| Archive for Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns The Friendly UK Board that invites Knitters, Crocheters, Dressmakers, Quilters, Patchworkers, Jewellery makers and Paper Crafters to join in our chat about Craft |
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Tour de France KAL --DEADLINE for sign-upsI have just signed up for this... I'll be wearing a red polka dot jersey!!!!http://tdfkal.blogspot.com/ n |
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| CJ |
ooo, me too  I'm going to knit something lacey, but in lace weight!! need to get an idea to tie in with tour de france theme now.
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| KnittingLadybird |
can you knit a frog on a bike?
....sorry...i'm not feeling very politically correct right now 
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| CJ |
KLB 
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| Aknita |
KLB you naughty ladybird! Very funny.
I am so going to sign up for this - it's brilliant! I'm going to be a green jersey girl I think! |
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| n |
I'm going to spin (cyclists do that to keep fit) and then knit something afterwards.
The reason I chose the Polka Dot jersey is that the King of the Mountains section is supposed to be a challenge.... and my personal challenge will be to find the time!!! n |
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| n |
And it means we get to ogle all those nice bottoms... ooops, did I say that? n PS, the blog KAL is fab though, isn't it? DEADLINE for sign-ups is 3pm on the 7th July when the Tour starts... and at least one of the KAL organisers is in Australia so be quick or you'll need to do it in the middle of the night to catch her! |
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| Aknita |
The blog KAL is indeed fab! Right up my street ( or cyclepath  ) so to speak. I have emailed now so will wait to hear - it's so exciting!
Carolinne, are you joining in? |
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| n |
I am going to number, or perhaps it should be numero, all the Limited Edition sock yarn in the shop in French for the duration of the Tour! I'm up to vingt-cinq so far...
hee hee, this is fun! n |
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| Aknita |
I've just had a very quick response and am in! It's tres exciting to say the least. I just need to work out EXACTLY what to knit avec le French Connection! | ||
| n |
I'm officially in too.... where did I put those tight shorts? Do you think they'll hide the cellulite?
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| YarnAddict |
Can't decide. Got so many projects otn at the moment. Several 2nd socks to finish, new stole design, new sock design, new scarf design, seveal scarves, shawls, bags taht need to be finished. Maybe my challenge should be to finish some of my wips.  I'll need to think about this for a while. Simon used to be keen on TdeF but has't watched it for a hwile. I'm not that fussed about it but watch it if Simon is.
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| CJ |
eeek, I emailed last night and am not yet in 
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| n |
I sent to both addresses, you never know when one person is offline.
It was Debby who replied. Picking out my roving this morning.... n |
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| CJ |
I've just resent it to her now, thanks n.
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| n |
So... less than 19 hours to go before we start... who's in training?
Have you got your pattern picked out and your needles polished? I have chosen my roving and whirled the wheel to make sure it's ready to spin at 3pm tomorrow. TV coverage is on ITV4 at 2.45 pm ... I have my chair in a good position (though I don't know if I can spin and watch)... so I will be spinning and listening with the odd glance at a bottom or two.... n
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| CJ |
I'm in as well now, yay. 
First off I'm going to hand-dye some laceweight yarn red, white and blue. And maybe some in a light teal colour (can't stand yellow really ). then, I'm either going to knit a mountain peaks shawl with the teal, or my own scarf design using horseshoe stitch with the red, white and blue.
Please help me decide which to do, I'm trying to go for a mountain theme, as I'm a polka dot gal.
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| Aknita |
I think the Mountain Peaks sounds great Christina.
I've had a bit of trouble deciding what to do! At the moment I am thinking of knitting the Wool Pedlar's Shawl from the Victorian England section of Cheryl Oberle's Folk Shawls to celebrate the Tour starting in England. Le French Connection is not as easy as it sounds! |
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| n |
They do say that it could be something chic to wear at one of the Cafes on the Champs Elysee while sipping your chocolat and eating patisserie.....
Sommes nous pret mes amis? En garde!!! n |
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| CJ |
right, I've decided. I swatched last night for the mountain peaks shawl. I'm doing the lightweight version on mimknits website, but using normal laceweight on 3.25mm needles. Using some gorgeous 1ply merino from Uruguay in colours, wait for it - yellow and green!!! So, I think with the mountain theme and the cycling colours, that should be ok.
Only problem is, the pattern has lace stitches on WS rows too, and a knitted on border, neither of which I've ever done, not to mention a couple of short rows. 
was a minor panic yesterday, as the kids hid the sky card  and I thought no eurosport, but DH found it later in the video, so we're now all set.
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| Aknita |
I'm glad you have decided CJ!
I have decided too. I am going to knit a Forest Canopy using the Violet Green yarn Dreamcatcher sent me ( I am a Maillot Vert after all ) and I think that would look tres chic anywhere never mind the Champs Elysse! Mange Tout ( as Del Boy would say ) |
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| n |
Is anyone else doing this.... go on, you know you want to.
Croissant au chocolat, anyone? n |
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| Aknita |
Oh, and where am I this afternoon? From 3:00 - 10:00 - work, that's where I am  no Wimbledon, no Tour nothing
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| CJ |
oh no, work.
Only 3/4 of an hour to go, then the coverage is supposed to start on eurosport. Have sent DH into the garden with the kids to knacker them out before it starts. 
I've even updated my blog with a tour theme and am pledging to blog every day of the tour. Actually, I might be away walking on the last weekend, so DH has said he'll do it for me.
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| n |
Okay, energy drink in the water bottle (hic!... well we are in the T de F).
Elbows out to create a bit of space. Ready.... ? Who's that I can see in the crowd over there? n |
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| CJ |
well, I enjoyed that and so did the kids. How fast was that bloke that won the prologue. 
DS took one look at the bikes, then ran outside to go on his. Previously he's not been able to peddle at all, but it seems watching the blokes on the bikes spurred him on, and he can now ride his bike - with stabilisers, of course, he's not yet 4!!
And I've started my shawl, but it's really hard. I've done 28 rows so far, but I'm not sure I'll finish it before the start of the tour next year, let alone this one.  The yarn looks nice anyway, so I'll plod on doing a few rows each night. Thankfully the chart shows you where to put in markers and it's a repeated pattern.
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| Aknita |
I am having a break!!! DS1 was there today and hopefully has taken lots of piccies - how lucky is he. And thanks to the miracle that is VHS when I get home I shall sit and watch.
Well done on 24 rows CJ - that sounds a lot of rows to me! All this talk of prologues - I feel a Frankie Howerd moment coming on! No, listen..... |
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| n |
That shawl is a real challenge. You are well deserving of the spotty jersey.
28 rows is a wonderful start. I have half a bobbin of single done, but I won't get much done tomorrow. n |
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| CJ |
Lucky DS1, Joy.  I'm very envious, it looked a lovely day to be there.
and thanks, I think I may have bitten off a bit more than I can chew, but I can always put it aside to do other things if it gets a bit too taxing. And I reckon it won't be long till I'll only be doing one or two rows a day. But I still have to blog each day of the tour, and knit my tour socks, as well.
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| Aknita |
When I have a moment I shall make a blog post - meanwhile here is something to whet our appetites from yesterday courtesy of DS1 who was at Hyde park
Just look at the colour of that London Sky
Right, off to see a bit of Wimbledon now! |
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| CJ |
great photo.
I've cast on another laceweight project, as I reckon this one can be done during the day!!! My mountain shawl will be saved for evenings when kids in bed and DH not huffing and puffing about the devestation DS caused pulling down our curtain rail and trying to fix it.
I've put a photo of my shawl on the blog, let's hope the pattern shows up ok in variagated - any views?
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| Glynis |
CJ, I think the variagated looks lovely and will block out beautifully!
I was interested to see your TourDe France picture as DD1 was there in Canterbury at the finish line to see them all come through. She said it was really exciting (and she came home with two hats and a toy car from the various cars that came through first!). She parked in a village outside Canterbury and cycled in this morning, so she bagged herself a really good spot, and with the help of a police officer she befriended(?) managed to keep her place
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| KnittingLadybird |
I'm a varigated fan tbh....and it's subtly varigated, not loads of different colours. I think it will look gorgeous, it's a very pretty shade of green too
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| CJ |
thanks, but I'm ashamed to say, I had to frog. On reflection, the pattern was way too hard, and it took me forever to do the p2tog tbl on the WS.
But instead, I'm going to cast on for the diamond pattern on p20 of VLT, which also has a border, but is described as easy lace. I guess I should learn to walk before I run.  I'm still using the lovely green/yellow yarn though.
Glynis, how lucky was your DD, I'm very jealous.
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| n |
There's nothing to be ashamed of... my FC is still a UFO!
Bit more spinning done. One bobbin is almost full. n |
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| Aknita |
I have it! I am knitting - wait for it - a Forest Canapé!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Runs, quickly............. |
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| n |
Run?
Where's your bike then? n |
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| Aknita |
Being recycled! Glynis, your daughter sounds as though she had a lovely time. |
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| Aknita |
Voila, Madames et Monsieurs, le progress!
Knitting with a French Flavour - Forest Canapé
And I am delighted this morning because Susan Pierce Lawrence has visited my blog to wish me bon chance  !
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| n |
Oh, my.... in the presence of Hautes Tricoteuses!
My bobbin is filling up... only about 10g to go and then I can start on the solid colours. Photo on the blog. CJ you are inspiting me to try real lace! That's really pretty, and you may be in the wrong section, isn't that a flash of green jersey I see under the polka dots? Hmmmm. n |
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| CJ |
LOL - yes, it is green. Unfortunately white with red spots is rather rare in yarn terms!!!! I don't have any more yarn to dye, so it has to be the green!!!
off to watch stage 3 soon
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| n |
It's not fair!
*goes off in a huff*. I want to spin and watch the Tour and instead I'm spending the day doing the Club yarn.... n
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| Glynis |
That DD of mine is even luckier than you think, she'll be on holiday when they reach the mountains and plans to catch up with it again there! |
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| n |
Mes amis...
Je pense que ma blog a entre a phase nouveeau. Mes readers et customers sont commentent en francais!!! Well, peut etre not actuelle Francais.... plus de cobbled en suite Franglais. Si vous feel like joining in, visitez s'il te plait et faire le comment de votre own! n |
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| CJ |
why is there motorbikes interrrupting eurosport's coverage.
Anyway, I don't know if any of you remeber the footballer, geoff thomas? well 2 years ago he did the tour for his charity and he's doing it again this year. here's a link to his site:- http://www.geoffthomasfoundation.com/ He's actually in remission from cancer, so doing a splendid thing.
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| Aknita |
He's an inspiration CJ that's for sure! Adversity such as he has faced can bring out remarkable things in a person!
I'm just off to catch up with the Tour - just had "breakfast"
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| CJ |
hope you had a nice brekkie, Joy. tomorrow is going to be really hard day, I think!!
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| n |
I have spun my yarn!
Enough to get going anyway... 54g so far. 
Now where did I put those needles? n |
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| Glynis |
That looks beautiful n! What will it become? | ||
| n |
I plan to make it into this Ilga Leja loopy thing.
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| Glynis |
That will be lovely. | ||
| CJ |
the yarn is lovely n. I've put up a piccie of my unblocked laceweight scarf on my blog as I finished it last night. Still waiting for DH to find the mats though!!!
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| Aknita |
A cautionary tale - never EVER think you can sneak in a couple of rows on your FC shawl when you've been out for the evening and then think you can fudge things when your stitch count is wrong because you will be doomed to a following morning of tinking and bad language.............
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| CJ |
oooops.
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| Aknita |
oops indeed. I am almost there now! | ||
| CJ |
keep going.
no tour until 2pm today, so I'm a bit bored already waiting.
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| Aknita |
It's going to be a hard climb today that's for sure! The scenery in the Alps yesterday was STUNNING though, but sometimes I feared for the rider's safety what with the motorbike, the crowd and the team car all endangering the riders at one point or another. DH recorded ITV 4's highlights yesterday evening and I watched them when I came home after my evening out 'cos yesterdy's race was almost over by the time I got up and went to watch. | ||
| CJ |
did you see the one who won nearly hit the motorbike, and rasmussen nearly went into the back of a parked car. it must be hard to police all those crowds though. the slog up into tignes looks scary today. my money is on rasmussen or the chicken as he's known for some reason.
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| Aknita |
I know one thing, I haven't enjoyed a tour so much for years!
I think Rasmussen is a good bet !
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| CJ |
I was really cross last year, cos DH got rid of the satellite and hence no eurosport and no tdf nor skiing. That's why I persuaded him to get it back this year, cos I know DS loves the cycling. Even DD can say "bike" now. DS has already been out on his bike like mummy this morning. he cried when he had to come in due to the rain.
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| CJ |
wow, that was some day. and yay, I was right for once.
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| Aknita |
You were indeed right, well done, and I think I'm ready for a day off tomorrow too. | ||
| CJ |
best thing is I can have a day off blogging too.
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| Aknita |
Voila! Un photograph pre blocking of Le Canapé du Forêt! Il est blocking maintainent! Photograph peut-être Mardi/Mercredi!
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| CJ |
that's fantastic Joy. I've also started my ribena cycling top in jaeger trinity
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| KnittingLadybird |
Joy Le Canapé du Forêt...il est très beau. il me rappelle la crême glacée de merisier
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| Aknita |
Le plume de ma tante est dans le jardin - I've been dying to write that for weeks !!
Thanks CJ and Linz - how is your Ribena top going CJ - I know enough about what doesn't suit me not to knit one, but it would look lovely on you
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| KnittingLadybird |
Le plume de ma tante est dans le jardin?????....I know jardin is garden and the plume is feather...however I thought tante was aunt....so what is you aunt doing with the feather in you garden??????
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| Aknita |
Pen Linz, it's a pen and it's the first bit of French I ever learned and it has been absolutely no use whatsoever!
My standby on holiday is " Je voudrais six timbres pour carte postales s'il vous plait" which usually elicits the reply of " six stamps no problem!!!!!" Either that or it's "jetons pour le lavage" - tokens for the washing machine! And quite why my aunt's pen is in the garden I shall never know !
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| CJ |
what a day again today, how on earth can vino cycle that fast with 60 stitches I don't know. I can't even go that fast on the flat, let alone uphill.
I've nearly done the mountain rib patterned bit, IYSWIM.
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| KnittingLadybird |
Joy....I don't want to cause offence here but a pen in french is a 'stylo' lol...plume is definately feather...it was your aunt in your garden I found funny.
my favourite french expression is...ne me demandez pas que je suis anglais
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| Aknita |
Well done CJ - I am going to try to finish something I started a while ago before the end!
Linz - I was always useless at French, no wonder I struggled if I don't know the difference between a pen and a feather! |
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| CJ |
I've just finished my tour socks, just got the grafting to go
talking of michael rasmussen, have you heard about Vino and the Astana team?
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| n |
No, what about them?????
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| Aknita |
Vino has failed a drugs test - it contained "blood that was not his own" and the team has left. | ||
| CJ |
and now the cofidis team is out, christian moreni tested positive for testosterone, so that means no more brad wiggins either, cos that's his team. there won't be anyone else left at this rate.
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| Aknita |
It's very sad I think, I have so enjoyed the Tour so far this year. | ||
| Anna |
Well, you can use a feather to write with, if you sharpen one end and dip it into ink
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| CJ |
plume also means "quill", so Joy is not wrong in her phrase, it's just the quill of her aunt is in the garden!!! I believe people used to write with quills
and now the yellow jersey out. I too was so enjoying the tour, and am now a bit miffed that people we liked to watch have been cheating
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| Aknita |
Thank you Anna and CJ - I feel less inadequate now I thought EVERYONE learned that silly useless phrase at school
I am saddened so much by events at the Tour, the actions of some cast aspersions on everyone, it's such a shame. Bradley Wiggins has done no wrong, yet he is out because of a team mate. |
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| KnittingLadybird |
Sorry if you made feel inadequate...but I have a confession to make I translated plume in babelfish and it came back feather...I was taught that a pen was a stylo at school....aw i'm sorry.
I feel proper daft....I never thought of the 'quill' thing....*insert smiley for 'zip it' here* |
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| Aknita |
Oh you didn't make me feel inadequate you daft h'porth - I can do that all by myself
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| KnittingLadybird |
well perhaps I shouldn't been so hasty lol... | ||
| Aknita |
Linz! Don't!!! Listen - my tongue is ALWAYS in my cheek, and you ought to know by now you'd soon know if i'd taken a fence to anything!
I'll pm you in a minute if you're not careful..........
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| CJ |
sorry, didn't mean to cause any trouble.
yay, I've finished my tour socks, and started some new projects - piccies on blog.
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| KnittingLadybird |
Nobody's caused any trouble...i'm just feeling a little bit touchy at the mo lol... | ||
| CJ |
oh well, it's finished now. What am I going to do with myself during the day? I might have to actually do some housework.
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