Long Work Days and Some Fun Test Knitting

Work has been ridiculously busy of late and I've been working until 9 or 10pm. I generally get home completely exhausted but I insist on having some time to wind down which pretty much means time to knit. I don't want to complain about work because really, what's the point??? Work sucks. I wish I could be knitting full-time.

Today has been nice - its Friday!!! And Monday is a bank holiday and I can actually enjoy the day off. I had to work both Easter bank holidays but after killing myself this week, I can finally have a long break.

The past few weeks, I've had the pleasure of test knitting new designs. It's been tres fun and I'm really happy with the results. Lots of pics to follow.



This is the most recent item that I finished. The pattern has been released and can be downloaded either on ravelry or Kirsten's blog.

Pattern: Ulmus by Kirsten Kapur

Yarn: Pagewood Farm Alyeska Hand Dyed Sock Yarn (Fabulous Fall) and Handmaiden Fine Yarn Casbah Sock (Moss) 1.5 skeins

Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm



This hat is super cute. I call it my rasta chic tamarack. The pattern is by a fellow malabrigo yarn lover - Amy AKA Duncks. This pattern has not yet been released.




Pattern: Tamarack by Amy (AKA Duncks)

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Worsted (Melilla) 1 skein

Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm and US 8 / 5.0 mm



Finally, some weeks ago, I test knitted these mittens for Nina. I did one with 5 cables (Polar Morn/gray color) and another with 4 cables (Emeraly/blue color).





Pattern: Dean Street Mitts by Nina Machlin Dayton

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Worsted (Polar Morn and Emerald) approx. 1 skein for each

Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm

Working on Good Friday

Life sucks! Instead of sitting at home knitting, I'm stuck working. That is absolutely sucktacular! I've worked till 10pm Wed night and 9pm last night. I need sleep!!!

I did manage to get a little knitting done despite all the work. Who needs sleep right?



Pattern: Darkside Cowl by Sarah Fama; I refer to mine as Ms Brightside Cowl (homage to The Killers)

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Worsted (Pollen) approx. 0.5 skein with edgings in Emerald, Sunset and Burgundy

Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm

Faberge Cowl Deux

Pattern: Faberge Cowl by Nina Machlin Dayton

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Worsted (Applewood) approx. 0.7 skein

Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm and 0.6 mm crochet hook



I just completed another Faberge Cowl and I'm loving it. This one I made slightly larger, I cast on 108 sts rather than the 102 sts that I did in my first one. Also I used 5/0 beads which made knitting this one an absolute pleasure. I also went down to a size 0.6mm crochet hook and that made beading easier as well.

I decided to make a second Faberge Cowl as I just really didn't know what to do with the applewood colorway. As anyone might have noticed, I've been loving really brightly colored yarns. The applewood was just a bit bleh for me. I'm not one to let yarn go to waste however and especially not lovely, luscious malabrigo. So I thought that adding some beads might really make this yarn pop. I wanted a deeper sort of bright, maroon-colored beads but I couldn't get them in size 5/0. After the horror of using 6/0 for my last cowl, I decided that I'd go with the more subtle copper-colored beads that came in size 5/0. I'm actually quite happy that I made that choice because I think the cowl as is is just very classy and beautiful.

G20 Mania and Bankers in Jeans

"With threats of G20-related violence, denim is the order of the day for bankers in the City, with its blue-collar credentials" - Times Online



Today is one of those days when I’m annoyed with myself for not carrying my camera. I've had no choice then but to pilfer pics from BBC and Sky News websites. This morning, I turned on the news while trying to coax myself out of bed and the first images to pop up were that of President Obama and Michelle arriving at 10 Downing St to breakfast with Gordon Brown and Sarah. Gordon looked his normal dire self while Obama waved to the press and smiled. Gordi tried to get in on the smiling action but it failed miserably. Michelle looked glam and Adam Boulton, my fave political correspondent, tried to get Obama to answer some questions. Obama seemed keen to but dour Gordi advised a photo op and then they went inside.



I then got ready for work and it was quite surreal walking on Liverpool St. First, everyone was wearing jeans as advised. I and I assume all other City workers received the following advice: “Workers in the City are being advised to dress down and postpone non-essential meetings amid fears that they will be forced to run the gauntlet of protesters.” Cops were everywhere though it seems the protestors seem to prefer a lie-in and so nothing had yet begun. The streets were fairly sparse as I think many were advised to work from home. I’m sort of hating being stuck in an office right now rather than being outside in the melee.

One of my co-workers, Tom, seems particularly exemplary of bankers in jeans. He’s an older gentleman and obviously does not make much use of his casual wear. He’s wearing some stonewashed-type jeans circa 1980s with a checked flannel shirt circa early 1990s. Oh, what chaos these protestors have already routed.