princessdeia

I have noticed that my knitting friend seemed to have embraced the Web 2.0 more than their muggle counterparts. Whilst most of my non-knitting friends might be on Facebook, the web to them is a tool for contacting people and buying cheap goods. Whereas, my knitting friends all have have a black belt in google-fu, I think this is due to spending hours hunting for yarn alternatives or patterns. Obviously, they all have blogs, personal pages on Ravelry and more recently twitter accounts. To prove my point the only people I follow on Twitter that I know in the real world are all knitters!

When Alice announced earlier this month that she was hosting a knit-along on Twitter, it was more fuel for my case! Each Monday she posts a clue on her twitter feed and all the participants can tweet about their updates and post photos.

This is my swatch from last weeks clue using Malabrigo sock yarn, 3.75 and 4.5mm needles – I am going with the 4.5mm to open up the flowers.

Tags: malabrigo, shawl, smskal, socktopus, twitter

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Last autumn, I got this Socktopus bag, when I helped Alice out at the Ally Pally Knitting Show, the bag has hung in our bedroom for months hidden inside has been works in progress and yarn. I have been too scared to venture into the bag as I know it contains my longest standing WIP! However hidden in the bottom of the bag was also this Crochet Flower Kits from House of Hemp.

I have been interested in working with “other” fibres for sometime now, so when I saw these kits at Ally Pally, I knew they were the perfect tester kit. Over this weekend, I sat down and began re-watching Battlestar Galactica and crocheted away. I ended up knocking out a one flower an episode!

A quick trip to the Bead Shop (more about that later) and a raid of my button jar and I have a whole bouquet of flowers. Of course I then had to add one to the Socktopus bag to remind me to use this bag and not be afraid of the WIP!

Tags: brooches, hemp, socktopus, WIP

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Over the past few year, I have been knitting my sister a pair of socks for her birthday. I thought I wouldn’t bother this year, but then my sister hinted she was looking forward to the socks. So with 8 days to go I set about the task of knitting some socks.

21st May – Skein.

27th May -Progress.

28th May – Finished Socks.

Tags: Cookie A, Finished Project, Monkey, Socks, socktopus

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Seeing as I haven’t done a swap for a while, I thought I would sign up for Socktopus Secret Santa Swap (or SoSeSaSwa for short).

1. What are your favourite colours and fibres? I love blues and purples, recently I have been moving towards green (but mainly blue-y greens like Teal).

2. Anything that makes your toes curl? (Fibre, colour, other) I hate neon’s, and am not keen on yellows or oranges. I hate that scratchy mohair yarn (too many nightmares as a child).

3. Would you describe yourself as a beginner, intermediate or advanced knitter? Intermediate

4. Do you have an online wishlist? (Amazon or other) I have an amazon one – it is a bit random through.

5. Any new techniques you’d like to learn? None that I can think of.

6. What is your favourite: These are really hard to answer.
Snack? I am more of a savoury gal – as I am fussy about chocolate – but I love M&Ms.
Book? I love the Harry Potter books, have recently got into the Twilight novels, but also enjoy Agatha Christie.
Movie? Original Star Wars Trilogy, The Goonies, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Finding Nemo, Dazed and Confused (the list goes on).
Music? I’m currently loving MGMT – but have also gone old school and am listening to a lot of Oasis, Blur and The Verve.

7. What are your favourite items to knit? Socks and Scarves – recently I have made a few shawls that I loved.

8. Any patterns that are top of your queue? As I am on a deadline I guess the 24 mini stockings I want to make as an advent calender and larger stocking for Christmas (yes I mention the C word).

9. Do you have any other hobbies? I have just started running (well jogging).

10. Tell us about yourself. When did you first pick up your needles? Who/what encouraged you to start knitting? How would you describe your knitting style? Are you a process knitter or a product knitter, etc. I first started to knit when I was 8, watching my mum and neighbours knit, I picked up techniques from them, I made a few items but soon got bored. I picked up my needles again when I was 16 to help with stress during my exams, then stopped when I went to university. I most recently started knitting again four years ago… this time it seems to have stuck
I would say I am a product knitter, I resisted the urge for almost a two years to start a stash, just buying the yarn to complete a project at a time, even know I like to only have two WIPs at a time.

Tags: questionaire, socktopus, Swaps

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For the past month the buzz on ravelry has been all about the Ravelympics… When, it was announced on the socktopus board that they were putting together a team, I had to join in, I have decided to compete in two events, the Shawl Relay and Sock Put.

So this afternoon, whilst the thousands of athletes walked into the Birds Nest, I began to knit, casting on one sock and the shawl – although I have to say casting on 5 stitches for the Forest Canopy Shawl was pretty easy.

Tags: Ravelry, ravelympics, Socks, socktopus, team socktopus, WIP

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I had one of those amazing weekends where I got to spend time with friend (and meet some new friends) and see some family (most of whom I haven’t seen since my wedding).

A few weeks ago, Alice announced that she was planning a launch party for her online store, knowing that we were going to a wedding over the same weekend, I had to decline the invitation, but over the last few weeks the buzz on the Ravelry London Board has all been about the party.

So I managed to convince the hubby that as the wedding wasn’t until the afternoon we could travel down in the morning.

As well as getting to see the iKnit regulars Alice, Emms and Laura (and Ross), I also got to finally meet Sharon and Arianne. Then there was the lovely ladies from Ravelry – Anna, Gabrielle, Izzie, Mel, Mulene, and Sarah. (I am sure I have forgetten someone – sorry if I have).

Aside from the wonderful company and food, the real reason were all there was to sample Alice’s wonderful finds – over the last few days she has been tempting us on the Socktopus Blog with images of Shelridge Farm, Dream in Color Smooshy and Chameleon Colorworks, and of course we all had to buy, buy, buy.

Of course, what you really want to see is what I brought…

Tags: Meet Ups, socktopus, Stash Enhancement

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