indieknits

SoSeSaSwa package!

I collected my SoSeSaSwa package from the post office yesterday! Check out what Laura sent me:

UK Alpaca sock yarn (I've been wanting to try alpaca sock yarn for ages!), Hotel Chocolat chilli chocolate (YUMMY!!), a Lush bath bomb, white tea, a gorgeous wash cloth, Wasabi peanuts (which I am munching on as I type), a Christmas candle and last but not least, the Mermaid Tail Lace socks pattern.

Thank you Laura!

My package went in the post on Wednesday so should hopefully be with my pal today or tomorrow.

Sosesaswa Questionnaire

Before I launch into my questionnaire, I wanted to share a picture of Shur'tagal sock number one:

Here's my questionnaire for the SoSeSaSwa swap, which I am hosting with Alice and Justine!

1. What are your favourite colours and fibres? I think in general I like muted, natural colours. However, pretty much anything goes when it comes to socks, except neon and garish! My favourite fibre for socks is merino although I'd like to try something new, like alpaca or cashmere. I'm stalking Wollmeise at the moment and am hoping I'll be able to lay my hands on some yarn in their next shop update!

2. Anything that makes your toes curl? (Fibre, colour, other) Toes curl in a bad way? Neon and garish colours. Anything over 20% acrylic. Too many different colours in one skein. Itchy mohair (it's official, I have sensitive skin. The doctor told me so!) Fussy? Moi?

3. Would you describe yourself as a beginner, intermediate or advanced knitter? I'd say intermediate.

4. Do you have an online wishlist? (Amazon or other) Yes, you can view my Amazon wishlist here. I also have a wishlist with Alice which I need to update!

5. Any new techniques you'd like to learn? Hmm... I really have to learn magic loop! I have the 2.25mm circulars and a couple of instruction booklets, but still haven't made the leap!

6. What is your favourite:

Snack? - Anything savoury. I love wasabi peas, olives, cheese. YUM.
Book? - I'll read pretty much anything in my lunch breaks, but my favourite books so far have been The Thirteenth Tale and The House at Riverton.
Movie? - I have no idea, sorry! Not a big movie buff!
Music? - My music taste is pretty varied, so I'll name a few artists I listen to a lot - Santogold, The Raconteurs, MGMT, Field Music, The Flaming Lips, These New Puritans.

7. What are your favourite items to knit? Socks!! Oh and lace too.

8. Any patterns that are top of your queue? My Ravelry queue needs some work but there are loads of sock patterns in there, all of which I want to knit. I can never decide on which one to cast on next! I've just ordered the Fratello kit from Yarnissima so that's at the top somewhere, but I also want to cast on for some kind of shawl...probably Foliage or maybe Cliete.

9. Do you have any other hobbies? I used to do a lot of t-shirt stencilling but haven't done any in a while. The only other crafty thing I do regulary is dyeing!

10. Tell us about yourself. When did you first pick up your needles? Who/what encouraged you to start knitting? How would you describe your knitting style? Are you a process knitter or a product knitter, etc.

I first started knitting in June 2004. My friend Jill knit me a scarf and bought me a copy of Stitch N Bitch for my birthday. A week or so later she took me to John Lewis and helped me pick out some yarn. When I got home I shut myself away in the bedroom and about an hour later Ross heard me cry 'Eureka!'. It just clicked and I've been addicted ever since!

Little projects appeal to me the most, except for the occasional biggie (I consider Audrey to be a biggie!). I'm not much of a sweater person so don't bother knitting them for myself anymore. I always feel a bit too boxed in and hot when wearing them, if you know what I mean!

Process or product knitter? I've been thinking about that for a while and I can't make my mind up. I definitely consider myself a Knitter with a capital K, though.

Happy Saturday

Happy Saturday to you! I hope all my US readers had a great day yesterday.

Check out the package I received from a Ravelry swap!

Caspian really spoiled me. She sent:

• Loads of Wasabi snacks, which are very yummy and very addictive.
• Original Praline and Hershey's chocolate for my sweet tooth!
• Two guides to knitting socks on circular needles. I have been wanting to master this technique for ages!
• Yarn (the Puno is SO. SOFT.)
• Circular needles, bath scents, a cute little monkey finger puppet, and tea bags.

I think that's everything!

My mum just got back from Serbia and picked up this yarn for me:

It's 20% wool, 80% acrylic, so I'm thinking it will be perfect for a little toy such as Elijah or Bubby.

What else has been going on? Hmm.. I've got a new laptop arriving any time between now and noon (am really excited about being able to give my dad a guided tour of the flat via the webcam! and browsing Ravelry whilst watching TV!!*). We were going to have a wander round Portobello market again today but it looks like it might chuck it down with rain. Oh well.

Have a great weekend!

* I am joking about being able to browse the internet and watch TV at the same time. Sort of.

10 years ago today...

...I met my husband Ross for the first time. I blogged about how we met on our 2nd wedding anniversary, but as that was a few years ago, here is the story again!

We met when I was 17 and living in Norwich. I was a bit of a fan of his band and they were doing a dj night at the local indie club, so I went along. They were actually meant to be on tour but because Ross had dislocated his knee whilst on stage a few weeks before, his leg was in plaster and dj-ing at local indie clubs was the next best thing.

It was all a bit hazy (nothing to do with copius amounts of alcohol, let me assure you) but we just kind of saw eachother. He waved his crutches in the air and hugged me.

We spent the next year travelling back and forth for as many weekends as we could cram in, but I couldn't stand living so far away from him so at the earliest opportunity, I packed my bags and moved to London. I still can't believe that all of my possessions fitted in the boot and one back seat of a car! I suppose it goes without saying that I wasn't a knitter back then, as my knitting and spinning supplies alone would fill the same amount of space.

I love my Rossy so much!

Right then - back to present day. What would you like first, the good news or the bad news? Okay, I'll give you the bad news first so that we can end on a positive note.

The Bad News

My iPod has died. I knew it was too good to be true! I didn't have anything to listen to at work and I was SO BORED! The day truly dragged. I downloaded about 15 podcasts last night as well...but the damn thing just won't update when I connect it to the computer. I got a sad iPod icon, and even a black screen of death. Oh and it keeps making weird clunking noises. I'll give it another go tonight but I think even if I do get it to work it will die again in the near future. Arghh!!

The Good News

My Sock It To Me parcel arrived this morning!

Included inside was:

• A gorgeous pair of ankle socks ('Vog on)
• 2 balls of Patons Kroy Sock yarn
  
• 1 ball of Bernat Cotton Stripes
• straight needles
• A Year Planner
• Mini sock blocker kit

Plus these lovely stitch markers!

Thank you, Barb! I love everything.

Anyway, I'm off to eat a lovely dinner and sip on something alcoholic.

More socks

Just thought I would drop by and update you on my sock progress.

Here's Vinnland so far:

I'm really enjoying this pattern, but it has been sidelined for the time being because I'm knitting socks for my Sock It To Me pal. (The Hedera socks were for my pal, but I've frogged them and reused the yarn...will explain why at a later date!)

 

The pattern is Badcaul. I love it!

Once I've finished these I think I'm going to cast on for the Steam scarf using the Crystal Palace Kid Merino that Ross bought me for Christmas. I was browsing Ravelry and saw a beautiful version of Lily Chin's Reversible Rib Shawl made with Kid Silk Haze. However the pattern is from the Winter 1999 issue of Vogue Knitting and finding that would be a mission, so I searched for a reversible rib stitch pattern and low and behold there was the Steam Scarf!

SITM socks finished!

I finished the Hedera socks for my Sock It To Me swap pal last night:

Pattern: Hedera from Knitty Spring '06

Yarn Used: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino in Wild Cherry

I'm slightly worried that they'll be too small and/or tight for my pal. However they do match her measurements so I think I'm probably worrying over nothing.

I then immediately cast on for my MIL's Monkey socks using Fyberspates sock yarn!

I think she's going to like them.

Halfway...

One Hedera down, one to go! I just hope they fit my Sock It To Me pal because they certainly don't fit me!!

Now that I have reached the halfway point of these socks, I feel justified in deciding on my next pair. It's really about time my MIL had some hand knit socks so I think she will be next in line. It's her birthday at the end of August so timing should work out just right. I'd better hop over to Ravelry to assess my stash and decide on a yarn...

My BIL went to New York this morning, lucky boy. I wanted to ask him to look out for yarn stores but think he's probably got better things to do...!

Project management

Wow, aren't I organised? Only 2 projects on the needles and both are currently being worked on... when I'm watching TV or out and about I knit Hedera, and when I'm feeling more focussed and have no distractions (like wine) I knit the Flower Basket Shawl. I do have a growing queue of projects over on Ravelry but am trying not to cast on for too many things at once, otherwise nothing will ever get finished!

I have decided to pass the Hedera socks onto my Sock It To Me swap pal once they're complete - the yarn is just too perfect for her.

<<<NEWS JUST IN>>> I've just got an I Knit newsletter and they've announced a Stitch N Bitch day on 10th November! Who wants to go?

Sock It To Me Questionnaire

Here's my questionnaire!

1. What are your foot measurements? (Please give shoe size, length and circumference.) UK size 7, circumference = 11 inches, length = 9 and a half inches. I have wide feet but have never had to adjust patterns to accommodate .
2. How long have you been knitting? How would you rate your experience? (Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced.) I've been knitting for 3 years and class myself as intermediate.
3. What is your favorite color? Your least favorite color? I don't have a particular favourite colour - I like blues, greens - pretty much anything except neon or luminous colours.
4. Do you have a favorite fiber? What type? Machine washable merino is my fave!
5. Do you have any allergies to certain fibers? No allergies.
6. Do you have an Amazon, or other type of, wishlist? (If so, provide the link.) Yes - click here.
7. What techniques, if any, would you like to learn? Toe-up socks
8. Do you have a sweet tooth? What are your favorite snacks? Yep! Chocolate never fails :) I also like savouries. Ask anyone about my current wasabi pea and green olive obsessions!!
9. What is your family situation? (Children, Husband, Pets...etc.) Just me and my husband
10. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Metal, plastic or wood? I prefer straight, bamboo needles. However I have just gotten hold of some KnitPicks nickel plated DPNs and they're fab!
11. Besides socks, what are your favorite items to knit? Other small items such as hats and scarves, or sleeveless tops. I'm not much of a garment knitter really.
12. Is there a pattern, (sock or otherwise), that you are dying to try? Pomatomus!
13. Do you like to read? What are you reading currently? I'm not a big reader to be honest - although I will be getting the new Harry Potter book when it comes out!
14. Do you collect music? (On an iPod or MP3 player.) My husband is the biggest music fanatic I know. Our computer is bursting at the seams with mp3s!
15. What kind of music do you listen to? Varied - mainly indie and rock. I'm going to the Latitude festival next week.
16. Is there anything you collect? Except yarn? No!
17. What are your hobbies, aside from knitting? I like to stencil onto t-shirts with fabric paint, and generally enjoy anything craft related. I really like dyeing my own sock yarn.
18. Are you participating in any other swaps or knit alongs? Sockapalooza, which ends on August 2nd.
19. Do you have a favorite scent? Not really - as far as toiletries go I love anything fruity or vanilla.
20. When is your birthday? (You don't have to add the year if you don't want to, LOL.) 26th May, 1980.

Sock Pal, I hope this helps!

Sockapalooza socks finished!

I finished my Sockapalooza socks last night! All they need now is a wash and some blocking, and they'll be ready to mail to my pal. This is the fastest I have ever knit a pair of socks - under 2 weeks - and to think I was worried about getting them finished on time!

Pattern: Rib and Cable Socks from Interweave Knits Fall '05

Yarn Used: Koigu KPPPM in shade P436, from Jenny in the Hot Socks Swap.

I love the pattern, love the yarn, and loved every minute of knitting these socks. Now I shall seek out some extra goodies for my pal's package!

In other sock knitting news, I signed up for the Sock It To Me swap last night. Go and check it out - sign ups close on Saturday!