There and back

I love knitting cowls, but these many in the months of May and June have been a tad boring! Six of these are, as we Chinese put it, 'greeting gifts' for friends and family during our recent visit to Australia and from the feedback more are in the pipeline. :) It's so easy to keep our loved ones warm ya?
Details of patterns are in http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallytsb

..now my spinning progress since Roberta's acquisition in April.....

There's not a stitch knitted with my handspun yet so I've no clue how they'd turn out. As with all precious handspun, there's never a 'perfect' pattern for it I guess!

Meet Roberta

Friday, 10th April - meet Roberta which DH took about 30mins to figure out and assemble. Right after Good Friday service, the spinning madness began.....

I had pre-ordered and drafted one of several rovings from ewegivemetheknits and watched letsknit2gether's video podcast before taking the plunge. Still, the initial couple of hours were very very frustrating but I was determined to plod on...ta da!!!!

Here it is! my very first handspun!!!! It's uneven and probably won't ever be knitted into anything but it is my first masterpiece.. 36 yards in 2 ply.

Roving: Mulled wine merino top (100 gms)

Just hot off the bobbin, much much improved and planning to ply with black later.

Roving: Double mocha merino top (100 gm)

and so...some ME time...

It's been a while since I felt like blogging or found the energy to catch up with knitting chatter over the forums. I've missed you all!

Work has been physically and mentally draining and things will get worst from this week till end March. However, I will count my blessings in these trying economic times.

I have cheekily mentioned on several occasions I'd bring my knitting to the day-long project presentations where I sit patiently through, at the back. Now, imagine the amount of knitting that gets done while I try to keep pace after lunch??????

Easy WIPs like JS' blankie is a welcome de-stressing knit in the evenings and there's good progress on that front at least!


Finally, some ME knits ... The Bramble stitch collar cardi is planned for completion in June and I've cast on Sivia Harding's Gothic Leaf Stole with a stashed navy Colourmart cashmere.

Now to kick away the 2nd sock syndrome, there's just the leg of Wendy Johnson's Double eyelet rib sock to finish! Maybe I'll join you girls at the KL Sock KAL then ya?

The last batch of FOs for JS and Jessica.

I have been busy

Dottie is 'sleep guarding' the handpainted Beech wood cowls for YL , her friends Sarah and Charlie leaving for Melbourne and a niece in the UK.

Handpainted Knitpicks wool- Bare sock yarn with Wiltons cake dyes

Thank you Mona for this contribution!

Columbia Berets (without Ties) for YL and CChoo. (hats modeled on lampshade if you're wondering if they're looking a wee bit odd !)

Lily and Flu therapy

Lily (Twist Collective Fall 08) is knitted with Jaeger Roma which didn't turn out as expected - amplifying spares around my middle. Luckily, blocking and stretching gave another 4" ease which was exactly what I needed!!!

I arrived back from my trip feeling miserable, aching all over and spent the next 2 days pumped with flu medication. DH said it must be bad when not a stitch is knitted while the entire yarn loot sits in the bedroom untouched!!! Here's what I've been up to all of yesterday for recovery therapy.

Four skeins of Knitpicks Bare sock yarn became these lovely babies waiting to grow up into 4 Beech Wood Cowls for YL and her friends. She wants more handbag friendly Cowls.

My backyard workshop equipped with an old microwave oven dedicated for cooking yarn ;)

Guess who sits patiently in her 1st flr Condo, under the work top, keeping me company? Dottie, our 7 yr old Basset and Golden Retriever mix.

This turned out 'too green' and was later repainted with red tones.

Got this one right first time.

Hanging out to dry...

Stash enhancements

The pictures tell all.....

Finally after 2 evenings of relentless search and asking around in Shenzhen...

Basement wholesaler of mongolian cashmere, merino and cottons in Dongmen.

I found another wholesaler (forgot to snap a pic) nearby next day, the manager insists he's the supplier of the above. I got cheaper yarns from him too!

Before the boxes are thrown away.

Taking stock - 11 lots ; 7.2 kg in total.

Another picture I had meant to show - the roadside yarn stall in Ho Chi Minh where I bought the cheapie 4 ply cottons.

Winter wear

Latest FOs for YL in cold, cold Wales. Details of each project is in Ravelry (username - sallytsb).

Beech Wood Cowl free pattern by Ilga

Yarn: Knittery Cashmere Merino sock yarn



Wicked by Sarah & Rachel of ZephyrStyle

Yarn: Jaeger Extra Fine Merino Aran in Jet



Cable jumper inspired by Ann Budd's 'The knitter's handy book of sweater patterns"

Yarn: Jaeger Extra Fine Merino Chunky in Mink

Almost half way

Blankie is out of the huge box it's been hibernating in for the past 2-3 months. I have been furiously at it over the long weekend and it's now about half way...hmmm maybe I might just make it for Christmas?

It's been some time now..

I am still finding it difficult to update this blog and the longer the lapse, the urgency wanes. Is this why most bloggers announce a hiatus? I've been contemplating shutting down this blog and just updating projects on Ravelry. The reason I am reluctant is mainly technical - this blog, I 'own' but on Ravelry I'm just a 'user', this, friends is the IT techie in me talking whilst the knitter in me loves the ease of use and huge potential of what Ravelry has to offer, at the same time allowing me to be 'wordless' if I so choose.
And so...I will continue to blog, albeit not so regularly and dating FO details into Ravelry until I find my blogging mojo again!
I have been busy knitting winter wear for YL who is now reading 1st year law in the UK. Here's a peek at the FOs I haven't blogged about.
Details of yarn and patterns used are posted on Ravelry!

Bought this jacket pattern and yarn in an Aberystwyth LYS, knitting done in less than a week!


This Beret I knitted in an evening from the Rowan Cocoon Collection.
The lime green jumper and pink jacket are both knitted with Sirdar Softie, an acrylic and wool mix. The seaming was a nightmare since I hated thick edgings, moreover the stitches made with 10mm and 12mm needles amplified imperfections too much.
I hope the Rowan Big Wool bought for Kim Hargreaves' - Temptation jacket ( Thrown Together mag) will turn out better.



I regret changing my mind about going to Colinette Mills in Llanfair, Wales as planned. I was less than 2 hours drive away but decided not to after falling in love with the LYS (take a look at Cynthia's new online store, she'll charge actual postage only ) just a few minutes away from my hotel! It has the latest patterns, mags, every Rowan, Sublime and Sirdar yarn one can imagine with a selection of Regia and Manos at the side. Moreover, the mill is open for business half day on Fridays and it'd mean a mad rush in addition to paying for car rental, the cost of which I eventually used for Kid Silk classic!