Ding!

Hello all. Long time, no write!

I have been busy with my knitting, spinning and job hunting, so have neglected posting here a bit.

I am nearly finished Project #3 of my #11in11 project.

Project #1 was Elegance Scarf by Anniken Allis (aka YarnAddictAnni on Ravelry)



This was knitted in Knit Picks Pallette (hah, I got some when they were doing trial shipments to the UK and didn't use it all). The descriptions of the colours on the website LIE! This colourway is / was called Teal. Hmm. Looks *too* green to be teal to me. Meh, I like the colour anyway, so wasn't too worried. Just be aware, that when you order knitpicks (which UK buyers can get from Great British Yarns), the colours may not always reflect the yarn you get.

Project #2 was the Quick and easy Cowl



This was knit in Rowan Natural Silk Aran, of which I have *loads*. I got it in a sale in John Lewis ages ago.

Project #3 is going to be a pattern I have designed myself. I have about 2 pattern repeats left before I bind off, then blocking, then photography. Then the pattern will be published. w00t!!

Project #4 is another quick and easy cowl. However, this one is knit in a slightly different colour and in moss stitch. Moss Stitch drives me batty, so it's slow going! It's for Neil, so is knit in a paler colour and will probably be a bit smaller, as he wants to use it when he's cycling. He didn't want the lace bits in it, which is why I chose moss stitch.

Job hunting is meh. I am applying for 1 or 2 jobs a week, but haven't heard anything yet. I've had someone check over my CV in the last week and have made some improvements, so maybe I will have better luck from now on.

Maybe I'm applying for the wrong jobs too. I was thinking that I might try applying to go on the management training scheme where I currently work. It'll look good on my CV anyway, which will help if I decide that I want to work elsewhere.

I picked up a 1967 Woman's Own supplement, which was sponsored by Courtelle and had loads of patterns using Courtelle (naturally!). One of models is Joanna Lumley :) I was so pleased. I can see me building up a collection of vintage patterns just because I think they are interesting :)

Getting there,,,

I am now off work for 10 days (well 9, if you don't count today).

I have no initial plans really, I'm not going anywhere. It's just that in the run up to Christmas, I get a bit stressed out - especially working in retail, so I need a bit of me time.

I've been doing a fair bit of knitting for other people, what with Christmas and everything so I've been doing some knitting for me. So I have 2 scarves and a pair of socks on the needles. One of the scarves is a self designed scarf; the pattern will be coming soon!

I've been using the software that I got for Christmas and I must say, it makes things so much easier to write up. Mistakes are that much easier to weed out. I made a couple of changes to the way the pattern was written. It looked a bit silly to have the main design in stocking stitch and the edging in garter, so I have done the edging in stocking stitch as well. It will look amazing when it's been blocked.

A new yarn shop has opened in Leicester on Queens Road in Clarendon Park. It's a nice shop, but I think it's got room for improvement. They have some of the more unusual stuff there, which is tricky to get hold of, which is really good for an independent shop to have, but they also stock Sirdar and Debbie Bliss, which is available in pretty much any other local yarn shop. The stock is a bit sparse too. I expected to see a lot more yarn there and they could do with a comfy sofa where people can sit and knit - they even have that in John Lewis. They have the room!

I also noted a lack of stitch markers. I am going to make some up and take some down to see if they will have them on sale or return.

I have plans to complete my CV this week as well, plus I want to have a bit of a declutter. I'd best get on with it then :)

Flossie's Charts

I've created a chart for my Flossie's Gloves for those who prefer working from them.

The instructions for creating the bobble can be found in the pattern notes because the knitting software wouldn't let me edit the stitch to include the instructions in the key.

If you click on the image of the chart, you'll get taken to a bigger, clearer version of it. If you need it in any other size, let me know and I'll tweak it for you :)





Here is a link to a print friendly PDF of the chart pattern if you prefer it in PDF format.

11 in 11

So I have signed up to do 11 in 11.

This is a project, started on Twitter where we all agree that we will knit or crochet 11 scarves, cowls, shawls, shrugs or necklaces in 2011.

I had already started a scarf on New Years Day - the Elegance Scarf by YarnAddictAnnis (aka Anniken Alis). I did her lace workshop at Fibre Flurry last year and loved it and have been wanting to cast this on for a while. Trouble is, I've had so much to do lately what with Christmas knitting and everything so I've not had a chance to do much for myself.

I do love a good challenge! I have some handspun that I want to use, plus more fibre to spin up as well. I have some aran yarn ready to use up - I'm thinking a chunky cowl for that.

I'm also thinking that I could knit with wire and beads and make a necklace at some point. It's not cheating, because it's knitted ;)

If you fancy joining in, search for the #11in11 group on Ravelry and tweet using the #11in11 hashtag on twitter

In other news, I am a little fed up and indecisive. I want a new job. I also want to do the counselling course - I will have to do something like 2 x 2 year courses in order to get qualified.

I have some money set aside for a deposit on a house, but I don't think it will get very far. I can't afford a mortgage on the money I'm on - I can't even afford to rent my own property (I'm currently living as a lodger with 2 of my friends, which can be a bummer if I want my boyfriend round). I don't want to claim housing benefit because although I might be entitled to it, I feel like a bit of a fraud claiming it because I could get a better paid job (if that makes sense).

The thing is, if I get a new job, I don't know how flexible they will be when it comes to going to college one day a week for the course. Plus I was thinking that if I wanted to travel, then it would be pretty sensible to do it before buying my own house. I could use some of the money I have set aside for a deposit on a house, which may mean a slightly bigger mortgage.

Then again, there is always the shared ownership thing, which is always a possibility.

Aaaah, decisions, decisions. I could quite possibly be overthinking this. My gut feeling at the moment is to concentrate on getting a new job and see how I feel about travel when my fixed bond matures in a years time.

Think I will renew my passport in the meantime though :) It's good to have it anyway - for identification purposes.

Nice...

I'm a happy camper :)

I had a plethora of knitting goodies for Christmas.

I got some sock blockers (something I'd been hankering after for a while), a set of crochet hooks (with some especially teeny ones for beading), a small set of interchangeable needles (I'm hoping to do some moebius knitting soon), a needle roll, some knitting software (Intwined pattern studios ftw) and a subscription to Designer Knitting.

Epic!!!

Admittedly, I had asked for most of it - I gave a list of things to my stepmum, saying "anything from this list" and she got me all of it! Bless, I wasn't expecting that!!

So I am currently using the software to come up with a chart for my Flossies, because I know that written instructions aren't for everyone I have the main chart done, I just have to do one for the thumb section for each hand. It's surprisingly easy software to use. I can save the charts as images, or save the whole document as a pdf, which will be useful for ravelry :)

Seekrit Santa

So last night was our Stitch and Bitch Christmas party, hosted by Kate - who was the hostess with the mostest.

Nibbles were eaten, mulled wine was drank (not too much for me as I was driving and working this morning). We are all rather fond of cooking and are all talented in our own ways of cooking; there was some fantastic brownies, cakes and key lime pie. As I have been crazily busy at work, I had to chicken out and bring nuts and crisps.

We swapped our secret santa gifts. We departed from the norm this year and all made a gift which we would then allocate at the party. I finished mine a few weeks ago and managed to photograph my gifts before I wrapped them up.

Apologies for the quality of my images, I misplaced my tripod (which has since been found!).

The scarf Smariek's Triumph Cable Scarf





As an added bonus, I made some Russian Doll stitch markers :)



I must say; the gifts that everyone picked really suited them :) The scarf looks awesome on James!

I will have to photograph the needle roll that I got, because it's awesome :)

Eye candy

After watching Merlin, I thought I'd offer up some tasty eye candy.

Gwain, aka Eoin Macken



Lancelot aka Santiago Cabrera aka Isaac Mendez from Heroes.



*sigh*