KnitKnack PaddyWack Give a Blog a Home

2011-04-22T21:03:00.002+01:00

The camera is here and I'm wading through destructions. Can't wait to try it out - tomorrow, I guess. This new (toy) bit of technology can take really close up pics and has 'intelligent face recognition' ("Well that's YOU out", husband quips, quick as a flash). It can detect when the person you are photographing is smiling or blinking and take the pic or not. It can be set to take serial pics and make them into a panorama, and can take pictures at night and of fireworks. I don't have to adjust aperture or shutter speeds or anything complicated like that - although I CAN do that if I wish. Of course I'm hoping to get some really good close up shots of my knitting and fibre art. And maybe some of my new 'journal spilling'...

Had an odd day at work - arrived too late to catch the baby I'd been called in to Labour Ward for: the mother got on super-shockingly quick so I just got to do the paperwork and clearing up.
But it did mean I didn't have to go out of my way to pick the camera up from the local Comet Store.
I've got three whole days off now to play! (Though I really must draw some alpaca cartoons for Jean).

2011-04-22T00:32:00.002+01:00

New Camera! One of the ~~excuses~~ reasons I have made for not updating my blog as often as I want to is that I don't have a working camera anymore. This just won't do, so I'm investing in a new one - that's it sitting on top of this post. I'm picking it up tomorrow - not a digi SLR (my pocket won't extend that far) - but got a good zoom lens and it's big enough that even I shouldn't be able to mislay it.

2011-04-04T22:37:00.004+01:00

I can now reveal one of my patterns from the Fresh Designs: Shawls book! (the other one is a toy - which is one of the last books in the series). I designed this Furzeleigh Lane Shawlet with bluefaced Leicester sock yarn from Babylonglegs - but it's truly a one skein project. Thanks to Shannon Okey - aka knitgrrl - for this preview~ doesn't the model look fab? - I love her hair. Check out the 'kickstart' project page for more information.

2011-03-31T13:18:00.003+01:00

Good News! I got a letter from my shiatsu teacher Alex this morning - I passed my first year exams - I'm now qualified to give friends and family a really good shiatsu treatment - just got to complete 8 more sessions before I get my certificate. Want to volunteer to be guinea pig? This picture of a scarf blocking on disgustingly pink play mats is the result of a handspun yarn 'round robin' - the scarf has been all round Europe having stripes added by a dozen other knitters! We all started a 'seed' and passed it on - and we all got completed scarves back - interesting ay? It's very snuggly and warm and you too can join in a similar adventure by visiting the scarf journeys forum on Ravelry (THE favourite place to hang out and ~~waste time~~ peruse patterns and probably the one single biggest reason this blog doesn't get updated very often.)

And on behalf of the Spinners, Weavers, Dyers guild and all our various knitting groups, I am organising a coach trip to Wonderwool again this year (for my sins). Not so many takers this year, despite the coach having a loo on board (we were all crossing our legs by the time we got there last year!) Tickets only £20.50 roll up, roooolll up! Coach leaves Bovey Tracey at the ridiculously early time of 06.30hrs on April 10th and we don't get back till 8pm or so. And I won't be buying any more stash. no. I won't.

2011-03-09T10:32:00.002Z

Patterns about to be published!

I am so excited - I have two patterns about to be published in Shannon Okey's (aka Knitgrrl) ten book 'FRESH DESIGNS' series. I can't show pics until the books come out - but, honestly, it's like being pregnant! I feel like I'm about to give birth!

The Cooperative Press facebook link is here. The concept is fascinating - the Company take all the responsibility to publish the books, photograph, present, promote (that's a lot of alliteration?) - and the designers pay nothing. Then the remuneration comes from Royalties - a third of the profits go to Cooperative Press, and the remaining two thirds gets divided up between the ten designers in each book. So I'll get 'divvie's' once a year - might not be much, but hey! my name will be OUT THERE as an up and coming designer!

We were invited to submit up to three designs for anyone of the following books: shawls, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, kids' sweaters, womens and mens' sweaters and toys and bags.
I submitted three and got two accepted - a shawlette and a toy. Watch this space!

2011-02-26T23:42:00.004Z

Happy New Year!

And long may we all continue knitting and spinning and creating!

Here is a pic of the first handspun (and hand-dyed too, incidentally - in logwood exhaust leftovers from Amanda Hannaford's dyeing workshop at the 2010 Samhain Fibre Retreat) of the year that has already been plyed and transformed into fingerless mitts: I gave the remainder (of which there was plenty) to my good friend and knitting protege, Kate (mummy to Josh and Elliott)

February - and I haven't yet posted. But lots of opportunities come my way! This is the time for blowing trumpets - paaaaaaaarp!

I have a regular slot on the back of Yarn Maker Magazine - my cartoon has an A4 pride of place. Just like a new mummy, I'm very proud :-) All credit to Dot Lumb for bringing a British Hand Spinning magazine to fruition - January edition out.

Last year, I had (the LIZARD) bag pattern published in Yarn Forward. THIS year I am about to have two patterns published in books - Shannon Okey is publishing the 'Fresh Designs' Series and asked for designers to submit a maximum of three - I did so, and got two accepted: a woezel toy and the Furzeleigh Shawl. I'll put up more details when the books are finally on the market - needless to say, I'm very excited.

Wrigglefingers and I are getting together to make "TUTLEYMUTLEY AND WRIGGLEFINGERS" - Don't we sound like a couple of Victorian pickpockets? We intend to run (more) affordable fibre retreats - the next one is in Bridgenorth June 3rd - 6th 2011 and will cost all of £95 fully catered (byo knitting, wine, chocolate). More details here
We're also looking to go round the festivals and teach colour blending and spinning. (vive la art yarn!) - next to be seen at Fibrefest! Ah, Batts, glorious, sparkly batts. Aren't they lush?

Speaking of which, I may be running a workshop! or three -
I've a friend in the village who has a just purchased a yurt and has a wonderful house and garden. She wants to run courses of various kinds and has dangled this carrot in front of my nose. I'm working on putting an introductory knitting course together.

The knitting groups have expanded - we now meet up 4 Sundays every month - two of which are in hired rooms with nuff room for spinning wheels to congregate.
I also met a wonderful new knitterly friend in Spin-a-Yarn last week - Hullo Emily (or purlysplendour on Ravelry!) (waves and jumps up and down in excitable fashion). WE were discussing our mutual ~~obsessions~~passions when she mentioned the powerful tool for community knitting has become! It's true!

Then today I popped in to the Chapel - something I've been meaning to do for a while: It's a wonderful place in Mortonhampstead aiming to bring local crafts and community into sharp focus - why not bring our spinning group to the Chapel, says Annie and Devina? Why not indeed?

And I'm getting so many ideas, so much inspiration.

I've nearly finished the first year of my shiatsu course - I'm sure this has helped push my creativity buttons and is helping me push towards taking better care of myself, leading a balanced life.

Al in all, I can't help feel that I won't be working much longer as a midwife, come what may. which is sad, the end of an era - but heralds exciting new beginnings. It's becoming harder and harder in this economic climate to be the sort of midwife who empowers women, who can build a relationship from the beginning of pregnancy and see a woman all the way through. The pendulum is swinging back to intervention and conveyer belt care. I can't bear it. Roll on retirement - sooner, rather than later.

2010-12-20T23:21:00.003Z

SNOW!

Woohoo, DEVON is cut off from the rest of the country by SNOW and I've not been able to move the car to get to work. So now I'm off until next week.
This means I've been able to crack on and finish spinning all the Batcat's catfluff for Gina - I've finished knitting the scarf and just need to knit a brioche hat to go with it and it's all done.
The final two skeins need the twist setting - I'm going to soak them now and then bash them against the wall outside (my favourite bit), before hanging them up to dry. Catfluff felts and matts really easily (it was just a load of matted pellets wrapped in a scarf when I received it!) - so it will need washing with care. I've spun it 50/50 with some falkland's merino, so it's lovely and soft, but still has some elasticity and bounce.

2010-12-17T00:24:00.002Z

When I went to Hogwart's, I was known as Merope Finch-Fletchley.

2010-12-15T23:05:00.006Z

Nothing to do with knitting: Whilst queueing at the tills in Tesco on the way back from work this evening, I ran into Doreen Anderson - the mother of a young paddler at my old haunt, Teignbridge Canoe Club. Doreen had some exciting news to tell me.

Her oldest son Sam was a natural in a kayak - he would sit in a stopper eating a packet of crisps, his boat cresting the wave and perfectly balanced - minute adjustments made with just a little flick of his hips. That's him training in the picture. Awesome. This same young man is now British Freestyle Champion and will be in representing us at the World Championships next year. Woohoo! And to think I knew him when he was just a nipper!

I could just about stick my nose in a stopper, before getting washed off (upside down more often than not). Haven't been kayaking in ages - too cold and too busy knitting :-P

Way to Go, Sam!

2010-12-01T19:06:00.003Z

Oh my goodness! I can upload pics to my blog again! This is because I've been decluttering - and whilst doing so, I came across the little manual from PCworld which suggested 'cleaning' my hard disc to make it more effective: start > all programs > accessories > system tools > disc cleanup. Well now I know. It was all those temporary 'quick view' internet pages that get downloaded for offline viewing (that I never do) - unload and voila! Back in business!

(I am SO untechy).

This a pic of my Syd peeking out from behind the safety of my knees. It's proof I walk whilst spindling - I was plying on the fly here - and pulling the yarn through the loop in order to navajo ply. It was taken by my young friend Becky who is a PROFESSIONAL photographer - and has a number of very flash looking digi cameras.

I'll update on my knitting later, now I can upload pics again. Cross fingers it lasts!

2010-10-24T19:53:00.001+01:00

Still can't upload pics :-(

However - I consulted the universe and got an unequivocal result:
I asked "should I retire from mdwifery when I've completed my shiatsu course?" (in order to pursue tutleymutley's further textile adventures etc etc...)

I asked the I Ching book of changes first (haven't consulted that book since I was a teenager, but my neighbour Sara has it so I had a go!) and back came the result:

"A well must be cleaned out from time to time or it will become clogged with mud."

Therefore the hexagram ching - the well- is followed by the hexagram of revolution, showing the need of changes in long established institutions to keep them from stagnating.

The removal of that which is antiquated : Fire below quickened by wind and wood. The entire movement of the hexagram is UP

Judgement: On your own day, you are believed. Supreme success furthering through perseverence. Remorse disappears.

The image: Fire in the lake. The image of revolution. Thus the superior (wo)man sets the calender in order and makes the seasons clear.

Sooo, I thought I'd get a tarot reading from one of the many online places to see what THAT said (while I was at it). Same result! uncanny:

I chose a random spread and got the 'twisting path' which is the one used where there are more than one potential pitfall lying ahead.

The card representing the first decision along my path was the Knight of Wands: the essence of Fire (again - at the bottom) - such a great conflagration. It represents one filled with vitality and passion for life. A sexy and exciting person, daring in their actions, cocky in their attitude and utterly without fear. Absolute sincerity coupled with violent emotions which swing wildly from one extreme to another. Boundless creativity and lust for a change of both place and pace. The rapid approach (or more likely departure) of something that sets your world ablaze. Often suggests travel or escape.

The card at the lower left represents the first false path which may lead me astray: Eight of Swords, or interference when reversed. Learning a valuable lesson from the unexpected consequence of prior decisions. Narrowly escaping criticism, censure and the imposition of external restrictions. Focussing on the crux of a problem and freeing oneself from a difficult situation. Coming to grips with a past humiliation or failure and moving on.

The card in the middle represents the second decision along my path: Death. A major change or transformation, possibly traumatic or unexpected. Freedom from the shackles of the past. A new beginning. Death coupled with rebirth, usually related to consciousness and lifestyle.

The card at the lower right represents the second false path which might lead me astray: The western Emporer, when reversed. Weakness in character leading to tyranny and abuse of wordly power. Loss of confidence and ambition coupled with the cold execution of the unthinkable. The inability to carry out plans or command respect. Being unreasonable and prone to fits of rage. A deceiver or demagogue.

The card at the top of the spread represents one possible mask of your true destination: The Ten of Cups (SATIETY). Fulfilment and joy in life and love. Feeling peace, tranquility and contentment in friends and family. Taking delight in ones good fortune.

Now, I know this might all be a load of bollocks, but I see it as tapping into my unconscious - or the universal unconscious. OF COURSE it's all down to how you might want to interprete the poetic language, the images but for all that, I reckon it all means YES - go for it! Retirement here I come!

Tutleymutley's textile adventures gonna Rock!

2010-10-13T17:26:00.003+01:00

KTOG this weekend - SUNDAY 17th October, 1-5.30pm in Ashburton - St Andrew's Church Hall, Western Road.
This is the EDiT knitters' fourth annual exhibition - we've been going that long!- and we have the usual stalls - Joyce from Spin-A-Yarn, John and Juliet from Fibre Harvest, Yarnaddict Anni, Vicky from HULU and Claire Crompton - local author will be there too.
There's also some mini workshops - on continental knitting and braided knitting, alongside learn to knit and crochet at the Stitch'nBitch cafe. Raffle in aid of South Devon Womens Aid and the UK National Knitting week charity Bliss. It's also British wool Week this week - so we're supporting that too! £1 entrance, children 10 and under free.

I've a horrible feeling I've underadvertised again.

Hope to see you there!

2010-09-16T02:24:00.003+01:00

Where am I? Who am I?

Thanks for the comment Kathy. You might wonder why I'm not posting that often these days - it's to do with the fact that this old PC freezes every time I try to upload any pictures. Bummer. Time for a new computer, I think.

I'm busy knitting and spinning and organising the Samhain FIBRE RETREAT however. check out http://knitknack.weebly.com/ for details.

While I was posting this, I just happened to notice the new templates blogger have on offer, so I took advantage. I quite like the new skyline.

2010-05-14T22:09:00.003+01:00

Not just the humble DISHCLOTH,,,

I've not long finished this garterlac dishcloth, which is my first attempt at entrelac - and was pondering on what an excellent medium for experimentation dishcloths are: small, instant gratification, great for experimenting with new stitch patterns like lace and entrelac. They make great gifts when accompanied by a bar of special soap. They get a lot of flac from some people - there's even a group on Ravelry dedicated to scorning them (well - there's a group for nearly everything on RAV!).
Then I opened my new Yarn Forward issue 26 and it seems new editor Anna Bell has been having exactly the same thoughts! I do like a bit of synchronicity!
And I liked nearly half the patterns in this issue - Adderback gloves (with accompanying fascinating article on knitting in Yorkshire), top down cardi, summertweed girls top, and a couple pairs of socks. There's also a great article on constructing a shetland shawl from Sharon Miller (though I have the book). The best issue yet! (even better than YF24 which published my Lizard Duffle Bag, so I'm biased).

2010-05-14T17:19:00.007+01:00

DEAFness and knitting...

Everyone knows I'm quite deaf, but not often that combines so neatly with that other little interest of mine: I LOL when I read this on the "hard of hearing UK" mailing list,

Oh I love live subtitles! On BBC1 10 o'clock news just now, Huw Edwards apparently said, "Right now, Mr Cameron and his wife are over in the Palace of Westminster knitting parliamentary colleagues." :D (OK, so maybe Huw Edwards actually said meeting, but I prefer to believe the subtitles.)
mailto:clare%40catspaw.plus.com

2010-05-03T17:45:00.005+01:00

Life is just deliciously busy at present:

I've yet to hand in module one of the City and Guild's handknitting course, but I'm enjoying it enormously - I did a mini workshop with Sue Blacker of Blacker's in Launceston Cornwall at Wonderwool last Sunday, on how to recognise the parts and quality of an alpaca fleece - and found myself quoting from my yarn studies. So something is going 'in'.
Wonderwool was fab! Though I managed to miss an entire section (sorry to have missed you, Claire and Ambermoggie and Apricotqueen and Bexx). And we filled a 57 seater bus, all bar 3 seats.

In an effort to rid myself of unnecessary emotional baggage, I've started attending a Saturday psychotherapy group - about every 4-6 weeks - I've committed to attending 6 sessions.
and alongside that, and complementing it, I've just started the foundation year on a diploma in Shiatsu. I've done one weekend (or one DAY actually - as Wonderwool clashed with the second day). I got together with a fellow student to catch up on what I missed (thanks Lorna)- and I've done what amounts to 4 elaborate back rubs on 4 guinea pigs. I've had some lovely compliments (they must want MORE) - perhaps beginner's luck? Nicest of all from a cranio-sacral therapist friend who said my touch was intuitive and good - with the right pressure, rhythm and warmth - he demonstrated what a 'poor' shiatsu felt like - hesitant, twitchy, lacking rhythm. My heart warms.

And I'm still working as a midwife and knitting, spinning, dyeing when I can.

Here's a lovely link for those hesitating with what life has to offer...
"The Little Rules of Action"
(That sounds as if I'm being rather smug - but I need this advice as much as anyone - I've often hesitated to jump in and DO because of self doubt and negativity and FEAR - I'll also fantasize instead of do - I've got an excellent imagination - but the reality is sooo much better).

“Talk doesn’t cook rice.” - Chinese Proverb

2010-04-22T13:45:00.004+01:00

Spinning puddytat fur The East Dartmoor Teashop Knitters (lor, there must be a shorter, catchier name for us?!) meet on the third sunday of every month in the Community Club in Moretonhampstead. However, when it's booked up, we decant to the Gateway Tearooms where we are well looked after by Gina and Jonathan, which is what happened last Sunday. Gina has a pedigree cat that looks a little like a miniature Bengal tiger. I'm pleased to report that this cat has now birthed three pedigree kittens - I've seen the photograph of the babies, and I've stroked and congratulated the mum, who looks very well and very proud.

Gina is enamoured of cats, as can be seen. We got to talking about spinning (as I’d brought the spindle along, with the latest soy bean fluff) and she got very excited about the possibility of spinning up moggie fur. She has a big bundle of dearly beloved (deceased) moggie’s cat fur all wrapped up in a silken handkerchief and had been planning to stuff a cushion with it or similar. It’s very VERY short staple and fairly matted from sitting around a while. Fool that I am, I said I’d have a go, but that I’d have to blend it with wool to make the fibre a bit more stable. I also said it would be verrrry expensive! (thinking at least £10 an oz - Gina’s mum has offered to pay me, as a christmas present for Gina - but I’ve no idea what a fair price would be?).

I’ve just plyed the first ounce or so with wool - and I reckon it’ll shed like beggary. Interesting experience though! It’s a light ginger colour and it’s turned a light fawn with the white falklands merino-cross I’ve blended it with. I’ve tried to use a modified long draw (modified coz I’m still a beginner at longdraw) and I added lots of twist to try and bind the fur (sort of double drafting).

It’s coming out worsted weight (very roughly!) and the plan seems to be working. I have washed and thrashed it which has given it a nice halo. It’s surprising how small an amount of wool is needed to help the cat fur along and make it easier to spin - I found I was using less wool to blend as I went along - although I’d say that first 3oz is still roughly 60% wool, 40% cat's fur. Interesting project to do and I’m learning loads: mind you, I wouldn’t have done it if I wasn’t fascinated in puzzling it out, no matter how much money was on offer! and I liked the story behind it.

On another note - managed to upload pic by emptying recycle bin, temp internet files etc etc. This PC is getting so old and slow now. Thanks to Shannon Okey for the tip.

Life is delightfully busy at the moment - I'm starting a shiatsu course this Saturday, finishing my first module of the City and Guilds handknitting course, in the middle of Shannon Okey's online course "Designer101", refreshments coordinator for the Devon Spinners, Weavers, Dyers AND still working 4 days a week. Last week I managed to conceive, sketch out and knit up a design for a shawlette - I'm half way through writing up the pattern. I'm being assisted with the new Intwined software - which is making drawing up the charts much easier than doing them on excel! The Shawlette took one skein of Cherry Tree Hill supersock and looks fabulous - even though I say so myself.

2010-04-01T18:14:00.005+01:00

KNITNATION here I come!

I've just signed up for all three days:
Thursday afternoon: - Bias knitting with Cookie A
Friday morning: Spinning fine, and afternoon: popular wheel mechanics, both with Judith MacKenzie McCuin
Saturday: Camp pluckyfluff ALL DAY!

There's an amazing list of knitting royalty going to be there.

Damn and blast. My computer will no longer allow me to upload pics - I think it's something to do with the virus checker :-(
Whatever - it just goes into freeze mode when I try.
(Loaded the pic on the work pc :-)

2010-03-23T13:25:00.009Z

DOGS

It was so lovely to post on my blog - and get replies - thanks for popping by Heather, Ambermoggie, Rachel and M! (thus I am not alone and woman is not an island?!).

I've been sorting out the admin. for the coach trip to Wonderwool I'm organising on Sunday April 25th - I've hired a 57 seater coach and I've only 4 seats left to fill! Yay! Only problem is that I've got £8 more than I should have - so somebody has paid a deposit but hasn't been ticked off the list - so I'm going to be demanding money off someone who has already paid. Still - would be worse to have LESS money than I should have I suppose. Looking forward to seeing Ambermoggie and Wyesue in the Interactive corner at Wonderwool - there's going to be a meetup of Ravellers there I think. And I can get to have (another) go at longdraw spinning...

Anyway, while I'm sitting here doing this (and reading blogs, checking Rav, and drinking my new favourite comibination of Rooibos and a herby cinammon blend teabag, etc etc), my friend sent me this pic of Syd which made me chuckle.

It almost looks like he could lick the screen, doesn't it? Sara looked after him while I was gallivanting oop SkipNorth since DH won't dogsit. Poor motherless, smelly boy that he is. His mum Tilly died last September and I still miss her so much. Dogs live such short lives.

Gratuitous picture of my Tilly:

Since this post has a doggy theme I'll add this pic too:

This is a pic of WyeSue and Neil's Trigger: - He is an elderly staffy/yorkshire terrior cross and he took a shine to the chocolate muffin totoprype I'd just knitted. I've got to knit a dozen and I'm on my third. Don't ask.

2010-03-21T12:28:00.005Z

A whistlestop tour to update then back to blogging.

Poor poor blog. Lost my blogging mojo somewhere back in 2009 but I hereby promise I will hop back in the saddle.

There have been so many fibrey doings these past 6months - so much to learn, so little time!

I went on a knitting cruise around the Baltics last August with Nancy Bush and Beth Brown-Reinsell as tutors, accompanied by WyeSue. Have millions of photographs and some great memories. I learned how to do twined knitting and estonian lace and estonian mittens.

When I came back I organised a knitting retreat at Sheldon, which was FABULOUS. Also held another KTOG with the support of the Tea Shop Knitters around the same time.

I've got miles better at spinning and ventured into dyeing.

As a result I'm now the refreshments coordinator for the Devon Guild of Spinners, Weavers Dyers and on the committee, but have dropped off the planet as far as the UK guild of knitting and crochet is concerned.

My own Tea Shop Knitters go from strength to strength and are threatening to fill the Terrace Cafe at Bovey Tracey to the exclusion of all others. We also meet in Ashburton and Moretonhampstead Community Club.

I've been involved in the knitting salon project and am organising a coach to Wonderwool. I have yet to hand in the first module of the City and Guild handknitting course but I'm nearly there.

2010 has also got lots of exciting things in store - this will be the year when I shed excess baggage and achieve some personal goals. So I've joined a psychotherapy group and am about to start a foundation shiatsu course. 2010 started off with a fabulous week in Edinburgh. And last weekend I went to my third Skipnorth. Work gets in the way of all this excitement but I've got to earn some pennies too.

Spinning Silk.

Yesterday I was battling with silk hankies. I have dyed several and I wanted to learn how to spin them. Silk hankies have very strong, long staples. Take it from me, spinning them hurts your hands!

I started with this:

Doesn't silk take up the colour beautifully? This looks positively martian... (or maybe roast tomato sauce?)

Then (having checked out u-tube on the subject and looked in Spin Control for hints) I peeled off a thin layer of hankie...Poked a hole in the middle and pulled...and pulled and pulled until I got a mostly predrafted lot of silk thread. It catches on everything - my hands are quite rough! And it floats in the breeze. I tried making a nest of this roving but that got tangled so I found it easier just to lay it over my lap and on the floor to spin on Lola Lendrum.And this was the result: The thread in the middle is a single - very strong and looks like it would be very easy to use as is, but I plyed the rest. The smaller skein was andean plyed on my spindle as I had a little bit left on the bobbin. This lot weighs only about 10g but should be OK for a little bit of lace knitting.

2010-01-15T10:43:00.003Z

Tiffin taught me how to crochet in Edinburgh last week, so i bought a big sparkly size 10 hook and some super bulky 'Gedifra' Byzanz from McAree Brothers knitting shop and crocheted myself a big scarf - finishing it on the flight home. Instant gratification - it took all of three hours to make. After a bit of mucking about, I chained 11 stitches and then double crocheted until the yarn ran out, making sure I had enough left over to add 10 inches of fringe.
Went to put it on Ravelry and, while I was there, checked out the other 'Byzanz' projects - as you do - and I found the SAME SCARF! (Even down to the same length fringe!). AND Drew-o-Rama crocheted it in the air on a flight to Paris. Spooky. Well, the colours are a tad different, but I didn't want to spoil a good story by being picky.

2010-01-10T19:49:00.004Z

Welcome 2010

Lost my blogging mojo somewhere there in 2009. I stalled mid-rant, writing an essay about an incident in my job too long ago to remember - well nearly. It WAS an incident that tested all the values I hold dear about midwifery so I WILL finish it one day.

So - here we are in 2010 and a fresh new start. Happy Knitterly Knew Year all of youse...
Here I am in a snowy Edinburgh and what a place to start the New Year in - thanks to Chris and Lynn for having me.

I am LOVING Edinburgh: the skylines are amazing, as the city has so many ups and downs - tenement flats have lines of chimney pots on top, and the castle looms over everything - and the sun sets over the back of it and sets the rooftops on fire… The snow just adds to its beauty. I’ve visited the BP portrait exhibition and wondered up the Royal Mile. I’ve also visited the Grass market and had soup and bagels in the ‘Elephant and Bagels’ cafe. Tomorrow I’m going to visit my old friend in the Kingdom of Fyfe (she lives in Tayport), so I’ll be travelling by bus across the Firth of Forth!

I had to get my knitting fix in so I visited the Craf-Tea Tree Tea House Knitters. This knitting group was really well attended - it must be HUGE when the weather is good - and the average age of knitters is half ours! The famous Ysolda was in attendance - she is really very talented and was wearing several of her own designs (that FIT) as well as the owl jumper (which looked cute on her). Nat was also there (my skipnorth friend from the Yarn Yard) and I succombed and bought SIX (yes, 6) skeins of her own dyed merino fingering weight yarn to do some more colour work. I’m thinking fingerless mittens. Lots of. (My entire 'Never Finish a Book' club want a pair of Nancy Bush Estonian mitts each - so that's a dozen I have to finish by this time next year). Buying this yarn means I have already broken one of my many new year resolutions (I repeat, ALREADY!).

There were 12 other knitters and crocheters there: including Tiffin (aka Liz) who taught me to CROCHET! She assured me that there are ONLY FOUR STITCHES - 'scuse the shouting, but I’m a teensy weensy bit disbelieving here. I demonstrated the four stitches to her satisfaction, and - who knows?- maybe this will be the year I actually crochet something other than just a trim for my knitted things. (I did crochet a granny square blanket when I was a nipper - but that was a long, long time ago!). Liz was crocheting (very rapidly) one of those anigarumi things (sp?). I don’t generally like crocheted fabric - but she was using an indigo cotton like yarn and it looked cool.

Last year was full of fibre. I'm hoping this year will be the same - XXX

2009-06-23T11:36:00.005+01:00

MEME - yet another one.

I've a half finished ~~rant~~ post about a birth I attended a while ago but in the meantime I found this on Ali the Artist's blog.

Things you've already done: bold (and I've made it stand out more by changing the colour)
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars - ooo lots of times. Last time was probably when we walked the south west coast path
3. played in a band
4. visited Hawaii (this must be American! grin)
5. watched a meteor shower (Big Green Gathering was a good place for this - right time of the year. Sadly BGG is no more).
6. given more to charity than you could afford
7. been to disneyland/world Been to Eurodisney for a day - the week after it opened. My french friend Sophie with whom I was staying was disgusted with me. I took my son who was then 5yrs old - he's 21 now!
8. climbed a mountain (Does Snowdon count? I've also climbed a little mountain in Scotland). 9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11.bungee jumped (though as I get older I get wussier)
12. visited paris (that's where my aforementioned friend Sophie lives).
13. watched a lightning storm at sea (think so, I sailed to US on the QE2 when I was 16yrs old and i'm sure there was a storm on the way!)
14. taught yourself an art from scratch (calligraphy, watercolour, and lots more)
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning (oh yes! many times but memorably, campylobacter on Christmas Day in Ireland and Giardia in Turkey)
17. walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - (no, but I've been up the Eiffel Tower, and also climbed a humungous amount of steps on the Great Wall of China).
18. grown your own vegetables I'm not very good at this - but we usually have courgettes from the garden, and parsley, various salads and herbs.
19. seen the mona lisa in france
20. slept on an overnight train several times - most memorably in China - when I took a three day train ride right across the country, solo.
21. had a pillow fight That's what sisters are for, isn't it?
22. hitch hiked lots of times in the 1970s
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill must have done at least once, but I usually feel so guilty that I actually get ill! last time was when I was qualifying as a nurse and I hadn't taken any time off - so I took a day off after my exams.
24. built a snow fort (never have enough snow for this)
25. held a lamb - and a baby pig, puppies, kittens, all babies are cute.
26. gone skinny dipping -nothing quite like it.
27. run a marathon I've run a half marathon, so maybe one day I'll do the whole thing.
28. ridden a gondola in venice - yes, surprisingly
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset - both!
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise But I'm going on one THIS AUGUST! I'm going on a knitting cruise with Nancy Bush and Beth Brown-Reinsell around the Baltics and I can't wait! I've also sailed across the Atlantic on the QE2 but I'm not sure that quite counts.
33. seen niagara falls in person it's odd that I haven't because I lived in Wisconsin for two years from when I was 16yrs old.
34.visited the birthplace of my ancestors - well I still live around here - I'm fairly sure they were all welsh/west country celts so here I still am.
35. seen an Amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied - is it possible?!
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing - but only beginner's type rock climbing at Chudleigh Rock Centre
40. seen Michael Angelo's David in real life
41. sung karaoke
42. seen old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited Africa - Morocco
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance As the health professional - and when my dh broke his ankle falling out of a tree!
47. had your portrait painted - not painted, but I've been drawn.
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the cistene chapel in person
50. been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkelling snorkelling only - but I love it.
52. kissed in the rain (probably)
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theatre
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class I've done aikido and tai chi briefly
59. visited Russia but I'll be in St Petersberg for a day in September.
60. served at a soup kitchen - I nearly did when I lived in London but didn't. I don't think there are any round here.
61. sold girl guide cookies I ran the local Woodcraft Folk for several years and I was a brownie and girl guide so I'm sure I have done the equivelent many times over.
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood - they won't have mine, as I've had Heb B in the past.
65. gone sky-diving Again, I so very nearly did get this organised, but my Uncle Bob let me down
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a cheque I may have done this when I was a poverty stricken student.
68. flown in a helicopter As a child, so young I can't remember!
69. saved a favorite childhood toy There's a fleabitten Bugs Bunny in the attic.
70. visited the Lincoln Memorial (now if I was anglicising this would what would be the equivalent?)
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt I've put together small patchwork items but never an entire quilt.
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades - no, but I've been to the Bitches in a kayak!
75. been fired from a job when I was a teenager I had a job in a chippy with my sister and got sacked a couple days later for having an argument with her.
76. seen the changing of the guard in london
77. broken a bone # collarbone- Falling off a motorcycle!
78. been on a speeding motorcycle I was driving it! I've had a kawasaki 550cc ~ they go quite fast.
79. seen the grand canyon in person - nope, but I've been to the Lake District!
80. published a book
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in Jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper several times - but the last time was only last week! I was helping out at the Contemporary Craft Show and they put my pic in showing children how to finger knit.
85. read the entire bible
86.visited the White House - but I've seen the houses of Parliament and visited a courtroom.
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating - seperately. I've killed a poorly chicken, and I've prepared a rabbit for a pie. I haven't actually skinned an animal though.
88. had chickenpox (when I was 3 or 4 years old)
89. saved someone’s life not in the dramatic sense, but I've made judgement calls to transfer in, call the doc etc as a midwife.
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous my husband once snubbed Joanna Lumley. I've said hullo and swooned at the feet of a couple of musicians once or twice!
92. joined a bookclub I'm in one. Currently reading 'Surviellance' by Jonathan Raban
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the Alamo in person
96. swum in the great salt lake.
97. been involved in a law suit sort of second hand - I've been involved peripherally where parents have sued the hospital. I also went to my MP once about being sued for money by wandsworth Council. The money was owed to the Council by a nursery where my son attended years before and I was a volunteer on the committee -I got let off.
98. owned a cell phone Is this is mobile?
99. been stung by a bee OH yes, ouch.

Now it's your turn.

2009-05-06T23:23:00.007+01:00

May Day Weekend:

Sunny for a change! Lustleigh celebrated in usual style on Saturday by crowning Kirsty as May Queen and I didn't get to see a thing as I was nose to nose, face painting children all afternoon. The festivities kicked off at 2pm, and the carpark was full to bursting by 2.30pm. The sun brings out the best in everyone. There were morris dancers and a brass band, and coconut shies and bottle stalls - all good fun.

By Monday the weather was overcast but I managed to haul DH out for a walk on the moors in the afternoon. We took a 5 mile stroll out to Watern Tor and the Thurlestone circumnavigating Gidleigh Common.

Parked at Scorhill Farm (out the back of Chagford) and then set off in a north west direction along a well defined track to Rival Tor. It was windy and Steve's ears soon got cold but it blew the cobwebs away.

This picture looks back to the trees by Scorhill where the car is parked - the bump on the horizon above the line of trees is Kes Tor.We had to cross several brooks and streams - including Gallaven and Walla Brook on the way to Watern.Tea stop - and the picture below is looking past the Thurlestone to the East - see the wind rippling the puddle?

and looking North past Watern Tor to Steeperton.Don't have many pictures of me as I'm usually doing the snapping - but here's one (wearing snuggly Rogue hoody) and Syd by one of the granite piles of Watern. We looked for Wally May's ruined house but couldn't find it, then followed a newtake wall. We saw many Wheatears flying around - or 'White Arses' as Steve called them - telling me it was the prudish Victorians that renamed them Wheatears. down to the North Teign - past this clapper bridge to an amazing Tolmen - or holed stone - this one is meant to have magical properties, make wishes come true, cure all sorts of diseases and bring good luck if you climb through it, so we both did. Syd just looked bemused.
All in all, a pleasant way to spend a Bank Holiday afternoon.

2009-04-27T21:56:00.015+01:00

Wonderful Wonderwool Wales...

Spent the entire weekend at Wonderwool and had a wonderful time meeting up with old friends and making new. Don't think I stopped talking, so apologies if you didn't get a word in edgewise.
Started off by keeping Gill from Woolly Workshop awake - I was very late arriving at the Greyhound Hotel where we shared a room, after driving around Builth Wells several times looking for the place... We shared much wine and banter despite it being past 1am.

I was volunteering on the Knitting and Crochet Guild Stand for the two days - and had these posters made for the event. I'm really pleased with how they turned out.

Now here we have the KCG Mafioso: Mrs White, Mrs Green and Mrs variagated purple with glittery highlights. Look at those needles fly! (Liz (Ali's mum), Ali and Jane in reality).
And what's Stash describing to Rosie - whatever, it was THIS big!

I neglected to take many photographs (too busy yakking) - but these fellas took my eye. The guy on the left has his hand under the box waggling those fish like fury (least I think that's what he's doing). Don't even go there. Scary. I think they were there because Wonderwool coincides nicely with a Welsh Food festival - yummy scotch eggs with myriad coatings and lots of other fattening goodies.There were so many colourful sights to see - here's just one example of soffft beauty.

I ran into Artisan-Anne and her daughter KraftyKath, Maylin, Laal Bear, Mr and Mrs Ambermoggie, WyeSue, Claire Crompton, lots of TeaShop Knitters (Spinning Janey, Chris, Jaebird, Jillliv) and Devon Spinners, Weavers, Dyers who came up in a coach (via Cardiff??!) on the Saturday plus lots more who know who they are and sorry if I've left you off the list...

One of the things I love about Wonderwool is meeting our fibrey friends in the flesh: here are a couple of alpacas, who I saw being taken for a walk around the fields on Saturday night after the show.

As I left the show I was greeted by a rainbow over the Brecon Beacons...

And goodbye Wales, croeso i Lloegr!

Driving over the Severn Bridge...

But What Did I buy? Far too much - I've spent my fibre allowance for the year now (well, at least until the knitting cruise at the end of the summer). This is what I got from KCG: a big cone of cheviot laceweight wool from the Joan Boardman legacy. A couple of cute cards, and some Rowan DK black 'soft' from Stash. the pink stuff is going to be fingerknitted for workshops at the Contemporary Craft Show in Bovey Tracey in June.

This was my bargain find: Alchemy Haiku Kid Silk/Mohair. This was from a destash courtesy of a Mrs B and two and a not quite complete third skein of 'equinox' colour for £12. Normally this stuff retails at £17 EACH! (at my LYS anyway).

The beads and stitch markers were also a bargain from the Natural Dye Studio. The laceweight hand dyed pandora from Artisan Yarns is for Aeolian shawl when I pluck up courage.

I saw the fat fairy godmother looking for a cinderella and thought of my friend Sandra: This is for her. The green merino (700g) was all of £10 and from JohnArbon at Coldharbour Mill/Alpaca UK. I also got the bosworth spindle from P&M woolworks - which is just as well as I've just broken the Golding I've got. Apparently P&M are stopping supplying them which means you won't be able to get them at all in the UK. The fibre is the yak/silk I bought at Skipnorth. I also bought two pairs small size knitpicks options (or Knitpros as they seem to be called now) to add to my collection. Stash had knitted RAJ shawl in sari silk and I fell in love. So I bought 5 skeins from the Threshing Barn and have ordered the pattern. I will finish this to wear on the Knitting Cruise.Finally I had been given a mission by Myrtle: yarn for a collaborative project and this was it. Great fun! I've started balling it up already and knitted the first square.

I also attended two workshops while I was at Wonderwool: modular knitting and dorset buttons. The modular knitting was no better than WyeSue's, and the dorset buttons I've now mastered. The board on top is Caroline Mace's display of buttons.

I had to remember to buy the boys at home something too: They got a pudding each from the PUdding Compartment, and also some garlic and olives.

All in all, a lovely time and I couldn't wait to get started on all the projects I've got in mind. Here's the will o'the wisp I've started with the haiku. There should even be enough left over for a (fiery) ice queen!

There are loads of links to be added to this post but I'll do that later. Got to work sometimes!

2009-04-20T12:29:00.011+01:00

Susan Boyle.
I've just watched this clip three times in a row. Wow. Apparently it's the third most commented on clip on youtube! It's the change in the faces of the audience and the judges that gets me. And that heavenly voice. Fantastic camera work: capturing that cynical audience before and after and maybe there'll be a few more folk who won't make assumptions based on appearance as a result.
And I can carry on being a fat, middle-aged, non make up wearing, grey haired, crook teethed, mutton jeff woman who isn't completely invisible wherever I go as a result.
I haven't got a tv so thanks to the knitter who directed me to this link. Made my day!

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009 - The most popular videos are here

Here's a 1999 track of her singing "Cry Me a River".

See also Tanya Gold's take on this underdog makes good phenomenon.

I'll post something about the hollowing later. ah, good intentions.

2009-03-25T15:42:00.015Z

Skip North 2009

And it was all over so quickly ~

I started off a day earlier this year, though, with the usual last minute pack and late arrival at WyeSue's place in Hereford (driving down country lanes in dense fog is not my idea of fun). We began the adventure the next morning, standing on her bed looking at the wildlife in the garden: two wild ducks shagging on the pond. I kid you not. DH reckons that Mrs Duck got off lightly with the mild ducking that she received during the procreative act: apparently if there are more than one suitor, she can drown!

Here is WyeSue trying to load the car - and this is BEFORE we even get there! Yep, she's having yet another destash...

We made good progress and got to Texere about half an hour before it closed. I didn't buy much here, but made notes for a future visit - just a big piece of soft leather which I thought might be good for soles on knitted booties.

Then we headed up to Mankinholes - which is a youth hostel set in beautiful countryside above Hebden Bridge not far off the Calderdale and Pennine Ways and just how I imagined Yorkshire would be.
We were joined by the 'Edinburgh crew' (that's Nat, Isabella, Margarete and Sally with WyeSue in the pic) who had also journeyed down early to visit Texere and here we all are after supper in the dining room, enjoying an early start to Skipnorth examining spoils, drinking wine, knitting (of course)...

Next morning up bright and early to be greeted by mist and the view of Stoodley Pike Monument on the hill behind the YH. After breakfast and clearing up, WyeSue and I decided to hike up to it -not as far as it looks, but a steep climb.

We strolled past brand new lambs as the sun began to warm the air and clear the mist.

The monument is covered in graffiti... How did they do it? I managed to climb up to the first level but the rest defeated me. Nice view, and here I am, modelling my finished Bettna.Quicker coming down than up, and we are greeted by these less than woolly sheep back in Mankinholes.

SkipNorth proper takes place at another youth hostel in Haworth - a far more urban setting, but a beautiful building (used to belong to the local Mill Owner). I led my first ever knitting workshop - with a colour theme - that afternoon and got positive feedback. Several participants had done colour classes with some well known knitters and reckoned my class was superior (head swells). There was a good selection of workshops on offer: dyeing, lace, filet crochet, colour and modular knitting.

And in the evening we spread out into four rooms (including the dining room) and brought out the knitting and spinning, cake and wine... There's nothing quite like getting together with a bunch of likeminded people and knitting. There was a LOT of enabling going on!

This work of art belongs to and is being demonstrated by the Spinning Fishwife - it's a spinning wheel operated by a pendulum. There's more about it on her blog.

Saturday and we pile on two coaches, appropriately labelled 'knit' and 'crochet' - there were double the number of us this year. I was a little apprehensive about the large number of folk but I needn't have worried - everyone was very happy to mingle and the group seemed very inclusive.

First we went to Coldspring Mill - Then we were in the second bus getting lost on the way to Lee Mills. We caused an obstruction on a major highway whilst awaiting directions... Once there we were shown a little selection from the Knitting and Crochet Guild collection - and the display was propped against the banana boxes - what other museum shows you around the warehouse? It doesn't really show the Guild in its best light...And yet, they have some wonderful treasures tucked away: We also visited the Skep - a small knitting shop and this wonderful haberdashers - which hasn't changed its contents since the 1950s I shouldn't wonder.

Later that same day, we celebrated Kiwi Sue's 50th birthday... And I can be found picking up signals from alpha centauri...The final Sunday I took no pictures - I was too busy perusing the treasures at Winghams. As you can see, I managed to contact an alien species the previous night, who accomplished the transplant of several large breasts onto my chest whilst I wasn't looking. Either that, or they're the ones LittleLixie gave me for our Baby Friendly Initiative project... Must give them to the Health Visitor. Breast Feeding Week coming up!

All in all, a bigger and even better SkipNorth than last year thanks to LittleLixie and Nickerjac's fab organisational skills, and I'll go again next year if I'm still around.

What spoils did I bring home with me?:I bought this chunky auracania to knit a jumper from ColdSpring Mill, and those rather lovely knitting needles from the Skep. The couple balls of Noro Shikisai became Ishbel as a present for Bev in thanks for dogsitting. There's some sock yarn from Coldspring there too, and 200g undyed lace weight yarn from the KCG yarn mountain. The knitted thing is flat feet for socks (thanks Nic) ... All lying on that large piece of leather I got from Texere.

Moving on - this is the stash I swopped or acquired over the weekend from other SkipNorthers... Some of it was for The Yarn Yard p/hop charity Medecins Sans Frontieres UK - and I've made a donation to the cause (see widget in side bar to watch the astonishing progress toward £2000 - better still donate - tiz an excellent cause)

A lot from the following pic came from Winghams - and some bits are a present for a Ravelry swop 'focus on Handspun'. There's also some dyes, buttons from the haberdashers, and books from the KCG.Finally, fleece! That grey ball is North Ronaldsay sheep fleece and was a present from Isabella and is already spun up and awaiting knitting. It's wonderfully soft. The green brown fleece is from Wye Sue's destashing. There's some scottish llama top left corner and next to that is undyed BFL. I also bought 100g of yak/silk which is so amazingly soft it feels like bunny. And I nearly forgot - that's Spunky Eclectic (aka Abby's yarns) batt in there too - looking pink/brown which I got from Margarete (TA!). It's very soft and shiny with hints of red in it, and seems to have all sorts of natural fibre from alpaca to silk thrown in. My batts look nothing like this! I've already spun that one up too.There are some little carders down the front from Winghams which have turned out to be just the thing for flick carding the shetland fleece I bought at Wonderwool last year.

Here's what I've been doing with that baby carder - I've been trying to spin the shetland as fine as I can to knit a shetland lace square for this year's Weaver's, Spinner's, Dyer's, Guild shetland challenge. That's my wee Golding spindle which is just right for spinning fine.

All in all, I had a fabulous time and it was so good to meet up with old friends and make new.

2009-03-23T11:29:00.003Z

Gill sent this to WyeSue and I sent it to Jen and Sandra and Myrtle and, well, enjoy:

It ain't all what it seems (thank Photoshop or summat similar) but it's still very clever.

I've just come back from skipnorth and didn't we have a loverly time - must unpack car now. Will upload pics of stash accumulation later...

2009-03-14T17:51:00.004Z

And LET there be MOOSIC!

I've just added a playlist to my blog and had great fun choosing favourite tracks that I don't mind playing again and again as I ~~waste~~ spend time on the net. Just like Desert Island Discs.
My other half commented, "Who's that old hippy listening to music in the computer room?"
Thanks to Linda, as I spotted playlist on her blog. I'm her swap partner on Ravelry with a 'focus on handspun', though we've got very different tastes in music, methinks.

2009-03-14T01:11:00.005Z

Blogging without Obligation...

I was glancing at MsHanane's blog - a knitting blog conversation between two friends, one Jewish, the other Muslim, which is interesting enough in itself, when I noticed this link in the margin. What a great idea. The following is shamelessly copied:

Blogging without obligation
~because you shouldn't have to look at your blog like it is a treadmill.
~because it's okay to just say what you have to say. If that makes for a long post, fine. Short post, fine. Frequent post, fine. Infrequent post, fine.
~because its okay to not always be enthralled with the sound of your own typing.
~because sometimes less is more.
~because only blogging when you feel truly inspired keeps up the integrity of your blog.
~because they are probably not going to inscribe your stat, link and comment numbers on your tombstone. (nor are folk at work likely to remember you after you're gone - tiz friends and family wot count).
~because for most of us blogging is just a hobby. A way to express yourself and connect with others. You should not have to apologize for lapses in posts. Just take a step back and enjoy life, not everything you do has to be "bloggable".
~because if you blog without obligation you will naturally keep your blog around longer, because it won't be a chore. Plus, just think you will be doing your part to eradicate post pollution. One post at a time. . .
f you feel the same way feel please free to grab the logo, make a logo or whatever you would like to do.

2009-03-08T21:10:00.017Z

Welcome to the Letter S (I feel like I should be on sesame street)

On Aknita's knits I Spotted this meme with a letter theme. Interesting I thought, so I followed the trail to Soctopus and asked Missmalice for a letter - she gave me the letter S. Easy peasy lemon squeasy Methinks. Does Alice know that I'm married to an S, have a son S AND a dog S? (not to mention spinning, spinning and more spinning and sheep).

The idea is that you ask in the comments for a letter and one is sent to you at random. You then blog about ten things you love beginning with that letter.

Here we go then:

1) I'm married to a Steve. This is a rather old picture of he, before the front room got painted (it takes us a long time to decorate). He does not like his picture being taken. He is loyal, funny, kind, patient, an excellent cook, much better at tidying up than me, and a good friend. We've been married 26 years this July and lived together for a good long time before that... (and if I don't get off the computer soon, we may not be together much longer!).

2) The dog who is lying at the foot of the armchair is Tilly. This (you may have noticed) does NOT start with an S. BUT she is the mother of Sydney. Therefore Sydney is her Son (that's two 'S' for the price of one. Sydney was born (with his 8 littermates) during the Oz Olympics. Sydney - geddit?

Here he is waiting for a stick, with Tom the collie waiting to beat him to it. Syd prefers brightly coloured toys that squeak to sticks, usually. So that's Stick and Squeaky toys too (two more S that is)

Here he is having his ears played with (which he adores) and a Sneaky pic of one of my latest FOs - mazzmatazz's ocimum gloves from the Guardian knitting extra a few months back (remember that?) knitted up in my handspun.

3) I also have a Son called Seth. That's two more S. Seth is a great galumphing bear of man (6'4 and size 14 feet) and he gives great hugs. He has inherited his Dad's sense of humour (warped) and is also a great cook and raconteur as well as being a sensitive sausage. He is very people centred and popular. Unfortunately he has inherited my housekeeping abilities. I love both of my men.

4) My Sister is not an S but she is my Sis. Jane is three years younger than me, and fitter, and taller and more intelligent and slimmer. But I love her despite all these things. She teaches Science in a girl's school in Eire. Have I a picture of Jane?

Yep, here's one of her talking to a local yokel down in Cornwall, when we walked 80 miles of the SWCoast Path together, three years ago...

5) I love Spring and Strolling through the lanes around here, with the Sun shining and the snowdrops in abundance. (How many S in there?). Haven't taken any pics of the snowdrops so you'll have to take my word for it! I'm so lucky to live in Dartmoor National Park. This picture was taken on my walk across the moors to Postbridge - to the Hollowing Weekend back in January.

6)I also enjoy Solitude and Solo walking.

You CAN see me in this picture of a viaduct on the West Devon Pathway - I'm the little shadow in the gap in the wall at the top of the viaduct shadow. walked from Tavistock to Plymouth over a couple of days and camped out wild with the dogs - great fun.

7) Spinning, Sheep, Spinning Wheel, drop Spindles...

I'm obsessed, what can I say? I have a golding and an ashford spindle (the one chewed by Jack Russell and which still spins great), and a couple of others too. I also have my lovely, my preciousSS. my Lendrum spinning wheel (which I haven't photographed yet?!)

- but here's what she looks like (pic of distant relative). I've been spinning about 18 months now, and it has always felt like coming home. 8) S is for Skip North and Stash Expedition (SEX) Extraordinaire:

The weekend of 20th March over 40 of us will meet up in Haworth Youth Hostel to Spin and Knit in Public and be whisked around the LYS of Yorkshire, not forgetting the KCG collection and yarn mountain at Lee Mills.

The youth hostel itself is amazing - this stained glass window looks over the master staircase (and I love Stained glass too) - the building used to be owned by the mill owners and has gone through several incarnations before YHA took it on.Here we all are in the front room last year, cooing over stash and knitting, crocheting, knattering... I'm starting to feel the excitement building now. Love it, love it.

9) S is for a sweet tooth I possess, the stodge (think Stew and dumplings for example) I enjoy and the slim waist I long for - the two (three?) being mutually exclusive.

10) and finally a Sigh. The sigh I make when frogging. I have STARTITIS and have upped my WIPs the last week or so... One of my projects on the go is Apres Surf Hoodie by Connie Chang Chincio. She is lovely person btw - We're having a ravelry kal of this hoodie and Connie regularly drops by to offer encouragement. I'm making this hoodie into a cardigan in drops alpaca (I love the colour) - It took me a couple of starts on the lace before I finally could read it - the force is with me now and I'm on my fourth repeat with no (noticeable) mistakes. I'm making the fronts and back all in one to the armholes - that's a very long row to frog!

I also have mimbres vest to finish off (THAT involved steeking - another 'S' but not a love I guess); french beret started to use up some handspun; scarf in touch yarns laceweight boucle to finish off; couple of my own designs to finish; felted clog booties to knit for brother in law;socks to complete. Sigh again. The list goes on.

I was going to discuss Somnambulism but I think this post has gone on and on enough already.

This has been good fun and thanks to Aknita and MissMAlice at Soctupus.

If anyone else would like a random letter to blog on, please do ask and I'll pick one out of the Jacob hat for you.

2009-02-23T00:01:00.003Z

Bit obvious, but so truuuue!

Thanks for all your kind comments on bigbadwolf and gloves. I'm going to take Rosie's comment and put it in the 'Winter Book' that I'm putting together after the Hollowing weekend - it's so appropriate. TA!

I've a touch of startitis again: lots of beginning projects. Will have to get the camera batteries charged.

SKIP NORTH coming up soon. I'm so excited! Its my second time going AND I'm running a workshop this year - all you that signed up for it - you FOOLS you!

2009-02-08T15:34:00.002Z

Big Bad Wolf...

Haven't done any painting in a while, but saw an interesting technique for watercolour described by Linda Kemp in a book called

Watercolor Painting Outside the Lines a positive approach to negative painting
and thought I'd have a go yesterday. Was supposed to be off with the canoe club in Wales, but I pulled out because of snow so it was fun to do this instead... It's only 8"x6"approx so not big. I love the serendipity of watercolours. Only used two colours: chinese orange and indigo for the trees. Then thought the painting needed a focal point so had to put Little Red Riding Hood in with a dash of cadmium red. Where is the Big Bad Wolf?

2009-02-04T18:12:00.007Z

Just a quickie flit in and out - I haven't abandoned you, dear blog...

Lookee what I finished, FINALLY! I've had a bad case of second glove syndrome and just had two fingers (was I trying to give myself a message here?) and one thumb to complete on Karen's KAL gloves. So they sat around for an entire year in hibernation. The middle finger of the right glove has 'tb 07' on it. Yup, I started them in 2007! This situation could not be allowed to go on.

It only took a couple of evenings to finish and sew in the ends. So, what took me so long?

Also, I bought a drum carder, second hand today. I haven't yet collected it from a farm near Crediton as the roads have been a tad treacherous, but it's a David Barnett carder and cost £150 - is this a bargain? Saved £50 on an Ashford carder anyway. And then I can tackle all that fleece I've got sitting about.

I had a go at arty farty spinning last year - I spun some uncarded handdyed mohair (bought from Maylin at Wonderwool Wales last year) very loosely and chunkily and then plyed it with some silk thread. This needed knitting into something. I put it with some homespun Jacob fleece and made a moebius cowl a la Cat Bordhi (very loosely following her free pattern). I ran out of yarn before I finished it but used up some scraps of colinette from stash. I'm pleased with the result and it was just in time to keep my neck warm in the (paltry amount of) snow we've had. O dear: look at that saggy chin. Age strikes, everything is on the way DOWN!

2009-01-14T01:03:00.004Z

Bob's House

I did BSL level 1 several years ago, which is the equivalent of how to get by on holiday in Deaf world, eg "Hi, what's your name?" and "where's the loo?". I started level 2, but you really have to be part of Deaf (with a capital D) culture to get anywhere - like learning any foreign language - and, despite crap hearing, I'm very much part of the hearing world. But anyway, I think this ad is great.

How ironic is it, then, that Pepsi's other ads during the American Superbowl didn't have subtitles? Bit of a mixed message there, methinks.

2009-01-11T13:22:00.004Z

Above and Below the Waves

Alison Murray is an amazingly imaginative, talented knitter with oodles of energy and ideas and she just happens to live in my home county of Devon, and it's been a privilege to meet her (and her mother Ann Murray who is also a great knit). Alison's day job has been working as a chaperone for young people, children and sometimes even babies in the music, arts and media world for the past 15 years. This involves residential work all over the country and abroad working with TV, film and theatre companies.

When she's not doing that, she works as a a textile designer and has knitted items on commission including a full English Breakfast. Alison also make installations for theme parks in the South-west, ranging from life-size polar bears for a Christmas grotto to Elvis Presley aliens and a cloning machine for a science-fiction ride (none of these were knitted).
Over the last few years she has been the driving force and brain behind two enormous community projects, encouraging and inspiring everyone to take part. This includes her family, with mum Ann, brother John Murray and uncle John Garrod all lending a hand. A 60feet high Christmas tree and a giant gingerbread house have raised over £20,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Alison loves to paint and read and relax at her home here in Devon when not rushing around the country. Her favourite colour is green, and she loves chocolate eclairs and all things ginger.

"I want to show people that knitting is not something that granny does," she said.

If you'd like to join in her latest project then read on...

"Dear Nautical Nutty Knitters,
Thank you for your interest and support in our latest adventure in all things watery. The theme is “Above and Below the Waves” and it will be our most ambitious project so far.
We are hoping to construct a tunnel that will make it possible to walk under the sea, while above there will be rocks, a lighthouse, boats, beach etc. As this is more complex project we are still working on the technical details and because of this the completion will be in 2010.
However, we can start knitting and crocheting now, and the following patterns are a rough guide to what we may need. As before there are simple patterns for rectangles and SQUARES, fish and coral, but feel free to improvise and make shells, starfish, seaweed etc.
Because of the theme we are aiming to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The project is already booked for a national tour in 2010-2011 and we will keep you posted.
We are also aiming to produce another book, as we did with the Knitted Gingerbread House. This will be called ‘Fishy Tales’ so we would love to receive any of your recipes or stories connected with the sea.

The following patterns are just a guide to get you started. Feel free to make whatever you feel inspired to do: Starfish, jellyfish, Seaweed, Crabs, Shells etc.
Please send all knitted items (or contributions to the fishy book) to
Alison Murray, “High Rising”, Northdown Road, Bideford, N Devon EX39 3LP

Patterns, September 2008

Rectangles

8” wide x 20” long,All shades of blue, white, grey, black, turquoise, sand or brown.

Fish

Make 2 pieces the same:
Knitting needles – 1 pair 3.25mm (UK10, USA3)

using A (main colour), cast on 13 stitches.

1st row (Right side): knit

2nd row: P1, *K1, P1 rpt from * to end

These two rows form pattern.

Keeping pattern correct dec 1 st at each end of next and following 2 alt. rows. 7 st remain.

Work 1 row.

Keeping pattern correct, and working in stripes of 2 rows in B (contrast colour) and 2 rows of A, inc 1 st at each end of next and every alt row until there are 17 st.

Work 5 rows straight, thus ending with 2 rows in B.

Keeping stripes correct dec 1 st at each end of next and following alt row. 13 st remain.

Work 1 row. Break off B and using A only continue to dec. 1 st at each end of next and every alt row until 5 st remain. Cast off.

To make up:
Using black, embroider an eye on each piece. Sew the two pieces together leaving a small opening. Stuff firmly and close opening.

The fish can be plain as well as striped. Size can be altered by using larger needles and thicker yarn.

Crochet Coral

Foundation ring: using double knitting wool and a 4.00mm crochet hook make 5 ch.ss into last chain to form a ring.
Round 1: 3 ch (counts as first tr) 14 trs into ring.

Round 2:3 ch (counts as first tr) 2 trs into next st, (3 tr into next stitch to end) ss into top of 3rd chain.

Round 3: as round 2. Fasten off.

To make a larger size repeat round 2 as many times as required.

(I'm not a crocheter so I'm hoping I transcribed that last pattern correctly).

2009-01-09T17:16:00.007Z

Ravelry taught me something new today. I learned that 'colour dominance' in fair isle and stranded knitting can have an effect on the finished garment... Although I generally knit with both colours held in my right hand and usually carry one consistently below the other, I'm not at all consistent about it (just as I'm not that consistent about anything in my life!) - it can be a little haphazard. What I didn't know is that it can show up in the finished product.

See this linky here for the details. Fascinating, Mr Spock. I love Ravelry.

I have a hankering to knit clapotis. I can FEEL a Stash EXpedition coming on. Roll on SKIPNORTH! I also learned today that the SKIP in Skipnorth stands for Spinning and Knitting in Public. And I didn't even realise it was an acronym.

2009-01-08T18:45:00.007Z

Bosnian Slipper Socks...

I'm giving the old bod a holiday after the holiday overindulgences...

With moral support from my ds, am following a vegan, wheat-free, alcohol-free diet for January... and have yet to shake off this stinking headcold. Haven't particularly missed anything yet, even chocolate. Must have really over indulged at Christmas.

Now I'm off to tempt myself at the pub- parentcraft reunion!

(mind you, have been invited around to friends' for supper on Saturday, and I promised to make profiteroles for dessert - ho hum).

Back home, finally, and seven couples turned out into the cold, with their babies. Noone wanted to go home! I love seeing nervous mums with bumps metamorphose into confident mums with babes.

One particular couple I cared for antenatally had come over from Bosnia where they are involved with community voluntary work, to have their baby here. Being the avid knitter that I am (really? Yes really!) I commented on the mum to be's beautiful handknitted slipper-bootees. So I was really chuffed when they presented me with a pair of Bosnian handknitted slippers tonight, as a gift.
These are different from the booties I'd admired, but still fascinating - I've been trying to work out how they're constructed - I'm even tempted to pull one apart and reknit it! They appear to be knitted in segments with the sole going a different direction to the instep/top. The cuff is definitely knitted last, in the round. The heel appears to be a standard dutch heel, but with really long gussets. This is they:
Whatcha think? Any ideas?

2009-01-07T13:36:00.003Z

BOOKS

Think I did this meme, or one similar, last year. But having spotted it twice now, once on Helen's blog and again on Spinning Fishwife's blog this will cover todays blog nicely.

This meme is originally from the Big Read. Apparently they reckon most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here. (!?)

Instructions:
1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Underline those you intend to read
3) Italicise the books you LOVE.
4) Post your list so we can try and track down these people who’ve only read 6 and force books upon them.

1.Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6. The Bible Well, some of it.
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare.
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - J D Salinger
19. The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy (well, most of it - I tossed it aside when she threw herself under a train because I couldn't bear to read on)
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34. Emma - Jane Austen
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres (started it, never finished)
39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41. Animal Farm - George Orwell
42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving (on mount toobie!)
45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48. The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50. Atonement - Ian McEwan
51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68. Bridget Jones’ Diary - Helen Fielding
69. Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72. Dracula - Bram Stoker
73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses - James Joyce
76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal - Emile Zola
79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80. Possession - AS Byatt
81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87. Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94. Watership Down - Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

My favourite read of last year was "I know this much is true" by Wally Lamb. covers everything, war, peace, relationships, politics, religion, therapy, you name it, it's in there! Now I'm waiting for his new book to come out in paperback.

2009-01-06T23:24:00.008Z

SICK NOTE

I wasn't called out last night, which was just as well, as I spent the night tossing in bed with aching limbs, streaming nose and sore throat. I stayed in bed with a book (Affinity by Sarah Waters) all day and didn't knit a stitch. I'm sure it's just a bad cold and not a dose of the virulent bronchitis/flu that's doing the rounds.

I got a letter from Carolyn Hillyer about an interesting weekend jaunt I'm signed up for, coming up at the end of January: "The Hollowing" a special all womens' retreat up on highest Dartmoor.

Sister Moon comes but unseen, time dissolving through her eyes,lonely witness to what has been as the circle road moves on…

Within the silent stillness of the hollowing woman, caught in the marrow of ancient bones and far inside the cauldron of crows, rests one seed that holds the key to the restoration of life. So we create a journey of germination and renewal as we pause before the last out-breath of winter, held at a turning point within the protecting hands of the oldest guardian, and guided by the visions that wait behind our eyes. A time for mending, dreaming, tending fires and travelling gently, supported within the circle of women and nurtured by the ancient land.

I've been told to bring the following items:

A piece of yarn approximately 3 metres in length, that I have filled with the energy of my journey and my land between now and the gathering - washed by rain, blown by the wind (frozen solid if the weather continues like it is!) lain at my hearth, worn around my belly.

A small simple gift that I've made, (out of wool, bones, something from nature) to carry and offer when we make a ceremony of remembering fire.

A few words to share with the circle on our first night to describe my winter journey so far.

A personal totem, piece of nature or item of significance to me, to represent me on the central shrine for the duration of the weekend.

Since I can expect to spend some time in the roundhouse (an amazing building built as our ancestors must have done, by Carolyn and her partner Nigel - that's Carolyn in the entrance in the picture above) I must bring wellies and shawls and blankets to wrap up in and drums and rattles and torches to keep the night at bay.

Women who came to the first workshop (I didn't) should bring their spindles and death totems (which sounds rather alarming!?)

The yarn and small gift and spindles are no trouble - but words to share? Death totems? What have I let myself in for?

2009-01-05T23:13:00.005Z

STASH BUSTING FAIR ISLE TAMS in aran weight yarn.

Just a quickie (not that this daily blogging lark is becoming a chore yet, oh no!) - as I'm on call tonight and I should be in bed.

I sold a hat today, for £15. I was knitting a third tam down the pub (at our midwives' christmas do, as one does) and the landlady ooohed and ahhed over it. Quick as you like, Nigel, the landlord, nipped over and asked me if I would knit one for remuneration. Not normally, says I, as you wouldn't want to pay what I'd ask, but I might make an exception. So the deal was done and Fiona got the hat.

These are they - a quick, stashbusting, aran knit - see those long, colour changes that noro is so excellent for! And the pattern is a free download from GrammaK on Ravelry, to be found at Gramma K's Fair Isle Tam by Kathleen Taylor

This is the first one I did (front and back): it was rather large, so I knit the second one with one less repeat of the pattern and a bit of bodging. This first one went as a birthday present to Carolyn.

Here is the lovely Kate (a new and so young midwife who has just joined our Team and wun my hat fair and square in our annual 'reveal or steal' christmas party game) modelling tam number two.

And this is the last hat, with the same number of repeats which went to Fiona the landlady...

2009-01-04T20:11:00.004Z

Today was the first meetup of the East Dartmoor Tea Shop Knitters in the Terrace Cafe, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey. There were 15 of us! Going clockwise from me there was Emily, Mary, Chris, Jane, Jill, Thelma, Vicky, Jae, Yvonne, Kathryn, Christine, Kim, Hanneka, Trudy and me. We grow.

I took my Mimbres Vest along, as I'm up to the neckshaping, and the time approacheth when I will soon have to advance upon it with a pair of scissors. EEk. Yes, my first ever STEEKS.

I was originally going to knit this pattern for the Ravelympics. I'm glad I didn't, as I never would have finished it in such a short time. And after I've gritted my teeth and cut the steeks the pattern calls for a double row of icord edging. Another first!

The Mimbres pattern is fascinating, and is by Meg Swansen (daughter of Elizabeth Zimmermann) from her book 'Knitting'. She tells this story about it:

She and her husband Chris were headed South West from their home in Wisconsin to Sedona, Arizona, to film a 'knitting vacation video' (part of a series). Meg had in mind a vibrant patterned vest in red and cream colours to match the sand and red rocks she remembered from previous trips to Sedona. They flew to Phoenix, hired a car and headed north. As they climbed into the mountains, a gentle snow fall rapidly became a blizzard and they reluctantly turned back and headed south instead, to end up filming in Saguaro county.

The design she had doodled on graph paper was inspired by a small drawing she had seen on a South Western Calender - the main crisscross had a hiccup in the middle and this appealed to her. Starting from this X, she charted outward, diagonally, in four directions. When she reached the edge, she mirror imaged the pattern in all directions. Soon she had lost sight of the original pattern, like victorian bedspreads, or ceramic tiles which form a new pattern from the union of the smaller ones.

You can see the results in the picture.

By now, the couple had reached New Mexico and decided on a whim to visit the Luna County Museum. In the Mimbres Room, she was stunned to see 'her' design painted in the centre of a small bowl. Most of the other bowls in the room were painted in black paint on a sand coloured background - this one was painted in red on a sandcolour. Spooky ay?

Nearly all the other bowls in this room had holes punched in the middle of the bottom - perhaps to release the souls of the potters who had made them and with whom they had been buried - Meg was told later that the bowl without the hole, the one she was knitting, was 'her' bowl and that its spirit had not been released at her death and that was why she was knitting it.

Anyway, my Mimbres vest is much more subtle :-)

I had the grey garn studio yarn left over from the failed Astrid's Knitalong that I dropped out of last year, which I wanted to use up (very prosaic compared to Meg!). I've been fascinated by the randomness of using long colour change dyed wool like noro to get fairisle effects, so I wanted to try it out again with this pattern. The tone in the noro is so similar in places that the pattern almost disappears - but not quite. I like the effect.

I'll take some more photos when after I've machine sewed the steeks and I'm ready to cut.

2009-01-03T18:21:00.005Z

Wasn't called out but had a lazy day with few visits...

At one of the postnatal visits I was astounded by the completely illogical advice given to the mum on her discharge from the hospital: she was advised to 'keep the baby indoors for 48 hours as she's small and it's cold outside". Reasonable enough, you might think, as baby Alex was only 2490grams, born at 37 weeks gestation, and it certainly is frosty cold today. But hold on there one cotton pickin' moment, just how exactly is this baby to be taken home if she shouldn't be taken outside?

And then, because the ward was busy and the mum didn't want to stay in a moment longer than she had to, she was asked to bring the baby back to the hospital the following day for the paediatric check. Let me see now, that's THREE trips outdoors into the cold. You get my gist?

AND I'm qualified to do the paediatric check...

But I had a very gratifying visit to another postnatal mother later on. I'd been to see her in the morning: 10 days postnatal and she's still expressing milk to give her baby with a bottle because she says baby Grace won't latch on, cries, refuses the breast when she tries to feed her directly. This mum burst into tears during my visit because she's so frustrated and tired - well, she would be, with twice the work of feeding the baby - all the sterilising and pumping as well as sitting down to actually give a bottle. Only once had the baby latched on since she'd brought her home, and that was when my colleague had assisted, so mum was very lacking in confidence and it's a well known fact that a baby's cry is designed to jangle every nerve in the body.

Since the baby was asleep during my visit I promised I would return this evening when Gracie woke up ready to feed. I was summonsed at 16.30hrs and hot foot round to her house: "Ok", says I, "show me what happens". So she gets her baby, positions her beautifully, and on she goes! HA! Sometimes this job is just so good. We laughed at Grace's contrariness and I congratulate mum on her breastfeeding prowess. Job well done and off I go.

2009-01-02T21:36:00.005Z

And so to the second post of 2009, and I'm on call 'till tomorrow morning so I'll keep it brief.

One of the myriad resolutions I want to keep this year is to get fit and trim - I am furiously envious of my little sister who has had the audacity to get down to a size 10, the smallest and trimmest she has been in over 20 years... She's in love (which might have something to do with her fabulous new figure) but I think mebbe it's more to do with the mountain biking she's been participating in religiously, at least every Sunday.

Soooo, I've dusted off the old running shoes, and I'm eyeing me old bicycle (a hybrid with a verrrry painful saddle!) in the shed with trepidation.

With this new, trim, fit 'me' in mind, I went back to hashing last Tuesday - walk, run, walk, get hopelessly lost, find way again and arrive FIRST back to the pub because I missed the regroup(now THAT'S more like it!) - in the 'words'* I read the following:

Answers to last week's riddles:

1. Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe and close the door.

This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.

2. Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door.

This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.

3.Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the dorr.

This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions. (sic)

4. The elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory.

Now, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.

worldwide, around 90% of professionals they tested got all the answers wrong, but many pre-schoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four year old.

Now I found the above all the more interesting because I didn't go hashing the previous week, and I boggled trying to think up the questions. I've since seen them (try googling 'giraffe, elephant and refrigerator' and it'll come up) and my guesses were far more fun. The repetition for answers 2 and 3 were mistakes. The repetition for answers 2 and 3 were mistakes.

The hasher who scribed them was, with no doubt at all, under the influence of something whacky.

*The 'words' are the single sheet of diary (a usually fictitious account of the previous week's hash by a reluctant scribe who agreed to write it up whilst under the influence) and events listing that Ashburton Hash House Harriers distribute every week.

2009-01-02T00:06:00.008Z

Six minutes into the 2nd of January and I have technically failed in my new year's resolution to blog every day. Whoever guesses Zero days gets the prize!

What of 2008? A knitterly round up:

It started in January with the extreme knitterliness got off to a great start with a trip to ‘Get Knitted’ in Bristol – about 36 of us knitters converged on this converted supermarket in Brislington (on the Bath road) for tea and cake and much knitting and spinning and general chat…
And that set the tone for the rest of the year.
At the beginning of March I set out for Yorkshire by way of Hereford and WyeSue's to ‘Skip North’, joining 18 other knitters and crocheters at Haworth Youth Hostel (once a Mill Owner’s beautiful mansion) to spin and knit and chat and eat cake and drink wine. Lixie and Nikerjac (erstwhile organisers) hired a coach so we could visit Winghams and the yarn mountain at Lee Mills amongst other such fabulous places of no interest to anyone but another fibre enthusiast, and a wonderful time was had. I donned white gloves to examine the collection of 18th century reticules and even older lace shawls…

May heralded Wonderwool: a trip up to Builth Wells to attend the fibre show at the Wales National Centre And the Welsh food festival on at the same time. Yum.

In June I ran the Knitting and Crochet Guild Stand at the Contemporary Craft Show in Bovey Tracey: Imogen brought along her Victorian sock knitting machine and proceeded to knit the longest sock ever: it stretched from the entrance to the main marquee… Sue had her knickers on display. That’s a handknitted silk thong, a fancy lace 1940’s set of briefs and a 1950s style pair of sensible school knickers – not the one’s she was wearing.

IN July came the Knitting and Crochet Guild AGM in Winchester where I was duly elected a member of the board of Directors. Hmm, what HAVE I let myself in for?
The AGM involved MORE knitting, eating of cake, drinking of wine, and invariably much tinking (knitting backwards) as wine and complicated patterns do not go. There was a fascinating slide show of Montse Stanley’s collection, now housed at Winchester University library, and another talk by a woman who knits articles for war re-enactments from the original patterns. Who’d have thought that soldiers from the First World War were so SMALL?

IN August I participated in the Ravelry knitting Olympics. I opted out of watching the Real ones because of 1) our lack of a telly and 2) in protest of the continuing presence of the Chinese in Tibet.
I was sidetracked somewhat from finishing my ravelry project (I reduced my ambitions from knitting a steeked waistcoat to knitting a moebius cowl from my handspun instead) by applying for a new job – which I didn’t get. There was a strange mix of relief and disappointment at this, though I acquitted myself well at the interview apparently (my first in 18years!) I did manage to finish the cowl in good time. My sister nicked it a couple of days ago.

August also saw me participating in a natural dyeing workshop on a wonderfully sunny day at Joyce (humble proprieter of SpinAyarn)'s beautiful, traditional thatched farm near Manaton. The kitchen window looks out on Bowerman's nose, and several pet sheep, goats and a pig.

The workshop wasn't as hands on as I would have wished but the results produced by the various dyepots were truly stunning.

September brought Iknit London, and the yarnharlot as well as Jane Sowerby. Couldn't hear either of them (being deaf is a major pia) but I enjoyed the atmosphere and the visuals, and meeting up with so many of the online knitting world.

October was Knitting Week and started with Ally Pally (my first time ever at this amazing show). I was working for Touch Yarns - helping Marnie sell her colourful merino yarns - I learned more about possums than I ever thought possible over the three days I was there. We were so busy I hardly got any time to spend any money.

I also had the quote of the year from Kim Thittichai:

"Where have you BEEN that you don't know you can't paint on Wundawebb???!" - needless to say, I was gobsmacked and bought the book.
I was knackered when I returned from the festival, but no rest for the wicked coz our East Dartmoor Tea Shop Knitters Group had a KTOG (the second) the very next weekend. Over 120 fibre enthusiasts managed to find the Scout Hall, (including Sandra all the way down from the smoke and Jen up from Cornwall). We raised enough to pay our workshop organisers some petrol money and send £66 to Bliss, and £20 to the UK knitting and crochet Guild And put back £50 for next year.
(If we do it again).

In and between all these knitting events I have attended regular East Dartmoor Tea Shop meetings, which have now grown to become weekly events: WE meet the first Sunday in Bovey Terrace Café, the 2nd in Café Green Ginger, the 3rd in the Walled Garden. Dunsford and the 4th in Exeter Boston Tea Party. The 5th (if there is one) we have OFF. Then on alternate Tuesdays there is the Packhorse Knitters in South Brent (though I’m slowly sneaking back to hashing) and monthly there are two groups in Spin-a-yarn.
I haven’t even mentioned the Spinning group in Tedburn and the Devon Guild of weavers, dyers, spinners in Exeter on the first Saturday of every month.

Lots of FOs: Bettna, Rogue, moebius Prickle, baby hats and bootees galore...

I finally put one design for a hat out there, for free, and have been gratified that someone, somewhere has downloaded it from Ravelry just about every day since it was uploaded.
Speaking of which - Ravelry! Ah, Ravelry. What can I say about Ravelry?

I am obsessed. Just a little.

And THIS year I’m booked up for a knitting cruise round the Baltic Ocean – From Rotterdam to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, St Petersburg, Germany and back to Copenhagen (via the knitting centres of Northern Europe!). Roll on August I say.

Many Happy New Years to all of you!

2008-12-16T18:11:00.008Z

Back, waaaaay back in time there was once a KTOG 2008.

We (the East Dartmoor Tea Shop Knitters) had another event to celebrate knitting week back in October.

Here's a belated summary of events and thanks to all who made the KTOG afternoon such a success!

Over 120 fibre addicted folk (and that's not including vendor, helpers and children) managed to find the scout hall in Mill Marsh Park in Bovey Tracey.

Here's the hall in the morning as we're setting up...

We had a wonderful display of finished items - Jae did a fine job of showing things off - thanks to members of the East Dartmoor tea shop knitters group AND wyesue and not forgetting Mary Mallett and her handspun goodies. You can see wyesue's daffy shawl on the right hand side.

Here is Kathryn's knitted bunting decorating the entrance.

And this picture is of various WIPs. (the aim is to inspire)

There were stalls by (working my way round the hall in a clockwise direction) Yarnaddict Anni, Claire Crompton, Jane Sowerby, Lesley of Devon Fine Fibres, Joyce of Spin-A-Yarn, John Arbon and daughter from Coldharbour Mill at Uffculme and Mary in the corner by the cafe with several spinning wheels…

Sara was running a wetfelting session in the centre of the hall.

We also had lots of homemade cake and tea . In the other room (where the workshop signups were hard to find!) was a display of charity knitteds and Gina selling more yarn.

This hatted knitter (from Manaton, but I can't remember her name) is standing with Christine, holding the red shawl - she turned up on the day with a knitted castle and knitted knight and lots of little cakes and sweets - which we just had to show off - here it all is displayed on the table below.
Our stall holders generously donated raffle prizes - lots of goodies!

This is a picture of my mum seated next to one of the first panels from Alison Murray's new project "Undersea, overwaves" - this is going to be a really ambitious community knitting project where you'll be able to walk through a tunnel and see the fishes, mermaids and lighthouses - do join in and raise money for the RNLI by doing so.

I can't believe that my friend Sandra won about FOUR raffle prizes despite us shaking up the tickets vigorously after each drawing ( I think she must have bought loads). She put one win back in the pot, and donated a couple more to the organisers (one for me! - I was given Nancy Bush's "KNitting on the Road" which I've been hankering after for ages, so I was well impressed - thanks Sandra.)

With money from the raffle and cafe, and after expenses, we managed to pay our workshop organisers a small something toward covering their expenses this year (special thanks to Anni, Sara, WyeSue and Mary) - and also gave £66 to Bliss and £20 to the UK knitting and crochet guild charity. WE have kept back £50 to help toward next year’s costs.
We had excellent feedback about the event overall, but also some criticism that the stitch and bitch cafe wasn’t that welcoming. We have taken this on board (and apologise!) and will try and ensure that at least one of our teashop knitters will hang around the cafe and radiated warmth and welcome next year :-)))

Here's Yvonne, who runs the Packhorse Knitter's group in South Brent, chatting with Mary Mallett: Yvonne's group also raised money for Bliss in Knitting Week - altogether we sent off around £80 plus lots of premie knitted items for the local SCBU.

Here's two of our TEA shop knitters who have been otherwise engaged recently - Tina and Ruth have been having babies! Great - new knitters of the future!

There was a bit of doggy excitement this year: My friend Bev came along to the event with her border collie tom and offered to take my lab Syd for a walk in the park. That's Syd sitting at Jill's feet in the hall before people started arriving.
20 mins after Bev had taken the dogs off to Mill Marsh Park she came back to the hall in a right old state, “Come quick - Tom’s bleeding everywhere!”: And he was!
I got a bowl of water and a towel and managed to locate the source of all the blood to his front left paw and did my first aid - apply pressure and elevate - well, as much as is possible with a panicked collie! The newspaper photographer came along with a first aid kit from his car and together we strapped up Tom’s leg firmly. We then phoned for an emergency vet and Bev took a much happier looking Tom off to the surgery in Kingsteignton. He had a two hour op to repair two severed tendons and the cut had been millimetres from an artery - ERK! you’ll be pleased to know that he’s now completely recovered with no limp to show for his experience.Apparently he’d been splashing about in the river and must have sliced his leg on a bit of glass?

Thanks to everyone who made the day such a success (you know who you are) and hopefully we’ll be doing it all again next year… Here's a picture of my son with his grandma. I had to bribe him with a pub lunch, but he was very helpful setting up on the day, putting up bunting (he's very tall) and doing the heavy lifting.

One of my new year resolutions will be to see how long i can keep up a daily blog. I think I'll make it a competition (as did a certain Badger) with prizes for fibreholics - at least one book, yarn and a pair of Peace needles which I will send out to the person who guesses nearest the date when (if) I finally give up the daily entry after January 1st.
Start guessing when you like!

2008-11-21T00:09:00.007Z

Long outstanding duty needing rectifying as soon as...

Back in ~~OMG was it as long ago as~~ July (!), I was awarded this by Maylin:

Shamefully, I haven't blogged much since. Awards seem to have this effect on me! Isn't she lovely though? too much time spent on Ravelry. enough excuses.
Thanks Maylin, I'm touched (and was back then too).

Rules in English:

1) You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award, creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogger community, no matter of language.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award-winning, has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4) Award-winning and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y pico" blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5) To show these rules.

How to choose from all those creative, wonderful, knitterly blogs out there? With difficulty.
but hold my nose in I go, eeeny meeny miny mo...

For sheer devotion to blogging and the knitting world the number one spot has to go to WyeSue.
Sue is generous, creative, a knitterly genius and, as fellow director of the UKKCG, a tireless supporter of fibrey excellence and knitted underwear... Wye Sue? Wye Sue indeed.

Next, for intelligent discussion, wonderful fairisle knitting and dyeing and technique: The Feral Knitter, truly untamed and wild - Janine Bajus.

For exciting, original patterns and enviable talent (have you visited the twist collective yet?), panache, youthful knitterly energy, and from the UK to boot, Ysolda...

A local lass with a wonderful knitterly talent and who caught on to spinning so quickly I was jealous, a great blog and lots of courage in the face of chronic disability: Denise at Pixie's Paraphernalia

Lastly, another local lass and knitter and fellow nurse AND especially someone who is such a brilliant photographer I really think she could be the next Jane Brocket... Asti over at Lilys house
I could drool over some of those pics all day.

I read a lot of other blogs I could have added to this list with equal enthusiasm - Anni, Helen, Jane, Rosie, Yvonne, Anne, Kate, Christina, Natalie, Kath, Angie and on and on and on. What a talented lot.

2008-11-20T14:52:00.009Z

Poor old blog been sadly neglected whilst I've been doing lots of knitterly stuff.

Sue, over at eco-tricot has prompted me to get blogging again by tagging me.

oh. OK then.

To participate you
Link to the person who tagged you.
List seven facts about yourself.
Post the rules on your blog.
Tag seven more people to do the same and link to them.
Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
Let the tagger know when your entry has been posted.

So the seven facts about myself are

1)I am now a director on the UK Knitting and Crochet Guild - next meeting December 6th in London.

2)I really don't like bubblegum pink and orange, especially together. So how come I just finished knitting 'Bettna' in baby poo colours with orange and maybe pink thrown in there? See:
Probably something to do with getting Noro cheap at the last SkipNorth. Lor, I'll knit anything.

3)I'm a member of the Labour Party, although I nearly threw the towel in when the government joined in the Iraq debacle. I mention this only because I'm supposed to be leading a discussion on the NHS tonight... Ho hum.

4)I love reading and belong to the "Never Finish a Bookclub" - a dozen good women and true, who meet up at each other's houses and drink wine and eat cake. The current read is "The Dead" by James Joyce and the last book we read was a "Widow for One Year" by John Irving. My favourite book this year - which wasn't a bookclub choice - was "I Know This Much is True" by Wally Lamb. Go read it... AND he's got a new book out this month. MMMmm.

5)I love traditional knitting. One of the first things I ever knit was a yoked fairisle cardigan from Sarah Don's book on FairIsle (look at that: republished as a paperbook!) in Shetland 2 ply, which my Nan thought I'd bought. (I guess I've got a fairly even tension)( I wonder what happened to it?). I'm supposed to be running a workshop at the next SkipNorth on FairIsle knitting. I'm looking forward to this, but I want a projector so I can do a powerpoint display. I do. I've just joined the yahoo group on Traditional Knitting owned by Liz Lovick. I bow down to her superior knowledge...

6)I was born in Plymouth - in the Royal Alexandra Nursing Home, Devonport. That makes me a native Devonian. The Royal Alexandra Nursing Home' records dept was destroyed in a fire some time in the 1960's, so I've no idea what time I was born, and my mother has given me a different answer every time I've asked her. From the linky I've posted it looks like it was transformed into a mental health unit. So was the maternity unit my sister was born at. hmm, coincidence?

7)And finally (see what happens when you get me talking about me? I go on and on and on and...), I have just given up smoking AGAIN! (three days ago, so the physical side effects of nicotine are over with and the rest of it is in my head). I started smoking when I was 13yrs old (bad girl!) and have given up for years at a time several times since. I forget just how bad it is for you in between times and only remember that it felt good. It smells, it's ridiculously expensive and it's bad for your health. It is also very difficult to knit at the same time as smoking. So there.

And now my seven tags and some of my favourite peepl are
Sue at WyeSueKnits
Denise at PixiesParaphernalia
Heather at HeatherKnits
Rain at FroginKnots
Anni at ConfessionsofaYarnAddict
Fred at CatsCableRatsRib
and finally Beverley who was always at TwoFishKnitting but is now at BeingBeverley

I must I must ~~expand my bust~~ update my blog and stop spending so much time over at Ravelry. I've been to a dyeing workshop, Iknit London. Ally Pally, our very own KTog2 and have so much to show you knitting wise. It'll keep.

2008-09-02T10:39:00.007+01:00

Ravelympics

(There's no way of making a title on this template?! I'm such an ignoramus when it comes to html)

I wasn't going to participate in the Ravelympics at all - not the least because of the Chinese political stance against Tibet overshadowing the real Olympic Games. And I had the job interview slap bang in the middle of the games. And last time (in the Yarn Harlot's knitting Olympics) I missed out on a medal by one measly day - finished a longstanding WIP so it was an excellent shove up the backside, but still.

But after the job interview was over, I couldn't resist. What a weed I am: where are my principles? I can only say (sheepishly) that I didn't watch any of the games themselves - not having a telly does help.
And I had that 3ply handspun needing the plying completing and needing knitting. So I signed up for the cowl jump. Bit of a comedown from the Mimbres vest I originally wanted to knit, but a challenge nevertheless: I've never knitted a moebius before.

And I completed it in plenty of time. I crossed the finish line on Friday. I put up the details and awaited my summons to the Ravelry podium by Bobicus and the Bobettes. Nothing. Not a sausage.
I posted a query - but no reply - the arena was littered with the mmm chocolate wrappers and old confetti and the place was eerily silent - everyone had shut up shop after the games had finished and gone home :-(
So I went on a search and the truth was revealed. I had been transturtleified. I had been magically transformed from a tutley MUTT into turtle mutley. From dog to turtle.
I claimed my medal retrospectively and I give you turtlemutley!

You just got to love it.I also spent last Saturday cooped up in a stuffy room in Birmingham library at my first Knitting and Crochet Guild Board of Directors' meeting. When I could have been walking Tor to Tor on Dartmoor with Louise (happy birthday Louise!). It had its upside: I finished a longstanding WIP (see that little 100% in the side bar for Cabin Fever Swing Jacket?) - and also became very excited about the future of the Guild. I also stayed with WyeSue who is such an enabler when it comes to stash enhancement. Beware, all who tread near! Wicked, wicked woman.

I hope to see many blogworld friends at IKNit LOndon bash next Saturday: now where exactly did I put that blasted ticket????

2008-08-16T16:10:00.006+01:00

I didn't get the job :-(

But, I acquitted myself well at the interview, apparently, and my presentation was perfectly presentable. There was a lot of competition for the post and the person who got the job had already done something similar at Band 7, so had more experience than me. There's a certain amount of relief as well as disappointment. Thanks for all your well wishes -

Never mind: at least I can get back to my knitting now!

I've learned how to do a moebius cast on (as made famous by Cat Bordhi) for Prickle this morning for the Ravelympics COWL JUMP - I'm knitting the cowl in my handspun 3ply. Now this I CAN do:
And I've started the second toe up sock in Yarn Yard sock wool - it's working out really well... Just look at those lovely stripes on the sole. Do you think I'll have enough of the solid colour yarn to finish the second sock? And finally - just look at this gorgeous silk/merino mix roving from Yarn Yard (do I detect a theme here?) - I've divided the fibre into short lengths of mostly green and then mostly blue to spin - I've spun and plyed up one little skein and I'm well into my second. But then I spotted this - (I learn sooo much fr0m hanging around on Ravelry) - and so can't wait to have a go at Navajo plying 'on the fly' for the remainder.

2008-08-07T22:37:00.003+01:00

JOB INTERVIEW - urk.

I'm going for a new job - if I get it, 't will be a promotion and a job-share - "Infant Feeding specialist midwife" - so just ignore me, till its all over, one way or t'other, thursday 14th. I feel sick: it's the first interview I've had in 15 years and I b****xed the last one and there's rather a lot of competition for this one.

Takes deep breaths - it'll be fine, just fine.

thanks for the award, Maylin! I'll deal with it after thursday!

2008-07-27T15:56:00.005+01:00

Jacob Beanie Free Pattern

Materials: 50mg main colour (MC) DK (Actually used about 40g)

50mg contrast colour (CC) DK (used about 30g)

To fit head circumference 23" Gauge 12st x 14 rows = 2" over pattern

3mm round needle/set of dpns (for magic loop, or 2 circs, or small circ and set of dpns – whatever takes your fancy!)

3¾ mm round needle/set of dpns

1 stitch marker 1 large blunt darning needle

Destructions:-

With 3mm needle cast on 120st with MC.

Round one: being careful not to twist, join ends and *K1MC, K1CC, rpt from * to end of round.

Place stitch marker.

Round 2: Bring both yarns to front of work, P1MC, put yarn just worked down to the left of work and bring CC over, P1CC, continue thus to end of round.

Round 3: Keep both yarns at front of work, P1MC, put yarn just worked to the right and bring CC under it, P1CC. continue to P1MC and P 1CC to end of round as set.

Round 4: replacing yarn at back of work, K all stitches in MC.

Rounds 5 – 9 inclusive: *K1CC, P1MC, rpt from * to end.

Round 10, K 1 round in CC.

Round 11: change to 3¾ needle and work from line 11 of chart, setting pattern as follows:

*K2CC, K4MC, (K1CC, K1MC)x4, K1CC, K4MC, K3CC, K4MC, (K1CC, K1MC)x4, K1CC, K4MC, K1CC.

Rpt from * twice more to end of round.

Continue working from chart as set until 41 rows completed. Start decreasing.

First decrease, round 42:

*K1CC, SSK MC, K3MC, K3CC, K1MC, K1CC, K1MC, K3CC, K3MC, K2tog; Rpt from * x5 more to end of round.

Round 43 – no decreasing, work as per chart.

Rounds 44-49: decrease every round as per chart.

Round 50 no decreasing: *K1CC, K5MC Rpt from * 5 more times to end of round.

Round 51, decrease again. Round 51, *K1CC, Slip 1, K2tog, PSSO rpt from * to end of round

Knit 1 more round on remaining 12 stitches without shaping.

Now thread large blunt darning needle with end of yarn and pass through all remaining stitches twice to cast off. Sew in ends on wrong side and block to finish.

Phew, that wasn't easy - especially fiddling around with cheapie picture editing software to make the chart. Would anyone like to test knit this for me? I'm off now to walk the dogs - but I'm going to try and make it into a PDF later. Pics are of Jacob mark 3 with the pattern in the negative, solid main colour and handpainted contrast colour (dyed by the Old Piggery) - modelled by Seth's friend James (thanks James!).

Well - tiz done, for better or worse - I've managed to make the PDF AND get it in my sidebar. I know this is probably easy peasy to some (looks at Pixie's website with envy) but it took some learning for this technophobe - thanks for all the advice.

2008-07-24T23:43:00.003+01:00

A Reversible lace pattern suitable for scarves amongst other things...

It's been brought to my attention by a fellow Ravelryite that the reversible scarf pattern I showed in the post of June 25th has disappeared off the web! This was a free pattern (the lace pattern taken from a stitch pattern directory) so I think it no breach of copyright to put the pattern repeat on here but if anyone knows differently then please let me know and I'll remove it.

OK>

The Stitch pattern is a repeat of 12 stitches and 9 rows.
There was a border of 2 rows of garter stitch at both ends and a selvedge of 2 knit stitches at the beginning and end of each row to prevent the edges rolling.

Using 4mm ( or American size #6 ) needles, cast on 52 st. (the original pattern was wrong here and said 54st!)
Knit 2 rows.
Begin pattern:
Row 1: K2, *yo, K2tog, rep from * to last 2 st, end with K2st.
Rows 2 and 4: K2, P to last 2 st and K2.
Row 3: KNit all st.
Row 5 and 8: K2, *sl1, K2tog, PSSO; K4, yo, K1, yo, K4, rpt from * to last 2 st and K2.
Rows 6, 7 and 9: K2, *P3tog.,P4, yo, P1, yo, P4 rpt from * to last 2 st - K2.
Rpt these 9 rows until the scarf is the desired length,
Knit the last 2 rows and then cast off (or bind off if you insist on wanting US terms)

Hope this works for you.

I cast on 40 st (but any repeat of 12 + 4 will do) and my scarf was 36" before blocking, 48" afterwards.

2008-07-21T14:02:00.003+01:00

Spinning 3 ply...

I've also been spinning a little, though not so much of late...

I've only ever andean plied yarn from my spindle spun singles, to date - but I wanted a thicker yarn to knit 'Prickle'. So I decided to spin up what is now my default thickness of single - and three ply it, making a lazy kate from a shoe box. This was a first - but I was pleased with the result - despite its obvious overspun ENERGY! It's spun from hand dyed merino/tencel (I think - I bought it from Maylin at Wonderwool and I can't remember). I haven't washed it to set the ply yet.

2008-07-21T13:09:00.004+01:00

Some knitting (for a change) and a wedding...

Have been concentrating on knitting a pair of toe up socks in some sock yarn from The Yarn Yard (as well as knitting the final version of the Jacob: nearly finished it, will put it up with the pattern next week). This yarn was a present from Stash and has been sitting in mine for at least a year... The pattern is Wendy D Johnson's double eyelet rib sock and it really suits the yarn. I've turned the heel on the first sock, but this picture was taken earlier in the week. It's so portable - which is just as well because I went to a wedding last Friday and it was really easy to take this along in my bag and whip it out when the opportunity presented itself. Me, obsessed? nah, mate. Doesn't the bride look lovely? The wedding was held at Haldon Belvedere - you can see this building for miles around - in fact it's up such a high hill that we were worried the bride wouldn't make it - she was fabulously late (an hour!) - as she was being driven in an ancient Austin by our neighbour (who bought the car off of Ebay!). If you climb up to the top of the tower you can see in full circle - the sea, the moors, home! The event went on into the wee hours - good party. And in the evening she's a singer in the band - (Oh bladee, oh bladah, la la la la life goes on!) That's the bride on the mike (she sang three songs) and the groom on the keyboards - and they played the fastest version of 'Superstition' I've ever heard, amongst other things.

2008-07-12T11:54:00.004+01:00

Jacob mark 2

Here is Jacob mark 2 - slightly smaller than the original handspun:

I like the single corrugated rib, and the Fiesta Ballet alpaca/tencel yarn is so soft and shiny, it's beautiful to feel. I also think the braided edging looks snake like. But I think the hat would be better with the main colour as a solid and only the contrast as handpainted. Will have to do ANOTHER one. Thanks for all the pointers for making a PDF. Very helpful.

2008-07-10T00:45:00.004+01:00

Ginny's PHOTO MOSAIC MEME -

Must be the day for Flickr toys: while I was perusing Ginny's blog, I noticed she'd combined a meme with a montage, so if you'd like to have a little fun too then simply

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name? Terri
2. What is your favorite food? Pasta
3. What high school did you go to? Whitland Grammar School
- which didn't work, so I tried WG School - that did!
4. What is your favorite color? Green
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Couldn't think of anyone off the top of my head (how boring am I?) so I chose Harrison Ford who I liked in Witness and who is supposed to look like DH
6. Favorite drink? Pint of Real Ale
7. Dream vacation? White Water Kayaking
8. Favorite dessert? Cheese cake
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? assertive
10. What do you love most in life? my family
11. One word to describe you. artyfarty.
12. Your Flickr name. Tutleymutley

And my result?
1. The Dark Path, 2. night @siem reap* 06, 3. 1958 Bramdean school, Exeter, 4. From above..., 5. Harrison Ford Portrait (Blade Runner), 6. Pulling a pint of real ale at the Punch and Judy, 7. Untitled, 8. chocolate-coffee cupcake with mocha ganache and mascarpone cream, 9. Friday Night. Walkies., 10. brazilian children's day, 11. Untitled, 12. IMG_0318

2008-07-09T15:43:00.003+01:00

STEVE - warholised! Just popped over to Maylin's blog and noticed she'd put together a beautiful montage of all the coloured yarns and fibres she loves using flickr toys. (We have the same taste methinks). Had to go check these toys out myself and created this! My DH in the silly hat I knit him... mmm. What a great gadget. Would make great cards.

Helsbelz - you got an email I can contact you on?

2008-07-09T12:02:00.003+01:00

The response.

Sheila replied really quickly AND the woman is on vacation - howzat for service.

She said

Hi Terri,

You needn't mention my hat...as far as I'm concerned everything I've ever designed as been heavily inspired by something I've seen, but thanks for asking.

I'm on vacation and have limited computer time, so I've gotta go but please feel free to do whatever you like with any part of the hat... it really is just based on traditional Norwegian hat shaping.

So there you go! How levelheaded is that? Some people are just so sensible. Anybody want the pattern? And just how do you make a PDF file?

2008-07-08T01:25:00.006+01:00

A Tale of Two ~~Cities~~ Hats or
When does a modified design become an original?

Thanks for all your kind comments on my FOs - How do I find time to do my knitting/spinning? Easy - I try to avoid housework!

Artisanne asked if Inga was my design - NO! It's a lovely free pattern by Sheila Macdonald of EWEnique fibers - However it inspired me to knit another. There were many comments on Ravelry where folk thought that Inga was too long. Personally I like the longer length - I like to wear it flopped over and I thought it begged a tassel. But I could see where they were coming from. I also liked the diamond form of the design which became part of the decreases, but I wanted a hat which had six decreases instead of three to make less of a mitred effect. So I got out my graph paper and roughly drew in much smaller diamonds - then doodled a design to try and ensure that there were no more than 5 stitches to strand the yarn across. I kept the braid/herringbone edge because I like it - the first time I used it was on Karen Neale's KAL gloves for handpainted yarn (which I still haven't finished - they only need two fingers and thumb to complete!). So the only thing I kept from the original was the number of stitches cast on and the braid edge. I added a corrugated rib to stop the brim from rolling.

This is INGA: and this is my Jacob (so called because I knit it in my handspun Jacob fleece) :

Mine is much more of a beanie. So with so little of the original remaining - is this my design or not? Interesting question, ay? I asked the question at the Knitting and Crochet Guild AGM last weekend (will write a more detailed update on that fascinating event at a later date!) - and the consensus seemed to be that if you'd changed 20% it was yours. Where did this figure come from?

I'm in the process of knitting it again - this time with a single corrugated rib and in handpainted Ballet yarn (from woolly workshop - lovely stuff - alpaca/tencel and so soft) - and I'm really excited at how the colours are making a fairisle effect without the effort of changing colours frequently - and the randomness adds to the interest.

I've emailed Sheila Macdonald to ask her opinion on my publishing the modified pattern for free use on here. I'll be interested to read what she says.

"Time for bed", said Zebedee...

2008-06-25T08:41:00.013+01:00

SEVERAL FOs:Reversible Lace Scarf

As I mentioned in the last post, I finished spinning the Strawberry coloured merino/tencel blend that I got from the Yarn Yard fibreclub and knitted it into a reversible lace patterned scarf. Just as well, as Natalie is posting the next parcel this morning.
This is how the scarf looked preblocked. I only had 206 yards/75g at the end and knitted up what looked like a very short scarf at 36inches. I blocked it to buggery (technical term a la Kate) and am really pleased with the result. Blocking took it to 48inches! Because it was looking so short I added a hole to pass one end through - which looked rather unsightly, so I added a pink tinged pearly button. Our neighbour Sara invited us to celebrate her 40th last night - how timely! Reckon this scarf will make an excellent presi.

Next: The completed Gotland Fibre Challenge. I knitted a sideways Woolly Wormhead pattern called CandyPi. I didn't have enough gotland yarn to make it, so I added some of maylin's purple angora goat yarn. The end result was soft but looked like a radioactive warning device! Needed someone young and hot to wear it so it went to Leah for her 21st birthday present.

Here's the finished Swallowtail Shawl - really my first lace project of any size. I did knit a cardigan years ago in 4 ply silk to wear at my wedding , which was my own design and part lace, part cable (and a very similar colour to the scarf above coincidentally). However that's so long ago (25yrs!) I can hardly remember it. And I knew nothing of blocking then. It was knitted in mini handmaiden and I love the way the colours have pooled in its tail.
Can't remember whether I posted a pic of these alpaca socks... They'll probably wear out quick as they've no nylon reinforcing the heels and toes. I used the alpaca wool mix sent me by my secret pal ages ago - from Vermont- to knit Cat Bordhi's philosopher's socks. However I realised I'd run out of the purple colour way before the end, so I decided to add some 100% cream alpaca as a 'design feature'. I was on the last stripe when I ran out of the purple - I only needed two rows worth of purple to finish the darned things (agh!). T'was then I thought of Maylin's purple dyed goat fibre - very similar colour, n'est pas? so I spun up a teeny amount for that last couple of rows. Can you tell the difference? I'm keeping these.
To finish off the list of Finished Objects for this posting: The Inga Hat. I was knitting along with Astrid - a norwegian cardigan. But it wasn't turning out for the best as I mentioned in yesterday's post. (Call them roses???) So the yarn will have to be used for other things. The first of which will be this Inga Hat. I'll keep this one too.

The last picture is of the felted flower I made in the kid's craft tent at the Contemporary Show. I stuck two size 14 needles in the middle as a couple of 'stamens' . That's my goldring spindle sitting beside it in the pot my son made at school. It was great fun and I'd like to do some more felting.

2008-06-23T12:39:00.013+01:00

Catch up...

An entire month passed and Summer has arrived.
Here's something I DIDN'T do:

The Hyperbolic Crochet Jam at The Royal Festival Hall on Saturday last.
I was flitting up to London to collect two of the four lads who had been on a madcap mission to paddle the Thames from source into the Smoke. Two of them had never set foot in a canoe before - and one of the paddlers last paddled thirty years ago! It's a flat water paddle - but steep learning curve nevertheless. They made it to Putney.

I worked late on Friday so couldn't set out until Saturday morning - so it was midday when I got to Putney, fully intending to leave DH and next door neighbour, Chris, in the pub while I went off to join Stash and Caught Knitting at the Jamboree. I so wanted to see that c(r)-o-(chet)-ral reef in the Hayward Gallery and join the fun - but Steve and Chris looked so tired and pleaded with me to take them home so how could I ignore them? :-(
Never mind - they owe me one! So I've made sure that they'll be available to do the manhandling at the K-TOG in October (yes - we're having another one).

Couple of weekends ago I manned the Knitting and Crochet Guild Stand at the Contemporary Craft Show in Bovey Tracey for three days, ably assisted by WyeSue and Imogen, with extra help from Jen, Christine, Mary, Jay and Jill. The weather was good, considering the rain that lashed the West Country in the preceding week, but blowy - Woolly Wormhead's hats tossed gaily around the site several times before we pinned 'em down. Imogen had the most amazing victorian sock making machine and proceded to make the longest ever scarf/sock over the weekend: She will eventually chop it up into smaller scarves but we managed to stretch the result from the stand right over to the main entrance.

Here we're half way...

It's amazing how blase the British can be about such events: lots of people were oblivious and stepped right on the scarf as we stretched it out.

That's Imogen wearing her Fabulous Terry Macey linen dress checking out the enormous scarf roll with Jay and WyeSue.

Syd is ever so patient - bless him.

I also brought along the giant knitting needles DH made for me out of a couple of broomhandles and staircase nobs to play with.

- Several people of all ages and sizes had a go at knitting WyeSue's accumulated fingerknitted yarn (I'm still not sure about the glitter?!). One passerby suggested it should be an essential pastime for the pantomime Dame. Good idea.

A good time was had by all: we taught some people to knit (on giant needles as well as normal sized needles) and, of course, we fingerknitted. The crafts in the main marquee were beautiful - if a tad expensive for most pockets - but Imogen managed to get a fantastic Terry Macey linen dress at a bargain price not the least because it looked so good on her.

Alison Ellen was also exhibiting her gorgeous handknitted cardigans and hats - I was taking notes as they certainly have the 'wow' factor.
I managed to escape a couple of times during the three days - once to make a felt flower in the Children's tent (nobody noticed I was slightly larger and more wrinkly than the average customer) - and once to make an indigo dyed silk scarf and an indigo dyed index finger (where my glove had a hole).
The icecream was excellent (Thanks Christine). I finished a second BSJ in pinks for Jane's baby at the show.

ON the knitting front, I've finished spinning the Yarn Yard strawberry merino/tencel fluff and it made 75grams/206yards of fingering weight yarn - enough to do a small reversible lace scarf. Here's it on the go - it made 36 inches so I've blocked it to buggery (technical term a la Kate) and it's now drying and 48inches long. I put a hole (and a button) near one end, so I can thread one end through. It's good.
I also started Astrid's norwegian jumper knit-a-long and didn't like what I was getting. Those red blobs are supposed to be roses - and they involved carrying FOUR colours across the row. The gauge seemed too huge for the work too, so it had to go.I frogged it. Or not quite. I've started the City and Guild's handknitting course certificate 7922 (distance learning with Fiona Morris) so I need lots of samples of edges, hems, selvedges, castings on and offs for the first module. So I saved this cuff as an example of a knitted hem. Waste not want not. In the meantime, what to do with all this yarn? TO start with, an 'Inga' hat. Here's the beginnings of it:
I've nearly finished it now, and was so inspired by the idea that I've designed my own version, which has a shorter body, a six part decrease instead of three and a different pattern. I'm going to use my handspun Jacob fleece to knit it and I'll show it off when I'm done.

Oh yes - did I tell you? I've been given four Jacob sheep fleeces. Since I won't be able to cope with one, let alone four, WyeSue very kindly took one away. In exchange, she showed me how to wash it mass production style: Take one dustbin (or in my case, one old waterbutt) and fill with as hot water as possible. Boil lots of kettles. Add Washing up liquid. Add fleece. Leave until gets cold. Place fleece on makeshift rack in garden (plastic coated chicken wire balanced on bits of trellis fence and wheelbarrow) and spray liberally with hosepipe. Soak dog while at it. Leave in sun to dry and if it rains? Well, it just gets rinsed some more! Spin lots and lots and lots. Now it really wouldn't be good to leave you with this image of yukky yukky Jacob fleece soaking water.

I leave you with a picture of the first flower that my peony has produced (planted out last year - when it was just a wee slip of a thing). Much prettier.

2008-05-21T07:18:00.005+01:00

Just a quickie update before I head off for work...

Thanks for the encouragement - I wasn't fishing for compliments. Was I? Glargh!

I've frogged the Trellis Fence Scarf - I couldn't bear the mistakes shouting at me. I've started Swallowtail instead. And the pattern suits the mini Handmaiden yarn so much better, I'm really getting into a rhythm - which is how lace knitting should be, I guess. I can see where I'm at with the budding lace repeat so it's easier to tink if necessary. But I've put in a lifeline this time, just in case.
I WILL revisit the trellis scarf pattern one day, but with a finer lace weight yarn.

Meanwhile I've finished another BSJ - this time in pinks and purples, in Lang 'Silkdream' which is wonderfully soft - but so much more expensive now. Part of its attraction was its very reasonable price - its now not much more cheaper than other 'designer' yarns. This BSJ is paying for the course of acupuncture a local vet gave Tilly.
I've also finished spinning the Gotland - only got 4 small balls weighing 70g, which won't be enough for CandyPi, so I'm going to stripe it with Maylin's purple dyed angora goat fleece - and I've spun up my first chunky 25g of that.This picture of a golden hare was to compensate for not having any pics of knitting originally - I was playing with collage - it's so much fun to mess about with glue and bits of paper and gold leaf! The quote is from a Ted Hughes poem. The picture of the golden hare in the moonlight came first, but the quote seemed apt.

"The Big-eyed, up eared hare I hold is solid flame of living gold..."

2008-05-12T13:07:00.013+01:00

I've been given a challenge! OOo I do love a challenge...

Went to the Devon Guild of Weavers, Spinners, Dyers meetup on Exeter last Saturday and met Norma. Norma was very kindly fiddling with some of the scoured Shetland fleece I bought at Wonderwool(fiddling=teasing out VM and combing). Norma had brought along a large paper sack filled with little paper bags, each in turn filled with beautiful (smelly) Black Gotland fleece. The challenge is to spin up this fleece and make an item however you like (knit, crochet, weave) and then write up a couple of hundred words on the process. I can do that. In fact I can't wait!

Copied from the British Gotland Sheep Society I found this:

"The breed was first established on the Swedish island of Gotland by the Vikings with Karakul and Romanov sheep brought back from expeditions deep into Russia and crossed with the native landrace sheep. The Vikings were great seafarers as well as sheep farmers and took these animals on their extensive voyages to provide meat and skins along the route. Hence the spread of these Northern short-tailed sheep and the development into related breeds such as Goth sheep, Icelandic, Finnsheep, Shetland, North Ronaldsay and Manx. Primitive horned Gotland sheep still exist on the island of Gotland today. The Gotland Peltsheep (pälsfår) or modern Gotland has been developed in Sweden since the 1920's through controlled breeding and intensive selection, producing a true multipurpose long wool sheep, yielding good flavoured close-grained meat, furskins and soft silky lustrous fleece. In Britain we refer to these Gotland Peltsheep simply as Gotlands."

The fleece itself has a long staple and a slight crimp - and is a beautiful lustery (is there such a word?) black with hints of silver and grey. I spun the first skein on my drop spindle, without washing or carding - just teased with my fingers.
The next skein I carded lightly which did make the spindling slightly easier. I've yet to wash these two skeins, to set the twist.
It's very similar to the Ryeland to spin, except maybe not quite so soft. I'm trying to keep the single chunky as I've decided to knit another Woolly Wormhead hat from "Going Straight" - probably Candy Pi. I like Dulcie too, but I think the yarn will suit Candy Pi better. It's working out at about 8-10 wpi.

I'm using the drop spindle because it's so portable. I can spindle and walk the dogs at the same time (which is just as well, as Tilly is so sloooow).

I've finished the Sonnet, which is the first ever item I've spun on my own spinning wheel. It looks like a yak herder's jacket and I'm very proud of every lumpy bumpy bit of it. And it's lovely to wear too - soft, warm, cosy!
Pictures when I get DH to take one.

In keeping with my new obsession with Spinning, ~~I've taken leave of my senses~~ I've joined the Yarn Yard's fibre club.
Look what arrived this morning!

Strawberries! And it's not even Wimbledon time!

I've been asked if my poor old Ashford Spindle still spins after it's encounter with the Jack Russell. It does, it does! But the yarn can catch on the rough bits if I'm not careful. I can't sand it down as the wood used is so soft and I don't want to damage the balance or lose more wood, so I'm leaving it. But here is the compensation:

I'm proud to present the Goldring 'Sweetheart' and a little sweetie she is. She's very petite and light and spins like a dream. I've put some alpaca skeins (-the fleece was a pressi from Maylin along with other goodies, a while back) with it to show how excellently she spins.

And finally, I've had a severe bout of startitis of late. Must be because I've finished Sonnet and it went to my head. So I've started Bettna with the yarn I bought from Coldspring Mills. The colours aren't my favourite - the yellow reminds me of baby poo, but they're nice enough for half price noro. This is a lovely sit in meetings/watch telly/take to the pub and keep hands busy whilst mouth goes into overdrive project
Then I've also started the French Trellis scarf from 'Victorian Lace Today' - I've made a few mistakes already (I can see where I've forgotten a yo once and I seem to have added one in another place!)- but, after doing 5 repeats of the pattern I'm not frogging. THIS is why I don't knit lace. It's a scarf! I keep telling myself that it won't show! Here is a very bad photo so you can't see the mistakes...

I've also started another Wellington Hat for Seth's friend Oak, and a sock and I've got to knit another BSJ for a client who gave Tilly acupuncture - so it's a barter/payment - and I think I got a good deal. I'm not allowing myself to cast on anything else until I finish at least a couple of these WIPS. My friend Cath said this blog is getting boring. But then, she's not a knit

:-)

Must try and update blog more often - little and often is the key, nest'ce pas?

(We have been busy at work of late: The Group had four - yes, FOUR! - home births last week, and I've also been weathering a family crisis - pathetic excuses - I have found time to gallivant as well - but a spot of gallivanting is what keeps one sane methinks).

2008-04-13T20:15:00.003+01:00

A FO!

Here's the finished Wiggle Socks for baby Ollie:

They are really soft to touch!

And I'm so pleased with the results, I've decided to use Cat Bordhi's magic number system to use the alpaca/wool handspun to knit a pair of 'philosopher's socks' from the same book. And I've started on the toe today. I can't believe how satisfying it is to see a yarn I've spun myself turn into a garment. Lor, I am such a geek.

2008-04-09T19:05:00.003+01:00

More handspun baby socks:
I purchased Cat Bordhi's 'New Pathways for Sock Knitters' Book One, t'other day - and thought a pair of Charlie's Wiggle Socks would be a good project for using up more of my handspun rainbow merino from Wingham Wool Works. This is the last of the rainbow merino (I bought just over 100gm of fluff in three different colourways and I'm very tempted to purchase some more) - and it's a wonderful ginger/rust/gold/green colour - reminds me of the hedera leaf. I've already spun and knit up the first wiggle sock - it looks great and feels so soft. This is a very bad picture of the first little sock before I used EZ's sewn cast off - taken in the sun this morning. Then I took the dogs for a walk and spun the rest of the fluff you can see on the table above. This is the finished single spun yarn nestled amongst the violets. That's a better representation of the colour than in the first picture.
And here I am about to andean ply it.

Isn't that granite waymarker great?

Meanwhile, Tilly the arthritic one had wondered off and got herself lost. MUCH drama - she is deafer than me so can't hear me shout her name! Fortunately she's got a tag on her collar with her name and my phone number (as well as the vet's). A certain kind Donna picked her up about a half hour later (Tilly had been busy retracing our footsteps) and Donna phoned the vet - who advised her to take Tilly to my neighbour's (as my neighbour's daughter works at said Vet's). Meanwhile, Syd had decided to take advantage of my distracted state and roll in a dead sheep. One bath later and alls well that ends well.

2008-04-03T01:26:00.006+01:00

DOG EATS SPINDLE...
Aaargh!

As may have been observed, I've been obsessed with using my Ashford drop spindle since I bought it at Skip North.

It spins so fine - and it's portable and I can do it while I'm walking the dogs. Tilly is so slow these days, what with her arthritis and the fact that she likes to sniff every blade of grass en route - our walks take twice as long, so spindling is ideal while I'm waiting for her to catch up.

Here's a skein of angora/wool that I spun from the fuzz that my secret pal sent me way back in July . I can see the progress I've made - it's so much more even than anything I've done so far, I think. I photographed it outside with some grape hyacinths - it's been lovely weather the last couple of days - like someone pulled a 'Spring' switch! DH saw a swallow. Beware though - snow showers forecast for the weekend...

Maylin sent kindly sent me some purple dyed yarn from her own goats (along with a load of other goodies) when she heard I'd got my spinning wheel (and as a birthday present) - I've only just got round to spinning some of that up - one of these skeins was carded before spinning, the other wasn't.

Anyway, DH and I were invited round to a friends for supper on Saturday, so OF COURSE I took my newly acquired spindle to show it off - that’ll teach me - got talking, drinking and then suddenly realised it had disappeared. Looked around, and after several minutes found it. In the dogbasket, being gnawed on by my friend’s Jack Russell.

Now I realise what soft wood it’s made of! It still functions - after a fashion - even with great gouges taken out of it. Look at those teeth marks in the shaft and the huge bites in the whorl - in the pic below.

Here you can see the little skeins of yarn I've been spinning from the 'rainbow' dyed merino from Winghams Woolworks in Wentworth (the same fuzz that the Saatje's bootees were spun from).

I felt in dire need of consolation and ‘tlc’ (t’was such a shock, you understand), so I’ve gone and ordered a Golding RingSpindle all the way from the States as compensation. See the Purpleheart 2" 'sweetheart' spindle on this page. Well - it had to be, you all understand, don’t you?

I've had a touch of 'startitis' of late too - I won't own up to all the castings on, but I will show you the Baby Surprise Jacket I finished. I've wanted to knit the BSJ by Elizabeth Zimmerman ever since I first read about it - the construction looked fascinating. I finally got around to ordering the pattern from the Schoolhouse Press and it arrived promptly. Had to cast on immediately - used (washable soft left over) stash I already had (feels very virtuous!) - and tried the fibonacci stripe patterning. It knits up very quickly - only took a couple of evenings to end up with this:

And here it is all sewed up. I made a teenytiny mistake in the shaping on the left front which only I know about, right? Noone will notice if I don't keep going on about it. The little coat reminded me of a Chinese smoking jacket, so I used Chinese type metal buttons (that have also been sitting around in my button box) to fasten it with. It has a home already - I caught a neighbour's baby on Monday night (lovely home birth) - and turns out these colours are Mum's favourite. So this cardigan goes to Baby Isla with lots of love.

2008-03-22T21:03:00.004Z

FREE TIBET

I feel strongly that we (as in the UK) ought to boycott the Olympic Games in China if the violence continues in Tibet.

For an update on what's happening, Joy (Indiajoy on Ravelry) lives on the Indian side of the Himalayas and is getting reports from friends in Tibet - see Joy's blog. My heart aches for Tibetans and I feel helpless to do anything except wring my hands... the very least I can do is help spread the word.
I just signed an urgent petition calling on the Chinese government to respect human rights in Tibet and dialogue with the Dalai Lama. (though I'm not sure how effective petitions are!) But it is really important so here are the links:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK
After nearly 50 years of Chinese rule, the Tibetans are sending out a global cry for change. Violence is spreading across Tibet and neighbouring regions, and the Chinese regime is right now making a crucial choice between tougher crackdown or dialogue.
President Hu Jintao needs to hear that "Made in China" exports and the upcoming Olympics in Beijing will have the support of the world's people only if he chooses dialogue. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get his attention. Click below to sign the petition - in just 3 days, the campaign is almost half way to the goal of 1 million signatures!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK Thank you so much for your help

2008-03-20T14:01:00.028Z

Walking Women Lake District Holiday Part 1.

Saturday 16th February

I should have dropped off the dogs at Karen's en route, but I didn't, so, of course, I was running late. My train pulled out of the station as I was passing the main entrance. I was so close the time of departure was still up on the TV screen - but had gone by the time I reached the platform. And the Station Clock was 5 minutes slow!

Eventually caught the 11o3 train to Lockerbie via Birmingham, instead of the 1022 to Carlisle and had a breakfast roll and a decent cup of coffee (I do believe us Brits have finally got the hang of making coffee!) whilst I was waiting.

This all meant I was about half an hour on my connections for the rest of the day - and missed supper and introductions at the Glaramara Centre in Borrowdale. But I did get to sup 2 and a 1/2 pints of good ale in the pub at Keswick, in front of a roaring fire, and chat to Debbie and Richard (some walkers I met) instead.

I've walked 'the mile' which is a path on top of the sea wall sandwiched between the beach and the railway line between Teignmouth and Dawlish many a time, waving at the passing trains. It made a change to be on that train watching the surf instead of paddling in it. I also saw a heron in the marshes as the train passed the Double Locks in Exeter.

Got a deal of knitting done whilst reading Stephen King's "The Good Guy" - suitably light and engrossing. Wouldn't want anything that needed concentration, particularly as a load of inebriated football supporters boarded my carriage at Crewe, waving cans of Newkie Brown, and singing very different versions of "Show me the way to go home" to the one I know. One of them must have been rude to a WPC as he got strong armed off the train at the very next stop: seemed a bit OTT as they were all quite merry and not at all belligerent. A British Rail Transport cop offered to escort me to another carriage - but I'm not at all bothered by a spot of insobriety and a few rude, boisterous songs (I've heard worse language in the labour room!). Anyway, I took my HAs out.

Coming in to Penrith, I could see mountains, hills in the distance - all a bit steeper than my beloved Dartmoor. The picture is of the ruined castle opposite the railway station, lit up by the setting sun. By the time I got off the bus at Glaramara - pleasantly tiddly and ready to socialise some more all my fellow walkers, bar a couple, had gone to bed! Dirty Stopins!

I have a room to myself here, and get to bed earlier than I have done in months. I'd forgotten my toothbrush and the sink made gurgling noises. I've decided to go 'high' tomorrow!

Woke up on Sunday 17th February to a glaringly frosty scene outside the window and peaks with snow topping. My first time in the Lake District and the weather looked to be amazing! There was a choice between a 'Intermediate' and a 'High Intermediate' walking group - so I joined the 'high' group with our guide Polly and her dog Dylan. Poor old Dylan had had to have a pin put in his back leg as a pup, and it was giving him arthritis at the tender age of 3 1/2yrs. The vets had recently operated in an attempt to remove it, and failed - but despite this he had plenty of Spring as you'd expect from a Springer - just had a noticeable limp by the end of the day and a bald patch.

Here we all are gathering outside the Centre...
WE were the largest group today, with a much smaller group walking the 'Intermediate' hike. There was a large range of ages on the holiday, with the youngest woman in her 20's and the oldest in her 70's. The majority had come unaccompanied (lots of women had left partners and children at home!) and many were returners - Walking Women's Holidays (WW) are ideal if you want organised walks with congenial company - I often like to go off on my own, but this adventure took the effort out.

The walk was fantastic: up the road to warm up, (the picture looks back at the outdoor Centre) past Stonethwaite School (lots of 'thwaites' around here) and then gradually climbing up through the trees, to open moors and icy streams tumbling down...

all the way up to Dock Tarn.

We stopped here for a midmorning snack. Then on over the hill to be confronted by glorious views.

On down the hill, with the ice making so many different sculptures for us to admire, to a frozen lake where we stopped for our packed lunch and went in to the lakeside cafe for hot chocolate. The ducks were performing that entertaining activity of trying to land on the frozen surface - digital cameras have that frustrating delay after you click the button, so I missed the action shot. There were also lots of children and grownups smashing the ice at the edge and sliding large chunks across the surface - we decided it's probably such fun because it's like harmless vandalism!

See the little teddybear above the door?

And off we go again, to walk alongside a river and into the woods...

In the woods there was a river that had to forded: some folks had trouble and got their socks wet. I crossed further back upstream - deeper water but bigger rocks!

The path led us down through a steeply wooded valley to emerge by Lodore Falls - and the Hotel by the same name, on the shores of Derwent Water. This is a picture of the falls themselves, but it was getting dimpsy and they were in heavy shade. The sheep are Herdwicks - they were all over the place. And that's a picture of the Hotel Lodore with the wooded valley that we clambered down behind it.

And so we wended our way back along the flat valley to Glaramara, with Polly tempting everyone with the bus: nobody took her up on the offer, but I wonder how many would have followed if just one had caved in? We'd hiked somewhere between 9-12 miles: Kathy and Alison tried to work it out with a map and a wheelie mileage calculator thingie later that evening. I thought it was a great walk - varied terrain, fabulous views and the weather was perfect. Even better - we've got two more days of similar walks to look forward to! WE had a good three course supper and I finished off the evening with a pint of beer (keg, but beggars can't be choosy) and knitting in front of a log fire (there were four of us knitters). You'd think I'd have slept like the proverbial log, but the room was too hot and there was a huge mirror on the wall by the bed which was most off putting - who knows what lurks in that land of Alice? I didn't figure out how to turn the radiator off until the next morning so had to resort to opening the window wide...

2008-03-17T00:10:00.010Z

Skip North addendum...

But hold on there one cotton pickin' moment - I didn't finish ~~confessing~~ telling you what was in my bags, diddle I?

Besides the rainbow from the Yarn Mountain and the drop spindle and fluff, there was this: Sock yarn and dishcloth cotton from the Skep.

And this wonderfully coloured cotton from Coldspring Mill will become a rooster jumper for a friend's new baby son Toby. Only there IS just a tad more than I need.

And finally (yes really) there was the yarn in the picture above, which is three skeins of Noro Kureyon for Bettna and enough Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed to make Rogue - and both at half the original price. Got to be done.

2008-03-16T23:49:00.002Z

I adored Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy. I'm not sure, even having read the books, if I followed the movie - they had to leave so much out it became meaningless.
I've been allocated a crow (called Myron) as my daemon. Before he takes up permanent residence, do you agree that this is an accurate representation of me?

2008-03-15T14:10:00.033Z

SKIP NORTH - summed up in a rather protracted and garbled fashion because if I don't write it up NOW it'll never get done.

I hadn't packed and was fiddling about on the computer (drooling over yarns and patterns on Ravelry as usual) so didn't leave till late on Thursday to get to WyeSue. I also spent half an hour driving around Exeter looking for the Tesco garage I knew was there so I could spend my 5poff voucher on diesel. Never found it and wasted so much fuel that I could have just gone the nearest petrol station and saved POUNDS. Am I daft or what?

SO it was getting on for midnight by the time I arrived in Herefordshire to be greeted by a cold filled, sinus blocked, panda eyed WyeSue, who would probably have been tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle and fast asleep if it hadn't been for me! (Sorry, Sue!). The directions to her stash filled house were perfect and easy to follow. I slept well, despite the avalanche of yarn filled bags from the top of the wardrobe (knocked over by a curious marmalade cat).

MY mission was to keep WyeSue awake whilst she drove to Haworth and I knit. I think I fulfilled this task admirably by caterwauling intermittently.

I was startled to note how urban West Yorkshire appeared - I was expecting windswept moors and hills - but althought there were plenty of HILLS, there were also lots of buildings in a grey green stone to match the grey green fields and plenty of dark satanic mills around every bend. It was also plenty blowy - and we were amused to see plenty sheep being blown around like tumbleweed.

On arrival we were greeted by Nickerjac who was being a very organised organiser and asking us what we wanted to order for lunch the next day as well as filling us in on the itinerary and sleeping arrangements... She was accompanied by a very cute and active liddle Pete.

The Youth Hostel is amazing - and must have been splendid when it was built and stood in grand isolation overlooking the Mill in the Worth Valley below, but it's now surrounded on three sides by new houses, which detracts somewhat. It has many stained glass windows depicting various citrus fruits, and a wooden frieze of disturbing looking gargoyles around the skylight at the top of the grand staircase.

(The second picture is of the view down into the valley - you can see the chimney of the Mill just to the right of centre - the Mill is now a 'Spring Factory'. )

WE didn't hang around for long, as there were three workshops to participate in - I learned how to knit mitred squares as a building block for modular knitting, to dye sock yarn with koolaid and a little more about colour theory - great fun and thanks to WyeSue, Lixie and Nic.

And this was the result - not bad for a couple of minutes of paddling about in and inhaling fruity flavoured powders. (minor panic when I couldn't find the hot little microwaved clingfilm package in the kitchen - but Lixie found it for me!)

That night I was taken aback by the sheer wealth of skill and inspiration and talent amongst this small (24 of us) band of fibre enthusiasts. The energy and enthusiasm was contagious and we knit and spun and exchanged skills and showed off and chatted. Everyone was friendly and willing to share - a real inclusive group. It was also fascinating to put faces to names that I already 'know' from blogworld.

Next morning the excitement woke me up early, so I went for a walk down the hill in the drizzle. There must have been at least half a dozen hairdressers all in a row - how do they all stay in business? There was a Steam Engine puffing out steam in the railway station at the bottom of the hill - the Worth Valley steam railway line is open from Easter so it looked as if the Engineers were overhauling the trains in time for the new season. I had to make my way back to the youth hostel for breakfast, before I could work out a circuit - but I saw a runner turn off right so I determined to investigate the next morning.

A coach turned up after breakfast, and Andy drove us to Coldspring Mill first of all, then on to a tiny little shop called the Skep - with a quick turn up the hill to a fascinating haberdashery (RL and CM Bond ltd) filled to the BRIM with buttons, zips, threads, ribbons and implements of torture. I spent far more than I had intended. In fact, 'The' Sue (as opposed to WyeSue) after glancing at my stash enhancement bags, decided I needed a counsellor to off load my addiction problems - She decided to act as the collective conscience of my family to 'save me from myself' and proceeded to reduce me to fits of giggles with just a stern glance my direction as we emerged from each venue. The Sue was part of almost the entire Golders Green Stitch N Bitch who Skipped North: what a fab group that must be...

The coach moved on with many socks being knitteth on board - and we arrived at the Knitting and Crochet Guild's collection and infamous YARN MOUNTAIN - all donated by folks to be sold to raise funds to help the Guild maintain their textile collection. I bought a 720 gram rainbow of dk weight yarn for 1p a gram - can't be bad and destined to be some kind of beloved fairisle. Rumour has it that some of this may originate from Rowan, which isn't that far up the road in Holmfirth. I also bought a book or three.WE all got to fondle some amazing handknitted items (with white gloves donned) dating back to 18th century and beyond - some of it so fine you could hardly imagine anyone having the eyesight let alone the patience to knit it.

We retreated back to the Youth Hostel to drool over everyone's purchases and bargains: 'The' Sue had found an alpaca jumper - knee length, with four dpns still in the unfinished sleeve - AND not forgetting a safety pin, all in a bag for £5. WE convinced her that the best thing to do would be to chop off the length and use the yarn to finish the sleeves. She wasn't entirely sure this was possible I don't think. For a picture of this bargain see WyeSue's blog.

Just look at what Chris had bought! I think she got the record for most yarn puchased...

Makes my booty look quite meagre!There were bags overflowing, bags everywhere!

In the evening after the usual tasty three course supper (during which The Sue had to take a break to listen in to The Archers - a much hyped instalment where a divorce is threatened and a premature birth occurs)( I think she could do with some counselling to help her deal with her addiction, personally ;-),we convened in the dining room, as there had been an invasion of 'Peace Jammers' (average age 11years). WE ate cake. Spinning Wheels also materialised and I got to have another go on 'Morris' - WyeSue's wheel. I didn't have much joy on Natalies's new Majacraft Susie Pro Wheel but it sure looked beautiful - a sight to behold. There was also much amusement when Julie - who had bought a couple of humungous skeins of pastel multicouloured yarn earlier - untied one and then threw it across the dining room. Unfortunately one end caught as she did so - result - a gorgon knot.

Isabella and Natalie showed a huge amount of patience in untangling and balling it up...

Later, in back in the lounge, Natalie showed me how to use her Ashford Top whorl drop spindle and also how to andean ply - I spun up a small ball of Jacob fleece, and got a round of applause for my efforts. There were several spontaneous rounds of applauses for achievements - Ann-at-work completed a scarf over the weekend - only her fourth completed project, and Jane learnt how to make a granny square (to think of but two - I'm sure there were more) from Julie, who also got a round of applause for finishing a cabled jumper whilst she was on the coach on Sunday. She took off the beautiful Colinette jumper that WyeSue had given her (as part of her MAJOR destash) to show it off.

I loved seeing what people had made - Kate is enviably proficient and spent the weekend picking up stitches for the last sleeve on her Kauni-like fairisle jumper whilst wearing a beautiful aran jumper, and another knitted shadow kimono (which can be seen on her blog) and a beautiful lace shawl. Rachel wore a gorgeous fairisle cardigan (oh so fine!). Dianne was knitting a fingerless version of the same Karen's KAL gloves that I've been trying to finish. There were two (really well behaved) babies also modelling knitted items - when they weren't eating the yarn...Max wore a pilot helmet that mum Heather had knitted him, whilst Pete sported a jumper knitted by WyeSue. I hanker after a hat that Rosie had knitted to a personal design - I'm hoping to create my own version some day...

Oh, just too much to mention, and I'll no doubt remember some more beautiful FOs as soon as I publish this post - suffice to say the fibrey enthusiasm was contagious!

I can't emphasize enough how inspirational this weekend was.

On the last day, I'd brought my running gear, so of course I had to use it. I got up and took the right turn down the hill that I'd seen the runner take the previous morning. YES - it took me down to t'river and a muddy footpath running alongside crossing over it a couple of times. I could see the remains of the mechanical waterwheels that must have helped power the Mill. Back up the hill to the youth hostel in a circuit, and dramatic clouds forming overhead - shame I didn't take my camera.

After packing up and vacating dormitaries we piled on the coach for a longer trip to Wingham's Wools - Now this place was set in surroundings more like what I had expected - Wentworth is really pretty - AND had a good pub (serving real ale). The sun was shining as we prowled round the sheds eyeing soft rovings. With remarkable self restraint, I bought myself a drop spindle like Natalie's, and some 'rainbow merino' fluff to spin with. There's Jael in the pink hat, and Fred's ponytail in the background - exploring the treasure trove. I also bought the latest issue of 'Spin Off' for inspiration.

I've been obsessed with spinning since I got back home. I peeled off slivers of the 'rainbow merino', to control the colours a little - then I spun up enough to knit some Saartje's bootees - which I finished last night... Here they are, sitting on the magazine.I'm in love with spinning - and thanks to Natalie and Sarahw for starting me off!This pic doesn't do the colours justice - the bottoms of the bootees is much redder and the tops much greener - but you get the gist.

There's a good picture of everyone waiting for the coach to take us back to the Youth Hostel on Natalie's blog...

I took three projects with me - and managed to finish two: This doggy jumper, pattern by Zoe Mellor, for my friend's daughter's son. We played 'spot the difference' as I've changed the dog in some subtle ways. (There are about 7 differences for anyone interested). I also finished a pair of socks in Opal self patterning 6ply. These socks were doomed. I'd already frogged one completed sock because they were too small for the recipient, who I assumed had small feet. Assume makes an ass out of 'u' and 'me'. Then the pooling in the second sock was COMPETELY different to the first sock. I was totally bemused by this - but the mystery was solved by Natalie and Isabella putting their heads together - they worked out that I'd used a different set of needles on the second - which made it infinitessimally bigger - just enough to alter the pooling completely. Great detective work. So I finished the second sock on the coach. And promptly left them behind. duh. I haven't even got a photo of the finished item! Fred can witness their completion - as can Jael. I guess they just weren't meant to be! (sorry Karen - I'll knit you another pair, promise). I did ask Lixie for the name of the coach company - "Hunter's of Haworth", she says. "Google it", she says. Well, there ain't no Hunters. There's a Hodgson's, but they didn't do 'Skip North'. So, if anyone can remember the name of the coach company, give me a bell.

AND so, back at Haworth and people are packing up ready to go and the sight of sooo much yarn in carboots is a hoot. We had a show and tell of the all the little articles destined for the local SCBU. That's Lixie looking pensive on the left.

Bags of attitude - aren't they great?

Time to go home, and then there were three - WyeSue giving Rachel and me a lift home. We spotted a REAL nodding dog in the back of this Robin Reliant wobbling up the road:

After picking up a takeaway ready meal from M&S and dropping Rachel off, WyeSue and I stayed up till 2am (gasp), drinking Bucks Fizz and continuing the fibrey banter - Sue has a fantastic library and so many wips, yarns, buttons, ideas etc etc, I just didn't want it all to end.

Next morning, WyeSue allowed me to lie in - which was just as well as the weather was deteriorating - seriously - with gale force winds of up to 82mph reported to be lashing the coast of Devon and Cornwall. Sue took me for a wet and windy walk to visit 'her' sheep down by the River Wye. Here you can see the sheep in the various stages of growth - sprouting out of the ground and complete with legs, before they start blowing around like tumbleweed - those small fluffy whitish things in the background, behind Sue. We also went into the wee church of ST Tysilio (him of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch fame) in the background.

More fabulous stained glass windows: I'm detecting a theme. And here is Sue pontificating on the building of this bridge by the Bishop of the aforementioned church. All very edifying and the walk blew the cobwebs away before the blowy drive home. I had a wonderful time, and thanks to LIXIE and NICKERJAC and WYESUE for organising it and putting me up and I want to come again next year please.

Chivers (or was this Dundee?) saw me off the premises.

Just to finish - here is a picture of my all time favourite knitted item - say hullo and goodbye to the Lady of the seven veils - isn't she a VENUS? (as knitted and birthed by WyeSue).

2008-03-06T14:20:00.007Z

SKIP NORTH!!!

About three weekends ago I went on a Walking Women's Holiday in the Lake District. The weather was quite unreasonably warm and clear and the walking absolutely amazing. It's a tad hillier ooop North than down yer on Dartmoor.

Then last weekend, I joined Teignbridge Canoe Club in Tintagel, Cornwall - and went walking again.

More good weather -not as excellent and unseasonal as in the Lake District, but still mild and wonderful for walking in the countryside and drinking up the views of the Atlantic Ocean.

This weekend I'm SKIPPING NORTH to Haworth with a bunch of knitters (must go pack and put DOWN the mouse). I expect to be knitting. A lot. And drinking. A little.

And in between having a grand ol' time, I've been working as usual.

I'll stop gallivanting when I get back on Monday and try and upload a few pics and update the old blog.

2008-02-10T00:08:00.001Z

And I've been tagged, by Angie! (Thanks m'dear!)
The first tag of the year... is 4

4 jobs I have held:
Bus Conductor/Clippie
Care Assistant (with the Elderly)
Registered General Nurse
Registered Psychiatric Nurse

4 movies I like:
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
"Water" (by Deepa Mehta)
"The Star Wars trilogy" - all in one go!
"Rabbit Proof Fence"

4 Places I've been:
Marrakech, Morocco
Paris, France
Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yunnan, China
Chiang Mai, Thailand

4 places I have lived:
Laugharne, Carmarthenshire
Balham, London
Burlington, Wisconsin
Lustleigh, Devon

4 TV shows/programs I watch:
I don't have a telly, but I have watched
Life on Mars
David Attenborough's 'Planet Earth'
Star Trek
Have I got News for You

4 Radio-shows I listen to:
Radio 4 (how appropriate) - the Archers
'I'm sorry I haven't a clue' (ISIHAC)
Radio 2 generally
Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy (I have the original recording on a cassette tape!)

4 favorite foods
Cheesecake
Chocolate
Curry
Spag Bol (damn - that spoiled the run of 'C's)

4 places I'd rather be:
Walking on Dartmoor
Floating down the river Dart on a lovely sunny autumnal day in a kayak,
Curled up in a big comfy armchair sipping a glass of mulled wine, in front of a roaring fire surrounded by convivial friends, on a snowy winter's night.
In bed

The 4 I tag:
WyeSue (well, wye not?)
Mrs Piglottie in the parlour
Rainie at Frog in Knots
and Knit Tigger Ra

And of course feel entirely free to join in - or not!

I can think of a few more? How about:

4 favourite books read last year:

"Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

"Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell

"Arthur and George" by Julian Barnes

"The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox" by Maggie O'Farrell

2008-02-09T19:12:00.001Z

Another FO. Another Wellington Hat. This is the third Wellington Hat I have knit. So the pattern must be EXCELLENT right? RIGHT! 'Specially as I don't ever knit a pattern more than once.It works so well with Noro Kureyon - those lovely blended colour changes set off the simple fairisle design to perfection. This one is a presi for Sal, from the Teignbridge Canoe Club.

And thinking ab0ut hats - I've ordered Woolly Wormhead's Going Straight. Can't wait.

Update, 6th March: Gave the hat to its intended recipient and it fit! She seemed really pleased with it :-)

2008-02-09T16:41:00.000Z

The 'Mutton Jeff Midwife', has a certain ring, but it's a serious business, this gradual hearing loss of mine: I went for a review of my hearing at the audiology department - us 'hearing impaired' can have a repeat 'pure tone' hearing test every 3 years or so, courtesy of the NHS. It involves having a pair of headphones stuck on your head and having the audiologist fire notes into one ear or the other and you having to press a button when you can hear them. The tones can be very faint - and I start imagining noises are happening even when they're not! I already knew that my high frequencies were shot to pieces - but now they are just about ready to fall off the bottom of the scale. This means I can't hear the consonants of speech, as 'p', 't', 's', 'sh', 'k and 'g'' are all in the high frequencies. Most people sound like they are mumbling. And children are just impossible to interpret. I work out a lot of what people are saying from context - my lipreading skills leave much to be desired. I can sometimes get a conversation hilariously wrong: like when a doc said to me that "we'll wait and see" and I responded "No, nothing wrong with her pee"...

It helps if you attract my attention first before speaking to me, so I can pay attention!

This is the audiogram for my Right ear: Anything between 0 - 25 dB is considered to be Normal Hearing (above that dashed line). Then:
26 - 40 dB Mild Hearing Loss
41 - 55 dB Moderate Hearing Loss
56 - 70 dB Moderately Severe Hearing Loss
71 - 90 dB Severe Hearing Loss
>91 dB Profound Hearing Loss

So I have normal hearing in the Low Frequencies, but a severe to profound loss in the high frequencies, commonly known as a 'ski-slope' loss. As my audiologist said - there comes a point when hearing aids aren't much help as they can only amplify the hearing you have. No wonder my speech discrimination isn't much cop - even WITH my hearing aids, I'll have problems deciphering some words because so many of the consonants are missing - "00 u unneran?"

And that is my Left ear.

The 'speech banana' and the pictures show the sounds I can hear to the left of the line, and all the sounds I can't hear to the right of the line. I can hear jackhammers, crows, dogs barking, pianos, bass lines. I can't hear folk whispering, clocks ticking, high pitched alarms and bleeps, crickets chirping and birds singing - often not even with my HAs IN! This has implications for work: I can hear Fetal heart tones fine - and take blood pressures OK - though I have to take my hearing aids out to use a stethoscope which is a pain in the butt. I can't hear the new alarms from the rooms on Delivery Suite - they are very high pitched. This means I rely on others to tell me when a woman I'm caring for pushes her call bell when I'm out of the room. And I wonder what's going on when everyone rushes to answer the emergency buzzer. This is NOT ideal. Phone calls are variable: for some reason, '2' and '3' sound exactly alike when spoken over the phone. This makes taking down phone numbers and the like problematic. Sound quality varies - I'm OK if the line is clear and the person's voice is distinct. But I'm useless if they are quiet or on a mobile with a poor reception. I can use the phone with my hearing aids in, but I strain, so I prefer to take one out and jam the earpiece against my earlobe and ask the other person to shout at me. Anyway I'm off to 'Soundbase' in Exeter next Wednesday to see what sort of 'Assistive Listening Devices' I can get hold of to help me out which I guess I should have done way before now, but I'm good at procrastinating. I am fortunate to work in a Team with very supportive colleagues - everyone is aware of my hearing loss (well - it's not something that can be hidden, even though it's not particularly visible - the constant use of 'whaaaaaaat?' is a bit of a giveaway).

I guess what's got me so preoccupied with all this is that there has been a definite deterioration since my last hearing test - and I'm YOUNG to have this happen. What will I be like when I'm 60? I'll cross my fingers that the technology available will keep pace with my hearing loss, and try and protect the hearing I have left.

I have digital behind-the-ear aids - and the one good thing that came out of yesterday was that I was given a new pair - rounded and a dark grey colour called 'granite' - no more pink slugs for me! I like them. Thanks to Mary (Quite Contrary) who has the most gorgeous purpley blue HAs (and got them on the NHS) for the inspiration: As a result of seeing hers I asked for a different colour. I was told that they do do different colours but that these are for children and more expensive. (So is glitter in the clear ear moulds for children, but I got that!). But the 'granite' pair comes at no extra cost so I got those. There's an amusing (and so true) response to an article on getting used to hearing aids - see Amanda Kvaslvig's letter: "Follow up of people fitted with hearing aids" BMJ 2002; 325:1304.

As a result of the new aids, I nearly jumped out of my skin when someone texted me the other day. The sound was so loud!

2008-02-05T17:13:00.000Z

Done something rash this afternoon: I've taken several steps towards signing up to train as an NCT Antenatal teacher. Do I have enough time? Probably not. But I see it as serving two purposes - 1) I can do more of one of the things I enjoy most: teaching prospective parents how to achieve the kind of birth they want and 2) keeping myself up to date - which I have to do for the day job anyway, thus killing two birds with one stone.

As a result I'm thinking of splitting the midwifery/NCT part of this blog off into a new 'baby catching' blog.

Hmm. Babies. My better half reckons they ALL look like Winston Churchill.

I saw this today, on the Net, from the "Musings of Harry":

Dear “medical practitioners”
You are not doctors. You exist because the government can’t afford more doctors. You are the NHS equivalent of Police Community Support Officers.
The fact that your job exists is probably a bad thing. It’s certainly a bad thing when “negligence isn’t really an issue for us” midwives kill their patients with epidurals.
Would this woman have survived if a doctor had administered the injection? Perhaps. Perhaps not. But if you had to choose between a doctor and a midwife to give you your epidural, who would you choose? I wonder who administered Sarah Brown’s medication when she was in labour?
Doctors are trained to diagnose. Doctors are trained to understand how drugs work. Doctors study these things for longer and in much greater depth than any other “medical practitioners”. Doctors should be diagnosing and prescribing, not ancilliary staff — especially not those who are currently unable to obtain insurance because the insurance companies refuse to insure them."

Dear Harry

This would be a one off occurrence you're talking about? A midwife killing a patient by administering bupivicaine down the IV line instead of the epidural catheter? I feel so sorry for Marie To and the family of the victim of this dreadful event. It was certainly a terrible, tragic happening and the sort of thing that has to be every midwives' nightmare, but might I remind you of the activities of another doctor: wasn't Harold Shipman a one off occurrence? Though the one was an accident and the other was far more malign as I recall.

As a midwife I do epidural top ups frequently - as do thousands of my colleagues - without mishap. (I must correct your terminology - no midwife 'gives' anyone an epidural - the anaesthetist sites it, we just administer the drugs after the initial 'loading dose' has been given, and look after it - AND I suspect a midwife administered Sarah Brown's medication!). I also do all the antenatal/intrapartum/postnatal care for my clients (who fall within the 'normal' pregnancy remit) without mishap at home and in hospital and have done so for the last 15 years. I don't hesitate to transfer women in from home if I'm at all concerned, or call for a doctor if the pregnancy or labour deviates from the norm.

LET me give you an example of the training I undergo: I can now undertake the 'Examination of the Newborn' - a simple all over check looking for abnormality that takes place 6-48 hours after the birth which includes checking for heart murmurs and congenital hip dislocation. To do this check I had to undertake over 6 months of lectures and tutorials, including the writing of two essays, and the completion of a portfolio with 40 exams documented (8 of which were overseen by a paediatric Consultant or Registrar). This work was marked and verified by the University of Plymouth and was separate and on top of my basic training. My Paediatric Senior House Officer colleagues (who, to be fair, have undergone extensive basic medical training) get shown how to do the examination once then told to get on with it.

I am insured because I work for the NHS. My independent colleagues could also be insured but that the insurance companies want the same rates for that coverage that they ask of obstetricians, and they just can't afford to pay that kind of sum. Which is not quite the same thing as you're saying, Harry. Also, independent midwives work exclusively in the home in the UK - so wouldn't even be administering epidural top ups.

I doubt if many doctors would want to do my job - care for women through the long hours of labour - though they might do what they do in many countries (including USA) where they get 'Obstetric Nurses' to do the hard slog then gallop in at the last moment on their handsome white charger to 'catch the baby', which any old fool could do. Ah, why am I bothering to respond to this garbage?

2008-02-04T02:03:00.000Z

Finished object... Debbie Bliss Cable Jacket

At last I've finished the Debbie Bliss Cable Cardigan which I started last July - with just a few hiccups toward the end.

Any sensible knitter would take the pattern and highlight the size they are actually knitting, wouldn't they? Nah, not me, mate. So that's why, when I find that I'm running out of yarn I suddenly notice that the first sleeve I finished is over an inch too long. ON the pattern it says, after finishing the increases - work a further 32/24/16 rows. I'm knitting the medium size folks. So what do I do? I knit an extra 32 rows. So that's 8 rows too many. So I have to frog the top. I would have saved me so much time and effort if I'd just got the highlighter out in the beginning.

Well that surely means I'll have enough yarn to finish, right? 'Specially as I've knitted it in the round and saved some yarn on not knitting extra stitches for seams. Well noooo. I'm definitely going to run out of yarn.

I can't get the same colour yarn from the place I originally bought it, let alone the same dyelot. After much gnashing of teeth and wailing at the dogs and anyone else who will listen to me, I order a different dyelot but same colourway from a different company: Cnyttan wools (my saviours) - lo and behold and all saints be praised it is so similar to the original dyelot as to not make any difference.

I carry on knitting - only to find I'm STILL going to be short of yarn - by about 20 rows. You can see how much yarn I had left, with the entire of the top of the sleeve shaping still to do. I've photographed the top of the finished sleeve so you can see just how close it was. I suppose having several rows to finish is better than having just a few stitches left, but it's so frustrating to see the end and not be able to finish because I have to order yet another ball of wool then wait for it to arrive.

The pattern asked for 19 balls of wool. I needed 21. Did I swatch, you ask? Don't be ridiculous.

Today I finished it. It was all worthwhile.

It was, it really was.

I grafted the back collar - Now I'm really quite impressed with that. Not fantastically tidy - see the not very clear picture - but perfectly adequate AND I grafted CABLES for goodness sake.

The collar has a tacked down facing which makes it thick and snuggly, like wearing a scarf. And the Debbie Bliss cashmerino is lovely and soft and warm, mmm. I wore it to the Bovey Tracey Stitch 'N Bitch today and was suitably gratified by the positive response when I did a twirl. (We are such a lovely knitting group!). I shall wear it to Skip North.

Next week I'm off to the Lake District on a 'Walking Women's Holiday' - and I'm going up by train! I love travelling by train - all that knitting time! Cross fingers (and toes) the weather won't be too wet.

2008-01-27T22:14:00.000Z

The January 12th RAVELRY OUTING TO GET KNITTED

In the pic: the computer geek whose name I can't remember, (I'm not being rude: she had it written on her T-chirt!) but she was an architectural student, Rainie and Wyesue.

Was it really two whole weeks ago?

Before Christmas, I'd suggested to the monthly Bovey S'NB group that we have a winter outing - maybe to 'Get Knitted' in Bristol. This was met with general enthusiasm. I then posted the suggestion on the Ravelry WestCountry forum and before I knew it, the outing had become a RAVELRY outing!

Sue, the manager, promised us all CAKE and a 10%discount off all non sale goods. What more could a knitter ask for? Get Knitted is a converted supermarket with a huge range of yarn, plush pink sofas and glasstopped tables and help yourself to coffee and tea. (Shame there's no bar!)

That's Mytilus hiding her face with a bag, with Anniken (yarnaddictanni) laughing at her, and (Mynameis)Clare studying 'Victorian Lace Today' with intent.

A trainload of knitters joined us from London, and folk came from as far away as Nottingham and Cornwall - there were so many ideas flitting about, and lovely garments being worn and knitting on the needles, it was truly inspirational. Much stash was bought, much cake was eaten.

WyeSue brought her trusty spinning wheel along and was letting folk have a go as well as showing me how to navajo ply and SarahW was showing several youngsters how to use her beatifully light and delicate drop spindles. Woollywormhead was there sporting a lovely shaped bump (action shot to the left) - there were several copies of her new hat book, 'Going Straight' with probably the best illustrated sections on kichener stitch inside that I've yet to see, but she hadn't brought any extras to sell, mores the pity. I 'specially enjoyed meeting Quitecontrary (Mary) who is mutton jeff like me, and wears gorgeous purpley/blue coloured hearing aids - (not at all like the pink slugs that I've got, though I did impress her with the sparkly bits in my ear moulds!) and she got them from the NHS too...

That's Rain's lovely circular cardigan being displayed in a batman like fashion in the picture below - with Mary, quite contrary down in the right hand corner...

And off the top of my head there was also Mytilus, YarnaddictAnni, MyNameisClare, Ork, Noonahs (who I was pleased to meet as she was the generous sender of the Bluefaced Leicester sockyarn I got in a Ravelry swap), Robynn, Yogicknitter, Erqsome, Museinmeltdown, Knittingpixie, Rainie, TussahSilk, Angua, Cupoftea and Custard and Silk910 was also there, I think. From our S'NB there was Ruth, Kathryn and Chris who haven't made it on to Ravelry so go by their ordinary names. Apologies for anyone I've missed out and I know I didn't get round to talking to quite a few Ravellers.

I had put together a quiz - not that anyone needed entertaining, but in the unlikely event that conversation flagged...

GET KNITTED QUIZ
A mere 26 questions.

Ravelry

1) Name the pair who set it up.
2) As well as various groups which you can choose to join, there are main boards in the ‘forums’ section: Patterns
Yarns
For the Love of Ravelry
Needlework on the Net
And a) Scraps
b) Offcuts or
c) Remnants

3) Who or what is Bob?
4) Just when DID the two who made Ravelry start tinkering around with ideas and computer codes?
Was it a) January 2007
b) January 1997
c) January 2005

5) Just how many hits/page views per day does Ravelry clock up? (according to the Ravelry Blog entry on January 4th) is it
a) 100,500
b) 1.5 million
c) 5.5 million

Get Knitted

1) Before Christmas the team at Get Knitted posed a riddle: “What’s multi-coloured, eagerly awaited and comes from the other side of the Atlantic?”
It’s arrived, but what is it?
2) A fairy was getting plumper while the rest were trying not to. Who is expecting something pink and cuddly in the Spring?
3) Beginning of February, Penny Santer is running what kind of workshop?

People

1) “Schoolhouse Press was founded in 1959 by British-born masterknitter, Elizabeth Zimmermann, who wanted to supply handknitters with pure wool and circular needles (both a rarity in those days), as well as books, tools, and original designs. Elizabeth’s humour and unique approach to seamless garment construction gradually attracted followers through her semi-annual Newsletter, a steady stream of designs in magazines, two television series’ taped for PBS-TV, the annual summer Knitting Camp and publication of her four books. Elizabeth’s philosophy was received with glad cries by knitters who were eager to think for themselves and, through EPS (Elizabeth’s Percentage System) were able to achieve perfectly-fitted garments while applying their own ideas to their knitting.”
What’s the name of her daughter?
2) Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is better known as what, to knitting bloggers?
3) Who wrote the New York Times best seller “Stitch ‘n Bitch”?
4) What is the name of the former Bishop of Leicester who wrote “The History of Handknitting”? 5) Marit Guldseth Ernstad, born 1841, was known as “The mother of Selbu Knitting”. Selbu, in Norway, is renown for the knitting of what garment?
6) He’s just brought out a new book called “____ Knits Again” – the guy with the amazing sense of colour, who is he?
7) Of what is Amy R Singer the publisher/editor?

Techniques

1) What’s another name for the tension/gauge square of knitting that should be done before starting any knitted project?
2) “ 3 stitches on a double pointed needle (dpn). Knit those stitches – switch the needles in your hand without turning the work, and slide the stitches to the other end of the needle. With the yarn still hanging from the left of the work, knit across using your second dpn. Be sure to pull the yarn tight when you make your first stitch so that the fabric rolls in on itself.”
What has just been described?
3) Sewing over the top of knitting to imitate a knit stitch is called what, commonly?
4) A flat, slow growing fabric – sometimes called ‘plain knitting’ – all rows are knit (or purl) when you are knitting on two needles. What stitch is this?
5) Row 1: *K1, P1* continue to end of row.
Row 2: knit the purl stitches and purl the knit stitches of the previous row.
What stitch pattern will this make?
6) Colour knitting in which separate balls or bobbins of yarn are used for large blocks of colour and the yarn is not stranded across the back – sometimes also called picture knitting, collage, geometric or patchwork knitting. What is the common name for this technique?

General:

1) Angora yarn comes from what animal?
2) A tool used to aid skeining after spinning yarn. It is a rod which has bars each end, set at right angles to each other. What is this commonly known as?
3) What year was the Knitting and Crochet Guild of Great Britain established?
a) 1978
b) 1958
c) 1908
4) How would Americans refer to sock/4ply yarn?
5)On what piece of equipment would you find the ‘mother-of-all’?

And here are the Answers:

Ravelry: 1) Jess and Casey 2) c) Remnants
3)A Boston Terrier DOG 4) a) January 2007 5)b) 1.5 million

Get Knitted: 1)Knitpicks Harmony Options
2) Jules (and bump) 3) Wet and Dry Felting

People: 1) Meg Swansen 2) The Yarn Harlot
4) Debbie Stoller 4) Richard Rutt
5) mittens (or gloves) (the winning team also said jumpers, shawls etc etc and since their leader is from Norway I didn't argue!) (waves at YarnAddictAnni!)
6) Kaffe Fassett 7) Knitty.com

Techniques: 1) A Swatch 2) swiss darning
3) garter stitch 4) Moss or seed stitch
5)Intarsia
General: 1) the angora rabbit (lots of folk said 'goat'!) 2) Niddy Noddy
3) a)1978 4) superfine/fingering
5) a spinning wheel

And to finish, here's the recipe for Ginger Applecake that I brought along to share - I didn't eat any, (smug b****** that I am) because I'm off sugar (and caffeine and alcohol) for January after the excesses of Christmas and the New Year. Blimey, what self restraint!

Ginger Applecake can be served warm, with cream or custard, or cold and gloopy.

Ingredients:

175g/6oz self raising flour

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp baking powder

pinch salt

76g/3oz caster sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

6-8tbs milk

1oz melted butter, cooled.

Topping: 500g/1 lb cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced thinly

juice of 1 lemon

75g/3oz demerara sugar (I've used raw cane or molasses sugar)

1tsp ground ginger

50g/2oz melted butter.

Method:

Sift the flour into a bowl with the ginger, baking powder and salt. Stir in the caster sugar. Add the egg and 6 tbs milk and the melted butter and beat to a soft dropping consistency, adding more milk if the mixture is too stiff. Set aside.

Topping: Put the thinly sliced apple wedges in a bowl with the lemon juice, demerara sugar and ginger. Fold gently to mix (I usually just use my fingers for this - verrry gloopy).

Now put the cake mixture into the bottom of a well greased 35x20cm/12x8" swiss roll tin and level the surface. Arrange the apple wedges prettily on top - overlapping and layering in rows so it looks like those posh french tarts (no euphemism intended). Pour over any liquid left in the bowl then drizzle the melted butter over the top of that.

Bake in a preheated moderately hot oven (200 degrees C/400 degrees F/gas mark 6) for 35 minutes until the apples are golden brown on top (or singed black if you're as scatty as me - it still tasted good!). Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

Cut into wedges or squares - freezes well.

I usually double the recipe and bake it in a roasting tin.

Courtesy of the 'Seasonal Freezer Cookbook' by Jeni Wright et al, Octopus books.

2008-01-18T12:20:00.000Z

As you all may know, I'm mutton jeff.
A joke I gleaned from the UKHPL mailing list I lurk on:

patient -- "Doctor, doctor, I think I'm going deaf."
doctor -- "What are the symptoms?"
patient -- "They're a small yellow family from America, but what's that
got to do with my hearing??"

tee hee.

2008-01-13T19:01:00.001Z

Thanks Chocolate Sheep!

I've been waylaid by 'Ravelry', like thousands of other knitters, crocheters and spinners... More than a community, it's a way of crossreferencing patterns and yarns and keeping track of projects. I joined the Almanac KAL forum and offered up my spare Almanac - Chocolate Sheep took me up on it - and look what I received in return! (Yep - that's Cherry Tree Hill yarn). Which just goes to reinforce my opinion that knitters are just the nicest most generous group of people in the world. Isn't that a lovley picture of a chocolate sheep?

Reading the Wisconsin Wintersock booklet brought back memories of just how cold Wisconsin winters can get. (lived there from when I was 16 to when I was just about 18yrs). I can remember running home late one night, when it was 16 degrees below freezing and the windchill factor was even chillier, and pulling my jumper collar up over my nose. I knew it was that cold because the Bank of America had one of those signs that flashed up the temperature alternating with the time in neon bright digital figures. The condensation from my breath froze the neck of my jumper solid before I made it home. The men used to shave off beards and moustaches because they would freeze too. Ouch.

2008-01-13T17:58:00.000Z

Saying hullo to an old friend.

I haven't paddled the Loop for a couple of years, so I was a tad apprehensive when old buddy Colin invited dh and me to paddle the 'Loop' last Sunday. The Loop is an intermediate section of the River Dart, about 4 miles long, and called the 'Classic SW paddle' by the UK rivers Guidebook. It's on our doorstep, not far away from Ashburton and the A38. The 'put-in' is at New Bridge where there is a large carpark which looked like boat city. (When I started paddling, I thought people were talking about a PUB when they spoke of the put-in!). The 'Get-Out' is now just below Holne Weir.

See that little blue boat on top of the silver car in the photo below? It's a little 'open boat' rather than a closed cockpit kayak - those gnarly paddlers went off to paddle the Upper Dart.I was relieved to see that the water was barely reaching the top of the slab by the bridge - which is a good guide to water level on the river. Roughly translated this meant that the river was a medium level, despite all the rain the week before, and easy enough to negotiate even for rusty old me. The Loop (as do many rivers) has delightfully scary names for its features like "Washing machine", "Lover's Leap", "Triple drop" and the "Spin Dryer". The latter is little more than a big eddy which has a high fence which is difficult to climb out of at high water levels, so you end up going round and round and round and...

The carpark was full of old friends from Teignmouth Canoe Club (TCC)- here's Chris and Sally, with Jude to Chris' right and their son Alex's legs in the background.

We also caught up with Ben May's mum Sally, who isn't paddling at the moment after injuring her knee and shoulder/arm in a serious car accident in Chile. That's dh by the boats, and Colin in the middle, talking to Sally. You can't see it, but I brought my knitting - it's in a little red bag, sitting in front of the large dry bag in the middle kayak. I've got a Dagger RPM - not the most up to date little boat, but reliable and a good all rounder - IN fact me and DH have matching kayaks - like tweedledum and tweededee! The trip down the river was great - the weather was a bit grey and watery, but at least it wasn't raining. The paddle itself was like saying hullo to an old friend. There was no need to be apprehensive - once you get past a drop, you look round and say to yourself, "Oh, is that all it was? - wheeeee!" or something like that anyway. Must do more paddling. If you want to see pics of paddlers on the river itself, see here, as my camera isn't waterproof.

And finally - a rather less than flattering pic of me, showing off a lovely orangey red tideline across my forehead which came from the dye in the hat my sister gave me for chrimble. It kept me warm underneath my helmet anyway. That's not ALL my hips you can see - that's the spray deck. Honest.

Sal encouraged me so I've signed up to join the TCC in Tintagel next month- bit of kayak surfing, some walking, cycling, good company, mmmm. Shame DH doesn't want to come too. He reckons it'll be too bleak.