Couldn't Resist...

Spending time on Ravelry isn't good for my list of WIPs. I've started yet another project - the Edgar Scarf. I'm using Noro Silk Garden in purple hues. I'm about half way through and it's a great simple pattern to follow, so hopefully if I manage to put some knitting time aside it shouldn't be on the WIP list for long.

Baby AA's Knitted Gifts

I'm going to visit Baby AA today and so had to make sure all his gifts were finished. The baby bonnet which was knitted in August but not 'finished', got sewn yesterday and I think it looks even nicer now.

Here's a close up of the brim. I love the detail and it was fun to knit.

The mitts were also sewn up. Have to say they don't look as special as I thought they would :(

Petal Bib 2 was also for him. Note all the cream! This one is actually much better than the first - no mistakes. Shame the pic doesn't do it justice. I still think it's cute and it's really helped me get to grips with short rows and wrap stitches.

Ponchette

Now the Fingerless Mitt Swap is over (will have a special post on swap once my recipient gets hers) I decided to start something new, despite already having a million things on the go. Naughty I know - good thing I haven't signed up to No-vember!

I bought this 'Cool Hemp Ponchette' pattern at the UK SnB day. Its a really simple lace pattern and looks very elegant worn (the lady on the stall was wearing one). I'm knitting it in Black Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK on 5.0mm circulars. I didn't buy any hemp for the project because of the cost and it felt slightly coarse to me, although I'm told it gets softer when you wash it.

Here's a pic so far:

I'm on my 4th repeat and I have to do 30! I can see myself getting slightly frustrated (pattern only calls for K, YO and K2tog) so may have to have something else on the go too.

Finished Petal Bib

Its finished. I BO of the i-cord a bit too early. I measured it so many times but obviously I was in too much of a hurry to finish.

Petal Bib

Yesterday I started making a Petal Bib from Leigh Radford's One Skein. Managed to finish the actual bib after I came back from the SnB Day, so now just working on the i-cord. I think I've done about 6" of it, so have another 5" to go.

SnB Day, UK

Having never been to a knitting exhibition, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to see what hails in the world of knitting. The 1st UK SnB day was hosted by I Knit London at the Royal National Hotel in Bloomsbury. Getting there proved to be a bit of a hassle because the Piccadilly Line was closed between Uxbridge and Acton Town, which meant we had to take the bus and then the tube and hence reached about an hour late.

We started off at the Dutch Cafe, where we got lured into the world of sock knitting. The guy at the table loved knitting socks and loved talking about socks. My mission for the day became sock yarn.

There were lots of stalls from Get Knitted to Hemp for Knitting (all the way from Canada), so between us mum and I bought quite a bit. Here's what I got (some of it is courtesy of mum's credit card):



What I got:

• Much coveted Knit Picks Interchangeables


• Knit Picks Needle Size thingy


• Easy Knits Titsie kit (proceeds go to Breast Cancer)


• Indigo Moon in Chestnut (from Socktopus - got a lovely free stitch marker too)


• Tofutsie + free baby knits pattern


• Trekking (XXL) + free sock pattern


• New Pathways for Sock Knitters - Book 1


• Patterns from Knitting on the net and Hemp for Knitting


• Fingerless Mitt Kit (the AY swap has me slightly addicted)
  

Here's some of the yarn up close

I really enjoyed speaking to Jon from Easy Knits who dyes his own yarn in some gorgeous colurways. Had my eye on the 'Very Berry' but in the end decided to go with the Titsie Kit (pink colourway) because the proceeds were for Breast Cancer and the sock pattern is gorgeous, if a little ambitious for me.


There were quite a few charity stalls present too. Had a chat with the lady at the mobility stall, might be volunteering for the Children's Society and have said I'' knit a few scarf for the origins shelter campaign. For each bottle of the Ginger scent sold with a scarf tied around it, Origins will donate £1 to shelter. Apparently there's a supply of Ginger products up for grabs for whoever knits the most scarves by next Friday. Someone sent in over 300, so I don't think I'll be getting any goodies, but will still have some fun knitting scarves. Here's a pic of the Origins counter. Don't the bottles look cute with the little scarves??

There were lots of acts including Girl & Dean. I've seen them on YouTube, but they're so much funnier in person. Definitely an interesting concept. The Shellac Sisters were cool too - amazing outfits. Why did I not get a picture?

The atmosphere was great. I've never seen so many people just sitting around knitting and chatting. A great way to meet new people.

We finished off the day making Pom Poms for peace. Yes I haven't done this since school, but everyone was really getting into it. PomPom International wants everyone to make pom poms and they'll be put together to make the biggest pom pom ever and will be shown at the 2012 Olympics.

All in all mum and I had a great day.

I Can't Sleep :(

I've been awake since 3am this morning. I can't seem to fix my sleeping patterns after the exams - not cool as have to leave for the SnB day in 40mins. I did however make use of all those hours but starting on the Petal Bib from One Skein. I'm knitting it in Rowan handknit cotton as suggested in a pink colour. On the short row section so not much more to do. Its actually a really good exercise in working short rows and doing wrap stitches - something I was struggling with earlier in the week when I decided to start my own Lizzie Ridge.

Despite my lack of writing I have been doing a little knitting this week, though not as much as I would've liked because I've had to fill in the national job application for my foundation programme. I've managed to make some baby mitts, nearly finished some boottees, almost done with my mitts for the AY swap and started the 1st piece for my Lizzie Ridge. Also had a squishy parcel but haven't had a chance to take any pics so the next post will prob be pic heavy!

Off to have some breakfast before I head out. Mustn't forget the credit card :o)

I Passed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The waiting game has been extremely nerve wracking. I managed to busy myself over the weekend but yesterday and today were a completely different story. Panic attacks, butterflies - you name it I had it!

The medical school hasn't been very organised about telling us when results would be out. I emailed them yesterday and got no reply (which in my mind convinced me it was game over!) Finally at about 3.30pm, a friend called up very excited telling/asking me if I'd passed. I obviously replied I had no clue and then she said, "I can see your candidate number on the the pass list..." and promptly read off somebody else's number. My heart plummeted. There were only 2 graduates sitting exams, the rest were students on the 5 year programme and we have different numbers to the others. So my number wasn't there - I think I almost passed out, but then she quickly reassured me that my number was also there.

Long story short, today I found out that I passed my final exams and after 4 years I've become a doctor. The thought scares me silly but the relief is immense. Time to sort out a job.


Now the celebrations begin! My first treat is going to the Stitch & Bitch day - can't wait.

Exams Over & the Waiting Game Begins :(

I wanted to thank everyone for their well wishes in the run up to my exams. Thankfully they're over, as of 4.20pm yesterday! Am absolutely exhausted and in need of TLC so I've escaped down south to stay with my parents until the results come out. My written papers were hard and the clinical cases varied (consultants can have a habit of staring you down and making you realise that you are definately at the bottom of the food chain), so I'm hoping and praying the sleepless nights, the lack of socialising and KNITTING are going to pay off.

I came home to find that my mum had raided her local supermarket shelves of ALL their knitting magazines as a welcome home pressie, so I've spent a large part of the early hours (and yes I mean early - I've been up since 2.15am!) of today pouring over glossies. My mission for the weekend is to finish off the mitts for the AY fingerless mitt swap, but instead I've been knitting mini mittens and boottees for my cousin's new arrival. Unfortunately all my mum had at home was some cream Sirdar Snuggly and I didnt fancy traipsing into Central London on a Saturday to get some more colurful yarn, so I've had to make do.

If I don't fall over with exhaustion in the next few hours I might attempt my swap mitts tonight, though I hear there are plans underfoot to drag me to the local fireworks display - not that I'm complaining.