Best Friends Forever!
May 07, 2008
I had a pretty wonderful bank holiday weekend! Adam arrived on Friday night and presented me with roses:
Balloons:
And a very sparkly diamond ring!
I have been wanting to marry Adam pretty much since I met him and realised he was the nicest man ever, so I was obviously over the moon!
We immediately drank an extremely expensive bottle of champagne my Grandad gave me at Christmas, and I can't think of a better occasion to do it!
We don't have a date yet because we haven't found a venue, but hopefully it will be soonish, and you can all watch me attempting to sew my own wedding dress and going mad with stress! But I wouldn't have it any other way.
Posted by jen at 09:14 PM | Comments (67)
It's here!
April 30, 2008
My Nectar book arrived today!
My favourite project is still the Dapple dress, but I also like a lot of the cardigans and the Flicker hat. I should probably start with the hat, since if I tried to make a dress right now the odds of finishing it would be slim.
It's a lovely book though, and I like the flower theme, it makes me feel Summery!
These are some of the books I've read this year so far. Well actually it is most of them - Adam has borrowed 2. I wanted to document the leaning tower before it falls over - one more book and I think it will topple:
I wanted to read 52 books this year, but I'm actually a bit behind. I think it's because I keep picking 800 page monsters! Some of these were great, some were good and some were decidedly OK. I'd like to make a quick note on each one before I forget, but that's for another day!
Back soon with Mexico photos, if I ever get them all uploaded!
Posted by jen at 07:16 PM | Comments (6)
Kim Hargreaves <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
April 24, 2008
The new Kim Hargreaves book is here!
Check it out here. Kim Hargreaves never fails to make me want to knit everything she designs - I still look through the last book lustfully even though I've already knitted 2 things and am not actually knitting at the moment!
I never thought I would want to knit a dress, but this one, Dapple, is delicious. I also love Enchant and Jasmine - very elegant. I like them all though, so I bought the book already! I suppose I'd better start knitting again soon if I want to justify new yarn purchases!
Posted by jen at 07:43 PM | Comments (7)
Magknits Patterns
April 23, 2008
Well! I know if you haven't got anything nice to say, you shouldn't say anything at all, but I find it hard! I was VERY ANNOYED when I realised Magknits had been deleted forever. No, that's not true, because it is Kerrie's site to do what she wants with, but I was annoyed not to be given any warning.
The only way I found out is because I suddenly got a load of emails requesting a copy of the Hug pattern. Then I read all about it on Ravelry and found out the details. I have just spent the evening searching through the internet archive site, copying my patterns down, tidying them up, putting them into pdfs and uploading them - which I am more than happy to do (I would hate to see my designs die a sudden death if nothing else!) but yes, as I said, it would have been nice to be warned, so I could do it at my leisure and not from some massive cache that kept crashing and making me panic.
So here they are! In the next day or so I will update the information on Ravelry and on my free patterns page so everyone can find them without confusion, but in the meantime here are the links to the pdfs:
For Hug, click here.
For Kidsilk, click here.
For Tropical Sunset, click here.
For Nimbus, click here.
For Jessica, click here.
For Colleen, click here.
And now it is time to have a glass of wine and breathe a sigh of relief.
I just read this through and thought I should mention that these are all old patterns of mine - all the word docs disappeared with my old laptop, and since I thought they would be online for the forseeable future I didn't back them up - hence the panic!
Posted by jen at 08:59 PM | Comments (11)
Slacker!
Suddenly the urge stuck me to update my neglected website, and I thought I'd better so it right away in case I didn't want to again for another month!
I just got back from 2 weeks in Mexico. I will put some photos up here really soon - they are massive and it's taking me a while to get them onto flickr. If you know where my flickr page is obviously you can see the ones I uploaded so far! It was a fantastic trip, and felt far longer than 2 weeks.
I have been reading like crazy this year, instead of knitting. I don't know how people have time for more than 1 hobby! I will want to knit again though, especially as it looks like Kim Hargreaves is about to bring out another book and I'm sure I'll want to make everything in it!
In the mean time though, I really want to clear out my stash, and finished projects that I don't wear. I am planning to sell some projects, unused yarn and fabric, and give the proceeds to charity.
So if anyone is still reading down this photoless post, tell me what you think - is there anything I've knitted that you would like for your own? I'll try and get that going on this website pretty soon. Don't even think about offering to buy the caterpillars though, they aren't going anywhere!
Posted by jen at 12:38 PM | Comments (3)
Cornwall!
March 26, 2008
In a staggeringly irritating move, my website host has transferred everything to a new platform, which apparently means I can't check my emails, and all my website stats have been deleted. Also their customer service is diabolical, so it's been like this for a few days now. Which is why I haven't replied to any comments or emails! But thanks to the people who commented on my cashmere scarf, and to the commenter who asked, yes that is my Calm sweater I'm wearing, and I'll show it off properly maybe next time!
I've been pretty tired and fed up lately, so I was pleased it was Easter last weekend as I needed a break. Adam and I rented a cottage in the middle of nowhere in Cornwall, I brought a big box of food and nice wine, and it was lovely.
On the first day we made a picnic lunch and went to Padstow:
I made the rolls with spelt flour, they are brushed with egg to make them shiny!
Padstow was great to walk around for a couple of hours - it's also probably fantastic if you eat seafood. Then we went for a walk along the coast:
It was so windy but very good views, Adam climbed down to the beach but I couldn't be bothered!
The next day we went to the Eden Project - which was the main reason for coming to Cornwall for us. It has massive "biomes", which have different climates inside each one - there is a rainforest in one and a mediterranean climate in the other.
They are full of amazing plants that grow in parts of the world with similar weather - in the rainforest we saw gigantic palms and banana trees, and cocoa pods growing on the trees! They also have exhibits, and there's a lot of emphasis on the environment etc.
The mediterranean one has citrus trees, aloes, and the most amazing tulips, I know it's a hackneyed phrase but it really was a RIOT OF COLOUR.
It was great, everyone should go! Back soon with crafts, although I won't lie to you, they will probably be food rather than complicated fairisle jumpers.
Posted by jen at 09:09 PM | Comments (12)
Cashmere Scarf
March 17, 2008
OK, another extended break, but I've finally forced myself to write up my cashmere scarf. I need to use this blog or I'm going to get rid of it in May before I have to renew. I haven't really knitted anything for a month which is part of the reason, but it's not like I can't blog about anything I like, it's just I'm not used to it!
Click here to see more and read details!
I'm currently reading a lot of books in my spare time, but at the weekend my mum bought some Noro Kochoran for me to knit into a cardigan for her. I think the fact it is for someone else will force me to knit!
Posted by jen at 08:26 PM | Comments (9)
Rowan 43
February 09, 2008
Here's my "review" of Rowan magazine 43! I always buy the Rowan magazines no matter what, I think I started on 28 and have all of them up from there onwards. My least favourite ever was definitely 39 (wack pirate styling), but I think that this one might come a close second!
It's not horrible, at all, but definitely a bit blah. I always think that a bit about the summer ones anyway, but I think this one was particularly so. Also, there seemed to be less in it compared to usual. Only the 3 main sections, and no other bits and bobs inbetween.
Here are the things I liked:
Gabi:
It's really pretty, but I'm not sure I would make it, because all those squillions of wide rows of lace might drive me mad.
Geno:
This is the only design I think I will actually make (if I have time! But I genuinely would like to). It's so pretty, and wearable, and I love 4 ply cotton. Good job!
Granite:
This is a very nice shape but might be too much st st to actually stomach making it!
There are a couple of other things I think are very wearable, but those ar the main contenders. Now! Here are the things I don't like!
Gauze:
This is some crazy spiderman shit right here. I am drawn to the crazyness, but I don't think it works. Sorry.
Chevelle:
Catalina:
Those are both boxy, unflattering, and the kind of thing you might dress a child in. The first one is also too colourful. Apologies to anyone who is busily making either of them!
And that's about it! What do you guys think? And do you all think I should make Geno as well?
Posted by jen at 05:09 PM | Comments (21)
Kimono Style Waistcoat
February 05, 2008
Well! I finished that cashmere scarf from the last post - I am pleased with how it's looking, but it needs a good blocking to make it hang properly - perhaps I'll do that this coming weekend.
Last weekend I bought Rowan 43, and also Rowan Studio 8. I've never particularly liked the Studio magazines until this one - there is the occasional nice item, but lots that are vaguely bizarre or boxy as well. Or the pattern is in some 4-ply yarn and looks awesome but it would take me over a year to make it - no good for slow knitters!
I liked lots of things in Studio 8 though, so I bought a copy and enough Scottish Tweed to make the Kimono Style Waistcoat. I have knitted a grand total of 6 rows and already feel like the project is dragging! Haha that's why I'm blogging about it instead of getting on with making it!
The yarn is really not very soft at all! I think it is making my hands dry. I hope it feels ok to wear over long sleeves... I like the tweedy goodness though. Maybe it's just a comedown from cashmere?!
I always buy the Rowan magazines mostly for just looking at, and I'm not sure I'll make anything from this one. There are a couple of things I like a lot, but as always I never feel as inspired as I would with a Winter magazine. There are some things in there that I REALLY am not sure about as well - have you guys seen the jumper or cardi or whatever it is with spider web under the sleeves? That's pretty nuts. Also there is some seriously boxy, too colourful stuff in there too. Maybe it deserves its own post actually now I think about it - back with that in a couple of days!
Posted by jen at 09:26 PM | Comments (10)
Hello.
January 28, 2008
Hello again, strangers! I don't know what I can say about that extended break...
I think that the thing I always liked about this blog was sharing my hobby with other people, and for that to be fun you have to read and comment on everyone else's blog as well as making your own one as interesting as possible so people will want to read it too, and for some while now I just haven't had the energy to do either. In fact to be honest I haven't really had the energy to even do much knitting of my own, and I can't see that changing any time soon.
It's all very annoying, because I still see lots of things I want to make, but I'm literally can't be bothered to see any of them through to the finish. But I was touched (and surprised!) that there are some people out there who seem to miss me, so I thought I would try to be less self-punishing about the whole affair and actually use this blog. Even if it won't be all knitting.
That said, here is some knitting:
It is one end of a scarf - I found some Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere on sale, but it was still scandalously expensive, and I could only afford enough for a scarf. Which is this much, incidentally:
Look how smooshy it is:
Also things I have knitted that I couldn't be bothered to show you but maybe I will soon:
1. I finished Storm from Kim Hargreaves book.
2. I knitted Calm from the same book.
3. I have knitted about half of some crazy waistcoat thing from the Kidsilk Aura book.
4. I made up a lacy fern scarf from KSH in meadow.
5. Argosy only needs blocking.
If you are on Ravelry you can see Storm, but hilariously enough I still haven't even taken photos of Calm, this is because now I live alone there is no one to take them, and when I see my boyfriend at the weekend I would rather spend my time cuddling him than making him take photos of me in jumpers.
Posted by jen at 08:36 PM | Comments (17)
