dolly dimple knits

Into the Valley

Not dead - just busy being the harassed working mother you will be seeing everywhere you look at the minute. Currently on the go I still have most of the Christmas shopping, 3 Christmas gift knits, coaching for the Bridgeton Burns Club competition, production of one Wise Man's costume and one silver halo by Monday, shortening of dance jazz suits for the Christmas Dance show and exams on Sunday, decorating of the bathroom ..... oh, and work. But let's not go there. I'm busy. That's all.

In the meantime, anyone remember the fantastic 1979 "Into The Valley" by The Skids ?

Well this version is so good it makes me want to cry. It was made by 2 girls at one of the local secondary schools with the help of Richard Jobson himself.

Fabulous.

Back soon when I'm feeling less stressed !

Torn, so torn

I really really really want to tell you about a wonderful raffle that's going to happen soon ..... but if I do you might buy the winning ticket instead of me and I really really really want to win one of those gorgeous , beautifuuuuuuul blankies ........ so, SSHHHH ! Let's just keep it between us, 'k ?

It's weird ....

how you make friends in the oddest of places. My husband, Al, met Glacia whilst playing a virtual online game - of course, as soon as I discovered she was not only a knitter but a blogger too, I stole her for myself ! Mwah ! Ha ! Ha! Ha !

And now, that kindest of Canadians has sent us the loveliest gift -

Candadian sweeties for the girls, KoolAid (!!) AND Mission Falls for me - and some very patriotic socks for Al. (You can't see them well in the photo but believe me folks, these socks just scream CANADIAN at you !)

I already have plans for the yarn (watch this space :0)) but the KoolAid ? I've never dyed (died ?) before so I am aquiver with excitment ! I'm saving it for the Christmas holidays when I'll have time.

One of the best things my employer does is shut down the offices I work in between Christmas and New Year so, because I work part-time, I will be forced to be on holiday from 19th December to 7th January - yippee !! But now I need advice. Em, how exactly does one go about dyeing with KoolAid ? And what kind of yarn do I need to get ?? - oh goody, more yarn shopping !!

Actually things are getting beyond a joke on the yarn front.

Last weekend I had to visit the 7th realm of hell to buy yet more storage for yarn. I spent several hours yesterday organising it (I was organising I tell you - not playing !) The new cupboard has cube shaped shelves so it was just like playing at LYS Owner - I loved it. (Nan if you ever need a shelf stacker, I'm your girl !)

It is filled with yarn which falls into the category "Enough for a whole sweater" - or 7 ...... and that's not them all. There are 3 storage boxes in this category too ! And that doesn't include what's already on the needles ....

The drawers have been re-organised into Cotton (not quite full, I don't knit much with cotton), Silk & Socks (JAM PACKED), Aran (almost can't get it open it's so full) and the alphabet drawer - otherwise known as KSH & DK.

This is a lot of yarn people. So come the New Year, I am definitely yarn dieting & stash busting - at least until Woolfest ! In a funny way, I'm quite looking forward to it, as sorting it all out reminded me of how much lovely stuff I already have - so now I have all these project ideas running through my head, including a couple for designs of my own which I'm most excited about :0)

Speaking of lovely stuff, I have been a very busy girl of late. I usually only manage 1 or 2 knitted gifts for Christmas but this year I AM ON A ROLL. And strangely, not minding it. They're all small projects so I'm not feeling under pressure and I think they're turning out pretty well so far. I can't let you see them all but here's a sneak peek at the ones you can see ...

Another beaded bracelet, this time in denim colours for my sister ( and anyone who is thinking about asking about a certain black jumper can just SHUT UP, right ?)

Hat and mitts for Rowan - not quite as vibrant as the photo shows but pretty close. It's Langs Mille Colori which I got from Nan's shop and I LOVE it. It's my current favourite yarn :0)

Fetching fingerless gloves for a good friend. This is another colourway of the Mille Colori - so pretty. It's told me that it would really prefer to be a cardigan so I shall do what I can to enable that ;0)

Fetching is one of my favourite quick gift knits - I've already knitted it twice but only have pictures of one other. I love the fact that you can knit these in so many differnt yarns and they still look great.

What's your favourite gift knit pattern ?