One, two, three ... not out!

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?

Monkeying around...

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.

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

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!