Oh dear, its been a bit too long, I'd actually forgotten my password,... senior moment,... or poor blogger?
I will let you decide.
So, what's been happening since I was last around?
In a nutshell. I finished the cheering up jumper, which co-incided (fortunately) with a life event that required major cheering up. It was exactly twice as big as it should've been, and used four times less wool than I had bought. If anyone out there would like to make themselves an item of clothing in cheering up yellow, let me know, I have a drawer full of the required material!
I also started an etsy shop, and last week got a lovely message from a lady who said she loved one of my scarves, not quite enough to part with £5 for it it seems but still a very welcome comment all the same.
I've continued to knit whilst I've been away, but wont be wearing much of it until the weather changes, heatwave + wooly item + sweaty betty! (is that how you spell wooly and sweaty?)
Anyway, after a lovely afternoon in Heaton park with two of my fabulous friends (complete with cupcakes) I've been inspired to get back into blogging (blogging is old fashioned Susies middle name)(one of my fabulous friends), and so in order to brighten up this blog I pledge to put more pics on (including the cheering up jumper if you so wish) and as I have read my way through the paperback contents of Oxfam I also pledge that on my bus journey to work each morning rather than re-read my Oxfam purchases I will knit a woollen heart every day, and post it here until you never ever want to see a picture of a heart again.
Watch this space .....
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Friday, 1 April 2011
"Kitting sticks"
No, it's not a spelling mistake, she really did say kitting sticks. Well to be exact, she said , "you get bus often? If I get kitting sticks, you show how to poke in string?" I'm guessing that she meant that if she would be seeing me regularly would I be willing to show her how to knit.
I was flattered that she thought me capable, particularly as I had dropped a few stitches getting it out of my handbag, and then missed a few whilst she was talking to me.
She was clearly mesmerised, as she missed her stop watching me knitting nervously as she peered over my shoulder.
I'm sure many have thought me odd knitting in public, but it's my cigarette, my anti-depressant, my not biting my nails deterrent, so I have to do it wherever I go. Of course most of it wont get worn now that the weather is changing, but I will be well prepared for next winter, and hopefully well practised enough to not miss stitches when I try to talk at the same time.
I left the bus today with a smile on my face, and a scarf in my bag, and tomorrow, I might just have a spare pair of "kitting sticks" with me incase we bump into eachother again.
I was flattered that she thought me capable, particularly as I had dropped a few stitches getting it out of my handbag, and then missed a few whilst she was talking to me.
She was clearly mesmerised, as she missed her stop watching me knitting nervously as she peered over my shoulder.
I'm sure many have thought me odd knitting in public, but it's my cigarette, my anti-depressant, my not biting my nails deterrent, so I have to do it wherever I go. Of course most of it wont get worn now that the weather is changing, but I will be well prepared for next winter, and hopefully well practised enough to not miss stitches when I try to talk at the same time.
I left the bus today with a smile on my face, and a scarf in my bag, and tomorrow, I might just have a spare pair of "kitting sticks" with me incase we bump into eachother again.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
A day trip
To celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary my husband and I planned a day trip to Glasgow. Yes a day trip, you might laugh at the thought of travelling so far twice in a day, but my husband just loves driving, so whilst I dozed off we made it 280 miles in 2 1/2 hours. Yes, I can do the maths, and guess he probably broke the law at some point along the way!
Id mapped out a route around the city, taking in the most interesting shopping sites.
First up was a centre of 32 jewellers. "Its a vintage gucci watch I want","I could buy 3 cars from ebay for the price of that"was the response.
After several miles of walking, a trip through the Vivienne Westwood shop and a drool at the beautiful architecture what did I take home?.....
Three pairs of brightly coloured vintage knitting needles, astonishment at the young couple who ate a full english breakfast and drank a bottle of rose wine with it, and the memory of a bright pink balloon floating in the window of a beautiful apartment looking out across a city park.
Id mapped out a route around the city, taking in the most interesting shopping sites.
First up was a centre of 32 jewellers. "Its a vintage gucci watch I want","I could buy 3 cars from ebay for the price of that"was the response.
After several miles of walking, a trip through the Vivienne Westwood shop and a drool at the beautiful architecture what did I take home?.....
Three pairs of brightly coloured vintage knitting needles, astonishment at the young couple who ate a full english breakfast and drank a bottle of rose wine with it, and the memory of a bright pink balloon floating in the window of a beautiful apartment looking out across a city park.
Sunday, 6 March 2011
The cheering up jumper
I've had some bad news recently and have therefore been relying on the cheering up jumper rather heavily.
I was using it to conquer my fear of trains in order to be able to visit someone in hospital when the old chap (who had been asleep for most of the journey) woke with a start and asked "are you a Blackpool fan?" I replied that I don't really follow football, but if I had to name one team it would be Manchester City (ah the memories of feeding city ted boiled egg yoke all come flooding back). "ah, he replied, only I just wondered why you would be knitting with such a vile colour and thought it might be because its the colour of your favourite football team." I supposed anyone with a bit more courage would've defended the jumper and explained how it was my 'cheering up jumper', and had successfully nursed me through flu, and was at that moment controlling my desire to run screaming from the train in a claustrophobic panic. However in my usual meek way I simply said the wool was cheap and it was my first attempt at a jumper so I didn't want to spend a lot of money incase I messed up. How pathetic!I then went on to explain that I too thought the colour was garish, but at least I would be easily recognisable if he met me again on the train, particularly if I was wearing it.
He said that when he was younger he had a shirt the same colour and everyone called him horrible names because of it, until a famous group started wearing the same colour and then he was "the talk of the town". Ah well, perhaps JLS will make a style decision which will make me and the cheering up jumper popular eventually...
I was using it to conquer my fear of trains in order to be able to visit someone in hospital when the old chap (who had been asleep for most of the journey) woke with a start and asked "are you a Blackpool fan?" I replied that I don't really follow football, but if I had to name one team it would be Manchester City (ah the memories of feeding city ted boiled egg yoke all come flooding back). "ah, he replied, only I just wondered why you would be knitting with such a vile colour and thought it might be because its the colour of your favourite football team." I supposed anyone with a bit more courage would've defended the jumper and explained how it was my 'cheering up jumper', and had successfully nursed me through flu, and was at that moment controlling my desire to run screaming from the train in a claustrophobic panic. However in my usual meek way I simply said the wool was cheap and it was my first attempt at a jumper so I didn't want to spend a lot of money incase I messed up. How pathetic!I then went on to explain that I too thought the colour was garish, but at least I would be easily recognisable if he met me again on the train, particularly if I was wearing it.
He said that when he was younger he had a shirt the same colour and everyone called him horrible names because of it, until a famous group started wearing the same colour and then he was "the talk of the town". Ah well, perhaps JLS will make a style decision which will make me and the cheering up jumper popular eventually...
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Bargain hunting
I was off bargain hunting yesterday at Dagfields antiques centre which is to me as the chocolate factory is to Charlie.
I found a vintage sewing kit which I stripped out and relined so that I can keep all my large needles in there. I'm always losing them, which is why it took me a while to finish my project because I had to find them before I could make use of my new device for not losing them.
I also bought a lamp which according to the label is from The Orient Express. I have no idea if this is true, but it does have a copper label on it which says so, so I'm going with the fantasy.
I also bought a knitting book from the 70s which has fabulous patterns it, one of which is for a knitted set of trousers and matching jumper for a small boy, (well not really that small, the little boy in the picture looked around 8 years old) it also has matching cardies for a Dad and son to wear whilst they stand leaning on the car having man chats (as demonstrated in the photograph).
I'm not confident in my pattern reading skills just yet, so I've bought the book in the hope it will break me in gently, but the pattern I love the most has the most confusing instructions, my eyes glazed over just pre-reading them so it will definately be one for the future, I will stick with the father and son cardies for now!
I found a vintage sewing kit which I stripped out and relined so that I can keep all my large needles in there. I'm always losing them, which is why it took me a while to finish my project because I had to find them before I could make use of my new device for not losing them.
I also bought a lamp which according to the label is from The Orient Express. I have no idea if this is true, but it does have a copper label on it which says so, so I'm going with the fantasy.
I also bought a knitting book from the 70s which has fabulous patterns it, one of which is for a knitted set of trousers and matching jumper for a small boy, (well not really that small, the little boy in the picture looked around 8 years old) it also has matching cardies for a Dad and son to wear whilst they stand leaning on the car having man chats (as demonstrated in the photograph).
I'm not confident in my pattern reading skills just yet, so I've bought the book in the hope it will break me in gently, but the pattern I love the most has the most confusing instructions, my eyes glazed over just pre-reading them so it will definately be one for the future, I will stick with the father and son cardies for now!
Monday, 14 February 2011
Yellow for cheering up purposes
Ive had the flu all weekend, boooo! but on the positive side its given me plenty of time for knitting. Earlier in the week I'd bought some bright yellow wool which I spotted from a distance in a charity shop window and just had to have. Its proved the perfect thing to occupy my time whilst layed up coughing and sneezing. I wouldnt go so far as to say its nearly finished yet but but it's definately past the stage where it could be 'anything' and actually looks like it might be 'something'. The only problem is (without going into too much detail) Ive been coughing and sneezing whilst making it so I will definately be giving it a good wash before wearing it to avoid re-infection!
So what else have I been up to? Ive bought some beautiful embroidered brooches to go with my new pastel cotton scarves, and ive finally finished my hat and scarf set that has been waiitng for a wooden button for months, and now it has one, doesnt really need one.
Ive also been making presents for my friends, again which are now waiting for magic buttons to add the finishing touch. Oh and I also found a brilliant pattern for knitting hearts, which I then used to knit my husband a heart (which he is clearly over the moon with because its still on the coffee table 4 weeks after I made it for him, and on that subject, I havent been able to go out and get my husband a valentines day card so I will be spending the rest of the day in my sick bed making him one.....now where did I put that glitter?....
Ive also been making presents for my friends, again which are now waiting for magic buttons to add the finishing touch. Oh and I also found a brilliant pattern for knitting hearts, which I then used to knit my husband a heart (which he is clearly over the moon with because its still on the coffee table 4 weeks after I made it for him, and on that subject, I havent been able to go out and get my husband a valentines day card so I will be spending the rest of the day in my sick bed making him one.....now where did I put that glitter?....
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
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