Showing posts with label socks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label socks. Show all posts
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Resemblance
The Wrong Socks
I've been wracking my brain for topics to write about for this abc-along post... wrangling with a few ideas and wringing my hands when they had to be written-off, to wretched disillusionment...
Heh!
So, I decided upon 'Resemblance' as I've just finished 2 items of the family knitting, genus sock... subcategory SSS...
Firstly is the finished 'Crooked Cable Sock' by Sockbug. It's very cute in the Phildar 'Phil Luxe' yarn in the Nympheas colourway!
Then we have the first 'Monkey Sock', by Cookie A. Yes, I jumped on the bandwagon - surely hundreds of knitters can't be wrong? And, no, they're not! This is such a fun pattern to knit up... (actually the Crooked Cable pattern is a lovely knit, too...)
Heh!
So, I decided upon 'Resemblance' as I've just finished 2 items of the family knitting, genus sock... subcategory SSS...
Firstly is the finished 'Crooked Cable Sock' by Sockbug. It's very cute in the Phildar 'Phil Luxe' yarn in the Nympheas colourway!
The wool is the hand dyed Shetland sock wool in 'Damson Delight' by my fave 'Angels & Elephants' team in Cornwall! Man, I love their yarn!
Well, I guess I'd better resume work on the replication of this, um... raiment...? Okay, that's stretching things just a wee bit! Heh!
p.s. Thank you for all your lovely comments on the treasure chest! I'm VERY chuffed to tell you that the recipient loved it! Huzzah! I might try and post a pattern for it in the near future...
p.s. Thank you for all your lovely comments on the treasure chest! I'm VERY chuffed to tell you that the recipient loved it! Huzzah! I might try and post a pattern for it in the near future...
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Zombie Socks
Don't faint, please, but you can run away screaming if you wish...
I have finished a pair of socks. That they are the Zombie Socks by Sheryl Giles seems apt. I myself am feeling somewhat zombie-ish at the moment. This has been caused, not by a bite from a zombie (I wonder how one DOES become a zombie - I may have to Google this... I shall be right back... Okay, so you have to be 'infected' and killed by a zombie. I think this is relevant...) but by being in the 35 degree heat of the South of France then the 22 degree air-conditioning of the French High Speed Train system then the 34 degree heat of home. Add a liberal dash of sniffly people ON the train and Hey PRESTO - instant cold.
:: sniffle ::
Ugh. Of course, the timing is somewhat crap, as I have a concert in a week's time in Germany, and some music still to get into my system, but I guess there's a lesson about procrastination to be learnt there, if nothing else!
But I FINISHED MY ZOMBIE SOCKS! This pleaseth me. It doesn't make me feel any better, sniffles-wise, but FO-wise it makes me smile! Huzzah! (They're called 'Zombie' socks because they include SCARY dropped stitches!)
So mis-matched they MATCH!
I am rather fond of these! It was the first time I used 'sock' yarn and I wasn't sure how the variegation would work, but I do like the way they're almost negative mirror images of each other!
stretched out and looking GOOD!
But I am also pleased that I can post one of my 'stealth' objects now, too... A few days ago it was the birthday of a lovely friend of mine from Ravelry. I was already sending her some rather HAWT shoes and the timing was such that I thought I'd send her my first evah amiguri-type knitted thingy and some yummy yarn as a birthday pressie...I don't have a photo of the yarn, but I can tell you it was called 'Raspberry Ripple' and came from my favourite 'Angels & Elephants' dyers...
The amiguri-type-thingy? Well, I attempted a little cupcake with a cherry on top... I had it in mind for the recipient a long time ago and was quite pleased with how it turned out...
cupcake for G
Ach well, back to attempting to throw this cold... and finishing the other stealth objects... and praying for cooler temperatures! Heh!
:: sniffle ::
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Obsession
Angels & Elephants hand-dyed sock yarn
I may have waxed a little lyrical on this topic before. And then I only had 2 types of the stuff. Today, to add to my obsession, a package arrived in the mail with my final (for the moment) shipment of yarn from Angels & Elephants, who are based in Cornwall, UK and have their yarn shop on eBay.
I now have the colourways of Tintagel (denim blue and green), Maisie (lavender, blue and turquoise), Polruan (green, blue and yellow), Tamar (light and dark lavender and pale green), Sea Spray (blue, lavender and pale jade) and Damson Delight (damson, purple and pink) I think I may be a tad spoilt for choice. Until I see the next consignment of colours on eBay, bien sûr... And sock yarn doesn't count as stash anyway, does it?
So, after gathering all my wee smooshy, yarny babies into my loving arms and just breathing in the colours, (you can too breathe in colours... pfff) I decided to get my camera and try to take some pretty pictures. I think I may never again have such a beautiful subject... (Um, until I see the next consignment of colours on eBay...)
My camera, on the other hand, was playing hard to get. It is a rather old Olympus C-Zoom and takes about 10 pictures before I am informed by means of a blue screen with a big red cross on it that there ain't no more pictures getting taken. It laughs in the face of zinc carbon batteries (nom), eats rechargeables for breakfast (nom nom), gazes greedily at anything that promises 'long-life' (nom nom nom) and almost salivates (work with me here, people) at the thought of nomming quickly through a couple of lithium cells. And if I even think about using the macro function, then this snacking turns into a full-scale face-in-the-trough nom like-there's-no-tomorrow.
:: sighs ::
So, four batteries later I ended up with some yarn pin-up shots. Or as my DS would say, some obligatory arty-farty shots. Most of them, needless to say, were pretty naff. Darling Olympus, I think you've earned your retirement.
Rolling hills of colour
Oh, how I love these colours. I'm turning into such a hand-dyed junkie. I guess I'll never have enough yarn like this, yet it feels a bit strange to start a project with them, because they're just so damn pretty in the skein. But, biting the bullet, I have started one super secret sock project with one of them. To end this post I'll show you the sole, as it won't give anything away apart from how lovely the yarn looks knitted up a bit...
Super Secret Sock Sole in Sea Spray
(For DS - Sally Snake goes sssssssssss!!!)
(For DS - Sally Snake goes sssssssssss!!!)
You'll notice I've artfully covered the toe... That's 'cos it's an unholy mess. I *may* cough cough have misread the directions...
Thursday, 22 May 2008
I have to admit that my friend T the YarnDiva speaks the truth when she says sock-knitting is like crack addiction. I have four pairs on the go at the moment, and am trying very hard not start another two... but the yarn is whispering sweet evil in my ears. "Come try me, feel me, knit me..." Y down in Grenoble is also completely right - I guess it's what happens when you invest in multiple sets of needles! I am feeding my own addiction! A self-enabler, if you will!
Here are two finished socks. Both have their partners on the needles, so am potentially avoiding SSS AGAIN! Go me!
Giles Wavy Sock and Zombie Sock. Clash City!I was especially chuffed with the Zombie Sock, as it introduced me to the Joy of Garter-Stitch-Edge Gusseting. Look - NO LADDERS!! Oh yeah!!
Next, may I present the beginnings of a cable sock that I'm attempting to improvise... Well, it's a simple sock design that came with the yarn and I'm adding a celtic cable on the front, 'cos I loves me my cables...
Trekking/cable sock
Trekking/cable sockThen there is the slightly jinxed*, woe-begotten cuff that's been hanging around looking forlorn for a week or so... it was intended to be a Zombie Sock, but alas, alack, the yarn I chose was ever so slightly unsuitable... (That thing about choosing the right yarn/gauge/needles for the job... yep, seems to be *quite* important...!) But it looked so pretty that I didn't want to frog it completely, so, after choosing a few patterns that were *ahem* again frogged down to the cuff due to... um... a difference of design/skill opinion, I decided on a pretty leafy pattern and I'll see how it goes... I loves me my Harmony Guide stitch dictionaries, too! (*Ed. At time of press sock has been tinked twice more, but I'm refusing to give up...)
Dr Who Leaf Socks (On its 7th incarnation)
Dr Who Leaf Socks (On its 7th incarnation)Talking about dictionaries, I've just invested in a couple of pattern books... Well, 'tis a similar genre...
Birthday Books. Bags. Bags. Bags. SOCKS. Crochet? *gasp*!
Birthday Books. Bags. Bags. Bags. SOCKS. Crochet? *gasp*!Oh, okay, I admit that 'couple' is not quite the adjective, but I thank my brother big-time for sending me Amazon vouchers for my birthday, as I also loves me my books... I did get a couple of non-yarnie books - the latest novel by Joanne Harris called 'The Lollipop Shoes' and another great book by David Crystal on the English Language - this one is 'The Fight For English' and as usual, is making good reading! Yep, I loves me my linguistic and etymology studies, as well.
Oh, and to finish upon our title subject, I must just announce that I FINALLY ordered some 'Vintage Socks' from The Tsarina of Tsocks. I mentioned her magnificent 'Firebird' socks in an earlier post, and although I will have to drool over them from afar until they're available to the general public, I will be utterly content with the Vintage... I suggest looking at her site for general Tsock Tstupendousness...
But don't blame me when you *have* to order something, too!
Oh, and to finish upon our title subject, I must just announce that I FINALLY ordered some 'Vintage Socks' from The Tsarina of Tsocks. I mentioned her magnificent 'Firebird' socks in an earlier post, and although I will have to drool over them from afar until they're available to the general public, I will be utterly content with the Vintage... I suggest looking at her site for general Tsock Tstupendousness...
But don't blame me when you *have* to order something, too!
Sunday, 4 May 2008
You know - one of those days when the little niggles and tiny annoyances that normally don't upset you individually, decide to club together and have a weekend of fun and jollity at your expense... I think they had beer, too... *sigh*
Mild Vexation No.1 - I shall be attempting to make my way to Holland tomorrow for for a week of concerts. Normally this isn't a problem: Tours to Paris; metro from Montparnasse to Gare du Nord; train up to The Hague. Roughly 6 1/2 hours door-to-door. Tickets insanely easy to buy online. (It's cheaper than flying, for those that think I'm out of my mind! Remember, I'm Scottish and besides, it's an ideal opportunity to get my knitting freak on!)
But before I continue, I'll add a photo of something nice. Just to balance things up. This is what the postie brought me yesterday morning all the way from the Far East:
A shed-load of needles!15 pairs of 120cm long circular needles and 15 sets of dpns, all bamboo. They're luverley! Okay, so they're not any famous brand and are, in fact, cheap Ebay items, but I am, as previously mentioned, Scottish! Now there is NO excuse to get started on those many pairs of socks that I have queued on a certain knitting site. Except, perhaps, purchasing the actual wool to make them. (See Mild Vexation No. 3)
Where was I? Oh yes, the voyage au Payes-Bas. For the life of me I couldn't figure out why I couldn't buy the tickets online like I normally do, so I ventured to the station to buy one there. All trains were allegedly already booked up for today AND tomorrow (wtf - that NEVER happens) but I finally managed to get tickets after cajoling, begging, using the 'I'm a stupid foreigner' card and, handily, just before I offered a bribe. (The lady at the desk gave in too soon - obviously new to the job.) It was on only passing a post office on the way back that I realised that this weekend is May Day bank holiday weekend. The trains from France will be filled to the gunwales with Dutch folk making their boisterous way back home after a long weekend tormenting the French. Aiee! So, I'll be on a train, filled with noisy Nederlanders and possibly sitting on the floor next to the door for the whole way. (Well, the lady said "Mais, oui, mademoiselle, vous avez le billet donc il y aura une place pour vous sur le train", so I can only hope that because I DO have the ticket for the journey, that there WILL be a place for me on the train...) Time will only tell if it is indeed standing room only.
Mild Vexation No2. - my printer died yesterday. The poor 5 year-old thing gave up the ghost just as I was away to print out the pattern for Sheryl Giles' 'Zombie Socks' which was to be my project for the train. I've been sitting at my compy knitting away, but I can't bring that with me, hulking tower system that it is... (and probably just as well, as I had to frog about 10 rows as I naïvely believed I could knit and read forum posts at the same time! *Insert exclamation of an Homer Simpson variety here*)
Back to the cuff - zombie-flesh green cotton...
Giles' Wavy Socks attempt no.2
And one day I promise to learn about gauge, correct needle size and choosing the right yarn for the job!
P.S. I have to apologise about the fonts - sizing and type - for some reason Blogger is toying with my sense of aesthetics...
Where was I? Oh yes, the voyage au Payes-Bas. For the life of me I couldn't figure out why I couldn't buy the tickets online like I normally do, so I ventured to the station to buy one there. All trains were allegedly already booked up for today AND tomorrow (wtf - that NEVER happens) but I finally managed to get tickets after cajoling, begging, using the 'I'm a stupid foreigner' card and, handily, just before I offered a bribe. (The lady at the desk gave in too soon - obviously new to the job.) It was on only passing a post office on the way back that I realised that this weekend is May Day bank holiday weekend. The trains from France will be filled to the gunwales with Dutch folk making their boisterous way back home after a long weekend tormenting the French. Aiee! So, I'll be on a train, filled with noisy Nederlanders and possibly sitting on the floor next to the door for the whole way. (Well, the lady said "Mais, oui, mademoiselle, vous avez le billet donc il y aura une place pour vous sur le train", so I can only hope that because I DO have the ticket for the journey, that there WILL be a place for me on the train...) Time will only tell if it is indeed standing room only.
Mild Vexation No2. - my printer died yesterday. The poor 5 year-old thing gave up the ghost just as I was away to print out the pattern for Sheryl Giles' 'Zombie Socks' which was to be my project for the train. I've been sitting at my compy knitting away, but I can't bring that with me, hulking tower system that it is... (and probably just as well, as I had to frog about 10 rows as I naïvely believed I could knit and read forum posts at the same time! *Insert exclamation of an Homer Simpson variety here*)
Back to the cuff - zombie-flesh green cotton...Mild Vexation No.3 - I'm still waiting to be paid for the gigs I did in March. Not good. (Actually, this is more like 'Extreme Vexation No.1') The life of a wayfaring musician may seem quite glamorous, and indeed can be, but when you're waiting on, nay, depending on folk to pay you so you can pay other folk, things tend to suck. And there's that gorgeous yarn I've seen on Etsy that is crying out, crying out I tell you, to be knit into something by me, if only I could afford it!
But my moan is at an end. Thank you for your patience and/or indulgence. In reward I'll give you another picture of a WIP.
Giles' Wavy Socks attempt no.2This Time It's Personal...
And one day I promise to learn about gauge, correct needle size and choosing the right yarn for the job!
P.S. I have to apologise about the fonts - sizing and type - for some reason Blogger is toying with my sense of aesthetics...
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
How could I have forgotten to post about my second pair of socks evah?! Shame on me, indeed! I finished the Brigid socks mark two last week.
Looks a tad like there's going to be some Irish dancing going on any second now... The cables are beginning to look like cables, of all things! (I'm a sucker for all things even remotely Celtic looking!) The hell turn went okay and gets better each time (please, God, it can't get any worse!) but for the life of me I can't figure out the gusset. You've heard of the Stairway to Heaven, well this was the Ladder to HELL (turn)!
L'échelle à l'enfer.
La scala all'inferno.
Die Leiter zu Hölle.
La escalera al infierno.
And not one but 3... For some reason the very first one looks normal. Is it A Question of Tension? A Beginner's Sock Issue? Not-Enough-Coffee Syndrome? And I have to admit that I'm a tad confused about the mix of heel flap and short rows, because when I read forums and books it seems that it's either one or the other. But it's really those 'picking up the slipped stitches at the end of the rows' thing that's getting me. It sounds so simple. 'Pick up the 12/15/97 stitches and knit down, continuing to the middle of the heel flap on needle 62', or some such thing. And I see a chain. It has at least a couple of stitches to choose from and it seems I always manage to get the ones that lead to interesting sockness of the non-gusseting variety.
Of course, I've artfully arranged the photos to show the LEAST amount of gussety badness as possible, but even I, Master Photographic Bullsh**er that I am, can't hide them there yarny rungs. Especially those on the left sock. Yikes!
But I shall prevail. I shall refrain from despairing and will wait for godet to sink into my conciousness. Maybe starting another pair will help...
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Hmm, hope the title of this post doesn't sound blasphemous... But really, I am overwhelmed with the socks formerly known as just 'Brigid'. It may be because they're my first socks evah, or it may be because they fit like a, um, glove... It may be because by the second sock I'd figured out the hell turn. (Sorry, the spelling is staying like that now.) It may be because they're cute and cosy. It may just be because I feel like the proud new mother of twins...
But anyhoo, may I present my first pair of socks...
But anyhoo, may I present my first pair of socks...
Cute, eh? (Feel free to say yes!) I took them on their first visit outside yesterday and they behaved very well indeed. I'm going to stop the baby analogy now to add that they were boot fillers so they didn't really see the light of day, but my tootsies were cosy and comfortable, which means they fulfilled their requirements!
Now, of course, I want to make MORE socks... You have to have a look at this wonder from the Tsarina of Tsocks. It's called 'Firebird' and I almost dribbled with sock-lust when I saw it for the first time. But I have to wait a while before it makes it out of the sock club and becomes available to the general public. Ah, me...
And talking of Ravelry... (There's a perfect logical explanation for the subject change in my head. Should you wish further commentary, then my head will be happy to help.)
...What an interesting few days it has been on the forums. There were some strops beheld and a business flushed itself down the tubes on one. There was a part of me that felt sorry for the person at the centre of the complaints, but it all came down to (IMHO) very shoddy customer service over a long period of time from the business in question.
It seemed it was a day of bad karma all round - full moon? Um, no - waxing crescent at the moment. Maybe a mass biorythmic energy flash? A sun-burst in Earth's direction? Maybe an international coffee outage? Who really knows, but on another forum a fire was flamed under a reputable small business owner, started by someone new to the forums. This was very quickly extinguished, as although the OP had a valid-ish complaint, he/she hadn't actually checked whether it was still valid. Which it wasn't. It all smacked rather distastefully of witch-hunt inciting. But then, if one was, wasn't the other? Perhaps, and I have to admit I'm not the one to judge, even if I am writing about it here... But it did make it a car-crashingly interesting day. Too interesting, really, as I think I spent most of the day on teh interwebz. Icanhazcheezburger.com has a lot of time absorption to answer for aswell.
Maybe I need to get a proper job?
But, knitting-wise, it is now time to start the Aoife (pronounced 'Ee-feh') jacket thingy that I've been drooling over since I saw the pattern on Knitty.com a month or so past... Oh, and Coco is still on the go, as are the mary-janes... Want to start a bag for my sis (but not naming it here in case she looks!) and maybe another bag for me... (Hah - I say 'maybe' like it's not already a certainty!) And there's that wire I bought up in Holland and ALL those pretty beads...
I'm just going to bask in the glory (and warmth) that is Saint Brigid for a bit first...
Now, of course, I want to make MORE socks... You have to have a look at this wonder from the Tsarina of Tsocks. It's called 'Firebird' and I almost dribbled with sock-lust when I saw it for the first time. But I have to wait a while before it makes it out of the sock club and becomes available to the general public. Ah, me...
And talking of Ravelry... (There's a perfect logical explanation for the subject change in my head. Should you wish further commentary, then my head will be happy to help.)
...What an interesting few days it has been on the forums. There were some strops beheld and a business flushed itself down the tubes on one. There was a part of me that felt sorry for the person at the centre of the complaints, but it all came down to (IMHO) very shoddy customer service over a long period of time from the business in question.
It seemed it was a day of bad karma all round - full moon? Um, no - waxing crescent at the moment. Maybe a mass biorythmic energy flash? A sun-burst in Earth's direction? Maybe an international coffee outage? Who really knows, but on another forum a fire was flamed under a reputable small business owner, started by someone new to the forums. This was very quickly extinguished, as although the OP had a valid-ish complaint, he/she hadn't actually checked whether it was still valid. Which it wasn't. It all smacked rather distastefully of witch-hunt inciting. But then, if one was, wasn't the other? Perhaps, and I have to admit I'm not the one to judge, even if I am writing about it here... But it did make it a car-crashingly interesting day. Too interesting, really, as I think I spent most of the day on teh interwebz. Icanhazcheezburger.com has a lot of time absorption to answer for aswell.
Maybe I need to get a proper job?
But, knitting-wise, it is now time to start the Aoife (pronounced 'Ee-feh') jacket thingy that I've been drooling over since I saw the pattern on Knitty.com a month or so past... Oh, and Coco is still on the go, as are the mary-janes... Want to start a bag for my sis (but not naming it here in case she looks!) and maybe another bag for me... (Hah - I say 'maybe' like it's not already a certainty!) And there's that wire I bought up in Holland and ALL those pretty beads...
I'm just going to bask in the glory (and warmth) that is Saint Brigid for a bit first...
Saturday, 5 April 2008
Huzzah! The sun has been shining its head off here this past week and the trees have decided it's Spring, BIG time! Much akin to a fireworks display, albeit one in slow motion and available in green only, leaf buds are a-bustin' out all over. I must try and catch the delicious purple magnolia that lurks in a gated courtyard somewhere near here before all the petals drop. I've missed it for the past 3 years running as I've been on tour somewhere else over the flowering period and this year as I think I'm back in time I'm determined to have a damn good gowp! Watch this space...
And I'm feeling much, MUCH better! I've even got my appetite back, almost! (Something that maybe I shouldn't be *quite* so cheery about!) The strange this is that I really couldn't bring myself to pick up the sticks when I was feeling cack, but did make it to the sewing machine.
The things you do when you're ill!
No, seriously, I finally made the needle case/wrap I've been reminding myself to do (and forgetting about) for yonks now... The hum of the sewing machine can be very therapeutic!
Okay, so it may not win any prizes in the Finishing Awards 2008 but it serves its purpose well and looks pretty to boot! Just don't look too closely at the seams! (I've already made cushion covers with the same mock 18th century design fabric - it's gorgeous!) Places for the tiny and cute 16", 32" and 47" rounds (when they arrive - hoorah for eBay!) and straights at the bottom.
Oh, and before I forget, here are a few more (mostly) Lallans (lowland Scots dialect) words that you'll find around here...
Fowk - folk, people
Gleg - alert, sharp, bright
Gowp - stare
Mair - more
Sicht - sight, lot - as in 'a lot brighter'
Staig - stag (as in deer) but also stalk
Sticks have been reintroduced to hands, though, and our Celtic sock Brigid's mate is down to the heel cuff. I still quiver with apprehension at the thought of the hell turn (no, that's NOT a typo) but I can only hope that enough offerings of chocolate at the Shrine of the Heel Deities will ease the pain when it arrives. (The Heel Faeries forsook me last time, so I've changed religion.)
Well, I find that chocolate offerings to myself always seem to help...
And I'm feeling much, MUCH better! I've even got my appetite back, almost! (Something that maybe I shouldn't be *quite* so cheery about!) The strange this is that I really couldn't bring myself to pick up the sticks when I was feeling cack, but did make it to the sewing machine.
The things you do when you're ill!
No, seriously, I finally made the needle case/wrap I've been reminding myself to do (and forgetting about) for yonks now... The hum of the sewing machine can be very therapeutic!
Okay, so it may not win any prizes in the Finishing Awards 2008 but it serves its purpose well and looks pretty to boot! Just don't look too closely at the seams! (I've already made cushion covers with the same mock 18th century design fabric - it's gorgeous!) Places for the tiny and cute 16", 32" and 47" rounds (when they arrive - hoorah for eBay!) and straights at the bottom.Oh, and before I forget, here are a few more (mostly) Lallans (lowland Scots dialect) words that you'll find around here...
Fowk - folk, people
Gleg - alert, sharp, bright
Gowp - stare
Mair - more
Sicht - sight, lot - as in 'a lot brighter'
Staig - stag (as in deer) but also stalk
Sticks have been reintroduced to hands, though, and our Celtic sock Brigid's mate is down to the heel cuff. I still quiver with apprehension at the thought of the hell turn (no, that's NOT a typo) but I can only hope that enough offerings of chocolate at the Shrine of the Heel Deities will ease the pain when it arrives. (The Heel Faeries forsook me last time, so I've changed religion.)
Well, I find that chocolate offerings to myself always seem to help...
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Frogged.
Poor 'Giles Wavy Socks'. They weren't the best pattern to use when I was snatching time in and between rehearsals for MERG. I thought I was doing quite well for a while...
The 'eye of partridge stitch' is very pretty and reminds me of my all-time favourite 'feather and fan'. But on arriving at the heel turn, (oops - originally wrote 'hell turn' - how Freudian!) things went rather awry...
The 'eye of partridge stitch' is very pretty and reminds me of my all-time favourite 'feather and fan'. But on arriving at the heel turn, (oops - originally wrote 'hell turn' - how Freudian!) things went rather awry...
I am developing the art of taking photographs to mask mistakes to a high degree, but I was thwarted by this little effort. Hey ho.
So Giles has been frogged and I have learned that I'm not quite proficient enough to attempt anything more complicated that a plain st st during rehearsals. For the time being, at least!!
So Giles has been frogged and I have learned that I'm not quite proficient enough to attempt anything more complicated that a plain st st during rehearsals. For the time being, at least!!
Monday, 17 March 2008
Man, I'm knackered! The second week of rehearsals for MERG are in full swing and going well - I say well, but really I mean surprisingly well. We (the three singers) have managed to remember not only the arias but also the blocking, staging and dances. Not bad for over a year away from it, believe me!
Holland is dull, dingy, dreich and damp, as per usual, but it's jolly nice to see my friends up here. I discovered that three of the dancers have taken up knitting in the last year, so we've been comparing cables! (Or 'How Not To Cable' as it turns out...) The Swan, one of the dancers, has offered to introduce me to his favourite LYS (expensive) and another dancer, The Lovely Canadian, has offered to show me hers (euro-tastic). You can guess which one my wallet will let me visit... Oo - I have found a rather excellent craft shop in The Hague, though - I had to be torn away from the wire and beads and knitting needles and sparkly things and hooks and jewellery findings and embroidery threads and fimo blocks and hand-made paper and... Actually it was just as well there was a shop next door selling Cadbury's chocolate, or I would still be in the craft shop lusting over everything...
But I have been knitting... mostly Q's draught excluder (still don't ask...) but I finished one of the Brigid socks - hoorah. I'll try and upload a photo, but as I'm not at my own computer I'm not sure if it will work...
Whee - upload successful! Ach well, the photo is not the best quality, but you get the gist... The sock fits, though - a grand accomplishment for me! I'm now on Brigid Two, but I'm also around row 40 of the Wavy Socks - 'tis a pretty pattern! Mum's Coco bag is also slowly being added to, but I'm hoping I'll have a plethora of FO's to post when I get back down to France at the end of the month...
Q's Birthday Bear was a great success, btw, although after being named 'Stanley', he has now been re-christened 'Bear of Chucky' as his blue eyes seem to be unnerving the best friend somewhat... 'Tis easily remedied, but it did make me giggle!
Holland is dull, dingy, dreich and damp, as per usual, but it's jolly nice to see my friends up here. I discovered that three of the dancers have taken up knitting in the last year, so we've been comparing cables! (Or 'How Not To Cable' as it turns out...) The Swan, one of the dancers, has offered to introduce me to his favourite LYS (expensive) and another dancer, The Lovely Canadian, has offered to show me hers (euro-tastic). You can guess which one my wallet will let me visit... Oo - I have found a rather excellent craft shop in The Hague, though - I had to be torn away from the wire and beads and knitting needles and sparkly things and hooks and jewellery findings and embroidery threads and fimo blocks and hand-made paper and... Actually it was just as well there was a shop next door selling Cadbury's chocolate, or I would still be in the craft shop lusting over everything...
But I have been knitting... mostly Q's draught excluder (still don't ask...) but I finished one of the Brigid socks - hoorah. I'll try and upload a photo, but as I'm not at my own computer I'm not sure if it will work...
Whee - upload successful! Ach well, the photo is not the best quality, but you get the gist... The sock fits, though - a grand accomplishment for me! I'm now on Brigid Two, but I'm also around row 40 of the Wavy Socks - 'tis a pretty pattern! Mum's Coco bag is also slowly being added to, but I'm hoping I'll have a plethora of FO's to post when I get back down to France at the end of the month...
Q's Birthday Bear was a great success, btw, although after being named 'Stanley', he has now been re-christened 'Bear of Chucky' as his blue eyes seem to be unnerving the best friend somewhat... 'Tis easily remedied, but it did make me giggle!
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
Embroidery.
Apples, Autumn crocuses, pumpkin, rose-hips, sycamore leaves, ivy and hay bales.
I started this when I was at art school sixteen years ago. I was way too literal when given the brief 'Autumn' and was duly redirected to a project much more abstract and this free embroidery was packed away barely begun. It was picked up, stitched a bit and put away until I had a part-time job in a card shop, when I was studying a post-graduate music degree, and I had some time to sit and sew properly - it wasn't a very busy shop, needless to say! It was then put away in a box again, stumbled upon anew a month or so ago, and I decided it needed framing and shown-off! Poor neglected thing!
It's basically just a mix of french knot stitch and satin stitch, and you can imagine the sky and clover field took rather an age to finish! I do rather like the basket of apples, though. If anyone can guess what type the apples are supposed to be, you'll get cake. Cyber-cake, but cake, never-the-less!
Thousands upon thousands of french knots!
Well, since Percy has officially been put into service, I've been toying with the idea of making some socks. Yes, socks. I think it's high time I finally put my dpns to good use. I've decided not to be put off by thoughts of impending turning-heeldom and have chosen a pretty cable pattern called 'Brigid'. There's only 11 rows done so far, and although this fact alone is usually enough to get my camera out, I've decided not to take any photos until said heel is turned... I can't risk the wrath of the fabled Heel Faeries by exposing too soon...
Oh, and as an addendum to my *slightly* obscure tale about the facebook game called 'Knighthood' a couple of posts ago, I can give you the end of the story. (For me, anyway.) I deleted the game. Yes, I know, after all my "studies of human nature" etc etc... But really, the truth is I was shamefully dire at it, and could only go on for so long without being beaten to an e-pulp. I have my pride! (Which wasn't enough to stop me running when I could!!)
But now I can concentrate on the fair Lady Brigid! Hand me my trusty cable needle, good sir...
Update: I forgot to actually post this after writing it, so keen was I to fiddle with Brigid, as it were, so I thought seeing as I hadn't offended the Heel Faeries too much after all (give or take an extra 'ventilation' hole), I'd pop a wee photo on here.
I think I'm turning into a Sock Whore. And I'm sure there's a better name for it than that!
Oh, and as an addendum to my *slightly* obscure tale about the facebook game called 'Knighthood' a couple of posts ago, I can give you the end of the story. (For me, anyway.) I deleted the game. Yes, I know, after all my "studies of human nature" etc etc... But really, the truth is I was shamefully dire at it, and could only go on for so long without being beaten to an e-pulp. I have my pride! (Which wasn't enough to stop me running when I could!!)
But now I can concentrate on the fair Lady Brigid! Hand me my trusty cable needle, good sir...
Update: I forgot to actually post this after writing it, so keen was I to fiddle with Brigid, as it were, so I thought seeing as I hadn't offended the Heel Faeries too much after all (give or take an extra 'ventilation' hole), I'd pop a wee photo on here.
Row 40!
I think I'm turning into a Sock Whore. And I'm sure there's a better name for it than that!
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