I've decided to change my goals for August as I came across the SKA August Challenge to finish more SIP's (Socks in Progress) than Mapleweave, a SKA member who is renowned for sock orphans.
So my new goals are:
1. Finish my super secret project started in July.
2. Finish my I socks. Now on heel of second sock
3. Finish my J socks. Only cast on done for first sock.
4. Finish my N socks. Up to heel of first sock.
5. Start my P socks. I've decided on Polly Jean.
6. Start my Q socks.
7. Make progress on my Ripple Blanket.
8. Finish my Ruffles Are Red Scarf. It just needs the ribbon adding and pictures taken.
9. Possibly another cast on of a super secret project.
Now that's actually a lot of knitting, not sure I'll get it all done but I'll give it a good try xxxxxxx
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Saturday, 6 August 2011
August, What It's August Already!!
Where did July go......It just flew by, time seems to go by so quick now, blink and its gone!
I thought I'd recap my July knitting goals and set out 10 for August. Right let's see how successful I was.
1. Finish my Bois test knit. Done.
2. Finish my C socks. Done.
3. Finish my F socks. Done.
4. Finish the eighth repeat of the Yucca chart on my Aeolian. Done.
5. Finish the first All Water Mitten. Not Done.
6. Start my N socks. Done twice.
7. Start my O socks. Done.
8. Start the Iris Mystery Shawl and finish clue 1. Done.
9. Frog Tempting. Done.
10. Cast on another project. Done.
Well I actually didn't think I would get as much of the list done as I did but it shows what can be achieved when you are organised. 9 out of 10 isn't bad. I can't see it lasting long though, I'm rubbish at being organised!
Now for my August goals, again I'll go for 10 and see how I go.
1. Knit the transition chart on my Aeolian. My plan is a little every month on this to get it finished. I love knitting it but not in one go.
2. Finish the project cast on in July.
3. Finish my I socks.
4. Start my P socks.
5. Start my Q socks.
6. Finish clue 2 and 3 on my Iris Mystery Shawl.
7. Finish my Ruffles are Red Scarf. It just needs the ribbon adding and pictures taken.
8. Finish one J sock.
9. Start the Westknits Mystery Shawl. Finish clue 1.
10. Make some more ripples on my Ripple Blanket.
I did start my O socks and they are down to the heel flap. I opted for Ookuru socks by Himawari. I love the pattern though it is proving slightly more demanding than I thought it would thanks to the double increases, when you are a tight knitter like me, increasing twice in a stitch is very tricksy!
My last goal was to cast on another project. I've done this but it is a super secret project so I can't give any details until later in the year. I knew it would be happening and it's not anything by me but something I'm working on for another designer. Watch this space!
Time to love you and leave you and get cracking with the goals, it's going to be tough this month xxxxx
I thought I'd recap my July knitting goals and set out 10 for August. Right let's see how successful I was.
1. Finish my Bois test knit. Done.
2. Finish my C socks. Done.
3. Finish my F socks. Done.
4. Finish the eighth repeat of the Yucca chart on my Aeolian. Done.
5. Finish the first All Water Mitten. Not Done.
6. Start my N socks. Done twice.
7. Start my O socks. Done.
8. Start the Iris Mystery Shawl and finish clue 1. Done.
9. Frog Tempting. Done.
10. Cast on another project. Done.
Well I actually didn't think I would get as much of the list done as I did but it shows what can be achieved when you are organised. 9 out of 10 isn't bad. I can't see it lasting long though, I'm rubbish at being organised!
Now for my August goals, again I'll go for 10 and see how I go.
1. Knit the transition chart on my Aeolian. My plan is a little every month on this to get it finished. I love knitting it but not in one go.
2. Finish the project cast on in July.
3. Finish my I socks.
4. Start my P socks.
5. Start my Q socks.
6. Finish clue 2 and 3 on my Iris Mystery Shawl.
7. Finish my Ruffles are Red Scarf. It just needs the ribbon adding and pictures taken.
8. Finish one J sock.
9. Start the Westknits Mystery Shawl. Finish clue 1.
10. Make some more ripples on my Ripple Blanket.
I did start my O socks and they are down to the heel flap. I opted for Ookuru socks by Himawari. I love the pattern though it is proving slightly more demanding than I thought it would thanks to the double increases, when you are a tight knitter like me, increasing twice in a stitch is very tricksy!
My last goal was to cast on another project. I've done this but it is a super secret project so I can't give any details until later in the year. I knew it would be happening and it's not anything by me but something I'm working on for another designer. Watch this space!
Time to love you and leave you and get cracking with the goals, it's going to be tough this month xxxxx
Friday, 5 August 2011
And Nearing the Finish Line...
Just a quick catch up on my July goals.
One goal was to finish my F socks. They are done, diddly done done, even after seriously kicking my butt. I have a real issue with these socks, nothing to do with the pattern, just me! Firstly they were coming out too big so tinked back to the rib and went down a couple of needles sizes. After finishing the first sock I was concerned about the amount of yarn left and after weighing it realised I wouldn't have enough, so began the search for a second skein. Could I find a matching one, no!! I ordered some more in the same colour but it was nothing like my skein that I got from a Ravelry destash with no label. The colour it was meant to be was more green than yellow and much paler. So I ordered a darker colour, this was much too dark. In the end I used the darker one for the toes, after reknitting them 3 times!!
Next was to finish the eighth repeat of my Aeolian. This took about half an hour to sort and its now ready for the next stage.
I started my N socks a week ago but if you remember I didn't like the way it was pooling, so it went into time out. So I cast on a different pair, Nemesis, in a different yarn. This is up to the heel on the first sock though the picture only shows the cuff.
One goal was to start my Iris Mystery Shawl and finish clue 1. Finished and so quick too, though I can see the next clues will take a little while longer to complete. I'll take pictures once I start clue 2.
Well quite a productive week really, I'm well on my way to completing the 10 goals I set out.
Until next time xxxxxxxx
One goal was to finish my F socks. They are done, diddly done done, even after seriously kicking my butt. I have a real issue with these socks, nothing to do with the pattern, just me! Firstly they were coming out too big so tinked back to the rib and went down a couple of needles sizes. After finishing the first sock I was concerned about the amount of yarn left and after weighing it realised I wouldn't have enough, so began the search for a second skein. Could I find a matching one, no!! I ordered some more in the same colour but it was nothing like my skein that I got from a Ravelry destash with no label. The colour it was meant to be was more green than yellow and much paler. So I ordered a darker colour, this was much too dark. In the end I used the darker one for the toes, after reknitting them 3 times!!
Next was to finish the eighth repeat of my Aeolian. This took about half an hour to sort and its now ready for the next stage.
I started my N socks a week ago but if you remember I didn't like the way it was pooling, so it went into time out. So I cast on a different pair, Nemesis, in a different yarn. This is up to the heel on the first sock though the picture only shows the cuff.
One goal was to start my Iris Mystery Shawl and finish clue 1. Finished and so quick too, though I can see the next clues will take a little while longer to complete. I'll take pictures once I start clue 2.
Well quite a productive week really, I'm well on my way to completing the 10 goals I set out.
Until next time xxxxxxxx
Let Bedlam Commence!
Well its the start of the school holidays and time to keep the piggy's occupied (well it was when I originally wrote this post but then I forgot about it!!). DS is no problem he just gets on with his own thing, usually to do with his Xbox and sailing. But DD is a different matter all together. She cannot sit still and has to be doing something, usually with someone else. So a trip to The Works was called for to stock up on arty supplies.
First up is a scraperfoil picture of "Playful Spaniels". this is sooo cute and I knew it would appeal to DD, she loves cute!
Next was a watercolour card set of "Rue de Paris". She ended up starting one of these straight away, not bad for her first attempt at watercolours! And not too bad a price either.
I also bought her a 6 pack of canvas boards, which she loves to decorate or transfer images to.
During the week DS was staying at a friends house so DD and I decided to go to The New Walk Museum in Leicester. DD loves this type of thing, though she is more into interactive exhibits or objects rather than actual paintings themselves. "Booooring" is normally the reaction I get when faced with a room full of paintings!
The main feature of this museum is The Dinosaur Gallery but this is closed at the moment for a refurb. Second on DD's list is The Ancient Egyptians where they have a real mummy. The reason for visiting this time was the Picasso Ceramics: the Attenborough Collection. What a fantastic display, plenty to feast your eyes on. The collection of 40 pieces has been entrusted to the City of Leicester to commemorate the loss of their daughter and granddaughter in the Asian tsunami that struck in December 2004.
The museum does hold activities during the holidays so while I sat and drank Costa Coffee and knit on my socks, why yes they have a Costa Coffee in the museum, now you can see the attraction, DD went to play with clay, or more specifically, Picasso Menagerie on a Plate. She loved it, she got to make her very own Picasso, and I have to say I am rather impressed. I did wonder what she would bring back, which she was very indignant at - "What do you mean you wondered what I would bring back, hmph".
All in all we had a great afternoon, so much so DD wanted to go back the next day with her friend who was staying for the day. This time it was lizards. They had a couple of real lizards which they could hold and had a talk about and also make their own lizard mobile. This didn't go so well. There was a large queue to hold them as you would expect and the craft part wasn't as well manned as the previous day. Oh well! That's the way it goes.
Well bye for now until next time xxxxxxx
First up is a scraperfoil picture of "Playful Spaniels". this is sooo cute and I knew it would appeal to DD, she loves cute!
Next was a watercolour card set of "Rue de Paris". She ended up starting one of these straight away, not bad for her first attempt at watercolours! And not too bad a price either.
I also bought her a 6 pack of canvas boards, which she loves to decorate or transfer images to.
During the week DS was staying at a friends house so DD and I decided to go to The New Walk Museum in Leicester. DD loves this type of thing, though she is more into interactive exhibits or objects rather than actual paintings themselves. "Booooring" is normally the reaction I get when faced with a room full of paintings!
The main feature of this museum is The Dinosaur Gallery but this is closed at the moment for a refurb. Second on DD's list is The Ancient Egyptians where they have a real mummy. The reason for visiting this time was the Picasso Ceramics: the Attenborough Collection. What a fantastic display, plenty to feast your eyes on. The collection of 40 pieces has been entrusted to the City of Leicester to commemorate the loss of their daughter and granddaughter in the Asian tsunami that struck in December 2004.
The museum does hold activities during the holidays so while I sat and drank Costa Coffee and knit on my socks, why yes they have a Costa Coffee in the museum, now you can see the attraction, DD went to play with clay, or more specifically, Picasso Menagerie on a Plate. She loved it, she got to make her very own Picasso, and I have to say I am rather impressed. I did wonder what she would bring back, which she was very indignant at - "What do you mean you wondered what I would bring back, hmph".
All in all we had a great afternoon, so much so DD wanted to go back the next day with her friend who was staying for the day. This time it was lizards. They had a couple of real lizards which they could hold and had a talk about and also make their own lizard mobile. This didn't go so well. There was a large queue to hold them as you would expect and the craft part wasn't as well manned as the previous day. Oh well! That's the way it goes.
Well bye for now until next time xxxxxxx
Thursday, 21 July 2011
And Week 2....
So it's time for a catch up on my July goals.
My Bois shawl is finished and blocked and I love it. Red is such a great colour and one of my favourites, along with purple so I can't lose with this shawl.
You can't really make out the little purple pearly beads but they are there in the edging.
One goal was to try on my Tempting as I thought it would be too small. But because of the rib it isn't and stretches to fit my now larger stomach. Even so I've still frogged it because it was very figure hugging as you'd expect with a rib jumper. I need to find another project for the yarn as again it's red, what can I say, red suits me!
This is what 1000 metres of frogged yarn looks like!! Very satisfying it was too.
I have also cast on my N socks and I decided to go with the No Purl Monkey socks. Easy knitting so I can get them finished quickly, well that's the plan anyway. We'll see!
Progress so far:
I'm not too sure about the pooling on these socks. I wanted it to be more variegated and not in solid blocks like this though the blocks of colour are starting to spiral round down the leg. This may have to go into time out while I decide. It is a very very easy quick knit but I think I'd prefer a different yarn.
Its going well at the moment, let's hope I can keep it up.
xxxxxx
My Bois shawl is finished and blocked and I love it. Red is such a great colour and one of my favourites, along with purple so I can't lose with this shawl.
You can't really make out the little purple pearly beads but they are there in the edging.
One goal was to try on my Tempting as I thought it would be too small. But because of the rib it isn't and stretches to fit my now larger stomach. Even so I've still frogged it because it was very figure hugging as you'd expect with a rib jumper. I need to find another project for the yarn as again it's red, what can I say, red suits me!
This is what 1000 metres of frogged yarn looks like!! Very satisfying it was too.
I have also cast on my N socks and I decided to go with the No Purl Monkey socks. Easy knitting so I can get them finished quickly, well that's the plan anyway. We'll see!
Progress so far:
I'm not too sure about the pooling on these socks. I wanted it to be more variegated and not in solid blocks like this though the blocks of colour are starting to spiral round down the leg. This may have to go into time out while I decide. It is a very very easy quick knit but I think I'd prefer a different yarn.
Its going well at the moment, let's hope I can keep it up.
xxxxxx
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Weekend Shenanigans
Now I had some plans for last weekend because as usual DS was off sailing, this time at Carsington in Derbyshire, he does get around!
So if the weather was dry DD and I were going to go on a family friendly walk round some of the countryside. I had found on our local council website a list and maps of several walks in the area and had chosen the shorter walk round Bosworth Battlefield, Sutton Cheney Wharf and an old railway line to Shenton Station. Don't you just love the picture of the cow in the field, it made me chuckle.
But it didn't happen!!
Now I expected to say that the weather foiled us but no it was a lovely sunny, dry day and the perfect weather to go and stop for a picnic on the way round. No it was getting there.
My car failed its MOT!!! Aargh!!!
So as OH and DS were swanning off round a reservoir DD and I were stuck at home. Not that it was that great a hardship but still I was looking forward to a brisk walk and simple summer picnic by the water.
So we consoled ourselves with a bus ride into the city, a novelty in itself as we never go by bus and some crafty shopping.
I have being buying the new magazine Mollie Makes which is right up my street, such inspiration, ideas, designs and pictures to ooh and aah at. Have you seen it, it's definitely worth a browse if you're into crafting especially sewing.
There are some great makes in here so while we were consoling ourselves we took a trip to Leicester Market, more specifically Stuart's Fabrics. We were looking for felt as this really comes in handy. Especially when you see these:-
How cute are they!!!
I didn't realise how expensive (in my opinion anyway) felt is, even polyester felt not the good old wool felt which I'd prefer to use. So we opted for the cheaper fleece instead to make soft squishy critters. We bought 1/2 a metre each of 6 colours and they are so scrummy - lilac, pale blue, cream, red, lime green and dark grey.
We finally managed to get home with our rather large bag full of fleece. The magazine was pulled out straight away and the templates sorted. Now this magazine has the templates in the back and the majority have to be enlarged by 200% which really annoys me. Don't they realise projects have to be started straight away and no faffing about trying to get the templates enlarged! Well actually they do, the bonus is you can download the templates from the website the right size and they fit on an A4 sheet of paper....Perfect!
DD decided she wanted to make the elephant, want to see how far she got:
Yep the cutting out, she got bored after this and didn't fancy the sewing up. Oh well, its there for another day.
Especially as they have broken up for school holidays now.
Woohoo for no routine and getting up early but what to do for 7 whole weeks. I'd better get my thinking cap on.
xxxxxxx
So if the weather was dry DD and I were going to go on a family friendly walk round some of the countryside. I had found on our local council website a list and maps of several walks in the area and had chosen the shorter walk round Bosworth Battlefield, Sutton Cheney Wharf and an old railway line to Shenton Station. Don't you just love the picture of the cow in the field, it made me chuckle.
But it didn't happen!!
Now I expected to say that the weather foiled us but no it was a lovely sunny, dry day and the perfect weather to go and stop for a picnic on the way round. No it was getting there.
My car failed its MOT!!! Aargh!!!
So as OH and DS were swanning off round a reservoir DD and I were stuck at home. Not that it was that great a hardship but still I was looking forward to a brisk walk and simple summer picnic by the water.
So we consoled ourselves with a bus ride into the city, a novelty in itself as we never go by bus and some crafty shopping.
I have being buying the new magazine Mollie Makes which is right up my street, such inspiration, ideas, designs and pictures to ooh and aah at. Have you seen it, it's definitely worth a browse if you're into crafting especially sewing.
There are some great makes in here so while we were consoling ourselves we took a trip to Leicester Market, more specifically Stuart's Fabrics. We were looking for felt as this really comes in handy. Especially when you see these:-
How cute are they!!!
I didn't realise how expensive (in my opinion anyway) felt is, even polyester felt not the good old wool felt which I'd prefer to use. So we opted for the cheaper fleece instead to make soft squishy critters. We bought 1/2 a metre each of 6 colours and they are so scrummy - lilac, pale blue, cream, red, lime green and dark grey.
We finally managed to get home with our rather large bag full of fleece. The magazine was pulled out straight away and the templates sorted. Now this magazine has the templates in the back and the majority have to be enlarged by 200% which really annoys me. Don't they realise projects have to be started straight away and no faffing about trying to get the templates enlarged! Well actually they do, the bonus is you can download the templates from the website the right size and they fit on an A4 sheet of paper....Perfect!
DD decided she wanted to make the elephant, want to see how far she got:
Yep the cutting out, she got bored after this and didn't fancy the sewing up. Oh well, its there for another day.
Especially as they have broken up for school holidays now.
Woohoo for no routine and getting up early but what to do for 7 whole weeks. I'd better get my thinking cap on.
xxxxxxx
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Goallllllll
There hasn't been much activity in these parts for the last week or so, no trips out, except mundane shopping, no walking, admiring, exclaiming or excitement. Not that I mind as I get to work on my hobbies and I still get to do things I love. So there has been quite a lot of knitting instead.
I set myself 10 goals for July and one is now finished and the other just has the cast off and blocking to do.
The first one to be completed was my C socks for the A-Z challenge. I was glad to get these off the needles as they've been lingering since February as other shinies caught my attention.
I had to alter the size of these as the pattern was for size medium only so I increased the stitch count to 72 for my large feet. They have grown on me as I wasn't enamoured with them to start with but another stash yarn bites the dust!
The project nearly finished is my Bois Shawl. The cast off on this is taking quite a while as it is an icord bind off with beads, very time consuming. But I'm loving the result. The thing is with shawls I love love to knit them but I don't wear them. Some people can carry them off, such as the Duchess of Cambridge, but not me they make me look old and frumpy!
I think I'll finish a couple of the quick goals tomorrow. I need to put my Tempting onto yarn as it currently sits on needles and then try it on. I have put some weight on since I started this many moons ago and it is a tight fitting rib sweater so I can see this being frogged!!
Look see how small it is, it just looks like a rib tube at the moment though I have added the sleeves since this picture was taken.
Then I'll cast on my N socks, I still haven't decided on a pattern so I'll need to do that first, and knit the first sock cuff. To tie in with the challenge it does need casting on before the 15th July so better get a move on.
Right it's time to get on with that bind off as it won't finish itself....
xxxxxx
I set myself 10 goals for July and one is now finished and the other just has the cast off and blocking to do.
The first one to be completed was my C socks for the A-Z challenge. I was glad to get these off the needles as they've been lingering since February as other shinies caught my attention.
I had to alter the size of these as the pattern was for size medium only so I increased the stitch count to 72 for my large feet. They have grown on me as I wasn't enamoured with them to start with but another stash yarn bites the dust!
The project nearly finished is my Bois Shawl. The cast off on this is taking quite a while as it is an icord bind off with beads, very time consuming. But I'm loving the result. The thing is with shawls I love love to knit them but I don't wear them. Some people can carry them off, such as the Duchess of Cambridge, but not me they make me look old and frumpy!
I think I'll finish a couple of the quick goals tomorrow. I need to put my Tempting onto yarn as it currently sits on needles and then try it on. I have put some weight on since I started this many moons ago and it is a tight fitting rib sweater so I can see this being frogged!!
Look see how small it is, it just looks like a rib tube at the moment though I have added the sleeves since this picture was taken.
Then I'll cast on my N socks, I still haven't decided on a pattern so I'll need to do that first, and knit the first sock cuff. To tie in with the challenge it does need casting on before the 15th July so better get a move on.
Right it's time to get on with that bind off as it won't finish itself....
xxxxxx
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