begknitter's knotty mess

90 years on, the Great War is passing from living memory to the realm of history. Lest we forget

2008-11-12T08:59:00.003+13:00

For the Fallenby Laurence Binyon
Originally published in The Times on 21 September 1914. —

They went with songs to the battle,

they were young,Straight of limb,

true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Bring on the crazy lady

2008-11-11T06:00:00.003+13:00

Well, I think I always knew that complete and total insanity was on the cards. Today I bring you proof:

5%ish of a Blanket made from sock yarn (mainly scraps, some new bits from the stash, or bits that never found their niche - hot pink Shephard sock etc). Each hexagon is 4" diameter, with a CO edge of 20 stitches per side on 2.75mm DPNs.

Just too hot

2008-07-27T05:17:00.003+12:00

It isn't meant to get like this in Northern England.

I find myself unable to do anything at all today cos even the slightest activity turns meinto a sticky sweaty mess, and frankly its not fun. Maybe I'll do something this evening. Meantime some more piccies and projects...

First up, the Apres surf sweater - this is the first piece, the back. Just in the midst of the armholes, and coming on a treat, if I'm done with the back in time, I'll take a sleeve to Cambridge!

Next, this was a wedding prezzie for a couple of friends a few weeks ago - from a book called tea cozies - I also got them the teapot underneath and a couple of nice mugs!

Lastly, the interminable tangled yoke cardie. Onto the yoke now, but not quite at the patterned bit yet - such long rows...

Progress

2008-07-13T04:04:00.003+12:00

Well nights are ongoing and I'm in that state of cloudiness that comes from 4 hours sleep in the last 36 or so. I could have sworn the little bloglet was innundated, like having a load of important visitors when the house is a disaster zone!

So now I've been spurred back into active blogging (can't promise how regular and active) I have loads to tell you all. Its been a while, and we have loads to catch up on!

I'll start with better pictures of some of the current WIPs

The Lenore socks - where I'm really up to (toe decs on second sock)

The lace detail shows how gorgeous this lace is - I think it will be a gorgeous baby sweater too!

Top pics probably better for the lenore colourway though! This expanse of grey stocking stitch is going to be Tangled Yoke, but I'm so bored of the plain body and humongous rows that it has stalled at the moment.

This is my current favourite. I know you've seen the Big Blue Blob before...but finally here are some new pictures. I'm adoring how the details are popping now I'm starting to put the border on.

But I will admit it is turning out a lot more substantial than I had thought. I'm not sure how easy it'll be to find occasions to wear a denim coloured 6'+ shawl once its done, but I love it.

More juicy WIPs next time!

Feeling guilty

2008-07-12T21:03:00.003+12:00

OK so I am still in the blogosphere. I've just been lurking awhile since Ravelry's been taking up more time, and works been pretty hectic too.

Somewhat guilted into a return since my little mention though ;)

As you may well know therefore, I've been plodding my way though the 2007 Rockin Sock Club, and my latest attempt are the fabulous Lenore socks.

Just one toe left to knit - I may take them to work to finish tonight.

In general though, I'm being entirely fickle with my knits. Every time I see a fantastic pattern I'm all over it, (I'm beginning to think Rav is bad for my health) and I now have four part sweaters to show for it BUT STILL HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!

Dickinson Sweater (above - Natural Aran Wool from trip to Ireland last year) and Rogue cardie (below - Shetland wool, an utter bargain but I can't remember where from - think its in my Rav entry)

The Tangles yoke is still a mass of st st in grey. I think I may be a little scared of the cables!

My latest knitting crush is the Apres Surf sweater from this summer's Interweave knits. Theres only a st.st hem yet so piccies can wait! I was in Bristol in the week, so went in person to the most fabulous (not so)LYS I have ever seen!

But why was I there? I have a new job in Bristol, starting in August (again with the reduction in blogging time) Kids ortho for a year and I can't wait!

The big blue blob got bigger on the trip too.

I've also been dabbling with the spindle again, and I think things are improving a little.

Lets be honest the only way was up!

Chickening out

2008-02-03T08:17:00.000+13:00

No knitting today. Theres plenty going on and I'll tell you all about the knitting group I've found here next week after the meeting.

Today, we're talking POULTRY.

Now, I know some of you are not in the UK. The little map thingmy on the right tells me you're all over the world, so you may not have seen Hugh's Chicken Run or Jamie's Fowl Dinners over the last couple of weeks. I've been on Free Range Eggs since I started shopping for myself and have been getting vaguely more Organic since I was in NZ (so much lovely fresh food), but still found the images of battery conditions an eye opener. Now totally Free Range for chicken and eggs and I wanted to try to spread the message a bit.

Find out more here, or join the "Chicken Out: Campaign for a Free Range Future" facebook group. You can join the campaign using the link above my head over there, and I hope you do.

A very small sweater

2007-12-31T09:32:00.000+13:00

is still a finished sweater, after all!

Ripples in Time sweater from Inspired Cable Knits. Knit in Sirdar Baby Bamboo, for K's baby (no sign yet but due date was yesterday)

I love how it turned out, and absolutely hated the horror that was the weaving in of all the ends. Every piece seemed to take just over a skein, so there were loads of ends. I seamed the whole thing with crochet, and have ended up with nice strong seams, which I wove most of the ends into.

I'm glad I took the time to restart this a couple of times to get it right. It'll probably be a bit big so the kid can grow into it and it might last a little longer for that.

Enough of the baby stuff for now though - I ordered yarn for Eunny's Tangled Yoke cardigan this week, so will get going with that soon, too.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-23T04:49:00.000+13:00

A little focus on my blissfully calm nightshifts this week, and the Turquoise tank top is complete! Pictures another day.

A little sleep, and I'm ready to start thinking about Christmas.

Blogging the Big Blue Blobs

2007-12-23T03:50:00.000+13:00

Or "I still don't seem to have got the hang of photos of knitting"

The first project on the agenda today is just coming out of time out.

I adored this vest (from Stefanie Japel's Fitted Knits) from the moment I saw it, and started knitting as soon as the yarn arrived, casting other projects aside to get this on the needles. It saw I was infatuated, and took advantage of me.

It isn't a difficult pattern (I have to keep telling myself this) and the waffle pattern and deep ribbing will be flattering when I wear it. It will be a great layering piece this winter (and possibly last spring). Yes I had a little teething trouble with the bust shaping (not the fault of the instructions which are clear and specific - I just wasn't paying attention) and reknit the front.

I should have learned from that mistake. The above newly wound yarn cake was the upper back of the sweater. It's now as you see, ready for a repeat of the back after I screwed that up too. I'm now poised back at the (distressingly familiar) armhole shaping, ready to climb the montain again.
This sweater had really better live up to its name. If it doesn't fit after all this I might just explode in a wooly heap!

This one's going a bit better, although still a big blue blob. The Cap Shawl that I wouldn't give you a new picture of last time is coming along.

I've included the book itself for scale - this thing is a monster! It looks less blobby now cos I changed the cable of my knitpicks today - now easily filling a 1m cable.

But with detail like this I just can't show you a wide shot! The single ball of laci from Blue moon is gradually diminishing - I can't imagine weaving in ends in this - and I'm now only 20 rows from the border! Its too big to take anywhere now though, so a sofa knit, perfect for these cold nights.

The baby knitting remains stalled and elsewhere. Distressingly (fora knitter who is so geographically challenged) K reported Braxton-Hickses yesterday - the deadline approaches! Luckily I'm off to stay with Mum and Dad for Christmas on Monday - guess what I'll be doing on Christmas eve!

Service resuming - but I'd be lying if I said it was normal.

2007-12-06T06:10:00.000+13:00

Did you miss me?

I'm back, moved into my new flat (although still finding wool everywhere) and settling into my new job. I've not moved far this time (by my standards) and am now in Leeds. In fact, I was commuting for a couple of weeks while I sorted things out, but the 2-3 hour drive each way at the end of a thirteen hour shift may not be the best idea in the world (although debatable whether it was a worse idea than staying in the on call room - some beasties have bitten me and I've been itchy as hell!) The new flat is modern, old and cosy all at the same time, I still have a balcony for the plants and best of all, I now have one of these:

Its the little things that make me happy!

Knitting, strangely enough, has been on the back burner whilst I've had my life picked up shuffled and thrown on the floor. I've managed a couple of projects though. The Melon shawl is finally finished and blocked, I absolutely adore this, but I do get the feeling my Mum does too (she did the blocking) so we'll see - she does have a birthday coming up after Christmas.

And I've made a Yarnharlot Unorigional Hat with the wool I got at Lettuce knit (sorry, I lost the band in the move)

I used a circular needle from the knitpicks options set, a size bigger than specified to stop the hat riding up, and doubled the yarn. I loved knitting this - it only took an afternoon including getting the swift out and winding the wool.

I was considering making more for Christmas pressies, but (and I want to make sure everyone grasps the severity of the problem here) I can't find the right wool in the stash. I'm not sure I have the right wool either, and I haven't found a LYS in Leeds yet (suggestions in the comments, please). Its a problem.

I've made good progress on the Cap Shawl, but as you can't tell yet cos I can't get a good picture whilst its still on the needle so it still looks the same - in fact this is an old picture. Then there's other minature disaster on the knitting front... Actually only read on if you have a strong constitution - you have been warned.

K's baby is due this month. I still have 3/4 of a ladybird bootie and the front of the Rippples in time sweater to knit. Loads of time to knit that much, I know. But here's the rub: these two projects and my aran sweater in progress (which I now realise will only be finished by next winter) are in a bag in my parents home 3 hours drive away and they've gone on holiday!

The word B*gger doesen't seem to go far enough somehow!

I do still exist

2007-10-10T09:50:00.000+13:00

but things are all a bit up in the air at the minute.

My trip to Toronto was severely curtailed by the lack-of-job issue, but then I had the joy (?) of being invited to 3 interviews in as many business days!! 2 days later, and I have 2 job offers.

I've now accepted one of them and I'm waiting for the fine details to be sorted, but I'm on the move again, so blogging is taking the back seat for now. I'll be back as soon as I can!

Consolidation.

2007-09-09T23:30:00.000+12:00

I've been a complete tart where the knitting is concerned recently. I didn't even realise how many things I have on the go, but whenI thought about it this morning I got a bit scared.

It started with a couple of socks back in NZ, that I've looked at a couple of times since I got back, but nothing more.

Then 2 other socks with actual problems - Bayerishe is coming out way too small and I think needs to be pulled back and tried on a bigger needle, and this sock is coming out ridiculously big.
Then there's the mitered blanket, which although I love the idea of it, can't make it a mobile project as I have such big breaks in between the squares that I still need the book. This was always meant to be a back-burner project though so I'm not too worried.

The melon shawl I do feel guilty about though. I love all but one tiny thing about this project - the kidsilk haze is so hot now it's got this big. I'm about halfway round the first long edge of the border, and I want to be able to wear it this autumn, but its not cool enough to knit on it yet!
The other reason I feel guilty aboutthe melon shawl is that I've started a second shawl from the same book - the cap shawl in Blue Moon's new laci yarn, colour midsummer's night. This is actually going really well, maybe even too well - I'm still hoping to take it to Toronto, but it's definately getting a bit on the big side.
Then there was the "sweater incident". Although this was a couple of weeks ago now, it was too painful to blog immediately. Remember this?

The turquoise tank top from fitted knits. I ripped back the front at least 3 times to get the shaping right, then got to within 10 rows of finishing the back only to realise that something has gone horribly wrong with the back too, leaving me with twice the number of stitches I should have. Unable to bear to even look at it at the time, the half finished sweater got stuck in the cupboard until it learns its lesson. I started this instead:

This is Dickinson from the latest Interweave. (I also can't wait to start the Tangled Yoke cardie from the same issue, but enough is enough surely...?)

Not too bad eh? Yes but then the baby knits for K - I have 3/4 of a baby sweater and one ladybird bootie in a bag too!

I have finished something though - here's the second pair of Embossed leaves socks finished this morning and fitting perfectly - what should I attack next?

Bookwork

2007-08-25T21:07:00.000+12:00

I feel like I'm drowning in study right now. Medical educationalists have been spouting on about "self directed learning" for years. Meanwhile actual learning has become more and more didactic, with lectures and courses to attend and boxes to tick (my favourite bugbear). With the chaos of the last couple of months though, all bets are off. I'm studying more now than I did when I was a full time student (and working full time and commuting 2 hours a day) I'm knackered, and this weekend I have homework. HOMEWORK people. I'm 28 years old and I'm up early on a saturday morning doing my homework! (this is of course what shows me to have grown up - I never used to do my homework until sunday night as a kid!) But I want to throw it down and knit instead. I want to finish something (homework not withstanding). Mainly because I want to knit 2 sweaters from the latest Interweave Knits - Tangled Yoke and Dickinson, but cannot justify having yet another half done sweater in the flat. Oh well I probably can't justify the time spent not studying either - this homework thing was easier when Mum used to nag me to get it done - maybe it was gentle encouragement, not nagging, after all!

Up to my elbows in snot

2007-08-13T03:45:00.000+12:00

I don't think we're in ortho anymore!

Honestly though, the new job is going reasonably well, and seem to be settling in ok. The 80 mile round trip commute is a bit of a b*&&er, and that was one of the more mild terms I thought of for the guy who wrote offf my car at a crossroads on thursday morning....but ENT is going to be alright. Not what I want to do forever, but alright. (And I'm going to get to buy a new car!!)

On the massive plus side though, it has the most peaceful on calls I have ever had the priviledge to work!

So the knitting on call is back on! Work knitting has been a second pair of embossed leaves socks, this time in STR midsummer night. Onto the second one now.

Staying in the same colourway (must be having a blue phase) I've started my ATLS-Toronto-trip knitting (to get it off the DPNs before I set off, then I just sort of kept going) The Cap Shawl from Victorian Lace Today. Must remeber to photocopy the chart before I go.

Also outstanding, and blue, but making progress is the turquoise tank - I'm hoping this will be done in time to take to Canada as a garment.

Just leaving the perpetual variety of Second Socks, and the Melon Shawl - the huge volume of it in all that kidsilk haze just got too hot - this is on official hiatus until it gets a bit cooler.

And last but by no means least, my sockapalooza socks have arrived. Thankyou so much to Beate, who designed, knit and sent these fantastic socks to me! I love them!

On Edge

2007-07-31T06:33:00.000+12:00

Well, its not been too much fun around here for a while, I really have been edgy and it didn't seem a good idea to blog it, somehow. The looming unemployment really put a dampner on things and as per usual I couldn't quite see how much it was affecting me till it got better. I have an (albeit temporary) new job starting on Wednesday, in the sister hospital of the one I'm in at the moment, working in ENT surgery. I'm looking forward to it, but already missing ortho (don't you dare read back to last year when I hated it for not being cardiac - a good memory is unforgivable, ortho has far better prospects and they let me operate now!!)

Anyway, knitblog, edges, right...

I think I have found the holy grail of my sock knitting. I've struggled to find a cast on that really works for me for top down socks. I know I've had issues regarding casting on per se since I started knitting, and I thought I'd never find a simple, reliable cast on with enough stretch to stay up but not dig in, that looks good (imho) as an edge and doesn't seem all unfinished, and isnt fiddly to do. I've tried tubular ones, knitted ones, long tails and latvian twisted ones, but was just about to resign myself to the backward loop method forever (stretchy yes, but not pretty) then, thanks to the embossed leaves pattern, it hit me. The 1 by 1 ribbed cast on crossed with backwards loops - a 1 by 1 ribbed backwards loop if you will. Love it.

Speed knitting

2007-07-18T01:06:00.000+12:00

They're done already! I love embossed leaves. There are things I'll change for the next pair though. These were almost entirely to pattern and I find the cast on quite tight, and the foot a bit on the long side, so next time I'll be doing things a bit differently, and as I said the other day, I'll use a solid or semisolid yarn next time, but in general I love these socks.
So what's next? I've been back to the books, but think I'll be staying with my original plan: the flutterby socks, I've done 1 repeat of the first leg so far, and I'm still intrigued by this pattern. It's a good old zombie knit too, so will certainly come with me to Cambridge!

If at first you don't succeed...

2007-07-12T05:15:00.000+12:00

In response to the continuing job issues (no news is good news, right?) I've finished the first of the Embossed Leaves Socks. It's ended up with intriguing stripey goodness down the leg and foot which I do like, but I think the next version of these will be in a more solid colourway to show off the lace a bit more. The second sock is on the needles now, and about halfway down the ribbing on the top of the cuff.

Not successful was the toe up RPM. fun as it was, I knew from the foot of sock one that I just don't have the staying power for these right now. The yarn is enchanting, the pattern just wan't doing it for me, and, in a moment of uncharacteristic (in a knitting sense) deciciveness the whole lot went back to the frog pond.

Now I have been wondering what to do with the yarn (1 skein of STR mediumweight in Love in Idleness) and I think it will be dealt with fairly soon. I've discovered this pattern via the Sockapalooza 4 blog, and I think it might be just what I need.

What can be achieved given enough time...

2007-07-10T08:55:00.000+12:00

Time has been a huge problem this week - it always is on my weeks of nights where all I can do is work and sleep, but even more so this week than usual.

Firstly, the job crisis continues, and time is running out - get well or emigrate before 1/8/07, please listen to me, get a good, comprehensive first aid kit, make sure you have your repeat scripts, and ALWAYS look both ways before crossing the street!

Secondly, one of my collegues (who was supposed to be working this weekend)had a personal crisis and had to go home for the weekend. There's a sick kind of sense of acheivement in having worked a 36 hour stint, and now the 110 hour working week is over I feel like a proper doctor!! (and the bosses seem to think so too, which given point 1 can't be a bad thing)

But being at work all week doesn't mean I haven't been creative. My sockpal will not be sockless, as I finished my socks (give or take one graft and weaving in the 4 yarn ends) in a lull last night.

So what's a girl to do at 3am with a completed pair of socks in her handbag? Well start a new pair, of course! Thing is,after 100 hours, Bayerische was never going to be a good idea, so a new pair to start then - embossed leaves in STR mediumweight in undertoe.Next thing to do is to finish reading the ATLS manual and book my flights to Toronto. Any ideas for a yarn crawl whilst I'm there?

Half a sockpal package!

2007-06-27T10:28:00.000+12:00

One sock ready for my pal. I hope she likes them as much as I liked knitting this one!

The dreaded second sock is cast on, and currently stands at one row of ribbing but I think the outlook on these is a bit brighter now than last week - and I have a week of nights coming up so this shouldn't be a problem deadline!

I'm Back!!

2007-06-24T21:55:00.000+12:00

Well, I think it's about time for normal service to be resumed. I know I've been under a big black storm cloud over the last few weeks, and the whole work thing spilled over into the blog more than I'd like, especially with the grumbling. Contrary to the last few posts I do actually love my job!

I'll start with a nice cheery photo from the balcony today - and yes it was delicious!

So today is back to basics with this here knit blog.

We start with the as yet minimally blogged sockapalooooza project. You already saw the yarn, well here's the first leg. I eventually decided on the Waving Lace socks from "Favorite Socks", and its going reasonably well, but I do hope to up the pace on these over the next couple of weeks if I'm to make the deadline.

As such, the Ripples in Time baby sweater is on hold at the minute. The recipient isn't due till after Christmas, so I have plenty of time, plus I've used more than half my yarn on less then half of the sweater, so need to order another ball!

Unemployment

2007-06-09T21:13:00.000+12:00

Once again I am staring into the abyss of unemployment. The fact that I work for the NHS and that it is, at least in this small geographical area, a monopoly employer, is apparantly irrelevant, as is that I love and am good at my job, and that it cost the UK taxpayer £250,000 to train me to this point. Not going to dwell on it here though, check out NHSBlogdoc or RemedyUK for details of the mess.

At least I'll have more time to knit.

The baby knitting is coming along apace. I have 1 ladybird bootie already, and the back of a Ripples in Time in the baby bamboo. I'll cast on for the front today, but I am a bit nervous about the yarn situation, having used one and a half balls of yarn on this one piece. Then again I do remember a tutorial from the Yarn Harlot saying to knit baby sleeves a bit shorter than most patterns say anyway, so I'll see how I get on. I am glad I was so damn fussy about the yarn for this one, the baby bamboo is turning out to be exactly what I wanted; soft, squooshy, green (both by colour and natural fibres) and shows up the cables beautifully. Of course I do realise I would be within one piece of finishing this sweater if I'd stuck with the original yarn, but I certainly wasn't as happy with it.
Finally, a sockpal picture. Yes I realise its about time.

I did decide to rethink with the arrival of Favourite Socks, and am making the waving lace socks. Not, of course, that you can tell that yet, but once I've finished the ribbing (not doing the edging as I think it might be too much), that's what this will be. In order to make it in time for the exchange I'll be making this my comes-to-work knitting for a while, to try to boost it up the priorities for knitting time, without the distraction of baby knitting.

Sproutings

2007-06-07T07:37:00.000+12:00

I've been thinking in green for a while. Not just in termsof the plants, although look how well they're doing...

But also in terms of the Ripples in Time baby sweater. I loved knitting the cream acrylic version, butwasn't happy with the reverse stocking stitch columns. They looked pulled about and it ended up looking a bit cheap and nasty. I then tried it again in a dusty green superwash, but that knitted up to look far too dark for a baby sweater. Hoping for third time lucky, I've just cast on in Sirdar baby bamboo (colour 133) which is a more springy, sprouty green. I'm hoping to combine the soft baby paleness of the first version and the weight and "blockability" of the second to finally do the pattern and K's baby justice.

Finally, the last copy of this book to arrive finally got here today. I can't believe it took so long (problems with UK amazon - re-ordered from the US site a few days ago) I may have to reevaluate the sate of play with my sockapalooza socks in the light of this book.

Tripping a plan

2007-05-31T21:16:00.000+12:00

Yesterday, I posted a bankers' draft for a course. Its ATLS, a course I need to do for work. Its notoriously difficult to get on it in the UK (and I found also in NZ, but I did hear back from the waiting list there yesterday, too), so I've made alternative arrangements.

Remember this?

I'm off to Toronto in September! Yes it has to be mainly a business trip, but I'm hoping to get on the Canadian tourist trail after the course itself is over with, and a yarn crawl seems to be mandatory. All suggestions in the comments, please.

Now for some knitting content (I know I'm a bad knitblogger, and there's not been much knitting recently). I started the Ripples in Time sweater for K's baby (well I started by swatching in the sleeve pattern, and suddenly had a whole sleeve!!)

Don't look at me like that, its all too easy to let it happen, especially with such a cool cable pattern. I'm using Wendy Bambino 4 ply, and its a richer, creamier colour in real life than in the picture. Here's the sweater in the book, for an idea what I'm aiming at.

Now, I never thought I was a yarn snob, and I love knitting with this yarn. Its soft and squooshy and machine washable. But I'm torn. Somehow I'm not sure I should be wrapping K's baby in plastic yarn. Yes I'm finishing the sweater, and it will be great, and K and R will love it (and so hopefully will the baby) but I need to knit it something with natural fibres too.

This next yarn is for my sockpal. STR mediumweight in lovers' leap. I love it, and think it fits right in to her spec, but I'm less happy with my initial attempts at knitting it up. I think more pattern research may be needed...

This sock, however is going much better. Its my most recent nightshift knitting, knitty's RPM in Love in Idleness STR mediumweight (my sockyarn of the moment) adjusted to knit toe up, with a flat toe, and almost up to the heel (which will be of a short row variety).

Miniature Disasters and Minor Catastrophes

2007-05-31T00:04:00.000+12:00

Its all been a bit pants round here since I last blogged. Not earth shatteringly nasty, but a bit rubbish around the edges, and its getting me down; feeling like I'm out in todays grey, drizzly weather. You all know what I mean.

First up, I've had my One Shot Interview, but I don't find out if I still have a career for another week or more. Trying not to think about it, really.

Secondly, I failed my exam with skill and panache never before seen in the realm of exam failures. (This has been confirmed by the college, not just on my impression of the viva). I know I didn't do enough work, mainly because I was worrying about the interview every time I sat down to study, in fact any time I did anything other than operating, when I had Other Things To Think About.

My house is a disaster area, mainly due to the above and the following week of night shifts.

My car is in for repairs after the gear changing mechanism died while I was driving it. Now, here in the UK the automatic gearbox is unusual, and most people learn to drive in a manual. I have never driven without the ability to choose my gear, so it was fun getting to the garage, to say the least. They have had the car over a week now, and I have yet to hear from them.

Finally some good news: my best mate is expecting and wants me to knit for her baby. This is good news, but a bit of a bombshell. She's only 9 1/2 weeks but this has to be great. I'm considering a load of Mason Dixon bibs, animal booties and a fab baby sweater, but on the look out for a great pattern. So far leaning towards the Ripples in Time baby sweater from Inspired Cable Knits by Fiona Ellis, but any and all suggestions greatly appreciated. She doesn't know I blog, so showing and telling here is fine and will still be a surprise. Mainstays will be cream, oatmeal, green etc (not a huge fan of yellow, it makes babies look jaundiced IMHO) as don't know what flavour it will be, but am certainly thinking heirloom...

Sockapalyarna

2007-05-12T22:40:00.000+12:00

A delivery this morning reminded me I have socks to knit, as my sock pal's yarn has arrived.

From her sockpal info she has some different tastes from me in terms of colours, but I love some of the patterns she has knit and shown on her blog. (No link its a secret) but a nice bright red was on her list and is something I can get my teeth into too. Blue moon delivered this morning.

Now I just need a pattern. She likes lacey socks so I'll be needing to find an alternative to my current stack of cabley patterns. I don't want to start yet either, as my copy of favourite socks is yet to arrive, too and I want to see if there's anything suitable in there.

On the work front, I'm now cutting solo for carpal tunnel releases (you have no idea how much this excites me) and have an interview for a training post for next year. Don't worry if I don't post for a while, I'll be under an enormous pile of books for the exam!

All work...

2007-05-08T04:05:00.000+12:00

No Knitting recently. I have ordered yarn for my sockapalooza 4 pal, and sent her a teaser, but not made any progress on Bayerische or Grasshopper, and the melon shawl is languishing on the sofa.

The last week's been busy. Always a bit of a culture shock to be back at work after a break, and we were "on take". That meant loads of theatre time, and plenty of needlecraft of the other variety: I've had plenty of practice with carpal tunnel releases, now, too.

The trauma stuff is always fun though and I did my first whole operation where the reg kept his hands clean! It was a DHS - one of these, much fun!

Wipeout!!

2007-04-27T09:45:00.000+12:00

It was going so well. Intoxicating wool/silk blend in a colourway that could have been made just for me. Great pattern that had me cooing over the damn sock from about the third stitch.

Only problem being I could have used the sock in progress as a sleeping bag, it was so big. So it was photographed, frogged and rewound ready to go again, this time in size m.

Then the camera started playing up, but you can get the idea.

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String...

2007-04-25T21:17:00.000+12:00

...The Postman has brought me some fabulous things!

Yes there is a sock club spoiler at the end of this post. You have been warned!

It has been a day of multiple parcels. First thing this morning, this parcel arrived, and two nice delivery men lugged the following into the appartment! An enormous parcel is a good way to start the day, and now I have not only a new place to knit, but facilities for visitors - as this is also a bed! (You have to believe me as I didn't take a photo of it open!)Next, I found the following in my mailbox - Packages from America!!!!

Yes they're all from BMFA, but the first parcel is safe for sock clubbers. This is the stash enhancement gained with the assistance of the club 10% off token - mediumweight STR in Pucks Mischief and Lovein Idleness.

***SPOILER IS NEXT BIT***
So here it is:

Sprint Finish

2007-04-25T00:27:00.000+12:00

Well I did it.

I know you all think I don't finish knitting anything, ever, but today at least you're wrong! (Probably right again very soon, but today...)

So, without further ado, I give you the fantastic Rockin' Inside Out Socks, in the club colour of Monsoon.

There's been a lot of frankly nasty things said about this pattern and colourway over on the Club blog but I love it. Congratulations and a huge thankyou to Kaci for providing such a fabulous introduction to toe up socks, short row heels and toes and humongous reversible cables. No, its not a colour I'd have picked up in the LYS, but when I look at my wardrobe, I really should, as most of my bought clothing will go with these beautifully.

So a blog question for you. Do you choose sock yarn because you love the colours in the skein or because you have an outfit in mind for the finished socks? I know I tend to be in the former group, but after Monsoon, I don't know if this is the most practical of choices. I'm already thinking I'll get more wear out of these than last weeks finished Conwys. Then again, both pairs are currently in a cupboard while I wonder if I need any hand knit pressies just yet.

Bayerische is possibly headed in the same direction. I'm amazed how fast I've knitted this much of this sock (now on the third repeat of the 16 row chart - will decide at the end of this one whether to leave it at that or knit one more).

Right now though, I think I need distracting from socks before the next RSC installment, so think I'll go back to 4.5mm needles for a while. I'll leave the project itself a mystery for now, but you have seen it before!

Relapsed?

2007-04-22T02:48:00.000+12:00

Well maybe. But mini cables have been calling to me for a wee while now. The decision how to scratch this itch wasn't easy either...

The finallists Bayerische and Cablenet along with the yarn choices - both Lorna's laces, the colour decision to be between Cranberry and China Blue.

Anyway, while we're considering that one, I have time to bring you up to speed on the veggie plot.

Spring is certainly springing here, as the Strawberries and Peppers,

Tomatoes,

and Lettuces will testify!

So back to the socks. I do think that these two patterns will make fine partners for this yarn, and yes I have started knitting.

SSS defeated?

2007-04-20T11:15:00.000+12:00

Conwy from Knitting on the Road, in Fleece Artist Damson Surprise. I put in the Latvian Twist from one of the other patterns in the book, and then subbed in a flat toe.

Next up in the sock 2 pile: my mission (should I choose to accept it) is to finish this the second inside out Monsoon sock from the Rockin Sock Club before the next installment arrives. Wish me luck...

Recovery

2007-04-08T01:09:00.000+12:00

Well, now I've had a lot of sleep and a long bubble bath, I feel slightly more human.

Yes I worked 49 hours in a 4 day week, but I actually enjoyed (most) of it. I even discovered a spinning group nearby. (Unfortunately from a patient who won't be spinning for a while, but I digress). In the meantime, the veggies have been ignored to great effect:
Tomato sprouting noticed this morning:
And lettuces. I think these should be able to go out on the balcony this week.The socks were getting to my wrists a bit though, and seeing as my cascade 220 arrived for my new sweater, I've been working on a 4.5mm needle for a break from 2mms. The yarn is really a bit more green than it looks here, and slightly heathered making a definate turquoise, which will go beautifully with one of my favourite skirts.And guess what - I'm back on nights from monday!

Twenty-five and three quarter

2007-04-04T07:53:00.000+12:00

Hours.

It's not supposed to happen any more.

The locum didn't show up last night.

I was on-call from 07:45 on monday till 09:30 on tuesday.

I was sent home after that, but stopped in the temporary staffing office to sort out my locum rates for the night - and it turns out that he didn't turn up because they had forgotten to book cover!!!

This afternoon I took two attempts at the short row toe of the second monsoon sock. Turns out I can't count to 12 after that sort of shift!

Tomato watch

2007-04-02T00:37:00.000+12:00

Yes, I know it looks like I'm blogging about two pots of mud. In fact this is a blog post about 2 pots of mud with tomato seeds in them. This is my first ever foray into home grown veg (although I did great work as "self appointed chief quality control engineer" when my parents had raspbery canes in the garden as I was growing up - well you wouldn't want them to have to eat raspberries that were faulty would you? - these things need watched) So I thought I'd share my progress, to intersperse the piccies of 2 more rows of the second sock. Hopefully next time you see them they'll be baby plants!

Knitting up a storm

2007-04-01T07:39:00.000+12:00

Rockin' Sock Club spoiler - if anyone out there hasn't already finished the February kit, be warned!

I was really trying to be good. I wanted, I still want, to be the sort of knitter who finishes pairs of socks. I don't want to be doomed forever to wear socks of the Dobby The House Elf variety. Particularly in theatre clogs, and particularly on locals lists odd socks could be deemed not to give off quite the air of professionalism I'm going for.

We Know I'm weak though right? Although I've kept the second Fleece Artist Conwy sock for on call knitting (memorised the pattern, know the structure and have the first one to refer back to if needed), I was tempted into the monsoon by the lure of the toe up short rows. I just couldn't help myself!

I will save you the photo I was going to show you the other day of the toe only - go around the RSC ring to see what that looks like, or compare with Jaichan's latest*

(*disclaimer: as a medical professional I should point out that that will not work unless your chosen birth control method involves laughing so much neither of you can do it at all!)

All work and no play

2007-03-25T22:20:00.000+12:00

No piccies today - the camera to computer cable is playing hide and seek again!

Not so much knitting progress since I went back to work. I was trying to be good and finish the pink Conwy socks before I started anything else, but couldn't resist Monsoon. (In an aside I've always been a great fan of Monsoon knitwear, but of course this is different!)

However, its been a really great ~~week~~ twelve days at work! Yes, I've been in 8am till late all week, but I'm seeing my own patients in clinic now, (usually just the reg and consultant here) and have been operating too - loads of trauma last weekend - ankles hips etc, and this week carpal tunnel decompressions done all by me, even under local! - yes still have the boss scrubbed, but hopefully not much longer 'till he doesn't feel the need to! You can't say that's not a great life skill for a knitter!

Anyway, must get back to cleaning the flat - it does get away from me when I work a 12 day stretch, and now looks like a bomb hit it - but I will just finish with a request for any UK Voters ex-pats etc who may be passing through here. PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION to stop MTAS and return responsibility for postgraduate medical training to the Royal Colleges. (The job fiasco I have mentioned a couple of times on here which has now gone into a sudden death round!!). YOU can make a difference, we've seen that with the Rockin' Sock Club, TSF, Represent and many many more. I know you can help.

Creative outlets for stress

2007-03-10T13:11:00.000+13:00

Picture-heavy post follows...

It's a bad time to be a junior hospital doctor in the UK. While I try to refrain from getting too involved in talking about work on the blog, without a bit of background you may just think I'm losing what few marbles I had left.

I got back to the NHS as you may remember, back in August. Since then, the new applications system (MTAS) for the new training programmes for UK junior docs has been rolled out, and a fortnight or so ago the results of round 1 were out. MTAS is a joke, and hardly anyone has even scored an interview.

Result: many stressed junior docs, dreadful atmosphere at work and general grumpiness beyond reason.

My method of dealing with the situation was a little unorthodox...

1. IVFDF

There's nothing like a good ceilidh to cheer me up - unless its a great big drunken ceilidh lasting 3 days with some very dear old friends most of whom are not involved in the stressful mess that is mtas!

2. A road trip round Ireland with Dad. Again great to get away plus loads of Guinness - its good for you, you know!

3. Creativity. In this case knitting beyond sense! Here come the piccies!

First up felting clogs. Before...

And after
Next, do you remember the double knit socks? Well heres the story in pictures:

One sock:

Siamese socks: Two socks:

Then a knitty phase. First fetching mitts made with baby cashmerino doubled up.
Then Hexed, partly because its perfect for a folk festival, partly because I could send hexing vibes to the Powers That Be over the jobs fiasco whilst knitting it! Mainly though, I just love the cleverness of this hat.

Then last but not least, since tuesday, I've COMPLETED a whole sock! This is a Conwy from Knitting on the Road made from Fleece Artist sock yarn in Damson Surprise. I have made a few alterations to the pattern, mainly in adding the Latvian Twist to the top edge and a bit of a fudge in the decreases. I've just started the second one now too.

Getting away

2007-03-02T22:19:00.000+13:00

I'm off to IVFDF http://www.ivfdf2007.com New projects to share when I get back!

Minty Fresh

2007-02-22T06:45:00.000+13:00

Whadaya think? I've been playing with the template a bit today, and this is where I've got to just now.

Now comes the important bit.

Have I ended up with colours you can't read, make your eyes go squiffy or make you want to puke?

18 of 19

2007-02-16T10:37:00.000+13:00

No, not some obscure startrekism, but I've now worked the last 18 days straight, and moved into my fabulous new job in the middle. One more to go then I'm off the weekend.

Loving the new job, so much better than A&E. Today for example, I spent the afternoon learning to fix a fractured femur (thigh) with screws, plates and encircling cables, then the obligatory needlework finale! Everyone is really friendly too, and am getting all settled in.

I wanted to tell you about last weekend though. Feeling a bit nesh after hearing about the snow elsewhere to be honest. I got SNOWED IN AT WORK ON FRIDAY NIGHT!!!!!!!!!

There are good snow days, and as I found out, bad snow days too. Thankfully, with working in a hospital there is access to most of the essentials. (Clean clothes/jammies - theatre scrubs, toothbrush, towel etc -own ward supply etc. Even one of the old on call rooms was reasonably easy to arrange and an improvement on the alternative for the staff who realised they were stuck later in the day - the day case recovery ward! Worryingly toothpaste was the trickiest thing to find - apparrantly only stocked on the medical admissions unit so don't worry about your toothbrush but don't forget your toothPASTE if you are admitted to another specialty!!

So, how much snow is there, still drifting to 3m at least surely. After all the country was all but paralysed. Nope. More like 6 inches of snow, and now it's all gone!!

Survival

2007-02-07T10:47:00.000+13:00

I did it!

I survived six whole months in A&E!

Back to orthopaedics tomorrow, and I passed my part 2.

I'm going to work on my melon shawl now with a glass of wine.

Its all gone horribly wrong!

2007-02-05T03:31:00.000+13:00

Yes I'm still here, and still knitting. It looks like I'll survive A&E and all's well. (give or take a minor head injury from a falling Lamson Tube Pod last week - I'm fine)

The horribly wrong part referrs only to the state of the new blog. Moving house is always tricky, but I feel like the whole thing needs to be unpacked! All the funky thingies down the side have vanished, and I need to work out how to get them all back - anyone done that yet on new blogger?

Watermelons

2007-01-27T02:09:00.000+13:00

I finally surrendered to the call of Victorian Lace Today.
This is the progress I've made in my first two days' knitting lace. There are 21 repeats of 7 "melons" in Rowan kidsilk haze spray 576, a fabulous watermelony pink with slight variagation (slight as in almost unnoticable until I started knitting). I'm loving knitting this so far, now about a third the way though the centre section. I haven't quite decided on the borde just yet. I was all ready to just go fo the one on the pattern, but have now found the shell patten at the back of the book, which uses the melon motif, still, there's loads of time to decide. Has anyone done the shell border yet?

Feeling Socky

2007-01-21T00:59:00.000+13:00

Partly trying to avoid buying a sweater's worth of yarn right now, partly due to being back at work and therefore needling a degree of portability, and partly trying to put off cutting the cuff off anemoi. (plan b is to find a recipient with smaller hands, but I digress). Tis the season to feel socky, and I've been busy.

First the multitasking Koigu socks.

Just about finished with the heel flap, and ~~considering~~ teetering on the brink of the ~~challenge~~insanity of turning two heels in one. I'll be trying this once I finish this post, I think.

Next up, part of the reason to knit 2 in 1:

This is a solitary sock whose ends were waiting to be woven in since finishing the knitting on holiday (in september -oops). This is a basic sock in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in mixed berries. It is to date my only attempt at a sock on 2 circs (2.5mm addi turbos) and my only short row heel. I love the idea of a short row heel, but am less enthused by how this turned out as there are whomping great holes down the side. I'll see how the other one goes before I deal with this though - it may become a design feature!

The next two are still yarn and a request for ideas from the panel! First up, fleece artist damson surprise which has been sitting on top of the books in my study for about a month. I fancy knitting something fairly textured, but not sure if the pattern will just get a bit lost in the variagation?

Next is the new kid in the stash (well I couldn't just buy a circular needle in an online yarn shop, could I?) I needed 9mm circs for slippers, and ordered not just them but some trekking which has yet to arrive and this, for 2 reasons.

1. It has a really cute name. (Tofutsies: Stand on your own two feet)

2. Its made of new and exciting fibres that I haven't come accross before. (Chitin, soysilk, wool and cotton blend)

Again its a self patterning yarn and I think this has a destiny as a zombie knit, but other suggestions are welcome.

Finally, there is as ever the half a fancy sock to go, and the possibly abandoned opal lichen rib socks.

Maybe I have a problem...

Mindboggled

2007-01-12T23:36:00.000+13:00

I hope everyone has already heard about this. The BMFA Rockin' Sock Club THWARTED by stupidity of an extraordinary degree by their bank.

Absolutely gobsmacked. (And a touch p*ssed off, as have to re-order and most likely with exchange rates, fees etc will be out of pocket, too) I can't begin to imagine what the girls at BMFA are going through right now.

I do have knitting piccies today too, of a socky and non socky nature.

First the socky one, this is the cuff of my current pair of socks, which is coming on steadily. I eventually decided to use koigu KPPPM for these, purely because I think if I'd gone with my origional choice I'd have struggled - this is much easier with the variagation of the yarn flagging up which yarn I should be using for each stitch. I'm still loving the whole concept of 2 in 1 on DPNs and aiming to complete these at IVFDF (one of the girls from my recent holiday, although a muggle, was wavering in september and I hope this will push her into the way of the sock!)

The there's this little lot. 20 miters does not make a blanket, but its an improvement on the 4 I had for a while! This also represents 4 balls of rowan felted tweed (2 light and 2 dark) and will make 1/5 of the total blanket. I'm back to enjoying this at the moment, but no deadline, no target at the moment for it; I love the pattern so much I don't want to end up disliking the blanket just because I'm pushing myself to knit so many squares I get fed up.

Back to the books.

Dieting...

2007-01-04T11:16:00.000+13:00

Tales of two dieting disasters today...
1. Proper, traditional eat-les-than-you-move-diet. I'm revising. I can't change my diet when revising. I've tried. Many times. Will start slimming on the 17th January. (exam on 16th).

2. Yarn diet. OK I have a Stash, not a STASH, so not too much of a problem. But as soon as I try to be sensible I not only get an email from Blue Moon and sign up for the International Sock Club, but also spot this at magknits. Oh well.

Back to the books.

6 Weird Things...

2006-12-29T14:09:00.000+13:00

I actually thought I'd got away with maintaining a knitblog without doing this meme! (Although I have enjoyed reading about everyone else's oddness)

1. I've worked on Christmas day for the last 3 years. (Medical PRHO, Surgical H/S and Cas monkey - all of it on nights; I also worked one Christmas day afternoon as a nursing assistant/HCA while I was a student). It's never as bad as I think it will be, although this year was the first time I've also managed to get home for Christmas dinner.

2. I did my MRCS part 1 exam on a whim, purely under the influence of peer pressure, as I agreed to be study buddy for a colleague. Deciding to make a career out of surgery (rather than hospital medicine or anaesthetics) came later.

3. I once spent an embarrassingly long period of time looking for the work "oesophagus" in the index of a textbook, before realising the book was American and the work in question was in the "E" section. I still view American textbooks with a vague suspicion 8 years on as if the spelling differences are there purely to upset me. This may be my most longstanding paranoia. Microsoft Word spellchecker has the same effect.

4. I've never looked at the difficulty rating of a knitting pattern to decide if I can do it. I just have a go one stitch at a time, until it works or turns into something more realistic. Correspondingly, there have been many humerous false starts, most of which I haven't blogged. Maybe one day!

5. I have a scary and not entirely normal ability to fill bookcases. I have a wall of books in my ~~spare bedroom~~ ~~study~~ book room, and there are still so many books on my desk I can't actually get to the surface, or get my feet underneath the desk, or sit on the chair. I'm thinking of putting a sofabed in the living room, and leaving the spare bedroom to the books. I eagerly await the opening of Ikea online!

6. I don't pass on chain letters, so while I'm happy enough to answer all the questions, you're all either tagged or not, depending on whether you want to join in! No pressure, but stick a comment on this post if you're going to play so we can all read about your idiosyncracies, too!

Finished Object Alert!

2006-12-21T02:04:00.000+13:00

Well, OK, yes it is only a washcloth, but its the little things that make me happy today!

The first Anemoi is up to decision time for the cuff crisis - I'm thinking of provisionally casting on a cuff, knitting it separately then grafting onto the body of the mitt.

Not much else to report really. Mitten progress piccies soon!

Thick wristed?

2006-12-18T09:08:00.000+13:00

Your first mission on reading today's blog post is to go "Oooh".

Thanks.

"But why?" I hear you ask. Because my brand new dining table has finally arrived! You can see it under the knitting...OK only a bit of it. The Pale bit goes all the way around the outside and accross the width of the table twice to make three panels for the darker wood. A perfect start the post and a fabulous background for the Anemoi-in-progress;

Whilst there's been no change to the Victorian Lace Scarf from the other day, Anemoi is progressing nicely, despite limited knitting time. Still, I'm worried. I know my hand size better than most people, what with wearing gloves with zero or even negative ease for most of my working hours, yet with this mitten I appear to be having problems with sizing. The corrugated ribbing called for 2mm needles, and that's what I've used, and been not-too-bad on the tension front, BUT whilst the thing fits nicely once its on, it is an absolute sod to get over the knuckles. Still, I'm plodding on with it, will see what happens with blocking, then if needs be investigate plans B and or C:

PLAN B: Steek through the existing ribbing at the ~~ulna aspect~~ sorry little finger side of the wrist, and knit/crochet/i-cord/in some way fashion a bit of wiggle room there.

PLAN C: Unpick the ribbing from the otherwise completed mitten and re-knit either Ci: plain ribbing or Cii: corrugated ribbing in a top down manner, on significantly bigger needles.

I had the day off, so the lights are up and the tree is dressed. I adore the simplicity of the balcony lights, ready for a sophisticated Christmas cocktail party. Shame I don't have time for a sophisticated Christmas cocktail party, really. Maybe New Year?

The things we make ourselves

2006-12-12T07:34:00.000+13:00

One of the things that inspires me to knit is the achievement of making something unique. Something that is personal to the knitter, and of course the recipient. Something that you will never; could never find in the shops. Give 2 knitters the same pattern and yarn and you will still end up with 2 completely different projects, each showing the personal skill, preferences and charm of the knitter. Equally, give the same knitter a project for more than one recipient (such as my two odessae) and still, yarn and needle choices, simplicity versus embellishments, colour size and fit and although the finished articles are recognisably similar they are by no means identical. For me, not knowing what I'm going to end up with is a total buzz.

Although I must say that a bit more readability in this lacey spagetti spew would be handy!!!

Tonight I've been baking though. I've made Christmas cakes a few times in the past, and this year strayed from Delia's recipe; incorporating glace pinapple, prunes, dates and cranberries as well as the traditional currants, rasins, sultanas and cherries. Over the last few weeks I've been injecting it with brandy and tonight the time was ripe for marzipan. Simple, yes? Open packet, apply marzipan, surely.

Not a chance. Kitchen covered in ground almonds? Check. Icing sugar tickly throat? Check. Enormous pile of dirty dishes? Check.

Home made unique cake I know is as far from ordinary as it is possible to get, well that's all part of the magic of making. I can hardly wait for the icing....

Sock Yarn Evolution

2006-12-07T10:47:00.000+13:00

I shouldn't be allowed to read Eunny's Blog unless totally ensconsed in projecty goodness.

I can't wait to start the Anemoi Mittens, and I blame her entirely for this stranded colourwork madness! I was getting all geared up to ave a go at lace (Victorian Lace Today - love at first sight, but requiring a degree of yarn and first pattern choosing etc so maybe a springtime project)

The yarn choosing remains an intrigue for the mittens too. I've been trying to be good about stash. Really. (Stop giggling at the back). All the yarn I have has either a pattern in mind, (I mean it, you'll be sick) or is leftovers from a project.

This meant that when I had a rummage earlier, the only suitable yarn I could find for the project is this
(The pink LL) I thought its destiny was to become pink stripy knee socks. But equally I thought that destiny would be fulfilled in Socktober, so obviously I may be mistaken! What is the general consensus of pink on pink for this pattern?

A spate of finishing?

2006-12-05T10:49:00.000+13:00

Well not really but I have finished OdessaII.

This one was definately easier than the first. Knit in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino left over from the tank top and took just less than one ball to complete. No beads on this one, but I think it looks fine without. The main difference was the needles used. The first one used DPNs from the beginning, this time I found suitable lengths of circular needles (2 circs method for the crown) . Interestingly, despite going back to the pattern for sizing, this one fits better than the scaled up one I made for me.

Is this the end of Beg-knitted Oddessae? I think not.

You spin me right round baby, right - oops

2006-12-04T01:14:00.000+13:00

Slight distractions have again been the theme this week. Still making laughably (think mad and cackling) small inroads into revision, the flat is a disaster area and some b*gger bled on me at work yesterday - and I was wearing real clothes, not scrubs. (It should be pointed out that I was sticking a large IV line in him at the time, but even so...)

...we await the results of the boil wash with a degree of trepidation. Thank you St Michael for smart trousers that don't need to be drycleaned!!

The knitting has, however made inroads into Christmas. I was really trying not to do this. Now I know many of you are already kniting for Christmas, and that is great and fine, but I'll wager you started before December 1st, and maybe even finished the odd thing already. Its not going to be total knitted madness at castle Begknitter, the majority of gifts will remain purchased items of a non-wooly nature, but I do have a sock to finish for Mum (now onto the foot of the fancy socks that will not die) and a hat for Hol (started Odessa a couple of days ago, with leftover Baby Cashmerino from the Tank) beadless, but quite challenging enough thanks; remember the false starts with the first one!

There will also be a set of dishcloths for an engagement prezzie, if there's time!

And now I sit down to blog before work this evening and I have a wobby comma. Must seek superglue. grr!

The best thing to happen this week in a knitterly sense brings us back to the post title. I love my new ball winder! Although making a hell of a mess in the latest skein, I have wound all the Lorna's laces ready for new year socks, and dealt with the green silk handspun so that's now useable too!

Post 101: Finished tank

2006-11-26T01:44:00.000+13:00

Yes indeed, I missed mentioning my 100th post on the blog the other day. So here is my 101st instead, and given that I located this
this may be a more interesting post after all!

So back to business; Here is the finished Argyle vest top.

Well, a little finishing still needed; one steek to hem and an end or two to weave in (but mostly done). Here's the inside of my first colourwork project, for those strong stomached knitters who might just expect this.

I've learned loads with this vest.

1. Keep the colours the same way around with fair isle to avoid tangles and keep the pattern even.

2. Steeks aren't that scary (when the alternative is one hell of a rip back to work the same bit over but flat - yes it was considered)

3. I love fair isle knitting - this went so quickly for the pattern bits and so mindnumbingly slowly once I got onto the neck and arm bands!

4. I didn't need as much yarn as I bought. By a long way. Watch out for multiple brown and pink cashmerino items on the blog in coming months. Matching accessories - yay!

5.I need to start working on altering patterns for my body shape. (short and round). Strangely the waist here fits beautifully, as does the front. The back however, is really quite baggy. I'll have to see what happens with blocking of course, but I may be on the look out for a passing hunchback for this - it'll be lovely and snug for bell ringing!! If I was to start over with this top, I'd make all the steeks shorter, for a less revealing neckline and slightly snugger armholes, but that's just personal preference.

So, moving swiftly on, what's next? Well, multiple dishcloths a la mason-dixon, finishing mum's christmas socks (second one still waiting for gussett stitches to be picked up - how many months now?) , and the next new one, socks with this (Wildfoote sock yarn) . These will be basic, simple, plain stocking stitch socks but I'm going to give knitty's two at once on DPNs a try!

Although I hereby reserve the right to change my mind on that if it turns out to be ridiculous!

Meanderings

2006-11-24T11:52:00.000+13:00

So much to fill you in on that I'm unsure where to begin today - guess that'll teach me to blog a bit more often, anyway. So lets start the whistle stop tour limited details, more of an overview, then business as usual (hopefully) will resume.

Work has been crazy, but I've been off for the last few days. So why no blogging? Well, limited knitting, too; I've been on a course. Intense; loads of fun, but a different sort of needlecraft, obviously.

Revision for Part 2 is taking up a fair amount of time too. In fact something akin to pulling teeth. At least the BSS course reminds me that there is a fun and practical application to Surgery, which I'm not working in at present, to prevent gettitng too bogged down in the theory!

The Box Of Stuff finally made it through customs, so I have my drop spindle back, along with the remains of the stash, Christmas decorations, shoes, books and DVDs etc - now I really have storage issues!

Today though, was a shopping day. Mum and I went up to the Trafford centre for a good session of retail therapy. Dishcloth cotton was the only yarn purchase, but trousers, top, skirt, cosmetics and Christmas decorations were in the bags too - oops! Also a couple of books, including this, although still a trip in embyonic planning stage (which comes before saving up stage, logistical/practical planning stage, annual leave requesting/begging stage, and actually setting off!) But this marks the start of the adventure!

The culinary adventures continue too - I've borrowed Mum's Ice Cream machine, so watch this space for the results when I get around to that one.

Finally, what knitblog post would be complete without an unfinished handknit? Well, this one, actually. Any ideas where I might have left my camera to USB cable?

Recycling crisis

2006-11-02T04:47:00.000+13:00

Limited progress on the knitting front due to lots and lots of work (boo hiss) this week. Now on evening shifts so will have a couple of mornings on the balcony if the weather stays nice though.

Here it is. Theres another 1 and a half big brown diamonds to go on the body, if you follow me. Then the crochet and scissors interlude...

In non knitting news, I've come up against a bit of a brick wall in greenyness today. All I did was ring the council and ask for a recycling box, to be told that they don't give them to people in flats as a Health and Safety thing - sounds like manure to me - and that there is nowhere in the area to take plastic bottles like milk cartons to but only done if you have roadside collections!

I don't think she understood why I laughed at her, but she's asking for someone to be sent round to do an "assessment" before she says no properly!

Progress and procrastination

2006-10-26T08:08:00.000+13:00

The Argyle Vest is coming on nicely, and I've set my first steek! This is for the neckline, and I'm getting towards the armhole steeks.

I've not made progress for a day or two; partly due to work which is currently doing a reasonable impression of hell on legs, revision for postgraduate exams, which is going to put a rather large dampener on the knitting for the next 3 months...

...oh yes, the Amazon box came yesterday, too!

Preliminary Festivities

2006-10-20T05:07:00.000+13:00

Now, before I begin, lets get a thing or two straight.

I'm not one of theses people who simply has to cover the house in fairylights in early Spetember. You're far more likely to find me fighting my way through the crowds at teatime on Christmas Eve, and don't give up an recieving a Christmas card from me until April/May (and I may ring or e-mail you for your address in the meantime).

This time of year though, (yes every year) I start thinking. This year it will be different. Then I get my rota for December, find out I'm working nights anyway and give up on the lot of it in a cloud of Bah Humbug! I've got this year's rota already, and I'm only working Christmas eve, then have the rest of the week off!

Excited about this in a way only those who've worked nights over Christmas for the last 2 years and before that had a decade of January Exams can possibly imagine, I relieved Tesco's of their excess dried fruit today... (try not to think about the leaving cakes)...

First the recipe - from Delia's Christmas book, one of my favourite cookbooks.

But what's steeping overnight under the teatowel? Marvellous mincemeat!

But I did sustain a minor injury in the process. I bet you have a suggestion for avoiding this, Jai, but anyone got any tips for grating a whole nutmeg without added finger - like a papercut, this stung like hell when I started on the lemon juice!

Now I've found the cookbook, I'm going to start thinking about doing my "don't eat and drive" Christmas cake in the next couple of weeks. (It drinks Brandy for at least 6 weeks before it's iced so not really control-freakery)

At least I'm not pressured by making hundreds of knitted gifts this year (a very good thing if all the Chrismas cookery ends up finger-flavouored!)

Speedy Argyle

2006-10-19T08:25:00.000+13:00

I have no idea how, given the way I just threw myself into this, but the Argyle vest is zipping along. I know its not perfect, and the back has a loopy moment here and there, but I'm already at the waist and soon be increasing onto the second chart!
It's looking bigger now too, so with a bit of luck should fit, too! I adore this pattern!

Fantastic Fair Isle Adventure

2006-10-15T12:19:00.000+13:00

I'm having so much fun with this!

Sorry Eunny, I admit, although I read the instructions for this (which are totally fab) I couldn't make myself practice with the stranding and just jumped straight in there. I'm using my usual knitting logic ("there's nothing that you can't do if you do it without knowing you can't" similar to my Dad's "can't never did anything") and having so much fun I don't even really mind if it fits someone else in the end!!

I'm going now, got to knit more!

Finished Cleckheaton

2006-10-10T23:55:00.000+13:00

Its done! The neverending seams are sewn, the myriad ends are woven in, and the whole thing is on!
I feel really proud of this sweater, its the 3rd jumper I've finished, and the best by far so far. Its come out so much better than I imagined, and fits without being baggy.

Definately worth the seaming!!

So what's next?

Why I like knitting circularly

2006-10-10T12:38:00.000+13:00

There is no, and let me be rightly understood here, NO SEAMING!!!!

I have not yet quite completed the Cleckheaton Sweater. Its 99% done, all knitting completed, and I've been working on it all evening.

I still have about a mile of seaming still to do. And some ends to weave in, there are always some ends to weave in.

But it feels like I've been seaming this thing for ever.

I think I'll always be a sewing machine fan for putting together of pieces of fabric into a garment. There's No Way On This Earth I could ever hand seam whole outfit like the historical reenacting folks do (although I'd quite like to have a go at making some of those fab dresses, just with machinery).

It's strange really given my current knitting mania, and previously the cross stitch years, still revisited at times (which I will share here at some point), and a fair-to-SABLE stash of embroidering supplies still knocking around the place, that when it comes to dressmaking, although I will make my own things from time to time, its a clear cut case of machine or shop.

Chocolate and Raspberries

2006-10-07T11:47:00.000+13:00

V-neck vest top is good to go! Pattern is the Deep V Argyle Vest from Eunny, and I'm back to working in the round. Using these fabulous colours of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (I realise that I may not get away without machine stitching the steeks in this yarn, but we'll see, if it needs machine stitching it needs machine stitching!)

I have cast on the required 262 stitches, joined in the round and knit 3 rounds of ribbing in glorious chocolate.

That was when the twist became obvious, so it's all back in the ball again now - b*gger, b*gger, b*gger!

This does not bode so well for the beginnings of a fantastic fair-isle adventure...

Sock history for socktober

2006-10-06T11:00:00.000+13:00

Being a little joiner, here's my sock history for socktoberfest.

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I taught myself to knit socks just after I finished my first sweater earlier this year. I’d just discovered the wonderful world of knitblogs and online knitting magazines and while I knit away on “tubey” I was fascinated by the socks people were turning out.

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?

First pair was that marvel of the sock world, the Jaywalker. I knit it up in a dreadful yellow, orange, red, pink and white self striping yarn, which was the only sock yarn left in the LYS the day I went, and the stripes are one way up in one sock and the other way up in the other. They’ve gone a bit fluffy with washing but are still perfectly wearable, just a challenge to find an outfit to match!

What would you have done differently?

Waited a day or two and found a more sensible colour? No I don’t think so, I was so ridiculously keen to get knitting that string would have done the job if it was the right weight!

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

For socks, my fave is Lorna’s laces shepherd sock. I have had some of the variegated ones do odd things when knitted up, but mostly I’ve been really happy with the results I’ve had. If it came ready wound into balls rather than in skeins it would be perfect (don’t get have a ball winder and family and friends will begin to expect socks if I keep asking them!!)

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

Crochet? Socks? Not so much. Have just paddled in the crochet ocean so far, with one granny square to show for my trouble. I can’t see crochet socks in my future, I just want to be able to do a reasonable crochet cast on that I don’t have to take scissors to and crochet re-enforce a steek. I find it counter intuitive (possibly because I was never taught to crochet in person – although I self taught knitting this year I was taught the basics as a kid) So far I’ve only done one sock at once, knitted on 4 or 5 DPNs (depending on how many I have in that size – I’m not overly bothered how many for the most part but do like the extra needle for the gusset picking up bit and the toe decreases) I have almost finished my first sock on 2 circs – now just needs the toe grafting. I really enjoyed this technique and think it will be revisited a time or two after this pair. I haven’t magic looped yet, and don’t really feel the urge just yet.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

I like a flap heel to knit but love the look of a short row heel. I’m hoping to get properly to grips with knitting the short row heel this socktober.

How many pairs have you made?

3 full pairs, one sock for Sock Wars before I got killed, one and a half socks using the Gentleman’s Fancy Sock pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks, one and a bit socks using the Lichen Rib Sock from the same book and one patternless zombie sock with a short row heel and picot edge.

Socktober priority is to finish the odd ones!

Aarrghhh ....splat!

2006-10-05T11:14:00.000+13:00

Well, thats the best noise I can type to represent being socked to death. Better suggestions in the comments please...

Dead toes would appear to be warm toes, not cold as previously thought!

Thank you Jenny, for my fabulous purple socks of doom. Made from Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK they're super soft and squishy and I adore the colour (81007) . I've not had the chocolate yet - I'm thinking of indulging in one of them with a nice glass of wine after blogging maybe. (I'm "dead"- are alcohol and chocolate really going to do any harm now??)

And you can see they fit great too.

But that was not the only parcel waiting for me today, oh no. There was also the Stash fairies contribution, from left to right - wildfoote luxury sock yarn in Brilliant bouquet, Lorna's laces shepherd sock in pale pink and in pink blossom.

Plans are afoot (a-feet?). Socktober will be a busy month, I just need to get something off the needles before I start any more socks, otherwise they won't fit. So, my socktober mission:

1. Finish (all) the odd socks lurking in the flat. There are 3 part pairs in the flat, the girlyfied fancy socks destined for mum; at the second heel, the opal lichen rib socks; second cuff, and the picot edge socks; first toe ready to graft.

2. Drink wine and think about Christmas and the associated possibility of gift socks. After that, if there's time, there may be some stripes on the horizon with all that pink, and you can probably tell I want them to be fairly long.

Looking at the list, the pink stripe socks may get bumped to new year (2007 with a bit of luck), but its only meant to be a bit of fun, and I haven't found the right wool for my V neck tank yet anyway so a bit of a socksighted focus for now.

As close to normal service as we get is resumed...

2006-10-03T07:14:00.000+13:00

Arr, its a long time since I be seeing yeh, me hearties! (sorry, you must forgive the piratey greeting, but I missed blogging on Talk Like A Pirate Day and am watching Pirates of the Caribbean on DVD as I blog this, bear with me) but now and without further ado, I can announce that despite a minor lack of some furniature, I'm all moved in to the new Castle Begknitter and to celebrate, on my jollies to Yorkshire with the girls, went to visit some of English Heritage's finest castle-ific offerings :
Pickering Castle: Note the Motte and Baillie construction.

Scarbourough Castle: Neat cut-away design following Civil War antics

We also went to Whitby Abbey, which is very Castley, perhaps to make up for the LACK OF A CASTLE IN WHITBY. We looked hard, even asked at the tourist office, but to no avail. Poor Whitby has no Castle. We should all be sad for Whitby, but it does have a very nice Abbey.

All in all a fantabulous castlefest. Whitby did have an intriguing wool shop, but unfortunately I was incapacitated by the Castle hunt at the time and came away empty handed. The girls were troubled by this as that very night I ran out of knitting!

Well not ran out as such, but I couldn't for the life of me work out how I did the picot cast on for the first Zombie Sock, only that it involved a smattering of crochet. Hookless and forgetful, I was thwarted. Luckily that was the last night of the trip. Previously, I'd almost finished the Cleckheaton sweater:

I finished one sleeve, knit the whole of the other and picked up and knit the neck - running out of yarn half way round the neckline cast off. (Luckily I found an extra ball when I got back so all is not lost and have now just to seam up the sleeves and sides)

Even that has been on hold though - heck, even the unpacking and general homeymaking of the flat has been on hold, as I knit with all speed on the Sock Of Doom. Yes yes I know it should ideally be SockS in order to be doomful, but I have not that much hope. You see, despite making (for me) excellent progress on the S.O.D (sorry couldn't help myself) I heard from my assassin today. Today was the day she posted my Sock Wars Socks, and my offering still looks like this:

And as I have alluded to already, is still singular. I am still hoping to complete this one before my parcel arrives, but I think the pair will be pushing it a bit!

Interestingly, the most part of the flat is in the same half-done state as the S.O.D

Did you spot the dishcloth?

But the view's OK!

This evening I read the double knitting socks tutorial in Knitty. Tis time...

We interrupt this weblog...

2006-09-16T03:11:00.000+12:00

Sorry folks, I promise I'm not ignoring you, but have a tiny hiccup at this end on the technology front - suffice it to say I get my phone (and therefore internet connection) back up and running on the 2nd october after "Big Move Part 2". Will explain with plenty of piccies (or knitting and new appartment) when I'm back!

Sock Wars - are you tough enough?

2006-08-31T04:10:00.000+12:00

Surfing my way round the UK knitters' Webring yesterday, I found this. Its basically an international, online, knitting game of "wink murder". Starts in a couple of weeks and sign ups are still open. Email Yarn Monkey with your name, alias, email, snail mail, and shoe size, and join the sock mafia!!

I'll race you!

In non-violent knitting, the Cleckheaton Sleeves are coming along, albeit fairly slowly. I'll pop a piccie up when I have a whole one to show you - about half way just now. The "fancy sock" is still awaiting gussets to be picked up, and I need to start thinking about doing the short row heel on the picot sock sometime in the next inch or so.

Back to Basics

2006-08-29T05:35:00.000+12:00

After failing to solve the mystery of the oddly variable sleeves, I've ripped back and started more slowly. Just the one this time. I might start the other one off on another set of needles, but I think the Mum method has now been given a fair go and although it may work beautifully for her, is not for me!

Not done so much knitting over the last week, and only partly in a fit of pique over the sleeves debacle. I've been working lots, and as I feared A&E and knitting do not go hand in hand like my last rota (Boo Hiss, want a job where I can knit!!) I'm also back to commuting, and driving myself, so no more friendly bus journeys to knit on either. The big thing though is that I'm on the move again...

...No, not like that, only 14 miles or so down the road, but into a rental appartment by the canal. Its unfurnished though, so have been consolidating The Stuff to go, and adding a few vital purchases (bed, washing machine - just bits really) to make the place livable.

I was down there today and there is a local LYS to be checked out too. I'm looking forward to having a recci, cos the closest one to here is a Hobbycraft superstore with a truly pitiful yarn selection (unless you like novelty acrylic which clashes with itself while being shiny sparkly and fluffy all at the same time)

Stalled

2006-08-24T00:40:00.000+12:00

I hate sleeves.

Somehow, and I still have no idea how, the simultaneously knitted sleeves were of different lengths. I couldn't find the mistake, neither could Mum.

So some negative progress on the sleeves then -
Never mind.

Must finish...something!

2006-08-21T06:26:00.000+12:00

Well, I'm feeling a little intimidated by the sheer number of WIPs I'm creating just now. First there were the socks. I thought I'd concentrate my efforts and stick to the one pair for a while; making sure I never ended up with too many on the needles was easy as I only had one set of 2.5mm DPNs anyway. Even with the sock fatigue of a few weeks ago; I'd recovered from that and mad good progress on the Girlified Fancy Sock this week, done the heel flap and the turn...

Then there came Turbo. I've had these for a while now and really its amazing I resisted for as long as I did, the needles are so shiny and slippery, and the yarn so fab. But then the choice became "pick up gusset stitches on this sock" or "start new sock using new shiny needles, new technique (2 circs) new cast on (picot edge with a provisional cast on so no real cast on edge at all) and new heel (doing a short row heel for these - first time for eveything) without any gusset stitch picking upping at all" I was never going to keep my focus.

In sweater news, I'm doing a little better. Despite the saga of the socks I'm plugging away at the sleeves of the Cleckheaton Sweater, and am now, by my estimation, done from wrist to elbow, with the upper arm still to be knit. I am, of course using Mum's Patent Method For The Avoidance Of Second Sleeve Syndrome. This works much better on a circ than straights for an adult sized sweater, as the stitches actually fit on the needle, which helps even more than you'd think it might!!

The piccie is the current status quo, with 1 ball of yarn fed into each sleeve. I don't think I'm quite half way on these yet, given I'm still increasing for a while, but this looks like the most promising finishable just now. If I'm lucky I might get it done by the time I go on holiday with the girls next month.

The blanket is ticking along steadily, though paused until I finish something just now. I now have 2 large squares (8 miters). I'll keep you posted, but no photos till there's something new to see (like a whole blanket's worth of squares - given they are all the same I'll not bore you to tears with identical miter pics every week!!)

Meanwhile the Want To list is getting longer... the next challenge, I've decided, will be colourwork, but not until its the main player, so watch this space...

Return of the Socks

2006-08-17T22:51:00.000+12:00

Do you remember this? Well, not this exactly, this is the new one. But a ~~while~~ few months ago, I had a sock. A girlified version of the Gentleman's Fancy Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks. This one fell foul to the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome, and despite being my travelling sock on the Big Trip only grew by about 2 rounds in the air. Some progress is now being made, partly because I've told my Mum she can have the pair once they're done, and partly because I'm a flighty little flibbertigibbet and spotted this in the stash.
There are actually 2 of these, each a skein of Lorna's laces in Mixed Berries. It ~~wants~~ demands to be made into socks asap. I considered RPM from the current knitty, then as I wound the yarn I thought maybe plain socks would show it off better.

I've appeased the yarn for the moment by promising I will not just knit it next, but cast it on once I've finished Mum's.

It's watching to make sure I work at it.

Juggling Projects

2006-08-11T06:40:00.000+12:00

Well, it's good to be back, and things are almost back to normal. A&E is exhausting, not least because I've now reached the stage where I'm alone in the department overnight, left to cope with any accidents or emergencies in the vicinity. Stop sniggering at the back. Mistress of the chaos, or something. Still, it must be done, even if there is a substantial lack of Carters, Greens and Kovaks!

Despite, or maybe because of, the madness of work, the knitting is continuing beyond the point of sanity.

The Cleckheaton sweater is coming along nicely, front and back completed.
Now on to the sleeves - somewhat less exciting to knit as the body as all ribbing. I'm giving Mum's technique for the avoidance of Second Sleeve Syndrome or odd length sleeves one more try, and they're both on the go. As I said the other day though, the first knitting related publication I turned up in the unpacking was the Mason Dixon Book.

Warshraggy goodness followed. Made of Rowan DK cotton (continued issues with obtaining cheap and cheerful cotton yarns).

The fist one is finished, and the second - same yarns but inverted colourways - is about half done - no photo as its in the car as my "got there early" project!

Of course, you can't have warshcloths without progressing to mitering...

The plan is for a 100 miter blanket just in these two colours - Rowan Felted Tweed in 142 and 148, to match my sofa.

Which will be 5x5 big squares. And a border. 4 down, 96 to go...

Still here

2006-08-04T07:54:00.000+12:00

Jet lagged, apprehensive about new job in ED but still here and still knitting.

I haven't found the cable from the camera to the computer in the unpacking though, so will show you the front of the Cleckheaton sweater, ball band warshcloths and beginnings of a mitred square blanket (I did unpack the Mason-Dixon Book) when I find it. Probably wont be this weekend as have something of a baptism of fire coming on the rota front.

Never, ever ever get sick in the UK in August.

Good to Go

2006-07-26T16:42:00.000+12:00

The bags are packed, the flat is clean (just to wipe out fridge after tea tonight) e-tickets printed, and tomorrow's breakfast at Caffe Roma booked. I'm beginning to feel a bit displaced already, and more than a little nervy about the new job, (the idea of starting to work in a new specialty, in a place with 11 hours (backwards) worth of jet-lag suddenly seems as ridiculous as it actually is).

The Broadband gets cut off at noon tomorrow along with the phone, so this will be my last Kiwi post...

...See you with knitting in the Midlands!

Advanced packing

2006-07-24T21:20:00.000+12:00

So I've given up on the idea of taking everything with me. I've given away some things, binned many others, and finally, today, gave in to the straining zips on the cases and rang to arrange shipping.

Even without furniature, I thought, I have a lot of stuff. However, when I thought about it, theres a limited amount that can be shipped. For example, I don't want my stash sitting on a containership for months when I could, indeed should, be knitting it! But the Christmas decs should be OK to go...

...I've got a man coming tomorrow to pick up a cubic half-meter of STUFF. Given this is STUFF by volume rather than weight, I'm going for heavy stuff...books, some shoes, hairdryer, snorkel, and Christmas decs. I've been hard at work this evening, stacking it into a cubic half-meter, and its not at all a small pile. A cubic half meter is really quite big, now I see it in real life! I'm hoping that the staggered effect of taking this STUFF home will distract the parents from the rather obvious fact that their 27 year old daughter is, at least temporarily, filling their house with an enormous weight (and volume) of STUFF. I should be able to get the rest into the cases and the cases may now actually get onto the plane and yet still allow it to take off - have to hope it doesn't sink the boat!!

Given I've been stressing more than a little about the move, theres been a surprisingly large amount of knitting going on. I've finished the ribbed scarf:

Although I've still had some problems getting the piccies to upload to Blogger from the new camera. I think it may have been set for too many megapixels - but I'll get there!!

The Cleckheaton sweater is ready to travel - I've threaded a loop of yarn from the ball through the live stitches on the circular needle - if I come across a particularly arsey customsperson at security, all I have to do is pull out the needle from the loop end and put the ball through the loop till I get home. Will also be getting a spare 4mm bamboo circ to go in the main bag, just in case!

But they can't take the right to curse them in my head all the way to Heathrow from me.

Packing up and moving on, part one

2006-07-22T13:37:00.000+12:00

So I have a plan.

I'm glad to have it. This time last week, I had a vague idea to head home for a "bit". I had no idea what I was going to do when I got there - or at least once I finish the current sweater, I had no idea what I was going to do, anyway. And given I had no plan, I had no inclination to do those vital things that precede global travel (I really should have got better at this by now) such as:

1. Decide date of journey.

2. Book tickets on said date.

3. Fill newly obtained and veteran suitcases with STUFF.

4. Swear loudly, and retrieve passport from bottom of full suitcase.

5. Give notice to people who need to know
. a) Landlord
. b) Employer
. c) phone, electric, bank
. d) ~~mug~~ kind and wonderful person who will provide offer to meet at airport with further conveyance to final destination.

6. Use up freebie on coffee shop "loyalty" cards (if I have 5 of these for different establishments, are they still loyalty cards or merely evidence of caffeine addiction?)

7. Point 6 with "Yarn Store" in place of "Coffee Shop" This may be more of a problem as coffee I drink today does not need to be packed into the above suitcases with all the STUFF that doesn't all fit as it is.

8. Arrange for gainful employment at destination. Now this was going to be the sticking point. There's plenty of other places to read about the total mess that junior medical training in the UK is in. However, this is a knit blog (and I'll get there, I promise) so suffice it to say that the whole thing is unravelling faster than you can say "frog". I do hope it knits back up into something nice! Anyhew, I had the strange experience of a "telephone interview" on Tuesday/Wednesday (yes, at midnight) after a 15 hour on-call (thankfully the quietest I've had all year) and was called back at 1ish and offered one of the last traditional BST jobs to exist in the NHS. It means I get back into the "System" and some good ole "Career Progression" until next year, when I may well go gallivanting again - we'll see.

9. Give up on all the above because frankly they are the soul destroying things that take all the joy out of travel, and sit and knit and blog instead.

10. Realise that despite the advantages of point 9 in terms of mental state short term, points 3 and parts of 5 still really need doing before I can go, and now have a deadline, thanks to managing point 8!

I start my new job on the 2nd August. I'm hoping I start on nights - will be easier on the jetlag!! Its in A&E (British spelling of ED or ER) though, so no more being paid to knit, I'm afraid!

PS I have replaced my old camera with this. Therefore I have finally managed a photo of the Cleckheaton sweater in progress I'm a bit happier with. By the sheer wonder of blogger however, despite 4 attempts, I can't upload it! AArgh!! Although, to be honest, its between this photo and Grumperina's new background colour, so check out the colour over there! I'll try to upload again later.

Streeking ahead

2006-07-19T18:52:00.000+12:00

No photos today due to

1. battery problems with camera
2. dissillusionment as am fairly sure I'll never get a true shot of the yarn colour of my sweater
3. it looks just the same as the back at this point so will post a piccie when there's something less boring to see!

Despite all this, I've actually been making great progress on the front, as have been knitting at work this week. I only usually even take the thing on on-call days as far too busy on normal days to even think about it...

...but the boss is away, so not on take till friday, and they're getting better and going home at a rate of knots. All is good.

I must try not to get used to this state of play - I have a new job! Surgical training approved by the RCSEng in A&E then (more) orthopaedics. Also just down the road from Mum and Dad's house so can stay with them while I get my life in order! (Yes I know I'm a big kid)

Progressing nicely

2006-07-17T18:31:00.000+12:00

I've got the back of the Cleckheaton sweater done! I still can't get a decent shot of it that shows the colour properly - believe me it's gorgeous and much more raspberry than here - but in real life I'm really pleased with how this is coming on.

It'll be a great autumn sweater, and I have just the skirt at home to go with it.

The packing is still an issue. I'm planning to move on or around the 27th, but lots to do before then, and all I want to do when I get home from work is sit in front of the heater with my knitting!!

Normal service resuming

2006-07-15T12:58:00.000+12:00

After the episode with the crochet, I've returned to the Cleckheaton sweater, now approaching the armhole shaping for the back. It hasn't been without hiccups though, I've switched to a bamboo 4mm x 80cm circular from the plastic straights of the same size. I've a couple of reasons:
1. I still have a sore ring finger on my right hand, and the circ seems to go a bit easier on it (this may be some type of tendonitis or RSI but am ignoring it on the whole - it will go away).
2. I needed to space things out a bit to figure out some teething trouble with the eyelet pattern.
3. From my research on many other blogs, I suspect circs may have more luck in the BIG MOVE.
I do seem to be having a pink phase at the moment. I didn't realise how similar the colour of this is to the Jo Sharp wool leftovers from Tubey I was using for the granny object until I took the photos. The country silk is richer, shinier and ever so slightly brighter in real life.

And now for something completely different...

2006-07-14T21:53:00.000+12:00

Or "Begknitter's Adventures in Crochet"

Armed with only an evil-looking metallic object (and remember: I'm a surgeon, metallic objects really do have to be scary to bother me!) I've spent the evening pouring over Stitch and Bitch Crochet

Well, I may not yet be a "Happy Hooker", but I do have the beginnings of a Granny ~~square~~ shape.

I get the feeling this is a bit like the skiing/snowboarding debate though, and I admit knitting isn't going to be squeezed out by crochet any time soon!

Counting for dummies

2006-07-13T17:59:00.000+12:00

Maybe I should have expected teething trouble with it. This is after all, my first lace project.

If you can call a k k2tog yo repeat to middle yo s k psso k repeat to end lace.

But even after the simple yet fantastic 5 by 2 ribbing its quite complicated enough, thankyou. Particually when bleeped part way through almost every row.

I am here to report that counting may not be a prerequsite for knitting, but its darned handy!

I just frogged 3 rows in the search for a missing yarn over which was then found nestling around its neighbouring k2tog.

Yet more proof I can't do simple things like count to 53. B*gger.

Time to lose the L-plates!

2006-07-08T15:23:00.000+12:00

As of today, the knotty mess is presided over by a fully licensed confuser operative!

I finally finished the ICDL course at the College, and did my final assessments today. It had its hairy moments ; mainly concerning Access, which I don't have on my computer, and indeed have never, ever even used! I overcame (just) the obstactles involved in being tested on a program you've never seen and passed! (powerpoint and excel, as thigs I actually use from time to time, proved less of a challenge)

I celebrated by shopping, although the final trip to my Christchurch LYS will be tomorrow - mum asked me to buy her some Paton's Spritz she saw when they were here and I'd like to use up my $25 token (regardless of the cost of excess baggage charges) - other shopping was of the non knitterly variety. Instead, I bought shoes with scarily high wedge heels, a new 1GB pen drive on a string (given what I was celebrating, there had to be computery goodness today).

I did get 4mm bamboo circs in Ballantynes and The Secret Life of a Knitter (which I've been looking for for a while, but was thinking of buying more than 1 knitting book - unfortunately it was one of only about 3 books on the knitting shelf in the bookstore that were not concerned with quilting or scrapbooks - grrr! At least quilting and knitting both involve some type of fabric but why scrapbooks?

In between times, there were plently of ~~knitting breaks~~ bus journeys, so the scarf is progressing well even approaching the halfway point (aiming for a total of 70"-80"). I intend to take it to the cinema tomorrow - I want to see the new Antonio Banderas film.

Swatching Cleckheaton

2006-07-06T20:51:00.000+12:00

I love this yarn! The soft ever so slightly slubby nature feels great to work with.

I've even enjoyed the swatching - this might also be partly to do with having bought an extra ball purely for this purpose, so shouldn't get into the same chaos as the inca jacket! Then once it's done, its soft and squooshy and shiney all at the same time - Iknow I'm going to love knitting this sweater, but not yet... I still get to do one more swatch, for the lace pattern - this one's just the ribbing.

The chunky zombie scarf is coming along too, again with the touchy-feely yarn (this may be my knitting niche!) and in this case, really does appear to be knitting itself (now over 40cm)

New Project Time

2006-07-04T22:19:00.000+12:00

This evening, I had a run in with a skein almost to the point of really earnning the "knotty mess" part of the blog title.

The skein in question was a 200g whopper; of 100% NZ wool. From these lovely people, via the Art Centre.

Aren't those colours fab (even with the lack of focus)?!?! The focus is a bit better on this shot, which is the yarn doubled up and knit up in 1 by 1 rib. Its lovely and chunky and the 8mm needles make a change from socks.

The plan with this is just to carry on as a zombie knit for a great big long scarf, with a load of fringe on the ends.

Is this some kind of a record?

2006-07-03T23:30:00.000+12:00

I've finished the Expression Scarf.
Well, it's probably more of a stole really as is more short and fat than a scarf. I am however, totally incapable of taking a photo of me in it for you.

I've bought a beautiful beaded pin from the art centre to fasten it with, and its all warm and snuggly and elegant. Not many things get to be snuggly and elegant at the same time, I'm impressed.
That's 5 finished objects in a week! So the only things still on the go now are the girlified socks, the lichen rib socks and the nocturnal sweater. I may have to start something else...

So I've bought a new suitcase...

2006-07-01T16:05:00.000+12:00

You know its going to be expensive, with a title like that, don't you!

Well, I've been blitzing through the baby hats today, cos I suddenly realised how close I'm now cutting this (one of the mums to be has now finished work!) and after Odessa as well, feeling a touch hatted and DPNed out even if they are really my favourite way of knitting - no seaming and no wiggly wire to deal with. (I know I'm weird, & I'm ok with that, thanks)

Modeled by stash due to the notable lack of newborns in my flat.

Anyway, I then took a little break to consider the BIG MOVE and what should I pick up to pack but this:
Evil little book it is.

And I'm weak. Yes that is a picture of the 13 balls of Cleckheaton Country Silk that I'm not going to buy until after the BIG MOVE. You'll note that I am now the owner of it despite still being in the same place. Lovely scrummy yummy splendiferous soft rich luxourious yarn it is too. See, I'm not even sorry! (Its a deeper pinky red tweed in real life than in the photo - a real Begknitter colour)

So of course after that, I had to go on with the shopping fest and get this too.

Surely what any sane knitter with multiple WIPs and really limited storage space would do?

Fant-hat-stic!

2006-06-29T23:07:00.000+12:00

Success with Odessa at last.

Ok so the photography is a little more debatable, but its a knit blog not a photo one (I try, I really do...) The yarn isn't really that shiny.

So now I feel a little better about trying the crazy fisherman socks, but I don't think the Lorna's laces the stash fairies brought a couple of weeks ago will work with such an intensive pattern. Maybe the pink that's for the belated birthday socks? I'll have to find something, I can't buy any more yarn until am in the UK - just too much to pack!

The eternal optomist

2006-06-28T18:31:00.000+12:00

The Odessa XL is progressing well, and I am on to my third beaded round, and almost half way to the decreases. (photo a few rows old, admittedly)The soundproof DPN protectors are proving absolutely necessary even when knitting this thing at home, but I've now stoped dropping stitches at every join, which is great.

I've had some success with the shopping too. Even though I've stopped buying yarn temporarily, in preparation for the intercontinental relocation next month, I've managed to combine portability, stash enhancement and souvenir shopping in one fell swoop.

No, I'm not knitting or planning any item with buttons at present, but that's a minor detail when the buttons are so cool - it will all cometogether in the end!

Crazy aran sock challenge and return of the mad hat lady.

2006-06-27T22:15:00.000+12:00

So maybe the last week or so has robbed me of my final few marbles.

It's time to face facts, they're definately missing...

Exploring the knitting bloggers' ring, I discovered that quite a few people are making these. They look great, so I emailed the list.

Now I have the (20 rows by 72 stitch; pattern on every row) chart, they look a bit more with the crazy.

So a good project for aircraft knitting then - at least I'll have plenty of time and no real interruptions!

However, if I'm serious about this (and I am, at present - ridiculously optomistic, but serious) I can't go into it having been whipped by something as straightforward as the odessa. So this evening, I've been doing maths. The maths that will lead to a hat that fits my distressingly odd-shaped head without stretching into huge laddrey oblivion. Using the Harlot's hat calculation tutorial a week or 2 ago, I've added 3 repeats to the pattern.

I'm also attempting this on sock-length DPNs rather than obtaining a suitably sized circ. Why on earth would I want to do things either as the pattern sugests or in any way that could be described as the "easy way"? No fun at all!

I do wonder about the idea of a 14 stitch pull-the-yarn-through end on the top though. It wont look quite as elegant with a pompom on top to cover up a ginormous hole.

Only dul dull dull ribbing as yet (slow progress as stitches keep falling off the far end of the stuffed DPNs). No photos of hat till next time, but here's the yarn! (black Jo Sharp DK 100% wool. Red beads ?plastic ?glass)

Second sock what now?

2006-06-26T18:58:00.000+12:00

Still very cold out. This is the Avon from the bridge at work, at dawn - yes that's dawn, yesterday - sunday! But almost don't mind it's so pretty.

Freezing though.

I finished the first of the gentlman's fancy socks, suitably girlified with purple variagated wool. It's a simple sock with enough of a rib to it to be really well fitting without being tight. The backward loop a la begknitter cast on is nice and stretchy. There is the beginning of a problem here though. The right foot is the lichen rib sock I showed you ages ago (scroll down a bit). They don't match. Not just the fraternal twins of self striping yarn, but a deveastating case of second sock syndrome.

Both second socks are on the needles now, but lack of oomph for it tonight.

Return of the Hedgesock

2006-06-22T20:28:00.000+12:00

Well, my collegues have returned, and all is (almost) back to normal.

I'm covering for one of them tomorrow, but basically we all have our own patients back.

The only difference is a strange deference that the consultants seem to have for the "scabs" (yes, yes, still too many coal/steel working strike films - remembered this one, too) in that I had a message in my pidgeonhole today inviting me to after-work drinkypoos tomorrow night on them!!!!! That may be exactly the right time to ask for references, methinks.

And I've been doing more of the bone-fixing, too, which is fun; possibly not my calling but a great experience nontheless.

So, here's the knitting bit. I knew I should make sure there was a knitting bit today as the knitting bloggers webring link on the right is now ready willing and able to whisk you off to even more stitcherly goodness (but probably less industrial action and orthopaedics - I know that's why you come here really).

Ok. Focus. Sock. Well, part sock. Half sock. Hedgesock. Not yet a whole sock, but it will be soon. (about half way through gussett decreases). Pattern is the Gentleman's Fancy Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks, in 4 ply "touch" 100% merino, which may wear out fast but then I get to knit some more!! (technically, its a bit splitty, and there was a knot in each skein) This is a practice pair with this yarn, as I also bought a pink skein for birthday socks for a good friend from med. school (who's birthday was about a month ago but told her she can have pressie when I see her which gives me at least 6 weeks)

Oh yes, I forgot. (well if forgetting is possible when your front room is full of boxes) I'm heading back home for a bit (as yet to be decided period of time) at the end of July. Looking forward to seeing everyone again, dreading having to get sock-in-progress through airport security!

Surviving

2006-06-20T20:03:00.000+12:00

Just about surviving, that is.

The stirke is over. Can I be the only one who expects, no requires, a proper picket line for a real strike? No Brazier, no placards, no police presence, no armoured buses into work from a secret place of safety - may have watched Billy Elliott and similar films a couple too many times, but I don't see 5 days of free time and lie-ins as having quite the same socialist zeal!!

I went to theatre again today, as my remaining 5 patients are absolutely fine. And there's nothing like looking after 50 patients to make you appreciate the days you only have 5!

Much educational orthopaedic assisting and fun was had by all. (I know I have a weird sense of fun) But I've done something funny to my right hand. A lump has formed on the back of my hand - I say formed but I'm pretty sure it's been there for years, but now it's sore. I think I need either to rest or to investigate continental knitting. Not so sure the typing is a good plan either.

Given the injury, there doesn't seem much point taking another photo of the same half-a-sock, a good two and a half rounds of progress since the last shot. Soon, I promise.

Seriously, if its not right in a few days I'll think about heading to Xray, then put a tubigrip on it insead!! A very wise person once said Docs make the worst patients...

1 day to go

2006-06-18T21:40:00.000+12:00

Well, we survived the first 2 days of the strike.

At least I wasn't rostered to work the weekend - I get that joy and privelidge next week. This means I have had 2 days to get over the chaos that was thursday and friday. I don't think I'm quite there yet, but this may be as good as it's going to get.

Still, I couldn't face the cables this weekend, given the degree of knackered involved in cross covering 6 people for 8 hours then 4 departments for the next 7. So here's my latest sock instead.
I also had an epiphany of sorts. I've been at work so much that I've been carrying the sock-in-progress around in my handbag. I then realised that the foam earplugs I got because of the building work outside my appartment building and work-related limitations on available sleep-time, make FABULOUS DPN ends to stop the stitches falling off.
No more handbag with holes, no more need to carry a crochet hook around, brilliant!

The Eve of my Nervous Breakdown

2006-06-14T23:13:00.000+12:00

Well, that's what it feels like, anyway.

The NZRDA (Kiwi Junior Docs' Union) are STRIKING tomorrow, for 5 days. (the talks in the article seem to have got to the exact geometric centre of nowhere) Note the lack of information on the official site!

I'm not in the NZ union, so am faced with the prospect of covering many many many people's jobs. I don't think its really going to be a productive week for knitting. Or revision for my Part 2. Or anything else really. Nor, and more importantly, is it a good time to be ill - please stay healthy and safe, New Zealand.

Here's a taster of the state of play for now. This is unlikely to change for a while.

If I'm not back by the end of the week, I'll either be sitting rocking in a corner with my pants on my head, or still struggling to finish the INSANE volume of work left to the non-union Juniors. Either way- hand me my knitting and hope for the best, although perhaps not pointy-stick-at-work-day for a while!!!

Show your sticks

2006-06-10T19:24:00.000+12:00

Well, no I'm not going to be able to show you anything actually, due to a tiny problem with the camera location (ie left it at home)

However...

My sock and I would like to report the successful completion of at least 2 inches of leg in such places as the art centre, various buses and bus-stops and the campus of Christchurch College of Education. (Only 3 bits of my ICDL left to go)

We were unsuccessful in the cinema where we went to see The DaVinci Code. I obviously skip read the book (some time ago now, too) cos I was quite shocked by the violence in parts of the film. I probably skipped those bits to get back to the puzzles as I read it during my obsessive sudoku phase if I remember!

Anyway, attempts to knit in the cinema were thwarted not just by my lack of fluency in French, Italian and whatever else those subtitles were in (managed some of the French bits but not all) and the little old couple I was sat next to (ie real seat allocation like real theatre, not cinema) I would have moved, but it seemed a bit difficult given I still had all my shopping bags with me!

I may continue into a 1 woman international KIP weekend and have another go tomorrow! I might even remember the camera.

Well, what would you do?

2006-06-05T10:05:00.000+12:00

With a scarf, a sweater and 2 (different) socks on the go, surely this is normal knitterly behaviour?

Felted (after a fashion - first photo pre-felting, second as now - dripping in a corner) Box Pattern from Mason-Dixon Knitting, knitted in the medium size pattern, with 6mm circular needle (don't have straight needle in 6mm) and a double strand of 100% wool in that most reliably used colorway/make: lost the lable/wrested from the stashgremlins! (The observant reader will notice that this is the same yarn as my experimental sock from a few weeks ago).

This is, I have found, considerably thinner than the reccommended yarn, as the tension is totally off - but its a box not a sweater and my first intentionally felted project anyway, so I don't really mind - if I did, I would have swatched!

Strangely, it seems significantly bigger since I felted it - I always thought felting was shrinking-on-purpose...

Repeat after me...

2006-06-03T09:12:00.000+12:00

Midnight cables can generally be regarded as a Bad Idea.

In 4 nights, despite covering 2 departments and 4 wards, I've managed the most part of the (stocking stitch) body for the nocturnal sweater, resulting in much hilarity from my colleagues - though not as much as the night with the sock, and by Friday morning the realisation was dawning that they just had night-hangover, whereas I also had half a sweater!

It still needs the sleeves, which I think will wind up being 3/4 length but are now languishing on waste yarn...

And the Cable Bands. These have been shamelessly appropriated from the Kepler,but are going to go around the neckline as well as the hem. I'm now beginning to think that attempting to do this cable as my first real cable project, in the early hours and with bleep-in-situ is the bit that's a truly terrible plan. I must have knit getting on a mile of cabling, yet with all the ~~tinking~~ frogging, I have a grand total of three and three quarter repeats to show for it! Even so, it isn't perfect, but I just can't face frogging it again - I took a crochet hook to it last night, and turned some offending purl stitches into knit ones, instead of pulling out 2 rows!

On a more positive note, the stash fairies visited casa begknitter this morning (they attempted to call yesterday, but I didn't wake up to the hammering on the door, luckily I did today) so now, 2 more pairs of socks, this time on various numbers of Addi circulars join the tbk list! This sock obsession may become a trifle costly, but love the lovely colours!

You've got to love the internet shopping, and the plastic fantastic!

Nocturnal progress

2006-05-31T08:33:00.000+12:00

I hate nights.

Although this lot haven't been so bad (for 1st-on surgical night cover) I hate this screwed body clock thing I have going by this point in the week, where all I can even contemplate doing is work and sleep. I even got to work yesterday without eating any breakfast/evening meal hybrid and then wondered why I was famished at midnight!!

However, some good has come out of the last few ~~days~~ nights (you know what I mean) ; the nocturnal sweater, although by no means going to be done by the end of the week, is coming along quite nicely, I have now at least reached the bit where I get to work stocking stitch in the round, such a good idea good for zombies, vampires, the phantom of the opera...and other creatures of the night.

Obviously the B I G scoop is going to have some sort of cable in it eventually (note to self must work out the corners) but I really like the way this is shaping up. The sleeves are on waste yarn right now, and will be longer in the end, eventual length having something to do with amount of yarn left over from the body as all the skeins were slightly different sizes so am finding it quite hard to tell how much is left!

The quite seriously bad news from this week is the health or otherwise of my iPod. (minly otherwise) It spent a couple of days making an odd rattly-squeaky noise, then would overheat and do this:-

Then it gave up completely. All this about a fortnight after the end of the warranty period. Yaboosucks!

The new one is doing much better. Maybe its good that I'm forgetting to do expensive things like breakfast this week!

And now it's 08.45 and dawn is breaking. Nighty-night!

Mata Haris

2006-05-28T20:25:00.000+12:00

OK, so the purposeful sweater for this week is still not much differesnt to the piccie a couple of days ago, but that doesn't mean no knitting at nighttime!!

The Mata Hari socks are finished!

Love them love them love them! The yarn, the pattern, even how the pooling on the ankle is different on each foot, yet strangely complimentary.

2 down; 5 to go, there's time for the sweater (and/or several more socks) yet. {ducks for cover as almost certain to have many nights from hell nowwith no time for a cuppa let alone any knitting}