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July 31, 2007
Tuesday
Visiting - the shop to finish off the club yarns and Tesco to buy food for the BBQ.
Eating - Burgers, sausages and chicken kebabs. Yummy.
Wishing - that this article had not been written. Poor baby and poor mum for being in a position that made her vulnerable enough to say this out loud.
Enjoying - goodies in the post. So many goodies I don't know where to start. This beautiful bag from Raspberry, 3 lots of roving and a sweaters worth of yarn from One Planet yarn and Fibre, 22 oz of fibre from Adrian and something else that I can't remember but that was lovely.
Feeling - melancholy but strangely OK.
Posted by Kerrie at 08:28 PM | Comments (0)
July 30, 2007
Monday
Visiting - Walton on the Naze
Eating - chips and ice cream
Wishing - that I had remembered to put sun cream on me as well as the kids
Enjoying - watching Brooke and Cameron in the sea
Feeling - hard done by. The combination of frozen shoulder, mastitis and now sunburn in addition to everything Trinity is going through is just no fun.
Posted by Kerrie at 07:22 PM | Comments (0)
July 26, 2007
Perfect
Look at her, isn't she perfect? We think so.
We didn't get the news we were looking for today at the hospital and I'm feeling really quite down about it. I'm going to let myself be sad for the rest of today then tomorow we get to explain what's going on to Brooke and then I'll be firmly in capable and calm mode, for her benefit really. I had totally convinced myself that she was going to be OK and although the news we had today could have been a lot worse it has come as a big shock for me. It is nothing too too serious and we hope she will be right as rain in a few months but still, it means more visits to the hospital (tomorrow and again in a few weeks) which we didn't want or need.
We've been worrying about this day for the last 13 weeks. I never ever expected to hear anything other than the standard "everything is fine" at her 6 week checkup. I mean, why would I? I even took Brooke and Cameron along with me to the doctors and while they played with the toys in the corner I got to cuddle Trinity and listen to the lovely doctor talk about consultants and hospital referrals. Excuse me? Scary.
I know that we've had scares before with Brooke and Cameron. Both of them occured at birth, when Brooke was born with the cord around her neck and when there was meconium in my waters with Cameron. It was a similar kind of feeling. A pause, a "what does that mean", a refusal to accept that anything bad could happen. Its the same kind of feeling that I remember having when we lost Cameron recently at a family christening at the Catholic church in the middle of Cambridge city centre. When we were all standing in the car park and realised that none of us had him with us, I remember pausing and almost not wanting to do anything about it. (that sounds terrible doesn't it but all of this went through my head in less than a second) I knew that as soon as I moved, as soon as I ran, as soon as I called his name and started to look for him, as soon as I asked people if they had seen a little boy with big hair anywhere that it would be real. He would really be missing and there would be the chance that we may not find him. It makes me feel sick just thinking about it now. (I found him quickly enough, he had gone back inside the church and was sitting in a pew with the next christening.) We once lost Brooke at a playground in a zoo as well when she was 4 years old. That was when a 10 year old boy dragged her off to play on another toy that she didnt want to play on. Searching for her and then seeing her run towards me crying was horrific. Don't even go there, it still makes me feel sick just thinking about it.
It was that same feeling hearing that there might be something wrong with Trinity. I almost didn't want to ring Wayne and tell him what had happened at her 6 week check because doing so would make it real. More real than the conversation with the doctor and more real than the referral letter I had in the pocket of my jeans.
We've kept this very much to ourselves until now and I'm still not ready to share too many details. I'll be blogging minimally over the next couple of weeks as Wayne is off on holiday and we're looking for some quality family time together. Everything business wise will still run as usual with emails being answered and orders being sent out, it just may not be me doing that.
The Project Spectrum cashmere is dyed and drying, most of the project club lace cashmere is dyed and drying and there will be lots of goodies on the site next week together with our 10% newsletter discount. My new favourite thing to dye in the world is alpaca fibre, it just drinks up the dye and looks gorgeous. I have around 10 kilos of roving hanging up in my garden (BFL, Merino, Alpaca and some Silk) blowing in the wind at the moment. Much prettier than flowers.
Comments turned off for the duration. x
Posted by Kerrie at 03:06 PM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2007
Shop Update
There will be a nice big shop update this evening at 6pm. Its tricky for me these days as it takes me around an hour or so to update the shop but during that time yarn will be available to buy as I add it. So, in order to make it fair I won't add any of the sale yarn until just before 6pm and I'll get it all ready so that it should only take me 10 minutes to get all of the sale yarn on there. The silk and other yarns that I have plenty of will be appearing on there in dribs and drabs from around 5pm onwards.
You really are better off waiting for me to send out the email and update the blog before buying, if you buy stuff earlier than 6 then you risk missing out on something even nicer that may be added just after you place your order. Of course, if you make multiple orders during the time you will have to pay shipping each time but I will refund the additional shipping fees probably on Thursday morning.
With that taken care of, here are some of the yarns for this update, Wednesday at 6pm remember :
Blue Faced Leicester - going to be £5 a skein in the sale
Lace silk - not in the sale
Aran silk - not in the sale
Posted by Kerrie at 12:01 AM | Comments (0)
July 24, 2007
What I did yesterday
30 kilos of yarn - check.
300 labels - check.
1 stapler, a big pack of staples, a biro, some chocolate and a handful of sick people on the sofa - check.
It wasn't the most productive start to the school summer holdays but I do have lots of photos to share with you tomorrow before the nice shop update at around 6pm tomorrow evening.
I also may have (accidentally you understand) ordered more of that lovely fibre from Adrian so that I can spin up enough yarn to make something for me - how exciting will that be?
Posted by Kerrie at 06:45 AM | Comments (6)
July 23, 2007
6pm on Wednesday
At 6pm on Wednesday there will be lots of silk on the site as well as a sock yarn sale with all sock yarn 50% off while stocks last. What more reason do you need?
If that is not enough then how about this, 10% of all sales between now and the end of July will be donated to this Red Cross flood relief fund. It is scary to see how badly this rain is affecting people in the UK and although I am complaining about getting yarn dry I know that so many people have it much worse than we do. So get ready to shop and help those suffering in the floods on wednesday at 6pm.
Posted by Kerrie at 03:55 PM | Comments (0)
What I did at the weekend
Saturday - housework and laundry (yawn), new Harry Poter from Post lady, new Hello Yarn Fibre Club fibre from Post lady, christening and party, home about 10pm. Sleep.
Sunday - more laundry (double yawn) picked up dad's car which I'm borrowing while mine limps through its MOT (the less said about that the better), Wayne's mums house for family dinner, home about 9.30pm. Sleep.
So all in all it was another typically busy weekend for us. Do you know we have something planned every weekend now until October I think? Sigh...
In the middle of all that I did manage to spin the fibre into this (which is a million times prettier in real life than in the photo) :
This is 150g / 150 yards of corriedale fibre. I loved spinning it and am even more excited about knitting it.
and read up to page 289 of the new HP. I'm loving it. Not bad really. Now if you'll excuse me I have yarn to dye and orders to pack. xx
Posted by Kerrie at 08:14 AM | Comments (7)
July 20, 2007
Little goodies
Ugh, is it the weekend yet? I have had a horrible week and I'm so ready for Wayne to be here for a couple of days so that I can share the stress with him. Poor man has been getting in from work most nights this week to find at least 3/4 of the house in tears - everything that has been going on over the last few weeks all seems to have caught up with us.
Anyway, despite everything I've actually had a reasonably productive week. If you're a member of the HipKnits Membership club you can expect a little package in the post early next week (or later for the international members)
I've been dyeing these lovely little skeins of Merino / Alpaca yarn which are going on the website next week. With 4 mini skeins in a pack you get around 250 yards of dk yarn which is enough for a scarf or a mini shawlette. We even suggest a nice simple stitch pattern to make one.
One kit has been sent out to each club member today. Let me know when you get them and if any of you make the shawlette recipe then I would love to see a picture.
Posted by Kerrie at 09:01 AM | Comments (7)
July 19, 2007
Custom Dyes
I absolutely love doing custom dyes! We've been asked to match all kinds of things in the past from pieces of material to other yarns and most memorably a pair of shoes. That one was a lot of fun.
A couple of months ago I received an email asking us to custom dye some lace silk to be made into a shawl which needed to match a bride's wedding dress. Without actually seeing the dress I emailed back and forth with Emily a few times and then we took the plunge and dad custom dyed the yarn for her (along with another colour which I hope we see knitted into something very soon)
I'm fairly sure that we dyed her 3 skeins of lace silk but in her blog she mentions that she only used 2 of them. Doesn't it look beautiful? Can we see pictures of it modelled soon Emily, please? I hope your friend loves it! xx
Posted by Kerrie at 10:06 AM | Comments (1)
July 18, 2007
Shop Updated
Go and see! Some of the handspun yarns from earlier in the week are on there as well as the silk spinning fibre in the pictures below.
Posted by Kerrie at 07:18 PM | Comments (0)
Spinning fibres
It was ineveitable wasn't it that with my sudden re-interest in spinning that I'd be dyeing up some more fibres for the shop. I was lucky enough to get my hands on some GORGEOUS top quality 100% silk tops recently and oh my, they spin and dye like a dream. I'm spinning a fine yarn out of one of the undyed tops at the moment, its coming in at a lace / fingering weight so I am hoping to get around 500 yards out of the 100g that I have. I'm planning to dye it a beautiful colour and knit a shawl with it. A handspun, hand painted, hand knitted silk shawl. Who could ask for more?
But I digress... A mini shop update is planned for this evening with a BUMPER one for next week including lots and lots of spinning fibres. I have 100% BFL at 2.50 per 100g, some 100% alpaca at 5.00 per 100g and some 100% silk also at 5.00 per 100g. The only question I have (and I'm sure you guys can help) is how best to take the photos. I dont have a preference this time around so go ahead and tell me what you think.
Number 1 - as its dyed twisted around into a circle
Number 2 - wound into a hank
Number 3 - plaited - nice and traditional
Number 4 - plaited and twisted around into a circle
Posted by Kerrie at 06:13 AM | Comments (8)
July 16, 2007
Sock
#
This is part of a sock. Who the sock is for I don't know. Maybe me. Maybe my Sockapaloooza Pal or maybe Brooke if it doesnt start to look like its going to be big enough for an adult soon enough.
It is knitted with a skein of fields of flowers sock yarn from Dani over at Sunshine yarns. I love it.
Posted by Kerrie at 09:05 PM | Comments (7)
Spinning
I've been spinning on the good old drop spindle an awful lot recently and these are some of the skeins I now have in my stash.
Merino - approx 40g and 50 yards
Merino - approx 30g and 30 yards
Hello Yarn Fibre club for June. approx 100g and 120 yards
Merino / silk - approx 50g and 70 yards
BFL - approx 50g and 70 yards
Merino - approx 60g and 90 yards
Merino - approx 30g and 40 yards
Now what am I going to do with them all?
PS - tentatively trying comments again. Fingers crossed. x
Posted by Kerrie at 04:08 PM | Comments (10)
July 13, 2007
Frozen shoulder
It feels odd blogging without comments, rather like talking to myself (not that I don't do that, because I do. A lot. I also talk to Trinity a lot and she doesn't answer me much so I should really be used to it. Still, it feels odd) but I'll carry on bleating away until I've worked out the spam comment stopping technique needed. OK?
You know what they say about when policemen start to look young? Does the same apply to radiographers? I had an x ray earlier on in the week and the man doing the x ray barely looked old enough to be out of school let alone wielding an x ray machine. I left wayne in the waiting room with a Trinity who was due a feed and poor x ray boy was mortified when I stood with my back against the plate waiting for the x ray with milk pouring all over my gown. Not cool, Mrs Allman, not cool. He offered me a tissue but I knew it would stop if I ignored it for a couple of minutes and it did. Ah, inappropriate letdown. The joys of breastfeeding. Too much information? Sorry about that.
The reason for the x ray was to confirm a diagnosis of frozen shoulder which looks highly likely to be the cause of the pain I've been having for the last couple of months. Its not great news really, no-one likes to hear the words "there is no cure" in relation to a medical problem or to be told that the first phase (the painful one) that I'm in at the moment can last from 2 - 10 months. Physio, steroid injections and possibly an operation are the best forms of treatment so I'm starting physio next week. Oh joy. If left untreated it can last for up to 3 years. I asked how long it is likely to last if treated and was told a couple of years. Oh, so that's much better then. Sigh. I'll just be busy getting used to not being able to brush my hair with my right hand or do anything else that involves lifting it above my shoulder then if its all the same to you.
It does mean that I've had to take away the offer to wind yarn into balls from HipKnits. I have this kind of rule that I won't ask Mandy, Wayne or anyone else to do anything for me that I wouldn't do myself and so now that I cant wind yarn any more it seems unfair to always ask them to do it. I'm sure you understand.
Posted by Kerrie at 07:18 AM | Comments (0)
July 12, 2007
shop update
I have some yarns all dry and ready to go on the site tonight. Amongst them are some lovely skeins of cashmere sock yarn,
some new to me chunky sock yarn in a lambswool, cashmere and angora blend which is just beautiful.
This one comes in sock sized 100g skeins with 350 yards (as shown above) and shawl sized 250g skeins with 875 yards which is more than enough for a good sized shawl. See below.
I also managed to get some of Carolyn's beautiful yarn ready (thank you for the sun today!) which is 80% kid mohair (from prize winning goats no less!) and 20% silk.
The yarn is 4 ply and has approx 300 yards per 100g skein. Carolyn assures me that she made a good sized shawl with one skein and little bit from a second so I'm sure that one skein would get you something pretty. I'll be casting on in the skein that I kept for me this weekend so hopefully should be able to show you just how far it goes next week some time. I love this yarn, it is so soft and sheepy feeling (or should that be goaty?) but not hairy as mohair can sometimes be. Just soft and lovely. I only have around 15 kilos of this and when it is gone its gone. Until the next time she has enough fleece to make more that is!
So, the shop will be full of these goodies and lots more this evening at around 8pm if all goes well and kids fall asleep when they are supposed to. Or a little later if it doesn't and they don't!
Posted by Kerrie at 03:54 PM | Comments (0)
July 11, 2007
Destash
I cant seem to get on ebay at the moment so I thought I'd destash a little right here. Everything is on a first come first served basis and postage is £1.75 no matter how much you order. Email me at kerrie AT hipknits.co.uk and I'll send you a paypal invoice and remove photos when things are spoken for. OK? All set? Lets go..
Update - we're done. Thanks. All destashed and happy over here. xx
Posted by Kerrie at 04:20 PM | Comments (0)
Little update on stuff
- firstly there won't be a shop update today but I should have one ready for Friday. Maybe with some of Carolyn's beautiful kid mohair / silk yarn if the sun shines today and tomorrow.
- update on me - mouth ulcer and headaches have just about gone, the nightmares are still persisting every night (so if you get middle of the night emails from me you'll kno wwhy!) and the neck just gets worse each day. I couldn't even lift my cup of tea with my right hand this morning! I've sprained the ligament in my neck but my doctor helpfully pointed out that I cant take strong painkillers or anti inflammatories while breastfeeding so he helpfully suggested I "get her on formula milk asap" Interesting. I've asked to be referred for physio and also to our GP practices Bowen technique person. Lets see if that helps. Untik then I'm struggling along one handed.
- Trinity is doing amazing, my week of laying in bed really helped my milk supply and we're back on track with breastfeeding - most of the time that is! She is still refusing a bottle but seems to enjoy her little bowl of baby rice and milk that she has in the mornings so we'll carry on as we are for a while. Wayne remembered the other day that for a while brooke was the only person who could get cam to drink from a bottle so perhaps we'll try that at the weekend.
Posted by Kerrie at 08:13 AM | Comments (0)
July 10, 2007
oddments
Still all spammed out here with comments, also at my kerrie magknits email address. If you're waiting for a reply from me there try my name@hipknits.co.uk I get around 200 spams an hour at the magknits one, time to move on I think.
My first ever knitalong from one of my patterns, that I'm aware of anyway. Yay the Invisibility shawl knitalong!
I'm just a tad addicted to this site. this is the saddest one ever.
i cant think of a current better cause than this. There but for the grace of god go all of us. i know that the nhs can be awful but rally, at least we have the option of free health care. I see that Ruth's husband is suffering from the same thing, what a horrid co-incidence.
When I started at HipKnits almost 2 years ago now (wow!) 2 of my very favourite customers swore they would never get blogs. I'm so glad that both Michaela and Annette have now changed their minds! I've met both of them and their families a few times and they are as lovely in real life as they are online..
I finally caught up with Carolyn today, and came away with a car full of yarn. Watch this space, hopefully next week once I catch up with custom orders and wholesale tomorrow. Pray for sun over the next few days for me..
Posted by Kerrie at 05:28 PM | Comments (0)
July 09, 2007
Referrers
At the bottom of each order that is placed through HipKnits I get this information :
Referer: http://www.hipknits.co.uk/
Referral Date: 2007-06-25 07:40:55
Interesting huh? That means that if you have a link to us on your site and someone clicks on that link and places an order with us, I get to hear about it.
As an incentive to get you to link directly to our shop I have decided that each month the site that most orders are referred from will win a £10 HipKnits voucher. I’ll let you know at the beginning of August who was the winner for July and then at the beginning of each month. Here’s the small print :
- you must link to www.hipknits.co.uk/shop.php in order to qualify and NOT just hipknits.co.uk
- only referrals that lead to orders will count, I will not be checking site stats to see how many people simply click links to the site
- the only prize on offer is a £10 coupon code that can be redeemed online as payment of a whole order or part payment.
Comments aren't switched on at the moment due to some serious spam issues. :(
Posted by Kerrie at 04:47 PM | Comments (0)
July 01, 2007
Taking the hint
I love the internet. Where else in the world could a mum sitting at home worrying about weaning and breastfeeding get so much advice from so many people around the world? I think I received 3 or 4 times the number of comments below in emails from people, thank you all. I'm hoping that I can carry on feeding her myself with the occasional bottle (please?!) and some solid foods as well being introduced over the next couple of weeks. In a month or so I'd love to be doing the first and last feeds of the day myself with forumal milk and food filling the daytime gap inbetween the mummy milk. I'll let you know how it goes.
This week though, I'm listening to my body and taking some time off. I've had a headache that has gone through all the stages of migraine and has been here on and off for over a week now. I've also had a mouth ulcer for the last few days which is now turning into the biggest ulcer in the history of the world. Add to that the worries about feeding and almost 10 days of not sleeping at night due to horrendous nightmares and I'm exhausted. I also managed to pull a muscle in my shoulder this weekend and as well as exhausted and run down I'm in pain.
So its a week of rest for me. Orders will still be posted, emails will still be answered - but not necessarily by me. I will update the site on wednesday and let newsletter subscribers know first when it has been done. Apart from that I'm going to spend the whole week laying on the sofa with Trinity, relaxing, making milk and trying to give myself a chance to catch up with some rest. See you in a few days. x
Posted by Kerrie at 08:29 PM | Comments (12)