princessdeia

A little late (but then I was also a little late at sending out my card), my June postcard from Lauren at Life’s Just Ducky, she include a lovely message “may you tiara always sparkle” which brought a smile to my face as I have been practicing wearing my tiara for the wedding (I know it is 9 months away), but I am trying to get use to it.

With my top secret projects still continuing and me running around, I have missed knitting, so I decided start a mini project that I can carry around in my bag. This purple skinny scarf was inspired by Russell Brand (I have been watching a lot of Big Brother’s Big Mouth). The yarn is Louisa Harding Kashmir Aran from my recent stash enhancement.

I was going to try finishing all my old project spectrum projects this month, and then try and get a head start on my August project (I am still unsure what I am going to make), but lolly has suggested a Clean Sweep month for September, so I guess I can get a real head start on my neutral project.

Over this weekend, I received my May postcard from Suzanne at Luscious Fibers as part of May’s Project Spectrum Postcard swap, with a lovely message about me trying to find balance whilst planning the wedding (I hope I haven’t become bridezilla).

I spent the majority of the weekend having a clear out – think of it as spring cleaning a little late. Because of limited space, I don’t really have a massive stash of wool – and I am always envious when I see other bloggers flash their stash, this sad box is my stash.

• The sky blue mohair, I brought on eBay last year, hoping to make Grecian Plait from Knitty, however, I found the wool to itchy to wear and so it has been hidden away.
• The turquoise is aurora 8, I am hoping to turn into the Clutch Bag from One Skein.
• Finally, the navy is aurora 4, which I am going to turn into a little cardigan – my World Cup knitting project.

I also realized my knitting notions and needles really need a better home, using some plastic bags does not look good – so what does one do – well obviously she knits herself a knitting bag. For a while know I have loved the Cleo Clutch from SPUN, which I think would be perfect for my notions and I thought I would double the pattern to make a larger bag to hold my projects.

Yarn: Opal Prisma in 1192 (Green).
Pattern: Sock it to ‘em pattern with decreases for the calf.
Needles: 2 mm DPN’s (5 needles).
Notes: As I have mentioned, my sister has awful taste in trainers so for her birthday, I had to introduce her to the wonderful world of Converse, but you can’t just have a pair of Converse you also need a matching pair of socks, and so for the last month I have been busy knitting some green socks - the perfect project for May’s Project Spectrum.

I wanted to make knee-high socks, so I started with 80 stitches and decrease a stitch at the beginning and end of each 10th round, to 60 stitches, then followed the basic sock pattern.

I also used Alison’s method for solid coloured heels, but I don’t think it works extremely well with this yarn as the stripes are too short, it looks better on the fatter stripes.

I received this amazing parcel from Laura this morning.

Inside the yellow jiffy bag along with a postcard was a yellow CD, including songs from the Smashing Pumpkins and Pixies (both of whom I adore) - she even included a song with yellow in the title

Also in the parcel was an Orange chocolate bar - wish I have to say went down rather nicely with my coffee :D. 

I always underestimate the generousity of strangers in exchange programs - I am always amazed and impressed - Thank you

In Knitting news, my circular shrug is coming along amazingly, the five inches of rib at the beginning where time consuming even on 6mm needles as it has over 200 stitches, but the mock rib is easy and coming along great, I have about 2 more inches to go - then back to the normal rib.

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.

First off I would like to thank Nessie for this amazing card, which was part of Project Spectrum’s Postcard Swap for March, it has completely inspired me to start scrapbooking.

I have been pretty busy with wedding plans at the moment and having no internet connection at home as met I have been unable to update. Good news is I have found my wedding dress, I have finished all the stationary, I was making for Jason’s cousin’s wedding, and we are having a new 24meg line sorted out next week, so back to the knitting and blogging.

With all the running around I have been going recently, I have found socks are the perfect project for on-the-run-knitting. In the spirit of project spectrum, I have decided to make my two tone socks in pink and grey. I have been experimenting with short row heels and I have to say, I think they will fit more snugly - I will have to see.

Jason was on a course all last week in Liverpool Street, on Friday I met up with him for lunch and we brought the two newest members of our family (more about them later). Whilst on the tube I realised the London Tube Map just oozes the colours of Project Spectrum – each month is represented by a line.

March - Central and Hammersmith & City
April - East London and Circle
May - District
June - Piccadilly and Victoria
July - Metropolitan
August - Bakerloo and Northern

Being March, I had to include Liverpool Street in the post as it is one of only two stations where you can get either the pink or red lines – the other being Mile End.

The tube map is of course historic and iconic and has inspired many copies and even some award winning art. 

As Jason and I are going to be spending some time apart this year (not through choice), we decided to get substitute versions of each other - so I introduce you too Dee and Jay Teddy, (although they are not getting married until next March they seem to have the same surname). Dee doesn’t have any fingers so isn’t any good at knitting although she is good at paper crafting, Jay has dreams of being a baseball player.

Yarn: Patons Essence in Cherry Blossom.
Pattern: Anthropologie-inspired Capelet from Craftster.
Needles: 8mm.
Notes: The basic pattern of this is very similar to OSW, (which is a pattern I loved), the basic simplicity of this pattern is amazing and yet it look so fantastic - I have received numerous compliments already today. The yarn was fun to work with, - really it is a cheap acrylic (don’t shot me), but it works so well with this pattern and the colour is amazing.

At the beginning of the year, I joined the Count You Socks knit along– I have seen some knitters have managed to knit several pairs of socks this year; I have yet to complete even one. I had around 45 grams of Opal sock yarn left from my first pair of socks, and thought I would use some plain grey sock yarn to do the cuffs, heel and toes. The wool does match up every well – I just need to get knitting.

As March is finally upon us, Project Spectrum is in full blast and although my socks are not pink or red, I have been using my pink stitch markers. Speaking of Project Spectum – have you seen the flickr album, such an amazing array of projects and colour?

Not to be out done, I have started my capelet (the circular shrug is on the back burner). This is the first project big project I have knitted on 8mm (Size 11) needles, apart from a little scarf. I have to say, I am loving them – why have I spent all my time knitting with 4 ply cotton and 3 ¾ (size 3) needles. I should have this baby done in the next few days.

Hopefully, I can get do to some paper crafting - I haven’t made any cards since Christmas, I should get cracking on as I need to make a card for my postcard swappee Nessie Noodle. I must raid my craft box and see what I can find.

Going away at the beginning of the year means I have been completely out of the loop in so many things in blogland. I knew it would be almost impossible to participate in Secret Pal this session as I will be away in March as well – and that was cool.

But now I have found out I miss the deadline for Sockapalooza – which I think is a good thing, as I am not that confident about my sock knitting capabilities, and I am not sure anyone would want sock I made. The obvious way to resolve this would be to sign up to something like Count Your Socks, but I think I might be too late – we shall see.

And then there is the wonderful concept of the Knitting Olympics – what an amazing idea – the only problem is I am having so many problems completing projects at the moment and I really should finish my mum’s twin set – but the thought of finishing a small project in 16 days really appeals. It will encourage me to have a FO in my gallery for 2006 – I even have a project planned the Crafter’s Circular Shrug – but I think I have to thing about this – maybe train a little first.

Then finally in Blogland found a no-pressure project. Lolly’s Project Spectrum, it is simple create something from a set colour each month – be it a sweater, scrapbooking page or bracelet - Lolly has explained it best on her blog – but is sounds perfect for me – now I can start scrap-booking rather then just buying supplies from eBay.