THE GOOD LIFE

Life is going well. 

I appear to be in 'remission' from the worst aspects of my disease(s). By this I mean that the fatigue is vastly reduced and the pain is well controlled with the drugs. This makes it easier to move and enables me to have fuller days. I am back to swimming almost daily. It is two years since I have been able to do that. My weight is going down as a result.

The date for our Civil Partnership is all set. 3pm July 7th 2012. I call it a wedding. (The govt. intend making it full marriage anyway but don't ask me what the differences are!) I have invited all the guests. Our intent has been properly registered.

I have booked a suite in Frankfurt, Germany as our wedding treat. Sunday8th to Sunday 15th, with Monday to Saturday in the suite. It's a 'Sky Suite', a high rise room, with city views. I will not go near the balcony probably but John  will like it. The hotel is central in walking distance of shopping and museums and galleries.

I am very pleased with Mary-Grace's litter. I sold the only female, a very good one, to my friend for showing. I will leave it to her as to when it becomes public knowledge. i have kept two males, Chase and Christophe. I prefer Chase but Christophe is also very promising. I kept both so as to see how they develop. I will sell Christophe as a pet or a show dog when he is over 6 months and it is easier to see how he has developed. Both move every well and have excellent movement tho they are of different style.

I have sold yarn well. I have not made much effort to do so as I have been so busy with the litter. I have only one sleeve left to knit on my cashmere/silk sweater.

We have had much snow here with more forecast. It is very cold, with temps going down to -10c tomorrow night.

Today I have been listening to a woman called Devil Doll. I really like her forthright style. Big band/rock type songs with guts and power and sometimes 4 letter lyrics! It's different and she has a powerful voice.

BANKA MUNDI

These were knitted by Christa Nantz using one of my Knitman's Kitchen yarns, Banka Mundi which is a sw merino/bamboo blend at 400m to 100g.

HELTER SKELTER

I used the Andersson Construction Method, with the 1 x1 ribbed gusset and the Andersson Heel II, revised. Knitted toe up, the leg knitted in 3 x3 ribbing.

I used Judy's Magic Cast On and Jenny's Surprisingly Stretchy Cast Off.

I knitted these using 2.25mm needles(circular Addi Lace). The yarn is from Knitmans Kitchen and is 80% British Falklands merino 20% Nylon (High Twist) 365m / 100g

DAWN’S CROCHETED WRAP

This is the wrap that I have made for my friend Dawn.  It is my first crocheted item.  I have used Knitman’s Kitchen 50% SWMerino 50% Tencel, 800m/100g. I used a 5.5 mm hook.  The stitch is my own.  I had thought it was a treble but it is not and it is also not a double.  I wrap the yarn poke the hook through, , pull the yarn through, wrap again and pulled through one through one loop, wrap and pull through two loops, wrap and pull through two loops.

I am very pleased with the drape of this wrap.  It did not take me long to do.  I will post it off to Dawn later today.

MORE SOCKS

IF YOU CLICK ON EACH PICTURE, YARN INFORMATION AND KNITTING INFORMATION IS VISIBLE.

JOHN'S SOCKS

These were knitted for John using 2mm Knit Picks Circulars. I used my own Andersson Toe Up Construction Method, utilising a 1 x1 gusset and the Andersson Heel Mach II (revised). The yarn is Knitman's Kitchen 75% SW Merino 25% Nylon, 425m / 100g. I am very pleased without eh way the colours have pooled. Much to my surprise John asked for this yarn when he saw it and he too loves the pooling. I don't know what is going on with him but my 'grey man' has recently started to buy and wear colours!

LINUS

I knitted these using 2 mm circular needles by KnitPicks. The yarn is one of my own, Knitman’s Kitchen, and it is 75% super wash Merino 25% nylon, 425 m per 100g. I have shown the socks both right way out and inside out. I think I would prefer the inside out way.  I have used my Andersson’s Construction Method utilising the Mach II  heal and once again using a one by one ribbed gusset. If you want to see a larger version just click on the photo.

 

CERE’S SOCKS

These socks are Cere, my vet. She has the same size feet as I. The yarn is my own Knitman’s Kitchen, SW Blue Face Leicester / nylon, 400m / 100g. My last of this mix. The design is my own. I used The Andersson Construction Method with the revised Mach II heel. This is the second pair in which I have used the 1 x1 gusset, with a modification on the first time. I much prefer this.

Click on pictures for a larger view.

I knitted them using 2mm ADDI Lace circulars. The pattern was made up as I went along and is in my head and therefore not available. I may one day figure out how to download from my brain to a pc/iMac!

DYEING DAYS

CHRISTOPHER’S SOCKS

I am especially pleased with the socks.  I think they are the best I've ever knitted.  The finish to the heel turn is improved by due to a mathematical error I made which has turned out to be an improvement.  I have also improved on the one by one ribbed gusset by design.

I knitted them using Indigo Crush by Knitman's Kitchen, 80% super wash merino, 20% bamboo, 400 metres to 100 g.  I used Addi Lace circular needles 2 MM size.

These are going to a dog show friend, who asked me for a pair.  We are the same size and he tried these on at the show so they are now his.  Hence the name of this pair of socks.

For a larger view, left click on picture.

VOICE

I am typing this using voice recognition software.

The puppies are doing very well. Bay it will be four weeks old tomorrow. They are now eating solid food, or porridge made of Kibble.

My swim went very well. My doctor's advice to take the morphine before my swim really works well. I have no fatigue more pain. I also stopped swimming as soon as I felt strain instead of forcing myself to continue.

I have almost finished another pair of socks using a revised Andersson Construction Method. I have also used an improved version of my one by one gusset. I have used my own Knitman's Kitchen yarn in 80% super wash Merino and 20 per cent bamboo.

I still have plenty of Hankin to do and then we'll die five Hanks I have to order.

HOLEY HIT

I knitted these on 2mm ADDI Lace circulars, using the Andersson Construction Method and Andersson Heel Mach II. The yarn is Knitman'sKitchen 50% merino 50% Tencel, used two fold. (it's 850m/100g).

Posted by Knitman

RIBBIT RIBBIT

I am pleased with this. I used a 1x1 to increase for the gusset. I like the way it fits very much. I did my usual Andersson Toe Up Method with the Andersson heel Mach II. I used an Addi Lace 2mm circular needle, two, and knitted both socks simultaneously on their own needle.

These were knitted using Knitman’s Kitchen hand dyed yarn. The yarn, now all gone, is 60% sw wool, 20% silk and 20% bamboo.

PROOF!

(Don’t forget you can click on pictures for larger view.)

The rumour that I am not I am not knitting is just a vicious slur upon my name, Knitman! Here is the proof:

This is my Baby Ull Aran.

  This is my own Knitman’s Kitchen wool/silk/bamboo

  This is my Knitman’s Kitchen Merino Tencel used twofold and this is Knitman’s Kitchen merino/nylon(the dye didn’t dissolve completely so kept for myself. You can see the dark spots)  This is our old Nechung, our girl riddled with tumours who seems to be doing very well. Still eats like a pig and dances at dinner time. Other times she seems to not know where she is. She is showing no sign of being in pain.

FRESH FROM KNITMAN’S KITCHEN

“Wore my Fight Club socks for the first time yesterday and I love them.  For the first time, in I can't remember when, my feet were warm!  Not only is the dye gorgeous, the yarn itself is fantastic. I've decided to treat myself to some with cashmere in it. “

“Collin, I got my yarn Monday(hidden tiger), what lovely color and texture. Thank you so much.”

“Hi Colin,

Just received my yarn sooner than I could have expected…what a pleasure doing business with you. The yarn is lovely…the colors are sumptuous and richer than in the photo, the yarn feels and smells lovely…can’t wait to start knitting my first Andersson toe-up socks with the Mach 2 heel”

“Colin,
My latest 'baby' has arrived safely and is truly beautiful. "

"I got the yarn yesterday and all I can say is wow. Very bright colors and it smells wonderful! "

"Two things-----First and foremost, have received the yarn safely.....it is gorgeous! I am still stroking and fondling it and deciding what it wants to be, it's too lovely for socks, I think it wants to be small shawlettes or scarves . Thank you so much, keep up the good work!"

      

SW BFL/NYLON 425M/100G

SW MERINO/NYLON 425M /100g

SW MERINO CASHMERE/NYLON IS 400M / 100G

AND SW MERINO/BAMBOO IS 400M / 100G

CLICK ON PICTURES FOR LARGER VIEW

First come first served. My email is set to show emails from earliest to latest, so the first in my list is the first sent.

Email me at : apso@tantra-apso.com

PLEASE PUT YARN NAME IN EMAIL SUBJECT HEADING

Payment by PayPal within 24 hrs of my response or sold to next person who asked. Sorry, it’s the only way I can think to be fair.

Posted by Knitman