The suspense is killing me.....

# You signed up on June 6, 2007
# You are #7310 on the list.
# 16 people are ahead of you in line.
# 14246 people are behind you in line.
# 33% of the list has been invited so far

I go back to work on Monday & want to spend some time 'playing' whilst I can.

'My So Called Scarf'

I started this scarf AGES ago & it was finally finished last week.


My So Called Scarf

Pattern: My So Called Scarf
Yarn: Unknown single ply pure wool which was sold as a chunky weight from Coldspring & only cost 2p per gram!
Needles: 7mm
Length: 204cm without the tassels


My So Called Scarf

It has already gone to it's new home & my friend was so touched that she was nearly crying. The colours are 'totally her' & it'll look fantastic with her winter coat.


My So Called Scarf

I think the yarn might be Malabrigo Aquarella in Coronilla but I don't have a LYS that stocks this so can't compare the two yarns. I loved knitting with it & it was such a bargain that I had to buy more when I went back to Coldspring for my birthday (obviously)!


close up of stitch pattern & tassels

I'd got into the habit of having lots of things OTN's at once & am trying to reduce my WIP's down to a manageable level & I've got another FO to be revealed soon......

An update

Prompted by an email this morning from Miss Malice I thought I'd let you all know that DH is now getting better. He originally had a Doctors appointment for Thursday morning but I pushed to have it moved to Wednesday evening. If that hadn't been done I think he would be in hospital now as it was a very near miss. He's on double dosage of VERY strong medication & they're working. By Thursday morning his entire calf was a bright pink with area that was pink in this post a dark angry purple. He was delirious with fever on throughout the night & Thursday morning but it had broken by the afternoon leaving him very weak. Two days later & he's nearly back to normal but still taking his medication religiously.

I had a very unpleasant experience on Thursday which I don't want to go into but will sum it up as 'an unpleasant blast from the past'. It's left me a bit shaken & upset but that'll pass. Knitting club last night was fun & it was great to catch up with everyone & I needed to get out of the house and see some friends.

I'm getting closer on Ravelry:

* You signed up on June 6, 2007
* You are #7310 on the list.
* 356 people are ahead of you in line.
* 13656 people are behind you in line.
* 33% of the list has been invited so far

but aren't quite there yet and it seems to be going very slowly

I've got loads to share including some temporary guests & some FO's for now I'll leave you with somethings that I bought recently at the local Farmers Market:


L to R: Masham, Hampshire Down, Rough Fell & South Down sheep

I couldn't resist them. They stand 2.5" tall up to the top of their heads & are handmade. There were loads of other breeds available so I think I'll be adding a few more to my 'flock' in a few weeks.

Ouch

Poor DH isn't feeling very well: something has bitten him on the leg & the Doctor has said he's in the early stages of blood poisoning:(

Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in soon....



Blogged via mobile click on pic to enlarge.

Yummy Yarns Swap

Last month I left a comment on Ali's blog on this post as Ali had bought some gorgeous Socks that Rock and I was drooling. So we arranged a swap & I had a great time choosing something for Ali. I sent her a huge list of questions so that I could narrow down what she wanted & I think I was successful. Ali asked me to chose some colours that I liked so I looked at the colours here & sent her a long list of the ones I liked.


Beautifully wrapped gifts in my favourite colour combination

Unwrapped to reveal these:


'Socks that Rock' sock yarn, Canadian Chocolate & Maple Syrup sweet

Thanks so much Ali I love it all. The yarn is gorgeous & I'm looking forward to knitting with it. The colour Ali found is Undertoe & I think it'll look lovely with a slipped stitch pattern.

I received my parcel a couple of weeks ago but due to the threat of more flooding and Tooth ache I posted my parcel a bit later than Ali plus the Canadian postage service seems a bit sluggish but she has now received her yarn & loves what I sent her.

Thanks very much Ali. I've enjoyed spoiling you & feel very honoured that you've spoilt me so well

BTW: the laces aren't in the second photo as they were quickly liberated by DD & are now housed in her Converse shoes....

Ignorance is bliss

Thanks to Donna I know know that I've got AGES before my Ravelry invite arrives:

Found you!

* You signed up on June 6, 2007
* You are #7310 on the list.
* 1820 people are ahead of you in line.
* 8984 people are behind you in line.
* 33% of the list has been invited so far

Oh well plenty of time to organise stash photos I suppose.

Words fail me

I've just read this from Yarn Harlot.

For this woman to be denied the language to describe what happened to her is beyond belief.

Judge Jeffre Cheuvront, I don't know how you can sleep at night.

Pamela Pussycat

Pam wasn't a happy cat at our last house & lived solely in the garage but within days of our move she changed & is now a very different animal. In addition to bird, mouse & squirrel hunting she has also discovered a new hobby of glamour puss rather than recluse:


How many paws can you fit on a 10 pence piece?


I'm ready for my close up now!


Only animals look good in fur!


A girl needs regular manicures....



and pedicures....


Time for a siesta methinks....

Back on track

I'd like to thank you all for all the lovely comments over the past few weeks. The Flooding has left us luckily untouched (apart from when I had to abandon the car) & our home is safe & dry. However many thousands of people weren't so lucky and everywhere you go piles of ruined carpets & laminate flooring are evident piled up on driveways or the grass outside homes. My SIL & her family were flooded out as were LOADS of friends & every day we hear of someone else we know who is now living in a hotel, caravan or with staying with family indefinitely. It's been estimated that it'll take up to two years for the area to recover which is a really frightening thought.

A bit closer to home my tooth ache is finally subsiding as I'm responding to the medication but I've still got a bit of a niggle. So am going back to the Dentist tomorrow & am hoping that I'll be given a repeat prescription. For those that don't know I had a bad experience years ago whilst at the Dentist so am a total wimp when it comes to anything involving my teeth.

But this is meant to be a KNITTING blog I hear you moan. Fair enough, personal stuff over, this is what I've been working on recently:


My So Called Scarf

My So Called Scarf in a brown chunky yarn that I bought at Coldspring Mill earlier in the year. I still love the yarn but I'm limited where I can work on this as the friend that I'm now giving it to is often at the pool as our DD's train together. I've decided to make my Manchester friend a pair of Fuzzy Feet as I love mine so much in the same brown yarn.

So my poolside knitting (yes DD is training again after the pot was removed last week) & general anywhere KIP project is still that same pair of socks for my big footed DH:


Small Tiles from More Sensational Knitted Socks

They seem to be taking forever but I blame that on the 2mm needles & knitting two at the same time so any progress is slow. I wasn't sure about the pattern at first but it's growing on me; you can see it better here. He loves the colours & they're helping to keep my interest but are a bit orangey for me.

I've decided to have a real push to finish or frog existing WIP's as I have too many things on the go and I'm hoping to show some FO's here in the not too distant future.

My Knit Picks order

My order arrived within a week from the States which I thought was fantastic. The box arrived at work on a day when I was feeling a bit down & sorry for myself with tooth ache & other stresses and it helped to cheer me up

When deciding what to buy I changed my mind so many times but this is what I finally settled on:

Knit Picks Memories:


Lto R: Redwood Forest, Hawaii & Rocky Mountain Dusk

My friend CL sent me a skein of this for my birthday & I love it. It's on my list of new projects when I finally clear my outstanding WIP's & I'm planning on making felted boxes for family this Christmas. Plus I bought an extra two skeins of Redwood to make socks for myself but now wish I'd got the Hawaii instead as the colours are so pretty.


L to R: Black, Dusk & Woodland Sage

This choice was again influenced by Christmas presents from CL. She sent me Gloss in Concord Grape which is absolutely beautiful. I also liked the burgundy but already have some Regia Silk in burgundy from my Secret Pal 6 Yvonne which I love (and it keeps waving at me when I go up into the loft) so didn't want to get the same colour again.

Again influenced by previous presents from CL some Knit Picks Essential Tweed:


Knit Picks Essential Tweed in Plum

Then some Palette to felt with:


Knit Picks Palette in Black


Knit Picks Palette in Salsa Heather

and finally some 12mm needle tips to go with my Options set that CL sent me for my birthday:


12mm needle tips

DD & I used the set the day after they arrived at the Parent & Child weekend but of course DD needed 12mm needles which is one of the few that CL didn't send me as I thought I wouldn't need them

We were allowed to order up to $70 worth of yarn, needles & patterns which equated to about £35. I kept my order under £32 to avoid any customs charges & therefore also avoided the £8 handling fee charged by Royal Mail. Plus I didn't get charged any VAT which was a bit of a surprise. The actually shipping was very swift & the yarns are beautiful but I just wish they had more adventurous colours.

If any UK readers are able to buy on a set of Options via a friend in Canada or America go for it. They're absolutely wonderful needles & far outclass Addi Turbos any day. Hopefully everyone else who participated in the trial had a easy time re charges like I did & then postage might be extended to the UK as well


ETA: I've just noticed that they sent me Autumn Heather rather than Salsa Heather in Palette.

Teaser

This is just a quick note to everyone know that my Knit Picks order has arrived safe & sound. It was shipped on June 26th so only took a week to get here which I think is fantastic.

However I'm going to have to be really mean & not reveal what I bought as I'm suffering from a raging toothache tonight & don't feel well at all. Here's hoping that the antibiotics work & that I don't need a root canal as having read up on it I think I'd rather have the tooth removed or am I just being a wimp?

Flutterby

Susoolu & I teach a children's knitting club at DD's school & she gamely volunteered us to do a stall at the school summer fair. The first date was canceled due to the weather but it finally took place on Friday afternoon after school:


Butterfly hairclips & badges


Butterfly hairclips & badges

I ended up selling nearly 70 of them for 50p each so hopefully that should swell the school coffers a bit. Most were bought to put onto school bags & DD thinks we've started a new trend!


More butterflies

Pattern from Kids Learn to Knit by Lucinda Guy
Yarn: All sorts from sock yarn to chunky.
Embellishments: Buttons from freecycle, felt from the school & brooch backs & barrettes from Helens Little Gems with faces courtesy of DH.

Susoolu, DH & I spent many late nights decorating these little beauties most of whom were created by DD. The other children also made some but DD had red hot needles & they were flying.....

Cornflake Slices

We haven't made Cornflake Buns for ages so I thought I'd treat DD.

First the Mars Bars were sliced up:

Then they were melted & mixed in with cornflakes & put onto a plate:

As our new kitchen is smaller than our old one we haven't unpacked all the boxes yet and so I didn't have any paper cases to hand thus they ended up as Cornflake Slices.

I always use eating rather than cooking chocolate & sometimes add mint flavouring or orange essence to give them a bit of a kick.

Mmmmmm