Thursdays of doom

Its Thursday. I don't like Thursdays for a couple of reasons :

1. I have a really boring epidaemiology lecture in the after noon.
2. Its not quite Friday but it feels like it should be
3. (wost of all) I teach on Thursday nights.

Teaching is not so bad, however, it's the two hours with a little boy who has the attention span of a gnat thats tough. He's a lovely boy, great at speaking English and he's pretty smart too, it's just he finds the parrots / dogs / walls / outside noises/ anything more interesting than work. I need a white walled empty soundproof room to teach him in I think. The best bit of the lesson is that we read Enid Blyton together. Can't get enough ginger beer and lashings of cream.

Will post craft-wise later. Am off to psyche up for the lesson.

present progress

Top sheet for table cloth number one is complete. This one is more 'disorganised' there is no overall pattern except the alternation of green and red. The second of the two has a diagonal pattern as well as the green/red alternations. I like it. its cheerful.


In other (sock related) news... this is where we are :

Sorry about the poor pic quality. I am about to shape/turn (what d'you call it) the heel. We seem to have recovered well from frogging with minor injuries, hoping this time round with the heel goes better (thanks to a little advice from advanced sockers)

Am off to do more quilting. I want to get them finished and posted as they are for the aussies (mans side of the family).

sock update

Ok, So here it is, as you can see I have som whoppers of holes here


You may also have notices some frogging going on.... yes.... back up to the leg to try again

see... look... more holes


Other than that though, I love it. Look how cool this wool is.


And my fabby ribbing work...

I love how this wool comes out. So i frogged a little and I will take a running start at the heel when I get to it again.


Thanks for the advice. I am not really sure how wrong I am getting it. I will see next time round.

progress and cables

These little pretties are my new handmade cable needles that I ordered from debhd on Etsy last week. I have to say, they are lovely.


She very sweetly sent me a 4th one along with the 3 I actually paid for.

I made progress on the sock, but its too depressing for words. My main problem is picking up stitches along the edge of the heel flap, they always look like humungous holes or like i dropped multiple stitches or something. I just dont see how I can do it any better, very frustrated and almost ready to pack in socking all together. couldnt even face photographing them. other than that they are going perfectly.

On the other hand though, the wool comes out really cool.

I'm off for sandwiches.... will update with scary sock pics tomoro.

weekend and wool

Well, in terms of project completion, this weekend was not very lucrative. however, in terms of stash building :) it was ok. not a patch on rani's gorgeous haul though.


this little mix is to make some fetching and cosy wrist warmers.





this is the yarn my gran got for me... this will make fabby socks


this is the new simply knitting magazine with alan dart goodness in it



and this is all the work i got done

the new calculations for this piece are as follows

4 rows = 0.5 cm
4 rows = 1 hour of knitting

so new estimated time till completion = 160 hours

this means that in about 10 years i might have a lovely wool top.

The rest of the time was spent separating bickering little girlies, cleaning up after them and giving my sister moral support. Oh yeah... and the movie night. We watched 3 excellent films this weekend.

The lake house : an interesting little film about love which develops over a 2 year time difference. It isn't all and easy solution and sickeningly soppy. It was really quite a good film.

The sentinel : Fabulous film about a plot to kill the president (um, that sounds bad, but i just love suspense)

Hollywoodland : It doesn't really go anywhere much it is interestingly done with flashbacks and present day (in the 50's) clips. We'd watch it again.

This reminds me... recently we watched the world's fastest Indian, which, while it's not a brand new film, was just great. Really love Antony Hopkins as an actor anyway and I think he just played the role perfectly.

Enough of my amateur film critique, I'm off to prep for tomorrow. Forensics first thing is definitely something you have to psyche yourself up for.

street smart

All that urban gorgeousness made me finally splash out on the patons street smart pattern book. Yes I may never have the knitting capability to finish one. Yes I may have to frog repeatedly. Yes I may be out of my depth but gosh-darn it I'll try!!

this is the one i am in love with...
The unfortunate truth is... even if I finish it perfectly, even if it is a masterpiece, my lifes work.... i still wont look as good as everyone else in it. fluff!

ok enough moping. oooh I am also waiting on my elizabeth zimmermann book... knitting without tears (how very apt) I saw a hat in it that I deeeeeesperately want. Its getting really cold here now too and i want to have my hat .... ok so I have others (many) that I could and probably should wear but the other one will be fabulous.

Progress on the advent calender...well... its now tablecloths.... i decided that the advent calender can be next years gift and this year they are having quilted christmas cloths. mmmm. so am about 1/2 way through number 1 of 2.

I am trying to only give handmade gifts wherever possible.

Hmm I think thats about all for now. Or at least, it should be. off for a cuppa

String bag pattern

This was knitted back and forth as I dont know where i would get circular or double pointed 15mm needles. You can adapt it if you do...

\\ Just Jute //

You will need
1 x 200g ball of jute twine (available at stationers or supermarkets etc)
1 pair size 15mm needles

(all knitted in garter stitch)

cast on 13 st
R 1 : increase in every stitch (26 st)
R2 : kn
R3: increase in every stitch (52 st)
R4 - R24 : kn back and forth
R25 : kn 10 st, cast off 6st's, kn 20 st, cast off 6 st's, kn 10 st
R26 : kn 10st, cast on 6st's, kn 20 st, cast on 6st's, kn 10st
R27 : cast off.

When finished tie up the edges and bottom with a line of jute twine.

This is an easy knit. The garter stitch means that when it's empty the bag will spring into a smaller size and stretch when it's full. If you make sure you tie up the edges and bottom well then the bag will hold a great deal of weight without any signs of strain.