Float'n'purl

WIP

It seems like ages since I posted anything so here is my progress so far with the Miss Bea Jumping Dress. I may be rather slow compared to other bloggers who seem to knit a cardi in a week but I believe its the journey and not the destination that's important (well, that's what I tell myself!).

Besides, I have two good excuses for my lack of progress: no.1. I've been working lots of overtime this week and even worked on Sunday which was tragic given the nice weather & no.2 all this extra work has made my right shoulder ache since all of my work is computer based and even worse its mainly drawing where I'm only moving the mouse and not typing. In fact I see a Remedial Massage Therapist, Tina who is wonderful but disapproves of my knitting. She's suggested cross stitch instead which wouldn't be so bad at knotting up my muscles but you can't wear cross stitch (unless you add it to a t-shirt or something) and, apologies to anyone who really enjoys cross stitch, but quite frankly I find it really boring.......So if anyone has any tips on keeping your shoulders/ arms etc loose and pain free while still knitting please let me know!!

Back online

At last I've got my new computer up and running! It wasn't without problems of course. Firstly Dell forgot to send my new printer with the computer (and conviently forgot it on the invoice but took the money for it anyway - interesting). Secondly, I had to call my ISP to sort out my broadband connection which went awry but thankfully everything is now up and running. I especially LOVE my new 17" monitor which makes everything look huge - great for looking at knitting websites of course, and the computer is sooo fast that I can now surf even more blogs...........oh, no - I'm becoming obsessed.

However, in between I did managed some knitting. I've now finished Olive but I still have to block it and I've started on a dress for my friend's little girl, Emma. She's nearly one but I've decided to knit the age 2-3 size just in case it takes me a while to finish it!

This is from Miss Bea's Playtime by Louisa Harding. I'm using Rowan Handknit Cotton in a peachy/ pinky colour and cream for the stripes. The pink I bought for a song on e-bay last month but I had to buy the cream. In fact the pattern calls for no less than THREE colours for the stripes but as I'm such so tight fisted I've only opted for one! Its all plain knitting as are most of the patterns but since I'm still a beginner this suits me to a tee. I'll try to take a photo as proof of my progress once I get to the first stripe!!

On (but nearly off) the Needles

This may be my last post for a while since I'm in the throws of installing a new computer at home and things are bound to go wrong! My old computer has sensed that its time of usefullness is coming to an end and keeps on crashing (great), but before things go really pear shaped I thougt I would just post a picture of what's on my needles. Or more to the point what's nearly off as I've only go the handle to go on a bag from Emma King's book "25 Bags to Knit"

Its called "Olive" and I decided to do it in similar colours to the book since lime green seems to be everywhere at the moment.

This is the completed front (the back is almost identical). I'm going to knit one long handle rather than the two short ones in the pattern which I think will make it more usable. I'm also thinking of lining it as its bound to stretch. All I've got to do now is find time to finish it................

Introducing Wally

I thought it was time to introduce Wally - the 2nd fattest cat in Britain! Its true. Last year there was a picture of the fattest cat in the newspaper which looked exactly like him, even down to his little "Hitler" mostache and goatie beard! It must be his genes that have made him so big and not me giving into his constant walling...... I thought I'd add a picture of him in his favourite postion - lying back in his bed. I know its a little small but its bigger than his last bed which I gave away to my friends, the turner sisters who have SIX cats, and just to give you an indication of his size, two of their cats fit into Wally's old bed!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

I think my current obsession with e-bay is coming to an end since I've now nearly spent all of the money I had saved in my paypal account (oh well, guess I'll have to flog a few more possessions to continue my obsession).

I bought this book not because I have any children (heaven forbid!) but most of my friends do, and in particular I want to knit something for my friend Liz's little boy Joe who is three. He's still wearing a jumper that my mum knitted when he was born (it must have been huge)!

I'm off to Dublin  this weekend with hubby to visit our friends Sinead and Eunan (who also have a little boy). I can't wait - I hope the weather improves since we've seen snow here today - isn't it supposed to be spring?

Does my bum look big in this?

As promised here is a picture of me wearing Roxie.

I'm not sure about it now I've finally finished. Maybe I'll be like my mum who never liked anything she knitted for herself but I'm sure it will grow on me. It feels lovely and cosy but I'm sure it makes my bum look huge (I avoided showing a back view just in case it filled the screen!).

One small step......

I can't believe that I've actually finished my FIRST EVER KNITTED GARMENT!! Now I know for some people who have knitting blogs and a wardrobe fully of completed stuff plus another one of stuff they've given away as gifts one finished cardigan is no big deal but for me its no less than a small miracle!

I've attached a piccie as living proof of the finished article - now all I have to do is actually take a picture of me wearing it (to send to my mum who is a fabulous knitter and won't believe that one of her daughters has actually knitted something wearable!).

In the beginning (Part II)

So this is my second attempt at starting a blog but hopefully I'll get a hang of things this time.............watch this space!