SP10

Just signed up to SP10, sooooo hope i wasn't too late, really looking forward to this to the point it is 11.33pm and i am blogging instead of sleeping ready for work tomorrow.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like 'proper' yarn not a fan of anything with bits coming off it or fancy yarns as being relativley newbie i get confused very easily. Fibre not to worried about, i usually buy cheap yarns that are part synthetic as i doing alot of baby bits at the moment and find that it is easier for mum to care for than 100% wool, saying that, i did indulge the other week in some debbie bliss and see what all the fuss is about. Haven't had a vast experiance yet but mainly knit in arans/DKs.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Have a travel holdal that holds all my yarn that is in use or ear marked and needles all live in here, have a vintage Tetley's Tea tin for smaller items and bits little scissors and tapestry needles.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
Taught to knit by my nan aged about 7, lost interest for a while and came back with a vengance around 9 months ago. Still class myself as newbie but i can cable, BASIC lace, increase, decrease, know 4 Cast ons and 4 cast off and knit on dpns, so i guess advanced newbie/almost intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, angel yarns. I have expensive taste but it gives you a feel of the things i like and need.

5. What's your favorite scent?
Mostly fresh smells like jasmine, ylang ylang, lily, favorite and only perfumes i wear are Channel No.5 and Dolce and Gabbana Red

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Yes, need sugar rush, Choclate is always a good way to my heart, my favorite sweets would have to be either fruit pastilles/wine gums OR Galaxy fruit and nut. MMM.... If any americans wanna send me everyday american choclate my other half will also love you as that is proberbly the main thing he misses about home (born in virginia).

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Make cards occasionally, love baking and cooking, Can't spin or crotchet for buttons. i've tried and failed, hey we can't all be good at EVERYTHINg, i just know my talents lay elsewhere ;)

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I am a rockabilly/pshycobilly fan, i like mowtown, some country, mainly classics, also a big fan of 80's big hair rock. Can't play MP3.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
PINK, big pink fans, deep pinks/cerises, having a bit of a spring/pastel colours thing at the moment. also a fan of Red and also black.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Live in a flat with Other half. Not allowed pets as much as i really want another German Shepherd dog, i can't, either that or a pretty flufy house cat. Saving to move some time 2008 so will have both then.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
To see me without a scarf or very rare, not a hat person, don't like mittens, too many haunting memories from childhood, not sure on ponchos but do keep looking at those short tube scarfs and thinking they would be good for out on the bike or working on engines as no ends to get caught in moving parts

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Haven't really got a favorite at the moment but i don't like anything too repetitive, i get bored very quick and then lose all interest.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Lots of baby gear as my family seem to be on a boom at the moment. have a simple sweater at work for my lunch breaks and also Irish hiking scarf. Actually finished two things today, so projecs bit thin on the ground

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Doesn't everyone, It's strange as a crafter, i think people tend not to craft for you incase you privately critisise there work or something, but i have found i don't get hand made gifts anymore. Which is a shame.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Anything and everything, Although mainly use my aluminium vintage Aero's inherited from my nan.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
In my dreams maybe.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
6 months, Basic a-symetrical scraf but got bored and just haven't got round to ripping it out yet. Was supposed t be for my sister.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
August bank holiday, simply because it is the weekend of the biggest show in the hotrod calender, Am looking forward to hopefully have Doris there this year, even if only on a trailer.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Yarn, Wouldn't say it's a collection (yet) but like anything to do with tigers.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I would give body parts for Dominiknitrix and Naughty Needles by Nikol Lohr. Intrigued also by Knitting fashions of the 1940's by Jane Waller. Haven't got any magazine subscriptions but have picked up Knitting once or twice and do enjoy that. Have got Louisa Harding Wintr muse colection, don't think there is anything in here i don't love, so as for patterns, modern twists on late 50's/early sixties classics.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Crochet, i have 7 how-to books and not one has managed to teach me so far, looking at tunisian crochet which i think looks a bit more up my street. Mainly concerntrating on perfecting what i know at the moment.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
See lower down this blog for the sock saga of late. Shoe size i am a UK 6, Euro 39, or 25cm, if anyone wants to knit me socks, i would be very grateful.

23. When is your birthday?
26th January

FO

Finished my cable baby sweater I was knitting for my cousin's new babe, Antonia, took a while as thought i hadn't brought enough yarn, and LYS has stopped selling it so was going to get round to trying to get some more, BUT, (and you know your stash is getting big when) I was clearing out one of my stash holes and found the other ball. YAY. Was found approx. 10pm last night, is now in washing machine. Will post pics once it is all pressed and ready to send to my cousin along with pics of the hooded sweater that preceded it. Also found out other cousin's partner is pregnant, so going to be very busy over the next couple of months with baby clothes. We are all very nervous at the moment as she has been trying for 6-7 years and it was thought she couldn't carry, but coming up towards three months now. Your thoughts and prayers for Jeanette would be most appreciated.

UPDATE
It is with a very heavy heart and much grief i have to report that i found out today that Jeanette lost both babies, we are all heart broken, and begs the question, why when so many unborn babies come into this world unwanted can someone with so much love to give, and a genuinely good hearted person have their path littered with so much grief and heart-ache.

Sock update

After talking to the lovely people on knittyboard I have decided to put the socks to one side. I have already made one scarf that is being blocked at the moment, and second oneis on the needles. First is a recreation of one i found somewhere on the net but couldn't locate it again, so i guessed, you'll have to excuse the ironing board, i find it is the best way to bock things without them getting in the way.

The second is Naima by gorgeous knits. Both are in the same aubergine purple colour, as doing three scarfs, one for each of my two aunties and on for my mum. figure if i start now the may be ready for christmas!

CENSORED

Ok, started with new years day socks in the rhubarb rhubarb, cast on on a 3.75mm needle in long tail method, transfered to my 2.5mm, 64 stitches as recommended, still that little CENSORED, is too tight want even fit kate moss' ankles, what on earth am i doing wrong, this is REALLY winding me up now.

Not a happy sock

Air is slightly blue round these parts at the moment. I have been working on my first socks for nearly a month, i spend around half hour an evening ding them, just turned my first heel, before anyone asks, I have kept checking my tension, and, joy of joys, they ain't gonna fit! Ribbing just will not go over my feet. Not happy bunny, many expletives when i realised this is the case and want to jump up and down and scream. LOTS. Wool is gorgeous (it's still the blackberry swoop) and pattern really highlights the colour, no i haven't got big feet (UK size 5.5) or fat ankles or anything like that. AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH.

STASH

Rhubarb Rhubarb (Top)
Blackberry Swoop (Bottom)
Just brought Rhubarb Rhubarb from the yarn yard, Sooooo pretty, tried to knit my first sock about 1 month ago, hated working with that 2-ply with a passion (might have been because it was baby 2-ply), its only that i stumbled to the yarn yard by accident and brought some blackberry swoop for a friend (that one never arrived, oops) that i was converted, Natalie really does do some beautiful yarn, i normally like dk/aran as i can see

it grow but for this stuff i really don't mind it taking a bit longer. Still on my first pair of socks with the blackberry swoop, its just I have a couple of skeins floating round hidden, in the kitchen and under items of furniture, (don't tell me the rest of you have never done that). only just joined the yarn yard club, and eagerly awaiting march yarn, each month you get sent an exclusive club dyed yarn in the usually 100g skein, but also around 20g of a solid or complimenting colour for heels etc. how cool is that! so now gotta figure out where else i can start stashing cos i can't knit as quick as these come out at the moment, and DB is already moaning that my yarn is taking over the tiny flat we presently live in. Oh well, it's an excuse to move somewhere bigger. More stash YAY.

Hi!

Right guess i should use this to tell you a bit about myself, I'm 23, i live in east anglia and have 2 passions in my life, my cars, hot rods, classics or american mainly, I am Chairwoman of my local hot-rod club and am presently the proud keeper of Doris, my 1964 triumph Herald saloon. Although i am going to do my best to keep cars out of this blog, there may be the odd referance.
My other passion is knitting, that is why i am here to escape from the madness and confussion of organising one of the top 5 car shows in english hot-rodding.
Started knitting again about 6 month ago when i was off work and bored, picked up a simple pattern, ball of wool and needles from my local charity shop and it has all gone down hill from there on. I now have at least 4 projects on the go, and so far have completed, well not a lot, 3 nintendo DS cases, 1 scarf, 1 GORGEOUS baby hoodie, a felted tote (that has yet to be felted because our washing mashing for some reason has decided it only wants to wash at 40, go figure) and a few odds and sods.
Presently working on a baby pattern that incorporates a cable pattern, another scarf (although the way that is going it will be ready for next winter), my first pair of socks, and i keep 1 pattern needles and wool at work for a simple jumper, for in my breaks.
Can't crochet for buttons, although do intend to one day learn.