Mass consciousness

Today there has been a turning point in my experiences of knitting. Normally when I knit, it's late in the evening, after little pickle has gone to bed, dinner has been eaten, the house has been tidied and Jomp's is doing his own thing. I sit on my couch, in my corner and lose myself in that evening's current project. My thoughts often wander back over the days events and I find myself wishing I'd done this or said that. Jomp's and I periodically chatter but mostly it's a fairly solitary hobby.

Today has been different. The first clue for Mystery Stole 3 was released. I put the little one down for her nap and cast on.


It's my first lace project and I really had to concentrate on each stitch, no daydreaming for me this afternoon. But it was strangely comforting knowing that a large percentage of three thousand people world over were knitting the same stitches as I was. It was like coming home, familiar surroundings in a strange place.

I am not a joiner. Never have been, never will be. I've never had lots of friends, usually just a few very close mates. I join forums, each time swearing that I'll be one of those people who seem to spend every waking moment posting humerous answers to other peoples woes. But each time I join, I realise that I have absolutely nothing of interest to say so I do what I do in real life...blend into the background and keep my mouth shut.

If this sense of belonging, even a sense of community continues, I can tell that I shall be joining lots of knit-a-longs. I feel all warm and fuzzy!

But, knowing me, it will all wear off pretty damn quick and this time next week I'll be posting about how much this knit-a-long lark annoys me! That's me...fickle, fickle, fickle!!

As promised!

Here are my 50 percenter socks!

I still haven't cast on for the second socks which is most unlike me but I do have a good excuse!!

I have signed up to the 'Mystery Stole 3' knit-along and have spent all my time trying to find the perfect yarn! I've decided upon some 100% cashmere from Colourmart and some beads from Totally Beads. I'm just waiting for the yarn to arrive so I can swatch before the knitalong starts on Friday. The group is closed for sign ups on July 6th so hurry up and get yourselves over there!

So far there are over 3000 members signed up so I think it's going to be great fun. I like the idea of only being able to do as much as each clue allows you to do each week. It also means that I should still be able to get the second hedera done too!!

The half time whistle

is blowing.....

I've finished one Hedera! I'll post a pic tomorrow as it's late but I was so impatient to finish it tonight that it's just a fraction too short. I'm not happy but hoping it will 'give' a little with wearing. I'm wearing it now and it's so toasty!

I've also finished one cashmere sock for Beth with the leftovers from the Jaywalkers - I just cannot waste 100% cahmere Posh Yarn! Unfortunately it's also too small, far too small, but I didn't have enough left to keep going! It's so cute though! I don't have any baby girls to knit for at the mo so I may felt it and use it as a keyring?

Can you hear the sea?

What a lucky girlie I am!

Today my marvellous postie brought me my prize from the Crafty yarns forum for winning the may sock-a-month.

It's the Yarn Yards new laceweight kindly hand dyed and sent by Natalie! I'm not a good photographer and really haven't managed to capture the beautiful vibrant colours too well... the greens are much greener than it seems and the blues are lusciously deep! Lovely oceanic colours!

Laceweight is sooooo fine! It's the first time I've seen it 'in the flesh' so to speak and I'm almost scared of it! Any idea's what I might knit with 50g (800m)??

Joining the crowd!

I have finally cast on for the socks that everyone seems to either have knit already, in process, or planned... Hedera!

Yarn: My own hand dyed 'Summer Pudding' Trekking XXL

Needles: 2.5mm Addi Turbo Circular

So far, so good! I love love love the twisted rib! It's so neat and precise! I'm not sure about how the yarn is patterning, almost in a spiral but I'll reserve judgement for now.

A compliment? Maybe, maybe not.

This morning Beth & I went out to her little group. The weather couldn't decide what to do so I put her in summer clothes with a cardi over the top and off we went. The group went really well ( Beth even took a few steps!) and so we got ready to leave. As I put her cardi on, another mum commented on it saying how lovely it was.

It was then that I admitted to my fairly new group of friends that I'm a knitter. I'd expected scorn and ridicule but everyone was amazed that I'd knit this cardi:

My most favourite comment was " It's lovely, I thought you'd bought somewhere like Next."


I came away glowing with pride. However, I've since thought alot about it.


1) Why was I embarassed to admit that I knit? I'm proud of what I've achieved knitting wise in the last couple of years and yet I expect to be scorned if I mention it?


2) Is it such a great compliment that someone thought it was from Next? Don't get me wrong, I love Next stuff, especially for my little one. But their items are mass produced, in far-off countries, probably by children being paid peanuts or less.


Whereas my little cardigan took hours of my time, each stitch bursting with love (corny, eh?!) and cost more in materials and time than any item on the high street. I like the idea that hand knitted items look handmade, that strangers can see that someone loves my precious girl enough to knit for her.


I know that my friend who made the comment meant it as a compliment and that was how I took it. But I think I shall be a little more careful when choosing my words to compiment other knitters items in future!

Raglan Sweater wip

Raglan wip1
Originally uploaded by muppetmummy

Anyone paying too much attention to my blog might have noticed that my wip bar for the Debbie Bliss Raglan Sweater has been increasing steadily but I've not mentioned it yet or posted pics!

Well, here it is! Front & Back (identical). 2 sleeves to go, may even try them both at the same time on one needle!

Revelry at Ravelry??

Today I received my invite to join Ravelry as a beta tester. It looks fab so far! I can see that I'm going to get even less done ( knitting, housework, laundry, whatever!) than normal as it's so much fun to plug in all your wips, stash, future projects etc! And when you're bored of that, you can then spend hours looking at everyone else's stuff!!

I put my name on the waiting list a good few weeks ago and waited patiently til my invite arrived. Although it seems that some people are not so patient and were harassing the developers! It's such a shame that people give up their time to help others and all they get is hassle! I, for one, send my thanks to Jess and Casey (the owners/developers) of Ravelry as this is going to be an amazing knitters resource when it's up and running.

Now, must go do some laundry..... or shall I just have another 15 minutes surfing?!

Trying to Kool off

Goodies....

Goodies....

Everywhere!

I've had a couple of deliveries in the last week... 50 packs of Kool-Aid finally arrived all the way from The US. I was hoping there would be some blue ones but they were replaced with other colours. I've been wanting to do a blue/turquoise/green yarn so I'll have to buy more...what a shame!!

I also got 4 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in Kingfisher to knit a raglan sweater for my best mate's little boy, Sam, now 3 weeks old. In the same parcel was 3 balls of Rowan Cotton Glace in Pier to knit him a lovely little jumper for Christmas!! (I know I said I wouldn't knit gifts again but babies are different!)

Don't those packets of Kool-Aid just make you smile? They are so cheery!! And so American? I can't think of anything British with such cheerful packaging, can you?

Shall I try lace??

A very quick post as I forgot to post on Friday when I found out that I WON, yes I WON the may sockamonth on the crafty threads forum with my Jaywalkers!! My name was picked out of the hat!!! HE He He!!

I am a very lucky bunny as I get to chose my prize from The Yarn Yard. I have been stalking the shop waiting for Pay Day so I can join the sock club and lo and behold I win a prize from them! Think I have settled on some lace weight yarn (new to the Yarn Yard and not on sale yet) as I'd like to try lace sometime soon!

Will post pics when it arrives. But here is another chance to send my profuse thanks to N from the yarn yard!