Library Girl Knits!

My nose is bunged up, and my eyes are sore, and I may start weeping again at any moment. Why am I so upset? I just finished reading the Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, and I am utterly moved by it. I don’t think I’ve ever read such a beautifully written love story – this will definitely become a classic. If you haven’t read it, do. I won’t give the plot out – it is really hard to make it sound plausible, but Niffenegger manages to so. Enjoy, and if you don’t bawl your eyes out during the last 50 – 75 pages I’ll be surprised.
But what do I read now? I hate this part between novels. What do you read to follow up something that totally stuns you? I think something completely different (although I feel drawn towards Murakami right now, and when he writes without surrealism, he isn’t too far from TTW). Arrrggghhghh! A room full of books, with no heating so therefore not much time to browse before I freeze my arse off…

I finished the cable socks 😀 Literally just now 😀 I’m reasonably pleased with them overall, but the pattern… Not so much. I won’t post pics in case my friend takes a sneaky peek, but the way you pick up stitches for the heel and the way you decrease for the toe just aren’t as nice as the first pattern I used… I was knitting to gauge, but the heel flap is 30 rows with the 1st stitch slipped, so you just pick up each one for the gusset. This method seemed to stretch the slipped stitches quite a bit 🙁 I used Grumperina’s method for picking up stitches, so they were pretty tidy – just odd looking 🙁 The toes are just decreased until you have 6 stitches left, which I don’t like as much as grafting them. The decreases were done as purls on knits, so you have this pattern down the toe, which I suppose is supposed to be pretty, but I’m not fond of it. Anyway, know I now the pattern, I might just take the good bits and transpose them to a better toe and heel fit.
Finishing this means I can start Angelica now… Yay!

It is coming up to 8 am. I feel a tad rough. Last night, a few of us went out to celebrate a birthday, which then became two birthdays, and a few more people. Naturally this meant celebrating until the early hours. It is the first time I’ve been out later than midnight in a while, so apparently I do still have a little energy left in me 🙂 But while I coped with the drinks pretty well, this morning I’m a bit headachy. Only a bit though. Still doing well. Just a shame that the alarm set for getting up for work went off as DB forgot to turn it off. And once that happens, I can’t go back to sleep – I managed twenty minutes. Hence the title of today’s post. I’m a little headachy, and a lot tired. And I stink of ciggies from my friends. The last is the worst bit, but I was too tired to shower when I got in.
Anyway, I’m awake, have a glass of water, and a parcel to collect from town. I know exactly what it is. It is in connection with this:

Can’t decide whether to nip into town and collect it or leave it to Monday. I’d like to start winding the hanks into balls at least, but I might end up tempted to start work on it too… But if I do that, the parcel might not be ready, and I might not have time to get the lounge clean and ready for the tree before my brother and mum come over for his birthday (yes – another birthday to celebrate, on top of all the other festivities. My weight loss attempts may well be doomed until next month unless the thai restaurant has something very very low fat in their early bird menu, and the next week has something equally low fat for the next 4 meals I’m supposed to attend…).
Oooo – I’ve also signed up for secret pal 7, which is cool. The matches won’t be mailed until next month, so I have some time to get my money back on track after holiday purchasing (I still have loads of stuff to get for people, but at least the meal is sorted. Ish) and my brain prepared for some lovely gift selecting 🙂
Anyway, I think it is time I put the heating on – my fingers are starting to get cold typing. And I could do with huddling up on the couch till I wake up properly. Sooooo sleeeeeeeepy. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

The Onion always makes me giggle, if not laugh out loud. It was pretty cool to see paper copies when we visited the US. This is the kind of thing I like to read in it.
A cool article that was missing for the first day of posting this
I’m also stealing something from the great Ben (Sylvar – a library guy in Florida). If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, (even if we don’t speak often) please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me.
It can be anything you want – good or bad – BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.
When you’re finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised…
Some of the responses Ben got were pretty cool 😀

The laptop has cooled down now 🙂 Actually, I’m not sure if it was the heat from the laptop, or something I ate, or both, but last night I had horrendous stomach ache by the time I’d finished typing, hence the rushed attitude at the end!
Anyway, Jax asked for a close up of some of the detail. It is a bit too dark to take any shots right now, but I did do one yesterday which I hadn’t put up because it demonstrates how crap my weaving in can be (although I’m pretty sure it is easier when you have lighter weight yarns)

As you can see this is the collar detail 🙂 For those who don’t know the pattern, this lace is repeated the other way up at the opposite corner of the front, as well as on the right sleeve cuff. The lace is really simple, but so effective in the way it is used, and the with chunky yarn it just seems to make it all the more interesting to look at.
In other news, I’ve got five inches into the second sock… I have to say, I’m not all that fond of this yarn. It isn’t giving anything away to say I’m using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Cool, and the colour pools so that you get a spiral of bright blue with a dark blue green edging to it running the length of the sock until you get to the sole, where it suddenly sits in slightly more subtle (and to me, more likable) strips of colour. It would be much nicer in a plainer pattern, but I just don’t like that effect really – doesn’t look great on calves like mine, although it might be better on someone slimmer! Not that fond of the heel either – the pattern doesn’t do much in the way of shaping compared to my first sock pattern. We’ll see how it fits the recepient anyway. I’ll keep pics for when they have been received and post accordingly… 🙂 Either way, apparently the second sock seems to go much quicker for me in my limited experience, which is nice – apparently I have first sock syndrome rather than second sock syndrome… And Sue, if you are reading – I plan on writing you a pattern for some chunky socks and making you a kit ;D You have to learn to make these things! Great for busting those extra balls of stash that you might have lying around 😉

Well, I don’t quite know where to start, but let me warn you, today’s post is very picture heavy…
Here is some stash!

This is a mix of stuff I purchased in the US and at the Harrogate show. The pink is 100% wool in a chunky weight, which will probably go towards a pair of slippersocks (there will be a theme here. Watch out for it).
Then, we have Artyarns Candy, made infamous to me by Grumperina following her swap. It may be unlucky, but I loved the socks she made with it. And I love the elasticity of it – when I swatched up to play with it in the hotel, I really enjoyed the unique texture and colour adjusting of it. This will hopefully end up in socks too…

Next we have some Diakeito Diamusee. This stuff is like Noro Kureyon, but soooo much softer. The colours are gorgeous too – much more natural transfer than Noro. I have 3 balls of this which has no project in mind, but is enough for some more socks, or a OSW…


I also invested in some Lionbrand Landscapes, and made this 😀 Landscapes is so cosy and warm to wear, so I’m planning to get some more and make a hat to go with the scarf. Shame the Cross Hat-ch pattern isn’t free anymore, otherwise I’d be able to get a full match, but nevermind!

Now, some Harrogate stuff. This is a gorgeous felt needlecase from AK traditions. They were doing some good discounts, and I’ve wanted a needlecase for a while. It was still a bit steep, but I’ve not seen any that I’ve liked as much, and it should last, as it is vvvvv sturdy.

And open, just to give and idea of how roomy it is…

I also got this – a scarf kit from Kaalund Yarns – the colours aren’t as strong as this, but the shades are just about right.

And this – GGH Safari, a linen yarn. I was intrigued by it, so I got one ball to see what I could make with it. Not pictured except in the group pic at the top was some Alpaca Select 4 ply in black to go with the charcoal I bought for the Union Market sweater… Yay!

As well as all the purchasing, I’ve done some finishing… Here is a pic of my completed (with mistakes) Lace Leaf Pullover from Loop-d-loop. This was a fab pattern to follow, and the yarn was just luscious to knit with. I wore it to work on Thursday, and was cosy all day (work can be horrendously chilly sometimes). The only problem I have is that the yarn pilled within an hour of being at work, and is leaving bits of itself all over the place. I won’t be able to wear it at work again because of the pilling, but at least I can wear it in public without feeling like it looks a lot like a hand knit. I haven’t found a button yet for the collar, so it looks a little lopsided. I’d definitely make this again, but perhaps having worn it, I’d choose a different yarn. Rowan have some suggestions for substituting Polar, so I may try one of those another time when I’ve used up some of the stuff I’ve got now!

Thank goodness for finishing stuff! I still have the cable socks to finish from IK as a gift for Christmas for someone (shhh), Clapotis, Blackberry from Knitty, and some hand warmers, but this is one project less 😀
After all that, the laptop is overheating my knees, so I’ll go and pester Craftster with pics later on when I’ve cooled off. Phew!

My Denise needles are packed away, the stitch markers are stashed, the spare yarn is stored in the box, and my grafting needle is back in the Chibi. Lace Leaf Pullover is finally finished 😀 It has many poorly parts – some oopsies on the grafting of the body are there, but not too obvious, and the neck seems slightly odd, although that could be due to the lack of button. Despite this, I love it. It is warm and cosy and pretty, and the yarn is soft and cushy. Pics later when it is light enough (which would mean next weekend probably)… Sue and Sam were over so it is thanks to Sue that I finished it, and tried some entrelac, and have the initial triangles knitted. Sam sat and ate biccies and watched telly, while we knitted and chatted and watched telly. We were happy 🙂
Also, I’ll post news later this week on the fabulousness that was the Knitting and Stitching show. Needless to say I made purchases, but I was very good, and came back with only one carrier bag, and the already brimming storage boxes are not bursting anymore than they were before the show (even tho yarn was included in the purchasing). It was ace 🙂

I actually managed some knitting last night, albeit only about 10 rows of the first lace leaf jumper sleeve. I had a bit of a tweak of the body, and realised that leaving it to one side while we were away was good, as the stitches had relaxed on their own, and the line was no longer so obvious when I put it on – DB didn’t notice a thing (but he is a boy, so I’m going to ask Sue on Sunday). I’ve also calculated that I will have enough Polar to make another one when I’m done 😀 That meanst that if I get desperate and decide I hate the mistakes I made in the first, I can make another one, and rip up a little of the original at a time. Sleeves = homeward stretch which is v good. Soon have another finished object, studying allowing… And this one will look quite good, mistakes and all, as long as the sleeves are ok… 🙂

Well, after a grim week of jetlag (no energy, no concept of what day it is nevermind what time, poor sleep), washing, sub zero temperatures, more washing, food shopping in said sub zero temperatures and waiting far more than is necessary for a taxi, even more washing, trying to organise stuff in the house to throw out, give to charity or keep, and then where to store it to save it from the damp that was here when we returned home (DB had set the heating to come on, but no air, and a limited heat time, plus no dehumidifier meant dew on the stone walls when we got the heating back on, and a little mould round the front door where the heat doesn’t reach when it isn’t on long. I’m not complaining – this is normal for an old stone house, particularly built into the hill, but we have to make better plans for this in future), some more washing, and visits from family, we’ve had no time to spare. I need another holiday just to get back into a system. The jetlag has gone, but a dodgy tum arrived this weekend too. For both of us. That’s always lovely 😉 My boss is away in Tenerife (why didn’t CODI pick somewhere warm?!) so I had to get straight back into it. Luckily my colleagues are really understanding, and we work well together, so they were good when I started to look a bit bozzy/run down/confused and bewildered 🙂 Bless them, they put up with a lot last week 😀 We barely knew what day it was – I knew jetlag would be a bit rough, but I never realised I would be so befuddled, or that I’d have such bizarre twists of clarity and perfect awareness to total knackeredness and dizzy stupidity. I managed to do mental arithmatic to a degree I can’t normally manage (which seems to have diminished since then 😀 Surprise surprise!), and then would have problems working out what 70p plus 50p was. The latter is pretty normal 😉 (and I did A-level maths, but I seemed to have the same thing going on while I studied – I was predicted an A and got a D).
But now I’m just about back together again, if I ignore a couple of incidents that I won’t go into here! Next weekend I’m visiting the Knitting and Stitching show in Harrogate, which will be very cool. I’m going with a couple of friends I haven’t seen in quite a while, so that will make it doubly nice 😀 I shall have to be careful about what I buy though. In the sort out we bought two plastic chests with flip locks on them, and my yarn has filled both of them. But I’ll allow myself something special though, or sewing related 😀
Needless to say that it isn’t just this that makes me look forward to having at least one day with no visitors, no work, and no other major obligations. Woot!

Well, nearing the end of another day today, and I am shattered. I went back to Target to look for some rumoured bargain yarn (25c a ball), but sadly they didn’t have any 🙁 But they did have some Hello Kitty stuff in the dollar section, which more than made up for it! I also found something rather surreal – they have a section in the cosmetics bit called the British Aisle, with nothing but Boots stuff 😀 Lots of Botanics and Number 7 stuff, and at pretty reasonable prices considering 🙂 Still not cheaper than buying in the UK, but they certainly matched most prices, which was impressive. Still a bit surreal to find that in the US tho! Then I went to Borders and had a browse of the lovely knitting books and magazines, and made a couple of purchases (nothing too exciting – a magazine for Sue as a gift, and a book of finishing techniques that I’ve had on loan from Uni for ages because it is sooooo good and is essential, and a calendar that my mum asked me to get because it was cheaper in dollars than pounds. Then I nipped into Gap to see if I could grab a nice pair of jeans, and failed miserably. Apparently in the US they only sell the regular length of larger sizes in store and you have to buy the ankle length online. I tried a few longer leg ones and found some that I liked the fit of on my waist and hips, but I just couldn’t justify buying them when the leg is way too long (and the cut of the leg can’t be shortened i.e. flares/bootcut). Poo. And I could only fit into a larger size than I normally do from Gap, which was doubly poo. Lesson learnt – american jeans are cheaper, but fit differently and are harder to get in the right fit.
You’d think that would have saved me money, but nooooo. I dropped off my purchases at the hotel, and set off to catch the light rail (more like a tram than a train) and got off at Cedar Avenue to look for Depth of Field. Wow. That is how yarn shops should be everywhere. It was beautiful. I spent a little while just browsing the aisles to get an idea of their stock. Then I asked for some assistance with small projects I could work on and bring back in the suitcase, and ended up spending more than I planned (but when does that not happen for me?!) but I bought some stuff I’ve wanted for a while, plus some gorgeous stuff I could never get in the UK. I’ll tell you more another time, but for now I’ll keep it short as we go for dinner soon. After that I got back on the rail and went back to the Mall of America, but I was too tired to shop properly, and the dollar stuff at Target made me more controlled in the Sanrio shop, which was a good thing. I managed to get a gift for my mum (a medium brown bag from Bloomingdales, which was promptly wrapped in a big brown bag :D), and case some DVD prices for Dave (Target is still the most reasonably priced, which is good, as it is close!). Forgot to have lunch in all the fuss, so I’m extra tired now :/ Good job the meal is a buffet tonight!
No squirrels today, but DB has sorted the pics, and will be uploading them soon. Trust me, there are some goodies… 😀