Goodies!

Knitting news!
Still working on my Countess Ablaze socks, cast off sock 1 and have cast on sock 2, still on the leg; hoping I can finish it in time for the Brit Yarns British socks KAL in her ravelry group.
And again I have failed to knit on the helical, ten stitch blanket or the gooseberry pie jumper. Also, I have some requested christmas knits to do that I'm yet to start.
Spinning news!
I haven't done any spinning (as predicted) due to my son being off school this week, fingers crossed the stunning sherbet dip Shetland will be plied next week as I've so much loveliness that wants spinning :)
Note to crafters!
I think all crafters have experienced this at some point, people expecting you to make things for free, not only do non crafters seem to lack the knowledge of how expensive materials can be, but also that time in itself is precious. I've known people want cashmere blend yarns for hats and scarves, only to be surprised at the price difference between that and a merino or BFL yarn. I've also known people admire a shawl only to be surprised that the yarn cost £30 and it took a month to knit. Non crafters seem to love the finished items but be amazed at the time and money we crafters give over to our love of making things.
I can't comment for everyone but I know that for myself my crafting (mainly knitting and spinning these days) brings me joy and being that I rarely go out I class my craft supplies as my vice, instead of spending money on smoking or drinking, I buy yarn/fibre/needles etc. People may think I have too much, and I might agree at times, but why shouldn't I find a little joy if I can, it isn't harming anyone and I get to give wonderful yarny treats to people I care about. My son isn't going without to fund my yarn or fibre addiction and I'm not neglecting to pay vital bills or get into debt, it brings me a small amount of control in a world filled with chaos and the difficulties that come with having a child with special needs. My apologies this seems to have turned into a mini rant, it was just supposed to be a fun slogan I saw and a note to not let yourself be taken advantage of in relation to your craft, whatever it may be :) in lighter news, onto goodies :)

Goodies!
My Owl About Yarn fibre arrived and it is superb; I don't often like yellow but the candy corn colourway jumped out at me, if I spin it similar to my previous Polwarth from her I could use them together in a colourful project :) The others are, of course also magnificent and the disco lights silk blend is so soft it's fabulous, while the grown up girl merino is earthy and subtle while still being vivid; I hope I can spin them all well :)
Much to my surprise she sent me a free gift that is very appropriate, the acorn bag with leaves lining is not only adorable but represents my home town (named for a ring of acorn trees). It was much appreciated and I can't wait to use it, it's a box style bag and could be used for a small project bag or a large notions case, either way it's beautiful and was very thoughtful of her, check out her latest update on etsy (linked above) for yourself or some wonderful and reasonably priced gifts :)

Happy Crafting!

FO, WIP and spinning update

Knitting news! 
I finished my #JKdesignerbootcamp design, not sure if it's gradeable for multiple sizes but I've bought sock patterns before with only one stitch count so if I can't at least I know I could release it as one size (needle size effecting it a little).
Drafted the pattern in a notebook and knitted up the fastest I've ever knit socks at just 8 days lol picked out a name but waiting to upload to ravelry till Joeli periscopes about it. Knit using knit global in the marine colourway on 2.25mm addi circulars.

I cast on some new vanilla latte socks for myself, I'm trying with 72sts instead of 64sts as the last ones I knit with countess ablaze I used 2mm and they're a little tight to get on, so I'm trying the bigger size and hoping they aren't too big, wish me luck :) This was the pins and needles colourway on her Lady Persephone base (BFL/nylon) and I got it from a destash, colours are so nice but sadly don't look true to colour on camera, bad colour representation sorry. I find it a little frustrating sometimes that different sock yarns are different thicknesses lol this base (and I suspect the yarn tree sparkle base I want to cast on next) I need to use 2mm needles but the knit global (above) & opal I can use 2.25mm, I wish I was a tighter knitter, I could use bigger needles lol

I've hardly touched my mums helical hat, it's a tighter gauge than mine was and I didn't go up a needle size so I'm now just doing a couple rounds at a time and putting it back down, and I haven't touched the ten stitch blanket in a week or so and don't even mention the gooseberry pie 2.0 lol it only needs a few rounds of ribbing and casting off lol I've even weaved in all the ends lol (I've even kitchenered under the arms and weaved in those ends too) knitting fail!
I did cast on a project with the zwartbles hand spun but it was just too coarse to be wearable so I ripped it out and will need to think of something else to make with it.
I also cast off another secret project, not a test knit this time but for a swap and I don't know if the recipient reads so I'm not including a photo, but nice project and lovely yarn (sw BFL from felt fusion).
Spinning news!
I spun the second half of the superfine Shetland singles, I haven't plied it yet as my son has now finished school for a week and just 2 days before that I got my first car so I was trying to get used to it so didn't do all I'd have liked...missed zumba too :( but my apologies I digress...this is from fondant fibre and is the sherbert dip colourway :)

Before I bought my car and paid out the shocking cost of insurance and road tax; I ordered a little yarn and fibre from Deb (fondant fibre)...I'm so wishing I'd bought more than just 100g of this beauty, possibly the most stunning orange fibre I've ever seen (including Debs 70's wallpaper and James and the giant orange colourways). This is her spangle fibre base (merino/nylon/sprakle) in the pumpkin pie colourway and I just want loads of it, 100g is too precious for me to want to spin, then it won't be all beautiful for me to look at lol what if I ruin this stunning fibre with my mediocre spinning skills lol

In other news!
I've mentioned the car lol I feel far too adult now lol buying a car is very adult, still not fully used to it but only had it a couple days.
I was a fail and didn't go to zumba so I could drive around and do some bits before my son finished school (he finished a day before the other schools in the area). I'll miss it while he's off too so I feel extra bad for missing it :(
My poor boy is getting a cold, he seemed fine yesterday but has woken up all snuffly and snotty, good thing our photo shoot got cancelled due to bad weather. Will try again while he's off if he's up to it, don't want to be adventuring out in the mud and cold if he isn't feeling well...fingers crossed he's better soon.
And finally, why is it that once you know you have to be a little more careful with money that you want to buy all the things lol or is that just me..? I really want to try the odd sox from Sara's texture crafts and fondant fibre has some seriously stunning colours and new bases in stock ,also the new WYS Christmas colourways are taunting me everywhere lol loads are selling or buying them and showing them off on instagram, including Deb lol
Restraint is not my strongest skill lol
And on that note I'm off to do a little knitting.
Happy Crafting!

I totally forgot...

I meant to include some fun news...I was mentioned on the Pink Hair Girl podcast (episode 50). I got rather excited lol I'd given some advice (via periscope) about pompoms which Sally Jane thought was a good idea; make them removable by putting onto a broach back so your hat can have it on or off depending on your mood, also it's so much easier to wash without a pompom on lol

Happy Crafting!

Mostly spinning!

No actual knitting news pictures...I'm working on my Joeli's kitchen designer bootcamp design which I'll show when finished :) Not been able to knit a lot this week due to some bad wrist pain but hopefully it'll settle down while I wear my support and I'll be knitting again soon :)
A lovely lady from my local knit n natter group saw this and thought of me :) very kind of her :)

Spinning news!
I started spinning the overdyed zwartbles from Owl About Yarn, love the colour, so deep and rich :)

Hard to catch the depth of colour consistently on camera but seriously nice :)

I made a 2 ply and got 123m from 98g spun on my ashford kiwi 2.

I was eager to spin more, especially as I haven't been able to knit much, this is superfine Shetland from Fondant Fibre in the sherbert dip colourway.

Second half is prepped and ready to spin soon...it should barber poll lots with a few bits lining up I imagine :)

Got that autumn feeling! Fallen leaves, hand knits (socks too, extra fun), boots and today the rare vision of me in a dress lol strangely I seem to wear dresses more in the cooler weather than summer lol

Happy Crafting!

New socks!

I finished my socks, a little shorter than I like in the leg but they'll do lol
I used countess ablaze BFL/nylon with 2mm addi needles using the vanilla latte pattern.
Knit cuff down with a kitchener stitch (grafted) toe.

Happy Crafting!

Update, mostly spinning :)

Knitting news!
I'm on sock two for myself lol these are in countess ablaze BFL/nylon in the exile colourway on addi 2mm needles, pattern is called vanilla latte.

My son wore his hand knit school jumper for the first time, so cute :)

Spinning news!
I got some random fuzzlings from fondant fibre, this is the first half of the singles.

This is the second half of the singles, all obviously rather different as the name suggests :)

The finished skein, I love how random this is, so much barber polling :) the fibres are a mystery (some have sparkle and some don't) but I got 256m from 139g of a 2ply spun on my wheel :)

I used some left over rolags (spun on my wheel) with some mixed BFL (sample from fondant fibre) also spun on my  wheel and plied them together to get 28m of a beautiful 2ply (17g).

Left over random fuzzlings with left over rolag to get a colourful 4.5m from 5g of fibre, this is such a fun looking 2ply.

New news!
My hallowe'en package from the yarn tree arrived and it is fabulous! Two stunning skeins of yarn, a beautiful kilt pin, some stickers, temporary tattoos, little notebook, injection pen, and chocolate.

I love her themed boxes so much and am signed up to more than a few for the rest of this year and plenty for next year too lol a real treat to get in the post :)
I've also done a bit of secret knitting for a swap I'm in, magic themed, with the FO & dye podcast group on ravelry.
Happy Crafting!

What I'm working on...

Knitting news!
I've almost finished the second gooseberry pie jumper, I'm just procrastinating now lol a few extra rounds of ribbing needed then the bind off and it'll be finished, pattern is now available on ravelry by Joeli Caparco.

I cast on a pair of socks for myself, yarn is countess ablaze BFL/nylon with my 2mm addi circular needles and I;m knitting the vanilla latte pattern.

I've signed up for the first Joeli's Kitchen designer bootcamp on periscope (free this time as it's new and she'll be learning as she goes for this one) you can follow her @joeliskitchen

My tea sampler and stitch markers arrived from Josh (@swordofaknitter), sadly one of the markers broke :( but the package smells so good :)

Happy Crafting!

Yarndale 2015

I got to Yarndale on the Sunday and had the pleasure of meeting James of the dancinggeek podcast, he was lovely and we chatted for about an hour os so, I even got a high five from him, though I've now forgotten what it was for lol

My Yarndale 2015 haul!
Fibre -
Superfine Falkland merino in the grape colourway from John Arbon textiles at the really good price of £4/100g
My first batt from Spin City UK, it has some silk in but can't remember what else she told me was in it, it was £15
Yarn -
Fivemoon: Artemis base (75% sw merino/20% nylon/ 5% stellina) 4ply in the misty moonlight and cast a fading spell ooak, this latter one I fell in love with and just could not resist lol they were £15/100g
Comet MSW base (100% sw merino) DK in the bark ooak colourway on sale for £8/100g
West Yorkshire Spinners: signature 4ply in the wood pigeon and poppy seed colourways from the baa baa brighthouse stall and they were £7 each

I did not need sock yarn but it's mostly what I got lol I didn't buy as much yarn/fibre this year as I was treating myself to a smock and tail smock from tall yarns, really nice and with a great selection of colours, I can see me wanting more lol
I hope I can go again next year :)
Happy Crafting!

Spinning

I've been spinning on my wheel, finished the singles for the mixed BFL from fondant fibre in the teal dream colourway.
First half.

Second half.

I got a small sample of the sample mixed BFL in a different colourway (plum pudding).

I plied the mixed BFL yesterday and 191m of a 2ply

I finally finished the prudence rolags, though I didn't spin the last rolag of singles. Fibre is Polwarth/merino/bamboo spun on my 1.25oz drop spindle and plied on my wheel, I got 185m of a 2ply from 82g

I plied the plum pudding mixed BFL with some left over singles from the prudence rolags and got 38m of a 2ply from 18g

I kinda wish I'd taken part in spinzilla but I'm still kinda crappy at yardage so maybe when I improve :)
Happy Crafting! 

Finished objects

I'm gonna break my posts up a bit as it's been so long since I managed to get on my blog, this one is knitting finished objects...
I finished what were my socks, but mum wants them coz they'll match her new boots lol Yarn is knit global in the marine and plum colourways.

This is the lace detail on the front of the leg.

I tried to make a mini sock badge, it ended up in the bin lol but the yarn was gorgeous (fondant fibre in the take me to your leader colourway).

I succeeded the second time, knit tow up with a fish lips kiss heel, I attached the broach back but accidentally knit the front and back together so it doesn't open all the way down lol yarn is countess ablaze merino/nylon/sparkle. Made to wear at Yarndale2015.

I made a sock broach for my friend too, yarn is fondant fibre merino/nylon in the orange gradient colourway, I didn't accidentally stitch this one together so my friends is a working sock :)

I finished a childrens hat using the Declans's hat pattern, bit small for my son so it'll likely be gifted or given to charity.

And mums sock using opal sock yarn with the vanilla latte pattern, a little longer than my standard knit socks. Do I be nice and give them to her now or make her wait till her birthday or xmas?

Happy Crafting! 

Blackpool trip

On the autumn equinox I decided to go to Blackpool for the day, the sky was a bit moody and there was a chill in the air but it was fun :)

I wore not only my hand knit socks but my new boots too :) not your standard way to wear in new boots lol but beach combing was fun :)

I found a dead sheep on the beach, odd and unusual.

I did the behind the scenes tour and was the only none sea life staff member to know these are horn shark eggs :)

Sea horses are so cute :)

I found a ray egg and shark egg while beach combing and have uploaded them to the shark trust website for the great egg case hunt.

A fun day which I hope to do again soon :)