I tripped in the woods this morning and sprained my left thumb which is currently wrapped in a rather inelegant looking bandage filled with comfrey leaves. So no knitting for a while :sad: May have to compensate by buying some stuff online :evil: ready for when it's better. Fortunately there is an Amazon parcel on its way full of knitting related books including a knitting mystery and`a yarn harlot so they will help a bit - unless anyone knows a method of knitting one-handed:hihi:

Dorothy

Oh no! Get better soon!

I managed to drop the lid of the grill on my hand as I was cleaning it the other day (it's one of those health-grill thingies, with the fold over lid). Fortunately, it wasn't hot at the time, so I just have a bruise instead of a bruise and a burn :roll: .

Oh no - I hope it gets better soon. You should be able to get some good info to use from your books in the meantime;)

Enjoy your time recuperating in all those knitting books and rest that thumb to get better soon!

Thanks for messages of sympathy - hope your bruise heals quickly Hecate, comfrey ointment or arnica`would be good for that.

Dorothy

Thanks for messages of sympathy - hope your bruise heals quickly Hecate, comfrey ointment or arnica`would be good for that.

Dorothy
Thank you. Yours too. I've had an icepack on it for a while and it seems to have helped to bring the bruise out. It's a rather attractive purple-yellow now... It's managed to keep at least a little bit of me cool too!

If you can find one of those gel packs (I got mine from Boots quite a while ago now), they're really helpful. You put them in the freezer, which makes the gel ice-cold while keeping some flexibility so you can wrap it around the affected part (put it in a tea towel or something first though, if you want to avoid frost bite!). You can also heat the pack gently in hot water, which is excellent for back ache.

I've already had enough of this no knitting thing! I'm reduced to drooling over pictures in knitting books now - love the ombre alpaca blanket from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, the colours are so beautiful, real autumn/winter tones. I've discovered a UK site that stocks Blue Sky Alpaca yarn - only £5.95 a skein, not bad I thought, I'll get it and knit this. Then I worked out how many skeins I'd need and the total cost - just under £186 :shocked: Now I have to decide if I really like it that much - it is gorgeous, but........... It's on a 40'' 8mm circular needle so would grow fairly quickly - decisions, decisions. And I have to say that if I was looking for a last minute knitted gift this wouldn't be it :D There are some nice projects in this book though, has anyone made anything out of it?

Dorothy

I really want that book. It's been on my Amazon wish list for ages, and I've read good things about it in blogland too. Now I've finally bought 'Scarf Style', I reckon that one might have to be the next purchase.

I'm having a similar dilemma about spending huge amounts on yarn for a particular pattern. I bought the Rockstar Cardigan (http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/Synchronicity___patterns_and_yarn.html) pattern (scroll down the page to see it) ages ago. The yarn required is gorgeous, but it'll cost just over £130 to complete :o . It's beautiful, but I'm not quite sure yet if it's £130-worth of beautiful!

I like the cardigan pattern and the colours of the yarn are just FABULOUS! And what great names - Southern View, Teal Tide, Persimmon - yum-yum!! How much would you wear it - if you could use it a lot it would be worth it, if it's only going to come out at Christmas & New Year, well............ Hmmm, maybe not.

I really want that book. It's been on my Amazon wish list for ages, and I've read good things about it in blogland too. Now I've finally bought 'Scarf Style', I reckon that one might have to be the next purchase.

I'm having a similar dilemma about spending huge amounts on yarn for a particular pattern. I bought the Rockstar Cardigan (http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/Synchronicity___patterns_and_yarn.html) pattern (scroll down the page to see it) ages ago. The yarn required is gorgeous, but it'll cost just over £130 to complete :o . It's beautiful, but I'm not quite sure yet if it's £130-worth of beautiful!

Oh thats on my drool list too - but maybe not in that yarn - I just couldnt justify spending that much on one garment:(

I know I'd wear it a lot, which is the thing I'm trying to use to justify it to myself. It's really me, and the green colour is perfect. Sigh... You know I'll make the decision to buy the yarm just as it goes out of stock :roll: .

Its kind of similar to the new wrap top pattern you have isnt it?

Its kind of similar to the new wrap top pattern you have isnt it?
It is. The wrap top is more of a regular mesh-like pattern repeat though. Yes, I know... I still want to knit Rockstar though :) .

When I was in John Lewis at the weekend I had a browse around the clothes section sale. I bought two absolutely gorgeous crochet cardigans in a similar style - I'll have to take photos. I was amazed; I usually never find anything I like in the sales.

Actually, I shouldn't have admitted to that. I could have passed them off as made by me! :hihi: .