pinup's other block

pinup's other block
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

Now this is a big cheat because it isn't 'sewing' as such but when I went to Pavi Yarns the other week they had these lovely checoslovakian (err not sure if they're chec or slovac?) glass buttons. I have been on the look out for something for Pinup's second block and these seem the perfect thing. So now there are dragonflies on both blocks Pinup :o) Both blocks are filling up nicely and the parcel, well padded , enought to protect the glass I hope, is ready for me to take to the post office in the morning. So look out Helen get your sunglasses out, they're bright. Not like that gloomy photgraph at all, but that's what you get when you try to photograph things at 11pm! *rolls eyes* Next up is Rozhearts block.

cheeky

cheeky
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

Well, here he is! King of Beasts, as you can see, fierce and fearless in the persuit of small rodents ... and as soft as clarts! This photo was taken when he was still a fat cat. As you can see he has managed to get his best side in the photo so you can't see just how fat he was, if only i knew how to do that. Mind you I am not usually photgraphed lieing on my back VBG Actually I am not usually photgraphed at all. But that is another story.

So, you may well ask, how is he? Worth his weight in gold! No one is allowed to do anything to this cat as I have invested a forune in him! I think the vets got the bill wrong by a couple of noughts. Really, I am going to ring them today as there are a couple of mistakes in it.

But healthwise he is much better. Tail up to greet me in the mornings and hissing and growling when little Miss Cat tries to nick his secial diet cat food. The logistics of feeding 3 cats when one of them is on a prescription diet are a whole new adventure. But the old bag of bones is feeling much better after his stay in the hospital and looks far less boney. Phew!

Sadly, now that he has renal failure, it is just a matter of time and how well the medication continues to work. But we will cross the next hurdle when we get to it :o)

hope's row

hope's row1
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

Here's the latest row in the row by row quilt swap I am in. This pattern is called magnolia buds and is from the 'quilter's cache' site. It is a week late going off but I have finally finished and I'm pleased with how it came out. Points are far from perfect, but hey!

My next row is for Linda. Haven't even begun to look at that, but cq is coming first :o)

Knitting? Not a stitch for days, cat is sick and I'm back and forth to the vets, poor love has renal failure, old bag of bones that he is (previously known as fatcat). He's in the 'hospital' on a drip :o( Big tears from DD. We wait and see if the treatment works.

pavi stash

pavistash2
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

Feeling very blissful this evening, must be the SEX

Stash
Enhancement
eXercise

sorry immi :o)

This is what I bought on our forum group trip to Pavi Yarns. I also met 5 other ladies from the Angel Yarns Forum. It was lovely to meet people you 'chat' to every day and they are all great. Isn't it good that our crafting communities embrace so many different people and that by shareing the one thing we have in common, craft, that we learn how much else we share too.

So, 4 pattern books, 500g suri Alpaca *drool* some feza (totally mad yarn) a couple of variety thread packs for the cq, some dragonfly buttons also for cq, and some Australian wool wash. There are some beautiful kids patterns in the books so expect to see some of those in the future. The Feza, well it's a bit pricy but totally crazy! not sure why I like it, but I do. I'll try to get a closer picture in daylight tomorrow so you can see what i mean. The alpaca is probably destined for a shawl at some point, no yardage on the lables.

The lovely Karen & Paul at Pavi were excellent hosts, and very helpful with info about their stock, and made us all feel very welcome, thank you again. I showed Terri how to crochet which makes me think i should do some m,ore crochet :o) All in all a lovely day, made even better by DH's charming and supportive attitude in taking little one out for the day whilst I shopped till I dropped.

clapotis finished

clapotis6
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

At last I can do something else!

Clapotis was compulsive, and I love the Lorn's Lace Black Purl, so i am wearing it now, without blocking. *shock horror - the knitting police will be round any minute!*

I thought I wasn't going to have enough yarn so I made it one repeat narrower but had plenty so made it one repeat longer and still had some over *sigh!* should just follow the pattern, right?! But, no, I am happy with the result and the extra length makes it lovely and cuddly.

Next one will be in the Noro Silk Garden that I bought originally to do this one in, pattern looks a lot more complicated than it really is once you get knitting.

Lots of sewing to catch up on so I am NOT casting on anything new, Not, I say, NOT. If I say it often and loud enough does that make it true? VBG.

Must finish DD's top as she has tutted in disgust at every session that went into the Clapotis. I'll get some better photos in daylight too as the flash really doesn't do that lovely yarn justice, but, Oh!, the price! No don't think about the price, just feel the quality, ladies, feel the quality.

birthday SEX planned for saturday coming, off to Pavi yarns for a rumage. Plastic needed, delay the pain whilst enjoying the gain, well ... it is my birthday, you know!

:o)

clapotis progress

clapotis1
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

I think I haven't ordered enough yarn for my Clapotis (pattern at knitty.com) so i have done one less repeat for the increase rows. This will make it a little narrower than the patern but only by 12 stitches. I measured the length on the pattern and decided I needed every inch!
So far i have done 4 repeats of the straight rows. The back looks like this
and you can see on this photo that I am following a tip I got on the Angel Yarns Forum. Instead of using stitch markers to indicate which stitches to drop I am purling that stitch on knit rows ad knitting it on purl rows. As this stitch will be dropped and unravel down to for the ladder it doesn't effect the final Clapotis but does make the knitting quicker.

I am using Lorna's lace Lion & Lamb which is beautiful and soft ad i love the colours (Black Purl) I am really looking forward to wearing this everywhere and with everything!

At the right of the photo above you can see the reverse riew of the ladder


and here is the right side view


with blocking the ladder will open up a bit, but i love it laready. Everything else has taken a back seat. ;o)

On the down side I can't get into my other forum and on the one occassion i did manage to get in it wouldn't let me reply to a pm so I have sent an email but the address is one I sometimes have trouble with. I hope you will know who you are and that I am trying to talk to you :o) Nothing important but a chat would be lovely. Hope you can feel the positive vibes in the meantime ROFLOL

Also in progress I should say that i am ready to pick up and knit the sleeves on DD's jumper but I tried late last night and ended up doing them inside out VBG so I've left that for now.

I haven't started my swapee's socks yet for the AY sock swap but I have everything ready to go. Another pair of socks still otn, bertie scarf half done, and various other bits and bobs.

i need to put the knitting down for a few days as I have some deadlines to meet for other things, you know, it seemed like a good idea at the time but now I am wondering ...

Plus teenage DS (the Aspie one) starts College tomorrow - wahoo - fingers crossed, it's a long story.