Ooooh

Well - thank you all for your lovely comments - I didn't mean to stir up a hornets nest - I was just aware that maybe I wasn't doing what everyone else was doing and I didn't want to offend anyone - anyway - now I know.

So, Duel is finished and here he is - he isn't perfect, the buttons aren't quite right - I've learnt a lesson on this one - once you've marked the positions for the button holes and then made the button holes on the corresponding button band - sew the buttons on there and then while you still have the markers in place - don't wait until the garment is finished and then you have to guess where they go - or you end up with slightly wonky buttons like this ! Am I being too much of a perfectionist ?


Duel

I ordered two knitting books yesterday - Scarf Style and Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I can't wait to get them, I'm dying to knit Ruffles from Scarf Style. I think I may do it in a soft Alpaca Mmmm cosy - I think this might end up being a staple Christmas present knit - it's so spectacular.

On a sadder note - I think I have decided to undo my Noro Silk Garden Clapotis - it is beautiful and I love the way it looks, but I think I'm going to need many many more balls to finish it off and it's just too expensive. I'm hoping to get some of the lovely Hipknits Silk for my Birthday to knit a Clapotis from and I feel that I could knit something equally as specatular from that lovely Silk Garden - I may even go for a mini Clapotis, now that I understand the way the pattern works, or perhaps one of the patterns in my new books when they arrive. We'll see - I shall save it for something special SP - fret not !

I have been tagged by the lovely Emily, this is the first time that this has happend to me - so thank you Emily for including me ! I shall do my best with it.

id·i·o·syn·cra·sy
Pronunciation Key
n. pl. id·i·o·syn·cra·sies
A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.

Write down five of your own personal idiosyncracies. Then, if you wish, tag five people from your live gerbil or friendslist to do the same.

1) Before I touch a metal door handle, or a lift button, I have to touch a wall or bit of wood first, this may look odd, but is really because I have had so many shocks I had to find a way of stopping them - this seems to work for me !

2) I can't eat breakfast first thing in the morning, I have to have been up for at least an hour before I eat.

3) I love sqeezing spots, peeling skin etc - Jacob currently has a little lump above his eye - it's from a virus, and it's all I can do to stop myself picking it - yuk I know, but true.

4) I have a knitting chair, it's only one of the chairs from our set, but it's mine and no-one else is allowed to sit there !

5) If my floors are clean I'm happy - the rest of the house can be in total devastation, but as long as the floors downstairs are swept and clean, I'm OK with the rest.

So, there you go, five things about me, there are many more I'm sure, but there is no room for them all here. I'll tag Knitwise and Trueknit. I think most everyone else has already been tagged, but if you haven't and you would like to do this, please do, and let me know, I love to know all about anyone that reads these ramblings !

Right James and Jacob are watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1971 version) and I'm going to join them with a cup of tea.

Feeling Bad

I have just come over all guilty and bad feeling - I was browsing blogs and found a lovely new one here. From Trueknit I followed a link to this. Now I feel really bad - I usually do reply to peoples' comments in my comments and I had no idea there was an etiquette in this matter, so to anyone out there that I didn't send an e:mail to in reply to a comment - please forgive me - I will try to do better in the future ! No really, I will !

I've nearly finished Duel now - unfortunately last night whilst doing the collar I ran out of yarn - it's my own fault, I upped the size from 0-6 months to 6-12 months - the latter requiring one more ball of yarn - ack I thought - i'll wing it, I'm sure I'll be able to squeeze it out of three balls - WRONG - I had to make an emergency dash to Bluewater today to get just one ball of All Seasons Cotton - what a nightmare ! Still I have said ball in my grubby hands now, James is off to the pub for quizzing tonight - so it's just me and Duel and as long as it takes to finish him off - he shall be compeleted tonight - I hope ! Well that is as long as I don't get distracted by Rosy - which I seem to have started the second sleeve of ! What's wrong with me ? I just can't stay away from that snuggly gorgeous yarn and I want to be wearing it in this yuk weather we are having.

As the rains thunder down on the roof of the conservatory I'm reminded of the monsoons when we were living in the Far East - I miss those rains - where you get wet not only from the top down but from the bottom up as well - where you just don't bother with a brolly 'cause it won't do you any good - where you wear shorts 'cause at least your legs will dry out whereas trousers just won't in that kind of humidity and you end up with damp legs all day - I love the monsoon - I love sitting on the verandah in the dark, in the quiet, listening to the pounding rain and watching it come falling from the sky. I like weather - serious real weather - the worst kind of day for me is a grey drizzly one, no real weather, just boring - give me a thunder storm any day over drizzle - do you think I'm living in the wrong country ?

Parceltastic

What a day - the door bell hasn't stopped ringing and for all the best reasons.

First thing this morning, the postman delivered a little parcel from Little Lixie, it was one of her gorgeous fimo brooches - it's just so cute and thank you so much - I really appreciate it.


Little Brooch

Then a little while later the doorbell rings and - two parcels arrive - one was something for my SP so I won't reveal too much about that - just in case - although I think it highly unlikely that she reads my blog I don't want to take the chance. Anyway the second parcel was from my SP - and what a parcel - just look


From the best SP in the world

Well, that Lucinda Guy book I have been wanting since before it was even published , so I am super chuffed to have that one. The Stitch N' Bitch book I had never even seen before and it is just wonderful, I just sat there in stunned silence as I leafed through it thinking of all the possibilities it would allow, it has sections for designing your own knitwear, keeping records of things you've knitted, things you want to knit and all your stash - I am so happy with it - not only that, my lovely SP has included another book for Jacob - he's getting spoiled ! It's all about tigers and I'm going to read it to him in bed tonight - he'll love it. I can't thank you enough SP - you really are the best and I feel so very spoiled. I hope you have a lovely holiday, wherever you are going and I'll "see" you when you get back.

On the knitting front - whilst still feeling like poo last night - did I mention I've had a terrible sore throat and cold ? I get such bad sore throats because my tonsils virtually meet in the middle at the best of times, add in a little infection, and wham I can barely swallow and hardly talk. Anyway - on a high from Evie, I thought I'd go off and tackle the finishing on Duel - ha - bad idea. I merrily knitted up the front band for the first side, attached it and the picked up the second side to do the button band and realised that I had got them the wrong way around - the one that I had already done had one button hole at the bottom and was then plain moss stitch so I couldn't even just leave it. So I thought I'd just undo it, and I made a total mess of it - now I'm going to have to undo the collar shaping section of one side and re-knit it - on the plus side, it's only tiny so it won't take long - on the minus side - if I don't hurry up and get it finished the poor child it is destined for will have grown out of it. I have the afternoon to myself this afternoon, and whilst I still feel poo, I feel a little less poo than yesterday - so hopefully no more stupid mistakes will be made - ever get that feeling that you should have listened to your inner voices ? mine were definately telling me not to knit last night - I should have listened - lesson learned I guess.

Oh the doorbell did go again, but that was just the arrival of a rather boring book for James' birthday which is up coming, so I won't bore you with that !

FO At Last

Hoorayyy - Evie is finished. I've just sewn her little flower on and she is all done. Doesn't she look lovely. Actually, she wasn't what you might call a challenging knit. She was done in Rowan 4ply soft - so was quite time consuming, but not difficult at all. I'm pleased with the end result and think her new owner will enjoy wearing her.

I am now about to start the finishing on Duel, since this is only a little one - I'm hoping it isn't going to take too long. Once that is done, I'll be well underway and ready to just about start another project !

Oh yes and over the weekend, I just managed to finish a sleeve of Rosy - I don't think anyone noticed ! Well I need her - look at this weather we are having - I need to put a jumper on and she's just the one !

I received a lovely package in the post this morning, it was the Noro Silk Garden I ordered from Kangaroo. I bought four balls all of different colours, unfortunately I had already wound two by the time I thought to get the camera out. The two I have wound are destined for a ribbed scarf for a friend of mines' birthday - he chose one of the colours himself and I chose another colour to go with it, I hope it looks alright. The last two balls are to do an exact replica scarf for me - I've been coverting one of these for ages and well, it was on special offer, how could I say no ?

Look at those gorgeous colours


I have sustained a knitting injury - I have a nasty cut on my right index finger, you know the point just where the yarn runs over - well it's not that serious, but it is annoying. I tried to take a picture of said wound, but I couldn't keep still enough - so you'll just have to imagine the horror ! Talking of horror my little Jacob touched a halgon light today in a shop and burnt his finger, it really hurt him, and he's got a blister - that's the first time he has burnt himself and he was not happy ! Off to do his tea and hopefully fit some more knitting in.

Manhattan Musings

My trip to Bluewater was successful, they had a good selection of the RYC Cashsoft DK and my friend picked out a really lovely soft green that will go with lots of things - she's so little anything would have looked lovely on her - lucky baggage ! So, here it is - the yarn for Manhattan. There is obviously more than three balls, but I couldn't work out how to get it all, and the pattern in the picture - so I thought I'd give you a taster.


Manhattan

You know me - I would have chosen bright pink or some such nonsense, but Sam was very sensible and got something suitably subtle and grown up !

I have finished the back of Rosy - which of course, I shouldn't have by rights, but hey, she looks fab and I can't wait to do the rest of her - I think I'll have to sneek bits in here and there where no-one will notice.


Rosy's Back

This Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora knits up totally differently to how I thought it would - it is much chunkier than it looks, if you know what I mean, but I think I'm going to like wearing it, I find myself snuggling it as I'm knitting, I think this is going to be a real comfort cardy - only problem is, I think it may pill quite badly and I'm going to have to take great care of it. Still for £10 who's complaining !

I cannot believe the events of yesterday in London. Luck, rather than anything else, seems to have been our protector. I feel so for friends of mine that have to go up to London to work leaving small children behind worrying that they may never see them again. In earlier years when we were subject to bombs from the IRA I seem to remember having a somewhat cavalier attitude towards the whole situation - a kind of "well if I'm meant to go I'll go" or "I could get hit by a bus as easily as blown up". I cannot tell you how much having a child has changed my attitude. I find myself thinking "maybe we should give that trip to the Science Museum a miss - just in case" and other such thoughts. I don't want them to have won, but I don't want to put my, or my child's life in danger. I have always been rather bold - travelling parts of the world others thought I was mad to go to, but since having Jacob, I don't want to take the same risks anymore. It's almost like I feel I've used up a enough of my chances with things that I've done previously - and I don't want Jacob to suffer for that. I'm hoping against hope that this is the last of it - but I can't help thinking with those bombs being unsuccessful yesterday (and who knows what devastation they would have caused had they been successful) they won't leave us alone for a while. I hope I'm wrong.

I did a bad, bad thing

Well - you know how I'm knitting the three infamous children's bits - well, I've made progress - I've finished all the bits for not only Evie but also Duel. So not content with just knitting a Clapotis for myself, I just couldn't resist starting Rosy, I've only done a bit, but what with the weather being cooler yesterday - well I just couldn't resist !


Rosy

I think she looks a bit like a rag at the moment - but I have never knitted anything from side to side - so I'm going to be interested to see how she turns out - I hope it's big enough. Still she will have to go on hold for a bit, while I finish of my trio of summer bits.

I have also made progress on the socks for my sister. I had terrible trouble with this pattern at the start - I had to do it four times, even then I wasn't sure I was doing it right - still it all worked out in the end and all I have to do now is sew this sock up and start the second one.


The two needle sock

I am quite pleased with this little sock - it was quite a lot of work to get it looking right, but I think it was worth it - they are so soft (they are knitted in Rowan Calmer) and I think they will be beautifully cosy - I'm quite tempted to do a pair for myself - when I get a bit of time to myself !!!

Talking of which I'm off to John Lewis at Bluewater this afternoon to get the yarn to knit Manhattan from the RYC Classic Cafe book. This is for the Mummy of the children for whom I'm knitting the summer bits. It was recently her Birthday and me paying for part of the yarn and knitting this for her is her present. I need to get a wiggle on though - I don't think I'm going to have time to do anything other than knitting before Christmas ! I'll be fine - I just need to focus - anyway Sam is so small, it won't take me long to do the small size of Manhattan, even though it is moss stitch throughout and I have no idea how to do the crochet edging - ack - I 'll work it out ! I've got a day to myself tomorrow, the boys are off to the War and Peace show, so I can either spend the day knitting or ironing, I wonder which it will be - I hear Doris Day calling to me !

Oh Lucky Day

Do we notice a song theme developing here ?

Today I was at my Mum and Dad's. Whilst chatting to my Mum she mentioned that she had a number (14 actually) of mannequins in the loft (they used to have a children's clothes shop) - I had been trying to buy one from ebay - but had decided they were too expensive - so Mum gave me one - I'm delighted. For some time now, I have been contemplating doing a website knitting baby cardy's, hat's and bootees to order - the only trouble I have had is that I had no way to take the photos of the bits I've knitted - hence the need for a mannequin - now I have one and I can get on with my site - how exciting. Here she is - I'll have to think of a name for her - any suggestions gratefully received. She is a 6 month size by the way.


My Mannequin

Having spent the day at my parents - herding three children - my own and two of my sisters, I came home with a very tired and overemotional boy and opened the door to find a lovely package from the even lovelier Emily - it was full of gorgeous stitch markers - and she has even included instructions for me to learn to make them myself and some of the materials I will need - Emily - thank you so much - you are so thoughtful and kind and I really appreciate it.


Emily's Lovely Stitch Markers

I wore my lovely red skirt and green cardy combo today and it looked fab - I'll try and get James to take a picture next time I wear it.

Right off to knit.

Clapoti, Clapota, life goes ooooon - la la la la la la la

Am I going mad ? I think so - I have been decorating ALL day and I mean ALL day - we started at about 7.00am this morning and we finished at about 6.00pm - we aren't totally done yet, but it's almost there - oh yes - it's the hallway - it's not that large, there isn't that much wall space, but boy is there a lot of woodwork that seems to just suck up the paint - why oh why do we have to do so many coats - just one is enough, then the novelty definately wears off - oh well - only the bathroom, our bedroom, the spare room, the upstairs hallway, the outside of the windows and the drainage at the back of house to do and then we'll be finished - ha ha ha - no actually the bathroom is half done, so it's not all bad news - aghhhh - somebody give me a beer !

On the knitting front - I have taken a little vacation from the children's bits I'm doing and have been merrily knitting away at my Clapotis - it's looking gorgeous - I have decided to use the three balls that my gorgeous SP sent me (more of her later) and see how far I get, then I'll decide how many more balls I need - if anyone has knitted a Clapotis on Size 4mm needles with Noro Silk Garden before, perhaps you could circumvent this process, and just tell me how many balls you used. I am seriously tempted to join in the HipKnits Clapotis knitalong - I have been dying to get some of their silk yarn for ages, but I've just spent quite a lot of money on knitting recently and I think I may be lynched by the hubby - still it is my Birthday soon and I could suggest that any family that want to get me a present could give me money so I can get this - what do you think - reasonable ?

Well, here is the Clapotis so far - I am so delighted with it - I love the colours and I am so chuffed that my SP has encouraged me to knit something that I wanted to have go at, but thought would be much harder than it is - thanks again SP xx


Clapotis

You can't see the colours really well in this photo - I have tried several times to take a good photo of the yarn, but it never seems to come out vibrant enough - still take my word for it, it is gorgeous and I can't wait to be able to wear it !

Last night my darling Hubby went down the pub with mates for a quiz night - so I thought perfect chance to get on with the socks I want to do for my sister for her Birthday (it is on 14 August, so I've got a bit of time). I decided to have a go at the two needle socks in issue three of Simply Knitting - they looked fool proof - they weren't ! I have started and undone them four times and I was getting very frustrated - I think the problem was that there was definately an error in the pattern on row 6 and then when I got down to row 17 it all didn't make sense anymore, so having lost faith in the pattern at row 6 - I assumed it was wrong - it wasn't. Last night, after much perseverence and a fair bit of bad language - I decided to turn off the TV and concentrate on what I was doing and low and behold - they look like they are working now - of course I haven't got down to the complicated stuff yet, like the heel or the toe - but I now have faith in the pattern and am ready to follow it. So here it is so far


Two needle socks

A fabulous thing happened to me today - I was busy decorating, wearing my scabby clothes, covered in paint - hot and bothered and there was a ring at the door - who could it be ? it was the postman - with a package for me - what was in this package - the most wondeful stitch markers from my gorgeous SP (I told you she'd get another mention !) - you are one very kind and generous person SP and in no way was I expecting you to make me more stitch markers when I was asking for a trade - they are wondeful - I shall sit and marvel at the beauty of the beads this evening, after I've eaten my curry ! I love them - so much and shall put them to immediate use on my Clapotis - here, so you can all marvel at their beauty, they are.


Beautiful Stitch Markers

The lovely Emily is also sending me some stitch markers, so I'm going to be a veritable millionaire in stitch markers by next week - and this for someone who didn't even know what they were before I started blogging ! I'm very grateful to you Emily for agreeing to make me some more stitch markers and I shall find something ravishing to send you in return - well I hope it will be something quite nice anyway !!

So have a lovely weekend all, we are doing yet more diy - the things we have to do just because we want to sell this house and move to the seaside ! I can't wait to move though - I yearn to be by the sea - didn't an EM Forster character say something like that once - who knows ?

Look What My Got .......

...... as Jacob would say !!!


My new outfit

How gorgeous is this - even if I do say so myself - I saw this skirt a little while ago and it was far too expensive - but while I was browsing the other day I noticed it was in the sale - HALF PRICE - I happened to mention it to my mother in law and she said "get it for yourself for your birthday and get a little top to go with it " - so I took her at her word and here it is - what a fantabulous outfit - I can't wait to wear it. I was going to get a boring white top to go with it - but I thought what the hey - push the boat out and go bright - and I'm so glad I did - I love it.

I just had to share that with you all !!!

Deep Man !

You scored as Existentialist. Existentialism emphasizes human capability. There is no greater power interfering with life and thus it is up to us to make things happen. Sometimes considered a negative and depressing world view, your optimism towards human accomplishment is immense. Mankind is condemned to be free and must accept the responsibility. Existentialist 88% Cultural Creative 75% Postmodernist 56% Materialist 50% Romanticist 50% Idealist 31% Modernist 31% Fundamentalist 19% What is Your World View? (updated) created with QuizFarm.com

Progress

I have now managed to finish all the pieces for the Evie jumper I'm doing at the mo. Unfortunately I was knitting up the second sleeve last night when I realised I had neglected to the shaping at the top of the first sleeve - so I had to undo it - not all the way obviously, just the cast off edge and re-do the top - so that cut down the amount of "spare" time had to do my Clapotis. Never mind - I managed to get one increase repeat done and used a safety pin as a stitch marker. After all the wonderful suggestions I have received for different items to use as stitch markers, I thought I'd give it a go. Thanks to everyone.

I seem to have rather a nasty pain in my left elbow at the moment - I am not sure if it is to do with knitting, or all the diy I've been doing recently - I'm so hoping that it will go on its own - but at the moment it is rather hot and uncomfortable. Rest was the suggestion that has been made by many a friend, but if I rest it that means no knitting, and how can a woman live like that ? I need to knit - it's only when faced with the realisation that I may not be able to knit for a few days I realise how addicted I am - I'm like a junkie - must get some knitting in, no matter how little it is - still there are worse things to be addicted to - talking of which I had a beer last night - which is pretty much unheard of for me - I blame it on the heat, but who knows perhaps it's the slippery slope to more addictions !!!

Lynette - thanks for your comment, but when I click on your name I can't get to your blog (presuming you have one), in fact I can get no information on you at all ! Come back to my blog please do and let me know who you are !

Ummmmm !!!

I have been making good progress with my latest kiddie bits - I have now finished the back, front and one sleeve of Evie. So I was sitting watching tv this evening and that lovely Noro was just begging me to knit it - so look what I did.


Clapotis

I have actually been really enjoying doing it - I have never used stitch markers before but I thought since my lovely SP had made them for me with such skill and dexterity, I was duty bound to use them. It took me three goes to get the first few rows right, but once I got it I was off and flying. I am now busy planning all the future Clapoti (is that the correct term?) that I just have to knit for family and friends. So thank you SP for getting me to try something out of the ordinary.

As a footnote - to knit a full Clapotis it would seem that I need 18 stitch markers, my SP has lovingly created 10 for me - so I'm in need of another 8 - so would anyone out there be in the market for some kind of swap - I'm not sure what I may have that someone would be prepared to swap 8 stitch markers for, but I'm sure I'd be able to find something - can anyone help me out - I am just not set up to do the making of stitch markers, I'd need to get Equipment and everything as well as prevent my toddler from eating the beads !!!!

Alas I must return to the 4ply soft jumper tomorrow or else I shall get so carried away with my luxury Noro Clapotis, I shall never want to pick poor old Evie up again ! Still only one more sleeve to go and then I can get on with the other two kiddie bits I've got on the go and after that - it is definately all me, me, me - well apart from all the other presents I have to knit ! Ho hum !

Secret Pal - thank you again

Here is the photo of the lovely goodies my Secret Pal sent me as promised yesterday.


Thank you lovely Secret Pal

I am so chuffed with all these bits I want to show them to everyone - I've got friends coming over for lunch today and they are definately going to be treated to a show and tell !

I hope everyone is well today and all those that had to go into London are doing OK.

On Such a Sad Day

I am so shocked by what has happened in London today - I honestly couldn't believe it when I heard it on the news - I am so relieved that everyone I know is OK, but am well aware that this is not the case for everyone. My thoughts go out to anyone who knows someone that was involved in this dreadful incident.

During this awful day a ray of light came into my life in the form of a gorgeous package from my Secret Pal. I am well aware that today has been a difficult one for us all, but I couldn't let the day pass withough letting my SP know how much I appreciated her package. I wanted to post a picture of the wonderful contents, but the laptop that I'm on doesn't have the Hello software on it, so I shall have to upload it tomorrow - sorry about that. Suffice it to say that I don't think the gifts that my wonderful Secret Pal sent to me could have been any better - I think you've read my mind SP. So what were the contents ? Three - yes three, balls of the most wondeful green/blue Noro Silk Garden, some fabulous Peace Fleece hand painted knitting needles, a gorgeous little bag to keep all my knitting bits in and the most fabulous home made stitch markers in fabulous blue beads - I am so impressed with them - well done SP. My SP is so thoughtful that she even included a printout of the Knitty Clapotis pattern and suggested that I could use my Noro for a mini Clapotis - what a wonderful idea. Thank you so much SP - I was so over the moon to receive such a thoughtful and imaginative package - I am a happy bunny indeed.

I hope you all sleep well and good luck to all those who intend a trip into London tomorrow - my thoughts are with you all.

What Kind of Knitting Needles am I ?

Apparently this is the answer :


You are interchangeable.
Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every
eventuality covered and every opportunity just
has to be taken. Every fiber is wonderful, and
every day is a new beginning. You are good at
so many things, it's amazing, but you can
easily lose your place and forget to show up.
They have row counters for people like you!


What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I've been plugging away at my three little items that I'm knitting at the moment - I have finished the backs of all three and now I'm onto the front of Evie, but it is in Rowan 4ply soft on 3mm needles, so it's a bit slow - never mind - I'll get there in the end. All I keep thinking though is when I have finished these items I can move on to something for myself - although I have just realised that it was a friends' birthday last week while we were on holiday and I didn't get him a present - so I may have to whip him up a quick scarf - how long do you think it would take to do one in Noro Silk Garden 3 x 2 rib - long and any ideas how many ball I would need - would two be enough ? I need to do one of these for another friend for his birthday in September - so this would be a good way to get some practise - I can feel Christmas creeping up on me and I'm not getting any knitting done for it - I promised myself I'd get all my gifts done early this year - oh I've just remembered I'm supposed to be knitting a pair of socks for my sister's Birthday in August - do you think I'm taking too much on ? I thought I'd try the two needle sock pattern from the June issue of Simply Knitting, but I seem to be having nothing but trouble with it - I've tried it twice now, but it's still wrong - I've got two balls of Rowan Calmer to use for this project - so if anyone can recommend a different pattern that definately works, I'd be most grateful.

Also - a friend of mine said that she would like to buy me a pair of decorated knitting needles for my birthday in August and I'd love that, but the only ones I can find are in America like these fabulous ones from Hapagirl, I love love love them - but they are quite expensive and once you add shipping on I'm sure they'd be too dear - so I was hoping to find someone in the UK that is doing something similar, does anyone know of anywhere that does something like this ?

Right I'm off to unpack the Tesco shop that has just been delivered - I just love on-line food shopping - I hate the supermarket - it is such a waste of my time - who wouldn't pay £3.99 to have this chore done for them - I know I do and I'm so grateful to you Mr Tesco !

Please Forgive Me, Set Me Free !

I am not usually one for buying yarn unless I have a specific project in mind, but in recent weeks this has been changing and I have found myself unwittingly purchasing random yarn that has no allocated project at all - how is this possible ???? I think it is the osmotic influence of all you lovely blog ladies out there - just willing me to make random yarn purchases - well thank you all, I have made some lovely acqusitions just recently and I'm ready and willing to share them.

First up the yarn that I bought from Coldharbour Mill on the way home from our holiday - unfortuantely we only made a flying visit here as Jacob was keeping us rather occupied with his copious vomitting !! However there is always time for yarn purchase and I managed to get myself two lovely hanks and three more for my secret pal - I don't think the colours really show up here, but one is quite a heathery mulberry colour and the other is a deep purpley colour- just fab - I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them yet, but it will be wonderful.



Coldharbour Mill

Secondly the lovely Debbie Bliss Cotton Anogora that Andrea managed to get me for a song. I manged to get the Cotton Angora pattern book during my shopping frenzy at John Lewis yesterday, so all I need to do is to decide which yarn to allocate to which pattern. I, of course, am desperate to knit Rosy, as I think I may have mentioned before, so that will almost certainly be one of them - I'm a little concerned about the size of this though - I am currently undertaking project weight loss and am determined to be slimmer for Christmas - however the largest size in Rosy is only 36-38in - I am currently a 38 and I'm worried that it will not skim enough - still I don't want to make it any bigger 'cause when I get all my weight shifted I don't want it to be enormous - oh I'll just make the biggest size and it should be fine. I also like Grace, Melody and Katy - so I need to decide which one to make. I really love Mary as well, but unfortunately I just know that the shape would not suit me at all.


Cotton Angora

Next, we have some lovely Rowanspun DK yarn in two scrummy shades of green. I am planning on knitting something for Jacob from this for the winter - a stripey hat and scarf set comes to mind - with perhaps some purple pom poms - I don't really do subtle - can you tell !!! This was part of my bargain haul at John Lewis and was £1.95 a ball - how could I say no ?!!


Green

Next we have the main part of my haul from yesterday - which is a fair amount of Rowanspun 4ply in THE most gorgeous colours I have ever seen - I am planning lots of baby bits from these including a purple cardy with green edging and a hat to match - if I've got enough and something similar in the red and orange - I love these bright colours and could have gone mad buying loads more stuff, but I was very restrained and kept to these few modest bits, they were only £1.05 per ball. They had some Jaeger Alpaca for sale for about £2.45 but they only had it in pink and grey - if I knew someone that was having a girl I would definately have got it - but I managed to hold myself back !


Look at those beautiful colours

Now, while I was taking all these photos this morning, Jacob was trying on a new pair of pj's that just happened to fall into my basket whilst I was in Baby Gap yesterday and he was not happy about not being the centre of all the camera action - and so, he staged his very own protest - and here he is protesting !


Jacob Staging his Protest !

Can you spot a theme in these photos ? Yes, you got it, it's the cow ! While we were on holiday my friend suggested to me that when I was putting photos on the web it might be fun to add a cow element, being as I am Mooknits ! I thought it was such a good idea I went straight to the Sheep Shop (we were at the Big Sheep at the time, which was fabulous by the way !) and bought myself a cow - and here she is making her first photograhic appearance.

So, there they are all my yarn purchases laid out bare. I'm delighted with each and every one of them and all I need to do now is get on with some knitting - a minor detail !

Photo Trouble

I've been having a little bit of trouble with my Hello software since I've come back from holiday - I got James on the case this evening and I think he's sorted it out now - so here, in all it's glory is the little tank top that I knitted for Nathan before I went on holiday out of ends of balls of All Seasons Cotton that I had lying around the house - it's was so quick and easy !


Nathan modelling his lovely tank top

Doesn't he look just gorgeous.

Right - now I'm off to take photos of the little bit of stash enhancement that took place at John Lewis at Bluewater today - oh I was so good, I could have gone mad, but I managed to keep control of myself - just !

I'm Back

We had a fantastic holiday - I so enjoyed myself - it was relaxing and fun all at the same time ! The friends we went with were fantastic. The beach was wonderful, the countryside was beautiful and the children had a superb time - I really had a wonderful time and I didn't want it to end. The only bad thing was that yesterday, during the drive home, my little man was really sick. We had to keep stopping the car for him and it was a long and slow journey as a result. He was a really brave boy though and we made a stop at a tank museum to reward him for being such a brave solider - he really enjoyed himself and then got back in the car and was sick again !! Oh well - he seems much better today thank goodness. I am just sifting through the 800 plus photos we took between us and then I'll put an album together so that anyone that's interested can have a little look see at the beautiful place that is Devon.

Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to get much knitting done. I did do a few bits, but really not even enough to take pictures of - shameful. On the plus side, on the way home we did manage to stop off at Coldharbour Mill in Cullompton and I bought a few hanks of yarn for me and my Secret Pal - hope she likes them. Also when I got home there was a lovely package full of Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora waiting for me from the lovely Andrea - thank you so much for doing that for me Andrea. I can't wait to get started on a couple of bits for myself for a change ! All I need to do now is buy the book.

I am planning a trip to the Wool Shop in Caterham soon, I'm very excited about it ! I do quite like coming home after a holiday, and I'm looking forward to getting back some well deserved knitting time !