socherryknits

Today I'm going to rave about N.E.E.T. Magazine This is an utterly fabulous online magazine that brings to the attention of its readers the best of the best from the smaller creative sellers out there. It's like Etsy all polished up pretty and put in a magazine. My words can't do this magazine justice - check it out yourself! Quote from 'About' page: "N.E.E.T. Magazine is the brainchild of Stephanie J, who is based in the UK. Everything in the magazine is handpicked, designed and organised by her, the editor.N.E.E.T. began in December 2005 as a quarterly, online publication, laid out in a magazine format - as a showcase for grassroots creativity." It takes a while to download so I wouldn't download from a dial-up connection but I promise that it is worth the wait. Don't lose interest and move on because you'll regret it!

My latest cupcakes from Cupcakes Galore! Tarte Tatin Apple cupcakes - with caramalised apples and delicious vanilla glazing [which maybe should have been clear from the photo, but turned out a kinda pastel coffee colour ...] This was a much more adventurous cupcake for me - not just mixing stuff and throwing in the oven - there were glazes to make and apples to caramalise. My tips; 1. Make about a third of the glaze from the recipe - I threw loads away. 2. Only fill the muffin cases about 1/2 full to make room for the apples - the cupcakes rose muffin-stylee over the top of the cases, and it was quite hard to balance the apples on! 3. Slice the apples thin so they can 'drape' over the cupcake. 4. Where it says lay the apple slices out on the surface of a large pan and maybe do them in 2 batches - do this! Don't just throw them into a large vat of fizzing melting butter and hope it'll be OK - they more stew than turn a golden brown... [lesson learned!] Why is it that my...

SoCherry stitch markers - currently sold but more are in production. Convo me if you'd like a set - available in small (upto 3.75mm needles), medum (upto 5mm needles) and large (upto 8mm needles) US$10.85 / £5.95 Set of 4 green leaf stitch markers with gold chain - upto 8mm needles - buy here US$10.50 / £5.60 Set of 5 dice stitch markers -don't gamble with your stitches! Upto 3.75mm needles. Buy here US$10.50 / £5.60 Set of 6 owl stitch markers for upto 5mm needles - a total hoot! Buy here US$15.00 / £8.00 I thought I'd show some of the handmade stitch markers I have designed. As an avid [utterly addicted!] knitter I have made these ensuring there are no 'snaggy' bits to catch on pretty yarn. Each set also has a marker that is slightly different from the rest to highlight the start of the row, whilst the others can be used as a guide to pattern repeats. I started designing the sock size stitch markers initially as I can never find any small enough for these proje...

Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka - currently sold but may be available via Alchemy from Amy's Babies Etsy shop Army turtle - currently available via Amy's Babies Etsy shop - $15.00 Amy's Babies is one of my fav sellers - I just love these little crochet Amigurumi animals - she takes custom orders too - so if you have an animal or character you love I would contact her - she's so friendly and I'm sure will give it a go! Amigurumi is a Japanese art - "Amu" means to knit & "Nuigurumi" means doll - although it's crochet-only. These little crochet dolls are usually animals only. I can't wait to learn - I think this could be an inspiring hobby! I'm still thinking of what I would like - although I simply LOVE the Johnny Deep "Willy Wonka" character above so I may request an Alchemy from her for this one. She has inspired me to take up crochet - which I haven't yet started [as there aren't enough crafty days in the week!...

This is me! In Barcelona a couple of weeks ago. About me: I live in Glasgow in Scotland with my partner 'the boy' and my cat (who is never allowed in my room o'crafting!) I turned 29 on the 06/06/06 *gulp* I graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1999 with a degree in Graphic Design. I am a library assistant for a university library by day. I am addicted to crafting & have an entire room dedicated to my addiction. I sell my crafty wares on Etsy and at craft stalls in Glasgow. My next stall will be on the 15th July at Hillhead Library Byres Road Glasgow.

Choccy-brown iPod cover with pink felt bounding rabbit. Buy here for US$12.35 / £6.95 Choccy brown retro iPod Nano cover with orange apple. Buy here US$8.75 / £4.95 Nautical but nice iPod Nano cosy with red anchor. Buy here US$8.75 / £4.95 Smiley sunshine iPod mini cover. Buy here US$10.95 / £5.95 These are a few of the covers I have designed and made for iPods. There are currently lots more in my Etsy store , and even more 'in production' I can make them to fit most mp3 players, phones etc - just email me so if you see one you like but you have a different iPod/mp3, phone, or anything else you fancy just let me know! I did a lot of research into the best design and found that the 'sock' was much better for ease of use whilst on the move. 100% cotton was the best yarn to knit with as it doesn't stretch or lose it's shape. This means that your cover will stay snug-fitting all the time. Another reason I decided to go with 100% cotton is that this will not scr...

Phew! After leaving it far too late I have just managed to find a double room in Keswick for me and the boy for Woolfest . It was such a struggle that I'm beginning to worry that I won't be able to squeeze into Woolfest itself for the sheer volume of people! Got some more dpns for the Jaywalker [still plural at this stage] and have started knitting it again, although I have moved onto working with 6 dpns as I find it easier. I have been listening to more podcasts - I have found It's a Purl, Man to be a hoot - a blog "about a guy in Boston with yarn issues". And also Knitcast is terrific. I have only listened to one episode of each, but am definately subscribing to both. I have another 8 or 9 more episodes from other knitting podcasts to listen to and then I can create a 'Most listened' list in the sidebar. You may notice that [or maybe not - probably not that interesting really!] that despite announcing in my last post that I was off to update my works...

A FO!! I finally got around to adding the i-cord vest straps to this - it didn't even take me that long since I have the magic i-cord maker. I have no idea why I proscrastinated for so long. It was made from a free Jo Sharp pattern booklet brought back from Melbourne by a friend. [Although it mentions that the pattern is also available in "Contemporary Knitting 2"] The yarn was Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair [3 x 25g balls] If I made it again I would def. knit it in the round - mohair and seaming are a bitch - although sewing the straps on was made easier by the fact that my messy technique was hidden in all the fuzz. I've had a productive day - also finishing Bella, the baby blanket and my grey/orange diagonal striped scarf. My weaving in needle has gone walkabouts though and so I am denied the opportunity of completing these. But as soon as I do I'll blog it. I'm off to update the list of works "in the queue" for my sidebar - since I just noticed...

Whilst being dragged around a nerdy comic shop in Barcelona by the boy I found this on a very short piece of cord. I added a couple of jump rings and a chain to turn it into a necklace. I'm not sure whether it's a collectable thing, or a swap thing but I immediately thought it would be cool as a necklace.

My Secret Pal gift! - So cool! Thank you so much - I love these cakes - they are really different. I immediately went to buy ingredients for one of the recipies. How it should be... My attempts ... Nigela Lawson I ain't but these taste delicious! The recipie states to take them out, add marshmallows and place under the grill for a few seconds to toast the marshmallows. My tip would be: If you have a combi oven don't put the marshmallows on whilst waiting for the oven grill to heat up. The heat of the cakes caused slippy marshmallows leaving trails as they made bids down the edge of the cakes - By the time I toasted them, they were marshmallow puddles. Thanks again my secret pal - I had great fun with these, and will post photos of the other recipies I try. It was not really a very good crafty day yesterday - I started off by trying to make a sock bag for my secret pal - and promptly burnt myself on the hot steam from the iron. I thought it was OK, but it was a pain that just ...

Yesterday I didn't get any knitting done - not a stitch! Instead we went into town to get postal Pat things sent. Amongst my packages were these two hats - donated to the Dulaan Project . A project to help bring warmth to the people of Mongolia who endure extreme temperatures during the winter of between freezing during the day to -40 oF during the night. To be warm enough means to get to work and to school. And so - via Brenda Dayne [whose's podacst Cast-On highlighted this charity to me] I sent these 2 hats. One of Kid Classic, and the other Noro Silk Garden. This was not an entirely selfless act on my part - during mental pleadings with The Man Upstairs I did promise to donate to this charity upon the safe return of my suitcase full of Barcelona yarn. I can't wait for the hat recipients to get their hats - I hope they love them, and more importantly that they bring warmth. I have a warm fuzzy feeling :) [I have tried to post this 4 times, with image adding attempts numb...

At a Stitch n' Bitch a few weeks ago one of the members brought in a ball of yarn with the funkiest little retro illustration on the ball band of a baby alpaca. Another member suggested that this would make a great tshirt. I brought it home, blew up the illustration and fixed it up with Photoshop. Today I finally got round to buying transfer paper and doing my first tshirt transfer! I love it [and fellow SnBers I have a couple of transfers left - 1 for Anika, if anyone wants the other I'll bring it along on Tuesday]

Lookeee - it's my suitcase! Cotton sock weight yarn with coloured slubby cotton bits and 2 big black buttons which go so well with the cotton - I'm thinking armwarmers would be cool. A funky knitting postcard from Heathrow All the beautiful yarn together with a birthday present from the boy - Happy Hooker I'm so happy and have learned my lesson - no yarn on the hold, and always always an address label on my suitcase!!

Me at Parc Quell View out of window at Sagrada Familia Me on the roof terrace at La Pedrera

Progress on the Jaywalkers has come to a halt due to a broken dpn. This is my first time knitting with birch dpns - I have only ever knitted one pair of socks previously and I knit them with metal dpns. But with air travel the way it is I had little choice if I wanted to gauge and cast on in time for the start of the Knitting World Cup. I'm reluctant to change to other needles at this stage, and I know that Brittany are fantastic with customer service and will replace my broken needle. However I think I may change to metals anyway and hope that my gauge will not be affected too much. I think the tension may be tight anyway as flying makes me v. v. tense, and I was knitting to take my mind off wings falling off, planes falling out of the sky etc etc. But this aside I'm loving the pattern - it's easy to memorise, and this yarn brings out the best of the pattern and I can't wait to finish it.

As suspected - N from BBA Glasgow's breezy response that it will be "absolutely fine" to take knitting needles on board was total nonsense. Upon arrival at Glasgow Airport I caught sight of knitting needles on the 'not allowed' lists plastered all over the place. I decided to be super-honest through fear of confiscation and spoke to the checkin girl. She immediately said no, and so I begged her to first look at my 2.25mm Brittany birch dpns first. When she saw them she smiled and phoned someone - saying 'no - they're like cocktail sticks and they're wood'. And so I was cleared for knitting - although I had to check my metal crochet hook, metal stitch holder, scissors [obviously!] and weaving-in needle. So the concensus seems to be bamboo/birch dpns that are very thin are OK. Anything metal, any straights (wood or metal) are not. Sock knitting it is! I never bothered to mention them to anyone again, and knitted in airport waiting lounges and on the ...

Barcelana in Barcelona! Lana = wool in Spanish. So day 1 of our trip to Barcelona. First stop - the yarn shop! [For those going - get off the Metro at Jaume 1 (yellow line), and walk down C/Argenteria - Brosili 1 is a side street on the left about half way down. If you reach the funky tshirt shop with a donkey on the balcony above then you've gone too far! Closed Mondays and Saturdays] This is me after my [first] visit clutching some beautiful cotton sock weight yarn with slubby multi-coloured cotton, and some wool/silk sock weight yarn. The shop was lovely - I had a chat with the woman inside using my Spanish phrase book and K's Castillian, and we managed to piece together a conversation! The yarn selection is a fiesta of colours and there was plenty to keep me going. And so cheap! It is priced by the kg, and I managed to get 600g of chunky weight deep purple merino yarn, 400g of the slubby cotton, and 400g of the wool/silk sock yarn for 60 euros - which is £41. *gasp* I'...

After having various panics I have finally decided to do Jaywalker as my Knitting World Cup project - I'll play about checking gauge etc on the flight and cast on officially on Saturday. Just frantically printing out knitting instructions in Castillian from K and grouping them with ones received from L [thank you both!], the itinarary, trying to locate the list that doesn't include knitting needles for the checkin desk, and also updating my blog. Trying to find the address for Barcelana the yarn shop in Barcelona. Anyways - that's me. Left everything til the last minute as usual!