Dad's leg

My dad has been laid up this past week or so with cellulitis in his left leg. It's a good 30cm of infected area, about 10cm below the knee. Picture attached may be gruesome. (it's at the bottom) just scroll past it if u don't want to see it

So my dad's lying in bed. And he sees a cobweb on the ceiling. Shocked: he calls my OCD mother. Who quickly gets onto the bed with a duster and flings it to the corner to catch the spiderweb. She stupidly try's to catch it and falls off the bed. 1 leg first. Straight into a wall.

Needless to say; both my parents are at the moment bedridden; both not really able to walk; but one feels picked on; the other just feels stupid.

I am however playing nanny to both these people. And a dog; who wonders where everybody is most of the time. Which has affected my knitting time and my blogging time.

Please bear with me
Aki XXX

And I'm back!

---Hello everybody---
Did y'all have a nice summer? I know I did. For me it doen't change much, from Summer into Autumn, I still work 10 hours a week with some overtime, I still get to see Craig near enough every day and I still knit alot.

There's something though; that's changing. Something that's scaring me just a teeny bit. it's GB. Not only am I doing officer training this year (I know... feck) I'm also taking not 1 but two new classes this year. A knitting class (oooooh; that's scaring me) and a cooking class with Sandra (that'll just be fun).

Along with my 4-5 yr olds and my scripture class with the juniors that's 4 classes I'm taking part in teaching this year. Along with craft sessons, physcial sessions and 4 (holy crap) openings to do. I have a mountain to climb. I'm also starting to re-go to Church every Sunday with Craig. I had stopped because of work starting at 12:30 and I was afraid that I wouldn't make it intime. Last week was a trail run and we got outta there by 11:45, back to mine and I was changed and out the door by 12:25. That's a good sign.

---Now; onto more knitterly things---

I planed on making wristlets with the Brigaders for my Knitting class; but somehow they came up with wanting to knit a bear for Angelbear (trauma charity for children) so now we're mostly doing that. (I still think it'd be too hard; but anyway)

At first I tried the original bear. (which is knit in pieces then sewn together) and it didn't turn out well. Then someone brought in a completed all in one bear and it looked better. I casted it on and completed it within one day speratic knitting. and about 4 trys at the Face gave me this one.

So we're knitting them.

 

There's also the option to knit the Bunny like the one I did for Lynn and Ian's baby. it's just so cute and I love it. when they're done they'll get donated somewhere. Probably to the Pregnancy resource centre in Carrick.

All in all there will be cuddly things happening on everyone's needles from Tuesday the 11th of October and I'll try to blog about them when I can.

 

---New knits over the Summer ---

A few will know this but I have a wedding to go to in December. I'm knitting a Shawl  to go with my dress from the Rowan kidsilk that I got on Holiday. I'm about to start the edge and the 270 stitches on my needles will increase to 425 before starting to go down. In short: i'm scared of it.

I'm also scared of blocking it.... blocking is where you soak the fabric (some say to use cold; others warm) and then; using pins, pin it out to dry, insuring all pints and such are clear and... well pointy. this means that I need to either pin it to my bed (not a good idea) or buy the plastic matting that looks like jigsaw pieces that people normally use for kid's playrooms ect and pin it to it. Theres a set of 4 in tescos that I seen for £10. I'll always use it.... it's just starage is what's worrying me.

I also seem to have an endless amount of people to knit for this christmasI have 2 hats already accomplished and  3 pairs of socks on the go.between now I have to cast on 2 more hats and countless other wee things.I have also re-discovered my love for Cross stictching and I plan on doing someting with it too.

---That's pretty much it :) ---

I'll post again in a couple of days :)

Thanks for coming back to join me on another year of Knittery things form me.

Much much Luv Aki XXX

PS: welcome to my honerable daughter; Charlotte who subscribed to the blog during the summer

Here we see the knitting Feind in it's natual habitat before xmas.......

----Oh my Good Lord it's been a long time----
Hellos everybody. I'm very sorry if you missed me, a lot has happened it the past......MONTH!!! Oh my word I didn't think it would be that long sorry.
Well at the rate I'm going at it might turn into 2 if I don't get moving like now; so without any further ado; grab yourself a hot beverage, shut the curtains without looking outside (trust me; it's not pretty) and here we go :)

----Job Job Job----

I got one. I'm now working down in Tescos as a part time worker (with shed loads of overtime lol), which is why the blog (and the knitting) have been moving at a snail's pace over the last few days. I do however have enough money to buy myself a nice little thing for myself at Christmas which might make things easier.

----Preparations for xmas----

Some things have been coming along nicely...... other things I have swore to hell and back for the best part of a month lol. here's a quick (but long) compendium of all I have to complete and how I think it's going :D

Craig's Cricket Jumper

The Back is almost done, I estimate only about 10 more rows to go, then I have to do the same again for the front. there is a little glimmer of hope though, I've started the Armhole shaping, which means I'm nearly 50% done

Chance of getting done before Christmas: 90% positive

Monkey A socks (===>)

Have been coming along swimmingly. I'm just about to do the heel flap for the first sock, then there's the foot and toe. These are pictured on my mum's leg. simply because my legs are Large.... these socks are a Medium. I'd stretch the stitches beyond repair.

Chance of finishing in time: 70% positive

Interlocking Leaves socks

(not started so no picture)

Yeah, the pattern's printed and sitting beside the Yarn but with hardly any available time this seems more and ore unlikely.

Chance of finishing in time: 30% positive

Chloe Socks

See above

Chance: 10%

Outside In Socks

See above

Chance (slim to none)

GHN project

Will not picture lol; because she reads this blog, and I shall not let it out yet. It is showing signs of being finished. I'm about 20% done and I can already tell this thing's going to be a long ass thing lol

Chance: 60%

GBP project (====>)

Too cute for words. I have worked out a way that it doesn't look like a brown Jack Skelington (like in this photo) I am aiming to make another 3 before Christmas (total of 4) and since this little guy only needed 1 day to be knit up (started at Lunchtime and finished adding the features just after 10pm

Chance: 80%

Cross stitch Cards (1 = 10%)

Gloves for Craig (Finished)

Hallelujah!!!! they are finished :D even the logo on the front that He wanted; pictures to come when I get him to try them on XD

I also have a secret Santa gift to add to this List, for My bible Group. The budget is anything below £2..... which is hard. then I remembered the Cinnamon coloured Yarn I got for £1.50 at the bottom of my stash (yeah, it had to be at the VERY bottom) and pulled it out. Plans are set for a hat. but because I have  alot more important things to finish, it's on a back burner for now. I don't think I need it done til mid December; so I should be fine :D.

--- As if I didn't Have enough to do.... ---
What with the job and the knitting this year Christmas promises to be.... hectic. It's very unlikely that I'll be able to blog again before this event so I'm going to Showcase it now!

This Year I will be once again gracing Inver Garden Centre (near Larne <===Map) for their Annual Christmas Fair. It's being Held on the 4th/5th of December (that weekend) I will have a table with my lovely assistant/ other half; we'll be selling my handmade Jewellery, A few knitted items (Harlot scarfs mostly.... more on that Later)

Most Importantly I will be giving a brilliant 10% off to readers of my blog! all u need to tell me on the day is...... The Name of at Least 1 of my Amigurumi. If u name 2 you DONT get 20% off and so on, but if you name ANY of them (there's 4 in total) then you get a Yummy 10% your order.

----Stock---- (what I'll be selling)

-Masses of my Handmade jewellery

-Some Knitted items (Harlot Scarfs ===> yeah I know it's not finished Bear with me)
-Some Cute Christmas stockings.... (more on that....Now)

----Handmade Christmas stockings----

It's such a common thing to See at this time of Year, the Humble Christmas stocking, most of the store bought ones are made in mass, so it's Likely that you have the exact same stocking as someone in the same town as you..... I don't like that. I don't like going into Someone else's house and seeing things that I have the same in mine. What I do like however is someone coming to my house, seeing Lady's NEW Christmas Stocking and going 'Oh how cute! A Chrismas stocking for a Dog, Where'd you get it?' to which I'd reply 'I made it'. I love to see their Faces light up when that happens, even at this Simple design (<==)
I also Believe that everyone (even Lady) should have something unique. Something that no-one else has. These Stockings are a great way to accieve that. Because I made this for Lady myself I hold in my mind that No other stocking bought in some chain on the highstreet is even Like it.
I plan on Making about 5 to 10 more intricate designs to Sell at the Christmas Fair. I will also be making them with my Brigader Stiching Class in GB, I'll try and make their's A little bigger than Lady's, at least big enough to fit a Kingsize Galaxy Bar into, that way..... they can fit something of value into it without it looking like a poor, empty stocking because nothing will fit into it lol.
I also plan to make a quite Large one for a very special Friend this year. Which I will fill with Stuff, Wrap it and give it to her hopefully before Christmas day.

----Back to the Hamster Wheel----
Sorry if that was a little shorter than you first thought but I have Knitting to do, and A job to get back to and most importantly A better half to enterain and Love. What with the business of my Life now I can see myself posting just before the Inver Sale to let everyone know what I have instock and a greater idea of where to find the centre. I'd be chuffed to bits to see any of my blog readers there :D
So until next time.... don't get too cold, wrap up warm... - toodles

Holy crap that felt like a long while

--- Alright;be prepared; this might will be a long one ---

Greetings readers of my bloginess; hope you've all been good. Quite a lot has happened in the last couple of weeks; so much that I'm trying so hard to remember some parts of it; however the photos on my camera might help jog my memory when I get to them; so hang tight.

---Announcements ----

• I turned 20!!!! (holy crap) I just noticed I have to change the side bar crap; cus it still says I'm 19... that'll be interesting
• My better half turned 20!!!! He loved all his stuff I got him... I think... the Lush was maybe a little step in the wrong direction but he loved his London Irish shirt I got him; which is a good thing.
• I baked a cake (more on that later)
• I got new knitting stuffs for my birthday(not too much but I'm allowed to order more :)  )
• My internet's been going incredibly slow (which is why this is going up today and not yesterday, it wouldn't even start yesterday; so I left it)
• I now remember what I was going to talk about first; so here we go

--- World Cup Knitting ---
Alright; the world cup's over (Congrats to Spain and extra special thanks; cus u won me a fiver from my better half (who still thinks I used some sort of witchcraft to make a European team win) which gets added to my Xmas budget)(and yes; I'm already thinking about xmas, much to the dismay of my local Yarnshop owner)
The world cup may be over..... but I'm not finished my World cup socks. I have in fact not worked on them since I wrote in this blog last. I have been working on something else... that you may remember.

Yep; that's the unmentionable Bolero; now re-christened the Garn's Bolero. I am now nearly at the neck shaping; which escapes me, I have to have 22 inches from sleeve to needles before I cast off for the neck arranging. I measure my work.... 20 inches, knit for a few rows and measure again... 20 inches.... I take my knitting to Craig's and  knit for hours infront of the television..... 20.5 inches.......ALL THAT WORK FOR 0.5 OF A FRICKING INCH ??? I know there is a black hole at the point where there's jointing of the sleeve to the body and it's just sucking in my perfectly good knitting; all like 90 inches (or so there should be) of it.
I ususally knit while I type this blog, a couple of stitches here and there; until I think of a word; or what I'm going to do next; and I'm doing that now, I will measure at the end of this blog and report back.
(I think that was well skimed over)

--- New stash ---

With money that I got from Aunties; Uncles and relatives I didn't know I had (Like 'here's a card from your cousin Laura' ....' I have a cousin Laura?') I bought enough Yarn to keep me busy for at least a little while. I bought 1 ball of the lovley sock yarn I was talking about Last time (in blue; because the Purple had already sold out :(, but I still like it), some Black Robin DK for a present to someone, some green Silcress.... which I dont actually know what to do with yet (what? it was a pound for like 50g of 25% silk/ 75% merino blend) and a GIANT ball of off cream aran weight wool (thats 980m; take a good look; cus its taking up about have the size of my stash cupboard.) which I'll be using up as soon as I get the Garn's boloero finished, for a very special pullover. and Finally the pomegranate cotton is ecause I dont think I have enough of it to complete the Garns bolero.

--- Baking ---

I had a baking day acouple of days ago. I baked a cake (victoria sponge with Raspberry jam and whipped cream in the middle) and I also made vanilla biscuits (which you can see in the background) which both turned out perfectly; so pefectly that Mum's letting me bake the cake again next week; which shows whe liked it :D all good.                                                             A little bit more of Extra news: I have a baby to knit for :D. My neibour at the back of my house is ready to pop at any given day. As soon as I find out the sex of the Baby I'm probably going to Cast on a pair of booties for it's little toesies. I actually have baby pink yarn, so I'm routing for a girl ^ ^

Also; remember the verigated scarf/shawl from last time? I added buttons (so I can wear it of course) and wore it out shopping last Wednesday. it kept my neck lovely and warm and I love the buttons.

----That wasn't as long as I had thought ----

Well; what with my internet cashing halfway through this post (thank God for Autosave) I think I've ran out of things to talk about.... On Monday I will be venturing up Cave hill again (providing it stays dry) with my digital SLR, my knitting and my better half. will hopefully post again on Tuesday with photos of that, and I think that by tuesday I will have gotten to the neck opening for the Garns bolero so I'll post for that as well. Until next tuesday; toodles       (|/)

                (^^) -Byes

(Oh yeah and the bolero now measures 21.4 inches.... knitting for stress relif actually does work..... surprisingly well)

--------Editor's note (aka; me) --------

Alright; my internet's bugging me; it won't up load my photos that I want it to, its seems now incapable of running two internet pages at the same time and in short it's annoying me so much I'm going to publish this now and try this again tomorrow. apologies for the lateness and absentness of all but 2 of the photos, I'll do this again tomorrow; I'm going to  go Knit myself out of the stress

-----The following day -------

Alright; that seems to be working again, on with the blog (I'll put this at the bottom;so you won't be disturbed :D

Experiments with Lions...

Hello again. This is the non-mushy version of my valentine's week lol

-------Knitting-------

As of last week I completed my first ever tiny amigurumi, so, still in the swing of things I wnted to do more of them, to create a menagerie of Amigurumi (lol) so I prowled the internet and found some free patterns...in crochet...which I'm not too comfortable with doing...

There were'nt very many knit patterns for Amigurumi, except for the bunnies which I already knew about......so looks like I'm going to have to re-learn myself how to crochet.......eugh

------Non Amigurumi related knitting ----------

I found that I had 1 ball left over from the church sale's Scarfs, so, while I remember how I am going to Knit myslef up a scarf with that wool, I started last night and by the time of this post I'm about 3/4s of the way through it, I'm going to leave a little bit of the wool for tassels, which my GB officer showed me how to do, (after the sale lol) so with the speed I'm currently going at I should have the scarf done for the weekend, then I am going to concentrate on my knitted bags that I'm doing.
I need to work out a way to make the bottom of the bag stiff, like a 'Bag for Life' bag. I also need to work out a wat of tuning the fabric 90 degrees so that I work in a square, or bag shaped. Handles are also an issue.

------Little things I found out -------

While experimenting with wool and my 4mm needles (trying to do a cableing pattern, and failing) instead of ripping out the wool and starting again I cast off, then I joined up the wto ends, wanting to make something out of it at least. Finished , I looked at it and realised it looked a little bit like a Lion's Mane. (pictured) My Amigurumi senses kicked in ad I quickly (in my head) made the Bunny parren bigger and yeallow, like a Lion. I am hopefully going to get the new cotton wool in a sandy yellow today, so the next of my Amigumi menagere should be done by next week. (hopefully)

So that's it really, Lots to do this week, I also want to scrapbook a bit with the Valentine's tihings I got just before the weekend, with pics that I took while we were together :)

That's all, I'll blog again next week. Have a good Pancake Day (lol)

Byeeeeises

Knit Knit Knit - Loads of new Yarn :)

Greetings!

I have not completed anything in the past week so in this post I'm gonna list the sorta things that'll be going on this blog, that and write about some knitting stuff that I have going on at the moment.

----- Skills and Creative things I can do -----

• I can Knit (basically; I have never tryed anything big, but all in due time)
• I make Jewellery (beaded mostly, but I want to work with Pm3 clay at one point)
• I can vaugely crochet (not really; But I taught myself Knitting so I can teach myself crochet too)
• I can cross stitch (more on that later)
• I scrapbook on occasion (some aren't very good, but aw well)
• I'm pretty good at drawing :)

Urm, that's pretty much it lol.

----- At the moment -----

I know it's only the start of febuary, but I'm thinking of Valentine's day already. My other half's going to get a very special little heart knitted by me, hopefully attached to a tower of brownies/ cookies (havn't decided yet) for a little extra something on that day :)
And, because the only time I get to show off and Sell my creativity. I am planning
for the Xmas sale in Larne too. ( I nkow; Xmas just past, but that means all the kits, patterns and yarn for the Xmas season is on sale at the moment, so I save myself money :) Notes and a post to come on the xmas sale Items and what I'm taking/ making :)

I'm knitting bags and hearts
I'm Jewellery-making Frogs and bunnies in different colours.
I want the plan for making the Bunny hats I found on Etsy (by Born with it)
I want to start hats for Xmas sale
I will therfore need to find a head I can model them on :)

No pics this time, will make up for it, hopefully next Monday.

Luv to all
Akitombo
XXXXX

Welcomes :)

Hi everyone :D

Massive big hellos to everyone who came here from my Facebook page :) - I'm only starting up this, so it might take a while to get used to it. Bear with me.

This is my first ever blog entry. Lots of people I know are starting to do this sorta thing; and lots of podcasts I've been listening to keep saying it's a great way to keep onto of things, so I thought I'd jump on the band-wagon and start to document my ... creative flair... as I like to call it.

This'll mostly contain stuffs about things I've made or am planning to make. Like scrapbooking, baking, Knitting, cross stitching and general crafting :). I've set myself a deadline to blog at least once a week, If I don't, it means I haven't done anything lol.