SP5, Silkwood, Fame and a Promise

My day started pretty well - had a postcard waiting for me from my secret pal. Hello whoever you are! Will keep an eye on my pal's blog to see how my parcel goes down.

Then the debauchary started. I went to The Yarn House in Caterham www.theyarnhouse.co.uk where Silkwood yarns (the ones Nickerjac dyes for) were having a kind of open day. Sheila, the yarn house owner was there and Jan had made a avictoria sponger and there were biscuits - already my idea of heaven without the inclusion of a tonne of yarn. Debbie Bliss, Rowan and some unusual brands. One was alpaca - so soft. But enough about the stuff I didn't get. Let's get down to what I did. First off some nice sock yarn. Safe. Nice. Something for when I'm on the move. (Pooch is now complaining that although I am quoting star wars I am only ever saying the one line - "Always on the move". You can not please some people.

Then we come to my first Silkwood purchase....4-ply blue and green 100% wool. I only bought one skein but that was just to see how much I'd need for a simple jumper. Although that doesn't fit too well with my promise, but more of that later.

Then, I just couldn't help myself. They had all this 100% angora and it was about £20 a skein so way out of budget. But....goddamn them, there were some smaller teeny skeins that were *only* ...um...."only"?.....£7.
Now look, for someone who has never felt angora I can understand that this will sound insane. But but but but it is soooooooooo soft. Unbelievably soft. So soft. Softness in earthly form. Mmmmmm. (Just don't ask me what I intend to do with it.

And now, ladies, gentlemen and everyone else, here it is. 300g of delicious, sensational, hand dyed, 'aubergine' pure wool boucle. Yeah baby yeah.

So now I have more yarn, but we'll get to that later. First let us deal with 'fame'. Of a sort. Not really, more like just been deductively recognised. I got to the shop and went inside and a lady asked if I was Alexandra. I was gobsmacked but she was on the UKHandknitters list and had heard I was coming and was someone she didn't know. The later a couple of people asked if I were Lixie - one after seeing my boogle bag or whatever the damn pattern is called. So there you are - the knitting world is smaller than you think, although actually I never thought it was that big. In a reverse of this I hung around especially to meet Nicky of Nickerjac fame. But then I didn't get to say that much too her as that is one popular lady. Is quite cool to think I might have one of the skeins she has dyed though.

And so finally, the promise. You see I have had to cancel my woolfest trip and genoa holiday because I can'r afford them all, and so Silkwood was my 'holiday'. And then during my enforced stay-up-late night last night I got a 1000kg cone of aran weight wool from a scottish company on ebay. And so...my promise is...30 days without buying wool or yarn or anything that I could foolishly try to knit with. Ditto knitting accessories. 30 full days. So until 9pm on 10th July no new yarn shall pass my mitts.

Forced knitting

Flat downstairs having a party. Means their loud, awful music is louder and awfuller than usual. Will therefore finish this tonight. Will sew up when am more awake.

Oooo, moody post today!

SO tired

Got up at 6.30 yesterday to get on a coach with a load of reluctant colleagues to go to Bristol to our sister company. I didn't join them on the tour but had a quick meeting with the cutest man ever (His name is Nick and he has grown his hair recently and lost some weight and now looks Byronic. He's a graphic designer and that whole art/scinece mix always gets my attention. Pooch has been informed of his existence and he is now my Liz Hurley equivalent). Then off to Cardiff for the launch of their grad school and then nasty dinner in New Orleans diner (what did I expect!). Then train back to London which was hugely delayed so didn't get home til 11pm. And then Pooch was all talkative. Then rushed out this morning and found all sorts of things not done for the event I've got on in 3/4 hour. Then tried a new sandwich filling for lunch and it was nasty. Oh dear, what a poor little thing I am determined to be today!

On the upside managed to get lods of knitting donw on the trains yesterday. Doing a sari silk batwing cardi/bolero on 9mm needles and the colours are gorgeous. Will post a photo once I've calmed down!

Sending my secret pal her first little parcel tomorrow. I really hope she likes the things.

There's knitting and then there's Machine Knitting

Oooooooo yes. It happened yesterday. The machine arrived from Ruth yesterday - so nice of her to bring it round. It is a brother kh891 and has a ribber with it. I set it up this morning and look what I got! Within about 20 minuites of opening the box!

The main problem is that it didn't come with a manual so I am using a scanned one from the web, and the picture quality on the scans is poo. So I couldn't work out the wholoe casting on thing and so I think I should have moved the cast on hook strip thing away after the first cast on row maybe. Instead it just sat there and hings got a bit ruffled:



I'm hoping there are some lovely machine knitter out there who can clue me in on what I am doing wrong. I have a couple of books on order from amazon an some punchcards from ebay but you know I'm just so impatient! Is so exciting! Will be able to do all the small guage stuff on machine and the bigger 5mm + by hand which I much prefer. Lovely jumpers and skirts here I come! Woo hoo

Kool Aid - how to

Ok, so you get your kool aid (I get mine from www.koolaiduk.com but there are other suppliers) and carefully rip the packet open. DO NOT INHALE THE POWDER.

Get some tupperware or something like that and mix the powder with about half a cup of water. For my yarn used about half the packet but could have used less - depends how much you want to dye.

Put your yarn into a skein and secure it in a couple of places so it doesn't tangle. You can only use animal fibres - cotton won't work.

If you are going for variegated then put a different colour in two different bowls with the water and plonk the skein in on top with half in one bowl and half in the other. Add some more water until the yarn is just covered. Squash it about a bit to let the dye penetrate. Then just walk off and leave it for an hour and open all the windows because by now your house will smell like strawberry shortcake's pants.

Make sure all the yarn has been covered and then lift it out of the tupperware and squeeze the excess liquid out of each colour. Get a piece of clingfil and lay the yarn on that. Remember not to agitate it too much if you're using wool as it might felt. Wrap the yarn loosely in the clingfilm.

Set up a steamer on the stove top and lay the clingfilm wrapped yarn in there. Put a lid on it and go away for another 30 minutes. Take the wrapped yarn out of the steamer and leave it to cool down completely. Carefully unwrap and carefully rinse any excess kool aid out using a sink of water. Leave to drip dry and when it is (dry) knit with it!

I have yet to discover how colourfast it is!

Kool Aid

My first ever experience dying yarn. So how was it for me? The smell - not really expected. Because of course I used kool aid which americans actually drink ?! and the rest of the world uses as a dye. Today I used strawberry, grape and something or other cherry and dyed some merino dk and some slubbed cotton. Exhibit A is the wool, which has turned out quite well.


Exhibit B is the cotton.
Note to self: do not try and dye yarn without putting it into skeins first. Plus try harder when cleaning taps.

Pooch just rang (inebriated I am sorry to say - I shall tell his mother) and tried to get me to order him some kebabs to be delivered so hey would be here when he got home and therefore save vast amounts of time he would have had to spend getting them for himself. What is it with men and kebabs when they've been on a bender? I declined the opportunity but this does mean he'll be back any minute so must clear all that dye out of the kitchen before he tries to drink it.

But first - most importantly - I have my secret pal (in Portugal) and the person who has me as a pal has been in touch and I think is in germany. I can't wait to start sending little parcels out and finding other ones waiting for me over the next few months. Knitters are wonderful people!

Progress

Am not too sure about the yellow. Don't think I'll use it again. So there it is and I just get on with it for another 30 cm or so. I quite like fairisle - it is stocking stitch which is my favourite and keeps things changing by using three colours on each row and changing the colours every three rows.

In others news am SOOOO annoyed. Two parcels have arrived and I just know they are wool-based (wooldar) and the concierge man wasn't manning his station so I couldn't pick them up. I neeeeeed those parcels.

Was reading my 'yarn to dye for' or something like that book at lunch. Can't wait til the weekend to try it out. Am also trying another Monica Ferris book (craft mysteries) that arrived from amazon at the same time. Actually I ordered three and they all came - don't tell Pooch!

From nickerjac's blog

You are Shetland Wool.
You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a
little on the harsh side. Though you look
delicate you are tough as nails and prone to
intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are
widely respected and even revered.


What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hmm. Pooch just did the test too and is also shetland wool. Not sure how to take that!

Secret pal - tension rises

Wow oh wow. I see a few others have their secret pal already. I'm just so keen to get going. I love giving presents as much as getting them. Must remain calm!

So here's what I'm going to do

After my big old quandry yesterday about what to knit next all is resolved./ Someone on the list (think it was Diane) suggested I knit squares for a blanket. Think I'd blogged about this idea before so I got out my stitch dictionary and did two in a random ball of variegated cotton I had hanging around. Then I thought about the Kaffe Fasset design
and my little, umph, disaster as regards the whole dk vs 4-ply thing and decided to nuckle down to some sample squares to see how I could get the right tension. 4-ply and 4mm needles seems to do it so I'm off.
means having three colours per row but fortunately the beginning was the bottom edge rib so I've done that just to get warmed up.
Will start the pattern proper tomorrow.

Have been reading people's blogs from list on left and leaving comments and questions and people have got back to me really quickly. Have found out lo0ts of interesting things form other knitting bloggers. Thanks everyone!

blocked cable top

So here it is, all blocked and just drying in the stonking heat here in london today. Actually, it isn't too bad at the moment, but it's set to make the tarmac melt or something equally daft later on.



Front and back.



Have some concerns that the waist will be too tight. No point worrying about it just now though.

Have been thinking I'd really like to get more into designing things, like the loop-d-loop things. I've got two books on how to design knitwear so I really should nuckle down and try some stuff.

Ode to Pooch

I know he keeps an eye on my blog so I thought I'd give him a big thank you for being so very lovely. He actually has gone to quite a lot of trouble to understand what 'cabling' means and why kid silk haze is so special and why wool is only wool if it is 100% wool and otherwise it is yarn. And how much time goes into knitting something. And why you can never have too much yarn and why I need to have so many patterns. And why having no money doesn't count when there is a new LYS to explore and you have a credit card. And why yarn is better when it's on view plus why there needs to be so many different projects on the go at once. He knows how painful it is to rip something and that everything knitted is knitted with love. I love Pooch x

And so here for the first and only time is Pooch in his space invaders jumper that, yes, was way way too big.

Hum, what to knit next?

The red cable top, which I realise I have never posted a picture of, is almost done. I'll just have to post it in all its glory when it if blocked and sewn up.

I've got lots opf yarn and wool. I've got loads of patterns and ideas. So why is choosing a next project so hard????

Options are: Sari silk cardi, fancy yarn pink/gold/silver batwing beach top, basketweave tunic from vogue, kaffe fasset top (but I still don't think I can look at that yet after past disappointments), underwear set from knitty, skinny red clapotis, something chunky using all that maya and umpteen others. But let's stick at these for now. Skinny clapotis is tempting as I really enjoyed knitting the last one, but then I've got yarn on order to do one for Mum for Christmas. But then it's May so no rush.

AAAAARRRGGHHHH. Is Dad's birthday in a week. Damn, always forget. NO real time to knit anything for a man after he turned his nose up at the idea of knitted golf club covers.

Back to previous thinking - clapotis is an option then. They are all options though! Pants. Any suggestions anyone?

Secret Pal Questionnaire Answers

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I am rather a yarn-snob although for a snob I still buy a fair bit of acrylic. I often buy single balls of yarn "just to try" and they can be made of anything.
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Have a drop spindle. I'd love a wheel but there's no room.
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Allergic to lavender and biological washing powder. Don't wear perfume.
4. How long have you been knitting?
Since I was about 4. Left off for years and started again in ernest about 3 years ago.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No, sorry!
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Vanilla definitely. Just stay away from that lavender!
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
VERY! Good milk or plain chocolate is my downfall.
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I have played around with sewing and embroidery. I'm pretty practical so have tried most things crafty once.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like all sorts. Favourite listens at the moment are Kaiser Chiefs, Snoop Dogg, Katie Melua.
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
Reds - I love yellows but can't wear them so avoid yellow yarn like the plague. White looks awful on me. Not too fond of organe or purple. Reds and lighter blues though I love.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a boyfriend with a childhood nickname of 'Pooch' which is kind of like having a pet. No actual animals (he's allergic) but I LOVE cats.
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
Dude....have my own yarn shop? Seriously, I'd love that. Like the one in the Monica Ferris books!
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Rowan chunky big wool type things at the moment. Anything you can use over 4mm needles on really. Very fond of variegated stuff.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Scratchy 100% acrylic. Anything that feels like it's not wool basically.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Chunky wools. Am really into felting actually. Felted bags are SO strong.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Tough one - I like variety. I like trying out new techniques so I'm in the middle of a cable top so I co9uold get the hang of cabling.
17. What are you knitting right now?
The cable top. It's from Rowan's current magazine and is mercerised cotton on 3.25mm which is too small for comfort.
18. What do you think about ponchos?
Yuk. Capelets however have a certain something. I have a shop bought cape, but have been considering a capelet.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Straight, definitely. I can't do ciculars and double pointed are the needles of the devil. I knit socks on two needles always.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Have got some of each. Not fussed as long as they are nice. Sucker for coloured or painted ones.
21. Are you a sock knitter?
Yep. But on two needles. Like the really bright self-patterning yarns.
22. How did you learn to knit?
Had a 'My First Knitting Kit' plus a whole lot of trial and error.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
About 18 months. Man, I really need to rip that thing. Trouble was by the time I was near finished (it needs about just 3 rows and then making up) I'd gone off it. Is in Colinette tagliatelli too so not like it's nasty yarn.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Mr Tinkles from the film "Cats and Dogs". I love any evil, sarcastic cat. Catbert from Dilbert is excellent too.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
Morocco sticks in my mind. Was about 4 years ago. Marrakesh souks were wonderful. Didn't see any yarn though!
26. Is there anything that you collect?
Yarn! Vintage bracelets from 60's or older.
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Interweave Knits and Rowan Magazine. Have tried the UK mags Knitting and Simply Knitting but am not that keen on either.
28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
I am a sucker for books but the thing is I always buy them straight away when I see them. Have the one for dying your own patterning sock yarn on order at the moment.

Back from blackpool, and boy....

have I got some yarn for you. There is this absolutely amazing yarn store just by St Anne's station where we were staying. It's called "The Sheep Shop" and before I go any further I have to point out that Pooch found it. Yes, he has officially developed wooldar. The owner is Suzy and she has an ebay seller name of suzysheepshop and she id a dude.

So the spoils include some Adriafil which is italian and I'd never seen it before. Have got some "Graphic", "Baroque" in three colours and "Ibiza" which is a cotton ribbon yarn. All very yum. Then have some "gypswy" (very soft), black and white james c brett "Marble" which is what I did my cardigan in. Last a ball of stylecraft "Mardi Gras". And then the amazing happened.....

I admired a jumper hanging from the ceiling and we discussed how wonderful Debbie Bliss Maya is. Then she said the magic words.... "I've only got about 8 skeins of that left now. You can have them for £4.50 each if you want." OH MY GOD. I mean, they're normally £8.50 and these are the best shades of red ever.

The holiday (yarn aside) was blinding. The weather was absolutely ghastly but we had excellent fun. Pooch has been a darling and have a picture of him to post once I've recovered from my shop this morning. And I know I said I was out of cash and have to stop buying yarn in my last post, but now I am REALLY short of cash (god bless credit cards) and so NO MORE YARN!!! (Until Woolfest...)

Off to blackpool

Just seen Kate's blog with the heirloom shawl on it. Wow. Was just hesitating about a kid silk haze scarf in a magazine called 'Knitters' or something like that. Really think it is time to go for something lacy and insubstantial. Will make sure I pack the ball Pooch gave me along with the pattern.

Mum has sent me the vogue baby blankets 2 book as it was damaged when it arrived at her book shop so she got it for free. Or that's what she says. I've been thinking about knitting a blanket for ages and they do have some really nice ones. Was thinking about a kind of afghan done a square at a time and then just randomly stitched together. Guess it would be a way to use all those odd balls of wool I always end up buying 'just to try'.

Spoke to Dr P about the adverse reaction to reducing anti-d's. He said it was 'just' a sign my brain wasn't ready yet. But then had therapy with Louise and she confirmed that it's pretty unusual to have such a strong reaction aftr just cutting a seventh. I mentioned the 's' word and she immediately insisted on seeing more often. All very well but now that medisure have dumped me I have to pay which means less money for wool! Speaking of which I'm totally cleaned out this month. Was that order to getknitted.com. Must call a halt next month...

Post-crisis

Everyone on UKHandKnitters has been really nice and so I am feeling better about my disaster now. Will try knitting it double as Claire suggested. Will be nice and warm! May all the Gods shine on comment leavers too!

I have two pics to show off after Pooch owned up to hiding the camera lead. The first is of my third attempt at drop spindling. The thing is, what do I do with it now? Might have a look at some felting pattern books.

The second is what lovely Pooch bought me for our anniversary, finally posted up here. He is really lovely, even though he expects me to get excited about Star wars but isn't excited about International Knitting in Public Day. (http://worldwidekipday.blogspot.com/)

I am organising a picnic and a visit to Loop (the new Islington shop in London) on 11th June to be the London part of the celebration. Shoudl be dead exciting!

Just fricking shoot me now

Once upon a time I bought a Kaffe Fasset book and marvelled at the patterns and the colour mixes and the skill and and and And so I spent many hours deciding on colours and sent an order off to Texere. Then I didn't like half the colours when they arrived and so I went to John Lewis and spent much more time choosing replacement colours for those I hadn't liked. Then I paused - safe in the knowledge that I had my lovely wool, I had my pattern, I had the needles, I just needed to wait for the moment to take me. And tonight, this very night, just 10 minutes ago, that moment arrived.

I have bought 4-ply instead of DK.

I am in complete turmoil.

Wahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Fricking knitting and fricking wool and fricking colours and gosh darn kaffe fasset may all his colours fade.

OK. This need not be a disaster. I could rework the pattern for the new stitch guage. The extremely complicated pattern....which I probably wouldn't now have enough wool for....remain calm....Aaaaaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhh f*ck

And Pooch has run off to the all day star wars thing with my camera lead. And there's no chocolate in the house. And have PMT......

knithappens.net

Just spent way too much on this website. Noro for me and Mum, debbie Bliss Soho (in picture) which I hadn't seen before to make another felted bag out of and some 4mm bamboo needles plus cornelia smelia's first noro pattern book. I know I managed not to buy it at Johnh Lewsi but it was cheaper on this site amd I had 10% off. I know that's no excuse but, hell.

Noro

I have a new love affair - with Noro. I was in John Lewis last night positively drooling over their meagre selection and the patterns books that go with it. I quite astonichingly DIDN'T buy anything I hadn't gone there for (needed yarn to start kaffe fasset project) so didn't get the three pattern books I wanted. The thing is, I only really want about 2 patterns from each. And the yarn is soooooooo nice. And they've got it with the debbie bliss maya which is also mega yum. I actually started to convince myself that, hey, £8.50 isn't so much for 100g of chunky yarn when you think of the quality.

Am off to ebay to see if anyone insane is selling it off cheap. If anyone knows of any good suppliers let me know.