I found these socks in the bottom of a project bag so I thought I could finish them. Artesano hummingbird dk cosy feet here I come.

My spiral socks: http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/elspeth81/106591082/DSC00635_medium.jpg #ravulous

Lost

Over in the United States people arr celebrating thanksgiving today and talking about what their grateful for.
I have friends that are Americans and I'm truly thankful for their friendship and how much support I receive via the web. However, today I inherited my mums prayer/healing shawl that her friend made during her battle with cancer. She's been up in heaven since 21st Feb 2011. Its lovely but upsetting at the same time you know.
I have been busy knitting a lot since my last post. Today though I completed an owl hat for some friends by request as they've discovered they're having a baby boy on 3rd April.
So I'm posting today from my android phone because my computer died.
Sorry if there are no photos. Ok so health update. I'm now on a reintroducing of foods plan for 12 weeks. No Christmas dinner this year for me. But my dad and his wife and a good friend are visiting Christmas day. Which will be lovely for all of us.
Today we have a storm that won't ease. Nothing as bad as Sandy, but furniture is being thrown about the garden and it's nearly impossible to move around outside.
We've nearly finished our Christmas shopping as I hate being rushed closer to the big day. Come Christmas day I'll be sat knitting myself a Christmas hat.
Other stuff. Please could folks knit a 12" square for hurricane sandy victims. They're bring made into blankets and given to the people who need them directly.
If you feel able to participate please send squares to: squares for comfort, p o box 909, Melville. Ny 11747. US. If you're on ravelry then knitting Brooklyn had a thread with more details. Just keep sending them in. So grateful.
Pictures I hope.

Snuggly

Hi all,
I'm just posting my latest little pattern called Snuggly.
It's a very simple cowl, knit in chunky yarn.

Snuggly

Yarn: 1x100g skein of La Boheme Starburst in Madrid 165 yds/ approx 150m
6mm x 40cm circular or long dpns,
1 Stitch marker,
Darning needle.

With 6mm 40cm circular needle or 6mm dpns cast on 90 stitches.
Join in the round being careful not to twist the stitches.
Place marker at beginning of the round.

Row 1: Purl
Rows 2-6: Knit,

Repeat rows 1 - 6 ten times in total.
Purl 1 row.
Cast off knit wise.
Sew in the ends with the darning needle.

I literally had 1.5m//2yds left of yarn.
I hope you enjoy the simplicity of this cowl as much as I do.
Happy knitting Folks
Elspeth x

Catch up with me.....10th November '12

Hi all,
I'm sat in my kitchen / (stolen zone for knitting) wearing my 50 Shades of Teal shawl I completed for the 2 Knit Lit Chicks KAL. Fun!! I love it, as does Brenda Castiel the designer.
Between the stars is a massive rant so skip if you like.

***********************
So, it's been very crazy for me over the last three weeks, in and out of hospital and various other things getting in lifes way. My hospital results were mostly good. I say mostly because other than a slow bowl and a partially collapsed left lung, they don't know what's wrong.
My consultant has asked me to do a 'final test'. A barium meal so they can watch how quickly my stomach empties. When I saw him last monday I was devastated. He couldn't give me any answers to why I'm this ill. He wants to admit me for tube feeding directly into my small intestine to bypass the stomach so it won't get rejected. Alongside that he wants me to have a fluid and nutrient IV. Then after a couple of weeks when i've gained weight he'll let me continue the tube feeds at home. On paper that's great and initially I gave in and agreed because my husband and dad were in the room with me. However, being 100% honest, I'd rather jump off a bridge. There's no way in hell am I comfortable with the idea. Several reasons, 1, I can feed myself because I'm not in a coma.....2, I don't trust what they'll be 'Fattening' me up with.......3, There's no guarantee it will work and not get rejected....4,If at any point I refuse treatment or ask to leave I'll get struck off the list and refused further help if I need it. ( I have that in writing) 5, Do my kids really want to see me like that??? 6, They don't know why it happened and what's to say as soon as the tubes get taken out I'm not better. The hope is that I'll gain enough weight so my system reboots. I asked if I would be well by Christmas and was told no. Nor could he give me an estimate of when if at all i would recover. They expect me to just let them feed me like a turkey and be happy losing my last piece of dignity in life. Um NO.....
I'm so miserable and fed up of being told what to do and nothing actually being done. The whole time I've been ill I haven't actually had any treatment apart from one vitamin drip and a litre of fluid back in february of this year. I'm so messed up in every  way you can imagine.
*******************************
I need more knitting hours even though I do nothing except knit these days.
So on to knitting...
Currently I'm working on:
*Hurricane sandy afghan square,
*Kims Noro Jumper,
*Golden Xale (shawl)
* A snowman
*Opal painting (shawl)
*Golden Happyness (shawl)
*Snuggles (cowl)
*Janes Love (shawl)
* Knitting Brooklyn holiday swap,
*Keiras Shrug,
*Kims Socks,
*Sweetdreams (shawl)
*Ruby Minimissi (cable coat)
*Preggers (lacey maternity top for a friend)
*Chinook (shawl)

There are more projects on the needles but those are my priority ones this month.

Finished:
Keiras Hat,

Pearly Penguin,

Mrs Christmas mouse,

50 Shades of Teal by Brenda Castiel,

Alexis the Fairy,

Pale Peacock. I'll add this photo next time.
I'll also have more photos of my wips. Especially the snuggly which i plan on finishing this weekend and Kims Noro Jumper which i want to try and get some reasonable amount knit on.

I have been reading a lot too, having read 'The Hunger Games Trilogy' since my last blog. Great books, I struggled to put them down, so it's a good thing I was reading them on my Kindle else no knitting would have gotten done ha ha.
I've also been reading lots of Debbie Macomber Books too. Yes simultaneously. They are: Angels at Christmas, Angels at the Table, The First Man You Meet, & A Merry Little Christmas.
I'm now reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. I'm about a tenth in and it's good so far. I'm also reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Both were recommended to me by 2 Knit Lit Chick Forum members and I'm not regretting buying either of them. Thanks Barb and KnitsnPurls.
I've also got more Audible books to talk about but that can wait until my next post.
I'll update you on my Christmas knitting and lots of other fun stuff happening at the moment too.
Take care for now everyone and keep knitting
Elly xxx

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.

My Cheery Robins Hat

Sunday 30th September 2012
Cheery Robins is a chemo hat I designed for Hats for Halos, which I heard about via Knitting Brooklyn podcast and Commuter Knitter podcast.
Please feel free to knit it too for children who are ill or just need cheering up with the Robins.

Cheery Robins

For ages 3 - 8 years approx,

Materials:
50g worsted / aran yarn in red (if you knit loosely you made need slighlty more, i used all but 2m)
20g worsted / aran yarn in white
4.5mm 16" / 40cm circular needle,
4.5mm double point needles,
tapestry needle,
stitch markers.

Instuctions

Cast on 88 stitches with Red and join in the round, check you don't twist stitches.
Work 6 rows in K2, P2 rib
(continue in stocking stitch)

Change to Cream yarn and work chart. 8 reps around,using Red for Robin shape.
Each repeat is 11sts wide x 9sts high
carry colour not in use loosely across back.

Once last row of chat has been worked, change back to Red yarn.
Work 23 rounds (15cm total length from cast on edge)

Decreases

*K9, K2tog, repeat from * to end
Knit a round
*K8, K2tog, repeat from * to end
Knit a round
*K7, K2tog, repeat from * to end
Knit a round
*K6, K2tog, repeat from * to end
Knit a round
*K5, K2tog, repeat from* to end
Knit a round
*K4, K2tog, repeat from* to end
Knit a round
*K3, K2tog, repeat from* to end
*K2, K2tog, repeat from* to end
*K1, K2tog, repeat from* to end
*K2tog, repeat from * to end

Cut long tail, Thread yarn through remaining stitches and fasten off securely.

Present to a child in need of affection. Enjoy