Snap happy

Ah - sunshine! How I love it. The girls played with the bubbles in the garden yesterday afternoon while I wandered around with the camera.

I really like this pic as the camera has focused on the nearest bubble with the sunlight glinting off it and my youngest looking very happy about it all. She adores bubbles.

I moved on to the flowers and wanted to share these two pics with you.

First a couple of tulips doing very well - and not yet been eaten by our resident grey squirrels as in previous years..

Also my favourite spring flower in our garden - the snakeshead fritillary. Just beautiful.

Yes, I've been knitting too. The ladder wrap is coming along quite quickly thanks to that birthday deadline. Nothing like a bit of pressure to keep you motivated.

Holiday aftermath

We’re back home. Yippee! We had a good break in lovely Wales, but I always love coming back to the comfort of our home. No pics – hopefully DH is going to buy me a good compact digital camera for my birthday this year so I’ll be able to snap away to my heart’s content when we’re away from home.

The weather on holiday was about 70% pants, but we made the most of the sunshine and went to the beach a couple of times. The kids had a thoroughly great time, mainly due to the facilities on the holiday park like the “Learn 2 Swim” lessons every lunchtime and a disco every evening.

I feel like we had a break as the girls were up late every night, which meant that they actually slept until around 8:30am every morning – utter bliss! I really felt quite energetic by the weekend – not usually how I would describe myself.

On the knitting front, I maintained the yarn diet with very little effort. I only actually saw one place selling yarn (in the Pound Shop of all places!), and that was nothing amazing.


I did manage to finish the Jaywalkers though. They’re fab, and fit beautifully. I adore the colours in the Opal Rainforest Flamingo yarn, and love how they’ve turned out with this chevron pattern.

That’s my first ever pair of socks completed!




I also started (several times) a very easy project. It’s a large rectangular wrap based on design B here for the Sirdar Firefly yarn. I’m using the taupe Fantasie ladder yarn I bought from ebay last June.
This is hopefully going to be a gift for a relative’s birthday – if I manage to finish it in time, which is why I’ve had to start it now. Actually I’d rather be working on my Fortune cardigan, but I’ll have to be patient.

It’s certainly not TV knitting though – you have to keep an eye on where those needles are sitting in the ladders. Better go and do some now.

Lent-along completed

Firstly thanks everyone for your kind words about the non-smoking - I can hardly believe it's been over 2 months now!

For those of you who asked about the Jaywalker yarn I'm using - it's Opal Rainforest Flamingo. I'm working on the heel gusset of the second sock, so hopefully I'll have my first ever pair of handknitted socks real soon!

As for the yarn storage, thanks again for your suggestions. Hopefully the cashflow situation is due to improve soon, so I will actually be able to purchase something more suitable in which to hoard my sizeable stash.

Finally for tonight, we have my last contender for the Lent-along - my version of Mrs Beeton wristwarmers:

The modelled photo - to show that they are really finished, ends darned in, etc!

Also the "reclining alone" photo to illustrate the delicate picot edge cast-off.

I love these. I used Cashsoft DK and Kidsilk Haze together with beads from Rowan and Hobbycraft. The wristwarmers feel luxuriously soft and warm, and everyone who sees them coos over them. The beads really add that finishing touch. Yet another great free pattern from Knitty!

I was inspired to finish the wristwarmers by our imminent holiday to New Quay in Wales next week. I love Wales, but I don't trust the weather, especially at this time of year. At least now I can have wrists wrapped in luxury, even if the rest of me is damp and shivering.

Taking stock

My eldest daughter has achieved her first swimming award – her 10m badge and certificate. She’s understandably very excited about it. Well done Connie!







You’ve no doubt noticed the new counter above; since adding my “no smoking” counter at the end of my blog I found that it’s a great source of encouragement. Hence the new one.

So why do I need encouraging NOT to buy yarn? Well I think this lot is pretty convincing:

1) I have no money in the yarn pot. Not even any loose change. Just some dust and an old paper clip. (Where do they come from?)

2) My knitting spreadsheet (sad aren't I?) informs me that I already have the required yarn for no less than 27 projects. Everything ranging from sweaters to socks; of which 26 projects are for me. Obviously I have other yarn too, it’s just not allocated to a project yet. A lot of it probably never will be.

3) It would be nice to actually make some of these planned items. Heck, I might even like them enough to wear them, which would be useful. Then when I’ve used up lots of stash I can buy lots of the latest yarns with a clear conscience.

4) We’re in the process of spring-cleaning-leading-to-doing-up-the-house and I’ve decided that I need new storage for my yarn. Maybe something that shrinks it to half it’s size so that I can squeeze it in somewhere inconspicuous. (I’d love to have it all on display but we don’t have the space. Who has?)

See what I mean? So, a yarn diet it is. How long do you reckon I’ll last? ;-)

BTW, if you have any comments about the best/worst type of yarn storage, I'd love to hear them. Is it ok to store yarn in those vacuum-shrink bags? Or in PVC ones? Or should it be in something more breathable like a canvas storage unit? I need ones that will fit under our bed - come on, shout up knitters!

Hopping along

Thanks for your kind comments about my Coral Crochet Cardigan. I've been basking in the glory of finally completing this project for the past week, but not without knitting anything else.

Look - my first ever sock is complete! I'm rather worried that such an enormous looking sock actually fits my foot so precisely..

I even grafted the toe - which I found very easy whilst carefully following these instructions. Thank you Knitty!

The second Jaywalker is on the needles - just starting the heel flap. Looks like I might need to finish them and wear them as it's still so darn cold. We awoke to snow this morning. I am not amused.

This was the sky at the front of our house around 7:50pm tonight - shepherd's delight? I just hope tomorrow's a little milder but I'm not holding my breath.

I really ought to get that other Mrs Beeton knitted up so I can take them on our hols to Wales next weekend. Looks like I might need them there.

Worth the wait

Finally, a mere 3 years and 1 month after starting my Coral Crochet Cardigan... it's finished! I've named it "Vintage" for obvious reasons.

The front.. showing off all the details..

The back.. showing off the great fit..

And the front again in closer detail..

This is my own design using my Knitware Sweaters program. I fudged a knitting pattern from it 3 years ago, but the program now does actually produce crochet patterns too!

I finished it off with an edging from a Harmony crochet book that I found in my local library, and crocheted some buttons in the same yarn.

I wore it today to the Beatties Knit Chat and it's really lovely to wear, although I did feel that I should have been wearing a hat and going to a wedding.. ;-)

Now to find a top that looks better with it..!

This means that none of my UFOs are more than 3 months old!!! Woohooo!

Happy 5th Birthday Sarah!

Five years ago today, at 11:11pm, Sarah Hannah first graced us with her presence - 13 days past her due date. She had very little hair, long limbs, and pointed fingernails and toenails.

Since then she has taught us that she is a bright, determined, thoroughly independent, and very loving person with a keen interest in language and vocabulary. She never lets her asthma get her down, needs to know how everything works, and can't resist a challenge. We, as her family, all love her to bits. :-)



Here she is with her big sister, showing off the pinata that we all made together. Just after this, the other 10 children descended upon us for her party this afternoon.

This morning her birthday card was read out on Milkshake on Channel 5 on the TV, and we even managed to video it. We've all had a fabulous day. Happy Birthday my darling little daughter.

Nearly there

Look - I'm working on my vintage UFO! Yes, the coral crochet cardigan started in Feb 2003 is finally getting the edging it so deserves.

Here's the edging I've added to the sleeve cuffs. I love it and it makes the sleeves nice and long - just how I like 'em for my gorilla-length arms. ;-)

I'm adding the same on the waist hem but with more repeats so it's deeper - which means that I need to buy 2 more balls of that Rowan Cotton Glace tomorrow. It's most definately worth it though. It should be finished before Easter (I know, famous last words!) so I'll hopefully meet the Lent-along deadline.

Of course I still had to sneak in lots of rows on my beloved Jaywalker.

I've turned the heel - woohoo! Thanks for your help at the Knit Chat last Tuesday Annette - the way the pattern was worded for that part seemed so weird until I tried it out.

But then what do I know - this is my first ever sock.

BTW Lolly kindly let me know where she bought her gorgeous sock yarn - it's from here. Guess where my next order's going to be from?!

I had to give a presentation yesterday on the subject of my choice as part of a "Presentation and Training Skills" course. Naturally I chose to talk about knitting. :-) I took lots of my yarns with me, so it was very tactile, and got the audience to participate by shouting out the yarns that they knew - not many.

I educated them on lots of knitting related stuff of course, including showing them this and this to prove that knitting is not just for grannies, and taking along this pictured sample of knitted up plastic bag strips.

My eldest daughter took it in to her class today and they had a fun time trying to guess what it was made of. I've been meaning to try this out for a while, and it turned out to be very quick and easy to do. I'm hoping to make a few bags with this technique soon.

Anyway my presentation got a great response (good news for me as I was soooo nervous!) and hopefully we might be getting one or two new recruits coming along to the Beatties Knit Chat soon. Success!

A flying visit

Just a quick check-in to show you the progress.

First up is my lovely first-ever Jaywalker sock - nearly at the heel!

Oooh - I just lurve those colour chevrons.. ;-)

Also the first of my butter-soft lilac beaded Mrs Beetons.
It really is a good job that I love this so much otherwise this would be in the frog pile. The Kidsilk Haze is beautiful but I find it a pig to knit with, especially on metal needles. I've heard others say that they find bamboo needles much better to control the slippiness of the yarn - I can well believe it now. I find it rather like knitting with furry sewing thread.

As for the Cashsoft DK - well, if I could only ever knit with this I wouldn't be unhappy..

I can't begin to describe how luxurious this little item feels on my wrist. It really has inspired me to make the second one - that should get rid of this cold weather!

That's your lot for tonight - well I did say it was a flying visit!

Oops – I bought some stuff!

I know this is not in the Lent-along spirit but I’m still not smoking and I’m sticking to that excuse.

A few days ago I received my first order from Laughing Hens – two Addi Turbo circular needles in small sizes for… yes, socks. One circular was delayed and I have to say that the communication from the staff was prompt, friendly, and helpful. Their prices were excellent and I reckon I’ll be using them again.

The other package that arrived came all the way over from the USA – from Little Knits actually. I heard about this online yarn store from UKHandKnitters and promptly leapt over there and ended up ordering this little lot.

Isn’t it yummy! There are 3 balls of cotton mix Regia Surf and 1 hank of the Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Potluck – apparently this is the same yarn as is used for Koigu loveliness.

Once again, the service was excellent as were the prices, so I can thoroughly recommend Little Knits to you all. The online system resulted in a higher shipping price than required so the shop owner refunded the required PayPal amount. Apparently if you pay by credit card Sue sends you an invoice showing the correct amount first. I will definitely be ordering from them again.

And my final confession of the day – yes I started the Jaywalkers. How could I resist? In my defence I can say that I have now mastered the art of 5dpn knitting (finally) – hooray!

OK so now I’ll go back to my vintage UFOs - at least for a little while each evening anyway…

Blitzing the vintage UFOs

Ahaha! Another vintage UFO bites the dust!

Here is my eldest modelling the ribby hat and another version of My So Called Scarf, both knitted in Rowan Biggy Print. I was trying to do wristwarmers to go with the hat, but I'd almost finished one and then given up - over a year ago. So frogged it was, and the scarf was born.

Another change of plan too - the set was going to be for DH but our daughters have claimed them instead. I'm just happy to know that my handknits are appreciated.

As for the rest of the vintage list, it's almost gone!
The chevron crochet tunic has been sent off to the charity shop as I wasn't keen on the yarn anyway.

The coral crochet cardigan is now fully re-seamed and looks much better than before. I changed my mind (again!) about the yarn for the edging and after much comparing I bought two balls of Rowan Cotton Glace today - one each of "In The Pink" and "Oyster". Keep watching..

Sneak preview

Here you go.. a little taste of what's happening with the Coral Crochet Cardigan.

The chocolate consumption has decreased and the seaming is still progressing well. I'm much happier with the seams done this way - thank goodness!

Fingers crossed it'll keep looking this good...

Chocolate does funny things to me

First up I'd like to say a huge THANX! to all you folks who've left lovely comments about my Lacewing Bolero. That's the most positive praise I've ever received about one of my handknits, and I'm chuffed to bits. You've made my day(s). :-)

So here we have another FO. Woohoo! It's "My So Called Scarf" worked up in 2 balls of Patons Symphony in shade "Fruit Crush", costing me £6.60 in total. It measures 6" wide by 70" long - perfect to wrap up in.

I'm blown away by this. It's an acrylic yarn that feels like a luxurious chenille, resulting in a scarf that is incredibly warm and already my favourite yet. It was going to be a gift but not now - it's all mine!

I do intend to make up a couple of these for Christmas gifts though. I shall use the same yarn in different colourways for each one. The stitch pattern and colour changes are enough to keep my interest right to the end, and it doesn't actually take long to do.

So what next? well yesterday and most of today I spent resting as I had a bout of dizziness whenever I turned my head to a certain position. We're not talking a little gentle spin type dizziness here, more of a knock you off your feet in a split second type of thing. Not pleasant.

I went to the docs today as it was still the same, and was diagnosed with "Benign Positional Vertigo" i.e. when you put your head in a certain position you go dizzy. Useful that. Luckily it does seem to be easing off a fair bit now, otherwise I would not be sitting here typing right now.

This evening, feeling a fair bit better, I indulged in a bar of Bournville chocolate again (bought by DH to cheer me up and cuz it's turning into his favourite too!) and picked up the Coral Crochet Cardigan. Yes, the one that I started 3 years ago!

I tried on the cardigan. Great, still fits well, looks neat and smart. Just a little seaming to do on the sleeves, then some edging. No problem.

I opened the chocolate and started eating it, threaded my needle and started seaming. Hmm, it looked better than the other seams which I'd crocheted together.

If something's worth doing, it's worth doing well, right? Well look at this seam. Holes, a strong ridge, etc.

Not good.

I think it actually looked better inside, but I don't want to put the seams on the outside. This is a smart cardigan, not a fashion thingy.

So.... I found the ends and unzipped all those seams. Every one. They came out as quick as a flash too. Scary, that.

I've decided to seam them all in my regular lace-up way that I now do knitted seams. It's gonna look a whole load better.

See, I said chocolate does weird things to me. Now let's see how many more bars I need to actually seam this baby up again.. ;-)

By Jove she's done it!

Ta da!!!
Presenting (at long last) my Lacewing Bolero. It must have been the chocolate that did it. ;-)

I'm soooo pleased with this. You'll have to believe me for now, but this looks lovely on - much better than just laid flat and it fits really well.

I used a Lacewing pattern from my Vogue Dictionary of Knitting Stitches and then my trusty Knitware Sweaters program to design the basic pattern. I modified the fronts to get the curved shaping.

I used 200g (400metres) of Morocco yarn (which I acquired on eBay back in Jan '05) which is an equal blend of linen and acrylic, roughly double knitting weight. I worked the pattern using 5mm needles throughout as I wanted a nice open effect.

Finally I firmed up the front/neck/hem edge with 2 rounds of double crochet on a 4.5mm hook. The sleeves needed no edging as they don't curl and are very slightly scalloped which I like. Oh and I only had about 5 metres of yarn left. ;-)

I love this stitch. It was easy to knit and looks gorgeous. I'm quite tempted to make an entire sweater out of it.

The clasp is one of my favourites, so you have to see it close up.

I'm off to do some knitting. :-)

Making a start

Do you remember this? It's the Lacewing Bolero that I managed to seam completely incorrectly i.e. sewed in the set-in sleeve as if it were a raglan!

Well posting that list of WIPs and UFOs yesterday spurred me into action, and I started on the bolero again. I've got all the right accessories this time see?

There's a mug of coffee, a bar of Cadbury's Bourneville chocolate, plus some of my beloved little tools for the job - my angled Clover Chibi seaming needle and my latest acquisition, a set of spiral stitch markers. These work great for holding together the edges to be seamed.

And can you see what else is different? Yes, I actually pressed the garment pieces first. Goodness, I can even tell which piece is which now. Fancy not doing that before. ;-)

Time for a Spring Clean

The Rain Dance Shawl is finished but as yet unblocked. I like the look of it spread out, but I do admit to feeling rather granny-ish when wearing it!

I've not dared to pin it out knowing that I’ll be out at work the next day and unable to supervise it. Not that I'm expecting it to run off, but youngest DD has been off school poorly, and little hands tend to be very inquisitive.. ;-)

Goodness knows what the camera has done to the colours this time. It looks like the first ball of yarn was a different dyelot (it wasn't) but it doesn't look like this in real life. Weird!

The Textured Cardigan is also finished as in it has buttons. These are too small for the buttonholes though, and tend to keep slipping open.

Even with bigger buttons it’s still not going to fit me properly. I think it should fit a tall size UK 12 girlie beautifully – unfortunately I’m a large size UK 14.

I don’t know whether to try washing it - which may also stop some of the dreadful shedding from the yarn. Anyone got any flashes of inspiration?

The Giotto Sweater is partly seamed. I’m not finding this very easy going as my skin is so dry atm that the yarn keeps snagging on my hands.

I really need to crack on with it though so that I can get a crochet edging on there and maybe even wear it..


My So Called Scarf is on the 2nd (and final) ball of Patons Symphony and growing nicely.

Mrs Beetons wristwarmers are started but the Kidsilk Haze edging looks awfully baggy to me. I keep checking the pattern but it does say to use the larger needles first. Weird. Maybe it’ll sort itself out as it grows.

My stash of blue-green Wendy Jazz has been restarted (again!) as a Magic Scarf (hopefully). Watch this space!

I have so many projects “hanging on” that have been ongoing for far too long, such as:
Coral Crochet Cardigan – started Feb-03
Chevron Tunic - started May-03
His Hat & Wristies - started Nov-04
Lacewing Shrug - started Aug-05

I’m feeling rather weighed down by these now. I must get them finished or ditched before I start anything else. Kind of a Project Spring Clean I guess! Those socks will have to wait for now..

Checking in

Rain Dance Shawl:
I’ve done 10 of the 16 edging pieces - wahay!
It feels like it’s on the home straight now as there is more of the shawl off the needle and finished than there is remaining on there.

It’ll be interesting to see what blocking does to it – although I’ll have to be careful, as the yarn I’ve used is 70% acrylic. Let’s hope I don’t kill it before wearing it!

Smoking cessation:
I’ve been a non-smoker for 3 weeks now and it is getting easier.

For the last few days I’ve been having panic attack type sensations and tingles in 2 fingers of my left hand. Pippa (our resident Tuesday Knit Chat nurse!) assures me that this is a side effect of giving up smoking, as my blood flow and oxygen levels increase, and it shouldn’t last too long.

Thanks for all your messages of support too! They really do help to keep my spirits up. :-) I can’t really spend the money I’ve saved on yarn as DH always used to buy the cigs (and still does, although he is now talking of giving up in the future too, which is an amazing leap). Even so, I’m still treating myself as it’s a great incentive.

Socks!
I have received my first ever ball of Opal Rain Forest Flamingo sock yarn!

Yes yes, I know that I said I’d never ever knit socks, but life changes and flows like a river n’est pas?!

Anyway, I blame Magknits for that wonderful Jaywalker pattern. ;-)



Surprise!
A few weeks back I lent Yuca my KnitSimple mag during a Tuesday Knit Chat session.

She hadn’t been able to get it back to me until this week, and was worried that I might need it so she bought me a thank you gift!

I unwrapped it to find a gorgeous skein of Colinette Silky chic in the “Summer Berries” colourway.

Yuca, you’re too kind; you really shouldn’t have but I’m very grateful for this totally gorgeous yarn. :-) I feel a curly whirlie scarf coming on – this time for me…

Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow

Yesterday I took my daughters to a family event at our local art gallery entitled "Wool". It was very popular, and there were lots of children having a go at regular hand knitting, french knitting, making wool collages, felting, and weaving.

I reckon the most successful for us was the felting - and this necklace is what my 4yo daughter made!
The two balls are felted wool, made from coloured fleece wound round and then wetted and rubbed vigorously between the palms into ball shapes. OK I had to help out here when her hands got tired, but she did most of it herself.
The balls go so hard that you have to knock a nail through with a hammer to get the hole for stringing it onto the elastic - an amazing process to literally watch it felting in your hands!

We'll be trying more of this at home I think..

As promised, here's the Rain Dance Shawl getting its edging. It's a slow process as each edging piece has 40 rows.

It doesn't help that the chart from Elann had an error - it started off with 20 stitches but suddenly jumped to 21 stitches from row 3 onwards. The chart has now been corrected.

Starting at the finish post

Is it half-term week for you? It is for us. I've taken the week off work and I'm staying at home refereeing, I mean having fun with, my girls. ;-)

I spent today recovering from my daughter's 7yo friend having a sleepover with us last night (much giggling and silliness until late into the night) and look what I just finished!

The Broadstreet Mittens are knitted and buttoned and I adore them.
The buttons actually match very nicely but refuse to do anything other than glare at the camera.
I'm looking forward to the cold spell we're being promised later this week so that I can try out my new toasty fingerwarmers. ;-)

On Sunday I took my girls to Hobbycraft to spend their pocket money - the £3 off voucher in our local paper was too much of a temptation for us. The girls bought various crafty kits, and I spotted some beads I'd been looking for.
I've been putting together the ingredients for my next small project - Mrs Beetons wristwarmers.

See the beads? They're actually all various shades of lilac but again the camera is playing tricks.

I'd already got the Kidsilk Haze left over from the beaded edging of my mohair wrap, so I grabbed a ball of the Cashsoft DK whilst at the Knit Chat last Saturday (with 4yo DD in tow - she took her plastic canvas sewing and chatted to everyone else a lot!). How soft is that yarn? Words fail me.

Luckily I can't start this project until the Rain Dance Shawl is complete as I need to use that particular Addi circular. It's getting there, honest.

Whilst at Hobbycraft I spied some Patons Symphony yarn which I have admired for some time. It's an acrylic yarn but very plush and feels more like chenille. There on the shelf was this gorgeous "Fruit Crush" colourway so I felt another no-smoking reward coming on (2 weeks tomorrow!).

You see I've been itching to have a go at "My So Called Scarf" for months, but needed the right yarn for it.

I think I've found it. :-)

A welcome sight

What a fabulous day! Incredibly blue sky, spring flowers starting to emerge, and sunshine all day. Still very cold, but a mood-lifter nevertheless.

Another welcome sight was handed to my by the postie this morning - my latest ebay win!

It's 550g of Garnstudio's Silke-Tweed yarn in a beautiful dusky pink (shade 15). It's my gift to myself for being a non-smoker for 9 days now. :-)

Have you checked out the amazing number of free patterns at the Garnstudio/Drops website? Brilliant!