WIP erm whatever day it is

I’m a little out of it because my hip’s decided to hate me. To be fair, I was reaching for a cup on a shelf and twisted but it shouldn’t have lead to this

That would be a cortisone injection directly into my hip muscle. If you think “well, that must have hurt” you’d be right!

Well, on to the Works In Progress:

1. The “Leprechaun” sweaters are motoring along, but they just look like the one I photographed only less finished!

2. Gusset Heel Basic Sock

I’m playing a game of chicken with my nerve as to when I start the ribbing.  I think I’m almost there.  The fit is very good and the yarn is lovely.

3. Goddessknits Anniversary Mystery Shawl 09 (GKAMS09)

I started this three times before I got it right and I’ve already made a mistake design choice as to where I put the dividing stitches, but here I am at half way through clue 1

I worked out that to finish in time for the next clue I have to complete 7 rows per day (I’m ahead of that at the moment).

My goals for the next week are:

• Finish as many of the sweater ornaments as I can and start planning the little hangers that go with them
• Complete clue 1 of the GKAMS09 and start clue 2 when it’s released
• Complete the first Gusset Heel sock and cast of for the second (try and complete the toe)

Small admin note: I’m trying WordPress’ own photo hosting for this post.  Do the photos load faster than with Flickr?  Do you like the fact you can enlarge the photos without having to go to Flickr?  Do you prefer Flickr-hosted photos because you can comment or “favourite” them?  Had you noticed/do you care?

When you Bloglines people get this …

Can you please switch to a feed-reading service that doesn’t suck? I use GoogleReader but there’s also NewsGator, the in-built one in Safari or Firefox and I’m sure a ton of others.

Even the founder of Bloglines uses GoogleReader, that’s how much it sucks.

Thank you for reading this service announcement.

Sale back on

Unless I mention otherwise, the stash and needle sale is back on.

I’m also selling two skeins and one ball of the Olive Handpaintedyarn.com laceweight, but I can’t remember where I put it, so if you want it but don’t mind waiting, let me know!

Just to reiterate, I’m willing to trade and I’m open to some sensible bartering/trade if you want to make me an offer. All the details are on the Stash Sale page.

Stash Sale!

There’s Krack Silk Haze, Cotton Tape and some other goodies.

I also have some surplus-to-requirements needles on offer.

It’s a permanent page which you can access via the link in the top right of the blog, or click this link.

I’ll be updating it as I prune my stash.

It’s all for sale or trade (I’m after some laceweight yarn in Welsh red!)

Sunshine!

OMG!! The Sun!!! I think I might be using the exclamation point a little too much!!!!

Of course, the sun has now gone again, but that day and a half of summer was lovely.

Onwards and upwards my dear old things!*

Wren:

I may not make it to my self-imposed deadline of the end of this month, but I’m not going to be far off.

Second sleeve posing with the first (just to prove no photo-recycling is going on!)

I’m still undecided about what I’m going to do about the neck and front edges. I’m currently leaning towards a narrow, short-row-shaped collar in 1/1 rib with two rows of double crochet (US: single crochet) for the front edges.

At least I can rip it out if it’s not quite right, unlike sewing!

SOS design:

Hence forth known as the Turing socks, named for Alan Turing.

Version 2 of my Summer of Socks design.
Notice the sub-conscious “Live Long and Prosper” sign I did with my hand. Geek much?
Bamboo/superwash yarn from Wooly Wonka Fibers

I have listened and obeyed! Actually, the comments were spilt between “Careful with that cruel mistress, vertical garter stitch” and “cute socks!”.

I mulled it over, and decided to go down a more conventional, well-trodden, path.

I feel I’ve kept some of the details of the original, but with some refinements.

In any case, these are a pair of socks I’m looking forward to wearing myself, regardless of how the designing goes!

MS3:

Still slogging along on Clue 3 (Clue 4 was released today).

I’ve made a promise to myself to knit at least two rows a day, just to keep going with it, and I’m managing more than that! (Free advice: Set low goals and achieve them easily!)

Boring admin stuff:

I’ve finally updated my “Podcasts” post and gone through all of the posts from the Blogspot blog to remove the “uncategorised” tag and assign relevant labels. It took me a while. I got there eventually!

*”My dear old thing” is a phrase well known to Test Match Special listeners as it is frequently uttered by the unique Henry Blofeld.