Finished my felted boots January 29, 2008

Here are my toasty new slippers! They are the ‘Felted House Boots’ from Cat Bordhi’s ‘Socks soar on two circulars’. Knitted in 100% wool tweed from a great ebay seller. They felted very well, it took two 50 degree machine washes and I’m pleased with the finish. I’m right back into felting again now, I’ve ordered some lovely aran for a felted bag project and now I’m searching for a good pattern.

School is keeping me very busy at the moment, next week is going to be crazy busy so I doubt there will be time for much knitting

I’ve got as far as the heel turn on my ‘columbine peak’ socks; which I have somehow messed up! so I will be frogging that and tring again this evening I think. I really should be getting on with starting the second lace-edged cardi for my boyfriend’s mum (she is dropping hints!) but for now I’m going so snuggle up wearing ‘wonder’, drink my apple crumble tea from Whittards and read the March issue of ‘Simply Knitting’ that has just landed on my doorstep!

I’ve finished ‘Wonder’!! January 26, 2008

The finishing seemed to take forever, I had to stitch the front bad to the front edges and that took the longest. I’m really pleased with this, its turned out exactly as I had hoped. Its a very simple pattern and would be great for a beginner, especially as it knits up quick. The yarn Rowan ‘Romance’ is just lovely, its soft and a bit fuzzy and very warm and cosy without being very heavy to wear. I’ve been fastening it with a broch, but it looks nice worn open too. Anyway, its the perfect thing for wearing around our cold flat!

I’m going to try to teach myself how to knit two socks at the same time on circular needles, I’ve bought these two books to help me. One uses one needle (magic loop) and the other uses two circulars and two balls of yarn. I’m not sure which way i’m going to try, I’m leaning towards the two circular method, but we will see how I feel when I get around to it!

While we are on the subject of socks, here are some giant socks I’ve been making! They are going to be felted into slippers (well, that is the plan anyway!) I’ve been using the pattern for felted indoor boots from Cat Bordhi’s ‘Socks soar on two circulars’. The yarn is 100% wool tweed from an ebay seller, its a nice grey with flecks of other colours. The seller actually sent me small samples of her other yarns so I have used some of these to add the stripes around the cuffs. I’m not actually convinced I like the colours now, its a bit masculine for me; but I will finish them off and felt them then decide. If the felting goes well I think I will make some more in some girly colours as I’ve enjoyed knitting these.

I went to the knitting group in Birmingham today, I took my ‘columbine peak’ socks which have been neglected lately, they are coming along slowly but I’m happy with the finish so far. I’m already thinking of ideas of presents to buy my secret pal, and I don’t even know who it is yet! i really enjoy taking part in swaps, it adds another dimension to knitting/blogging and its alway lovely to get a parcel too!… right, I’m off to Ravelry to upload my pictures of ‘Wonder’.

Knitting magazines January 25, 2008

I’m taking part in the uk blog swap at the moment. http://ukswap.blogspot.com/   – there are a few weekly competitions so I will be posting my entry each week!

Q – This week the question is: Do you subscribe to knitting magazines?

A – Yes, I have a subscription to ‘Simply Knitting’ which I quite like. There is usually at least one pattern in each issue that I’m interested in. I have to admit I do skim parts of it though; I’m not really interested in the letters, crosswords etc. I was quite impressed with the new magazine ‘Lets Knit’, there are a nice mix of patterns from beginner to more advanced …. but its very pricey!

And in other news…. ‘Wonder’ is finally finished, columbine peaks have been ignored a bit as I’ve been making some giant socks that I’m going to be felting into slipper boots. Pictures will be up this weekend!

Knitting resolutions – better late than never! January 24, 2008

Ok, so its nearly the end of the month, but its taken me some time to commit myself to some knitting resolutions!

1. I’m going to do my best to stash-bust. I have some lovely yarn just waiting to be turned into something… I will also sell/trade the yarn that I’m never going to use (I’ve already started this!)

2. I would like to try some more felted projects, I’m just beginning some felted slippers and I really want to make some bags.

3. I will try and overcome my fear of colour knitting and give intarsia a go, I think that is the starting point (fairisle seems a bit out of my capability!)

4. I will try and get out to a knitting group (or two)  – I’ve already started working on this as I went to the Birmingham Stitch and Bitch last week.

5. I’m going to learn how to knit two socks at once on circular needles, I’ve bought a book on magic loop and another about two socks on two circulars so one of those methods will hopefully work for me!

Uk Swap questionnaire January 21, 2008

I’m taking part in the Uk Swap : http://ukswap.blogspot.com/

so here is the questionnaire for my spoiler!

Part One: Crafting

Do you knit, crochet, or both?

Just Knitting

What do you like to make? Do you have a favourite project?

I love cardigans, jackets and jumpers. I’m getting back into socks again, I want to get more into felting, especially felted bags.

Do you have a favourite type of fiber or brand of yarn?

I’m a big Rowan fan, I also love the natural dye studio. I love natural fibers, wool, alpaca, anything soft and warm and snug! generally DK is about as thin as I can cope with for yarns, but obviously I do sock yarn for socks! I generally prefer DK, Aran and Chunky weight.

Do you have a least favourite type of yarn?

I hate eyelash and really obviously synthetic yarns. I’m not a fan of mohair, ribbon or boucle yarns either. Oh, and I do NOT like thin laceweight yarn!
Do you do any other crafts?

A bit of sewing here and there, I also collect buttons.

What knitting do you bring ‘on the go’?

Usually socks and  small bags, baby garments are also very portable!

What do you carry your ‘on the go’ knitting in? Do you want something new?

I’ve got a few small project bags, they are just old handbags though. One day I will get a ‘proper’ knitting bag.
Are there any knitting gifts (book, toy, yarn, item, tool) that you have been lusting over?

Art viva, surina and lantern moon wooden needles. A nice needle holding wrap.

Part Two: Your Favourites

What is your favourite colour? What is your least favourite colour?

Favourite colour: green/purple/grey….. I have three!

least favourite: Orange / Yellow / pillar box red

What scents/smells do you like? What don’t you like?

Love violet, lavender, sandlewood, I don’t like sickly fake chocolate smells or pongy rose!

How do you like to pamper yourself? (bubble bath, hand creams, massage, manicure)

Manicure, massage, candles, etc.- I can’t use bubble baths as I have very sensitive skin.

What goodies to you like to treat your tummy with? (chocolate, biscuits, truffles, etc.)

I like milk chocolate, hate white chocolate. I am a Coeliac (can’t eat gluten/wheat) which a lot of chocolate contains! Also regular biscuits etc plus a most pick and mix are out of bounds. My biggest treat is wine! I do like ginger, and gluten free toffee. (Good old Thorntons!!)

Do you prefer tea or coffee while you knit? Any particular kind? Favourite mug/cup?

tea only, any flavour except camomile.  I’m not fussy about mugs or cups but I do love to use a teapot!

Do you listen to/watch anything while you knit? (TVshow-Along, movies, music, podcasts)

Whatever is on tv, preferably a period drama!

Part Three: Living & Past-times

Where do you live in the UK? (General idea not address)

West Midlands

Have you always lived here, or did you grow up somewhere else?

Only lived here a few years, I was born and grew up in Surrey

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Iceland

If you couldn’t go to a knitting group, what other kind of gathering would you go to? (book club, tea party, yoga class, jewelery class, etc.)

Yoga class

What’s your style? (elegant, traditional, glamourous, girly, natural, sporty, outgoing, etc.)

A bit of a pampered hippy, I like to be ‘green’ but glam!

Final Part:

Any allergies/preferences (fiber-wise or treat-wise)?

Coeliac – intolerant to gluten / wheat. Alleric to nickel.
Anything we missed that you’d like your partner to know?

I don’t do DPN’s!! and I have a big book ‘wish list’ on amazon!

A bone scan and half a sock January 18, 2008

Here is the progress so far on my latest socks. Its ‘Columbine Peak’ from ‘Socks Soar on Two Circulars’. I’ve not had much time to knit this week so its slow progress, but I am finding the lace pattern very easy and satisying. I was a bit annoyed that it seems to be coming out quite large (dispite knitting a tension swatch) I looked into this on Ravelry and other knitters have said the same. I think they should fit ok though, if not then they will have to be bed socks!

I’ve got right back into socks again after starting these, I’m planning on making the ‘Indoor Boots’ felted socks pattern from this book, I bought the addi’s pictured below (love these!) and I’ve ordered some tweed wool that should felt nicely. I have only ever felted a booga bag so looking forward to experimenting again.

I had a big knitting needle sort out the other night, I had loads of random odd needles that have now been neatly banded into pairs, I’m intending to buy or make some needle wraps and get them grouped into sizes. The majority are metal but I do have a few plastic needles, I’m not a fan of plastic so I’m hoping to faze these out! I can’t afford to buy a whole new set of needles so I’ve decided to make a list of the sizes I need to replace and then buy a nice quality pair a month. I do like bamboo needles but I’ve got my eye on the lovely Lantern Moon wooden needles and Surina needles. I have also seen some curious needles on Loop made from milk protein (interesting!). My most wanted items are a set of ‘Art Viva’ wooden needles with the lovely polka-dot ends….totally excessive and expensive, but gorgeous never the less, they might be on my birthday wish list in April!

I had a bit of a nightmare with ‘Wonder’. I ran out of wool the other night, I searched the internet for ages trying to get some Rowan Romance in the right shade, in the end I found some and ordered 3 balls for £13. The next day I walked through the knitting department at John Lewis, and there in the bargain bin was a pack of 10 balls of the stuff, the right shade reduced to £1 a ball!!!! I bought the first lot from there originally and they said that was everything they had in stock, clearly not. Anyway, I bought 5 balls for a fiver, but it was too late to cancel the internet order. I guess I could return it but that is a pain; I think I will ebay the left over balls. Wonder is now sitting beside me waiting for me to finish the collar (which is taking ages), I will have photos up as soon as its finished.

I think I might try to go to the Birmingham Stitch and Bitch tomorrow, I will have to catch the train but I do want to meet some local knitters of my own age. I’m planning on taking the socks, nice a portable! I had a bone density scan this week, it was very quick really, you have to lie very still while a xray arm thing moves over you. Its a standard test for recently diagnosed Coeliacs to check that you have ok bone density. As a coeliac you are at a higher risk of developing Osteoporosis, so I’ve got my fingers crossed it will all be normal ok.

Bread and booties January 13, 2008

I’ve got a friend who now lives in Holland and is due to become a mum in the next couple of months so I’ve been at the baby hats again! This is the same baby hat pattern that I have previously knitted, its from an old copy of ‘Simply Knitting’ and the yarn is Debbie Bliss ‘cotton cashmere’. I started the booties, Saartje booties (google it) and I’ve made one, unfortunately I made the straps too short so I think this will become a keyring and I may start again! (it didn’t take too long anyway) I love this wool, so soft and perfect for babies.

I have also been naughty, I didn’t fancy knitting ‘Wonder’ the other night, so I cast on some socks! The pattern will be ‘Columbine Peak’ from Cat Bordhi’s ‘Socks soar on two circulars’. The yarn is by ‘angels and elephants’ hand dyed 100% wool which I bought off ebay a while ago. I got in a right tangle with my wool winder and I decided I totally need to buy a nice umberella swift! These will probably take me months to do as they are only my third ever pair of socks and my second attempt at using two circulars. This is my preferred method as the needles don’t fall out all the time, I love using addi turbos. I will try to get Wonder finished off this month, I just got bitten by the sock bug again and this wool was just screaming at me to cast on.

Other than knitting one of my new years resoloutions was to experiment more with my gluten free cooking. I get some bland stuff on prescription but I have made it my mission to discover an edible gluten free bread! This was from my breadmaker yesterday, just using a basic Glutafin high fibre mix. I’ve not used this flour mix before and i was impressed, its has a nice light texture (which you don’t often get with gluten free bread!) I added some linseeds in an effort to make it more healthy. I quite like this bread toasted but I find it hard to slice it thinly enough to get it in the toaster! I had to buy my own toaster as I can’t use the old one as the bread may get contaminated with gluten. Unfortunately we don’t have a grill so I’m just giong to have to get better at slicing bread thinly.

Wonder … in progress! January 11, 2008

Wonder is coming along nicely, I am so into the yarn Rowan ‘Romance’, its so soft and knits so quickly. Anyway, here is the back, two fronts and one sleeve; since this photograph i’ve finished the secnd sleeve and I’m now onto the collar and front edges. I think that this will be the niggly bit as its knitted in pattern and I’ve got to get it to fit up each front and meet at the neck. But I doubt it will take too long.

Pictured here is something that bought a big smile to my face – I run a school knitting club for children aged 7-11, this week I wrote letters to several yarn companies asking if they have any samples that they could donate to out school (I have no budget and the kids mostly use my needles and surplus stash) Anyway, the above bag of wool arrived at school today for us from Sirdar. They Are fab, the letter was only posted on Wednesday and by Friday they have sent this donation to us, along with a lovely letter praising my efforts at teaching knitting to young people. The kids are going to be really pleased, I’m going to get them to write a thank you letter to Sirdar. Isn’t that nice!

Oh, just one bit of news about my Coeliac condition…. I’ve discovered that I am allowed to eat walkers ‘Wotsits’!!!! Hoorah!, thank you Walkers Crisps!!!

Gluten free Christmas cake… yummy January 7, 2008

I’ve just been nibbling on some yummy gluten free Charistmas cake – it was good! (shopbought!)

Anyway, I’m back to teaching tomorrow, we had an INSET teacher day today, learning about child abuse – which was really depressing on the first day back at work this year. I’m relieved to say that I have officially dropped out of the course I was on this year, it was PSHE CPD (Personal, Social and Health Education Continued Professional Development…phew!) and it was so much work! I’ve got so many things to do at work at the moment, and as of tomorrow I have eight new year one children joining my class, so I decided that this year is not the time for further qualifications. My school will be closeing in July so I have begun the process of trying to find a new job, its quite daunting, there are no jobs out there yet – yikes.

Back to knitting anyway – I’m flying through ‘wonder’ at the moment and really enjoying knitting it. I’ve done the fronts and back and am now working on the sleeves, its looking good so far – pics soon!

Started ‘Wonder’ January 5, 2008

Yep, I’ve started a new project. This is ‘wonder’ from Rowan magazine 40, made in Rowan Romance, colour ‘charred’. I bought the yarn in the John Lewis sale, proper bargain!

Its a very simple pattern and its knitting up super-fast. I bought the yarn not knowing what to make with it and I have to say that I was a bit dissapointed by how few patterns there are for this yarn. But i settled on this and I think it will be a cardigan i will be wearing a lot! the yarn is just lovely, its a blend of mohair and acrylic, very soft. There is a strand of glitter throughout that gives a beautiful shimmer and I just love the muted grey colour. I think you could easily substitute this yarn into other patterns, its quite chunky and knits up on 7mm needles (although I’ve had to go up to 8mm to obtain the right tension)…I suppose it could sub for Rowan big wool or something similar…. hmm, off to look at patterns!

Here is the finished Twilleys Freedom Spirit beret, I’ve been weraing this everyday since I finished it! Really simple to make and a lovely fit, I’m sure to be making more of these. I’m thinking of making it again in a diffent yarn to match a scarf I recently made, watch this space!

 Well, Chrsitmas holidays are nearly over and school is back on Monday. I’ve hardly touched my planning and I have very little motivation! I amd sitting here blogging, and thinking about working on ‘wonder’ when I should be planning lessons. I will get around to it later today! I’m also on this course at the meoment to do with school, I’m considering dropping out as I’ve taken on so much work and I feel like I’m going to burn out. As it is I have to start job hunting as our school is closing in the summer, I think I might quit and put my time to better use.

Anyway, new year not bad so far, I’m sure I will be back in work mode by the end of next week, then i need to get myself back to the gym! I’m intending to experiment a bit more with my gluten-free cooking, I’ve been using a breadmaker occasionally but I’ve not been very experimental! I’m finding my gluten-free diet very restrictive, being a Coeliac and Pescetarian does limit your choices somewhat! Eating out is a real struggle, very few places sell gluen-free, meat-free food and most fish is coated in breadcrumbs or a flour-based sauce. I find the most difficult thing is not being able to eat cakes / biscuits / chocolates / sweets when people offer them, working in a school there is always a plate of biscuits in the staffroom and its torture watching others tuck in! It sounds like the best diet in the world, but I have gained weight since my diagnosis, I really want to lose it this year and get some enjoyment back into my cooking and eating.