So, once again I’ve been mainly too busy to knit, as I’ve had my friend staying (we had a brilliant time), and then my aunt sadly died (she had cancer), so there was her funeral in Blackpool to go to – one of those bitter-sweet things where it’s not an occasion you want to be happening, but it is nice to be with the extended family. *sigh*
Once I was back from that, I was working on Purdyshop.com, which is an online store for handmade designer glass jewellery, belonging to one of my best friends. We got that finished and open on Friday – hoorah! There will probably be a few small tweaks needed, but all in all I’m pleased with it.
So, that means I have time to do other stuff again. Like knitting! In fact, as soon as I’ve finished writing this entry I shall be parking myself on the sofa with an mp3 player full of knitting podcasts, BP, and the Monkey socks. Yay!
BP needs a sleeve sewn on, then I have to pick up again and knit the edging. So, nearly done! At long last!! As for the Monkey socks, I’ve just finished the first one, so I’ll be casting on No. 2 once BP is finished. I really enjoyed the first one – I made a couple of slip ups due to not paying attention, but nothing disastrous. I’ll post pics of the process soon. I was going to do that tonight, but I’m impatient to get back to the actual knitting, so they’ll have to wait. Oh, except I already do have a photo of the first sock uploaded to the photo album when it was only a few rows ‘old’. I’ll put that in here then – here you go:
Category: Knitting
Too busy to knit!
I’ve been so mad busy over the last few days, I haven’t even had time to knit. And I want to! I want to be knitting my Monkey sock, or swatching for the fingerless ‘typing gloves’ I’m planning, or starting that cardigan… or hey, maybe the other one! Or the jumper! Or even *cough* sewing the second sleeve onto BP and picking up the stitches to finish that off at last. (I have now developed a fear of blocking that project… interestingly this only started worrying me once the seaming and sleeve setting went off without a hitch. Do I have a general finishing phobia here? Am I afraid to let my babies go off into the big wide world?)
Still, I’m off to pick my friend up from Heathrow tomorrow – that’s one of the reasons why I’ve been so rushed off my feet. So I’ll have about 3 hours on the train to knit away on my lovely Monkey sock and listen to podcasts. I’m rather looking forward to it!
Completed Regia socks
I’m only just getting around to uploading my photos, but I finished these socks… um… a couple of weeks ago now, I think. You will notice that the cat refused to get out of the frame – see below for an even better example of that. *g*
Anyhow, these were made in Regia’s ‘Mini Ringel Color’ shade #5217, which as you can see is nice and bright! I made them with 2.5mm DPNs using a basic sock pattern that I got free with some Opal yarn ages ago, although slightly modified since I made them longer (to the top of my calves) so they’d go well under my DMs. Therefore it needed to be a bit wider at the top – I actually cast on 6 extra stitches and decreased further on down, but I think in future I should just start with larger needles. The finished socks are a bit stiff feeling… not too tightly knitted, but the yarn itself. I think they’ll soften up after they’ve been washed though, as my Opal ones certainly have.
In other news, this time I’m trying posting using w.bloggar – let’s see how it goes…
Now back to the sock pics:
“BP” and the Three Needle Bind-off (part two)
I’m now at the very last stages of “BP”. So here’s a little preview of it, since I can’t put up any proper in progress pictures, just in case. I’ve done the edging for the sleeves, the button I was waiting for has arrived – and yay, it’s perfect. All that’s left is the weaving in, sewing up, and then the main edging, which I’m now quite happy about tackling. Having done the sleeve edging, I know that going up a needle size for the different yarn is the way to go. See, these things all work out in the end!
Anyway, I did make a decision on the three-needle bind off, and it was actually largely from necessity. BP was knit on 3.5mm needles, and I realised that, oh, I only have the one set of those. Not even a circular or DPN extra. So I had to use a size up for the third needle, and I think it came out very well. Hoorah! It was a bit fiddly to start with, getting the stitch back through both loops, but once I got the hang of it, it wasn’t so bad at all. Must remember to take a picture of how the seam came out.
Blogathon 07?
I’m thinking of doing the Blogathon again this year. On this blog, with a knitting sort of theme – I dare say I’ll knit as I go, and post pictures or something like that.
Since I’ll have my stash back from my Mum’s house by then, maybe I could do some stash-busting thing. A blanket in 6×6 squares? I’ve always meant to get around to one of those, and it would be lots of little things that would give me plenty of variety – different stitch patterns as well as yarn for each one, and so on.
As for a charity, I reckon I’ll go for the Manic Depression Fellowship. I’m hardly the only bipolar blogger around, so maybe a few others will do the same. That would be nice.
A knitting meme
As if I didn’t do enough memes over on my LJ, I’m now going to inflict one on this blog, too. But it’s knitting related! So that’s ok. *g*
The Three-needle bind off
I should be going to bed. Instead, I’m contemplating the three needle bind off. Or cast off. I can’t even remember which is the British term and which is the American any more. The internet homogenises us all! Anyway.
The main project that I’m working on at the moment – we shall call it “BP” for “birthday present” – calls for me to do two lots of three-needle binding off, which I’m now ready to do. In fact, I need to do it, or I can’t go any further. All the main knitting is done, there’s just the finishing and then picking up to do edging. Plus sewing on the button, which hasn’t arrived yet (eep). I’ve never actually done a 3-needle bind off before, so I’ve been wondering a few things about it. Might it be better to use a size smaller needle as the binding off one? Or a size larger, even? Although smaller makes more sense to me, since you’d usually bind off normally then sew a seam with a large sewing needle. Maybe it depends on whether you want a tight seam or a more flexible one? Hrrrm.
I think I’ll sleep on it.
Socks in progress
I keep reminding myself that I really should start using this blog again. And then I don’t get around to it. Like before, I’ve been spending to much time thinking about the how, and none whatsoever on making any actual entries. So now I’m going to just jump straight in with a knitt-y post. Ta-da!
One of my current projects is the socks you can see on the right there (click the pic to take a look at the larger version of it in the photo album section). I do like all the self-patterning sock yarns you can get, even if they are way too addictive and expensive for me right now. But basically, the fact that the yarn produces the pattern means that you can knit socks without having to pay much attention, so they’re the perfect thing to have on the go as something to take around with you. Yay socks! Does get a bit boring, mind you, so I’m currently on the lookout for a more interesting sock project – maybe something with lace or cables or something. We shall see.
Anyhow, I spose I do need to rearrange the categories for this blog again. Bah. And have a poke at the sidebar in general while I’m at it. I’ve been meaning to add that LibraryThing widget, after all.
A Little Tale about Knitting (and me)
(I’ve already posted this story to my LJ, a while ago, so if you’ve seen it before… well, that’s why, and feel free to ignore it)
Once upon a time, there were three girls called Alison, Clara, and Louise, who went to Guides together every Friday night. They enjoyed it quite a lot, and got the opportunity to do various outdoorsy things like camping as well as indoorsy stuff, much of which they earned badges for. They sometimes did get into a bit of trouble, since Ally and Lou have a tendancy to do slightly eccentric things that have unexpected and unforseen consequences. After all, naming a teabag and dancing the waltz with him can seem like a good idea at the time…. it’s only later, when it turns out that you’ve splashed tea all round the walls of the church hall kitchen and are obliged to pay for the paint to cover it up that you think it was perhaps not the best plan ever. Though on the plus side, the Guide Leaders will never get you to make the tea again. But anyway! This is a post about knitting. I digressed.
Long time no blog
Wow. Didn’t realise it’d been quite so long since I’d blogged here. ‘Real life’ has been busy in itself, and I spose I spend a lot of my online time lurking over at LJ at the moment. However, I am still planning that redesign and server move that I mentioned aaaages ago, and I want … Continue reading “Long time no blog”
Wow. Didn’t realise it’d been quite so long since I’d blogged here. ‘Real life’ has been busy in itself, and I spose I spend a lot of my online time lurking over at LJ at the moment. However, I am still planning that redesign and server move that I mentioned aaaages ago, and I want to use this blog for a sort of combined study and knitting log. Which may sound a bit odd, but makes sense to me *g*.
Talking of studying, I’m really enjoying my course, though I have ended up getting a bit behind because of not being well. But I’m catching up again, and hopefully I’ll be back on top of things soon. Fingers crossed! Knitting is also going well – I’m doing lots of it, and I’ve sold a couple of things, which helps, since I’m ever so broke!
Anyway, I should probably go and try to rest now. Sleep patterns are, as ever, completely farked. Some things don’t change….
Plans of all sorts
Hmm. I think I want to redesign this site. However, I also rather want to move it… I have my eye on a rather nice reseller hosting package that would allow me to host all my domains (and some for other people, possibly) for no more than I’m paying for my collected various hosting accounts … Continue reading “Plans of all sorts”
Hmm. I think I want to redesign this site. However, I also rather want to move it… I have my eye on a rather nice reseller hosting package that would allow me to host all my domains (and some for other people, possibly) for no more than I’m paying for my collected various hosting accounts at the mo. However, I’d rather pay the yearly fee upfront, so I need to make sure I have enough for that *and* to pay my bills and buy food (tcha, responsibility, how tedious *g*). So, the redesign might wait until the move. Especially because I’m thinking of changing this to use Movable Type. Hmmmm. The rest of the site will be getting a bit of reorganisation too, I think, to reflect some of the stuff I’ve been up to recently.
And what have I been up to recently? Well, I’ve been preparing for the Open University course that I’m taking this year…. and I’ve been knitting. Yes, me, knitting. *g* Being a bit broke, I decided to re-learn how (I’d been taught at school when I was about six if I remember rightly) and make Christmas pressies for people. So I did, and I did, and they were very well received! Pictures will be forthcoming…. :-) Anyway, I’ve got really quite into it, so I’m carrying on, trying my hand at a few different little projects and finding some amazing bargains on new yarn in charity shops. Hee!
As for the OU course, I’m doing “Understanding Music: Elements, Techniques and Styles”. I’m intending to carry on and take another music course next year, which will then give me a Diploma in Music. From there, as I think I’ve said before, if I’m doing alright at it all, I want to see if I can get my full degree. But for now, I’m concentrating on the one I’m doing this year! The first couple of units should be very straightforward for me, as I’ve studied all this stuff before, but I believe the learning curve is pretty steep – I’m really looking forward to it! :-D I’ve been looking at the online student forums, and it’ll definitely be good to get to know the others in the course that way. Plus, I believe the summer school is in Durham. Eeeeeexcellent! I can’t wait!
Must post more often!
I reeeeally have to remember to post here a bit more often! Heh. Although, I don’t think anyone’s exactly keeping an anxious eye out for my posts or anything! *g* Christmas is coming, as it does (once a year or so). I’m off to visit the parents for the period, but this time I have … Continue reading “Must post more often!”
I reeeeally have to remember to post here a bit more often! Heh. Although, I don’t think anyone’s exactly keeping an anxious eye out for my posts or anything! *g*
Christmas is coming, as it does (once a year or so). I’m off to visit the parents for the period, but this time I have a new and shiny way of getting there: I shall be driving down. In my own, brand new, rather spiffy, car! Woohoooo! I’m dead chuffed – I shall be collecting it tomorrow, and setting off for ‘down south’ on Tuesday. Would have had it sooner, but there have been a few hitches along the way, so it’s a bit of a miricle I’m getting it at all, I think. I’ve actually had my driving licence for more than ten years, so it’s about time I had my own car, don’t you think? Hee!
The one thing I’m not looking forward to about the Christmas period, of course, is that my Xandermoggy has to go to the cattery while I’m away. I hate that bit. :-( But I can’t take him with me, cos Phoebe (queen of Mum and Dad’s house) would not be impressed. And he is quite content in the cattery – he settles down really quickly and everything. He’s such a good boy. Awww.
Still thinking about the comments system thing. Maybe I’ll just change from Blogger altogether, and install Moveable Type instead. Hmm. Guess I’ll keep pondering on it.
Now I’d better get back to work – I’m making most of my Christmas pressies this year, and I’m not quite done yet. It’s a new thing that I’ve learned to do for this, so I shall quite possibly post pics of what I produced. After Christmas, obviously, or that’ll give the surprises away. Off I go, then.
Happy Christmas (or relevant seasonal holiday that you celebrate) Everyone! :-D