Leaving tomorrow!

We're leaving Lincoln tomorrow! This is the third day of packing and we're down to the last bits and bobs, and trying to pack up pots and pans but leaving out the ones we need for tea tonight.
We'll be sorting the paperwork tomorrow, and should hopefully get the keys to the flat! I went to my last Spins and Needles Knit night on Monday, Sarah moved it so I could attend one last time. And she presented me with a lovely bag of yarn, a yarn bowl and a Spins and Needles mug! I was not expecting this, and it has made me even more sad to be leaving.
Anyway, the next time I post I'll probably be posting from Hungerford public library! Hopefully the internet won't take too long to get sorted.
Ashley x

Little update

Just a quick little update :) It was my 21st birthday last weekend, and my mum organised a lovely family party for me! This is much more my style than a night on the town in night clubs etc. :) I absolutely loved it. So a massive thank you to my lovely mum!  Here are a few photos:

How cute it that cake?!

Dom and I :)

Crazy candle/flower thingy

Cute cupcakes mum decorated :)

Me, my cousin Donna, and my lovely mum :)

He persuaded to do a silly smile and the hand thing!

I had a lovely birthday, and received some wonderful presents :) I think my favourite part was the food! Mum put on a massive amount of food, including my favourite - curry fry! And my granddad (in the last picture) made 'yellow rice', just like my nan used to make it :)

In exciting and slightly stressful news, we've been busy the past few weeks job searching. Dom was contacted by an agency about a software engineer job. After an interview, he was offered the job the next day! He's supposed to start on the 23rd of this month, so we have 2 weeks to move down south!! 

We'll be close enough to visit London at the weekends every now and then, which will be great as I can finally have access to good quality cheap fabric! This will greatly impact my sewing, and I can't wait. Unfortunately it won't be for a while yet, we have to find our feet and I still have to find a job once we're down there. 

So posting here will be few and far between for a while. It will also be mostly knitting for a while, which it has been for a while anyway (apologies to the sewists). I have access to good quality yarn in Lincoln, so I've been much more inclined to knit. But buying fabric online has meant it's not what I want it to be and is usually too stiff for garments. But hopefully, sewing will be more appealing once I can buy fabric after feeling it first :)

I'll let you know how the move goes (once we've got the internet sorted, or I've found a public library). I'm excited and stressed about it at the same time. Wish us luck!

Ashley x

Echo Flowers

I love this pattern, it's so pretty. I kept seeing shawls all over Ravelry that I loved, and when I went to check the pattern it would the Echo Flower shawl pattern. Eventually I just recognised it on sight! :) You can find my project page here.

It uses Estonian stitches, so lots of 3-into-9 stitches and such. I eventually realised it would be easier on my hands if I made sure to knit these loosely. And nupps!! (Apparently this is pronounced to rhyme with soup) The pattern also calls for you to bind off with the yarn held double. This has given it a nice sturdy but still stretchy edge. It was a very enjoyable pattern :)

Ashley x

p.s. No pictures of me wearing it yet, I have a cold sore and cold sores are icky :( I get cold sores when I'm particularly stressed, so yeah :(

Bumpy Lace

I'm not sure where the three weeks since I last posted have gone. I managed to get three summer dresses finished before the sun disappeared. The first one is a house dress only, a test run I suppose. I love the second and third ones. I haven't gotten round to taking photo's yet, and I was too hot when I actually wore them out to want to have my photo taken. 

So instead, I have a photo of a shawl that I've been working on. This is how it looks pre-blocking:

As you can see, it's very bumpy and lumpy. I've blocked it hard, which has made it flat and smooth :) To make sure I take photo's of my summer dresses soon, I'm going to wear one to take photo's of the blocked shawl.

Anyway, I just thought I'd pop in and say hi :) Oh, and we have a white chocolate and raspberry loaf in the oven so hopefully I'll have some photo's of that to share too. It's just starting to brown and smells amazing!!

Ashley x

Operation Emergency Maxi Dresses!

It's hot. Most of my dresses are polyester, and are terrible to wear in this lovely weather we're having. The trip into town to pick up thread, zips, and elastic was very uncomfortable. I definitely need some cooler dresses! 

So Operation Emergency Maxi Dresses begins! Simply, it will be a tube of fabric with a zip at one side and elastic and straps at the top. Then I can wear a belt at my waist as tight or as loose as I want. Or no belt at all if it's super hot. It will be a good chance to practice invisible zips :)

Hopefully I'll have at least one maxi dress to show you soon!

Ashley x