Happy Halloween everyone!

I am not so keen on it myself actually but I know a lot of ppl are. I am more inclined towards the next celebration in UK, the Bonfire night on the 4th of November this year (which is this weekend). Cannot wait!!!
I was planning on wearing my Odessa hat to the venue, but it might not be the case since my Spencer gloves are far from being finished. I have to study for my presentation on Thursday, but I think I will finish them somehow.
I know there are not that many ppl reading my blog, but just to let you know I am a type of girl who is absolutely bonker about hats. I mean I have loads of them, half of my wardrobe or so. Right now I am planning to knit 3 new ones: the Beret from latest VK, a replica of Sonia Rykiel beret and the infamous Marc Jacobs Mushroom hat which I know many of you have already done. As soon as I repair my camera I ll post some pics of the yarn.

Christmas Stocking

Should I really knit yet another project, well... I can think about it later and for now I just went with a flow and started a swap Christmas project. I am doing it for a girl from another knitting blog, as it is a secret swap she has no idea I am making it for her and I will probably get my present form a completely different person of the swap group. I find this fascinating... the intrigue of missing identity I mean.
After a long time spend considering what I actually should knit, I saw this Christmas stocking at the latest VK and the issue solved itself. Christmas is a special time after all and this project does capture the meaning and spirit of the game.

I am knitting with a really strange yarn I got at a car boot sale last year for 50pence. It is a giant ball of 100% polyacrylic. I know it is cheap... but cheerful! The girl will not wear the sock, so who cares if it is soft or not. I will put a mystery personal item inside knitted from natural luxurious yarn.

My progress so far (36 rows)

Oct 2005-Oct 2006 knits

Well I just thought that since I haven't knitted much this week, I ll show you some of my previous knits.

My first ever sweater for myself. I do like it, but the way I sew it together...well it does need some re-doing to look less authentic



My first crochet shawl in camouflage, this is for home-ONLY-wear.


Jacket from VK 1999, it is too large for me even on this picture, and now it is giant since I ve lost 10kg. However, it is a perfect fit for my grandma and she loves it.

My beloved hand warmers from Rowan 38, absolutely adore them and want to knit another pair in sutler colours so that the lace motif could be seen

Ahhhhh, my crocheted bolero, well I will frog it in the future...

Another piece from German Verena, but again it is too large for me now

Baby-children knits

Jacket from Phildar for my niece. It took me absolute ages to finish as it has all the details adult clothes does


Matching combo from Phildar. My most proud of piece, I think I did a good job with it.


This was a present for my sisters 4th birthday. Pattern from VK 1999, yarn Rowan Cotton Glaze, so far it is the only Rowan yarn I hate.



And yet another present for my niece, this is.... well how much my imagination stretches with Barbie pink colour.

14 hrs of sleep and no knitting again

Cannot believe it, but I actually slept for 14 hours last night, but I didn't sleep for the whole week before, I mean I only slept like 3hrs a night and it drove me ballistic.
I subsequently had absolutely no time left for knitting and these 3 projects are pressurising me by simply lying in their box. Each time I look at the box I feel a huge guilt growing in me.
At least I went to see a really good movie 'The History Boys'. Anyone interested please go and watch it, wont regret. It hasn't been anything nice coming out recently with Halloween on the way ppl are only interesting in something horror or in girl-type silly things, like 'Devil wears Prada', which I did watch and hugely regretted the wasted 2hrs of my life.
Coming back to The history Boys: it is funny and sad just in right proportion and it does grab you for some time. So, I've been thinking about what makes a good movie? I guess for me it is something personal in it: it either makes a connection to you through some experience, or you just feel a shadow of the strong feelings being portrayed beautifully, or you simply appreciate the art side of it. My boyfriend loves movies with good lines/ phrases (these are mostly British made, coz admit it, Brits are better with their language)

Veg quest

I was looking through blogs today and came across http://www.veganpal.blogspot.com/, sadly it is too late to participate now as everybody has already recieved its partner, but hey, at least I can have a a quest itself.

1.) What is your craft, & how long have you been doing it?
I am a knitter and have been this way since 6 years old, though I became completely mad about it just over a year ago. The thing is I used to be a passionate embroidery fan, particularly cross-stitch, but since I am working with microscopes my vision started to worsen and so I was advised by ophthalmologist to give up my hobby and find something more eye-friendly, so I re-discovered knitting
2.) Are you a vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, veg-friendly or other?
I am vegetarian and have been this way for the past 6 years now, at one point i went all way to vegan but it wast that healthy for me, so I m only a vegetarian these days. And oh yes, I do eat fish...
3.) What is your favorite color(s)? Do you particularly dislike a color(s)?
I don't have a favorite colour actually, but it seems like I am more on the classical part with the majority of my clothes being black and grey. I don't like very bright-acidic looking colours or something completely randomly put together
4.) Do you have any allergies (such as pets, foods or cigarette smoke)?
OK, that is freaking but the only thing I am allergic to is horse chestnut, but as it is such a rare thing I say have none
5.) Do you have any companion animals? If so, names and types?
Oh, I wish I had a cat or a small dog, but I am not allowed to keep a pet in my flat right now
6.) Do you collect anything?
I collect Barbie dolls and used to collect small teddies, but only very small ones.
7.) Do you have a favorite vegan food, snack or dish? If no fav that's vegan (for those who aren't vegan), what's your favorite food? (Hopefully your pal can find a vegan version!)
Oh...: backed apples (as a desert since I am dieting), backed cauliflower and grilled tuna (but this is not actually vegan sorry)
8.) What tools/supplies/accessories for your craft(s) are you wishing you had but don't? Also, what do you have TOO many of? (basically a wish and anti-wish list)
I love Addi turbo needles, have loads of them but not the full stock yet, so I am working on it, I also want to get hold of the hairpin
9.) What type of handmade item would tickle your fancy? What don't you like? (Keep in mind this swap is open to all types of crafters.)
Oh, I love most of the hand-made things, that is I don't really fancy crochet items with too many flowers or holes in the pattern, better something knitted with needles
10.) Is there anything else you would like your pal to know about you?
I don't know really since no one had bothered to leave a comment on my blog yet, maybe I ll think about it later and amend it

Frogging

Had to do a very sad thing today: to frog 2/3 of the back of the lovely Phildar cardi I ve started this summer. Never thought I would have to say it, bt losing weight is disadvantageous for your current knitting projeckts. As I ve slimmed down from 44/46- 40/42 in 4 months, I didnt realise it would affect my cardi, stupid I suppouse. So now I have to redo the whole thing and it is not a small job to do. Here is the cardi

I am also knitting River form Rowan 38 as a matching compliment for one of my self-adapted designes. Here is the latest version of the update and the hat itself as I have not yet posted it

Finished bolero

Hurray, I have finished my latest bolero from the German mag, but I ve changed it to fit my body and played with the yarn a bit.

No knitting today

Unfortunately for me... Uni takes a lot of my time these days, had lectures 9-16 and now have to prepare a short presentation for tom, short yes, but I ve left it till the end and have to do it now. Just want to kniiiiiiit.

Well, I am overwise working on the new bolero from the German Verena #3/2006. Have 100gr of Gedifra Merino DeLuxe left from the jacket I knitter this spring and I want to see it gone. Dont think the yarn s really that appropriate for this model as it is great for cables and not so for lace, but what can I do? Have tried around 15 models already and none fitthed the yarn.

This is the picture of the old sweater

Old knits #2: Odessa Hat

Famous Odessa hat in my version, very simple istruction to follow and it is comfortable to wear. Want to knit matching Spencer gloves like Elizabeth from Mingled Yarn

My old knits

Just decided to show you some of my previous work, for this post it will be my most recent piece: jacket form German Sabrina 06/06, took me 2 weeks to knit coz didnt have enough yarn, had to re-do the sleeves completely in a smaller size, but it still fits well, strange thing...

Oh, just click on the picture to get a better view

First post - 100 things about me

1.My real name is Anastasia, but since it s not truly English, people do pronounce it wrongly and I shortened it to Ana
2. As you can guess from my name I am Russian but have been living in UK for the past 5 years, this is my 6th year
3. I did also live in US for a year
4. I did my undergrad in Medical Genetics and absolutely loved it
5. I do love reading 100 things at other people’s blogs, so I thought this should be fun
6. It is not such fun as I have absolutely no idea what to write next
7. Well I am utterly awful at spelling as I am dyslexic
8. Sorry if some one is already offended by my poor punctuation.
9. This blog will be mostly about my knitting as it is my main hobby now. But there might be some other things as well ;)
10. I knit because it is fun and soothing; don't remember how it felt when I didn't know how to knit.
11. However, I did not knit for some years and came back to it just under 2 years ago.
12. I embodied a lot in the past (instead of knitting) but it was too demanding for my eyes
13. So my ophthalmologist told me to quit.
14. Never the less you can see I always was crafty
15.If anyone is interested I can show my cross-stitch work
16.I am vegetarian but do eat fish
17.Hate the smell of fried bacon, any pork food actually
18. I just love food up to the point when it gets absurdly and scary
19. For instance, I love tuna fish: can eat it fried, grilled, backed, canned and even boiled.
20. In fact, the smell of fried-grilled tuna is my favourite smell in the world.
21. My boyfriend cooks the best tuna ever because lots of people have no idea they suppose to marinate it in lemon juice prior to cooking
22. I also remember how many calories most of the food contains and it freaks out people around me
23. I don't consider prepared frozen or junk food as food, McDonald's is not a food chain it is national disaster.
24. Getting away from the food issue, since I do have an issue about it... I want to have a pet but unfortunately cannot have one right now
25. Cannot decide whether I will prefer a cat, a dog or a ferret…
26. Ferret does seem like a lot of fun but it might eat all my yarn
27. I am truly unorganised, so when I am knitting yarn is all over my flat, even in the kitchen (particularly when I try felting)
28. I can never work on only one project
29. Usually it is something like 3-4 at a time.
30. My wish list would be soooooo long I wont even bother making one
31. I've been knitting a jacket-sweater for my boyfriend for the past year and frogged it like 20 times
32. Secretly I think I will never finish it.
33. He doesn't know about it.
34. I've been going out with my boyfriend for over 5 years now
35. In fact we are living together and he has to put up with me and my hobby
36. Friends say I have a mental age of 9.
37. Just to prove it: I collect Barbie dolls, the collectible ones
38. So far I have 21 and there is no space in my flat to display them.
39. I also love books, only until I have to move and pack them.
40. I do try to clear my book shelves twice a year but it doesn't help much
41. I love stupid tearful romantic books with happy endings
42. Same applies to movies
43. I have a full collection of Jane Austen books and BBC period drama adaptations on them
44. I love BBC period drama
45. I hate scary movies as they scare the shit out of me and I am afraid to sleep in the dark.
46. I never read or watched 'Lord of the Rings'.
47. Don't have TV at all, so just watch DVD
48. I love rock music…
49. Silverchair is my all time favourite
50. In fact, I am sort of a fan, but I never been to any of their gigs, just love the music
51. Ok, that does sound pathetic, one day I will go (when they are in UK)
52. I don't like rap and folk music
53. I wish I could play the piano, but I am too lazy to learn
54. I think I will learn it in the future
55. I don't know how to play it because my parents forced me to learn and I was a very rebellious child
56. I have a huge family as my parents are divorced and re-married
57. I am the oldest child
58. Had to help with younger brother and sisters and so still not ready to think about kids
59. My family is so large my friends can never remember all the connections
60. They think I should make a sitcom about them
61. I don't like some of my relatives
62. Fortunately I do live in a different country
63. But I do love my close relatives
64. I do live in the Hall and the flat
65. That is why I put two locations in my personal info
66. I can never sleep properly in the hall as it is too noisy
67. My flatmates think I am a cleaning freak and a very boring person since all I do is clean the shared kitchen and complain about the lack of sleep I am getting
68. I have to live in the hall because I am doing my Masters in London and my boyfriend works in Cambridge
69. It takes 2.5hrs to commute between them
70. I hate underground in London (but so is almost everyone in London)
71. I hope to do my masters well so would be able to apply for my PhD in Cambridge.
72. I did my undergraduate thesis on fruit flies and killed lots of them in the process
73. This year I am doing something more human related-Brk and cell cycle (Brk is involved in certain types of breast cancer).
74. Oh yes, I am mastering in Molecular Medicine with Cancer Research
75. I love my masters, modules are so challenging; I can literally feel my personal development.
76. I am I strong believer that science is fun!
77. I did want to be a doctor before but collapsed in the pathology department during the interview at med school (autopsy is not something for my stomach).
78. Seriously glad I am not a doctor (yeah, spared lots of humiliating moments in my life)
79. I want to be a lecture in Uni and do academic research
80. I am pathetic when it comes to finance, though I love maths
81. My boyfriend looks after my money (thank God for it)
82. He also has to stop me from buying more yarn
83. In fact my yarn stashes are absolutely massive, have no idea when I will knit it all but I still buy more yarn.
84. I love German and French Knitting mags coz they have diagrams
85. I do make my own diagrams to most things I am knitting if there is not one available.
86. I still haven't tried many techniques I would like to.
87. But really, this is no end to learning, so I will never learn everything
88. I took pottery and black and white photography classes before but didn’t find them as relaxing as knitting
89. I do love badminton but have no chance to practice now coz had an operation on my toe
90. I am dieting most of the time now coz I was on hormone therapy and gained 20kg
91. I lost 8kg already but it is a tough thing to do as I sooooooo love chocolate.
92. Haven't tasted chocolate since 23rd of June...... After 3 months I learned that it is possible to live without it and cravings kind of stopped
93. Quitting sweets is definitely easier then smoking (I stopped 5 years ago, but sometimes cravings kick in)
94. I manage to replace the satisfaction that I would have normally got from food with yarn shopping
95. I don’t have that much free time but I force myself to visit gym
96. My mojo to loose weigh is knitting related: the thinner you get, the less yarn you need for the garment (so you safe money and time)!
97. Not bad, let’s see how I will look at summer
98. I get inspiration for my knitting at other people’s blogs
99. In fact I find them more inspirational then knitting books (you get to see a garment in real life conditions/day light/ on normal bodies)
100. I don't always comment on blogs but still thank you for being there.