GlamGirl Knits

Small steps

2012-01-19T18:34:00.000Z

Fitting in with my small steps leading to small changes leading to actually doing things I have decided to start with my blankets again. When I first arrived on Ravelry I saw loads of projects following Shelley Kang's Sock Yarn Blanket and I thought "OOOOooooohhhh, Pretty" so started on my own in 2009 using what ever scraps of sock yarn I had left after knitting socks. I started fairly well but I began to do fewer blocks a week until it just stopped. I even used to pull it out every now and again with the intention of starting but nowt happened. This is what it looks like today

I even started another one in September 2011 when I found a great source of lovely blue double knit wool (Sirdar Escape) and felt the stirrings to knit another - this one was going to be a stocking stitch one as I loved the way the blocks looked like scales (the original is garter stitch). And although all went well for the first few weeks I gradually stopped that one too.

But small steps means that I have dug them both out and have decided to knit 10 blocks a week to each of them - it might be more but will not be less. Thus far I had added my 10 weekly blocks to my blue blanket and it now looks like this

I shall crack on with scrappy one and gradually it will get to be a size that makes it useful but in small, small steps

Small change

2012-01-12T11:25:00.001Z

Yesterday I was thinkingabout how much time I waste over the course of a day, a week, a month and whoknows how much over the course of a year. Birthdays always make me feelreflective (it’s mine tomorrow) and perhaps this is what triggered mypondering.

I’m by nature a lazy person,the type that will lie in bed all day putting off going to the lavatory for aslong as possible just so I don’t have to get up: laying there getting hungrierbecause I don’t want to move from my snug. I realise that this is quite achildish attitude and how (potentially) destructive it is but I have formed ahabit and as we all know habits are hard to break. But how do you go aboutfinding a different style of life that doesn’t feel like an imposition?

I’m a great fan of changeone small things and keep doing that (well I am a fan of it now but my lazinesscould kick in and then I’m back to the beginning) so I did the first smallchange yesterday. I took up running again.

I don’t pretend to be agreat athlete (I’m lazy remember) but I started C25K last summer and found itoddly enjoyable. Unfortunately I managed to seriously twist my ankle to theextent that I could feel the ligament ripping and gave up, well was forced togive up. Instead of finding another exercise regime that would allow me toretain the fitness I had painstakingly gained I just hobbled away. DOH!

Yesterday was the first smallchange that will lead to my very short term goal of doing again tomorrow (but maybenot as it is my birthday) and leading onto my short term goal ofrunning/walking every other day for the next few weeks. I’m not planninganything beyond that as it is a point that I cannot imagine but I figure if Iget a few short term goals behind me then I might just start planning a fewmid-length goals and then who knows? World domination may be mine.

Making things

2011-09-01T07:58:00.000+01:00

Today was a bit busy. After weeks of being quite, quite lazy, I got the bug and did things.

I made a fabulous Lemon Drizzle Cake.

The recipe comes from The Hairy Bikers' Mums Know Best book. It a nice a simple recipe and made a lovely, moist cake albeit one that looks a bit odd.

Then I sewed in the end, soaked then blocked a scarf that I made for my sister. When I say blocked I just pegged the scarf along the neck edge to the washing line and let it hang there. I'll write more on this tomorrow (possibly)

Then I made some Cheese Bites. Again from the Hairy Bikers' book. These were also successful and very more-ish, but a bit pale.

A day spent doing things but I'm still plagued by a twisted ankle so I can't get out and do as much as I want. I haven't run in over a week now and that is making me sad but I can't risk damaging more. I had hoped to be able to get back skating in September but now this looks increasingly unlikely so I suppose that it shall be another month before I'm back on my wheels.

MSF, Somalia and p/hop raffle

2011-07-22T09:46:00.009+01:00

Somalia and its neighbouring countries are in the grips of the worst famine in over 50 years. While tens of thousands of people are suffering from malnutrition, homelessness and lose of their way of life, I have been thinking about what I can do to help. Part of me wants to jump on a plane, go there and help, do whatever I can to solve the problem, but I'm not a weather god, I can't bring rain to a drought ridden country. I can't stop militia groups from using this terrible situation for their own ends. I am inspired though, by the work done by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and their commitment regardless of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. They are there in the camps trying to help and do what is needed.

But they need funds to do this.

I'm a practical person and like to find practical solutions to problems and I'm also someone who is not bothered about getting their hands dirty but I cannot go out there and help and with since I am currently unemployed I don't have a great deal of money to donate. But I do have time and I have yarn and I can knit and I can used these skills to do what I can. There is a great organisation called pennies per hour of pleasure or p/hop who have supported MSF for the past few years. It's a great idea. They provide patterns for you to knit for free, you then knit the pattern and donate an amount for the hours of pleasure the pattern has given you. Isn't that fab?

But I want to do more than that. I want you to get involved too. I have downloaded the Trinty Shawlette pattern by Anniken Allis and am currently knitting a bright red version and a rich blue version. These are then going to be raffled (separately) to help raise money. All you need to do is make a donation here for a minimum of £3 (GB) or $5 (US) and send me the receipt to glamgirlknits@gmail.com as well as leaving a comment here saying which version you'd like. The comment here will generate a number that will be entered into the draw.

The deadline for entry will be Sunday 7th August 2001 at 12 noon BST

I'll make the draw via a random number generator on Sunday and announce the winner here and on Twitter. Since this is an international situation, I am holding an international raffle so will post anywhere in the world.

The red version is soft acrylic since not everyone can wear wool which will be steam blocked so that it holds the pattern. The blue version is 100% alpaca.

I've made a start and will be updating my progress every week here and on Twitter

Still Running and knitting

2011-07-19T16:44:00.003+01:00

C25K - Week 6 Day 1
2.54 miles nailed

Another day of running today and it well really well. Managed the first block of 5 minutes without stopping although I came close a couple of times. The 3 minutes of walking were fab (really enjoyed that) and my breathing had returned to near enough normal by the time it came to the 8 minute run. That one was a a bit harder as I had to stop and walk a few times, but I only walk for 50 paces then set off again so it’s not like I have a sit down and a cuppa while my breath returns. The second 5 minute run was okay but I hadn’t quite caught my breath during the walking section so I was much slower but hey! I did it.

I have decided that since my legs and arse are getting toned I need to do something about my upper body so am going to start doing a back and body workout on my non-running days. Just a bit of weights and toning things that I can do at home. I have a copy of Matt Robert’s Fit for Life and I like his style and stuff so will hunt through for a routine that suits and start that tomorrow.

One of the things that I am disappointed in is that I am not shrinking nor losing weight. I know that the (non)weight lose is because I am laying down muscle but I’m a bit narked about it. The same goes for my waist measurement - I have put on an inch round my waist (which is a bit annoying) but I think that again it’s due to the muscle under the fat rather than eating too many pies. I’m going to track my food for a week or so to see if I am eating far more than I think I am but I think that I have a pretty good idea of what I eat.

In other news, I have also cracked on with my sock knitting. I haven't been very attentive to my sock knitting and my plans to complete the A to Z KAL on Ravelry has not been looking good but in the past week I have finished one of the M Socks and got a fair way through one of the N Socks. I'll take some snaps and do a post tomorrow.

Seedy Flap-jack

2011-06-10T09:39:00.005+01:00

Since I am trying to eat more healthily, I was looking around to see if there was a recipe for something that was tasty and high in complex carbs to help me feel fuller for longer. Since I couldn’t find anything I like, I then thought FLAPJACK even though it’s brimming with sugar, I thought I could offset that with seeds and fruity bits.

There are loads of online recipes so I had a look in my larder to see what I had but hardly any of it matched what the recipes called for so I used the basic sugar, butter and syrup start and added my own mixture to it.

And this is the result.

It’s not perfect but it will do for the moment. I know next time I will need to add more oats to make it a bit more chewy as this is more brittle than I’d like. I also need to reduce the cooking time, or possibly the oven temperature, or both. And I need to use a smaller tin as this came out thinner than I would have wanted it to be. Over all though, it looks okay and it’s edible and it’s ‘only’ 148 calories a slice

This is the recipe I made but as I mentioned above, it needs a bit of tweaking to get it right for me. This is the basic recipe but I think that it is very flexible and you should be able to change things or add whatever you have to hand.

Seedy Flap Jacks

80g butter	80g brown sugar
60g golden syrup	Pinch of salt
110g rolled oats (next time it’s going to be 150g)	75g sunflowers seeds
60g pumpkin seeds	15g sesame seeds

Put on the oven to 180 degrees
Line a small baking tray with greaseproof paper, or grease a non-stick pan. Basically you need something to cook it in. My tray was about 23cm square and too big so something smaller than that would be good.
Melt the butter, brown sugar and golden syrup in a pan together over a low heat. Once it’s nicely mixed and runny but not boiling
Add all the other ingredients and mix well
Turn into the trap and level out pushing the mixture down with the back of a spoon or you could use a potato masher (I used a spoon)
Put in the oven and bake for 15 minutes – mine was in for 20 and came out crunchy
Leave to cool for a short while in the tray then lift out with the lining paper (if you used it) and mark out the slices, I did 16. Leave on a flat surface until cold.

This should keep for about a week in an airtight box, but I have never made any cake that has lasted that length of time – Yum

Starting Reasons

2011-06-08T14:50:00.006+01:00

I am not a natural athlete. Running around when I was a kid was all well and good. I had fun, I climbed trees, I rode bikes, I did the things that kids growing up in the 70s did but as I got older and realised that motorbikes and cars could get you around so much faster and in a more fun way, I gave up on the running and riding.

Skip forward many years and at the age of 41 I decided to take up roller derby. It was fantastic, a real life changer, but with the joy of finding a sport that I actually liked came the realisation that I needed to get so much fitter. Roller derby is great for fitness and within a few weeks it was beginning to come together. Then . . . disaster. I fell over whilst skating and something went crack, well more CRACK!!! I sat with tears in my eyes daring myself to get up and see what part of my ankle would pop out of place and when I did nothing happened. It was a bit ouchy and my right ankle was a bit tender but nothing terrible had happened.

Throughout last summer it twinged and complained and sometimes swelled to impressive proportions but I kept on even though my skating was suffering as I couldn’t push out properly ‘cause it just hurt too much. Then in August I did the Goodwood Roller Marathon along with many of my fabulous team mates. After 5 and a half laps I was ok, slowing down but still keen and then it happened again. I fell.

My ankle complained and I along with it. I sat there on a boiling hot day on the side of the track watching skaters in all shapes, sizes and abilities go past. Some stopped to see if I was okay and I, in that brittle way of the British injured, said I was. After 30 minutes I got up and carried on: slowly, oh so slowly for the next 5 and a half laps finishing in a time of 4 hours 32 minutes.

And then I gave up roller derby – only for the short term – to give the 3, yes 3 ripped ligaments a chance to heal. After 2 months out, doing a bit of physio I went back and although it was better, I was nervous as in the intervening time I had put on loads of weight and was just not comfortable on skates. Then I got work away so was off from November until March then in April I finally left the amazing, supportive Sheffield Steel Roller Girls as I just couldn’t get myself fit and it was making me sad.

After wallowing for a few months I have decided that I want to be fit and I am still young enough to get fit so I have started to run. And be much more careful about what I eat. AND given up weekday (and mostly weekend) drinking. The running is horrible but I am doing it and I shall continue to do it until I am fit enough and my ankle is strong enough to start skating again.

So the moral of this?

Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get off your arse if you want to do something. If it is that important to you, you'll make the effort.

Back again (again)

2011-05-05T11:50:00.003+01:00

Wow several months have passed but not a lot has changed.

The briefest of round ups.

Got a job in November: contract ran out in March. Now unemployed again.

Decided that since I was just getting further and further behind in Roller Derby that I have left the team for a while until I am fit again. Hopefully back in the autumn.

Seem to have also given up knitting which is not a good thing as I am falling way behind with my vast sock knitting enterprise. However on a more positive note, I have stirrings of interest again so this might be shortly remedied.

There you go - 5 months of life and not a moment of it lived.
Must do better!

Back to Work

2011-01-04T09:52:00.003Z

Today is the first day back for the new year. I did work over the holidays but that was the old year, not this brand spanking new fabulous year so everything is that much better.

I'm currently writing up a report on a great site in Boston (Lincs) and looking out on a snow covered car park. I hope it's not going to stay too cold as I am back on site tomorrow and really would like to be warmer but it's very pretty too. I have brought along my knitting, let's face it, I hardly go anywhere with out something on the pins. This time I have my A Sock and I have the Wings of an Angel sweater test knit that I have been doing over the past few weeks. I meant to write more about it but somehow haven't managed to get round to it just yet. Will do soon though.

I should have it finished tomorrow so I'm hoping that I can have the snaps up and ready for the designer so she can see what a fab design it is.

New Year Plans (and a sock)

2011-01-01T14:25:00.003Z

Happy New Year everyone (if you celebrate it). Do you have any resolutions? Why does the new year bring such things on in people? Anyway. I hope that this year is better than the last and that you enjoy yourself and make your and other people's lives easier.

I felt a bit lost a midnight but things have settled slightly and I am beginning to be a little more perky. Probably just that old feeling of being left out on things when I want to be in the middle of it all. However I know that when I'm in the midst I want to get out. See there's no pleasing some people!

I'm not sure what my plans are for this year. To keep working. To get things more sorted in my house. To be more creative. To smile and laugh more that's for certain. To buy less and use more of the things that I have about me. To not take people for granted and to try more. I'd also like to be fitter. So there you go - not much to that list is there. I should be able to get a few of those done in 365 days.

As part of my being more creative and using things I already have I have made a start on my sock for the UK Sock Knitters group on Ravelry. I'm doing Achilles Sock by Ingrid Marie. I'm using some space dyed 4 ply from Wingham Wools that I got years ago and from the looks of things this will be a quick knit (but only time will tell on that one).

New Year New Challenge

2010-12-31T12:18:00.006Z

I have found a new project to play with over the coming year. The UK Sock Knitters group on Ravelry are having a Year Long A-Z KAL. Starting on the 1st of January we're going to be casting on a sock that starts with the letter A,then 2 weeks later it'll be a sock that starts with B and so on and so on until all of the alphabet is completed.

I went through my queue on Ravelry and deleted all of the projects that had been languishing there never being looked at and now in their place is a list of 25 fabulous sock patterns. The only letter I couldn't find was X but I'm sure that someone will design one in time or we can always play one of our two wildcards.

Luckily the socks don't have to be finished in the 2 week period,just cast on. As long as they are finished by Saturday 12th January 2012 then all will be well. Just as well really as I have selected some completed ones, some knee length ones, some easy ones, 4 ply ones, double knit ones, aran weight ones and some I have no idea what they'll be like as they have only had a few projects completed.

This is also a cunning way to get rid of my stash as I'm on a yarn diet until I get rid of most of my existing stash. In the future I want a stash that is full of beautiful yarns with which I actually make amazing things, not random balls of bits that could, if I scrabbled enough of the bits together could, if you squinted in the right light, look okay.

If you'd like to join us in this astonishing challenge then check out the UK Sock Knitters group on Ravelry. If you're not up to the entire year long adventure then it's quite all right to dip in and out as the weeks come up.

Skating mishaps

2010-12-30T08:45:00.005Z

I was roller skating a couple of days ago, I haven't managed to get out and play much roller derby as the weather has been awful but also I have a new job that requires me to work away during the week. So in a frenzy (as much as you can get after over eating at Christmas) of energy I went skating with my friend at Skate central in Sheffield.

Now I know this rink fairly well, the Sheffield Steel Rollergirls train there and I have used it for practise many times. During the public sessions you always have to keep your eyes peeled for wayward kids, random falling adults and the occasional sweet or other bit of crud on the track. Well I did really well on the first bit and quite well on the second bit but was a completely failure at the third. A HUGE (well not that huge, okay it was fairly small) stone managed to get caught by my wheel and I fell.

This wasn't just tripping style of falling. Oh no,I landed with the grace of an unexploded bomb. Smash. Crash. Flat out. Hands hitting the deck. Body hitting the deck. Knees hitting the deck. It was shocking. As I lay there my first thought was "phew for my knee pads and wrist guards" but I also realised that my right knee was extremely painful so I gingerly got up and although it was a ouchy it wasn't too bad once I moved about a little. I sat out for a bit and then thought I'd have another go at skating but after a few laps I realised that it was a no go so we retired to the pub.

Sitting there in the warmth of the Rutland Arms we chatted and although my knee was sore it wasn't too bad. Until I got home a couple of hours later. By then it had swollen to a good size and was going a delicate puce colour. I managed to find a knee strap for it and by the next morning I could barely bend it and but I could still walk so I trotted off to work wearing the lovely sweaty neoprene strap.

Getting home from work that night I took off the brace and expected to find a swollen and angry looking knee instead I had this

How naff is that? I must have been the pads that helped. Can imagine how muchworse it would have been without them?

Anyway moral of the story if you want a moral. When going skating always,and I mean always wear your knee pads and wrist guards as a minimum.

Knit It Frog it

2010-12-28T11:29:00.006Z

I have made a shocking decision - I am going to frog many of my ongoing knitting projects because they are not going anywhere. I keep meaning to get them finished off but somehow other patterns catch my eye and I cast on and the oldies are forgotten.

Part of this stems from my stash which whilst not growing too much now is also not shrinking at any rate either.I have loads of lovely yarns (mainly sock wool) but seem to not be using it at all so for the next year I shall not be buying any yarn until I have got rid of most of my current stash.

See I did a clever thing there though because I didn't say I was going to knit with it all, just get rid of it. I shall try to sort everything out and tag it so I know what I have, how much of it and how long it is (thank the small gods for Ravelry) and then decide what I can make from those patterns that I have queued or favourited. Any thing that I know I will never use will either be sold on ebay, ravelry or etsy and then the rest given to anyone who wants it.

Tarzan and Pain Double Header

2010-12-27T22:47:00.004Z

Sheffield Steel Rollergirls are having their first bout of the year against the lovely Middlesbrough Milk Rollers. But we're also having a Merby too - boys!!!!!

If you want to come along then pick up a ticket or 3 from the Sheffield Steel Rollergirls website - there'll be a few available on the door and sit yourself down for 3 hours of roller derby action

So the place is Ponds Forge, Sheffield.
The date is Saturday 29th January 2011
The time is 12.30
Come along and show your best

HomeSpun Threads pattern giveaway

2010-12-25T11:35:00.006Z

I was doing my morning perv on Ravelry and came across this great link to a fantastic giveaway for sewing patterns.

Aimee from HomeSpun Threads is offering all of her lovely patterns for free and all you need do is follow her blog. Have a looky see if there's anything that you fancy. I love the little baby shoes and her bags are fab too. Might crack out the sewing machine tomorrow and give make up a bag or two.

HomeSpunThreads: All HomeSpun Thread Patterns are FREE!!

Happy Christmas and hello again

2010-12-25T10:24:00.002Z

Wow it's been a huge great while since I did this last. But the past couple of months have been busy and fraught and fun and many other things in between.

Firstly I am now employed again. Yay for getting a job. Well yay for my lovely friend Jan for hassling a company enough in to wear them down and they have given me the job. I'm back to being an archaeologist, this time working in Lincoln and supposedly employed to write reports but so far have spent much of the time on site doing watching briefs (this is a weird term for non-archaeologists but it basically means watching groundworks being dug and then cleaning things up to see if there's any archaeology).

It's been freezing here in the UK with temperatures well below the norm so standing out on site in minus 9 has been interesting in itself but I have realised that I do love archaeology and I get a buzz from it so will try to not mess up and get on with the job in hand.

Autumn

2010-10-10T18:03:00.003+01:00

I think that autumn has arrived. Today I made apple tarts with the last of the garden fruit and I always think of apples as an autumn fruit. The leaves have begun to change from low green to soft yellow and they are beginning to fall across the garden making a patchwork. I love the smell of autumn and today was the first day it was here

Goodwood Roller Marathon

2010-08-02T12:20:00.002+01:00

It's now only 6 days to the Goodwood Roller Marathon. For those that might not know about this, it's a sponsored charity skating event held at the historic racing track as Goodwood (the clue is in the title). I am doing this and I think that I am slightly mad for doing it.

I started skating with the Sheffield Steel Roller Girls at the end of April and I love is so a group of us are doing the marathon for the Sheffield Children's Hospital and so far we have raised over £500. Our target is £600 so please donate if you can. We have a Just Giving page and any amount would be gratefully received.

Most of us who are going have been practicing on bits of tarmac around Sheffield and its been lovely to get to know my team mates outside of the derby environment. Our favoured place of practice is Millhouses Park as it has a fab length of tarmac that's over half a mile long. Okay, we have to avoid other park users but that's where our derby training comes in: really it's only the dogs and children that are the main problems, the adults usually flee for cover when they see us coming.

So for Sunday wish us good weather and a calm day and I hope to come back having skated 26.62 miles and had a lot of laughs.

Bad me! Spank me!

2010-07-28T11:35:00.003+01:00

Yeah, I know, it's been a while blah, blah, blah and the usually excuses that I make about my appalling lack of blogging. But this time I have a good reason, well reasons. My lovely man moved in so now we are a cohabiting partnership (doesn't that just sound so romantic?) and I have been way too distracted by roller derby things and I have found joy in my sewing machine again amd that's about it.

I have hardly knitted anything except for a few hats that we sold at the Sheffield Steels Roller Girls bout against Newcastle on Saturday and I have made a few half arsed attempts to finish stuff off but that doesn't seem to be happening just yet.

On the plus side I have done more sewing and I am thinking of getting my act together to actually start making a range of roller derby inspired clothes and nick nacks but first I need to tidy up my house, sorry that should be OUR house. Now there's 2 of us there twice as much stuff and somehow just not enough space. So you know what that means? Yep, ebay extravagance time. Must start listing things and seeing if that makes a dent in it.

Jamming in Wonderland Fundraiser

2010-05-20T09:52:00.003+01:00

Just thought that I'd announce a fundraiser for the Sheffield Steel Roller Girls that is happening on Friday 21st May (yes, that's tomorrow) at the Lescar Hotel on Sharrowvale Road, Sheffield, S11 8ZF

There's going to be Bands and Burlesques and it's fancy dress if you want - the theme is Alice in Wonderland. I'm dressing up if I can finish my costume so come along and support this great team (that I now practice with). Oh do I ache but that's another story altogether.

More ebay goodies

2010-05-11T12:39:00.002+01:00

Although it's not the best time of the year to be selling on eBay, I have to make room for things so I am continuing with the clear out of my house. So far this week I have listed a group of vintage sewing patterns and they are fab.

There are some 1940s dresses and some great rockabilly style 1950s dresses too. Most of the sizes are reasonable normal although there are a few Junior sizes for those that are petite.

I'm also selling a skein of Wollmeise. It's from the first sock club and it's a colour way that I'm not that keen on so thought it was better to get rid of it than store it forever. The colour is Saami and it's a white, blue and red on natural

The link to my main eBay page is here and I'll be adding more things later in the week.

Got more sewing patterns, knitting patterns and clothes to add as well as a load of bits and bods that I no longer have a need for.

Floppy Hat

2010-05-09T14:58:00.002+01:00

The summer is trying to make an appearance here in Sheffield but that are many days of cold cloudy weather. Since I have been trying to get my garden ready and planted up with veggies, I realised that I needed a sun hat for those days when the sun actually managed to break through so that the tops of my ears don't get burnt. I have promised myself that I do not need to buy any more yarn so decided that it had to come from my stash and found this double knit cotton that I bought a few years back in Lidl as some knockdown price.

After hunting on Ravelry for all of 5 minutes I came up with the Sunshine and Lollipop design by Alison Reeves and my mind was made up.

From finished things

It's a nice and simple pattern that is well presented and the bonus is that Alison not only gives you the size of an adult but also gives you the instructions on how to make it to fit no matter what size head it's for and even better you don't have to do any of that irritating swatching. I do swatch if it's a garment but for socks, hats, scarves and gloves I really can't be bothered.

I used Zettl Colorado for the main part and some Sirdar Snuggly Babay Bamboo for the band and the underside of the brim on 3.75mm needles. I don't really like the colourway of the Colorado but since I'm not going to see it I really don't care. Once it was finished I realised that I should have gone down a size in needles as it was a bit loose and not have made the sides so long but there was no way I was going to rip this back. Anyway I now have a slightly silly floppy hat that will keep the sun from my ears.

The Clap and Cream

2010-04-21T19:51:00.003+01:00

I have been shockingly industrious in the past couple of weeks. Finishing 2 things and now half way through a pair of socks - what is the world coming to?

So first things first. I have done a Clapotis by kate Gilbert. Yes, that seemingly ubiquitous wrap/shawl/scarf that is much loved on Ravelry with 14824 started projects and 11411 finished articles. Well it has another to add to the list.

From finished things

It was made for my sister as she loves big scarves and this completely fitted. The end product finished up being about 20" wide slightly stretched and about 70" long. I forgot to measure it but that's roughly how big as I soft blocked it on a yoga mat I have around.

I used some Silk Garden Lite that I bought from Hejhog and used about 5.5 balls or 748 yards. The pattern was a doddle and for those that are slightly in awe of it I'd say jump on right in there and don't look back. Basically it's just knitting and purling with the occasional dropped stitch. make sure that you have enough stitch markers and you'll be well away.

My second finsihed marvel is this very cute semi-circular shawl Citron by Hilary Smith Callis.

From finished things

I got the yarn from a charity shop ages ago, never quite sure what I wanted to make with it. This worked really well.

The pattern is easy to follow (as are all of those that I have tried from Knitty) and it really clicks along at a fab pace. As the shawlet grows it takes longer to wind from one side to another but funnily enough you always get to the other side. I chose to used Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off when casting off and it works well as it allows that fab crinkly edge a place to run free.

Green and Lumpy

2010-03-28T14:41:00.003+01:00

This shows what a bad blogger I have been over the past few months - I finished this sweater in January and have only just got around to prattling about it.
So, Ta-Da!!!! What do you think?

The pattern is Cathode by Stefanie Japel and was in Knitty Winter 2004. The main body is knitted on 8mm and the ribbing on 3.75mm

The main part is knitted from Stylecraft Loop the Loop which I picked up for a bargain at 59p per ball from Kemps and the ribbing is from some old Rowan Lambswool DK that I got from a lady on Freecycle so the sweater was practically free. Okay, it did take me a while to get going and then a while to finish off the ends but it is now done.

I liked the pattern, it's clearly explained and worked from the top down so you can adjust any bits that you need whilst going along. There is no sewing up at the end which means just can just knit and knit and knit and then wear with none of that faffing that seems to take forever when sewing garments together. I also think that it's a great pattern for someone looking for a first sweater.

I think that my yarn choices were inspired, well I would say that, the contrast between the lumpiness of the Astrakhan and the smoothness of the DK works very well. Also having a textured yarn helps with making it more interesting to look at rather than a smooth body.

I also think that this shape flatters just about any body shape and makes your tits look huge (or so my boyfriend says) which is no bad thing in my book. The collar is very glamorous and almost reminiscent of a 40's style drape while the ribbing helps with giving you a smooth line as well as pulling you together. I think this is a classy vintage looking sweater that is easy to knit and, if you get your act together, a quick knit too.

Earth Hour approaches

2010-03-27T19:02:00.004Z

So are you going to do your bit? Have you already done your bit? In case you are unaware tonight, in just over an hours time it will be Earth Hour. It's an environmental awareness campaign that encourages you to turn off the lights for an hour (the clue is in the title) to take a stand against climate change and to reduce, even for a short while, the burden that the planet is under. It starts a 8.30pm in your local time zone.

You might not agree with climate change and there's a lot of science going back and forth, as well as less informed and frankly quite scary people ranting, about how it is or isn't happening. Some say the amount of CO2 that has been released since the 18th century has drastically altered the was the planet can function, but then has been countered that with the reasoning that a few million years ago the atmosphere was even more CO2ed than now and nothing terrible happened then so it's not going to happen now. I think this is a tad simplistic as a few million years ago there wasn't the number of creatures on the planet that there are now. Humans weren't even humans, we were still evolving and no where near homo sapien let alone homo sapien sapien which happened about 500,000 years ago. There wasn't 6 billion people on the planet all trying to make it through the day and night with enough food, water, heat and light.

As one of those that lucky enough to live in a relatively free way, to be able to say what I want, and buy what I like, to be what I want to be and have CHOICES, I know that there are many people on the planet who do not have those choices and who might not be able to comment, who do not have the technology available to them, who have not been granted the education to be able to get their voices heard. So please, for them, for those that already live in darkness, who already live in the shadow of environmental destruction, for those that do not have the choice please join me in turning off your lights for 1 hour and see if we can, acting as a global community make a difference.

Bad me but fabulous dresses

2010-03-26T22:45:00.007Z

I haven't blogged for ages and ages and now I have things to say and I'm getting a bit shy. BUT Bold is my fashion, so since I have some fabulous vintage dresses that are now on ebay I thought that I would share them. They are listed here and there are some crackers among them. How about this great late 1960s Waltah Clarke Maxi dress? It's a UK size 14 with a start price of only £4.99.

or if you are more into the Hawaiian prints of Alfred Shaheen how about this beauty? A red with black printed pattern in a UK size 14 or 16

Or are you more of a disco queen and would love this fabulous Furstenberg wrap dress (not sure if it is DIANE von Furstenberg) dress but it's still pretty stunning. It's a UK 12 and again starts at £4.99

But I think that my favourite out of the clothes that I have on ebay today is this beautiful vintage 1940s rayon dress with original matching belt in a UK 16 or 18.

I have more to put on, a fab mod dress in cream wool with an abstract pattern, a multi-coloured cotton late 1950s dress that brilliant, a satin cocktail dress that needs a bit of TLC, an early 1940s that needs some care but is beautiful. I have an amazing 1950s wiggle dress that will make you feel like Marilyn and a sharkskin dress that is to die for. I just need to get myself sorted and then it will be all up for sale as I am not going to wear this stuff, even though I love it and it's better that it goes to someone who will love and wear it.

A knitty art project

2010-01-25T14:39:00.004Z

What a fab idea is this? Take a social networking site (like Twitter) and take some talented artists (like us) and take knitting (or your interpretation of knitting) as a medium. Let people issue instructions as tweets (so limited to 140 characters) and see what happens. Well that it the latest project from Platea.

If you want to join in then contact either @InnyM or @Platea and say you are on board. Hashtag #plateaknit so they can be added to the archieve and knit away.

The project runs for the next week and you can either start a new project or incoporate it into an existing one.

Since my existing projects are either a pair of socks and my sock blanket, I'm going to start a scarf with some chenille stuff that my sister has hanging around and see where I get with the limited amount.

Sock Blanket update

2010-01-16T10:50:00.002Z

Here's the weekly update on my Scraps Sock Yarn Blanket. I know that I only posted about this a couple of days ago but am trying to get back on track with posting about my progress up to a Friday.

The blanket now has 46 squares. Most of the yarns I used this week I have used previously but the oddments I have now includes the remains of Martyn's socks so it's a bit more reddy.

Here the colours I used this week

On my other sock project, I have been a bit lax and only added another couple of rows to them, but this week has been busy as it was my birthday on Wednesday, I was out Thursday and Friday and I am now trying to catch up on just about everything.

Go with the Flow Socks

2010-01-12T11:41:00.003Z

So a quick update on what my current project is. It's the Go with the Flow socks by Caroline Dlugy-Hegwer.

I had some multi coloured variegated sport weight sock yarn that I have tried for a variety of different patterns and it just never quite worked but it seems to be working fine with this.
The yarn is Gjestal Silja Sock Yarn and these are being started on 3mm needles but I'm about to change down a size to make them more snug around the ankle and foot. I know that this will throw the pattern of the yarn off but I think that it will still be okay. If not I can always frog them and find another project for them.

I'm also giving them a go as 2 at a time. I've tried before but have chickened out when it comes to the heels but this time I shall persevere and see if I can sort it out once and for all. Might have to get a slightly longer needle though and I have an 80cm but think that it's a bit tight.

Scrappy blanket

2010-01-10T11:37:00.004Z

See I said that I was a bad blogger. I meant to do this a few days ago but completely forgot and then yesterday my heating packed in and I was distracted by waiting for the bod to come out and fix it. He did eventually come out (he's a mate of my landlord) but did nothing other then break some ice from the pipe so I spent a coldish evening in the living room snug under a blanket and duvet with a hot water bottle tucked in for good measure.He might be back today and it might not be fixed until when ever. However I'm a hardy type so hopefully will not freeze while we have this cold spell.

Right then on with the task in hand and that is the report of how my scrappy sock blanket is coming along. I said that I would try and add a square a day for the year and then see what size it has grown to. I know that I could work out the size but it's more fun to see how it grows and then be surprised at the end of the year that it (a) didn't get as big as I thought, or (b) is a good size but needs more work, or (c) now covers Sheffield and the surrounding areas. I think that it's going to be (b) but I suppose it depends on how many socks I knit so that I can get the scraps.

Since I am still unemployed I have said that I will try as hard as I can to knit from my stash and since my stash has at least 16 lots of sock yarn I think that I'll probably be able to see the year out, but all donations will be gratefully received!

Well this week was a bit of a whizz for the blanket as I started on the 4th and it's now the 10th and I have added 12 different coloured blocks so I have 2 days in hand so to speak. I have a collection of about 24 different yarns at my disposal, most is from socks I have knitted but some has been given to me by someone from Ravelry. So until I crack out a few more socks the colours are going to get pretty repetitive but I also like the way that it will change over time with the newer yarns taking the place of the older ones.

Here a snap of the colours used this week

At the end of the month I'll take a picture of the blanket on the bed so we can see the progress over the course of the year.

Masonic Lodge Socks

2010-01-07T12:20:00.002Z

I have actually finished a pair of socks and may even start another before the end of the month. Here they are in their finished glory

This pair are for my lovely man who wanted a pair of socks that weren't too loose and baggy and held their shape. The ribbing and cable detail on these look as though they'll do the job.

They are made from trekking XXL and I found it rather tough to use. The finished fabric feels a bit hard but I am going to wash them to see if it blooms slightly. It's still comfy enough for socks though even if is only softens a little.

As well as the socks I have also been cracking on with my sock blanket - now I realise how addictive it can be. 3 days ago I had 24 squares to it and now I have 35. It's still tiny compared to what it is going to be but I can see progress and that makes me smile.

Scrappy sock blanket

2010-01-04T18:42:00.003Z

I started a sock blanket, well THE sock blanket, last year but never really got that far with it. By the end of the year I had 24 small squares that formed the smallest corner of the king size blanket that I wanted.

This year I am going to try and knit a square for each day. Since it is already the 4th (how did that happen?) I should have added 4 blocks by now but due to this and that - I seem to have a lot of this and that moments - I have only added 1. By the end of today though, that will have been rectified and I shall have 4 new and sparkling blocks.

I'm using my stash of sock yarn and any colour repeats have to be at least 2 blocks away from each other. Since I am also planning on knitting a pair of socks every month I should have plenty to be going on with.

Time flies

2010-01-01T23:21:00.002Z

Where has the past few months gone? It zipped along and all of a sudden it was December and now the New Year has broken and I have not yet caught up.

I am going to try and be a more faithful blogger this year. My lazy habits might be difficult to break so I promise nothing and offer no resolutions but I shall to keep this bit of my world a little more up to date than last year.

As this is the first day of the new year (just, it's almost the second) I present my first post and with it my current work in progress.
Ta Da!!!

From finished things

This is the Masonic Lodge sock pattern by Emma Haigh aka Erqsome knits and it's available as either a free Ravelry download or on her website.

The yarn is Trekking XXL in colour way 177 which I think looks a bit like a messed up German flag. This is the first time I've used Trekking and by the small gods is it hard on the hands. It feels like iron and I'm just hoping that it softens a bit once washed. So far I've done a complete sock and am now just before the heel flap on the second so I'm getting there.

I had a mad idea that I was going to knit a sock a week but I think that could be a bit ambitious so might limit it to a pair of socks every month but we shall see, I never know when my interest will be piqued and I'm off on a bout of knitting.

Test knitting a sock

2009-10-01T10:53:00.006+01:00

So the called went out on Ravelry by Lottie Lodge that test knitters were needed for a pair of socks and I thought "Why not!" so said I could do it and the pattern was duly sent. There are always a few small problems that the designer has overlooked and it helps to have things knitted by others just so that it all works out as the designer plans.

I started with some Wendy Mode 4 ply in a deep red that I had as the design has a distinct cable pattern and verigated yarn can hide small but perfectly formed details like that. I started with a swatch and that seemed to be fine. I was knitting the wide version but the yarn really wasn't playing along. It started off wide and just got worse and worse. I kept checking to make sure that I hadn't managed to get more stitches into the design but no, it was the yarn.

This is it just bofre starting the heel and it's already wide, by the time it was up and over the ankle I was very baggy. I suppose that I'm used to knitting socks with sock yarn which can be more tightly spun, but this was 50% wool and 50% acrylic and has quite a lot of loftiness to it and I think that once a critical mass was reached with the sock it started to have it's own rules.

Anyway I knew that there was no point on carrying on so I started again. This time I'm using Schoppel-Woll Zauberball in a lovely long repeat of reds into oranges and browns and back again and it is behaving much better.

From GlamGirl Knits

I have one finished and am cracking on with the other so hopefully by the weekend I should have a lovely new pair of cabled autumn socks to wear, just as the weather turns.

Down-sizing

2009-09-09T10:51:00.005+01:00

Where has the past few months gone? I have been drifting again and haven't been keeping track of time. This past few days I have been trying to get stuff sorted to sell on ebay again. I figure the onset of autumn and the general crappiness of the summer weather might get people on their 'puters again. So far all I have listed is books, and books and a few cds but I'll break into some of the bags and start to pull out the clothes and nick nacks that I no longer need. Which is most of it if I was to be honest.

I think that I really want to get rid of most of my stuff but at the same time it's a comfort to know that it's there. It has nothing to do with how much things cost me to start with but I suppose that it's filled a bit of my house for so long that I'm not sure what I'd do with all the space: make more room for the things that I actually use and need I imagine. I'm not sure that I am a hoarder as I don't keep broken or useless items (but I suppose it depends on your definition of useless) but everything I keep has got a use, I just don't use them. So I am going to try and get rid of just about everything and the stuff that doesn't sell I'll donate to charity or freecycle. Might even have a yard sale next spring if I have anything left.

I wonder why there are those that amass stuff and those that find it easier to keep things simple, uncluttered. I definitely amass but what is the trigger for that? There has to be an element of security in having things about you, even if you don't look at them or use them, but what starts it off? As a child I had lots of toys and was messy. As an adult I am still messy and still have lots of things. Not many clothes but just things, books; that I don't read, yarn; but I am beginning to use that more and not buy so much 'new' stuff and other things.

This is rambling and not really getting me anywhere, but I am curious about the amassing of junk and why some people do and some don't. And can a person swap from being one to the other and not feel as though something of them has gone.

On the Plinth

2009-07-20T17:16:00.003+01:00

I am going to be standing on the plinth in Trafalgar Square, London for a whole hour on Tuesday 21st July from 6am. It's part of an work of public art called One and Other by Antony Gormley - the man behind the Angel of the North, Another Place and Field. He plans to fill the plinth for 100 days with members of the public who are being chosen randomly from all parts of the UK. Those overseas can apply too but since you cannot choose when you get to go on to it you do kind of have to know where you might be in the next couple of months.

I've been trying to come up with a fab thing to do but since I do not have a cause to sell or anything to promote I shall probably just do some knitting and have a look around.

I'm kind of excited as it's a big project but made of individuals so it has that unconnected element too.

Busy Doing Nothing

2009-07-17T00:33:00.003+01:00

Working the whole day through,
Trying to find lots of things not to do

Oh where has the past month gone? I was made redundant 6 weeks ago and I still haven't really done anything. I potter in the garden. I fill in job applications and I pretend to be really busy. But in reality I am just sitting here, perving the internet and doing very little. I should try harder to do something.

Well, that's a bit of a fib, I have been doing a few things. I have finished off a couple more small projects for the WIPs Wrestlemania. So far my total stands at sewing on the handles of a bag, finishing a pair of socks, performing surgery on a bear/mole/peanut/potato creature (don't ask it just gets messy) and finishing off a crochet octopus. I have also made great strides on my Cathode sweater and have finished the body and the ribbing and have just, this very night, started on the sleeves. I also did a bit of tidying up and found a couple more projects to add to the ever growing pile of WIPs. I have also reached a decision about my Topsecret sweater that has been languishing since November 2007 - it's going to be unravelled and I shall use the yarn for something else. I'll never wear it even if I were to finish so better that I make something I'd want to wear. So I have knitting successes to boast about, it's just the rest of things that is a bit poo.

And another one goes

2009-07-08T19:17:00.002+01:00

This is my Garter Goth Jacket - it's a large child size. I had worked out how to up size the pattern from the original design and started, then realised that I did not have a recipient for it but thought that I'd carry on just in case.

From GlamGirl Knits

It sat, or rather flumped in the WIPs bag for a while. I took the needle to use for another project and I suppose at that point I should have known that this was a goner. Still I did nothing. today I was hunting through the bag to find another WIP to finish off and made the decision to frog it and be free from it forever.

It put up a fight, the yarn is that slightly fluffy stuff that catches on the ends of the rows,and I had to break it 3 times but I finally managed to wrangle it.

From GlamGirl Knits

I like the way that it stripes so will re-use it on another project - I was thinking that Hanne from Knitty might do very well.

Another one bites the dust

2009-07-07T10:24:00.005+01:00

Yay - got another one of my projects finished. This time it's the green woolen bag that I finished ages ago except for adding the handles. Well they are not done and it's all green and red and FINISHED

From GlamGirl Knits

I also played with Abomination Bear who is currently being bashed up in the washing machine so I'll know later today if my surgery worked and I added a fair amount to my Green and Lumpy Cathode.

First one down

2009-07-06T09:14:00.004+01:00

Thanks to WIPs Wrestlemania I have managed to finally get the BFF socks by Cookie A onto the mat in into submission: it's only been a year.

From GlamGirl Knits

and a side view

From GlamGirl Knits

The yarn is Knit Picks Dancing which is a wool, cotton and nylon with added elastic and is a great summer weight sock yarn. I think that the colourway is Hula but I misplaced the ball bands before I got all of the details onto Ravelry.

They are a great fit. I didn't make any modifications except for twisting the cable the other way on one of the socks. Not that it's visible because of the variegated nature of the yarn but I know that it is there. I am very pleased with them and are wearing them as I write.

Now I just have to get a few more things done - might deal with the abomination bear today. I won't show pictures just yet as it's not a pretty sight.

WIPs Wrestlemania

2009-07-01T10:31:00.003+01:00

Attentive readers of my lovely blog would have noticed that I often rattle away that I have loads of things to finish and that I really should do them and that I will not start anything new until I have finished at least one thing and that I really, really would do this but I keep getting distracted. Well I have signed up to WIPs Wrestlemania 2009 on Ravelry in an attempt to actually get some of this rouge and random projects finished.

Basically through out July the aim is to get as many unfinished projects finished - it really is that simple. I'm starting with a over half made pair of socks - my BFF that have been languishing for many a month now. This is how they are now

Hopefully I should be able to report, very soon, that they are a wearable pair of socks

After I finished them, I have a load of small things that need sorting. Most of these are simple little things like a leg for a tortoise, 3 legs for a bronty, sewing the lining up of a bag, knitting the mate to a sock or two, that kind of thing. After I get the amateur (the way anything with more that 60% complete) stuff sorted then I'll tackle the bigger things that have been lurking.

Wish me luck

Onwards

2009-06-28T17:21:00.003+01:00

I am sorry that I have been missing in action recently. Nothing terrible happened but I just didn't have much enthusiasm for things. Been tinkering and sort of knitting and all those things that I'm really good at that mean I don't actually have to do any work of any kind. I'm bored with that now though, so have decided that this is the week when it all will change.

I'm planning on finally getting a website sorted out for selling my vintage and retro knitting patterns. I had a look around, asked a few people, read a couple of reviews and have come up with Mr Site as the most likely candidate. I like them as they offer a hosting plan, there is blog space and I can upgrade the site if it becomes super poplar and I need more space. Everything seems nice and simple and simple will be best for me as I am so easily distracted.

I'm just working out what colour schemes I fancy and how I want the menus to work and I will also have a mountain of scanning which I'm not really looking forward to but needs to be done. I also have to think about the pricing structure and what the postage costs will be too.

I don't have the cash at the moment to buy the package but I should get my redundancy money through by Tuesday so hopefully will be online by next weekend with a taster of what the whole site will look like.

Odd music

2009-06-01T14:10:00.003+01:00

I've said before that I never used to listen to new music but then found blip.fm which has given me a whole new world of music that I love. I have come across some new things but it's also great to hear that so many others share my excellent taste in music.

That said there have been a few changes to blip the biggest of which is video streaming. Basically they have signed up with Youtube and now when you search there are a whole load of vids that come up first before you scroll down to the plain music. I don't mind this as it has brought up a whole new element to my listening that I had never considered before. In the past couple of weeks I have heard incredible rough versions of Elvis classics, Green Day wannabies, classical music played by ham fisted muppets, junior high school productions of Grease (is Grease suitable for junior highschool?) and every other musical horror known.

But I have also heard amazing versions of fabulous music that I would never have discovered as well. Delicate and unusual versions of Jimi Hendrix classics, small scale bands that really should be signed, nervous classical performers who delight the soul and just a few crazy people to perk up the day. So next time you hook into blip.fm go on the public channel and see if there are any treasures that you weren't expecting.

Sheffield Knit in Public Day

2009-05-26T15:07:00.003+01:00

Saturday 13th June 2009

I am organising the Sheffield World Wide Knit in Public Day so I just want to shout a bit about it and where and when and what to bring.

The event was started a few years ago as a celebration of and for knitters (and crocheters). I knit in public every day as I travel on the bus or wait for things (usually buses) and it usually raises an eyebrow and sometimes elicits a comment from a curious and/or friendly bystander. But there are many knitters and crocheters who don't do their thing in public, which is a shame and they are missing out on being thought of as genuinely odd (which is a good thing) so this event gives them and all of us a chance to knit together: look on it as safety in numbers. Besides which we are armed with pointy things too!

So this year the main day is Saturday 13th June and we are holding the event in the Peace Gardens in Sheffield city centre from 11am to 3.30pm. You don't have to come along for all of the time, I know that everyone has things to do but just pop on by and say hello with your knitting if you are in the area. If the weather is not so good then we shall encamp to the Winter Garden and have fun there instead.

Please bring along with you your yarn/wool and needles and hooks and have fun in the sun. I'm going to bring along some spare needles and yarn so interested guests can try the joy of knitting themselves - it's always worth trying to convert more to the cause.

There is some public seating in both areas but feel free to bring along your own chair, stool or blanket if you want and sit on the grass.

There are cafes nearby but if you want, you could bring a picnic (no alcohol though as it's against council rules). There are free public toilet nearby and I hope that we have a grand day

Feeling better

2009-05-22T12:09:00.003+01:00

Whoa - that last post was far too depressing for words so I am just going to do what I have been doing all of my life with depression and just sweep it to one side but will quickly say that the past week has been horrible and I have felt very very bad.

However, things are far more perky now and I have manage to get a handle on what is happening and am feeling much better. Really, the ostrich impression is a great trick but then what ever the problem is, mugs you later on so probably better to deal with it straight away.

Any-way, this past week I have been knitting socks for Sock Wars, have started a version of Shelley Kang's Blankie, have started another blanket and have actually started on sorting out my stash. Yes, I know, I always say that I should/have/will sort out my stash but I have actually started. I have got most of it in one place. It is now sorted into lace, 4 ply, double knit, aran and chunky weights. Now I need to get some boxes to put it in (I do so love Poundland). As they go into the boxes I'll start photographing them properly and then get the snaps onto Ravelry.

I've also realised that I have random bits of yarn that I no longer want or need so am going to wait until I have everything sorted and then get rid of the excess. Most of it is odd balls of acrylic and a little bit of fun fur type stuff so I should not miss it. I might knit up some things for charity but I never seem to have the time.

I have also been trying to organise a Knit in Public event for Sheffield and will keep you posted once I know what is going to happen.

I'm lost

2009-05-08T12:25:00.002+01:00

Not sure where I am, nor what I am doing.

Almost as though I'm static and things are moving around me.

I want to engage with the world again and not feel so blawgh.

I would like to be able to see a future world where I feel settled.

I do not want to feel as I am at the moment but the hill is too high and I can't see the top.

What it at the top of the hill?

The great pattern destash . . .

2009-05-05T15:02:00.002+01:00

. . . has started

I will be trying to list at least 10 of my collection of knitting patterns on ebay everyday. At the moment I also have a load of postcards and some other bits and bobs.

Have a looky see here and grab yourself a bargain.

I know this is complete and utter self promotion but this is a blog, which does rank as being one the most self obsessed activities that a person can carry out so I think that I am entitled to a bit of "BUY IT NOW BEFORE I RUN OUT OF MONEY AND HAVE TO SPEND MY OLD AGE EATING CARDBOARD AND GRAVY" pleading should be just fine.

So here is the link to your knitting pattern happiness and a few other things too.

Slightly Obsessed

2009-04-26T13:32:00.004+01:00

I came across this on the wonder that is Twitter and I have become hooked.

I'm terrible at finding new music for a whole load of reason but mostly because I can't stand 'modern' radio stations. In the old days DJs knew their place, they were there to tell you a bit about the band or song and then play it - no chit-chat, no thinking they were funny but really they were just crass, no anecdotes about their girlfriend/mum/dad/dog/boyfriend/bus driver. They had a job to do and that was that. But something changed and everything in radioland went tits up and suddenly there were 1000s of 'personalities' out there all thinking they were funny and that their opinion mattered. I blame Steve Wright.

So I stopped listening to radio and my musically knowledge became trapped in the past with only a few things managed to penetrate. But now I have access to thousands of other people's choices with all the wonder and variety that music has to offer and I love it.

Check me out on Blip.fm - for more of my eclectic choices.

A Re-cap

2009-04-21T14:28:00.002+01:00

Ages and ages ago I started in Summer Smackdown - we're heading into summer now, so it shows how long ago it was (August 2008 in fact). I was in the advanced socks category, the lace scarf, the lace stole and the bookmark event.

It probably didn't go quite as one expected as I never managed to get a pair of socks or even the yarn to start the killing again for the socks and it took me ages to finish off the stole, although the scarf was banged out relatively quickly but I only lasted a single round in that. Things went quiet and the organiser decided that since there was a recession that it was probably better to stop the contest, or at least not up date things so people got bored and wandered away. But she did start up another knitting battle (Day of the Dead which I also took part in). Anyway earlier this month one of the other competitors from Smackdown started things going again to see if there was anyone who just wanted to finish the game and it seems that there are several of us who did.

So now I have a person who will get the socks and have managed to get them to a quick finish - probably another day depending on how the bus trip goes. There is also someone who wants to finish off the stole match, however, I have managed to 'tidy' the half sent stole that was sent to me away and I am not sure where it is. So I have started again and last night I managed about 2.5" so only another 76" to go.

Wish me luck ;o)

My Artfire Studio is open

2009-04-19T15:31:00.002+01:00

Well i have finally managed to get my act together and have finally got some things into my Artfire studio.

So far all I have is a few vintage sewing patterns and a couple of pieces of vintage clothing but I shall be adding more sewing patterns, old postcards, old photographs and my dear but underused collection of vintage and retro knitting patterns.

To give you a sneak preview of the patterns I have this many Paton and Baldwin patterns ranging from the 1930s through the the early 1970s

From GlamGirl Knits

There are over 500 there and I have at least 2000 patterns to find new homes for, so please check back into the studio at regular intervals and I might just have the thing you are looking for.

Spring Vines in Blue

2009-04-07T21:15:00.004+01:00

Yesterday I started on Spring Vines by Dao Nguyen using a right bargain of a yarn buy - 12 balls of Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo for less than a fiver. Atkinsons in Sheffield have got a fair amount of this "unbranded" yarn in (and others) at the moment and it's £4.99 for 500g. Not entirely sure if I like the yarn but I'm going to have to like it as I am knitting the Spring Vines for the the Sexy Knitters Club KAL and I also got some in purple for Intolerable Cruelty.

Anyway back to Spring Vines. The pattern is a bought one and I'm not usually a pattern buyer since I have enough vintage patterns to build a house from but I wanted to join in with the KAL and I wanted to do something that isn't socks or small things. The pattern is a bit of a mish mash with some of the numbers not quite adding up but there seems to be enough scope to make do.

I started with the back and got about 15cm in but realised how sloppy but purl has become and so frogged back and started again but working it in the round. I had a moment of panic when the stitches didn't add up. The front is 4 stiches bigger than the back but I think that'll not really nticed come the finished article.

From GlamGirl Knits

Is that a crime for a knitter to say she has too much yarn?

2009-04-01T12:34:00.003+01:00

I have too much yarn.

Far too much. I was sorting bits of it out yesterday, well trying to find something completely different but thought it might have jumped into one of the yarn bags, and I have realised that I have far more than I want. Is that a crime for a knitter to say she has too much yarn?

I think that I have, or more likely I have too much junk stuff that I don't really want. I want a stash that is gorgeous and lovely and a joy to look at and use. I want to be able to knit an entire garment from the same type rather then cobble it from bits that I have laying around. I want to be able to see it all, in one place, so I make the right choice about what I want to knit rather than dredge through bags trying to get all of one kind together. I want to be more organised.

If I can get the living room sorted and tidying before the weekend I might start the grand sort through of the yarn on Sunday. If the weather is nice I shall take bits of the stash out into the garden to photograph them nicely and then list them properly on Ravelry and then put them in clear bags and then but the bags of 4 ply, double knit, Aran and chunky separately and then they can get stored in the cupboard.

So there that's the plan.

It won't last of course, I shall get distracted, or bored, or start knitting random things, or reading things but it's a plan.

And a good one at that.

My word I have actually cracked it

2009-03-30T20:52:00.005+01:00

CROCHET - I CAN CROCHET

I have finally found a help site that can teach my obstinate brain the basic mechanics of crochet. I am not sure how I got there, some sort of Divine intervention possibly but I found Hook and Needles lurking on the web. I had been trying to teach myself for ages as I thought "I can knit. I can spin. Why can't I crochet?" Anyway I found this tutorial, which led to this one and then to this one and finally I have found the grail of amigurumi projects. Nibbler

To start with though, I'm just taking it easy
This was my first attempt, just a simple back and forth single (in the UK double) crochet. For my to sort out my tension and how to hold the hook and yarn.

From GlamGirl Knits

Now I'm not the sort of person who would knit 1000 scarves before moving onto trickier knitting patterns so I'd be blowed if I was going to crochet 100 mats - apart from anything else what do you do with them? Anyway I had a hunt through the magic of the Ravelry pattern search and came up with the pattern for an Easy Peasy Mouse
Ta DAAAAAA

From GlamGirl Knits

I am so very proud

Blue Bag

2009-03-26T11:02:00.005Z

I am bad - I completely forgot my friend's birthday so was hunting around for a quicky project that I could knit in a jiffy and so settled on the One Skein Felted Purse by Flo Burdick from One Skein Wonders or my Blue Bag.

I had some Cascade Wool 220 in a bright turquoise colour and some bluey purpley greeny Freedom Spirit by Twilleys which I know felt beautifully so I went for it and produced this little beauty.

From GlamGirl Knits

The flower is just a random felted fancy as the pattern on the original pattern is a bit of a bore as there is far too much casting off to worry about. Anyway they went through the washing machine and came out like this.

From GlamGirl Knits

I added a tab so I can sew on a popper for the closure, the original pattern has a magnetic button but I couldn't find any. I shall post it off at the weekend and hope that she likes the jewel bright colours.

40 Minute Panties

2009-03-25T10:50:00.003Z

So this is not a joke but how many of you have 40 minutes panties or knickers? I have. You all know what I mean by 40 minute panties. It's that lovely pair of knickers that you have. They feel soft and are snug to wear, they might have a flash of laciness and are oh so sexy. They hold the bits back that need it and they make you feel fabulous.

For about 40 minutes.

Then all you want to do is get them off. The first signs will be when you are on public transport and helpless. They start to magically shrink on you. Instead of holding back your belly they slide under the bulge and you are left feeling flabby instead of sleek. Or sometimes they just start to wander. For me, usually it's that they start to wander up. I am left with that oh so elegant look of having to reach behind and tug them from my arse-crack surreptitiously. Usually it involves a trip to the bathroom with some frantic tugging and settling them on my hips with the threats that they are not to ride up again. They behave for a few minutes then get bored and have to start wandering again.

I think it's because they love the attention. They absolutely love to be the centre of attention. When you are in the shop looking to buy, they are coy but pert with it: they know you want them and are playing hard to get. Then when you succumb they are still soft and gentle, you might get them out and carress them waiting for that special day when you can wear them for the first time.

So the day arrives and you put them on all proud and strutty in your lovely panties and you forget that you are wearing them because they are so perfect. Then after 40 minutes . . .

Not good

2009-03-24T08:56:00.002Z

On Thursday my computer died - well not completely dead, it just wouldn't start up. I think I might have got a killer bug but won't know for certain until the guys from the university computer help place get in touch.

So the truly stupid thing that I realised as the system was crashing, was that I probably have NONE of it backed up. Nothing really, so all of my photos, my random musings, my ebay turbo lister, everything might well have gone. What a dope I am. To make things even worse, I hassled my sister to get an external as she is a great photographer and has thousands of images on her flakey machine. And she got one, but I didn't. In the word of that great philosopher "DOH!!!"

So I beg you, I implore you, I plead with you, I pray you, I entreat you, I beseech you that YOU make sure that all your important documents, and that includes your photos and random crap are all backed up onto spare discs and even an external hard drive if you can afford it. Hell, even a few memory sticks would do.

This I love

2009-03-18T14:07:00.001Z

Lizard Ridge Blanket

2009-03-16T11:12:00.006Z

Just a quicky.

From GlamGirl Knits

It's growing and geeting bigger and I still love knitting it. I have learnt to knit backwards, not tinking but instead of turning the work after the short rows I now reverse knit the stitches. It is making it so much easier and quicker. I sort of found it out myself and then looked on the pattern page and found this link on how to knit in reverse.

Go on, try it - it's easier than it sounds.

What a week!

2009-03-15T10:00:00.002Z

I am, currently, an archaeologist. It's a job that I find mostly interesting and have stuck at the longest so far. However, the form of archaeology that I do isn't the Time Team stuff. This is my profession and I am more likely to be working on a construction site than not. Commercial archaeology in the UK is intimately tied to the construction industry and since that has died a death, archaeology is beginning to suffer too.

Well on Friday I was offically told that I would be made redundant on at the beginnig of June. And it was a shock but not a surprise. The company I work for has been trying to find work but there just isn't any so I completely understand the need to shed staff if they are going to survive. They are a business and will have to work hard in the next months to avert more job losses.

So there you have it. I have become a statistic of the credit crunch but am already looking for work. As I said there's not much in archaeology but I have office skills, and project management skills so who knows where it will all lead. I am also going to make a bigger effort to start selling things on etsy and folksy and de wanda and artfire and the other crafty websites. I am also going to build a website for me - that will have some of my photos and craft stuff on as well to see if I can generate some interest in what I do.

My Stash and UFOs

2009-03-06T19:00:00.003Z

I am almost embarrassed about my yarn stash. I have listed on Ravelry over 100 entries but I have more to add. I am equally embarrassed about my unfinished projects that are scattered about the place too. I need to get a bit more organised and actually start using up the stuff that I do have and the project that I have started. So I have a plan . . . (I always have a plan)

From now on I will do a maximum of 4 projects at a time.

A small thing that I can take on the bus and do to and fro work. This would probably count as something like socks, mittens/gloves things in that general category. Basically anything portable and not too complicated.

Then I shall have a garment on the go. This can be an adult or child thing - anything like a sweater, skirt, dress. You catch me drift. This will be knitted at home so can involve complicated instructions or loads of colours.

Then there will be the long, long term project - the blankets or afghans, bedcovers, carpets. huge things that can get pretty boring if you are only knitting them and only them day in, day out.

And my final project group will be the frippery stuff, the things that I see and go "Oohhh" then pick up yarn and pins and start straight away.

The stuff to start with will be stash busted - but it might produce some interesting colour ways as mostly I don't have enough of a single yarn to knit an entire garment. But I have enough to be able to jig things around a bit.

First though I'm going to start with the project I have hidden around the house. Hence starting the BFF socks again (small thing for the bus). This afternoon I dragged out my Lizard Ridge knitted from JC Brett Chunky Marble (long, long term project), I'll hunt down the Topsecret sweater I start last year and almost finished but didn't quite (garment) but until I get rid of all my WIP I shall not start a frippery.

Starting Again

2009-03-03T15:37:00.003Z

A while back in the mists of first gettting back into knitting I started a on BFF socks by Cookie A. They were started in Knit Picks Dancing and I really enjoyed knitting the first one. But I got sidetracked by sock knitting battles and I put away my stretchy sock for another day.

Well that day has come. As part of my continuing battle against my UFOs I dragged the yarn out and started again. One of the reasons for putting them aside was because they were too stretchy and I kept meaning to either knit a smaller size or do them on a smaller needle. I have taken the smaller needle option. They are now being knitted on 2.25mm and hopefully I'll actually get a pair that I can wear.

I'm just knitting from the toe of the finished sock and I know the yarn is very crinkly but it's also very stretchy and it doesn't seem to matter. I started them on the way to work on the bus this morning and have the 1 inch of ribbing done already.

This is it before the act of frogging

Now it's just a slither of ribbing waiting to become a sock.

Finished at Last

2009-03-03T00:51:00.004Z

I have actually managed to finish a decent (okay, baby) sized garment.

Ta-DAAAAA and here it is . . .

From GlamGirl Knits

It's a Pinwheel Sweater - which is free so even better.

The yarn is 7 Veljesta Raita by Novita (sorry for those that don't folow Raveley) ((Why not? It's free you know?)) and the pattern is really easy to get through. It's knitted in the round with gaps left for the sleeves which are then knitted down once the main part is finished.

The pluses are:
that it could be a really quick knit (I took so long because I got distracted) as I got the main part done in a few days
it's completely customisable as everything on it can be changed so you can make it in any size.
any weight of yarn can be used so would be get as a multi-coloured stash buster
I learnt to do a crochet provisional cast on for the sleeves and the edging is a great i-cord thingy so no casting off

The minuses?
I don't know anyone who has a baby that it would fit

New things

2009-02-16T23:47:00.002Z

So I have been playing around with a few ideas for things for me to make and hopefully to sell. I love bags and have played with a few designs and stuff and I thought about patchwork but not the detailed handstitched ones. Those would take too long for me and also cost too much, although many are beautiful. So a few days ago I did the easy thing and ordered from ebay 2 sets of 6" squares.

One pack was plains and the others patterned with mostly flower mixtures. But they looked good together although it took me ages to get the pattern right. I didn't want any of the same patterns touching at the corners nor any of the plain squares. But just to make it that little bit more tricky there were odd amount in the packs but hey - I got it sorted.

I am not an experienced quilt maker but I can machine stich in straight lines and I will then back the wrong side with wadding and then a plain sheet. After that's all been done I'll machine a quilted pattern onto it and see if there is any interest in it. Hopefully this could be the start of a different tangent in my life but if not I have an pleasant throw to snuggle under when it gets cold.

One World One Heart Winners

2009-02-12T21:34:00.000Z

Yeah - I have done the semi-impossible (okay not at all impossible, just a bit dull) and have managed to select the winners of my giveaway.

I have contacted them by email so am looking forward to sending out the hearts.

Thank you to everyone who dropped by and who entered my draw. I really enjoyed seeing the variations in the different crafts that we practice and the different skills that we have. Some people have amazing talent and we love what we do and that is the main thing. To create something with love makes it special for everyone involved.

I hope that everyone had a grand OWOH and I am already planning for next year. Does anyone know if there are anymore of these types of giveaways where there are loads of lovely blogs to be looking at?

Closing my giveaway

2009-02-11T22:51:00.006Z

As I am absolutely shattered and really need my sleep so I shall be closing my giveaway tomorrow morning at 8am. That's a GMT time zone and technically it will be the 12th for me but still the 11th in the far west (like the US and Canada). I'll make the draw a short while after using the random number generator thingy and hopefully post to the winners there and then but might have to wait until later - it depends on how busy I am in the morning.

Make sure that you add your comment to that post - not this one to be in with a chance of winning one of my knitted and felted hearts

From GlamGirl Knits

So there is still time to enter and good luck to everyone.

UK Swap Goodies

2009-02-06T17:56:00.000Z

I lurve getting presents, well who doesn't? And after a week of being away I came home to find a parcel waiting for me with my neighbour. It can be a bit hit and miss whether the postie takes it there but hurrah hurrah he did and now I have goodies.

My partner, Nic has knitted a lovely pair of blue mittens for me from Colinette Skye.

They are a fabulous colour and fit wonderfully well. I tried typing in them but it all got a bit messy but my house is FREEZING.
She also included a book on Country Crafts that has a section in on spinning, dyeing and weaving: all things I am interested in. There was also some lovely Hand Food hand cream because I need things to help with dry hands from being outside all day. There were also some hot chocolate drinks, but the lite kind to help in my rather none existent diet - it's tricky eating well when you're away from a kitchen.
And finally there was a lovely skein of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock DK yarn in the Wild Cherry colourway.

So all in all a fabulous stash of pressies and just what I needed after a cold and dull week away from my lovely little house.

OOo - I forgot to add that there is still time to enter my One World - One Heart giveaway. Please follow the link and add your comment.

Things to do in a hotel room (Pt 1)

2009-02-04T19:50:00.000Z

As some will know, I have been working away from my lovely little house in Sheffield and am currently spending the week dabbling in holes in Gloucester. Before the new year I was there for a couple of months and now I am there for another few weeks but possibly a month and this is making me very sad.

I have been trying to get my act together and start making things to sell on the wonders of etsy, da wanda, folksy and misi and the like as well as trying to set up a website selling copies and originals of my vintage knitting and crochet patterns. But being away from home has disconcerted me and I find my time is spent perving the web for craft things, tweating and generally not feeling very good about things.

So I have decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and actually get some of those random crafty idas I have bopping around into place and see what I can do in a hotel room.
And this is it (well one of the things)

Granted it's not amazingly pretty but it does offer so many potentials.

I got the fibre from visiting Get Knitted yesterday on a day off. I then used my plastic lunchbox to layer the fibre in and added a little of the complimentary shower gel to the boiling water from the kettle which was then dribbled over the fibre mat. A bit of jigging back and forth with my fingers and the mat was strong enough to take out the box and rub on the shower tray. I haven't got any bubblewrap (well it's not something that you'd usually carry around with you is it?) so I thought that the raised bits on the tray would do. A quick rinse through with cold water and a roll in a towel, then I put it on the radiator to dry.

The felted bit works well enough but the shower gel was difficult to rinse out completely and I was a bit heavy handed in the shower tray section of the proceedings but otherwise I am very happy with the result.

Next week I plan on bringing the fibre with me again along with a baking tray of some sort and some bubble wrap and see what I can get up to.

Ruffy Neckwarmer

2009-02-02T18:35:00.000Z

This was knitted up for a swap that I am in and I hope that my partner likes it, or at least has a friend who might like it.

I have had the yarn - Gedifra Capriola - for ages and could never find a decent project for it. It's one of those super bulky, sort of flat felted look yarns and this ws multi coloured too. But I saw the Little Ruff in One Skein Wonders and realise that it would do for a ruff or neckwarmer.

Well this is the finished results and I like this alot

I changed parts of the pattern. The original calls for an aran weight but I used bulky and increased the needle size to 10mm. I then only cast on 14 stitches and on the short rows did a differing pattern. On one side it's a 2 and 4 short row repeat and on the other it's a 2, 3 and 4 repeat. I think this has made the neckwarmer sit better without being too floppy - but I would say that ;o)

Anyway it is done and I shall hopefully post it off tomorrow if I can slip and slide my way to the post office.

Inappropriate Content

2009-01-29T18:51:00.000Z

I have been spending the afternoon have a trawl through the One World - One Heart giveaways and every now and again a screen flashes up and block the page with "INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT" scrawled over it. I'm working away at the moment so am in a hotel/b&b in Gloucester and obviously the guy has it set that there is a filter on (which I don't have a problem with) but a thought struck me on this: some blogs must be just dripping with porn and perv and other "questionable" things. Although I have to say I have no problem with porn and perv in the right context I'm a little freaked with it on a set of crafting blogs?

Surely there can't be that many porn craft sites out there? Or are there whole nooks and crannies of the web filled with yarn laying provocatively, a come hither and fondle me look in their strands. Or fat quarters piled on each other having the time of their life. Or rolls of thread in all sizes and shapes being threaded through sewing machines, bending to the will of their master. Or vintage images bare and naked waiting to be transformed under someone elses bidding.

Oh come to think of it now . . .

BTW - remember to check out my own OWOH giveaway - I promise to get better photos up this weekend

Dangers of Crossing the Road

2009-01-28T20:05:00.000Z

She had been wearing her headphones and not heard the car coming. Now it was too late

Don't forget to drop in on my One World - One Heart giveaway

On the Road Again

2009-01-26T16:05:00.000Z

Well not exactly on the road, more on Kingsholm Road in Gloucester. Yep, I'm back to the delights of sunny Gloucester, probably for the next few weeks. It's a bit annoying as I am trying to get my house sorted and the garden will have to be dug over soon and I have a bunch of knitting things and spinning things and sewing things to be getting on with. Doesn't work realise that I actually HAVE a LIFE!!!

Anyway I have been remarkably lax with updating on my knitting recently so here is the tally at the moment:
I am in the final stages of getting a pinwheel cardigan finished, it just needs an arm and a half sorting out and then it's done.
I have most of a knitted dinosaur finished but it needs 3 more legs and then sewing and stuffing
There is my attempt to knt a vintage 1940s bra that is coming along very nicely but I have no real idea if it will fit me. So far I have almost a whole cup done.
Then there is the 1940s snood that I finished but kept fogetting to get elastic so that I could finish it properly and now it is probably somewhere in the depths of my bedroom
And finally (I had to get there at some point) I have just started another vintage garment - this time it's a sleeveless pullover that I am attempting to knit in the round but it's not co-operating and I was too tired to fight it. I only started that today so so far all I have is the ribbing and a few rows done but I thikn that i can work out the pattern for the round. The yarn is a fugly brown tweedy thing that has been cluttering up my stash for a while now and this project seems to scream utility wear and what better colour than brown for utility wear?

Oh and forgot about the mountain of hibernating WIPs that I am doing my best to ignore. I keep reasoning that they are either too big, or too close to finishing to bring with me to Gloucester. Yea, I know.

My One World - One Heart Giveaways

2009-01-25T22:20:00.001Z

The giveaway is now closed but please still leave a comment if you like and please check out my other pages

Hurrah Hurrah - I have finally managed to get myself sorted out and created some lovely knit and felted hearts for One World - One Heart.

I am going to give to 7 lucky people one of these knitted and felted hearts

They are about 7" across and make fab pot holders or are just a decorative item. The main heart will always be red but I might include some blue stitching, or even yellow or something else entirely.

If you would like the chance to get one of these lovelies then please leave a comment on this post (please look through my other posts but and feel free to comment if you like). Make sure that there is a way that I can get back in touch with you to say if you have won.

I love this idea and am planning on visiting ever person who is taking part - not just for the giveaways but because I think that this is what the internet is for - finding new friends and discovering new ideas.

One World - One Heart goes live

2009-01-20T17:37:00.001Z

Here's a swift update for those that might be reading. There is a blogging event called One World - One Heart that has started. Basically it is a way for us to read other blogs that we might not have read before and find new friends through the wonderful medium that is the world wide web.

The sites that are listed on the main One World One Heart site are giving away some freebies for those that comment on them (there's will be a particualr page that you should comment on). Hopefully it will introduce you to other sites and get people looking back onto yours (if you have one).

I will taking part once I am back home - I'm working away until later in the week and didn't manage to get things sorted before I left. But please check out the link and if you can add your own to the ever growing list of participants.

The BIG 4 OH

2009-01-14T06:34:00.000Z

Yesterday, or today depending what time slot you are in, was my 40th birthday. I got thinking about what I wanted to change in my life and how I wanted things to be going forward. I have made the decision to move from my job. I am not happy there and haven't been for ages so it seems better to make plans to leave than be unhappy and dreading going into work every day.

I'm not going to jack in a perfectly good job, especailly in the present fiscal situtaion that the developed world is going through, but I am making plans to move on. My real plan is to become more crafty and offer a range of different products for sale, gradually concentrating more and more on the craft stuff. A few years ago I would never have thought about this as an avenue but my re-introduction to knitting has made me realise that I am creative, that I can sew, that I do finish things and that I do have some pretty good ideas about colour and design. I know that it's going to be hard work and because of that I need to get other things in my world sorted but I have also started on those too so it is a move in the right direction.

They say that life begins at 40, but I suppose that you can change your life at any point (I did when I went off to university at 27). But by 40 you have a pretty good idea of where you are, what and who you want to be, and hopefully the life confidence to get it underway.

I do not know what the next year will bring for me. I could be sitting in a year's time in the same job and still talking about moving on. Or I might have truly taken off and my craft products be doing well. Or it could be a bit of both but I shall continue to dream and plan and try and sort out things. Happiness in life is the most important thing, whether you get that from your family, your lover, your crafts, your friends or anything, but you have to be happy to thrive. and I plan to thrive.

Felted Purple Flowers

2009-01-12T18:33:00.000Z

I was playing around with yarn, tinkering with the idea of a felted flowers type of thing. I had tried the one in One Skein Wonders but it just didn't look right so I tried again with an improvised pattern based on that. These were knitted using Rowan Lambswool DK (a discontinued yarn) and if you are wanting to felt them afterwards them make sure the yarn felts

And here they are

They came out okay and I might play a bit more once I have some time free.

Basically it’s a cast x number of stitches on needles a couple of sizes larger than you would need for the yarn. Knit front and back every other one. Then knit a few rows, or knit and purl a few rows, or even do some ribbing for a few rows. Then increase again whenever you fancy. Knit a few more rows and cast off in whatever weird and wonderful way you want. For one of them it was a cast of 1 cast one 2 cast off 3 type of affair and the other was a cast off one cast on 1 cast off 2. That’s how the bobbles are formed. Then roll it up and stitch it down into a flower shape. I then threw them into the washer on a sheets and towels cycle and they came out as they have.

One World - One Heart

2009-01-09T01:30:00.000Z

I found this through the delights of linking from blog to blog. I always think of my web browsing as some sort of Tarzan (or Jane (or Cheeta if you prefer)) swinging from branch to branch and limb to limb as they navigate their way through a fascinating but sometime inpenetrable jungle of stuff.

Anyway, I digress, I came across the One World - One Heart blogging project and thought that it seemed like a good idea so will be joining up for it on the 19th January. Basically, as I understand it, all of the participating blogs are giving away things to those that comment on the blog post. I haven't yet decided what I shall be giving away (aren't I a little tease?) but it will be knitted and I think that I shall give 10 of whatever it is I shall be making.

The great thing is that I will be visiting the other blogs and see what is available to snaffle too.

The project runs until 11th February and on the 12th the winners will be notified.

Box of Fun

2009-01-06T18:25:00.000Z

My lovely fella asked what I wanted for Christmas ages ago and since we had decided that we were not going to spend much over a tenner on each other I said that I'd really like to try and learn to spin. This came from us visiting the delight that is Wingham Wools at Wentworth during the summer and me getting far to carried away in the various sheds of stuff that they have there.

So I pointed him in the direction of the website and said the most basic sindle would do because it seemed folly to spend out on a 2 minute wonder.

So Christmas morning (just) arrives and he wants me to open my gift - he loves giving presents and I usually have to restrain him from going over the top so I was really pleased that he managed to contain himself and only get what I suggested. I was dreading that he had splashed out on a spinning wheel but my fears were unfounded.

So this is what he got for me

So far I have just been fiddling around as the last time I tried spinning was when I was a school over 20 years ago but it is a basic thing - just twist the spindle and draft out the fibre and a yarn type of thing will be produced.

This is my first attempt - I haven't finished it yet but I think that it's a good start and I am inspired to continue.

I said that I would knit him something from my first attempt but since he doesn't wear gloves, hats or scarves it might just have to be a pair of underpants - that way he won't blind anyone.

Cracked it - finally

2009-01-04T20:26:00.000Z

I can hardly believe it but I have finally finished the dreaded "Smackdown Stole". I have been battling away at this since August and have finally finished it so hurrah hurrah.

The stole was almost finished a short while back but I noticed that something had been nibbling on it - not moths thankfully - so had to frog back almost half of the stole and start again. But now it is done and I am so pleased.

I have it now packed up and ready to post off the the US in the morning where my victim can finally have her soft and warm stoley death

The Stash

2009-01-03T18:26:00.000Z

Why or rather how is it that I seem to have collected a huge amount of yarn but not enough to actually knit a single garment from?

Today I have been trying to sort out my stash as I am planning to not buy any until I have used at least half of what I have already - unless it's for a particular garment that someone else wants me to knit. So far I have amassed over 100 types and most of it sock yarn or 4 ply but there are a few other things in there too.

In my main cupboard I have a bookcase that I sawed the end off so that it fitted and it works really well as the case is divided into blocks. Each of the blocks has a number and that has been added to my ravelry stash page so that I can find it if needs be. Once I have it all recorded then I'll put all the different weights together so that even if I don't have enough for a complete garment I can at least mix and match to get it gone but I can see that I'm going to be knitting loads of socks, shawls and scarves this year.

To help bust the stash I am also going to try and knit a christmas present a month for the next 12 months. I have the January project already sorted as it's going to be a felted handbag, possibly for my niece but possibly not.

New Year - hurrah!

2009-01-02T12:06:00.000Z

Not quite sure why it's a hurrah but I am going to try and be more postive this year and not let little things get me down. Obviously I will still wallow in the disappointment of the big things but not the wee things.

So that's it my only resolution but I am going to try and knit and craft more.

I am going to try and not buy any yarn, well not until I have halved my stash. I really hadn't realised what I have been collecting over the past year and it's a bit scary. There will be lots of small projects, only because I rarely bought more than a couple of balls of wool but I shall try my best to get half of it gone. To help me I have started a campaign to knit 1 christmas present a month for the nest 12 months so it won't be a last minute job in December.

The room clearing has kind of stopped but once I have finished here I am going to start again. At least I can now get into the back room and the floor has been swept and vacuumed for the first time in over a year so that's a good thing.

I have many, many things to record and talk about but for the moment it's just clearing more space and taking stock.

Have a happy, hearty and healthy New Year and I wish you all the best

Things not going well

2008-12-17T14:09:00.001Z

Managed to get a couple of boxes sorted and now have over 100 things sitting on Turbo Lister waiting to be released onto ebay but I have run out of steam. The task is too enormous, there is too much junk and I'm afraid to just throw it away incase I throw away something important or valuable.

I relised that there is a school of thought that says that if you haven't seen it in a few years then you can safely get rid of it but I do not subscribe to that. If you haven't seen it for a few years then it's probably been buried and is deparately trying to be noticed. To throw it away on the moment of it seeing the light again is just too cruel.

Well I shall see what I can get done in the next few days but it isn't going well.

Sorting out

2008-12-15T09:54:00.000Z

Yesterday I went a bit mad and finally started to sort out the backroom - the room of doom, the terror room, the room crammed with so much stuff that I had a little path that went from the computer to the door and that was about it. Every bit of floor, spare bed, cupboards was just heaving with stuff. And it was not good.

I had so much that I couldn't actually see what I had and everytime I went in there I got depressed at the magnitude of starting to sort it that I would just end up ignoring it - Ravelry is such a wonderful distraction. But I have moved almost everything into my bedroom, which some might call displacement, but now it is not coming back into the spare room until it has been photographed, listed on turbo lister for ebay and then boxed up. I have bought 10 cardboard boxes which fit neatly into the cupboard and everything, well most of it, should fit in them.

So I managed to do 2 boxes yesterday and plan to do another couple tonight and I hope that by xmas I shall have them all done.

And then I can start on recording my stash properly as when I was tidying I found loads more that has never seen the light of Ravelry. But soon it will shine.

Secret Santa

2008-12-10T22:23:00.000Z

Today I recieved the gift from my Secret Santa which has been organised by those marvels in the UK Random Act of Kindness group on Ravelry.

These two beautiful skeins of what looks like handspun have been sent to me and they are lovely. All soft and squiggy in grey and pinky reddy orangeish. I'm so chuffed that this has been sent off.

I think that they will become a pair of toasty house socks for my sister who seems to have permantly cold feet.

UK Swap Winter Warmers Questionnaire

2008-12-08T09:47:00.000Z

Handmade Item Swap
What kind of items are you interested in receiving?
Oh I really don’t mind but I’m not a great fan of hats or scarves – I have long hiar so hats don’t really work and I always seem to lose scarves. If you fancy knocking up a pair of socks then I’m a 7.5. And if gloves and mitts are your thing then I’m a medium to large.
Do you knit, crochet, or both?
I’m a knitter only – although I have been trying to teach myself to crochet with little apparent success.
What is your favourite colour?
Green and rich blue - oh that’s 2 so I may as well go for the whole hog and say just about all of them
What is your least favourite colour?
Browns and beiges and pastels and neons.
What’s your style? (elegant, traditional, glamorous, girly, natural, sporty, outgoing, etc.)
I hope glamorous and elegant but proably more often it falls into being chaotic and scruffy
Do you have a favourite type of fibre or brand of yarn?
Not really. I have a range of stuff in my stash from beautiful alpaca and cashmere silk to some of the better acrylics.
Do you have a least favourite type of yarn?
Like many I’m not a fan of that plastic acrylic stuff – the type that squeaks when your working with it.
Do you do any other crafts?
I dabble in dress making and that type of sewing and that’s about it.
Are there any knitting accessories you are interested in receiving?
Anything will be gladly received but I and not after any particular things
What do you like to eat?
Everything – although I have been going off chocolate (I must be ill) and now prefer savoury to sweet things. But I’ll give anything a go.
Any allergies/preferences (fiber-wise or treat-wise)?
No allergies that I have found so far
Anything we missed that you’d like your partner to know?
Not that I can think of – I think that I’m easy to please and am really looking forward to the swap

Day of the Dead Round 2

2008-12-01T10:53:00.000Z

I'm kind of excited as I will hopefully be able to start the 2nd round of the Day of the Dead socks today. I received the SIPs from knit-frog-knit over a week ago but because of Thanksgiving I wasn't given a new target. The organiser asked that socks were not worked on so I put them to one side but have been itching to start. Knit-frog-knit had some problems and didn't manage to get very far. She managed the cuffs and a few centimeters on each one so I have also a complete pair to knit. But the yarn is a lovely rainbow Lorna's Laces Shepherd Socks which feels like a dream - I just hope that it's lovely to work with.

I even brought to SIPs to work in case I get the email with my new target whilst at work.

Shruggy Thing

2008-11-26T07:59:00.000Z

This was a super fast knit project - don't you just lurve big needles and thickish yarn? It's my take on Shrug This by Toni Kayser Weiner from the book One Skein Wonders.

It's a birthday present for a friend and I modified it quite heavily as my friend is larger than it seemed to be. I also had a check out on Ravely and there were several larger people there who had adapted it as the sizing was coming up on the smaller size. So the first thing I did was to change the needles from 6.5mm to 10mm. Not a fan of large needles usually but hey do have their place. Then I used some of the random yarn that I have in my stash. It was a lovely rich red boucle that I have no idea what it is. That was held double and probably came up to something like an aran/worsted weight.

I kept the same number of cast on stitches but instead of the ribbing I did moss/seed stitch. The top part was knitted as per the instructions and I cast off the sleeves as directed but then I added 5 stitches under each arm to add some fullness there. The top was then continued until it was 15" and not the 11" in the book.

I think it turned out quite well but perhaps a little too floppy so if I were to do it next time (which I probably won't) I would drop a couple of needle sizes and increase the number of cast on stitches.

Day of the Dead Round 2

2008-11-23T10:44:00.000Z

I finally managed to collect my mail from the sorting office and I now have the yarn for the next round of the Day of the Dead. The yarn came from knit-frog-knit and is a lovely bright rainbow of colours. It's Shepherd Sock by Lorna's Laces and is lovely.

The competition is on hold until December 1st as many of the competitors are in the US and it's Thanksgiving next weekend and it seems that there are loads of people travelling and so it was easier to stop the competition. It's a bit frustrating as the socks were only knitted to the cuffs and a couple of centimeters beyond and I can't touch them for over a week. But I rewound the balls as they were a bit tangled and now the yarn is sitting there - expectantly.

I also got a lovely wee bag with smellies and pretty pink glittery notebook from one of the members of the UK RAK (Random Act of Kindness). I'm back to Gloucester for 3 weeks on Monday so I shall take the smellies along and pamper myself a tad and the notebook will be used to for my stories.

Winter Warmer Swap

2008-11-19T16:14:00.000Z

When I first got back into knitting earlier this year I got really excited about the various swaps that were on and around Ravelry. I was in some very successful ones and some not so great ones but I hadn't realised how much of a drain it would be financially. It wasn't necessarily that swap items were expensive but sometimes the postage was a bit GULP! Anyway so I have not done any for a while but I have found this - a UK Swap - through the power of Ravelry.

Sounds like fun and I am really looking forward to it. Wander over and join up too if you fancy an after Christmas surprise

WOW . . .

2008-11-17T11:17:00.001Z

. . . it looks like I am going to finally finish the Smackdown Stole that I have been plugging away at for the past few months. Poor Woolyewe must have almost died of the cold by now but soon she will be out of her misery and wrapped in greenness. I am up to the last repeat and then tonight I hope to finish it off and might even gat it blocked. As soon as I can work out how to block it.

I wonder what has happened to mine. Perhaps my assasin had the same lack of ooommpp that I had for it and it still trying to get it done. So come on! Smack me with a stole and put me out of my misery, my mystery assasin ;o)

Gloucester

2008-11-10T21:49:00.000Z

The Rotherham of the South (with profound apologies to Rotherham and it's inhabitants)

Okay Gloucester isn't that bad but I am stuck for another week here without my usual entertainments. It's odd though, because I have Internet access and I have brought knitting but it still doesn't feel right. Things aren't that much different than I'd be doing at home but there is something that is missing.

Oh well.

I now have the confirmation that I was looking for that I can start a new pair of socks of the yarn smackdown advanced sock. I wonder if there are any yarn shops in Gloucester or even Cheltenham that might have something suitable. I know that there is a place in the market that does Zig Zag by King Cole and that makes a god pair but as it is variegated I think that it wouldn't necessarily suit a lace pattern. Well I'm going to be busy with work for the next couple of days but will see if I can hunt down yarn based product.

Although I don't know the size that I am knitting to I can at least get them underway.

Day of the dead

2008-11-05T18:29:00.000Z

I have gotten rid of the blue and purpleness that was my Day of the Dead socks for knit-frog-knit.

It was odd not knitting the whole foot to the toes but there had been issues with people concerned that they might have to unpick socks if the socks were sent to someone other than the original target. So the new rule was that we were to o knit 5 inches oof the foot and then lifeline them, making sure that we included enough yarn for the target to finish their own socks.

Personally I think that it's a bit odd not finishing socks - there are knitters who take part in these knitting competition who can't wear wool but they usually seem content to at least have a pair of socks. I realise that socks can sometimes go through several people (so speak) before getting to their target but is it really that difficult to unpick few rows if the person has smaller feet and possibly use a contrasting yarn if they need to be much bigger?

Anyway the socks have been finished as much as I could - at least I remembered to weave in the cast on yarn. They just caught the last post out and are hopefully winging their way across the Atlantic.

Grumpy

2008-11-03T18:37:00.000Z

That's what I am. Really really grumpy.

I am still waiting on some SIPs for the advanced sock smackdown. These were meant to be posted on October 1st and they are still not with me. I know that they are coming from Canada but I would have thought that they could have taken a ride on a passing whale and then walked and still have gotten to me quicker. I have never had anything take this long from either the US or Canada and I've not had any contact from the sock deaded person either so have no idea what's going on. I have contacted the organiser but what can she do in all reality?

I'm not sure how long SIPs have to be missing before they are declared lost and I can start again but it's going to make me really grumpy if I have to splash out and buy more yarn. So far I have not had any SIPs - the first yarn, that came only after I asked where the yarn was, was so nasty that it posed a definite health hazard - death by electrocution would follow because the the build up of static electricity. So I started my second pair with my own yarn and now it looks like it is going to happen again.

And I'm also grumpy because I can't log onto the NaNoWriMo website - it take sooooooo long to do anything on that site. I have completely given up and will not bother updating my word count. Which is a shame as I really wanted to see the little bar on my progress thingy go up.

Oh and I'm grumpy about work as I am standing in the cold and can't knit because my fingers start to freeze.

But one good thing that is happening is that I have managed to crack on with the socks for the Day of the Dead competition. Should have the finished either tonight or tomorrow (probably tomorrow) so at least one thing seems to be going well.

Distracted

2008-10-28T20:59:00.000Z

On November 1st NaNoWriMo starts (that's National Novel Writing Month) and I am taking part. The aim is to write a 50,000 word novel by the end of the month: so roughly 1600 words a day.

Now I have talking down as an Olympic sport but writing? Well that's a whole new thing. I have to write reports for work and I splurge every now and again on here but that's about for my writing output. I saw the link to the site a few months back and thought that it might be fun so signed up. Then I persuaded my fella to do the same with the idea that we would gee each other on to the finish. Boyfriend duly started forming the ideas for his story, creating characters, the things that writing is meant tobe about. Me on the other hand kept putting it off. Boyfrind bought me a lovely book to write notes in and it has never been used. But at least I now have the basis for a story.

When I did thikn about this, the story was going to be quite Generation X ish. A bit bleak, a bit sour, a bit grrhh. But on Saturday I suddenly realised that I was going to be writing about the Scottish Islands in the 1880s and the main character is a woman called Sarah. I have more details and I am beginning to research things like religion and crofting and at the moment I'm not sure if I have enough to sustain the story over 50,000 words but I have a start which means that it will have to end somewhere.

So I think that for the next month I shall be blogging more about my on-going novel (and fella's too) than about knitting because I can't quite see how I'm going to fit everything in.

If you want to keep up to date with my progress then check out my profile

Trapped by knitting

2008-10-23T14:23:00.000+01:00

AAAAGGGRRRHHHH

I have got too many things on the go, in the fire and I'm adding far too many string to my whatsit. Why can I not just slow down and STOP adding new project to my even expanding list of things I want to do?

I bought a ball of yarn yesterday (even thought I said that I was not going to BUY any more) so that I could swatch for the lovely Snow White by Ysolda Teague. When am I going to find time to knit my way through that. It's a lovely pattern with a darling neckline but I have to stop.

My list, off the top of my head without looking at my ravely WIP list is:
Orange Boheme - I had to frog it back a way and then found something else to interest me
Helena - needs the sleeves but I forgot what needle I used but now I have remembered so it shouldn't take that long to sort
Pinky Socks - can't be bothered as I don't like the colour and I know that they are not for me but still can't be bothered
My lovely Lizard Ridge blanket - I've done 2 squares but have limited myself as the yarn is a bit pricey
Baby Jacket - again just the sleeves really and the sewing up
Smackdown Stole - my poor target must be wondering what has happened with this one. I kept thinking that I was going to come home and find a lovely stole waiting for me and then I wouldn't have to finish it but so far no luck.

That's the list then (I think) and that doesn't include all those that I have hibernating in various parts of the house. Someone please slap me if I start anymore without getting rid of at least 2 of these beauties. That way I will at least be working my way through them, slowly granted but at least I will be on my way.

Day of the Dead - Sock Wars

2008-10-19T20:40:00.000+01:00

Well I have registered for a new knitting battle - Day of the Dead. It is being run as a sort of test for Sock Wars 4 and Helen Waittes is looking for 100 test knitters to see if the new system works.

The last Sock Wars had quite a few problems but and this is a way to try and avoid flakes and missing SIPs and all the other hassles that go along with this type of thing. Instead of having a round robin killing spree each knitter is drawn against another in a head to head battle and once they have socked their opponent they are given another name. well that's my understanding of the rules. Anyway I have signed up and on November 1st I start knitting socks again.

Wish me luck ;-)

Been away . . . again

2008-10-09T18:41:00.001+01:00

Well I am back from another exciting and thrilling work at the archaeological coalface. Okay, I was standing around watching a big yellow jcb dig a slot trench in Gloucester which amounts to the same thing. It's dull work: we uncovered a Victorian cellar, a cobbled surface and a 1930s drain but (as everyone is saying at the moment in this weird economic climate) IT IS WORK!

Anyway this has meant that I have not been able to blog and really I haven't had as much time to knit as I would have liked. But I did manage some knitting so hurrah for that at least. I started a sock last Saturday and have now finished it. It was my first attempt at doing the heel flap last and it looked very odd but it worked and I now just have to get the other one done.

I didn't really have much time for looking around Gloucester but did manage to find the market and they have 2 yarn stalls in there. Granted much of the yarn is acrylics and others oddities but there are some interesting bits too. I bought a couple of skeins of unknown green, pure wool that was quite scratchy and which had the lanolin smell but also that greasy smell that comes from coned yarn.

It's a bit of an experiment and at 69 shiny new pence it was a bargain even if I use it only for making felted bowls or something like that. It looks like a 4 ply so I thought might bloom to a double knit but after knitting a swatch on 3.75mm needles and then soaking it before washing it it has blossomed to a rather lovely, but slightly thinner than normal, aran weight.

It's still a bit scratchy but I am going to knit another swatch and drop a little bit of washing up liquid into the bowl and let it soak a while, then add some conditioner in the final rinse to see if the itchy factor can be reduced.

Setting up the shop

2008-10-03T12:56:00.000+01:00

Well I have this massive stock of vintage knitting patterns - mostly from the 1940s and 1950s but there are many that are either side of that era too. I am not every going to knit them up so have decided that I will be selling them. There are 2 reasons for this: firstly since I am not going to be needing them I thought that others might like the chance to enjoy them and secondly I need the cash.

I have registered a domain name - www.knittingpatternsgalore.co.uk and the shop will be called Knitting Patterns Galore. I've been looking around and have found an ecommerce site that seems to have what I want - a fresh looking site that does all the hard work for you. I can customise it and put on photos so people can see what they are getting. I was thinking of offering pdfs of the patterns rather than photocopies as it avoids the hassle of posting things and them possibly getting lost. But for the moment I'm just trying to get stuff sorted out.

I am going to be spending a couple of weeks getting things up and running and working smoothly before announcing the grand opening to the world but call back here or leave a comment or drop me an email if you want notice when I finally get the shop open.

OOOhhhh

2008-10-02T11:18:00.000+01:00

Well it seems that I am the last knitter standing from the UK and Canadian competitors in Summer Yarn Smackdown. I am waiting for SIPs to be shipped from Canada and then I am not sure what is going to happen. I have emailed the organisors and shall wait until she gets back in touch but I'm really quite excited by it all.

Like many of these knitting competitions, it's generally a matter of luck whether you stay in or not. I managed to get 5 kills in Sock Wars III but only because I have two flakey assasins which gave me plenty of time to crack on with the socks. This time with Hat Attack I have made my initial kill (in Canada) but my assasin is in the UK so it's likely that I shall be killed by her hat before getting another one cracked off. No matter though - it's all just for fun.

But anyway . . . the Summer Yarn Smackdown final battle thingy could be fun and who knows I might even end up winning it.

Back from Skye

2008-10-01T12:08:00.000+01:00

Phew that was a tough week - I have just spent the past 10 days yomping through the peat and over the beaches of the beautiful island of Skye (off the west coast of Scotland for those that don't know). The weather was okay - some brilliant days and towards the end of the week a few squally, wet days but that's what the Scottish Islands are all about - their unpredictability.

I managed to get the Advanced Socks off to Toffee's Mum . They were finished off on the train going up but I didn't manage to get to a post office until a few days later. And I have started the stole for advanced smackdown again too. I had previously tried it with a super slinky black DK but really couldn't get into the pattern so I changed the pattern from the Weekender Lace Wrap to the Sea and Shells stole. I changed from the slinky black to a lovely green 2 ply lambswool merino. I'm holding 2 strands together and it looks fab (well I think so).

The pattern is very appropriate for starting on Skye as I was looking for old, old shell middens in caves on the raised beaches next to the sea. I've got quite far and am now back and will continue to knit as fast as I can.

Tired

2008-09-19T18:34:00.000+01:00

so, so tired.

I've loads to blog about: my lovely shipment from the Woolmeise Sock Club (I got that last week but have been putting off opening it until I had finished both my Smackdown sock and my Hat Attack hat; I've got the delights of my 'new to me' yarn twister and baller; I was going to pattle about my recently discovered stack of random needles - see loads of kntting things but I am so tired that I am going to leave it.

I'm off to the sunny (I hope) climes of Skye, Scotland tomorrow so will be gone for a few days. Then I can tell you all and hopefully I'll have a few more things to blather about.