Photo Update

I'm a little bit delicate this morning let me tell you. Not too bad, but a little bit rough around the edges. Had a great night last night, but was ultra sensible and got the bus before the last one home! I don't think my husband quite knew what was going on, I normally stumble in the door sometime after 2am from a taxi, so I think he was secretly a bit pleased I was home so early. (He made me toast. A dead giveaway.)
Hence I'm up at 8am, putting up my progress pictures from yesterdays post! It's a nice sunny morning (uber surprise). My living room is like a little patch of heaven early in the morning when the sun shines. It bathes the room with light and I love it.

My Pi tablecloth:

At the 288 stitch stage, so it's become a blob on the circs and will remain so until finshed and blocked. But, I think it's coming along great!

My daughters crosshatch socks

She's delighted with these, especially because they are the same yarn as my Embossed Leaves. She thinks it'll be "really cool" for us to wear them at the same time. Em no.

This is how much Smooshy was left over:

I wasn't kidding when I said it was down to the wire!

This is my second Druid mitten. Nothing exciting here, just on the cuff.

And this is the beginnings of my Dad's Christmas present socks. I found the name of the pattern:
Garter Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks (Rav link). Nice and boring mens pattern that won't require any independent thought.


Thanks for the pattern and yarn suggestions so far, keep 'em coming!

Friday night freedom!

I can't believe I haven't posted since last Sunday - my goodness time flies when your boss is back from holidays! ;) Busiest week in ages, trying to get loads done (so I could look like I did loads of work instead of spending the day streaming the olympics on the work pc while the boss was away)

But, I do have some progress for you all:

My first mitten!


Isn't it just scrumilicious? I know it's not perfect, there are some errors, but I love it. For a first mitten ever I think it kinda rocks. I can't wait to finish the second one. I reckon these would be pretty cool for the cold car in the mornings driving into work.

My daughters Crosshatch sock is coming along nicely too:

I finally got the stitch count right on 48 stitches and it fits her fine. I had to do the heel twice though, that's what I get for chatting too much at my SnB, the heel was at least twice what it should have been, enormous!

So, I signed up for the crochet class at the local school. Starts Sept 23rd until Dec 7th I think. I'll only miss one week when I'm in Florida (6 weeks 6 days to go woohoo!) so that's ok. I'm really looking forward to it too, it'll be great to learn a new craft and some new ways of finishing knitted garments.

Although, I felt so bad when I broke the news to the SnB ladies. Two of them told me they'd teach me themselves, but I want to go to a classroom atmosphere to get the full benefit, plus I don't want to spoil their night, teaching me who takes several goes to get the hang of it! But it was lovely of them. They said they'll miss me, even if it is only for 10 weeks, and I have to say I will too. I love my Tuesday nights and wouldn't swap them for anything. God knows what I did before knitting, it's opened up so many new things to me, new friends I never would have normally met and of course new international friends through this humble little blog and the mighty Ravelry. Knitting and crafting rocks!

Now I must get cracking on my Christmas list. No more procrastinating for me, decisions need to be made - just a little bit later maybe...

Right so, well it's Friday night and I'm off to have a few drinkies and play some Sims 2. Sayonara!

Sunday morning blues

I'm listening to some pretty psychedelic Eric Clapton suff as I type this, very Apocalypse now sort of music. Groovy man...

Look! my Druid Mittens progress, and I lurve them.


The chart is messy enough to follow, but clever ickle me sneaked into the photocopy room in work and blew it up onto an A3 page *snicker* much easier now with some post its to mark the spot.

Lace news:
Using the wonders of magic loop, here's my progress so far on my Pi Shawl that's going to be a tablecloth.
Before stretching:

After stretching:

I'm on the 144 stitch round. Still not enough to fit fully round my circs. Next increase should do it. See my ladders though? I was doing so well up until those. I guess that's the problem with magic looping laceweight. I can't pull any tighter for fear of snapping the yarn and there's no way I can do this sucker on dpns so I figure it'll have to be a "design element" or I'll make a doily type thing to sit on top of it....

I've also cast on for a pair of socks for my daughter with my left over smooshy.
Crosshatch Socks from More Sensational Knitted Socks (ravelry links)
I'm on my third attempt at these. I measured her foot and cast on according to the directions. there was no way these were going to fit her, they would have barely fit a newborn, so I increased one pattern repeat and tried again. Nope. Increased again now to 48 stitches and it seems okay so far. I'll try them on again in a bit and see. She's the original big foot.

In other great news, one of the schools in my area has announced its Autumn evening courses. And Look! Loads of crafty things! I can't believe it! Here's the list of courses. They include knitting for beginners and improvers, sewing, patchwork/quilting, card making, beaded jewellery and crochet! I have been looking to learn crochet for a while now, and here comes a 10 week course!! woohoo! Only problem is it's on Tuesday evenings, the same night as my beloved SnB. But, it is only for 10 weeks, so I think I should still do the course.

I'm thrilled to bits! Plus, there's Asian/Indian cooking on Wednesday nights that hubby wants to do so yummy new dinners heading my way!!