Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
New beginnings
In less than a month I'm starting a new job. It's a twelve month secondment in a team that i've wanted to work in for a while now, and I'm really looking forward to it. I don't think it's really sunk in yet that I'm leaving the team that I've worked in for six years, and am merrily going through my working days leaving everything tidy for whoever takes on each responsibility once I've gone. I know that I'll be sad when the time comes, but at the moment it doesn't seem to have had any impact on me at all. The thought has occurred to me that I may use this blog as a communication tool with all the people I'll miss, but whether they'd be content to weed through the knitting talk is another matter entirely.
On that note, I've been working on a few projects over the last few months; River Rapids by Sockbug, using a Regia/Kaffe Fassett yarn, and Flame by Kim Hargreaves, using Rowan Linen Drape that a lovely lovely lady from my knitting group gave to me. The socks only need a toe grafting, and the jumper has around 10cm of the neck left to complete. Pictures to follow!
On that note, I've been working on a few projects over the last few months; River Rapids by Sockbug, using a Regia/Kaffe Fassett yarn, and Flame by Kim Hargreaves, using Rowan Linen Drape that a lovely lovely lady from my knitting group gave to me. The socks only need a toe grafting, and the jumper has around 10cm of the neck left to complete. Pictures to follow!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Creativity
These are a pair of mittens for my Nana's birthday this weekend. Now, they're special to me for three reasons:
1) They're for my Nana, from me and I made them.
2) They're Rowan Soft Lux, which is my current favourite yarn.
3) I made the pattern up myself.
Yes, I did italicise that on purpose. I can't say that it was all my own work (I took and modified a cable pattern from a book, and also, ahem, 'borrowed' the shaping from another pattern) but I still feel a certain sense of achievement in that it wasn't a straightforward working through of a pattern, and therefore I feel that I am allowed to say I made it up. Put it this way, it's the closest I'm going to get to designing something - I got the logic genes, my sister got the creative ones.
Anyway, here they are:
There are a couple of errors in there, but I'm afraid that they'll just have to add to the handmade charm of the gift. I'm sure Nana won't mind a dodgy cable when her fingers are toasty warm!
1) They're for my Nana, from me and I made them.
2) They're Rowan Soft Lux, which is my current favourite yarn.
3) I made the pattern up myself.
Yes, I did italicise that on purpose. I can't say that it was all my own work (I took and modified a cable pattern from a book, and also, ahem, 'borrowed' the shaping from another pattern) but I still feel a certain sense of achievement in that it wasn't a straightforward working through of a pattern, and therefore I feel that I am allowed to say I made it up. Put it this way, it's the closest I'm going to get to designing something - I got the logic genes, my sister got the creative ones.
Anyway, here they are:
There are a couple of errors in there, but I'm afraid that they'll just have to add to the handmade charm of the gift. I'm sure Nana won't mind a dodgy cable when her fingers are toasty warm!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Stash Busting 2009
I have what's known as a stubborn streak. It doesn't come out all that often, but at the moment it has chosen its course and is not permitting the purchase of yarn (or even the visiting of yarn shops). This means that I'm going to actually knit up some of the yarn that I have. I've already cast on some gorgeous pink/purple Natural Dye Studio alpaca laceweight to make the Model 1 cardigan from Sandra magazine, and have earmarked some more of my stash for 'real' projects. By real, I mean actual garments that I can have use from. Don't misunderstand me, I like mittens and hats and socks as much as most knitters, but sometimes it's nice to know that you're making something that you'll get wear from, rather than a hat that will be worn three times this winter, only to be replaced by another creation next time it goes cold. With that in mind, my current vogue is for cardigans and jumpers that can be worn in real life, at work or at home.
The only problem at the moment is that while my stubborn streak is active, my knitting mojo is somewhat intermittent, so how likely it is that my stash is knitted before the stubborn streak gives in is as yet unknown!
The only problem at the moment is that while my stubborn streak is active, my knitting mojo is somewhat intermittent, so how likely it is that my stash is knitted before the stubborn streak gives in is as yet unknown!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Hello France!
All I want to say here is I DID IT!!!!!!!!
And after swimming 22 miles, I deserve all of those exclamation marks! (and that one too). I finally finished the swim on Friday night, when I tootled up and down the pool for the last 48 lengths, full of a cold but determined to complete on schedule. (I may now be paying for that foolishness given that I'm off sick and on antibiotics for the worst cold I can ever remember having.) Ah well, I've raised £296.50 plus gift aid to date, and there are still a couple of people who've said they'll sponsor me but haven't put pen to paper yet. All in all, I reckon that that was worth doing.
P.S. Anyone reading this who hasn't sponsored me and feels like throwing a few pounds in, click the sponsor button on my blog! Thanks x
And after swimming 22 miles, I deserve all of those exclamation marks! (and that one too). I finally finished the swim on Friday night, when I tootled up and down the pool for the last 48 lengths, full of a cold but determined to complete on schedule. (I may now be paying for that foolishness given that I'm off sick and on antibiotics for the worst cold I can ever remember having.) Ah well, I've raised £296.50 plus gift aid to date, and there are still a couple of people who've said they'll sponsor me but haven't put pen to paper yet. All in all, I reckon that that was worth doing.
P.S. Anyone reading this who hasn't sponsored me and feels like throwing a few pounds in, click the sponsor button on my blog! Thanks x
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Splash!
Woohoo! Yes, that's me swimming a mile! I did it! Lots of exclamation marks because I'm pretty proud of myself!
I managed the full mile on Thursday morning, and then a further 60 lengths on Friday afternoon, so that's this week's quota all done. I'm getting into it now, and am usually surprised at how quickly the time goes. Now that the psychological barrier is broken, and I know I can swim more than 40 lengths quite comfortably, I'm raring to go. Plus, no volleyball match this Monday, so that's only half the muscle ache that I'd usually have before I even start on the swimming. I have the feeling that things can only go well this week!
Oh, and before I go, Woohoo! again!
I managed the full mile on Thursday morning, and then a further 60 lengths on Friday afternoon, so that's this week's quota all done. I'm getting into it now, and am usually surprised at how quickly the time goes. Now that the psychological barrier is broken, and I know I can swim more than 40 lengths quite comfortably, I'm raring to go. Plus, no volleyball match this Monday, so that's only half the muscle ache that I'd usually have before I even start on the swimming. I have the feeling that things can only go well this week!
Oh, and before I go, Woohoo! again!
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