Back on line

Phew, what a relief, back with internet. As soon as the postman had delivered the router, I was off. Wasted a whole afternoon reading blogs, catching up with iplayer and generally wasting time. Now that's out of my system it's back to reality. Didn't do hardly any knittng last week as was desperately trying to finish a cross stitch for my mum for mothers day. Literally every day I spent about 3 or more hours trying to get the jolly thing finished. Didn't manage it. But I showed her on the day, what I had done. I still think its got 20 hours worth of work to do on it. I am bored of it now, so have gone back to knitting, and crochet. I have been crocheting a granny stripe blanket (attic24) and I am just doing a border around the edges to finish it. I do love it actually. Trouble is the kids love it too, so not sure what I will do with it, maybe keep in on the sofa, to share. I definitely would do another one, but then there are these lovely ripple blankets too, so will have to just write a list. I still have 4 different projects on the needles, so should really finsh them, but also remember someone saying, or reading, if you don't love your knitting, don't knit it. So big decision, do I just unpick it, or keep going??I do love one of the things I'm knitting but get too distracted by other things. Story of my life.

Got up early today 6am to do a fitness workout. Did a quarter of it then thought, I can't be bothered. Its not just the excercise I need to do, but stop and think about what I put in my mouth.

Off today to Primarni with my eldest daughter and two grandchildren, so that should be interesting. Think I will be in charge of the pram!!

See you soon.

Hooray for libraries

I am internetless. Not even sure if that is a word, basically I have no internet, apart from on my blackberry, which obviously costs. So I have resorted to the good old library, where you get 30 mins free and then pay £1 for another 30 minutes - bargain.

Needed to catch up. Have finished the chunky jumper, I had to buy another ball of wool, which cost me double as I had to pay for the postage too. But it's finished. It fits, but I haven't seen said daughter wear it grrrr. Mind you it's not as cold now, so I will give her the benefit of the doubt.

I have actually done loads of knitting since my last post. I knitted 2 baby hats, a baby dress and a pair of bootees. I will post pictures, but have to wait until I have internet at home again.

I got a cold call from Orange about going with them for internet, and was basically mis advised by the girl on the phone. By the time it came to connecting with orange, then it will the same amount of money that we are paying at the moment. So I was a ragey woman. Made me realise how grumpy I am. Anyway, cut a long story short, I spoke to a lovely lady at Orange and she was very helpful, and we will be with orange, and they are going to credit my account, once we are up and running. So hopefully by the end of the week we should be back on line.

On the plus side I haven't wasted hours on Ravelry, Kemps or ebay. Haven't bought anything either. It's good news for the bank balance. I haven't done any knitting this week as I am trying to finish a cross stitch for mothers day for my mother. I have been doing it for about 3 years, so I must crack on. Off to do jobs in town then back home to my internetless house.

Happy knitting.

Chunky Knitting

I am doing so well on the chunky jumper. Already I am on the first sleeve. I am just hoping that I have enough wool. I seem to remember ordering and buying 600g, so I should have enough. If I can find that elusive ball of wool then I will breathe a sigh of relief, as at the moment I am halfway through one ball, and have one ball to go, and I have just started the first sleeve. EEEkkk. Still stay calm, it may turn up. I am so glad that wool isn't like socks that go missing for a pastime in our house. Talking to other people they seem to have a sock monster, and a pen monster in their house. My two boys have an odd sock box in their room. I put all the odd socks in there. At the moment there are more odd socks in the box, than there are in the drawer!!! You can guarantee if I have a sort out and chuck out some odd socks, then the other one magically appears, what is that all about??? And pens, I buy packs of pens. And when I need a pen - can I ever find one!!!

Knitting Furiously

Well don't know what happened to the post I typed up yesterday, but it's gone. So I am on the very last bit of one of the sleeves on my chunky jumper for my daughter. It does knit up quick. Hoping to get it finished this weekend. I have got another cardigan on the needles but it's one that you have to count and concentrate, so that's going to take a while to finish. It's funny I always seem desperate to finish things, but hate sewing them up, and also keep starting new things. What's the rush I ask myself??I have the rest of my life to knit, and probably enough yarn to last that long too. Anyway its half term, and I need to get my boys off the xbox, so will go swimming with them this afternoon. Well they will swim I will watch and knit and chat to my best friend.Happy days

Owl

Apart from the eyes I have finished my owl jumper by Kate Davies. I am so pleased with it. It took me just over a week to knit, and was quite easy. A couple of times I wasn't sure of the instructions, but managed to work it out. Also asked someone on Ravelry who had just finished knitting it, and they helped too. I knitted in New Lanark Wool Chunky. Lovely, lovely 100% wool. I held its shape well, and was ok to knit with. I just hope that it softens a bit, as my daughter said it's a bit itchy. I knitted up size 3 which was for a 36 inch bust. Funny thing is it fits a 37 inch and a 35 inch, so two of my daughters are going to share it, happy days. It's so nice I am actually going to knit another one in a lilac wool Wendy Norse, so it will be interesting to see how that turns out.

The other great news (actually should be at the top of the page, but the photo goes to the top). I am a grandma again. My lovely daughter had a baby girl yesterday who weighed in at 9lb 3oz. I saw her today for the first time, and she's lovely, lots of dark hair. I suppose I ought to knit something to celebrate. I won't promise as I am not a good finisher, and she will probably have grown by the time I finish whatever I decide.

Back to knitting. I would love to wear the above jumper, but I personally don't think it looks so nice on a size 18 as it does on a size 10. It should give me some incentive to lose weight, but to be honest I'm not that desperate!!I did like the challenge of knitting in the round. What was nice about this pattern is it had waist shaping and back shaping, so it pulled it in to make a nice fit. I didn't block it or anything, I should but I know I won't. Now I have to knit a chunky plain round neck jumper for one of my daughters. Once they ask you, you almost feel you should because they will actually wear it. Off to search out that chunky wool. Happy knitting.

I'm on a roll - well I was

I felt like I was finally getting on top of my ufo's. Still waiting for daughter to take photos for me, but I have worn my long cardigan, lots of times, and it does look like a shop one, so I am pleased with it.

So I only had a jumper unfinished (for my darling hubby) so he doesn't mind, probably because he doesn't remember what I'm knitting most of the time.

Then I had the postman deliver some wool - amazing that man!!I had some lilac coloured Wendy Norse. The idea was that I was going to knit the owl jumper that is on Ravelry. So I bought the pattern, started knitting the patter (in the round) and then made a mistake, and didn't know where I was. Then I decided to plough on with my Melia by Ysolda Teague. Thats going well now, I have finished the hood and I am now working on the yoke. I have to concentrate to knit it, but as long as I write down what row I am on, it's fine.

Then I happened across The Electric sheep podcast again. She is such an enabler that lady. She was telling me (and thousands of other listeners) about New Lanark wools and how lovely it was. Before I knew it I had browsed the site, ordered some lovely chunky grey wool, and it's now on my needles knitting another Owl Sweater, and this one I won't make mistakes on.

At knitting group the other week another lady had made a lovely scarf in wool with sequins sewed in it, and it was so pretty, before I knew it I had bought grey and red, enough to make two scarves, which are so lovely when knitted up, so I am halfway through a grey one. I also still have a red plain raglan sleeve long length cardigan on the needles too, so now I am up to 4 projects on the needles - when will I ever learn. Don't answer that - I'm sure someone out there understands.

My eldest daughter is due her baby this week, on Thursday, so I am beginning to feel a little bit excited about having a baby in the family again, especially as it's not me giving birth!! I have been watching One born every minute on 4od - so amazing. I cried last week watching the one about the lovely disabled lady giving birth, it was so moving, and she was such a happy lady, made me think again about having an attitude of gratitude.

I read in a book about being grateful for 5 things everyday when you wake up, maybe just the fact that you have woken up, you are in a warm (ish) house, have food in the cupboard, a hubby, children etc. Then after a few days it can move on to nice coffee, the ability to see when you go out walking etc. It's so easy to moan about your life (I do it too) and actually my life isn't that bad. And to end it all I am so grateful that I can knit. Happy knitting.

Finished

Thats it, all finished, Christmas, New Year and a knitting project, actually 2. I will add photos later, as  my daughter took photos, added them to my computer, then deleted them, so will have to retake. I have finished my long cardigan. I changed the collar, and it looks really nice. also knitted a lovely hat from The Gentle Art of Knitting, and it looks lovely. Knitted it in the actual wool too, which was Blue Sky Alpaca Melange, very soft and fluffy, and the hat looks fab.

Didn't get anything knitted or knitting related for Christmas. Treated myself to some brown wool from http://www.kempswoolshop.com/ always get some good bargains on there, but you have to keep browsing (not difficult).

Most of the family back to school/work tomorrow, just youngest (8 years) off, he's easily pleased with xbox and maybe a bike ride.

Had a nice Christmas, but be nice to get back into a routine again. Happy New Year