chuffed!

I know I already told you but I'm so pleased with myself I'm going to do it again.
I have an online store with Yarn Collective and I am sooooo thrilled. So much nicer than eBay, i can just list things until the person the yarn is waiting for comes along. And it's pretty! And the owner is super helpful and friendly and... GRIN.

Here it is again (now there's heaps up and they are actually purchasable. I wonder if I will ever understand computers the way Monkey does? He makes it look so easy!).
I have also edited the link in my sidebar - no more dead-end eBay visits!

Ok, thankyou for indulging me.

BSG 2/3 done. Very pretty. I've been thinking it needs some buttons that are pansy shaped... any ideas? I haven't been to Lincraft yet and will check there, but if there's an indie button maker that I am as yet unaware of..?

Now I'm thinking I need to upload some handspun.... or even spin some handspun! Goodbye weekend ;)

Leaving you with a cute pic I found here:Peace out
Ms Spider xo

almost back to the salt-mines

Well, for three days anyway. That headache that was threatening turned into a full blown migraine on Monday evening and by Wednesday afternoon I was past denial so I left lesson plans for today. I'm still pretty rough, but it's amazing how much easier it is to cope without dealing with loud kids, bells, builders (there's a new disabled access lift being put in) and general mayhem.

Knitting!

I finished the back piece of my little cotton cardi. I didnt notice until near cast-off, but this yarn has a definite bias. I know most cotton yarns do, but this is quite pronounced. I think it will be ok after blocking and seaming.Back piece blocking with wall'o'yarn backdrop.
Also cast on a BSG for Georgie. This is my 4ply sock yarn in Pansies, and I'm having fun. I've knit it enough that it's pretty mindless migraine knitting so it's my partner today (don't worry George, migraines are not contageous as far as i know).
And... I have a little news for you all. Still ironing out the bugs and in no mental place to deal with coding right now but... well, click here. :)

Peace out
Ms Spider xo

ETA - rant removed. didnt need to be reminded of all my bile. hello, gremlin?

it's the final countdown

13 days til the Canberra SnB stall at the OBDM
I have one question: how am I supposed to part with all the dyeing I've been doing?



Also, I have become endlessly entertained with.. baby socks.Not pregnant, I promise. Just enchanted by a quick finish...

Peace out,
Ms Spider xo

PS. thanks for all the helpful comments re vertigo. I think it is Labyrinthitis but it's calmed down and I'm only having the odd spell now. and i can deal with that. plus i dont have time to see a doctor so it's a good thing. But yes, all the suggestions were much appreciated - dont you just love the internets?

I'm so dizzy, my head is spinning.

Apologies if I just got that appalling song stuck in your head, but I think I might be broken. Looking at medical sites identifies what I'm feeling as vertigo rather than dizziness and let me tell you - it ain't much fun. The world is spinning, rocking, refusing to stay still and I have to hang on to the walls to stay upright. As I'm feeling a little head-cold-y and have one ear that feels pretty deaf I think it's probably related to that rather than a brain tumour (I know, I know, googling your symptoms is for fruit-cakes because unless it's nice and obvious like a broken leg, everything is always a symptom of brain tumours).

This is a little test. See, now I know that if I don't improve by Monday I can function at work. Walking around holding the walls makes me look a little inebriated but might raise my street cred with the kids? Possibly less so with my colleagues though, which might be unfortunate.

While I am still upright, i shall share my knitting.
I finished the skirt... but apparently I need to wear a slip under it. Interested parties can go see it on ravelry but somehow the blog is a little too public an airing for the outline of my knickers :p
I am rather happy with it, though it has to be worn with heels or the curvy-ness looks disproportionate.

On Sunday evening I started the Bell-Sleeve jacket from Vogue Knitting Holiday 06 by Daniel Adamczyk. It calls for a 12ply but I got gauge with Cleckheaton Country 8ply and I am loving the resulting fabric. I have completed the back piece and the left front so far and all the cables and such make it an engaging knit. I LOVE the cleckheaton at this gauge, particularly post washing and blocking. It is soft and has enough drape without going floppy and the details just pop! I can see this becoming a favourite garment.
As well as vertigo I apparently have a slight case of Startitis because despite the joy of the aforementioned jacket... I just keep craving new stuff.Hence this little mess.

There has also been dyeing.
Yummeh!


And I'll leave you with some bunnies of doom. They really are such good company. even when they are stealing my chips.Or my man...They are finding the current weather a little chilly and this sprawl was the result of my having the heater on in the office - happy bunnies! Monty's winter coat is coming through and he's like a little nugget of fur. that double chin thing? all fur.

wish i could argue the same thing for me... :p

Peace out,
Ms Spider xo

resuming transmission in 3, 2, 1...

And we're back!

first up, I'd like to say a big thankyou, both for tolerating a post so out of character for this blog and for being so supportive about it. Now I'm not saying I never winge, but that was really... big for me. And I was fully prepared to lose friends over it. But I was going to give myself an ulcer not getting it all off my chest. And I am both surprised and cheered by the general rally-around. Really, I know some amazing women, I really do. Just such a pity that the odd few can leave us all looking petty.

Ok. /shake it out\

Knitting!
First up. Lovely Bec from work won a promotion at another school so I had to whip something up for her. Sadly, the divine creature has a most unfortunate allergy to wool and some other animal fibres... so I had to spike the creative fires. (she faints if she wears wool!)
And I dyed some Zhivago (50% Tencel/ 50% Acrylic) with some cotton dyes I've been experimenting with. And knocked up a 'my so called scarf' with it. She was thrilled. I also made a little flower brooch out of the same yarn but neglected to snap it.
Also failed to snap yarn prior to knitting but did dye another skein so you can perve on that instead. Tis my pet currently.

Also finished my Surplice Bodice Cami from Knitting Lingerie Style. I used Moda Vera Jaclyn (which is basically Zhivago... are we sensing a theme yet?). It fits really well and I love it but it is of course too cool to wear it now. Next spring?

Then in a fit of guilt i thought i ought to recompense my father for being quite instrumental in the transport of large boxes of yarn after previously mentioned attention-lapse on graysonline.com.
So I made him a vest out of Jet. He is very pleased with it (not that you'd know it here) It's for him to wear at the farm while doing all the various things he does (which he really ought to leave to someone younger with two functioning legs). If i were to go by his posing, however, I would assume he does a lot of standing around with something draped over his shoulder. strange man. (Well, I had to get it somewhere).

Then i decided i needed something for me (again) and cast on some socks for bus knitting. Since school went out on Friday I have neglected them but i shall return. They are Oblique Openwork from Sensational Knitted Socks in the Knittery's cashmere/merino sock yarn (Moses Fire). They feel gorgeous and look gorgeous.
Of course my interest in socks resumes after SSoS ends. :p typical. What can I say? I have a short but furious attention span.

I also started the Affair to Remember skirt from Annie Modessit's Romantic Hand-Knits.... You know, the saucy one on the cover? I am using red Zhivago (again, you cry?) and am powering through. I am not wholly convinced that it's a happy chappy. One of those things I wont know for sure until it's cast off, blocked and worn... with the right shoes. Wish me luck?

And not to be bored... now I'm on holiday finally... I'm spinning again as well.
Lush or what!? This lovely merino is going to be plied against some slightly less bright purpley-mauve to make a light 2-ply sock yarn ( i think. So far the fibre agrees but it can become temperamental so be cautious)

Ok, that's enough for now. I've got a skirt to bully.

Peace out,
Ms Spider xo

I'm a good girl, I am

Up until yesterday, the Minimalist Cardigan for Mum's birthday looked like this (sorry, ravelry link):And as of about 9am today it looks like this too:
Please note the hand-dyed yarn i managed to get to the other morning. I feel so productive!

Mum's birthday is on Wednesday so it was a close-run thing. Possibly helped by the amount of marking i need to do: who says procrastination is a bad thing? I must admit, I was worried I wouldn't make it. All that double moss was making me batty. I love the fabric of moss or double moss stitch but I am bored to tears knitting the stuff.
I did quite well in terms of yarn. We bought 12 balls to be safe, although my mother is pixie-sized. She doesnt like things to be too close-fitting so we went with the smallest size which left her with plenty of ease. I made the body a few inches longer for her because that's where she likes them and instead of 3/4 length sleeves i made full length ones. I still have roughly four balls left.
Don't tell Mum, I'm sure she'll decide she needs matching cashmere socks.

Ok, off to finish marking, hoping to see lots of ladies at SnB this arvo. and you know what...? I dont think i have a project! :O

Peace out
Ms Spider xo

ETA: Yes, it was Lord of the Flies. One of my favourite books of all time and creepy as hell. all those who guessed correctly win 5 points, redeemable at any points-for-karma type shopfront.

end on a sock

Bonjour mes amies!
it is 2008. How bizarre is that??
i finished Monkey's secret-ish socks 40 minutes before the new year (phew!) they are Opal Rainforest (first series) 4 ply in Doktorfisch (such an awesome name). I used the slipped-stitch rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks and while it was a slow going pattern i think it will be worth it - my monkey is tough on his socks.it's fair to say he is thrilled. I am such a good girlfriend (huge matyred sigh).
A certain someone bought a drum carder a little while ago and i have spent the last day or so servicing it. This has been great fun indeed! though perhaps a little spike-y. I include some carded fibre for your viewing pleasure: hand-dyed crossbred wool, 2 colours of hand-dyed tussah silk, black corriedale and white merino. Yummeh.
and the resulting yarn. this is only about 10 grams, i made a little batt and then used the andean bracelet method to ply it on itself. just playin', yo.

And my new year knitting is not all that thrilling. In the front you may observe about 75% of the second web sock... i think this is going to be gifted but i'm not sure to whom (though if i do finish tonight then i have a fair idea.). And behind that, the sort of pastel rainbow business is another baby surprise jacket (seeing as suddenly there may be demand for such things :p) in my hand-dyed 5ply. It's rainbow self-striping :D FUN.

And in case anyone is wondering what i've been up to....
any questions?

Oh, and Monty has gained about 65g in four days. Thats the festive season for you ;)

Wishing you all the very best 2008
Ms Spider xo

box-erific

Isn't boxing day the best? no obligations left, holidays... and thinking about it, it's my first day off proper since school ended.
so in true spidey style i did a good deal of dyeing and knitting.
This is the EGMTK optim knit up
Looking like a weird sea creature
And hey presto! folded up to be an EZ baby surprise jacket.
I love it! the yarn is so soft, perfect for a little one with brand new skin and the pattern is genius. It started making sense a bit before half way and then i was able to relax and enjoy it a little more. I've since seamed the shoulders and am hunting down some perfect pretty buttons.

I can also now reveal my secret knitting for my Monkey:
Yes, i only have one finished but i was only knitting when he wasn't around... and i'm only human. plus it's too hot to wear them so i'm letting myself take my time.
I just finished dyeing yarn for my December Lights Tam by MaryJane Mucklestone from the recent Interweave Knits Holidays. I'm using 2 yarns instead of 8 but am using my own hand-painted yarns with long, toning colour repeats so i'm expecting it to look pretty fab.

I'm sure now i have time to myself i'll be be blogging again soon, but until then...
Happy holidays from all of us here!

Peace out,
Ms Spider

listing

1. I'm not sleeping again. I don't know why. I'm not particularly stressed, certainly not more stressed than usual. Just.. not sleeping. And if i do i have crazy dreams that exhaust me. this is making me cranky and increasingly less amused with my Monkey's usually hilarious sleep-talking episodes. I dont think i'm much fun to live with at the moment.

2. I graduate tomorrow. I didn't want to go but my grandmother would never forgive me if i took this away from her... and i think my parents are a little excited.

3. there are four days of school left. Thank Guinness. and the kids are nuts this week... they know all their assessment is over and we cant make 'em do a darn thing!

4. Monkey has been nominated for a CAT award (watch out, the website claps so turn your speakers off) for his performance as the Scarecrow in the Ickle Pickle production of the Wizard of Oz earlier this year. He is somewhat excited, it's fair to say. He's not shaking any more but is still pretty buzzy (it's Best Actor, are we surprised?)

5. I have just created a new self-striping colourway of sock yarn, i think i'm calling it 'Gothic Princess'. It stripes from black, violet, purple, plum, deep deep pink and back again. I don't know if it's going to be a frequent occurrence because it takes heaps of dye and lots of work... but it IS very pretty.

6. I've been spinning my latest EGMTK fibre... Optim, mmmmm tasty! The colourway is 'Fleece Navidad' and came with the cutest sheepy tag ever.

7. Have also been knitting a secret project for my Monkey for Christmas. Am making reasonable progress considering i can't knit it at home when he's home and we work the same hours. Worst case scenario: i knit all day christmas eve when he's doing hideous shift of doom.

8. It's official: i'm fat and ugly. Just to clarify, I've attempted to buy myself some new clothes twice in the last four days and not found a thing that sits well on me. I dont know if its the current styles not suiting me, a general shoddy workmanship at the places i can afford or just my own mutating body but i'm getting the shopping blues. I know i'm not huge or anything... i'd just like to find a blouse that doesnt make me look pregnant or like a giant sausage. is that too much to ask?

9. My christmas shopping is done. Unless i trip over something perfect for someone i love... i dont need to buy any more.

10. I've run out of things to say. Peace out.

a Rippin day out

As some of you may know, there was a little road trip yesterday to visit the divine Helen Rippin in the country. Round up the usual suspects (georgie, neet, Taph, joods, kms, Rachel, Kai, Hannah, and a gorgeous lady who is making a baby who's name i just didnt seem to catch, sorry)

Taph, monkey and i went up together. We may have been a little late because i foolishly said "ooh look Westies" and Taph was forced by DNA to launch herself at them. The dogs clearly knew what was what and promptly ignored the little kids who were playing with them to jump about impatiently til Taph got there. They were bloody adoreable... and we managed to leave without them.. just.

We met up with the rest of the crew in town and then headed to Chez Helen. It is...
Well.It's heaven. basically.
There was knitting and some drop spindle lessons (think i missed snapping those. needless to say we have some converts in our midst. You can see a few ladies spindling - the giveaway is having a hand up in the air)

There was a colour sampling demo. (Please note Jood's wee-wee jiggle. there was excitement and a half!) I was deeply satisfied to discover that even Helen gets dye on herself occasionally.

We each ended up with a set of colour sample cards. This was so exciting!

There was a delicious lunch care of used-to-chef-Helen. There was cake for kms's bday care of georgie. there was a run to town for the atm care of Taph (yes, we all brought cash to start with...). There was severe fibre whoredom.

A joyful and educational day was had by all. i sure know what i want to do for my birthday ^_^

Thankyou Helen, for your generosity with your time and materials. Those of you wishing to enquire about fibre you left behind, or other converts from the pics of her in-house yarn store can contact her at hrippinATbigpondDOTnetDOTau. but perhaps give her a few days to recover (a phew days even?)

Peace out
Ms Spider xo

PS apologies if i havent linked you to your blog or written your name properly or remembered your name at all.. feel free to comment and i'll edit this post to fix everything.