Well hello if you have stopped by, sorry that there has not been much going on here lately but been very very busy helping daughter with the twins. They are growing very well...so this Nanny and Pops are sure looking forward to lots of cuddles this Christmas.

Well its now 3.30pm on Christmas Eve and have just picked DH up from work as he finished early. I spent the morning sorting out the veg for tomorrow and roasted my potatoes aka...Jamie Oliver...with rosemary and garlic cloves, they have kturned out very well. Also made the Cranberry Sauce with 400gms cranberries 200gms caster sugar...juice of nearly two oranges, used juice of two before and was a tad tart....added a splash of port cooked 8-10 mins and scrummy.....done ready for that ol' turkey bird...also frozen some to go with ice cream. Whilst doing cooking this morning had the TV on and watched "Jack Frost"......love that film so magical at the end, brought a right lump to my throat and tear to my eye.

Had a wonderful Saturday evening...the Choral Society that I sing with had our Christmas evening and we sang.......Balulalow...A Spotless Rose.......Lully Lula..Sans Day Carol....Sir Christemas and Benedicamus Domino......whooah!!!
I tell you there was plenty of harmony singing for me to get into as I sing 1st alto, sometimes wish I sang soprano and then could just sing the tune. Anyway it was a happy evening and we had audience participation with a medly of popular Christmas songs, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride etc.....really put me in the spirit. So dear readers thank you for coming and looking reading, commenting etc and I will say...will leave you with a piccy of my Christmas table that I have just laid up.



THAT I WISH YOU A WONDROUS MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEAR YEAR.........hugs xxxxxxxxxx

Autumn cardi finished at last...

Have at long last finished this pain in the backside....hehe cardigan. Honestly the last sleeve was so longwinded to do and now its blocked etc....have tried it on and guess what...cannot stand the yarn next to my skin. It is sooooooo itchy. I washed it gently in special wool liquid before....oh well looks like it will be resigned to back of cupboard. But I am quite proud of my first achievement into this field. Now I might just do some socks and then I have the two "Dream in Colour" baby jackets to make as well. After that its a coin toss between a "Bohus" or "Autumn Rose"....but I expect by then Christmas would have come and gone and spring will be on its way.



On a different note DD's twins are now home and I have been round there most days, helping to feed and change....wow it takes twice as long with everything. They are beautiful babies (well I would say that being Nanny). Little Cara looks like a dolly, its funny even now you can tell which is the girl and which is the boy. Anyway best away chores to do. Heres piccy of cardigan.

Only me....hellloooooooo

Oh wow wow wow, have I been a lucky girl I received my Christmas swap pressie from the Swap around the World. Debbie was so generous......she sent me a wonderful Southern Living cookery book......oh forget to say she lives in Texas....some many scrummy recipes. Good excuse for me to go and buy Nigella Lawsons measuring cups for the recipes. Also Folk Socks...plenty in there to read and knit. Two baby jackets to knit for the "twins"...they are the Dream In Colour Knits...so cute....oh a Grandmas brag photo album.....a Texas fridge magnet...a twins magnet. Oh let me think what else oh yes a cd like player that when you put the Yankee candle discs in rotates and emits all lovely Christmas smells...so heres the piccy.







Anyway have been busy doing a little bit of sewing. DD was looking at some snuggles for the infant car seats....well I looked and thought for the price well...far too expensive. So took myself off to local fabric store and there staring at me was the most gorgeous "polar fleece" material with teddies on with pink/blue bow ties.Thats it so purchased 3/4 metres of each at a cost of £13.74...roughly $26./$27. Steal eh and also managed to get two pram blankets out of it too.

Ryan and Cara....

Introducing to you little Ryan and Cara my DD and SIL twins born at 31 weeks old. Taken today. Now 3 weeks old and doing really well, bless them They are both feeding from DD well and also being topped up via the tube as you can see. They have now put back on their birth weights plus extra. Ryan is now 3lb 10ozs and Cara 4lb 5oz.....so by the end of November Cara should hit the 5lb plus and Ryan is catching up very quickly behind. Have had my first proper cuddles with them to, being tiny they felt so light to hold. I was stroking the back of Caras head and you could sense her concentrating on it. Ryan is a typical lazy little boy, wakes up to feed if he feels like it, opens one eye then the other and goes back off to sleep. Cara is now starting to figit around for her feed at times. Oh I'm sooooo in luuuurrrvvveeee.

Hi...

Hello, sorry haven't blogged for a little while but usual daily living seems to have taken over...anyway hope everybody is well. So a quick update on the twins....they have now been moved to local hospital and in special care unit...both doing seemingly well. Have started to tolerate their milk etc...so so far so good.



Anyway our local school had a bonfire party on Friday, now you know dogs are not supposed to like fireworks, well that is except my Cavi Megan, here she is looking out the window.











quite pleased with myself on this photo as generally awful at taking them.








So my autumn cardi is coming on well now..have finished one sleeve and just started on next. Still seems to have knitted up smaller but the KAL am on some people seem to have had the same. It will be lovely and warm....woo hoo....mind you the suns shining at the mo and feels more like a spring day. Noticed that most of the leaves are still on the trees.

Babies are here

What a journey my DD has been on. Well last night me and DH didn't go to bed until gone 1am. Just couldn't settle....then SIL rings at 1.20am and taken his wife (our DD) up to the delivery suite (this being the 3rd time in two weeks) as her BP was rocketing and they were having trouble stablelising it due to the pre-eclampsia. Anyway after a sleepless night of tv watching and cups of tea. He rings at 6.30am and she had been monitored all through the night and the Doctors on their 9am round were going to make a decision as to what to do.
Anyway the babies were delivered today by "C" section at 11.58 baby boy 3lb 6oz and a little girl 4ln half an ounce. They came out pink and crying so thats a good sign. DD still has high BP and is still being monitored....etc....will see them tomorrow but all I want to do is give my DD a great big hug....anyway am off now for some knitting therapy, a large scotch and chocs.

BORED!!!!

I'm starting to get a tad bored of my autumn cardi to tell the truth. I have started on the left sleeve and it really is slow going for some reason and have only a third of the stitches than for the body. So what is it that the finishing post is drawer nearer but am running out of steam. I have 3 skeins of wonderful sock yarn that sits staring at me in all its scrummyness going "go on you know you want to pick up those circs/dpns and cast on, have some instant gratification". But I have been so reverting my eyes away...this cardi needs to be finished so I must persevere.

Mind you my mind in all honesty hasn't been with me this evening, its been up the hospital where my preggie DD has lived for the last 21 days due to her very high BP due to pre-eclampsia. Telephone rang early on and its shot up way sky high yet again, they gave her another 1000mg...thans now 3000mg of one tablet plus 60mg of another. Its all very worrying all round but things will be ok.

Have been looking at loads of knitty blogs, goodness me, theres literally hundreds and hundreds. Some I stop at some I flick by, made me wonder what makes a good blog read, pictures, pictures and more pictures. I know I like myself to see lots of finished items etc, but as have written before wonder how some ladies manage to get so much done......whispers in your ears "i reckon they have little elves working away at night to produce the stuff"....sure thats the secret. My blog seems boring at the moment must be to you as it is to me....duh!! Note to myself "NOW MRS. KNITTY LADY YOU REALLY SHOULD MAKE MORE EFFORT IN CLASS"....certainly will try but not now too knackered nighty night. xx

Poems In Colour by Wendy Keele

I have been waiting for this book to fall through my letter box ever since I came across a form of called BOHUS STRICKNING. There is a link to this in my sidebar, although the actual design may at times be dated, I must admit it reminds me of the fairisle yoke jumpers my darling Nanny used to make me when I was a little girl.
The industry first flourished as a cottage industry as relief work to supplement income in the depression of the 1930's and 40's. But reading through the history does indeed make a very insightful read. The objective was to find a product that women could produce at home...and from therein it grew when the organization was officially established in September 1939. By 1950 Boshus Strickning was no longer viewed as relief work or a charity function within Sweden. The business was identified by finely knit angora sweaters. The story continues through the book until the company closed down in 1969. If you find your interested in this I can thoroughly recommend it and hopefully when I have finished by current project The Autumn Cardigan...I am hoping to send off for a kit and I shall perhaps adapt the body part of the garment to fit more snugly and maybe do a roll neck as to a crew neck...but we shall see. Anyway if like me you found this topic fastinating and find yourself being hooked. Good luck have fun and drop me a line I would love to know how you get on .

Knitting & Stitch Show...London.

Wow, what a wonderful day out I had Friday, got on coach at 7.30am...arrived London show12ish. spot of lunch, then some shopping. Then went and saw the Rowan Knit Autumn Fashion show, wanted to knit everything I saw. Then next minute it was 4.30pm and back to coach.
Anyway not a very big haul, but nice bits.
Some Touch Wool yarn (the bigger skein)
Natural Dye Studio Skein.
Some lovely handmade ceramic (fairtrade) buttons from South Africa.
Then a freebie crochet kit.
Last but not least Simply Shetland Book 4 at Tomales Bay...have been waiting months for this over here. Have earmarked about 4/5/6/7/ projects. woo hoo me is going to be a busy bee. Love it. Byeee x

Autumn cardigan body finished...

Phew, that was heavy going towards the end...never got bored though. Pleased thus far as its the first real colourwork that I have done.


Then we had the sewing of the steeks, that went ok. As also have never done steeking before, thought would just go for it and not worry about it. So with trepidation I did my first cut, hey! it works...woo hoo. Last picture of cardi now with steeks cut. So am off to pick up stitches for sleeves. I quickly tried it on and is a tad smaller but have been assured by more prolifant knitters that when blocked will be ok. Hope so.

New shop......

Wow, have you seen this new on-line shop.http://www.socktopus.co.uk/index.php. How wonderful is this place, have coveted so many other sock yarns from Canada etc and thought no will not send off for any as delivery too expensive. Thanks to Roobeedoo for pointing it out. Go have a looksee, there is this most gorgeous baby jacket Dream in Colour and they are going to put kits together.
But personally I am trying to be good as hopefully off to Ally Pally next week, so saving myself....afraid on the knitting front, not much progress has been made with Autumn Cardigan, too tired going back and forth to hospital to see DD. Also have come down with this nasty sinus/cold virus, its a right bummer. Eyes/nose cheeks head....all hurt, stilkl will go soon...then I can get back to some serious knitting. Also poor Mavis my spinning wheel is sitting there looking at me forlornly with some half spun pink shaded merino on her. Best away byeee....x

Phew......another update.....ok! now have managed to dry my eyes and steady myself. This morning Worthing Hospital is ringing around Brighton/Portsmouth/Southampton/Queens London for a bed for her as Worthing doesn't have a neonatal unit for babies before 32 weeks or 4lb. Sounds worrying but all will be good please. ( A million zillion trillion times please) It looks like she is going to be moved...at the moment as a pre-cautionery measure as her BP is still high and protein still naughty.. The babys are healthy......oh deary me these ruddy tears are coming again...I just want to get to the hospital and hold my darling daughter (anybody got a tissue ). Oh for .........'s sake I know I love her but this hurts like hell. But must get hold of myself and sort out a POA for later on if she has to go anywhere other than Brighton. I know she will be in the best of places for the health of her and the babies but it still feels very scary.I am hoping that this is just a blip and everything calms down. I have just been on a twins forum that I know she reads and strangely it has been quite comforting....I'm glad I read it...I think that is what is helping her.Anyway thank for all for your lovely words of support, it really is lovely. Oh by the way this will make you all grin sssshhhh! don't talk too loud, we could have a convert. I taught her the basics of knitting when she was 12 ...but she never carried on. So bought her "Learn to Knit" some size 4mm needles and a colourful ball of baby wool yesterday. I thought she would just flick through it and put it down, no she thumbed, saw a mitered babys hat got all excited. So I tempted her and said "shall I cast on for you"? No....I'll sit quietly and go through it later.she said. Quick update....last few mins...just heard she's going to Brighton Royal Sussex....thank goodness for that...its only half hour away. Oh I feel a bit easier now...that I know she'll be closer.

Anyway as for my knitting again "what knitting" managed to do four rows this week. Will get back to it soon though, its a good way to relax.

27th Sept update...

Ok, now what a day..phew. My DD is in hospital bless her .....went for the twice weekly check up (as lots of you know preggie with twins)...anyway blood pressure was 165/101 pulse 101.....3.5 protein in her urine. Midwife looks at her and says "sorry my love, but your coming in"......then she has the monitor print out thingy...then we go for a scan straight away....the babies are 1130 kg about 2lb 4oz....the birth liquid is still all ok and the umbilical cords are still doing their job of delivery the blood etc. So the problems are thankfully not affecting the babies, just DD. They said they couldn't send her home because of the risk of fitting. (She is naughty you know as yesterday she was out of breathe and kept coughing because of it.)...honestly I don't know what do you do with them.... So anyway taken to ward and settled down, doctors came and spoke to her etc (unfortunately her DH was a good hour away and on job site so he couldn't leave his customer)....so Doctor says that more than likely they will be born prematurely but (please) let them stay there for as long as possible. So they are for the moment going to take it day by day. She has had her first steroid injection this afternoon and she was on metadopul for the blood pressure but now they are going to give her some beta blockers. Left just after 5 and her blood pressure had settled down. They are going to give her another steroid injection tomorrow.On the scan the babies are laying both heads down, the little girl sideways to her brother at one time it looked like she was kissing his cheek and then another time as if she was lying on his chest. Anyway am keeping everything crossed, and again I salute her she is calm and just remaining so...as she says "I can't do anything else can I Mum" she just looks at me rubs her tummy and says to them "stay there I've not finished baking you yet". So love her to bits.Am so emotional that my babys having babies, silly bleep woman that I am keep choking up. Anyway too tired to cook tonight so my beloved DH has just gone to get take away I've had a loooooooonnnnggg shower, felt like I didn't want to come out, the water was so nice. So all for now laters x

2 days...no knitting!

Yes thats correct, I haven't been near my kniiting for two whole days and its been sheer torture.
Why? I hear you ask. I'm cream crackered as have been really busy. Well Monday painted preggie DD's kitchen (as hubby is so busy working) and she was stressing out over it. Bu that was the 3 hours between the hospital visit, which we went to in the morning and then had to go back in the afternoon. So toke the advantage to get the paint pot out. Now shes happy with that.
Then today, I now take her food shopping as she cannot push a trolley by herself, bless her she looks 39 weeks preggie and shes only 28 weeks. So anyway we finish that and then she decides the kitchen needs a complete clean (its that nestbuilding instinct that preggie women get). So obviousaly she cannot do it herself. So I go home unpack my food stuff, a quick lunch then back to hers to clean cupboards/tiles etc. Then she has an original Edwardian tiled floor hallway, this then needs cleaning..phew...so does that too. She in the meantime decided the oven needed doing, so she starts that and I cannot take the sponger etc away from her, then she starts to feel funny, well by now as you can imagine I am getting a tad irrate. So the I'm your Mum thing comes out in me its " I don't care if your a 27 year old adult, STOP IT NOW. sO i get her settled on the sofa with a nice cuppa and bicky. Goes and finish the cooker and all else etc. Walk back to lounge and on the chair is 10 days worth of ironing that shes been meaning to do (but has just been far too tired. Guess what? oh yes so I stand there for two hours ironing. BUT it is done.

Now tuesday I go to a Choral Society, there are 66 and counting members and we are singing
Haydns The Creation...oh boy is it hard and very demanding. We are doing quite a few concerts leading up to Christmas etc, so lots of rehearsals. So it wasn't until 7.16pm that I decided whether I was going this evening (being knackered) sorry language Timothy!!!!
But went and enjoyed myself.
Hopefully will get some knitting done tomorrow between 12 and 2pm when I am sitting with my 84 year old Mum (who has end stage altzheimers) so my Dad can go out for lunch with my brother.
Then Thursday its back to the hospital again with preggie daughter for checks and blood tests......who knows maybe Friday I might find a few hours free for knitting.
I tell you I couldn't keep this up week in week out......it makes me realize that my mind might still think I'm in my 30's but other parts say and scream out "hey girl, your not".
Anyway morning, afternoon, evening, nightnight from wherever part of the world you live.
xxxx

Autumn cardigan update.

Things going ok thus far......managing about 10 rounds at a go. Have to sit at table though as uses two charts. The stitching looks a tad pulled but I don't think that my knitting is too tight have checked this out, I think it might be the yarn as am finding that it does seem to twist back on itself at odd times. This will be settled out when it is washed.

Actually one part I really like is the increasing up the side...makes it different somehow. Also was not too sure on the background colourway first of all, pleased to say it has grown on me now.

Anyway on a different note....been baby clothes shopping for DDs twins in Pumpkin Patch, just got to share these with you, aren't they absolutely gorgeous. What is so lovely about their range is that you can mix and match, so have got my eye on a few other things to buy later.

Its my puppy....

Just had to share this, honestly this is my cavi Megan well her favourite toy is this soft puppy toy. She walks around with it in her mouth, so funny. Then if you take it from her, her eyes go wide like seals eyes...honestly if she could talk it would be "its my toy, leave it alone"...anyway hope it brings a smile to you.

A bit of worry....but things going OK

As some of you know my DD is pregnant with twins fraternal one boy and one girl...well last week her blood pressure shot sky high. Anyway as a result she has to go twice a week to the hospital for check ups....well I went with her Monday and we saw a lovely midwife and then a registrar...who was lovely but very matter of fact. So matter of fact that she announced to my DD that if her blood pressure didn't go down they would have to deliver.. at some stage earlier and give her steriods.....my stomach went over I looked at my DD she just sat there and we both listened. Now my DD is 25 +2 days...the babies are about 13" long and on weight foir their growth chart....the height of her fundas (which I understand to be the size of her pregnancy tummy ) is the size of a woman pregnant with a single child is 38 weeks. So bless her she is already rather tired and she has been signed off work 3 weeks early. Which is good as she was a Senior Practitioner in child care. The hospital was undecided as to whether to admit her for complete bed rest or give her blood pressure tablets. They decided on the second option.......SO AGAIN today I went with her for todays appointment.
So today we see a consultant...what a thorough nice chap he was...so different from the matter of fact lady. He went through all her notes (oh yes I forget to mention that her liver has been leaking a bit)...but he is not concerned with it and said it will all heal. Thankfully there is no sign of pre-eclampsia, her uric tests are fine. He said that they will carry on monitoring twice a week and that they will up her blood pressure tablets if need be. I mentioned to him about the steroids and he said that maybe they will look at that again in a few weeks, apparently they give it by injection to my DD and it helps that babies lungs to mature (just in case and I say it whisperingly ) they had to come out a few weeks earlier because of her blood pressure. I admire her inner strength...she is very focused and feels very confident...she isn't fretting and says she knows what she has to do to continue "baking" (as she puts it) her babas so I go with her again on Monday to be checked.

First row of leaves

Phew, well thats the first row of leaves done. Was quite intense at the beginning as I was seeming to knit the yarn across a tad too tight...but am and have hopefully managed to find my way through this. It is slow progress but I have to remember that I am knitting the back and front at the same time. The steek stitches are at the back...I am not looking any further forward other than the next part to knit. I have however read the pattern through several times before I started to understand everything. The yarn is strange I think it maybe the background colourway that I have chosen, on the photograph it is coming out better than in reality...so I hope the further I knit the better the change.....anyway my Autumn Leaves cardigan calls.
See ya x

I now must show you my other new project.

Well I am in love with this....

http://brenda.typepad.com/kaunikal/2007/08/autumn-cardigan.html

It is lovely...the yarn is Kauni and comes in all sorts of shades and graduates as you knit.

So far I have done the ribbing...cannot wait to get to the exciting pattern. The colours I have used are code EM & EN....the background colours graduates from grey (which I must admit I am a tad disappointed in as it looks slightly dirty grey) then it goes to cream/beige/tan/brown and the foreground is maroon and a gorgeous bright red.

Then I have another project in mind to do this...

http://inlovewithautumnrose.blogspot.com/ ...oh just waiting for the book to come in stock.

So all in all as I put in a previous posting...I wanted something to challenge me. Well as my darling hubby said "wow, you've got some knitting in front of you".

Ok the cabling's ok

So on my first square for the Great American Aran afghan the cabling came out ok.

But then we had a problem..he he

So there was I sitting in my lounge last Saturday night merrily click clicking away.
Drink hubby asks Oh yes please.
So a nice glass of wine watching TV....all very good....nice wine so had a second.
Now 2 is my limit....therein lies the problem. I've mucked up all the bobbles. Now stop laughing, yes they look all piddled BUT I think it now adds to the character, this blanket is going to take about two years as I have decided to do one square a month. So it doesn't interfere with other wips (and also so I don't tire of it).

So this first square the Ginette Belanger one is saluted by me and presented to you with my memories of that Saturday.

Christmas swap around the world questions.

1.Are you religious?
Religious to the effect that I like to think there is something there...but I don't attend church (except on the 3 occasions)..I think that ones beliefs etc are within ones soul. But then again the older I get the more I think.


2.How long have you been kitting? Would you consider yourself a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced?
Oh have been knitting since my Mum taught me at 13 years old...coming up 40 years odd..but have had big breaks in betweeen. Erm I suppose I consider myself a intermediate leaning towards advanced..only because in the last couple of years I have started to venture towards different aspects of the craft.


3.Do you have any other hobbies besides knitting?
Not that I do much now, I suppose they go with the arty/crafty umbrella..watercolour/pastels.....cross stitch/tapestry....sugarcraft but as I put haven't done any for a few years now.

4 Favorite color(s)?
Oh colours that suit me..used to love red but now find the colour is too harsh for me...so tend to stick to beiges/caramels/creams/off whites. But favourite colours I suppose are turquoises and autumnal colours.

5.Do you collect anything?
Oh thats an easy one "No.
6. Are you allergic to any fibers or animals?
Another easy one "No.

7..Do you have any pets?
Oh yes have a gorgeous blenheim (white/tan) Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called
Megan who is 6 years old...she is a real poppet.

8. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate?
Oh all three but more tea then coffee..the occasional chocolate.

9.Cookies or Sweets?
Oh scrumptious oat cookies with raisins/sultanas/cranberries...yummy.

10. Do you knit socks?
Esqueeze me....do pigs fly...oh course....da da.
If not socks then what? (tell us about your favorite knits)

11.Do you put up a Christmas tree? If not then what do you do?
Oh definitely yes.

12.Favorite holiday treats?
Mince pies and special chocolates.

13.Favorite holiday smells?
Oh got to be a real Christmas tree and yankee candle Christmas votives.

14.Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional or unconventional way? Please elaborate.
Definitely traditional....with all the trimmings. Still carry on the way my Mum and Dad did things with us. We always wait until washed and dressed before pressie opening time...then its me off to the kitchen with hubby by my side. I think for me though Christmas is the build up...the buying of pressies, getting the house ready. I seem always to get very choked up...it always brings back cherished memories of my own childhood and how quickly time flies....also never forget what the meaning of Christmas is about...thats important.

15.What are your favorite holiday traditions?
Having roast turkey sandwiches for supper, even though your still stuffed from dinner.

16.Finish the sentence: “For me Christmas is all about....”
family and being together in the spirit and joy of the season.

17.If you were a Christmas ornament you would be…….?
A big round red sparkly Christmas ball hanging on the tree.

18.What was your favorite gift you've ever received? Or given?
Oh now thats a difficult one...gift received well erm...my grown up children always ask me what I would like. So generally cooking books.

19. When do you start your Christmas?
When the Christmas tree goes up.

20.Do you send Christmas cards? Do you make them or buy them?
Yes I send cards and I buy them.

21.What is your favorite Christmas dish?
CHRISTMAS PUDDING...WHEY HEE!!!!WITH LASHINGS OF CREAM.

22.Carolers are at your door. What do you do?
I generally open the door and listen to them singing for a while...sometimes ask if they're collecting for any charity.I then thank them and give them some money. Saying that cannot remember last time we had them around here.


23. When do you open presents? Christmas eve or Christmas morning?
Christmas morning.

24. Do you celebrate with family or friends or both?
Just family.

Well thats my questions done....this is great fun and soooooo exciting, really look forward to getting my swap pal. Take care...Teresa xxx

.

Well I did say that I needed something to get my teeth into...and first off I have gone for the aran afghan. Well I thought I could prettywell knit anything but this uses the old grey cells. The first square is coming along slow but sure...there is no need to rush this project I will do it as and when I fancy knitting a square, so a few months to 2 years if I did one square a month.

The first square I did try to do was Georgia Vincents, this is one of the more challenging. Well trust me, the first few rounds were hard going as there is 212 stitches on cirs....then things were going along fine, until I decided to switch from following the graph to written. Well they say "pride goes before a fall"...I got into a right pickle before I realized. So that was frogged. So thought maybe better start off on something a tad simpler. So Ginette Belanger it is....lots of cable work, which is fiddly but again once you get going fine.
So as and when will post finished squares on here when complete with any little anecdotes re their knitting.

The yarn is very reasonable Sirdar Aran 80/20 wool at £3.99 the balls are huge 400g.
Have purchased 6 balls, so there should be more than enough. So thats all for now..
HAPPY KNITTING. X

Knitting experience.....

I was reading earlier on a blog re knitting experience and at times how through forums and blog reading that one is inspired but seems to me at the same time exasperated. At one time I used to just plod on and off with knitting projects nothing that exciting....just something to do whilst watching television of an evening. But now my expectations of what I want to achieve have seemed to have grown all out of perspective (well thats how my "knitting mojo" feels).

I feel that I would love to really delve myself into something prolific like this...
http://www.virtualyarns.com/scripts/showitem.asp?ID=68
I would take my time and do it...no inbetweeny projects BUT thats where the problem seems to lie.....I seem to easily get bored and need to cast on something new, which I generally finish, you know the pair of socks, quick hat, mittens. But it isn't feeding my need....my need to actually...not prove to myself of anything like that, well maybe yes there is that underneath but to actually apply myself to it...to not rush it because I want to see it finished. I think I need a knitting project to cherish, something that will inspire me to keep going...whether or not it is the above jacket as yet I don't know. If it was I think I would have purchased it.

Now there is another idea that has been growing in my mind " The Great American Aran Afghan"....now this excites me....or maybe is it the fact that I do one square at a time in each different pattern....thereby no chance to get bored and then I have the excuse that I can make it as small or as large as I wish....or could I maybe have it as an ongoing project...I keep thinking there are only soooooo many hats/gloves/socks/scarves that I can make. Its the same with the baby knitting...have been enjoying it but have think for the time being am
babied out. Also took a look in M&S...and duh silly me there doesn't seem much knitted stuff
around at the moment. Oh I don't know...ignore me just waffling....oh and then theres anything thing thats bugging me....all the left over yarn...that I keep what for I ask myself.
I thought maybe the best thing is to take it down a charity shop and then it doesn't sit there staring at me asking to be knit into something....yet again something small...honestly does by ruddy head in at times......ok I think I need a button which reads "I'm having a bad knitting day"....maybe tomorrow will be better and then I will know which path I want/need to take..
heres hoping....anyway all for now take care...xxx
Just tried the link and the darn think doesn't work...anyway the site is Virtual Yarns and its the elizabethan jacket.

Phew sat down this afternoon...actually found the time...3 hours to sew this up and weave the ends in...have to be good with this part as tend to me impatient...cannot say its the part I enjoy...but all part of the process. So its the Sirdar jacket form Baby Knits book 316...it has knit up big for 0-3 months....very strange because some of the other patterns knit up for their size etc...Checked tension and all more like 3-6 months...still it will be used...and going to buy some cute litte trousers and a t shirt to go under to make a complete outfit...oh and seen some lovely little booty things with teddys on.

Books

Hmmm...this is my small knitting book collection. There are hundreds out there that I would like to purchase but quite honestly I seem to only knit one or two items from each one. Most of the time I like to read through for inspiration etc....actually my favourites are....



Folk Mittens

Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook (find this book exceptionally helpful with my own spinning for sock wool etc

Knitters hand book (even though been knitting for years, still find this helpful at

times)



also in my collection



Victoria Lace Today (where would we be without this inspiration)

Knitting Lingerie Style

Best of Knitters Shawls and Scarves

Couture Knits (now there are quite a few that I am tempted by in this book

Anyway what else have I been up to...oh yes that a few balls of Sirdar (do you know what for the life of me cannot remember its name...sure some of you will recognize it and so have started this circular shrug pattern that I found onhttp://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory.php....still quite a way to go but I sit and do a bit whilst perusing knitting blogs etc...

and then last but not least SPINNING....well whats a girl to do...this is the bfl in chocolate cherry...more cherry than chocolate though but its ok.

Don't you just wish there were more hours to you your hobby....grrrrr! But DH has just taken dog out for walk and then we're off for a coffee somewhere. xx

Well have just come back...and guess what never got for the coffee....went for a drive in the country and lo and behold a roadside area of lovely blackberries...well strictly speaking through the farmers gate and around the corner in his field....loads of them......now I was very careful not to annoy the ol' waspies after all they were there first. I tell you blackberrying takes me soooo back to my childhoold....me and my two younger brothers vying the the biggest and fattest...mind you sometimes more went into our mouths...used to tease my brothers that they were wearing lipstick....isn't it strange everything seems so much better when your young. Now these blackberries are of a ok size but not magnificent like they used to be or is that just my memory....anyway they will come in very useful for dinner next Friday...a good old fashioned roast chicken and apple and blackberry pie.

All of a tither...

Oh I'm so in lurvvveeee....well yesterday went with my DD (whose preggie with twins ) to her 22 week scan. Well in my day we didn't have scans....I was absolutely in awe.....the little girl was sucking her thumb and the little boy was lying next to her....could see their hearts beating and the spines so clearly. Couldn't believe that after seeing this that I could feel such an affinity as their Nanny already.......so alls going well thus far her... all day sickness has all but disappeared and she is becoming radiant, her hair is lustrious and shes just great.











Anyways as you can see if joined the Christmas swap...never done this before.....so quite
exciting to find out who my swap pall might be. Am already trying to think of original gifts
etc. The logo on my sidebar only links to photobucket for some reason. So back to the Christmas swap.....there seems to be lots of lovely people so far from all around the globe....
hmmmm! what to knit for them...honestly seems funny to be thinking of this on the 17th August....still summer really. HA HA if thats what you call it, this year haven't done half of the things as usual...no glass of wine sitting out on a sultry summers evening...no looking up at the stars and dreaming....hardly any bbq's...ah welll there has been a plus side....no knitting with hot hands.
Have been perusing the latest Rowan magazine, wow are there some lovely patterns to tempt you BUT the baby knitting is still on the forefront at the moment....except for this bit of spinning and sock knitting...well a girl does need a break at times.











Anyway to interesting stuff....had some lovely alpaca fibre delivered the other day from




http://www.hipknits.co.uk/shop.php?crn=1&start=2........the watercolour as is named is




very pretty its the one on the left the other is called "chocherry" in blue faced leicester.







So the alpaca spun up very quickly...makes a change for me as a novice spinner and managed to keep the required weight...fingering...it is very lovely and soft....but I made the mistake of shaking the fibre before I spun and bits flew everywhere....still whats a vacuum for.





So the finished skein came to about 295 metres.....I must admit I was a tad disappointed as the colourway when spun has become slighted muted.



But I have just started this pair of socks...so am feeling a little bit chuffed that I can actually use it......and the softness is even more so now.




I notice on my postings that there seems to be gaps at times...no idea why this happens sometimes so ......sorry!....anyway have a good weekend in whatever you do. byeee for now.x

Came across this website last night.....http://christmasaroundtheworldswap.blogspot.com/....read it and thought what a lovely idea. Have never signed up for a swap before....but this so had my imagination going....so sent my email....and eagerly awaiting my reply.
Cannot wait to receive my questionnaire and find out who my pal will be, already thinking what gifts etc. Knitting coming on apace will post piccys soon if two finished baby jumpers...actually need a rest from baby knitting....so have some lovely fibre coming in BFL and alpaca to spin. Have booked for a Knitting and Stitching show in October at Alexandra Palace in London....never been before...so off on my own on the coach. There are about 399 odd exhibitors, so will be taking plenty of money with me. Honestly have been such a good girl of late and buying no stash, quite honestly its been excruciating hence treating myself to some fibre.....I must I must I must resist....'til October.

Guild day...

Well today was Guild Day.....this is about my 4th time I think. Very interesting with lots of advice from people in the know regarding all aspects of spinning, dyeing and weaving. It was a skills day and one lady was showing needle felting...looks fun specially with all the stabbing of the fibres going on. They were making lovely flowers and leaves etc.

at Photobucket">
....and a table laid out with every glorious colour...scrummy.
I so easily could have been tempted by this but don't really want to add another crafty type hobby to my spinning, find I haven't enough time in the day of week for that matter for all that I wish to do.

One lady brought this gorgeous thick knit jacket along for a looksee, it is spun Gotland as far as I understand and weighs quite a bit, pity we don't seem to have the weather much anymore to do it justice. Just imagine the amount of spinning hours put in the make this.


Then out of interest I toke a piccy of two Lendrum spinning wheels. Mine is the lighter coloured one and is now about 8 months old and the other one 8 years old. Hasn't it mellowed to a beautiful hue.


As for me, spent the day doing a bit of knitting on two different items, a bit of spinning, a lot of chatting and of course drinking tea. I think in September some members of the guild are demonstrating at a local sheep fair near here. I might go along and sit and do a bit of spinning, whether or not I fancy people peering over my shoulder is a different matter but we shall see....anyway all for now.laters x

Baby beanies...

Enjoyed doing these as they just knit up so quickly....the back left two tone in pink is done in Garn Studio alpaca and my own hand spun which is the cream stripe. The blue one is my own handspun bfl. The front two the pink and the two stripe blue one are Sirdar snuggly.



/a>Currently am working on this lovely little boys jacket ...doing 0-3months in Debbie Bliss cash merino.



and a close up of the mixed knitting...this is a lovely and very easy way of incorporating colourways.

Just a quickie...

Hi ya, hows everyone, cannot believe this week has just flown by, good news is that DD whose preggies and SIL found out the sexes of their twins. One boy and one girl...so thats my knitting sorted out. At the moment I have a fuschia pink baby wrap on the needles...a baby beanie in blue and I am currently knitting for me (way to go) a circular snug in colours of moss green and brick red...doing ok so far.....then postie is bringing me some chocolate coloured merino and I have a lovely pattern for baby boys jacket in three colourways, will get piccys up when things have moved on a bit.

Anyway am absolutely cream cracked today, still going through "the menopause"...at the moment sleep is eluding me...I drift off alright then wake up about every two hours...then would you believe it my best sleep is from 6am to 7am...I will get through this...notice skin is changing and hair seems to get dryer, so plenty of good old conditioner and trips to the hairdressers.
Anyway more interesting bits later byeee for now x

Hmmmm.sock colour!

Ok, so it maybe was a mistake buying this colourway but seems to have turned out alright...if you like yellow. Makes a nice change for a bit of lace pattern up back of leg, although does make ankle look rather thick (or should I say thicker than they already are).

and piccy of prettyish pattern...
Last night couldn't settle for the evening...well you know when you want one of those "quick fix" knitting projects. So rumbled in my spun yarn basket and they presto...this presented itself. This was early spinning hence quite thick, but nevertheless usable. So made this hat, and it fitted wooh hoo! done in red/black merino.

Then we have the rest of the bfl spun..very pleased with this as managed to spin about 465metres from it...has spun to sock approximately. Knitted a little swatch so that you can se...haven't plied it... so singles and it is very interesting as you can see a slight twist on the left hand side of each stitch. Will possibly be used for baby cardi (DD has her 20 week scan soon and we find out what sexes she is having with the twins...so all very exciting)

Morning....

Well the start of another week and still raining, of course we all know whats going to happen. Come September when the children go back to school...summer will appear.





But anyway I have spun some of the BFL...quite pleased with this thus far, the first skein I have managed to spin 199metres, single......am at the moment spinning up second skein, so hopefully when done will have enough for a pair of sockies...not bad for £4.00.



Did a couple of knitted cushion covers 6 months back...but forget to post them...done in cashmerino cannot remember which make but very soft none the less.

Serial blog reader...

Honestly whats a girl to do, but have to stand up and be counted and realise that I have an addiction.....knitting I hear you all shout...if only no...my problem is I AM A SERIAL KNITTING BLOG READER....there I've said it. Do I feel better...nope. You see the problem being, I like looking and the more I look, the more I click onto other peoples blogs on the side bars and so it goes on, then there are the patterns to look at, they shops they shop in. I love seeing what people have knitted...what stuff postie brings....if pictures of their homes etc...sometimes people knit things up so quickly I think they must have little elves working away click clacking into the night BUT THEN I REALISE.....duh!!!!! IF I DIDN'T SPEND SOOOO MUCH TIME BEING A NOSE OINTMENT I'D KNIT MORE...SORTED... well tried that and it didn't work. My digit just goes for the mouse and then before I know it am off on a bloggerifish journey again, and piff paff puff two hours have flown by.....I really should learn to knit and blog....aha...sorted. Anyway off for some zzzz's gone midnight....x

Spun alpaca

So my first 100g of alpaca fleece duly arrived a tad dirty with bits of hay etc in it.Started off slightly daunted as to proccess but good old Ashford Book of Spinning came to my rescue. Seemed to loose quite a bit of it after combing I reckon maybe 40/50%, don't know if this is correct. The lady at my Guild said just comb the ends but that just didn't remove enough mucky bits and when I opened it out to spin without combing I just got into a right old pickle. Anyway some photos of proccess.
So first of all my little niche of garden in the shade....birds singing in the tree behind me...alls well thus far.









But preparation preparation is the key, so a lot of elbow work and cleaning up firstly.



The beautiful soft clouds, apparently the lady at the Guild said that you should be able to blow the rolags off your hand and they should float down to the ground. Okeedokkeee.!







Now spin, here is where at times I can get a bit impatient, I know I must try hard to go slow and sure but sometimes I just run for the bus...ops.


Then the spun skein got its first wash, with trepidation in it went then slowly oh so slowly lifted it in and out a couple of times...didn't want it to start felting.
Changed water 3 times then all of a sudden a beautiful creamyness started to appear

In the airing place overnight to dry and then tentatively opened to door to gorgeous creamy white oh so soft fluffiness. 105 metres of baby alpaca.

Happy Day....

I can hardly begin to tell you how cuffed I am. Now lets see I have been spinning for about 6 months and out of those 6 months have been along to 3 Spinning Guild meetings. Anyway today was a workshop day and I toke along the 2nd skein that I had spun and made into a babys blanket with a teddy on it...the 3rd





skein was pink and blue merino. Anyways I had to do a show and tell, well I was a tad embarrassed and managed not to waffle too much, which was hard as can be quite a chatterbox. So afterwards one of the ladies who is a spinning officianado came up to me and asked to look at the blanket and skein. She said that both were extremely good and that some of the ladies she knows after several years spinning hadn't reached thus far. Well did I preeen or what? I had been putting myself down at home and get frustrated as sometimes things were not working out correctly on tension etc. Then she asked me if she could take them both and put them in a craft show exhibition under novice/beginner spinner. Well you could have knocked me over with a feather I thought she was joking but no they have gone and it is being held next Sunday.....so lets wait and see.









So today postie came with....



isn't it just scrumtious to comes from a lovely site that I have just found.


http://www.lazykate.net/catalog/index.php?cPath=48

Also some pretty BFL in blues/greens fibre unfortunately piccy doesn't do it justice. Then we have Lucas...... alpaca fibre, well thats his name and he is a year old, so it is lovely and soft.