Cat: 0 Mouse: 1

We have encountered a slight problem... Normally, we are careful to make sure that any mice he catches are kept outside, but tonight? We now have a mouse loose in the loungeroom and the cat is happily settled on top of the tv cabinet. Completely ignoring the fact that there's a mouse in the same room. In this case, it is definitely Cat: 0 Mouse: 1

Black Yarn Swap

I am participating in a new swap! It's called the Black Yarn Swap, and one has to send off a pattern and the requisite yarn that is at least 50% black, needles or crochet hooks, something else knitting/crochet related that is also at least 50% black. I'm quite looking forward to this!

Ravelry name: Alacaeriel
1. Do you knit, crochet, or both? I can crochet, but I much prefer knitting
2. What do you prefer to knit or crochet? (socks? sweaters? cables?) What would you like to try to knit or crochet? Just now, I love knitting lace stoles, scarves or shawl, and socks. But I think I need sock yarn more
3. What are your hobbies outside of knitting or crocheting? External hobbies? Um... books, study, going out with friends...
4. Do you have any fiber allergies? Fiber preferances? I'm afraid I don't like the feel of acrylic yarns, especially on my feet.
5. Do you have any favourite books, music, or tv shows? If so, what are they? For books, I like David Eddings and Tamora Pierce, for tv shows, I like Midsomer Murders, Lewis, CSIs, Law and Order, for music, I don't mind, anything but rap or techno.
6. Do you have any pets? I have a cat, a blue burmese
7. Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks? I prefer sweets, my dentist is glad to know :-P
8. Do you prefer coffee or tea? either, in all honesty
9. Aside black, which colours do you like/dislike? I don't like lurid greens
10. What is your favourite time of the year? (season-wise or holiday-wise) Christmas/New Year is lovely
11. What is your favourite scent? I like roses...
12. What do you collect? At the moment, I seem to be collecting laceweight yarn, but I don't really collect anything.
13. If there's anything else you'd like your swappee to know, list them here: I can't think of anything else, but I'll let you know if I think of anything.

I'm quite looking forward to this swap. The fact that I haven't any black yarn in my ravelry stash is entirely beside the point.

An Update!

And here is your latest update on my life, brought to you by a realisation that I haven't updated in ages.

I have been knitting a bit. I've started the Entrelac socks from the Sock Knitters' Anonymous group in Ravelry and am 3/4 done on those...



And I've also been working a bit on a lace scarf that I got yarn and a pattern for in a swap...



And finally, I've also been working on my second attempt at my own Mystic Waters lace shawl...

I made one of these up to row 300 and something, but found I had too many mistakes and got completely lost. I then made one in its entirety for a family friend with no problems. Then I undid this one, washed the yarn, rewound it, and started over, and am now up to row 216 of 367 rows. I admit, the sudden coldness of the weather has made me really start on this again. I can't really wear it until it's finished, after all, and it's warm!

The sudden coolness of the weather has made a few changes around here. For a start, the cat has taken to sleeping on my bed, occasionally making me sleep around him, and I've decided to buy a new corset. I'm still trying to decide which one to get from Gallery Serpentine.

That is all from this neck of the woods just now. Have fun!

Finished!

Well, I have finished a few things since I last posted on here (sorry!). I finished the Hedera socks...



I finished these on February 29th, just in time for the January Sock Knitters Anonymous competition on Ravelry.

Yesterday, I also finished a pair of socks that have been my companions since November (or maybe October!). The Ruffled Garden Socks are finished! My family now calls this pair "celery socks" because of the green ruffle...



I was working to finish these because I needed the needles for another pair of socks I want to make. Entrelac socks, in fact. But instead, I've decided to buy a set of Knitpicks for the socks, so I'll now have a spare pair of bamboo 4 2.75mm needles, which I'm not that fond of, but can use if necessary.

The final think I finished, and only yesterday was it finished, is a hat. Knitted with a "sublime" yarn, it is absolutely gorgeous, and I'm thinking I might post it to a family friend...



And finally, I have finished my shawl for Anne (Mystic Waters Shawl) and posted it off. Anne was not expecting it, and she was pleased. She also told me that I was not to knit her anything else, and to knit something for myself. Why, thank you Anne, I think I might. But I still might send her the hat ;-)

Motoring Along

Well, my socks have made progress, although it's only a little...



I'm working more on my shawl for Anne (Mystic Waters Shawl). That's made a great deal of progress ...

I'm now on row 264 of 367 and am doing around 10 rows a day. Of course, that may taper off a little as the rows get even longer. But then, I'm seriously trying to get this finished in February. I know it's (supposed to be) summer and all, but right now the weather is comfortable rather than hot, and it's wet. I'd like Anne to have it before it starts to get cold. As far as she knows, we're just making a few hats for her to wear as she starts chemo. This shawl is a surprise for her.

I was working on one of these shawls for me, but... it was full of mistakes, and the needle it was on was incredibly irritating. It was made of bamboo, which isn't a bad thing, but the connection between the bamboo and the cable was lumpy and it seemed every single stitch that went over it had to get caught on the bump. I've ordered KnitPicks Options needle-tips and the 152cm cable, and I'm starting over. From scratch. I loved it, and I'll love it again. Just now, though...

An Update! Shock Horror!

Heaven's above, an update! I think I may pass out! But no, I'm still alive, still breathing etc., This update is long overdue and I have some news to get out of the way, first.

Okay, does anyone remember the engagement? I was engaged, but... it didn't work out. I'm now trying to get back on track, and have dived into my knitting as a result. Thus, a rather photo-heavy post.




Does anyone remember this stole, from Victorian Lace Today? Well, I finished it last year, and it is fabulous. I freely admit, I stuffed up the border, didn't do the requisite repeat adjustments at the corners, etc. but you can't really tell, to look at it.



but along with my sister, her cat decided to help with the first blocking.

I have also learned to make socks. I can do the short row heel...


And the flap heel...



And one of these pairs I've even finished!


This pair I hadn't yet conquered kitchener stitch, but I've almost got it. I shall upload photos of the current pair of socks later. I can't be bothered fussing around with my camera and uploading it right now. But that pair is currently 3/4's done.

I'm also working on a shawl for a family friend, who had some bad news late last year. I thought a lovely lace shawl she could wrap herself in (in her favourite colour) would be nice.

That's all from me just now. There will be another update within the week.

Ja mata!