Knitty Gritty

People keep asking me for help with their knitting, although I am a gross amateur myself. As I probably won't get all of you in the same room for some time, I recommend YouTube for a dearth of knitting instruction videos. To start you off, here's how to Cast On:



And how to carry on in Stocking Stitch:



Sorry for bad sound on the second one but I thought it was a particularly informative video. Also I have a huge stock of needles so if anyone does want to practise in person, give me a DM. Happy Knitting!

Getting all self-reflexive and so on

Oh man, do I miss writing essays. I remember about this time last year, I literally broke down because I wanted to spend more time on my essays (and, well, relaxing/partying) and I couldn't because of the amount of hours being piled onto me by the restaurant I was working at. I know, I know, there are so many out there who do so much more, but I'm not one of them, and shifting gears between smiley-smiley-on-my-feet-memory-index-face-of-the-pizzeria-waitress to essay machine was irreducably painful.
This year, while I'm still thankful I'm not a waitress, I wish to god I had some academic influence in my life. I have a few friends who are doing the course that I did, but lord knows they dont need my help. In fact with my background in literature I'm categorically unuseful to these stellar philosophy types, and my poor memory doesn't help. Derrida's what, now?
I was hopeful I'd carry on writing vaguely academic papers as time wore on, but without access to the academic library, I am unsurprisingly letting it all slip. For shame.
I have, however, managed to learn to knit rather effectively. Swings and roundabouts? From one equally ineffective and unapplicable skill, outside of a very intense and devoted field which pays very little if you are lucky enough to be earning in it, to another. Go me.
Still, check it, yo:







I'm proud of him :)
Zombie Christmas and a Zombie New Year, folks!

Busy week

This has been a lazy few days for blogging. I have still madly been writing cover letters and also a few reviews, which don't seem to be showing up on the site :(
Links when they do. Bitter Ruin I am still completing a review of, out of intense nervousness of wanting to do right by them because of their sheer loveliness.
The photos I took of their gig can however be found here, and I intend to 'shop and post up my favourites properly.
This has been a week of buying shoes as I felt pretty rubbish throughout. Lest I go into detail about why I felt rubbish, I will instead say that I REALLY LOVE SHOES. Moreso than people, sometimes.
Photos of me wearing shoes will probably come about soon as well.
And I've begun two more knitting projects: a hot-water bottle for my housemate, despite the fact that, to my intense sadness, she is leaving us, and a zombie for my friend's Christmas present. Sadly I can't post up pictures, unless you promise not to look, Stuart?

The 'C' Word

That's right...... "Christmas."
I've decided this year to make something cinnamon-y for my family... Possibly with root ginger or white chocolateas well, although that might be a bit of a flavour overload. I'm thinking maybe cinnamon pastries although I don't know how well they'll keep, and as I'm not going home til the 24th they have to be transportable. Cookies could be nice but aren't very seasonal. Plus I have the urge to employ the sewing machine this year so am thinking about fancier packaging than usual (Kath Kidston rip-offs perhaps? Fabric lined boxes?)
As you can tell, I'm excited about getting to spend this season not thinking about essays for once.
I'm also preparing a knitted zombie for one of my friends and a knitted hot water bottle cover for another as I finally (after a Lot of inattention) completed Sam's scarf!!!! Both zombie and hot watter bottle will be a challenge as I can barely understand pattern instructions, let alone follow them. Also I've forgotten how to cast on...
Pics shortly!

Aaaaaaaaaaaand this is my current favourite thing of which I cannot stop playing: