Happy Easter

Happy Easter to you all. I hope everyone is having a lovely day.

I realised today I've not blogged for ages!

So here it is....

I've completed the SoSii but not blocked it yet as I can't find my foam mats....I'm sure Asda will be selling them again soon as Spring is supposedly here!

I've also completed these socks

The pattern is Jacobs Ladder by Debbie Tomkies(it's also in March '08 Simply Knitting). I knitted it in Colinette Jitterbug but not sure what the colourway is as it's was a pressie from Chris. This is my first toe up sock and the yarn was lovely to knit with. It's a fab pattern that's really straight forward(esp as I've never been successful with toe ups before). I'm going to try and master a short row heel next.

I'm really pleased, Jacqui, my UK swap partner got her parcel from me. She seems happy with it. This has been a fab swap, I'm just waiting on the post now to complete a 'thank you' present for Delle after sending me such a lovely box of goodies.

I've also finished C's Xmas pressie. She is over the moon with it but I'll have to post pics another time as I gave her it on Thursday and forgot to get some before I handed it over.

Chris popped over on Saturday afternoon. I was really ill on Friday with a migrainy/24hr bug type of thing that I'm still pretty weedy from. Well, I ended up missing guild as I really didn't think I could cope with a few hours dyeing, I was gutted as it was one meeting that I really wanted to go to. Anyway, Chris, bless her, came over afterwards and brought some goodies for me.

This is what she picked up at Skip North for me. Amongst other things are nearly a kilo of navy wool, 2 skeins of sock yarn and lots of fibres to play with!!!! Thanks Chris it was lovely to see you!

Oh well going to find a toe up sock pattern with short rows to cast on and hopefully finish before Mystic Light starts!

Look what the postie has brought me this week!

Here is my postman's first offering. It's Posh Yarn's Lei in 'Motherly' for Mystic Light KAL ...sign ups are still open. I'm thinking a sunset with these colours, the reddy one at the bottom graduating to the bluey one for the neck. It really is beautiful yarn and seems to have a lovely drape to it as well.
The next acquisition is my new toy....a peg loom. As you all know we have rather a lot of animals in our house so we don't have many carpets as a result. So I thought, Hmmmmmm....rugs!
I've got no excuse now not to make any plus it means I can use all those little odds and sods of yarn I've got hanging round. This was bought off ebay from a fantastic seller, who has now started her own blog .
Sarah if it helps
SP=secret pal
SOSii= secret of the stole 2(a lace knit a long)
SSS=spring shawl surprise(another lace knit a long)
As far as washing fleece it's really preference. I tend to wash a few handfuls at a time in my 'wash' bowl but others use the bath for the whole thing! What I'd say is let it soak in as hot as poss out of the tap water with a good squirt of washing up liquid and leave it. Then rinse (bringing the water cooler each time) by soaking in clean water until you're happy there's no soap left. Don't rub the fibre. If it is really dirty I gently open the locks by hand...yes it takes time but worth it to avoid felting esp when it's a nice fleece...and the rinsing will remove the dirt.
...any others questions please give me a shout esp as I'll prob ask you bout weaving!

And last but not least look at this amazing UK swap package I got from the very thoughtful and kind Delle !!!
I all came wrapped in beautiful red tissue paper with little tags attached.
Inside the parcels.......
I got Fyberspates Dream sock yarn in greens...it really is dreamy with a lovely twist to the yarn like Jitterbug.
Fyberspates bamboo/merino sock yarn in 'flowers'....so soft and I've been dying to knit with bamboo for ages!
Shunklies Lace weight lambs wool and silk in 'warm spice'...a special knit I think.
All these yarns (Delle didn't know) I have been secretly drooling over...the exact blends and colourways!!!!!!
Then Audrey has been spoilt too! there is some camel top to spin(from Shunklies). I've never spun camel before and don't have any in my stash! So I'll prob blend it with something and plan something yummy for it!
My needles got a treat in the form of a buffer! I've filed my bamboo needles before but never actually thought of buffing them! What a fab idea!
There was some gorgeous Lush products, solid bubble bath and solid bath oil both have the most beautiful relaxing fragrance to them.....J was out with her mates last night so I gave these a test run!
And of course there was chocolate....my faves....Green and Black dark choc and Maltesers!
THANK YOU SO MUCH DELLE. I feel as tho' I've been really spoiled, I had a lump in my throat while I was opening it all as I was so touched. I love it all and you have def got me spot on!!!

Today J and me are going to attempt the Trafford centre. So a trip to Lush is def in order and I can already hear the Mirasol calling my name in Lewis'! I also need to buy one last thing for my swap pal before her parcel gets sent off.
There's also a 'farmers market' not far away which we are going to visit too!

I'll leave you with a pic of gorgeous George.....