Socks - I will not be defeated!! - Part 2

So yesterday was Bank holiday Monday. Now when I've been teaching and have a class of children I am responsible for I usually spend my 'days off'/ 'holidays' planning, marking, researching or if I do try to do something relaxing or for me I spend the whole time feeling guilty and think "I should be; planning, marking, researching, resource making etc.".

Still on the road to recovery and not have a class to be responsible for, I decided I could really have a lazy bank holiday! I ripped my sock right back to the cuff (as that bit looked fine) and started again from those few rows.

 

I even got excited when I realised my nail varnish matched my yarn! Sad, lol!

My other half (AKA - Mr Grumpy, name of his own choosing I hasten to add) brought me the X-Men box set last year some time and has asked me a few times whether I've watched it yet. Today seemed like the perfect opportunity, knitting my socks and a movie marathon. So I got cracking.

4 and a half films and one sock later and it was time for bed.

          

29/3/2016 - Sock update: Cast on for second sock this morning and think I've done quite well, not quite so much as yesterday but a fair bit seeing as my day hasn't just been knitting socks. I was determined to turn the heel tonight and I have just done a few ordinary knit rows post heel turn and so I am off to bed! Also finished the 4th movie in the set and watched the 5th - one more to go and I can say whole heartedly that I've watched the set from beginning to end, and made a pair of socks of course! (Need to finish the second sock before the end of the last film! Sounds like a challenge to me.

30/3/2016 -Today included another visit to the driving range with Mr Grumpy and so I had the perfect opportunity to knit the foot part of my sock (knitting my socks at least kept my hands warm, even if the rest of me was freezing. I must learn to take gloves/mittens).
20:00pm - Having just got home I now need to check the length against the already finished sock and hopefully get it finished so I have a pair to show off tomorrow.
22:25pm - We have a pair!! My first pair of socks!! Mission accomplished! :)

Hmmm... I might get started on the next pair. I already have a plan and the yarn. For my next pair I'm planning to use a DK by West Yorkshire Spinners - a plain colour with the navy for heels and toes again, before hopefully progressing to 4ply. Would love to make Mr Grumpy a pair of socks but it would have to be 4ply as anything else would be too thick and make him overheat. Keep a look out for more socks.

Good Friday Sunshine

Now, for those of you less interested in yarn and making things I did promise adventures. With the longer than anticipated recovery from surgery and the damp weather, adventures have been, up until now, rather scarce. But finally I am driving again and the sun is out! Adventure time!!

When I got up yesterday I could see straight away that, as the weather man had predicted, the sun was shining and it was going to be a beautiful day. I couldn't resist and immediately dressed like summer was here to stay. White trousers with blue flowers, black strappy top, lemon cardigan and a light scarf to tie it all together.

Once I'd collected Mr Grumpy (his agreed nickname for purposes of blog), I headed back towards Truro and off West, down the A30. We stopped at Tesco to pick up some healthy bits and continued on our way. Marizon, our usually and favourite spot, was jam packed and so we continued down west, past Penzance. After a minor incident on the way we arrived at Portcurno, down by the museum and not far from the Minack.

The minor incident being someone coming the other way being 2foot out from the hedge their side and me having to pull right into the hedge my side. The result - my passenger wing mirror turned itself in and the mirror part jumped out of the wing and dangled by a wire. Not to worry, with a bit of persuasion I managed to click it back in, and the electronic adjustment dial works.

We parked up and walked down to the beach, the path is fine it’s the last bit on to the beach which is steep. The usual walk way was closed off for maintenance and so we had to go a little further round and come out down the side of the beach which was steep. Its good Mr Grumpy had a hold of me on the way up as he practically dragged me back up, lol.

Our picnic was yummy and after a short sit in the sun (it wasn’t quite warm enough to sit for too long, whilst we were also fearful of sitting in direct sunlight without the recent application of sun cream).

The return journey passed without incident and we soon found ourselves at an old favourite - Hayle Driving range. Where Mr Grumpy can hit balls and I usually, crochet/knit/write letters or just sip on a hot chocolate. Now out of the sun and sufficiently chilled a hot chocolate was definitely on the menu.

Socks - I will not be defeated!! - Part 1

I have written this post in parts as I have completed this project and will post the entire thing when it is complete. I have dated each part to show the process.

17.3.2016 - I know I mention my LYS (Local Yarn Shop) a lot but that is where I get lots of my inspiration and energy. I have WeKnit to thank for an awful lot, wonderful new friends, laughter, inspiration, new skills, energy... the list goes on.

This post is about a new skill. I am always up for trying something new or learning something new. I firmly believe that we never stop learning from the relatively new things e.g. I must remember that step is there next time, to new skills and qualifications. This has lead me into all sorts of exciting chaos, including jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet for charity and spending a week on a magnificent tall ship to mention but a few.

Anyways... At my LYS this month there is a theme/focus. Sue has called it Sock March - see her blog post for details, in short this includes a fantastic window display, and sock knitting lessons (you really do have to take a look at the blog). Now, about a year ago I did try my hand at making a pair of socks, but the 4ply yarn, 2.75mm needles and me didn’t exactly get off to a flying start. As explained in a previous post I pick crochet over knitting any day of the week. My first mistake with the socks had been that I didn’t realise that when you are using circular needles and doing stocking stitch you only need to knit, not knit a row, purl a row. My next mistake is I would completely forget whether I was knitting a row or purling a row - in short, it was a mess!

With Sock March in full swing and lots of people giving sock knitting a go I decided I couldn't be beaten by socks! I dug out 2 balls of Big Fabel from my stash that I had brought ages ago (gutted they have discontinued this!) and got myself some KnitPro 4mm needles. The Aran weight yarn and bigger needles made it so much easier and I soon got the grasp of the cuff and 'leg' part/top of the sock...

20.3.2016 - In fact I found myself unable to put it down and rather than tucking it away, when I thought it was long enough, until the heal turn lesson, I unscrewed the interchangeable needles and put them onto a fresh cable to cast on the 2nd sock!! Yes, the second sock!

Whilst the final games of the 6 nations were on this weekend I multi-tasked, listening to and watching parts of the rugby whilst knitting the second sock. I now have 2 socks ready for a heal turn!!

22.3.2016 - One heel successfully turned and I am pleased to say it really it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I was dreading the heel but once again the lovely Sue showed me the way and I've successfully managed a fish lips kiss heel. The question is, can I turn the second heel without Sue's expertise? I have continued to knit the foot of sock number 1, it won't be long before I'm ready for the toe lesson.  
It does however turn out that I can't multi-task, I have been wrapping the yarn the wrong way!! (clockwise instead of anticlockwise) Opps!

23.3.2016 - Happily turned the second heel with no more than the written instructions to prompt me! :) Happy bunny!

24.3.2016 - Successfully finished the first sock today, completing the toe (which I was dreading) using just written instructions :) I needn't have worried, just like the other parts this turned out to be less troulesome than anticipated. Happy, happy me!

Well to begin with ... When I tried it on I realised it doesn't fit, width wise. I suspect it is because I was wrapping the yarn clockwise to begin with (play spot the difference above) and so that part of the sock has far less give than where I had knitted correctly. I can just pull it on but its very tight!

I am still determined to succeed at socks and not be defeated. So here's the plan: I think I'm going to 'frog' my second sock back to the cuff and do it properly, saving some yarn. I also have enough yarn to redo the first sock. I won't frog the first one but think I may just keep for sentiment. Keep your eyes peeled for part 2...
Meanwhile have a lovely Easter all.

Feathers and Fans Snood

My LYS (Local Yarn Shop - mine is WeKnitYouCanToo) stocks some simply gorgeous yarns hand dyed here in Cornwall - Perran Yarns. I had noticed one that had been catching my eye for a couple of weeks a DK (Double Knit) Skein in a colourway names Sweet Pea. The colours caught my eye and just made me think of holidays in the Scottish highlands amongst the heather. Each week I would admire the colours and the softness when I could resist no longer I snapped it up and took it home.

As so often is the case, the next question was what to make with it. I am a far more confident crocheter than knitter. In the same way I drive an automatic car because I simply can't get my feet to do two different things at the same time, I crochet because co-ordinating one hook is easier than two needles. At the time of making this item about which I am blogging, I would say I was still really learning to crochet, I wasn't confident remembering the stitches or reading patterns. However, I had the wonderful Sue at WeKnit, to encourage and guide me - she's brilliant like that (don't tell her, but I have a lot to thank her for, not only am I now a pretty ok, and I would go as far to say, have become an intermediate level crocheter, but have also gained an awesome friend in the process).

Sue showed me a pattern she was working on - feathers and fans (this stitch for scarves etc. can easily be found on Ravelry with a quick search). However being the awkward ladies that we are we wanted our pattern to appear horizontally rather than vertically. Here is a link to the pattern written by Sue and posted on her blog - I love it!! Feather & Fan Neckwarmer and here is a photo of my snood. I absolutely love it, it's soft and snuggly and I love wearing it.

 

Perran Yarns

On Etsy: Here
Facebook: Here or Here
Twitter: Here

I don't get paid for or asked to link to business etc. but firmly believe in sharing jolly good stuff and so wherever possible will link to patterns, supplies, yarn shops etc. so that you can enjoy their fab products too.

The personal touch - personalised buttons

My recent discovery of Stip&Haak patterns opened me up to a whole other world. They even have a fans of Stip&Haak page on Facebook. I noticed on the patterns and on the fan page that many people use personalised buttons to add detail to their work.

So a quick Google and I was immersed in pages of buttons. I wanted wooden buttons and managed to find GirlsFever website: https://girlsfever.com/ based abroad (Hong Kong I think). I usually try to buy in the UK where possible but struggled to find anything I liked and priced reasonably over here. (Usually I really don't mind spending a bit extra to buy British but when you find something you like you have to go with it.

I deliberated about sizes, fonts, icons and wording for some time. The people at GirlsFever were great though, once I place my order online they made a mock up design and e-mailed it to me for approval, and were fantastically accommodating when I changed the design twice as it didn't quite fit how I wanted it. 

The buttons arrived less than 2 weeks later and I was really pleased with the quality.

I was over the moon with these and couldn’t wait to start using them. Unfortunately, my most recently finished make was the baby blanket featured in a previous post (these buttons arrived a few weeks ago, before I returned to the blogging realm) and I wouldn't feel confident attaching anything to a baby blanket that could come off or cause a choking hazard. Not wanting to miss the opportunity I reached for the brown labels, stitching one of my lovely new buttons to one corner of the label with matching yarn and wrote my little message. I then cut the washing instructions for the wool out of the ball band and stuck it onto reverse side of the label - genius if I do say so myself!! :) 

I am so pleased with the quality and the ability to add that extra personal touch to my makes. Will definitely order from them again when I run out and am recommending them to all. They also happen to do fabric labels which you can sew into larger items for that professional look.