All Fingers and Thumbs

I really enjoyed the post 'small pleasantnesses' on Yarnstorm the other day. I feel that I am happiest when I appreciate the simple luxuries of my everyday life. I thought when I took up knitting that I would find this to be a 'small pleasantness'. I find though that it is growing from this smallness into the mightyness of an all consuming passion. I sometimes think that if anyone else knew how much I thought about knitting they would want to carry me off for a rest cure; luckily I can let most of it out here so everyday life people think it's just a nice, little hobby. Who but fellow knitters could understand my total, crazy joy at these few rows of ribbing that are the start of my Arisaig? Let's just hope she makes it to become an oak. I was pleased with the reception my Flair received today when I took her out visiting. Resisting the urge to say "LOOK WHAT I MADE" the second I stepped through the door I waited a suitably long time for my friend to ...

I'm back in the country but haven't made it home yet, I'm with the 1TB's family until Sunday evening. I would like to go home now mainly so I can cast on for Arisaig so Webbo doesn't get too far ahead of me :) I've had a lovely morning catching up on the blog news from the week having been trapped in a conference hotel with limited contact with the world. Thank you all so much for your kind compliments on Flair - I'm quite looking forward to seeing her again - she shows off her best side in the photos I think! Some knitting was achieved this week on the Chain Rib Socks though not much progress as I had to rip back the heel flap when I mysteriously went down to 26 rather than 27 stitches and could not find where.... After four taggings (thanks Seahorse , Glenna , CraftyDramaQueen and Amanda ) I'm going to give in and let you in on some random things about me. I'm going for Amanda's version with just five things as I'm lazy and won't be a...

....making her blog debut it'sssssssssssssssssssss Flair! Pattern: Flair by Wendy Bernard Yarn: Blue Skys Alpaca Cotton in Thistle. I used about 5 and 3/4 skeins for size L with a few extra rows on the body and the collar. It is the lovely softest cotton but the downside of that is that it is pilling and shedding a fair bit. Needles: 4.5mm/80cm circular and 4.5mm bamboo dpns for the sleeves Started: 11 April 2007 Finished: 20 May 2007 New Skills: First go at top down all in one construction - great for sizing as you go, and saving on the seaming but I did get a bit bored and demoralised on the long rows towards the end. First make one increases which after a couple of slips I got on with quite well. First seed/moss stitch edging. First buttons. Modifications: More length and a higher collar - and so more buttons. Notes: It felt like this was taking a long time so I was surprised to see I only started it on 11 April. I think it felt slow as you could see where it was going from t...

Thank you so much to Webbo , Seahorse and Dreamcatcher for the warnings, advice and assistance over Arisaig . I am in love with my swatch; the 1TB thinks the yarn is definitely addling my brain as I keep waving it at him going "look I made this". "Quite obviously" he thinks as he didn't do it and the cats can't hold knitting needles so it must have been the one that is trying to explain the household insulating properties of yarn. I should say that the crafting fever has got to even him though - he's currently making a latch hook rug for our friend's nephew - with Peter Rabbit on it! My swatch is on gauge I think and I decided that I should be brave and not give up on this beauty at the first hurdle. As guided I searched Ysolda's blog and did some reading up generally on the web and I found that the main concerns centred around the arms not being scaled up in proportion for the larger sizes. I borrowed a copy of the Ann Budd book to check t...

I have surfed the internet waves and fought rival pirates to bring back a haul of treasure to the good ship All Fingers and Thumbs. Normal score - great bargains - couldn't be missed - anyone know how Net Nanny works? - I think I should block Ebay :o) It's all the fault of the Cotton Glace which I've been keeping an eye out for. It is destined to become Agnes from Rowan 35. Just off to check on my latest auctions, hmm - I mean work feverishly on my current projects!!

... seems like we're getting them with interest now! This is me half an hour ago after the walk home. Quite literally soaked to the skin. Thanks so much for the advice on Arisaig - I've been doing some net research and will do some recalculations. How heartbreaking if after all that teeny tiny knitting it was miles out! Off to cuddle up with tea and yarn and warm up :)

All weekend I have flitted from thing to thing and it has been glorious . Pictured here are the chain rib socks, a swatch for Sitcom Chic (wrong gauge and having second thoughts), the start of the easy lace scarf (oh the silk - it is true love), and of course, you know who (better make sure I get on with her or that Dreamcatcher is going to beat me over the line!). The only completion was for the back of Moonlight - mainly to release the Brittany needles as this is a wintry cardi which I don't feel the urge to complete this season, she's gone for a summer hibernation. The greatest pleasure has come from swatching for Arisaig , I am so entranced by the teeny stitches and the emerging pattern is quite magical to me. I feel incredibly proud that I can manage this pattern. I'm not sure I'm quite on gauge as I'm finding it hard to count the stitches in the pattern but I'm going to finish the second repeat and block it and see.

It is fair to say that there has not been enough of this done this week: And far too much of this: Resulting in lots of this: The All Seasons Cotton (shade Cookie) was one of those bargain lots that I seem to fall for - not knowing what I want to knit but knowing I can't let the chance pass me by! I have since found the Sitcom Chic pattern which I think will be great for this yarn. The Rowanspun DK is to go in the pile I have to make a great stripey Booga Bag . The cone - Bramwell acrylic in Eau de Nil - is saying Arisaig to me - whispering it on the breeze. As for the Debbie Bliss Silk, it's just a love thing. I may fill my house with skeins of it just for petting. I am so excited - quiet weekend = MUCH knitting - of many things both mentionable - and if she's lucky - unmentionable too.

...F***r. I may have acquired a couple more knitting books this weekend. These are a bit different though, vintage is how an enterprising ebayer would describe them. Car boot bargains at 50p a go, can't go too far wrong at that price can you? Knitting Fashion has some great sections on different stitch patterns, and Family Knitting has some of the most entertaining patterns ever! Actually once you're past the world's largest poncho, or the loopyness of the loopy cardis and matching hats, there are some good classic shapes which with a little adaptation I'm quite keen on making. This jacket (without the pattern) I think will be great for some of the Rowan Plaid I have stashed. As for the unmentionable, all I have to say is 2 1/2 hours = 4 rows of the body this afternoon.

That is an official Lime n Violet squee of excitement for I am officially very excited. A few days ago I read this post over at Stitchville and found out that Gosia is going to teach some sock workshops, I was immediately consumed by the desire to go and feed my sock addiction some more so I enquired. Today I sent my deposit over and next month I shall be immersed in the world of Socks, Socks, Socks for two glorious Saturdays. I feel a bit like I used to about Christmas as a child, if only I could make the days until then go faster ! In the meantime I am finding a bit of retail therapy is helping with the not knitting of Flair and now have a whole new range of temptations that may take me away from her! Still I have the measure of my short attention span and I can guarantee that I shall be knitting just her at least until Sunday evening as I'm going to the almost inlaws for the weekend and only Flair shall accompany me. My ears and eyes are shut to the pleas of the other ya...

... in the accomplished jumper knitter. I should be doing this: And yet there are so many things I would like to start doing instead: Like the lace scarf in the pure silk, or the Dimple Stitch Shawl which has been almost on the needles for so long, or a pair of Thuja's for the 1TB or trying to recreate a favourite old jumper that has seen better days. Oh those new projects they promise so much and yet half way in I'll just be itching to do the next batch of things I've seen and love. Maybe I'll just go and read a bit of this instead: