twitKAL

A couple of weeks ago; Spazzy came up with the idea that we should have another twitter KAL.

We all voted on a list of patterns, Traveling Woman won and we cast on on Wednesday.

I finished today.

It's ok, but it's very small. It's less than a metre deep which makes it more of a scarf than a shawl - but I'm sure it'll get plenty of use.

Pattern: Traveling Woman
Source: Feministy
Yarn: The Knitting Goddess Sock Yarn in A Fine Goddess
Time: 27-01-10 - 30-01-10

Hanging Around

The problem with spinning is that you need somewhere to hang your newly spun yarn once you've spun it and washed it to set the twist.

Give it a good soak then roll it in a towel and walk on it to get any excess water out. Thwack it against something too if that's what you like to do.

Then you need somewhere to hang it.

I was in Hurst's the other day. Hurst's is one of those shops that sells kitchen stuff and hardware. All the fancy bone china mugs are at the front of the shop, then you go into the section where all the breadmakers, coffee makers and mixers are, then into the section where they sell everything you could possibly need in your kitchen and out the back is where you'll find screws, drills, door handles and other ironmongery type stuff).

I found big hooks! They're actually used to hanging saucepans from one of those overhead pan rack things.

Well I bought a pack and I've hung them from the rings around my curtain pole - which also happens to be directly above a radiator and in front of a window. So in the winter, the heat from the radiator will dry it and in the summer the sun will!

Snuggly Isis

A week ago, I decided to give Isis a haircut, her hair was getting out of control and she was obviously uncomfortable. Normally I take her to the groomers, but the last time I did; the groomer plucked her ears and was just generally unpleasant. So I thought I'd have a go at doing it myself.

I don't think I did too bad, it's a bit rough - but I think it just adds to the general scruffy puppy look!

Unfortunately, since then, she's really been feeling the cold!

I found this fab pattern through Ravelry and thought I'd make one for her.

I normally loathe clothes on dogs, I don't see the point. Dogs aren't supposed to wear dresses, but this falls under the same category as her raincoat - so it's ok!

Pattern: Ribbed Sweater Vest
Yarn: Sirdar Bigga
Source: Mia and Maddie Designs
Time: 2 hours

Worsted Weight - that's DK to those of us this side of the pond!

Apparently, one of the hardest things to do is spin a heavier yarn once you've figured out how to spin laceweight!

So, naturally, I had to try. Especially as I really don't want to knit Sleeves In Your Pi in a laceweight yarn when the pattern calls for a worsted weight yarn at 10WPI.

I pulled out 200g of turquoise merino that I bought at fibrefest and went for it.

I ended up with 232.75 yards of 9WPI yarn!

So now I have to call in my extremely dubious math and work out how much I need for the shawl which takes upto 2200 yards.

I'm going to need 2200g.......right?

Aestlight

Jen bought me the pattern for Aestlight as a belated birthday gift.

I was very excited to get this as it's a pattern I've been coveting for a while. It's a surprisingly fast knit and only took me a few days (interspersed with spinning)

Here it is on the blocking mat

Isn't it just gorgeous? I shall definitely make more of these - so if I'm not sick of them by Christmas; you may just get one in your stocking!

Pattern: Aestlight
Source: The Shetland Trader
Yarn: The Knitting Goddess 4 Ply Sock Yarn in Goddess Violet
Time: 17-01-10 - 21-01-10

The weather

As I told you on 6th January; we have had snow.

Lots of snow!

In the end, the entire British Isles looked like this:

The majority of the snow has now melted...unfortunately!

Life today!

Mittens for Mum

Mum has had a real problem with cold hands this year, so I thought I'd make her some mittens. She chose Ailbe from Knitty.com and some yarn I had from The Yarn Yard November club and I set to work.

These babies grew really quickly! Unfortunately, I didn't finish them in time for use during the snow, but it's still chilly enough that Mum might get some use out of them this winter!

Pattern: Ailbe
Source: Knitty.com
Yarn: The Yarn Yard, November Club Edition
Time: 4-01-10 - 16-01-10

Damn Socks

I started these socks at the beginning of November. I did the smallest size because that was the number of stitches I normally cast on.

However, I didn't take into account how much twisted rib and cables tighten the fabric!

So, I frogged it and cast on the medium size. I could get them on...just. But then I couldn't get them back over the heel and I had to frog them from around my ankle!

Finally I cast on the largest size and tried them on regularly.

I eventually finished today!

Spin A Pi

I went to visit Helen a couple of months ago and we rather rashly set ourselves a challenge.

We are going to spin up the yarn for a shawl called Sleeves In Your Pi (Ravelry link) - it's a shawl with sleeves done in a bulky weight yarn.

Our challenge was to start on New Years Day and be finished by Woolfest 2010. That gives us six months!

No problem, I thought.

Well first I had to finish my baby camel hair.

Which I did then I plied it with navy blue merino. I did 2 plys of baby camel and 1 of merino. I bought the baby camel at Fibrefest from Mandacraft.

I finally finished that yesterday and hung it to dry (sorry the first photo is slightly out of focus, I didn't realise the camera was focused on something other than the yarn tut). I ended up with approximately 780 yards and I think I might make another clapotis with it.

I started the humbug today. Unfortunately, it doesn't want to spin up anywhere near bulky weight! But it is beautiful.

I bought this humbug from Sara while at Fibrefest and it's gorgeous. When I've finished this, I shall ply it with some 70/30 alpaca/merino which I also got at Fibrefest from the people at Coldharbour Mill. I chose the alpaca because it was soooooo soft and similar in colour to the humbug!

Snow

It's snowing

It started last night as you can see. People were helping to push cars up the road as they couldn't grip properly.

Here's Jess and her boyfriend Adam having fun!

This is the snow today!

Adam

On Monday night Kyle and I took the dogs for a walk.

On the way home we saw two sets of flashing lights up the road.

Two hours later, I got a text from Mel - her younger brother, Adam, had been found dead.

Those ambulances were collecting his body.

Rest in Peace, Adam