blog_bletherings

Almost tropical autumn

2009-09-26T15:54:00.007+01:00

Tropicana Socks

Tropicana 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!

Modifications:

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!).

The pattern produces a fairly dense fabric, so reduced stitches to 64 stitches and completed in plain stocking stitch.

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!

Skinny-malinkey-long-legs...

2009-09-06T19:02:00.007+01:00

... big banana feet!

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 Monkeys in a 4ply Fyberspate's yarn. I can't be really specific about the yarn as it was bought on eBay and has been nestling in my sock stash pile for some time.

Talking of Cookie... I'd fallen in love with some of the recent socks made by fellow Ravelers, in particular, kai-mei. Eunice, bex and kristi are equally stunning patterns and I hope to build up enough sock-making confidence to tackle them all at some point. Cookie's book, Sock Innovation, is clearly laid out and full of helpful hints, as well as socky inspiration

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 spin-off sites has given me endless pleasure - filling my daughters' email boxes with tweaked family photos. This picture of Molly the Mongrel was just made to be squirrelized:o) It always leaves me giggling, seeing her lick her new furry friend!

Don't worry about the squirrel's well-being. Molly's just saying "hello" and is incapable of any alternative canine motivations:o)

Wash day blues

2009-08-17T20:58:00.005+01:00

In need of some knitting quick fixes, I cast on these...

Lake Ariel Dishcloth by Jessica Topaz

Cable with Hearts Cloth by Annette Derksen Seed Stitch Owl Dish Cloth by Janelle Schlossman

Leaves and lilies...

2009-07-27T00:17:00.014+01:00

AtomicKnitting saved the day! Emma 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?

See below to completely understand why I sent pathetic distress signals to Emma. My attempt doesn't quite capture their ambiance, does it?
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).

ooOoo

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 imaginary patio that MrB plans to create at the kitchen door. Bless, we really are soul mates... his productivity in DIY terms is matched only by my finish-off rate in woollen garments!! I suppose that means neither can nag the other??

Calla

The flower formation is quite different in this Calla.

DD1's passion is for Oriental lilies and she has entrusted me with her 'baby'.

MissBlethersTheYounger has just returned from a trip north to visit her father. Given our renowned good luck, guess which flight the young lady was booked onto? She did get there ... eventually!!

Where did you go...

2009-07-01T22:21:00.007+01:00

June??

I can't believe how fast June flew past! There's been very little in the way of knitting outcomes. Here's my embarrassing contribution for the month!
MissBlethersTheElder 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 ipod cover, by Irene McKisson and can usually be rustled up in a few hours... I used the left over yarn from MissB's accidentally 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.

I'm still plodding my way through the Sirdar Leaf Yoke 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 'Celtic' pallor (some would say, deathly white milk bottle complexion), I'm no sun worshipper;o)

ooOoo

It's a pretty busy family month for us - with mum, MrB and I all having our birthdays during the month.

June 13th is MrB, my beloved's birthday. And where would a devoted, loving partner spend time on their true love's special day? Absolutely right, I headed off to Pembroke Dock (about 100 miles away) to spend the KIP day with Angie. Angie has posted some pictures from the day. I had a lovely time meeting, amongst others, Angie, Felix, Andreweaver and taliesin. It was wonderful to meet everyone and to spend the afternoon knitting, in both glorious company and weather. I did make it up to MrB though, stopping off on the way back to buy him a steak and birthday cake.

Mum's birthday was on June 14th 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...

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?"
It's not for the want of trying, but I know my limitations (blush). MrMarks&Spencer produces the cake in our house - and folk who've witnessed my baking deficiency will vouch the recipient has had a lucky escape!

ooOoo

MissBlethersTheYounger (otherwise known as Miss SatNav) 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'. MissBTY is currently spending the week in a static caravan, with 3 friends, in Tenby (West Wales). She is obviously having a wonderful time - deduced from her distinct lack of phone contact! Tenby is in a beautiful, coastal area of Wales ... though I very much doubt they are enjoying the scenery and continue to live a nocturnal teenage existence, sleeping all day and coming out at sunset!

Strong roots and fresh blossom

2009-06-06T12:51:00.015+01:00

It'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.
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.

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?

Unfortunately our trip home meant I missed meeting up with Angie on her recent visit to Cardiff. I'm really hoping to sort that on Knit In Public day, next Saturday!

ooOoo

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?

Hot head!

2009-05-24T17:30:00.021+01:00

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 tammy for MissBlethersTheElder!

Angora Tammy

The yarn was bought on our recent trip to Wonderwool 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 might have been me responsible for the blocked filter that MrB adeptly cleaned later, muttering "bloomin' dogs"!

......

Great news too for knitters in Cardiff - a new local yarn store opened on Thursday, called Big Knitters (located at the top of Wellfield 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 Sirdar, 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.

A number of Welsh Raveler's 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 Sirdar 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.

......

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.

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 hyde to watch the wildlife.
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 is a heron in there....
If you've got 20/20 vision, you might spot it!

Wonderful Wonderwool Wales

2009-05-03T21:33:00.009+01:00

Last Sunday, the girls and I headed off to Wonderwool Wales at Builith 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!

Here's what I bought!

Dream in Colour Smooshy ~ November Muse

Artist's Palette ~ 2 Smootherino 4 ply and Buttersoft DK Grey Crafty Angora and Peaches and Cream Cotton

The show was well worth the travel and had a wonderful array of yarn and fibre suppliers. A very brief roll call of honour includes:

Fyberspates
Artist's Palette
First 4 Yarns
Natural Dye Studio
Laughing Hens
The Woolly Workshop
The Old Piggery...

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 Atomic Knitting, 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 ahhed over the livestock!).

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 delicacies 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!

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...

Gardening, not garter stitch!

2009-04-25T16:29:00.010+01:00

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.

Knight Rider tulip

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.

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.
The bronze and golden colours used in the displays below were stunning. The flowering plant is a Hellebore (I think!).

There was a beautiful display of bonsai 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.

Spring blooms...

And, of course, the obligatory Welsh rugby player, scoring a try - completely planted out!

..............

Tomorrow promises to be another wonderful day out. I'm off to Wonderwool Wales, a yarn and fibre festival held annually at Builith Wells, Powys. 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!

...............
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 not returning to the flat till it was re-captured!

One, two, three ... not out!

2009-04-13T22:54:00.007+01:00

The deafening silence here tells you how much knitting success I've been having recently;o)

Fetching

in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

Fetching, by Cheryl Niamath, 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 Cranford Mitts.

Now more of my knitting disasters!

Firstly, remember these? No Purl Monkeys, hot off the needles for DD1. She wore them once and her boyfriend laundered them....

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 ...

To con'sole' myself, I cast on another pair of socks. This time I planned to make the original Monkey pattern, by Cookie. I trawled through my stash and came up with the perfect yarn - a Fyberspates 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!

Next, I cast on Ribby Yoke sweater using Sirdar 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 eejit like me and misread the pattern:

Work in st-st (throughout) work 89 rows dec 1st at each end of the next and every following 8th row...

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but such a shame it is hind and not fore sight in my case! The pattern was NOT telling me to decrease on the 90th 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.

The Eco yarn was ordered online and delivery was going to take a couple of days. Could I wait? Nope! Startitis was raging - and I cast on a Climbing Vines 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 Kilcarra aran 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 Kilcarra aran 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 Kilcarra will become an outdoor type garment which the yarn currently appears more suited to.

They say that things happen in threes, don't they?

Empty sock drawers... and nest

2009-03-10T21:23:00.005Z

MrB 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!

Regia Havanna Socks for OH

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 Regia yarn more closely... and MrB is happy that his drawer is a little less depleted!

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! MsBTheElder moved out, having rented a lovely 2 bed roomed 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!

However, I awoke to a message yesterday morning in which MsB texted in an audibly sorrowful tone that she had been up all night being sick. She very readily agreed to a visit from mum to administer 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!!).

............

My dad and I share a love of orchids and fuchsias - 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.

I've yet to share with him my recent discovery of how to succeed with rejuvenating orchids...

... completely ignore and neglect them, and they come back to produce beautiful flowers! This one had been abandoned on our bathroom window sill and look what it's produced (despite me!). There was a 2nd stem but it didn't develop as it got frosted against the glass when we had that really cold snap.

No doubt, it'll receive the same loving care as before once it's finished flowering!

Monkeying around...

2009-02-17T14:09:00.003Z

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. Wooly warmth was the order of the day ... and a wonderful opportunity to make a pair of No Purl Monkey socks, a derivation of Cookie's Monkeys.

No Purl Monkeys

by CraftyPancakes

The yarn is 4 ply sock yarn from Needlework's Pleasure and was a wee gem found in my stash...
DD1 has not had them off her feet and reports that they are keep her feet really cosy:o)

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 Ravelry and think Breathe Deep, by Kirsten Kapur. And what an apt name for a project for my mum, a formerly really skilled knitter. I am breathing deeply... and hoping that I'll do both the pattern and mum justice.

Warm hands and heart...

2009-02-01T12:57:00.008Z

Browsing through knitting forums, I'd fallen in love with Cranford mitts, knitted in Yarn Yard Hug. Many in the cyber 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 wooly updates!

Cranford Mitts

in Hug, from The Yarn Yard and Rowan 4 ply Soft

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!

My name in Blethers and I'm a Forest-aholic!

2009-01-17T12:04:00.013Z

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 compelled to see how this addictive pattern worked in 4 ply sock yarn....

Forest Canopy Shawl

Hand dyed by Hannah sock yarn, bought at Get Knitted (Bristol)

Close up of the edge detail

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 embarrassed to say that I've caught myself scanning eBay, mulling over whether a specific yarn would work well as a FC... Control yourself woman! There's so many other pattern temptations out there too.

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.....

DD1 celebrated her 20th 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)

There has been some non-FC knitting going on! DD1 wanted some new socks and I've cast on a pair of No Purl Monkeys, a modification of Cookie's Monkey pattern, using yarn from Needlework's Pleasure. 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:

Me: Here, try this on please.
DD1: It doesn't fit! (Squirming from the effort)
Me: Give them a good yank! It WILL fit! (Accompanied by look of grim determination)
DD1: It still doesn't.
Me: Let me help (Pulling DD1's foot into positions nature truly did not intend)
See! Told you they were a perfect fit.....

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!

New year ... new projects

2009-01-05T00:28:00.009Z

Happy New Year! Hoping 2009 brings health, happiness and fibrey contentment to us all:o)

We had a peaceful Christmas and a little time off work which allowed for some knitting time. These are hot off the needles:

Forest Canopy Cowl

The remainder of the skein of Fyberspates Scrumptious DK 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 yomping over the Peak District with her in a couple of weeks.

DD1 asked me to knit a couple 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 Ravelry ... and lovely to be repeated pattern in the future) and an Ipod Touch/Phone Sockem
I used a tiny amount from a left over sock skein - Natural Dye Studio yarn but am blowed 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 aran/worsted or DK.

I gave into temptation and curiosity too - not that it takes much to tempt me to get more yarn:o) Having seen so many fantastic projects on Ravelry and hearing so much enthusiasm for Manos Silk Blend, I ordered a skein from Violet Green (online store). Ohhhh, it's lovely! This thing I've got with silk content at the moment is getting a little worrying;o)

Isn't it gorgeous??

Festive gifts and greetings....

2008-12-23T18:30:00.014Z

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)

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!!).

Forest Canopy Shawl - by Susan Lawrence
Knitted in Fyberspates Scrumptious DK

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)

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?

Forest Canopy Cowl - by Susan Lawrence

Knitted in Artesano Hummingbird

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.

Wishing all health and happiness over the festive season and may the coming year bring all you wish for and need...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO US ALL!

Thank you for your support and inspiration over the past year

Winter warmers

2008-11-27T21:22:00.005Z

The weather here has turned blustery and wintry. Perfect weather for encouraging me to finish Loppem? Errr, sadly no. Once the pattern errors were sorted out via the Berroco errata page, Loppem 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 February Lady sweater languishing in the corner. Hopefully, I'll get my act (and needles!) in gear over the weekend:o)

Loppem

So what does the avoidant finisher do in this situation? Of course, start another project! I've cast on a Forest Canopy shawl and if it turns out well, it'll be part of mum's Christmas present. The yarn completely lives up to its name - Fyberspates Scrumptious DK yarn in Moss colourway.

Fyberspates Scrumptious DK
Forest Canopy Shawl

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 blobbish 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 cowl and I'm hopeful that there should be enough yarn to make one of those too.

ooOoo

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?

Loppem and lurgey...

2008-11-09T20:49:00.013Z

Needing knitting diazepam after the EZ debacle, I was lulled into casting on Loppem by Norah Gaughan. Loppem is a gorgeous fairly unstructured pattern with cable accents, in worsted/aran weight, which looked a dream to knit.

Loppem by Norah Gaughan

Collection 3 - Woodland Gothic

There are a fair number of errors in the original pattern (including cable errors and shaping) and the corrections are here. For anyone planning to knit Loppem, it's would also be worthwhile reading this Ravelry thread before starting out.

Sorry about the short entry... Normal service will be resumed when I've recovered fully from the dreaded viral thingie 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!).

Vini, vidi, vici ...

2008-10-19T16:22:00.013+01:00

... 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.

February Baby Sweater on Two Needles

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 boogley eyed with the whole blooming process), there are some helpful guidelines and information here on Ravelry. I genuinely don't want to see anyone else struggle with a project - but the knowledge that I'm not the only Zimmerman-dozyhead did keep me going!

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)

On the other hand, Norah Gaughan's patterns suit my need for detailed instruction much better - and look what arrived in the post this week, Norah Gaughan Collection 3. The booklet contains a number of beautiful patterns - including Loppem, Eastlake Sweater and East Scarf.

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(

ooOoo

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 Methotrexate. That explanation seems to fit for me ... the higher the Methotrexate dose has gone, the more knackered I've felt! He's writing to the Rheumatologist to ask that the Methotrexate be stopped and that the new anti-tnf's are considered.... Roll on my appointment in December!

00Ooo

Just wanted to end with a picture that represents an issue most parents will recognise - sibling rivalry.
Islay's sister came over to play! They are both arguing over Islay's favourite toy ... and looks like her sister's winning! Look at those teeth!

Elizabeth Zimmerman....

2008-10-12T12:50:00.009+01:00

... and I are not friends at the moment! I'd great plans of whipping up a little February Sweater on Two Needles 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(

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 still 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, terri!)....
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.

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!

However, there are positives from this experience:

I have new friends on Ravelry

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.

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?

ooOOO

Look no further if less than keen on reptiles!

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'...

Saying hello for the first time

Friendships made

(Female at back; male in foreground)

Sitting pretty?

Hangdog made me do it!

2008-10-04T21:19:00.008+01:00

HangdogBlethers looked at me beseechingly, sending telepathic dog-waves saying that we were both in need of some retail therapy. How could I say no!

So the two of us set off on some serious Internet browsing and found some absolute treasures!
Firstly, some gorgeous yarn from Fyberspates

The colours are beautiful - muted, soft greens with soft browns. Fingers crossed this is destined to become a Forest Canopy shawl (by Susan Lawrence), a Christmas 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!

One of my colleagues is expecting a little granddaughter to arrive at any moment and the poor mum has had quite a difficult pregnancy. 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 affinity with the February Lady Sweater, I reckoned the Baby Sweater on 2 needles, by Elizabeth Zimmermann, 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 Ravelry. Thank you, button!

A little more bedtime reading fell into my shopping cart, making its way recently from the States. For anyone who likes aran patterns, this comes highly recommended with a fantastic range of patterns. There are several projects I'd like to tackle .... ohhhh for a 45 hour day!!!

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!

ooOoo

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 MissBletherTheElder's bed. The bag did say it was re-usable and Louise and certainly put it to good use!

ooOoo

A very special thank you to terri who very generously sent me an award (blushing like a school girl here!). Please check out terri's blog to see the fabulous knits she creates ... and the nearly-most-handsome dog in the world. Sorry, terri, my 3 would never forgive me if I publicly announced Scooby was better looking;o)

ET go home

2008-09-27T11:28:00.003+01:00

MissBlethersTheElder 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 bloomin' vest, mum!". She asked for a February Lady Sweater 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 'Lavender'. MissBTE did not shift from her "blue" stance. Without further ado, please welcome Miss BTE's PURPLE cardigan;o)

February Lady Sweater - Part 2

Started 16/8/08 -Finished 5/9/08

Size: XXS

Needles: US 8 / 5.0 mm
Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool
Skeins: 4 skeins = 880.0 yards (804.7m)
Colorway: 8888 Lavender

ooOoo

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)

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!!

Had I known....

2008-09-20T15:22:00.006+01:00

... 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 woolly wonders in May!! MissBlethersTheElder 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).

So Called Scarf

Needle and yarn details:
Needle: US 11 / 8.0 mm
Yarn: Palette (100% wool, purchased at HobbyCraft, Newport)
How much: 4 skeins (50g)
Colorway: Very Grape

Pattern designed by Allison Isaccs

Lookie! I managed to link for the first time! Thanks to the lovely Franney and Jo for their linkage support;o)

A long time coming!

2008-09-10T14:25:00.011+01:00

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 (just as well the old ego is not tooo fragile, isn't it?) and told me to take 2 weeks off work to rest. I've done as I was told - MrB 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 WIPs amassed over recent months (who are you kidding, Blogblethers ... several years!!)

One down, several more to go!

Noro Top with short sleeves

Designed by Jenny Watson in Noro Designer Mini Knits

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, Colour 264
Skeins: Pattern called for 4 but I purchased 5 skeins to ensure colour around the neck line
Size: L
Started: January 2008 and e-v-e-n-t-u-a-l-l-y finished September 2008!!

ooOoo

The lovely Aknita ( http://aknitasknits.blogspot.com) touched me greatly by nominating me for The Brillante Weblog award. Am not sure about you, but I never feel quite blog-worthy enough to be acknowledged in such a lovely way... H0wever, I just wanted to say thank you to Aknita 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!

Without further ado, I'd like to 'pass on the honours' to some bloggers who brighten up my cyber reading!

The Rules:
The rules for award acceptance are as follows:
1. The winner can put the logo on his/her website/blog.
2. Add a link to the person who gave you this award.
3. Nominate at least 7 other websites/blogs.
4. Provide links of the nominated websites/blogs.
5. Leave a message at each website owner that you´ve nominated.

My nominees, in no particular order, are:
1. a little fuzzy (http://alittlefuzzy.wordpress.com)
2. All fingers and thumbs (http://allfingersandthumbs.blogspot.com)
3. Clickety Clack (http://cyclingknitter.blogspot.com/)
4. fluffyknitting (http://fluffyknitting.blogspot.com)
5. Irish eyes (http://irisheyesknitters.blogspot.com)
6. Riggwelter's (http://riggwelter.wordpress.com)
7. two knits of ivory (http://twoknitsofivory.blogspot.com)

One day I'll master this linking business!

It may be September, but...

2008-09-02T17:13:00.008+01:00

... it's cold enough for February!

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 www.flintknits.com. It's an extremely clearly written pattern and can be modified to suit personal tastes very easily.

I finished off this one recently and have made notes of the modifications I made as I went along:

Started: 19/7/08

Finished: 15/8/08

Yarn: New Lanark Mills Donegal Silk Tweed Aran in Cobalt

Quantity: approximately 650g

Raglan increases:
I replaced the original m1's to yo's instead. This eliminated the need to work with stitch markers.

Garter stitch yoke:
Added an extra 11 rows of garter stitch after the increase row to accommodate my "hearty beauties"!

Button holes:
Added a 4th button hole to draw the yoke in more at the chest and to create more shape at the bust line.

Eyelet row:
Removed the eyelets and used kfb instead as didn't want the small row of eyelets above the gull stitch pattern.

Gull pattern:
Completed 20 patterns of the gull stitch (4 row pattern) for main part of the body.

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?

ooOoo

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.

Sabbatical and scenery

2008-08-23T15:11:00.003+01:00

The sabbatical is over! The blogger returns... Be warned, this entry is picture heavy - but that'll save you having to cope with too much havering from blogblethers! The girls and I have just returned from a short trip "home" to Argyllshire. We stayed in a cottage on the banks of Lock Eck, about 12 miles from Dunoon. Even on overcast rain-threatening days, the scenery is glorious.

The view from the decking as you stepped out the cottage door
Isn't it strange how sometimes you have to leave before you truly appreciate the beauty of your home area?

There has been some action on the needles too following a fallow period where not ONE stitch was done in nearly three months. Thank you February Lady Sweater for prompting needle activity again! Photo's to follow...

Happy Easter!

2008-03-25T14:07:00.007Z

Hope everyone's had a lovely Easter break and managed to escape the dreaded lurgey that's going around... Me? Well, me and my Sudafed are best friends at the moment. I was off on annual leave last week and was smitten on Tuesday/Wednesday and spent the remainder of the week in bed, surrounded by boxes of tissues and a big po sorry-for-myself face;) However, there has been some progress on the knitting front...

The socks for DD1's boyfriend are now finished and all ready for his birthday. They have been washed and blocked since this picture was taken and look a lot neater (though no less bright!) now.

I had cast on the Textured Cardigan, by Sarah Hatton, from the Rowan Studio Issue 8. I'd been smitten by the style of this cardigan and had rushed out and bought Rowan Felted Tweed to cast on ... This was a sub though as Scottish Tweed was the recommended yarn for the pattern. The Felted Tweed is beautifully soft and I can't see it being scratchy on the skin. However, the love affair was short lived! Part of the beauty of this yarn, for me, is the little flecks of colour running through the yarn. Ms Anally-Retentive didn't feel that the reverse stocking stitch showed the flecks of colour to best advantage... so frogged the project:( I decided to cast on Bizet (Colinette Cadenza pattern) and I am much happier with this project. I've nearly completed the back and will hopefully have the back cast off before heading back to work on Thursday if lurgey has subsided a little more....

Progress on the back

Close-up of the border

Those wee flecks!

I've also been purchasing thanks to the wonderfully enabling Terri, fellow member on Crafty Yarns n Threads forum. Isn't this droolworthy - Kilcarra Aran yarn? The top picture is fairly close to the actual yarn colour. This is destined to become a Tangled Yoke cardigan if I hit the guage right! If not, I'm hot footing it out to buy more Felted Tweed (shhhhh don't tell MrB, who is the picture of restraint with my already bulging bags of yarn balancing precariously on top of our wardrobes).

Kilcarra Aran

Finally, I'm not the only person who has been dossing aimlessly around on the Blether's beds this week! Meet Marmalade! Obviously all puckered out on DD's bed after a hard night on the prowl:)

Life's hard, eh??

Birthday boy footwear...

2008-03-09T20:36:00.003Z

DD1's boyfriend has been hankering for a pair of socks for ages. With his birthday soon approaching, I decided to cast on the first pair of socks I've done since LAST March! I can't believe it's been so long! The yarn is from the newest Rainforest range - Rainforest 3, Veronica die Wilde.

I've used the basic sock pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks (Charlene Schurch) but with the following modifications:

changed the plain heel to k1, Slip1 (Is that the Eye of Partridge heel or am I making that name up??)
lost the garter stitch edging at the edge of the heel. I've yet to make a tidy job of that whilst picking up the stitches again:(

One done and the 2nd is cast on. Better get a crack on if he's to have a pair for his birthday!

THANK YOU ...

2008-02-24T14:36:00.006Z

DREAMCATCHER!

I was lucky enough to have signed up to dreamcatcher's (Knitty in Pink) PIF and just look what arrived in the mail yesterday!

Here it is, wrapped beautifully, and just oozing promise and temptation...

And in it's naked glory!!

What can I say?? I just love it! Thank you so much for making it for me, dreamcatcher. The cowl is just perfect - I couldn't have chosen a better shade and it's pefect for keeping my neck cosy, especially when my joints flair up badly as I often get a sore neck then. Dreamcatcher used the "Pashmina Cowl" pattern from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts", using Stroud Wool in "Solent" shade. Having seen this pattern knitted up now, I KNOW I'll be making another one too as it's ideal for the windswept Welsh valleys where I work ... I've used Stroud wool before for a pair of socks for OH and can't tell you how soft it is. Dreamcatcher included the rest of the yarn to be used to knit a wee sock for the Keychain Sock Blocker set she's included. I love key rings and can't wait to cast this one on (but am FORCING myself to wait till I've completed DD1's boyfriend's birthday socks)

Dreamcatcher also included Fairtrade Burnt Sugar Chocolate Crumbly Fudge which will not last long in the Blether's Household and I've already fended off all attempts by the under-2o's to sneak them out! OH has a thing for fudge too - it's his favourite and he's been eyeing it up all afternoon.

Finally, dreamcatcher included a stunning handcrafted card by Carrie Anne Designs.

Thank you again, dreamcatcher! I'd spent all day yesterday in bed with a howling migraine ... you certainly made my weekend and I'm so chuffed with my pressie!

Hat's off to.....

2008-02-17T20:57:00.008Z

Two posts in a couple of days? Well, at least my blogging inconsistency remains consistent;)

MissB is sulking that more of my blogging/knitting comrades want to adopt the dog, rather than her! Bless her, it should come as no real surprise ... look at Abbie, the mutt's cheeky wee expression, makes her so much more adoptable;) Anyway, here's slightly better pictures of the 2 hats (especially for dreamcatcher).

Sirdar Eco DK Lacy Beret

Sirdar Eco DK Lacy Pull-on hat

Knitted in one colour and minus knitted flower applique

Lacy pull-on hat crown

On the eureeka-moment knitting front, the end of the dirge that is the Blue Mile is nearing! I've just got the sleeves to sew in and then seam it up! Halleluiah!! It's a nice enough style but, OMG, what a drag to knit! However, pictures of my knitting nightmare should be posted by next weekend:) One wee disaster on the last leg... In need of legal stimulation (coffee!), I placed my knitting on the settee to pop off to put on the kettle. There it sat, resplendant on its Brittany Birch needles... Then the daft pup decided to take her favourite squeaking pig toy onto the sett ee for a good old maul and chew. Leaping like an Olympic athlete, she dived on to the sofa, landing straight on top of the Brittany needles, snapping one of them in two:( I'd to finish knitting it on lopsided, non-matching needles...

Angie ( http://jazzycrafts.blogspot.com) made my day, and got me blushing ... she's given me an award!

Thank you, Angie - I'm really chuffed and love watching what you're up to on the crafty front. Am off now to decide who to nominate others who inspire me and make my day too...

Adoption anyone??

2008-02-15T18:16:00.004Z

Hmmmpphhh! All week, I've encouraged and cajoled (read nagged!) DD1 to take pics of her new hats knitted in Sirdar Eco wool. Do you think this young woman treats her mother's request in a manner appropriate to the knitting world?? Here's what she took:

Anyone want to adopt a sassy 19 year old??

Knitting for ... pleasure!

2008-01-27T14:21:00.000Z

Two weeks since I last blogged and just where to begin!

I've scarcely done any knitting over the past fortnight but have reflected a little on how I've used our hobby/passion over the past few months... Knitting, as I'm sure it does for many of us, has always been a source of relaxation and stress reduction for me - you become wholly absorbed in the creative process, don't you (unless its the dreaded Blue Mile jumper!!)?

SS2 had been living with us for the last 16 months or so. I use the word 'live' loosely as, to be brutally honest, it's felt far closer to 'survive' than anything else. I'm not going to go into specific details - but it does set the scene a little when I say I went into work in an acute mental health setting as a respite from our life here:( During this time, I often hid myself each night in the bedroom, knitting like fury and almost for sanity salvation, whilst remaining hyper vigilant to any sounds that came from outside my room ...

The long and short of it is that SS decided he no longer wanted to live with boundaries and reasonable rules and has returned to his mother's on a permanent basis. The change in our home is already amazing .... MrB and I can sleep during the night; MrB is able to go out to work for more than an hour at a time (helpful when you're self employed!); DD2 had her friends stay overnight this weekend; stress levels are way reduced ... We have had one crisis since though - MrB was admitted to hospital in the middle of the night last weekend with breathing difficulties. He was on oxygen and a nebuliser for much of the week but is now back home, armed with an inhaler. I'd to give him 'breathing/ inhaling' lessons when he got home - with both of us on the settee puffing away at our Salbutamol! Who says romance is dead;) PHEW! That's more than I planned to say .... but it's said! The other big change is that I'm knitting again for pleasure, rather than for sanity:)

That said, my paltry efforts to date have been these:

1) There's been some progress on the Blue Dingy Mile. Back and front are both done and sleeves will be cast on today.
2) DD1 asked for a knitted mobile phone cozy ... and here it is! I think it's a 4 ply Posh yarn - I snapped it up from a fellow forum member on Crafty Threads n' Yarns (Thank you, Pictish!). The pattern was designed by Nancy Mathews and is available at http://homepages.nyu.edu/~nw8/ . I made a couple of little changes - a toggle and plaited hoop were added as fasteners. MissB has requested another already!

I posted it as my January entry to the Crafty Threads n'Yarns new yearly challenge... rather than making a pair of socks per month, we are attempting to make any item with sock yarn.

Sounds great fun - though doubt I'll manage any more than my less-than-overwhelming total of THREE items last year:)

3) There's only the neckband and sewing up to be done on the Noro short sleeves cardi.

I visited the LYS yesterday to purchase an additional ball of the Silk Garden for the neckline. There was only the neutral, nondescript grey section of the yarn left from each of the original balls and I really want to have some of the teal and green on show...

My stashalong is going as well as always;) I succumbed and assisted Terri (http://terriknits.blogspot.com) with her de-stashing and bought the most beautiful Kilcarra arran (picture to be posted when the lovely squishy parcel arrives).

I've fancied knitting Pin Up Queen, from Stitch 'n Bitch The Knitter's Handbook, for some time and the delightful Murdo (http://piratepurls.blogspot.com) has helped me with library/pattern enhancement:)

I'd also been ogling at Sirdar's new Eco DK and had a smooze with it at the LYS. I fancied the Cabled Yoke cardi from the accompanying pattern book, but am less and less sure now. What do you think? To my mind the sleeves and the way the body attaches to the bodice looks a little lumpy??? And I am insightful enough to know that the Blether's body requires no additional bumps;) However, DD1 has placed a further order from the pattern book - the lace beret.

Fingers crossed and needles at the ready, we may have a FO by next weekend!

Colour therapy...

2008-01-13T15:59:00.000Z

Phew ... mid January already! Like many others in blogland have already said, I find much of January a flat, dismal driech month. Those endless days of steely grey, heavy skies ... the cold ... rain ... all seem to impact my mood a little and there's not much pleasure in reading about it here is there? However, there is one brighter, happier note always in this drab month too - DD1's birthday. Tomorrow my young lady turns 19 years old and has achieved much over the past year - she completed her A levels and gained a place at University, studying for a BA in Business Excellence; she passed her driving test and bought herself her first car; she's continued to work part-time and has recently announced her engagement. I thought that I'd managed to pass on my aversion to the marital status - but MsB is obviously less cynical in the romantic front than me;) Her presents are to be wrapped tonight and, one year, the poor lamb will receive gifts that are NOT wrapped in Christmas paper - but the tradition will continue for this year at least!

Whilst some folk have signed up to Project Spectrum to inject colour into these dreary months, I didn't feel able to commit to such a long term project. Instead, I have developed my own version of this colour/life enhancing strategy ... I've cast on another project! I'm knitting a short sleeved cardigan from a Noro pattern book I'd not come across before, Noro Designer Mini Knits by Jenny Wilson.

The pattern is really straightforward and is knitted in Noro Silk Garden. I've used a couple of other Noro yarns (Kureyon, Blossom and Iro) before and have found Silk Garden much softer on the fingers than others used in the past. The stitches are to be picked up around the neck and the seams sewn and that'll be my first big FO for 2008!

This colour filled inspiration came about in my LYS, Yarns N Yarns (Penarth, Cardiff). Having popped in there to buy a set of dpn's to cast on Jitterbug socks, I succumbed and bought the Noro yarn and pattern book. 2 pairs of bamboo straight pins also fell into the basket and THESE! I love these buttons and have no clue yet what project will eventually be knitted around them .... but till then I'm just going to enjoy looking at and loving them!

DD1 has 'encouraged' (read 'pestered', 'nagged' or 'cajoled') me to return to the dreaded Blue Mile project - the pseudonym for the Sirdar Sweater Dress pattern she wants finished. There has been progress on this front too and it's to be my 2nd FO for this year. The back and most of the front are completed...

I'm not sure where I went wrong with the girls .... they both love knitted boredom, or to subject me to those type of projects:( DD2, the Princess of Chavsville, never asks for any knitted items usually - but had requested that mum produce a white, garter stitch scarf. Here it is!

The yarn is a chenille-type baby yarn purchased from Hobbycraft, Newport and I used 3 out of the 4 purchased balls to get the length MissB desired. The same yarn was purchased in a baby pink shade to make a similar version for her elder sister ... and it'll be cast on the next time I need a knitting lobotomy:)

Happy New Year and Happy Knitting to us all!

2007-12-30T22:56:00.000Z

Nooooo, this is not the first project off the needles for Christmas 2008! I just wanted to post a picture of the more 'manly' cloths completed for my 2 male colleagues in amongst the sea of lace that was my last posting. I'm not sure how clearly this picture has turned out ... but if you have several glasses of wine and squint, you can clearly see Santa's face;) The pattern was very cleverly created by KrisKnits (http://krisknits.blogspot.com/2007/12/that-one-last-gift.html). Kris's photo's show the design much more favourably than my cr*p lighting (doh ... you would think I'd know better than try to take pictures at nearly 11pm on a winter's evening!) and duff photography!

Like many of us in the knitting community, I've been thinking back over the past year and reflecting on the joy of new friendships and skills. The online community, even before Ravelry, has inspired me so much over the past year ... thank you all! This year, I've tackled new skills and tried existing, almost forgotten, skills including:

done a provisional cast on
used picot edging
improved my finishing techniques and mastered mattress stitch
learned the value of swatching (better 30+ years late than never!)
blocked finished garments
tried felting - on purpose rather than by mistake
become reacquainted with cable and lace work
tried mini-programming whilst tweaking at blog format
done a little stash enhancement;)

I wonder what the coming year will bring us all - but want to wish health, happiness and fascinating projects to us all.

Nearly Yo Ho Ho!

2007-12-22T17:32:00.000Z

Thank you all for words of encouragement with the face flannel challenge - really appreciate them and hope that you're all having success with your own festive projects.

Hot off the needles are the first 11 of the required 16... ready to be wrapped with beautiful handmade soaps purchased from Etsy sellers.

Fiber Trends Bathing Beauties - Ribbon Lace Pattern

The lace edging was done as a provisional cast on - the first time I've done this.

Fiber Trends Bathing Beauties - Leaf Lace pattern

NightlyKnitter's Lotzastitches Lean to the Right pattern (lotzastitches.blogspot.com)

NightlyKnitter's Lotzastitches Lean to the Left flannel (lotzastitches.blogspot.com)

The collection!

All steam to your needles for those Christmas FO's!

Bah humbug

2007-12-12T23:20:00.000Z

On the 12th day of Christmas

Blog Blethers said desperately ....

Who decided to knit 16 lacey 4 ply face cloths for Christmas gifts??

Yep, me....

9 down, 7 more to go!

Back to the knitting;)

Before and after

2007-11-25T13:56:00.000Z

The weather conspired against earlier posting of the felted Ringo Bag. At last, there was a gap in the driech weather we've been having in South Wales and a 2 minute glipse of sun amongst the storm clouds set me running for the camera... much to the amusement of the service users who were in the department at the time!

The 'before' and 'after' pictures...
After felting - 2 60 degree cycles (agitated with 2 pairs of jeans and a pair of crocs!)

And before the felting process:
Last night, DD1 and I went to the cinema to see August Rush. Taste in films is probably as personal as our varying preferences for yarn ... but cinematic critique from both of us is DON'T rush to view August Rush. We both found the characters pretty unconvincing and neither of us particularly empathised with any of the 3 main characters. The male adults Irish accents were naff.... Need this grumpy Barry Normina carry on?? I kept sneaking peaks at DD1 ... to find her looking at me and laughing that we were sitting through such tosh! Maybe DD2 had seen other reviews as she just giggled as she declined the cinema offer, saying she'd rather watch paint dry ... or wind skeins for me (and I know just HOW much she loves that particular activity!).

Ever feel that you're losing your marbles? I spent all day yesterday on a marathon, frantic house cleaning - and made a point of getting up early this morning to finish. My aunt and uncle were planning to visit and I couldn't cope with them arriving to the long-term building site that we call home... As the morning wore on, I thought it's strange they haven't called to give an approximation of their arrival time - so ventured back to check their email. They're coming on DECEMBER 3rd!! Och well, at least the house will only need a tickle of housework for their visit NEXT weekend:)
DD1 took this photo on her mobile of our daft middle dog, Molly. As you can see, Molly is absolutely intrigued by DD1's rats - she sits for hours, staring at their cage, without moving. She makes no attempts to harm them at all. Obviously, Ratty decided to be sociable and say 'Hello'!

Wash rags and bags

2007-11-18T18:10:00.000Z

What a grotty day we've had in South Wales today - with torrential rain, howling winds and semi-darkness all day! However, there's always a silver lining - I managed to drag DD2 to Hobbycraft this afternoon and she tholed the experience the best she could:) Albeit that included skulking around the end of all the display aisles in case her friends saw her in the wool lane! No number of reassurances that, should she be seen, it was because her friends' mothers had dragged them to Hobbycraft too and that they too were sharing her social humiliation:)

Bless her, DD2 seems to feature less in the blog than her elder sister - but for no other reason other than she mostly refuses to be seen in 'mum knits'. She has been badgering over the last few weeks and I have done my best to ignore her pleas for her desired project... a white, garter stitch scarf in some form of chunky wool. I know, fellow knitters, my heart sank too! But I'm casting on tonight and will thole the knitting experience in the hope that it converts her to more exciting projects in the future:(

And of more pleasurable projects:

The West Side Raglan has been worn to work and is the warmest, cosiest jumper I have. To be honest though, I reckon it'll require wearing with a t-shirt underneath as the Manos is a little itchy when directly on the skin ... or at least my delicate, uber-sensitive skin (C'mon part of me has to be delicate!!).

I've felted the Ringo Bag, pattern by Sue Morgan. This was a lovely straightforward knit, using Noro Kureyon. I had been thinking of it being one of my PFI gifts but am not entirely happy with it. The felting process went smoothly enough and has softened up the colours a little. I'm dithering over the size of the handles now that the bag has been felted - I feel they look too large now:( Here it is in it's pre-felted stated and I'll post the post-felted look once the weather clears enough to allow photography.

However, if I'm not entirely happy with it, I'd be uncomfortable gifting it and have already come up with another project instead. And I now have a new project bag with BIG handles!

I've been busy too making wash cloths. I'm using the Fiber Trends Bathing Beauties patterns - Leaf Lace and Ribbon Lace patterns. I'll be seeing these patterns in my sleep as I'm making 16 of them for Christmas gifts for my workmates, along with hand made soaps I've purchased from Etsy sellers.

Snug as a bug!

2007-11-11T14:39:00.000Z

All stitched up and ready for the chilly winds we've had recently...

The West Side Raglan, pattern by Oat Couture, was a really straight forward and pleasant knit. I love the raglan/ squarish neckline as I look a right eejit in a high or polo neck style - curses for short necks;) I loved the Manos del Uruguay and will be looking for other projects to knit in this yarn again.

Modifications:
Body: knitted the body in the round to avoid as much seaming as possible and added 2" to body length
Sleeves: shortened the proposed length slightly as I hate it when the sleeve extends beyond my upper wrist.

Craftybernie, I followed your guidance and am ALL clickable this post ... you're a star! Thank you:)

One Man and His .... Sam the Ram!

2007-11-04T19:52:00.000Z

Still on a reading front, more books! This time of the knittery variety though! Despite the recent postal strike, these wee beauties popped through the letter box to add to the Blethers 'library' and ever increasing to-do lists...Firstly, the Knit 'n Style magazine, December 2006 which wung its way over from the States (I couldn't track down a UK seller). I fell in love with the Diamond Cable jacket that A Little Fuzzy(http://fuzzylittleblog.blogspot.com) recently completed and the pattern was from this magazine. To be honest, I can't really see myself make any of the other projects from this edition ... in fact, many others seem to come into the Yarn Howler category (ooooh, I'm sorry if I've offended ... taste is such a personal thing, isn't it?). My next purchase and temptation comes via Debbie Bliss's Rialto pattern book. I'd been drooling over some of the Catriona projects underway on Ravelry... and it seems fated, given that my sister is called Catriona. I'm itching to cast on but am behaving till at least 3 more WIP's become FO's!! Silver Bells were ringing from the recent VOGUEknitting and I am also drooling over the Ribbed Multidirectional Tunic...
Stefanie Japel's (from Fitted Knits) Back to School U necked Tank looks to be one of those quick and guaranteed satisfaction knits and I'm still badgering DD1 to let me cast it on for her. There are a number of other patterns in this book that look interesting projects. My only dilemma is that the fitting may not be such a brilliant idea for me, given my recent meandering away from the GI diet plan:( Most of the patterns are designed to accentuate curves... Now, whilst I do have curves, they are unfortunately not the type that you necessarily wish to attract all eyes too;) Last Minute Knitted Gifts, Joelle Hoverson, has some beautiful ideas for pressies and wrapping to complement the gifts. This book has the pattern for the 'must have' Chevron Scarf - and, at some point, I must have that scarf!

Brigitte is my favourite pattern in the Sublime book and looks like an easy knit (all my brain can cope with at the present time!). Carica and Alva, both made in Colinette Banyan, are also very much on my lust list just now!I'd mentioned that DD1 has recently passed her driving test. Having spent 18 years keeping my cherub safe and being responsible for her well-being for all these years, what a weird experience putting my life into her hands the other day! Bless her, she drove the 2 of us to return some clothing items to a large supermarket nearby. Her boyfriend fulfilled all the role demands of the 'back seat driver' - allowing me to sit silently and blamelessly in the front passenger seat as he gave direction and instruction from the rear;) At the end of our short journey, MissB was quite tight lipped but with vastly increased insight! For months, DD1 had sat in the front passenger seat as I drove. Her party piece was to screech 'Commit!' as I approached EVERY junction, right turn, traffic light .... She now is all too aware just how infuriating that was!!
Anyway, in the spirit of mutual driving and familial bonds, I have agreed to make her Sam the Ram for her car. Isn't he fab??? The pattern was designed by Rita O'Connell and is available from 3kittensNeedlesArt. This Sam was knitted by Knittingpark (www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sam-the-ram) and more details are available on her Raverly profile. I don't know if anyone else has ordered much from the 3kittensNeedlesArt site? I've recently ordered several patterns from there and can't recommend them highly enough. Their customer service is second to none!Look at these 3 though - think there's any chance of them rounding up any sheep???? Nah ... nor do I!!

There has been some progress on the knitting front too. I've spent all day sewing up West Side Raglan and will post pictures later in the week. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out and reckon it'll get lots of use. I did giggle when I saw in my earlier entry that I'd managed to re-name the pattern as the West End Raglan .... a bit of Glaswegian twang and lingo seepage there methinks! I've finished another 2 projects too but they were completed for my PIF and won't post those pictures until the items are safe in the hands of their recipients. Fingers crossed they like them as much as I've enjoyed making them...

This week's distractions

2007-10-07T15:13:00.000+01:00

DD1 and I have been to Borders! What a lovely environment to daunder through, mulling till your hearts content ... over Starbucks and cake. Bliss! I'm about to start Small Island by Andrea Levy. The book, according to the back cover, is set in England in 1948 and "explores a point in England's past when the country began to change... handles the weighty themes of empire, prejudice, war and love, with a superb lightness of touch and generosity of spirit".

DD1 is reading The Memory Keeper's Daughter, written by Kim Edwards. The blurb on the back says "It should have been an ordinary birth, the start of an ordinary happy family. But the night Dr David Henry delivers his wife's twins is a night that will haunt five lives for ever. For though David's son is a healthy boy, his daughter has Down's syndrome. And, in a shocking act of betrayal ... "

On the knitting front, there have also been several book purchases and these are currently winging their way from Amazon and a seller in the States. All will be revealed when they arrive ... Oh blessed Post Office workers - I don't really have an issue with your grievances, but am so looking forward to receiving my 'books with pictures - of the knitting kind' when your action is over!

West Side Raglan is cast on and so far is being a delightful, hassle free project. It's the first time I've used Manos del Uruguay and it won't be the last! I love the slightly slubby textures and the colours in the variegation. I've made some modifications to the pattern and have fingers crossed that it'll all work out! I've used circular needles to knit the back and front ... anything to avoid as much of the dreaded sewing up as possible!

West End Raglan in Manos

There is progress too on Tide, pattern by Louisa Harding, in The Beachcomber Bay Design Collection. The yarn is Garnstudio Muskat - an Egyptian cotton which creates a really pretty drape.

Tide in Muskat

MrB remains in the 'sulky corner', huffily maintaining that 'satin's where it's at in the land of bedding'. Of course it is, hun ... if you like cold feet, like to live dangerously entering and leaving your sleeping area, can cope with your partner and the cyber knitting world giggling at your naff taste .... So, in order to maintain marital relationships (without getting married!) of any description, I'm appeasing MrHuffles with a new pair of socks;) This is the Baby Cable Rib sock pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks and the yarn is one of the Trekking yarns. I love the way its knitting up and the muted colours ... I'd like it even better if I could remember the yarn's blessed name!

And just to prove there's been no enhancement of my photography skills since my last entry, here's my most recent failed arty-farty shot! You've gotta give it to a girl for trying in the face of ongoing skills deficits!!And finally, I'm now in Ravelry, having received my invitation a couple of days ago. I'm angieknitsagain there - please come and say hello when you're online there! My thoughts on Ravelry?? Well ...

It's huge!

I love seeing the patterns knitted up in different yarns

It can be really helpful seeing patterns modelled on fellow knitters. ie. REAL humans with lumps and bumps just like mine!

It's already added about another 20 patterns to my 'HAVE to knit before I die' (melodramatic, moi???) list

It's led to increased friction between DD1/DD2 (I don't like wool, mum!) and I. I see a pattern that I want to knit but they don't want to wear it:(

Although a wonderful resource, I'd miss the interaction of forums and blogland too much to spend all my time on Ravelry. Besides, I need to spend some time KNITTING rather than merely ogling knitted projects...

Wooly warmth

2007-09-30T00:41:00.000+01:00

There's a definite nip in the air which has seen me scurrying for woolly warmth! Despite my 'extra padding', I feel the cold terribly and become an even more miserable, cantankerous old biddie when chilled;) The heating is switched on in the evening and I am spending cosy nights browsing through patterns to keep the cold at bay. The West End Raglan is destined to hit the needles next. The pattern was purchased from Yarns by Design ( http://www.yarnsbydesign.com) and I really recommend them. The pattern wung its way across the Atlantic very quickly and the seller was really helpful. One other plus point for this particular pattern is that it comes with directions for both worsted and chunky yarn - so, plenty of scope to sub a variety of yarns.

I'm planning to use this - Manos del Uruguay (Shade 8891). Isn't it just glorious?? I love the muted autumnal shades and this worsted yarn is so soft to the touch! I bought it on eBay from alpacaandcats, Peak Wool store, who's an absolute gem. I'm hoping that she doesn't mind me plagiarising her photo!

DD1 has had an eventful week - she started her university course on Monday and is looking somewhat shell shocked by the experience! She also re-sat her driving test on Friday and passed!! Bless her - you have to give it to her, she IS a trier!! Brief conversation took place on Friday evening as follows:

DD1: "Don't suppose there's any chance I can borrow your car, mum?"

Me: "Nope!"

I'm not really being a horrid mum (though the kids might debate that!). We had priced the insurance on mine and MrB and I nearly required hospital treatment when we were given the quotes! So, it'll be off to the auctions soonish to find a Group 1 insurance rated wee run-around for Madam ... and be warned, she's hitting the roads of South Wales shortly!

Her stressful week was heightened when she had a flash of insight about our similarities ... "Mum, I'm getting just like you. I'd rather be warm than trendy". Please take a few seconds to console this mother with a battered ego and grossly reduced self image;) I'd naively reckoned that, since I'd lost a bit of weight recently, I was looking relatively nifty for a 44 year old! Heck, I'd even bought a skirt from Miss Selfridges (It does have an elastic waist but I'm ignoring that fact for now!) and a jumper from Top Shop! Obviously my daughter reckons differently (lol)! She has realised that there is a weather anomaly on the University of Glamorgan site though. No matter how clement the weather conditions are anywhere else in the UK, her Uni sits on a polar zone - and its either perishing/windblown or hammering it down with rain! Her list of required knits has grown and I'd better be faster on the needle than I have been! She's taken to wearing homemade socks on a daily basis....

These were completed recently and worn the other day. There is a moral to the 2 photos below. The first being - don't let other half loose to buy bedding! He'll come back with kinky satin stuff that (1) is not cosy; (2) means you constantly have to soften the skin on your feet or the sheets snag (too much information??) and (3) should come with a Government Health Warning! You jump in to bed wearing a satin nightie and shoot straight across the bed like a human cannonball, landing in a very unglamorous heap on the floor!! What IS wrong with flannelette, MrB????

The other lesson learned was that I need to take photography lessons! I tried to go all arty here and its not quite Lord Lichfield quality, is it? The yarn is Regia Surfer. It has a lovely sheen and is softer to the touch than Opal yarn.Finishing off with my 'mutton dressed as lamb' theme here, I've succumbed to another current trend and bought a pair of Crocs! These little beauties were purchased on eBay (nope, I don't have eBay shares ... but maybe I should!) for a bargainous £18.99. Shoes can be a real nightmare for me - various joints on my feet flare up with the arthritis, so what's comfy one day can feel like walking on glass the following day... I'm not sure if I'm a Croc convert yet, but they'll be just dandy for our forthcoming SUMMER holiday (in October!!). However, the Crocs have incited powerful feelings in the Blethers household - everyone else hates them!
I came home from work the other night to find MrB trying to convince the pup that my Crocs were, in fact, a chewie bone and encouraging her to gnaw them!! It's just as well we're not married, I'd have divorced him then;)

PS. Can anyone help me please? I can't seem to get my pics to be 'clickable' to enlarge over the past couple of weeks ... and haven't a clue where I'm going wrong. Any suggestions about how I remedy this??? Thank you!

Opulent Opals ...

2007-09-22T23:44:00.000+01:00

For the past few weeks I've been toying with placing myself on a self-imposed stashalong:( My recent purchases vastly outmatch my speed with needles - and, as a result my stash has taken on new proportions. Now, we all have differing views on having 'an immediate availability of beautiful yarns out with shop opening hours': ie. stash! My views differ somewhat from MrB's 'ANOTHER parcel arrived for you today'. Apparently, even the post man has commented that I am keeping him fit carrying squidgy parcels full of promise to the door - and its a lovely bonus the new found kindred spiritedness and developing friendship between between MrB and the postie;)So, when Button (http://www.p2tog.moonfruit.com) posted temptation on the Crafty Threads n Yarns forum, I scrapped my newly made Stashalong Ticker and succumbed to these 2 lovelies from the new Opal Rainforest 3 collection! Aren't they great?

Och well, maybe I should create a ticker about thinking about stashalonging:)

I reckon many of you may be signed up to various Pay It Forward rings - for more background, please check out the entry below. If you're still available and reckon it looks like a fun notion, please feel free to join here. I'd love to have the chance to make a small gift for you and to be part of spreading a little of the knitting camaraderie that exists in our online community... To join, just give me a wee shout here in the comments section!

Pay it forward!

2007-09-20T21:18:00.000+01:00

I came across this lovely concept on Jacquie's blog (http://jacquie.typepad.com/) which just sums up far better than I can, the joy and pleasure in giving. I'm in danger of sounding ancient here but it worries me how society seems to have become so commercialised and focused on getting or receiving, rather than sharing. The act of sharing is still very much alive and well in the knitting community - with folk helping each other willingly with time, their experience and knowledge, sharing patterns ... and I'd love to do my little bit here. I've joined dreamcatcher's PIF buddies - check out her great blog (http://knittyinpink.blogspot.com)! Now, just to get over my neurotic anxieties that my own finished items might not be good enough!!
"It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. You all know I’m already a PIF type of person. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog."

My gifts may be knitted, or may be another craft ... I will do my best to pick something that the recipients would like. So - the first three people to comment and say that they would like to PIF, will be my recipients :-)

I'm really looking forward to being part of this!

The Tide is high (sorry Blondie fans!)

2007-09-16T16:22:00.000+01:00

Having been really impressed by Cazzie's (http://craftythreadsnyarns.myfreeforum.org/about4623.html) and Melody's (http://craftythreadsnyarns.myfreeforum.org/about4508.html) recently completed Tide cardigans, I couldn't resist casting on!The pattern is Tide, by Louisa Harding and is in the Beachcomber Bay Design Collection book. Like both cazzie and Melody, I've extended the length of the original pattern - I've made past mistakes (try full wardrobe loads of fashion faux pas!) buying cropped sweaters and its not a flattering style on me, so have extended mine to include 15 pattern repeats.

The yarn is Muskat, an Egyptian cotton, from Garn Studios. The yarn is incredibly soft and has a beautiful sheen and drape to it. And it's machine washable! Hurrahhhhhh!
View 1

View 2

These last 2 shots are Eloise (a Noro pattern) in Noro Blossom. Eloise, I hope, will be finished in time for autumn chills (though I'm not commiting myself to Autumn 2007 or 2008 at the moment!). I need some help from my knitting friends now ... pretty please! The pics are both of the back piece. However, for the life of me, I just cannot work out whether I go with the knitted pieces as they are meant to be (View 1) or use them 'back to front' (View2) which creates more distinct blocks of colour... Any preferences welcomed!

DON'T SHOW MY FACE!!

2007-09-09T16:19:00.000+01:00

Maybe the morning after the night before is not the best time to persuade DD1 that her services are required to model one her completed tanks ... BUT, hey, why else were mothers put on earth for;) Anyway, she grudgingly obliged - but issued a stark warning that her face was not to be revealed!! This determined request was not to maintain her anonymity; nor because she is mortified that the hip world of the under 19's are confronted by the realisation her mother is a knitter ...

Freedom Spirit 455 pattern book

Longer version tank top

Shade 503 Force

No, the crisis that evoked her command was ... she had NO make-up on!! Bless her, I've obliged anyway as I feared for my well being and household harmony otherwise;)

And a close up of the yarn!

Sun shades required!

2007-09-02T19:22:00.000+01:00

Celandine Tankin Kimona Angora, The Design Collection by Louisa Harding

Freedom Spirit Tank

Force colorway, Twilleys of Stamford

Although I'm still patiently waiting my invitation to join Ravelry, it appears to have had an impact on my knitting life already! Maybe it's the thought of being 'WIP named-and-shamed'... or, more likely, that I've been forced to confront my previous denial about just HOW MANY unfinished objects I have hidden around the Blethers household!!

These 2 tanks have both been OTN for almost a year! Note the somewhat interesting pooling in the Celandine. I've no idea how it came about as there was no change to the pattern at the point - no shaping, decreasing whatsoever. I actually quite like it - it falls just below the arm shaping level and I'm intrigued to see if the same pooling develops on the front when I get to that level. They are destined for DD1's student wardrobe. She picked one yarn and I chose the other .... can you tell who picked what??? My master plan is to have both knitted up and ready for sewing up next weekend!

A pair of wee beauties

2007-08-30T21:20:00.000+01:00

Just wanted to share this wee lovely with you!

Gardening is another passion in the Blethers household - though at times, this year, it would be hard to tell that from the state of my somewhat 'freeform' back garden! Instead, I've settled for gardening of the indoor variety!

I love orchids! I love the exuberance and vibrancy of the colour ... their deceptive fragility (they need to be pretty robust to survive here!) ... the variety of the flowers ... their sophistication ...

A couple of summers ago, we went on holiday to Devon with the entire brood (DD1, DD2, SS1, SS2 and SS3. We should, perhaps, have released an early warning so that the local population could have prepared for our arrival and vastly increased decibel levels!). We found an absolutely fantastic orchid nursery, Burnham Nursery (Newton Abbot). I can't describe the colours and scents of the huge range of orchids they raise - and could happily have spent hours there, had the BlethersBrood not been champing to set off for the Marble factory down the road!

Anyway, MrB recently bought me this one - and, so far, I've not managed to kill it!

Next, surely a case of mis-advertising by TKMaxx!! The store are selling this container as a WINE caddy!! DD1 and I were browsing around the store on a general mooch when I spied this wee beauty. Wine caddy??? Surely not! It absolutely shouted 'NEEDLE CASE' to me. And yehhhhh, it holds loads of 36cm needles perfectly....

[There are a few knitters out there who have had the mis/fortune of observing my knitting style first hand... Yes, of course, I always use 36cm needles - how else would I master the art of being a needle tucker;) !!]

Snuggle in - we're schmoozing!

2007-08-25T23:35:00.000+01:00

I've been Schmoozed!

"Schmoozing is the natural ability “to converse casually, especially in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection. Good schmoozers effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogsphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship".

I'm so touched to have been nominated for this award by the lovely Riggwelter(http://jazzycrafts.blogspot.com). Pop over to her blog and you'll quickly see why I feel that she's in a different class to me. I view myself as a 'maker' ... I can follow a pattern and produce reasonable results. However, Riggwelter is a crafter/artist. I love the scope of all the crafts she undertakes and how she 'sees' potential, whilst I am still stumbling around searching for the blessed pattern!

In turn, I'd like to nominate the following blogs:

Notwithstanding Nicola (http://notnicola.blogspot.com). Nicola, like me, returned to the knitting fold whilst studying (or in my case, avoiding studying!) for her Masters. Her socks are to die for!
All fingers and thumbs (http://allfingersandthumbs.blogspot.com). I've just newly discovered Sarah's blog but will be visiting often to catch up on our shared love of socks and Norah Gaughan's patterns. And just check out Sarah's plum cake!!!
Skein Queen (http://skeinqueen.blogspot.com). A fellow ex-pat Scot ... which is grounds enough for nominating;) But have a look at the gorgeous yarns, SQ makes in her Etsy shop! Just stunning!

All of this has really made me reflect on the importance of the camaraderie of the knitting and blogging communities and just how much I value having you in my life - both in terms of inspiration and support. I've mentioned my health issues in a number of other posts and feel that these have made my contact with fellow bloggers even more significant. As an OT, I spend a lot of time with clients looking at the well-being benefits of meaningful activity, social supports and a healthy work-life balance... The chronic fatigue that is a part of my conditions impacts my own ability to do those things for myself - most nights I come home from work and then am in the land of nod within 15 minutes of walking through the door (NOT a helpful strategy in terms of maintaining a social life!). My contact here with warm, creative folk who share similar interests ... who inspire me and help keep me motivated and focused on things other than joint pain and tiredness (here, I'm selling myself well in the 'cyber mate' department, amn't I???) .... helps keep me sane (even if I do 'chat' with you in the middle of the night!).

On the needles...

2007-08-19T15:10:00.000+01:00

Sirdar Click DK Pattern 8954

Sirdar Click DK Yarn - shade 0147

Now that MissBlether's (DD1) future is secured at university, she has decided that she needs a new wardrobe to go with her student role. This from the girl who growled she would couldn't be seen in anything I'd knitted in this lifetime :)

The pattern is one of the new patterns released by Sirdar for their Click DK range, following the success of Click aran. The DK yarn is soooo soft and has a real sheen/glisten to it. It should be a dream to knit with - but I'm struggling with it a little. My slightly (???) obsessional traits leave me with a preference for having almost meticulous consistent tension, with repetitive even texture ensuing (eek, I can't help it ... honest!!). However, I just cannot get that with this yarn! And, given the fact that the pattern involves endless stocking stitch (22.5 inches ss with a pit stop of 3" of 1x1 rib), you can imagine my anally retentive struggle! DD1 has been snorting with laughter at my frustration with it...

Anyway, the back is now complete and I need stop avoiding casting on the front! If I don't crack on, she'll be graduating by the time I sewing it together:)

DD1 in emotional crisis;)

2007-08-16T00:45:00.000+01:00

DD1 and I went to hair dressers today for a Blether-grooming session and the poor child is now in crisis;) Recently I had my hair re-styled from my usual bob to one of the slightly trendier, jaw length graduated bobs (longer at the front and close cropped at the back). DD1 agonised over an image re-vamp herself and what has she ended up with???? The shoulder length version of mine! Poor girl is traumatised and fears that she is morphing into her 44 year old mother! Don't we all remember what a fearsome realisation that option was when we were 18 too!

Hopefully, some of the trauma is abating - aided by a relaxing movie session. The two of us tucked up onto my bed with chocolate and watched 'Miss Potter'. What a lovely film! I had no idea about how ahead of her time Beatrix Potter was - she challenged the females roles and norms of that time and championed conservation of rural life with a vision that would not be out-of-place today. DD1 and I recommend viewing if you get a chance....

Back to DD1 briefly ... please keep your fingers crossed for her later on today. She is due to get the results from her A levels exams and will then know if she can access a place on her preferred course at University. Like all parents, I am biased - but she sooo deserves to get the grades she needs. She too has been diagnosed with a form of arthritis (she was diagnosed with 'Juvenile arthritis' about 2 years ago) and has struggled to keep up with her studies in her usual committed way. She had wanted to study for a Criminology degree and then join the police but had to reconsider as, with her health issues, she would have been unlikely to have got through the police recruitment process. Instead, she opted to apply for a Business Excellence degree. Poor lamb is spending a restless night tonight and fears that she has not got the necessary grades for that and has spent the last few days rationalising that a return to college to upgrade her marks 'would not be the end of the world'.

Turbulence is a FO!

2007-08-06T20:43:00.000+01:00

TURBULENCE SWEATER

from Knitting Nature Book

Pattern by Norah Gaughan

Knitted in Debbie Bliss cotton DK

Turbulence is finally off the needle and strangely, I'm going to miss it. This is one of many beautiful patterns in this stunning book - patterns based on forms and shapes found in nature, by Norah Gaughan. What a visionary and creative designer Norah is and I just wish I had a smidgen of her talent! I love the 3/4 length sleeves, the twisted ribbing and the cabling around the neck. I already have yarn to make another - though this time in the recommended yarn, Berocca Soft Twist (a lovely soft, silky yarn) I ordered from the States as could not find a seller in this country. The only modification made to the pattern was I lengthened the body by a couple of inches to save the embarrassment of unleashing my 'middle' to an unsuspecting world... My next 'must-do' from this book (and there will be more!) is Ogee ... I love it and fingers are itching to cast on!

Waiting patiently:)

2007-08-05T00:07:00.000+01:00

RAVELRY
Found you!
You signed up on July 29, 2007
You are #21491 on the list.
13474 people are ahead of you in line.
1595 people are behind you in line.
33% of the list has been invited so far
Ah, Ravelry (https://www.ravelry.com/account/login) ... I found you ... though at least 13,474 other fibre obsessed individuals found you first! I live in hope that you help me gain some sense of control over the never-ending list of WIP's, the extending stash .... However, I fear that seeing the beautiful projects others are making or planning will merely add to my 'to do' lists!!

Turbulent times!

2007-06-10T21:40:00.000+01:00

I would like to introduce Turbulence U Neck sweater, pattern by Norah Gaughan (pattern in Knitting Nature book). Well, as much of it as I have done so far ... I've spent most of the weekend working on the charts for the cabled neckline. This has been my first foray into using charts, being a die-hard written pattern fan until now. The air was blue as my tired, fuggy brain tackled Row 19 - a mere 4 times and 5 hours later ... success!!

( Knitted in Debbie Bliss Cotton DK)

On to less turbulent times, now that the battle with Row 19 has been won!

At last - a finished item!

2007-06-10T21:15:00.000+01:00

Pic 1: Ploperro, Cornwall
Pic 2: Celtic silver necklace

The blog has shown a distinct lack of finished projects for too, too long! Having once done the Myers Briggs (I think) assessment, I was identified as a starter-finisher. However, over recent months, I've more resembled a starter-starter-and start againer!! My ever increasing pile of unfinished items is testament to these behaviours ....

Whilst in Cornwall 2 weeks ago, I made a silver locket at a local craft store and have now uploaded the pictures. Roll of drums from MsB for this Celtic silver necklace ... a finished item, albeit not of knitted form but finished regardless. I'm really pleased with it and would love to try this activity again. Oh no, I feel a new crafty compulsion developing ...

Uncharted territory!

2007-06-07T16:18:00.000+01:00

I love cables ... love arans ... the more complex the pattern the more I like it! However, what is it about me and charts??? I become a gibbering eejit when presented with a pattern in chart form! Give me an olde worlde pattern with the instructions written out row by row and I'll show you one very happy, unstressed cabler:) However, there are such beautiful patterns available now in charted format that I'm biting the bullet (0r chart deciphering skills) and am making reasonable headway on Norah Gaughan's stunning Turbulence U neck jumper (pattern in Norah's Knitting Nature book ... what stunning patterns in this book. I love it!).

The pattern recommends that you use Berroco Softtwist yarn which I found extremely difficult (impossible!) to source in the UK. I now have some winging its way to me from the States (Thank you, texasyarns, eBay seller) in a lovely taupe shade. However, I was so keen to cast on this jumper, I have subbed and am doing my original, pilot-run in Debbie Bliss Cotton dk (a humungous thanks to the de-stashing Pictish on Crafty Yarns N'Threads forum!!) in a glorious terracotta shade. My knitted wardrobe will overflo'eth! Will post progress pic over the weekend...

And on a celebratory note, guess who's the birthday girl today ... Isla, the returnee pup, is one today. Maybe better not remind MrB of the date as it'll trigger memories of the £280+ caesarian section vet bill:) Wasn't she worth it though!

And on a final very excited note, my Berroco yarn has just been delivered to the door in the last 5 minutes! MUST, must finish the one on the needles at the moment!!

Cornwall sanity saver

2007-06-05T23:22:00.000+01:00

Things have been hectic and pretty stressful on all fronts recently in the Blethers household. All of it had left me feeling pretty drained and sadly lacking in knitting mojo:( I'd not even managed a stitch on a pair of socks, couldn't be bothered adding to the already impressive collection of WIPs I have to my somewhat embarrassed name ...

So, during the recent bank holiday, the girls and I had a girlie getaway-from-it-all weekend to Cornwall. It was, as usual, booked at the very last minute and we stayed just outside Looe. The weather was not brilliant but didn't detract too much from the fun. We drove down on the Friday - and must admit I was extremely tempted to take a detour when I saw the signs for Bovey Tracy (there's meant to be a really good yarn store there). Howls of protest came from the growly adolescent MsB's .... 'We weren't allowed to bring a dvd player ... so NO wool therapy for you, mum'!! How could I have spawned such harsh besums:) However, I didn't realise JUST how deprived I was going to be in the knitting department (Hint for all future travels - don't let the disorganised dyslexic daughter pack the bags into the boot!). DD2 forgot, genuinely, to pack my bag with my Norah Gaughan Turbulence jumper in it!!!! Despite this, we had a great weekend.

On the Saturday, we drove over to a jewelry centre near Redruth. We spent hours in a pottery shop there - the girls spent time painting pots and then DD1 and I made silver lockets under the very patient tutelage of the store owner. What a fantastic job this lady has ... creating and helping others to create on a daily basis. I absolutely loved making the locket and was pathetically excited about how well it turned out (The girls will confirm I DID go round the shop, showing it to all the other poor shoppers there at the time!).

Sunday saw us heading off to Polperro, an absolutely beautiful ancient village right on the coast. Cars need to park just outside the village as the streets are too narrow to cope with cars. Just as I paid for the parking ticket something shot past my nose and I queried whether it was a big blob of hail (in May!). It was! The heavens opened - and in the space of 10 minutes, we'd had torrential rain ... huge hail stones ... the car park flooded ... thunder and lightening! We decided we'd wait it out for a wee while to see if the conditions improved. Temporarily they did - just for long enough for us to get out of the car! Half way down the car park, the heaven's re-opened and I was left abandoned as the girls raced back to the car for shelter! DD1 was horsing it so fast to get out of the way of the lightening that her shoe came off as she ran - and she carried on running, one shoe on and the other foot, barefoot!

We headed back to Polperro on the Monday morning before making our way home in the afternoon. Despite the weather and the knitting deprivation, we'd a fantastic time and I can't say just how much I enjoyed having undistracted time with the girls. They seemed to enjoy it enough to be planning the next girlie trip too (BUT I will make sure my knitting is securely packed before departing!)

A little bit of everything!

2007-04-08T21:22:00.000+01:00

I've been neglectful of my blog, so had better remedy the situation:o)

On the knitting front, I finally finished Flickering Flames socks (pattern by Black Dog Knits) and entered them into the monthly Sock-a-month challenge draw (Crafty Yarns n'Things forum) by the skin of my ... grafting! DD1 loves them and they are on her feet again! The pattern is really effective but when I do it again I'd prefer to take the pattern down the foot as the designer planned (DD1 only wanted the pattern on the cuff) and I'd use a different yarn. I found the Diploma 4ply was prone to splitting a little and was not that keen on the texture as I knitted. I've also nearly completed the back of a Celandine Tank for DD1 in Louisa Harding Kimono Angora... progress pics to follow!

We've had a lovely weekend so far - the girls and I went out shopping on Friday (resulting in 2 happy young ladies and one lighter maternal purse!). We ended the trip in Borders bookshop - with DD1 and I browsing to our hearts content and DD2 huffing and puffing, with a pained expression worthy of an Oscar before we provided refreshment anaesthetic in the form of a strawberry frappina and any cake of her choice from the cafe upstairs!!

Today, we drove to Rhondda valley on the outskirts of Pontypridd and walked the 3 dogs over the hillside. Islay, the fatted pup who came home, was in her element as I don't think she has had a walk like that before, with so much freedom ... and sooooo much scope to roll in ecstasy in various piles of nature's treasures (certainly the horse dung seemed to be her particular favourite). Yeuch!!!

DD2 has plans afoot for me tomorrow ... she hopes to drag me down to the retail area in Cardiff Bay. She is trying to convince me she needs a pair of yellow shoes. Mothers of the world unite here please and support me in my maternal protestation ... wants is not the same as needs!! My plans for tomorrow do not involve retail therapy of any description. The dissertation is to have the dust blown off for a couple of hours and I've to muster together at least a few paragraphs towards the next chapter:( And then, I plan to read a little more of the book I bought in Borders. My last read was 'The Island' by Victoria Hislop. It's the tale of several generations of a family ... of their past and secrets. I enjoyed it even more as its set in Crete and focuses on Spinalonga (a tiny island off the coast of Crete which served as a leper colony until 1957!!), Elounda and Aghios Nikolas ... all places I spent time in during a past holiday (err ... honeymoon actually ... but that feels like a different life ago!). This new read is more challenging to get into - Be Near Me by Andrew O'Hagan (longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2006). Its set in Ayrshire and the lead character is a priest in the local community, and explores class and religious divides.

The only other mini success around at the moment is that there's now less of me!! I've signed up to a GI diet plan online having had no success in shifting any weight by myself (and being thoroughly fed up off my ballooning weight since I started on steroids nearly 4 years ago). I can't pretend for a second I understand the dietetic theory behind how the diet works ... but have just followed it blindly for the past 2 weeks and have lost 5lbs so far!! Just think, the smaller I get ... the less yarn I'll need for a garment ... and smaller garments might be finished off quicker ... leading to a slightly more productive blog!! See, there IS method in my madness:o)

When I'm bad, I'm very ....

2007-03-24T22:28:00.000Z

I've been off work on leave for the past week and I reckon that holiday mood, and my anticipated return to the rat race, have had a very, very bad affect on my stashalong psyche ... How else do I explain these:o) The cardigan is to be knitted at some point in the Trendsetter Tonalita yarn. The colourway is called Old World Neutrals and will be glorious for the coming autumn (hark at me having bypassed Spring and Summer ... probably best to as I know my current knitting pace!).

The Louisa Harding Kimono Angora I have had naughty dreams about for ages and the current Clearance Sale at Angel Yarns gave me all the excuse I needed (http://www.angelyarns.com/new.php). I plan to turn these beauties into Sorrel eventually and have purchased the matching Kimona Ribbon to match each colourway. I'm not sure how it happened (yeh, well am pleading the 5th amendment to MrB on this one!) but another 4 balls of Kimono Angora fell into the shopping basket to make Celandine for DD1 and a bargainous ball of SWT Tofutsies sock yarn managed to wend its way in there too! Fingers crossed its all still in stock and that a lovely BIG parcel is winging its way to me at the beginning of the week:)

Busy, busy, busy...

2007-03-21T21:17:00.000Z

It's been a hectic day at the Blethers household - and overall pretty productive. DD1 is in the process of switching from glasses to contact lenses. She obviously has a stronger constitution than her mother as I almost gag at the prospect of anything smaller than an elbow going near mine! She had ONE put in and we had to stoat around Cardiff for an hour to see how things went. We spent the time mooching around charity shops - DD1 got a brand new top but I had no luck in the yarn department:( After coffee, the one-lensed cyclops and I returned to the opticians to have the lens removed again. Interestingly, the optician is unclear if DD1 will be able to tolerate lenses as her anti-inflammatories affect her eyes, with some minor irritation already present.

From there, we headed off to the Business School, Cardiff University for their Open Day. DD1 has applied to 3 local Universities and has been offered provisional places with each. She has to make her final preferences by the end of this month ...

Hair do's came next... So, 2 well coiffured Bletherettes then headed off to B&Q to buy some jungle like foliage to replace the huge Yucca plant that TJ, the black cat, used as his own personal convenience and its now looking more than a little worse than wear! The plant, not the cat!

DD2 since we came back from Egypt last year has been begging for homemade Chicken Maryland which she is convinced is an ancient Egyptian feast, a favourite of the pharaohs:) Bless her, it must be given that she ate it in an authentic local restaurant in Luxor, eh?? Madam got her wish - so we are all now lounging around, full to the gunnels!

Something to look forward to tomorrow morning - yarn delivery!! Whoopee! I found a card saying that the postman had tried to deliver a parcel this morning but was unable to get a reply. The blooming postie plays games with the 3 dogs - waggling things temptingly through the letter box to get the 3 scruffy mongrols to bark like the Hounds of the Baskervilles!! Anyway, we had ignored their pathetic 'Wuff' this morning as it didn't sound nearly loud enough to indicate postman games... BUT there is some beautiful Yorkshire Tweed Aran in Wild Plum from Janette's Rare Yarns (http://stores.ebay.com/Jannettes-Rare-Yarns) waiting to be collected from the depot in the morning. Have now to confess to DD1 that I managed to get outbid on eBay for a secondhand rat cage ... which sold for £2.70! Oh, the responsibility of having failed and have left her 2 rats living in overcrowded circumstances ... Better practice with the eBay trigger finger tonight!

It's official - I'm regal!

2007-03-20T15:30:00.000Z

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

I found this meme on Gilraen's blog (thank you!) and decided to have a go! What a boost to self esteem - I'm an empress! Wonder if that will make the kids listen more to my powerful words?? I can live in hope ... but am not holding my breath!

'Global' blethering!

2007-03-12T00:02:00.000Z

Progressing ok with the Flickering Flames sock ... nearly down one as just have the toe to graft. DD1 didn't want the pattern to carry over the foot, which is a shame but certainly easier knitting!! I love the way the pattern develops and it works really well with this shade of yarn (Diploma Gold 4ply).

Talking of DD1, she subjected me to a tad of role reversal this past week. She texted me to say she'd booked appointments at the opticians for the entire Blether's gang:) Next, she'll be telling me to eat my greens ... wear a vest ... get enough sleep ...

Cruft's has been on TV this weekend and we've had a great time watching it. Well, more accurately, a great time watching Isla (the pup) watching her canine companions!! She sits at the end of our bed, glued to the 37" screen and we were convinced she was going to launch herself at the TV during the Flyball scenes ... If only she were as conscientious during the Obedience sets!!

I put a counter on my blog recently in attempt to reduce my technology phobia! What intriguing results! In the space of just over 10 days, I've become 'global' ... with visitors (by design or cyber error) from the UK, America, Australia, Sweden, Canada, Norway, Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland and Portugal!! Please feel free to say hello! I feel really humbled (and a tadge embarrassed!) that my blethering has been seen by so many and really must lead a more blog-worthy life:)

The flames are fanned...

2007-03-04T11:09:00.000Z

Flickering Flames (pattern by Black Dog Knits, http://designsbyblackdog.blogspot.com/) is already on the needles as March's sock-a-month. As already mentioned (ok, mega-moaned/ranted about), all my knitting projects as fairly restricted until my dissertation is submitted. For that reason, and so that I retain sock-sanity, I plan to try to learn new techniques whilst producing each month's entry. This month's mini learning experience has been picot edging, which tops these socks. A word to the wise, especially if you knit to a fairly tight tension, metal pointy dpn's are a must when attempting to join the fold! Take it from the daftie that attempted it on beautiful, but bluntish, bamboo's... trying to knit the stitch on the needle with its original cast on was similar to knitting with 2 rolling pins:( The pattern is lovely and comprises of a fairly straightforward repeat. And the flames are now flickering ...

This Friday, I went out with friends for a meal to a Mongolian restaurant in Taff's Well - a small village on the outskirts of Cardiff. Now, for the life of me, I can't quite work out what the connection with South Wales and Genghis Khan is???? Honestly, I don't think I slept through the history lesson at school which explained any such link??? If anyone knows, please share! Regardless, what a fantastic meal! (Thank you, Anchor pub and Mongolian restaurant)

Night off and naughtiness!

2007-02-27T21:20:00.000Z

Now, THAT caught your attention!! What debauchery is MsB confessing to??? Sadly, the night off from bleary-eyed literature reviews is mine ... but the naughtiness belongs to poochy. Now bearing in mind (and I wish she would) poochy sneaked back into the household 'undercover', you would reckon she'd at least try to lull us into a false sense of security and be the 'model' new inhabitant ... As if! This morning, she managed to munch her way through THREE toilet rolls, leaving the loo roll confetti as evidence! Was that enough mischief?? Not a bit of it! She also used my comfiest, lolling around mules (which didn't hurt even when my joints are bouncing) as chewy bones! Shoes in the bin ... pup in the naughty corner:) ...

Now talking about naughty corners, here's one for knitters! I came across this tonight and it made me giggle so much I had to share it with you I've signed up for this KAL already! Here's the link to illicit bad yarn behaviour/acquisition across cyber space (http://nigelk.org/knitters/?p=354)

Dull brain and sock choices

2007-02-25T20:20:00.000Z

Well, it's official ... academia is hazardous to your health!! I've spent most of the past week, tweaking and shaping the literature review for my dissertation. And the end result?? I do have words on paper but the most striking outcome is that my brain has taken on a blancmange-like state!! And its seriously interfered with the finer things of life ... like knitting!!

I have been attempting to select the pattern for next month's offering in the sock-a-month challenge. I'm torn just now between Flickering Flames socks, pattern by Black Dog Designs (http://designsbyblackdog.blogspot.com/2006/09/flickering-flames-socks-yarn-my-own.html) and Purple Iris socks, by Judy Sumner (pattern available at http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/LLPatterns.html). At the minute, I am swaying more towards the Flickering Flames ... this would involve my first attempt at a picot edging. Given that all my knitting projects will be small :( until the dissertation is a painful past memory, then I'd like to try new techniques with socks in the meantime. Aha! Decision reached ... Flickering Flames it is!!

Lassie comes home!

2007-02-16T00:21:00.000Z

Pic 1: Baby, at 10 weeks

Pic 2: Big girl, aged 8 months

In June of last year, Molly (our mongrol princess) had 4 puppies who took over our home and hearts until they were all re-homed with folk we knew, aged 10 weeks. We still had regular contact and visits from 2 of the 'girls' and were able to watch them grow and reap 'pup havoc' in their new surroundings...

My favourite baby featured in my avator on a knitting forum and I was heartbroken when she left home originally. Guess what's happened?? Unfortunately (or fatedly! Is that a word??), her new home didn't work out for very valid reasons not really relating to the dog. She has been with us for nearly 4 weeks and we have now decided she'll be with us permanently! I am thrilled to have her home. However, that's now it!! The kids have been well warned that the 'ark' doors are now closed! But I absolutely love our menagerie of now 3 dogs, 4 cats and 2 rats (MsB's jury's out on the rats, though DD1 swears they are completely loveable??? They've got ratty tails and eyes - how can that equate with loveable???).

Almost in the 21st century - not!

2007-02-15T23:48:00.000Z

MsBlethers is joining the 21st century!! Hmmmm .... well, at least in the sense of trying to get more familiar and jazzy with the blog layout! This morning I managed to add a counter and was staggered to see a total of 20 'hits' flagged up throughout a 10 hour period - and, even more amazingly, ONLY 2 of those were attributable to me!! It absolutely struck me then what a fantastic place the cyber community can be ... creating the opportunity to 'meet' and learn from kindred spirits around the world who, pre-internet days, I may not have been blessed to encounter. My! How my internet use has matured since the heady days when I floated around Compuserve, cluminating in my 'union' with MrB!!!!! Och well, there's only so long you can get away with being a cyber floozie:) Enough! On with the new, improved, more mature (yeh yeh) me ...

My early morning success spurred me on to tackle widget incorporation to chart my somewhat embarrassing array of ongoing works in progress, aptly named 'Unfinished business'! Can I get the muckle thing to work?? Not a bit of it! Unless you deem a green bar, falsely boasting 100%, as technical success! Not to be deterred, this old burd is not giving up. However, I am acutely aware of my limitations and I reckon I'll be calling on blog AA/RAC assistance over the weekend from my knitting forumee computer whizz.... Jacquie ( http://bloggersparadise) ... HELP!!!!!

Good news to from DD1; she passed the theory paper for her driving test yesterday! Look out (hopefully!) if you are driving the roads of Cardiff in the very near future!

Slouch socks and yarn dreams

2007-02-11T17:45:00.000Z

Pic 1: Slouch socks in their finished glory
Pic 2: Temptation ... temptation ... I couldn't resist this scrumptious yarn - Lorna's Laces Maple Leaves, purchased from Yarnela, eBay seller

At last! Houston, we have a pair!! Please welcome DD1's cosy new Slouch socks (pattern by Sue Morgan,
http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/Patterns.html), knitted in Artesano Alpaca lemon colourway. I just can't tell you how cosy and snuggly these wee beauties are ... in fact, if the weather continues to be as cold and miserable as its been over the past week, I may be tempted to become 'bad mummy' and whip her socks! Whilst doing the 2nd of the two, I used bamboo dpn's and found that these created a much nicer tension, especially over the lacy heel flap. However, as the yarn is prone to splitting a little, I had to revert back to ye trusty olde metal pins to pick up the gusset. And wonders will never cease, the Growley One (DD1) has openly expressed the fact that she likes these ones!!!! Pass the smelling salts ... sock knitting mother faints!!

I just had to share a pic of this drool evoking yarn for possibly my March entries to the sock-a-month KAL ... Lorna's Laces Maple Leaves, purchased from Yarnela, eBay seller in Canada. I could just sit and lust quietly away at this one (ooooh the colour, the pattern potentials) whilst maniacly hissing at DD1 and DD2 'This one's mine ... all mine"! (Don't sock yarns bring out THE worst in me????). After much drooling I found the ideal pattern, Cascading Leaves sock pattern. NOW, could I find the pattern once the yarn had wung its way across the Atlantic??? NO ... NO .... NO... Like a woman demented I had to seek help from my fellow forumees in the Yarn n'Crafty Things forum ( http://craftythreadsnyarns.myfreeforum.org/index.php) and we sought endlessly through cyberspace till we solved the riddle. The pattern is available to members of the TownsendKAL (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TownsendSocksKnitALong/).

I now have both in my grubby hands and life feels complete ....

Disorientated in time - MsFebruary socks!

2007-01-21T20:09:00.000Z

Pic 1: heel flap

Pic 2: One down, one to go!

Ahhh, there were those who said old MsBlethers, famed for her non-completion, flighty moving from unfinished WIP to the other, would not manage to keep going with the Sock-a-month challenge (Crafty Yarns N'Threads forum)... and that I would fall by the wayside (or at least enter the world of lone soldier socks, wasting away in isolation in the sock drawer). Ok, my biggest doubter was, in fact, me! For the past few months, I've been plagued with non-finishitis and have added considerably (and somewhat embarassingly) to the collection of poly carrier bags which house my WIPs! This situation has been compounded in part by changes in medication, with the overall aim of reducing my steroids. And, oh boy, am I feeling it ... I've got pain and inflammation at the moment in joints I didn't even know I had!! Despite this, (or maybe, because of this ... knitting seems to have a meditative effect on me and I am certainly less conscioulsy aware of discomfort when I have knitting needles in my dodgy hands), I have finished MrJanuary socks (see thread below) and am on the SECOND sock of my cuddly, cosy MsFebruary pair!! These are for DD1 and are so soft and snuggly, they feel like little Alpaca clouds. I've used Sue Morgan's Slouch sock pattern. I found the lacy rib a bit of a challenge till I got going; it then becomes a rhythmic pattern that's easily remembered. The instructions that followed the lacy part ie. to turn the sock, completely flummoxed me until FatCat (fellow forumee) came to the rescue! I remembered she had completed this pattern on another forum and I went off and searched for her tips. With her help, it all fell into place. Although the Alpaca yarn will be beautiful to wear, I am not convinced it best shows off the detail in the cuff or lacy heel flap. If I do these again (and I am sure I will ... DD1 loves the pattern) then I reckon I'll try an ordinary 4ply as a sub.

My 'baby' is 18!

2007-01-14T17:09:00.000Z

My eldest DD is 18 today! Ooohhhh it making me feel all broody and reflective... It just seems like a blink of an eye since I carried her into the house for the first time, feeling that sense of overwhelming responsibility that comes with new parenthood for keeping this prescious new life alive and thriving. If I am honest, that responsibility (and gift) can still feel overwhelming. However, despite my trepidation and sometimes failure/mistakes, she has blossomed into a beautiful young woman on the cusp of a really exciting point of her life's journey. Despite having had a tough year or so in which she has been diagnosed as having Juvenile Arthritis, she is about to sit her driving test ... is studying for her A levels ... has applied for University to study a Business degree ... has entered the world of employment and financial responsibility ... had relationships ... No matter how all these ventures go; whatever her life throws at her and no matter how old she is, she'll always be my first-born 'baby'... Enough gushing maternal pride:) We're off to celebrate now!

Rising to the Sock-a-month challenge - Mr JANUARY

2007-01-08T22:43:00.000Z

No-one can doubt my willingness to fully participate in the Crafty Yarns n' Threads Forum sock-a-long. OK, first cynic to say 'Well, it IS ONLY January 8th just now' is probably very close to the truth and a family member who known me too too well:). But, in this moment of unbridled enthusiasm, please let me introduce Mr January (knitted in Stroud 4ply merino yarn from Twin-earth, eBay seller)... knitted with ye olde faithful Opal free pattern.

Pic 1: SS2 (with scabby leg - bless him!) modelling his dad's socks
Pic 2: Close up which shows truer colour
Pic 3: the 'naked hank':)

And, yes, Ms February has been cast on...

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T12:38:00.000Z

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy, healthy and creative New Year!

I had steadfastly planned to avoid making any resolutions but seemed to have been sucked into it indirectly:-) I plan to take part in the Sock a month challenge organised by the lovely members of the Crafty Thread 'n' Yarns forum (http://knittersyarns.forumhum.com/index.php)) and have already cast on a sock for DP, using Stroud 4 ply and the old faithful Opal pattern... I am so easily corrupted!

I've been tagged! (What do you mean - weird??)

2006-12-27T01:06:00.000Z

Doesn't that make me sound really athletic and almost a member of the World Wrestling Federation??? Mind you, this daft blogger is still reeling from MrB's revelation that wrestling is rigged:-( For a semi-intelligent bird, I can be pretty gullible!

Back to the matter in hand! I've been tagged by the lovely terri and Hawkesley and am now gulping at the pressure of coming up with something remotely interesting to reveal! But, here goes:

Blog-blethers confessions
THE RULES:Each player of this game starts with the ‘6 weird things about you.’ People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1. MrB and I met online originally and then 'in the flesh' on an 80 HOUR blind date!
2. This time last year I scathingly asked 'WHO KNITS SOCKS????' and was mystified why anyone would chose too! My, how beliefs can change!
3. Despite being an old hirple, I am the only one in the Blethers household who can touch their toes!
4. At school, I had a 'major' role in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Coat ... playing the camel's rear end
5. I still have somewhat alarming teenage rebellion traits at times. Ask me to do something and I'll try to oblige... TELL me, and I'll do the polar opposite or divorce you:-)
6. I love wholemeal toast with a scraping of marmalade (no rind please) and a sliver of cheddar cheese on top!

Confession over ... am now off to try to find 6 other willing victims/respondees!

MrB to enrol on photography course!

2006-12-26T22:01:00.000Z

Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year to all!

I asked MrB to take some pics of the most recent finish-offs in the Blethers household as he had the camera out. Bless him, but he obviously is no threat to the paparazzi! Here are the long-distance shots/evidence!

The hats are Hareton from the Simply Noro book and knitted in Kureyon. They are now keeping DD1's and her boyfriend's heads warm - though modelled here by SS2 and SS3 following some bribery and corruption by your truly! (What kids will do for a £1 ... and at least their charges have not yet been hit by adolescent inflation!). Hareton is a lovely straightforward pattern that knits up in a few hours. The only modification being that I used 4.5mm needles for DD1'S version as she wanted a neater fit for her petite bonce. The socks are modelled by DP - done in Lorna's Laces Tuscany and using the Garter rib pattern in Sensational Knitted Socks book (Charlene Church). As always, I loved knitting with Lorna's Laces though I felt the yarn had more pink in it than I had anticipated (I had thought it was more terracotta than the reality)... but gorgeous colourway regardless.

Sometimes you just have to laugh!

2006-12-12T00:33:00.000Z

After a lengthy wait, I saw my new rheumatologist last week (The old one and I didn't see the world the same way ... he said potAHto ... I said potato ... and we called the whole thing off:-) However this left me medically unsupervised for over 15 months on a fair old batch of drugs).

Mr New Rheumatologist is a star though and I reckon we will be able to work well enough together. Isn't it strange though that seeing a doctor should at times come with a government health warning! There I was, sitting there feeling not too bad. Discussing my medication, I boldly asked for the new wonderdrug... 'Ahhhh, not enough research done for long term side effects, especially regarding increased chances of developing cancer' came the reply. OK, let's reduce my steroids so that I can crash diet my way towards a modeling career. 'Ahhhh, but your joints will flair up if you do cut down... AND if you don't reduce them, you're at risk of developing osteoporosis', came the chirpy response. Hmmmmmm, responded the intrepid patient, so let's increase my immuno-suppressant then.... You KNOW what's coming! 'Ahhh, but that may damage your already cruddy lungs'. It might be easier just sending me to the vets:-)!!

At last!

2006-11-29T00:15:00.000Z

Yippeee! A strange experience of late in the Blethers household ... Ladies and gentlemen, I present a finished item!! My latest strategy for my recent finishing inertia is to tackle small items only. This is Isis from Colinette's Artifacts book - knitted in Prism, Autumn Leaves colourway. Prism is a pleasure to work with and comes is such a fantastic array of colours. Voila! A hat to face this chilly, blustery weather in less than 4 hours. Modelled here by an extremely embarrassed, and somewhat peaky looking (awwwww, bless her!) DD1. Just look at the non-verbal body pose here (arms crossed and grimace). It's just as well she loves her mum! (Had initially planned this one for me. However, steroids and my resultant wee moon-face left me looking like a plump boiled egg ... NOT a good look!)

Sneaking in the carrier bags ...

2006-11-24T22:02:00.000Z

Shooosh .... Don't tell Mr B ... I've been in therapy again. Retail therapy that is!! Just wanted to share these with you. The first is a waistcoat I have bought from my mum's Christmas present (eBay: Seller Josie2808). I can't tell you how impressed I am with Josie's work. There are about 21 different yarns used of varying textures and weights. The finishing off is beautifully done too. I can but dream that one day I'll be able to produce something of similar complexity and competence. It's a little more lemon/peach than the picture suggests ... but its exactly the colours my mum chooses and I plan to add a set of those Icelandic/Celtic pewter fastenings just to finish it off. My other wee buy made me smile; these quirky stitchmarkers were made by donnac1968. I love them!

On the knitting front, still no finish off's from the queen of avoidance! However, I have cast on yet another project - a tank top in Twilleys Freedom Spirit for DD1. She opted for the Force colourway and, so far, I've found it lovely to knit with (really soft and squidgy).

Craft Fayre

2006-11-19T20:44:00.000Z

The annual Craft Fayre came to the CIA in Cardiff this weekend and I managed to 'persuade' DD1 to keep me company there. There were some beautiful crafts on display - though, unfortunately, not a particularly strong focus on knitting/yarn. Web of Wool were there and it was lovely seeing their ranges in reality. I had to persuade DD1 against whipping her boots off and revealing her mum-made Opal Flamingo trainer socks. We didn't buy terribly much (which will certainly surprise Mr B!!) ... DD1 saw a lovely brown leather bag which she fancies from 'Santa' and I bought dinky little stitch markers shaped like socks from the Web of Wool stand.

I still seem to be struggling on the knitting, and more especially, the FINISHING fronts. My current ambivalence has not extended to purchasing more stash though! Here's some of my recent buys:
(1) Kaleidoscope Handpainted yarn from ebay store, Peak Wool
(2) Lorna's Laces Liberty (thought this would work well for Jaywalker socks)
(3) Grape Expectations yarn from P2tog (ebay store). This one I just love ... the shades are so subtle and pretty. Have warned both DDs 'Feet off, this one's mine!'

Personalised Number Plate!

2006-11-10T23:33:00.000Z

Whilst out and about driving along the country roads skirting around Cardiff, we found ourselves driving behind the most perfect personalised number plate - NI* TTY!! It's the closest I have ever got to wanting one!

Update too on the trip to Alton Towers ... It'll come as no surprise to those of you who have had direct contact with the Blethers household that our trip took on a semblance of Fawlty Towers, rather than Alton! Having left Cardiff at 8am and making our way to Newcastle On Lyme, 6 of us squidged into my car, we arrived to collect Mr Blethers MPV. The mechanics were doing some last minute tweaking and we had to wait for about an hour till the work was completed. Boldly, we set off across country lanes in search of Alton Towers and adventure! Mr Blethers in front with the 3 youngest and DD1 and I following along behind somewhat sedately... As we pulled into the entrance to the park, Mr B announces that there appeared to be a major problem with his new car ... the dashboard was lighting up so profusely it looked like the deck of the Starship Enterprise and it was spewing more diesel than a North Sea oil rig!! He called the garage ... they said they would send out a tow truck!! Mr B suggested I made my way into the Park with the kids and he would catch up with us. Five freezing hours later, Mr B was able to leave the car park and make his way into the entrance area ... to be met by moi and the frozen, fun filled Bletherettes making our way out!! Needless to say, we all got cozy squidged back up like sardines in my car on route home!!

Woohoo ~ Work-Life balance restored!

2006-11-01T20:25:00.000Z

Its been a tough few weeks and despite all my work-related preaching to others about the need for work-life balance to maintain health, mine's been zilch! More like work-work... I have heeded my own words and we're off to collect Mr Blether's new (to him ... but from eBay) People Carrier and then heading off on-mass to Alton Towers for a family day out. Really looking forward to it and have even managed to persuade DD1 that some days she doesn't need to be too cool to be seen out with her mother! I don't go back to work now till Tuesday. Yippee! There may be some posts of (long overdue) finished items here by then! Wooley may yet be revealed!

Things will only get better!

2006-10-29T16:04:00.000Z

As the former Labour party battle cry went ... things can only get better! It's been a horrible few weeks in the Blethers household. One of my close colleagues was taken very seriously unwell and has been in Intensive Care for several weeks now. Another workmate has been undergoing investigations into a possible liver tumour. Thankfully, we learned that it is benign on Friday, which is wonderful news. We have also tragically and unexpectedly lost a 48 year old workmate. Many of us at work are from out-of-area and don't have family in the immediate area. This tends to lead to very close working relationships with us becoming a sort-of extended family to each other... On top of this major issues, the electrics in the Blethers Mansion went haywire and we discovered a 3 foot length of cable had melted and completely merged. The house could have gone on fire at any point - which is NOT the point to discover that we had NO building insurance at all (now sorted)!!

All of this has left my knitting and concentration in a fankle. The Wooley lies unfinished... At least 5 single socks are awaiting their 'sole' mate... I cast on a plain sock in Opal Rainforest 6ply and have been a little disappointed with it. Dr Fish in the 4ply version appears much more vibrant than the rather muted shades of its 6ply namesake. My knitting sanity has been saved by frequenting a new Forum, The Knitters Yarn (http://knitting.forumhum.com). It's well worth popping in for a look, chat and some inspiration.

Virtual Mum: 1 Virtual Gran: NIL

2006-10-16T22:09:00.000+01:00

Junior went back to school today ... peace, perfect peace! No 3am feed tonight - nor coping with one VERY tired, grouchy 14 year old virtual mother!! However, the weekend's experience has been a very valuable one. DD2 has really challenged my perceptions of her - we gently tease her about her chaos and general aversion to responsibility (particularly of the household task variety!). She has, however, shown a different side over the weekend and took on full responsibility for the 'baby', even though she was almost comatose with tiredness.

Her performance was assessed by the teacher this morning; despite being set on the most challenging programme, DD2 scored 100% for her care (She was so chuffed as with her dyslexia, dyspraxia and auditory processing issues, her scores seldom reflect her effort). She was soooooo proud! As for Virtual Granny, the baby told tales on me and flagged up that I had 'abused' him whilst placing him in the car seat (He's a blooming vinyl doll!!).

DD2: 1 .... Virtual Gran; Nil .... and a very restricted career as a childminder :)

Virtual Granny!

2006-10-14T23:42:00.000+01:00

It feels an age since I last posted and indeed it is! There have been a number of things going on in life at the moment and life can sometimes seem a mile away from that lovely, cosseted and safe yarn world many of us create for ourselves. Hopefully, things will resolve soon and my enthusiasm, concentration and focus will return for the various projects I currently have on the needles.

However, amongst this, DD2 has (as always) made me smile. She is currently studying a Child Development course and has been eagerly awaiting the stork's delivery of the school's virtual baby - a life-like, computerised newborn baby boy! She has planned all her care strategies with military precision - including how she could juggle 'virtual motherhood' with starting her gym course today. We duly collected Junior from school on Friday afternoon and DD2 has really impressed with her level of responsibility and commitment to Junior's care. I do suspect, though, that virtual motherhood is becoming a slightly less idealistic notion - especially after he had DD2 up at 3am and again at 7am! A remarkable feat really as DD2 seldom sees 11am chime on a Saturday morning and is usually still blissfully snoring away! The wee soul crawled into her bed, shattered, at 9.15pm and was in the land of nod within seconds! Roll on more reality and this morning's 2am feed!!

Lo! I hear Junior calling ....

What a difference a day makes!!

2006-09-25T22:50:00.000+01:00

Well, they say lots can happen in a day and that certainly is true. Unfortunately not all of it's good and here's the evidence!! First picture is DD2's short Jaywalker hot off the needles and being an anally-retentive sock knitter (or at least a sock knitter who has too many 'lone soldiers' waiting for their partner!), I eagerly cast on sock 2 and had just turned the heel in a knitting frenzy. Despite having placed sock 1 on the top shelf of my desk, the puppy we are babysitting at the moment discovered it and thought 'My, what a kind woman... she has left me a soft chewy bone to teeth on'!! Picture 2 shows her dental efforts and Picture 3 is the bold madam having a snooze on my bed, tired out with all her chewing!! I can smile about it today!! Have frogged the lonely sock 2 and cast on another pair (just using the standard Opal pattern) in Regia Cotton Surf. Anyone want a dog???

Mini-me Jaywalkers

2006-09-23T20:24:00.000+01:00

Have just finished these - shortened Jaywalkers (pattern by Grumperina at http://magknits.com/Sept05/patterns/jaywalker.htm) as my fussy two aren't keen on long socks. DD2's are in pink Lana Grossa Magico and DD1 ordered hers in Lorna's Laces Aslan. Lorna's Laces is soooooo nice to knit with, I have forgiven it for its amazing pooling abilities! Although a self-confessed anally retentive sock knitter, I actually quite like pooling - feel it adds to the originality of the finished pair?? Isn't it amazing too how the same pattern looks so vastly different in another yarn?

I need therapy!

2006-09-19T20:58:00.000+01:00

Arrrggghhhhhhhh (at decibel level 103)!!! Oh, that feels better - a scream in cyber space to let off some frustration and steam! I haven't posted for too long and have to admit I have missed rambling on here. It's amazing how much clearer things feel when you can quietly reflect whilst punching the keyboards! Have been back at work for several weeks now and am not sure if its that work is even more chaotic and stressful than normal - or if its more about the realisation of how much multi-tasking we need in order to attempt to juggle the multiple roles many of us find ourselves facing??? Am sure these stressors are compounded by the fast approaching new academic year and the too-recent-to-be-a-fond/distant-memory of hammering away at the keyboard at 3am on the most pressing Masters assignment ... having a couple of fretful hours sleep, before having to rise again at 6.30am to head off to work and start the whole cycle over again?? So much for Ivory Towers! Having purposely blanked the whole process from my mind over the summer, I have made some progress - albeit only a meeting!

Stress management techniques have been introduced - which translates as sock knitting! I have been ploughing away at my 'knitting hall of shame' and plan to felt the Ringo bag (pattern by Sue Morgan at http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/Accesories.html) over the weekend. I love felting though am a relative novice but find something strangely therapeutic about shrinking a knitted item on purpose rather than stomach churning accident! The Wendy Fusion bolero only needs half a front and the ribbing done (note the way I have managed to obliterate the sewing up from that process!). However, I have sought refuge in my sanity saving sock department and have completed a shortened pair of Jaywalkers ( by Grumperina at http://magknits.com/Sept05/patterns/jaywalker.htm) for DD1 in Lorna's Laces Aslan and have nearly completed another Jaywalker in Lana Grossa for DD2. Jaywalkers, I found, is an almost hypnotic pattern, based on only 2 rows ... easy to commit to memory and to knit whilst relaxing, watching TV or listening to DD2 chuntering on, on her topic of the night! Pics will be posted whenever I have managed to contain/bribe DD1/2 simultaneously!

A picture paints a thousand words

2006-09-06T12:10:00.000+01:00

At last! Pictures of my stash acquired at the Get Knitted Open Day last weekend! The red/pink Cascade is to become Wooley from Noro Unlimited for DD2 and for me, Sienna (Interweave Knits Fall) is beckoning in the Lamb's Pride ...

I'm in stash heaven!

2006-09-03T22:06:00.000+01:00

The countdown is over and the deed is done! My friend from work, W, and I had the date highlighted in our diaries for weeks and survived the departmental teasing and disbelief ... You want to spend Saturday doing WHAT???'. We boldly went, and spent, at the Get Knitted Open Day ( http://www.getknitted.com) in Bristol. It was a Yarnette's Heaven! An area of the warehouse had been set out with nearly every yarn imaginable - all to be drooled over, fondled and acquired for stash! The colours and textures were gorgeous and various items were in and out of my basket as I just couldn't decide what to buy. However, as a reliable member of Stash Anonymous, my acquisition skills didn't let me down and I left a happy knitter with the following goodies:

Noro Unlimited pattern book
Interweave Knits Fall pattern book
7 skeins of Lamb's Pride Worsted in Persian Peacock (for me)
6 skeins of Cascade 220 in a lovely soft red/pink shade (for DD2)
2 skeins Koigu KPPPM in gorgeous lilac shades (future socks)
Fleece Artist Merino in Jester (autumnal/maple shades)
Opal Hand dyed something from the bargain bin

Had planned to do a lovely top-down, crossover cardigan in the Lamb's Pride. However, Sienna (Interweave Knits) is calling ... Now, just to find time to knit up all the stash!! One of the other lovely parts of the day was the opportunity to meet fellow members from the Angel Yarns (http://www.knittingforums.co.uk) Forum: hello again Liverbird, No1Alicat (and gorgeous Ali-Kitten), Slowasasnail (and mum), Jenandberry and Anniknits (sporting one of her stunning bags)!

Normal service resumed!

2006-08-31T00:13:00.000+01:00

Life has returned to normality over the past few days in the Blethers household!

DD2 flew back into Cardiff airport on Monday morning and DD2 arrived home, looking absolutely shattered, in the evening. It's lovely having my 'babies' home - noise and clutter everywhere (why are they never as keen to unpack as they are to pack???). Both seem to have had a good time but seem pleased to be back home. DD1 seems to becoming a little of a knitting convert over the past few weeks - she went away with 'homemade' socks and has now informed me that chunky knits 'are in' this winter!! She now wants some cardigans, bolero's and shrugs! This young woman does nothing by halves, eh? Until recently, you would have though she was facing corporal punishment if asked to wear something I had made ... now she is placing bulk orders! DD2 has requested a boxy cardigan in white. Arggghhhh inject some colour child!! I honestly can't face a sea of white yarn ... which, in this house, will never, ever look like a Persil advert (dogs jumping on me for a cuddle as I knit; cats eyeing up yarn as comfy bed and duvet material and we'll not even go near DP's laundry skills ... 'was this now tiny, shrunken handknit meant to go into a woolen wash instead, dear???'. If the girls were younger, their Barbie dolls would have the best woolen wardrobe in Wales thanks to his accidental felting skills!!). We have now compromised and are plumping for Cascade 220 in a lovely, warm red shade - a potential purchase when I hit the Open Day at Get Knitted ( http://www.getknitted.com) yarn store in Bristol on Saturday. Yippeeeee! The thought of this retail therapy session makes today's return to work almost bearable ...

The silence is deafening

2006-08-27T19:18:00.000+01:00

The girls have both been away for the past few days. DD1 is off with friends to Southport and had no requests so far to post bail or come to the rescue in any shape or form! DD2 flew up to Glasgow to spend a few days with her dad and his new partner. Stepsons are also away on holiday with their mum and her partner... We have been left babysitting SS2's puppy, Souchi - one of Molly's 4 puppies. Souchi has made herself 'at home'; hounding her mother and aunt, chewing brushes, knitting needles (aggghhhhh has she NO shame!) and mooched down for the night in our bed, refusing to sleep anywhere else (and for a small baby she sure takes up a fair bit of a kingsize bed!!!).

It's the strangest thing though ... Most of us parents (particularly when 'surviving' our offsprings' adolescence) dream of more peaceful times. However, I can't wait till they all start arriving back tomorrow, shattering the peace - squabbling over clothes, pushing boundaries, laughing, arguing over the remote control, making mess, laundry on the floor... Sometimes, silence can be deafening, can't it? Some undeniable perks have included a mega-blitz on DD2's bedroom (SIX, I repeat, SIX black bags of rubbish removed; undisturbed knitting time; the phone's been available whenever I have wanted it; and I have been able to play my music at full pelt! I bought, as a Bank Holiday treat, Keane's 'Under the Iron Sea', Snow Patrol's 'Eyes Open' and 'St Elsewhere' by Gnarls Barkley. If the neighbours complain, I'll blame the imaginary kids!!

Sock addict in denial!

2006-08-26T13:35:00.000+01:00

Before joining the AngelYarns (http://www.angelyarns.com) knitting forum, I would have giggled helplessly at the notion of knitting socks when there was a perfectly good Marks and Spencer nearby and I would have questioned the sanity or the life productivity of anyone else who thought differently!!! My titters have been silenced and I would wring my hands in abject despair if they weren't already holding double-pointed needles!! LOOK at this!! This gorgeous motley crew is my swanky sock yarn stash. I stress swanky as I have other virgin balls stashed away throughout the house - mostly Opal, Regia and Lana Grossa yarns. I am on first name terms with eBay sock yarn sellers ... and I have gone out to buy extra DPN's so that I can start another pair without completing the set already on the needles! Does anyone know the way to to Sock Addicts Anonymous???

My fledglings have flown the coop!

2006-08-24T23:08:00.000+01:00

Pic 1: Blue/lilac merino yarn from natural-dye-studio (eBay seller); Broadripple socks in Cascade Fixation Spray
Pic 2: Abbie, my mongrel baby, getting in on the sock show!
DD2 set sail today on her first ever flight alone to Glasgow to see her dad - and probably a huge step towards independence and adulthood. I'd a wee (errrr ... ok .... a HUGE!!) lump in my throat as I watched her make her way through the departure lounge towards the airplane. Bless her though, she hadn't twigged until this morning (despite being frequently reminded) that dad hadn't bought her an 'unaccompanied minor' ticket and that she would be traveling independently. She had minor collywobbles but then agreed she could do it! She has already been on the phone to let us know that she is ok (and tolerating burnt pizza for tea with the politeness we have tried to instill .... lordy, would she comment about it at home though!!). DD1 sets off on her adventure to Liverpool with 2 friends tomorrow morning. Her suitcase is semi-packed on top of her bed and, guess what???? On the very top of the case, she has packed 2 pairs of mum's homemade socks (of the 'I wouldn't be seen dead, mum, in a pair of those!' variety). So, for the first time in about 5 years, DP and I have a childfree weekend (stepsons are also heading off on holidays too on Saturday). What does Captain Romance suggest for the weekend?? A romantic, escape-from-it-all break? Candle-lit dinner for two?? Nah, 'Let's do a brutal gut of the house when the kids can't see what we chuck out'!! Casanova eat your heart out!! Och well, all the more undisturbed knitting time:) !!

A daughter's duties ...

2006-08-23T21:28:00.000+01:00

DD2 flies up tomorrow to Glasgow to spend a few days with her father. She was obviously in reflective mood earlier on this evening ... I had her engaged in her usual task and she ruefully commented 'I'll miss you, mum ... but I won't miss being your wool frame!'. How am I to wind balls over the next few days :( ??

Stalking the postman...

2006-08-22T21:11:00.000+01:00

My campaign of furious finishing off continues! Nearly have the left front of Wendy Fusion bolero completed and will do so before bedtime tonight if it kills me (who said this knitting lark was about being relaxed and creative??!!??). Despite all my protestations that I would start nothing else in the meantime, I have succumbed again! My willpower has gone on holiday leaving me at home, giving in to temptation... Here's my latest lovely, lovely purchase. The yarn is from the Knitting-Goddess, eBay seller - what a lovely seller she is. She let me swap my order to LavenderFields after I got trigger happy in the ordering department and had mistakenly ordered Meadow (also gorgeous) instead. Can't wait for the postman to arrive in the morning!

Woman on a mission!

2006-08-20T23:13:00.000+01:00

Spent the day touring around West Wales again with DP as he worked, with DD2, SS2 and SS3 for company in the car - you can imagine the decibel level, can't you???? They were either singing along with the charts, giggling away together or at war and trading insults at the top of their lungs!! Some of the noise was blocked out by focusing on the current mission to complete the embarrassing collection of Works-in-Abandonment that have gathered over the past few months (pics posted yesterday... and won't humiliate myself with re-posting the pictorial evidence!!).

There is some progress to report though since yesterday's entry. The blue/lilac merino wool socks (yarn from naturaldyestudio, eBay store) are now a pair! And the toe has been grafted on DD2's Broadripple sock (by Rob Matyska http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer03/PATTbroadripple.html ) in Cascade Fixation 9490. AND the back of the Wendy Fusion 5291 bolero (yarn and pattern from http://kempswoolshop.co.uk/Pattern_by_Category.aspx?CatID=1147519609) is now 15 rows longer!!

Knitting Hall of Shame...

2006-08-19T22:45:00.000+01:00

In the past, I remember having one project on the go and always finishing it before moving on to the next... Unfortunately, the starter-finisher personality trait appears to have abandoned me in middle age! Certainly, I remain a starter ... but just look how many projects I have still to finish. TWO pouffe loads worth! Aggghhhhhh!!

Picture 1

Gwen cardigan in Rowan Big Wool (Smoke)
Cardigan in gold/bronze Shimmer ... destined to remain unfinished as I reckon I'd look like a grizzly bear in it! Though it may be reborn as cushions for DD2's bedroom
Lacy bolero in Sirdar Luxury Cotton
Ringo (un)felted bag in Noro Kureyon
Eloise cardigan in Noro Blossom 15

Picture 2

Bolero in Wendy Fusion (Cinnamon)
Various socks - needing a mate, a toe grafted, some love and affection ...

I am off work this week and am a woman on a starter-FINISHER mission!

Sometimes words fail ....

2006-08-14T20:14:00.000+01:00

DD2 was 14 yesterday and was really chuffed with her presents ... She had harped and hinted about them all from about February and gave a daily countdown of the number of days to the Grande Event ...

Last night, about 9pm, she saw an advert on TV for an R&B CD... In all seriousness, she turned round and asked 'Can I have that for Christmas?' Words failed me ...

Am off to do some therapeutic toe grafting. Have just completed one Broadripple sock for DD2 and another sock (using the olde faithful Opal pattern) using a beautiful merino yarn for DD1.

Birthday shocker!!

2006-08-13T20:34:00.000+01:00

Today is DD2's birthday - my 'baby' is 14 today! It's scary how fast the years fly past and she has gone from being that wee toddler to a pretty, sociable young woman (lol at least some of the time! But the description is more than a stretch of the imagination when she and DD1 are having an infantile spat over just whose top THAT is!!). DP does most of the cooking in the Blethers household - for practical reasons mainly. He is always in the house around tea time and I can float in any time between 5.30pm-7.00pm ... too late and variable for the starving masses. So, I asked DD2 what she would like to have for her birthday tea and said that I was going to be doing the cooking. I had visions of cordon bleu recipes ... Delia Smith, Gordon Ramsey et al, all applauding from the covers of their cookery books stashed in the kitchen, gathering dust ...

So, what does madam request for her special meal?? Either KFC OR Supernoodles!!! Is she trying to tell me something????

I was so stunned, having returned with 2 family buckets for the assorted diners, that some retail therapy was in order. Pictish, on AngelYarns forum, came to the rescue! She was stashbusting as I was stash acquiring! Thank you Pictish for my latest purchases - Angel Yarns hand dyed yarn in beautiful pinks and purples, plus Poshyarn Sock Yarn in Confetti colourway. My fingers are itching ....

Yarn addict?

2006-08-13T13:36:00.000+01:00

Haven't felt like posting for the past few days ... blooming joints (of the arthritic rather than illegal kind!) have flared up again and have been hit by the mega-exhaustion that often accompanies this phase. So, have spared myself, and anyone brave enough to read this, my boring rumblings! As a result, I haven't got much knitting done - but have finished Broadripple sock for DD2 in Cascade Fixation 9490. Need to get its wee friend done if she has to have a pair!! DD1 is going through a similar phase right now and I could weep for her. She reckons its to do with the anti-imflammatories she has just started ... whereas I reckon she has an active phase which just so happens to have coincided with starting medication. Nevertheless, they seem to be doing the trick, as (despite DD1 having pain in her feet and hands at the moment), her knees have far less swelling. Hurrahhhhhh!! She even went horse riding, which she absolutely loves, for the first time in a year on Friday. She wasn't quite as euphoric on return as I had imagined and says that she was not that happy with how she had ridden. Hopefully, it's just about being saddle-rusty and she'll get back into the swing (or saddle!!).

Yesterday, DD2 and I kept DP company when he went to carry out some repairs in West Wales. We browsed through Saundersfoot and Carmarthen ... while he browsed through ice makers, microwaves ... We managed to find enough to keep our attention and both came back with some new clothes. Sadly, didn't stumble across any yarn stores. Traffic was much heavier than usual - must be the summer holiday rush. The queues were driving DP to distraction. I was quite happy though as had taken along the lovely merino wool, recently purchased from naturaldyestudio (eBay seller) and started another pair of socks for DD1. The yarn is lovely to knit with and is soft as candy floss (need to keep the beach/holiday theme running here!).

Why the yarn addict title ... Coming out of the house to jump in the car yesterday morning, my eyes quickly scanned along the garden at the most colourful wee clump there ... all shades of lilac, pink, white .... My first thought??? That would be a lovely colourway for Lorna's Laces sock wool!!! See what you think?

And the winner is ....

2006-08-08T21:18:00.000+01:00

Aren't you just staggered at times about how competitive kids can be??? DD1 was confirmed last week to have Juvenile Arthritis and Raynaud's Syndrome. Medics are currently doing blood tests to see which form of arthritis the poor lamb has ... In January of this year, DD2 had asked to be assessed for Dyslexia and we paid for her to be seen privately. She duly was identified as having:
1. Moderate to severe Dyslexia (which impacts her auditory perception rather than reading)
2. Dyspraxia (involving fine motor control ... leading to difficulties with pen grip and physically
forming words on paper. The average 13 year old is thought to produce 30 words per
minute when writing; my wee cherub musters up a grand total of 8 words)

DD2 can often misinterpret/mishear what we have said and also in the classroom. Given her history of glue ear (are we a healthy bunch or what????), the GP referred her on for hearing tests at the local hospital and she was seen today. The outcome was great: she has no physical hearing impairment but an auditory processing disorder (which ties in with the Dyslexia). On route home, she told me I was not to tell her sister that it was all part of the dyslexia umbrella as she wants to have THREE conditions, therefore beating her sister!!!

And to think we used to get rid of our competitive urges playing hopscotch, badminton, conkers .....