princessdeia

September 27th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps, Sweaters

I seem to have lost the cable to upload my photos on to the web And I have loads of photos to post. I have taken some photos with my camera phone but they do no justice.

Finally, I have a finished project, NLLALM is finished – it is just waiting to be blocked – all I can say is never again over 160 stitches for the back and front, took forever. Although I am pleased with the rest it just took way too long.

Now I am concentrating on the KSH scarves. I am half way though Branching Out, I have done 20 repeats of the pattern, but as I am using 3mm needles it is still really short (about 30 inches), I think I will need to do about 50 to get it too the length I want. But I have loads of wool left.

Over the weekend as a quick project, I cast on an Airy Scarf (from Last minute Gifts) in Kidsilk Spray, for this version I am using the pinkie colours, and it looks amazing, there are four tones of pink in there, from an almost lilac colour to a bright pink, and totally unintentionally the colour weaves through the scarf like a wave.

Once again, I am using smaller needles than the pattern asked for, and I cast on extra stitches to make it wider, after knitting for 4 hours (the blur above the pattern says that was how long the designed knitted for), the scarf is 24 inches, I always intended to make it a longer scarf, but now I think I might just knit until I run out of wool.

EDIT:After I posted this morning the postman delievered some goodies… a postcard all the way from Vegas (baby), and a lime green jiffy envolpe, also from Vegas. Inside was this amazing package, the wrapping paper was hand-made. I didn’t want to open it as I would ruin her lovely work. But inside was Weekend Knitting : 50 Unique Projects and Ideas , which I have been lusting after forever. I spend all this lunch time planning what I am going to make.

September 14th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps

I have noticed a few questions have been added to the Secret Pal Questionaire…. so I am going to update my answers

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
We don’t get Red Heart or Lion Brand in the UK, so I can’t really comment on them – I have no objections to acrylic for certian projects.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Crochet, a bit – but I haven’t done any recently.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
No.

4. How long have you been knitting?
I started when I was a kid (about 9), did a little during High School and College to relax – but started up again last year.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes.

6. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Anything berry-like, I love Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Yes, I only like British Chocolate – but I love Jelly Belly and Twizzlers.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Card-Making. Although, I haven’t had the time recently.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (If your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Mainly alternative, old school Britpop (Blur, Stone Roses, Verve).
Current tunes on my iPod, are Weezer, Funeral for a Friend, Interpol and Nine Black Alps.
Yes – I can play MP3s.

10. What’s your favorite color? Or–do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can’t stand?
I love Blue, but am planning to knit a lot of greens and purples. I’m not really keen on Oranges and Yellows.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Been with my b/f for 6 years – no children or pets.

12. What are your life dreams? (Really stretching it here, I know)
I guess to be a success at my business and hopefully to get married in the next few years.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Over the summer it was cotton, now it is Rowan’s KSH.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
None.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
KSH Scarves – getting ready for Xmas

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I mainly knit cardigans and scarves – I love scarves as they are quick. I am getting to grips with socks.

17. What are you knitting right now?
Cotton Sweater for my Dad, Cardigan for my Mum, Branching Out Scarf.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
Hate them.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I am moving towards circular needles – as I hate seaming.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Aluminum, I find plastic needles too light and have never tried knitting with bamboo.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
Yes

22. How did you learn to knit?
My mum taught me when I was a kid, then I have picked up tips from books and recently online.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
About 3 months.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Marvin the Marshin, Batman oh and I love the Disney/Pixar films.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
I love summer, but also Halloween as it’s my birthday.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Batgirl and Birds of Prey Comics.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None – I tend to just buy magazines when I am in the store browsing.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Easy Knitted Accessories.
New Knits: 20 Knitting Projects with a Contemporary Twist.
Weekend Knitting : 50 Unique Projects and Ideas .

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven’t bought for one reason or another??
No

30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?
Size 7 shoes (oh big feet) and I love self-patterning sock wool.

August 30th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps

What a Bank Holiday I have been having, we have been cat sitting for Jason’s Parents, so me and three WIP’s travelled up to Stevenage, complete with camera so I could take plenty of photos – the batteries in the camera are dead and none of the batteries in remote controls in this house work, (from 2 TVs, a VCR, Stereo and DVD Player)… so there will be no photos in the post

Before heading up here I received an email from my Spoiler for Secret Pal informing me she had posted my final parcel – however, it was too late – so I had to send my sister to the sorting office to pick it up and collect it from her on Sunday.

On Saturday, I went to John Lewis in Welwyn to get some DPN’s (for my Gryffindor Scarf), and I finally got to see the new Rowan Kidsilk Night and Spray – I think I will be using it for my Xmas present projects, I fell in love with Trance (I had never seen that colour before), and was tempted to buy it but refrained – I was there for just the needles.

Sunday, I popped over to see my sister and collect my package. I love opening presents – this was so much fun… all the items were wrapped up individually – in The Simpsons wrapping paper (and I never did mention I was Simpson’s fan), inside my goodies included, hand-made stitch markers, candles, L’Occitane soap, Kool Aid and The Vogue Knits Weekend Knitting book… But the best bit; there was a ball of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Trance and some Rowanspun DK in Drizzle.

I was thinking the Kidsilk would make a fabulous Branching Out and I think I will use the Rowanspun to make another Mini-Sweater… then today I got an email from my Secret Pal revealing herself, it was Tracy over at Woollywarbler, she had also made Branching out in the same colour, so I could see a finished example (I can’t wait to start knitting).

The funny think is over the last few months I have been over to Tracy’s blog several times, when I brought my Hipknits Silk, I was thinking of making a OSW with it and her version is mentioned on the site, then when she joined the UKStrictly Knitting group and I had no idea… but hidden amongst the entries were several clues, I guess my grey matters were not working so well.

Finally, I can reveal I have been spoiling Beverly (who is currently in Cuba), I was hoping she got her final parcel before she left – but she didn’t so I will have to wait until the weekend to email her about it.

August 22nd 2005
Filed under General, Swaps, Sweaters

I haven’t been feeling really well – so haven’t been on the PC to update. All the time in bed has meant I have had loads of time to knit. The No-Longer-Looking-Anything-Like-Marco Sweater (NLLALM) is looking really good – I have done about 4 inches of the front now and the cables are looking amazing. i set the cables in three stitches of purl as the enhances the chunky 3×3 rib. Now I am thinking it looks more like a cabled version of Leo from Knitty – the other pattern I was thinking of knitting.

Yesterday, I went to Hobbycraft – I heard they had a limited range of Rowan and wanted to check it out – really I was hoping I could get some Kidsilk Spray or Kidsilk Night, as I think it will be prefect for some autumn projects I am planning. However, all they sold was Rowanspun 4 ply. I did however, get some Paton’s Fab (cheap acrylic) in Scarlet and Gold – perfect for a Prisoner of Azkaban version of the Gryffindor Scarf – I was hoping to sign up to the Another Weasley KAL – but I think I might be a little late.

My Spoilee for Secret Pal 5, has just gone on holiday for two weeks- so I had to send her final package now (hopefully she got it before she left). I have had so much fun with the experience – I had to sign up for SP6… I also love this button, as it reminds me it is almost Halloween – and my birthday.

July 18th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps

Jason is still on nights so I am having to creep around the house not making any noise. This morning I decided to have a bath to get out of his way and plan the rest of my day. Just as I was about to start running the bath, the doorbell rang (I hate interruptions during my me time), but this morning I was happy the postman delivering goodies from my Secret Pal – a lil package from LUSH.

There was some Smitten Hand Cream (always useful to a knitter), Dream Time temple balm – that is meant to aid sleep – perfect for this weather and some Strawberry Twin Tub Shower Jelly – which you put in the fridge or freezer and then use – it will not be ready for today’s bath but will be perfect for tomorrow. Also the little package had a little not – “Another little something from you Secret Pal. Hope that you like it allâ€? – YES I do

I thought I would post a photo of the modified Mini-Sweater – without the puffy sleeves, I am really impressed with the way the sleeves turned out. Now all I need to do is sort out the border.

As the main body is in Mocha, I wanted to have a dark chocolate border – so it really did look like a mocha – however, now I am not sure. However, the edge is really messy – I did mind before – but now I need to sort something out. I think I need a trip to John Lewis.

July 6th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps

1. My birthday is on Halloween.
2. I was born in London in 1974.
3. My full name is Dipika.
4. I hate my name.
5. Everyone including my parents calls me Dee.
6. I don’t have a middle name.
7. The hospital I was born in was across the road from my parent’s house.
8. Both my parents were born in South Africa.
9. My parents had an arranged marriage.
10. They have been married over 40 years.
11. All my grand-parents were born in India.
12. I have one sister.
13. I am the youngest – by 17 months.
14. I use to always fight with my sister when we were little.
15. Now we are really close.
16. One of my earliest memories is seeing my sister fall down the stairs.
17. I have never had any pets.
18. I have lived in London my whole life and can’t imagine living anywhere else.
19. I am left handed.
20. I have been with my boyfriend, Jason for over 7 years.
21. I met him at a firm I was temping at.
22. When I first met Jason, I thought he was annoying – but he made me laugh.
23. The first night we met we talked about driving across America together.
24. My favourite subject at primary school was Maths.
25. I use to think I would become a maths teacher or something.
26. I have always loved the Star Wars films.
27. I remember seeing Empire Strikes Back in the cinema and being scared of the Wampa snow monster at the beginning of the movie.
28. I learned to knit when I was 8 years old.
29. I designed and knitted my first jumper when I was 10.
30. I use to watch The Goonies every week, when I was younger with my sister.
31. I started wearing glasses when I was 17.
32. I went to a girl’s school.
33. I am glad I did as I think it gave me more opportunities.
34. I meet my best friend, Sabeena on the second day of secondary (high) school.
35. I was at the Brit Awards in 1989 (Yes that one!)
36. My favourite subject at secondary school was Media Studies.
37. My favourite TV show was Twin Peaks and I still love it now.
38. My best friend immigrated to America, just before we started Sixth Form – but we are still in contact.
39. I have three A levels in Sociology, Economics and Film Studies.
40. I was the only girl in my Film Studies class.
41. I was a typical grunge kid, doc martins, baggy t-shits, ripped jeans and floppy hair.
42. I have every issue of Empire Magazine since 1992.
43. My favourite place that I have visited is the Grand Canyon.
44. I have a B.A. (Hons.) in Social Sciences.
45. I went to university in East London (near where the Olympic village will be).
46. I am obsessed with Tiffany’s.
47. The colour scheme of this site is based on the Tiffany’s website.
48. My favourite colour is blue.
49. Especially, Tiffany’s Blue or #00CCCC.
50. I cry whenever I see E.T.
51. I became a vegetarian in when I was 20.
52. I still eat fish.
53. I remember the last meat dish I (knowing) ate.
54. It was a McDonald’s Hamburger in Acapulco.
55. I hate mushrooms.
56. This is very awkward as a vegetarian.
57. I always regret the fact I never saw Nirvana live.
58. The last holiday I went on with my family was in 1994.
59. We went to China.
60. I graduated in 1996.
61. I got my first job three days after leaving university.
62. I got my belly button pierced the day before my 22nd Birthday.
63. I spend two months traveling around America on my own in the summer of 1997.
64. I wanted to eat breakfast whilst staring in the window of Tiffany’s on 5th Avenue.
65. One of my favourite museums is the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.
66. I started waering contact lens when I was 21.
67. I once saw Billy Corgan at O’ Hare airport.
68. My favourite city I visited was Seattle.
69. I have two tattoos.
70. One of a Scorpio on my thigh.
71. The other is of three stars on my lower back.
72. The last time I went to the Reading Festival, I refused to camp and stayed in a hotel.
73. I have vowed I will never go to a Glastonbury Festival again, after the quagmire of 1998.
74. Less than six months after meeting Jason we traveled along the East Coat of America for 6 weeks.
75. We spend two weeks in Orlando visiting theme parks.
76. We drove from Miami to New York.
77. After the holiday, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Jason.
78. I want to go to every Disney Park; I just need to go to Tokyo.
79. I planned my summer holiday of 1999 to coincide with the release of Star Wars Episode One.
80. I did a post graduate course on the Open University.
81. I wrote my final thesis on the Alien films.
82. I am scared of mice.
83. We once stayed in a youth hostel in Amsterdam with mice – which was the worst night of my life.
84. I love Converse; I have 3 pairs and really want another pair – in Maroon.
85. I love baby tees, especially ones from comics or films, my favourite t-shirt is a Tank Girl one I brought in 1995.
86. I started playing The Stone in 2001.
87. You can briefly see me in the Stoners film.
88. I taught myself HTML.
89. I gave up my job to do a Web Design course.
90. I need 9 hours sleep a night.
91. I am trying to collect every copy of Batgirl III comics.
92. I own all but on of the Birds of Prey comics (missing issue 40).
93. I cannot drive.
94. But I love our car.
95. I prefer the taste of Diet Coke.
96. I am a really slow eater.
97. I don’t want children.
98. I have a god-daughter.
99. I think I am cursed to never go to a Knit Flicks.
100. I love making lists so this was fun .

June 21st 2005
Filed under Finished Projects 2005, Socks, Swaps

Yarn: Opal Elemente in 1075 .
Pattern: “Sock it to ‘em” Starter Kit Pattern.
Needles: 2 mm DPN’s (5 needles).
Notes: I was a little scared of knitting with DPN’s, I had heard horror stories about ladders and missing stitches, but this pattern was really easy to follow, it was a little strange on the first few rounds of the rib – but by the time I got to the knitting part it was very easy.

The only real issues I had with the pattern were the live grafting, however, the instructions on Knitty were really helpful here.

June 20th 2005
Filed under General, Socks, Swaps

Seeing, as Rox has posted the list of participants in Secret Pal 5 – I have taken it upon myself to investigate further the identity of my spoiler… the problem is that the list has over 650 people on it – I did think of going through the UKnitter’s List and hope that they are on it.

But I am slowly sorting through all 650 – starting with all the ones ending in .co.uk – and hoping they do not use blogger or something. It did occur to me today that I might already be reading this persons journal or that they might be a member of britknits at livejournal so I have read there posts – but at the moment I am still no closer to guess who it is – J.B Fletcher would be disappointed.

My socks are looking great (photos soon) – I have been catching up on all the TV I missed whilst away, (it seems Smallville is great to knit along to). I am not sure what to do with the extra wool… the gift pouch seems like a great idea, if giving the socks as a gift – but these are for me.

I guess I shall have to hit google and see what patterns I can find.

June 17th 2005
Filed under Socks, Swaps

Well now I am home – still in American time – but slowly getting use to the idea the holiday is over… and since I have been back, I have been playing with my new toys…
Waiting for me when I got home was a package from Get Knitted – addressed to SP5, inside was a “Sock It To ‘Em” Starter Kits – containing everything I needed to start knitting socks, the pattern, the self-patterning wool (in a fabulous blue colour), the DPN’s, stitch markers and even the darning needle to weave in the ends. So since I have been home I have been knitting socks.

June 2nd 2005
Filed under Swaps

I received an email from my secret pal yesterday and the details of whom I am spoiling.
Obviously, I am not going to write anything about whom I am spoiling… but the email from my SP5 was lovely, and she even stated that I would be trying to work out who she is, – which I have been doing, I even googled her email address for clues.

All I know is she is from the UK, but that is the beauty of Secret Pal, I have 3 months to work it out… hopefully, my first package will have a clear postmark and I can find out a town name or county.

I guess I should get shopping for gifts for my pal.