Do The Monkey With Me!!

It tends to get to this time of year, and my needles will get completely fired up to knit everyone else's Christmas gifts. I'm not talking any small feat here, we're talking at least 3 jumpers, 3 pairs of socks and various accessories for people. I knitted a jumper for my Dad last year, (see right - a generic image as I await one of my father actually using his) and he never wore it, claiming it was 'far too special to use', despite an overall cost of about £150 and three months of knitting around my studies. So I've taken the decision not to bother with knitting for Christmas this year, instead, I'm going to get back to bases and knit for myself. Which in my mind, is not selfish, as I knit far more for other people than I do for myself.

"This week, I are been mainly knitting socks".

              ...that's a very obscure reference. hat's off to you if you have any clue as to what I am referencing there!

But I'm not just knitting socks for the sake of it, I am so heartbroken at socks of mine that have been outworn, that I am having to revert to re-knitting my favourite ones, and that brings me nicely onto Monkeys.

Ravelry lists this is a pattern costing £6.00 but if you follow my link, it is definitely still free. This is a very easy patterned sock design; I must have knitted them at least 6 times. The long-lost pair to your left have heartbreakingly become felted, and therefore I am needing to knit replacements. Which is joyous! I have a similar shade, and have managed to get the bulk of the pair knitted in 2 days; that's knitting on the commute for you! Socks are so portable, I think they knit themselves!! The next pair to become unloved were the Hederas.

This is my pair, see right. Knitted in Lang Jawoll in the most vibrantest, clear winter pink, and with an included yarn in a matching shade to be knitted in for reinforecement (which I did), these poor babies succumbed to pilling. Really fuzzy, cheap looking pilling. I have contacted them about it, they asked for a picture, and I can't find them (under the bed somewhere I think!), but yeah, heartbroken. So these will be having to be replaced. They aren't unwearable, so I may have to go back to square one and pick a new colour here.

This brings me to the true source of my heartbreak, my pride and joys; my Sake's (i've borrowed this image from their project page as my pair only has an image of them half-finished).

I chose to knit these in a very soft pure merino, the highly coveted Wollmeise Pure 100% Merino. A Superwash yarn with a super-tight spin that gives the illusion of strength. I don't think I'll ever knit a pair of socks in a yarn that doesn't contain any nylon or man-made fibre, ever again. These both have areas of weakness at the heel and ball of the foot and will require some darning, and possibly re-knitting part of the foot. I am not best pleased, they took a very long time to make and I don't know if I have it in me to do them again.

Other Casualties Include my Kai-Mei's (Felted) and my BFF socks (also felted). Luckily my mum has teeny teeny feet and is often more than happy to inherit my sock failures. But it is starting to mean that I am having to knit my entire Cookie A collection all over again. You'd think, after all these years, that I might possibly be bored of her designs. But I'm not! I have, however, started to look at other designers. I had a good old Butcher's at Rachel Coopey's stuff this morning, and I have to say, I really like her sock designs! She's done a whole book using the Rowan Fine Art yarn, which excitedly is about to land in semi-solid colour, which is my opinion is always better for a patterned sock; so I quite fancy having a  bash at some of those!

I haven't seen the books anywhere in London, though; and I always prefer to have a proper look through before I buy a book, any sort of book; so I'll just have to keep looking! These are them, don't they look cool?

Working for Rowan I was a little surprised to not have seen a copy anywhere but I'm certain it's only a matter of time. The one on the right is the one I'm after. Gotta get out of the habit of only knitting from one designer for socks!  ...or design my own!!!

Designer Knits by Sarah Hatton and Martin Storey Review & Preview

Well it's a double-whammy weekend from me. I do hope you don't mind but I thought I'd bring you some gorgeous previews of my most favouritest coveted item that magically made it's way into my bag when I was on a special trip today!

It's so exciting, I may have actually stopped breathing when I saw this for REAL, as in, really existing in my palms. Such wonderful, wonderful things that I have the pleasure of sharing with you all!


I'm not gonna blow everything, but you must, must join me in the excitement at the luscious texture adventure that is the new book; Designer Knits by Sarah Hatton and Martin Storey. Imminent in the shops, I must say, I'm over the moon. So here are some images of my favourite designs that are available in there. Eat your heart out!


It's avery lush-feeling publication, weighing in at 128 glossy pages of stylishly photographed, rich and textured Autumn/Winter designs, detailed yarn information to aid your freedom of substitution and save you time, and picture galleries for easy navigation. I mean Martin Storey is my favourite ever designer. I was just saying to Marie Wallin earlier how long it took me to get the courage to talk to her; Martin is the same! I must have been in the vicinity 4 times and still not had the guts to say 'hi, I'm Freddie!'. But I digress!!!


What's really clever, and what I really like is the way the book is laid out. The first half for ladies, the second half for blokes. Sarah has put together a wearable, fashionable collection in a mixture of yarns including Rowan Lima, Rowan Pure Wool Aran, and Rowan Felted Tweed. Martin's men's patterns are rich, thick textures and Storey-style cabling in yarns including Felted Tweed Aran, Rowan Lima and Creative Focus Worsted.


I have to say I am completely heartbroken that my fella won't wear anything with pattern (like, at ALL - there are only so many 4ply stocking stitch jumpers one lady can make in black and navy), and that my Dad requests them and then finds them 'too special to wear', because Martin's designs are wasted on me this time round. This is the most stunning selection of classic, wintry knitwear for men I have seen since Jaeger's book for Men (another Martin Storey classic).


But I digress again!!!!
    ...too busy drooling at the cables. Snap out of it, Freddie!

Readers are treated to a glossy, clear and well-styled, large image of each and every garment. It's really a great book and a must-buy for your AW book purchases. I myself would also add Kim Hargreaves 'Smoulder' to the pile, also contributing some major texture to the mix! (Her webpage was down at the time of writing but I'm certain it will be up again soon). For more from Sarah Hatton, check out her website, and Martin's stuff is easiest found on Ravelry!

Pickled Tink?

Well I knew it would probably hit us one day. My fiancé (don't tell him I called him that, he hates that word!!!) and I, have been together for a very happy 8 years. We do share some passions; I think it took us 6 years to find 'gardening'; with what can only be described as completely flukey herb germination. A couple of years on, for some reason, he's turned 30, and taken to pickling. Now don't get me wrong here, I think it's a great idea. But I must admit, I'm much more of a jam person myself. Saying that, I've never attempted making either of them.

He started collecting jars about a year ago, did his research online about different methods and recipes.. I suppose you could say that taste tests were involved, but the man has been inhaling pickled savoury items frequently for some years now. Often, in the middle of the night, I waken to behold a solemn shadowy character across the room, delicately reaching for the pickled green chilli that is - just - out of reach, laying at the bottom of the jar.

If you ask me, Barry Norman is a major influence. The recipe is to be a "work in progress", to someday be perfected. I had so far been trying to think of excuses not to try them when they're unleashed, but actually, long lost in my memory is a little me munching pickled onions and blocks of cheddar on sticks at birthday parties.. so I must have found these peculiar snackfoods pallatable at some point! He's gone to all this effort, I really ought to try..

So let me talk you through the image; this is two of at least ten of the jars currently 'pickling'. Each jar was thoroughlly cleaned at a high temperature in the dishwasher, twice. He bought 2kg of teeny tiny onions which are often available at this time of year, peeled and salted them overnight, removed the salt, and then briefly boiled them in vinegar with the secret mix of 'erbs and spices. The cling is to prevent rust and to form a tighter air seal. Let me tell you; nobody knows true love until you've peeled said many onions on behalf of someone else.
They've been refridgerated for a month as it was so hot this summer, but are now in a cool dark place. Un-jarring will commence in the next few weeks right up until Christmas.

In the spirit of girlying things up (don't they look grim?!!) I bought some great Rowan fabric for the lids, and some pretty labels for his jars, but I'm told we're going to wait until they're done. Me? I've given myself charge of the Christmas cake. My Birthday is New Years' Eve and there's usually enough to carry over til then. My Birthday is never the same without Christmas cake. I've never made one before, and I'm looking forward to feeding it my favourite brandy, Three Barrells.

In the meantime, my delicate ladies hands have been perfecting the art of dim sum construction. These are a few won-ton wrappers which I filled with pork mince, spring onions, shiaoxing rice wine, soy sauce, garlic and ginger, and tied up with a chive from the garden. They were very tasty, and steamed in no time!

 

Happy Eating Everyone!