MonkeyFeet

Well, last week was insanely busy, but wasn’t the sunshine glorious? I felt so much better and more energised! I joined the gym on Friday, and I have my induction tomorrow, and as it’s about 2 mins walk from here, I have no excuse now! I have three stones to lose, with two stones being my primary aim to begin with. I really want to be fit enough to not get out of breath so easily too. The problem of course, is keeping motivated!

Last week I did some amigurumi – OH wants some of the monsters from creepy cute crochet, so I’ve made a red devil (but he has no eyes or beard yet), and Cthulu who you can see here. I did him in the Rowan Soft Lux, so he’s sparkly His eyes are a bit lopsided though!

I also cast on this scarf.. I had two skeins each of Noro Blossom and Noro Silk Garden and I was goign to do something unusual with them, but I ended up doing a Noro Striped Scarf - it’s simple and easy but the colour combinations look beautiful. I also love the wrong side where the colours are all mashed up. It’s almost finished now – I took this photo a few days ago.

With the glorious sun, me and OH had been going for walks on the park in evenings, and I took this photo of a very hazy sunset over the city. It’s a bit different to my usual country-bumpkin photos, but I rather like it. We have a very industrial area nearby, with all collieries and towers, it’s all so ugly but I love it, and we call it ‘Gotham City’. For me, it’s a symbol of British manufacturing and skills.

Weeks and weeks ago, before I lost my internet, one of my customers asked me to do some World of Warcraft themed yarn. One skein in the colours of the Burning Crusade log in page, and one in the colours of her Blood Elf Paladin’s armour (that’s the bottom one).

Anyway both her and I are very pleased with how they’ve come out!

The other day, I finished my Twisted Flower socks – aren’t they cool?

I used Wild Fire Fibres Manyana (merino/tencel), not realising that of course 333 yards isn’t enough to knit a whole pair of cabled socks – doh.

So I did the cornflower sock, then dyed the silverdale sock. Different colour, same tone = success Well I think so anyway.

It prevented second sock syndrome too.

The cables were fiddly, and even my smallest metal cable needle kept slipping out, so I actually made myself soem tiny wooden cable needles with notches in – they were really effective.

I also did a quick crochet project – I was going to do the Little Acorn Bag, but I wanted a different shape. Then when I tried felting the Patons Inca that I used, well, it didn’t felt at all. So I just sewed the buttons on, stuffed it with yarn and left it at that! I did learn that Patons Inca washes beautifully though!

Now when we moved we inherited this fish tank – empty. So OH decided we’d get marine fish, seeing as there’s one of the best shops in Manchester about half a mile away. It’s really interesting – we have live sand and rock!

So yesterday we bought our first inhabitants. Here we have Hector who’s a hermit crab. He’s a great fellow, suprisingly agile considering he has a large shell on his back.

These are Eric and Ernie. And yes, we can tell them apart! They are really inquisitive and confident – as soon as we released them they went exploring and poking and nipping everything to see what it was. They’re really great, and come over if you go to the tank to see them.

Remind you of Nemo? for fish, they are full of personality. We’re already really attached to them and Hector so I hope they survive and everything, as we’re still learning. Me and OH have always had lots of dogs, so I think this is filling in that gap, plus we’re learning a lot of science (chemistry), and meeting some good people through it.

I’m growing veg – it’ll go in a window box at some point. These are two spinach plants, and the little ones have chilli plants growing – I know you can’t see from this distance but they are there!

Also these are carrots, and the six that haven’t sprouted yet are sweet peppers.

So that’s it for now. The sun’s coming out, and I need to go get on. I got a load of stock ready for Woolfest this mornign so I need to go through it all and see what’s there. I have some designs that I’m working on – which you will see published in a book in the summer (more info nearer the time), and I have tonnes of uni work!  Oh I also want to cast on my Jesien Doily this evening

Ciao for now!

Wow, I’m finally back online! We ordered the broadband well before moving, but they messed it all up and we ended up waiting for six weeks it’s been a complete nightmare with the shop, but I’ve had great support from customers – if you’re reading then thankyou for being so supportive.

Anyway, the move went smoothly, and my home is now Manchester and I love it! Our flat is beautiful, and just how we want it. I think we’re still in the ‘honeymoon’ period with it, we’ve been 300 miles apart for 5 years so it’s a bit of a novelty living together!

I have a craft room, with my desk and stash and shop stock in and it has a balcony – a juliet one but sstill a balcony nevertheless.

Here’s my stash, on the shelving that Christian gave us, which was really appreciated (she also gave us a sofa and made us our curtains – how cool is that).

At the back – stash from my stock and handspun, in the basket – laceweight, at the front – fibre and in the basket – all other yarn!

Here’s my guard.

I’ve been finding uses for pint glasses. I’ve been collecting them for years and we have loads.

My button collection.

My fish tank, the fish travelled well (they’re well-travelled!) You can just see the top fin of my angel fish, Trevor, at the back. He doesn’t usually hide.

I’ve just planted some veg – I’m going to transfer it to boxes which I’m going to hang on the balcony railings.

My plants are all on the windows in the turret/dining room, and they’re growing at a very fast rate.

I’ve discovered a knack for making delicious scones (as well as scrambled egg!).

Ok onto the knitting. I got a lot done with no internet.

Here’s the Tudor Grace scarf done in organic sport weight merino.

My Japanese Feather Scarf. I got no pleasure knitting this, it was boring as anything. But I had a lot of fun photographing it!

My Swallowtail, done in Louisa Harding Kimono Angora which is delectable.

I’ve spun up most of my fibre stash. This pink stuff is from the Felt Studio UK on etsy – which reminds me that Delle got me some beautiful purple fibre from Vampy, and I’ve spun it up but not photographed it!

HEre’s my Luna Moth shawl, done in Mirasol Hacho (5 skeins). It’s a big, heavy shawl. As you can see, it’s big enough to completely cover my Ashford traditional!

Here you can see the lovely colour.

And now you can see a bit of the pattern. It’s a slightly strange pattern, the leafy bits are really big. It’s lovely though.

I designed and knitted these, I’ve called them ‘Castle Mitts’ and I’m writing the pattern at the mo. They’re done in Artesano Inca Cloud, which, as it turns out, is way too itchy for me!

I also designed this – the Blackberry Teacosy. I did it for the competition in Knitting mag, but didn’t get anywhere, anyway the pattern is on Ravelry. It’s done in Rowan pure wool aran in black and my own Jupiter, which is the organic aran merino, in Fresh Berries.

I did loads of detail, with crochet finishing, and proper thick hems for sturdiness, and there’s an eyelet row which I threaded an I-cord through, with bobbles on the end. I’m proud of it anyway.

Oh I also designed these socks, called Daydreamer Socks, in Tikal – the organic cotton/tencel sock yarn. I’m dead pleased with these, they’re really good for when it’s warmer, and the pattern’s dead simple. It’s on Ravelry for free anyway.

What else.. well I finished my Shawl of many yarns – it really has got a lot of yarns in it. It’s not as big as I’d hoped, but it’s very, very thick and heavy and incredibly warm. I could do with a sturdy shawl pin to hold it on my shoulders really. I’ve not blocked it, I will do at some point, and trim the ends to the same lennth.

Here’s Sackboy. I did him in Sirdar snuggly 4 ply as I didn’t want a dead big one. I also cheated, quite a lot. I did him in the round on DPNs, stuffing him as I went along. On his body I added two purl stitches so that there’s an indent, where I can just glue in a zip. Can you tell I don’t like sewing up??

For his eyes I cheated as well. I had no buttons or anything, so I got two drawing pins, coloured them in with a permanent marker, glazed them with a water-based glaze, and used super glue and just poked them into his face! Very effective!

Ok what next. Well I got a new sock yarn, called Fantasia, which is superwash pure merino. It’s really lovely and what I’d been looking for, with a nice tight twist, and very smoooth, soft feel.

So I stashed some. I have a design in mind

I’ve done some wash cloths – I can’t believe how addictive they are, and I don’t even use them! I sent these to my mum as she does. They’re done in woven moss stitch, which I love.

I also designed some dead simple legwarmers to use up a single 100g skein of aran. These are my BFL aran. They’re an easy spiral pattern, and I wear them ever day. My feet (usually ice-cold, even with handknitted woollen socks on) – have been so much warmer!

I’ve started CookieA’s Twisted Flower socks, and discovered I really needed a lightweight, tiny cable needle. Not having one, and having no internet to google it, I just made one. I snapped a Brittany DPN in half, filed down the end to a point, and made two notches in it.

It’s super-effective, and if anyone would like me to make you a couple I’d be more than happy to if you give me your address.

Here are the socks. I did the first one in Manyana in cornflower, it didn’t even occur to me I might not have enough yards (333yds per 100g). So I reached the toe and decided to do sock two in silverdale, then swap the toe colours when I’m done. I’m happy I made this decision – it’s prevented second sock syndrome because it’s more fun, and the colours go really well together.

Notice I’m knitting them on my new purple pins, which Delle got me?

That’s the silverdale ^^

I’m also doign some stealth lace, using my Harebell Lace. I can’t really say much more than it being a triangular shawl which I’m designing

Oh I also decided to do some inside out socks, which I will write the pattern for too. These are really cool, i’ve just started the second one. They’re great for TV knitting. I’m using Bambino in Duffle, I love it!

And phew.. that’s it! I have a big essay to finish and hand in today, then I’m goign to reward myself with spending some time knitting and watching last week’s Dancing on Ice which I recorded. Have you seen it? Isn’t Ray incredible – it’s like he was born on skates, I can’t get enough of him – it’s so exciting seeing what he’ll do next!

Anyway, I reallly ought to get my bum in gear. I’ve done the intro and conclusion, which are really good, and I’ve done half the middle bit which isn’t as good. I need a brew…

Ciao for now!

Wow, where did January go? Why don’t I have much to blog about? Why have I still not worked out how to link all my other stuff to my blog and make it more exciting? Oh well, I know what I need to do in Feb!

Well, here are my Evangelines. Done in Malabrigo merino, in Hollyhock. It’s really divine, BUT the pattern’s a bit dodgy – the cuff is way too short and baggy (these are the short versions). If I’d known I’d have edited the cuff. Anyway, worn under long sleeves they’ll be nice and warm.

Hey check these out. We’re moving at the weekend I think (Manchester – yey!). My Grandma’s had these curtains over 30 years and has given them to me. Aren’t they…. hideous? But kind of cool in the right setting?

Oh stealth knitting. I’ll be able to show off soon. It’s a pair of socks in Tikal, which was a joy to knit with.

Stealth fairisle, I can only say I did it in Jupiter (organic merino aran) in Fresh Berries and black Rowan pure wool aran.

My next WIP is in Zeus, which I’ve not yet stocked. So I got my ass in gear and started testing it, and I love it so much I’ve ordered it for my shop. It’s pure merino, very soft, and although this skein is sport weight I’ll be stocking the sock weight.

It makes a gorgeous Tudor Grace, which is now nearly finished.

And… wow, that’s it! Actually, I should have photographed the case of knitpicks I got, and the gorgeous fibre that Gemma carded for me, and the very generous Argos voucher that the girls at knitting got me and hasn’t been spent yet.

I’m sad to have left my knitting group, I love them all to bits, though I’ll come and visit every so often.

I’ll also miss our local little delicatessen (my belly won’t!!), I’ll miss the PO where they know me really well, and I’ll miss my doggies a lot. But I’m loolking forward to having our own space, decorating it how I want, finding a job and earning some cash to pay off my debts, joining the gym (for real this time), and saving up to finally get married. It feels like the beginning of the rest of our lives as a couple and I’m really excited about that.

Oh the other thing is, over new year I lopped off my hair. I’ve had long hair all my life, and it’d been down to my bum in the summer, but I just decided to chop it off, and it’s now shoulder length – I’ve lost well over a foot of hair! And I love it, it’s wonderful and thick and healthy

And finally, the sock club filled up, and the first shipment goes out tomorrow woohoo!

Current WIPs – stashbusting shawl is about 40% along, more stealth fairisle has just been started, and Tudor Grace is nearly finished Oh my spinning mojo is back as well!

Wow, 2009 – how did that happen? Is it really ten years since we were on the brink of a new milennium? I can’t believe the 90’s was *last* decade!

Anyway, hope you all had a lovely time over new year. We went to Scotland in the hopes of skiing, and we didn’t get much snow (relatively), but it was minus 12 degrees C so it was just as good.

I got quite a bit of knitting done, and we went hiking or walking every day, and apart from that we ate well and chiled out. A lot!

The first thing I did was this hotbot cover in Wendy Zena, which isn’t on Rav yet. The pattern isn’t either so no linkage! But it’s from the December Simply Knitting, and it fits wonderfully, and is sparkly! I’m really pleased with it.

There’s OH holding it – wearing my Fetchings, which I made on Christmas day and are now ruined seeing as he felted them horribly with his hot hands throwing snow around!  :(

I also finally got round to using the beautiful Mirasol Hacho that I’ve had for so long. Ok I know a scarf isn’t exactly living it up but I’ve worn it loads as it’s not quite as warm as my Mirasol Miski scarf or my angora scarf. Sometimes I don’t want an eskimo neck.

Now’s the time to add that if you get bored of scarves easily, as I do, this is a good pattern to do! It’s the only one I’ve not got sick of after about five inches. It’s the Drop stitch scarf by Christine Vogel.

I also finished these socks. They’re the first big pair I’ve done. Well bigger than a 6.5. They’re size 8.5, my Dad wants them for his friend I think. The colours have grown on me, but they aren’t exactly mouth watering or to-die-for are they? Anyway hopefully the recipient will like them, as long as they’re fairly manly and good to wear that’s what matters.

I started this behemoth of a shawl. It’s a stash busting quest, and has a different yarn almost every row (some get two rows). I’ve got a few big skeins that are the main staples, and the rest are bits and bobs. This has been put on the back burner since I got back, as two design projects have come up which require attention *now*. In a couple of days I will return to it though. I’m doing a fringe at each end, that way I get to avoid the ends and doing anything with them

I love the varied texture and colours in it so far, I can’t wait to carry on, it’ll be a real work of art once it’s done, and it’ll also be very warm and hopefully, very, very big!

I made a couple of mug jackets too. This one’s close to the Flirtation Cosy pattern, done in Fyberspates Scrumptious which is a merino/silk DK blend and is wonderful!

This one is done in that little skein of handspun leftovers. I love the simplicity of it, it’s a simple rib, and shows off the yarn really well, in my opinion. Not that the photo does! Sorry!

Erm, what else. Well I stashed three balls of Sirdar Peru in the white(ish) colourway.

I got this, Sirdar Snuggly DK. No, you are not seeing things, I really did buy a full ball of totally man made fibres, I’m not *that* much of a snob! Actually it’s to make two Sackboys with! I don’t want big ones so thought I’d use thinner yarn. OH and I have been playing Little Big Planet – have you? If not, you are missing out! It’s wonderful! My little boy is currently in the man eating plant head gear, with polkadot pants

Anyway I found some brown RYC Soft Lux at £1.31 so *obviously* had to get it.

And in Amethyst which I’ve been coveting for ages. I’m gradually colleting enough in this colourway to make a cardigan. By the time I have enough balls of yarn, I will also hopefully have lost a stone and will actually look ok in my garment! I love Soft Lux so much. It knits up amazingly soft and sparkly (you know with some sparkly yarns the sparkle doesn’t show up much).

I also stashed my own Jupiter yarn which is the organic merino, and ahh it’s so soft! Anyway I stashed it because I’ve cast on a stealth fair isle project…… *looks mysterious*

And my inspiration? This book! It’s brilliant! I found it in an old bookshop, all hidden away waiting for me to find it! It’s first edition, though I don’t know if that’s significant. It has a lot of information, a lot of inspirational photos and zillions of charts so you can combine whatever you want, so expect a flux of fairisle from me in the near future!

And finally, the inevitable holiday snaps. I have to admit I’m a little jaded with my little camera at the mo. It’s been superb and is now two years old, and I’ve been hugely inpressed with it, but recently I’m finding it hard to pick up colours accurately. This could be to do with the poor winter light and my lack of technique – I’m not sure. I’d like to borrow my Dad’s digital SLR and get re-inspired, because I miss doing the more professional style of photography.

Anyway enough lamenting!

HEre’s a beautiful frozen rose.

The hills.

The duck pond. This remained frozen completely – all three or so feet of it – and me and OH were both able to run about on it, and as a fatso that’s quite something for me!

Pond again.

Some ice.

This sign caught my attention because I saw “BFL-LEVUE”.

My bonsai enjoying (or not!) the cold. It’s survived all the travelling, much to my delight. OH would get me one rated as ‘challenging’. The other bonsai is much more hardy, but I had to take them both with me.

Awwww look  at the cute little prints! Bunny prints, birdie prints, and two lots of human prints.

Look at the colours!

Extremely close close-up of a frozen dew drop.

Half frozen river (it warmed up to about minus 8 at that point)

Debris from the river. It had brought tonnes of shards of ice down from the mountains, and they had all piled up like dominoes all over the river, it was quite fascinating but pretty hard to get a good photo of.

And er, that’s all the piccies for now. A couple of other exciting things are happening though – firstly I was in Simply Knitting this month (well the Feb issue). It was very small but it’s there! Also, I’ve opened up a sock club. There are only four places left, six have gone. The themes are things like the British Landscape, British Woodlands, the ocean etc. and yarns will vary. Anyway it’s on the shop if anyone would be interested, and I’m really excited about it!

Uni work is going well, and I’m heading to Manchester at the end of the month (we don’t have the date yet but the furniture comes then so we better get the keys or we’ll be a bit screwed!). I can’t wait but will miss my knitting group a LOT, and my LYS, and my Post Office actually, they’re lovely in there.

Anyway, I need to get to bed, and would like to spend half an hour doing some Japanese Feather Scarf which I’ve picked up again. I just can’t get inspired by it, though I know it’s gorgeous. Anyone want a half done project with the yarn to finish it??? No? Oh well I’ll finish it, slowly.

Ciao for now!

Wow! Two posts in two days! Well I thought I’d just share my hemlock before I go away for the new year.

It’s Rowan Tapestry in Leadmine and took 4 balls – the cast off is the crochet cast off, I tried the knitted one and it was awful, whereas the crochet one was easy and quick. Well I say quick, it still took an hour to do. Oh and a full half ball of yarn! I’d have used a fifth ball if I’d known, as I luckily decided I’d best stop a repeat before the recommended final one, and thank goodness I did – I had about 10cm max of yarn left over at the end!

Anyway, I dunno what I’ll do with it, it’s kind of too nice for a lap blanket, though it’s very warm. And it’s too small for our table, which is always covered in junk (papers, post, empty mugs) anyway. So, errr.. I suppose I’ll just drape it somewhere nice.

Here it is hanging over the fence in the dappled morning sun-

As you can see, by way of a miracle, I got a really bright white section right on the holey bit. This is a total coincidence as the yarn was all the same dyelot, so I don’t know if it’s a mis-dye, but anyway I am immensely happy about it, plus the really black bit by the tips of the leafy bits – what a happy coincidence!

I struggled to block it. It was a logistical nightmare. Did I pin every single little frill bit? I tried but they ended up all bunched up anyway. So I decided not to bother and pinned the final row. I had the best intention!

This photo is actually black and white, you just can’t tell much with it being black and white yarn.

It looks a bit old fashioned here, but it stands out really well against the brown table cloth.

And the final, slightly more arty shot.

New Years Resolutions:

1. Get my photography to a much better standard.

2. Stash bust (ha!)

3. Pay off debts

4. Lose weight! For real!

5. Start designing more seriously. Well try, at least.

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas! It’s a strange time when it’s between Christmas and New Year – I’m on Day: Unknown at the moment. I was heading to the post office yesterday afternoon and had quite a shock when I looked at my phone and it said ‘Saturday’ – wow, where did that come from? I kind of assumed it was still the middle of last week.

Anyway, the best thing about christmas for me is the excuse to stay home and knit.

Here’s my Tapestry Queen, which I had to felt the top of to get it to fit. I’ve found that if I fold the top down I get it wonderfully thick and it fits realy well.

It’s not really that shape, it’s just the angle I was stood at! I blocked it so it stretched lengthways and shrunk width ways.

I also made a Thorpe for myself the other day. Well last week now I suppose. Anyway it’s Maya Chunky in Ripple (baby alpaca, droooool). It’s really really warm and light, it didn’t even take the full skein which I was pleased about. It looks a bit rubbish on – hence the arty shot here! But it’s wonderful to wear!

I made short-ish braids so they wouldn’t get in the way.

On christmas day I made myself some fetchings. Somehow the only fingerless mitts I seem to have are my endpapers, which are far too nice and time consuming to make to get covered in mud. So I thought I’d make some quick fetchings using my BFL aran in Maestro.

They used about half the skein, and that was despite me making them longer than the pattern. I extended the cuff by one repeat, and on the fingers, after the cable, I did a rib for 14 rows – *K1, P1, K2, P1* rep from *-*.

I love the colour, and have worn them for my walks and they are brilliant, I wish I’d made them weeks ago.

Yesterday I made a quick wash mitt, based on the hemp one that I have.

I’d been wobbling on about making our own gingerbread house to OH, but of course we don’t have our own kitchen to do it in, so he bought me one. It’s far too nice to eat! Anyway yesterday I noticed on Soo’s blog she made an awesome big gingerbread house, which totally puts this one to shame! Hers even has green and blue bins and a water barrel!

OH also got me these lovely mugs..

Which came in this cool tin!

And knowing that I’m joining the gym when we move, he got me this to use in the gym – and iPod shuffle. It’s tiny!

He also got me this from Karat Stix on etsy – how thoughtful is he? Completely

Oh here’s Holly being nosey, isn’t she cute!

So, that’s it for now! I’ve no idea what we’re doing for new year, but for now I just want to get my essay finished and my Hemlock finished (4 rows to go!) and my current spinning project finished

Have a lovely new year, and I hope 2009 is happy and successful for us all.

I’m slightly confused (it doesn’t take nuch!), as  Ruth and Delle have posted different Friday inspirations – one of them posted about hands and one about necks! So I’ll post about both!

Hands:

So, what is your favourite winter warmer for your hands?

My favourite hand warming project has probably been my Endpapers (I’m not doing photos on here as it’d take me days just to go back through flickr and find them!). I have worn these absolutely loads, and I love that I did them with the colours inverted

Do you have a favourite pattern or finished object?

Well I already answered that really didn’t I. I also love the Fetchings pattern, I did make some in Rowan pure wool aran (on my projects page), but when I was in Scotland I gave them to a lady working in my local charity shop who always had cold hands. I’m going to make myself some more for dogwalking with, using my Patons Inca. I’d like to make them a bit longer though, so they come halfway up my fingers but are ribbed so I can still move (read: pick up doggy dumps, bribe them with biscuits, unlock the car etc.), In fact I should get on with them next.

What is your favourite yarn for gloves/mittens/handwarmers?

Oooh well for four ply patterns I love the Jaeger Matchmaker Merino, but that’s sadly discontinued. The Rowan Pure Wool Aran was really good, and I think the Patons Inca should be really good. I’ve actually not made many handwarming projects to be honest!

Are there any patterns out there you would love to own?

I’d love to own the Folk Mittens book. I think that’s it really.

Or do you already have a winter warmer and you would like some mittens/gloves/handwarmers to match?

Errrr no! Don’t think so. Oh actually, maybe some really thick fingerless mitts would be good to go with my really thick handspun hat, but that’s all I can think of!

Necks:

I love stuff for my neck! My favourite scarves are my Angora Scarf and my Sideways scarf. For dog walking I love my First Ice Queen. It’s a really good fit, unlike the one I made in Rowan Tapestry, which is too stretchy, and really needs felting down to size. I love cowls though, I’ve got loads in my queue They seem like a good project for  a smallish amount of handspun.

Sooo that’s my Friday (well Saturday) inspiration.

Did I show you this? It’s Maya Chunky which I stashed, and have since reskeined:

I think I’m going to do a thorpe with it.

I’d forgotten that I also stashed Bambino in Duffle:

And BFL/Nylon sock in Fresh Berries:

My Dad’s asked me to knit some socks for him to give to his mate (I think), so I got some Regia, in colours by Kaffe Fasset. I’m getting deja vu, did I already write all this? Anyway I cast on, so you can see it here:

It’s actually a photo I took for the stitch marker listing, hence that’s in the foreground (sorry!), but you can see the sock, which is now a bit bigger.

I’ve cast on a hemlock too, yey! It’s in Rowan Tapestry  in leadmine, which is basically black, grey and white. I’m so pleased with it, it’s growing really quickly and is really easy. Once I’ve done that I’m going to pick up the hibernating Japanese Feather scarf (which is sucking my will to knit for some reason). I don’t have a hemlock photo anyway yet.

I embarassingly succumbed to Nic’s bags again. Oops! I’m glad I did though to be honest as they are gorgeous and so handy.

Plus it’s not possible to have too many bags anyway.

My Dad also commissioned me to make some earrings for Christmas presents for him. These are Swarovski pearls and crystals, for his partner’s daughter, and I’m so pleased with these I’d like to make some for the shop really. They’re quite glamourous without being too much y’know.

and these are for his partner, in autumn colours. I forgot to get beads specially, so had to use stashed beads, so I hope she likes them.

I also made these yesterday, they are actually purple, but really, really hard to photograph for some reason. They have unusual and posh beads, and are quite small and sparkly. They are lovely but I wish the photo would do them justice! Oh they’re for my shop, I think £8 is reasonable, what do you reckon? It’s more for the time than the materials, as they’re so fiddly they take ages. I really ought to learn some other beading techniques shouldn’t I, seeing as currently I only have the knack of cluster earrings!!

We, of SnB Preston, went for a gorgeous meal on Thursday, at Tino’s the Italian. It was organised by Sensible Julie, so we’re all relaly grateful to her for a lovely evening, especially as she was on holiday (jealous? Moi?).

Christian made us all a wee fererro rocher (or however the hell you spell it) warmer, so when I got home I munched it but had none to replace it with.

So I plonked it ontop of my poorly decorated-in-a–rush mini tree, and it looks cute and lovely in my opinion! Thankyou Christian!

Oh OH! Guess what – we have an approximate moving date, well week I suppose – three weeks time! Ooh yeah! Manchester here I come (Afflecks Palace – yippee!)! I think OH recieved the contract to sign today, so when we get back from new year hols we’ll have a new flat if it all goes smoothly!

Anyway, I need to reskein some more Bambino and make some more jewellery christmas presents.

Ohhhh I love winter! Lovelovelove it!

It seems a while since I last updated, but I don’t actually have all that much to show for my time, because I spent all of last week furiously dyeing.

So anyway. As soon as I finish writing this I’m going to catch up on replying to your comments, I’m sorry for being so bad at that, I’m just really rubbish at keeping in contact – what more can I say!

So here’s a nice holly leaf to show my festive spirit. I really hate all the commercialism over Christmas, I just enjoy the time to be with my (very small) family, and chill out, enjoy the cold crispy weather, enjoy the food, watch TV for a change (I very rarely watch TV), and just enjoy drinking tea and pigging out really. A certain person in my life (not family) has spent the last week or so obsessively wrapping presents, this person’s been shopping for weeks and must have spent a small mortgage on presents, and that seems to be the main concern, I find it a little disconcerting. In our house we’ve not got presents under the tree, our decorations are the nativity, not santa (we’re not even religious), we’re just enjoying twinkly lights and mince pies. Don’t get me wrong, I’d be a hypocrite to say I don’t like recieving presents, I do enjoy recieving well thought out things that my family have put a lot of thought and consideration into, and yes, I love giving presents, I love surprising the recipient, and putting a lot of time and brain-effort in. But, most of all I just like the nice, relaxed atmosphere.

I’ll stop lecturing now shall I?

I’ve got a bit of spinning done, this is 100% merino, it’s actually pink, toffee and black, though you can’t tell that well. It’s a singles, with about 200 yards to 50g.

This is the same, but in humbug colours, and is two plies, with about 100 yards to 50g.

Remember the beautiful wintery Ice fibre from two posts ago? Well this is it all spun up. It took ages to spin, and I wanted a nice, thin singles yarn, so it’s mostly even, with a few bumpy areas where I got really tired or cramp in my hand (that happens a lot).

I’m so in love with this skein, it’s pretty big and I’ve not measured my niddy noddy so I don’t know how many yards there are, but there must be quite a lot, so hopefully I can make a beautiful, sparkly shawl with it

I did get *some* knitting done. This is my wrap done in Sirdar Peru, in Picco colourway. It’s kind of turquoise with greyish bits. It’s realy gorgeous and warm, but didn’t open out as wide as I hoped when i blocked it. I would really like to gather up lots of this yarn in the different colours and do a nice blanket with it.  I’ve got three balls in this colour to start my collection anyway!

I made these a couple of weeks ago, aren’t they cute! I’d like to have a go at miniature knitting – as in thread, and tiny wee needles. The brown fairisle one is much smaller than t’other two, though you can’t tell!

I also made these earrings for myself. I love the earrings I’ve made for my shop, so I made some really long ones in my favourite colours, mostly purple, but also pink and blue. They’re pretty heavy so I don’t wear them loads, but I also made myself a white pair about half the length! Both pairs are really sparkly, I love them so much

I made these, they’re quite long too but don’t have as many glass beads so aren’t as heavy. NickyKnits has bought them, so I hope she enjoys them

There are other pairs, they’re in my shop but I thought I’d just put a wee selection on here (don’t want to overload the post).

Last week at SnB Andrea gave me a belated birthday pressie, which was really naughty as I (embarassingly) missed hers. It’s the most beautiful, deep purple, and it’s Zephyr. Ahhhh   I hope I see her to return the generosity before I move away.

And Suzi gave me this, which is Du Store Alpakka (I think I got that right). It’s unusual, and really gorgeous. Again, she was naughty and didn’t need to – I really didn’t expect anything at all!

So, here’s the dyeing I’ve been doing. Well there’s tonnes of it, so I’m not going to go through it all, instead I’ll give you a quick view of what I’ve stashed for myself. I rarely stash from my own box – mostly for sock yarn when I do. But I really want to get on with designing. I’ve got loads of ideas and am itching to start swatching and playing, so I’ve stashed quite a few yarns for that.

This is Maya chunky, the gorgeous baby alpaca that’s good enough for nekkid stash diving. It’s the kind of stuff you want to pile up and use as a pillow.

This is a new one – it’s Tikal, (a Mayan King actually, according to the National Geographic) – it’s organic cotton tencel. I’ve not done cotton before, and I had to really rinse it before the colour became colour fast, so I hope it’s all ok. You never know with cotton if it’ll fade in the wash, but I rinsed it uber-thoroughly so it should be fine. Anyway, that’s in the shop, and if there are any problems I will of course sort it out! It’s a really gorgeous yarn, the tencel makes it so much more luxurious than just pure cotton.

This is Unicorn Lace (merino/silk – the same as zephyr) – in Ripple.

This is Manyana (merino/tencel sock), in Silverdale, the same as JulieR’s bolero/shrug. I’m thinking it’ll be great for highly patterned socks.

This is more Unicorn Lace, in Cranberry.

Maya Chunky in Ripple (I’d like to design with it but I think I’m going to do a Thorpe actually as I really need an earflap hat for dog walking).

Manyana in Harvest Gold. I actually really dislike orange. But this goldy browny orangey colour really took my fancy, which is great seeing as it was kind of an accident. There’s another skein the same in my shop I’m lying it’s sold, but it was for sale not long ago.

I also stashed Harebell Lace (baby alpaca – oooh yeah!) in turquoise/cornflower, and BFL sock in Cranberry and Fresh Berries. Hey you know what I haven’t stashed any of? Bambino, oh I need to stash a skein of that, my monkeys that I made are such awesome socks. I’ll have to decide what colourway to stash. I might actually have dyed myself a skein and forgotten, I’ll have to check my stash box and compare it with The List.

Anyway, I’m still taking my camera about everywhere. Here’s an interesting (so I think) shadow.

I can’t really tell if this isn’t slightly out of focus, but I like it anyway. The wind just slightly blew it as I pressed the shutter release, then I couldn’t pursuade my camera to focus on it after that.

I know you’ve seen these trees before, but they’re still lovely aren’t they!

That’s all for now! I’ve just finished an Ice Queen in Rowan Tapestry, which is too big (the yarn stretches too much), and I’m knitting a pair of socks for Dad to give his mate (I think), on commission for £20. It doesn’t really cover the hours at all does it, but I couldn’t ask more than that. That’s using the Regia sock yarn from Kaffe Fasset which I can’t say I think much of!! (the colours, that is)

I’m also knitting my Japanese Feather Scarf still, and I’m about to start either a hotbot cover for mum or a we call them pirates for OH – I’m undecided which to do first.

I also made some more earrings tonight – Dad commissioned them from me to give to his ‘partner’ (isn’t that a rubbish word) – they’re all pearls and crystals, very glamourous! And I’ve made a new batch of stitch markers seeing as I’m nearly out of them now. There’s some posh ones and some really funky ones coming up!

So that’s it for this week. I hope you’re all enjoying the festive atmosphere, I know it can be a lonely, depressing time for a lot of people – I heard an old lady saying in the street that she had no family and was dreading Christmas and I felt awful for her. Anyway, so this is a time that really highlights your lovely family, or lack of it, and I have to admit to being a bit bipolar around this time myself. So in the meantime, I hope you have a relaxing time and enjoy the crispy weather, beautiful winter sunsets, and mince pies   (I say this, I’m probably going to fit in another update before christmas!)

Ciao for now!

Well, I know I promised I would update more regularly, and given how long it’s taken me to insert the photos into this post, I’m definitely going to make more effort to uphold the regular updates! I was insanely busy last week, but did loads of photography on my dog walks which is why I’ve ended up with a million photos for this post!

I’ll get on with it anyway.

I dyed this organic aran merino, well I dyed a few things but this is my favourite.

I spun this – it’s merino, with one black ply and one blue ply. In the 100g skein there’s about 200 yards which I’m pretty pleased about.

It seems ages since I finished this, but I didn’t block it til the week before last. It expanded hugely on blocking! It’s my Cambria Wrap done in Kaalund Classic Two, colour Pacific.

This scarf is done in a mock English rib (according to the book!), and it’s the Malabrigo handspun Angora that Paula very kindly gave me. This poor yarn’s been through three or so projects, none of which I was happy with! So finally, I’m happy with this scarf, and have worn it *loads*. It’s far more fuzzy and fluffy now than in the photo, it’s incredibly warm and snuggly.

Oh I dyed this as well, it’s aran BFL in colour Maestro, which is sandy yellow, blue and a touch of brown.

I finished this, it’s a mini scarf, done in Rowan Soft Lux, which although you can’t tell, is very sparkly! The buttons are really lovely, I got them from Woolfest.

And I’ve started this, it’s the Sirdar Wrap that Christian made using Sirdar Peru, and I loved it so much I decided to copy her. So I’m doing it the pale blue Peru. Christian used four balls, but I’m tempted to use 6 and make a really, really big, snuggly wrap. I’m on the second ball anyway, so I’ll see how it goes. It’s a really quick, easy knit.

Oh here’s the yarn. I’ve done quite a bit of stash enhancement, being my birthday, some of it given to me and some bought by my OH, mum and me. In no particular order…

The Sirdar Peru, it’s pale blue, though you can’t tell (it’s sleeting today!)

I’ve got one and 2/3 of balls of Rowan Tapestry in Leadmine, which I thought would make a lovely shawl (I did a Forest Canopy in Tapestry and it’s lovely). So I got two more balls, and now have four-ish, which is plenty for a good size shawl.

I also got two more balls but in a different (new?) colour. It’s sort of dusky rose, with a greenish-grey. I don’t know what I’ll do with it yet!

I got this ball of Rowan Kidsilk Haze, it’s really, really *bright* Magenta! I’m going to make an Ice Queen for me with it

I got this which is Twilley’s Freedom Sincere – organic cotton. I’m thinking of making some face cloths for Mum and my MIL-to-be with it. 

I also got the RYC Cotton Jeans for the same reason.

This is Wendy Zena. It’s not on Ravelry, but it’s wool, alpaca and acrylic, DK weight. I just like the sparkliness.

Christian kindly gave me this for my birthday – it’s Nature Spun fingering weight in a plum colour. It’s really lovely! She also gave me a little pack, which contains two blocks of chocolate on sticks. It took me a while to figure it out, but you dip the chocolate in a mug of hot milk, and it melts, therefore making real hot chocolate!! How nifty, though I’ve not tried one yet.

I got a ball of Patons Inca – it’s lovely, but I don’t know what I’ll do with it yet.

And I splashed out and got myself this Noro Silk Garden, in all black, grey and browns. It’ll make a stunning shawl I think! Remember I got this in another colour (264 I think it was)? Well CraftyFox has offered me a ball of it that she has, so I’ll have two to play with, which means I can get a more substantial project out of it (I don’t know what yet. Maybe if I can collect a third ball it’ll be another shawl).

JulieR (the sensible one) was very good to me, and got me these really ususual yarns – Noro Hotaru, and Noro Tape (there’s a japanese word but I can’t remember it and it’s not on Ravelry!). They are so unusual, and I don’t know what I’ll do with them yet but it’ll be something really cool! Thankyou Julie!

I got some fibre too. This is from the always wonderful FeltStudioUK.

I also got a happy feet batt from Vampy too, in black and blue, which I for some reason forgot to photograph. Spinning took a back seat last week, so last night I spun and plied a full skein of merino, in humbug colours. It neesd washing and whacking tomorrow. I’m going to spin another skein this evening But I’ve got loads of uni work to do today first.

Anyway, next I just have loads of photography. It’s all from my dog walks over the past week. My camera always goes with me, no matter what the weather.

Firstly, a classic sunset! Who can resist a sky like that?!

Wet fields…

Frozen drop.

The sun through the trees.

Erm, just some plants.

Berries of some sort.

The stile and sign post that the four of us troop over (me and three dogs on leads, it takes some logistical thought, but they know the routine!)

I think this is a frozen spider web-part, anyway I thought it was fun as it looks like it’s pulling the wires together.

The river. Looks lovely but it’s a bit horrible as it’s really poluted with fertilisers etc., from the fields. It also has a dead sheep in at the moment, as discovered by our oldest and youngest dogs. The oldest (nearly 14), was horribly sick later, she’s such a cheeky monkey.

This is a few paces away but on the next day in all the fog. Dead sheep still there.

Foggy, doggy photo, right before they caught the smell of the sheep. Eurgh.

I love my close ups, and my little digital camera is fantastic for them as well as landscapes.

Frozen Nettle.

Random fibre that was on a plant, I think *part* of the plant in fact.

Christmas tree! In the middle of the field and all frozen and Christmassy.

A small oak sapling.

Are these teasels? I’m not sure but they look lovely all frozen.

Foggy field (this is usually my sunset shot!)

I was at my OH’s parents’ over the weekend and yesterday it was super frosty when we woke up, so while he was out dog walking I took some  photos in the garden.

Poor frozen pink flower! It looks so pretty but kind of miserable.

Frozen leaves.

And finally (‘phew’ I hear you say), a couple of gratituous doggy shots. The youngest keeps falling asleep with her mouth stuffed full of what she was carrying round. Usually a towel, her bed, or one of the pairs of pyjamas I gave her (how’s that for recycling!).

Here she is with the towel.

And here she is with the whole bed in her mouth. Today she fell asleep with both the bed AND the towel in here mouth, and my PJ’s wrapped round her. Awwwwww

So that’s all for now. It’s snowing, sleeting and hailing today, if it was sticking it’d be lovely, but it’s just wet and dark. I’m making notes on Learning, but also want to do some spinning and stuff, as I already said. And today, the baby alpaca in chunky and lacweight arrived today So I’ll dye them tomorrow and they’ll be in stock by the end of the week – yippee! I’m going to design something for them too as soon as I get chance.

Anyway I’d better go and get on, it’s 1pm and I take the dogs at 3pm so not got long before that (need to go to the post office too – I sold the Monster Snot handspun!).

Ciao for now, hope you’re having a good week, I’ll catch up with all the comments and stuff later on (promise!).