Sweater Marathon almost at an end

And thank goodness for that! This sweater marathon has made for some very boring blog posts!

I sailed through the first and second sweaters, the third was no problem, and the front and back of the fourth were a breeze. BUT I've just got stuck on the sleeves of the fourth and final sweater. I just can't seem to get into the knitting at all. I've taken to doing housework - anything but knit these **%%$$!! sleeves! ;0) I've even got my lunch ready for work tomorrow - I normally run round like a headless chicken trying to get my lunch together approximately 10 minutes after I'm supposed to have left the house! *LOL*

But I'm hoping that tomorrow will bring a better knitting mojo and I'll get these flipping sleeves finished. I'm knitting them both at the same time - I get too bored otherwise!

Apart from sweater knitting, I have been doing the odd few rows on a cotton cardi for DS in some very cheap cotton yarn in purpley blues. (Just to relive the boredom, y'know) It's looking nice and hopefully by the end of this week, I'll have some not-quite-FO photos.

My next project is going to be a baby blanket for my cousin, same as the cream one I posted a photo of recently, but this time in a very pale pink. This should hopefully take about 3 days and then I'm going to do some knitting for ME! :0)

Sockapalooza 4 Commemorative Bag

This is what I teased you with yesterday. My new Sockapalooza 4 commemorative bag from Allena - The Knitting Ewe. I first saw the bags mentioned on the Sockapalooza 4 site and thought they were great - I also loved the price $15 (about £7.50).

These bags are available to everyone, not just those in Sockapalooza 4.

You get to choose which colour and design of fabric you want, in whatever combination you want, and the bags are totally reversible.

They measure 7.5" high x 20" around and the base is 5"x5". Just the right size for portable projects like socks and scarves.

I had an e-mail from Allena on the 17th to say that she had posted it and it arrived yesterday, the 21st! Very quick, considering this came from the US.

I definitely recommend Allena's bags to anyone - they're really well made and the service I received was excellent. Next time I need another bag (and you can NEVER have enough bags!) I know where to go. ;0)

A Teaser for Tomorrow

I had a lovely package in the post today which totally cheered me up after the Royal Mail failed to deliver the new Harry Potter book which I pre-ordered from Amazon back in January. :0( I eventually went to my local Asda and bought one from there. I'm now halfway through and it's brilliant. :0) When (and if) Royal Mail ever deliver the one from Amazon, it will be going straight back, with a stroppy letter to both about lack of decent service.

Anyway, back to the little package that cheered me up today. It's knitting related but not yarn. Although I can use it with yarn. It's also sock-related, although not sock yarn. I will post a photo tomorrow to put you out of your misery. ;0)

I definitely recommend the seller - the service was exceptional. :0) More to follow tomorrow ....................

FO Picture of MS3 Clue 3

This is Clue 3 finished. Melanie said that her shawl measured 25" long at this point - mine measures 20" long, so I think I'll take the option of adding in one extra repeat. That should give me a finished length (roughly) of 71". The width is about 15". I could probably block it more aggressively than it's pinned out here though.

Talking about pins, I found a pack of 20 T-pins/quilter's pins in Hobbycraft recently for under £3.00. They work wonderfully with my new foam blocks. ;0)

I fibbed - there is a sock photo

Yes, I did indeed fib earlier when I said there wouldn't be any sock photo tonight. I managed to finish the back of sweater #3 more quickly than I thought I would, so instead of casting on for the front (that can wait until tomorrow) I thought I'd finish the rib on DH's Serpentine socks.

Can I please make it clear - that is HIS bit of hairy leg in the photo. It does NOT belong to me! ;0)

I'm using 2 x 2.5mm Addi Turbo circs and Angel Yarns 4ply sock yarn in shade #3032 - Sage Tweed - which is more heathery green/grey IRL. If you click the link, it's the large picture at the top right of the page. It's definitely more of a "manly" colour, which is why I've decided that DH can have this pair. Plus he's been moaning at me because I never knit any socks for him. I have no argument for this, however, because I've knit 40-plus socks so far - and not one pair have been for him. No wonder he's feeling left out. ;0)

Blocking Mats

I've wanted some blocking mats for a while now and know that a few people have bought mats like these from the Early Learning Centre.

I bought these from B&Q today. They cost £15.98 for 8 mats which are 210mm x 210mm x 11mm, a total of 3 sq metres or 32 sq feet. The best thing is that I can stash them away behind the settee when I'm not using them. :0)

They will come in very handy when blocking my Mystery Stole 3. I normally use our bed, which isn't ideal when things take ages to dry, and sometimes there still isn't enough room to spread things out properly, even on a double bed.

No sock photos today unfortunately as I haven't finished the rib from yesterday. I'm up to the armholes on the back of the third sweater, the second one being posted off earlier today. I'm hoping I can get this and the fourth finished by the end of next week, then I can do some knitting for ME!

Sweater No. 2 - Finished

I finished sweater no. 2 earlier - YAY!!! It's now all packed up and ready to go off to King Cole Ltd. tomorrow. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of it after I'd sewn it up. Instead, here are some WIP pics.

I received the payment today for the first sweater, which has spurred me on to get this one finished and start no. 3.

They also told me that I get to keep the unused balls of yarn, which is great. There are about 3 and a half balls left over from each sweater so I should be able to make 2 sweaters for DS (one in
each colour) and use the rest to make some crochet throws.

I also managed to do some knitting on my Sockamania July socks. I've almost finished the first one - just the rib to go. I'll post pics tomorrow.

This is the third Sockamania sock I've knitted and unfortunately I won't get to wear this pair either! The first ones will be going to my Sockapalooza pal next month, the second ones I gave to DS's teacher yesterday and now DH has nabbed the third ones!

Out of the 40-plus socks I've knitted so far, I've yet to knit a pair for DH and I think he's feeling a bit left out. ;0) I've refused to knit him any so far because his toe nails are so long they always go straight through his socks (gross!!) but he's promised to keep them trim and keep these socks for best.

Oh well, maybe I'll get to keep next month's ..... ;0)