Wish I was still here...

We've just returned from our family holiday to a beautiful villa in the heart of the Ibizan countryside, where all we have done is swim, sleep, eat, read and knit (a little). I had hoped to blog before we went away but the last 24 hours before we went away took a turn for the worst when I asked my lovely daughter for the twentieth time to give me her passport (which she was looking after herself because she's a big girl now) and IT HAD EXPIRED!

At first I didn't panic as we are quite near to the main passport office in Liverpool, and they operate a 24 hour premium service. So we rang to arrange for her to go the next day to replace her passport to be told they had commenced a three day strike and there were no appointments available and we couldn't go to the office without one as security would turn us away. The lady at the end of the telephone was unfortunately, very unsympathetic. So we had a cry and a panic and tore our hair out for a while, and then decided to ring again. This time we got the loveliest of people on the phone, who did say the same thing that there were no appointments available but to get down to the office at 8 am the next morning with everything necessary and to beg! It was not the most comfortable 24 hours - but finally at ten past four in the afternoon she had a new passport and we were able to go on holiday.

Whilst there, I did manage a little of my planned holiday knitting although only in the early morning when it was relatively cool.

I knitted most of my Lost in Music cover up, I have about 4 inches to go then just the cuffs to knit.



I also cast on and did the first pattern repeat of Taj Mahal by Gudrun, using some lovely Habu Silk in a wheat colour.

I also took Orchid from the latest knitonthenet on holiday with me to get some photos of it around the pool and on a 42 inch chest as I think its a really flattering design on those of us more well endowed ladies. Here's a little selection of it from different angles - and the pool, the lovely, lovely pool!









Charlie is sixteen today. I can't quite get over it. My little girl is a young lady. We are out for a family meal this evening with her nanna and granddad and then taking her to Liverpool in the week to get her long awaited IMac laptop ready for college but for now

Ruby xx

Lots to tell but not enough time...

I will not be around to blog for just over a week, but am delighted to say in the meantime that issue 3 of www.knitonthenet.com
was published today with three of my designs in it. Thought it would only be two but I have managed to complete my turban.

The original construction just didn't work so rather than try to follow it in any way I just used the photo shown on the last post as inspiration and re-designed it from scratch.



My apologies for the really bad quality of this sketch but I have people waiting for me to leave the house! The top sketch is the original construction which ended up over 60 inches long. The second sketch is the way I have designed it, with a finished length of only 44 inches.

Here is how it looks



and from the back



I'm very pleased. Completely different method, same result.

Its made in Debbie Bliss Rialto which is a standard DK weight yarn and took 2 50gm balls, so great for using up the stash.

The pattern is here

knitonthenet have taken some great photos of my 'lost in music' design which I showed you snippets of a little while ago



I'm so pleased with the finished look - it's exactly what I had in my head. You can find the pattern for this one here

Am taking a heap of WIP's with me so will hopefully have a lot to blog about when I'm back.

but for now
Ruby x

Lost in Music

I'm not able to show you the final photos of the design I've just completed for knitonthenet as its gone to be photographed as the next mag is live in the next fortnight.

I've renamed it 'Lost in Music' in tribute to my inspiration Sister Sledge. This is my original drawing




She's my 70's disco chick.

I also took delivery today of this



I've established a few words and there are quite a few charted designs. Only downside is there's no schematics but I think with a bit of work I might be able to work out the patterns.

I've spent the last couple of days fighting with my computer to stay online long enough to do anything. Apparently our 'hub' isn't working properly. Don't even know what a hub is! Actually managed to get my images transferred to flickr and uploaded onto Ravelry so my profile doesn't look quite as sad now.

for now

Ruby x