Shawls and misfires

I realised that I should be a bit more interesting on my blog.
What am I knitting, a shawl, one not happy (decidedly teenage acting actually, I've apparently got it all wrong), one fluctuating, a hat that only sees light on sundays as well as the Harris socks.

Socks, yes, that all pervading force in my life at the minute. The socks.
I've just finished the ribbing a few days ago on the second and already made my, "bugger it its not noticeable" mistake. I did 3 of 1 set patten lines instead of 2. But since this yarn unplies itself rapidly when you try to unpick it I declined to unpick it and pull it back a stitch at a time. This stuff cannot be ripped back by the row (circle maybe? they aren't rows because its knit on the round. Maybe its I can't pull them back by the round instead. Makes more sense). These need to be picked back stitch by stitch. 60x5= lots. So no, I'm not doing that for ummm.... calculator says 300. No. Not doing that. I have as much chance of getting those stitches back on easily as pizza has surviving 10 minutes in our house. Or our ripe blueberries around that thrush that only seems to eat them when I'm looking out the window. How does it know? I look out, it flies down and starts pieing out (to pie, you pie, she/she/it/they are pies. Think being an utter gutbag). Its a right chubby bird dicing with death I tell you. How they haven't stuck in its throat I can't predict (stretchy oesophagus muscles must have all the flexibility of new knicker elastic that is about to be twanged by someone annoying who has no sense of self preservation. Just like that thrush). I hope this increases the chance of it surviving to breed next year. More thrushes are a good thing.

Anyway, I digress (The Prologue) the sock, its coming along fast (oh how I am delighted), I have some pictures of it with Marvin on my work computer. I can't put it on but I'm going to (updated) I've ordered the computer at home another bluetooth dongle so I am a bit better at adding pictures. I also need to put on the hat and shawls.

Ohhh Shawls. The nightsongs (or Lindawings as its becoming considered) had a mistake so I needed to rip it back a bit. So it was set aside. Not only because I was a bit downhearted, but because I am a bit of a pattern anti fidelity pattern hussy. Yes I was enamoured with the Lesley fuzz (that almost sounds wrong. No actually it sounds wrong, completely wrong.) But its had a bit of a misfortune. I have no idea what I've done, but I've done something and I have toooo many stitches. 10 stitches do NOT appear out of nowhere and considering I consider myself able to count, I must consider that the numbers of stitches are correct. Therefore I must consider a mistake. Thats a lot of considerings. But this requires consideration is required. So every day I rip back another few rows and when the sob starts. I stop. And work on the Lindawings shawl.
Just so I can go form one thing that is heart wounding, to something that can turn me into a bloodshot eyed screaming raving loony. Well more screamy anyway, I'm already a vocal and screamy person to tell the truth. Maybe I should have more practice knitting from patterns before starting something as large as a shawl. But no matter. Why?

I love this pattern. Jam ahem wedge the worksheet in a book and let it unfold as you knit. And you do see the pattern unfold (maybe this is normal with all lace, I've never done any before so I can't tell). I love the pattern now I am ish becoming ish able to read the pattern. Enough to know when I have muncked up or if a yo is in the wrong place. I am back into the habit of doing a few rows every night. Even if it is the equivalent of a few rows. That is to say I've ripped the same part of a row out several times because the upside down Y thing with the vertical line going down to the same level as the forks of the Y is not looking right. Its poaching on a stitch from the next leaf and that's not right. That happened last night and despite knitting over over an hour, I only had 2 lines to show for it. And I feel pleased, because it doesn't matter that its only the second repeat and it was hardly any stitches. I got it right and added to it with added yea, I was right, that wasn't right. What did I do wrong? I have no idea. but its fixed now and I'm happy.

Other News, I have persuaded a friend to allow me to make her the Aeolian shawl (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring09/KSPATTaeolian.php). But the shoulderette form, and I've picked the yarn. Its here http://www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk/epages/BT2741.sf/secDuF_fBWppSg/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT2741/Products/%22Lace%20Yarn%22/SubProducts/L20B . The colour L1A is the pick for the wedding shawl.

I really adore what these people do. Putting things into context two of my uncles have sheep. And when I was speaking to one he said it was hardly worth the effort selling them. They get a pittance. If it wasn't for the fact it was wet and he hadn't been able to shear them I'd have bought one of his. As it is I don't want to post raw wool so he may keep me something in the winter clip. These people buy the wool from 80% of the crofters (I think) for a decent price, sort the fleece and sell it. In the natural colours and dyed. I love that idea. Which is why my cousin (the aforementioned uncle, who is as awesome as his daughter) is getting her wedding shawl spun from it.

What else. We made plum jam, of which there are two things to note.
The first of which is very sweet (i'd worry about my pancreas, but these things seem to be purely decorative, I don't eat them, neither does he from what I can tell).
The second point is also distinctly part of, or a member of a closely related part of a section of society which has a fearable faction within it, it truly is, a widely feared faction in society. Because you can't tell which is which and are you going to be safe. Widely feared for many reasons. Terrors of society, yes, (some, the feared section) with their strange hair colours, piercing stares, cutting looks and comments and tuts as well as the most scary fact. The fact that they look at you and they know, irrespective of whether or not you've been good, they know you haven't. And they know.Your.Mum.
Yes. Its da da daaaaa its the.... blue rinse brigade. Complete with handbags and glasses. You don't see them much up here.

I've forgotten where I was going with that train of thought. Ummmmmmmmmm.......ummmmm.....ummmm....still no idea.....ummmm....that hasn't helped. crap.

Oh yea, the last jar (which has a half jar) has a purple perm rinse. The ring was hot and caused it to bubble and we didn't do anything about it in our vain attempt to quick-get-it-out-before-it-all-sticks-to-the-insides-of-the-maslin-pan and it set with the bubbles. Which are a paler purple than the rest of the jam. Before anyone thinks about suggesting scum, there wsan't any on it at that stage.
Its a purple rice jam. Ahem, purple rinse jam. get it right. It amused me.

There has been no movement on the pineapple jam and I'm so not doing it on my own. I'm not a fan of pineapple (too sweet) and It'd be much more fun score out soothing to let/get CGBF do the chopping of it into the necessary bits instead. For me anyway.

Anyway, culinary delights. Mine has been the new sauce kits that the spice shop in Aberdeen has got in. I love that shop, there are so many fascinating things you can look at. As if you were a 5 year old instead of a mature (ah ha hahahaha I don't feel it) adult. I love going in there, just so many new things to work up your bravery towards trying to see what you can make. We got Biryani which was amazingly good. Cooked it with carrots a leek, courgette and mushrooms (what needed eating). And what was nice (in a not nice way) There was actual small chunks of the spices that went into it which shows its not flavourings that goes into it. Its natural and every bite is different and its smells lovely. But that's the bad thing, you get little hard chunks (I got 2 bits of cinnamon). Potential Mouth food shrapnel but nothing serious. We also got Laksa (I think its spelt that way) that needs coconut milk added to make a rich creamy sauce. It has tamarind paste and you need to cook it for a bit before the horrible unholy wretched stinking smell departs leaving your house reeking. Once your past that stage though, it sweetens and it smells much nicer and you get a lovely dish with a nice bit of heat behind it. But I do add a whole tin instead of a half to make it more manageable. I love that it hasn't been so processed that its been already cooked through to make its fragrant. Mee Goreng is also really nice.

I'm obviously experimenting in the far east food and loving it. Sadly ahem tragically it doesn't always agree with CGBF's inner workings. But my Thai green curry can be very hit or miss. But it'd help if I measured stuff out rather than firing in anything that needed to be eaten as well as stuff I fancied. Then pe lting in a random splodge quantity of the paste in with a tin of coconut milk. I'd say pouring but its a thick paste. So in order to get it off the spoon that you almost have to swing around your head like that highland throw the hammer thing. But with a with a sudden downwards swoop instead of upwards ending with wacking the spoon on the edge of the pot for that sudden stop movement required before it will come off. Last night's was very thick and when you eat it the burn hits you "bloody hell this is HOOOOTTTTT burny burny burny Hotttttt". Then when it fades away there is taste. Then you repeat. Sometimes you let it get almost cool then you try it. but nope. That BURNNNNNNNNNN is still there.



One last thing... Its my little brother's birthday in the coming weeks (almost 3). So therefore its time to start panicing about what present to get him. The one without a neck. They don't sell necks.
I have no idea what to get him. Crap.


The actual final point... I have not wove anything. Or warped it. I live in fear of it. I cried then I yelled at CGBF. :(

Shawls, hat and a wool fueled bender

Its yet again, been a while. Computer has been acting up.

I got some yarn from Puddleduck's in Cullen last weekend. Which is a lovely shop in a lovely little village on the Moray coast. Puddleduck's specialises in Quilting stuff, but it also does yarn, gifts and a nice selection of food. Its not a restaurant, more like a mini cafe with soups, toasties, baked potatoes, puddings. I'm sure there was more, I just saw as far as the Cullen Skink and that was me. Cullen Skin is a regional dish that I have taken to in a major way, I love it and eat it every chance I get. Bar one. And I made that. It was horrible. Recipe didn't work for me. It worked for the person who gave it to me, but me, nope. Ghastly. Anyway its smoked haddock and potato in a creamy sauce. Now it sounds horrible, but it tastes fantastic and is a firm favourite of mine.

Anyway (the prologue), the yarn room is sadly (for them) is in a room off the main room, so I couldn't be seen by the people who worked there. So I spent a merry few minutes stroking CGBF's cheek with some (face cheek).
Yea he found it a bit strange, it was just to test its softness to see if it was good for next to the skin, don't want their ear tips being rubbed raw. Around here the cold is bad enough without irritating the skin at the same time. Its not as bad as Canada, but when our Canadian came into work singing "Oh Canada" you know its heading that way. I spend a not quite fun but certainly amusing and crazy few hours several days ahem weeks in a row skiting and sliding around singing Oh Canada on an ice sheet. Espicially one day after being sent home early after a weather warning. It took 6 hours for the traffic to clear the center of town. I'm glad I wasn't driving. The weather was so bad this week I've just gone out and bought new boots. And went to Wool for Ewe (my local LYS) singing I got new booties and I cannot lie, and I cannot shy, out of puddles and lakes and splooshy things, cosy boots will keep me dry.

I stopped singing once they started to rub. There was an issue with my last boots. They weren't boots for a start and things degenerated from there, they were trainers/gutties/sneakers. They also had a mesh top which as it turned out were not waterproof. Unimpressive. A fan of wet toes I am not. Although coming home to a cuddle from a sympathetic CGBF was a good thing.

Anyway, the prologue, Puddleducks, its not as if I was using the yarn to hypnotise him in a "feel the fuzz, see only the fuzz, even though you'll only see it in one eye because your nose is in the way and I'm only stroking you with one ball of yarn, feel the fuzz, love the fuzzz, the fuzz is all there is, sink deep into the yarn, love the yarn". He, after a strange look ( not unexpected that, actually it is, he knows me well enough by now), decided it was nice yarn and should be good against the face. Just in case your worried, we bought the yarn tested that way. Onwards from a yarny prologue The shop was heaving, you would have though that it was the festive season and it was the only sanctuary from the cold/mayhem/greed. There was about three fairs, a coach trip and the locals were also seemingly out in force. Go them :) because it was a lovely day and the food was really nice. The shop is unusual because in the back where there is (from what I can tell) a really good selection of quilting stuff. And in that room was a collection of tables and sewing machines and lot of ladies, chatting away while working on their own projects and using the kit in what looked like a self propelled production line. These woman were not wasting time and they were buzzing away, almost running around with their projects. A quilter in the wild is a fast thing. Estimted land speed record, 50mph at normal. So I can only imagine that they knew something that I didn't. Or maybe quilting like time does not wait for any person. Perhaps unlike time it shouts, or that people are guessing that our mythological "Barbeque summer" is going to take any mild winter weather off outside for a smoke and it'll be Baltic. Maybe they wanted something to cuddle under with their loves this winter. Or as is traditionally mused over last November was a nasty one and there is a lot of people needing more bedding or birthday gifts (that's for you Rebecca)

But I got some Sirdar Tweedie and I must say that I was disappointed. Especially in comparison to the Donegal tweed (either from the making company or Debbie Bliss selling the same stuff probably at a much higher price). The little slubby bit which are a different colour come out easily unlike the Donegal tweed which has then welded in. Its also a bit rougher if only by a little. But it is 2 ply which is a major plus as this prevents it unravelling and leaving me with a . But it is a different composition. Donegal tweed is 85% wool and 15% Angora at £4.75 for 50g, the Sirdar Tweedie is £3.17, 45% acrylic, 40% wool and 15% Alpaca. So it did cost less and in the spirit of this being a Peru hat with Llama/Alpaca hats on, I think this is appropriate and hard enough wearing to keep this lot from doing something sob inducingly disastrous and horrible to it in what will be some sort of what will be seriously wierd accident. I've been using a pattern I got off Ravelry, the link to the pattern is here http://personal.smartt.com/~brianp/llamaHat.html. And it seems to be coming along nicely in red. The pattern is simple and excellent for a vegetation knit when you want something simple to knit because your focusing on something else.

But I've strayed (The Prologue). I've cast on a new shawl and slightly abandoned my shawl. I've cast on another. The Shawl and scarf duo pattern from Sirdar. I've made the scarf before in Wendy bamboo which I love (I've previously mentioned it) so now I have. This is being knit in really nice silver white now discontinued Blur and it is really really cosy. Which is unsurprising for a fuzzy acrylic and Kid Mohair blend. The pattern is easy to memorise (especially since I've already memorised it from the scarf) and it was coming along fast. Although I think I've made a mistake... right now its a few inches long and hearing fast towards being long enough to be a Ra Ra shirt. Which is inappropriate since its for CGBF's mum. Its a nice simple knit and when I want to be challenged I get out the Nightsongs shawl. Which is unlike the blur not slippery. Half the time I feel like I'm trying to hold a desperately squirming and possibly oily cat, if I'm not sliding away it is and the needles are helping. Fickle buggers flirting with either side at random intervals. Grrr.

But why am I knitting a shawl for CGBF's mum? See it kind of ballooned.

My lovely cousin is getting married next summer and since she's a ways been good to me (and my younger siblings and putting up with Ooooh bla and bla are here lets go hang out with them) I decided to knit a shawl. So how am I instead knitting one for CGBF's mum right now? I was thinking too much, I was making one for my cousin so I should make one for her mum who has always been really nice to me. Then I realised that my Granny who lives nearby might be upset that made something for them and not her. So I should make her one too. Then I realised the same applied to my mum, so she should get one too. So off and up to Wool for Ewe and got the Blur and pattern. But its more to CGBF's mum's liking and I think she'll like the colour. So now I have 5 shawls and none for the the two people I really need them for. But I have all winter to do them in so that's ok I delude myself. But I have picked out the Aeolian shawl (wow) for my Auntie and the Gibbie shawl from The Shetland Wool company for my cousin. Having had a mull over things granny isn't one for shawls. She'd think that i considered her an old woman and mum would think the same. A Mobius shawl for granny and something scarflike I haven't decided for mum.

I had a wool fueled bender as well this week.
The yarny goodness I got on one of two aforementioned trips within 3 days to Wool for Ewe I got a knitting bag as I keep loosing my DPN holders (little jumper shaped things from clover) in the bag or on the bus. I, my hinderquarters or my mutually attractive pants (the back of my trousers keep slipping down a bit on 2 pairs of my trousers so I can only conclude my trousers are scarily sentient and have decided my pants are that lovely that they should be appreciated my many people and thus slip down. Often and usually when I'm unable to busy to rescue them. It means I need to buy fancy knickers (Not granny pants, never granny pants) more often so those around me don't get bored. I'm sure they appreciate the thought) absolutely fascinating one bloke on the bus hunting for it for about 10 minutes. I got the Dolphin holder which is just the right size for socks and their DPNs. I also got a lovely burgendy red and gold bag from Blue moon. Which will not last long, I got home and CGBF's first comment was, that's a really nice bag, it looks perfect for a shaving bag. I have a temporary reprieve. I got more Blur for a matching scarf, more Debbie Bliss, last of the same dye lot to make CGBF a jumper and maybe a scarf, I also got some purple Twilley's of Stamford Gorgeous and off white Jarol Cool Aran to use as Weft (the long one that goes up and down the loom). Yes I am ready to try it... Later today. I'll use Twilley's freedom spirit (dark green and mainly purple) on the Twilley's gorgeous. The Jarol will be used for the blue hand spun for Rebecca. I'm due to start sorting the weft and from there making a scarf today. Eeeeek. Lord is Gul Dukat is hot if disturbing. Actually I left by youngest brother and he had a neck. As you'd expect him to. I came back to visit and he had none, he looked like this, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guldukat.jpg without the ridge bits.. I. Was. Shocked. Absolutely shocked. Yes he maybe a rugby player but he's been one for years and for it to suddenly disappear was nothing short of shocking when he wandered in to say hi. Scary Mary. Right I'd better leave wool behind before I ramble much more.

I also had a trip to Lakeland and I got some Le Parfait jars, cake tins, chopsticks and a pudding steamer. No spatula :(. I have never made a steamed pudding. But I have a Kenwood to christen, some naivety, eggs, marmalade and a recipe from the saturday Kitchen "Shirley Spears' marmalade pudding with Drambuie custard". I am not making the custard. Woohooo :).

Anyway I have two thoughts.

1 is sponge puddings easy to make?
2 its a bad idea to get water on electrics, we all should know that. So how bad an idea is it to take a dripping wet umbrella (and self) up an escalator?