Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Summer At Last

We've finally had some summer in the UK and have had some glorious days at the beach and pier, especially over the bank holiday weekend. You don't realised how much of a difference the weather makes until the sun appears and suddenly your mood just lifts ;)

The lovely weather must have given me the urge to do some cardmaking as I made a whole bunch. Here are just a few. I sold my old Sizzix on Ebay and bought myself a Cuttlebug which I adore. Far more portable and easier to store. I also had a clear out and tidy up of my cardmaking stuff so making cards is a whole lot easier now. I always feel so much better after a good sort out and organise ;)

I held out till just now before placing an order for Snugs as it has to be said, I've been buying quite a bit recently. Not major purchases, but quite a bit anyway. And when you see it all on your blog you kinda realise exactly how much you've bought. Buying in dribs and drabs isn't quite as noticeable is it lol?

After my last post a trip to John Lewis resulted in 2 lush skeins Misti 100% llama for wrist warmers and the Jane Ellison Mirasol book. OMG is this stuff soft. Unreal, it just has to be caressed to be believed ;) The book is great, I like a lot of the patterns though there was very little quantity of the yarns at the time. Hopefully there will be more in stock when I decide which one I have to make.

I have not 1 but 2 FO's for you - and they're both socks! First the much stressed over STR Silkie socks in the not to be mentioned method that caused me so much angst! But now they're done they are gorgeous and I love them. You can't describe how they feel to wear but the silkiness is just so wonderful on your feet. Not that there has been much too much wearing as its finally been flip flop weather, but that doesn't stop me parading round the house showing them off! So thats 2 out of 4 STR kits made so far. Not bad really ;)

And many thanks go to Piglottie for this Knitty link to the easiest explanation of EZ's sewn bind off ever. Having tried the russian, then the crochet, then the suspended, I was delirious with joy and excitement when the sewn bind off produced a TOO LOOSE BIND OFF!!! Who knew such a thing existed? So I redid it normally (I'd left a lot of slack the 1st time) and it is perfect and the best looking bind off I've seen on a toe up sock. I am a convert. For toe-ups, this is the only bind off to use!

The second FO is the pretty Lorna's Laces Happy Valley socks that were started on holiday in May and promptly forgotten about. I'm glad they're done and can't wait till they've been washed and soften up a little. I'd forgotten how different socks yarns can feel compared to STR, which is just the most amazing feeling yarn. And reminds me why I'm so addicted to them!

But remember the gorgeous Cherry Tree Louet Gems Merino that I started on the trip to see my dad. It is soooooo soft........and is now my no. 2 all time favourite yarn. STR being no. 1 of course - no surprises there. I will definitely get some more of this - it is just gorgeous to knit with. And I noticed the normal CT Supersock yarn wasn't as soft as this either........

The visit to my dads was really quite stressful and umm, upsetting too. He is old but it was a shock to see how different he looked. Not helped by his barber shaving his head!!! But he's happy and thats the main thing and he didn't realise I was upset thankfully. It was a long and very tiring day. Thankfully the rest of the Bank Holiday involved beach trips and visiting pet centres and was gloriously hot and sunny. Bout time too!

The fourth STR sock kit arrived 14 days after posting! For some reason no UK members got their kits any earlier. Weird. But better late then never. Can't believe it's the 4th kit already. Where does the time go? Haven't decided whether I'll make the pattern yet. I'll see what everyone does with theirs and decide later on. Maybe I'll do the pattern in a different shade. Who knows? I've got plenty of other stuff to be getting on with first!

OK I lied. I actually have 4 FO's but 2 have been done for ages and were waiting present giving so I almost forgot about them. They were for my friend's new baby boy and very cute he is ;) First we have a wee washcloth and then a lovely cute bib from the Mason-Dixon book. Don't you just love the button on the bib. Too cute!

And this is my belated birthday present I got from my friend. Aren't the colours lovely? Notice how the notepad which has come in very useful already matches the yarn.....too pretty ;)

And the excuse for the much later than usual post (apart from dreadful network problems not letting me upload anything for a whole WEEK and making using the internet a total PITA)? Pokemon. Yup, Pokemon are to blame. No, really! I finally succumbed to a Nintendo DS Lite and have become totally addicted to Pokemon. So much so that I didn't knit for 3 whole days!!! I'm sure normal service will resume soon. I hope.......but funnily enough while playing More Brain Training guess what it also recommends for getting all that grey matter working? Yup, knitting of course. I did laugh, knitting is just everywhere these days ;)

6 comments:

Piglottie said...

Glad you got the broadband sorted out, and the toe ups! I love both pairs of socks - stunning colours, as is the new club STR.

And the cards are great, especially the Piglet one :) I'm hoping to buy a Cricut die cutting machine soon. I have to agree as well, when my cardmaking room gets in a mess its so much harder to make cards and find the right thing, and I always feel better after a good sort out.

Linda said...

Your cards are great, I didn't know you had that talent too! Lovely yarns you have. The socks have come out beautifully.
You should see our place for pokemon madness. My son is obsessed and collects figures, trading cards, books, games and strategy guides!

Curly Cable said...

So glad to hear your broadband is now running much better. Those cards you've made are fabulous and so are the socks, the silkies are really super and you can almost feel the softness jumping from the screen. I love the pooling on the gussets of the Happy Valley socks, that is so fab:) Sorry to hear your trip to visit your dad, was a little upsetting. It is so difficult, when you realise your parents are not as strong as they once were, so I sending you a big "hug". oh but I bet your Dad was so happy to see you, and is good that he didn't realise how upset you were. Your Misti yarn looks super soft, and what a pretty belated birthday present you received, well worth the wait, and the perfect gift. Your washcloth and bib are just too cute for words, what a lucky little boy to receive such lovely knitterly things ;) The Ninetendo DS lite sounds addictive and must be good to keep you away from your knitting for three days :)

Madge said...

Your Silkies turned out lovely. And that baby bib with its colorful button - so sweet.

Did you see how Yarn Harlot's Flower Powers turned out? Cute little anklets. I bet you could whip them up in no time.

Here's to summer!

artyfartykat said...

Didn't realise you were a fellow card maker!! The cards look great. The Cuttlebug is brill, I havent succumbed yet!!
The socks look fab and the baby bib is soo cute!

Chris said...

A bib! :) Gorgeous socks you've been knitting. The Louet GEMS is the base yarn for CTH, Koigu, and possibly even STR. It's nice stuff, isn't it?!