Help! My yarn is breeding!!

It is, I'm not joking! Look!


Ok so maybe not *actually* breeding, but how cute are they? I couldn't resist (yes mum maybe I should have but you know..) I do have plans to use them as heels and toes, making them radically different from the rest of the sock..thats if I have the heart to, they are just so sweet!


Ok I'm anthropomorphising yarn now...there is no hope! We won't even go in to the "adult" ball of yarn I bought with them to make sure they where supervised and looked after on the way here (actually it was some hand painted opal yarn which was at a very good price despite the Euro/pound not doing that well together..)

Oh no, they are getting away!



I'll get my coat....

Uk Swap Questionaire

Doing another pressie swap which requires I add this questionnaire to my blog :-D

Part One: Crafting

Do you knit, crochet, or both?
I just knit at the moment tho attempting crochet..slowly!

What do you like to make? Do you have a favourite project?
I'm a sock lover!

Do you have a favourite type of fiber or brand of yarn?
Not really no unless you mean 4ply sock yarn.. but I do seem to own alot of Opal sock yarn, think its the colours..

Do you have a least favourite type of yarn?
No

Do you do any other crafts?
No

What knitting do you bring ‘on the go’?
Socks! Ultimate take along project.

What do you carry your ‘on the go’ knitting in? Do you want something new?
I do have a knitting pouch that clips on to my belt loop, but I'd never say no to a new bag lol

Are there any knitting gifts (book, toy, yarn, item, tool) that you have been lusting over?
I've got a list as long as my arm bookwise which I will divulge via email if you need it , but some thing I really don't have is a set of darning needles for that all important kitchener stitch!


Part Two: Your Favourites

What is your favourite colour? What is your least favourite colour?
My favourite colour is green, my least favourite colour is yellow and pink, I don't mind yellow or pink, just as long as its not a dominant colour in some thing.

What scents/smells do you like? What don’t you like?
Hmm if I had to say, I love cut grass, don't really like a coconut musk smell

How do you like to pamper yourself? (bubble bath, hand creams, massage, manicure)
Pamper? Whats that?

What goodies to you like to treat your tummy with? (chocolate, biscuits, truffles, etc.)
Chocolate naturally! As long as its not white..

Do you prefer tea or coffee while you knit? Any particular kind? Favourite mug/cup?
Coffee, usually whittards flavoured coffee, and I have several favourite mugs!

Do you listen to/watch anything while you knit? (TVshow-Along, movies, music, podcasts)
Not in particular


Part Three: Living & Past-times

Where do you live in the UK? (General idea not address)
I live in Wigan

Have you always lived here, or did you grow up somewhere else?
Always lived in Wigan bar a few months when I was born, and when I moved in with Martin before coming back to Wigan!

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Japan, I'd love to visit Japan. Love the blend of east and west, all their cute kitch stuff (hello kitty, pokemon etc!) and all the technology/gadgets, ideal place for me!

If you couldn’t go to a knitting group, what other kind of gathering would you go to? (book club, tea party, yoga class, jewelery class, etc.)
Probably a book club.

What’s your style? (elegant, traditional, glamourous, girly, natural, sporty, outgoing, etc.)
Gothy, I have an upbeat personality, but I dress in black most of the time!


Final Part:

Any allergies/preferences (fiber-wise or treat-wise)? Allergies, don't send me any fresh tomatoes, its not a pretty sight, and my chocolate preference is dark and mint ;-)

Knitting podcasts but no ipod?

If you'd like to get in to the world of podcasts but thought you might need an ipod to use itunes or some thing along those lines, then I insist you check out my other blog on the subject, No Ipod required as you may be surprised at what you can achive without shelling out £100s for a gadget you don't really need!
Hope this helps some one!

Toe up master

For ages I've been wanting to do the Lolita Legs from knitty but have been scared of their toe up construction, I've actually tried to start them twice, and frogged them back as the toe just didn't work at all. And then I found a square toe cast on and that seemed to fair much better for me! And it was a success! I did have a bit of a problem with the short row heel, but seen as I didn't have to wrap the stitches as they are holey any way, good job...
Just hope they are going to fit now! I'm doing the larger size on smaller needles as my 3.5mm have gone walkies (actually I think I've just remembered where they are..) and I'm hoping that will counter act the effect (pattern didn't give a gauge any way). I'm doing them with Espirit, and it is really stretchy, I keep giving the foot a tug and I'm hoping that it will fit, I'm sure it will.

I don't think this is what the designer had in mind...

Ah, new month, new Magknits! This month, to catch my eye, there is was a fantastic pair of fingerless gloves, but I noticed them on two levels, firstly was the fact that they look fantastic as a long pair of gloves, the cables are stunning, I wasn't so enamoured with the short pair, but fell in love with the long ones straight away. And the second eye catcher was their name, Evangeline, the designer made a lovely comment about the name being her Grandmothers, and how she would have loved their elegance, but oh no, I didn't, my first thought was a song...by the same name...about a dominatrix!







No, I don't think the designer intended the fact I was going to make these gloves in a goth homage to a fantastic song and a fantastic band who have unfortunately decided to call it a day and their last concerts are at the end of Feb, which of course I'm attending! Whether I'll have the gloves ready by then I don't know, I've picked out the wool I want to use in the shape of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Black Purl (mmm purple and black, perfect!), and I guess if I knuckle down, buy the wool, I'd be able to do it. 51 days till the first concert..thats enough time right?
"Bow down and worship the whiplash queen.." no thats definitely what she had in mind!!

Ok, in other news! I've not mentioned my Spindolyn, that finally arrived!


It was nearly destroyed on arrival, by 2 delinquent boys who stole the package before I even knew it had arrived in the house, opened it up and then decided to throw the whole thing out of the window, I was livid and very nearly cancelled christmas, I had no idea they'd done it until several hours later when Martin came home and asked what had been in the package that arrived early that morning, we eventually found it in the back garden, a bit muddy, but thankfully no worse for wear and I managed to restrain myself from throwing their treasured toys out the window, tho I was sorely tempted..
Do I know how to use it properly? Do I hell as like! Doesn't stop me trying tho! I've had a bit of a go and I guess it looks ok? Not sought a second opinion yet...

That was done with some super soft Blue Face Leicester, I don't think I've got my drafting quite right and its really over twisted in parts, but for a first attemp, I was quite pleased!

Thats what I've got to play with, apart from the white BFL at the top, its all merino space dyed or just plain dyed ( there is some black on the bottom left lol) but I don't want to play with my coloured stuff until I've mastered the bfl, which might be a while yet, but hey, no rush! I'm just going to enjoy the learning, and I might even get some thing I can knit with eventually!

And then Christmas happened!

Jeez I'm not doing very well on the blogging front at the moment!
Promise pics and never post them, promise to post more then don't, forgive me?
Been doing a few bits, started a few more socks (natch!) and made a couple of things called Tribbles out of the copious amounts of cotton I seem to have! They are really good as it happens, just the right texture for exfoliating (ooo using posh words!) and I've been pleased with my self that I found the pattern on Ravelry. And made a dishcloth, tho I'm hoping it won't be destined to wash dishes, they are too nice to be scrubbing food off of things!

Speaking of Ravelry, check out my swish work in progress selection on the right hand side! That is every thing I've got on the go at the moment, pretty cool eh? Any updates I do on Ravelry will show up there, I think it looks pretty cool any way and I like the fact that it shows on my blog exactly whats going on!

So any way, instead of posting a load of photos, I've put together a quick slide show, first ones are of the stuff I've completed recently and the next ones are just larger pics of the ones I've got on the right :-)

Been Offline

Blimmin Bt messed up leaving me without access for best part of 3 weeks. Not fun.
I did manage to get a bit of knitting done, but I found it difficult without the inspiration or motivation on the net! When I see other people completing projects and all, it gives me a gee up to do my stuff, but without the internet in front of me, my knitting was sporadic to say the least.
I did, however, manage to finish two pairs of socks, cast on 2 more pairs and start a mitred square blanket to use up my left over sock wool, yes this does mean it will take years for it to be a useable blanket but I'm hoping it will serve more as a memory blanket of projects I have done, rather than some thing I need to finish right now this second!

No photos of finished items just yet, but will edit later to add them on! (already edited to add link to the blanket, should have done that before...)