Tuesday 17 July 2012

Biting the bullet

Well I am here, yet again, on the must lose weight campaign. I am going to bite the bullet tonight, and go to a slimming club. I kid myself that I can do it alone, but I don't. I lack motivation. So I am going to go tonight, there, it's public, out there, committed. My goal to lose weight, is so that I can knit something, and wear it and feel lovely. I don't want to be super skinny, a size 16 would be ideal, 14 even better, but I'm aiming for 16 first. According to official figures I need to lose 5 stone!!!Why is it so easy to put that much on for goodness sake. I am going to try and get to 13 stone something, just so I am under 14 stone, as I haven't been that for about 8 years. I am going to excercise more, and walk more too.

Trouble is with the new job, you drive everywhere. Then when you're not working, you are clock watching, so end up driving. So if I have to drive then I will have to get up early and do an excercise routine.

I am still knitting Reine, slowly, and already a couple of mistakes, but not glaring ones. Just put the buttonhole in the wrong place, by about 2 stitches, so it will not be noticeable. Picked up a cardigan to finish the sleeve, and realised I hadn't read the instructions right, so I may have to unpick most of the sleeves. I am also going to the Ally Pally this year. A friend is driving up, and we have filled her car with 7 knitters, I am saving so I can actually buy something, and who knows by October I could have lost a stone!!Watch this space.

Friday 6 July 2012

Knitting

I do find it difficult to think of titles for the new post, when I get round to it. So today is "Knitting". I do love knitting. I do find it relaxing, I do find it creative, and I do find I'm not as good at is as I want to be. I seem to finish things, and they are not great, so I am making an effort to be more careful now. To check as I go along, and to write down where I am on the pattern and to learn new things.

Speaking of learning new things, I splurged out (with the proceeds of destashing on ebay) and paid for an online course run by Anniken Allis a.k.a http://www.yarnaddict.co.uk/ Basically I can now knit continental style, and I have almost cracked the purling Norwegian style. Anni is a great teacher, and the videos that accompany are clear and easy to understand. I can knit much faster now, and easier on my arms and shoulders. I am a thrower knitter, and let go of the right hand needle to throw the wool round, and the new way is much easier, and less stress on my arms.

So I have started a new cardigan, just because I can, and I want to try and knit it using my new techniques. I am knitting Reine by Brooklyn Tweed. So far so good. I really am enjoying it, but as it is knitted in the round, theres a lot of stitches to knit across, like 283 or something. Maybe if I was a size 10 it would be quicker, but hey, you can't have everything.

I have been enjoying my new job, and have met some lovely elderly people. I wish I could do more hours, but as my youngest is 8, I have to fit in around school hours, so he doesn't feel neglected.

My daugher (15) has her school prom tonight. She looked absolutely beautiful in her big dress, with lots of glitter and sparkles. Such a shame its raining so much.

I started knitting an Ishbel but must have made a mistake somehow as it's not working out well, despite writing down everything as I have done it. So I have put that aside for now.

Off to sit down and watch a dvd and do some knitting.  See you soon