No contact

I am out of contact for the next few days - I'm off for my knee surgery tomorrow. Remember 5 months ago when I fell over while skiing and tore my ACL, well I'm having that ACL reconstructed. Sounds painful and I'm sure it will be too.

But don't worry, I've decided to make me feel better by spending far too much money! I've ordered books from Amazon, yarn from all over the world and ebay. There'll be packages waiting for me when I get home in 3/4 days time. That should cheer me up. More photos when I get back.

My baby is 2 today

Another milestone in my baby's life. Keira is 2 today. Here she is being her - sucking her thumb and cuddling her 'loth (cos she can't pronounce cloth!). Oh don't they grow up fast. Love you my lil darling!

Somewhat Cowl completed

Hurray. It's done. Finished. Completed. Here it is! (PS Must remember to wear a black bra!) Sorry the picture isn't too clear, but the weather here is just very patchy. I love it. I will post a little bit more later, I've just had a party for my lil girl who turns 2 tomorrow and I am exhausted!!

Backyard Leaves completed

I am getting very sidetracked with my knitting. I haven't worked on Somewhat Cowl. I do feel guilty, but I have managed to finish one of long outstanding WIP. Here's Backyard Leaves..... (among my camelias, in that 5 second window when the sun was shining. Cos, it ain't doing that now. The weather in London is grey, wet and cold. It's June in a week!)

The first half took some time to complete. But the second half just got completed very speedily. 2 or 3 days at most. I suppose that is what it's like with second sleeves or second socks.

It really looks great, (maybe except where I seamed it badly, but I'm hoping no one is going to notice!). I love it . The Debbie Bliss Cashmerino is very easy to knit with and the finished product looks great. I finished it just in time for the cold weather we are having!!!

The end is near....

I'm nearly finished with my somewhat cowl. I have to admit to slight boredom setting in with the knitting. I have never been more focused and timely with the completion of projects, but I am bored. I love starting projects. It's the finishing that slows me down - a lot! Being focused with finishing is just so not me.

Anyway, here is a progress shot. I have to admit that I love it. The Debbie Bliss Cathay is just gorgeous when knitted up. I think I could knitted this in a slightly smaller size - just a little bagginess in the sleeves and the waist. The only worrying bit is the slight lumpiness on the neckline where I must have picked up the stitches messily. I'm hoping that it would get sorted out if I block it.

I've also just noticed bits of fluff/pils on the body. That would be where I was struggling with the dpns. Those ends just poke through everything and invariably get caught. Hope that would just disappear. I am now knitting the ribbing with 2 circular needles - much easier. Thank goodness.

I know every mother thinks their children are geniuses but here's one of my lil man. In the last 2 months, his drawing and painting skills have improved tremendously. Most of his old pictures are just splodges and squiggles. But recently, you can actually make what his pictures are about. Here is one he calls - Nightsky. That's him and his sister under the starry sky and the crescent moon. (Ps - I know it's not much but I think it's great!! I'm his mum, I'm allowed to be biased.)

Let me end today's post on a mini rant. Amazon is bloody infuriating at the moment. Everything I try to order is set to be despatched in mid August, eventhough it states that it is available in 24 hours. Not 1 order, not 2 orders but 3 orders. Maybe the computer is wrong. But there is no way of checking because you can't contact anybody in Amazon. No email, no phone number, no nothing. AAARRRGGGHHHHH! I'm just frustrated because there are some gorgeous new knitting books out there.

Hell... as I know it

I am making good progress on Somewhat Cowl but I'm at the ribbing stage for the cowl. It's been hell, 2x2 hell to be exact. Just seems that I've made no progress whatsoever. And I keep forgetting to take photos. It's too late now. I'll post more tomorrow.

BTW - Thanks for everyone's comments on Bluey. I really enjoyed knitting it and it looks great! It's been getting some wear.

It's also been really nice to have new visitors/commentors to my humble blog. Alice - the kids may look cute but they are a handful!!!! The pattern for the hat is from Lucinda Guy's book - Handknit and things. The stripey beanie from the summer collection. The whole book is so cute!

Eureka - we have cable

I found my USB cable - stuffed into a shoe box, under my bed where the kids have been playing a lot of hide and seek. Hmm, I guess it's not my failing memory that's to blame but inquisitive and helpful children. At least, I have it back.

Now for some photos. First up is my completed Orangina or Blueygina. (Just noticed how untoned my arms look. Must go to the gym !) It's currently unwashed and unblocked but I don't think it'll change too much. It's knitted in Rowan Linen Drape, which is a pain to knit but does create a lovely fabric. You'll notice that the ribbing is in a slightly different colour - it was a different dyelot which I didn't notice until much too late. I was too lazy to rip back and alternate the yarn. So here it is with a new design feature. I love it .
Next up is the Somewhat Cowl. When the photo was taken, I had just completed the raglan increases. In the last few days, I have joined the front and knitted quite a bit of the body. This project is just flying off the needles and I love the Debbie Bliss Cathay. The knitted fabric is so soft and yummy. However, it can be a bit of a pain to knit - slightly slippery and splitty.
Remember my Kool Aid dyeing experiment. Well I managed to knit a beanie hat for the lil man. It's not quite the weather for it, but he loves it all the same. I've now got everyone coming through the US to buy me lots of different Kool Aid flavours, or colours I should say.
I didn't manage to buy any yarn while I was in KL but I did visit the Kinokuniya bookstore. I had a really hard time limiting my purchases. I didn't really see any knitting magazines which I liked but found some crochet/toys and quilting books which I just had to have. Actually, I could have bought another 10 magazines/books, but hubby was around and he would have killed me. Thank goodness for free shipping on YesAsia at the moment.

Where, oh where ......

has my camera lead gone?

I must apologise (again) for the radio silence. I have my reasons. We were flying back from KL to London on May 1. Time difference, jetlag and children were the main reasons for my absence. I also managed to contract some dodgy tummy bug where no food stayed in my tummy. Tiredness and no knitting meant no progress to report. But I have since made some progress - I have finished Orangina (it looks great! - love it), made significant progress on Somewhat Cowl and knitted a hat for lil man. I have photographic evidence but I can't find my camera lead. Aarrghhh!!! You'll just have to take my word for it.

More to report soon.