Gaiters and Sweet Peas nestled on a bed of pattern books and knickers, sir

There's the Gaiter. All done. Only. Well. I didn't think it was possible but I overestimated how fat my neck was. Or neglected to check tension. I'll hand in my Kniting Card shall I? I'm hoping the length will be reduced and the height increased by some creative blocking. Which I'd like to do with the aid of blocking pins. Only I don't have any. Any suggestion for UK blocking goodness?

There's the Sweet Pea Shawl. I haven't done the first row of shells yet. But it's getting there. Just slowly. Alright I'll hand in my Crochet Card.

And finally we come to the knickers. They haven't been worn so don't pull your face. Oh. You mean the white bit. But it's cow print. Fine. Have it your way. I'll hand in the damn Goth Card too.

Pretty Maids All in a Row…

Pattern: Garden Scarf (Stitch ‘n Bitch: The Happy Hooker)

Yarn: Louisa Harding Kashmir Aran (55% Merino, 35% Microfiber, 10% Cashmere) Colours 10 (purple), 11 (black), and 12 (grey)

Hook: 5.5mm Clover with the paddy thing.

For: Me

Alterations: None

Opinion: Quick, easy to memorise. Must leave longer tails to weave in the future and stop skipping the slip stitches.

Yoke vest is coming along nicely. As you can see by my brand new spanking progress bars (or not depending on when you are reading this) it's nearly 90% finished. I accidentally bought Alterknits while shopping for Tom's birthday present (and One Skein yesterday, A Year of Cooking Like Mummyji on Thursday. I need to be sedated or something) and as I'm itching to start a new garment after I've done with this it's leaving me with a rather painful choice.

From top going clockwise: Abstract Cardigan (in black/dark purple) from Alterknits, Puff Sleeve Bolero (black/dark red) from Loop-d-loop, Prepster from The Happy Hooker or Foggy Panda (in a monochrome version) from Rowan 38?

I want to make and wear things that are fun…

Two Down, Procrastinating to go…

I'm back from my self imposed blogging exile. Sorry I don't mention it but essays have a way of creeping up on you. Or me. Just me? Don't look like you're so bleeding innocent.

And Knitting? Well I've knit the Yoke Vest from Loop-d-loop so many times the book is starting to live up to it's name (it would do even more if it was called Accidentally Snapping Stitch Markers and Occasionally Flinging Them Across Your Boyfriend's Bedroom As He Sleeps, In The Dark, Never To See Them Again, although I admit that is far too long winded) I'm using the discontinued Rowan Polar which I snagged from the clearance section of Stash. It's a darky purple. I know, I keep knitting in colour but it's a gothish shade and you know… please don't take away my goth card!

Crochet? Well I made a Garden Scarf using Louisa Harding Kashmir Aran, which is also available from Stash. It's lovely, soft, the colours are like jewels, and it's relatively inexpensive. For the scarf I should have used something able to keep it's shape better but I'm thinking mittens, hats, bags. Never too early to start doing coordinating winter accessories, I'm thinking one red/black, one purple/black one black/black.

Monty? He's back home in London but not before sampling the snow in my Aunt's front garden. I stayed with him in london where we went to watch Tom do his radio show.

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.