Joshua Tree May 2011

Gratuitous photos of our weekend in Joshua Tree National Park, the hhikes, our cottage, and just us being silly.

Life imitating Art

So as Jason and I were trekking around Joshua Tree, I was knitting on my Margarita socks, (lime green socks with a Saguaro cactus, lime slices, and a salty rim. Well, as we were enjoying the weekend, life began imitating art!

Photos of the Joshua Tree trip coming soon!

Skwish da belly!

Scimi likes to squish Jason's belly... it's funny... I took photos!

But she still loves him

Whitie just loves to snuggle himself

Also my socks have limes on 'em :D Frozen Margarita socks designed by the Tsarina of Tsocks

Sponsor my Cousin!

I often feel like no one reads this blog.. but my stats say that  in the last month there have been over 460 pageviews! That said, if anyone is feeling quiet but generous...

My Awesome Cousin, Julia Shrubb, is doing a massive tour de UK cycle (from John O'Groats to Land's End) and she is attempting to raise £951 for Diabetes UK, that's a pound for every mile of the ride.
She would be very grateful for any sponsorship and has set up a JustGiving page so it is safe and easy to donate. Have a look!

Adam's Blanket

So way back in January/February my friend Adam commissioned a hand woven blanket for his king-sized bed. So, after ~3.5 months of work.... this is the result.
I wove 5 large (~20" wide and 3m long) panels with green weft and five different shade of brown to grey to white weft.

The panels before they were sewn together

3 out of 5 panels done!

All 5 panels (Jason is holding the blanket up for scale)!

Kitty Cock-block!

This is the kitty/weaving equivolent of a cock-block!

Steekin'

Over the last few days I have been working on my very first steeked project. Wat is steeking you ask? Well, in the simplest terms, steeking is cutting your knitting so that you don't have to worry about knitting in an arm hole or a head hole in your garment. While this may seem daft it's a very interesting and ingenious way of doing things although I am told it leads to hypervenelation, heart murmurs and possible fainting in even the most the robust-of-heart knitters. Just think, you spent your last 2 weeks/months/years working on a beautiful, elaborate sweater and then BAM!!!! Scissors, cutting up it's beautiful fabric!

Well yesterday.... I steeked, for the first time!

Here's the before, the during and the after... overall I am pretty impressed, although I think my poncho needs just a little more length so I don't think it is quite done yet.


The poncho before

Cutting the steek for the hood

Still cutting

the gaping wound

the finished product, seemed and pretty