Distractions

   I was reading the magazine where I got the original slip stitch colour work from and the 3 tone check pattern was described as almost gingham like. Having no idea what gingham is I went for a wiki wander, sucked an afternoon out of my life.
   I did end up reading an interesting article on twill, well not really interesting but it gave me an idea that I could try weaving twill. Not sure it will work on a simple frame loom without a lot of messing around but I will give it a go. Oh and the gingham, I can weave that and will do when I get some cotton yarn.

  I did manage to start an Iphone sock, I call it that but its practise really. I'm trying out the slip stitch colours in the round, two tones. The major problem with it is that its curling like crazy, something that doesn't normally happen when knitting in the round. I think it might be because I'm knitting it too tight. Not really sure, sort of hoping that the Icord will sort it out.

  I was hoping to do a picture post tomorrow of the slip stitch colour method but thats not going to happen, these name brand rechargeable batts really suck. I'll post something but it wont be pictures, sorry.

 Hope you all have a great day, take care folks.

Wrong pockets

   Its lovely out, a bit windy but warm and sunny, expecting winds to increase to about 60mph here probably tonight. Was warm last night as well, I didn't need to put any heating on. If its not too windy around teatime I might fire up the bbq, just for a some burgers.

  The pockets don't fit the moss/seed stitch scarf, I knew they wouldn't so was ignoring the problem hoping I could stretch them out. Not a chance so will buy some more yarn this weekend and re knit the pockets. Not too bothered if the dye lots are slightly different, worse comes to worse I could over dye the hole scarf. Being cream dyeing it should be easy, might even hide some of the dirt the scarfs picked up from my hands during knitting, it looks very ingrained.

  I finished the two tone slip stitch coloured swatch yesterday. The yarns very icky to knit with, some sort of fake mohair stuff but the colours look good. I'll try and get pictures for Saturday and do the post about slip stitch colour work.
   I've been thinking about doing another swatch in two colours but try doing it in the round,in my mind it seems simple enough but once tried I might run into a problem. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

  Have a great day, hope things are warming up for you folks in the States. Take care.

Found the socks

   Found the socks eventually. I hadn't knitted no where near as much as I thought I had. I'm going to have to learn how to knit socks again, its been that long I only have a basic understanding. I'm sure it will come flooding back once I knit each part, like riding a bike, without the skinned knees and tears.

  Got two swatches done on the slip stitch colour method and am doing a third one, this one is only using two colours which creates a problem with the colour changes at the rows. I didn't really think about it much, I knit on connected needles so I just slid the swatch along the needle, across the wire and onto the other needles. Not the best solution but works well. I'm sure theres a correct way to do things but as yet I'm just experimenting a little.

  I'm going to make a start on knitting the socks, I didn't do any yesterday. I'm probably a few days away from needing to do any of the hard stuff, plus I want the legs a little longer than normal.

  Have a great day, hope all my American friends are safe from the storms there. Take care folks.

Oh where, oh where

 Can my socks be?
   Before we start today, sorry yesterdays post(sl st colour work) didn't contain a lot of information/instructions. I'm planning on doing that post on Saturday with a couple of pictures of a swatch or two. I'll write basic instructions then on using 3 colours for a simple checked pattern, and where to find more information.

  When I knit socks I use the magic loop method and do the pair roughly at the same time, not on the same loop but I have two magic loops that I swap between every few inches or past a part like heel stitch. That way the socks get finished around the same time, I find this way much easier to knit a pair instead on knitting one full one then having to knit another.
  I mention all that because last year, probably around June ish I started a pair of socks that I really should finish so went looking for them last night and for the life of me I can't find them. I think I know where they are but there not there, which is very annoying. I have plenty of sock yarn but don't want to start another pair until I finish these ones, where ever they may be.

  Thats all for today, going to hunt a half finished pair of socks and maybe do some spinning today as well. Hope you all have a great day, take care and stay warm(my American friends).

sl st colours

   I didn't really get a lot done this weekend but I did try out the slip stitch colour work method. I'll get the swatch finished for the weekend and take some pictures. 
   Its a fun simple method to working in colours but does have its draw backs, that can be turned into an advantage. The slip stitches knit a thicker fabric so you could use it on the back of mittens or the chest of a jumper to help with warmth. I'm not sure I'd use small pieces in a larger piece though, the bulkyness and puckering might not work. Talking of puckering you do need to make sure you don't knit too tight.

  While reading about the slip stitch colour method I did come across some wonderful mosaics that can be knit with this method, not alot on line so will need to buy a book on it. It does look really interesting and I think I'll take it further but for now its just fun to play with. I'll probably try my hand at knitting fair isle and intarsia next.

Hope you all had a great weekend, have a good day and take care.

Learning colours.

   Was very cold overnight, hard frost on the ground this morning walking the dog. I don't mind the cold so much, as long as I can't feel it. It makes nice walking weather, just dress right and don't fall in any ponds. I was thinking of firing up the bbq for a pork chop but have decided against it, I doubt it will get above freezing today.

  No knitting done yesterday and I didn't try the pockets for the moss/seed stitch scarf, I'll have to find them today and see if they fit. I don't have a lot to do today so will have a go at the slip colours method. Only time I've worked with colours has been across full rows to make stripy blankets so will be happy to add this technique to my skill set.
   I really should have a go at fair isle knitting, intarsia. Not today though, I should set a goal of learning how this year. The one thing that has held me back doing intarsia is all the yarn at the back of the work, I feel its very untidy. I have done a little swiss darning and find that method much more tidy.

  Have a great weekend, stay warm and take care folks.

Up and down

  Still having dizzy spells and waves of nausea. Its no fun being sick when you live alone, theres no sympathy to be had and you have to carry on regardless.

  Good news though, I have finally finished the moss/seed stitch scarf. I say finished, its off the needles and has been weaved in but I haven't looked at the pockets yet. As it is alone without the pockets its still a fine scarf so worse comes to worse I can leave it as is if the pockets don't fit and I can't get the same yarn. I was surprised how much yarn the moss/seed stitch used, nearly 200g of double knit or the full 200g if you include the pockets.

  I'm not sure what I will knit next, I'm not in the right frame of mind to tackle anything fancy. I think I might knit a swatch of the slip colour technique I saw in last months magazine. It looks a pretty simple method to knit with colours, no carrying the yarn. I'll write up about it when I give it a go.

  Only just realised its Friday, thats what I get for spending a day in bed earlier in the week. There will be no picture post tomorrow but I will post something so pop back and see.
  Hope you all have a great weekend, take care.

Feeling the cold.

  I'm feeling much better today, my ears are still bunged up but I don't feel nauseous or dizzy. Slept past my alarm clock again, second time this week. I think its the whooshing noises my ears are making thats affecting my sleep or my alarm clock is broke, I didn't hear it go off but was awake watching and waiting. It probably went off and stopped then I woke up. Guess I'll find out tomorrow morning.

  I couldn't seem to get warm at all walking the dog this morning, it is cold and the winds biting but no worse than normal. Figure because I'm under the weather I'm feeling the cold worse. The wind seemed to keep finding ways into my coat like fingers of ice. Feel fine in the house, not really cold at all inside.

  The moss/seed stitch scarf is a couple of rows away from being finished, I could of finished it last night but wanted to leave casting off/binding off until today. I still need to measure the pockets and decide what to do next.

Have a great day, take care folks.

Dizzy

  Sorry there was no post yesterday, I woke up in the morning feeling very nauseous and was unsteady on my feet. Think my bunged up ears are affecting my balance. I got up, gave the dog his tablets then went back to bed for most of the day. I'm not 100% today, feel a little queasy and am still a little unsteady on my feet, its like being on a ship in a mild storm. I managed to walk the dog and made it to the shops for some fresh bread, now I'm going to take it easy. Not really hungry, had a bowl of chicken soup and a slice of bread yesterday. I will try and eat something a little more solid later today.

  Hope you all are doing well, have a great day and take care.

Still not done

  The scarf is almost finished, but I'm still not there yet. Not been able to get a decent nights sleep since my ears became bunged up. Starting to feel run down, which doesn't help the healing process. Only got a couple of inches to do on the moss/seed stitch scarf and I'm almost out of yarn so if the pockets do need re knitting I'll have to buy more.

  Got a snotty finale demand on my council/property tax this morning threatening court action(this letter was the only one received). I honestly thought I'd paid it off early this year but looking at my own records one of the lines is spread over two lines so I've counted a date as a payment. I'm still annoyed about the letter though, who do these people think they work for? Next year I will not try and pay this tax early, I'll make every payment late.

  Hope you all had a good weekend, have a great day and take care folks.

Scarf end?

   Its dull and cold out with a biting wind, luckily the wind isn't very strong. Still feels like a blow torch on your ears though. I'm getting used to waking up in a cold house again, the other day was a total shock to the system. Even so I'm still not looking forward to my heating bill. I did swap suppliers before Christmas but apart from an email confirming the swap I've not heard anything since, hopefully all is well and I don't get two separate bills.

  My head and ears still feel bunged up, ears kept popping last night while I was in bed and there was a constant whooshing noise. Hurts a little but is mainly annoying. I can't hear myself speak properly so have trouble regulating my voice volume, I don't like to shout so usually I end up speaking in a whisper with everyone saying "What?" at me.

  I'm hoping I can get the moss/seed stitch scarf finished this weekend, I keep looking at it and it needs another foot all the time. It seems to be frozen where its at no matter how much I knit it. I should be able to get an hour or twos knitting done on it, then I have to see if the pockets will fit or if I need to re knit those. I've been putting off measuring them, I guess I already know the answer. Just hope I have enough yarn left.

  Have a great weekend, take care folks.

Heads bunged up

  Not writing much today, not really got much to write about but apart from that I sneezed last night and ever since my head and ears have been bunged up. Its more annoying than anything and I can't hear properly now.

  The weather is still cold but it does look lovely and warm out, suns shinning and the skys are blue. Yesterdays fog didn't lift until early this morning so its a nice change, apart from the cold.

  I got the mild bottled and barreled up, tastes a little rough and its not as clear as the last lot I did but with a little age it will clear completely and mellow out. I might try my first bottle next weekend and see what its like.

  Tiny bit of knitting done, think its near the end now. I'll do a bit more today and think I can finish tomorrow if nothing major crops up. Think I'll do a simple Iphone sock next, something quick and easy. I'll knit it in some acrylic variegated dk yarn my sister got me for Christmas, no cables just plain stocking stitch in the round.
   I do want to learn a knitting colour technique were you slip the colours instead of carrying em around with you. Only glanced at the article, I'll have more about it next week sometime once I've tried it. It does seem and look pretty simple.

  No picture post tomorrow but I will post something so pop back and see. Have a good day and great weekend, take care folks.

Chilly is back

   Brrr felt very cold this morning when I woke up, it wasn't really its just that the last few weeks have been pretty warmish and I'm no longer used to the cold. House was down to 50f which is nothing compared the the 40f it was hitting a while back. Its also foggy out, very foggy. Its not so bad on the low fields but up on the top field visibility is down to about 20 feet.

  Got a fair amount to get done today, the mild which has been fermenting for 14 days looks like its ready for bottles. It should clear fast once its primed, might even be drinkable 1 week from this weekend. Then theres the rest of the chores,chores, chores. I hate  chores.

  Still knitting the moss/seed stitch scarf, not sure if I'll be able to get much done on it today. I will try and steal a little time for a few rows here and there. I really want to get it finished for the weekend.

 Have a great day, take care folks.

First BBQ 2011

   Got to try out my new bbq yesterday, its smaller than I thought but that suits me ok. It was slower to get the charcoal started compared to my old bucket bbq but once going cooked for a much longer time. The main thing I loved about my old bucket bbq was its speed and you could carry it even when it was fully burning. I've had to move it into the garage/shed doorway due to rain a few times. Coming home and deciding to have a bbq at the last minute was very easy with the old bucket.
  I only did a few burgers on the new bbq, I could of easily done the pork chop at the end aswell but at the time decided against it as it was dark. I really need to sort out better lights out back, had a hurricane lamp going and a led lantern plus a maglite to see the food clearly. Also had a nice fire going in the big chimera to help keep me warm.

  I didn't get as much knitting done yesterday, several rows is all. I'll be glad when this moss/seed stitch scarf is finished and I can move on to something else. Smaller preferably. I did think the scarf would be done by today but its taking a heck of a lot longer than I thought possible, probably because I've been a bit lazy still after the Christmas rush knitting I had to do. I'll keep at it, I really do believe it will be done by or on the weekend, fingers crossed.

  Hope you all have a great day, take care folks.