Please note

---Please Note---

Summer I plan to get alot of knitting done; it will also be confusing, what with the Holiday, Craig's parent's going on holiday, my parents going on Holiday and alot of Work So I'm planning on taking the summer off from Blogging, Take the time to knit a bit, catch up with friends, play a few games and pay attention to my Man.

I'll be back when the rain comes again and School starts

Aki XX

Day 7

--- Day 7 : Your Knitting time ---

Write About your typical crafting time. Where? When? who do you craft with? what items do you sorrund yourself with? Do you snack?

---Where?---

I usually craft whenever I can get 2 minutes and just before I go to sleep. I have also been known to Knit on long car/bus jouneys. Ask my Mum and Craig; it's now gotten to the point where; if Craig knows that we're going to be a while in the car he asks 'Have you got your knitting with you?' before he starts the engine lol. My mum has been know to mutter under her breath 'Oh my God she's knitting on the bus to Belfast'.

---When?---

Aswered in the last question. I have once been caught knitting until 2am... I was trying to get a certain Cricket jumper finished.

---Who do you craft with ---

Most of the time I craft by myself. Sometimes Craig is there and fewer times Jenni is there. I sometimes Knit at GB so I suppose all them are there with me. I'm not part of any knitting group or anything... mostly because there's basically none where I live. Loads of crochet groups... only 1 knitting gruop and it's on a Saturday..... when I usually work.

---What items do you surround yourself with?---

1. my knitting -all wips... I never really know which one I'll pick up
2. Scissors - I always seem to need them when they're not around
3. Large eye sewing needle - For sewing in ends
4. A good DVD/ boxset - I have Scrubs, House and various animes all on DVD
5. My phone - ...sometimes on silent and if theres no good DVDs or I'm not able to watch them (eg: on a bus) then I listen to podcasts/ music
6. Select Yarn from my stash - to cuddle and Fondle when I get something wrong

---Do you snack?---

Not often. Chocolate melts and gets onto the knitting, crisps and nuts also get onto the knitting. I usually have a cup of tea or glass of wine beside me when I'm knitting (depending on the project)

---That's it---

That's the knitting and Crafting blog Challenge thingy done! 7 days of challenging writing and  challenging things to thing about. now I'm off to knit.

Day 6

Something to Aspire to

Is there a Pattern/skill which you want to tackle in the future? Is there a Skill/Project with makes your mind boggle at the sheer time/dedication/skill ? What do you hope to achieve in the next year?

--- Something to Aspire to ---

I think the skill I want to try and even accomplish this year would have to be Lace & in particular Lace Shawls. I want to do at least one Lace Shawl before Christmas.

I've already talked about which Lace projects I want to complete so this post I'll talk about which Yarn I'd Lave to do it in... there's a couple actually so I'll compare Lace weight Yarns.

1st Choice: Rowan Kidsilk Haze

Per 25g - £8.25 (on sale: £7.43)
Shown in Shade  597 (Jelly)

A gorgeous Yarn. As with all laceweight Yarns I've never used them but I have wishes in my brain to try them before my eyes deteriorate to my mother's poor eyesight.
It's 70% Kid mohair and 30% Silk, which gives it a soft feeling and a silky sheen.
It's too bad that it's so expensive or I'd order it today to knit some sort of shawl.

(picture & price from Deramores (link))

2nd Choice: Cascade Alpaca Lace

Per 50g - $7.20 (that's £4.57)
Shown in Shade Blue Mist

A very good non-fluffy Yarn. It's not got much of a Halo (like choice 1) that means stitches are very defined and even. It's 100% Alpaca. I've never Knit with Alpaca, so I can't say what it'd be like. I bet it's Wonderful.
At £4.57 a skein I'm tempted to order 2 skeins and knit myself a shawl that covers my whole body lol. The only thing that's holding me back is the shipping. There are no UK suppliers of this Yarn, therefore I'd have to ship it from America... which is pricey.

(picture & price from Happy Knits.com (link))

3rd Choice - Madelinetosh Pure Silk Lace

Per 1000 yards (about 100 grams)

$60.00 (that's £38)

Shown in Shade Silver Fox

It's 100% pure Tussah silk, That why the light makes it look like someones managed to spin pure silver. 1000 yards is enough to make this out of it.

(below)

That's Girasole (link) and I found it on Ravelry. That's a Blanket!!!! 72 inch Diameter!!! Holy crap. That'd be so worth it; it looks like a Sun and in the spun Silver colour I think we could get a Silver Sun. That's good because I usually detest Gold and Yellow (mostly because it looks like Gold lol)

Again: no Madelintosh distributors in the UK so factor in  American Shipping costs and you're looking at a £50 skein. yeouch. It is 100% silk tho.

(photo and Prices from Happy Knits.com (link)

4th Choice - Malabrigo Lace

Per 50g - $8.80 (That's £5.57)

Shown in Hummingbird

With it's 64 colour options and great pricing it's the best so far for choice. I'm pure 100% Merino which regular readers will know is my favourite type of Fibre to knit with. it's 480 yards per skein which is enough to knit a very nice lightweight pair of socks or...

This Shawl ==>
it's Gail (link) which I found on ravelry. The Yarn pictured has variations of greens, purples, blacks and some brown too, which I think would give an effect quite close to the variations in the photo. It's a beautiful Shawl and if I ever get my hands on a skein of Malabrigo Lace I will surely knit it straight way.

Again: no UK distributors of Malabrigo, US shipping :(.

Pic & price from Happy knits (link) and Ravelry

5th (and Last) choice - Manos Lace

Per g $19 (that's £12)


it's 75% Alpaca, 20% Silk, 5% Cashmere. That all adds up to one Soft Yarn. its also one of the only Yarns I found that has a 'Natural' colour, which is close to White but looks better with a..... northern Ireland Skintone.

There's a few Taboos among knitters about engagements. A couple are about sweaters but the one I'm going for is the Wedding Ring shawl. When the groom proposes (and the knitter bride says yes) she'll order Yarn, Knit up a shawl but it can't be completed until a week before the wedding (to allow for blocking)

I can be as Large or as Small as the bride wants but some other taboos say it should be able to cover you both but that, to me with a 6ft boyfriend and me being not exactly slim: the mere thought  is giving me Heart palpitations. such a shawl is pictured over there ==>

Apparently it took 2000 yards and The bride shaved, carded, spun and Kniti t herself from her future Husband's Alpaca. Feck.

On the wedding Day The Bride can test the shawl by being able to pull it through her wedding ring. There's various taboos about what happens if it doesn't go through, if it gets torn or if the shawl gets stolen but they all agree that if the shawl passes through the ring without Harm it will be a long and Happy marriage.

I just wonder at what part you do it at......

During the ceremony  - Swearing might ensue if it doesn't go through

and anytime after that surely you'd have to take your wedding ring off..... which your not supposed to do.

If you do it before the ceremony..... no-one will be able to see it and then no bugger would believe you.

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. :)

I think I should stop now, this post's longer than I thought it would be lol. So without further Ado;

Toodles from
Aki XXXXX

Day 5

And now for something completely different? 

There are no rules of a topic to blog about but this post should look at a different way to present content on your blog. This can take one of many forms, but here a few suggestions: Wordless, photographic post Video blog post Podcast Cartoon/sketch of an idea Write about a subject from a different perspective (for example, you could write about a day in the life of a knitted sock from the point of view of the sock). Interpretive modern dance (why does someone always suggest this?) A poem or piece of rhyming verse Stop motion animation.

----Let me tell you a story----

I fished into my stash this morning; looking for the Mitten that I completed a couple of Days ago(I wanted to knit the other one but couldn't remember the exact colour of blue...I have a lot of blue) and I felt a small papery substance, trying to remove it from the stash something bit me. The secondary stash layer moved and I heard a low growl. Cursing (and not learning from my mistake) I dove straight back in and pulled the papery thing out so quick I don't think the thing that bit me had a chance. What I pulled out was a small book. The words 'Diary' written on the front in Yellow Ink. Attached to my hand was also a ball of Sock Yarn. The rainbow-y coloured one at the back from this picture ==>;

I made assumpions there and then and put the Yarn  ontop of my jewelery box and then thinking that it might go for my hand again at the slightest off chance I put it inside the box.

'Well that was rude' came a muffled voice from inside the box. I stopped, turned and opened the box. 'I Landed on one of you're earrings.... It hurt' said the ball of yarn.

'You shouldn't have tried to bite me then' I said
'You were trying to take the only the only thing I own' complained the ball of Sock Yarn.
(At this point my mind wondered how a ball of sock yarn managed to get itself a tiny book but I quickly put it to the back of my head; It seemed to angry for questions)
'I just wondered what a tiny book was doing in my stash'
'YOUR stash? HA! don't make me laugh. that stash is full of discarded projects, bags, recepts and the occassional Good Ball of Yarn, like me. And even then, you choose to ignore this stash for the stash you have in your bedroom' Said the ball of yarn.
'yeah; we know about the other stashes' piped up a ball of 'Big softie' near the top of the stash.
'Quiet you' scolded the Sock Yarn and the Stash fell silent. Clearly she was some sort of leader.

'I admit I use the Yarn in my bedroom more often. but the stash you're in is the bigger, main stash. There's a wide variety in here' I reasoned with the ball of Sock Yarn
'I still want to be used' she said
'You're a ball of Sock Yarn: you will be used, just not right now' I said, looking at her ball band for yardage
'I have a name: it's not just 'Sock Yarn' 'it's Minnie'
'As in... Mouse?'
'Don't insult me Knitter'
'Don't Sass me Minnie'
We stared at each other for a while. Then I realised Minnie was shaking.I blinked and she started wailing like an Banshee
'WAHHHH!!!!! I'm sorry; it's just been so long since I was held or talked to I haven't seen a pair of knitting needles since I left the shop! Read that (pointing to the diary) and you'll understand!

So I opened the first page and he're's what it said:

Diary of a Ball of Yarn (from the top)

Property of Minnie Ballosockyarn
Touch and be unraveled.

3rd September 2010
Dear diary:
Cut, washed and spun all in one week can do wonders for a girl's self-happyness. They dyed me today. I'm no longer all colours of white: but every bright colour under the sun. I'm sitting here lying under the factory's industrial heater; drying; and I'm so excited for my new life with my soon to be owner (pang of guilt x1) that I can't contain it anymore.

5th September 2010
After dying and then Drying I got a ball band (good thing too; I did feel kinda naked) and my lot number and shade were stamped on it. I was then unceremoniously stuffed in a box filled with a few other Balls, all the same as me, but in different colours. Apparently we're very popular and were dyed to an order. the address Label says we're going to Carrickfergus; somewhere in Northern Ireland. Sounds sunny.

9th September
It's not sunny. it's Rainy, dull and the shop we're in put us on a white plastic stand on the front of the shop. Everytime the door opens (which isn't very often: no-one seems to knit around here except the occasional old person wanting to knit something for a new baby. I'm screwed to live here for the rest of my life being put down because I'm too bright (is it cus I is Yellow) too soft (?) and too expensive.(I'm merino Microspun; You have to pay big to get a piece of this action) Guess I'll never be sold, we weren't as popular as everyone thought. At the moment the only things that seem to be selling are a few odd balls of Babysoft.

12th September
It's a Sunday and the shop's not open; but the Lady who unpacked me is here she's cleaning and writing out our price Tags again; same price, just...neater. She was also on the phone alot.

15th September
I was picked up today by a customer! then she looked at my price and went 'For Socks? no thanks' and walked out... wow I feel lonely. I'm obviously not worth the £5.99 for me

18th September
A Ball that came with me was sold today to a little Girl with her mother. She picked me up too... her fingers were sticky..... why are children always sticky?

20th September
Today was the first day that was sunny since I got here. There were alot of people in the store today and alot of the Balls of Yarn that came with me were sold today, some even the same colour as me, so it's not my color... maybe it's my shade.... or dye lot..... or maybe I can't see it but there's a giant ink stain ontop of me from that pen the owner was using

23rd of September
it's raining again. only 3 people came into the shop; one was a slightly chubby blonde Girl who bought £20 worth of yarn.... that's the most I've seen someone spend in here. Then she spotted me on the way out. She ooooohed and looked at my ball Band. Then she put me down again and said something along the lines of Friday... just wait. I am going to wait.... it's not like I can go anywhere lol. Especially since Friday's tomorrow. I hope she buys me.

24th September

SHE BOUGHT ME!!!!! more tomorrow; I'm being fondled.

26th September
it's Sunday and I was bought on Friday. Today I was photographed and put on something called Ravelry. She bought me along with 3 other Balls of Microspun and an oddball of white Acrylic.
Today she went to Church and I was sitting, pride of place with my Brothers beside a big Bag with butterflys on it. I hear other balls of Yarn. She's definatly a Knitter because I see her knitting all the time. I'm sure I'll be knit into something really beautiful!

*Here I turned the page and  realised it was the back cover, there were places for other pages, they lokked like they'd been torn out*

'You never even looked at me! my brother in Blue disapeared early, I thought you knit him first. (I didn't, he's lying in my room, like new but shhh) and then I seen you knit up the coffee coloured ones, but they seemed small for your massive hooves' said the Ball of Yarn
'They weren't for me, They're for a friend of mine for Chistmas'
'When's that?'
'ummmmm..... about 8 months away
8 MONTHS? you could so knit me in that time!
I am going to; I think you're also going to go as a present'
I don't want to go anywhere else, I've been shipped around all my yarn Life, I'm dusty, my Ball band's torn and frankly I'm feeling neglected. I think you owe it to me to keep me

So with that I Gathered up the Ball of Sock Yarn (she was a little loose in places and tangled in others) and I wound her into a nice Ball. I enjoy working with a Ball more than the commercal wound ball. and we looked through patterns together. We chose one and I started knitting with her and now she won't let me out of her sight. She's in my Handbag for  Bus jouneys and waiting rooms and whenever I sit down to watch TV I automatically pick her up.

She said she doesn't want photographed til she's done and on my Feet. I'm kniting her in a pattern called Interlocking Leaves and so Far she's coming on beautifully.

Day 4

Day 4 - Whatever happened to your __________?

Write about the fate of a past knitting project. Whether it be something that you crocheted or knitted for yourself or to give to another person. An item that lives with you or something which you sent off to charity.

---Socks---
I'm afraid I'm going to have to talk about socks again. A few readers may remember that near Christmas I asked readers to vote of their favourite sock pattern from a List and then I'd knit them and give them out for Easter.... well I choose 10 patterns and then some of you voted and we came up with the top 4 and I started on number 1 immediately. well truth is.... they never really got started. They were the Monkey Socks by my 3rd favourite Knitting person - Cookie A.
The pattern is a lacy-inspired pattern and I used some Rico Microspun in a brown/white colourway. I got to the heel on one sock and stopped..... just stopped. Why? the heel instructions...... I don't like them.

I tried it and then ended up ripping out to just before the heel again. I put the pattern away with the Yarn and the project on the needles intending to find a pattern with an easy heel to apply to them... Christmas passed and they didn't move Valentines..... no movement. and here we are: 3 weeks to Easter and I unearthed them from the stash bag I got from Joanne for Christmas. (they're in the purple bag)

Just they way I had left them. Pattern and all still in the bag along with what's left of the ball of Yarn. I feel kinda sorry for Them. They were thrown in there with some acylic, a Packet of Golden Wonder Crisps(I have no idea when or how) a hair claw and my old Make-up bag. The only thing worth talking to would be the lone ball of Sidar escape who was bought with some Merino, with plans for a fairisle set....
As I am writing this I'm feeling increasingly more sorry for the Cookie A socks... They didn't do anything wrong, one of them hasn't even been started yet. I've felft so bad that Ive took out the pattern and the unfinished sock still on the needles and I worked a few rows. I found a pattern for some easy socks on lion brand website and I have them now halfway along the foot. I made these socks for a small size (about a 4 or 5) so I cannot try them on myself. My mother (a size 5) refuses to try them on with needles still on them and Lady's paws are far too small. I aim to have 1 of these finished soon. Photos will not be far long after it being done.

There are of course another pair of Socks which we havn't seen in a while.... and we won't. not until I can solve a certain issue with them falling to my akles when I make a single step.

---Toodles---
Sorry it was a short post but I am kinda in a hurry. Day 5 tomorrow. keep knitting
From Aki

3rd day

--- Tidy mind, Tidy stitches ---
How do you keep your yarn wrangling organised? It seems like an easy to answer question at first, but in fact organisation exists on many levels. Maybe you are truly not organised at all, in which case I am personally daring you to try and photograph your stash in whatever locations you can find the individual skeins. However, if you are organised, blog about an aspect of that organisation process, whether that be a particularly neat and tidy knitting bag, a decorative display of your crochet hooks, your organised stash or your project and stash pages on Ravelry.

---Tidy?---
Alright. As you may expect: I am not tidy. I have way too many creative hobbies to be tidy. I'm going to take photos of each of my stashes, knitting, Jewellery making sewing and cross-stitching. I dont really have a stash for painting; but I will show you my bag of paints. Here goes. This post will be VERY photo-heavy, so please allow time for the photos to load.

Knitting stash 1. (<==) See: messy. I think if I had my own place that I'd have room to spread out my stash over a bigger amount of space than here. The bags on top all contain projects that are on the needles now. The tin contains.... My stash of buttons. And a page reminding me how to work a buttonhole. This however is not my only stash of yarn...

I still have Yarn stash number 2 (right)Which is full of my favourite yarns and odd balls of merino. There's also a large ball of pistachio green pompom yarn, which I plan to make into a scarf about autumn time. I also have a large stash of knitting magazines. I have no subscriptions, but would love one; especially one of the knitter. But theres also other magazines there and a simple knits book that I got for Christmas.

Now my stash of sewing materials. (<==) you see the little blue box underneath my sewing machine? that's full of Fat Quarters and sewing thread. And the gigantic box under my bed..... full of old t-shirts, jeans, various scraps of Fabric and the spare parts for my sewing machine.I know few people who knit.... well I say that but many of the people I talk to knit; problem is: 90% of them are online and at least 50% of them don't live in this country. Not good, especally if someone calls me a weirdo for knitting. I can't exactly turn on my phone a show them my ravelry friends list. They'd laugh 'Have you ever even met any of these people?'.......'no'.

I do make jewellery as well as knit... and here's a photo of my stash of beads (along with some well placed Lush Pots)

I don't make that much jewellery anymore; because DI(disposable Income) Is hard to come by these days. and If I do have DI I'd rather spend it on Yarn online or take my gorgeous boyfriend out to dinner. Beads are not usually part of my wishlist anymore.

That's pretty much all of my stashes that I'm prepared to show you......

Ok then; I hear you..... I do have another way of organizing my stash... other than the  buywhateverIlikeandthenthrowitanywhere- scheme. It's called Ravellry.

I try to keep  my Rav Stash as tidy and as up to date as possible. but half the time I can't. mostly because I use Yarn way before I get a chance to put the Yarn on Ravelry and that proves problematic. Yet again I would really need to move house to get my Yarn stash organised enough to  be proud to show.

---Tomorrow---

on the 4th Day..... well you'll just have to wait and see. tomorrow's the Last of the month (I can't believe we're a quarter of the Year in)

So it's a toodles from me for the moment; talk to you's all again tomorrow

Luv from Aki X

Day 2

Skill + 1UP – 2KCBWDAY2

Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or forms of knitting/crochet (can you crochet cable stitches now where you didn’t even know such things existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of needles or crochet hook this time last year?.

---Skill + 1UP ---

Hello everybody and welcome to the 2nd day of the Annual K&C blog week 2011. Today I will look back over my projects of the past year and  discuss the skills I learnt while doing so.

The easiest way to do this would be to look back in the blog (link) (I love that I can pretty much just see into the past by going onto my blog and hitting a few buttons) And I see that I had few wee projects on the go, including 2 bunnies,  hat (which I can't remember the pattern for and was ultimately ripped) and the  ball of orange Cotton that was going to become an Amigurumi Fox but never really made it to the needles and eventually was forgotten about when I learned how to make a hat in the round. (but not that hat...... it was a differnt hat, made with Big softie and now doubles as an ipod stand cosy when my ipod's not there.

Things I learnt this year

• How to knit in the round using DPNs
• Stranded Fair-isle knitting (like the Hat I made a couple of weeks ago)
• How to teach! (jenni, various people at GB)
• Cables (the cricket jumper was my step into this skill but now that I'm confident in it, I'm looking for a more complcated sticth pattern)
• Lace-work (simple lacework, but I do wanna learn more)

I think my biggest skill influence this year would be learning how to use DPNs. Theres nothing like being in GB and knitting (like I am forever doing) and have people looking at you, who know how to knit.... but not in the round. Most are like 'I can just about work 2 needles... 4 looks like you're trying to  knit with an octopus.
I learnt  how to do most of these techniques online. Especially the cables; which I didn't even know existed until I started knitting seriously, which was about 2-3 years ago. That was also when I was awoken to the amazing array of patterns, people and designers of Knitwear online. I'm extestensivly glad that I am quite good at working a computer and the internet to make it do what I want.

Even though my best skill I have learned this year was DPNs it is not my favouite skill.

---Lacework---
I first embarked on Lacework in Mid June of Last year. I made up my mind that it was way too hot to knit something that was made out of dense fibre like wool, so I took some cotton and got some  basics down and knit what most knitters would call a swatch. It was going well, As I was knitting the Lace-work seemed to be meeting up well to form the eyelet pattern that was descrbed to me onlne. (it's been that long that I actually cant remember  what site or even what pattern it was.
I love the way Lace seems to come together. It seems to flow gracefully from my needles and As this was a mostly 'yo' pattern dome on 5mm needles the pattern seemed to flow from my needles rather quickly. I eventually Cast off and went to get my phone
(to take a picture...... yeah I don't always have my phone beside me... so usually when I say 'I couldn't get to my phone intime' it accually means 'I couldn't hear my phone cus it was so far awy')
Anyway. I went to get my phone and Lady (who had been sunbathing when I left hopped up on the table and proceded to chew on my lacework. I came back and it was in 4 bits. I thank God I only used Acylic and that I took my baboo needles with me; or else thse would have suffered the same fate.

So I can do Lacework; It's my favouite new skill..... I just have no proof of it....

---Tomorrow---
I'm sorry I can't stay Longer; I have to go to Work (yeah; I'm working all week this week apart from Thursday... I'm thinking of my paycheck at the end of the month)

But tomorrow we have a new post to look forward to; and a new subject too. I won't spoil the surprise but still; see you all tomorrow :)
Luff from Aki X

1st day

Alright; Today's the first day of the of the Knitting and crochet blog challenge that was set out in Eskimimi Knits blog ( Link ) And the challenge is as follows:

A Tale of Two Yarns – 2KCBWDAY1 Part of any fibre enthusiast’s hobby is an appreciation of yarn. Choose two yarns that you have either used, are in your stash or which you yearn after and capture what it is you love or loathe about them.

 ----A tale of 2 yarns----

 Even though I have been a knitter for many years now; I have only just came round to the idea that the Yarn changes the project. You could knit a lovly pair of gloves in acylic and Find that they itch, where if you knit the same pattern in, say, merino or (if you can afford it) Silk then the pattern is no longer itchy, it feels light against you're skin... I guess that's why they're expensive. But today in this Blog post I shall be comparing Yarns... and Fantizing about what I hope to taking with me on Holiday (when I go to Salou in 2 months)

Pictured is A book by Franklin Habit, my second (sorry; Harlot takes 1st) favourite knitting person. I just thought the title of the book accentuates the point I'm trying to make. I'd love to talk about Franklin, Cookie A, Eskimimi and Yarn harlot..But...I'll talk about my knitting people top ten another time :)

---My favorite Yarn---

This was a hard decision, especially since I have knit with only a few of the many fibres out there, I've never knit with Silk, Alpaca, Angora or even Bamboo (I have it in my stash but I havnt knit with it yet), so I won't judge those without experience of them.

The best Yarn I have knit with however would probably be Merino. We are very lucky here to have a supplier called Rico which makes 100% merino Wool. (no blend.... just pure Merino sheep fibre) I comes in 100g balls which gives about 125m of this glorious Yarn. BUT (and that's a large But) it is expesive (well I beleive it is anyway: for my mieger wallet) it is priced at £4 a ball in most stores (although online it is £3.50) and for most of the projects I'd be making with this I'd need at least 6 balls of the same colour. That's £24 without any work doe to it at all. It is my favouite Yarn; But dear gawd it it expesive. It would however be perfect for 'The Holden Shawlette' by Mindy Wilkes. It's the perfect weight and texture for that project. It does however need about 400m of the yarn ; that's about 4 balls with a bit left over for spare finishing and that's £16.... which isn't too bad.

but I'd rather make this... instead. It's the Echo Flower Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen ( Link ) And it's made with the same weight of Yarn.... it's just bigger and looks more complcated..... which it probably is lol The Yardage for this is very... spaced. Depending on how long I want this to be: it could be between 402 - 805 m. That's a huge jump. that's a 3 ball jump... (a £12 jump if you're counting) and even though it is nicer It would be my first ever Shawl.

 I have learned not to commit myself to a staggeringly large project (like a certain Cricket jumper: but more on that tomorrow) but instead to ease myself into a new skill like this in smaller, less swear-worthy projects, which is why I'll probably be casting on the Holden Shawletee when I have the cash to spend on the Yarn (aka: next payday..... the end of April) I don't know which colour I will pick but I think I'll just go into Selections and see what tickles me just right. :)

----My least favourite Yarn----

This again was a hard one, hard for a differnt reason though. I already knew straight off the top of my head which type of Yarn I was going to pick and I looked at my stash..... it's full of it. yes people; that Yarn is Acrylic. I know; I know, Acylic has it's uses and a Very wide range of colours and Shades and I know that I knit with it more often than not, that is simply because of it's availability and it's cheapness. I am not a business woman, nor am I overly rich, I don't have the disposable income enough to go out and buy Merino or Alpaca every week.

But, I'f I'm working fairisle (and that's what I am doing most of the time now) and I need the tiniest bit of mustard yellow wool; I know I can buy a ball of acylic at £1.20 at my LYS. I don't like it, But id rather have a random ball of yellow Acrylic lying at the bottom of my stash than half a ball of Merino in a shade that I'll never use again. it would be a waste.

Aslo; knitting with Acrylic.... it just never seems to sit right. And it you knit tightly (like me) then the yarn Sqeeks as it slips between your needles. I don't like that. I don't mean to sound like a Yarn snob, and notice I didn't name any paricluar name, because it is all acrylic. It all squeaks and it's all mostly cheap. I also ashamedly have quite a large stash of it. Around 20 balls or more.....(Aki here realises that her most hated Yarn is actually on the needles at the moment and bangs her head off the table)

---Roundup---

So there you have it. My most and least favourite yarns. Tomorrow we'll be discussing new skills that I have learnt.  pictured is the 1 UP mushroom from Mario (yeah someone knitted/crocheted  it) as that is what the post will be called  AnywayIn the mean time; Im off to Fondle some Merino and possibly cast on something very soft and lacy, as the weather calls for something light on my lap. Until next time then Luv from Aki XX



Hiatus

Alright; I havn't blogged in a while...... various reasons but I'll explain some of them below;

---My mother is starting her Spring cleaning regeme---

Run from my house. Run unless you want to be given a hoover, duster and spraybottle and be set to work. Run. My mother likes to keep a cleen house and most of the day you can see her plodding about  with a duster in her pocket and a hoover training behind her, Washing machine on full load. But around the start of March.... it gets a little crazy around here.

Light fixures are removed, dusted and then replaced. Sheets washed (all of them.... even the summer ones that have been in storage, they were washed before they were put there and will be washed again when they come down, after Easter lol) Cupboards cleared and re-organised
Wardrobes are cleared (It was a sad day for my yarn stash who got muddled while I was out. (don't worry I put them back in they're rightful places. they're cosy again. my mum tried to hoover them..... then realised that my face would scare her a little and desided against it (face-1 Mum-0)

It's not just the house that gets the treatment.I feel sorry for the poor Man from Sky when they sent us our latest bill. (In short: I am now a sky internet customer)

The good news however is that I shuffled stuff around and pleeded a little and now I have my Sewing Machine out and proud. ( A lot of my friends just probably went 'Oh my God she has a sewing machine?'..... Craig just kinda went...'I don't know why I'm surprised')

---Main reason for Hiatus - I suck---
Damn Cricket Vest. That is All I am going to say. I feel like ripping and starting again except for a few things

• damn thing took me 5 months to get to this stage
• it's not going to be christmas AGAIN before it's finished
• Damn thing just needs the collar redone..... but because of my in-ablity to stitch 2 pieces together the Yarn is all over the place and I don't know where to cut.
• taking Scissors to my knitting scares me anyway

So I am taking the Godforsaken Vest  to Selections soon.... I know all the Girls in there and they WILL know how to fix it.... (or at least I hope they do)

That and the postcast idea didn't work. I suck.
The resulions I made at the start of this year about knitting : none have worked out. I suck

---Why I came back to blogging ---
I missed it. I missed writing out long rants about my knitting and have people come up to me in GB and go 'I read your blog' or people in work go 'I didn't know you could knit'but what amuses me most of all is: My family do not know that I have this blog.The person closest to a part of my family who I think reads this i Craig. My mum and Dad don't know what a blog is. and I've just taught my dad how to put his phone onto silent mode, I'm so not gonna try blogging next. My mum is content that I can order her ironing stuffs when needed and doesn't ask how.

---FO's---
I did knit while I was on Hiatus..... mostly because I really need something to do with my fingers. I finished 2 things. (1 is a half of another thing but the other half of it is on its way) nd started many many others.

FO #1: Red and White Hat
(pictured on Lady... do not worry recipent: my dog is the cleanest Dog in the world. my mother is proof of that)
Made with the Red Yarn that Jenni Gave me (only 1/2 a ball and I got 4 balls, so theres loads left.) and the white left over from the sweet home socks ( again: plenty left) I am thinking of adding a pom-pom to the top.... I'm not sure tho.
This Hat was made with exerpts from other patterns. the main bit of it was made form the Aldephi Hat and Cowl pattern in issue 25 of 'the kniitter'. I added the ribbing on as an afterthoght, because the edges kept rolling up and I wasn't sure it was long enough.

FO #2: 1 Mitten (of pair)
Made with Mint Green  DK weight Yarn (ball band long lost but I think it's wool) and grey DK weight Acylic Yarn that was bought with some cotton.

It has yet to be ironed so it lookes kinda ragity and bampy but don't worry I will Wash the pair when I get the other one done. I'll post a picture of the finished pair here in a couple of weeks
Pattern is Camilla Mittens by SpillyJane (link)
That Link's to her blog, where you can find all her patterns and stuff. some are free and some you have to pay for. But they're all nice :)

On other news: I have a new follower :) She goes by the name Beth (hi beth) and she's a spinner and a Knitter. I've never met a spinner before (and I don't think I will, she's in the US.... and I'm in the UK : (. ) I would love to try spinning, but If u have ever been in my craft room there is barely room for me in here, never mind Fiber and a spinning Wheel lol. That and I think my mum would go mental. (probably something like ' Oh my God Lise What the hell? Another hobby? how many's this? theres Cross stitching, Knitting, Cardmaking, Jewellery making, Sewing, Painting, Cooking and now this? Frig that)

What? Yes I do make cards.... no, not that many and I'm not that good. and yes, I paint too. not very good at it either.

For all the rest of my FO's you can look on my Ravelry Page (I'm Akitombo; Add me if you like)

---Shopping---
Me in A Yarn shop or even places that have Yarn is a dangerous mixture. Especially if I have got paid recently.

Like today.... and a few weeks back. I went mental. (yes: I did have to buy another ball of Hayfeild Bonus Aran. I got halfway up the Left side of the V and it ran out. I had a collar to do and arm caps too, so I gave in a spent another £8 on a massive ball of Aran weight.

On the plus side I also bought 4 balls of Sidar Escape (2 blue and 2 Grey) they are probably going to become A fair-isle Hat and Mitt set for someone for Xmas 2011. (Yes I am that far in advance) The Pattern will probably be something from the far reaches of my own mind combined with various Magazine and Web influences.

---Holidays---

As of the End of Febuary (Ino; I havn't blogged in awhile; I'm sorry) Me and my other Half are going on Holiday to Salou (Spain). To be more specific we're going to  Hotel Villa Marina Club for 12 days :)  So I might blog to you all from Sunny Spain lol.

We're busy trying to get everything ready for it. and I have no idea what to bring. Knitting wise. I don't really want to be knitting a wooly hat on the sunny beaches of Salou, i'd much rather be knitting a lacy shawl... problem is: Laceweight is expensive.... I wonder if I can find a pattern for Merino Yarn (my fav. yarn btw) for something lacy..... (checks Ravelry)..... finds out there's loads...... Finds this one (opposite) and the one below

They are (in Blue) 

The Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes Link

And (In Red)

Spring Thaw Shawl by Cheri McEwen Link

It's a gorgeous looking pattern but it is MASSIVE, what with having to use a circ (which I dislike doing) and having a gigantic 531 stitches on the neelde at the very end. it also shows a chart for 'EZ' edging. it is the most confusing chart I have ever seen, and I have worked a figging cricket jumper without looking at half of the pattern. In short: I don't think I'll be starting this anytime soon..... although it is gorgeous..... I wonder if I  can make it into a wedding ring shawl if I use laceweight...... I wonder.

--- Blogging Challenge ---

One of my favourite knitting people, Eskimimi, has colaberated with a bunch of people and have came up wih this =>. It's supposed to test your skills as a blogger by setting you a theme for every day of a given week (that is the 28th of March til the 3rd of April) I think this will be a good idea for me and  will ultimatly probably make up for the long periods with no blog that my readers have had to suffer through. If you want to know what is coming up, or you want to take part yourself you can find all the details  by clicking the picture.

I will of course be taking part. and so will many other Knitting and crocheting blogs around the world. so If you come to me eveyday during that week there should be a new post (although that may vary on the times..... some will take longer than others because of the complexity or just the  plan not knowing what the hell to write.

Also I plan to be working a 6 day week that week. so pictures may be scarse until a later date, as I'd be doing it on my phone.

---That about wraps it up ---

Yep; that about wraps it up in the month or so since I contacted you all. Work is a bitch, but I needs the money to keep up with my expensive Lifestyle and my wishlist for the next year-ish.

Until next time toodle From Aki

I think I might take the umberella to work today

---Weather perfect---
That is perfect for knitting and wondering what the hell noise the chimney just made. The Wind here it at break-neck speed. Countless branches have been trown onto roads and last night I seen a house with a large tree lying against it. would not have liked to be there when that happened (what the f$%& was that???) therefore: glad I wasn't.
My Dad's been telling me that cars can swerve when hit by wind this strong, its making me nervous of driving. A much safer option would probably be to strap myself to an umberella and put my knitting and work clothes in a Carpet bag... wonder how she steered that thing.

A certain person will be flying up there tho, Jenni's coming home from Americaland. I have heard stong arguements that planes are heavier than cars and therefore less likely to be affected by wind..... but I'd still be worried. Better you than me Jenni

---Back to Knitting---

All projects have been coming along..... steadly. I am however very proud of one item which I've been working at non-stop for the last few weeks.
And that would be Craig's Cricket Vest. it is now roughly 95% finished. With the entire Right side done, even the Arm ribbing I am ready to tackle the collar.  The Patten say to do the 2 sides first, then tackle the collar.... using a circular needle.

First off I don't own a 4mm circ needle. I only own 1 circ needle and thats a  2mm. The only reason I have that one was to work on the unmentionable Bolero (which will be taken out of sleeping as soon as March rears it's spring-ish head)and that's because I don't like working on circs

I prefer having a set of DPNs rather than a circ. And I know about Magic Loop. Tried it... Didn't like it. I don't know why but I find them just too annoying.
So rather than going out and buying a circ that I'm not going to use again apart from this once I am going to use a set of 6 Double points. and do the collar before joining up the other side. I think it'd be easier that way.

Had to include a picture of the sleeve ribbing. I love it. Craig tried it on last night...(yeah that was entertaining... only one sides done... I know...how am I supposed to try it on then... put your arm through..... oh...)

So I am going onto the collar. I'll let you know how it gets on.

Until next time- Toodles
From Aki