First a thank you to my SP11 pal for the two books that I collected today. Maggie Righetti's book has been on my wish list for a while and the Wrapped in Comfort shawl book is so appropriate for the moment.
Second thank you goes to my Ravelry Bunkmate for a great package from Sweden - yarn, chocolate, biscuits and tea - a winning combination
Finally a thank you to everyone who has either left comments or contacted me by email and phone about my MIL. We have been told to be prepared for the worst and her injuries are horrific. The hospital staff are fantastic and we feel that she is getting the best possible care but it is still hard to comprehend.
We had a call yesterday that everyone dreads. Matt's Mum has been seriously injured in a road accident and was airlifted to hospital where they have pronounced her situation as "grave".
Posting will be more erratic than usual.
If you have sent me a parcel I know that there are 3 to be collected when we get chance and to the people I should have posted to - I'm sorry, the packages are already to go but are under my desk at work and I'll get to them as quickly as possible
The camera was in the most obvious of places - inside the sack of yarn I bought at Coldharbour Mill! It was the last thing I carried in when we unloaded the car and I meant to take photos of my purchases before putting them away to mature!
My Rowan Exchange gifts are nearly on their way to my poor , long suffering recipient.
I started with Clementine and then had a disaster with coffee. Once the next lot of yarn arrived I tried to get enthusiastic but by then the pattern was spoiled for me. I knitted a little lacey shrug using Sea Wool which I reaqlly enjoyed but felt my pal deserved more for having the patience to wait so along came this little Shoulderette using some of my favourite Koigu. I finished knitting it tonight and it's blocking!
For mindless commuter knitting I started Pike and have been enjoying working with the Jaeger EFM Chunky again - I am so going to miss this range of yarn
I'm intrigued by the construction of this and allthough moss stitch kills my hands I'm not working on this for longer than 30 minutes a day
There's birthday knitting on the go as well, one present is late (nothing new there), one may be finished on time and the third is on hold as my niece has changed her mind about what colour scarf she wants!
here's the haul from Coldharbour Mill - It was so difficult to chose between the colours!
Some Aran and some 4ply organic wool to play around with when I remember how to dye with food colouring
On the way to the till I saw the jute and thought it was about time I had an eco-friendly tote bag
The Hap is finished and I had 1 yard of yarn left!
Phew that was close..
It's currently soaking so that I can attempt to block it later today and there will be photos when I find the camera which is still hiding from me!
Although this project seems to have gone on for ages it's partly due to me playing with other projects. I think the knitting would have been easier if I had knitted one side panel at a time but then I would not have got the effect of this wonderful yarn. It has been a real pleasure using the Kauni as I love the feel and smell of wool. The Hap shawl is a simple sturdy shawl and that is what I have - Matt reckons it will do double duty as a picnic rug!
The knitting has been fairly mindless and as such has been quite soothing. I'm already missing it on the needles and am resisting the urge to dig out Rowan 42 and start on Sharon Miller's new variation!
...so little time!
The last few days have seen the arrival of IK; Vogue and Cast On magazines and a surprise gift from my SP9 - Lacy Little Knits.
I've spent today happily reading and plotting what I want to knit. I then spent time trying to work out what yarn I have is stash for each of the projects and then I calculated that if I was to make everything I want to at my current rate of knitting it will take 5+ years ..... back to reality!
I must finish the birthday knitting first and get my 2 exchange gifts blocked and ready for posting before the recipients think I've abandoned them.
I've also got to finish the hap shawl - it's the dreaded feeling that I'm going to run out of yarn that is holding me back. Wish me luck...
Still can't find where I put the camera so you can't have photos of finished items!
I wore Green Gable (though in my case it's Cupid Gable knitted in Jaeger EFM DK) today and it looked good, fits really well, I'm so pleased with it.
Last week I started Pike - a free pattern from Berrocco and it is going well, the back is done and the first front is nearly there. I also managed to knit a scarf this week and start a hat from Knitting Nature so I think the mojo is back.
Birthday and other gifts are also still appearing - I just love the sound of the postman calling me as I run for the bus in the morning. Yesterday was a bumper day with some great laceweight yarn and the Wing of the Moth shawl pattern from one friend and a second package with a wicked pair of socks and a skein of Liza Souza Baby Alpaca and Silk yarn. I wore the socks today and their bright colour made my feet happy!
Liberty's tonight was very quiet - in fact I sat there for nearly an half an hour on my own! Great to see Gill ( Woolly Workshop) and her daughter celebrating Helen's GCSE results. Gill was full of news of the new stock she has in so my fingers may have strayed along the keyboard since I got home.
Another visitor was Joan - one of our regulars who has been missing for the last 2 months after a hip replacement operation. It was good to see her mobile again and looking forward to her holiday.
The final person to turn up was Victoria. I think Victoria was the first "internet" knitter I met in London. We exchanged a few emails and I was invited to her home for a knitting group and so my social addiction to knitting was formed. Victoria very generously brought me some of her vintage Vogue Knitting magazines to add to my collection.
The new cafe is still finding it's feet, I don't recognise any of the staff (though Jacek did wander through at one stage) but I was made welcome and they seem pre-disposed to like us!
Jenn has asked us to answer a few more questions so here goes:-
1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?
A needle gauge - I have a large collection of vintage needles most of which are so worn I can't see the sizes. One of my birthday gifts this year was the needlegauge necklace from Schoolhouse Press
2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If
so, how much and what type of project?
Knitting goes with me everywhere! For my recent holiday in Devon I took Green Gable for knitting in the car; a lace project for the quiet mornings at the cottage and a secret small package that fitted in my bag for when we were out and about.
3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot?
Favourites change - for sun it's the island of Rhodes, not the top end of the island but the southern end which is less touristy. For the best view - last year's trip to Scotland and the viewfrom the Loch Melfort hotel
4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it?
Lace Style - I've knitted 5 items from it already and there are more on the needles! My copy is already looking well worn.
5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)?
I haven't listened for a while so have quite a few to catch up on. I've appeared on two! I enjoy listening to the voices of Brenda Dane and Marie Irshard
Why does the time go so fast when you are on holiday? Why do the contents of your desk explode whilst you are gone? How does the first week back at work leave you feeling you've been run over??
The laid back relaxed mood lasted until Tuesday morning and since then I've felt like a hamster on a wheel so it was great to escape London for the day and head down to Sussex to celibrate my Aunt's 80th birthday. It was a bit of a shock to meet up with my cousins and their family, especially when we worked out that the last time we had seen each other was nearly 26 years ago at our wedding.
On the knitting front it's been a week of finishing - first my 3rd attempt at a Rowan Exchange gift is now finished and packed ready to go to it's recipient with humble apologies for the delay. The second item off of the needles was Green Gable and I'm really happy with the fit. So happy I've been back onto the web and ordered two more patterns from the same designers .
Onto the needles went PIke using some of my treasured Jaeger EFM Chunky in Loam - so dark I wouldn't attempt to take a photo even if I could find my camera. The back has been my commuter knitting for the last week and is now done. I'm looking forward to the mix of moss stitch and cables for the fronts.
SP11 has started and I've heard from both upstream and downstream pals. My Ravelry Summer Camp exchange is ready to go and I'm beginning to feel that I'm completing things. Such an unusual feeling around here!
Many thanks to Nickerjac for this award!
I arrived home from holiday and checked her blog hoping to see news of Peanut's arrival - instead I found the award - here's hoping that Peanut doesn't keep you waiting much longer.
if I understand this meme I'm now supposed to nominate other bloggers, so here goes:
to Polly for giving me the gentle push into blogging and providing me with a constant source of inspiration
to Dawn who's monthly lists make me dream of being that organised
First a big thank you for all of the birthday wishes, it was a good day followed by an even better week - trust me to choose a farm holiday in the middle of a foot and mouth disease scare!
There will be photos when I find the cable to download them.
In the meantime I've decided that the best way to make up for the disappointment of SP10 is to join SP11 so here's my questionnaire:
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love knitting with wool, my all time favourite - Jaeger Extra Fine Merino DK has just been scrapped so I need to find a suitable replacement.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a 6 draw cabinet that I am trying to sort so that I get all my UK and US straights into seperate drawers.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting for over 40 years but am still a beginner in some areas and an expert in others!
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
5. What's your favorite scent?
Lavender, roses and peonies
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I love chocolate but as a diabetic I am trying to gain some willpower!
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I crochet and sew. My attempts at spinning have been unsuccessful and all future attempts must wait until I have more space!
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Eclectic tastes, currently into Welsh Folk Music
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love blues, reds, purples, browns and golds. I look ill in pastels or neutrals
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
A husband of 26 years!
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
All except the ponchos.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
hats and lace shawls
13. What are you knitting right now?
Just finished a shawl and a sweater so am looking to finish some UFO's until I can decide on the next main project
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I love them, they always give me a chill down my spine to think that someone has taken the time to make something for me.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Circulars and I've been using rosewood and ebony which are kinder on my hands
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Both but still like to wind by hand especially the finer yarns
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Must be over 15 years
18. What is your favorite holiday?
the one I've just come back from - warm weather, peace and quiet and knitting time!
19. Is there anything that you collect?
vintage patterns
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I subscribe to the UK magazines, Knitters, IK and Vogue. I'd like to see more copies of the US version of Creative Knitting
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Not new but I want to practice more Fair Isle and cables
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I'm not a sock knitter, due to arthritis I can't get the gauge I like. I love hand knit socks and treat them with great reverence! Shoe size is a UK 8 and due to diabetes I need a loose cast on/off edge around my ankles
23. When is your birthday?
Last week!!
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
Stash
Today is my birthday and I have been thoroughly spoilt by my friends!
As usual, my family gave me cash - they know I want to buy yarn and the new Rowan books. They reckon I'm difficult to buy for.....
My friends know differently. I had wonderful packages containing hand knit socks and lace shawls. I know some of you are shy and don't like your gifts being blogged about so lets just say I'm honoured to receive gifts made with such skill - each and everyone of them has been packed to go away with me as we head for Devon and a country cotttage for a week.