tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184438872024-03-07T09:24:16.804+00:00Penguin HordeLindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-69560862254141175292008-10-28T11:20:00.008+00:002008-10-28T11:38:06.120+00:00Halp! Me brain haz pain!I thought for years that I should like knitting socks but all bar one previous attempt have failed miserably, with me yelling and pouting and then frogging. Simply, I didn’t the experience one bit. The successful socks were from a two needle side seam pattern, and I loved knitting them.<br /><br />Saturday evening, I decided to stop procrastinating and try a toe-up pair, using the universal pattern from Vogue Ultimate Book of Sock Knitting. The toe wasn't great but acceptable, I passed the hurdle of the misprint/mistake in the foot length section (suppressed rant!) and on to the heel some time on Sunday afternoon.<br /><br />For the life of me, I couldn't get an acceptable result on my short rows - nasty, nasty holes. I tried three times, then started trying other variations (Japanese, etc etc). I still couldn't manage an acceptable result. I practised several heels with different yarn and they were great, back to my sock and another rubbish result. (Silver lining - alternate uses for short heels blossomed in my head, more of that later.)<br /><br />Out came the waste yarn as I decided that I needed to knit dammit not futter around with the same stitches over and over again, and an afterthought heel would be a learning experience too. I did cock up a bit there because I was tired and frustrated and not quite well but nothing that's unfixable and well, learning experience is learning experience. Now I've got a lovely tube with a contrasting stripe and while I'm still knitting up the leg I have been considering the Heel Problem.<br /><br />Except I've been looking at different heel methods online and I'm totally confused. How, for the love of parsnips, am I supposed to choose which kind of heel? There are too many options. I need someone to just say, "Silly moo! <span style="font-weight:bold;">This</span> is the heel you're looking for - use it!"<br /><br />So, in summation, me brain haz pain.<br /><br />But Richard Armitage strips very nicely indeed, so I think I'll be staying tuned to Spooks in the hopes of seeing scenes showing him with no shirt. After all, what's the point of the character having all those tattoos if we don't get to see them regularly?Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-18686976079251404772008-04-05T12:11:00.003+01:002008-12-11T04:52:09.714+00:00Catching UpTwo months since my last post! How quickly one gets out of the habit of blogging, eh?<br /><br />Me-wise - it was the middle of March before I actually started to feel physically well. I've been doing a group therapy thing which has been an emotional strain but has led to improvements in my mental health. I managed to attend the knitting group in Borders a couple of weeks ago, and intend to go back. General life stuff rather than anxiety has prevented me going the last two weeks, and I won't be able to go next week because I have another engagement but the week after that? Yeah, I want to go.<br /><br />Don't try to catch up on four months of housework in ten days. It ain't gonna happen and you'll feel horrible when you fail. Set a more reasonable goal of just doing 'some' catching up.<br /><br />Wool-wise - I got my German learn to knit book but it took three weeks to arrive and by then my brain had moved onto a new mini obsession. Can't remember what it was, because several mini obsessions have come and gone since then, including the Quest for The Perfect Sock Cast On, an epic journey which would have brought Indiana Jones to knees and which had the end result of me deciding that I'd rather do a toe up pattern and then cast off stretchily in rib. My book and pattern collection has expanded but that probably deserves a post all to itself because I have acquired some beautifully freaky vintage patterns.<br /><br />I've finally finished the kiddy raglan in Marble Chunky but Lilliana and the Smoke Ring are still lurking. Admittedly, Lilliana just needs all her ends sewn in, and if I could just stop feeling indecisive about long I want the Smoke Ring, I could probably rattle through the rest in a couple of days now my health has returned to it's standard settings.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinet-40EnmbivE5ZecoVzPsUtdE1ymWRQI6UX5xDWqCoBZ-DyE0ZcXnC8P5a_PVJzG5MjYGEx4-qaeMwNE17mU8JkajAnaDIChwKP29b0-aNBBw3oKkyFzMqm3xk9zshTrvoBG/s1600-h/IMAG0012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinet-40EnmbivE5ZecoVzPsUtdE1ymWRQI6UX5xDWqCoBZ-DyE0ZcXnC8P5a_PVJzG5MjYGEx4-qaeMwNE17mU8JkajAnaDIChwKP29b0-aNBBw3oKkyFzMqm3xk9zshTrvoBG/s320/IMAG0012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185721773602218834" border="0" /></a>This is my most recent FO: a crocheted baby bonnet which is supposed to resemble a flower shoved onto the baby's head. The pattern is in Leisure Arts #3176 Pretty Posies. I enjoyed making it as it was both easy and absorbing. There are actually two small mistakes in it, and I didn't frog back to re-do and make it perfect. I figured that if I couldn't find the mistakes without serious examination, no one else would be able to. This is me trying to defeat my perfectionist streak.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AhgFayIpRXXtdeT7rWPA92zLeevn9QxwAKwT_BTxnyNhpdVjxeKnG-UEpHUdgmqnQ5sZl97kakC21FSBolV5DpHxlpi1kBNoijmvCXtkDe1yNypcyqQm9j2xKgg-2SXII-fk/s1600-h/IMAG0001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AhgFayIpRXXtdeT7rWPA92zLeevn9QxwAKwT_BTxnyNhpdVjxeKnG-UEpHUdgmqnQ5sZl97kakC21FSBolV5DpHxlpi1kBNoijmvCXtkDe1yNypcyqQm9j2xKgg-2SXII-fk/s320/IMAG0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185721773602218818" border="0" /></a>This is my most recent cast on. Ignore the colour, it's actually a much nicer bright orange. The pattern is a Patons pattern from 1988 which I got last weekend in a St Andrews charity shop. The yarn is Sirdar Salsa. I like entrelac, the eyelet entrelac isn't really any harder to do, and I like the look and feel of Sirdar Salsa. However, the pattern and the yarn don't suit each other. I feel that the slight fuzziness of the Salsa interferes with the clarity of the eyelets and I would prefer much crisper stitch definition for them, so it's going to be rattled back into non-existence.<br /><br />I think I'm going to make myself finish off something before I give myself the treat of a new project. This is mainly because I don't have a strong preference for any particular pattern just now, and the horror of weaving in ends, joining seams, etc. will probably be a huge inspiration.<br /><br />I'm going to also try and catch up on blog reading but the internet isn't holding my interest much ATM. I much around on Ravelry a couple of times a week but not much else.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-21219032870228976772008-02-05T14:28:00.000+00:002008-12-11T04:52:09.882+00:00Pattern Lust Strikes AgainI freely admit that I have more knitting and crochet patterns than I will probably ever be able to personally make. In English.<br /><br />And I am always seeing more patterns I have to have. In English.<br /><br />A few years ago, I looked at free online patterns in French and German, and so taught myself the rudiments of understanding French and German knitting instructions. I didn't knit any of the ones I saved, and the knowledge I forced into my brain has slowly leaked out again.<br /><br />However, I have now come across patterns which, again, I must have and must knit but it seems unlikely that I will be able to afford them. One is a toy pattern, and as it seems to be rare, it will always command high prices on Ebay. In English, that is. In German, the pattern is a <a href="http://www.coats.de/PDF/smc_wichtelgrundanleitung.pdf">free download</a>. I am now Very Over-excited. <a href="http://www.coca-cola.com">Caffeine</a>, <a href="http://www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com/biscuits/previous.php3?item=132">chocolate fingers</a> and forgetting my medication last night may be (small) additional factors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-SCANDINAVIAN-GNOMES-4-TOYS-KNITTING-PATTERN_W0QQitemZ230219011496QQihZ013QQcategoryZ71219QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLQtVjruOeGUKzbkiTqiKTVxmxw5mt13g9fH8J1uuPt4JZfpONBNrOj1opPLc0_hmduE_a5rYuv8T68O33Xd7wbZ3KM3Xsf3zdBj0uAVMEpFWi5mdESA8-TYkDJ6SdTkR64OL/s320/gnome.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163505818392631010" border="0" /></a>You can see why I'm excited, can't you? My mum loves this pattern too but alas, I doubt that she could be arsed learning German knitting instructions. She is also even meaner than me when it comes to deciding how much cash should be handed over for a pattern.<br /><br />The other book(let) which has me in a lust is another Schachenmayr Inspirations, <a href="http://www.royalyarns.com/ptrn/SYR/Inspiration74/">number 74</a> to be precise. It has Folk patterns, and seems to be hard to get in English, but somewhat easier in German. I could probably manage the gnomes but a garment from a German pattern? Hmm, mustn't get too ambitious. Maybe I should knit a gnome before committing to buy Inspirations 74, or maybe look at a pattern for a garment in German at least.<br /><br />And as for why it's been so long since my last post - it's not the fault of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>, like many other bloggers who fallen by the wayside because of Rav-addiction. I've had <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/medical_notes/6725531.stm">pneumonia</a>, from which I'm still recovering. The cough is much better (apologies to anyone I terrified with my coughing fits) but I tire even more easily than usual and have to take longer to rest. Don't make me laugh, because that will still cause a coughing fit, though one less likely to result in me seeing stars in a black sky. To highlight the seriousness, I didn't knit or crochet for the best part of two weeks, and last Wednesday I went to Craft Group for the first time since the second week of December. To unhighlight the seriousness, a course of antibiotics and now some <a href="http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000562.html">codeine linctus </a>is taking care of me, unlike those poor souls who end up in hospital or even <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7217342.stm">die</a>.<br /><br />Now, see how medicines warn us not to operate machinery if it makes us feel drowsy, does that include computers? A computer is definitely machinery, isn't it? Perhaps that explains some of my recent online purchases. I was adversely affected by my cough bottle. I was drowsy and accidentally bought two balls of Noro Kureyon, the feel of which I don't like. It might even explain the book I bought yesterday: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-Balls-Less-Knitting-Projects/dp/0715324314">Two Balls or Less</a>. As my stash is mostly made up of two balls or less of a myriad different types of yarn, this might help me use up more of it.<br /><br />Especially after I learn how to first knit with my feet, and then knit at the same time with my hands and feet.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-34952876504293387492007-11-20T18:05:00.000+00:002008-12-11T04:52:10.467+00:00Happy Tuesday!Why is it Happy Tuesday? Well, the Davebeast is off work this week and we're having fun just loafing around together. My broadband connection is up and running after the breakdown at the weekend. We saw a fab film yesterday - Beowulf. I managed to take some good (for me) pictures this morning.<br /><br />This is the raglan sweater I have been working on. It's done in James C Brett Marble Chunky and is my first go at working a sweater in the round. I have been using Ann Budd's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, which is Plug & Play for knitters.<br /><br />I like the way the stripes have worked up, though it was a bit of an issue for me at first. I do like things to be symmetrical, you see, and the sleeves definitely don't match. I mucked around trying to find the same starting point for the second sleeve and eventually decided that I would lose too much yarn and hey! why not just go for it? The sleeves are thus totally different up the raglans.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE716kqdAWu85mtSJB5GxezDRxnfTjIJTT9BCh6kB398L7R6Aki6R2Et85xxZep00LGwmEQ6T3B11ZY0NtSn_FdpqNqKIlRyEHZ5wZ3CjrwMZt7dCEs8Lsc8mBeUGXOJtLHSQ1/s1600-h/IMAG0009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE716kqdAWu85mtSJB5GxezDRxnfTjIJTT9BCh6kB398L7R6Aki6R2Et85xxZep00LGwmEQ6T3B11ZY0NtSn_FdpqNqKIlRyEHZ5wZ3CjrwMZt7dCEs8Lsc8mBeUGXOJtLHSQ1/s320/IMAG0009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134987835686366674" border="0" /></a>This is my second attempt at joining all the pieces together and finishing off the top. I was unhappy with the decreasing the first time, and when I cast off, I flung the damn thing across the sofa. 'S not a good reaction to a nearly finished WIP, is it? So I frogged and re-did, this time without the pesky stitch markers (which I don't need) that had caused the problem in the first place. Now I'm pleased with raglans, and those lovely angled shoulder stripes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OWAIfD8fye2yWW9GU4GtxT8dAsaikHvJH7i_ybZM_3AZp7dVp2aQhcOoQAfZ8wye7KIXxiCC249H5bMhHF5eYRGhwR706urF4frZJBWvgtIBSU8Qmma_a9kuTCLFajLCIv1D/s1600-h/IMAG0010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OWAIfD8fye2yWW9GU4GtxT8dAsaikHvJH7i_ybZM_3AZp7dVp2aQhcOoQAfZ8wye7KIXxiCC249H5bMhHF5eYRGhwR706urF4frZJBWvgtIBSU8Qmma_a9kuTCLFajLCIv1D/s320/IMAG0010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134987844276301282" border="0" /></a>I love decreasing, so raglans (like hats) are always going to be favourite projects for me.<br /><br />This yummy redness is for my Vince Noir Glam Rock Ski Hat, or Tundra Hat, from The Mighty Boosh, (Series 1, Episode 4). There is an informal KAL in the Ravelry Boosh group I'm in. <a href="http://from-little-acorns.blogspot.com/2007/11/vinces-tundra-hat.html">Donnac1968</a> and <a href="http://knittyinpink.blogspot.com/">Knittyinpink</a> have already done theirs.<br /><br />I'm going to follow in Donna's footsteps a bit. I've bought the same yarn as she did - 100% wool chunky, made in Latvia (!) because I want a felted hat. Mine is going to have a touch of glam rock added by the use of a red lurex thread knitted along with the main yarn. I have already knitted a tension square (which went missing two minutes before I got out the camera) and four inches by four inches equals 15 stitches by 18 rows. As soon as I find that gorram thing it's getting tortured by being dunked in very hot and then very cold water and scrubbed violently. Once I've got the post-felting size I can start what pattern (if any) I'm going to use. I like the way the lurex looks in my sample and it will be interesting to see what felting does to it. I'm travelling to Belfast at the weekend, and a hat on thick circs in thick wool seems like an ideal coach/boat project.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSB1U4yx9C_YYFVLTIG9wRMJmctOPtMK3s4BDXLe20xrUp1hrujjiZ97DYXw0V-BSwDSYl5w1H6cXGDTFX1sofqLgVv0avf5Ivgqx36_3tReF3xJjZvpui5jhCQhQYhcOuklO/s1600-h/IMAG0008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSB1U4yx9C_YYFVLTIG9wRMJmctOPtMK3s4BDXLe20xrUp1hrujjiZ97DYXw0V-BSwDSYl5w1H6cXGDTFX1sofqLgVv0avf5Ivgqx36_3tReF3xJjZvpui5jhCQhQYhcOuklO/s320/IMAG0008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134987852866235890" border="0" /></a><br />I got some great acquisitions at the weekend but I shall post about them separately because otherwise there would be too many pictures for one poor post to sustain.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-77130838320367024422007-11-15T16:19:00.001+00:002007-11-15T16:29:28.755+00:00Booshfest!I've spent a large part of this afternoon absorbing Booshness. The following is just one of the many fine things my eyes have viewed this day, sir. It is a compelling and intellectually dark piece from Comic Relief. I hope your psyche can deal with the dark darkness within this clip.<br /><br /><div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><object height="350" width="425"><param value="http://youtube.com/v/hNSLllh-hqk" name="movie"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://youtube.com/v/hNSLllh-hqk" height="350" width="425"></embed></object></p></div><br /><br />Do not forget, sir, that Series 3 of the glorious brilliance that is the Mighty Boosh starts tonight on the televisualbox. Or if you are a fiend, sir, a veritable fiend, you may have already watched it on the BBC website. All I can say, sir, is Shame on You. Yes, Shame on You, sir! You have deserved to suffer in silence, swallowing back salty spoilers while your friends quiver in orgasmic anticipation. Yes, sir, ORGASMIC anticipation.<br /><br />I have already completely covered my sofa in plastic sheeting for The Event, and fluid-proofed my knitting. No more need be said on <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> subject, sir.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-43008194974660138832007-11-01T21:07:00.000+00:002007-11-01T21:37:19.816+00:00Resolution? What resolution?Yeah, yeah, I've made several resolutions recently, and broken them already.<br /><br /><ol><li>Blog more often. <span style="font-style: italic;">Kiboshed by illness. </span><br /></li><li>Work every day on Liliana & Smoke Ring. <span style="font-style: italic;">As above.</span><br /></li><li>Not start any more projects until current two finished. <span style="font-style: italic;">Sabotaged by illness.</span></li></ol>I've just not been able to cope with any sort of stitch pattern, because my brain is foggy. After spending three hours last week crocheting Liliana, with a net result of minus one round, I decided that it would better to leave off working on anything to which I have an emotional commitment. The experience was so frustrating that I became very depressed and upset. After that I decided that comfort knitting was the order of the day.<br /><br />Hence James C Brett Marble Chunky and fat circular needles. I now have a new mildly daft hat, most of a pair of mittens (number two needs a thumb & a finger) and the main body of a child's raglan sweater. Sleeves are almost progressing. These items have provided proof of my contrary nature, as if anyone were in any doubt about this.<br /><br />Recent purchases included Ann Budd's <span style="font-style: italic;">Handy Book of Patterns</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Handy Book of Sweater Patterns</span>. I decided to eschew my usual scraps of paper and follow the instructions provided in these books. It would be soooooo simple and straightforward - no brain work required, just read and knit.<br /><br />Except I didn't bother with any of the crown shapings for the hat, using a three needle cast-off so I could just stop knitting at a point when I got fed up. And the mittens? Well, I decided I wanted <a href="http://www.fatiguesarmynavy.com/store/item/US0515/GI_Wool_Trigger_Finger_Mittens">trigger finger mittens</a>, and that meant mixing and matching the mitten and glove patterns, using numbers for two different tensions because my mittens were 4 stitches per inch and the 'largest' tension for the glove pattern is 5 stitches. My tension for the raglan is 3.5 stitches, and the book instructions are for whole numbers only. So, I'm using the length measurements for one size and the stitch numbers for another size. And I couldn't decide what kind of ribbing to use, so I've done a provisional cast-on with the intention of knitting on an I-cord edging later which is a suggestion from the book, except now I'm thinking I want a garter stitch border worked so the rows are at right angles to the sweater body and attached as I work, which <span style="font-style: italic;">isn't</span> suggested. Contrary, definitely. At least I didn't spend several hours looking through my pattern collection in order to choose a pattern I could largely ignore.<br /><br />The Marble Chunky is feels great to knit with, and I think it looks lovely. Pictures soon, once my brain can cope with the extra activity.<br /><br />*There's a better way of saying that, but my brain can't remember it at the moment.<br /><br />Nighty-night!Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-3877750332180844212007-10-03T16:29:00.001+01:002008-12-11T04:52:10.643+00:00Mega SEX!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJmJx5MKLjsiiFEvzu03qzt0BDxaXd4rMBTsHiIcslWu7sDR4dtpOFOdJePUdqooYkCUwqwNg730kFvBTi9wjzQutziPoMIwSPg2z4ayMCeemse8X9WGqpkTrmi2uq9JEirt1/s1600-h/stash2-2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJmJx5MKLjsiiFEvzu03qzt0BDxaXd4rMBTsHiIcslWu7sDR4dtpOFOdJePUdqooYkCUwqwNg730kFvBTi9wjzQutziPoMIwSPg2z4ayMCeemse8X9WGqpkTrmi2uq9JEirt1/s320/stash2-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117133360375155842" border="0" /></a>This is the most yarn I've ever bought in one go. That's ten 500g packets. Including delivery, the yarn cost approximately 29p a ball. There are one hundred 50g balls. There are forty balls of Sirdar Frenzy and sixty of Sirdar Salsa.<br /><br />I am extremely excited. My sister is pole-axed by the news. See, I had told the Maternal Unit and Female Sibling Unit how much yarn I was expecting, and how little it had cost, along with it being forty-eight hour delivery. They were dubious, and were pretty sure that I must have got it wrong or misread something, because it was just not believable. I can't blame them; I barely believed it myself.<br /><br />The Maternal Unit is currently away from her station. The Female Sibling Unit was, I think, a little put out to be proved wrong. She does not have the Knitting Gene which has turned myself and the Maternal Unit into such frenzied stash accumulators. I hope she waits until the Maternal Unit is sitting down before passing on the news.<br /><br />I had assured myself that the delivery would be tomorrow, so when I entered the building and was pounced on by a concierge to take charge of my Very Big Box, I may have shrieked slightly. I'm not sure about that, but I do remember the concierges grinning at me, so I must have done <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span> funny.<br /><br />Anyway, the yarn is not all mine. Half of it is for the Maternal Unit, though there had been muted mumblings about maybe we should have a hundred balls each as it's such a bargain. Dave is largely reconciled to the arrival of the yarn because half is only resident temporarily. I think he's going to be pleasantly surprised by how little space it takes up.<br /><br />In other news, I have completed the sleeve tube for Liliana, and have started on the central section. I tried the sleeve tube on at Craft Group, and was told by the group leader that it would look much better on her, so I let her put it her. It was too big, but she wants it anyway. I think she is now convinced that she <span style="font-weight: bold;">must</span> learn to crochet, after she failed to convince the other crocheting member to make a Liliana for her. Envy is such a marvellous incentive towards learning new skills, don't you think?Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-36700715052667086422007-10-01T14:49:00.000+01:002008-12-11T04:52:12.602+00:00Woo Hoo!Not only is my living room sunny today, but I know where my camera is, and the batteries were fully charged! This means - pictures!!!<br /><br />First off, sticky cake goodness. Looks yummy, but not as yummy as it tasted!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bA4JmVDlMUl06ZnVYGoK7Q-xMf5-5jcCyXZXjRvPvvRd2KUBORmI_At-TGF1gvcx4Iw3ZdeDH0BVD9UgK0p23TkFaEMsj6zmORcGnZNGIhKlQcW651vcZtXCQ4L4ASHdZQ2B/s1600-h/IMAG0002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bA4JmVDlMUl06ZnVYGoK7Q-xMf5-5jcCyXZXjRvPvvRd2KUBORmI_At-TGF1gvcx4Iw3ZdeDH0BVD9UgK0p23TkFaEMsj6zmORcGnZNGIhKlQcW651vcZtXCQ4L4ASHdZQ2B/s320/IMAG0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116366163251973170" border="0" /></a>Next, my two current active WIPs. The top one is the <a href="http://gourmetcrochet.com/index_files/Page563.htm">Liliana Pineapple Jacket</a>, worked in Patons Spritz, in Silver. The main body is just basic V-stitch so I'm dashing through this at a reasonably quick pace. I actually started this last Tuesday night (about 3 a.m.) but I decided on Friday that I wasn't happy with the drape, ripped out it and started again with a bigger hook. It's turning out much better this time and I'm pretty happy with it so far. I am a little concerned about the weight, and wondering if it's going to sag drastically, but if it does, Frogging is My Friend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTTh96d59yfkg3FU7yR-HMh44OBsl9AR5eX1cXpIHQ6h3fDRirlL7vVy-t0lY3m5v_5xRxJYFwqhv6K0FpG6cSc6rnevwBL5DUamlNnM2BgGHn16hooApyI4AzUspqVMOtTOt/s1600-h/IMAG0007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTTh96d59yfkg3FU7yR-HMh44OBsl9AR5eX1cXpIHQ6h3fDRirlL7vVy-t0lY3m5v_5xRxJYFwqhv6K0FpG6cSc6rnevwBL5DUamlNnM2BgGHn16hooApyI4AzUspqVMOtTOt/s320/IMAG0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116366167546940482" border="0" /></a><br />This is the <a href="http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/a49.shtm">Flared Smoke Ring</a>, which I started at the beginning of September. It's having a bit of rest because I'm obsessing over Liliana. I only need to do about another four or five inches but I'm in a crochet mood, not a knitting one. I did think that I would do a bit of each every day, but that was just a sop so that I could break my word to myself to not start Liliana until I had finished the Smoke Ring. The yarn I'm using is laceweight from <a href="http://www.handpaintedyarn.com/index.php">Handpainted Yarns</a>. I love the way the colours are working up in the spiralling stripes, and it is like knitting with warm air. Yum yum yum.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz67otLmFbQ6VyycH_9fqbIMDo4yQU2xoWeQ-Nr_F_ZabUgbXqxjeWXoa0HeM7LBWN04yETaVhG1WKjveki6qkvGAEkeI4D1WE178Ek3mP_g1MIsunuFrF1pluJg3w_E8GEdz/s1600-h/IMAG0018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz67otLmFbQ6VyycH_9fqbIMDo4yQU2xoWeQ-Nr_F_ZabUgbXqxjeWXoa0HeM7LBWN04yETaVhG1WKjveki6qkvGAEkeI4D1WE178Ek3mP_g1MIsunuFrF1pluJg3w_E8GEdz/s320/IMAG0018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116366171841907794" border="0" /></a><br />These bottom two pictures are of loot from a knitty friend. She knitted the face cloths and I promise you, the stitches aren't wobbly looking in real life - that's just my shoddy photography.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDOmcPWyUUhba3hJiOxWbZcciWAH7zzbyivFpCQl-9YS31DDxZ3hHFioqMgOfwiyjtrS1QgHmud7ZE1N02MtpP2T3PKzl21uadjIVuzNwD24lybQxV2qms__I9_wSdXQaS9mj/s1600-h/IMAG0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDOmcPWyUUhba3hJiOxWbZcciWAH7zzbyivFpCQl-9YS31DDxZ3hHFioqMgOfwiyjtrS1QgHmud7ZE1N02MtpP2T3PKzl21uadjIVuzNwD24lybQxV2qms__I9_wSdXQaS9mj/s320/IMAG0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116366180431842402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkzSbD8xUCp17Rk6fSujeqvs5oTaf7zSKWqc92fuNqqktQHUW_tGZjxakWLayQFthDpJ1Kr6dNgsfpgSmNxhfjt6uQIA-t0HXN6b64F_WMd3kM_mOD0HZlVGlrPgdG9rwqpbq/s1600-h/IMAG0005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkzSbD8xUCp17Rk6fSujeqvs5oTaf7zSKWqc92fuNqqktQHUW_tGZjxakWLayQFthDpJ1Kr6dNgsfpgSmNxhfjt6uQIA-t0HXN6b64F_WMd3kM_mOD0HZlVGlrPgdG9rwqpbq/s320/IMAG0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116366189021777010" border="0" /></a><br />I've decided to try blogging regularly again, mainly because it helps me remember what I've been making. I feel like I haven't produced anything for <span style="font-style: italic;">years</span>, but actually I have, just haven't put them into long term memory, i.e. blogged 'em. I'd been feeling very inadequate about the pictures I take, and had decided that either me or the camera or both of us were just plain rubbish. However, I managed to take some pretty good pictures last week Outside, so I started thinking that maybe it wasn't me or the camera, maybe it was the <span style="font-style: italic;">conditions</span> in which I was trying to take the pictures. I shall just have to keep trying, and perhaps good blog pictures won't be a matter of a fluke.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-57691429965177081212007-06-30T17:34:00.000+01:002007-06-30T17:36:31.589+01:00Maybe Me....Maybe Not<script src="http://personaldna.com/t/?k=WTPgjhahIEHeYZX-HG-AACCD-f9ed&t=Considerate+Creator"><br /></script><br /><br />It says I'm Slightly Functional. Well, I can't disagree with that.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-52996881926571405952007-05-16T17:46:00.000+01:002007-05-16T18:02:50.513+01:00"I Never" memeI got this from <a href="http://knittyinpink.blogspot.com/">KnittyinPink</a>. Edit the list, bold for stuff you've done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you're not planning on doing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Afghan/Blanket<br />I-cord<br />Garter stitch<br />Knitting with metal wire</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Shawl</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stockinette stitch<br />Socks: top-down<br />Socks: toe-up</span><br />Knitting with camel yarn<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mittens: Cuff-up</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mittens: Tip-down</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hat</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting with silk</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Moebius band knitting</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Participating in a KAL</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sweater<br />Drop stitch patterns</span><br />Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Slip stitch patterns</span><br />Knitting with banana fiber yarn<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Domino knitting (modular knitting)<br />Twisted stitch patterns</span><br />Knitting with bamboo yarn<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Two end knitting</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Charity knitting</span><br />Knitting with soy yarn<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cardigan</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Toy/doll clothing</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with circular needles</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting with your own handspun yarn</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Slippers</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Continental knitting</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Designing knitted garments</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lace patterns</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Publishing a knitting book</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scarf</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teaching a child to knit</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">American/English knitting </span>(as opposed to continental)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting to make money</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Button holes</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with alpaca</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fair Isle knitting</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Norwegian knitting</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dying with plant colors</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting items for a wedding</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars</span><br />Olympic knitting<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with DPNs</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Holiday related knitting<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teaching a male how to knit<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bobbles</span><br />Knitting for a living<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with cotton</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting smocking</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dying yarn</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Steeks</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting art</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fulling/felting</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with wool</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Textured knitting</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kitchener BO</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purses/bags</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with beads</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Swatching</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Long Tail CO</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Entrelac</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting and purling backwards</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Machine knitting</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stuffed toys</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Baby items</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting with cashmere</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Darning</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jewelry</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with synthetic yarn</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Writing a pattern</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gloves</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Intarsia</span><br />Knitting with linen<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting for preemies</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tubular CO</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Freeform knitting</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Short rows</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pillows</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rug</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting on a loom</span><br />Thrummed knitting<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting a gift</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting for pets</span><br />Shrug/bolero/poncho<br />Knitting with dog/cat hair<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hair accessories</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting in public<br /><br /></span>In knitting news, I have quite a few FOs to post, several WIPs and some luscious yarn I bought from <a href="http://handpaintedyarn.com/">Hand Painted Yarns</a>. But as I'm still having a bit of a camera oops, and there doesn't seem any point in posting without pictures, there will be a further delay. Plus there is some major scale housework and reorganisation happening <span style="font-style: italic;">chez Pengy,</span> as I prepare for the arrival of a new member of the household. Yes, after years of longing and sighing, my dishwasher arrives on Friday. More guilt-free knitting will be happening very soon. I mean, that I'll be feeling less guilty about knitting, not that there will be any more than already happens. There will be probably be more baking though. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-90225096693015488812007-04-17T19:35:00.000+01:002007-04-17T19:50:59.810+01:00Snigger ...I was in the chemists today. There was a man seeking advice from the assistant. He was talking very quietly and the assistant wasn't.<br /><br />"mumble mumble mumble" he says<br /><br />"<span style="font-weight:bold;">IS IT JUST DIARRHEA</span>?"<br />"mumble"<br />"<span style="font-weight:bold;">IS IT JUST DIARRHEA OR ARE YOU VOMITING AS WELL?</span>"<br />"mumble"<br />"<span style="font-weight:bold;">WELL, THERE ARE DIARRHEA REMEDIES BUT IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU'VE JUST GOT DIARRHEA OR OTHER THINGS AS WELL.</span>"<br /><br />This conversation went on for several minutes, with the assistant mentioning DIARRHEA in 98% of her sentences. I had been standing next to him at the counter but I moved away "to browse" after the first D-word. Someone else then came in, stood next to him, got caught by the D-word, and did that embarrassed shuffle thing. <br /><br />The assistant's normal tone is pretty loud but I'm not sure if it's always <span style="font-style:italic;">that</span> loud. Maybe That Word has a special echo effect or something. <br /><br />Dave asked me if I laughed. Nope. There wasn't even a twitch of my lips. I savoured the experience internally. Course, I laughed my socks off when I was telling Dave.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-80078559004553660832007-04-14T22:13:00.000+01:002007-04-14T22:20:07.425+01:00Not dead, just slacking ...I couldn't possibly comment on the accuracy of these results.<br /><br /> <tbody><tr><br /> <td align="center"><br /> <span style="font-size:180%;"><b>Arcane Trickster</b></span><br /><br /> 48% Combativeness, 60% Sneakiness, 82% Intellect, 41% Spirituality<br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td><br /> Brilliant and sneaky: You are an Arcane Trickster!<br /><br /><br />Score! You have a prestige class. A prestige class can only be taken after you've fulfilled certain requirements. This may mean that you're an exceptionally talented person, but it probably doesn't.<br /><br /><br />Arcane Tricksters combine arcane magic with rogue skills and sensibilities. They use their magic to confuse their opponents or to augment their more mundane, roguish skills. If you thought it was annoying keeping an eye that that rogue, the Arcane Trickster is probably picking your pocket from the other side of the room.<br /><br /><br />Both smart and sneaky, you're probably the type of person that loves planning practical jokes... either that or knocking over banks.<br /><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td align="center"><br /> <img src="http://is2.okcupid.com/users/152/386/15238646033989136694/mt1128069751.jpg" /><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /></tbody><br /><span id="comparisonarea">My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people <i>your age and gender</i>:<blockquote><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr><td valign="middle"><table bgcolor="black" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#b2cfff" height="20" width="149"><a href="http://www.okcupid.com/"><img src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" alt="free online dating" border="0" /></a></td><td bgcolor="white" width="1"><a href="http://www.okcupid.com/"><img src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" alt="free online dating" border="0" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td valign="middle">You scored higher than <b>99%</b> on <b>Combativeness</b></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle"><table bgcolor="black" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#b2cfff" height="20" width="149"><a href="http://www.okcupid.com/"><img src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" alt="free online dating" border="0" /></a></td><td bgcolor="white" width="1"><a href="http://www.okcupid.com/"><img src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" alt="free online dating" border="0" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td valign="middle">You scored higher than <b>99%</b> on <b>Sneakiness</b></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle"><table bgcolor="black" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#b2cfff" height="20" width="149"><a href="http://www.okcupid.com/"><img src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" alt="free online dating" border="0" /></a></td><td bgcolor="white" width="1"><a href="http://www.okcupid.com/"><img src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" alt="free online dating" border="0" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td valign="middle">You scored higher than <b>99%</b> on <b>Intellect</b></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle"><table bgcolor="black" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#b2cfff" height="20" width="149"><a href="http://www.okcupid.com/"><img src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" alt="free online dating" border="0" /></a></td><td bgcolor="white" width="1"><a href="http://www.okcupid.com/"><img src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" alt="free online dating" border="0" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td valign="middle">You scored higher than <b>99%</b> on <b>Spirituality</b></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></span><br /><br /></td><br /></tr><br /></tbody><br /><br /><table cellpadding="20"><tbody><tr><td>Link: <a href="http://www2.blogger.com/%27http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=" 1532690756472625027="">The RPG Class Test</a> written by <a href="http://www2.blogger.com/%27http://www.okcupid.com/profile?u=" mflowers="">MFlowers</a> on <a href="http://www2.blogger.com/%27http://www.okcupid.com%27">OkCupid Free Online Dating</a>, home of the <a href="http://www2.blogger.com/%27http://www.okcupid.com/online.dating.persona.test%27">The Dating Persona Test</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-67161591655096431752007-03-09T19:43:00.000+00:002008-12-11T04:52:13.134+00:00My knitting week<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday Morning</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8V5_pRWWDg_8QDvrMGeQqbbChbWWHlGKS_U06TjAAjQLZQCVKPjIV5ayjgazdcZ0Vrzk45vqQT-JM1iMdRKeyovnkAwASarab4JXo4GJKnqZ37jArKS4naRQXq_i4c8HMe2pq/s1600-h/IMAG0021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8V5_pRWWDg_8QDvrMGeQqbbChbWWHlGKS_U06TjAAjQLZQCVKPjIV5ayjgazdcZ0Vrzk45vqQT-JM1iMdRKeyovnkAwASarab4JXo4GJKnqZ37jArKS4naRQXq_i4c8HMe2pq/s320/IMAG0021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040013351914469890" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday Morning</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGswMDlh9o1vTk1WMYhYjCLWy3n8tXO7NhC6HN9oVmUduLllkBhA5cVB6bZAxrZOjc2S9uOzmY_rvP4e5dzDOoJR1c0XoOH4K2uFMHmCFVPBqV74zxL-tDRilZHrKj0AmY6aO/s1600-h/IMAG0028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGswMDlh9o1vTk1WMYhYjCLWy3n8tXO7NhC6HN9oVmUduLllkBhA5cVB6bZAxrZOjc2S9uOzmY_rvP4e5dzDOoJR1c0XoOH4K2uFMHmCFVPBqV74zxL-tDRilZHrKj0AmY6aO/s320/IMAG0028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040013360504404498" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday Morning</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBT8PcwSQPcziyR2fQqSIwuNgVA5hWJIkIDXhnWSJbD_s_1nYHJrf01SwWlkaMaIFZI6Hgg1Tz0_CHSEGJsrymNzLznuv5TVM7zZVLN5Gj3acmXTKK_i5YlmbTKGZ8wiCB-VdH/s1600-h/IMAG0032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBT8PcwSQPcziyR2fQqSIwuNgVA5hWJIkIDXhnWSJbD_s_1nYHJrf01SwWlkaMaIFZI6Hgg1Tz0_CHSEGJsrymNzLznuv5TVM7zZVLN5Gj3acmXTKK_i5YlmbTKGZ8wiCB-VdH/s320/IMAG0032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040013360504404514" border="0" /></a>This is the 'entrelac cushion', pattern published in the home supplement with the current issue of Simply Knitting. Do not ask about the pattern itself; it should have been proof-read more thoroughly. As you can from the pictures, I fairly cracked on with this, until it was time for the top triangles to be done. I attempted the pattern instructions at least four times, and it just didn't work out. I spent time ranting, then browsing my books, then googling. I found a solution which looked like it might work but decided to give the actual pattern one more try. Because I didn't expect it to work, I didn't pay attention to what I was doing, and the first section worked out correctly. Um. Not sure what to think. Well, obviously, thinking was not the answer - just trust that the fingers know what they are doing. For the next section I kinda paid attention, and it only kinda worked. Um. Confusing. Didn't pay attention to the next section, it worked fine. Paid attention while not paying attention in a kinda <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_magic">chaos magic</a> way and thus was able see what I'd been doing. Then after a scribbled margin note, I paid attention, cocked up, had to frog, did something unpleasant to the section below, meaning that more serious frogging is now necessary, so the cushion front is currently languishing on the floor next to my knitting chair.<br /><br />Despite my ranting I have enjoyed this. It's been a while since I did any entrelac, and the last time my skills at knitting & purling backwards were rather rudimentary. Now I am teh rocksor at this working backwards lark, entrelac is brilliant fun. Therefore, I am going to do the back in entrelac as well, probably in two colours, if I have something in my stash which will do. I have some dark cream which <span style="font-style: italic;">might</span> work. If not, then one colour only, and I will add interest through embellishment with beads, ribbon or such like.<br /><br />I have been knitting between the last post and this, but it's been either secret knitting or boring to blog about, i.e. lots of stocking stitch in silver grey. Hmm. What did I recently get a pattern for, which is silver grey? Might it be a K9? Couldn't possibly comment.<br /><br />On Sunday I'm going to the SECC in Glasgow for the <a href="http://www.ichf.co.uk/creativestitches/index.php#dates">Creative Stitches Show</a>. I'm trying not to think about it, otherwise I'll get too excited and then there'll be trouble. But - I want to make a list of things to look for, so I have to think about it without thinking about it. I'm a tad out of practise at that, because I do practically no magic these days. If I had realised before, however, that chaos magic skills are transferable to knitting, I would have been more assiduous about practising them.<br /><br />Anyway, please feel free to peruse the list of exhibitors at the show, and tell me which ones I should not miss. I'm so excited about seeing the knitted garden. (Saddo that I am.)<br /><br />PS The yarn I'm using for the cushion was in fact bought for <a href="http://www.elann.com/ShowFreePattern.asp?Id=111024">this shawl</a>. However, I needed to knit entrelac on Sunday night, that 400g ball was nice and conveniently placed, and I had been thinking that it was a mite scratchy for a truly comfy shawl. These accidents will happen when one has a disorganised stash. I shall just have to get another 400g of aranweight. Perhaps on Sunday? ;DLindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-12938223406116066862007-02-10T23:06:00.000+00:002007-02-10T22:06:27.176+00:00The Violence of the LambsFibre freaks everywhere, watch out!! Now the sheep bite back!!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PHMyVljAP_A"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PHMyVljAP_A" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />Dave and I are now mad to see this film.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-74801025820698361302007-02-10T02:29:00.001+00:002007-02-09T23:19:27.874+00:00Map Meme<br /><a href="http://www.maploco.com/view.php?id=226438"><img border="0" src="http://www.maploco.com/vmap/226438.png" alt="Visitor Map" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.maploco.com/">Create your own visitor map!</a><br /><br /><br />PS This is my 100th post!Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-37152607689334292962007-02-09T22:42:00.000+00:002007-02-14T18:59:01.232+00:00Book DiaryI tend to not think of reading as a proper activity so when I'm thinking about all the things I haven't done, I forget that I've buried in books. There's not much point in me blogging about books I'm currently reading, because most books only last a couple of sessions.<br /><br />I can't remember most of what I read during January so here we go, in random order:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Civil Contract</span> by Georgette Heyer<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Usually read several times a year, because I find it soothing. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">All Fun & Games Until Someone Loses An Eye</span> by Christopher Brookmyre<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Great fun. Need my own copy. Brookmyre remains one of my favourite authors. The characters are brilliant. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Torment of Others </span>by Val McDermid<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Reasonable, but no urge to re-read it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Priestess of the White</span> by Trudi Canavan<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Good fantasy, interesting characters. Will read the rest of the series.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Break No Bones</span> by Kathy Reichs<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Usual enjoyable Reichs fare.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blood Pact</span> by Tanya Huff<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Same ilk as Anita Blake but without the torrid sex scenes. The book was only just bearable, and I won't be reading any of the others. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Orcs</span> by Stan Nicholls<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'd looked at this book several times in the shop and eventually borrowed it from the library. I'm glad I didn't buy it because then I would have felt obliged to read all of it. I managed about 45 pages before giving up. Blow by blow battle scenes are not my kind of fantasy reading.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jack the Ripper's Black Magic Rituals</span> by Ivor Edwards<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dave chose this book so obviously I've read it first. Pretty standard Ripper book - "I've got it right, everyone else got it wrong" but interesting take on the murders. The different perspective comes from the author having been a professional criminal for thirty years, and some personal anecdotes about being a slaughterman add depth to the usual skilled/unskilled killer debate. Has some different illustrations from the usual. Doesn't seem to know about killers' comfort zones, though.<br /><br /></span><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Crow Road</span> by Iain Banks<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm glad I bought this book, and sad it took me so long to read it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Be My Enemy </span>by Christopher Brookmyre<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Absolutely hilarious. The first chapter was rough and put me off, but I came back to the book a few days later. The rest of the book more than makes up for the ropey beginning. A comic masterpiece.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kafka on the Short</span> by Haruki Murakami<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">After I read this, I didn't read anything else for a couple of days. I needed the time to absorb what I'd just read. I liked this a great deal and would recommend it, just as it was recommended to me.<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ashworth Hall</span> by Anne Perry<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I only read this because it was one of the few Pitt books I haven't read. The main entertainment came from the comments that a previous reader had written in the margins of this library book. Some of the comments on historical inaccuracy were the 'drivel' that the person had called the book, and I almost feel a need to track down this critic and point out his/her errors. As a Pitt book it was okay, not one of the good ones.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">King Rat</span> by China Mieville<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">An excellent book with some amazingly evocative descriptions of music, London and rotten food.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">One Shot</span> by Lee Child<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I enjoyed this book but I don't know if I would read any more by the same author. The main character was too much of a </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue">Mary Sue</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> for my taste.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Motor Mouth</span> by Janet Evanovich<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Funny but I wish the main character wasn't such a dicktease. If she's not going to have sex with Hooker, then she shouldn't let him get away with feeling her breasts without slapping him, and there's no need to sleep in the same bed as him. It put me off.</span><br /></span>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-2224346305453563902007-02-07T09:10:00.000+00:002008-12-11T04:52:13.675+00:00Expotition ReeportOn Saturday I spent four-plus hours travelling so I could spend two hours here<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.twistfibrecraft.co.uk"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1VOCQBxAOxWlHT19z4DBb-KdThtc5ZLE2vgVjXaTnZWIizmOVnLc8ooa6ivVZvx-v3Rd4qmp-HiWPPofwpShKeLj1AaH0MNpGKZtQOaDwMTml8riIPRdwS0WleAHXj3i3CWg/s320/IMAG0008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028717638094892258" border="0" /></a><br />learning how to produce this with a <a href="http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/HowToDropspin.shtml">drop spindle</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EgE__gS5QiNO6c0WcCB5Hj1rT_1HUDrOXMuI4i6NsemVwRX575687HPPQdKCGh-IKFUdeq7JVqqDU8nlTFS2IiafgSR7hFjkqhA5V1I8rlbV3TguvPeOyLjcOd2SHtCmgPRe/s1600-h/IMAG0012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EgE__gS5QiNO6c0WcCB5Hj1rT_1HUDrOXMuI4i6NsemVwRX575687HPPQdKCGh-IKFUdeq7JVqqDU8nlTFS2IiafgSR7hFjkqhA5V1I8rlbV3TguvPeOyLjcOd2SHtCmgPRe/s320/IMAG0012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028717642389859570" border="0" /></a>I don't feel I really understand what I'm doing but I'm sure if I keep practising I will be able to produce yarn which isn't twisty. Of course I bought a drop spindle kit! I haven't managed to hurt myself with the spindle yet but the roleplaying guys on Sunday evening were looking rather dubious as I was swinging it around.<br /><br />The yarn isn't finished yet. I have to 'set' it, which involves dunking & soaking in water and then hanging up to dry. If it were thinner, I would 'ply' it, i.e. twist it together with another length, but given how thick it is in places, I think that might be a daft plan. This means when I hang the hank up to dry I have to weight it. I think this might be a bit fraught, given my clumsiness and Dave's erratic observation skills. Where can I hang the weighted hank where it will get plenty of ventilation and heat, yet not be liable to drop on heads? Further thought is necessary.<br /><br />I enjoyed the class but the vagaries of rural bus routes meant a much longer journey than if I had gone by car. Perhaps I should start scouting for fibre freaks who drive & have cars. Apparently there is a knitting group which meets at Borders now, but it's on a Wednesday which simply isn't suitable for me.<br /><br />The drop spindle class was the first part of my 2007 plan to stretch my boundaries. I thought if I started at the extreme end of scale, other parts might seem easier. In the end, it was Too Much for me, and it's taken me three days to recover, physically and mentally. As I said, I enjoyed the class but despite being interested in other Twist Fibre classes, I won't go again unless I can arrange another way to get there. My next Expotition will be probably be the March trip to the Creative Stitching Show in Glasgow.<br /><br />Hmm, yes, my boundary stretching will probably be all related to yarn in one way or another.<br /><br />Anyway, back to Twist Fibre. The shop is well stocked with items I usually only see online, including the most sock yarn I've ever seen in one place. The fibre was arranged in Pick & Mix fashion and was very tempting as was the penguin needle felting kit (duh!). I resented the ten quid I'd spent on travel because it deprived me of goodies. However, Twist Fibre do sell online so there may be some future purchases that way.<br /><br />Time for <a href="http://craft-group.blogspot.com/">Craft Group</a>.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-86780657539426816382007-01-29T13:20:00.000+00:002008-12-11T04:52:13.843+00:00What?! A Sewing WIP!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIewn0Xpkb-nXt2QlZrkEXWZR86fbPJI0f1HkC213ULCuYxl_NQZznUbhLaI09IkpbqFjW94Ujwj0tbo2OZvTHC5iKBBwsgLidnnCULZVX05BASGiyHEMpBjNwSOH4HVaXxalj/s1600-h/IMAG0003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIewn0Xpkb-nXt2QlZrkEXWZR86fbPJI0f1HkC213ULCuYxl_NQZznUbhLaI09IkpbqFjW94Ujwj0tbo2OZvTHC5iKBBwsgLidnnCULZVX05BASGiyHEMpBjNwSOH4HVaXxalj/s320/IMAG0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025442064106728626" border="0" /></a>This is most (probably) of a knitting bag. Made by me. On my sewing machine. Scary biscuits. I even put the zip in by myself without help. I admit it, I am stunned. Perhaps even unable to parry...<br /><br />Okay, as yet it has no top and no bottom, and they will require more skills that I do not have. The process involves putting bias binding round circles. Now, I haven't attached bias binding to anything before, and it seems that circles are more difficult than rectangular shapes. I didn't even know what bias binding was six months ago so this is going to be an exciting process with much "Aiee!" and "Ay Caramba!"<br /><br />I have Googled<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> for <a href="http://www.hutchal.clara.net/curtains/binding.htm">instructions</a>. Jeanette did show me last week at Craft Group but I've forgotten. The information has been pushed out of my brain by the acquisition of knowledge about bobbins. (It transpires I only have only one bobbin which works in my sewing machine, which is partly why my stitching is in white instead of a matching camel colour. I'm not telling you the real reason but it might sound like frain bart.)<br /><br />Using the sewing machine results in shrieking and other cries of distress which summon the Dave as fast as an ultra-cheap sale at HMV. Sometimes I put my foot down a tad too heavily on the pedal, the machine zooms off like some turbo charged monster (super fast for a 99 year old) and I shriek in fright, followed by realisation of what I've done and some insane cackling ensues. Then the whole process starts over again about three minutes later.<br /><br />Obviously, at the moment I'm just putting off the evil moment when I have start pinning binding to fabric. I may need a bit of a rest first. Two or three years should do it.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-60697915082718971702007-01-26T17:51:00.000+00:002008-12-11T04:52:14.483+00:00Winning Streak!!This last week, I have had amazing luck on Ebay. I've snagged three pattern books I have wanted for years. Happy happy joy joy!<br /><br />The first was the Dennis the Menace pattern book. I already had a Dennis and a Gnasher from a magazine pullout but I wanted Beryl the Peril and Desperate Dan, desperately. The bid came in well under budget, so I was pure chuffed.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FkEpSUpcdDLLPZf84Nh9E5BHkJ3EPGE7K_NFZZA4Fi2KMHbuharmpvWCc8ZKw3rcBmCKsPMUxKhmnyXbDDH7IaaPQkbSLmyqEbVkaPqqzEPVuT5bAr4knI-0JsWQTEVKCAUq/s1600-h/dennis.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FkEpSUpcdDLLPZf84Nh9E5BHkJ3EPGE7K_NFZZA4Fi2KMHbuharmpvWCc8ZKw3rcBmCKsPMUxKhmnyXbDDH7IaaPQkbSLmyqEbVkaPqqzEPVuT5bAr4knI-0JsWQTEVKCAUq/s320/dennis.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024401273271823490" border="0" /></a>The Hanna-Barbera booklet also became mine for much less than the usual selling price. Anyone remember the name of those mice? My memory has failed me in this instance. It was Pebbles and Bam Bam I wanted here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire_w603LrwUgeBKOhKeeGTowJOlFAnFRdOtPacRj2BHfADtwOnf23rDicRrmcISPHXdhRuVsalWp1Jqh38AR60yq6ZHyCObjHPeDRJc40IM1GZx1eU_B7yTLYs8hc2vO2uMEQ/s1600-h/hanna.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire_w603LrwUgeBKOhKeeGTowJOlFAnFRdOtPacRj2BHfADtwOnf23rDicRrmcISPHXdhRuVsalWp1Jqh38AR60yq6ZHyCObjHPeDRJc40IM1GZx1eU_B7yTLYs8hc2vO2uMEQ/s320/hanna.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024401277566790802" border="0" /></a>But the most spectacular win of all was this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq_B2G5NCxeQqT-t2AyA0uP_0rOwKSBQj27Bp-YJtGN8EqeyzFsIqIpVFJclciRwjRQLIhSSkwse7L84Vr34sEPmi2tBLiWjzpefilL04qEDq33bHb2bb_7K0Za9iXAXIMYLL/s1600-h/dr+who.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq_B2G5NCxeQqT-t2AyA0uP_0rOwKSBQj27Bp-YJtGN8EqeyzFsIqIpVFJclciRwjRQLIhSSkwse7L84Vr34sEPmi2tBLiWjzpefilL04qEDq33bHb2bb_7K0Za9iXAXIMYLL/s320/dr+who.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024401277566790818" border="0" /></a>I've wanted this book for about four years, but every time I've bid, the price has rapidly gone out of my budget. My lust was recently intensified by <a href="http://knittyinpink.blogspot.com/">Knittyinpink</a> sharing some of pictures from the inside. My lust-o-meter bust its gasket when I saw the Action Man outfits. I am now extremely pleased to have got my own copy for under a fiver (inc. P&P). I can't stop wriggling with excitement. I paid for it about three minutes after the auction finished. It would have been sooner but Dave interrupted me. I wonder when the book will arrive? Not soon enough!! I'd better get some projects finished ASAP.<br /><br />Fingers crossed, my luck continues for another few days as I have a bid in for another long-time lust object. I won't say what in case it jinxes my chances.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-44776100225451440662007-01-21T01:37:00.000+00:002007-01-21T01:48:13.524+00:00Great Sadness...Now, my pal Dr Sordid RIP's anybody and everybody. I'm hardly ever that interested in the recently departed of the famous kind.<br /><br />I've just had my first proper trawl around the web since before Christmas, having been lanquishing in the doldrums. I'm very sad to learn that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Anton_Wilson">Robert Anton Wilson</a> died last week. He was one of those humans who deserved to live forever.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><br /></span>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-1164043076661604112006-11-20T16:59:00.000+00:002006-11-20T17:36:24.093+00:00Insomnia Strikes!Actually, I'm not sure that it is insomnia. Once I fall asleep I'm mostly okay but last night it took over three hours for me to doze off.<br /><br />As I was in my own room, I passed the time in a strangely productive manner. First of all, I made stitch & row markers for a maternal Christmas present. That's not the strange bit.<br /><br />I have a compartmentalised case in which I keep my beads, buttons & other bits and bobs. I decided that the bits and bobs were taking up vital bead room so I moved them to one of those white embroidery thread boxes. Then I noticed that there were googly eyes mixed up with rhinestones, so picked them out. To cut a long story short, I ended up sorting several hundred rhinestones by shape, then several dozen googly eyes into round & oval. Dave laughed at me, because I make fun of him reading his comics in alphabetical order. I don't care, it will be easier to find the right rhinestone when I start making my Christmas cards and it was very soothing activity which helped me relax enough to fall asleep.<br /><br />I'm not anal, I just prefer things to be <span style="font-style: italic;">arranged</span>. Nothing wrong in that. Now I've arranged one medium sized box, I can move on to the entire rest of my flat. Yes, sirree, that's what I'm going to do. Dave will also have to be properly instructed in the correct arrangement of everything.<br /><br />But only if I never fall asleep again.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-1163606311953545582006-11-15T15:57:00.001+00:002006-11-15T15:58:31.956+00:00Quizzy!<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="350"><tbody><tr><td bg="" style="color: rgb(221, 221, 221);" align="center"><span style=""><b>You Are An ISFP</b></span></td></tr><tr><td bg="" style="color: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />The Artist<br /><br />You are a gifted artist or musician (though your talents may be dormant right now).<br />You enjoy spending your free time in nature, and you are good with animals and children.<br />Simply put, you enjoy bueaty in all its forms and live for the simple pleasures in life.<br />Gentle, sensitive, and compassionate - you are good at recognizing people's unspoken needs.<br /><br />You would make a good veterinarian, pediatrician, or composer.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyourpersonalitytypequiz/">What's Your Personality Type?</a></div>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-1163606292597956832006-11-15T15:57:00.000+00:002006-11-15T15:58:12.716+00:00Quizzy!<table width="350" align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"><tr><td bg align="center" style="color:#DDDDDD;"><span style="'color:black;font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><b>You Are An ISFP</b></span></td></tr><tr><td bg style="color:#EEEEEE;"><span style="color:#000000;"><br />The Artist<br /><br />You are a gifted artist or musician (though your talents may be dormant right now).<br />You enjoy spending your free time in nature, and you are good with animals and children.<br />Simply put, you enjoy bueaty in all its forms and live for the simple pleasures in life.<br />Gentle, sensitive, and compassionate - you are good at recognizing people's unspoken needs.<br /><br />You would make a good veterinarian, pediatrician, or composer.</span></td></tr></table><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyourpersonalitytypequiz/">What's Your Personality Type?</a></div>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-1163189357932210922006-11-10T19:52:00.000+00:002006-11-10T20:58:35.690+00:00There & Back AgainOn Wednesday afternoon the Davebeast & I went to Perth, he for a job interview and me to scout a previously unvisited wool shop. There was a fabric cum craft shop I was also very keen to visit, and I had made a list of charity shop addresses. Preparation is everything, you know.<br /><br />Things did not go according to plan. The fabric/craft shop was no more - dead dead dead - but there were far more charity shops than listed in Scoot. I must have been in at least six or seven, and Davebeast thinks I missed one.<br /><br />I scored Charity Shop yarn - lurid pink mohair, royal blue mohair, black chunky & red chunky. There may have also been some yarn buying in the wool shop and elsewhere but I couldn't possibly comment. No piccies because it's been too dark to take decent ones.<br /><br />I also returned home with some lovely patterns. I've scanned in the most horrific ones for your amusement. I think Dave was praying for salvation at one point as I rummaged through folders and folders of vintage patterns - well, we were in the Salvation Army Shop :D<br /><br />I made it home in one piece but I've been suffering ever since. I walked too far and carried too much. Wednesday night I sprayed pretty much my entire body with <a href="http://www.mypharmacy.co.uk/medicines/medicines/r/ralgex/ralgex.htm">Ralgex</a> and then got a headache from the stink. Last night we only had to spray my feet and ankles. Ugh. Stinky.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/1600/scan0003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/200/scan0003.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>There's something about the arrangement of the legs in this one which spooks me. The legs seem to match in odd ways. I'm sure the two brown socks legs belong together but the photographer must have been sitting on the guy's head. It's just cos the brown leg and beige leg don't seem to match.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/1600/scan0004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/200/scan0004.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This little booklet looks sweet and innocous until you realise it contains the Scariest Doll Evar!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/1600/scan0005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/200/scan0005.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />A small, sensible, part of my brain says that the doll's face has been retouched or redrawn or something but the part that fears the dark says "No, that's a real doll and it's coming to get you!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/1600/scan0001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/200/scan0001.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Ah, the 1970s. Need I say anything more?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/1600/scan0002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/200/scan0002.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Apart from the fact that it was a very scary decade for male models. Gordon Bennett, that orange one is nearly as petrifying as the doll. I don't know if you'll be able to tell from the reduced picture size but the orange helmet is knitted in two pieces which are sewn together, according to the instructions. But it looks as if the bottom folds down and the crown part lifts out, creating a kind of topless egg cosy effect. You just have to shag a man wearing a topless egg cosy, don't you? He obviously has big tackle to dare to wear something that hideous.<br /><br />Currently, I'm knitting away on<a href="http://drsordid.blogspot.com/"> Dr Sordid's</a> Christmas pressie. I've finished the body already and am well pleased with my progress. It is knitting up far faster than I had anticipated, so I should have it finished well before Christmas. I am certain that this particular knitted item pays full, respectful homage to his evil past. I can visualise the panic on his face as he reads this, and then the relief as he remembers that I never finish anything.<br /><br /><a href="http://penguinhorde.blogspot.com/2006/10/awfully-big-adventure.html#links">Or</a> <a href="http://penguinhorde.blogspot.com/2006/10/latiss-hat-knitting-pattern.html">do</a> <a href="http://penguinhorde.blogspot.com/2006/07/mutant-bunny.html">I</a>? *manic laughter*<br /><br />Oh, a random passer-by told me I looked like a demented bumble bee in heat. I guess it was a combination of my <a href="http://www.worldwar2exraf.co.uk/Online%20Museum/Large%20photo%20pages/Siren%20suit.htm">Winston Churchill</a> physique and my hat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/1600/HIG-Snakes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5884/342/200/HIG-Snakes.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This hat is currently available in the men's section of Debenhams. I'm telling you this because I know that this hat is soooo fine you all want one.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18443887.post-1162215961590117062006-10-30T13:11:00.000+00:002006-10-30T13:46:02.723+00:00Expedition ReportThanks for all the good wishes, folks.<br /><br />I survived Saturday relatively intact, though I am still recovering from the excitement. I only managed about two hours sleep on Friday night - kid before Christmas, definitely. Yesterday I could have slept all day, and if it were not for Dave and <a href="http://www.peginc.com/Games/Savage%20Worlds/Rippers.htm">Rippers</a>, I would have.<br /><br />The Hobbycrafts show was mostly card making, which was probably a good thing. I make cards, but I'm not a maniac about it. Apparently, many of the people there <span style="font-style: italic;">were</span> maniacs, as the two little old ladies I was with both got pushed, shoved and sworn at, sometimes by other little old ladies. No one pushed, shoved or swore at me, possibly because I was dressed all in scary black. I did get anxious at times because it was so busy but I didn't actually discombulate. Great eh? That means I might risk going to the SECC in March for the textile show. I should start saving now :D<br /><br />I did buy yarn, and I don't know what I'm going to make with some of it. I bought two balls of Rowan Chunky Print (cheap), two balls of Sirdar Frenzy (very cheap), three balls of bog standard acrylic (two red, one bright green, & CHEAP) and 99g of Bubbles hand dyed mohair from Victoria Smedley (not cheap). The Bubbles is a lovely range of purples; I keep rubbing it against my face. I have no idea what I'm going to knit with this but I love it. The Rowan Chunky Print - again no idea what I'm going to use it for, but as it's 100% wool something fulled, I suspect. The Frenzy is going to be a Christmas scarf for some lucky person. The red acrylic was bought because it is a very special shade of red I haven't been able to get in Dundee. I would have preferred this red in a chunky but consider myself fortunate to have found it at all. More on that later in the week. The green acrylic is a cheery green that I've had before but been unable to obtain since, so I <span style="font-style: italic;">had</span> to get it.<br /><br />I bought some other bits and pieces, such as four skeins of braid/thread stuff that I am going to freeform and embroider with. I also got two plastic canvas hexagons and one plastic canvas heart for experimentation, and a embroidery thread storage box which was much less than I would have paid locally. I think I'll be using it for the findings & beads which I want to use at the craft group because it's a lot easier to cart around than the small 'suitcase' I use for my main collection of beads, buttons, etc.<br /><br />I surprised some of my fellow travellers by crocheting a complete hat on the journey there. In fact, with my usual <a href="http://discordia.org.uk/pentabarf.html">Erisian</a> timing I finished the hat just as we were eaten by the traffic jam. Admittedly, I was using Sirdar Nova Super Chunky and an 8mm hook but they were still impressed. I was too tired on the way back to crochet and passed the time by working out how I'd turn the Scottish countryside into knitting. The sky was three separate shades of blue, and the clouds ranged in shade from ivory through to a deep purple grey. Skies like that make me wish I could paint but the fields and hills definitely need something with lots of texture do them justice.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17686338637048673604noreply@blogger.com6