Knitting
I made a grocery bag for putting loose veg or fruit in when I go shopping, you can weigh and self scan in store at the veg counter so I won’t be paying for the weight of the bag and won’t need a plastic bag.
I had an idea to clear all my Knitting WIPs before starting something new, which meant trying to finish Void. So I knit 6 rows of Void and was getting a very sore arm and depressed over the slow progress on it, so I threw my idea out the window and cast on a pair of socks…well actually one sock, I’ve decided to not do these 2 at a time but just do them on my Addi sockwonder needle.
After this pair of socks I’m going to try a toe up pair and put a question out on Ravelry in the Sock Knitters group, for some recommendations for something similar to Hermione’s Everyday Socks but toe up and someone said “https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanilla-sock-with-gusset–choice-of-heel”, so I’ve added to my queue.
This week I cleared some items off my queue and did a bit of rearranging of the order into types of projects. I’ll be doing some swatch knitting for a new jumper or cardigan this week, but haven’t decided which pattern I’ll do first.
I also tried to learn brioche this week so I could make a start on a scarf version of Cabriolet by Caroline Bloom, but even using some scrap yarn to practice with I’ve not got it at all. It makes no sense to me and I’m wondering whether trying a one colour brioche pattern will help me or make no difference, or perhaps a project in a chunkier yarn than 4 ply/fingering weight. This pattern starts with icord edge and you pick up stitches from that and knit it brioche…so confusing. I watched numerous YouTube clips but maybe need a fresh look this week and try again. This is a beautiful scarf and I have 2 beautiful yarns to make it, so fingers crossed it will somehow sink in.
Spinning
Last Sunday was the spin to weave workshop which I enjoyed and learned quite a few new things. She helped us get a true worsted spin, where the fibres are lined up and no air in the fibres, which gives a stronger yarn better for weaving with. She also showed us how to spin a silk hankie and I have some of those so may give that a go. She had an 8 shaft table loom and was saying you can pick up a 4 shaft table loom for about £150, but when I looked they are all around £400-500, so I won’t be getting one of those. Also where would it go!! She had some beautiful woven items, some so fine you couldn’t see the weave and she wore a Mulberry Silk scarf she’d spun and woven that was gorgeous. I’ve not touched my wee loom in many months. I need to rip out the cheap yarn that is threaded that I don’t like.
Other News
I have a very sore lower back (although think the issue is the muscle going round my hips), and I feel a bit dizzy and nauseous. I did some aerobic exercise on Thursday and obviously over did it and then sat for a couple of hours on Saturday in a very uncomfortable car seat hasn’t helped. It is many years since I’ve had such a sore back and Ibuprofen didn’t make any difference, nor my Shiatsu massage chair. Isn’t pain funny, it’s like your mind forgets how painful things were in the past and so this seems worst.
My sewing machine has gone in for a service/repair at last. The place that does the servicing is a quilt making supply shop, so of course I started to wonder about quilt making!!!! I must resist looking too closely around the shop when I go to pick it up.
On Tuesday evening I’ve been invited to a local spinning group meeting that I’m going to go along to. The Highland Guild has members across the Highlands and the Isle of Skye and Outer Hebrides, but this group is for more locally based spinners. Hopefully my back will be fine by then. If it is still sore I’ll take my supported spindle with me instead of my wheel.
I reached out to a shop about my lampshades, but haven’t heard anything back yet. They already sell some lampshades but different to mine, I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I got my final payment from the Fuzzy Thistle shop for my sales there before they closed and December was my best month for sales.
In case anyone has wondered how Billy is doing after his liver transplant, well things seem to be 3 steps forward and 2 back and he’s actually had a 2nd liver transplant and been in and out of hospital with complications and went back into hospital on Wednesday and he has an infection and further complications. What a stressful time for him, his wife, family and friends. Makes me realise a bit of back pain is nothing in comparison.
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HighlandHeffalump 
Have you used the sock wonder needle before? I’m curious about it and would like to hear more. I think you made the right move taking a break from Void. I love the idea of a grocery bag for produce, I need to do that.
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Yes I’ve used the sockwonder before and it is great, only issue is you whip round the rows so fast it is easy to lose count of how many rows you’ve done. This time I’m using yarn that doesn’t give a matching pair so shouldn’t matter if they are slightly different lengths.
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I’m adding it to my wish list! Thank you for the review.
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I think I may need one of these. Or maybe I need to give up the idea of knitting socks 😆
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Love the Weightless Produce bag. I have only one and need to make a few more. Sure does save on having those pesky plastic produce bags hanging around. I hope you can find another place where you can sell your wares. Your items are too nice to not be admired and used by others.
I was wondering about the Addi Needles. I have the 9 inch Chiagoo’s and they are very hard on my hands. With the right needle being longer than the left, I was wondering if that would make a difference not to mention it give another inch in length. I wish I could find a place where they would let me try before I buy LOL.
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That would be useful wouldn’t it. I think in the past when I’ve mentioned the sockwonder someone commented about pain holding them but I haven’t found that to be the case.
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Best wishes for Billy, I hope he’ll eventually get through this ordeal and start to get better.
As for brioche, do you have Bluprint? If so, do watch the course with Nancy Marchant (did I spell this right?). I have one of her books and couldn’t memorize the abbreviations for the brioche stitches and in- and decreases until I watched her video, and suddenly, it all made sense.
As for Void (or any other WIP you can’t bring yourself to keep working on) – frog it. I frogged both the double knit train blanket and the seed stitch blanket and am using the yarn for my 30 anniversary blanket now, and I feel so much better and have so much more fun working on it than with the other two. Life’s too short to worry about troublesome WIPs. 😉
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Now I have to go check out sockwonder. Sounds interesting. You have been very busy – and reminding me that I have to get back to that spinning wheel of mine.
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Love the bag. Someone made me one in a swap, but I don’t use it often. I forget about it, plus I don’t do much grocery shopping, the Hubs does it. I’ve very sorry that Billy has had setbacks. My friend battling cancer has also experienced several setbacks…we are hopeful she is over them now…I hope Billy will be soon.
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I hope your pain subsides quickly, and I am sending good thoughts for Billy. ❤️
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I don’t like to be a Debbie Downer but have you seen the doctor? Not trying to scare you but lower back pain and nausea could indicate a heart problem as in heart attack. Do you check your blood pressure regularly? I’m not a hypochondriac at all but those 2 symptoms together do not sound good. Please get it checked out. Women’s symptoms for heart attacks are different than men’s.
Anyway, I love the market bag and I should make several of those. I am frustrated with socks this week but I will give it a go again after I “cool off” from the frustration with myself!
I will say prayers for Billie and you!
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That’s interesting thank you, I will make an appointment with the doctor as I have some other symptoms I’ve been putting down to other things.
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Oh my – I didn’t know that people could receive a second transplant – especially so soon after a first. I’m glad one was available for him. I’m glad Billy is hanging in there, but I hope to hear better news soon. I hope your back is better soon, too. Sounds very painful. Pretty bag! I enjoy my crocheted shopping bags – usually only use them at Aldi here, as I confess I like the convenience of plastic or paper shopping bags most stores still make available.
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The first transplant was from the living donor and enabled him to have all the cancer cut out of his body, but then there were complications and it was failing but because he was now cancer free that enabled him to be classed as well enough to be eligible for a cadaver liver transplant. So the living donor still saved his life, because without it he couldn’t have had the surgery to remove the cancer.
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I love your grocery bag. I keep thinking I should make a few of those. I also want to learn to make socks, I might check out the pattern you listed. Sorry to hear about your back. I hope it feels better soon. I live with chronic pain so I understand.
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Keeping Billy in my thoughts for a good outcome! And you as well! Glad you are going to the doctor – you don’t want to neglect your symptoms. Your produce bag is beautiful as well as handy looking! Our city recently banned plastic shopping bags, so we have mostly been using canvas or nylon ones, though they are a bit problematic. That sounds like a really useful and interesting spinning class!
Another resource you could look into for brioche info is AC Knitwear. They are the ones that did the Boost Your Knitting program I was working through. They do really informative and clear videos on techniques, and I will bet you that brioche is in there!
Feel better!
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Oh I hope your back has resolved itself. And that Billy gets through these latest complications.
The bag is great – I stuff mine into my handbag so that I always have it.
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