HIbernating

 

This blog is hibernating. Please visit me at I heart Zurich

More knitting

 

Flikr is great, but I just don't understand it properly, so I have spent about an hour trying to get photos to appear on Ravelry. Grr. I hope that I now know what the problem was...

So, here is Rowan Jolien I did this just as the pattern stated, although I didn't add the 'bit around the right arm' I think I'll get a lot of wear out of this.

Following closely on it's heels is : Debbie Bliss Coastlines Collared Cardigan. Don't be fooled - it is not a baby's matinee jacket, which is what it reminds me of. This is not finished. I don't like the way the collar lies - if you so I am going to add more length.

Ok, that's it - MUST go and do something with the attic if I hope to do any sewing this year.

At last!

 

I know, not much is it? But it's what it represents - I now have a camera that is talking to the computer. More accurately, it is my new phone that is talking to the computer. Isn't technology great? Well, when it's working....

The yarn is from none other than Old Maiden Aunt, friend and dyer extrordinaire. We managed to catch up when I was back in the UK last week and as I had forgotten my knitting, I just had to buy another skein of her yarn :0)

And after that brief foray back in to the land of blogging-with-pictures, I'm off to tidy - my dear boy arrives tomorrow for a visit :0) :0) :0) :0) :0)

Coastlines

 

There has been some more knitting - the Collared Cardigan from Coastlines . On the whole I am please with the result so far, although I had to knit more length on to the collar. Instead of a buttonhole, I am adding a couple of buttons + loop. No matter how I did it, the 'buttonhole in rib' just looked messy.

I don't know if I will use Cathay . I like the yarn but it just splits too easily. I think it will catch too easily and I expect my knitwear to be real workhorses!

Hope to get the software downloaded soon so that I can show you some proof ;0)

love...

 

As you know, my son flew the nest a couple of years ago, but I still marvel at the fact that I no longer cry for three hours every day. How on earth did I manage to get over it when he moved out? My heart was bruised for so long. Even more amazing is that I managed to hide it from him. After all, he was simply progressing on to the next stage in his life, why make him suffer too?

But there is one reality that I just cannot bear, that I cannot just get over. One day, even though it will hopefully be many, many years from now, a world will exist without my boy... I know I'll be gone too, so I won't be around to notice, but...but...

And I thought Gaelic was bad

 

My head is reeling. I have finally realised that for some of the German 'stuff' I need to get into the 'zone'. A bit like Kitchener - too much, or too little thought = total screw up.

In addition to this, now that I am writing some Deutsch in my lessons, my English spelling is going to Hell in a handbasket...

Organising circular needles

 

It can be done. Let battle commence.

There has been knitting

 

First Swiss Knit nearly done - Jolien from Rowan Studio 3. I have used Felted Tweed Jolien and I am very pleased so far (wait until I have treid it on and then I'l see if I am still pleased).

I wasn't sure about the whole 'round the arm' thing - but of course maybe I am getting too old and set in my ways ;0) I also did the collar to about 13 cm instead of 17cm.

Fresh off the back of that, I have started a Debbie Bliss Coastlines pattern in a deep pink. I am not sure how I feel about the Cathay yarn. Again, it seems quite loosely plied and I wonder how it will stand up to general wear and tear.....

Off to tax my bike. That's the push bike, not motor variety.Yep, In der Schweiz one taxes ones bicycle.

3rd time lucky (or it's a felt job)

 

I really like Rowan Felted Tweed. In particular, I really like the Cocoa shade. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the garment I knit it in. Or the one that I knit after I frogged the first one. Since there are only so many times a yarn can be 'recycled', this is make or break. It will turn out great this time or it's heading for a close encounter with a pair of jeans at 60 degrees. The final pattern choice is Jolien . It'll still have the 'big' collar, but I am not so sure about the 'wrap around the upper arm' thing that's going on.

Sewing is also on the horizon. I've just cut out the fabric for a very simple dress (wish I could remember the pattern number - it's Simplicty, but that doesn't help much). Once again I was given a painful reminder about why it's best not to cut out on the floor.I plan to wear this dress with jeans. That should hide a multitude of sins.

Off to do some more unpacking - can you believe it, here for a month and still unpacking....

Where's the mojo?

 

Well, I think it is lurking just around the corner. I went back to that great yarn shop in Zürich, whose name escapes me right now. I am not sure what I think of the prices in this shop - the books that I saw were up to twice the cost of the same item in the UK. I think that Amazon may be a useful resource in the near future. This shop has some great yarns but I was frustrated by the pricing sytem - a sheet of paper in a polypocket, dangling near the relevant yarns. Of course, some of the sections didn't have said sheet...In the end I bought a Rowan Studio booklet and have plans for two of the garments. If only I could find my yarn.....

I am beginning my fourth week here, which seems so unlikely somehow. We finally had some snow here at the weekend so the view from my window finally looked Swiss ;0)

German lessons start in a week but I am managing to get by with the little that I learnt in Glasgow, adding a word or a phrase here and there as I go about my business. Just as well that I am not working, since the lack of car is definitely showing in terms of time. To get to the Bio (Organic) butcher I have to get a bus and then a tram. To be honest, it isn't bad, it's just that I now have to plan my outings a bit more. If I am going into the centre Zürich to meet up with Spooglers for coffee, I go and get any shopping that I can't get locally. Eggs are no problem - there is a farm close by and I just go there for free range eggs laid by the happy chickens that I can see as I walk by.

Today I am 'suffering' from some kind of cold virus. Taking my recycling into the town to the recycling centre has just about wiped me out. Guess I'll just have to lie on the sofa and look at the view !

11.00am

 

There I was, siitting at the bus stop, reading a book, when the bus came. I realised it all too late....but then a strange and unexpected thing happened. The bus driver must've thought - 'Hmm, woman sitting at bus stop reading. Chances are she has come to catch a bus, not to sit and read. I'd better pull in and wait until she realises I am here.' Now, those of you who have had no experience of UK public transport may think that I am being sarcastic. Nope. not a bit- go and try the buses in the UK, then you'll understand exactly why I was so amazed...

Can opener mission completed and I managed it without too much of the 'Rabbit in headlights' feeling. I have discovered that being in a city as a tourist allows one to retain an element of insulation from the realities of being an Auslander. Now that I live in Zürich I am all too aware of my handicaps. Take currency, for example. I have to check every coin when I am buying something. I feel really stupid, not being able to just look at a coin and know its value. Or, when I'm on a bus/tram and they start making announcements about problems with the transport system....

Never mind, I'm sure it'll all fall into place. In about 3 years!

Still here....

 

....just surrounded by boxes.

Shetland Traingle - again

 

My mum gave me some money for my birthday, so of course I was going to spend it on yarn. Three skeins of Jitterbug to be exact, which grew up to be another Sheltand Triangle

This isn't a 'soft as down' shawl, given that it has been knit out of a firm sock yarn, but I am happy with the results. I knit it on 4mm Addi lace and used just over 2 skeins. What you can't see in the picture is the diffence in dyelot, but again, I am happy with it. That's one of the great things about knitting for oneself - I was more than happy about the dyelot difference, but if I was knitting for someone else I probably would not have been.

Who'd've thought it?

 

Thre I was, browsing through the Blue Moon Fiber Arts site when I saw : this . Silk. Spun in Switzerland! Shame it'll have to go to the States and only then will I be able to get it in my new home ;0)

Remember all that snow we had almost 2 years ago? Makes me feel chilly just looking at it. Mind you, last winter was wierd. And disturbing. I don't like cold weather, but when it's meant to be cold and it isn't....still, this year had seen a few bitterly cold days, so that's ok :0). Wonder what it's doing in Zurich?

16 days to go. Did you get that? SIXTEEN DAYS!

At last

 

I have found a way of getting pictures from my camera to the pc. It involved using Picassa, which somehow enabled Nikon View to then see the files...but...then I had to reformat the card before any new pics could be uploaded. It's a real pain, but at last I can show off Gretel

.....ok, quite a long time has passed simce I typed the above [paragraph. Of course, I can't find the pics when I want to upload them, so I found out how to upload them with Picasa. But it is a long drawn out process, since I am not familiar with it.

What you can see is the second Gretel that I did (I like the pattern so much!).

 

This pic shows the pattern

 

While this picture is a bit closer to the actual colour (and as you probably guessed - I hope!- that is Number Guy, not me in need of a serious facial).

The yarn was spun at about 12 WPI from some Crown Mountain Farm fibre which is just scrumptious. I think there will be more Gretels to come ;0)

Book to swap

 

I have Veronique Avery's new book.I've looked through it and it isn't for me. Anyone want to swap some sock or laceweight for it???

Result

 

Today I received the reply to my complaint about the recent treatment that I received recently. While I would rather have not had the bad experience, I am delighted to say that my complaint has been upheld.

Now, I have to admit that I am so tempted to scan the letter and print it here.....however, that would not be appropriate, so I shall refrain except to say that I hope both staff members concerned have enjoyed 'reflecting at length with their line managers'.

Stich'n'B Zürich

 

Last weekend we were in Zürich finalising a few bits and pieces. We had a great time and I managed my first Zürich knitting meet, 10 - 12 in a Starbucks Schaffhauser Strasse(or something likfe that). There were four of us all together and I had a great time - looks like I'll be passing on some of my spinning know-how when I get back ;0) . More info on the trip is to be found at I heart Zürich

There has been some knitting done of late, but the camera and computer are really not cooperating - I'll try to get the pictures downloaded onto CD at some point. I finally finished my mum's birthday present (only a couple of months late) and am speeding along on her Christmas shawl. Number Guy has also had a hat knitted for him in 'man colours' - I think he might even wear it....

Where is the time going?

 

Not the weeks - they seem to be standing still at the moment (despite the fact that I am freaking out about the move which is in less than 7 weeks ) but the hours are just flying by. I had to cancel coffee with D&T today because there is so much to do that I am just not getting done - but I am no longer in paid employ, so what's the crack?

True, there have been a couple of days that have seen me in bed until 1.00pm hangs head in shame - but this is a side effect of my new meds - honest ;0) but here we are, it is 16.33 precisely and *all* I seem to have done is sort paperwork, iron and tidy the house. You can always tell when I have deadlines that I am avoiding because I develop a deep, intimate realtionship with my iron.

The house tidying was kind of essential - my folks are housesitting while we go to Zurich this weekend to finalise the lease. The ironing was also kind of important - I don't want to appear as a complete slob until my new neighbours get to know me a little better ;0)

Speaking of moving, the movers come to do an estimate next week - I have to have all of the rbbish thrown out by then - I really do mean that I HAVE to get it done. I have that strange feeling that when I get back from Zurich there'll be no knitting until it is done ;0(

And as the camera and pc still refuse to recognise the existence of one another, here is a gratuitous kitty pic.... ....stop laughing at her ears - you wouldn't like it!

bits'n'bobs

 

As the title implies, there isn't much of a theme to this post...

On Monday I took the train to Edinburgh to meet up with Eleanor, a friend from my nursing days - you know the type of friendship, where you might not see each other for months, years sometimes yet it is as if you last met up the other week. We treated ourselves to lunch at Harvey Nics, and a very fine lunch it was too. By way of a gift before I depart these shores, Eleanor presented me with a beautiful Oxenburg Scarf. EDIT: There should be a picture of the scarf here, but my camera is playing up again...Grrr!

When I haven't been gadding about I finally got started on the clearing out that must be finished before the movers come - honestly, it is quite scary just how much rubbish there really is.

Inbetween times, there has been a fair amount of both knitting and spinning. I decide that I did not like the singles that I had spun for Icarus and sunsequently plied it with a Tencel singles. I now have the beginnings of a shawl which is a bit of a contradiction - the summers are definitely summery, but the weight is inherently that of a winter shawl... The Hourglass Sweater is coming along. I have had to frog it back to the joining round, since it was too short along the raglan. And of course, having increased the depth from armhole to neck means that I neede more yarn. Let me tell you, having practised spinning more consistenly of late it was rather hard getting the slightly 'slubby' effect of the original batch - another reason to make sure that enough yarn is spun before the knitting begins.

The cats are settling well into their new homes, I have been too busy today to dwell. Mind you, it has been a bit emotional transferring the last picture that I took of them.

Failing to keep it all in perspective

 

...the cats, what else????? It's ridiculous, I know it, I tell myself this at least 10 times a day. No one has died. The cats are having a ball. I've come to the conclusion that this is just like the break up of a relationship - wait a minute, it IS the break up of a relationship...

It's true that my 'relationship' with my cats is all in my head - after all, as long as they are warm, dry, fed and treated kindly it matters not to them who is providing the creature comforts. I, meanwhile, have even found myself dreaming of them - you know the kind of dream where they are lost, I find them but then am not allowed to take them home....

So, no matter how much I berate myself, the fact remains - there are 3 cat-shaped holes in my heart which just refuse to close.

Diagnosis delight

 

First up - thanks for all the support re the cats. In some ways I almost feel that I have no right to be upset since Number Guy and I made a decision to go to Switzerland which ultimately, despite our plans to the contrary, meant that they couldn't go. Still, they do have great homes and that is the best thing (well, best after being with us, of course....).

I saw the GI consultant today. He really is a lovely man and the fact that he gave up some of his time to see me before his over-full clinic began makes me like him even more. And even better - I now have a firm diagnosis. Put simply, the pressure in my oesophagus is too high. When this happens further down the the GI tract, one has Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which I also have symptoms of, as it happens. This was all shown by the manometry tests that I had 2 weeks ago. I also had a pH test done at the same time and this was also worth the trauma and having it in situ for 24 hours since this has shown that I also have acid reluxing into my oesophagus where it just shouldn't be.

So, treatment options. First is lifestyle - I have to contimue avoiding the things that make it worse. Mr X said that chocolate and cheese before bed really is a bad idea since they containe tyramine which has adverse effects. The good news is that he has said that I don't have to avoid tyramine-containing food completely, just be sensible about what I eat and when. I also need to continue with the positive changes inr espect of stress reduction. He feel that in cases such as this complementary treatments are potentially of benefit.

But he said something else which made me like him even more - just in case I was worrying that he thought all in my head he said emphatically that this is a very real problem and is not 'all in my mind'. Now I also want to point out that I am not denigrating psychological/psychiatric problems, which are also real in every true meaning of the word. It is simply that that since others health professionals could not come up with a diagnosis I had to suffer their condescension as a result - there was no acceptance of the fact that my problems were real and that they simply couldn't find out the cause - so I just feel better being able to wave this in their face. It would be great if others' prejudices/assumptions about different types of illness didn't exist, but they do.

As well as the lifestyle I will continue to be treated with what is actually an anti-depressant. Again, Mr X pointed out that this is not due to the psychiatric properties (I am 'scunnered' but definitely not depressed) but for the side-effects which act on the autonomic nervous system, affecting the muscles of the GI tract. It can take several months for the full effect to bcome apparent so this is a bit of a long haul. I will also need to take a Proton Pump Inhibitor such as Nexium to deal with the ongoing acid reflux.

And....on the cardiac front, the medic that I saw on Friday is fairly sure that the SVT is caused by the meds I take for the migraines.....so, bit of a viscious circle going on with this.

Isis and Athyr

 

They left tonight for their new home - they're going to be thoroughly spoiled by their new owners - lovely couple with an adorable daughter (anyone who knows me knows I don't say this about many children, so that will give you an idea of just how lovely she is!). Many tears shed....

...and just to take my mind off it, I have to have an x-ray tomorrow to see if I have a kidney stone. Tell ya, I'm sure getting my money's worth out of the NHS before I leave these shores.

Blue

 

Gone to new home today :0(

knitting

 

In time-honoured fashion, instead of getting on with whatneeds to be done, I have been knitting and spinning. Here is the knitting: It's the Hourglass Sweater in my Blue Faced Leicester hanspun - I'm at the exciting, nail-biting stage - will the 178 yds that are left be enough to finish it.....? Fortunately if I reun out, I do have some more fibre left to spin up some more. I'm completely in love with BFL - so soft and squsihy. This yarn looks very homespun is quite slubby. I like it, don't get me wrong, but I am trying to become a much better spinner - I want my next garment to be smoother so that #slubby' is a n option not the default ;0)

I think I will knit this jumper/sweater again but next time I think I will make it longer. I may well do it in the next BFL hanspun - I have ordered some in Natural, and depending upon the exact 'shade' of natural, we'll see what colour it ends up.

The spinning involved the plying of the Crown Mountain fibre that I spun up for Icarus. I decide that I just didn't like it as a singles yarn. Not wanting to Navajo ply, but wanting to maintain the coulours as they are, I spun some Tencel and have plied it together - much netter - pic later once the camera is recharged.

New blog

 

I have decided to separate my move to Zürich from this blog. So, info about the move will be documented on I heart Zürich . I am not promising complete separation, but the basic nuts-and-bolts will be over there.

Mixed emotions

 

It is a huge relief to have found all of the cats a good home. I obviously do not wish to give out someone else's private details - suffice to say that a youngish couple with a lovely daughter are going to spoil our girls rotten.

One of the couple grew up with Siamese (her mum was a breeder) so they know what makes them special. They came to our house to meet the girls first and then we visited them at their place today. We are both devastated to have to do this but are delighted that they will be much-loved where they are going.

I have only one concern (which we have discussed) - the lovely leather sofas. Our cats are not destructive, but I am sure that most cat folk would agree that there is something irresistable 'moreish' about the scratchabiity of animal hide.....

One down.......

 

So, this morning I made the final arrangements to rehome Blue - ulp. She is going to a very good home. She will be with one of her litter sisters, Alice, and an older full-brother. We have not taken any money for her, but as she is on the active register she can have some kittens (there will be no more than 3 litters, spaced well apart). So for every kitten which is sold her new owner will make a donation to the Scottish Rex club. That seems fair all round.

Still feel like Judas, Mind.

Why the cats can't come

 

In Switzerland, if someone decides that they would like to rent a property they have to fill in a form with lots of questions, get employer references etc. I guess that is pretty much like the UK. However,as I understand it, this is not the actual application - passing at this point simply means that one goes forward to be considered.

When the accomodation was marked as 'pets allowed' I think that mean one cat, not three. Last week we were in the situation where the accomodation at the top of our list simply decided 'no pets' - it could be that there was someone else who didn't have pets, I am not sure. One of the other places said we could have two cats, somewhere else that we could have one.

This was a real dilemma- we weren't guaranteed any of the places, whether or not it was 0, 1 or 2 cats. We obviously couldn't split the Siamese girls up, they have been together since the were about 3 and 6 weeks old. If they both couldn't come, then none could come. Then Friday, just as I was still struggling with this ( and still no accomodation) a decision was taken for us. The rabies vaccine for the 2 girls had failed. Now, the blood test can only be taken 21 days after vaccination. It can take 4 - 6 weeks to get the result. Christmas is coming up, that slows things even further. That meant that even if we could take them, we faced the prospect that the re-vaccination still wouldn't take ...that would mean that we could be 2 or 3 days from going and 2 cats to rehome. Of course a good home cannot be found on that time scale. Added to this,Isis had been particularly traumatised by the blood test. She was unhappy all day afterwards and I didn't think it fair to put her through that again when the chances of her coming were slim. So - difficult, but the decision had been made for us.

Blue - I was given a little hope on Monday - her vaccine has worked. Maybe, just maybe, we would get one of the other places. But no.

So, we are expecting Blue to go to someone who has one of her litter sisters, which is nice (will they have forgotten each other?). We have some people coming about the girls later this week - they have been warned to expect a very heavy grilling. That's before we even see their home. Believe me, if we don't think they are suitable, they aren't getting the cats...

So, heavy hearts. Don't get me wrong, this is a fabulous opportunity for us. The cats will get a fabulous home, but it is still a wrench

Every silver lining has a cloud...

 

So, we have just had accomodation in Zurich confirmed. This is great. But the cats can't come....they've been put through rabies vaccinations and blood tests but they just can't come.

Handknit socks and Mary Janes

 

Some things were just meant to be....

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'm sure I've has this kind of title before, but now it is ARGH! +++++++

I'm sure that many folk are the same as us - there are things that need doing to the house, that would have been much better done at the time so at least you get the pleasure of the completed work. But life gets in the way. Before you know it, 3 years have passed. And you're moving. Not necessarily to Zurich, mind you, but THOSE JOBS still need to be done.

I shouldn't complain - my mum and I had a very pleasant weekend - yarn shopping, lunching, having coffee, driving by lochs, more coffee, more driving, dinner at Kember and Jones , visit to Jennifer, going to the Tramway for knitting ......

Meanwhile my dad and Number Guy were installing a new bathroon suite.

This morning the thrill of having heating and hot water palled just a little when I realised that the house looks like 10,000 Gremlins were doing their worst.

So apart from telling myself to get a grip and appreciate that I don't have to do a 10 mile round-trip to carry water home eaach day, I'm doing the other obvious thing. Leaving it all behind to buy a pair of Mary Janes

Yarn

 

I think I'll need at least one more, if not two, if Icarus is to become fully fledged.

I forgot to put something next to the yarn for scale. It looks quite thick in this picture but in fact it is more like laceweight.

Emergency Survival Kit

 

Here are the bare essentials:
Large milky coffee
novel
knitting
Gimble- essential for knitting whilst reading
Scrabble
Sudoku puzzles
Relocation information

Believe me, dear reader, when I say that these are things which make a six hour (yep, SIX hour)stopover at Luton bearable... Fying with budget airlines is all well and good, but as you will probably know if you miss a connecting flight it's too bad, so sad. Hence the four hour stopover going, and the longer one coming back. All in all, not too bad - I even managed without any diazepam - yay!! And that was even after I reported an unattended bag (I know, Iknow, the bag was in the airport, not the plane....but when you are scared witless by flying like I am, these little hiccups really matter).

So, where was I last weekend? You mean you really have to ask? I was here, of course. This was the first of our days with a relocation agent, looking at properties -we saw 10 in all and have so far said we are interested in 4. Now we have to wait for a week since in Zurich the landlords are very particular about tenants. We have chosen two houses and two apartments.

Whether a flat or a house, there are things common to all: underground parking space, cellar space for storage, nuclear bomb shelter, open wood fire...Sorry? What was that? Nuclear bomb shelter? Yep, you read right. They are mandatory. Most of them have been divided up into compartments for storage. They make great wine cellars, it would appear.

Of the 10 places we saw on Monday, only 2 were rejected out of hand. The others were all great but the commute was just too bad for Number Goy. It isn't really the time - he wants to do no more than an hour door-to-door - but the way some of the commutes would be organised. eg 15 minute walk, bus to station, train to main station then tram for the final stage.

The Swiss aren't keen on discussing money, but let's just say that some rents seem to be the equivalent of the GDP of a small country. As people who are used to mortgages it is a little painful to part with lots of money for rent instead.

Before we had our day with the relocation agent we spent two days travelling all over the city to get an idea of places we did and didn't like. Will it surprise you to know that I stumbled upon one of the best yarn shops I have ever seen? Right up the street from an organic food shop :0)

Due to the season, we saw lots of this: I explained to the chap that since men in kilts in Scotland have to put up with tourists taking their picture, it was only fair that I got a shot of Mr 'Marroni' And since we had just bought some chesnuts, he seemed happy to oblige. But you know, roast chestnuts are in the same category as honey - I was about 18 before I had my first taste of honey (deprived childhood) and although I love it now, at the time it was such a disapointment. Nothing at all like I thought it would be. Same with roast chestnuts - they were great for keeping my hands warm, yet.....hmm, just not what I was expecting.

Now I'm off to strip - wallpaper, that is. Now that we are leaving, we are doing all those things that we've been putting off for the last decade - typical, eh?

How to finish your singles yarn....

 

First you gently soak if for a few brief moments of time in some lavender-scented wash. Then you lovingly envelope the skein in the finest Egyptian cotton cloth, soaking up the excess water with the tenderest of caresses. Then, having paused for a few heartbeats of time, you grab it by the throat, thwack it soundly against the bath until it begs for mercy, before stretching it on the rack.

Now I've calmed down enough...

 

I've written the letter.

I thought long and hard about my motives. I've decided that they are the right ones. I am not being vindictive, nor do I want I want 'revenge'. There is one simple reason - such lack of professionalism and lack of care towards a patient has no place in healthcare.

If the two 'professionals' involved can't see that, then maybe they need to reasses their career paths.

The Louet Victoria

 

Now that I have had the pleasure of Béatrice's company for a week I thought it time to give a preliminary assessment.

While somewhat petite, she seems nonetheless to be more than capable of anything I ask her to spin. Well, ok, that's an exageration - all I have tried so far is some laceweight. Want to see? I started off on the highest ratio - 14:1. As noted in the information leaflet, the highest ratio can be a bit harder to treadle, so I opted for the middle ratio of 9:1. When I began treadling the action was a bit clunky and I felt a little disappointed. However, as Béatrice and I get to know each other, her action is becoming more and more smooth.

The orrifice features a plastic bush which can be removed if a bulkier yarn is required, but that remains in situ at the moment as I am trying to spinning the laceweight that you can see in the picture above. At a later date there will be a high speed flyer available, which I may order, depending how I get on with 14:1 ratio.

The wheel came with three bobbins and a lazy kate. And it also comes without the need to lubricate - ever, which is handy. Well, if you really want to you can apply a little Vaseline to the bobbins if they get a bit stiff*

You might notice the yellow paper behind the bobbin? Well, as you know, B is a portable wheel, and I intend taking her all over the place with me. I can, however, foresee one little problem....the tensioner for the Scotch tension is quite pronounced, more so than the leather carry handle - to the extent that it looks like this may well be the way the wheel should be picked up. I have visions of some helpful person trying to move my wheel when I am away for a coffee. Hence the yellow 'This is not a handle' notice....

The fibre that I am currently spinning up was brought over by an international enabler from Canada (yep, Lilith's mum. As I still can't spin finely enough to get a really fine plied laceweight I have decided that this yarn will be a singles. To help it hold together in any weaker spots, I am going to whack the living daylights out of it - when it is wet from it's soapy bath, I'll whack it really hard against the bath. This causes a very slight 'felting'. Should be just the job to knit the Icarus Shawl in. *wow, can you imagine what kind of hits I'm gonna get - orrfice, lubrication, Vaseline.....

That's the weekend that was

 

And a blinkin' 'orrible one it was, too.

I was admitted to our local hospital on Friday and was discharged today. I now have to take the decision on whether or not to make a formal complaint.

When I was a student nurse, it was drummed into my head that 'A patient's pain is what they say it is, when they say it is.' Sadly, one of the nurses seemed to have missed that lecture. And so had one of the doctors.

I don't know about you, but when a patient who has just been discharged (and delighted to be going home) finds herself rolling about the floor in agony, I reckon that what is needed is another assessment. What I overheard between one of the junior doctors and this nurse was 'Leave her in there, she'll get fed up soon and go home'......Well, that was the final straw. Suffice to say, one snotty, crying, pain-ridden India ended up collapsing in the corridors and had to be brought back yesterday afternoon.

Having politely, if somehwat tearfully, told the doctor what I thought of his comments, he surprisingly couldn't look me in the eye today.....

Number Guy and I spoke to one of the senior nurses in the hospital yesterday after my pain had settled but I think I am going to go ahead with this complaint. Ironic, isn't it, that a couple of nights previously I had told the night sister how impressed I was with one of the other nurses on the ward,a young male staff nurse. He didn't tell patients what they 'wanted to hear', he 'simply' took the time to listen and to give the best answer he could. And he took time. He was just great.

Unfortunately, this other nurse was a different story. Right from the beginning I new she thought I was a timewaster. The problem at the moment is that the endoscopy didn't show any damage - this is good news, but it doesn't mean that there isn't a problem. She, however, has obviously decided that the GI consultant can't see a malingerer when one jumps up and slaps him in the face. I have had to endure her sarcastic tones and resistance for the past 3 days. So certain of her own 'diagnosis' was she, that even when I was in agony in the hallway and with Number Guy present, she continued with her very bad attitiude to me. Although I know myself that she has been treating me as a malingerer I am so glad that I have witness to it.

Having decided to stay last night so that they could do another test today, I did something I thought I would never do - I asked that I not be 'cared' for by this nurse. Never thought I would ever do that, never.

I had a CT scan today to check the blood vessles around my stomach, and they are fine. I have to have pH and pressure tests in a couple of weeks - involves wires up my nose (Yikes!!!) and down my throat. Not looking forward to it, but hopefully it will help.

So, a really cr***y weeked. But thank goodness for great nurses and consultants who can spot a genuiunely ill patient at 100 yards, blindfolded on a foggy night in the blackout.... <

You may want to call her 'Victoria'.....

 

But she tells me her name is, in fact, Béatrice*

* And she's very sniffy about pronunciation,let me tell you.

Blue about Blue

 

Well, we sure are feeling a little down here...we have come to the conclusion that we may have to rehome our kitten :0( :0( :0(

The other cats still seem to be feeling more than a bit frazzled and let's just say that they have been staging a 'dirty protest'.....

If we were staying here, it wouldn't be such an issue as we would be able to ride it out for the long haul. But given that we are taking the ladies on a plane. to a smaller place, we have very real concerns about what it would be like for all concerned.

Everytime Blue looks at me just now I feel so bad....

Current favourite

 

Hey there Delilah , Plain White T's

AAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!

 

Davimack was asking if I'm excited about Zurich. At this particular moment in time I am at bursting point, but not with excitement.

Trying to arrange shipping for 3 cats is not easy - since 9.30am I have been on a rollercoaster, but one which seems to be heading inexorably downwards, doomed to come to a halt amongst the tangled and twisted wreckage of my sanity.

About half an hour ago I thought I was looking at getting the cats to Heathrow. Logistical nightmare. Much 'phoning around, and speaking to a very helpful chap at KLM, has left me with a teeny-weeny bit of hope....

Random entry

 

My mind is all 'go' at the moment and I can't seem to settle to anything. However, we did have a nice weekend, Number Guy and I. We got out and about and saw lots of the Scottish countryside.

And amongst the beautiful scenery on The Isle of Arran we spotted not one, but two, of these rare delights: I have previously only seen one squirrel, on the east coast. Squirrel number 3 was nearly an ex-squirrel - the wee blighter ran right out in from of the car. I didn't hit him/her. It was close. Too close.

In the meantime, when not seeing some sights for what may be the last time (ulp...) I've been working on The Bee Stole. I'm getting a bit jaded, though, so I'm giving it a wee holiday. It's such a lovely stole that I don't want to become sick of it.

I think Ma and Pa will be coming to house sit at some point in the next month - we'll be heading off to Zürich (where else ?) to check out prossible places to live.

In the meantime, I'm trying to motivate myself to do some Gaelic and a bit of German - at the moment all I want to do is laze about.....

Going to see...

 

RUSH.

Whadayamean you haven't heard of 'em? Go have a here

It's all sorted - I can move now !

 

Look what I just joined

Lists, lists, lists....

 

What to take
what not to take,
rabies vaccines for cats,
blood-tests-to-check-efficacy-of-rabies-vaccine,
letters from doctors,
subscriptions to cancel
appartments to locate
vets in Zurich to locate
Catteries in Zurich to locate......
and so on, and so on

As you can see, my head is spinning. It's just as well that I will not have to hold down a job in the next few months because I seem to spend a lot of my sleeping time not sleeping. Still, I am putting the time to good use - I managed to make some progress on the Zurich cat boarding problem.Well, to be more accurate, I have managed to find an 'animal hotel' with an animal shipping company. That would solve the initial problem but not the ongoing one - where do the cats go when we want to go on holiday? I think that part of the difficulty is that I am searching with the wrong parameters. I think I am going to try 'pension aux animaux' - or rather, the German equivalent.... when I can find out what that is, of course.

If you look closely..

 

You just might see the bees.

I am past the first 'hive' section, which ends at the green lifeline (I usually 'fly' without a safety net, but believe me, working lace like this with three mad moggies leaping around makes lifelines essential. Don't ask me how I know - just take my word for it).

Apologies for the bad photo (I keep promising I'll do something about my poor photography skills, but I guess I'm all talk...)but I did want to share this awesome bit of knitting design. When you look at the chart, the bees just don't seem that obvious. And if I hadn't knit this myself I would assume that each wing must be made from a double yarnover, but no - it is merely (!) the clever placement of successive YOs.

The swarm section arrived just in time - I was getting to that stage where I was 'done' with the hives. The bees should be fairly rewarding to knit - I love the way they magically appear, so I guess that'll keep me going for a while - it's a bit like knitting with variegated yarn. You just can't stop knitting as each section reveals itself

When you get to the end of the first half of the stole, you pick up from the provisional cast-on and then work the other half, thus having symmetry. I don't usually mind about that, but in this case I reckon it is essential.

Decisions, decisions....

 

..so, lots of folk have been asking 'What are you going to do when you move to Zurich?'

And I always answer 'Nothing!'

But that isn't actually true. While I will not be seeking paid employment, I will be busy, busy, busy. When we decided to move to Zurich we had lots of discussions about my career. We thought it unlikely that there would be much call for a Gaelic-medium nursery teacher in Switzerland, which is the path my career was taking. So we have decided that I would hang up my teaching hat.

We've always been a good team and we decided to play to our strengths. While Number Guy is working hard, I am going to be our PA. And I do mean 'our'. My role is going to be to make life as easy as possible for the pair of us. As I won't be working, I will have the time to deal with the difficulties that life as ex-pats throw at us.

When I am not working out how to do X, Y or Z, I am going to craft. And travel :0) I plan to have a big map of Europe on the wall with pins in all the places I want to visit. When Number Guy is busy with work, I am going to jump on a train to wherever the fancy takes me.

In the meanwhile, in preparation for our move, I am going to stop teaching ahead of time. Again, there is so much to do here, and so much Numner Guy has to do at work that this seems to be the most sensible thing to do.

One of the 'must-do' tasks is to learn some German - classes start next week. I have had a mixed reaction to this - some folk are quite negative 'Well, they don't speak German anyway!' Not true. While Switzerdeutsch is the language of native-born Swiss, High German is also spoken - and it is the language of the written word. Makes German kind of compulsory IMHO

Of course, when I am not learning German, getting cats vaccinated, visitng friends to say 'Auf Weidersehen' etc, I have lots to do in the house. Hard decisions about what is going to Zurich and what is going in the bin. But when I am not doing tany of those things I am going to indulge in some sewing. I finally plucked up the courage to sut out the linen for a pinafore that I am making. Yes - a pinafore. But it's going to be a cool pinafore (if it isn't, then there'll be a lot of linen cushion-covers about the place).

So on that note, I'm off to sew, see y'all later

Ta-daa!

 

Keeping my place on the Honey Bee Stole was really driving me nutty. Of course, now that I have an understanding of this part of the pattern it isn't quite as important, but I still need a visual reminder now and again. Determined NOT to spend a lot of money on a magnetic board I had a scout around the house and came up with this: It might not be pretty, but it works - an old baking tray and some fridge magnets :0)

My tv knitting is currently 'Amelie', the current pattern on Rowan - miles and miles and miles of soothing stocking stitch - great for picking up when the bee stole needs too much of my concentration.

Not quite Carmen

 

We exposed ourselves to The Car Man yesterday, or rather some of the cast exposed themselves to us. I am quite sure it was necessary. No, vital to the success of the production. Mind you, I'd be surer if I had personally seen it happen. As it was, Number Guy got the the full frontal of two handsome and exceedingly muscular guys whipping their towels off ;0)

If you get a chance, go see this - if you take your 12+ child with you, you might want to be prepared to explain some girl/guy, guy/guy 'action' - but remember it'll be dark in the audience ,so no one will see you blush...

When we aren't off to the theatre we are busy, busy, busy - making lists of lists of things to do, cats to vaccinate, visits to make, friends to see. But it's good to know that we are unaided in this venture - as you can see, whenever dealing with a creepy crawly is added to the list, the cats are happy to put aside the death threats, unite and join in the fray.

Currently listening to ....

 

Radio Zürisee.

I know this will really surprise you all, but I can't understand a darn word....;0)
I begin German classes fairly soon, but of course this does not help with Schweizerdeutsch. However, I am determined to be able to speak some of this dialect eventully. I just need to try to ensure that if I pick up any books on it (strange, really, as it isn't a written language) that I get the Zurich ones. I mean, imagine the frustration of picking up some Basel Schweizerdeutsch!

Making the most of the sunshine

 

Sometimes you have to have a bit of lateral thinking if you want to do a few chores* and get some sun * I know, I must be a it loopy, normally I would just ditch the chores. Let's just say that Zurich is going to my head a little bit....

My daily bread

 

You don't hear that often!

 

Breaking news: Those of a delicate disposition may wish to sit down, call a relative or arrange for an ambulance to be on standby.

Our own correspondent reported that a 'reliable source' confirmed that a young student was heard to question 'Is there an ironing board?' as he explored his new residence yesterday. The young man's mother had to visit the local A&E department shortly thereafter, but insisted that this was mere coincidence....

Moving On

 

I am going to feel such a mix of emotions when we go - In fact I'm feeling many of them already ...

And though Number Guy and I fully intend to keep in touch with our friends - whether they want us to or not! - I'm sure there'll be some tears from me along the way. It's been great to have my friends' reactions - delighted for me, but going to miss me, too.

But I was just a bit worried by one friend's reaction. Heather -
"Great! We'll have a party!........;0)

Zurich here I come!

 

we're moving - to Zurich! Yep, you read that correctly. And I can't wait :0)

It'll be a few months yet - notice period to work, accomodation to arrange, cats to get Pet Passports for.... German to learn

We're nervous - but sooooo excited!

Who was responsible?

 

'Cos I'd like to say 'Thank you!'

Of course, I'll never know who planted the fruit trees in our garden, and I know they weren't intended for me, but I'd like to give thanks anyway. As I was gathering the apple and plums yesterday morning I had such a strong sense of continuity down the years...and I was so glad that the garden, and its bounty, is being enjoyed more than 100 years on. I don't know how long fruit trees live (ever tried Googling something like that?)and while they may not be Victorian, they aren't in their first flush of youth so I am appreciating them each and every year.

I'm going to resit the temptation to just wolf these beauties down - they are intended for jam today...and maybe a yummy plummy crumble, served with some clotted cream. Plums and crumble and cream. Oh my!

OK, moving swiftly along....I spent yesterday working on another Amy Butler skirt. I wanted to wear it out last night and decided that instead of lining it I would just apply a bias-tape finish. It's ok, Im pleased with it, but my first attempt at bias tape went plum pear-shaped. I carefully followed the instructions in Amy's book but it just didn't work. The instructions seem quite clear, so I guess I just screwed up in an easy-to-do-yet-hard-to-notice way. Oh well. In the end, amid much cursing, I cut out a facing for the waist and applied that. Picture - possibly-later.

So I guess I better go work on that jam - my son is back from uni for a while, and I'm sure if I don't get to those plums he'll do a great job on them ;0)

Whaddaya mean, get off the laundry?

 

As you can see, our Blue likes her creature comforts.
And I can kind of see her point. There is a perfectly good cat hammock purposefully placed to dream the days away in, next to a warm radiator - but it is usually occupied by Isis.
And Blue aint nobody's fool - a row from me v head bitten off by cat.
Which would you choose ?

Edit: Number Guy says he'd take his chances with the cat. Bloomin' cheek.

What's your 'JFK' moment....?

 

You know, for those of us who don't have one, what's your equivalent 'significant world event'?

Me - the death of Elvis. I still remember clearly being told by my mum. I was 11 years old, due to start High School in a day or so. I'd been out playing with a friend and rushed into the house for something. Even then, only 11, I could tell that my mum had some bad news for me. I guess she must've agonised over how to break it to me. I was devastated. It didn't help that my friend had no idea of the mortal blow just dealt, insisting that we hurry up back to our game.

Thirty years on, and I'm still saddened by his demise. I guess he was no different to the stars of today who, despite having so much material wealth, are desolate within.

He sure had feet of clay, but he'll always be The King to me.

I blame Heather.

 

After reading a recent post comment from Heather , and talking to the vet (more about that later), I decided to throw caution - and cats - to the wind, Here is the result:

All I can say is that Blue is lucky that the other cats are generally decent beasts - they have growled, hissed and looked exceedingly mean. But that's all. When she got too cheeky, they simply ran away.

For some unexplicable reason they decided that today was the day to get a bit closer....I wasn't quick enough here, but as you can probably guess, the three cats were on Number Guy's knee (though I think he was wishing that he was wearing, ahem, some sort of protection).

I am glad that Athyr has relaxed a bit - we can add another £33.00 to the cost of the kitten, since poor Athry developed a 'stress-induced' colitis(Wonder why that was.....?) hence the visit to our local vet. Since that cats were much more subdued than usual, it wasn't easy to tell that she was off-colour. And since they eat together, it was hard to tell that she hadn't been - eating, that is. Just as well I'm such an astute person ;0).

Chicken in a basket

 

Cat on a lead.

There rests a very uneasy peace chez Twelfthknit en ce moment.....One of the problems is that if the other cats aren't threatening to tear her to shreds, Blue thinks she can just leap at them unannounced. Now, the logical part of my brain thinks 'Let then get on with it. One major hissy fit and the groundrules will be sorted out.' Unfortunately, the rest of me is too wimpy for that. So I reckon this may be a bit of a compromise (for me, I realise that!) Blue can have some periods of time near the older cats, but it won't be a free for all. AND it has another distinct advantage - I don't need to worry about her getting into somewhere troublesome if there's no-one to help get her out.

PS - can you see what she's reading? A bit advanced, our Blue...

May I present....

 

.....Tamorie WildBlueYonder.

Whadaya mean, you can't see her? She was there a second ago. I had the perfect shot lined up.I paused for a nanosecond before pressing the shutter.....and she was off ....into the wild blue y..... Now you know why we chose her name. We had a bit of prescience. We were I was right.

Blue, as she is to be known, is just a tad tricky to take a picture of. I've been trying to catch her 'Rexness'. This gives just a hint of their silhouette from behind Those ears.....

The Scottish Rex Cat Club has a great logo which just sums the shape up perfectly, IMHO

Some people have likened her to ET....but we won't go there.

2 Siamese +1 Devon Rex

 

= distinct lack of harmony.

We brought Blue home about an hour ago - she was fed, watered, given time for a 'comfort break'. The we let the Big Girls in. They're not having it. Nope. Not at all.

Blue, meanwhile, is safely in a run that we originally had for the other two. They, meanwhile, stalk up to the wire for just enough time to hiss and spit at the poor wee blighter before they run away again.

It's gonna be a long few days.

Do Not Disturb

 

A large latte, made just the way I like it......some toast slathered with honeycomb....and Rowan 42.
Need I say more....?

The sad case of the wine-and-yarn in the nighttime...

 

There I was last night, enjoying a small glass of red wine, admiring the yarn that Alison had sent as the prize for winning a blog competition....

....and what I really want to know is this - why is it times like this that one, erm, chucks the bl**dy stuff all over the place has a minor incident with the wine????? And why is it that while I feel bad enough about spilling wine on YARN, I feel kind of guilty because it has been given to me.....But all is not lost. I am going to overdye it. Instead of the lovely soft pinks and fresh grass, it's going to end up....wine coloured, I guess.

Edit: And look here - now you can see why I am SO naffed off with myself. No more being tiddly in charge of great yarn!!!!!

Shetland Triangle

 

How many times have you been walking down a street when a perfect stranger comes up to you and thrusts some yarn into your hand? Not any of your common or garden stuff, mind. No scratchy nylon or acrylic, something better. Much better. Like ...cashmere. Yeh, never happens to me, either..

However, a friend of mine did have some cashmere that she needed to rehome ;0) ;0)

I've tried 'enhancing' both of these pictures, but neither of them accurately reflect the deep berry colour. The real shame, though, is that this isn't 'touchivision'. I don't think I've ever had the pleasure of knitting with such wonderful yarn.

I nearly missed it...

 

MY INVITE TO RAVELRY!!!!!!!

There I was, dipping into a few new blogs when I saw that it is now possible to check where in the queue you are - bet they got fed up with folk moaning ;0) When I clicked the link, I saw that I'd already been sent my invite...on the 23rd of July. Seems the spam filter ate it... I never liked spam. Like it even less now...

Anyway, all is not lost :0) I now have my account. Now I just need some time to play.

Yeehaaaaah!

international jet-setter

 

Well, my green credentials are looking kinda muddy at the moment....2 weekends ago in Zurich, last week in Skye, this week in Berlin. Yep, that's right, I was in Berlin.

We arrived mid-afternoon on Monday and caught the train to Hauptbanhof, the main rail station in the city. You have to be there to appreciate this place, which is on about 6 levels and looks like some futuristic space station, not somewhere to change train. As the train pulled in we saw this amazing sculpture.

I also saw something else incredibly amazing - make that foolish, actually ;0) How many people do you know, when faced with a whole line of German 'riot-police' would slip between them? I mean, wouldn't your natural instinct be to let them pass? Not dive in amongst them, making them break step and glare at you....well, it's not Number Guy's natural instinct. Fortunately they must've decided he was a dumb tourist and not really trying to trip them up...

Following that interlude, we jumped on another train to Tiergarten where we booked into our hotel. Having expected something akin to a Travelodge I was more than delighted with the hotel that had been arranged.

We did some of the usual tourist things, like visitng Checkpoint Charlie I have a few mixed feelings about this, since I know that there is some controversy about the way the Wall and events surrounding it are memorialised. And I can't help but feel that novels about the Cold War have left some of us with 'romanticised' views about this dark era. However, be that as it may, I was very moved by what I read at the Checkpoint and in the museum, as was my son. And that is surely no bad thing....

The other two whole days that we had available were spent at a museum and Berlin Zoo, interspersed with general sight seeing and eating. I also had the opportunity to meet up with Jennifer - typical, isn't it? You go on holiday and meet your friends and neighbours:0)

Holidays

 

Firstly, thanks for the advice that was given re my camera - it is definitely an error with the card, so when I have a moment or two to think about it, I shall try some of the suggestions.

I am a bit miffed that my pictures of Zurich seem to be 'lost' but let's face it. with all the awful things that happen, it shouldn't even be on a list of disappointments...

Last week I was on Skye at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gaelic college. This is the third year that I have gone up for a week's tuition and I have been filled with vim and vigour! We had a wonderful tutor for the week. Therefore I am forging ahead with my Gaelic studies and have applied for An Cùrsa Adhartais - according to the college, at the end of this two year distance learning course I should be fluent......I am hoping to add another language or two to my repertoire, so soon I'll be unstoppable in about 3 languages :0)

Number Guy had a great week while I was in class - I would like to think the fact that I was in class had nothing to do with it...anyway, he went to Applecross and I was more than a little jealous, since the day was marvelous and hence the views were also. He did make it up to me though - we went to Kinloch Lodge for dinner. It was marvelous. It was expensive. So we went only once ;0)

Of course, I cannot show you any pictures from Skye since I didn't have a working camera....but having bought a new card today, I decided to try it out. Without much to inspire me, I decided on a few garden pics - here is a a wee comparison of the yarn bought in Zurich our very first clematis.

And this is kind of how I would like our back garden to look - a profusion of tumbling flowers. At the moment we have a profusion of overgrown grass and weeds

Right, back to the grindstone - I've been LaTeXing the little bit of the assignment that I've done. I can do only so much work on the PC before I need a hard copy to be able to make sense of it all. For those of you not familiar with LaTeX it is a really useful document preparation tool, which I have mentioned previously. However, one has to type in all the formatting commands and then instruct the programme to build the document. Inevitably there are errors, so then one has to go through the work and painstakingly fix these before the file document can be built. As I am a new user, I have more errors than most. One it's done, though, a rather nice PDF is created which I can print and read.

But only once it's done....

Playing with pictures

 

As I haven't been able to anything about my Zurich pictures, I decided to find out how to adjust digital pictures. Here is my first attempt.

I can't show you the 'before',since I hadn't realised that when I renamed it that the original would be overwritten....but the overall image looked more like this:

And here's the 'after' of the second image: It's all a bit 'blunt', but I didn't realise that I had any such facility on my PC. I'm going to practice some more and see if I can improve my pictures for the blog - if I can ever get the PC and camera to speak to each other again.

Zurich

 

This is where I had planned to dazzle y'all with some great pictures, but as I said in the previous post, the card on my camera isn't playing - it's taking the pictures, but the computer can't read them...

All I have is about 4 pictures, including this one of a tram* ...and some toasters.

Toasters? Yep - but boy. they're some toasters...

I'm sure that anyone who has been to Zurich will agree that it is a beautiful place, and clean to boot. Safe, friendly, excellent public transport, great food...wonderful yarn. Yep, I didn't let my lack of German hinder me ;0) I tracked down some great silk/merino but for now you're gonna have to trust me.

The weather faeries had been out in force and espite the fact that the weather recently had been awful we had a wonderful few days - can you believe I was actually too hot? In the shade ?

But I'm not complaining. Nope. I loved it. Now I just want to know - when can I go back????

* It's my blog, so if I want to put pictures of trams on it, I will!

Nikkon camera help needed

 

Aargh! I have some pics to share, but my computer is playying silly beggars. I.ve got a Nikkon Coolpix 3700 with lots of pictures on the card - when I put the card in the PC it is a s if there are no oictures on it. I tried deleting the previous pictures, to see if that helped, to no avial.

Any suggestions? Much appreciated....
India

Galvanised into action, sewing

 

Isn't it amazing how an impending visit can move things up the 'to do list' in a most dramatic fashion?

In a week or so, a friend is arriving to give me a sewing lesson (which I'll tell you more about after the event, obviously) and I just couldn't put IT off any longer. The Grand Tidy - which is a bit of an understatement, let me tell you. Here are a couple of shots now that I am about 90% done Now I haven't hoovered yet, or tidied up completely, but it's a lot better. So much so that I don't have the nerve to show you what it was like before...

See those drawers? They hold some, but by no means all, of my yarn stash. I haven't shown you the fibre or fabric - think I'll leave that for when I'm feeling stronger ;0)

But this hasn't been the only tidying in progress. Y'know when you have so many things on the go that your mind just refused point blank to have anything more to do with your knitting? When even the thought of what you'll have to go through just to locate a project is enough to make you lie down in a darkened room for days? No? And you call yourself a knitter....? Anyway, it was like that chez moi - between the chaos in my craft room, and the chaos in the knitting corner something was going to have to give. So I've also been 'rationalising my knitting', which is an oxymoron if ever I heard one.... I now have a basket, albeit a fairly large one, with all of my works in progress contained therein. Well, the ones I could find anyway. The good thing is that I feel mentally 'uncluttered now'. So much so that when the Early Childhood & Society thingy is out of the way I am going to sew this: Isn't that just the best fabric? Combined with this '60s dress pattern I thinks it's gonna be grrreat ;0)

twelfthknit: Backpack I

 

twelfthknit: Backpack I

twelfthknit: Backpack II

 

twelfthknit: Backpack II

Alston 2007 II

 

Just when I thought I hadn't got a picture of the silk spinning, look what I found... See that pink stuff? It's a silk cap and it takes some amount of working, let me tell you. I am going to try the advice in the link if I ever spin a silk cap again (which is to wear surgical gloves), because my fingers were a bit of a mess after. Come to think of it, I might try chain mail gloves - I think that is the level of protection that is required. I much prefered the silk top which was a delight to spin

Our instruction was provided by Joyce**, who is a lovely lady - she used to be a member of the Craven Spinners*, I believe, and as it is their members who organised the event I expect she was even more welcome ;0) The bag of goodies which is being held up for the camera is the mix of merino and silk that we were using over the weekend.
*Edit: Eeek! Screaming of brakes and a dashing back to Blogger. I believe that the Bowland Guld may have been involved....whew, did I get away with that? Will I be allowed back next year....?

Here are a couple of reprobates for your delectation: First up is Hazel, or Haxel, as I like to call her Next we have Maxine and I like to call her, well, Maxine.... Have you noticed the variety of wheels, by the way?

Now, I know that the weavers will moan ;0) so here is another example of Krokbragd weaving . Isn't the internet a marvelous place? I typed in a few random letters and managed to get a decent link. I believe that there were a few difficulties at the beginning of the class, but what do you expect when folk swing from the rafters instead of settling down to work? Thanks goodness one or three folk got their fingers out ;0) (Yep, I've got one more sample to show, but not just yet....)

So, Number Guy - here is the proof. We WORKED. All weekend. There was no revellry. No gossiping. No quaffing of ale. No eating of vast quantities of food....

**And, while I like to call this fine lady 'Joyce', her name is in fact 'Jean'...

A Thousand Splendid Suns

 

Have you ever been so caught up in a novel that you find yourself enraged at the treatment that one human being is doling out to another? You find your stomach clenching at the petty cruelties handed out so carelessly, yet with so much thought behind them. A Thosand Splendid Suns is having that effect on me.

Khaled Hosseini writes a mean tale, on more than one level, and as I listen to the audio version, I find myself hoping that Laila and Maryam's husband gets his dues. Not very Buddhist, is it?

It isn't a very relaxing 'read', but I highly recommend it.

Fighting the Black Dog

 

(If you are looking for Alston Hall entry, scroll down to previous one - and keep coming back for updates. I'll remove this rather odd comment in a few days, but it need to be here just now, honest!)

I was really interested in Ginger Nut's campaign and thought I would share my own story - using knitting to fight depression. If you want to read more about how this is being done, click the image above.

Now, while I don't walk in to a crowded room and declare 'I'm a knitter and a bit of a nutter!' sorry - I just couldn't help it - alliteration, rhyme and stereotyping all rolled into one ;0)

Let me start again - While I don't walk into a crowded place and announce that I have been both psychiatric nurse and patient, I never shy away from the subject should it be appropriate.

I guess that it was writ large in my stars that depression would find me sooner or later - I'm not going into details here - and when you add becoming a mother for the first time hundreds of miles from home, to an unhappy marriage, the result is unsurprising. The only surprising thing is that I managed to hold it off for so long.

Not so strangely, I think, I depression finally caught up with me at a time when my life should have been easier - child just at school, I'd qualified as a nurse, starting a part-time degree. But I think this is often the way - somehow, somehow, you keep battling on while you have to. Once the pressure is released - bam! Hits you right between the eye.

I'm going to scroll on a few years here and you'll find me at home, having just been discharged after my second admission. I'm still appalled at that. Discharge PLAN? Had anyone at that place even HEARD of the notion? And what about patient actually being FIT for discharge.....

Boy, it was tough. I was so lonely. In so much emotional pain. DIdn't know what to do with myself. Then I had the faintest glimmer of an idea - I could knit, couldn't I?

You must be bloody joking! If what you expected was a tale of how knitting salved my injured soul, you've come to the wrong place....but don't go just yet. Hear me out. In my mind at the time (which was such a bruised and battered place, let me tell you) people who knitted were Sad. Lonely. Pathetic. Ergo, if I knit I would become Sad. Lonely. Pathetic.

What I didn't see at the time, what I couldn't see at the time is that I already was this person. I just couldn't bear to admit it to myself. If you have suffered in the way that I have, you will understand the emotional pain which is so intense it becomes an actual physical pain deep within. My mind just couldn't take any more, couldn't admit what I was actually feeling.

So knitting didn't help me fight off that depression. Not one little bit - if you want to know how I did succeed, you'll need to tune in to a future episode. But what I do know now, is that knitting right here right now is part of my master plan. The plan that keeps me well, off the tablets and out of hosptial. Sure, I have my moments, my days when I am blue. Sometimes it's deeper than that and I have to take action. Knitting, and just as importantly, the knitting community, is part of that plan. Not the only part, but an important one nonetheless.

Tune in next week folk, for another rivetting episode of 'How India keeps out of the Funny Farm.' ;0)

EDIT: I have had to hide the comments for this post becasue I accidentally published an email that I didn't mean to - feel free to add any comments regarding this post on another one.

Alston 2007

 

It's nearly 11 pm and Number Guy and I have been back for about 20 mins. I still feel like I'm in a moving vehicle :0( However, it was worth it, my fourth visit to Alston Hall When even the 'welcome' sign is set in such lovely surroundings, you know you're in for a treat...

As expected, and sincerely hoped for, most of the usual friends and aquaintances were there. Sadly (for us, anyway !) Carol and Pete weren't there this time - not that this stopped me buying one of their spindles ;0) ;0) Where there's a will, there's a way - in this case, Freyalyn, who kindly brought lots of Carol and Pete's goodies to show us. When she isn't facilitating our habits further by providing a dazzling array of her own dyed fibres, Freyalyn is a mightily talented spinner - and here is the lovely lady herself, clutching her brand new Little Gem wheel. If you like luscious fibre, check back in a few days for pics of the tiny quantity that I got over the weekend

As my internal battery runs down, I can't decide what to 'show and tell next', so I think I'll put a pic up of some of the wild folk who came along for the spinning workshop - just be glad they're spinning in this picture, because when they weren't they could be found swinging from the chandeliers and getting up to all sorts of mischief. I, meanwhile, remained the perfect example of decorum and modestly at all times. And just to keep things equal ( and to make sure I get invited back!) here is a weaving sample - the other guys were doing some amazing Norwegian technique which I can't even begin to spell.(The word reminded me a bit of Gaelic, to tell the truth - the letters sound nothing like you expect them to, and half of them are silent!)

So that's all the show-and-tell for tonight, but over the next few posts I'm going to put up my 'Wanted Gallery' of the rest of the gang that came along. There are a couple of other lovely examples of the weaving to show - if my addled memory serves me correctly, they were done by Marilyn and Mary,who did a grand job of organising this weekend. Superbly well, in fact, as they were 'Organiser Virgins'. They must have been just a tad nervous as they had a lot to live up to - that superb piece of weaving you can see above was done by Liz, who hung up her hat last year after 10 years of organising Alston. I think we are all agreed that Mary and MArilyn passed muster.

Before I go for the night, I have to admit to a bt of a slip - I forgot to take pictures of our silk spinning.....not only does this mean you can't get a glimpse of the spun fibre, but now Number Guy is going to be more convinced than ever that all I do at these things is 'drink tea' and gossip....

And on that note, I'm off to bed - tioraidh an-drasta!

Before I head off...

 

....lookee here .
My bag got a mention - I'm swelling with pride ;0)

Reduce, reuse, recycle

 

Well, I've just managed to put my eyes back in their sockets.... I was Googling 'Kaffe Fasset shirt quilt' because I'm going to make, well, I guess you can figure it out ;0)
Now, while I realise that Google can throw up some pretty weird results, I was, quite frankly, astounded. And while I wouldn't classify this as a 'family blog', I have decided to spare my blushes - and yours - by not quoting some of the results. For those of a more 'curious' nature, let's just say I had managed to type in 'Kaffe Fasset sh*t quilt' .Without the asterisk. With an 'i'. Indeed

So, moving along, I had hoped to show you a pic of a finished 'shirt' quilt top, but even when I did manage to get the right phrase, I still couldn't find what I was after. Anyway, having decided to make this my first foray into quilting, it was only when I had actually purchased 5 half-yards of shirting that the light bulb came on - Why not use cotton shirts from the charity shops? Why not indeed. So here are 9 of my '15 different fabrics' - the bottom four being the shirts I bought today. All 100% cotton, costing about £14.00 total.

I want the finished quilt to be quite light, so I'll be focussing aquiring on lighter stripes.

The sewing will be on hold for a little while, though. As well as the assignment to do (why am I always doing an assignment?), I'll be off to Alston Hall tomorrow for a spinning weekend. This is the fourth year that I've been and it's great - both in terms of value for money and the company. And it has to be said that the staff go out of their way to be helpfull. And there's breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner......I'm bound to come back spherical

Tha also means that I'll be maintaing radio silence - if you get in touch with me I won't be able to reply until late Sunday - while I'm happy for my dear mum to house sit, I don't think either of us would be happy if I let her loose on my blog ;0)

Have a great weekend - I know I will !

Le Weekend

 

You mean it was only the one??? It feels more like 3 or 4...

Began on Friday, when we headed for Cumbria and Woolfest, a half-day earlier than expected, which should have meant a half-day extra. Unfortunately my changeover of migraine meds was NOT going well, so I had to leave after only one and a half hours. This was around about the time I thought 'Sod this!' and went back on the Pizotifen, big time. It may have helped in the gaining of 2 stone over the past 4 years, but I forgive it everything. Some drugs are just meant to be....

Saturday was better pain-and-nausea-wise, but I don't think I was making much sense. Put it this way, Heather may have had a slight interest in spnning before our little 'conversation', but I reckon she'll have had none after :0)

Fighting womanfully against the migraine, I did manage to make the best of the day, but unfortunately I have no pics....there were more vendors this year - no empty rows like the last two years. I'll do a bit of show-and-tell in a subsequent blog, but let's just say that various . great. stalls were visited.More than once.

.

Met up with various folk, including a number of Rowanettes, as well as Jill who has defected to the dark side married and moved away from the area.

Despite the seductive tones emanating from this little beauty we had to leave about 3-ish. Not to Marrakech as had been our original plan, but to Leicester to visit Number Guy's family

.

We headed North on Monday, but took our time, meandering through the Lakes, stopping off to eat dinner at one of our favourite places. By the time we got home on Tuesday I felt like I'd been away for years.

And in lieu of Woolfest pics, here's a reminder of what summer in Glasgow can be like

 

Bags packed? - check
Housesitter arranged? - check
Kitties off to cattery?* -check
Emergency Kit Sock knitting ready to go? -check.
Still on yarn diet ? - check
Picnic re....er, wait a minute ? Yarn diet? What Yarn diet?
Revised 'diet' plan ready? -Check

Ok, ok - Woolfest here I come!!!!
I'll be taking my new bag with me, so if you recognise it, and want to come and put a name to a face, come and say hi (the face isn't too bad, honest!).

*Housitter bringing dog with them?-check

Backpack III

 

Well, if I was chocolate, I would eat myself - but the credit should really go to Leisl

This is such a great bag. I wanted to do the whole 'in the garden' thing, but the weather in Glasgow isn't so good, so we're doing the 'by the window, looking into the garden' thing. Just peeking out of the top is the magnetic snap that came with the pattern, and that was really easy to fit. Adding the rivets to the handles was a bit more of a fiddle, but ok in the end.

I followed the instructions almost to the letter - the only two things I did differently were :
1 I applied glue from a glue stick to the right side of the zip tape, then used an iron to 'set' this onto the fabric. That way I didn't have to tack (baste) the zip or use pins It worked out really well.
2 I added a keyring loop, visible on the right side of this picture. If you know me, you won't have to ask why...

The pattern was very well written, so that even as a newbie sewer I managed to do a great job - I was slightly confused about the way to stitch the 'window' around the zip, but that was because I was a bit tired. Being a bit more sewing 'savvy' now, I didn't sew this section until I'd had a break, read the pattern again and then realised what to do.

One of the great things about this bag is that it is a tote as well as a backpack -here you can see the bag in backpack mode - cool, isn't it?

As I said in Backpack I , I was very careful about how I placed the pieces. As you can see, it was worth the effort - there's no point in using material like this if you're not going to make the most of it. I am definitely going to make more of these bags - I'm thinking some Amy Butler or Heather Bailey fabric. But I'm going to get that rotary cutter first.

In the meantime, I have a retro dress pattern that is next on my list, but before I go, here's what I whipped up while I was waiting for Number Guy to get the heck off this computer.

Backpack II

 

After a marathon sewing session, the outer bag is complete. Right now I feel like I never want to sew again....actually, that's not true, but sewing the sides/bottom to the two main pieces was really hard going. The second side was easier, because I had the experience of sewing the first one. Although there is a 'jog' between the pocket and the main piece, I am still really pleased with the way it looks.

I remembered to put a needle on top of the button when I was sewing it on, so that a shank formed, thus making it easier to fasten the button loop onto it - this is the only tip that I couldn't see in the instructions - now that I've said that, I bet it's there somewhere, there are so many other handy hints in the pattern. One thing that was mentioned, which I think is really good advice, is to use a walking foot to sew the various layers together on the main bag. It isn't a disaster not having one, but for bag number two, I plan to have one.I also plan to use a rotary cutter next time - there aren't too many curves, so I think I should manage. It has to be better than all the cutting out with scissors

I've just pinned the straps at the silver rings in order to get an idea of how the straps work as a backpack and tote - it's so simple, but I bet I wouldn't have thought of it.

And now I'm off for a stiff gin and tonic.

Backpack I

 

Coinciding with my decision to sew a bag, is Bag month at Sew, Mama, Sew!

My chosen bag is none other than the backpack from Disdressed - and the good news is that Leisl is reprinting this pattern, which I thoroughly recommend. The pattern is printed on one sheet of very good quality paper - none of that tissue nonsense - and there is a very clear pattern booklet which gives some useful tips as well as the actual instructions.

The pattern took only 5 days from the States to the UK. The envelope containing the pattern has a list of all the materials required, including the various metal rings etc - I decided it was worth the little bit extra to purchase these bits'n'bobs along with the kit, which just left a zip plus fabric to aquire.

Now, I don't usually have a strong idea about which fabric I want to use - I usually browse until something appeals. Not this time. I knew exactly what I wanted, even though at the time I didn't know the name - French Toile. I decided to go with this idea and was amazed to find it on my first outing - upstairs in the soft furnishing dept of John Lewis. (I saw a really hideous one today - thank goodness I didn't see it first, or I think I'd've changed my mind - it was so bad.)

And, unusually again, I decided that 'good enough' was not going to do. Even though it is a waste of fabric, and very time consuming, I am being very picky about the way I lay the fabric out. Instead of folding the fabric to cut two pieces together, and fitting them 'cheek by jowl' to minimise waste, I am centering individual pieces to make the most of the 'prints'. The front of the bag has a pocket - as well as centering the design, I chose two identical pictures - the front of the bag has the whole image, the pocket has the bottom half.

Have a squint at the bottom picture - when I lay one on top of the other, it matches up quite well, dontcha think? ;0)

Couldn't resist

 

One more pic in the daylight.

Say hello, wave goodbye

 

Four kitties would have been a little too much just now, so this Heather Bailey*one is off to a new home tomorrow.

*It's 1.35 am and I'm afraid the link to the site is the best I can do - the pattern itself is eluding me ;0)

Edit: No wonder I couldn't find the pattern - it's a Wee Wonderful pattern....

Copycat? Me?

 

Any suggestion that any of this post....

Was inspired by this one is just a viscious rumour

Comfort food

 

Honey, maple syrup, tea, coffee, flour, tinned tomatoes, pasta... a bit of an eclectic mix, that.

But the reasoning behind it is quite simple - I am living in a time of plenty. When I was growing up, we were almost on the bread line - in other words, money was very scarce

I was often hungry, but fortunately it was only that real hunger that comes from working up an appetite, with no rubbish inbetween meals to fill you up. I was never in danger of starving.

But treats were rare, and only ever bought one at a time.

Today, when I ran out of maple syrup, I went to the store cupboard and got another bottle out - and that left another spare. I looked at my neatly ordered cupboard (yep, Number Guy puts the shopping away!) and appreciated once again how fortunate I am that I can buy what I want, and don't have to strike item after item off my list until the bare minimum is left

A cupboard full of food - comfort indeed.

Coming to a blog near you.....

 

And they said it couldn't be done.....Number Guy has agreed to this:

Or maybe this:

Or maybe even one of these:

Yep, Number Guy has agreed to a Devon Rex. And one of these little ladies will be coming to us at the beginning of August. number Guy says I have chosen the one with the scrunched up prettiest face. And I agree with him. Trouble is, from the pictures, I can't remember which one it is.....

Now we just have one more problem -what shall we call her?????

Congratulations!

 

This is a month or so of jumbled emotions. Whenever I see little rosbud mouths, tiny fingers curled around a blanket edge, my hear gives a little lurch. I want one. It's not fair!!! - can you feel a tantrum coming on?

But one of the positive things about my whole infertility situation is, that despite my own heart-wrenching, I feel nothing but joy for those who are luckier than I. I wish all the bloggers and fellow crafters who are giving birth round about now the very best of times in the years ahead.

Not like me to be so soppy, is it, but if you don't tell, I won't ;0)

Say Cheese!

 

Homemade mozzarella, following a recipe from Andrew of Geek Farm Life

This was SO easy to make. The hardest part was tracking down the citric acid and a thermometer which read low enough. Following a suggestion from Andrew, I got both at a Homebrew shop in Glasgow

Start to finish? About 45min including preparation, although Number Guy tells me that milking the local buffalo took a darn sight longer.
Yield - 1lb cheese from 8 pints milk. Although this will be best fresh, I am going to freeze 3/4 of it.
And what's next on the cheesemaking front? Well, I think I might be able to make ricotta from the whey (or I may be totally wrong about that). If I can, I'll try that the next time I make my very own mozzarella.

And in the meantime I'm going to track down some enzymes and have a go at some other cheese.

4 things

 

Ok, tagged by Roobeedoo

4 jobs I have had in my life: School technician - this was ok. The fun part was when I has been sent in by the Senior Technician( brave man) to collect the bullseyes from the local slaughterhouse and the bag burst. Eyes, like fried eggs, splattered all along the hallway behind me. Poor firt year kids nearly passed away on the spot...
Creche assisstant - hmm, not too bad. This was in the days before child protection was really considered. I think we did a good job - but no checks like we have today. Scary
Nurse - Registered Mental ;0) I enjoyed being a psychiatric nurse, but haven't practised for 10 years (where does the time go?)
Teacher - currently teach 3 - 5 year olds. I complain, but secretly I really like it. Just don't tell anyone.

4 films I can watch again and again:
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - especially The Two Towers
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - I cry every time. It's so sad. And I can never make up my mind about whether Miss Threadgoode is Idgy or not.
The Green Mile - I don't read any of Stephen King's horror, but this is a great tale of hope (and redemption?).
And just like Roobeedoo:- Truly Madly Deeply
4 places I have lived: Glenrothes - Fife
Great Dunmow - in an old Poor House
Arbroath - when I had my first teaching post
Glasgow
4 TV series I watch:
ER - Luca: what's not to love?
Doc Marten, or however it's meant to be spelt.
Grand Designs with Number Guy, 'cos he really likes this programme
erm, various history/green issue type things that I can't remember the titles of.
4 places I have been on holiday:
Skye – for a Gaelic course every year, and to eat at The Three Chimneys if possible
Venice - worth getting on a plane for
Paris - years ago. This time I'd like to go back with someone who actually want s to be there with me.
The New Forest.4
things I do every time I am on the Net:
Check my emails
Read my favourite blogs
Check the “what’s new” section of my favourite wool websites
Check my podcasts on iTunes
4 things I would NOT eat for anything in the world:
Foie gras - c'mon, have some compassion
Grubs
brains
eyeballs
4 places I would love to be right now:
Anns an Eilean Sgitheanach - in Skye
In my garden in the dappled shade
Provence, wandering among the lavender fields
terekking on horseback in The Rockies - now, this is a complete fantasy. I don't know how realistic it is, or how many bears would want to gobble me up, but a girl can dream.

Lazy hazy days of summer...Part II

 

So, this is what I was making.Yep - the cushion. Not the chair...

Simple, but fun.
I made this with an envelope opening at the back - less fuss with closures. Before I turned it right side out, I graded the seams
The corners were sewn on a diagonal, not a right-angle. I seemed to remember reading that this is the way to sew a corner and it certainly gave a good finish when turned out the right way.
And, having that urge to add every possible embellishment now that I have started, I restrained myself by just adding two buttons. It's impossible to tell, but the stitching on these two flowers is purple, having run out of the pink. There are three more flowers - 2 pink, 1 purple, but I think they've closed for the night.
Edit: forgot to say that the cushion is 55cm each side, but I made the cover 45 cm, so it is nice and squishy

Lazy hazy days of summer...Part I

 

When the weather has been the way we expect it during a Glasgow summer - rainy - I've been doing a little more sewing.
First up, Japanese jacket II First I made the lining - although I have made a skirt out of this dotty fabric, which I really like, it is not my choice for the lining of this jacket. However, it is what I had available, so I can live with that.
Having made the outer jacket, I got into a real pickle sewing the lining. One sleeve cuff had to be done three times. Thank goodness for seam rippers. Another tool of the trade which I have only just started using is a thimble. I know, I'm hanging my head in shame....what a difference this makes to hand sewing. In this picture I am sewing the lining to the outer fabric where the sleeve and jacket body meet under the arm - I decided that this jacket would have the traditional construction, where there are openings at this point.

Apparently, another feature of traditional Japanese sewing is that joins, knots etc are seen as an integral past of the jacket and are not hidden in the same way as in Western tailoring. Since I had to join the fabric strip for the collar, I decide to make a feature of it - making a mock seam by folding and topstitching the fabric in the same place on the other side.

Finally, it was all ready - just in time for my second Zen group meeting ;0)

Look closely

 

Very closely. My first piece of machine embroidery. I went for the naive look ;0) Can you tell?

holding my tongue

 

Can't say why, or that would defeat the purpose......

Currently listening to....

 

On the music front: Mumm-ra She's got you high - great little toe-tapping number
Podcasts:
More Hip than Hippie - a North American 'cast about trying to make less of an impact on the planet - they have great 'teeny weeny greenies' - small steps that make a big difference.
Geek Farm Life A show about '2 geeks who moved to rural Indiana.'
The Naked Scientists 'Stripping the facts bare'. Ooer, missus!
In our timeAn eclectic mix presented by Melvynn Bragg.
The Snailwell Gazette A lighthearted look at life from a North American woman living in the tiny village of Snailwell, with some vege cooking tips and 'Just Clean Green' spot.

Vianne!

 

Here she is in all her glory.
And while the benefits of her presence are many, there is butt one drawback. And that was no typo - you just can't hide from the size of your ass when you've got one of these.....

8 random things

 

OK - tagged by Yvette.
I'm going to have to give this some thought, and add to it later, but one to be going on with :-
1. I talk to random strangers. Folk who know me won't be in the least bit surprised ;0) I keep saying that I'll stop, but to no avail. I'll be in a yarn shop, or waiting at a queue in a festival, and conversation keeps bubbling out of me. If I had a lot of money, I dare say I would be classed as 'eccentric', but given that I don't have, and I'm developing a somewhat, erm, unusual way of dressing, I think some folk reckon I'm a bit barmy...
Added later-
2. I really like the sound that hard-soled shoes make on gravelly paths
3. I am phobic about the dentist and have to have IV sedation for treament
4. The Lord of the Rings is one of my favourite novels and I was so glad that the movies did it justice
5. I am learning to play the piano - it is a sloooow process.
6. I don't like flying but I managed to go to Venice four years ago. It was worth it.
7.I am a hoarder. But since watching documentaries about folk with hoarding tendencies, I am fighting the urge - binning rubbish, recycling and free-cycling. That makes it sound like I hoard rubbish, doesn't it? I don't !!!!! But I have recently been re-evaluating the kind of things I 'keep for later.'
8. I love my son. Every fibre of his being, even though we drive each other to distraction at times. I have acclimatised to his absence and no longer spend hours sitting in the bath crying. But I still miss him.....

Before and after

 

Wow - one bad photo', eh?
Anyway, my next hippari will be made with the body lining made separately, so that the seams will be hidden as much as possible - when I make a fully lined one, it will be 'reversible'. I did consider making this pink one with as many seams as possible concealed, but as I hadn't made an hippari before I decided that the best thing was to just follow the instructions.
That left me with the problem of the seams. I could've zigzagged them or turned them under, but in the end I decided to bind them with ribbon. I also considered machine v handsewn, and plumped for handsewn as being most likely to give me the result I was after. And it has :0)

Finished

 

This sock was a breeze to knit (except for the toe, which I left too late to start the shaping and had to frog, silly me). As you can see, the self-striping that Lilith dyed has behaved beautifully. I was expecting something weird to happen over the instep, but no. I think she's going to be dyeing up a storm at some point, so go check out her site real soon.

I've been trying a few other things. Such as tofu. Yep, who'd believe it. I always felt it was the food of the devil, and so did Dori and Val from the More Hip than Hippie podcast until they tried it with honey and tamari. It's amazing. Well, maybe that's taking it a bit far, but it was very tasty. Basically, get some firm tofu, soak up the extra moisture then cut into cubes. Heat some olive oil in a pan and fry tofu until it is golden brown. While still in the pan on the heat, drizzle over some honey. Cook a little longer, then splash on some tamari and stir it around a bit more.

Yum

Do it for Darfur

 

If you are warm, dry and not being shot at, spare a thought for those less lucky. Disasters Emergency Committee

Post the 3rd

 

Whew, heavy blogging today!

Thought I'd give a quick health update.

Eye - good, if slightly deflating, news. The problem with my vision is related to something 'fatal' - the ageing process ;0) I'm aware, and have been for some time, that my eyes take a little time to accomodate when I move from sewing/reading to watching TV. What I hadn't appreciated is that this is related to the reading problem. Put quite simply, now that I am no longer 21 (I know, so hard to believe), it takes more effort for my myopic eyes to do what they have always done so well - deal with fine detail and small print. What happens is that when I am tired, my eyes, the left one in particular,just down tools and give up. This makes a lot of sense - the problem doesn't happen all the time, tends to be later in the day and I notice it when my right eye is closed because I am rubbing it...due to tiredness.

Cardiac news - consultant thinks it's SVT. So, it's good to have a diagnosis. The downside (why does there always seem to be one?!) is that I am having some very unpleasant side effects.

BUT, and it is a big 'but', although I was feeling a bit fed-up at the start of the week, I feel better today.

As I keep saying, I'm warm, dry and not being shot at. Perspective. Helps to have some.

Not everyone's cup of macha

 

But I love it. Pink and green in all forms - dusky pink with soft olive, or 'crazy-ass bright' like this Hippari jacket that I've just finished.

This took about 6 hours from cutting to finish, done in 2x3hour blocks. The pattern is from Making Kimono and Japanese Clothing . While I have been waiting (im)patiently for Vianne to arrive, I decided to sew a few things that require no fitting (and mostly straight-line sewing!).

The patterns are in the back of the book, and they must be drawn to scale. It was a minor nuisance for impatient folk like me but the pattern was clear. The instructions for constructing the hippari were clear and I really enjoyed sewing this. In the photo below you can just see that this was taken before I finished the last part of the sleeve seams.

As Number Guy pointed out (bless him) the style of the jacket does make me look a bit on the chunky side, but I don't mind. I felt that my sartorial elegance (second time, woohoo!) really shone out yesterday when I combined it with my denim Thai Fisher Skirt and pink Doc Martens :0)

I did have one moment of doubt when I realised what I was doing last night - heading for my first Zen meditation meeting, as I continue my exploration of Buddhism. Was I going to look like some kind of nutter who had weird ideas about what Zen Buddhists look like?

Yes, possibly. But I still didn't care :0)

Don't be afraid of the biscuits.

 

I really fancied lavender biscuits, so the ones over at Milk and Cookies seemed to fit the bill. I'd been convinced that the recipe contained lemon but I think I must have seen that somewhere else, so after a bit of trawling about I ended up following this recipe and added some vanilla and lemon rind.

My biscuits are much thinner than the ones in the original recipe - they spread out a lot. I was really put off by the lavender smell - it seemed so strong as to be inedible. But, nothing ventured and all that.... I hesitantly took a little nibble and.....they are delicious ;0) Clearly, the scent is stronger than the taste. We've got four people up for the weekend to play Dungeons and Dragons* with Number guy, so these'll be on the menu. I'll also be making Oaty Vanilla Cookies from Yarnstorm's blog, and sundry other edible goodies to boot

* Yep, I know lots of folk think that D&D is for nerds...but then, that's what a lot of folk think about knitting! D&D is Number Guy's way of keeping in touch with friends he made years ago. He doesn't drink, doesn't follow sport (YAY!), so this is his version of a knit'n'knatter. (And forget crumby/crappy commercial books, videos, films etc - their version is, well, sophisticated. Some of their worlds have been going for years - don' knock it if you haven't tried it. And they don't dress up;0) So no chance of getting to weave Number Guy an Elven Cloak, then.....)

sock

 

I'm just loving this 'crazy-ass bright' yarn. Not for the first time, my photography leaves a lot to be desired. Not as much variation in the stripe over the instep as I expected. Partridge-eye heel.

I don't think this baby will suffer second-sock syndrome ;0)

Patience, patience

 

I had hope to introduce you to Vianne today, but she says she can't come for 4 weeks. Her big sister was up for a visit (in fact, she nearly came with me by mistake...) but I've decided that patience is what's called for.

Try telling that to the pink skirt, all zipped up and no hem to go...

cool, real cool

 

For my first A-line skirt I struggled with an invisible zip. It's kinda cool, and I did a not bad job at all - really, it looks just like it's meant to. Except the very top, but that was a learning experience :0)

But - and it's a big 'but' - it was so hard to sew right next to the teeth without actually sewing into them. And yep, I had the correct zipper foot. But then I saw this: zipper tutorial. And it really works, as you can see.

Again, I learnt a couple of things. Like I need the top of the zip to be further down than I had it - sitting 'flush' with the top means it doesn't sit as neatly as it could, and this has confirmed what the problem with the top of the invisible zip but hey, I'm a novice. I'll get it right next time.

And another good thing - Number Guy was having some issues with the hem as he was helping me to mark it. Result? I'm getting my Christmas present early....Any guesses?

Here, poddy poddy poddy!

 

Hurumph! Works with a recalcitrant cat, but not, it would appear, with an iPod!

Although I am most certainly not an early adopter of technology (I'm always last to the party) when I fall, I fall hard. I love my iPod. It's my other half, my soul mate, the one who knows just what to say to cheer me up.

SO WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU ?!?!?!?!

Ahem, just a little slip there. Fortunately for me, I have another. I know, I know, fickle. But I never promised that it would be a monogamous relationship, did I?

So, while I am charging the battery and dowloading more audio, here's a little pic to remind me of what spring in Glasgow can be like, 'cos it's a distant memory at the moment.

Il est arrivé

 

Ulp.

Edit: I think I may have casued a little confusion with just the pic and no explanation - this is just the start of the course, I am just about to begin....

Confidence boost

 

So, I was sitting in class at uni tonight when one of the secretaries brought me a VIE - Very Important Envelope. In it was my marked Additional Support for Learning assignment that I sweated buckets over last year.

Ulp

Even though most folk didn't know what it was, since they hadn't done the module at the same time as me, I mentally prepared a 'face.' The kind that doesn't let anyone see you're gutted. Cos I fully expected to be.

I opened the envelope a smidgin, slid the mark sheet out just far enough. There it was. The mark.

And it was.....Satisfactory. Yep. You sweat blood and tears and at the end of the day there are two options - satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Hmm, not very....satisfactory.

However, I got some excellent feedback - both in term of the quality of the feedback and what it said about my work. I'm delighted, to say the least. I done good.Real good :0)

But one of the best bits of feedback was about the two appendices, which contained 'Excellent work.' The reason that I am so pleased about this is that while this particular section of the assignment is research-based and grounded in all of the right 'stuff' like the rest of it, it is real work that I have done as a teacher.

Maybe I'm not so bad at this after all :0) ;0)

Say that again.......?

 

So, the sewing continues. At the moment I have a thing for headbands. I know, I can imagine Heather wondering where my mind has gone, and consigning said articles to the bottom of a deep well along with ponchos and other such articles of sartorial elegance (I always wanted to use that phrase).

But I have managed to convince myself that these Heather Bailey bands look realy cool and nothing like an Alice band on a woman old enough to know better. Besides, I only have to wear it, not look at it.

So, this morning saw me taking out the scissors and fabric and in the blink of an eye, there it was:

Viewing myself from every possible angle with the aid of two mirrors, I somewhat uncertainly asked Number Guy if it looked ok.

'It looks great,' says he'Yuo remind me of a 1940s working girl!'.......

Now, I'm not sure how one comes back from that....but what I think he meant was that even though the 'knot' was worn at the back, under my up-turned hair, he was reminded of Rosie the Riveter.

I'm not sure which is the preferable option, now I come to think about it....

Guess who can't sleep?

 

Every now and again, like most folk on this mortal coil, I go through a spate of sleepless nights. Still, at least I've been able to have an ogle at the new Interweave.

Right this moment I fancy doing the Ogee lace skirt but in Rowan Denim as opposed to the Bamboo Tape. Now, rather than making the skirt longer to take account of shrinkage, I'm thinking of skeining the yarn, washing and drying it and then using it .

Could be a sweet move.

On the other hand....

Socks

 

Look, some nutter left their socks in my garden. Oh, it was me....oops.

There's been other strange goings-on. Napkins. Quite a few. With mitred corners. Honestly, I reckon life is far too short for this kind of carry on, but I just can't help myself.
On a more serious note, I'm trying to stop contributing to landfill so I reckon napkins are a better (and more stylish?)option than paper towel. But being green isn't that simple. What about the whole cotton production process. Definitely not green. Re-using would be good. So I bought what looked like a cotton/linen mix in a charity shop, reckoning on about 6 napkins worth. Only one problem. Managed to lose the darn thing on the way home.
How? No idea
In the meantime, when I am not sewing napkins, I'm frying my brain with my pedagogy research assignment. Kind of handicapped by the fact that absence from work means I can't collect all of my data. More handicapped by the fact that my assignment mojo isn't worth a hill of beans.
Ho hum. Off for a discussion about validity and reliability. What a hip happening life I lead!

What does your kitchen say about you?

 

The Subjugated Wife

 

AKA The Surrendered Wife. I know that it takes all kinds, but please, if I start behaving in like a Stepford Wife, hit me on the head and administer emergency Yarn Therapy.

Did any folks in the UK see the documentary the other night? I think I'd seen something about this before. I think that what some of my views on the subject are summed up to a certain extent here..

Breaks my heart a tiny bit to think of all the women who have struggled for equality and autonomy, and those still living a life of subjugation, only for this kind of behaviour to be seen as laudable.

But that's democracy, so I shouldn't complain.... (tongue firmly in cheek)

testing, encore

 

Helloooo Bloglines...can you read me.....???

Testing, testing, testing

 

Grrr. I'm having to subscribe to my own feed to check if Bloglines is working. It had a hissy fit the other day and junked all of my subscriptions.

As far as I know, I have NOT switched Javascript off, as was suggested. So, I'm having to add verything again, but I don't know if they are updating. Hence this test. Will it be updated in Bloglines, or not....
Can't you just feel the tension rising.....?

Update Chez India

 

Well, seems like a lot has been happening here of late, but when I stop to consider, there hasn't been much at all. I think that soaking up the sun (well, dappled shade, actually) must be really hard work.

I'm still off work, having various investigations - honest to goodness, I reckon I'm going to get Frequent Flyer miles with the NHS fairly soon...
On a strangely positive note, I had a mini cardiac episode yesterday. It was positive becasue I had the Cardio Call event monitor with me, similar to the one in the link. The 24 hour and 5 day machines have so far failed to catch anything, but the Cardio Call is all mine for 1 month. Although I didn't have any arrythmia, I did have the tachycardia, so at least they caught that!
In the meantime, I am trying to get as much gentle exercise as I can (note to self, digging out a compacted compost heap is not gentle exercise and it's no bloomin' wonder you felt so unwell after....). On that note, Number Guy made me a raised bed and I pretended to be Lady Rosemary. pottering about with various seeds and salad vegetables.

As you can see, this is not the biggest bed in the world - more of a narrow single than a queen- or king-size. I've snuggled up beetroot next to spinach at the head of the bed, while the foot end is seeing a Three Sisters set up. It might not work - probably won't !- but it's a bit of fun.

When I haven't been pottering in the garden, I've been doing a little more sewing (two types of sewing in one blog, eh?!). First up, a denim 'Thai fisher skirt' . Like the first one I made, I love it.

Particularly the metal buttons that I added to three of the four raw seams

Flushed with that success, I made a doorstop to keep the two great escapers where I want them. Like other folk who have made this , I found that the '5lb of dried beans' was a bit of an underestimate. I stopped after I had used all of the out-of-date pulses and rice that I could find lurking in the cupboards (which was a scary 81/2 lbs...) The pattern is from Simple Sewing, Lotta Jansdotter. For a newbie sewer like me, this is an excellent book - the fact that the full-size patterns are included, is a big plus.

Well, on that note, I'm off to think a bit about my assignments - I'm trying to make use of the time off to catch up on this work, as I wasn't up to it previously.
I may be some time....

Mayonnaise SOS

 

C'mon folks, I sure need some help here.

No matter which recipes I try, which oil I use, my mayo is always an oil slick. SO disappointing.

There is a little hope - in the form of the Pret* book that I bought recently.
Their recipe has some vinegar in it - doh! That's improved things - seems so obvious. But - here's the but - the mayo is still a bit oily. But, it's a bit vinegary too - so I don't want to add more.
What would you guys do - don't tell me to go and buy a jar of Hellmans! - add more vinegar? More Mustard? Give up ?
Answers. please, on a blog near you - well, this one, preferably.
India
* Am I right in thinking that McD's owns Pret now?

Sew cool!

 

Well, I can no longer say 'I never win competitions.' Look at this cool fabric I won on the Sew, Mam, Sew! blog.

Each Friday she has a 'Free Fabric Friday' competition - the rest is history. Wonder what I'll make with this????

Actual Knitting Content

 

Hard to believe, I know. Of late this has been more of a cooking, baking, sewing, anything-but-knitting blog.

But I was inspired (OK, I'm a copy cat) by the Oak Leaf Shawl that I saw on Yvette's blog. The problem was I just didn't know what yarn to use. I have some lovely alpaca and some simply gorgeous purple Zephyr Silk that a Secret Pal sent me - but these just wouldn't do the job, IMHO. Why? What's wrong with Zephyr? Nothing, nothing at all and I can't wait to use it in just the right pattern.

The trouble here is quite simple - the pattern was too simple for these yarns. The Zephyr is just crying out to be something light, airy and intricate. What I needed was a not-so-'plain' yarn. I wonder if this is why Yvette chose to hers in those broad stripes? I was tempted....but no, I couldn't. I had to come up with my own solution. I considered some of my other yarns, but the variations in colour were too bold. Finally, a little light began to glow. It was a bit like the whole energy saving bulb thing - you know, starts off really dim but before you know it - POW! Completely dazzling.

Shaeffer Anne bought a couple of weeks ago from Fankle. A sort of 'semi-solid' in deep purplish-pinks (Don't you just love my lyrical prose....?)
Knit on 4mm needles I obviously had to do more repeats than the pattern stated. I could probably have done a few more but having frogged it back once to add in some more repeats I was loathe to do it again.

I foresee many more of these emerging into the light.

I love Latex

 

It's true. And if you want to love it too,have a peek here.

But why do I like it so much? Because I'm fed up of Word messing up my text.
Sorry?
What was that? You're looking for the rubber section?
Can't help you, I'm afraid - this kind of LaTeX is the documentation kind. I can't help it if you were trawling the web looking for salacious content, can I ?

As I was saying, it really naffs me off when I'm writing an assignment and word processing packages take over. Number Guy (aka Mr India) has been threatening to show me some LaTex (oo-er, missus) for months now and he finally got around to it. It's cumbersome at first, but I'm getting used to it.

SO, now that I've got that off my chest* (!), back to the work
India
*That was my attempt at salaciousness so that those looking for same wouldn't feel too disapointed.

A sad day

 

My thoughts are with the victims in Virginia and their loved ones.

What's your learning style?

 

Mine is definitely trial and error. In other words, I screw up a lot...

Eventually, though, with lots of blood (man, pins are so sharp), a fair amount of sweat but thankfully no tears, my first sewn hat is complete.

Trial and error was also involved in the picture taking - ever tried trying to get a hat picture sans model? Mr India was being very unhelpful and working late - not that I was aiming to have him model the hat, but now I come to think of it....

I give this hat 6/10 in the satisfaction stakes. You might not notice, but the slight ripple effect on part of the lining is the evidence of my screwing up. I topstitched the outer shell, the interfacing and the lining together in one piece - I think that is why there are ripples - the lining and shell are cut from the same pattern and I think this means there is slightly 'too much' material on the inside. If I had read the pattern correctly, the topstitching is done seperately and the interfacing slipped in afterwards....

The top of the hat and the sides are a real beggar to stitch together. Appently one notches the material before sewing to ease the fit. Well, Heather and Yvette might, but I had a few problems.

I also find the shape of the hat a little odd - I don't think 'cloche' is quite the word I'm looking for, but the hat is a bit sharply angled in profile. If Mr India ever stops working, I'll show you what I mean. But still, for a first attempt, not bad.

PS The ripple is really onvious here - but you know, I kind of like it....

Slapped wrist...

 

Hmmm. Youch. Still hurting....
Am I the only one to have done this (go on, lie, make me feel better, say 'no').
You've been lurking aroound a blog for a while, some questions come into your mind. The questions aren't to do with the blog exactly, but they are related to the core of the blog subject. You look for an email adddress and don't see it (because, as it happens, you didn't trawl far enough past the pics in the side bar, doh!).
So, you decide to put a question in a comments box anyway. You think you have made it clear that you understand that the topic is a little delicate. You say that you are interested in different perspectives, you note that maybe the blogger might not want to engage with it on their blog. You think that if it isn't, they'll tell you.
Boy, she did!
I guess from the response that my question touched a raw nerve, guess I know where she stands on the issue I was querying. But y'know, I feel like I just had my bare legs slapped, and I think that was an over-reaction. As I said in my response to her response (!)'netiquette' is a tricky thing, and sometimes I slip up a little. All I can say is, cut us poor benighted souls a little slack - it's nice to be nice.

Sew fast, so easy

 

Well, it took me about 5 hours. I reckon if I was Yvette I could have done it in a lot less time. But I LOVE IT!!!!

I had made the Miss Twiss Hustle Bustle Skirt . This is another really great pattern, but when it was made I just wasn't feeling the love for the material, so I did a heck of a lot of Googling and came up with the Thai fisher (wo)men's skirt .

What can I say? A truly remarkable pattern which enabled me, a non-sewer, to make a great skirt. And I made some cool flat fell seams . This is the kind of seam found on denims - apparently it is particularly strong. It looks particularly good, IMHO.

There's going to be a few more of these, I reckon.

What's for dinner, darling?

 

A plea for a book....

 

Does anyone have an unwanted copy of Knitting Marvellous Mittens: Ethnic Designs from Russia by Charlene Schurch? I've been trying to buy it but it is now unavailable, so if you have a copy and would like to sell it please leave a comment and I'll get back to you :0)
Hopefully, India
Edit; Thanks for all your help, folks. I now have a copy winging its way yo me ;0))

Snap!

 

Great minds think alike, eh Sarah? However, as you can see from the pic, I am putting in colour panels for the cables. Now, some of you may be fooled into thiinking that this is some amazing design-enhancement on my part (OK, I know you won't be, but let me delude myself for a little while...) but the reality is that I don't have enough of the pale grey and I am desperate to knit Rogue

I have a horrible feeling that it's all gonna end in tears....

One of those days....

 

You know the kind...

The kind of day when you spend ages creating a post - uploading pictures, finding links, writing out recipes/patterns, that kind of thing.

Then Blogger eats the post

It's the kind of day when you go to make some toast - and you burn it

The sort of day that finds you heading to the bread bin - and realising that you just burnt the last of the bread....

Oh well, back to the drawing board. The Last Post has gone - goodbye, farewell, I may try to resurrect your glory on the future.

Meanwhile, I've been saving up lots of this

And doing some of this......

...to get this

Looks pretty gross, right? And it was actually, MR India said he would divorce me if I ever did it again would I please not boil up coffee grounds when he is in the house.

So, what I have actually been doing is trying to dye yarn with coffess grounds. Apparently coffee contains a natural mordant, so 'all' you need to do is boil the saved up grounds for a couple of hours, strain the liquid off and then boil your fibre in it for an hour or so.

The big challenge now will be to rinse the coffee out without felting the fibre. To this end, I am letting the fibre cool completely so it won't get the kind of nasty shock that makes all of the scales cling to each other in fright.

Another problem is going to be those little coffee grounds that escaped when I was filtering. But then, these little hiccups are 'part of the irregularities that add to the charm of a handcrafted product.'
Right?

Calling all knitters - in the West of Scotland, anyway

 

Kathleen is a very lucky young woman, in more ways than one. Not only is she about to give birth to a beautiful bouncing baby, but she is also the proud owner of a yarn shop!

Now, I'm going to leave it up to you guys to decide which of the two is the best :0) She does have one knitty-gritty problem, though. What to do about maternity leave cover? So, she is on the lookout for someone to help part time in her shop, Fankle.

So, what are you waiting for - pop on over and check it out.

A spot of free advice....

 

When you are adding a blog to your blogroll, make sure you add the feed for the blog, not the feed for the comments. Especially when it is a very popular blog.....

Still life with Clementine

 

It's all about size at the moment, or so it would seem. Isn't that the cutest little espresso maker? I've got a 6-cup espresso gadget, but I usually want just one shot to put into a large mug of hot milk and this fits the bill nicely.

Why did I put a butter dish in the 'composition'? Just becasue I wanted to, ok?

Anyway, moving along, there has been another FO. Yeh, I know, there's no pictorial evidence. You'll just have to trust me.... I finished another Tithe , but this time in Rowan Summer Tweed. Strangely, this time the garment feels too short. Happily, I have an extra skein (no, not the one in the different dye lot that I used in error for a sleeve...) so I plan to unpick it at the bottom and knit on a couple of inches. Neat, huh?

What flavour of knitter are you?

 

I know that I've never been plain ol' vanilla. I share far too much in common with EZ. Now, those of you who know me will know that I am probably not talking about the knitting here ;0) Never one to hide my light under too big a bushel, I can sometimes be persauded to voice an opinion or twenty two on sundry topics of conversation.

So in flavour terms I think I will have to be 'Tiger tail' or Chilli Chocolate - i.e not to everyone's taste..... We've all been there - your innocent comment that you're '... not sure I agree with X's policy on green issues' somehow becomes translated into 'You are a complete a***** who can't form words of even one syllable and wouldn't know an emerald green policy if it jumped up and sludged you in the face!!!!!

So, c'mon - what flavour of knitter are you. And why? India
PS And I think I am gonna tag some people with this......so, Heather, Kathleen, Elaine, Lilith
consider yourself tagged - and go ask someone else 'What flavour of knitter are YOU?'

Got gauge?

 

Heatherwould be proud of me - here is the proof, I've swatched. But as I don't need Yarn Harlot to tell me that gauge swatches lie, given that I've had plenty of evidence in the past, I can't for the life of me think what drove me to do one this time. But there you go, I've done it. I think I am going to knit the garment on slightly smaller needles than suggested. Bet it ends up fitting a three year old.

So, I'm swatching for this camisole, the pattern being available from Get Knitted. In time I plan to knit this pattern in this yarn. Believe me, the photo doesn't do this Fyberspates silk yarn justice. It positively glows. But I'm stashbusting, so I had to 'make do' with some cashmere instead....it's a hardship, but sometimes one has to suffer for one's art....

The crime scene

 

Absolute carnage, I'm sure you'll all agree.

The suspects: As if you didn't guess....

A summer knit

 

I fancy the look of this simple lacy number. And I like it in the yarn used -something with a sheen and a slight variegation. However, I am stashbusting so I think I'm going to use a slightly-variegated cashmere. Yum India

Dying with embarrassment, all over again....

 

There I was, perusing one of the more embarrasing moments shared by Ree, on her blog Confessions of a Pioneer Woman when I felt that warm glow of empathy, starting at my feet, working its way up my body until I was glowing like a Belisha Beacon. So I thought I'd 'fess up. SOme of you may have heard this before.

Once upon a time, a violin tutor paid fortnightly visits Chez India. She was a nice tutor. She was co-habiting. She had a little bit of a 'tummy'....

Now, India wasn't completely stupid. She had an amusing conversation with Mr India about the pitfalls of congratulating women on their 'pregnancy'. She wasn't going to go within 5 miles of 'there'.

India had also spent some time pondering over the way a woman's body becomes public property when she is pregnant, remembering with particular wrath the way complete strangers and sundry others would come up and pat her tummy (.... bet you can see where this is headed)

So, what India would like to know is - 'WTF made her reach out, spontaneously, and pat the nice violin lady's tummy?'

As I live and breathe, I don't know who was more shocked. I am a cringing, crimson heap as I relive this. And what about the poor tutor? Look at it from her point of view. In a (very!!!) strange woman's house. Being touched - what the hell was going on? Was I coming out? Was I inviting her to a 3-in-a ....no, not going there.

No, I had simply acted on an uncontrolled impulse to 'congratulate' her on her pregnancy.

But it gets worse, just when you think it probably couldn't. Being aware of how inappropriate it was to have touched her, 'pregnant' or not, and not wanting to add further insult to sheer terror, I got the JCB out and really started digging. Instead of 'fessing up to the real reason, I started gabbling on about me being on a diet, and.. and..and...well, you get the picture.

We both endured a very uncomfortable 30 min lesson before she scuttled off. Man, I was in a cold sweat by this time. My son and his friend were in the house - they really did roll about the floor when I told them.

In the end, I decided that even though it risked more offence, I was better off telling the truth. My tutor, thankfully, didn't bat an eye and she taught me for a few months until I could no longer face the embarrassment afford the lessons.

Which just makes me wonder - given that she was so unfazed, what the hell else had happened to her when she tutored at other folks' houses????

And me - whenever I see a 'pregnant' woman, I sit on my hands!

So THAT'S why they made the new Shuffle

 

Let's me 'read' in the bath.....

Some good news..

 

On the eye front - the results from the scan are in, and there are no problems on that front! Yeehah! Great news! Still doesn't explain the problem, but at least my macula is intact. Hopefully an appointment with the eye specialist will get to the bottome of what is going on

Appointment with a cardiologist today - seems it is likely that my chest pain is...chest pain. i.e. cardiac related as opposed to intercostal cramp. I'm not surprised, since painful as IC cramp is, the pain in my chest has been something else.

Next steps - waiting for appointment for 5-day cardio tape to try to catch my heart misbehavin'. Then hopefully having caught said misbehaviour, treat it with non-lipid soluble betablocker. The kind that doesn't get into the brain and cause confusion and horrific nightmares. And it will treat my high BP - which has also been a cause for concern.

In the meantime, on with my current assignments and not much time for knitting ;0( Hope y'all have a good weekend. India

Like a phoenix from the ashes...

 

...Glasgow S&B has risen!

I am not going to go into the details here, as I don't think it would be appropriate - my previous two postings were due to my lack of right to reply, as I stated.

We had a very constructive meeting today, which further reinforced for me what great group this is, and I am so glad to be part of it.

We will never know what brought this about, since one of the people who was involved in this has left the group and decided not to attend the meeting today.

We have all learnt from recent events and one of the results is that we are going to ensure that we have as much transparency as possisble. I don't want to post anything more here about the group, but the details will be on our message board for those who are interested.

We are probably going to rename the group, so who knows what we might end up calling ourselves?

Thanks for the messages of support.

India - whose stomach has finally stopped churning

More on GSand B

 

I am posting here instead of the message board as I do not feel happy about posting there right now. Anyone, and everyone is welcome to post a constructive comment. I will post them whether they are in agreement or not – there is one sole proviso – don’t be abusive to me, or about anyone else. The recent posts on the message board seem to be turning the focus away from the main issue. In my opinion the issue is not
1. Karen’s performance as organiser – we all agree that she is very good at organising the group
or
2. Karen’s decision to stay or leave the group – that is her personal decision. As far as I am aware no-one has asked her to do so.

The issues as I see it are:
1. Karen's reaction to group members deciding to have meetings, open to everyone, out with the standard GS&B calendar
2. The sending of an inappropriate and offensive email
3. The removal of a group member’s appropriate postings on the message board.

There is no doubt that GS&B members are a kind bunch and I certainly understand the wish to calm troubled waters and not to make a bad situation worse. But the bad stuff still happened. We can't shy away from this. We must deal with it. We can do that - it may be very uncomfortable for all of us, but we can do it in a calm, civilised manner.
Lord knows, I've screwed up myself in the past and it can be very hard dealing with the consequences.While is a good thing that people want to support Karen in what is clearly a difficult time for her, I’d like to gently point out that she decided to send that offensive email to everyone, and to delete my postings off the board in order to support what she was saying, since it showed her email to be untrue and inacurate - was that a fair way to treat someone?
And it has had some devastating consequences. I cannot speak for the other people who were named in it, or other group members who were affected, but I am deeply upset by it – this email went to my friends, people whose opinion I care deeply about. What about the possible consequences? I’ve been worried sick .
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how good an organiser someone is, or how great they are in any other way. Surely it must be implicit that membership of our group means that everyone is treated with respect and kindness?

Glasgow Stitch and Bitch - the truth

 

I am posting this on my blog because I have THREE times tried to post on the Knitting Meet Up board and the organiser has removed it. This isn't any sort of breakaway or takeover, it was just a notice about an extra get together that we, including Karen, have been discussing for a week or two, as explained below

In addition to the censorship, she has sent out an email which is full of poisonous untruths. If there are any more emails about me, please come and check with me.

A couple of weeks ago, at a Tuesday meeting some of us, including Karen, had a chat about how much we had enjoyed the weekly meets, and should it become weekly? We, including Karen, decided that 'formal' weekly meets might 'dilute' interest too much, so it was decided by all of us, including Karen, that some of us that wanted might meet on alternate Tuesdays, trying out different locations, though Karen wasn't keen on joining in.

Today at the Tramway several of us continued the discussion as part of the group get together . It wasn't a secret and it definitely is not a conspiracy. KAren was sitting near me, I don't know if she was listening at that point. Our discussion was just part of the general run of conversation. We all thought it would make a nice addition to the group activities but didn't want it to get very formal because, as we had all agreed, that might dilute things. Nonetheless, we thought it would be nice to give everyone the chance to have a get together before the next formal meeting. Because not everyone was there when it was discussed, and not everyone who was there had been involved in that part of the conversation, I decided to post it ON THE MESSAGE BOARD so that EVERYONE COULD COME WHO WANTED. This was supposed to be just another gathering of our group. It definitely isn't any sort of breakaway

Karen, the organiser, removed it because it 'went against the rules'.

I emailed her to point out that it did not go against the rules, because this was a meeting for our group, posted by a member of our group. It just wasn't a formal meeting organised by Karen. When she removed the posting I pointed out that we weren't breaking the rules and were just trying to have an extra get together, then I posted again - and she removed the notification again

I am sure you can understand how distressed I was to receive the email that all the GS&B Members recieved today - here is part of it

"Also, I just can't understand why they would want to set up another group? It can only serve to create disharmony and create a very awkward situation for each of the Tuesday night knitters: that isn't what knitting groups are about, we're friendly and supportive and we all enjoy meeting up and knitting together so why cause disharmony? I just would never have expected this from members of our own group, shafted from the inside, who'd have thunk it! "

I am really offended at the suggestion that anything we have said, done or planned is in anyway undermining the group. I am particularly appalled at Karen's abuse and her use of the word 'shafted'.

So, to set the record straight:
This is NOT a breakaway group
This was discussed with Karen
I have tried several times to make everyome aware of this EXTRA meet up
Karen has REMOVED the notification, is MISREPRESENTING the situation,has now been grossly offensive to me in a public email and most importantly is DENYING ME ANY RIGHT TO REPLY.

Many people will be aware that there have been problems in the past and that Karen appears to have found it difficult in the past when people have expressed views, or made suggestions that she wasn't completely comfortable with. I am, though, very surprised that she has managed to interpret a few people picking up on a suggestion that we meet more often as some sort of revolutionary coup. I know knitting is important, but for goodness sake! I am not comfortable at being accused of engineering a takeover, which is definitely not what is happening, and I am very unhappy at having my actions misrepresented so grotesquely and at Karen's absolute refusal to let me respond in any way to her horrible and completely unfounded accusations.

I don't know what is wrong with Karen, I hope she gets over it before the next meeting.

Let me state once again, this is not a breakaway or takeover. Anyone who wants to come is welcome, and I look forward to seeing everyome at the next formal meet up.

In the interim, if any members of Glasgow Stitch and Bitch would like to meet up this Tuesday, 20th February, we will be at Jam, in Shawlands, from 6 - 8 pm. I haven't been here before, but by all accounts it's a nice place - oh, and I think I have the right place in that link, but best to check yourselves, in case I send you on a wild goose chase!

India

Say it loud, say it proud!

 

I hate Harry

what?
I hate harry!
Say, what?

I HATE HARRY POTTER!!!!!

There, said it. I'm probably very lonely on this one, but jeeze, it's gonna be a long summer.......

fingers crossed

 

My thyroid levels are borderline at the minute, so the doc has suggested upping my thyroxine - one of the problems with the symptoms that I've been having lately is that many of them can be explained by an underactive thyroid. However, having a 'borderline' level wouldn't suggest to me that this is the problem - but maybe I'm just a sensitive soul.

But, 'While beta blockers are generally well tolerated, it is only relatively recently that the more insidious side effects have become apparent, often only when people realise how much better they feel when they come off them.'.....

Watch this space - well, only if you are really bored, don't feel you have to ;0)

of soda bread and yoghurt

 

St Valentine must be playing on my mind , as I tried to loggin as X at hotmaul.com ;0) Mr India will be pleased.

Don't anyone say that we don't discuss some darn hot topics at our knitting meets - soda bread and yoghurt were but two. Be y'all wished you'd been there!.

Anyway, as promised to Lilith here is the recipe for the soda bread, which as I mentioned in the previous post, is courtesy of The Podchef . This is a half recipe, which was plenty for me two.

Herby Soda Bread

8oz plain flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2tsp baking powder
tall container of buttermilk - about a cup
Enough herbs of your choice to speckle the bread the way you like it (this is my measure, The Podchef gives a better idea)

Sieve flour, salt baking powder into bowl, mix in herbs.
Make a well in the centre of flour, add about 3/4 of the buttermilk.
Mix with fingers until it forms a sticky mess, oops, mass
This is a mattter of judgement - the mix needs to be holding together, but not sloppy. But very sticky is fine.

Now, The Pochef gives a little tip here - wash your hands. I tried with/without washing 'em (at this stage, 'course they were washed before I started....). Anyway, it makes a difference. Clean, hand makes the shaping much lessof a paon.
So, to return, flour a surface and your hands, and gently 'knead' the bread - as in the way one kneads sconces, not standard bread.
Once the dough is more or less in a round shape, place it onto a greased baking sheet - I reuse a piece of silicone baking parchment again and again, which works just fine.
Into an oven at 400 degrees farenheit/gas mark 8 for 10 minutes. Then, reduce heat to 400 degrees farenheit/gas mark 6 for about 20 - 30 minutes.
Like all other bread, it is ready when it sounds hollow when you tap it's bottome - oo-er!

Enjoy!

So fast, so easy

 

Whoa there, Lawyer Guy! I said 'SO' fast, not 'Sew'....

Now that I've established that, here's what I'm, talking about: Butternut Squash and Apple soup (from a New Covent Garden cookbook mentioned previously, and Herby Soda Bread from the Podchef's Gastrocast

Anyone wary of making bread would do worse than to start with soda bread. All it takes is plain flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda and buttermilk. It takes minutes to weigh and mix the ingredients and then it is straight into the oven, no waiting for it to rise. If my knowledge of chemistry serves me correctly, the acid in the buttermilk reacts with the sodium bicarb, producing carbon dioxide, thus rmaking the bread rise when it is baked. I think, therefore, that if one had a severe lack of buttermilk (which is 34p for about 200ml from local supermarkets) that baking powder would do the job (or the sodium bicarb with a little vinegar). Ordinary milk could then be added to mix the dough. Now, I haven't tried thia, since I have easy access to buttermilk, but remember that there would be a slight change of taste .

Anyhow, as you can see, this made a very quick and very tasty lunch. I don't think soda bread keeps very well, but as we always gobble it up, that's not a problem....

PS I know the dried parsley looks fairly unappealing, but I've run out of fresh and tried some dried in sheer desperation. OK, slight exageration, but I wanted a bit of contrast on top of my soup.

PPS - if I've made an a*** out of myself with the chemistry ,try not to be too harsh

Deeeeelicious

 

I'd like to show you a pic, honest I would, but these babies were soooo good they were snaffled right up.

Ricotta Pancakes
enough for ME! ok, ok, makes 8 - enough to share - if you have to...
100g ricotta
2 eggs, separated - go that extra half inch - make 'em organic free range or don't bother making this!
100ml milk
75g SR flour

Optional extra: extra large helping of willpower, but only if you really must share.
Method Beat the ricotta with the 2 egg yolks and milk. Try to get it smooth but don't worry too much if there are some small lumps
Gently mix in the flour
Beat egg whites until stiff
Gently fold said whites into ricotta mixture.

Heat heavy based frying pan, melt small nob of butter. Cook dollops of mix until the bases are golden and the mix has set a bit. Turn over.
Turn onto plate, add maple syrup & black pepper.

Enjoy!

This was a half measure of the ricotta pancakes found in the Rose bakery book. Highly recommended. By me. And my tummy.

having my cake and not eating it

 

Tried out Lemoncello Cupcakes and was so disappointed. The batter was so luscious and lemony but it didn't come through in the finished cake. Full disclosure, however - not having any of the 'defrosted lemonade concentrate' I tried substituting with ordinary lemon juice - I think that might be the problem. Next time ( because I think they are probably worth a next time) I am going to put in some Roack's Organic Lemon .

There was more 'candy' though - my Secret Pal packages. I said in the previous post, Rae really came up with the goods, and then some. There's some amazing fibres here - including Bison down - I'm really excited about trying that. There are various silk mixes and some pencil roving to boot - a shed load of the roving let me tell you. I've had to pack them away due to too much interest of the feline variety, but I'm going to post a full list in the next day or two. If 'A gift honours the giver', then Rae is right up there.

In fact, the two Secret Pals I've had for SP8 & SP9 have more than fullfilled there comittment, and not 'only' in monetary terms. The thought and care which went into all the packages I received was overwhelming. Ok. I'll stop gushing now, this is turning into an Oscar acceptance speech, but I think you guys understand the sentiment.

Away to peruse the cookery books - I'm off work for 4 days, and ther will be no studying, only complete indulgence.

Thank you SP9

 

I'm flabbergasted - not one, but two packages arrived via the UPS and Royal Mail yesterday. Contained therein was a marvelous array of fibres for spinning. When I get a moment, I'll put a picyure up and go into the details, but in the meantime I was to say a huge thank you to Rae, my more than generous SP9

Yowza-ish

 

Finally finished the Gaelic assessment and mailed it off - I love clicking that mouse at times like this. Went to do the sound files and ground to a halt - microphone appears to be dead. At least, I hope that's the problem, because then I can complete the audio 'stuff' before tomorrow's deadline assuming I can get a new mike.

Made some more medical discoveries today. You know the scenario. You've put on weight as a side-effect of the anti-migraine meds. You've tried everything you can to lose said weight. Even eating less ;0) You berate yourself mightily - the only explanation is that you are eating a shed-load more food than you thought. So you keep a food diary. You are DEFINITELY NOT eating too much (and you've been brutally honest, every smidgen is accounted for). Your number-genius husbands checks the maths, he can't figure it out either.

Then a chance comment on a BBC 'drama' tonight - beta blockers make it hard to lose weight. And guess what - they cause confusion. Remember that post - the one where I said I couldn't operate the scales? Man, I wanted to cry. And there have been other incedents lately - forgetting which road to take, to whom I just spoke at a clinic. I thought I was losing my marbles. And I've been feeling down - thought it was because I'm losing my marbles. Nope, that's a side effect. too.

I knew about the nightmares and the cold hands and feet, but I didn't know about the rest...

Things are really sucking here right now. Still, could be worse. I'm warm, dry and not being shot at. Helps me keep some kind of perspective.

Unexplained visual loss

 

Got me some of that, yessir! But I'm not panicking - yet....

At the moment it is not very noticeable, involving as it does the fine vision in my left eye. In order to 'Get a definite diagnosis' I experienced Optical Coherence Tomography today. Did you know that there are only FOUR, yes FOUR of these machines in the whole world, and that Glasgow has one of them? Well, if your gonna have crappy bad luck with your vision, what luckier place to have it, eh?

I might also have to have some function tests, which deal with electrical signals, not whether or not you can read a chart. The lady that I briefly saw today was wonderful. She did something amazing. She listened to what I had to say. And she paid attention to the strange 'sensation' I've got going on that is so hard to explain. And she didn't dismiss it as stress. Now I've gotta tell you - the next time some baby medic dismisses my symptoms as being down to stress, I'm gonna tell him/her exactly what I think. I know that stress produces some very real physical symptoms, and it certainly enhances my migraine experience, if you see what I mean. But it isn't the be all and end all. I accept that it is possible that this problem might be due to a form of oedema caused by stress. However, as this wonderful woman pointed out, if it was only likely to be stress they wouldn't be spending a lot of money on this scan. Believe me, noone will be happier than me if it is 'just' stress, but I want them to make damn sure.

Think I went on a bit about stress just then, Y'all think I'm stressed?

'm lovin' it

 

The Book Thief. I don't care if it's 'juvenile fiction' - this is great. Actually, I am partial to all sorts of fiction for the younger age group, but I have to say that if I didn't know that this was aimed at an, ahem, slightly younger age group, I wouldn't have guessed.

Anyway, I'm listening to it as an audio book and it is FANTABULOUS.

So tell me...

 

...why exactly am I trying to learn Gaelic?

I am asking myself this at least once every 10 minutes at the moment. As usual, the assignment is busting my ass and the stress-related pain in my face is not to be borne. On the plus side (is there one?) I have finished the first run through and have a week to check it and do the audio file - and a zillion other things, of course.

As you can imagine there hasn't been much knitting done, but I did get the anemoi mits finished some time last week, and here gentle reader, is the evidence. I'm telling you , any Persian carpet maker would be proud of the lack of humility evident in these guys.

And I'm in love again - with an electrical appliance. I think this is 'Weird thing about me' number 6. I fall in love with various domestic appliances. This time it's the turn of the new Slow Cooker. I have one that is more than 20 years old, but it's huge (yep, size matters). So now I have a smaller one which sits well on a little space on the kitchen worktop. I had a good laugh at the photography in the 'Tower Slow Cooker' book - it was done in the early 70s so is full of piped mashed potatoes and egg curries.

Right, I'm off. I've earned a G&T - and not your common or garden Gordon's, either. Now, I'm hanging my head in shame at This picture, but honest-to-goodness, if you like gin, you'll LOVE this. Sweet and mellow, without that artificial perfume flavour of other gin, it goes best with Fever Tree Tonic. In fact, this is such a great combo that I was tempted to keep it all to myself....

Elaine - you were right.

 

It's getting very embarassing - I have lost mastery over technology. I couldn't work out the self-service tills in a supermarket the other day. And it was only after a conversation with Elaine yesterday PLUS the arrival of my new iPod Shuffle, that I realised that the Shuffle indeed has a fast forward mechanism.

I', SO embarrassed.....

..and even more!

 

I think that it was a fair point that was made - a balance of male/female parenting is needed. However, this can still come within the wider family of same-sex couples. I was a single mum and my son did not lack suitable male role models in the form of his grandfather, uncle, family friends - included amongst the suitable male role models is a gay couple that we know. Had I remained in my marriage my son would have had a very unsuitable role model - his own father, who was (and probably still is) violent and abusive.

Loving parents/parent is what a child needs - but preferably ones who knit :0)

And furthermore

 

I had a conversation with a colleague at work today about beliefs and values that is similar to that which Alison has noted on her blog. Here is my response - BTW, Alison and I aren't having a falling out over this - we're just not posting possibly controversial comments on each other's blogs :o)

I understand that there are people who genuinely believe that placing a child with a gay couple is sinful. But this doesn't make them right. I can't understand why 'religious belief' is trotted out as the reason for all sorts of discriminatory and unreasonable behaviour. I believe in the faeries at the bottom of the garden. They tell me that it is sinful when my employer expects me to earn my wages....

Seriously, I am not knocking religion. Nor am I belittling those who have a deep and abiding faith. I'm just wondering where the Christian charity and understanding is in all of this....

Eat that!

 

As if! It's already gone, Baby! This delectable little morsel is the 'Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cupcake with Coconut Buttercream Frosting ' From the Cupcake Bake Shop blog.

But what I really like (apart from the taste, obviously) is the neat frosting on top. As in 'not messy'. Amazing what a piping bag and a big nozzle can do - and mever mind sniggering at the back there. Dolloping frosting on with a knife just wasn't doing it for me anymore, so I had to visit Brenda's idea of heaven, good ol' Lakeland. And when I say 'had to', I really mean it. I couldn't sleep for thinking about row upon row of perfectly frosted cupcakes.

(Weird thing about me number 5 - I can't sleep for thinking about row upon row of perfectly forsted cupcakes)

Matters of conscience

 

Some discrimination is laudable. I think that rapists and muggers should be discriminated against. They wouldn't be welcome in my home, nor the organisation where I work. I don't think they should be allowed to adopt children.But since when did being gay = unsuitable parent?

There are many children in want of a loving home. There are not-so-many kind, caring and very suitable adults wishing to give them a home. What bearing does one's sexual orientation have on one's ability to parent? Am I the only one to know that there are damaged, vulnerable children brought up within a marriage that is loveless and wrought with violence. A marriage certificate isn't like an MOT , it doesn't guarantee the 'child-worthiness' of the couple.

stranded colour work

 

Forgot to say - the only thing I really didn't like about the mits was working the rib. I am not so hot at working purl stitiches in the continental fashion, so it was really hard to work with one strand in each hand, so part this was a real pain.

The working main body of the mit is great, since I can work stocking stitch with the yarn in both hands - yay! All I can say is that if you have to do this using one hand, picking up and dropping each in turn - well, you have my sympathy....

If I knit fast enough....

 

We've all been here, right? You ? know that you haven't enough yarn left/it's too big/too small - whatever - but if you just keep knitting and don't look close enough, it'll all be ok in the end. Right. I've been ignoring the fact that I jusy started shaping this mit way too soon. It's gonna be too short.

Close your eyes....here goes.....
There, that was excrutiatingly painful not too bad. And if Blogger didn't feel it was just way too bad to share, I'd show y'all the evidence. As it is, just take my word for it. The.Deed. Is.Done. Oops. Blogger was behaving. Seems that I wasn't paying attention. If I was a cat, I'd be sitting grooming myself right now, paying particuluar attention to that hard to get to place bewteen my paws, pretending I hadn't just made an ass out of myself <

So, these are the anemoi mitts by Eunny. I'm really enjoying making them, specially as I have now figured out the mistake I made right back at the beginning. Fortunately, I can live with said mistake. I may do a bit of Swiss embroidery to fix it. On the other hand...

Knitty Gritty:
Yarn: Jamiesons 'Spindrift' 2 ply yarn
Main Colour, Willow
Contrast, Rosemary
Needles: 2 Addi circulars 2.5mm

Knitters of a nervous disposition, look away now

 

This is a bit of a car crash - fortunately the only victim, other than the kniitting, is my finger. Ever stuck a seam ripper in your index finger at 90 stitches a minute? - Not pretty.

Still, this had to go. The only question is - why did it get so far? That this wasn't meant to be was knit large quite some time ago - I don't know how many times I frogged, re-knit, frogged again. And still I wasn't happy with it. So, it has gone.

It will be reincarnated as an EZ sweater. Copy knit that I am, it's the same as the one worked on by Tigerlilith and Brooklynn Tweed. Mine, as you can clearly see, will be navy blue. The inside seam will be pink - both yarns in Rowan Felted Tweed DK. I think that for the cuffs I'm going to knit the turning row in the pink, so that there is just that little flash. Neat, huh? Ok, ok, I know I'm not setting the heather alight here, but I'm trying.

I'm knitting the jumper/sweater on 3mm needles, as I find the recommended size gives me a fabric which is too open for my taste. I have to admit to some nerves - my swatching and garment knitting rarely give the same gauge....

Animal welfare - if you could only do ONE thing.

 

Stop buying