Float'n'purl

Still here..........

I wonder how many blog posts start with this title? Yes, I've been busy and I haven't managed to upload any photographs.

So its time for confession time! Yesterday I fell off my yarn diet. You know how when your on a diet there's always at least one occasion when you completely blow it and have a cream cake, well yesterday, while in John Lewis in Liverpool I accidentally bought 2 balls of Rowan Scottish Tweed in Lavender. It was only two balls - surely that isn't so bad?

The reason for this lapse was the purchase of Rowan's new book Scottish Inspirations. I love the photography in this book. The light is wonderful and very typically Scottish in my mind i.e grey but bright. I'm planning to knit the Cable Wrap Jacket sometime (when I don't know) and thought it would look best in some handspun. I'm thinking of BFL humbug from Wingham Wool, and it just so happens that Wingham Wool will be at the Cheshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers this weekend in Frodsham - a mere 5 miles from home!! Have I died and gone to heaven? Can I restrain myself? I'll be going there after I've been to my home Guild (North Cheshire, not to be confused with Cheshire - who would have thought there were so many spinners in one area?). So I thought that by actually having some of the yarn for the jacket I could try to spin something similar...............is this a valid excuse?

Happy Monday!

I've just heard from Karin that I've won a scarf in her recent competition to celebrate her 200th blog entry! Thank you so much Karin, I can't wait to receive my scarf in the post. I'm not usually a competition winner but to win a beautiful handknit scart in such lovely colours is something even more special!!

My Greek Pullover

Finished at last. Started 28th December 2005 but to be fair I didn't work on it for several months.

(thanks to Lynne for my fab labels)

The Details:

Pattern - Greek Pullover from Interweave Knits Fall 2005

Yarn - Rowan Kid Classic, shade 847 Cherry Red RRP £4.75 - bought by my friend Shirley for an amazing 50p per ball from Hobby Craft!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things I have learned: tension is very important when knitting jumpers so when one doesn't check one's tension then said jumper is TOO SMALL. Luckily, one has a friend (Janet) who is smaller and who has agreed very kindly to wear said jumper for ever more. So in future I will either a) check my tension or b) accept that I need to knit a bigger size than I think I am or c) continue to knit for Janet. All three are acceptable so maybe tension isn't that important after all?

Other important things I have learned are that I-cords are easy and fast but more importantly I LEARNED TO CROCHET AROUND THE NECKLINE. I've never crocheted before and loved it. In fact I'm so inspired I'm planning to do a scarf once Janet and Shirley have taught me a few more stitches.

Its funny but I just assumed that crochet would be too difficult and that "I'm a knitter" as if you have to be one or the other. I guess that comes from the fact that despite knitting for over 50 years my mum only learned to crochet in the last couple of years.

I also feel inspired enough to start another jumper/ cardi. I've got several choices from my stash but none very wintery? But in the mean time there are plenty more UFOs on the needles to finish first. I'm in a real finishing mood (at last).

Gob smacked!

I was just listening to the lastes episode of BritKnit Cast with Carrie Anne and nearly fell off my seat when she mentioned this blog! She spoke about my weaving which I can say hasn't been touched for ages so I'd better get myself in gear and finish off my scarf.

If you haven't listened to this podcast yet do so immediately as its really informative and Carrie Anne is an excellent presenter with a real passion for fiber craft (and other crafts).

Back on Track!

We've been back from holiday a week already and it seems like the world is still spinning (not yarn, just going round and round!).

Last week I forgot to take any knitting to Wales and I really missed it. Its not that I have much time to do any as we work till 7pm then have dinner and I try to do some work on the plot in the evenings when I can but it feels so nice to have some yarn in your hand at some point - even if it only means a row or two in bed. Its somehow therapeutic and I wonder how much time I wasted not creating anything before I started knitting!

Talking of the plot - we had a lovely time on holiday even if two days were spent taking levels. Lots of seafood was eaten, whiskey drank, distilleries visited and beaches walked.

I'm a huge fan of beaches and no matter the weather I love to walk on one so when the tail end of a hurricane came our way we wrapped up and headed out onto Machrihanish Beach.

On the knitting front - I'm very, very nearly finished my second ever garment! In fact I'm dashing off now to do the final finishing touches while watching Jane Eyre. More info and pictures later this week I hope!