Float'n'purl

Claptrap!

This is not what you think! It may be more yarn for my STASH but I didn't buy it (honest). It was a present from my friend Shirley (thanks) who spotted a bargain at Hobbycraft - 12 balls of Rowan Kid Classic in Cherry Red. RRP of £4.50 for 50g, advertised at Hobbycraft for 99p per ball, then there was a problem at the till and they had to sell them at 50p each!! Shirley has kindly given me 6 balls..........how could I refuse (especially when red is my favorite colour).

My spinning wheel has arrived but I haven't done much yet but I've got another lesson tomorrow so I'll find out then if its really a "bargain" - although everything seems fine so far.

Thanks for all the advise on my Clapotis. As you can see I've now managed 3 drop stitches! My only worry now is that I won't finish it in time before my DS goes to Oz on 8th December. I've got a bit behind on my thesis so there should be less knitting and more writing over the next few weeks. Last week I was really fed up with the whole thing so DH and I took Sissy out for a trip over the weekend. It was just what we needed - a night away from it all............

A Little Ripple

Firstly, I have to say how jealous I am at all of the bloggers who have been to Ally Pally but I'm also pleased to see/hear that you all had a great time. In fact you've all inspired me so much that I'll definitely make it there next year one way or another!

Secondly, I've got a F.O to show off at last. Its my Ripple scarf  in Damson which was a gift from my lovely SP5 Beverly! Its going to be a Christmas present but I can't reveal who for since I discovered last weekend that my family have been reading my blog!!

Here she is lying around in the "garden" and a close up (all pre-blocking).

And here she is lying on the bed earlier today. Wally decided that he too would like to lie on the bed on top of Ripple which didn't amuse me one little bit!!

I've also been busy spinning with the help of Averil and here is my first ever home spun skein!

A whole 40g which I knitted up into this sample. It was plyed with some of Averil's yarn towards the end hence the different tension but I'm delighted nonetheless with the result. Can't wait for my e-bay wheel to arrive so I can practice some more.

I've also made a start on my Hipknits silk Clapotis (another Chrimbo pressie). I'm really enjoying it so far but I'm almost at the point where you have to drop stitches and here the pattern seems a bit vague remove marker, drop next st, let it drop down several rows, pick up top bar with left needle to form a new st (make sure this st isn't twisted)! Can anyone who had knitted one tell me if its obvious when to stop letting stitches drop - I have visions of the whole thing unraveling!!

These photos were taken a few days ago but I wanted to show off the beautiful colour of the silk. It's even more vibrant in daylight, and a close up of my stitch markers - also a gift from the lovely Beverly(thanks again).

I've also just finished reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Did anyone who has read this notice that in chapter four knitting gets a mention. When Dumbledore spends too long in the toilet and is questioned by Harry Potter his reply is "No, I was merely reading the Muggle magazines," "I do love knitting patterns". I wonder if he finds them "magical". Do you suppose the great J.K. Rowling is a secret knitter??

Spinning Madness

Oops just accidentally bought this on ebay!

I am weak.............

I'll happily admit that I'm a yarn-a-holic. I just couldn't help myself.............yes, I made another visit to Stash today as my brief visit last week just wasn't enough and yes, I have "enhanced" my own stash with the following:

• 2 balls Rowan Kid Classic in Jucy (shade 827) to knit a Clementine bag for my cousin from Emma King's wonderful book "25 Bags to Knit"
• 1 ball Noro Silk Garden in the manly shade of 203 (greys and khaki) to knit DH a ribbed hat - this will be the first (and possibly) the last thing I ever knit for him!
• 2 balls Louisa Harding Kimono Angora in colour 6 which is greys, pinks and yellows destined for something from her georgous accessories book which I bought last week for ME!
• 1 ball of LH's Kimono Ribbon for adorning accessories from the above mentioned book!
• 2 balls of LH Kashmir DK in cream (01) and black (11) to knit a striped beret hat from - yes you guested it - the above mentioned book - also for ME!!!
• and finally a skein of this wonderful mohair loop which I think is called Bubble Gum from Diabolo?

So here goes, my promise to myself: "I promise not to buy any more yarn for the rest of this year, unless (of course there has to be a get out clause!), I need any more for Christmas presents". Now this is highly unlikely because if I manage to even knit half of the presents I've bought yarn for I'll be doing well!

Lets see how long it takes me to break my promise!!!