Bletch

Morning all

I'm just popping on to say, I've not disappeared. I have been really struggling health wise these last few days and it's made me feel so far removed from playful. There are posts in the pipelines, giveaways (oh yes) and features but I've lacked zip for a while so I took some quiet time for me. I didn't even manage any photography. Hideous.

I've managed some knitting. And lots of daydreaming. I thought I'd just share some pics today while I prepare to go and do a hike across south London. Yes. A bunch of Londoners are going to explore London. I'm finally well enough to think this fun and it's sunny. From where I sit I can see blossom waving delicately in the breeze. I have no doubt it will still need hand knits but that is in no way a complaint.

More soon, I promise

WIN

What's this?

Oh this pile of heart stamped tissue paper heralds the first competition I have ever WON! Yes, I am simple giddy with excitement this morning, you may even guess from the picture above. I swooped on the mailman when he knocked on my door and ran to open up the box. I love getting mail, especially my first ever prize. I may repeat this phrase over and over throughout the post. I'm very much enamoured with my first ever prize. Yup. 

I entered a contest a while back, lazily clicking through blogs and Ravelry boards. I discovered Implausible Yarn and have been reading ever since. This is how I got my first ever prize. (I know, I should stop now but I can't, bare with me).

The competition was for this skein of Yarn Pirate superwash, a brand I've been wanting to try for some time. The colourway is Shamrock and I'm quite in love. I admit to be a little unsure from the picture if I would fall head over heels in love with my first ever prize (I know, I know) but I needn't have worried. I love it, it's just the right shade of green. Socks will be made and admired. Oh yes.

Not just content with giving me my first ever prize (stop it now), I also received delicious goodies: jelly bellys, Ghirardelli and a dark chocolate bar that contains raspberries and a love poem inside the packaging. Well hello!

Since yesterday, I suspected things were looking up when I discovered this blossom growing outside my window and then I found a lady bug in the house, confirming that Spring HAD to be on it's way despite temperatures remaining very set in the mittens and scarves regions. Not that I'm complaining, I'm all about the knit wear.

I'm off now to fondle my first prize ever yarn. I really am stopping now......

Overdue

Anyone reading my blog would be mistaken for thinking I have given up on knitting. I haven't. It's pretty much consumed me if I'm honest. 

It all started with Spring Leaves. Man beast's not-so-evil step-mother is turning 60 this month and she's always been lovely, supportive and so enthusiastic about my knitting. It seemed only right to knit her something and a lace scarf or stole in pretty purple was decided upon. Yes, there was only 6 weeks or so but I could put my other knitting aside and focus on some 'quick lace' surely?

We went to Loop and while I was cruising for something silky, Man Beast picks up Wollmeise and says 'This one'. I love his taste. It started off life as another project that shall remain nameless. I am planning on tackling it again with a longer time frame for another milestone birthday at the end of the year. I won't mention it here then, in case it hears I'm displeased and punishes me later. 

Anyway. Spring Leaves is a nice repetitive pattern. You knit in two halves which involves a provisional cast on.... and picking it up. I was so worried about messing up my knitting at the half way point that I didn't anticpate the bind off problem I had. I tried the EZ sewn bind off. It seemed so simple. It reminded me of kitchener stitch. And that's where it all went wrong. I pulled it tight, as if I was grafting a toe. I wasn't. I was binding off lace. 

Yesterday I performed major knitting surgery. It was epic. I'd removed the lifelines, thinking I was done and so I had to pull out the bind off and stitches were dropping everywhere. You could have heard a pin drop in the flat but for the tinkle of a needle being dropped in favour of a crochet hook or vice versa. I saved it. AND I have the provisional cast on all sorted. See? That's me moving onto the second half. Phew. 

To avoid complete lace overload I've been popping back to the Cedar Leaf Shawlette every now and then. It's at the leaves point and I'm glad to have something to break all those leaves up too. The yarn is Sanguine Gryphon Codex, a delicious blend of merino and silk. This plump worsted is probably one of my favourites. Compared to the slightly tough quality of the Wollmeise, it's a dream to run through my fingers. 

And then there's baby gift knitting. Everyone's pregnant. No really. In the interest of keeping up, I have a baby knit on the go all the time now. It would start rumours if it weren't for the fact I'm so clearly too scatty to have a child.....

Poorly

Nothing new to report. I have plans to update on knitting but I'm struck down and pretty poorly right now. In the mean time I will leave you with some pics. Just so you know I haven't forgotten you all xx

OTL has kept me going today

As close as I ever got to capturing the dramatic hair cut

Boy, I wish I could eat this right now

Introducing: September Yarns

Laguna

This time I'm introducing a very talented yarn dyer and blogger. September yarns was launched last year in a hail of stunning colourways that quite frankly made me dribble more than a little. Her professional and creative attitude is evident from her etsy site which is clean, clear and more than a little inviting. With descriptions that start 'A cool blue wading pool' before moving into the nuts and bolts of what you're getting, you get the distinct impression that this person enjoys colour and yarn. Which, I assure you, she does.

What are your favourite hobbies?
Believe it or not, knitting! I sometimes fantasize about taking days off work and finishing every project I have on the needles and starting more. Or when I’m not as proactive - dumping all my yarn out on my bed and playing with color combos. Because while I’ve only done one colorwork project, I still look at everything as potential colorwork!

I’ve also been known to play a video game or 3, and not your stereotypical “girl” games. I can block you out in Tetris, or I can stick you from above in Halo.

Favourite Childhood Game?
I was often found curled up with a library book (Nancy Drew or Ramona), and when I wasn’t doing that I was usually playing with my brothers toys. His toys were much more fun than mine (I was never one for dolls), so we would build massive cities with Waffle Blocks and Legos and run our Hot Wheels through them! On a slightly related tangent, I asked him a couple years ago if he remembered anything from the Loma Prieta earthquake (since he was 1 at the time), and he distinctly remembered Waffle Blocks and Hot Wheels, which we were playing with when it hit.

I was never too crazy about going outside when younger. I sunburn easily and wind messes up my hair.

Shallows

Where do you find inspiration?
I love looking at architecture - it’s amazing to me that so many years ago, people were able to figure out how to make a 100 story building stay standing, or build a bridge across 2 points of land and over roaring currents, or determine what weather conditions or potential situations their structure would have to face, and at the same time make it beautiful and unique looking.

I love nature. The ocean, sunsets, cliffsides, redwood forests, a twisted oak tree.

I love the juxtaposition of the 2. A lighthouse balanced atop a rocky cliffside - it tells the story of both better than either could do on their own.

Are you an early bird or midnight owl?
I like waking up early to get the boring stuff out of the way, and having fun in to the night. If there isn’t boring stuff to do that day? I’m sleeping in until 10.

Comfort Food of choice?
CHEESE! Cheese on a cracker or baguette, with a glass of wine - THAT’S what I really want after a particularly rough or a particularly successful day at work.

When you daydream, where do you tend to end up?

Somewhere warm, with knitting, a beverage, and peace. It might be a beach, it might be my bed with the heated sheets, it might be the balcony of a cruise ship, but it’s always comfortable.

Why September yarns?
I fell in love with yarn shortly after learning to crochet, and very quickly wanted to participate in every stage of the process. I started September Yarn when I threw some things in a dyepot and realized that they came out looking actually quite nice, and thought I would share the love while continuing to work on my technique and blending different colors and layers. At some point I would like to add handspun to the lineup, but so far I haven’t been able to throw a spindle and some fiber together and have it come out looking quite nice. ;)