ssh.. hangover alert

O.M.G. I have the hangover from hell. Every click of the keyboard as I type this is agony. All self inflicted I hear you cry (ssh!) but every once in a while is ok to let you hair down. No? It was my anniversary party after all. We were 10 years married on July 4. I finished the Medallion Top at 11pm on Friday night just in time for the party yesterday.

I must say I'm delighted with it.

Pattern: Medallion Top from Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer '08

Size: 48" bust

Yarn: Debblie Bliss Prima, 14 skeins

I have about a yard of yarn left over. I was sweating sewing it together in case I ran out! Talk about a close call, I really hope I never need to do any repairs!

I know the photos are really bad, but it was late at night and I was a bit delerious with joy that I had actually finished it. With a white blouse underneath it looks much more flattering to the boobage. I wore it for the party yesterday and the knitty mother and sister in law both complimented me, so job done!

My next project I think is an afghan for friends of mine who are getting married in October. They are one of those couples who have everything that are impossible to buy for, so I think a lovely afghan from Nicky Epsteins book (the one I made the christening afghan from) might be in order. We'll see.

I promised last post that I'd put up some pictures from the Oireachtas Family Fun day, so here goes:

This is the Dáil (government) Chamber. Where all the arguments take place and sometimes some work is done lol

This is the Seand (senate) chamber. Much smaller than I imagined!

This is the ceiling in the Seanad chamber. Isn't it gorgeous?

This is the flag that JFK presented to the Irish people during his visit in June 1963. It's the banner flag of the Irish battalions from the American Civil War. Just amazing.

There were acrobats outside...

And some food! This one is a bit of an insider joke for all you fans of the West Wing. Leo McGarry (John Spencer RIP) once said on the show "There are two things you never want to see made, laws & sausages!" Well, I went to the place where the laws were made, and out the back they were cooking sausages! How could I resist taking the photo!

Quick Report

No pictures today, I'm in work and flickr is blocked :(

I've finished the first sleeve on my Medallion Top, and have started the second. I had to buy the other ball of yarn (thanks ThisIsKnit for holding it for me!) and even at that it's going to be a tight squeeze. The sleeve took a smidgeon over two balls to do, and I have two balls and another smidgeon left to finish the sleeve and sew the side and sleeves in. Fingers crossed I'll have enough, otherwise what could I use to sew the seams??

No real progress on the Noro socks other than I've finished the first one and am onto the foot of the second. The second toe looks much better than the first now I have the hang of the wrapping (sort of, I can't see the wrapped stitches for the life of me, so I have to do all the wrapping in one go while I count)

I had a fab weekend, I went to the first Oireachtas (pronounced ear-ocht-iss) Family Fun Day yesterday. The Oireachtas is the Irish government buildings (think Capitol Hill or the British Houses of Parliament) and there was an open day for everyone to tour the debating floors and see all the portraits of past leaders along with visiting dignatories. There was a fabulous flag donated by JFK of the Irish regiments that fought in the American Civil war. There were also acrtobats, musicians and artisan food stalls.

I'll post more about it when I have pictures.

Happy Birthday to me!

Project Progress time.

Toe Up Socks using Noro Kureyon Sock and Amy Swenson's Universal Toe Up Sock Formula
I dunno about this technique. I chose it because I want to make ankle socks to wear with my sandals on holidays. I'm not much cop with wrapping stitches, but I'll get there with practice I suppose. I don't like the yarn either, really scratchy and awfully thick and thin in places. Not one of my greatest pleasures to knit.




Medallion Top from VK Spring/Summer '08
Loving this pattern, not the yarn as I've said before. Plus, I have a dilemma. I bought 13 skeins of the yarn, and after completing the front & back I only have 3 left. Will that be enough for the sleeves? I doubt it, the yardage is so poor on this yarn. I really don't want to buy any more of it, as at €5.95 per ball it's not a cheap project! Could I knit the sleeves two at a time from the top down and just keep going until I run out?? I have no idea what to do. Hubby said to buy more, but I really don't want to if I can help it. I think I read somewhere before that sleeves take about 1/3 of the yarn required to make the body, which was 10 balls. Does that mean I'll run out just at the end?? I'm so confused and p****d off about it now...

Oh and by the way, I didn't win the Scavenger Hunt :( (Ravelry Link:) Deimne did. Congrats Deimne! Still, it was fun! I am surprised that there was only one placing though, I thought there was going to be a first second third etc.

It was my birthday yesterday and I got a bounty of knitting goodies!
More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch
Favorite Socks by Interweave
Knitting Without Tears by EZ
Knitting Around by EZ
The Opinionated Knitter by EZ
Knitting Workshop book and DVD by EZ!

Isn't my hubby the best? How he kept all that hidden in the house I don't know... and breakfast in bed!
My lovely Mam & Dad also gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and paid for my scrummy Indian dinner out last night.
I love birthdays!

Slow but Steady

Dad had his cataract op yesterday, and all went well thank God. He's relieved it was over! I think I may have a bit of trouble getting him back in there for the second one, he said it was awful getting it done. I can imagine! He's good though, just a bit uncomfortable. I really admire him, he's such a strong man. I must get him something special for Fathers Day on June 15.

Hubby is on his way back from his work conference, sans any yarn :( oh well, you can't win them all.

Progress on the medallion top is slow but steady:

I'm about half way through the back. It's an interesting knit, but not one I can really do in the evenings. I have to really concentrate. It looks good though! The yarn (Debbie Bliss Prima, 80% Bamboo, 20% Merino) is ok. It feels lovely and soft, but it's very splitty. This is the second big project I've made using her yarns, and I'm not that enamoured with them. I think they're very expensive, yardage per ball is poor and the splitting of this one and the pilling of the Cashmerino Aran is a bit much. I doubt I will purchase any more unless I'm stuck.

The Belle Époque socks are coming along, almost finished. I've turned the heel and am working along the foot now. Once I get these done, I'm on the lookout for some ankle socks I can make for my holidays to wear with sandals. Any ideas?