There Is Progress…..

……..really there is,  on the knitting front, not on the yarn front, well..OK just another 10 balls of Rowan Cocoon in Shale and nothing more, honest!

I really stuck my nose into my knitting these past few days, wanting to finish lots of projects before starting another. I’m funny like that, it bugs me that something isn’t finished and just lying around. I hear voices in my head, whispers in my ear, unfinished projects call me……please finish me, please. No matter how boring the knitting is, I just need to get on with it and just focus myself on that project. My mind does wonder to other things.

So I got down to some serious business. I’d finish one row then on the next row, I see if I can knit a little faster and the next row after that. If my needles could create sparks, I swear I could make a little fire!

This is not the most interesting of projects, somewhat tedious with rows and rows of stocking stitch but I really wanted an over sized cardigan to throw over a t shirt come Spring, something classy and non too fussy and so I chose this. Yeah, I kept saying to myself, it’s only stocking stitch, you can do it with your eyes closed. Just focus.

Blanket Cardigan from the Sarah Dallas Knitting. How do you take interesting photos of a black cardigan? With difficulty.

What’s interesting about this cardigan? Not a lot but there is the strip which runs from one front to the back and the seed st border on the front.

There are sleeves to seam on and also the collar which is half done. I blocked and seamed the two fronts and the body sections as I wanted to try the cardigan on for size. Great fit, not too baggy as I feared that it may look like I’m wearing a bin liner with blue ties or something hideous. Mr Snobs said, Oh I have something like that! Oh great! Still I didn’t care. I like it!

As we all know, stocking stitch has a tendency to curl….damn them curls. I really blocked the s**t out of it, standing on it, stamping on it, placing heavy books over it. I plonked Holly on top of it, hoping that her warm botty may just flatten them curls! No luck. Still, damn them curls. It’s not going to lie flat although some sections are flatter than others.

See that curl? Blah!

I love that thin blue line.

I have a few options to fix that curl. Great advice from friends. 1. Buy another ball of the yarn and either pick up the edging and knit or crochet another row, or an edge. 2. Attach a strip of grosgrain around the bottom edge and sleeves, which means more sewing. 3. Block the crap out of it again, and again and again. I think I may opt to attach grosgrain and hope for the best!

La Drogueire Brassiere Caresse Point Mousse, Gilet to you and me. I’m lucky to have this translated from French by some Ravellers. Really simple but effective and totally wearable gilet. My garter stitches are not the neatest of my knitting, kinda messy in places and uneven. I’m planning to add buttons to this rather than a shawl pin.

Using a couple of clover leaf design coconut buttons from my stash. The pattern calls for yarn by the weight not by the yardage and I am realising I’m using more than what is required, possibly due to the fact I chose a DK yarn. I was so lucky to find a further two balls of this RYC Baby Alpaca DK in the same dyelot number after a major search across UK! Several calls and a couple of hours later, I sourced 2 balls and had them delivered to my home…Phew! Lucky or what? Who said knitting was easy!

55…..

Just when you thought I was all done with my bargain hunting….here I am, at it again, stalking, no searching this time for online bargains. I am a bargain whore, I admit it. There is no mistake about that. My last bargain purchases, were, somewhat fun and exciting. I managed to get 44 balls of yarn passed Mr Snobs,  right under his nose. This time the shopping is much more laid back but I had ask myself……. How do I get 55 balls of yumminess pass him this time? I have 2 weeks of him at home in my face 24/7! What do I do?

1. Do I smuggle them in by hiding them under my sweater and pretend I ate too much?
2. Hide them in the downstairs toilet or cloakroon and wait until he’s out or sleeping?
3. Put them in the boot of my car and bring them in together with the weekly daily grocery shopping?
4. Tell him Holly went shopping and brought herself some cat beds.
5. I’m ordering for a friend, they are not mine.
6. I’m knitting you a lovely sweater, they are ALL for you.
7. Say “Look what I got in the post today!” wave them about in his face and hold them directly under his nose?

Answer: No 7 and only with one question asked. “What are going to make with them?”

He’s good, he understands, he knows he’s married a crazy woman, who is stubborn, a perfectionist and always gets what she wants. I was expecting “Are you going to open a yarn warehouse or something?” “Are you EVER going to knit up the yarn you already have?” “You gotta stop, no more, the house is full of yarn, I won’t be able to find Holly.” Oh yeah yeah!

10 Rowan Cocoons

13 Sublime Angora’s – Feather, incidently 10 are on a flight overseas, gifted

and 15 Sublime Angora’s in Husk & 17 in Blacker

…….OH and a button

…..and do you know something? I ain’t got a clue what to make with them!

There has been some knitting going on, really there has…Blanket Cardigan from Sarah Dallas Knitting and a  Gilet from a French pattern. More on that when I quit shopping and actually do some knitting.

I also received some truely beautiful timber buttons from Nora in Australia, too beautiful to use, so I may just frame them Thank you so so much. Xx Ok…I’m going to do some knitting…really I am, no kidding!

Pssst………I have another 20 balls waiting to arrive….eeek! If you find the blog is quiet all of a sudden, you can guess what’s happened…Mr Snobs will have ordered me out of the house! Oh Help!

You Do This Too, Don’t You?…..

Happy New Year everyone, 5 days later lol. Thank you to everyone who has taken time to visit my blog, post comments, for your inspirations and well wishes. Hope you all had a good new year.

This nasty flu bug isn’t going away as quickly as I want. My crispy red nose, yes crispy, you know when it all dries up and it becomes crispy and flaky from the tissues and you blow your hooter so hard you get nose bleeds………ok I won’t go into detail but you get the picture, has found its way back onto my face! A few drips now and again but I’m surviving.

I managed to get out a few days after the festive season to go bargain hunting in the sales and yes my flaky nose came with me, not a pretty sight but I didn’t care. I took my sister along with me for support.

Now you tell me and be honest…..it’s happened to you right? You have all done this before…….you ready for some story telling and lots of pictures?

I head off to the sales, weaving in and out between all the bargain hunters and focus on getting to the yarn department in my local store, as fast as my feet could take me. Once there, I saw lots and lots of bargain yarns, mostly half price. My sister and I are like little children, rummaging around the bags of yarns, grabbing as much as we could carry before anyone else grabs them. Eventually we had to get two shopping baskets, one each. Opposite me, I see a lady in red jacket and she has grabbed a bag of yarn that I had to have, how come I didn’t see that? Oh, she clutches on to it like something precious. I said to my sister, I must have that.

The lady then walks away without putting the bag of yarn back and this is where is gets worse. I stalk her, I follow her around the department with the corner of my eye, I walk up to her, behind her, looking and trying to get a glimpse of the yarn…..lovely colour, I want to touch it and just get a little info about it.

She heads back to the bargain section, there’s hope? No, she still clutching them and rummages around for more. She wanders away, I lose sight of her…where is she? Has she gone to the checkout? Go sister…see if you can find her and off she goes, looking for her. We’ve lost her. The suddenly, she pops her head up from behind the book section and there she asks the store rep about something. I ears drop on their conversation, me on the other side and my sister next to her. She is looking for a pattern to make with the yarn, but the rep tells her there is not enough. I still pretend to rummage around the bargain section.

Half an hour goes by and she’s still not letting go, the rep then grabs her some novelty chunky yarn. Yes, that will be enough lady, you buy that and let me have the other. I can see she’s not interested and I know she knows I want that yarn. My sister spy reports back and tells me that she is desperate to find a pattern for the yarn.

She heads back to the bargain section, my sister stands on one side of her and me on the other, looking at the novelty yarn, looking at the yarn she wanted, comparing, she knows I want it. FINALLY 45 mins later, she places the yarn back into the bargain section and no sooner does she let go, I snatch it from her hand, whilst another bargain hunter was eyeing it up. Sorry, lady, but it has my name on it. The lady in the red jacket looks at me and smiles. I say I am sorry but I have to have this but if you really really do want it, then please do take it. I can see from her eyes, she does really want it as she looks at it again and again and hesitates. You don’t mind if I take it, I ask? Um…..well……mmmmm, no was her reply. YES!!!!! It’s mine.

Now you tell me if this has happened to you, or am I the only one who stalks people around the department, lusting for a yarn I must have? I laughed at myself and feel a sense of guilt that I did what I had to do. What has happened to me? I’ve become a yarn, stalking monster of some sort!

Lady in red…if you’re reading my blog, I’m sorry, it was me! I am that crazy woman that had that red crispy nose, who stalked you like a little kid!

Yarn in question? 7 balls of Scottish Tweedy Chunkiness!

and other bargains I picked up…

and this is supposed to smell like sheep!

But it hasn’t been all bargain hunting, there’s been knitting too:

One Row Handspun scarf for my aunt to match her grey cable hat. Rowan Cashsoft Chunky in Charcoal, purchased in the sales and I wish I brought more.

Big Wool Wham Bam.
Quick and simple from one ball of Rowan Big Wool.

Friendship….

……..is the most wonderful thing in one’s life. Friends mean so much, they make you laugh, they share, they are so sweet and so kind. They are an inspiration to me, I love them, they know who they are.

I have a new knitting friend, who has filled me with inspiration and plenty of it. From my knitting to my photography skills, which I may add are nothing compared to this macro goddess. Check this out. TDoesWool.

A beautifully wrapped gift arrived one morning that smelled so divine even my postman Steve (did I tell you he’s not called Steve but Stu???)couldn’t part with it! Christmas aromas of cinnamon and spice filled my home along with Christmas spirit, of joy and happiness.

Scented satchet, Gourmet peanut butter chocolates, I’m selfish, didn’t want to share, beautiful buttons, we share the same taste, scented pillow and cinnamon stick for that final touch.  Theresa you sure know how to spoil a girl, to pack and wrap the most amazing gift. so much thought and effort.

My versions of an arty, macro, out of focus photos, with my limited digital camera.

That’s not all. I have my very own Zakka Pouch. The original designed by Black Dog Designs, but this one is special as this one is a Zakka Pouch Revisited. Designed by Theresa using felted wool…now that’s creativity. I can’t believe I have my very own Zakka Pouch, the one I saw and loved.

A lovely touch….so personal, so special.

Beautiful Japanese Fabric with co-ordinating ribbon…..an attempt at photography composition.

I am spoilt, so very very spoilt. I don’t deserve but I cherish so much. I’m smiling, I’m happy, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, there are really no words to express my gratitude and happiness. XX

Santa Came…..

…..early and with him, he brought me gifts from two of my many wonderful friends….Belaybunny and Sheknitigans.

From Belaybunny, a lovely knitted scarf in laceweight yarn which is ever so warm.

Some of her handspun yarn which is ever so soft

…….and PY Dale/Laura in Purple Perry, so purple, so soft, so lovely.

Thank you.

From my lost twin Coley, I have my first ever Sundara Yarn in Deadly Nightshade.

I know what all the fuss is about with this yarn. The colour is so intense and the base yarn is so soft. Thank you so much for your wonderful kindness and for thinking of me this festive season. Love to you both. XX

Early Birthday Presents….

My birthday is coming up, something I’d rather forget but my lovely friend Christina made me something so wonderful and very useful for my knitting. Fabrics chosen by her DD, hasn’t she got an eye for colour? The stitching is so neat and professionally made and it even has an inside pocket for my mobile phone! How cool is that? It’s beautiful and it matches my small pouch she made for me earlier this year.

I know what all the fuss is about now. My first Piddleloop pouch.

Thank you so much for your time in making me this beautiful project bag. I love them all

Psssst…Ene is finished! Pictures to follow once blocking is done http://mickandchristinas.blogspot.com/

Something Beautiful…..

…..lovely handspun yarns from Sheknitgans aka Coley, Take a look at her beautiful spun yarns.

 

Raspberry Mocha, a beautiful combination of brown and raspberry coloured merino, wonderfully spun into something so soft and divine. I could not resist.

A lovely gift from a wonderful friend Sheknitigans - Knitted Gifts, Scarf Style and handspun yarn from her collection.

 

Two ”must have it” books for your collection : Knitted Gifts and Scarf Style. We’re both working on the Ene scarf from one of the books, a soul sucker project as she has named it and she’s right about that!  It’s taken the life and soul out of me, cast on 375sts……..3 times. That’s 375+375+375= Don’t tell me, I can’t add up. Third time lucky though as I finally got going lol.

More on that later.

Motlen Lava – a mix of grey and purple with a hint of  sparkle! Lovely!

Check out her store for more yummy handspun yarns.

Chevron Scarf #2, Gifts & Crochet….

Do your eyes deceive you? Another Chevron Scarf, this one for a friend.  I actually finished this one in about 3 days or was it 4? I can’t remember as my brain has gone walkabouts. Blocked, wrapped and ready to go. It’s a surprise and I hope she likes it.

Posh Yarn ~ Lucia

Colourway ~Admire (one skein)

Needle size: 4mm

This one is so different from my first one, a more stripey effect created with a bigger size needle and its very effective. I like

I’m really getting to grips with crochet, much to my surprise and not as dumb as I thought I was. I didn’t think I could do it but it did take me two hours “blushes”to figure out this snowflake pattern sample for a scarf that I hope to do. I found reading the chart was much easier but it’s still not perfect, you know me, it has to be perfect.

I think this is the right side up!! I’ve got some Smooshy Worsted arriving soon for this scarf and I am quite excited about it. Just hope it’s not going to be one big mess.

…….and she says it’s not perfect, a little scruffy and untidy?? I don’t think so. My special projects pouch hand made by Belaybunny who has taken up sewing. It’s perfect in my eyes and I absolutely love it. There’s also a skein of Wollmeise Poison just poking out from there and she also sent some crochet hooks too, which my sister has done a runner with even though she can’t crochet. 

It’s lined too with stars!!! How clever! I lurva lurva lurve it. Thank you so much CJ.

Today is DH birthday but the silly man that he is sprained his ankle, it’s bruised, swollen and he’s limping “rolls eyes” He was out at the weekend and was not drunk…so he says but he’s telling porky pies cos I know he had a little to drink. He twisted it whilst walking across some cobble stoned paving! See!!! He must have been drunk!! LOL, so we’re stopping in tonight, a quite night in, just the two of us!!! Aaahhhhhh!!

Hope ya all having a good day whatever you’re doing!! XX

Yarn Candy, Feather & Fan, WIP and Help!!

Yarn Diet? …..Not in this house. Just before Christmas I received these….

Four skeins of Manos del Uruguay in colourway Agate which had now been transformed to this:

Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl. I so wanted to do knit up a rectangular stole with this yarn but the pattern I had in mind just didn’t work. Ok I be honest, I was trying to be clever and thought I could redesign the pattern. Well it didn’t work so it became this. Finished in record time of 10 days. Just need my blocking wires to arrive so it looks more like a shawl than a pair of knickers. LOL

I am trying to learn new techniques with all of my projects this year. So with this project I have learned the new technique : Spit Splicing, Sounds disgusting, it involves splicing the two ends of a yarn and wetting them in whichever method you prefer, placing the ends on the palm of your hand and with the other hand rub so that the friction of the rubbing and the heat will felt the yarn and so join the two ends together. I hope the shawl doesn’t fall to pieces when I block it.

There’s more Malabrigo….

Malabrigo Gruesa & Baby Merino Lace which I plan to make Wisp. These two skeins were a gift from a generous Jo from Crafty Cottage Thank you.

Falling in love with a lovely yarn is so easy…Dream In Colour “Smooshy.” The yarn is exactly it…smooshy, soft, squishy, bouncy and a dream to knit.

Dusky Aurora

The colours are so subtle and delicate, not too variegated for my current project.

Do you recognise where this pattern is from? Hint: I knitted a swatch with my dyed yarn last year.

The lovely yarn company enclosed these two skeins of sequined yarn with my order. Help me decide what to knit with 100yrds of this yarn please?

More Malabrigo Madness & Crafty Cottage

Meet Joanne Watson….

Joanne is the owner of Crafty Cottage, a new online store that I have just discovered. Joanne has been fantastic and extremely helpful when I placed my first order. Her new online store is about to undergo a huge overhaul in the new year so please go and support her when it’s up and running. She has a huge collection of yarns of course lots of Malabrigo coming in the new year, yes Malabrigo, you must check out her store but please, leave some for me OK?

Just take a look at the store, isn’t it divine, so quaint and cozy. Just look at those yarns!!  Don’t you wish you were sitting on that table, knitting and chatting? I think I’d be busy oogling the yarns!

This is my order from the Crafty Cottage…

Malabrigo Seleccion Privada Shade P

This is the first time I have ever come across this yarn from Malabrigo and if Joanne hadn’t mentioned it to me, I would never have known it existed. Lots of colours but all vibrant and beautiful. Sadly one skein has left me but gone to a good home

Malabrigo Seleccion Privada Shade Z.

Joanne delayed my order and as a kind gesture, she enclosed these two skeins for me. All were perfectly wrapped in a box with lovely tissue paper. All I can say is that I am one happy happy customer.

There were another 2 skeins of Malabrigo in Curazo a lovely purple colour, but they’re on their way to someone who has never knitted with Malabrigo before…shock, horror..what? but I can’t show you them, sorry. I was very tempted to keep them and held onto them for as long as I could before waving goodbye to them at the post office. Sarah, the post mistress thought I was utterly mad!!!

I can see Crafy Cottage becoming one of my regular online stores and I am already making my list for more Malabrigo, you can never have too much of it can you?

Thank you Joanne for your generosity and I wish you every success with your new online store. Please do add  Crafty Cottage to your blog.

There’s more…yes more. I told you its Malabrigo Madness.

Malabrigo Velvet Grapes, a very very popular shade and I had to get my mitts on these. Can you see why?

and Malabrigo Verdes, this surprise skein I won on Malabrigo Cast On Week on Ravelry Malabrigo Group. A wonderful prize and I couldn’t have asked for a better colour, thank you.

Phew…..I need to sit down with all my Malabrigo’s, 17 skeins within this week, Oh it’s all too much!!! Breathe slowly, deep breaths, faints, thud!!

Mmmalabrigo Mmmadness….

Today, I have had a silly smile on my face all day. I’ve been walking around the house, beaming from ear to ear, singing and dancing. I woke Mr Snobs up this morning, literally swiped the bed sheets off him, shook him so he was fully awake, made sure his eyes were fully open by holding his eyelids so he wouldn’t fall asleep just to show him what I received in the post. Christmas has come extra early at the Snob house.

This was a COMPLETE surprise and I nearly choked on my toast when I opened it.  I had no idea Paula, this very naughty little minx had put these in the post!! I can’t thank her enough for brightening up my day She is just wonderful, another wonderful knitter, one of many that I have built up a great friendship with since I started knitting. She recently burnt her fingers quite badly and hasn’t been able to knit. Please go visit her blog and wish her fingers make a full recovery so she can knit once again!

Malabrigo Worsted Geranio, 4 skeins of raspberry goodness. Aren’t they gorgeous? They are more than gorgeous. I am going to make these lovely skeins into something that will remind me of Paula, maybe a shawl but at the moment, I just want to touch them. Thank you so much Paula, you are so kind and sweet. I love ya hun! Thank you for listening and being there Thank you…mwah x

I say this time and time again, knitters are the most generous people around. There is not one knitter I know that hasn’t touched my heart. You are all fantastic people and all have wished me a speedy recovery and because of all your warm, kind hearted vibes, I am doing just great.

This year has been a great year for me. I’ve made some truely great friends and I sometimes wonder and ask myself what have I done to deserve such kindness? I wonder……

There’s more Malabrigo Madness but more on that tomorrow and I discovered a fantastic new online store which I just have to tell you about. Its a complete Malabrigo Madness day today, but I love it. Thank you Paula ..xx

.

Yummy Yarns, STR & Wollmeise….

What a happy day today is!! Despite the miserable wet, cold weather we’ve been having, I am really happy. I’ve been smiling all day. I received these through the post today from a very dear,  kind friend, who thought I needed cheering up. It certainly has worked Thank you so much.

They are the most yummiest yarns ever and smell gorgeous and I feel there will be plenty of these yarns making their way to my stash next year.

Socks That Rock-Lemongrass, Wollmeisse – Dornroschen and some sample yarns from Wollmeisse, all gorgeous. I don’t want to knit them up just yet, they’re going to bed with me tonight and many other nights.

And just look at these….

aren’t they the cutest hands and feet you’ve seen? The necklace is a lovely purple gem, beautiful and all handmade by her. Sadly the jelly teddy bears didn’t make it to the photo, I ate them all.

So you can see why I am so happy, very happy. Thank you so much Belaybunny…..off to have another sniff

A Big Thank You & Some FO’s……

well, sort of

Firstly I’d like to say a BIG THANK YOU to you all for all your well wishes. I am feeling much better now. Your thoughts have boosted up my energy levels tremendously. I have one more hurdle to go and that’s into hospital on Thursday for a minor operation but I should be out late evening.

Secondly, I know I’ve been a very bad blogger. I’ve not posted for days and days. Most of my time has been spent on Ravelry, so blame that. Isn’t it so addictive? My queue for projects is so long and I am meeting lots of you on there too.

Ok, now for some kinda finished knits.

It’s supposed to look like this but it looks more like this. Isn’t it funny? I added way too many repeats on it so it looks really floppy. It’s going to my wacky sister, she’s into this sort of thing.

Some wrist warmers from a magazine.

I need to add some wacky funky buttons on it. These are going to my wacky sister who says she will has some buttons, so I’ll leave that up to her

My So Called Scarf finally finished

which I love and will wear to bed, and who wouldn’t lol

Neckwarmer, using Cashmere Neckwarmer pattern, a very simple but really effective pattern. I can see myself making more of these.

 

It’s not cashmere but the lovely yarn was given to be by the lovely Belaybunny. It is Wollmeise Worsted Poison Nr5. My first Wollmeise yarn and I have to say I do love it, the colours are so vibrant and strong. I need to add a loop and a button and hoping to wear it on Thursday, something to make me feel happy Thanks CJ.

Well my lovelies…I shall see you all very very soon, wish me luck for Thursday and thank you again for all the kind words for a speedy recovery….mmmwah x

Who Has Been A Naughty Girl?….

I put my hands up and admit that it was me. I went on a little spending spree last week, just a little I thought I’d treat myself as I’ve been working really hard last week. Wanna see what went in to my shopping basket?

 

Just over 2lbs of Aran Donegal Tweed in a gorgeous green tweed. That’s 9 skeins of yumminess with approximately 1785yrds in length. It’s lovely and soft and a dream to knit. In fact, I couldn’t wait and cast on to make this….

 What a crap photo The colour is more like the previous photo.

Central Park Hoodie, my first major attempt at cables and I am enjoying it.

16 balls of Jaeger Merino Aran in Aubergine which was a fantastic bargain, I couldn’t resist. This is to become this.

And finally an issue of Interweave Knits, Debbie Bliss Rialto Pattern book and Addi Lace needles……there’s another needle to follow.

I am ashamed to admit there’s more but they haven’t arrived yet Posty…….please hurry up!

Malabrigo Love, Cascade Eco Arrived, Hemlock, Here I Come….

Hands up those of you who have cast on the Hemlock Blanket? Me Me Me!!

There’s been a slight whiff of sourness/vinegar aroma in the room the last few days as I dig out my Malabrigo Orchid, which had been hibernating in my stash for many months now. I’m not sure whether to call it an aroma or a pong but its strong, oh so strong! Its not off putting as its a delight to knit with but I’d rather have something sweet smelling rather than the room smelling of pickles, you know what I mean

I decided to cast on at 7am yesterday morning after a sleepless night. I think the whiff of Malabrigo was calling me. I knitted all day yesterday amd managed to finish one skein and I’m so delighted with it.

I did wonder if the pattern would be lost in the shade but somehow I think it works fine. A more variegated shade would be a NO NO, the pattern would be fighting with the colours. I love how the stitches knit up, so defined and unique and the softness……I can’t describe. Oh how I love this yarn!!

I go round and round…..

…and round again, you getting dizzy?

Then this morning my postie delivered my Cascade Eco wool.

I had trouble finding a retailer who would ship to the UK. One retailer was requesting almost $60 for shipping one skein. I embarrassingly asked for the help of my knitting friend Plucky who so kindly offered to help. How could I ask someone as busy as Plucky? I couldn’t. I hate asking people for help with something, so the search went on. Then Jen another kind knitter offered to go to her LYS to check out the prices and shipping. She blames me for walking out the store with some Cascade Eco……am I a wicked girl or not?? Hee hee. I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and help

Hemlock knitters on the KAL suggested Webs and that’s where the 4 skeins departed from and at a discount price too. I didn’t get stung on any custom charges much to my relief but these bad bad customs people should be locked up for charging knitters these fees…POO to them!

I had a serious mental block of sock knitting the other day. I just couldn’t remember how to do the heel section of a sock. I frogged and knitted and frogged and knitted. I totally forgot to turn the heel and started picking up stitches only to realise, it doesn’t look right. I tried again only to find the heel was off centre ..aaarrggghh!!!! FINALLY after throwing to one side and forgetting about it in the hope it would knit itself (as if) I tackled it once again and hey!!! Look…

You would think I would know how to heel turn by now after knitting several pairs of socks…..I’m embarrassed. Sshhhh….keep this quiet please!! Oh the joys of knitting.

Thanks for all your thoughtful comments for Sebbie, I’m sure he would have been happy to hear them all.

Off to do some serious winding……yeah man!

Hear Me Roar, Hamani Stole & Retail Therapy….

No more sitting on the toilet seat (which I broke with my big bum) no more imprints on my bum and no more trying to get a signal!! Yay! I’m back on the internet at a whopping 108mbps rather than 54mbps……zzzoooooommmm!!!! I was up and running in no less than 20 minutes!! The first one I installed for a friend took 6 hours, second one took one hour. Getting faster but still don’t know what I’m doing or what the technical terms mean. Anyway……rooooooaaaarrrrrrr!!!!! whizzzzzz!!

OK…..don’t want to bore you to death with all that techy stuff so lets see what I’ve got to show you.

Well, I whipped out Mr S credit card, thought it was the most sensible thing to do and did a little bit of retail therapy, thought I’d treat myself to a few things.

Sock Blockers. It was about time I bought some of these. When I first started knitting socks, I didn’t see the point in having these. I used to just let the socks just mould onto my feet after knitting and besides, the socks are on your feet and won’t be seen. But since I have decided that I am going to start my Christmas knitting and everyone is going to get socks this year, whether they like it or not and tough titties if they don’t, I thought they would look better if blocked. What do you do? Do you bother to block your socks? Oh……these socks have been hibernating for months!!! So it’s socks socks socks for everyone and I have loads of patterns that I want to start.

Then I decided I NEEDED some roving

On the left is Merino roving and the right is pencil roving, bought from The Yarn Yard

Check out her sock yarns…..gorgeous!

Many of you have been asking how my Hanami stole is coming along. I still Luuurrve it and it’s coming along nicely.

I’m finding my first knitting experience of chart reading very easy with just a few glances just to remind me what the symbols mean. I’m wanting to finish the stole for mid November for a christening which I am really looking forward to as the father of the baby has some Scottish ancestors and that means Scottish = Kilts = Mr S. Oh yes…I am hoping he will have to wear a kilt for the ceremony which means I can get some photos of him and the father wearing kilts! Men in kilts? A turn on or turn off??? lol. Let there be wind which will whoosh up the kilts and reveal……eemmmm well, I’ll leave that to your imagination.

Have a great day my bloggy buddies!

Ooooh!! You Handsome Thing….

I’m talking about my new toy that I’m so excited about, not my Hubby, although he’s handsome too

I decided to have another attempt at spinning, might be another disaster but I REALLY REALLY want to learn to spin my own yarn. I am determined this time and there’s no stopping me. Are you ready for a major tantrum and a rage? I’m not going to give up so easy this time. I will be brave and hope that it will be better than this major disaster. I will spin and spin until I can spin no more. So stand back and hold your breath!

Inspired by Gnomiejo, who said she spun for the first time (She kidding ?? ) have you seen her first attempt?  I purchased a Top & Bottom Whorl Spindle and it’s so damn pretty (ahem, not sure which is the top or bottom tho.) Even if spinning isn’t for me, my spindle is just beautiful just look at. I’ll just place it amongst my stash of yarns and pretend I can spin. I’ve been twirling it everyday since I got it without the roving though (cheat) Hee. 

Made with Plywood, Pitch, Pine and Yew as a special request order, I had this made with a weight of approximately 75gms. I haven’t a clue where to start so fingers, toes and eyes crossed, take a deep breath for me please, I SHALL SPIN! Woot Woot!! Yeah Baby!

……..Oh you can breathe now

Naughty Little Minx…..

I really don’t know what I have done to deserve such good and generous friends. There are so many of you out there and I really don’t deserve you all. This morning bought a HUGE smile to my face cos a totally unexpected parcel arrived from Paula. This was just so unexpected, took me by surprise and has really made my day. A box full of the most yummiest of goodies, soap, t shirt, tea, earrings, oven gloves, dream catcher, chocolate, handpainted yarn, just look………..

The dream catcher is so unique and beautiful, I just love it, the oven glove is blue which matches my decor….peeeerrrfecct and look at that beautiful yarn……the colours are just GORGEOUS (how come mine don’t look like that??

And look who else is happy, so happy he is dancing and can’t control his excitement. Isn’t that just awesome, so cute and don’t he look handsome? Oh boy, he’s ready for his first date! This made me giggle when I opened it but its perfect, just perfect.

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH PAULA……I REALLY DON’T DESERVE YOU, thank you mmmwwwahh!

Now I’m off to eat that chocolate before anyone gets their hands on it, hands off its all mine

I Needed Some S.E.X.

I haven’t bought much yarns recently but when Hipknits was holding a sale, I couldn’t resist to have a peep. I’ve never bought from them before so didn’t know what to expect.

I wanted a bit of laceweight yarn so chose the laceweight sale. It was a great way to shop because you don’t know what colours you will be receiving…..a lucky dip sale, they choose the colours from their stock. I couldn’t have wished for anything prettier, colours of blues and peach. The yarn is 100% pure cashmere and is just so so soft. So pleased with it.

Ahem…..Now what did you think I was talking about?

Stash Enrichment eXercise……shame on you

Not much has been happening on the knitting front, just a few rows now and again of my BSA Shawl which is coming along nicely. More work has been done to the kitchen, wall units, under cabinet lights etc and its looking good and really excited as the progress although it has been back breaking work.

We’ve had fabulous weather the other day and so it was out with the camera and I couldnt resist but to take some snaps of the Peonies which are growing in my patio……stunning.

Sarah Berndhart

Rubis Plena

Have a lovely day everyone!!