 December 31, 2003
Happy New Year..
This is it, the last day of 2003. This year has been really kind to me, the wedding is the one obvious majorly good thing that has happened but on the whole I feel really happy with the way the last 12 months turned out. Next year = big plans. I can't wait to get started on some of the changes that I know are coming up at work, at home and online. Its going to be an exciting few months. Knitting wise, I have lots planned. My stash is more organised now and most of the yarn is packaged up into projects. I have so many lovely projects planned for early next year I can't wait. I'm not really enthused by anything at the moment, I've got the Giboulees sweater, an Annie Modesit sweater in Rowan Kid Classic and a new baby pattern on the needles but I'm not sure what I'll be working on in front of the TV tonight. Do you all make New Years Resolutions? Mine are usually, stop biting nails, exercise more and try to be less sarcastic. This year I'm not going to make any, I'll just take the year as it comes. That gets me out of having to use that disgusting tasting stop biting your nails stuff in January. What's the point, I think I'm old enough to accept that I'll never completely give up, why stress trying? Happy 2004 to everyone who reads this, I hope it brings peace and happiness to you all.
Posted by Kerrie at 05:21 PM
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December 30, 2003
Colinetteish throw
This was mum's Christmas throw, the one that started off following one of the Colinette patterns, swiftly changed to another and then ended up being something completely different instead!! I used red mohair at each end and for the tassles, the majority of it was cream mohair with stripes of Rowan chunky chenille (darkest red) Colinette Fandango (pale creamish pink) and Colinette Zanziba in red. (excuse the ends that are showing - bad daughter that I am I left it with her ends and all. I promise to sew them in next time I visit if she doesn't get around to it before!!)
It fits perfectly over the arm of one of her sofas, I have plenty of yarn left over so I'll be making her another one for the other arm in the new year. Doesn't it go beautifully with the cream sofa and red satiny cushions? You can see the detail of the pattern a little more closely in this photo. (as well as Brooke's small hand getting in the picture) I used an eyelet pattern on the increase points and a simple decrease on the middle. All in all I'm really happy with the way it worked out, I'm going to have a little break before knitting the next one though. This one turned out to be as expected 32 inches by nearly 50 inches and I made it in just over a week. That was a little close for comfort in the end!
Posted by Kerrie at 09:05 PM
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December 28, 2003
Post Christmas
Did everyone have a great break?? We had a fantastic time, Christmas day was perfect - Brooke got lots of great toys and games. So many that we have no idea where to put them in our little house, a move to somewhere with more room is definitely on the cards for next year I think. I was very lucky giftwise, Wayne went against all his principles to buy me a Pallette Pack of Colinette yarns. 10 yummy skeins in shades of purple which I spent Christmas afternoon winding into balls with my new ball winder from mum and dad. I also got a mutitude of fabric paints and transfers from my sister and the Stich n Bitch book again from mum and dad. I've already picked out my first project from it, Annie's gorgeous ribbed sweater which I'm starting in Rowan Kid Classic. Amy and I had a great time at the sales yesterday. We got really carried away with the 60% sale and bought loads. Liberty had a fantastic selection in the sale, John Lewis was really disappointing but we just went straight back to Liberty and blew the rest of the budget. This was my shopping list : 10 skeins of Kid Classic in a marled Heathery tone - £18 Fantastic morning! We then met up with Wayne, Brooke and Jenn for lunch before all going our separate shopping ways in the afternoon. It was lovely to meet Amy in person, wish it happened more often that I got to meet people that I know online. I'll get around to connecting my camera over the next couple of days so that I can show you mum's throw and some other Christmas fun that we had. I'm not back at work until the 5th January so I still have plenty of time to relax and get over the festive period.
Posted by Kerrie at 01:14 PM
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December 24, 2003
Season's Greetings
Happy happy holidays to all who celebrate. I've finished the throw, found the Giboulees sweater and baked until I dropped. Now all I need to do is sit back and wait for Santa! Exciting days ahead, the big day tomorrow. Relaxing Boxing day with mum and dad and then on Saturday I'm meeting Amy at Liberty to hit those New Year Sales. Oh yes, up to 50% off plus extra 10% for cardholders. How can that be wrong? She definitley arranged her visit at the right time didn't she? I was also given a gift of John Lewis Vouchers by my employer (good choice I thought) so we'll be heading there afterwards to buy yet more yarn. I received my instructions from Amy for the European Stash Redistribution box, I'll be getting onto that straight after Christmas so expect an update then. I've already chosen what I'm going to contribute to it, such a great idea! I'll be back next Sunday / Monday with tales of the festive season. Until then, everyone have a very Merry Christmas. I hope Santa brings you everything you deserve...
Posted by Kerrie at 07:48 AM
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December 23, 2003
New Scarf
I found a home for the Berocco Furz that I traded for recently. I was swatching it last night while surfing the new Knitty and all of a sudden came across the Embrace pattern. Its perfect! I cast on last night and only managed to work the first couple of inches but that was enough to hook me, I love this yarn and the pattern. I'm determined to finish the throw today, only another 4 inches to go. I love the way its looking, wish I could keep it! I have so much yarn left over I'm going to make her another one in January / February so that she has a matching pair. I promise you photos modelled by their sofa shortly after Christmas. Still haven't found the back of Giboulees. It really can't be far away but its very frustrating not to know where it is. Big clear up and search for it is planned for tonight. Hopefully good news tomorrow! Today is baking day for Brooke and I. We've got our list on the fridge and I hope we get through it all. I'd like to get all my Christmas chores done today so that tomorrow I can go shopping with Wayne. He still needs to buy a few presents and I just want to go for the wander around the shops. Touch wood there shouldn't be too many last minute shoppers around..
Posted by Kerrie at 09:29 AM
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December 22, 2003
Missing sweater?
I've got a bit of a problem. I knitted away happily on the front of my Giboulees sweater at the weekend until I got to around the armhole shaping. At that point I couldn't remember if I had made any changes to the length on the back, I'm taller than average and sometimes add a few cm to the length. So I decided to wait until I got home to measure against the back and see what I did. Now, I've got the back and 1 arm completely finished. Half a sleeve and most of a front. Not quite a complete sweater especially as I can't find the back anywhere. How on earth have I managed to lose that? I looked everywhere that I could think of last night and again this morning, I'm going to have to seriously rack my brains over that one. Providing that I find it though, it shouldn't take too long to finish off.. The Christmas throw is coming along OK, I'm about 35 inches into the length. I'm hoping to finish it tomorrow so that I can relax on Christmas Eve! Brooke and I have just got back from the seaside, it was the coldest day I can remember but we had fun throwing stones into the sea and playing on the penny arcades. She slept all the way home which was nice and peaceful for me! Tomorrow is baking, sewing and knitting day. Brooke and I have lots to do before Christmas Eve, wish us luck!
Posted by Kerrie at 03:28 PM
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December 19, 2003
google fun
For the person who keeps finding their way here through a google search for "where is my gnome" I have no idea! Rreally, I promise you there are no gnomes at Kerriesplace, so you really need to go and look somewhere else. Or bookmark tihs site if you want to read me every day. Too funny!
Posted by Kerrie at 11:39 AM
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Christmas party day
Its Brooke's school Christmas party today, she was so excited when she woke up this morning, bless her. She is wearing a dress that mum and dad sent through the post to her the other day, a soft quishy parcel came through our door that wasn't yarn. Wayne couldn't believe it!
If you look really closely in the background of the photo you can see the plastic bag containing the Christmas throw. I only did about another 3 inches last night, too busy watching Becker to concentrate on the pattern. Another bright idea I had was to spend the whole weekend before Christmas with mum and dad. Did I not realise that I would need that knitting time to work on the throw? Not the cleverest idea. Instead I'll take my poor forgotten Giboulees sweater along and see if I can't get some good progress on that instead... PS - if you're curious, this is the back of the pretty Christmas party dress.
Posted by Kerrie at 09:17 AM
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December 18, 2003
Tip of the day
Don't knit with cream mohair whie wearing black trousers and T shirt. Just trust me on this one OK?
Posted by Kerrie at 08:32 PM
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December 17, 2003
Not much to report
Seeing as the only thing I'm knitting at the moment is mum's christmas present I can't share too much of the progress with you. She chose the yarn and knows that I'm making her a throw for her sofa so I can tell you this much : 1. The colour scheme is cream and red Apart from that the only bit of excitement Brooke and I have had recently is watching a fire engine full of men in uniform pull up outside our house and put out a fire that was about 6 feet high on the pavement 20 foot away from our house. I was just about to call the fire brigade when the engine pulled up. It was an easy job for them and less than 10 minutes later they were on their way. It made for a nice diversion though!!
Posted by Kerrie at 08:10 PM
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December 16, 2003
Beady baby
I thought I'd share pictures of our beading with you, don't you just love the necklace and bracelet?
I bought some gold thin elastic and we spent a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon making these for Brooke and then some more for her cousin and her gran (not you though mum, sorry) for Christmas. The beads and elastic only cost about £3 and it provided so much fun it was more than worth the money. She wants to get some that are all the same colour next time. Yes, next time. She actually asked this morning when we could do more beading. Oh yes, a crafty child in more than one sense of the word... Yesterdays hats have all been sent off to their new homes now, the 4 at the bottom were all made from Rowan Biggy print. I'll post the pattern at some point over the next few days, its so so simple. The fairisle one was given to the guy at work who requested it, I'm not sure his girlfriend or his mates approve but he said he liked it so we'll see. Its exactly the same as the picture he drew so I take no blame if it isn't popular!!
Posted by Kerrie at 01:38 PM
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December 15, 2003
Its all about hats...
OK, the pictures that you've all been waiting for. Wayne wearing "the hat my husband wouldn't wear"
There are a number of reasons that he wouldn't wear this hat... 1. Its knitted!! Apart from that I like it! I think its going to be too big for the person it was intended for though. Oh well, I can try again I guess. These are the other hats I made this weekend, I love them. The multicoloured one is mine and the others are Christmas gifts.
Posted by Kerrie at 09:10 AM
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December 13, 2003
hmmm
Not doing too well with that list. So far today I've done the following (photos Monday) : Made 4 Biggy Print hats. 1 for me and 3 for christmas presents. They only take 30 minutes each including the making up and 1 skein of bp so they are perfect Christmas presents. Took a trip to Hobby craft, fantastic place. I could have spent hours there if I was on my own! Bought some material for Brooke's stocking, some ribbon, beads, Rowan yarn and various other crafty goodness. I'll definitely be going there again. Came home and made bead necklaces and bracelets after being inspired by Jen and Johanna. OK, the ones Brooke and I made are no-where near as good as theirs but we had fun. Cut up lots of last years old Christmas cards and made decorations for Brooke's bedroom. Cut up tissue paper and made paper chains and snowflakes. Slept for an hour! We went to see Brother Bear at the cinema last night. Apparantly Brooke and I are not allowed to go see any Disney movies with Wayne any more, I cried most of the way through the end of the film (it must be my hormones, from now on cinema trips will be planned around the time of the month!!) and Brooke sobbed at the end and had to be carried out crying " I don't want Brother bear to end, make it come on again" Bless her. It was a good film, apart from the tears I really enjoyed it. Brooke woke up this morning and asked if we could go and buy it on DVD. That girl really knows too much. The real highlight of last night though was on the way back to the car after the cinema. We were walking through the car park and Wayne and I noticed a young couple standing by their car in the middle of what could only be described as a passionate kiss. We smiled at each other and didn't think anymore of it until we got level with them and Brooke shouted at the top of her voice "Yucky yucky yucky, stop that kissing!" Luckilly they swa the funny side of it. I was torn between embarassment and having to stop myself rolling on the floor laughing. Funny child...
Posted by Kerrie at 08:06 PM
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December 12, 2003
PS
Nice try mum, but no. You'll see the present on Christmas day when its under your tree with the rest of the ones that Santa is bringing. Provided you've been good this year that is! And I've just talked myself into a few more things to do at the weekend. Hopefully there will be a whole pile of photos for you on Monday. How's that for something to look forward to.
Posted by Kerrie at 03:20 PM
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Post, lovely post
One benefit to having a sicky husband at home with a bad back is that all the parcels full of yarn can be delivered without having to go via the post office. He doesn't see the benefit in this but trust me, its great. So yesterday's postal extravaganza yielded the following : New IK from Carolyn Some lovely red yarn from Leigh. Not sure what to do with this, I'm tempted to finish off the cardigan that she started and use it as a gift for someone. Depending on whether I can get the same gauge as her. Sewing patterns from Hope in exchange for the Rowan Plaid. I especially like the ones for the PJs, I'll be making those soon. Berocco Furz from Theresa, this was another recent trade. Its gorgeous soft fluffy yarn that is going to make a lovely scarf. What a lucky person I am... Its like Christmas come early. If you ignore all of the bills that came through as well. So this weekend, I have to do the following :
Should keep me out of trouble don't you think?
Posted by Kerrie at 08:29 AM
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December 11, 2003
Fluffy little cardi
It must be a combination of sickness, time of year and so much to do at work but I'm in a real knitting funk at the moment. Pick up needles, put them down. Pick up something else, put that down. Hopefully I'll snap out of it soon enough,I'm driving myself mad. I still have the top half of the hat my husband wouldn't wear to finish as well as mum's christmas present. The weekend, I promise you I'll get on with them. Until I do, however, here is the picture of the Phildar Neige cardigan that I made for my niece for Christmas. (recognise the yarn from the hot water bottle photo??)
I started this when I went to Darlington to see Polly and Emma a few weeks ago and finished it at the weekend. I still need to decide on zipper or buttons with loops to fasten it. Anyone want to make that decision for me?
Posted by Kerrie at 04:11 PM
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December 10, 2003
Great Stash Redistribution Project
I signed up for Amy's stash redistribution project. We need more people in Europe to sign up, anyone interested?
Go here to Amy's page to read the rules and send her an email if you want to be involved with the Europe box. I volunteered to start off the European box, I think its a FANTASTIC idea!
Posted by Kerrie at 10:06 AM
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Thanks
For all the kind comments on the new look. I've fixed the broken header images on the other pages. More knitting content later.
Posted by Kerrie at 09:11 AM
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December 09, 2003
Christmas Present countdown
I managed to finish 2 out of the 3 Christmas presents at the weekend, yay! The first is this hot water bottle cover that I'm going to give to my gran. I followed Alison's basic instructions for knitted hot water bottle covers with a few changes thrown in for good measure.
I used Phildar Neige (left over from another Christmas present which I'll show you later) and my guess that a skein would be enough proved to be 100% accurate. I had 6 inches left over after knitting and seaming. Here's a closeup of the flower that shows the lovely soft fluffiness of this yarn. I made the cover in one piece, casting on twice the width of the bottle and knitting up to the top. Then I worked a row of eyelets and carried on straight for another couple of inches. A flower in contrasting white Neige finished the whole bottle cover off nicely. I want to get a nice piece of ribbon to thread through the neck instead of the orange yarn, then I'm done. I also did some more work on the hat that he wouldn't wear so I might be able to show you this tomorrow. Bet you can't wait!!
Posted by Kerrie at 08:03 AM
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December 08, 2003
New Knitty
Its time for the new Knitty, I particularly like Polly's French Market bag and Melissa's Eve.
Posted by Kerrie at 08:35 AM
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December 07, 2003
New site, new look..
This has been on the cards for a while now, I started playing in Dreamweaver a few weeks ago and finally decided that now would be a good time to unveil the new Kerrie's Place look. There is still a lot of work to be done, for those of you who came in through the front door - welcome! You'll notice that all the other pages that are linked from the index page have the pictures along the top as links, this one will too in a day or so. You'll also notice that the Novel page doesn't fit in with this new look, again it will do in a day or so. What else do I have to do? Oh yes, sort out the links. They are in a page of their own and I'll link to that probably tomorrow or maybe later on tonight depending on how easily Brooke goes to sleep. Let me know if you find any broken links or problems, I've been pouring over the code all afternoon and it seems alright to me but I'm cross eyed now! Its been a good knitting weekend as well, I'll show you some of the progress there tomorrow.
Posted by Kerrie at 08:27 PM
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December 05, 2003
France
Phew, I'm exhausted today. We left the house at 6am yesterday to get one of the first ferries across to France and due to "difficult" sailing conditions we were delayed on the way home and didn't get in until nearly 9pm. It was about an hour and a half drive to the ferry, the same on the boat and then plenty of shopping time in between. Brooke loved the ferry, I felt quite seasick due to the weather, but we had a good drip over. We arrived in the town centre, had a look around the shops and then discovered a seasonal ice skating rink. Brooke has never skated before and I'm completely useless (I'm the girl that stood up in the back garden on roller skates for about 30 seconds when she was 10 before falling over and fracturing her wrist) but I thought we'd give it a go anyway. Brooke LOVED it. I didn't dare let go of the edge but she had a great time. I need to find a way for her to take lessons I think, she enjoyed it that much. Next it was time for lunch. Brooke was tired and fell asleep in the most convenient place she could find, convenient for her that is - on my back! She soon woke up when it was time for crepes for dessert, with chocolat of course... After lunch we visited a chocolate shop and a book shop where Brooke choose what she wanted. Surprisingly to me none of the shop assistants spoke English so I got to practise my French all day which was great. It took a while to describe which chocolates we wanted (how do you say those yummy ones with the little flakes on the top that look good enough to eat right now in French?) We bought a couple of books which Brooke looked at all the way home. Now for the fun bits, I made it to the Phildar shop where I was devastated to find that they were all out of Legende! I didn't actually buy that much yarn, I couldn't resist these though. I splashed out and bought a good supply of magazines though including some from a store called Monoprix (?) I also got a good stash of yarn from there as well, Brooke choose the 3 skeins on the right - she wants me to make a cat out of them! It was a fantastic day, the delay at the French port waiting for the ferries to start running again was the only low point. I knitted while Brooke read her new French Elmer book and sang nursery rhymes so it wasn't too bad. I'm definitely going back in the New Year, I can't believe how close I have been to a Phildar shop all this time!!
Posted by Kerrie at 10:55 AM
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December 03, 2003
No knits
So Alison was asking when you're going to see Wayne modelling for you. Well, the sad truth is that he doesn't like knitted garments. Really. (why did I marry him? Well, he does have other good qualities you know!) I knitted him a hat once which he promptly lost. I offered to make him another one to replace it but he "quickly" turned down that kind offer. He had recently asked me to make him a ribby hat that he saw in GAP so I'm going to try and get this done for him. So hats, maybe. Sweaters, cardigans, socks - definitely not. Tank top, possible - I was going to try and make him one out of Rowan Wool Cotton but ran out of summer time. Maybe for next spring. The main problem is that I know he's not convinced and to make a whole XL mens tank out of 3.5mm needles and Wool Cotton only for him never to wear it scares me slightly. We'll have to see how I feel next spring. In the meantime I have managed to persuade him to model a hat that I'm making for one of the guys at work. He wasn't too impressed by the idea but agreed as long as I included the disclaimer that it was not his hat and that he would NEVER wear a hat like it. I should have it finished tomorrow so I'll post his knitwear model debut photo ASAP. Hee hee hee. I won't be around tomorrow, Brooke and I are heading over the Channel to France shopping for the day. I found out that Calais has a Phildar shop - yay so I have a map and the address, we'll find it! Brooke is really looking forward to the day, she has been practising her French and this morning managed to say "Hello, my name is Brooke can I have some chocolate please?" in French. Apparantly she is going to say that to the man in the shop! Bless her. She's got more understanding of the language than I have. Photos etc on Friday.
Posted by Kerrie at 08:03 AM
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December 02, 2003
Mitten parade
They are so nearly ready to send over, I can't wait to get them all packaged up and in the post. I was given a slight reprieve when I discovered that the last posting date before Christmas to Canada is Friday 12th. I won't be waiting that long though, they'll be wrapped, boxed and on their way tomorrow I think.
From left to right : 3 year old girl mittens with pink wrist tie and pompoms. I hope they like them.... I totally made up the pattern and the sizing. The 3 year old ones fit Brooke and I just went up a step for the 5 year old ones and then up another step for the 8 year old ones. I think they'll fit..
Posted by Kerrie at 08:24 AM
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December 01, 2003
Christmas Countdown
I started a little advent calender blog for Christmas, it will be updated daily with little pictures and stories from our families countdown to Christmas. Its over here. I'll be doing some work to it over the next few days, but this is as good a start as any!
Posted by Kerrie at 04:34 PM
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New Winter Hair
Well, what do any married couple do on a Friday night when their daughter is staying over at her grandparents house and they have nothing better to do? Before you answer that let me show you the final result. What do you think? Its a little more red than it looked on the packet but I like it! Before I met Wayne I used to dye it this colour every now and again, anyone who's ever tried to dye their own hair will tell you how hard it is to manage. I jokingly suggested to him one day that he help me out and a new hobby was born. We had a lot of fun with different hair colours up until Brooke was born and it suddenly occured to me that I've been very sensible for the last 3 years. Not any more! To celebrate the new hair do we finished off the evening with a curry, a drink in the pub where we first met and a visit to the nightclub where we spent the majority of hte first year of our relationship. That was a walk down memory lane, everyone else in there was about 20! Good music though, lots of 80s songs. I've had problems with my host this weekend, they made a change to the server that kerriesplace and topbanana live, on Thursday night which meant that MT wasn't working until Sunday. How frustrating! I really missed being able to update here. Knitting news, I've finished all the mittens but just need to finish making them up. I've made up the smallest pair completely but made the middle sized pair really stripy so I've put off weaving in all the ends. I want to get them all finished tonight so that I can get them posted tomorrow. Other news from the weekend, I finished my Nano novel! Woo Hoo.... There's still more to write on the story but I made it over 50K words in November. I'd like to get it finished in the next couple of months.
Posted by Kerrie at 07:56 AM
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