SP Goodies, Knitting Update, Yarn Pron and NEWS!!!

Wow, that has to be the longest title so far. I guess it's indicative of the kind of week I've had!
I mean, it must have been mad for me not to blog midweek but so much has happened, I've barely had time to think!

Anyway, start at the beginning, Saturday, marched bro and hub down the road to get new 'puter. Obviously, out of necessity rather than choice and the credit card's taken a dent but it just had to get sorted, you know, make the bad thing go away stylee?

Anyway, local comp shop happens to build on a Sunday so I got my shiny new 'puter on Sunday then had to take it for a walk down the road Monday 'cos it didn't have the memory it should have done (at least it was an easy fix!). Weird thing is, new 'puter is a she, with a name- don't ask me how or why, but Millie is a lady with attitude, she's big, black and fast yet likes her own space, she's now on the floor. Conversely, Fred (old computer) was old but reliable, had a few health scares but at least passed peacefully and quickly in his sleep.

So, enough nonsense, here's the first thing finished this week ( for last Sunday to be exact), I was comissioned to knit a pair of slippers for a friend's ballerina-loving mum. here's the result...

They were knitted with a pattern from Handknit Holidays (originally Nutcracker Slippers) and are threaded with ribbon to criss cross round your leg, just like true ballet slippers. I hope she'll be pleased.

By the way, unfortunately, I lost every single photo I'd taken of the stuff I sent to my SP in the crash so unfortunately, there'll be less of a reveal than originally anticipated!

Anyway, yarn pron, My latest stash enhancement a la Posh Yarns, (minus the top right which is actually Goddess yarns). 2 Skeins laceweight cashmere (top left)- sorry, I forgot the name! One cobwebweight silk/cashmere in seek (centre) and 1 4 ply pure cashmere in shade- Gecko which just seems to match up with the goddess yarn v. well. No actual plans yet, they're just occupying the "pretty" category, but given time, they will speak their purpose!!!

Update on Jackety Coaty thing- it now has collar and I'm halfway thru the rib on one side front.

Most of the 200 odd stitch rib was actually produced whilst travelling- aroung and 8+hour round trip!

Anyway, the puropse of the journey was to isit P+M Woolcraft and try out their Majacraft wheels, my original plan had been to take my Ashford Traveller to Woolfest and part exchange it for either a Little Gem or a Suzie Pro. As that isn't going to happen, I had to travel the 140+ miles to north Milton Keynes instead! Well, they didn't have any Suzies in stock, but I tried the Little Gem and HATED it!!!

It's hard to describe but the treadle action is so different to a usual wheel and because the wheel is so small, it's very easy to underply your fleece. Somehow, the scotch Tension is the "wrong way round", I ended up loosening it when I wanted to tighten and vice versa. So, I actually came home empty handed, still with my Traveller, a somewhat expensive trip with the toll road, lunch etc. and particularly the 5 hours it took to get home with queues at what seemed like every junction!!

However, I did learn a valuable lesson, It was the first time I'd tried a whel before buying, I liked the Rose but it would never be described as a foldable small wheel and the price was prohibitive. I did actually like the Ashford Joy which surprised me greatly, given the low orifice etc. but I've actually settled on that one! I've found the best price and despite the fact it doesn't and will never have a jumbo Flyer, it certainly fulfills every other criteria!

There will not be a trade in however, I still need the features on the Traveller, but I will need to find a new home for the Kromski as there is DEFINITELY not room in our house for THREE wheels!

SP stuff

I got my first SP parcel, woohoo!!

A hugemungous box from LittleBitty Knits, packed full of yarny goodness!!

Some Malabrigio in shade peach tree and some gorgeous singles spun in purples, beiges, pinks and tans ( as usual, camera does its less than perfect job, but you get the idea).

Yummy superwash merino sock yarn from J Knits in all my favourite colours in a colourway called Louisiana, 'aint it pretty?

And some lovely laceweight from KnitPicks. You can't see it but it's a lovely blend of blues and purples which I adore and have to find the ultimate pattern for some day.

This yarn so reminds me of Noro, it's pure wool with a teensy bit of silk but look at those colour changes!!! I think it's fab and I'll have to find some like colours to match it with so I can knit something big.

Nearly finally, there were 3 different colours of Paton's Kroy, another blue/purple blend, a purple pair and a grey marl ( with a few men in my family, it won't be a problem to find a home for them!). I can see I'm going to have do do some major sock knitting in the near future, maybe starting with the next 6 socks knitalong and then, who knows. Still, it'll have to fight for space in between spinning time!

Anyway, the final thing is a whole pound of goregous merino tops in a blend of greens that is so fine it just screams lace. It's a lovely big ball and I keep forgetting to photograph it!

Anyway, NEWS!!!!

The Burton Manor meet got pushed forward to Wednesday afternoon (not Monday as I'd previously said), I got loads of things ready took a huge box of knits along, was nervous as hell but, hey I got the gig!!!!

I'm all signed up to do two initial courses, one in November, the other February next year. I'm so chuffed, it's like my dream job or something! Anyway, what with getting ready for it and now scrabbling to fill in course details so they can go off to the printers on Tuesday, I haven't had time to think! Still, hopefully I've completed them properly today, will e-mail them later and I can have a me day tomorrow, fingers crossed!