Damn.
I've been designing a pair of socks using a cable pattern I found in a book. I'd started and restarted these socks as I was struggling with them. Just as I thought I had the pattern down and was ready to start the heel flap of the first sock, this months copy of The Knitter arrived in the post.
In it was a pattern with the exact same cable. Granted, it was for a purse, knit flat, but still, I'm not happy with going ahead with designing the socks now. So yeah. Frogged :(
Ah well. I will look for another pattern, maybe a nice lace pattern for some socks. In the meantime I fancy designing a scarf.
In other news, I have been eating healthily and exercising on the Wii Fit, which is all good fun. I tend to find that with exercise in my routine, I seem to spend the whole day feeling hungry. I've upped the water intake, just in case it's thirst instead of genuine hunger, but I can guarantee that within an hour of me eating, then I'll be hungry again. I can work with this by drinking something, then having a small, healthy snack. Right now, I'm loving carrots, hoummous, rocket lettuce, corn on the cob, sparkling water and grapes. Not necessarily all together mind!
I'm also getting a tattoo tomorrow - woohoo! It's going to be a rose to symbolise the new me and also because you can't get something gorgeous like a rose without manure - and I've had plenty of that in the past, but it's all in the past now. Time for the beautiful things :)
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Ooops
I just noticed that I had comment email notification turned off. I've switched it on now, so should be able to respond to comments faster!
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Book Review: A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns
I have been wanting to buy A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara G Walker (Schoolhouse Press). I asked for it for my birthday, not expecting to get it and it arrived! Marvellous!
It's a book aimed at those who already know how to knit and want to be able to design patterns. It has a comprehensive section on charts and how to understand them with a key of symbols for lace and 80 (yes 80!) cables.
There's an interesting section on garter stitch and lots of information on what you can do with it, with lots of mosaic style samplers. The lace and cable patterns are beautiful and would create interest in many garments.
I reccommend it to anyone interested in designing knitwear and for those who want to understand charted cable patterns more effectively.
It's a book aimed at those who already know how to knit and want to be able to design patterns. It has a comprehensive section on charts and how to understand them with a key of symbols for lace and 80 (yes 80!) cables.
There's an interesting section on garter stitch and lots of information on what you can do with it, with lots of mosaic style samplers. The lace and cable patterns are beautiful and would create interest in many garments.
I reccommend it to anyone interested in designing knitwear and for those who want to understand charted cable patterns more effectively.
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Marillion and F1 Stock Car Racing
It's a bit of a diversion from my usual sporadic ramblings about knitting and jewellery, but something struck me recently and I wanted to talk about it here.
I am a Marillion fan. It may surprise to you to know that there are still a few of us about. They are still making albums. Most people know of them via their single Kayleigh which was released in 1985 and write them off as a 1 hit wonder.
Many people thought the band split up when Fish (lead singer) left. Not so. In fact, they've recorded 15 studio albums; 4 with Fish, 11 with Steve Hogarth (who oddly enough, is still the "new" lead singer in some peoples minds).
The band are still making music, but they rarely chart. They last got in the charts in 2004 when the singles You're Gone and Don't Hurt Yourself got to number 7 and 16 respectively. They are something of an unknown to most people and those that do know of them and are fans of the Hogarth era too tend to be passionate about the band. Myself included. We love the music and often tend to think that it's often underrated by the music industry. Ask a radio station for some Marillion and they'll play Kayleigh, or if you're lucky, Lavender or Incommunicado. What many Marillion fans would love to hear is some of the later Hogath era Marillion on the airwaves.
We are that passionate about the band that we will preorder albums and pay up front and wait for up to a year for the album to come to us. The band couldn't afford to tour America, so the fans clubbed together and raised the money for the band to be able to do a decent tour of America. I remember chatting to a guy on the last tour who had flown over from America to see every UK based gig. Must have cost him a fortune, but this is the level of passion and love for a band that is mostly unknown to Joe Public.
What does this have to do with F1 Stock Cars?
I had never heard of stock car racing until a few months ago. If you'd have mentioned them, I'd have thought you were referring to banger racing, which couldn't be further from the truth. The cars are custom built with odd looking spoilers (shale or tarmac spoilers, dependant on the surface the cars are racing on) and are raced anti clockwise on a short oval track. Contact is allowed, but by no means is the race a destruction derby. The cars engines are huge (I can't remember the bhp off the top of my head, but it's quite high).
It's not a team sport, unlike the Grand Prix. During the race, it's every man for himself (or herself!). However, it's a sport that has involved 3 or 4 generations of families and while there's the famous Smith v's Wainman rivalry, there are also fans and drivers who have made good friends through their love of stock cars and might only see each other every few months. When they do meet, it's as though they saw each other only last week.
I have noticed that the F1 stock car fans are also passionate about stock car racing. I have only been to two meetings and for me, it's been as interesting to observe the fans as it has been to watch the races.
Both sets of fans will say that their idols (for want of a better word!) are underrated and are some of Britain's best kept secrets. Amongst both sets of fans are people that are devoted enough to get tattoos (I have a Marillion tattoo myself!) of their favourite drivers numbers or logo from their favourite album cover.
To me, stock car racing seems to have brought families together - it's very much a family friendly event. It's common to see kids running around "playing" stock cars, while the Dads are looking at the cars in the pits (fans are allowed access to the pit areas). It is very much a family day out.
As for Marillion, I know of at least one couple who got together due to their love of the band. Marillion fans often say that the band provides the soundtrack for their life, because of the depth of the music and the meaningful lyrics. In fact, one of the taglines on the bands websites is "Find a better way of life".
The pride and affection of both sets of fans is incredibly clear to me. I think that's why I'm drawn to stock cars; because I want more people to know about it in the same way that I want more people to know about Marillion.
If you've read all this, have a beer :)
I am a Marillion fan. It may surprise to you to know that there are still a few of us about. They are still making albums. Most people know of them via their single Kayleigh which was released in 1985 and write them off as a 1 hit wonder.
Many people thought the band split up when Fish (lead singer) left. Not so. In fact, they've recorded 15 studio albums; 4 with Fish, 11 with Steve Hogarth (who oddly enough, is still the "new" lead singer in some peoples minds).
The band are still making music, but they rarely chart. They last got in the charts in 2004 when the singles You're Gone and Don't Hurt Yourself got to number 7 and 16 respectively. They are something of an unknown to most people and those that do know of them and are fans of the Hogarth era too tend to be passionate about the band. Myself included. We love the music and often tend to think that it's often underrated by the music industry. Ask a radio station for some Marillion and they'll play Kayleigh, or if you're lucky, Lavender or Incommunicado. What many Marillion fans would love to hear is some of the later Hogath era Marillion on the airwaves.
We are that passionate about the band that we will preorder albums and pay up front and wait for up to a year for the album to come to us. The band couldn't afford to tour America, so the fans clubbed together and raised the money for the band to be able to do a decent tour of America. I remember chatting to a guy on the last tour who had flown over from America to see every UK based gig. Must have cost him a fortune, but this is the level of passion and love for a band that is mostly unknown to Joe Public.
What does this have to do with F1 Stock Cars?
I had never heard of stock car racing until a few months ago. If you'd have mentioned them, I'd have thought you were referring to banger racing, which couldn't be further from the truth. The cars are custom built with odd looking spoilers (shale or tarmac spoilers, dependant on the surface the cars are racing on) and are raced anti clockwise on a short oval track. Contact is allowed, but by no means is the race a destruction derby. The cars engines are huge (I can't remember the bhp off the top of my head, but it's quite high).
It's not a team sport, unlike the Grand Prix. During the race, it's every man for himself (or herself!). However, it's a sport that has involved 3 or 4 generations of families and while there's the famous Smith v's Wainman rivalry, there are also fans and drivers who have made good friends through their love of stock cars and might only see each other every few months. When they do meet, it's as though they saw each other only last week.
I have noticed that the F1 stock car fans are also passionate about stock car racing. I have only been to two meetings and for me, it's been as interesting to observe the fans as it has been to watch the races.
Both sets of fans will say that their idols (for want of a better word!) are underrated and are some of Britain's best kept secrets. Amongst both sets of fans are people that are devoted enough to get tattoos (I have a Marillion tattoo myself!) of their favourite drivers numbers or logo from their favourite album cover.
To me, stock car racing seems to have brought families together - it's very much a family friendly event. It's common to see kids running around "playing" stock cars, while the Dads are looking at the cars in the pits (fans are allowed access to the pit areas). It is very much a family day out.
As for Marillion, I know of at least one couple who got together due to their love of the band. Marillion fans often say that the band provides the soundtrack for their life, because of the depth of the music and the meaningful lyrics. In fact, one of the taglines on the bands websites is "Find a better way of life".
The pride and affection of both sets of fans is incredibly clear to me. I think that's why I'm drawn to stock cars; because I want more people to know about it in the same way that I want more people to know about Marillion.
If you've read all this, have a beer :)
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Being a bit cheeky here....
My current beau spent most of last year shooting a TV programme about stock car racing for the BBC and it's going to be screened next week!
It's on BBC 1 at 10:35pm on August 2nd, so if you know anyone who appreciates car racing, please let them know ;)
Here's a link to the show.
I had the opportunity to go to a couple of stock car meetings myself and I must say that it's very exciting. It's well worth a visit if you fancy an interesting afternoon or evening out.
It's on BBC 1 at 10:35pm on August 2nd, so if you know anyone who appreciates car racing, please let them know ;)
Here's a link to the show.
I had the opportunity to go to a couple of stock car meetings myself and I must say that it's very exciting. It's well worth a visit if you fancy an interesting afternoon or evening out.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
I swear beads breed
I have just been having a look at my bead stash and I swear I didn't realise I had so many.
I am undergoing a bit of a change at the moment and my tastes seem to be changing in what I make. This is a good thing as I want my jewellery to be more cohesive as a collection. I adore what I do with charm bracelets and watches, so they will be staying. As will the brooches and the stitch markers, but I think I can do better. So I'm going to be going through my beads and clearing out what I don't think I'll use any more via eBay. Any money I get will be spent on new beads.
I do have something exciting to show, but I need to photograph it properly first. I have had some fossil pendants come in, which are gorgeous. I have made one necklace, with sterling silver findings and leather, but I'm looking to do something a little bit more unusual with them, so I plan to do a bit of research and see what's out there first though.
I have to say that True Blood makes an excellent accompaniment to bead sorting and Stephen Moyer is totally on the bang list.
Off to knitting now in the rain! Ah well, at least my garden gets a good watering. I just hope that this isn't it for the summer now.
I am undergoing a bit of a change at the moment and my tastes seem to be changing in what I make. This is a good thing as I want my jewellery to be more cohesive as a collection. I adore what I do with charm bracelets and watches, so they will be staying. As will the brooches and the stitch markers, but I think I can do better. So I'm going to be going through my beads and clearing out what I don't think I'll use any more via eBay. Any money I get will be spent on new beads.
I do have something exciting to show, but I need to photograph it properly first. I have had some fossil pendants come in, which are gorgeous. I have made one necklace, with sterling silver findings and leather, but I'm looking to do something a little bit more unusual with them, so I plan to do a bit of research and see what's out there first though.
I have to say that True Blood makes an excellent accompaniment to bead sorting and Stephen Moyer is totally on the bang list.
Off to knitting now in the rain! Ah well, at least my garden gets a good watering. I just hope that this isn't it for the summer now.
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Hmmm...
I see that The Knitter is running a competition to design a hat for Mencap.
You have to design one with a celebrity in mind. I'm not sure who I would design for but I have spent the afternoon knitting swatches. I do have a rough idea in mind but I'm not sure how I'm going to implement it, so I'm going to give it a go and see how it comes out.
I had a pattern book for my birthday and it's already proving to be invaluable, giving me an idea for a blanket made from scraps of yarn left over from other projects, but we shall see. I already have a blanket on the go!
You have to design one with a celebrity in mind. I'm not sure who I would design for but I have spent the afternoon knitting swatches. I do have a rough idea in mind but I'm not sure how I'm going to implement it, so I'm going to give it a go and see how it comes out.
I had a pattern book for my birthday and it's already proving to be invaluable, giving me an idea for a blanket made from scraps of yarn left over from other projects, but we shall see. I already have a blanket on the go!
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