It's a mystery

Having not completed last year's mystery shawl you might think it's a bit strange that I've signed up for another. This time around it's the Goddess Knits shawl and it's going to be a bit of a challenge. It's a Pi shawl, so not only will it be my first attempt at a circular shawl, it means getting to grip with laceweight. I hate to be beaten by anything and it was hard to admit last year that I was never going to finish the swan lake stole. Largely I put it down to my dislike of the yarn (jojoland Harmony) once I started knitting it. Well, less the yarn and more the colour I was using, it was a bit insipid. So remembering that I had a skein of screaming red lane bogosesia stashed away I decided to give it another whirl. I did a swatch and settled on 3mm needles and here we are with Clue 1 completed. (I opted for Chart A for those in the know) You can see from the number of stitch markers, I wasn't brave enough to just knit.

Now I'm part way through Clue 2, I'm becoming a bit braver and have reduced the number a bit. However, I'm beginning to wonder whether I should have used a smaller sized needles after all? I know lace is supposed to have holes but I really have holes! Arrgh. I think maybe I'm just a little too far out of my comfort zone.

Baby Babette

Babette
Originally uploaded by Bearium

We have progress at last! Yesterday I finally finished the last square. The downside is that I now have to stitch them all together. Gulp. Hmm, how hard can that be? It's only a baby blanket after all.

Swaps and secret knitting revealed

I can finally post about one of my secret knitting projects now that it's in the possession of it's new owner. I signed up to the last Angel Yarns Knitting Forums swap before I realised quite how busy I was going to be last month. It was a bit of a mad dash as I was juggling so many things but I got there in the end, albeit a little late. Paula aka Sockaholic got the parcel this morning and I think she's pleased with it all. The main part is a horseshoe lace stole in Jojoland Melody. Inspired by Jacqui who started a KAL for this, I used the stitch pattern from Heirloom Knitting and added a garter stitch border to help keep it's shape. It took two balls in all and once blocked it ended up 13" by about 56" - I actually lost the piece of paper I wrote the sizes down on so I can't remember the exact length :s Suffice to say, it was plenty long enough. I might make myself one at some point too as I rather liked it :)

I also made a little project tote, just the right size for carry round a pair of socks or something similar. I'm definately going to be making myself one of these, it's so handy. I used the tutorial on Drago[knit]fly's blog which was really helpful. I'm sure some of you are plenty handy enough with a sewing machine to have a go yourselves. Finally I added a skein of merino sock yarn in shades of blue. I'm hoping to be able to repeat that colourway because it really was lovely. Mind you, the yarn is so soft it probably wouldn't matter what colour you dyed it.

Hmm, I'm completely getting off the point. I also got a fabulous parcel in return from Ruth aka thegirlthatknits. Unfortunately, my camera is refusing to give up the pictures tonight (technology grrr) so I'm hoping to bring them to you tomorrow. It was full of lovely goodies but I'll wait for the pictures to tell all.

Sunday Surfing

Ah Sunday afternoon. It's sunny, humid and the mighty midget and I are knocking around in the house by ourselves winding each other up again. Oh what it is to have the energy and enthusiasm of a five year old. We've been working hard in the garden today, well, I've been working hard, he's mostly been being "helpful". He's now got a newly erected swing and I get to have a break. Yay!

I did this the other Sunday and I thought it'd actually be quite fun to record my travels if I did it again. I start here at this blog and pick a blog from my blogroll. From that blog, I pick another and so on. The only rule being, I have to leave a comment on any that I pass through. I found a few nice one's to return to the last time around and I'm sure if I kept on long enough, I could get back to where I started but as my blog readership is still relatively small, that could take an awfully long time. Anyhow, here we go.

First up is Vikki aka Wild Fire Fibres with her impressive haul from Woolfest. I wish I lived closer/had some spare cash/babysitter etc and I'd have been there too. I'll just have to save up for Ally Pally and IKnit this year. From there to the Feral Knitter (loved the name, just had to peak) and she's fermenting lichens to dye with. I'm definately going to have to go back and see how that one works out. Crooked knitter leads onto Gnomiejo Knits who posted this great link to some clear converse shoes - perfect for showing off your handmade socks! I think I might have to check out if I can get a pair of them over here. More Yarn Than Time has found a treasure trove of a LYS, it's a shame Austin is so far away. Why aren't there more yarn stores like this in the UK?

Ooops, that's another hour wasted. I really should get some dinner cooked before the mighty midget starts raiding the biscuit tin again.

UK Swap, Question #3

I've been a bit slack about joining in with some of the extra's that have been part of the new round of the UK Swap and tbh, I just couldn't get my head round last weeks question which was about who I'd like to invite for dinner. I must have been having an antisocial couple of days. Anyhow this one leapt out at me as being a SAHM, tv does play a fairly big role in my social life. I know, sad/boring isn't it! So, this weeks poser is:

Is there a TV programme you watch religiously?
What TV programme(s) do you avoid like the plague?
Is there a TV programme that you find works particularly well for knitting along to?
What was/is your favourite kids TV programme?

I'm a bit of a sucker for medical dramas and cop shows and also most things sci fi. Unfortunately, Dr Who is on at just the wrong time of night (ie: the mighty midget's bedtime) and lets face it, some of those episodes have scared me. Imagine how they must look to a five year old! I do try and catch it on Iplayer if I can. So anyhow, the only thing I'm watching religiously at the moment is Grey's Anatomy. Yes, I know it's totally unbelievable, pure escapism but I just can't get enough.

I avoid Coronation St, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks. In fact most soaps and yes I do realise that you could argue Grey's Anatomy is a soap too. I don't care! Big Brother 9 anyone? The previous 8 weren't enough?

It doesn't matter what I'm watching, I'll knit anyway. Unless I get too engrossed that is. I got lent the first series of 24 last year and decided to watch it while I was ironing. Only then I suddenly realised that I'd put the iron down some while before and I was just leaning on the board glued to the screen.

Ah, kids tv, that's a biggie. I've watched an awful lot of cbeebies over the last few years and to tell the truth, I'm fairly sick of most of it. There are a few exceptions ...... I have this little sister Lola, she is small and very funny....
From my own childhood though, it's been a while but I remember watching The Magic Roundabout and Captain Pugwash, Chortle and the Wheelies, Stingray, Fireball XL5. Some real old classics but I don't particularly remember a specific favourite. I don't think we actually watched a great deal of tv, well not kids tv. I've watched Blake 7 and Star Trek and Dr Who from a very early age. Some things, I guess you never really grow out of ;D

Anyone for yarn?

baskets of yarn, originally uploaded by Bearium.

I'm finally getting around to catching up with all my posting so here's a little something to get me started. Yarn and lots of it. Well, the remains of my stall at the Summer Fayre. As you can see, there's plenty left which in some ways is a shame. The fayre wasn't as busy as I'd liked it to have been, but as I did sell some, I can't complain too much.

I love dyeing the yarns and making the bags but the stress of doing the fayres is far too much (especially will a mighty midget underfoot). So what does this mean? Well, the Bear Necessities will be going global with a little corner of Etsy.

Fancy trying some of the yarns I use to felt my handbags with? Perhaps a bag itself? Well, watch this space :D

Photo meme

My creation
Originally uploaded by Bearium

1. lucy's evil twin, 2. Party in the Ice Box, 3. Monk in green, 4. I want to be where the Sun warms the sky, 5. OUT17292479, 6. suck up! a.k.a. you suck! :), 7. Six on a motorbike.... Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 8. Profiteroles, 9. coMfort, 10. Ducks in the Mail: At the Post Office, 11. Reminder to Self: Slow Down on the Caffeine, 12. I got my goodies!

Here's a bit of fun that I've seen on a number of blogs but I lifted this from Kai's. I'm sat here with a glass of vino looking for inspiration and I thought, what the heck why not? Want to have a go too? All you have to do is

A) Type your answer to the questions below in flickr search; use only the first page to pick an image, and
B) Copy and past your picture URLs into fd’s mosaic maker.

The questions are:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favourite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favourite colour?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favourite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favourite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.