August 26, 2004
What's in the bag ??
Hey ! Guess what ? I finished my Extremities Exchange gift ! - and because Benedetta has been so incredibly patient, she got a bonus extra in addition to the socks.
Here's what's in the bag. (Don't look Ben if you want a surprise !)
For those of you who like the techie details, the socks were knitted from this really useful Ann Budd book. (Thanks Emma for recommending it to me !)
They were knitted on dpns in Handpainted Shetland Yarn which I bought on ebay from Robin Pascal, a USA based fibre artist and I liked the 2x2 rib so decided to keep it going all the way. They're my first ever socks so I feel quite good about having tried something new - tho' to be honest I don't think I'll ever be a sock knitting addict. They're too fiddly for me, as I do most of my knitting late night when I'm tired and have a glass of wine in my hand !
The surprise gift is Gatsby, from the Jaeger Accessories Book JB06 - which I don't think is available any more ? I know the yarn is discontinued (Jaeger Odessa in Amethyst) but I was lucky enough to be sent some by one of the Rowanettes - they're such a sharing bunch :0) I've been working on it for ages with no real thought on who it was for, so Ben seems the perfect choice !
While I'm on a roll, I swatched for Poppy last night for my little neice, Aimee's, birthday in November. I'm using the Hot Pink colour which will look fab on her as she is very fair skinned but with lots of glossy dark, brown hair and dark eyes.
It was a real pleasure knitting something that was on bigger needles again but I think I may have relaxed too much as when I checked the gauge, it came out at 18½ sts x 22 rows instead of 18sts x 24 rows. DOH !
If I could be bothered I'd try again on a smaller needle but there's only half a stitch in it and I can always adjust the row number - or it might even sort itself out if I just consciously knit a little tighter ? (Comments and advice from you gauge experts out there would be much appreciated !)
I'm definitely thinking Autumn knitting now - which I just love. I enjoy the sun but it doesn't really suit me. I'm naturally a pealy wally (there's another one for you Lis !) Scot and I burn really easily and get horrible heat rash, so Autumn / Winter is the season for me - although I do find that once you get into September everything just seems to sort of gallop towards Christmas ? AGH ! Horrible thought !
Once I've got Poppy under my belt, I may dig out some of my UFO's from last Autumn, of which there are quite a few .... Elfin .....Granny Squares ......Noro Cable Raglan ..... The choice is endless !
August 19, 2004
BIRTHDAYS 2 - THE LOOT !
I haven't had much time for blogging this past week or so as I've been too busy having a life - oh, and working.
It was my birthday last week and I have been thoroughly spoiled (think Cheshire cat and you've pretty much got an image of me in mind at the moment :0) )
First of all, my sainted sister took my 2 eldest daughters, Rosie and Hazel, to Tobermory on the Island of Mull for a whole week - along with her own 3 children, which gave her a total of 5 aged from 2 years to 12 years, ON HER OWN (AAGH !). We joined them for a long weekend and managed to arrive the day the sun came out after biblical type rain for the entire week up until then. Jammy, eh ?
Now that in itself was a pretty good present but just wait till you hear what else I scored !
Alan took me shopping for a whole day (when did we last do that ?? - pre-children probably !) and treated me to a stunning chocolate brown suede jacket, an apple green silk dress and a lime green linen dress from LK Bennets.
His Mum and Dad gave me a beautiful crushed silk, sage green, vintage style top from Warehouse and a fabulous duck egg blue suede shoulder bag.
Karin and Chris (Al's sister and her partner) gave me gorgeous sparkly jewellrey and bath goodies. And my sister (like she hadn't done enough already ?) gave me a tall, crackle glaze vase and ....... wait for it ....... THIS
Ha ! You thought I didn't get any knitting things didn't you ? ? !
As well as the Jean Moss book, my Dad came through with a generous wodge of cash and strict instructions to spend it on myself. WAHEY !
Hot in the running so far :
St Aula - Alice Starmore design from Virtual Yarns
Kimberley - Jade Starmore design from Virtual Yarns
Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora Yarn for this
Colinette Back Stage Book and Yarn for this
So what do you think ? At the moment I'm in a holding pattern as I swither and try to finish some of my WIP's before indulging - but oh boy, is that money burning a hole .....
August 10, 2004
** BIRTHDAYS (1)**
Well, Val's birthday has come and gone & here's what I gave her
An almost Booga Bag but with clear handles
A scented candle from The Pier
A sequin trim Boden top
An Accessorise necklace & bracelet
The observant amongst you will note the total lack of pink cardigan but I'm making no apologies.
I have been knitting the cardigan (on and off) since early 2003 and I could have finished it but I took a decision not to. When I got back from holiday it lay there lurking on the couch, daring me to knit a neck and button band but I just looked at it and thought, "if I don't love this cardigan, why would Val love it ?"
And the truth is she wouldn't. It's okay but there are just too many things not quite right about it. So THANK GOD I GOT THE YARN ON SALE !!
And one of these days I may even frog it to use the yarn for something else - but not yet.
This week I've been working on the second sock for the Extremities Exchange going on at the Rowan Forum.
I turned the heel last night so I'm on the home straight now. Which is good.'Cos socks take (me) a long time !
I've also been perusing the new Rowan 36 magazine and a bit like Val's cardigan, it's okay. Nothing, however, that blows me away. Nothing I'm rushing to the yarn shop for - but hey, maybe it will grow on me.
What I AM really keen to get my hands on is the Fall 2004 issue of Interweave Knits. I know it's out and I like the look of some of the website pictures but my copy hasn't arrived yet - where is it Twist Fibre Craft Studio ???
I'm also thinking about starting some vicarious baby knitting. Rosie's best friend's mum is expecting another baby and it's a great excuse for some quick return, immediate gratification bootees :0) It's her 4th and I know from my 3 that the pressies decrease exponentially with each new baby so this kid may need bootees.
Anyway, I don't really care, " Have Bootee Book, will knit" - I'm a mad bootee knitter !! The question is, which ones to choose ?
August 04, 2004
I confess
... that recently I've done almost no knitting. But I do have (at least) 2 very good excuses.
Firstly, in my continued quest to be recognised by the Scottish Tourist Board as the new Alan Whicker (minus the moustache, of course) I've been out and about again.
At the weekend, we took a trip to New Lanark. Undiscovered Scotland reckon that this place should be on everybody's list of "5 things you must do in Scotland" - so take note anyone who's planning a trip !
Now I've been to New Lanark before but what I want to know is why nobody ever told me that the walk along the river to the Falls of Clyde is an absolute must.
Just look :
This is a fairly average photo of the view at CorraLinn - it looks even better in real life.
Wordsworth described it as "the Clyde's most majestic daughter" and it is said to be the most spectacular waterfall in Britain. None of which I knew and I only live 22 miles away.
Go see it - honest, it's worth it.
My other excuse is not quite so picturesque but just as beautiful in my eyes.
These are the stairs to our loft.
Al and I are World Champion procrastinators. We live by the motto "why do today what could happily be left for a week/fortnight/month/year/decade (delete as appropriate)". In February 2003 we started on a little house project.
After Rowan's arrival in July 2002 we needed another bedroom and bathroom and a loft conversion seemed like a good idea at the time. HA !
Bear in mind that we are the couple who 6½ years after moving into this house still have brand new shelves in boxes that we haven't quite got round to putting up, that the hole in the plaster made when the central heating was put in 6½ years ago is still there, that when the backdoor dropped down we closed it with the aid of a hammer for 3 years ........ and you might gather that we are not DIY/housey minded people.
(Alan did once in our last home fully line the central heating boiler cupboard (!) in solid mahogany with brass screws but that's another story involving a dead rat, a brave cat and a husband with a pathological hatred of rodents ....)
Anyway, being non-DIYers we got the builders in. And they did a good job (mainly). Completed what they had to do in June 2003 - and left the loft in pretty much the bare plaster, bare wood state you can see in the photo. And so it has stayed, unkempt, unfinished and unusable as a true homage to the power of procrastination.
Until recently. We just BOUGHT A BATHROOM SUITE !
Now this may seem like a ridiculous state of excitement over a bit of Armitage Shanks but I have to tell you for the first time in my adult life, I am coming close to having a bathroom I actually like.
In the various flats and houses I have lived in, I have always yearned for and never had a simple WHITE bathroom suite. I've had avocado, burgundy, turquoise, yellow - believe me, the 70's have a lot to answer for.
But this (in 4 to 6 weeks dependent on delivery and fitting !) will be the stairway to heaven, my little oasis of snowy white porcelain in the rooftops - ah, bliss.
It will, of course, also be the stairway to the new bedroom for Rosie who I notice has taken to referring to the new bathroom as "her bathroom" - HANDS OFF SHORTY ! - it's mine, all mine !
It is amazing though how much time it takes trawling round looking at bathroom suites, I mean you'd think they're pretty much the same ? but no, we saw the lot. And don't even get me started on taps - HOW MUCH ?! FOR A TAP ?? - was a phrase I uttered all too frequently, stressing me out to the point that I only achieved ...................
......this rather pathetic amount of knitting.
One unfelted and felted, "bigger than your average bear" (to not quite quote Yogi), almost Booga bag......... which is, not quite finished .............
Procrastinate ? Who ? Me ?
