So cold!

It's very cold here in Liverpool. My house is generally a cold building so when the temperature drops it's not much fun. The living room is above the garage so cold air from the garage comes up through the floor. It's nice in the summer but sooo cold in the winter.

I've been going to redecorate the dining room and living room for the last 3 months and eventually decided to do the dining room on Sunday. I just gave it a few coats of white paint and removed some of the junk that had accumulated there. It looks a lot cleaner and brighter and the new light over the dining table looks good too. I'm not going to get the living room done before Christmas now so am planning on working on it early on in the new year when I am on my own in the house.

Ds is coming home from London on Friday and I'm looking forward to seeing him. He's back until the new year when he's going straight to Rotterdam to work on the Rotterdam 6 day track race. I think he's looking forward to being back even though his new house share is pretty good. His girlfriend is coming to visit between Christmas and New Year so that should keep him happy.

Monday Update

I've been busy working on the garden and the allotment the last couple of weeks in between the spells of wind and rain. The garden's looking pretty tidy now although I don't like to leave it too tidy as all the little creatures need some leaves and other debris to overwinter in. I've planted loads more bulbs, more tulips which I love, daffs, and some dwarf irises and more bulbs whose names I can't remember.

I started making a path to the shed two or three years ago and never finished it. I'm making it using the sandstone blocks I dug up out of the front garden with Cathy and Susie (my friendly neighbours) a few years ago. There was an old manor house on the site of the 14 houses in our close and our houses were built when it was pulled down. All of our gardens are full of stuff from the big house. I found two old irons in the back garden and my next door neighbour dug up a complete wheelbarrow a couple of years ago! Anyway I'm planning to finish the path tomorrow. It's a kind of stepping stone path from the patio area to the shed. It's desperately needed in the winter as the soil is very clayey so it's too wet to walk on all winter. It's probably too wet to do it now but I'm just going to have to get on with it regardless.

It's Christmas gift making time again, and I am working on knitted gifts for the family again this year. I will post what I make after Christmas as I know this blog is watched by gift recipients. I'm only making 7 gifts this year so it's not too much to do. I've finished one completely, about 95% of another, and probably about 50% each of a couple of others. That probably means I'm about half way there. I'm planning on finishing off the ones I've got started this evening and tomorrow evening. I'm stitching 'n bitching tomorrow so should manage it. Then it's just three more to go!

Monday Update

I've not done much knitting this last week. I just seem to be jumping from one thing to another and not really getting anywhere. My plan this week is to finished my Composed Mitts and also my Handpainted gloves. There's only a couple of hours work to do on each of these maximum, and it would be good to get some projects out of the way. Also I could do with wearing them as the temperature seems to have really dropped in the last week or so.

I've been in the garden today and dug out my Miscanthus Zebrinus. It had got huge so I decided to move it and split it into 3 or 4 new plants. I managed to get it out. It has only got a very shallow root ball as it seems to have hit a pan of clay where it was sited. I've chopped one chunk off it and planted it against the fence where it looks pretty good and it will get full sun there which they seem to like. The soil there is much better too so it should do well there. I am going to split the rest of the plant into two. One of these chunks will be planted near to the one already in and the other one will go out front in a gap between my garden and the neighbours. I'll have to do that tomorrow as I've run out of light now.

My Current Projects

I started my Bressay Hap Shawl in August almost the instant I received my copy of Rowan Magazine 42. I like knitting shawls and blankets and had enough Rowan Yorkshire Tweed 4 ply in my stash (bought for another project never started) to substitute for the Scottish Tweed 4ply.

I knitted one of the border panels very quickly and then as usual became distracted by other magazines , patterns and projects. I decided to start work on the shawl again last Friday and completed the second border panel first thing Tuesday morning. Just working on the third edging section today. I did a little yesterday but got distracted by my Jaywalkers yesterday evening and did a few rows on them instead. I'd been working on my Jaywalkers on Monday evening and when I got up Tuesday morning I discovered the sock on the floor, hanging off the needles, chewed and damp. I think Viola must have been fighting with them during the night. Hid them last night to aviod a repeat performance.

Ravelry

I'm completely obssessed with Ravelry. I've got about half my stash on there now and the same with my projects. I keep meeting people there who I've met in knitalongs and other groups. It's great to see other peoples interpretations of designs.

I haven't put up all my wips as it's just too embarassing (and time consuming). Maybe I'll get round to it soon.

I'm trying to finish of a few of my UFOs but don't seem to be getting far as I keep jumping from one to another. Today, for example I've done a few rows of a cardi I'm knitting in Jaeger Roma and have also been working on my Bressay Hap Shawl. The cardigan pattern is good and the yarn feels great but I'm in stocking stitch hell with it. This is always the point when I abandon a project. I've only just starting to realise that this could be the reason for some of my UFO's. Although I think the main reason is that I have no will power and cast on the instant I see a fab new design.

The Lovely Vi

Here are the photos of Viola being cute as usual. She's always on the lookout for new sleeping spots. When I saw her eyeing up the shelves the other day I decided to put her red blanky in a spare spot and see what happened. It didn't take long before she was in there and asleep.

I'm Back

Well it's been a horrid couple of months. The shop closed in the middle of September which was not pleasant. I really couldn't go on any longer with it though as I just didn't have enough customers or the support I needed at home. Coinciding with the shop closure, issues in a close personal relationship came to the fore and I had a very unpleasant and emotional month.

I'm trying to get back on track now. I'm looking for some work and have started working on the allotment again. Thought I'd take the opportunity while I've a bit of free time to get that knocked into shape.

I got some good photos yesterday of Viola, my lovely cat, sleeping on the bookshelf in the living room - very cute. I'll post them here later.

Bartering in the Shop

I have many tales I could relate from the Knitwise shop. I am asked many unusual questions and have many strange requests. I don't usually make these public (unless you include occassionally moaning to ds and dh). However, I had a quiet day on Saturday (after a pretty busy week). At 3.15pm I was thinking of calling it a day, particularly since I was still feeling miserable with my cold. As is always the case when I consider sneaking off early a customer came in. She looked at the discounted eyelash yarn in the basket near the door and said to me she'd be back in 10 minutes. As promised she came back but her greeting to me as she walked in the door was 'Can you do this for £1.00 a ball?' I politely told her I had already discounted the yarn and was not able to offer any further reduction. At this point she emptied her purse on the table and offered me £3.05 for 3 balls which I politely declined. She was planning to make a scarf and I told her two balls of that particular yarn would be plenty for a scarf. I was starting to weaken as she started counting her coppers. It was at this point that she asked me if I accepted postage stamps. My Yorkshire heart hardened again and she left the shop with two balls paid for in full (in hard currency).

My Weekly Update

I seem to have had an allergic reaction to something and have spent most of the week with a sore face and hands. It's starting to clear up now but my face is still a bit itchy. On top of that I woke up Thursday morning with the sniffles which then developed into a full blown cold. Friday morning I went back to bed and Teebo woke me at 9.30am and gave me a ride into the shop. Feeling much better today - just a little runny nosed. I managed to get a little bit of knitting done - finished off some simple socks in self-patterning Schoeller and Stahl yarn but that's about it. Walked to the allotment Friday evening, and then walked back. Just that 20 - 30 mins took it out of me. Tidied up the garden a bit last night - it's not looking too bad as I've been trying to keep on top of it. I'm going to have something to eat now and then spend the rest of the evening at the allotment. I've got some leeks, cabbages and sprouts to go in.

Noah

At last the sweater I started for my son as a present at Easter has been completed. I finished stitching it up on Thursday evening and washed it this morning. It was a bit grubby. The yarn had been in my stash for a while so one or two of the balls were a bit dusty. I'm very pleased with the result. It's now drying on towels on the dining table. This is usually a good spot for drying as it gets the afternoon sun. However, there is no sun today just more rain and clouds.

The pattern is Noah from Rowan magazine 41, and is knitted in 100% wool peruvian aran yarn.

12428 again

Oops forgot to mention in my last post. 12428 is where I am on the Ravelry list. I'll get my invite eventually I guess but at the current invite rate that will be another 9 to 10 weeks.

12428

I had every intention, when I posted last Sunday, to keep this blog more up to date, and here I am early hours of Monday morning just getting round to posting (over a week later). I've no real excuse except my life is not very exciting, and I always seem to be busy. I've finished just one project this week- the Peapod Jacket from the Peapod Set from Knitting Daily. This is for the mum-to-be at my local SnB. It's a lovely little jacket and I'm very pleased with the results. I'll post a picture later this week.
My ds came home this week - Wednesday evening and went back to London this evening. I miss him very much as I'm sure all of us do when our children leave home. It's only been a couple of months now since he originally left home - I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually. The saying goodbye is very difficult even though I know it's best for him that he's out there experiencing everything himself.
I received my new Rowan Magazine 42 this week and have already started the Bressay Hap Shawl. This is partly because I'm quite into shawls at the moment and partly because I have a stash of Yorkshire Tweed 4 ply that I can use for this shawl. I knitted one of the edgings and started to work one of the borders but decided I really didn't like the yarn over edge on the edging. This is used for picking up stitched for the border and was very loose and holey when I did it that way. I have adapted the pattern to use a slip stitch edge. This give a much tighter and more pleasing effect when the stitches are picked up. I really had to force myself to do the edging piece a second time, as I'm always demoralised when my knitting doesn't work out right first time. Anyway I've redone the first edging and picked up the stitches again and I'm much happier with the result. Picture will come soon.
My initial reaction to the new Rowan Mag was disappointment , but on second look I do like the Highland Stockings (but I am obsessed with socks) and Iceland (knitted in Cocoon), Narvik (also in Cocoon), Fyne slipover and tunic, Rannoch dress, Doon coat, Maree sweater, Malt cardigan, Neaty cardigan, Nevis Jacket, okay lots of the designs.
Anyway I really should go back to bed. The kettle's boiled so I'm going to take a cup of tea with me (and hide the sudoku book or I'll be up all night).

Cats

I've just got back from the allotment after a morning digging and weeding to find both of the cats asleep in the garden.

Here's Viola asleep on her bench under the cherry tree. This is her favourite summer sleeping spot. We quite often catch her asleep here with her paws and tail dangling through the slats in the bench.

And here's Tigger on the shed roof - just woken up and about to start the licky, groomy thing. He's not officially ours but is allowed in the garden and house by Viola.

Knitflicks, TV and Debbie Stoller

It's been a very exciting week with news of lot's of forthcoming knitting activities. Firstly, last Tuesday, Susan (editor of knitonthenet ) joined us at our Snb meeting with news of the day with Debbie Stoller that I Knit and knitonthenet are jointly organising. A trip to London in November is on now! I'll be having a table there selling my Knitwise goodies.

Then yesterday I had a call from Granada TV asking if I could knit a scarf for Anthony Cotton, of Coronation Street fame, (I've no idea who he is - haven't watched Coronation Street for years and years). Anyway, apparently he's presenting an evening tv show during August and September and the producers are looking for interesting bits for the show. They are after an 'All Day Breakfast' scarf ie with sausages, eggs, bacon, black pudd etc... on it. Of course, they want it immediately so I'll have to see what I can do!

Finally when I checked my email last night I had a message from the marketing manager at FACT (an arts and film centre in Liverpool) to let me know that they have set a date for their first Knitflicks event. These are knitting at the cinema events and are great fun. I organised a couple of these events at FACT about 2 years ago but it was a bit costly for me to promote and finance so I am very pleased that FACT have decided to do it again within their regular program. Any Merseyside knitters out there please support this event. If it goes well it could become a regular monthly event.

My latest knits

I've finished my Debbie Bliss t-shirt from Summer Essentials. I knitted it in Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere which is beautiful to knit with and doesn't split much unlike some other cotton or cotton mix yarns. I really enjoyed knitting this and have even stitched it up almost immediately which is very unusual for me. I started it on Tuesday July 10th and finished it on Thursday 26th July and stitched it up today.

My second knit this week has been this little pair of Ruffle Rib Socks from Interweave Knits Summer 2005. I made them with scraps of leftover sock yarn. They are for a young mum-to-be at my local SnB.

I've started and finished Calorimetry and Fetching this week. I love the pattern for Fetching and will definitely be making some more of these as gifts for Christmas.

My Calorimetry was knitted in the leftovers from a hank of Debbie Biss Maya (the multicoloured part) and finished with leftover 100% wool Celtic Aran. I wasn't sure how this would work out but I'm pleased with the finished result.

My Fetchings were made using Jaeger Merino Aran with a scraps of lilac mohair/wool mix aran. I used the lilac aran as a contrast as I didn't think the one ball of Jaeger I had would be enough and I'm glad I did as I've just the tiniest bit of the Jaeger leftover.

Tour de France opening ceremony and prologue

Here's my race report for the Tour de France knitalong.
I made it to London on Friday for the opening ceremony of the Tour de France. We set off at 11.30ish but the traffic was bad so we didn't arrive at our hotel in Edgware (north london) until 4.15pm. Just time to freshen up before our tube trip to Trafalgar Square. We met up with my son who works in London for www.cycling.tv who are covering the Tour de France on their website. Most of the cheers/applause was for the British riders, David Millar, Charlie Wigelius, Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish. However, Alexandre Vinokourov, Michael Rasmussen, Oscar Pereiro, the lovely Tom Boonen, Christophe Moreau and of course Robbie McEwan were all very popular. We ended a great evening with a veggie curry from Ravi Shankars near Euston station.

Saturday morning we made our way to Hyde Park for the prologue, an 8K time trial around central London, taking in Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Wellington Arch etc... We arrived about 11.30am and bagged a spot just before Wellington Arch so we could see the riders come the full length up Constitution Hill. It was a long day (finished at 6.15pm) and I had very tired ankles and legs but it was worth it. The caravan came through first with all the assorted freebies (junk) and some of the riders were warming up in amongst the caravan so that was great. For all you Robbie Mc fans, (in the Tour de France knitalong) he rode past us a couple of times warming up. The actual time trial started at 3pm and the weather couldn't have been better- beautifully sunny with just an occassional light cooling breeze. Time trials are great because you get to see each rider individually. I am a huge Tom Boonen fan so it was great to see him racing again (saw him last at the Tour of Britain last year) and I am also a real Iban Mayo fan (last seen at Dauphine Libre in 2004), but it was also great to see some of the other riders that I've never see in the flesh before, like Alexandre Vinokourov and Jens Voigt. I would have liked David Millar or Bradley Wiggins to win the prologue but it was good to see Cancellara get it. He did an amazing ride - way faster than anyone else. It was a pity Stewie O'Grady came off but he's a hard chap and I'm sure he's recovered by now.

We were planning to go to Tower Bridge on Sunday but never made it - too tired after Saturday so we had a lie in.

Hope your all enjoying the tour and the knitalong- got to go now to watch TdF on Eurosport

Tour de France Knitalong

I've joined the Tour de France Knitalong! What a great idea! I love cycling. The Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta Espana dictate much of the activity in our household. We even have themed days for different cycling events eg for the Tour of Flanders we eat Belgium food and drink Belgium beer!

I've decided to knit for the yellow jersey and my project is a retro cycling style jacket in either Molteni or Bianchi team colours. I've just got to sort out a suitable pattern, adjust it, and chart the designs before next saturday.

I'm still here

Well it's been a long time since I updated here. I just don't seem to have had the time. I've done some knitting but not as much as I would have liked to. I was hoping to have a few of my UFO's finished by the end of June. I've a few things that just need an hour or two's work to be done. Unfortunately I damaged my left wrist about three weeks ago (an allotmenteering related injury) and can only really manage a few rows at a time even on light/smal projects like socks.


I finished my ladies lacy socks (a Sue Morgan pattern) in Trekking XXL. I'm very pleased with these. They are going in my present box for Christmas. I've also knitted a pair of spa socks from Knit1 Spring 2007. These are my second pair of spa socks and will probably not be my last. I have very cold feet and like socks for in bed and these are perfect for bed





H's aran sweater is just about done. I'm just stitching up the sleeve seams and side seams.

I also finished the empire style top I was knitting in Wendy Mode DK - this is for display for the shop and is now in the window. I'm very pleased with it and the yarn was lovely and soft to work with.

Spring Things Shawl

I started my Spring Things Shawl on 4th May. I joined the For me?! knitalong and was looking for a lacy shawl pattern and found this one. This led to me joining the Spring Things knitalong as well. I'm a complete knitalong addict. Anyway, as I said I started the shawl on 4th May and wasn't too happy with it - I just didn't seem to have the pattern right. I took it to last Tuesday's Stitch 'n Bitch and persisted with it on the Wednesday morning but on Thursday decided enough was enough and ripped it back. I started again on Friday and despite dropping a stitch and having to go back a full pattern repeat on Saturday afternoon I have actually managed to make it to 9 pattern repeats of the upper body pattern. The shawl looks quite small although it does stretch out quite a lot. I've decided to knit 17 repeats of the upper body pattern instead of 13 because I am using 3.25mm needles instead of the recommended 3.75mm ones and feel it may turn out very small otherwise.

I was originally going to dye the shawl once I'd finished it (I'm using undyed Blue Faced Leicester/nylon lace weight yarn) but I love the creamy naturallness of the yarn so much I'm going to leave it as it is. I've also found some lovely cream glass beads which look great with it!

I absolutely love the pattern and have already been considering the yarn for my next one.

Red, Red, Robin

I've been feeling pretty stressed over the last month or so due to one thing and another. Yesterday I was feeling a little more chilled but still a bit frowny so I decided to get myself along to the allotment last night for some fresh air and exercise. I managed about an hour and a half before it started to get a bit dusky. I don't see so well around dusk - not bad when it's actually nightime but that in between bit between day and night is difficult for me. I managed to dig out more mares tail, which I expect I will be doing for the rest of my life. I also had a friend on the plot last night - a lovely little robin. He followed me around the plot, wherever I went he was there, and when I left he stayed on my plot, just sat and watched me go. I've lot's of wild bird food at home so I'm going to take some to the plot tonight for the Robin.

At Stitch 'n Bitch on Tuesday evening I finished the first sleeve of H's sweater. I'm going to cast on the second one today and try to have the sweater finished this weekend. I was also working on my handpainted gloves but I'm having trouble with the fingers. I've decided to knit both main parts and then do all the fingers at once - not sure if that's a good plan really! I'm also trying to finish two socks to match the two singles I have. I need to have them finished by Saturday evening to keep on target for the 52 pair plunge.

A Very Busy Week

I've been working on the Knitwise website for the last 3 weeks and over the last couple of weeks all of my evenings seem to be just website, website and more website. I have been knitting during the daytime and I've been trying to get some allotmenteering in but haven't done much. I'm planning to be up early tomorrow morning and straight to the allotment. I've the rest of my potatoes and onions to put in and want to sow some carrots, peas, chards and beets. I also need to tidy the greenhouse (again) ready for my cucumbers and tomatoes.

I have managed to get a bit of knitting in. I've finished the back and front of H's sweater and am now halfway up the first sleeve. I may try and finish the sleeve today. As always I have many WIP's. I have two single socks - my blue embossed leaves sock and a red one with lace cuff which I finished on Wednesday. I'm going to have to finish their partners this week or I'll be behind on the 52 pair plunge. I've also started my handpainted gloves for Karens glove kal. This is a lovely pattern and I'm really enjoying it.

The house is very quiet - everyone still in bed except me, and the cats are outside eating! I could do with going back to bed myself. We were up late last night with friends and I'm very tired. Unfortunately I have to be in work so I'm going to have another quick cup of tea and a shower and get going!

Easter weekend

I've got two days off work (Sunday and Monday). Today was the Tour of Flanders cyling race. It was on tv from 12 noon till 3.30pm. I didn't watch it the whole time just on and off but I did watch the last hour and a half in full, so managed to get some more of H's aran done. I managed to fix the mistakes I had made yesterday and am now past the armhole shaping on the back. I also finished one of my embossed leaves socks. I'll have to start the second one quickly before second sock syndrome kicks in. I had to stop myself starting another pair earlier on!

Yesterday I was given a parcel of undyed yarns and three hanks of Fyberspates space dyed yarns as samples for the Knitwise shop. I'm planning to stock some of the Fyberspates yarns and some undyed sock yarn in the shop. The yarns are lovely and I spent a lot of time early this afternoon just looking at them and feeling them.

I was planning to do some allotmenteering today but didn't get there. I started working on the Knitwise website update and lost track of the time - working when I'm supposed to be having a break! I'll have to make tomorrow a full day at the plot as I've loads to do and catch up with.

More knitting!

I've finished my second pair of socks for the 52 pair plunge and these will also count for SAM3 so I'm very pleased with myself. These were a fairly quick knit and very enjoyable, it was fun watching the stripes appear. These are an almost perfect matching pair except for the toes. I've just turned the heel on my embossed leaves socks. They are absolutely beautiful but need a fair amount of concentration as the leaf design is a 16 row pattern. I need some plain stocking stitch pairs to knit when watching tv and drinking wine.

I only managed to knit one row of H's aran sweater today. I was busy doing paperwork in the Knitwise shop and just didn't seem to find any time to knit! I'm going to try to finish the first of my embossed leaves socks tonight but I'm feeling very tired so not sure how much I'll get done.

Stitch 'n Bitch 'n Socks

It's half term and coming up to Easter so last nights SnB meeting was a bit light on numbers - just ten of us. Three of us were knitting socks - the perennial favourite. Sue was using some Fortissima Socka Cotton Colori and a vintage pattern for cable ankle socks. Miriam is using the Fortissima Socka with a basic sock pattern. Miriam joined a sock kal yesterday. It seems that everyone who gets past their first sock becomes slightly obsessed with them. I was knitting my 2nd pair for the 52 pair plunge - the embossed leaf socks. I didn't get a lot done - too much chatting so changed over to the aran sweater I am making for H. That sounds like I've been knitting the sweater for ages but actually I only started yesterday. I was sorting out the back room at the Knitwise shop yesterday morning and discovered this 100% peruvian aran that I had completeley forgotten about. All my self-imposed rules on 2007 being the year of finishing were ignored as another project was added to my WIP list. I am pretty good at finishing things I make for H so should have it done quite quickly - hopefully before he gets back from Majorca.

Socks! Socks!

Well I finished my first pair of socks for the 52 Pair Plunge. I started yesterday about 2pm and finished them at 6.30pm. They were a quick and easy dk pair so it's not as impressive as it sounds.

I have started my second pair, which will also be used for SAM3. These are the embossed leaves socks by Mona Schmidt from Interweave Knits Winter 2005. I am using blue Sirdar Country Style 4 ply from my stash. This is a great yarn for socks as it is a wool/acrylic mix which washes really well.

Monkey Socks

Well, I finished my monkey socks. I've knit these using Jaeger 100% wool fingering which I found in my stash. I have four more 50g balls of this yarn so will be making more socks with it. I'm planning on doing one pair in rib and another in plain stocking stitch. I'll be making a lot more socks in the coming months. As well as SAM3 I have also joined the 52 Pair Plunge KAL. The aim of this KAL is to knit 52 pairs of socks between 1 April 2007 and 1 April 2008. This could be the end of my sock obsession (or it could make it worse!). Wish me luck!

Yesterday I completed the first front of my Dollar and a Half Cardigan (Interweave Knits, Spring 2007), so I just have the second front (with the cable) and the sleeves to knit. It shouldn't take too long. I've found this a very quick knit. The lace pattern keeps me interested in knitting the cardigan, and I find myself knitting to either the end of, or start of the lace pattern in each session, so I probably end up doing more rows than I would if it was just plain stocking stitch.

I'm planning to spend this next week finishing off some WIP. I have a cardigan and a cushion cover that both just need stitching together, and a sweater that just needs the neck band doing and stitching together. These are all the WIPs I am currently admitting to.

Cat napping

Well I woke up this morning and what did I see? Two lovely cats napping with me!

Dollar and a Half Cardigan

I've started the Dollar and a Half Cardigan from Interweave Knits Spring 2007. I knew I had to knit this the minute I saw it. I am currently on a self-imposed 'finishing' session but couldn't resist this pattern. Here's how far I'm along at the moment.

Seedlings

I've just been watering my plants that I am starting off at home before transferring to the allotment. Some things are ok started off in the greenhouse which is unheated, but the more tender veg needs a bit of warmth to get going. Here's a photo of the mini garden in my dining room- lot's of tomatos. cucumbers, aubergines, sweet peas and dahlias.

More sock knitting

Yesterday was wet, wild and wintery in Liverpool. Lot's of rain, hail and snow so no allotmenteering for me. I had a walk to the plot with H at about 5pm just to check on how much damage had been done. The allotment site is on top of a hill so when it's windy there tends to be lot's of damage to greenhouses and sheds. I was quite lucky this time - just a couple of broken cloches.

We had also planned to watch the Paris Nice cycle race on the tv, so I had a good excuse to get my needles out. I finished the first sock of my second pair for SAM3, and started the next one. I could feel 'second sock syndrome' coming on, so knew I have to get started straightaway otherwise my first monkey would be very lonely for a long time. (I'm knitting 'monkey' by Cookie A)


Here is my first sock completed. I'm really enjoying knitting this pattern and will probably knit it again but with plain yarn so the pattern shows up more.



This is a close up of the cuff. The pattern shows up quite well when its on my foot and will probably be better when the sock is blocked.

The yarn I am using is Jaeger 100% pure wool fingering which I found in the depths of my stash last week. I really wanted to knit monkey and use this yarn. It was not the best choice as the yarn is a bit busy but I'm still pleased with the sock.

It's a half day in the Knitwise shop on a Wednesday so it usually rains in the afternoon! Yesterday the weather was on my side. It was a lovely afternoon, warm and sunny, perfect allotment weather. I spent half an hour in the garage making a trellis type contraption which will attach to the side of the shed. The plan is to grow sweet peas up this and over the shed.
I moved the lavender plants from between the shed and greenhouse and put them at the other
side of the greenhouse where there's more space for them. Last summer I couldn't use the path because the lavender had grown so big and was constantly covered in bees. I also started building a new coldframe between the shed and greenhouse out of recycled bricks and a windowframe. Doesn't sound great but looks okay.
Then I did my usual thing - went home, had a cup of tea, wrote a list of all the jobs that need doing at the allotment, almost had a panic attack so threw the list away.

Still finishing my blue beaded socks for SAM3. When I knitted the first sock I had a problem with the pattern I was using. The toe shaping wasn't quite right so I had to make a few adjustments. Of course I didn't make a note of what I had done so I ended up in the same situation with the second sock. I made three attempts at it last night before giving up. Tried again this morning and almost added the socks to my UFO's. Had a cup of tea with Teebo and fed the cats, and then somehow I figured it out and had the toes finished in 20 mins. Just got to graft the top and they're done.

It's a beautifully sunny early morning in Liverpool. I've fed the cats. That's why I'm up so early. The little black cat sent the big white cat upstairs to wake me. Viola (the big white cat) has a problem with her claws - they get stuck in things very easily, and she has to be rescued. When she wants your attention she'll claw something, get stuck and wait for you to say 'poor Vi' and rescue her. This morning she managed to get stuck in the side of the divan. It was impossible for me to release her by leaning over the side of the bed so I had to get out and do it. Her plan worked - once out of bed I was wide awake. Both cats are now outside eating. It's so early they'll be wanting their dinner mid-afternoon.
Everyone else is still in bed so I am planning to have a cup of tea and finish my first pair of socks for SAM3. These are not overly exciting - just a simple sock pattern with beaded cuff - but I fancied some beaded knitting and I am obsessed with socks.