A quick update

I'll be writing more over the weekend, now I want to spend my quite unexpected night at home with some knitting.


Today I finished up the "Friday Harbor" socks from Knitting on the Road from Nancy Bush for the KOTR-KAL. I also made myself some blockers out of 2 old coat hangers. Not perfect, but they'll do the job. Sorry for the bad picture but it's dark quite early here these days.



















I'm also knitting away on my socks for my SET pal, and it's not easy. Here is what I had a couple of days ago :












Will show more real soon! (And I'm still not ahppy with them ...)

SET socks

Ok, I started to socks for my SET-partner, Doni but I'm not sure if these are going to be right.

Though I first thought they would be to small I'm now worried they might be to big! I'm using a combination of a few designs out of the book Latvian Mittens which I recently bought. I'm kinda taking all kinds of things I like and combining them. Anyway, for the biggest pattern I need a multiple of 24 stitches. Knowing how small Fair Isle socks can turn out I decided to go for 96 stitches as I know 72 would just be to small (I used 72 for the pair of Fair Isle socks I had to rip, see one of my previous posts, and my legs are probably smaller then Doni's). I might switch to smaller needles once I'm further down the leg (I'm using 2mm now).

Also, I'm not sure if Doni will like the pattern I chose, and I feel like I had to use more luxurious yarn, as this is plain sock yarn (75% wool, 25% poly-something I guess, to lazy to get the label). And I'm not sure about the colours either. Oh my, this is difficult.

Well, I'll see how they turn out. I can always turn these into mittens for the boyfriend or something! As for the mittens they say to cast on 72 stitches, so even for mittens this'll be big.

Maybe some pictures tomorrow, off to sleep now and to worry a bit more ...

YARN SALE!

As said I would be selling some of the yarn I won't be using any time soon. It's partly stash reducing of course.

As promissed, half of the proceeds of this yarn will go to a Katarina Relief fund (not yet sure which). The other half will be used to buy wool to knit a warm cardigan for my sweet grandfather. So please help me out here!

Following items do not include shipping! Remember that I live in Belgium (Europe). Mail me for shipping, it depends on the yarn. Plus, you can choose between priority (3 days to one week) or non-priority (3 weeks), (and those are for international shipping, inside Europe goes faster).

Here we go :

Krystal (Italian Fashion yarn)

45% acryl, 35% mohair, 20% New Wool

Machine wash

needle size 4 1/2 - 5 mm

50gr (1 oz 3/4) = 160m (176 yards)

2 balls shown, but I can send up to 3 balls if interested

Retailes at about 7$, will sell for 5$.

Schachenmayr Hair

65% mohair, 35% Acryl

Handwash

needle size 4 - 5 mm

50 gr = 190m

I have 6 balls of this

Retails for 15$, I ask 10$ per ball

(if you take all 6 I'll pay shipping)

Enough for a sweater!

French LandWool

100% wool

Will felt, though not easily

needle size 3 - 4 mm (I suggest 5-6 mm, I think it's changed on the newer labels)

100 gr = 100m

Retails at 10$, I sell at 5$ per hank

4 hanks, all different colours (the last one is really dark burgundary/red, not black)

This one I have a hard time parting with! You won't find this in a store! Though it's kinda special, it's 100% yarn for sure, handdyed and from a cone. It's originally made for French couturiers and so there is no label with it. I can assure you the quality!

100 grams of this retails for about 50$! I will sell for 30$ per 100 gram. I don't know how much this ball is, I guess it's somewhere between 100 and 200 gram. Just tell me if you want the whole ball or just 100 grams. It will look great for a scarf!

The colours are kinda blue and green, really nice, the colours for the coming fall and winter in Paris! As said, 100% pure wool so handwash only!

Most colours are quite accurate in the pictures!

I can only accept Paypal I'm afraid!

If interested, email me at rrej37 at hotmail dot com!

Small update

Last night was a sad and annoying night. Remember the pink mohair sweater I was knitting? I hadn't checked gauge before starting and starting the shaping of the next (after knitting the lower part of the body in the round) I realized it was way to small and turned out my gauge was way off. Strange, cause I'm not a tight knitter at all. But ok, I made the decission to rip it and that's one. I didn't start anew immidiately, though I will soon. This was going to be my first sweater. I don't know which needle size I'll need to use now but I will check gauge first, of course!

I'm now working on my Clapotis, hoping on finally finishing it!

I did finish my Amble socks - which I think I already mentionned - and here are the pictures of my amble socks and anklets I finished a few weeks back :
















So ther first picture are my anklets, in self dyed sock yarn. I used regular Arnel Sock yarn (75% wool, 25% acryl) and KoolAid to dye these. I like them more then I thought I would, as orange normally isn't my colour. And they didn't pool! :D

Second are my Amble socks for the SixSockKAL. They are in the same Arnel Sock yarn, in a light blue colourway. The figures come out quite well I have to say!

I still need to wash and block both pair of socks, but then I'll show them again. I'm thinking of making myself a blocker out of wood, or maybe simply out of iron cloth hangers.

Oh, and before I forget, I got my SP6 assigned and emailed her today! I haven't heard from mine yet which does worry me a little, but well, we'll see!

No real update

I have little to show right now, except for the huge amount of yarn from KnitPicks and from Hello Yarn I just got (thanks so much Adrian for sending me this!).

But, my sister has my digital camera so I can't take pictures. I might write more tomorrow!

SP6 Questionnaire!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I honestly admit I’ve become a yarn snob in this short period of knitting! I prefer natural fibers, though I don’t mind blends if the amount of natural is higher then the acrylic in it.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Both. I just learned to spin and am still learning, though I would like a new wheel to practice on. As for crochet, don’t it as a child, haven’t started on it since but plan on doing that soon.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
No allergies, but I’m super sensitive for smoke and can smell it in everything/everywhere.

4. How long have you been knitting?
Started as a kid, restarted about a year ago and got really into it after knitting my first pair of socks in April!

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do have an Amazon wish list but I will provide a link soon as I need to check and update it!

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Vanilla mostly, Lavander too, anything that’s not too sweet really

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Not really. It’s better if you don’t send me candy ‘cause I don’t like that much – I’m really picky – so I guess you can better give it to someone who appreciates it more!

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Hmm, way to much to count on! Paper arts, mixed media art, drawing and painting, beading but mostly stitch markers these days, and a lot more!! :D

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I can play MP3s, I even owe an iPodmini! As for music, I like almost everything except for heavy metal/loud hard rock. I have this preference for female voices. I like the more alternative kind of music. But I’m flexible and will listen to almost anything!

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I’m big into the purple/eggplant kind of colours. I like darker colours, like black and burgundy. I also love dusty pink and more of those colours. I don’t like neon kind of colours, yellow, bright orange and bright red.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my boyfriend. We have 3 cats, a dog, a horse and a pony. Oh, and some fish.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
Finding a nice job I really like, maybe going back to college, seeing the world, … normal things really

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
No faves really though I really like lace and sport weight yarns, but anything is fine. No fiber preferences, though I’m not that big on cotton.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Acrylic mostly.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Socks! And sweaters for the winter.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Socks! :D things on smaller needles really.

17. What are you knitting right now?
One sweater, Clapotis (really should finish that one), 2 pairs of socks, a lacy scarf

18. What do you think about ponchos?
Not for me, thank you!

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
No real preference though I mostly use circulars

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
My preferred ones are Addi turbos really, but I’m willing to knit with everything! Though better not plastic, as my dog would like shewing them to much.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
Yep, more like a sock addict! LOL

22. How did you learn to knit?
My mom was a knitter and at the age of 5 I wanted to learn everything she did, so she learned me. She also learned me to crochet, machine sew and hand sew. I knitted all through elementary school, but don’t remember knitting during secondary school. Picked it up now and my mom thinks I’m crazy! She stopped knitting years ago! :D I learned most special things, like socks and lace and such, on my own.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
A few months, something in pure acrylic, I didn’t know much back then and hate touching the yarn now! So I don’t think it’ll ever be finished.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Winnie The Pooh and his friends! :D

25. What is your favorite holiday?
None in particular … as long as I don’t have to work it’s fine by me!

26. Is there anything that you collect?
No active collections really, if you don’t count yarn! :D

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I just subscribed to IK, but haven’t received my issue yet!

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
See my Amazon list, though I just saw that “Color in Spinning” is quite expensive at the French Amazon.

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
Here are a few :
- Angelina Vintage Jacket from White Lies Designs
- Easy Lace Jacket/Duster from White Lies Designs
- Women's Knit Fashion #1 from Vingtage Knitting Patterns
- Kristina Bag from Black Sheep Bags

I might add more in the future! :D


30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?
Foot measurements : 9 inch long, 8 ¼ inch across the ball of my foot, 8 ½ inch around the ankle. I love all kinds of socks really!

New Knitty

The new Knitty is out and for once I'm not the last one to know! :D Look at what I'm going to knit :



It's the Arisaig pattern! I had to go to the yarn store today so I decided on going to the one close to my work, and I looked for the yarn and found some very suitable merino yarn! It's from Online and I think it was on clearance. I only hope I bought enough. I think I'm going to swatch tonight!

Someone in a knitting community said she would never knit a cardigan on such small needles (2.25 and 2.75). I am looking forward to it 'cause I love knitting on small circulars! And I love this pattern, so if it works out I might knit one in another colour (though I like the colour I picked I also like the colours in the picture, and black would be nice too ...).

Off to urgently make some stitch markers an then it's knitting time!

Lost package!

The package that I thought was long lost showed up today! I ordered it at the end of June and it was shipped early July. I had totally given up on it. But it showed up! And this was the envi it was in :

Wanne know what the stamp sais? Look a little closer :

Oh yeah, you are reading it right, the package was missent to Jamaica! Can you imagine? I didn't think "Belgium" was anything like "Jamaica" but maybe I'm the crazy one here.

But at least I know have the yarn, and 3 skeins of Noro Kureyon which is enough to knit the Booga Bag! Yippie! I want that bag so badly and I finally want a felting project that turns out ok! I just need 7mm circulars, but I'll pick those up tomorrow at the store, hopefully (if they have them in).

Off to take a much needed shower!

Finally ...

Yeah, finally a proper update! I'm neglecting this blog like hell, but probably because I had little interesting to say. Reading through a few blogs I decided I want to keep this blog on topic as much as possible. If you want to read some of my other thoughs, ramblings and musings, or see some of the other art I create, please visit my LJ journal (see side bar for a link). I don't think everyone wants to read my stuff about daily life, so it's better to make a choice.

Now one quick note about the things in the US. I really care for those people and support the things that have been sat up to gather money for the Red Cross and other organisations. I have been thinking about selling some of my yarn, and I'll get pictures of it soon. Half of what I make from this sale (at least) will go to the Red Cross or some animal rescue organisation, the other half will go towards the yarn for a cardigan for my grandfather. Anything I don't need for the cardigan will as well go to the Red Cross. I'll let you know soon.

Now I have a ton of pictures, though I think I'm still missing stuff. So here I go.



WIP's

I'm working on quite a few things right now, but only have pictures of 2 things. First, there's the Amble socks for the SixSocksKAL .


I'm on the foot of the first sock and really like the pattern, though I made a few minor mistakes (which I didn't corrected, but you can really notice them) and had to rip back 2 times, but nothing big really. they are going smoothly now.














Then, the second one is a sweater in a mohair blend (has some acrylic in it as well) I got very cheaply (6.5€ for 150 gram, which is enough for the sweater) :



I'm kinda franatically knitting on this one as it's my first sweater and I hope it turns out nicely. I'm working the body in the round - the pattern is from a dutch magazine and those haven't really discovered knitting in the round yet :D - and I'll to the sleeves the same way. I made a few mistakes but I don't htink they'll show. You can see the huge ball in the up corner. It's pink, I wanted black, but the only colour availabe was pink and I wanted to use the yarn mentionned in the pattern. More pictures later!



The other 2 WIPs I'm having is my Clapotis which I really should start working on, I want to finish it soon 'cause i really want to start wearing it when the weather starts cooling down. The other are the Friday Harbor socks for the KOTR-sock-KAL . I've had one finished since I returned from Italy, so I really need to cast on for the second sock!

To Do List!
So here's a little list of the things I really want to knit up soon (aside some of my regular projects, a lot of socks thus!). First of all, I bought these from Jeni who was destashing :



(Ok, I know, I subscribed to IK, and I will get the Fall magazine, but I couldn't wait and I figure I can always donate the Fall magazine to someone in Europe who wants it!)





Well, ok, the next sock I'm going to start are the Feather and Fan socks (from the Socks-Socks-Socks book) for the Socks3KAL . I got some Regia Silk for them, in creamy white. I have the book and this is a great way to start knitting some of the patterns! I might also become a moderator of the group!

There are a few Christmas projects I should get started on. The above mentionned cardigan for my grandfather as soon as I have the yarn (and I'll post a picture of the pattern then), a scarf (probably Branching Out) for my grandmother, and 2 pairs of felted slippers (for my mom and my aunt - the last one asked me for warm handknitted socks at the end of last Winter to wear around the house as she always has cold feet so I think felted slippers will do the trick!). Then there's still a pair of socks I need to knit up for my sister but I know she's not impatient about them, so those are on hold for a while.

For myself I really want to knit some fingerless gloves! Plus a pair of Self striping socks! And i want to start a lacy shawl but I haven't decided on the pattern yet.

I have this one sweater I want to knit from a Dutch magazine, it's a basic pattern for a turtle neck sweater, my favourite one actually and I'm so excited I found this pattern! I'll be knitting quite some of those! I ordered yarn from KnitPicks for it plus I also have some Cashmere/Wool blend for one ,but more on that later.

From the latest IK issue there are a few sweaters I want to knit :













I already have the yarn for the one in the middle, found the recommanded yarn in a store near my work! It's such a great store! With lovely yarns! Got the previous mentionned Cashmere/wool blend there, and an Angora/Wool blend for a scarf (this one to be exact! :D), and the silk for the socks. I want the Rowan for the first sweater, and I'm not sure yet what I'll get for the last one. Maybe some more of the Alpaca used for the middle one.

There's one more sweater I don't have a picture scanned off, it's the wrap in the same IK. It's in pure Cashmere which I of course don't have, so I have to find a proper replacement. But I really like wraps so it'll probably become my basic pattern.


Then there's also this Hot Lave Cardigan from Blue Alvarez Designs which i wanted to knit ever since I came across the pattern!


















This pattern from White Lies Designs I really, really want! This type of cardigan is highly popular over here for the Winter and I already have a similar one from last Winter, so being able to knit one myself would be so great!








And then there's one more I've already have yarn and plans for :


This wrap from Lana Grossa, I'm going to use pure black mohair.











And then there are a at least 2 felted bags I want to knit up ...

To much you say? Hmm, you could be right! :D And this isn't even everything! But hey, the Winter is still very long! And I anticipate and a few Sundays alone, not to mention the evenings ... .


Gifts!
There were quite a few packages in my mailbox the last couple of weeks! Unfortunately the huge sock yarn order from Canada which I made at the beginning of July still hasn't showed up and a gift package from Amanda hasn't showed up yet while the KnitPicks order she mailed to me later did show up. Disturbing really!

But my SP5, who revieled herself as Steph from England , send me a lovely package. But first, the previous package she sent me which i haven't posted about yet :







It's a scarf pattern, with the yarn for it in some super nice, lovely colours (pink and dark olive green, yum!!!), the neeldes for it (bamboo :D) and the beads! Plus a little bag of Lavender and a lovely card!




And here is her last package :





This was just a wauw package! Some gorgious 100% wool yarn in superb colours! A little kit of vanilla stuff from the Body Shop (one of my most loved stores), a nice card and a great bottle of woolly wash from Get Knitted!








My SP5 pal has recieved her package today with the reviel in it. I of course forgot to add something I knitted for her which I mail her soon. I won't show now as of course she now knows my blog!



These are the stitch markers I got through the SP Stitch marker swap ! Very, very lovely! I urgently need to send mine out for September, will do so tomorrow!










That's it for tonight, more for a later time. I'm going to get some spinning done now! Before I fall asleep that is!

Lousy day

I'm not feeling to well. I've been making tapes for typing lessons all day and I have a sore throat now. Coming home there was no mail at all. I'm awaiting 3 packages still, one was mailed at the beginning of July and it's probably lost (80$ worth of yarn :( so sad), a second one should have already been here too, and the third one will probably arrive any day now. I'm also awaiting a copy of an art magazine I ordered and some art materials, but those won't be here before next week I guess.

I'm hoping my KnitPicks order will be shipped soon, as I know the person recieving it for me (Adrian from Hello Yarn ) ships so quickly, I usually get my packages from her in a week or so!

We have to go to the opening of this big restaurant tonight. Not looking forward to it at all. Oh well ...

A bit of a meme ...

I've learned to knit when I was 5 or so (nor me nor my mom remember exactly when). I loved being creative and I was somehow special. My whole yought (ok, I'm not that old yet) I was some sort of outcast, like things others didn't. I didn't have many friends. Well, not many true friends. A lot of girls - till I was 16 I went to all girls schools - liked having me around as I was easy to use, I was easy to manipulate and would do everything for them. Still have that problem. But I didn't have many true friends. I wasn't asked to many birthday-parties (most of the ones I remember my whole class was asked as I was in a small class) and during holidays I didn't go playing with other kids. I didn't know any of the kids of the neighboorhood, my sisters and I even got teased by the other kids. We went to school in the next little town as that was were my grandparents lived, and there was a great rivalty between these 2 little towns. My sisters played together all the time - they still are best friends and do most things together - so often I ended up alone.

That brings me back to knitting. I saw my mother knit a lot, as it was the mid 80's and knitting was popular over here then. And of course I wanted to learn all the stuff she did. She also learned me how to crochet and sew during that period. In elementary school these crafts - knitting, crocheting, cross stitch - were part of the schools curriculum and so I did quite a bit of it. I don't think I ever moved past the regular casting on, knitting and purling and binding off. When I was 11 I made kind of a puppet in school but I don't even remember how I did it. I loved all these crafts and occasionally picked them up again, but the only thing I can remember is a scarf I once started but never finished.

Through the years after I did all kinds of crafts, started writing letters and read a ton of books. Not much changed in my friends status, though I did get severely sacked by a few people and lost most of my trust. I got really involved in the Internet, made some great friends online and started to see that my huge love for crafts/arts wasn't strange at all.

About 3 years ago I started riding at the riding school again, and about a year later I got to involved to be good for me. 6 months later I bought my horse, and slowly I was having more social contacts then I could handle. I was working but didn't like my job and I was facing the horrid divorce of my parents with a father that was ruining my life. I couldn't handle my life anymore and about a year ago I started going back to all those beloved crafts I had neglected for years.

Through the Internet I got in touch with knitting again (I don't even remember how exactly!) and in a short while it's grown into a true addiction. I've gathered a ton of materials and had to get my own knitting room, but I'm loving it! I'm spending more and more time at home again, trying to avoid human contact (well, at least to much of it) and I'm feeling way better now.

Of course, after all these years my family still doen't support or appreciate any of my loves. They think both my art and my knitting are a wast of time and money. The decission I recently made of knitting mostly stuff for myself from now on was easily made, as I don't like knitting ofr people who don't appreciate it. Now I will be knitting a few things for my family for Christmas. I'm going to knit my grandfather a cardigan I know he'll wear and appreciate. I'm going to knit my grandmother a scarf I hope she'll wear. My aunt asked for a pair of thick socks/slippers to wear around the house during the Winter so I'm going to knit her a pair of felted slippers. I might knit something for my mom, but I'm not sure yet. I like the knitting and will do it, but all the other stuff will be for me. I would have bigger pleasure out of knitting for others as I still live to please others, but knowing how little they appreciate it I'm no longer doing it.

I don't know what this post was meant for, I just wanted to write it down .

To much yarn

Yeah, I owe you all this huge post with lots of pictures, but by the time I get around taking pics it's usually dark. I'll try either tomorrow or over the weekend, but it's going to be a busy time!

I got a ton of yarn I ordered over the Internet, and I ordered some more today. Yikes. I mean, really, I'm going nuts. Totally.

Today I found this little yarn store nearby where I work. I found the address online in my search for yarn for the Union Square Market Pullover. They carried the yarn in all possible colours, and of course not to expensive. It saves me the shipping. But I couldn't resist on buying a bunch of other luxury yarns, spending over $250 in total! I'm crazy! Luckily all the yarns are for specific projects, I didn't just go around and buy stuff.

I also found a store online that carries Rowan yarns. It's in Antwerp which is not so far from here. I go there every now and then to go shopping. I want some yarn for 2 projects, but I really don't have the money right now so I have to wait.

I'm going on a yarn diet till I knitted all the stuff I want to knit. I swear I don't need more yarn, I need to knit yarn. In addition I'm going to try to sell some yarn s I don't think I'll ever use. If you are interested, please stay around. I'm hoping at least a few people will show interest, it would help me! I'm thinking of donating part of the money to the US Red Cross for all the victims of Katrina. I feel so sorry for all of them, whish I could do more!

Well, It's very late and I couldn't sleep but I should get back to sleep. After lazying around for a month at work most of my co-workers are getting sick of me so I started thinking of a bunch of things I could do. I need to keep busy.