Flibbertygibbet

Bellatrix toes

And the rest of them.

I love the Misti Alpaca yarn.  It's squooshy and lovely.  These are my first completed pair of patterned socks though looking at the sole, I kind of wish I'd used this yarn for  stocking stitch socks because I love the colours on the plain part. Also I should really learn about things like gauge or alternatively remember to switch to smaller needles at appropriate points as they are a little loose in the foot. They'll make fine bedsocks though.

I've been having a frankly crappy time recently - couple of people I trusted have let me down badly on some rather crucial issues and these have come to a head after many months.  I think I've worked through what to do and there's still the slimmest of chances for one very major issue to be resolved according to the original plan though I've already resigned myself to that being the remotest of possibilities.  The upside is that once one door closes you get to decide which other one to go through. Maybe wearing new socks.

This one does qualify...

So here's version 2 of the Very Posh Laundry Bag, all from stash.  Modifications?  I changed the handles to make them less wide - though the boxiness of the last one is quite appealing, the handles are a little wider than I need and so you just end up with lots of fabric bunched up in your hand. 



The bag is symmetrical, it's the photographer that's a little wonky again.  It's made with more Liberty stash and cotton sheeting. 



The one has a ribbon closure so socks don't escape on the tube on the way home.



And some of the precious Tinsel Trading stash ribbon (yes, stash!) to bind the bottom.

This one was so much quicker to do as I didn't muck up the side seams on it, necessitating ripping and restitching like the first one. Now just one more, and that will do it I think... probably...

Stash-busting - yeah, that's what it is

I'm going to the gym pretty frequently at the moment (the more I go the cheaper it gets through our work health insurance; it's making me feel a million times better including helping my back and posture; and as I'm already committed to paying for it each month it's like economising.  Almost.) I rented a permanent locker there so that I no longer get a second daily workout from schlepping all my gear back and forth so that kind of impacts the economising theory, but still.  I decided to make some bags to carry home laundry etc, rather than taking plastic bags from the gym all the time, and so trotted off to John Lewis for some fabric.  Cos you know, it's not like there's anything that I could possibly use here.  The idea was to get pure cotton so that I could chuck the bag in the wash with everything else.  I got some very cute Amy Butler and some chambray to mix with prints.

Then I saw something on Twitter about Liberty fabric and thought 'Duh.' 

As it's not like there isn't some of that around the house.  Yards of it hidden in various places in the craft room.  I have a selection of half metres of prints which proved irresistible in various sales, but I never had the right project for them until now - I'd originally planned to use them for quilting and then reconsidered putting the Tana Lawn with heavier weight cotton.

I used some plain cotton for the lining and some of the by-now ubiquitous Tikki binding (which Tiina cut for me on the day of the quilting class before Christmas.

The pattern was from this Japanese craft book and I'll definitely try more - both patterns from the book and more bags.  Next one will likely be a modified version of this one so that it's less boxy.  Oh, the possibilities...

PS thanks for the sweet emails and comments - the ex-mole is looking grand really.  Just waiting to get the all clear letter and putting the Vitamin E on it...

My heart beats for...

Made at the Make Lounge.  Just in time for me to wear my heart on my sleeve this weekend.   Kisses to you all for Valentine's Day... xx

Sofa time

For one reason or another, I've been spending quite a lot of time on the sofa. 

I'm persevering with the bellatrix socks though they're not turning out like I expected (I thought they'd be more Lizard Ridges-ish, like some of the photos.  I think that some knitters modded it to 5 stitches between the repeats which would make it more bobbly, less space in between.) 

I also finally finished this, to curl up under whilst on the sofa:


Yes, my first bed sized quilt, all for me.  Contrary to what the cats think.  They pounce on it (and by extension, on me) whenever they can.  My only regret is sticking to my 'use what you have dictum' and using a lightweight wadding on the inside.  Won't make that mistake again. It's definitely more of a summer weight.  I machined it all, apart from the second side of the binding which I did by hand.  I used this tutorial, which makes it so easy.  It's about double-size I guess, the bed it's on is super-king.


"Nice.  When do you get one?"

I've been taking it easy after having a very minor procedure at the doctor on Friday -  sensible women get suspect moles removed.  I went back and forth on whether it was necessary; and where to get it done, at my local surgery's dermatology clinic or at a private hospital using my insurance and went local in the end.  While I can't say for sure yet that it was or wasn't a good choice, I have some reservations about the care and certainly the bedside manner.  My internal conversation was turning remarkably rude and increasingly frantic as he said things like:

"It will certainly leave a scar.  More stitches might make that better.  Or it might not." Ok.  So stitch more. In for a penny...

"Oh, well I said it wouldn't hurt but it turns out I didn't mean it."  WFT?  Is anesthetic on the 'cutbacks' list?

"You can have stitches without any anesthetic at all you know."  Yes well I've seen enough episodes of Casualty and ER to know that you can also do a tracheotomy with a pen but that's not necessarily the option you choose.

Home to the sofa and feeling punched in the chest for two days now.  I ventured out to the cinema to catch up on some movies (Bolt is funny;  watching in 3D is surprisingly fun.  Bride Wars - well I know, what was I thinking...) and purchase a huge pile of  books, my equivalent of the 'I was Good at the Doctor's' lollipop i.e. I didn't tell him just what I thought of his handiwork.
Warmed by the thoughts of all the lovely friends who offered to come around, to pick me up from the doc, who checked in with me. I'm fine.  And about to curl up under a new quilt.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

Ok, it's actually rather delightful, from where I'm watching.  So the commute tomorrow could be a little squidgy, but that's what wellies are for (oh yes, I will).  I'd like to be out there now too.  There's construction work underway, a snowball fight and a football game.  At midnight on a Sunday.  Bring it on.