Yarn P0rn = Yarngasms...
I've had a lot lately....a lot!It's become an addiction but I just don't care! I love fondling yarn like I love playing with stitching threads and hand dyed fabric...I think it's all to do with colour...it soothes the mind I'm sure of it. So without further ado, I introduce you to my p0rn.

I bought the yarn from the following places...in order of how they appear in the slideshow...
Kaleidoscope Yarns I got the Colinette Jitterbug, the Berroco Sox and the Cascade Cotton Rich DK from here.
Black Sheep Wools Ltd I got the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran from here.
Create The Baa Tat Yarns are from here.
The Knitting Goddess My staple yarn supplier!
The Yarn YardThe purple Croft and the two Cream Sock Yarns.
The last photo is some Aran bought from a lcalish mill shop.
I am off to a Yarn Tasting event tonight at Baa Ram Ewe, so the s.e.x may continue...

Wake up and smell the coffee pot...
That what happened in Chez Scully yesterday morning. There we were, sleeping due to a late night, when the postie presses the doorbell. At first I set out a 'Squee' as I was thinking it could be some Yarn P0rn, but I could tell by how quiet DH was when he took receipt of the parcel from downstairs that it wasn't (he's trained to yell if it is!).
He brought up a large box which was very light and which also had on it the name of a very lovely couple we know. With a quizzical look on both our faces, I opened the box to reveal a cafetiere....the one you can see in the below pic.

SO what's so special I hear you all say...well this lovely couple ran a most fantabulous B&B in the Lake District...I am sure you've heard me mention it. The cafetiere was a star attraction for me at breakfast time (not distracting from the wonderful home baked bread and aga cooked rostis of course..) The was just 'something' about the 'whoosh' it made when you sank the plunger that was so satisfying. I was provided with the name of the company where it had been purchased but they didn't offer an online service and despite searching many a shop in various places, it always resulted in the same disappointment...nothing compared...
Now this lovely couple have sold their fantaulous B&B much to DH and I's chargrin, but hey, let's not be selfish...people have a right to move on in their lives..especially lovely people.
Now they have settled just outside the Lakes, they have sent DH and I one of their cafetieres...and I can tell you, that 'whoosh' is no less satisfying than I can remember...our morning coffee lives are complete...
So, thank you to the lovely couple, Lorraine and Rob I will think back to our times at Fair Rigg with fondness and will indeed enjoy many a perfect coffee break....

Pram Buddies and Chocolate Caramel Shortbred....

What more does a girl need in life?
Remember my Mint Choc Chip Ishbel Shawl? Well I had some yarn left over and I thought I'd make some little pram buddies for my friend's newborn daughter.
So, without further ado, introducing from left to right....The Sockyarn Buddies©

Pepper, Coco and Minty.
The patterns used can be found in Jean Greenhowe's Knitted Animals Leaflet.
Originally the patterns use DK yarn, but all I did was change the needle size to a sock yarn size and I adapted the patterns to be knit in the round. They are seriously cute in real life if I say so myself and I had trouble parting with them today when I gave them to baby Annabella!

Last Thursday saw me attend my first knit night at Baa Ram Ewe It's a bit of a way to travel but I really enjoyed myself and met some really nice people. I am going again tomorrow night which brings me onto the shortbred mentioned above...
I have recently found a wonderful blog, namely Attic24. Lucy takes some STUNNING photographs and her crochet and other craftwork is no less amazing either. I find her blog a real inspiration and generally a great 'cheerer upper!'.
Well....Lucy posted some pictures of some gorgeous shortbred that she had made and generously posted the recipe. Now hear this...I am no baker, can I tell you that, but I thought I'd have a go yesterday in order that I can take some to knit night.
This is the result...

All I can say is mmmmmmmmmmmmm and . They taste seriously good...and all who have tasted them so far have asked for seconds!!! The caramel is divine. They are laden with calories, but I don't care!!! Batch two are being made tomorrow so that I can feed my work colleagues on Friday night, so if you fancy having a go, head over to Lucy's blog, pull up a chair and have a and prepare to be inspired.

In other knitting news, I have started a pair of Zigzag Anklets from Knitted Socks from Hand Painted Yarn This is a great book and I have already knit a pair of socks from it and have many more I want to knit. I am using a Merino/Tencel blend yarn from The Knitting Goddess in a sock club colour called Snail Corner.

This yarn is so soft it's beautiful. They are knitting up really well and will be a lovely light sock to be worn on warmer days. It is part of the August KAL in the UK sock knitters group on Ravelry.
That's it for now folks...I have more to share but it will keep until another day. Till then, take care and as ever feel free to Rabbit On....

What's your Rainbow?...

Your rainbow is strongly shaded indigo and brown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is says about you: You are a proud person. You appreciate the roughness of nature. Friends count on you for being honest and insightful. You feel closer to people when you understand their imperfections.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

I found this quiz on I'd Rather be stitching and thought I'd have a go...I found it quite interesting.

I'll have a large scoop please...
I had a finish on the needles yesterday, my Mint Choc Chip Ishbel

This is how it looked prior to it being blocked!

This is how it looks in the two ways in which I will wear it. And yes a rare glimpse of me!!!!!
It was originally intended for mum, but when I saw the size of it, I think she will prefer the larger size so I will make one in a different colour for her and I will nab this one.
If I havn't mentioned before it is knit in Mint Choc Chip 4ply BFL by the Knitting Goddess and was a Ltd Edition yarn.
I posted a pic of my finish on Joy's Forum on Ravelry and to quote her she described the way that the yarn had knit up as

it’s like drizzles of chocolate sauce

As I said at the beginning of the post....I'll have a large scoop please...

Oooooh Betty...
Well actually it's more like Mmmmmmm Betty's! DH and I went to Betty's in Harrogate as a bit of a pick me up for me as I have felt yacky since the tonsils* were whipped out. It was my first time visiting Betty's and it wasn't a disappointment. It is so decadent and dainty and has a very special ambience to it. The staff are wonderful and the service 5 star. For those who know of it I and have been I am sure you agree, and for those who havn't experienced Betty's yet, I highly recommend it. I know it ain't cheap, but as a special treat you really can't beat the indulgence. It also has a shop attached which meant we had to buy something...

The biscuit type things in the packet are called Fat Rascals and they are to die for...seriously. They are like a scone, made with citrus peel, topped with cherry and almond. I do like my cakes, but I find half of a warm one with olive oil spread is delicious and enough!
The bag now holds one of my current knitting WIPs....Ishbel by Ysolda Teague. If you are on Ravelry you will know just how popular Ishbel is as well as the designer Ysolda. I am making this for my mum's 60th in August and am using a Ltd Edition Mint Choc Chip BFL yarn by The Knitting Goddess
So far so good...I am knitting the small size and am on the second lace section. It's a quick knit as I only stared it last night. I am as we speak knitting away on it in between paragraphs!

So onto things I have been up to since my last post. I have been buying more yarn and am excitingly awaiting some yarn p0rn from a site I just came across whilst on Ravelry. They are called Three Irish Girls . Their website was soooooooooooooooooooo seductive! I had a look at the brochure and I instantly got sucked in to the wonderful colourways. I can't speak for the quality of the yarn yet, but it is highly commended on Rav. I have ordered Grady, Madigan, Maeve, Maura, Clodagh, Florry and Nora in various weights and will post pics as soon as I get my grubby paws on them!

I have finished a couple of things too, namely...

The first ones are Pomatomus by Cookie A and are knit with Ocean Blue BFL by the Knitting Goddess. The second pair were knit as part of a Wimbledon Knitting challenge on the Knitting Goddess forum on Rav. The rules were simple...cast on when Wimbledon started, cast off when it ended. I didn't quite manage to finish on time due to the tonsillectomy* but they were finished fairly soon after. I used the Knitting Goddess Violet Meadow BFL as I thought the colours were very SW19! It is a freebie pattern from Wendy D Johnson called Feather and Fan.

I have also finished a couple of gifts...

The first pic shows a hat that I finished a while ago. I have recently finished the scarf as a companion piece. They will be going to my friend Jax for Christmas. They are really warm so I hope she likes them.

And finally...I also finished a baby cardigan for another friend who has recently given birth to a girl. I know that 'mum' likes bright colours so know she will appreciate the colour of the yarn. It is Hobby Print by Rico.


Well, that's it, oh except for the * you may have noticed. The tonsils did come out, it was like eating glass for a few days and has turned into the feeling you have when you get a bad sore throat. I have another week off work and then I will hopefully be fit and well again.
Later guys....