First published pattern for KAL Media

Very excited.

I love Let's Knit, as we all know. But it's nice to think that more than one editor likes my designs.

I've been rejected this morning by Inside Crochet for a second proposal (it happens, I may be able to improve it and suggest it elsewhere), but that doesn't mean that I wasn't really excited to see this - my first design for them.

Of course, since the preview's been up, I've been obsessively watching the comments on Ravelry, to see what folks think. Generally the response has been positive. Some ladies like it, but showed it to their men, who didn't. Some ladies wanted a female version (perhaps.....). One person didn't like it, thinking it was a bit 70s. Well, it is a tank top.

However, in the end, we can't pander to our audience. I liked the stitch pattern, and I feel that it's come out okay as a finished garment. Now I've just got to keep coming up with ideas that the editors like, too!

Far flung knitting

Great hilarity!

My mate Tracey in Oz has put some pictures onto Flickr. When she invited me to look at them, she noticed that I already have a flickr account. She went to have a look, and was a bit confused, as they all seemed to be pictures of yarn and knitting.

I explained about the ravelry thing, but I'm not sure that she's convinced that I don't have some weird fetish going on.

Impressed by my FOs, however, she asked for a couple of matching hats, for her three year old, and her new baby.

Happy to oblige, as always.

At last - the start of draft 2

Writing

That's it - I've crossed that bridge, I've made that step, I've started the second draft.

I've changed the line spacing to three, printed the first chapter and then I've gone back to the comments my by my writing group girls, marking all editing needed onto my new print. On the plus side, I've managed to put in a couple of jokes and funny lines, so maybe I'm the sort of writer who does her comedy on the re-writes.

I can only take small steps at a time, but as it's taken me this long to even put my shoes on, I'm feeling quite happy.

Knitting.

I've got so many things on the go - a draught excluder for Brenda, a pair of socks for me, and a bathmat, and I've also worked out how many stitches I will need for the back of a waistcoat. Just call me Mrs Productive!

Life

Feeling a bit out of control at the moment - so much to do, so little time. I'm spending an awful amount of time on ravelry, joining and reading forums (fora?) etc, instead of getting on with real life. Is this a natural hibernation type behaviour? Resting to prepare myself for the next onslaught?

Or am I just a lazy cow?

Cloche hat finished

Life

After yesterday's news, I've been feeling (understandably) quite flat. Dad and my aunt are doing the running around, all I'll be doing is putting a bit of music (O mio babbino caro and the Intermezzo from the Cavelleria Rusticana) onto a CD for the ceremony. The funeral is provisionally booked for 7th January, provided we can get all the paperwork sorted out. It's sad that 88 years of life have been reduced to sheets of paper and administration, but as Harry Hill used to say "you've got to have a system".

Knitting

The cloche hat is finished. According to the ravelry FAQs I can't put a new pattern on there, which is disappointing, so I'll put a link to here instead. It's in the patterns section.

Writing

Bugger all done.

Positive thoughts

Knitting.

I've finished the first half of Brenda's tea cosy, and my niece would now like some socks, so I'm going to be knitting like crazy until Christmas!

I've been invited to join ravelry, which is very exciting. My ravelry name is LahLah.

Writing

The pace has picked up - I'm half way through chapter 20, the climactic chapter of the novel, and I'm having a whale of a time working on it.

Life
Yesterday was much better than I thought it would be. We went to the crematorium, and looked at Mum's entry in the book of remembrance. Then we all went for a huge lunch (ate far too much), and laughed all of the way through it. Mum liked us all together and laughing, so we all felt it was more respectful to her memory than wailing and gnashing teeth.

When I got home, I got an email which may lead me into a new job. I will tell more, when things are progressing.

Lazy sunday afternoon

Knitting

Having now completed Brenda's cardigan, I'm working on her tea cosy. She's decided she wants an old fashioned one in yellow and grey squares. I'd got too shades of yellow at my last trip to a yarn shop, but no worries.

I've been rummaging through my grandmother's old patterns, and found just the thing, but I've had to make it a little bigger, to suit her pot.

I've never made one of these before, and it goes against the grain, as the pleats are formed by dragging the yarn across the back -i.e by doing it wrong!

I'm also going to start to put together all the "stash using up" squares into a blanket. That will be a mission, but I'm in no hurry.

I'm now on ravelry, which is rather exciting, so I must get all my works onto there.

Writing
I completed an assignment for the Writers' Bureau course this morning (I've had it for ages, and have been too busy writing to do any of it!

My guilt is assuaged.

Life.
Tomorrow is the 1st anniversary of my mother's death. Nuff said.