Just quickly

I've noticed it's been nearly a week since I "Blogged" which frankly isn't really good enough is it?!

So just a very quick update.

I am knitting the apocalypse hoodie again, more in the manner in which it was designed. I have some old sirdar highlander which is lovely and never seemed to be enough for any projects. Good thing about this hoodie is that it's knitted top down, so I can stop before I run out of yarn! - Hopefully it will make something resembling a sweater! (I've still made it V-neck as I'm not sure about putting in zips - will have to try on something smaller and less important!)

Am also knitting a pair of chevron socks - nothing special really, and if I was really honest I'm a bit bored with them, but they're good when the weather is hot.

Have also started a Kiri shawl in three balls of burgundy alpaca that were left from a throw/shawl thing that I made my grandmother for Christmas last year. The alpaca is scrummy and non-itch, so I thought it would make a nice shawl, and would also boost my likelihood of getting on with my first ever lace project!

More news soon. Promise!

Finally Finished Objects!

Just a few photos a recent F.O.'s

Firstly, my sleeveless, non-apolcalypse hoodie!! - Which has finished nothing like the pattern, but I am happy with it, and have already started the pattern again, for a more wintry knit in more of the manner it was written!!! This is made in Colinette Isis in colourway Dusk. To be honest Isis is a pig to knit - it has no give whatsoever, and is impossible to count guage with as you cannot see the stitches (Consequently this is a bit bigger than I would have chosen, but it's comfy!). Having said that, when knitted it is like the softest, softest, towelling you will ever feel, really scrummy and cuddly! - I think every woman should have a jumper in this for those days when they're feeling "female!" - It'd make you feel better just to be all cuddled up in this!! - I didn't bother with the two rows from each skein nonsense, 'cos frankly I'm more of a botch it merchant, and I would have been quite happy with colour blocking. As it happens I don't think I really got any anyway! I was going to crop down the photo, so it didn't show too much of my very untidy conservatory, but as most of my readers are crafters, you will understand the mess, as we have so much going on at one time eh? - There is even a little bit of work on the table!!!!!! If you click the photo to get it at it's full size you will get a better idea of the colours, which I have to say are truly stunning. (You will also see the mess in all its glory!)

This is the DROPS top I made with some linen and cotton I got off eBay for a bargain price! - It's way shorter than the pattern, (or I'm taller??? - which I doubt!) and it has been blocked, but I didn't realise how short it was when I blocked it, so may try again - but it turns out it looks really nice over a vest top, or one of those hippie cheesecloth shirts that I am often to be found in during the summer! (Notice my crafting skills haven't included repairing the rip in my jeans!!)

And here it is from the side, to show the crochet non-seam!!

There are no photos of the ribbon top - because a) I forgot!, and b) I haven't quite decided if I like it yet, - it may yet be frogged and turned into something else - a handsome prince maybe??!

2nd in a day

This morning I took my beloved Spotley for a long walk as the heat has finally diminished a little and there was a nice warm breeze. Now my girl is generally a lazy little toad (like her mum!) until you take the lead off, when apparently everything must be done at 100 miles an hour, with no stopping or slowing 'til you fall exhausted back into the foot well of the car!! So we walked through woods and shady bits and up a grassy knoll and along a path, through some tall bracken, and over a few brambles and stingers - and we didn't stop once. . . . . . . . UNTIL !!!!!. . . . . . . .



. . . . . . she found the only puddle in drought ridden Surrey, and not only got in it - but positively snuggled down, I mean really wriggled and tucked herself in!!!! The photo really doesn't do her justice - and also doesn't give any idea of the stench of wet dog that accompanied this sight! - I have to say I had to laugh, well if I hadn't I would have cried!!!!

Worst thing was when we got home - and in the prescence of a hosepipe ban, i had to sponge her down - which she wasn't very happy about (but she doesn't wash herself at all - if anyone knows how I can teach her I'd be grateful), so she sporadically shook and covered me in watered down mud! - Ahhh bless her - NOT!

Weekend

I didn't go to the Angel Yarns open day that was this weekend - so possibly everyone else's blog will be far more interesting than mine!!!! - I know I have no will-power and just at the moment pennies won't quite stretch to yarn stash that I don't actually need!!!!!! - I will be there next time though - especially now I have seen some of the photos!!!

On Saturday we did venture out to a countryman's game fair in Sussex. It was a really hot day - and we took both dogs. Met J&S there and wandered around the fair in awe of the old trades that are still alive if you look! There were demonstrations on several types of working dogs, ferreting, falconry, heavy horses (although we missed them!) and some mad axeman! There were also stickmakers, spinners (yay I did get some wool feeling in!) basketmakers, wood-turners. . . . and loads more that I can't remember. There were also the obligatory, far too expensive, food outlets! Loads of people had taken their dogs, and it was good to see that the organisers had put out plenty of water bowls for them around the grounds, so we encountered every kind of spaniel, terrier, hound, and retriever! Most far better behaved than mine!

Yesterday, was therefore a recovery day - It's amazing how tired you get having been out in the fresh air and heat all day. (Well I do anyway!) So I lazed in the garden drinking tea, and reading the Voyage of the Dawn Treader (I'm working my way through the Chronicles of Narnia - again!)

I have finished my hoodie - which has morphed into a sleeveless top - as when I tried it on for OH to comment on length - he decided it looked really good as it was - with no sleeves - so there it is! and as there were no seams - it was instantly finished! - YAY!- Piccies when I have someone to take one of me, 'cos I'm not faffing about with all that self-timing nonsense again! All my current WIP's are now finished, so I need to root through my stash and decide what to make next! hmmmmm not sure if I'm in that kind of a decision making mood today - so it will probably end up being socks!

Thanks to all the millions of traders who commented on my last post (you useless lot), but I don't need you any more anyway (nerrr!)- in hindsight I KNOW I was right, 'cos I'd have lost loads if I'd stayed in the trade! and thank you to the knitters who did comment - I was grateful for your input - especially as it made your head hurt!

Have a nice week everyone x

Trading News - Disciplined or Daft?

For my trading buddies (if any of you read this) - comments required!!!

Traded short on the Dow yesterday, once trade was in profit stoploss set to give me 10% of bank with limit buy at 15%. Idea being that 10% month is my target, 15% gives me a little security blanket for those days/trades when it all goes t*ts. I got my 15% . . . . . . . .all is well in the world. . . . . . . . . but this morning it was another 30 pts down and I had a September trade as I like to get my 10% in one trade!

Question: Was setting the limit of 15% a good disciplined move, or was I daft and should have had the patience to sit it out, with the possiblility of stopping out at my 10% profit if it went wrong?

I feel I was right in setting the limit buy at 15%, but I'd like someone to make me feel better about it??? Any takers????? :)

"Knitting News"

Firstly, my finished trainer socks - aren't they cute!! - Knitted toe-up with a wrapped short-row toe and heel and a beaded rib pattern on the top with a plain sole on 4 DPN's. Pattern sort of cobbled together but mostly from Sensational Knitted Socks, with oddments of sock yarn left from another project.





Secondly, the cleverest pattern ever (!) is my non Apolcalypse Hoodie from Ysolda. The pattern is knitted top down and thus far in one piece. I was just trying it on (how cool is that - to be able to try the top of a jumper on!) to see if the sleeves are big enough as from here on down the sleeves are left behind on stitch holders and the body is knitted in one piece. The pattern was originally for a cardigan, but I am going to join the fronts where I am now and make a V-neck - absolutely no sewing, double cool!!!!!! ;) Photo obviously isn't very cool, but it's really hard to get yourself in the right place for a self-timed photo, and hold the front of the jumper together to get some idea of where it all goes!!! Still, you get the idea!!!!

Don't forget you can click on any of my photos to get better, bigger and sometimes more frightening pictures!!!!

At least we won the footie

Firstly, I would like to say that anyone who was expecting us at the Abersoch Jazz festival was quite right we should have been there!!!! Unfortunately, a whole heap of things conspired to keep us away and so we missed you all!!! - The only good thing is that 5 1/2 hours in the car in the heat of this last week would have been torture!!!!! I hope you all had fun and had a beer for us!

I'd also like to say happy 40th to Mrs R. Having realised the jazz wasn't going to happen, I did envisage making it to your party, but again the world had other ideas and it just wasn't possible! - Hope you had a fabulous time and that the hangover wasn't too bad!

So, the Brits in the grand prix were, frankly, a wash-out! The race wasn't as exciting as others have been which was a shame because Silverstone is a great circuit, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. The footie was great for the first half. . . . I did find myself reaching for my knitting the second half though as it all got a bit "tired". Still, we won which is what counts.

On the crafting front I have carded some of my jacobs fleece ready for spinning. It's a long and boring process to be honest, although the feel of the wool when it is combed through and becomes all soft and whispy is great. Quite sensual!!!!! (If you like that kind of thing!) I also pretty much finished the ribbon vest top thing, just need to crochet the ties and work out where the heck to attach them! Also the trainer socks were finished. I also started a hoodie in my colinette isis. I'm changing Ysolde's pattern a bit, as her's is a cardigan and I'm going to make a v-neck, but it is giving me a basis to start. Really clever pattern, it's knit from the top down, with no seams - YAY! The isis is a pig to knit to be honest. It has no give whatsoever and is hard to see the stitches. But when it's knitted up it's like the softest towelling you can imagine, so I think a nice soft hoodie for lounging around the house, or putting on after a shower or on a cold evening, is the way to go!

So, here we are at the beginning of another week. I have to work this week (ugh) and also it's time to think about this month's trade - if anyone out there trades the Dow and has a clue what it will do next, please let me know!!!!! (now if we knew that life would be soooo easy eh?!)

Eng-er-land!

You won't hear much from me now until the weekend is over. (Unless I am so moved by our sportsmen's prowess that I can't help but share) But it is not only England's first footie game (the beers are in!), but also, and far more importantly in my eyes, it is the British Grand Prix. I love a good motor race, and this year has seen a few crackers, so fingers crossed for a Jenson Button victory and a good old fahsioned wheel to wheel race. (Wonder how long you can sit in front of the tv without risking economy class syndrome??)

Does my bum look big in this?

It's coming to get me!!






Does my bum look big in this?? (OH having a larff with camera - he doesn't think I've got the bottle to put this on the blog - how wrong is he!)

So, who do you think enjoyed our day out at the seaside most?????

We went to Hayling Island yesterday afternoon for a long sea side walk, a paddle, and an ice cream! (also a cheap sack of spuds but that's not worth blogging about!). Not much more to say except we had a lovely time, loads of sun, and loads of fun!!!

Have today finished the vest in M&D's birthday ribbon, need to make some ties as I changed my original idea and made this.

Have also finished one toe-up trainer sock - YAY, I can do it! Did this one with a short row heel and it made so much more sense. Photies soon!

What happens on a sunny weekend. . . .

. . . . . . the aloe vera babies come out to say hello!. . . . . .

..... hanging curtain things get made for conservatory, as it's like a greenhouse in here (it also hides the crud that falls on the roof, which I now can't clean 'cos of the hosepipe ban - yay two purposes in one!). . . . .
. . . . . a vest top in M&D's birthday present ribbon gets started. . . . . .
. . . . . a pair of toe - up trainer socks get started. . . . .

and finally I get sun-burnt!!!!! (just a little!)