Sunday, December 17, 2006

An FO!

Looking back at what I’ve knit so far this winter I seem to have been remarkably unproductive! True finished objects number one sweater and one scarf – pretty pathetic really. Of course there was “the project” that went horribly wrong but took up a fair amount of time. But other than that, I wonder where on earth the time went and why I have so little to show for it.

Well, I do have one more FO to add to the tally. Cosmic Pluto’s top down cardigan

Here’s a pre-blocking shot














You'll just have to take my word for it that it's going to look great after it's been blocked!


Pattern: here
Yarn: Rowan Kid Classic in Bear. I used less than 5 50g balls, so it hasn’t been quite as big a stash buster as I thought. I have enough left for another reasonable sized project (cardigan, short sleeved top), or a number of small projects – scarf and gloves would be nice.
Needles: 5mm Addi Turbos
Time on needles: about 3 weeks I think

The pattern is excellent. Clear, well written instructions. Top down means the body is knitted all in one piece so no seaming! I love coming to the end of a project and only having a few ends to weave in. The shaping at the waist really helps, and I love the seed stitch edging. I didn’t bother with buttons and buttonholes as I never wear a cardigan closed.

The yarn is also highly recommended. It knits up beautifully, no splitting, and I didn’t come across a single knot (which is unusual for Rowan yarn in my experience). It’s much softer than it looks – definitely wearable next to the skin – and the mohair is not the sort that’s going to shed all over the place.

I’m extremely picky about finished garments and their wearability, but this one’s definitely a keeper! I love it. It's a perfect fit (another huge advantage of top down knitting) and I think it's destined to become a wardrobe staple for me this winter.

The Handmaiden Sea Silk scarf is not making such good progress, but I only knit it a couple of evenings a week – any more than that and I’d want to slit my wrists. The only thing keeping me going is that it does look very pretty.















In other news, our fleece finally went off to the mill this week. I’m not sure how long it takes to be processed, but I’m guessing we won’t have anything back for a couple of months. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

I can’t believe it’s only just over a week to Christmas. This is usually a pretty quiet time at work but this year it’s been manic the last couple of weeks and I’m just hoping I can clear my desk by Friday. We’re delaying our Christmas "do" until the New Year as one of the partners has gone off to Australia for a month to visit his daughter who’s working over there, and our year end is 31st January so we decided to have our “do” in February when we can celebrate what has been a very successful year for us. It’s only the second full trading year for the partnership but the business is already going really well. Things look good for the coming year too, so fingers crossed we can continue to grow the business while still having fun. Having had some truly dreadful experiences in my past I am continually thankful that my partners are such wonderful people to work with.

Only 3 weeks until we go back to France. Via the wonders of the internets we have managed to line up appointments to view 6 farms during the week we’ll be there. I can’t wait to go over again. We’ve started French lessons with a very nice lady who comes to the house on Friday afternoons. Eddie has his “beginner’s” hour with her first then I have an hour with her just chatting in French, reading French texts and newspapers. I’m finding with each week that more and more vocabulary is coming back to me so I’m hopeful that by the time we move I’ll be a lot more confident.

Eddie has taken a batch of goats to the abattoir this morning. It’s a hateful job sorting those that are going from those that are staying with us, and no matter how often we do it, it never seems to get any easier, but although we feel truly miserable I’m glad we feel this way. I don’t ever want the day to arrive when we can send our animals to their death without a second thought.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Getting into the spirit

I’ve been laid low with another cold the past couple of weeks. Ugh.

So, to try and get myself into the festive spirit I thought I’d do this meme, which is popping up on knitting blogs everywhere. I pinched this from cpurl.

NAME: Carolyn

Q:Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
A:Hot Chocolate definitely. Mind you, I’ve never had Egg Nog. I’m not even 100% sure what it is. Does it involve advocaat? I do have a secret love of the odd Snowball, which I always partake of over Christmas.

Q:Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
A:Wrapped

Q:Colored lights on tree/house or white?
A:No lights on the house, but both white and coloured on the tree.

Q:Do you hang mistletoe?
A: No

Q:When do you put your decorations up?
A:Eddie’s birthday is 15th so we don’t put the tree up until after that. So usually the 16th!

Q:What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
A:Leftovers. All those lovely cold meats, cheeses and pickles. Yum.

Q:Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
A:Waking up on Christmas morning to find a bulging pillow case full of presents at the end of my bed.

Q:When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
A:I really don’t remember a defining moment. I think I just sort of worked it out.

Q:Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
A:No.

Q:How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
A:That’s Eddie’s territiory, and he makes a pretty good job of it. Motley collection of lights, baubles and tinsel, plus a dash of design flair!

Q:Snow! Love it or Dread it?
A:Love it as long as all I have to do is look at it out of the window while curled up snug and warm, or playing in it with the dogs. I hate it when it turns to grey slush.

Q:Can you ice skate?
A:Are you kidding? I seriously think I missed out on the evolutionary gene which enables man to walk upright so to stick blades or wheels on my feet would only lead to disaster.

Q:Do you remember your favorite gift?
A:A pony. But that was for my birthday not Christmas ;)


Q:What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
A:Not having to go to work. For me it’s a vital time to recharge my batteries, mull over the year past and think about my dreams and goals for the coming year.

Q:What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
A:Are After Eight mints a dessert?

Q:What is your favorite holiday tradition?
A:Bucks fizz, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on Christmas morning after the animals have been fed.

Q: What tops your tree?
A: A star

Q:Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?
A: I’d be lying if I didn’t say I love receiving gifts, but if I could only choose one I’d rather give than receive.

Q:What is your favorite Christmas Song?
A: I think Silent Night is a really beautiful hymn, but the two which are absolutely guaranteed to have me blubbing like a baby are “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Little Donkey”.

Q:Candy Canes...
A:Not a british tradition, so no thanks. Give me some vanilla fudge any day!

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