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This is a London baby. Our nephew to be exact. Isn’t he adorable? Really well behaved too (most of the time). A bit mischievous, but that’s why babies are so fun. They keep you on your toes.

So we went down to London on Thursday and came back today. Stayed over at O’s sister’s. Never have I been so glad to come home again. Sleeping on an air mattress is not fun. Especially when you need to share it with someone else. Every time O moved, I moved. Plus, since we were sleeping in the living room, we had to get up when the baby got up (which was around 7am every day).

We did do quite a few awesome things though:

Friday: very thrilling. Went to Sainsbury’s.

Saturday: The Loop! No Wollmeise for me. The selection was pretty small and they didn’t have any WM laceweight, which is what I wanted. I did buy other stuff though. Pictures will go on Rav soon (tomorrow most likely). Then we met up with Ryan and went to the Tower of London. Spent almost four hours wandering around. It was pretty cool. Now, I kinda regret not taking pictures while there but at the time I was just enjoying being there. Anyway, after that, we decided to walk to Waterloo station from there. Kinda farther than we realized but it was a nice walk all the same. Had dinner at Zero Degrees.

Sunday: Went for a walk with O’s sister (to ASDA of all places XD). Then in the afternoon we went over to Ryan’s. The boys played on the Xbox while I knit and read. I bought my first ebook just before we left and I swear I can see the money just flying out of my bank account. Turns out, I really like reading on my iPod touch. I still like “actual” books too. Got two waiting for me at the library right now so I’m not fully converted yet. There are cool features to ebooks though. Like just tapping a word and it brings up a dictionary definition for it.

Monday: Met up with a Plurk friend for lunch, then went to the sci-fi exhibit in The British Library. Met up with our former dance team captain and went to The Natural History Museum. Can I just say that museums rock? Especially with free entry? Oh oh oh! And I’m pretty sure I spotted a knitter on the Tube. She was wearing a very cool earring (yarn ball with needles through it) and a knit hat and had this bag. I first saw the bag and squeed internally, then I noticed the earring and hat and was positive I’d spotted a knitter. Now, where can I get one of those bags?

Tuesday: Came home! And boy am I glad to be back. The very first thing I did when we got home was go shower. I hate London water. Makes my hair all sticky and hard to manage. Yorkshire water is so nice in comparison (although I still think that Finnish water is the best). Ryan agrees. He also said that Yorkshire water is wetter than London water. Which I agree with.

While we’ve been gone, my indoor plants have flourished. No idea how since I forgot to water them before we left. The basil’s looking a bit dead and the strawberry plant’s drooping slightly, but the lettuce and beetroot and coriander just went nuts. Tomorrow (I’ve got the rest of the week off) I’ll be transferring some of the plants outdoors now that they’re strong enough. I’m also planning on doing lots of laundry and cleaning while I’m off. I like cleaning. Don’t give me that look. It’s fun. I make it fun. Because if I didn’t, nothing would get done. Plus, I’m a bit… let’s just say I like things in order. ^_^

Oh and knitting! The BFF socks are done. Cast on for Wedges. First one is done. Gotta say, not a huge fan of the pattern. Looks really wide (did the 64 st size, M?) and really short but they fit so… Anyway, my goal is to get the second one done this week, as well as finish spinning the fibre I started spinning last autumn. What can I say? I got distracted and then I lost my spinning mojo. It hasn’t quite returned, but I really want the yarn that I’m spinning up so I’ll just push through.

It felt like these socks took forever to knit. Partially because I knit almost three of them. The first one was out of Nerdclub2000’s Elementary Sock in Macbeth’s Tartan, but after the gusset decreases, I frogged it. Weird pooling and I really didn’t like how the colors looked in reverse stockinette stitch. So now I’ve got a pair from Araucania Ranco Multy in some random number color. I love how the Ranco feels and knits up. I’d probably be happier with these socks if I hadn’t had to rip out the first one. But at least they’re done. And they’re mine. All mine!

And I’ve moved onto a pair of really happy socks! The pattern’s BFF by Cookie A and the yarn is just so pretty and happy (pinks and reds and oranges; it’s some Regia that Ryan bought me one year for Christmas) and goes so well with the simple pattern. ^_^

In other news, I will not be renewing my passport in London this week like I thought I would. I’m still going to London, since we have our train tickets and the time off work, but if I can renew it in Finland for much cheaper, then I will. Seriously, £105 to renew it in London (that’s with normal delivery!) or 53€ for the exact same thing in Finland. Now, since I don’t have a week to hang out in Finland, I’ll be paying a bit more to get it done the same day (82€/£71), but it’s still cheaper than London. Ridiculous. Ridiculous prices.

The bright side of this? I have more money to spend on yarn at Woolfest! :D (And I will be buying new shoes too since my current ones are kinda falling apart. It helps that I’ve got a £10 off Amazon voucher to use too.)

Isn’t it cute? This teapot was a Christmas gift from my sister Jaz (along with tea and teaballs). She knows me so well. I love the pattern and the colors on it. ^_^

No new news really. Still knitting Rhombus. I would’ve had the pair done by now, but I got sidetracked by two things. Firstly, I discovered the library in the centre of Sheffield (how had I not been in there before now??) and I’ve spent my lunch breaks reading The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory instead of knitting. And while I’ve been at home, I’ve been knitting a DK version of one of my designs. The shawlette has been sent to testers and I’m hoping to release the pattern by the end of July (it all depends on how fast my testers are and how much trouble the charts are giving me). So that’s where my knitting time has gone.

I was just on the phone with my dad (just occurred to me, I only talk with him like once a month. Huh.). My youngest sister Jade wants to come over at some point this summer and I was just letting him know that I need some advance warning so that I can request time off work for when she’s here. I hope she does get to come. She’s really cute and loves to be photographed, so I could use her as my knitwear model. I wish we all lived closer to each other. We’re all so spread out right now. Ellu is in Chicago, Jaz is in Belgium and Jade’s in Finland while I’m here. At least it’s fairly easy for me to get to each of them. But it’s still at least a day’s travel, no matter where I’m going. And it’s not as cheap as just driving over (like we do with O’s parents). It’d be nice if O’s sister lived closer too. I want to play with my nephew! And teach him Finnish. I want him to be able to speak to his future cousins in both languages, not just in English.

Yesterday, I went to the Land of Shoppertunity. This is amazing for two reasons. One, I hate crowds and going to Meadowhall on a Saturday? So busy. (Don’t even get me started on the women bringing their massive strollers into the tiny shops where they knock over everything because they don’t fit in between the racks.) Two, I actually found something! I’m going to my youngest sister’s confirmation in July and it hit me that I didn’t really have anything to wear to it. So I went dress hunting. The key to a successful shopping trip? Do your homework. I went online the night before and browsed websites until I found about ten or so dresses that had potential. So when I went in, I knew exactly what I was looking for and that the shop had at least three dresses that fit my criteria. In the end, I went with a dress that I hadn’t seen online, but that’s not the point. It was a lot less stressful when I knew what I was going for. So to go with the above dress, I also got earrings, flower clips for my hair and a green cropped cardigan that ties in the front. I considered buying shoes as well, but then I remembered that I have the perfect pair at home which I’ve only worn once so far, so I’d better go with those. Yesterday’s shopping trip also made me miss Jaz. She’s the perfect shopping partner. We really need to live closer together. She would’ve been way more excited about my purchases than O was.

As for knitting? Not a lot of progress. I started knitting Rhombus by Cookie A with my Nerdclub2000 sock club yarn, but I tried it on yesterday and I’m not loving how it looks. It started doing this weird pooling thing after the heel flap and the leg just looks really muddy when I wear it. So I’m probably going to rip it back and use another yarn for the pattern (I think I’ve got some pink-ish Ranco Multy in my stash that’d work). And obviously use the Nerdclub2000 yarn for something else. Maybe BFF? Or Wedge?

The above socks have been done for awhile now. The sad thing is, they’re not for me. I mentioned them awhile ago. My sister replied to my e-mail with: “thank youu, i like socks !” so she’s getting them. I’m just annoyed that the second one fits me! I realized why my gauge changed so much between the two socks. I knit the leg of the first sock while at work, but the second leg was knit while I was at home during the weekend. Less stress at home so… yeah. At least she likes and appreciates socks (even if she calls the ones I knit “fancy-pants socks” and doesn’t like wearing shoes with them).

With all of the bank holiday weekends, I went on a little lace shawl kick. Knit Adamas by Miriam Felton in three days (used Misti Alpaca Lace). I almost don’t want to give it away, but it’s not for me, so I can’t show it off until the recipient has seen it first. I then started the Echo Flower Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen, but as it turns out, that shawl just isn’t meant to be. I cast on with 3.75 mm needles; decided I didn’t like it, so I ripped it out. Cast on again with 3.25mm needles, dropped a stitch and had to rip back. Cast on again and after the set up chart, the yarn broke. So I’m just not meant to knit that shawl right now. Maybe later. So instead, I’ve made more squares. I haven’t forgotten about the blanket, but I ran out of leftovers, so I had to set it aside for awhile. But I’m over the half way point, so yay!

Oh oh oh! Almost forgot. O & E went to a dance comp in Northwich yesterday (I was supposed to compete too, but my partner dropped out last week. I’d already said that I’d drive and E’s bf needed their car, so I drove). They entered Beginner’s Ballroom, Novice Ballroom and Beginner’s Latin. And won! All of them!

Judi - Apr 5, 2011

Great pics, those socks look fab!

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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.