Bored

   Not really much to write about today. Guess that's a problem with having a knitting blog, you can only knit so much. Gets kinda boring hearing that I only knit 8 rows yesterday. No spinning, no weaving, haven't started on my friends scarf yet and NO I haven't finished the backpack.

  The weather is turning for sure now, almost had the heating on last night but resisted. I'll dust off the aladdin heater later, fill it and check the wick. I probably have enough paraffin for this winter but really should get more just incase. I do have a fair amount of gas though if things do go sideways.

  I do have enough worsted weight yarn a friend from the states got me for a jumper, worsted I think is a bit thinner than aran. We really need to get together and sort out knitting terms, be it needle sizes, yarn weights or moss, seed stitches. Cast on, cast off not bind off. Life's to confusing at times, theres no need to make knitting more complicated.

  My kick spindle hasn't arrived yet, theres still time today but I have a funny feeling it will be Monday. I'll try and save some of the fleece I have for when it arrives but will order some more bfl in a bit. I'm going to get it from the original person I got my first lot from, just not happy with this oatmeal bfl I'm currently using.

  That's all for now, pop back tomorrow for a picture post and I hope you all have a great productive weekend. Stay warm.

Good book

   I really enjoyed this book, "Spinning, Dyeing & weaving. Self- Sufficiency", by Penny Walsh. Reading it straight through only stopping once for a cup of coffee to take the chill off. Any of the ideas in the book would take more study on there own but all round this was a great inspirational read. From keeping your own silk worms in a fish tank to how to prepare plant fibers for spinning and weaving and how to dye them all using natural dyes. It also covered what fleeces to use, how to pick them then how to prepare them ready for spinning. For the price its well worth adding to the collection.

   Did some more spinning yesterday, still having trouble with this oatmeal bfl. I've nearly finished it off so will buy some more bfl from another seller and see how that is. My new kick spindle should be here by the weekend, if it comes tomorrow I hope I catch the postman otherwise it will probably be Monday/Tuesday.

   A friend from the States wants me to knit her a double basket weave scarf so I'll get onto that today, or tomorrow. Not sure when I'll have the time to fit it all in. I'm going to use the same yarn as last time, its the only suitable yarn I have. I still have a fair amount left, can't really keep using it for my family though and I think its too dark already to over dye.

  Moving slowly on with the Iphone sock cosy thing though I'm sure it will be finished during the weekend so I can play with the loom some. I'm not sure what picture post will be up on Saturday, I'm getting low on picture finished projects. Might do the first Iphone sock cosy thing, or might not. You'll all have to wait and see.

Another Book

  Got a new book today, Spinning, Dyeing and weaving. Haven't had a full look yet but was reading bits about dyeing before, its got natural plant dyes in it. I'll have a proper read of it later. Read bits and pieces in the tartan book, it has the clans tartan and a little history. Unfortunately the instructions aren't great. The second book that come free with it is pretty good though, helping me understand a little better. It does seem I will have to mess around a bit to get vertical stripes, at least the rest is easy with the heddle.

  I haven't threaded the new loom yet, glad it came with some work on it as it does look a little confusing. I might spend the weekend playing with it, it is so easy to use though, push up, thread, push down and thread. The loom came with instructions this time and a pattern booklet. The pattern booklet isn't great but I have the basics down so will try one with a vertical stripe.

  I ordered a kick spindle yesterday. I've been uhmming and arrring about buying one for a couple of days, there not cheap. After a few days thinking about it I decided ya. There goes my spinning wheel savings. I'll let you know what its like when I get it, so looking forward to spinning with it.

  Started another Iphone sock yesterday too, not 100% sure about how the pattern will turn out for the back. I've played around with it some and decided to give it a go. I still haven't finished off the backpack, I really should get the last few bits finished on it.

  Got some washing on the line, its cold out but lovely and sunny. I think this autumn, fall, is going to be nicer than the summer we had here.  This is my favorite season though so I might be biased.

Weaving Goodies.

   Got my tartan weaving book today, booklet really and pretty expensive for the number of pages. It did come with a second how to weave booklet though and the tartan weave one is pretty rare, specialised so no complaints. I haven't read it fully yet but once I master weaving it will come in handy.

  I also got another loom today, a Spear's No2 weaving loom. Its a kids loom that's wide enough to do scarfs on and I think it will go up to 5 feet long. Its got a heddle, something my frame loom doesn't have. The spear's loom came with some work already set up on it, I've had a go and its a joy to use. Its just stripes but is so easy to do compared to the messing around with the frame loom I think I'll be using this one mainly.

  The main thing that has really been throwing me off with weaving is vertical lines. With the heddle loom I think its done by the way you thread the yarn through the holes and slots. I'm a long way from weaving tartan but think I've taken a step closer today, fingers crossed.

  And now for the really really really good news!!!! I've finished the backpack straps!!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!. I haven't finished the backpack yet, it only needs weaving in, a buckle sewn on and a button and its done. About time too. The backpack was pretty easy to knit and quickish too, its the straps that have been holding me up for months. So glad to have gotten this one out of the way. I'll do a post on it soon once I have taken pictures.

Frog it

   Started another Iphone sock cosy thingy but the pattern on the back isn't working at all. Its a bit like window panes, I've had to adjust the number of stitches and convert it for knitting in the round. Somewhere along the way I've messed it up and I can't really see how, so its back to the drawing board. I did carry on knitting the Iphone sock while changing the pattern around to see if that works, it looks a lot better but isn't what I'm after. Its looking like I might go back to the basket weave pattern. Frog it.

  Found a nice reversible cable pattern for the scarf but that's not working out either, its the same with the double basket weave pattern you can only see it at certain angles in certain lights. So I'm going to keep this chunky yarn and knit myself a vest, hope I have enough. 
    There are no bands on the chunky balls so I have no idea how many yards I have and looking at other chunky balls there seems to be a fair difference. I will probably unwind a ball around the back of the chair for a rough measurement before I knit anything big with it, I'd hate to run out.

  My mouse is on the fritz. I use a trackball type mouse and there not cheap. I do have a standard mouse but no mouse mat,pad. Tried to set it up using different surfaces but it was doing my head in so I swapped back to my dodgy trackball. I'd sooner spend my money on yarn than mouses.

  Talking of money I did buy two books, I won the bid on ebay for the tartan weaving book and I bought a spinning, dyeing and weaving book. I need to sort out my amazon stuff so it shows up on here. With luck both books will be here by Wednesday, hope I can catch the postman this time.

Hope you all had a more productive weekend than I did.

Baby Dolls hats

Pocket scarf update too.

Baby dolls hats

These are the first hats I ever knitted. I did them for my niece, the first one I thought was too small so knitted another one. Turns out they were both too small so ended up being dolls hats.

Baby hat

    I did the pom poms on two fingers, its a lot quicker to make small pom poms on two fingers than using cards. I had fun cutting the pom poms hair. They are great fun to make.

    Not sure about the yarn I used, nice colours. Mainly white with subtle tones mixed in but the yarn itself wasn't great. Some cheap stuff my sister gave me, probably 100% acrylic.

Baby Dolls Hats

(ETA Not sure why you can't click the images to enlarge any more, if you go to finished projects you can find more images at my photobucket page or flickr page.)

  Pocket Scarf Update.

    The double basket weave pattern really isn't working with this scarf. You can hardly make out the pattern which is a shame. I'm going to look for a cabled pattern but I want something that has no wrong side, not sure if that can be done or not. I really don't want to knit a plain scarf. If I can't find a pattern that works I think I'll knit a vest with this yarn for myself and get some other yarn for the scarf.

Button holes

   In the past for button holes, only ever done one, I usually just do yarn overs to make the hole. I've done it that way more often for threading Icord which works fine. 
  Yesterday I did my first real button hole and messed it up straight away. I did the one row button(video) hole, not sure what I did wrong but it was a mess. There was a hole sort of so I carried on knitting and then changed my mind so started unknitting. Hit a big problem for me when I got back to the button hole because its cast off/bind off I didn't think it could be unknitted. Turned to the good folks at ravelry for help and soon had it all unknitted.
  I got the button hole right on my second attempt, not sure what my original mistake was. It looks prefect though its not in the center but that's my fault. So know I can knit real button holes, unknit cast off/bind off stitches and I also learned cable cast ons. Not a bad day really.

   The button hole was for the Iphone sock cosy thingy that I finished yesterday. It looks fine but I think its too thin, it stretches well and should fit the Iphone fine but I think the flap will be too thin, pattern distorted compared to the front. I'm going to knit another one with the same crossed arrow cable pattern on the front but a bit wider. I might try another pattern for the back this time. I'm also thinking of two buttons to close it, just because I can knit button holes now. Heh, I need the practise.

  Got my chunky grey tweed yesterday, its chunky. I was surprised how big the bag was, its chunky. I'll make a start on the pocket scarf sometime today, looking forward to knitting double basket weave again.I think I will also use this yarn for the newsboy cap, bakers boy hat.

  Not sure what I'm posting tomorrow but there will be pictures. Have a good Friday and weekend.

Waiting on the post

    Nearly finished the Iphone sock cosy thingy. Cast off the front part and started the flap with no problems, a lot like doing the heel flap on  a sock. I swapped over form the basket weave pattern to the crossed arrow cable I was using for the front, folded over it will be upside down but lined up right and it will look good. I need to put a button hole in somewhere and then it will be pretty much done. I might do a Iphone picture post on Saturday, the other Iphone one I did.

  My needle craft book I won from janeweston came today, haven't had a good look at it yet but it looks very detailed, is big and heavy too. It doesn't look like it has any weaving in it so will have to buy another book on weaving. The tartan book I'm bidding on I think is more about patterns than a how too.

  Still waiting in for mister postman, the book didn't come from the post office so I now know its the yarn that is due. I'll be able to get on with the Christmas presents as soon as it arrives. The dogs a little miffed about waiting in for the postman too, he loves his walks.

Spun a little, knit a little

  Well I did some more spinning with the oatmeal bluefaced, really need to be careful pre drafting it as it falls apart very easy even though its pretty thick. I think I've gotten the hang of it now, just need to draft more whilst spinning. The roving's are very long compared to the other tops I've spun so its pretty slow going.

  I also did some knitting on the Iphone sock cosy thing, the ones with the cabled crossed arrows. I had sort of forgotten about it with the dog fitting. Think I'll get it finished by tomorrow, going to do it with a cabled flap I think. Did a few more rows on the backpack straps, again.

  I didn't win the ebay book, price went too high. Have bid on a tartan book today though. I will learn to weave tartan, I'm determined about that. Not sure why,theres no Scottish blood in my veins but there is plenty of Irish and a bit of Welsh.

  Got my mild bottled yesterday as well, tastes wonderful straight from the bucket. 4% with a final Gravity of 1.002. I think I'll be getting more of this stuff.

  Weathers nice today, got a load on the line to dry. Not sure how much more I can line dry this year. I hate putting damp clothes on the line when its freezing cold out but hate drying in the house. Do have a tumble dryer but haven't used that in years, goes against my frugal nature.

The Postman Never Rings Twice

   I'm sure the postman hides around the corner waiting for me to go out when ever he has something for me that will not fit the letterbox. Now I have to wait until Thursday to see what goodies he was bringing me. It could be the book I won or the yarn I've ordered.

  Bidding on a spinning book on ebay but don't want to bid to high because there are a few books I want. Looking at weaving and dyeing books too. I need to rejoin the library or get rich.

  I'm going to have another crack at the oatmeal bluefaced latter today, see if its any better. Will probably order more fleece tops as well this week, not sure what to order though. I really did like the white bluefaced but this oatmeal isn't being nice. I might order something I've not spun before so I can learn more. I do have one dog brush, waiting on the other one, so I suppose I could order some washed but uncarded fleece to play with.

Weaving Weekend.

  I did a fair amount of weaving this weekend. I still don't fully get it, well I don't get how tartan is done. I can do stripes and now squares though my squares need more work on the joining part, sometimes it looks right other times it produced a bump or looks like it might leave a hole though it doesn't. Its fun to do though, rather hypnotic once you get going.

  I'm thinking now of doing a white and red scarf instead of a tartan one. Would be mainly white with flecks of red every few rows. I might make it a little longer then fold over the ends for pockets. Pockets scarfs seem to be this winters fashion.

  I spun a little of this new oatmeal blueface and hate it. It has a smell which the white didn't and it falls apart too easy and for no reason. It still feels nice and fluffy though but I won't be buying it from the same person again.

  Only did a tiny bit of knitting this weekend, on the backpack straps. Yes I still have not finished this blasted project!!! I think I'm very near the end but have thought that before so am probably weeks away from finishing still.

  Hope you folks had a relaxing productive weekend.

Magic Loop Socks

Red Socks

Magic loop red socks

    These are the second pair of socks I ever knitted.

Red sox

The only changes I made were to the cuffs. I did 1*1 rib instead of 2*2 rib. You can see the 1*1 rib cuff in this picture.

   The yarn is knitpro, knitpicks that a friend sent me from the states. I love the little coloured bits in it.

Red Sox

  For a fuller post on socks see my first socks post.

Magic loop red socks

  I made these socks longer in the leg and they fit me much better. There a lot more comfy and so far my best pair. I do love the variegated yarns but I also love these solid coloured ones with the interesting flecks of colour.

(Click pictures to enlarge)

Happy Dance

       I won the Needle craft book that Jane was giving away, yaaaaaa me.
A happy dance and big thank you!!!

Its an Iphone sock cosy

  Its been doing my head in for a while but I finally remembered to ask my sister what it is. Its not an Ipod or Ipad its a Iphone, an Iphone 3. Seems the other Iphones are different sizes too. I'll do a post soon, maybe even tomorrow, with the instructions and pictures. Wish I'd took a couple of pictures when she was here with the Iphone inside the sock cosy thingy. I might wait to do this post until I have those pictures.

  Finished spinning the white bluefaced yesterday, its still on the spindle so need to sort that out before I start on the oatmeal bluefaced.I really need to start plying, I think its easy but have never done it so will probably run into all sorts of problems and end up in a heap on the floor in several knots.

  I've bid on some chunky tweed yarn, 65% wool, for the scarf I need to do. I'm going to do it in double basket weave I think, though I did find a very nice cabled scarf pattern with pockets yesterday so might do that in the end. 
  The double basket weave would be easy though, just knit some deep enough for the pocket then add a row so the pattern is turned around then knit to the end, add a row so the pattern was turned again and knit another pocket. Fold over and sew and thats it really, simples.