The re-imagining of Lady E

Back in 2008 i knit a lovely stole. Unfortunately i found it too impractical to wear it and for the last six years i have just looked longingly at it. Well, yesterday i began the task of making it into something i know i will love!

I am going to make a snuggly hooded wrap with it for those cooler evenings when i don't quite need a whole blanket but i want something to wrap round me.

The Christmas before last Becky gave me two balls of Marble Chunky in red and reddy-purple shades so i am going to take the plunge and attempt the braided effect that i have always wanted to try. I think the three colour ways will go well together, there is a lovely contrast between the turquoise and red and purple and dark blue colours, we shall see! I am using the Venus Tips Up pattern as a starting point and will add the hood onto the corner after the main body is knit.

Theoretically!!

You didn't believe me, did you!

Little Lady Eleanor - FINISHED!
Originally uploaded by franneyk

See, i told you it was finished!
I lurve it, and apparantly so does my friend Lisa as i had to literally prise it from her hands after i showed it to her ;o)
I see me knitting more entrelac in my future ;o)

First FO of 2008!

YAY! i am seriously doing a happy dance!
My Little Lady E is now finished, all the ends are sewn in and i can tell you it is toasty warm and scrumptious!
I bought a second ball from an internet store(can't remember which one now, but i know the service was good!) and when it turned up it had the same dyelot, what are the chances of that :oD
My plan was to knit one ball to the end, then put it to one side, then knit the second ball to the end and then join the two in the middle - well, i know what i am like with big projects and believe me, this scarf to me is a biiiiiig project *lol*
It kind of worked, and i must say in the dreary night-time lighting it looks bloody good, but we shall see what daylight brings *lol*
I love the Marble but i have a couple of grumps - firstly, there were three joins in the second ball, none of which managed to stay in colour sequence, luckily with this project it doesn't matter too much as it's pretty much patchwork anyway and secondly there were certain colour sections that were more of a DK weight than a chunky weight, and the yarn feels stretched and "hard" for want of a better word. I would definitely think twice before knitting a garment in it but for blankets/shawls/cushions it's perfick :oD
I shall endeavour to take photos tomorrow if the light is good enough and if i can stop wearing it long enough to get a picture ;o)
I am going to allow myself to cast on a pair of socks and i will knit them exclusively until they are done and then i shall tackle one of my many unfinished projects. It's kind of a resolution but as i don't make them it's not really ;o) I just want to get rid of some of the UFOs i have hanging around and i'm not allowed to cast on anything new until one is finished. Peach mohair shawl anyone? *lol*

Busy busy!

What with going out drinking, finding a new knitting project to play with and deciding that my shit-hole of a house needs cleaning i've had little time for blogging! I also have sewing commitments to try and fit in and tonight is my nephews Nativity play which i am very much looking forward to - except the roads will be frozen and it'll be dark and i hate driving in those conditions!
So, new knitting project? I've sat and stared at my huge ball of Marble for months now and i finally decided it wanted to be a Lady Eleanor so i cast it on and have now ordered a second ball so i can finish the other half :oD
I am loving the way it's coming out with a patchwork effect rather than the usual stripe effect you see with Noro or Kauni (and another just because) yarns and it has really whetted my appetite for more modular knitting so once this is done i will be casting on my clamshell stole in a variety of toning sock yarns - got to use them up somehow!
I had a small count and i worked out i have roughly ENOUGH sock yarn now :oD
I can't possibly say how much as certain people read my blog occasionally and i get nagged about my stash enough as it is, but let's just say that i could knit a pair a month for at least a year, maybe even two ;o)
My CTnY and Ravelry friends obviously know differently, but shhhhhhhh - keep it under your hat :oD
As for the going out drinking, last weekend was our club Christmas do. We started off in Little Bay restaurant where i had pork medallions for starter with black pudding (never had it before, quite enjoyed it despite knowing it was made with pig's blood) and a slice of warm apple, braised beef with parsnip puree for main course and one of my favourite puddings of all time - poached pears with pannacotta. YUM! Only the pears weren't quite so yum as some bright spark thought that poaching the pears in mulled wine spices might be a good idea...NOT! Especially not when the smell of cinnamon paired with the taste of cloves is enough to make you gag :o(
Such a shame as it really spoiled my meal for me, but i washed the taste away with some Sambuca!! :oD
After the meal we all trundled back to our leader's house for some party, and it was good and there's nothing i can tell you about that as i was very drunk, i can remember laughing a LOT and drinking a LOT and staying awake until gone 6am because Bloke wanted to watch the boxing but i'm afraid the details have been vodkaad :oD
I've also been preparing for a Christmas card and stitchmaerker swap by buying lots of lovely beads, crystals and charms from eBay which of course takes quite a bit of time as there is research and comparing to do before a purchase can be made. One parcel has arrived already (sent Monday) and there are two more to come and then the fun can start! Bloke is out for his works do on Friday night so i have decided that rather than going out myself i am going to stay home and get busy as i have lots of stitchmarkers to make and i also wanted to make the cards myself too! My deadline for the cards is Wednesday so if i knuckle down to it this weekend i shall be fiiiiiiiiiiine! :oD

Famous last words - i expect to be panic buying cards on Tuesday :oD