Kites

In true british fashion, the weather had me fascinated today. Beautiful blue cloudless skies that shouted “it’s bitterly cold out here” one minute and then black as black can be with icy rain the next. I often looked up from what I was doing as it’d suddenly go dark, or light and it was on one of those moments that I had a kite moment. Nannyo blogged about seeing 3 bird kites the other day, today between the roofs of the houses and against the black sky was a bright yellow “Mary Poppins-let’s go fly a kite” kite. Well no actually it wasn’t  a diamond-shaped kite with bunting but a stunt kite, but I stood and watched it for quite some time today. Am utterly puzzled as to where it was being flown from, but to the kite flyer, thank you.

messy knitting

I promised photos of my messy knitting house

we have, knitting pattern and pencil on top of knitting bag, trailing tape measure to 3 blocking boards with kiddy owls and more pattern paper.

then we have the other side of the room  we have yarn, a zip removed from the hoodie that’s on the sofa, more yarn, another knitting bag…

I didn’t photograph the dining room the day I decided to line my gloves with fleece… I recently got given my grandma’s sewing machine and I’m definitely stil a novice sewer, so there were false starts, endless bits of paper… they’re done except for the tacking in of the lining

The Navy blue owlet that I knitted above (largest baby size) was given away whilst we were away. I don’t have the photos as they’re on my dad’s camera, kids definitely pull off the cute in knitwear look though. I was close to giving up knitting before that-well close to giving up garment knitting. I finished the cardigan for my dad and gave it to him. I’d blocked the bottom similar size to the chest forgetting I’d allowed for tapering of  torso, so it flared out (mind you bad posture is part to blame too) so, it’s an OK cardi that’s OK to wear at home, but…

Although I’ve picked up all the stitches for the change to my cardi, I haven’t as yet done anything. Took up sock knitting instead… Oh and since then I’ve bought myself a petrol greenyblue sweater and I am concerned I’ll be greened out (the contrast colour I went for is kingfisher tealy greenyblue)

Let me finish this whiney entry with a funny oops moment. I was preparing the 3 sweaters for blocking. I’d soaked them in hand washing stuff, then put them in the machine for a rinse and gentle spin (most of my handknits get this treatment, even elizabeth zimmermann recommends it!). I’d left time tight before my afternoon nap time. Blocked the first sweater, get to the second green one and BIG HOLE. Somehow I hadn’t case off on stitch and it had laddered down the neck. Picked it back up but not secured it yet! Glad I blocked and washed before giving it away, I can sort this but…

hibernation of the human kind

writing blog posts just hasn’t been happening in large part as my body is in serious hibernation mode. Now on top of the afternoon 2-3 hours in bed/napping it’s decided that 8.30 is my bedtime! Off to my parents for a week, upon return I have photo evidence of what knitting and hibernation do to my tidy house

speeding up

My knitting is slowly but surely taking off again. Can’t even say too much, just in case some people read this! I frogged the sleeves of my dad’s sweater as one of them had an extra stitch and as I’d left it so long, I had no idea what stitch count I was aiming for. I have sat down with a calculatory and a pen and paper this time though, so fingers crossed.

The other part of my life that has sped up is my powerchair (electric wheelchair). I bought myself a second hand offroad chair. Camping was alot more fun in it. A pic of me going through the fields (on a bridle path!!)

me in my wheelchair, heading into the fields

Esvo Pyramide 4 Luxe Tent

Christmas, charity, hair, your opinion

I’ve been leaving my hair to be in need of a cut for a few weeks now, as I wanted it cut at the end of next week, ready for all things christmas. Last time I had my haircut, it wasn’t my regular cutter and she didn’t do a good job at all. So, I phoned up at the beginning of the week to guarantee an appointment only to find out that my hairdresser had left! York’s hairdresser’s are pretty inaccessible. I phoned one that looked promising, but apropos their telephone manner, was not suitable due to steps in the salon. I refuse to spend more than £20 a haircut as I have it cut every 5 weeks-it needs it when it’s short. I’m not sure that the hairdressing college is open, but if it is that does remain an option.

The other option is to shave my hair-grade 2 ish. I’ve done it before, when i was too ill to leave the house to get my hair cut, but my long lout hair was driving me nuts… It didn’t suit me particularly well, as my black bags under my eyes took over-plus I was about 1.5stone heavier then.

I then read yarnharlot’s recent entry where she mentions Knitters Without Borders (MSF fundraising) and I thought, I could donate my £15 I would’ve spent on having my hair cut, when I shave it off instead (mum has clippers, so  I really would be saving that money). I then wondered if other’s would donate too. I know my hair is short anyway, but… well anyway, your poll vote would be of interest to me. I’m a bit nervous of the chop, but may be swayed. Please be honest with your answers tho’ (karma is watching lol)

*EDIT: wondering if others would donate if I were to shave my hair off…

		

a brief comment would also be appreciated  

Shews cobwebs away…

Well, no idea if anyone still has this on an RSS feed or randomly still comes along… my absence has largely been due to lack of creativity. I was preparing and doing uni, until I realised that that was all I was doing. Literally uni, bed, study, bed and my health was worsening beyond that! SOOOO I’ve quit uni and am aiming to be back to knitting and occasional baking. AND back to buying gorgeous new boots. if those don’t make me feel funky again, i’m not sure much will!! Went into town specifically to try them on and luckily they fit-I kept them on-putting my trainers in my bag was easier than lugging around the boots in their box-some rather dishy guys paying before me seemed to agree! Got a free makeup case with them too-bonus. I resisted smart shiny shoes-once a year is a high cost per wear ratio. Right now though I should go and take them and my bobble hat off and knit/sleep as I have scrummy new worsted malabrigo and chunky misti alpaca waiting

home baked bread

Sunday Simon and I escaped the noise and heat and headed for Dalby Forest. Me armed with my knitting, he armed with his mountain bike. After whiling away a mere hour or so knitting by a lake in dappled shade, we headed off to find a quiet picnic spot and this is where we spent a few hours whiling away the time:

Something else I’ve been meaning to write about for a while is Lidls sour dough bread mix. The bags are basically just flour with the sourdough mix already in it. Monday’s I dump the whole bag in a big bowl, add several handfuls of seeds/nuts and add 700ml of warm water. Stir it with a big wooden spoon until all the flour is encorporated. Cover it with a damp teatowel and leave to rise for the rest of the day.  When risen/I have the time, I empty the risen dough mix onto a well floured surface and kneed with more flour until it’s not longer sticky. Divide into two roughly 450g loaves and let rise in the tins before baking at 200 C (fan assisted) for 50 minutes. It’s like being back in Germany. Very very yummy easy bread. Yesterday it was ready in time for supper! Strawberries in balsamic vinegar vinaigrette are lovely anyway, add a mini gem lettuce and avo and some feta… We could’ve eaten it twice over.

absence

Well life has been pretty busy and has left less time and inclination for knitting and even less for blogging about it! (I’ve been having refresher driving lessons and sorting out university for next year amongst other things). Have managed to infect two muggles to knitting! One in a pub (ravelry knit night-York every second Tuesday, check out ravelry or shout here) and one at uni =)

I’ve made my dad’s birthday present and started some new socks; 2 blankets remain on a “go-slow”. I don’t like “go-slow” projects and think that maybe I need to implement a strategy to get them done! ha, the language use seems a bit incongruous to knitting!

What kicked my backside into wriitng here tonight was a quick request to check where a hole in the ceiling was (Simon is putting an aerial cable into our bedroom). He’d shoved a knitting needle through said hole so he could find it in the loft!!!!!!!!!!

surprising find

I went to see Cats (the musical) in Leeds on Saturday afternoon. I am very pleased that we got a show guide, as lo’ and behold knitting gets a mention.

“PRODUCTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
…
Leotard Painters Penny Hadrill,
Nicola Killeen
Knitting                 Trevor Collins
…”

It really made me smile and the knitting was funky too. Mind you, the show as a whole was just amazing. Bodily perfection in lycra, vocal gymnastics… It couldn’t have been better =)

I’d finished a pair of socks in time to wear them-got to keep warm. The socks, still not photographed  had been finished, ends sewn in and everything a few days earlier, but after wearing them I decided that they were too short. The downside of a sewn cast off is pulling it out, but that done, the ribbing ripped back to the pattern and having lengthened them, I’m as happy as I’ll ever be with them. One of my first posts here was about colour and I mentioned my love of colour, but that I wasn’t sure about multicoloured yarn. I fell foul of the magpie syndrome. This sock wool looked pretty in a skein-gorgeous in fact, but I bought it on the internet and there were no knitted up versions available to see how the colour placement worked out. For socks which are red, with shots of bright blue and lime green, they’re decidingly boring and lack the pizazz I was hoping for now they are knitted up. I really do think socks is one place you can get away with mad colours, but it’s the placement of those colours that can make or break it?!

pretty perfect Saturday

spent this morning just pottering. wound wool (read: took a skein of wool, ended up in knots, needed sy’s assistance to wind it into a ball ready to knit up into socks) and finished with a rare fry up. Alas, HP bakedbeans are still proving elusive. Finished off the potato scone I made Thursday.

Thanks to tv pause, I watched the rugby after a “nap” (oh how that makes me think of my sister!!) and swatched (non knitters: knitted a test square). JOY Scotland won

Then this evening was spent eating bread rolls which Sy baked while I was asleep and listening to our three newly purchased CDs, whilst knitting the socks.

Jack Johnson; I cannot say enough good about this guy. Erik Mongrain; I’m not sure if it would inspire you to play guitar or put you off forever as he is such a genius! It’s a shame I wasn’t up to seeing him live here the other week. Laura Marling; speaking of seeing live, we went to see her, but she had a poorly throat, so her entourage of Marcus Mumford, Noah and the Whale and King Charles entertained us for the evening. I’d be interested to know more about Laura, as her lyrics and voice belie her age (only just 18)