Wednesday, June 30, 2010

....there's no place like home...

Yes, its another iPhone sock. So far, I've knitted 3 of those babies and that one up there is the 4th. No doubt I will be required to knit more of them so I won't say that its my last one but I think I might branch out in to fair isle or aran patterns for the next one. I'm getting a bit bored with stocking stitch.

It kind of started with mine then McGee at O's wanted one for his new ipod thing and then my boss wanted one. She really is the boss and I'm too scared to say no. That's not true, she's a good boss and asked me nicely and like the good little civil servant I am, I complied. When she got hers, she did what a good recepiant of knitted items should do, and showed it off to everyone within showing off range. Said showing off action however has consequences and another colleague wants one. That's the one now on the needles.

I must admit that even though I'm trying not to cast on anything new and yes 4 iPhone covers does count as casting on, its kind of helping me keep on the straight and narrow when it comes to finishing my current wips and ufos. I've now finished the Evenstar and gorgeous as it is, I was right, it should be gorgeous on somone else and not me but I'll worry about that after its blocked.

I'm made excellent progress on Diana's socks. I really just need her to try them on. I have spotted a (ahem) deliberate mistake on one of the socks but if anyone spots it then they're looking too close. Actually I might put a nice wee sparkly thing there or a bow or something just to make it different. And the Gail or Nightsong shawl has made tremendous leaps and bounds. My MIL thinks the pattern looks Irish and in the colour of green that's there. I would tend to agree. I'm on the last pattern repeat and then it calls for the edging.

Talking of edging. On the Evenstar (photos to follow when blocked and looking lovely) there are 2800 beads. And to the woman in the bead shop where I bought the beads, YES YOU CAN PUT BEADS ON WOOL USING A CROCHET HOOK WHILE KNITTING - Phew, glad I got that off my chest. She decided to tell me that i couldn't possibly KNIT with beads and a crochet hook. She wasn't even anything to do with the shop, just another customer but one that had to stick her nose in. She didn't like it much when I ignored her a and bought the beads anyway. Will take the shawl to the shop to let them see the beads on the shawl. They will like that, its a nice shop.

It may seem that I've not really completed a lot of things since my last post and that was...how many weeks ago? Well there's a reason for that. I've been traveling for work and when i do that, I'm limited to knitting time and to what projects I can take with me. The Evenstar was left untouched, I packed Diana's socks in the hold luggage (metal needles and not a chance of getting them on the plane) and the Gail was sneaked on in my hand luggage. I've been to Dublin (didn't get to the wool shop and was very sad about that), London (went to Liberty's and John Lewis but didn't buy anything) and the Hague (didn't have time for wool shopping).

I'll be back in London in less than 3 weeks but I doubt that I'll be shopping. I booked a much better hotel this time round (its a bit more expensive anyway) as the last one was awful and I didn't really enjoy the stay. The chamber maid came in a stilly hours like 8am. Aparantly you have to put up a DND sign if you don't want to be caught naked in the shower by the chamber maid at that time in the morning. And the italian boys down stairs from me really liked the spanish girls upstairs from me and would communicate through the window. I politely suggested that she either give him her phone number of that they go forth and multiply down at the bar. I think they opted for the 2nd choice. Oh and there was queue a mile long, bus loads of people queuing for the world's crappiest breakfast.

Oh and just another wee whinge to the courting couple who invaded my space on the flight back from Den Haag. Because of your slurping noises and severe lack of propiety, I got an upgrade to business class and you didn't. Neener, neener, neener. And even though the noises sounded as if you were auditioning for a low budget prn movie, you actually have to have sex to join the mile high club. I would class that attempt as FAILED

And to finish this off at last and to relate to the title. Now that I'm home and have finished the Evenstar, I can get right on with blocking it and getting started on finishing the Peacock Feather shawl which has been on my needles for an eternity.

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Stashbusting


Lately, I've been trying not to cast on new things. I won't say that I've failed miserably because to an extent, I've been semi successful.
Hmm, let me think....... Finished objects compared to WIPS UFOs and new projects......... actually take that right back, i have failed miserably.
Okay so I finished a small lap blanket thing AND my new iPhone sock (see photie). I've also gotten stuck into Diana's socks which got lost, found, lost again and then frogged. This time I'm trying something new in that, i'm knitting 2 at 1 time. I have attempted that before but I gave up as too fiddly however, I appear to have gotten the hang of it now. Icidentally, Diana has only been waiting for her socks since September 09. Not good.

I think I'll be trying the 2 at one time method for more knee highs and stockings on the future. Keeps SSS to a minimum but I do seem to have developed leg length lethargy and i've not even arrived at the increases.

One new project which can't be lumped in with my lack of finished objectness is the rogue sweater which I will be casting on as soon as I have Berni's measurements. She also got a knitting menu for her b'day and chose the rogue.

I also managed to trade my soul for an Iphone. I love it. It's even got knitting apps. I do think that raveley should set up an app. If they did, my life would be complete and I would never want for anything ever again.

My evenstar is nearly at an end. Only 900 beads to go, block it, see if it suits me, decide that it doesn't and give it away to someone who will love it and hug it and call it.. Eh......Evenstar?