Bubbly sweater

I have another knit ticked off my WIPs list - the Bubbly sweater. (Ravelry link) This is a design by Isabell Kraemer and I can say with absolute certainty that I will be knitting more of her patterns. I used some Rowan Felted Tweed yarn that had been in my stash for ages (I think it was a John Lewis sale bargain) and I bought a ball of Felted Tweed in Sulphur to give me a contrast for the colourwork. I also used the yellow to give a little contrast on the edge of the ribbing and am pleased with the effect. This was my first proper go at colourwork and I am so happy with how it turned out. I was able to hold the yarns one in each hand so that the yarns didn't get too twisted up. I want to knit more colourwork now and also fancy trying to design some colourwork socks. The most accurate photo for the colours is the one immediately below, the closeup of the colourwork pattern. I still have lots of WIPs to finish before I can start anything new though! I'm back at the hospital all next week for my next round of infusions so am hoping that the cannula gods will be kind and I can knit my way through the week. Wish me luck! xxx

 

Ticking things off my list

I like lists. I like ticking things off my list even more. Actually I have been known to add things to my list after I've done them, just to get that sense of accomplishment and to be able to tick it off! Is it just me?! In an attempt to dig myself out of my slump, I got myself a new notebook and started writing a list of all the projects I'd like to get finished, a list of design ideas that I have bubbling around and a list with a few long term goals to aim for. Over the past couple of weeks, I've managed to tick a few things off the first list (as well as adding a few more, oops!) 

*** A crocheted Billy Bear for my friend's great-niece ***

This is a fabulous pattern from Emma Varnam and is perfect if you're new to crocheting toys.

*** A pair of DK socks for my friend ***

Knitted whilst I was hooked up to an iv last week, the socks grew so quickly. I wish it was easier to find Opal DK sock yarn here in the UK. If you know of any stockists, please leave a message!

*** A pair of DK socks for my friend's partner ***

Another bit of instant gratification as these socks were knitted in a day!

*** Blocking my Lone Skein Shawl by Joji Locatelli ***

Started back in September and knitted relatively quickly along with some Instagram friends, it has sat on the sofa for a couple of weeks waiting to be blocked. Yarn is from Life in the Long Grass.

*** Casting on a pair of socks for a friend's husband ***

This is Regia Pair Perfect sock yarn - it comes with yellow yarn marking the start and end of the pattern repeat so that you can knit two identical socks. There are stripes up the leg and the foot is plain. I'm only working on these during the day as the black yarn makes it hard to see in the evenings.

*** Completing the first of many Gretel socks ***

I'm aiming to knit several pairs of these Gretel socks as Christmas gifts. The pattern is free from West Yorkshire Spinners and was designed by Winwick Mum. I've struggled a bit to get my tension even over the colourwork using Magic Loop, so I swapped to Hiya Hiya Flyer needles which were better (but still not perfect) and am going to try a 9" circular needle for my next sock. I'll keep you posted.

*** Knitting a jumper for a friend ***

A friend was in need of a cosy jumper and this fitted the bill perfectly, knit using Drops Air yarn.

I have done a little bit of stash enhancement too as I was unable to resist the latest stripy offering from Yarndale. This is Tristen, celebrating 10 years of Yarndale. The West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply yarn knits up so beautifully and is perfect for sock gifts too.

Flo has been my bestest girl, keeping me company and watching proceedings carefully. I can usually manage to knit socks once she has settled down on my lap, which is just as well considering the amount of time she spends asleep on me! 

Last week was a particularly trying week with my infusions and lots of problems with cannulas and blown veins. I think that I'm still going to have the remains of the bruises when I go for my next week in a couple of weeks! Luckily I did have a couple of days where the cannula site was knitting-friendly which makes a huge difference.

The garden is looking very autumnal and there are little splashes of pink all around the garden thanks to the Japanese anemones. I have pale and deep pink varieties which appear each year with no help from me! I'm lucky that my neighbour keeps my garden under control for me.

I'll be back in a while, just as soon as I've managed to tick a few more things off my list! xxx

 

Ups and downs

It's been a while since I last posted and I have to confess that I have been feeling a bit meh. I think it's a combination of feeling rather flat now that my fundraising has finished, getting over the flare I experienced after my 5th Covid vaccination and frustration that I find everything so flipping difficult! Welcome to my Pity Party, help yourself to a drink and some nibbles before they run out. 

My fundraising became massively important to me, especially throughout lockdown when I was shielding, as it gave me something positive to focus on as well as a link to the outside world. It also gave me some kind of identity which helped me; having lost my identity as a wife after Mr JK died, I then lost my identity as a teacher after I had to take ill health retirement, so fundraising gave me a sense of purpose again and I felt useful. Now that the fundraising has finished, I am feeling a little redundant once more so I need to find something new to channel my energy into. 

I had my 5th Covid vaccination in June and it caused a flare up of my myositis and my inflammatory markers, which had been consistently decreasing since I started my IVIg infusions, shot up again. I had the Moderna vaccine (all four previous were Pfizer) and from what some of my doctors have said, what happened to me didn't come as a surprise. I'm getting back to where I was pre-jab, but had Covid jab number 6 as well as my flu vaccine this week; sadly it was Moderna again, I did ask if they would be getting any Pfizer but the answer was no. As I'm going to be starting on a more heavy duty immunosuppressant very soon, I decided that it would be better to be protected from Covid and risk another flare up rather than refuse the vaccine. Fingers crossed that it won't happen a second time.

There are things that I want to change in the house but things take me such a long time or I'm not able to manage them that I just ignore them. I have friends who I know would be happy to help me; it's me that finds it hard to ask for and accept help and I guess that I need to change my attitude. It takes me a ridiculous amount of time to do the simplest things: taking things upstairs I have to put things in a rucksack to carry them as I have to tackle the stairs on all fours. I'd like to bring all my craft books downstairs and swap them for a couple of shelves of LP's but the mere thought of doing it is enough to stop me, even though I'll be really pleased to get things rearranged in a much more helpful way. Perhaps I should set myself a task each week and tell you what I have planned, so that I have to report back and be accountable! It might work...

I have had plenty of little moments of joy over the past couple of weeks to share with you.

*** Teddy Love ***

I crocheted this cute little bear for a friend of a friend's new baby boy and was delighted when she shared the lovely photo of them together. Apparently it is his favourite cuddly! (Pattern is Billy Bear from Emma Varnam, which you can buy as a kit or pattern only.)

*** Fundraising ***

I never in a million years imagined that I would raise so much money for Myositis UK. I am so grateful to everyone who donated a prize and to all the people who helped by buying virtual raffle tickets and sharing my fundraising to spread the word. Thank you so much. (See right at the end of this post how you can help me!)

*** Festive socks ***

Winwick Mum has designed some gorgeous new sock patterns to go with West Yorkshire Spinners new Christmas yarn, in the Gingerbread colourway. The patterns are all free to download. This is my favourite - Gretel - with the colourwork trees and snowflakes. I've got the yarn ready to cast on. I downloaded my pattern from Black Sheep Wools. There are four knitting patterns and one crochet pattern for socks.

Photo copyright West Yorkshire Spinners

*** Stripy Goodness ***

I finished knitting my stripy socks using the beautiful 'Twelve Days' colourway from Spin & Blether. I went for matchy-matchy socks right down to the heel as I had plenty of yarn and I couldn't be happier with how they turned out. The yarn is a mix of Blue Faced Leicester and nylon and has a wonderful lustre. 

*** Strictly Sockalong ***

I'm delighted that Strictly is back on our screens and have cast on my pair for the sockalong. I'm knitting my 'Tiptoe' pattern and I'm not totally convinced that the lace shows up well enough with the yarn. I think that I will stretch it out over a sock blocker to see how it looks before I knit any more rounds. I had to rummage around in my notions bag for my glitterball stitch marker!

Have a good week and I'll be back chatting away again soon. xxx

PS

There are still a few days left to vote for your favourites in this year's British Knitting & Crochet awards. I have been nominated in the favourite charity campaign for my Fibre 4 Fibres Fundraising which reached over £30,000. My page will close at the end of September, which is the same day that voting closes. You can vote here and you might be lucky and win an amazing prize!

You can vote here! 

 

Fibre 4 Fibres Giveaway preview 100

Welcome to the final raffle in my Fibre 4 Fibres fundraising for Myositis UK! This is my 100th raffle and I feel the time is right to bring things to a close. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to raise such an incredible amount of money. Through your donations for virtual raffle tickets, my design commissions and all my pattern sales, between us we have raised more than £30,000 which will be enough to fund at least one research project. Thank you.

There are three prizes to be won this week. Each prize contains a zipped project bag, a set of 2.5mm circular needles, a fridge magnet, some stitch markers and an assortment of beautiful yarn. The yarn has been donated by Spin & Blether, Crafthouse Magic and my Instagram friends Sophie and Ann, as well as a couple of skeins from my stash. The stitchmarkers have been donated by Spin & Blether and The Yarnicorn. Sophie donated several balls and skeins of yarn including two self striping yarns which have already been caked up. They are dyed by Country Mouse Yarns but don't have a label; they are 75% merino and 25% nylon, confirmed by the dyer and you can see the beautiful stripes they knit up in one of the photos below. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated a prize this week.

Here's a reminder of what you need to do if you'd like to enter the final raffle! You have a chance to win one of these gorgeous prizes for a minimum donation of £2! Are you tempted to try your luck? Here's everything you need to know. This giveaway will run this coming Sunday 11th September, closing at 23:45. To enter, go to my JustGiving page here and buy your virtual raffle tickets by donating £2 or more. £2 gets you 2 tickets, £3 gets you 3 tickets, £5 gets you 5 tickets and so on. The more you donate, the greater your chance of winning. You will need to leave your Instagram or Ravelry name, or tick the box to share your email address with me when you make your donation, so that I can contact you if you are the winner. This is really important as I have no way of knowing who you are otherwise. Each week, I still get donations where no name or email is left, so if that person's number comes up in the random number generator, I have no idea who it is! All your donations go the Myositis UK to help fund research into this incurable muscle disease, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support.  Myositis is a rare disease and that means that there isn't as much research done to help find better treatment and ultimately a cure. Every single donation is important. Last week the total raised hit £30,000 and I am so grateful to everyone one of you who has donated. Thank you and stay safe! xxx

 

Fibre 4 Fibres Giveaway preview 99

Welcome to the penultimate Fibre4Fibres raffle. All good things must come to an end and I have decided to finish my fundraising for Myositis UK next week. It will be raffle 100 and the total raised should hopefully reach £30,000. Both of these are nice round numbers and it feels right to bring things to a close. Of course I have been tempted to carry on, but I've been fundraising now since the end of 2019 (with a couple of breaks) and there are other things that I'd like to focus on. Also, people have been incredibly generous, and I know that I have had a few people donate to every single raffle. With the cost of living going up, there isn't a lot of spare money for many people either and I'd hate for people to feel pressured into donating. 

This week's raffle has two prizes. The first prize includes a zipped project bag in a fun print, a ball of self-striping, sparkly DK rainbow yarn donated by The Dotty Wool Co, three sets of Norah George DK miniskeins which have been donated by an Instagram friend, Marja, two sets of Hiya Hiya double pointed needles donated by my Instagram friend Ann, a unicorn stitch marker donated by The Yarnicorn and a yarny fridge magnet. Thank you so much to everyone who donated a prize.

The second prize includes a zipped project bag in a knitting sheep print fabric, four balls of wool and a tweed key ring from The Silly Sheep Fibre Company (who use fleeces from their own sheep and from friends and neighbours on the Shetland Islands) nine balls of Jamieson's/Jamieson & Smith yarn, a set of Hiya Hiya double pointed needles donated by my friend Ann (again!), a unicorn stitch marker donated by The Yarnicorn and a yarny fridge magnet. Thank you so much to everyone who donated a prize.

Here's a reminder of what you need to do if you'd like to enter this week's raffle! You have a chance to win one of these gorgeous prizes for a minimum donation of £2! Are you tempted to try your luck? Here's everything you need to know. This giveaway will run this coming Sunday 4th September, closing at 23:45. To enter, go to my JustGiving page here and buy your virtual raffle tickets by donating £2 or more. £2 gets you 2 tickets, £3 gets you 3 tickets, £5 gets you 5 tickets and so on. The more you donate, the greater your chance of winning. You will need to leave your Instagram or Ravelry name, or tick the box to share your email address with me when you make your donation, so that I can contact you if you are the winner. This is really important as I have no way of knowing who you are otherwise. Each week, I still get donations where no name or email is left, so if that person's number comes up in the random number generator, I have no idea who it is! All your donations go the Myositis UK to help fund research into this incurable muscle disease, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support.  Myositis is a rare disease and that means that there isn't as much research done to help find better treatment and ultimately a cure. Every single donation is important. Let's see how close to £30,000 we can get this week! Thank you and stay safe! xxx

Whoosh!

And just like that, it's the last day of August! I'm not quite sure where this year has gone, but I was surprised when I read that the next Bank Holiday will be Christmas! While I am definitely ready for cooler weather, the thought of going to the supermarket (that's about as exciting as my shopping gets these days!) and seeing Christmas things on sale for the coming weeks, fills me with horror. My local Tesco already has the big tubs of chocolates on offer at the entrance. It's too much, too soon, especially given the current situation here in the UK with prices soaring. Many families will be struggling with getting essentials paid for, let alone all the extras that Christmas frequently entails. It will be very interesting to see how the next few weeks and months pan out with a new Prime Minister. I'm not holding out much hope though as they seem to be completely out of touch with what life is like for so much of the UK population.

Anyway, before I get carried away, I'll step off my soapbox and share what's been going on chez josiekitten. I have been working away on my odd socks and three of the four now have a partner. The fourth one is half done, and I'm about to start the heel flap.

I had hoped to finish my Bubbly sweater by Isabell Kraemer, but am still stranded on sleeve island! I plan to knit a few rounds of the sleeve each day so that by the time it's woolly jumper weather, it'll be ready to pull on. The photo below shows the sweater along with the unfinished sock. At the time, I was still knitting the body, but have finished that, including the ribbing. I decided against the brioche rib partly because I was worried about how much yarn it would use up and also because I just kept forgetting what to do! I'm very happy with the 1x1 ribbing that I did. I also added a round in the zingy yellow colour on the last round of the ribbing and used the same yarn to cast off with. I'll do the same on the cuffs I think and show you when it's finished and blocked.

I have bought some more Opal sock yarn - I just love their colours and the yarn washes and wears so well, it's perfect for gift knitting. These are from the Holidays range and quite honestly, I could have bought them all!

I won some books in an Instagram charity book raffle which arrived last week. The author is new to me - Miranda Dickinson/MJ White - and I'm looking forward to reading them both. I've been reading a lot more regularly this year, trying to make sure that it's part of my daily routine and I think I've read 32 books so far in 2022. I am aiming for 52 - one a week - if I can!

Flo has a new sleeping spot on me which isn't very helpful if I'm trying to knit. She always used to curl up on my lap, but recently she has decided that she prefers to stretch herself up my body with her paws on my shoulder! Then it's easy for her to headbutt me! You can't tell from the second photo, but I'd just moved her so I could carry on knitting and her tail was swishing like she was conducting an orchestra!

I'm planning to cast on two new things tomorrow. I have a group of friends on Instagram who formed a Knit and Natter group at the start of lockdown when we all knitted the Love Note sweater. The friendship has grown and we are all still knitting and nattering and are having two KAls - one to knit Joji Locatelli's Lone Skein Shawl (Ravelry link) and the other to knit Espace Tricot's Turtle Dove II. I'm looking forward to them both and it's always more fun when you're knitting along with friends. These are the yarns that I've chosen. The fingering weight yarn is from Life in the Long Grass and is a much treasured skein from our trip to Ireland back in 2015 when Mr JK was running the Dublin Marathon. The aran weight yarn is Drops Air and is beautifully soft and light. I absolutely love that deep green colour.

I also discovered a new self-striping yarn dyer and feel it's my duty to share with you! Andrea owns Spin & Blether and is so lovely; her yarn is gorgeous too and you can find it here! The colourway I bought is called Twelve Days and I think there might still be a skein or two left if you're interested. These will be my hospital knitting next week as I'm back for my next week of infusions. 

Talking of medical things, I had blood tests last week which left me with a cracking bruise, so I had a bit of fun with it on Instagram! I was also asked by NHS Blood Transfusion and Transplant if I would be willing to help them out by sharing my story to encourage more people to donate plasma. I benefit from this because my immunoglobulin infusions that I receive every four weeks are made from thousands of pooled plasma donations so other people's antibodies are given to me intravenously to boost my own immune system. It seemed like a no brainer to say yes considering that without these donations, I wouldn't get my infusions. Hopefully the more people that donate their plasma, the more will be available and the cheaper it will become.

Finally, another plea to consider voting for me along with your favourites in the British Knitting & Crochet Awards 2022. It's an honour to have made the final in the Favourite Charity Campaign with my Fibre 4 Fibres Fundraising for Myositis UK. I'm hoping to reach £30,000 in the next couple of weeks. You can vote wherever you live and you don't need to vote in every category. I'm in category 30 and would appreciate every single vote! You can find the voting form here. Thank you! xxx