I missed it....

The last post was my 100th post wooyay!!!

I had meant to use it in part to announce that with the up coming anniversary (2nd August) of my learning to knit and the subsequent birth of this blog a wee smidge later I'm gonna have me a contest!

I havent decided exactly what format this will take nor yet what the prizes will be) other that i will procur at woolfest

So essentially watch this space!

Ovine, Camelid and ....Danny?

I went to the Highland Show yesterday it was fun. I got an entry for the handicrafts comp for next year!

I also took pictures of livestock!An alpaca! Note the damp fuzzy fence bar, it was chucking it down!
Hebridean Sheepie
Shetland Sheepies
Jacob's Sheepie with da big horns!

And for everyone who asked what Zetwarble was:
Its one of these!

Then since i was in the general area i took the sweater of doom to its forever home much to the joy of Danny who claims its his new favourite jumper.
He looks happy enough anyway!

That Friday feeling

Another mixed bag, shall we start with an FO?
As you may have gathered by now my daddy is a star and does/makes lots of things for me, so I did summat for him and knitted him a sweaterPattern is Durrow from Magknits and the yarn is from a local place. I decided to try and get it done by fathers day, i just managed it, 13 days knitting it took me. I think however that its gonna need a wee tinker with as the neck is a bit wide so I shall unpick slightly and add an inch or too.

I got my first veggie crop recently
2 little yellow tomatoes! Were quite tasty too! should have more soon as well as a fair crop of peas and hopefully the taters will be ready soon

The past 2 weekends Dad and i have gone cycling along the canal, with mum as support crew (ie she drives to set points and meets us) This week we went into glasgow on the bikes, i gave up after 15 miles dad did the full 22
The parents at the end of the canal (i took the pic cos i was still kinda sweaty and minging) Father does look like he has just cycled all that does he?

And of course cos its Friday, Yarn Pron!
Handdyed Cashmere Sock yarn to knit the Scotch Thistle Stole.

Extreme Makeover: Spinning Wheel Edition

So we start with the before shots right?One Ashford traditional wheel in a dark slightly grubby looking stain. Do we think a make over is needed??

Well some deep exfoliation and chemical peel followed by a new treatement results in:Thats pretty ,much the natural colour of the wood enhanced by a few coats of varnish. Decided to leave the spokes dark as well for a start it was easier but i think it looks really good.
Shiny new hooks and a tension knob made by my daddy.
Looks much better dontcha think, and only minor injuries...

Big thanks go out to my dad and his batalion of sanders (seriously he has about 5 different ones...)

Brace Yourself!

So, you'd be forgiven for thinking that there hasnt been all that much knitting going on in these parts recently...

Well you would be wrong! Its been happening in secret behind the scenes since there are so many birthdays between march and june I've kinda been saving up for a big expose!

So kinda in chronological order but kinda not...

First up Mavor's pressie a 8 foot long scarf!!
Yarn is Colinette One Zero in Crayon and Graffitti in Velvet Leaf (or maybe Olive not 100%) Pattern is the drop stitch wrap (modified to make it narrower i think 12 st not 18?). This believe it or not took me a night, thats right 8 foot of scarf in a night (woo drop stitches!)

Next! Kezmoan whom does swing dancing thus a nice bright (damn bright) shawl for herIts the Red hat Lady shawl in knitpicks sparkles in sunset. took rather longer than a night to knit, a large portion was knitted in the canteen at uni!

Then mothers, which was a biggy this year, i shouldnt divulge what but lets say it ended in a zero ;) thus she got a big gift
A cardi from a sirdar pattern exactly which escapes me right now knitted in Sirdar Supernova Super chunky in damson tweed (3 days after i finished this she declared she didnt like cardigans...)
So its just as well i had plenty yarn left and decided to do this as well
Boogie Vest in the same yarn, mmm twinsetty
I also did this
A grooming mitt (not that its much use to her now but thats against the point) Knitted with baler twine, i modified a basic mitten pattern, omitted the thumb used seed stitch to make it more bumply used big needles. (if you want an exact pattern get in touch email addy is up there). Could be made as an exfoliating mitt if finer twine were used...

Technically if we are going Chronologically Danny is next but well he's not you'll see why in a minute.

Next is Jacqui who hasnt actually had her birthday yet but got her pressie early
Clemintine from Spring IK, yarn is blue sky alpacas alpaca silk in ruby. I liked this its squishy.

Now we can get to Danny who despite it being his birthday nearly 2 months ago i only finished his pressie yesterday but boy am i glad. May i present the Sweater of Doom in all its finally finished glory!
Very kindly modelled by my dad! This thing took ages!!!
Yarn is patons washed haze aran in dark denim pattern is Leo
Soon this will be laufted to Edinburgh to its final home!

Great Vegetable Experiment 07, Day 92

Hmm its been a while since i gave you veggie progress...

Start with inside where the photography when a little wonky, think there may have been odd lighting levels no matter
Big tomatoes (and me in my jammies)
Some tomatoes! Top ones on wee plant bottom on big chaps again apoligies for the cruddy photoes.
Courgette with a big yellow flower! About the 4th flower i think but since they only seem to flower one at a time i dunno whether the earlier ones would be fertilized, to this end i have harvested pollen from this one to put on the next one
Pepper being kinda crowded by the other plants, with wee beginnings of flower buds
Cotton (with courgette polleny paintbrush...)
flax, a mite leggy, but we see.


Now to outside!
carrots in there barrel, should prolly be thinned at some point...
Onions, still being oniony
Garlic!
Potatoes! lotsa biggies, banked (i think) they are early variety so i think thats meant to be harvested in June but given that we are apparently 3-5 weeks behind the rest of the country means it'll prolly be nearer July


Since its June theoretically there shouldnt be any more frost (haha famous last words) so the cloches came offPeas, with little white flowers


Um Cauliflower, Cabbage and Broccolli (dont ask me which is which havent a scooby) something does appear to be having a wee bitty of a munchity crunchity but nothing major.

Fibre Pron Friday!

Had another little accident on ebay...
Now we have this wheel might as well get some more things to spin on it!

Tussah silk:
cherry truffle, mmmHighlanderParrot
Mardi Gras

Different Sheepies:Masham, which apparently is a Yorkshire cross breed but it looks like it will be nice, quite silky and long fibres, will see how it spins...
Corriedale, rather squishyWensleydale, i dont think this picture does justice how rich this blue is, its loverly!
Zetwarble, a rare dutch breed.

Non sheepie
Possum! interesting no..

There is a couple more bits but as they are mothers I'll let her show em off

Lastly, so that we can spin these and anything else in the future i also bought a maintence kit
Now i must away and make my self beautiful!