On Getting Knitting Wrong.

Ugh. I've had a really depressing day. There are two things that I want to get done before I start on the big app thing (also, I'm waiting on my book to arrive) but both of these two things that should have been easy have turned out to be hard. And I'm sat here with three windows up (two separate helpdesks and Crazy Aunt Purl which I'd totes forgotten about and kinda rediscovered (though I never really discovered it in the first place) last night after spending some time with two other mad knitters...). I'm knitting too. I'm actually doing the last little bits of Amy Singer's Cardi which has taken me a shameless three (ish, maybe more) months... Why? Can't tell you. Honestly don't know. Who takes three months to knit a bloody sweater? Well, lots of people (and that's fine!) but not me! Anyway, I'm getting there and I suspect that the knitting will be done today and therefore the sewing in ends/blocking/sewing together can be done tomorrow and then I want to go a-hunting a little for a gift for Amy because the package came with sweets and needles and Amy deserves love. Always.

AAAAAAAAAAnyway. Separately from me having. Friends. In. High. Places. (Seriously, I am a total fangirl when it comes to Amy and I keep telling her. Smooooth), I am also either a bloody terrible knitter or over confident or just a tit. Any one of these three fit me and the two mistakes that I've made recently. I'm going to start with the mistake that I made on a cardi for me because if I leave telling you about the one/s I made on Amy's sweater then I might have a kinda FO to show you? Perhaps anyway...

So, I told you about the cardi I want to knit myself here:

Remember? I'm actually pretty pleased with myself because it is... boooooooooooooring. The sizing is something like 42.5" finished chest or 45" finished chest. At the mo I'm bobbing between a 41" and 43" depending on the time of the month so I'd usually go for the 42.5" but I wanted this to be baggy from the outset - not oversized mind, just comfortable. So I went with the bigger size. But more than this, dear readers, I thought about what I know of King Cole's patterns and I decided to do the smaller size arms. King Cole pattern's arms often end up too big, I'm not sure if this is just the size that I end up doing (lots of places think fat people are fatter all over so arms end up like tree trunks, armholes end up in your waist, you have to be 6 foot to wear them... ugh...), or if it's to do with the designer and how s/he likes things, or perhaps if its to do with (...and I'll try to put this delicately...) the target audience being 'ladies of a certain age' who are perhaps more conscious of their arms? Hmmm, I'm sure somebody out there knows but not me. So I'm pleased with myself because I thought ahead enough to think about how I want to wear this and therefore the appropriate size and to adjust for the sleeve size given that it's already going to be pretty big and I'm doing the bigger size.



So far, so good. Yes?


Hmm. I started with the back. I don't always start with the back but I thought that seeing as I'm doing a size bigger than I usually would, and it's mainly stocking stitch, I might aswell get the biggest bit out of the way. I also read a bit ahead to see that there was some shaping and I like doing the back on shaped things first because it's an easier way to make a template for the fronts, rather than having to mess about with any neckline/front shaping aswell as doing the waist shaping for the first time. Does that make sense? Therefore whatever I do on the back I'll recreate on the fronts (unless there's a specific reason/design feature that means that's not appropriate). So rather than having to read the shaping details for the back and then one front and then the other, I'll do the back and then I'll know that half of that also applies to the front. Yes? Well, it's the case here - essentially you do about five decreases slooooooooowly up the back before working straight for a few inches and then shaping for the armholes. Pretty standard, gentle A-line shaping, perfect for my slouchy cardigan. Dead easy. :)



What it also means is that, any mistakes that I make can be reiterated on the fronts. And I made one. The bottom ribby bit gave eight rows to set up the pattern and then said "work 44 rows more". Fourty-four rows more people. More. That's 52 rows of ribby goodness at the bottom of my cardigan. I worked 44 and not a single row more. Yes I did. Problem? What problem?


Pockets. That's what's the bloody problem.

You knit the pocket linings (somehow I thought they were patch pockets which would have solved all of this but I am terrible at sewing those things on neatly. It's like actual sewing! Imagine!), then you knit up to the 51st row of the front, put some stitches from the front on hold, knit the stitches that had been put on hold from the pocket and then carry on with the rest of the front with a placket in the stitch pattern but mainly in stocking stitch. Does that make sense? Buuuuuuuuut my 51st row wasn't in the pattern. Bum. And so, they go into all of the explanation of how to set up the placket bit after you put the pocket in and, and I can't explain why without giving the pattern away, it means that I had to fudge around a bit. And really, problem? What problem?

Doing it twice! That's the bloody problem! It's alright fudging around, but doing it whilst still drunk from the night before (wedding. Not my fault) and trying to concentrate on Jonathon Creek. Ugh. I did *something* but the *something* wasn't replicable on the other side. Ugh. I had three or four stitches of stocking stitch between my pocket and the placket on the first size and none of those between my pocket and the placket on the side I did this morning.

Offending none stitches (and a closeup of my beauts laptop keyboard...). 

Offending three of four stitches. Hmmm.

I've left it where it is, I've done the row that connects the pocket in place on the second size and I've concentrated on Amy's thing whilst I think whether those three or four stitches matter. I'm thinking not because if we look at the picture carefully:

(Photo editing skillz. I has them).

There's a little foldover bit. And won't the foldover bit hide everything?! I wish there was a foldover bit in real life.

The pockets, or rather, me not bothering to read the instructions for the pockets carefully, have also caused me another bother. You do a couple of decreases on the pockets - either at the beginning or the end of the row depending on which side you're knitting. I read this as decreases on 'each end' of the row so I decrease two stitches more than needed on each pocket. Problem? What problem? Problem being that when you put the stitches from the front on hold and you're still in a drunken stupor from last night and you're trying to concentrate on Jonathon Creek (and you raaaaaaaarely knit pockets because they always. go. wrong.), you don't realise that the stitches that you take off are corresponding directly to the stitches from the pocket that you're putting on. Which means that you end up with two less stitches, and because you're a bit of a knitting arsehole and you can knit and therefore you don't need to count stitches and it looks about right, you also have two stitches less when you get to the armhole shaping. Ugh. This is less of a problem though, I just cast off two less stitches at the armhole before the armhole shaping and I'm done. But still. What a tit.

So really. This isn't about getting knitting wrong. This is a cautionary tale not to knit whilst drunk from the night before and watching Jonathon Creek.

Tomorrow (or perhaps in a few days depending on how busy the shop gets), I'll tell you about another knitting mistake caused by me just not reading the pattern. The twist in the tale? This is the second garment that I've made from this pattern and I still didn't bother to read it. Ugh.

Also, sorry about lots of writing - here's a photo of every bit of this knitting that I have with me:

I'm going to call that 'artful'. Actually, it's 'it's six minutes past six and I need to get home to do my nails for a wedding tomorrow'. Ugh. Have I reached the age where everybody gets married every weekend? I can't bloody afford it!

I'm offski, love Eleanor. xxxxx

A little leftover from the wedding.

I forgot about this and I am atrocious for it but I will explain why. Remember when me and Verity were making the bouquets and I got a bit over excited about this tiny little hook???

It was to go on the end of her bouquet as you can see here but somewhere in between her house and the wedding shop where she was picking up her altered dress, it fell off! She was a bit distraught. She came into the shop for her weekly stock up and told me about it and straight away I sent off a message to Fleabubs Handmade by Lala to see if she could make one like the original. And boy did she deliver!

She already knew the colourscheme of the wedding, being one of the many contributers to the bouquet so she suggested a grey rainbow colourscheme and it was perfect. The parcel arrived within a couple of days and well before it needed to be here (so organised!!!!).

Inside was not only the most perfect tiny little hooooooook:

But two big sizes to match too!!!! (Didn't get a proper photo of them because I'm terrible!).

Nicola had engraved on them all "V < 3 M" and the date of the wedding which was just the most perfect thing ever. You really do get personal service with tiny little businesses don't you? Right at that moment I was desperate for a 4mm hook so I took that size in the big version which left Verity with a tiny one for the bouquet and a 3.5mm which is a dead useful size.

 THEY HAD SILVER HEARTS ON THEM!!!

And little jingly buttons on the bottom. :)

I also ought to say that there were two little chocolates in the parcel in the shape of hearts but I'd had a stressful day which started with the council chopping down a load of very old trees (ugh) and I reasoned that Verity was on some sort of healthy eating kick for the wedding so I gobbled them up (sorry Nicola!).

A couple of days later Verity texted me to tell me that she'd only found the bloody original hook! Somewhere in the boot of the car I think. Ugh. Which meant that the grand handover was a bit damp squib-by from my end - here I am, for once in my life doing something thoughtful and the thought wasn't bloody needed! But actually, later on in the morning, me and Verity's sister used the tiny hooks to do up the incredible amount of buttons on the back of the dress, one of us starting from the top and one of us starting from the bottom. We made quick work of that!

Scared of losing the tiny hooks on the day Verity kept them in a bag that she'd made with some little trinkets and mementos that she wanted with her so it was all very special and a bit sickly. Haha.

Another MASSIVE thankyou to Nicola from Handmade By Lala for all of the extra attention that she gave to me and Verity and for making the day a bit more special with her flowers and her hooks and her effort. She's a beaut.

Love Eleanor.

YARNDALE!

Sing this:

"Yarndale, Yarndale, I'm half crazy all for the love of wool"

 to the tune of this:

Good yeah? :)

Anyway, remember last year? Of course you can, you were either there or dead jealous that you weren't....


Well, we're off again and I don't want anybody to miss out this time so I've booked the bigger coach straight away and I've been told that there's a possibility of an even BIGGER coach (I think they said 65 people! 65 PEOPLE!).

Yarndale was deffo one of the highlight of last year for me, so can you make it so again this year? Course you can.

BOOK BY CLICKING HERE!

Right, I've got loads of work to do so this was just a quick'un. Tomorrow I've got something to tell you about the wedding... kinda... that I forgot.

Love Eleanor. :)

Back to the Grindstone.

I've been thinking about that title and how I was going to say 'Not really!!! Dead good to be back' but apparently there has been a massive cock up with the Two Of A Kind yarn and it can't be sorted until after 5 so if you're on the receiving of the cock up just bear with and it will be sorted. After five. Ugh. And maybe one day I'll explain it to the rest of you. Until then, I'm going to relive this weekend because it has been MEGA, find a book to buy (explanation later) and then knit something.

So, you know by now that I was bridesmaid at Vezza's wedding. It has occurred to me that I've spoken far too much about this seeing as it's actually nothing to do with the shop and apparently some of you don't even know who Verity is! Imagine! To explain for the uninitiated - Vezza is a one woman whirlwind. I met her in the shop maybe two years ago, I remember the first time she came in and she bought some chunky teal wool to make her boyfriend a scarf. She had a young baby (Alf) and it was obvious that she was sad. The scarf was pretty terrible (she'll admit that herself) but quickly, rapidly really, she gained in confidence and I couldn't keep up with everything she was learning! She happened upon beanies in the shape of boobs for breastfeeding mothers and as people noticed how bloody brill she was she got more and more orders. Then she branched out into other things like legwarmers and mitts and on my instruction finally top down raglans (*does a little dance*). And now she dyes wool too and it's been really lovely to see her get less and less sad. Thing about Verity is, she's sickening. Everything she does she does well. She has perseverance like you wouldn't believe and she doesn't show off about it (I definitely do if I can do something...). We bonded over baby led weaning and wool and a shared love of red wine and when she asked me to be bridesmaid I was absolutely bowled over. What an honour! Does that explain it a bit more?

So the wedding (and not too much about it - I have a rant to have later). It was B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. Beautiful. In every way. Verity looked amazing, the bridesmaids looked amazing (there were two others too), the vows were amazing, the place was amazing. Just everything. I'll do this in photos shall I? Or it'll just be me going 'this thing is amazing and this thing was amazing and look at this beautiful thing'.

Hair. This man was AMAZING! He did Verity and her mum's hair each in about ten minutes flat and with a smile on his face. Also, he loves hairspray about as much as I do. :)

Bentley. It's Verity's step dad's. I was asked how it feels to be in a Bentley and quite frankly it felt like I was in a silver car. Boyf told me the day after how much Bentleys cost and now I know why they were laughing at me. I think I may be one of them there inverted snobs (but seriously, I could buy a house with that money... or maybe even some food for the starving Syrians? Or, for that matter... No. No politics. It's a lovely silver car. Fact.). 

In her excitement Verity ripped her dress on a pillar in the house so she had to sew it (and did a beautiful job). I was dead pleased with my photo of this. :)

In the car. Vezza told me she had no nerves. I don't believe her. But to be fair that is a massive smile. :)

THE MEAL WAS DIVINE! There was some sort of soup (with a posh name) for starters and in that soup were two little chicken wings and AN INCH LONG THING THAT WAS THE MOST DELICIOUS THING I'VE EVER TASTED! Honestly. I had half of it at first and couldn't believe my mouth so I had a drink and tried again and honestly, I could have eaten an entire plate. I don't know what it was. I'll probably never know what it was. It was a beautiful thing and I've been thinking about it ever since.

Anyway, these are the newlyweds and Vezza is feeding her lovely baby which means that she can't get to her food in a way that won't get it down her dress so new husband feeds her her whole main course. It was the loveliest, sweetest thing I've ever seen. Genuinely. He's a good man.

Then I went for a cigarette and this was the view. Wowowowow. 

The first dance and a good shot of *the* dress. It was so beautiful. 

And later, when I was properly drunk, I ended up looking after Alf - that's him in the grey and his aunty (I think?!) and that's her in her pj's. I wasn't really looking after the aunty, if I didn't know me I wouldn't have trusted me with a babbeh either (especially since I nearly fell down in front of Verity's very proper mother... It was more of a sway really, but quite a big sway. I'll call it a dance move.).

And that's it. I've tried to give you a feeling of the day without revealing too much. It's not my wedding day to share really and like I said, the husband is slightly less 'sharey' than me and Verity. OOOOOOOH but I do have one more photo to show you. It's not a very nice one and I'm hoping there might be more that I could share if other people took some of me but it's the best I can do:

 

By this time the babies had gone to bed, boyf had turned up for the evening do, I'd had a massive amount of free booze and I'd taken my belt (and inhibitions apparently...) off. The belt really did make the dress and it was a last minute thing. The shape was nice and I'd made a stiff material by working a chunky yarn on a 4.5mm hook because I wanted it to have a bit of oomf about it but that meant that the shaping I'd put in at the waist was a bit... hmm... dense... (??? Can I use that term???) (and I'd underestimated the size of my boobs so the band didn't quite sit where I wanted it to). Anyway, the belt made the outfit and I hope there's a photo of my wearing the dress with it somewhere. It does sum up how much fun I had though. 

Best wedding ever. 

And then because June is the best person ever... and she's got two kids my age... she'd volunteered to work the Saturday so I could get over my hangover (there wasn't much of one actually). Which meant that I had the whole of Saturday, Sunday and Monday stretched out ahead of me. Me and boyf decided to take it steady on Saturday, potter about in the house and garden a bit, take a few naps, knit a bit, watch Jonathon Creek and eat some hash browns. Lovely. And then we went to the pub. Ugh.

*Swearing ahead. Be warned. Swearing ahead.*

Boyf has some friends. One of which I can't stand (and he knows it haha). The rest of whom are lovely but just a bit.... Beeston? Have you ever spent time in Beeston? The place itself is lovely, bar the tramworks, haha. And a lot of people that I've met there are fantastic, small town-y, almost country-ish if you know what I mean. But I must admit I find it weird that people would go, every Friday and Saturday to the same place to talk to the same people about the same things. Boyf thinks it's normal. I think it's weird. Really weird. I don't often end up going because I do think it's important not to spend every minute in eachother's pockets and he obviously loves these people and the pub and the same seats that they sit in every fucking week. Hmph. Is this just me?

Anyway, anyway, anyway. I'd mentioned to boyf at some point that I needed a summer project - you know when the shop's slower in the summer and I have time to do something that's a bit bigger than I usually do? Like the year that I got all of the patterns on the internet or when I did the gallery (which really needs sorting/updating). I've been thinking that this year it might be an app. I think I said one sentence, something like 'this year my summer project might be an app' in the context of a whole conversation - one little throwaway sentence. One. And boyf mentioned it to one of his friends and the conversation cascaded into a whole load of mansplaining, about 20 minutes worth of it. That is, a diatribe about how I, basically, wouldn't be able to do it.

"Do you want my opinion?" - "No."

"Do you want my advice?" - "No".

"Well, you haven't got the right equipment" - and obviously I could never buy that... 

"I know you can do html but anybody can do that" - Oh right, have you ever actually had a conversation with somebody that isn't a computer geek AND listened to them? Thought not.

"You can't just do it from the internet, you've got to buy a book" - What is it about me that makes you think that I can't/won't get/buy the appropriate equipment?

"You can sell it for 79p but for all the work you'll need to sell it for £5" - Literally, said nothing about selling it. Not a word. I rarely sell things because in my view, if I can make things to make your life easier (like providing patterns or tutorials or apps) and you like them and the way that I am, then you'll buy wool from me, yes? But no, as the female owner of a female orientated business (sorry blokes, I love you male knitters and crocheters, but you know what I mean...), my business plan/ideas are quite patently wrong and what I need to do is get advice from men (or a man) who sell to men (or mainly men). Because it makes sense because men know what they're doing and women don't. Fact. FEMINIST RAGE!

"I applaud your confidence in your abilities" - I applaud your confidence in the correctness of your own worldview. 

And it went on. Do you see what I'm saying? So, you know what - I will! I wouldn't have done before the great telling-me-I-can't-do-it-of-2014 but now I bloody well will. So my summer project is an app and by hook or by crook I will make it. Ugh.

So me and Boyf had an argument but once he'd admitted that he was wrong (and I was by default, right. Haha) we were able to get on with our lives. And by gum we did it! We were going to go to Newstead Abbey on Sunday but after speaking to my mum who recommended Rufford Abbey instead we changed our plans and headed out. I love having a boyf with a car. It was so lovely! Such an antidote to the insular-ness of Beeston. People were laughing and walking and eating ice creams, kids were running and tumbling over eachother (if you know me and how much I hate kids you'll know that me appreciating this means that it was a very. good. day), there were dogs evvvvvvvvverywhere.

I'm a big fan of the boards of writing you get at these places (and blue plaques, I'll go well out of my way for blue plaques and wool. That's about it) so I spent the day hopping from board to board, learning lots about history and dreaming about having my own pool like the one that's the Orangery now. These are the good bits (but not the best, most of those have Boyf looking miserable in them and whilst I love his miserable face in the glaring sunshine, I'm not sure you lot will haha).

Look at the colour of that moss. I'm always trying to explain my favourite green to people, like grass but brighter but not apple-y, not too much yellow, not too much blue, bright but not neon. Basically just this. Ahhh.

Can you see the little diagonal bricks? This was from inside the Abbey bit itself and they were definitely my favourite bricks of the many millions that were there. 

This was the start of the canal-y thing that comes from the Orangery and what used to be the swimming pool and you can just about see the window of that in the top left of the photo, yes? Heaven. Actual heaven. I can imagine paddling in that. Whenever warm weather comes I just want to swim, preferably out in the open but I'm seriously considering just going to a swimming pool to get it out of my system. I keep waking up thinking about it. 

One of the slightly less miserable photos of Boyf - but he doesn't look happy does he? Even with an ice cream. I assure you he was. And the kid on the scooter in the bottom right corner? Well, she told us how much she loves Christmas. Just out of nowhere. Bloody kids.

When we got home we made an amazing dinner and that attracted the advances of the local neighbourhood scraggy cat. He's been hanging around for months but on Valentines Day Boyf let me invite him in for a bit and he's been coming ever since. Boyf's not really an animal kind of person I don't think but he puts up with me. And it's dead funny to see him getting indignant when the cat consistently outfoxes him when it's time for the cat to leave. Dead funny. Look:

He doesn't look that scraggy in the photo but he most certainly is - and his farts stink! I haven't worked out what his name is yet. I'm sure he has an owner and a name because despite the fact that he is scraggy he looks pretty well cared for and he's a porker. I originally thought his name might be Jasper, then Captain Dribbles, for a short time yesterday he was Balthazar but none of these fit perfectly. I'm just going to keep shouting names at him until he responds to one I think.

He either hates or loves circular needles, I can't work it out...

Also, he loves Jeremy Kyle as much as I do so I'm considering Jeremy, Jezza or Jez as his name. :)

So that was my weekend, this has been quite a slog to write! I need to get back into real work now and you do too if you've actually read all of this. From now on though, now the wedding is over, we should be back to normal service - like wool or knitting or crochet or something appropriate for a wool shop? Haha.

Love! Eleanor. xxx

P.s. LOOK AT THIS! It's a lovely little cat toy made by a dead nice customer of mine and it has cat mint in it:

Apparently, I am meant to be a cat lady because she swore that I had a cat. Well, kinda. I have Jeremy/Jezza/Jez/Balthazar/CaptainDribbles/Jasper. And now he has a toy! He will LOVE destroying this! :) Also, she suffers from seizures and apparently when she wakes up she asks to come to the 'Rainbow Shop' every time and that's us! She proper made my day. :)

P.p.s. Boyf has announced last night that he wants to make a 'crochet thing'. I asked him what 'crochet thing' he wants to make and he doesn't know. I suggested a scarf but he looked bored already (I don't blame him) and then I thought about a dead simple jumper. We don't have any blokes crochet patterns... terrible... Have you got any ideas? Links to patterns that you've done? They need to be super easy BUT ISN'T THIS THE MOST ADORABLE THING?! BOYF WANTS TO MAKE A CROCHET THING!!!!! :):)

I really am going now.

Love. xxxx

Big Day Big Giveaway!

IT'S THE BIG DAY!

As we speak I'm sat in bed with my coffee, nails done, bags packed (kinda), preparing myself for the awesomeness that today will be. Vezza's getting marrrrrrrrrrried! I am so excited to see everything coming together.

 

(Best photo I could get in the circumstances...).

Now, I know if she could she'd have invited every single one of you, but the venue is small and the groom wanted to invite some guests too (I know, who does he think he is!?) so to spread a little Vezza love on her big day I'm launching a brand new product dyed by her fair hands and one that I know you lot will go mental over.




...Make sure to click on that video to play...

I AM GOOD TO YOU AREN'T I!? AND NOW VERITY IS TOOOOO!!!!

They're all dyed in the same way as my shawl - remember?

It's not quite the same because my shawl yarn she dyed in a full hank but these she dyed in two 50g balls because we'd discussed how AMAZING this would be in socks and mitts and this way you can have a matching pair. She is wonderful!!!



Every single colour shown above is available to buy - click here. Bear in mind, if the price scares you a little (and it would have done me a few years ago), 100g is enough for a shawl, a scarf, socks, a hat and a bit, a baby cardi and that's nothing when you think of the beauty of the merino base, the skill it takes to dye it and how much the dyes cost themselves as well as the fact that Verity is supporting her little family with this business (and doing a good job too!) and paying for a wedding!!!! . If you can, treat yourself, it is most certainly worth it and you won't look back.

Separately from that - I've bought an extra 100g of the darling Rainbow colourway to give away to a human of Verity's choosing once she gets back off her honeymooooooooon! Everybody that comments here, on facebook or on twitter wishing Vezza a happy wedding day gets put into the draw and Verity will pick a name out of a hat (or an online number generator either way, she'll be the one). Spread the word and get buying. You'll not regret it.

I'm off! Wish us both luck (at getting drunk - we don't need any help actually...).


Love Eleanor. xxxx

A Problem Shared...

Is a problem halved. Well, this isn't a problem, it's just a big bloody ballache. And you're going to hear about it whether you like it or not. Haha.

Yesterday was brill!!! The shop was busy - I'd forgotten to pay myself the week before so I paid myself 'double' - loadsamaaaaaaaaney - I made boyf take me shopping so we could get him some clothes and a lamp (seriously, no lamps in his house - who is this man?!) and some makeup for the wedding (including black nail varnish, I have SUCH a plan!), curry for dinner, caught up with the Musketeers and got to bed at a reasonable time. So obviously, with that much good stuff happening, something bad was going to happen wasn't it? I've only gone and lost my bloody keys!! Ugh.

I'm pretty sure they're in boyf's car and he reckons something was rattling this morning but he can't check because he's teaching all day (the only day he does this... ugh). Oh well. It'll be fine. June was busy this morning so I was ringing and ringing all to no avail but she did eventually surface at around 11.30 and I got into the shop. We had a cup of tea, did some knitting and chatted for a bit but then it was time for penance.

I am officially doing the most boring job in the whole world today - it's probably a case of first world problems but let me try and explain....

So, when I get the patterns on the internet, I always try and provide a suggested yarn. Sometimes this is easy, because we stock the yarn and I can just link to that. For example, yesterday with the new Moods DK patterns, I just linked to the Moods DK and was done. But for example, we don't stock the King Cole Alpaca DK because I'm allergic to it so I suggest alternatives like the Cygnet Superwash. Every time a yarn is suggested I also have to save that pattern to that category and also lots of other appropriate categories. So a pattern might be in ladies, double knit, Moods DK, 32", 34", 36", 38", 40", 42", 44", 46",  and 48" (and that's just off the top of my head, there's almost certainly other categories). If the patterns aren't saved in every single category then they won't turn up when you look at those categories. The more categories the patterns are saved in the more likely they are to sell!!! YEAH!

But, obviously, some yarns go in the sale and then leave forever don't they? And that means I have to move all of the patterns out of that category because it isn't a category anymore. And not only do I have to move them out of the category, I also have to reword the bottom bit where I make the yarn suggestions. Ugh.

When you're deleting a pattern out of a category, you have to uncheck every category you still want it to be in, leaving the check where you do want it. It looks like this:

 

So I had to uncheck every category apart from the Cygnet Superwash and then click delete. 

And just to give you some idea of the numbers that we're working with. There were 54 patterns in the Cygnet Superwash DK this morning. That's 54 patterns that I've had to rewrite the wording for and check that, save that, save them to the Merino DK category (luckily that's a pretty straight swap, when I get around to the Smooth DK it's not going to be so simple because there's not something that's exactly like it if you know what I mean, I'll have to think of an appropriate yarn substitute for every single pattern...) and then delete them out of the Cygnet Superwash category. I did a whole 'nother category on Friday but I can't actually remember what yarn it was and now I've deleted it I'll never know. Ahhhh. It feels good to be honest, feels like I'm kind of hoovering up the bottom of my webshop, you know? I have four more categories to do.  

And because it's a right ballache I don't do it very often - bad lyso. But once I have it on my mind I feel like I need to do it now! And to be fair, it's generally a good little chunky bit of work to get your teeth into.

During that, I've been making notes of some patterns that are done in what I call the 'old style'. King Cole usually have two photos on their patterns because there are almost always at least two different designs. When me and Dave were first starting to get the patterns on the internet (a looooong time ago) we were scanning each pattern front and back and putting them up as two different photos on the pattern page. Now I 'borrow' them (with permission) from the King Cole website, but they provide just one picture with both sides so there's only one picture to put up and the quality of them is much better. Slowly but surely I'm going to go through the old style patterns, borrow the photos from King Cole and replace the two that are there. But that will take time and is it's own little ballache. One day maybe I'll explain that to you and why a yso would need to use the incognito browser for patterns not porn. Mwahaha!

Now, because this has been a lot of talking. How's about you feast your eyes on this!

The colour's wrong on my photo but it shows the stitch definition beautifully which is, in part, to do with the yarn. Ahhhh. Moods DK, how I love and have missed you. It's the cardigan I was starting yesterday. Got a little carried away last night whilst waiting for boyf to change. I AM ACTUALLY IN LOVE! MOVE OVER BOYF (even with his lovely new clothes) I'M MARRYING A GARMENT!

I'm sure I'll keep you updated with it... again and again and again...

Love Eleanor. xx

P.s. I meant to add, next time you're about to say to me 'ahhh, it must be so lovely to sit and knit all day...', let me know, I'm going to sit you down, set you up and get you deleting categories. MWAHAHAHAHA!

P.p.s. Although, I am about to sit down to do some knitting but it's a shop sample and not my cardi. Whine whine whine. 

You Asked For It...

... so you shall get it!

Tweedy DK! YEAHHHHH! (Re)Introducing the Mooooooooooods DK.

Can you remember when we had it last time? Well, technically we had the Mood Duet DK but they kept discontinuing shades and they left me with no choice but to discontinue it myself. Such a shame because I was (and am!) a massive fan of the Moods. Look:

It's my February Fitted Pullover and a lovely lady said this about it on ravelry - "Looking at your first pic on this project, I thought “I want to be her at that moment.” The sweater looks fantastic on you and you look like you’re having a great time." Isn't that lovely? Good memories attached to the Moods.


Now, t'other day (it was the same day I was ordering the Comfort DK if you must know), the King Cole rep showed me these new shades and I fell in love all over again. Essentially, they are relaunching the moods - with new colours and the tweedy effect. For me, it's kind of like a DK version of the big balls of aran, some of the colours even match up, and those are workhorse yarns aren't they? They just go and go and sometimes that's what we need isn't it? Nothing fancy, nothing expensive, just a good cushiony yarn to get our teeth into. So pleasing.

You may or may not be aware that I am coming to the end of my great personal crochet-a-thon. I think it's lasted about two years or so but I feel like I forgot about knitting even though it's been silently sat there waiting for me - old friend. This yarn has put an end to that. I. Must. Cast. On. No chains. Knitting. Ahhhh knitting. Here's what I'm planning:
 

It's a 3935 (love King Cole's inspiring pattern names) in the Firecracker a fahhhhhbulous deep rusty red with green and orange flecks - oooooof! Look at it:

Much better photo. And there's the Tundra too (which is totes the wrong colour for the name but it's not up to me).



Anyway, look at the shades by clicking here. 

and


Look at the patterns written for it here,

 Now, I have to get the patterns into their folders, clear up with mess:

And then I can start my cardigan.


Love love love love love love love love Eleanor. xxxxxxx

More New Yarn!

And I totes forgot that I'd ordered it... Bad lyso...

The rep for King Cole came in the other day (in fact it was the day I was packing the massive order from King Cole away). I love him and he made me buy yarn. As per. Thing is, this stuff if a bloody bargain! King Cole are moving premises to a warehouse about five times the size (apparently, I'm sure he exaggerates). I am dead excited about this because it should mean that when a new yarn launches, like the Opium we won't have to wait months and months and months because it's out of stock - they'll have stockpiles you see.

But it makes their lives easier if there's less to move so they're putting together massive bags of mixed lots and a bargainous (sp!??!) price and I succumbed. (It crossed my mind that this was just to get rid of bad yarn but you should see some of the stuff they were putting in them!). Anyway, the two packs that I got consisted mainly of the Comfort DK but in 50g balls. A mix of colours and not all of them. So I'm concentrating on this first - I have other yarns that I've stored nicely to one side, I'll release them when we have any room at all because at the mo the Comfort is behind me, above me, in front of me, in the loo, on top of the storage on the Expedit shelves and a little bit stuffed into corners... But I think this'll go fast!

So, Comfort DK in 50g balls for £1.25!!! Just to be clear - the 100g balls are £3 so it's already a bargain... But more than this. If you buy five balls you get them for £5, that's one ball free. And if you buy a pack of 12 you get them for £11, that's another £1 off.

I genuinely couldn't believe the prices but I've worked it all out, with the vat and divided by 12 not 10 (most yarn companies do 10 packs, King Cole does 12). It works out for us and by gum does it work out for you!

And I've got it on the internet tooooo - click here. (The combo pictures were/are weirdly massive but I've sorted that out as much as I can and it doesn't seem to have filtered through to my internet - I'm hoping time and a good sleep will sort that out. Apologies...).

 I'm not feeling particularly artistic today - can you tell? *Shoves all the pictures in quick*. Haha.

 I was earlier though - I've been inspired a little by the Lucy Packs that pop up here, there and everywhere but I know that I would feel constrained by that many colours so this is the perfect opportunity for me to try it out on a small scale and see if you lot like it. Here are the options:

 Brights.

 It's a Crocus!

 It's a Girl!

 It's a Boy!

Pastels.

It's a Mermaid!

I'm dead pleased with myself - and the names! 

Of course, if you come into the shop, you can pick five of any colour you like and if you can't get into the shop you give me a ring (0115) 9474239 or an email knit at knitnottingham dot co dot uk then you too can have any combination you like - it was just too much like hard work to see how I could give you the option to do it on my webshop (I am seriously considering updating but that's a summer project).

The 12 packs are one colour on the internet but the same applies in terms of choosing your own combinations if you get in contact with us.

I must say - it's been flying off the shelves here and I'm dead pleased.

Please also note that the rest of the sale is down to £1.50 a ball (yes everything, including the Cotton DK!!!). I desperately need the shelf space not only for the other bargain yarns but for a whole 'nother new yarn that is IN THE SHOP AND WAITING FOR IT'S MOMENT! BUY BUY BUY!!!

Anyway, King Cole Comfort DK in 50g balls is here. Enjoy it whilst it lasts. :)


Love Eleanor. xxx

P.s. Whilst I had customers throughout the day and I couldn't get on with getting it on the internet, I knocked up a quick baby cardigan in my Great British Granny pattern. It's taken around half a ball of four colours and I am in luuuuuuuuuuurve.

I had totally forgotten how lovely the Comfort is to knit with. I might possibly be planning a jumper in it...

Wedding Prep!

Vezza is getting married! I must have mentioned it here somewhere? Ahhhhh, yes, I'm a bridesmaid and I wrote a bit about making my own dress in this post here. I've done nothing. Literally nothing for her. Ugh. Bad bridesmaid. I did go wedding dress shopping (twice I think?) and then I was there to occupy t'babbeh during the fitting and we went shopping for earrings and some AMAZING makeup (seriously, it's eye shadow, eye liner, blusher, lipstick and NAIL VARNISH depending on what you put with it and I for one am going to use it in every single capacity during the wedding - call me the Tin Man).

But this weekend I did do something finally. I helped Vezza make the bouquets. Funnily enough there's not a lot of homemade stuff in the wedding - you expect everything crocheted wouldn't you? But I think Vezza's too stylish for that and the whole thing has come together in a matter of months so there hasn't been enough time. The dress, shoes, veil etc. are all very English rose and bought from shops, hubby-to-be has sorted the suits and buttons holes, the venue itself is doing the decorating (including seasonal flowers for the middle of the tables <3 nbsp="" p="">
The hen do is a bit difficult with a three month old so it was never a question of a booze up outside of the house and then other options were things like spa days but the other bridesmaids and female guests are scattered around the country and work lots and.... blah blah blah... we never got a real thing organised. I think Verity's doing something with her mum and the other bridesmaids that involves pampering but I'm a bit anti-social, I've got no money and I work every hour that god sends so we decided that our hen do - just us two - was going to be wine and making the bouquets! Brill!!!!

AND WE EXCELLED OURSELVES! Even if I do say so myself. Look!

There was always going to be some crochet!

We started like this:

Verity has some lovely customers... not as lovely as mine obvs... but lovely nonetheless and lots of them contributed crocheted flowers in the colour scheme knowing that it would be part of the bouquet. They came from all over the world - seriously! V was talking about Italy and America and... Devon! :)

We poured some prosecco and sewed in all of the ends:

Then we started attaching the big ones to each end of a piece of wire - just poking it through and twiddling with the ends and the smaller ones each had their own wire:

The cat enjoyed this:

At around about this point, the husband to be marched in - gave us loads of food, had a political rant, told us we could have more wine, took a shower and headed back out of the door. That's why she's marrying him. :)

A beef sausage roll of some sort. Delicious.


Then we carried on.


There were a few flowers that we thought needed a bit of a showcase - some from Iris (both mine and Verity's customer so she must be extra brill!) in teeny tiny crochet cotton (and there were four and we were making four bouquets!!!), one from the lady at Fleabubs Handmade by Lala that had all sorts of colours in and some pom poms - there were only three of those though so I quickly knocked up another:

Slightly misshapen so it went in my bouquet - by this time I was getting tipsy...



So we sorted the flowers into a pile for Verity and then a pile for the rest of us and we got on with making the hers - it's the most important afterall. She chose all of her favourites and put them together and promptly took about half of them out - these things are heavy you know! It's just a shame that they were all so lovely! The ones that she didn't use in the end were popped back onto the bridesmaid pile.



She bent the wires with two flowers in half and arranged them as she wanted, filling up the spaces with the individual flowers on wire and finally placing the pom pom and Iris' flower.

Once she was happy we wrapped the stem in some green florist's tapey stuff and then a big cushiony layer of yarn, some more florist's tape and finally some white stretchy lace. This was twirly wirly fun:

And then. It was done. And Vezza let me pretend I was getting married:

Amazing, yes?!


But we weren't done... Oh no. Wine first, obvs:

Whilst baby was having her dinner we split the remaining flowers in roughly equal piles (mine's a bit bigger because I'm a bit bigger so I need more to balance. Also, I was bloody making them. Haha). And started preparing them in the same way - less photos this time because I was squiffy and I think V was too, we'd already done it once and it was getting on for dinner time... But look!
 

Aren't they just perfect!?!? Seriously! Love!


Dinner was Chinese which filled a little hole but I was so drunk by about 9.30 that it was deffo home time. I left Vezza dancing to Sean Paul in the living room. What a night!


And then here are some random photos that I couldn't fit into my story:

We used Alf's toy pliers! :)

Some rainbow sock yarn that may end up in your favourite yarn shop of all time.... 

The girls at Knit Club, especially Jem, will appreciate us trying to keep our bubbles in with a spoon. Not sure if it worked, we were too busy to notice - the prosecco was purely for energy not enjoyment. 

I (secretly) tried on the wedding shoes. Haha. Love wedding shoes and hand knitted socks... 

And not so secretly tried on the veil - I don't really have enough hair, or class, for one of these....

Verity's got a teeny, tiny, Fleabubs hook on the end of her bouquet and apparently it's the perfect size for doing up the teeny, tiny buttons of the back of her dress. :):):):)

Vezza's been knitting this for Alf!!!! I've got to sew it up. I've no idea where I put it in my drunken state. I will find it. I think there was Chinese grease on the camera lens...

And that's it! Good story yes!? I'll certainly be sharing some photos of the wedding here and other places but the husband-to-be is a bit more private than us two so he'd like to keep some stuff to himself. I'll follow Vezza's lead but I know so many of you are interested seeing as she's like my second in command. Haha.

Right - off to answer more e-mails - we've been atrocious this weekend (as in, I've not been here so nothing got done ;) ) so I'm sorry if you're waiting on me. I'm trying my best!

Love Eleanor. xxxxxxxx