Destashing? HAH!

Today, I've been looking through my stash on Ravelry and trying to decide what I don't want / need. As well as a few odd things, I had every intention of thinning out some of my Posh Yarn and Yarn Yard stash. Uh huh, right. What has actually happened is that I've fallen madly back in love with every single skein and colourway. It's all mine and you can't have it. So there!

I'm also restraining myself right now from running and digging out a skein or two to wind into cakes so that I can cast them on. Oh, they're so pretty! I want to knit with all of them, this instant! But I don't have time. Christmas knitting first! And oh dear, only just over a month to go for that. I've got to get a crack on.

Actually, there are a few skeins that I can bring myself to, ah, re-home. If anyone wants to buy them from me, that is. I really do have more sock yarn than I can reasonably knit in the next, oh, couple of years. And more than once I've bought yarn because it's so pretty... without taking into account that I already have some that's very very similar. I'll think about it overnight and see which ones I settle on.

Before I go to bed, though, I'm going to do a bit more work on the redesign of this site. With a bit of luck I should have it up sometime this week. The design itself is pretty much done, actually.... it's just plugging it in to the various parts of the site. I'm intending to convert everything to php, so I have to work out the most efficient way of doing the templates. I'm not sure if I'm going to change the blog to php, though. It'd mess up any direct links. Unless.... Hmm, I'll sleep on that as well. I'm tired anyway. Maybe I will just go to bed now. G'night.

Falling off the yarn wagon

Ummmm..... it was my birthday and I'll buy yarn if I want to?

So, I know I said I wasn't going to buy any more yarn, and lord knows, I don't exactly need any. Seriously, I'm all yarned out. You know that - you've seen my stash. I have lots. But those sock yarns are just so scrummy, and apparently don't count towards your stash anyway. Of course they still dent your bank balance a bit, but whoops, too late now! But it was my birthday last month, so I treated myself to some yarn that I had been stalking for a while. And then I decided that that'll be it until... well, until I've knitted a lot of it up!

That wasn't me falling off the yarn wagon, though - at that point, I wasn't even on it despite my oh so good intentions. I was the person half-heartedly jogging along behind the wagon, occasionally making a vague jump up but not quite getting on board. But last month when I began clearing out my stash, I made my yarn diet 'resolution'. I was then really good and resisted all yarn except for the YY glove kit that I already mentioned... which I justified because [a] it's for something I need (gloves) [b] it counts as my sock yarn allowance, and [c] the money for it came from the yarn I'd sold on eBay.

Howwwwwever, I tripped and bought yarn and stuff after Knit & Natter last Saturday. The fatal flaw with K&N is that I'd have to leave early to catch my bus back home... and I don't want to do that. So that leaves me with almost an hour to kill when it finishes. Of course I'm going to go to the yarn shop (the group meets in the pub opposite). Actually I still haven't broken my yarn diet rules¹, but I feel kind of bad nevertheless. I got some Debbie Bliss Rialto DK, which is for a Christmas gift and was a planned purchase, and some sock yarn - Regia's Kaffe Fassett Design Line in Mirage Fire, which I think is new. I refrained from buying more than one lot of sock yarn, though, so at least that's something! *g* I did succumb to the lure of a couple of Addi Turbo bamboo circular needles, though. I'm using one pair already, and they are lovely and smooth with a non-tangley cord and all. But the join between the bamboo and the bit that connects it to the cord isn't smooth. There's a definite jump that the stitches catch on all the time. :-/ Still, maybe I can do something about it. I really hope so, because they're lovely in every other respect, and I don't want to spoil the very nice yarn that's being knit on them. Anyone have any advice about that?

So yeah, I haven't technically fallen off the wagon, but I felt the need to confess my purchases anyway. That's probably the best way of keeping on top of what I do buy within my allowance and making sure I don't slip. Keep it all public so I'll be too embarrassed to fail! Think it'll work?

¹ To re-cap:

1. No more yarn for larger projects until I've used the yarn I already have in my stash which is mentally assigned to things in my queue.
2. Budget the amount of sock yarn / single skeins that I can buy: this will be sock club yarn plus an allowance of £15 a month max. This should probably also cover needles and notions as well, come to think of it. And books.
3. Yarn for gifts and commissions doesn't count, but I am going to try to knit from my stash for those as well where possible.

Don't get too close to the screen, I'm infectious!

Oh noes, I have the interbets lurgy! It's true, I blogged about not being so well for the last (argh) three flippin' weeks... and gave it to both my Secret Pals and their kidlets! Eeep. Sorry, Janey and Katie, and anyone else who I've infected! ;-)

In actual fact, what was wrong with me was a chest thing that seemed to drag out because it gave me a bad asthma... thing. I don't usually have much trouble with the asthma, or I haven't for the last several years anyway, but I've now got a steroid inhaler again for a while until I can breathe proper-like. And in fact, that seemed to be doing the trick very nicely along with lots of vitamins and sundry druuuugs. Til I caught a cold. D'oh! So I've spent the last couple of days feeling like poo again, and I had to cancel the plans I had with my new friend M (who I met at Knit & Natter) to go over to hers to hang out and knit today. The group actually meets in Battle, but people from all over the area go... and M and I discovered that we only live a short walk (or an ever shorter bus-ride-and-walk) from each other, so we swapped numbers. We're going to sort something out for next week instead, when I'm less germ-y!

Anyhow, I am actually feeling better today than I did yesterday - I think I'm on the last day of the cold-iness. I've had a nice hot bath and everything, which helped. So hopefully I'll be well enough tomorrow to go to the beading workshop that I'm signed up for. Oh, which reminds me, must sort out my pack lunch for that.

Right, I'm off to watch Children in Need. Actual knit-y post coming later!...

Alright, that's *it*.

No more eBaying while under the weather for me. Clearly my brain just isn't working as it should, and I've completely embarrassed myself not once, but twice. Even three times, if you consider it that way. First of all I sold a Colinette pattern book to a lady... and failed like a big failing person to post it out: I sold several lots of yarn at the same time, one of which I was being paid by cheque for, so I didn't post it with the others. Neither did I notice that the envelope with the pattern book in was under that package, so I didn't pick it up with the others when I posted them. Obviously I found it in the end, when I went to take the paid-for-by-chq yarn to the PO, but I'd been telling the poor buyer that yes, I had posted it out, really I had! Uh, not so much.

And now, guess what I've done? I sold two lots of yarn - same stuff in different colours and different amounts. Posted them out on Monday... to the wrong people. I switched the addresses. Cleverrrrrrrr. One of the buyers has just been in touch to let me know. *headdesk headdesk headdesk* I'm such an idiot. I don't know if I put the wrong receipts in with them or not, but now I need to arrange for them both to be sent back so that I can post them out again. Either that, or arrange for them to post them to each other. Whatever they prefer.

I think I'll go back to bed. *gloom doom etc* ;-)

Autumnal Spring Cleaning

I've been having a really good clear-out over the last few weeks, and I'm starting to feel less mentally cluttered as well already. I've even eBayed more of my yarn. I know! Can I really be breaking my hoarding mentality? Well, no, not if you look at my bookshelves (MY books *clings*) and, uh, the remainder of my yarn stash. Not to mention the contents of my wardrobe and drawers... and a couple of suitcases... However, I am going to eBay some more stuff. Not yarn this time (although I might be able to persuade myself to part with a couple more skeins), but things like my spare Palm cradle (never used) and serial cable (not used since approx 3 computer upgrades ago)... oh, and I'm sure there are some other things. I have also sorted out more clothes and knick-knacks etc to go off to the charity shop. I think I still have more to do there, though!

Unfortunately, I've been a bit stalled on the whole thing because I'm still ill. Bleuch. I left the flat yesterday for the first time in about 2 weeks (alright, maybe my mental health hasn't been ideal: being stuck indoors ill was threatening to push me into a 'down', but I think I've caught it in time) because I had to go to the Post Office, and stopped in to speak to the pharmacist on the way. She reckons I have bronchitis or a chest infection, and what with being asthmatic already, I've been told to go to the doctor tout de suite. I know, I know, I should have gone a week ago. I am Procrastination Woman. In this case, that's particularly stupid of me since it means I've been propped at a weird angle in bed for several days since I can neither sit/stand up or lay down normally and breathe comfortably. V annoying. Oh well. I have an appointment this afternoon. I'll be fixed soon. On the plus side, this whole thing seems to have sorted out my insomnia / wonky body-clock thing that I had going on: I'm now tired / sleeping during the actual night again, instead of being awake all night and tired or asleep all day. Hoorah!

In knitting news, I have got some work done on my WIPs. I really must remember to make a couple of posts about my current WIPs and recently completed FOs to spring-clean that off my mental to-do list. Mainly I've been working on "Mmm, Refreshers", which is a Christmas gift. Can't say anything else about it in case the recipient trundles over here. You never know with my friends and family *peers around suspiciously*. I've also done a bit of "WFS" (likewise, Christmas), and some of my Fireworks socks... which are for me me me, so there. Obviously I finished my Tête à Fetching (wore it when I went out yesterday), and I'm really chuffed with the response - some people have said they like it and want to make it, it's in a few queues (and one in-progress!) on Ravelry, and I even got a really lovely comment from Cheryl Niamath who designed the Fetching gloves. :-) I'll get the scarf pattern written up soon-ish as well, but I want to make a wider version of it for Mum first. Once I've finished something else, that is.

I actually think my WIP tolerance has been reached. If I cast on one more project, my head would explode. I can cope, just about, with the number I have going at once right now (8 plus 3 in hibernation) because I have a definite Christmas deadline for, um, three of them. Although I have at least two more things I wanted to cast on for gift knitting as well. Oh dear. But I'm not going to think about that now! The thing is, those gift knits are the ones which are taking priority, and the rest are pushed to the back-burner. Some more than others - I'm still working on my various pairs of socks (for me) every now and again, to give myself a break. It seems to be working. But anyway, like I said, I'll make a proper all-about-my-WIPs post a bit later.

I didn't find my gloves, by the way. So far I've been wearing my Fetchings or my Hurry Up Spring fingerless ones, but I've wound a skein of Yarn Yard Merino sock into a ball to make some new ones - I think I'm going to make cabled ones with that. And I did crumble and get ones of the glove kits, so I'm going to make a pair with that too.

Yay, gloves! I'm not allowing myself to cast on for them until I've finished a couple of my current WIPs, though. Preferably the Christmas gift ones, since those have a deadline!

Hmm, was there anything else I was going to say? I can't think... oh! I remember. I found a (the) Holiday Gift KAL-CAL. Just what I wanted! I have duly signed myself up. Um. Oh yes, and I've been working on my next (final? I'm not sure if I'll be sending one more package or if I'll split it into two - Katie, do you have any preferences?) SP11 package. Mwahaha. Etc. ;-)

Right, that's enough being upright for me for the time being. I'm going back to bed for a bit to listen to the radio / podcasts while knitting, then I shall get up again, have foooood, and get myself off to the doctor's. TTFN!

Ugh

OK, I know I said I wouldn't moan any more about this... but I'm going to anyway. I fail at being ill. I'm officially rubbish at it. Because both lying down and sitting / standing up have their different discomforts, I've been yo-yo-ing between one and the other... which has meant not much sleep until this afternoon when my body apparently decided enough was enough and zonked out. Of course, now I'm awake again.

Still, I've loaded up my mp3 player with podcasts, I have soup and hot squash (and I've taken all the right vitamins and painkillers, etc), and I have my knitting and my Palm which is loaded with books & also there in case I have inspiration to crack on with NaNoWriMo*. I'm Going To Bed!

* Yes, like a fool I signed up for NaNo. I haven't tried doing it for a few years... and of course I have to get ill at the start of November, so I haven't even started yet. However, I'm not going to stress. I'll start when I can and just see how much I can get written over the month. I was going to do NaKniSweMo instead, you know, but then I realised I have my gift knitting - that really needs to take priority. Maybe I should see if there's a Gift Blitz KAL. If there's not, there should be!

Tête à Fetching

I finished my Tête à Fetching - woohoo! Here's the project info:

Pattern: Tête à Fetching by Me (inspired by Cheryl Niamath's Fetching gloves, from the Summer 06 Knitty).
Yarn: Posh Yarn Sophia 6-ply (100% cashmere) in Mute - approx. 1 skein.
Needles: 16cm 4mm circular; Set of 5 4mm DPNs.
Size: Medium (22" head)

It looks a smidge larger on Angelique-the-Head than it really is, due to her being slightly scaled down. However, it's easier to take photos of hats on her than on myself, so there we are. Point is, it fits me perfectly, and I love it!

What's more, I've even written the pattern up and uploaded it just in case anyone else fancies knitting it themselves. I knitted it in DK weight, but like the Fetching gloves, you can use an aran weight to get a thicker, warmer fabric.

PDF download - left click then save:
Tête à Fetching ( downloads)

I'll link it on Ravelry as well, because I can. And hey, if anybody else does have a go at this, let me know - I'd love to see what other people might do with it. I might be making another one for my Mum for Christmas, this time in Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk aran. She wants a pair of Fetching (Fetchings?), you see. I should have enough yarn to make either a matching hat or scarf (post on that coming soon!) to go with them, I just have to ask her which she'd prefer. I don't think I have enough for both, unfortunately. Luckily, since she asked me for the gloves, I can check back with her about a hat / scarf. This is not her Sekrit Xmas pressie!

Anyway, do let me know what you think of the hat - any problems, issues, vast donations of wealth.... ;-) This is the first pattern I've put up, so constructive criticism can only help any future efforts! Encouraging "I like it" comments are also, of course, extremely welcome! Thanks :-)

Under the weather.... but presents cheer me up!

Oh, ick. I've been somewhat under the weather (physically... my mental health is still good, hoorah) for the last few days, and I thought I had a cold. But now I have the sneaking feeling that it might be something that'll need antibiotics. Blech. I have that weird hollow-yet-tight feeling in my chest, I haven't been able to breathe properly for a few days, and every muscle in my chest and upper back hurrrrrrts. *whine whine whine* And now I have that swollen-gland thing going on. There's probably no point in going to the doctor just yet - I'll wait a few more days and see if it goes away on its own. Although this has reminded me that I should get my flu jab done!

Anyway, I'm not going to moan on about that any more. If I disappear for a few days, I'll probably be wrapped up warm in bed. Knitting, naturally. Hopefully it won't come to that, though (the having to stay in bed, not the knitting - the knitting will no doubt happen anyway). :-)

So, on to the good stuff! I got my second SP11 package!! Wheeee, thank you Janey! :-D

So, starting at the top left, I have... a really cute little ceramic trinket box with a fat cat sprawled on the top - hee! That's going to be just perfect for keeping my rings and the few pairs of earrings I wear regularly in. And as Janey said, what (little) girl doesn't love those - I certainly do! In fact, the only reason I'm not going to be using it for holding stitch markers is because I already have a couple of little tins doing duty there, which are more portable... and I don't mind them being tucked away with the knitting. This, I want on display. :-) Following on with the stitch marker suggestion, though, she had actually included two inside the pot - which she'd handmade herself. They're the little fried egg and cupcake that you can see in front of the pot. Aren't they cool?
Next to the pot is a fabulous hand-decorated notebook... which convinces me that Janey must be psychic. The last package had the very stitch markers that I'd been squeeing over the night before her parcel arrived, and this time, again only a day or two before this turned up, I'd decided that I really really needed a notebook to keep a physical knitting journal. Somewhere to include things like ball-bands and yarn samples: stuff that can't go on Ravelry or a blog. This little notebook is exactly what I would have picked if only I could have found one like it! It has gorgeous beaded yarn plaited through the spiral binding at the back, and little random decorations stuck in throughout as well as on the cover-page. I love it! (I'm a complete stationery junkie, you know. I can spend hours just wandering around WH Smiths looking at the boring stationery, never mind the fancy stuff. Janey, I know you said it was hard to find things to buy what with us both being in the UK (never mind pretty much the same county!), but you've done awesomely... and anyhow, I'm really not fussy! I'll enjoy the swap regardless of what I get, so promise me you won't over-stress yourself. I want you to have fun too!)
The next thing, and really the main part of the parcel, is (*drumroll*) a DIY KoolAid sock yarn dying kit! I squeed. This is something I've been wanting to try for aaaages, and this little kit has everything I could possibly need - the various flavours of KoolAid, rubber gloves, pipettes for trying hand-painting, several invaluable looking print-outs of tutorials, and of course, the undyed sock-yarn - enough for (at least, with my shoe size) two pairs of socks, unless I miss my guess! This is going to be fun! *vbg* I think I'll see if Mum or Ally want to come over to play at dying with me.
Finally, you can see the great big pile of sweets... which at the time of writing is a bit smaller than in the photo. (What?) And a better picture of Xander's toy mouse - isn't it cute? Hee!

So, thank you very much, Janey! It's a great parcel. I only hope my downstream pal (did I mention she knows who I am now, too? Hi Katie!) likes her second parcel as well. Which reminds me, I must email her! I fail at email, I really do. Off I go then...