First pair of pants

Friday evening I sat with my sewing machine... I cut and ironed and folded material but in the end I had a very comfortable pair of wrap pants. :)

And heres the back

I am not sure why I left the ribbon hanging down the back like that, its supposed to be pulled round to the front and tied in the front...
Heres where I got the pattern
http://totallystitchin.net/projects/pdf/Proj79-Project-Sarong_Wrap_Pants.pdf
As you can see the front wraps around to the back and is tied and then the back gets wrapped to the front where it is tied. I wore them all day yesterday and didnt have a single problem with them coming undone. But just in case I did put a safty pin in the back so that if they came undone I wouldnt have to bother with the front piece falling down!
I got the material from the market in town for 1.50 a meter. Bought 2 meters and still have loads left. Im not entirely sure if Im going to fold back the sides some more so that they arent as wide or leave them as is.
But for my first proper thing I dont think they are to bad!! :) I got some more material in the back and in the next couple of days plan on making myself a really nice top out of it. :)
Have a great weekend!

Camera Working Pictures!!

WOO HOO Got my memory card working... I flicked the switch on the side of the card that I never knew existed... Must have done it the last time I was putting the card back into the camera??? Thankfully the lovely bf knew what to do! So what you have been waiting for, pictures!!!

My pretty little sewing machine! :D

The little bag I made as my first project, I still havent gone and gotten some ribbon to tie it shut with...

Look I even put a little side strip thingy in it!! :) (it was full with remotes to make it look like it was being used hehe)

This is what I made yesterday!! :) Cut the bits out by myself, then sewn them together, its a pathetic attempt at a coaster I know, but the end that isnt squared off I sewed the tip to the wrong side was so annoyed I just flipped it under and decided to have the tea pot shape, and not to mention I didnt realise it anyways until after I was doing the edging anyways.. OOPS!
So thats the pictures I have to show for right now, Im so excited.. WOO HOO got Burda Magazine yesterday just to have some patterns for when I get decent enough to try a proper pattern.... Yesterday I showed Mark my coaster and said aint it great?!?!? His reply was please tell me your not going to show me one of these every day and ask aint it great to them all are you?!?! I said no but Im just showing you that I am TRYING to get there with my lines. :) But then his remark back was really sweet... "Well for all I know in 6months you might be making some Kate Moss looking clothes" And that was a compliment... even if I dont like her it was still a compliment to me.. :) And ya know what, Im gonna flippin do it!!! hahah
Right now its getting a bit colder I was going to knit on my scarf last night but we rented World Trade Center off of Film Flex On Demand so I didnt want to waste that 3.50 by looking down, and I dont think I could have knit even if I wanted to I was crying the whole time nearly, I warned Mark before we even started!!.... I dont think its a movie Id be able to watch all the time just because Im a whimp when it comes to movie watching, ask my mother shell tell you all about The Horse Whisperer and my step dad and I bawlling our eyes out why she tried not to laugh at us..... Both are good films by the way. :)

I got it,,,, I got it!!!...

Im not happy.... I was going to take a photo of my new sewing machine and its saying I cant that my card is locked, HOW THE HECK DID MY CARD GET LOCKED?!?!?! *got that out now back to normal posting*

I got the above flower on Monday when I went into town they were passing them out then asking you to go check out the newly opened loos, I just found it really funny but I think the flower is pretty... :) Its still sat here mind you its looking scruffy so now sure it will last much longer...
So as you seen above, I got my sewing machine.. told you I wouldnt be able to wait! :) I havent yet got Mark an xbox, give me till next month and that will be here I am sure.. haah
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4601993.htm
You can see which one I got there, and if you dont fancy clicking it I got a Brother XL2230 11 automatic stitch settings, and a 4 step button hole maker, and if I am really lazy I can use the sewing machine to sew on my buttons, umm I think Ill still do that by hand thanks!.... I did make something tiny last night, its not great but its mine! :) Id show you but again my card has somehow managed to lock itself and I havent a clue how to unlock it becuase I dont know how it locked in the first place.. UGH! I also wanted to show off the pretty material that I bought to eventually do myself a skirt in... But I cant.. :(
No knittings been done, I think I need a project with less of a cold weather feel, maybe Ill take the sock yarn I got and make the mister a pair. :) I think then I can turn him to knitted socks.. hahaa.....
Alright enjoy the weather and Ill update later (hopefully he can fix my mem card tonight...)

I want, and I want it now!

You would be right to think by now I SHOULD have finished at least that third repeat of the scarf I was working on and possibly getting near the fourth, but NOOOOOOOO I still have about 4-6 rows left before I finish the third. Pretty pathetic really.
My brother who happens to be turning 30 this year (I swear I still think the lot of us are like 15-16 years old!!) thinks that at his age he should still be able to fly... umm NO BROTHER you are WRONG!... I got a message on MSN Thursday morning, of which I am still giggling about, with him saying something along the lines of "I thought I broke my ankle today but I only badly bruised it"... He tried to climb a tree, the tree limb broke, he landed on his ankle funny I suppose, didnt actually ask. And then told me about it, I laughed and told him, "I dont know how to climb a tree, but at my age (25) I wouldnt even want to learn I know Im to old for that, surely you should know that as well??!!" I got a good laugh at him anyways.. I do love my brother but he should know at his age you cant fly!! heheh....
Its been decided, Mark doesnt want a PS3 he wants an XBox360! Thats fine with me they are currently cheaper and have more games. Theres a guy who lives locally that he also works with and happened to stop by his house yesterday and had a play with it came home and couldnt stop talking about how cool it was. :) so hes eventually going to end up with one all for himself. Told him that will have to be his xmas pressie.. yes I think ahead....
Its also been decided I WANT A SEWING MACHINE!!! okay Ive wanted one for two years but have kept talking myself out come time to buy one (or well send Mark to buy one for my birthday) but Ive decide, I WANT ONE NOW! well that will be my birthday pressie, he can figure something else out for my xmas pressie,... I wonder though if the two of us can wait another 8 months for our toys? I will bet now we wont be able to! HAHAHHA
Alright have a lovely day every one and yes the suns still been shining and its still been lovely here. :)

Thoughts...

I have been knitting, still knitting on the scarf/wrap and Ive not really done much different so a picture is unneeded.. but now completely off knitting and on to moaning....

The UK has to worst drug problem in all of Europe. I just seen something on the news about it and some lady (I wasnt paying attention to who she was sorry) made comment about it pretty much being only a problem in the poorer areas... How can you make a comment and generalise it just to certain areas. I mean you have people like Pete Dogherty or however you spell his name and Kate Moss who probably snort their own body wait daily. Okay maybe they dont do THAT much but you cant tell me they dont snort!.... You also have other people that are exposed in the news who are very well off to do people so it doesnt matter WHERE your from or WHAT you have if your addicted to drugs then your addicted and there needs to be more done about it then just oh that alright dear dont worry and leave them to it... Why is it that the famous can be exposed and then its almost like they are excused for it and then end up getting bigger and better deals from it... Lets face the truth here Kate Moss now earns MORE then she did before her big drug scandle.... yes I cant stand drugs, I used to smoke but I dont any more and I havent for 6 years... I was young and stupid not an excuse but I wouldnt do it now... cant stand the smell of cannabis now....

Onto a sadder note...

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who attend or have family and friends attending Virgina Tech.

But can the media PLEASE BE QUIET!!! They are blamming the school and security staff over the way they handled things yesterday. I am sorry but I dont think they could have done more. If you get someone who is shot out in the street you dont close down the neighborhood and tell people to stay in doors. They thought it was an isolated case. Unfortunately 2 hours later they found out it wasnt. But once they did realise things were going wrong they did the best they could at telling people to stay put. I suppose you always look for SOMEONE to blame when something like that happens but sometimes I think the media make stories where stories arent always at or twist things to MAKE a story sound better....

Now back to regularly schedualed knitting...

A rambling in the wind

Mark half joking half serious asked me the other week to make something for the chairs feet so it would stop scratching the floor... I made these!

You can see there on the edge of the photo how the chairs scratched the floor, not happy about that! but what can ya do? So I knit these little cotton leg cozies. Casted on 12 stiches did short row wraps till there were 4 in the middle, then picked em up and knit like 5 rounds rib casted off.. I couldnt have gone smaller, but should have only because it was already a pain just working with the 12 stitches... so thats why theres purple threaded thru them to tie them onto the chair. But theyve been working and the chair aint scratching! Okay I know I should have got felt tips for the chair but when its the middle of the night you do with what you got dont ya? HAAHAHAHAH :)

I have been doing "normal" knitting as well... Barely but it is getting done. I dont know lately I just seem not to fancy knitting (or reading) I know somethings seriously wrong with me, I think its the sun! and the thought of knitting a wrap when its sunny just seems all wrong. but what lovely weather we been having!! Thats me (obviously!) sitting out the back!! WOO HOO we finally have a proper back yard (even if it is all cement) to sit out on... SOOOOOOO happy all I gotta do now is get me some planters and start me a little herbie the love buggy garden out back so I can have fresh herbies all summer. :) A couple of flowers will be potted as well just to make it pretty.. :)

And just because! :) Those sunglasses are perscription sunglasses that I got 2 years ago thats maybe the 20th time Ive worn them. For some reason I dont wear them as much as you think one would.. next time I get glasses Im getting a pair of transition lenses then I know I wont forget to grab my sunglasses.... But shew weve needed em lately ITS SO NICE AND SUNNY!!! Everyone whos having horrible weather please DONT send it to us I am enjoying the sun. :)

Happy Easter

My little sheepy friend here (who I found from www.sxc.hu), and I would like to wish you all a very

Happy Easter.

Have a wonderful day!

Jenn

Slow is the way to go?

Everything seems slow going lately. So much so that I havent done any knitting in three days. BUT heres what Ive done already on my wrap.

That is one full repeat and a couple of rows. Row counter is facing the other way and its still in the same postition on the floor and Im to slow going to pick it up and look! HAHAH
I am still going to run out of the wool I am using but its going to be easier to get ahold of since I bought it in town. only thing is the dyelot wont match. But I am not to bothered about that as long as its grey I will be happy. Some people it may drive nuts but a slight colour variation wont do my head in. A massive one, well thats another story all together...
So heres a close up of the lacey part:

ooo you can ALMOST see the row counter there but its to blury sorry! but thats what that looks like.. Its pretty.... and heres the main body part:

With this I am thinking hte stitch pattern would make a really cute knitted summer top... but a striped one so that you dont get too bored. Two colours that compliment each other... *yes Im thinking*
So anyways theres the knitting front.
Life wise its been slowgoing as well yesterday I cleaned and did laundry and hung it out in the sun to dry. Sorry but you can not beat hung outside to dry clothes... oh how I love the way they smell! :) So I was busy yesterday doing all of that. Then today I didnt want to get out of bed! Marks alarm went off and I ignored it. He got out of bed I ignored him. He came in eventually and got dressed I ignored him. He left to go brush his teeth I ignored him. He came back in to say he was leaving. I looked at him and jumped out of bed... WHY! he even said stay in bed! AND I STILL GOT UP! now Im sat here with wet hair because you see Ive had a shower Ive been up for 2 hours and I want to go back to bed. I wont. I still have things to do today but Im not doing them. Instead Im going to go get some juice and just sit on the couch. I might knit but I might just stare at the tv like its an alien...
Oh yeah. Marks parents moved back up to Caister. Its a double edge sword for me. Because I am happy as that means we get to go back up there to visit them during the summer and get away from here. But then that means they arent just down the road where we can go see them whenever we want. I havent seen my family for four years. I miss them. So Marks family I sort of enjoy them more then I suppose any girlfriend would enjoy her boyfriends family. Of course it does make me miss mine more but then thats the way life goes....
Miss you Mommy and I love you!

garter finito

I finally finished my dishcloth...

Pattern was the Garterlac Dishcloth from Criminy Jickets it can be found HERE
I used Sirdar Luxary Cotton in Sage that Ive had in my stash (a very small one) for a while now it was going to be one sweater realised it was to small then was made into another one and had loads left so I wanted to do something and made that with it. :)
I used 3.5mm circular needle only because I dont own them in straights. I actually prefer circular needles all of a sudden. :)
I dont actually know how long htat took as I cant remember when I casted on but it was a while when it shouldnt have been because I was being lazy to knit.
During it I learn backwards knitting. :) Heres a progress picture:

(excuse the blurry photos I took them at night so now the best lighting)
And Heres some pictures for doing backwards knitting Im no pro but this is what I did:

Hold the yarn to the front of work (I knit continental so all pictures are with it being done that way) Slip your needle in the back side of the hoop on right hand needle (the one away from you)

Wrap yarn around needle from bottom to back and over (as shown above)

Pull the hoop over the needle and you now have a knit stitch on the left side.

Hopefully thats helped you a bit. I still had to turn and hold it the "right" way when it came to making stitches or decreasing them still learning how to do it properly. :)

Now I got some more wool from my stash that I FORGOT I had. Its from some socks I made ages ago but never finished so I ripped them out and am going to try and make the scarf again with that as I did have a full untouched big ball of it. Not sure if I will have enough fingers crossed that I do! :)

knit back and forth

So I have read a bit more of my book its slow going as I just havent been in the mood of actually sitting down and reading so that doesnt help...
Instead I have decided I wanted to knit a garterlac dishcloth, no I havent gotten any pictures of it, no I havent even finished it yet. Something else that is slow going. But its getting there and just becuase I started it Thrusday and its now Saturday means nothing.. (yeah right) But I have learned out to knit backwards, thats cool! I only knit when it comes to actually making a stitch or something I have to turn my work and do that, but Im getting rather quick on the plain knit rows! Which that should make the thing go quicker but its not. Theres alot of it sitting on the table just looking at me when I dont feel like knitting. Shh dont let the knitting here me say that.
I havent decided yet what I want to make the scarf/wrap out of either. But I do want something nice and light for the summer just to wrap around my arms when its got a cool breeze blowing. I also have a couple ideas floating about in my head for some summer tops but of course with no really wanting to knit fully they are staying up there... Moving I think just killed me knitting mojo!
Hopefully the next time I update I actually have pictures of the dishcloth to show! :)

Catching up on things...

Okay so you all know that I am back, now its time to get down to the knitty gritty and tell you all what I was up to while having no internet.. :)
Here you see the FINISHED product of toothpick knitting, would I do it again? Yeah Im a sucker for punishment! HAHA :)

They are knit using Rowan 4 ply soft 2 balls of it. I bought it on sale from getknitted.com and OMG are they lovely and soft on my feet! :) The colour is slightly darker then that but with the sun and the flash they do look light!
I used 2 circular 2mm needles and knitted them toe up adding the chain like motif up the front. :) Short row toe and heel were used. I love toe up socks! HAHA :)
And heres another picture

You can see the pattern better...
The circled bit in the photo is the remaining bit of a really horrible looking bruise that I gave to myself the first week of moving in.. As we have wood floors in here I was on my hands and knees cleaning them. Well I got annoyed so I just started squating and hopping backwards well at the end of the hallway we have a little step down silly me forgot about it hopped backwards right off then fell forward and cracked both legs on the edge, I thought I broke my leg as it went REALLY numb and instantly had a VERY LARGE bump on my leg couldnt walk on it properly for a couple of days but its all better now just a tiny bump and a bit of a bruise... Will teach me to pay more attention when cleaning the floor huh? :) haha

After finishing the toothpicks I started working on this scarf/wrap thing. And I had my doubts from the beggining that it wouldnt be long enough I just kept saying to myself that after blocking it will be plenty long enough, well thats with all of the yarn nearly knitted up and I had to finally admit to myself 3 weeks of knitting and I get NO WHERE because I had to rip it all back.. I am still going to redo it, I WANT that pattern wrapped around me. :) Maybe Ill get some more rowan 4ply soft and do it in that since its so nice to cuddle in. hehe

Theres a close up of the little leafs and acorns on the edge...When I do make it, I will have to add a couple more stitches to make it slightly wider that was another reason I ripped it out as well..
Now heres a picture out the window where I sit at the computer:

Right on the corner... Do you know how nosey I get to be?!?! HAHAA Okay honestly I am amazed at how little I pay attention to things going on outside... Maybe I am not as nosey as I originally thought I was?? hmm
So thats all the knitting Ive done, and I read about 100 pages of my book, I know not a whole lot is it? :( I also cleaned alot and spent time walking around trying to find things to do and talking alot to the guy and his wife who owns the shop across the road... poor couple probably got sick to death of me. ahahah Mark got called alot on the phone just so that I had something to do as well. hehe... He loves me and amused me by talking to me too.hahaha :)
Now I have to figure out what to do with the knitpicks yarn that was the scarf but now isnt. Im thinking of hand dying it (which is what its for) and then making some really nice socks out of it. I just havent fully commited myself yet but I am toying with the idea I want to handdye so bad! heehe :)

BACK!

We are back up and running!! Instead of 5.5 weeks it turned out to be 4 weeks and 2 days. We would have tried to get it back earlier but when you are calling and spending 3£ on the call every time you sort of decide that its not such a bad wait after all. YEAH RIGHT!!!
I finished my toothpick socks, LOVE THEM! :) And I did do that scarf that I wanted from Elann as I was able to save and print it off, only problem is that its wasnt long enough in the end so I ripped it out and now Im back to the start I will go and get some different yarn and make it slightly wider, but I do want the pattern, I just loved it. :) And I did take pictures of it before I ripped it.. I only read a tiny bit... so much for reading and knitting loads huh? :)
But so happy to be back now I need to catch up with whats been going on in blog land. :)

Gonna be missing!

Will be offline for the next 5.5 weeks. Dont know what Im gonna do with myself, maybe Ill finish the toothpick socks! I have pulled them out. :) Our internet provider (and phone, and telly) wont hook us back up for 5.5 weeks all of their engineers are currently fully booked! We will be trying to call every couple of days looking for a cancellation so fingers crossed we get it before then but who knows!
Till then, take care everyone, and happy knitting!

Cant wait!

I havent done anything knit wise but I am waiting for Elann.com to release the new free patterns...
http://www.elann.com/designcontestwinners_scarves.asp
you can have a look at them there, that first one being released on the 9th I am thinking I really want to make it!! :) By the look of it, its wide enough to wrap around my shoulders when Im sat about some place and a bit cold, or I can just toss it around my neck and run out the door and it will be a nice comfy scarf... I do love my branching out but really its a tad tiny to act as a proper winter scarf so I am thinking that one will do just right! :)
Come on Friday hurry up and get here!!
Thank you to everyone whos complimented me on my mittens! They are SOOO lovely and warm! Today I actualy had to take them off for a few minutes my hands just got a bit to warm. hehe. :)

Me Corazon, Me Amour

I finished the gloves on Saturday!! But I didnt have time to post them and then I tried Sunday morning but flickr was being worked on, but its not now!! :)
Heres the tips of the mittens...

I did a three needle bind off instead of the kitchner stitching they suggest in the pattern... I HATE Kitchenering! Yes its a seamless looking join and you cant tell where you finish and were you start, but with mine, YOU CAN! So why not make it look pretty with the bind off! :) and it closed up just perfectly!
Now for the rest of the pictures and specs! :)
Pattern: Corazon from knitty
Yarn: Knitpicks Merino in Hollyberry and Vanilla gifted to me by my secret pal. Each glove weighs 40grams. But I am not sure how much of each I have left over. 2 hollyberry and 1 vanilla was plenty!
Changes: My hand measures 7in, the small size from the pattern but I went up to 7.5in so that I have room to flop my hands about on the inside as I think thats why I used to hate wearing mittens. Also as I explained above, the three needle bindoff. I also decreased EVERY row on the tips of the mittens instead of every other row, they would have just been to long otherwise. Thumb was done the same.
Now for the pictures as I know thats what everyone wants to see! :)

Fronts arent they so cute!!

The backs.. a couple mistakes from pulling the yarn to tight but I still think they rock! :)

Mitten on my hand.. :) So warm and fuzzy!

The sexiness on my hand! :) Oh yeah I know yall want a pair!! :) They have come in handy as well becuase its turned a bit chilly so I finished them JUST in time! WOO HOO!! Now I think I should try and finish those toothpick socks.. hmm Ill think about that for another time.. Maybe Ill read. hehe

Hows the mittens going?

I finished one of the mittens! :) Im not going to show a picture becuase then it sort of takes away from when both are finished... Really there isnt much to show from whats pictured in the last post.. well other then a fully finished mitten but I mean pattern wise it was just a repeat....
When I finished it and showed it to Mark asking what he thought his reply was "It looks like a big sock with a thumb!" AHHAHA I couldnt stop laughing when he said that because really, thats what it looks like... I made them slightly to big, but for a reason I HATE mittens because normally your hands have no room to move around, so making them yourself your able to go slightly to big and thats just what I did! :) after he made the sock comment I stuck it on my foot and was thinking they really would make awsome socks, just put in a short row heel and by george I think ya got it! Mind you it would be ankle socks... and I think I might do that one day... just not right now.. :)
Alright now Im off of here gotta run to the store and get some food for dinner... dunno what yet hopefully SOMETHING speaks to me while Im wondering the isles if not a side of cow for mark and Ill have something from the freezer, like soup even though its warm soup sounds nice....

Gloves 1

I picked up the needles that I needed to start the gloves yesterday! :) WOO HOO!! Of course when I went to the store to get them and asked for the 3.25 and the 3.5 that I needed I was told that they didnt have a 3.5mm and anyways why would I need that size its so similar to the 3.25 they had what seemed every other size BUT the 3.5... How I didnt say something rude to the lady I dont know! Why is it that some people think they can speak down to you? Sure she was just saying they didnt have the 3.5 but it was the way she said it to me and the way she looked at me like how dare I knit at my young age.... ARGGGG I was able to get a 3.5 from a tiny market stall anyways, then I came home and started my gloves.. :) Or well glove as Im doing them one at a time I couldnt be bothered to try and find 2 of both needles!

The inside back view.... its so pretty

The outside back view... just as pretty, and that almost solid looking red line is due to the white being pulled slightly to tight, oops!

The inside front view,,,, how pretty is that? and ooo that will keep my fingers nice and toasty!! :)

And that is the outside view of the front. :) Pretty!
Thats what I did (-3 rows) from yesterday... I could have had more to it but last night I stopped knitting and decided to lay on the bed and watch telly and be completely lazy... But I just HAD to show off the gloves. :) Now just to finish it and do the other one... Hopefully I will have a new pair soon! :) Im gonna be going for it... haha...

SCORE!

I got my package from my secret pal!! WOO HOO I have been waiting patiently for it to turn up after getting her email saying it was on the way and it came this morning just after 11!!! WOOHOO!!! :D

It went from that to this

Then to this...


Theres some sticky note pads shaped like hearts and then some not cards shaped as hearts plus a magnet thats a big ol J! :) And funny enough we actually need another magnet because we only have 2 wee ones on the fridge and they are at their holding limit every time you try to stick something new under them they fall off! hehehe...
The stitch-n-bitch Calander! I got a daily knitting calander as well but its a different one, and I had a VERY QUICK flick and it looks really good! :)
Some BEAUTIFUL smelling hand made soap in a Cinnamon and Peppermint (that have made the bedroom smell really lovely just sitting in here!) also got some Vanilla sugar hand lotion equally nice smelling some mint lip shine balm that I have on and smells good and feels nice! Will have to make sure the mister doesnt take it! So that will have to go and hide in my coat pocket. hahaha :) Also got a really lovely smelling cinnamon candle,,, again will have to hide that so the mister doesnt burn it when Im not here.. :) I want to be able to smell the loveliness of it! :)
A really beautiful hand made angel ornament that my sps Mom had made for everyone they know and I think its just beautiful! Its my first handmade CUTE ornament that I have for the tree for next year!! :)
I also got a needle case, AND ITS PINK! and a chibi darning needle set! :) The funkiest cute little sheep tape measure and its got a little button on its bum that you press and the arm (tape measure) wizzies back in to his body.. I was playing with it for a few minutes thinking it was the funkiest little toy for lil ol me! hahaha I also got the little red snoopy figure, that will go with all my Tigger toys sitting around the computer (once I get mine fixed, and who knows when thats going to be right now.. no I aint complain!)... and I also got a some choccies,, YUM! I already ate the little strawberry that was in it, and I am going to offer Mark one but hes not allowed the turtle so that leaves a little (I think its dark) choccie and a little white choccie ball but that turtle its mine! :)
I also got Knitpicks Merino in hollyberry (2) and vanilla (1) to make these mittens from knitty and then I also got a big ole skein of knitpicks bare that Im not sure what I will do with just yet, but I know that I can dye it and make some socks, or something with it... its got over 400 yards (I think) of yarn and Im going to make something equally as cool as the mittens! :) With the mittens I might make them a flip top because I know how my hands can get a bit to hot sometimes... .. hopefully I will be able to achieve it and make them look kick bootie still. :)

THANK YOU SO MUCH AMY! I had a great round with you being my secret pal! :) And it was my first round ever so it was even all the more fun not knowing what to expect!! :)

WOO HOO ITS SNOWED!

Its finally snowed!! Im ever so happy! okay so there aint LOADS on the ground but ITS SNOWED!!! :)
Woke up this morning and went out to the kitchen and seen the snow ran to the window like a little kid and said to Mark who was warming himself up on the radiator... "look its snowed!!! Its so PRETTY!!" He just said I could keep it... I told him thank you I will! HAHA :)
Those are just some random pictures I just now took, the park across the street, trees in front of the park, the back fire escape, and the houses to the back of the house. :) Aint it pretty? haha They say we are supposed to get snow the rest of the day but I have a feeling we wont actually see much of it, just everyone around us will....

I went and watched Persuit of Happyness yesterday as well.. Good film, happy film, but I want to read the book instead! I would have been disappointed if I spent 8£ to see it, but it was only 4£ so that was alright... I think for Miss Potter I will end up waiting for it to come out on dvd instead of going to see it in the cinema...

Ive see the whole 6 weird things about yourself meme on everyones blog and I havent done one myself because I couldnt think of what was weird about me... Ive been thinking and heres my list....
1. I LOVE peanut butter and jelly sandwichs (jelly/jam whatever you call it) but I HATE jam on toast.
2. I used to hate coffee now I love coffee and I must have a cup while checking my email and blogs daily!
3. I dont put butter on my bread, in fact I have to remind myself to make sure I put it on Marks or he wont eat his!
4. I spelled *maybe* wrong until I was about 16 years old. It used to be *mabey* and I sometimes have to remind myself which way round it goes...
5. I talk to my mom almost daily on the phone and if I dont talk to her after a couple of days I have to call her to make sure everythings alright. When I lived with her Id barely talk to her... Funny that when you move away you miss what you had.. everyone says that but you never seem to believe them...
6. I used to only be able to fall asleep with the radio on very low, now we leave the tv on and once Marks asleep I turn it down so that I can barely hear it but still hear the mumbles, just as I did with the radio, so that I can fall asleep.

Today is special...

I know your wondering why today would be such a special day? Well its our (Mark and I) 4 year anniversary! :) Okay sure we arent married, but as good as in my eyes... We have actually "known" each other for five years... But that first year was over the internet and phone calls, so we always say are anniversary is the day I came here. :) And yep, that was four years ago!! I swear it doesnt seem that long ago!
What did we do today? (since I am writing this at 10.30 at night!) Mark went to work this morning as normal, came home at 4.30, a bit early than normal. We watched some telly, I had a stir fry and he had a side of cow, I mean a steak... Thats it.. no cards no flowers.. :( However I did look at buying myself some flowers (with his money!!) but all the ones at the store were half dead or so laughably expensive that there was NO WAY I was going to buy them.. umm Im sorry but spending 10£ on half dead flowers just doesnt make sense to me,,, Ill buy myself some yarn soon from him. :)
I did say that this weekend (as in coming) that I wanted to go out and he said we will see.. he might have to work. :( But hopefully he doesnt and we go out.... Even though he didnt get anything for me (which I knew he wouldnt anyways) he still remembered! and that alone is a good thing.... Hes never made a big deal about things like this but just him remembering is a big thing for me. :)
Tomorrow is el cheapo day at the movies so I think I might go down and watch The Persuit of Happiness while Marks at work... he HATES going to the movies so if I go its by myself... and I REALLY want to see this movie after hearing so much about and seeing the trailor every two minutes (so it seems) on the telly... We will see though what tomorrow brings when the time comes that the movie is on. :)
Oh btw, I just have to say I am SO PROUD of Mark... He has gone two weeks (as of tomorrow morning) without having a smoke! Hes using the Niquitin CQ patches, hasnt had a craving only has found himself looking for his smokes then laughing when he realises he wont find them. Hes not grouchy or eating loads of rubbish as you can sometimes find. Hes also noticed the benefits of not smoking, such as smelling things like rice being cooked, and taking big lung fulls of air. He did have a bit of a cough after day 2 but that only lasted a couple days and hes been fine ever since. Hes just doing great, and Im happy that I dont have to deal with the morning cig anymore.. That was probably the worst one for me, some days it would honestly make me feel queazy... and I used to smoke! havent though for something like 5 going on 6? years I think.. I cant remember how long its been or the day I actually stopped because I was tired of smoking and had one cig the morning I quit it made me feel sick and my mom told me if I carried on I would end up with all sorts of problems and that was it I didnt have another one.. I hope Marks the same.. :) Hes already admited if for some reason he fails he will be SOOOOOOOOO disappointed in himself... Hes got 2 guys at work to quit just by telling them how good hes felt.. and he finds the smell really horrible himself now. :) WOO HOO!
Alright Ive rambled on about a load of stuff now and no knitting.. Only because I havent done any.. I know I have my toothpick socks to finish and I suppose I should work on those but Im trying to figure out if 45g of Fleece Artist Merino sock yarn is enough for some ankle socks, anyone know?? if not Im sure I could make a pair of pretty (small) wrist warmers for sitting around the house knitting with? But seriously I should think socks first and not what else I can make! HAHA

All done! :)

I finished my scarf this morning! :) WOO HOO I just need to give it a quick hand wash and pinning out and then I will take pictures and have a beautiful scarf all for myself! :) A new one at that! One I never thought I would have as I refused everything before as I didnt want to stop wearing my pink one I made as my very first knit... But I suppose you do outgrow things after all.. or well just get a better winter coat that doesnt fit the scarf. heheh
Pictures to come! :)

**THE PICTURES!!**
I just steamed blocked this I couldnt be asked to pin and wait! Im an impatient sort of person.. And Nikki, you wanted to see the coat.. so here yall go! :) The scarf... I cut my head out of the top picture becuase I look HORRIBLE today.... and I covered it in the second photo..hehehe

More Celeb Lookie Likes

I did another one of these things... and I got different results so Im posting it. :)

Book done... Scarf coming....

So I somehow managed to hurt my back over the weekend and I ended up laying on the bed all weekend moaning like an idiot and reading. I finished my first book for the TBR 2007 challenge and it was Jodi Picoults Plain Truth. Another good book by Mrs Picoult. But I love all of her books that Ive read. This book is about an Amish girl whos being tried for the murder of her baby in the English (american) courts. Its just the story of her, her family and her lawyer whos english. Its so good I didnt want it to be finished when it was! You get so wrapped up in the story and of the characters that when the stories over you just want to find out what happens to the character after. And I mean that in a good way not in a way that the book is rubbish because its not! :)
So that means I did VERY LITTLE knitting.. Okay I did 1 repeat and thats 10 rows all weekend on my scarf and it ws so uncomfortable that I just decided that one row was plenty.. but today the back is feeling better... Not great but I can sit up today! :) And so I knit 2 repeats so far with trying to do some laundry... Its slow going but someones gotta do it! Heres the picture of the much awaited scarf....

That gold runs from side to side up the scarf and looks so lovely!! I think Branching out was the perfect pattern for this yarn! :) I cant wait until its finished and I get to block it and wear it! I dont care that its not cold enough out there a sweater and the scarf and ill be fine! hahaha
One last picture... Mark will HATE me if he knows Im doing this but tough! :) This was from New Years Eve... Just before Midnight actually.... Arent we sexy! oh yeah!

Excuse his no shaving.. He wasnt feeling good that day and I made him get up and party with me new years eve... even though it was here in the flat with just us.. :) (it was a great night. haha)

Quickly...

My Branching Out scarf is coming along! :) After having to rip it out the other day Ive been sure to be careful with it this time round and so far so good! :) I cant wait until its finished! I will have to take a picture of it and show it off as it stands but Im going to be lazy and do it another day. Sorry I know everyone loves pictures!
So I started to read the first book for the TBR2007 challenge... What Im doing is knitting during the day and in the evening while Mark watches telly I sit on the bed with me wee light and read. Alot of people couldnt do that but Im alright with it.. Sure they say the best way to read is in silence but I dont mind the backround noise because I block it out! There have been a couple of times that Mark says something and then about 5 minutes later I look up and go "huh? did you say something to me?" I think he expects that though when Im reading.. when I knit however I listen to him and answer right away... :)
The book Im reading at the moment is Jodi Picoults Plain Truth so far so good! Im 123 pages into it and I dont want to put it down!! But I know that I have to because if I dont then I wont get any knitting down so I have to behave and NOT pick it up during the day.
I decided to knit in the day and read at night because the mistake that caused me to rip out the scarf was becuase I was knitting at night when the light isnt the best to look at the stitches and the directions though with my little reading light I have it just over hte pages and its a good bright light for a small area like a book... am I making excuses? no I am being honest....
Alright off to go get stuff for pizza tonight... YUM!

**btw Colin, no the socks arent shiny, thats the stupid flash off my camera playing games....

Its finished....

First this First.. :)
I finished the socks that my sp gifted the yarn for and I must say I LOVE THEM!! Finished them Sunday night but only took the photos yesterday and was out most of the day so didnt have a chance to blog about them until now! :)
I LOVE how they feel!! they are SO SOFT!!! I keept saying to poor Mark, "Have I told you how soft these are yet?? Well you know they are!" Finally when we were home and just about to get ready for bed and I asked him for the upteenth time he said "Yes you have, all night infact!" haha oops! Well I love them!! I wore them with my boots which I love but arent the most comfortable on the feet as in not very fluffy soft! But these socks sure made them feel that way! haha :) anyways here there are...

Just chillin out on the bed looking all pretty in there goodiness. :)

Short row heel and toes were used and just a basic 2x2 rib. :) As you can see better in this picture the stripes dont match up, I did try but it looked as though it was one full skein of hand painted wool that then go skeined into two balls for even socks but the stripes run opposite each other and you know what I didnt think Id like it that much but I do, I love the way the look when you look down at your feet! :) hahah

Here they are peeking out from under my pants yesterday... See how CUTE they look? Who wouldnt love wearing those??? And have I mentioned how soft they are? :) hehe

AWWW look, they love each other!! :) Isnt that just darling! :) I think it is anyways. hehehe
So heres the deal
Basic Toe Up Pattern from Knitty.com I was going to use the one that came with the socks but they used the figure of 8 cast one and I TRIED I really did but I SUCK badly at that and they looked HORRIBLE and holey on the toe so I ripped it out and did a crochet cast on and went from there. Worked each toe seperately and then joined on two circs once I had to pick up the cast on stitches.
They were knit on two circs at the same time. Its so easy. I could have done both toes at the same time but I think it takes longer becuase you are constantly changing yarns for each ball... The heels I did one at a time as well just becuase as I said I find it easier. :)
The yarn was gifted to me from my fab secret pal as I said and it is SW Zebrato II The fiber Denn Handdyed sock yarn 100% Superwash wool 128 yds/2oz 6.5sts=1" on US#2 needles.

Now because I finished that on Sunday that meant Monday I could start my scarf! YIPPIE! Says I....

Look how beautiful that skein looks!

and wound up... still a bit blurry, but its still beautiful! :)
On Monday I decided that Branching Out was the prefect scarf in the end for this yarn. I casted on and started I knitted a bit Monday and then again yesterday it was looking really nice! Then last night I realised it looked REALLY wrong somewhere I managed to screw up the center line! I dont know where and I dont know how! So I was gutted I tried to fix it but it was to far gone the easiest way for me was just to rip out and start over from scratch so thats what I did. My progress over two days of knitting pretty much looks like the ball up there in the picture! I was gutted but I made couple minor mistakes in the beginning anyways but nothing that effected the overall look on the scarf until the end before I ripped it out so thats WHY because I said to myself I can fix the small errors now.. and no the small ones didnt effect the big one! I think when we left yesterday and I set it down when I came back and picked it back up I was all confused and started knitting the wrong row and just continued on without noticing I was messing it up! oh well you live and learn... The scarf was looking BEAUTIFUL as well thats why I will keep Branching Out as the pattern fore this wool. :)

And yesterday was Marks Birthday HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I LOVE YOU! :) He had a doccies appointment and had to get blood drawn :( and I was waiting for him out in the waiting room and I heard the nurse go "oh its your birthday today!" and then she started singing I about wet myself laughing outside the door... He wanted to slightly forget yesterday was his bday... He also decided that yesterday would be his stop smoking day and he did REALLY good all day long. :) I hope he sticks to it today I gave him his sweets to take to work.... I gave him money for his gift as I know what he wants but I dont know WHAT TYPE becuase its something for his car and Im sorry but Im USELESS at things like that so instead I gave him money and yesterday after the docs we went to the car store and the guy that FINALLY decided to help us was so uninterested that we walked out without the thing he wanted. We went to another car store but they didnt have what we wanted then we went to see his parents was there for a good while then went to the store and came home. Today hes gone to work and is going to try a car store near where he works hopefully the people are more interested in trying to sell something there then they were here.. It even ticked me off! Sorry but do your job buddy I felt like shouting... and perhaps because it was supposed to be his birthday gift he was buying... Oh well a day late isnt TOO bad is it? He had to wait until the 26th for his xmas gift so I suppose hes used to it..

Right off to go knit me scarf! :)

***
Oh yeah SP I have all of those books already! :) I tend to buy any book that looks good when I walk into Tescos in town because their top ten paperback books are less then 4£ a book! :) So I tend to splurge on myself now and again... :)

2007 TBR Challenge

I decided to sign up for the 2007 TBR challenge can be found HERE and HERE is the newest post...
I figure I like reading and Im sure I can get 12 books read in a year.... 1 a month and any new ones I get and read as well is just a bonus I suppose! :) But if I read this list thats all but I think 3 books I own that I havent read and umm thats good for me! :) So heres my list of books...

1. Plain Truth - Jodi Picoult
2. Geisha of Goin - Mineko Iwasaki
3. Gods Callgirl - Carla Van Ray
4. The Broker - John Grisham
5. Deception Point - Dan Brown
6. Digital Fortress - Dan Brown
7. The Asking Price - Carline Upcher
8. Eve Green - Susan Fletcher
9. Life Expectancy - Dean Koontz
10. Velocity - Dean Koontz
11. When She Was Bad - Louise Bagshaw
12. Nights Of Rain and Stars - Maeve Binchy

Now those arent in order of the way I will read them but they are the 12 I will be picking off of... :) Now I wonder how this will fit in with my knitting and now spinning because I cant let either of those fall to the side so hopefully all of that with just general life will keep me VERY busy! :)

Spin, Span, Spun

So I started to write a post out yesterday and was nearly finished with it when my computer decided to freeze. So to say the least I lost that post.. ARG! Good thing it was just a round up of what Ive done and easily retypable and wasnt some long story or something! :)
So Ive been spinning, and I love it! OMG how could I have waited so long to start?? THANK YOU BONNY FOR THE SPINDLE! The pack came with a white top, blue top, and black top.. The black one I think was the longest/most in it. But I did a little white as tester and I showed that already. I did the blue over a couple of days and it wasnt consitant but I still love it! :)

Its mine and I done it, and thats something to be proud of! :) All I need to do is wash it to set the twist right now its wrapped around a pants hanger sititng happily just waiting for me to come wash it. :)
then I did all the black, I was better! I found a site online (look on the side bar under spinning) and it showed pictures and it just confirmed I was right in the way I was doing it. I swore I was spinning all wrong! Even though I did come out with spun wool in the end I was absolutely certain that it was wrong! So anywasy looked at the site, I was right so I continued to do it with slight improvment of pulling on the wool to seperate it more and Ive come out with a more consitant black yarn...

Now all I need to do is get the twisting bit down pat and let the twist run up the wool properly so thats its not over twisted in some areas... This also needs washing to set its spin. :)
Im going to leave them as singles and not ply as its all to fat to ply (in my opinion!) and Im going to spin the white I have and going to make the head band from knitty I think. Hopefully I have enough, I should anywyas! but I figure if I knit that then whenever I wear it Im showing off my hand spun and it should prove funky! But I do want to make something with my first spun yarn just to say "LOOK WHAT I DID!" :)
Now I also ordered some stuff from GetKnitted I love that site! here it is in all its glory :)

Now some of that is mine, and some of that Im giving away Im not saying which is what but heres a picture of whats going...

I figure that way if the SP9 pal Im sending this to looks on here and sees it shes not knowing whats getting sent just knows SOMETHING is being sent. :)
Still trying to figure out what scarf to knit for myself. I know I want a pretty lace scarf! but just not sure which one yet.... :)
The socks my SP9 pal gave me are coming along working on the leg and its getting longer soon as they are finished Ill post pictures! :) I love the colours in the self stripping yarn she gave me and they are so pretty to watch grow... :) Okay off to knit on them some more now!