Yet more socks...

The 30th Birthday Posh Spiral Socks are finished on time!
It is Julie's 30th today, I'm going on holiday with her and James on Friday so they will be gifted then.

Pattern: Adapted from Probably Jane's Spiral Socks
Yarn: Posh Lucia in Trim (about 50g) and The Yarn Yard in TdF Dix Huit (about 15-20g)
Needles: 2.5mm
Started: 7th April
Finished: 30th April
Comments: I wanted to use a contrasting yarn to the Lucia as I wasn't sure I had enough for a complete pair of socks. The mosaic pattern was really easy and the second sock flew by (knitted in 2 days!) However I did one less decrease on the second one and look how the yarn pools with 2 extra stitches. It isn't as noticeable in real life so it is here to stay. I'm not convinced I like them, but I think (hope) Julie will!

Speedway Socks

One down, one to go. This pattern is fab, like Jaywalkers but stretchy. I love the Kaffe Fassett Regia too.

My holiday knitting is going to be some simple Stashbuster Spirals with The Yarn Yard Ravelry group. Anyone else tempted to join in? There are lots of 25g skeins in the shop.I asked Natalie to dye some sunshine yellow yarn to go with my pink and turquoise and look what a great job she did.

I think these should be easy car/lazing around knitting for my trip to Exmoor on Friday.
For the more quiet times I am going to be taking my Swallowtail Shawl. 1o (or maybe 11) repeats of the budding lace chart done....

See you all when I'm back from Exmoor, hopefully with some exciting news about the second round of the UK Swap!

Speedway and Swallowtail

This weeekend I have been using the beautiful yarn Sarah sent me in the recent UK Swap.
First we have Speedway socks (pattern sent to be by Adele in the Hogwarts Sock Kit swap a few months ago) in Regia Kaffe Fassett sock yarn. Beautifully modelled by a roll of kitchen towel! The pattern is very much like a jaywalker, but has a little bit of ribbing to make them stretchier. A perfect combination.

Sarah also sent me a skein of Eva 2ply from Posh Yarn in the Tinkerbell colourway.
I have been itching to cast on some lace, so when I saw the Swallowtail shawl KAL on the Posh Yarn Ravelry group I had to cast on. Here is the progress made on Saturday.

I'm a bit further on than this now, with 8 out of 14 repeats of the budding lace pattern completed. I wonder how much I can get done this week? I've got the pattern memorised and am finding it quite a relaxing knit.
Here is a close up of the beautiful colours.

Thank you Sarah for such fab yarn...

I won a Prize!

Horay, look at all the lovely lovely goodies Louise sent me for winning her blogiversary prize.

I was very excited as I never win prizes. I'm sure the chocolate won't stay untouched for long! Thanks Louise.
Now onto the WIP for the week, my version of the spiral socks. I can't decide if these are hideous or really cool. What do you think? Just the toe (in turquoise) to go on these.

A close up of the spiral pattern, I'm hoping they will be a bit more even when blocked.

Now for a pair of socks I am very happy with, my Cranford Socks.

Started: 1st April
Finished: 13th April
Pattern: My own sock pattern. The lace repeat is based of those in Jane Lithgow's Cranford Mitts.
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Turquoise
Needles: 2.5mm
Comments: A really simple horseshoe lace repeat over 60 stitches. I love them. Natalie at the Yarn Yard is dyeing me some merino and I'm going to make a pair from that with contrasting heels and toes. Let me know if you would like the pattern and I'll talk to Jane about writing it up (as it is her idea I've stolen!)

An Abundance of New Things

A new sock

This is the first Cranford Sock in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport. I've already cast on for sock number two. It fits beautifully so I am very happy.
Another new sock

This is Jane Lithgow's Spiral Socks pattern that she wrote for Natalie at the Yarn Yard. I have altered the cuff, as I really wanted a picot edge. The variegated yarn is Posh Lucia. The green/turquoise is Yarn Yard. I'm not sure what I think about the two together. Any comments? I think I need to knit more before I decide. These will be 30th birthday socks for a friend.
New Patterns

I was looking for some purple seed beads in House of Fraser at lunchtime and got distracted by the new Simplicity pattern book. I think a dress for me might be a bit ambitious, but I do have my sewing teacher to help me. I really like style D (bottom right). I also couldn't resist the cute child dress patterns. There are 7 sleeve/bodice options and two skirt options. It comes with a croquis kit to help you design! I wonder where I can get that cherry fabric (top right) from?
New Yarn

I was on the computer at 6pm on Sunday and decided to take a quick look at the Posh sale. I usually forget, a good job it seems, as I made two impulse purchases... oops. Posh Laura 4ply in Venus (left) and Wisp (right). This is 80% merino and 20% cashmere and feels just as gorgeous as you imagine it would. The purple is fab, I need to be convinced about the pink!
New Podcast
I saw a post on Ravelry about a new UK podcast and I listened to the first edition of Miss Flip Knits on the train on Monday. It is great to have another UK knitting podcast, the sound quality is great and the content isn't bad either!
New Challenge
Finally, have you seen the I Knit Knit in Public day treasure hunt? I definitely want to have a go at this. I think I've persuaded my friend Kerry. Anyone else fancy joining us?

I didn't expect that....

I have been promised snow by the weather men numerous times this winter and it hasn't arrived. However, as I planted out two new clematis and passion flowers on Tuesday evening it was bound to snow last night. This is what I woke up to this morning

Most of it has melted now, so no snowmen for me, but I hear there maybe more on the way later....
It has been really sunny this morning so I took some pictures of the progress on the Cranford Socks. What do you think?


Right, I must go, as it is"spring cleaning" weekend at Ruth and Tony's. After a very very long time Tony's house is finally finished, we have carpet on the stairs and everything :0)

Finally, Non has sent me pictures of Carys in her birthday dress which I just had to share.

Birthday Presents and a new sock

It has been a week of finishing things here in Wolverhampton. Here is Carys' finished 4th Birthday jumper. She asked for a pink jumper...
Started: 30th November 2007
Finished: 26th March 2008
Pattern: Tea for Two from Miss Bea's Rainy Day
Yarn: Rowan Handknit Cotton in Sugar (6 balls)
Needles: 3.25mm for the ribbing and 3.75mm for the rest
Comments: I made the back and the arms plain and had to adjust the pattern to suit but managed to do the maths with no problem - a first for me! It looks fab, it might be a bit too big, but matches the pattern measurements perfectly. I hated knitting with the Handknit cotton, never again, it is far too stiff. However, hopefully, it will wash well and last Carys into next winter!
I have been using my sewing class to make my first garment too. Again for Carys, a retro needlecord dress with cool wooden flower buttons. I love it, I hope she does too! And I also hope it fits!


The other thing I have finished is my pair of socks from the stash for March.

Started: Feb 2007
Finished: April 1st 2008
Pattern: Lichen Rib by Nancy Bush from Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn: Posh Yarn Lucia in Highland Mist
Needles: 2.5mm
Comments: I ended up going down to 54 stitches for this sock after the ribbing as it would have been way too big. One sock is a little bigger than the other, obviously my tension has changed over the last year. I didn't like the way the yarn pooled when I knitted sock 1, so put it to one side. However I retrieved it from the stash as an "angel" gift for the Vintage Sock swap. It will be in the post to the US tomorrow.

That meant today I got to cast on for a new sock from the stash, excuse the rubbish picture, I didn't manage to get one in the light and the flash made the pattern disappear.
I have used the lace pattern from Cranford Mitts over 60 stitches in a sock. I think it looks great so far and it is really easy to remember and I am flying through the first one. I am using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in a turquoise colour. Better pictures at the weekend, with more progress hopefully.

Finally, I have my last pair of 30th birthday socks to knit this month, but I am at a loss as to what to knit and which yarn to use. I am sorely tempted to buy something, but I promised myself I wouldn't and it's not like I don't have enough sock yarn...
I am currently thinking Embossed Leaves in this Yarn Yard green sock yarn
Speedway socks in my new Kaffe Fasset Regia (however I really want these for myself)
Or maybe some Monkey's with this Posh Lucia with contrasting heels and toes
What do you think? This is what I have to work with:

Actually 2,18,19,21, 32, 41 (about 1/3 skein left) and 48 are being knitted, used up or traded!
The random number generator tells me I should use 27.....