28thirty...finished

By some miracle of modern science, the camera now works and I can show you what I finished at the weekend!







Ta da!!!!!!


No pictures of me wearing it yet, come on, let's not get too carried away! There's no telling when the camera will pack up again, so I did quick photos while the going was good!!

I made a few modifications.

1. I knitted the S size, but just before you cast off the sleeves, I left a few more on for the body than the pattern said. 260 instead of 244. This meant the sleeves were 55 sts each and the body was 150 not 142.

2. I knitted the body 4" long, not 3.5"

3. I wanted the sleeves billowy, so on ridge 14 (from the shoulder, not the neck), I increased 2 in the round (I knitted magic loop method on 2 circs) by K1P1 into 1 st twice after each ridge row (so it wasn't so obvious) until there were 71 sts. Then I did the K2P2 rows 4 times so the ends of the sleeves weren't so cuff like.

I used Cascade 220 in the Heathers with 5mm circs.

I'll try and get some of it in action tomorrow. In the meantime, the race is on for me to finish Portia before I go on holiday on Friday!

The 70s Ardvark

28thirty is really coming along now. As you can probably tell from the photo, I made a lot of modifications. The sleeve is the main one, as I wanted it to be flared as I thought it would suit the style and the stitch well, and I am really pleased with how it's turned out. It looks a bit 70s inspired, don't you think? I am 3/4 of the way down the second sleeve and have got the buttons to sew on. Hopefully some FO pics to follow soon.

Tonight is my Race For Life . I am feeling nervous, but know I'll be glad to have run it when it's over. We're thinking about doing the 10k one in the Autumn (gulp!) We are having a picnic afterwards as there is a crowd of us and we all have something to bring. My thing is pizza. I have eaten what won't fit in the box and am now regretting it. Let's hope I don't see it again later......if you know what I mean!!!

Wish me luck!!!! I think I'll need it!

28Thirty aka The Ardvark Jacket

I like knitting this, it's a good tv knit. Pretty straightforward and not much concentration required. Apart from the fact that I seem to have ended up with more stitches that required when I lost the sleeves. Oh well, I don't think it'll matter much. I have also decided that the sleeves would look better to be flared at the ends and so will increase as I go down them. I love the ridging, I feel it makes it look kind of ardvarky!



Other news...we are going away soon, so have employed a company to come and feed the cats. Basil is so old now (19) and on such a lot of medication that he needs to be in his own surroundings as he does get confused and I need to know he will be given the medication properly. Kate, the lady who will be doing the job came to meet us and basil yesterday. She is lovely, and has said she will massage his feet every day, because he likes that! She will also water the plants that don't get watered by the irrigation system and tend to the tomatoes, aubergines and french beans I am growing. I feel a whole lot better about going now! Plus, she used to be a psychiatric nurse, so she will fit in down this road very well!!!!!



Lily found out today that she has been accepted onto the American Exchange with her school. They are only taking 25 students and there were about 60 applications, so she is really pleased!!! Emily, who she has been paired with, will come here to stay with us for 2 weeks in November, and Lily will go there for 2 weeks in April next year. I'm sure there will be a lot of emailing going on in the meantime! The school they exchange with is in New Jersey. I am busy writing a list of various yarns and needles that she can bring back with her. Nothing like being organised!

I have been asked if I would be interested in training as a Weight Watchers leader. My leader, Jo, thought I would be good and asked her training coordinater to come to the meeting the other week and see what she thought. I have had a chat with her and Jo and am attending an information evening at the end of the month before I make a decision. I would love to do it, and I am very flattered, but not sure if I have the confidence to stand up in front of a lot of strangers. And what if my group put on every week and were rubbish at losing weight? Not sure I am ready for the responsibility!!!!!

We are hooked on Big Brother already here. Rob is pretending he's not, but I can see him watching! What I want to know is this. Where do they find such a bunch of wierdos from??? Mario has to go this week. He's just scary. Especially with Lisa's lipstick on. It was scary enough on her.

Knitting in the Sun and other weekend delights

This is my 28Thirty. Coming along now, I have got to the top of the sleeves and about to separate and do the body. It's a quick knit, which I like and I love knitting with Cascade 220. I have been enjoying the sun today and sitting on the patio getting on with it! Rob's been at work today and Lily is recovering from a big night last night, so me and my dog have been chilling!

Lily's big night last night......she, Rob and her friend Charlotte went down to Wembley to see Foo Fighters with this....

and they really think it!! We all helped in the making of it, and then they carried it, and the extremely long bamboo canes it was on all the way, only to be told when they got there that they couldn't take the canes in. So they had to hold it up instead and hope Dave noticed it. They did get their photo taken with it by Radio 1, though, as Zane Lowe was outside!

So exciting, though, was that 2 members of Led Zeppelin made a guest appearance, and so Rob was really chuffed as he blares them out of his car the whole time!!!!

I took Flossie on a long walk, as I am wearing a pedometer at the moment and I can earn extra points from it...which came in very handy as I needed them for popcorn as I went to see Sex and the City last night. It was sooo good. I was never a great fan of the series, but the film was really good!

Drops Cable Bag is finished, just waiting to be sewn up and lined, which I shall do this week. I am planning to reassess my New Year's Resolutions soon too, as we are reaching the halfway point in the year. I can't believe it!!!!!

Race for Life

Did you notice the sponsor me button on the right? The terrible trio are running the race for life on 25th June. Hopefully it won't be quite as wet and cold as the run we did in January. My trainers have only just dried out!

Feel free to mosey on over to the site and sponsor me, it all helps in the fight against breast cancer. But please don't feel obliged.

On the knitting front, I have ad a small disaster with the cable bag. I ordered 7 balls for it in February, and only 5 came. I called them, but forgot that I never did receive them....until I finished the 5 balls last night and was looking for more, and it dawned on me. I rang them at Drops this morning and they were really helpful. BUT they only have 1 ball in the dyelot left and the colour difference is dramatic. Brian said he will send me 2 and hopefully I can finish the bag with the matching 1 and do the handle with the different 1. We shall see.

Today I am planning to put a load of clothes on ebay and cast on for 28thirty in the cascade 220 I have a lot of! Purple, I think.