Something is seriously wrong with the weather. It's April, it shouldn't be this warm. There certainly shouldn't be people out sunbathing. This is most unfortunate knitwise, since most of the projects I've set my mind on are distinctly wintery. Bother.
I made a list this evening of all the things I want to knit over the next few months. First of all obviously I want to finish my Jaywalkers and knit a pair of Waffle Socks for Nan. After that, seeing as I've already brought the super lovely yarn, I'm going to knit Ysolda's Lace-up Opera Gloves. I'm keen to knit a couple other gloves/mitts as well: Eunny's Endpaper Mitts and Tua Cha on MagKnits. I'd love also to have a go at getting the Mary Jane's Pithy Hat done in time for Spiderman 3, but seeing as that's really not far away now (yay!) and I don't have yarn and needles perhaps I might be pushing my luck. Feels nice to have lots of projects lined up anyway.
I'm in Oxford only until tomorrow then back up north again. On Wednesday I have a formal interview for a medical lab assistant post in Doncaster. Last week I had an informal chat and some tests, and I feel lucky to be called back again even if I don't get the job. It'll be an experience if nothing else. Only two and a half weeks left now til I relocate northwards properly. I'll definitely be sad to leave Oxford, but being able to be with my beloved permanently is more important to me than anything else.
Monday, 16 April 2007
Sunday, 15 April 2007
Lots of goodies!
I feel very spoilt. A few days ago, a box of goodies arrived for me from my Lime & Violet swap pal. What can I say? I was absolutely thrilled to bits!
The picture above links to a biger version with clicakble bits. I feel very lucky to have such a great swap partner (thank you very much Margret if you are reading this!), esspecially since this was my first knitting swap. The Cherry Tree Hill yarn is fantastic -- the colourway is so very "me". I couldn't resist casting on a pair of Jaywalker socks right away and I'm really pleased with how the colours are showing up. On the train down to Oxford from Scott's today I turned the heel and started on the gusset of sock one. Makes me very happy :)
Since I'm on the subject of socks, Mum loved her Waffle Socks. I'm really relived, and extra pleased because my nan asked me if I can make some for her too, and I'm planning on doing something similar for my dad for Father's Day. Looks like lots of scok knitting ahead for me -- hurrah!
The picture above links to a biger version with clicakble bits. I feel very lucky to have such a great swap partner (thank you very much Margret if you are reading this!), esspecially since this was my first knitting swap. The Cherry Tree Hill yarn is fantastic -- the colourway is so very "me". I couldn't resist casting on a pair of Jaywalker socks right away and I'm really pleased with how the colours are showing up. On the train down to Oxford from Scott's today I turned the heel and started on the gusset of sock one. Makes me very happy :)
Since I'm on the subject of socks, Mum loved her Waffle Socks. I'm really relived, and extra pleased because my nan asked me if I can make some for her too, and I'm planning on doing something similar for my dad for Father's Day. Looks like lots of scok knitting ahead for me -- hurrah!
Friday, 6 April 2007
Lovely fibre and freaky feet
Oh my! Got to my parents' in Sussex yesterday to find a box waiting for me... my roving from Copperpot Woolies had arrived. I didn't even know I'd had it sent to them, so that was a big fluffy surprise! The roving is beautiful. I spent a lot of time fondling it last night while Scott and my dad were watching the football. I can't wait to get spinning, though part of me thinks I should resist a while until my spinning improves. I don't want to waste it by spinning a lumpy mess.
At the moment I a trying to find something suitable to ply my second skein of single with, but feel utterly clueless. In the meantime I'm spinning some natural fibre, much coarser than the stuff I started with thus a very new experience.
The second Waffle Sock is all but finished. I just need to do the toe and weave in ends. I had to ration the yarn for the first sock, thus the toe is a little "abrupt", but they fit me okay which is a good sign since my mum and me both have the same freaky big feet.
I' really enjoyed knitting this pattern. I didn't have too much trouble with it, which encourages me to perhaps have a go at something a bit more challenging. I'd like to revisit Hedera I think, since it utterly confused me when I attempted it before. If only I hadn't left all my DPNs behind!
At the moment I a trying to find something suitable to ply my second skein of single with, but feel utterly clueless. In the meantime I'm spinning some natural fibre, much coarser than the stuff I started with thus a very new experience.
The second Waffle Sock is all but finished. I just need to do the toe and weave in ends. I had to ration the yarn for the first sock, thus the toe is a little "abrupt", but they fit me okay which is a good sign since my mum and me both have the same freaky big feet.
I' really enjoyed knitting this pattern. I didn't have too much trouble with it, which encourages me to perhaps have a go at something a bit more challenging. I'd like to revisit Hedera I think, since it utterly confused me when I attempted it before. If only I hadn't left all my DPNs behind!
Monday, 2 April 2007
Spinning and socks
Seeing as today was very bright and Spring-like, I decided to make use of the good light outside and take a photo of my first little skein of handspun yarn. It's very far from perfect, all full of coils and dangerously thin in places, but mostly I'm happy just to be getting the hang of the technique. I love my dear little spindle very much.
I've decided, at least for now, to keep each skein I finish in its own zip-lock bag with note on what I learned from its spinning: what I felt went well, what didn't, what I liked about the fibre, etc. Hopefully this will help me improve bit by bit. Hopefully! I've already spun the second ounce of handpainted fibre that came with the kit (lovely pale and hot pinks, with the odd touch of mauve)... washed and hung it up to set the twist today.
Other than spinning, I've also been working on my mum's Waffle Socks. Finishing of the toe of sock one forced my to learn the three needle bind-off since I managed to leave my yarn needles in Oxford before coming up to Scott's for Easter break. I'd like to say that was my subconscious telling me to learn a new technique, but no I'm just forgetful. Second sock is just coming up for the heel, so with any luck I'll be able to get them finished before we travel down to Sussex on Thursday. That is, if a trip into Doncaster market finds me some yarn needles tomorrow, otherwise I'm stuck for weaving in the ends.
I've decided, at least for now, to keep each skein I finish in its own zip-lock bag with note on what I learned from its spinning: what I felt went well, what didn't, what I liked about the fibre, etc. Hopefully this will help me improve bit by bit. Hopefully! I've already spun the second ounce of handpainted fibre that came with the kit (lovely pale and hot pinks, with the odd touch of mauve)... washed and hung it up to set the twist today.
Other than spinning, I've also been working on my mum's Waffle Socks. Finishing of the toe of sock one forced my to learn the three needle bind-off since I managed to leave my yarn needles in Oxford before coming up to Scott's for Easter break. I'd like to say that was my subconscious telling me to learn a new technique, but no I'm just forgetful. Second sock is just coming up for the heel, so with any luck I'll be able to get them finished before we travel down to Sussex on Thursday. That is, if a trip into Doncaster market finds me some yarn needles tomorrow, otherwise I'm stuck for weaving in the ends.
Thursday, 29 March 2007
The clarity red wine brings
Just got in from a rare evening out pup quizzing. Not quite wanting to go to bed yet, I decided to look back at the first sock pattern I tried to do, in an attempt to figure out where I went wrong.
I feel awfully stupid now. I finally figured out the reason I couldn't get the hang of the heel of this sock lies not so much in me not understanding the pattern, but in being daft enough to not realise sl1 was calling for me to "slip one" not "slip eleven". Poor pattern, I was cruel, got angry and frogged a sock all out of my own silliness. Oh dear.
In other news, today I got home to find a message asking me to attend an interview for a lab assistant job I applied for a few weeks back. Well, not so much an interview as a pre-interview chat, to see if I would be suitable for the position and thus worth interviewing. Either way, I'm still pleased! I've applied for over ten different positions so far, and this is this first of the lot so it is heartening that I should get such a response. Given that I am moving in with Scott and his family at the end of the month I am keen to find work and thus put myself to some use other than walking the adorable dog. The idea of not having anything to do scares me a little, if I'm honest. But I guess I'm just odd like that.
I feel awfully stupid now. I finally figured out the reason I couldn't get the hang of the heel of this sock lies not so much in me not understanding the pattern, but in being daft enough to not realise sl1 was calling for me to "slip one" not "slip eleven". Poor pattern, I was cruel, got angry and frogged a sock all out of my own silliness. Oh dear.
In other news, today I got home to find a message asking me to attend an interview for a lab assistant job I applied for a few weeks back. Well, not so much an interview as a pre-interview chat, to see if I would be suitable for the position and thus worth interviewing. Either way, I'm still pleased! I've applied for over ten different positions so far, and this is this first of the lot so it is heartening that I should get such a response. Given that I am moving in with Scott and his family at the end of the month I am keen to find work and thus put myself to some use other than walking the adorable dog. The idea of not having anything to do scares me a little, if I'm honest. But I guess I'm just odd like that.
Monday, 26 March 2007
I'm spinning yarn!
Well, sort of. I've been slowly getting the hang of not getting in a complete mess and am thoroughly looking forward to practicing some more. I really am having great fun.
The fibre is an ounce of lovely handpainted that came (along with another ounce and two ounces undyed) with the spindle kit. I'll admit at first I wasn't sure of the colours, but they've really grown on me and I like the way they've spun together. I've only got that little bit left now, which I plan to spin tonight, then onwards to washing etc. Gosh, this is exciting!
Over the weekend I started knitting a pair of Blueberry Waffle Socks for my mum to give to her when I go home for Easter. I surprised myself by knitting nearly a whole sock yet simultaneously annoyed myself by misjudging the amount of yarn I'd need for a pair. Bother.
The fibre is an ounce of lovely handpainted that came (along with another ounce and two ounces undyed) with the spindle kit. I'll admit at first I wasn't sure of the colours, but they've really grown on me and I like the way they've spun together. I've only got that little bit left now, which I plan to spin tonight, then onwards to washing etc. Gosh, this is exciting!
Over the weekend I started knitting a pair of Blueberry Waffle Socks for my mum to give to her when I go home for Easter. I surprised myself by knitting nearly a whole sock yet simultaneously annoyed myself by misjudging the amount of yarn I'd need for a pair. Bother.
Wednesday, 21 March 2007
Lookie, a finished object!
It may not the knitted kind, but since this beast has eaten up the last three month of my life I thought it worthy of a mention. Behold, my dissertation:
11,430 words on "An Assessment of the Validity of the Orange Prize for Fiction" printed this morning on what must have been an entire tree, bound and submitted. Okay, so the maximum word count shouldn't have exceeded 10,000 plus 10%... yet given the fact that they were mean enough to make us included the abstract in this I feel justified in lying. After all, what are they going to do, count?
Feels fantastic to have it out the way. I might actually have time to do something other than eat, sleep and type now. To celebrate, I've just been very naughty given the miserable state of my bank balance and ordered myself some sock yarn and... spinning fibre!
My drop spindle arrived safe and well on Saturday. So far I'm having great fun, though given the above I've not been able to play for long periods yet. My first yarn is very overspun and wobbly thus far, but I think I'm vaguely getting the hang of it. Between spinning, drinking tea and curling up with a book, I think I've pretty much got tomorrow sorted :)
11,430 words on "An Assessment of the Validity of the Orange Prize for Fiction" printed this morning on what must have been an entire tree, bound and submitted. Okay, so the maximum word count shouldn't have exceeded 10,000 plus 10%... yet given the fact that they were mean enough to make us included the abstract in this I feel justified in lying. After all, what are they going to do, count?
Feels fantastic to have it out the way. I might actually have time to do something other than eat, sleep and type now. To celebrate, I've just been very naughty given the miserable state of my bank balance and ordered myself some sock yarn and... spinning fibre!
My drop spindle arrived safe and well on Saturday. So far I'm having great fun, though given the above I've not been able to play for long periods yet. My first yarn is very overspun and wobbly thus far, but I think I'm vaguely getting the hang of it. Between spinning, drinking tea and curling up with a book, I think I've pretty much got tomorrow sorted :)
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