Fallout from the Snow

We had a lovely enforced break thanks to the snow during the Christmas period but as a result there has been an absolute panic by students to meet the early January deadlines. One institution I work at provided an automatic one week extension the other did not even consider this option even though all the facilities were closed so students were unable to access their resources on the various campuses.

On the knitting and crafting front I have been waiting and waiting for some yarn and fibre that I ordered so that I could knit J’s version of the R’s Xmas pressie. You remember that moment of insanity I had during Christmas week were I knitted a small mans size jumper in less than 48 hours. I want to get this sweater done for the father of the boy before his birthday in March but it will be a case of holding onto the wool and not starting the project straight away as I have decided that I will use the Winter Olympics to challenge myself to complete this gorilla size project. The Dad size is 4XL and is estimated to take over 30 balls.........

Yes I will need the motivation... This weekend I am really looking forward to a spinning day with the North Cheshire Spinners and Weavers Guild in a little village called CROFT.... Yeap thats the name of the village. I have driven through the CROFT Interchange on the M6 and M62 for years and not had a clue about where the name came from. Well I am going to find this village and undertake my desired next fibre challenge to learn to spin properly.

Half way

After some seriously long haul slugging I have managed to knit J's vest to the halfway point the back is completed. I still have not managed to get a new 4mm circular needle and my hands and arms are killing me.

The lovely man aka Husbeast, the Silverback Gorilla or J has organised a treat for me since I have been working like the clappers in the day job for his birthday - he is sending me to a dying day.. whoo hoo I get to play all day.


... hang on is he organising this so he can laze the whole day away and not be roasted by this stress bunny boiler who happens to be his wife..

I think this could be the reason why he wants me out of the house.

I have been roped into one of my workplaces talent day to demonstrate dying and other creative activities. I think I will need to get some samples dyed up on the dye day and get organised.

Approaching Mt Everest

After swatching like made for Ry's request I have lost the plot with her and suggested that she make it herself.

I had wound 10 skeins of Hacho by hand and I thought that is it I am never ever doing this by hand ever again when I get the chance I am so buying a new swift and ball winder. After swatching I cast on his vest on 3.75mm in 2x2 ribbing with 140 stitches with the extra ease he likes. Now this is the point my 4mm circulars went walkabout. I have cast on the front band on 3.75mm while I placed the back on a 4mm straight needle. Do you think I could find the mate of the 4mm. I am going to have to find the other needle and then do a lightening fast trip for some circulars. I prefer knitting on circulars as it is good for my arthritis and the weight of the project doesnt hang on my hands. With a vest or sweater for J I have no choice but to do it on circulars if I want to ever get it finished. He is a big bodied man who measures 72cm from shoulder to waist.

Mr Postman has been and I have to get some more cause while I initially planned to do a shawl for me I think this will now have to be a kimono for me. I need a couple more cardigans for work cause it is all about the layers in the office. I managed to block out the weekend lace shawl in blues so all I need know is the photo so I can update my ravelry project pages .

But here is the kicker I need to find the camera first as it also have gone walkabout too.

Xmas Vest Completed

Rh Xmas request has been completely finished except for the damn photo.

I have finished a couple of more wash cloths this week as it I have not been up to a big knit project as I am loosing my brain cells thanks to the dissertation madness which is currently going on at the various university campus which I work on.

I started crocheting another sample for Ryanna's dress in her selected colours from the shopping trip and yeap I am going to be in for the high long haul. She has turned her noise up at the two colours in the correct yarn for this project. :head desk:

The retail therapy has continued as I have ordered 3X Ruby red coloured Buttermilk DK from Ecoknits along with some Strawberries and Cream which is handmade by Kristina aka Wydnwitch.

Remind me why I dont like acrylic

I could not remember why I do not like acrylic. I honestly could not remember why so today while intoxicated in my local real world LYS I brought a small ball of apparently top quality baby acrylic. I have just knitted the most mis-shappen BSJ out of it. It was horrible. I think that BSJ will quietly go into the nearest rubbish bin I can find since it can never be recycled.

J came with me as he was selecting his yarn for his vest we are talking over 13oo metres on a 5mm needle here. What does he fall in love with but Mirasol Hacho in Verde Ripple? He springs the bill and I managed to add a couple of other items to his shopping list.

Swap time

So for some strange reason probably since I have not been able to sleep thanks to the fires at home I have managed to sign myself up to a washcloth swap. Swaps on ravelry are common but I have never knit a washcloth I thought I better challenge myself with a small project an actually knit one of these things.

So far I have completed about 6 cloths and I have also done a face puff, soap saver, a toothbrush and toothpaste case.

Tasks for the next week includes finding some yarn options for J's Birthday Vest request. So I have signed up to knit for a very long very tall bodied man again. He better bloody well wear it cause if not he will go on the "Never knit for List". Good side of this request is I get to go yarn shopping.

Opps I have been naughty (aka Shopping)

So I went down to the local wool emporium to find some suitable wool for Harry’s Jumper. I made a bad mistake and allowed Ry to come with me but I know when she does not finish her project I frog her project so I will get all her woolly goodies. Hee – I have my eyes on that I will have first dibs on it.

For the Pumpkin pattern I found some very nice Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in teal. I also snaffled some lime green Bamboo mix for a vest for Rh. Rh has put in a Christmas request to replace his favourite lime green vest. Problem is that trying to get a hold of the colour so as a result I doing the colour thing I have this Bamboo ? mix. So I will making up a bigger Billy up for Rh from the Pipsqueaks book.

Following this little splurge in the local real world LYS I went into splurge mode online. I went off to one of my favourite sites EcoKnits. So I ended up with some Buttersoft DK by Artist’s Palette Yarns in a lovely pink and blue.  From the pink skeins I plan to do a girly Baby Surprise Jacket for Greg’s new sprog who is scheduled to turn up this week. We know it is a girl. The Blue is for me cause I just cant help myself as I am sucker for Blue.