princessdeia

September 26th 2006
Filed under General, Swaps

Over the last three months, I have received several amazing gifts from Hawaii from my One Skein Secret Pal. This weekend, when I returned from dog-sitting I found my final parcel complete with her identity, Emily from mlesnapshot.

She made the Spiral Rib bag from the One Skein book – I am not sure what the yarn is – but if feels amazing and has the most amazing colorway, an aqua blue, the purple and a golden yellow.

Included with the bag was several lovely goodies including yet more macadamia nuts.

September 7th 2006
Filed under General, Socks, Wedding

Occasionally, you come across a pattern you love, that everyone on blog-land seems to have made, but somehow you seem to have only just discovered. Currently for me this is Katie Knit’s Razor Cami. I know it is meant to be a summer pattern, but I just love it and had to make it. What made this pattern even more of a must have, was realizing I had yarn somewhere in the house.

I use to store all my current craft projects in a cupboard in the corner, over the last few months this cupboard has become a pile of wedding books and magazines, several planning folders (I needed one for general, one for finances and one for crafty wedding stuff) and scrapbook supplies – all of which I am intending on turning into a scrapbook of the run up to our big day.

Hidden in the back of this cupboard, was four balls of Sirdar Snuggly 4ply, I brought last summer for the Mystery Stole, that I gave up on pretty quickly. During our trip to and from Birmingham, and whilst watching cheesy television last night, I managed to knit about 10 inches of the body.

The pattern calls for a card of Rowan R2 Sparkle, which I thought was discontinued so ordered some Stardust Glitter from Texere, and then discovered all R2 yarn is in the sale in Hobbycraft. I also invested in yet more Double Top Cotton, I am not sure what I will make with it and it will have to wait until after October, as next month is devoted to socks – with Socktober ii and Hot Socks.

Finally, I want to thank both my recipients from the Secret Pal exchanges for the wonderful comments they left in their blogs about all their presents over the last few months. Froukje at Smoekkk, it was a pleasure spoiling you and making the scarf for you as part of the One Skein exchange.

I have been reading Blueadt for a while, unlike me she seems to always be knitting gifts for others I love the adventures of Vince and of course Emilano, who is like our own Dee and Jason bears. Then I discovered I was spoiling her and it was a joy.

August 7th 2006
Filed under General, Swaps

I know everyone love receiving parcels, isn’t that the whole reason for signing up for Secret Pal exchanges, and this time around I get twice the fun. On Thursday, I got on of those “we tried to deliver a parcelâ€? cards on the doorstep and I had to wait until Saturday to go and pick it up because of their silly opening times – don’t you just hate it when that happens.

What I picked up was a parcel from Hawaii. Jason and I are planning our trip to Hawaii for our honeymoon so I am obsessed with the islands, which has been enhanced since discovering my One Skein Secret Pal lives there.

The yarn OSSP sent me was a hank of Araucania Patagonia Nature Cotton in purple shades, and as she pointed out three of my favourite things for yarn, the colour, cotton and hand-dyed. I can’t wait to use it.

Even Jason commented that the parcel was very me, as it also included some Honey Roasted Macadamias, I am always snacking on peanuts, pistachios or cashews nuts – they are my dieting downfall. My favourites nuts are the honey roasted kind – which these where. I am waiting for a good t.v. night to open the packet.

Speaking of one skein secret pal, I have sent out my yarn for June and July and am half way through their knitted gift, I spent the majority of the weekend on it, as well as sorting out my UFO’s, expect a lot of completed projects soon.

July 14th 2006
Filed under General

It is very hard to update at the moment, as I am unable to talk about a lot that is going on. I am working on a something major and until it is all finalized, I can’t talk about it. As for my current knitting project, that currently for my One Skein Secret Pal, so I am unable to post about that either.

My World Cup Cardigan is still on hold, as it is too big to carry around with me (I am busy travelling a lot this week). After that, I think I will finally start knitting the Felted Tote from the One Skein book, oh and another pair of socks

July 3rd 2006
Filed under General, Swaps

Without a doubt the best thing about this weekend was the arrival of my One Skein Secret Pal Package, from the moment I saw the parcel with the Hawaii postmark I was smiling.

Inside, was a ball of Mohair Premier, I have never seen this yarn before, it seems to be a thicker version of KSH, and is amazingly soft. My pal informs me it is from Japan and pretty hard to get hold. As soon as I saw the colour, I thought of our bedroom walls, as it the shade I am hoping to paint our room later this year. So obviously, this yarn will have to become something for the room, I am thinking a cushion cover.

Also in the package was some Burt Bee’s Hand Salve, as a fan of their lip balm, I couldn’t wait to try this (The yarn also smells on this which adds to it’s yumminess). The yarn was also gift-wrapped with a lovely knitted flower, which I am going to add to my felted clutch (when I finally get around to making it).

In World Cup News, not only was this weekend a bad time for the England team, it was also a bad weekend for my knitting. I am still on the second sleeve and am pretty sure I will not met the deadline . But I am going to keep trying.

May 16th 2006
Filed under General

1. Which yarn is most like your personality (you can be specific or general with your answer- brand, type, color, fiber, whatever)?
This is a tough question – I am not keen on acrylic, but they have the place. I love unusual yarn like Louisa Harding Glisten, but tend to only knit scarves with them – rather than a full garment that would be expensive (I guess I like a bargain when looking for yarn). I love cotton and use a lot of it all times of the year.
2. What is your favorite color yarn to knit/crochet with?
I love blues, but have been using a lot of pinks and wines this year.
3. Have you ever used variegated, or magic, yarns?
Yes, Hipknit’s Silk, KSH Spray and Opal sock yarn.
4. Do you tend to favor certain fibers when choosing yarns?
Cotton, but I am drawn towards merino at the moment.
5. Do you prefer to work with center-pull or traditionally wound balls of yarn?
I tend to use traditional, but I am not fussed.
6. Have you ever worked with organic yarns or are you interested in trying them?
No, and yes!
7. How many and what projects have you made in the last year?
Scarves, jumpers, mini-sweaters and even a pair of socks (all here).
8. Will you be knitting any gifts this year?
Yes, I am currently knitting a secret present for my sister’s birthday and I should be knitting some stuff for Xmas (again).
9. What is your favorite one skein project?
Confession time, I have yet to knit anything from the book – but am looking forward to starting the clutch and some cupcakes.
General one skein projects, it would have to be KSH scarves (having made 10 last year).
10. How much yarn do you have in your stash and how do you store it?
Not a lot really, at the moment, I have a box with odd bits and three small bags -all containing blue wool, all ear-marked for projects over the next few months.
11. Do you have a yarn in your stash that you love so much you can never use it or part with it?
No. I often buy a nice yarn because I like the colour or feel, but end up wanted to knit with it and then knitting a quick scarf of hat.
12. Do you knit less or differently in the summer?
I tend to knit lots of little cotton jumpers.
13. Do you belong to any knitting groups (online or offline)?
Just a few online groups, see my sidebar.

April 20th 2006
Filed under General, Project Spectrum, Socks

As I missed Secret Pal 7 and thought I would sign up for both Secret Pal 8 and the One Skein Secret Pal. I have yet to receive my One Skein book – but I love the concept and all the FO’s I have seen at the blog look amazing – I can’t wait to start knitting cupcakes. All this secret palling means I can start looking at yarn again (I have been on a yarn diet). Get Knitted here I come.

I have finally finished two pairs of socks – unfortunately they have been worn and are now in the wash before I had a chance to update. Mum’s twin set is also complete and just needs some buttons. I must update my gallery because one FO in three months is embarrassing.

I am not taking part on Project Spectrum really this month and I am not keen on Yellows and Oranges, I have made a postcard for Laura (which is in the post). But proving colour is all around us – this morning when I was enjoying my morning coffee at my fMIL’s house (we are cat sitting), I thought this cup was a screaming out to be added to the photo pool.