Day 2

One day down 6 more to go... Well excluding last night it is not that difficult! During the day I was too busy to think about food much and plain food for lunch haven't bother me, but the evening came and all have changed.
I was super hungry, do not think it was a real physiological hunger more like me being so used to having a nice dinner with my DB. And he was having his in front of me and watching the great British menu where they showed an amazing fish pie. Have to say it did nearly resulted in me suffocating from excess saliva ;) Tough, I really had to pull all my concentration, hopefully it will get better today.

On the positive site: I did not get any headache in the evening! I was experiencing a lot of saltiness on the back of my throat through out the day (this was very annoying) and to my goals. I managed to go down to 2.5L all together (by 1.5L I have meant cold water I take during the day but also I am having a large cup of warm one before meal intakes and in the evening). And I am 76.4kg today, I know it is not fat yet, just excess liquid but still I do feel better and less bloated.

I am back...

Hi, I am back or sort of back... I will be using this blog to keep me motivated with my weight loss and not knitting because really I do not have much time for knitting with work completely taking over for now. In August I have started WW but did not like it and after coming back from a conference in September decided to take more drastic measures by completely cutting down some carbs and sweets and going to the gym 3-4 times a week. I did lose 10kg and started to feel much better...

However with work being the way it is now I have no time for the gym and want to start running in the morning instead because I could do it at 6-7am before work. But with my current weight it is a bit tricky, 3K in 25min is my maximum with 2 short breaks and being out of breath for the next 40min. Another issue is salt. I love salt, I am addicted to it and can eat by itself, and as a result my joints are starting to hurt. Last two weeks had been particularly painful as my 2nd MCP on the right hand was killing me and what is worse preventing my lab work.

To do it ideally I would like to fast for 40days... My parents are both huge fans of water fasting and have been doing it at least once a year for the past 10 or so years, but I could only manage 10 days once. So I am not sure I can do it right now. Instead I am starting a buckwheat diet for the next 7 days. And if I am fine after it I will reconsider a 40 day water fast.

The diet is simple I can eat up to 250g of hot water boiled buckwheat a day with no butter/oil/salt added to it, absolutely plain, with last consumption being at 7pm (6 hours before sleep) I can also drink as much water as I fancy.

So, today is day 1: My weight is 78kg and currently I am consuming a minimum of 2.5-3L of water a day (not counting tea and coffee).
My goal is to lose 6-8kg and most importantly lower my water consumption to 1.5L a day.

I will be measuring my blood sugar levels in the mornings (starting tomorrow) and hopefully with blog daily to keep myself motivated.

2008 Olympics Part II: Flow top

Second project that was born on a wimp, got the yarn, spend the night thinking what pattern to knit and got on with it. To me it wasn't about knitting Olympics and finishing this one on time, I just wanted to know whether I will have enough yarn to finish and will it fit me or not.

Pattern: Flow by Noragh Gaughan from Berroco Noragh Gaughan vol 2
Yarn: 3 skews of SweetGeorgia Yarns Buttercrunch in natural indigo dye (sheds a lot when at work)
Size: 38 but knitted 30 due to a huge gauge difference
Needles: 4.5mm
Modifications: I didn't have enough yarn to finish the neckband and armbands, so I omitted them which still looks great with this yarn

2008 Olympics Part I: German Stockings

I am having a great knitting weekend, some WIPs are getting finished in reasonable time!
As I wrote before I've decided on knitting German Stockings for this years summer Olympics but half way through realised it wasn't as challenging as I thought. So I've started an additional project (Flow top, Ravelry link). Both are now done!!!

Here is first instalment: German Stockings

Pattern: German Stockings by Cookie A.
Yarn: 1.5skews of Mama Blue Knitting Goods Simple Merino Sock in colour Naked on a Tuesday
Needles: Addi 2.5mm
Time taken to knit: 8 days

Eye candy Saturday

Does this get your knitting mojo back?

What I did this summer

Well... I am not blogging again. This past month was pretty hectic, not only from work point of you, but also socially. We had 3-5 afterwork things a week and I did make it to most of them. DB and me also travelled up north to visit the Peak district and Chatsworth (the house of Mr Darcy ;)). I was not really taken by it, but grounds are stunning, a must visit for everyone.



Knitting-vice I finished one pair of socks, started another pair, bought quite a bit of yarn, and selected my Ravelry-Olympic project. It's German Stockings by Cookie A. Something I long wanted to knit and something I know I will wear a lot because Anna socks have been worn extensively though winter.

I leave you with Kusha Kusha scarf pics ( did I tell you I LOVE it)
Enjoy the rest tof your knitting weekend ;)

Project: Kusha Kusha Scarf (Kit-78) by Setsuko Torii
Yarn: 1 skew of Habu Silk Stainless A-20/21 1/20 in black and 1 skew of

Habu Super Fine Merino A-177 in colourway 56
Needles: 3.25mm, 3.5mm, 4mm and 5mm

Jasmine

Hey, I am back from Russia! There are two new projects I ought to blog about but first is long anticipated Jasmine. I am not happy with the knit, don't get me wrong, the model itself is great, it is me not knitting the right size. It ended up being huge, something in between 1 to 2 sizes too large. Please note, it is pinned on all pictures and on one stretches to fit properly. Too bad as I am not going to wear it, anyone interesting in having it?

Привет, я вернулась из отпуска в России! За это время начала 2 новые вязалки, но цначала фотки Жасмин. Мне готовый вариант не нравится: слишком болшой. Сама модель очень хорошая, но мой связанный размер на 1-2 размера слишком большой. На всех фотках кофта присборина, а на второй ещё и сильно натянута, что бы показать как я бы её хотела, и она и была бы свяжи я свой размер. Я не буду носить, кто-нибудь хочет забрать?

Pattern: Jasmine by Kim Hargreaves (Nectar)
Yarn: 6.2 balls of Rowan 4-ply Cotton in colour shale for size 40"
Needles: 2.5mm and 3.00mm

Модель: Жасмин от Ким Харгреавес (из сборника Нектар)
Пряжа: 6.2 мотка Rowan 4-ply Cotton в цвете Shale на размер 40"
Спицы: 2.5мм и 3.00мм

Splash of colour

I love bright colours: oranges, raspberry pinks, all shades of yellows and greens. Over the course of my life I've lived in different professionally decorated houses: form 18th century rococo museum type to Kelvin Klein minimalistic ones. I am not comfortable in any of them, I feel out of place, it is either way over the top or scarily clean. I like airy and colourful flats, where I do not feel guilty for leaving a cup of coffee on a table, where I can store all my books and just a right amount of clutter ;) Currently the flat I'm renting is quite frankly boring and since I cannot do any proper changes, I am left to play with decorations. So yesterday I got 9 lovely prints from a great etsy shop I've been eyeing for some time now. I will frame them in a pine wood frames (2 inches deep), all identical size and display above the sofa.
Я очень люблю яркие, насыщенные цвета: все оттенки оранжевого, малиново-розового, жёлтого и зелёного. За свою жизнь я успела пожить в разных домах, все они были префессионально декорированны от Барокко 18-го века до полного минимализма. И во всех них я не чувствовала себя камфортно, тк все они были доведины до совершенства: либо слишком напыщенные, либо до ужаса стерильные. Сама я предпочитаю много света и цвета, квартиры в корорых я могу оставить кружку из под кофе на столе, поместить все мои книги и кучу моих мелочей ;) В настоящее время я снимаю очередную квартиру и в ней нельзя делать ничего в ремонтном плане, но можно играть с декором. Вот так вчера я ноконец-то купила 9 принтов, которые оформлю в одинаковые рамочки из светлого дерева где-то в 5-ть см глубиной и повешу как группу(как на картинке) над диваном в вязальном углу зала. Купила их в давно мной посещаемом магазинчике на (см ссылку выше)

Waiting /Ожидая

Recently my life is all about waiting: for the rain to stop and summer to come (seriously it is like +15 in June!), for my flies to hatch, so I could get on with my life, for my holiday break in a week form now, for buttons to arrive (Jasmine is done but there are no buttons), for my extra pounds to drop off...
В последнее время всё, что я делаю-это жду чего-то. Жду когда же прекратится доздь и потеплеет (+15 для июня слишком холодно), жду когда вылупятся мушки и я смогу начать экперимент, жду начала отпуска через неделю, жду пуговицы для Jasmine, жду когда же начнут таять мои кг.


I am knitting in a meantime, my long going-never-lasting-shawl. It was supposed to be a present for my grandma, but I know I would not be able to finish it in time. I do NOT like the yarn, have to push myself cursing at every row (it is 144 now).
А пока я жду я вяжу мою никогда-не-увижу-ей-конца-шаль. Задумывалась она ещё для бабушки в подарок, но теперь уже точно не успею закончить. Меня просто бесит в работе пряжа (помните я ещё долго не могла модель на неё подобрать), вяжу и хаю каждый ряд (так уже до 144 дошла)

At least I finally received some lovely yarn to make B-Side Cardigan
А ещё я получила вот такую красивую пряжу на кардиганчик (по ссылке сверху можно посмотреть)

pre WW

Last week I had my mum and bro visiting for a day (actually they came for UEFA Cup final in Manchester, but after the game made it down to Cambridge). I am not really keen on being photographed as I am never happy about the way I come out, but my bro had an interesting lens. These are my pre-WW pictures. I am in my week 2 (have a weighting on Tuesday), and so far it looks like I've lost 2.5kg (5.5lb)!!!

Hеделю назад ко мне приезжали мама и брат (вообще-то они приезжали на матч Зенит- Rangers), даже сделали несколько фотографий. Решила их поставить дабы документировать как я выглядела до "очковой диеты". Уже минус 2.5кг!






The last pic is me at work in one of the 25C CT rooms for fly husbandry. I am holding a tray with Alzheimer model flies, see how happy I look. Love my new lab!
А это я в комнте-инкубаторе со своими мушками, больными Алзгеймером; я даже выгляжу на ней счастливой, первая моя такая фотка!



Also last night Russia won at Eurovision! I am a huge fan of the show(although it is considered bad taste, frankly I don't care;)) and Russia never won before, I am very-very happy. Next year competition will be in Moscow and I will definitely try to go in person.

А ещё я так рада, что Россия победила на Евровидении, я большая фанатка конкурса (хотя это и считается показателем плохого вкуса), раз на следующий год будет в Москве, попробyю сходить (ну если время урву)

WW and going bi-lingual (possibly)

This again is a non-knitting post, just an update on what I am up to. Well.... I did a lot of misery eating during my rough times and put on 10kg, which is a LOT of weight. I kind of was in denial about it as I naturally prefer hugging clothes. But 2 weeks ago it struck me that I was completely out of breath after running up the stairs. It wasn't just about the way I looked it was about not being fit enough for my job (I run and stand a lot). It was time to do something.

A friend of mine told me about Weight Watchers, she wanted to go herself, so we ended up signing up together. Yesterday was my first proper weighting (after 1 full week on the points system), and I've lost 1kg (2lb)! So, I am definitely sticking to it.

Another thing is, I was thinking of carrying this blog in two languages (English and Russian) but seriously is there a point in doing it?

Changes

No I haven't fallen of the Earth... only just. I went through quite a bit of changes in my life since my last post, such as completely leaving my PhD, and then fortunately starting afresh in a new lab. Its been over 6 weeks at the new place, so I am starting to feel as my former self (although I doubt I will be the same as these things change you). I haven't been knitting at all since February until last weekend, didn't have any incentive or energy to do anything really. But I am hoping to come back soon.

This a picture of me with my parents' cat last month.

Hazy Shade of Christmas

It's been almost 20 days since Christmas already! Time truly flies! Today is Russian old New Year, a weird celebration of New Year based on the old calendar. So I’ve decided to finish of with 2007 by blogging about my last two FOs from it.

First one is a shawl for my boyfriend's mum. She loves that particular colour so when it came to choosing a shawl pattern I opted for something simple. This way it is the yarn which dominates the knit not the pattern itself.


Model: Icarus from IK Summer 2006
Yarn: 0.87 balls of Sundara Yarns Lace in Hazy Shade of Christmas
Needles: Addi lace circulars 3.25mm


Second one is Mad Colour Wave socks. I was not sure about the colour for some time, but now I actually think it works!


Model: Mad Color Wave
Yarn: 1 skew of Sunshine Yarns Twisted Sock in Colorado Sunset
Needles: 2.5mm

I also want to thank you guys for your comments on the previous post. The sawl was ripped and re-born as Muir. So far I’ve completed 2 full repeats out of min of 10 and it looks great. Thank you ever so much!

Not sure

Not sure that this works… What do you think?
I’ve tried over ten patterns with this strange yarn, but none of it worked. This one is the best of the lot, but I am still not fully convinced. The swatch is washed by the way

Coming to a halt!

Happy New year everyone, I hope this year will be very productive! Since it is Holidays and I do not have to go to Uni that much, I have time to sit and organise my knits. I have a number of hibernating WIPs, some of them I had an urge to complete before 2008.
So, I knitted like mad, finishing almost everything (a part of lacy-bobble bolero, which is a summer material). The big bulk was Demi.
Started in early January 2007(back completed) it struck me as being hard and consequently laid forgotten in the bottom of my WIPs basket, until 5 days ago. I picked it up, started working on the front and absolutely fell in love. The pattern now seems so easy and interesting (maybe my skill had vastly improved over last year). I finished the front, realised the back armpit decreases were wrong, frogged, re-knitted; knitted the neck band, left sleeve and almost entire right sleeve (30 rows left)…. ran out of yarn! The pattern calls for 7 balls, well it looks like it is 7.1. While waiting for that ball I will have to put the whole sweater back in the basket and start my Christmas knitting. Shame really…
What Christmas Knitting? That is right; while everyone else feels relieved it is over, I have yet to visit my family in mid-February, so presents are yet to be done. I will post soon on it, telling what pattern I will be knitting (or have already started)

The Achievement!

I know I have several FOs to blog about, but all I want to write today about is Kaffe Fassett’ pillow. It took me absolute ages to complete. It drove me to insanity: often I felt like putting the whole damned thing to flames. I think it is my one and only block knitting project.
I was so fed up with it that once finished; I could not bring myself to sewing it together. So, my boyfriend did it! His first ever machine sewn piece (I am very proud). A collective effort in the end!

Model: Natural Tumbling Blocks by Kaffe Fassett (Rowan Club kit)
Yarn: Rowan Rowanspun 4-ply, 1 ball for each colour 701, 702, 704, 705, 706, 710
Needles: Addi circulars 4.5mm
Time: August 2006-December 2007
For my grandpa

Stripy hat for DB

Ever since I saw this wonderful hat I knew I was meant to knit it. I wanted the exact replica: slouchy, alpaca-y, and stripy. I even went as far as purchasing the same yarn and counting down the exact number of rows for each colour. All of this only to realise, the colours did not work for me but did for my boyfriend, so I made it only 2/3 of the way.

Pattern: Palisel Hat by ever talented Olga
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight in colours 507, 508, and 510
Needles: 4.00mm and 5.00mm
Modifications: only knitted it 2/3 of the way but keeping the original striping

What is cooking?

Hooray, I am finally blogging about my ongoing projects, not just posting images of the finished ones!
First it is Mad Colour Sock knitted in Sunshine yarn. I love the pattern; love the yarn….but the colour itself…. Well, it is called Colorado sunset and in a skew it looked magnificent, in the knitting however it is a totally different story…



I’ve never seen Colorado sunset but this to me looks more like Gauguin’s Marquesas period. The pooling is psychedelic, cannot make out whether I like it or hate it. Interesting part of this knit is the fact I wanted to find the pattern to suit variegated yarn. My only previous experience of variegated was Monkey socks (which I have to admit turned out rather bad as yarn overshadowed the pattern) and this time around I wanted it to work. So, I hunted for some lovely yarn to knit this pattern. Still not convinced though fitting is great and yarn itself is fantastic.

Second, it is Icarus shawl for my boyfriend’s mum. It is done after almost three full weeks of knitting. The pattern is nice and simple but having 500sts in a row was new to me. I will wash and block it soonish, so expect FO pics soon

Birthday present

For my boyfriend…




Model: Beau from Rowan Vintage Knits
Yarn: 7.1 balls of Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran in colour Muffin
Needles: 4.00mm and 5.00mm
Modification: sleeves are 10cm longer (done to his particular specification)


And from left-overs…


Model: Zeebee
Yarn: 0.8 ball of Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran in colour Muffin
Needles: 4.00mm
Modifications: made 5 repeats instead of 4

Helmet Hat Pattern

Finally the pattern for this hat is done, sorry for 7 months delay...

This is a very simple pattern, easily adjustable to fit and looks good with variegated yarn.

Yarn: I have used slightly over 1 ball of Gedifra Fashion Trend Color in colour 4567 (roughly about 100yards). This is very inconvenient unless you already have some of that yarn as left-overs (I had, so going over 1 ball made no difference). Any Sport weight yarn suitable for US 6-8 (4.00-5.00mm) will work.

Gauge: 15st x 20rs (10cm x 10cm/ 4inch x 4inch)

Needles: 4-5mm (US 6-8) circulars. I knit using magic loop, but you can chose to work with DPN or any length of circulars.

Size: 56cm (standard) adjust by adding removing pattern repeats

Pattern: [3K, 3P]*

Also you need crochet hook (same size as your needles) and extra yarn for cast on (try to use same type as your hat yarn).

With crochet hook cast on 84sts (28 pattern repeats). Change to needles and your hat yarn: [K3, P3] x 14. Carefully enclose the ring (take care not to twist). Now continue knitting in your pattern for 12cm (here 24rows).

Decreases:

Note: Knit 3 rows keeping the pattern after each decrease row!

Start decreasing in the P3 regions of the pattern only. P2tog first two sts in every following purl region (i.e. K3, P2tog, P1, K3, P3). You now have 77sts.

Repeat decreases with the P3 regions you have not decreased last time. You will now have 70sts left and pattern will be [K3, P2] x 14.

Repeat decreases as above until you have [K3, P1] x 14 pattern and 56sts.

Decrease as above but now with SKPO (sl1, k1, psso) instead of P2tog; first by decreasing P1, then K3. Continue until you will have 14K sts left. SKPO every second sts in one row, so you have only 7sts left. Cut yarn and with either crochet hook or needle close and secure those sts. You now have main body of the hat.

To make the helmet, remove waste cast on and put a needle through all stitches, you will now work in opposite direction from previous knitting!

Using markers, select 33 front sts (starting and finishing with P3); this will be your forehead region.

Row1 (RS): Join the yarn just in front of your first marker; P1, P2tog, cast off front 27 sts, P2tog, P1, finish the row following the pattern. You will now knit only the ear flops and the back having both right and wrong sides.

Row 2 (WS): SKPO, work the pattern until last 2 sts, K2tog

Row 3: SKPO, work the pattern until last 2 sts, K2tog.

You now have 15 sts of first ear flop (K3, P3, K3, P3, K3), 21sts of the back and 15sts of second ear flop (K3, P3, K3, P3, K3).

Knit following pattern for 7 more rows and close the back 21sts leaving only ear flop regions to be worked separately. You might wish to make the back region longer, mine is 5cm longer.

Ear flops are knitted using the same decreases method as in the main body of the hat. Keep decreasing until you have only 3 sts remaining, K3tog and secure the end.

That’s it! You have your own helmet hat! Mine took under 2hrs from initial measurements to the end result ;)