Mojo

So I am enjoying being back at work.  It's hard getting used to a different work environment and understanding what the policies are, but then that's going to be the same anywhere, I think.

I do sometimes wonder how I come across - some of the stuff I talk about is long winded and I do think I ramble on a bit. Or maybe, I'm just wanting to be liked, so start talking a lot of crap (or so I think!).

I'm not entirely sure.

However, I like the company I'm working for, I like the work, the day goes quickly and it's all good.

I'm finding that I've finished quite a few of my recent projects.  I finished my Lightening Shawl and then I finished my Handspun Socks so quickly after I finished my Mabelle (look back a few entries for pictures), that all I have left is my 3 long term blankets on the go. 

I am thinking of knitting another Mabelle.  Well, thinking about it.  I have lots of SMC Superfine Merino Fino that I got in a sale in John Lewis earlier this year.  Thing is, the SMC is sport weight and Mabelle calls for DK weight yarn.  So, I was thinking that I might use the general shaping of Mabelle and convert the stitch counts to the sport weight, then look for a stitch pattern in my Barbara Walker book.  I am procrastinating though.

I've got some fibre on Doris the wheel - not for a particular project.  I dyed some merino up with some onion skins, some of it mordanted, some not.  I got green and reddish brown.  I am thinking that I'd like to ply up the red brown stuff with some commercially dyed orange fibre of indeterminate origin (it was cheap!!),  I was thinking 2 plies of the reddish brown and one of the orange.  I am really enjoying doing 3 plies at the moment.  The handspun socks were najavo plied to retain their colours and I liked the way the 3 ply came out so I thought of doing it again.

The yarn for my celestarium is finished and is waiting for me to wind into balls, but I can't be arsed.  I also haven't got the motivation to do any sums for the Mabelle and neither can I be arsed to knit any of my blankets, although I am knitting a bit of the handspun 10 stitch blanket as I go along.

I've got yarn there to knit the lovely gloves from knitty, but I need buttons and I can't be bothered with that either. 

Gah.  I hope this passes.  I'm thinking that I could do a load of winding this weekend and catch up on a load of podcasts that I've got to listen to.  I might even wind some sock yarn so that I can have a pair of socks on the go. 

Someone give me a kick up the bum?!!

Yarndale!

This last weekend brought Yarndale, a yarn / sheep / spinning / knitting / crocheting / crafting festival in Skipton.  As I only live 25 miles away, it seemed rude not to go.

I had the most excellent news that I got a job and started yesterday, so felt that I was able to go and treat myself a little as it means that I'll have money coming in now.  Yay! 

I went with the intention of buying a swift, as the homemade one I had got damaged in the move, plus I left some bits behind.  I thought that I might buy some fibre and some buttons as well.

I got there at about 11:30, after queueing for half an hour on the A59 and trying to find a parking space.  It was absolutely packed out.  The walk from where I'd parked was lovely, decorated with crocheted bunting, which was beautiful.  I didn't know they had been collecting any, otherwise I'd have crocheted a few triangles. 

It was very very busy inside, so I decided that I was going to do a circuit of all the stalls before buying anything and spotted a few bits.

I stopped to admire the animals.  Lookit it's adorable face!!!

Then after a break, I got down to some shopping.  My first buy was some fivemoons sock yarn with stelina in it.  It's called Artemis, but I can't remember what the colourway was, however, it spoke to me! I blame my cat, who is a yarn snob.  He will sometimes sleep on the cat bed I knitted within the first year that I learned to knit.  Problem is, it's acrylic and fun fur and he has a habit of pulling it out of his basket and snoozing in his basket instead.  Plank of a cat.

Next up was a Sunflower Swift bought from Purlescence.  My Welsh accent got recognised - to within 5 miles of where I was brought up :)

Then some alpaca from John Arbon Textiles.  I got 200g, but he gave me a teeny bit more. It's so gorgeous!  I keep on petting it!

Then I got some bargain merino and silk from Winghams.  I just adore the colours on these - I got 100g in each colour.

I decided that would do me, as I have plenty to be getting on with!  I came out gasping for a cuppa - I was too lazy to queue for a brew as it was so busy; I wish I'd taken my own. 

Everyone seemed so happy and cheerful and it was great to chat to a few people.  I did get a bit overcome with yarn fumes and debated pestering the Mr. to let me get an alpaca!  They are so gorgeous, plus they make awesome guards.

I didn't get any buttons as it was so busy and I couldn't get to the stall I wanted to, but it's no biggie, as I can get them again. 

I only went on the Saturday and was a bit gutted that I didn't go on the Sunday as apparently it was a bit quieter and a bit more chilled.  Plus a few people that I knew were going.  All in all, a great day out and good fun.  I wish I'd taken coffee and sarnies and gone a bit earlier, but other than that, it was ace!