I have cast on another pair of socks. No, the Sake socks aren’t done. Last night, I finished the gusset decs on the first Sake sock and decided to try it on. Guess what? It doesn’t fit! I can’t get it to go past my ankle. So, either my youngest sister will want them and I’ll finished knitting the pair, or then it’s to the frog pond. If I have to rip it out, I’ll restart them with a larger needle (am using 2.5mm currently). I don’t usually have a problem with Cookie’s pattern, so I’m not sure what’s up with this one. Anyway, the new pair is Mona (also by Cookie). I found some really pretty blue Ranco Multy so that’s what I’m using.

The weather here is gorgeous. So gorgeous that yesterday, I managed to burn my back. My own fault really. I know I burn easily and I did’t put on any sunblock. So today, I’m wearing SPF 50. Just in case.

Got almost all of the yardwork done yesterday. The only thing left for today (which I’ve already done) was mowing the lawn. More like weeds, but whatev. And I managed to get caught up with the laundry! Only one more load to go later today, then it’s all done. I love being able to put laundry outside to dry. The wind really softens up the T-shirts.

Oh, I had a dance exam last Wednesday! Did Silver Ballroom and Silver Latin (3 dances each). Some of the feedback was amusing, like for the Jive I got: “Pleasing facial expressions”, Cha: “Lovely ‘Latin’ hand” and all of the ballroom ones said “Nice head line”. So basically, from the waist up I’m good. Just need to work on my footwork.

Today, the post’ll have to be in list form because, well, I like lists and I don’t really have much to say.

1. Thira is done. Took less than a week to knit. No pics yet because the weather is being uncooperative.

2. Cast on new project: Kernel scarf (knitty pattern) from the Manos Silk Blend I got for Christmas two years ago from O’s parents. Love it. Adore the yarn. Pattern’s not easily memorized though.

3. The story I started writing last week is almost done. The first draft is done. Now it’s time to refine and edit. I don’t get these writing urges that often any more ever since I started working, but when I do, it’s all I can think about. I don’t even think about knitting! That’s how obsessive I get.

4. This year’s planting has been done. Planted the usual: basil, rocket, coriander, lettuce (two varieties), peas and beetroot. And the experiment plants (along with the beetroot) are strawberries. I’ve given up on tomatoes. Can’t keep ’em alive when I work full time so I’ve stopped trying.

5. Feeling adventurous with my cooking. Will be trying out a new recipe tonight. Or maybe tomorrow. The new recipe is for Pesto Chicken Tagliatelle, the tried-and-true is prawn risotto. Either way, I’m sure it’ll be tasty.

6. Also feeling the urge to bake. Made brownies yesterday when Lucy came over. O really liked them. Now, I’m thinking cupcakes. Just haven’t decided what kind (which probably means that I won’t get any done).

7. We went over to O’s parents’ place yesterday to drop off his mom’s birthday present. His dad said to me: “You know those little bugs that you don’t like?” Understatement of the year. Have discovered I’m waging war on two types of carpet beetle rather than just one. No damage found yet, but spring has only just arrived. I am displeased, to put it mildly.

8 ) At the car wash, one of the guys opens my door (to dry the inside of it), and says: “Hello, love, how are you?” I automatically replied with: “I’m good, how are you?” On our way home, O asked me all amazed: “How can you do that so calmly? It catches me off guard every time someone asks me that.” Guess I’m just used to making chitchat because of work. All phone calls are like at the office.

These have been done for awhile now, but I haven’t had a chance to blog because omg Busy. First there was IVDC (in Blackpool), then the following weekend was O’s birthday party. ‘Twas awesome, almost the whole dance team came! Had a bit of a *flail* moment when I realized how many would actually be coming over (almost 20 people), but it all worked out in the end. The house was actually cleaner on Sunday morning (before the clean-up began) than it was on Saturday morning. Having parties is an excellent motivator for cleaning ALL THE THINGS. Which I did. And I baked over four dozen fairy cakes.

Back to the socks. I cast on March 1st while at the pub for knit night and things were going swimmingly until it was time to remove and rename stitch markers. Hoo boy does this pattern use a lot of stitch markers. Ten to start off with and as the lace panel travels, some get removed and renamed. It was just too mind boggling while at the pub to do it so I set it down until I could work on it again when it was quiet. Good thing I did that since it turned out that I’d mis-read the pattern the first time, so I frogged the whole 2-3 inches I’d knit and started again. After that, it was smooth sailing. I still think the whole renaming stitch markers thing is very confusing but once I got what the pattern was meant to do, I just ignored the names. And voila! A pair of socks. Knit with Trekking XXL in 305 so they’ll get a lot of use (if the socks can be washed in the washing machine, they get more use because I don’t have the time to handwash everything any more). I know from experience that Trekking holds up wonderfully to being thrashed around in the machine.

Currently, I’ve only got one project on the needles. Thira, a textured ribbed halter top (knitty pattern), using Sublime Cotton-Kapok DK in a pretty, soft yellow. I don’t wear yellow that often, but this one just called out to me. It helped that the yarn was on sale when I bought it. The plan is to have it done by Woolfest (which is in late June). Lucy had the idea for the three of us who are mini-roadtripping up North to knit a Woolfest “sweater”. Now, since it’ll be in June, both Nina and I have decided to knit summer tops. I think she chose Coachella (another knitty pattern) and Lucy did tell me what she’s thinking of knitting, but I can’t remember. I blame the fever. I’m currently ill, as was evidenced last night. Apparently I was making worrying noises while I slept. Which I know I do when I’m not feeling well. Kind of like whimpering. And how do I know that I do that, even without O telling me? The noises wake me up! So yeah, not feeling that great. I do have anti-biotics since the doctor said I’ve got an ear infection, but I’m not convinced that that’s all I’ve got. But 13 hours of sleep did do wonders. I felt perfectly fine when I woke up this morning, although I can feel the tiredness coming back.

Anyway, that’s enough about my non-health. In other news, we now have a 6'9 Greek man in the office. He’s very nice and smart. And omg tall. He’s got a two month old baby, which just makes all the girls go “Awwwwwwww” when they imagine him holding the tiny human. And the Chatty Guy in the London office is still chatty. Not all the time, but on the days that he feels like talking? I’ve learned quite a bit about him. Enough to use my Google-fu to find his MySpace page and Facebook (because I apparently turn into a bit of stalker when I get bored). He seems normal enough. Good thing too, since he already knows a lot about my dancing habits…

I’ve reached the halfway point in my crochet blanket! Yay! Now onto the knitting content.

Just realized I hadn’t blogged about the first socks I knit this month, so this’ll be a double FO post.

Both of these are a part of the Knit.Sock.Love KAL I’m in.

The green socks are the Marilinda pattern knit in The Unique Sheep’s Sushi Sock base. I got this yarn in the Sip N Stitch tea club. At first I wasn’t thrilled with the colorway (Sencha Green Tea), but seeing it in an FO makes me like it more. The pattern, while it looks like something I’d enjoy, I didn’t. It felt like the socks just dragged on and on. I also had to go up to 2.75mm needles to get gauge, instead of my usual 2.25mm for 8sts/inch. Don’t get me wrong, I like the socks, I just wasn’t as enamored with the process was I usually am.

The purple socks are the In and Out pattern using another yarn club yarn. This one’s from the Goth Sock Club that was run by Selana a few years ago. Called Fairy of the Night(? or something similar). Now these are socks that I loved. The pattern’s really easy to memorise, feels like it flies by, the yarn was nice and springy (which is something the Sushi Sock base lacks due to the bamboo content). I think the non-patterned heel flap helped the “flying-by” feeling. And the great thing about this yarn? It can go in the washing machine. I foresee lots of use for these socks.

Oh and I just applied to be a zombie extra. I’ll let you all know if I get picked.

The pattern is live! *happy dance* These mittens were made to match the Sade hat. Rolled “brim” cuffs, twisted stitches, the same twisted decrease patterning… The only thing missing is the seed stitch. I didn’t see that as being very comfortable on hands. The left mitten decreases towards the right, the right towards the left (mentioning that because you can only see the left mitten’s patterning in the picture). I love these mittens. Could be because I used Malabrigo and omg, I love how soft and warm it is. Plus, they match the hat (I know I said that already). And I love the hat. I’m very much a slouchy hat person. Other hats just look wonky on me. So when I’ve got mittens that match? Even better. I’ve been wearing these with my Skinny Clap which is in a blue that’s close enough to the Malabrigo that I look all co-ordinated. All I need now is blue handbag and blue shoes (all worn with my grey coat, since wearing a blue coat would just be too much). XD

Anyway, a huge thank you to my testers: Sadie, Selana and Morandia. All three had very good ideas on how to improve the pattern and I’m grateful for their input.

Speaking of Sadie, she’s got a vidcast now! And the Sade hat has already made its debut on it. I also hear that the Sade mittens will be appearing on it soon. ;)

This is us doing the Viennese Waltz last Saturday at the Sheffield Social. And thanks to my camera having its settings wonky (I was messing around with it and didn’t put it back to normal before I had to go dance), a lot of the pictures came out blurry. But, occasionally, the blurriness created cool effects, like missing limbs and Monet-esque photos. So now my partner has no left leg. XD (For those of you on Facebook who have me as a friend, I’ve just uploaded a bunch over there if you want to see more.) And we won stuff! The medals are gracing the mantelpiece above the fireplace, along with the rest of our dancing awards.

Then yesterday was NUDC. I went, but didn’t compete. I spent most of the day just watching the others dance and knitting. Which brings me to…. my Marilinda socks are done! Mostly thanks to yesterday when I finished the leg, completed the heel flap, heel turn and gusset decreases. Today was just knitting up the foot and toe. I also knit on Annis, now that I’ve finally sorted out my bead situation. The ones I had originally planned to use were too small, so I found other beads that my crochet hook would fit through. My first choice beads were mainly blue with a few white, but now I’ve had to use blue, pink and hematite. The effect’s not quite what I had in mind, but it’s growing on me.

Ever wake up knowing exactly what you want to knit? That’s what happened with this hat (and the co-ordinating mittens which will be released once the testers are done). The night before I’d planned out exactly what I was going to cast on next (Annis from knitty actually; I did finally cast that on last night) and when I wake the next morning? Hat and mitten pattern clear as day in my head. So, off I went, knit the things, wrote out the patterns and sent them to testers. The lovely Sadie offered as usual. She’s one my favorite testers. Clear advice on what’s not working, fast knitter, basically just awesome.

Anyway, back to the hat. That morning, I just knew what my leftover Malabrigo was destined for. Twisted stitches along with seed stitch? A very warm hat. This one (unlike others I’ve knit) actually covers my ears when I wear it in my usual slouchy style. The rolled brim and twisted ribbing keep it nice and snug on my head keeping it from sliding off. That’s all I really looked for; something that’ll stay put and actually cover my ears.

As with all my patterns, this one is available on Ravelry, along with the mitten pattern that’ll be published later this month.

I’ve just finished the mittens I talked about last week. Tried them on now that they had thumbs (pre-blocking) and they’re still snug. As long as I don’t have long nails, I’m fine with them. So now they’ve had a bath and hopefully once dry they’ll have stretched enough to be comfortable. On the whole, they’re very pretty. And the pattern’s fairly easy (even though I still think that the thumb gusset is way too short).

Since I can’t cast on my next pair of socks until Feb 1st (part of the KAL prize rules), I’ll be casting on Annis with some lovely blue laceweight that Emma Jane gave me for my birthday last year. I think I’ll be substituting the nupps with beads. Nothing against nupps, but I just feel like trying beads for this one.

As for my ankle? I went to dance practice on Friday, hurt it again during Quickstep (it’s always Quickstep!) so now I’ve got an ankle support strap thingy on it and won’t be dancing again until the comp on Saturday. I’d love to practice beforehand, but I don’t want to risk it. I want to be able to compete, darn it.

And speaking of dancing, I gotta go drive O to practice. Next week, there’ll hopefully be a picture of mittens that fit!

So, apparently I’ve got freakishly large hands. I’ll back up a bit:

I’m knitting this really pretty colorwork mitten (Andalus by Heather Desserud). I picked a gorgeous orange and yellow so that I could wear the mittens with my Haruni shawlette. I waited three months for the yarn to arrive. I finally get my yarn and cast on about a week ago. The mitten comes in two sizes: small (knit in fingering weight) and large (knit in sport weight). The gauge for both is 10 sts/10 rows = 1 inch. I figured that since I’m getting 9sts/8 rows per inch, I should be fine. I am aware that I’ve got large hands, even if they don’t look out of proportion with the rest of me (they go with my large feet). Another tiny gripe about the pattern, even though it says sizes small and large, it doesn’t give exact measurements for either. Just how big is large? What’s the total length of the mittens? Just something to give me a better idea of what I’d need to change about my gauge to get the size that I want.

My first stumbling block came when it was time to separate for the thumb. It came way too early if I wanted the mittens to fit comfortably and be long enough at the wrist. One expects the cuff pattern to be on the wrist, n’est-ce pas? Not halfway on the palm. So I delayed the thumb gusset separation by about seven rounds. Now the cuff is where it’s supposed to be and the thumb opening is where I want it to be. The only problem is… now it looks like the mittens are too short. They’re uncomfortable at the top where the decreases are (and I can’t change where to decrease/just knit more rows until the correct length since it’s all worked into the pattern).

So now I’ve got my fingers crossed: blocking will magically give it an extra half inch to an inch and make them fit right. Right?

(P.S. If you want pretty feet, don’t dance. Both of my feet now have lovely purple-y patterning from the bruises I got during yesterday’s dance practice. And a swollen ankle from landing awkwardly during a scatter chassée. Just an FYI.)

That picture there? Christmas Eve dinner. So delicious. That’s exactly what I wanted. Didn’t care about presents, just wanted the fish. And boy did I get my fish. :D (It’s a bit odd really, that I can’t find fish I like here in the UK. It’s an island for crying out loud! There should be lots of fish. But no, I can’t find fish I like. /rant)

Anyway, December happened. The dance comp kinda threw off my blogging groove. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. The snow came, then I worked tons of overtime to make up for not going to work because of the snow and then for leaving early to fly to Finland for Christmas and then we were short staffed and really, I was just plain tired most days. So I knit. And did not blog. And played lots of Rock Band 3. O & I spent New Year’s Eve by playing Rock Band 3 and Halo with two of our friends. (Well, the boys played Halo. I played Civ5 on my laptop.) Oh and a pipe burst in our kitchen the day that I left! So that was interesting news when I spoke with O the following day. Things are fine now. Our landlords are really great. We have a problem? They try to fix it asap.

I’m still planning on getting a bookcase and O wants a games table, so it looks like we’ll be going to IKEA at some point (unless I can find them in a charity shop first). I have cleaned out the yellow room a bit and now I’ve got plans for that, but I’ll need O’s help so that might not happen for awhile. And if I rearrange stuff up in the purple room, then I might be able to turn that into my little sewing corner.

I have finally updated my Rav projects. Pictures have been uploaded. Lots of pretty things. And speaking of knitting, I’ve just finished a pair of socks! The very first pair for 2011 was Cookie A’s Pointelle pattern. The yarn I used was Cascade Heritage Sock that I bought while in Chicago a few months ago. I’ve already cast on something else, but I won’t talk about that until it’s ready for its debut. I will be needing test knitters again, if anyone wants to volunteer?