Where have you been my lovely?

Yesterday I went to Steyning to go to Wind Up a monthly knitting/crochet etc meet up organised by the ladies at Bessie May and Textile Garden. It is a lovely event. Plenty of space, friendly people, a few well chosen trading stalls and this month the cake was themed around doughnuts (and very nice they were too), good strong coffee was an added bonus.

M was so impressed he intends to have a stall next month to sell some of his wonderful yarn bowls.

Also trading was Kate from YAK who had a delightful table of yarny goodness from our very own The Uncommon Thread among others. I indulged myself in a little Malabrigo goodness.

I've been off variegated yarn for a while but something about this colour just sang out to me. The owl shawl pin came from the Textile Garden.

It made for a lovely afternoon and all three of us (a knitting friend came too) had a lovely time. They have a group on Ravelry and if you are in the area next month (I think it's the 22/11) I can highly recommend dropping in.


Yesterday was a good post day too (actually it's been a good post week). I received this wonderful custom dyed BFL from  the talented limegreenjelly. I asked for a blend of orange that was bright but subtle and Jo nailed it. I can feel my spinning mojo coming back to life just looking at it.

Now we have our little trip to look forward. The boy and Ma are dog sitting. J is swamped with college work so decided to stay home (sensible lad) so M and I are taking a little road trip. Really looking forward to meeting up with one of his pottery friends and have some 'us' time.

Will be back with photos soon.

Pebble Beach in a seaside garden.

I took part in a KAL (knit-a-long) on the Curious Handmade forum to make this lovely Pebble Beach Shawlette. The pattern was included in the Unwind programme and was designed by Helen Stewart.

I finished this last week but have been waiting for right light to take pictures as bright orange (like bright red) can be a real bitch to photograph.

As we can see the sea from home the idea of photographing this in our 'seaside' garden amused me and today the light was perfect. Not only to show the true orange of the yarn but also the stitch definition as the pattern.

This is a lovely pattern to knit, quite simple and beautifully written and is now available to buy on Ravelry.

Details of the yarn used etc can be found either on my Rav project page or via an earlier blog post.

I also finished a bobbin of spinning today. The fibre is from some I purchased at Unwind. I am spinning it by gradient and have already started bobbin 2. Holidays are great for getting on with craft stuff that you have put off.

Weaving

I woke up yesterday with a need to do some weaving.

I wanted to test the yarn before I warped up. Saw an idea on Pinterest and adapted it to make a mini loom out of a cardboard box. I think it is rather dinky.

The yarn worked fine so I got out my knitters loom and warped up.

Am quite pleased with it so far. The yarn is British Alpaca except for the wee bit of green which came from the USA and is an Alpaca/Silk blend.

It fabric is coming out really light and airy and once my back stops aching - I'll do some more.

And the prize has been won

Last autumn I was asked by a friend from the world of Border Terrier owners if I would  crochet a throw as a raffle prize (online raffle drawn at the Spring Borderfest) to raise funds for Border Terrier Welfare. I happily agreed, as the previous one had had a ceramic prize donated by M and I thought the whole idea was rather lovely.

I choose colours that I thought would have more appeal than what I would choose for myself and using Jan Eaton's book '200 Crochet Blocks' set to work. It was a labour  of love as, although I like crochet, it isn't my first love. Once finished, it was photographed, blogged about and packed safely away.

Earlier this month the raffle was drawn and a winner announced. The throw is now with her and she seems happy (which is quite a relief). You can never really explain to people who don't knit or crochet just who much work goes into something like this or with prices of yarn how much you actually financially invest in a project  - especially if you add the cost of your labour! So knowing it has gone to a good home and will be appreciated does give me a happy glow and the addition of helping a charity that is close to my heart adds to the feel good factor.

A Phi of relief

This is a Phi shawl by Jennifer Dassau. It soothes my inner geek as the stripes follow the Fibonacci sequence. It's a nice knit - garter stitch - but the shape and the stripes stave off the boredom factor.

The yarn is from The Uncommon Thread (I mentioned it on a previous post) it is called Sunday Best and the colours are Into Dust (pink) and Plata. I'm not pink person (these days) but I just love the combo of these two colours so much. It has knitted up beautifully and is so soft and plooshy. The photo is pre-blocking it has grown a little but not too much and I can't wait for a cool spring/summer evening so I can wear it.

Little Boggart cameo too.

Little summer tango cardi

Wispy cardigan pattern by Hannah Fettig. Second time I've knit this. This one has longer sleeves. I love Malabrigo Lace, so soft. This colour is Tigerlily and if a really bright, summery orange. The pattern has a nice construction and you can try it on as you go. Am really happy with it.

Hot knife through butter

This is a new yarn from The Uncommon Thread called Sunday Best. It's 115g (345m) of 70% Superwash Merino, 20% Cashmere and 10% Nylon - sport weight. The two colours above are Into Dust and Plata. I am knitting Phi shawl with it ( non Ravelry link).

It knits beautifully. It is so soft but with enough sprongy-ness that it feels plush and full. The stitch definition (even on this garter stitch pattern) is lovely. It makes me long to pick up my needles even if I only have time to knit one row. Been a while since I have felt such instant yarn love. Bliss.

N.B. I chose this pattern over all the other two colour shawls because I am a total Fibonacci geek.

Mother's Day

My son knows me so well. My recent rediscovered love of crochet has been catered too. The yarn came from The Wool Bar in Worthing which is a lovely and welcoming little yarn shop. The book we found on Amazon.

A couple of weeks back I finished this crochet bag (only started it last summer). The colours are not my usual choice but they work well and feel summery.

I love the flowery buttons on the straps.

The pattern comes from Lucy at Attic 24 it's available for free and is well written with lovely clear photos. The floral buttons are on a separate pattern, which is also free. Her blog is colourful and chatty and if you love crochet then it is a good place to visit.


I am planning to spend the rest of my Saturday deciding which crochet motifs to use from my new book to make a new project.....because I don't have enough of them already.

Raffle Prize

A while back a FB friend asked me to crochet them a raffle prize for our favourite doggy charity. She runs an online raffle and a real life (at a spring meet up) every year to raise funds. I couldn't refuse.

Today it is all finished, washed, blocked and lovely.

The yarn used is Regia 4 ply sock yarn - so it's all washable and I used a 2.5mm hook. The patterns and design comes from this amazing book by Jan Eaton. I cannot praise this book enough. Anyone who loves crochet would adore this book, it is well written with great photos, clear instructions and wonderful colour palette ideas.

I hope whoever wins this. Loves it.

p.s if you want to purchase a ticket - comment and I'll point you in the right direction. They go on sale in early March.

A wonderful surprise

Joined a little swap with my Knitty friends via FB and today I got my wonderful parcel from Alice aka Florapie. The idea was to send from our stashes - she sent me some lovely lace weight yarn with a pattern suited to it. Beads and the right sized crochet hook to apply them, stitch markers, a little llama pouch, some tea (which is delicious) and a very nice card/note.

I'd been having a really shit day - this made me feel so much better when I got home.

Knitters are the best people. Thank you Alice.

Hatty McHat time

Leftover yarn just needed to become a slouchy titfer. Catkin hat by Kate Davies on 2.5 and 2.75mm needles. Yarn is as before TUT heavenly fingering in Nimbostratus.

Sloppy, floppy, soft and warm. Perfect.

Trying to blog more

It's a quiet week at work so I'm about a bit more but no less busy. One of my non-resolutions was to firstly blog a bit more and secondly to write more in general. M bought me a beautiful yellowy/orange Moleskine lined note book for Christmas and with my newish ink pen I am attempting to write one flash fiction a week. This week I started number three and it has run away with me, think it will be more fiction than flash but hey ho. I might start a new blog and post some of them there, am undecided at the moment.

I have also been playing about with the new camera again. I do love it.

The quilt is progressing nicely too. But today I have to knuckle down and take back up at job of work. I've been asked to make a small crochet afghan for a charity raffle to be ready by May. Each square takes about an hour. I think I have made 6 so far. So, as I am waiting for the weather to clear up before taking the dogs, I am planning to make at least 2 or 3 squares today. I've also signed up for Ysolda's first mystery shawl knit along, which starts Monday (13th Jan). I have picked my yarn and swatched it.

This a 4ply superwash Merino fingering by Eden Cottage Yarns in the colour Pendle which I bought a Woolfest 2012. I have 800 yards and the pattern calls 600 ish. It has a nice subtle semi solid feel to it.

Lastly, we had some sad new this week. One of my elderly aunties on my Dad's side has passed away. We found out a few years back that she had developed dementia and finally allowed her daughter to put her in a home for her own safety really. I have very fond childhood memories of this aunt and when we used to visit her and other family down in Kent. She came to my wedding and in one of my favourite photos she is smiling at M and I in the background. She was truly a lovely person. My two favourite aunties from that side are now gone, my family so distant and scattered gets smaller every year :(

Cloudy Conic - first FO of 2014

Conic pattern by Cookie A available via Ravelry.

Started in September but took a break for the Xmas knitting. Yarn is Heavenly Fingering in Nimbostratus by The Uncommon Thread. It knits up a dream, washes well and is light but warm. The colour is wonderful and goes with everything.

I really liked this pattern - it has a quirky construction and even with the stocking stitch is an interesting knit. I will make another.

Fish Fingers

Spillyjane Swedish Fish pattern - with some mods. Knit in The Uncommon Thread's merino fingering in Cobble and some hand spun singles from a batt I got a Woolfest a few years back - from The Felt Studio.

Last pair of Xmas sockies all finished - all ready to be wrapped and placed in a stocking. Oh the irony.

This might be the last knitting post of 2013, unless I finally finish my Conic over the holidays!

There has been knitting.

A hat for me. Pattern is Ahull by Alicia Plummer knitted in The Uncommon Thread's Merino Fingering yarn in the colourway Cobble. This is the perfect hat for me - light but cosy, with a lovely slouch to it. I wear it most days (it is cold a work).

Socks for M - this is one pair of three - two pairs made, one pair still on the needles. He wears hand knit socks everyday and some are looking a little tired so perfect time of year to replenish his sock drawer and fill his Xmas stocking. (Pattern is my own plain vanilla sock over 64 sts with after thought heel.)

Steptoe Miser Mitts (own pattern) J had been asking for a pair of these for ages, as I hate knitting fingers, I put him off, but he then asked for a pair for his Xmas stocking....couldn't really say no. Knitted in Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift (which I bought whilst on Shetland in Lerwick years ago), he wanted a mismatched pair. I have a hat to make for him too in similar colours in Bessie May Nettle - see photo below for Mike's version.

Not the best picture - kind of a weird selfie. But you get the idea. Again another pattern that I just made up as I went along - pretty basic beanie over 90 sts.

I do a have a project on the needles for me - but it has been put aside for Xmas knitting and I have a crochet project too. I have been asked to make a small throw for a charity raffle next Spring to raise funds for Border Terrier Welfare...again couldn't say no.

All caught up with knitting projects. Phew!

Yarn bowl-tastic

The talented M has made me a spanking new yarn bowl of deliciousness. It is perfect and already in use.

It is smooth and shiny. With a choice of slot or yarn holes. Best of all it has the pretty. Love it.

Paddling like mad underneath

Life interrupts my blogging and crafting but I am still being productive just more slowly.

First pair of socks I have made this year - Polly Jean by M J Kim - knitted in Opal Uni solid red on 2.75mm circs. Last pair I made of this pattern I gifted to my SIL, so these are for me. I have lost my sock mojo at the moment, every pair I have started I have ripped out. I was so pleased that I enjoyed making these. Just need to wash and block them.

Gallimaufry

A Gallimaufry is a hodge podge or a medley of things and this beautiful free pattern from designer Jan Eaton is a wonderful flowing medley of lace. The pattern can be downloaded from Ravelry and is an interesting knit. Not too difficult but not dull either, plus the charts are clear and the instructions are well written.

I used a yarn from The Uncommon Thread who specialise in luxury yarns which they hand dye to a wonderful spectrum of deep and luscious colours. This one is their BFL Sock which is soft but with a wonderful lustre and the colour is one of my favourites called Bassenthwaite. I used about 128g in total so needed two 100g skeins but the leftovers will not be wasted.


I did knit mine on a smaller needle because I wanted more of a long wide scarf effect than a wrap. I am so happy with the result.

 

 

 

Knitted Monsters for a nursery

A non-knitting friend asked me could I please make the above for her baby son's monster themed nursery. I had previously knit them a monster hat and booties and these were so cute, that I was more than happy to help out.

It has been a labour of love, because since J has got bigger, knitted toys have not been on my list of things to knit, and TBH I have never really enjoyed the process. Toys are fiddly, time consuming and often quite dull (IMHO) to knit. But I have loved the look of Rebecca Danger's Knitted Monsters since I first saw them and had no excuse to make them - now I had one so I manned up and knit the lovely acrylic  - it still squeaks and sets my teeth on edge - and today the last one left the needles.

The two dumpy ones are book ends. The centre one is a cuddly. The red one is Snooter, the centre one is Vinny the V-man and the one left is Tegs.

I love the colours and I love the idea of a monster themed nursery. I hope they will do their job and be well loved as her son grows up.

Decisions, decisions the sequel....

Two photos here - same yarn. Top example knit today on 3mm, bottom were knit a few weeks back on 4mm and there are a couple of stitch patterns in there I abandoned - the scallop and the seaweed are in there. The yarn is by The Uncommon Thread it is their silky merino fingering in the colourway Leaden. It is the finest of the yarns I've swatched - the drape is to die for but I am not a sure about the definition for this project.

So now I need to choose? Not easy, all lovely.