Alberta and Etsy

I've been putting off making this post because I really wanted to get something finished before posting...

Yes, one more down on the giant 2017 WIP-Down!  Alberta is finished!

Isn't it beautiful?!? (The shawl, not the carefully managed jungle hedgehog sanctuary that is our garden).

There are many reasons why people knit; because store-bought stuff never fits properly, because friends or family ask for something, because we enjoy the process, or in this case to demonstrate just what we can do when we make the effort.  There were 9 different lace charts in this pattern.  2 of those charts were 3 parters.  Even without the fact that I put this away and had a massive break in the middle of making it, this was a long and time consuming project.  It took me 2 hours just to cast off, during which my thumb dislocated twice.  I had to take a 2 day break from knitting after due to the pain in my fingers.  It was absolutely worth it!  When I'm wearing it, and someone asks "Where did you get that shawl?" I'll be able to proudly say "I made it myself." Until the day I finally make a Shetland cobweb lace wedding-ring shawl, this is likely to be the pinnacle of my technical achievement in knitting.  

I'll add a bit more about Alberta in the FO's section, but first I need to tell you about Spindles, and Etsy, and Facebook.

Making a business

It's been roughly 2 years since I set up my Etsy store, but after the events of February 2016 my confidence has been at rock bottom.  I could use my own health, or that of my family as an excuse for leaving everything to languish, but really it was just that I didn't feel I was capable of keeping track of the minutiae of running a business, even a tiny and non-profitable one.

My dad has helped me to change that.  His work is beautiful, and it deserves to be appreciated.  I already have a platform capable of bringing his work to the public.  It's only logical that we team up and give it a go.

I still need to get my head around deciphering the incomprehensible mind-scramble that is the Government Gateway, and registering my business to be legal for tax purposes.  But as I'm currently running at a loss financially speaking, I'm not too worried.  I want everything to be above board as it were, but the fact still is, this is a hobby business at present.  Something to keep my dad and myself from going crazy in a world where being disabled makes you the lowest of the low, a filthy scrounger off the state, and thoroughly unworthy.

Yes, I know that as a business woman I'm not supposed to say all of that stuff.  No matter how small, I should treat this as a professional enterprise.  Well, yes, I do.  When it comes to the quality of our products, and the efficiency of our service.  But it doesn't change the fact that no matter how professional I may be, running a profitable business in the current financial climate is exceptionally difficult.  Starting a profitable business is nigh on impossible.  If I had the energy, and physical capability to do that, I'd be working, and not sat at home trying to find a purpose to my existence. So.  You get the bare-faced truth, regardless of how unprofessional it is.

Anyway, that's a lot of writing and stress, so how about the good bit?

These beauties are now mostly available here: Knitting & Penguins

I say mostly, because one or 2 have already found new homes, but there's unlikely to be a shortage any time soon, as dad will happily make more.

In my efforts to make more of the Knitting & Penguins brand (am I a brand?) I've also set up a Facebook page, which acts as a sort of one-stop portal to all things Knitting & Penguins.

FOs

OK!  So time for the regulars!  What have I been up to recently?

The last time I went to Ringarosie's Barbara slipped a little mini-skein into my bag.  I was feeling the need for some instant gratification about then, so I pretty much immediately cast on this little pouch that I'm using for storing the button stash I've managed to collect while staying with dad.  I didn't have a pattern to follow, so I made it up as I went along.  Starting with a pin-hole cast on, working until I had a circle about 12cm in diameter, then a twisted rib for about 15cm, an eyelet section to thread the ribbon through, and a garter stitch finish.

This is another project from the WIP-down that I'm very pleased to have finished.  A sweater for me, that still fits, despite having been hibernating for about 3 years!

The pattern is Tubey, by Cassie Rovitti, and the yarn is Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran, in the colourways Burgundy, and Maroon.

I had a moment of massive self-doubt, which meant I had to make this.  The pattern is I've Never Been to Greece, and I wrote it.  I received a number of confused Ravelry messages from a customer who was struggling with the pattern.  I offered what advice I could, but became convinced that I had made an error in the pattern.  So I downloaded the live version, checked the maths, which all seemed to be fine, and then followed the pattern exactly.  I had no problems, so I'm pretty sure that the pattern itself is fine.  However, I know how easy it is to lose count in the middle of a lace repeat, and this gave me the opportunity to update and clarify a few details.

I didn't have enough of the turquoise coloured yarn left to do the contrasting picot bind-off that's in the pattern, and I didn't need to do that to check that the lace chart was correct, so I finished with a standard Russian bind-off in the purple instead.

The yarns used for this are DMC Creative World Woolly, in colourway 074, and Sublime Yarns Extra Fine Merino Wool DK, in the colourway Black Cherry.

I was in Hobbycraft.  They had kits for making needle-felted penguins.  What else do you do while binge-watching Orphan Black with your dad?

Dad loved the last pair of socks that I made for him, so I've made him some more :)

As usual, no pattern as such, just a standard heel-flap construction based around the numbers that work for dad's feet.  The yarn is Shoppel-wolle Crazy Zauberball in the fantastically named colourway "Jacke wie hose".

There is a terribly sad story behind these 2 tiny little hats.  A couple of weeks ago I received a message from Gemma, her cousin had unexpectedly just given birth to twin boys at just 23 weeks.  Being so tiny, even premature items were too big for them.  She asked if I could make them some hats.  I found the perfect yarn in my stash, got my needles ready, and was literally just about to cast on when I got the message telling me that I only needed to make one hat each, as both boys lost their brief fight for life that afternoon.  Gemma wanted to be able to give them something that had been their very own to wear for their funeral.

I didn't use a pattern for these, just advice from a friend who sadly found herself in a very similar situation 15 years ago.  I used 3mm needles, and cast on 40 stitches, 5 rows of 1&1 ribbing, 12 rows of stockinette, decrease for the crown.  The yarn is Ella Rae Cozy Soft Prints, in colourway 05.

You've already seen this, but it didn't look quite like this.  I want to show you the miracle that is blocking!

This is what Alberta looked like immediately after it came off the needles.  In order to open out the lace and better show the pattern, the next step is to block your knitting.  That means to soak it, then lay it out flat, pin it into the shape you want it to be, and let it dry.  Not all yarns will block well, but anything with a high wool content will stretch into shape fairly well. I find that those giant foam jigsaw pieces meant for children are perfect for pinning your work out:

It usually takes 1-2 days of treading carefully around the multitude of pins spread out on the dining room floor for it to dry, but it's absolutely worth it:

The yarn used for this is Fyberspates Gleem Lace, in the colourway Peacock.

WIPs

I've now got 2 full bobbins of singles in my hand-combed Jacob. I think I'll do one more to  be sure I've got enough, then ply them.

I started this at the August Travelling Spinners meet up in Blyth.  I hadn't prepared enough Jacob to keep me going all afternoon, so I took this fibre along to keep me busy.  

The fibre is a custom blend of blue-faced leicester, tussah silk, and rainbow firestar by Countess Ablaze, in the colourway "Speed of his feet".

Originally this was going to be just a couple of squares to be sewn into a community blanket project at Shetland Wool Week 2016.  Then I couldn't go, and didn't get a response as to the possibility of sending my squares, so instead I'm very slowly making up a blanket from random squares on my own.  Eventually it'll be sent to charity, although I haven't decided which one yet.  The original charity was From Shetland With Love, helping orphans in South Africa, but I may send mine to a childrens or animal charity closer to home.

There is no pattern to this, just random squares in a variety of different stitch patterns, all roughly 7 inches across, all made in random DK.

I'm still working on the crochet squares, to be used either for yarn bombing, or to be part of a giant blanket of yarny memories.  This particular square was made while cooking sausages over a campfire at Plankey Mill with my dad, and the yarn is Lily Sugar 'n' Cream, in the colourway Batik.

This one was just cast on today.  I made pram blankets for both of my nieces, but I also made a larger blanket for the older of the 2 when she was ready to transition from cot to bed.  I'm pretty sure that my youngest niece has already moved into her own bed, but I'd like to have this ready for her 2nd birthday at the latest.  It took me a few attempts to come up with an arrangement of different sized squares that I'm happy with, but now that I have, this will be a brilliant relaxing project.

No pattern, just an arrangement of basket weave type squares in different sizes and colours.  The yarn is Rico Design Baby So Soft, in colourways 001, 007,and 015.

Stash Acquisition

Strangely when I wanted to make socks for dad, none of my sock yarn seemed to be appropriate, so I had to go to Ringarosies.  The 3 green/blue yarns are all intended for dad.  The one with additional purple is for me.  The mini-skein was added by Barbara. The buttons are for charity preemie knits.

I have wonderful friends.  One of those friends is called Pieter, and he lives in the Netherlands.  I visited him a few years ago, and dragged him to Dol Op Wol.  Just before my birthday, this package arrived, including some of my favourite teas, stroopwafels, and yarn!  I'm assured however that this is NOT a birthday present!  It's just a care-package because he thought I might like it!

Tangled Yarn had a sale, and I had the opportunity to buy cashmere lace at an affordable price.  So I did.  Just one skin of Sweet Georgia Yarns Cashsilk Lace, in the colourway Deep Cove, and 2 skeins of Louisa Harding Amitola, colourway 124, that were in the clearance.

As I've mentioned, I had a birthday.  Not just any birthday.  I turned 40 in July.  I figure that turning 40 means I'm definitely allowed to buy birthday presents for myself.  This was one of them.  This is a 2 skein birthstone box by Homespun Wonders.  I'm sure that the July birthstone selection doesn't usually come with a penguin, but as I also said, I have wonderful friends.  One of them is Katie, half of the mother-daughter team that runs Homespun Wonders, and Yorkshire Dales Yarns.  She spotted my order, and added this little extra for me :)

Another birthday present to myself.  This is sparkle merino sock yarn in the colourway Poppies, and silk 4-ply in the colourway Water Colour, both by Yarny Love.

More of those wonderful friends I have!  Simon was visiting Iceland, and happened to spot this lovely package of yarn and hat pattern.  The yarn is Icelandic wool and silk, and is a beautiful silvery grey colour. I hardly ever even see Simon these days, but still he thought of me and brought this back for me!  I'm just so touched!

The last of my yarn purchases that I can technically get away with calling a selfish birthday present.  These are all by Mothy and the Squid, who updated their instagram while on their summer holidays showing the top colourway - Firefly Squid - in the process of being knitted up.  I had to wait until they got back before I could order though!  While there I also bought the middle skein - Summer Meadow on 4-ply Donegal - and the final skein is Lungwort on sock weight, which I've been lusting after for a while, but managed to resist until the Firefly Squid tempted me in!

Penguins

Penguin on Heather Rose Gin - another wonderful present from a wonderful friend.  Liz knows she'll get to help me drink it mind ;) 

Despite his arrival very close to my birthday, I'm assured that he is in fact a Christmas present, it's just that Tony kept forgetting to bring him whenever we met up!  Now he has no excuse, as he moved in next door in June!  I can't bring myself to take this fellow out of his box, because it makes him hold his wings in the air like he's asking for a hug, and it's just too cute!

I have an inexplicable mild fetish for post-it notes.  Post-it notes that are also penguins are a thing of almost carnal joy for me.  And squishy penguin stickers!  They're squishy!!!

I just don't even know where to start with this!  Meet Para-Penguin - the disabled pink penguin paperweight!  Rachel brought him for me from a glass-blowing workshop that she did, although she assures me that she didn't make him herself.  He's a little unsteady, rather like me, and one of his wings is in totally the wrong place, but I love him!

Dominey gave me this and told me that it was to make a boring job more interesting.  I was genuinely confused for a while, until I realised that normal people use tea-towels to dry dishes, not to protect their lap from escapee fibre fluff when spinning!

Finally, I feel so guilty about this penguin!  I was out for dinner last week to celebrate the 40th birthday of my friend Chris, but I was too disorganised to even remember his birthday card.  Then he gave ME a present!  Apparently he'd had it for about 2 years, but in all that time we'd never met up in a fashion planned in advance, so he'd never had it with him when we saw each other!  Look!  He's knitted and everything!

OK, that's all for now, back again soon!  Take care my dears!