Bank Holiday curse

Don't you just love Bank Holiday weather?! It is raining as I type and looking generally grim. Plans of gardening gone awry, no visits to the duckpond or Seth playing on the slide. On the upside- no gardening and I don't have to waste water using a hosepipe since Mother Nature is doing its thing.

Also.... Bank Holidays are so busy. I would have more rest at work! Yesterday, Seth had a social engagement (birthday party) to attend and of course I'm the chaperone on his arm ;o) and he has another on Monday as it is my niece's birthday on the 28th. As you can see, he dressed to impress




















And here he is making another cheeky face for the camera.... such a star!




















I have managed some progress this week. I haven't been knitting much over the last few weeks, work and necessary resting haven't left me with much patience or inspiration. However, on friday I decided to spin the second half of the 'beach' fibre I got from FeltStudioUK on etsy. I managed to spin it all and get it plied with the first batch too. A late night... but worth it!
















It is still a little bit wet here but turned out good for my first real effort since I started spinning a few years ago. I'd just washed it and hung it to dry, but had lots of great advice from the guys on the UKSpinners group on ravelry. Next time I'll try the shock and whack method which is what most people seem to do. I'm not sure why, but physically torturing yarn seems a bit sadistic though I suppose it's a better way for relieving your frustration that some therapies ;o)

I finished the second front on the hexacomb cardigan this morning. I think if I dedicated a bit more time to the project it would be done in no time at all.... ah well. It's easy enough to pick up and put down so the rest of the back and sleeves plus neckbands are left.


















Right.... to finish up, since watching CSI:NY is just takes so much attention ;o) I urge all you guys to join UK Swap... sign ups end soon and the more the merrier!!! The blog button is on my sidebar- click it, click it now!!!

UK Swap round 2 questionnaire

Part One: Crafting

Do you knit, crochet, or both?

Both

What do you like to make?

Cardigans mostly for practicality, lacy scarves, fingerless mittens

Do you have a favourite project?

My Dahlia sweater is my favourite project to date

Do you have a favourite type of fiber or brand of yarn?

I love knitting with wool but I’m allergic to 100% wool or animal fibre. Blends are better for me.

Do you have a least favourite type of yarn?

Squeaky acrylic

Do you do any other crafts?

I spin with a drop spindle and I’d like to learn how to sew properly.

Do you knit in public? If so where do you like knitting and what is your "portable" project?

I like to knit in public but currently I’m without a regular group. I drag along any project that is easy enough to concentrate on without making too many mistakes. Unfortunately I’m not much of a sock knitting person.

What do you carry your "portable" knitting in?

One of the many felted bags I’ve knitted

Are there any knitting gifts (book, toy, yarn, item, tool) that you have been lusting over?

I really would love a yarn swift and ball winder (swoons) and would like a really good 1 skein book.

Part Two: Your Favourites
If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be (and why)?

I’d be a something colourful and feltable. Scratchy maybe at first (I’m shy) but then softens and becomes functional and useful in a heated situation ;o) Probably noro kureyon without the pricetag!!

What is your favourite colour?

Err.... I like purple a lot and cherry reds.

What is your least favourite colour?

Yellow

What scents/smells do you like? What don’t you like?

I don’t like vanilla/caramelly smells . I’m not keen on white chocolate and hate pear drops!

How do you like to pamper yourself? (bubble bath, hand creams, massage, manicure)

I love good scrubs that make you feel clean, soft and pampered and nice bath products for those rare moments I have time for a good long soak.

What goodies to you like to eat? (chocolate, biscuits, sweets,crisps etc)

I’m a quality not quantity chocolate person so good dark chocolate and love biscuits.

Do you prefer tea or coffee while you knit? Any particular kind?

I drink tea mostly at home (regular tea) but while I’m out I’m a Starbucks fanatic!

Do you listen to/watch anything while you knit? (TVshow-Along, movies, music, podcasts,

audiobooks)

I like to watch films (anything from sci-fi to action to cheesy chickflicks) and my recorded episodes of Moonlight/Blood Ties/Heroes/CSI:NY/How to look good naked. I also like to listen to rock music or the odd podcast at cast off.

Part Three: About you, Living & Past-times
If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be (and why)?

I’d be a something colourful and feltable. Scratchy maybe at first (I’m shy) but then softens and becomes functional and useful in a heated situation ;o) Probably noro kureyon without the pricetag!!

Where do you live in the UK? (General idea not address)

I live in the West Midlands (near Birmingham)

Have you always lived here, or did you grow up somewhere else?

I have always lived in the West Midlands but changed towns a few times

What is your favourite place in the UK?

I loved Cornwall as a kid and really enjoyed a stay in Edinburgh too.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I’d love to travel to Prague for the architecture; Egypt for the pyramids; Cuba for the mohitos!

What other hobbies do you have?

I like to read, watch TV and films, spin, have just learnt crochet, like to cook (mainly cakes!) and trying my best to learn to sew properly.

Part Four: The Theme
As part of this swap we are asking you to post (or link to) a picture or photograph you like. Your swap pal will use the photo as a basis for a themed item or parcel.
It could be of a specific item, e.g. Jellybeans, an Alpaca, a rainbow or a scene e.g. sunset, beach, woodland or anything else you can think of! Please add a few words to explain why you have chosen the photo if you think this is appropriate.
It could be a photo you have taken or a picture you have found on the internet. Please note - if the picture is not yours please ensure you seek permission from the owner before posting it on your blog. Alternatively, you can link to the original picture.

http://www.lanl.gov/news/albums/safety/Lightning.jpg

(That is the original link for the picture.)

I used this picture because not only does it show beautiful colours, but I am fascinated by adverse weather and how amazing and dangerous nature can be. Since a lot of knitted items are made us to protect us from the elements I thought a weather picture would be apt. I don’t expect miraculous lightning proof knits though ;o) but I thought the colours were particularly pretty.

Final Part:
Any allergies/preferences (fiber-wise or treat-wise)? I’m allergic to kiwi and 100% animal fibre yarns like wool and alpaca which make me itch and anything with a high angora content makes me sneeze and feel like I have a cold! Plant/acrylic/wool blends seem to be just fine.

Anything we missed that you’d like your partner to know?

I’d like my partner to know I have a quirky sense of humour and like patterns which show my individuality but also like classically beautiful things also.

I think that is it! Yay UK swaps!!!!

Pimp it up!!!

Hi guys sorry about the lack of blogging!

I'm making a short shout out to everyone that reads my blog to say:

UK Swap are up and about for round 2!!! YAY!

Please please please go and visit the UK Swap blog and have a look, the requirements are massive and as long as you are UK based you can join! Also.... please say in the comments I sent you!!! There is a contest going atm and everyone is entered in for some Socks That Rock yarn if they post a blog post or get a comment on the Swap site! It's all fair and I'll be commenting that I found out about it from Roo before actually looking at the Swap site. Unfortunately she can't have it as she's one of the new swap hosts.

Good luck Roo!!!!

Catch ya later.... x

Disaster!

Seriously people- I could cry right now! I finished my gift Branching Out for my great aunt’s 80th birthday last night and 5 minutes ago I thought I’d go and block it for photos etc and wrap it up. BIG MISTAKE. Since I generally use the iron for stuff like this…. well it looks like cotton, feels like cotton, knits like cotton….. I forgot it isnt cotton but maize. It also melts. Turns crispy, and spiky kind of melting. It took me months to finish this between the zillion other projects and I don’t have enough time to make another. My mum is going to donate the 100% silk mini clapotis I made her as said aunt hasn’t seen it before. I dont know whether to be grateful or insulted that she’d give it away but still. :”o(

I'm now in no mood whatsoever to be taking pictures etc etc, but I'll make my little progress report:
Hexacomb cardigan: Finished Left Front and ready to re-join yarn to right front.
Jose's handwarmers: about 80% done on the first mitt but not entirely positive I have enough silk garden for both. I got this via UKarma and only have 1 ball. The pattern uses 1 ball of kureyon so I thought it would be enough. I'm reluctant now to finish it and start the other in case I end up frogging them,.
Crosswalkers: I've turned the heel and nearly ready to do the toe on sock#1

New project: Bronte's mitts for the Fingerless Gloves Fanatics group on ravelry. I have completed the rib section of the mitt and ready to start a lace section . These are the May KAL project for the group so it will definately be a challenge to get these done before the end of the month! Normal people can make these in a few days, but with my life interfering far too much with knitting it'll be a struggle.

I'm going to curl up into the fetal position now and sob on the very immediate loss I've just suffered. Damn it!! Damn it!! Damn it!!!