February 2012
5 posts
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Spun up.
Yup, have been really inspired with my spinning recently.
I split the red and grey braid I was speaking about the other day lengthwise. I then spun up singles on 2 bobbins. I did one last night and then this evening after work I did the other and plied them.
This is the first time I managed to get my 2-ply looking more round. It still isn’t perfect but it’s a lot better than...
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New fibre
Since I have pretty much depleted my fibre stash apart from the WoW stuff I thought I might treat myself to some more. I really wanted some Massam from this seller in a green and grey but it was a little too much money for me altogether.
I really need to get out of my comfort zone when it comes to colours but I think I found 2 good bargains from a UK dyer on etsy.
1.
This is 152g (5.3oz) of...
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January 2012
11 posts
Wow.
It’s been so long since I updated!
Sorry about that guys, I have taken on a second part time job and teaching, I’m still getting used to having more things to do instead of spinning or knitting.
What’s on the needles right now?
I’m knitting a lightweight cowl in angora that is a minty green. I’m going to make it quite long so that it bunches around my neck well....
Today has been a good day.
For a number of reasons:
I taught my first music student today, now to find more…
Went past a cute bakery looking for part time staff, got accepted and start my training on Monday morning.
I managed to get a few hours of playing done today, something I lacked motivation for recently.
Went to my local knitting shop, Sharp Works, and they have agreed to stock some of my handspun yarns!!!...
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Update.
I have achieved a lot in the past few days. My spinning total has been insane for me.
I have now spun and plied the second of my Fiber Optic haul, this one is the terrible picture below which shows ‘Masquerade’ in singles. I have to say I did not have the easiest time spinning this, and it made my wrist hurt a lot trying to draft it. It was a 50/50 blend of superwash merino and...
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I am aware...
…or should I say rather, more increasingly aware, that the standard of photos on my blog is less than good.
Currently I am taking pictures on my iPhone, whilst in clear daylight the camera can be stunning, and then after editing a bit can look rather lovely indeed. However, inside light it really struggles and it goes unbelievably grainy in quality…why so much I have no idea!
I do...
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Happy New Year!
…from a slightly hungover (yes, still!) knitter!
I hope you had a blast last night, or if you went for a quiet one in, that it was cozy!
I am about to start getting ready for work tonight although I am a little sad because I won’t get my 50 minute knitting on the bus time because of the London Parade. This time I have to take trains and tubes.
Will update with knitting soon, am...
December 2011
18 posts
My drive band broke...
…I just moved my spinning wheel away from the window to find the drive band just lying on the floor…*sad face*
It is the original drive band so is likely to be 20-30 years old, I’m surprised it lasted so long to be honest, it was just where it was joined initially that it came apart. Maybe it was because it was nearly the window and getting quite cold at night?
Luckily I can,...
Slow morning...
…I had a REALLY long lie in today, now I’m treating myself to a large mug of Tia Maria coffee whilst veggie sausages and hash browns cook.
Then I’m going to head to John Lewis and first of all buy so bathroom scales…I will hate what it tells me but I need to start monitering to start losing!…and then some wool to cheer me up!
John Lewis Sale Clearance!
I am excited about this, tomorrow I am going head to head with the grannies at John Lewis on Oxford Street for the discounted bags of yarn.
I’m off to scour my favourites list on Ravelry and making notes of how much yarn to buy for projects. Exciting!
I hope everyone is having a nice Christmas
Ours has been a little odd, I’ve been a massive ball of crying for some reason (probably due to massive amounts of stress recently)…nevertheless, I had a nap and felt better. Then we tackled a massive Christmas dinner that was completely vegetarian. An AWESOME stuffed butternut squash was a success.
We went and visited the family yesterday, again with lovely food and I handed out...
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I’ve started work again on my Beatnik Aran Jumper.
Took me a while to work out where I finished last time as I didn’t write it down, and if I did I lost the piece of paper, but I know where I am now and getting my head round the cables again.
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Might have decided on a bit of a fibre shop...
..late night, that is my problem, just got paid for a gig I completely forgot about too, so that is nice.
So here is what I got from the wonderful FiberOptic shop:
1 - No. 57 ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ Superwash Merino and Bamboo Tops (Roving)
2 - Hand Dyed Roving - Molten (dyebreak) Bluefaced Leicester and Silk Top (Roving)
3 - Hand Dyed Roving - Masquerade superwash merino/tencel...
2 in a day...
So, after finishing off my Stockholm Scarf I decided casting on immediately was a good idea.
I got the ball of Patons Big Fab, super chunky yarn as thick as slim rope but much softer, and cast on the scarf that was on the label. The pattern didn’t produce the scarf in the picture but I think it’s recipient will like it. A man friendly navy blue, chunky rib stitch. Can be worn wrapped...
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Thank you for the kind words...
…about my first yarn on my wheel.
I am going to ALWAYS chain ply/3-ply/navajo ply my yarns, they look and feel SO much better!
A proof to myself I whipped up some merino tops that were scraps and very cheap, to 2-ply with another yarn, and in comparison it is ugly! Looks sloppy (see picture in post below, still can’t get my Flickr pictures on here!)
I will probably use the 2-ply for...
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I WON!!!
So yeah, ridiculously happy about that, however I am now currently waiting in the freezing cold for the guy to meet me and we can swap cash monies for spinning joy!
Have found a little place to shelter from rain but it’s still vile weather! Little concerned I might also look like a poorly dressed prostitute hanging out in Elephant and Castle, haha!
Still, shouldn’t be long now then...
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I am currently (desperately!) trying to win a spinning wheel in auction on eBay.
I have been after one for so long and I think I have found the one I want. It’s collection only from not too far away from me, and I put a bid in and sent a message to the seller saying I was very interested in winning it and whether it would be possible to pick up tonight if I get the winning bid.
...
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Is there really a difference?!
Is there really a difference between DK and Worsted weight wool?
I am knitting with Cascade 220 for the first time after reading rave reviews about it (I have to say I LOVE it!) and whilst looking at it realised that is it exactly the same weight as most of my DK weight yarns.
Ravelry says that DK is 8 wpi and Worsted is 10 wpi…hmmm.
What do you think?
November 2011
9 posts
4 tags
An old fashioned night...
…brandy and soda in a glass.
Touch of Evil (1958) in the background and some knitting.
I just need a cat to complete the picture. Gosh, I miss my pussycats at home.
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I am finally getting some knitting time, I think it has been about a month since I managed to get a good chunk of time free to relax.
Working on my Paper Dolls sweater, just finished the decreases and about to check how much I need to knit for the waist. The issue is with Wollmeise (typically!) is that I need more yarn in natural 100%.
I will have to post in the In Search Of forum on Ravelry to...
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Awake.
And I definitely should be asleep. I have to leave for the airport in a few hours and at this rate I won’t get any sleep.
Cannot wait for stress to calm and to knit again!
Sorry for the absence.
I’m up to my eyeballs in work at the moment, concerts, rehearsals and preparing for auditions.
Reblog. Click the image, and Enjoy.
omg
this game was banned in my school because people would just play it over and over again in the library
October 2011
55 posts
2 tags
Ok, that's it...
I am a Wollmeise HOAR!
I have spent FAR too much on wool, I desperately need to sell some things on eBay now to pay for it…oops.
I managed to get a lace in Safran, it’s that sort of yellow like my favourite lace shawl that moths bloody ate, so I am going to make something similar in it to ease up the wear on my first shawl.
Apart from that I got a Twin in Golden Pear, which I have a...
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Halloween Pattern Feature
Hello darlings, I thought I would share what I consider to be a PERFECT project to whip up for Halloween!
HERE is the link to this gorgeous pattern, I present you with Scare Isle hat by Lorraine Condotta:
I’ve fallen in love with fairisle at the moment and if I had the appropriate colours, I would definitely being making myself one of these.
One thing to tip the balance as well, is...
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Finished my fairisle hat earlier today. I’m quite happy with it and I can see myself making a few more, very quick but they look very impressive.
It’s currently blocking on a plate at the moment. I’m heading off to work now. The weather sucks!
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Right. WIP update.
My Paper Dolls jumper is on hold now, the 2.5mm needles I have are WAY too long and I can’t get the stitches to move round, I have a pair of cheapo needles coming from eBay so I have to wait for those.
My Ellington socks I REALLY want to finish but at the moment I can’t face all those fiddly little cables…also I think I want to extend the toe on the other by a few more...
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