I'm a man who likes to talk to a man who likes to talk

When I was in america I bought a copy of The Maltese Falcon, one of my favourite films. I watched it again last week and was reminded of this quote (by 'the fat man' when talking to our hero sam spade) just this morning when two of my colleagues were yacking away behind me. There is a new boy in the office and you know how some people recruit in their image? I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it but he and his manager have been yacking away non stop for about 4 hours and it's getting on my t*ts. Which just about sums up everything at the moment.

Think I have a bit of PMT as everything seems to be annoying me at the moment. Also doesn't help that I feel like I'm coming down with something and have ghastly quantities of work to do for the even more ghastly MBA. Anyway, we will not be diverted by such dreariness from the main raison d'etre - the love of the knit.

I have got so far along with my sock wool jumper that I have actually blocked the back sectioons and both sleeves. I'm determined to have the seams on the outside and have been pondering how best to do it. Anne at NWKTog was talking on wednesday about a jacket she is making in panels of garter stitch. The panels are joined by picking up along the sides and then doing a three needle bind off. I've done this before on a couple of things and I do like the effect it gives but the more I think about it the less I like the idea of picking up along the edges and then binding off. This leaves me with two options in my eyes-

1. Crochet
2. Backstitching the seams with the wrong sides together and doing this about two stitches in from the actual edges.

Crochet would be easier but I don't think the seams would come out suitably bunchy (technical term, as Kate would say) so although it leaves more scope for disaster I think I'm going to go for option 2. Also it doesn't make any sense to do this on the arm seams so will just do it for the body and the armhole itself. Sorted.

I'm also on the homeward stretch of these bloody jaywalkers that I started years ago (or was it just june?). I have a craving for some comfy two-needle socks using the yarn my sp10 pal sent me in pink and green. I neeeeeed them.

Lastly, on my way to the tutorial last night I scored an obscene amount of buttons in a charity shop. Truly awesome. Started looking at them this morning and there are some real beauties. Photos at the weekend...

Colour, colour everywhere

Well that was a rather exciting day. I had my colours 'done' this morning and then spent a rather pleasurable if hot afternoon splashing the cash at those well known bastions of fashion, matalan and primark. I did try and go a bit more upmarket but if you are venturing out into the world of ....purple.... why spend £15 on a top when you could just chance £3.

Yes, so purple is now a part of my life. A colour I have positively steered clear of since the debacle with the loop-d-loop cardigan. And I wouldn't have then if it hadn't been that that was the drunk yarn Pooch landed me with. But here it is. My 200% top rated star plus colour is a grape purple reminiscent of aubergine. I think it is officially called smokey aubergine although I was in a bit of a daze that she seemed to know the proper names for all these crazy colours so can't swear to it. It is an exoerience I would thoroughly recommend. You can find out more here and the woman I saw was Morag and was really impressive.

So has all this changed my life? Wardrobe before:

Wardrobe after:

Overall I think it was definitely worth it and it definitely made a change for the colours I went for in my shopfest. Expect me to be wrestling Yvonne for the purple yarn any day now...

Of course here I am blethering on about colours when my last parcel from SP10 arrived. My spoiler was fbz who did quite the most amazing job of it. It's almost like she read the future with the whole colour thing too. Take a look (and bear in mind the first two parcels were equally amazing thus realising how truly spoilt I have been) :

So that's a copy each of MAKE and CRAFT (which she mentions she got from one of the guys who does it because she actually knows all these crafty useful people) and a DVD! Of crafty gems. Yet to explore that as have been drooling over...

Ooooo

Ahhhhhh

Weeee!

That middle one is actually sock yarn on the bottom and panda wool on top, which just happen to be in the greens I've been told I should wear more of. I had been coveting panda wool from Gill's site so how cool is that that I've now got some and in the colourway best chosen to go with my 'brown summer' appearance? I think the colourway is 'ultramarine'. Is so lovely and soft...

And that wasn't all - there were candle and chocolates (which lasted all of about 2 minutes after being uncovered and a badge and cute stickers and a present for Pooch which was really thoughtful. Hoorah for SP10!

Gotta lotta sock wool

So what do you do with all those left over bits of sock wool? You make one of web of wool's sock wool jumpers, naturally.

This is a sleeve. Have done the back already and just started on the other sleeve. I'm pretty happy with it. I did wonder about all the colours going together but then I remembered something I read ages ago - most knitters won't knit with yarns that aren't to their taste if they have a choice. So therefore the colours you have in your stash are likely to be from or at least include similar colour groups. So I dug out my massive bag of sock yarns, ditched the ones I actively didn't like and am making it out of the rest.

Am quite excited about going to get my colours doen today. A woman is going to sit me down in front of a mirror and swathe me in various colours to show me what does and doesn't suit me. I realise that this is the sort of thing one could do at home but it just seems so gorgeously self-indulgent to sit about and be the centre of attention for a few hours. I also have a little shopping trip planned for afterwards so it promises double the delight.

I'm feeling pretty upbeat at the moment which is good as this is day three of the great med cut-down. I saw Dr P on wednesday and he was really happy with my progress and suggested it all kick off. 6 weeks on half the ones that made me fat (and maybe it was something to do with all that cake too, maybe) then cut the prozac in half too. Then after that come off the fat one totally with the idea of being off in time for christmas. Am feeling very positive about the whole thing as I really feel I've turned a corner with the whole black dog thing. Hoorah!

The old ones are the best...

EUROPEANS HEIGHTEN THREAT LEVELS :

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved". Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross". Londoners have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz began in 1940 and tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance". The last time the British issued "A Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

Also, the French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

It's not only the English and French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides." The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose". Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Baby blanket goodness

Have begun work on Fu & Michelle's baby blanket. They requested turquoise and this cygnet superwash was the best I could find.

I've made up the pattern using the lacy heart motif from here. I've got 6 balls and am just going to go for it until I run out.

Knitwise there are lots of things on the needles at the moment that are for other people. I'm just itching to break into the copy of "Knitting Nature" I got as a wedding present but am determined to finish some other bits off first. Getting ready for ally pally means I felt it was time for a clearout so there is quite a bit of yarn, some patterns and even my plymouth bamboo interchangable needles up for grabs on ebay at the moment. Here are all the listings. The bamboo interchangables are a steal at a mere pound!

I've also started revisiting another idea that I have been toying with for ages. It's still in its early stages but if you're interested take a look over here. Let me know what you think. My favourite so far and which I am probably going to treat myself to is...

Podcast is back up and running

8th episode can be found here.

I have been doing lots of knitting, honest, but just haven't got round to blogging about it recently. Will do better next week.

SP11 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I don't like cheap acrylic or most eyelash yarns. Apart from that I'm fairly easy. I do prefer things to be machine washable even though I handwash most of my knits.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a needle roll and a crochet roll that I made myself. I don't use dpns much as I make all my socks on 2-needles or a circular (magic loop).
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I'd say I was an advanced bodger in that I can do most things but won't mourn if I make a mistake. The one thing I haven't tried is a big lace project. I can't decide whether I want to or not.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No, sorry.
5. What's your favorite scent?
Vanilla and strawberry. I don't wear perfume but I love scented candles with those perfumes or bubble bath and things like that. I am allergic to lavender in all its forms.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
YES! I have a very sweet tooth which is undeniably why I'm on a diet. I love all chocolate, even the really cheap stuff with the exception of high cocoa dark chocolate.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I can spin but I don't. I have tried most crafts but after knitting it is only crochet that comes close.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I have an mp3 player so mp3s are good. I like hip hop!
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I really like dark red and shades of it. I'm not keen on lots of purple or yellow but I do like them both.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a husband (10 days married! called Pooch who is a geek and features frequently in my blog and on the podcast I do occasionally. No pets as Pooch is allergic but I really like cats!
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
No ponchos! It hasn't really been cold enough to wear hats and mittens this year but I do wear both. I also wear scarves although I'm not keen on curly whirlies (I do make them for other people though).
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
2 needle socks probably. I generally have at least one pair on the go and normally more. They are mindless knitting for the tube or office lunchtime or when I'm tired. Magic loop has very nearly taken over from 2-needles for socks. I also like making baby things as they are so quick to do.
13. What are you knitting right now?
Socks, naturally. My first pair of jaywalkers. Also webofwool's sock yarn v-neck jumper and am about to cast on hanne falkenburg's mermaid.Branching out scarf from knitty.com for my mum. Lacy baby cardigan for a friend who's expecting in May. Hex hat from knitty.com. A complicated aran jumper for my step-dad (longest UFO at about 2 years!)
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yep!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I generally use straight or circs. I have the denise interchangables which I LOVE! If I'm using straights they are the shorter ones. I find 30cm needles too unweildy.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Both. Woudn't be without them.
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
3 years - I'm waiting for my stepdad to get fat so the jumper will fit him. Um....it's a little bit big so far (curses).
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Easter because of the chocolate? No, diet Byrne, diet. I'm not sure that I have one.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Chocolate? I have a huge stash of wool, naturally. I also like weird pens but I use them rather than collect them. I really adore buttons - especially the your-grandma's-button-tin-type-boxes that I can rummage in.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I just let my Vogue subscription lapse as I haven't wanted to knit anything out of the last 3. I've replaced it with interweave knits. I do like interweave crochet (hint hint!)
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Maybe some sort of lace shawl. Apart from that it would be more of the same.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Definitely. My favourite paid ever were knitted by my pal from sp10! I have size 7 feet (UK). I have a strong belief that yarn isn't sock yarn unless it is machine washable at at least 30 degrees.
23. When is your birthday?
4 July 1978 - yes, american independence day!
24. Ravelry?
I love it! My username is littlelixie.

More Wedding Photos

Here are all of them: link. I'm not mentioning this so that you can get prints of my photos, but if you register for your own kodak gallery account you get 30 free prints. If you register as a result of viewing my album you only get 20. I'm trying not to take it personally.

Still trying to catch up with all the bits and bobs that have been left to fester for the last few weeks. I have however finished off some john lewis vouchers on the yarn for hanne falkenburg's mermaid. Pooch has said, and is not denying he has said, that...

I CAN NOW BUY AS MUCH YARN AS I WANT BECAUSE NOW WE ARE MARRIED IT IS LIKE I AM BUILDING A NEST FOR US BOTH

Oh yes. Now obviously as a modern woman I don't let a man tell me when I can and can't go shopping but I am aware I have quite a lot already and so had previously agreed to cut down until at least some of the current stash was used up. But.... since he's said that...

Also another wedding present arrived in the post today - Norah Gaughan's Knitting Nature. Wow! That is one amazing book. I wanted it for the bubble jumper which I'd seen knitted up on ravelry but it's almost like that is one of the less impressive of the amazing patterns. But, I'm determined to get mermaid done before starting another big garment.

Almost forgot - a couple of people asked about the bouquet and buttonhole. Will take a proper pic of them both and post it here soon.

The aftermath

Helloooooo! Well here I am back in blogland again and firmly established as the current Mrs Whittaker. I have only had one incident of answering the phone and saying "Al*x B*rne....I mean Whittaker" so far which I think is rather good for a week. Pooch and I are off to another wedding today which will give me my first opportunity to refer to 'my husband' which I'm also looking forward to.

So photos? Well, photobucket is down so I can't do my usual uploads but here are a few through the wonders of the internet.

This is me in the taxi chortling away on the way to the registry office. The murky lump in my hand is my knitted bouquet.

Next up is the happy couple, with me still chortling away. Pooch's buttonhole was also knitted.


Then finally here is Pooch on our honeymoon, communing with nature in the form of a chicken which took to following us around for a while. We were actually at the domestic fowl trust looking at all the rare chickens and it was awesome. I have about a zillion photos of chickens should anyone care to have a gander (fnah fnah, well, this might seem funnier if I had mentioned earlier that there were geese too).


It just goes to show how stressful weddings can be because I managed to go on honeymoon without the bag of knitting I had carefully prepared. Talk about disaster. I had spent weeks deciding on the perfect project to take with me and I all very nearly went wrong. Fortunately I had packed a back-up pair of jaywalkers in the suitcase so all was not lost and I'm half way down the foot of the first one.

So yes, now we can get back to normal! Thanks so much everyone for your cards, emails and comments. It really was a lovely day and a lovely honeymoon in the cotswolds but now I'm looking forward to really getting my head down with the good old knitting. I'm still slogging away loading things onto ravelry so come and be my friend if you're on there. "littlelixie" is my moniker.

Wedding Day

Nothing much to say. Just think it's funny that I'm blogging on my wedding day!

Will be away until next Monday when I will be back with mucho pictures. Have a great weekend everyone xx

Socks

Just a quickie with a FO. Just sewed them up this lunchtime.

I loved the yarn in the ball (is trekking) but don't like them knitted up. Also think they are a bit kangaroo-ish - thin legs and long feet. Going to be tough to find a suitable recipient.

Three days to the wedding! Weirdding.

Denisetastic (long post)

I am not sure what a bride should be thinking about in the week before her wedding but for me the topic I default to is the same as usual - knitting.

While waiting for the pooch to make an appearance I did a little bit of browsing in accessorise and saw this.

A make up bag, you might think. But no. Something completely different occurred to me. Because for some time there has been a problem knawing at my soul - that of what to do with the extra bits and pieces I have bought to supplement my denise-needle-love since pooch first bought them for me. I have got the pink extension kit, the two long cables, the 12 and 15mm ends as well as all the original bits and pieces. So when I saw this object the thing that immediately sprang into my mind was how similar in size the compartments are to denise needles.

And sure enough I was right. So can you guess what happened next? Those of a frail disposition may wish to look away. I cut my denise box in half. I actually cut it up. It felt really wrong but just oh so good.

So now I have all my denise bits together in one handy to carry bag. Hoorah! And it even has a pocket on the outside for the handy size conversion leaflet.

I was introduced to the old song 'Life is just a bowl of cherries' via one of David Suchet's outings as Poirot in the 1980s. At the time it did strike me as slightly odd that there were two drunken women sitting on the steps of his flat singing at some early hour of the morning and as I have grown up it has really come home to me how extremely unlikely it was that Poirot would smile benevolently at them as he does in that episode. Wouldn't he instead run around shouting 'mon dieu' and complaining that his little grey cells couldn't function without uninterrupted speech? From all this you might be forgiven for thinking that I had been suffering with noisy neighbours again. But actually I've just been eating cherries.

On the subject of agatha christie though, and since I seem determined to make this one of those really long blog posts, I was again reminded of miss marple's knitting today. I am a member of the miss marple group on ravelry and they have been discussing some of the things she knits. But there is one cardigan that geraldine mcthing wears in the new versions with an overlapping neck that I know would look awful on me but still covet. I was reminded of this when I saw the fall preview of Interweave Knits, which contains many many many things I want to wear. But the one that made me think of miss marple is tilted duster, although if she were knitting for herself I can see her much more in tangled yoke cardigan which I think is an absolutely stunning design.

So yes, here I am one week before my wedding. Um. Yep. I just can't wait for it to be over. One more week and then I get my life back and can take a break from everyone constantly asking me whether I've got it all sorted yet. I am now looking beyond the wedding which is why I decided to sign up for secret pal 11. I had thought of sitting this one out as I normally do alternate but I had such a good time with 10 I thought I might as well. Sign ups close on monday so hop over there quickly if you're interested. As I sit here typing this I am wearing the socks my pal from sp10 knitted me. They are just so lovely. Each time I get them out they make me so happy - never underestimate the power of the sock!

Manky rant

Am still at home with this wretched cold. Which is annoying as I am surrounded by stuff I need to do but would rather not. There is just so much going on at the moment, I'm feeling a bit wobbly.

1. MBA - which I'm now very behind on the study for, I've missed the study day on sat because of this cold and I haven't started the essay half of the next assignment which is due in the day before the...
2. Wedding - 10 days to go. I still need to finish my jewellery, make a ring cushion and decide what I'm doing with my hair. Before that there is the ...
3. Hen do, which is on saturday. I still haven't managed to invite loads of people I wanted to come and I haven't contacted art4fun to tell them we're coming. They might be closed that day for all I know. And before that is...
4. Tomorrow morning, which I'm not blogging about until something comes of it but is basically another source of stress for which I've done no research or preparation.
   

Pah.What would make far more sense would be to make a list of the immediate next actions a la GTD and then start doing some. At least then I'd be getting somewhere rather than just sitting around thinking about all the things I'm not doing.

I should also spend a bit of time focussing on positives so as not to get a visit from the black dog who has suddenly become a bit of a celeb with knitters. I have finished the two slum doctor blankets that I started months ago and which will go off tomorrow. I've also made good progress on the cherry blossom socks using the first SP yarn so it might just be that I have a matching pair one of these days. NOTE TO SELF: Stop doing both socks at once with magic loop. It may get rid os SSS but you don't enjoy it. One at a time is much better.

Summer cold sadness

The only thing to be said in favour of this cold is that it hasn't arrived a week later as then I really would have been annoyed. As it is once again I've got a cold just in time to take up what little free time I have. Also means I've missed my MBA day school which took place today. But WTF - I've got some knitting done. I have two things to share today. The first is the magic loop socks started in my SP wool. Very nice.

I *love* the colours.

The second is something I think might be fugly, but I can't make my mind up. You see I heard about slum doctors a while back and it was at a time when I'd been thinking about doing something with all the swatches and part pieces for garments I'd started and abandoned. So I started sewing them together. The blankets only need to be 24"x24" as there is so much malnutrition. I figure when you're starving it doesn't matter that much what your blanket looks like.

Am trying to think of a happy note to end on..... The only yhing I can think of is that I have become quite obsessed with the song 'vaseline' by elastica. Only you substitute 'ravelry' for vaseline. So you end up with:

( Louder, louder )

When you're stuck like glue
When you need some goo
When you're stuck like glue,
Ravelry
When you're black and blue,
Ravelry
La la la la la la la la la la
When you're stuck like glue,
Give me some
When you're stuck like glue
If you'd like to woo,
Ravelry
La la la la la la la la la la
If it's hot like you,
Give me some
Do you need a clue,
I want some
Ravelry, Ravelry, Ravelry,
Ravelry, Ravelry, Ravelry.

Yeah, I know. But it's just stuck in my head!

Lolcat addict

I think I am finding new addictions to distract me from my ridiculous wedding. Lolcats are definitely a new one and am part of the lolcat group on ravelry. Someone posted this quiz:

My score on The Which Lolcat Are You? Test:

Sad Cookie Cat

(51% Affectionate, 36% Excitable, 57% Hungry)

You are the classic Shakespearian tragedy of the lolcat universe. The sad story of a baking a cookie, succumbing to gluttony, and in turn consuming the very cookie that was to be offered. Bad grammar ensues.

To see all possible results, checka &dis.

Link: The Which Lolcat Are You? Test
(OkCupid Free Online Dating)

I was just at our trustee lunch and a guy I used to know pretty well and who I always enjoy catching up with bustled over to me...
"CONGRATULATIONS!" he says.
"Oh thanks" say I, thinking he's heard about the wedding
"So how are you enjoying your pregnancy?" he says
"I am not pregnant and I am going to stamp on your foot very hard" I respond
"I think you should" he says, producing his foot.
What saved it was how indescribably embarrassed he was. I couldn't help but laugh as he apologised and looked utterly gobsmacked at being so tactless. He's an important man too so not the sort of situation he must find himself in too often. I really do feel for him!

Just as well it was today with other good stuff going on in the background and not yesterday when the size 16 trousers in Next were too tight. I am going to try John Lewis today as I hear that expensive clothes have a rather larger interpretation of a 16 than cheaper ones. And why am I clothes shopping? I mean, apart from the usual? Well, I have something cooking that requires a suit and since I am at least a couple of twins past my size 12 ones this means shopping. Should obviously add some spanx pants to my list too...

In knitting news have finished the chevron scarf which though I say it myself is stunningly beautiful. Have cast on a pair of plain magic loop socks in the regia my SP got me. Love the colours. I definitely prefer regia to opal in texture too, although it is probably all being made by the same bod.

Wedding schmedding

The bouquet progresses... A number of people have asked me how this would work out and here is my solution: a big square of red polka dot with loose running stitch sewn in a circle, start to gather it up to form a neck and start stuffing with whatever you have handy. Stuffing maybe. But laddered tights work well too (clean ones). Use twice as much as you think you'll need, pull the neck tight and sew a few stitches through the neck to make it secure. You'll end up with something like this, which Pooch felt was rather inappropriate for him to model.

Then I got all my flowers that I have been working on and started pinning them to the base with common or garden pins.

It still needs some work, not least in that it's a bit of a mess of different yarns and fibres. Need to have a think about it, but overall I'm happy with the concept.

A couple of people have asked about the wedding list and there is one, which just happens to contain some knitting goodies, over here. And the email address our list is under is mrandmrswhittakerathotmaildotcodotuk. Make sure you pay most attention to my bit of the list, as Pooch already has far too much stuff.

OK, have stopped laughing, and am reminded of this lolcat I posted in one of my previous posts.

Am having a bit of a hysterical afternoon. I blame the fatigue from being a support crew to a team on the 100km walk over the weekend and the unscheduled pepsi max break this afternoon. Gone right to my head...

Two posts in one day?

You wait ages for a bus and then yadda yadda...

Had to post about the new love of my life - tilli tomas disco lights and the chevron scarf.

Here is one of those lovely close up shots I love so much.

And what is that in the background? Could it be the signed picture of the great john cena that pooch got me for my birthday? Oh yes. In a lovely gold frame.

Sian and co came round on sunday and mr mead brought quite the most amazing trifle I have ever seen. It was so amazing I felt compelled to take a picture.

The only other mini thing which I've just found on my camera is the favours for the wedding which I came across while down in canterbury. They are marzipan. Aren't they cute?

Busy busy

I have completely given up any hope of getting a podcast out before the wedding. Sorry peeps but there's just been too much going on. I'm also probably not going to be blogging as much as I'd like either but you can feel safe in the knowledge that I am still spending every hour I can knitting! Just cast on the seminal chevron scarf from 'last minute knitted gifts' using the tilli tomas disco lights I got in the US and a ball of anny blatt silk from the stash - still knitting from the stash like a good girl ;)

Am also still loving ravelry and was very happy to move the scarf from my queue to my project list. Am meeting lots of new people in there and a whole heap of listeners. Those who haven't ventured in there yet, don't forget the forums. There is a summer-camp-exchange-sign-up going on which I have duly signed up for. Also there is the lolcat thread, which is just hilarious. Here are just a few of these. The last one is my current desktop picture at work and gives me a little lift each time I see it! Especially as no one else gets it.

Birthday bonanza

Well let's get to the juicy stuff straight off...

This is the whole haul. Pooch gave me the boye needle master set of interchangables, which so far I've only played around with and stroked a lot.

Aren't they beautiful? But what I don't understand is how they can bring themselves to put such beautiful needles in such a fugly case.

What's with that? Plus he got me the pink knitlite needles that have little light bulbs in them for those cinema-dropped-stitch-episodes. Genius!

Pooch also took me out for a lovely sushi dinner, and while I was waiting for it to be time to meet him I just happened to be near Liberty. And I just happened to go into their wool department. Abd I just hapenned to come across some crazy bargains. That's what all that yarn is in the photo. But bearing in mind that I got 38 balls of jaeger for £50 I don't feel so bad about it, and I was due a day from stashalong anyway. So I came out with...

• 10 balls jaeger aqua in butter yellow
• 10 balls aqua in bright orange
• 8 balls jaeger siena in green
• 6 balls in purpley blue
• 6 balls in cream

Now I did not just go crazy, because believe me I could have bought at least another three colourways of the siena. Also I have a plan. Kind of. The yellow and orange is for a baby blanket. Am thinking squares and probably crochet. The green/purple/cream combo was inspired by the highly inspirational Nickerjac who was crocheting with those three colours at SkipNorth. She was using james c brett merino, which I still haven't seen any of so let me know if you know of a london pusher, or rather don't. Jan had made Nic a baby blanket that was quite stunning - you actually couldn't see where she'd joined the rounds. Has all prompted me to add the 200 blocks book to my wishlist.

I have been going great guns on the sideways sock adventure, and it ended recently with me wearing this.

Now I know my eagle eyed readers will have noticed the slight sag towards the toe end. Lets just look at that in more detail shall we?

That's the end of the toe folded over. This is the downside of a sideways sock. I made it about 2 inches too long and whereas with your conventional one you could just rip back, with this one you're stuck with it. I considered keeping it as a lesson for the future but then there was this as well:

That's the front of my ankle looking very much norah battyish. I had mitred the heel but not used any shaping there and so with two major design flaws I did the decent thing and frogged it out of existence. The mark 2 version is going along very nicely.

Finally, I've been making flowers for my wedding bouquet - and this one is definitely not going to be thrown to the crowd. I have been doing them on the tube on the way to and from work. These are all the tapestry ones. I do like this yarn although I have a feeling it would pill like crazy with wear. If anyone has any experiences of this let me know.

I did get lots of other presents which were all wonderful but haven't photographed them yet. Thanks to everyone who sent emails and things too. Horrah for birthdays!

Wooo hooo

Well we did have a lovely time yesterday. Took a mound of cake and sweets to work today to stop me eating it all myself. I'm leaving photos until I've had a chance to send the link round the attendees but I did want to share this cake, which Julie made, and was wonderfully tasty as well as generally wonderful!

Then I feel these photos are so splendid I'll have to show off a bit. This was my present to Nic, and fling me sideways if the second photo isn't worthy of yarnstorm herself.

So here in rain central it is, um, raining. Can you believe it is July? I am getting married in a month (one month today in fact) and here we are trudging around in wellies. Actually wellies would go quite well with the dress but the shoes I've got already will be much better.

I was hoping to get a podcast out last weekend but paypal decided to cancel my payment to podbean and the whole site got suspended. I'm pleased to say it is all up and running again but it means it'll be a few more days before I get round to that. Now.... I'm off to trawl blogs to read about Woolfest.