It's just horrible living in London in a heatwave. I can't sleep. I'm up at least an hour earlier each morning in a vain attempt to beat the heat on the commuter route into work. Then I sit for 9 hours in a sauna. The fan blows hot air around my office. I can't concentrate. I have four days left at work before I finish for my holiday, and sooooo much to do in that time. It's not helping that we have someone over from Moscow visiting our offices to see how everything works, and I have him next week. Urghhh!
I had a lovely morning over at Stash Yarns, with wonderful company and air conditioning, so much so that I spent four hours or so there! No major purchases, some needles and some sock yarn (but part of this is going to be included in an exchange, so no photos).
I'd really like to finish Henley, the beaded socks and the fixation ankle socks before we go on holiday, but today chose instead to start planning my holiday knitting, and we all know how important a job this is!
I always take far too much stuff with me. I have so far never completed everything that I've taken with me. Usually I'm wasting time casting on, getting tension, discovering that I've brought the wrong needles and ripping everything out.
This year I'm planning ahead. Winding up yarn, choosing needle types and sizes.
So far we have:
One sock on one circular - 2.25mm LL Argyl, for Chris, ribbed top-down socks.
Two socks on two circulars - 2mm, Koigu, for me, short row toe-up.
One sock on one circular - 2mm, Fleece Artist, for me, toe-up using Queen Kahula's cast on, from the Crazy toes and heels book.
Mary and Jill - this is the colour we all bought in Brighton - does yours look like this? I have no idea of the colour's name, it's quite autumnal, don't you think?
I've never used Koigu or Fleece Artist for socks until now. I've read that they're very similar, and certainly side by side the yarns look nearly identical, although the koigu seems just a tad more twisted and slighly more springy when it's knitted up.
On top is the Fleece Artist; below the Koigu.
Next on the list to think about is lace knitting. What pattern, what yarn, what needles. I'll have to do a little test knitting, just to ensure that I take the right needles for the yarn and pattern. Something small I think, as lace knitting is consigned to the daylight hours. We have no electricity in the hut, just gas lighting which is rather dim. I do take various torches and lights but that's for reading in the evening. I have a forehead light which looks utterly ridiculous but is quite practical! I'll be staying at the stashflat tomorrow, so I'll hunt through the patterns and books. Quite exciting! I have the added bonus in that our holiday dates have changed, and we're not leaving until the Saturday, but I've already booked Friday off work. A whole day knitting!