I got home tonight to find this box on my doorstep :

it was from my partner in the Winter Scarf Knit Kit swap, Evelyn, and it had all these wonderful things in it –

2 balls of wonderful Manos del Uruguay and a pair of Susan Bates acrylic needles to knit my scarf…the colours of the Manos are fantastic and I’ve already cast on and started knitting a reversible rib scarf. Also for the swap a lovely mug with little jewels on it and a box of organic green tea (my favourite!)

Plus…extras!!! Evelyn said she had put in the book and the Kool Aid to “fill in the space in the box” – beats little polystyrene bids any day!!

Also there were some chocs inside the mug and some butterfly shaped post it notes.

I love everything! Thankyou Evelyn so much. The book looks really interesting Died in the Wool by Mary Kruger combining my favourite type of books – mystery – with my favourite pasttime – knitting. Looking forward to reading it.

technorati tags:manos, swapbot, swap, knitting, scarf

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I have just had a very frustrating experience with Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere! I bought this wool a few weeks ago on an impulse, it is bright red and the idea of knitting something cosy in 100% cashmere appealed. (I’d seen Elizabethtown and fell in love with Kirstens bright red hat!)

On my shopping trip the other week I purchased a copy of the Pure Cashmere pattern book which had several hats and also a pair of handwarmers. I knitted several pairs of Fetching handwarmers at the end of last year which I sold for Breakthrough and have been meaning to knit myself something similar ever since. Particularly as one pair of Fetching was bought by a work colleague and I see her wearing them every day.

Friday evening I cast on to knit a pair of bright red, cashmere handwarmers – and about 2 hours later I was sewing them up. Very simple 2×2 rib squares with a button hole for the thumb just knit until the wool ran out. I wore them last night when we walked to a friends for dinner and they were incredibly soft and warm….

Photos taken under electric light so don’t show up as red as they really are. The colour is a true pillar box red. (as usual click on the photo to see larger and more photos in flickr)

…so, this afternoon I cast on to knit a simple Moss Stitch (US=seed stitch) Beanie which called for 2 skeins of cashmere – just what I had left. I knit the rib and then started on the Moss Stitch. I was rather surprised when the first skein ran out before the work measured 3″ from cast on as the pattern called for me to work straight until the work was 6″ and then work 9 decrease rows for the crown…I checked my tension (US=gauge) and it was spot on….oh well, I thought, maybe the rib takes more wool or something.

The second skein seemed to be disappearing very quickly and measuring my work it wasn’t getting anywhere near 6″…it eventually ran out when I had worked just over 5″ so 2″ short. I checked my tension again, definitely right. What was the problem?

I unpicked and decided to measure the wool – both skeins measured less than 37 metres yet the ball band states the skein should be 45 metres. No wonder I’d come up short, I had 16 metres less wool than I should have! I weighed the skeins on my kitchen scales, although I don’t have electronic scales (I have old fashioned balances with weights) so I can’t say exactly what they weigh the DEFINITELY weigh less than the stated 25g.

This wool cost me £28 including postage so I am not at all happy.

Just to end on a happier, fluffier note and for no reason other than I think he’s the cutest thing on four legs – here are some pictures of my cat, Simpson, indulging in his favourite activity – sleeping.

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I nearly got them finished for Valentines, just had the toe to do which I managed to finish at lunchtime. J seems very happy with them, I’m pleased with how the stripes arranged themselves on these socks, particularly round the heel and gusset.

These socks are for the Vintage Socks Knitalong – Feb/March sock was this, the Gentleman’s Plain Winter Sock. I really enjoyed knitting this sock and it’s perfect for self striping wools. The unusual Dutch Heel looks good and J says it fits well. I think he’ll probably wear these a lot, which is good. This is definitely a pattern I will knit again.

I made one mod to the pattern – I used the Kitchener graft on the toe whereas the pattern says to simply draw the wool through the stitches and pull up. I didn’t like the way that looked and it didn’t look good on the foot.

I am also submitting these socks to Project Spectrum, the Feb/March colours being blue, grey and white.

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First the socks – these are for the Knitting Vintage Socks KAL I’m part of. The Feb/March sock is the Gentleman’s Plain Winter Sock and I am knitting this in Opal Rodeo. It’s knitting up really fast, I cast on late on Saturday night and did the cuff (which is very long in this sock) and a few rows of the leg. Sunday evening I got to the heel flap and yesterday I finished sock no 1.

This is me modelling the sock, it’s actually for J and I’m wearing it over a pair of slipper socks!

J tried it on last night and it fits perfectly and he actually said “I like that” so hopefully it will be something he’ll wear – wasn’t sure about the stripes….anyway. If I can manage to knit sock no 2 as fast as no 1 I should be able to give them to him on Valentines.

On to swaps – and a bit of a moan. Is it just me or do you think it’s rude when you give someone something and they don’t say “thank you”? I’ve been involved in several swaps over the last few months – anyone who reads my blog will have seen me showing off the goodies I received – and have sent and received lots of parcels.

For me about 70% of the fun of the swap is putting together a parcel for someone I don’t know, finding out about them from their blog or emails, going shopping, packaging it all up and sending it off – and waiting to hear whether they liked the things I chose. So when you send off a parcel into the world…and then never hear anything it’s very disappointing.

Some of the people I’ve sent packages to as part of these swaps have emailed me to say thankyou and several I have since built something of a correspondence with. However, in nearly half the cases of parcels I’ve sent I have never even heard whether the parcel arrived…..when you’ve spent time either buying, or worse, making something specially for a person you at least want to know they got it….even if they hated it!

Moan over….won’t mention it again.

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I discovered Project Spectrum about a month ago whilst browsing around in blogland and decided to sign up. The basic idea is that you create something/somethings from a designated set of colours over a two month period. The whole project runs over 8 months and for each two month period there are three designated colours.

This appealed to me as I like the idea of the challenge of working within a limited colour palette. Obviously my creations are likely to be knitting but as I want to have a try at dyeing there may be some colour creation going on as well.

The February/March colours are Blue, White & Grey and these are the ongoing projects I have which fit in this colour band –

The full list of current projects (some are detailed on my UFO page) is

1   Gentleman’s Plain Winter Sock in Opal (Magic I think – not sure which colour as I’ve lost the ball band) knit from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush on 2.5mm bamboo dpns

These are the current sock for the VIntage Sock KAL as well.

2   Garnstudio Scarf in Drops Alpaca. The yarn was sent to me by Embla in Norway for the Magic Yarn Ball swap, she also sent me the pattern printed from the Garnstudio website where they have lots of free patterns, many in English. The Alpaca is beautifully soft and a lovely shade of Royal Blue.

3   Railway Pattern Sock – grey & blue, details in my previous post!

4   Chrissy sweater from Rowan 31 in Rowan All Seasons Cotton indigo colourway. More details on my UFO page

5   Baby Shawl in Patons Fairytale 2ply in white.

For more details about Project Spectrum check Lolly’s blog

technorati tags:knitting, Knitalong, project spectrum

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Here are my completed February Socks for the Sock-a-Month 3 Knitalong –

They are the Railway Pattern Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks, knit with Regia 4ply in Grey with Regia Stretch in Denim for the contrast stripes on heel and toe. I used addi 2mm dpns. The only mod was making them much longer than the pattern dictates (like 93 rows from the gusset not 69) as my DH has very long feet, no need to make them wider though as he also has very narrow feet.

These were one of my listed UFO’s so that’s another one ticked off the list! So far I’m managing one a month – I really need to finish two a month to stand a hope of getting them all off the list by the end of the year. Especially as I keep starting new projects along the way…

Anyway, J appears very pleased with them and they look like they fit perfectly. I haven’t blocked them but I’m not sure they need it. These are also perfect for Project Spectrum Feb/March colours!

technorati tags:sock, sam3, railway pattern sock, Nancy Bush, knitting vintage socks, knitting, Knitalong

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….you wait and you wait and then three come along at once!

yes, that’s three parcels my postie delivered this morning, tramping through the snow to reach me. One from Wolverhampton, England; one from NY state, USA and one from Norway.

First – a parcel from Wolverhampton

this is the first of four afghan squares I’m waiting to received from the Crazy Afghan Squares swap. This one is from Roo, I read her blog and love her crochet squares, this one is Noro Silk Garden in lovely blues and purples - very me colours! She also sent a lovely ”blue sky” postcard and a lollipop (gotta love lollipops!!)

Thanks Roo

Next – a parcel from New York State

This one is from Cassandra in Philmont, NY and is another Afghan Square

the litle note with it tells me the yarn is 50% wool 50% acrylic, it’s quite a chunky yarn and is a garter stitch square in fawny colours – goes quite well with the Noro as it happens

Thanks to Cassandra for this.

Final parcel was from Norway

The really pretty labels on the outside told me it was a Magic Yarn Ball and inside was not just the yarn ball but a second ball of the yarn (Garnstudio Drops Alpaca in a lovely shade of blue), a card and three patterns printed from the Garnstudio website to give me some ideas of what to knit. Also a tiny miny lip balm and a toffee (not sure if these had dropped out of the yarn ball or were put in separately)

The patterns are for a pair of socks, a scarf which looks lovely (this is favourite for this yarn at the moment) and a pair of wrist warmers.

 I’m afraid I have no patience when it comes to gifts so I had to unwind the yarn ball right away, sat by our patio windows in my pyjamas. It was wonderful seeing all the little things dropping out and here is what was in the ball –

So – first a little cupid button badge attaching the ball band to the ball, next out was a toothbrush holder (I have to admit I couldn’t work out what this was – it’s top left, the little red smiley face - J worked it out!!), then a nailbrush, a little notebook (perfect for my project bag), a little bon-bon tin (or possibly a stitchmarker tin?), a lovely pair of silver earrings (these are very very me), a sachet of skin care cream, a spa facial mask, a bar of Norwegian chocolate, a little cat phone charm, a packet of gorgeous beaded stitch markers, a mini nail buffer, a packet of 2mm dpns, 8 buttons.

The buttons are lovely, four crackle-glaze purple buttons and four green ones with flowers painted on. Here’s a close up

I think I’ve remembered everything!

A really big thankyou to Embla for this wonderful package.

More pics on flickr.

As for knitting – I’ve been working on a pair of socks for J the last week or so – Railway Pattern from Knitting Vintage socks. I’m using Grey Regia 4 ply with contrast stripes in Regia Stretch “Denim”. These are one of my many UFO’s and I’m hoping to get them finished for Valentines Day. They are perfect for Project Spectrum being blue and grey and they will be my February socks for the SAM3 KAL!

Progress so far – one and a half socks. Turned the heel on the second sock last night and started on the foot. However there is a lot of foot to knit as J has UK size 11 feet that’s 9.5″ of sock from the stitches picked up for the gusset to the stitches grafted at the toe

update: our phone line went down at around 9.30 this morning whilst I was writing this post so I was unable to post it. I’ve been at home all day and so have now very nearly reached the toe of J’s sock! I will post some piccies later.

The BT engineer is coming out tomorrow, so how am I able to post this you ask? My neighbour has a wireless network which isn’t secured so I’m using their internet connection – ummmm!!!!!! I’m a hacker!!!!!!

This is the scene I awoke to this morning

It is now 10.45 and it is still snowing (not quite as much now as it was) and J and I have just built a snowman !

…rolling snow for his body…

…the artist sculpts his features….

….here he is!

And some arty snow shots of my garden -

….a leaf bud on my hazel bush…

….and a catkin on the same hazel bush…. 

….and snow piled up on another hazel, a corkscrew hazel ….

More pictures onFlickrr of our garden and the park in Marlow.

I’m staying at home today knitting socks! 

…it has been a lovely day. The weather was fantastic – cold but wonderfully sunny with a perfect blue sky.

J and I went shopping this morning in our nearest big town which is something we do very rarely, I’m not a shopper and don’t enjoy fighting my way through busy shops full of people but….J needed trousers and I needed to get some yarn and a pattern for a swap I’m in so….

We left home a little before 9 and arrived at about 9.30 so the shops hadn’t been open long and it wasn’t too busy. J got his trousers in Debenhams and we headed to John Lewis for me to buy the yarn and pattern.

As I very rarely get into an actual shop selling yarn (as opposed to virtual online ones) it was quite exciting to see all the colours together…I had a leaf through some pattern booklets and couldn’t resist buying two Debbie Bliss books-

on the left is the “Pure Cashmere” book and on the right Debbie Bliss Book Seven which has patterns for Soho and Cashmerino Aran. When I was sorting my stash the other week I discovered 4 hanks of pure cashmere in bright red, a bag of cashmerino aran also in bright red and some balls of soho (again in red) … not sure how I managed to buy so much bright red Debbie Bliss but there are some lovely patterns for hand warmers and scarves in the Pure Cashmere book and a pair of bright red cashmere hand warmers sound yummy!

Also in this picture is Rowan 41 which arrived in the post yesterday….I spent last night flicking through thinking “that’s gorgeous, I can see me wearing that” to practically every pattern!

After John Lewis, J and I strolled around the Oracle shopping centre in Reading and I did some serious luxury purchasing. It’s so long since I’ve treated myself to some real goodies so I went to town.

First stop, Hotel Chocolat this place firstc came to my notice about 8 or 9 years ago when they were just a mail order business and ran something called the “Chocolate Tasting Club”. The idea was you subscribed for a number of months for a fee and each  month in the post you received a box of a dozen chocolates, two each of 6 different chocolates I think. These were serious hand-made chocolates and you had a feedback card to fill in which then went back to the chocolatiers so they could try out new recipes and see what the reaction was.

The business grew and a few years ago changed it’s name to Hotel Chocolat but they still sell <i>serious</i> chocolates. Just before Christmas they opened up a shop in Reading and today was the first time I’ve been in there  – talk about a kid in a sweet store!

I bought three little packets of truffles (well, if you bought three together you got them cheaper) and a packet of the most amazing hot chocolate pictured above.

It comes as litle “marbles” of solid chocolate which you drop into a cup and then pour boiling milk over them and stir till they melt. The packet I bought is called Aztec Chilli and is as near as we can guess how the Mayans and Aztecs would have drunk chocolate - very bitter and flavoured with chilli and vanilla. I added a spoon of honey as well.

It’s definitely a differnt taste to Cadbury’s drinking chocolate – J didn’t like it (shame!) but I love dark, bitter chocolate and think it’s wonderful. I’m drinking it as I write this post – you get a real kick in the back of your throat from the chilli and the chocolate is as bitter as it gets. Yummy!

Right next door to Hotel Chocolat is another of my favourites – Whittards of Chelsea, tea paradise! I bought some things in here that are for presents and swaps so no pics I’m afraid. Also bought a jar of instant green tea with echinacea to take to work. I can never remember to take in milk so it’s easier for me to take instant tea or fruit tea, at the moment I’m drinking Rooibos (much to the amusement of my South African colleague!) 

After satisfying my insides it was time for some luxury for my outsides so next was a visit to Body Shop and then Crabtree & Evelyn. J always makes a pilgrimage to C&E at Christmas to buy me lots of goodies and a year or so ago he bought me a gift box containg goats milk products. I now use their Goatmilk Comforting Body Lotion all the time – it is wonderful. Goes on like silk and really does make you feel comforted!

This Christmas he dutifully bought me a gift box of Goatmilk products but it didn’t include the Body Lotion so I bought myself a big bottle today and then some Vitamin E moisturiser and Ginger shampoo in Body Shop.

This photo sums up my idea of heaven – a bath followed by covering myself in body lotion, a box of chocolates and my knitting!

Our final stop was at Waterstones. I cannot resist a bookshop and, despite having at least 100 books in my “to be read” pile, I still buy more. My excuse this time was I needed to buy Secret River which is the next book that my book group are reading …

…and when I picked it up it was one of their 3 for 2 books so it would seem silly not to take advantage of the offer. I immediately saw the Mitch Albom book “for one more Day”. I loved Tuesdays with Morrie (let’s face it, who didn’t?) and so had to buy this. Then I spotted “A Winter Book” by Tove Jansson.

As a child her Moomin stories were my favourite books but I’ve never read anything else by her. For those who don’t know her, she was a Finnish/Swedish writer born 1914 who died recently in 2001. Her parents were a Finnish sculptor and a Swedish cartoonist. Tove is most famous for the Moomin books which she wrote and illustrated – if you have never heard of them go get one and read it, they are wonderful.

This little book “A Winter Book” is a collection of short stories and essays written throughout her life.

And okay, I bought 4 books – it’s been ages since I read a good crime/detective/murder mystery so I bought Minette Walter’s latest “The Devil’s Feather”

I’ll just add them to the pile…..

We finished our shopping by midday and drove back home, I had to be round at my friend’s house by 1 to drive to High Wycombe to see a matinee performance of Swan Lake on Ice by The Imperial Ice Stars.

 We were taking her daughter (my God-daughter) who is 6 and also my friend’s sister was coming with her two girls 5 and 8.

The show was amazing – we were just transfixed all the way through. An ice-dance show in a theatre, can you imagine???!! They had laid ice on the stage (somehow…) and they were doing all these amazing ice dance moves, which they usually do on a huge ice-rink, on a tiny stage.

My G-D thought the best part was when the prince dances with Odile (the Swan Queen) for the first time. She was on a wire so kept spinning up into the air whilst they were dancing. One minute they’d be spinning on the ice, then he would lift her up, then lift her above his head .. then she’d keep going up into the air. My G-D now wants to go flying on a wire….in the woods….

II couldn’t promise to get her to fly (even if I am her Fairy Godmother – very long story) but I got her a t-shirt, and then bought one for myself. Ok, it’s a child’s t-shirt but who cares I think it’s cute….I got a pink one (of course) for my G-D and a white one for me. I’ll get a picture of hers sometime but here’s mine

So, knitting progress today very little although I did sit and turn the heel on my Bayerische sock whilst watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (gotta love Johnny Depp) this evening, followed by Notting Hill.

Off to bed now. I have swap packages to pack tomorrow – very exciting. Magic Yarn Ball swap and Winter Scarf Knit Kit swap to sort and pack ready to send to my swap partners.

I also hope to finish the first Bayerische sock, pick some yarn for my Vintage Sock KAL for Feb/March - Plain Winter Sock – do some more on my UFOs and, if the weather holds, get out for a walk to keep up my marathon training.

Busy weekends….I love them