Slow and cheating

I have been knitting now and again. Im working both sleeves at once and have decided to knit them flat as well. I couldnt find another 3.25mm circular needle in my stash and couldnt be bothered to buy another one either and now my sleeves are growing Ive decided the seaming shouldnt be to bad since its just the sleeves. :)

Yes that is Delia Smiths How to Cheat cookbook. Ive linked to amazon but I bought it at WHSmiths. I seen the two programs shes had on the telly so far and the stuff looked good. It was in the book store when I walked past today and only 12£ (okay I could have saved money getting it online) and I bought it. Ive already flicked about and have dinner planned for tomorrow. tehehe.... See thats why I wanted it! I can plan yummie dinners now!!! :)
But yes I am knitting and thats what my sleeves currently look like (imagine the other one being identical!) and I will eventually have them finished and a cardigan to wear, just not sure when! :) I have also nearly decided on what I want to make this year for xmas pressies. Yes Im already thinking but when you hand make isnt that what happens? You have to start planning right away right?!?!?!?

Cardigans are growing!

Before chirstmas I went out shopping for a nice outfit to wear out with Mr somewhere. I eventually found what I wanted (sort of) but while I was shopping I found this really sweet sweater. It was the only one they had and was on sale. Its Acrylic but you know what, I dont care! I LOVE IT! Its so geeky its GREAT! :) that little white thing is a bit of fluff I didnt realise was there until I looked at the pictures, dont worry its gone now.


Ive been promising you pictures of my sweater I did the three needle bind off for the shoulders and put it on to show off. :) I still have to sew down the front bands knit the arms and the rest of the bands. Ive not decided how Im going to close it yet. I am thinking of making little icords and put some buttons on it. But I think it might be to delicate for all of that. We will see.... maybe an Icord edge all the way up one side that you wont really see? hmm I have to think!

Heres the back view. I really like the way its turning out and cant wait until its all finished and done and I can wear it with a summer dress I want to sew up. :)

And because Mr laughs at me for taking pictures of fluff, I took pictures of my sleeves that Ive just started.

Game time!

Its all Kessas fault.. She tagged me so anyone I tag on the end blame her not me! :)

1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

And here are 6 non-important things about me:

1. I LOVE peanut butter and jelly (jam) sandwhichs in the mornings for breakfast.
2. I buy books even when I know I wont read it for ages.
3. I wake up every morning with Mr. and make his tea for him and walk him to the door when he leaves. He tells me not to bother but if I dont my day seems all wrong.
4. I dont like fussing with my hair. So I just tend to blow dry my fringe (bangs) straight and let the rest dry naturally or if its cold I do blow dry my hair. But other then that I dont do anything to it.
5. I love looking at other peoples blogs and usually steal new blogs from people I like reading.
6. I enjoy living a simple life and keeping myself to myself, well with myself and Mr.

Now Im tagging
Berrie, Andi, Angelique, Emily, Amy, Starfish
The six Ive tagged I have my own little reasons and htey are from people that I enjoy reading. Some have nothing to do with knitting (I know how RUDE) and others have alot, but I just wanted to see if I could get to know more about them. :)

Friends Rock

Remember back before christmas me and a friend in Australia decided to swap packages? well we did but mine took 3 months to get to her and hers only took a week toget to me so I sent her another one thinking the first got lost in the mail then they both turned up on the same week. Well she sent me another package full of goodies because she rocks! :) I told her not to but shes stubborn (hmm a bit like err me) and sent it anyways.

Look at my haul! WOO HOO That there up in the back is lime coconut something else body wash lotion and I think body butter? or something like that its all in the bedroom and Im to lazy to run and check. Sorry but let me tell you it SMELLS SOOOOO GOOOD!!! I keep wanting to lick my hands when Ive used it. heheh.... Then I gots me some eye shadows and some coloured lippy gloss stuff and some nail varnish. also a wee key chain (well its a charm that Ive put on my keys) and then because thats all not awesome enough she sent me SWEETS!!!! OMG! that big bar on the side is Rocky Road the little box there in the centre is coffee drops and that big pack as you can see are things called Snicker Pods. IF You EVER see them in the store (Ive never seen them over here) then GET THEM!!! They are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOODDDD!!! I was good and made them last over two days. How I havent a clue I could have sat and ate them all but I was trying to be nice and save SOME for Mark but sadly he had a cold and couldnt taste anything so he just had the one and didnt get it. Thats alright better for me! HA!

Ive finished the body of my cardi Ive just got to do the sleeves now Ill get some photos up of that in a bit. I just wanted to show off my goodies that I got last week. Im just REALLY SLOW with everything lately. Sorry!

Its a start

I have been doing a bit of knitting and started myself a cardigan from some wool I bought from ebay. Its coned 4ply pure wool. What type or who from I dont know. It was pretty I fancied it so I bought it. :) That sometimes happens with me!


Its Serrano-ish from Knitty. Its an -ish because Ive decided I didnt want the flame pattern in there and instead I wanted the lace all flowing the same direction. I dont know why I wanted that I just did!

So I took 2 sts out of the pattern because those were the extra to make it swoosh back and fourth and started knitting. Im past the decreases and have started the waist increases. Its a really easy pattern and even easier now that Im only doing half the chart. Dont even need the pattern with me when knitting so its great telly knitting when I can be bothered to pick it up!
Shh dont tell my knitting I am still cheating on it and just sitting there doing nothing while watching telly....
But eventually I will have a cardigan! :) I bought the wool off of ebay and it didnt give a yardage with it. And I just couldnt be bothered to measure some out and weigh it so instead Im just going with it and hoping Ive got enough. When I get to the sleeves Ill decide if I want 3/4 length or normal I suppose then I will have to work out how much wool Ive got. Well that or I could just knit with blind faith? Ive done that plenty in the past! :)
Ive got what should be enough for one more cardigan off of ebay in some blue 100% DK weight wool from Latvia for another cardigan. I swear I shouldnt be allowed on ebay when I feel like spending money its deadly! But thats my wool bought for a while. Because other then that cardis worth Ive got enough for two pairs of socks one that will turn into a pair for Mister and one that will be a self (hopefully) designed pair for myself. :) but of course I still have my hippos to finish before starting those pairs. One day Ill get my quick knitting mojo back.. But until then I shall knit on my cardi and have a cuff of my second hippo sitting there waiting.

MS3 Finished Pictures

I think my MS3 has been the most photographed project Ive ever done. Here are some pictures after blocking.

Theres the right side showing

Theres the wrong side showing.

I dont do grafting. I did a three needle bind off to show it I took a picture of the right side here

and heres the wrong side. to me I think it looks alright. The only problem I have is the fact that my dyelots even though they said they were the same were actually VERY DIFFERENT!

Now Im just showing off how pretty it could have been

Do you see the difference how one side is lighter and one side is MUCH darker? Im eventually going to dye it. I just dont know how to? Its Merino, will it take dye even though its already been dyed by Malabrigos company?? Whats the best dye to use? I just want to do it black and I can easily get ahold of some Dylon in town. Would that work? Im so miffed about the colour lots becuase I think its beautiful but I wont wear it out because of how mismatched it is! *sniff*
But isnt she pretty??

I have finished it finally.

I have finished knitting my MS3!! I still need to wash and block it and I am REALLY REALLY REALLY hoping that when I wash it ALOT of dye comes out of one side.. here I will show you WHY!

Thats supposed to be two ball of Malabrigo Lace Weight in the same colour and same dye lot. Does it look like thats the same dyelot to you? I could do iwth it stripping slightly different but one side being dark and the other pale? Umm I got issues! Like I said to Mark if it doesnt come out Im going to have to dye it. Ive never dyed anything before will it work? He laughed when he seen it and said I couldnt wear it and have knitted it for nothing now because how bad it honestly does look being completely different! Once its blocked properly Ill show it all off. :)
Marks neice had a little girl so heres the blanket with the ribbon in it, and I think it looks SOOOOO cute now! :)

She loved it and told her little wee one that shes stuck carrying it around with her all the time now. That made me happy! :) And I had a bit of wool left over so I quickly knit this wee tshirt

those are wittle teddy bear heads up on the shoulder. The long sleeved shirt under it came from *coughpricoughmark* The daddy seen those and said "its going to take her ages to fit that! Its so big!" Umm thats because shes a newborn and these are for up to 3 months but before you know it shes going to be huge! I would have knit a bigger size but I didnt have enough wool so I had to go small. I dont like giving new moms 0-3 month clothes becuase I always think they get enough of that I like giving 3-6 or 6-9 because then they have one less thing to go out and buy when the baby gets to big. But I still think its sweet looking. Even Mark liked it. :)
Alright off to wash my ms3 so I can pin her out and get depressed over the colour mismatch!

1 sock and half of a half of a stole

As I said I finished my first Pomatomus (Hippo) sock, here it is! :)

And here is a picture from above

Can I just say I think this looks absolutely beautiful done in plain creamy white wool! :)
Im knitting these on 2.75mm dpns with Knitpicks Bare gifted to me during SP9 from Amy. :)
I have casted on for the second one but the cuff isnt even finished yet I really have lost me knitting mojo for some reason.. UGH!
BUT I have SOME of my knitting mojo still in me because look!

Thats my MS3!! Yes I am still knitting on it! No I havent forgotten about it! :) Im nearly finished with clue 3 (chart D) But again this is slow going as well becuase its only being picked up now and again and knit on when I feel like it, for instance last night I only knit 2 rows, still its growing! I might actually be able to show it off properly one of these days! :)

I still knit?

I have been knitting, just not alot. I got one of the socks finished and have about 5 rows on the second one finished so not very much. I knit a wee giraffe but it looks a bit funky because its solid blue! I will have photos of both soon Ive just not done much of anything lately.
I have however knit on my MS3! Yes Ive picked that back up and have made some progress. Its all slow going mind you because I seem to have just lost all my knitting mojo that I normally seem to have loads of. All the knitting rush for christmas has now left me blah.. Its not the knittings fault its just I seem to go through these phases anyways.
I read Friday Night Knitting Club I so enjoyed that book. Ive got more books out the back I want to read but I havent picked another one out yet instead I been watching telly.
And speaking of watching telly Im going to flick around some blogs and go back to watching it afterwards.

Pinstripe Skirt

Heres the skirt I made its from Burda again Ive forgotten to pull out the magazine to look at which issue its come out of I will remember soon I promise!


Heres a better picture of how it fits ignore the dust on the lense in the corner...


It falls just below my knees. I love the skirt.. I like being dressy though, I just dont do it enough....
I have plans to still make a pair of trousers some form of tunic top and a pair of lounge pants from Amy Butlers book. I will eventually get around to all of that but first Im going to go climb onto the couch and cuddle up under a blanket with a cup of hot coco and The Friday Night Knitting Club. Im finally going to get around to reading that!!!

Quants falling out of my ears

Hello everyone I am still around I do still knit.. Its just Ive not done much of it this week because Ive been laying on my couch feeling miserable! Its where I fancy going right now since I got back from the shops but I decided to sit up and write a post instead...
I made 2 more quants


Imagine that one finished and on my head or wrapped around my leg like the black one. :) haha
The top is left over Cascade 220 that I had from when I made Madeline ages ago and the bottom is Fleece Artist that I had left over from my Branching Out scarf I made last year I think it was.
I made myself a skirt as well from one of the Burda Magazines I will have to figure out which one that was again and which pattern it was once I take pictures of it.. I havent yet but promise I will and it does look pretty. (well I think so!)
Ive also made progress on my hippo sock... Im just past the instep on the first one. I havent knit anything else on the MS3 since those couple of rows a while ago. I really need to sit down and finish that I want to snuggle up in it with its softness that is Malabrigo Merino! YUM!
Okay thats updated now Im going to grab a blanket and snuggle up on the couch and watch a load of useless telly!

Baby Gritghan

I finished my baby blanket. The only thing left to do is wait for the mum to have the baby so I know what colour ribbon to add into the edge! :)

I have used a stitch pattern from my stitch dictionary and just went along how I seen fit. :)

Heres some pictures and below those are the pattern for how I did it.

The full blanket and now some close ups.

The corner and where the ribbons will go around.

All folded and pretty! :)

(My first pattern as well!)



Baby Gritghan

By Jennifer

With help from The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches (The Harmony Guides)

Materials

Size 4.5mm crochet hook

3 50gram balls of Patons Clansman Superwas Wool

*Its a double knit wool but doesnt give the yardage on the ball band and had no luck trying to find it as well.*

Ribbon to weave around edge



Grit Stitch 2

(Multiples of 2sts+3)

Row 1: Skip 2ch (count as 1sc), 1dc into next ch, *skip 1ch, work [1sc and 1dc] into next ch* repeat to last 2ch, skip 1ch, 1sc into last ch, turn.

Row 2: 1ch (counts as 1sc), 1dc into 1st stitch,*skip 1dc, work [1sc and 1dc] into next sc* repeat to last 2sts, skip 1dc, 1sc into top of turning chain, turn.

Repeat 2nd row to end.



Chain 83 stitches and work Grit Stitch 2 for 34 rows.

Do not break the yarn.

Chain 3.

Work *1tr and 1ch* 3 times into corner stitch.

Work *1tr into next sc, 1ch*

Repeat all the way around the edge of blanket.

Work 2nd row of Grit Stitch 2 around the edge without turn instead slip the end stitches together. Work 3 rounds.

To work your corners dont skip the middle dc, working your sc and dc into that as well as each sc to the side. That will give you enough room to have your corners turn properly.


Work your ends in. Wash and dry flat or if you wish slightly block it to pull the stitch apart. (thats what I did). Weave your ribbon in around the edge.



Hope the new baby enjoys their little blanket, and I hope youve enjoyed making it!

Staying Warm

Hope everyones settling into the new year alright. :) So far so good for me. We've (Mark and I) made alot of fresh bread with my trusty bread maker. Okay so I wouldnt have thought about that as a gift for me, but turns out I love the stupid thing! HAHAH
So I finished my cinnamony goodness sweater want to see it? Good here it is!!!!!

and a close up of the neck

Btw that isnt a stain on my arm its water from doing the dishes.. I splash around alot. im just not sure how I managed my elbow! oh well!...
I really do like this sweater my only complaint is I would have made it longer! I added an inch to the body but I just think it needs to be a couple more inches longer. I do like longer sweaters and shirts. I made I think 2 sizes below my chest measurment because I like fitted things as well. I left the buttons off after buying them. But I just really liked the look without them! ill probably knit this again another time in different yarn. I used Sirdar click which is an Acrylic with a bit of Wool in it. I liked it.. mind you I still prefer merino but I bought this wool back in the summer for a different sweater that I never knit and then decided it better for this one.

On Wednesday when I went to meet up with Martina for lunch Lizzie was down from Uni so she came along which was lovely! I like meeting new people! But I got a suprise when Mary turned up as well!! WOOO HOO!! I got to meet my SP11 that I spoiled. That was well cool! But she brought some wool down that she had floating about her house and wasnt going to use so I took it off of her.. THANK YOU AGAIN! And I am in the process of making a baby blanket for Marks neice who is heavily pregnant and due I think in 5-6 weeks. She doesnt know what shes having but Im using the wool for her baby anyways. Its a blue-green colour... Im crocheting this blanket and I picked out a stitch from my stitch dictionary and flying along.. Im going to just crochet until I think its long enough and then add a border but I want it to be gappy so that I can weave some ribbon into it as well. :) I think that will look pretty.


This picture was taken just after midnight on New Years Eve, well New Years day actually! HAHA

I love him... :) Mind you he nearly battered me after that picture because I wouldnt leave him alone! Okay I did take ALOT of pictures before that so he was starting to get annoyed but he was laughing there from what I told him before that about squishing bits of myself....

2007 Year Round Up!

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you had a lovely time last year and have a wonderful year this one! :)

Heres my crafty round up including the last couple of pictures that are owed for Decembers finished objects! :)

January....
saw me start to spin (and the only time last year sadly)

saw me enter the TBR challenge that I FAILED MISERABLY I read a couple of the books but lets just forget about that challenge shall we?
I knit a pair of socks

I made Branching Out

And of course saw the finish of SP9 which was alot of fun and the first one I did.

February
I knit mittens that I still very much love to bits.

We also moved around the corner so I didnt really get all that much done because of that.

March
Saw me knit and rip out the Acron scarf I liked it but I didnt like it after I knit it!

Saw me design and knit my first pair of toe up socks. But of course I forgot to write down what I did funny that huh?

I also knit a garterloc dishcloth and learned to do backwards knitting which Ive since forgot so maybe I didnt learn to well after all??


April
Did another acron scarf and ripped it out as well.. lets not talk about my love hate relationship with that pattern okay? :)
And the one thing that still makes me laugh that I knit are the chair cozies... We have stopped using them because we finally bought felt pads for the legs but I still think they are cute and didnt throw them away! HAHAHAHAHA


May
I GOT MY SEWING MACHINE!! WOOO HOOO

I sewed a couple of goofy things with it to learn what I was doing but soon got bored and made my first dress (I did do a pair of wrap pants and shirt but I just want to go straight to the dress!)


June
I made a complete outfit...

Then I made another dress

Then a shirt (sorry forgot to smile in the picture)


July
I finished a pair of Monkeys!

And started MS3... Its still not finished but it will be one day! :)

August
I got new glasses and worked on my MS3 .

September
We got homey! HAHAHAH And got ourselves some house plants.
I started my christmas knitting and MS3 stopped.
I finished the first melon


October
I made the first pair of father and son socks

Finished my second melon

And got a wicked package from Emily my SP11 pal.

November
I got new boots.
I hit my 100th post on this blog and had my first contest.
Finished my second pair of Father and Son Socks

Got another wicked package from Emily.
Got a new hair cut.
Finished my third Melon

And got a wicked package from Nikki.

December
I finished my fourth Melon but dont seem to have a finished picture all by itself so here all four are together

I finished the third and last pair of Father and Son socks

I also put up our tree. Made some ornaments. Baked a load of cookies and a sweet tater pie.
Got an amazing gift from Martina loads of things to learn and to spin with!
I also got the final package from Emily which was some more Merino to spin! WOO HOO
I made Quaint


And I started Cinnabar from IK Fall 2007

I finished the front the back and half of both sleeves before the first! So this one will actually be finished in the next couple of days but most of the knitting was done in December thats why Im putting it here.

Thats my year round up! I hope to have a VERY crafty year this year as well!! :)