The Yarn Harlot is responsible for a lot of things in the knitterly world. Often for good, sometimes just for weird.

Last night I went to a reading by Stella Duffy at the Jubilee Library. So far so good. Then I suddenly realised this was the perfect opportunity for a sock photo. I mean, someone got Margaret Atwood in the recent inexplicable knitter behaviour spree so there was a precedent. I was knitting a handy little travelling sock (even if it does only travel to and from work for the most part, and it seemed like serendipity or something.

She very graciously humoured my slightly odd request.

She even pretended to knit it, and owned up to knitting when it wasn't cool (although no longer... Perhaps the coolness has put her off?).

At least I wasn't the one who asked her to take her top off...

A quick, useless post with no pictures, which it desperately needs but I haven't got them off the camera yet. I know, that's a dreadful excuse. Rubbish.

Our stove went in on Friday (finally) - yay! It's been an interesting process with some new DIY skills picked up on route (mostly by GG) and at some point I will do some picture-heavy progression shots. Gotta be said, I love burning stuff. Oh yeah. 

I've performed some minor surgery on my Trek 1000. I've been struggling since they took my desk away at work. My Kona needs me to wear my cycling shoes and carry a change of trousers (no mudguards) and shoes. My Brompton is geared too high for the hills, and I'm not quite sure where I want to lock it up. Mostly taking it all the way to work is just added hassle, unless I have good reason. And the Trek? Needed cycling shoes, was too high geared, and the handlebars were all wrong for comfortable braking. So, I've added a rack (so I can use panniers), changed the pedals for some platforms with toeclips, and subjected the bars to a flip and chop job. I'm trying to change the gearing too, but I'm having to wait for the parts. Rode it this morning, and it felt... Well, dreadful if I'm honest. Don't get me wrong, the bike felt good. It was my legs that didn't. It's been a while, I'm badly out of shape, and it showed. Now I have no excuses on which bike to select though, so hopefully I'll get right back on it.

The garden is continuing to continue. The batch of seedlings I planted before Easter are dying and getting munched in the coldframe. I think it got a little too cold for the tomatos. The verbena St George I planted has been eaten - I think the snails have found it. I'll have to keep an eye on my beans and peas. Still, it's all trial and error, right? The aubretia I grew from seed last year is now flowering, and it goes really nicely with the flowering current out front, so some things work well.

And in knitting news I have completed the yoke of my Spicy Jack jumper (which I know I still haven't posted anything proper about - sorry), and started on both sleeves. The colour work is looking better than my first attempt. It's all good.

I'm nearly back, still on holiday at the moment, but hopefully be back soon. Yes.

In the meantime, here's a couple of interesting fibre-related things to have a look at.

Rachel Beth Egenhoefer - http://www.rachelbeth.net/work.html - has some interesting intersections between textile, candy and art. I'm not sure her knit negotiation sweater will catch on but it's one way to keep your hands warm while you type! She's also doing a talk in Brighton (next week. Thursday, at the Lighthouse. http://www.lighthouse.org.uk/whatson/rachel_beth_digiville.htm for more info.)

And then there's some crochet. I've not done crochet, but this might make me want to start. Yes. This project is about creating complex mathematical shapes in crochet. I do love it when several strands (I'm sorry) of my interests come together, and this definitely counts.

I did finish it, I really did. Here's the proof!

Click to read more ...

I did finish the yoda jacket, and i even have more pictures. But today I thought I probably ought to (finally) show off the finished fleece-lined jumper. I finished it in the summer, in time to wear it at cricket week, so I've been really remiss not to show it off!

Excuse the hair and the expression. I'm not totally sure what was going on with either!

The side view. Those little squares on the sleeves were to free up enough bright red to finish the sleeves! I had to buy some embroidery wool to sew up... Cut it way too close on this one.

And this one shows off the pattern. It worked. You can't see the fleece lining, but it's definitely there and cozy. I love that I can wear this over a tshirt and be toasty warm. Just what I was hoping for!