Temptations

Its so hard not to give in to temptation, and I mean of the wooly variety!! I was ruthless last weekend and listed loads of my wool and Rowan books on ebay. I knew I would never get round to knitting from the Rowan books, as I can't afford the wool, and I am not skinny, so they cost a lot to knit. I thought I made a lot of money, but it cost me £75 to post all the stuff. I am trying to save some money for a trip away for my birthday and Alexandra Palace in October, but I did give in and treat myself to an online knitting class courtesy of Anniken Allis a.k.a http://www.yarnaddict.co.uk/ I have wanted to learn to knit without dropping the needle and throwing the yarn. So this way I get to learn a new skill. I also looked on http://www.brooklyntweed.net/ and bought myself 3 knitting patterns, gorgeous from woolpeople 3. I was tempted by the yarn, but it's a bit pricey, like £77 to knit a cardigan.

I have been knitting small things recently, a lovely lacy cowl which was a pattern supplement in a knitting magazine, it looks lovely, I will take some photos soon. Also now I am knitting some gloves, ready for winter, but the state of the weather it won't be long before I am knitting them.

Anyway I must go, bedtime, I have work at 7.30 in morning. Happy knitting

Amazing Dream

This morning I woke up halfway through an amazing dream. So annoying, wish I could have finished it.

Basically I was on my way to a knitting weekend, or teaching day. I was rollerblading there (I don't rollerblade) with Jared Flood, and on the way picking up my friend Catherine. When we arrived at the knitting workshop there was Anniken Allis from http://www.yarnaddict.co.uk/ so I went up and introduced myself and told the others that I had rollerbladed 7 miles with Jared Flood and how excited I was to be there, and then I woke up. I was disappointed to find myself in bed with my hubby, actually I am never disappointed to be with him, as I love him loads, but disappointed not to be going to a knitting workshop. Maybe one day I will. I keep seeing them on different websites, and thinking I would love to go, but it's money, time and childcare.

Been knitting a shawl in Aran Cotton that I had lying around. I don't need a shawl, but just fancied doing something a bit different. It's an easy pattern with a lace eyelet stitch, so you can sit and watch stuff whilst doing it. Actually rephrase that, most other knitters can sit and watch stuff whilst knitting the easy pattern, I made mistakes, but being resourceful (and lazy) I just incorporated it into the pattern and am trying to make the mistake part of the whole thing.

Today I bought myself a book on sewing bags. I am determined to get the hang of the sewing machine, so I can be a bit more creative. I still find knitting my first love, but I have seen some lovely fabric and really really want to make a bag. Should have bought the fabric whilst I was in Plymouth, but didn't. Never mind, will have to make another trip up there.

Off to tidy up before the boys get home from the party they've been to.

New job

Well had a great weekend away with my best friend. We shopped, we drank, we ate, we laughed, oh how we laughed and I knitted. We sat all afternoon in a park with a Marks and Spencers picnic and a bottle of bubbly, and it was lovely. The food was amazing, the bottle was gorgeous, and the weather was fab, and I knitted socks. Good times. We even managed to go to a lovley knitting/craft shop called Pins and Tins, or Tins and Pins (can't remember), it had wool, lovely, lovely fabric (sorely tempted) knitting pattern books and lovely little bits and pieces. Wish I lived down there, as they also do workshops on various things, like felting, sounded great.

I am making some felted clogs now. I know, I know, I am a fickle knitter. I found the pattern on the internet, and gave in and bought the pattern. Its knitted on big needles 9mm with two strands of wool, needs to be 100% wool as it felts well then. I am halfway through one, and I only started it this morning at 5.30. I couldn't sleep so got up to knit. I love early mornings when no one else is up, and I have the house to myself.

Well today was my second day at work. First day working alone. I only did one visit, but it was ok. Felt funny going out with a uniform on, felt like a grown up. Tomorrow I have two visits, working alongside another carer, so hope that goes ok.

Got a street party going on in our street on Monday. Will be fun. Just bought bunting today, and flags, so it will be lovely and patriotic.

Happy knitting

Ten years ago

We all say that time flies. Well I don't want this to be a depressing post, as I am not depressed. 10 years ago today my little baby boy died. He was born prematurely at 25 weeks and weighed only 1lb 11 and a half ounces. He actually fought and lived for 6 months and by the end of his life he looked like a normal small newborn baby. He died in my arms. That was the worst experience in my life. I think it has taken probably 10 years to get over it, or not get over it, but for it not to cause so much pain. It just seems to pointless and a waste of time. I think it changes you as a person, losing someone. I feel like it was a bad dream, that I have to choose to recall. We all handle grief in a different way, and no way is wrong it's just different.

So ten years on things are different. I now knit LOTS. I did knit always but not as much as I do now. I have another son, not to replace, but to end childbearing on a positive note (8 children in total, 7 still living). I am probably the heaviest I have ever been, but most of the time I am happy. I am grateful for all the things I have, and as I look back I think it's amazing what you can cope with.

Today I am off on a road trip with my best friend. The only downside about our friendship is that she's slimmer than me, no not really (well she is but that's not the downside) The only downside is she's not a knitter, and won't be converted. We are going shopping today, staying at her daughters tonight, ice skating tomorrow and other fun things. I am looking forward to the ice skating, but also thinking hmmm... it's been about 30 years since I went ice skating, I may have been good then, but not sure about now. And hmmm.. I am a lot heavier now, if I fall down it may hurt me A LOT. But you don't know til you try it.

I bought a book called The best of Knitscene. I highly recommend it. It has got some lovely patterns in. I have been knitting a bag, but it's like a string bag, and it looks a bit like crochet. I managed to buy some peaches n creme cotton from ebay, and I have been using that. So far it's looking good, and actually looks like a bag you would use. I am going to line it too, so that I can actually use it. I also have been knitting socks, as they are so portable. The only problem is I have hurt my hand somehow. Not sure how, probably too much knitting. I can't really put all my weight (considerable!!) on it, like when you want to get out of the bath. Even picking up a cup of tea this morning was painful. It's my left hand, so don't need to use it much, but not sure if I will be able to knit this weekend. If it's no better by Monday then I will have to go to the doctors. Typing this is ok, as you are not stretching your hand much to type.  Anyway enough moaning. The sun is out it's 10 to 7 and I am going away for the weekend. Happy Days. See you soon xx

Getting things wrong

Do you ever have times you wonder why you bother???I mean with knitting, apart from other stuff of life.

I tried to crochet a cowl, you know the round loopy things you wear round your neck. It looked like it was going sort of ok. Actually who am I trying to kid? As I was making it, I was thinking, will I wear it, do I like it, is it going ok? Started to add another colour in to finish it, and then realised I had twisted it. Now I know you can twist on purpose, so its a mobious? cowl, but it looked rubbish. So I had wasted two evenings, and now it's in the bag along with the rowan cotton jeans, to unpick.

Then I started knitting dishcloths. They turned out ok, but both with a little mistake. I think I need to stop and look at my knitting a bit more often. I go on blindly knitting, thinking it's fine, and then get to the end and its cr-rubbish. So then I decided to make a cotton string bag, and was one stitch out, but thought oh it will be ok. Needless to say, it's not, so thats been unpicked back to the base and put away for another day. Now I am picking up and finishing socks, that have been one of a pair. So far have done 3, and have 3 to go before I can start new socks. I have knitted ONE cotton dishcoth, which has turned out ok, so that's good. Think I am better with little things for a while. Haven't got much time at the moment anyway, just started my induction for my new care worker job. That was really good, interesting and informative, and I am quite excited about going back to work after 25 years.

Off to cook tea, for hungry family. Back soon.

So disappointed

Well I finally finished the Rowan cotton jeans cardigan. And it looks rubbish. It's too big, the sleeves are too long. I have decided that cotton is too heavy for a cardi, and it droops rather than hangs nicely. I have put it away, and I will unpick it (grrr) and use the wool to knit a cable waistcoat or something. It's so annoying, that's probably why I couldn't find any big projects on Ravelry. Lovely colour too.

Been knitting little things again. Done a dishcloth, now crocheting a cowl, just to see what it turns out like. I'm going to try and do small things, as they don't seem to go as wrong for me. Maybe I just rush too much, or don't concentrate. I have to think a bit more about what I knit for me.

Start my new job in two weeks time, bit nervous, but it will be ok. I hope

Road Trip and Sewing

I have been sewing. I saw some project bags on folksy.com, and I fancied having a go at making some. I have borrowed daughter number 1's sewing machine, and my mum showed me how, and voila, here you see my first project bag. It's lined in exactly the same fabric too. I am quite chuffed with my first attempt. Daughter number 1 is selling her sewing machine, and I am very tempted. I also have bought some lovely material with liquorice allsorts on, so watch this space. It's just big enough to put some socks in, or a sleeve of a jumper, if you want to just pop something in your handbag. I reckon it costs about 2.00 to make, so quite cheap, and didn't take long. The ribbon, probably isn't the best thing to put through, but it was here, and it went with the bag, so there it goes.

Today I am going on a road trip. I am driving to Wales to see my sister-in-law and taking daughter number 4 with me. I have packed my knitting, and some clothes. Then I just remembered to print out a map, talk about getting your priorities right!! While I am in Wales it does happen to be Wonderwool Wales, and it's not far from her, but I can't really see it happening. I cleaned my sons house for him, and bless him he gave me some money,. so if I did to, and if I did see anything, then who knows!!Back soon.