First finished pair this month

I've finished them, or rather I did last night and have been wearing them todyay and I'm ofcourse talking about these little beauties.... Well I think they're beauties anyway.

Not knitted fair isle socks before and got plans for my second pair already. Just got to decide on the yarn. I've got enough of the purple yarns to make another pair in the variegated yarn with the fair isle bit in the solid purple so may go for that as Ilove this colour.



The socks fit perfectly althoug hthe cuff is a bit tight when I pull it over my ankles they're perfect when they're on and so comfy to wear.



Also working on this shawl at the moment. I'm caling it River Valley at the moment as they zig zag lace reminds me of rivers and there is a bit of a 'hill' between each lace section so it looks like it's a river in a valley. The yarn is Posh Sophia 4ply whihc is so lovely to knit with. I'm just hoping i've got neough as I've nearly finished the first skein and only have one left. Not decided on the border yet, still waiting for inspiration.

One sock done

I belong to 2 sock knitting kals adn so far this month I've completed one sock, not a pair, just one sock and here it is:

It's been named 'Butteryfly' sock because Emily thought they looked like Butterflies. They were supposed to look like little hearts but butterflies are fine too. Have cast on for the 2nd sock and I'm half way through the fair isle section so I'm hoping to get at least the cuff done tonight.

I've also nearly finished my rib toe up sock - pictured in the last post. So to qualify for the sock kals this month I've got to finish at least one complete pair of socks and I think it will be the 'Butterfly socks' that are most likely to be done on time.

Tomorrow I'm going on a design workshop taught by Clare Crompton at Spin A Yarn in Bovey Tracey, Devon. It's a fairly long drive from here but worth it as it's a brilliant shop and Clare is a very good teacher. I've attended one of her design workshops before and learnt a lot. The last one was to learn to design a basic drop shoulder sweater and this one is set in shoulders and shaping. She's doing two other design workshops over the next 2 weeks too but I don't think I'll be able to do those. Hopefully they'll be repeated next term and I can do them then. If you live in Devon do check out Spin A Yarns workshop schedule as they run some brilliant workshops.

It's going to be a tough day tomorrow as the workshop is a full day one. I know it'll be tough on my neck and back and I'll be in a lot of pain afterwards and probably not in a state to do much on SAturday but I'm hoping it'll be worth it. There are no workshops near us as far as I know and the shops is so lovely and JOyce, the owner, is a lovely lady running a brilliant shop so it's nice to show some support to her.

Went to the Eden Project today. We have a membership so do go quite regularly. If you've not been it's a brilliant tourist attraction which consists of 2 giant biomes, one houses a tropical rain forest and the other one is temperate. They are hte world biggest green houses and it's all set in a former china clay quarry. The girls like walking around there. The tropical biome is very hot and humid like a real rainforest and today it was absolutely awful in there. Don't think it's ever been as hot and humid in there as it was today. Most unpleasant. But the temperate biome was quite nice. Felt like being in Spain, although not as warm. We sat down for a bit at the end and I took out my sock to do a few mins of knitting and two ladies sitting next to me started chatting about my sock knitting and talked about how they'd learnt to knit socks but not really liked it. Told them sock knitting is fashionable again.

Off for some forum surfing now before having an early night, after I've done some more sock knitting that is.

Fair Isle Socks

I've been wanting to do some fair isle socks for a while now and had promised myself I wouldn't start till I'd finished my current sock wip. But last night I just couldn't resist anymore. I'd decided to use some yarn from the Yarn Yard for these socks. The yarns are dyed from the same base colour I think and go perfectly together. May not be enough contrast though but I love it. I'd originally decided to go for a traditional Norwegian design but for some reason I drew up my own fair isle pattern last night and got most of the cuff done while watching 'Miss Congenitality' last night. I've not done Fair Isle for at least 12 years so my technique is a bit rusty and it's a bit too tight. Turned the heel today and nearly finished the gusset decreases. This is the first cuff down sock I've done for a while and I made a right mess of picking up the stitches eachside of the heel flap. NOt sure how, normally it looks great but I did this twice and still wasn't 100% happy, just could't bother doing it again.

And finally, here's the pic:

The colour is a bit off as I took the picture in a slightly dark spare room. It's quite a bit darker and more purpley. It's the two purple skeins on the right of this picture.

Now, for the boring bit - the foot. It's a bit dull with no pattern. But I'm thinking of doing these for Ness as I think they may be too tight around the calf for me so that makes it a shorter sock to knit. Although I would love to keep these for me as I love the colours.

Wip-take

Had a quick photo session of some of my new wips just now and here they are:

A shawl knitted in Posh Sophia 2ply that I started a couple of days ago, my own design. Love this yarn. So delicate.

This is going to be a sort of shrug/wrap, difficult to explain but I now what I'm doing (I think). My own design too. The yarn is Posh Sophia 4ply. I had orignially started a shawl with it but it wasn't working so it's been frogged.

Still working on thisshawl from 'Victorian Lace Today'. In the obok is knitted in Kidsilk Haze so looks completely different from this.

And a sock in Posh Eva (silk/cashmere) which is toe up in my own pattern. This pattern will be forming my master pattern for my toe up sock tutorial I'm planning.

Got another few wips too but they're either on hold or abandoned.

News from Norway - My gran fell and broke her hip yesterday and has had an op today whihc went well. Just praying for a speedy recovery now. Not easy being here when all this is going on. Wish I'd stayed in Norway now but my kids need me asthey're on half term this week. Don't think my Grandad took the news too well so I just hope it won't affect his recovery too much.

First day of halfterm

My oldest daughter broke up yesterday as they had a review day today. We had our review appointment this evening. And Ness is doing really, really well. All level 5, 6 and 7 (level 5 is average apparently). So we're pleased with that.

started yet another wip today. This is a lace shawl design I've been planning for a while and finally decided to take the plunge and do it. I was struggling to decide on the edging but made my mind up today to go for a very simple edging that can be worked when working the main section rather than a knitted on border. I'm knitting it in Posh Sophia 2ply in a lovely pink colour. I love knitting with Sophia it's so soft and lovely but very delicate and rips easily.

I've also got a couple of other lace shawl plans. I've decided to get more serious about pattern design over th enext couple of months. I like the design process but the writing up of patterns and marketing I'm not so keen on. So I've decided ot have a blast at getting my sock patterns and some other patterns sorted out and typed up properly and then offer them for sale to yarn shops or submitting them for magazine publications. I'm really in love with lace at the moment so I'm desperate to design some beautiful lace shawls too but I still need to get some more experience. I want to do a triangular shawl knitted from the neck down so I'm looking for a pattern to learn on now. I've considered 'Forest Canopy' whihc is lovely but I'm thinking I may go for 'Swallowtail' instead. I've got the Interweave issue where it was featured already and will dig it out tonight to have a look at it.

I found the Fiddlesticks website today. And the shawls are just beautiful. Love the Peacock shawl especially. I want to be able to design beautiful designs like that one day.

I'll get some pictures taken of my latest wips tomorrow. It's been a while since I got pics posted.

Back home

Arrived back home last night after a long journey home. All the flights left and arrived on time. No problems with Ryan air when it comes to punctuality on this trip. Only problem yesterday was that I arrived at Stansted at 3ish and had to wait to 8pm for my flight to Newquay. Wasnt able to check in until 2 hours before departure which meant dragging my case around and not being able to go through to departure lounge earlier. The deaprture lounge is so much better for hanging around than the check in area. Didn't do too muc knitting either as I was just so tired and my neck wasn't good at all. So all that prime knitting time was wasted.

Lovely to be home though. The house wasn nice and tidy when I got home. Girls were pleased to see me this morning. And apparently they were very well behaved while I was away. Woke up in agony this morning though and I'm so tired. Not done much so far this morning. Relaxed and watched 'The Wright Stuff' on channel 5 after the school run while tryingto do some knitting. Then came upstairs to try to book a Tesco delivery for tomorrow but it's all booked up so looks like I've got to go to Morrison later to get some shopping. Got no car for the rest of the week so it's today or wait till the weekend. Want a nap too. Don't think I'm going to bother with unpackign today. Just too tired. Off for a nap now I think or maybe I should get the shopping done first.

Getting nowhere fast..........

............again. I've been in Norway since last Thursday and I looked at my knitting today to see what I'd actually achieved. Not much. I cast on a sock on the train which I've just turned the heel on and started the cuff. I'd hoped to be on 2nd sock now.

I cast on for a cashmere shawl before I left home but not sure about it now. Got to work a bit bmore on the chart and not sure I can make it work like I want it too.

Then I cast on for another shawl yesterday with some alpaca-silk which is gorgeous, but not sure about that either. I've frogged teh cashmere shawl several times and now I'm thinking of frogging the alpaca-silk shawl too. I've got two other shawl patterns I'd like to try but not sure yet. I may do some graphing for it in a minute and see how it works out.

Been to the hospital again today to see my grandfather. He looked better today as they've finally had time to shave him. He's not been shaved since before I came. And they'd brushed his hair. Made him look so much better. I know he was unhappy by not being shaven. It's terrible that the nursing staff are so busy they can't do personal care like that. He was very tired though and we hadn't been there long when he wanted to go to bed and then immediately fell asleep. My gran came out to my parents for lunch after that. I'm going to the hospital again for the last time before I go home tomorrow so I hope he's awake then. He is making very slow progress and it's hard to watch him like this.

WEnt shopping with my mum yesterday. And I discovered another yarn shop. Some gorgeous yarn Norweigan yarn shops seem to stock mainly norwegian brands. NOt seen any foreign brands here yet and it's mainly smooth ( ie wool, acrylic etc) dk or 4ply yarn. Very bright vibrant colours though. Found some beautiful 4ply alpaca-silk in beautiful colours.

'Falling in love' socks in German

A big thank you to Iris from Germany who has translated the 'Falling in love' sock pattern into German. If anyone wants to translate the pattern into any other languages please contact me.

Iris' blog looks great but I don't remember any of the German I was taught at school so can't read much. But I'll be keeping an eye on the pictures.

Been to the hospital and nursing home to see my grandparetns again today. We took my grandmother out of the nursing home and took her to the hospital to see my grandad. He looked a little better today than yesterday.

On the way home, my mum and I had lunch and then popped into the yarn shop I spotted yesterday, which wasn't as big inside as it looked from the outside. Not a huge choice of yarn but some nice stuff. My mum got some yarn for a jumper for my nephew.

I've started a new shawl design in Posh Sophia 4ply. I've got the beginning sorted out and got to do some charting now then I can get on with some serious knitting tonight.

I'm here

I finally managed to get the packing done and flew to Norway yesterday. The train trip well and I knitted half a sock (toe up). I forgot to bring hte rough pattern for the sock I'm doing and couldn't remember the formula for turning the heel on the gusset version of my toe up socks. Luckily I can print off the MagKnits ones and work it out for these. Also working on a cashmere shawl design but not sure if I'm happy and thinking of frogging it. Gauge too loose and thinking about doing a triangular shawl rather than rectangular. Decisions, decisions!!!

Seen both my grandparetns today. My grandfather looked worse than I expected. So sad to see him after his stroke. He is so different to what he was a month ago but progressing slowly. They were both pleased to see me. Also saw my sister and nephew at the hospital which was very nice. Had a long day today and I'm shattered and done no knitting at all.

I had to take my Gran to the doctors this morning and I parked just outside a gorgeous looking yarn shop. I'd planned to pop in before I took her back to the nursing home but was in ah urry to get her back in time for a hair cut (which was then cancelled). But the shop is just off the main road to Oslo so will pop in another day. But only for a look....................

And we've got snow. Quite a lot of it too. Bit of a shock driving in the snow again. Very slippery too. I was careful though and was getting back into it on the way home. Will take some snowy pics over the weekend.

Beautiful Lace

Okay, so I did get nearly all the jobs done this morning apart from the ironing and the packing. I'm only going to iron the stuff I want to take with me and leave the rest.

And here are some beautiful pics. This is the 'Alpine Lace Scarf' from Victorian Lace Today. I love the way it turned out. It's knitted in Posh Yarn's Sophia 2ply (laceweight cashmere) and i used 3 55gr (400yrds) skeins.

Also knitted this hat today, which is based on my 'Falling in Love' sock pattern. It's knitted in GarnStudio's alpaca 4ply. Perfect for NOrway.

I knitted the same hat a week ago in Jaeger merino 4ply but did 10 rounds less and it was too small for me. But I do prefer the way the pattern shows up in this yarn much better than the alpaca.

Problem with me!

What's the problem with me? Lots of things really. Like this morning, I should be trying to clean up a large bag so I can use it for my trip to NOrway (it was bought for Ness to use on her year 6 school trip and got rather muddy but it's the perfect size for my trip and has wheels), I've got lots of washing to catch up on, and don't mention the ironing pile. It's taking over the house. And it's now 10.40 and I've still not cleared up the kitchen after breakfast. I also need to start thinking about what I'm taking to Norway and start packing.

So what have I done this moring? Well, after getting girls off to school, I collapsed into my favourite chair with m yknitting and watched the Wright Stuff on Channel Five. My favourite day time programme. If I'd watched it and ironed it wouldn't be too bad but I didn't. I knitted and tried to stay awake.

Then 10 mins ago I decided to jump into action. Walked (not jumped) upstairs to change from jeans into track suit bottoms. The button on my jeans is loose and keeps popping off. I thought while I was up here I could pop into the spare room and get the bag that needs cleaning. Then I saw the laptop and decided to check my e-mails nad now I'm blogging. I'm hopeless.

Another excuse I've got today is that I've been up since 4am. I woke up jsut before 4am and although I was soooo tired, I just had to get up as I had an excrutiating headache and pain in the top of my neck. Didn't get back to sleep. But I could fall asleep sitting up at the moment.

I will allow myself a nap later today if I get the following done:

1. washing out of the machine and into tumbledryer and another load in the machine.
2. Some ironing done - the stuff I need for my trip and any school uniform that still needs ironing.
3. The bag cleaned.
4. Check that I've got wht I need for Norway washed and ironed and start packing.
5. And most importantly, clean up the kitchen and decide what to defrost for dinner.

Problem is with my neck/back the way it is today I'll need to take freuqent breaks and during those breaks it's so easy to pick up my knitting or fall asleep (probably while knitting).

So somebody, come here and unplug my laptop. Kick me into action. NOW!!!!


Okay, I'm going and I won't come back until I've got some work done. I PROMISE!!!!

FALLING IN LOVE SOCK UPDATE

A very kind knitter e-mailed me today (or last night) to tell me that there is a typo in the MagKnits pattern. On round 9 it should read k6 instead of k5. This is probably fairly obvious to most people as it's the cable stitches which are 6 st not 5.

I'd love to see your socks when theyre finished so please send me some photos or e-mail me the link to where I can see it (ie your blog etc).

Okay, okay, okay, I'm off. Kitchen first, then bag and laundry. PROMISE!!!!

Decisions, decisions.......

I seem to be unable to make up my decision about anything at the moment. I've got 4 skeins of this gorgeous Posh silk/cashmere 4ply yarn which I don't want to use for socks. I've swatched several things for it already including:

and

But in the end I've settled on this:

It's the Syrian shawl from 'Victorian Lace Today'. In the book it's knitted in Kidsilk Haze on 4.5mm needles creating a very light, airy shawl. I'm using 4ply on 4mm needles so the look will be completely different. But I do think it shows off the colours nicely.

Also frogged this sock back to the toe. I did 'eye of partridge' stitch on the sole as a experiemnt. It created a lovely thick fabric but also pull it in a bit making it look odd so it got frogged. I'm not too thrilled with this colour. A bit pale for me so dont know whether or not to carry on with it or cast on another pair instead. Got 3 skeins from Yarn Yard and one silk/cashmere one from Posh Yarn lined up. Decisions, decisions...........

Lace and variegated yarn = problems

Had a swatching day again today. I've got 4 skeins (400 yds) of Posh Eva (cashmere/silk) sock yarn. It's a gorgeour colour but I don't want to do socks. I got 4 skeins so I could do something biggerwith it. I'm thinking a shawl or scarf of some sort. And I love lace. But variegated yarn and lace don't seem to go very well together. Today I swatched for this diamond pattern but it disappears int he yarn colours.

So I'm thinking perhaps Forest Canopy shawl instead. But must check out if I have enough first. I must be about the only person in the online knitting world who hasn't done the Forest Canopy shawl yet and I do like it. Crafty threads n yarns are having a knitalong with this pattern so perhaps I'll join.

Also did this tiny swatch in Baby Alpaca from Garnstudio today. the pattern is one of the lace patterns in the sampler shawl in Victorian Lace Today.

Falling in love socks.

The feedback I've had on the Falling in love socks is briliant and very positive. Barbara W who testknitted it for me said the instructions for toe up were easy to follow. And Linda has started. She found the instructions for the short row socks easy to follow and she hasn't done toe up socks before. So if you're new to toe up socks, give it a go. And remember I'm always here to answer any questions.

Silja let me know about a Norwegian sock knitalong and the host of the knitalong is using the FIL sock pattern for her February socks.

If you see anymore around in blog land, please let me know. Its fun to see people knitting my pattern.

I've joined another sock knitalong - Sock a month 3 . Very pleased to be able to join this one. I missed the last one. I've not made much progress on my first pair of socks in February though. Too many other projects whizzing around in my head.

Off to bed now. It's 10pm and I'm very, very tired and we have a busy weekend ahead. Gotta plan my knitting projects for NOrway and get up to date with washing and ironing (no chance!!! LOL).

Nite all and have a good weekend.

And to any NOrwegians reading this - is there any snow in the Oslo area (south of Oslo, Son to be specific) Is it cold? Or as mild as it was at Christmas? Want to pack as little as possible but don't want to freeze.

I'm so excited, I'm about to burst.

After having a few not very good days, this really cheered me up just a minute or two ago. Yes it's my sock pattern, 'Falling in Love'. I first designed it when I was knitting my first pair of socks in Collinette's Jitterbug. The yarn was gorgeous and I was hoping hte pattern would work but it didn't. Jitterbug was too varied and colourful for it. So I used some Jaeger 4ply merino from my stash instead. I loved it and at the last minute I decided to submit it to MagKnits. It was well after the February deadline but I thought as it's Valentine's Day this month, a pair of heart lace socks would look good.

A huge thank you to Barbara W from the Sock Knitters Forum for test knitting this pattern urgently for me before Christmas. I didn't get her much time at all. She gave me some good pointers. Thank you Barbara.

It's the first pattern I've had published and I hope it won't be the last. It's knitted toe up which is great especially if you're worried about the fit or running out of yarn. Or keen to use up all the yarn available. Just knit the cuff until you run out of yarn.

I originally worked the socks with short row toes and heels. But then decided to knit them with a different toe construction (a mix of Queen Kahuna's aloha cast on and figure of 8 cast on). In fact I'm just working on some instructions to go on my website for this type of toe. Whatever method you use it'll get you a great end result.

For the heel choose between short row heels and gusset/heelflap. I've tried to include detailed instructions for both. Any problems please just ask.

Other things happening

A lot of other things have been going on lately. My grandfather in Norway had a stroke on Saturday. He's doing fairly well I think but is obviously in hospital. He's got a lot of wekness in his left arm and leg. And recovery may be slow, he is mid 80s after all. The one I worry about the most is my Gran. She is very frail and is starting to get confused and forgetful. She's had to move into a respite home as she can't manage on her own in their 4th floor flat (no lifts). She really depends on my Grandfather. He is very active and walks up and down the steps between their flat and the basement several times a day and walks to the shop a couple of blocks away. I think she misses him a lot.

So last night my dad, Simon and I decided that I should go to Norway for a week. I'm leaving next Wednesday. It's not easy to go away for a week, when you have two kids (9 &11) who still need you at home every day after school and a husband who works full time. My motherinlaw has been ill with shingles since Christmas so don't won't to ask them. After a morning spent phoning friends to help out with childcare and booking tickets - train to Stansted (from Cornwall), return flights to Norway and flight from Stansted to Newquay on the way back - I've finally got it all organised. Simon is taking two days off work too. And my friends Clare, Helen and Carol and my neighbour Sue have all agreed to help out with childcare. I'll just have to write out a list so Simon knows who's going where on which day. LOL.

Also been playing around a lot with patterns and swatcing last night and today. A lot of stitch ideas have been charted and thrown away. Several swatches been knitted and frogged. This is a swatch I did earlier that I'm happy with. Not sure whether to frog it and knit a wider scarf/shawl or to carry on with the swatch and turn it into a scarf. Like this diamond pattern although it does't show up a great deal with this variegated yarn, which is Posh Helena 4ply . It's fairly quick for a 4ply. But it's lovely to knit with and I love the colour.

Also started another sock, this is for my cashmere 'socks with a twist' pattern. need to knit up one sock to check some changes. The yarn is Posh cashmere sock yarn (4ply). And the needles are Boyes from the Yarn Yard.

And this was my dog, Sam, this morning. I was busy photogrpahing some of my stash and she was snuggled up on my shawl. As I was tidying up I piled up all the yarn next to her as my yarn basket is just at the end of the sofa. Thought it looked so cute.

And this is our coffee table this morning. Phone and phonebook and calendar for trying to sort out childcare for when I go to Norway. Lots of knitting/yarn bits. And some Cadbury's mine eggs to keep me sane.

Askein of Yarn Yard yarn and some Boyes coloured needles - gold and lilac.