Mixed Threads

Ok, so I’m a bit late updating the blog, but I couldn’t post without finishing something could i?

I’ve been knitting a pair of Monkey socks for about 6 months now but Christmas knitting sort of stopped the progress, then I got into my stitching and a couple of birthdays arrived…… so they got put on hold for a bit.  We always knit for other people but don’t do stuff for ourselves, do we?  Most of the socks I’ve done have been for hubby or friends and family but I only have about 3 pairs that are for me.  It might have been a few more but sometimes my socks (and only the ones I do for me!) felt in the washer and I only ever get to wear them once

These socks were done in some Fyberspates self striping sock yarn which I got when I was in the 3 month sock club last year.  I can’t remember the shade now but I do like the colours.

Its always a bit of a gamble being in a sock club as you never know what colour yarn you are going to get. I’ve had some shades that I will never knit for anyone never mind me!  But, mostly I have been lucky.  I do like most colours but I’m really not a pink girl.  I only know one person who would appreciate pink actually, all my other friends (not that I’ve got many) are either blokes or just not pink people!

I’m actually not in half as many sock clubs as I used to be.  I have been in the Yarn Yard one for a few years now, joined the Socktapus one last year and looking forward the the next parcel arriving soon and every now and again I join the Fyberspates 3 month sock club.  I’ve found that as long as the website is a well known one they are usually well run.  What I really really really hate is no communication from these places.  I think we pay money into these things, the least we can expect is information on when the next parcel is going to be posted, or get a reply to a question that might be asked.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had no trouble at all with the 3 places I just mentioned, I wouldn’t have still been with them if there was.  I can’t recommend them highly enough, in fact, I ought to be on commission at 2 of the places for all the people I’ve recommended to join the clubs!  But thats just one of my pet hates anyway, I think its incredibly rude when people don’t answer emails, phone calls or text messages.  There’s just no need for it!

Ok, thats my rant for the day over with!

I do have 2 other pairs of socks on the go.  They are both just plain pattern socks but they are going to have contrasting cuff, heal and toes.  I think I’m also going to make a start on a shawl that was a free pattern on the Easy Knits newsletter this month.  I have the same shade yarn as the model has got on.  I’m looking forward to starting it but my lace track record isn’t good.  How many times have I started the Forest Canopy shawl?  Or Icarus?  Well, I won’t let it beat me!!!!!!

We’re both not working today.  I don’t think we’ve got anything planned really.  We will be going off to see my Grandad later on, but other than that, I think we’re going to have a boring, stay at home weekend.  Its even nicer this weekend because there is no football being played so hubby won’t be going out for hours on Saturday afternoon!

So, another week has passed and here I am again with another finish!!

This time, its not a knitty one though.  This time its some stitching!

Ok, so it looks a little crumpled right now, but this has taken 4 years to stitch!  It does need a press before it goes to be framed, but I don’t know where to take it to be framed!  Our local one closed down a couple of years ago and I haven’t found one yet that matches the quality of the framing. It was pricey don’t get me wrong, but when you’ve spent so many hours working on something like this, it really is worth spending to get a job done properly.

There is another one to match this called Secret Garden 2 which is rather nice, but by the same designer I also have English Village 1.  I’m not going to start either yet though.  I have started something else, something that I have liked for a very long time. Gypsy Caravans by Heritage Stitchcraft.  My mother in law stitched it a few years ago but I liked it even before that.  She jokes that when she’s not hear anymore (something she always says) I could have it but its really one of those things I wanted to do myself.

I haven’t really done any knitting all week, I’ve been working on the stitching, but I hope to get a little bit done this week.

Its been a lovely day here today, very spring like!  I have a spring cold though!  It started on Thursday afternoon at work and luckily I didn’t have to go in on Friday because I felt worse then and Saturday.  I do feel a bit better today and I will be going in to work tomorrow…..what I’ll feel like after more than 9 hours on my feet I don’t know, but never mind! It is nice walking to work and coming home now its lighter though.  

Ok, its getting late, I’ve not slept well for the last couple of nights so I think its time to relax in front of the TV for half an hour before bed.  See you next week!

Its a week since I last blogged and I think that’s how I’m going to carry on, weekly blogging rather than daily but there might be times when I blog in between, depending on what I’ve finished during the week.

Its been the first week back at work after our week off this week.  The boss was away, I know most people like it when their boss is away, but I don’t!  There is a certain member of staff who I don’t get on with and while the boss is away its a constant battle between us of what I know should be done and what they can’t be bothered to do.  Anyway, thats over with now and the boss is back on Monday.

We’ve been trying to get Hubby’s name on the mortgage for 2 weeks.  I bought the house before we got together and we just never got round to putting his name on before now.  We are beginning to wish we hadn’t started already!  The amount of paperwork involved just to put his name on is almost as much as there was when I bought the house!  The cost is also incredible, we’re lucky that its only a small mortgage so the payments are also small but the cost for the process is the equivalent to 6 months worth of payments!  Of course, nothing is ever straight forward when it comes to these things so there have been lots of phone calls and last minute visits to the mortgage advisor but I think we are finally getting it sorted.

I’ve not really settled on knitting anything all week.  I started 2 pairs of socks, I know that sounds strange but the plan was to do something like the Double Trouble’s I did and do a bit of each.  They are only plain socks but with contrasting cuffs, heels and toes.  They are using The Yarn Yard sock club yarn, I thought it was about time I used the yarn rather than just store it!  I have thought about stopping the club for a while, but I do think I’ll carry on for a bit longer.  Nothing to do with the yarn, just have a bit of a break from it.

I also started the Modern Quilt Wrap pattern, but rather than using Rowan Kidsilk Haze, I’m giving it a go with Rowan Pure Wool DK.  I know the 2 yarns are completely different, but I really don’t like Kidsilk Haze, well, its ok, but I don’t like using it for myself.  I have done 2 squares so far and not touched it since!

I have finished one thing though.  I promised a friends daughter a knitted Gnome a while ago and forgot all about it till Wednesday night.  I have plenty of yarn in my stash (yep, I know, you would never have believed it!) so on Thursday, I made a start and this morning I stitched and stuffed him!

I could probably do this pattern with my eyes closed now, I must have done a dozen of them so far.  Its a quick pattern to do so I don’t mind really.  This gnome is done using some Rowan Pure Wool which i had in my stash already, so its quite a posh gnome as the others have been done with cheaper acrylic type yarns.

There has been one happy event this week though.  I was sorting through papers to send to the solicitors earlier and found an envelope saying ‘Happy Birthday’ on the front.  Inside was £75!! I think it must have been from my birthday a few months ago but it got put behind some other stuff and I forgot about it.  So, suggestions please, what shall I do with it?

I don’t know how long ago I stopped blogging now.  Not that long ago I don’t think.  I’ve actually been trying to sort a this out all afternoon.  I started off using the iWeb application on my Mac, got ready to publish it but was told I didn’t have enough space left on the iDisk.  I don’t know how that could happen because I didn’t know i’d filled so much!  Anyway, I’m not paying for more space so I’ve come back to WordPress.

So, what have I been up to over the last few months?  Well, not a lot really!  

The current economic climate hasn’t effected NHS dentistry just yet.  It was a bit quiet in January but since then its been quite busy.  There is as always a lot of paperwork that needs doing too which I seem to get the job of sorting out in between patients.  I actually seem to be doing more hours a week now than I was which of course is good for the pay packet but  not so good on my poor feet when they’ve been stood up for 9 and a half hours a day!

I have actually finished some knitting this year which makes a nice change.  I finished at least 3 pairs of socks so far, not bad to say we are only in March!  The first pair was for my step dad’s birthday at the beginning of February.  Of course, as usual I decided to do them at the last minute.

They are Diamond Geezer socks which is a pattern from Easy Knits.  The yarn is also from there, its Bamboo/Merino mix and called Starlight.  I have done the pattern before and its pretty easy to follow .  The yarn is nice and soft and my step dad liked the socks so that was most important!!

The second finish was also an Easy Knits one.

These socks were knitted 2 at a time which I’ve never done before.  It was from a double trouble sushi sock roll in a shade called Monster Mash.  I did the pair in about 10 days which is a first for me, I’ve never knit a pair that fast before!  I do love the idea though and can’t wait for more shades so I can give them another go!

The 3rd pair are hot off the needles this morning!  I joined the Socktopus sock club last year as a late joiner and the first parcel arrived in January along with some very nice smelling foot treats.

Those of you that know me know that I’m not a pink girl at all so I’ve got to admit my face did drop a bit when I first saw the colour.  The yarn is Chameleon Colorworks Evolution which I’ve never tried before.  The pattern is Om Shanti Bed socks designed by Alice Yu.

The pattern was different from what I’ve done before.  It was toe up with a crochet cast on both of which I’ve never done before and have wanted to try.  The pattern was pretty simple and turning the heal and not having to pick any stitches up was great.  The cuff is a bit tight though, I can’t get them on so they will either just have to be for show or I’ll have to find somebody who will they will fit!

I have also finished a Monkey sock using some Fyberspates self striping sock yarn.  Its been on the needles for ages but I only finished it off on Friday night.  I’ll post a pic of the pair when I’ve finished though.

I have even been doing some cross stitch in between all the socks!  I’m halfway done on the last page of the Michael Powell design Secret Garden 1.  Its been on the go for years (yes I do mean years) so I really do want to get it finished and move onto something else.  I’ve got lots to choose from but I think I already know what I’m going to do next.

So there you go, I have been busy while i haven’t been blogging. Its taken me all afternoon to get this little post together.  I think its time for a cuppa and some peanut M&M’s now.  Hope you’ve liked what you see so far