Wow

I've spent a happy couple of hours mucking around with all that stuff down the side of my posts. I've now managed to change the font of my progress bars (I feel so smug!) to match this font, I've changed the "What I'm listening to" to a slideshow AND I've added a link to a guestbook.

Unfortunately all the ones that embed in the blog were crap so if you click "Sign Guestbook" or "View Guestbook"; it will take you somewhere else, but there should be a link there so you can come back again.

I noticed under my finished objects list that the last thing I finished was the humongous KSH shawl (which I adore and wear often).

That's not actually true! I finished Vortical!

Aren't they super? Sorry about the crappy camera work, I took the photo on my phone! They fit great and feel wonderful. I want more!

Other than those though, I haven't finished anything else. I just want to keep casting on for stuff lol but I am hoping to get a whole load of stuff finished soon! I have actually knitted two socks for Alex, neither fit and they got frogged, so I've been really busy but I haven't any FO's to show for it!

Pattern: Votrical

Source: knotions.com

Yarn: Jazz It Up from flutterby-creations

Time: 29-05-09 - 19-06-09 (while doing other projects)

Gobsmacked

Someone sent me this link and I had to share it with you. This is a very disturbing account and I wouldn't read it if you like cats!

The worst airline in the world

Sigh!

Today is one of those days, you know?

My brand new DAB radio has developed a fault and appears completely dead! So I can't listen to the radio today and of course, today is the day Sky is being turned off!

I've got a bad case of "startitis"; I want to start loads of projects, but not work on any of the WIP's I've already got!

After some discussion with Joy on Monday night; I've decided not to make Mojo for Alex, I'm going to make him a basic rib sock. Partly because rib is soooooooooo stretchy and partly because they'll be flatter than Mojo so he'll be able to wear them under his boots!

I bought some fiber from Natalie, it arrived today. The postman felt it necessary to ring the doorbell, hammer on the door then ring the doorbell AGAIN! I think the problem is that they can't hear the doorbell, I might stick a note on the door saying something like "The doorbell DOES work, there is no need to hammer the door down too!". Anyway, I'm in such a slumpy mood that I haven't even opened the package and it's been here over an hour!

I took Jess to get her eyes tested on Tuesday; she's a bit longsighted (which is apparently quite normal for teens and they grow out of it) and he's arranged for some reading glasses for her. Then we wandered around town a bit. I was on the lookout for a broach as I just can't get on with the two gorgeous shawl pins I have - they're too bulky and won't go through my KSH shawl.

I found this little gem in a jewellery store.

It's about an inch and a half high, has sparkly bits on the wings, can be worn as a pendant or a broach and is real silver (I would've loved her in gold, but I dread to think what the cost would've been!).

Funny, everyone on Ravelry and twitter says it's "me!" LOL

Alex’s prom socks

Alex requested a pair of socks to wear to his prom. He chose Punctuated Rib Socks by Ann Budd that are in "Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn"

I have made 2 socks and neither fit him and the prom is in 14 hours! I've now told him that I'm not going to make those socks anymore because I am bored beyond belief with the pattern and I've offered to make Mojo instead!

I'm also trying to knit a sock on two circular needles rather than DPNs as the knitting injury is just getting worse and worse!

Such Joy...

I ordered my Ashford Joy on Thursday from Wingham Wools.

It arrived today!

Here's a deluge of pictures for you lol

Sorry for my stoned look, I made the mistake of going to Tesco last night. By the time I got home I was in absolute agony and I had to take a painkiller!

Here's a pic of Alex having a go on my Traddy, I think he might get into this.

I spun this today!

Recognition

I received a letter last week telling me that there was to be an award ceremony for pupils at Lake Middle School and that Alex was to receive an award.

I was extremely proud and he thoroughly deserves it, he's worked very hard this year to contribute to the school and work on controlling himself.

Here he is receiving his award from Louis Attrill.

Louis won a gold medal in rowing in the 2000 Olympics and he and I went to school together.

Oh what a Joy

I got chatting to one of the girls at knitting group about the Schacht Ladybug because Joy told me that she'd been considering one.

She said that she didn't get one in the end because spare bobbins and such were expensive and that you had to buy different flyers for different ratios etc. She bought an Ashford Joy instead.

We discussed the Joy a little bit, then she offered to bring it to knit night on Monday so that I could see it "in the flesh" and test the lightness and ease of spinning.

I had a little play, but I didn't have any fibre to spin. It's easy to fold and extremely lightweight.

Then Su said I could take it home for the week until our spinning meet up!

That sealed the deal. I've had it at home since Monday night and spinning on it (even though hers is a single treadle) is soooo easy!

See? I did that in one evening!

I contacted Wingham Wool on Thursday morning and ordered an Ashford Joy DT. I don't know when it will get here, but I hope it's soon.

I want to spin!

I refuse to stress!

I hate getting stressed about stuff; it makes me angry and it's too hot to be stressed and angry!

I'm overloading myself with stuff to do! I've been helping Joy wind yarn so she can get the shop back up to stock and I've done no spinning and hardly any knitting this week!

I still haven't finished the Vortical socks which I started AGES ago. I've got the first mystery shawl KAL to finish, the second one to start and catch up on, I've got one and a half sleeves and the hood of Wimbledon Wetland to do by the end of the Wimbledon Men's Finals tomorrow afternoon and Alex wants a pair of socks for his prom in a week or so! Oh, the Tour de Fleece started today too!

When am I supposed to get all this done?

I've come to the conclusion that my wheel is too heavy for me and that I should get something easy to use and reasonably easy to transport around. I've been gazing at all different wheels online and (after a play on Joy's Lendrum today) have narrowed it down to two.

The Lendrum or the Schacht Ladybug.

The Lendrum is a solid wheel and is soooooooooooooo smooth. It's almost too easy to use after the Traddy! I had to slow my pedalling right down because my hands couldn't keep up! Joy says most Double Treadle's are like that. I really do like the Lendrum, but go and check out the Ladybug.

Isn't that just the cutest? It's a quirky wheel, lighter than the Lendrum by 1kg, has built in handles and Lazy Kate and I just really like the look of it.

So, Joy has said she'll take me to Fibrecrafts on Friday to try the Ladybug out! If I like it, I'll probably buy it. The only thing that's giving me pause is whether I can get a woolee winder for it; I'm waiting to hear back from Schacht about that.

I'm also worried because there is only one UK stocker of Lendrums and I'm worried I might not like the Ladybug and he'll sell out of Lendrums between now and Friday! Joy said to ring and explain it all to them (she knows them quite well) and ask if he'll hold it until Friday afternoon for me. If he says no, then I'll have to decide quickly whether to just buy the Lendrum, or wait and see the Ladybug and risk not liking it but the Lendrum being out of stock!

Oh the agony of indecision!

Do you have either of these wheels? Why do you like/dislike the one you've got? What's your recommendation?