New Stash

I've been doing a bit of shopping recent.... this is the result of some Ravelry, John Lewis, House of Fraser, Posh Yarn and Yarnbox shopping!
1. Handarbeitskram by Selana Handpainted sockyarn, 2. Lorna's Laces, 3. Skein Queen Cashmerino - Blush (large), 4. All Seasons Cotton, 5. All Seasons Cotton, 6. Stash, 7. Stash, 8. Stash, 9. Noro Kureyon Sock, 10. Posh Sophia 4 ply Divan, 11. Posh Yarn Diana Cobwebweight in Flamenco, 12. Posh Sophia 2ply Bluebells

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.
Yes, there is more sock yarn in there!

In knitting news I've been concentrating on Muir... upto 10 repeats now:


Whilst I was out in the garden tonight I noticed some VERY small vegetables... Butternut squash and purple cauliflowers - well they had to be purple didn't they?


Finally, this weeks questions:

Secret Pal 12: What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?
Noone can ever have too much wool :o)


UK Swap Week 3:

Is there a TV programme you watch religiously? ER is probably the only thing I hate to miss. I also enjoy Gardeners' World, Grand Designs, anything David Attenborough esque and things like that. I've been enjoying Glastonbury and the football this weekend

What TV programme(s) do you avoid like the plague? Most other programmes, there is too much rubbish on TV these days!

Is there a TV programme that you find works particularly well for knitting along to? Anything that requires not too much attention! Unless I'm knitting stocking stitch in the round! I'd rather listen to the radio though - especially if it is XFM

What was/is your favourite kids TV programme? Bagpuss, the Flumps, Pigeon Street - most other late 70's early 80's programmes.

More Muir, More answers

Muir continues at a pace.
I'm really getting into this pattern now. This is how it looks pinned out after just over 7 repeats and 1 skein of Posh Yarn Eva 2ply on 4mm needles

And all scrunched up (but with better contrast)

I decided not to wind the other skein of Eva last night before bed, I thought I would have enough yarn to keep me going on another trip to London today, but I ran out 2 rows into the journey back. Usually I take too much knitting, this time I had nothing else with me! Tut. I won't be doing that again. At least I had my Harry Potter audio book to keep me amused. Aren't libraries great?

Now for the answers to this weeks questions:
UK Swap Week 2: Which three guests (alive or not) would you invite to a dinner party and why?
I've really enjoyed reading other people's answers to this one, which makes it even harder to think of my own answers. I think Stephen Fry would be there, he is kind of in my consiousness at the moment (as he reads the Harry Potter books which I've been listening to). He is funny and intelligent but maybe a little too shy... but I reckon in a small group he's be great.
I'm tempted to put a knitter in there, maybe the Yarn Harlot as she is very witty and has great observational humour. Lastly I think I would pick someone to make us yummy food, maybe Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. I like his philosphy on life, and he cooks yummy things.
Secret Pal 12 Week 2: As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?
As a child we used to have a static caravan on a small campsite in Wales, near Newquay. We used to go there for a couple of weeks most school holidays. I had a friend called Sue and I used to really look forward to seeing her. We drifted apart when I went to Uni, but have recently got back in touch (thanks to Facebook!) I remember being let out to play early in the morning and going on adventures on our bikes. There was a tree we had a swing from, days at the beach, even an adventure park of sorts (called Oakwood). Happy times.

Questions Questions Questions

Secret Pal 12 Question:
What is your favorite summertime drink?
I think this has to be Pimms, with lots of mint and cucumber. Yummy. That reminds me, haven't had a glass yet this year!
UK Swap Question:
What is the strangest place you have ever knit?
Probably at a football match, before the game started. I got some very strange looks!
What are you doing to participate in WWKIP day on Saturday?
I met up with some of the Brum Knit Night crew at a pub in Central Birmingham.

Alison and I finding something very amusing, probably the fact that my new socks match my teeshirt!
Here they are:

More Speedways, in Opal Feelings. This time I've done yo's rather than m1 for the increases.
I think I might be a bit chevroned out after this pair. I forgot to take the pattern with me and couldn't work out where my heel went, so had to put them on a spare bit of yarn and start the other one!
Knitting on Muir has continued. I've done 3 repeats now. Not the best photo but you get the idea...

Here is something I don't think I've shared yet, a pretty awful attempt at an argyle vest for a friends little boy. My intarsia is pretty rubbish, but I'm hoping it might even out after blocking and when the ends are sewn in. It's on hold until I finish Muir though.

Lacy chevrons.

Another pair of socks from my enormous sock yarn stash
Summer Chevron Socks:

Started: May 18th
Finished: June 11th
Pattern: My own, using a stitch pattern from 200 Ripple Stitches by Jan Eaton. This is the chevron pattern -
Row 1: k1, yo, k3, sl1 k2tog psso, k3, yo* repeat.
Row 2: Knit.
I cast on 60 stitches and did 5 rows of garter stitch.
The heel is a normal heelflap.
Yarn: Online Supersocke 100 in Holiday which I bought in Toronto last September.
Needles: 2.5mm
Comments: A quick knit, I think the second sock only took about 3 days in total. The pattern is really easy and it works really well with the self-striping yarn. They are lovely and colourful and summery, which is exactly what I wanted!

And now for something completely different.... I have chosen my next lace project...

This is Muir from Knitty in pink Eva 2ply Posh Yarn. I'm just over 1 repeat in and wondering if I can finish it before a wedding on the 20th July. Here is a close up of the pattern.

Secret Pal 12 Questionnaire

Not content with hosting the UK Swap I've decided to join up to SP12 too. I love getting parcels. It's like Christmas and birthdays all rolled into one, with knitting related presents - even better!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love sock or lace weight yarn in natural fibres. I guess my favourite is probably Malabrigo, which I made my Mystery Stole from and I'm using for my Mr Greenjeans Cardigan.
As far as sock yarns go, I love Yarn Yard sock yarn and Lorna's Laces. In fact anything machine washable is good in my book.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I've got an amazing stand my bf made me for my wooden needles. I have a cupboard in the lounge with my current projects in. my crochet hooks are stored in a jam jar on the shelf in there - it works quite well.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
learnt when I was about 10 or so, knitted loads of soft toys in my early teens and then knit on and off for about the next 10 or so years, not really making it my hobby. I reckon I've been knitting solidly for about the last 3 years or so, since my friends started having babies to knit for. Probably about intermediate skill level.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, but linking to it doesn't seem to be working at the moment! Use my email address to find it.
5. What's your favorite scent?
I don't really do heavily scented things, probably lavender if I had to pick
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Yes! Malteasers and Green & Blacks chocolate for a bit of luxury.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I crochet and I am learning to sew. I also enjoy baking and gardening. I have tried spinning with a drop spindle once, but don't have any spinning equipment.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I'm a 1990's indie girl. Stuck in the days of Blur, Ash, Pulp, The Wonderstuff etc. Recently, most things on xFm like the Arctic Monkeys, Fratellis, Pigeon Detectives, The Courteeners and more chilled out stuff too like Scott Matthews. I *may* also be found at Take That/Robbie Williams and Wet Wet Wet concerts. oops.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Anything stripey. I love purple too. Anything not too pastel really.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my BF. No pets.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Scarves and hats.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Socks, socks and more socks. I am getting really into lace knitting at the moment too.
13. What are you knitting right now?
A pair of socks which I designed, a tank top for a 2 year old, a pair of knee high socks for a friend (which have kind of stalled) and a cardigan for me. I'm about to start on a Baby Surprise Jacket and Muir shawl.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, love them
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Addi turbos all the way, and my lovely wooden needles too.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have a ball winder and a home made lego swift!
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
March 2006 - a crocheted blanket.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, for the time off and presents.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Wool!
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I have a subscriptions to Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet and Yarn Forward. I love sock yarn, you can never have too much, but prefer machine washable in solid or semi solid colours. I'd love some laceweight yarn too; again in solids or semi-solids.
My knitting book wants are in my Amazon list, and you can see what I want to knit from my Ravelry Queue. I would love to get the Barbara Walker Treasuries, I think these will be on my Christmas wish list. At the moment I have to go to the reference library and they only have book 2!
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Intarsia and Fair Isle are the next things.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Oh yes. I knit socks on the bus and train on my commute into Birmingham every day. I am UK Size 6-7. I can give you more specific measurements if you want them.
23. When is your birthday?
18th may
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
rooknits

Ravelry Anniversary

How time flies. Today is my 1 year Ravelry Anniversary.
I thought I'd share with you some of the reasons why I love Ravelry.

The Most favourited project of mine is My Hexagon Blanket - with 71 little hearts.

It actually looks nothing like this any more. I decided I didn't like the hexagons joining on the top, so took them all apart and sewed them together rather than crocheted. Or at least sewed some of them together! I started this in March 2006. I need to get a move on!

I have favourited 51 projects and 72 patterns.
This Caterpillar cardigan is simply the best item of children's clothing I have ever seen.
I can hardly believe this is knitted - lace knitting to aspire to!
And I'm so pleased that these are MINE!

If you want to see more amazing Ravelry items, check out this forum post.

I have 158 items in my stash and 21 for sale.
I'm not even going to look how many miles of yarn that is!

My queue contains 65 projects. Muir is the first thing on the list.... I need another lace project! I have also moved lots of socks to the top of my queue, ready for the Summer of socks

I love the fact that I can see what my friends are knitting, queuing and stashing here.

The forums are fantastic. I joined the Posh Knitters KAL for Swallowtail and I love the Yarn Yard's garden shed. We've also got a group for Brum Knit Night which has helped to spread the word.

What is your favourite and most favourited Ravelry project?