Kitchen Update, Part 2

This morning we had removed everything from the kitchen ready for the plasterer. And then he filled all the holes and levelled everything out. Can't wait to see it finished tomorrow! Then it will be all ready to be painted (or, when it's dry it will...)

Seems like Monthly then...

Yeah, I know, no updates for a while. I've been busy!

Anyway, here I am.

So, what's been going on? Well, I went to Woolfest. Around this I wrapped a week away in the lake district. Beautiful part of the country by the way.
We started off going to Cambridgeshire, to visit Boyf's folks and friends. It was Livestock again (I'm sure I've mentioned it before) I thought it was better this year, though that could be down to the cherry beer I was drinking rather than pints o' wine. Anyway...
After that we headed off up the M6. Like, literally the whole way up the M6. We stopped off at Stafford Castle, which is approximately half way. We spent three nights in Bowness on Windermere, which is a lovely little town on the side of the lake. We spent a day in Kendal. I have a couple of points to make about Kendal:

1. The one way system is horrible if you're not big on driving. Take a bus.
2. The Chocolate shop is amazing, go there and have chocolate instead of lunch.
3. The Quaker Tapestry is beautiful. They also have an amazing quilt there, and the garden is lovely and peaceful. You can't take pictures inside so you'll have to take my word for it. Go there. (They do have a cafe which is meant to be good too, but we didn't try it after all the chocolate!)

I'm sure there's loads more to do, but that's my impression of Kendal.

We also spent a day on the lake, on a big tour boat and got sunburned. (No pictures of that I'm afraid)

When we set off for our next destination, we went via Coniston to see the Bluebird exhibition in the Ruskin Museum. That was really interesting. They also had some local lace samples and local wool products available there. (Herdy too, which is a new initiative using Herdwick wool, that's the breed of sheep Beatrix Potter was interested in) and then on to the Bond Museum in Keswick. We also went to the Cars of the Stars exhibition. If you only have time to do one of those, go to the Bond museum. Neither takes more than an hour or so, but the Bond museum is much more interesting, and the staff were nicer.

We then spent three nights in Cockermouth, which is where Woolfest happens. More on that soon.
We arrived in Cockermouth on the Thursday night and had plenty of time to check out local eateries. We found a great little Mediterranean cafe for lunch (we had lunch there twice!) and the restaurants were all lovely too! There's a real-ale microbrewery pub called the Bitter End. It's a lovely town, and is central for walking and cycling too. (We didn't do much walking due to it being so hot, and no cycling.)
So, Friday?
Friday was Woolfest
Woolfest is organised by a cooperative in Cumbria called the Wool Clip. It's a place where all things fibery come together under one roof. There were sheep, alpaca, angora goats, angora rabbits, more sheep, spinning wheels and supplies, so much yarn in so many beautiful colours, both dyed and undyed. I had a blast.
I met some other knitters who like Howies clothing.
And I bought a haul! Much fun!

On the Saturday we went for a bit of a walk, and then on to the Jennings brewery for a tour. It was an interesting tour, I'd recommend it. You also get beer, so Boyf would recommend it too.

-o0o-

So, moving on, what's going on now?
Well, I have 10 projects on the needles, officially. I'm only working on a couple though. The one I want to mention is inspired by my haul at woolfest, and also by the Log Cabin blanket that Yarn Harlot is making. I'm using one of each rare breed yarn to make a square-pattern cushion. (a throw is beyond my patience and budget for this yarn!) The lightest one is Wensleydale, the darkest is Jacob, The dark grey is Herdwick and the light grey that's in progress is Swaledale. Cool huh?
I'm finding YH's explanation about the difference between "pick up" and "pick up and knit" to be invaluable, so it's here, if you're doing anything where you need to pick up stitches you should check it out (unless you already know the difference!)

Well, that's all folks.

Geek Love

If you've ever been asked out by a geek, you might have heard one of these:
Twitter to 10 Geek pickup lines

My Favourite is:
Roses are #FF0000, Violets are #0000FF, All my base are belong to you

(though I think the Joss Whedon one rocks!)

As Promised... Kitchen Update

We're renovating our kitchen, as I have mentioned. Here's how it looked a month ago (we'd removed one door at this point, but nothing more) So, we ripped out that cupboard so that the plumber could get to the pipes to move the boiler... And then, last weekend we finally sorted ourselves out and ripped out everything but the sink. This weekend my folks are coming up to help us with the electrics and plumbing. Then we need to get it plastered, painted, the new kitchen built and fitted, worktops ordered and cut, appliances (we only have some) ordered and delivered, floor ripped up and floor underneath revealed, restored and sorted... not much left then!? Haha.

In the meantime, we're officially on holiday from next Thursday. Depending on the kitchen status we might be in Cambs on the Saturday/Sunday, then we're near Lake Windermere for three days followed by three days in Cockermouth with Woolfest on the Friday.

Finished Sweaters...

I finished Corsica at last. Here it is.
I read that the sleeves run small, and indeed they do. Though it could partly be the fact that I didn't get gauge as well as I could have (it should have been fine after washing...)
Anyway, the pattern isn't to blame, I think. I underestimated the size of my bust, I over estimated the length of my arms and the cast off needs re-doing for stretch. And frankly, I don't like the fit. The V-neck is too high for my liking, the cable band doesn't sit under my bust (because I underestimated the size of my bust, as I said) and though the cables look great, I'm just not happy with the sweater.
So despite the many hours of knitting that have gone into the sweater, I'm going to frog it and knit something else with the yarn. I'm planning to make a top-down raglan and use the yarn at a DK gauge. I'm going to make it up though, so it could be interesting!

I did make a top I'm happy with though, this one:
This is using Rowan Pure Wool Aran leftovers from Boyf's sweater. 6.5mm needles, top down raglan using the Shug This pattern from one skein wonders (and free online)

Busy Bank Holiday Weekend?

For us it was.
We visited my folks on the Saturday and bought some exciting local food and such while we were there. Smashing black pudding and raisin sausages, Lincoln Blue cheese (yum!) and flour from the local mill (yes, a real windmill!)
Earlier on Saturday I had received a parcel of two sticks.
So we went to B&Q and bought some pots for the sticks (they'll be roses when they grow up).
While we were there I got a little carried away, and we bought compost (we did need that) some lettuce plants and a herb set. (pictured: herbs)
And then, well then I really got carried away... And what did look like this: Now looks like this: On the up-side, there's plenty of room for me to plant more things (the Lettuces are going in next to the rather sad looking flowery thing in front of the ex-bush, but I need to protect them from slugs...)
I think it's lots better, and the garden looks bigger.
This weekend, I'm planting some pak-choi seeds in pots and ripping out a kitchen, or starting to. I'm planning on photo diary-ing the kitchen renovation.

Lost somewhere...

I've not blogged for a while. I can't say I've missed it. I've had lots of fun things (and some not so fun things) to be doing, so that's a good reason for not blogging. It's not like I get paid for blogging! Ahaha.

So, anyway... Check these out: These are 100% natural materials. They're wool on top (wicked tweed, no?) and have coconut husks in them, as well as natural (ethically sourced) latex. Spot on.
They're boyfy's new shoes. He's bedding them in at the moment.

Also... A new FO! These are the VioletGreen waterfalls socks, using VG yarn too! Woo! I'm really pleased with them.
Pattern: Waterfalls, from Violet Green.
Yarn: Violet Green Socrates 4ply
Needles: 2.5mm Modifications: None, really. I did the second sock in reverse colours to the first.

And lots of new yarn.
1. Fyberspates British Merino, 2. VG Lace, 3. Fyberspates British Merino Sock, 4. Fyberspates Nef Lace, 5. Red Handspun