You can't stop me!

I'm a joiner.

First up is the Fall Cable KAL 2006. I'm working on a pair of Fetching gloves at the moment and I've got my eye on a cable and lace jumper from the last IK.

Next is the Stranded colourwork/colorwork KAL. As requested on the blog, here's my colourwork history:

What are your projects for this knitalong?
If it's allowed, my Iris Garden socks will be the first project. I'm also planning on doing the Philosopher's Wool vest mentioned previously and I'll probably fit in my dad's scarf (see next question).
Is this your first colorwork project? If it isn't, what was your first, and has it survived the test of time?
No, it/they won't be. I've completed a pair of colourwork socks before (the Star Trek ones seen here at Flickr), my dad's argyle scarf and I'm part way through a "Fair Isle" baby vest for my cousin (which may not ever get finished!)

I'm not sure what category that puts me in (Fair Isle, Norweigen ...) but I don't really care! There's a Flickr group 'specially for the KAL.

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Technorati tags: yarn; knitting;

X is for

X-RAY!

I've had several of these babies in my time; many times for my teeth and a couple for my hip. I was going to try and get hold of my x-rays, but I'm not sure you can actually do this. Instead, I provide you with how I would look if x-rayed by a child:

I'd still have pretty hair.

It's a real shame that my MRI tomorrow isn't a CT scan (MRIs aren't x-rays, unfortunately). All jokes regarding looking for my brain and not finding it can be sent to ....

ETA: Well, all of the electrons in my brain and neck have been well and truely messed with. There were a couple of hairy moments, but I managed it. Not the best thing that's ever happened to me in a hospital, but not the worst! I'm now cream crackered and a little wobbly (in leg and lower lip) so there is now some serious resting in progress! I thought about knitting techniques whilst I was in the tube. Not surprising, really! Thanks for the good wishes.

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Technorati tags: ABC Along; x-ray;

Warning: cliched blog fodder ahead!

I did give ample bracing time by mentioning it in my last post, so there are no excuses for anyone being surprised.

Fab haircut ...

... with a twist!

Yaaaaarn!

Purchased from the Yahoo Yarn Co-op Group, a vest kit from Philosopher's Wool in the "Hollyberry" colourway. I originally planned to do the Timber Frame vest (because of the nice vertical lines and because it looked fairly simple) but I'm being swayed by the Trillim/Pansy design. I'm planning on introducing waist shaping to the vest (or rather the waistcoat) simply because I have a waist and I don't want to hide it! Any ideas on which would suit me? All suggestions will be greatfully recieved.

Iris Garden Socks

Progress so far:

How I see it when I'm knitting

I'm knitting it "inside out" to help keep the yarn floats loose. I've tried it on and it does actually fit! There aren't different stitch numbers for each size, you just use a larger needle. I'm not a fan of this method (normally) but for this pattern it is some what necessary because the pattern would have to be completely re-written for each size.
The yarn is some Regia striping one in wool and nylon. Helpful, aren't I?!

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Technorati tags: yarn; knitting; socks; Philosophers Wool; haircut

Not a divorce, just a separation.

Now, me and Tubey haven't really been spending a lot of time together recently. Other projects, both newer and older, have come between us. I've finally realised why; it's just not working out.

I was planning on making it into a cardigan, and I'd already modified the sleeves, but it just wasn't holding my interest. I have an idea for the yarn, but that's way in the future. So for now, it's going back into the stash.

Is this good news? Yes it is. This means I've freed up my Denise needles set so I can start this top:

Cotton Angora top design (mine)

The sketch

The start of some actual numbers

My inspiration came from Ms. Marigold and a design by Stef Glampyre. As soon as I've finished my dad's :cough: birthday :cough: scarf, I'll cast on. My dad's birthday is in May. It'll either be really early, or really late.

Sewing? Not really.

I made this electric-blue fleece scarf:

The easiest scarf in the world!

I think it took me a maximum of 5 minutes (4 of which were taken up with trying to find my scissors!) It's a perfect kids project because as long as you trust them with scissors, you're good to go!

I heart Craftster!

Check out what I got in the Hogfather swap:

Many more pictures are here. I didn't do anywhere near as much as this for "ZaftigMomma", so I'm actually going to make her something that was on my original plan, but that I didn't think I had enough time for.

I've cast on for the "Iris Garden" socks, and I managed the toe in two days (something of a miracle for me lately). Emma - I don't know if the Snake Skin Socks a.k.a Scaly Skin Socks pattern is available outside of the Yahoo Group. The designer is Michelle Fischer over at Soap Fiber Gal, you could ask her I suppose.

Oh, and I have shiny new hair. More on that cliched blog-fodder later!

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Technorati tags: yarn; knitting; Craftster

FO: Snake Skin Socks!

Note **my mum's** very swollen ankle - and how the sock still fits! Yay!!!!

Yarn: Regia Silk in dark grey
Yarn source:Opitec UK
Pattern: Snake Skin Socks from the Six Sox yahoo group (August/September sock)
Size: 72 stitches (largest size)
Recipient: My mum
Needles: Set of 5 2.5 mm double pointed birch.
Toe/heel/cuff: Short row/reverse flap and gusset/A 2/2 rib, then 1 row 1/1 rib and sewn (grafted) cast off/bind off.
Modifications: Worked them toe-up using these instructions from the Socknitters website.

Aaaaaaand relax .... I don't know just how long they took me (feel free to search if you want), but I'm now just one pair of socks behind the knit along now! I'm casting on for the "Iris Garden" pair today.

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Technorati tags: yarn; knitting; socks; SixSox; Regia

W is for

Writing.

Over the last seven years of my degree (results the week before Christmas) I've done a lot of writing. The result? A pad of hardened skin on the middle finger of my right hand.

Evidence of a hard life [snark]! You can see a difference (I promise) if you go to the Flickr page and have a peek at one of the larger photos. EDIT: I've now remembered to make the photos "public" as opposed to "private". Oops!

The pad used to be bigger than this. I use computers much more than I used to, for example at primary and secondary school, and so it's gone down.

My handwriting changes with my level of health and also with the type of pen I use. I have found it more ledgible with a fountain pen when compared to a ball point. Mid-way would be a pencil, but I tend to smudge it!

An example of my hand writing.

This entry is linked to "Q is for Quill", in which I wax lyrical (not really) about fountain pens.

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Technorati tags: ABC Along; writing;

Because I am weak

And a little bored.

1. FIRST NAME? Amy

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, my maternal great-grandmother

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? I nearly cried today and I properly cried last week

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Only when I use a fountain pen - ball points make my handwriting look like a dyslexic spider with seven broken legs.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Quorn Turkey and Stuffing slices (not meat, but, ya know)

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Probably not. I don't think I'm a very nice person. I'm snippy and stuck-up.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Er .. this blog?

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Nope. I'm not a Kiwi (As in someone from New Zealand, not the fruit. Or the brid)

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Fruit 'n' Fibre (or generic equivalent)

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Always

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? If I wasn't, I wouldn't have survived the past three years.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Chocolate

14. SHOE SIZE? UK size 6.

15. RED OR PINK? Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My depression (Ironic, isn't it?)

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My grandad.

18. WHAT FOOD WILL GET YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? Bourbon biscuits (no alcohol in them)

19. WHAT COLOUR TROUSERS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black, black and grey socks.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Organic vegetable stew with cheese on toast

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? "The Flame of New Orleans" film and nextdoor's arguments (again).

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? A swirly one with purple and red.

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Fresh strawberries

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? A lovely lady from Lakeland Limited

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their height (I'm weird)

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM? Given that I nicked it from several sources, I'd go with "Yes!"

27. FAVOURITE DRINK? Coffee

28. FAVOURITE SPORT? Cricket

29. EYE COLOUR? Brown

30. HAT SIZE? Weird

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No - reading glasses only

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Really good, authentic, Italian food or Chinese.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Scary movies - romances are for wimps!

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer (my joints hurt less!)

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs - having studied infections diseases for the past two years you'll be lucky if you get a handshake!

37. FAVOURITE DESSERT? Ideally - baked Alaska. Realistically - a couple of squares of Green & Blacks chocolate!

38. WHAT SIDE OF THE BED DO YOU SLEEP ON AND WHY? Left, right and middle - I spread out!

39. IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE DECISION TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING TODAY? Wow, how to make someone feel inadequent in one easy lesson. NEXT!!

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett in actual book form and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and On Beauty on audio book.

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Grey fabric and a squishy gel wrist rest

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Planet Earth

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The tiny "tinking" noises you get when ropes hit the masts on boats in the harbour of Barmouth, in North Wales. That's a bit specific, isn't it?

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? The Stones

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Malta

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I can do impressions of impressionists doing impressions of famous people.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Cheshire

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? No-one, I nicked it.

Crafting:

My contribution to the Craftster Hogfather Swap:

The photo page at flickr has some notes.
And I'm done.

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Technorati tags: yarn; knitting;

V is for

Vendetta - nah, just kidding!*
V is for Valetta, the capital city of the Mediterranean island of Malta.

The only picture of me in Valetta is one in a car park! That's about right.

And V is also for VOTE!!! For the love of yarn, if you are in the States, and are registered, please vote. I don't care who you vote for (well, OK, I do. Don't vote for the Klan, OK? Anyone else ... should be fine). I'll be doing this tub-thumping for most major elections in most major countries, so be aware.

*Yes, we've been here before; I am geek, hear me meekly ask if I can beta-test your game.

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Technorati tags: ABC Along; vote; Malta;

Miscellany part 1

That does kind of threaten imply that more miscellaneous stuff will be forthcoming, and there probably will!

For Deb:

Having a birthday in early January I can fully sympathise with Deb's complaint about blech calendar pictures in November. My offerings to her are this:

And this:

I'd also like to give her (and everyone else) these pictures of two birch trees looking like they're on fire, thanks to the late afternoon sun on the 2nd of November:

Click on any of the photos for a larger view. If you want to keep this page open, right click over the pictures and choose "Open in New Window" (Internet Explorer) or "Open in New Tab" (Mozilla Firefox)

Sew?
I've finally made progess on the tunic-length shirt.

Invisible zip in side seam for

security pocket:

Setting in the second sleeve

I have two posts ready for the ABC Along, but the "V is for ..." one will be a bit late, maybe in a day or so, and the W post after that (still need to find some photos for that one!)

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Technorati tags: yarn; knitting;