Miss Elle's Crafting! - November Knit-a-long & my birthday!

 

Pattern: Waving Not Drowning by Violet Green (http://violetgreen.co.uk/wavingnotdrowningsocks.php)

Yarn: Cinders Knits. Amazing yarn. (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5037783&order=&section_id=&page=1)

I loved this pattern, it was easy to memorise, and works so well with variegated yarns. I was worried that this yarn was too "busy" for the pattern, but I really like it. And its the first pair of socks I've made for me! Now I need to finish my Monkey (http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTmonkey.html) socks and then I'll be a happy girl!

I went to IKnit London for my birthday:



Heres me choosing Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn in colourway Green Mountain. Since OH was taking me to see Wicked! I thought it was only suiting I bought a "Wicked!" themed sock yarn to make myself some socks with :D

IKnit London... well, I wasn't very impressed. Its smaller than you think. Like, really small. The needle display was empty, and I heard the guy saying that he hadn't got round to ordering anymore yet. You see, to me, thats really poor stock management. Having worked in retail for the past 7 years and with a degree in Retail Management... I would make sure I had buffer stock. For example, if I had to order 10 pairs of needles from the supplier, then when I got down to 5 pairs left, I would order some more. Just in case. Possibly more in the most popular sizes (there were no 4mm needles. None. Not one). So yeah. Not impressed.

I was impressed with Wicked! though. Amazing, I loved it, and we had the best seats:

Yes, that is the stage. And it was taken from out seats. We did not move to take this picture!

On Tuesday Emily and I took our first trip to Get Knitted! Oh. My God. Now that is a yarn store! Its easily 4 times as big as IKnit, and the staff were much friendlier (tea and coffee, help yourself, sofas if you want to sit!). We spent an hour and a half in there, and I was very controlled in my buying. I bought Harry Potter sock yarn in the Hedwig colourway, and Trekking XXL in a black/grey stripey colourway. I also got myself KnitPicks DPNs, and wow, they are sooo good to knit with. I do feel like I'm going to break them, but they come in a pack of 6, and since I only use 4 to make socks, if I do break one, I've got spares :D I got Clover bamboo DPNs too, and they are gorgeous also. We also went to Ikea, where I bought a lamp so we can turn the lights down in the living room and I can still see my knitting/stitching. I love it! And then... we made a day of it I tell ya, we went to Hobbycraft! Not as good as Get Knitted, but I did buy some acrylic yarn to make my friend's baby something for when he turns a year old in February.

Phew. And... and get this... I've finished knitting my Christmas presents! I've still got my cross stitch ones, but yeah... the knitted ones are done! I have cast on a couple of bonus things, I can't just cross stitch. I'll be glad when the Christmas stuff is done though, so I can get back to my lace. I really want to finish that!

xxx Elle xxx