The Hippo Knits! (Socks mainly ....!)

Look what I got up to before Christmas ….

2012-01-05T14:16:00.001Z

This (or rather these) are the reasons I was quiet before the festive season:

Mittens for Toms girlfriends Mum

Hat & mittens for Secret Santa Box (sorry, I couldn’t find a better model)

‘Goth’ Mittens for the Secret Santa Joe was in at school (good old Mum to the rescue!)

Socks - for me

Socks - for Tom

Meeces - for me & Secret Santa

and last but not least

Hat. With antlers. For Becca (which she loves!) It’s no wonder I had no time for blogging. I can’t believe I did so much in two months!

Oh! And I nearly forgot - I’ve finished one of those socks from the Socktopus book. I made a little error in knitting it in DK instead of 4 ply so it’s really thick & squooshy. However, on this occasion, (and it’s very rare,) I actually swatched and made sure I had gauge before I started so it does fit! Result! - Ahem, excuse hairiness of leg, it’s Winter

Secret Santa

2011-12-27T11:56:00.001Z

Well, another year is almost over and when I look back I think I’ve done ok this year! I’ve achieved a lot, we’ve all stayed fit and healthy and Lola is learning to behave herself more and more each day!

This year I had my Secret Santa parcel from Sarah and she sent me the most beautiful box of goodies which Lola helped unwrap.

She was most excited to uncover this gift,

While I was much more excited to uncover this little pile of gorgeousness,

I’m not sure I managed to squeeze everything into the photo - I know it doesn’t include the lovely spinning basket she made (hem hem, made a bit of a faux pas with that one!), needless to say everything was absolutely fantastic.

The book that is peeking out at the bottom is fabulous (as you all know I’m a sock knitter at heart) and, not only is it fabulous, it is signed as someone very clever did some of the test knitting!

I have already started to knit one of the patterns - here is a quick look at how far I’ve got. Thank you sooo much for everything.

Which only leaves me to with you all a very Happy New Year and I will be back in 2012.

Still Here!

2011-12-03T17:01:00.000Z

Just writing a short blog to let everyone know I’m still here! This half-term is always the busiest and the blog is suffering I know. No time to add pictures today but next time I shall have photo’s of socks, mittens, Secret Santa items and more. I have been a busy bee both at work and home.

Tom has had a round of interviews for Universities and we currently have our fingers crossed for an offer at one of them at least. He was at the Royal Veterinary College on Monday, Middlesex yesterday and we are chugging off to Bristol on Wednesday. This time I am determined to fit in a visit to Get Knitted. Last time we went up to have a look round, his appointment was at 11 in the morning and I was going to go on the way back but as always, things overran and we just wanted to get home in the end. This time his appointment is at 2 in the afternoon, so no excuses, I’m insisting everyone gets up early so I can go on the way there!

Knitting Club has restarted at school and I have successfully taught my oppo in the office to knit socks. She is so excited! I’ve taught her magic loop and she had a bit of trouble joining in the round to start with but once she got the hang of it she was fine. In fact she’s whizzing along - she had one to one tuition on turning the heel and the gusset yesterday so I’m looking forward to seeing what she has accomplished over the weekend! I should add that she’s 47, not one of the pupils! All I have to do now is to brainwash her into seeing the benefits of having a huge stash of sock yarn!

I have almost finished my SS box and am itching to post it but I am going to wait until the 16th - the last day of school. You may all start stalking your postmen after that date. Well, that’s enough from me - I’m off to search the internet and draw up a little wishlist to leave casually lying around the house for Father Christmas to find

Spend Spend Spend!

2011-10-16T18:08:00.001+01:00

So here we are again with only one week to go to half-term. Where does the time go? I can’t believe six weeks have flown by so quickly. Last time I wrote I had just bought a ticket to the Knitting & Stitching Show at Ally Pally. Last year was my first time and I had so much fun I went back this year (hence the title!)

Here are some of my purchases:

There is some Fyberspates in there (Scrumptious Lace & Faery Wings) also a skein of gorgeous Wollmeise Twin in some lovely shades of blue – I seemed to have a ‘blue day’. The pink is also Fyberspates. A new range called Gloucester Tweed, it’s sock weight and has little ‘bits’ in it. I think it will knit up nicely – Jeni’s stuff usually does. The very pale blue is some alpaca/cashmere lace that I bought to knit a Py Shawl with. There was one on display and it was so beautifully delicate and light I thought I’d give it a go. I have found a lovely half circular one on Ravelry which doesn’t look too complicated. It can’t be any worse than Ifigenia anyway!

I also bought some needles, a little book of mini Christmas decorations and a ‘mystery’ box kit. Well it’s not a mystery to me as I’ve already knit it but you never know, it might find it’s way into Santa’s secret swap box so I cannot reveal it’s contents!! I did also buy a couple of other little bits that are definitely going into Santa’s box so they are a no go area too!

I’ve just finished this Daisy Shawlette:

I quite enjoyed this one although it took me a while to finish. I kind of lost my mojo and stuffed it at the bottom of my bag for a while! The thing that gives me hope is I ended up with more stitches here than the Py shawl has! If I’ve finished this I can finish that too.

I’ve also made these:

Just a simple pair of toe-up socks in one of the Harry Potter yarns – Draco I believe Now, what else have I been up to? I rejoined Slimming World at the beginning of term and so far have lost 11lbs – a necessary event as when it came to going back to school, none of my work trousers would do up! They do now but are still a little too snug fitting for my liking. The boys as usual are having more fun than their parents – Son no. 2 has gone off to Blue Peris in Wales today for a weeks activity holiday. He comes back next Saturday in time for half-term. Son no. 1 is off to Barcelona next Sunday for a week of fun in the sun with Explorer Scouts. Needless to say poor old Mum & Dad get to stay at home as they have no money left!!

I shall leave you with a picture of the extravaganza of a birthday cake I made for Thomas – he had a fabulous 18th and managed to stay sober(ish) in spite of several outings to celebrate.

It tasted much nicer than a bought one!

The Negligent Blogger

2011-09-18T11:59:00.001+01:00

I haven’t blogged for so long! I have been so negligent. The summer holidays have been and gone and already we’re three weeks into the autumn term. I spent most of the holidays having a wonderful crafty time and generally not missing work at all. We had a glorious week in the Lake District (which stayed remarkably dry) and then we had a long bank holiday weekend on the south coast (which didn’t!)

I have had a terrible bout of startitis and currently have three shawls OTN, none of which is getting finished. I also have a couple of pairs of socks. I have attempted Ifigenia but failed tragically. I really can’t get the hang of it. I knew it would be a challenge but it’s got me stumped! It’s a shame as the colour I chose is beautiful and deserves to be knitted into a thing of beauty. I am considering frogging her out and using the yarn for something else.

Now we’re back at school and it feels like I’ve never been away. Tom is frantically filling in his UCAS form ready for next year. He got an A and three Cs in the AS levels which I was very proud of but apparently ‘we wanted Bs’. Resits are in the pipeline for January I think. I don’t know where the time goes as he’s 18 in a couple of weeks. 18! I can still remember giving birth to him like it was yesterday. I’m so lucky as he has turned into a wonderful sensitive lad that works hard and is not a scrap of bother. Not something I would say about a lot of the others in his year group (or his brother! – just kidding Joe )

I have succumbed (with some coercement … hem hem!) and bought a ticket to the Knitting & Stitching show at Ally Pally again. For research purposes only you understand. I thoroughly enjoyed myself last year and hopefully some yummy samples will ‘fall’ into my shopping bag again this year. I know for a fact that Jeni from Fyberspates is going so that is definitely going to be one stall I stop by.

Although I have suffered from Startitis, I have also finished a few things:

Simon has been whining on about having a pair of gloves for ages. He asked specifically for this finger arrangement as he works outside and wanted to keep as many fingers warm as possible but still use his thumb and index finger. I think they were originally designed for smokers although he doesn’t (and those nails aren’t his, they’re mine. Just in case you were wondering )

This is a shawl called Little Leaves and it’s beautiful. Very easy to knit and very effective once blocked. It’s in one of my own hand dyes and there are little crystal beads attached but they don’t show up very well. The shawl is for one of my Mum’s friends as a Christmas present. My first one completed!

These are Hearts & Flowers Socks from the book Toe Up Socks for Everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed knitting these and the little picot cast off is really pretty.

So you can see I have been quite busy over the summer! I’ve also been practising my spinning and I think I’m improving!

We’re off to visit Bristol Uni. this week and I’m hoping to swing a visit to Get Knitted as we’ll be so close (well it would be rude note to pop in!) and I promise to post an update after my visit to Ally Pally.

Stop! Thief!!

2011-08-08T15:46:00.000+01:00

Eeks! This was only going to be a quick post to let you know that I have updated my shop with some new yarn – I have been dyeing a bit over the holidays and just got round to uploading all the pictures. (Takes longer than the bloomin’ dyeing!) but then I decided to show off and let you see the fruits of my labours in the garden. We don’t have a huge garden so I’ve been growing in small raised boxes but we have had quite a crop. I’ve got tons of chillies ripening at the moment too.

There were two different kinds of carrot – some of them were meant to be round! Unfortunately however, when I got up this morning, some of my remaining carrots had disappeared without a trace.

I couldn’t understand it. Who would want to take carrots? A sneak rabbit thief? But no. I discovered the culprit later on and she isn’t the slightest bit rabbity!

It seems that every time I let her out for a tiddle, she was nipping round the corner, digging up a couple and eating the evidence! Damned Beagles!! I wondered why she seemed to have such a weak bladder this morning. She doesn’t appear to like the beetroot thank goodness.

Update

2011-07-26T20:33:00.001+01:00

So, the holidays are here – woo hoo! I’m sooo looking forward to the next six weeks. I have so many things I want to do – spinning, knitting, dyeing, washing my newly acquired fleece ……!

It kicked off beautifully as I went to Fibre East on Saturday. I manned the door between 10 & 12 so hello to anyone that passed through! We never seem to get anything this yarny and exciting in this area of the Country and I had such a great time. I spent a not inconsiderable amount of money on fibre and yarn and there was such a lot to choose from I could have spent loads more. It took every ounce of will power I have not to buy a drum carder. I managed to pick up another fleece and having prepared only a small amount of the last one, I think owning one will become a necessity! I have not been blogging much lately as we’ve been having the kitchen redone. It looks gorgeous now but I spent two weeks living off of microwave dinners and takeaways. I have never been so depressed. The house was full of dust and most of the contents of the old kitchen were stacked in the dining room so we had no table to eat at – it was grim. I haven’t been able to do any yarn dyeing so my Folksy shop has been in holiday mode. I’m hoping to get some more done soon.

On the plus side,not having to worry about shopping or cooking has given me more knitting time. I recently finished this:

It’s called Dragon Fly Wings and it took only one skein of yarn. I test knitted it for the designer and it’s available as a free Ravelry Download. It’s really pretty and simple to knit and got many admiring glances at Fibre East.

I managed to snag an Ifigenia kit from Posh last week. My colour was Irreplaceable. I really wanted the ‘Big Bad Wolf’ but I popped it in my basket and by the time I got to the checkout it had already gone! I nearly passed out with panic. I thought I wasn’t going to get one! Fortunately my second choice was there but having started the pattern three times, I’m wondering how long it will take to finish! We’re off to the Lakes next week and it will definitely NOT be on my holiday knitting list.

Sooo, the Kromski

2011-06-16T14:16:00.002+01:00

Therein lies a tale! I am a new spinner as you know and I recently bought a second hand traditional which although old was lovely. The trouble is it took up a lot of space and I really, really, really wanted a folding/compact one. The other problem with my Traddy was that it was double drive and although I took it for a service, the drive band came off all the time, which was disheartening. Wheels however are expensive and my budget wasn’t looking like it was going to stretch to a new one. But then! I discovered a ‘special offer’ Kromski Sonata on the Wingham Woolworks site (ex-display model) and it sounded like such a bargain!

So, to raise funds? Well I did a bit of Ebay selling I put the Traditional on and managed to sell it for what I paid for it, so that was ok and the other half I raised by selling my trusty saxophone. Me & my sax had a love/hate relationship – I loved it and was quite happy belting out trusty favourites like Dancing Queen & Life is a Rollercoaster – I wanted to learn to play before I was 40 and I did. Unfortunately however I’m apparently not very musical and whilst I though it sounded lovely, our old labrador Oscar used to howl along every time I started and according to other family members (scowl) I sounded like a goose honking. Such hurtful criticism ! Anyway, they got fed up with me practising all the time as a) they couldn’t hear the t.v. over the sound of the sax and b) they could hear even less over the sound of Oscar. So, quite a while ago the sax went into hibernation and although I polished it lovingly on a regular basis, I decided we should part to make way for Kromski. Who is much quieter.

I am getting used to the double treadle now and she is spinning nicely but time for spinning is short as I am having a knitting frenzy. I have a sudden shawl addiction and currently have three on the go at once which is a tad confusing on the chart front but I am loving knitting them. My favourite is this one:

It’s called Lightening and was in Issue 30 of The Knitter (as you can see, I haven’t got very far!). The beads look lovely and the laceweight is some of my own hand dyed which I’m really pleased with. I originally dyed it for Spriteling but then that turned out to be a sock weight shawl so I didn’t need it. On the subject of Spriteling, I have to report that sadly I have lost mine. I popped it into the boot of the car when we were out for the day and I think it must have got caught on something and fallen out as I can’t find it anywhere. I am devastated as I loved it and the yarn was so soft! I’m going to have to CO another one because it was so pretty.

I am also knitting Daisy Shawlette – another Anni Design and a Blooming Shawl which is kind of similar to Spriteling and so pretty. Today however, I’ve been busy doing this:

I started off with quite a moody selection of blues and then came over all girly and ended up with plenty of pink. I’m just hoping the rain will stay away long enough for them to dry. I had a massive order from Folksy at the weekend which was a lovely surprise – someone bought 12 skeins! It means the shop is looking a bit empty at the moment though so I need to do an update soon.

Half-Term Happiness

2011-06-02T15:42:00.001+01:00

So, what’s happened since I last blogged? I always think “not a lot” but then when I cast my mind back I suddenly remember things. Life is hectic in our house at the moment – large amounts of revision for AS levels going on (although not as much as there could be ) Frantic searching of the UCAS site to find a University that will actually take him and copious amounts of prospectuses clogging up the living room (I think our postman has developed a hernia!) It’s all so complicated and not something I’ve ever done before so fairly stressful too!

In amongst all this joy Thomas passed his driving test – a cause for celebration at the time but now a cause of much worry and irritation as my car is never on the drive when I want it ….. Grrrr! I used to worry when he was out late on foot – it’s ten times worse now. My nerves are frazzled!!

OH and I have just come back from two days away in Stratford Upon Avon … ALONE! Shock horror! I’d forgotten what it was like to have an adult conversation and be able to enjoy a glass of wine (or beer ) at lunchtime with nothing else to do. We left Joe with my parents and Tom at home on his own. This in itself was a cue for Simon to threaten violence if there was any evidence whatsoever that a party or general frivolity had taken place in the house – fortunately he is a sensible lad and the house was as we left it when we got back! Anyway, Stratford was lovely and the weather was lovely so everything was fine!

Obviously I took my knitting – quarter of a pair of socks was knit in the car (note to self: go farther afield in future for more car knitting time.) I am having a bit of a shawl fest at the moment – I seem to be in the mood for lace knitting. I have finished Spriteling – which I love. The yarn is so soft and the edging is so pretty.

Picture is, as usual, rubbish – I really must get out my camera and stop using my ‘phone. I’ve also just knit my first ‘Ishbel’ everyone seems to have done this pattern except me so I’ve made a small one with some Gold Sparkly Fyberspates Sheila’s Sock. I’m pleased with the results and I think I shall make a large one.

I finished Tom’s socks – no photo, he’s wearing them ! Oh, and I may have accidentally bought this

So,actually, quite a lot has happened since my last blog – anyway more news on the Kromski next time – I’ve just noticed the time and I have to get Joe to the barbers!

Crikey! Easter came & went without me noticing!

2011-05-08T16:58:00.001+01:00

I’m so behind with my blogging! I can’t believe it was before Easter that I was last on – I’ve missed two bank holidays, a Royal Wedding and been back at work a week! Where does the time go? I spent most of the Easter holidays ferrying the children around and spent many an hour gripping the edge of my seat while Thomas gets practice before his next test (I try so hard to be calm but I think I’ve worn a patch where the brake should be on the passenger side!)

I’ve walked miles with Lola – can you believe she has been with us a year? In fact, it was her ‘gotcha’ anniversary on Royal Wedding day. She celebrated with a bone and Simon drowned his sorrows in a can of beer – they have a love/hate relationship – she adores him but he spends most of the time turfing her off and out of places she shouldn’t be. I have a much more laid back approach to her – we have a love/love relationship! On a serious note though, she is a totally different dog to the fat, snarly, bossy boots we adopted. The training sessions have been worth every penny and whilst she still has her moments, she is a loveable rogue that we wouldn’t be without. It’s incredible how much damage a bad home can do a dog and how hard to reverse bad habits too!

I have been sitting in the garden enjoying the glorious weather we’ve been having (in fact, so much so, that to Thomas’s absolute delight, I have ‘v’ shaped white bits on the inside of my elbows where I’ve been knitting in the sun.) Oh, how he enjoyed pointing that one out! I have also been spinning loads. I’m getting better! We had a ‘Fancy Spinning’ day at the guild a couple of weeks ago and I was able to create some fabulous batts to practice on.

Here is my latest creation. I bought the fibre from Folksy (sorry can’t remember the name of the shop without looking) and it’s made approximately 366m of fingeringish yarn. Some of it’s a bit overspun and it’s not the most even but I’m hoping to make a pair of socks with it. I skein it on a niddy noddy and 1 figure of eight on mine is 1.5m so I just skein it up, count the strands on one side and multiply it by 1.5 to get my meterage. Anyway, that’s how I was told to do it, we’ll see when I knit with it if I was anywhere near! I may end up with only one sock.

Spriteling is coming along – here is the finished Clue 2:

I’ve finished Clue 3 now too but haven’t taken a photo yet. I can’t decide which way up it should be pinned as some people in the spoilers forum have pinned the pointy bit straight and made it a triangle the other way up. Guess that’s part of the mystery!

Here are the Golden Rosebud Socks:

Not the best photo I admit but I love these socks, in fact I’ve started another toe up pair from the same book. I have decided I prefer toe up as my feet are so big, it gets the boring foot bit out of the way first!

And I took advantage of the beautiful weather to get some dyeing done. It helps so much with the drying. I’ve done some more laceweight as the summer is coming and I find it really hard to part with some of it, it’s so pretty!

And then, it was Royal Wedding Day! What a fantastic spectacle that was wasn’t it? I have to confess to being a bit disappointed with ‘the’ dress – I would have liked a longer train but the bridesmaids dress was absolutely stunning. Oh to have a figure like that!

And I shall leave you with a glimpse of the woods that we walk Lola in. The bluebells have been glorious this year.

Sunshine & spinning

2011-04-07T13:19:00.001+01:00

It seems so long since I was here! I’ve been a busy bee that’s for sure, financial year end is never a good time for me workwise – I just always have so much to do - outturn figures, new budget figures …. grrr! I was never any good at maths, goodness knows how I’ve ended up doing accounts for a living!!

Still, the Easter holidays are upon us tomorrow (2 weeks off! Yay!) I plan to spend my time relaxing, knitting and spinning and I shall be doing some more dyeing I think. The nice weather helps with drying and I love seeing how the colours come out.

Thomas has two weeks work experience at a Vets in Bedford (no rest for him!) this unfortunately means that I have to get him to Bedford for 8.30 in the morning (no lie in for me!) Also unfortunately, he failed his first driving test this morning or he could have driven himself – apparently he approached a mini roundabout too fast. Honestly, with all the bad driving I see on the roads, that seems like such a little thing!

But on to more interesting things – my craft items – mini excitement in the Lane household, apparently my ‘Shop’ is going to be featured on the Folksy Blog this Saturday (although they won’t guarantee it will be this day so keep your eyes open!) All publicity is good publicity as they say! I don’t know why they have chosen me, I think they are doing an article on yarn suppliers – the blog is HERE.

I have also signed up for the Spriteling Mystery KAL (I confess, it was me that got Sarah suckered in). Here is mine so far:

Sorry, I didn’t pin it out very well! I’ve used Fyberspates ‘Ethereal’ yarn which is a mix of cashmere and silk. It is sooo lovely and soft I think it will be gorgeous when it’s finished. It’s a very dark blue with patches of a denimy colour – I want it to go with jeans so it should be fine. I’ve only got up to row 28 so far so a bit more to do yet! I struggled with the crochet cast on and frogged back three times. I also dropped down a needle size to 4.00 mm as I didn’t like the stitch definition on 4.5’s

I’ve also been doing a bit more spinning – my wheel was a bit wobbly (apparently) but the guild ladies pointed me in the direction of man in Milton Keynes who fixed it all up and gave it the once over for the princely sum of £20. It’s much quieter now and the drive band doesn’t come off all the time like it did before – I’m not sure it’s made any difference to the way I spin though. Here is my second offering. I am getting there I just need to be a bit more consistent with my drafting I think. I’ve managed to get about 160m from 50g of roving. This was pre-dyed and had felted a bit which I think was part of the problem. Pretty colour though.

I have lots of WIPs at the moment, I must get round to actually finishing something during the holidays. I’ve finished the Rosebud Sparkly socks I was doing – no pics of an actual pair yet, sorry. I also still have Wray OTN, a little shetland bolero I bought at Knitting & Stitching, Tom’s black socks (almost done on them but he’s got such BIG feet) and another pair of toe-up socks from my new book. I have so much sock yarn I have decided to work through all my books and make one pair of each pattern using yarn from my stash. I should have loads of pairs by Christmas!

And finally. The sun has come out in Bedfordshire – Hooray for that! (Crikey that picture makes her look fat! She has lost weight honest!!)

Busy, busy, busy!

2011-03-17T13:49:00.001Z

I’m having trouble with time management and I’m getting into trouble. Apparently I’m spending far too much time on yarn related projects and not enough time hoovering, dusting, ironing & cleaning It appears that I am not supposed to come home from work and sit down with the spinning wheel or a pair of knitting needles in my hands – amazingly I’m supposed to walk the dog, cook the dinner, help with homework and complete all other chores before yarn passes through my fingers. I never realised these things were important – who knew?? I’ve been given a rota. Life is so unfair!

Still at least I get Thursdays to myself ……. here is what I did last Thursday:

I love dying my yarn, I’m constantly amazed at the beautiful combinations that come out just by mixing three colours together. The Lilac & the Peach are a new laceweight I bought which is Baby Alpaca & Silk – it’s absolutely gorgeous. I am having real trouble parting with it.

I have also managed to turn this:

into this:

and finally into this:

It’s not perfect, it’s a bit overspun and it’s very thick & thin (I think the posh term is Art Yarn!!) but, it is my first handspun yarn. I think I need to dye it but I have no idea what I could make with it or how to measure how many metres there are. I guess I will learn more when I visit the Guild.

The children at school were really excited when I told them I had a spinning wheel, I have promised to take it into one of our knitting sessions and let them have a go. I just need to get a bit better myself first so that I look super impressive!

I’ve also given up drinking wine for Lent. (I’m still drinking beer, don’t panic!) Joseph gave up chocolate and I said I’d join him – not a drop has passed my lips since the 5th March, which is quite something as it’s financial year end and that always makes me reach for the stress relief!

Oh, and as I’m typing this today, Thursday, and it’s the 17th – Happy St. Patricks Day!

Excitement 2!

2011-03-07T17:59:00.001Z

Well, I didn’t win the lot I was bidding for on Ebay but I did manage to buy this from a lovely lady on Ravelry. It is quite old but seems to work ok and I’m really pleased with it! (damned Beagle gets in every shot!)

I sent Simon on a trip to Southend to pick it up for me last week and I have been practising but so far I have only produced this bobbin full of uneven yarn.

I’ve got the hang of spinning and drafting but have absolutely no idea how to ply the yarn together. I put a plea for help in the Bedfordshire group on Ravelry and have been inundated with offers, everyone is so lovely on Ravelry! I’m going to have a lesson with a lady in Bedford next week so hopefully I will be better soon! I’ve also been invited to the local guild for their next meeting – ‘picking & cleaning your own fleece’. Simon is only just coming to terms with having to look at the wheel everytime he comes in, I’m not sure he’s ready for a ‘dead’ sheep!!

I had other excitement this week …….. I took a trip to Birmingham to see my favourite Irishman. Aah, he never, ever disappoints! Some men just seem to get better with age.

I haven’t cast on anything new lately, I’m currently working on the 2nd socks of the ‘pair’ I showed last week and I am plodding through Lily France’s 'Wray'. I don’t usually knit garments as I don’t have the patience and I worry that it won’t fit when I’ve finished. I really like this little cardie though and I dyed some lace at the Fyberspates workshop especially when I was there. There do seem to be a lot of stitches involved so it’s taking me ages. No seams though. I hate seams! However, I have joined a KAL on Ravelry for a shawl which starts soon and I'm in the mood for lace knitting so I thing I might go & cast on Ysolda Teagues 'Orchid Thief Shawlette' because I love it and it’s only little! Now, choosing which of my many stashed yarns will be the hard part

A question ……..

2011-02-24T16:25:00.001Z

I just wanted to ask if anyone has any experience of Wollmeise yarn. If so, can anyone tell me why it’s considered so fantastic? I often see it for trade on Ravelry and for sale on ebay at prices in excess of £20 per skein (in fact on ebay, there was a skein that sold for £53 recently!!!) Why? What makes it different from everything else on the market? It’s 100% Merino, but there’s a lot of that about. I just don’t get it. I’ve been tempted to bid for a skein just to find out but I just can’t see that it’s that much better than anything else. Prove me wrong someone!

I continue to dye and knit – the four parrots were a great success – Tom finished his 50km walk in 14 hours and 29 minutes in the pouring rain of Sunday. They started walking at 5.00 in the morning and finished at 9.00 in the evening! I’m so proud of him (apparently the next step is 80km which is “totally out of the question!”) . He and his three friends have raised over £900 for the local children’s hospice.

I’m having another sock attack at the moment – I’ve got two pairs on the go, well actually I’ve done a whole pair, they just don’t match! The black ones are for Tom and the other ones are for me. Tom’s are in Trekking XXL and is a lovely charcoal colour with flecks of primary colours. Mine are knitted in Fyberspates Gold Sparkle Sock. I’ve not seen gold sparkles before! It’s lovely to knit with, my only criticism is that the variegated yarn doesn’t do the pattern justice. It needs a semi solid to show it off. Also, it turned out a bit khaki – the colourway was Mauve Faeries so I thought it would be a bit more purple.

The gold sparkley bits don’t show up well in the pictures!

It’s half-term this week so I’ve not been at school – the weather has been a bit grim but we have been out and about, yesterday we drove up to Birmingham to go to Thinktank (that’s been popular lately!) Both the boys are interested in sciencey things and we really enjoyed it. I was a bit concerned that it might have been a bit young for them but they had a great time.

Today is Joe’s birthday – he’s 13, a teenager! I can’t believe it – where do the years go? He has put a special request in for his dinner – lamb steaks (expensive tastes that boy) and he’s been out practicing tricks on his scooter. Still, at least he has left me in peace! I’ve got a very small update to do for my shop – no DK at the moment but I am hoping to get some more soon.

Oh! and I had some money for my birthday that I am stalking an item on e-bay with. If I should win it will be super exciting ….. watch this space for more info!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2011-02-05T12:03:00.001Z

I seem to have so much going on at the moment, I never have time to sit & blog. My life is a constant round of work, knit, dye, not to mention the usual chores that go with having a family! How I wish I could win enough money that I could afford for someone to come in and do all the cleaning, dusting & ironing for me! I’m having great fun producing the Sugarhippo© (!!) range but it is time consuming. The dyeing part is relatively easy but the weather is not so good for the drying or photographing. I managed to take some good shots on Thursday when the sun was shining gloriously into the conservatory but I do think the photo's are still a weakness. I worry that the colours are not accurate and that purchasers will be disappointed. I know that colours show up differently on different computers so it is difficult but I’d hate anyone to not like what they brought!

Work is challenging at the moment. School budgets have been cut so much this year we are having to make redundancies. We’re only a small school so morale is low and some people have shown their true colours and been not very nice. I don’t think I have anything to worry about as I’m the only person that does the finance but you never know. In some ways it would be lovely to have a few extra hours at home but on the other hand, I have a stash habit to maintain and that doesn’t come cheap!!

So, on to the knitting. I too am incubating a bout of ‘finishitupitus’ I’m trying not to have too many things on the go at once this year. I’ve just completed this fab pair of socks. They are a pattern called ‘Rib Zagger’ which is free on Ravelry and really easy. They’re a lovely fit.

I’ve also just finished Percy. He is the first of a flock of four I am knitting for Thomas. He’s doing his sponsored Explorer walk again this year ….. dressed as a pirate ….. these are for their shoulders. I hope they withstand the 50k hike!

And while I’m on the subject of socks (or was) I bought these dinky little needles the other day – one sock at a time! They were a bit fiddly to start with but once I got used to them I was whizzing along. I’m only doing a plain sock and you just keep knitting. I can never resist trying something new.

And on that note, I shall leave you with a brief glimpse of my latest update …………..

Oh, and guess who likes to get involved when I’m taking photos?

I Forgot!

2011-01-23T12:43:00.001Z

Yesterday was my birthday & what a lovely day I had (apart from the fact that I am another year older ) I got a new food processor, some tickets to the football– yes, believe it or not I was really pleased! Some yummy chocolate and, some lovely, lovely Fyberspates yarn. I don’t think, as someone else bought it for me, it means I’ve broken my resolution does it?

Sparkle Lace in blue And Sparkle Sock in Blossom

Good choices I thought! Also, what ‘I Forgot’ was that for Christmas, Thomas bought me this book:

And I made these:

Apparently I look ridiculous in them but I don’t care, I like them!

I have been busy in the ‘dye studio’ and today I have updated with some of the laceweight I bought. It’s quite fluffy but I’ve had a look on Ravelry and there are several patterns it’s perfect for including this lovely Laminaria. I have filched a skein for myself and am going to knit this up. The skein I have kept is peach, duck egg and lemon. It’s really pretty.

Here are the latest additions to the Sugar Hippo range!:

Excitement!

2011-01-17T17:54:00.001Z

Well, it’s been all go here today. There was an armed robbery at the village post office and we were trapped in school all afternoon! Luckily no-one was hurt but the owner of the shop is over 80 so it was a terrible shock. The robber tried to get away up the road the school is in and discarded something in the road so the police cordoned off the road with tape, cones and police cars and no-one was allowed up or down for three hours. Couldn’t contaminate the crime scene could we? Anyway, it meant we couldn’t get our cars out of the car park and as I was wearing a ridiculously high pair of pink shoes (!) I was stuck until the cordon was over. Ordinarily I would have walked across the fields but they’ve just sprayed the fields with slurry so without my wellies, not likely!! It was just like an episode of The Bill although the policemen were not as good looking

Going back to work has hampered my creative ambitions and I’ve been so busy I’ve not got much knitting done, here are a few FOs from Christmas -

A terrible photo but my second Citron – for my friend Lisa’s birthday. Knitted in Malabrigo Lace which is so heavenly soft.

Yet another pair of corsetted mitts – for Thomas’ new girlfriend. (I think they only go out with him for my knitting!)

The finished bobble scarf for Amanda’s Christmas Present. Obviously this could not be given without …

the obligatory mitts! I’ve also finally finished

Nutkin, a pair of socks I started way back in April. I love the pattern but it doesn’t show up very well in this colourway unfortunately

Actually, that looks like I’ve done a lot doesn’t it? It doesn’t feel like it. I’ve also been dyeing yarn so that I can update my shop – I seem to have permanently turquoise fingers! Some things are being snapped up very quickly! (You know who you are…!)

New Year ….. New Start?

2011-01-02T15:17:00.001Z

Well that’s the Christmas holidays over for another year (well almost) so Happy New Year to all. I have absolutely no idea how I am going to get out of bed at 6.30 on Tuesday to go to work. I seem to have been staying up late and getting up late for so long now I can’t imagine getting up that early . I’m determined to get a bit fitter this year, I’m not going to diet because I don’t think that works well for me (and I love food too much anyway) so I’ve made the decision to get more exercise. Lola has really helped as I’ve been walking for an hour a day recently and I shall be keeping that up. We’ve done three 5-mile hikes over the holidays – a couple of them guided walks with the Woodland Trust and we’ve really enjoyed them so we’re going to become members and do more of that.

My other (half-hearted) New Years Resolution is to only start knitting with yarn in my stash. I decided to have a sort out during the holidays and I’ve been photographing it all and cataloguing it on Ravelry. It makes sobering reading! I dread to think how much money is tied up in yarn in my wardrobe!! So far I have put on 40 different types/colours and there is loads more I haven’t done yet. I really need to try and stick to this one as I don’t have that much spare cash. I just find it soooo hard to resist when I go shopping and I always buy with a project in mind but never seem to start said project.

I’m hoping to make the yarn dyeing work too. I’ve just bought some lovely angora/merino lace weight to dye. I hope to have it on Folksy by next week so watch this space! I’ve been fiddling around with the settings on this Blog and I’ve managed to create a link directly to the shop. Just need to work out how to drum up more business now! Huge thanks to everyone that’s bought yarn already

Secret Santy has been!

2010-12-21T13:51:00.001Z

and unlike Barbara, I haven’t been able to wait until Christmas day! In fact, it came at just the right time as I have been in bed since Saturday with a dreadful flu bug thing. It’s typical for me, I was fine on Thursday, woke up Friday (last day of term) feeling ropy and went steadily down hill from there. Honestly, I’ve never felt so rough, all I’ve wanted to do is sleep but that’s enough whingeing from me …… Secret Santy’s parcel arrived this morning and really cheered me up. There were some absolutely beautiful things in the box – I loved them all.

The yarn is a POSH Aran and is the most stunning colour – so ‘me’! But I have to confess that my most favourite item was this exquisite creature …..

Isn’t she absolutely adorable? I have given her pride of place on my tree and I simply must have the pattern to make them for everyone next year!

I am so grateful, the parcel was, as last year, a wonderful surprise and I am constantly amazed and thankful for the lovely cyber friends I’ve made out of one bad experience. Every cloud!

Oh & finally, here is a photo of my intrepid scent hound out in the park tracking rabbits …… we’ve had so much snow and yet I’ve missed all the fun!

Merry Christmas every body

Praise Indeed!

2010-12-12T13:18:00.001Z

Thank you all for your kind words regarding my hand painted yarn! I was quite taken aback! Inspired by your enthusiasm I have finally got my Folksy shop up and running with all the yarn I have produced on it. At the moment there is only one skein of DK but I do have some more I can do – colour requests welcomed! I have tried to be reasonable with the pricing and would appreciate any feedback you have to give (maybe by e-mail if it’s constructive criticism?! You can be brutal, I can take it and want to get things just right. My shop can be found here: http://www.folksy.com/shops/SugarHippo. I haven’t got the banner and the ‘pretty bits’ quite right yet but I’m working on them.

Christmas is coming ….. and I am so Behind!

2010-12-09T12:24:00.001Z

So, as usual, it’s the last week of term, a week before Christmas and I am behind on my schedules for presents. My Santa box is pretty much ready to go, it just needs wrapping but that’s about it!

We’ve had a hectic and very expensive few weeks – Thomas is learning to drive and my car insurance was due so we decided to add him as a named driver – BIG mistake! My insurance went up from just under £200 a year to (wait for it) £1,100!!!! I only have an old car, admittedly it has quite a large engine but even so. Never fear others who may be in this predicament soon, apparently it’s cheaper to insure for girls, they are not such a high risk!

To add to that, Lola had to go to the vets as she was having trouble with her lady parts. At one point we were considering buying her TENA Beagle pants as she was tiddling everywhere. Turns out she had several very large bladder stones that had to be removed at another not inconsiderable three figure sum. No wonder my Christmas present buying has gone out of the window. There is light at the end of Lola’s tunnel as fortunately because she’s such a pig, I insured her a couple of months ago. I just have to pray that they pay up now She is absolutely fine now (apart from having a very cold tummy in the snow due to being shaved!) She is not happy about going out at all! I’m sure it will grow back soon.

I had a list of things I needed to knit before Christmas but somehow I’m not getting very far. Every time I finish something, I get a request for something else ‘small, that won’t take you very long’ like blanket for a dolls pram (Mother!) People (Mother) just don’t understand how long these ‘small’ items take. Still, if anyone’s present is being put behind schedule it is Mothers. I just hope I can sit and knit for hours at a time when we’ve broken up ……. but then, I always hope that and it never seems to happen ……. where does the time go?

I have had more success with my yarn dyeing. Here are some skeins I have dyed and that are for sale …… well they will be if I ever get them on my Folksy shop. All enquiries welcome before then! I am really pleased with them, especially the red, gold & green one. Do let me know what you think because obviously this is only my first batch and I would love all the feedback I can get. It’s difficult to get the colours just right on the computer too.

Hope to blog again before the New Year but if not, have a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful, restful break.

Fun!

2010-11-18T11:51:00.001Z

Greetings one and all! I have many things to report, well show! Last week I drove out to Oxfordshire to visit the Fyberspates warehouse/shop and take part in a dyeing day with Jeni and two other lovely ladies. I picked a dreadful day to go, the weather was atrocious and both the M1 and M25 had accidents on and were closed, consequently a 75 minute journey took me 2 and a half hours That said, I had the most wonderful day! I dyed 6 beautiful skeins of yarn and learnt so many new techniques I have been inspired to give dyeing my own yarn a go – you never know, the lucky recipient of my Santa box may even get some to sample! So far I have only used part of one of my skeins – these funky mittens were made using 50g of Scrumptious Aran which I lovingly dyed Carmine Red:

And as promised, here are the pairs of gloves I made for Emma & Thomas:

Tom’s aren’t so pretty are they? He likes them though, apparently they are ‘toasty’! I don’t think Emma had better get too attached to my knitting as I fear the romance is on the wain. Tom has definitely been trying to cool things down recently but I don’t think she’s taking the bait! Teenage love huh? I’m trying not to get involved as it’s something he has to work out himself – one of life’s lessons I think. I’ll just be here to pick up the pieces at the end! I think the rot started to set in when he went back to 6th form, Emma hasn’t gone back, she’s gone to college instead and I think their friendship groups have just started to drift apart. I will be sad if they split though because she’s a lovely girl (and she appreciates my knitting.)

I have started my knitting group at school and that’s going quite well although two of the boys have quit already! No stamina! I wasn’t too disappointed as one of them just didn’t ‘get’ it and on the first day when he was told to tidy up, he carefully slid all his stitches off the needle and shoved them in a bag so that he could put the needles back in the plastic case they came in – doh! The girls are sweet and although struggline a bit with the concept, they are at least persevering. There are a few holey teddy scarves coming along nicely!

Everyone should know who they are making up their Christmas boxes for now – as a guide to the person making mine, I love all bright colours but I can’t bear Orange anything! No orange yarn, marmalade, jaffa cakes or orange chocolate please! Bleargh! I’m already having fun choosing things to put in mine. Anyway, that’s all for now. Have to rush to collect Lola from the Beagle Parlour where hopefully she will be waiting for me a lot less smelly than she was and with nice short claws!

Poor Neglected Blog ….

2010-10-27T11:24:00.001+01:00

I’m sorry. I feel bad. I have neglected you for far too long. Hopefully I can make amends today ….. I have no excuses, except that I’ve been busy. Doing what I can’t really remember but I have been busy.

It’s half-term already so school’s out (yay!) We’ve been away to the New Forest for the last three days and I’m now back full of beans and with a stinking cold – flipping heck! I have cossetted myself under the duvet with 6 balls of very squeaky acrylic DK yarn that I am winding into 50g balls as I have agreed to start a knitting club at school when we go back. I know, I know, what a silly thing to agree to – all those dropped stitches and whines about not being able to cast on. There is a good reason I hide in the office where there are no children. I will let you know how I get on.

I went to Ally Pally the other week – wow! I felt like a kid in a sweet shop. Fabulous exhibitions, lovely, lovely stalls and soooo much wool. I had a budget. I overspent. I bought this ….. (actually, I bought another skein of the stripey sock yarn too but I’ve already knitted that).

And this kit …..

And the kit for this fabulous bobbly scarf – it kind of looks like an egg-box and I loved the texture. Plus, it’s 100% alpaca and is lovely and soft

I’ve just finished this …..

Which is the first instalment of the Fyberspates Christmas Club. It’s in some lovely super chunky yarn and only took an evening. It’s really, really soft and snuggly. I just have to decide who to give it to now!

I’ve also finished two pairs of fingerless mittens, one for Thomas and one for Emma. Sadly I haven’t been able to take pictures of either pair at the moment as they won’t take them off! (There I knew I’d been busy!) I will post photos soon I promise.

Anyway dear blog, have to sign off now as I have a pile of ironing to attend to and as it is not top of my priority list, it is starting to look like the leaning tower of Pisa. Until next time xx

Feeling sorry for myself

2010-09-24T17:35:00.001+01:00

I’ve been to the dentist. I hate the dentist. I’ve been putting it off for weeks but the pain in my tooth was stopping me eating chocolate so I had to go. I crept in thinking it would just be a quick filling and 50 minutes later I’d had (very unexpected) root canal treatment which I’ve got to go back to have finished off. I left with a numb face, a temporary filling (that has already chipped) and an empty purse. Now the feeling’s come back I’ve got a bruised cheek and eye from the needle and I appear to have had some kind of allergic reaction to the anaesthetic (according to the doctor I had to see this morning) and my mouth has erupted in ulcers. I knew there was a reason I hated the dentist.

Back to work blues ….

2010-09-15T19:07:00.001+01:00

So that’s it then, summer over and we’re all back to the mundaneness of work/school/wash/iron/dust/hoover/repeat – bah humbug! Which reminds me, it’s nearly Christmas :(

Loads of new ‘routines’ have been introduced at work, which have not gone down well with everyone so it’s not the happy place it could be – I hope it will settle down soon …… maybe I need to arrange a night on the town for us …… most things can be fixed with a curry and a few glasses of wine!

My knitting is coming on, I’m trying to get down the pile of started items so that I just have one on the go again. I’ve become addicted to Fyberspates yarn and I’ve just done a really nice ‘swap’ in their group on Ravelry. Everyone was paired up with someone else and we chose either a shawl or socks, we then posted a skein of Fyberspates from our stash to our partner who knitted the chosen item and posted back. It worked so well! I was a bit daunted as I had to knit a pair of socks for someone I’ve never met. We had a month to get them finished and here is the pair I knitted:

I chose socks too and here is the pair I received from my partner:

Such a simple idea but it really worked and I got a lovely new pair of socks out of it!

Would love to do the Christmas box again if all are interested and finally, just in case you didn’t believe that the weather is drawing in and the nights are getting colder. Here is our pesky Beagle as she has taken to sleeping these days. Beagles do like their comfort (and to be warm too it would appear!)

Quick Update …..

2010-08-24T18:15:00.001+01:00

Just to let you know, Thomas has done us proud! He passed all 13 of his GCSE’s – 1 A*, 3 A’s, 5 B’s, 3 C’s and a Merit. He worked so hard and we’re chuffed!

Gosh! The holidays are nearly over already!

2010-08-18T13:32:00.001+01:00

Where did they go? I only have 9 days left before I have to go back to work – groan! Actually, I should stop whingeing shouldn’t I? I’m lucky I get such long holidays ….. sorry folks!

I have been really busy since we broke up. I’ve done a lot of knitting ……. but don’t seem to have finished anything! I’ve got three pairs of socks on the go now (I have discovered the wonder of toe-up-2-at-a-time and I love them). I frogged the Volt as it really didn’t want to be knit in Kidsilk Haze. I will invest in some other yarn and start again. My felicity cowl is sitting half-finished OTN – it’s too warm for it at the moment and I started this in the Kidsilk Haze instead and it’s coming along nicely. I have also started another Citron in Malabrigo Lace – startitis has set in I think! I promise to finish something and post piccies soon! By the way, has anyone spotted my nifty little tool from Ravelry? (on the right) It links all your projects and the progress bar into your blog! I was impressed!

I survived Explorer camp, with several (very large) bruises for my efforts. I shimmied (not really) up the climbing wall – 15ft and abseiled down – woo hoo! I banged my knee on the way up and had a bruise the size of a dinner plate – I didn’t even realise I’d done it until the bruise appeared – battle scars at my age! I rode a horse …. and trotted (poor horse!) and I learnt some knots a new card game and discovered that teenagers are really not like humans at all!

Last week we went to Center Parcs in Longleat which was lovely if a little tiring! Cycling, kayaking, badminton and all that swimming, I need another rest. I wouldn’t mind but I haven’t lost an ounce! You’d think with all that exercise I might have lost just a little bit of weight. We also visited Longleat Safari Park where we were able to feed these greedy things:

Talking of weight, Lola on the other hand has lost 8 Kg. She is looking much more sylph like and slender. She still has a lovely little spotty pot-belly though! Her behaviour has improved enormously but she does have her moments. I’m still taking her dog-training and she absolutely adores doing the agility course but has trouble with some of the fences as her legs are a little stumpy!

We also took a trip in to London and visited Madame Tussauds recently, I’ve never been there before and was a little disappointed. Except by this one …….

Joe was quite clearly not as enamoured as I was. If only it had been the real thing! =D

Just next week to get through now - GCSE results on Tuesday and I think Thomas’ nails are bitten right down already. Fingers crossed that everyone gets the results they want – what a stressful time!

Sad

2010-07-14T18:56:00.001+01:00

I am really sad this week as my two lovely guinea pigs passed away over the last few days. They picked up some mystery respiratory infection and the vet couldn’t save them. Little Sherbert only lasted a few hours after falling ill but poor Pip suffered for 4 days. She couldn’t eat or drink and I had to mix up milk & bread and pipette it down her little throat to give her nourishment but she didn’t pull through. I have no idea where they got the infection from as the weather has been really good but the vet thought it may have been something in their hay. =’(

At last ……

2010-07-01T20:05:00.001+01:00

I’ve got around to updating my blog! Life sure has been hectic around here lately – all I seem to do is work and run the children around. Thomas has finished his exams now and is either asking me to run him to the next village to meet his friends or draping himself over the furniture like an overgrown sloth. I’m not sure I can stand another 11 weeks! He’s got some work experience at a local vets for next week so that will get rid of him! I do think he’s slightly weird though …… he did one day there this week and came home very excited as they’d given him a cat’s uterus to ‘play’ with …… I believe they were speying the poor creature so the uterus was no longer required!

Joseph, son no. 2 is the complete opposite to Thomas and comes in from school, changes his clothes and immediately goes back out to play sport with his friends. At the moment this does not involve too much running around in the car, he’d rather take his bike! I expect I’ll just get rid of one and the other will start being a nuisance.

Lola is a constant source of amusement – she is slowly losing her bad habits. She is a very loveable Beagle and doesn’t seem to mind being fussed. Here is a photo of her that some will find amusing and others will shriek in horror at …..

Yes, that is my Tilia she is wearing. Apparently they were ‘trying to make her look like Grandma Beagle’ Grrrr! Here she is after being sent to her crate in disgrace last weekend for stealing a baguette from the table ……. she didn’t want to go and clearly felt if she climbed in the pot of compost in the garden, she would become invisible. It didn’t work.

Aah yes! The dog training is going well =(

I’ve not had a lot of time for knitting recently but I do have several items OTN at the moment – progressing very slowly unfortunately.

I’m knitting this:

in various shades of Kidsilk Haze – very hairy, I didn’t realise it would be so hairy!

I’ve just finished this Citron shawlette

in some POSH Daisy Sock – I just love this yarn and the colour.

I’ve started this in preparation for the winter:

In some Fyberspates Scrumptious I had in my stash and I’m yet to finish my Nutkin socks, although I am halfway through the foot part now.

Right, well that’s me done for another wee while. I’ll try and update sooner next time – it’s nearly the summer holidays so I will have plenty of time then. Although, I’ve just remembered I’ve signed up to go to Explorer camp with Thomas and I shall be abseiling, sea kayaking, rock traversing (?!) and horse riding amongst other things ……. I must be mad!

Crisis in the Lane Household ….

2010-05-23T11:02:00.001+01:00

Disaster! Unmitigated disaster! I got up on Monday to get ready go to work and my hair straighteners went bang! I’ve had to go to work all week looking like this:

Now, Hair Bear was a particular favourite of mine back in the 70’s but I have no desire to look like him now – I am pleased to report however that my hairdresser kindly ordered me a new pair of GHD’s and normal service has been resumed. I am back to being as sleek and gorgeous as ever ;-D

Talking of gorgeous – here is a photo of my delightful son and his girlfriend on Prom. night. He looked so smart and she looked so lovely. All the children (although they’re really too old to be called children!) looked fantastic. All so grown up – I hate to think how much money had been spent on dresses and shoes!

On the dog front, Lola has been much better behaved this week. We’ve taken her to dog training (intensive dog training I might add, at extortionate cost) and she is much, much better. She has begun to understand that she is the dog and I am the boss - finally. Here she is looking lovely. She is still on her diet. I looked up the ‘ideal’ weight for a Beagle and it is between 10 & 13 kg. Currently Lola weighs 20 kg!!! Oh dear. We have a long way to go!

I have been knitting lately but not as much as normal – the time just seems to disappear. I don’t have any photos to show except this,

that I made for Emma. I don’t know why. She just said she wanted one!!

Lola is here ….. hmmm!

2010-05-03T11:11:00.001+01:00

Well, Lola has arrived. I picked her up Thursday and we are all adjusting to her presence! Her too! I let her into the house to have a sniff around when I got her home …….. she bounced up stairs, off all the beds, off the sofas etc. etc. She was quite excited! Since then she hasn’t been too bad. She has already learnt that she is not allowed upstairs or on the furniture – reluctantly I might add – but learn she has. The first night she set off our burglar alarm scratching at the doors but since then she hasn’t been any bother. Me & her get on fine! She loves me & for some reason, she loves Joe ….. well his socks! She has been constantly raiding the laundry basket but all she wants are Joe’s dirty socks. She’s eaten two pairs!!

We have a long way to go. She jumps up at people, which I don’t like - particularly as she has very sharp claws. It’s no wonder she is fat, she tries to steal any food she can see – even the guinea pig’s. I though Labradors were greedy but believe me, Beagles are worse – she eats things Oscar wouldn’t touch (like cucumber!). She has growled & snapped a couple of times, which is concerning. She seems to have a fear of men in general and I suspect she has been ill treated by one in the past. She is fine with the boys & Simon but wasn’t keen on my Dad to start with. Also, when Simon scolded her for stealing bacon (!) she ran and cowered under the table shaking and would only come out to me. Isn’t it sad the way some people treat their animals? I am hoping that as she learns to trust us she will get better.

Anyway, that’s my brief update. Most evenings so far she has been like this ……

Which is a relief!

Update! Lola is coming ….. what have I done?!

2010-04-27T16:54:00.001+01:00

Well as the title says, Lola is coming. Here she is:

Believe me, she is fatter than she looks! We went to see her on Sunday and all thought she was adorable. We took her for a walk and whilst she sniffed at everything, she wasn’t at all bothered about other dogs and she didn’t pull on the lead. She was friendly and affectionate and waded through all the puddles. Even Joseph liked her and he is VERY picky about dogs since an incident with a Yorkie when he was 2 (a story for another day perhaps!) so we said we’d have her. The rehoming centre came to visit yesterday and pronounced us ‘fit parents’ so I am going to pick her up on Thursday.

On the downside :( since I told people we were going to get her, I’ve heard nothing but bad tales about Beagles. ‘Never let her off the lead – she’ll just disappear and you’ll never see her again’ - ‘oh no! not a beagle! They’re really possessive and never do a thing they’re told!’ – ‘A Beagle?! You’re not going to leave her alone in the house are you? She’ll destroy it!’ and so on and so on. What have I let myself in for???? I just hope they’re all wrong and she’s the dopey lump of lard she appeared to be! I’m used to a dozy old labrador. Apparently the only thing Beagles and Labs have in common is a desire to eat everything in sight!

Looks like my blogs could be full of fun in the coming weeks …… watch this space! Just as long as she stays away from my knitting ……

You’re all so kind!

2010-04-22T16:17:00.001+01:00

I know I don’t usually blog this quickly but I wanted to say thank you for all your kind comments. Believe me there are several chins and I weigh a stone and a half more than when I left Slimming World – I have all these clothes I can’t get in anymore and I seem to have been wearing the same pair of trousers to work every day for as long as I can remember. The blubber has to go!

I did start the Violet Green shawl and knit about 40 rows but I really didn’t like it! It isn’t as complicated as it reads (but I did find a crochet hook useful for the ‘pull over’ stitches). I’ve frogged it all and started a different shawl in the same yarn (which I did like).

I took socks on holiday with me, I find them easy to travel with! Some lovely POSH yarn and the pattern is Nutkin – they’re coming along nicely. (These aren’t my socks – I got them from Ravelry. They’re just to show you what the pattern’s like!)

I love the crochet everyone is doing at the moment. I learnt to crochet when I was 9 – we had a lovely native French teacher at my school and she taught us every Friday – I think they must crochet a lot in France. I spent many an hour in the summer holidays making granny squares into blankets! I must get my hooks out again.

Right, I’m going to blow my sons trumpet now so apologies for the indulgence! He’s also currently taking his GCSEs and yesterday came home with results of two of his science modules – Biology & Physics – A* on both with 100% on each paper! I’m so proud of him! He wants to be a Vet and has worked really hard this year. He’s also started spending every Saturday doing volunteer work at the local dairy farm for experience – he stinks but he seems to enjoy it and he knows he needs this kind of thing for his university applications. I’m finding this year really stressful and I know the next two won’t be any better. We’ve been looking and every Vet Med. course is oversubscribed :-(. For every 50 places there are 300 applications – and if he does manage to get in, we’ve got the cost to look forward to! Being a parent is hard work!

Tales of Sunshine

2010-04-21T17:40:00.001+01:00

Ah looks like we were kind & bought the good weather back with us! And we made it back before all these terrible flight cancellations. One of my friends has been stuck out in Orlando for an extra week (wouldn’t you be gutted?!) although seriously, I think it’s cost her an awful lot of extra money – she’s managed to book a flight for tomorrow so fingers crossed. Anyway, thought I’d show you a couple of photo’s from my recent trip to Cyprus.

Firstly, the delightful goat cooking! And being taken off the skewer (I think you can just make out his head!)

I shan’t be ordering my own one any time soon. Maybe if it had been chops rather than ‘whole’ I might have been more keen. They even took the eyes out and put them on the plate ….blergh!!

Enough of that – here’s me, caught knitting (and looking windswept). Not a good photo. I didn’t realise I had so many chins :-( However, the scenery is spectacular! And I’ve included one of all of us (I don’t look quite so windswept in this one) I have only put this in as I managed to set the camera up and run back so that it went off automatically and I’m quite proud of it!

Anyway, on the subject of chins, since I spotted this photo (and others of a swimsuit that I am not prepared to publish!) I’ve been considering going back to Slimming World. So, spookily last Wednesday a leaflet for them dropped through the letterbox. Then on Saturday I had an e-mail saying they had a new leader and inviting me along and then I had a ‘phone call at work today from the lady asking if she could put a poster on my noticeboard!! Do you think it’s fate?! The stalking has worked anyway, I’m going back on Monday.

And finally, I have more exciting news (well I hope so). We have been long mourning the death of dear old Oscar …….

But he’s been gone three years now and we have finally decided we’re ready to get another dog. We can’t have a puppy as I work during the day but the local rescue centre has the most beautiful (looking!) 4 year old beagle called Lola looking for a new home. She is incredibly overweight and hasn’t had any exercise as she’s been neglected but the centre have told us she’s a lovely, friendly dog that just needs loving. We are going to meet her on Sunday and if all goes well and she likes us, I hope that we can become her new family. Keep your fingers crossed …. I’ll keep you all informed!

Update!

2010-03-31T19:11:00.001+01:00

Teresa loved it! I handed it over with trepidation, well actually I snuck in and left it in her classroom so I didn’t see her face, in case it was disappointed! But no! She loved it. We hugged and cried and hugged again and I am sooo gonna miss her! She is such a fabulous teacher - arty, musical and totally ‘into’ the children – a real ‘teaching comes from the heart’ kind of girl and there will be a big hole in the staff now.

Anyway enough sentimentality, I don’t do that very well! Yes please! More bead stitch ideas – those instructions were so simple to follow. I think that’s why I got on ok with it. So more ideas gratefully received.

Thanks for the photo tips too. I think I will look into the Open University course. If it’s only ten weeks I should be able to manage it and I would really like to get better. Good idea!

‘Tis Finished!

2010-03-29T20:52:00.001+01:00

I apologise for neglecting my bloggy duties recently but my fingers have been working nineteen to the dozen to get my Katerina shawl finished. It has to be handed over on Wednesday and I finally finished the knitting on Friday. It is knit in two halves and had to be grafted together down the middle, which was a challenge – I’ve only ever grafted 8 stitches together before for sock toes! 127 was time consuming but worth it as you can’t see the seam. It feels absolutely beautiful and I think I might knit one for myself in a different colour (this colour is really not me but I know my friend will like it). The only criticism I have is that my tension was completely different for each end! I don’t understand it as I used the same needles – literally as they are my Knitpro interchangeables and I just unscrewed the ends – but the tension on the first half was much looser than the second half. I don’t think a non-knitter will notice! The lace holes are just larger at one end and I’m a perfectionist!! I really hope it is appreciated! The blocking wires were an absolute marvel in blocking it out. I just put them all around the edge and pulled! I did use rather a lot of pins though!

In between the knitting I’ve tried my hand at a bit of beading with some of the beads I swapped my fibre for. Here are my first two bracelets using a spiral bead pattern I was sent. The first one is lovely and you can really see the ‘spiral’ of the beads. For the second I used a small cube bead on the outside rows and it created a completely different look. I’m really pleased with them.

I ought at this point to apologise at my lack of photographic expertise. I take truly bad photos. I think I might sign up for an evening class in digital photography just to do my knitting justice!

Finished!

2010-03-11T10:22:00.001Z

Finally something finished on deadline. My Scroll Lace Scarf is done and is now blocking ready for Mother’s day. It looks really pretty and the blocking wires have given it a lovely straight edge – much better than just pins.

Here it is:

The astute among you will remember that I said I was going to knit it in Colinette Cadenza in ‘Bright Charcoal’ which this is clearly not! The Colinette is variegated and it just didn’t do the pattern any justice so I frogged and started again in Debbie Bliss Rialto (which is lovely to knit with). Hopefully my Mum will like it!

So, that done I get to concentrate on the shawl. I’m using Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend for that and it’s lovely and soft. The sun has not been shining here this week and it’s freezing but we’re off to Cyprus soon which will at least be warm! Hopefully when we get back spring will have sprung completely!!

A Confession!

2010-03-07T15:33:00.001Z

Remember the knitting Olympics? Well, as usual I bit off more than I can chew and blew it! I didn’t finish my item by the time the flame went out (in fact I haven’t finished it at all yet!) Yes, yes, I know I said I needed it for the 25th for Amanda’s birthday but Amanda got a beautiful room scenter instead (I don’t think she noticed – mainly because I never mentioned the scarf). Anyway, she was delighted with the room thingy so that was ok. The Scroll Lace Scarf is still OTN and I’m now thinking of using it for a Mother’s Day gift instead. I think I should just about get it done by Sunday ……! Hence, I don’t feel that I can display the gold button on my blog :-( - it would have looked so pretty too.

The reason the scarf didn’t get done is my Katerina shawl. I spent all half-term plodding on with it and I’m about half/three quarters of the way now. I have no option with this, I have bragged to anyone that will listen that I’m giving it to Tre. as her leaving pressie and as she leaves on the 31st March, I just have to get it done. It looks beautiful and I’m assured she will love it but I can see sleepless nights ahead as I rush to get it finished and blocked in time – why are there only 24 hours in a day???

Oh and now I have beading I want to do and I still have to go to work and do all the chores etc. etc. How do other people manage? Grumble grumble. On the plus side though, Boyzone have a new album out which was just made to listening to while you knit ……! Result.

Swaps & Other Exciting things!

2010-03-02T11:26:00.001Z

I have found something to swap! I’m happy to swap for beads or yarn – hopefully you will like my find! Whilst rifling through my wardrobe I came across this bag of 100g of roving needing to be spun. As you may remember I had a brief flirtation with a drop spindle, however, the relationship was doomed from the start and the spindle and I are no longer friends :-(. However this fibre is lovely stuff and it is looking for a new home. It’s 70% merino/30% silk and is in a colour called ‘Mango Swirl’ . It’s hard to tell from the photo but it’s orange/goldy with pink & purple swirls in it. It really is very pretty & I’d love to see what it looked like spun into yarn. Are there any takers?

Also, I treated myself to some blocking wires last week and they arrived today!! Yay – I’m hoping they will make pinning out shawls much easier. I found this brilliant site called Hulu and the wires were only £19.95, which I thought was a bargain. I’ve been looking for ages and you only seem to be able to get them from the States, which is too pricey. They have lots of other nice things on their site too so I’m sitting on my hands again and Simon confiscates my cards when I come home from work …….

As far as adventure goes I’m not doing so well but I’ve signed up for the ‘Race for Life’ again which is a start. I’ve also agreed to run it wearing a pink tutu and bunny ears this year so I suppose that’s quite adventurous. I really must get out more.

And finally, I’m pleased to see that spring has well and truly arrived! Look at the beautiful blossom on my nectarine tree!

Day One ……

2010-02-15T16:14:00.001Z

Not as much knitting done as I’d have liked ….. darned housework! Here are some pics of my latest finished projects. I made the hat from the leftovers from the Centrique scarf, unfortunately I had miscalculated and ran out towards the end. I couldn’t get another skein the same colour so I chose the purple for the band (I don’t think anyone will notice!)

The socks (looking a bit out of shape and I whipped them off his feet) are the ones Thomas had for his walk. I finished them an hour before he left!! They are my first official pair of two-at-a-times and he was the only one in his group that didn’t get any blisters – I think that was all down to the socks ;-D

Half-term ….. and more knitting

2010-02-11T10:12:00.001Z

Ooh! It’s half-term next week and (I hope) a considerable amount of knitting will be done. With this in mind I have signed up for the Knitting Olympics – see Yarn Harlot’s latest blog for details. I shall be knitting this:

Which is a Scroll Lace Scarf by Ysolda Teague. I love it and I shall be beavering away to get it done by the 25th as a gift my friends birthday. I shall be using Colinette Cadenza DK in Bright Charcoal and it shall be loverly!!

I may have over stretched myself as I am already behind on the Katerina Shawl and I’ve got to finish Thomas’ socks in time for his 30K walk ……… tomorrow night ……..! Goddamn I wish he didn’t have size 11 feet. If he was a nice dainty girl I’d have finished by now. The foot seems to go on forever!

I woke up this morning with a feeling of deja vu as the ground was white with snow again (grrr!) but hopefully it will not hang around this time. Surely spring must be nearly here? Also I am particularly grumpy at the moment as we are going to Cyprus for Easter and my bikini body is currently a hessian sack body so I’m back at good old slimming world trying to lose those excess Christmas pounds. I am whiling away the hours on the Wii fit and not drinking alcohol – doom & gloom. I hate this time of year :-C

Here is the beginning of the Katerina – I’ve got more of the main pattern done now and will post a better pic. soon and on that note, I’m off to boil the kettle (black coffee is still allowed!) I’m then going for a mooch round my LYS for some retail therapy ……. and more sock wool no doubt!

Domestic Goddess? Well I try!

2010-01-21T11:25:00.001Z

So here I am having a fab. day off! I got up early. Cleaned. Tidied and baked a huge batch of muffins to take to school tomorrow as it is my **rd birthday (I know, I know, I don’t look it ……!)

They’re blueberry by the way.

I have Ronan playing (loudly) in the background – always a good thing – and I’m just going to sit down with a coffee and CO a Katerina shawl that I’ve seen in Knitty magazine. I rather splurged on the yarn – Manos del Uruguay, Silk Blend – so I have high hopes for it. I’ll keep you posted.

The snow has gone – hooray! My car starts again now – new battery needed. Simon’s however is still in the garage waiting for parts to arrive – how long can they take??? Work is going well – although the Head is definitely coasting to retirement!

I bought some Fyberspates Scrumptious before Christmas and I’ve used it to knit this ….

It’s called Centrique and I bought the pattern from the Fyberspates website. The Scrumptious is a silk & merino mix and knits absolutely beautifully. I love it! I have enough yarn left over to knit a pair of ‘Fetching’ mittens too – result! Not being one for too many things OTN at one time – I only have two pairs of socks on the go at the moment. One pair for Thomas as he requested a new pair for hiking. He’s doing a 30Km walk with Explorers in February in aid of the local Children’s Hospice so how could I refuse?! And a rather strange ‘odd’ pair for a KAL with the Odd Socks group on Ravelry. They should be interesting! When they arrive back I’ll post some pics!

Well Katerina is calling so must go CO. x

More Snow???!

2010-01-13T18:56:00.001Z

Right! That’s it! I’ve had enough now! No more snow please. The roads are awful and I’m fed up with being cold. I want to sit in the conservatory window bathing in warm sunshine now. Enough is enough.

Snow, Snow & More Snow ….

2010-01-10T13:02:00.001Z

Well would you believe it? After my last blog praying for more snow, that’s exactly what we got. Last week I only worked 2 and a half days – fantastic! Joe got to use his new sledge – in fact, I didn’t see him between 8 & 4 either Wednesday or Thursday and I haven’t seen him an awful lot this weekend. Off he trots dressed up like the abominable snowman with his sledge under one arm and I don’t see him again until he’s hungry! Me on the other hand, I’ve whacked the heating up high and curled up in the corner with my knitting. I must confess to not doing much extra cleaning etc. but I figured that if I was at work it wouldn’t be getting done so what’s the difference?

It is a mad scramble for the computer first thing in the morning to check websites. I’m in charge of updating my school’s as to whether it’s open or not and I have to do it before 7. The children on the other hand are fighting to get it off me to make sure their school’s are closed!! Oh jolly fun! Simon thinks it’s outrageous that the schools are closed as he’s had to get up and drive to London all week – he’s got a point I suppose but I’m not complaining!

Another Year ….

2010-01-02T13:19:00.001Z

So, here we are, another year and another month or two getting used to writing a new date. How many times will I write 2009 on cheques and things at work this week? Loads I expect!

Christmas was a quiet, peaceful affair – snowy, which is amazing for Bedfordshire but quiet. I honestly can’t remember having as much snow as we had this year before Christmas – the children thought it was wonderful. (Well, Joseph thought it was great before the big day but Nanny & Grandad had got him a new sledge for Christmas and unfortunately, most of the snow had gone by then!!) Fingers crossed for more …….

Seems this Christmas was not a good year for cars. Mine developed an ABS fault (not good in the ice & snow ) and the horn stopped working – and the thermometer was reading 64’C …...! We booked it into the garage and the evening before it was due to go in, Simon’s alternator (???!) packed up causing him to lose his power steering. So, no way to get me home from the garage – fortunately his is a company car so he was able to pick up a replacement when he dropped his off. Mine has now been fixed but his is still languishing at the local dealer waiting for parts. No such luck as a new car for me. Apparently I have to hang on to it as Thomas is 17 this year …… crikey, I can’t believe he will be old enough to drive …… scarey, scarey!

I have been doing loads of knitting over the holidays – seem to have got loads finished. I have posted pics on my Ravelry account but here are some of the things I’ve done.

I’m also trying to start a knit & knatter group locally as I found four other people from my little old town on Ravelry! Amazing really as none of us know each other. Watch this space for more news.

Well there we have it, my latest instalment. I’m going to try & blog more often this year. I know that 2010 is going to be a year of change for me, not least because I will have a new boss and several old colleagues are leaving. I hope these will be good changes but I suppose, whilst we often resist change, it often makes you stronger and opens new doors.

Happy New Year to you all and I hope 2010 brings you everything you wish for.

I love my Secret Santa!!

2009-12-18T09:20:00.001Z

I am so thrilled! I got my secret Santa parcel on Thursday and it is full of beautiful things! Santa is so kind! Well, it was Barbara really but I’m just a child at heart!

Here is a picture of the lovely things I got.

The POSH yarn is gorgeous – a real christmassy sort of cranberry red – I love it. I shall definitely have a go at felting as there are some great things in this book and I adore Cath Kidston stuff and these smell really nice. I’m not sure what to do with the Laver Bread – I shall have to consult one of my many cookery books – but I shall let you know what I think when I’ve eaten it!

It gave me such a lovely ‘warm’ feeling opening my box – to think that this time last year we’d had such a bad time with the whole Hipknits thing. My boss says all things happen for a reason and I’m so pleased that from such a bad experience I’ve found new ‘friends’ and kindred spirits. It was obviously meant to be!! (Ooh! that’s a bit deep for me!) Even though I haven’t met any of you I do class you as friends and feel privileged to know you! Thank you all so much.

Oh!! Sorry, something missing from my picture ……

This lovely scarf …. the colour is beautiful and it goes much better with my new grey coat than this red top!! Thanks again Barbara.

Forgot to say

2009-12-01T09:16:00.001Z

….. these workshops are expensive things. Not only did I pay for the days tuition but managed to leave the shop with two skeins of Fyberspates Scrumptious DK in Berry for a stole.

Two balls of Crystal Palace Mini Mochi for another pair of socks.

And a ball of Debbie Bliss Rialto in a gorgeous royal purple (which I’m knitting the mitts in).

Had to sneak in the back door and pretend I was desperate for the loo so that I could stash it without anyone seeing …….

Small but perfectly formed ….

2009-12-01T08:58:00.001Z

Thought I would give you all an update on my two-at-a-time workshop. I had such a lovely time and picked up some great tips …. stay tuned for the secret of no laddering!! The workshop ran from 10 – 4 and there were 4 of us there. We were provided with lots of coffee, yarn, a set of knitpicks circular needles (Yay!), yarn (not so good) and a lovely roast carvery dinner. I had a fab time! Two of the ladies had never knit socks before so I think they were a bit bemused by it all but they persevered and we all had a real laugh.

It was a bit of a ‘cheats’ workshop as the lady teaching advised us to get to the heel, do the heels separately on one circular each and then put them back together. This worked fine and I’m really hooked on the method now. (Well it’s been two days!) I do like the idea of having two socks ready at once so I shall definitely be giving this a go.

Here is the effort of my labours on Saturday – as a I said, small but perfectly formed. They are supposed to be tree decorations hence the lairy green & red! And look, no ladders!

And just to prove it’s not a fluke, here’s a pair of mittens I’ve started knocking up since I got home …… and no ladders!!

The trick – the bit you’ve all been waiting for – is not to pull the yarn tight after the first stitch on each side. Knit the first and second stitch and then after the second stitch and before you knit the third, give the working yarn a ‘good tug’ and pull it tight. This somehow tightens up all the stitches and you get no ladders. Try it! It really did work, I was so impressed!

The next workshop coming up is an ‘Advanced Sock Workshop’. I’m thinking of signing up for that one too. It’s a one at a time ‘Magic Loop’ sock with intarsia, lace and nupps in the form of Lily of the Valley. It looked really pretty but do you think I’ll be running before I’ve learnt to walk properly!!!?

Christmas is coming ……

2009-11-23T17:19:00.001Z

and I’m no more organised than last time I wrote! I popped into the local ‘big’ shopping centre in Milton Keynes on Friday and it was absolutely hideous!! I did what I needed to do and then came home to sit at my computer & order online – no more shopping! I can’t stand the queues or the pushing & shoving or the ‘not having what I want in stock’ or the terrible tinny music …… Bah Humbug! I think I might give everyone yarn for Christmas, do you think they would appreciate it?

I have given myself an early Christmas treat and signed up for a ‘two at a time’ sock workshop at a new yarn store that has opened near me. I’m going on Saturday and I’m really looking forward to it. A whole day to myself, how indulgent! I’ve never managed to get the hang of this technique so I’m hoping this will solve the mystery. How nice it would be to have an ‘instant’ pair.

I’m not doing too well at keeping within the budget of the Secret Santa box – you really can’t get much for £25 when it comes down to it can you? I’ve tried my best but I think I may have overspent! One or two things have come from my various stashes and, although I obviously bought them originally, it kind of didn’t count! OOOH! I can’t wait to get my parcel!!

I keep promising to post pictures of my knitting too and I haven’t got round to it. I will make a conscious effort to post some later this week.

Time Management …

2009-11-10T19:06:00.001Z

is something I am not very good at! Our Deputy Head had a little girl last week and I need to knit something pink for her, I’ve got two pairs of socks on the go, something for my Secret Santy box and no time! I haven’t even begun to think about Christmas shopping yet, I don’t know how other people manage – I think I need an ironing lady!! To top it all Thomas is taking GCSE’s & doing mocks at the moment so I’m having to help him with his revision. He’s in a state of panic having realised that he won’t be able to get away with a C in English, he needs at least a B to study what he wants at Uni. English is his weak spot so I’m currently learning poetry and exploring the fine art of descriptive writing. Not to mention having to converse in Spanish to help his vocab. and speaking!! I never knew I had so many hidden talents!

All change …..

2009-11-05T16:58:00.001Z

So that’s it then. Half-term over and enjoyable though it was, it feels like it was weeks ago already! Curse working!! It’s a bit of a freaky week for me actually as we are interviewing for a new Headteacher this week. I’ve worked at the school for 10 years now and we’ve only had one change of head which was the deputy, so it will be a shock to the system to have someone totally new. Hope she’s nice and she likes me!!

Had a lovely break at Center Parcs – went to the Nottingham one and really enjoyed it, although I am black and blue from the slides and the rapids – I’m such a big kid. Maybe it’s time to grow up and not do the rides but that doesn’t sound as much fun :-(

I’ve been looking around for things for my secret santa box this week and have found some lovely things – hope you agree, whoever you are ….. I can’t wait to see what I get!

Talking of gifts and luxury, has anyone seen this http://poshyarn.co.uk/blog/?p=716 and is anyone thinking of joining? It’s quite pricey but the yarn is so lovely (and obviously, I don’t have enough already ……. would look nice beaded don’t you think???!)

Holidays

2009-10-26T14:07:00.001Z

Thank goodness half-term is here! A whole week off – bliss. I have mapped out my week with chores in the morning and knitting/crafting/watching TV in the afternoons!! I expect I shall be playing taxi some of the time too but that’s ok, i can cope! I have almost finished my Concerto scarf and am halfway through the paradigm socks. Will post pictures later this week.

We are off to Center Parcs next weekend and I’m looking forward to that too. I have always wanted to learn to ride so I’ve booked myself a horse riding lesson. Probably won’t be able to walk next week but hey ho! Do you think you could knit on horseback?!

I’m really excited about the Secret Christmas box we are doing – I love Christmas anyway and extra surprises are always welcome. I am busy scanning my patterns and other bits for ideas. Hope I choose the right things.

Well I’m blogging in my knitting time so must dash – looking forward to seeing all the secret pal information.

Sharing ….

2009-10-15T14:14:00.001+01:00

I don’t know if any of you can get this but I love it so much I’m going to share it with you! If any of you are running Windows Vista and have a sidebar of gadgets – there is this fabulous add-on gadget called Pandacam. You have to get it!! It’s a live feed from the Panda house in San Diego Zoo and one of the Panda’s has just had a baby, which is adorable. You can see the mother feeding it and cleaning it (or actually I should say him). If you can’t get the gadget, I think you can view the camera from the San Diego Zoo website – it’s worth a look honest!!

Here’s a picture of Mummy!

And here’s baby!

Sadness ….

2009-10-13T17:11:00.001+01:00

I was really shocked and saddened to read about Stephen Gately at the weekend. Just goes to show that you never know when your time is up – live life girls, that’s what it’s for! (and knitting of course).

Life …..

2009-10-07T20:05:00.001+01:00

Ok, Ok, I never got round to blogging yesterday – sorry! Life seems to be chucking me lemons at the moment and I just never got round to it. Don’t get me wrong, life’s not that bad, it just seems to be busy and full of hassle – nothing’s easy is it? Even Liverpool can’t win a game at the moment!!!

My good old faithful knitting seems to be full of trauma at the moment too. I’ve CO several items and frogged them all. I’ve joined a KAL on ravelry for a lovely lace shawl/scarf which I thought I’d give to a friend for Christmas. The pattern is gorgeous (and after Tilia, a piece of cake) but the yarn wasn’t right and so ribbet, ribbet, ribbet!

I think I’ll just stick to socks, you can always rely on socks! I’ve just finished a really nice fluffy pair for Thomas’ girlfriend and am about to start the Paradigm sock from the Violet Green sock club. I’ll post pics as soon as I have enough to photograph.

Do you think I’m suffering from that SAD syndrome? I always feel like this in the autumn!

At Last!

2009-09-24T16:34:00.001+01:00

I finished it (at last as the title says!)

Before

After

and Finally …..

If I had a criticism it would be that it came out smaller than I thought and I should have used bigger needles, but I’m proud of my achievement! You can’t see the beads very well, they are quite small …..

Oh! and look what OFSTED made me do …… ;-D

Oh Crikey! What a Week!!

2009-09-18T16:54:00.001+01:00

Well, I’m glad that’s over! After such a lovely weekend I got back into school on Monday and took the call that all educators dread – OFSTED were coming on Wednesday. AAAGH!

We were only inspected last summer so this was a real shock. Apparently we were just lucky! ‘You were drawn out of the hat, think of it as winning the lottery’ they said. Well it certainly wasn’t that pleasant! The inspectors were absolutely hideous, they’ve torn the teaching staff to shreds and chewed the rest of us up and spat us out in pieces. It’s been an absolutely horrendous two days.

The poor Head and Deputy have been fabulous but it’s not an experience I want to repeat in a hurry. Anyway, because of all this my knitting has been sadly neglected! I intend the spend the weekend nurturing a bottle of red and my needles.

Off to rock in the corner now stroking my Posh yarn!!

What a result!!

2009-09-13T17:24:00.001+01:00

What a fantastic day I had yesterday! Look where I went! Joe and I had such a great day (OH kind of enjoyed it too!) and we won 4-0. To the uninitiated among you this is me & Joe at Anfield. It took us three hours to get there, three hours to get home and cost me the best part of £100 but it was worth every penny! Oh, and I managed to knit half a sock in the car. A great day all round I’d say!!

Back to the Grindstone …..

2009-09-05T16:31:00.001+01:00

So, six weeks whizzed by and I’ve already been back at work two days :-C. Why is it that no matter how long you have off, it never feels like you’ve been away?! Thomas & Joseph went back this week too – Thomas’ GCSE year so lots of work ahead. He took six Science papers last year and he got 3 A*s & 3As so we’re really proud of him! His ambition is to be a vet that specialises in marine animals so he needs the sciences! Luckily he seems to be good at them.

My weight has been a disaster. I’ve put the 31/2 lb back on so it’s back to Slimming World classes on Monday. I seem to do better when I attend the class so watch this space. (Sorry Sarah, I feel like a fraud – I’ll try hard so that I feel I really earned that lovely book!)

Oh! Is anyone going to the knitting & stitching show in London in October?

The Evidence – Whales can knit socks!

2009-08-18T11:28:00.001+01:00

Washing, where does it all come from?

2009-08-17T10:17:00.001+01:00

Well I’m back from my short forray to the West Country and taking a break from emptying the holiday suitcase. The weather wasn’t too bad while we were away (well no torrential rain anyway). We had some days that were overcast and drizzly but we went to the beach and the boys did body boarding the in sea. On the second day of drizzle I thought ‘if you can’t beat’em, join’em’ and bought myself a wetsuit so that I could have a go too. It’s great fun! As the wetsuit was so tight it held everything in and I didn’t feel too podgy – until Thomas (damned teenager) pointed out that it was the same colour as a killer whale and I looked like Shamu!! Charming! I can’t see it myself.

He also said I looked ridiculous knitting in a wetsuit but I finished one of my discarded pairs of socks so I’m not bothered – he should remember who cooks his meals!

The other highlight of the week was a starfish that Joe found – it was huge! I took a picture of it with his hand so that you could see the size – he is 11 and has quite big hands!

We visited the Eden project while we were there and that’s lovely. We managed to choose a really sunny day and the flowers and plants were gorgeous. I can’t help thinking we’d have been better on the beach on a sunny day and in the Eden project on a drizzly day but that’s life isn’t it?

I haven’t dared step on the scales yet – too many pasties. I think a concerted effort is needed again.

Oh poop …..

2009-08-02T12:43:00.001+01:00

I put on 1lb. How annoying! Probably because I’ve done nothing but sit on my bum knitting Tilia

I got the box!

2009-07-28T10:39:00.001+01:00

Much excitement this morning when the postman rang the bell! I wasn’t expecting any parcels (for a change!) so was a bit surprised to be presented with this big box! It was full of lovely things again – I’ve chosen these three ……

I’ve long admired Peace Fleece needles, I couldn’t resist the sock book (well who’d have thought!) and I like the look of the lace scarf, not quite so challenging as Tilia but just as satisfying!

And can I just say – who wrapped that box?? It took me three pairs of scissors and my teeth to get it open! It is all ready to go on it’s way to the next lucky recipient – I shall go post it later. x

Achievements & Weigh In No. 3 ….

2009-07-27T15:57:00.001+01:00

Well, I did it! I ran the Race for Life yesterday and finished in a faster time than last year (only by 2 minutes but faster all the same!) Sadly, in spite of my running achievements I have not lost any weight this week :-( I’m a bit miffed actually as when I hopped on mid-week I had lost 2lb but it seems to have crept back on again. Still I stayed the same and that’s better than putting on.

Tilia progessing ….. slowly!

Damn & blast those nupps …..

2009-07-23T09:41:00.001+01:00

I have admitted defeat. I can’t do nupps. They hurt my fingers and they make me lose count. I have frogged right back to the start and added beads. Watch this space.

Second Weigh In & Success on the Chart Front!

2009-07-19T10:56:00.001+01:00

Well it’s Sunday again and, not having had a good week, I stepped on the scales with trepidation. But, good news! I have lost another pound - evidence below. This in spite of scoffing those Reeses Pieces you sent me Sarah – they’re yummy.

Also, a pic. of my TIlia. I’m up to row 9 now and have found (so far) that working from the chart is a piece of cake – what was I worried about? I’ve even got little points appearing! And those rings are an absolute godsend – thank you.

Well here it is!

2009-07-19T10:47:00.001+01:00

So, here is my finished shawl! I’m so proud!! it actually looks like it should and I was a good girl and blocked it properly and the leaves show up quite nicely I think. I’ve put in a close up (it was quite a simple pattern). There are a couple of small errors but I don’t think you can see them unless you know where to look! And no Claire, I don’t knit fast, it’s quite small!

Buoyed on by my success I have taken the bull by the horns and CO Tilia. Thanks to those fantastic rings Sarah I have already done three rows and decided that there is nothing to be scared of when working from a chart. It took a bit of reading but I actually think it ‘s easier than trying to follow the long hand in my leaf shawl. Of course, I haven’t got to the leaves and the nupps yet so may change my mind.

I’m thrilled there’s a new box swap already – the anticipation is fab! I think we should wait until Christmas for the next one (which I’m happy to start off) and then we can put all sorts of festive goodies in it (I love Christmas!!)

Good Points and Bad Points

2009-07-16T16:40:00.001+01:00

Ah, this week has both. The good point is that it’s the end of term tomorrow (only one more sleep!) The bad points? Two pub lunches and a ‘leavers dinner’ tomorrow! Diet plans are on hold this week, I just hope I haven’t managed to put the 2lb back on. Shawl is finished – just going to look on Knitty & Ravelry and see how to block it out and then will post pics. Hoping to cast on Tilia tomorrow when I get home as a year end celebration! I wound the yarn earlier this week in anticipation (it looks gorgeous) so watch this space.

Yippidy Doo!

2009-07-13T16:12:00.001+01:00

Sorry Sarah but I’m rather pleased with myself – I lost 2 and a half pounds!! I have posted a picture of the proof - Please excuse my disgusting toes! I weighed at the same time as last week in the same clothes so I’m chuffed. Also, (again, sorry) I had a couple of glasses of wine too. I am determined to see this through and to have lost a bit more before we go away. That’s not until the 8th August so I’ve got a couple of weeks – I’m not good during the holidays so I will have to make a conscious effort. It’s just too easy to go and get a biscuit every time I have a cup of coffee. Am hoping to upload a picture of my completed shawl (not Tilia obviously!) later this week, so watch this space.

Pinkie has arrived!

2009-07-08T16:48:00.001+01:00

So, I am now officially freaked out. My beautiful Posh parcel arrived today and the yarn is as Sensational as it’s colour way but the pattern is sooo intimidating!! I glanced at the knupp section and then hastily put it away in a drawer. When I am feeling braver and have more time I will take it out and look at it again. I can’t promise I will get started anytime soon – 357 stitches!?

Syns Update

2009-07-07T18:19:00.001+01:00

Just checked and that darn cake was 4 syns. It really wasn’t worth it. It hardly touched the sides – I could have had a glass of wine for that – blast!

Day Two and Still Going Strong!

2009-07-07T18:14:00.001+01:00

So, yesterday passed without incident – nothing passed my lips that shouldn’t have – a good start. Today has been ok so far too but isn’t it easy to forget what you’ve eaten? It was one of the Reception children’s birthdays today and I happened to be passing through when they were doing the cake thing. Before I knew it I’d scoffed a mini smartie cake without even thinking. It was only when I got back to the office I though ‘Oh Bum! Shouldn’t have had that!’ Luckily it was only a small cake! I shall go online and see if I can discover how many ‘Syns’ it was. Way more than it was worth I bet.

Shawl is coming along nicely but it’s not growing as quickly now as it seems to be the reverse of Tilia and you start with 3 stitches and keep increasing. I keep spreading it out and admiring it – I’m quite proud of my achievement so far!

I am supposed to be doing uni. work too but have lost momentum a bit. I’m hoping to do several solid days when we break up and catch up. I’m too tired in the evenings and just want to veg on the sofa with my knitting.

Well, must dash – going to check that syn count and then off for a jog around the park (my second this week – impressed?!)

Yay! I Got One!

2009-07-05T19:04:00.001+01:00

My fingers were poised and I managed to snare a kit in ‘Sensational’ and I believe it truly is!

I’ve Bitten the Bullet ….

2009-07-05T16:26:00.001+01:00

Okay, so I’ve weighed in and the scales clonked up to a depressing 13 stone 12lb. Before you all keel over in horror, can I just point out that I am 5ft 11” so I’m allowed to be quite heavy! I’d like to be described as tall and willowy but tall is as close as I get. My Slimming World target was 13 stone 1lb, so I’m 11lb over. That said, I would really like to be 12 stone 12lb (it has a nice ring to it) so put me down for a stone. I have several pairs of ‘excitement post diet’ size 14 trousers I’d like to be able to do up again.

I shall be starting tomorrow so I will have done 7 days by next Sunday. And is it me, or does everyone feel that they simply have to eat everything naughty in the house the day before they start a diet …….?

Oh, and I have my fingers poised to get that Tilia kit but I’m quite concerned about all this talk of knupps. At least if I really have to concentrate, I won’t have time to eat.

Oh No!

2009-07-02T11:57:00.001+01:00

Whilst I convinced myself that I wouldn’t be able to cope with a Tilia shawl, as everyone else seems to have one I’m feeling a bit left out. I’ve just checked out the Posh website and they have the most beautiful colour going on sale this Sunday. I think this means I will be on standby at 7 O’clock. I can’t promise I won’t be asking for help though. I’ve seen some of these patterns that are just charts and they mean nothing to me ……… sorry Sarah, that probably means an idiots guide to chart knitting will be needed!

On a more positive note, the shawl currently in progress is finally coming along nicely – I am knitting with two strands of yarn and it is much better. It may not look much, but believe me, my sanity has been seriously threatened getting this far! Claire, thank you for the pattern – I haven’t attempted it yet (because of the scary chart) but I’m planning to use one of my existing skeins of Posh for it. I will do it, I promise!

Note to Self

2009-06-26T16:09:00.001+01:00

Never attempt lace knitting after a glass (or two) of wine …..

Posh!

2009-06-24T16:48:00.001+01:00

I promised to show you the sock yarn I bought from Posh Yarns last week but I never got round to it. Today I got home to be greeted by another pink parcel containing the lace I got last Sunday (thank goodness for Father’s Day as my Dad kept OH busy while I snuck to the computer!) Anyway, I’ve opened it, it’s fab and here are the pics!

If I’ve got this right, you should be able to hover over each picture to see what they are. I have to say the camera doesn’t do the colour justice and the Sprigged, Peppy & Montage are particularly lovely.

Weight ….. & Peanut Butter Cups …..

2009-06-23T22:17:00.001+01:00

Diet. Just hearing the word makes me feel deprived and hungry. I need to lose a stone (or rather ‘I would like to’ lose a stone!). I have an underactive thyroid which makes my metabolism slow and a chronic addiction to things I shouldn’t eat! I do try to eat healthily (well actually that’s not quite right – I do eat healthily, but I eat too much and I don’t exercise enough). I think a slimathon would be a good idea but please can I finish scoffing my Reeses first? I discovered them when we were in Orlando the other year and haven’t found anywhere over here I can buy them – I have to rely on Clara!

In order to address the lack of exercise thing, I have signed up for the ‘Race for Life’ this year – I don’t know why, I think it had something to do with being asked after several glasses of wine – after which I’ll usually agree to anything. Anyway, the rest of my ‘team’ are walking but as I did it last year OH says I’ve got to get a Personal Best this year! Ha Ha! I did it in 35 minutes 37 seconds last year – so I’m aiming for about 5 seconds less. Joking aside, Cancer Research is a very worthwhile cause so should anyone want to sponsor me to drag my carcass round, my webpage is www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/allisonlane. I have managed to increase my stamina to running for a whole 7 minutes without passing out – I don’t think Paula Radcliffe has any worries!

Advice on My Lace!

2009-06-22T17:26:00.001+01:00

So here is my attempt at lace knitting. As you can see it doesn’t look much at the moment! Is this the way it’s supposed to look?! I can’t see what the pattern is like and it just looks holey to me! Advice before I go too far please. Don’t worry about the yellow bits, they are my lifelines (learnt the hard way!)

It’s Here! It’s Here!

2009-06-22T12:58:00.001+01:00

The Goody Box has turned up! There was I at 7.15 this morning in my dressing gown, when the doorbell rang and it was ‘The Box’! At least it eased the misery of the Mermaid sock, which is coming along nicely again! I chose three things and replaced them and the box is already winging it’s way to the next lucky recipient – how exciting!

Here are photos of the things I took – Clara, you just knew I would take that little golden box didn’t you! That’s my diet down the pan. I thought I might pace myself with them but once I’ve had one I can’t stop – well you have to eat them quick so that you don’t get chocolate on the knitting!!

Doom and Gloom!

2009-06-21T17:42:00.002+01:00

Oh no! The lovely Boyzone must have gone to my head and I have had a major problem with my Mermaid socks! One of the needles got caught and slipped out of my knitting causing me no end of trouble. I just could not pick the stitches up without the pattern going wrong and I've had to frog right back to the beginning of the leg pattern - boo hoo! That will teach me to put in a lifeline won't it? As some of the stiches were YO it was difficult to make sure you picked up every one and the pattern was just wrong. I'm so cross. Bum bum bum.

The Day After the Night Before ……

2009-06-17T17:05:00.001+01:00

To make a change from posting pictures of socks & yarn, I thought I’d post a couple of pictures I took last night (and no before you ask, I didn’t take my knitting!) Feast your eyes girls!!!

I have to say they were fantastic (but I am biased) Loads of costume changes, the Boyz did Queen & they flew! Who could ask for more?! (I should just say that Thomas my 15 year old is standing beside me pretending to be sick in a bucket as I type). Apparently Boyzone aren’t very street cred. Who’d have thought!

Celebrations!

2009-06-15T20:13:00.001+01:00

I am celebrating! Yesterday, for the first time in ages, OH had to work (he’s usually around on Sundays). This is, in itself, no cause for celebration, but it did mean that he was out of the house at 7.00 p.m. (you know where I’m going with this don’t you ….) Yes, I managed to buy some Posh Yarn! My first time ever. I bought two skeins of sock and one of lace weight! I know this takes my sock stash up to 41 (I’ve used one remember) but I shall stroke it and love it forever.

Also cause for much excitement – look where I’m going tomorrow!! I know you may view me in a different light and laugh hysterically but I AM Ronan’s ideal woman, he just doesn’t know it yet.

The Heel is finished (but the homework isn’t)!

2009-06-13T14:52:00.001+01:00

So, here it is, the finished heel. Whilst the instructions were complicated, the finish is great! No holes or anything, which I always seem to get with a short row. I’m well pleased! Now, I really must get back to the uni. work.

I’m also publishing a photo of some little guys I have staying this weekend. Aren’t they just so cute?

Brief Sock Update!

2009-06-09T18:32:00.002+01:00

Ah ha! Here is my Mermaid sock which is zipping along quicker than I thought due to a power cut we had yesterday. It lasted 4 hours during which time I could (sadly) not iron, cook or use my computer to do my uni. work (no internet). I sent SO out for a takeaway, stuck on my i-pod and knitted away to my hearts content. I've got to the heel part now which is a bit complicated and involves two balls of yarn, but I'm getting there! I don't like them too long so I didn't knit that much after the cuff.

1 Down - 39 to Go ....!

2009-06-08T16:29:00.007+01:00

So, finally the lead to my 'phone has turned up and I am proud (and may I say, slightly ashamed) to post the picture of my sock yarn stash.

It doesn't actually look as bad piled up as it could. Still, I am proud to say that I have attacked it and cast on another pair - just a small knitalong with Sarah - so only 39 balls left. I CO on Saturday and whilst I was hoping to do it in a beautiful sunny garden with a G & T, the weather was not kind and I ended up in front of the football on Sky with a can of beer ........ not quite so glamorous!! Here are my efforts so far. It's a Lucy Neatby pattern that was in The Knitter magazine last month and I thought it was really pretty.

I'm not sure how quickly these will grow as I suddenly realised yesterday that I have an assignment due in next Friday and I haven't done any of it yet ....... bother :-0 (and I'm always telling the children not to leave their homework till the last minute!)

I will have to prioritise (or stay up later). I may even take them to work with me and do a bit in my lunch hour just so that I get my fix. I also bought two more Lucy Neatby patterns last week so I need to get a move on. I also bought some beautiful laceweight yarn from Fyberspates so that I can make a shawl I've seen. I think I really need to give up work to find the time to do all this but without the work, I wouldn't have enough money to buy all the lovely yarn. It's a vicious circle!

The box should be arriving with someone else soon too, hope it's me!

I think there's something wrong with me .....!

2009-05-28T21:09:00.001+01:00

Erm ...... went shopping today and now have enough for 40 pairs ...... well I had a John Lewis voucher to spend ......

Fess Up Time!

2009-05-27T13:31:00.003+01:00

Ok, Ok, now is the time to 'fess my stash (I must say Sarah, yours is most restrained!) I have sorted and counted and I officially have enough yarn to make 38 pairs of socks. I'm not sure whether I should knit faster or buy more and try and reach the round 50. Advice anyone?!

I have taken a photo of my yarn mountain and will post later this week. We are having the lounge decorated at the moment and the computer lead for my 'phone is lurking in the bottom of one of the 'tidy boxes'. As soon as it reappears I will upload. Now, as the purpose of my stash sort was to find something for the swap box, is now a good time to say that I stroked and touched all of my yarn and still decided that I couldn't bear to part with any of it?

I think I'll let Joe (No. 2 Son) to pick some items. He thinks my yarn obsession is 'just plain wrong' and I'm sure he won't have a problem choosing something!

I should also add that along with all the sock yarn, I had another box full of other yarn. I must have had a purpose for all this when I bought it, but what that purpose was has long since been forgotten ....... oh dear!

Good News Bad News.....

2009-05-23T11:37:00.002+01:00

Just a quickie today as I am about - shock horror - to go and sort my stash ...... :-{} This is a task that has been desperately needed for a long time but one I keep putting off. The thought of how much sock yarn I have actually accumulated is quite scary (not to mention how much money I've spent!) This has been prompted by the new swap (thanks Claire) I'll pop back and let you know what I find (if I don't go into denial).

Anyway, the good news, bad news bit. As some of you know I work in a Primary school in rural Bedfordshire and this week has been quite momentus. Firstly, the Head, who I adore and love working with has announced that she is going to retire .... boo hoo! Big changes afoot. That's the bad news.

The good news is (although her timing could be better!) is that the Deputy Head has announced that she is expecting her first baby. YAY!! Super news for me! I've already dragged out all my Debbie Bliss baby books and cast on a little cashmere hat ..... what greater excuse is there for more knitting?

Well, that's me done, could go on for ages but the stash awaits (I have to do it when the better half is out or I think he'd need heart surgery!) xx

Pictures at Last!!

2009-05-20T16:30:00.007+01:00

Just a quickie to upload the pictures I've been promising! My first necklace & earrings and the Harry Potter socks. The socks are just a plain stocking stitch to show off the colours of the Yarn. This was Harry - I'm going to keep these myself! As it's half-term next week I may have another go at the drop spindle - I'll let you know how I get on!

A New Swap Box!!

2009-05-18T21:14:00.002+01:00

I'm so bad! I haven't blogged for ages and feel really guilty. Have been working hard and blogging seems to be at the bottom of the pile - now I have told my swap box friends (hi all!) my blog address I'll try to update more often. I'm so excited about this new swap - I love getting surprises in the post, the anticipation is so lovely! I've added to my stash quite a bit since the last one (haven't we all) and have some really good items I can put in. Just got to decide which ones I can bear to part with!

I've neglected my knitting a bit recently and have been spending some time making jewellery. I bought a magazine a few weeks ago which inspired me to do something different and there are only so many hours in a day! Will post some pictures of what I've made later along with a pic. of the Harry socks that I've been promising for ages.

I love the lighter evenings as I seem to want to stay up later and I then get more 'me' time. I just have so many different things I want to do! By the way, I practically drop kicked the drop spindle into the back of the wardrobe in frustration with it!! I just couldn't get a nice thin piece of yarn from the bat, just some woolly lumps! Anyone got an tips to help me out? It looks so easy on You Tube - but it surely is not!

Oh No! Back to Work .... :-(

2009-04-20T15:13:00.007+01:00

Don't panic! I'm back! Things have been way too hectic around here and Easter has just disappeared and I've got to go back to work romorrow! Oh no!

I had to send my first set of assignments for my course off by the end of March and I've been busy beavering away on them. I've just had my assessment back and hooray! They passed - so I don't have to do them again!! Obviously, all this serious education has taken it's toll on my knitty time and I am slacking behind - I will try harder!

I managed to put in some time last week as we went down to Devon for four days - it took nearly 5 hours in the car and you'd be amazed how much of a sock you can get done in that time! I took the Harry opal wool and managed to get right down to the gusset on one sock by the time we got there. (Well, I was impressed, but maybe I'm a slow knitter and that's not actually that good!) I also snuck in a bit of knitting on the beach as the weather was good - I gained a bit of sand though .....

I recently bought a drop spindle and have had a go at spinning my own wool too. I have to say it did not go well! The roving was beautiful and I found a really good deomonstration video on You Tube (well it has to be good for something), but I found my yarn was kind of lumpy - I think I need to have another go. I've attached a picture of the roving but it really doesn't do the colour justice (and I can never seem to get my text to wrap round it - must be doing something wrong).

So, after not having blogged for ages (sorry Sarah) I have rambled on for ages, must get back to the second sock. By the way, that quilt is absolutely beautiful, you are obviously a very talented lady!

P.s. I wasn't driving by the way! (Now that would be impressive!)

Finished At Last!!

2009-03-31T19:10:00.006+01:00

Hey Sarah! You were too fast! I meant to write a bit to go with these but dinner smelt burny so I shut down quick and rushed to the kitchen! In answer to your question - Yeeees ..... well until I got to the gusset part and then I got fed up and put them on to my DPN's - I think that means I cheated! You're right, i think it's quicker the other way too, but knitting two legs together seemed to save a bit of time and when I'd finished one, at least the other was half finished! They are made with some Posh Yarn I got from our holiday swap box and my friends hubbie is really pleased with them. We should try to organise another swap some time.

Your bunny egg cup covers are fab .... I love the Little Cotton Rabbits, especially her monkeys. I just wish I had more time to sit with my needles. I think I'll just have to get up earlier and go to bed later!

Sunday!

2009-03-15T15:27:00.004Z

Sunday again! Another morning stood on the touchline cheering on Joe's team - they lost, again! He did a stint in goal today which is always nail-biting as a Mother, he let in two but saved a penalty, which I think makes up for them!

I have offered to knit him a boot bag for his new boots, but apparently that 'would not be cool'. You can't blame me for trying. Now the weather's warmed up, I've finally got round to finishing the hat I started back in November - I do hate when I do that. I won't need it till next season now will I??

I was off work sick last week and to cheer myself up have bought a supply of the Harry Potter sock yarn - Sarah, I blame you. I saw you'd got it and had a fit of jealous rage. I am now poorer in the pocket but stash rich! I love the Harry and the Tonks - I've started a pair of socks already - trouble is I'm better now and have to go back to work. I could do with a couple of days off to get on with the knitting! Oh, and I revamped my blog - much more stylish I think!

Gosh! It's been ages!!

2009-03-12T13:27:00.002Z

I almost forgot I had a blog so I thought I'd better post an entry quickly! It's been a busy old time here recently and I just don't seem to have had a minute to myself. Son no.1 (15) has discovered women and I seem to spend my whole time running him around at the moment - at least they are nice girls! Knitting has taken a back seat to my studies (and my own personal partying) but I've nearly finished the 2-at-a-time socks I started for my friends husband. Jo bought some yarn for her husband for Valentines and promised him I'd knit him some socks - no pressure! I have to admit though, I got to the gusset and transferred back to DPN's ....... I just found the magic loop cable too unwieldy. I suppose I did get the two sock legs done in one go, but I'm definitely going to stick to my DPN's ..... thanks for the advice Sarah, I totally agree!!

Sorry no pictures - SO has taken camera to work today, I'll try and upload soon. I'm off to finish a moebius scarf I'm knitting now as I've got the day off work (hoorah!) Will try to blog more often!

Finally!

2009-02-16T17:16:00.002Z

Originally uploaded by sugarhippo22

I finished! It took me just about a month on and off, but I finally finished it! (I think it was mainly due to the several snow days we had last week.) I'm pleased with it now it's done, but the yarn was a bit too loud - I'm CO another one now in some lovely Shetland Aran from Angels & Elephants, I'm going to add a couple of increases too and make it wider.

I also managed to sneak enough time to knit this for Hubbie for valentines day! It made him laugh, so I suppose it had the desired effect!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

2009-02-03T12:54:00.003Z

DSC01189
Originally uploaded by sugarhippo22

Well what a fab. couple of days!! We don't get much snow 'down south' so the children have been having a fantastic time outside and I've had two school closure days. These wonderfully unexpected days off have meant that I've been able to work really hard at home ....... knitting!

My Clapotis is coming along nicely (this photo was taken before the snow - i've done four more drops since). I've cast on 'Fetching' fingerless gloves in a beautiful Debbie Bliss purple silk and Sock Hippo is OTN too!

Whilst I have really enjoyed the last couple of days, it does beggar belief the way we all go to pieces over a bit of frozen water doesn't it!? We brits are a peculiar breed - we can't cope with snow and we don't like it too hot either! Still, at least we always have something to talk about.

Nearly February & Snow on the way ...

2009-01-31T16:34:00.000Z

Gosh! Can't believe it was a week since I was here! It's been a funny old week, but I've managed to squeeze some knitting in to my busy schedule! Been on a couple of courses this week, and had to give up my day off so I've been even more busy than usual. I've got my fingers crossed that the snow forecast will be heavy enough for a 'snow day' and I'll get an extra day at home to catch up!

The clapotis is coming along nicely and so is the shrug. I've relegated the socks to the '2nd sock syndrome' basket but I've managed to get my hands on some yummy sock yarn to start 'Sock Hippo'!

I bought the book 'Two at a time Socks' ages ago but have never managed to master the art. I think it's time I gave it another go - knitting two socks at the same time seems such a good idea.

I sorted out my stash this week too and have put some of the yarn on e-bay - you know, the stuff that seemed like a good idea at the time, but you know you'll never get round to using it? Sadly I've already been and bought a load more! Some beautiful shetland aran from Angels & Elephants and some Harry Potter sock yarn that I found in a shop whilst on my course. Harry & Tonks are my favourites!

I always seem to find time to spend money! Funny that!

Where is the year going already?

2009-01-24T11:51:00.001Z

Well that's another week over, time just seems to fly past doesn't it? It was my birthday this week so that's me another year older too :-(. A friend of mine gave me a beautiful knitted wire basket for my birthday and I've found a pattern for knitted oranges on Knitty so I'm going to make some to put in it - they look really good! I'll post a pic. when I've done some.

I frogged the whole damn Clapotis thing and started again, but this time it looks much neater so I think I did the right thing. As you can see, the wool is not pooling so badly either, thanks to everyone who gave me advice!

Although work is hectic, I've not been that busy, which is fatal! I end up surfing the net and buying yarn!! I've bought four skeins of Colinette Lasso yarn to make another Clapotis and I fell in love with some Angels & Elephants Shetland Aran on E-bay and bought four skeins of that too. I did have a good sort out of my stash in the week though and I donated some rather naff DK wool I found to the local Age Concern shop (that sounds bad doesn't it? It wasn't so naff they wouldn't use it - they were really grateful, it's just that I bought it to knit some toys with and never got round to it!!) There were just a lot of odd balls - I'm sure they will put it to good use for blankets etc.! Anyway ......... it made more room in the wardrobe for more yummy sock yarn!

Oh No!

2009-01-15T09:53:00.000Z

Flipping Heck! I came on to do a short post today as I felt I was neglecting my BLOG (told you I would) and what do I find? Links to more things I absolutely MUST knit ....... I don't have enough time!

Since I last blogged I've CO a Clapotis from Knitty which I'm doing in a KAL in Ravelry - I'm really getting into this 'Virtual' knitting world! It's coming along nicely but I haven't got to the dropping stitches bit yet so won't speak too soon! I'm still working on the Spiral socks (they've dropped down in my list of importance) and I'm still working on the shrug (which will hopefully be finished before Winter is!!) Now, I find from a 'box' friend, a pattern for a Sock Hippo who is impossibly cute and is just crying out for a knitted birth and a new home ......... I feel a trip to the yarn store coming on ...... ;-)