cosmicpluto knits!

enroute

Dinner last night – Indian food takeaway (I’m eating a samosa in this rather blurry photo!). Yum yum.

Currently on the train from Edinburgh to London, with free wifi! We’ve been on for about three hours with nearly two to go – whew. I will say that the train is pretty civilized way to travel…even if no one is in their proper reserved seats!

i made it!

A horrendously boring 2-hour wait in a nearly-closed airport (the duty free shops even closed at midnight) and a 7-hour flight later, I’m here in Edinburgh! Ysolda’s a great hostess – and she’s got a fantastic flat. The delay on the flight actually put me on a pretty good schedule, because I slept a few hours, woke up, and landed in the middle of the day here (and was tired enough to go to bed at a reasonable time in the evening).

Yesterday we went for a decent length walk around, I took photos like the tourist I am, especially of the buildings and curvy streets!

Today we did some errands, went to a gallery (had lunch there too, which was really yummy) and went to the yarn store where Ysolda works, k1. I of course bought some pretty yarn – sock yarn from Old Maiden Aunt and merino/silk laceweight from Fyberspates.

And shoes! Yes, we bought the same shoes again (in different colours).

We’re off to London on Thursday!

grrrr

My flight out tonight to Edinburgh was delayed by SIX HOURS, form 8 pm to 2 am! So instead of being on a plane, I’m at home in my pjs still (headed out to the airport around eleven). Could be worse – I could be stuck in the airport!

Good things: at least I found out before I went to the airport; I get to eat dinner at home, and I’ll definitely sleep on the plane! It does look like there aren’t any other flights departing from the airport between 12:30 and six am, though, which is a bit…creepy? I guess my airplane activities will be used mostly in the waiting area (seeing as how I’ll be sleeping on the plane).

Things left to do tonight – eat, make a sandwich for the plane (in case the food sucks really bad or I’m super hungry or something), pack computer, notebook and pen, other random little stuff, get dressed, leave.

Are airport shops open that late? Hrmm.

Have I mentioned that I don’t like flying, this is the longest flight I’ll have ever taken, and that I’ve never flown at night?

But I’ll be in Edinburgh tomorrow! I’ll be blogging and 365-ing from everywhere, so stay tuned!

little black whatchamacallit

Well, it only took four days to knit this little sweater, but over a week since then to block, photograph and blog about it! Oh well.

My own pattern, just a simple top-down raglan bolero/shrug thing with half-length sleeves and curved fronts. I had the yarn lying around and really wanted a simple super soft, black cardigan, so here it is! I used six balls of Sublime cashmere merino silk aran (there’s a mouthful) and used up every last drop. I’ve got a tiny length left (like 1 m) so I think I might crochet a little loop and do a button.

I was a little unsure about the chunkyness of this sweater at first – it’s on 5.5 mm needles, which is way bigger than I’ve used in awhile! But a good soaking opened up the fabric a bit and it drapes much better now. If I’d had some more yarn I would’ve liked to do longer ribbing around the edge, but as it was I had to tink back a row just to have enough yarn to bind off!

I’m thinking of writing it up (it would probably be pretty quick, too) but I’m not sure when I’ll get to it! So we’ll see. I want to write up that skirt from the last post, too, which is actually a bit easier…oy, so many ideas, so few hours in which to get things done.

I’ve actually had a really productive day “off” – it’s off work from the store, but that doesn’t mean I’m not working! I’ve laid out the patterns for the baby and child, top down versions of the Thermal sweater, so I’m hoping to release those very soon. Just as soon as I get some photos! I also did a bunch of stuff in preparation for my trip – calling the bank and credit card companies, finding a suitcase, making some lists, I even packed most of my clothes.

Now I’m down to the tough parts of packing – deciding what knitting and/or crochet to take! I want to take some crochet for the plane, I think, because I’ve got a design idea and it would also get around the whole are-needles-allowed thing. I guess the thing is that I’m sure to buy yarn there (especially at iknit!) so I can always start up a new project there if I get bored or something. Yeah, I kind of doubt it too. But we do have some longish train rides worked in there.

Five more sleeps, people. Whoa.

evidence of life

I’ve been spending pretty much all my time this week more or less like this:

Insert Doctor Who and some Stargate:Atlantis in for the
Dr. Horrible (which is SO awesome by the way, you should all go watch it) and the Mooi shawl in for the pink thermal, and that’s today.

Thanks for all the well wishes for my ankle – it’s definitely better, the swelling’s gone down a fair bit and I’m hobbling around okay (although still resting! of course!). I’m aiming to be back at work on Monday, although I might leave Tuesday in Natalie’s capable hands! We’ll see – I’m probably in no shape to be standing around in the dye studio next week.

Despite all the resting and sitting around time, I’m getting surprisingly little done in the way of work! I’m knitting the edging of the Mooi shawl now, and it’s coming along nicely.

I like that it’s knitted in along the edge. It’s pretty!

I’ve also been writing a number of lists -

At the end of the month I’m headed out on a jet plane to visit with Ysolda! You might remember she came and stayed with me back in May, so now it’s my turn. I’ll admit I’m apprehensive about the trip, mostly the flying – I’m not a great flyer and it’ll be the longest one I’ve been on! Across water and stuff! Yikes!

I’m flying in and out of Edinburgh, but in between we’ll be taking some trips to London and Paris – we’ve got some accommodation in London, but we could still use some for a couple nights in both cities. Hostel recommendations, offerings of couches? Would be awesomely appreciated!

Suggestions of things to do in each city would be fantastic too! We’ll definitely be hitting up iknit day in London on the 6th, but other than that, I think we pretty open to recommendations!