nappy-mad-knitter

Finsihed items - week ending 16th/2/07

2008-02-17T13:01:00.013Z

Half term week has brought the usual manicness of having the kids home and the usual quietness in the shop. Resulting in lots of knitting time at work and hardly any at home.

First up is my shoal water, which was finished the week before possibly, how can you tell when the days and weeks roll into one! Anyway pleased to have finished this item, it got a little tedious towards the end. I am glad I hadn't selected a thinner yarn which needed another 2 or 3 repeats of the pattern.

And another shawl, cast on many months ago, september I think as a guess I finished it leaving just the blocking and the end weaving in to do, here is is blocked anf finished at last!

My other finish offs are a pair of shorts and a soaker, these are to be part of babykinds new range. I have several more to do before they get listed, hoping to get them done this week.

Another pinwheel blanket, using 6 or 7 balls of peaches and cream cotton, lost count of the ombre teal used and can't weigh it to check. There was around 471 stitches on the needles before I cast off, and after adding the crocheted trim it measures 35 inches in diameter

And some new projects

Pink ribbon illusion scarf, Have done more than the picture shows, have completed the ribbon and worked around 3 inches of plain knitting.

Another pair of shorts

Not quite knitting, took this off Jessica a few days ago, isn't she just the sweetest little thing?

Wearing 2 outfits at once is her style at the moment, in these photos she has on a long sleeved jumper and pinifore style dress thing BIL brought her for christmas, and a dora t shirt and a pair of jeans!

February's WIPs

2008-02-09T00:04:00.000Z

As usual I have far to many WIP's on the needles. I did say that I wouldn't cast o for something else without first finishing current project, that lasted all of a week if that. I have been better at my not buying yarn vow, and only buying it when I firstly have the time to make something, and only if I don't already have something suitable in my stash, oh and that I know what I am going to make. I have also promised myself this year that I won't sit and knit piles and piles of longies and soakers, many of those made last year are still in boxes in my house. many of these items have been reduced. So far this vow is going well and I Have made more items for myself and my family in one month than I did for the whole of last year! Anyway enough rambling and more pictures.

My longest standing WIP going back to november last year are these socks, I keep mislaying the pattern, and when I find it I can't find the sock!

Next is my version of a soaker and skirt, the first picture shows my first trim which I frogged as it took so long, about 3 hours, and added masses to the weight of the item. The second shows its current state, not looked at for a while, will have to go back to it soon,

Another item abandoned when things didn't go well, I have done the sleeves and the neck on this and decided I didn't like the way it was going, well made a huge mess up of the picking up the neck stitches.

Two pin wheel blankets the baby blue one is almost finished and the turquiose mix yarn is a way off yet, waiting for more yarn to complete it.

Also started in november I think, Collette by white lies designs, my first attempt at this didn't go well, I subbed the DK weight yarn for an aran weight and got the guage perfect. It is now going well when I ever pick it up which hasn't been for some weeks. I have done the back, and most of 1 front, once I have finished a few things I will get back onto it.

And finally (for now) my shoal water, cast this on in january and have spent most of my time with it. Whilst I have enjoyied this pattern and it has really pulled for my attention I am finding it very monotumous. I am glad I have picked a DK weight yarn, I don't think I could do another 2-3 repeats of the pattern really. ANyway here is my most resent picture

Januarys finished knits

2008-02-08T23:50:00.000Z

A quick run down of everything finished last month. Everything listed above was made in january excluding the lime green rowan dolly bag, that was finished before christmas

About time I did this!!!

2008-02-08T23:32:00.000Z

Once again it has been months since my last post, huge appologies to those who read, I really must make the effort to update more often.

Well what has happened since my last post - Big news - My dad is in remission, he finished his treatment at the end of october, and has been going once per month to see the specialist. His blood tests have been okay and he is recouperating slowly, much to slowly for his liking though.

Christmas passed without event and we enjoyied a lovely family christmas, was quite sombre if thats the right word, the one he was very nearly not here for, given very little chance in march to beating the odds and surviving when 90% off people with simular cancers don't survive. Enough of the doom ab gloom,

Here are some pictures of my two taken christmas day

And a couple taken in the new year after a successful shopping trip in the sales. My two rarely get new stuff but the items I brought cost less than what I owuld have got them in the charity shops.

Long time no write.......again

2007-11-21T21:15:00.000Z

I've been all of a fluster the last few weeks. Not sure if I am coming or going, half the time I am convinced I am on groundhog day where the same day is happening over and over and will continue intil I get it right.

I've also sort of lost my knitting mojo, but I think its more due to the amount of projects I have stacked up for christas gifts and outstanding orders. Due to the postal strikes I had piles of stuff that should have turned up in nice regular well planed intervals, giving me plenty of time to sort the items out before the next stuff arrived.

2 weeks later I am still waiting on the items, then lo and behold the whole lot turns up at once. Next step is needles on fire and unpicking wrong sized items and reworking, on top of new stuff as well. I know I said I liked a challenge but that was plain ridiculous.

Hey ho it's over with thank goodness, theres nothing like trying to sort out 3 weeks worth of work in just the one, and not knowing who to sort first as everyone had been waiting an age.

It needless to say left very little time for anything else. I had started DH's christmas jumper withmind of doing a bit every day I didn't pick it up for a couple of weeks, I just hope I get it sorted in time.

I did manage to finish my socksfor last months challenge, and sent them of to Daisydap for a sock swap as I found that they where to small

I have finshed both but can't find a picture of the 2 together, there is one on her blog through.

I also finished thesefor my dad

Now to this months knitting, what little I have had time for

More socks for my dad, like the others done in DK it knits up so quick, the half done sock was the result of just 3 hours sitting with it in total. It's not a pair for the finished one either. I didn't notice that the yarn repeat was quite a long one and managed to cast on the second sock right in the middle so the stripes didn't match. Didn't like to unpick it so made it slightly smaller in the leg, and hope that I have enough yarn to make 2 pairs, if not the 3rd soak will definatly match one of the socks.

And my final picture

It's a rowan dolly bag, well half of one. I am so pleased with it, after a few hicups getting started I soon got into the pattern. This part only took 2 evenings, and is relitivly quick to knit.

It's the first time I have tackled such a complex pattern and reading from a chart as well. I'm not really liking the rowan cotton much finding it quite harsh on my hands. I do plan to make more bags through, this on is going to my mum for christmas, I'm hoping to get the rest of it finished on the weekend as long as I get upto date with my current shop orders.

And the wanderer returns

2007-10-21T20:05:00.000Z

Long time no blog again.

Much has happened in the many weeks/months since my last post. Ihave had a new laptop (yay) So impressed everything is much faster, which is great anda fter the the inital I can get online and much screaching and hair pulling it is sorted.

Well my stashalong, it was short lived, but I have been doing knitting and I have produced lots of items, but I am afraid to report my stash in the last few weeks has grown rather thn shrunk. Added to what I already have is 3 kilos or beautiful bright dyes yarns, 500g of fyberspates yarn, 200g of krafty koala and almost 2 kilos of SKD pure alpaca.

Well I gave it a good sht didn't I, i must try harder to reduce stash levels, specailly given as I have sorted out all my yarn and found tons of personal stash, when I thought I only had a few bits. I have more than enough yarn to make 16 pairs of socks!

Holiday snaps at last

2007-09-09T21:48:00.000Z

Finally some pictures from our holiday, it's only taken me a week to get round to it, and the five here are the some total as well. The weather was awful tipping it down for most of the afternoon on sunday. It was dryish in the morning and the kids had a whale of time feeding 2 ducks. Those two ducks soon turned into 20 odd though

Stashalong week 4

2007-08-27T21:21:00.000Z

Not an awful lot this week. I have been concentrating on other things, namely finishing my clapotis.

I have used 2 totally different coloured skiens one is more purply and the other is more blue, you can just tell the difference if you look closely at the image, IRL it is so much more obvious.

I have also this weekend gone taken part in a bank holiday challenge, it was to knit a full sized garment in the time between friday evening an monday evening. And this was as far as I got.

And this is what I am making

Its out of june last years simply knitting, I think I have probably cast on the wrong size but I will see the project through eventually.

Anf finally, the results of last weeks stashalong. I think I have lost my flair a little after such a good start, the number of items I've made has dwindled, but at the same time I have been making much larger items.

Results of stashalong week 3

2007-08-20T08:30:00.000Z

Not much knitting this week, have been making lots of jewellery so knitting has fallen by the wayside for much of the week.

The results for this week, the first 4 are made from brightdyes yarn, the strippy one is made from 3 discountinued colours of jaeger matchmaker merino and the final soaker is made from british breeds yarns. The last 2 still need the ends sewing in.

I have alsomade very little progress on this months socks

I have also started a clapotis, have finished one skien of yarn. Have increased it up to 59 stitches and plan to use 2 skiens of hip knits silk, though think after seeing just the one knitted up I don't think it will be long enough. The shade is Blueberry.

And then to my beads, also an a quest to use some of my stuff up.

3 bookmarks using tibetian silver butterflies and faceted plastic beads on silver plate bookmark and findings.

2 memory wire bracelets, one made with plastic dice, the other with an array of different glass beads.

A pile of stitchmarkers, mobile phone charms and earings, all made with glass bead and silver platee. The earings are lampwork beads.

A pile of charm bracelets using moon hearts, tibetain silver beads and some dice again on silver plate.

And last but not least some necklaces made with lion tail, crimps some plastic faceted beads and lampwork beads. I love the result even though they haven't come out as I had first thought they would.

Stashalong week 2

2007-08-12T22:25:00.001Z

And so it continues.

This week I have knitted 10 items for stock using exsisting stash. I filled a carrier bag up last sunday and worked my way through it leaving just 200g in the bottom of it. Not bad going considering, I have cheated somewhat with my items, they are mainly small ones which generally take a much shorter time but add significantly to the item number count ;0)

Firstly 1 newborn item

And 1 small item, I have made this using wool I dyed ages ago using food colouring

Then 4 medium sized items, 2 are using wool I dyed myself using food colouring, the 2 tone pink one and the green, yellow and purple one are made using yarn that Chrissy dyed.

2 Large - the green one is yarn dyed by chrissy and the pink one I did myself using kemtex acid dye.

An finally one XL item, made using the same green yarn as the one above, this picture is closer to the actual shade of the yarn

All of these items are listed up in my shop. Next week I am aiming to work a simular amount of items. This last two weeks I have emptied one crisp box sized carton and a carrier bag of wool. I have since emptyied another larger box between the carrier and the box freeing it up to store the kids toys in, which is what the original purpose of the box was. The kids where made up to finally have it.

August's socks

2007-08-06T08:36:00.000Z

Don't post for weeks then 3 in 2 days!

Here are my august socks

Made using the harry potter pattern from the charmed knits book, I am quite enjoying the pattern despite the rib, this is around 3-4 days progress doing just an hour or so a day, a bit like a reward after finishing something for my shop.

I didn't much like the heal, short row hell, it was really annoying me to start plus I loeth short rows. But in the end I quite like it, the heal knitted up so much quicker and I think it looks a lot neater than the pick up stitches version.

The start of a stashalong

2007-08-05T20:48:00.000Z

And a very good start if I don't say so myself.

The reason for my stashalong is that I need to clear some of the yarns that I have, I really think 2 rather large under bed storage boxes, 8 plastic crates, 3 crisp box sized cardboard boxes and numerous carrier bags are just a little excessive! I also need to raise funds for new stock lines and yarns in my shop.

So this week, I have made many items, just for a change I seem to have my knitting mojo in full swing. It's been so refreshing the last 4-5 days or so to enjoy knitting rather than knitting for knittings sake.

So here are my finished items

I finished this item this week, but started last week, an LTK flirty skirty but made at my buyers request with a ruffle instead of the lace detail

A large pair of longies made to my own pattern, using BFL hand dyed by Chrissy at brightdyes

A pair of shorts made to my own pattern and using Chrissy's yarn

A pair of shorts again made to my own pattern and using Chrissy's yarn.

An finally 6 pairs of LTK slippers made using Chrissy's BFL in a range of sizes from newborn up to approx 4 years.

And next week I hope I can make the same amount if not a little more, this little lot has used up around 800grams of my stash. Only another 9.something kilos to go.

Catchup post

2007-08-05T11:02:00.000Z

Once again it has been many weeks since I have updated my blog. And as usual much has happend in this time.

I have been very busy knitting and updating my website as well as taking up making jewellery which has taken over many weeks in place of knitting, here are some examples of the items I have made.

Only a few examples as I have deleted most of the images. I decided to get a bit tidyier and went through all my saved stuff and removed a lot of what I thought was unnessisary to keep. As a result my computer works a lot faster, its a poor old thing now so isn't really up to much.

There are many more pictures on my website www.nkfn.co.uk

I have also finally finished off my last pair of socks, started to enter in to junes draw but finally finished them for july

They are made using july's sock club yarn from brightdyes, a wonderfully soft 100% BFL yarn. I have used the grapey sock pattern which I love, I think the colours lend very well to the pattern.

2007-07-10T22:53:00.000Z

Two whole weeks since Jessica was in nappies in the day.

And how sad does it feel, and such a sense of loss over little bits of cloth. It has been a huge wrench, and I knew it was coming. Cloth nappies have been a rather huge part of my life since Ben was 2 months old.

So the nappies have been packed away, well most of them have, she will still need them for night time, I suppose it's not just the not using nappies that is sad it is the realisation that my little girl is growing up. And a bit to quickly for my liking.

Other pivital things this week, my Son turned 5, where did that time go. It was such a short time ago he was a newborn lying for the first time in my arms.

For his birthday we took him to Llandudno to see shrek 3 and it was great, both of them enjoyied it, though Jessica got a little restless towards the end of it. Followed by tea at pizzahut. Now thats when DS turned into a horror, he stuffed down a good chunk of the starter even though it was for just us adults. I would have thought they would have brought the kids food with the starters!

So when his meal finally arrived he was stuffed to the brim already and just mushed it up rather than saying he didn't want it, and taking it home in a box to lunch the next day.

In knitting news, not an awful lot, I fear I have lost my mojo a little. I think I have knitted myself out to a certain extent. Before taking on the shop I would do several custom orders and the odd instock item. Since taking over the shop I have done I have still done my custom orders but have spent so much of the rest of the time knitting stuff for stock, I have a huge bag full to add and just can't find the time to do it.

Also my personal knitting has taken a huge back seat, I have so many things unfinished, I think I will go back to my previous set up of only working in the shop and doing personal knitting only at home which worked really well.

Anyway enough rambling and some pictures, Have more than these to show around 8 items but will add them at a later date.

Since my last entry.....

2007-06-23T13:31:00.000Z

I have done so much knitting my needles have been smoking. Here is my list of completed items.

2x XL shorts toock around 5 hours each
2x XL longies took around 7 hours each
1X XL flirty skirty took around 10 hours to complete
2x Small shorts taking around 3 hours each
1x two size soaker only the leg cuffs to go - taken around 5 hours so far
1x SL smocked frock and a 1 years old size on the needles at the moment.
1x Med/large flirty skirty

Some pictures below of Jessica modling some of the items, have also finally finished my may socks and started on this months pair which will probably be finished this time next month!

Heres the smocked frock and the 2 size soaker

And here is the final flirty skirty, I am so made up with this item. The wool was BFL DK and it knitted up a dream. It was almost upsetting to finish the piece. This item was made as the prize in my charity raffle which raised £23 towards christies hospital.

My May socks - Made with Brightdyes club yarn for may using the free pattern on violot green website.

And last but not least my Junes socks made with bright dyes club yarn for this month. I am using Audreys grapy socks pattern and am loving every spare second I have to work on it. Not only is the yarn wonderful to work with the pattern and the yarn compliment each other wonderfully.

Thats it for now, hopefully it won't be to long before my next visit to blog land

Santa has been

2007-06-03T10:31:00.001Z

On friday I recieved a sweet smelling package from my wonderful summer secret santa. I have no idea who she is but here are my goodes.

A beautifully wraped pressie, and a funny card, my clue is the photo santa says this place she thinks is beautiful and peace full. The card says - Sally had no problem with her moodswings, it was those stupid, insensitive b*****d men that couldn't cope.

And inside

Twisted sock yarn in a beuatiful combination of colours

Lush goodies in blossom scent, The bath bomb was lovely and left my downstairs sweet smelling for hours

Saving the best till last

2 Balls of rowan kidsilk haze ina beautiful colour and a pattern for the kiri shawl, I think this will be my next project once I have my orders and WIP out of the way

Just to proove that I can finish things

2007-06-02T23:19:00.000Z

Have had a nice productive evening and have finished of loads of items, why I left it so long I will never know. I would say about now that I vow never to let things accumalate again, but I know that vow having made it before is to easily broken.

Anyway here are some of tonights selection, there are other but my camera ran out of juice so more tomorrow.

Been a bad blogger

2007-06-02T17:37:00.000Z

Have had plenty to say but no time in which to say it. Have had a few orders, been busy in the shop and recived rather a large order from babykind so all other knitterly projects have been put on hold.

I did finish my forest canopy shawl, but am yet to block it, I didn't finish the baby cardigan I finished or my may socks. But I have done 2 items from my babykind order, and an XL shorties for the CNA competition winner. So now I am sat loading up images to my photo box, well videos as my camera and my computer are playing up and I would be gutted to loose them. Will put up a link when I've finished, I am also taking a break from knitting to sew up a pile of finished stuff. Admitidly these are items that should have been finished last year, left forgotten about for the sake of sewing in a few ends.

I have also recieved a beautiful package from my secret santa will upload pictures in a later post.

Have also built my own house
[URL=http://drawahouse.com/houses/show.asp?houseID=518442&houseHash=15ad61b14bbae5778b24d1f1aa01dc12]
[IMG]http://drawahouse.com/houses/2007/6/2/518442_t.gif[/IMG]
Click here to view my house[/URL]

Thats it for now, must get back to my work

Race for life photos

2007-05-25T17:50:00.000Z

Last sunday, the 20th was it of may my mum, my sister and myself took part in Rhyls race for life.

It was a really good day, tiring, draining and a little upsetting. Doesn't make any sence does it! Being in such an intense atmosphere amoungst people who knew exactly how we where feeling, and feeling the loss many of those woman have felt and still feel really brought it home to me how down right scared I am. I think emotionally since I have taken a step back in the progress I have made, things seem a little harder than they did.

But like my dad I am a fighter and I refuse to let things beat me for long. So at the end of the day it was great to take part and I am really glad I did.

I do have a few pictures to share, not many really as we got their just before the start time, there would have been more but my dad the techno dinosaur couldn't work the camera, we love him for it.

This first one shows my parents with my sister, she is 20 months younger than me, though at times I think she is older. The total opposite of me as well in many respects. We used to argue constantly growing up but now we live apart we are the best of friends. Just wished she lived closer

And me with my parents, I look rather chubby in this photo with the way my top is sitting.

Wish I had better pictures to show but never mind I'm not the most photogenic person there is really.

Lots of knitting done, lots still to do

2007-05-14T22:44:00.000Z

I've had a busy knitting week, not only have I managed to finish a small pair of shorts, 2 small soakers and a newborn soaker(no pictures as yet as I havn't sewn the ends in !) an have just the legs to do on a large pair of shorts. I have also almost finished a sock and frogged it and make good progress on my second forest canopy shawl.

Here first is my sock thats not, I should have tried this on much sooner than getting to this point at sorting the toe, and it doesn't fit, won't go anywhere near my foot, now I have many friends that would love to recieve a pair of hand knitted BFL sock but figure many of them would be unfamilier with the care of pure wool and these would end up being felted. So frogging it was best, anyway I was half wanting to make a patterned pair so it was as upsetting as it should have been.

And here is what I've done so far, just hope I can get the both done and a pair for DS. I will be making them as ankle socks so I should have plently left. It has been a nightmare to work with the frogged yarn. It looks rather like a perm gone wrong, but I am pleased with with the results. It is the free waving not drowing pattern on the violet green website.

And my shawl - The Forest canopy shoulder shawl I am loving this pattern so much, I have almost finished one beautiful skien of fyberspates pink, blue and charcoal sock yarn that I have ordered 2 more.

My original plan was to use one skien to do the main pattern, then to finish of the final repeat with the next skein then complete the decorative border. My plan is now is to use 2 skiens for the main pattern and the 3rd to do the border and hopefully there will be enough for a pair of socks as well.

I have been knitting the shawl on my denise needles I am enjoying using them. They are so light and easy to use, though I am finding the knitting doesn't pass all that easily over the joins, it doesn't snag just struggles. Have had one insident with the needle coming uncliped but think this may have been due to it not being locked in properly. I had a horid through that my hour on the shawl would have been wasted but I managed to salvage it and carry on. I think there may be a small area that might look a little different but it is hard to tell without blocking.

I have also ordered 6 skiens of BFL from fyberspates in a beautiful red and plum colour, this will be listed up on my website as a raffle prize with the procedes going to charity.

I have also recieved a fair amount of goodies this last week, firstly this beautiful skein of Lola sock yarn and a my little fashion house sock bag which I won on an auction listed on the forum for the Rainbow childrens trust. The yarn is gorgeous and I can't wait to use it, though I do have a lot of impending projects at the moment.

Plus I really want to start on this

A white lies design kit, its the yarn show in the pattern on get knitted. There isn't as much yarn as I thought I would get with it though. I also thought that the wool needed would be a lot thicker as I was originally going to buy a louise harding or a sublime yarn which would have cost more and also have been to thick as the yarn is around a DK in thickness. Itching to start on it, and may do once I have finished the remains of my shawl yarn and while I wait for the next skiens to arrive.

Knitterly type stuff

2007-05-06T18:24:00.000Z

With being so busy in the shop I havn't done so much knitting, I do have some things to show.

Firstly I have finally recieved my pink denise needles, I ordered them in feb with my christmas money, a long time coming but not sure as yet if they where worth the weight. Theres no 16" option with them at all, and the smallest size looks like it might be triky to use so I don't think I will be using them on shop stuff maybe just my personal knitting and I can retire my old straights as I much prefer circ's

Also recieved this week is this months bright dyes club yarn it is beautiful but look what happened to it!

My own fault was sat winding it on my knee, then someone knocked the door so I draped it over, a few moments with the cat and this was the result. It only took me 2 hours to untaggle it.

And this is the result of an hours knitting, this months entry into the sock a month competition. I do wish that I had tried something a bit more adventurous I did think at the time a pattern may be to much but I've seen a fellow crafty threads forum member using last months yarn with a pattern and it look wonderul. I may well frog this yet!

Also knitted this, it was a wonder full quick to knit project and only a little bit fiddly. This was my keyring swap, mark 2 as the first one didn't go at all to plan so I shamelessly copied of another member. It is a fyberspates sock blocker keyring with a colinette fruit colius sock. I also sent with it a beautiful hemo and hermite necklace.

ALso finally finished a flirty skirty, it was on the needles for such a long time, but I love it. I wish I had made the bigger size so dd could have it, it sort of fits but she could do with an extra couple of inches in the rise, anyway here is my little angel modeling it for me.

And one final thing, I have been knitting summer hats, one done and one almost half done, made with peaches and cream cotton

You know it's a job well done......

2007-05-06T17:30:00.000Z

When you get home of an evening, shattered and totally filthy. I decided in my wisdom that the shop could do with a bit of a move around. It took me half a day on friday and most of the day on saterday.

The end result was a very happy but filthy cathie, and a half empty looking shop with the oppertunity of putting many different lines on the shelves.

I should have done before picture before I started, but I can give you a good idea what it looked like. The counter area was cluttered, sort of built up with a gap in the middle, the shelves had rows of products all the same, the peg board things where under utilised, and shelves had products that should be hanging up.

So this is what it looks like now.

This is the view as you walk in through the door

This is the view from the corner opposite the window

THis is part of the hanging space that was previously not used to it's full potential.

Just a few snaps that show what I've been up to, I have a long way to go, and have reclaimed lots of shelve space to put up new products though for a week I may well be fueling the we are closing down rumors.

Have shown these to my dad and he is really pleased with how it looks, and happy that the shop is getting turned around now that it has some new blood and a bit of enthusiasm in it.

Well its May

2007-05-01T20:59:00.000Z

ANd where on earth did april go, I am shocked at how much the time is flying now, in a couple of weeks time I would have been in the shop for 3 months, I can't believe it I really can't!

Well much has happened since my last post, had some happy news my friend has had a beautiful little boy, quite early at 7 weeks prem, but he is gorgeous and doing just fine, and another friend of mine is pregnant. So happy lots of lovely babies to cuddle and knit for, provided I can find the time!

I have also had a new baby of my own - no not a real baby but a new website and I am chuffed to bits with it www.nkfn.co.uk so easy to use even for a numpty like me!

My hand knitted flirty skirties have also gone live on babykind, not my pattern but one designed by a very talented WAHM in america check out her work here www.littleturtleknits.com

In knitting news,

I have done a fair bit, but have also frogged a fair bit as well.

This hat is lovely, sort of old fashioned but ever so practical. Unfortuantly after these pictures where taken I ended up frogging it to sue the yarn to finish a sleeveless pullover I've been desiging, will list pictures once done.

Also finished this week was my babykind flirty skirty

href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jrLdy2D6umE/RjesdbyQJEI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/jxX_SADUIYo/s1600-h/new+stock+250.jpg">

href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jrLdy2D6umE/RjesdryQJFI/AAAAAAAAAMY/gUrgrHPfkDw/s1600-h/new+stock+251.jpg">

As well as aprils socks, made from posh yarns a beautiful shade of merino yarn, I am so pleased with these and they are a dream to wear.

href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jrLdy2D6umE/Rjes07yQJGI/AAAAAAAAAMg/0ZlzqxjCBoI/s1600-h/new+stock.jpg">

Then there is stuff I have recieved this week,

THis stunning set of stitch markers curtosy or Susan of crafty threads and yarns, they are beautiful and have already been put to good use.

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And my keyring swap - Making me feel a little guilty that mine isn't anywhere near started. I have absolutly no idea who sent it I love it the key ring is filled with a sweet scented potpori I think smells divine anyway, as well as a little candle and a little felt case which I was going to put my circualr needles in but I have far to many to fit.

What a week

2007-04-25T22:02:00.000Z

Definatly one to be chalked up there amoungst the worst of my life so far. Thursday seen my down fall, goodbye happy face and hello tears. And boy was it hard to keep going, by saterday I thought there is no way on earth I can keep anything up.

But here I am a few days later feeling almost on top of the world and glad that last weeks is far behind me.

My dad is still in hospital due to some infection, they think it was in his pic line, it goes from his chest and through is arm to enable to hospital to administer medication and to take blood without having to stab him all the time. He's had a new one and has now started on his second round of chemo. All being well he should be home within the week for up to 7 days. I can't wait to see him, seems like ages ago.

It's very hard to count my blessings but one I count daily is the help and support that my dad is getting, I will be indepted to the hospital forever, to them he is just another face on the ward, but to me he is my dad, and I would move heaven and earth to make him well.

I still have mixed feelings about the shop, it's a challenge I will give you that but its rather like marmite at the moment, either I love it or I hate it, theres no happy medium. One thing I do like is my un interupted knitting time. I get a good 4 hours a day mostly. Since my last post I have done this -

Firstly a flirty skirty, knitted with Chrissy's yarn and I love it, have progressed a little since the picture.

And secondly a pair of shorts, these where frogged goodness knows how many times as I playied about with my stitch count in order to get the yarn to stripe instead of pool, I think I have achieved it.

Next thing to be playied about with is short rows, I hate the way they mess up my colour flow so I have and idea, what I need is the time. I also have another flirty skirty on the go. I have recived a beautiful pink Brightdyes yarn to make flirty skirties for babykind, so have abandoned all other projects to get the item made to list a photo up on the website.

I have also recieved some rather lovely goodies.

Firstly a beautiful skien of fybrespates sock wool, I fell in love with this colour way the moment I seen it. DUe to a mix up with the order not going through I waited for 10 days for this, and I have to say it was well worth it. The picture doens't quite do it justice though.

I had the next 2 yarns from a fellow crafty threads and yarns member, the lighter of the two is Lana Grossa cotton maya and the darker is regia cotton surf colour. Both beautiful and I look forward to knitting them up, if I get the time.

And this picture shows my fyberspates yarn beautifully teamed up with a beautiful Knitz and glitz shawl pin. I had intended the yarn for socks, but when I saw how beautifully they matched up there is no way the yarn could be anything other than a shawl. The pin was my birthday pressie from Chrissy and she couldnt ahve choosen better.

I do have move pictures to show except my camera is out of juice, will load them up tomorrow. I have my flirty skirty for babykind, I hope to have that finished for tomorrow, I'm knitting the under soaker with 4mm boyes needles, I have posted about these before and how I disliked them. I have to say they have had a repreive. I'm finding the rigidness of the cords hard to get used to, but the way the yarn glides across the needles is lovely more than makes up for the cords not being to my liking.

Woohoo - Papa is home

2007-04-11T22:10:00.000Z

So happy,

My dad has been allowed home for a few days. I have never been more pleased and upset to see anyone in my whole life.

He looks different, but he's still my dad, even after a month of pure hell away from home in hospital he is just the same laughing and joking.

He was telling me this evening about his consipirathy theory surrounding the chemo, he says the nurses all suit up in various protective items, then handle the bag as though it is about to explode, so he now thinks based on his observations that all the nuclear waste that can't be got rid of, dumped in the sea burried etc is getting filtered though Cancer patients.

The hour I had with him just flew by, almost as if he'd never been away, there was so much I wanted to say, things I had been saving up to tell him and they just didn't seem important anymore.

I feel better now that I have seen him, but I am still scared as is the rest of the family as to what the future holds, it is going to be many months before we find out what is happening and how the cancer is responding, all we can do is hope and remain positive.

Best get onto knitting news as I havn't posted for a while, lack of camera cable has prevented me. So here goes!

Lots of knitting has been done this week, my soakers, shorts and longies have recently gone live on www.babykind.co.uk which is really exciting. So I am currently plodding my way through all the sizes, since they went live I have done 2x newborn - 1x small - 1xlarge - 1x ToddlerXL - 1x ToddlerXXL Not bad considering I have also had a friend staying with me and working for most of the day. Definaly a lot more confident that I can meet any demands I might get in the coming weeks.

As well as the above I have also finished half of my april socks

I have also finally finished sewing the ends and seaming these two things. Chrissy asked me if I would make some items for her to display during woolfest.

These two show LTK Devon bonnets

Shorties made to my own pattern

And this little beauty is Brightdyes april sock yarn which is gorgeous, as where the stitch markers that came with it, my camera doesn't do them justise so I haven't posted a photo.

And one final snap, taken a few nights ago before bed, my two rarely have much to do with each other apart from fighting and winding each other up so it was really nice to come home from work and find them cuddled up like this.

Birthday goodies

2007-04-06T18:59:00.000Z

It was my birthday on the 3rd of this month and here are my goodies, all recieved as part of a birthday swap organised on Crafty threads and yarns. These where sent to me by Gilraen and I love them all

Firstly a picture of the box that greated me once the brown paper was torn away

A beautiful set of stitch markers with have already been put to good use

A beautful avon bracelet, which my DD is eyeing up and already thinks is hers

And some wonderfull smelly stuff from lush, healing hands hand cream which will live in my hand bag , Ohh la la soap, a heart shaped massage bar, the purple thing I think is a bubble bath wotsit and the little pink soap is a yankee tarts wax pot pouri soap in cut roses
A sweet smelly skien of posh yarns sock wool, and I have forgotten the colour already, but it is so beautiful to knit with, looking forward to looking in the posh yarns sales on sunday

The start of my project using the slip up socks pattern, available on the posh yarns website

And her is my progress so far, I've made them as ankle socks in the hope that I will get two pairs out of the 135grams, If not I'm sure the remainder will make several pairs for DD.

In other news, I have and will be busy my nappy wraps are now listed it babykind a large online retailer of cloth nappies, it is very exciting and I have been looking forward to starting for a few months, as well as itching to tell everyone. So here is the link

http://www.babykind.co.uk/woolwraps.htm

An update

2007-04-01T08:37:00.000Z

Sorry I havn't visited blog land very much, life has certainly got in the way of everything I used to do.

It has been so hard adjusting to my new life as a full time employee and to go from 15 hours per week to 42 has been a huge shock to my system on top of everything else.

Nothing was harder than the first two weeks, trying to come to terms with my dads diagnosis and trying to learn something that was totally new, it was both draining and exhasting. I had done 2 days a week in the shop, but mainly all the work would have been done, I wouldn't have to order, or sort deliveries out, just serve the customers and do a little knitting in the quiet spells.

I don't think the actual job side of things was that hard, what was hard was dealing with other peoples questions, when I hadn't dealt with things properly myself. I couldn't talk about it without crying.

It has got easier now, but when I tell people it's almost like I am telling a story that isn't true. I have had to get on with things and this has been the easiest way to file it away and pretend almost that it isn't happening. My mum was right though about not letting it in, and what it would do to us but it is so hard.

We have had an update on my dad, he is getting moved from critical care as soon as there is a bed available, he has been off the chemo for a while a week I think, I do appologise for my inability to determine time scale. This last few weeks seem to have spanned months that have all merged into one another.

So he will be getting moved, he is still in good spirits and is laughing and joking with everyone, he has people in stitches. Mum went up on friday and as he has been cathaterized, the nurse came to change the bag and he looks at my mum totally straight faced and said ' now thats what you call taking the p1ss'. Just typical of my dad to be the joker, I miss him so much. And I know that he will be missing me.

And feeling bad as I got delt the short hand again with doing the shop, but it is something that I really want to do for him.

I have also started knitting again the last week or so, not much just easing myself back in. You'd think I had stoped for months rather than a week or 2. So my efforts are a dress for DD

This has been made with 100% pure varieted cotton, which ai brought from lidls, I love the way the pattern of colours chances as the skirt increases. It was increased using larger needles rather than adding stitches. Hopefully she won't grow out of it before it is warm enough for her to wear it.

The second thing I have have finished are my march socks, these where a long time coming

THey are made with Colinette jitterbug in shade fruit colis. And I don't like them, On the heal I knitted the first 3 stitches and it irritates a bit, I also did the foot a bit shorter than I should have done. So I will be sending these to my sister as a cheer me up type gift.

I have knitted many other things but I can't show them here yet!

Srapbook finished

2007-03-22T09:43:00.000Z

What a week it's been, I've never cried so much in my life. As many people that know me from crafty threads and yarns know that my dad was recently taken ill. Then diagnosed with Lung cancer.

We are totally devistated that thie could happen to my dad, he had testicular cancer when I was little and recieved treatment for that, they did initially think that some cells had been left behind but since he has been in manchester they have found he has a rare form of lung cancer, independant of any connection to previous cancer. The silver lining is that while it is aggressive it responds well to treatment.

The hardest thing is not knowing for sure, they are making no promises and setting no targets, only that in a few weeks he may return home. I have said I will keep his shop going, I need the distraction as much as anything, but really want to do it for my dad, when I think of everything mum and dad have done for me this is the very least I can do. Hard it may be at times, but if there is one thing they have taught me is nothing is that bad you can't find laughter. Dad had the nack for turn tears to laughter no matter how bad things where.

I just wish that I could do more, I feel helpless stuck down here, unable to visit cause of the pox, awful that I am wishing my daughter to come out in them just to find out, it will be around the 2nd of april when the 21 days is up. This week feels as though it has been weeks long, april seems a long way away again.

Mum, kirst and me have also signed up for the race for life, before we knew all this about dad, its personal this year and I am to raise as much as I can. I won't have time for training working full time but if you want to check on how my fund is going do check here.

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/Cathie-Chant

Now I am not asking for sponsership, I know many people will have already sponsered other people by now, and it all goes into the same pot regardless of who's form gets signed.

As the title suggests I have also just finished my dads scrapbook, what a bittersweet task this has been, I have cried buckets, but I was determined to finish it. It's my dads birthday on the 23rd and he will be 50. What a birthday he will be having dosed up on chemo and stuck in a hospital.

Fluffy post

2007-03-10T16:32:00.000Z

We where really pleased this morning to recieve our nappy from our nappy fairy. When I said the bamboo fabric was soft that is nothing compared to bamboo velour. It is so dreamy talk about pure luxury for your bum.

I've never felt anything so soft in my life, and DD was chuffed with it as well and here she is

Isn't it lovely, we also had two matching wipes. It's now prewashing and I can see it becoming a firm favourite just like our cow print Clwt twt. Such a shame she isn't in nappies much in the day, shall kick myself for not trying these beautiful nappies sooner.

Knitting news

I have been a bad knitter, having found not only 1 but 2 bags on unfinished objects (UFO's) One was bad enough and Ihave slowly plodded my way through it today and admitedly havn't got very far. Will post pictures once they are completed, shamefully though most things only need the ends sewing in.

Bad knitter bad blogger

2007-03-07T12:49:00.000Z

It's been a while despite my promise. Knitting has gone pearshaped the last week or so, the only thing I've finished is my forest canopy shawl. Modeled by my beautiful little daughter, she is made up with it but said it was for GG, which is short for great grandmother rather than a horse.

Please excuse the sloppy chops she's cutting teeth at the moment.

I don't think I blocked it as well as it could have been done, and I made two mistakes but rather than unpicking like I should have done I just made the stitch count right by knitting a few stitches together in places I ended up with 2 many. You would have to look for them though not easy to see really.

My gran loves it though and said she will keep it for best. She doesn't go out often this time of year so I'm sure she will use it in the summer months.

I also promised in my last post pictures of my finished objects this was 3 pairs of strippy longies, all nice and drippy wet after lanolising so those will have to wait. I also promised pictures of my latest lot of bright dyes yarns.

beautiful DK in the first and last photos, the middle is sock yarn, for socks for me.

Centre pic is BFL aran those either side are double knit. All lovely and cuddly and much more vibrant than my pictures show.

As previously mentioned it has been a bad week for knitting, I've had no flair for anything and it feels like such an effort. I do however have at least 6 started projects trying to find something that sparks my interest. In the mean time I must still plod through my order and my work, I'm sure my flair will come back when it's good and ready.

Final lot of pictures for today, sorry this post is a bit picture heavy, but one thing I have done a lot of this week is scrapbooking. Not sure if I am getting any better at it as I go along but I am enjoying it.

Please no laughing and my photos, my hair cuts are terrible!

I have left the pictures small so you can click for bigger views. This is the very first car my parents owned, a yoghurt pot on wheels. THey brought it just after I was born to bring me home from the hospital.

This actual car is still going around as well, which is surprising but nice at the same time.

This is my parents wedding day, they have been married for 28 years. They just had a simple wedding in a registry office, there where so many good photos that I wanted to include but think these two just say how special the day was to them.

No laughing please! These are the only pictures I could find of us with my dad. I really wish photo taking wash cheaper when I was little there are so many moments lost.

The first pictures show us one christmas on our first bikes. These where our pride and joy, and our parents saved hard for us to have them. Embarressingly though I was 10 before I learnt to ride without stablisers. I just couldn't get my balance.

I actually made a mistake in this page the bottom picture should have been near the top but I dropped it ( straight luckily) and the glue was an instant stick. We where bother quite young in this photo and it was taken when my dad finished work one day, it was rare sometimes for us to be up when he came home when we where this little. I'm on the left of the photo, sporting one of my many hideous hair cuts I think myself or a cousin cut my hair and they had to chop it round a pudding basin to sort it out. Prior to that I had a beautiful pageboy style head. I've had terrible hair ever since.

After the real little photos, this is the next lot I found with my dad and us in. The top one is my sisters wedding in 1999

The second is my wedding, my make up was strange, it looked brilliant on the day. All the photos came back with these little shinny spots on my cheeks, making me look like aunt sally from worsel gummage.

This isn't the best photo but the only other one with both me and my dad in was taken at distance as I walked up to the church. Only one more page to go

This shows the family mogs, the top picture is a beautiful cat, we lost her some years ago, we think she was pinched due to her beautiful markings, more so than the picture, which is the only one we have she was around 6 months when she got taken.

My sister thinks she seen her 3 years ago when she took my kids to the park, I doubt she recognised her though. She was a lovely cat, she used to climb into bed and snuggle in close.

The bottom is duster, she is an old lady now at 13 years old, yet she still looks really young, she is my cat, and likes kisses and snuggles, she hasn't much time for anyone else and attacks ankles. She doens't like being picked up at all by anyone and dislikes the sight of little people.

Thats it for now

A finishing of type day

2007-02-28T21:24:00.000Z

Well what a day it's been in my house today. One little one with a tummy bug and a grisly bear for a daughter, great fun. DS is fine just worried now DD is heading for this bug, and after a very disturbed night last night I really hope not.

Havn't felt 100% myself either, hopefully all will be well again tomorrow.

So today I have done as much finishing of type stuff as possible. Firstly here are my grapy socks finished at last, and so comfy to wear, not that I should be as they are my mums birthday present. They are now washed and drying on an airer so mum should be none the wiser

Showing of the detail of the finished sock, and less the hole which I managed to stitch up, you wouldn't even know it was there.

And this shows both socks, just to prove I made the two, will be sad to see these go as I really love them, will definatly be making myself a pair, and I am sure my mum will love them just as much as I do.

This is my longest standing WIP finally finished. I started these when the rainforest 6ply first came out. Though these arn't the actual socks. As I worked the second sock on 2 circs I decided to compare with the first, and it was huge in comparison a good centimeter so I had to frog it. I doubt I would have finished them this month if it wasn't 6ply I was working with. Making these my 3rd pair for february. Been a bit quiet for orders, but the break has done me good and I have learnt a few new things. Oh and these socks are my dads birthday present, part of it in anycase.

Some of you may recognise this as DD's dress, well patience with things isn't my strong point and I got quickly fed up with this pattern, and decided that perhaps after all the effort it was a bit to much for a little girls dress.

I couldn't bear to frog it so cast it of and it is the perfect size for a head band and I shall wear it with pride it being my first proper go at a complex pattern. Thats if I can get it of my DD who has an eye for pretty things.

I enjoyied taking part in the dishcloth so much, and have enjoyied using my recieved cloth, even though it is to good for dishes it is lovely to use, I decided I must have another and here it is in a beautiful pink shade of peaches and cream cotton. Though it may be a while before it see's a dish as DD's doll is currently snuggled up in it.

Will definatly be making more of these for gifts, its definatly more fun using hand knitted dishcloths.
I do have more pictures to share of the other WIP I have sorted out today but my camera wasn't charged enough to take any more snaps. Also have new stash to display so will post them later on.

Though I don't really feel as though I have got very far, the actual knitting today has been minimul, mainly sewing in ends with a little bit of knitting. Had a few rows left on my dishcloth and all the longies just needed the ends sew in, most was on the tiger socks as had the foot shaping onwards to do. However it is so good to have finished 6 things off. I must try and finish my shawl but marches sock a month is calling, but will try to keep my WIP count to a minimum in the future.

First lace first scrapbook page

2007-02-25T09:38:00.000Z

I had my first go at lace knitting yesterday evening using the forest canopy shawl pattern. Here is the result

I think that it look s a little baggy and over loose, so I am going to try a 4mm and see if I like that better. This is knitted on 5mm, and needs to be frogged anyway as I have made to mistakes which are pretty prominate in the picture.

Really enjoyied it and it was so easy, wish I had tried lace knitting before, I was viewing a Knit along thread about them and decided I just had to have a go. As I have no work on at the moment seemed a good oppertunity to try something new. JUst hope I can finishh before things get busy in a few weeks.

The second of my somethings new is this

My first scarp book page, quite please with it for a first attempt, was hindered by a broken glue thing, went to use it and the end of the tape came out. FOund it much easier to use after wards to just cut the lengths I wanted of to use, even if it was a bit fiddly and very very sticky.

The first picture is of Molly she is around 6 years old and is currently a lot more barrel shaped than this picture shows. She is totally mad and very affectionate. A beautiful dog and very playful and egar to please.

The second picture is our beloved alsation Wolf, sadely we lost him several weeks ago, he was Ten years old and his poor heart gave out. It was such a heart wrenching day, and it seemed so cruel. He was also a beautful dog, in his ten years he never learnt how to swallow his last mouth full of water so who ever was closest got wet. We called him the welsh whinge cause that was all he used to do at times, he had a lot to say for himself.

Directly below him is Amber, we got her in 1994 I think and she had problems with her eyes, well one really where she had a displaced nerve I think making her partially blind. It was a sad day when her body gave up on her. She was a beautifull dog, nicknamed waggy bums as when her tail went her whole back end went as well. She was loving but totally stuborn if she didn't want to go she would slam anchors. I loved her from the start.

And finally, Ben. Where to I start - Ben has a long story, and a lot of childhood centiment attatched which is a little little sad. He was my best friend when I was little, I didn't have many friends and I was painfully shy. He and I went everywhere together, well more I went and he came to fetch me. I went to school and he turned up looking for me, my parents had brought him before they had me and worried how he might react, but he took me in his stride, and lost all his whiskars to a year or so old me plucking them. My mum said all she could see was his leg twitching, and it wasn't till later when they looked at him they relalised what I'd done. They never grew back either.

My dad had to have him put to sleep when I was 14, as he came home and he'd had some sort of fit. He had been having troubles with his heart, and the only thing left to do for him was putting to sleep. My world just fell apart, I felt like I'd had my friend torn from me, I was so distraught. I even told my dad I hated him and ran away, well untill it got cold anyway. Until that point it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me, and I missed him dreadfully, and even 13 years later I still miss him. I know now that he was a dog, and didn't have human status like I thought when I was younger. But I still ache for him, my best buddy.

My sister thinks me strange but when my son was born I could only think of one name for him and that was Ben, in honor of him and how good a friend to me he was, even if he was a pain turning up at the school gates looking for me.

And when I said I hated my dad, I didn't not really and it pains me to this day that I said such a thing when he obviously hurting as much as I was, maybe it was the wrong thing because I didn't get to say goodbye, which seems to have been a set pattern as people and animals have left us. Saying goodbye has been something that has been important to me, and before wolf went I got to say goodbye and tell him how much I loved him, it was sad but I was glad. But seeing him like that eyes ready to go and body failed I realised why my dad had done what he had to spare me the extra hurt, and as I have got older I have learnt that it's not the saying good bye thats important, its what you do, dropping round spur of the moment, making the effort and giving all you can to the person, thats what important. My gran once told me special people never go, cause special people leave an imprint of them on your heart to be with you always.

I feel truly blessed

2007-02-24T10:50:00.000Z

Well this week hasn't been the best, in fact it has been down right awful. I have learnt something, that no matter how hard things are I am blessed, both with a loving family and wonderful friends who are there for me and offer kind words of wisdom when I need it the most.
Most of these people I have never met, yet their kind words have ment the world to me, so today I am counting my blessing, friends and families, and I will find something to smile about no matter how grim things are or difficult.

So something cheerfull for today

This is my beautiful little daughter, she is such a joy to have around, she is always laughing and giggling, she is a real breathe of fresh air to have around. How can I get down in the dumps with her around.

She like her mum is a huggy monster, and loves nothing more than a good hug.

Here she is modeling her new charity shop clothes, It isn't often I find good kids clothes around here, This outfit cost me a tiny £1.50 and there is another pair of trousers and a bob the builder teddy too.

And this cheeky looking chap, as proud as punch wearing a t'shirt he designed himself in kids club, he is getting rteally cleaver, I can't believe that he is almost 5 years old, well in 5 months anyway.

He is the total opposite of DD, he doesn't stop talking, and is on the go from get up to bed time, he has so much energy and lacks the ability to sit down for more than a few minutes, I'm sure he has ants in his pants half the time.

And another one of DD, we had fluffy post this morning. A few days ago I was looking through the cloth nappy addicts forum anf came across a fellow WAHM who had listed on ebay, well I just had to have a look, and fell in love with this nappy, it almost seemed fate that it should be in her size.

That's my nappy diet well and truely broken, though, this is the first nappies I have brought in 6months, I also brought a size 2 nappy that can be used from birth for my friend who's pregnant. But you have to admit it was worth it for the smile on her face, she absolutly loves it. Such a shame it needs a cover, nappies this beautiful shouldn't be covered up. It's also a shame that she is potty training, at the moment she still needs a nappy for out of the house. I think she is weaning me off my addiction slowly bless her. Her big brother did it all at once when he was just over 3, well apart from bed time in anycase.

And here is a close up of the nappy, still in her pj's here, my pictures are in the wrong order.

Do click the picture for a larger view, did I say that this is made from bamboo fabric! it is gorgeous, so soft and dreamy, the outer is made from cotton. I think in the summer it will be getting used boosted and without a cover to show it off.

In knitting news.

I have done very little this week, I still have 3 pairs of longies that need the ends sewing in, the down fall of strippy pants I suppose. I still havn't tried my boyes needles and my denises are held up in customs, don't these people know how hard it is to wait for these things, fancy holding up a nessesity like that. Looks like I will have another week to wait again!

I have also almost finished my mums birthday socks, I nearly got myself a clip round the ear when I suggested to her she could have the left sock for her birthday and the right for mothers day. I think I best make her another pair.

Have also recieved my scrapbook kit, and the glue stuff which I ordered. This is to make my dads 50th birthday present. I have sgrounged pictures of my gran and my mum, so have a good amount, though it appears that my family arn't the best picture takers. I have a small pile of my dad from a few months to around 8, a few from when my parents met and their wedding photos. Then mine and my sisters baby pics, and a few of us growing up, I'm sure I could get a decent book out of them, there will just be loads of gaps, but at least he will have them as a record, and plenty of pages that he could fill himself.

Once I get started I will post up pictures, as long as you all promise not to laugh at my baby and child snaps, I am sporting some hideous hair cuts!!

Back on track

2007-02-21T20:36:00.000Z

Well what a week it has been so far.

It's half term and the kids are both full of cold, great fun. I still have my head ache and my neckache, though nowhere near as bad as it has been and seems to come and go. On the upside I got loads of knitting done

Some of it is secret though, but I can tell you I have made 3 of my summerwear samples and it's been fun, after over a year of playing with different yarns I have finally found one that works for the patterns that I have. Only a few more samples to go and I will disply them here for all to see.

One thing you can see is the new addions to my ebay shop, have spent several hours searching out and listing a lot of stuff in at reduced to clear prices if you fancy a look - http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Natural-Knits-For-Nippers

The other things you can see are these

Boyes circular needles arrived yesterday from the US, I love the colour, just not sure I like the look of them theres no give in the cord like Addis which are so flexible, when they come out of the packs they are the same as when in the iykwim. THe cords also arn't all that supple so fairly rigid.

I brought 2 2.75mm for knitting socks, a 3.25 and a 3.5 for 4ply yarn and a 4mm for DK, thought I had a 5mm in there as well but must have forgot to order it. Will have to have a go at testing them out asap, they do remind me of the cheap pony circs that I had though. Will report back once I have finshed the many things I have to do, I think my first task with them will be using the 3.5 to knit my daughters dress, I have a rather nasty looking pony circ on it at the moment and the paint is all chipped and not nice to work with.

Other things knitted this week include 2 strippy pairs of longies, just have the ends to sew in. been putting it off allday, the prospect of 30 ends at least per item isn't that nice. I also have a 3rd pair on the needles at the moment that have one leg to go so may finish that tonight and leave the end sewing till tomorrow.

One final thing before I sign off, I started my mums birthday socks. It's not until the 17th of march so I had intended to only do a small amount so they could be my march sock a month entry but look what I did.

I only have a cm to go before starting on the toe decrease. I have to say I really enjoyied this pattern, so much so I just couldn't put it down, plus the wool I am working with is so divine Pink ribbon yarn from http://www.theyarnyard.co.uk/ . The pattern was created by fellow member Audrey and the pattern is available on her blog http://www.stitchintime71.blogspot.com/

I only did 4 repeats on the pattern instead of the 6 so not quite long socks not quite ankle socks either. For some strange reason I ended up with 2 stitches too many to pick up and a rather nasty looking hole which is visable in the picture. The other side is perfect. I had this same thing happen when using the regia pattern, but not with the jaywalkers I did first, not sure what I have done wrong to have such a gappy mess.

One last picture, hope its clear enough to see a close up of the Grapy pattern

Will post pictures of this weeks finsihed works when I actually finish them!

Not a good knitting week

2007-02-16T17:24:00.000Z

I had such big plans of the things I wanted to make, but due to the headache from Hell I've been unable to do much. In fact I have lost my main knitting time in favour of going to bed before 10.

Now I am a night owl, and never in bed much before 2am so this is very unlike me. My neck is also sore so makes me wonder if perhaps I have pulled something thats maybe causing my headache, something viral, a migrane pending, who knows just hope it goes soon.

Have been feeling a little better the last day or so but not enough to deditcate my usual 6-8 per day to my needles. I have finished my february socks

And here they are modeled by my Son, I hope they fit my friend, she is a size 5 and think I got confused beween 2 patterns regarding the length, the first pattern I used said to make the foot 2 inches less than the actal measurement the work the toe, did the same with this on, but it's ended up a lot shorter. I think they would definatly benifit another inch in length.

I also started making DD some socks out of the remnats from my january jaywalkers, not got very far as finding the tiny circumference on 2 circs very fiddly. Got another half inch to go before starting on the heel. Will probably leave these for a bit as I have many other things on the needles that need my attention. I have almost finished the skirt on the flirty skirty I started last week, though as I have been unable to find out what the black thread is made from I think it is destined to be just a skirt.

I also came across a opal tiger sock Istarted last year with just the grafting to do on the toe, this sock is huge

I had earmarked them for myself but the foot is far to baggy, so these will be my dads birthday socks. I should really be working on my mums birthday socks as hers is much sooner. But I have DD's sock on the needles and I am also waiting for a delivery of boyes circular needles from the the states. Have ordered them in a size larger as I find my guage is a little off with the 2.5's I have been using. Have also ordered 3.5's, 4, 4.5 and 5mm. Gone a bit needle mad the last week or so, as I also have a denise interchangable set on order, the website says instock from the 17th so hopefully not much longer to wait.

Think I will probably leave these socks for now as I am working on 1 40cm and 1 30 cm which is a bit fiddly, my other 3.5 is stuck in DD's dress but waiting for my denises to do the body of the skirt.

One final WIP picture, I started this yesterday, and have done a fair bit considering the lack of time i have put in this week.

It is a large pair of longies made from a tweedy style shade of peacefleece and a solid colour also peacefleece. I have another half an inch to go on the rise then it's onto the legs.

The stripes towards the right of the picture are larger than the main cover, this is the rear of the pants where I have used short rows to add extra room to the rear making them suitable for bulky nappies.

DD has half claimed these but I she needs an XL for Bed time really, shame really as a large fits her so well for daytime but she is no longer in nappies during the day at home anyway. Really the only time she has a nappy is for bed, and an all in one for creche and when we go out an about, if it isn't far then a wool cover over a shaped nappy or if we are going far, or she will be sitting a pitterpatter nappy wrap, sounds strange but I miss using my cloth nappies full time, even more when she is no longer in them.

Some works in progress

2007-02-12T11:13:00.000Z

Well my previous post didn't go to plan, I was going to load my favourite video clip into an entry but it just kept coming up with a box with a red sqaure. I would still like to share this video but will have to try via this link instead, Ihope it works, it is one of my favourites and always cheers me up.

http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s183/Cathie_album/?action=view&current=Picture042.flvurrent=Picture042.flv

Now to my works in progress, I have knitted nothing but soakers and longes for the past week so have decided to have a change

This is the start of a flirty skirty, it is knitted in the round so seamless. I have used a beautifully soft boucle style yarn, that says it's 100% merino, but it has a thread running through it which I assume to be a cotton or polyester type thread. This won't effect it's use at all as a nappy cover as the wool content is still going to be high. I'm trying to find out what this thread is.I will update when I find out for sure. To get this far into the project has taken almost 2 hours, but the result is worth it specially with blocking. The remaining work on it will take around 6 hours. This is a size medium and will be listed up on ebay once it is finished.

This is a close up of the lacy detail, sorry its a little on the dark side.

This is the start of a pattern for a dress that I am designing and my first proper go at knitting lacy patterns, it has been frogged at least 6 times before the pattern finally clicked in my mind. It has taken hours to get this far as I find it hard to sit and concentrate for a long time on it so its a half an hour here and an hour there type job.

Dishcloth swap

2007-02-12T10:59:00.000Z

Am going to post several messages today this being the first to catch up with everything.

So this first post is about a dishcloth swap I took part in, this involved making one dishcloth and sending it to another member with a clue for the recipient to work out who you are. So this is mine

A beautiful cloth made with peaches and cream cotton in shade cellery. Also recived a bottle of cocoa butter hand cream and a oceanus soap. I must say I didn't have any idea who could have sent it, so much trawling through old post was needed, and finally came across Aknita - so thank you so much Joy for my beautiful cloth. If I can ever pinch it back from my DD, I don't think I would use it for dishes, maybe something nice for a vase to sit on.

I really enjoyied taking part in the swap, though it was a bit stressfull waiting to hear if my recipeient like her cloth, I always feel nervous when knitting for someone else. Unfortuanly I didn't take pictures prior to sending it.

Reinstating my blog....

2007-02-10T16:40:00.000Z

... and sweeping away the tumble weed. It has been some time since I last thought about writting in this. So will start with a quick update.

Due to my website being a pile of *$@£ I have now moved all my instock items into an ebay shop - http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Natural-Knits-For-Nippers

My website is open but looking very sorry for itself, and as I am totally rubbish at remembering passwords I have been unable to update it. One day I may remember it, or I may get an e-mail reminder of the password, which for some reason don't get through.

Not much has been happening, shop wise I have babylegs and freshwear goods on sell through as, well they don't seem to be selling so when they are gone there will be no more, unless I recived loads of e-mails asking me otherwise.

Have also been busy knitting up all the wool I have hand dyed myself

All of them are made with bluefaced leicester aran and are beautifully soft. THey are also all made from my own pattern which I finished of within the last month.

It was, well it wasn't fun to do though it started of that way towards the end it was quite stressfull trying to get everything to work. But I am so pleased with the results it makes it worth it.

My designing plans now include dresses, and a double knit weight soaker and longies, I have also brought some 4ply hand dyed merino that I think will make lovely shorts for the summer.

I have also recieved a beautiful range of 100% pure cotton of which I plan to make summer wear out of. I hope to be releasing what these items are within the next month. The yarn comes all the way from america so I won't actually be keeping loads in but ordering it as needed due to the high cost of customs on large orders.

In other news, I have joined a sock a month challange on this knitting and craft board - http://craftythreadsnyarns.myfreeforum.org/index.php

Basically you knit 1 pair of socks per month to qualify for the months draw to win a fabulous skien of yarn from fellow member N who hand dyes the most beautiful sock yarn - www.theyarnyard.co.uk

Here are my efforts so far

January's entry

These are made using opal rainforest 4ply in shade Dr fish and are knitted to this pattern - http://www.magknits.com/Sept05/patterns/jaywalker.htm

My first proper attempt at a patterned sock, well any socks really. These particular pair a gift for a friend.

February socks

These are also for a friend who is slightly smaller of foot than me, they are made with casscade snazzy stripes 4ply sock yarn, which is nicer than the opal to work with. These socks are made to the regia sock pattern.

The second sock is on the needles and I have just finished the foot shaping. Was hoping to have them finished by now, but live sort of got in the way. I have till the end of the month.

Think that is it for now, will definatly make more of an effort in future to keep up with this

Been a busy few months

2006-10-11T09:25:00.000Z

Much has happened since my last post, I have been really busy. Knitting, dyeing wool and designing patterns.

Have also been hindered by a stupid computer which is stuborn and won't do as I ask. To make me even more happy I have lost my internet connection at home. This really made my day no end. Maybe I should have left the laptop where it was rather than putting it away, it was fine when it was left out gathering dust. Oh well, back to ringing the useless lumps at orange, no I think I will pass, they have already had far to much of my cash. 3 months line rental when i couldn't connect. Not to mention nearly an hour of national rate calls, and 3 20 minute calls to the technical team at 50p a minute. An what was the problem, someone entered my phone number in wrong a 4 instead of a one and in 3 months no one picked that up. It will be much cheaper in the long run to pay the line rental than ring them up.

Anyway enough of me and my ramblings, I'm sure thats boring so back to the knitty gritty. Firstly to my pattern designing, I have totally given up on raglan sleeves for now, I just can't get them to work at all. So I have opted for square sleeves, which is ideal in it's own right as there is less seaming.

It's chunky bluefaced leicester yarn, it is so soft and and cuddly. I have also designed a jumper using Rowan all seasons cotton yarn. Both in sizes from 16 inch chest (approx 3 months) to a 30 inch chest which is around 6 0r 7 years I think, please someone correct me if this is wrong. Not made any bigger sizes yet. Will soon correct that when I finish my halloween items.

Right my efforts at dyeing wool.

This is a pile of BFL and amoungst the first yarns that I have dyed with food colouring. My four year old had a great time choosing the colours of the yarn.

I have a few more pictures to end which I will do at a later date. For some reason they won't load up anymore.

In other news.

After many weeks of nagging we have rehomed our dog. This desision wasn't taken lighty as the decision to get her. THose that regularly read my blog will know that I wasn't happy with this decision having not been consulted at all.

Anyway, the first weeks after she came to use she was fine, and seemed to settle right in. After that it became obvious that she was bored. She got over boysterous with our children and for the last few weeks of her stay she was stuck in the kitchen where she started digging out the wall dividing between the kitchen and bathroom.

As the weeks passed it became more and more obvious that we wern't suited. So afer much nagging DH finally rehomed her with a local family with older children. By all accounts she is having a wonderful time.

I was fairly sad to see her go, she was beautiful, she was just full of beans and with our busy schedules she wasn't getting the excersie she was needed. DS was really upset that she was going, but was happy that she was going to someone who could love her as much as we did and make her really happy. Just hope he doesn't hate me for my decision, it wasn't an easy one to make.

Thats it for now, will update on shop/knitting progress as I can. Hopefully I will have a decent computer sorted out sooner rather than later

Cathie

Trying to find my inner designer

2006-09-08T08:27:00.000Z

Well its september and where did the time go, have started to think about christmas presents, and have made a start. Anyway befrore I get to my WIPS, I have been very busy the last few weeks trying to find my inner designer. It has been so much fun, yet quite annoying as things havn't gone to plan as I thought. Either my patterns arn't quite right or I've knitted something wront either way my first attempt, the lilac mixed cardi pinned together doesn't work the fronts are far to small yet I counted the rows several times

My second attempt was the jumper above, I love the way the colours have formed, after my cardi disaster I was thinking about giving it up as a bad job, but the result on this was worth it, just the sleeves to go hopefully they will work as well time will tell. NEed to get hunting for wool to finish it off, my little imp has kindly hidden it from me, like he always does when I need things. Also on the missing list this week are two patterns needed to finish of a jumper for DD and my scarf.

Back to christmas pressies - bellow are a few pictures of what I have started, the black and silver thing is a rio shawl I got from angel yarns, I'm making this up for MIL it's made with ladder yarn which is quite tricky to owrk with and not coping well with the huge needles either. DH has named them flag polls and asked if I could possibly find myself any larger ones.

The picture doesn't really do it justice I don't think, so will post a better onne up when its finished. THe second picture is a sock, knitted from a sirdar patter, kindly sent to me by a member of the AY knitting forum, it has knitted up really quickly on two needles, but think I have used needles a bit to large as it is very stretchy. The pattern asked for 3.25 and I only had 3.45 as the 3.25's I have are stuck on DD's jumper . It is made from opal self pattening sock yarn the ladybird one from the rainforest range. THink next time I try this pattern I will use a plain yarn, has been a bit tricky matching up the yarns round the heal. Should have really subbed the heal wool for a plain colour but my sock wool stash isn't that large (yet!)

Other things on the cards for christmas - the sorbet wrap for my friend also from AY and I am toying with 2 bags for my mu,m, both made from norow yarn I think. One is knitted and felted and another is crocheted but my skills are rather limited at the moment

Unable to blog

2006-08-27T16:09:00.000Z

My poor old computer has developed a dislike for all many of the things I like doing online, Browsing forums, writting in forums, ebaying As well as my blog, have been totally annoyied since I realised I couldn't get in. At least I can use mine for e-mails, it only takes 5 minutes to open up the box and another 5 to open a message.

So have commendered my mums laptop for the afternoon and she has taken my little angels out to llandudno. Whilst on my mums laptop I can publish the photos taken one my race for life a month or so ago.

This is me and my Papa, just before the start of the race, well the walk in my case. This is the only decentish picture of myself. I hate the camera with avengence and are usually behind it, must ask my mum if her camera is okay since this day out.

There were four of us taking part from our area, my mum, her sister and a friend of ours, we all really enjoyied it. Will definatly be doing it again next year.

In knitting news.

not an awful lot. My ASC jumper has been raviged by hamsters and I havn't had the heart to pull it out of the cuboard since. I'm fairly sure that most of it can be saved but boy am I annoyied, whilst being slightly greatful at the same time that it wasn't a customers order.

Everything has taken a back seat recently, I have however almost completed all the samples for my new stock, hope to have them listed tonight. Will have to use my laptop though as I am certain my mum will want hers back also have tried it from hers as it would be quicker but it won't let me reduce the size of the pictures and save them in the new format, which is a bit of a pain,. Mine does load pictures but like everything else it does it really really slowly,

Oh well, thats it for now. Hope to be able to post again soon

Introducing...............

2006-08-15T17:29:00.000Z

Emma/Enya

The latest surprise member off our family. DH came home yesterday and handed me a rolling pin, when questioned he told me that he had brought a dog and the pin was to beat him up with. Boy did I feel like it, but wouldn't have been very hyginic.

We had discussed getting a dog when the kids where older, but certainly not now. Oh well she is lovely and almost 5 months old. THe cat doesn't like her vary much and has had a good swipe at her. Looks like I'm going to have to change where I do my knitting as well as she is more partial to my wool than the cat. Earlier today she ran or with a ball of all seasons cotton, thankfully it was from my jumper an not an order. Think I may have to move my knitig upstairs to ensure it is still made in a pet free environment. No pets allowed up stairs my space, plus I can escape from the racket of the tv which is constantly blearing.

Anyway you may have noticed that she has 2 names, the lady we got her from called her enya, her documents sayEmma neither one of them she answers to, she is very excited and so are the kids, DS's face was a picture he's been after a dog for ages.

In knitting news, havejust finished the front of my ASC jumper hoping to get it finished this week as long as there are no hitches with the sleeves. Am also going to enrol in a dressmaking course in September, DH brought me a sewing machine a few years back and it's been used once abiet very badley, so it will be nice to be able to use that and break up the knitting a little

First post in a while

2006-08-12T21:29:00.000Z

Not had a chance to write for a while, well I think maybe I even forgot about my blog for a moment there.

Have been fairly busy the last few weeks, mainly tidying up the house as my friend is arriving to stay in just over a week. Not done much knitting wise, have take a bit of a break after the sheer number of orders I had to complete after listing several items at half price. I knitted betewen 6 and 8 hours everyday to keep ontop of it. But boy did I enjoy the challenge., and it was so nice to make things to order instead of making things I think people might want.

That said I did make my little girl her first pair of wool shorts in a long time, knitting for the family has taken a backseat since I opened my store. Poor thing had long out grown hers, I made them with a draw string and I am so glad that I did. She is certaily in that I'm going to pull my nappy of stage, she got quite frustrated when her shorts wouldn't pull down like she wanted them to. Actually it's a hard job to get clothes on her these days, it's one huge inconvience. Here is a picture of her in it, she wouldn't look at the camera at all.

She's been a total daddy's girl since her dad was signed of work, she as had little or no need for me at all. She used to fall asleep with my hair in her hands, which she doesn't do any more,used to love that. Both of them used to use my hair as a comforter. DS used to as well, he still does when he is overtired or upset. She used to love going in her sling and would scream if she was in the buggy, now it's been months since she's been in it. She normally prefers it to the buggy, but now she is prefering her feet above anything, I really miss that special closeness we shared, those moments are irriplaceable. Here's a picture of the last time we used the sling

On a visit to the LLechwedd slate caverns, wasn't the easierst place to visit as I have never been keen on steps with the sling, and there was a huge staircase to climb, mainly as I can't see my feet and don't trust them to work right when I can't see them, I'm forever falling over my own feet or thin air anyway.

Other knitting news, I started on that jumper for my little girl despite haivng too much to do already. I brought acrylic yarn, simply as it is cheaper and I have never takled and intarsia pattern before. I must say isn't nice to work with after using nothing but pure yarns for the last 12 months. It is nice and soft thought being a baby yarn. It is 4ply and has been surprisingly quick to knit, I've cvompleted the sleeves and the back is as good as done. Left the front till last on account of having no black 4ply yarn. I have since recieved this from Angel yarns so hope to start on the front pretty soon. Havn't even looked at my ASC jumper, really must finish that before starting anything else. THough I do want to make something special for my gran as well, which will porbably get started regardles ofwhat else is on the go.

Have also made my first sock, wasn't anywhere near as hard as I thought it would be, even though I did make a mistake and grated the toe in the wrong direction. It was really hard to figure out, I was so sure I had it right as well.

Not to bad really considering it is the first time I have tried sock knitting. Have to say that I really enjoyied it, even though I'm not over keen on DPN. Have ordered 2 sets of circulars from angel yarns but they havn't come in as yet, going to try the magic loop next time have brought 4 other balls of sock yarn (the above is opal rainforest in Owl) Also have the doctor fish, ladybird and tiger in the rainforest range, have a nice pink colour 2 skiens of lornas laces which was me SSS gift and last but not least a skien of pure silk soak yarn. Certainly added to my stash since I joined the AY forum. Now I just need that extra few hours in the day to knit with all these beautiful yarns.

Other news - Am thinking about starting to design my own knitwear, have been looking for a course that I can attend but there isnothing that is child friendly hours wise or close to wehre I live. Have found a program online that I am umming and aahing over, just waitng for the company to get back to me with the many answers to my many questions. Would much rather do a course though, but think that maybe something to aim for once both littluns are in full time school. With DD being a november baby(shares her birthday with my grandad and Billy Conelly) She won't be starting until 2009, seams an awful long way away but I know that it will fly. She will be going in as one of the oldest in her class, were as DS he will be starting school in september as the youngest in his class, can't believe my baby is starting full time school already.

Do I really need

2006-08-01T10:37:00.000Z

Another Work In Progress (wip)

Since I have cleared my orders my mind is working on the next items I want to make, I even brought wool for one which was really naughty considering I haven't finished the first half of my scarf. THough have put that off now as the littleuns atre both home and that pattern needs total concentration.

I have made quite a lot of progress on my ASC jumper, having completed the back I have just fiished the ribbing on the front, I have a pair of longies on the needles for DD, and have spent 2 hours writting out an XXL sized pattern for shorts so that DS can have some for bed when his new larger nappies arrive. His coveres are on the small side as it is, have ordered him easy peasy bumper nappies for bed, Have tried every single pul up type nappy there is going and none of them have worked for him. Have ordered with poppers so it is easy for him to take off in the morning will have to cross the getting the nappy on himself bridge when we get to it.

Back to my knitting, I know I have a lot on the go at the moment, but I am so tempted to start DD's jumper, have also promised 2 friends and my sister a scarf. Also promised my sister a jumper for christmas, really need more knitting time, as if 4 hours minimum per day isn't enough already. I said to my mum that I liked having many things on the go so I could jump between them. I get bored so easily with things, spoecially when doing a really repetative pattern, or lots and lots of plain knitting. THink I need to be really harsh with my self and make sure that I start finishing some of the stuff before getting more on the go, but it is very tempting

First attempt at crocheting

2006-07-28T21:49:00.000Z

Been one of those days for the last few days. Have had no time for anything, but still got stuff done, really thought I had achieved nothing, But looking back and totting up what I have made, have almost cleared my custom order list( 3 items in total), with only a pair of shorts to complete and a soaker for my DD, think it's about time she had one as she has long outgrown hers, so that is defiantly next on my list before even picking up my ASC jumper or scarf again.

Have also found time to try something new, when youhave touble sleeping there is always time to fill, Decided it was about time that I learnt how to crochet, my elderly great aunt is always bring me the most beautiful crochet things an would love to make something myself. I have a small bagful of items that she wants me to sell.

Well my efforts are nowhere near a patch on hers, I started off making a scarf, and amasingly I finished up with a scarf even though I started it wrong, worked it wrong and did a repeat of one row and totally missed out another, not forgetting the fact that I miss read the instructions totally, so here are some pictures of the finished product.

A close up of the scarf, bit hard to see as its' so curly, anbd below the whole thing. Appologies for the ends, not got round to sewing them in yet, also not 100% sure on the best way to secure them. Once I have had a it more of a practice I hope to offer these as a stock line when the weather gets cooler.

That it for now,

Wool stash

2006-07-26T16:26:00.000Z

It has come to my attention while sorting out my yarn that my personal stash is quite small considering the amount of boxes with wool in that I own.

the complete list is - 2 skiens or lornas laces, 3 balls of sock yarn, 3 skiens of noro and 1 skein of knitting godess hand dyed silk. THe later I have no idea what to do with it. IT's so beautiful to look at it seams a shame to unwind it just for any project. SO I need something specail to make with it, it's 4ply and weighs 100grams

Have allso recieved a nice squisy wool parcel, of the most beautiful shades of yarn, here is a sneeky peek

Knitting has taken a bit of a back seat the last few days, My husband has decided that he would like to do a car boot so muggins has been up adn down the attic trying to sort out stuff for him to take. I've definatly reached the worse before it's better look, there is stuff everywhere. Thankfully I have also managed to freecycle

As promised pictures of my wip's

My ASC jumper, have used 2 50g balls of yarn so far really enjoying making this looking forward to starting the sleeves as there is a new technique used that I havn't tried before.

This is my latest attemp at the fibre trends falling in love scarf pattern, I am knitting it with double knit wool on 4mm pony pearls which I am also trying for the first time. I find them quite bendy, but the fabric slides nicely across them. definatly prefer them to plastic needles, bamboo ones are my firm favourites at the moment.

How often to blog

2006-07-24T22:12:00.000Z

Is once a day to often, how about once a week? Really don't know, even though I am only a few days into mine I am finding it helpful to see where I am at iykwim.

Also finding that I am spending more time than I really thought knitting. Not sure if I should be embaressed by that or not.

Todays list is quite substantial.

Having got up handy I felt ready to face the world at 9a so trundled of to the postoffice with my first of several finished projects today. The shorts pictured in my previous post have been completed, unfortunalty forgot to take a picture before sending them to their new owner..

Called in at my dads for a while and put the world to rights over a cuppa, then back to my needles. Having decided for various reasons that I wasn't keen on my scarf I have relogated it to the cuboard where it will stay until I have a practice run on some DK. Must say that the DK is easier to work, after I have finished I will pick up my lornas laces and start again, it is much to beautiful a yarn to make mistakes with.

Before lunch I finished a soaker and packed it up, dropped DS of for his first afternoon in holiday club and went to lunch with my mum then you guessed it back to my knitting. Having by this point completed 3 and a bit repeats on the pattern at 60 rows each I am pleased that I have achieved something pretty today. THe 2 inches I worked on the back of my ASC sweater where nowhere near as rewarding.

Looking forward to tomorrow or maybe the next day as I will have more bright dyes yarn to work witth and can finally complete the orders that I have outstanding. As a treat I think I might spend a few hours more on making something for me. THe scarf and sweater I have on the gfo at the moment are the first things that I have made for myseklf in almost 5 years.

Will put up pictures soon of progress so far on my current projects, will try not to add anything else to the ever growing list of WIP's, a

Its surprising

2006-07-23T16:24:00.000Z

What you can do in one day when you put your mind to something.

Havn't stopped since I got up today, well until now. Admitidly most of the time I have been sat on my bum knitting, it doesn't count properly as being lazy though as I have been working. Here is a picture of todays efforts.

It is a large pair of shorts, made using bright dyes yarn, just have the gussett to finish. Have had so much time to work today. DH took the kids down the beach there is a fair there now for a week. THen the festival starts, looking forward to that as there is normally a huge craft tent there.

I'm aspiring one day to have a table in that event, and many of the others that have e-mailed me and asked if I would like to attend. Find it hard being a mum to under fives and working from home. For the time being though DH is home and I am getting so much more done, I can spend 4 hours knitting during the day and have the evenings once the kids are in bed. Before I'd have the evenings only and be shattered from the day, so not get much

On the other end of the scale I think we are getting on each others nerves a little, and I'm preparing for everything being turned upside down now that school is out for the summer. We have our eldest booked into kids club for 3 afternoons a week so he can keep in touch with his friends.

On the cards for tonight, I really can't decide. I was suppost to be going out last night but DH decided that he would like to go fishing, so thought I owuld go out tonight instead. Not sure if I can really be bothered quite like to plod on with my knitting, I have another pattern that I really want to get started. It's not like I am short of things to do either is it

My first entry

2006-07-22T18:18:00.000Z

And I can't think what to say. My mind is a total blank, where usually it is full of nappies and knitting which are almost perminatly on my brain.

Today has been a lovely day, met up with one of my best friends and walked to treaddurbay with my daughter. She was made up when we finally got to her house, she has a beautiful wooden floor which as my DD discovered makes a wonderfully fun stomping sound if she walked in a certain way kept her ammused for ages.

DH took my son fishing, but caught nothing apart from some seaweed. They had a good time, they really seam to have a taste for it now. We have 6 macerall in the freezer from there last trip.

Today I have spent 2 hours doing the house work, I really wish I wouldn't let things mount up. Washed 2 loads of nappies and watched them blow in the wind while I cleaned the kitchen, sucha rewarding sight.

Have also done lots of knitting, an inch on the back of a jumper I have promised myself for over a year, it's made with a nice variated all seasons cotton, shade - slash.

2 inches on a beautiful scarf pattern with lornas laces sock yarn in a beautiful cranberry colour , kindly brought by my summer secret santa :0)

It was suppose to be knitted on 4mm needles, but decided that it looked far to baggy and messy so switched to 3mm which has given it a much neater look does mean that it is narrow measuring only 5 and a quarter inches wide when pattern states 8 inches wide. Apparently it is fashionable to have long thin scarfs, just hope I have enough of the wool to make it to a decent length. This is my first proper attempt at something with lacey detail.

Have also done some work, sewn the waist band of 3 pairs of shorts and almost finished a small soaker.

Considering I didn't know what to say I haven't shut up yet, really could talk the hind legs of a donkey