AAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well this time not only have I had to frog the second part of the jumper but also the first half. I've decided that as front/back are duplicate and to ensure that they are both the correct matching length I will work both at the same time. Hopefully I will still finish for Harrogate so I can show it off.

The jumper pt 2

I've decided that I had better get on and finish the cargo jumper. I hope to have it finished for Harrogate at the end of this month so I can show it off to those who I know that are going to be going. It is also the fact that projects are lining up ready to be started all too quickly!

Secret Pal Update

The person I am spoiling is enjoying receiving her parcels and seems to have something in mind for everything I send her.

A pictureless updating post

Well I've had family staying with me all week so unfortunately the activity of needles and yarn just hasn't been happening.

I went to Coldspring / Texere / The Skep this week. Didn't pick up too much though. Got 1kg of black chunky at Texere for a pattern that calls for Sirdar Denim but it is for a friend's daughter and she wanted black and Denim comes in "slate blue" and has either light blue or white flecks in it. I'm not sure which as I was working from an online sample card.

Coldspring didn't have very much at all for me I'm afraid. They had some Velvet Touch in blue/green/purple variagated which I grabbed but other than that nothing called to me. The only Debbie Bliss they still have is mustard coloured which I don't like and wouldn't wear nor know anyone who would saying that! As I have too many projects on the to do list is probably better off staying that way.

The Skep which I hadn't been to before but was mentioned at the Bradford meet-up in March this year was also disappointing compared to what I was expecting. It was well tucked away and you would have to know it was there to find it. It sells a combination of yarn/material but more material than yarn. Nonetheless I picked up some blue/black/white variagated 50g balls for 50p each and a couple of green "wool" hanks which I will use for a jumper for me - I always seem to miss me out when projects are mentioned.

I have heard back from Designer Yarns and found that they do not allow public callers and that the nearest seller to me would invovle 2 buses and 2 trains. I have to say though in this day and age of being able to buy so readily off the internet this is a no-go for me! I seem to find most things these days I get off the net as when there are things I know I want I find either the store doesn't have them in stock or they have had a change around and I can't find them.

I've managed to make 2 of the Xmas cakes on Monday so another 5 left to do. I have a Xmas tree shaped mould that I'm going to use this year as it was a present from a friend of mine but unfortunately she gave it to me when she was having a clear out and was too late to make one in time. I've also got a recipe for pistachio marzipan rather than almond so will be that on it as well.
I also managed to pick up this week Delia Smith's Xmas cook book for 1/2 price. The library in Bradford did have it in stock last year but it appears has got rid of it. The library stock in Bingley is absolutely ridiculous now. They cleared out a load of books earlier in the year and got in a patchwork rug and leather sofa in the middle. They have also chucked out half of the stock that they had for sale. They are also no longer stocking videos and selling these off rather quickly stating that as they are no longer able to obtain new titles on VHS they will only be stocking DVDs - what about those people that don't have DVD players??????

Yarn Apathy

I'm surrounded by drawers/boxes/chest of my stash and I've not knitted one stitch of the cargo jumper since I had to frog it all last week. I've done a few rows on blanket squares but nothing else. I have now got the next week off work and am so hoping that it will cure the problem. Doesn't help that I also have 7 Christmas cakes to make which I've been putting off :(

Meet Some Of The Family

This is Titch. He's a grey gerbil and approximately 4 months old. He is a very cheeky chappy and has now learnt how to climb out of his cage when I'm feeding him and as he's rather speedy I have to make sure I am on my toes to keep up with him.















These are Cairo (black/white male) and Lara (predominantly black female).
















Cairo is almost four and Lara has just recently hit three years. Both are indoor cats and as we rarely have anyone in tend to run and hide anytime we do have visitors. Cairo is still very much a kitten at heart.

When she was young Lara had the habit of climbing up my back when I was not expecting it. Three years on and I've taught her to "brrmm" before she leaps so I can at least brace myself for the daggers as she jumps/climbs. An ex-work colleague told me that cats expose their stomachs as a sign of trust. I definitely don't think that this is the case as she is extremely trusting of me and shows it in other ways. I always have her as a watch cat when I am in the bath as well. They do sometimes take turns as well. When Lara was still a kitten Cairo would let her suckle on him.

Alas Perchance To Frog

Well I finished both sides of the jumper. I sewed them together. How I managed that I do not know. It was when I looked at them that I realised that the second piece was about 4" shorter than the other. I then had to unpick everything I had sewn (and I hate sewing at the best of times!) and then frog the entire piece as I had gone wrong in the flounce section which involved all the drop stitches. How I pity anybody who has gone wrong on their clapotis!!

I wonder if I should do the arms and then come back to the other piece. Hmmmmmm

For Dee & Amy

I’ve mentioned my blog to Denise and Debbie (friends at work) and they (and Denise's daughter Aimee) are going to be looking in at some point over the weekend so this is for them:

Hello Ladies :-D

My First SP Parcel!!

When my postman turned up he knocked at the door (funny that really!). Well I opened up the door and he handed me a few letters. I was somewhat disappointed as I was expecting a parcel. Then he reached into his bag and pulled out a plastic parcel bag and gave it to me. I came back inside and opened it up and was greeted with:



500g of a lovely blue shade of ROWAN!!!!! Cotton. I know my SP has been reading my blog and said that she'd be sending me some Rowan so I knew it would be on its way some time but wasn't sure that it would be with my first parcel. The only thing is that it has left me with a dilemma as to what I am going to use it for now!!!! One thing I have managed to glean on my SP so far is that they like Harry Potter. Beware my nose is twitching for more info and I'll find it all out soon.

Many thanks SP!

Where's The Postman

Well it's 6.30am. I arranged to have my parcel redelivered today and I am up and waiting but there's no sign of him. Do you think I'm being impatient??

A parcel!!

I got home Monday night to find a card from the post office saying they'd attempted delivering a parcel but nobody home. Could I call and arrange for it to be redelivered. This means I can't get at it now until Saturday as the sorting office is only open 7am-12pm so unless I get out of the house at the crack of dawn (ie midnight) I'm never going to be able to get to there before work and get to work on time.

Progress on the cargo jumper has been pretty slow as I was working late every night last week and this week too at the moment. I don't know if its clearly visible on the picture but I am just a few rows past where the stitches are dropped. I've dropped the stitches but I've not unravelled down yet as I prefer to do that once I've finished the piece and then do it so as to avoid any entanglements.

I am also promising myself that I am going to update the blog this week with all the family of animals I have.

Sirdar Dune Poncho Beckons

Forgot to mention in my earlier post yesterday. When I was in Boyes I came across Sirdar Fresco. It is the same as Dune in that you have a string then a lump but this is more like acrylic yarn than Dune was. It is only £2.09 a 50g ball so I think I'm going to give it another go. Fresco should be used on 4mm needles and not 7/8mm as Dune was so am thinking if I use 7/8mm anyway the result should be the same. If all else fails can always frog it.

Shopping

I went out today and while browsing in a charity shop I saw this. Not only did they have it in paperback but they also had it in hardback. For some peculiar reason though the paperback was more expensive than the hardback and I would have thought it was the other way around.

I really didn't want to be out and about for too long as I've been working late all week and it was a touch on the chilly side last night. As well as this kept having rain showers.

I have also got to go and do a big shopping trip in the next week or so as I need to set to and make 6 Christmas cakes for orders from people at work. There are a few different variations I have to do as one is to be without peel, another with no cherries. Hopefully will be making the pistachio marzipan this year. I had intended to do it last year but one of the ingredients is "corn syrup" as the recipe is a US one and its a US product. I even tried Harrods/Fortnum & Mason when I was trying to find it but even they didn't have it. I finally managed to buy some from Partridges in Chelsea and ever since its been sat in my kitchen cupboard.