All Tied Up

Pattern: Umbilical Cord Hat (Stitch ‘n Bitch)

Yarn: Sirdar Tiny Tots DK in Oatmeal

For: Mum’s friend’s daughter’s kid-to-be

Why: Don’t ask.

Alterations: I got bored and only knit for four and a half inches before starting my decreases.

Opinion: Dull but fast. Love the yarn. Apparently it’s cute. Will not make a big version for my mother. Will not. Not at all. No. Knit it yourself. No.

Along with the Airy Scarf this is a two part maternity gift for my Mum’s… you know. I though I’d best do mother/child gifts so she doesn’t feel all rejected in the fuss of New Baby, Wow! And because I like mohair. And she’s less likely to spit up on it.

Diary of Monty: Cashmere Meet Angora

No my Bunny isn’t an Angora bunny but Monty isn’t a real goat. Monty met Watson today. Hi Watson. Watson lives with my Dad who we went to see today. Monty had fun and was secretly analysing my Dad to report back to Tom.

I Made A Squarcle!

So crochet eh?

Let me tell you about needle crafts in my family. My Nan can sew just about anything. My Grandma did both knitting and crochet, now does neither out of interest and arthritis. Her daughters, like my Nan’s daughters learned both. Only my Mum carried on knitting but stopped when I was seven.

I’m not overly worried about these dieing traditions. Really. I’m glad that girls aren’t made to learn these things anymore. This generation, my generation is thankfully different. I learned to knit when I was old enough to buy the wool and needles. Mum helped once she knew I was serious. I taught my brother, but he preferred French knitting as did my cousin Kelsie when I taught her. Instant gratification and easy for a family of clumsy children (I was 17 before I developed motor skills of any description) We craft because we enjoy it. And we do enjoy it.

So currently I cross stitch, I can embroider, and, of course, I knit. But I’ve been meaning to learn crochet since I learned I could knit. With no one around me remembering I thought I’d wait for the Stitch ‘n Bitch book (and be a bandwagon jumper, yay!). I tried a square but got bored and went for a circle instead. Will probably use it for washing up

Diary of Monty: Monty Does Manchester

Yesterday Monty was so tired after helping me with my essay that he just had a coffee down at the Student Union. Monty thought it was yummy.Today we went shopping Monty fondled some cashmere jumpers. He tried to get me to try one on. I was rather suspicious of this. We had some drinks in M&S. Monty posed for some pictures for my Mum, who pretends not to be as strange as I am.

When we’d been in enough shops it was time to go home. On our way back Monty posed in front of the big wheel, the triangle, and Urbis.

Gawd bless Manchester.

World's first sock

I'm about to act like the first person in the world to attempt to knit a pair of socks. I'm really finding all this terribly exciting. And I just said terribly exciting. Great.

See that black line? Yeah, isn't she great. That's where the heel will go. You know, the heel. Yeah. The exciting bit.

Anyway. Knitting has been put down until four tomorrow. An essay is due.

No Crochet either. Even if my Happy Hooker just came. Thank you lovely Amazon people.

Diary of Monty: Monty does Student Porn

Monty has been very busy. Today Monty learned to work Avid. He took the register in the video workshop and recorded a voice over.

Monty likes introduction to video production, even if that shower got in the way.

Of Goats and Jazz

Knitting

I became aware of the need for a small, portable, simple pre-lecture project. Also I need to learn how to make socks and stop drooling over the Petticoat Socks from Weekend Knitting which I've finally bought a copy of.

I'm starting with the Solid Jazz Socks in some stash wool. For my boyfriend. Who has no radiator and holes in his other pairs.

And yes, this was supposed to be the secret project.

The Diary of Monty: Day One, Monty does Huddersfield

Monty is a goat and Monty is on holiday. He's spending two weeks in the north so his bestest friend can get some essays done and so I have someone to look after me. Today we went to a lecture. Yay!

Monty helped with some reading and kept track of some rows for me. The lecture was about narrative and ideology. There was much Kenneth Branagh. Monty disapproves of Kenneth Branagh. Now Monty is pouting.

Organics

I've finished my first Hurry Up Spring Armwarmer.

It's suffering form some minor crappynes like being really very quiet snug, some minor laddering (really minor, hay it's my first time on DPNs go gentle) and a big gaping hole under the thumb gusset. As you can see from the illustration. Nevertheless I was so excited I couldn't wait until morning to photograph it. Yay bathroom lights!

When I have a pair there will be ridiculously arty shots. Don't worry. But first I have to finish my vest and… urm…something else… yeah… Shhh it's a secret. And that isn't the lights, I am that pale.