Carrot Top

Bart

2012-01-25T10:22:00.000-08:00

New hat pattern coming soooooon!!

I'm currently knitting up a storm of simplicity

and fab fab beauty!!...

Meet the Zauberball that started it all!

Watch this space and we'll see how it goes!

In other news.... just finished another hat... I know check me out!

More to follow!

xx Nu xx

There is something in a sonnet...

2012-01-04T15:35:00.000-08:00

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Shakespeare - Sonnet 116

The Promise of Creativity Hangs in the Air

2012-01-04T06:42:00.000-08:00

I love love LOVE this bit of knitting....

What do i do with 4 balls of BRIGHTLY coloured cotton

Oh it's so very very exciting!

Cables Cables Galore!

2012-01-04T05:18:00.000-08:00

Another hat finished last night....

This one a little brighter and a lot more colourful than the last!

I would like to point out that the majority

of this hat was knitted

whilst recovering from my

New years hangover...

Under a very comfy duvet...

On a very comfy sofa!

I HAVE to get round to taking better photo's of my work....

This will happen at some point!

Squidgy Soft Cashmere Hat... Avec... MASSIVE Bobble!

2012-01-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

When the weather outside is crappy

AND you've spent

MOST of the day looking at

VERY interesting things on Stumbled Upon...

It's nice to have a little something to show for the afternoon...

evening if the camera work is dreadful and

thus the photo's shocking!

the beginnings of the WORLDS BIGGEST POM POM....

OK maybe not the worlds biggest ever.... but still pretty huge!

(insert many many Mighty Boosh white polo references above....

"Eel's up inside ya..." etc etc)

GIANT pom pom!

Very cosy head

: )

Productive day...

Woop Woop!

Finished

2011-11-17T16:05:00.001-08:00

Another lovely project finished...

This time love is written into the shawl...

Literally! It's covered in hearts!!

Lots and lots of Love!! xx

Once again with feeling!!

2011-11-16T11:28:00.001-08:00

More and More odious job hunting... so to stem the endless tide of

rejection and re-writing yet another cover letter I thought

I would make something the both looked beautiful

and felt amazing...

Alpaca

Mulberry silk....

Soft

Warm

And

Beautiful

Beginnings....

2011-09-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Working with a new brand!... exciting!!

New idea's bring colour to my life...

They make it worth carrying on...

Every day I get up and imagine the possibilities!

No two day's are ever the same...

A new chapter

2011-09-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Pastures exciting and new....

I have taken on a new challenge, it begins with a blank leather canvas... and ends... well where ever you want it to! imagination is the key and it's one heck of a journey to unlock it!

Today I have unlocked a small clutch with a tooled leather rose, with a linen dust bag.

My first commission... I'm so proud of myself... it took me three times to get it right, there is currently a couple of less than perfect prototypes in my workshop... ops!

A day's tooling tomorrow, I can't wait!

Using Up the Leftovers

2011-05-23T04:24:00.000-07:00

WOW.... getting there... my massive using up of leftovers making a fab rainbow blanket to attempt to keep out this very very chilly wind that has suddenly appeared.

Modelling Shoot

2011-04-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

Wow... in front of a camera for the very first time and wow I loved it!! soo much fun!

I wish I was this talented!

2011-03-23T06:55:00.001-07:00

Wow these designs are amazing!

I wish I could put these together!

http://annkingstone.com/blog/2011/02/12/the-ultimate-scarf-pattern/

Truro Twist Shall... my best pattern yet

2011-03-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

The Truro Twist Shawl... 211 favourites on Ravelry and 15 projects...

Look here's the proof!

So proud of me!

New adverts....

2011-03-22T08:14:00.003-07:00

Not sure what to think about these... they're going to need some more work but so far so good....

Let's Walk to Paxford... Why the devil not!

2011-03-14T02:53:00.000-07:00

Of we go... off to through the fields to adventures in new forests and over railway lines...

through ridges and furrows....

basically a beautiful adventure in the beauty of nature.

Beautiful snow drops!.... believe it or not this photo was taken upside down with my bum in the air so I could get close enough to the ground... rather amusing me thinks!

Hope everyone had a fab weekend and enjoyed the Rugby!

Walk in the park

2011-03-10T11:49:00.001-08:00

beautiful walk in the park avoiding job hunting!

Give me the strength to carry on and complete this week.

2011-03-01T04:11:00.000-08:00

Don't wait for the safe moment; it's never coming.

The future will not afford you an opportunity to be more secure,

now is the jumping point.

aim for the stars.

Adapted from: sunny rising

Beautiful Brighton Blue

2011-02-22T07:46:00.001-08:00

Nearly finished... Just getting round to doing the edging... Costing me a fortune in sirdar flirt but it's going to be worth it in the end! My project is really starting to come together.

At full stretch With a couple of bobbles!

Bottom edge... Rather time consuming!

Top edge, rather plain but I needed something to balance out the extravagance of the bobbles!

So far... So good... Yep I'm procrastinating at work! Hee hee oh well!

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One great big sock

2011-02-17T05:19:00.001-08:00

Knitting up a hat using my new hand dyed sock yarn... But I keep changing my mind on the pattern, could be interesting to say the least!

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Ooo new hair

2011-02-10T05:00:00.001-08:00

I had my hair cut yesterday.... Loving the colours too... It defiantly needed the love and attention! Russ your a genius! Xx

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The Sunday dye and hangover studio

2011-01-24T06:22:00.001-08:00

It was a messy messy night on Saturday wasn't it Jess! Walking home at 1.30 am still looking forward to a productive day after dropping Jess off at work for 8am. Only one of those two things happened... I had a fairly productive day... But Jess didn't go to work!

The fruits of my labour I am very proud of!

One sock weight and one lace weight yarn ( I have no idea what to make with the lace One though but I thought I'd dye it and see what happens!)

So pleased with the vibrancy of the red!

This one didn't work so well I tried dying it in polly bags and steaming it, and although the blue looks amazing, the green is going to need a little more love and attention.

Drip drip..

Drying in front of a toasty warm fire... Job done!!

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Not sure how to take this

2011-01-17T02:01:00.000-08:00

I've been working for British Bookshops and Stationers for nearly 2 months... on Thursday the 13th Jan we received some rather bad news... the company has gone into administration and well... we're facing massive job losses and cutbacks... what on earth am I going to do?

Having the weekend to contemplate has both scared me and forced me to think about what on earth I want out of my life and I really feel that i should focus on something more worthwhile and creative that being banded about like a corporate monkey but the problem I have is that I don't know where to begin... or even if (with my lack of training) there is in fact such a position for me.

So I went to Brighton!... spent the weekend being pampered by a lovely man who I really rather enjoy spending time with and apart from anything else... took me fish nibbling! AMAZING fun! having little (or in the case of some not so little) Garra Ruffa fish nibbling at your feet.

Happy Christmas everyone!

2010-12-25T12:37:00.000-08:00

now is the time for all good knitters to wrap up warm in EVERYTHING that they've made that year!... some of my hat's kept me very warm in the snow... ummm toasty!

100g of beauty and disco pink clean up!

2010-08-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

I've been dying yarn again today! fantastic! three colours... all in one dye, three bags and one microwave! ahh!!....

wrapping it up into three individual skeins for different colour sections!

seperated into bags... ready for soaking and then dying!

Ummm soaking....

All dyed up in the bags and ready to go!

before the accident! I think I need to time it all better... My purple

Purple hand spun

2010-08-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

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My old favourite

2010-08-03T10:09:00.001-07:00

My old favourite, my first unfinished blanket but still great for a snuggle at 1am when watching Green Wing on your own.

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Tiny little circles

2010-08-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

My wonderful new purchase from knit nation! Mini circular needles the way forward!!! So naturally I bought some yarn... And started knitting!

It's all started well... I will admit though that it's a little arkward to turn a heel on them I'm doing the heel flap at the moment and purl isn't the easiest stitch on this scale... But maybe that's just me!

Ah well we shall see what happens further on. I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to swap to DPN's to finish the toe.

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Blocking... There's a first!

2010-07-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

Woo never done this before... And I'm trying to protect the carpet too!! X

It's all finished though!

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Nearly finished

2010-07-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

I've nearly finished my shawl... Only 20g left to knit up!

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Dry and Hanked

2010-07-07T07:06:00.001-07:00

Lookie!! It's all finished! "swamp thing" moo ha ha!

All done in my Small kitchen watching Bridget Jones (I know I know don't judge me!!) and a glass of wine! I'm so pleased with it! Next time I'm going to try reds!... Wish me luck! X

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Meet Swamp Thing!!

2010-07-06T16:14:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo my first piece of dying! All done, the flat smells like wet sheep and vinegar but it's definately worth it!

Wool spagetti!

And dye powder!

All drying now... Fingers crossed!

See you all in the morning, 12 am I need sleep! X

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My little collection

2010-07-06T08:16:00.001-07:00

I'm making a wee collection of hand knit patterns in the hope that I'm not the only person that likes my designs! This is my latest wee beast!...
Truro Twist Shawl

Photos avec very travel tired me... And my stitch markers but you get the idea!!

What do you think? X

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278g of hard work!

2010-06-07T06:32:00.000-07:00

3ply... Fat Cat hand dyed fiber, hyacinth, and ultra violet. All merino... I'm so pleased with myself!... Right next one! Xx

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Spinning again!

2010-06-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

Finally!! I've finished it! One ply of hand dyed merino from fat cat and two single colour merino... Light Purple and dark purple!

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Shiny, let's be bad guys

2010-05-25T04:36:00.000-07:00

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A weekend in Oxfordshire

2010-05-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

A weekend in Oxfordshire with wonderful friends and the love of my life.
Ness and Jon have recently moves into their fantastic three
bedroom house in the Oxfordshire countryside so naturally the first beautiful sunny weekend... BBQ's call loudly! Bit garden cleaning and clearing first! I stripped all of the bits out from under the two Lime trees...

I found a catapillar!! I haven't seen one in ages! Terribly exciting!

Ness potted up this years vegtables in a huge pot and jon rebuilt the fence... A very sucessful day me thinks! Xx

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Frogged

2010-05-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

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Truro Twist

2010-05-19T03:05:00.000-07:00

Good Night Sweetheart

2010-05-10T05:47:00.000-07:00

In the shop today,
Beautiful hand finished custom made, Nightstone ring.

I absolutely adore the organic curves and the contrast of
colours between the silver and the Nightstone.

Available in any size you so wish, each ring is custom made to order.

Available from:
Folksy
Directly from me (07540636361)
fionnghualadoran@gmail.com

Why is it never enough.

2010-05-10T03:14:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for an apprentiship... The goldsmiths guild where very helpful.... dear Miss Doran.... Don't bother... your not between 16-21 so we can help you! I don't want to go back to Uni... I spent three years there and the thought of spending another 3 years being screutinised and patronised really doesn't appeal to me... It's just not my style of learning.

Never good enough...

Nu x

So full of promise!

2010-05-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

Nigella you may have a bigger pantry than me...

Delia my little electric cooker is nothing to your Aga but I can still make awesome chocolate cookies!

Before

Umm after! Yummy yummy!

happy Tom! Xx

Have a great Sunday afternoon all! Xx
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A present for Annabelle

2010-05-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

I've been desperate to show these off all week! And now that I've given them to Bell I can finally show you!

hammered finish silver hoop earrings, made from 1.5mm silver wire and a thinner .7 for the hooks.

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Burnt but still smiling!

2010-05-07T15:40:00.000-07:00

Very simple but very beautiful silver stud earrings. I love them so very much and wow the burns prove it!.... silver definitely holds it's heat!

good night all!

Nu xx

Setting up My shop

2010-05-07T03:33:00.001-07:00

I've set up my very own Folksy shop... all available here!

http://www.folksy.com/items/490261-Good-Night-Sweetheart

Something Beautiful for a Friday morning

2010-05-07T02:29:00.000-07:00

I'm so pleased with my new ring.... I just can't help myself but put up one more post about it!...

Silver and Nightstone 1.3" x 1" size Q.

It even has my initials stamped on the back...

A true original!

This is the first time I've ever set a stone in silver and after an initial disaster,

The bezel didn't soilder to the back plate on the first attempt.... but I cut filed and re-tried and this is the beautiful result!

It is definately worth the bleading thumb and the blood blisters! neadless to say there was a large glass of rose as a reward... and soaking of the hands in cold water!

Nu xx

Finished at last!

2010-05-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

Wow what a first!! But I finished it and it's only just past 12!!

Earlier this evening...

I was so nervous soildering the two together... But I think it was the bit that worked the best!!

Just missing the stone!...

Look at that!! All finished!! I'm so pleased with it!! Xx

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Finished! TEST

2010-05-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

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Nearly finished!

2010-05-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

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Cableing without a needle.

2010-05-04T04:24:00.000-07:00

I am forever trying to make my life easier... I think it's just my nature! so after the second brittiany cable needle I had lost... (the first went down a jetty on the Isle of Harris and the second... well I lost it in the turn ups of a business man's trousers on the London underground on my way to work... I didn't have the guts to ask him to turn out the bottom of his freashly pressed trousers so I could retrieve my needle!)

These severe and very painful losses have lead me to research cableing without a cable needle...

If you are working on a project where you are moving 1-2 stitches around at a time then this may well prove very useful and save you a fair amount of time!

Cable 4 Forwards...

This really is a very simple manouver... firstly knit up to cable in your work and slip the two stitches from your Left needle to your right. (these are the two stitches that you would usually slip to the cable needle) Make sure that you are holding the working yarn at the back of your work.

Cable 4 Backwards...

Start my setting up your knitting, work up to the stitiches that you are about to cable. In the picture below you can see that I have 4 Knit stitched on the lefthand needle that I am going to cable over eachother.

pull the yarn to the frount of your work and slip the first two stitches onto the right needle.

Put the yarn behind your work and knit the remaining two stitches.

here's the tricky bit.. insert the left needle into the back of the slipped stitches.

slip the two knitted stitches (stitches 3 and 4) off the needle and then back onto the right hand needle... they should now sit infront of the other two stitches.

Pick up stitches shown in the picture below...

knit stitches one and two off the left needle onto the right and your done! one cable needle-less cable!

Moving cables to the right by two spaces

knit or purl up to two stitches before the cable you want to move across...

front of the work

make sure that the working yarn is at the frount of your work...

slip two stitches from your left needle to your right

put the yarn behind your work and knit the next two stitches... you should have a loop at the frount of your work...

bring the yarn forward again so it doesn't get in your way.... now here's the cleaver bit....
Slip your left needle into the back of the two stitches you slipped....

slip the first two stitches off the right needle and then pick them up again making sure that stitches one and two are now behind stitches three and four (that you just picked up)

knit stitches one and two.... and then your done! It's that easy!

Patterns

Here are a couple of links to some patterns so you can test your new found skills! Beautiful celtic knots on throws, cushion covers or just for decoration,available from Dorota's pattern page here.

Another one of my favourites is here these socks are a fantastic and suprisingly quick knit but very impressive! they use C2F and C2B techniques as well as Knit and Purl stitches.... the instructions are very clear, fantastic for a novice sock knitter!

Test knit

2010-05-04T03:09:00.000-07:00

I'm test knitting this wonderful celtic knot for a shawl that the very tallented devorgilla is putting together. I love this tweed yarn too... it's so scrummy!

Tube-ular Knitting
So my morning commute to work consists of one bus journey and two sometimes cramped tube journeys however today was different... I stared the journey on the victoria line... knitting away... trying to work out why my cables weren't lining up and then low and behold I was joined by another knitter.... right next to me she sat, unveiled her knitting and started her work! TWO KNITTERS!! sitting together on the way to work! It made me well with pride and smile big!

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Yummy yummy

2010-05-04T02:52:00.000-07:00

Snakes and Tea!!

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Coffee time

2010-05-04T02:19:00.000-07:00

Picture this… a huge cooked breakfast, bacon, saussage, eggs, beans, blackpudding and mushrooms… lovingly cooked for me by Tommy… and then the disaster struck… luke warm coffee!!
a simple but effective solution…. I set strait to it! delving into my knitting bag that I threw together when running out of the door on Saturday morning before work and then having to face a network of trains!

I think it worked rather well… considering I had such a mismatch of items to work with!

I love the button matching the nail varnish... completely unintentional as the red button was the only one I had in my wee sewing kit that would fit the yarn through!

I made the cabled band around the top first and then picked up the stitches from one edge to make the warmer... it worked really rather well considering I had no tape measure to speak of!

ah home sweet home!

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My first handmade silver necklace

2010-04-30T05:54:00.000-07:00

Small beginnings... Each circle is annealed, filed, soildered, shaped, hammered and filed and finished...

Highlighted at the tips of each silver drop are beautiful aqua marine beads

I might be in my pj's.... Don't tell anyone!

That's a lot of solidered loops!
And a lot of hammered fingers!!

Clasp detail.

It took me all day but she's finally finished... I'm so proud of it! X

Location:Blythe Rd,Hammersmith,United Kingdom

Silver work

2010-04-25T10:30:00.001-07:00

I went to my first jewelry making course! woo hoo...!! three rings later! I've done a lot more soldiering, filing and shining! wooo hoo!! yay! xx

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Frogged...

2010-04-16T02:19:00.003-07:00

So I sort of finished another project the other day... I frogged it... I made it to the second chart a patten repeat and I forgot to add stitches each end... I frogged it... Actually it was suprisingly satisfying!

-- Post From My iPhone

Old friend

2010-04-16T02:19:00.001-07:00

Hello old friend, welcome back!

-- Post From My iPhone

Ouch!

2010-04-16T02:18:00.000-07:00

A dear friend of mine cut of the top of her thumb.... Ouch!! And the mass amount of blue plaster she has I wrapped in although very effective at stopping the bleeding doesn't offer much protection... Witness exhibit a... The latest in knitted thumb protection from the finest rowan cashmere!

With a little ribbed bottom... A mitred top and even a wee little White cross so everyone know what it's consealing and this not to touch!!

She bought me the most beautiful flowers last week when I was feeling low so I really hope this brings a smile to her face and keeps her poorly thumb safe!

And I had a little fun with my camera this morning too when I should have been getting ready or work!

Hee hee!

You've got to love the crappy and very predictable pictures at 9 in the morning when you should be leaving for work!! Xx

Loose ends

2010-04-15T05:13:00.000-07:00

-- Post From My iPhone

Let's recycle!

2010-04-07T02:30:00.000-07:00

What to do with a 10mm crochet
An old table cloth, a childs duvet cover, two mens shirts... Already in bits and a green thing that I'm not sure where it came from! Oh and 4 recycled buttons!

I made this for my aunts art class as a demonstration piece. I'm so pleased with it I can't believe how well it worked!

Location:Morrish Rd,Lambeth,United Kingdom

I love London

2010-03-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

So I got a bit of a day off today... I went shopping!
I love Loop!!

oh it's all so shiny!! Xxxxx

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Location:Brixton Hill Pl,Lambeth,United Kingdom

It's here!!

2010-03-25T04:39:00.000-07:00

My knit picks pallet all the way from France!! Woo hoo!!

Spilly Jane robo mitts here i come!!

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Location:Brixton Hill Pl,Lambeth,United Kingdom

Added pinky fish

2010-03-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

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"I'm gonna eat you little fishy" - Cat

2010-03-16T02:54:00.000-07:00

I am completely hooked on the endless possibilities of colour work!

This new found talent coupled with the fact that Edd has managed to addict me to a pirate game on my Iphone leads me nicely onto... Sleeping with the fishes!

A completely fantastic chart based pattern by SpillyJane. I'm hoping to get a couple more rows done in my lunch hour this afternoon but I think that might be a little unrealistic!

Not bad for a days work!

2010-03-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

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Location:Whitegate,Loughborough,United Kingdom

It's been a while!

2010-03-09T04:53:00.000-08:00

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New beanie!

2010-03-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

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The next knit!

2010-02-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

Getting there!! My first pair of lace knit socks!!

All finished!

2010-02-18T02:55:00.000-08:00

I can not believe it! I've finished my twist of lime spinning project! yay! it's a bit lumpy in places and skinny in others but I'm really happy with it!

I have no Idea what I'm going to knit it into yet but we shall see!

See this post here for info on the roving used.

My hand spun

2010-02-17T15:39:00.000-08:00

My perfect Valentines Day

2010-02-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

The perfect spinnerly companion

2010-02-15T08:16:00.000-08:00

Archi meet Blog.... Blog meet Archi! He has to be the worlds most comic animal!... He loves my spinning wheel... There is some sort of bond between dog and wheel I don't quite understand!

Archie watching the flyer!

Finishing up

2010-02-04T04:20:00.000-08:00

Nearly there!

Getting there!

2010-02-01T10:19:00.000-08:00

Getting to a heel turn! Ahh!! Scary scary! X

Woo hoo I did it!! Yeah!

Pretty neat for a first try! Even if I do say so myself!

Sleeping on the job again ted!

On the rocks with no ice

2010-02-01T06:57:00.000-08:00

My first toe up sock design! Never designed anything before and so far so good! Made from Noro Silk Garden Sock, on 2.25mm needles.

No where near finished yet but I'm getting there! Does anyone have a good pattern for turning a toe up heel?

Storm hat

2010-01-26T07:51:00.000-08:00

Finished! All done on the train to Plymouth... 5 hours on the train! Numb bum! X

My big re-stash!

2010-01-22T04:32:00.000-08:00

Woo hoo! Sarah I love you! Masses of BabyLongLegs yarrrrrn! Woo hoo

Oh I love it all so very very much! and these photo's don't do it justice... they were taken on my phone! Ah Radiance!.. my vice!

This DK will be... socks?.. maybe!?

definitely socks me thinks
Oh so much yarn! I love love love it!

Taking time to create Tiny Timmy's toasty todger!

2010-01-21T02:30:00.000-08:00

Made from Baby long legs "Blue Banana" in aran weight with my brand new beautiful knit pro 10cm 4mm DPN's!

Made for a very good friend of mine... I think I'm going to make some more and perfect my pattern making abilities too!

Location:Home

2010-01-20T12:25:00.000-08:00

Finished!!

2010-01-19T23:51:00.000-08:00

I've done it! I've finished the first pair!.... this is officially the beginning... and off we go!

Page 59 - Sock 2

2010-01-18T10:01:00.000-08:00

I've made it to the last half of my second sock, first pattern repeat and I'm on my own watching very old Top Gear repeats... on my own.... I live with Tom and I'm on my own! I think he must be downstairs with his parents... well I have a very short haired Richard Hammond and a washing machine on spin cycle, vibrating across the Lino floor for company.

To Be Continued...

Page 59

2010-01-18T07:47:00.000-08:00

Here we go girls!... one sock down... 63 socks to go! (32 patterns in the book!) better get knitting!

knitted up on 3.25 Knit pro circulars and not the suggested 3.75.... I have to admit I really didn't do a gauge swatch however the last set of socks I made were a little baggy.... I have small ankles..??
I love turning the heel this way too!... short rows and they work perfectly!... and are very quick to do! Love!
Just as an after thought... where am I going to find all of the yarn?!?

The Joy of Sox...

2010-01-18T06:31:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a long journey I think. I haven't been in the best mental place in the last year since finishing university. In fact I've rally not had a fun time of it at all considering that these years are meant to be some of the best... I have a boyfriend, a dog... well two dogs, a cat, a degree and a job... so where has it all gone wrong, well that really is the question! I'm not as alive as I could be!... the deficit in current situation was highlighted to me on a recent trip to London partying with my brother Dom and second cousin Hugo. I miss life! I miss being able to grab a coffee in town with friends, not having to drive home after a night out and therefore not drinking, or paying £40 for a taxi home!

However!... This is the year of change! 2010... a new year and a new start!... This year I'm going to concentrate on self development and enjoying myself, I really don't want to loose the next few years and then on reflection wonder what I did!

I have never been very good at monotony.... not monogamy... I don't have a problem there.... just monotony.... the mundane of the everyday.

In order to combat this I'm going to knit my way through every pattern in a book.... In a year... I need something portable, things that I won't mind wearing, using or giving to someone... so here goes, I am officially committing myself to this wonderful book... "The Joy of Sox"

there are 30 patterns in the book so I'm going to need to manage just over 2 pairs a month!... is this a little ambitious? Well... c

onsidering that we are now in the middle of January I have until the sam time next year so hear goes!

I've already made a start...

"Fancy a Quickie"

Made using Sirdar Crofter DK... knitted up one in about 7 hours... they look ok when they're on but I'm not as pleased with them as I could be... I hope the second one goes alright bearing in mind that my 'lovely' little JR terrier Charlie decided to eat the remaining half of my wool... I think I've saved some of it though!

So.... what change has happened upon me in this sock...!? I can spin... that counts right...?? I've made a beautiful 3 Ply from Blue Faced Leicester... a 2Ply and a 3ply from the most beautiful hand dyed british merino dyed by the fantastic Baby Long Legs

Photos of the 3 ply to follow as soon as I've soaked and hung it! I spun it from this, the twist of lime roving... mixed with variegated

purple and green... I spin very thin though ... and I'm trying to spin slightly thicker... so I can make another of my London Slouchy Hat! (pattern available on Ravelry... or Scribd)

Anyone for a quickie?!

2010-01-17T04:28:00.000-08:00

Quickie sock that is!!

Work work work! I love sock knitting!... woo hoo... bought a fantastic book, "The Joy of Sox" so here I am knitting you some fantastic DK socks nice and quickly, satisfying too!

Spinning to Save Our Sanity

2010-01-16T05:43:00.000-08:00

S.O.S (Spin Our Sanity)
I wonder if the first person to spin realised that they would be unleashing upon the world a talent that can bring so much elation and so many tears... all in a single bobbin! Did mr caveman complain bitterly about his wife's choice of christmas present, a hand spun and finger knitted pair of very itchy tighty whiteies!.. I will of course point out at this juncture that something hand made that too so much time is expected to be worn... no matter how itchy!

Perhaps I am going back too far, but whichever time frame you decide to start in there is one thing that can not be denied, and that is; how far we have come.

Where Have All the Cottages Gone?

Spinning like so many crafts used to be a cottage industry, before mass mechanisation and the industrial revolution. It wasn't until a recent trip to the Isle of Harris in the Scottish Hebrides that it dawned on me how many cottages and skills we've lost!

Growing up in the Cotswold's surrounded by very influential designers, (for example Robert Welch where I spent 5 years working and Martin Gotrel a silver smith with whom I did work experience) and a long standing desire in the area to preserve the natural beauty and traditional methods of production I was amazed when I began knitting myself to discover just how much effort goes into making a single garment.... especially a sock!

Hand spun

2010-01-14T07:39:00.000-08:00

My first three ply... Beautiful! If I do say so myself! I'm so pleased with it!

Still going!

2010-01-12T02:47:00.000-08:00

Look the obligatory snow photo!

On my 6th ball of wool... Still goin round and round! X

New Years Resolution... Have fun

2010-01-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

What an amazing start to the year! My cousin Hugo's birthday!

I love London!

So many beautiful intelligent people... and my wonderful brother! bless him!

Ha ha... glam and refined to this:

Love it....!

Shiny

Go back to Lon-Don

2010-01-10T05:18:00.000-08:00

Not quite finished just testing...

Yay all done!! Now I can snuggle against the cold and the no heater situation!! Xxx

Location:Duke St,Loughborough,United Kingdom

Hat

2010-01-10T03:34:00.000-08:00

After spending most of the weekend in London in the company of my cousin and his fantastic and gorgeous friends I've come back to Leicestershire... Sat down... And I'm finishing my hat!
It's made out of the most beautiful and colourful pure wool hand spun I can't wait to wear it!
So far...

Damn it I look so utterly exhausted in photos! Xx

I blocked it!!

2010-01-06T04:01:00.000-08:00

I am now no longer a blocking virgin!!

Good hat hatted

2010-01-05T03:31:00.000-08:00

Stitching and Making

2010-01-02T07:45:00.000-08:00

Look what I've been doing!

What is there to do on a Saturday afternoon than visit Bojangle Beads in Loughborough, buy some bits and pieces and make some stitch markers and jewelry!

One, Two, Three, count with me! 1-20 row counter

pretty little bell flower dingle dangle silver stud earings

I love these little silver flower drop earrings... not sure Im going to be able to part with them!

Drop flower stitch markers! I love my set of these so I thought I would make some more and add them to my folksy page.... (comming later today!)

beaded stitch markers

infinity markers for really large needles!

and the one at the top boasts an extra dew drop glass bead at the top so you can find your way back to the beginning of each round!

FINISHED!!

2010-01-02T04:04:00.000-08:00

Today is a day for finishing, starting and laughing! I finished my Cable knit socks! YAY go mee! and I've started making more stitch markers.... they're very special and will have their own blog very shortly!

I made a minor adaptation to the sock pattern as I'm aware how large my feet are... and look so I thought I would add a mitre bit at the end that reflects both the triangular point of the knot work and the toe decreases and I have to say I really rather like it!

Nearly done.... just the toe to do! yay

2010-01-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

Finished the last knot whilst "watching" Dr Who.

Getting there!!

2010-01-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

Location:Wysall Rd,Rempstone,United Kingdom

Test knitting

2009-12-28T03:55:00.000-08:00

Hello all how were the festivities for you?? I'm currently test knitting a beautiful pair of socks and I'm so proud of myself... I've learnt to cable without a needle! woo hoo
Here's a sneek peek of how I'm getting on,

Isn't it beautiful I'm so pleased with it! And I get to use my new chart reader the farther Christmas brought me! Xx

Location:Hanford Way,Loughborough,United Kingdom

Knitting update

2009-12-04T05:16:00.000-08:00

Dyeing to meet you!!

2009-11-27T06:15:00.000-08:00

I'm dyeing jeans today! Well Toms work trousers... He didn't like the very light grey/ecru colour they were so i am satisfying his need to be the most fastionable timber framer on the block and dyeing them... It's actually really rather fun... Watching it work!

Stage two... Washing the left over dye out! Hee hee brown foam! Yay

Round and round today... Spin spin blue faced Leicester... So soft!

Natural colours, I'm planning on making a three ply yarn.

IT'S HERE!!! So really very exciting!

2009-11-26T04:08:00.000-08:00

Lookie look look! what arrived in the post this morning! so colourful shiney and soft

I'm supposed to be using them to make socks and things for family members for christmas... but I don't want to! (pouting and sticking out bottom lip!) I want to keep it all for me!

does anyone know of any pretty and simple sock designs that would do for this beautiful yarn and christmas pressies? I don't think the pattern needs to be too complicated as the colours of the yarn add so much interest but a little detail would be good would it not?

Can't wait to try them!

2009-11-24T02:34:00.000-08:00

I love muffins! and I'm trying as hard as I can to wait and make them!!

I love Muffins yummy yummy yummy!

Blueberry Muffins!

Ingredients

1/4 cup soft butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups pastry flour
1 grated lemon, rind of
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 cup wild blueberries

Directions

1
Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg and mix well. Sift dry ingredients together. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with milk. (Begin and end with flour for the best texture. Not sure why, but this works.) Toss blueberries with lemon rind and gently fold into batter. Do not over-mix.
2
Fill 12-cup muffin tin with paper cups or grease with butter. Fill 2/3 full with batter.
3
Bake in preheated 375F oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove from tins and cool on rack.

Zauberball...

Indulging in my sock knitting fetish once again! I've decided to make some socks

as christmas presents for my favorite family members! I hate christmas.... so much to do and

so much to buy! I can't even begin to imagine what I'm going to get for everyone... I think they're all going

to get home made bits and pieces this year! that and a really BIG smile!