tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315178812024-03-13T11:40:39.310+00:00blog_bletheringsblog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-42922687949357442522009-09-26T15:54:00.007+01:002009-09-27T01:41:56.574+01:00Almost tropical autumn<div align="center"><strong>Tropicana Socks</strong></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHa8dS3IJh1zRtMSXSHX8yZSTZ2Mo1raYRLrpQOHkhWsSH_5i2Cvqc34Dpx9KJv0Jio0sszyOybBZ0ZreKJ1azJHNZxdKJVqTsXQeFZorg__6j-ouGc53y-rleCT99rBlJ0vd/s1600-h/HPIM0594_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385896057470795202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHa8dS3IJh1zRtMSXSHX8yZSTZ2Mo1raYRLrpQOHkhWsSH_5i2Cvqc34Dpx9KJv0Jio0sszyOybBZ0ZreKJ1azJHNZxdKJVqTsXQeFZorg__6j-ouGc53y-rleCT99rBlJ0vd/s320/HPIM0594_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/angieknitsagain/tropicana">Tropicana</a> socks (pattern by Sabine Riefler), using The YarnYard Pink Goth 4ply sock yarn. This is a wonderful pattern for variegated yarns, creating striking undulations of colour (Can't quite believe I typed that last sentence. But hey, it's out there and staying!<br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Modifications:</span></strong><br /><ul><li>Changed heel from short row to standard flap heel to make sure it accommodated daughter’s high instep (Sorry, pet, I know you inherited that from me!). </li><br /><li>The pattern produces a fairly dense fabric, so reduced stitches to 64 stitches and completed in plain stocking stitch.<br /></li></ul>Autumn must be in the air in the animal kingdom too. We looked out of the windows just after mid-day to see an unusual sight for suburbian Cardiff - an adult fox sauntering along the pavement!blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-87683620165913605272009-09-06T19:02:00.007+01:002009-09-07T01:17:28.014+01:00Skinny-malinkey-long-legs...... big banana feet!<br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">It's been years (obviously!) since I heard that old school yard ode - but I couldn't quite get it out of my head whilst these latest socks were on the needle. Another pair of Cookie's <span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTmonkey.html">Monkeys</a> </span>in a 4ply <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Fyberspate's</span> yarn. I can't be really specific about the yarn as it was bought on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">eBay</span> and has been nestling in my sock stash pile for some time.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZpN4SgsjijrYzZ7pTQ9TCwogDYV5gbPRV-x70AkxtsHGRNtR14FvegCLOqk2HOwh4CTzEQL95O7cWVS2WUT-s0a9arPZyZCB0-XvNveIJh38SokALM7w-_3qKfJ_VTakZEKz/s1600-h/HPIM0577_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378417870040915874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZpN4SgsjijrYzZ7pTQ9TCwogDYV5gbPRV-x70AkxtsHGRNtR14FvegCLOqk2HOwh4CTzEQL95O7cWVS2WUT-s0a9arPZyZCB0-XvNveIJh38SokALM7w-_3qKfJ_VTakZEKz/s320/HPIM0577_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> Talking of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/cookie-a">Cookie</a>... I'd fallen in love with some of the recent socks made by fellow <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ravelers</span>, in particular, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kai-mei"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">kai</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mei</span></a>. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/eunice">Eunice</a>, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bex"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bex</span></a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kristi"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">kristi</span></a> are equally stunning patterns and I hope to build up enough sock-making confidence to tackle them all at some point. Cookie's book, <em>Sock Innovation</em>, is clearly laid out and full of helpful hints, as well as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">socky</span> inspiration<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWzPp-Br_cVSAfdgL6lj5Zeh9TLSEqFcR6BRwZImBsw-MIVQHanGriJVJ0GzaSeigXJLlHyN8WFIj8uJyykH9AwyE9Rq-ezfBEURcJtHUNQi2Tv0KsyGEj8taU6AXSRbkUYdE/s1600-h/sock-innovation-shelved-a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378417897203069186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 161px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 171px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWzPp-Br_cVSAfdgL6lj5Zeh9TLSEqFcR6BRwZImBsw-MIVQHanGriJVJ0GzaSeigXJLlHyN8WFIj8uJyykH9AwyE9Rq-ezfBEURcJtHUNQi2Tv0KsyGEj8taU6AXSRbkUYdE/s320/sock-innovation-shelved-a.jpg" border="0" /></a> I KNOW we've all seen that hysterical picture taken by a couple on holiday, where they were gate crashed by an inquisitive squirrel. One of the <a href="http://www.lutralutra.co.uk/squirrelizer/">spin-off sites</a> has given me endless pleasure - filling my daughters' email boxes with tweaked family photos. This picture of Molly the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Mongrel</span> was just made to be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">squirrelized</span>:o) It always leaves me giggling, seeing her lick her new furry friend!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyOqtVkyUeE9k4LJnAfqRdZTSAWWs6B6PFWB3tWJKqwonDmMns-D_ih_iISxGfXlR4BLRtzAH8_7AK2coLupoehpT1oBlfGvLeVQ4Os5pjICAmoFTPmdNhLzknFn1zoen_gGM/s1600-h/molly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378417861090566722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyOqtVkyUeE9k4LJnAfqRdZTSAWWs6B6PFWB3tWJKqwonDmMns-D_ih_iISxGfXlR4BLRtzAH8_7AK2coLupoehpT1oBlfGvLeVQ4Os5pjICAmoFTPmdNhLzknFn1zoen_gGM/s320/molly.jpg" border="0" /></a>Don't worry about the squirrel's well-being. Molly's just saying "hello" and is incapable of any alternative canine motivations:o)blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-79926776152308199442009-08-17T20:58:00.005+01:002009-08-17T21:44:40.025+01:00Wash day blues<div align="left">In need of some knitting quick fixes, I cast on these...</div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Lake Ariel Dishcloth </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/angieknitsagain/lake-ariel-dishcloth">Jessica Topaz</a></span></strong></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKEVT1RUM79xxcmqzD-1JOuBAt3L3wuALS437EyDiNMrNGq4PV3h_qOVoNcMky3V4WXOme2exfX0Qxh1uXdbp6rkHbNb8MAetJE1ep1nrm6JlksA7jICu_Cl0JY5_vHtxeGk-/s1600-h/HPIM0571_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371025677555155186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 312px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKEVT1RUM79xxcmqzD-1JOuBAt3L3wuALS437EyDiNMrNGq4PV3h_qOVoNcMky3V4WXOme2exfX0Qxh1uXdbp6rkHbNb8MAetJE1ep1nrm6JlksA7jICu_Cl0JY5_vHtxeGk-/s320/HPIM0571_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Cable with Hearts Cloth </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cable-with-heart">Annette Derksen</a></span></strong><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cable-with-heart"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371025686407751666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 317px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrR81sWMHXh1t-maOWRUCmkKQVg_Bioxy-f4sWV8HZmIMu-g-zYBBLnGPUjPRgeDPjjuZQwHU-hwrkZ1GCf7oQ3vOgPRGkkDITpWarRDqc-P8M7WQi5QJWl3vhSWkFfs-gH5JS/s320/HPIM0570_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Seed Stitch Owl Dish Cloth </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/angieknitsagain/seed-stitch-owl-dishcloth">Janelle Schlossman</a></span></strong><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/angieknitsagain/seed-stitch-owl-dishcloth"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371025700538854338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJu1j7OcElejMHm_9KrWcQB_Wrw_DDGmX0QkrfDuSN-_UvSxo501C2Svx1eMvya2YZlUxLTB2Ox5nNTU-qlp3EMvueFfT42orHeuzDTEhoCzTpB8qEapyvxsz1XnJPO3ZXuUQQ/s320/HPIM0566_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-29434444283113973292009-07-27T00:17:00.014+01:002009-07-29T07:42:46.983+01:00Leaves and lilies...<div align="left"><a href="http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk/userimages/procart26.htm"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">AtomicKnitting</span></a> saved the day! <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/AtomicKnitting">Emma</a> has very kindly let me use one of the pics from her site so that I can share one of the knitting related gifts I was lucky enough to receive on my birthday. Voila! The gorgeous Russian Doll stitch markers DD1 gave me. Aren't they fab?<br /></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_0XAK2LSZaM0-6pIQ59ah7x4tDHwIjnBXJRAB3hzKFc7sqTAfwEvzffGrgSAXs607biEq8ubbpswRD_ElRAg4yWreRQ8HTUCrKX0kbwhhwe9x65hO5lXdWeGOT8NZ1LarPf5/s1600-h/P1270026-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362914923425459442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_0XAK2LSZaM0-6pIQ59ah7x4tDHwIjnBXJRAB3hzKFc7sqTAfwEvzffGrgSAXs607biEq8ubbpswRD_ElRAg4yWreRQ8HTUCrKX0kbwhhwe9x65hO5lXdWeGOT8NZ1LarPf5/s320/P1270026-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> See below to completely understand why I sent pathetic distress signals to Emma. My attempt doesn't quite capture their ambiance, does it?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43Tg5h3yuxZuz814eCYiK3qzqUzDsyZusmBfGoMo0dzhnNSvOiZBV5SBT60WBTXwt6p0QSOgGHE2sE7jGyEiXcc7p38tCF3QdDR_Sylw62_r60tlFX5rUC_kWQt2APYaxnQ9Z/s1600-h/HPIM0555_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362913929696103442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43Tg5h3yuxZuz814eCYiK3qzqUzDsyZusmBfGoMo0dzhnNSvOiZBV5SBT60WBTXwt6p0QSOgGHE2sE7jGyEiXcc7p38tCF3QdDR_Sylw62_r60tlFX5rUC_kWQt2APYaxnQ9Z/s320/HPIM0555_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> On the knitting front, I am truly nearly there on the Leaf Yoke jumper. The body and sleeves knit up in a flash. However, the leaf yoke seems to have taken forever to complete. If I'd taken any longer to finish, the leaves would have changed from green to autumnal shades and then fallen off the blessed yoke. This top looks as though it will be really wearable (hopefully!) and I'd knit another - though it may be a thought to tackle the yoke first, and end on the 'quick fix' back and front (both knitted identically). </div><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ooOoo</span></div><div align="left">In between the torrential showers we've been having in South Wales, I've been pottering around with some planters. My most recent fixation appears to be Calla lilies. My aim is that they'll be dotted around in pots on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">imaginary</span> patio that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MrB</span> plans to create at the kitchen door. Bless, we really are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">soul mates</span>... his productivity in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">DIY</span> terms is matched only by my finish-off rate in woollen garments!! I suppose that means neither can nag the other?? </div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGiITw6Zt7axhLf2DZUZ9xOVqyOU4cpNc-2YdAp7dNVhLBuwyuz_gWBRZhlTeKfZLoevc70YNqnaYEVzdOoKG7kvVOftgP8oolwkfsqtwSXpdPAC_KKQi9mMPuVagFdIQi3MB/s1600-h/HPIM0560_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363593804004017346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGiITw6Zt7axhLf2DZUZ9xOVqyOU4cpNc-2YdAp7dNVhLBuwyuz_gWBRZhlTeKfZLoevc70YNqnaYEVzdOoKG7kvVOftgP8oolwkfsqtwSXpdPAC_KKQi9mMPuVagFdIQi3MB/s320/HPIM0560_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /> <div align="center"></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Calla </em></span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Wfn3pECQIbPy-H6cx19SW3wpK3RFaAWjJ9P8of8GMUMqDK3UCiqsILcjxbXSjB-yBLrE-kdDboY1H1iKXSx6hPZV2iwzjVRm6UOevf9vwXF6rzMLSaVuIgDI0FKjysJ-8nj-/s1600-h/HPIM0558_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362913953069121474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Wfn3pECQIbPy-H6cx19SW3wpK3RFaAWjJ9P8of8GMUMqDK3UCiqsILcjxbXSjB-yBLrE-kdDboY1H1iKXSx6hPZV2iwzjVRm6UOevf9vwXF6rzMLSaVuIgDI0FKjysJ-8nj-/s320/HPIM0558_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySN_P1cLYnREd5lS8ZmrgPPp-5x7MpWK0JwhFX17G5dRt7Z51dQjw6LennSH79SzF2PIur2crJRdiPiKPgBopwPy9weXDbgFlriTj-grIBTDweClpweBJrlHwubffagb9SNu3/s1600-h/HPIM0556_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362913939495168450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySN_P1cLYnREd5lS8ZmrgPPp-5x7MpWK0JwhFX17G5dRt7Z51dQjw6LennSH79SzF2PIur2crJRdiPiKPgBopwPy9weXDbgFlriTj-grIBTDweClpweBJrlHwubffagb9SNu3/s320/HPIM0556_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">The flower formation is quite different in this Calla.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy_amEJKHy9TCKbroHyEDy00lMoWC8WP4E-eMCnkArTUivUAPR38H49zJIzfY4r2tEY9KleiE4ewQlugrWhQf0rsDWgxvOrH50YbNYxPo4apdpd6BDMw3sDDX2i5dcBqzY0fa/s1600-h/HPIM0563_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362914648935625794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy_amEJKHy9TCKbroHyEDy00lMoWC8WP4E-eMCnkArTUivUAPR38H49zJIzfY4r2tEY9KleiE4ewQlugrWhQf0rsDWgxvOrH50YbNYxPo4apdpd6BDMw3sDDX2i5dcBqzY0fa/s320/HPIM0563_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> DD1's passion is for Oriental lilies and she has entrusted me with her 'baby'.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0Ibqe9L_-PdndJjXwR757gNScRHngZnu9EBGtR-ugZSzcNDXXoTZ89UIkcY0ryhH1H1E8QaAcgJ3EL106nL6Uba9Ay_CQMaWg_i9wlJ4U46oKn52faxTwFevveXmrqmY2dci/s1600-h/HPIM0564_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362914664509171394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0Ibqe9L_-PdndJjXwR757gNScRHngZnu9EBGtR-ugZSzcNDXXoTZ89UIkcY0ryhH1H1E8QaAcgJ3EL106nL6Uba9Ay_CQMaWg_i9wlJ4U46oKn52faxTwFevveXmrqmY2dci/s320/HPIM0564_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">MissBlethersTheYounger</span> has just returned from a trip north to visit her father. Given our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">renowned</span> good luck, guess <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8167254.stm">which flight</a> the young lady was booked onto? She did get there ... eventually!! </div></div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-19951866674954519862009-07-01T22:21:00.007+01:002009-07-01T23:16:58.257+01:00Where did you go...June??<br /><br />I can't believe how fast June flew past! There's been very little in the way of knitting outcomes. Here's my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">embarrassing</span> contribution for the month!<br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0546_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MissBlethersTheElder</span> renewed her mobile phone contract and, of course, got a new mobile. As soon as she had her phone, she placed her request for a new phone cover. It's the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ipod-touch-sockum"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ipod</span> cover</a>, by Irene <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">McKisson</span> and can usually be rustled up in a few hours... I used the left over yarn from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">MissB's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">accidentally</span> felted socks and replaced the rib with a knit-one-through-the-back, purl one rib. It seems to be a stretchier rib and holds the phone in the case well.<br /><br />I'm still plodding my way through the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Sirdar</span> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/design-e---leaf-yoke-top">Leaf Yoke</a> short-sleeved cotton sweater. The pattern is very easy going and presents no real challenge. Currently, I'm working on the leaf pattern and am attempting wrap stitches for the first time. So far, so good! Hopefully, it'll be finished and blocked by my next post - and, even better, the weather here will have cooled sufficiently to allow the wearing of a cotton jumper without resembling a melting blob! Having a '<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Celtic</span>' pallor (some would say, deathly white milk bottle complexion), I'm no sun worshipper;o)<br /><br /><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ooOoo</span></div>It's a pretty busy family month for us - with mum, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">MrB</span> and I all having our birthdays during the month.<br /><br />June 13<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">th</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">MrB</span>, my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">beloved's</span> birthday. And where would a devoted, loving partner spend time on their true <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">love's</span> special day? Absolutely right, I headed off to Pembroke Dock (about 100 miles away) to spend the KIP day with <a href="http://riggwelter.wordpress.com/">Angie</a>. Angie has posted some pictures from the day. I had a lovely time meeting, amongst others, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/Riggwelter">Angie</a>, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/Felix">Felix</a>, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/Andreweaver"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Andreweaver</span></a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/taliesin"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">taliesin</span></a>. It was wonderful to meet everyone and to spend the afternoon knitting, in both glorious company and weather. I did make it up to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">MrB</span> though, stopping off on the way back to buy him a steak and birthday cake.<br /><br />Mum's birthday was on June 14<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">th</span> and, as she's still in hospital, the 'celebrations' were more muted than they would normally have been. She did enjoy the strawberry gateau my sister took in to the ward though...<br /><br />When my birthday arrived later in the month, I was thoroughly spoiled too. Look what one of my lovely workmates made me! And it tasted every bit as good as it looks:o) The kids developed semi-deprived looks, asking me "Why can't you bake like that?"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8bAgCUJDaRYcMsvY8pbhlVCtXTI641L5kP9KSlJlL3r75FCL2LfYN-P9bTz-TXcqyN7xgc-u8lKE_-aM1l1DPgH6_rbN1rKO3RA3yUg9AOdHEuGQnzdmNjXD6AKE-zQPv8nN/s1600-h/HPIM0548_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353615647307881602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8bAgCUJDaRYcMsvY8pbhlVCtXTI641L5kP9KSlJlL3r75FCL2LfYN-P9bTz-TXcqyN7xgc-u8lKE_-aM1l1DPgH6_rbN1rKO3RA3yUg9AOdHEuGQnzdmNjXD6AKE-zQPv8nN/s320/HPIM0548_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a>It's not for the want of trying, but I know my limitations <span style="font-size:85%;">(blush).</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">MrMarks</span>&Spencer produces the cake in our house - and folk who've witnessed my baking deficiency will vouch the recipient has had a lucky escape!<br /><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">ooOoo</span></div><div align="left"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">MissBlethersTheYounger</span> (otherwise known as Miss <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">SatNav</span>) has spread her wings too and is the cause of much parental angst and separation issues at present ... of which she remains blissfully unaware;o) She has embarked on her first ever holiday without 'parental control'. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">MissBTY</span> is currently spending the week in a static caravan, with 3 friends, in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Tenby</span> (West Wales). She is obviously having a wonderful time - deduced from her distinct lack of phone contact! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Tenby</span> is in a beautiful, coastal area of Wales ... though I very much doubt they are enjoying the scenery and continue to live a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">nocturnal</span> teenage <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">existence</span>, sleeping all day and coming out at sunset!</div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-37982114557764954112009-06-06T12:51:00.015+01:002009-06-06T20:57:36.023+01:00Strong roots and fresh blossomIt's been a very difficult few weeks. My mum was taken extremely poorly and is now, thankfully, slowly recovering in hospital. Her tenacity and spirit to live amazing not only the family, but the medical team treating her.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6B9-BV_ygSBMBO2PZuldzBjEOgBkR2FNljaJYH4FyeYw4wJiFIY55yYnnPTsGu4D-Clz6PFoyxRfQ0bWYcG0d7MvRSJtTzqph472_aeWU5j8hw12OlvJgvRyrNrcuIPLunam/s1600-h/HPIM0535_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344303911654018626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6B9-BV_ygSBMBO2PZuldzBjEOgBkR2FNljaJYH4FyeYw4wJiFIY55yYnnPTsGu4D-Clz6PFoyxRfQ0bWYcG0d7MvRSJtTzqph472_aeWU5j8hw12OlvJgvRyrNrcuIPLunam/s320/HPIM0535_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sadly, mum has missed seeing the Laburnum tree in full blossom, but will hopefully be home before it's past its full glory. Dad built their home and we grew up in this house. The garden is my parents pride and joy - and a complete pleasure to behold. Mum's usual vantage point is on the patio at the top of the garden, where she sits and issues horticultural instruction to dad! I'm not sure if it's clear from this photograph, but there are even large pots of potatoes growing on the patio. Dad was muttering about them being the most expensive potatoes he's ever grown (large tub planters, potatoes seeds, cost of the potting compost etc) - but, be sure, he'll be delighted to sit down with mum later to enjoy their crop.<br /><br />MissBlethersTheElder and I travelled home to visit mum in hospital. The weather was unusually glorious and we took these snapshots from the car park in the town. Beats the view from a multi-storey, doesn't it?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvJcMKqxr3ShpsYr2LdV_6p2QwQTKSAzirWKmnagdU3YwE6l4Uy3O9OZvaJk6po_9pFZcW7A0nlOMWStTYGPLxc55Ttw8U-1TkgTVV81RN6M_Zo-7oo6jTlvOIITV-rxkZjUQ/s1600-h/HPIM0540_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344181774827151986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvJcMKqxr3ShpsYr2LdV_6p2QwQTKSAzirWKmnagdU3YwE6l4Uy3O9OZvaJk6po_9pFZcW7A0nlOMWStTYGPLxc55Ttw8U-1TkgTVV81RN6M_Zo-7oo6jTlvOIITV-rxkZjUQ/s320/HPIM0540_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mrQX5J0r1jUiVpjHfb8UDJFqsmZ7vuieC_fxFpdLOKHi3UYtIOiJNlhmr_yT8-an5i3flZTiauR7zyuTNdNMIhUqbvGGDGEHHchMv3i1ry-qL9sffjfIX_p6JnMErvHlHw2b/s1600-h/HPIM0541_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344229983394440882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mrQX5J0r1jUiVpjHfb8UDJFqsmZ7vuieC_fxFpdLOKHi3UYtIOiJNlhmr_yT8-an5i3flZTiauR7zyuTNdNMIhUqbvGGDGEHHchMv3i1ry-qL9sffjfIX_p6JnMErvHlHw2b/s320/HPIM0541_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> Unfortunately our trip home meant I missed meeting up with <a href="http://riggwelter.wordpress.com/">Angie</a> on her recent visit to Cardiff. I'm really hoping to sort that on Knit In Public day, next Saturday!<br /><div align="center">ooOoo </div><div align="left"><br />MissBlethersTheYounger had me chuckling this afternoon. Her older sister was planning to go out tonight to a 'themed' leaving-do. She needed to borrow a fluorescent pink net tutu skirt (apparently ALL the best dressed wardrobes boast at least one net froo-froo!!). DD2 couldn't find hers (which is no surprise as she is one of those kids who call the floor their wardrobe!). Several phone calls to her friends later, we located one ... and set sail to collect it to save her big sister some time later on. We wound our way round Cardiff, with me looking more and more bemused.... "Are you sure you know the way, MissBlethersTheYounger?" My youngest off spring boldly announces, "Course I do! This is the No 57 bus route". Heaven help us when she hits the roads for driving lessons. Maybe she should get a SatNav for her 17th birthday present?</div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-79884857332013945552009-05-24T17:30:00.021+01:002009-05-25T11:37:32.853+01:00Hot head!Ever feel a little out of sync with the rest of the world? This could well be one of those moments for me... On the hottest weekend of the year so far, let me share my latest finished item - an angora <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">tammy</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MissBlethersTheElder</span>!<br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Angora Tammy</span></strong><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0516_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0516_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a>The yarn was bought on our recent trip to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Wonderwool</span> Wales - from Easter Bunnies/ Crafty Angora. It's so soft to the touch, especially the grey yarn. Once the knitting and sewing up were done, the hat had to be dampened and then was popped in the tumble dryer, on low setting, for 10 minutes at a time until the desired size is achieved. I did confess it <strong><em>might </em></strong>have been me responsible for the blocked filter that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MrB</span> adeptly cleaned later, muttering "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bloomin</span>' dogs"!</div><div align="center">......</div><div align="left">Great news too for knitters in Cardiff - a new local yarn store opened on Thursday, called Big Knitters (located at the top of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Wellfield</span> Road, by the junction with Albany Road). Although a compact shop, the owner has made best use of the available space. They carry a pretty range of yarns - Rowan, select <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Sirdar</span>, and a french range of yarns. However, consumer opinions are being sought about other ranges to carry. It'll be exciting to see what develops. </div><br />A number of Welsh <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Raveler's</span> met up there on Saturday and we'd a really lovely morning - browsing patterns, touching yarn, chatting ... accompanied by complementary coffee and yummy homemade cup cakes. Apparently, there are plans for a monthly cupcake session and also to hold a weekly group when they're a little more settled. I got the new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Sirdar</span> Juicy pattern book and cast on the Leaf top in soft green Calico last night. Normally, I detest knitting in cotton. The lack of 'give' in cotton niggles me and I struggle to get an even tension over the body of a garment. However, Calico has me converted and it's a joy to knit with.<br /><br /><div align="center">......</div><div align="left">DD1 came over the other weekend and we took the dogs a walk along one of her favourite routes. It's a wetland nature park, located on the outskirts of Cardiff and makes wonderful use of the old canals sited there.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-5jyq8-ZoE2iSwEv1LCPE9PAMVVDUhKSQl3Jgq7Zry8OqqT35hkoKf6MMePQ3Q07WILxQtKkpbzjXbD93o319BFP29Hn06SLitr9NB7-hq5ilxwz9QdV4KT-NhjS7ELOwFBn/s1600-h/HPIM0493_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339435224434732850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-5jyq8-ZoE2iSwEv1LCPE9PAMVVDUhKSQl3Jgq7Zry8OqqT35hkoKf6MMePQ3Q07WILxQtKkpbzjXbD93o319BFP29Hn06SLitr9NB7-hq5ilxwz9QdV4KT-NhjS7ELOwFBn/s320/HPIM0493_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwU9Xqz5aBDAJ_ag8WRuARt6VJpeqSg4dHZtFyXdgxDFdycUivNe0IGp43QNxcO8QvRlFFDPyCXYmE1skHtyI07QfrKT8hoyyO7OycPnRc-3geEbbGJg0cB8u7IXZB6E_bukGk/s1600-h/HPIM0500_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339442032632130674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwU9Xqz5aBDAJ_ag8WRuARt6VJpeqSg4dHZtFyXdgxDFdycUivNe0IGp43QNxcO8QvRlFFDPyCXYmE1skHtyI07QfrKT8hoyyO7OycPnRc-3geEbbGJg0cB8u7IXZB6E_bukGk/s320/HPIM0500_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi-6xV1CBCp1cXkFOF_3DTJJ7SebakhIOSDAD9BQSqyJNrvWe5Ab9z82Zqjl2IYar7GxvVl_oh1NPaOFFWQ6JfzDd75D5C9qDoG7OrURILzQ6yXJtCD6jxTS48ONW0JmQmnvK/s1600-h/HPIM0497_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339436621196790898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi-6xV1CBCp1cXkFOF_3DTJJ7SebakhIOSDAD9BQSqyJNrvWe5Ab9z82Zqjl2IYar7GxvVl_oh1NPaOFFWQ6JfzDd75D5C9qDoG7OrURILzQ6yXJtCD6jxTS48ONW0JmQmnvK/s320/HPIM0497_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> Don't let these 3 'innocents' fool you! They're deliberately trying to look like it wasn't them, barking and howling, when DD1 and I briefly popped into a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">hyde</span> to watch the wildlife.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkbwYZ5eYafleD_NRB1ItKlFAq8FM8AWoGcRgHGUSBTu0aEQv9EnbFwoCIUbfu4gfVC89yFrq55dJm29VxvdNcbjBkUazCwefuTSh7p9E59w11RGS0v8FzxdOJmIbhRCB0eYt/s1600-h/HPIM0502_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339436637172717090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkbwYZ5eYafleD_NRB1ItKlFAq8FM8AWoGcRgHGUSBTu0aEQv9EnbFwoCIUbfu4gfVC89yFrq55dJm29VxvdNcbjBkUazCwefuTSh7p9E59w11RGS0v8FzxdOJmIbhRCB0eYt/s320/HPIM0502_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> The one below in yet another Blethers classic photography moment! I was really excited to spy a heron in one of the wetland areas, and tried to save the moment for posterity. There <em>is </em>a heron in there....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbHqygQcCbfTQDhGuUj-2flOk6OzRyhIYsqguMAoipvWcBtIrLIEsfYXxyuhJoD1n0QLYnU3sSv7ZYJUdcBYHF12EsArfxi-nZwPSBm8ho1jjNPRdFOUKrTIjJyJmDxAGUwc9/s1600-h/HPIM0507_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339439566962434818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbHqygQcCbfTQDhGuUj-2flOk6OzRyhIYsqguMAoipvWcBtIrLIEsfYXxyuhJoD1n0QLYnU3sSv7ZYJUdcBYHF12EsArfxi-nZwPSBm8ho1jjNPRdFOUKrTIjJyJmDxAGUwc9/s320/HPIM0507_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> If you've got 20/20 vision, you might spot it!blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-24812279071206146202009-05-03T21:33:00.009+01:002009-05-04T20:33:52.953+01:00Wonderful Wonderwool Wales<div align="left">Last Sunday, the girls and I headed off to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wonderwool</span> Wales at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Builith</span> Wells. I'd hoped to leave about 9.30am to ensure that we got to spend a reasonable amount of time there - browsing, drooling and enhancing stash!! However, I'd forgotten to take into account DD2's inverted daily life structure at the moment - sleeping all day and awake much of the night! So, maybe hitting the road at 10.30am wasn't too bad, all teenagers considering!<br /><br />Here's what I bought!<br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Dream in Colour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Smooshy</span> ~ November Muse</strong></span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0486_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0486_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.artistspaletteyarns.co.uk/">Artist's Palette </a>~ 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Smootherino</span> 4 ply and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Buttersoft</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">DK</span></span> </strong><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0487_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0487_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Grey Crafty Angora and Peaches and Cream Cotton</span></strong></div><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0490_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0490_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="left">The show was well worth the travel and had a wonderful array of <a href="http://www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk/en/wonderwool_wales/exhibitors_2009.php">yarn and fibre suppliers</a>. A very brief roll call of honour includes:</div><ul><li><div align="left"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Fyberspates</span></div></li><li><div align="left">Artist's Palette</div></li><li><div align="left">First 4 Yarns</div></li><li><div align="left">Natural Dye Studio</div></li><li><div align="left">Laughing Hens</div></li><li><div align="left">The Woolly Workshop</div></li><li><div align="left">The Old Piggery...</div></li></ul><div align="left">For those who had nerves of steel enough not to further enhance yarn stashes, there were spindles, looms, needles, books, buttons, fabric, felted items and a lovely selection of stitch markers. DD1 bought a lovely set of Russian Doll stitch markers, made by <a href="http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk/">Atomic Knitting</a>, for my birthday. There were alpacas, angora rabbits and sheep there to keep the younger folks happy (Truth be told, I reckon we ALL oohed and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ahhed</span> over the livestock!).</div><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0474_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0474_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>And for those who would not yet be converted to yarn love, a food fayre was sharing the same venue - with a wide range of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">delicacies</span> available, including cheeses, sausages, scotch eggs, luxury steamed puddings. And a stall selling a range of ciders ... a couple of which are chilling in the fridge at the moment!<br /><br />Unfortunately we missed the fashion show and the workshops (teaching a range of knitting, crochet, embellishment and button making techniques). There's always next year...blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-56481902113575875662009-04-25T16:29:00.010+01:002009-05-03T21:50:59.417+01:00Gardening, not garter stitch!<div align="left">There's still no knitting of mention going on. However, DD1 and I had a wonderful time last Sunday at the Royal Horticultural Society show in Cardiff. The weather was glorious, and matched by the beautiful array of plants we saw. </div><div align="center">Knight Rider tulip</div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0400_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0400_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> We were able to buy all 19 stems at the end of the day for a bargain price of £5 and split them between us.<br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0397_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0397_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0434_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /> <a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0406_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0406_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Stunning Clematis in full bloom. I'd recently bought the dainty purple one on the top right of the picture. It's still to be planted in the back garden and am really looking forward to seeing it become an established climber.<br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0445_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0445_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> The bronze and golden colours used in the displays below were stunning. The flowering plant is a Hellebore (I think!).<br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0443_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0442_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0442_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> There was a beautiful display of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bonsai</span> trees. The Japanese Maple (below) was planted in 1955 and still less than 2 foot tall. The colours and form of the tree was stunningly pretty.<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0433_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0433_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Spring blooms...<br /><div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0435_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0435_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0415_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0415_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0416_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0416_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div align="left">And, of course, the obligatory Welsh rugby player, scoring a try - completely planted out!<br /></div><div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0396_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/GARDENING/HPIM0396_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> ..............</div><div align="left">Tomorrow promises to be another wonderful day out. I'm off to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wonderwool</span> Wales, a yarn and fibre festival held annually at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Builith</span> Wells, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Powys</span>. It's a 2 hour drive each way from Cardiff and the girls' eyes are bulging at the prospect of being ready to head off at 9.30am on a Sunday morning! I think the only reason they've agreed to come is they've caught wind of cider and food being available on the same site! Photos will follow!</div><div align="left">...............<br />DD1 sent me a somewhat bizarre text this week whilst I was at work, asking if she could come home for the night to sleep over. No, she was not missing her mum drastically - nor had a fall out with her boyfriend. His pet snake had escaped and she was <em>not</em> returning to the flat till it was re-captured! </div></div></div></div></div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-51473195710530335292009-04-13T22:54:00.007+01:002009-04-13T23:48:56.063+01:00One, two, three ... not out!The deafening silence here tells you how much knitting success I've been having recently;o)<br /><div align="center"><strong>Fetching</strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">in Debbie Bliss <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cashmerino</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Aran</span></span> </div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0344_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0344_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fetching">Fetching</a>, by Cheryl <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Niamath</span>, appears to have been my last project that went as intended. The yarn was a dream to work with and I'll happily use it again for some future project. The pattern was very clearly written and the cable work was a really nice re-introduction to cables after too long a break. The construction of the thumb was different and I feel my finishing was a little less elegant than the method used in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Cranford</span> Mitts.<br /><br />Now more of my knitting disasters!<br /><br />Firstly, remember these? No Purl <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Monkeys</span>, hot off the needles for DD1. She wore them once and her boyfriend laundered them....<br /><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0337_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0337_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a>One of the sad pair now looks like this! Doesn't it look a truly sorrowful wee sight?? And this is the young man who wants to marry my daughter;o) I've soaked it several times and with Herculean strength, and much cursing, managed to get it loosened enough to force on to a sock blocker. I reckon it's a lost cause though ...<br /><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/HPIM0363_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/HPIM0363_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> To <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">con'sole</span>' myself, I cast on another pair of socks. This time I planned to make the original <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/monkey">Monkey</a> pattern, by Cookie. I trawled through my stash and came up with the perfect yarn - a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Fyberspates</span> yarn in soft muted shades of yellow, brown and natural. Perfect! This was the 23rd pair of socks I've cast on and, as I've not yet got a pair to my name, were to be mine, all mine... The pattern's wonderful and was flying off my needles. As the length of the foot grew, I tried them them on - or tried to:o( They don't fit my clod hoppers without the risk of cutting off all blood supply to my feet! So, once SSS has been addressed, these may well become the replacement pair for DD1's lost socks!<br /><br />Next, I cast on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ribby-yoke-sweater"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Ribby</span> Yoke</a> sweater using <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Sirdar</span> Eco yarn. How wrong could this go?? Well, true to form I did balls this one up too! For anyone else who starts this project, don't be an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">eejit</span> like me and misread the pattern:<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Work in st-st (throughout) work 89 rows <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">dec</span> 1st at each end of the next and every following 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">th</span> row...</span></div><br />Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but such a shame it is <em>hind</em> and not <em>fore</em> sight in my case! The pattern was NOT telling me to decrease on the 90<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">th</span> row as I initially interpreted it... Frogging back 102 rows of very soft, slightly fluffy yarn is not fun! The project is now back on track with the back and nearly all of the front done.<br /><br />The Eco yarn was ordered online and delivery was going to take a couple of days. Could I wait? Nope! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Startitis</span> was raging - and I cast on a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/climbing-vines-pullover">Climbing Vines</a> sweater. I love this pattern and had been itching to try it out. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll be itching, wearing it! I used some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Kilcarra</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">aran</span> that I'd stashed away. Now, the pattern is stunning... The yarn is lovely - but not something that you'd wear next to your skin, unless you have some serious masochistic streak or a very thick vest:o( It's not the pattern at fault, or the yarn - it's the dunderhead knitter that put the two together who's entirely responsible. If anyone can tell me that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kilcarra</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">aran</span> softens up dramatically in the first wash, I'll be delighted. If not, it's to the frog pond for this one too and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Kilcarra</span> will become an outdoor type garment which the yarn currently appears more suited to.<br /><br />They say that things happen in threes, don't they?blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-42029632259528755732009-03-10T21:23:00.005+00:002009-03-13T01:14:07.229+00:00Empty sock drawers... and nest<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MrB</span> is a wonderful man, but not a subtle one! He's been bemoaning the sad state of his sock drawer and pointed out that it had been quite some time since any socks had been knitted with his size 8's in mind!<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Regia</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Havanna</span> Socks for OH</strong><br /></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0348_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0348_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> I used Cookie's Monkey pattern, minus the lovely lace work. However, the pattern also creates super easy plain socks. The picture below probably depicts the colour of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Regia</span> yarn more closely... and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">MrB</span> is happy that his drawer is a little less depleted!<br /><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0346_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0346_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Talking of empty drawers, there have been other experiences of a similar nature going on in the Blethers household over the past week or so - empty nest syndrome has struck! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">MsBTheElder</span> moved out, having rented a lovely 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">bed roomed</span> flat with her fiance. It feels really strange not having her here .... though in some ways, we've actually spent more time together than we would have normally. She was always rushing in, to rush straight back out when she lived here!<br /><br />However, I awoke to a message yesterday morning in which <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">MsB</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">texted</span> in an audibly sorrowful tone that she had been up all night being sick. She very readily agreed to a visit from mum to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">administer</span> damp cloths. I didn't even have my coat off before she suggested we go back home to assist recovery in her old bed, with the dogs round her ... and access to TV!! She stayed overnight here and I drove her back to her new address at lunchtime and promptly returned to her new settee and attentive partner... It was lovely being 'mum' again, even for the one night (but don't tell her I said so!!).<br /><div align="center">............</div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">My dad and I share a love of orchids and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">fuchsias</span> - though he is much more talented and successful with his green fingers... Dad's birthday is tomorrow and he'll be 70 years young. I know we are mostly all biased about our father's ... but he is truly a remarkable man who provides round-the-clock nursing care to mum, despite his own health issues. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I've yet to share with him my recent discovery of how to succeed with rejuvenating orchids...<br /><br /></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/HPIM0356_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/HPIM0356_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> ... completely ignore and neglect them, and they come back to produce beautiful flowers! This one had been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">abandoned</span> on our bathroom window sill and look what it's produced (despite me!). There was a 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">nd</span> stem but it didn't develop as it got frosted against the glass when we had that really cold snap.<br /><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/HPIM0352_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 253px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/HPIM0352_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />No doubt, it'll receive the same loving care as before once it's finished flowering!blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-68600282918464650832009-02-17T14:09:00.003+00:002009-02-17T14:32:32.212+00:00Monkeying around...<div align="left">The weather in the UK recently took a turn for the worse ... with the south of England and Wales being hit with more snow than we've seen here for years. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wooly</span> warmth was the order of the day ... and a wonderful opportunity to make a pair of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/no-purl-monkeys">No Purl Monkey</a> socks, a derivation of <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTmonkey.html">Cookie's Monkeys</a>.</div><div align="center"><strong>No Purl Monkeys</strong></div><div align="center">by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">CraftyPancakes</span></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0337_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0337_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> The yarn is 4 ply sock yarn from Needlework's Pleasure and was a wee gem found in my stash...<br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0339_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0339_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> DD1 has not had them off her feet and reports that they are keep her feet really cosy:o)<br /><br />We're just back from a brief trip home to Scotland to see my parents. My knitting needles are quaking as a result... Mum has asked for a pair of mittens! I've had a look on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ravelry</span> and think <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/breathe-deep">Breathe Deep</a>, by Kirsten <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kapur</span>. And what an apt name for a project for my mum, a formerly really skilled knitter. I <em>am</em> breathing deeply... and hoping that I'll do both the pattern and mum justice.blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-21597664243573928952009-02-01T12:57:00.008+00:002009-02-01T21:47:45.953+00:00Warm hands and heart...Browsing through knitting forums, I'd fallen in love with <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cranford-mitts"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cranford</span> mitts</a>, knitted in <a href="http://theyarnyard.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&zenid=28707ee6648cc1d1431032b76f0076f5">Yarn Yard</a> Hug. Many in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cyber</span> shopping world agreed, as Natalie's stocks of Hug yarn were low and I was stalking the poor woman's shop on a daily basis for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wooly</span> updates!<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Cranford</span> Mitts</em></strong><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0324.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0324.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> in Hug, from The Yarn Yard and Rowan 4 ply Soft<br /></span><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0320.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0320.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>A very kind knitting friend made the most generous offer and sent me enough Hug from her own stash to make a pair of the coveted mitts. And with that act of kindness, has left me with warm hands AND heart.... Thank you, L!blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-12590362297356134122009-01-17T12:04:00.013+00:002009-01-23T22:35:33.290+00:00My name in Blethers and I'm a Forest-aholic!<div align="left">I promise, sincerely promise, that my next entry will NOT involve a Forest Canopy of any shape of form ... but till then please indulge me! Having recently made the shawl and cowl in double knit weights, I was <em>compelled</em> to see how this addictive pattern worked in 4 ply sock yarn....</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0289_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0289_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> Forest Canopy Shawl</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Hand dyed by Hannah sock yarn, bought at Get Knitted (Bristol)<br /></div></span><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0298_edited-1-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0298_edited-1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0292_edited-1-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0292_edited-1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> Close up of the edge detail</span></div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br />My hectic social whirl doesn't really warrant a shawl but I reckon this shawl will make a pretty enough scarf, worn wrapped around my neck. I'm a little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">embarrassed</span> to say that I've caught myself scanning eBay, mulling over whether a specific yarn would work well as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">FC</span>... Control yourself woman! There's so many other pattern temptations out there too.<br /><br />My trusty old backdrop to many of my photos continues to serve me well. However, my client group had me giggling when some noted me nipping out on my lunch break and 'posing' the shot. They've decided that my liking for this particular wall may mean that future career choices are limited! When meeting with prospective employers, many (sensibly) would enquire about pay and conditions. Would it be advisable to ask if new employers have old stonework?? The hospital site I currently work used to be an old Work House and has a fascinating and sad background. How difficult it must have been to have been forced by life circumstances to enter a work house. We have some of the historic guidelines and work expectations mounted on the wall and they make truly fascinating, and shocking, reading. Even in the current recession our present life styles seem so cushioned in contrast to those borne by previous generations.....<br /><br />DD1 celebrated her 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> birthday last week. It's apparent youth is on her side - she had celebrations over 3 nights! Whereas I try to avoid all reference to my own age attainment! I can't believe that I'm a mother to a 20 year old. The only saving grace when my dad was teasing me about my advancing years, I growled back that it was still a little less challenging than being the father of a 45 year old. Though there are some striking similarities - both the 20 year old and the 45 year old are still victim to rampant hormones, though for differing reasons:o)<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br />There has been some non-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">FC</span> knitting going on! DD1 wanted some new socks and I've cast on a pair of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/no-purl-monkeys">No Purl Monkeys</a>, a modification of Cookie's <a href="http://www.blogger.com/itty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTmonkey.html">Monkey</a> pattern, using yarn from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/all-the-pretty-fibers-bluefaced-leicester-knitting-yarn">Needlework's Pleasure</a>. I love the pattern and it's knitting up really quickly. DD2 was left snorting with laughter when I subjected her elder sister to an Ugly Sister/Cinderella shoe session:<br /><br />Me: Here, try this on please.<br />DD1: It doesn't fit! (Squirming from the effort)<br />Me: Give them a good yank! It WILL fit! (Accompanied by look of grim determination)<br />DD1: It <em>still</em> doesn't.<br />Me: Let me help (Pulling DD1's foot into positions nature truly did not intend)<br />See! Told you they were a perfect fit.....<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br />Blocking has worked its usual wonders and a subsequent fitting session showed a submissive sock gliding onto her foot.... Now to cast on its mate!blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-47762053163860300592009-01-05T00:28:00.009+00:002009-01-05T01:01:22.408+00:00New year ... new projectsHappy New Year! Hoping 2009 brings health, happiness and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fibrey</span> contentment to us all:o)<br /><br />We had a peaceful Christmas and a little time off work which allowed for some knitting time. These are hot off the needles:<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/forest-canopy-cowl">Forest Canopy Cowl</a><br /></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0277_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0277_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0280_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0280_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a>The remainder of the skein of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Fyberspates</span> Scrumptious <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">DK</span> was used for this cowl. It's just the perfect texture to wear next to the skin and is beautifully soft. I gave it to my friend today (first opportunity to meet since Christmas) and it's off <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">yomping</span> over the Peak District with her in a couple of weeks.<br /><br /><div>DD1 asked me to knit a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">couple</span> of things for her planned Secret Santa amongst her University friends. Bless her, she's not quite mastered how long it might take to produce a Finish Off! She asked for a Column of Leaves Scarf (free pattern on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ravelry</span> ... and lovely to be repeated pattern in the future) and an <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ipod-touch-sockum"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ipod</span> Touch/Phone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Sockem</span></a><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0266_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 233px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0266_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> I used a tiny amount from a left over sock skein - Natural Dye Studio yarn but am <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">blowed</span> if I can remember the colour! It seemed to fit with DD1's requirements - "nice colour that won't show dirt"!! Makes you kind of wonder about the company she keeps, eh?? I changed the rib pattern to knit into the back of the stitch and am happy with how it turned out. However, it's a strange feeling going back to work with 4 ply yarn and 2.5mm needles again ... all my recent projects have been in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">aran</span>/worsted or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">DK</span>.<br /><br />I gave into temptation and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">curiosity</span> too - not that it takes much to tempt me to get more yarn:o) Having seen so many fantastic projects on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ravelry</span> and hearing so much enthusiasm for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Manos</span> Silk Blend, I ordered a skein from Violet Green (online store). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Ohhhh</span>, it's lovely! This thing I've got with silk content at the moment is getting a little worrying;o)<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0274_edited-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0274_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> Isn't it gorgeous??</div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-61621789244742647612008-12-23T18:30:00.014+00:002008-12-23T19:39:57.628+00:00Festive gifts and greetings....I hope this post finds us all well and looking forward to the festivities ... and with all planned Christmas projects finished and wrapped! As usual, I'm lagging but nearly there:o)<br /><br />Mum's Forest Canopy Shawl is done and has hopefully wung its way home to Scotland. I reckon its safe to share pictures before the Big Day as I don't think any of my family have found their way to Blogland (though the kids all have friction burned fingers from their time spent on Bebo, Facebook and MSN!!).<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Forest Canopy Shawl</span> - b<span style="font-size:85%;">y Susan Lawrence</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Knitted in Fyberspates Scrumptious DK</span></strong><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0258_edited-1-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0258_edited-1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0262_edited-1-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0262_edited-1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0264_edited-1-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0264_edited-1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The Scrumtious yarn is an absolute dream to work with. It's 55% Bluefaced Leicester Wool with 45% Silk. This is the Moss colourway and it has the most beautiful muted shades of greens and soft browns. I'm itching to use this yarn again - but choosing the project carefully as the yarn needs to be handwashed seperately! Despite yarn love, I remain a housework/laundry sloth;o)<br /><br />The Forest Canopy Shawl has proved such a popular and well loved pattern that I'm not surprised at all that the pattern has recently been amended to create a beautiful cowl version. This is one that has been knitted in Artesano Alpaca Hummingbird yarn and is another Christmas gift for a friend. The main part of the Cowl is knitted on 4.5mm circular needles. The lower edge is done on 5.5mm needles and has created some mighty interesting pooling in this yarn:o) But, hey, it gives clear guidance about which end is the bottom, doesn't it? </div><div align="left"><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Forest Canopy Cowl - </strong></span><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">by Susan Lawrence</span><br /></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Knitted in Artesano Hummingbird</span><br /></strong></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0239_edited-1-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0239_edited-1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The cowl calls to be blocked less rigourously than the shawl. It needs some of the 'elasticity' that underblocking leaves to ensure the neck stays upright when worn.<br /><br />Wishing all health and happiness over the festive season and may the coming year bring all you wish for and need...<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><em>MERRY CHRISTMAS TO US ALL!</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>Thank you for your support and inspiration over the past year</em></strong></div></div></div><br /></div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-33100732248290794752008-11-27T21:22:00.005+00:002008-11-27T22:28:46.095+00:00Winter warmersThe weather here has turned blustery and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wintry</span>. Perfect weather for encouraging me to finish <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/loppem/people"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Loppem</span></a>? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Errr</span>, sadly no. Once the pattern errors were sorted out via the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Berroco</span> errata page, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Loppem</span> just glided along. I've only to finish the edging around the sleeves and, voila, new winter warmer would be ready for the wearing.... However, the required 40cm 5mm cable needle continues with its stitch holder function on the one-armed <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/february-lady-sweater">February Lady sweater</a> languishing in the corner. Hopefully, I'll get my act (and needles!) in gear over the weekend:o)<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0203-2-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0203-2-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Loppem</span><br /></span><br /><div align="left">So what does the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">avoidant</span> finisher do in this situation? Of course, start another project! I've cast on a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/forest-canopy-shawl">Forest Canopy shawl</a> and if it turns out well, it'll be part of mum's Christmas present. The yarn completely lives up to its name - <a href="http://www.laughinghens.com/knitting-wool-yarn.asp?yarnid=640"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Fyberspates</span> Scrumptious <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">DK</span></a> yarn in Moss colourway. </div><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Fyberspates</span> Scrumptious <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">DK</span></span><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0214_edited-1-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0214_edited-1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Forest Canopy Shawl<br /></span><div align="left"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0213_edited-1-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0213_edited-1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> The yarn has a 45% silk content and is so soft to the touch. It's a joy to work with. At the moment, it's looking more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">blobbish</span> than like a canopy - but I'm sure blocking will work its magic. I've had to order a further skein of yarn as the one skein is not going to be enough. There's a plus though to the yarn shortage - Forest Canopy now comes as a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/forest-canopy-cowl">cowl</a> and I'm hopeful that there should be enough yarn to make one of those too.</div></div><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">ooOoo</span><br /></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0189-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0189-1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Tending to one's self care can be a taxing business, can it not? This recent picture of Louise had us chuckling! Can you tell she enjoyed her grooming session courtesy of DD1? What a life, eh?blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-8448139464943049322008-11-09T20:49:00.013+00:002008-11-09T23:51:13.929+00:00Loppem and lurgey...<div align="left">Needing knitting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">diazepam</span> after the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">EZ</span> debacle, I was lulled into casting on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Loppem</span> by Norah <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Gaughan</span>. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/loppem"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Loppem</span></a> is a gorgeous fairly unstructured pattern with cable accents, in worsted/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">aran</span> weight, which looked a dream to knit. </div><div align="center"><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Loppem by Norah Gaughan</div></span></strong></em><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0203-2-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/HPIM0203-2-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Collection 3 - Woodland Gothic</span></em></strong></div><br />There are a fair number of errors in the original pattern (including cable errors and shaping) and the corrections are <a href="http://www.berroco.com/ng3/ng3_corrections.html">here</a>. For anyone planning to knit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Loppem</span>, it's would also be worthwhile reading <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/norah-gaughan-vol-3-kal">this</a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ravelry</span> thread before starting out.<br /><br />Sorry about the short entry... Normal service will be resumed when I've recovered fully from the dreaded viral <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">thingie</span> that's doing the rounds at the moment. It's now going into its 3rd week and hopefully the antibiotics will do their magic soon (though only have one more day of the course to take!).blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-52152070653702732812008-10-19T16:22:00.013+01:002008-10-22T07:11:01.609+01:00Vini, vidi, vici ...<div align="left">... sewn up and about to be blocked!! My battle with the February Baby Sweater on Two Needles, by Elizabeth Zimmerman, is over:o) Conquered is obviously too strong a term. 'Survived' may be closer to the mark. </div><div align="center"><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">February Baby Sweater on Two Needles</span></strong><br /></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture097-1-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture097-1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture098-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture098-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> Many knitters love this pattern. With apologies to Zimmerman fans, I didn't find this an enjoyable knit at all ... and gritted my teeth to get it off the needles. I struggled with Elizabeth Zimmerman's style of instruction and pattern detailing. If anyone undertaking this pattern in the future finds themselves struggling (cursing, swearing and generally looking <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">boogley</span> eyed with the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">whole</span> blooming process), there are some helpful guidelines and information <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/zimmermaniacs/27807/1-25">here</a> on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ravelry</span>. I genuinely don't want to see anyone else struggle with a project - but the knowledge that I'm not the only Zimmerman-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">dozyhead</span> did keep me going!<br /><br />I hope to block the cardigan tonight and then it's off to little Grace ... and if anyone fancies a copy of The Knitters Almanac, please let me know;o)<br /><br />On the other hand, Norah <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gaughan's</span> patterns suit my need for detailed instruction much better - and look what arrived in the post this week, Norah <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Gaughan</span> Collection 3. The booklet contains a number of beautiful patterns - including <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/loppem"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Loppem</span></a>, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/eastlake"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Eastlake</span> Sweater</a> and East Scarf.<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture102-1.jpg" border="0" />I'm gasping to cast on either of those sweaters, but WILL finish one of the half-done creations lying around the house first:o(<br /><br /><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ooOoo</span></div><div align="left">Good news on the health front too this week. I was seen by the Chest Consultant and the results of the recent Sleep tests show I don't have Apnea. However, the results do confirm I SNORE!! Like that news to anyone in the Blethers household;o) The Consultant reckons the excessive fatigue results from a combination of factors - (1) having an inflammatory disease and (2) a side effect of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Methotrexate</span>. That explanation seems to fit for me ... the higher the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Methotrexate</span> dose has gone, the more knackered I've felt! He's writing to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Rheumatologist</span> to ask that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Methotrexate</span> be stopped and that the new anti-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">tnf's</span> are considered.... Roll on my appointment in December!<br /></div><div align="center">00<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Ooo</span></div><div align="left">Just wanted to end with a picture that represents an issue most parents will recognise - sibling rivalry.<br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/Picture032.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/Picture032.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Islay's</span> sister came over to play! They are both arguing over <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Islay's</span> favourite toy ... and looks like her sister's winning! Look at those teeth!</div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-59117347300371347542008-10-12T12:50:00.009+01:002008-10-12T17:18:35.352+01:00Elizabeth Zimmerman....<div align="left">... and I are <strong>not</strong> friends at the moment! I'd great plans of whipping up a little <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-sweater-on-two-needles-february">February Sweater on Two Needles</a> as a wee token for my colleague's new granddaughter, thinking it'd be a breeze having already finished (stress free) three of the adult version. How wrong I was:o(<br /><br /></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/Picture081-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/Picture081-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> This blessed thing has become my knitting nemesis; leaving me scratching my head, stomping about my lack of knitting prowess.... The baby is now here and the blessed top is <em>still</em> on the needles! I've become a Zimmerman 'groupie' and am now a member of every EZ group on Ravelry. I've stalked poor knitters on Ravelry who have teasingly posted the cardigan on their finished project pages and hounded my knitting buddies on knitting forums (Thank you, <a href="http://terriknits.blogspot.com/">terri</a>!)....<br />Other knitters love this pattern and I absolutely agree the finished sweater is really sweet. My difficulty has come from trying to interpret the pattern instructions. For me, the instructions are somewhat sparse - the entire pattern is described over only 11 lines, with the gull pattern detailed as a seperate 4 lines. The sleeves have been where my problems arose. Patently, I've misinterpreted and was knitting the sleeve over 42 stitches initially - which may have worked for a baby with the arms of an navvy... I'm on the right lines just now and am working the sleeves of 28 stitches.<br /><br />I will not be beaten;o) By next weekend, our battle of wills should be over and I'll be posting pictures of the completed garment!<br /><br />However, there are positives from this experience:<br /><br /><ul><li>I have new friends on Ravelry</li><br /><li>I can absolutely vouch that Crystal Palace Bunny Hop yarn is a star which copes well with being knitted, frogged, re-knitted, re-frogged.... Despite all the abuse I've thrown at it, the yarn still looks and feels like a soft, squishy dream.</li><br /><li><div align="left">Insight increased too. It seems I am a technical, rather than process knitter. Give me instructions - direct, line by line instructions and I'm a happy knitting bunny. I don't do abstract or obtuseness in knitting, though seem happy enough to work with very loose parameters in other walks of life?</div></li></ul><div align="center">ooOOO</div><div align="center"><br />Look no further if less than keen on reptiles!</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">DD1 was off house sitting with her boyfriend the other week and left me babysitting! She's the proud 'mum' of 2 Bearded Dragon Lizards and absolutely dotes on her 'babies'...<br /></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/PUPPIES/IMG_03551-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/PUPPIES/IMG_03551-1.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Saying hello for the first time<br /></div></span><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/PUPPIES/IMG_02841-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/PUPPIES/IMG_02841-1.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Friendships made </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">(Female at back; male in foreground)</div></span><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/PUPPIES/IMG_02861-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/PUPPIES/IMG_02861-1.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sitting pretty? </span></div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-3753299808649129782008-10-04T21:19:00.008+01:002008-10-04T22:58:27.440+01:00Hangdog made me do it!<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">HangdogBlethers</span></span> looked at me beseechingly, sending telepathic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">dog-waves</span> saying that we were both in need of some retail therapy. How could I say no!<br /><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/Picture006-1-2.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/Picture006-1-2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />So the two of us set off on some serious <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Internet</span> browsing and found some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">absolute</span> treasures!<br />Firstly, some gorgeous yarn from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/Fyberspates"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Fyberspates</span></span><br /></a><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture041.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture041.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture044-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture044-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> The colours are beautiful - muted, soft greens with soft browns. Fingers crossed this is destined to become a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/forest-canopy-shawl">Forest Canopy shawl</a> (by Susan Lawrence), a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Christmas</span> present for my mum. Be warned, there may be some shouts for help as I tackle the dreaded lace for the first time in years!<br /><br />One of my colleagues is expecting a little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">granddaughter</span> to arrive at any moment and the poor mum has had quite a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">difficult</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">pregnancy</span>. I wanted to make a little something to welcome the new child and to let them know they are in my thoughts. Given my recent <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">affinity</span> with the February Lady Sweater, I reckoned the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-sweater-on-two-needles-february">Baby Sweater on 2 needles</a>, by Elizabeth <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Zimmermann</span></span>, would be perfect. The pattern appears to cover a range of weights of yarn ~ the weight selected will affect the size of the garment. I've never used any Crystal Palace yarn but thought that Bunny Hop looked a lovely option. I acquired a small selection of Bunny Hop from Button's stash page on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ravelry</span></span>. Thank you, <a href="http://www.p2tog.com/">button</a>!<br /><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture074-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture074-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture071-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture071-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> A little more bedtime reading fell into my shopping cart, making its way recently from the States. For anyone who likes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">aran</span></span> patterns, this comes highly recommended with a fantastic range of patterns. There are several projects I'd like to tackle .... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ohhhh</span></span> for a 45 hour day!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture024-1-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture024-1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> I loved these buttons too! I haven't a clue what they will eventually fasten - but in the meantime I'm happy just to view them as eye candy!<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/Picture009-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/Picture009-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ooOoo</span></span><br /></div><div align="left">Many of us have become more environmentally conscious and try to contribute to re-cycling projects etc. I had to include this! This is how I found Louise, our grey tabby, this morning! All cuddled up inside a carrier bag on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">MissBletherTheElder's</span></span> bed. The bag did say it was re-usable and Louise and certainly put it to good use!</div><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/PUPPIES/Picture069.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/PUPPIES/Picture069.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ooOoo</span><br /></div><div align="left">A very special thank you to <a href="http://terriknits.blogspot.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">terri</span></a> who very generously sent me an award (blushing like a school girl here!). Please check out <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">terri's</span> blog to see the fabulous knits she creates ... and the nearly-most-handsome dog in the world. Sorry, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">terri</span>, my 3 would never forgive me if I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">publicly</span> announced <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Scooby</span> was better looking;o)</div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-33961380064206723142008-09-27T11:28:00.003+01:002008-09-27T12:07:45.036+01:00ET go home<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MissBlethersTheElder</span> was mooching about how cold she was feeling and requested a cardigan to keep her cosy. She sounds less and less the typical rebellious teenager with the"Bah! I feel NO cold and am wearing NO <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bloomin</span>' vest, mum!". She asked for a <a href="http://www.flintknits.com/blog/?p=151">February Lady Sweater</a> and selected her own yarn. Now here's where we are sometimes at the mercy of our computer screens, isn't it? The yarn appeared a darkish blue online. I voiced some doubt at the time, given the subtle clue the shade was labelled '<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lavender</span>'. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MissBTE</span> did not shift from her "blue" stance. Without further ado, please welcome Miss <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">BTE's</span> <em>PURPLE</em> cardigan;o)<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>February Lady Sweater - Part 2</strong></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture037-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture037-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong></strong><strong></strong><br /><div align="center"><strong>Started 16/8/08 -Finished 5/9/08</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Size: </strong>XXS</div><div align="center"><strong>Needles:</strong> US 8 / 5.0 mm<br /><strong>Yarn: </strong>Cascade 220 Wool<br /><strong>Skeins: </strong>4 skeins = 880.0 yards (804.7m)<br /><strong>Colorway:</strong> 8888 Lavender<br /></div><div align="center">ooOoo</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">On the non-knitting front, I've been back at work for a week now and have started the new extended work pattern. The plan is that I work an extra 45 minutes daily for 9 days, then have every 2nd Friday off. To date, it's felt ok and it's amazing just how much you can get done when the office is quiet:o) </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">The appointment with the Sleep Clinic took place this week. I was sent home with the test equipment and spent Wednesday evening trussed up like a turkey! Let me conjure the scene a little ... 3 seat belt type straps wrapped round my middle, interlinked with wires monitoring my chest and diaphragm ... a wire going from the central box (attached to my tummy), down my arm to the middle finger, monitoring the heart. When we switched the bedroom lights off, it became very apparent that the finger monitor glowed red in the dark, similar to a small torch. This produced ET "Go home" giggles for us! The ensemble was accessorised with a set of racy nostril monitors attractively draped around my ears and taped to my cheeks and neck. No wonder MrB said "Not tonight, Josephine";o) After this round of night terrors (well the vision of me wearing it was pretty terrible!), I'll feel somewhat cheated if the results are negative!!</div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-37547557661324824752008-09-20T15:22:00.006+01:002008-09-20T16:34:53.241+01:00Had I known....... that all I had to do to bring around some beautiful weather was to start knitting winter scarves, I would have started to produce the little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">woolly</span> wonders in May!! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MissBlethersTheElder</span> had been bemoaning the cold and wanted something to cozy into - so I cast on a So Called Scarf for her. After a 'summer' of grim weather, we are now basking in a lovely Indian summer and it appears my knitted efforts are for naught (at least for this week).<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>So Called Scarf</strong><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture053-1-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture053-1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><strong>Needle and yarn details:<br /></strong>Needle: US 11 / 8.0 mm<br />Yarn: Palette (100% wool, purchased at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">HobbyCraft</span>, Newport)<br />How much: 4 skeins (50g)<br />Colorway: Very Grape</div><div align="center">Pattern designed by <a href="http://imagiknit.com/?p=60">Allison <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Isaccs</span> </a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Lookie! I managed to link for the first time! Thanks to the lovely Franney and Jo for their linkage support;o)</div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-16895625568756279112008-09-10T14:25:00.011+01:002008-09-10T23:34:49.021+01:00A long time coming!I visited Occupational Health at work the other week to have my regular bloods done to monitor the medication I'm on for the RA. My lovely colleagues there took one look at me and announced I looked blooming awful <span style="font-size:85%;">(just as well the old ego is not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">tooo</span> fragile, isn't it?)</span> and told me to take 2 weeks off work to rest. I've done as I was told - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MrB</span> only wishes he had the same gift of getting me to do his bidding;o). Some of those hours have been wiled away working through the endless pile of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">WIPs</span> amassed over recent months (who are you kidding, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Blogblethers</span> ... several years!!)<br /><br />One down, several more to go!<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Noro</span> Top with short sleeves</strong><br /></div><div align="center"><em>Designed by Jenny Watson in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Noro</span> Designer Mini Knits</em><br /></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture027-2-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/Picture027-2-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>Yarn:</strong> <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Noro</span> Silk Garden, Colour 264</strong><br /><strong>Skeins</strong>: Pattern called for 4 but I purchased 5 skeins to ensure colour around the neck line<br /><strong>Size:</strong> L<br /><strong>Started:</strong> January 2008 and <em><span style="font-size:85%;">e-v-e-n-t-u-a-l-l-y</span></em> finished September 2008!!<br /><br /><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ooOoo</span></div><div align="center"></div>The lovely <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Aknita</span> ( <a href="http://aknitasknits.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://aknitasknits.blogspot.com</span></a>) touched me greatly by nominating me for The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Brillante</span> Weblog award. Am not sure about you, but I never feel quite blog-worthy enough to be acknowledged in such a lovely way... H0<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">wever</span>, I just wanted to say thank you to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Aknita</span> for her support and friendship over the past few years and to say please head over to her site to see some of the most beautiful Forest Canopy Shawls you will ever see!<br /><br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/award-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/award-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Without further ado, I'd like to 'pass on the honours' to some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">bloggers</span> who brighten up my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">cyber</span> reading!<br /><br />The Rules:<br />The rules for award acceptance are as follows:<br />1. The winner can put the logo on his/her website/blog.<br />2. Add a link to the person who gave you this award.<br />3. Nominate at least 7 other websites/blogs.<br />4. Provide links of the nominated websites/blogs.<br />5. Leave a message at each website owner that you´<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ve</span> nominated.<br /><br />My nominees, in no particular order, are:<br />1. a little fuzzy (<a href="http://alittlefuzzy.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://alittlefuzzy.wordpress.com</span></a>)<br />2. All fingers and thumbs (<a href="http://allfingersandthumbs.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://allfingersandthumbs.blogspot.com</span></a>)<br />3. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Clickety</span> Clack (<span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://cyclingknitter.blogspot.com/">http://cyclingknitter.blogspot.com/</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">4. f</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">luffyknitting</span> (<a href="http://fluffyknitting.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://fluffyknitting.blogspot.com</span></a>)</span><br />5. Irish eyes (<a href="http://irisheyesknitters.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://irisheyesknitters.blogspot.com</span></a>)<br />6. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Riggwelter's</span> (<a href="http://riggwelter.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://riggwelter.wordpress.com</span></a>)<br />7. two knits of ivory (<a href="http://twoknitsofivory.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://twoknitsofivory.blogspot.com</span></a>)<br /><br />One day I'll master this linking business!blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31517881.post-36828213488079238452008-09-02T17:13:00.008+01:002008-09-06T16:54:57.877+01:00It may be September, but...<div align="left">... it's cold enough for February!<br /><br />Or, to be more precise, a February Lady Sweater. Pamela Wynne designed this pattern which has taken the knitting world (or at least, Ravelry!) by storm. Pamela has very generously made the pattern available, free, at <a href="http://www.flintknits.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">www.flintknits.com</span></a>. It's an extremely clearly written pattern and can be modified to suit personal tastes very easily.<br /><br />I finished off this one recently and have made notes of the modifications I made as I went along:<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/DSCF0194-3.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/AngelaMcG/KNITTING/DSCF0194-3.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"></a></div><div align="center">Started: 19/7/08 </div><div align="center">Finished: 15/8/08</div><div align="center">Yarn: <strong>New Lanark Mills Donegal Silk Tweed Aran in Cobalt</strong> </div><div align="center">Quantity: approximately 650g</div><div align="left"><br /><strong>Raglan increases:</strong><br />I replaced the original m1's to yo's instead. This eliminated the need to work with stitch markers.<br /><br /><strong>Garter stitch yoke:</strong><br />Added an extra 11 rows of garter stitch after the increase row to accommodate my "hearty beauties"!<br /><br /><strong>Button holes:</strong><br />Added a 4th button hole to draw the yoke in more at the chest and to create more shape at the bust line.<br /><br /><strong>Eyelet row:</strong><br />Removed the eyelets and used kfb instead as didn't want the small row of eyelets above the gull stitch pattern.<br /><br /><strong>Gull pattern:</strong><br />Completed 20 patterns of the gull stitch (4 row pattern) for main part of the body. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">A word of warning to those who have not yet tackled this pattern, it's addictive!! You may have to cast on more than one. Perhaps a subtle clue about future "finish off" pictures to come, you reckon?</div><div align="left"></div><div align="center">ooOoo</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">On a personal front, some good news ... The reason behind my trip home and the pictures from the last entry was that the girls and I were visiting my mum whilst she was in hospital. After an admission of more than 5 weeks, mum is now home from hospital. It's great that she's back home, with an increased support package which should bring positive changes for both mum and dad.</div>blog-blethershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14210724937551587748noreply@blogger.com11