Good & Bad 18/10/12

Hi folks,
It has definitely been a time of knitting hats..
Ok so a lot has been happening and yet at the same time nothing has changed. I've got a lot of knitting done and have cast on a few more Christmas projects too. My Ravelry project age makes me look like I have a really bad case of startitus. I promise if it's in progress I am actually knitting it in rotation with everything else.
I've finished another chemo cap,

 this time I aimed at toddler or young child. It's made with organic cotton just in case and I put ballerinas on it. I'll post the pattern on here over the weekend.

I also finished Daves latest hat.

Very warm, I used Katia Azteca in the blue brown colourway. I can't remember it having a colour name. He loves it anyway, so that's four since may. I already have his next one planned using Stylecraft chunky in gray so he can wear it to the garden and it can just get thrown in the wash with whatever else he's gotten muddy or dirty.

I finished my middle daughter Keiras silk merino lacey hat.

 The yarn is just beautiful. There's so much left I can make myself something small with it too. I adjusted the pattern because she has a small head and I wanted her to enjoy wearing it without thinking it was going to slip off. I doubled up on the decreases and cut out a few of the plain rows. Ironically my youngest daughter Niamh is modelling it and she has a larger head than Keira. She promised not to tell Keira though and after a week she hasn't said a peep.

My two knit lit chicks shawl kal 50 Shades of Teal, is now just over halfway. I'm a few rows into the tulip section and I'm really enjoying how it looks, however it isn't going to be as big as I thought. Still beautiful though.
I currently have another three shawls on the needles too. There is Chinook, which I'm making in a silvery viscose cotton blend, very pretty. Look a bit like ladies chainmail in a good way. Sweet Dreams which I'm making using  some Old Piggery yarn, cashmere merino blend in a semi solid or slightly varieagated green mix. & Leftie, which is actually a Christmas present for my friend. I'm using scarlet 3 ply 100% cashmere with 2 ply lace weight 100% merino and I've been adding beads onto the leaves to make it extra special. I'll post pictures when they're complete.

Excited because i managed to purchase a Jade Starmore book. A Collector's Item. I fell in love with some of the designs on Ravelry that other people have made from the book so I took the plunge. I managed to track down a copy and after paying a rather largish sum for it, it is on it's way to me. The second book I'm mega excited about getting it Inspired Fair Isle by Fiona Ellis. She just has such a talent that I struggle not to cast on the majority. Obviously I don't need a yoga mat cover because although I have a yoga mat, I got it purely for stretching when i was pregnant and haven't used it since. I currently have thre of her designs on the needle though. I plan on doing more on that another time though.
I have many many projects on the go, far too many for today, I'll just fill you in as I complete stuff, how about that? Or would you like progress photos?

The bad news is my health has deteriorated again, I'm basically on a diet of tea and crumpets. I only managed three crumpets today and five half teas. I get my energy powder from my gp in the morning to add the calories. I just have to keep going. It's so hard though. I'm either starving or so sick I can't even sip water. There's no in between. My medication is not really working anymor eand the side effects are starting to build up. My Oedema in my legs and feet is getting worse and I had an ulcer which needed anti-biotics. The mass in my abdomen is now making me look about 15 weeks pregnant, mostly on the right side, but it's putting a lot of pressure on all my organs. I have my neck through pelvis CT being done on 31st October. We're expecting bad news but trying not to think about it too much. Especially with three young children. So next full blog I should have news. Wish me luck.
Two bits of good news to end on. First, most of my chillblaines on my fingers have gone so flexibilty in my fingers is improving again. Secondly, Keira was able to go and watch Swan Lake at the weekend. Birmingham Royal Ballet. She is now more determined that ever to go pro at ballet. Go Keira xxxx
Bye for now  Elspeth x

Material Girl.....

Hi all, It's Friday 5th October 2012.

This last week has been delighful and dreadful on equal measures.
Dreadful because my various ailments are becoming very severe again and I'm starting to wonder how much longer before i'm admitted back into hospital. I'm still waiting for a full CT. Just the idea fills me with dread because all they can do is keep checking my obs. I can't eat in hospital as I have too many allergies for them to cope with. ( seriously who gives someone allergic to dairy a yoghurt?)

Delighful came through the post in many deliveries.

My Desert Vista Dyeworks Yarn arrived for the 2 Knit Lit Chicks Gradiant shawl KAL. The pattern is called 50 Shades of Teal, by Brenda Castiel, I'm taking part in. So I started that yesterday.

My Kindle touch arrived too, very nice it is indeed, I'll never stop buying books but it's nice to be able to read while I knit, it also plays my audible books too which is great.

Also a book i've been waiting to buy for a while came into stock, 'Knits from a Painter's Palette'.
It has some of the most beautiful coloured Koigu Yarn. There is one particular coat but it calls for 41 Skeins and at approximately £10 a skein that means saving and buying a couple at a time.

Lastly my fivemoons yarn was delivered, 6 skeins too. My absolute favourite is this one.. Camel and silk.

I realised I've knit four shawls this year,without it actually registering and only one of them was for me, so I plan on making lots more. My husband thinks their beautiful too and so i'll be knitting them to be both worn and for a while displayed pinned to the walls around our home as pieces of art. Amazing hey, surrounded by beauty i'll have knitted.

So knitting I'm doing at the moment. I'm still working on Keiras Pink hat for Christmas, I'm on my second chemo cap, this one i've designed with ballerinas on though as i'm sure there's a ballet loving little girl who needs cheering up. Daves hat kind of got put down part way through the decreases. I will pick it up again in a few days. Kims Elwing jumper is now about 50 rows in, for her Birthday, (6 days before Christmas)
I did finish Niamhs socks see.

For myself I'm doing the shawl kal, another shawl called Chinook, some Endpaper mitts (fingerless gloves) and a hat i've designed to match in Norweigan Blue by fivemoons and a lovely Juno Buffy yarn in a sort of silver grey. All beautiful projects. All the projsects I have named can be found on www.ravelry.com
I actually organised my fivemoons stash before i bought some more and nominated it all to a future project, very pleased with myself too.

I have to share a very cute moment from tuesday with you all. My little owl mp3 speaker got delivered, and I plugged it in to make sure it wasn't damaged in transit and starting listening to a podcast. Well my youngest daughter Niamh, being three, came outside to see it and I asked if she liked it. She said " Yes mummy, your talker is cute." Bless her.
Next week I'll post one of the mermaid patterns i've been working on.x
Take care everyone and keep knitting, Elspeth.