Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Ello, Ello - Whats Going on Here?

Well, it's been one of those weeks when everything and nothing has happened! As far as knitting is concerned I'm having a run of Cast-on Fever, but more about that later. As Mum mentioned I've been over at hers for a flying visit - just about 24 hours together with loads of knitting, gossiping and chasing Emily thrown in as well. And if that wasn't enough we did a bit of playing with sheep fluff. She'd managed to get me a Welsh Black fleece for me as well and it was rather sheepy smelling which, although not totally horrendous, wasn't an appealing thing to be in a hot car with for a 2 hour drive. So into the bath it went...
Just look at that mucky water! Pooey bits were removed before bathing of course!
And then onto the line to drip dry! That by the way is only half of the fleece as it was a bit much to handle in one go. And to think that just last week that fleece was still on the sheep! It will need a good session with Mum's drum carder to make it easier to spin so it will be a while before this becomes something wearable - other than as a sheep costume!


Anyway, back to the knitting. Emily's BabyJay mark 2 has been completed - no picture as really it looks no different to the earlier photo. However I did do a different toe to start with as I wasn't too keen on the short row toe the pattern suggested and so did the Figure of Eight cast on found here It's actually a good article for Toe-up's and I rathered the Figure of Eight even if it was really fiddly to get going. Which is probably the reason why sock number 2 hasn't been started, so SSS has struck! Which is really silly as these toddler sized ones do not take ages to knit at all and it's such a simple pattern, I think I've just been too tired to be bothered concentration to cast on. That is my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!


Knitting group was fun on Tuesday night with a real party atmosphere - but then that could have been down to the cocktails filling the tables for those none driving/ none tee-totaler knitters. There was yet another knitting themed novel making the rounds which has been borrowed and read and rather enjoyed. This week it was 'Diva's Don't Knit' by Gil McNeil which was full of Rowan yarns (not always by name but recognisable by description) and tales of being a single Mum with 2 young boys which was entertaining. I do love reading but knitting seems to have taken over now but this book and 'A Good Yarn' by Debbie Macomber, another novel on a knitting theme (including a sock pattern!!), makes me feel as if I'm not wasting knitting time simply because of all the knitting going on in them. Ideal reading for those holidays!

The 'No Yarn til WoolFest' took a bit of a bash the other day as well as I found yet another LYS that is closing down and treated Emily to some beautiful Freedom Spirit in beautiful cottage garden colours, ideal for my little girly girl and destined to become a lacey shrug soon-ish possibly!

I was feeling a bit bad about buying more yarn on the way home but thought no more about it. Emily has a new phrase that turned up after she'd spilt a drink and co-incidentally a police car went past with it's sirens on. "The Police will Get You" she said, which is cute and so I've been pointing out why the police will get you. So on the way home from buying wool, after passing a police car I told her the police will get you if you drive too fast but not to worry as Mummy was being good. 200 yards down the road the police were doing random checks on cars and guess who got pulled over? Talk about speaking too soon! Anyway, the Tax and so on were OK so I went on my way and my yarn purchase served to calm me down after this excitement!
Today the Welsh Police were also doing random checks, which I managed to drive past unchecked... but was followed by a police car. Emily was whinging about something so I told her I couldn't help as I was driving and the police were after Mummy. And yet again I was pulled over!! Arrgghh! My Dad, who was in the car with me, thought this was hilarious and told me, like the police man did, that I needed to get a new tax disc holder as mine had given up even trying to stick to the window.

I am NOT going for a third try like Mum suggested! In fact I shall try to avoid the police as much as possible from now on!! I should actually stay at home and try to finish some of this small mountain of FO's I've accumulated recently.

The purple bits are some slippers stared when we had that cold spell and only one need sewing up but I can't find the right yarn again to do that. There is Emily's BabyJay pre-cast-off along with some of Mum's left over hand spun sock yarn to knit some for Emily. And finally the green is my Jaeger Matchmaker DK which is set to become Norah Gaughans Lacy Waves Top from 'Lace Style' and can be seen if you scroll down a bit here. So far there's 14" of plain stocking stitch which is not inspiring me and feels as if it will take ages to knit up. All I can say is I can't wait to start the sleeves and neck insert which is where the brain will have to wake up!And as if I haven't got enough projects on the go already I got a copy of Sensational Knitted Socks (which I love) and have rummaged in the stash to find these two yarns which I fancy trying the cover sock with. Oh, yes and I've a lace stole screaming at me to knit it now. And more socks, possible a couple more stoles.... need I go on? I think I'm finished being good and not starting anything until I finish something - I will be here spinning and knitting away frantically at anything that catches my eye - and possibly all at once!! Right, sorry for the waffle and mad ramblings am off to knit, spin and have a glass of wine, or two!!

13 comments:

Seahorse said...

The police stuff did make me laugh! Hope Emily doesn't grow up thinking Mummy is on the run!!!

You've always so many interesting things on the go!

Artis-Anne said...

Emily is a hoot with some of the things she comes out with now LOL
Lovely to see you sweetie , even if it was a short and chaotic 24 hrs :)
Now that we have both SSK books it will be socks, socks socks !!
Still love that knitting bag you have ; next time Danielle is having a clear out let me know ;)

RoxyK said...

Did you mean a basket of UFO's rather than FO's? Made me laugh anyway ;)

I hate it when I have too much ongoing. Luckily I'm a one project woman at the moment. It won't last though......

belaybunny said...

LOL at the police stuff - you'd better not come round here, or else you will reach a third!! ;) I love the fleece and the colour of the freedom spirit.

belaybunny said...

thought I'd put the answer on your blog too ...

yes they are the landscapes of australia dyes from wingham wool work. I blame your mum, cos I clicked on the link on her blog ;) they are great to work with as no acid needed, but the colours do merge into one another if you're not careful - that could be my lack of skill though. !!

Anonymous said...

A glass of wine or two is always perfect - may I join you? ;) I had a good laugh about the police stuff, and wow, the fleece sure looks good! For the time being, I'm a one-project-at-a-time knitter, but heaven knows this could change immediately and chaos is bound to break loose then ;)
Have a great weekend!

Joanna said...

I've been done for speeding twice, once by a camera and last year by a gun, I'm trying my best not to make it 3 in a row as 3 of my points are due to expire soon, shame points don't make prizes really,hope you get that second sock for Emily knitted, glad I did my stripeys together, no more sss! Love that freedom spirit really pretty yarn look forward to seeing what you do with it.

Sarah said...

At least there are no knitting police so you can cast on and on and on in peace! I think it's good to have lots of different things to work on as different moods require different types of knitting.

Hellbelle said...

Looking forward to seeing the sheepy fleece being turned into something a little more inticing looking!!

Hope the police leave you alone for a while now, sounds like you've had your fair share :)

Linda said...

The fleece must have been hard to wash! I hope it dried Ok. You have some nice projects on the go.

EGJ said...

Drum carder - that's the English word for it. :-D (Sorry, was just discussing sheep and fleece with a non-knitting, non-woolinterested Scottish aquaintance the other week, and it was just completely gone...)

Anyway, this post had me laughing, what with the police episodes and the general knitting madness. I'm trying to knit-from-stash this summer as well, but there are just too many ideas and inspiration out there...

About your comment on my blog: yes, I think you're right - Colinette yarns should be bought in person rather than ordered online. Lesson learned. Unfortunately none of my LYS here in Malmö carry it... Good thing I'm moving. ;-) The pattern for the Seaside mitts are from Magknits: http://magknits.com/Sept06/patterns/seaside.htm

KnitYoga said...

Looking forward to seeing what the fleece turns into. Thanks for the laugh with the amusing police tales! LOL I can see what you mean about the amount of stocking stitch before reaching the interesting bits with the Lacy Waves top but it will be well worth it! It's a gorgeous pattern!

acrylik said...

Oh dear, I had to laugh about the police and Emily's phrases :) The fleece looks amazing, looking forward to seeing it being spun and knit up in future. Wow, all those UFOs, but I know what you mean when there is so much stocking stitch ahead of you, you do lose heart. Good luck!