it looked OK!! Dish cloth and home made soap found their way to intended owners and all is right with the world.

Knitting News
No knitting news a the moment - I have not been doing much of any project, just flitting from thing to thing - need to focus. I'm still playing catch up with hum drum things. I've lost a week and stupidly think I can get it back. I'll give up soon and go back to what I do best - feet up, audio book, knitting in hand, waiting for the house to clean itself.

Managed to get to Liberty last night (Took friends and children on a night bus tour to see the lights in London fair city). It was good to see familiar faces and inhale the essence that is inimitably Liberty. Mrs L went for the first time with her nearly finished Gwen (picture soon) and promised to visit again. I was a very good girl and have not purchased any sale yarn.... Yet.

It's too grey for pictures at the moment. I received goodies that I will share when there's a glimmer of light.

Wishing you all a Happy and Peaceful New Year.
May it bring good health and prosperity to you all.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Providence

I find myself in the enviable position of flying to the sunshine for a few days.
I will leave you with:


















These little buggers. I have decided that jewelry making and accessory making may not be for me. I managed to slice the palm of my hand open while creating these little darlings. Not the end of the world - I can still knit!! Lesson learned - do not work in the palm of your hand, that's what work mats are for, of which I have many!!

Knitting News
despite my injury, I am up to the armholes on Faye. I have had the back measured against me for peace of mind and am assured that it should be a good fit - (my terrible sewing up not withstanding). There are several dishcloths waiting to be tidied up and my sudden broodiness is being satisfied by a little number from Debbie Bliss isn't that the cutest??

Farewell uncle C.
The sheriff has gone to the big resting place in the sky.
Be sure to say hello from us down here.
Be at peace.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Another one bites the dust

Don't you just love pop songs, the lyrics come in so handy at times!!

The Debbie Bliss Ribbed Cardigan is finished and I am really pleased with it. I hope my mum likes it after all this. Photo's are not up to much. For an explanation go visit Purly Queen. Any excuse and I'm using it!!





























































































I'm still having problems with servers and cookies but I'm getting there. It's always been a fear of mine - messing with what I consider to be the underbelly of the computer!!

I've balled up my dyed goodies and will be working on them this week.


















I'm off to buy buttons for my mums cardi now. In the rain howling gales and dark skies..... Someone's got to do it.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Nearly there

Before I begin my knitting ramblings, I'd like to share a recent experience with you. I received a email proporting to be from a large reputable building society 2 days ago. The email directed me to a website where I was to go through a verification process or my account would be terminated - due to fraudulent attempts to gain access to my account. Although the graphic were superb the grammar was terrible (bit like mine!!). I contacted the building society who confirmed the email to be a scam, they advised me of what steps I should take to afford maximum protection. It has taken 2 days to make sure my PC has no embedded spy ware or trojans or what ever you call it and umpteen scans and reconfiguration processes - including messing up my server connection and a 90 minute call to tech support. This from a computer phobe - so you can imagine how peed off I am. If you are offered a little Xtra help - watch out.

Knitting News
My deadline to finish all (well nearly) my unfinished projects has come...... and gone. I am in the middle of the list. I've finished the pieces for the Debbie Bliss Ribbed Cardigan . It's waiting to be sewn and tidied up.


















I finished the back of Faye and am on the left front. I'm going slow on this. I recently viewed the finished article in the medium size. The model is a good size twelve it it engulfed her. She knit to tension so I'm wondering how mine is going to turn out - I've upsized it considerably.


















The Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK is still glaring at me - however I will be making a few subtle changes to the cable coat pattern. Oh - and the yarn has had babies - we now have 12 balls at home (thank you Lena!!) and my resolve has not wavered - I am winning the battle over startisits. The down side is I frequently stall on my existing projects, instead I spend the evening fawning yarn or looking at the patterns I'd rather be knitting. I'm hoping to plough through over the next week there's umpteen wash cloths and scarves waiting to be wrapped and gifted off.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Dyeing to knit

Before I start my post proper - have you heard Karin's news? Go look see!! Clue, she's one of my bestest friends - that makes me an honorary aunty I think.

We've been busy and a picture is worth a thousand words!!



































not one but 2 colours - we are adventurous!!






































































I had lots of help from the lovely Sonya which resulted in a very clean kitchen.

Knitting news - None. Still on the sleeves of my mum's cardi. One down, one to go.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Eye Candy

Shop bought


















I'm prepared to admit that there is a very special occasion that occurs once a year not too far away..... There was a little thing on my shoulder whilst I was in my local yarn shop yesterday - on an errand of mercy no less - whispering in my ear. The above is what I came out with!! Some Louisa Harding Sari Ribbon and Kimono Ribbon. I can tell they are going to be presents I like the feel of neither of them and the Kimono Ribbon is a pain to work with because the point of the needle - no matter how blunt - pierces the ribbon and gets caught. No fun. However, they will make beautiful garments - what ever they turn out to be.

Home Made




















































Gwen For my sister
Pattern: Rowan 39
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cotton in Teal blue
Started: Mid August 2006
Finished 11 November 2006
Comments Everyone I know that has knitted this pattern has had to purchase more yarn. In my case, I was saved by eBay and the marvelous Joyce, who had some in stock - this colour has been discontinued for some time. Other than that, the pattern was a relatively quick knit - it's a cropped top. The slipped cable stitch was a new one for me and I like the out come.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Help

I will, I will, I will...
I will finish my mum's cardi. I need a little help from my friends. I've hit sleeve island. My mum's cardi is almost done, and I am fighting off startitis but I feel like I've been working on the same sleeve forever!!


















I want to start this


















using this














The pattern is from Debbie Bliss' Cahmerino DK book. Go check it out. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK in colourway 019 - I don't know if it has a designated name yet. I must check..... After what seems like a very long time, my babies finally arrived. I only took 2 out of the shop to play with. I had to leave the rest in the shop - yes, I trust myself that much that I actually took 2 home. I met Karin on the way there and showed her my bounty. She knew I'd be back the next day for the rest having used up the 2 balls the same evening - oh yee of little faith!! Sorry it's been taken using a flash so you really can't see the beauty of the colour.

So you see, I really must finish my mum's cardi...... Oh and there's this - we won't go there!!

Saturday, November 18, 2006

The Sun has got it's hat on...

Playing Smart
I thought I'd get in quick, it's a glorious morning the sun is shining beautifully. The camera has been whipped out and the photos that I have deleted re-taken. But sometimes its hard to recreate the moment - especially when you are crap at taking photo's in the first place. So here we go:


















Above a mish mash of past and present.



















The log cabin blanket now a baby sized blanket - downsized from double bed dimensions. I was not happy with the colour way and thought it better to stop rather than doing something utterly stupid in trying to 'save' it. It is warm and cuddly.


















The finished socks - for the record Shea- they are MINE!!
The socks are resting on my first Mason Dixon inspired dish cloth (where ever you look on their blog you will find dish cloths!!). The first of many no doubt. Very quick and now the pattern is in my head, very easy. Thanks to Karin I made them in the famous Peaches and Creme cotton.













































Above are the current socks that I'm working on. Don't know who they are for yet. I've decided I'm not bothered about whether the pattern flashes or lines or pools. I like the colour way and however they turn out - so be it.



















This is Swell from Summer 06 Knitty. It looks good, but doesn't fit anyone - and I mean anyone. It's tiny. I could see it when I was knitting but thought, when it's off the circulars it will be fine - mm!! I substituted Rowan Magpie Aran for Cascade 220 and I used Tapestry, also by Rowan, as the contrast colour - used in reverse. The needle size was 3.25mm, so I will attempt this again on bigger needles and see how I get on. I have no idea what happened, and I'm determined to do it right. However, it is a good example of motif and embossed work so will do nicely for my course!!

More to come. I'm on the sleeves of the Debbie Bliss ribbed cardigan and I've got the shawl bug. I'm on the lookout for a simple but stunning shawl in lace weight not cobweb yarn - any advice would be welcome.

Should I be celebrating? This is my 50th posting!!

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Stuffed

I have yet again managed to delete all the nice pictures I took of the finished log cabin - now baby - blanket, my new dish clothes etc, etc. So I leave you with the only remaining picture!!

Saturday, November 11, 2006

As time goes by

Ok, it's time to 'fess up. The to do list has gone out of the window. I'm trying, but my sense of impulsiveness and the urge to do what I want is too strong. So we have a sewn up and ready to clean up Gwen for my sister. Once pressed and buttoned I will post a final photo.
I've also decided the log cabin blanket is not quite working as I would like, so it will now be a baby blanket and I will rethink how to do the blanket with the remaining yarn.


































Sleeve detail with pink fluff.
Below is the progress of the Debbie Bliss
Ribbed Cardigan for my mum.














So I'm not straying too badly from the list.
I'm hoping to finish this next week.

No.1 Son progress: First hat on circulars...























Above: The Stallone look
.... and double pointed needles.























Wide Ribbed-Brim Hat:
Started: June 2006
Finished: Nov 2006
Yarn used: Blue sky alpacas organic cotton in lemon grass and Jaeger Shetland Aran in dark blue
Signing off a very proud mum!!

Sunday, November 05, 2006

One down, plenty to go....

Juno is finished. Bring on the next one!!
















Juno
Started: 12 October 2006
Finished: 2 November 06

Yarn used: Rowan Wool Cotton shade 910 (in various dye lots!!)
Pattern Comments: I really enjoyed knitting this garment. On advice I knitted a size down due to the ribbed element of the pattern and this has worked. I've decided I prefer to knit cable patterns using words rather than charts (I'm using Trellis as a comparison. Love the pattern but not the charts). I dislike patterns that tell you to use the photograph as a guide when sewing up. Or refer you to an information page that does not actually help you sew up the garment because it is too general. I'm referring to the ribbed nature of the cardigan and the instructions for sewing together setting-in sleeves. It would be helpful to note not to stretch out the rib at all, to pin in the sleeve in a symmetrical manner, middle then edges then working inwards to the centre of the sleeve and shoulder seam etc.

On to the next one - Bobble cardigan by Debbie Bliss in Cotton Cashmere. Having completed Juno, I feel like I'm on a roll. I am however, fighting temptation to start something new. Trellis may count, since I frogged the wee thing and will start it again, it wasn't looking right and even though I am far from a perfectionist, even I could see the side twisty bits were not looking like the picture.

There would have been more pictures but I have somehow managed to delete them - progress on the bobble cardigan, the finished socks, and me wearing Juno - I will not tempt fate and try again since I have attempted to publish this post twice already!! So I leave you with the new socks - socks don't count as projects do they??!

Monday, October 30, 2006

I thought this deserved a post on it's own. Like Amelia and Christine I too know Debbie Bliss and this situation is disgraceful. I normally keep out of poo and choose not to comment on general news. However, this is a knitting blog and this relates directly to knitting, people who buy yarn and those who appreciate quality yarn. I've always thought of handknitting as fashions poor cousin, but you still get the b"^"*"*s who have to behave like divas. I'm too much of a lady to say anything else (apart from the fact that it has been said perfectly by Amelia and Christine!!). I will however print Debbie's open letter:

"As you may know there has been some malicious rumours circulating in the USA suggesting that my cashmerino qualities contain no cashmere at all. On hearing about the rumours my distributors in the UK, Designer Yarns , who buy the yarn from a leading Italian manufacturer immediately started extensive retesting of all my cashmerino ranges in the UK and Italy,including DNA`tests. All conclusively confirmed the presence of cashmere in these yarns.
As you can imagine this has been an immensely stressful situation for me, not only does it bring into question my own integrity but also that my distributors, and the manufacturer, all who have had many years of experience in the business .I am a small outfit, not a impersonal, large corporation, and I rely on the loyalty and fantastic dedication of a small group of knitters and pattern checkers to make my projects happen.The potential damage that these attacks could have hurt us all.
I cannot emphasis enough that the rumours are untrue. Meanwhile I take great comfort in knowing that there are fantastically supportive knitters and retailers out there."


So much in so little time!!

We go away for one weekend and come back to so much.... In other words, we left so much and have come back to the same!! I didn't have time to post before the fated cub weekend - which was brilliant by the way. The weather held and we had 24 cubs playing robin hood and his band of merry men. Bivouacs gallor were built along with home made bows and arrows. And the socks, well they did not get finished but then they were not needed. The scenery was breath taking. We had plenty of opportunities for great walks and forest exploration. Autumn is a fantastic time of year. Being in the middle of (what felt like) nowhere surveying nature first hand was breathtaking. I'm sure I can't put it into fancy words that could convey what I felt and saw (and maybe much of my feelings of awe and wonder are drug induced - in order to go away I had to dose up in frightening proportions) so I won't try - it's been said by far better than me!!














Eat your heart out Jamie!!
We didn't go away this half term, too many things going on and I thought number one son would benefit from a quiet week at home. Thanks to my dad and his gift of a windfall of bananas, number one son put his thinking cap on and came up with Banana Shea:













































I missed out step one which was a shortbread (homemade of course) base, on top of which came the melted chocolate layer, ontop of that we had the creamy chocolate and banana mix - so 3 delicious layers. As you can see, it didn't last long. It was scrummy and just what we needed!!