The Virtual Princess and the Pea

2012-01-30T08:28:00.000-08:00

Anna Sui Vogue V1217

I made this dress with high hopes, which is why I used a wonderful, soft cotton lawn I've had in my stash for about two years, waiting for the right thing to come along. Heavens above, why is it that the one time (in recent sewing sessions) I don't make a muslin, I really should have? I mean, muslins are so useful for (as far as I am concerned) three reasons:

I can check the fit
I can check any tricky construction details
I can see if the shape of the garment actually suits me.

And I do think that the last reason on the list is probably the most important. Yes, I have been alive (at least this time around!) for a whole forty-six years and I still have learned only a couple of things about what suits me! I should know by now that loose-fitting, billowy dresses just swamp me and make me look, well, small and puffy. Not good.

I sound as though I really really am unhappy with this dress, but I'm just a bit disappointed that it doesn't look as good on me as I wanted it to. The shape is wrong for me, the neckline makes my shoulders look very sloping. It's too short, even though I'm short myself. I will still wear it in the height of summer when everyone else is too hot to care what they or anyone else looks like, because it is very floaty and cool! I think this dress needs more definition in the shape: ie. narrower at the bottom than it is. That would help.

On the plus side, the dress was so fast to make up. I used piping for the first time, and it was easy (but I suspect I used thicker piping than was called for). It pulls on over the head, rather than needing a zip. I didn't hem it...just finished it with my overcasting foot (how did I live without one?)

I wouldn't make it again, but I did enjoy making it at the time. I just don't look that good in it. It actually feels like a hospital gown. This shape suits me much better. It's another Vogue V2091 (there are more!)

2012-01-17T04:33:00.000-08:00

Vintage Vogue V2859 Blouse
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I still haven't done any actual sewing as too much has been going on here, and this week is the week of the month I do all our company invoicing, so I have no free sewing time again. I did manage to cut out another McCalls M5661 in a hand-printed silk but haven't even got around to marking it up (mmm, my fave sewing bit...not!) I also ordered some black Linton Tweeds "fancy" fabric for a 1950's jacket/cape, together with the lining, and frog closures. I hope I don't mess it up, as it will be an expensive mistake!

I thought I would post a pic (sorry, it isn't a very good one) of the Vintage Vogue V2859 blouse I made a few weeks ago, over the Christmas hols. I made it up in a sort of shiny jacquard-type-thingy - with a bit of stretch horizontally - from Ditto fabrics. I don't know what the fibre is but it was perfect for the blouse, as it had a nice "wrong" side, it being the "right" side in negative, so it doesn't matter when the wrong side shows on the belt.

I don't usually make up muslins. I mean, I didn't, but now I do. And luckily I had changed my lazy ways before I made this blouse up, otherwise I think it would have been a disaster. Not from a fitting point of view...I mean from a technical point of view. Let's be honest here: the pattern was recommended for more advanced sewers and that isn't me!

There were a few things I came across for the first time, and the muslin really helped with that:
a patch buttonhole, the narrow hem on the neckline which turns a sharp angle, all the teeny tiny narrow hems (see pics).

I didn't really find making this blouse terribly difficult once I understood the instructions, especially the bit where you are supposed to use a bit of scrap fabric to reinforce the corners at the neckline and to carry the narrow hem around that corner. I still don't know if I did exactly the right thing there. Putting the little patch at the corner and turning inwards was no problem, but when it came to hemming/finishing it on the corner, well I just did it the only way I could, and it seems to look okay (in one of the photos above - you can also see where I have slipstiched the underside of the neck twist). Sorry, I expect none of this is making much sense, as I don't have photos of the actual process, but if you ever make this top, you'll know the exact bit I mean when you come to it!!

I was sort of dreading the narrow hems, of which there are many, but in fact came to like doing them. I didn't have a narrow-hem foot, so did them by hand, just turning under by about 13mm and pressing, cutting very close to the crease (about 1 to 2mm away)and then turning and pressing again, then stitching...very carefully! They turned out to be 3mm wide, so not bad.

I lengthened the top by three inches but I wish I had made that four inches as it still tends to ride up a little during wear, which makes it just a little too short for me (and I am only 5ft 2). Because I lengthened the top and kept the belt sewn in the same position vertically speaking, I had to account for this when finishing the lower hem of the belt, the bottom hem of the blouse, and the vertical back edges of the blouse, too. The belt should have been attached so that the lower edge of it was in line with the hem on the blouse, making things a lot simpler. I didn't realise this until just in time, when I realised I would have to finish things off a bit differently. It wasn't difficult, just took a little more time.

I really like this top a lot. So much that I was determined to finish the garment off beautifully, so I would be proud of it, and I am. I like that the sleeves are such an elegant shape, and I really like the neck detail. One thing: if you slouch at all in this top, it will show, as the sleeves and neckline call for bolt upright, vintage posture! I do tend to hold myself much taller and straighter in this top.

2012-01-10T08:05:00.000-08:00

McCalls M5661

Because I have done no sewing at all for a couple of weeks I just wanted to make a quick post on a top I made a little while ago and never got around to posting about at the time.

It's McCalls M5661 and I made version D, which took only a metre or so of fabric, even though the fabric I used - a black silk dupion - was quite narrow.

I really like this pattern; it's so easy and so fast to run up. I did make it much more time-consuming for myself though: I oversewed all of the seam edges and the facings, and did the hem, by hand. I know! It took ages to do all that hand-sewing but it was very relaxing. Don't think I'd go down that route next time though.

Although the top is made from silk (and has Very Special - expensive!! - buttons) it's very wearable and looks great with a pair of jeans and a cardi.

I'm going to make the top again, possibly version D again, as I just bought a metre of some really beautiful printed silk dupion on ebay (I think it was £7.00, so not bad).

2012-01-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

Checks...and Vogue V1127

I bought Vogue V1127 because I really do love the blouse. I first saw it here - isn't it wonderful! Amanda is such a talented lady. Anyway, I didn't have the right fabric for the blouse and, since the jacket had quite taken my fancy, I thought I might use up some orange checked stuff I had mooching around in my stash. Heaven knows what it's made of. I have never made a jacket before, so was looking forward to the challenge.

Ahem. Making a jacket for the first time is one thing, but making it from a check fabric is another. What a to-do! Having pressed the fabric nicely and folded it in half lengthways so all the lines matched up beautifully, I suddenly remembered the checks would need matching up somehow/somewhere (on the pattern pieces). Rushed to find a book to see what to do. Realised the first thing is...match up the centre of the check pattern with the centre-back. My checks were aligned geometrically with the fold in the fabric but not the correct centre-pattern-repeat-thingy check. I hope I'm making myself clear. So, I re-pressed and then re-folded the fabric with the correct check bit along the fold, only to realise that, in order to be accurate from one sleeve to the next, etc. etc. one is supposed to cut pieces singly when dealing with checks, so the whole thing would have to be flattened out and pressed again. I am already fed up with the word "checks".

Suddenly, what with the sewing time-warp and all that, it was my son's story and bed time so the whole thing had to be discarded and put aside until next week, since I will now have to use up all the floor space I have in my whole house, to lay out the fabric flat, and cut out all the bits singly. And that is after I have figured out where the checks should really line up.

I just ask myself this: WHY? I have masses and masses and masses (no kidding) of fabric in my stash and I have to put myself through this. I am such a slacker I suspect I will trash this project, so I have blogged it to shame myself into continuing. We'll see.

I will post about my lovely 1930s blouse soon. At least that is a happy story. And my dress form too. I wanted one for so long. And now I have one. Yippee!

2012-01-04T03:51:00.001-08:00

Butterick B5559

As I said, I couldn't resist making Butterick B5559. I do really like my clothes to be form fitting as I'm quite petite. Though I love flowing, graceful clothes on other people, they can swamp me and make me appear totally shapeless, so a dress like the one above is perfect for me. This photo was taken on Xmas day, the first outing for this dress.

Cutting out the pattern, I did feel a little daunted by the tucks that needed marking out and indeed this proved to be quite a tiresome task. Marking the fabric up is my least favourite bit of the dressmaking process and there is a lot of marking up to do for this one as you may imagine: darts and tucks galore. I basted all the lines in huge stitches and then cut in between the stitches so I could remove the pattern. Ugh. Now I know there are such things as carbon paper I might try that method next time.

Sewing the dress up was really very simple. The tucks/pleats were very easy to sew; quite enjoyable actually, and the dress came together very quickly indeed (once the fabric was marked!) You just sew the darts, sew the tucks, add the facings, sew the back and front together and make a hem. Ta da! The one tricky bit (that I didn't achieve, no matter how I tried) was lining up the tucks, front and back. Mine are slightly out, which irritates me and, as I was so careful to be accurate in my marking and my sewing of the tucks, I don't know why this should be. I know it's something to do with me, rather than the pattern, as I have seen others of this dress with perfectly aligned tucks. Would I make this dress again? Probably not, due to the fact that the prospect of making all those markings again makes me want to weep. I did buy some tomato-red double knit for another version, with sleeves, but I can't face it. That said, if you don't mind transferring so many markings, this is a simple dress to make, and very comfy and enjoyable to wear.

(By the way...although the hem looks wonky in the photo, it isn't!)

2012-01-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

I'm Back (again)

Oh dear. I seem to have headed more posts in this way than a decent person should have to!

We had a kitchen extension, which took four months - longer than anticipated, due to various problems (although I enjoyed the whole process immensely - even having no kitchen whatsoever for six weeks!) During that time the only thing I could think of was building and fixtures and fittings. No exercise. No sewing. Nothing except choosing things and making tea and tea and tea and more tea. I don't miss that. I did miss my sewing, however, but then the run-up to Christmas came and that also meant no time for sewing. Until the Xmas hols...yippee!

Of course, no sewing didn't mean no following my fave sewing blogs, so I kept coming across wonderfully inspirational posts and was itching to make certain items. I made a black double-knit dress, which I love. I knew my Ashtanga yoga would be put to practical use one day: it helps to be able to partially dislocate my shoulders in order to get into the dress. Hehe, only joking. However, the dress is so tight when getting my arms in, I really do have to do some weird shoulder clicking to make things happen. Oddly the dress is very comfortable when on. I wore it on Xmas day and it expanded as required and stayed comfy too. It's Butterick B5559 and I'll post on it properly in the next few days.

There was also my new absolute darling favourite, Vintage Vogue V2859 Blouse (1930s). Gosh, bits of it were tricky dicky but it was worth it. I have never found making a muslin so useful. Oh wait, I've never bothered before! Thank goodness I did for this one, though. Not so much for fit, but for figuring out what to sew and where! Again, I will post about it separately, with photos.

Happy new year to all...what a fab time of year. I do love it (not Christmas...I can honestly say I completely detest it and I think I'm becoming phobic) But I love the new year and the fresh start it offers (even if that's just psychological trickery). It just feels good. I hope 2012 is great for you all...

PS We got a dog four weeks ago. That's her, above. Her name is Pickle. She is eight-months old.

2011-02-02T13:03:00.000-08:00

McCall's M6035

I wasn't sure if I would really like this shirt once it was made up, thinking it may be too girly looking, but I love it. The pictures don't do it justice, I took them in a very slapdash way on the spur of the moment. But I wore it properly on Saturday, with a dark grey pair of Gap cords and suede mustard shoes and, importantly the shirt was tucked in, and I don't mind saying: it looked fabulous!

This shirt was so easy and quick to make, especially when you consider that I had never even made a shirt before. I was a little worried about the buttonholes going wrong but decided to approach with a rather gung-ho attitude, which is why I did them in red cotton. I thought they would work out...or else! I do like the detail of the red cotton along the button band and round the buttonholes, and my little blue heart-shaped buttons please me.

I would make this shirt again but next time I'd pay attention to the fact that my right arm has a thicker girth than my left, and adjust the cuff to reflect this. Whilst it's not too tight, it's annoyingly snug. If you ever make this pattern, bear in mind that they don't give you a lot of room on those cuffs (and my arms aren't exactly huge!)

I just looked at the photo and I see that the sleeves look as though they have loads of room in the cuff area. The snugness arises from the sleeves rising when stretching the arms out. I think the solution is slightly longer sleeves to allow for this, perhaps. I do have quite long arms, though.

2011-02-01T01:40:00.000-08:00

Vogue V8511 Again

I have nearly finished my shirt in the yellow fabric, McCalls M6035 but am waiting for the buttons to arrive in the post before I can finish it off. I'll write more about it when I post the photo of the finished article.

In the meantime, here is another version of Vogue V8511, which I actually made last year in June. I had already posted about my Kaffe Fasset version in the purple, orange and green cotton, but this one is in Liberty Tana Lawn, Strawberry Thief, and it's lined in bright purple. I love this dress in this fabric. The Tana Lawn is so airy and light, and it feels as though it rustles slightly when I move. The dress is a pleasure to wear and has been much more useful than I had imagined it could be.

I won't post any extra sewing details as it was so long ago it's all gone out of my head. Just thought I'd post pics whilst I'm waiting to finish off my yellow shirt.

2011-01-28T03:20:00.000-08:00

I Should Be Doing Something About the State of My House...

But so far this morning I have cut out the pieces for a shirt, and faffed around a bit doing Nothing.

However (don't faint) I made a dress yesterday. Just as threatened in my last post, it was the DKNY Vogue 2091, cap-sleeve, slash-neck one I made before in white, but that photo has disappeared. Anyway...on a whim I suddenly (and I do really mean that) somehow cut out the black lycra I had washed and prepared last July (yes, it's true) and got to work. This was at about 1pm and by 7:30 it was all done. I really really like this dress to wear, but seriously, I still cannot work out how the devil those little cap sleeves are supposed to be inserted at the bottom af the armscye. It took me ages of "doing my own thing" to get them to look right and I still have no idea what on earth the pattern is going on about (how to do it properly, in other words). Luckily it looks okay. If it didn't, I wouldn't be able to wear it, even if nobody else knew...it's just the way I am.

Unlike the last time, I didn't sew the side-tucks down and I'm not too sure if I like them loose. Maybe I prefer them looking more defined. Time will tell. Sorry the photo is so bad - I know it's grainy and you can't see any details properly. If you click on it, it will go clearer. Black is terrible to photograph, isn't it?

I SO have more lycra in my cupboard from which I can make more and more of these dresses but I fear that my friends will start to notice that I only have one style of dress to wear these days, not that it would surprise them.

The fabric in the top pic is some cotton, handprinted (with wax, does that make it a Batik?). I got ten metres of the stuff for £5 from a market in Oxford. It's very light in weight and the weave is quite open. It frays like crazy. I've cut out the pieces for a shirt, so wish me luck! Oh, and the fabric to the right is some chunky cord, which I will make a short skirt from (denim style, you know).

2011-01-26T05:06:00.000-08:00

Oh Dear, I Seem to Have Done it Again

It seems like five minutes have passed since my last post, but all the evidence confirms it has actually been about five months...good grief!

On the sewing side of things, apart from making some buttonholes on a top, and sewing the buttons on, I haven't actually done any sewing at all since the end of July. I know this, as I bought some new scissors around then, and have never used them (there they are, above).

I did finish the black silk top I had started (will try to photograph it when the light is right), and I continued to finish it with a few simple couture (apparently) techniques, such as oversewing every single seam and edge by hand, and sewing in the pleats along the neckline by hand, too. I must say, it was very satisfying indeed, though it took ages and ages to do. The result is a lot flatter than finishing edges by oversewing on my machine, or turning under twice in order to make a hem. I don't think I'll be employing these techniques as a matter of routine, though, as it just takes so much time. When the fabric calls for it, then I'll bear it in mind. Otherwise, I think finishing edges with tape might be a good, neat idea, and not too time-consuming. However, be warned, knowing me I'll not bother at all and then regret it and feel inadequate when it all starts fraying!

I really mean to cut out another DKNY dress like the white one I made before. It turns out I really love this dress (unexpectedly) and NEED another one. I washed and prepared the fabric at the end of last summer but never got around to cutting it out. That is how lazy I can be, getting around to things. I look a bit more strea,lined around the middle since taking up Ashtanga in July (I practise every day, to one extent or another).

I have been pre-occupied with sorting out the details of our new kitchen extension, which I mentioned before. Now it's more pressing as I know it's really really happening (probably in June) and I need to get stuff decided and ordered. It's a sharp learning curve but I'm enjoying it. I'll share some of the details at some point.

OH NO! I JUST DELETED SOME PHOTOS FROM MY PHOTOBUCKET ACCOUNT, THINKING I'D TIDY IT UP A BIT AND, OF COURSE, THEY'VE DISAPPEARED FROM MY BLOG. GRRRRRRRRRR. SORRY ABOUT THAT!

2010-08-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

So Little Time...

I just wanted to make a small post, as I don't seem to have very much time to blog at all right now, though I'm quite desperate to, as I have been sewing. I also have a pile of finished garments I haven't blogged yet. My six-year old son is off school at the moment, so it's all go. He's a great companion though! We play lots of board games, go for long cycle rides, and chit-chat a lot. We might bake or make ice-cream...whatever (even discuss ideas for the new kitchen extension)! He's jolly good company. I LOVE the summer hols.

Anyway, yes I have been sewing. I must make a proper post about it, but I've been employing some simple couture techniques in my latest efforts. Don't get too excited, though, it's just simple handsewing (I'll explain in a post about it). It may be simple but, boy, what would have taken (honestly) about three minutes on the machine took about five hours by hand (no, really, it did). It was enjoyable though.

I've also been busy ordering some samples from Linton Tweeds, for a "Chanel-type" jacket. I already have some bright red Italian wool boucle from MacCulloch & Wallis for one version. Oh, and some pure-wool trim for the edges, also from M & W. Don't have the lining yet. Again, I'll post my Linton samples and my red boucle when I get some time to take photos. Speaking of which, sorry for the odd photo, above (it could sort of be sewing-related, as I did make the curtains!); I recently transferred all of my ten-thousand photos to an external drive, and now have none left on my pc. Except for a couple of odd ones.

I must go now, but I'll be back with a proper post soon.

2010-07-27T03:30:00.000-07:00

Simplicity 3835 Built by Wendy Finished

I made this dress in a Kaffe Fassett cotton, Clouds, in Charcoal colourway. Kaffe Fassett cotton is crisp and has a lot of body. It's so different to the Liberty Tana Lawn, which has a much higher thread count and is almost like silk. The Kaffe Fasset doesn't have the "rustling" quality that Tana Lawn has, but I like it. It seems it will be strong and can be treated quite robustly.

This was an easy dress to make, except for the gathers around the neck band, which drove me round the twist as no matter how I tried, I just couldn't seem to get them completely even. I used masses of pins at right angles to the seamline, and really tried hard. Mind you, Miranda was on the TV, so I was fighting a bit of a battle there. Miranda is the funniest thing on TV and cannot be competed with. Not that I see much TV. Mary Portas, Dragons Den and Miranda (and Top Gear, if I'm telling the truth) are the only things I watch, unless there happens to be a good pop-science prog on (I have a weakness for anything that merely whispers "quantum theory" or "nature of reality" or "uncertainty principle" or "Schrodinger's Cat". I could go on). Oooh, but I did manage to see Tom Ford's A Single Man recently, having had the DVD for ages. Beautiful...absorbing.

But I've gone off-topic.

So, the gathers around the neckline aren't as absolutely mathematically even as I would like (but I am a person who has to have all my shopping up the right way, even in the trolley, on the conveyor belt, in the shopping bags, etc) and the gathers will probably irritate me for ever, but I do like this dress.

The sleeves would have been a tad tight where the tie attaches to the cuff but, as others had mentioned it, I was prepared and took a little off the seam allowance.

Others have also said this dress comes up very short. Being a mere 5ft 2 I thought it wouldn't be an issue for me. I was wrong. I could not wear this dress if there was a slim chance of raising my arms above shoulder level. Knickers would be on show. Very undignified.

If I made this dress again, I would probably spend a whole day trying to get the gathers even. And I would make it a couple of inches longer, just for the sake of common decency.

2010-07-21T01:47:00.000-07:00

Vogue 9771 Disappointment

I made this top in a polyester (I think) jersey, a very slinky, drapy fabric. The top was so easy to make, I couldn't believe it (if you allow for the horridness of sewing any stretch fabric - yuk). There is a self-facing in the front of the neck and separate facings in the armscyes and the back of the neck (no fastenings of any kind - you just slip it on over your head). Anyway, within a few hours it was finished and I couldn't wait to wear it. But, oh dear. When I looked in the mirror I noticed straight away that one armhole was bigger than the other, though it didn't seem to be something anyone else would notice when the top is worn. It still bugged me like crazy. I laid the top on the floor, to inspect it, and horrors! it was totally and utterly lopsided. I don't understand why. Fair enough, the pattern is cut on the bias, and the whole thing has stretched diagonally somehow. So it's something to do with the bias but I don't know if the fabric wasn't "square" when I cut it, or whether it has just stretched out of shape in one direction. I'm confused, because the facing for the larger armhole still fitted, tabs and everything, when I sewed it in. Or could it be because the pattern didn't say to use a stretch fabric. I don't see why it would matter...

I was so excited about this top, as I really like the fabric a lot, and the shape of the garment, too. I'm so disappointed. I'm developing a small phobia of stretch fabrics! It's a real shame because half the patterns I choose call for stretch fabrics.

I would make this again, but in a NO stretch fabric.

By the way, I am having real trouble getting my photos the right size. Sometimes they come up HUGE and sometimes small. Bear with me!

2010-07-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

"Vivienne Westwood" Top Vogue 8385

A short post...

The other day a fellow blogger mentioned Vivienne Westwood and I happened to say I liked the Anglomania Sunday Dress. Literally five minutes later, and purely by chance (I was looking for something entirely different) I came across this pattern:

Yes yes, I know it's not the Sunday dress but just look at the loveliness of it.

And here is a BRILLIANT version:
http://sewveryprairie.blogspot.com/2009/09/viva-las-viviennes.html

This top (the Westwood one at the top of my page) is the Anglomania Atlantis Sunday top. And now that I've found a great pattern to recreate it (yes, okay, I bet I'm the last blogger to know about this pattern) I find it's blooming well out of print. Out. Of. Print.

What can I say? I'm still hyperventilating over it. I may have to order it from the States - I know I've seen it available somewhere.

2010-06-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

Vogue 2091 DKNY Finished (weeks and weeks ago!)

This was my first project made with a stretch fabric. In fear of the task ahead, I ordered some cheapish white lycra, with grey flowers on it. Seriously, I would never ever go near a fabric like this with the thought of actally wearing it, so what possessed me to buy it I don't know. Maybe it was the thought of ruining a fabric I actually liked. Anyway, no matter how many times I admire the dress itself, the fabric still makes me feel a bit sick!

I realised that this fabric was going to be very different to work with, compared to the cotton I usually use, but right from the get-go, it was a little devil. First off, my brand new pins didn't seem sharp enough to pierce the fabric first time every time. They kept just nudging the fabric and moving it out of position, which was very frustrating. So, first lesson learned: use the sharpest pins possible, and anchor the fabric firmly whilst pinning the pattern to it. Next, I started cutting, and my scissors seemed weirdly blunt. Honestly, I had thought they were pretty sharp, but cutting this fabric was so difficult: the scissor blades kept meeting without actually cutting, so I had to resort to the tiniest pair of sewing scissors to cut out the whole, huge thing. I obviously need a new pair of scissors (or can scissors be sharpened?)

On to the actual sewing: the directions said to stretch the fabric slightly whilst sewing, so I did. It made the seam a little bumpy. Maybe I stretched it too much. I sewed the front and back together, having dealt with the neckline, which has a strip of sort of hanging self-facing on the inside, but which works remarkably well, in my opinion, just tucking itself under the neckline nicely, when the dress is worn. Everything was going smoothly, including inserting the little cap sleeves, until I had to deal with the underarm part of the sleeve. I've never been stumped by sewing directions before, but in this case I just could not get it, no matter how many times I read it, so I kind of winged it and they came out fine. I won't go into the details, as I'm not sure how to explain it. I sewed a short way across the side-pleats too, to keep them in shape. Apart from that, no mods.

This dress was such a quick project, and would have been pretty straightforward if it hadn't been for the fabric I used, and the funny little sleeves (which actually look great on). Trouble is, the combination of...

I have put on more than half a stone since Christmas (though I am addressing that now...at 5ft 2.5 I have to).

The fabric is white.

The fabric is stretchy but not terribly firm, therefore it highlights my bumps, rather than holding anything in.

...means I look totally lumpy in this dress and if I'm ever able to wear it anywhere, it will mean I suddenly got the bod of Elle McPherson (the impossible). I have some black lycra in my weaponry pile, though, and I will use it for another of these. I really like this dress a lot, and the white fabric grew on me. It's not flattering to me in that combo, though. Not the pattern's fault, but mine.

(I made this dress a month ago, at least. I've done hardly any sewing since then, as I've got back into my yoga, and I don't seem to be able to be passionate about more than one thing at a time. I'm such a flake. But I will try hard to get some sewing done soon).

Edited to add: This dress actually looks much nicer in the flesh. It's grown on me and I really like it now, especially with a little black tight-fitting puff-sleeved top over it. And my sudden urge to get back into doing my yoga vinyasas is helping me "tone-up".

Oh, and I will be getting on with the Built by Wendy sort of smock dress I last posted about. I have got my sewing mojo back.

Also, MacCulloch & Wallis have some sale stuff online (not much...there is also some Missoni-type zigzag knit but not in the colourway I like, which is a shame because I have wanted some for ages and ages) and I ordered a bit of red boucle to make a little jacket (£12 down from £20). Trouble is, around here there is nowhere to buy any notions at all so I'll have to wait until I can get to John Lewis at Milton Keynes (about 40 mins away) but even John Lewis isn't so fab for sewing these days. Or knitting.

Oh, oh, and I made a top yesterday which I'll post about soon.

That's it!

2010-06-01T07:15:00.000-07:00

Simplicity 3835 Built by Wendy

Oh dear, I've made my photos much smaller than they were, and they're still HUGE. Never mind. And I look pretty yuk as I'm still recovering from an allergic reaction to an anti-biotic which should never have been prescribed for me due to my history (should have been my usual suspicious self and researched before I took it). I'm Very Cross Indeed about the whole thing but won't bore your pants off with it.

In the pic above I'm "wearing" some Kaffe Fassett cotton, in Clouds Charcoal. It's for the dress shown below, and the version I'm making is the one on the left. It looks very simple, which is good news, as I could do without a challenge at present. The downside is that it doesn't have a lining. I could line it I suppose, but can't be bothered (I must try to be more like this person when it comes to finishing my garments!).

I mentioned before (a few years ago) that I would love to have the cool, understated style of Audrey Hepburn, but no matter how I try, I still end up looking more like Cyndi Lauper. I was reminded of this when looking at the pattern reviews for Vogue 2091. There are some really cool versions out there, all nice and simple and plain, and I had already ordered a white and grey flowered lycra fabric with which to make mine! I just can't resist it. I want to be all urban-cool but somehow a part of me resists. A large part. I suppose it's like wanting to be twig-like and still eating all the buns. Or when I think next time I'll decorate in neutral colours and end up choosing wallpaper adorned with pink and green humming birds (no, really). I just can't do understated, though I admire others who can. One day sooner or later I'm going to try again.

2010-05-25T04:18:00.000-07:00

Vogue V8511 Finished

I'm afraid I was having some trouble getting any clear photos of this dress. At the time I couldn't go out into the daylight as it was raining. Since then the weather has been mega-hot, at least for the UK in May, anyway (26C).

Anyway, back to the dress. It was finished just after Easter, in fact, but once again I've been really lazy about blogging. Uploading photos, actually bothering, you know. I seem to spend hours on the net looking at other people's sewing - something is wrong there! But as I was saying, the dress is done. It didn't take long, and was pretty easy, though I really, really dislike sewing when it involves that horrid slippy lining. Yuk.

On this dress I found that the seat area was totally baggy, so I had to elongate the darts at the back of the skirt, which helped somewhat. Should have planned in advance and made a toile first, and probably will do in future, though I can't bear the thought of spending on the fabric for it.

I really like this Kaffe Fassett cotton: it's quite crisp and not too fine; it has what I'd call "body". It doesn't slide about and seems quite robust. I made another of this dress in Liberty Tana Lawn Strawberry Thief, which I'll show when I can be bothered to blog again.

Before I go, you might notice that I sewed the centre pleat the wrong way round. Grrr. It's bugging me a bit, so I may unpick the bodice/waist seam and re-do the pleat. Or not.

2010-04-22T02:18:00.000-07:00

I Have Been Busy, but Not That You'd Know it

It all started when the paisley dress went wrong. At least, I thought it had gone wrong, but just discovered today (thanks Jorth, for the prod, if you're reading this) that it, in fact, was totally okay and still on course. I'll explain: having washed the fabric, cut out all the pieces etc. I was about to start sewing and realised (or so I thought) that I should have cut a particular piece on a fold, but hadn't. I didn't have enough fabric left to cut out another piece, so had to order more. And of course that had to be washed first (in case of shrinkage) and so I couldn't be bothered, and hid the whole lot away in a cupboard for a few weeks. I was about to resurrect the whole thing today, when I thought to double-check which piece needed cutting out again, only to find, to my total and utter amazement, that I hadn't made any errors at all. Aaaaargh. I can't for the life of me figure out why I thought I had gone wrong in the first place. I have cotton wool for brains, but I suppose that beats having snot for brains. So, I'll get back on the project and will have something to show sooner or later. Well, once I've got the zip, lining etc.

As you can see, I did make some bread. I was very pleased with it, as I thought I couldn't make bread. In actual fact it was a bit doughy in the middle, but at least it's not like a piece of kryptonite, like before.

We have been going on plenty of family bike rides. As you may know, I love cycling. Being out in the countryside on my bike, with no sounds but the country ones, is truly one of my favourite ways to pass time, and now that Charlie can ride his bike (albeit in quite a hair-raising manner) we all go together and have great fun.

I haven't been blogging; I seem to have a problem committing to it. But I have been very productive with different things. Must try to post more often.

2010-03-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

In Progress

This is the fabric I'm using to make another dress for the warmer weather. It's Kaffe Fassett Paisley. At least I think it is...I'll check. Anyway, it's bright and cheery and I can't wait to wear it.

I may not have my knitting mojo back, but the sewing is coming along nicely. I like the fact that a project comes together much faster in dressmaking, than it does in knitting. And for me, the process of knitting is a sort of end in itself, whereas with dressmaking, although I enjoy the extra attention required when laying out pattern pieces, cutting, marking up and sewing (not to mention fitting), mostly I get lots of satisfaction out of wearing a dress I made myself. My knitting seems to be a bit more hit and miss.

2010-03-22T11:32:00.000-07:00

My New Most Lovely Best Friend (who knew...?)

You know how it happens: you're supposed to be looking up something useful online, and suddenly you've come across at least ten relatively obscure items that you never knew you needed, but now absolutely cannot live without? In my case this usually applies to books, but just recently it could be anything. Like a Jaeger bag (don't ask....I didn't even know the site existed when I logged on that morning), a candy thermometer (like I make a lot of confectionary...NOT), and the list goes on.

The other day I was looking up something to do with Nigel Slater (my other new best friend) and quite by chance came across something he said about not needing many gadgets in his kitchen, but his ice-cream machine was (I'm paraphrasing terribly here) the love of his life and he could never be without it. I thought, if it's good enough for Nige, it's good enough for me. Before I knew it, I'd taken delivery of a Magimix Le Glacier!

I must say, it hasn't let me down. I LOVE it. And we're not even a big ice-cream family. I think we just like most things we've made ourselves, as much because of the sense of satisfaction at having made something edible, as the fact that it tastes so good. Also, we like knowing what has gone into it.

So far we have made Vanilla Iced Yogurt (very refreshing and zingy), Chocolate Ice-Cream (very rich, made with mostly cream instead of milk), and Raspberry Ice-Cream (nice with coulis). I have found I prefer the less rich ice-creams, made with more milk than cream, as they are much more refreshing and the flavour comes through more.

But good grief, I have to be organised...with strainers and ice-baths and ingredients all standing by. The custard-based ice-creams are quite time-consuming to make but they are worth it. On the other hand, you can't beat just chucking a few things into the churner and scooping them out as a delicious frozen dessert about fifteen minutes later. Like Greek yogurt, caster sugar and vanilla.

If I start to inflate over the next few months, you'll have a sneaking suspicion why!

2010-03-14T01:10:00.000-08:00

After All These Years...

I can't believe it's been two years since I last posted here. I don't know why, but at that time I just lost my blogging mojo. And my knitting mojo too. Well, I have knitted a few things (another Ella shawl and floaty scarves for friends) but I just lost interest. Also, I think I was feeling the pressure to write something other people actually found interesting (which is crazy, but I do have a habit of making everything more complicated than it needs to be) and I was never that entertaining or witty anyway! So, I have decided to start again, but this time keeping the blog as a kind of diary for myself; an account of things.

I have been doing some sewing (down to having popped in at Jorth's - she always motivates me to do something...cool). But mostly I've been cooking. So, I'll be blogging about whatever I've been doing. It may not be very often. And it's good to see some of you lovely people are still out there and going strong. I admire people who can start something and stick at it.

Hope all you people are well, and enjoying the spring day, at least those of you in the UK. It's about blooming time, isn't it?!

BTW...because I changed my blog template, all my links disappeared so I have to start adding them all back. Grrr.

2010-03-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

Watch This Space....I'll Be Back!

2008-04-15T04:45:00.000-07:00

Hehe, I'm Still Alive But Can't Remember How To Post!!

Thank you, thanks to all of you who have thought of us, and left comments. Anne, Mrs J, I've only just seen your comments left in February.

Charlie is just fine, though his tonsils are still huge. We are used to it now, but not worried, as he is well, and his night breathing is better than it was. We will continue to monitor the situation.

I have been knitting constantly, mostly socks. Oh, there have been a few floaty KSH cardigans (yes, I'm still in love with KSH). I should take some photos, I know.

Anyway, a short post just to let you know we're okay. I am planning to get back into the blogging soon, and catch up with everyone.
xxxxxxxx to all

2007-05-31T05:19:00.000-07:00

Cripes!

I'm here!! I'm so sorry, I hadn't checked in for so long, I didn't realise I was being missed and that you'd left messages. Thank you so much for your care. It's all my fault - I should have just declared a break from blogging, instead of disappearing.

I've been busy, yes, focused on other things really. Also, Charles has had hypertrophic (huge, huge, HUGE) tonsils and adenoids since the first week of April. You wouldn't know it to look at him! But at night it's causing obstructive sleep apnoea, which is uncomfortable for him, and frightens me to death. Recently he was only taking four breaths per minute at one point. I've tried eliminating different foods etc. Not working. So we're taking the homeopathic route, whilst waiting for an appointment with the ENT consultant. Really don't want those tonsils removed, if we can find another way.

The other thing is, not much knitting going on. I've been knitting the same pair of socks on and off for two months! So, nothing to report (and that's the main reason for not blogging).

But I hope you are all well, and I trust the knitting frenzy is continued without me!! And thank you again for asking after us.

xxxx

2007-04-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Firstly, so many thanks to all of you for your comments, and for checking in to see if we're okay. Sorry I've left it so long to provide conclusive proof that I'm still alive, but alive we are, and well. Yippee! Whilst in the midst of the Ailments, it was nice to know you were there.

But now, I am back. I have been knitting and finished the Dove Shawl. You may remember the ginger beard. This is the sparkly red version I started at the same time. The yarn is Kidsilk Night and I would never again use it for any kind of shawl, or other garment requiring any drape at all, as it feels somewhat stiff and slightly rough, especially when compared to the Kidsilk Haze, which feels just as soft as a little lamb, AND drapes nicely. The red shawl took me just over two weeks and I was quite seriously considering ripping it to pieces right until the end. Obviously I didn't, but I'm really not sure it was the right decision. Okay, I love the little pockets made by the pattern (it only needs light blocking - you don't want to make it look flat), and I really like the stitch itself, and the colour of the yarn, but knitting this has made me realise I don't like triangular shawls nearly as much as I like rectangular ones; the pointy bit at the back hangs down too far to look nice, and has no practical use to compensate for this. I don't like any of the pointy bits, actually; they get in the way, and the shape just isn't cosy enough. In other words, a triangle doesn't cover me up enough on a chilly sofa. It would if it was HUGE, but then the useless pointy bits would be even huger. No thanks. Also, due to the slight stiffness of the yarn, the shawl tends not to drape securely over my shoulders, so I find it pinging off when doing, say, the washing up or whatever. By the way, the shawl does look really crumpled and creased in the photo. This is because our cat, Spooky, has taken to cosying-up in the bottom of my wardrobe, and in particular, on my knitted shawls. Needless to say, he has been severely, um, glared at, AND shut out of the wardrobe. The culprit:

Because of this bad vibe, a couple of weeks ago I completely frogged the "ginger" one (a few evenings' work into thin air) and BOY it felt liberating. The hours spent knitting it were not wasted, as I enjoyed the knitting for its own sake, and also learnt something: don't flog a dead horse. I know that the shawl would have felt much nicer knitted in the non-sparkly stuff, but, like I said....no triangular shawls for me. Not practical. This is why I am now knitting another Edwardian Lace Stole with the "ginger" (I shall refer to the colour as "swish" from now on, as that's what it is called). Aaah, the ELS. Now, that is a stole you can really cosy-up in. Despite being all floaty and as light and seemingly insubstantial as a cobweb, this stole keeps me seriously warm, and it's nice and LARGE and a good shape (rectangular). Plus, the precise geometric shapes could have me inspecting the stitches for hours, in wonder. I will always love my ELS and would recommend the pattern to anyone.

I have also knitted various socks, but that's another post.

Cripes, no wonder I have to get in the right mood before posting on this blog. It's because it seems to take up so much time....but it's just hit me that it's only because I talk so much. Others seem to manage a concise few words sometimes, but I can't get the knack.

2007-03-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

An Explanation

Well, hi to you all! This is a very quick post to thank those of you who have asked after us, and to explain my absence.

Charlie has been ill for over four weeks. He has had various high temperatures, including one of over 104 (40C). He has had conjunctivitis and a bad cold, with a very nasty cough. And two days ago he went down with some kind of sickness bug. He has had a few days in between these illnesses, but not many. We have also been a bit ill, with a really rubbish virus, which had me in bed with a high temperature last week. I'm half recovered from that, but as I type, Nick is throwing up, upstairs. He got the sickness bug this evening. Great! So, now I'm waiting to catch The Bug as well. There's something eerie about just waiting for it!

Usually we have had quite healthful winters. I just don't know what has happened. It's not as though we live on fastfood etc. Must go now, to check on Charlie and see how Nick is.

I will check in again soon. Hope you are all keeping well.

2007-02-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

Can You Tell What it is Yet?

Yes, I am knitting a large ginger beard. Not really. Here is (are?) the beginnings of one of my twin shawls. This was after only a couple of days, and before I was distracted by some hand-painted Opal sock yarn. I have now knitted three-quarters of a sock, but cannot report further progress on either shawl.

I am now unable to put my sock down and will most likely finish it before picking up on the shawls again. Here is the sock (a couple of days ago):

The stitch is Stansfield #10 from Sensational Knitted Socks. The colourway is Midsummer Night's Dream. The colours are so much darker than I expected - nothing like the bright colours in the photo, but this happens, I suppose. Sometimes it takes something like this to make you realise what it is that really pleases you. These dark colours are quite striking if you look at them close-up, but I now know for certain that I prefer something lighter (not usually pastel, though), brighter and - dare I say it - more feminine.

I had trouble deciding which stitch to knit the socks in, too. About ten rows in, I still wasn't very happy with Stansfield #10. I don't know why. Maybe it's too austere when combined with this colourway. Thing is, though it's not making my heart flutter, I do feel the pattern shows the yarn off quite nicely. This yarn is lovely to knit with - it's all springy and has a lot of body. I do really like it, but can't help feeling that the yarn and pattern combined were really meant for a man. And not a flibbertygibbet thing like me.

Soon, I will tell you about the shawls, and the "issues" I have. Oh, things just aren't tickety-boo knitting-wise, at present. I feel as though I've made some errors of judgement. However, as all knitting is good knitting, and, it's the journey that counts, etc., it's okay.

Before I go, I am so ashamed of not thanking you all for your lovely comments on my Edwardian wotsit. So, thank you, all of you.

2007-02-08T01:08:00.000-08:00

Ooooh, Look!

The Snowman, built at 8:30 this morning.

Charles, with a black eye. That's what comes of throwing a wooden brick at the wall, and it bouncing back at you.

2007-02-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

Love Makes Little Things Grow

Here is the hat I knitted for Charles, in Twilley's Freedom Wool, colour Ocean. How quick this was! I knitted it on much smaller needles than called for, as it was meant for a three-year-old. It worked, and the fabric is so dense that it couldn't fail to keep you toasty. Thing is, Charlie will not, absolutely will not, wear it. I tried the same tricks as I used when I knitted the blue Odessa...."it's a train-driver hat"......"it's a Thunderbirds skiing hat", etc. It did not work and he cries real tears if I even look at him with intent whilst holding it. I have the same problem with the knee-high blue socks I knitted. It's weird. He will wear the Lana Grossa socks. They are softer, but I wouldn't say the Opal ones are too rough. I think children just decide something and they stick with it out of principle and not for any good reason.
But never mind - I have already worn this hat a couple of times and I love it. I may knit another in PINK (you know how I love pink (but not baby pink), though I only realised it after knitting everything in pink without even noticing).

Pattern: Snail Hat from Knitting Without Tears, 5mm needles, with Twilley's Freedom Wool in colour Ocean

Sorry, the photos were taken in the dark.

I have started not one, but two shawls (and both the same ) and will enlighten you soon.

2007-02-01T06:19:00.000-08:00

At Long Last.....

.......not just the Edwardian Lace Stole, but a photo in which I am smiling!! At long last. Indeed.

First - I know, I'm wearing that skirt again. It's my comfy skirt and I wear it all the time. And yes, with handknitted socks and clogs. So, that's out of the way.

Here is the Edwardian Lace Stole, from Heirloom Lace. It really is divine, though how useful it will be, I'm not sure. But is that the point of knitting - to make useful things? Not wholly, I think. But that's another story.

I could have knitted this stole in a month or so. Each repeat didn't take long at all - there are twenty-eight, so even if I'd knitted one a day, it would only have been a month. But six......... As I mentioned before, I just got bored with it. If it had been a sweater that I was looking forward to wearing, maybe I'd have hurried along a bit. The pattern was easy, though I had to get my head round the provisional cast-on and picking up the stitches from it, in order to knit the second half. It wasn't that this was difficult, it was more making sure I understood the directions. I have to say, whenever I had any kind of query, Sharon Miller at Heirloom was wonderful at helping out.

The really horrid bit of lace knitting is the blocking. How do people make it look so easy? I mean, they show a photo of their blocking in progress, and it all looks so perfect and even. I tell you, my attempt looked nothing like that. The edges weren't even - honestly, it was NOT a regular rectangle, as it tapered towards one end. I could not seem to manipulate the yarn to do exactly what I wanted. Maybe I was trying to stretch it too much width-ways to start off with and the yarn just had no more left to give when I reached the other end. I couldn't get the bloomin ends to match, and the pins had a life of their own: they kept popping out all over the place. And I'm impatient. Having washed the stole and throttled the life out of it, and then wrapped it in a towel and jumped on it a few times, it was pretty dry when I started pinning it out. So, after pinning for AGES, I gave it a quick blast with my most scary hairdrier and promptly unpinned it and tossed it over my shoulders. Bob's your uncle. Next time I am not attempting to block a lace ANYTHING without special, special wires.

I have another lace shawl to knit, in the KSH again. It's the Dove Shawl, and I've had the pattern since September. Will post a photo of it soon, though I think some of you may have come across it already. I'm fully expecting to take a long time knitting it, as I find the rows and rows of the same pattern repeats quite monotonous.

Thanks for the suggestions for Charlie's hat. I ordered some Twilley's in Ocean as soon as Jo mentioned it. Thanks Jo. And thanks Frankie, I looked at the Colinette after the event and like the look of it, so will try that out soon.

Friendsheep, the reason I'm so on track with my ufos, is that I don't have any new yarn to start anything else with. I've even had the KSH for the Dove Shawl since September!

2007-01-30T03:30:00.000-08:00

Currently in Progress

I haven't mentioned Shedir lately, as I haven't spent any sizeable chunks of time working on it. I find I really have to concentrate on what I'm doing, otherwise it all goes wrong. For some reason cables have this effect on me, where lace doesn't (not to the same extent, at least). So I've been knitting a row here and there and have now done the first few rows of the second repeat. What makes it worthwhile for me is seeing the pattern emerging - otherwise I might not bother with what I find to be quite hard work. I'm using Felted Tweed for Shedir, and it's pleasant, but not one of my favourites. Thing is, I can't say why. I like the way it looks, more than the way it feels to knit with. Having said that, I like the way it feels once knitted. Weird.

I'm also still working on the second of Nick's socks, which I started back in April last year. The fact that each sock has 90sts isn't a good enough reason for this delay. I just got bored. The slipped-stitch-rib pattern isn't interesting enough to keep me, well, interested. On the other hand, I have to look at it whilst knitting, so it's not exactly mindless knitting.

I've resurrected the Edwardian Lace Stole as a wip in the last week or so. You may remember I started this back in August and, having completed one half, just stopped. Again, I think I became bored with the same old stitch pattern. Anyway, when I picked it up again I immediately liked the feel of the Kidsilk Haze with the bamboo addis, and wondered why I'd left it for so long. I mean, I can knit this pattern while Charles chatters away, or the TV is on. Now, there are only three more repeats to knit, plus the top edge. Don't hold your breath, though. You know it could still take me a few months.

I want to knit a little hat for Charles, from the Elizabeth Zimmerman, Knitting Without Tears. It's the snail hat and I need a yarn that can do approx 7-8 sts to three inches. Cripes! That's big. Anyone know of anything nice I could use (wool - something natural)?

Before I go, thanks for all your comments on my Forecast. I'm enjoying wearing it.

2007-01-21T09:42:00.000-08:00

On Not Having Enough (Yarn)

Here is my latest Forecast, knitted with eight balls of Debbie Bliss Felted Tweed (I think), on the needle sizes recommended in the pattern. My first Forecast was knitted in Cascade 220, which is very soft and springy, compared to the Felted Tweed, which is much rougher and stiffer. I actually prefer the stiffness of the Felted Tweed for Forecast - it makes quite a robust fabric and the ribbing on the cardi is more flattering in the Tweed, as it holds everything in slightly! Heaven knows what will happen when it's washed (I haven't blocked it). Anyway, half way through the first sleeve, I realised I wouldn't have enough yarn. It was pretty easy to suss this out, as I'd had two balls left with which to do both sleeves, and as I'd got through three-quarters of one ball before the first sleeve was half done, it was safe to assume I wouldn't have enough for two long sleeves. That is why I knitted them to just above the elbow. Having done that I realised the shape needed balancing out, by adding more "weight" at the edges, hence the frills. So, on to the button bands - again I didn't have enough yarn and decided that the cardi would look quite cool with buttons on the lower half only - and that's what I did. It was so quick to knit such a tiny button band, and very rewarding when I saw how much I liked the result. I think this is my favourite knitted item. By the way, I'm wearing my sunglasses because I looked pretty frightful without them.

The neck warmer I'm wearing in the photo is knitted on 7mm needles, from one ball of Sirdar Vegas (which is representative of the type of yarn available where I live - you know what I mean?) Anyway, I was suffering from yarn deprivation when I bought it. I intended to knit a scarf but didn't have enough. That's why it turned into a neck warmer (I sewed the two ends together). Putting prejudices aside - I really like it and will probably make another in a different colour. Where so many knitters dislike the boredom that results from knitting the same thing twice, I seem to like the known territory. I must be so boring.

ADDED LATER...........Sorry everyone - it's Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed, not Felted Tweed, (what a donkey I am). £1.77 a ball from Jannette.

2007-01-06T04:13:00.000-08:00

Baby Cable Rib

I started these socks on Saturday and finshed them on Thursday. Usually it takes me ages to knit a pair of socks, especially if they're not just plain stocking stitch, so I'm really pleased. The baby cable rib pattern is from Sensational Knitted Socks - a very useful book - and is on 56sts and 2.5mm needles. The yarn is Opal 4-ply.

I have actually finished Nick's sock, which I started last April. I've just cast-on 90sts for the other sock. So now I can look forward to loads and loads of 3 x 3 slipped-stitch ribbing. It's okay though, as I'm finding that these days I'm content to sit and knit and don't really mind what it is (if it's my "mindless" project of the moment). I used 47g out of 100g for the first sock so I'm hoping I'll have enough for the second. I should have, as I have 6g to play with and that's quite a lot, I suppose. But then, you know what my tension is like, so it may be a bit hair-raising towards the end.

My hair is dark brown again, by the way. Now I can wear my funky/odd clothes again without it all being too much.

2007-01-05T12:01:00.000-08:00

Six Weird Things

I have been tagged by Kathryn (before Xmas!), Forbidden Knitter and Cherry, to list six weird things about myself. This was difficult as, although I sometimes think I'm weird, I couldn't think of why! I still can't, so I've just grabbed six out of the air:

I have to put tins, packets, spoons (everything, in fact) up the right way, even on the conveyor belt when shopping. Packets and tins absolutely must be opened at the top. I don't know what might happen if I forgot one day. I could never forget, so it's not an issue.

I am the worst (best?) hypochondriac I know, except for most members of my family. I am thinking of getting "help" as it's taking over my life again. This is not a good weird thing. It is very bad.

I absolutely cannot be too restricted (eg, someone pinning me down, in fun). I was once wrapped in a carpet as a child (by other children) and have never forgotten the feeling of claustrophobia, even though they kindly left my head poking out. I go ABSOLUTELY CRAZY if anyone attempts to hold me down, even if it's just my hands.

Like Cherry I often throw an impromptu disco for myself and Charlie, or on my own. I can get into quite a euphoric state dancing to cheesy tunes (even Cliff Richard.....). If you've never tried it, do. You might surprise yourself.

I don't answer the phone. I like to be able to choose who I speak with, and when. You can imagine how much I detest my door-bell ringing.

I eat strange combinations of foods. I don't mind if they don't go together, as long as I like each food. I went through a phase of having tuna and sprouts every day. I love sprouts and still eat them several times a week, as a snack.

Well, that's six. I could do a few more but wouldn't wish to bore your pants off.

2006-12-31T03:26:00.000-08:00

Back on the 3-Minute Miracle

First I will update you on the hair situation:

It was bleached for three hours in total and we did get it to quite a good lightish yellow. However, after application of the ash-y tone, it was still quite yellow. I found a darker ash tone, which produced a more believable shade of dark blonde on a strand test. Unfortunately, however, the area on my scalp where I did the strand test (I'd had enough of cutting chunks off on which to perform various tests for the bleaching process) was stinging and there was no way I'd cover the whole head with something that stung. So I admitted defeat and dyed it bright pinky-red. It won't be staying that way - it's just you have to dye it red and then brown, otherwise it will go green. And yes, it has happened to me before. I remember sitting on the beach at Brighton and someone remarking how I well I matched the seaweed.

Please note that the red patch you can see is dye, not a sore patch (I'm very lucky I don't have any of those).

I have been doing some knitting, in between ruining my hair with the bleach: some more socks (I thought I said I was off knitting socks - all that has changed now I can Knit to Fit) in Opal and the stitch is baby cable rib (which is very simple and requires no effort). I cast-on 56 sts again and it seems okay. So far.

Thanks for all your advice on the Bad Word Situation. I'm still ignoring him and will see how it goes.

Must go and stop my lunch from burning.

HAPPY 2007 TO YOU ALL, MY FRIENDS!

2006-12-29T05:37:00.000-08:00

Orange Socks and Hair to Match

Well, I started Shedir and completed fourteen rows before I realised that it would be too big and that I didn't like the flippy-floppy fabric I was creating. The pattern called for 3.25mm needles but I was using 3.5mm, as I was too impatient to wait for the right size to come in the post, thinking Christmas would delay them. But they arrived the following day (from Kangaroo). I sould have waited but my impulsive, impatient and demanding nature just would not let me. And of course I had to frog all that work and start again. Shedir is the kind of pattern I have to give at least a little of my attention to. For instance, I can't just knit Shedir mindlessly whilst giving Grumpy Old Women/Men the larger part of my attention, which explains why I've still only knitted fourteen rows on the new needles. Instead, I finished the socks I started a month ago, in Lana Grossa Fantasy, colour 4833. At last I have knitted socks that fit perfectly (for a change). Usual top-down formula, 56 sts, on 2.5mm needles. Yeahhh. But will I use the same number of stitches with a cable/lacy pattern and get the same size? I'll let you know.

My hair is now orange. No, really. If it wasn't so unbelievably patchy I wouldn't mind it. On Wednesday I got restless and attacked it with the bleach I'd had sitting around in the cupboard for a year and a half. It would have been okay but I left too much hair at the root area whilst bleaching the lengths, so when I put the bleach on the roots, the centimetre closest to the scalp went blonde but the other two centimetres of "root" didn't have time to get as light as either the nearest centimetre of hair, or the lengths. This means I have orange hair with a brown/orange band near the roots and then blonde roots. Needless to say, it looks really stylish! Lucky for me I have a habit of walking about in a bright pink fully sequinned hat (it's an original Liberty hat but looks like a sparkly swimming cap), which doesn't show any hair. I'll get some more bleach today but have no idea how to go about evening it all up. Maybe I should do all the dark stripes, rinse and then do the whole thing again, once it's a uniform orange. Better be careful. Don't fancy a chemical haircut right now. Not to mention the brain damage bleaching gives you. Watch this space.....

By the way, Kathryn, I haven't forgotten your tag

And also, the orange-hair photo really does make it look better than it is - quite nice, even. Don't be fooled. And I look really shagged out in the hat photo, but that's what comes from having the cold from hell and drinking wine for hours (on Boxing Day). Still avoided a hangover though, as it was more a slow but constant intake, rather than lots at once.

Has anyone any idea how to get an almost-three-year-old to stop shouting out BOLLOCKS all the time? I've tried ignoring it but it hasn't worked and though other people find it funny, I'm way past that now. I swear if he shouts it out in Tesco I will just die on the spot.

2006-12-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

A Plea Specifically to Alice........

Or indeed anyone that knows the answer (which is probably everyone except me). You know I'm knitting the Shedir hat? I just looked at the chart. Hmmmm. Does it read from left to right on each line, or right to left, or zig-zag from one to the other? Maybe I should be able to tell by looking at it, but....no hope there! Actually, I'm thinking that once I know how to read the chart it's going to take me at least a month to learn and remember what the symbols mean. But I'll have a go.

I would really appreciate some assistance................Thanks, blogfriends.

2006-12-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

Odessa (number 4)

I can almost knit these with my eyes closed (so to speak), I've knit so many. Again, this is in cashsoft, though with large, glossy, black beads this time.

I have one more Odessa to knit, this time in Ballad Blue (one can never have enough Odessa hats). Then, it's on to Shedir.

2006-12-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

Best Pic I Could Get....

Well, here you are, you lot. The best picture I could get. You know how children never stop moving.

Recently Frankie was saying she didn't understand why so many people are so mad about knitting socks, for several reasons (you know, small needles, you have to knit two of them, etc, etc.) Frankie prefers to knit hats, and if you look at her blog, you'll see she is excellent at doing so. I like knitting socks, but it's hit and miss as to whether they'll fit. I still wear them, though, whether they're like little boats on my feet (the Koigu stranded stitch ones I made), or whether I have to endure them like you would a tourniquet, cutting off the circulation in an alarming manner (the pink lacy ones where I lost the feeling in my finger for a couple of months, due to knitting on 2mm metal needles). So, I'm taking Frankie's lead, and knitting hats for the time being. Having spotted Alice's Shedir, I must knit that. I've never worked from a chart before, unless you count Forecast, which you can't really, as that pattern was so simple to memorise, you didn't really need the tiny chart in the first place. I may not be up to the task, but I've ordered a ball of Rowan Felted Tweed, in Carbon, anyway. You know, hats are relatively quick to knit, there aren't two to be completed every time, and you get to show a hat off to all and sundry, unlike socks. And hats don't get snagged on our dodgy floors in this house. Not like my socks. I only have one handknit pair left unscathed now - the others all have huge holes in the heels, where I caught them on "things".

I did finish my skirt (I forgot to mention it) and am very pleased with it. I just put four huge darts around the waist area, and it did the trick of shaping it enough. As the fabric had a lot of stretch in it, it didn't need a zip - I just slip it on. No photos yet, as I can't get a decent one.

2006-12-12T05:51:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas-time!

I know, I know, it's been so long since I've posted that I've almost forgotten how to do it. It's that time of year when we have so much more to get done, and also I've just been kind of revelling in feeling festive, which means a lot of "sitting and taking in the atmosphere". And which also means I still haven't written any Christmas cards or wrapped any presents. At least I have my tree up now. We've had the same one for seven years and it's still thriving, which is incredible, given my track record with tending anything green. Mind you, putting the tree up isn't a problem - it's taking it down again. One year I couldn't be bothered to take it down until March, as I'm often reminded by my friends. The tree became an adorned skeleton in the corner of the room. I couldn't understand why it offended so many people. I was 20 and had just bought my first house. I think it was my way of saying I could do what I wanted. Well, that and drinking brandy at 10 in the morning before a stint of the dreaded Christmas Shopping Experience. Not so that I was too much the worse for wear, you understand; just a little fuzzy around the edges. Sometimes I think I could do with that now, but I couldn't face drinking so early in the day. And not more than about two and a half units at once. Boring, I know, but I don't want my first hangover in twelve years. I'm rambling - sorry.

The above photo is of some completed knitting. Charles didn't own a scarf, which is very sad, as we do walk, and often high in the Chilterns where it's often quite exposed and very windy. So I knitted another Odessa hat, this time in Cashsoft DK, in Navy. That didn't solve the problem, so I knitted a scarf to go with it. In Cashsoft again, Navy and Ballad Blue. Just as well I hadn't been on the brandy, or it could have been green and yellow.

As you can see, it's a simple cable pattern, crossing this way and that to make a lattice (I particularly like the way the pattern makes a crinkly cast-off edge). The cashsoft is soft and lovely to wear, though it has a tendency to show wear very quickly, which makes me fuss terribly. The pattern was from Scarf Style; it's Braided Mischief by Teva Durham, though I didn't use the yarn suggested, or the same size needles. Mine was knitted on 5mm needles, with 54 sts. There was a cable row every four rows, so it was relatively fast to knit.

In addition to the scarf and hat, I've also knitted some self-patterned knee-high socks for Charles and half of one candy-coloured sock for myself. And now it's a race against time to get another Winter Companion knitted for my sister's birthday on Christmas Eve. This time there are many more beads (every four stitches and every six rows) and I've cast-on 25 % more stitches and used a 5mm needle, instead of 8mm. It remains to be seen how it turns out.

My Edwardian Lace Stole hasn't been touched for literally months and the red Forecast, for weeks.

2006-11-18T03:06:00.000-08:00

And Now For Something Completely Different..

What a beautiful, sunny day it is - just the sort of day to take a photo (though the trees around our garden are so tall they don't allow much sunshine in the winter months, with the sun so low in the sky). The OH has taken Charlie Townes to see the trains whooshing through Tring station at Charlie's request, and I'm playing my new Amy Winehouse CD, which sounds as though it came straight out of the sixties. Anyway, this is what I'm working on at the moment (apart from the Raspberry Forecast):

I got the fabric from ebay for £3.77. There are 4 metres of it, though it's only 80cm wide. It's a textured, stretch jersey. Heaven knows what it's made of, but it's got a lovely sparkle to it, which satisfies my little inner magpie (the Audrey Hepburn part isn't too happy about it, though). I thought I'd sew it into a tube skirt just straight up and down the sides (but leave the raw edges on the outside down the back seam, as you can see in the photo - I like the frills), but it seems it's not that simple. Well, it is simple, but will take a little more work than I anticipated: I've had to put four quite deep darts in, around the waist. It's still not enough to make it snug enough around the waist and hip area so I'll have to adjust the darts again. I don't think having a pattern would really help, as it wouldn't account for how much stretch this fabric has. Speaking of stretch, I've sewn the hem by hand and may have to sew the whole thing that way. I'll try a sample on the machine, but I'm not sure it will come out with the right amount of ease in the stitching. I know practically nothing about the ins and outs of sewing, so much of it is trial and error for me.

In case you're worried about me looking a complete floozy in this tight and shiny skirt, don't worry - I'll be dressing it down!

At Sew Direct they are selling all their McCall patterns at £3.25 for a limited time, so I've ordered the dress-fitting shell, which should be...interesting. As with my knitting, when sewing, I just choose a size to make and then find it doesn't fit here...or here...or here! Maybe this will help. I just need to buy some woven gingham to work it out and make it up. Then I want to make a nice high-necked Chinese sort of affair with this fabric. Something plain and simple.

If you fancy listening to a beautiful piece of music this morning, try this. I know Gordon Lightfoot is not very well known to many people in the UK, but this music is beautiful. I love him. Kathleen reminded me of how much I like him, with her link.

Have a great weekend.

2006-11-14T07:25:00.000-08:00

Another One Bites the Dust

Thank you all for your kind words, not that we were at death's door or anything, but it was pretty nasty. Charles got the worst of it, but he's back on top form now.

Knitting - It was with much relief, and with no sense of defeat whatsoever, that I frogged Funnel Neck right back to thin air. In fact, it felt good. There are times when we have to face the truth. In this case, not only was it too much of a pain to think about getting the stupid thing to fit me (I just could not be bothered), but I had known from the start that a jumper in 100% rib was not going to be to my liking, and I chose to ignore it. Funnel Neck is no more and never will be. There.

Being a creature of habit, I immediately cast-on for another Forecast (in the Debbie Bliss Tweed). This yarn is supposed to be the same weight as the Cascade 220, but when I knitted the neck in 5mm as before, it was HUGE. Instead of frogging, I kept it, and after making some quick calculations I went on to knit the yoke in 3.5mm, which came out small enough to fit a kitten, and was killing my fingers. Frogged back to the neck again and started on 4.5mm, which seems to be okay. I don't know why I have these problems, unless my tension varies wildly from wip to wip (which is quite possible). But the element of trial and error in my knitting is far huger than I suspect it is for most people. It can be very trying.

Anyway, I'm down to the ribbing on the body and I think it's okay. I just hope I don't hit the same problems as I did on the first one, where I didn't have enough yarn. I didn't mention it before, as I couldn't be bothered to do that much typing, but in the middle of the second sleeve I realised that I may not have enough yarn left for the button bands, so immediately put the sleeve on a holder and went on to the bands/edgings. After the edging I only had enough yarn left to do about another inch on the remaining sleeve, so had to undo the one I'd finished and frog a couple of inches, re-knit the cuff, and hope I'd have enough yarn from that to do the same on the other sleeve. I did - just. It was pretty hair-raising. This time I'll do the button bands first, then tackle the sleeves.

It remains to be seen whether the ribbing on the body will be okay on 4mm needles. We'll see - there could be more frogging ahead.

PS I'm knitting another Forecast because I really do like my original one with my jeans, enough to want another in a different colour. I know I look a bit strange in this photo. I was trying to smile on self timer (see what I mean) and I had a cold, and my hair left a lot to be desired.

2006-11-10T05:27:00.000-08:00

YUK!

After all that moaning, I didn't know when we were lucky! Just getting over the cold from hell and Charlie got his first sickness bug (not bad, since he's got away with it for almost three years). That was Weds tea-time and then I got it at 5am Thursday. I'm ok now but Charles is still quite ill and honking up even water. So, I may not be around for a few days again. Hope you're all well! Got to go and heal the ailing.

2006-11-03T00:16:00.000-08:00

Warning: Contains Ranting and Raving, With a Good Measure of Whingeing

Firstly, I have a cold and that makes me extremely grouchy. The OH, inconsiderately (I think) actually left the house to do some socialising a couple of weeks ago, and has been ill since around three or four days after. What with my being so healthy and fit, and hardly ever seeing anyone actually in the flesh and all that, I smugly thought I hadn't caught it. But now it's got me. And it's only November. Great. It's only a cold but it messes things up. I have been eating piles of home-made chocolate biscuits and other such delights, and doing no exercise. That's what I can't stand, no exercise. That's why I'm grouchy. Well, partly why. The other thing is.....

My Funnel Neck. It was all going very well indeed. Every time I tried it on it seemed great. Until it came to reserving the stitches for the sleeves. It seems the portion for the body (from neck to underarm) doesn't have enough increases, but the arm section does. Of course, what I should do is rip back a long way and start putting in more increases for the body portion. But how many more and can I be bothered? I can't tell you how much I detest knitting the same bit again. Not as much as I hate being ill, but I won't bend your ears about that again. Or you may never come back. I could wing it and just have a jumper stretched very tightly across the chest. Oh, I shall put it to one side and come back to it when I'm in a better mood.

The only knitting I have left now is the Edwardian Stole and Nick's socks (which go back to April). Good thing I'm not knitting him a huge cardi, then, like Poshyarns did for her DH. So, I have no knitting that I want to do and no yarn waiting in the sidelines (no, honestly) except for some Noro Blossom but I don't know what I'm going to do with that. I could do with making a pair of socks but I'm too skint to get the yarn. I could have spent the money I raised on eBay on some yarn instead of my haircut but then I'd be even grumpier. Thank heavens you don't have to live with me!

On the skint front, our Music Distribution company is really doing well. It's only been going for just short of a year, but already we are doing the distribution for over one-hundred record labels. But you know what it's like when you start up a business - at the beginning there's no money to spare. We're hoping we'll soon be at the point where the business is paying for our monthly outgoings in entirety, never mind having any extra to spend. It's not too bad. When we have a fire going in the burner, a little child to hug and make us laugh, home-made biscuits, a cheap (ish) bottle of wine etc. etc. I think all the other bits are really not what makes us happy. Though I would like extra money for yarn. Of course. But one day when I'm rolling in it, I'll be far too busy to knit (not really - it's either knit or eat biscuits).

And actually, it really is never far from my mind that a large proportion of the world's population really don't have any of the real comforts of home like we do. I mean the really bare basics. I'll never forget a photo I saw a while ago, of some Pakistani earthquake refugees trudging through the mountain snow with their children carried on their backs. But the children didn't even have shoes or blankets. No shoes. In the snow. I remember having a bad day and then, in the midst of my crying to a friend, saying "oh, how could I feel sorry for myself" and telling her about the photo I'd seen. And with the best of intentions, she replied, "well, Darling, you're walking barefoot through the wilderness of life". And I thought, "no, not really", although I appreciated the sentiment. And it brought me back to my senses.

2006-10-31T00:17:00.000-08:00

Funnel Neck

Firstly, thank you all for your kind comments on Forecast - and my tights! I've been wearing wacky tights ever since I had my own money to spend on them (around twenty-three years-ugh). The very best red tights I have ever worn are the ones by Charnos. You can't get softer, stretchier, smoother, anywhere else. And the waistband isn't too narrow or tight. Charnos. Brilliant.

The next project is under way: Funnel Neck , another top-down knit. I did the neck bit and then started on the increases for the yoke, but after about seven rows of the yoke I realised that the increases looked awful, really messy. I knew the method I was using would leave little holes (picking up the bar between stitches, with the left needle, front to back, and then knitting) but I thought they'd make a nice, ordered pattern, like on Forecast, and the Glamour Cape. But no. I think it had something to do with fitting in the increases with the K1P1 ribbing. Anyway, I ripped back and started the yoke again, this time picking up the bar between stitches with the left needle, from front to back, and then knitting into the back of that stitch. The difference is unbelievable. No holes at all! The only way you know something's been happening in the increase areas, is the fact that the ribbing diverges and seems to make rivulets. Great. The method is the M1F on this site.

Now the only thing remaining is to make it fit - for me, not an easy task. Already I'm using smaller needles and knitting the next size up, without so much as a nod to the correct tension. Luckily the yarn (Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed, picked up for a song, from Jannette) is wonderful to easily rip back and then pick up all the stitches again. The yarn seems as though it's already felted - is that possible? It's the least splitty yarn I've ever known. I love it.

2006-10-28T04:46:00.000-07:00

Forecast

Well, here it is! I took about twenty photos in an attempt to find one I liked. This cardi is so snug, it leaves track marks in my arms, where the ribbing is! The dress I'm wearing is made from extremely unforgiving jersey, and completely wrong for the cardi; it looks much better with a pair of jeans or denim skirt.

Forecast is a simple pattern to knit, and a real pleasure. I'll be looking for another top-down pattern to knit, as it's so much easier to try as you go and to make alterations. I'm hoping to make another Forecast, but next time I'll make the ribbing on the body, and especially on the sleeves, a little looser.

I did learn some new skills on this knit: simple cables, reading a simple chart and purling backwards (when making the bobbles).

Pattern: Forecast
Needles: 4mm and 5mm (instead of 3.5mm and 4.5mm) and 3.5mm for the sleeve ribbing
Yarn: Cascade 220 The Heathers
Modifications: I started the sleeve ribbing above the elbow, though next time I think I'll stick to the original.

Now I just have to do another 8 or so repeats on the Edwardian Lace Stole. Sigh. I'm going to Mayfair to get a haircut next week, so can do some on the train (sold some stuff on ebay to pay for it. To think I could have bought some yarn).

2006-10-24T01:02:00.000-07:00

At Last - Progress So Far

Of course, now that I have made the effort to post about Forecast, it's so gloomy outside that it's impossible to take a decent photo. We'll have to save that for the grand showing of the completed garment. This may include a gapping between the button bands and, in fact, severe stretching of fabric all round. I did want my Forecast on the snug side, but I think this may require a generous dusting of talcum powder in order to get into it in the first place. Put it this way - it will either be so snug that it'll make me look really slinky, or it will be so snug that it will show off all the bits I don't want to show off. Extra bits (though I don't have as many of those as before - ha!).

I've been enjoying this knit so much I will make another. I already know that on the next one I'll start the ribbing higher up - just under the bust - and I might do the original sleeves. I tried my current Forecast on so many times, in an attempt to get the ribbing to start just where I wanted it but, weirdly, once I'd got a few rows of the ribbing done, it turned out that the top section was longer than I thought. Having said that, I am still very happy with it. On the sleeves, I've started the ribbing above the elbow, instead of nearer the wrist. I'm happy with that, too. My only concern is that the upper, cabled part of the sleeve may not be as snug as I'd like, in comparison with the lower, ribbed part - and this may make my arms look a bit chunky. If the upper part was huge and puffy that would be fine, as it would be obvious that it couldn't possibly be my real arm!

I expect you all know that this is knitted from the top down. I really enjoy this way of knitting. It does make it so easy to monitor progress and make adjustments as you go, something I've not been confident about doing in the past. It's just so brilliant to be able to slip the garment on and see it coming along, even if I need at least two pairs of hands to hold the fronts close together (to see if they actually meet in the middle).

I've been using lifelines effectively for the first time ever (I tried one on the Edwardian Shawl, about ten repeats ago, but got lazy). The lifelines this time have not been in case of errors - I put one in every time I make a change to the pattern (such as starting the ribbing high up on the sleeve) so that, if I don't like it, I can rip back to the point where I changed it, and not right back to the beginning. This gives me a real sense of freedom within which anything may be possible.

I've included a close-up of the yarn, which was taken in better light, a week ago. It really is lovely in real life; there's a light covering of deep red fluffiness all over it, in the right light. I will definitely use Cascade 220 again.

I just have one and a half sleeves and the edging to do. See you then.

2006-10-20T06:46:00.000-07:00

ECF

This morning, immediately after waking, I dashed downstairs fully intending to get my coffee and post all about my latest wip, Forecast. It is now 14:46 and I'm still not at the point where I can spare the time, or even make the time by squeezing this or that backwards or forwards a little.

So, in the absence of any toil on my part, I urge you to read this (You Don't Have to be Pretty-2010.06). I think it's essential reading for a lot of us (women). I loved every word!

Have a great weekend. Will post Forecast on Monday.

2006-10-16T01:43:00.000-07:00

Willow

Here is Willow, completed and in the correct size. Now, it's quite lucky Willow fits me at all, since I used different needles and yarn to those recommended by the pattern. But it's twice as lucky that it fits so well.

It was so boring to knit just stocking stitch, and in such loopy yarn, for so long. My attention wandered several times and I ended up increasing instead of decreasing (and vice versa), or doing miles more stocking stitch and forgetting to do any shaping at all. This inattention meant quite a bit of frogging! I did make quite a mistake on the belt and it's such a stupid mistake to make that I can't quite believe I did it, even now ( and I was too lazy to put it right). The belt is knitted as part of the back of the cardigan, so you suddenly cast-on about another 160 sts (80 either side) and carry on knitting. The back was of course being worked up in st st and I carried on and knitted the belt in st st too, all the time thinking "this is a bit stupid. Surely this belt will curl like crazy, being just a skinny bit of stocking stitch" but instead of changing anything, I just continued. It was only when I read the pattern again that I realised it said to cast-on more sts and continue knitting. Knitting. They should make these things absolutely clear for knittingly challenged people such as myself. I can't imagine why I didn't just use my head. Now I have a curly belt. I haven't done any blocking yet, but I don't think it'll help much.

The picking up of 300 sts for the edging was a real pain (isn't it always?) but thank heavens it came out okay and if there are any mistakes you can't see them for all the fluffy loopiness. Had this been a plain yarn, however, I'm sure it wouldn't have looked so good. When I'm picking up stitches, whether it's for socks or edgings, sometimes there's a huge gap left between the stitch I've picked up and the rest of the knitting. I don't know why this would be. I pick up all the stitches in the same way. When this happens, I usually reject the stitch causing the gap, and pick up a bit from slightly lower down, or to the side. I always check to see if it looks odd, so tend to get away with it, but I don't know what will happen when I get to do the edging on a plain garment. I think I'll look up how to pick up edging stitches correctly before attempting it. In case you're wondering, all the black bits of Jaeger Siena cotton are there to divide up the edging into equal portions, making it that much easier to pick up the correct number of stitches

Texere sorted out the yarn problem, by the way, sending me the exact match, and in a very friendly and helpful manner. Hurrah for Christine at Texere!

You may have guessed, I've started on forecast. It took me forty minutes to knit one row of about 100 stitches last night (with about ten of those bobbles). This one's going to take me a long time. I already may have sizing issues but will tell you about it next time. Hold on to your seats!

2006-10-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

Sorted!

Thanks for your comments, Kathryn and Alice. Kathryn, I did the swatch and once I realised that all the plain squares on a right-side row had to be knitted and not purled, it all worked out fine. Really easy, actually! Oh, thanks to Carrie, too! I did look at the KAL again and there was a lot of info I didn't spot before.

I appreciate your response to my plea. Thanks, blogfriends. I can't believe I had to be such a drama queen. All I needed to do was try it out.

2006-10-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

Real Assistance Required as a Matter of Great Urgency!

Firstly, I've finished Willow and will do an entry on that tomorrow. BUT in the meantime I'm so stuck on my next project, Forecast. I've just got to row 17, where the yoke begins and I realise I don't know where to begin on the simple chart for the cable. Do I start on the bottom row of the chart, reading from right to left? In other words, purl the whole row? And is the next row up, row 18? Or 19? And do I read all of them from right to left? I don't know if the even and odd numbered rows are included or what. I expect it's obvious to all of you, but I've never done a cable or a chart before, so can't tell which way the chart should be read (make sense?).

I've never been stuck on my knitting before. I'm stomping around in frustration. Please friends, help, or I may have to go and eat all the golden syrup or something terrible.

The bad thing is, I know nobody reads blogs on Sunday. Ooooooh, tantrums.

2006-10-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

Good Grief

I was just sitting here thinking how I should do a knitting post and, in a bid to delay, checked Bloglines for any new posts on my fave blogs, only to find that Cherry (oh, thanks so much, Cherry, you lovely thing), has set me and a few others some homework. So, I have been tagged and must now think of five things that feminism has done for me. I will try to keep this short, as I tend to ramble (not about feminism in particular, for heaven's sake......just about anything at all).

Given me the right to claim an inheritance and have ownership of property/finances. It wasn't that long ago that the females of the family were not allowed any claim on inheritance at all. Their brothers/sons could kick their own mothers out of the house if they wanted, once good old Dad had pegged it. That is so not on, it makes me mad to just consider it.
I didn't have to be considered a spinster by the time I was twenty, though some of my relatives were already getting at me by then. Not because I had no boyfriends, but because I wasn't MARRIED AND HAVING CHILDREN. I mean, way back in the day, you were really at a social disadvantage if you weren't married by your mid-twenties. You wouldn't have stood a chance in the Tudor Court, for instance ( not that I'd have wanted to). You would have been well and truly past-it and on the scrap heap and quite good-for-nothing.
I can travel about without a chaperone. I have freedom. I don't have to be watched over 100% of the time, even if I just want to walk 100 yards down the road on a sunny evening.
Ha ha, I can lift weights and run about a lot and get out of breath. That may not sound important but the choice to do it is.
I have many more choices in life than I would have done if not for feminism. Many, many more.

Of course there are loads of much more important reasons, but these just jumped out at me first.

I'll do a knitting post tomorrow if I get time.

Oh, I should tag some people. Sarah, Frankie, Debby. So sorry!

2006-10-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

Ants in My Pants

Or something, anyway. Something that's making me want to jump about all the time and not sit still. I'm not talking about restless legs, although they're no joke, I can tell you. I had those restless legs when I was pregnant and it's very annoying. No, I mean I just cannot apply myself to anything for more than about fifteen minutes at a time. I start feeling so bored. You know, like...right, what shall I do next? It's ridiculous. I think it's something to do with having a lot of energy at the moment, as I'm okay when applying myself to something like cleaning the bathroom or hanging out washing. Or maybe they're tasks that have an end in sight and that could explain it. Thing is, this is really bad for my knitting. It's not that I don't enjoy knitting any more. I do, and that's the annoying thing. Like reading, I used to be able to do it all day, given half a chance. Now, I read one chapter of my book (currently The Boleyn Inheritance) or knit five rows of my KSH and that's it. Ants in my pants.

Even blogging has taken a direct hit. I'm still very happy to peruse the blogs of others, and still very much enjoying myself doing so, but actually bothering to think of something to put on mine is just too much. Too much in the way of thinking. Too much effort.

What can I do? Maybe my attention span has shrunk. I'm not kidding when I say this, but I think I've got treacle in my brain or something. A hundred times a day I'll forget what I was doing, where I was going etc. How will I cope when I'm seventy? Sure, I'll still be riding my bike, but will I be.... "see that old woman on the bike over there? Yeah, she's not quite right, poor dear. Fit though. Packs a powerful punch". I'd better start exercising my brain a bit more, I think.

2006-10-03T00:25:00.000-07:00

Not So Fast

The knitting in the photo above is the reason that the Edwardian Stole still won't be finished any time soon. A friend of mine really quite fancied one of those floaty scarves, knitted in the KSH, on large needles. Who am I to deprive her of this (her birthday is 12th October)? So, here we go again. The only nice thing about knitting with KSH on large-ish (7mm) needles is being able to look at the beautiful silky lustre of this yarn as the light catches it, something I've only just realised the Edwardian Stole is lacking; the black is just not pretty to knit with at all. Mind you, I prefer knitting the black lace pattern to the interminable k1p1 of the scarf.

Another reason for stalling on the stole is I got a copy of the book Eats Shoots and Leaves at the weekend in St Alban's, which is a lovely town. It's a book on punctuation (or lack of/misuse of same) in current times. I've wanted it for ages and it hasn't disappointed me; it's funny and informative. I'm hoping to learn something from it.

It would be great if I could start Forecast sometime soon but I just can't do it without finishing one of my WIPs first. Still, the yarn is sitting there, ready and waiting.

2006-09-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hasty

Thanks for all your encouraging comments on my yarn problem, and especially for the suggestion of alternating the two batches. Thanks, HPNY! Believe it or not I wouldn't have thought of that myself.

The point of this post is to admit that I might have been too hasty in my criticism of Texere. Although the fact remains that they didn't give me the correct information at the time of ordering the new yarn, I should have contacted them with the problem first; that is, before denouncing them completely. They've admitted they did produce more than one batch but they have also asked me to send them a piece of the yarn I need, so they can see if they have a match. This means that either I'll get hold of the matching yarn and it will (might) be happy ever after, or I can at least mix the two, as you all suggest. The customer service at Texere is in fact very good and I suppose anyone can make a mistake.

At least this gives me the opportunity to do a bit more on the stole, though I still have about nine repeats to do.

I've forgotten about Eye-Candy Friday again. Oh dear.

2006-09-27T02:59:00.000-07:00

Rumpelstiltskin
Okay. It doesn't take much, I know.....but I'm really mad and it's all (mostly) because of Texere Yarns and Willow. Fatal combination. You know how I've been slogging away at trying to finish Willow? And how it's been a wing and a prayer all the way, what with swapping yarns, needles etc. Well, I just got half way through the first sleevehead, only to find that the new cone of yarn is completely different in shade to the rest of the garment. I'd checked with Texere to see whether they could get the same dye batch as the others I'd used and they'd said they'd only produced one dye-batch of this yarn, so any yarn sent would match. Oh yeah, right. So I knitted about thirty rows in the new yarn in the dark last night and this morning...horrors. I don't know if you can see it in the photo. Aaaaargh. I suppose it is partly my fault as I should have ordered enough in the first place. Having said that, if Texere had just told me they didn't have the right dye batch at least I wouldn't have knitted all this and wouldn't now be having to rip back - possibly a whole sleeve - if they can't get the right yarn as a replacement. I HATE RIPPING BACK. So the options are: start this sleeve again and knit both in the same batch and have the sleeves not matching the body, but two sleeves not matching is better than just one; knit the sleeves in a plain, rust-coloured yarn; or carry on in the right yarn if they can get it.

I will let you know what happens (if I don't rip myself in two first, like Rumpelstiltskin in a rage, when he stomps himself through the floorboards at the end of the story).

2006-09-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

Still Nothing to Show

It's not that I'm bored with the knitting at all. I have been knitting but just little bits here and there. I seem to have been picked up and swept along by the everyday current of life and I'm still hurtling along with it (but towards which end?) Time that would have been spent knitting (in between putting Charles to bed and eating dinner) has been spent exercising, and I'm reaping the benefits from that. I feel great. But my knitting..... Eunny says she doesn't often sit and give knitting her exquisite attention, more often knitting a row here and there whilst waiting, say, for water to boil or whatever. I'm right there with her, except that if I mostly did that I'd get a few rows done each day, rather than the whole, beautiful garments that seem to magically appear on Eunny's blog so often (isn't she talented!) What I'm saying is, in order to make progress I need to find more knitting time. If I ignored Charlie all day long and just threw his meals on the table and said "go play, Darling", I'd get loads done. But that's not fair. A neglected and bored toddler....shudder. I did have a chunk of about an hour the other day but when I went back to it later, I realised that for some inexplicable reason I'd stopped increasing and for the last twenty rows I'd been decreasing. So I had to rip back. Aaaaargh.

What do I have left to complete? I've knitted the back and two fronts and half a sleeve of Willow (the long cardigan). I tacked the back and front together a few nights ago (and forgot to take a photo). It seems to sort of fit, as far as I can tell. Now, this is very lucky when you realise my tension is so out. The garment is several centimetres wider than it should be, and several shorter. So how the sleeves are going to fit the body when they too turn out shorter and fatter, I don't know. I expect I'll squeeze them in somehow. Maybe this cardi will have puffy sleeves. Could be interesting.

Edwardian Stole I still have about eleven repeats and the top edging to do. I've got used to knitting this lace with the television on/people talking etc and no longer feel like screaming at anyone who so much as breathes in the same room when I'm trying to CONCENTRATE. It's Willow that's stopping progress on the shawl as I really want to finish it. The loopy yarn is pretty irritating, though I find the colours lovely, and I do find knitting garments a long and drawn-out process. I need a quick fix. Maybe some new sock yarn. Have you seen Piece of Beauty's new shop? Lovely.

BTW I know the above photo has absolutely nothing to do with knitting but it's symbolic of just how weird life can seem sometimes (this was taken last Thursday when we went to West Wittering and Brighton, though that wasn't one of the weird days and we had a great time). They look as though they've just been dropped out of a UFO, don't they?

2006-09-13T01:16:00.000-07:00

Update

I haven't been posting much lately, I realise; once a week has been about it. The reason is I'm still working on the relatively larger items, like the Willow cardigan and of course, the Edwardian Lace Shawl (actually it's called Edwardian Lace Stole on the pattern).

Rows and rows of black KSH don't make for interesting photos, so I'm leaving it to your imagination, but I've now completed the top edging on the first half, which is a relief. The points along the sides are knitted as you do each row, at the edges. But the points along the top and bottom are knitted individually. I mean it's a relief because I was worried I might not understand how to do them, but it was easy and only took an hour or so. But the bit that took some fiddling about was picking up all the stitches along the provisional cast on and knitting the first rows of the second half and having the pattern match exactly with the first half. Easy, you say - just follow the pattern. Yeah, right. Somehow I kept ending up with one stitch too few after that first row. Not an error in the pattern. In the end I just increased one stitch at one end and carried on. I was so lucky the pattern matched up exactly after this debacle. I must have inadvertantly placed the missing stitch where it belonged. Anyway, I'm two repeats (out of fourteen) along on the second half. Shouldn't take too long to complete, though. I can do this lace whilst speaking now, and with noise in the background. Oh, and I must mention that apart from being one stitch astray that time, I haven't made any mistakes at all. My lifeline still languishes back at repeat number six (I'm on seventeen now). I hope I haven't spoken too soon. I am being very careful.

The yarn in the above pic is Cascade 220, The Heathers. I got it at the same time as the gold KSH and Debbie Bliss Tweed, but forgot to show it. I'm going to make Forecast with it. Better wait until I've finished Willow first, though. Oh, I cannot be bothered to knit Willow. So, so bored with it.

2006-09-08T00:06:00.000-07:00

Eye Candy Friday and Idiosyncratic Socks

I chose this picture for ECF, not because it's particularly beautiful, but because it portrays a time of year I love in our garden. The buddleia has come back into flower. We've had two flourishes this year, which is such a treat as the scent is divine and can be detected from the top end of the garden. The apple trees are of course full of fruit at this time of year and I find them particularly pleasant to look at, and to smell.

Toddler socks are so fast to knit. Here are Charlie's. I would have liked to make them slightly longer in the leg, to line his wellies better but was afraid of running out of yarn. As it was, there wasn't much left over when I'd finished.

These socks have their own little special trademark; they look as though they've been knitted specially for an elf with very pointy feet. Towards the end of the toe I didn't stop putting in the knit rounds between the decrease ones. Of course, this made them long and pointy. Still, if a sock was too perfect you probably wouldn't believe I'd knitted it myself. (Speaking of perfect socks, just look at these - scroll down to post dated 29th August).

News on the Edwardian Lace Shawl next week.

2006-09-05T08:39:00.000-07:00

If the Sock Fits

Remember those terribly bright socks I was knitting? Well, here they are - finished! As you may be aware, I do have ghastly trouble knitting a sock that fits. The last pair was so tight they were actually painful, but I persevered and wore them through the pain, and they now fit, although I practically have to shoehorn them on. Anyway, the point is, this latest pair fits like a glove, um, like a sock (should).

I just cast on 56 stitches on 2.5mm needles and knitted the whole thing in stocking stitch, instead of all those fancy-pants patterns I've been doing lately. I knitted an extra four rows of heel flap to give a little extra around the instep but I think these would have fitted anyway. They're quite stretchy.

I really like the Lana Grossa yarn I used and am even coming to terms with the colourway. The yarn itself knits into a very soft and light sock and is very easy to knit with. Perhaps you can tell how much I like these socks - I've added too many gratuitous sock photos. I'm also half way through a pair for Charles, using the leftovers (wellie socks). By the way, the one at the top isn't me in my nightie. It's a black net skirt I'd worn that day and it has a cream underskirt, which is showing through quite boldly, due to the flash. I took the photo in the dark, not being terribly organised.

The other thing is, I've started a new blog, The Fitter Princess and the Pea, owing much to how fat I am and how unfit I suddenly am. I'm hoping it will motivate me. Really, I'm just copying Dipping My Toes Back in the Water, who has done the same thing. That's a funny blog, by the way. Give it a visit if you can. And it's got great music on it, too.

Oh, and by the way, you might like to check out this shop I came across, Foreign Strand. It stocks some yarns I've heard mentioned but not seen available to buy in the UK.

2006-08-31T08:18:00.000-07:00

Eye Candy Friday and Crawling Up that Hill

The above gladiola was rescued from the garden after the heavy rain snapped the stem. I find I enjoy them so much more on my kitchen windowsill, anyway. I didn't realise I liked gladioli so much.

Thank you all so much for your encouraging remarks about my paintings. I really do appreciate all the comments and I will certainly take it up again one day when I have a little more time to dedicate to it.

I haven't posted for a week because I just have not had the energy. That is very, very unlike me. I never feel lacking in energy but since having the most horrid earache two weeks ago I feel about ninety. Sore throat every day, and tender skin. I bloody hate it, as everything feels such an effort. I want to feel like I usually do. And it's not even flipping winter yet. I feel like I'll never be healthy again. I will stop whining now.....

The Debbie Bliss and KSH above were obtained by selling some Louisa Harding blue Kimono Angora and Kimono Ribbon on eBay. Thank heavens I got rid of that stuff. It might look and feel nice but it's evil. The angora leaves bits of fibre EVERYWHERE and makes my nose and eyes irritated and the ribbon is too bright and too hard and scratchy. Don't like it. I don't know what I'll do with the Debbie Bliss yet, but at a bit over £1 per ball, it doesn't matter too much. The KSH in "Swish" will be another lace shawl but don't know which yet.

I've knitted ten repeats of the Edwardian shawl so far, which isn't many, but there are times it irritates me silly and I reach for something else, usually a plain stocking stitch sock that I can knit mindlessly and without looking. At this rate the shawl will be finished just in time for the start of spring 2007. That's no good. I have to order some more KSH soon, for presents for my mum and my sister.

The cardigan I'm knitting in the Balmoral (texere) is called Willow and it's from the Louisa Harding Design Collection. So far I've completed the back and am two thirds of the way through the left front. Could this be the garment that fits me? If so it will be an almost miracle, due to the fact that the weight of the yarn is way off the pattern requirement and so is my tension. We'll see. I don't pick this WIP up very often as the loops in the yarn are "catchy" and I have to be in the mood. And I'm wondering how I'm even going to see these loopy stitches when it comes to picking up millions of them to knit the neck edging and the button bands. Lucky for me tasks usually turn out easier than I expect them to be. That's Willow, below. Take it from One Who Knows....it will be merely a shadow of that image. Hehe.

And finally, my haircut (sorry-photo was taken "Through a Glass, Darkly"). I will not fail to have my hair done by Ozzie at Sanrizz when I want. Even if it means taking drastic action to get the money (!). He listens, he's courteous and friendly and he's great at cutting hair. He's better than any other hairdresser I've tried (loads). My last hairdresser is now London Hairdresser of the Year but he never listened to a word I said. Titles sometimes just don't count (or the money they charge-over £100 in that case).

I hope I haven't posted too many photos for your computers. Please tell me if it's making things slow. I got carried away. Also, I must in future give some thought to the content of my posts and not just type a stream of thought.

BTW. I just looked at this photo again and it's even worse than I thought. I took it through an old Art Deco mirror the in-laws gave to us. It's really beautiful but it's in four square pieces with pale pink and green glass strips down each side. Where the square bits meet in the middle they've distorted the image and chopped the back of my head off. Haha. But it's worth the distortions. I love that mirror (and the in-laws).

2006-08-24T23:54:00.000-07:00

ECF and Things Once (well, almost) Forgotten

I came across "Piece of Beauty" blog, the other day. In it was mentioned the Rowan Tree, or Mountain Ash. We have a large and beautiful Mountain Ash in our garden, and though I'd admired it through the seasons for at least six years, I had no idea that it's also know as a Rowan Tree. Of course, I've heard of the Rowan Tree, I just didn't realise it's another name for the Mountain Ash. Now, I thought I knew what a Rowan Tree looked like............One of the first houses I bought was situated alongside a canal and this canal was (of course) lined with various shrubs and trees. One day (one day of many, in those times) I was extremely bored and decided to give watercolour painting a go, and, as there were plenty of willing and patient subjects lined up along the towpath, I brought a random twig into the house and began (see below).

As I didn't do "art" at school (I did pottery and batik and drama and biology and theatre arts and sociology and Eng lit and pure and applied maths, but not painting) I was very pleased with the way it turned out and rushed out to buy a set of Winsor and Newton paints, set in a delightful metal paintbox, and painted every Sunday.

I wanted to move on to Other Things, like landscapes and interiors and catching the light a certain way - that kind of thing. But I really didn't know where to begin and, more to the point, I was too scared of not being Good Enough (Sarah......that's the self-defeat I mentioned). So I stopped. And I have regretted it ever since.

I'm irritated by my failure to pursue something I might have been good at and this is one thing in a list of activities that have gone the same way. I remember dragging a 10kg bag of clay home from a local art centre. I really did drag it. I only weighed about 7st at the time, if that! But when I got it home, I lacked motivation and inspiration and I think it's because I wanted to go straight in there and be fantastic and I knew that wasn't possible, so I couldn't be bothered.

What has this got to do with the Rowan Tree? See the second painting down? Someone once looked at it and said "oh, a Rowan Tree". So I always thought it really was a Rowan Tree, after all, why would I question it? And sixteen years later I find out that it wasn't a Rowan tree at all (the leaves were a glossy, deep green and not in clusters, as a Rowan's are), and it doesn't matter .....but what is interesting is that it brought to mind these paintings and a time gone by, and also a reminder that I can do more than I think I can. And that whatever I can paint or knit or cook or whatever, it's a gift, and something to be thankful for; not something to resent, just because someone else can do it better. There will always be others who can do it better and, these days, I can look at them as inspiration, and take pleasure from their achievements. I must have grown up a bit.

And my paintbox....I left it behind in 1999, when I left my evil partner in a hurry, before he came home and stopped me. He'd put my paintbox in a beautiful hand-carved closet he kept in a corner of the room, locked (I never knew what was in there).

I was planning to show you my WIPs and some yarn I acquired as a result of selling some. I will show those next week. I'm off to Mayfair to get my hair cut tomorrow, at Sanrizz, where I always used to go. My beautiful almost-mother-in-law-and-friend has insisted on paying. I think she's horrified that I've been cutting my own hair for a year and a half. I'm quite excited as I haven't been to London in ages and it's nice to visit every now and again.

BTW. You might have noticed that my surname is Keen on some of the paintings and Plumridge on others. That's because I used to be married.

2006-08-21T07:04:00.000-07:00

Progress on Lace Shawl

Having ordered the Edwardian Lace Shawl pattern on a spur-of-the-moment whim (mostly due to my current love-affair with KSH), I then felt a little anxious that it would be beyond my knitting capabilities. I needn't have worried, as I soon found there were no borders to be knitted separately and then grafted on, or anything yuk like that. However, it did require a provisional cast on, which I'd been avoiding for ages, by ignoring any pattern that needed one. Again, I needn't have avoided these provisional cast ons, as there is nothing complicated about them at all (well, not the way I did it, anyway). So, having joined in my KSH, I got down to it. At row five I found there were more stitches left than there should be, at the end of the row. I checked and checked again, and just couldn't find where I'd made the error. Started unknitting it stitch by stitch, messed up, and frogged the lot. It's not that easy undoing lace knitted in black sticky KSH, I can tell you (although I'm quite good at it now). Started again, got to row five and found the same problem again. At this point I was suspicious that there was a problem with the pattern. Never mind, Heirloom Knitting told me what the row should read and I carried on. Then I did my maths for rows 7, 9 and 11 and found they were incorrect, too. Of course, H.K. gave me the correct instructions again and I carried on. Only to find that the corrected instructions for one of the rows was.......incorrect. Heirloom Knitting were very helpful and quite apologetic but it did make my first proper lace-knitting much trickier. I must add that Sharon at HK was very helpful with advice about picking up stitches from the provisional cast-on, as well. The company does offer support with knitting up their patterns.

Anyway, the pattern is very easy - I've come to realise that it's not knitting lace that's difficult - it's just making sure you don't mess up your rhythm half way through a row and miss out a YO or a K2tog or a Sl1 K2tog psso etc.etc. That's the only difficult bit - not going wrong! I'm counting every stitch after knitting every single row, as it's best to find any errors immediately. There have been hardly any and I've completed seven pattern repeats now.

After knitting fourteen repeats I have to pick up the stitches from the provisional cast on and start again for the other half of the shawl. I will practise that on some scrap yarn first, to make sure I'm picking up the correct loops. Imagine if it all went wrong at that stage. Shudder.........

I'm hoping this will be a nice big shawl. It should be about 72" by 19". I think mine might be even larger than that. We'll see. I'll let you know how it goes on.

2006-08-18T05:05:00.000-07:00

Life is Sweet

They told you life is long
Be thankful when it's done
Don't ask for more
You should be grateful
But I tell you life is short
Be thankful because before you know

It will be over
Cause life is sweet
And life is also very short
Your life is sweet

Who do you believe?

Who will you listen to

Who will it be?

Eye Candy Friday......The above lyrics to Life is Sweet, by Natalie Merchant are eye candy to me. Very simple, but so true (and it doesn't do any harm to sometimes have a reminder). And the melody is beautiful.

Progress on the Edwardian Lace Shawl is coming soon (but don't expect miles of it).

2006-08-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Little Things

Is the above yarn the most horrid ever? I just can't make my mind up. Anyway, putting that aside, this is one of my easy projects that I can do without having to give my all. The socks will be an ordinary woven stitch, although you can't see that, as the colours are so in your face. I don't think it's just that the combinations of colours are odd, it's the fact that the colours change every couple of stitches and this creates a very busy and overpowering effect. I had some Koigu like that but it wasn't such a problem as the colours were nicer. On the plus side, the yarn is very, very soft (it's Lana Grossa).

The socks in the photos above and below are the Bluebell Rib socks. The ones that took at least ten attempts (with various patterns, needles and stitch-counts). They are very pretty but I've knitted them too small (jinxed from the start?) and so they've not only made my finger numb (it's still slightly numb and that was about six weeks/two months ago) but if I wear them they actually make my feet ache, they're so tight. I've come to the conclusion that the problem is that my ankles are skinnier than the rest of the foot. If I knit the sock to fit the foot comfortably, I get bagginess around the ankle. I read that, in that case, a longer heel flap should do the trick, which I'd been suspecting. Has anyone else had this problem?

The photo below is of Charles in his hat. I had a spare ball of Cashsoft DK and knitted this Odessa the other evening. So satisfying and so lovely and easy. The hardest part was trying to take a photo of a two and a half year old dashing about like a, well, two and a half year old. I tried bribing him but it didn't work. He will wear this hat on our many walks in the woods.

I keep forgetting to mention that one of the first sort-of sentences Charles came out with was "knit. my. sock" in a quite menacing way. He was trying to say he didn't need my interference with his game at that point in time, and that I should just go and knit. I nearly fell over, I was so proud of him and also the fact that he recognised I knitted his socks! That was some time ago. He's a real chatterbox now and makes up the most funny and amusing tall stories. If I think back to six weeks ago, he hardly spoke at all, I mean he had quite a large vocabulary but didn't string anything together.

Now I'm on a roll, I'll tell you about his potty-training. He did it - in one day. Honestly. I'd been putting it off as I didn't want to do it too early, so we'd have less of a risk of him feeling like he'd "failed". And also because I just wasn't looking forward to it. One Monday morning I showed him the potty and the pants and explained the game-plan and he just did it. We had one accident immediately after and then......potty-trained. I still can't get over it. I guess he was just ready.

Got to go. Charlie's waving a parsnip at me from the kitchen and saying "I want dinner. Help me, Mummy". It's too early for dinner. And so arises another series of negotiations......

I've started on the Edwardian Lace thingie and am two pattern-repeats in, with another twenty six to do! Will post all about it in the next few days.

2006-08-11T04:13:00.000-07:00

Eye Candy Friday

2006-08-09T04:12:00.000-07:00

Winter Companion

A few days ago I asked Rebecca if her Kidsilk Haze shawl was warm (you know, worth all that effort). I mean, this yarn is so light it's almost not there. Now, that was before I finished my Winter Companion. In retrospect I have to say - what a silly question! There cannot be a better yarn from which to knit a shawl. It's very light, yes, but each stitch is surrounded by a haze, which of course is what catches your body warmth and holds it there on the surface of the skin. Of course, that's exactly why it's called Kidsilk Haze. Duh. But I'd never knitted with it before and now I feel I may be facing some kind of addiction. Like crack cocaine. One hit and you're lost. Crack yarn, that's what this is. Oh, and by the way, it really doesn't moult too much at all.

I'm sure most of you must have given this yarn a go, but if you haven't, do.....please! I was eyeing all those beautiful lacy shawls and thinking.....well, yeah - absolutely stunning but how useful, honestly? I like my knitting to look nice but be useful. And so arose my question to Rebecca, as I said. As soon as I realised just how wide this scarf is, I flung it over my shoulders and came face to face with the revelation of just how warm and light a garment can be at once. In fact, this morning I made breakfast with it around my shoulders like a shawl, with none of the ends sewn in. I never want to let it go.

As you can see, this is a very plain knit. That's fine as I won't be tempted to treat it too much with kid gloves (no pun intended). But now I've discovered the delights of KSH and the raptures it sends me into, I want more and I want fancy. How about this Edwardian Lace Shawl? I ordered the pattern this morning and, as it only takes three balls, it won't bankrupt me. It's going to be in black.

I sound as though I think it's a straightforward thing, knitting this flibbertygibbet. But I don't know if I'm up to it and it may be beyond me. Or.............I know I will rise to the challenge and learn any new skills I need to complete the task. There, that's better. The power of positive thinking.

2006-08-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

This is a First

No photos today, I'm afraid - for the first time ever. And not much to report, either. I've been knitting my scarf every day, but only a little, so it's growing quite slowly, although it has turned into a two-skein scarf and I'm about two thirds of the way through the second one. It's going to be a lanky scarf. No, not lanky. To describe it as lanky would be to imply that it's long and skinny, but it's about 26 inches wide. Well, 26 inches at one end and the other tapers in a bit due to my dodgy tension. I tell you, I have plans for this baby. This is no ordinary scarf. This is the winter companion to the Knitting Princess and her niggly little peas, (you know, all those things in life that must be just so, otherwise a major tantrum is in order: coffee must be less than one week old and kept in the freezer, ear plugs at night ALWAYS, bottom sheet on bed must be smooth or else, spoons must be the right way up on the draining board, crikey I'll stop there. I'd like to point out I'm not OC with the housework. Sometimes wish I was, then my house might be free of dust and cobwebs). Back to the scarf. A scarf for all occasions. It's going to be fluffy and light and warm and glam and cosy and casual and smart and anything else that might be required of it. It's not fancy but I can see I'll like it. There you are.

I found this article on the net today and I identified with the author in some ways. I'm not saying I'm an all-out introvert , but generally I am. When it comes to socialising at all, I am. It was quite a relief to read, actually. You may have read a post of mine from a few weeks back, where I said I wasn't that keen on having too many friends or socialising etc. etc........ and I felt quite horrid admitting to this aspect of my personality. But now I think maybe I'm not that horrid and selfish - I just don't enjoy certain aspects of umm....socialising. Not sure if there might be a better word for it. Anyway, you see what I'm getting at. Maybe others see some of themselves in it, too. Or maybe you're all out and out extroverts, like half of my family!

Right. Got to go before I am no longer able to resist posting a photo that's completely unrelated to anything.

2006-08-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Eye Candy Friday

Mmmmm, my favourite. I usually take my fresh coffee black, no sugar - and STRONG. But the truth is, I prefer it with cream. Not too much, though - and I'm serious.....it must be strong enough to balance the creaminess. Strong and creamy. Oooooh........ I could give up anything - except for my coffee in the morning.

2006-07-30T05:30:00.000-07:00

Addi Turbo and Kidsilk Daze

I bought some more yarn from Texere, seeing as the first lot (Storm) worked out so well for the Glamour Cape. This is Balmoral, "a mohair and wool loop with a nylon binder". It's a lot softer than Storm but not that soft. In fact, amongst the relative softness are some quite prickly sticky-out bits that feel soft to the touch but nevertheless have the ability to poke mercilessly through clothes and irritate. Listen, I wouldn't be buying this stuff if I wasn't feeling so skint. But it's okay, there's a certain pleasure to be found in spending small amounts when I'd usually spend much more. I'm calling it being extra creative. Anyway, I'm making a long cardigan with a belt, from the Louisa Harding Design Collection. It's supposed to be knitted in a completely and utterly different type of yarn altogether but there you are. It will either work out or it won't and since I love knitting it doesn't matter too much as I'm still enjoying the process. Surely it's got to turn out better than Celandine, the Terrible Tank Top which turned out more like a fluffy maternity top, even with the ribbon I threaded through.

I really like the colours of this yarn and the fact that the little loops catch on my needles all the time doesn't really matter, as I rarely knit without looking anyway. I'm not like Kendra, reading - reading, I said - whilst knitting, for goodness' sake.

Also on the needles is the Kidsilk Haze I bought a while ago. Yes, yes, I know. I was supposed to make the Mrs Beetons with it but I spotted a beautiful scarf on Tusa's blog (thanks, Tusa!) and had to drop everything else and make it with some urgency. But honestly, inexplicably I now feel like I would feel if I'd just admitted to eating all the Easter eggs I bought to give as gifts. That has happened in the past.

Thing is, I've never knitted with Kidsilk Haze before (oh, actually this is the Spray version - what's the difference?) but it's gorgeous, gorgeous angel breath. The tricky thing is I'm using the Addi turbo circulars (metal ones) in 8mm x 40cm and they are as slippery as eels, especially with this yarn. A couple of times I've dropped a needle and it's just fallen right out of every stitch, which is plain scary I tell you. I detest these needles but I had no other option. I would only ever choose to use these horrid things if I was using a really stiff yarn, like Storm (wish I'd had a pair in the right size when I was knitting the cape). Anyway, I can't wait to finish the scarf - it's floaty and diaphanous and I've threaded a few beads on, as suggested by Tusa. Fantastic. Can't wait.

I'd really like to make this next but I'd like the yarn suggested in the pattern and it's quite expensive. But isn't the pullover great?

2006-07-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Another WIP Crossed Off the List

Having started the Noro Daria belt months ago, I have now finished it. The Daria was beautiful but tough to knit with, as I was keeping the tension tight, not wanting too loose a stitch (should have used smaller needles, probably). Due to its composition this yarn (if you can call it that) is quite stiff and springy. For instance, once it's been wound into a ball the ball will readily unwind itself unless you keep it in a bowl of some kind in order to restrain it. But it's pretty - it has a luminous lustre about it. I like it.

The finished belt is quite stretchy but firm - it's just perfect to wear with anything, really (anything in the right colour, anyway). I massacred an old denim belt for the buckle and it's just perfect, which is handy as I couldn't find the right sort of buckle online (not under about £15, at least).

The stitch is linen stitch, on 5mm needles with nineteen stitches cast-on. At the tapered end I just changed to garter stitch and started knitting the three middle stitches together every row and that gave it its tapered shape. I used exactly two skeins of Daria. I'll definitely be wearing this belt.

By the way, thanks to you all for the kind comments on my cape. It's really fantastic to recieve feedback on completed items, isn't it? I appreciate it.

2006-07-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

My New Best Friend

So, my new best friend the Glamour Cape is finished and I'm so pleased with it I almost wish the winter was here already. This was a really quick knit, even knitting with the Yarn of the Evil One. Started last Friday and finished today (Wednesday). Well, actually finished last night, but then it had to be washed, blocked and dried, and the button and loop sewn on. Honestly I couldn't be more pleased with this garment and will certainly wear it. There were moments when I wondered if it would be okay, from the Evil Yarn point of view - the fit wasn't really an issue as I put the stitches onto scrap yarn and tried it on several times, then made adjustments to the increases along the way. The only question in my mind was whether the yarn would soften up enough once washed and whether it would survive being hand-washed by ME. It was easy, after all. Just dunked it in washing powder a bit, rinsed it a few times, the last with softener and then squeezed the water out carefully and laid it on a towel in the garden to dry (with much fussing over the shape and dimensions every thirty seconds or so).

I made my own fastening with an old button and loop. The loop was simply two strands of yarn twisted round and then folded so they twisted round each other again, then sewn into place. I added a six-row garter edge along the bottom to try and curtail any curling. The yarn used was not the weight the pattern recommended so I had to adjust the number of stitches to take that into account. Also, I'll be adding a popper about six inches under the button so that it stays together at the top (it doesn't in the pattern's photo - it's supposed to peep open but I'd prefer not). All in all I'm pleased with myself. It cost £4.80 (I only used two and a half cones of yarn). I could really see Joanna in this cape.

Of course, I nearly did myself some damage taking the photos outside in thirty six degrees heat and wearing a bikini, a vest top, a polo neck jumper, a pair of jeans, a hat of sorts, and the cape. That's why the photos aren't fantastic.

You know what? I might make another one in the cream version of the yarn, well, for a fiver.............

Pattern: Glamour Cape from Stitch Diva
Yarn: Storm in Jade from Texere
Needles: Circular 5mm x 80cm (instead of 5.5mm)

2006-07-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

Friend or Foe?

Having decided to go ahead and get started on the Glamour Cape, I ordered 960m of yarn ("Storm" in the jade colourway) from Texere, at the bargain price of £1.90 per 240m. I am a little suspicious of anything being sold at "bargain" prices, as it's normally a false economy, the truth being, sadly, that you get what you pay for. That's why I normally prefer to spend huge amounts on Noro and the like. I know what I'm getting and I like it.

So, my bargain yarn arrives and I rip open the package to be greeted by the first warning sign - the smell, a sort of woolly smell, but more like wool mixed with some kind of chemical. Then, I touch it and it feels like I could knit a lovely mat with it. A really tough sort of mat. True, the colour is lovely, much more green than these photos suggest, and there are flecks of all colours running through it, together with a thread of black which is twisted along the whole length of the yarn. Dismayed but not deterred I wondered if washing it might disguise the smell and soften it up and a quick dunk in Fairy Bio and Comfort really did perform an almost-miracle. The test swatch came out feeling soft and pliable, smelling completely divine and looking fluffy like a dog that's just had its annual shampoo.

Nevertheless each row is now 330 stitches and rising by 30 more every fourth row, and this yarn (still in its disgusting, smelly, mat-like state) is killing my fingers. No kidding, it's hard work and now I know what people mean when they say "oh, this yarn, it knits itself", or "it feels like butter". Because that's what I've always knitted with before and never appreciated. I can put up with this as long as the finished item is wearable. But can my washing and blocking skills manage such a heavy and large garment (without completely ruining it)?

The pattern is so easy - I was mistaken in thinking I'd need assistance. And I've knitted my first hem with three needles. Oh boy, that was so satisfying I want to do it again. It remains to be seen whether the cape will ever fit, due to having hardly stuck to the pattern where numbers of stitches are concerned. But we'll see. I'll show you the finished article however it turns out. One thing is for certain: if it turns out well it will have been such a bargain at less than £8.00!

Added a few hours later: How could I have been so rude as to forget to thank you all for your much-appreciateed comments on Ella? Thanks to everyone!

2006-07-12T06:53:00.000-07:00

Ella 3!

First - I must make better preparations for my photos in future. I was wearing my workout gear and trainers (trainers) and left all the washing on the line etc. etc.

Need I say it - Ella 3 is finished. I knitted this one in a heavier yarn, still Lorna's Laces, but Swirl DK (Black Purl) as opposed to Shepherd Sport. I kept the needle size the same (6mm) and it has turned out a little heavier, which is what I wanted. The Shepherd Sport versions are perfect for slightly warmer weather, but this one will be a bit cosier when the cooler weather is back with us. All along I wasn't sure about the Swirl DK or the colourway I chose, but now I'm sure I really like it. I think my reticence was due, in part, to Black Purl being a more subdued choice than I'd usually make (that old magpie rearing its head again). I blocked this Ella in the same way as I did the others - spraying liberally with water, and stretching it in all directions whilst ironing it on the hottest setting. Fierce. As Swirl DK is wool and silk I knitted a swatch and ironed that to death first. Of course.

I couldn't resist posting the only photo I took on my bike ride tonight. How much do I love cycling? Lots. I always used to do the London to Brighton (About 55 miles) every June and I still can't just take a leisurely ride. Sure, a large part of my enjoyment is derived from taking in the scenery (good for the spirit) , but I love the feeling of exerting myself and the physical and mental buzz it gives me. Don't get me wrong, it's not that frequently I cycle these days but it is without doubt one of my favourite ways to pass the time.

Pics soon, of the yarn for the cape. I may need to ask you all for advice, as I don't think I understand the pattern in parts.

2006-07-07T03:49:00.000-07:00

Orangina (in a belated sort of way)

I have been meaning to post a photo of Orangina since April - I just didn't get round to it. And now that I have, I post a photo of myself with wet hair and looking as though I haven't slept for more than a week (actually that could be true. I am apalling at sleeping and just never got the knack of it). Also, I ought to take this opportunity to tell you that the reason I'm never smiling in my photos is due to the fact that I always use the timer thing and it just feels and looks too contrived to stand there grinning at nothing in particular. I've tried grinning in Charlie's direction in the past but that didn't work, either. Still too manufactured.

Undeniably, this second photo is a bit rubbish. I was trying to show the shape of the scalloped boat neck but didn't succeed.

I might knit another Orangina, now I've got the hang of the lacy stitches. I love the cotton (it was the Jaeger Siena ) - the texture is so firm and it has a lovely sheen. I refuse (mostly) to wear anything I can't bung in the machine to wash and this said "handwash". Needless to say, I bunged it into the machine anyway. And stretched it like hell to try and block it back into shape. It's a bit shorter than it was when it started out, which is a pain as it now sits right on my fat hips. Do not say my hips aren't fat - I angled my stance to conceal the fact.

I've got my eye on this nifty little number, as well. Much preferring winter clothes over summer, I can really see myself in this as soon as the weather turns.

I'm still not knitting at all and the feeling is slowly coming back. Once it's back completely, I'll carry on and sod the numbness. Once I know for absolutely sure it's the knitting that caused it in the first place. But this has left me free to do more reading. Fiona reminded me recently of a book by Jeannette Winterson that I really enjoyed. I went looking for it and realised I have everything but that one (having left that one behind when I left a relationship in a real hurry seven years ago). I've got it back now, following an audacious eBay session (managed to get hold of another book I'd been searching for - Nigel Watts "We All Live in a House Called Innocence"). I won't attempt a review as it's beyond my capabilities, I'm afraid. But when you're reading Ms Winterson it's nice if you can spare the time for a little contemplation, which is where the non-knitting comes into it.

2006-07-05T06:35:00.000-07:00

It's All Me, Me, Me (and no knitting)

Due to the fact that I have now convinced myself that I'm suffering from MS or tumours in the neck, or possibly both, I have to stop knitting and let the feeling come back to my finger, so I can prove I'm wrong! You may be laughing but I have suffered from at least five life-threatening diseases so far this year (only in my mind, of course) and I know what a negative effect this has on the body; it may one day become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because I'm an all-or-nothing sort of person and because I know the importance of good nutrition and a healthy, balanced lifestyle, and because I know I haven't been leading a healthy, balanced lifestyle, I am now paranoid that I may drop dead in the near future. I take after my dad. Lucky for me I haven't inherited the tendency to suffer from the severe depression that has been upon him sporadically for much of his life (or if I do, it's certainly not as deep). I can't believe that until a couple of months ago, it had been a year and a half since my last visit to the long-suffering doc's.

I like to think sensitive and serious people are more interesting.

What I meant to say instead of all of the above is I have found other things to do - non knitting things. Honestly, I think the physical act of knitting and the almost-obsession with it, which I suffered from for about two months this year (February and March and possibly April), are bad for me. Yes, it's great for a person to have a hobby or interest, but not an all-consuming one which seems to involve a lot of sitting on the sofa with my knitting and yearning for things I can't afford. Having said that, I'm not giving up the old clicketyclickclick anytime soon.

The blogging, however, is good for me and has really opened up my world. I prefer to live a life with few friends and a few more acquaintances. It suits me fine - I've never felt the need to keep in touch with everyone I've ever met through various stages of my life. The people I keep in touch with are special to me. I have probably made one new genuine friend in the last few years. But most people are just passing through and the friendships, transient (my choice). Because unless the bond is stong enough, I just drift away. But it is great, finding a person you actually want to be closer to. Unless you're my sister and you collect friends like charms on a bracelet, and then it's commonplace. But I digress again. Simply, I intended to say that I like this blogging thing and it seems there's a whole bunch of people out there that I'm genuinely glad to "know". Thank you all for "sharing" (yuk expression) and also for appearing to take an interest in whatever I'm rambling on about. But now you're probably thinking I'm horrid and self-absorbed. Sometimes it's difficult to explain myself in writing. Oh, Jeannette Winterson, how do you manage it so well?

Today I have done my Davina workout. It's a killer. Davina may shout a lot but she does a bloomin' good workout. I have listened to Vaughan Williams (mesmerising), Sinead O'Connor (what?!), Fairground Attraction (!), Marian McPartland (more like it) and Charles and I have danced a lot. What are those things called that you hang skirts by (tags?). I've sewn some of them into my skirts and I have made carrot, orange and coconut soup for lunch.

Now I have told you too much about ME but will stop at which pants I'm wearing. I should like to think that if I met any of you in person, it wouldn't all be me me me. Blogs are very efficient instruments for appearing to inflate the old ego (or even for creating alternative versions).

Maybe we'll get some hard cash soon. One of our bands (I mean one of Nick's bands) has been entered for the Mercury Music prize and it would be great if they were shortlisted. This is a man who is truly creative and talented. Check him out if you like . The album has very many great reviews and will be featured on a Mojo CD soon. http://www.sweetbillypilgrim.com/video.html

By the way, the above photos (except for the one of Charles, looking out at the pouring rain)were intended to remind you of the weather of just a couple of days ago. It's too gloomy to take a photo of Ella3 progress.

Even if you're not really interested in sewing, check out this one-seam convertible dress (scroll down a bit to see it - it's the blue one). How versatile is that? I bet you could even make it with a slightly lower waist if you wanted.

2006-07-01T00:16:00.000-07:00

Losing Myself to Knitting

Thank you for all the comments on the skirt post. I loved reading them....

The above photo was intended as a decoy to detract your attention from the fact that I'm still posting photos of the pink socks. I planted that lavatera last July and it's now eight or nine feet high.

Losing myself? Well, not losing myself exactly, but completely losing all sensation in the top third of my finger (you know, the one your betrothed adorns with gold/diamonds). Seriously - I was working on the pink sock (sorry, you must be sick of photos of that sock) on Wednesday evening and not for long, either - and when I put the knitting down immediately noticed that my finger felt numb. Suffering from Reynard's (where the tips of your fingers and whole toes go completely white and numb due to something to do with blood circulation - it looks so weird when it happens), I didn't pay much attention, although the Reynard's usually wouldn't happen in the summer. An hour later I realised that there was no change, and on investigation I saw it was looking normal ie. still healthy pink. Weird, I thought. Must be a nerve thing instead. Well, two/three days later and it's still numb. It seems I've been curling it round the tiny 2mm needle as I knit and just knitting through the discomfort it causes, but why has it never happened before? How odd. I won't pay much attention to it unless my whole arm follows suit! Cripes.

Although I've knitted a bit of the foot on my notorious false-start pink socks, I still have quite a way to go but they should be finished next week. And I have been working on Ella but can't feel inspired about it, as it's too hot to think of shawls. Still have my eye on the beautiful Lady Eleanor but I just can't scrape together the money for the yarn (oh, poor me. But I do have flapjacks in my biscuit tin.) I forgot to mention on my skirt post that none of the skirts I made cost more than about £8.00. Isn't that just fab?

Here's something else I sewed last year, I think. Before the knitting took over. It's made in a lovely fine and stretchy jersey and is reversible (black on the inside). Very comfy and easy to wear.

I have sewn up quite a few items, even a lined jacket. But the funny thing is that in twenty years I've never made a buttonhole until now (it was easy). I wonder if I was subconsciously choosing garments without buttons. I don't know, but I certainly wasn't conscious of it.

Guess what! I have baked something delicious. It's a first. I can't do baking - for the same reason that I often ruin meat. I can't tell when it's cooked so I always leave it in a bit longer just to make sure and then end up with crispy offerings. Not this time. Jane Brocket's flapjacks did the trick and they are too delicious, although very, very sweet, which we're not very used to. Charlie won't eat them at all due to the sweetness (he is allowed sweet things sometimes but seems to prefer dried fruit or yukky healthy biscuits). I suppose I should be pleased Charles turns his nose up at them but I would have liked a family-consuming-home-baked-goods moment. This afternoon I'll bake some more of the healthy walnut things and some Toddler Borscht. Charlie's glands have been up for two weeks and he needs blood tests if they're still up in another three so I'm trying to boost his immune system.

I apologise for this convoluted post (no, that' the wrong word), ummmm, I'm trying to say that I realise this post is a bit disjointed, skipping from one subject to another. Maybe it's because I normally write my posts in the evening, as opposed to 8 in the morning.

More strong coffee.

Later on (well, the following day)..........I made some more of the putrid honey/walnut etc biscuits and they're delicious. I was correct in thinking it was the bitter honey that ruined them. Yeah, my baking is slightly improving (even baked another batch of flapjacks at 11pm yesterday, to give to the neighbours and the in-laws).

And since I adore those flapjacks I worked out how many calories/fat are in them (each one being one sixteenth of the whole). It's about 180cals and 10g fat. I'm not obsessed but I do like to know just how bad or good something is before I eat ten pieces!

2006-06-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

Audrey Hepburn vs. Cyndi Lauper

I haven't done much blogging at all lately, as I've been busy doing other things. Like baking things containing nuts, in an effort to make sure Charles gets at least a small amount of essential fats inside him, as he refuses fish no matter how it's disguised and I consider him too young to be eating whole nuts. It has worked too well. The biscuits, which contained walnuts, heather honey, wholemeal flour and walnut oil, were bitter (due to the type of honey we used, which had a bitter after-taste) so Charles has realised he has them all to himself and eaten four today.

Self-evident is the sewing.......

The bustle skirt! The pattern arrived beautifully packaged and was a work of art in itself, hand-drawn on heavy paper and adorned with the beautiful Miss Twiss motif! I couldn't wait to get started. Once I have an impulse to do something it must be commenced forthwith! So, on Saturday evening I made the green one with the most yuk fabric you would never, ever choose. I've had it years and heaven knows why I bought it in the first place and only used it on this occasion as I wanted to make sure I was making the right size and it was going to look ok. Oddly, once it was made I loved it in all its putrid glory and have worn it non-stop ever since. This is a very simple but clever sewing pattern. In actual fact, one size really does fit all - you just adjust it by way of the positioning of the holes where the tie is threaded through to gather the fabric. No zips, no buttons, no interfacing - nothing. Love it. So much that I went to get fabric for three more and made the second one last night (Sunday). I fully intended to come back with something understated and chic. But due to something in my soul, a magpie deep inside, I did the same as always and bought two bundles of fancy taffeta (although I did buy a more reserved black and cream check as well, for winter). I've always wanted to project an Audrey Hepburn sort of image, you know - effortless and graceful. But somehow I'm drawn to styles that Cyndi Lauper would probably prefer (not that I'm a fan - not even in the 80's). Hmmmmmm. And I suspect that some of the time that is how I appear to others. Especially to my deeply chic 74 yr old mother-in-law (not that she minds. We are great friends).

I really like feminine clothes, stuff that's not very practical though. For instance I will wear the red/orange taffeta skirt shopping on a Friday afternoon and not care what anyone thinks. But don't think I never wear ordinary, dignified clothes. I do, but not without the effort of turning my back on all the fancy schmancy stuff.

But it's the same with wallpaper. I had to have raspberry matt paper adorned with proper gleaming gold flowers. And then had to paint the chimney breast gold. You know how it is..... But I know there is a chic, understated person waiting to make her presence known someday. But until that happens, it's the magpie in me that's winning!

I have done some knitting. I've turned the heels on the pink socks and am doing the gusset decreases. I'm making the black and white skirt this evening and then it will be back to the knitting (the brown embroidered taffeta can wait).

BTW As you can see, I did finish the black/cream skirt. And despite Blogger really messing about uploading photos - again.

2006-06-20T05:13:00.000-07:00

Impatience Is Not A Virtue

Oh, I'm bored and impatient.

Fed up with knitting these pink socks now. The yarn is so lovely; I really like the colours and the texture. But I've been knitting socks with it for about two weeks now and this is the furthest I've got. At last, I may have got the number of stitches, needle size and pattern right. Might have, although I have been mistaken in the (recent) past. We'll see. The pattern is Bluebell Rib from the Charlene Schurch book I've mentioned before.

The thing is, when I'm bored anything can happen. I might spend too much money, money I haven't got, or decide I should move hundreds of miles away, to somewhere new and exciting. Luckily I usually remember I'm thinking this way because I'm bored and not because I really want to leave my family and friends and the life we have here. I can chop all my hair off, or dye it nuclear red on the spur of the moment, like this:

That happened last June and stayed until November when I became bored again. Sorry, it's painful to see how the hair clashes with the cardi, I know.

But I have learnt to recognise the difference between boredom and a sudden flash of inspiration. Don't know why it's taken me so long. So, at present I'm a bit restless with my knitting projects. The same old socks. Dare I say it, Ella 3 as well. I'm just feeling restless, I know and there's no reason for it. I do want to wear the socks, the belt, the Ella 3 but the journey there is the same old, same old..... And I have chosen articles I enjoy knitting, so it's not that; it's something inside me.

I really want to start the Mrs Beeton's thingies (wristwarmers - that's the beads and stuff) but that way leads to heartache and piles more unfinished items. I WON'T DO IT. Petulantly I also declare - I WANT TO SEW THINGS. Things like this Bustle Skirt (pattern coming in post).

I will just have to keep this restlessness under control and buckle down, finish the belt, OH's socks, the Bluebell socks, the Ella 3 and then I can do WHATEVER I WANT.

Although, I have already cut Charlie's hair off. Quite a lot of it, all over.

BTW: Do not think, even for a second, that I have nothing to do around here. Looking after a toddler (entertaining a toddler), the house, staying sane - they all take up a lot of time. Oh, and selling everything I own on eBay so I can get a small yarn fix - that takes time.

2006-06-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Spur of the Moment Decisions

Remember the Fyberspates laceweight mohair? Remember the rash decision to make another Ella from it? And how stupid that was...... And do you remember how I decided to knit a jumper with it, on 3.25mm needles with millions of stitches and without a pattern (and probably nowhere near enough yarn, either)? Well, it's frogged. I had completed lots of rows but hadn't touched it for weeks/months. And then I required the needles to knit something else, so came about the frenzied frogging episode. Then I realised I have three pairs of the same 3.25mm needles. And the fabric I'd knitted - and then frogged - did look rather nice. Oh no! Another rash decision. I think I'm going to have to knit the whole thing again. Look, you can see the Fyberspates entrails hanging morbidly from the branch of the climbing rose........

I was thinking about impulsive decisions recently and realised that I have made more than my fair share, but that they are not always bad. For instance, the pussy cat below is Buddy. I made the decision to get a cat and brought him home the same evening! He was beautiful, inside and out. But he was of a daredevil persuasion and used to dash across the then-main road out the front (I lived nowhere near a road when I acquired him) to fight all the other cats. And one night, on returning from a blissful day by the sea, we found he'd been knocked down by a car and killed. Amazing how kind all our (then unknown) nieghbours were. They took care of him until he died a few minutes later and then covered him in a blanket so we wouldn't just find him. Oh dear - it was three years ago now and still brings tears. I was 14 weeks pregnant when Bud died and it was the same week my Dad had a stroke and my Grandma was diagnosed with a terminal illness. My Dad made a rather fast and miraculous full recovery. I still find it incredible how we think we might not cope with situations such as these but when it comes down to it there's an incredible inner calm and strength when it's needed. Or that's what I found in myself, anyway. But this post isn't meant to be my life-story!

And this little chappy......

We decided we might have a baby and he came about that exact day. Amazing! I must say it was a shock a couple of weeks later, to find our wishes granted so quickly, but he (of course) is just the best.

I won't mention decisions involving correspondence courses and a total of about £800. I'm sure I could think of lots of bad decisions made on impulse but I don't want you to harm yourselves rolling about on the floor laughing at me. So I'll wrap it up.

Knitting:

I have been getting on with Ella, no progress on my pink socks. Still haven't finished my Noro Daria belt. Or OH's socks. No money to make any purchases. Still waiting for our record company to make us millions.

Coffee time.

2006-06-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

All I have to Show

So this is how we get it to rain in this part of the world - we take delivery of a new paddling pool and the downpour starts a couple of hours later. Yesterday it was 32 degrees here. This evening it's freezing. I will bring Ella 2 out of hiding to keep me company this evening. Speaking of Ellas, I have managed a few rows of Ella 3 but just haven't felt much like it (or anything else except drinking beer, really) in the heat.

But you see the above several rows of ribbing? Well that is all I have to show for several days work (well, a few hours spread over several days, you understand). I cast-on my stitches and finished all the ribbing for two socks and a few repeats of the lace Oblique Openwork stitch but found the combination of the particular stitch and yarn quite uncomfortable to work with. I do think it makes sense to use a solid colour for lace anyway, so it doesn't really matter that the yarn isn't suited to lace on 2mm needles! So I frogged the embryo socks completely, although I suppose they were foetus socks (yuk, what a horrible analogy, since I wouldn't really have frogged a foetus-but let's get away from that). Started again with the ribbing and knitted a few repeats of the yarn-over cable, which, despite not being knit in a solid colour, looked rather smashing. Just to make sure of the size (it was alright the first time I tried) I threaded some waste-yarn through and tried on for size and "oh for bloody goodness' sake (or words to that effect)-what the bloody hell is going on" (rhetorical question aimed or not aimed at OH). They nearly cut off my blood supply. So they got frogged again. I have tentatively cast on the same number of stitches but on 2.5mm needles. I'm wondering if that will help with the size. One thing though, I've noticed that my lovely bamboo needles, the ones I usually use for socks, feel quite "sticky" compared with the metal ones, a thing I'd failed to notice before. Mmmmm, maybe I'll swap them all to the slick metal ones (only for socks, mind). Anyway, I might knit the whole sock in the 1 x 1 ribbing. I like the look of the stitches.

A note about the bed episode: it didn't really happen! We did get the fab bed for Charlie Townes but he admires it so much that he just gets on top of it (hasn't figured out the duvet yet, always had a grobag) and goes to sleep. Sometimes he does a couple of quick laps around the room first, but we haven't had any trouble at all. And in the morning I still get up before he does and we still drink our respective black coffee and warm-milk drinks and we still chat or sit in companionable silence. Great. I must say that so far Charles has gone through all the usual baby stages with grace and aplomb! We haven't hit the potty/toilet stuff yet so it could all change. And then there's nursery, big proper school and oh dear something is sure to crop up. But he's always been so easy-going, never needed a dummy or a fave toy to take everywhere. Cripes, lucky he's not too aloof for cuddles!

Right, off to get a small beer. To cheer me up in the rain, of course.

PS May I reassure those of you with concerns about my alcohol consumption that I have not had a hangover nor suffered from the ill-effects of drinking alcohol since new year's day 1994. (Not because I am now immune! But because I learned that drinking too much is bad for you). And the fact that my two-year-old says, "mamma-me- pub" is because we took him once so far to a country pub garden with a bouncy castle. Honestly. Not the Charles Bukowski life for me.

2006-06-08T00:16:00.000-07:00

More Socks and all This Lacy Goodness

So, I finished the lacy socks in the waterfall pattern and had some yarn left over so I knitted a little pair of socks for Charles. They only took a couple of days (needless to say I haven't even so much as glanced Ella's way) and were very satisfying as the yarn-over cable was so nice to knit - a four-row repeat and easy to remember. And I didn't even have to bribe him to wear them and they fit so perfectly.

I really enjoy these lacy patterns and am just starting another pair of socks for myself. It's Frankie's fault, really, as she pointed me in the direction of this place, and how could I resist? And now I have to use it for another pair of socks, this time with the oblique openwork stitch. I'm really having trouble getting my socks to come up at the right size (but I am fussy) as I keep changing the type of yarn and pattern and now needle size. I'm doing these on 2mm. Nice strong, pointy metal ones. I have learnt to keep trying on the sock as I go, threading the stitches onto waste yarn - it's the only way to be sure. But good news, I finally learnt the long-tail cast-on! Yippee. My old pc wouldn't play these videos and I had trouble learning this particular thing from a book. But now the knitting-technique-video world is my oyster. And I no longer cast-on twice the number of stitches and then do k2 tog all the way round (although I do really like the edge that makes).

Think of me this afternoon, as I have to go to Ikea at Milton Keynes to get a big blue funky bed for Charlie Townes. It's his first bed and I fear my life will never be quite the same again. Apart from the fact that I very much suspect that he wakes up at a ridiculously early hour of the morning and plays in his cot then goes to back to sleep, having got really bored waiting for me to appear, I will really, really miss going into his bedroom in the morning and taking him out of his cot and having a good cuddle and a chat. I look forward to that part of my day so much and Charles is such a jolly boy. Easy-going like his dad, not highly-strung like his Princess-and-the -Pea mum. I suppose once he is in a bed he'll already be up and about before I am. Cripes I might have to get up before 8 o clock if he hangs over the stairgate at his doorway, and shouts for me (there's no way I'd lock him into his room, as some people do. I'd rather stop him from getting into danger by putting a little gate at his door).

Don't they grow up fast? I'm dreading him learning to drive already. I used to be a driving instructor and it worries me sick how dangerous the roads are. But, as OH says, you can't let your fears rule your life.

I'm off for a good strong black fresh coffee (instant is not allowed in the vicinity of my house).

2006-06-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

A Case of The Emperor's New Clothes

My lace socks are finished and I enjoyed every minute (well, not quite, but I'll explain) and I realise more and more that I prefer to knit something quite patterned, quite lacy. It certainly makes things much more interesting, as opposed to knitting plain old stocking stitch, which is easy but soooooo boring. This stitch is Waterfall from the "Sensational Knitted Socks" book, by Charlene Schurch. I really find this book useful, as you can use the tables to calculate how many stitches to cast on for any sock with any stitch pattern and no matter what your tension or needle size. Having said that, I can never quite get my socks to be narrow enough. This time I cast on 54 stitches, thinking that it would be perfect, as I was using a lighter yarn (Jawoll Cotton) and maybe they'd come up nice and small. I kept my tension tight to the point of snapping one of my brittany birch 2.25mm needles - obviously not the way to go as it also made my fingers sore! But the socks, although a snugger fit than the recent Koigu ones, are still on the roomy side, girth-wise. Try again I suppose. But I am happy with them and the pattern makes a lovely airy sock.

So where do the emperor's clothes come into this? It's the brittany birch needles. The fact that one of them snapped was definitely down to my mishandling of them, so that doesn't come into it, although I've already ordered some metal 2mm ones, as they're far more hardy. Even with normal use I could sense the fragility of the birch ones in 2.25mm. But the thing about these needles is they are so sticky for goodness sake. I first cast on for the Koigu sock using these, and thought the combination of the Koigu and the needle just too tacky, so I changed to the Clover bamboo - no problems. I cast on the Waterfall sock, above, with the bamboos and knitted the whole thing with them, until it came to the toe, at which point I introduced the reinforcing thread and the birch 2.25mm needles. Yuk! They seem to have a tacky coating of varnish on them. I know I've read a lot of good comments from people about these, but apart from the fact they're so cute and tiny and woody, I think they're horrid. It's tempting to go for a needle, or anything for that matter, based largely on aesthetics (and I'm a terrible culprit-I am indeed culpable) but when it comes down to it, sometimes you just have to go for something practical but ugly. Skinny little wooden needles are not practical and that is that. Bigger ones are just fine. I always use my clover bamboo 2.5mm for socks and find them perfect: strong and not too sticky.

Right, better get on with Ella 3. Nearly done with section 2 but haven't touched her for two days, so lagging at the moment. I've already got my eye on knitting a Lady Eleanor in Noro Kureyon. Take a look at these.

Hope you all had a good sunny weekend!

2006-06-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

Old Habits Die Hard

This morning the postman brought some Kidsilk Spray, some Cashsoft DK and more Lorna's Laces, but this time Swirl instead of Shepherd Sport. And guess what the LL is for? I realise I'm at risk of boring everyone silly, but it's another Ella - Ella 3. Curled up on the sofa (usually knitting), I almost always have Ella 1 or 2 to keep me cosy, which is handy as it's been so ridiculously chilly here for the time of year, I mean it was 10 degrees the other day....... Ella is not like a pullover that has to fit just right to be wearable, you can throw Ella over your lap or around

your shoulders and it's not just a cosy-stay-at-home thing, either - Ella looks great with denim of any kind, and she's not floaty and impractical - she can stand up to most occasions. And the bonus is that I just love knitting the Ella pattern. So this time I decided to go for a heavier yarn - this one, I'm informed is a DK and it's 85% merino wool and 15% silk. I've got to say that having knitted more than half of section 2, she's looking a bit more, what's the word I'm looking for.......tweedy and speckled than I visualised, although this Swirl is so warm and soft, I think I'll get the result I want - a nice winter Ella. Will let you know, of course.

The Kidsilk Spray and Cashsoft DK are for this. Haven't got the beads yet but there's no hurry - and what's great about this is that one ball of each will be more than enough for two pairs. So although I was planning to knit this for a friend, I can throw in a pair for myself, too! I'm sure I don't know anyone else that would wear them!

Here are some mung, radish and alfalfa sprouts. Proof that I have been doing things other than knitting. I've even been exercising again. I should never have those phases where I don't get any vigorous physical activity, as I really feel it's very, very important to me in that I feel absolutely rubbish if I don't do it. All my cells obviously feel so much better for being oxygenated - no, really. It's true.

I can now go to sit and knit on the sofa, safe and non-guilty in the knowledge that I am entitled to it, as I exercised my pants off today and yesterday!

PS I've noticed that all my April and May posts are still showing on the main page of the blog and I don't know why they aren't automatically archiving. Well, they are kind of - if you look in April or May archives all the relevant posts are filed there, it's just that they're not coming off the main page, so it's taking ages to load the main page up, as it's getting too large. Anyone know how to fix this? Is there something I have to do or does everyone else's do it automatically?

2006-05-30T07:33:00.000-07:00

Crying Out For An LYS

I now have my new pc set up and working. It's superduper fast compared to the old one. One thing that isn't fast though, is uploading images to Blogger. I'd always assumed it was my computer being slow, but it would appear that in this case, it's Blogger. Takes ages. In fact, right now it's not actually letting me upload images at all. It pretends it is, but no image appears. How irritating.

Anyway, I haven't been doing much blogging, as you know. But I haven't done that much knitting, either. Oh, I couldn't let a whole day go by without doing any knitting at all, but I've been spreading my time between the knitting and Other Things, instead of being completely obsessed about the knitting and only the knitting. That includes the purchasing of yarn and needles, too. Some of the Other Things I have been doing are, exercising (yippee), sprouting seeds again (yippee), reading, cleaning my house and playing more with Charles, rather than mostly reading to him and looking at books. Here is a pic of my beloved sprouter.

They are very good for you but I won't bore you with the details. But I should definitely live to 1003 yrs old if I eat these sprouted mung beans, radishes and alfafas!

The photo at the top is of the socks I'm knitting. I felt the urge to knit a sort-of-lace sock with the Ja Woll yarn, and I'm pleased so far. But whether they'll fit great when they're finished is another thing. The Koigu ones I knitted are like little boats on my feet. The foot length is fine, but they're too wide. So I wear them as house socks instead of with shoes, although they were great with my walking boots yesterday, on a canal walk. Of course, you will be made aware of how they turn out!

Speaking of which, after asking for advice on seaming Celandine, I forgot to let you know what I did in the end. Well, I noticed that Louisa Harding mentioned two types of seaming in her pattern book, including backstitch. And although I know the mattress stitch is so much better, I did the backstitch. BUT the reason was that the fabric was so flimsy I knew I'd get away with it, you know, without bulking up the seams. So, that's what I did and it came out great. I would be wary of using backstitch on most items, though.

My trip to John Lewis MK.......The weekend before last, I had such bad PMT (no, honestly, it was BAD) I wasn't myself at all. OH had to get Charles and himself out of the house two days running as I was such a nutter (though not violently, you understand) and in a fit of I will do whatever I want and won't consider anyone else in the whole world, I disappeared off shopping for the afternoon (having only just realised what I'd long suspected was true - that John Lewis stock yarn). Well, I was quite excited at the prospect of being surrounded by so much real-life yarn (as excited as is possible when you feel that horrid) and, since the girl on the phone at JL had assured me that they carried too many lines of yarn to list them, well, brilliant!! But my high hopes were short-lived. Yes, yarn of all hues lined the shelves, but there were only about four shelves - all filled to the brim with Debbie Bliss, Rowan and Jaeger. Depressed? I never knew the meaning of the word....... There's nothing wrong with the aforementioned yarns, but I was nursing hopes of something, well, a bit more exotic. You know, Noro, or something. But no. Then I cast my mind back to the time I went to JL MK for some fabric, during my dressmaking phase, and it brought back horrid memories of exactly the same feeling of disappointment with their selection. Why, oh why do I have to travel so far (probably London) to find decent stuff? I mean, it's not as if Aylesbury is in the middle of nowhere, but there is nothing there and it's my local place to shop. As far as I know there isn't one dedicated LYS for miles around. I never thought I'd say this, but why can't it be more like LA, as far as LYS's are concerned? I'll stick with the internet.

Just ordered some Lorna's Laces from Get Knitted. It's the new Swirl DK. Will post photos when it arrives.

Got to go - Charles now has a nasty cold and a temperature. Really wish my friends would take heed of what I say and not visit us with bugs. OH's dad is having chemo for the next six weeks and can't afford to be ill and we see a lot of him. I'll have to start turning these people away (cripes I'm evil again).

2006-05-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

Keeping My Fingers Crossed

Right - I've got to type quickly, before my pc throws another fit and stops me.

Finished Celandine, photos above (sorry you have to see all the rubbish in my house. I'd normally cut it out of the photo but pc wouldn't let me today). Remember I said I was having trouble getting the correct tension? I never did get the 22 sts the pattern required - the closest I could get was 24 (per 10cm). According to my rusty brain, that means the top should have come out slightly smaller. Well, I don't know what Louisa Harding was thinking when she designed this top, but it's huge. I knitted the second size up (34) and it's like a tent. OH (always tactful) said it looks like a top my Granny would have knitted. And now he's calling me Frank Spencer (you know, the knitted tank-top). He did say it was lovely and quite an achievement (not in a patronising way) but that it just didn't flatter me. Well, I think that's the understatement of the year so far. Sack and potatoes spring to mind.........But, never one to refuse a challenge, I jumped right to it and ordered some matching Kimono Ribbon and threaded it in three bands around the bust area and it pulled the whole thing in. I quite like it now. OH said he's willing to be converted but he's still not keen at this present moment in time. But that's tough titties, as I will wear it when I want. Going back to the tension thing, though, I really felt from the beginning that the tension required created a fabric that was just too flimsy and insubstantial - and I was right. But I've learnt from this. Oh, and by the way, I think I'm not allergic to angora, but the bits were irritating my nose as they flew off when I was knitting.

Anyway, here is my Odessa. I got the beads from Robin's Beads on eBay. Great service. I'm really pleased with this hat and am making another exactly the same for my lovely sister, as she liked mine so much. It's the first time I've knitted with beads and I think it's only a couple more steps to complete addiction. The beads appeal to me in their jewel-like, glittery way. These ones are called Woodland Mix (japanese) and the yarn used was RYC Cashsoft DK in Lime.

Just started a pair of kind-of-lace socks in that blue cotton I bought, and a scarf in the rest of the Kimono Ribbon. Well, I couldn't just leave it sat there in all its glossy beauty. The scarf won't be breaking any new ground - it's just plain knitting. Just some flim-flam to go with a summer outfit. Gotta go.

Must remember to tell you about my depressing trip to John Lewis Milton Keynes on Sunday.

2006-05-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'm hardly posting anything at present, as my computer is on its "last legs" and will rarely work properly and certainly won't let me do anything at all with photos. The annoying thing is I have a sparkling new one just sat in the hall, waiting. OH and I don't know how to set the thing up - it has to be networked with his pc in his office. Poops.

Anyway, I have Celandine almost finished except for a couple of seams and Odessa is finished, too. Will post photos asap.

But watch out, I'm still keeping an eye on you all.

2006-05-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

Seams I Need Some Assistance (again)

That there yarn is Noro Blossom in colourway 15. Yes, I know you may have seen this before, as this is the exact same stuff I knitted the Blossom Shrug from. Same colour even. That's because I loved the colourway so much once I started knitting with it (having been a bit unsure about it when it arrived in the post). The fact that I had a skein left from the shrug helped to make my mind up - such a skinflint, aren't I? I had been planning a variation on the tubey, but maybe I'll make something completely different up. Something with ruffle bits round the neck. Yep, sounds gruesome enough - let's get started. Have to check out exactly how to do ruffley bits first. May I take this opportunity to be bossy and opinionated and say, "if you haven't tried out blossom yet, jolly well what are you waiting about for? Get some right now". This stuff, I could rave about it. It warms up immediately you touch it and keeps that heat and throws it right back at you, but at the same time, it's very light and soft against the skin. Magic. Or at least it was when I knitted it with 7mm needles for the shrug.

Right. The thing I need to ask you all about (if you're out there, anyone, today/whenever)... I'm just over half way through this Celandine and am thinking about seaming. You must understand I've only ever seemed one proper garment - Orangina - and because the ribbing at the bottom was knit in the round I thought it was obvious the side seams above the ribbing should be joined invisibly. Can't remember what it's called, but you lay the two halves side by side and sew one stitch from each and you can't see the join. Okay, for this angora tank-top, I'm assuming that would not be the way to seam. Can I just put the back and front right-sides together and sew them, like when you're sewing, not knitting? I'm assuming it's acceptable that not every knitted garment can be seamed in that invisible way.

Charles hasn't been very well for a few days. Twice since November I've taken him to the emergency doctor in the night and twice I haven't been convinced of the diagnosis and twice now I have been correct. One of these times the GP concerned (the emergency GP) failed to spot that the reason my son was having such difficulty breathing was not just that he had a bad cold, but that his tonsils were swollen and sceptic. And last night they told me he was screaming uncontrollably due to teething. I felt that wasn't right, as he appeared to recoil from pain as soon as anything touched his mouth, and took him back today, having see that the roof of his mouth looked sore. I was told it's covered in coldsores and this is extremely painful. Nobody in our family suffers from coldsores, so I don't know how he got them. Charles is generally a very robust and healthy child and I can see right away when something isn't right. Anyway, the message in this is, when it comes to your health, or that of your loved-ones, trust your instincts.

The photo above is of Celandine, but hey, check out this pattern (the Diamonique)- don't you just have to have it for the Summer? In black.

2006-05-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

All in a Day's Work

True to my word, I cast on for Celandine in Louisa Harding Kimono Angora yesterday, starting with the back. Bit of ribbing and then plain st st all the way. It was a devil of a job to get my gauge right and I'm knitting so loosely now, and am so relaxed I'm practically dribbling. And I've still got two too many stitches over the 10cm. But never mind that, the width seems okay. Trouble is over the years I've seemingly taken Trinny and Susannah's advice too literally and most everything I wear is body-skimming (you know, don't have too much excess fabric - it makes you look larger). But tank tops probably aren't meant to be part of the slinky look and I'll wear something under it, so there has to be a teensy-weensie bit of give. We'll see. I must say it's fab just doing st st. I can speak and breathe and everything, instead of counting and repeating and remembering (Ella/Orangina.....). However the drawback is that I have to keep stopping at increasingly regular intervals to scratch my nose. I've never known such irritation - the bits of yarn literally fly and stick up my nostrils. I can feel them. By the time I went to bed last night I couldn't stop sneezing and felt pretty yuk. Is it possible to be allergic to angora? I don't mean scratchy allergic, I mean sniffly allergic?

But I haven't knitted one stitch of Celandine today. Why? It starts with The Needle Debacle. I ordered some bamboo 5mm/40cm needles to knit Rollin Beret with (you know, I had the Debbie Bliss Maya all lined up), but the company didn't have the bamboo. Would I like the Addi metal ones? Or a longer length? No thanks, I said. OK we've cancelled your order, they said. So I ordered them from eBay.

The listing said the item was in the UK. It wasn't - it was in Hong Kong. But I didn't know this at the time. The bloke never answered my mail and the needles hadn't arrived in ten days or so. Then the original needle company sent me my bamboo needles on the cancelled order. But they were the wrong length anyway. So they sent me replacements but they were metal and not bamboo. So this morning I had two lots of metal needles turn up (the Hong Kong ones finally arrived). Sorry - I hope that wasn't too tedious. I must admit the UK company, Ka@ng@roo said that I could keep the 60cm ones foc and they'd replace the 40cm in bamboo. All's well that ends well. But because I actually had the right size needles this morning, I thought, oh, I'll just cast on with these stupid, slippery metal Addis and see if I might keep a pair (if they knit okay), as I want to start the hat. Couple of hours later and Bob's your uncle. And just look! This is Woolly Wormhead's pattern. Can't tell you how pleased I am and it will look mighty fine placed on my French antique coat and hat stand, with all the other hats. I don't think I've ever mentioned my hats but I'll save that for another day. Let's just say it's a shame you can't see one scrap of the coat/hat thing for all the stuff on it. Obviously the needles

were fine. I used the silver Addi turbos before and found them so slippery, it was quite tricky at times, although I was knitting ribbon with them, so not a good combination. But they were just right with the Maya, which may even have "stuck" a bit with the bamboos.

Right, down to basics. The hat was knitted exactly as it says on the pattern. As mentioned, I used the Debbie Bliss Maya and I sewed a piece of Noro Feathers on it. You can get the Maya and the Feathers at Jannette's Rare Yarns, an e-bay store. This woman is fantastic. Everything I have ever ordered has arrived the following day and her postage rates and prices are really competitive. The Feathers is ordered in 10cm pieces. Mine was one 10cm piece, which I sewed into a circle and then onto the hat. Can't wait to have cold enough day to wear it. Forget I said that.

2006-05-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

Do Not Laugh......

You know I said Ella 2 was so much easier than the first Ella, due to it being the second time round and all that? Well, I finished Ella 2 today, only to find that, somehow on the right extension (the first bit you knit after dividing the triangular bit in the middle) I knitted a whole pattern repeat too many. You would think the number of rows needed for a complete Ella would be enough, wouldn't you? But no - I had to do about 20 extra rows (which is a lot). And the thing that really gets me is that whilst knitting the part where I went wrong, I was dying to get to the next part (the decrease rows) the whole time. How did I manage it? I just don't know. I write each row down as I complete it. I'm at a loss as to how this happened. So the upshot is that one "arm" is longer than the other, but I don't think anyone will notice. This Ella is huge compared to the other one, as I intentionally knitted it with a much looser tension and this time I enlisted the help of OH to stretch it out while I ironed it to death, after spraying it to death with water first, of course. I'm over the hating-it-because-it's-not-perfect thing and suddenly feel quite protective towards it - like I'd wrestle someone to the ground if they accused it of not being perfect enough, or even eyed it in a certain way. I'm happy with it and I know I'll use it. Crikey, excuse how wiped out I look in the next photo - that's what knitting is doing to me. I'm bloody knackered.

I said I might attempt an actual garment next. With much trepidation I'm about to cast on for Celandine, a sleeveless pullover (or tank) from the Louisa Harding "The Design Collection" book. Can't show you a picture, as I forgot to take a photo and my stupid computer is really playing up, so everything's taking ages to do (getting a new one next week - yeahhhh). But the yarn below is what I've chosen for it - Louisa Harding Kimono Angora. So flipping fragile it snaps if you pull it a bit too hard. Obviously I wouldn't expect to put it under that kind of tension whilst knitting normally, although under stressful circumstances, who knows how tight my tension may get? My nose is already quite irritated just from swatching, this could be an uncomfortable experience, due to the "bits" flying everywhere, but it's so soft. Just right for a Princess who can detect a "pea" within a 100 mile radius.

And look - to give myself lots of peace and quiet whilst knitting my garment, see below Charles at home in his new environment. Just got him a nice little puppy cage, chucked him in with a couple of toys and Bob's your uncle. He's quite at home. Great.

Okay, please put the phone back on its holder right now this minute. The cage is really in preparation for my sister's new puppy and Charlie's cousins are the ones resonsible for this abomination. The thing is, Charlie was so happy in the cage, he cried when I said he had to come out, and begged to go back in. Maybe it's not such a bad idea......

It's 11pm and I obviously have to go and drink some red wine.

PS I know Ella really doesn't go with that outfit. Wouldn't want you to think I'd spent hours choosing the right clothes......

2006-05-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you for the info, everyone!

2006-05-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

The above yarn is the Jawoll Cotton Superwash, which was about £3.00 on eBay - bargain! I want to make the Giotto socks, on My Fashionable Life. I was looking for something really quite open, to go with Spring shoes, and these socks are so pretty. The only thing is, Anna used a Magic Loop and I can't figure out where I can buy one in the UK. Anyone know? I could try converting the pattern to dpns but would rather not. Why on earth am I knitting more socks? Heaven knows, because I'm not sure I enjoy it. They might be small, but they're a bit of a pain. Although when I've finished a pair, I do get a great feeling of satisfaction. This is mingled with relief and is very different from the feeling I had when I finished Ella the first. I was quite at a loss, as I enjoyed the process so much.

I ordered the pattern books below from Laughing Hens (or is it The Laughing Hen?). Anyway, they must have travelled by space shuttle, as they were here almost as soon as I'd entered my payment details! And the inner wrapping was the most beautiful blue tissue paper, wrapped just like a lovely present - very impressive.

I wanted to find a pattern for a little something for Charlie Townes. Why is it so difficult to find lovely patterns for little boys? Or am I looking in the wrong place? Or is it because boys' clothes aren't as pretty as girls', so the designers can't be bothered? I like a couple of the patterns in the Little Treasures book, but one of them involves working from charts (got to do it sometime), and the other looks a bit tricky. The patterns in the Classic Home book are lovely, but a fair few involve fairisle or intarsia and lots of different colours. I loved the look of a beautiful, cosy-looking fairisle blanket, actually - but then I estimated it would cost over£100 to make. Too much...... There are some gorgeous hot-water bottle covers in there (I'm still using mine and will do until the nights are warmer-don't snigger too much) I might try one of those. Won't be trying the matching bedsocks, I do draw the line at those, you'll be pleased to hear!

These photos are of the apple tree I mentioned before, as it's seen from the landing window, and the view to the left and right. It's lovely to look out at this - Charlie Townes' bedroom looks out over this, too. It almost makes up for the fact that we have quite a busy road running along the front of the house. Oh, well, must go and do some Ella 2. Just started to decrease the right side, still got the left to do.

2006-05-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

Not Quite Stash......

Not quite stash because, lately, nothing hangs around long enough to qualify as stash. Remember the jumper I said I might start? The Louisa Harding one? Well, forget that. On Saturday morning the Lorna's Laces in Watercolour arrived and I'd cast on for Ella 2 just as Postie got to the garden gate (he actually said "more goodies for you", when he handed it over, which made me feel slightly ashamed). The two skeins above are all that are left of the four, so far. The other one, in the middle, is the Debbie Bliss Maya, which is more greeny than I expected, but - oh, it's lovely! You should just see it and feel it. It's so real. You're probably wondering what that means but I can't explain it. It's really thick and firm, but soft and there's something old and then again something so new about it. Weird. Can't wait to use it up. That's another thing - I want to do the Rollin' Beret but the needles I ordered over a week ago still haven't arrived. The two pieces of fabric the yarn is sitting on are Kaffe Fassett, Rowan Fabrics. I got them from Wee Mouse Quilting (great company) on eBay to make two Pointy Kitties. I've never been a cuddly toy kind of gal but these Pointy Kitties are cool.

So, I'm finding Ella so easy this time round, I haven't had one mistake or misunderstanding so far. I could almost do it with my eyes closed. And I'm keeping the tension really loose - I can tell because I'm using up more yarn this time. Can't wait to finish it as I reach for the other Ella all the time. so I know I'll use it a lot. Must go and get on with it. Tonight I make chow mein for dinner and it involves lots of preparing, not to mention bathing Charles first and a hundred other things.

2006-05-07T03:44:00.000-07:00

What is it With Me and Socks?

Okay, let me say first that the tops of these socks are supposed to roll down. No, it's not a mistake! But the socks aren't meant to be quite this short. I did less rows on the cuff than the pattern said, but I forgot to allow for the roll-down bit, so they're shorter than I intended. This means that, front-on, my ankles look so ridiculously skinny, it's, well, ridiculous. I keep looking at the socks and wondering if I can be bothered to pick up stitches around the top and knit some more, but I think I've decided not to, and to put it down to experience.

The other thing is, they feel a bit rough to walk on - why? Home-knitted socks are meant to be really comfy. This is the first pair I've knitted for myself and now I'm wondering if my mum and Charles (eager sock recipients/utilisers) are only pretending that their socks are comfy. Maybe next time I'll knit the sole with the stocking-stitch on the wrong side, so that the foot is in contact with the smooth bit. Has anyone else had this problem?

On the plus side, I have some Jawoll cotton (is that the name?) coming (more socks) and some Lorna's Laces Watercolour arrived on Saturday morning, for an Ella 2, which I cast-on for about 1 minute after the postman arrived. I now have quite a lot of section 2 done. Would have done more but I settled down to watch a film last night, with OH (me wrapped in Ella1). We used to watch films all the time - we have hundreds, as the OH is a film buff (and not your average Hollywood blockbuster). Last night's film was fantastic, a Korean film called "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance", and if you like baroque music, watch it just for the soundtrack (honestly). I won't attempt a review, as it's not a strong-point of mine, but this film is haunting in a disturbing yet beautiful way. Catch it if you can. It's available on CD Wow at a good price. See you later.......

2006-05-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

What a Beautiful Day, and About Time, Too......

I love this time of year. All the spring flowers are coming into bloom and it's warm enough to spend whole days and evenings outside. The winter is lovely in its cosy, wintry way and we always look forward to lighting a fire in our log burner in the sitting room, but I've had enough by the time it gets to January, and February and March can really try my patience. It's not just being able to be outside more often without feeling like an old croc, having to scuttle here and there before my bones disintegrate from the cold - everything seems so much more beautiful....life seems so much more beautiful. I feel more relaxed and life is good. The above photo is of our largest apple tree in bloom (we only have three, not a whole orchard!). This apple tree is way taller than our house and yields about one million apples that seem to be inedible, but I can see it just about 30 feet away from the window on our upstairs landing and I love it. It's surprising how many people have suggested that we cut it down so that we can "get more sun". But why would I want more sun? I have plenty of sun in other parts of the garden. I only ever sit under a parasol anyway. How could anyone suggest cutting this very old, old tree down? Now I'm ranting, so look at this photo of our lovely robin, who lives in our garden all year round. Isn't he lovely? Luckily our cat hasn't got him yet (he prefers mice).

But today, although the temptation to stay in the garden and listen to the wood pigeons and peacocks (next door) and all the other birdsong, was very strong indeed, we ventured out to Gulliver's World, a plastic-fantastic theme park for children. Friends of ours had free tickets and invited us along for their son's birthday. We had reservations about going to such a place, as generally we prefer to take Charles somewhere more like this:

Ivinghoe Beacon

Or this, at Climping, on the south coast (me looking quite chubby last year.....):

Or this (Tring Canal Festival):

So, you're probably feeling sorry for Charlie Townes right now, but don't - because he has a fantastic time and so do we! Disney World/Land/Whatever is our idea of something horrible, so we entered Gulliver's World with trepidation. All I can say is, Charlie enjoyed himself but in a manufactured kind of way, and in spite of the dust and concrete and plastic and the "you are here to enjoy yourself" mentality (and in spite of the two nasty grazes to his forehead, from a meeting with some concrete). It wasn't that bad, but there were as many tears as there were smiles and we'd all had enough by the time we left. But we couldn't leave before I'd done this:

Don't worry, I'm not really that much of an exhibitionist - no one else was looking!

And now for a tiny piece of knitting stuff - this:

Since photographing this sock this evening, I've now finished it (knitting whilst waiting for images to upload on my ancient computer) but haven't tried it on yet.

No progress on the Fyberspates jumper at all, or anything else, for that matter. However, since seeing the beautiful quilt on Yarnstorm (love, love, love that blog), I've been thinking about quilting (ssshhhhhhhh) and have ordered two books on the subject. The quilting really appeals to me as I've always loved textiles and was quite taken with them in my twenties when I was supposed be studying interior design (but that's another story). Still loving the knitting, though. Once the socks are finished, which should be tomorrow, I might start a Louisa Harding pullover (might)......

2006-04-30T06:36:00.000-07:00

Knitting Slows Down Your Biological Clock....

and we're not talking about having babies! All our lives, from the moment we are born, our biological clocks are ticking, counting down to that moment when, pooofff-we are no more. What if we could slow down these ratbag clocks? Well, according to good old Deepak Chopra, we can! Our bodies and their biological functions respond to the experience of time. We have our own personal biological clocks, which respond to our personal experience of time. And the experience of the passing of time is subjective - if we are always in a hurry, time speeds up, if we feel we have all the time in the world, time slows down. BUT during times when we enter into the gap between thoughts (usually when we're doing something we are really engaging in, ie. knitting) time stops (biologically). Time is a subjective experience in consciousness and that subjective experience translates into a biological experience in the body. Phew! Did you ever need a better reason to get those needles clicking? It will help keep you young and add years to your life.

So, to ensure that I'm really slowing the old bio-clock down, I've started another project - koigu socks. The stitch pattern is from this and I used Sensational Knitted Socks for the sizing etc.. I originally started knitting the sock straight from the Knitty pattern, although I was suspicious about the meagre amount of stitches to cast on. Turns out I was right. Got as far as turning the heel and nearly cut my blood-supply off trying to get it on. Had to start again. Good grief. So instead of 44 sts, I've cast on 112 and then k2tog all the way round, making 56 sts, for a lovely stretchy cast-on. Probably wear them with mules in the summer. I'll obviously get away with it as I'll only be about fourteen years old by then......

2006-04-28T04:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, Yyesss, Yyyeesssssss!

Look! Ella is finished. In case you hadn't guessed - ILOVEHERILOVEHERILURVEHER....Why? Well, I think my feelings are magnified due to the fact that I didn't expect to. When I bought the yarn, the colourway choices were limited to three, so I chose the one I disliked least (not good). And when the yarn arrived, I still wasn't sure about the colour combination - orange, purple, pink and grey (although when I say it now, it sounds okay). I started knitting and the yarn was splitty and a bit loosely woven (don't know the technical term for it, but the strands that made up the yarn were hardly twisted together) and these things were bugging me. The other thing was that shawls are meant for grannies (that's not really fair to grannies. My mother-in-law is 74 and she is one of the most beautiful and cool people I know). But you know what I mean. Anyway, how wrong I was! I can't tell you exactly how pleased I am with this shawl, but these are the reasons that I am:

It doesn't need the slightest bit of encouragement to "stay on". You just drape it over your shoulders and it stays there.

From the front it looks like a lacey, floaty cardigan and the bits that hang over the arms fan out slightly and look gorgeous. I haven't really managed to catch that in the photos.

It looks great with little summer tops (fab, actually) or any old jumper.

I do love the colours and it doesn't curl at the edges after all (well, not really).

I loved knitting it and am now almost bereft without it on my needles. Going to start another as soon as Get Knitted has the stock, maybe in the next ten days.

So, here are the details:

Knitted from this pattern, with the 6mm circs (not the 5mm lots of people used). Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Irving Park colourway x 3.5 skeins. This stuff is lovely to wind into balls, without tangling, not once. I didn't have a clear space large enough to block it properly with pins, so I put it on the floor on a big towel, sprayed it with water and, stretching it by kneeling on one part and pulling at another with my free hand, I ironed it on the hottest setting - risky, but it worked great. I wouldn't do this to a proper garment, though. Louisa Harding says you should always steam before sewing together the component parts of a garment, but that's just scary. However, the difference before blocking Ella, and after is amazing. The fabric drapes beautifully now and the lace has really opened up.

Suppose I'd better get going on my daria belt and Nick's sock....harrumph. Oh, but tomorrow I should have some beautiful Debbie Bliss Maya in pale blues coming my way, to knit the Woolly Wormhead Beret like Frankie's. Hope it comes out as good as hers did....

2006-04-26T12:17:00.000-07:00

Good Vs Evil

Well, this is supposed to be a quickie post, but if I can keep to that, it will be a miracle. Speaking of which - look at this divine, divine, gorgeous, angel-breath yarn..........

It's Fyberspates laceweight mohair, which I ordered from Get Knitted (a completely fab company, with friendly staff and efficient service and they always send lollipops and pens and tissue paper). The colourway is Liquorice and I'm really quite in love with it. After it arrived and was sat there on the table, looking all innocent and beguiling, I thought, "no, you're going into my bag with the rest of the stash. I've got three projects on the go and you can stop looking at me like that". But it was so persistently gorgeous and fluffy, I had to give in. Of course, with this hand-dyed stuff you have to wind it into a ball first. I'm used to that now, but this was something else - about 450 yards of sewing-cotton thin yarn in one skein. At first I thought that it would be really difficult and if it got tangled, well, that would be the end of it. But it wound so smoothly and perfectly and the colours were so beautiful, I was enraptured.

Only thing is, I bought it to make a laceweight version of Ella but after knitting the first 24 rows I knew that It would be too flimsy, like wearing candyfloss - what's the point? And you really have to concentrate when you're knitting with this, as it's not just fine, but ultra fluffy, too. This makes it difficult to see the stitches. Anyway, I knitted up a couple of gauge-test pieces and decided I prefer it on smaller needles (3.25mm) and in plain st st. So I've cast on 130 stitches and am attempting a plain and simple jumper - no shaping, nothing (because I don't know how). It worked for the Lanartus, so on a wing and a prayer - here goes.......!

You know those lollipops that come with the yarn? I was in a hurry the other day and unwrapped one and popped it into my bag to suck in the car (I unwrapped it first so that Charles wouldn't hear the paper rustling and then want one-he's too young). Anyway, was having a really good suck, took it out of my mouth to say something to OH and happened to glance down and thought "Oh, I wonder what all those little black bits are-odd." Then I realised I'd been sucking ANTS. Loads of them. More of them than I've actually seen in the house. And they were all squashed and mangled. I was nearly sick (from laughing).

2006-04-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

How Does One Know if One is Becoming Crazy?

Well, to be more specific, how would I know if I was going crazy, or if my brain was just a bit worn out and run down? I suppose if I was really losing my mind I might go to the supermarket with my knickers worn on the outside, or I might start singing "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" at the top of my voice, in the public library. I don't do either of those, but is this the run-up to it? There is enough evidence to have the men-in-white-coats put me under surveillance, just in case I'm a danger to the public: The other night I actually asked the cat to go to Nick's office (upstairs) and let him know the dinner was ready. This was not the kind of incident where I mistook the cat for a real person, due to having seen him moving about at the corner of my vision. I really asked the cat; I keep messing up my stitch-counts, as every time I count, I miss out the number 10 (this has been happening for a while); recently I asked Nick, "is this called a kiwi-fruit?" (we always have kiwis in the bowl, so this is as terrible as not remembering the word for an apple); and many other facts but because of my madness, I can't remember them. But one stands out above all the others - THIS:

Yep, I am responsible for knitting this thing. And now, every time my friends see me wearing it, they say, baaaah. It does look remarkably like a sheep's fleece, but in pale purple, cream and pale blue. It came about because at the time I received the yarn (adriafil set) I'd just finished knitting the blossom shrug and thought "now, this would make a lovely little shrug". So I just cut down the number of stitches in the blossom pattern and went straight ahead, same size needles and everything. Because the needles were really too small for the yarn (matter of opinion-not science), the fabric was very dense and heavy. You can see how bulky it is in the photo. Despite this, I do quite like it. I fear it would look better on a skinny person, as people would see they were skinny and realise that their arms weren't really that chunky. I'm thinking that this baaah shrug might be just the thing to wear with my jeans. Oh, and a nice little frilly pair of pants over the top......baaaah!

2006-04-21T13:48:00.000-07:00

Ella Has Taken Over the Asylum

Look how much larger Ella is since last you saw her! I've got as far as ten rows in on the right extension Rows. So it's about half way done, I think. I've been giving her quite a bit of attention, but not too much, as I'm still working on the Noro Daria belt and (yes) socks for the Other Half. Those socks are killing me, but that's another story (such tiny needles and 100 rows just on the leg bit). And I've still got the other one to do. Lucky I can't wait for him to feel just how gorgeous hand-knitted socks are. Do you know, the number of people that have actually said to me, "oh, how much did you say sock yarn costs? And how long do they take to knit? Good grief, didn't you know you can get 3 pairs for a fiver at Tesco?". "Well", I grimace in reply, "that's hardly the point". These must be the people Oscar Wilde (I think it was Oscar who said that) is referring to when he says they know the price of everything and the value of nothing. But this has turned into a post all about socks, which wasn't my intention. Here's a photo to prove this sock exists. One day I will write a post about how much I love heels knitted in heel stitch, oh that lovely firm fabric.............

So, back to Ella: I came across a blog where the writer laments that, despite aggresive blocking, her Ella still has curly edges- being a new knitter, I'm actually quite pleased with myself for realising the following: the problem could have been avoided in the first place. On the first few rows of my Ella, I noticed that, no matter how much I stretched it out, the edge would not be able to stretch enough to keep up with the much stretchier inner stitches, so no matter how much blocking I do, those initial rows will have curling edges (drat). To eradicate this problem for the remainder of the shawl, I've kept my tension much looser on the first and last few stitches of every row. And YIPPEE, it stretches out perfectly flat. Drat again - I'm going to have to knit another one when I've finished this - a nice new lovely perfect one. But don't worry, I will still love my special first and best Ella, the one with the fancy curling bottom!