Turtley-Triffic socks - the pattern.

This is more of a rough guide to make these socks than a step by step instruction.
I used a pure Alpaca from The Natural Dye Studio - 4ply weight and 2.75mm dpns. The Sock is worked cuff down.

Cast on 60 sts over 3 needles. I prefer to use 3 - but 4 is ok if you have a preference. Over 3 I split the stitches as needles 1 & 3 = 15 sts and needle 2 = 30.
Work 8 rows in k1tbl, p1 rib.
Work 1 row p.
Work 2 rows p1, k1tbl rib.

Turtle pattern as follows - worked over 15 sts.

Row 1 -*p3, k9, p3 - rep to end.
Row 2 -*p3, yo, k4, ssk, k3, p3 - rep to end.
Row 3 -*p3, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k2, p3 - rep to end.
Row 4 -*p3, k2, yo, k4, ssk, k1, p3 - rep to end.
Row 5 -*p3, k3, yo, k4, ssk, p3 - rep to end.
Row 6 -*p3, k3, k2tog, k4, yo, p3 - rep to end.
Row 7 -*p3, k2, k2tog, k4, yo, k1, p3 - rep to end.
Row 8 -*p3, k1, k2tog, k4, yo, k2, p3 - rep to end.
Row 9 - *p3, k2tog, k4, yo, k3, p3 - rep to end.

I worked the leg of the sock with 5 pattern repeats - then worked 1st row to rearrange sts for heel.

I used a bog standard short-row heel on mine worked over 30 sts using double wrap and turn - but the pattern would work just a well using a heel flap, heel and gusset.

Advice and video help can be acquired at http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques or here gives a great photo tutorial
http://misocrafty.squarespace.com/journal/2006/9/21/short-row-heel-tutorial.html

The foot is worked with the sts divided as they were for the leg - pattern on instep (so 2 repeats) and the sole in plain knit.

The toe is just a standard decrease toe on alternate rows.
I worked till I had 16 sts and then grafted them together.






Pattern by P Lainchbury - ‘dogwomendon’t designs’ - 2008 - please feel free to use this pattern for personal use etc any commercial use - please ask first.
Turtle pattern adapted from Barbara Walker Treasury II

Kitty Conkers

isn't talking to his toys no matter how much they tempt him with their feathery brightness!

Talking of pets - I'm off to see/buy a puppy at the weekend. We've talked for quite a while about getting a 2nd dog. I think it will be good for Loobles and may give to her a new lease of life and I love puppies. So watch this space ;-D

We spent most of the weekend planning and costing out the remodelling that we plan to do over the next year on our part of the house. Exciting stuff, in fact so exciting I didn't knit at all over the weekend!!

May we please have...

the kittybonkbonk! Well yes you may.
Kittybonkbonk is Conkers naughty but cute name. It is what he gets called when he helps us make the bed.....like he did today.
Every layer that is made needs to be hidden under and then he performs his cute-ize to make sure it's been done to his standards.
Finally all this hard work results in a .....a little dozybonk!

I know I'm daft about my cat.....so sue me.

Turtley-triffric socks!

Not the best pictures in the world - but what can you do in this weather mmmm?

These are my latest socks - named as above. The pattern is and adaption of Track of the Turtle V.1 from BW treasury II.

They are knit in a pure alpaca from 'The Natural Dye Studio' which was gifted to me by Purlpower http://purlpower.blogspot.com/ aeon's ago. They were knit top down on 2.75mm dpns using a short row heel. They are a lovely knit, quite quick as the lace pattern follows a natural progression that is very easy to follow.

I have yet written the pattern up properly but do intend to in the not to distant future ;-)

Jumping on the comet!

Yep I got the lurgy! Sods law and all that. Am recovering slowly. I feel very weak and boy do I ache - it was not pleasant!

Anyway, the photo above shows my normal motley collection of pencils a mix of Caran D'arche - wet and dry and Derwent Watercolour pencils. Some of which I've owned since I took my art O'level at 16! So I decided to get some shiny new watercolour pencils in oh-so pretty colours....

Da-dah! OK they are only WHS ones - but they are artist quality and I got 36 pencils for half price so around £7.50 - the Caran D'arche ones I bought a couple of weeks back from Lawrence's (best art shop in the universe!) were 99p each, so 36 of them would be £35.64. Ma has a set of the WHS ones so I tested them out before I bought them and they are fine - not as smooth as Caran D'arche but not far off the mark. So I ordered this Sunday and they were delivered Tuesday. I've not used them as yet as have felt to weak and willocky...but maybe later today if I feel strong enough.
I did spin for a while on Monday as the above shows. This is 100% merino in silver and I am spinning it to be a lace weight single - slower progress than normal as I intend to gift this to someone, if I finish it in time!

My latest sock design is just awaiting for the 2nd sock to have it's toe grafted - tis very pretty. I would have done them last night except for an hour and a half of power cut - no way am I grafting by candle light! Will do it today and when I get some decent light will photograph them and post.

Ooooo and we finally got an exchange of contract on M's Ma's property *hurrah* so we should complete on Monday *fingers crossed* no more hassle, no more incompetent solicitor, no more endless phone calls and finally a bit more closure of grief for M! Everyone cross something for us that nothing goes 'tits up' in the next few days.....please!

Riding the v***t comet!

*sigh* what a long few days. Both my boys have had this noro virus thingie (Ma is feeling a bit pippy too) so far *touching wood, crossing fingers* I feel ok. Mind you, as I have been unwell now since the end of October, I think maybe I've already had more than my fair share this winter. I have go to wondering if the illness I experienced with my cough may have been this bug, wrapped up in another infection, because it is so similar to what my two poor boys have just gone through!

M is back at work today and is nearly back to normal. J managed some brekkie but is still pale and a bit weak. He's taking it easy and reading a book.

So, I've been busy with family stuff, no knitting to speak off or spinning and only a wee bit of drawing.

I am soooooooo very tired still. I think it is my body in recovery of all the illness, it's playing catch-up. My ear is almost better but still is a bit weird. It's like I have deaf days!

Ah well - "things can only get better!"

Oh My!

How do you stop a 10 year boyling from charging about? Get the Tribble-on-legs aka Jasmine to sit on his lap! She adores my boy, she rubs around his legs, she washes him and now has progressed to squishing him with love.
Alpaca and silk mix spun and chain plied. About 100g in total.

Messy bloddy stuff, goes every where - but so soft - it's worth it.

Might be a bit MIA this week as M has been ill all weekend since Friday and had a mountain of stuff to do, removing last bits from his Mum's etc, and none of it has got done and we only have a week left *fingers crossed* until the house is no longer ours. So will be playing catch up this week.

What no knitting?!!?

Nope, not really - too busy with this!
AB is taking over and Smudgies isn't far behind.
*Aaggghhhh clutches head and runs into the distance screaming*

(There has been a little knitting and spinning too!)

I love me some Conkers!

He is so cute. I couldn't resist the little pink kitty tongue next to his big black hooter!

Do you like the best?

Then have a looksie at the wonderfully, artistic spinning of Freestyle Fibres. Beautiful hand spun yarns from a very talented fibre artist *goes mildly green with jealousy* - here's the link -

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=105164

The shop is called Limegreen Jelly - go on spoil yourself!

Spin is spun...

and finally plied. Corriedale dyed by Angela (Fair Isle Fibres) chain plied. This skein is about 50g. I still have half a plait to go - but spinning ADD has hit home and I need a little break before going on to spin the remainder - a little (very messy) alpaca and silk break :-D
This second plait has more purple hues but mixed in with the others as and when I knit it up, I think will make a lovely blend of colours.

Other Stuff.

Today is an indoors day - with baking of bread, making of homemade chicken soup and much spinning on the cards - lovely. J is ensconced on the kitchen table making a new 'Adventures of Super Fluey' comic and is happy in his creative cloud. We spent most of last week on academic stuff and so bit of creative time is all good.

I've updated my Anjelica Button site (http://anjelicabutton.blogspot.com/) so many people have said I should write stories about her so I've kind of made a kind of beginning....have a look if you fancy.

I've also deactivated my entry on Facebook - I (another kind of) got bored with it all and it became another call on my time that I didn't want. M is still on there though.

Best laid plans!

Hmmm it's been a lovely weekend. Long walks along the coast, getting soaked by spray, watching little boats ride the swell, marvelling at the light on the water. Wonderful home cooked meals - roasties, proper tea - with homemade scones and cake. Glasses of wine, dozing on the sofa - not getting on with all the stuff I intended to do!!!

First up on Friday in a flurry of getting jobs done to free up time for 'fun stuff' over the weekend - M sliced through his thumb with an axe - to the bone - no less. Due to his medication he bleeds like a stuck pig, honestly the entrance to the conservatory looked like a slaughter house. So, that kind of slowed stuff up and put the kibosh on other things. He's fine, no stitches etc - it's healing well but very bruised and sore.

Then all the stuff I intended to do just went to pot. I did finish some secret sock knitting but that's about it. I've chain plied 3/4 of the bobbin and that's about it. I read the 1st Moomin book (which J started yesterday evening and has just this minute finished!) and that's about it.

Oh well - maybe today I'll get my act together and do what I intended to do over the last 2 days.

Where did this week go?

Well I spent some time knitting this....from Knitty fall 2007 - Juno Regina in Helen's Lace, Purple Club. This is my quiet time, concentrating knitting (me and lace have to be like that) so progress will be slow, cos quiet time is rare!
TV knitting - Chevron scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in Koigu. I like a bit on 'no thinkie' knitting and this is perfect. It's small enough to go anywhere, I remember the pattern and no need to count rows.
Whilst trying to catch up on podcasts, I've been spinning. The last of the Corriedale I got from Fair Isle Fairie - this bobbin is ready to ply. I have episode 10 of Playing for Keeps to listen to with J today so should get a start on that. Ain't it purty!
Conkers needs a new Mr Heaty (SpongeBob fans will get the reference) - he stole my granny square afghan when he moved in and is slowly shredding it to bits so I decided to start on a new one! Ten squares down - goodness knows how many to go - I am attempting to do 1 a day.

I've also spent a lot of time cooking (unusual for me) but I am (again attempting) to give M 1 day off a week from cooking chores and this week I made a beef stew with dumplings, with a cinnamon and raisin bread, bread and butter pudding for afters. I have also made two massive vats of soup - homemade chicken and curried veggie *slurp*.

There has been lots of other stuff. Swimming, walks, reading. J finished 'Order of the Phoenix' and started 'The Half Blood Prince' and together we are reading 'Z for Zachariah' by Robert O'Brien - this is one of the books I saved from my childhood and is written in journal form. It's a disturbing read but enthralling and J is loving it. We've also been spending a lot of time doing puzzles, maths and looking at science stuff too. He has a set of books and I often find browsing through them, this leads to a 100 odd questions and lots of looking stuff up and chatting - he learns well this way.

So as well as spending at least an hour a day drawing and if I can writing too. It has been a busy week. Not to mention the chores - mountains of laundry, ironing, accounts, cleaning etc - phew I think I need a rest.....what at the weekend? - I should be so lucky!

Pomatomous MK lll

Hurrah - all done - at last!!
These are my January socks for SAM5 (sock-a-month 5) KAL - see blog link via my profile.

These are in Lorna's Laces S&S Multi in Devon colourway - perfect med sea colours for a watery themed sock. This is the 1st pair of these I've knitted on the recommended needle size - 2.75mm dpns - they are a much more looser knit pattern on the lace but still v.pretty and I'm pleased enough with them. I only used a skein and a quarter and they are a good fit.

Now I need to plan what to knit for my February socks :-D they won't be Pomatomous though - I love this pattern but 3 pairs is enough and I am all Pomatomi'd out!

A little notice.

I decided to give Anjelica her own blog - where I can share her life and adventures with others. If you like her and want to follow her adventures you will find her blog details in my profile or you can go to http://anjelicabutton.blogspot.com.

Thank you.

Ear is the late news.

In the head lines tonight.....Plain ole Vanilla socks - completed. With short-row heel! The socks took 56g so plenty left for either another pair (slightly shorter) or some gloves. I finally found the ball band *hurrah* I knew I'd put it somewhere safe - it is Mountain Colors, Bearfoot in Gold Rush 60% superwash wool, 25% mohair and 15% nylon. It is so soft and for someone who actively avoids mohair of any type - it is not itchy! Thanks again to Kathrows for the giving of this yarn. The bottle of whiskey in the back ground is not to prove what a boozer I am but to show how close it is in colour to the yarn.

Other news - still partially deaf - but it is improving. It's like living with a ham radio inside one side of my head. But the swelling in the lymph glands and neck are now reducing and the intense head pain has passed - oh thank the small mercies for that - it was sooooo scary and I couldn't sleep it hurt so much.

I have this little person who lives in my head. I jot down her stories and ideas about her and in my drawing mania of the last week, she finally manifested in person. Her name is Anjelica Button, she lives with a ginger cat called Smudgies and she and I are having so much fun in her world at the moment.

I am no great artist, but I do love drawing cartoon style art. I have had a blast inventing scenario's for this character and have produced about 20 pieces so far, including cards and postcards.

She's copyrighted under my 'dogwomendon't design' name - I have no idea what I will do with her yet. Am too busy inventing places for her to be and things for her to do. Oh, and if you wonder about the bears in the background.....I'm an arctophile and they are part of my rather large collection. Sad I know, but there it is - I'm a saddo, it's official!

Breaking news.....still catching up on podcasts *sigh*. Pomatomous 2nd sock 2/3 through gusset. Spinning - nil, other knitting nil, reading - some, mainly poetry at the moment, I have this lovely book that was my step-grandads from about 1913 and it smells like 'old books' and has some wonderful poems in it so have been dipping into that. Also ordered the set of Moomin books for ....me, not J, I haven't read since I was whee and feel a need to revisit them. I never owned them but got them from the local children's library - so now I will have the time to read them at my leisure, I just hope they are as good as I remember.

Finally - I am making homemade chicken soup for lunch from the wonderful roast M cooked yesterday. It was a perfect Sunday lunch followed by snoozing, knitting and a traditional Sunday tea of toasted teabread and rounded off with episode 2 of Sense and Sensibility - which I am enjoying immensely!

All up to date I think :-D

Ear, ear, ear - what's all this then?

So am over the cold/virus/flu thing but - don't you love a but? I am so gummed up with catarrh that I have a blocked Euston Station tube on the right side and this is causing me a lot of pain. Apparently I was prone to this as a child and a couple of years back suffered from a major bout of this. I am deaf on one side (Dr recommends pain killers as anti-biotics are no good) I also have a swelling in my neck due to all the congestion so have a pain in the neck (other than J *joke*) too. All this and the very cold weather meant I didn't make it to the new SnB I wanted to go to last night *boo-hiss* hopefully I'll get there next week.

On the plus side, inspired by someones blog, I have rediscovered my delight in painting and spent most of yesterday afternoon and this morning, turfing out art supplies and painting away merrily. I ain't no Van Gough but am enjoying a dabble! So not much knitting or spinning in the last few days.

M and I celebrated 25 years of dating yesterday with a nice bottle of red and a DVD/film fest - we watched J's copy of Shrek lll - v.funny - love Puss.

Tonight (weather and ear permitting) we are going to visit Ruby - oh and SIL and her family ;-)

It's cold and snowy and I'm going to put the heating on!!!

25 years

And if you asked me the the same question right now.....the answer would still be yes!

Some men never think of it,
You did. You'd come along
And say you'd nearly brought me flowers
But something had gone wrong.

The shop was closed. Or you had doubts -
The sort that minds like ours
Dream up incessantly. You thought
I might not want your flowers.

It made me smile and hug you then
Now I can only smile.
But, Look, the flowers you nearly bought
Have lasted all this while.

Flowers - Wendy Cope 1945-

It is just another day really.....

when all is said and done. Connor saw out 2007 and 2008 in like this. M and I watched Jools just to see Seasick Steve, toasted each other, watched the neighbours fireworks and retired.

I don't make resolutions. January is always a shit month without the added sense of pressure or failure that resolutions bring. I make intentions that I will attempt, little changes - this year I will attempt to swear/cuss less - it will be tough as I love a good swear!

M had a jolly birthday, it was fairly quiet but that is what he wanted, we ate, drank and were merry. Today we are removing all signs of the holiday season - goodbye tree and tinsel.

Happy New Year to all that see it in at this time of year - may 2008 hold all that you dream of.