29th September 2002
Woolly jumper has reached the lower tip of the first petal stage. Looks good so far. Have finished recent regia socks and allowed myself to be distracted by a pair of regia socks for same daughter who is languishing on the sofa watching Dream Team, feeling fluey and shivery. Can't cope with intarsia at the moment so shall plough on with socks. Jamtart is bringing back several mice a day, but no rabbits. Maybe middle age has struck. She's 10. Still takes a swipe at visitors from her perch by the stairs. Saw almost all of the golf today and shed a tear with Sam Torrence. Yippee!!!!! (Sorry, Tiger!)

Softbyte people have replied and said they expected everyone to get in touch with their regional suppliers. However, current prices are around £250 and not for me.

Does anyone else have plumbing which takes 45 minutes to run a bath? comes with having a 17th C property I suppose. I'm not sure when it was last done. It's got worse in the last year or two and I get the feeling our next big project will be replumbing the house (with three bathrooms... maybe we should wait until next summer and move into the barn whilst it's being done.)

17th September 2002
Have started Toria's woolly jumper which will have a different colour yellow for the flower middle, i.e. one that picks out some of the flecks. Have discovered Debbie Abraham's new book at amazon (Blankets and Throws, see right) and want it for Christmas. Shame DH does not read either my knitblog or the book section... shall have to approach kids to see if they want to do a joint purchase. It's exactly the kind of book I like, as I will just be so inspired!!!

16th September 2002
Jamtart is looking gorgeous and glossy again. I think it might have been worms. Am half way through a pair of socks in Regiawolle, just for a break. Toria has ordered (!) a dark blue winter woolly with a daisy on the front. Have designed it and will start as soon as I have got the wool. It's going to be Rowan (who else?) felted tweed for the background, and wool/cotton in antique for the petals, with a duckbill yellow centre in cotton glacé which picks out some of the flecks in the dark blue background. The petals are fine and delicate as opposed to pop-art splodgy. Intarsia will do it.

10th September 2002
I have deflead Jamtart again (first things first) just in case. She has been catching rabbits and mice to eat. Shall deworm her today. She is looking better already, but that may be my imagination. Still no news from the softbyte people about their knitting design software. I have sent a gentle reminder, otherwise I shall recommend not bothering with them, for obvious reasons.

Have finished the red scarf and am just crocheting up the sides. It looks amazing. Length is 85" or 216cm Width is 13 3/4" or 35cm.

9th September 2002
I don't think Jamtart is well. I shall deworm her, then consider taking her to the vet. She seems very clingy.

8th September 2002
September is here already and I am wearing the Black Jacket. Will post pici later. Cat (Jamtart) has settled herself in my 'reds' knitting basket, from whence I shall extract my scarf later. I reckon another 30cm will do it. Am tempted by a crocheted bag in the same wools / cottons as the stash has not diminished much. Have just finished work for publishers' deadline, so am feeling virtuous. Pass the wine.

Have also investigated more software for knitters. The Knitware Design sweater programme is excellent and the people are nice, too. (See link on the side). I downloaded Knitware Design's demo, which is shareware, and it works brilliantly. It offers all sorts of shapes for sweaters and cardigans as well as a facility for making graph paper for rows and stitches. Simple but very effective. I shall buy it. (Around £50).

DesignaKnit from softbyte.co.uk looks OK but there are no links to prices on the website at all. You can download a demo, which I did, but it does not look as though the standard version offers any more than the Knitware Design programme, except a skirt design facility and a kind of paint programme for designing intarsia. It is designed for both hand and machine knitters, with links to electronic knitting machines for colour patterns, jacquard, etc, which might swing it for some. It all depends on the price. I sent an email to softbyte.co.uk asking about links to current prices, but have not heard yet.