Major news!

So here’s some news….. We’re of to Cyprus! Moving in January for about 3 years or so. 

The yarn stash is coming with me, of course….

So I’m an idiot

Did I mention I’m just a tiny bit forgetful? I went away with the small person to my parents house this week for a few days break. I took the shawl with no end in sight. I put it in the living room and then promptly forgot about it.

Came home yesterday – it’s still on the floor in Cheshire. I’d love to say I’m heartbroken about this but actually I did a little dance because I’m so so sick of the sight of it…..

I did the only thing one can do in such situations: I wound up a ball of bright pink sock yarn and cast on a new sock:  

It’s the most beautiful shade of pink in a merino / silk / cashmere blend that’s perfect for bed socks and absolutely must not be put in shoes….

Update

Guess who locked herself out of her blog again?!?

There’s not much knitting been going on – the shawl I am working on seems to be taking forever and i’m rapidly falling out of love with it. There’s a total of 36 diamonds and I’m on number 18 or 19 I think?

I put it away a bit to work on a small knitted toy for Sophie – a clanger – if you aren’t familiar with these they are a stop motion animated series for small children, originating in the late 70s ish (although I remember them from the early 80’s) and recently redirected by Cbeebees – it’s a very gentle, cute show and Sophie is a huge fan. I have done all the knitting for this thing now, it’s just the sewing up that remains….

More colouring in

Ok so I don’t think this counts as craft, but I’ve been sneaking in a bit of colouring in now and again. Largely because my daughter shouldn’t be the only person who gets to play with the felt tips!
Anyway, here are a couple of completed pictures:

And here is what happens when your toddler gets at your half-completed colouring in:

Maybe I should be the *only* person who gets to play with felt tips….

Next project: mitred square shawl

This one is ongoing – I think I might be some time! It’s a mitred square shawl, made from crazy zuaberball sock yay. knit n caboodle were selling the kits at ally pally show ?last year? Maybe the year before?
I

I’m enjoying it, but it does take some time and it’s going to be massive when it’s finished – in not even 1/3 of the way through. And don’t mention all the ends – each square has two ends. I loath weaving in ends! It’s good mindless knitting as it’s all garter stitch but I’m a bit worried it will get monotonous at some point. Will see.

I’m also working on Christmas gifts early, working up a list so people actually get handmade gifts this year. Oh, and I’ve a baby to knit for in January (not mine before you ask!)

Finished object, erm, 7?

My socks that took forever… I can’t believe I started these back in march and there’s no real reason they took so long.

Pattern is no-purl monkeys by cookie -a – she always does such awesome patterns and this is the monkey sock pattern but knitting the purls.

Yarn was a sock yarn by local shop debonnaire – it’s pure wool so won’t wear well. I’ve elected to make these a Christmas present for my mum, so put them in the long-term planning box for Christmas presents…

Disaster strikes !

So I just opened my knitting bag after lugging it about yesterday and found this:

Am just about to turn the heel on the second sock and yes, that’s every needle which is in use snapped in two. I could cry.

I’ve salvaged it onto a spare pair of needles in the same size but still, a whole set of needles gone.

Sorry been a bit AWOL

My university course just got so busy, it was unreal, but that’s my last essay handed in for the next seven months, and I get all my weekends free again! Hopefully looking to break out the sewing machine again.

Anyway, my making plans for the next few months are:
Finish my no-purl monkeys. I love the bright colours of this yarn, but I have to be honest and say I’m not quite loving the finished object….

After that maybe sewing something for Sophie – a skirt or a little bag maybe?
And I’ve got to finish my rag rug. It’s half done and taking up a ton of space.
Knitting wise I’m not sure. Socks will need to feature as the sock yarn stash is, of course, growing. I sort-of fancy getting a head start on my Christmas gifts this year as well…..

Handpainted skeins

I don’t know about you, but I freely admit to being a magpie with sock yarn, and with hand painted sock yarn I’m almost powerless to resist! But they are tricky to use, what looks amazing all wound up can be disappointing when knitted up.

My current project is an example of this. I bought the most amazing hand painted skein from Debonnaire yarns at the knitting and stitching show two years ago – in jade, bright blue and fuchsia. It looked awesome and I paid almost without realising it. However it’s been lurking in stash ever since.

After finishing the grey socks I was desperate for colour and this skein was calling to me. I knew I would need a fairly simple pattern so I’ve chosen Cookie A’s monkey but this time I’m doing the “no purl” variation.

The colours are still amazing, but the yarn is pooling in a way I’m not sure if I like. Still at least it’s not grey!

Finished object 6: boring husband socks

Oh boy, I just wrote a long blog post for these and then, in a moment of idiocy, deleted it.
Right, here are the finished husband socks in all their boring greyness. Which knitting blogger wore about “never knit with grey in March? It’s all too much grey?” Well they were right.
I started these socks last year, quite possibly last march, got one finished and then couldn’t face the second and shoved them on one side. After finishing Sophie’s jumper I had promised my husband a pair of socks, and he only wears dark socks, so I knew it was going to be a grey / black / dark navy special. Then I noticed that Sophie’s jumper had been my 99th project in ravelry and for some reason the thought of dull socks beefing my 100th project depressed me hugely. I knew these were loitering in the WIP bag, and therefore didn’t count as a new project…. Tah dah! Problem solved!
So here’s the finished project, baled modelled by my husband (my legs are not that hairy!) a boring grey 3 x 1 rib. They are so dull I can’t even remember which yarn they are. Probably a Rico Superba from Nest in crouch end.

In direct response to all the grey, my 100th project is going to be be bright and bold (and socks, naturally….)