I stumble and fall...

Thanks for the suggestions, Kath. Alas, the alternative project I picked up was a lace shawl in some slippery ladder yarn - after a few rows I decided I wasn't that much of a masochist and I frogged it. The yarn knits up OK on the chunky km, except for when it got caught on a gatepost and I didn't spot it for 80 rows. *sigh*. Yes, I'm ignoring all three machines at the moment.

Oh, and the Cog already has three guitars, and I have two (one's a bass, one's an acoustic). There's also my violin somewhere, and a basic keyboard. I think we have quite enough instruments in this house! :) I'm sure I'll think of something appropriate for his birthday, nearer the time. Perhaps a new pedal for the electric...

I have to admit I've also been rather distracted getting my new laptop to talk to the rest of the network. The Cog and I finally cracked it and got it talking to the printer, with a tweak on the PC and three bits of software on the Apple. Which is lucky, 'cause nobody on the official Apple forum replied :(

Frustrating morning in Cov, not least because I later remembered I'd meant to pick some things up for a swap - it was bitter and windy and I was quite glad to get back to my car with its new front tyres, even if it did come to over £100. Got home and put the fire on. Winter, it's time you left! Missing the hour today too - I technically overslept, except I didn't. Ah well. Lighter evenings here we come!


Current mood: determined

Grrr!

Ok this is gonna be a rant, so consider this a heads up...

Another set of drunks at knitting club tonight. This one insisted he could knit; insisted he could knit a jumper in an evening. I refused to teach him, although I did give him some already-started knitting. I was already supervising a knitter and a crocheter - I think that's more than enough for most people. He was drunk - his mate was really rather annoyed with him, and couldn't wait to get out of there.

Getting extremely tired of being passive and humouring these people. We are not some kind of cabaret (thanks Claire, couldn't have put it better), we are there to knit and chat and socialise with each other. Drunks not invited! And unfortunately it's getting to be a nuisance now.

I feel it's partly my responsibility - I should stand up and be stern - I am used to being quiet, putting up and shutting up. I don't like to be rude to strangers, especially drunken males. I'm not that muscular. Despite my outward persona I'm actually really quite shy and such confrontations make me really, really nervous.

But I have to admit, the three factors that I chose our current venue on (quietness, well-lit, no tvs) have gradually eroded. Our favourite corner (out of sight of the bar) is so poorly lit now you'd have trouble identifying your friend's drink. The bulbs are half out - energy saving apparently, but they've installed two TVs so that's bull. The music is often too loud, although they do turn it down if we ask. It's always too hot, too - the seats have heaters under them - they could save some frigging energy right there!

Coming home furious twice in one week? This has to stop. I need to get myself a pair of balls. If it's not fun anymore then something is wrong, and tonight it was not fun once the p*sshead turned up. Think a 'phone call to the manager might be n order tomorrow.

Meh: the knitting doldrums sound like this

Well, not really that much to report, lately. Blusa has stalled - can't decide whether to frog the whole upper arm (two day's work) which is straight, and re-crochet with increases, or whether to add some sort of mesh triangles instead - it'll be about 6cm at the arm scye either side, so not exactly a small amount. Damn my bingo wings! :(

Been bashing away at the Debbie Bliss cabled patchwork jacket. Mum "helpfully" pointed out that the back is really, really wide - I could almost wear the back as a shawl - and I really don't know if I can face frogging the whole thing! HST I could at least correct that cable cross I mis-charted. The pattern is only in two sizes, and I picked the larger one - I was one stone heavier at the time, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that DB patterns often come out large anyway.

The Cog's cardi is in a heap on the front bedroom floor. Made two button bands, but the cardi is too long to link in one section - and I tried anyway, and managed somehow to squish the band and make it look awful. I need to sit down and hand-sew it - I know this, but can't raise enthusiasm for it. And then it needs the cuffs frogging, and ribbing by hand, too.

So... in a bit of a ho-hum mood. I kind of feel as if all my projects are plotting against me! And I'm bloody-minded enough to keep on at them, even when I subconsciously know I won't like the outcome. I need to make a decision on the first two projects, stat, and get my butt into gear on the last one.

Ah yes, I did finish the Fleece Artist sock. Finished the rib on Friday night down the pub, haven't tried the sock on yet though 'cos fell into bed. And the sundress I've been making at college is pretty much finished, I just need to replace the ribbon with something longer. The less said about the actual course, the better; suffice to say I will not be re-enrolling next term.

On the bright side, I had a really cool "early birthday" this weekend (officially it was Monday but I was out 'til 9:50pm). The naughty Cog got me a MacBook Pro - second-hand, but pristine, so I have been playing around with it. So far I've surfed with it, and I've changed the wallpaper/screensaver. Bit rusty on the old Macs, and I was never an expert, but I'm looking forward to learning it. Might even ditch the desktop PC altogether eventually, 'cause I can't see why I'd need both?! No idea what I can get him for his b'day in November - how can I top that?!

I have been a naughty girl...

...because a fellow Raveller was selling this, and I bought it! Picking it up at Wonderwool next month. I've always wanted to have a proper go at weaving, and TBH? the weavemaster knitting machine attachment is really quite bulky and takes up a lot of space/hogs a knitting machine. Looks like you can convert the ashford to 4 shaft, which is excellent, because that's what I really want to have a go at, ever since I got this book for xmas. Parts are still available, too, which is always good. Now, I wonder if I can talk the Cog into making me a warping frame...

So, another hobby to add to my repertoire? As well as tatting? Well, it keeps me off the streets, haha! Tatting is making what looks like a lark's head knot with one yarn, over another one. Looks really complex, but is really easy.

I'm looking for a pearlised (mercerised?) crochet cotton for a shawl I want to design. It needs to be kind of shiny, like embroidery silk, but in decent quantities. I'll need to swatch a bit, to work out how much is needed. Anybody got any decent UK sources?

Spent an hour waiting to get a train to the NEC on Sunday - they cancelled the first one with about 5 minutes notice. Whilst I was waiting, they announced the Rugby train would arrive on platform 2 not 3 - however, they forgot to tell the train 'cause it arrived on platform 3 anyway. Much confusion! The train I finally caught, apparently stopped at all the local stops (according to the electronic displays at Cov station). However, the driver obviously had better ideas, and went straight to the NEC. So presumably anybody at a local stop had a good 90 minutes wait. On the way back, my train turned up on time, but another one was cancelled because they "didn't have enough crew". I'm sorry? Trains have a regular schedule - how hard is it to work out how much crew you'll need?! Unless, of course, you cancelled an earlier train, and perhaps stranded them at the wrong station?! Sheesh! No wonder people prefer to use their cars!

The NEC was great fun, but exhausting. Had a near-constant stream of folks on both days wanting to learn crochet. Nowhere to sit, again, unless you ate at the over-priced and over-worked restaurants. £2 for a single chocolate-chip cookie? I nearly caved, but talked myself out of it in the queue. When Subway (5 mins walk outside the halls) gives them out free with a cup of coffee?! On Sunday the sun was out, so I ate my sandwiches out on the grass. Had to stop a few folks using the UKHA stand as a resting spot, and it was constantly used as a thoroughfare between aisles, but that's a minor gripe. A few folks commented that it was nice to find free tuition, because the official workshops were quite pricey. Met a local woman who wanted MK tuition, so gave her my details. I'm happy to teach for petrol and a coffee...

In progress and yarny weekend...

Picked up two yarns at Andeeknit's new shop:


Forsell's Shamal 4ply - I see a circular yoked fairisle in its future


Manos del Uruguay yarn

Popped to BSK because I was in the area and found this:

Short ribber comb

Picked these up at the NEC:

Austermann Starlight


Tatting starter kit

(also picked up a stamp "Knit by" with a ball of wool - forgot to photograph it!)

Whilst I was at the NEC two days I worked on this:

Blusa Queen sleeve - apart from the motifs, it was started Monday.

At the NEC, the Pick-Knit was on display:




The well had a plaque on the back about it being donated by the Knitting and Crochet Guild, alas, whoever set it out put that against the wall.

In the brief time I was home, I made inroads on this:

Fleece Artist sock - started on the Passap, to be ribbed by hand

Biding my time, drinking her wine

Did you ever find yourself in one of those situations, that, whatever you said, it'd be misconstrued, and you'd be the bad guy, no matter what? I'm biting my tongue today, keeping schtum, as it were, and for a rapacious Aries that's darned hard, let me tell you!

The first sleeve of the Blusa Queen is romping along, I'm about to join the motifs. I charted out the join this time, far easier than ripping it 5 times because it's not symmetrical. It's 8 loops to 12 trebles (or 11 spaces) so doesn't divide well. Think I found a happy medium, though. This crochet is addictive like crack. I worked on it for two hours Tuesday night, whilst the Cog pointedly put on his "needs-a-zip-then-it's finished" cardigan and harrumphed. Yeah, yeah, two bands of 11st by 200+ rows just isn't calling to me, ya know (even on the machine)? It'll get done eventually - I bought the zip two weeks ago.

Having written a 6 page "Crash Course in Machine Knitting", I'm wondering whether it would be worth offering it as a PDF for download, for a small fee. What do you think? Any takers? Most MK books are out-of-print now, alas.

We had a great spinning workshop last night (see pic of me, looking dark and mysterious). Claire brought her beautiful spindles - my output was rather less pretty, being either laceweight or lumpy DK. We got an interested bystander, a Scot, having a go eventually. Makes a nice change from the usual drunks and blokes trying to score that we usually attract. We knitters often get approached, despite being armed with pointy sticks and hooks. Do people have no concern for their own safety?!

I've the nice job of helping man the "Relax and Knit" UKHandknitting Association stand at the NEC tomorrow and Sunday. If you're at the show, come say hello!

Experiments in Slip Stitch Crochet

I can't take any credit for this - David has been working on this for a while, and says there's a whole website in the offing- coming soon hopefully! I thought I'd work up my own samples, to see what all the fuss is about. Hey presto, crochet with drape!

I originally "discovered" slip stitch crochet from a pattern in "Chain-free Crochet" by Belinda "Bendy" Carter, and then realised David had been exploring its possibilities too.

F = front loop only, B = back loop only, iF = front loop from behind, iB= back loop from behind. All crocheted in a DK yarn with an 8mm hook.


Every row F - this stitch has a line and a ridge like purls and is the same on both sides.


Every row B - looks like sideways stocking stitch, but is actually quite stretchy like garter stitch. Same on both sides.



Alternate rows of F and B

This stitch definitely looks like garter stitch on one side, the other side has more ridges.



Alternate rows of B and iF
This stitch has a "wrapped" or twisted line of bars on one side, and garter stitch ridges on the reverse.



Basketweave effect - 3iF,3B for 4 rows, then 3B,3iF for 4 rows. My favourite! The reverse side doesn't look like much.

Haven't managed to get my head round the "rib" stitches yet - they don't look anything much whilst you're working them, so (for me) it's easy to get lost and forget where I am. I should point out, most crafting is done in front of Star Trek in my house, unless it's machine knitting, which is banished to the front bedroom. I blame Worf, myself...

Current mood: happy

Poddling along...

Yes, I am still crafting. Blusa Queen inches forward VERY slowly - I'd done some 8 rows of sleeve before I realised that (a) again, the cast-on amount was wrong and (b) I needed to reposition the stitch pattern to get it central. I did post a translation here briefly, but took it down, as it could be construed as a copyright infringement, and I have no intention of getting into trouble! I have emailed Pinguion (I think - the website's in Brazilian) for permission. We shall see.

I also did a bit of test crochet for David at "My Yarnified Life" - increases and decreases in slip stitch crochet. They work very well. Can't wait to see the new website!

What else? Oh, I have been taking pictures for a new wiki at http://machineknitting.wikispaces.com/ - the idea is to create a log of knitting machines. I've also been writing and taking photographs for a crash course in machine knitting, which I will be running in June. I had planned to make sketches, but photographs are so much easier. I have a few Passap gadgets to photograph and add, after that it's twiddles and tweaks. I'm hoping the other Ravelry members can add their machines to the list.

Hasn't really been much crafting time at Chez Steelbreeze lately. Saturday the Cog took us to Stratford-Upon-Avon, a lovely little town already busy with tourists. It was sunny, windy and bitter on Saturday - finally got to visit a Paxton and Whitfields (cheese shop) although resisted getting anything. Bought some cherry tea, white hot chocolate powder and mint Lindors - the chocolate didn't last very long of course! Yesterday we were down south for a christening. Got there rather early, so popped to a local Beefeater pub for a drink (it was chucking it down). The restaurant had overflowed into the pub area and there was nowhere to sit that wasn't awash with toddlers and ketchup... so we spent a brief 45 minutes hoping the weather might change (it didn't). It's sad, but less and less pubs are just "pubs with food" - we passed two conversions into restaurants en route.

Oh, I did start a sock on the Passap last night with some fleece artist given to me. I should have paid more attention to the label, really - it's thicker than my usual sock yarn and is proving to be a bit of a struggle to knit. I got the foot made, but I might have to rib by hand, the machine is grinding over it.

This month's challenge is to get to grips with the garter bar. I think a small charity sweater with large purl stripes would be good practice and meet the challenge.

I've almost finished my sundress at sewing class. I need only take up the hem, and then treat any raw edges (should probably have done that before it was sewn up, but never mind). I can't remember what treatment my mum used to use - pinkng shears? Not sure. Talking of whom, she's still struggling with the concepts of wireless networking and getting online, so I hope to invite her over with the new laptop and try and get her started - she wants to get on an adult ed course, but they all seem to be fully-booked.

Edited to add URLS. Can't post links in email for some reason

Mrs Beeton - a heads up

"The Works" (discount book store) is selling reprints of "Mrs Beeton's Book of Needlework" for £2.99 (was £12.99). Got mine at the Rugby (UK) branch - knitting, tatting, crochet, netting and lace. I know it's available online via the Gutenberg folks, but it's nice to have the book (some 590 odd pages) in my hand with illustrations. Fantastic vintage resource if you like antique methods and designs. They are selling a few books of hers, I think.

Productive weekend

Well, I managed to get my overlocker working again - it was only working with one needle, so I could only do a 3 thread overlock. I much prefer the 4 thread - it's wider for a start, and the right needle becomes a safety thread. I think the main problem was that I had the looper tensions set really, really, high, because I'd been doing something that required it. You mess with the tensions a lot more on an overlocker, than you ever would with an ordinary sewing machine. Only downside? All the settings I logged on last year's overlocking course, were for the 3 thread, because it was playing up at the time. Oh well, never mind. Gives me an excuse to play about with them again, doesn't it?!

What else did I achieve this weekend? Well, I made two fun-fur scarves on the chunky knitting machine. Not sure what I shall do with them, I will either sell them for charity or donate them. The ribber bracket on the left had seized somewhat, so spent about 20 minutes cleaning and oiling it.

I used the overlocker to trim the lining from a skirt - the skirt had shrunk slightly, and the lining hadn't, and it had split, and lining material being what it is, it was going to be too complicated to repair it, so I lopped the whole lot off! Far better!

Picked up a pair of lovely trousers that fit great, but were for somebody 6ft tall. Took about 4 inches off to make them wearable. I didn't pay a lot for the trousers - I wouldn't normally buy something that didn't fit if it was expensive!

Planted a load of out-of-date seeds. Immediately forgot what we'd planted. They are all on the windowsill, hopefully germinating - I just hope the cat is sensible and doesn't try to sit on them. The Cog had the house upside-down, looking for some chili seeds he bought. He's determined he can grow them, even though we don't have a greenhouse anymore - the el cheapo one we had, got blown away so many times it broke, so we chucked it. We don't have a propagator, either - couldn't find one at the local garden store (and it's a BIG store!), and the only kind they had were electrical and £45. Electrical sockets are at a premium in our house - the Cog had to pay extra to get all the sockets doubled as it is, can you believe that in a new house?! Just wanted an ordinary tray with a plastic cover. It can't be that hard.

Spent nearly two hours in the kitchen yesterday, making up a pork, apple and cider pie, and hot n' sour fish soup. The pie was supposed to be for tea, but I failed to read the recipe properly, it was going to take 80 minutes in total, so it's in the oven for tea tonight. The Cog made pastry (half butter, half flour, a little milk). It didn't come out great - a bit crumbly, and the pie base shrank, I think he may have over-worked it despite my instructions. I'm pretty sure my Mum used to make pastry with half lard, half butter (it was Stork block, which said it was for baking). More practise required methinks!

Organised a swap on a very well known craft community. It's not even been 24 hours, but I'm already beginning to think it was a bad idea, 'cos I've already had a few complaints. 'Twas supposed to be a bit of fun! 'nuff said.