Don't Faint - I'm Baaack!!!

Sorry to have been away so long peeps!

I'll spare you the details, but we're all well here @Number 9 and have been busy, busy busy since my last post.

Here are some of the things I have finished since I last posted....

First up - Refined Aran Jacket from the cover of Winter 2007 Interweave. I used some stashed Jaeger Merino DK. The arms need shortening by around 5", otherwise it fits perfectly.

Next up is My So Called Scarf in some lovely Manos Del Uruguay Wool Classica

swiftly followed by a pair of Basic Socks in Fleece Artist Merino.

There have been a few other projects, some already gifted, some waiting for time to be finished and others that have had the odd trip to the Frog Pond.

Proud Mum...

Helen had her GCSE results today and I'm so proud of her! She got 2 A's, 5 B's and 3 C's. She will be starting Sixth Form in a couple of weeks to do A Level's in Art, English Language and Psychology and an AS in Health and Social Science.

She plans to go on to Uni and ultimately wants to be a Primary School teacher.

We had a great day in London to celebrate and I had my first day off for several weeks. We went to the Tate Modern in the morning and shopped for the rest of the day, ending up in Liberty's where we sat and enjoyed a cream tea and a couple of hours knitting with Yvonne, Joan and Victoria.

Boy have I got some catching up to do - kind of reminds me why I don't often get a day off!

Hmmmmm.....................

........

why do they never want to sit on an empty chair? It's not as though there aren't any for her to curl up in....

Minnie is making slow progress. I'm now on the sleeves but had to rip right back to the cast off for the start of the sleeve on the back, only after I'd found that I'd mis-read the pattern. I hadn't checked it properly until I had cast off for the shoulders and it took me over a week to get back to where I was!!


I've had some lovely surprises in the post (when Royal Mail haven't been on strike), the first being a belated Birthday present from Liz

Two skeins of hand dyed yarn - one sock and another lace weight (Liz, you know me so well) in gorgeous summery colours. Thank you so much Liz.

I have also had my Rowan Exchange gift arrive -

a beautifully soft neckwarmer made from some Blue Sky Alpaca and Colinette Parisienne in one of my favourite colours. There were also two skeins of some Coldspring Mill DK and a fab slice of soap that looks just like a piece of Strawberry Cheesecake.

Finished - and started!

My Rowanette gift is now finished - all I have to do is parcel it up with a few other goodies and send it to my victim! I don't think I will be tempted to use this yarn again for a while as I found it quite 'splitty' and it was pretty painful knitting for me.


I started something for myself last week -

It's a design from Jane Ellison's Queensland Collection that sadly isn't available in the UK (even though Jane is a UK designer). I'm using the same colour and yarn, which again is not available here. The yarn is gorgeous -Uruguay DK - a Merino, Alpaca and Silk mix and holds the stitch definition well.

Here's a progress shot - I start the sleeve shaping in a couple of rows time.


I'm getting a little behind with MS3 :-(

I've not quite finished clue 1 and clue 3 came out yesterday. We're off to a wedding later today, so I'm hoping to try and get at least clue 2 finished tomorrow...

Here's my progress so far

Spoilt Rotten.....

There's a lot to be said for turning 45! I must admit I wasn't looking forward to the prospect of this birthday - don't know why, but I have been thoroughly spoilt and life's good.

I was banished from the kitchen whilst my youngest made a lovely birthday cake for me... and I got some lovely pressies too!

From Catherine I had some flowers, a CD - The Fray and a cute Me To You bear that says 'I Love You Mummy'! Helen bought me two sets of Lantern Moon Sox Stix and a book that has yet to arrive. Dave gave me this in Chocolate and is taking me out for a meal tonight.

I also had some of Anni's yarn and a couple of her patterns as part of a Birthday swap on Crafty Threads forum
and some lovely flowers from my friend Jane

Ready and Waiting....

I have added my name to the now 3000 + knitters who are doing the Mystery Shawl #3.

I've swatched
... the lower section was knitted on 3.5mm Addi Lace and the upper section was using 2.5mm KnitPicks Classic circulars. I much prefer the 2.5mms as the fabric is more to my taste. The yarn is KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud in Stream from stash. I've decided not to bead as my hands are pretty clumsy after finishing my exchange socks last night and the vacuum cleaner is feeling rather full after a bead binge!!

Still Here...

I know - it's been ages since I last posted. Life has been so busy over the last few weeks - mostly with work - I've barely had time to check my personal email, let alone blog!

Having really enjoyed doing the Race For Life, I have signed up for the Moonwalk next year and have joined the local gym in order to get fit for it.

Before I go, I had to show you a pre-birthday treat I got for myself...


From the left - 100% Baby Alpaca, 60% Kid Mohair/40% Silk, 100% Superwash Merino Sock Yarn. I can't give you any more info at the moment as this is something I am looking to stock in the near future! All I can say is it's gorgeous and all mine .... Mwwahhhhahaah!

Bungle's turn to be cute this time... must go...