Definitely one for Leila's birthday!

This has got to be the cutest baby pattern I've seen for a while. It's available free here.

The yarn for this top is available from Loop in London, and it only requires one skein. Wonderful! I'll be knitting one of these when I finish uni. Woo-hoo! Leila's first birthday is in July, so it should be ready just in time. Along with Mumsie's Mother's Day socks. Hmmm.

'Katja' by Tisra Fidely. Pattern and photos copyright Tisra Fidely. Pattern available from Knitty.com

Exhibition

I've been neglecting my blog for a week or so, as I've only got 3 weeks of uni left and SO much work still to get done on my project. Would you like to come to the end of year exhibition? If you're one of my north-east readers or a friend from abck home and want to visit, come and see the exhibition of work by final year architecture students at Newcastle Uni.
If you can't see the details above, the Preview Night is Friday 16th June, Architecture building, Newcastle Uni from 5.30pm. The exhibition then moves to theCulture Lab, Kings Walk, Newcastle Uni, from Tuesday 20th-Sunday.

You'll be able to see my design work, including sketch models like this:

And drawings like this (it looks weird because there are two drawings on tracing paper on top of each other):In knitting news, Glittr brought me this lovely yarn back from Prague. It's grey. Yum!
I've been knitting this as a reward for doing uni work. For every hour of work I'm allowed to knit two rows. I know it's sad. It's only for three weeks. It's only for three weeks. It's only for.... Anyway, this was supposed to be Leila's first birthday present but I didn't swatch the yarn and it's massive, so I think it's going to be ripped out and re-knit as a cardigan for Charlotte's wee one, due in August. It's 100% cotton, so good for a summer baby.

I've started another one for Leila, although I'm not sure it's her colour (salmon pink). I'm knitting the 6-12 months size because I usually knit a bit loose, and I don't have time to knit a swatch at the moment. If I hit gauge, it can be a summer present for Millie, who I'll hopefully be meeting for the first time when I visit the Lakes in June, when this crazy degree is, hopefully, over. Let me tell you, there will be some serious knitting sessions this summer!

One sleeved wonder

Remember the frilly tank? It's been in, (as Glittr would say) the 'naughty corner' for a couple of months, since I added the frill and decided I wasn't happy with it.

Well, I decided that I can't justify starting 'Bombshell' when I haven't finished the frilly jumper (nee tank). Last night I finished knitting the first sleeve. Early this morning I sewed it onto the body. I am sure correct knitting protocol states that both sleeves should be knitted before they are sewn on at the same time, but, well, I just couldn't wait. So here we have what is currently referred to a the One Sleeved Wonder: I've managed to find a supplier in Croydon, Thread Bear, who still have a stock of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK in this shade, Paper Rose. Kate is sending me one ball so that I can rip out the current frill (for the 4th time) and knit it again in the same yarn as the body. Then I'll just do one row and cast off with the kidsilk haze.
Here's the side view:
Obviously I won't wear this in public with matching pyjamas! I'm so pleased with this jumper. I hope I can get it finished soon, so that I can wear it before the weather gets too hot. Maybe to our end of year exhibition at uni.
Right, I must leave now...I've got a cold shoulder :o)

PS...Thanks for the comments on yesterday's post. I really appreciated them. x

Retail therapy? Not ****ing likely!

After a crap day at uni yesterday, this morning I treated myself to half an hour in a cafe with a cup of tea and a copy of Elle before coming into the studio.

I decided, as the lovely Mumsie sent me some money for new clothes recently, that I'd pop into H&M on Northumberland Street and try something on.

Big mistake. What started off as retail therapy has resulted in a need for therapy. I hate clothes shopping. Why is it that clothes designers/manufacturers believe that anyone above a size 12, can fit their arms into sleeves the same size of a person who's a size 8? And for goodness sake, WHERE ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO PUT YOUR BOOBS?

I tried on so many clothes this morning, skirts, shirts and dresses. It was so depressing, I actually cried in the changing room. I eventually found a (rather see-through) black shirt, which isn't the most summery item of clothing, but is very nice, and rather smart. It will be useful for crits and design reviews. An architect can never wear too much black :o)

Anyway, I have concluded that I:

a) need to spend the rest of my life in the gym

b) look like ****

c) am very glad this book arrived last week:

I am in love with this book. Particularly with this jumper:I have decided that, if I manage to pass this degree, I will knit this jumper for my graduation. It's knit in Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb (aran/worsted weight). Obviously with my student budget I can't afford that scrummy yarn (Mumsie stated, 'clothes'. Yarn that will be made into clothes does not count. Mumsie is no fool. grrrr.)

Any suggestions for yarn? I have a US contact who can send me Knit Picks yarn (very cheap, aran weight cotton). HOWEVER, I will be going to WoolFest in June. So, the question is, should I wait to buy yarn from WoolFest, which will leave me only two weeks to knit the entire jumper?

Help blog readers, I need advice!

Fundraising Update

A few months ago I blogged about a walk I'm doing in September, 60km over 2 days for The Weekend to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. You can read about why I'm doing it, and donate, here.

I must raise £1500 to walk. I've raised £660 so far. To all who have donated, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please continue to give, and to spread the word among friends, colleagues and fellow knitters.

Every thirteen minutes, one person in the UK is told they have breast cancer. Please donate to help reduce the number of people affected.

Thank you. x

Click to donate online: http://lo06.breakthroughweekend.org/site/TR?px=1418005&fl=en_GB&s_tafId=23740&pg=personal&fr_id=1020

If you would prefer to donate by cheque, please leave me a comment, or email me: alice_weir@hotmail.com Thank you.

Thank You Marian!

My Mum's best friend Marian bought me Get Knitted vouchers for my birthday back in December, and I have just spent them. I know, that's a loooong time to hang on to yarn vouchers, but I really couldn't decide what to buy.

Until I saw this pattern:

I actually saw it on Annarella's blog, knitted in a gorgeous fuschia pink. It's available from www.spunmag.com The pattern is by Michelle Kissoore for Stickgirl Designs.

I ordered my yarn when I was home in London, and it was delivered to my house there. So lovely Mumsie had to post it on to Newcastle. I collected it from the Post Office this morning. Two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shephard Worsted Weight in Charcoal. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE grey. And I lurve charcoal.

I am a very happy lady :o)

Ok, I really am back now (I think)

Sorry for the long delay between posts. I went home for 3 weeks over Easter, and was without blogging facilities. I had a design review on Friday, so spent last week working on that. But you know it's been too long between posts when people start sending you emails asking where you are!

As a not too cheery start to the post, here's the view from Dad's car window as we drove along the Thames on our way to Kings' Cross before I caught the train back. Very moody and grey, but I actually quite like this photo.

So, I haven't done too much knitting while I've been away. When I was at home I was working on a jumper which I keep there as my 'at home' knitting, a stripey jumper in Cotton Glace from the Stitch 'n' Bitch book. It's still less than half done, and I started it over a year ago. Mind you, I haven't done anything to it since last August so no wonder it's taking a long time!

I was mostly studying when I was at home, but I did see my knitting friends Mariana and Charlotte a few times. Mariana has 3 year old twin nephews and she was just finishing off two Thomas the Tank Engine tank tops for them. She's a braver woman than I!

Some exciting news while I was home: two more babies on the way! An ex-colleague from my picture library days, Paul's girlfriend is expecting, as is Charlotte, who's expecting her third wee one. Both babies are due in August, so lots of knitting for me during the summer!

This is the beginning of a cardigan for one of the bairns:

As well as my stripey jumper, I finished Mumsie's first sock and started the second, which she may receive in time for Mothers' Day 2007. Sorry Mumsie :o)

I also knitted a second bonnet from the Baby Bloom book. I'm not so keen on the colours of this one, they are a bit too traditional for me I think. I tend to knit much brighter colours for babies, like the pink bonnet I sent to Leila. Speaking of which, Leila's bonnet arrived in time for her to wear to her and Em's leaving party, and I hear she looked adorable wearing it. Babs took photos which I'm waiting for her to email, I'll blog those as soon as I receive them. Not sure who will receive this bonnet yet. It's supposed to be 6-9 month size, but seems much smaller than Leila's bonnet, which was knitted with Rowan Wool Cotton. This one is Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I think it will be going to one of the Summer new borns.On Tuesday night it was the weekly meeting of Miss Spiritual Tramp's Knitting Club at the Forth on Pink Lane. It was lovely to see Helen and Suzanne again after being away for a month.
I cast on this hat:It's a birthday present for Molly's 3 rd birthday. It's packed up now and ready to post to her in New Zealand. A bit late for her birthday I think, but it should keep her little head warm in the New Zealand Winter.

On Saturday, Ellie and I drove to Whitley Bay, where we paid a visit to a fabulous little shop called Ring-a-Rosie, which sells materials and supplies for knitting, quilting, patchwork, embroidery and sewing. I *couldn't* leave without buying something, so I decided to buy two skeins of Patons DK 100% mercerised cotton, in a beautiful teal colour. Destined to be a present for Leila's first birthday in July. I'm going to try to knit a pattern designed for Baby Cashmerino using this cotton. Not sure how well that will work, but I figure with some number crunching I'll be able to sort out the tension etc.

In my final piece of news for now, I'm applying for a PhD, here at Newcastle University, 'Characterising the Post-Industrial City: a Case Study of Housing in Newcastle upon Tyne'. You can see the details here. What do you think? I'm filling in the application form this afternoon. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

One last thing to add...

Happy Birthday Pumpkin! x