Phantom smells!

Something is firing the wrong synapses in my brain. I keep smelling perfume and it doesn't smell like the one I sprayed on. What's worst, it's making me feel quite sick. Maybe I've stretched my tolerance to my favourite perfume (Diorissimo) to the limits.

Now that I've bored you with the trivialities of my life, on to the knitting news. Lyn and I have discovered another knitter in our neighbourhood. She doesn't have a blog but she introduced us to another knitting shop just opened in a shopping mall near my house. It's a tiny place called Knit Knit Lane filled with mostly Katia yarn, some Online and a smattering of Japanese yarns as well. Interesting place, but I have to think hard about what I really want to get. Something new for me huh! I did get a couple of Addi Turbos at a good price, one for me and one to send to my Secret Pal.

Meanwhile I've been revisiting old projects.

My languishing Corset





I am using GarnStudio Cotton Viscose which has been my stash for the longest time. It looks a little small but I am hoping it will stretch a little after blocking. There's a seriously wonky line where you can see I have left it on the needles for some time. Why does yarn do that I wonder?

The yarn gleams but is very slippery and stitch definition is not the best. I hope blocking will repair the wonky stitches and the uneven rib. I'm just about halfway through the bust decrease so am about a third of the way through.

I just realise after working on this project, that I really do not like mercerised cotton. Give me a loftier yarn with a bit of "sproing" next time. Like ASC.

Which brings me to Samus -




The photo was taken last week and I have finished 3 repeats so far during my lunchtime. I could do one repeat a day but I was much distracted by Civilisation 4. When you're really sick of the politics and back biting at work, spending a bit of time at lunch playing at being God helps one's sanity.

Anyway I do love the Saxon braid although I have made a couple of mistakes - can you spot them?

Mimi tagged for a meme but I haven't gotten round to taking pictures yet. It's hard to get natural daylight. In the morning I have a habit of rushing and it's dark by the time I get home. I really will get cracking in the next few days.

Hell hath no fury ...

All hell has broken loose in the office. I have two events to organise in a space of one week apart and down to 2 support staff with one new one coming in on Monday to train. If that's not enough, the management keeps changing their mind on the minor details.

I actually have a paper bag on my desk in case I have a panic attack.

Thank God I started belly dancing classes last Saturday. And what an ...umm.. interesting class it was. Fist of all it seems completely illogical how a seemingly repressive culture like Islam is perceived to be now can produce such seductive dancing. Obviously there's a whole lot more going on under the surface. The whole point of belly dancing to most my fellow class mates is to love your own body, to show off all its curves and to enjoy the expression of your sexiness.

I got in a little late during the warm up session which is pretty basic, then the teacher reached into her bag and pulled out her beautiful swishy clinky belly dancing belt. And those little silver clappers . And proceed to take us through a simple routine of hip rolls. I have to say it is a dance form that loves curves and many of the skinny girls in the room did fare so well against us more substantial women. Hooray for belly dancing! Must get me one of those belts. Wonder if I can knit one?

I also did a bit of retail therapy and got a couple of the latest Japanese knitting magazines.

PS please forgive the quality of the photoes.

Take a look at some of the offerings. I find japanese patterns, albeit a little diffidcult to decipher, are extermely feminine and full of little unusual details. Having said that it seems I can complete a project to save my life.

I have been looking for something like this every since I saw Penryn from the Jaeger Natural Fleece book. Of course the Jaeger one is too thick (I mean Fleece in 35 degrees??) but this one has a similar design in aran weight. The construction is different though. One has to knit the band separately and then twist is while sewing on to the front.

Don't be deceived. That isn't rib but a lace pattern. But don't you think the ribbed cap sleeves are so cute?

Perfect for my 5 balls of RYC cashsoft I bought from Vanessa.

I'm not sure about the collar but the lace is absolutely Fab.

Last but not least, here's my current stash obsession.



Pistachio Cotton Ease I swapped for on the Knitty board.

Shaking my legs

I'm in a rut again. I have so many projects I'd like to start but really want to finish the ones I have on the needles. But procrastination is my middle name. My sister's Plaza cardigan still languishes with only one left front to do and a shawl collar.

I have however chosen to start one lunchtime project - Samus. I'd like to incorporate some waist shaping to it but since there are no side seams to this knit, it's going to take some doing.

I know Lyn and Vanessa will be annoyed because they want so much to see the KH Glimmer turns out.

But I really want to lose weight before I start on Glimmer - it's such a beautiful knit, I want to look my best in it. So with that in mind, I've joined a gym and am starting yoga and bellydancing this week.

Seems like a lot of work for one knit eh? Hey I'm not complaining - I need all the motivation I can get. My DH says I'd rather lose weight for a knit project than for him. Well Honey, it's about time you knew where my priorities lie.

I just need to show you what I've been spinning -



Hand-dyed Romney from Kendig Cottage

Althought I am pretty please with the colours, I'm not enjoying the roving. It's so different from the merino silk or the corriedale being more of a rough crimpy type wool. I'm planning this to be my first felted bag project since I don't think I'd be able to wear it next to my skin.

P.S. To my Secret Pal - Thanks for the advice on the Screamypants problem. And no problem with a big package, I know how it is.

What a week!!

I had so many things planned for the last week. Because of the Muslim holiday of Aidil Fitri (or Eidh) and the Hindu festival of lights Deepavali, I basically had the Tuesday, Thursday and Friday off. Oh the joys of living in a multi cultural and multi religious country.

BUT (and there's always a "but", isn't there)My in laws - who were visiting the weekend before, both went down with food poisoning on Tuesday and was virtual immobile for at least 5 days. They've only just started walking around the house yesterday. Needless to say DH and I were doing most of the nursing. Plus my little boy has just learnt the art of throwing a tantrum.

He screamed when he didn't want to get in his carseat and then he screamed when he didn't want to get out. while taking a bath, he screamed because I turned on the tap and then he screamed when I turned it off. The next day he screamed because he wanted to have a bath in the upstairs bathroom, and another day, he wanted a bath in the downstairs bathroom. He screamed when I took off his clothes and then he screamed when I put them on. Once he screamed into my ear and they ran for hours.

I swear I don't know how I'll get through this tantrum stage.

So no knitting, no spinning no nothing whatsoever was done in the last week, I just had enough brain power to stare uncomprehendingly at the idiot box before collapsing on the bed at night.

And I really had such big plans for finishing Plaza, finishing Madli and starting Glimmer.