When she mentioned Zsuzsanna would be running a beading class, I knew this was something I had to try! I have always been interested in jewellery making, but never really thought about giving it ago.

After the two hour class I was wearing home my creation!

Since then I have been buying beads online, in the stores in Covent Garden and Notting Hill. The amazing weather we have been having in London means I have hours of natural sunlight to practice the techniques we were taught, now I have a fabulous collection of rings!

1. Craftyginger’s Best Friend Bag.
2. Little Cotton Rabbit’s Bunnies – which have their very own little story
3. PraticalPolly’s now infamous Wonder Woman Jumper
4. Perrysburger66’s Heart Afghan.
5. MissVicki’s Batgirl.
6. Cable Bag – I love Farrah’s alternations (the adding of leather handles rather than knitted ones) makes this perfect knitted handbag – it has been in my queue for years.
7. Janknit’s Cup Cozies – perfect little gifts.
8. BatmanBaiter’s Batman Bag!
9. Emms Buttony – I just adore this large “minstrel” buttons they change the look of this cardigan.
10. Sandra’s Vintage Jaywalker socks – just fabulous!
11. Bamboozelle – I love how this pattern does not look like it is knitted.
12. Alice’s Fiori di Zucca Socks – from last years sock club, I think these socks were the reason I wanted to join this year.
13. The Weekend Bag from Interweave, I have never felt comfortable working with colour but when I do this will be high on my list of things to knit!
14. Neoknit’s Buttercup, like with the weekend bag, this is a future project once I have mastered intarsia.
15. Mochi mochi – again the geek in me loved this pattern!
16. Castlefiber’s Olympic Rings which she turned into this socks during the Ravelympics.
17. Lisseut’s  Space Invaders sweater.
18. Yorkirgirls Razor Scarf.
19. clickertyclick’s  iPod Cozy Hoody.
20. Little Cotton Rabbit’s Christmas Stocking
21. Dorien’s Doughnut – this reminds me of The Simpsons.
22. PurlsAndLace’s Lace Socks.
23. Likelyarn’s Boston Red Sox!
24. I have been a fan of the knitted babes for some time and I just love the hair on Zena’s version.
25. Funkynitter’s Poker Sweater!
26. Funkynitter’s Animal!
27. rei’s Olive – a simple pattern with a great look.
28. ax174’s Skein of Yarn Bag Charm – not knitted but a great idea.
29. Pastel Cakes again by Little Cotton Rabbit
30. Juncojunction’s Soma Cube – I used to have a wooden version of this when I was a child and I love the idea of a knitted version.
31. Chatulim Hexagon Blanket.
32. Knitted Easter Eggs – calorie free!
33. Leigh Mason-Brown’s Granny Square Earrings
34. Laura’s Audrey.
35. Planetjune’s Lemmings – I spend hours playing this game at university and these brought back so many memories.
36. Mia’s Ballerina.

Last autumn, I got this Socktopus bag, when I helped Alice out at the Ally Pally Knitting Show, the bag has hung in our bedroom for months hidden inside has been works in progress and yarn. I have been too scared to venture into the bag as I know it contains my longest standing WIP! However hidden in the bottom of the bag was also this Crochet Flower Kits from House of Hemp.

I have been interested in working with “other” fibres for sometime now, so when I saw these kits at Ally Pally, I knew they were the perfect tester kit. Over this weekend, I sat down and began re-watching Battlestar Galactica and crocheted away. I ended up knocking out a one flower an episode!

A quick trip to the Bead Shop (more about that later) and a raid of my button jar and I have a whole bouquet of flowers. Of course I then had to add one to the Socktopus bag to remind me to use this bag and not be afraid of the WIP!

Starting: June 8, 2009
Ending: September 16, 2009

1. Finally finish my Clapotis (and start another one)
2. Complete the Jillian Michaels: 30 Day Shred.
3. Start a home decorating planner.
4. Knit something other than socks or a scarf/shawl.
5. Organise knitting patterns.
6. Drink a two litres of water a day for a month.
7. Start a Scrapbook, including our extra wedding photos.
8. Watch all the seasons of Battlestar Galatica.
9. Visit Vinopolis.
10. Complete 5 random acts of kindness (Knitting related via the Ravelry board).

My only concern with the pattern was the lacy parts in toe – I was worried this area might stretch or become weak after washing and wearing, so I extended the vine down over the lacy part for extra support. I am thinking of doing the same thing on the heel as this can be a stress point on some socks I have knitted in the past.

More photos here.

21st May – Skein.

27th May -Progress.

28th May – Finished Socks.

I have been knitting socks for over four years now (I know it was a shock to me too) and have built up a large collection of leftover sock yarn,  I have been hoarding it away hoping one day to knit a blanket.

I have always loved Erika Knight’s Patchwork quilt (the one on the cover of Classic Knits at Home), making a traditional patchwork from yarn, and also the way she mixes several textures and includes fabric. Turning all this sock yarn into one blanket.

After some research, I discovered there are two ways to knit hexagons, on the round as described here,  or back and forth as explained here. I am hoping to use a combination of both to graft them together.

1. Lose at least a stone in weight. – Fail
Although I have been making some effort to exercise (see  number two), my diet has been just awful this year.

2. Use the Wii Fit at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes.  – WIP
Currently, I am easily managing to fit in two sessions a week, although I have to say I am getting a little bored with some of the exercises and think it might be time to look for a new game.

3. Find a decent Sugar Cookie recipe and make at least five varieties of cookies. – Success!
I managed to find a wonderful website, that sells cookie cutters in all shapes and sizes, with some great tips and ideas. Plus I have been buying every cookie cookbook I can find! I am still not confident enough with my baking to try them on anyone but my immediate family.

4. Reduce my stash by one mile. – Success!

1. Leyburn Socks, 2. Garden Trelis Sock, 3. Meret,
4. Jaywalker Socks III, 5. Vinnland, 6. Spring Forward

5. Create a Home Organisation System. – WIP
I have to say the one thing I have discovered from trying to make a system is that it is a definite “work in progress.” I started taking inspiration from the FlyLady system and also Cleaning Grand Plan, and am pleased to report the we have already made great headway with decluttering.

6. Manicure my nails each week and get them done professionally at least once. – Success!
This one has been a really easy item to keep up, I treated myself to a manicure at the beginning of the challenge and seeing my nail look nice for the week inspired me to keep them manicured! I was given a selection of Nail Inc colours at Christmas, that I should really make more of an effort to use.

7. Boost My Income by £1000. – WIP
This was probably a little adventurous for the 10 weeks  (or maybe it is because of the credit crunch), but I have re-assessed all our money looked for saving where I can. Maximised using cashback websites , loyalty cards started a change jar and I even managed to make £200 recycling our old mobile phones.

8. Do The Torres Bounce in The Kop. – Fail
This is the one I am going to have to admit defeat on, even though we managed to make it to Anfield, it is proving impossible to sit in The Kop! Plus on my two recent trips to Liverpool, Torres has been injured for both games, so we still haven’t been able to see him play. The season ends this weekend so this one will have to go on the back burner until August.

9. Go to the Museum in Docklands. – Fail
I really have no excuse for failing this… I had several chances to go.

10. Book (or go) on a holiday in the sun! – Fail
Although the sun did shine when we were in Brussels, it looks like that will be our only holiday for a while, we have both been extremely busy with work and are currently looking for a new car so the holiday is on hold.

I am not going to give up, my plan is create another list of 10 items which I will start in June. I will continue working on this list until then and carry over all of the failures.

Of course the other side of this gamble is that you end up with a parcel that is to your exact taste! That everything included is very you. That is what happened to me with the second instalment of the Sock(topus) Club.

First off this amazing yarn – which is in “my colours,” the yarn is amazingly soft and a dream to knit with (in fact I am hoping to score some more of this yarn to make a larger garment).

Next the pattern, at the moment I seem to be into extremely lacy socks, I think it is getting ready for the summer or something. I have enjoyed reading Loumms’ blog for a while and love the ideas of the Year of Socks however, I hadn’t had the chance to knit one of their designs yet.

Finally, the bells and whistles. As I mentioned I love reading Loumms blog, and I was intrigued by their idea of “Grow Your Own Soup.” I only started gardening last year but loved my chilli plants from last summer, I wanted to try growing something else on my little windowsill.