Finished:)) My ISE shawl is finally done:)

Not easy to see on the play mats but my ISE shawl is finished. I have just noticed when I look at it that I went wrong:( However I'm following nanny Effie's lead on this, she always taught me that if you made someone something a small deliberate mistake was needed to show you weren't competing with the goddess for perfection. So my pal when you get this shawl I hope that the mistake doesn't put you off, I love the drape of the shawl and the colour. More pictures once it is dry and I can pose it on a neutraL background.
Mr Mog is really feeling the cold now and is not sleeping well at all. His hospital appointment came through for the operation, he goes in on the 12th November for unknown ammount of days. They crossed the 3days off that was printed on what was presumably standard letter

Look what I found:)Trefriw 100% wool and a book

Look what I found today 100% wool from Trefriw yarns in Wales. Shade clematis a mixed purply blue. Quite a twist on it and feels a little harsh. Think that is because it maybe will bloom when washed? I've got 5 x 100gms here. Anyone want to trade for it? Also got the Fabulous fairisle book you see above. Lots of info and patterns. Same thing I'd like to trade for yarn
Lots of knitting going on, I've made fingerless gloves, another felted hat that felted:) I am still knitting on the Iris shawl for the ISE and around3/4 done I think.

2 wonderful SP parcels:))

Not one but 2 fabulous parcels arrived today from my SP:) September and October gift packages and this pal has me sussed:))
My September package is centered around my learning to knit socks. Now we all know my sock problems don't we? My SP is determined to help me and what a way to do so. A DVD by Lucy Neatby:) I'd heard of her and I'd heard good reports on her sock DVd but the mog being the mog, I thought it would be a waste of time my sending for it. Let me tell you this is the key to my tackling socks. She explains it so clearly and makes it look simple. I am going to cast on soon as I finish posting so watch this space(GG) To go with the dvd as if that wasn't enough my SP sent some gorgeous fyberspates sock yarn in purples. Isn't it pretty? And do you see the purple needles along side? There is also a blank journal for me that tones nicely with the other gifts and a cat card. I love my cat cards from you SP they always make me smile:) The blank journal is perfect because I've just filled my last one and I've started journalling again recently to get me through all the stuff that is going on.
Thank you for an ideal gift.
BUT; look at October. Are we sensing a colour theme? My cup runneth over. See the little moggie in the knitted sweater? See what she is surrounded by?
5 , yes 5 skeins (295 gms) of mohair boucle from Victoria Smedley Mobair. I'd never heard of her or her yarns but they are top quality, scrumptious and rich colours. A shawl do I hear you saying?? Could be or does anyone have other ideas for this yarn.Has to be something special:)
SP, you are a treasure and you brightened up the day tremendously. The only trouble is do I start socks, do I start the mohair??? Decisions, decisions:) But what great decisions to make
Thank you so much, the moggie is well chuffed:)

This n that:)

The wonderful Tess from Silkwood has offered to change the wool I had problems with, despite it not being her that sold it to me. Isn't that kind of her? The seller of the yarn hasn't replied to my emails sadly:(
I'm currently on with another earflap hat in mountain colors yarn for my nephews neice.This will be shown when it is felted.
Beshlie's husband is Dominic Reeve and the books he wrote about their life on the road are:-
Whichever way we turn
No place like home
and the latest one just published I think is- Beneath the blue sky, 4 decades of a travelling life in Britain
All three arrived from the library this morning so guess what the mogs will be reading tonight:)
Mr Mog had his first implant injection this morning and it went well, thanks for all the kind thoughts. The area is bruised and a little painful but he said not as bad as he expected.
We had a dreadful night last night, no sleep hardly. Mr Mog was frozen most of the night despite extra covers etc. I think the worry over today most probably did it, I know it did for me.
I went in the surgery with him and the sister was wonderful, explained fully what was happening and what effects there would be.
We got a letter with another appointment for him to see the consultant to discuss what results and what treatment would be, bearing in mind treatment has started. First letter was for day before the operation which would have been really great don't you think? Here is what we think, here is treatment have you any questions? I had phoned to say we would like earlier one and surprise that came today, to be a month after the operation? So on the phone again and provisionally we now have one for 30th or 31st October. Enquiring minds wonder why they couldn't have done that in the first place.
I'm thinking of a couple of days away if Mr Mog can take the travelling. Hoping to go and see his only aunt who is nearly 90. She lives in Clacton so I'm leaving it with Mr Mog to let me know if he is up for it.
We were supposed to go to a funeral on Friday, the lady we were going to see in Cumbria last week. Sadly she died Sunday. We've decided not to go to the funeral as it is a long way there and back for just 20 minute service.
Please Goddess no more deaths for a while.

FFO:( failed finished object

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I made a hat for Mr Mog,s nephews daughter. For her 2nd birthday. I used some silkwood supposedly 100% wool yarn. I purchased from a seller on ebay, not silkwood themselves. I fully expected to be able to felt the hat, being as it is supposed to be 100% wool NOT superwash. I washed it twice, second time at 90 degrees. It didn't felt as you can see. Not only did it not felt, it has gone all thin and yucky feeling. Ignore the fluff balls that was me at final desperation point tumbledrying hoping that would work. It didn't
So back to the drawing board and PROPER 100% wool for hat #2.
I've emailed the seller to let her know. Anyone want 150 gms approx of silkwood yarn non felting?
Mr Mog is feeling so tired most of the time now from the pills and he feels the cold more poor love:( I'm exploring the possibilities of a sweater for him. Something easy and warm.
He is awake more in the night with cold even though we have more covers on. All I can do is cuddle him. We had a glorious day in the lake district Friday. We started out in cockermouth and had a cr**p lunch. Place was busy and looked ok food was rubbish. Supposedly Waberthwaite bacon tasted like cheap and nasty bacon . High prices as well even though the season is over. After eating we found loads of other places, sods law of course:) We will know in future. Anyone going to Cockermouth its just at the bottom of the road where Oxfam is next to antique shop. Some good shops there, its been a while since we browsed. A gorgeous shop Banyan Tree with Colinette yarn and the most tactile felted bags imaginable at only £42 each. Oh if I'd had the money:)) As Mr Mog said if we hadn't had the 2 sandwiches and coffee and tea I'd be over a quarter there already. There was another wool shop near the bridge with Noro. I purchased a card deck from Oxfam for 99p the nude in art cards. Lovely old painting and great for if I get back to making collages or ATCs. One card missing but at 99p a cheap buy for Oxfam. I also got the most divine book from them Travellers Joy by Beshlie. She is a traveller and paints the most lovely plants. The book is all about the weeds she saw on her travels, their name and gipsy name and what they are used for. Each 2 page spread is a page of details and then the painting. Look her up on amazon or google. I've ordered some of her other books from the library and 2 by her husband Dominic about their life on the road. From here we went over Whinlatter pass to see the autumn colours, although it was misty we enjoyed it greatly. As you drop down from Whinlatter into Keswick the views are stunning. Keswick was very busy but boy are there a stack of outdoor shops now. Most of the quirky shops are gone and seems like every other shop sells rambling stuff. So sad after all the years of the artist shops.
We then headed to Lakeland at Windermere for some Goes with everything salt and ginger sauce. I wanted some lemon oil rose oil and orange oil for cooking. The lemon has gone up to £10.50 a bottle and they no longer do orange or rose. I'll browse on line I think instead.
We had a thoroughly inspiring day out and Mr Mog was muchly distracted from his worries which is what I wanted.

Going pink for Breast Cancer

The Moggie has gone pink as much as I can for this month for Breast Cancer
Not sure how to change the backgroud colour though.

I think this is a great way to make people think, have you checked your breasts lately? Please do and help stop this killer. I'll be asking my friends and family the same question, will you?

Sursa finished and ISE started (again)Wooden needles

A mix for you today:) A picture of the enchanting Lydia wearing the finished Sursa shawl in Kureyon with mohair border.
The second start of my wrap for the ISE exchange. Iris shawl from Jessica Fong. Yarn a mix of 2 colours as I loved them both:) handpainted I think mix of yarn.
As you know I did get to around 18inches into this shawl before I made a silly mistake and couldn't tink because of the YOs. Yes, yes I know lifelines and this time I think maybe I should use them. In fact will place one soon as I finish speaking with you.
I love this pattern its so gorgeous. You can't really see it unblocked but trust me and the yarn has silk in so has a fabulous sheen and silky feel to it. I hope you swap partner likes it.
The final picture is what I found in a store today a set of lovely wooden needles. They range from 2mm up to 6.5mm and are delightful to touch. I don't use fine needles so if anyone wants to swap the 2mm, 3mm and 3.5 mm for something let me know
Thank you for all the support you've sent me to face this horrible time we are having. I do appreciate it. I had to go for tests yesterday for my heart and as I sat there giving blood it overwhelmed me the thought of the funeral and all the stuff that goes with my nephews death. There are accusations and counter accusations from various members of my dusfunctional family and frankly I'm so so glad I don't have anything to do with most of them. The funeral appears to be a time for them to get drunk and fight, now that will really honour my nephews life won't it? His wife is in hospital being induced with their 3rd child. I'd thought she had had him as his name was in the deaths notices as one of their children. Poor soul going through all this, my heart goes out to her.
You know there aren't any winners in this:(

On a happier note my lovely Mr Mog came in from the garden yesterday and asked me how many cvompartments for yarn would I need? I know you are as confused as I am aren't you?
He has made me a box with 3 compartments for yarn with 3 holes in the lid. So I can knit without the balls of yarn getting tangled, isn't he a sweetie? He just has to make slits in the top so that when I want to put yarn I'm working on in or out we can do. Neither of us thought of how we would get the yarn out when it was attached to knitting:))
photos later I hope. He is doing ok at the minute. Hes had several days of the hormones to date and has 3 more weeks of these pills to go. He starts the injections in a weeks time and they will be monthly. I'm hopeful now and keeping my fingers crossed for a good result. Haven't got our appointment with the consultant yet but we do have a mail strike at the minute which isn't helping.
I'm currently trying to find a new ISP. Have totally had it with Virgin:( They have now put me down to 512kbps and say its all my line will allow, despite my receiving up to 3 megs up to 2 weeks ago. I've been hanging on with premium rate phone lines for ages for past few days to no avail. Final straw was yesterday when after queing for 35 minutes for a MAC code to leave them, they answered and as soon as I asked for MAC code the guy at the other end disconnected me. Tell you what after many years with them I've had it. Now to find a new reliable fast ISP
watch this space.

It never rains but it pours

Thank you all firswtly for the wonderful comments and emails I do appreciate it.
Now to the title,
Firstly, and minor when you hear the rest, I had done over 16 inches on my scarf for the ISE. I'm doing the Iris shawl and it looked wonderful, just wonderful. All lacey and even unblocked looked stunning. Then last night we stayed over at my daughters to babysit. Listening to the 2 boys and Mr Mog playing a quiz, I got sidetraCKED and I made a mistake:( Not only that but because I'd been going well no lifelines. I know, I know don't shout at me I'll put them in now. Now? Yes I tinked but with all the yarn overs got in a worse mess so frogged it all:( every single hard worked inch of it, all frogged.
I'll start again I promise and I will use lifelines.
But reason for making mistakes wasn't only the quiz, my eldest nephew(a year older than my son) hung himself:( My daughter phoned to tell me. He was only 35, just had a baby a couple of days ago, his third child. The other two are a few years older. Why? I knew he had been depressed 3 years ago but it seemed to lift a little.
I feel so sad, so overwhelmed by it all.
In the scheme of things the knitting isn't anything after all.
Mr Mog started his hormone treatment today, fingers crossed it will help
this little moggie feels overwhelmed by events, I'm wanting to retreat into my cave and I can't I have to be strong.

Destashing vintage Stitchcraft magazines

Am destashing some more stuff for Mr Mogs holiday fund:)
I've the full set of Stitchcraft magazines for 1934 plus many more. email me for more details

felted hat questions

For those who asked:) I made the hat approx third as big as it is, I washed in auto machine at 30 degrees
Didn't check through the wash cycle. I will give it another wash I think as it is still a little loose. Very warm though

Despair is a gift called Cancer

We got Mr Mog's results today which was great as it meant one less week to worry over them. The news wasn't good though:( They have decided that he has to start hormone pills Monday for 4 weeks, in 2 weeks time to start hormone injections(into the stomach apparently). Then 13th November, which is a very auspicious day n'est ce pas? he has to have operation to remove the core of his prostate. Then he has to have radiotherapy if the consultant radiographer thinks he is suitable for it. I tell you it just goes from bad to worse doesn't it? They had originally said hormones plus radiotherapy. Now it is necessary to have an operation. Mr Mog is very upset by it all and the list of side effects spelled out to him. Do we mention incontinence? erectile disfunction? Male menopause, iritability, tiredness. Do I need to go on? The poor lamb is not too happy with it all.
I feel so helpless, I am trying to be upbeat about it all and not let him see how worried it makes me. He is worried that he won't be able to give me the care I need.
Tell you what though I am so pleased we moved back home, nearer to our family and friends. The support will be invaluable and it also means they can visit him in hospital.
More later