Loobylou

Purple Tailored Cardigan

2011-05-13T20:47:00.001+01:00

Purple Tailored Cardigan, a photo by Linda McK on Flickr.

I'm so glad to get this one finished. Fuzzy yarn in a dark colour does not make for easy row counting. Throw in a lot of evening knitting and the fact that I'm very close to needing varifocals and it all adds up to not a very enjoyable knitting experience.
This is my second one of this pattern. This time I made the same size but in a slightly heavier yarn so it is bigger. I also made it longer, added 4 buttons instead of 3 (they were already in the button box no point in leaving one as it'll never get used). The sleeves are also longer but I've made them too long this time. I should have made the bottom garter bands bigger but I got bored doing garter stitch.
I like how it's turned oiut and can see myself getting lots of wear out of it.

Went to the library on Saturday

2011-05-03T09:38:00.001+01:00

Ghost ship, a photo by alancleaver_2000 on Flickr.

I managed to finish my last 2 library books within a week (with a day to spare). Though one of them was a PG Wodehouse and they don't take many hours to read.
I decided to decrease the number of books I borrow from the library so this time I took out 4 instead of 5. Of course, 3 of them are quite long books so sort of defeats the purpose. I got 2 historical, 1 thriller and 1 fantasy.
I haven't started reading any of them as I've got to read and finish the next installment in the Richard Bolitho series by Alexander Kent by Saturday. I'm on book 6 of 24, so along way to go. The books are set in the late 18th Century and are set on British naval ships (hence the photo of the tall ship). It was my mum who suggested I read them - I'd been re-watching the Hornblower and I'd said to her that I was going to read the books when she suggested Alexander Kent as an alternative and did I want her collection of his books. Of course she only had books from the end of the series so I'm having to buy all the ones from the beginning. My mum used to be an avid reader but she finds it difficult to concentrate for too long but she's enjoying rereading these books. I'm reading them and then passing them onto her to read and as I'm going to visit her at the weekend and as she's finished the previous book in the series last week I've got to go with the next book.

See it here first

2011-04-30T16:37:00.001+01:00

Vine Lace Vest, a photo by Linda McK on Flickr.

Finally got around to putting the finishing touches to the vest with the addition of 3 crotchet loops and 3 buttons. The only other mod I made was to lengthen the vest by a couple of inches. I think another couple of inches would have been even better. I didn't want to block it too heavily as the yarn is an wool/acrylic blend.

This is a knitting blog

2011-04-23T09:53:00.000+01:00

so I guess I should talk about knitting. Or rather how I've slowed down in my knitting output as I have to get through one library book a week. I do have a FO to show you which has been finished for about a month now but I still haven't got around to recharging my camera battery to take photos. I haven't even worn it yet - it's the Vine Lace Vest and I don't have a thing to wear with it. I like to have long-sleeves at work as I tend to get cold if I'm in short-sleeves but of my long-sleeved tops they are either the wrong colour or have the wrong neckline or are a bit on the cropped side for work. Guess I should get out there and buy a new top.

Oh, and I've also knitted an infinity scarf which I've worn but not photo'ed and it's been put away for next winter.

I am also nearly 3/4 done with a plain cardigan which hopefully I'll get finished in the next fortnight.

You can't beat a good book

2011-04-19T17:17:00.002+01:00

Focus on Books, a photo by Kamal H. on Flickr.

I used to be quite an avid reader until my job relocated and I could no longer get to work by public transport. Losing those 2 hours a day for reading reduced the number of books I read in a year. I must have restarted knitting about 2002 and that impacted my reading even further.

I knew that I was reading less but I had no idea how many books I was actually reading so in November 2004 I started keep tracking of the books I was reading. It’s just a simple list of book title and author and then I tally up the numbers read at the end of each year.

2005 :: 31 books
2006 :: 26 books
2007 :: 23 books
2008 :: 10 books
2009 :: 23 books
2010 :: 15 books

I must have done a lot of knitting in 2008. 2010 would have been even less but I got a Kindle in November and I managed to read 7 books while knitting.

I have so many books on my shelves sitting unread and I keep adding to them. This year’s resolutions were - read more books, try different genres and only buy books for the Kindle. So far I’ve managed 2 out of 3. Yes, I haven’t bought a single book for the Kindle this year even though it’s ideal for knitting and reading at the same time. My excuse is that in light of all the council cuts I’d better join the library and help their usage statistics.

This year I have read 19 books from 18 different authors, one of them has been a reread, 5 have been on the Kindle and 9 of them have been library books. I have also only read books from 4 of the authors before.

I try to set aside Wednesday evening and late afternoon Saturday and Sunday for reading and if I don’t have anything arranged for weekend mornings I’ll read in bed for an hour before getting up. Having library books is also helping as I like to finish them before they are due back.

Ridiculously excited about the arrival of a DVD

2011-04-16T16:23:00.136+01:00

«In Flanders' Fields» - published & illustrated in 1918, a photo by stoixeia on Flickr.

Back in 1979 the BBC produced a 5 part series based on Vera Brittain's book "Testament of Youth". It was a superb piece of drama that made quite an impact on me. It wasn't until reading the book that I realised how young they all were and how young the platoon leaders were - Roland was straight out of boarding school and was put in charge of 60 or so men. I have reread the book a few times over the years but the series has only been repeated once or twice. I happened to notice last week that it was released on dvd in 2010 so I just had to order a copy and it finally arrived today.

Also worth watching is "A Woman in Love and War: Vera Brittain" which was a BBC docu-drama.

I have also read "Letters From a Lost Generation - First World War Letters of Vera Brittain and Four Friends" which gave even greater insight into the personal tragedies caused by the war. It also gave some insight into the thoughts of well-off, privileged young Edwardians. Some of them are quite disconcerting:

In a letter from Flanders, Roland writes to Vera about 2 graves close by to where he is sitting writing the letter - one of a private and one of a Major:

I cannot help thinking of the two together and of the greater value of the one. What a pity it is that the same piece of lead takes away as easily a brilliant life and one that is merely vegetation.

With statements like that no wonder there was great social reform after WWI.

I've never reread the book of letters perhaps now will be an ideal time to reread both books. Despite "Testament of Youth" being one of my top 10 books I have never felt the urge to read the next 2 autobiographical volumes "Testament of Friendship" and "Testament of Experience". The last 2 volumes are out of print so I'll have to buy them second-hand as they also don't have any of the books in the local library. "Testament of Friendship" should be a good follow-up to the recent watching of South Riding" as it's about her friendhip with Winifred Holtby.

Here's a youtube snippet of a "Testament of Youth"

I even thought about podcasting

2011-04-14T13:49:00.078+01:00

microphone, a photo by timsnell on Flickr.

which if you knew me you'd find hilarious as you'd definitely not describe me as a talker.

I know in theory what would make a good podcast (or rather I know what I enjoy listening to) but putting it into practice would be a different matter and would take a lot more time than blogging. Spare time is something that I don't have a lot of currently.

There's a lot of knitting podcasts out there but I only listen to a handful. If I don't like a podcaster's voice then I won't listen to the podcast no matter how good it is. I do prefer UK podcasts but there's not many of them of around and I've certainly not heard a Scottish one.

My current favourite is the imake podcast. It's more of a multi-craft pod rather than just a knitting pod. Martine has a very pleasant voice and the podcast is very professionally produced. She's based in Guernsey so she differentiates her podcast from the others by including a regular section about all things Guernsey. She's only been podcasting since August, has produced 19 episodes and has covered a number of different crafts. I'm working my way through the back catalogue and I rather like the sound of working with precious metal clay. I've even looked up classes but I couldn't find any in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

So, what's your favourite podcast and do you listen to any non-craft podcasts?

The return of the blog?

2011-04-13T15:20:00.002+01:00

Four years and a day since I last blogged no reason why I can't start again. I've been mulling over the idea of returning to blogging for a while now driven mainly by my increasing ambivalence towards Ravelry. Don't get me wrong I think Ravelry is a great site and I have spent waaaay too much time on the site since 2008 but I've been feeling for the past six months or so that alot of that it's become a time suck and that time has been wasted and could be better spent doing something else. The patterns and projects side has become an essential tool and I'll keep on using them but I should keep out of the forums. It's not as if I was posting, I've just spent a lot of time reading threads and thinking of posting comments but hardly ever doing so. So, whenever I feel the temptation to go into the forums tab I'm going to start a blog post instead. The cardigan in the previous post is still in existence and has never been worn. It sits (or to be more accurate) is half falling off a shelf in the wardrobe waiting to be reknitted into a Saroyan.

Not sure

2007-04-12T20:54:00.000+01:00

I think it really makes me look abnormally long and lanky - almost as if I'd changed the proportions of the photo. Do you think it's the sleeves? Maybe if I shorten them to just before the elbow and then make them flare out? Or should I have shoert sleeves and put an extra couple of rows onto the body? I have no spare yarn - what you see is all I have.

4 times I've started a new project....

2007-04-05T16:18:00.000+01:00

....and I've got nothing to show.
I've had these 17 balls of Garnstudio for 3 years or more so I thought it was about time I sat down and knitted them up. I had in mind Sheringham from the Denim Knits Magazine so I cast on for that. I decided that there wasn't enough stitch definition and the pattern was not obvious so out it came.
I decided to go for a more obvious pattern - Tree of Life (again from Denim Knits). Couple of inches in I decided that there was still not enough stitch definition and that I didn't like knitting with such a thread-like yarn. So, I doubled it and went back to Sheringham. The pattern was looking good, I'd done about 2 pattern repeats when I thought I'd better measure the width - yes you've guessed it was going to be too big - about 6 inches too big and we know how much cotton can stretch sideways after a couple of washes.
Doubled Silke Tweed was giving me 18sts by 24 rows the perfect gauge for Tuja (which was doing the blog rounds in 2004) so I cast on for that. I'd done about 12 rows when I realised I'd actually twisted it while joining it so out it came again.
Will I give up? No. This bloody yarn is going to be knit into something whether it wants to or not.

Three Weeks Since My Last Post

2007-03-31T11:27:00.000+01:00

Surely, it must be time for another finished project:

Pattern: Boatman from Denim Knits Magazine.
Size: 8-9 years
Yarn DK 100% wool from Yarn Warehouse

Look at the size I knitted - all the patterns in this book have alot of ease in them. The 8-9 year size came in at a 42 inch finished bust size!

I adapted the pattern using the Grand Plan Pullover chart from Interweave knits. I think the sleeves could be a bit slimmer but otherwise it's a good fit.

This is a great pattern book - I'd rate it the second best in my collection. There's so many patterns that I want to knit from it but I wouldn't want to do them all in denim yarn. Patrick is the only one that I want to knit in denim, the othes I'd do in wool but first of all I think I'm going to have to find another template pattern to use for my adaptions - one with slimmer sleeves.

Slouchy Socks

2007-03-10T11:55:00.000Z

Pattern: Smith from Noro Knits Book (the one with Butterfly)
Yarn: Yarn Warehouse naturally oiled aran plus Rowan Magpie aran for the toes

A bit on the baggy side for my liking around the ankles and foot but I've always intended wearing these socks for lillinging about the house and I can still get my slippers on (added bonus)!!

Mittens On Kittens

2007-03-07T20:16:00.000Z

This seems to a never-ending hank of yarn. I think I bought 1.1kg of this natural oiled aran weight yarn from the shop at New Lanark about 3 years ago and so far I've knitted an aran jumper, a hat,a pair of legwarmers and now these mittens and I still have enough left to knit a slouchy pair of socks. All this for only £10.

Friday's Favourite Five

2007-03-02T09:03:00.000Z

This week it's DVDs that I like to rewatch and rewatch and rewatch:

Persuasion starring Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds
Jane Eyre starring Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke
How to Make an American Quilt starring Winona Ryder
Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle
Anna Karenina starring Helen McCrory

Guess who likes TV Period Dramas especially the ones made by the BBC?

Still in the land of small projects

2007-02-24T20:41:00.000Z

Another hat for someone who very rarely wears a hat:

Pattern: Lake Park Hat by Marnie MacLean
Yarn: sock yarn by Curious Yarns (whose website has been offline since the beginning of January)

Might just have been me but I got a bit lost among the decreases at the crown but I managed to fudge it and as it's variegated yarn you have to really study it to notice that the pattern goes a bit off kilter. It's on the crown of the head so as I can't see it while I'm wearing it I can forget that there's a mistake there. Out of sight out of mind - works for me.

There's matching gloves so guess what I'm making now.

Friday Favourite Five

2007-02-23T08:34:00.000Z

Is that another week gone? This week it's going to songs that make me stop what I'm doing, sit down, sigh and then hit the replay button.

"Everbody Hurts " REM
"Perfect Day" Lou Reed
"Bus to St Cloud" Trisha Yearwood
"Unloved" Jann Arden
"Deep Inside" Glengarry Bhoys

What's yours?

Two For The Price of One

2007-02-21T19:19:00.000Z

Yep, not one but two finished items. I have finished the Besotted Scarf from Hello Yarn:

I still had enough yarn left over to knit up Swell from Knitty:

and I still have enough of the blue and gray to knit another earflap hat but with the colours reversed.

2007-02-16T08:25:00.000Z

FRIDAY'S FAVOURITE FIVE

I'm not very good at sticking to new year's resolutions - I find I stick better to them if I set them later on in the month or in February. Two of those resolutions are to do with the blog. The first is to post more than I did in 2006. As I only made 17 posts in 2006 this should be a cinch. The second resolution was to put more of my personality into the blog - the problem with that is that I'm quite a private person and even though I love reading about other people's daily life on their blogs I just can't write about mine in an interesting way so i always just stick to the knitting.

So, the only way I can think of putting some more of my personality into the blog is that every Friday I'll list five things that I like (let's see how long this last)!

FRIDAY'S FAVOURITE FIVE: FLAVOURS

Cinnamon - love it in sweet breads, cakes, pastry, porridge, tea, with bananas in a sandwich and in sweets ( though I can only find cinnamon balls I love those Hot Tamale jelly sweets you get in the States)
Vanilla - best flavour for ice cream, yoghurt, custard, coffee. I buy "So Good Soya Mik" because it's got a taste reminiscent of vanilla. Crabtree & Evelyn also sell a good body lotion that smells of vanilla.
Tomato - best tinned soup is cream of tomato. If I make a casserole from scratch I always shove in a can of chopped tomatoes and tomato based past sauces are the only way to go.
Lemon - definitely a taste I've acquired as I got older. It used to be strawberry but i find that too sickly now so when it comes to sweets I'll usually pick lemon flavoured ones - love lemon cheescake, lemon meringue pie, lemon & lime marmalade, lemon curd, lemon boiled sweets and lemon chicken is my favourite chinese dish.
Pepper - actually this was a toss up between pepper and garlic - I seem to put them in everything but pepper wins out as I like the cracked black pepper crisps from M&S.

There you go that's five things you didn't know about me - what's your favourite five flavours?

2007-02-12T09:18:00.000Z

Scarves are so tedious to knit. i'm not even half-way through it and i'm bored already. I'll keep on knitting it until it's about 60 inches in length and then weigh how much yarn I've still got left. If it's enough for a pair of legwarmers or for a hat then I'll cast off. If there's not eneough left then I'll just keep knitting on the scarf until the yarn it all knitted up.

I've decided that the first quarter of the year is going to be spent on knitting up the odd balls of leftovers. I expect the two baskets I keep my scarves in will soon be overflowing but I've also decided thet the 2 long skinney scarves are not getting worn and it there is not enough matching yarn in the leftovers to widen them without disrupting their striped sequences then they are getting ripped out and recycled into my log cabin blanket (which I haven't started yet but is in the planning stages).

2007-02-10T16:16:00.000Z

2007 is turning into the year of the makeover. Out goes the curly hair, in comes straight hair and make-up. One photo is hairdresser/beautician version and the other photo is of my efforts. I don't know what's more difficult - using the straighteners or putting on foundation evenly !! I think I'm getting there with the hair at least it doesn't look like scarecrow hair anymore when I do it.

Never mind the makeover I'm wearing my own knits in those photos.

I'm still working away on using up leftovers. I'm knitting the besotted scarf which everyone and their granny seems to have knitted

2007-02-03T12:08:00.000Z

Rather Fetching don't you think?

I have been knitting away trying to use up leftovers. I originally had 1kg of the blue aran and Lara only used up 550g so I thought if I use my leftover grey aran for the cuffs and neck I can get a sweater out of this. Using the Grand Plan Sweater Pland from an old Interweave I completed front, back, one sleeve and then realised I wasn't going to have enough to finish the second sleeve so out it all came. Going to have to use up the yarn on little projects - done the mitts now it's the turn of the scarf.

2006-12-28T12:24:00.000Z

Crap, I've run out of room. Seriously, I've knitted so many jumpers, cardigans and tanks these last 5 years that my drawers are overflowing. Underbed storage is at a premium and when you factor in all my other clothes you get a serious storage problem. So, my only resolution for 2007 is to come up with an effective storage solution. I'm trying to kid myself that a simple rearrangement will free up 50% more storage!!

2006-12-16T15:15:00.000Z

Pattern: Lara ver.2
(from Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk book)
Yarn: Yarn Warehouse aran

The yarn had been knitted before and I've knit the pattern before so it was a perfect combination. The yarn had previously been Beatriz. from the same Debbie Bliss book but the yarn bloomed after the first wash so it was too big but it was also far too warm to wear - it'll be much more useful as a cardigan. I just need to run the steam iron over it as the bottom keeps curling up and I think I'd better put in some more practice in where's the best place to out the kilt pin.

I've got 2 other FOs to show you. I've been so busy knitting I've hardly bothered about christmas so no cards have been written yet (I just can't seem to get any enthusiasm for it this year).

If you've got a spare half-hour why not listen to "How to Knit A Poem" which explores "The links between knitting, poetry and the wider world".

2006-11-21T22:57:00.000Z

Pattern: Charm from RYC Classic Style Book 16
Yarn: Phildar Brisants (discontinued)

There's one thing that you can guarantee when you take an indoor shot using the automatic timer - it'll be out of focus. I thought this cardigan looked ok in the mirror but I should have waited until it had been washed and pressed before making it's debut on the blog. I predict lot of wear for this one.
This pattern was not my favourite from this book but I had enough yarn in the stash for it and it also didn't need buttons. I always have problems finding buttons that I like.

2006-11-11T12:38:00.000Z

It's not even the middle of November and I have an overwhelming desire to make of list of what I want to knit during 2007. This year has been the year of the cardigan - I've got two more on the go that should be finished by the end of the year. I was going to write how the only jumper I knitted this year is in the process of being ripped back when I thought I'd better look back at what I've knitted this year and realised that I have knitted 3 jumpers this year. Does anyone else forget what they have knitted? So should I have a theme for next year - like knit all the patterns I like from Rowan 28, or broaden it to knit only Rowan patterns or only RYC patterns or only Interweave Knits or Vogue. One thing is for sure I am going to have a great time going through my patterns!

2006-11-08T14:50:00.000Z

Here's the other cardigan I knitted during my 6 month blogging break:

click here for full size image - it removes the squiggles

Pattern: Onza from Rowan Magazine No 28
Yarn: Patons Gold Diploma DK

This was more stash yarn and is the same shade as my Must Have Cardigan which btw now has much better buttons.

Onza has been on my 'To Do' List for the last 4 years and I'm glad I finally got around to knitting. If it wasn't in garter stitch I would easily knit this again. I forgot how long a garter stitch garment can take to knit. I keep on meaning to to put a couple of stitches to anchor the collar down. I know I could tryingpressing them with a steam iron but I don't want to 'kill' the acrylic content of the yarn. I've worn this cardigan lots since I knitted it.

Rowan 28 is definitely my most used knitting book/magazine issue. I've knitted 4 projects from it and there are still some more that I want to knit. What's your most used knitting book/magazine issue?

2006-11-06T21:19:00.000Z

Everyone else seems to have done so why not me?

48 things you could care less about

1. First Name Linda

2. Were you named after anyone?
No. I'm the first and only Linda on both sides of the family.

3. When did you last cry?
Can't remember which is amazing as I'm terrible for blubbing at things on the TV. Obviously I'm not empathising with the wannabees on Americas Next Top Model. I've been watching re-runs of the first 4 seasons but luckily I've lost interest during season 5.

4. Do you like your handwriting?
It's not too bad. Like everyone else it used to be better.

5. What is your favourite lunchmeat?
Smoked ham

6. If you were another person would you be friends with you?
Why not.

7. Do you have a journal?
No. I've never lasted more than a month at writing one.

8. Do you still have your tonsils?
Yes.

9. Would you bungee jump?
Definitely not though I would consider abseiling

10. What is your favourite cereal?
Porridge made with soya milk and with a handful of currants stirred in.

11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Yes.

12. Do you think you are strong?
Yes I'm fairly self-reliant.

13. What is your favourite ice-cream flavour?
Vanilla

14. Shoe size?
5.5/6 and that's a UK size

15. Red or pink?
Both.

16. What is the least favourite thing about yourself?
Physical or character wise? My eyes are too small and I'm way too reserved.

17. Who do you miss most?
This is going to sound terrible but I don't really miss anyone. Every so often I'll think about someone I've lost contact and wonder what they are doing but not enough to make me want to contact them.

18. Do you want everyone to send this back to you?
I think just about everyone has already done this.

19. What colour pants, shirt and shoes are you wearing?
Block top, black trousers and navy blue slippers

20. Last thing you ate?
Packet of ready salted crisps

21. What are you listening to right now?
Tapping of my keyboard

22. If you were a crayon what colour would you be?
Navy blue

23. Favourite smell?
Lavender or cinnamon

24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Karen C.

25. The first thing you notice about people you are attracted to?
Eyes and smile

26. Do you like who you stole this off?
I've read countless versions of this meme

27. Favourite drink?
Gin and tonic

28. Favourite sport?
Does hill walking count?

29. Eye colour?
Blue

30. Hat size?
No idea

31. Do you wear contacts?
Yes.

32. Favourite food?
Pizza

33. Scary movies or happy endings?
Happy endings - I'm just a romantic at heart underneath this cold exterior

34. If you could live anywhere in the world where would that be?
Mull is slightly ahead at the moment

35. Summer or winter?
Either as long as it's not raining

36. Hugs or kisses?
Bring them on!

37. Favourite dessert?
Bread & Butter pudding

38. Who is most likely to respond?
Don't know

39. Least likely to respond?
Don't know

40. What books are you currently reading?
"Alone" by Admiral Richard E Byrd

41. What's on your mouse pad?
It's a Cat Protection one with a brown tabby holding a computer mouse in it's mouth

42. What did you watch on TV last night?
The Maltese Falcon

43. Favourite sounds?
The sea

44. Rolling Stones or Beatles?
Can i pass on this I'd rather not listen to them

45. The furthest you have been from home?
Hong Kong.

46. What's your special talent?
No party tricks here.

47. Where were you born?
Ayr

48. Who sent this to you?
Absolutely no-one.

2006-11-04T12:31:00.000Z

Just because I happened to be wearing it this morning:

Didn't realise the sun was directly behind me but you can still see the pattern.

Pattern: Sirdar Pattern Booklet 289 Design G
Yarn: Yarn Warehouse Aran

This was a real p.i.t.a to knit.It wasn't mindless stocking stitch that I could zone out on and rattle through while watching tv. I had to concentrate but the cable was not complicated enough to engage the brain so it turned out a rather boring knit. I would knit once piece and then take a break of a couple of weeks and then knit another. Each piece was slow going as I was so bored. Another thing I didn't like about the pattern was that the collar seems to start too far from the neck - I prefer mine a bit snugger.
If you haven't used Yarn Warehouse wool before it grows in the wash. I should have known this from experience and knitted the size down from the one I selected then I would be happy wearing it over a t-shirt.
Overall, I thing it turned out alright. I wanted it to be worn as a jacket rather than a cardigan.

So I've had 6 months away from blogging you would think I had a pile of knits to show off. Well, the sum total was 2 cardigans and 2 pairs of socks. I'll show the other cardigan next time I blog.

I've been enjoying myself over the summer with weekends away. I was away on holiday last week. The weather was pants but I had a great time. Here's where I stayed - nice and remote:

2006-04-22T14:59:00.000+01:00

Oh, look it's been nearly a month since I last posted. Must be time for another finished knit:

This is Forecast from Knitty which I didn't like at first but when I saw this version I thought I've just got the yarn that needs recycling for this. First it was used in Remembering Honey, then it became Grace and now it's become Forecast which I think will be it's last incarnation. I could have done with an another inch on the body but I'm all out of yarn but as it's 100% cotton I'm expecting it to fall once I've washed and blocked it.

Now I've just saw another one with shaped sleeves and I'm liking that as well.

2006-03-25T14:53:00.000Z

Getting ready for summer:

I managed to use up some of the ebay stash. The yarn is Lane Monterosa Delfino. I didn't have enough to make a tank (I know because I tried last year) so this is a modified version of Bliss from the latest rowan. I might put some ties on it I think I've got enough yarn left. I did have a button on it earlier and a button loop but it did not look right so that went.

2006-03-12T17:20:00.000Z

Jumping on the bandwagon about 6 months after everyone else:

I'm knitting the "My So Called Scarf". I'm wishing now that I'd cast on another 10 stitches but it'll have to do 'cos I'm not ripping it out.
This year i'm planning to knit of my stash. My stash is full of odds and sods from ebayso look out for lots of little projects over the next 6 months. Got to get rid of it so I can go out acquire a grown-up stash.

2006-03-09T22:40:00.000Z

Let me introduce you to Frances. Frances was formerly known as Balmoral but never felt happy with the way she looked. As a result of extensive surgery she's now much happier:

She's a bit on the large side as I was in between sizes so I decided to err on the larger size. I know from experience that this yarn seems to shrink with every machine wash so hopefully it'll fit me after a couple of washes.

2006-02-17T22:11:00.000Z

Meant to post this on Sunday but a chronic 4 day headache meant that I didn't feel up to switching on the computer in the evening when I got back from work. This photo is nearly a week old:

since then I've finished the back and done 6 pattern repeats on a sleeve. I just discovered tonight that I made a massive error 3 patterns back on the sleeve. I did what had to be done and ripped back. Couldn't face the thought of reknitting again tonight so it's off to bed with a book.

2006-02-08T13:07:00.000Z

Just managed to kill my photo-editing software but here's the finished pink jumper using the recycled yarn. Let's hope it's third time a treat:

The left sleeve is sitting funny in the photo.

2006-02-01T16:56:00.000Z

Yeah for broadband (especially when it's being paid for by work).
Yeah for working from home one day a week and being able to do a bit of knitting during the day.
Boo for drinking so much tea that you're going to the loo every 20 mins.
Boo for not having enough yarn to make three-quarter sleeves on the pink jumper.

2006-01-21T14:19:00.000Z

A bit of recycling going on. From this (my bra straps kept showing) and this (not comfortable showing so much belly) to this:

doesn't the smallest of some of those balls make you uncomfortable. I'm thinking of all the ends I'm going to have to deal with. I'm just planning on a simple jumper with set in sleeves. The length of sleeves is going to depend on how much yarn I have.

2006-01-17T19:25:00.000Z

Bang goes one of my goals for 2006 which was to knit less and free up time for some other activities. Here's my adapted Beatriz which was one month in the making:

I used 800g of Yarn Warehouse aran in the Denim colourway. I highly recommend this yarn, it's excellent value for the price. The pattern was easy to adapt - I just continued the raglan shaping up to the neck. The only negative point is with the sleeves - it's too wide at the top I could have done with missing out the last 2 increases.

2006-01-07T10:48:00.000Z

I've been wanting to post about these for a couple of days now but at this time of year I have to wait until the weekend until I can get to take photos in daylight. Of course, today has turned out to be a grotty, overcast day so I still need the flash.

Koigu socks from JStrizzy:

They are a perfect fit for my skinny ankles and this type of heel also fits much better than a heel flap. Can't you tell I'm very pleased with them.

2005-12-19T21:43:00.000Z

Still procrastinating over starting Kastanje's sleeves so I've started Beatriz from the Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk book:

well, what do you expect when you get a parcel of 2kg of wool from the Yarn Warehouse.
I also felt the need to cast-on another sock:

2005-12-15T19:27:00.000Z

I no longer have to make the decision of which leg is toasty and which one is cold :

and were these dificult to photo.

I've also now got a warm neck:

(Pattern specs: Leaf Cravat Interweave Knits Winter 02/03. Yarn is como/silk blend in the Spicy colorway from Foxhill Farm (courtesy of
Carolyn))
But I now have only one toasty hand:

all this is just to avoid starting the sleeves of Kastanje.

2005-12-10T16:27:00.000Z

I have been knitting. first of all I've been knitting some socks:

- that's Snoopy's butt getting ib the way.

I've also got one toasty leg:

(makes me look like I've got my leg in plaster) - here's a legless view:

better hurry up and knit it's partner. It's the Lola legwarmers from the Missions Fall Decade booklet

2005-11-14T22:24:00.000Z

For the enquirying minds. The pattern is from Dale #116. This is the best photo i could find in the colour way that I'm knitting. I've got to lazy daisy stitch the flowers onto the green blobs (that'll be fun - never done that before). But it'll be a long time before I get to that stage. I've taken a few days off from knitting asmy neck is killing me from spending all day Friday knitting while waiting for a delivery to arrive.

2005-11-11T14:16:00.000Z

It's been a long time since I posted an in-progress photo. my last couple of knits have sprung fully formed onto the blog. Here's my next cardi:

I'm enjoying knitting this. I've had the yarn for it for about 18 months so i thought it was about time I started.

2005-11-02T20:53:00.000Z

Stash Bustin'

Had some 100% cotton in some colours I could never see myself wearing. I doubled the yarn and with 6mm needles I made a new bathmat and some cleaning cloths (well one cleaning cloth - I want to see if it stands up to bath cleaning before I waste my time making more)

2005-10-15T21:34:00.000+01:00

I love it:

I always find a fault with my knitting usually it's the sleeves are a bit too long/short; it's a bit tight onthe bust; it's a bit too cropped; the colour is all wrong etc but this time I loved it even before I'd finished sewing the edging on.
Pattern specs: Deli from RYC Classic Cafe Book 1. Yarn is Jaeger Trinity.

2005-10-04T21:59:00.000+01:00

I know, I know it's a crap photo but I can't be bothered setting up the camera again so you'll just have to do with this out of focus one:

The back fits perfectly, but the front is a bit on the small side - ah, the joys of being well-endowed!!

BTW, I've been on holiday and despite the fact it rained all day every day except for one it was fantastic:

2005-09-13T15:22:00.000+01:00

This is the last time I'll be able to blog from work until after Xmas. Tomorrow we are being moved to a temporary location and I'm going from being on my own in a big office to open-plan. To make matters worse I'm sitting beside my boss. Boy, was he pissed that he didn't get his own office. Now he's going to have to sit with us plebs. We're also going from a department of 4 to a department of 2 so it'll definitely be nose to the grindstone for me. No more slacking and reading blogs. I'm making the most of my last day of freedom not only have I been reading blogs I must have played over 30 games of spider solitaire (it's so addictive). My commuting distance is also doubling but I will be able to work from home some days ( and maybe get some knitting done if the work load is slack).
Roll on the last week of September when I'll be on holiday.

2005-09-10T14:31:00.000+01:00

Turns out I've done more knitting that I thought I had over the summer.

I thought I'd resurrect Deli and I was surprised to see that I only had a little bit of knitting on the right front and then it would be onto the edging. So know I've done the edging for the bottom of the sleeves and have just started the edging for the body. I couldn't be bothered with it last night as I wanted to knit something substantial and the edging is only 7 stitches - you just about getting into the flow when you come to the end of a row and have to turn the needles. So I cast on for Coleen from the latest MagKnits. Of course, I first of all had to rip this old sweater, which I managed to shrink and it always was a close fitting jumper. I was worried what the yarn would be like as it was not quite felted but was getting close to it but it's fine - as good as new.
Managed to finish one sleeve so I'm off to cast on for the second one:

2005-09-08T10:34:00.000+01:00

Tried something different with the photos. Can you see them now?

2005-09-07T21:44:00.000+01:00

I did think of leaving it 3 months before I posted again but then I decided if i don't do it now I'll probably not get around to posting for another 3 months.

Don't ask me what I've been doing while I've been away - one thing's for sure there was not much knitting being done. I had problems with my internet connection for over a month but that's resolved now. Though I now have problems with ftp-ing my photos. It looks like they transfer but they don't show up in the directory. don't know if this new fix will work. If you can't see the photos let me know.

I did finish this shrug in Rowan Summer Tweed. Don't know what happened with the sizing other than it's too big so I've been washing it in the machine at 40% hoping that it'll shrink but of course it hasn't.

I've also knitted this jacket in Rowan Magpie. I had 300g of each colour and it was an eBay bargain so I made it more cropped than I would have ideally liked. The pattern is a modified Janda from Knitty.

2005-06-29T21:59:00.000+01:00

When you don't have anything to show on the knitting front just post another scenery photo:

That's Loch Etive yesterday on a very hot day and after walking 20 miles in that heat you did not want to stand down wind from me or sit beside me in a car.

2005-06-20T19:40:00.000+01:00

A great time in Glen Lyon

nearly made me forget the disaster that is my knitting

I knew it was going to be too big before I started sewing it up. Don't know I then proceeded to weave in all the ends - make's it more challenging to unpick!

2005-06-14T14:51:00.000+01:00

Watched 2 good DVDs recently - Vera Drake and The Notebook. I've also been reading - I whizzed through "The Da Vinci Code" - thought I'd better read it to see what all the fuss is about and because it's always being mentioned in the local paper as I live about 7 miles from Rosslyn Chapel. I thought it was a good page-turner but I started getting bored around the 500 page mark. I then read two thirds of "The Republic of Love" by Carol Shields before giving up on it - I expected better from an author who's won so many prizes but I found this book rather trite. A much better book was "The Dive from Clausen's Pier" by Ann Packer. The main character is an avid sewer and she retreats into this hobby after her fiance's accident. I am now serously thinking of buying a sewing-machine - I've even gone so far as to price them on the interent. I see a new hobby coming up!

2005-06-11T17:15:00.000+01:00

I see some serious dieting ahead. A 20% increase in bodyweight in 2 years means that the big, fat belly can no longer be ignored. Here's a before photo:

That's 6kg of sweetness that needs to get down to less than 4kg - I see tantrums ahead!

2005-06-09T20:51:00.000+01:00

It's all about the knitting:

If only I could stop starting new projects I might finish something!!

2005-06-05T19:47:00.000+01:00

Run Bambi, run

A zoom-in of a zoomed photo. This is the closest I've managed to get to a herd before. One whiff of human scent from half-a-mile away and they are off but I managed to get my camera out in time - for a change

2005-05-17T12:16:00.000+01:00

Too busy getting out and about to do any knitting.

2005-05-10T12:17:00.000+01:00

I'm lovin' knitting with Jaeger Trinity - I think I may have found my preferred yarn for summer knitting. Of course, I haven't washed it yet so I may change my mind when it starts to look like a limp rag after it's been washed. I've already decided what I'm next going to knit with it in an indigo blue colour - but I'm getting ahead of myself I must finish Deli or Kitty first.

2005-05-05T13:26:00.000+01:00

All this talk in blogland about Maryland has reminded me about Woolfest in June. Just checked their site again and there's now a listing of confirmed vendors. Not being a spinner I was worried that there might not be enough yarn suppliers to justify the journey but no worries now. Looks like I'll be able to spend my pennies with no bother.

2005-05-04T20:41:00.000+01:00

Current state of my knitting basket:

The lime green rib is the back of Kitty and on top is the start of the sleeve for Deli - I'm using the recently purchased Jaeger Albany for this.

2005-05-03T11:43:00.000+01:00

Last week was very interesting I spent 4 days doing Jury Service. It was an eye-opening experience - I thought it'd be more professional than it was. Thankfully, I will not have to serve on a jury for another five years. Three good things about last week were:

- I took the bus instead of driving so lots of reading was possible
- I got to look at nice architecture every day eg St Giles
- I managed to get some yarn shopping in when we finished at 2pm on the lst day of the trial. Got me some Jaeger Trinity (cotton/silk blend)

2005-05-02T23:47:00.000+01:00

Third time's the charm:

I know, crap photo but it's waaaay past my bedtime and I've still got some ironing left to do so it's the best you are going to get. I've also posted a photo of the Must Have cardi with smaller buttons and you can find that in the Gallery 2005 page.

Added later:
I modified the Hudson pattern from Noro Knits minus the hood plus I also didn't do as much ribbing - mine's looks more like a Ribby Cardi.

2005-04-22T12:52:00.000+01:00

Indulged in a little retail therapy- got some smaller buttons for the Must Have cardi (guess what I'll be doing tonight) and also bought the Classic Cafe pattern booklet - there's at least 5 patterns in there that I want to knit though I'm not sure if I want to be described as being "a mature but style-conscious knitter".

2005-04-20T14:44:00.000+01:00

I see the Kim Hargreaves' site has gone live. Pretty patterns but not enough to tempt me to buy.

2005-04-15T14:50:00.000+01:00

So, did I finish Slick in time to wear today? Yes
I'm I wearing it today? No
Why not? IT'S TOO FREAKIN' SMALL.

The back fits great but the fronts too small. I stayed up way too late trying out constructive ways of making Slick wearable - I thought edge to edge cardi and tried a clasp closure and also a brooch. I did take photos but my internet connection was down so you'll have to wait for that until after I get back home from work. Anyway, woke up this morning feeling very tired and started ripping.

UPDATE:

see, doesn't quite work. Those of a long term memory may recognise the yarn. In it's former life it used to be this which did get worn alot last winter but this winter didn't leave the wardrobe.

2005-04-13T10:23:00.000+01:00

I'm still here but too busy knitting to post. Slick is nearly finished. Just got the collar, some seaming and a zip to sew in. I hope to be wearing it Friday.

2005-04-06T20:34:00.000+01:00

Warning, non-flattering photo ahead:

Took a couple of days off to do what I like best. Unfortunately the weather wasn't kind to us. These mountains were clear of snow on Sunday but when we came back up on Tuesday it was knee-deep once you got above 2,000ft. I had an enjoyable two day though and it's back to work tomorrow. Haven't touched Kitty this week but I have done the back of Slick (I'm making mine a bit longer in the body).

2005-04-02T12:57:00.000+01:00

Not 100% that these are the right buttons but the Must Have cardi is finished:

I'm pleased with the way that it has turned out could have done with a little bit more length but when it gets washed it'll probably drop a little - at least the sleeves are long enough.

2005-03-29T12:14:00.000+01:00

With such a long break since my last blog post you'd think I'd have something to report but I don't. Ever feel like you've been knitting and knitting and only have an inch to show for it? That's been me for the past fortnight. I'm up to the armhole shaping on the second sleeve of the "Must Have" cardi. I've started Kitty from Rowan 27 with the Garnstudio Silke Tweed and I was a good way up the back before I read the pattern thoroughly and wished that I had done so before I had started. The SilkeTweed has a different gauge than the 4 ply cotton so I'm knitting a smaller size that what I would usually do and I ignored the row gauge which is fine if you're knitting to measurements instead of row numbers which Kitty is so I've had to knit an extra 22 rows to get a decent body length (yes, Silke Tweed is one of those annoying yarns that have less stitches per inch than the 4ply cotton but more rows per inch)this is going to mess up the neck shaping on the front. Another thing, I always start on the back and of course I should have started on the fronts as the instructions for the back has got "knit until it matches the front" so I've had to count the rows in the front then keep track of the numbers of rows I'm knitting - I can never remember to turn the row counter.
My reading is not faring too well either. I haven't finished a single book in March. It doesn't help that I'm reading various collections of short stories and I'm not a short story person - give me a 600 page tome and I'll finish it alot quicker than a 200 page book of short stories.

2005-03-18T13:31:00.000Z

Feelin' weary

Of knitting the Must Have cardi. I'm on the last sleeve about halfway through the increases and it's giving me the knitting blaahs. Time for a change so keeping with my project list from the end of January:

1. Finish Retro-Prep.
2. Knit the last sleeve of Consuelo.
3. Knit up the 26 balls of green Patons DK for a button-up cardigan (Miriam from Rowan 28) and a hooded zippy (Mariah from Knitty).
4. Knit up the 17 balls of light green Garnstudio tweed. I'm thinking Foxy and Palm from Rowan 27.
5. Legwarmers from Mission Falls Decade booklet.
6. More Gifted mittens but using a tighter gauge.
7. A hat with earflaps.
8. Clapotis.

It's onto No. 4 and small needles. The Garnstudio Silk Tweed is supposed to be DK but it's more like 4ply.

2005-03-10T16:02:00.000Z

I'd better start saving my pennies now. Woolfest 2005 is being held at Cockermouth on 24th & 25th of June. According to the website it is the first annual festival celebrating all aspects of natural fibres - their sources, uses and products.
AND it's
The first ever festival of it's kind to be held in the UK.

It's got a workshop by Jean Moss and also features a giant "spin-in" on Friday evening.

I'm going to try to be there - how about you?

2005-03-09T21:49:00.000Z

The Must Have cardi is the only project I currently have on the go. I've done the back, one sleeve and am now on the left front. I like doing the fronts - they go so fast.

I need to knit another pair of the Gifted mitts. I lost one on Saturday on top of a hill with a gaile blowing and hailstones flaying the skin off my face (very painful). The wind just caught it and off it went:

This was the pair that I had knitted large and then shoved in the washing machine to shrink. This made them more windproof and when combined with my voodoo wristwarmers are quite cozy. Shrinking them had made the cuff too short so now I'll get a chance to knit another pair with a longer cuff and a longer thumb. See, losing the mitt was a good thing.

2005-03-07T21:37:00.000Z

The grotty bathroom shot will just have to do. It's the brightest room in the house after dark and I can take photos without using the flash. If I was to use the flash you wouldn't see the cabling. At long last I've finished the modified Consuelo:

The sleeves could have done with being a wee bit longer but I like it.
You can see the original version here. I couldn't get row gauge with my recycled yarn so my cables are shorter in height than the original. I did a quick google search to see if anyone else out in blogland has knit Consuelo but I drew a blank. If you have come across one let me know.

2005-03-03T20:04:00.000Z

Any takers for this fine collection of patterns? Photos here or here. They are all late 80's patterns except for a copy of Interweave Knits Summer 2001 issue. First pick goes to Jill who guessed correctly that I've been listening to Pat Benater - I've also been listening to A-Ha, Simple Minds, Heart and Level 42. Leave a comment with your email address and I'll get back to you.

2005-03-01T23:05:00.000Z

Ears cold, needed new hat with big cuff:

Mmmm,nice and toastie now.
Pattern was from the same Patons leaflet that's got the Must Have cardigan in.

2005-02-25T15:25:00.000Z

Nostalgia Rules
Don't know why but I've found myself on a nostalgia trip these past couple of weeks. I've dusted-off my collection of tapes from the 80's and have been listening to music I haven't heard for over a decade. It's amazing how song lyrics just pop into your head even if you haven't heard the song for years.
My DVD viewing has also been following this nostalgia trend. I've been watching some old TV series from the 70's and early 80's. So far I've watched:
Poldark; Tenko; The Onedin Line and Lillie. All of which have stood the test of time.
Thankfully, this nostalgia trip hasn't affected my knitting and I am not tempted to reknit any of the box-shaped, dropped shoulders sacks that I knitted in the 80's. To remove the temptation does anyone want to relieve me of some of the patterns that I have from the 80's? All you have to do is tell me who I have been listening to on tape - go on hit me with your best shot ....(that's a clue btw).

2005-02-23T19:19:00.000Z

Sweeties or to be more accurate - bonbons. All the way from France courtesy of Kate:

Starting at the front 2 generous handfuls of Carambar caramels (these are delish),then clockwise violet flavoured bonbons, Vichy mint pastilles (which if my French is up to it contains mineral salts to aid the digestion), then it's strawberry bonbons and the box is Berlingots de Carpentras which I think are flavoured with the fruits of Provence. I've only tried the Carambars but I'm looking forward to trying the rest. I wonder if the violet bonbons taste like the parma-violets I ate as a kid?

2005-02-22T21:41:00.000Z

Spent the weekend out in a freezing wind inside of keeping cozy inside and knitting.

Portmore Loch
Luckily, the snow didn't arrive until Sunday night.

2005-02-20T08:40:00.000Z

No sunset photos this week. Instead you're getting the start of the spring flowers:

For me, I consider spring has arrived when the daffodils flower and that's still a couple of weeks away yet and with snow forecast for tomorrow it's definitely still winter.

2005-02-17T12:08:00.000Z

The "Must Have cardi" has been put on the back-burner for the past couple of days. Instead, I've been climbing up and down a step-ladder emulsioning walss. Great for toning the legs and backside. Thought I'd finished last night with the third coat but in the cold moring light I can see a few places that I've missed so it's decorating again tonight. And if I see any missed bits tomorrow morning it'll just sodding stay like that. Can't you tell how much I've enjoyed decorating - next time I'm paying decoraters!

2005-02-16T13:33:00.000Z

Haven't done a reading review in a while, so you're going to get 2 for the price of 1.
"The Songlines" - Bruce Chatwin. I felt short-changed by this book. I was expecting a book on his travels in Australia with an emphasis on the Aborigines. Instead, a third of this book was extracts from his notebooks which consisted of quotations from a wide range of writers and anecdotes of prior travels.

"Three Junes" - Julia Glass. Winner of the 2002 National Book Award. For an award winner this book was littered with factual mistakes. If you're going to set a novel in a country you don't live in and have only visited on holiday about 25 years ago you think the author would do some research? Not Julia Glass. I won't bore you with a list of mistakes. I also can't believe this book won a prize, to me this book was very much a beach read. Read it once and put it out for the next charity collection.

2005-02-13T16:36:00.000Z

If it's sunday it must be time for another sunset photo. This time a golden sunset. What does everyone prefere a red sunset or a golden one? I think I'll choose a golden one:

2005-02-10T13:52:00.000Z

Hey, it's true photos can look completely different on different monitors. I posted the photo of my current project on my home computer and it looked fairly accurate colour-wise and you could see the cables. Today, I'm looking at it at work and it can be best described as a dark, indistinguishable blob. I have to turn the brightness control all the way before the cables start to emerge. So for everyone out there who just sees a blob I'm knitting the Must Have cardigan. I'm knitting the large size as I'm using DK weight wool which is of a finer gauge than the pattern calls for. I can never be bothered faffing around with all the maths so I just went a size up. Of course, after I had cast on and did an evenings worth of knitting on it I come across lots of blogs where they say the sizing comes out smaller than expected. So, after lots of worrying yesterday I got back home and measured the back as between 19 and 20 inches (depending on how much I stretched it)which will make a good sized cardigan.

2005-02-09T20:52:00.000Z

So, next on my project list is knit the last sleeve for the Consuelo jumper. Nope, just knitted 2 sleeves for the Retro-Prep can't face another sleeve just yet. Number 3 on the list was Miriam or Mariah - nope but I am using the Patons green DK see:

2005-02-08T22:47:00.000Z

Kate's tagged me. So here goes:

1. Total amount of music files on your computer?1.05GB or 17hr 29 mins 20 sec. I'm surprised that there's so much I still very much rely on my stereo for playing music.
2. Last CD you bought. Here's where I lose any street cred I ever had Robbie Williams "Greatest Hits". I think he's a self-conceited tosser but I love "Road to Mandalay".
3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message? That was in the car driving to work and it was Jolene by Mindy Smith.
4. Write down 5 songs you often liten to or that mean alot to you.
"Sand and Water" Beth nielson Chapman. Love, love, love this song. I could listen to it all day.
"Unloved" Jann Arden and Jackson Browne. I have about 5 tapes in my car and I never tire of the Jann Arden one.
"Spartacus " Khachaturyan. This reminds me of growing up. It specifically reminds me of Sunday evenings when the Onedin Line was on tv and it was compulsory family viewing.
"Rhiannon" Fleetwood Mac. I used to think Stevie Nicks was so cool.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" Queen. We had many a drunken night singing this. I new all the words, could do the opera bits and I did a mean air guitar.
5. What 3 people are you going to pass this baton to and why?
This is difficult as it seems that everyone and their granny have already been tagged. So, I'm going to go for Heather as she's a fellow Scot and this might make her post more often. I'm also going to tag Debs 'cos she used to comment alot on the blog and hasn't in a while. I couldn't find a third person to tag that hadn't been tagged before o if anyone wants to volunteer?

2005-02-07T19:22:00.000Z

I didn't like the neckline at first but now that it's been washed and ironed it doesn't bother me. I do wish that I had made it an inch longer in the body though - I had enough yarn.

2005-02-06T17:11:00.000Z

I shouldn't be snapping photos and blogging when I'm soooo close to finishing Retro-Prep but I just looked up and there was this amazing sunset so I just had to take a photo:

2005-02-01T21:12:00.000Z

Retro-Prep progress:

Using the flash always washes out the colour. I'll have to look at the manual to see if there is a way to adjust the strength of the flash. Hoping to finish a sleeve by the weekend.

2005-01-27T14:22:00.000Z

Knitting stocking-stitch in the round has given me ample time to think about future projects. Look, I've even drawn up a list:

1. Finish Retro-Prep.
2. Knit the last sleeve of Consuelo.
3. Knit up the 26 balls of green Patons DK for a button-up cardigan (Miriam from Rowan 28) and a hooded zippy (Mariah from Knitty).
4. Knit up the 17 balls of light green Garnstudio tweed. I'm thinking Foxy and Palm from Rowan 27.
5. Legwarmers from Mission Falls Decade booklet.
6. More Gifted mittens but using a tighter gauge.
7. A hat with earflaps.
8. Clapotis.

This is a very fluid listing - the order has changed between writing it in a notebook and writing it in the blog. I realised that I was hankering after my bamboo needles (of which I only have 2 pairs) so the Patons has got bumped up the list.
This list uses all stash yarn that I bought with no specific project in mind. Once I clear this lot I'm aiming to revert back to just buying yarn for a specific project.

2005-01-26T23:22:00.000Z

The blob that is my Retro-Prep:

Not very exciting to look at.

2005-01-25T15:53:00.000Z

In recognition of Burn's Night:

SCOTS, wha hae wi’ WALLACE bled,
Scots, wham BRUCE has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to Victorie!

Now’s the day, and now’s the hour;
See the front o’ battle lour;
See approach proud EDWARD’S power—
Chains and Slaverie!

Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha can fill a coward’s grave?
Wha sae base as be a Slave?
Let him turn and flee!

Wha, for Scotland’s King and Law,
Freedom’s sword will strongly draw,
FREE-MAN stand, or FREE-MAN fa’,
Let him on wi’ me!

By Oppression’s woes and pains!
By your Sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!

Lay the proud Usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
LIBERTY’S in every blow!—
Let us Do or Die!

Robert Burns born January 25th, 1759

That's my 2nd favourite Burn's poem. My favourite is too long to be included here. It includes the very truthful lines:

(Auld Ayr, wham ne’er a town surpasses,
For honest men and bonie lasses).

Being born and bred in Ayr I like to think of myself as a bonnie lass.

Anyways the first person to name my favourite Burn's poem and to make it more difficult you've also got to name one other poem by Burns that mention's Ayr (can be the river or the town) gets a wee collection of Scottish sweeties.

Fellow Scots are not allowed to enter.

2005-01-22T20:55:00.000Z

I had enough yarn.....just

I was just casting off the second sleeves and had about 10 stitches left to cast off when I run out of yarn. Just as well that I leave long tails when I cast on. I was able to use them to cast off those last 10 stitches. Luckily I had already done the neckband as I had done that before I had knitted the sleeves. I hadn't wanted to compromise on the height of the neckband so I got it out of the way as early as possible so I wouldn't be tempted to skimp on it.
Bit fed up of knitting with red so I won't be finishing that last sleeve on Consuelo yet.

2005-01-18T17:05:00.000Z

I think we're going to make it. I've got 100g left for the rest of the Bond sleeves. I'm 6 rows from the last increase on the first sleeve and then have about 7 cm before the armhole shaping. I'm not 100% confident I'll make it but it's looking promising. While all this knitting has been going on there's not been much reading going on. Instead the DVD player is in overtime. Watched "Monster" and "Taking Sides". I was impressed by Charlize Theron in "Monster" - I never realised she was so tall.

2005-01-14T13:30:00.000Z

The back of Bond is finished and I'm finished the waist-shaping decreasing on the front. I'm nearly half way through the yarn that I've got and I still can't decide if I've enough yarn for three-quarter sleeves. I usually follow one third for the back ; one third for the front and one third for the 2 sleeves but how much less does three-quarter length sleeves take?
DVD watchhing has healped me do so much knitting. I watched "The Stepford Wives" one night (an okay movie glad I didn't pay to see it at the cinema) and then last night I watched "One Hour Photo" (good film starring a very creepy Robin Williams).

2005-01-12T13:21:00.000Z

Got some advertising blurb in the mail yesterday from Liz Earle about skincare. One of the points it raised was - get enough sleep and to remember the golden rule "An hour before midnight is worth two after". Never heard of this - is it true? Guess I'll have to start heading off to bed earlier if I want to eradicate the bags under my eyes.

2005-01-11T13:26:00.000Z

The "These can not possibly be the same dyelot Tank" has been ripped back, put in a bag and hidden in the bottom of the yarn basket. I finished the Consuelo front and should have started the final sleeve but I decided I needed a stocking stitch project ro knit while watching DVDs. I've got 400g of a red 5ply wool so I may or may not have enough for three quarter sleeves. If not, it'll be a tank. The pattern I'm using is Bond from Rowan 28. The guage is out but I'm just knitting a smaller size so it should fit. I've decided on the other plain sweaters I'm going to knit - the Retro Prep from IK (it's got raglan sleeves); the Grand Plan Sweater from IK (it's got set-in sleeves and no waistshaping) and Bond has set-in sleeves and waist-shaping. They may all be plain but they all look different from one another.
Watched a good film on Saturday night "Finding Forrester" - though it could have done with less basketball.
Also, finiashed a book over the weekend "The Girls of Slender Means" by Muriel Spark. This was my first book by Muriel Spark and it may be my last. I didn't like her writing style and didn't think much of the story, I'll still give "The Prime of Miss Brodie" a chance. One of my 40 things to do while I'm 40 is to read more Scottish authors so I'm doing quite well on that Robin Jenkins, Andrew Greig and now Muriel Spark.

I've been feeling a bit down these past few days and I'd put it down to PMT but it just struck me at lunchtime that it's the book I'm reading. "The Stone Garden" by Molly Moynahan. It's all about the effect of death on the people left behind, told from a 17 years old perspective. It's well written but definitely depressing

2005-01-07T19:46:00.000Z

I'm not a happy bunny:

and they were supposed to be from the same dyelot. Next time I'm going to knit under a bright light instead of in my usual gloomy half-lit corner. I guess I'd bet get ripping and next time alternate between the two skeins. Serves me right for not finishing Conseulo before diving in for a quickie project.

2005-01-06T10:38:00.000Z

I've done my good deed for the day. I used to carry an Organ Donor card but I lost it along the way some years back and I've been meaning to get another one for quite awhile but it's just one of those things that you never get around to doing. Today I sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register. You can do it to online here.
Rebecca posted a great post yesterday - 30 things to do while she's 30. I may just have to create my own list. I turned 40 in September so I could do a 40 things while I'm 40 list. Becoming an organ donor can be No. 1 in the list.

2005-01-04T21:18:00.000Z

What I did over the holidays:

I finished the sleeve and am about 20 rows away from finishing the front of Consuelo. I knit the back of a tank - the colours show up darker than they really are but when I used the flash you couldn't see the cables on Consuelo. I finished one parquet sock and read one book. Not bad but I was hoping to get more reading done than I actually achieved.

2005-01-03T20:51:00.000Z

Every so often I regret deleting my old blog when I took what turned out to be a non-permanent break from blogging. I've been thinking about what my resolutions/goals for 2005 are and it would have been nice to look back at the 2004 goals I'd set (and failed at completing).

2005 Goals are:

1. Become tidier and more organised - I'm sure this was a 2004 goal. Hopefully this year I'll make some progress on it.

2. Knit my stash. Luckily, I don't have a large stash. What I do have is alot of eBay purchases in quantities that are probably a couple of balls short of what I'd need to knit the projects I have in mind. The quickest way to knit through the stash is stocking-stitch. So in 2005 I see alot of plain nd simple knitting. Thankfully, I don't mind knitting yards of stocking stitch.

3. Become more environmentally-friendly. The first step is to switch from moisturisers and cleansers containing synthetic chemicals. The products I'm currently testing are from Love The Planet and Green People. Greenpeace has an interesting section on chemicals in the body.