I was going to post yesterday and show you just how busy I've been, but the Bubela was off from school with a cold so I was running around after him all day.

So, my plan for today was to wash and block the Alphabet blanket, but I'm going to the hairdressers this morning then meeting friends for lunch, so I really haven't the time. Oh the life of a lunching mother!! I'll do it tomorrow... those famous words.

Here's the Debbie Bliss Argyl cardigan all finished (bar the buttons). I've just got to sew the buttons on and voila. This is for "Baby M" if its a boy. I'm also knitting up another quick Debbie Bliss girly cardigan in peach (I've made one before and it was such a quick cute knit) just in case its a girl. I've got 3 weeks, plenty time.

And fabulous news just in that has really made my day. My friend Michelle (you know the one that taught me to knit) she delivered twin girls this morning. MUZEL TOV.

Project Spectrum... here we go!!

I'm back. As you know I haven't had the strength to pick up a pair of needles for about two weeks. Either that, or the Jaywalker socks I was knitting for the Knit Olympics put me right off knitting. I've tried socks now, I think its one of those Marmite things "you either love it or hate it". I HATE Marmite, its a very British spread for toast that tastes like... I can't describe it, if you want me send you a sampler let me know. Be warned though. Urgh, the thought of it.

So, I welcome Project Spectrum with open arms (I really do). Pink and Red here we go. I'm using this Project Spectrum to knit up one of Debbie Abrahams blankets from her "More Blankets and Throws" book. Its a quick knit, this square only took me a couple of hours and it was really enjoyable too.

The Alphabet Blanket... ITS FINISHED. Well sort of. I just need to sew in the ends and block. Its absolutely gorgeous.

Thank you all for your very kind wishes, brought tears to my eyes, they truly mean so much to me. Thank you, I'm blessed with such caring friends.

Neglected WIPs

Here is my pile of WIPs. At the moment I'd prefer to grab a pickled cucumber than a knitting needle. Seriously, I've really neglected my knitting in the last couple of weeks as I've been feeling really poorly and tired from all the drugs and stuff.

Anyway, my results came in and I'm so very excited that it was a positive. However, I'm very scared too because the next couple of weeks for me are still quite critical, so I'm going to take it really easy. In fact, Im going to try and wrap my fingers around my circulars and finish that Alphabet blanket, oh and that Argyl cardigan... oy, the WIP list is endless.

I haven't caught up with anyone's blogs in the last couple of weeks, so I'll be coming to visit you all now and see how your all doing. Especially you Bobblicious girls!!

Thank you!!

Thank you all for your heartfelt comments and support throughout this week. They mean so much to me to know that I have a lot of warmth and support out there.

As for the Jaywalkers I'm knitting up for the Knit Olympics, I'm halfway there on sock No.1. Although, I do have to say that I'm pretty bored with knitting the same thing over. Now I know why I have so many projects on the go.

I foresee this Jaywalker joining a league of many the lonesome sock.

Have they lit the flame?

I've started. I'm not even sure if the Olympic Opening Ceremony has started yet, but I'm laying here on the sofa, nothing on tv, bored so casted on. I hope I haven't cheated if I'm a few hours too early!

I had two embryos transferred yesterday. They were apparently excellent quality (grade 1's). Now its just a waiting game. I'll be testing 20 Feb so keep watching.

Please god let this be my time.

Soap suds or a spritz of water?

Sorry about the dodgy photo. This Argyl cardigan has been waiting to be blocked for a while now. I thought I'd do it now before I get caught up in the Knit Olympics and it'll get forgotten about.

How do you block? I know some simply pin out the garment and spritz water or steam over it. I've been known to even just take a hot iron over a garment. *Gasp* However, I do find that by properly washing in soap suds it makes the garment feel softer and more manageable. But we all love a short cut.

This Argyl was soaked in warm soap suds and I'm hoping it will dry over night so I can sew it together ahead of Friday's opening ceremony, where I'll be casting on for the Jaywalkers. Go Great Britain Team, Go. Oh and... Go, DPN Team Go.

IVF rollercoaster - I'm getting giddy, but want to stay on longer. 18 eggs collected. 9 fertilised. As of today (day 2) I have 7 grade 1's. So, on the embryo side that's not bad.

Up close and personal with Bobblicious

Let me introduce you to your Team Captain for Team Bobblicious USA. Here is Betty from A Blog Reborne. Feel free to head over to her blog.


I've had a few queries on how the perfect bobble should look. Here is a photo of Bobblicious up close. This is what your bobble should resemble. The picture on top you will see the bobbles for the right side. No holes are in view. On on the bottom you will see a flat wrong side. Again, no holes are in view.

I'm just going to run through the basic bobble stitch.

Basically, knit into the front of the stitch (as you would normally), but don’t push it off the right needle. With the stitch still on the right needle, knit into the back of the stitch (i.e. not the front of the stitch as you would normally, the same stitch on the left needle, but the loop at the back of it). Do not push these two stitches off the right needle. Again, knit into the front and then the back and front of the same stitch. You will then have made four increases in the one stitch (i.e. 5 loops should appear on your right needle from the one stitch you worked on).

Phew, confusing? You haven’t finished yet.

Turn your work around and purl these five stitches. Turn again, K2tog, K1, K2tog. Turn again and P3tog. Turn work, then slip this one stitch onto the right needle. Voila, there is your bobble.

Here is the front of the tank top I knit up for the Bubela. He says he likes it, but we'll see if he actually wears it when its finished! I've taken the cable and rib pattern from the original design by Debbie Bliss and just used my calculations to make it into a vest top.

I did have to frog once or twice, the first being because the V was too deep and the second the shoulders were too thin (although looking at this picture they look remarkably thin, but rest assured its just due to curling). I think it looks ok now. Im planning to pick up all edges around armholes and v-neck and do a 2x2 rib.


Are you ready for the Knit Olympics?? I'm plutzing here waiting for it to arrive already.
And guess what? There's a USA Bobblicious Team going on. If you want the link to the pattern, its in my sidebar. Good luck, I'm supporting you!!

I'll be supporting United Kingdom and I've also joined myself to the Team Dpn. I figure the more I join, the more support I get and I won't end up an "Eddie the Eagle".




Thank you all for your well wishes, they truly mean so much to me.

How do I feel today? Well, I'm in tomorrow to lay my eggs. Thank god, because its not so great feeling bloated and incontinent. The larger my follicles were growing, I'm sure something was leaning on my bladder. Oy, the prospect of being old.

Gone with the jumper, yay more yarn!!

Here's the Bubela last year in a Debbie Bliss jumper I knit up for him. It was before my blogging days so I didn't document it.

In summary, its knit up in Debbie Bliss Cotton DK which is a bulky cotton. I thought this cotton to be very heavy especially for a kids jumper, and the Bubela didn't really like wearing it. I think he always felt uncomfortable in it, the hood was always dragging his jumper back, his sleeves were always troubling him. Oy. I think he looked gorgeous in it, but I think he'd looks gorgeous in sac!!

Anyhoo, the crux of it is that the Bubela just will not wear it. If it isn't tarnished with Spiderman or footballs he is not interested. Its a nice jumper, but if the kid wont wear it, believe me he wont wear it.

So, enough with the kvetching the jumper became my frogging session. Here I am on my "knitting chair", jumper and dpn in hand and unpicking seams.
And here is what became of that Magila ... 8 balls of Debbie Bliss DC Cotton in Brown.

Plans, plans, plans. I'm knitting up a tank top for him now. I'll keep you posted.

As for my life during IVF#3. The drugs are playing havoc with my emotions. There are too many hormones running through my body that I just can't keep up myself, high and low, happy and sad, positive and negative, argh.

My thighs are bruised blue and speckled pinpricked pink, my stomach is bloated from steroids and I can't fit into my clothes.

Monday's scan showed 12 follicles growing nicely. Each follicle does not necessarily contain an egg, but 12 is a nice number to have. I do have couple of hurdles yet (nothing seems easy with me), but I'm still praying.

Eggs are coming out on Monday.

Vogue Winter arrived today. Where's my Rowan 39?

I've finally found you

Bloglines that is. Yes, enough with trawling through my favourites I now have Bloglines to do it for me. I know its a bit late in blogging life to find a very crucial tool, but that's me all over.

You are now able to see the blogs I read in my sidebar. Please let me know if your not there so I can add you. Merci Beaucoup.

Knitting progress... I've just been poodleing along with my two wip's and gearing myself up for the Knitting Olympics which starts February 10. Dpn's are polished, yarn is balled and my fingers and hands are in tip top shape.

So, here's a little quiz for you. What kind of knitter am I?

You appear to be a Knitting Adventurer.
You are through those knitting growing pains and feeling more adventurous. You can follow a standard pattern if it's not too complicated and know where to go to get help. Maybe you've started to experiment with different fibers and you might be eyeing a book with a cool technique you've never tried. Perhaps you prefer to stick to other people's patterns but you are trying to challenge yourself more. Regardless of your preference, you are continually trying to grow as a knitter, and as well you should since your non-knitting friends are probably dropping some serious hints, these days.


What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Its Only a Game

We didn't win. Well, I didn't really expect to, but I had everything mapped out had I won the 100,000,000 GBP.

£100,000,000. Oy, what would you do with that?

First, I'd have had a good old spend with the plastic on the net.

Then, I'd have invited my whole family over for dinner, I love to cook. I wish I had the space to entertain more often. I'd have used the good china, with the silver cutlery. Ach, *waving hand in dismissal* I'd have bought new china for the occasion. I'd have placed an envelope at each setting with the recipients name upon it. Inside would have been a nice surprise. A cheque for... enough for your wishes to come true. Oy, sounds a bit shmultzy, but thats how i'd have done it.

Then, I'd have booked a cruise. A Caribbean one maybe, or Baltic possibly and taken my family and friends with me. We would have had the big round table in the middle of the dining room, the one where all the noise usually comes from. Hubby would have been ok with that table, especially with not the need to share it with strangers.

We'd also buy our dream house. Everyone has a dream house, right? Mine doesn't really call for much, I'd just like a big kitchen. Ok, and an indoor swimming pool, maybe with a gym in the basement or something. A big dinning room for entertaining... I'm sure Hubby would want to go and buy a car (or two), not me, I'm not into cars. I'd probably splash out on handbags and shoes (and yarn of course). The Bubela would probably like to go wild at Hamley's, his toy heaven.

But, hey, ve didn't vin.

Year of the Dog

I'd like to wish my Chinese friends a happy new year.


As I'm waiting in the wings for the Knitting Olympics to start I thought I'd knit another argyl cardigan from Debbie Bliss' Special Knits book. With so many expectant mothers around you can never have too little baby knits. Im knitting it up in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and its texture is so soft, and it looks alot nicer than my first one which was knit up in Rowan All Seasons Cotton.

No weight gain from the steroids yet, I'm still 2lb down. I've been taking baby aspirin and the first couple of days of taking it I had really bad indigestion. I put it down to a vegetable chili I had eaten. However, as I was making a cup of tea and hanging around in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil, I was reading the aspirin label on which it said dispersible aspirin, mix with water. *Gasp* I'd been swallowing them. *Checking pulse is not flying through the sky* No wonder the indigestion. MENTAL NOTE - READ ALL MEDICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Knitalong Galore

Firstly I have to say thank you for all your best wishes for the IVF. Its going ok, the mood swings have subsided and I'm just an emotional wreck now, cry at everything. Guess its working!

Now, I want to get the sock bug, I really do, and what better way to do it than with a pair of Jaywalkers. I'm a bit late for the Jaywalker knitalong, so I'll be entering them into Yarn Harlots Knitting Olympics which starts on Feb 10 through Feb 26. Is anyone representing England? What are you making? Do you have a button? And any Brits that haven't entered, hit the link and join me.

I also feel that I want to add another book to my collection and what better way do it than ask for your help and opinions. I'm looking at three sock books in particular, Vintage Knits; Folk Socks; and Sensational Socks. Which one would you say was the all time best if you only had to choose one?

Have you been over to Lolly's blog and checked out Project Spectrum? A great little 6 month KAL. Basically each month you are to craft something in the following colours, can be anything you like: not only knitting. This is great for a project I've been planning to do. I want to make one of Debbie Abrahams' patchwork blankets from her new book, More Blankets and Throws. Lots of colour, I'm looking forward to it. Its not starting until March though, got the Olympics to get through first.

March - Red and Pink
April - Orange and Yellow
May - Green
June - Blue
July - Violet / Purple
August - Neutrals / Black & White

My parents are back from their holiday in Israel. Its great to have them home.

Remember these? My toes are cosy and warm now. Actually, they were made for a special friend of mine, so they'll be wrapped and boxed this evening for delivery tomorrow.



As for Ted, he's now been given a facelift and ears. Hubby still thinks he looks like a hostage, but I kinda think he's cute.

Weight loss - yippee. 2lb.

I hope you don't mind me talking about my IVF, but its a big part of my life right now. I visited the clinic today and all looks well. So tonight I shall start injecting to stimulate my ovaries to make lots of eggs. I'll also be starting steroids today which I'm slightly worried about, gotta watch my weight.

Is that your car? Not mine, is it yours?

What do you do when you get home to find a strange car parked in your drive. It could be anyone. Someone stealing all your belongings, someone hanging the dog by its tail or worse, someone dressing up in all your fancy underwear. *Gasp* Call the police.

Call the police.

Da da daaa....

Turns out my sister DID have a strange car parked on her front drive - and it wasn't her husbands, he was in the car with her.

Wait for police to escort them inside.

Police get there.

As she opens the front porch she finds a letter on the doormat. Its from a car hire place... " You were not in when delivery took place..." They delivered a car to the right number, right street, but wrong town. Shmucks.

I was tickled pink when she told me.

Nothing like wasting police time to fight crime.

Thank god the dog's alright, oy, if only...

Meanwhilst, in the house of Pea I sit here fixing up Ted. I ruffle the edgings of my alphabet blanket, yet I have no photos to share. I'll share some tomorrow.

Throw me a lifeline..

Its like an asthmatic without her pump, a smoker without a cigarette. My broadband connection has been down for 5 hours!!! What's a girl to do without the internet.

So, whilst I've been sitting here feeling like I've no lifeline, I've managed to complete one edgy side of the alphabet blanket, and don't you think it looks great. I'm really pleased with the outcome.

Little Ted is undergoing cosmetic surgery, so bear with me whilst he gets fixed up. I'm knitting up some clothes for him at the moment, so hopefully he'll be able to reveal his face shortly... so keep a watch out.

Exercise - there's been none.
Diet - Gained a pound.
IVF - Feel like a pin cushion.
Cigarettes - Don't smoke, maybe I ought to.

Gotcha, tagged!

I've been tagged by Cerella, my FIRST EVER meme - thank you. I always make a habit of reading other peoples meme's, I think they're great. You really get to know your blogging friends through them. So, I hope you get a sneak peek into the "real" me with this meme.

Four jobs you have had in your life:

1. Nat West Bank. Great first job, I was there for 4 years and what a social life I had back then.
2. Bank of Scotland as a cashier. Had to leave though, I hated the uniform. A blue kilt and a big bow thing round my neck.
3. Legal secretary at a huge top London law firm. After 6 years here, I wanted to leave to stay at home with the Bubela.
4. Best job ever is the one I do now. Looking after my family.

Four movies you could watch over and over

1. As a teen, most Saturday nights I slept over at Lou's house, and the Sunday morning ritual was... Sound of Music and a carrot and salad cream toasted sandwich.
2. Calamity Jane with Doris Day. I used to know all the words straight.
3. Blue Hawaii, Elvis Presley.
4. High Society, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

Love a good musical, me. They don't make 'em like they used ta.

Four places you have lived

1. Netanya, Israel. Born there, but moved over here when I was 3 months.
2. Clayhall, Essex. My family home where I grew up.
3. Buckhurst Hill, Essex. Hubby and I's first property
4. Eilat, Israel. When I was 19 I lived on a kibbutz for a year.

Four tv shows you love to watch

1. Desperate Housewives. And its coming back to our screens tomorrow!!
2. Big Brother. I don't want to shout too loud, its hardly something to be proud of.
3. The X Factor. Give me a singing contest any day.
4. Eastenders. Good British soap.

Four places you have been on vacation

1. Caribbean. As a kid I traveled around all the Islands with my family.
2. The Far East. Again, with my family we visited Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Bali.
3. Europe. Italy, Spain, France...
4. USA. I could never tire from visiting the States.

Yes, well traveled, but plenty more places to see. Hubby and I would love to take the Bubela to Australia one day.

Four websites you visit daily.

1. Fertility Friends. In search of the magic spell.
2. GetKnitted
3. Ebay
4. Too many blogging friends to list.

Four of your favourite foods

1. Biscuits, with a cup of tea.
2. Cheesecake, but won't tempt myself.
3. Chinese takeaway, but not too often (watching the waistline).
4. Pizza.

Four places you would rather be right now

1. Having a coffee with my mum. I miss her, she's on holiday.
2. Haberdashery department at John Lewis
3. Gym (believe it or not)
4. Florida by the pool.

Four Bloggers you are tagging.

1. Lauren
2. Ruth
3. GoodKarma
4. Isel

Looking forward to reading all about you.

Having a bad head day

Here's Ted. He's a cross between a "Mr Personality" and "Mr Muscles". You know the type, fab body, great personality, shame about the face. Well, this ted has got great feet, great arms and great body. But, and I hate to say it, a face that needs help.


Ouch!! I told you his face wasn't anything special. There were so many markers to match, and bits to sew to bits that I, hands up, messed up. Don't worry though, once I've tarted him up in a night gown and cap, given him some eyes and a nose he'll be bright as anything *I hope*.

Progress on the Alphabet blanket

I'm almost done with the Alphabet blanket. (Bad lighting, bad photo - sorry). I hope Baby L will like it. I've just got the border to complete and it'll be finished. I have to say, this has been my most enjoyable knit EVER. I don't really want it to end. Although, once its completed I'll be starting the Odette blanket from Rowan Little Treasures for Baby B and thats a cute one that I'm excited to start. My friend Michelle (unfortunately blogless) has knit one up. I saw it half completed and it was gorgeous, just gorgeous.

I've been injecting the suprecur drug for about 11 days now, and I've been fine. They told me I'd get side effects. Nothing. Side effects similar to when I'm premenstrual but apparently worse. No, I'm fine. In fact, the other day I wondered if it was all working.

I caught myself screaming blue heaven at hubby last night over... erm. *trying to think what it was now* Oh, I guess it was something pathetic and trivial. Anyway, there I was red in the face, smoking from my ears, gnarling through gritted teeth. And he's just looking back at me nodding. NODDING, grrrr.

Then, a one second reality check caught me, I stopped... and cracked up laughing. Yep, its working alright. I love you Hubby and thank you for putting up with me.

The Rowan 4ply is just a dream to work with. Its a shame I have to cut it up into bits. Although, it will be one soft teddy bear.

Mummy, when the sky is blue I wake up. When the sky is black I go to sleep. What happens when the sky is pink?

Sunrise yesterday morning and I had to share it with you.

January, a time for diet and exercise, quitting the habits, and not forgeting frequenting the shops. The good old January sales.

Although, I have to admit I'm no lover of the sales. Don't get me wrong, I love a bargain, but those January sales are like jumble sales. They bring out all the toot that hasn't been sold over the years. Clothes strewn around, grabbing hands from all directions, bags throwing you to the side, no thank you. I'll wait until the end of January for the new collection if you don't mind.

I did, however, visit Hobbycraft today and look what I picked up in their sale. Rowanspun 4ply for 99p. And rest assured, there were no handbags throwing me out of the way - I was the only one down the knitting eisle. The Rowan 4ply soft wasn't in the sale, but I couldn't resist it.

I'm going to dust off my Debbie Bliss book on Teddy Bears and put my purchases to the test.

Turning the light out on Creeper

Creeper is turning out to be a real *bleep-er*.

I have managed to air the yarn. I locked it up in our conservatory overnight where the temperature probably reaches below zero at night and that seemed to have done the job. A good old fashioned airing. I even bought a pouch of lavender to pop into the bag of wool as suggested by Diana but I don't think I'll need it.

That being said I can now work on the garment without the horrid stench. However, I'm just not loving it. Creeper that is. You know when you just don't fall head over heels and enjoy a knit. What do you do when you just don't enjoy what your knitting? I've been sticking with it in the hope that I find a love pocket to jump into, but its just not happening. Why? January blues? PMT?
I dunno. But my Debbie Bliss Alphabet Blanket makes me smile a whole lot more than Creeper.

So...

Creeper - I feel guilty for tossing you aside and I'm sorry. I feel guilty for not knitting you close to my chest and I feel guilty for calling you smelly. I think the best thing for the both of us to do, is part. So I'll be frogging you tomorrow.

Creeper, good night and god bless.

My knitting treats

First of all, I'd like to thank you all for your much appreciated love and purchases of Olive. I'm looking forward to seeing photos of you wearing them.

Hubby came home with this fab book for me at the weekend, A Stitch in Time. A pressie for me, arrh what a cutie.

"The shop was closing down and everyone was rummaging for stuff, so that was the first thing I grabbed and thought you'd love it". Oh. So it wasn't a pressie bought with love, it was just a quick cheapy. Doesn't matter, because I don't think he actually realises what a bible this book is. Its an amazing book and gives you an insight to every, I mean EVERY, needlecraft with excellent illustrated techniques. I'm very excited about the crochet section (I didn't actually add perfect crochet to my knitting resolutions, but consider it No. 1). There's sewing and applique, and quiltingandcrossstitch and... and... I'm drooling, excuse me whilst I mop up.

And to make matters more exciting, my Knit Simple arrived today. Its the new magazine from Vogue. Obviously, with it being a new knitting magazine I've been awaiting its arrival. Was it worth the wait? Ach. Its nothing special. In fact, its exactly the same layout as Vogue International but the patterns are in chunky yarns and are aimed at the beginner (hence the title).



Here are a few of patterns that I would consider knitting up.


I told my grandmother that I was starting IVF. She seemed very clued up, I guess she reads the papers so she knows what it is.

I'm Day 3 today with my injections, so she phones me yesterday. "So how did it go?" I tell her its going fine, and that it hasn't really interrupted my daily routine yet. "Yes, but you had it yesterday [day 1], how did it go?. Did it work?" Oh bless her, I told her I was starting on Day 1 and she must have thought it was a one day process. I guess in her day there was no such thing and they gave birth in the kitchen, or the next room with hot water and towels.

I explained that at the moment I'm taking injections to suppress my ovaries, so that I dont produce natural eggs. In a couple of weeks or so, I'll start injections to stimulate my ovaries to make lots of eggs. They will then take the eggs out of me, mix them with Hubby's supersperm, and put them back inside me in the hope that they snuggle in and stick around for 9 months. "Oh" she said, "that long, eh?"

Have you ever knit with a nose peg on?

Here is my start to Creeper (its the jumper on the right in the book) - a bat winged design like the old eighties jumpers. *reminiscing about the good old days... *.

The eighties are back and the bat winged arms are supposed to be stylish at the moment, although they're slightly unflattering. The pattern calls for Rowan Plaid but I had some Sunbeam Luxury Tweed in my stash which I thought would look perfect. Its a different gauge but I didn't mind doing the maths.

Actually, I'm knitting it up as quickly as possible and I can't wait to block it. Yes, blocking I'm dreaming of blocking - Never thought I'd see the day I'd be more excited to soak in suds and block than knit. Why?

It stinks.

Yep, stinks. A couple of months ago I won a bid on Ebay for this tweed wool. This Luxury Tweed in a beautiful colour, pinky purple with flecks of blue, yellow, green... just beautiful.

I was delighted to win the bid and once I'd received it through the post and looked at it, I was even more pleased with myself. However, when I opened the bag... a waft came out, it stunk. Stunk, like it had been tucked away and stored for about 70 years. I'm surprised nothing ugly with legs walked out. Anyway, after gagging I taped the bag and up hid it away in a cupboard hopefully never to be seen/smelt again.

I was frightened to store it with my stash in case my other yarn "caught" the smell.

Rowan 39 preview is up

Check it out here.

*Edited to say they've pulled the preview. I thought it was a bit early for Rowan as they usually put the preview up in Februrary when the magazine comes out.*

Latkes and doughnuts

With one too many of the above, a menorah dripping in wax and the Bubela who loves that every day greets him with a present, I'll be pleased when the holidays are over. I'm waiting for the gym membership card to resume its swipe, the feather duster to detach itself from Hubby's hands and me to sit down with a pair of needles and not feel guilty.

The holidays have been wonderful, I've loved having the Bubela home and Hubby off from work and we've been very busy with friends and family - but enough already.

As you can see the Olive pattern is now available and I'm sure you will love it. She's a real treat to wear and I've worn her so much these holidays. I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.

Since finishing Olive, I've felt quite redundant. Or rather, that I have had no one to argue or fight with. Knit - frog, knit - frog, knit - frog... a real love/hate relationship. I've been working on the alphabet blanket the last few days, and we get on better, a real simple and smooth knit.

I'll take another sip of wine and sing Auld Lang Syne. I wish you all a healthy and Happy New Year.

Escape from the Wooly World of Knitting

I'm in the process of typing up Olive to share with you, however, it might take me a little longer than I would hope (see reasons below). I wore it today and someone asked me where I bought it!! They couldn't believe that I knit it myself, let alone designed it. I was chuffed to bits.

Can you see the bruise on my cheek? No, I didn't fall off the treadmill today. Its from the root canal which I had done Christmas Eve, it was the only day they could fit me in - it didn't affect Christmas day lunch.

Hubby was upset with me today. Well, it was justified. Because Olive has been at the forefront of my mind recently, and what with the Holiday shopping, and my little part-time job that I work from home (which is fizzling out at the end of January anyway - they can't afford to keep me on) - I forgot to purchase something which is absolutely crucial in our lives right now. We are due to start our 3rd IVF in 5 days time and... I forgot to purchase the drugs!!!

I feel really dipsy, no not even that: irresponsible. As this is THE most important thing to me and I thought I had everything organised, but clearly didn't.

Fortunately, when I telephoned the pharmacy I was told that if I run the prescription down there as soon as possible, I could collect the drugs tomorrow. Phew, but I wasn't in the area. I love my mum she is the greatest and always comes to the rescue, so I phoned her and asked to her pick up the prescription from my house and drop it into the pharmacy - there is a Bank Holiday Monday hence the urgency.

Hubby told me to come out of my "Wooly World of Knitting" and start focussing on what's important... although I'm waiting for this to arrive, and this.

Olive for Christmas Day

How was your Christmas? At the moment we are still enjoying Channukah (the festival of lights). I love the holidays... and the waistband is certainly proving that. Diet will start again in 2006, but I've been to the gym *round of applause* thank you.

As many of you know, I am a Jewish girl living in a modern world where you can't hide from Christmas. And who would want to hide from this enjoyable festival anyway? I want the Bubela to enjoy every inch of both Christmas and Channukah so that he can learn how different people celebrate different things in different ways... and get two lots of toys!

Anyway, barely Christmas morning (5.50am to be precise), the Bubela shouts out from his room "Is it morning yet?" Sure is. And with that, he comes bouncing into our room and asks if he can go and check downstairs to see if Father Christmas has left him anything. Hubby and I follow behind him - yes, its about 5.52am at this point. Me with the digital camera, Hubby with the camcorder. Oy vey, what a sight.

"He has mummy, look" he shrieks, "and, he's got the same wrapping paper as you". "Oh yes, err... it was on special offer". (what else could I say to a believer?)

*note to self: remember to hide wrapping paper as well as presents next year*

He loved all of his presents, especially Star Wars' millennium Falcon. Hubby has a few busy jobs too, lots of lego and imaginext sets to put together. The Bubela kindly told me that I was a good girl too, but why didn't Father Christmas bring me any wool?? I don't know, why didn't Father Christmas bring me any wool?? Maybe, he does all the mummy's presents in the January sales!!

And here she is. Olive. By the skin of my teeth, I finished the Olive cardigan for Christmas Day. I was threading the last few ends in in the car to my parents on christmas day.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out, considering how many times I had frogged it because it didn't look just right. Remember how this started off as a jumper, then turned into a cardigan with no collar, now its still a cardigan but with a collar, just perfect. Its even warm enough to wear as a jacket, what do you think? I'll get the pattern all typed up if your interested.

Zayde Clause is coming to town

The Hubby, Bubela and I would like to wish you Happy Holidays.

God forbid you touch the knitting

There's not much going on on the knitting front. You see, I'm not frantically knitting to finish off the holiday knits. That's because, as you know, I didn't start any. The Fam will sure be surprised (or possibly relieved) to open their Channukah gifts and not pull out a knitted scarf, or gloves perhaps. Oh no, not this year. But I promise, promise, promise, to attempt holiday gifts next year. Okay, Fam?

Now, tell me why is it that kids get up to mischief when mummy's are on the telephone? I'm on the phone and the devil gets into the Bubela. He's running around and making noise, I'm ignoring it and I take myself out to the kitchen so I can hear the caller. The Bubela runs into the kitchen pulls a face and runs off, I mimic a giggle and let him get on with it. Again, he comes into the kitchen with a Bamboo knitting needle. Again, I just ignore him and I'll tell him off when I get off the phone.

So, I get off the phone, forget to tell him off and I carry on blowing raspberries on his belly while he shticks himself in laughter. I later bath him and put him to bed.

I then attempt to clear up before starting dinner only to find that THAT Bamboo needle contained LIVE STITCHES from the Olive cardigan that I'm designing. Oy vey. Obviously, dinner was held off until those live stitches were threaded back onto the bamboo. God forbid you touch the knitting.

I'm hoping to showcase the Olive cardigan in January... towards the end.

Knitting resolutions...

Holiday Knitting isn't finished... because it was never started!! Last year's one knitting resolution was never achieved. And, that all important one was that all family members were to receive a knitted gift for this Channukah. Oh dear. What happened?

For this, I am sharing this year's knitting resolutions early. Have you thought about your knitting resolutions yet?

I'm far too ambitious for my own good, and probably won't accomplish all of these, but here goes.

1. Use up my stash - I'm a real sucker for buying yarn just to look at. Especially if its a bargain. You've seen me flash my stash, and now I feel its time to stop hiding it, get it out, and knit it.

2. Patterns - I have a never ending list of wannaknits. Complete them.

2. Always block - *Huff* What a bore, but clearly a necessity. I can be a real lazy knitter at times. I can either "purposely" forget to do a gauge test, or shy away from blocking. I really need to knuckle down and block.

3. Yarn dyeing - I loved the Kool Aid dyeing that I did last month (pictured). It wasn't half as messy or as scary as I thought it would be. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised with what I created, and I want to experiment more. I want to make my own sock yarn (for Resolution No. 5) in reds, pinks and greens. I'm going to try dyeing with Dylon too.

4. Designing - I'd like to design and knit up a tank top for the Bubela, something with a cable. Everything I knit, he asks "Is that for me?" Bless him. I'll frog the Debbie Bliss Cabled jumper which I knit up for him last year and use that yarn (DB Cotton DK in chocolate brown). He doesn't like it because its so heavy. The hood drags the jumper off his shoulders. The yarn is just too heavy for a hooded jumper, even though it was the recommended yarn. DB Cotton DK may be better as a tank, with a shirt underneath. Smart!!

5. Socks - Knit up a few more. I'd like to purchase a few books, Folk Socks, Sensational Knitted socks, to mention a couple. I want to learn how to knit two socks at once using circulars. If anyone has a link to a good tutorial, could you send it to me please. And, after dyeing my own yarn, I'm definitely going knit a pair of Jaywalkers.

And, the photo... that's the Bubela (as pageboy) sneaking a kiss off the bridesmaid.

What can you knit up in a matter of hours??

Here's the hat and scarf I knocked up in a weekend for Shayna, my niece. Its made with Bernat's cotton tots. The scarf is a regular stocking stitch with a flower edge (Nicky Epstein's design).

For the hat, I simply used the pattern outline from December's issue of Simply Knitting and modified it slightly.

She loves the scarf, but I don't think she is overly keen with the hat... you know what girls are like!

I'm going on a course on Friday from work. Initially, I wasn't that keen on going, but taking a three hour train ride to get there sounds more appealing. Yes, three hours of knitting!! I've been flicking through my books and magazines for the perfect and most portable little project to take along. I really like the Evergreen Bag from Handknit Holidays but I don't really want to start intarsia on a train. I think booties or socks would be a better idea. Or maybe, I'll start a curly scarf in Kidsilk Haze. Oh yes, yes yes. I'm going to John Lewis tomorrow with the Bubela, I'll buy the KSH then.

The Olive cardigan design is coming along. I was very naughty with this project though, I didn't block. *gasp* I know, I know its shocking and I'm not looking for excuses, but I think it was because I didn't really know where I was going with this project, you know what I'm like. Its already changed three times. Yes, I frogged the front again and ended up picking up stitches from the left front, back of the collar and right front and am knitting a 2x2 rib at the moment.

I haven't been to the gym for weeks and I planned to go today... promise. I took the Bubela to school, popped into work and then was on my way to the gym, when I get THE call from school. Can I pick him up? Oh my god what's happened. Its the Pox, they don't think the pox is clear for him to return to school. Even though its clear enough for the doctor, its not clear enough for school, oh well, more time at home with me spoiling him... He loves it! I love it more!

Your once, twice, three times a design...

The way Linda Goodman describes me in Sun Signs its as if she knows me. As a Libra I am represented by the scales, therefore I am, *achem* perfectly balanced. Although, if you think of those old blancing scales where the ultimate goal is to get both sides even I'm either up or down, one way or the other. I can be sweet, pleasant and charming, or can be sulky, fiery and boring. On the whole, dont get me wrong I'm good natured person, but when I'm in a bad mood keep well away.

She also says that us Librans are indecisive, or rather we take a slow boat to making a decision. Even when my Hubby asked me out on our first date, I ummed and arred as to whether to accept. I mean come on, I was head over heels for the guy.

Anyway, that cabled tank top that I'm designing... its no longer cabled. And, its no longer a tank top. In fact, I ripped out the whole lot and am now designing a cardigan. Here's one half of it. As you can see the front is a 2x2 rib which I plan to wear folded down as pictured.

Please excuse the no make-up/bad hair. What with the Bubela having the pox and not being able to leave the house there was no need to groom.

With the way things are going on the knitting front at the moment, if I keep with this design *flinging eyeballs to the ceiling*, then this should be finished by the weekend. And a photoshoot outside, outside, outside, in public, in public, in public. Can you tell I miss shoulder rubbing at the school gate.

Stuck in doors? Whatcha doin'?

Thank you all for your congrats about Bobblicious. Please send me photos of your finished Bobblicious for me to upload onto the blog.

Here's the pox-ridden Bubela, although this photo has cleverly not shown him with his chickenpox. His trunk is covered in them, and his face has about 15. Please dont scar, please dont scar. Please let the Vit E oil work. The Bubela said to me yesterday, "Mummy, when am I going to look like me again?"

Is he missing school? Is he bored? He is definitely bored, and I think he want's to play with his friends again. We've been making Channukah cards. He has made about four for his friend Daniel, everything he makes is for Daniel - and has to have the trademark sticker of a Spiderman. He has watched Madagaskar about 3 times, what a great film, its hilarious and its great knitting time. I've been really productive the last couple of days.

The Alphabet blanket is coming along, I love it. The Z and S had errors in the pattern, but now I'm over that, it should be a smooth run. And as you can see, I have also knocked up a pair of booties from the new Zoe Mellor book. (Sorry about the poor photo and bad lighting.)

So many pregnant friends at the moment, I'm loving all the knitting. I'm looking for another cute pattern for a blanket for another friend who is due to have her baby summer '06, "Baby B". I quite like this Odette blanket, what do you think?

Presenting... Bobblicious

Now that Knitty is up, here she is. My pattern, Bobblicious. I hope you enjoy knitting and wearing her as much as I do.

I thoroughly enjoyed designing this project, in fact, so much so that I'm hoping to finish another design - once I feel brave enough to pick it up again.

At long last...

When the whole nursery had it, the Bubela was the only kid left in class. Then all of his friends had it and the Bubela didn't have anyone to play with. Then his cousins had it and I made sure that he played with them every day, but no, this kid just wasn't going to get it. Finally, and on his own, doing it solo, the Bubela has Chikenpox.

So, a very spotty Bubela and I are confined to our house for the next 7-10 days. Thank goodness my Amazon order has arrived, and the Bubela's Madagaskar DVD.

Debbie Abrahams' new Blankets and throws book is beautiful, even better than her last if that is at all possible. As in her first Blankets and Throws book, she still embelishes the squares with sequins or beads, and her blankets portray an array of vibrant colours which she is well known for. I just love this book, its a real page flicker. My Amazon order also included the Zoe Mellor Baby Bootees book which just oozzes cute factor. Its a great last minute knock up a bootee knit book.

One of my favourite blankets is this Four Seasons blanket. It has the chick for Easter, the sun, the leaf, a Christmas tree, Pumpkin, a snowman and many more.
And here is such a pretty girly blanket. This one is embellished in beads and shell buttons, its just gorgeous. I'd love to knit this one for somebody.
As for my favourite Mellor bootees, arn't they gorgeous?