I am finding this post extremely difficult to write. My life is totally shattered, my heart is broken, it aches terribly, I’m crying out for you every minute of the day.

My life without you by my side is really unbearable, I must be strong.

1993 – 15. 10. 2009

You will always be in my heart, forever. I miss you so so much, it hurts, really hurts. I am trying to accept you are gone, I am trying very hard.

Rest now, sleep well my baby. There is a special place in my heart….always and forever.

I Love You Xxx

]]> http://yarnsnob.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/r-i-p-holly/feed/ 38 Yarn Snob holly 1 hols 5 http://yarnsnob.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/a-bit-of-knitting/ http://yarnsnob.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/a-bit-of-knitting/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:36:02 +0000 Yarn Snob http://yarnsnob.wordpress.com/?p=1162 ]]>

It’s been a while since I posted on the blog. I know you’ve all been popping back to see if I’ve got new projects to show you or just browsing to see what I’ve been up to.

The past couple of months have been rather manic here at Snob house, relatives making a visit, entertaining, days out, work. There hasn’t been much time to do much. The day often ends very late and I’m too shattered to knit a stitch. However, I do have something to show you, not a lot but something….knitting related, that is.

Ishbel…..this is my second Ishbel. I gifted the first one to my niece when she came to visit me. I wasn’t sure if she’d like it or not, she’s only 11 and thought she may have accepted it out of politeness, you know kids at that age. The following day, she wore it out on a day trip we took. I think she loved it.

Knitted using one skein of Malabrigo Sock Yarn, I did the large lace and stocking stitch. The first Ishbel I knitted (um yes…I knitted two again, you see….I had to have one for myself) I did the large stocking st and small lace but had about 25gm remaining. I had an inkling that maybe I could get the large size out of one skein and I was right. I had 4.5yrds remaining from one skein…phew!!! (Ps….I still had the 25gm left over as back up). Such a lovely pattern and very easy to follow.

Is it just me or did anyone else who used this yarn get into a right tangle when wound into a cake???? On both skeins, I had a real great time untangling the mess!

Next up is Springtime Bandit using Malabrigo Merino Worsted Polar Morn.

Nice and cosy, perfect for the Winter evenings.

The pattern is not written with the mirror image for the left of the shawl so here’s what I did.

Mirrored sts in brackets as follows:
K2tog (SKP)
SKP (K2tog)
SK2togP (ssk, return the st to the left needle, slip the next st over it and slip it back onto the right needle), or simply k3tog.

It does require a little concentration as sometimes, you do forget to mirror the stitches.

Another wheel? Um….blushes I’m afraid so. I know, I think it’s crazy, I’m crazy. It’s an addiction.

I brought a Lendrum, the one where you have to wait months and months, the one where there is a waiting list, the one where there is only one dealer in UK. Although I have to admit, I am very very lucky, ONE WEEK was all I had to wait. My heart goes out for those who had to wait 9 months for their wheel. It’s a terribly long time to wait for something. I’m sorry.

She spin’s wonderfully and smells divine. The maple wood gives off a beautiful scent. It’s becoming a habit to sniff her every so often. Holly joins me in our morning sniff, we’re mad! We then sniff the Suzi, it’s our new routine!

It doesn’t spin quite as smooth as my Suzi but she does spin well, quiet and smooth and damn sexy too!

She was my first love, the wheel I lusted after when I wanted a spinning wheel but wasn’t prepared for the long wait. Now I have her and my Suzi, my heart is content, very content. They are both beautifully made and a joy to spin.

Now I must have another sniff.

Knitting has been rather slow recently, projects taking longer, not feeling the urge or the love for the needles, what’s wrong with me?

Must be a phase, will soon pass, I know.

Mara….

My Bloody Mara : 3 skeins of Madelinetosh Worsted in Oxblood, birthday gift from my lovely Coley. Saw her version instantly knew Oxblood had to be Mara.

Ruffles not quite 4 inches, just over 2.5 inches to be exact but I’m ok with that. Measurements: 148cm across, 68cm down centre to tip. Just love that pleat!

This is my first use of Madelinetosh yarns and it’s becoming a favourite, lovely on the needles, such intensity in colours, beautiful results. I want more.

Oops, just to let you know, I haven’t been on a crash diet and lost loads of weight, my hair is shorter but thats not me……it’s my skinny minny sister, bitch!

Peonies are my all time favourite flowers. I love watching the lollipops,  little lollipops, big lollipops, waiting for them to burst into big, bold and beautiful flowers. I have five varieties in my small patio, Sarah Bernheart, a beautiful pale pink, Rubis Plena, a red, magenta colour, a deep almost blood like peony, which I can’t recall the name of, a lipstick red peony and a deep pink one which is an early bloomer.

The wait begins.

Rubis Plena

……and waiting…..

Sarah Bernheart

and patiently waiting……every year, my small patio is full of these wonderful flowers. Are you going to bloom today?

Finally…..They POP!!! into something so beautiful.

Textured Shawl Recipe, Malabrigo Silk Merino ~ 3 skeins ~ Cape Cod~ 5.5mm needles.

CO 5sts, knit 2 rows.
I followed the increase pattern until I got 35st.

Textured pattern, I had one extra st before the centre st which I knitted, M1L, slm, k centre st, slm, M1R, K1 then continued with the pattern.
Wrong side, K2, purl to last 2 sts, K2.

16 rows in st st
16 rows in textured pattern
16 rows in st st
14 rows in textured pattern
16 rows in st st
12 rows in textured pattern
12 rows in st st
12 rows in textured pattern
22 rows in garter st

If you cast off tightly, I would suggest you go up a needle size.

Twilight handspun Shetland 2 ply, purchased at the Spinning Guiild at the weekend. Approx 220yrds…what weight? No idea, maybe sports weight. Shetland is so lovely to spin, its not the softess of fibers but is a great fiber for a newbie.

On the bobbin right now is a batt of BFL that I dyed almost to a semi solid lilac, really intense in colour and so hard to photograph. Im spinning this as fine as I can get it, then will dye up another batt in maybe a variegated colour and ply them both, see what interesting handspun I can come up with! I want yardage, plenty yardage so I can knit it up into something.

Spinning is addictive, is an obsession, I can’t get enough of it! I must knit it up though…….Have I knitted anything with them?, Um, well. no but I will.

OH MY!!! You are an interesting lot! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading all your wonderful comments. You’ve all been so busy with lots of projects, some of you have several on the go, whilst some have just one, like me. You are a creative bunch too with some wonderful names for the handspun, very interesting.

Right…lets get down to business. I have a surprise for all my wonderful readers.

Weilangta Forest by The Thylacine 100% Cheviot approx 103yrds 94gms

Whilst you’ve been commenting on my blog, of course I’ve been spinning and guess what? This will be awarded to the second random number drawn out! OH YES, two chances to win! Doesn’t that make you squeal with joy? Woooohooo!  Just my way of saying  THANK YOU to all who have taken time to read and post a comment. You are all so wonderful!

OK…..quit the babbling, you ready…lets go! Good luck everyone.

The first number from my random number generator is  9…….Mary Ellen.

The 2nd number is 58……TJ

Congratulations and sorry to those whose number didn’t get chosen. Winners, please contact me to claim your handspuns!! This has be so fun!!! I think I’ll do another competition again someday, so please, drop by again!

]]> http://yarnsnob.wordpress.com/2009/05/10/lucky-winner-a-surprise/feed/ 17 Yarn Snob Picnik collage2 1st a 2nd http://yarnsnob.wordpress.com/2009/05/02/simple-contest/ http://yarnsnob.wordpress.com/2009/05/02/simple-contest/#comments Sat, 02 May 2009 21:02:55 +0000 Yarn Snob http://yarnsnob.wordpress.com/?p=1064 ]]>

Come to think of it, when was the last time I had a contest, a give away? A long time ago, thats when…….A skein of yarn, spun by me, on my Majacraft Suzi Pro, washed, twirled, twanged and whacked from this:

to this:

Dyed by FeltStudioUK  BFL approx 90gms 128yrds 13wpi

……….can be yours. So what do you have to do to win this? Well…..it’s simple, leave a comment, tell me something, your favoutite things, the size of your feet,  what’s in your handbag, what you’re knitting/crocheting, an embarassing moment,  what brings you to my blog, likes and dislikes, inspirations, what would you knit with this yarn, or maybe you can give a name to this handspun……anything!!! Simple!!….easy peasy lemon squeezy!

One lucky winner will be chosen using the Random Number Generator.  Last date for your comments will be Sunday 10th May and at 10pm BST when I will announce the winner. So post a comment!

Now when is that Yarnsnob going to show us some spinning I hear you all cry? Ok Ok…here goes……my first attempts, which I trashed but dug out of the bin so I can remember how crap I was! Art yarn maybe? Look closely….there are coils and plenty of them! See the twists? YAY! YARN!

It does get slightly better, really it does…..look this IS Art Yarn

…..and better still……there’s a bit of normal plying here

and navajo plying here……

a spin kept as singles…..

and…….Look SUCCESS! I did it! I’m having a real blast with my new toy……is this addictive or what!

Note to myself…..you can’t spin merino yet, so avoid until you can.

……from The Rowan Cocoon Collection, beautiful soft yarn to knit with but very delicate. Pull too hard and the yarn breaks. I have to admit, this is not one of my loved projects. I love the design but I don’t feel I suit this at all. It makes me look like I’ve gained a few pounds instantly!

Overweight + Bulky yarn = ENORMOUS! I look like I’ve had just a few many cream cakes. It’s not for me which is a shame as I do love the design so without a doubt it will be gifted to a family member, who needs a few extra pounds added to their weight.

The sleeves also came out a little too long and I also blocked this too long on the body….silly me read the measurements wrong and s t r e t c h e d it like crazy. Ah well…..at least it covers my fat butt, but come to think of it….it emphasizes it!

Rowan Cocoon  colour Scree 7.5 skeins.

Needles 6mm and 7mm

Button, from an old cardigan that Mr Snobs felted in the wash.

No mods…..exactly as pattern.

A very very warm snug cardigan for the winter. Love the yarn, love the design, just not for me