If in doubt....

Make some Jaywalkers. I knew as soon as my SP10 sent me this yarn it was destined to be Jaywalkers. Aren't they just the best?I started the toe last night and followed the instructions for a Turkish cast-on and the pattern for toe up socks from the Summer Interweave knits. I'm not sure if I got the cast on right, but it looks ok. The rest of the sock is commuting knitting from today. I love them already. Thank you secret pal... you sent the perfect yarn!
I was allowed to start new socks because I finished the RPM socks last night.
They are still a bit wet, so no modelled pictures. A quick trip over the Ravelry tells me -
Started : April 07
Finished: 2nd June 07
Pattern: RPM from Knitty
Yarn: Socks that Rock Mediumweight in Farmhouse
Needles: 2.5mm addi turbos and 2.5 mm Brittany birch dpns
Comments: I liked the pattern, it works really well with this yarn. I did make "proper" spirals with no jogs as I found this easier to memorise (basically I did the pattern with 1 stitch less)
I'm just hoping they fit as I think they might be a big big after blocking. I'm also hoping the colour doesn't fade too much, lots of dye seemed to come out when I handwashed them.
Finally we have the progress on the made-up cricket pullover for Toby. The back is done, and now all I have to do is figure out the decreases on the front! Not bad so far for a completely made up pattern.... Let's just hope it fits
P.S. Ravelry is the best, don't worry if you haven't got your invite yet, lots more are going out every day... and it is worth waiting for (even though you get sucked in to uploading all your old projects and don't do any knitting).

Happy Easter!

The secret pair of socks can finally be revealed. My commuting knitting has been these Child's first Socks from Vintage Knitted Socks in Lorna's Laces Iris Garden for my sockret pal. You can see better piccies of Wendy wearing the socks (and all of the other purple goodies I sent here)I felt like I needed a challenge when I started out on these socks but I was pleasantly surprised how easy the pattern was to memorise. I loved them when they were finished, but I was very happy to send them to Wendy who has been such a great person to spoil. I'm a bit sad now that sockret pal is over... but I do have SP10 to look forward to.... I sent my first parcel off last week and it was greatfully received and I'm looking forward to seeing what I get!
Our secret pal hostess has set us a quiz - 1) How old were you when you learned to knit? and 2) Who taught you?
I leant to knit when I was about 8 or 9. My mum taught me. She was a prolific knitter. I was looking through some old photos yesterday and every jumper and cardigan was made by her. I used to knit Jean Greenhowe dolls as presents for friends at school. I knit a bit whilst at uni - but usually toys. I started again when a colleague at work was pregnant about 5-6 years ago but again, it was a bit of a fad. it is only really in the last 2-3 years when I have had something on the go most of the time - again I guess it is the advent of all babies my friends seem to be having!
I spent most of last week on trains between London and Wolverhampton, or at least that is what it feels like. I have ended up with a finished Socks that Rock RPM sock at the end of it though. I love this, and I love that it is for me even more. Instead of casting on for number two I decided I probably needed to start on the socks for Tony's mum who is 60 at the end of April. Progress so far....
Roza's socks in the Koigu my Secret Pal 9 sent me.
And to prove that I do knit something other than socks, here is the finished "Thinking Dress" for Carys. I think I even have enough yarn left over to make a matching tank top for her new little brother!
And to complete the Easter festivities - some beautiful tulips from my lovely bf.
Right, off to play in the garden. Happy Easter everyone.

Blogging instead of Knitting

I have a birthday present to finish (in fact I have several), so I should be knitting, not blogging, but hey, I have lots to tell today beacuse I've had an actioned packed time I've had since my last update. It was the first Brum Knit Night last Tuesday in the Shakespeare. There were 6 of us in total; Susan, Heather x2, Emily, Sally and myself. Was a really fun evening, and it seems everyone is keen to come back. I need to advertise it a little more now to see if we can get a few more people.

I headed down to London this weekend to visit my long lost friends who I have been missing lots. I managed to fit in a visit to Stash in Putney on Saturday, where I met Alice (who was my downstream Secret Pal in the last round). In fact there were a plethora of knit bloggers including Jan, Nic, Diane and Amelia.
Alice was making the Cosy Tank Top I made for Carys for Christmas, in the wool I sent her and I am making the thinking dress for Carys that Alice has just finished for one of her friends. Proof, I think, that it was a perfect SP match!

Here is the progress on the dress

- front done, and the back is about 2/3rds of the way there too. There is a cable that turned the wrong way when I was talking instead of concentrating on Tuesday. I spent virtually the whole train journey down to London ripping back and reknitting and getting confused, so in the end I have left it and duplicate stitched over the top. It doesn't look great but I know it won't matter really (especially as I don't have to look at it every day). It Should be finished in time to send on Wednesday I hope - as it was a birthday present for this little fairy who was three last week. You can just about see the stripy teeshirt I gave her to wear with the dress when it is finished!(It's on the floor just under Mum's knee!)Lastly, sock eye candy for you. I copied Bryony - RPM in STR Farmhouse. FOR ME! Love the colour, however have already altered the pattern so the purl rpm's follow true - round and round like a record baby!
I should hopefully get more done this week as I have two more returns trips to London to look forward to. One work, one play! Let's hope I've recovered from my very late night on Saturday - or should I say early morning. Danced until 3am and fell into bed at 4.30am and then got up to phone for Glastonbury tickets at 9am. I was unsuccessful (boooo) however there is still a chance when the returns go on sale