Survival Of The Fittest

"Nic managed to give herself a bloody nose with an over-zealous right hook tonight, thanks to losing her grip on the Wii-remote. She has now vowed to stick to knitting, where stabbing herself is the only real danger..."

I think I've be de-selected by nature. Clumsiness in conjunction with throwing one's fists around one's face is just asking for trouble when you're me. Yes, it can be said that this evolution thing could not have foreseen the advent of pretend physical activity; of hurling oneself around a non-existent gym punching imaginary bags, but this clumsy gene? Humanity should have been rid of that a long time ago, in my humble option.

I am heartily glad this game (My Fitness Coach Cardio Workout [updated link to Amazon]) gives you the option of either using two separate Wiimotes, or one single Wiimote connected to the Nunchuck, because if it was the latter only, I'm pretty sure I'd be wearing welts around my neck and arms. Not this season's look for your Fake Boxer Around Town, I'll be the first to admit. But then, neither are blood-encrusted breathing holes. For the unbloodied rest, though, it's an awfully fun way to spend some cardiac time and perhaps I might venture into the world of reviewing once I've stopped my life-force flowing from my nostrils!

I should consider asking Santa for some spatial awareness for Christmas. And a jumbo box of Kleenex. I've a funny feeling they'll both come in handy.

Storm In A Teacup

"Nic found doing her Wii cardio boxing accompanied by a rip-roaringly spectacular thunder and lighting storm rather too invigorating, as now she can't hold her well-earned after-cuppa without her arms shaking from muscle fatigue!"

It's like making a workout mix-tape (ah, sigh) MP3 playlist, that includes 'Ride of the Valkyries', 'O Fortuna', and the Sacrificial Dance at the end of 'The Rite of Spring' and not realising that the chances are much greater of it making you punch harder, swing faster, or kick higher than the usual pop hits of the 80's and 90's that normally chaperone your workout. Stock, Aitken and Waterman ain't got nothing on Zeus, Thor and Jupiter!

Never gonna give you up? Hah. More like never gonna let you drink that tea down.

Right Angles Are So Passée

acute and oblique - new patterns by yours truly

According to the Oxford Dictionary, an acute angle is an angle less than 90°. The same source states that an oblique angle is one that it not a right angle, nor is a multiple of right angles.  

According to RedScot's Dictionary of Made-Up Words (OUP 2018), an Acute ankle sock is a very simple pattern that creates three very sharp less-than-90° angle points. AnOblique calf-length sock, on the other hand foot, uses the same basic pattern to create four very sharp angle points that aren't right angles, or multiples of the same...

My sister is again responsible, in kind, for the advent of these super-cute new patterns, as she keeps supplying me with DK wool in a myriad of colours and types for which I can never find a suitable sock pattern.   This time it was King Cole Riot DK in the 'Riot' colourway, a 'self-patterning' yarn that was crying out for some sharp zig-zags to show it off.  But there was nothing more pointy that my own Traffic Islands pattern to choose from, so I set about making a new and even spikier pattern.   And because I loved the first one with DK so much, I set about making a version for fingering-weight yarn, usingMunchkin Knitworks String of Pearls Plus in 'Hodgeberry Stain'.

Thus Acute and then Oblique were born.   Instead of a nice, calm 2x2 ribbed cuff, I thought it much more interesting to start off with some sharp angles, and to keep it from rolling down, made sure that there were some purl rows thrown in the mix.  3 points for Acute, and 4 for Oblique.

The heel-flaps, once these sharp chevrons had continued down the leg, were at once calming for Acute - a simple eye-of-partridge heel stitch was all that was required, but Oblique intended to be a little more cunning and the angles continued through to the heel-turn...  Not just because the stitch count needed to be brought down to make sure the sole wasn't too wide.

Cunning?  Oh yes, I think so!  

The angles continued down the upper of each sock and they both finished in a simple star toe.

I made the small size of Acute, for they may just be for someone whose fault they came into existence anyway (and my medium sock blockers were a tad on the large size for them, really...) but I made the Oblique in large for myself, and was so pleased with them I had to wear them as soon as they were blocked.

Both these patterns are being sold together as a pair, so you can make some angled socks for your selves whatever type of sock yarn you have!

Click HERE (Oblique) and HERE (Acute) to find the pattern pages on Ravelry (you can access the same pattern set from each page), or just click below to buy them now!  Oh, how much?  well, dang, but because they're so fast to knit up, I couldn't ask for anything! You can get them by clicking the links above!

The whole world needs this kind of cute!

A Scone In The Hand Is Worth Two On The Plate

"Nic has just worked off 3 scones-worth of calories and is wondering, after actually only having eaten one this afternoon, whether it's too late to have the other two now...?"

Ah, Green's of Brighton. Your scone mix is a thing of legend, an inspiration, the carrot AND the stick of my weight loss! Thankfully, though, I'm aware that après-workout snacking kind of defeats the purpose of the workout in the first place, if you eat more than you've worked-off! Which I probably would, 'cos those scones be tasty, tasty things!

And let's face it, one is oh-so much better than none at all!

Wii Less Fat

"Nic is grateful for two things today: the geniuses at Nintendo for designing the Wii; and her wonderful family, for getting her one for Christmas.

As of today she is 2 stones down, people! (That's one whole chin in layman's terms!)"

Never underestimate the power of a 'game' when it's combined with the will to change, the generosity of family, and a love of cake.

Cherry Ripe

cherry garni socks by yours truly

araucania ranco solid in pt 485

the yarn side walker merino in red lentil evenings

It's about time another cocktail sock pattern was added to the repertoire, so here's something a little fruity! Cherry Garni is a toe-up, heel-flapped, cherry-lace sock, with contrasting cocktail-skewer toe, heel and cuff.

Okay, these should really, technically, be called 'Cherry Garnish Socks', as 'garni' isn't foreign for garnish, but is only an attempt on my part to sound fancy!  I am nothing if not creative in the ways of language!  Or lazy...  Either or, the cherry is a massive part of cocktail dressing, and this new patterns is a natural progression from the Twist of Citrus homage to all things zesty in the cocktail world!

So, whether you're adding a rich red Maraschino cherry to a Manhattan, a green cherry to your Blue Lagoon, drinking a black cherry Mojito, or having your tequila sunrise adorned with a yellow ground cherry, I'm sure you'll agree that the cherry, no matter what colour, is truly a worthy addition to the cocktail sock theme!

The sock begins at the contrasting toe with a simple but effective cocktail-skewer rib pattern:

then moves on to the cherry-lace pattern (a rich, ripe cherry with its stalk and a leaves) :

and for something completely different, I've added a heel-flap.  I have to say I love the final appearance of this - the gusset pick-up is oh-so-very neat, but pay attention - you have to start the increases around 4 inches from the final edge of the heel.  (I've suggested adding a life-line if you aren't completely sure of the length you need - I measured 4 inches from a sock I had previously made and worked out where I needed to start the increases.)

Totally worth it - it looks fabulous!

And another plus: it looks great in different colours!  I asked my testers to use different colours - purples, greens, yellows for different coloured cherries, and they turned out looking fabulous - check out the pattern page for linked projects!  

So, what else do you need to know?  Oh yes indeed - the link to the pattern page and a lovely Ravelry button to click if you fancy investing in something fruity!

Cherry ripe, cherry ripe, 
Ripe I cry, Full and fair ones

Come and buy.

Cherry ripe, cherry ripe,

Ripe I cry,

Full and fair ones

Come and buy.

Sticks & String: An Introduction

I think that before I throw my latest knitting patterns into the mix, I should give you a brief run-down of the whole sticks and string thing.  

I knit. I knit for fun AND profit, as they say. Actually, pretty much just for fun, but it keeps me off the streets, and if I've got needles and yarn in my hands, it means there's less of a chance that I have food in my hands, too. 

A friend of mine introduced me to the gentle are of not garrotting or impaling people with twine and sharp spikes in the Summer of 2008 and I was hooked. Well, I was needled. I can't crochet to save myself. (Some of you will get that pun. And for that we thank you.) Not long after that I was inducted into the hallowed halls of Ravelry; a website for knitters, crocheters and other fibre artists that sounds a lot more dull than it really is. What it is is a treasure-trove of patterns, inspiration, community, friendship, and much more fibre-related wonderfulness. 

I was inspired to start a knitting blog, initially describing my attempts at fitting in, learning to knit, singing locations, and lots of stained glass windows. (I am nothing if not eclectic in my choice of subjects.) It grew in scope once I started designing my own patterns and although I make it sound much more grandiose than it really is, it's something I really enjoy, and I'm proud to share my creations.

What are these creations? Well, if you click HERE, you'll be taken to the afore-mentioned knitting blog's page containing all my blog pattern links. You can take it from there! What I will do, though, is add a cross post from my knitting blog to here when I have a new pattern up. I thoroughly enjoy knitting, it's a part of who I am, and I think it's right to include some of it here.

(I just have to point out that the inspiration for most of my patterns is alcohol in mostly cocktail form - you'll understand it when you see them. I know. Cake and alcohol. But all things in moderation, and all that!)