Blogiversary!!

Happy Blogiversary Woolly Tales!

Yep, it's a whole year since I started my blog. Funnily enough, I had completely forgotten til I got a comment earlier reminding me! And rather conveniently I have spent rather a large amount of money of yarny type stuff today so at least I have an excuse!

So Jomps & I have had the last 2 days off and being the bad parents that we are, we still sent Pickle to Nursery. We just felt that we both desperately needed some adult time, just the two of us. I think the last time we had any of that was when she was just a bump.

We've got loads done round the house (funny how having a little person around generates so much more to do but eats all the time you have to do it all in!) and then had a fabulous lunch out today and a wander round the shops. It was SO nice to leave the house without the buggy, clean nappies and a drink/snack for Pickle!

Anyway, I know you want to see what I bought!

Well, the other day Interweave Knits arrived through the letterbox. It was my second edition since I subscribed and I wsa a bit disappointed with the Spring issue. However, the summer issue is fabulous. Plenty of patterns that I like and am capable of knitting.

I have been itching to start a new project so today was the day! I bought 10 balls of RYC Cashcotton 4 Ply in a pretty pale bluey turquoise to cast on the Apres Surf Hoodie. This is definately the most I have ever spent on a project but I just love the pattern and the yarn feels fantastic, soft yet practical. There is a lovely sheen to it and gives such a crisp stitch definition.

I am even swatching! I figure that if I'm going to spend nigh on 50 quid on yarn, the finished article better fit!

I also bought Knit Today to read over a Latte. I like it better than Simply Knitting but the patterns are pretty horrid! I won't be buying it again!


The best bit of having no buggy with us is that we could wander around the charity shops. Usually we can't fit in! So I searched for some yarn bargains but no luck. However I scored well in a new Oxfam book shop:


The Rowan Babies book does have some cute patterns in it and both of these are in mint condition for only £1.99 each... bargain!

I had sort of thought of running a contest for my blogiversary but I don't think I've got anything you lot might want! So you'll just have to make do with my ramblings and the promise that I will continue to bore you all senseless over the next year! Thank you for all your lovely comments and friendship over the last 12 months. xx

Nooo Shoo's!

A while back, I said I needed new shoes to show off my handknit socks.

Here they are! Aren't they fab? Trouble is... I feel a bit stupid showing off my socks!! I'm going to end up wearing them with blain black shop bought socks! Well, to work at least!

Have a good week everyone!

Socks!

Hello my friends. Sorry I've been MIA for a while. I've no excuses really. Just been feeling a bit down, low, blue. Call it what you will. I think I need some sun.....it's brighter here this afternoon and already I feel a bit better. Roll on the summer!

I have been knitting in my absence. It takes a lot to keep my needles and I apart these days!

So I have one FO and two WIP's to show you!

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A.

Yarn: Posh Yarn Helena. Colourway: Maidenly

Needles: 2.5mm 12" Addi Turbo circular

Size: 4UK

Knit for: me

Comments: I must be the last person in the entire knitting world to knit Monkeys. Why did I wait? I love these socks, I love the yarn and I love the pattern!

BUT! My beautiful socks are too flaming big!!! I've yet to wash and block them so I'm hoping they shrink a bit! If I were to knit them again I think I'd leave out one pattern repeat. If they don't shrink I may have to gift them but I'm not sure I know anyone with little wide feet!!

I've also decided never to knit myself heel flap socks again. They just don't seem to fit like short row heels do. And, while we're on the subject of socks fitting...what is a high instep?? Lots of people mention it but I just don't understand what part of the foot they're talking about!

Once the monkeys were cast off I fully intended to get going on my CPH once more but alas...I was bereft without a pair of socks on the go so I cast on some socks for Tom, Jon's 14 year old:

This yarn is Opal Silk that Cheryl, my SP11 spoiler, sent me for Christmas. The yarn is so soft and Tom choose this for his socks even though the blues are pretty bright in the ball. However, it knits up into lovely denimey (is that a word?) colours so I think he'll be pleased with them.

So that's the first WIP. Onto more exciting things now!

I have been stalking all the projects on Ravelry for Shelley Kang's fabulous Sock Yarn Blanket. And I could resist it calling to me no longer! I figured that I need to get rid of all these little balls of leftover sock yarn around the house and it gives me an excuse to knit more socks thereby using up more stash! See.... it's a win-win project!

That said...I don't have that many little balls of sock yarn around. Certainly not enough for a blankie! So if any of you want to get rid of yours please drop me a line! I'm happy to pay and will accept anything so long as it contains some wool and is 4 ply! Please?? Pretty please??

Daisy daisy give me your answer do

Pattern: Daisy Cardigan by Marie Grace
Yarn: New Lanark MillsDK yarn. Colourway: Blossom & Clematis
Needles: 3.75mm Boye's Interchangeable 24" circular
Size: Size 2
Knit for: Beth
Comments: My first top down raglan. I really enjoyed knitting this all in one piece even when all the increases were done and each row was 200 stitches!

I substituted the picot hem for the picot bind off and find it works really well. It also stops the stocking stitch rolling. I also added two ties instead of one and cast on 50 st for each tie instead of the 40 as stated in the pattern.

I'm supposed to embroider daisies around the hem but I think I'll leave it as it is...don't want anything too fussy as I'm hoping Pickle will get lots of wear out of it this spring.

The fit isn't great...quite big over the shoulders and across the front but nevermind.

This is my first project using the New Lanark yarns and definately won't be my last. This cardi cost me £3 to make, you couldn't buy acrylic that cheap! The yarn was a bit scratchy but has softened considerably with washing and the drape is lovely now it's blocked. I urge you all to try it!

What goes around comes around

I had a lovely surprise in the post today. It's really made my day at the end of a pretty grotty week.

A while ago Vic contacted me to ask if I had any yarn left from the Round Dishcloth as she was crocheting a sweater for her niece and was running out of yarn. I'd bought a pack of six balls from Lidl and it was only 100% cotton so it was very cheap. So, of course I sent as much as she needed plus a bit...just in case!

Fast foward to today. Vic sent me a lovely parcel to say thank you!

In it was a cute card with Iced Gems on (do you remember those?), a bag of very tasty , very posh white chocolate raspberry eggs, a lovely little suitcase with choc eggs inside and a stunningly beautiful crocheted book mark.

I'm already tucking into the posh chocs! The book mark will be used in my knitting books which I have a habit of leaving open so the spine gets knackered and the little tin will be used for stitch markers etc when pickle has eaten all the chocs!

I certainly hadn't expected anything in return for the yarn so thank you SO much for the parcel Vic! Vic doesn't have a blog but here is her Ravelry page. Isn't that sweater cute?