2 for the price of 1

We have a two in one here folks so sit back and enjoy for your veiwing pleasure a load of pictures! :)
First up we have my finished pair of little monkeys! Oh how fun they were, and you know they didnt once try to jump out of my bag, yes they tried to jump off the needle but I grabbed them by their tales and put them nicely back on! :)

This was my first time using Regia sock yarn, and you know what, I actually enjoyed it! :) I loved looking at all the pretty colours as they were coming out. I now want to go buy more so I can make MORE socks and even make Mark a pair (or two! not of monkeys though!)

They took me about a week a sock but I did have a bit of a break in between the socks because I was doing some stuff for Mark. But alot of these were knitted while waiting in lines and taking busses to go get my groceries... I now realise why people love knitting socks they really are EASY to drag around with you and they behave themselves normally as well. :)

I loved the twisted rib on the cuff, but I want my next pair (because you know I need more!) to be the picot edged monkeys, I just think those are cute and girly! :) I have some sock yarn that Amy gifted me over SP9 that I would like to use.... Soon!

This was also the first time for AGES that I actually FINISHED two socks from the top down, all of my socks have been toe up so far because I get to the heel flap and then the instep and just stop knitting, but not these, I ENJOYED that! But I did use just one circular needle. I think I will try to do two socks at once next, mind you I didnt mind doing one at a time this time either...

I have no holes around my picked up stitches either, but I wouldnt be able to give these to a pro because I did have to pick up a couple extra stitches in order to make sure there were no holes nad they would be able to spot it, thank goodness I aint to fussed and think they look good just the way they are huh? :)

Me and grafting do NOT get along in fact every time grafting and I come into the same room together you hear the start of WW3.... so not good! Instead I thought Ill show you grafting! And completely ignored it and did a 3 needle bind off instead. Okay yes I do have a bit of an edge tickling my toes but you know what these socks are so lovely and comfy I dont even notice that!
So theres my MONKEY socks. Knit on one 2.5mm circular needle one at a time. Used Regia 5440 and I really loved the colours in that one... :) I promise they dont look so orange-red it is pretty....
Now on two the second thing! :D
I FINALLY GOT MY PARCEL TURN UP FROM GET KNITTED! WOO HOO! They ran out of the colour that I had orginally ordered and I didnt see their email until the next day or I probably would have gotten my stuff on Tuesday.. :( I knew I should have checked my email more often on Monday.. hehe....
I ended up getting Malagrigo in colour Black Forest 179, instead of the Pearl Ten 69 colour way. But you know what I dont mind, I thought both of them were pretty and had a hard time picking between the two so I am happy either way with getting the Black Forest. I also got the newest KnitScene that is out, theres the intarsia top in there that I would really like to make. :) Anyways you just want to see the pictures dont you? :)

There it is without the flash, and can I just say OMG this yarn is BEAUTIFULLY SOFT!!!

Here it is in the sunlight and I think the flash went off as well? You know I cant remember I took these last night before Mark got home from work.

And Chart A of the MS3 knitalong.. I FINALLY GET TO START! WOO HOO Im not putting beads on mine, I think if I love it and do it again I will do beads the next time... we will see though if I do it again I still have alot more to knit. :)
Malabrigo Black Forest 179, lace weight, 100% baby merino wool, aprox 470 yards to 50 grams. I didnt read ALL of the notices in the group when I joined and bought my wool and it was orginally stated that you would need around 1200 yards so I got 3 skeins of this beautiful stuff then it went down to just over 700yards, Im going to have a fair bit left over of this stuff, and you want to know a secret, I DONT MIND! :D Right now I am off to knit some more of this bad boy... WOO HOO!

Help I need to finish!

I havent finished making my dress I am working on. I havent finished my monkey socks that I am working on. Yet I feel like I needed to join in a KAL after reading about it on KnitYogas blog! Because you know a half sewn dress and one and nearly a half socks isnt enough for me! HA!
Okay actually I am really interested and maybe this will just take the whole oh what should I knit for a nice wrap to match all my new dresses problem I have at the moment! :) I went to GetKnitted and picked out the yarn that I want, Ill show it off when it arrives and then I am going to print out clue one and stick it to the side and clue two when it comes out tomorrow and stick that to the side as well.. I wont be starting until I finish my monkey so I better hurry before my yarn arrives!
Oh yeah the KAL its the Mystery Stole 3 got till tomorrow the 6th to do it if you want! Ive seen some finished phots already of part 1 and it really does look pretty already....

My newest shirt

I made another shirt, I swear I love all this sweing stuff!! :) when Mark seen my shirt he told me it was the best thing Ive sewn so far! That made my day normally he just says it looks nice and thats sort of it, he doesnt get as excited at I do about things! haha, BUT he did seem happy about what I had just made... So I know you guys are just screaming show us it already.. SOOOOOOOOOO here you go! :)

I appologize for the rubbish picture, I HATE taking self timed pictures, and my batteries died! :( So I got this blurry one and then and then just one clear one of the back to show off and here that is...

Oh yeah, sorry for not smiling up in the front one, BUT I was and then by the time it clicked my face hurt for trying to sit there smilling for that long, OOPS! I really aint a grumpy person, promise. :)
The pattern is New Look 6627 vie D with modifications like not using Jersey Knit instead using Cotton. Not having the ties at the chest. Using the arms from view C, and then taking up the neck line so it didnt cut so lew down and because of that taking in the arms slightly so they sat right and didnt look like I was a huge ole american football linebacker... I have that issue from time to time since I do have wide shoulders. I dont wear shoulder pads for that reason.
My fabric came from just a local shop here that cost me £1.50 a meter and the pattern calls for 1.9 meters but I bought 2 meters. So a new shirt for £3 cant complain can ya? More then that for £3 I got the best compliment my wonderful bf could make to me! HAHAHAHA HE LIKED IT AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST THING SO FAR!! WOOO HOOO
So my next sewing project is Simplicity 4558 I want to make the complete little outfit they show of views B, D, E... Nothing like having a nice smart summer outfit. Alright so right now the weather isnt suited for a nice smart summer outfit but still theres always wishing! :) And lets face it we still have another couple of months of "summer" so Im thinking it might come in THEN! ahaha...
Havent picked out my material for it yet and not entirely sure what colour I want but I do want the shirt itself to be really fun and funky, we will see what I can find when I go down to have a look. :)

Knitting:
I did finish my Monkey SOCK but I still have one more to go, I havent gotten the second sock syndrom yet I just havent been able to start it... I have been helping Mark out with something and its taken up all of my free time... its also put a blister on my thumb (thats gone down now) but I still have a little more to do today and then wait until he brings more home for me to do.... I just help him unpack his little down lighters from their boxes so instead of taking 4 hours it takes him an hour and a half sort of thing... (I just didnt want you guys thinking something horrible! HAAHHAHA)

I do still knit you know. :)

A couple of people have asked me if I have been knitting still the answer is Yes, I have! :)
Ive not done much knitting lately mind you because its been so hot that I just cant do many stitches before I am sitting in a pool of sweat... yes I have VERY sweaty hands and Ive tried to do things to them but Ive just learned to live with it... Mark loves me for them and always says something when I touch him with my hands! HAHAHAHAHA
Anywyas...
I was in town a couple weeks back and the LYS down there FINALLY got in some sock yarn. Okay its only Regia, but hey, its sock yarn! Ive offered them names of yarn that they should look into but nothing ever comes of it, I suppose they prefer to stock more things for scrapbooking then for knitting. Whatever makes them money and as long as they carry SOME yarn then Im happy! :)
Anyways I THINK the colour is 5440 if its not then its 19455 but that might just be the dye lot its not in english and unfortunately I am not lucky enough to know German (I tried to learn in school but when your 18 in a class full of 15yr olds it aint the one! Specially when YOU want to learn but they DONT)

Theres me showing off the bottom of the foot and part of the heel just to get you an idea of the colour, its not so much of the bright looking red/orange its more of a pinky colour.

Thats slightly more like it but still not there, dont you just love how a flash can change the colour? :) But anyways theres what my sock looks like so far a couple weeks in, yes its those MONKEY socks but you know what I like em!! :) The pattern is EASY PEASY to memorize and Ive got alot down the past two days while standing in lines and ridding the bus, and thats only because its not been so humid and hot so Ive not been so sweaty and I can actually handle the wool....
Ive sewed a shirt, its not completely finished yet so that will probably be done tomorrow with pictures.. :) WOO HOO and I have material and another dress pattern for once thats finished. Of course my socks will still be knit on!

The all important BLACK DRESS

Yes I made myself ANOTHER dress.. I LOVE dresses!! :) What can I say Im a girly girl. When I was like 11 years old I even went fishing in a dress with my hair and makeup done all up! HAHAH....
Anyways I used the same pattern for THIS dress, but of course I made a few modifications to it. Like first of all it doesnt wrap around at all. I just took the front of the pattern traced it over to some paper and then adjusted it to what I thought would be the right size for the side seams then I cut out the top and sewed it together. I tried it on realised it was to wide so I sewed it closed further I made some slight mods then to my underarm area to make sure my bra would be properly covered it and just had to bring the top shoulder down further into the dart. I then just cut out the skirt bit of the pattern making it longer ot make sure it fit all the way around instead of being opened up. And then sewed that onto the dress. In total from ironing to pinning to cutting to sewing to being able to wear it took me a total of 6 hours, not bad! :) I used the same material as my pants from the post below so for my pants and dress it cost me a total of 10 pounds, I couldnt go to the store for that!

I couldnt get my whole body in the shot, but the dress falls midway down my calfs.. So it is rather long, and I finally have that staple black dress every lady should! :) OKay so its not shiny like some but I LOVE it and today I got ALOT of compliments on the dress.

Me just being really silly and getting that "action" shot, let me tell you I got dizzy waiting for the self timer to go off for it! HAHAHA

And one more just because I was trying to get the perfect shot and you know I just like showing off that I have only been sewing for like a month and a half or something? WOO HOO!

Complete Outfit!

So its been to hot/muggy here lately to knit, instead I have been playing with my sewing machine! :D WOO HOO!! And lookie! I made myself a complete outfit! :) yes I made them in mind of going with each other and of course I can put other stuff with them like jeans or a different top.. I love my sewing machine ya know! :)

Mark though I was slightly crazy wanting to show off my pants like that, but I am proud of them!! :) They are a Burday Pattern from last months magazine. They do have pockets, honest, I just forgot to stick my hand in to show that fact off... AND I ADDED MY FIRST ZIP!! LOOKIE!!! :D

I was SOOO proud of that. My sweet mom called just after I tried to do it the first time and realised I messed up so I was unpicking the stitches while talking to her on the phone. Got off the phone after our conversation and redid the zip soon as I was done I came running in and showed it off to Mark who wasnt as impressed as I was! HAHAHA But then I called my mom and she got excited with me instead! ehhehe.. :) I was just happy at how close I got the material to the zip and I they flappy bit lays nicely over it to cover it all up! :)

And heres my shirt! :) I used again a Burda pattern but it was one of the free downloads on their website. :) I did a size that was supposed to be two sizes to small on me, but honestly I think I could have gone even smaller with it.I had to cut the shoulder bits down becuase I kept loosing the elastic in the neck! OOPS! but then I am glad I did, I also added the little belty looking bit around the front, of which Mark hates the look, sorry hun!! If I didnt put that there I looked like I was wearing a tent and err I didnt fancy doing it!

Heres a close up of the neck line. :) The elastic goes all the way around so it all has the scruched thing going on. Sorry about the necklace being twisted, Mark got that for me my first christmas here. :D and umm ignore the spotty neck please and thank you! :)
Now I am off to go figure what dress to sew myself now! HAHAH :) I LOVE MY SEWING MACHINE!

Who does that?!?!

Yesterday I did my laundry, not such a big deal. I then took it and hung it up out the back, again not such a big deal. But what happened next I honestly cant believe, because really WHO DOES THAT?!? I have two lines hanging out the back, I LOVE hanging our clothes up to dry (and hey when you have to pay at the laundrette to dry, or get it free and smelling great you just do it that way). So anyways I ran across the street not noticing anything out of the blue and got some elastic for a shirt Im sewing and got me a little polish treat, wafer bars covered in chocolate with bits of hazlenut YUM!, so anyways I come back home and I just stop dead in my tracks as I am going back into the yard. Right in the middle of all the laundry hanging on the outside line theres a BIG GAP! OMG! Wheres the shirt that was there?!? Did the pegs break and it fell off and is now in the corner from being blown about? Hold on it isnt windy enough for that! SERIOUSLY WHERED THE SHIRT GO?!?! So Im looking all around and then I spot there isnt a darn thing wrong with the pegs BUT they are on tighter then I hung the shirt with. I leave them hanging with the big end so it doesnt crease the clothes... So someone has come into our back yard, mind you I did have the gate open because I never close it incase Mark gets home early then he can just pull his car straight in. Still that doesnt invite people into our yard to steal our clothes!!! Seriously, WHO DOES THAT?!? Of course that made me bring in the clothes that were out there and they had to finish drying hanging out in the house its just not the same as outside. But I suppose for now one the gates will have to be shut and locked when I hang the clothes out to dry. Ive NEVER had that happen before and like I say I hang our clothes out all the time, the only time I dont is when its raining or in the winter.... So if someone sees a person walking around in Marks tshirt (its not even a new one! And it was a work one!) will you let me know so I can say something! GEESH!

MY DRESS!!!!!!

I finished my dress at 11am yesterday and I wore it out! WOO HOO!! I got ALOT of compliments on it from people who know me... :) I even had one lady ask if I could make her one! :) Makes one feel good when ones only been sewing for what 2 or 3 weeks??? And this is the third clothing item Ive made! (5th thing in all that I sewed, the wee bag and the mishapen coaster) I love it! :) I have another 7 patterns (one of which is a robe so I wont use it) coming that I won off of ebay they are patterns from the 60s...

Thank you Andi and Amy on the comments about my shirt.. :) and mom thank you for the email.. :) I was proud of that shirt! :) I plan on making another shirt thingy over the next couple of days using the same material as that one but with it purple instead of orange.. Hopefully I can pull that one off without a pattern as well.. I think its helped that I knit so that I have an idea how things should be laid out. :)

On to the dress! I know thats the only reason your here looking! :P

Pattern is Retro Butterick '52 B 4790 Fast and Easy (and it was)

It called to use Bias tape, well after talking to my mom and she confirming what I thought its just a nice way to cover up your hems I decided NOT to use any, for a couple of reasons. One I couldnt find any locally, two what I could find (on ebay) was expensive, three Im impatient and wanted the dress NOW! hahah.. So I took my time and folded all the edges over and hemmed them all up and they look fine. :) took an hour just to do the ironing of the hems to stay put but worth it in the end because the edging looks great. (in my opinion!)

It took an evening to iron pin and cut out the pattern, probably doesnt take people who are used to sewing htat long but there was alot of sitting on the floor smoothing out my fabric, talking to Mark, watching telly and THEN pinning down. It then took a following two days to sew it, could have taken just one day but I only sewed up the darts and the tops of the arms and then ironed all the seams to lay the correct way. Then the next day I got buttons for it the day after (yesterday) I did the hemming. The skirt while I was sewing I just kept thinking the curse of the never ending hem! That skirt goes on for ages!!! BUT Its so pretty and full when on and swishy! Was slightly windy yesterday as well and it was blowing and swishing right around me.. I felt so girly and pretty! HAHAHA

PICTURE TIME!!! (theres a fair few!)

The front!!! :)



The back! :)



Left side.



Right side (I know looks the same but I want to show this baby off! HAHA)



And another shot of the front just because I can!! :)

Wanna see my new shirt?

I got pictures!!! Loads of pictures so it may take some time... :)
First picture up is of my shirt that I made. :) Without a pattern as well I may add! I am very proud of it.. and I had to show this picture because Mark was rather happy that I stood by the speaker and was going to take pictures of it instead of me so I thought I had better bend down to get into the picture with it! HAHAHA

I had been wearing this all day and this was taken in the evening so thats why its slightly wrinkly... But it is a better view of the shirt.. Like I said, I am very proud of it because it was done without a pattern. :)

This is the material I choose for my dress. :) Its coming along BEAUTIFULLY!! :) There will be more pictures of it tomorrow when hopefully its completley finished.... planning on finishing it today. Need to buy some buttons and hem this bad boy! WOO HOO!!! I am going to have a beautiful dress when Im finished just need to get Mark to take me out somewhere nice now! hehe...

1... 2... 3....

I havent completely givin up on the whole blogging world just yet. :) Nor on the knitting or sewing.. Its just been a bit slow coming as of late...
It turned cold this week and rainy, ugh... So glad its turned blue skys again! :) I did however pick up my scarf and knit on. I didnt get a full repeat of it finished but I did get one NEARLY finished. Hey between cleaning, running around, and being lazy playing video games you dont have much time! hehe... But I still knit and I realise I do still love to do it! :)
I also cut out a tank top and sewed it together, but didnt use a pattern for it so that took a bit to do! Its not the greatest but Ill still wear it, will have to get some pictures of it soon! :) I also cut out a dress pattern, Ill be showing that off in all its glory once its finished as well... I cant wait for it to be done! :) Its a vintage Butterick pattern from 1952... I cant think of the number at the moment its in the back room so when I post all about it Ill give you all the proper information. :) But I just know its going to be pretty! :)
Alright thats all for now next time I post Ill have pictures! :)

One word

You can only give one word answers, so here I go. Tag! You’re it will be at the end.
*this came from Andi*

1. Yourself: sore
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse, significant other: working
3. Your hair: messy
4. Your mother: wonderful
5. Your father: distant
6. Your favorite item: good book
7. Your dream last night: strange
8. Your favorite drink: diet coke (at the moment)
9. Your dream car: a TRUCK
10. The room you are in: living room
11. Your ex: Cant remember
12. Your fear: Bugs EEEKSSS
13. What you want to be in 10 years? Happy
14. Who you hung out with last night? sexy Mark. :)
15. What you’re not: sad
16. Muffins: blueberry mmmm
17. One of Your Wish List Items: Mommy
18. Time: More
19. The last thing you did: sleep
20. What you are wearing: jammies
21. Your favorite weather: snow
22. Your favorite book: fiction
23. The last thing you ate: omelette
24. Your life: wonderful
25. Your mood: sleepy
26. Your best friend: Mommy
27. What are you thinking about right now? nothing
28. Your car: none (Marks a Mazda that count??)
29. What are you doing at the moment? blogging
30. Your summer: nice
31. Your relationship status: in love
32. What is on your TV? news
33. What is the weather like? cloudy to rain
34. When is the last time you laughed? last night
Tag! Your turn:
Whoever would like to reveal things about them. :)

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....