I Am Still On The Net

Just been a bit lazy with my blogging over the weekend. I haven't had much to blog about so when that happens I just leave it for a few days.

Today should have been Knit Club night but the pub was shut for filming, They never let Rachael know and she travelled all the way there to be told that the pub was closed. Thankfully she phoned me before my taxi arrived otherwise I would have been down there with her outside the door. They know that we have a regular Monday night Knit Club so it wouldn't have taken them a minute to ring Rachael and let her know. I am campaigning for free drinks for Rachael next Monday.

Today in the 4th anniversary of the loss of Ollie, the cat I inherited from a neighbour. It doesn't seem that long. It must be 10 yrs since I lost my other cat Nelson who sadly had to be put the sleep at the old age of 19 yrs as he contracted meningitis. Sad though it was I am glad that I nursed Ollie in my arms until he passed away. He deteriorated so rapidly that I didn't have the time to get him to the vet. He was under treatment from the vet for his thyroid but the vet decided that he was too old to withstand another operation and said just take him home, give him his medication  and bring him back when you feel the time is right. Ollie decided for himself and passed away very peacefully.

It's another anniversary today, It's 3 yrs since my spinal operation. It has been a partial success although this weekend it has been giving me a lot of pain. I think that i should concentrate on trying to lose  some weight as I am carrying a lot of the weight on my tummy and I think this is having an effect on my back. I think that I need to become one of the corseted ladies to improve my posture as well as maybe trying to look a bit sexy. Well a lady can but try. I have found this great site Corsets UK which is really tempting me. I have always wanted a corset but the ones that i saw before were really expensive whereas this site has some reasonably priced ones as well. Watch this space. I intend to be a Victorian tightly laced lady. (Well not that tightly laced lol)

Off to do some crochet and watch a bit of TV instead of going to Knit Club. I hope to have a more interesting post on another day.

Finished Crochet and Knitted Ornaments for Kings Arms Tree

Tonight I went to the last Kings Arms Knit Out of 2010. When we meet again it will be in the New Year. The Christmas tree is finally finished. Marie starched the crocheted snowflakes and they have completed the tree trimming along with an extra set of lights that the landlady bought. The tree has been admired. It is a different quirky trend on the traditional Christmas tree and reflects that the Knitting Club is a part of the pub now, Different members took part in making different things for the tree so there is a variety in the ornaments that have been made.

Tonight we had a bit of a party with mince pies and Stollen and our newest knit club member baby Orla came for a visit with her Mum and Dad. It might be some time before she picks up her first set of knitting needles but she has a lot of 'aunties' to guide her when she starts.

I have finished knitting one sleeve of the black cardigan for my niece and started the collar. I will have to make the second sleeve with the different dye number. Tonight I was doing a bit of crochet as I cannot see to knit black in the pub.

Oscar,my lodger cat, came in for a sleep today and got quite upset with me when I had to pick him up to make him leave. He had been in all day and I don't have a litter tray any more so I was afraid of him needing a wee before I got back this evening. He has learned to trust me now and no longer sleeps with one eye open. He flakes out in a deep sleep now, and does not stir if I go into the room, so he must know that he is safe here.

Knit and Crochet Ornaments for the Kings Arms Christmas Tree

Last night I went to the Kings Arms Knit Club as it was tree decoration time. The landlady had provided a wire Christmas tree. Rachael (Artyarn) and Marie wrapped the wire in wool and mohair so that the ornaments could be tied onto the tree. Marie provided the lights. The tree isn't finished yet but I thought that I would give you a preview of what it is going to look like. There are still some crochet icicles and snowflakes to be added along with another set of lights. My photos aren't very good ones so hopefully Rachael will take better ones of the finished tree next week.

Yesterday I had an appointment with the Osteo clinic. I didn't get to see Mr Kim, of course, just one of his underlings. She expressed concern about all of the swelling still in my leg and has advised me to go and see my GP for some anti inflammatory tablets or possibly to increase my diuretic tablets as she feels that I am retaining fluid in the tissues around the knee. I still have a knee that closely resembles a large tree trunk and am getting a bit self conscious about the noticeable difference in sizes between my two legs. I am not vain about the scar or anything like that but I do choose my wardrobe with care now whereas I could throw on any pair of pants nowadays I have to choose baggy legged pants so they don't cling to my 'fat' leg or wear a long skirt. If I felt that the swelling was slowly decreasing then I wouldn't mind but it seems to be increasing slowly. She has made me an appointment to see Mr Kim, my surgeon, in a few months time and he will discuss the results of my surgery and review operating on my left knee. The hospital see my knee operation as a success even though I can't bend it properly or kneel on it. Whilst I do see it a successful in that the pain has decreased considerably I would like to see a lot more mobility in it but as the hospital says it is still early days and these things take time. Once the weather improves and I can do more walking that might help to disperse the swelling.

I had quite a busy day yesterday so didn't get much knitting or crocheting done. I did get one of my parcels from E Kemp. It's some sale wool that was 89p a balls so I could not resist adding to my stash. I will have plenty to keep me occupied in the new year.

I am still waiting for a couple more parcels from Purplelinda but I think that they have been held up with the bad weather. I also had to order a couple more balls of the black Patons Diploma as I know that I didn't buy enough for my younger niece's jacket. I hope that they still have the same dye lot. If not I will make a complete sleeve with the new dye lot and hope that there isn't too much of a difference. Last time I had to order extra wool from Purplelinda I was lucky and got the same dye lot.

I am trying to knuckle down to regulated hours for knitting and crochet in an attempt to get everything finished in time for Christmas. I prefer to knit the black in the daylight so that is my day shift project. My evening shift project isn't much better as that is either going to be another brown fleck boy's jacket or another boy's hooded beige jacket. Still the more that I procrastinate the less gets done.

Time to wash the dishes from last night and breakfast. I had so little time to eat and get ready to go out last night after my hospital appointment that the dishes got left in the sink. Bad Jan. Still there was only me to see them when I got back in. I decided not to do them last night and so they greeted me first thing this morning.

Another Craft Light

I ordered a plug in craft light for when I am knitting and crocheting in the electric light. This lamp is described as daylight suitable for craft work and also a S.A.D light. As I already have one S.A.D light I can now be sad in more than one room now without having to find and plug a light in. I can't tell the new light's full potential until it is dark which won't be long as the night's are getting really dark around 4pm. I did buy a craft light a while ago but I could not direct the beam anywhere near me as it made my hands almost burn as it got so hot. It has now broken as I knocked it off the desk. I do hope that the new light doesn't have the same problem. I like a bright light for crafting but I don't want a burned neck and hands.

I got fed up of sitting with my head practically under the lampshade of my standard light in order to see my work when I am using a dark colour. Last night I was knitting with navy blue and even with the head light I couldn't see what I was doing. I am hoping that when tonight comes I will have this lovely bright light to illuminate my old eyes. The only snag with this light is that it has come attached to a very short length of flex so it will be tricky stretching it to where I want to stand it even with an extension cable.

The out of stock Christmas Ornament book arrived from Purplelinda today. The reason that it says 3 ways on the cover is that inside there is a choice of making the ornaments in different thicknesses and therefore different sizes. I haven't had a good look at it yet but I think that there is quite a few patterns that I will use for the Kings Arms Christmas tree project.

I have managed to finished off one side of the button band on Eve's jacket. It doesn't sound like I knitted much but the band is 6" wide and has shaping for the collar. It is in a rib and I had to stare at what I was knitting so that I didn't go wrong. I have just picked up the stitches for the other side of the band and have also cast on one sleeve. Hopefully I will be able to see the second button band clearer with the new craft light. All being well it will get finished by the weekend.

Another Wet Miserable Dark Day

Last night I went to Knit Club at the Kings Arms in Salford. I have pinched one of Rachael's photographs and although we are all looking desperately serious on the photo we did have a good evening with plenty of laughs.

The landlady of the pub has bought a metal spiral Christmas tree and our next project is to crochet or knit the ornaments for it. I haven't started yet but I have been looking through my patterns, the ones on Ravelry and Crochet Central. I have quite a few ideas buzzing through my head. Rachael has some icicle type patterns and have ordered some white and silver metallic thread to make them with. I have also seen patterns for candy canes, tiny stockings and sweaters on Ravelry. We are sticking to the theme of red, white and green with bits of shiny white or silver thrown in. We wanted to have a Christmassy colour theme rather than a hotchpotch of different colours.

I am about 4 rows away from finishing the belt of my maroon crochet jacket. I still have to stitch the sleeves together and set them in but I am hoping to get that finished tonight. Last night I put a few more rows in on the grey knitted scarf for Louise. I like a bit of mindless crochet or knitting for Knit Club nights. I am getting worse at concentrating on a pattern and chatting at the same time.I even went wrong on the Fisherman Rib but I manage to unpick it and correct it.

I have wasted much of today searching for patterns. I have ordered some cotton to make something for my sister in law for Christmas but as I don't buy knitting magazines I think that I am going to have to enlist the help of my niece to choose a pattern for her Mum. I need to start the plain navy jacket for my other niece's friend as my niece and her husband are coming to Manchester on the 14th and I would like to have it finished by then if possible to avoid having to post it down to London. If I don't make that deadline then a friend is visiting them in London the week after that. It is quite a plainish jacket so once I start I should be able to crack along with it. Well that is providing I don't fall asleep that is.

My sleep pattern is still all over the place. I can't sleep long in my bed at night and so am nodding off during the day. Days go by and I seem to accomplish very little. If things don't get better by the weekend I will book an appointment with my GP for a chat. I have been switching on my S.A.D light every morning but it doesn't seem to be livening me up any.

Yesterday I did get a rude awakening when I tried to have a shower. The water was freezing cold and would not get warm. I could not understand this as the radiators were warm. Fortunately I managed to restart the boiler and was able to continue my shower in the warmth. I had a few hairy moments. We take our central heating boilers for granted and when they go wrong it is a catastrophe.

The curtains are all drawn. The lights are on and it's only 5pm! The clocks changing do make the evenings so long. I can still hear the rain hammering down on the roof. I do hope that there is something entertaining on the TV tonight to distract me otherwise I will be fast asleep again like some old biddie. I had my lodger cat in all last night but I think that because of the rain he is in his own house tonight. I had to literally put him out this morning for a wee as he wasn't for leaving on his own. I think that he is too comfy in my house. When the car I was in drew up outside my house last night he came running across the road to greet me and then he dived in the front door even before I walked through it. I am too soft with him. He has all his own way in my house whereas at home he has to contend with 2 noisy teenagers and a 12yrs old. He likes the comfort and the peace and quiet of my house.

Shrove Tuesday

It's Shrove Tuesday today or in other words Pancake Day. As I am such a rubbish pancake maker so I chose the easy route of 'ready made just add water and shake' this year. My ex husband was a whizz at the pancakes. Not much of a cook but pancakes were his speciality. When he left my son took over the pancake reins. I was about to say that they were both expert tossers but somehow that sounds rather rude! I have never had strong wrists and I think the knack to pancake tossing is strong wrists and a firm steady flip. I made a couple of pancakes for lunch but mine stuck to the pan and I had to prise them loose with a spatula so I finished up with broken wrinkly pancakes. They tasted good though sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with lemon juice. Not as good as the homemade variety but I can keep the rest of the mix in the fridge and have more tonight. I think saying the mix makes 6 pancakes was rather over optimistic as the amount that they said per pancake was less than the size of a saucer no matter how much I tried to spread it about in the pan!

It felt so good to get to the Kings Arms for a knit and natter last night. I hadn't realized just how much I had missed going. Once the weather gets better and the nights get lighter I must try to make more of an effort to get there.

The amaryllis flowers are starting to close up and die now but there is a third shoot starting up from the bottom so it is indeed the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. I will look forward to yet more flowers on my kitchen window sill.

I woke up to snow this morning but thankfully it was just a light dusting and has now melted. I am starting to sleep better. I still wake up in the night but manage to go straight back to sleep instead of tossing and turning for ages as I did before. The downside is that I am sleeping much later than I ususally do but at least I feel better. I think it is a combination of things that is making me feel better but whatever it is I am glad not to be feeling the way that I did.

I rang the hospital yesterday just to confirm that I am once again back on the waiting list for the op but the lady who dealt with me on Friday is off for a week's holiday. No-one else seemed to know anything about it. I will write myself a note to ring next Monday to double check. This is how I slipped through the net last time. Although I informed them and my GP faxed details to them they forgot to put me back on the list so I am understandably nervous this time.

My knitting is still progressing slowly. I have now got about half way up the first sleeve. I am still thinking what to make with the She mohair for the Knitting Noras challenge.I did start something last night but am not altogether happy with it but cannot undo it as it seems to have welded itself together as it is fine mohair.I might just have to run with the first idea that I had otherwise I will have to waste the wool that I have already worked with.

I looked at my calendar today and realized that yesterday was the anniversary of the start of this blog. Happy belated third birthday to my blog.

Ready To Go

The bags are packed and ready to go. I am lucky enough to get the offer of a lift from my niece to the Kings Arms Knit Club tonight. Marie will hopefully be there tonight and as she works near by the Big Issue in Manchester she has offered to drop in the hats and scarves that I have made for the homeless. I haven't finished making them but I am taking a wee break just for now. It is an ongoing project so I will return to it from time to time and just keep the hats until I can get them delivered to the Big Issue. I haven't, as yet, made any gloves so maybe that will be something that I can make next.

The Kaftan knitting has moved on a bit. I now have a back and two fronts knitted. I don't think that i will be taking a sleeve with me to the Knit Club as I will probably go wrong as I am knitting and nattering,. I haven't been for such a long time that I am sure there is a lot to catch up on. I will take something simple with me.

Today is miserable, dull and rainy and so I plugged in my SAD light. I can't tell as yet whether it is the lamp, the usually better weather or the anti depressants but I am feeling better. Perhaps it is a combination of all three.

Next door's cat Oscar has come in out of the rain. He has settled upstairs somewhere but no doubt I will disturb him when I go up for a shower shortly. He is a nervous cat and even though he knows me well he still jumps a mile if I go anywhere near him. He only allows me to stroke and pet him if I am feeding him.

I am looking forward to going out tonight. Being in the company of other people always lifts my spirits and the Kings Arms knitters are usually a lively bunch.I have put a link to the photos that Rachael has posted showing some of the members of the Knit Club. Click on the blog title.

Slow Progress

Not much to report on the knitting front today. I am still ploughing on with my niece's chunky jacket. I decided to block out the pieces I have knitted just to reassure myself that it would stretch out as it was looking very narrow on the needles. As my instructions were to make a big floppy jacket I was a bit worried but as you can see it has blocked out nice and wide. I still have one front to complete and then the bands.

I was a bit concerned about the shaping in the front as I have never shaped a front neck before from the sleeve edge. I am sure that Sirdar knows what it is doing but on most patterns I have decreased at the front edge inside the cable border. I just hope that it doesn't pull the pattern a bit sideways when it is stitched up. I tried to block it out by shaping the armhole like the back.

I feel like this jacket has taken me ages but then it is 34" long so that is quite a few inches longer than I would normally knit a jacket.

I went to the Kings Arms Knit Club last night and it was absolutely freezing. The heating in the pub had broken down and we could see our breath in the snug. It will be my last visit for a little while as Pam who gives me a lift is relocating to St Annes at the weekend so won't be coming to the knit club every week from now on. Last night was the first night that I had gone without a coat. Normally I don't need one as I am picked up and dropped off door to door but I wish I had put my fleece on last night. The heating engineer who was "on his way" when we arrived hadn't made an appearance before we left just after 9pm.

Next door's cat was waiting in my porch for me to return and as soon as the key was turned in the door he shot in and straight on the sofa for a warm. He is still here and is refusing point blank to leave. I don't blame him as today is wet, cold and miserable. This kind of weather really makes me feel down. Last night we had freezing fog. It's going to be a long time until the sun shines properly again.

Woman's Weekly Knit and Crochet Special

Tonight I went to the Kings Arms, Salford Knit Club. It felt good to go there tonight as I have missed a couple of weeks. I really enjoy the company there. Great bunch of people plus the joy of knitting in a pub that always makes us feel so welcome. Somehow it all makes for a different atmosphere to the usual Knit Clubs. Not as many people there as usual but we had a good natter and a good laugh.

I have started an All Shawl with a part machine cone that I was given and will have to adapt as the cone is a mere 4ply weight and the pattern is for much thicker yarn. I will improvise when I get to the edging pattern. I wanted some mindless crochet for the Knit Club yesterday and tonight. I cannot concentrate on anything too complicated whilst chatting.

I have also started another baby pattern by Kay Jones. Once again I will be adapting as the pattern is for 4ply and I have double knitting yarn. A minor detail that I will work on. I will use the pattern stitch from this new pattern but use the stitches and rows from the pattern I have just made with a bit of improvisation to make it a V Neck. All will be revealed when I take photographs tomorrow.

The photos today are from the Woman's Weekly Knitting and Crochet Special Autumn 2009 that I bought yesterday from WH Smiths in Bolton. It has quite a few garments in there that I like. One is the grey shawl collar cardigan which is crocheted and I like the striped baby all in one with a little hat which I will adapt to make a sweater. The crochet duffle coat is another pattern that I like. There is also a pattern for a knitted Noddy doll and a Thomas the Tank sweater in the magazine.

Crafty Crafty Calendar Support

The Crafty Crafty blog has given the Naked Knitting Calendar a mention. If you click on my blog title you can read the article. DeadlyKnitShade contacted me on Ravelry and said that she was doing a write up about the calendar in Crafty Crafty and also for Stitch and Bitch London.The write up on Stitch and Bitch will appear on Monday so I will try to remember to post the link to it then. She says that as a cancer survivor she is all for kicking the a*se of cancer a sentiment most of us share.

Buster went home today and so I will have the task of de hairing the house and washing everything in sight tomorrow. He didn't go home until almost 5pm and I had to go and collect my prescription after that so have decided to leave the big clean up until tomorrow. I will miss having his company but I must admit that I found him really hard work this time and my knee suffered badly because of all the walking. Despite cleaning him thoroughly after a walk I have a rather grimy looking cream leather sofa which will be the first thing that I clean.That and washing every cushion in the house as well as every throw and all the bedding. I hope it is a nicer day tomorrow as today has been rain coming down like stair rods all day.

Lisa is on the plinth in Trafalgar square between 9 - 10 pm tonight and some of the Noras are going around to Bev's to watch her live on either the TV or the PC. I am not sure quite what she is doing except she requested some knitted daisies but I didn't have any time to make any and am not sure if anyone else did either.

I have started the Pink Duster coat by Doris Chan in black for myself. After I made the pink one that is featured on the front cover of the calendar I promised myself that I would make it again but in black. I am using a double knit this time and so the effect will not be as thick or as heavy. I have used a finer hook from the bust downwards to give the coat a bit of waist shaping which the pink one doesn't have. The photo is as the coat was yesterday when I first started it. It is too dark now to take more photos so I will take more tomorrow. It will probably take me another hour to pick off Buster's hair from my crochet! I will be crocheting away tonight as I watch Gok Wan on How To Look Good Naked and look if he has used any of the calendar photos in tonight's programme. Lisa got asked to submit 3 photos but we are not sure if they are going to be used yet. It would have been nice if they had made a film of us as they did last week with the Naked Mountain Rescue team but the production team only wanted photos.

On Monday night I went to the Kings Arms Knit Club. Rachael was there for the last time for 3 months. She is off to complete a 3 month residency at Artists Unlimited in Bielefeld, Germany. She is thrilled to have been given this opportunity but we will all miss her at the Kings. We will keep the Knit Club fires burning whilst you are away Rachael and remember to put the books out! I am sure that she will find a Knit Club (or start one) whilst she is out there. We did suggest her using a laptop and web cam to join in and Knit with us at the Knit Club via the wonders of the Internet.

Oops - That Adaptation Didn't Work

As you can see my first attempt at making Jen's Blue Curacao shawl in double knit hit a snag. I have made the adaptation once before and swore never again. Basically the shawl was designed by Doris Chan for Aran weight wool. I have made it successfully (if somewhat larger) in chunky but the pattern does not adapt well to finer yarn. I thought that I had cracked the repeat pattern to continue to make it larger but as you can see crochet, pattern adaptions and watching TV don't exactly mix so I had to unravel 3 balls worth of crochet last night. Grrr I will have to take more care when I restart and lay the shawl flat after every row to make sure that the pattern is tracking and the increases are in the right place this time.

Last night I went to the Kings Arms Knit Club. We had a hilarious time as the Laughing Club meet upstairs and so far we have never heard them. Last night, however, they must have been on a roll as gales of laughter were coming from the upstairs room combined with a lot of running about and thumping. Lord only knows what they were up to but it did sound fun. I believe it is some kind of therapy group where they start off doing laughing exercises and finish up with genuine laughter.

I must congratulate Rachael (and Ben of course),one of the Knit Club founders as she has got engaged and was bringing some light into the snug by flashing her sparkler around! She is off to Germany soon for 3 months with her art. Her blog is ArtYarn and the link is on the right hand side. You should take a look as she is a very talented lady.

Today I am off to Bolton Market to meet up with Kath and Sylvia. Have a spot of lunch and a browse around the market. They have one of the best fish stalls in the North followed closely by the famous Bury Market.

Hurray for Mondays

I don't usually like Mondays much as a rule but today has been a good day. The sun shone. OK it wasn't warm but at least it wasn't raining!

I had a few phone calls in the morning, did a bit of washing and then had a visit from an old friend who brought me a knitting machine and ribber which belonged to his late mother which I am passing on to another friend. We had a chat outside and another friend who knows both of us joined in the chat. These are the things that you can do on a sunny day. It's no wonder that I feel better on a sunny day than on a wet rainy miserable day. I miss days like this when the weather turns cold and everyone huddles indoors.

I have finished a crochet baby cardigan. The pattern is number 173 from Kay Jones If you click n my blog title and scroll down it is the last pattern on the page. She is UK based and therefore writes her patterns in UK terms which for me is far easier to understand. I have to make another cardigan in the same colour and pattern but I am going to wait until this one gets tried on to see if the second baby needs one bigger or smaller than this one. The wool is Robin Bonny Babe DK and is basically white with little flecks of pink.lilac and lemon. The little flowers have pearl beads in the centre on the pattern but the person I am making these cardigans for doesn't want me to put those on. It has taken 100 grams.

I am now making another of Kay Jones baby patterns. A sweater in cream lustre. It may be finished tomorrow if I have any time to crochet during the day.

Tonight I went to the Kings Arms Knit Club. I was lucky enough to get a lift from Pam as I really don't like waiting for buses after dark. There were not as many there as usual. Nine if I counted right. Jane was there and for the first time since I have been going to the Kings she wasn't knitting her plarm (plastic yarn) bags. Her niece is having a baby so she was busy knitting baby clothes. Rachael is going to do a residency in Germany with her art for 3 months soon so I hope that the Knit Club will continue to be as popular whist she is away. It is the second anniversary of the start of the club soon and she is thinking of what to do to celebrate it this year. Last year we went to an Italian restaurant in Monton but I hope we choose somewhere more central this time.

A Glimpse of me on TV again

Tonight the Kings Arms Salford knitters were featured on BBC 1 North West Tonight. They had filmed the knitters a couple of months ago but they only aired it tonight. They interviewed Rachael, Jane with her plarn (plastic bags cut into strips to make yarn for knitting bags) Marie and Roger with his crocheting. I did catch a very brief glimpse of myself and Charlie as the camera panned around the room. The Knitted chandelier also featured in the programme. The photos on here are old photos taken at the Kings some time ago.

Today I met up with Sylvia and Kath in Manchester. We went into Abakhan but I was very restrained and only came away with a crochet pattern. Sylvia and Kath bought a selection of wool. We had a lovely meal in Simple on Tib Street. It always makes a lovely change for me to get out and about but my knee lets me down and really pains me. I am so fed up of not being able to walk properly and wanting to sit down all of the time. I have an appointment with the physio tomorrow. I have been doing the exercises that she gave me but if anything my knee is worse than it was before I started doing them. I might be strengthening the leg muscles but they are doing nothing for the pain. Today it was as painful as it has ever been. I had hoped that by now the pain would be diminishing.

I still haven't done much crochet or knitting. Yesterday Julie helped me out by mowing my lawn and I did a pile of ironing. I was shattered later on and fell asleep watching the TV. I am getting so little sleep during the night that it is affecting me in the evenings. I just can't seem to keep awake. I managed to do a few rows of a baby cardigan at Knit Club tonight but nothing that I could photograph. I doubt if I will get much done tomorrow as I will be at the hospital for some of the day.

Filmed once again

Tonight I am off to the Kings Arms Salford where a film crew from the BBC are set to film the knitting group for North West Tonight. I am a member of this knitting group as well as the Knitting Noras but I just haven't been down for a few weeks. This time I will be one of the crowd making up the numbers and not being interviewed. It is about Artyarn and the knitting club in general. They will also be filming ArtYarn's new project 'The Knitting Orchestra' on the 27th May. If you would like to know any more about the knitting orchestra then follow the link to Artyarn by clicking on my blog title. I regularly read the blog as it always contains very interesting articles about art and knitting world wide and is not solely about Rachael and Sarah.

I have got to the edging and fringing stage of Bev's shawl but I won't be taking it with me as it is a bit difficult to fringe anything at a knit club. The light in the Kings Arms isn't very bright so I won't be taking Deb's shawl either or I will be faced with a lot of unravelling when I get home. I will have to find another project to start before I go.

Today I have been washing bedding and generally de hairing the house from Buster's visit. He is moulting badly so has left a liberal sprinkling of hair everywhere. Thank goodness my vintage hoover still has a good suction.

Off now to sign some autographs (joking!) and choose something to take with me to work on at the Knit Out.

Down Memory Lane

Not much to report about my crochet today as I really haven't made any progress on anything.

I mentioned yesterday that I was going to get Vicky's crochet squares down from the spare bedroom but that didn't happen. My son asked me if I would scan some photos of when he was growing up so that he could put them on a disc on his computer. I am not very savvy about scanning things so by the time I had found the photos and browsed through them for hours the day just slipped away. I have managed to scan quite a few for him and he will be calling later to put them on a disc or a memory stick. All far too technical for me. It was nice to look through all the photos and the memories they brought back. I must admit that I hadn't looked through them in quite a while. The photo I have posted on here was when my son was aged about 4 and had fallen top to bottom down 4 concrete steps in a neighbour's garden the day before the school photographer was due to call. I kept the photo as it is all part of his childhood. I think he looks very cute even with a busted lip and grazes. The teacher asked me at the time if I wanted the photographer to not snap him but I said no I still want one.

I went to the Kings Arms last night and it was packed. Loads of people there - almost standing room only. I wasn't expecting to go as Charlie had rung me to say her husband was working late and so she probably wasn't going. I am always grateful of the lift but if she isn't going them I don't worry about it as I know how difficult it can be to get out when your husband works long hours and you have a small child to take care of. I was almost a social hermit when Ian was small. She invited me to knit at hers and as she only lives around the corner I accepted. Her husband arrived home later and so we were able to get to the Kings. I was glad we managed to get there as I was able to give the curly wurly scarf to Rachael. It will be the last time I will see her before the raffle. Charlie isn't going for a couple of weeks and therefore neither will I.

I really must try to get some crochet done today. I had taken some dark red wool to crochet last night not thinking that I would be crocheting in the dim lights at the Kings. I had to give up in the end as I couldn't see what I was crocheting. I have threatened to buy a miner's helmet with a light attached. Tesco Direct sell a headband with a light on so I might invest in one of those. I may look rather silly but at least I will be able to see what I am doing!

Cardigan almost finished

I have finished the knitting of my sister in law's Christmas cardigan. No photos yet as I am awaiting some blocking boards/play mats that I have ordered online from the Early Learning Centre. They had some pink flowered play mats on Sale for £10 for 4 (plus postage of £5) which was the cheapest online that I have seen anywhere. The comments suggest that in play the daisies wear off so who knows - my sweaters and shawls might have daisies transferred onto them whilst blocking. Interesting? I have ordered 2 packs of them anyway so I will have enough to block a large shawl. It's probably the reason they have been reduced by £5 a pack.

The Jaeger Roma yarn must have a really good yardage as I have so many balls left after finishing the cardigan that I have decided to make a tank top for my sister in law as well. I started it whilst watching Charley Boorman on TV last night (Cor! - Yeah for Charley Boorman especially on his bike - who can forget the Long Way Down with Ewan McGregor) She can either wear them together as a twin set even though the pattern is different. She can wear it as a summer top (ha ha what summer) or put a blouse underneath and wear it as a tank top. Both the cardigan and the top are in Knit Today Issue 23.

I am itching to start some crochet and I know that I will cave in and start some eventually. I have resisted so far, apart from a pair of crochet slippers, but am getting withdrawal symptoms.

I am going to try to get to the Kings Arms tonight on the Metro. I will have to be armed with my A_Z otherwise I will get lost on my way from the station to the pub and don't want to walk any more than I have to. I have been looking at ArtYarns blog and Rachael's Blog (links on RHS of my blog) to see the photos of the Kings Arms chandelier and the stitching up of all of the OXFAM squares which look very impressive. There are also photos of the street furniture and tree crochet and knit which was on display at the Islington festival in Salford. Just click on the photos or click on the links in the blog to view them.

Rah Boom De Ay

The Rah Boom De Ay from the Everyday Crochet Book by Doris Chan is finished. Surprisingly I do like it although it is quite a bright red and the opportunities to wear it might be small. It's not exactly the sweater to wear whilst walking the dog or cleaning the house. It is not as unflattering in wear as I thought it would be. I thought that all the frills over the hips would make me look even bigger than I already am but the frills actually sit below the hip line. I will try to take some photos of it in wear but the light in this room is so dark because of all the rain lately and I have to use a web cam to take photos when I am wearing a garment. I will try to post photos of the sweater later as Blogger will not let me post the photos on this post.

I am knitting at the moment. The lacy cardigan from Knit Today for my sister in law. I will post photos of it tomorrow. I was struggling a bit with the lacy pattern until I re-wrote it on Microsoft word in bigger font and once the pattern was all on one line instead of broken up over 3 lines for each pattern row in the small columns of the magazine I was able to follow it easier. I really don't like the 4 columns per page format of the magazine. Two columns per page is far easier to read.

Last night I went out for a meal to Felicini in Eccles with the ladies from the Kings Arms to celebrate their first anniversary of the formation of the knit club. Most took their knitting but I didn't as I had just started the lacy cardigan and didn't feel confident enough about the pattern stitch to knit and chat. It was a good job that they took their knitting as we had a really long wait for our meal. Admittedly we did keep them waiting at first as we waited to order for Jane to arrive, who had to walk from Eccles tram stop, but the meal took so long to arrive we would have eaten the tablecloth if there had been one! Charlie picked me up and brought me home again. I was extremely grateful for the lift as otherwise I would not have been able to go. I would not have been up to the long walk from the tram station. My back is a bit sore today. I think it was sitting too long on the uncomfy restaurant chairs last night. I left with a rattan imprint on my thighs!

It's times like this that I am going to miss not having a car. I have made the decision to get rid of it as I have decided that I would rather spend my money on being able to turn on my heating this winter than struggle to keep a car on the road. It would need MOT, road tax and insurance to go back on the road. It will be tough for me to lose my Independence as I have owned a car since I was 17 and never been without one since but circumstances change and I have to cut my cloth according to my means as my mother would say. It will be public transport and taxis for me from now on. I have joked that not only am I looking for Prince Charming I am now looking for one with transport!

Tomorrow I will be taking the tram for the first time since my op as I have to go to the dentist in the morning. Eadaoin and Jen are coming to visit me in the afternoon so I will have a busy day. I like having company as it passes the day quicker for me. I do go out most days ,weather permitting, but I find it hard to drum up any interest in going for a walk in the pouring rain. The TV has just issued a severe weather warning about more rain coming so I had better check that the drain in front of my garage is clear of leaves and rubbish otherwise I get a duck pond in my driveway when it rains hard. I am not supposed to be pushing a brush around but I can't risk a flood.

The photo of me is courtesy of Eadaoin. She took her camera to the Knit Out on Sunday. I am wearing my Farpoint Topper and 3 chins. Obviously I haven't lost any weight since my operation yet!

Knitters in the News

Last night I managed to get to the Kings Arms Knitters Club thanks to the very welcome lift from Charlie. I went, armed with my cushion, as sadly the Arms does not boast the comfiest of seating for my recovering back. It felt so good though to be out of the house and back to a bit of normality again. The big ocassion was the official unveiling of the knitted chandelier. I can't take any credit for this as the ladies of the club made this totally without a single contribution from me - oh shame on me! Last night a photographer from the Manchester Evening News came to photograph the chandelier and all of the knitters. We had a very good turn out and he took several photos. There will be an article appearing in the paper, possibly tonight, but you can relax as he didn't point his camera in my direction at all. (Maybe because I was crocheting?) The article has apparently already been written from a telephone conversation with one of the ladies so I have no idea what has been said until the article appears.

I also got news yesterday from the Bolton Knitting Noras group that I joined quite a while back. Lisa has been organising the knitted garden and if you have read my blog then I have mentioned this joint effort in the past. Several Noras made fruit, veg and aniumals for the garden and have been to festivals lately and taken the garden with them to display. Once again I was a sad participant and only made a few crochet mushrooms. The ladies have been offering their services (relax - purely as knitting tutors) to anyone at these festivals who might be interested. Apparently there was an article in the Guardian newspaper mentioning the merry band of knitters.

Pick of the week: Rock and pop
The Guardian,
Saturday August 16 2008
Article history
Solfest
South Bay Beach, Wigton
Friday 22
Strangely wonderful mix of hula-hooping, knitathons and willow-making workshops among the likes of Supergrass and Róisín Murphy. Not at the same time, mind.

I have not made it to any of these festivals as I am allergic to camping under wet canvas. That's my excuse anyway. In actual fact I am just too flipping old for tents and hard ground. I have a millionaire's taste in holidays on a pauper's purse and if my camping doesn't involve a luxury caravan with hot running water, clean shower and toilet then quite frankly count me out! I am old and therefore I am allowed to be pernickety! I haven't been away for years but until I can afford to go in style I will join the fashionable stay at homes once again this year. If I ever get that winning lottery ticket then luxury holiday here I come!

If anyone is interested in viewing photos of these festivals and the knitted garden then visit Eadaoin's Flickr site (where you can also view her beautiful hamd made jewelry)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eadaoinflynn/

and the Bolton Knitting Noras Flickr site with photos of the ladies and the festivals.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/815584@N24/pool/

I am still progressing with the Blue Curacao shawl and I have hopefully made no further mistakes since I completely restarted it. I have had to add more rows of pineapples than stated on the pattern. Doris used much thicker wool in her version so this one was lacking in length when made exactly to the pattern. I am working out if I have enough wool for another set of pineapples plus the fan edging as it does need to finish on a pattern repeat or it will look very odd. I am sure that Vicky J will block it down to a better length once it is finished. I have seen the before and after blocking photos on Ravelry and the shawl does "grow" considerably. I think that it would look nice semi blocked as some of the shawls pictured have been very overstretched but I will leave that to Vicky's judgement.

Today is another wet miserable day. I know that I need to keep up with my little walks for exercise but it isn't very inspiring when the days are so wet. Half the channels on my Sky TV are still missing so it looks like I might have to give in and call an engineer sometime soon to sort it all out. I think I will tough it out though until I get the tree sorted out first. I still have plenty channels to watch just not always the nature, home improvement and documentary programmes that I like to watch. The junk channels are all still there - typical!

Rain, rain go away

I am trying to wash the bedding and throws just in case (Ha Ha) I get called into hospital tomorrow but the rain is immanent and all of my washing is out there on the line. Don't you just love the British Summer. Buster is, of course, unimpressed with my cleaning efforts and just wants to play ball as you can see. He tried to give me two rather squashed squeaky balls while I was hanging out the washing.I think he knows something is happening as he has become very clingy these last couple of days. Wherever I am he is about 2" away from my feet. I have started him on some Glucosamene tablets to see if it will help his stiff joints but it is a constant battle trying to hide them in his food. Guess who always finds the bits and spits them out? I think my son is coming to get him tonight and if so then I need to give my suite a really good hoover before it goes to it's new home. I do it most days but the dog hair still clings to the velvety fabric and I would hate someone to think I am a dirty so and so who doesn't clean properly.

My crochet hasn't grown much as you can see as I have been doing other things instead of my crochet. I haven't gone wrong once with this garment so I am finally getting the hang of Doris and her shaping. I doubt if it will be finished before I go into hospital provided I do get the call tomorrow. The project is a bit large to take in with me so I will just stick with the sock knitting as planned. I might get a few rows done before my op. I can't bear to sit and do nothing. I was hoping that my Interweave crochet mags would have arrived before I went in but no sign of them today. I have e mailed Pavi Yarns to see if they are on their way but have not, as yet, had a reply.**** (See below) I wanted to browse them when I couldn't do any knit or crochet. I am always a very nervous Internet orderer and have only just started to do this. I worry all the time about using my cards etc. I think there are so many warnings about Internet fraud that it does make you very wary about parting with information. Maybe it's an age group thing or maybe it is me who has a suspicious mind. I would rather go into a shop and buy things that I can see but these days wool shops are rarer than hen's teeth.

I have added 2 more links to my blog. Charlie Chuckles and ArtYarn. These are two of the ladies from the Kings Arms Knitters. I hope that you do follow my favourite links to blogs from time to time as if not then you will be missing some interesting blog posts. I do love to read blogs. I find out lots of things from other peoples blogs and follow their links onto blogs that I otherwise would probably never read. The trouble with blogs and Ravelry is that I read too much and crochet too little some days. I haven't quite mastered the art of crocheting and blogging at the same time yet.

I am off to walk Buster now and then back to the cleaning. My back will be well and truly knackered if I do go in tomorrow but it has to be done. I don't want to come home to hairy carpets and a muddy paw printed kitchen floor.

Oh my neighbour Julie went to Christies yesterday and is having another op to remove the offending lump in her pancreas, that was left behind from the previous operations, and refused to respond to the chemo and has been re-asssured that she is not having any more chemo. I do hope that all goes well with her. She was positively upbeat about the consultation yesterday and feels happier about everything now that her questions have been answered. Her consultant seems to be fairly confident about it all so I pray that his diagnosis is correct. Her eyebrows have returned and some of her hair so that is helping with her confidence. Yesterday she was laughing out loud when we walked the dogs and it was so good to hear that sound which has been missing for so long.

****I am editing to say that Pavi have replied to my e mail and my magazines are in the post - Yeah! I hope that they arrive in tomorrow's mail. I love new magazines.