middlearthknitter

Hospital update

2008-08-26T20:23:00.002Z

I know this isnt my usual content but I am finding this is helping just to write it out here. Firstly thanks to all of you who posted a hug, it really means a lot and is really appreciated.

John is still in the hospital, they have done lots of tests but so far havent given any answers, something isnt quite right as they wont let him home. We are hoping he will have a scan tomorrow but thats not a definate yet....not what he wanted to hear, John hates being stuck anywhere even if its for his own good. They were doing his checks just before I left tonight and I could see his blood oxygen level is low, ot flashed up on the monitor, I dont know what that could point to but I know it ties in with the things he has been feeling.

Last night I did feel worried but I cant have taken it all in fully though until coming home tonight and I got a bit weepy in the car. The worst bit is having to come home and leave him there, that and sitting waiting in the mornings to be able to go in and see him.

I really hope tomorrow will be the day we hear some answers to stuff.

I promise, normal programming will resume here soon ;) thanks again for the hugs folks xx

When life gives you a slap

2008-08-25T22:36:00.002Z

Its late and a school night but I dont feel much like sleeping. John came home from work complaining about pain in his chest and left arm, so off to the docs he went, it was very late on for the surgery, about 15mins before closing but an hour went by and I heard nothing, then two...... I knew they must have sent him to the hospital, eventually the phone goes and its an A&E nurse to let me know he is there and I am to phone back in an hour to see if they are keeping him in, so I do, and they are.

I am just back having gone to see him, he looks ok, they have him hooked to machines, the doc says there are some abnormalities with his heartbeat and then tells us that he will talk to John in the morning about it, I hate when they say that and then expect you to relax and not worry! They heard a murmour too, aparently thats not that uncommon, John is a very very fit healthy man too which I think worries me more. I hope its nothing and just one of those things, this man is the other half of me! Coming away and leaving him there tonight wasnt nice, he looks relaxed enough but I just want to be there giving him a hug!! He says they called an ambulance for him at the health center and that he asked them to call me, he was pretty upset they hadnt but I am not all that surprised really.

These things really make you remember whats important. John is my world, theres a high chance hes completely fine but even the threat that something isnt right really scares you.

I love you honey xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The down side of country life.

2008-06-25T11:34:00.002Z

I dont often write about personal things here but this issue is annoying me and making me laugh all at the same time. Its like a comedy of errors I swear it is! So grab a cuppa and "are you sitting comfortably....then I shall begin"

Last Thursday we had a knock at the door, it was a member of staff from the estate who are our landlords, we were told that they would be fixing the road tomorrow so could we please refrain from using the road???? Errr no I cant actually, its our only road of access and I have three trips to and from the school each day. The person looked a bit taken aback and asked if I could just limit use then. I wasnt totally happy about just how short notice this had been but what could I do....nothing really so I thought I would just have to suffer it. The next day came and went, no work done, and the weekend came and went.....no work done. Then yesterday, completely out of the blue they started and they just happened to start at 2:30pm.....half an hour before I had to pick up kids!! I had no choice but to ask politely if they could let me out and would I be able to get back in, the guys let me out but told me I couldnt get back in! Great...its only my house afterall!!! So I had to dump the car halfway home and walk myself and kids up the now sticky road doing my best to stick to the sides but still we both got our shoes covered in tar.

Today its raining so I thought that they wouldnt be doing the road HA! They appeared just as I left to pick up the little ones from nursery. Now here is the part that started me laughing, I am still not sure if its because I found it funny or if it was my marbles leaving the building. When we tried to get back the road was blocked....this time its a phone company and GUESS what they are doing. YUP they are DIGGING the road up...right where the road lot just fixed it!

Now I love my house, we are lucky to live in such a beautiful place but in this day and age how hard would it be for the estate to call and say all this was happening, or even put a letter in the post! Having got a lift through a field by a very kindly guy in the rain it turns out the road guys are furious about us using the road and the volume of traffic, I can understand that too, all it would have taken is for better communication to all of us...and maybe even doing something clever like waiting until next week when the kids are off and when I can afford to not be using the car. SIGH

Shetland Shorty FO

2008-06-24T08:08:00.002Z

Here it is, my first official finished knitted GARMENT, I am thrilled to bits with this top and so pleased that its something I will get a lot of wear and enjoyment from. The pattern is SHETLAND SHORTY from the new summer knitty (click the pattern name to take you there). The pattern is very well written and a joy to work from, the stitch pattern is easy but not boring and there is minimal making up. The shoulders are bound off using three needle bind off, I havent used this technique before but loved the result in looks and feel, then there was the smallest amount of sewing required at the base of the sleeves and some ends to weave in and that was it, ready to wear!!

I used wollmeise sock yarn and knit a size medium, I only needed one skien to make this so that made this quite a bargain. I had 20g left over too so no scary "will I finish" moments.

I know there were dissussions on ravelry about this top and some others in knitty and if they were suitable for anybody other than super skinny minis, well I aint no skinny and I think this top is perfect if you are on the curvier side, it makes the most of those curves I think. So I say go for it people, try this top, you will be very pleasantly surprised :)

Meme calling!

2008-05-23T08:01:00.002Z

Well Kate has tagged me, and I think this is a lovely wee meme so what the heck here goes!

The rules:
“The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.”

1. What was I doing ten years ago?

Ten years ago I was in my last year at Grammar School! I remember that whole year very very fondly. This was the year that I feel everything started to fall into place for me, I was finally confident enough to be who I really was at school and stuff what everybody else thought! I was also having my best running season that year and I actually won Langholm's big Sprint. This was a HUGE achievement, there had never been a female adult winner before and it put the cat among the pidgeons for quite a while, its amazing how many fully grown men felt the need to come up to me and curse me out.....which made it feel even better to have beaten their runners :P This was also the year John and I got to know each other...need I say more, it was an amazing year!

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

1. Dye up some yarn
2. h...h...hhhh...housework *shudders*
3. Bake some of those fabby looking brownies on Ysolda's blog mmmm
4. Several school pick ups
5. Post some parcels

what an exciting life I lead ;)
3. Snacks I enjoy:

anything sweet...and I mean everything, which is not a good thing.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

I wouldnt live in this country thats for sure! I would be off to warmer shores where I would buy a nice castle for us all to live in and I could sit and knit my heart out.

5. Places I have lived:

I was fortunate enough to never move as a child, so grew up in the same place in the borders and didnt leave until I was 18. I spent a year in digs in Edinburgh, I enjoyed it but could never live in the city long term. Then I moved in with John just outside Stirling but we moved back to the borders when I was expecting out eldest son, we lived in a pretty nasty four in a block flat for seven years until moving into this lovely cottage we are in now.

6. People I want to know more about:

ok I pass the torch to Piddleloop, Lindsay, Jen, Claire

There has been knitting

2008-03-20T09:09:00.003Z

Its really busy busy here at the moment. Its a disease that seems to have afflicted a lot of friends and family since christmas and not just me. Its not a bad thing to be busy, it is a bad thing to not get any time for yourself however and I am insisting that I MAKE time for things I enjoy. As a mum a lot of my time is spent doing stuff for and with the kiddies, and doing things for and with the big kid of the house who is also very busy too! He is also begining to understand the concept of personal time and now goes most sundays to play snooker with his new friends which brings me such joy. He found it hard moving to a place where he only knew me and really has spent the best part of a decade shying away from making friends here, now however he has and I see it as a huge positive for him.

My me time is of course quite often, knitting time. The brain aint up to anything too advanced right now, that will hopefully not be the case in a month or two but for now I need nice simple yet very satisfying knitting.

I knit Kate some mitts for her birthday and I am so happy to see she likes them (or I may have had to take them back heheee because I liked them too!!!) They are my own pattern and I am working on a second pair now to iron out the pattern and then I will make it available to buy. You can get a lookie over on Kate's blog, I forgot to take any pictures before I sent them off! Stupid girl!!!

I am knitting Lizard Ridge too, this winter as we all know has been disgustingly cold wet and just plain miserable. This all leads to us NEEDING this to be made.....you listening dearest....I HAD to buy that noro...HAD TO! Actually I got it for a complete bargain price and have been able to get enough to make this at a fraction of the usual price. In fact it was such a bargain I got silk garden instead of kueryon as it was just as cheap.

Its coming along nicely, its a great mindless knit, I only have to think once every five rows which is great. But ask me how its going in a few days when its getting heavy to turn on the wrap rows.

I also have a sock on the go. This is a special sock due to the yarn though. Its some very pretty and soft handspun from Zero markers over on etsy. She sells lovely markers made from fresh water pearls, semi-precious stones and paper beads wrapped in wire, they are lovely markers and she is a complete star! She also sells some of her handspun from time to time too and I have been desperate to try it out for ages after watching her making socks on her blog. So by complete chance I was playing with the pounce feature on etsy and up popped her shop and there was the yarn and I HAD to have it. I wasn't disappointed. Its knitting up into gentle stripes and feels amazing, I cant wait to finish a sock and try it on. You can read about her spinning and knitting over at Sock Pron (blog link in my blogs I read list to the right)

Small destash!

2008-03-07T10:49:00.002Z

I am destashing a little and have four skiens of artesano alpaca hummingbird up for grabs for you. I think two have ball bands and two dont, but none have been knit. I am looking for £60 which will include your postage too in the UK and paypal is preferred thanks :) Oh...the colourway is Mallard.

heres a piccy, its yummy yarn, I just maybe perhaps have a bit too much of it LOL ;) :

Hemlock for the Worlock and swap goodies

2008-02-29T13:50:00.005Z

Worlock central has been a pretty cold and gusty place to be of late, the weather is positively disgusting and its been getting us all down. I have been in need of a nice blanket for while I am sitting at nights for quite some time but I havent found anything I like to buy....why is everything always either pink or floral! I know plenty folks like that but its not me and doesnt go with the decor in our house either...that and it being a male dominated household I would not be thanked for a pink throw ;)

Then Kai posted a picture of her finished Hemlock Blanket and I thought it was so lovely that I had to make my own! So I went for a rummage in my stash and pulled out some Lambs pride worsted thats been sitting for quite a while now waiting patiently for me to make my mind up on a project. This seemed perfect!

Its a very pretty shade called Persian Peacock, it has a lovely slight fuzz to it and a wonderful soft sheen too. It will go perfectly with our chocolate brown sofa!

This is proving to be a nice project, so far its been pretty fast, once I got past the error on line 35, and I am entering the feather and fan chart now. It will slow down now as the rounds increase greatly in length but I still hope to aim to have this completed by the end of the weekend, lets face it, its not like the weather is lending itself to doing much else! I have three skiens of yarn so I will make mine bigger and I will be using a different cast off to as I am not keen on the one in the pattern, its a little too fussy and I have one planned that will still be pretty just not as large.

Here is the progress as of this morning:

I also recieved a wonderful package in the post today, I took part in a swap on ravelry, it was quite a relaxed theme, send something yarn related but also just do a little stalking and of course read your pals answers to the questionaire and send them some bits and pieces you think they would like.

My pal sent me some seriously wonderful things, thank you so much Lindsay, it is all wonderful! She sent some emergency chocolate, a lovely pendant with a skull and crossbones on, some bath products shaped like fortune cookies, my kids want to pinch these, they think they look very cool indeed!!! Lastly, but definately not least she sent me some Shi Bui yarn in the best colours I have ever seen! The yarn looks and feels amazing and I cant wait to knit it up into some special socks!

Extra special yummy yarn!

Pirate pendant ARRRRRR!

Chocolate for those dark moments when nothing else will do ;)

Fortune cookie bath goodies in a special take away box!!

Side On Mitts pattern now on sale

2008-02-17T10:33:00.005Z

I have recently added my first available to buy pattern to the shop. i had some help from Jen who very kindly designed the layout for me and made the pattern ready for sale. I think she did an amazing job!

The mitts are knit sideways for a unique fit and are a fun little knit needing only a small amount of yarn. (Yarn used in the pattern is my worsted weight merino in colour Bubblegum) The knitting itself is pretty easy, I use a provisional cast on which is a great little skill to learn I think. The pattern is sent to you via email in PDF form after payment has been made. Anybody who would prefer to buy a paper copy must contact me to arrange that as I understand not everybody has access to a printer.

I have also made up kits too with a copy of the pattern (I will send you the PDF for backup purposes and a paper copy), enough yarn and some sts markers as a little extra.

Click on the related pictures to be directed to the relevant page in my shop.

Knit a flock of socks sock club

2008-02-13T16:26:00.008Z

We are entering the last week and a bit of time now to sign up for my latest sock club. Knit a flock of socks. As the name suggests there is a bird theme to this run, which is proving from the dyers point of you to be a lot of fun! I will be including a variety of yarn bases and also I will include a little extra in every package and hope to include a pattern with the last package of the run too.

Click the picture to take you directly to the listing for all the details :)

I like to think this club will be very good value for money. You pay one price, free postage WORLDWIDE, so no matter where you are, you are all paying that same price, so that in itself is a saving and a bonus.

Once the club is up and running I will be starting a thread and encouraging you to chat about it, taking into consideration time for the yarn to reach everywhere of course.

So come on and join in the fun, we are all looking forward to having you on board :)

Going loopy

2008-02-12T09:58:00.000Z

I am sure I am not the only one to be getting pretty over excited about the launch of a new UK online knitting magazine. The Inside Loop is due to go live with the first issue very soon and I just cannot wait to see what the girls have got together for this. I know they have been flat out behind the scenes and I would bet my needles on them getting together some real treats in the way of patterns for us all to gush over!

The prospect of such a UK product is great. Far from becoming smaller, the Uk market for knitting and knitting products is ever growing. New knitters appear on a daily basis and the internet is such a great resource.

Good luck girls, we are all cheering you on!!!!

Thinking Pink?

2008-01-15T10:47:00.000Z

The new yarns and colours are going live today and tomorrow. I have already added one silk/cashmere laceweight yarn to the shop and more will go up throughout the day. This one is called Funny Valentine and is a lovely pretty pink yarn. The silk in the yarn gives it a nice sheen and the cashmere makes it a very soft lush yarn like I have never experienced before. I really do love it! It will be available in 55g skeins which have 400yrds(360m). I will always list these two at a time.

FUNNY VALENTINE

I also have a rich mocha/plum colour ready to go in the shop too in the laceweight mentioned, I am just trying to get some good pictures of it in this terribly dull light we have today, not good photography weather at all!!

MOCHA PLUM

So keep an eye on the shop, there will be some real treats going in, also don't forget there are still plenty places left in the sock club and I have reduced the yarn prices a little too. So why not treat yourself today!

BE MINE

Its never too late to say thank you.

2008-01-12T14:24:00.000Z

Well, its all over. All that worry and fuss and rushing around like life depends on it. It all comes together into one perfect Christmas day with happy smiling faces, family, laughter and food that's just too good! We had a lovely slow paced relaxing Christmas here, the kids had a wonderful time and us big kids didn't have all that bad a time either.

I was very lucky this year to receive some wonderful gifts from friends and family alike. Our family try very hard to get something that will either be useful or will be cherished and loved and this year I think they outdid themselves! Mum got us a fantastic picture of the four of us printed onto a large canvas. It now has pride of place on the once bare wall of our living room, I cant help but smile when I look at it, as I take the majority of pictures in the household its a very rare thing t have a nice family shot. This one was taken the day of mums wedding and is a lovely natural shot of us. Thank you so much mum and co! Dad and his wife gave me a very special necklace with two hearts on it, its so pretty and its been such a long time since I had a special and pretty piece of jewelry, I haven't taken it off since I put it on Christmas day, I love it and it will be cherished! The lovely better half of me bought me an Ipod classic, which is an amazing piece of kit, I don't think I can ever fill it, the capacity on it is just crazy huge, i can play music AND dvds on it, I love it and it goes everywhere with me now.

As for friends, what can I say, you girls spoiled me rotten. Tess sent me yarn, its so so yummy and I cant wait to use it. Kate sent me sockies in a lovely Teal colour,you know me to well Mrs ;) and they kept my feet warm on holiday which was such a relief. Kai sent me a lovely neck warmer again, nice sea like shades. Diane sent me socks too in denim blues in STR! A yarn I haven't tried as yet and now of course I don't have to rush to seeing as I have my very own STR sockies!! Thank you so much girls, I feel like I haven't been able to spoil you back as much as I would like, Diane yours is in the post honey, I didn't want to send it while you were away and then of course I was away! Tess, yours is in the post too. I promise knitted gifts for all your birthdays this year, you can hold me to that ok!! I really cant thank you enough girls *SMOOCH*

Don't think I am forgetting piccies, I thought I would save that bit for last ;) here they all are in all their glory!

Kate's Glorious sockies, they fit like a dream, she has some sort of voodoo sense to get them to fit so perfectly without seeing my feet!

Diane's amazing soft snugly socks, these are my official sit n knit with feet up socks!

Kai's neck warmer, this is so pretty it will be saved for those occasions when I am going somewhere nice with the Mr.

My super fab Ipod classic.

Here's to a great new year ahead of us all folks!

New yarn bases on the way

2007-12-16T13:48:00.000Z

Oh this is ever so exciting!! I have such exciting news for you guys!! I have some new yarn bases arriving I hope by the end of the week.

These will include a cashmere/silk lace and 4ply, a bamboo/silk 4ply/a cahsmere/alpaca/lambswool 4ply, a silk/alpaca aran weight....oooerrr and I am sure some others too

I will let you know when they are in, there will only be a kilo of each just now, if anybody wants a special dye order please let me know ahead of delivery and I can put some aside for you

Christmas is WHEN!!!!

2007-12-14T16:33:00.000Z

Am I the only one to be so behind this year?? I cannot believe we are all but moments it seems, away from that big day. No cake made yet, still presents to buy, no tree up. I am normally well on my way to being completely ready, including mince pies made and stored....what is the matter this year? Is anybody else suffering from this too. I feel such a failure.....

I think part of the problem is that this year has been pretty full on for us really, the other half has a new job and is juggling full o six days a week work. I am working from home, that and eldst is getting that much older and of course my baby, he is now in nursery *sniff sniff..wimper* so thats three trips back and forward to school, ten min trip each way in the car SHHEEEEESHHHH.

So that has meant that somewhere in amongst this I am meant to have fitted in all the shopping and preps for christmas and although I am on my way its a slow process, and hardly any christmas knitting has been done. Knitting friends, you have been warned ;)

The shop also needs to be kept going, and I am, here are some new listings to wet your appetites, the yarn, Orchid is DEVINE, if youdont want it I might just run up a tree with it and not let it go!!!

Orchid in all its pretty beauty, this is merino tencel and has such a pretty sheen

These are smaller versions of the dice I sell, I love these, you get eight in a set and are perfect to use for smaller or lighter weight yarn projects

again, smaller wooden heads, aint they cool!

new seller support

2007-12-04T13:04:00.000Z

I introduce to you a new seller to esty and a personal friend of mine. She makes one of a kind pieces of jewelry which I am sure take a lot of work and creative talent, I have seen some of her pieces and they are really lovely. Husbands, if you are listening, what better present to get the Mrs than a piece of one off handmade jewelry ;)

The shop is Audrey Beads (click the name to take you there just like magic!!) As I say shes new to etsy so lets show her some support and encouragement, go have a snoop and a browse its worth it.

Here are some examples of her work:

Green turquoise heart bracelet

Tiger eye earrings ROARRRR

When life makes you glum, hope the postman cheers you up!

2007-12-03T13:46:00.001Z

Phew what a couple of weeks we have had in the Middlearthknitter household, with sad times and also lots of poorly peeps. I am hoping that its all past us now and things will get cheery again in the run up to christmas. This past week has been a killer, first I get this flu bug thing with lots of shivery shakes and aches, then the ole tonsils chime in..nice, that passes and the kids get it and just as it all calmed down I pull a crown off a tooth YAY hehee thats all sorted now and apart from being super tired life is starting toget back to how it should be at this time of year, the kids are excited and school life is manic. My baby has a part in his school play, I am ever so proud of him, he has eighteen lines to learn and boy did that scare me but I tested him and he already knows all but about two of them off by heart, hes such a star and I am so so proud. Did I tell you just how proud I am ;)

Club yarns are being posted off this week, after that the clubs will take a lil break and return I am thinking in February to allow me to decompress after the holidays and get bak into the swing of it all again.

Its almost like the postie knew I was glum though as I have recieved two lovely parcels, both etsy buys and both rather special!

First up is a very very special stitch marker bought from the lovely Aija of Sock Pron and zero marker fame! This is so pretty and unusual, its a skeleton leaf dipped in silver, it is very striking and I am amazed at how sturdy this pretty little thing is. I will use it as a marker for now but I also think that I will look for a fastening to make it into a pin or shawl pin, suggestions and ideas for this most welcome.

next up is something very new to me, I have seen many people buying or spinning handspun sock yarn. I have always been curious to know how it differs from commercial yarns and while browsing etsy I stumbled upon this lil gem. Its 350yrds of handspun superwash sock yarn in a very pretty colour from knitting pretty who is a really lovely seller, very willing to answer my rookie questions so thank you for that! More pictures will be sure to follow once I cake this up and cast on, which I am pretty sure will be tonight!

Shop updates with christmas themes soon

2007-11-01T17:36:00.001Z

I am updating as always, today, more st markers and tomorrow and for the next few weeks I will be updating with some christmas colours yarns, and christmas themed stitch markers!!

Here are the markers that have been added today

Bird on a yarn ;)

Flutterby butterfly!!

Piggle wiggles

Some of you have already noticed the new look here and in the shop, and soon you will be seeing the new look cards too, I would love to hear what you think. :)

Shoalwater FO pictures long overdue

2007-10-30T13:34:00.000Z

Shoalwater has been complete and blocked for over a week, and has been worn almost everyday since. I love this, I think its my favourite big knit so far. This is down to the yarn used in a big way I think. The colours really do suit it and the yarn drapes nicely but its not too delicate either meaning I am not too scared to wear it often.

You can see the colours nicely in this first picture i think.

I wear it like this mostly when i am out, according to a young friend (thanks Heather) this is how the cool kids work a shawl, and as I was out shopping with her i had to make sure as not to be too uncool and old! I hope I managed to pull it off ;)

and here it is in all its watery glory! It blocked out to be a rather huge piece, it was really quite small and scrunched up. The other nice thing about this yarn is that it seems to hang on to the scent of whatever you wash it in, which is rather lovely and comforting when you are wearing it around your neck.

A special thank you and a round of applause to the budding pap too who is my four year old son Conor! Which is why I was crouching down, when I stood up most of the pictures looked black as he had to tilt the camera upwards to get me in. Didnt he do well.

Introducing samples

2007-10-13T12:30:00.000Z

I have a fair few smaller amounts of colourways at home and thought I would add them to the shop none of them are under 20g, which should be enough to get a pair of baby socks out of or a ipod cover or something and also gives people the chance to see what a colour is like.

Here are a few that are being added now:

Fun additions to the shop

2007-10-12T12:53:00.000Z

There are some new additions going into the shop in the next hour, they will be on trial this month to see how they go and if they sell then I will make more! To match some of the markers I make, and also some that I just happen to like ;).

They are......

EARRINGS!!!!! I couldnt resist this little idea, they are such fun and just a bit of a bargain!! As you can see some match some of the stitch marker sets.

Shoalwater success

2007-10-10T12:55:00.000Z

This pattern was one of my first pattern buys, I loved it, I live in my jeans and this just looked perfect for wearing with them, I loved the colours and the stitch pattern. The whole thing had me so excited.

Now I have lost count of the amount of attempts I have made on this, all ending in tears and never getting past about row 60 I think. Maybe there was a reason for this, one I think I have found!

That reason must be that I was meant to wait to make it in woolmeise, colour Dani in dark, this is the 100% superwash merino, which comes in 150g skeins and with a fantastic yardage of 574yrds! Put that together with the lovely yarn base and the fabulous colourways and you have a dreamy yarn to knit with.

Here's a closer look at the pattern and the colour of course. I remember using browns and blues together a lot at art school and will never forget a tutor telling how very retro and brave that was, I always thought that was such an odd statement, even more so from a tutor whose field was textiles and colour theory but hey ho, I think they are the perfect combination!

This whole project fits in my piddleee bag, that and the yarn and the chocca notions pouch, I love that I can keep it all in one place as I am terrible for losing bits of projects!

and I love these markers that came with my pouch, they have my initials heehee!!!

LIL sale on

2007-09-27T18:39:00.000Z

I have marked (no pun intended honest) some of the semi precious stone stitch markers down to just a tiny bit over half price. They are very pretty indeed and would make a lovely gift for knitter friends or rellies, and now at a total bargain price too!

New yummy yarns

2007-09-24T16:55:00.000Z

I have just recieved a package of new yarns!! I am very excited, they look great and I cant wait to get dyeing!

They are merino tencel 4ply, and alpaca/merino 4ply, both look stunning, if anyody wants any dyed to order please let me know now and I can do those first. :)

Club yarns ahoy!

2007-09-22T13:32:00.000Z

PPHHEWWW all the yarns are dyed and being packaged up, its just the UK ones, the overseas ones have gone out already as some of them have to travel halfway round the world which is so exciting for me!!

I hope you like this yarn, its a new technique that a lovely friend let me in on that I have used and gives a new affect. Each skien comes out very individual and unique, the same colours are used in the same order but how they dye is all down to the wizardy magic ;) As promised theres a lord of the rings theme, hopefully you will see what I am meaning but take heart non lords lovers its still going to appeal if you arent a fan I hope! The theme will continue through this run of the club.

I have also been busy in the shop, with lots o the favourites and a new batch of semi-solid and solid colours and I will be working on some brand new autumn inspired colours of the next while too so keep checking back.

Can I just say a huge thanks alsoto people who have been supporting the shop, some of you quite regularily, I started out on this very nervously, not even sure if it would be a hit, so to know so many of you are liking the yarns I am very pleased indeed!

VERY CHERRY

PLUMBY

PUMPKIN SOUP

Daily chum!

2007-09-14T18:13:00.000Z

Wow! The shop has bee featured over at lime and violets daily chum head over and have a snoop, also as it says there, anybody who buys from visiting there and convos me with the code gets 10% off!!!

I am very excited by this, having something like this happen makes the shop feel more real, not that it isnt but there are times i think I cant believe I am doing it but this really means I am hehee

thank you very much to the LnV team xxxxx

Worsted weight now in stock

2007-09-05T19:21:00.000Z

Granted only a little of it for now as a tester to see if people will like it. I will be offering it in 100g skiens, priced at £10 I am dyeing up some tonight, some Captain jack, bubblegum and offshore, I will be dyeing enough of each to make clapotis and I think this yarn would be perfect for it, so much so I think I will be keeping some for myself to make one in it ;) You would need 4 skiens to make it which makes this yarn £30 cheaper than the yarn used in the pattern but in my humble opinion, its as soft a yarn with the added bonus of perhaps being a little more robust.

If anybody wants some then do shout if you want me to put you some aside

Big big updates!

2007-09-04T21:38:00.000Z

Theres going to be some bumper updates in the shop over the next few days, infact its already started!! I had an order of louet arrive and I have started dyeing up some of the popular colours, I have already added two 100g skiens in each of bubblegum, offshore, tiger feet and there will be some Captain Jack available soon too!!

I also got some worsted weight louet too, theres not a lot of it but I have about 2kg of it, and oh my GOODNESS is it lovely stuff, it would be perfect for a clapotis I think, I will be charging £9 per 100g of it so if you would like some dyed up get your custom orders to me soon :)

heres some yarn p*rn to keep you going too!

Aye Aye Captain ;)

Offshore!

socks, simply!

2007-08-30T18:00:00.000Z

I have had so much on lately that the knitting chez wizzy is rather thin on the ground, socks however are always a good project, and simple socks, all the better!

I took part in a swap with fellow etsian, Jane (her shops in my list, see jane knit) I got a skien that I thought would be very me, an well it is, lovely teals and blues, so pretty and perfect with my jeans.

these are as you can see, just plain socks, makes for boring piccies i suppose but the yarn is lovely, the colours are very pretty and they are great socks. They are not made from a set pattern, its a memorised mix of all my favourite (so far) sock bits, plain rib, simple stocking stitch pattern, and a garter gusset, I dont need a pattern and can do these at my leasure. That to me is knitter heaven! yes I like a complex project but that has its place and right now, socks are what my brain needs!

Presenting PRESENTS!

2007-08-28T12:30:00.000Z

Here are the pressies I promised to show off, I was very spoiled this year!

Tess sent yarn and goodies, most of which are in use already!

My fabby friend Bronte sent me a great hat, she already posted a piccy of it being worn by me so I wont make you look at that again ;)

My second piddlee bag came (link to her shop to your right, one to her blog too!) its just too cool for words! She sent some lovely happy birthday extras too, shes such a sweetie!

A good faerie who goes by the name of Nuff sent me a phone cover and charm with my best friend on it, I dont know how she got a picture of him!

I also got in the post a copy of More sensational knitted socks from Kai, thanks honey its great, and my copy of Favourite socks came too. Now all I need is for amazon to get a wriggle on and post the books I ordered and I will be a happy wiz.

Check out the shop this week guys, just keep checking as there are new yarns etc going in daily

shop update and birthday news

2007-08-27T12:01:00.000Z

Well I know the shops been quieter update wise, the reason being I have been waiting for new yarns to come in, I have had one arrive and two more due very soon. I have recieved an order of lace merino that has an amazing yardage and feels devinely soft and some superwash merino that did look too exciting undyed but takes the dye very nicely and blooms to become soft and smooshy and yet hardwearing, I really love it!

heres some of the yarns going in today and I will be hopefully updating all week

more of the capn ;) and a new colour called zebra crossing thats really quite striking

and lace too this is Eternal sunshine which is exactly what it says, a nice warm yellow.

Also it was my birthday on the 21st and I have been wanting to post about my lovely pressies that my friends have sent but blogger was throwing a fit and wouldnt let me post pictures, then I gave up for a day or two in annoyance. I will post in an hour or two with lots of pictures of the great stuff I was given. But I will say a huge thanks to Bronte, Fairynuff and Tess now thanks girls I love it all! Theres other stuff on its way too I have been spoiled rotten this year!

Club announcement! A slight delay

2007-08-20T16:37:00.000Z

Theres perhaps going to be a slight delay on the yarn this month, its taking its own sweet time to dry, but it will hopefully all be ready by tomorrow or wednesday, i should think I should be able to post it tomorrow afternoon. Sorry girls, this yarn took a lot longer to prepare and dye this time....can you guess why ;)

Piddleee bag set one arrived

2007-08-16T10:28:00.000Z

Wow! How swift was that, I love it, its just as I had imagined it, I think a lot of thats down to the descriptions on the scok pron blog, I got a grommet, which is going to be great when knitting in the car, no more chasing yarn and needles around the seat! The notions bag is a great size, I got my markers, scissors in there, and still room for other stuff too! I love the little extras, the badges are such a nice touch, the kids are already fighting over them heehee! the stitch markers on the bags are so nice and match the bags exactly. Now I may be a complete geek but apart from the fab fabric my favourite bit has to be the little strip of elastic to hold my needles I will b using for any project in there so they dont get lost, its a simple but very clever idea!

Now for the piccies:

The capn approves!

More cheese grommit? or a thread of yarn is perhaps more your taste!

How clever can one piece of elastic be....oh and no way are the kids having my sheepy badge ITS MINE!

A full frontal OH LALAL! isnt the pattern the bees knees, thats the notion bag at the bottom there.....ahh who am I kidding, notion coming up ;)

prepare for a few of these posts, probs very boring for you guys but I havent had a knitting bag before and I am a tad excited.....but that could have been a bit obvious.

Fun new additions to the shop

2007-08-15T13:04:00.000Z

I have started to offer stitch markers in the shop and this morning I got a lovely package of fun and funky new beads. Rubber spikes and dice! There are some listed already and I will add more and more, here are a few images, also there are only black and white dice in the shop just now and I put up five but think I will offer six fr the same price (will edit the listing asap) but if you would like any of the other colours let me know.

Sunny solids

2007-08-14T12:32:00.000Z

I am adding to the shop today and over the next few days, todays listings will be below, as you will see they are mainly solids. I havent dyed any solids in a while and I have enjoyed it, I am down to my last few nekkid skiens until my next order is ready. There will be more solids over the next few days in nice brights. With all the bad weather I feel these are just what the doctor ordered to cheer us up and start to gear up for autumn too!

This is buttercup, nice and sunny.

This is CHOCCY ORANGE.

Finally, this is ABYSS, other half thinks thats what it looks like, its always good to humour him now and then ;)

Etsy MONDAY!

2007-08-13T20:49:00.000Z

With the blessing of a certain miss Sock Pron, I hereby by declare mondays to be my etsy day, I will endevour to share my best pics with you each week....many being buys *ahem*

This week, lets talk bags.

firstly, this is my birthday pressy to me! Its a bag set from the seller PIDDLEDEE who is a total sweety! I have really enjoyed talking to her and sorting my order(s) shhh ;)

I ordered it complete with grommet and a dpn wallet too, I cannot wait for it to arrive, when it does I promise many many piccies. I pinched this from the shop but saved it to my puter, Jen if you would rather I didnt let me know and I will remove it x

oooh I may have bought this one too which should be here any day!

Next up, I also bought some from MOMMAMONKEY, these bags look fab, they are on their way and I hope to show you lots of piccies and have you all bored to tears!

I got ones of these, plus a custom tote to match it

and one of these too

anybody spot the theme :P

these sellers both have a wide range of prints to suit all tastes I dont think you would be dissapointed to own one

my socks arrived!!!

2007-08-13T09:06:00.000Z

They are lovely!!!! They are made in cygnet yarn, one I havent tried yet, and a lovely plummy colour. They have a pretty cable up the back, please excuse the bad photography for that, but its not easy taking a picture of the back of your own foot unless your a yoga expert perhaps. The toes had me very interested too, I tend to be on the boring side and use the same technique over and over for toes. These socks have shaping on one side so my socks actually have a left and right!!

They are from the lovely sarah at yoshimiknits.blogspot.com. She was a complete sweetheart throughthe whole swap, stayed in touch and asked lots and lots of questions too. Thanks sarah and please stay in touch I have loved chatting with you xxx

I will have more news later on today including an esty monday and updates to the shop.

LIL sale on

2007-08-06T19:48:00.000Z

I am reducing the lace thats been sitting in the shop for ags all unloved and unwanted and yet so so pretty :(

please consider giving one of this poor yarns a home ;)

WOW! going fast

2007-08-04T09:28:00.000Z

wow! Down to ten places now!!! A lot of you are new members too which is very exciting, best get in there fast though current members as they are going fast ;)

The Captain jack went fast too so take heart, I dyed three more for you all, its a great colour, I think really quite different i am sure you will like it.

Dont forget about the lace club either guys, still no takers yet...poor unloved lace, I am thinking I will stick with semi solids for that.

Two new colours!! and club talk

2007-08-03T08:02:00.000Z

I am so excited by these colours, as a few of you will be all too aware I am a tad priate mad *ahem* an after yet another marathon POC watch I decided a couple of colours in the theme of my favourite characters would be a fun idea!! So here are Captain Jack and Davy Jones!

Captain Jack: I have tried to put in a few colours that would make you think of him, black for his eyeliner, brown for his hat and coat, purple for the ring he wears and a gold tooth, not forgeting the all important red for his bandana!

Marine greens mixed with a bit of brown and yellow and you have the colours to make you think of the tentacled face of Davy Jones!

Now club thoughts, I know we still have one yarn left in the current run, I will be dyeing it over the next few days, can you believe how fast its gone by, I cant.

Just a reminder the openings for next round are open, there are 13 places left and it will be open until the end of this month. I have been thinking about this next run and as well as some new yarn, I am thinking that I will go with a theme for the yarns, this time I think I will go for a Lord of the rings theme, more on that when i am completely decided, but rest assured the colours will appeal to everybody, not just Lord of the rings fans, I promise, but they will all have names related to this subject.

socks...... shoes......what more could a girl want

2007-07-28T13:04:00.000Z

Today is a very sleepy saturday, the bog man of the house is off running at Airth highland games, and I am home with the tiddlers, they have been out enjoying the first proper bit of sunshine we have had in weeks, I have washing out and cut the grass (also called jungle). It was a scary experience with various types of wildlife trying to commit the unthinkable with the help of the lawnmower. There are frogs EVERYWHERE which I find amazing as we are miles and miles from the nearest pond. Maybe they are living in our water supply which is a private spring....MMMM yummy frog water.

Anyway, as my paloozza socks are complete that leaves my sock needles empty GASP which is not on, so I have done what any self respecting sock nutter would and cast on a new pair. The yarn is devine, its from a friend and fellow yarn dyer who lives in Canada, her yarns are so pretty, she can be found on etsy HERE.

We swapped a few months back and i sent her some yarn too, swapping like that is so much fun it really is, well the yarn was sent surface so took a little while to arrive which was no big deal at all and added to the excitement anyway! It arrived yesterday so I cast on last night. Its 100% merino and very lovely, like lornas laces, the colours are so very me, greens, blues and deep plummy browns. So pretty!! Take a look......

I dont expect these to be on the needles long at all!

I also treated myself to some new shoes yesterday, they were a bargain and just too fabby to pass up! Captain Jack eat your heart out!!

I am also waiting for some very special buys from Monkey Toes, again another etsy seller, she makes bags and I may *ahem* have ordered THREE! They look fantastic and I cant wait for them to arrive. Royal mail is patchy at the moment to say the least which makes waiting so much worse, I have only had post twice this week when i know there are things on the way. I do feel sorry for the postmen and understand their reasons for the strikes, I just wish they were more exact about when they are not delivering, it take the stress off a little ;)

Pal sock complete!

2007-07-26T11:46:00.000Z

Yay, I actually finished these yesterday but all the men in my household have been poorly, the littlies and the big un so I have been mopping brows and passing round the basin...nice!

I am very pleased with these socks now, I just need to block the second sock. Now I know a lot of people think...block socks, you have a bolt missing somewhere Mrs! But really, what a difference it makes, see picture below. Cant you see just how much it opens up the pattern? If they were for me, granted I might not bother but these are a gift and I think if giving a gift make sure it looks its absolute best!

I still want to organise a few goodies and package these up nicely but I am getting very very excited about posting these off now!

Pal I hope you love your socks when they arrive. xx

Yarn news, shop update

2007-07-25T13:13:00.000Z

Some more yans have gone in, some nice brights to cheer up the gloomy days we are all having and some DK which is so so soft and squishy its really lovely!!

ARWENS CLOAK: you know the lovely outfit she wears thats almost translucent? As soon as I saw this colourway I thought of that very outfit, so pretty.

PINKY AND PERKY: This is such a fun shaded colour of hot pink, theres a little bit of violet on there that wasnt meant, so I have reduced this one, its a very subtle mark and wont affect the yarn too much at all.

RASPBERRY RIPPLE CHOC: nuff said really ;)

MAGNIFICENT OZ: come on sing up folks!! "we are off to see the wizard............."

IMPERIAL ROBES: This is the DK, so so soft and will be lovely knit up, it would be lovely used for kids knits...or adults for that, theres four of the same dyelot and 225yrds per 100g

This yarn has been kettle dyed so they are all the same dyelot BUT each skein is unique in its mottled affect of dark and light, when working with it I would recomend knitting with two skeins knit alternatly every few rows.

Socks almost complete!

2007-07-24T07:23:00.000Z

I have nearly finished my pals socks and i am so pleased with them! Yes I know its ANOTHER change of pattern, this time its my own pattern, a very scottish stitch pattern too ;) quite often used in shetland lace. The yarn is handyed by me, its 100% merino and lovely and cool feeling.

I am getting quite excited now, its so close to the end and soon these will need to be packaged up and posted off, I cant wait! I am going to put in some extras for my pal too I think but havent decided what as yet.

Heres a picture of the lace in more detail too, I think its a very pretty pattern. I hope my pal likes these socks.

Yarns revisited

2007-07-21T10:28:00.001Z

I have listed more of bubblegum and Mash which proved popular :) they are up in the shop now, two of each. Heres some piccies to remind you ;)

Clubs open for sign ups!!!

2007-07-20T11:25:00.000Z

As the first run has gone so well I am re-opening the clubs again for sign ups!

The club will run for three months again with one skien sent each month, starting with the first being sent on sept 21st and then next on Oct 21st and last Nov 21st. It will be the same as this run BUT with some new yarns that I am certain you are going to love.

Sign ups will be open as of....welll as soon as I can put it live in the shop and will remain open until august 31st or when all places are filled.

Club yarn no2!

2007-07-17T11:52:00.000Z

Ohh are you all ready, I think your going to love this yarn! I am really pleased with the colour of it. I am posting out the international ones today or tomorrow and then it will soon be time to post the rest!

Pattern flattery and palooza change of plan!

2007-07-12T10:14:00.001Z

The clever Diane has created a lovely sock pattern called Latte socks seen here Latte Socks

they are so pretty and she has used my yarn which I am so flattered by!!

looking at the piccy has made a descision for me too, I havent been enjoying my choice for my palooza socks so I am going to frog them and make these instead, they are so pretty! I have a skien of the choccy colour too so I will start again tonight.

Bumper goodies!!

2007-07-12T09:28:00.000Z

As promised here are the goodies that I will be adding today....starting NOW!

Sherbet

Aquatic

Mash (confused.....alll will be explained in the shop description ;) )

Foamy Seas...DK version which is so squishy soft and I have dyed enough for a shawl, adult tank top or similar or kids garment!

Beach brolly

Punkt!! I love this variation on the goth one, with a cool purple swapped for the pink

Warm weather means......

2007-07-11T18:19:00.000Z

HUGE amounts of yarn dyed! I have dyed all the club yarns and I think you girls will adore it, I think is stunning! Along with that i have dyed a huge batch for the shop, some will go in tonight and then there will be a big update tomorrow with the rest.

heres are tonights batch:

Coffee creme

Bitter Choc

Ring Wraith

Miss Goth (this is a piccy of Not just goth until I can get a piccy of the Miss in daylight, its same colours but wider blocks of colour)

more goodies

2007-07-05T09:55:00.000Z

I have the dye mojo so I will be adding more today here are a few more, seeing as NOT JUST GOTH is so popular, one of those is going in, plus a variation on it I am calling Ms GOTH and also a colour called Sweetness....and it is!!!

Shop update and new spiffy labels

2007-07-04T12:10:00.000Z

I havent put anything new up for a little while so I thought I would choose the day my net connection is rubbish and do it :P hahaha

I am adding them now so keep an eye out over the next hour for the colours I will list in piccy form here in a bit.

I also wanted to show you my new labels and also spiffy little tags that will be put in with your order from now on, they are very pretty and on the back they will have all the details about your yarn that you need and also details of the shop too!

Right now for the good bit PHOTOS

cocoa dream sport weight merino

Hobbiton Garden

So Jaded

Not Just Goths

Lavender Fields

New tags I love them!!!

Animal pics and more woolly tales

2007-07-03T10:16:00.000Z

As promised here are the other woolfest piccies. I saw alpaca, llama, sheepies and cute angora bunnies....man are they fluffy!!

looks its a slipper with ears!! I would hate to have to try and keep this bunny clean and knot free.

Its a llama, I think they are prettier than the alpaca, lovely markings.

Now, for the alpaca, cute with a huge does of cheeky misschief in their faces, you just know they are up to something!

I wanted to mention some of the other stalls too, I had a good browse of the Natura dye studio, their yarns are so lovely but too pale for me, maybe if I have some gift knitting to do I will give in and get some.

I also visited the Yarn Yard, they were mobbed, so many people there all day on saturday so nice to see a man in a kilt too, nice to see he was keeping the side up and a kilt never does the curiousity factor any harm ;)

I also had a snoop at Brightdyes, again she was so so busy it was hard to get in for a proper squeeze!!

Next to her was Celdry Yarner, she had some ace original stuff, the felted soaps were such a cool idea.

all in all, I had a fabby day, I will deffo be back, the day left me feeling so pleased to see so many aspects of crafts there, no two stalls were the same and there was a vast diversity of products, a great example of just how much choice there is out there!

Woolfest visit

2007-07-01T09:02:00.001Z

Yesterday was an exciting day for two reasons

1. A whole day not being mummy and going out as a growed up

2. I WENT TO WOOLFEST!!!!

I dont know what I expected but it was an amazing day it was larger I think than I thought it would be, and there were so many people including a very decent amount of men which always makes me feel pleased to see so many men at an event so stereotyped as a female obsession, the majority of spinners I saw on the day were men.

I aslo got to meet Jenn from fyberspates, shes so nice and boy was she busy but she still made time to stop for a we chat which was lovely. Her yarns are amazing, I was very good though and bought a bit of her squishy DK in a pretty purple shade it YUM!

I also got to meet Mr Bluefaced, Andy, again what a great person to stop and chat to, he was very friendly and was more than happy to chat about the yarns he has and the processes they need to go through which are amazing and take a long time, understandably when you here just what needs to be done to turn that sheepies coat into something knittable ;)

Also amongst the knitty stalls there were some amazing sites, these dress were felted but so so delicate and there were signs saying dont touch as we may get damaged...TORTURE!! They just look so tactile but I took a piccy to make myself feel better...they are truelly stunning.

and lastly for today there were knitted knick knocks!!! Too funny and cute to leave out, arent they fab!

I will post some animal piccies tomorrow!

10kilos of yarn oh MY!

2007-06-30T21:37:00.001Z

My first big batch of undyed yarn arrived, its YUMMY so soft and squishable, so if anybody out there wants anything custom dyed nows a very good time to ask for it :) I have loadsa 4ply and about 2kilo of dk

Sock club yarn

2007-06-29T14:38:00.000Z

Well I think you all have your yarn now, having heard from the US lady who joined to say hers has arrived so I can post a piccy or two up knowing I am not spoiling anything!

This first lot is the variagated and to say i was nervous would be the biggest understatement EVER.... I am not much of a greens person but to only dye colours I myself love would be seriously selfish and very short-sighted dont you think? So this meant sending it out I worried quite a bit about whether you would like it.

I want to thank the people who have taken the time to let me know what they think of it and I feel very pleased knowing you like the yarn.

My undyed yarn order arrived today, its my very first big order and I was so excited to see it arrive, so I will be deciding between striped or solid for your next batch and dyeing it up very very soon so I am ready ahead of time and can relax!

till next month, enjoy your yarn clubbers xxxx

Blocked and bootiful

2007-06-28T19:34:00.000Z

I really had forotten just how much blocking helps the drape of a shawl, and boy did it grow too, i actually struggled for space to block this out!

Theres always one commoner who wants to be in there getting their picture taken with her majesty isnt there!

No photo shoot would be complete without a close up, the shells look amazing now thats its blocked, they open up so nicely.

This whole project was such a joy, the yarn, the pattern, everything LOVE IT!

Queen of the waves FO

2007-06-27T17:06:00.000Z

Now some of you may need to take a wee seat as this could come as quite a shock....Its a knitting FO and a big one at that!!! I got the pattern a few weeks ago I was shown it on the angels forum and totally fell in love with it, its a stunning shawl and so different to the usual shawls you see.

I recieved the yarn from my secret santa pal and instantly cast on, after that follows FOUR restarts, now when your casting on almost 400sts thats not funny but I was determined to make it. The pattern had a few minor errors but Ilga is a complete sweetheart and got back to any quearies within hours, th women is a complete darling!!

I learned a few new techniques along the way too, firstly the shawl is knit from the base up, some people find this quite mentally hard as your starting with a huge number of sts, I didnt really mind that at all. Also the stitch patterns were all new too and the cast off was the three needle bind off, again new but a lovely easy cast off, personally I prefered the whole process to any shawls I have knit before, I hate the fiddly start to a top down shawl i really really hate it, thats never a good start ;)

anyhoo enough witter, here are a few piccies, this is preblocking, I will get some modeled ones once its dry tomorrow

10% off summer celebration

2007-06-23T10:07:00.001Z

As a wee salute to the supposed start to summer I am offering 10% off today on all my yarns, this is off yarn not postage ;) but if you want a yarn, buy but dont pay and I will send you a new invoice :)

sale will end 9am GMT tomorrow

All club yarns posted

2007-06-21T14:31:00.001Z

Just back from the post office, all parcels are now on their way

stand by your posties ladies ;)

Clubbers stand by!!!

2007-06-19T16:31:00.000Z

Well sock clubbers, yarns dyed, packed up and ready to post, only a few days now!!! This is te scariest and most exciting thing I have ever done EVER!!!

The international parcels went off today to ensure you get them around the same time.

I have added some more to the shop too, both merino yarns, one of which is luxury

COSMOS send your feet to the stars!!

FRUIT SMOOTHIE yummy scrummy

New colours added

2007-06-15T18:28:00.000Z

There are some new colours up in the shop, I will show you a few pictures in a bit. I have also upgraded all my pictures in the shop, I think they look so much better now. Big thanks goes to my mum who let me use her camera to get better pictures of them all!!!

I hope in the next few days to get some of the merino dyed up to, the weather is not playing nice which is making drying very hard indeed so please send sunny vibes here if you can spare any at all!!!

Also for you club members, the first batch is dyed up and almost ready to go, I need to parcel up etc I am so so nervous and excited about this, nervous as I so want this to work out and for you all to be excited about the yarn.

Ok here are the pictures

this is flowing river and I still dont know if i want to sell it I really love it ;)

I am sure you recognise this beauty!!! Its Foamy seas, another one i love....it is blue afterall

this is floral, I was very pleased with the red in this one and i think its a nice summery addition

this is circus tent, I love this, so bright and fun, i think it will make great socks or really fab baby booties hats etc!!

My coffee swap parcel

2007-06-15T10:32:00.000Z

Wow I have been so so spoiled, Kathy thank you so so so much!! I recieved a very heavy feeling box today which I tore open ;)
inside was a fantastic box of delights, The coffee is called Highland grogg which I think is just an amazing name I love it....will I ever want to drink it or just keep it forever ;) four biscotti which I am sure wont last long, a scented soy candle which smells amazing I need to see if I can buy these over here, a pretty flower and a GORGEOUS sock yarn the colours are fantastic, also a journal which I think I will use to keep note of my yarn colour recipes!! Also two skiens of the prettiest handspun (by my swap partner) yarn in a denimy mix, again so so me
Kathy thank you so so much xxxx

Sock P*rn and new yummy yarn

2007-06-13T14:47:00.001Z

OOOH what a good post day its been. I swapped with a lovely man he sent me some german sock yarn that is just to DIE for, its got a great feel and the colours blew me away! I said surprise me and well it was the nicest surprise I have ever had, its a lovely mix or rusts and teals just BEAUTIFUL stuff.

I wish I could take better pictures, I need a new camera I think to do pieces of yarn art such as this justice!!!!

Thanks very much V xx

I also recieved the first batch of two wholesale orders which is just so exciting for me, this stuff is luxery 100% merino from america, its superwash too, what more could you ask for ;) I have a few kilos of fingering and one kilo of light sportweight. Tonight I will be dyeing it up but I though you might like a piccy of it all nekkid first ;)

Both pictures are of the light sport weight, I am really impressed with it, I think one at least needs to stay with me for research purposes ;)

Its devine stuff I know you will love it, it feels so good :)

I love this idea

2007-06-09T19:24:00.000Z

KERRIE over at hipknits has started a club, its a project club, and I have joined I think she has done it on purpose, I just could not resist!! I love the idea of a project coming through every few months for me to complete and knit along with others, its also a little early birthday pressy to myself too. This year has been so manic, I love the thought of little pieces of pleasure coming through the post to make me happy every now and then dont you?

Oh I have been dyeing again, no piccies yet as I am going over to my mums to pinch her extra swanky camera to try and get some better pictures (any excuse to play with yarn and cameras) I should be able to put them up and also add them to the shop tomorrow night

Last Day to sign up!!!

2007-06-06T11:05:00.000Z

Well peeps, if you are interested in signing up to either of the clubs, I am closing sign ups today at midnight GMT time tonight, so get in there while its open ;)

I will I am sure do this again after this club is complete :)

More new colours

2007-06-01T18:45:00.000Z

Heres some more lovelies that are just up in the shop

This is TANK GIRL

This is ELVEN CLOAK

This is IRON BREW

Palooza yarn and pattern choosen.

2007-05-30T12:35:00.000Z

At last, I have settled on a pattern and yarn I am happy...no make that rather excited about to be honest!!

I have chosen Roza's Socks by grumperina and in the spring 07 issue of Interweaveknits. Its a lovely looking pattern, I havent knit it yet but I am better to choose one I havent already tackled or I could get bored and stop which for a swap would be nothing short of a disaster!

The yarn is some of my own handyed yarn from my shop, I did consider a lot of other yarns but when I wound this skien it just scream out for me to knit it up and I am very pleased I will be using it for my pals socks. It makes them feel all the more personal I think and the colour will really suit the pattern as its not quite solid.

A giveaway and another club

2007-05-28T19:01:00.000Z

I am feeling chipper today, knitting is going well, and I have some yummy yarns on order that I think you are going to LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

I really want to get the club up to at least ten people, nearer twenty if I can help it, sooo as a little incentive I will do a draw and give one lucky club member a skien of free yarn, custom dyed. I will do this once we reach that magic no10 and if we get to 20 I will giveaway two skiens to two people!! So come on guys, spread the word, tell your friends. :)

Also I am going to run a lace club, 5 places for now to see how it goes with the promise of more next time, again it will run for 3mnths at a price of £45, which will include your postage again meaning free postage ANYWHERE in the world!! You will recieve 100g with 1200mtrs of BFL yummy yummy laceweight, in either solid or variagated colours. I will run this along side the sock club so sign ups will go up now.

Places going fast

2007-05-26T21:06:00.000Z

EEEKKK I am so thrilled people are joining, five places gone with a potential two more waiting till they can join, get in there fols while the getting is good. I am already thinking up colours and if you sign up I have some cool goodies lined up to go with your yarn, you wont be dissapointed I promise!!!

On other news, I recieved an ace SS parcel through the AY swap...just LOOK

I have started the queen of the waves shawl with it YUMMY

also yes, yes I know, I am about three squillion years behind but BEHOLD THE PRRETTYYY JAYWALKER. This opal dr fish was so made for jaywalkers dont you agree? It just works...nuff said!

SOCK CLUB OPENING!!!!!

2007-05-22T10:50:00.000Z

Right folks I have decided to bite the bullet and give this a go.

Here are the details:

I will open up payments today in my etsy shop, once you have paid I will take note of address and keep them saved. I will leave the sign ups open for two weeks and there will be 20spaces so to ensure a place i would sign up asap!!

The club will run for 3 months you will recieve 100g skien each of these months starting on the 21st of june and being sent on the 21st each of the three months.

You will recieve a solid, a mix and a stripe, one of these for each of the months, not telling which first as thats half the fun ;) and there will be a wee pressy in each package too!!

Price will be £32 which will include your postage so really your not paying anything towards postage ;)

UPDATE: YOU CAN NOW SIGN UP OVER AT ETSY FOLKS!!!

whos in for a sock club?

2007-05-21T20:47:00.000Z

I am considering running a sock club. To make it manageable for myself I will have ten places up for grabs and it will run for three months with the chance of running it again if it goes well. I am also considering a possible mix of yarns, sock yarn (wool nylon mix), BFL superwash and merino.

If I get ten people interested I will look at getting ready for it and let you know dates etc once I know you want to join.

The colours will be firsts, I am thinking on self stripe, one mix and one solid.

The price will be a one off payment of £32 nd that includes your postage and a possible extra in with your package ;)

HUGE update to shop

2007-05-16T10:21:00.000Z

PHEW!! that took me ages, I spent all day yesterday doing my hubble bubble routine and I have added lots to the shop, some are colours I have sold before and know you love, others are new. Heres some of the new ones.

I love the foamy seas one, I think it would make a very pretty shawl, perfect for the likes of queen of the waves I think, or shoalwater. Dont you agree?

ok you yarn hungry lot

2007-05-14T13:32:00.000Z

here they are, hope you like them. I am hopefully getting some new yarns soon too to get you VERY excited, thats if I can bare to part with any of them MAHAHAHHAHAAA

Big shop update tomorrow

2007-05-11T21:13:00.000Z

I have spent almost all day dyeing yarn, tomorrow I will add it to the shop and of course piccies here too ;)

Theres some you will recognise and some new beauties, I am having so much fun with this to be honest, watching the colours change from something that scares me a little at first to a pretty skien I would happily keep for myself really rocks my world!

Now I know knitting wise things have seemed quiet, but honestly, they arent...truelly. See the thing is...well I am now designing. Heres a peep at one of the pretties I have completed, patterns will be available soon and I will let you know where and how nearer the time.

SOCKS!!!

New Stripes Yarn!!

2007-05-07T17:51:00.000Z

Anybody for toast and marmalade, this yarn has turned out good enough to eat YUMMY!!!! Its self stripe like the one Bronte bought, but this is just the two colours so should be thicker blocks of colour. Its so sunny and cheerfull its really brightened up my day!

get ready to beach party

2007-05-04T17:12:00.000Z

whhhhheeee two more yarns!! Called beach ball and socks on the beach I love them! Can I keep them....hubby says no :( But you can have it, and maybe just send me the odd postcard from them ;)

New Yarns x2

2007-05-03T16:27:00.000Z

What!!!! Two blog posts in one day....is the wizzy sick....nope but I am on a roll! So here are two more yarns just about to go up in the shop, do you likey these babies, I do.

New yarns

2007-05-03T07:15:00.000Z

I have had my staff and wand in the dye pot again, and have come up with three colours that I hope you will like, the Teal, purple and black one is SELF STRIPING I am very excited about that!!! The others are just a mix, but I think they are very pretty and a bit fresher for summer.

They will be in the shop a little later in the week.

Knitters coffee swap questions

2007-04-25T15:27:00.000Z

I am very excited to be taking part in this swap, it looks like it is going to be great fun and I am already window shopping for my parcel to send! Here are the answers to the questionaire, I hope my swapper finds them helpful. :)

Knitters' Coffee Swap questionnaire
1. Whole bean or ground? Ground, I would LOVE bean but I just dont own the hardware ;)

2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Oh fully loaded, thats the whole point of coffee for me, I need that BUZZ!

3. Regular or flavored? Either, so long as its strong and sweet I am happy.

4. How do you drink your coffee? Ahh it depends on the coffee! If its instant then I have it with milk, however a good ground coffe deserves to be drank with sugar and it has to be strong, YUMMY, I am also very partial to a frap when the weather is good.

5. Favorite coffee ever? When out I love a good frothy choclate sprinkled strong cappachino, however so long as its a nice quality coffee I dont really mind!

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I am slightly fussy, theres nothing worse than a coffee out of a machine full of UHT milk *shudders*

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Recently I have discovered a love of biscotti, one with almonds or perhaps choccy.

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? Not that I can think of (infact I feel like I have wittered just a tad LOL)

9. Yarn/fiber you love? I am all about the naturals, I love a soft wool yarn, alpaca, silk, sea wool is a new love too. A lot of my knitting is in ply yarn as I love my accesories.

10. Yarn/fiber you hate? Novelty yarn, such an utter waste of money and so far away from how I like to knit, I like to see my pattern ;) I dont like mohair either

What's on your needles? Socks (always always socks, its an illness), the beginings of a shawl and a jumper.

12. Favorite colors? I am a denim girl, so I love my blues, vintage blues are a huge favourite, I like browns too so long as they are cocoa/choccy shades, and lets not forget TEAL I love that colour with a passion.

13. Allergies? None.

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? Nothing I can think of except I am very excited about this and cant wait to go shopping!

The knitting superpowers at work.

2007-04-15T21:23:00.000Z

Tonight, in fact the last few nights for that matter, I have been in a knitting haze, I have a pair of socks a little over half finished OTN and I have thermal on the go too. HOWEVER, I have felt little yearning to knit either and have been pulling out random patterns and skeins out to knit instead, I started a hat for my little brother...then swiftly frogged it, started a sock that I am testing for a very good friend....again frogged after a few mistakes.

So tonight, again, much flicking through and getting out of yarn and needles, all ending in a frustrated annoyance. I then come on here, read blogs, chat on the forum, still with a nagging want to knit. At this point out comes Thermal and I begin to knit...AHHHHHH all of a sudden, complete peace and total satisfaction!

I don't know about you guys but this tells me that the great knitting superpower doesn't think i should be casting on until at the very least one of these current projects is complete, and now I have to say I completely agree!!!

Heres a sneak peak at thermal, I am however further on now but until I reach a more interesting point I think one picture is enough.

Two new yarns

2007-04-05T08:28:00.000Z

I have two new colours to go in the shop over the next few days and I think they are good enough to eat, so summery and just YUM!! The first is a lovely shade of red, quite unusual but would make such a gorgeous summer shawl, the blue is my first variagated lace, and its blue starting dark and getting progessivly lighter would would I think be perfect for shoalwater shawl.

Heres a couple of pictures to wet your appetite

eunny has shamed me into it!!!

2007-03-25T20:54:00.000Z

In the nicest possible way of course. As eunny says on her blog, I tagged her around christmas time for the six weird things that was doing the rounds. Now yes I did tag people but I had TERRIBLE grumpy blogger probs and I attempted to post mine at least five times and gave in as it was just too soul destroying to keep trying.....then laziness set in and I forgot about it. However eunny has posted and named me soooo I best get into the spirit of it and write up six weird things about me!!!

1. John says I stick my tongue out when he offers me a taste of his food...as in I open my mouth to take the food but I have my tongue sticking out a little...I thought everybody did that!!

2. I am a lefty...but I only write left handed, I can play tennis with both hands (much to the annoyance of my grammar school pe teacher who hated me swapping hands HEEHEE).

3. When I wash the dishes I have to put the clean cutlery into there own sections..spoons, forks and knives all have there own.

4. I cant have my feet sticking out of the covers at night...I am a grown women and yet it makes me feel vulnerable to the "under the bed monster" seriously I dont think I am ever going to grow out of that!!!

5. I live in a very traditional scottish area, with a very thick accent, my dad was born and bred here and yet I dont hae the accent!! People always assume I come from the very north of scotland and I dont.

6. To some, the fact I am 26 and knit is something weird...to me its not but to most it really is ;)

I actually feel so much better for writing this!

Green Gables FO

2007-03-20T10:55:00.000Z

As promised, here is Green gables all complete and ready to send off to its new home, turns out I am a very odd shape, 38" bust but 32" ribs *rolls eyes* so a medium is far too big for me in los of places. Kai has sent me new yarn to do m own and I think I will need to do a small and edit it to fit me better!

Shop Update and knitty news

2007-03-17T10:05:00.000Z

Here are some new items that are now in the shop and available to buy, I am so proud of them!!

I love the two sock yarns, the blue one reminds me of a CTH yarn that I think is no more.

Just incase you think though that my knitting mojo has been stolen and locked away i am still knitting and should have an FO to show you later on today.

2007-03-15T15:26:00.000Z

Here are two colours hot off the hob! They are both custom dyes, however the red isnt what i had planned really so MAY go in the shop as the person was looking for a maroon and this is very RED *rolls eyes*

New pretties in waiting

2007-03-13T11:03:00.000Z

Its an exciting day! My lace arrived, and so did my niddy noddy, I am all set now to start dyeing up some orders and also for in the shop....so exciting! I am just waiting for some more colours then I am completely set!

CALL for LACEWEIGHT

2007-03-04T11:06:00.000Z

could anybody looking to buy some dyed laceweight let me know, as this will be my first order I need to show the nervous man of the house that I have orders before I put an order in for the undyed laceweight *rolls eyes* ;) you know men!!! So to ease his nerves can anybody planning an order please let me know and also the colour they would like an also the amount of yarn.

Laceweight will be £14 dyed for you and i think aprox £1.50 postage, postage will of course be combined on bigger orders.

MMMM more dyeing

2007-02-22T11:01:00.000Z

My chumley Bronte asked if I could dye her some yarn, now what kind of frind would I be to say no ;). I was so excited to do this for her, and its such an utter joy to do. She wanted some solid purple and solid green. Good choice I think ;)

So once all the kit arrived I got started and I have to say I think it look rather gorgeous!!!! I do hope she likes it.

and a close up for complete drool effect.

Etsy Shop

2007-02-15T20:52:00.000Z

Ok peeps that seems a good response so far, enough to make me feel it should be worth it so my etsy shop is now open. It has two skiens of sock yarn I dyed to maybe sell a while ago and i will add more once i have seen some sell. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Here is the link for now until I can enlist some help to add a proper link in my sidebar.

My yarns!!

WISH ME LUCK

REQUEST FOR INTEREST

2007-02-15T14:07:00.000Z

I am considering starting to dye to sell, I will be doing sock and lace weight yarn, 350m and 1200m respectavly, I would be looking at roughly £10 for 100g of either (not stay fast price) and i would be doing solids and variagated.
They would be unique one off dyes mainly or requests.

Please if any of you would be interested please leave a comment, if I feel there is enough interest I would be willing to start doing this.

This is something I am really keen to try so please I would love to hear from you

Me socks by Bronte

2007-02-13T11:22:00.000Z

Here are a complete pair of me socks, made by me from the pattern created by my lovely friend Bronte!!! It is such a pretty pattern and I feel so honoured to have a pattern named after me, I spent DAYS blushing heehee. This girl has a real talent so look out for her taking over the world soon.

The yarn is fyberspates yarn, lovely colours, makes me think of peach jelly sweeties which funnily enough arent that different a shape to the cute heart shapes in the pattern.

Pretty yarn!

2007-02-10T10:57:00.000Z

The yarn is almost dry so I couldnt resist taking a few picies, I think the close up shows he colour closest but not identical to it in the flesh.

Hubble Bubble Dye and Dabble

2007-02-09T20:36:00.000Z

I bought some lovely soft cobweb lace weight, 200g and at least 2400yrds of it. Heaven in two skiens that is!!

I bought this with the purpose of dyeing it and I thats exactly what I have spent my evening doing! I had a rather precious packet of Teal coloured Ashford dye.

Firstly the yarn needed to be soaked so into a bowl with some warm water and a little of the soapy stuff while I prepared the rest.

Then I mixed one teaspoon of the dye powder with enough water to form a paste, once it was mixed i added more water until the powder dissolved. I dont have a pot that I can leave purely for dyeing so I had to improvise a little and use the bowl over a pan. I filled a bowl with enough water to cover the yarn, and to this i added the dye mixture, and two tablespoons of vinegar to fix the colour. Lastly I popped the yarn in with it and gradually brought the pan of water up to a quiet simmer. The yarn had to simmer for about 30-40mins.

Once this was done then I lifed it off to allow it too cool and once cool it was lifted out and rinsed and hung to dry.

I will take pictures of the finished item tomorrow in daylight to show just how beautiful and jewel like it really is!!!!

wooly worshop big hit

2007-02-02T12:38:00.000Z

Well my sunday last week was taken up with helping out at a woolly workshop run by Lindsay, shes a complete sweetheart and I am so grateful to her for allowing me to be invloved in this. To say it gives me a buzz doesnt even begin to explain it. This is the second workshop and we covered crochet, felted embelishments, and knitting cast ons, amongst other things. Its a very relaxed affair and people can either sit and learn or carry on with other bits from the day and we all bring in finished projects to look at and drool on!!

From a personal point of view this opertunity has really boosted my flagging confidence and made me feel that actually, I can do something productive with my rather obsesive crafting habits!!

here are a few pictures of the girls hard at work, and I tell you, at this point you could have heard a pin drop.

baby bump knitters....should I worry

2007-01-24T16:36:00.000Z

Right fellow knitty bloggers time to tell me WHATS GOING ON!!!! Is this some conspiracy, you are all joining forces arent you and trying to push me over the broody edge...your spreading it like some weird net virus.

What on earth am I talking about, BABIES thats what, everywhere I turn in blogland I see cute bumps and lovely baby knits. Our house isnt big enough for another baby is it? Youngest is going to school in august am I just being silly wanting a pink one????? Tell me I dont need to be pregnant do I. HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPP

Seriously, so so many babies and babies to be I want to say congrats knitty peeps, enjoy, I miss having a bump to pat and talk to. ;)

And now for something completely different.........

2007-01-22T19:17:00.000Z

We interupt the usual program to bring you something so random your head may spin. I do apologise but knitting is kinda well not happing but I feel a need to blog.

Saturday was a child free shopping day...a rare occurance and much needed. Having no men folks in tow I took advantage of it and took the time to get fitted for a bra, something I havent done since I was in my teens. Yes I know thats very naughty, even more so now after I had some very shocking news. For as long as I can remember I have worn a 36B so you can imagine my horror to be told that I should be wearing a 30E. Just a little off then perhaps!!!!

New bras are ordered and I look forward to a perky set very soon. So look out world here comes a new me.

Please excuse me as I go have a lie down in a dark room..............

Flower basket- belated FO piccies

2007-01-19T18:16:00.000Z

Oh how shamefull!!! I havent posted the blocking piccies of the shawl, its a real pretty piece...I want one now ;)

Naughty Naughty lacey

2007-01-17T13:41:00.000Z

Jadeandchrissy of brightdyes has been a very naughty girl, she has started a lace club and I have been even more naughty and signed up for it and I CANT WAIT!!! It will last three months and once a month I will get a squishy package of yummy lace dyed in a pretty solid or variagated colour just for me....oh and the other members of course ;) I recomend it I really do, her yarn is vey nice and at £36 I think thats a very good deal. Of course what she doesnt realise is sh is doing me a great favour as I have many Victorin Lace Today Projects in mind that I have yet to try.

Unblocked glory

2007-01-15T18:14:00.000Z

Horah!!!! My first complete shawl...ok its a scarf/shoulder shawl so not huge but it finished and I LOVED making it. It still needs to be blocked but that cant be done until the squids are tucked up snug for the night. I really cant wait to see it turn from scrunchy knit to crisp pattern.