A success I think

Montego Bay is finished and I feel the need to show a few photos to try and do both the yarn and pattern justice.
I did wonder if the laciness of this pattern was me but as you can see it makes quite an un-lacy scarf also. The pattern makes it very stretchy so its surprisingly easy to mould and didn't require blocking.



The yarn is lovely, I have already said it is "cool" to knit with which I know Natalie wanted me to explain.........I know what I mean but its hard to describe. I often find when knitting with wool wool that my hands get very hot and breaks are required (sweaty palms some less polite would say), the Bamboo in this mean this is not the case and also mean that its not too warm a scarf for everyday wear. I have mentioned cotton string but that doesn't do the yarn justice.

Try it you'll like it.

Excuse the Double chin, very difficult photographing ones own neck!

I am feeling the need for a challenge, my enthusiasm for socks and scarves is on the wane. I think theres enough in stock.

So, what next, any suggestions?

Spring has Sprung

Well these Tulips have anyway.

Guess I'll have to find replacements tomorrow.

Snow in April again? Maybe not for those of you in the North.

Knitting is unfinished at the moment but I am working on that.

Currently Loving: Yarn Yard Bamboo.

Currently hating: Eating sandwiches with a Knife and Fork!

Currently Reading: Little Face by Sophie Hannah

Currently listening to: Andrea Bocelli (still)

Currently Wearing (sockwise): Cornish Scallops, think I'll do some more of these.

Oxygen required Urgently

I know I said I wouldn't mention this again and I promise this will be the last time.

My tooth quote has just increased 6 fold and it wasn't low to start with! I don't like the look of the pictures either, the booklet is entitled "How Dental Implants can change your life"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll be on the streets soon.

With my wool of course.

Am consoling myself with Andrea.

Ooops!

I said I intended finishing things, well I managed to finish one longstanding project. the Chevron Scarf is in the box.

The results of this pattern are good but it does become a bit tedious eventually. I am hopeful theres enough yarn left for a pair of socks. They will have to be Toe Up and stripey so don't expect them soon.

Did I say I wasn't casting anything else on, maybe I didn't voice it but that was my intention. Anyway the Friday (and Saturday) night project. Two cowls Green is Fyberspates and thinner due to lack of yardage but fine for my short neck! Bluey one is Natural Dye Studio. I may have mentioned my aversion to sewing, due mainly to having a seamstress in the family. so I knit the seam.

Just to ruin any promises I made, a Montego Bay Scarf in Yarn Yard Bamboo, strangely it is a cool yarn to knit with. You would have to try it to understand what I mean.

The Colour is SnowBlue and I have changed down to Lantern Moon 4mm needles which are actually nearer to 4.5mm.

Now you won't ever believe a word I say......

Finished

Snowflake socks, not as neat as perhaps they could be but not bad for a first attempt.

January seems to be the month of starting things, last Saturday I knits this in Fyberspates yarn. On Sunday I frogged it because it would have never been big enough. Attempt 2 is this weekend with a bigger skein of Natural Dye Studio yarn.

Good Companions, this is my current travel kit. This year I am determined to get through the book mountain. So far so good, this is the second.

The scarf is this very simple pattern.

In lovely Yarn Yard Merino Chuckle.

I am going to attempt to get a couple of things finished this weekend, then I can start the Socktopus Sock Club socks.

Next books on the list.

Results!

A piece of plain paper was found, well an envelope was dismembered.

7 names were written on individual segments. Then thrown into the Pensive (after it had been dusted!).

A passing, semi independent, Draw master turned his back on the bowl and drew out a piece of envelope. Looked very technical to me.

The Winner is.........Natalie

A book, which I hope you will enjoy, will be in the post to you later this week.

For the unlucky ones the next BAFAB week is in April but I hope you'll visit again before then.

WIP's or some of

I am almost at the end of my final Secret mission in between times among others I am finishing off the second Snowflake sock, not one for the train. does anyone have a good solution to not having yarn requiring untwisting after every row?

This is my current train project, not very wise, there are days when I have only managed a few rows due to the concentration required and dropping stitches.

That little Scarf in Dream in colour Smooshy Ruby River.

The chevron scarf keeps getting a few rows

I really must stop reading Blogs, now want to knit a scarf along these lines with either of these.

Yarn Yard Merino the Blue is a club offering and the other Chuckle.

What do you think?


Finally, this is part of my dress today, I am eyeing up the sparkles for card making so it may not be long for this world. Now that's what I call recycling.

Sorry about the quality of photos, its grim here today.

And Finally (you hope)

Thank you for your kind wishes on the tooth front.

I now hopefully have an abscess, I say hopefully because I may have a tooth that has cracked within the gum. I will bore you no more with these minor health irritations which involve me having to leave work early.

If you trust me to buy you a book enter the draw here

Knitting pics tomorrow, if wet indoors!

Teeth

This is slightly long but I hope you'll find it amusing.

Monday as you may have already have read was interesting. Just to give you an idea of the pace of it!

Depart Brighton with lunch 05:49
Arrive St Pancras 07:16 (ish!)

Walk to office via Tesco, Purchase SOFT (and this is important) Bagel.
Arrive office around 07:30.

Take first bite of Bagel. Curse aforementioned supermarket because I think theres something hard in SOFT bagel. There was, my front tooth broken off to the gum. One of the 2 middle top teeth that show everytime you breath virtually.

Dentist not open til 09:00.
Finally get through and they offer 14:00 appointment.
Endure numerous comments about Shane McGowan etc and have lots of visits from people wanting smiles and funny looks from those who have to speak to me.
Distribute Apples as impossible to eat.

Depart Office with Lunch 11:20.
Depart St Pancras 11:40
Arrive Brighton 12:54.
Catch Bus home.
Arrive Home 13:30.

Shovel (you never know when your next meal may be after dentist appointment) part of my well travelled lunch in.
Clean Teeth.
Depart for Dentist 13:50.

Arrive Dentists, make receptionist smile (can't imagine why).
Enter Dentists room, smile.
Oh is the comment here.

Depart 14:30 with fake tooth and astronomical quote for full crown.

I am currently existing on rice, mashed potatoes and jam sandwiches cubed!

That's wool buying curtailed for the year..........but you can't live without your front tooth.

BAFAB or Buy a Friend a Book

I am always pleased to see someone with a book, especially Children.

Can't say I have a proven formula for choosing good reads, it could be the title, the Cover or possibly the price! Certain people offer good encouragement. The main thing is I have to have a house full of them, its a comfort thing. Cookery, Gardening, Knitting, Crochet, Card making, Travel, Thrillers, Historic, Humour etc. we have a fair selection. One thing I do do is pass them on when read so someone else can have the pleasure that reading gives as well.

So for the first time I am officially joining in with offering a book for Buy a Friend a Book Week. Leave a comment on this post by midnight on Saturday 12th Jan if you wish to be included in the draw. I will endeavour to choose a suitable book for your enjoyment.

Oh No!

One of my front teeth has just broken off.
How bonny will I look!
AND
I hate dentists.

Predictable as ever

That's me. The mystery was of course a sock. I am in training for these though and I can feel the pull of this even though I don't do hats. I'm sure something this beautiful would be acceptable Office wear (so my very flat hair wouldn't be seen).

I'm quite impressed with these especially as they fit! Thought for a moment they were destined to be a Christmas Tree decoration.


I have taken so many pictures in the hope that you can make a pattern out on one of them!

Pattern: Snowflake Socks Interweave Knits Fall 2007

Yarns: The Knittery Merino in Moss and The Yarn Yard Sock yarn in Porage Oats

This is what they should look like.

P.S. Back to yesterdays post do you think we could lobby Emma Bridgewater to design a knitting related mug?

Happiness

How True!

Deliveries

What do you do when your husband is working nights and you are at home, go Internet shopping of course! Its perfect, or at least I think so.

I saw this yarn on Jane's blog and thought it ideal for the project she is using it for, which is on my never ending list.

Oxford Kitchen Yarns 4 ply BFL.

Sky, Stone and Willow

Next.

Posh Yarns Annual Sale.

Well it only happens once a year.

Helena 4 ply

Flaunt and Splash.

Finally.

Swapped with Lin for my last skein of Socks that Rock.

Dream in Colour Smooshy

Beach Fog

Can you tell what it is yet?

More on this tomorrow perhaps but do guess.

2008

No resolutions this year and certainly no challenges, although I didn't do too bad with last years.

Instead a list of things I wish to master.

1. Crochet (yes that was on 2007 list)


2. Spinning (there are alot of enablers out there)


3. Colourwork

Patterns I have on my list are

1. Kyla - to finish. One picture with the flash and one without. Using Yarn Yard Glove Club yarn. I'm quite pleased as these are the first 4 ply mitts I have done, still 1 to go.


2. Queen of the Waves


3. Skin of the Sea


4. Shoalwater shawl


5. Miss Potter Mittens


6. Marvellous Mitts


7. These Mitts are a must although I may loose my sanity with them.


8. Lots from here

AND


9. Many more (a whole folder full, plus books, plus the Internet. I think I may be kept busy!)

Happy, Happy New Year to all of you.

It would be nice to think I may get a chance to actually meet some of you in 2008.

Christmas

As we were in York my photographer was killing time whilst I had my hair made presentable.

Strangely when I had presents to wrap there was another distraction, you may be interested!

I didn't manage alot of knitting but this is the WIP, Chevron scarf from Last Minute knitted Gifts. It is wrapped round a very nice Christmas card by Piglottie productions. I have been lucky enough to "meet" some very nice people through this blog some of whom I hope I can call friends.

2008 has to be the year I catch up with my book backlog or we will be buried under it! These are just the Christmas ones.

But my "favouritist" present was this. A child at heart that's me, is it bad that people know that?

Sock it to Me supplies

These are the ones I can remember with some pattern links thrown in.

Yarns
Cherry Tree Hill
Colinette Jitterbug
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (Bedsocks)
Fyberspates BFL
Fyberspates Alpaca
HipKnits Aran (Bedsocks)
Hipknits Merino
Hobbledehoy Merino.
Koigu
Lana Grossa Fantasy
Natural Dye Studio BFL
Piece of Beauty Sock (discontinued)
Posh Yarn Lucia
Posh Yarn Helena
Posh Yarn Laura
Posh Yarn Emily
Regia Bamboo
Schoeller & Stahl Fortissima
Socks That Rock Lightweight Sock
Sweet Georgia Handpainted Sock
The Yarn Yard Merino
The Yarn Yard Merino Tencel
The Yarn Yard Sock Yarn
Violet Green Socrates


Patterns
Monkey – January
Posh Yarn Cable rib – January/February

Jaywalker – July and February
Razorshell - February
Lichen - February

Cafe Curtains. - March

Central Air - March

Sensational Knitted Socks Baby Cable – March

Hedera – April

Pomatomus – May
Fybrespates Basic sock – May

Broadripple 4 ply - June
Crew Socks from Interweave Knits Summer 2007 edition – June
Colinette Jitterbug basic sock – July and June

Diamond Lace Socks - July

Vog On – August
Nasturtium - August
Cornish Scallop Socks – August

Broadripple DK - September
Seduction socks – September
Helter Skelter – September

Meida socks from Interweave Knits Favourite Socks. Page 69 - October
Bedsocks from Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere – October
Kaibashira - October

Waving Lace from Interweave Knits Favourite Socks - November
Picot Edged – November and December

Titanias Revenge - December

Favourites

It would be both impossible and unfair to choose but some stars deserve a mention.
Jane - what a clever lady, I still have 3 of your patterns to knit up.
Natalie Mrs Yarn Yard - beautiful colours and excellent service.
Posh Yarns - such variety.
Cookie A whose patterns I have both enjoyed and hated at times but are very well written.
Both Knitty and Magknits are very good pattern sources, my bulging folder bears testement to that.

Finally, I may be the only one, but I have decided that I don't like Socks That Rock.......thats probably alienated you all. The colours are fabulous but for some strange reason (and you should know how strange I am by now) I don't like knitting with it.

Nice to have known you all!

Sock it to Me - December 2007 The END

This months offerings are Picot edged socks in Sweet Georgia Black Orchid.

Titania's Revenge in Socks That Rock Lightweight Lagoon, very difficult to photograph. This is not a pattern for the feint hearted, it takes far too much concentration for my liking.

A close up of the mock cable that winds round from the heel flap to the toe!

So a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders, I have finished my sock challenge. 41 pairs in 12 months (almost 3.5 pairs a month), I do have enough sock yarn to knit 3 more years worth I think! First a rest, although for train travel I think I will have to resort back to socks although there won't be any deadlines to meet. Also I received 2 copies of this for Christmas and it would be rude not to try some of the designs out.

I have also joined the Socktopus Sock Club and the first parcel arrived just before we departed for the North. Its looking like money well spent.

Will be adding a huge list of patterns etc. when I can.