Potty Thomas!

Otherwise known as Pomatomus, the beautiful sock pattern that has swept through blogland! I think I'm one of the few that hasn't yet knitted it, but I'm in the process of ticking it off my list.

I had a few false starts. I've some Jitterbug yarn that's been in the stash a while and I thought would work well. I cast on but then read on Ravelry that this yarn is low on the meterage. So decided to try the STR yarn in Cracked Canyon. I was unsure about using this, as I wasn't sure if the pattern would show, but as I didn't have any other sock yarn decided to give it a go. NOPE! Pattern didn't show at all so frogged AGAIN! I was getting desperate now, I wanted to get started! I thought about using some undyed BFL sock yarn from Woolfest and dyeing it after knitting, but Becky came to my rescue and I bought some Trekking XXL from her in bluey shades and hey presto, I was finally away!!

I must admit it's an addictive pattern and difficult to put down without thinking 'just one more row'! But I'm really enjoying it.

Another addiction is Ravelry! I finally got my invite the week before last and I'm hooked! Having somewhere to document projects, yarns, needles etc and also able to look at others projects, patterns etc is brilliant. I know theres along waiting list, it took me about 6 weeks to get on, but its definitely worth it

I'm also crocheting the Nereus scarf from Natural Dye Studio. I love the pattern but I'm not keen on the yarn colour and the way it's 'distributed' in the scarf, for want of a better word! I loved the colours in the skein too and the yarn itself is beautiful, so soft and snuggly!

I've been really slow to post about my prize that I won on Kath's blog. When I met Kath at Woolfest, she gave me my prize, which came with a knitting challenge. No problem you may think till you see the prize!

Thanks Kath!! I tried to knit with them........ I really tried...honest, but chocolate......and me......yummy!!

The 'needles' kept breaking, so I just HAD to eat them.....or they melted so I had to eat them, there's a pattern emerging here!! I got chocolatey fingers, sugary knees and a full tummy!! Brill idea Kath, it was good fun. I'll get you back!

Last Monday, I had a gathering of knitting friends! Carrie Anne, Becky, Bev and Andrea all came to mine and we had a lovely knitty day, punctuated only by food and drink!! I just wanted to say 'Thank you!' to you all and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Well I think I might just go and squeeze in a row on Potty Thomas, before I get the hoover out!!

I

Mothering Sunday

Mothers Day in our house has always been a low key affair.

The kids have always bought small gifts and cards, which I really appreciate. I get totally pampered for the day too, having all my meals and coffees made for me. It is a day of rest and relaxation, which is unusual for me.

I wish I could get rid of the feelings of guilt I get if pick up the knitting needles when the ironing is building up in the corner. I've even tried putting the ironing out of sight but still the guilt niggles away. I don't always give in to it, sometimes I just say Sod it and pick up the needles. But then the fingers of guilt start creeping round my head and I'll end up putting the knitting down and doing some housework. Now it's not that I'm houseproud, by any stretch of the imagination! I think it's a self esteem issue, not feeling as though I am good enough to allow myself to do something pleasurable, when theres other stuff I should be doing. That sounds really heavy, I don't know where it came from but its true! Does anyone else feel like this ?

On to nice things!

I seem to have avoided second sock syndrome, and have got cracking with my 2nd Piece Of Beauty sock. I'm really enjoying this yarn, as I've said before and would definitely recommend it.

Progress on the sock has been a bit slower because I decided to push on with the bag. I eventually got used to knitting with the rough Kureyon, the colours are beautiful and somewhat make up for its coarseness. I haven't lined it yet but this is how it looks so far.

It has felted beautifully, but it's smaller than I thought even though I followed the felting directions on the pattern. Andrea has knit this bag before and said hers is much bigger. I guess it's all the practise I've had of felting any woollen garment that I get my hands on!! Queen of Felting, the Fulling Princess!!

My Victorian Lace Today book came this week too and it's beautiful. The photography alone is gorgeous then you get the delicious lace patterns on top! I love the historical angle that the author has used and recycled the patterns so that todays knitter can use them. I think it's fab and can understand why the book has been sooo popular! I have just started this one.

I'm using the Ullcentrum yarn I bought at Harrogate. I'm being very good and using from the stash, mainly I must admit cos we are skint! I am trying to stick to the No yarn til Woolfest and due to our financial state, it's not too difficult at the moment !! But it means I'm using stuff I'd forgotten I'd bought, it's quite exciting!!

Friday was KnitnNatter day with the multi-talented CarrieAnne! ( She'll kill me for that one!) It was a lovely group of folks as usual and all the group fees went to Comic Relief too.

Happily, Tom's back is slowly starting to improve. Thank you for all your well wishes. And a huge thank you to everyone who has commented lately. Your support and kind words really do mean a lot. And if theres anyone that reads my blog but doesn't leave a comment, please do, it's lovely to "meet" new bloggers!

Housemaid's Knee!

Well, I haven't actually got housemaids knee, but I should have!

I know it's hard to believe, but I've actually tidied my craft room! And because I knew you wouldn't believe me, I took a photo to prove it!

It's hard to imagine that this was the same room that I tried to shame myself into tidying by putting a pic on the blog! In fact the old one was in such a mess, it wasn't a room, it was a skip!

I lost count of the number of full bin bags I took out over 4 days, yes FOUR days. Because of my dodgy back, it was a starty/ stoppy affair and at one point I thought I'd never get it finished, but it's done. Thank God. And I am going to TRY and keep it tidy. Promise! ( I'll just lock the door so I can't get in to make a mess! It's about the only way it will stay tidy!!)

I was sooo pleased when I sold my first felted bag and even more pleased when someone saw it and asked if I could make them one. Now, after I've knitted this pattern for the sixth or is it seventh time I'm sick of it! It's not that I mind knitting them but the pattern is so simple and I would like to knit something else! Here are the latest two, minus handles!

The major side effect of this situation is that I now have a mountainous yarn stash that needs some urgent attention! Especially before Woolfest, or I'll have no excuse to buy more. I know, I don't need an excuse to buy yarn!

In an attempt to address the stash mountain I've started on the yummy Piece of Beauty sock yarn that Carrie Anne bought me for Christmas. It's called Boathouse and I love it, it's so soft and feels lovely to knit with.

I just need to sit with my feet up, knitting in hand and rest that housemaids knee! Poor girl, hope her other knee's ok!

Long time no blog!

In some ways it doesn't seem like two minutes since I last blogged, but when I looked at the date of my last blog, I couldn't believe it!

There are several reasons (or excuses!) for my lack of waffle. Firstly my hubby has been on holiday last week, holiday may not be quite the right word ,as he hasn't stopped decorating all week! Because we decided to decorate the living room, dining room and Kate's bedroom all in one go, absolute chaos descended! The only room that didn't have stuff from any of the rooms being decorated was my craft room, and that was only because we couldn't get anything else in!

Kate wanted her room to look more grown up and sophisticated and so began a grand clear out. This consisted mainly of her putting anything she didn't want, into our bedroom. On the bed. On the bed so we had to move everything before we could get into said bed!! KIDS!!!

But now her room is finished, bar a few pictures to hang and she is a happy bunny! Me and her Dad are knackered, but shes happy! For the time being!!

The other contributing factor to the lack of posts is rugby! No,not me playing it, but my son Tom. He was brought home injured two weeks ago after hurting his back during a match and has needed loving care ever since! Not that hes got it, but we've done our best!! He's still struggling but it will take time.

Knitting has been on the back burner, a few rows done here and there, but I've finished the bags that were asked for, just the linings and handles to fix on

Both were knit using Wensleydale Longwool Aran which felts beautifully, and a fancy yarn for the top. I am really pleased with the Wensleydale yarn as it is beautiful to knit with too.





I've also been tinkering with stamps. Above is a box I'm almost finished altering, it needs a bit of something on the top. Inside I've created a wacky scene scene using stamps from Graphicus.

Oops, I've got two pics of the box inside and I can't get rid of either!!! My IT knowledge is astounding!
My WIP on the needles is yet another pair of Fetching for a birthday gift. I started them at Darlington knitting group last Friday. It was lovely as usual. I was very tempted by Beckys latest sock yarns, I'm thinking about them!! I'm not sure what to start next, I've got quite a stash building. I would like to try and use it in the order that I bought it, but I don't know if I can be that disciplined!