On my needles and nearly off my needles!

It's that time of year again when I'm in knitting mode.  I came back from holiday and spent an unhealthy amount of time on Ravelry looking at lots of lovely knitting projects and adding them to my already lengthy queue!  But I did come across a lovely project which I thought would be just right for a - dare I say it - Christmas present!  Eeekk yes the word is out!  But I'm now putting myself under lots of pressure to make three of them!  But the wool is so divine that I am going to enjoying doing a lot of pressurised knitting in the evenings!!

All this means that my summer wrap, which didn't get finished this summer and it looks like it won't get finished anytime soon will have to be worn next year instead!  I've basically finished the knitting part but I have to do what looks like a tricky graft which I've been putting off until I have a good couple of hours in one uninterrupted slot - hhhmmmm, difficult to find in our house!

A quick knitting update

There I was trying to tempt you back last month with more posts and updates on the happenings around here and then silence . . .  October is here so I thought I would show you the (little) knitting I've been doing since my last knitting post.  Yes there has been a bit of a theme to my knitting this year.  Did Chloe need a new wardrobe and a Labrador?  Probably not but they were fun to make and Flopsy Bunny is thrilled!

I am just about to finish another knitting project which has been slowly growing over the summer.  I've got to the tricky bit, I need to do a graft, which I'm not entirely sure how to do and so I need to devote a couple of quiet child free hours to sit and get it done.  Then I can show you what I will be wearing next summer on a chilly evening! 

Knitting in minature

Meet Chloe, a new addition to our household.  She joined our happy throng on Flopsy Bunny's 8th Birthday - yes 8th!!  I still can't quite believe where the time has gone . . .!  What Flopsy Bunny wanted more than anything was a doll, so after a lot of research I found this lovely doll.  She was just want I was looking for, still quite girlish, not too big and she has the most wonderful vanilla smell and Flopsy Bunny loves her!!  The upside for me is that she obviously needs a whole new wardrobe.

Luckily Ravelry has a whole group dedicated to these Les Cheries dolls so there are lots and lots of outfits I can make!

This has to be my favourite so far, it is from Kids Tricots, the downside is the pattern is in French so I have spent a lot of time on Google translate and trying to figure out from the picture what I need to do!  Anyway, I'm very happy with the finished result!

Finally a little cardigan!  I've become a little bit obsessed but these little outfits are very quick to make and use up my leftover yarn.  All the pattern details can be found on my Ravelry page!

Knitters beware of Sleeping Beauty

I have often wondered why knitting gets such bad press.  It is often seen as something old fashioned, something your granny does and despite the upsurge in crafting and 'famous' people who knit, there are still some negative images associated with knitting.

 

It wasn't until I was watching the English National Ballet's version of Sleeping Beauty - a birthday treat for Flopsy Bunny, that it suddenly dawned on me that the story of Sleeping Beauty had a lot to do with this image of knitting.  There on stage were three dancers portraying women knitting, it was quite humorous in some ways, they were captured and bought before the king who was about to order for them to be executed because they were knitting, but then was persuaded to show leniency.  This is what we grow up with, tales of knitting, cursed spinning wheels being sinister and used by witches - no wonder knitting is often seen negatively!  Maybe a new ending to that story is needed where a lady who knits takes back her spining wheel and breaks the curse?!  Other possible endings gratefully received!

On to a recent finished project of mine, a Fairy Queen's necklace, which was based on this pattern which I adapted to make more holey as the original necklace was knitted using wire.  I will dig out my modifications and write them up for a future post!

Dragon Hat

Just in case you thought it was getting a bit too girly around here - a dragon hat for my lovely dragony boy.

Little Roo is quite keen on Dragon's at the moment.  For his last birthday he asked for a dragon party.

So when I came across this pattern I just knew I had to make it and sharpish - as it's quite chilly at the moment and Little Roo has a large head and none of his hats fit him!  Luckily he loves it and has discovered that it makes a good hand puppet too - look Mummy the dragon is eating my arm . . .!  Details of the pattern can be found on my Ravelry page.  It wasn't the clearest pattern I've come across but once I had worked out how to knit it the results were great!

Butterflies, butterflies . . . everywhere

Oh its got a bit butterfly crazy around here.  I blame it on having to knit two pairs of butterfly mittens, one after the other.  Then a visit to the lovely Soulemama's blog had me stopping in my tracks . . . was that a butterfly hat . . .??!!

Yes it was and knitted in almost the same colour as my mittens, so it didn't take long to make the leap - I needed a matching (well almost matching) hat.

This pattern was fab, easy to follow (and remember) which means you can just get on with the knitting rather than having to check what you are meant to be doing.  I uummed and aaahhed about whether to make it smaller, i.e. less slouchy as others had done but went with the original, which I'm really pleased I did as I like the way it fits.  I doubled up the 4ply yarn that I used for the mittens to make the aran weight needed for the hat pattern.  Other details can be found on my Ravelry page.  I was hoping that I had got butterflies out of my system but Flopsy Bunny has requested a butterfly hat and I think I have just enough wool left to make her one . . .

Catching Butterflies in the snow

Do you remember this?  Well it's taken a while to get a finished shot, as I ended up making a pair for my sister and then had to give them to her before I had a chance to take a photo - Christmas can be a tight deadline at times!  Anyway I cast on straight away for my pair and here they are in all their glory.

Such a lovely pattern, I love the designer, Tiny Owl Knits, she thinks up really quirky and cute designs!  Details of the mittens can be found on my Ravelry page.

Of course the fingerless part of the gloves means that they are a bit chilly on the fingers for this time of the year.  But I had decided that they were far too gorgeous for outside, possibly getting mucky wear and they will become my 'it's a bit chilly inside and my hands get cold when I'm working on the computer' gloves!  I always like to accessorise for every occasion as friends will know by my coat, hat, gloves, scarf, handbag and shoe collection . . .!

On and off my needles

Before I had a chance to photograph a 'just started' shot of my latest project, it's finished. . .  well, one is and that's before the exciting embellishment has been added.  So far I am just loving this pattern.  It's turning out to be a quick knit which is just as well as they may end up as Christmas presents and then I'll need a pair for me!  I'll do a proper Ta-dah post when I've finished them off with the pattern details too!

Piggy Love



Oink by Spud & Chloe

Chichester The Pig by Apocalypse Knits

This Little Piggy by Kooklacreations

Toy Pig by Natty Knits

Piddy Da Pig by Ellen's Farm Wonders

 

If you have a yearning to knit a pig then these would come high up my list.

 

 

This is my favourite though ... Big Pink Pig by Whits Knits, although I'm rather taken by Oink too! 

 

 

 

Curled corners and frogging

I'm not sure what happened last week, I seemed to have been on another planet - so many things got overlooked, including two important meetings that I simply forgot about!  I've decided that just wafting through the week is no longer working and I've resolved to be organised, well at least look at the calendar on Monday to see what I should be doing!!

One of the things that I didn't forget, and in fact was really looking forward to, was our trip to Lancashire to visit our lovely friends there.  It was going to be a long car journey both there and back and so I decided to take my blanket to finish off in the car, which I did.  I cast off on the way up and sewed in the ends on the way back.  But when we got back home and I spread out the finished article and looked at THOSE corners, I just thought, they are never going to be flat however much ironing and pressing I might do!  I should have known really, I had forgotten temporarily that to do garter stitch on circular needles you need to knit one row and purl the next (don't ask me why!!), anyway, I just knitted each row and when I saw that it was coming out as stocking stitch, thought oh well, I quite like the different texture look- completely forgetting (yes, it's happening ALOT recently) that stocking stitch hems ALWAYS curl - Arrrggghhh!!!!  So like trying to pull a plaster off your leg or arm (you've got to do it quickly and at that moment before you change your mind), I quickly frogged the border, trying not to think of all the time it had taken to knit!  I'm back on track again now, garter stitch coming along nicely, hopefully soon I'll have something like a finished article to show you!!

Coming together

You may remember these little blankets for mice a while back?  Well, they multiplied . . .

 and then started to join together in a friendly, cosy kind of way . . .

until they just needed an outside border (which I fear is going to be the tricky bit as I'm not sure I have a circular needle long enough - only time will tell!).   Whilst I was picking up stitches and knitting interconnecting bits I did think - surely there was an easier way to do this - i.e as one piece of knitting, but then that would have meant I would have had to be super organised and worked out how I wanted each block to look like.  Instead they have just organically come together, one block at a time and I've really enjoyed that.  I'm also really enjoying the whole effect - almost too good to be a car blanket I'm now thinking . . . !

Blankets for Mice

Flopsy Bunny asked the other day what I was knitting.  'Blankets' I said and she had a good look at them then said 'they're a bit small'.  'Ah' I said, 'that's because they are blankets for mice!'  OK a bit of a silly response, but I had no idea Flopsy Bunny would be taking it seriously.  She has now been talking non stop about needing a cage for the mice and how many would we be getting!!!!  Eeek memo to self, never make silly comments to children as they will take them literally.  It did bring back memories of my own childhood, when I waited in anticipation for several weeks after my dad had said he was 'going to see a man about a dog', every evening I would wait for him to come back with the dog until at last I asked him and found to my dismay it was just a saying and he had gone out to visit a friend . . . !

Anyway this is the knitting I'm zooming along with, which I'd like to finish before I start on this!

Red, White and Blue

I'm not particularly patriotic but somehow I have got swept up in the excitement and organisation for our village Jubilee celebrations.  I made this little corsage with thoughts of maybe putting some in my Etsy shop.

I've also been persuaded to join the sewing team for our Jubilee Decorations committee - scary that there is a committee!!  But then I guess with two whole days of events there is a lot of organise!

Then while in that Red, White and Blue mood, I stumbled upon the most gorgeous pattern for a summer jumper and - well - there was no stopping me - no sooner had I seen the pattern than the wool had been purchased and has arrived!!  I've just got a little knitting project on the go at the moment which I'd like to finish first and then I'm going to dive into this gorgeousness.  Although it will be with a little bit of trepidation as the pattern involves lace and looks a little tricky - something I am going to need to concentrate on I think!

Off my needles and on!

I didn't realise how desperately in need of knitwear I was until, while knitting the final sleeve, I was seriously contemplating if I could wear this cardigan while knitting (for those of you who might be interested - I didn't in the end as I thought it would be just too tricky and take longer!!!).  But what I did do as soon as it was finished is pop it on, even before I blocked it, although it would need very little blocking.

So to the pattern.  This is a great pattern.  My second top down cardigan and I think this is the way forward for me - no endless sewing up, you can try it on while you are knitting and it is just so clever too!  I was a bit disappointed in my wool, I really liked the turquoisey bit but then these big bands of sludgy blue kept appearing which I didn't like too much - oh well not bad for a sale bargain!  The pattern came from here - thank you very much  Meghan!  But I did make some modifications as per some lovely Ravelry people and they can be found on my Ravelry page here.  Obviously the biggest modification was that I added some sleeves!!

Despite my reservations about the wool, it is very soft and warm and with my lack of knitwear I think it is going to be more worn than not at the moment!  I think I might also make the orginal version of the pattern too for the spring as it was such a quick knit - and will be even quicker without the sleeves!

On my needles

I am just loving this knit at the moment.  Mainly because it seems that large needles (7mm) and nice chunky wool means a very quick knit.  I seem to be zooming along, which is just as well as I am in desperate need for some new knitwear.  I also have a sneaky feeling that I have bought too much wool than I will need.  So I have been hatching plans for making something for Flopsy Bunny with the left over wool! 

I'm also really pleased in how the colour is turning out, I wasn't really sure how it would look when it was all balled up when I first bought it.  Hopefully by this time next week you'll get to see me wearing this!! 

Cosy Legs

Phew, some cosy legwarmers made before all the snow melts and Spring launches itself upon us!!  There has been some frantic knitting last week I can tell you as the artic temperatures hit!  Flopsy Bunny seems pleased with them and it may even have caused a little legwarmer revival in our little village!

On my needles

Poor Flopsy Bunny feels the cold and no more so than on her walk to school in the mornings.  Now we don't live a long way from her school.  She doesn't have to tramp down country lanes and over fields, oh no, we do just live round the corner, a 10 minute walk if Little Roo isn't too preoccupied with examining every leaf and stone on the way.  But when your beloved daughter says she has cold legs, despite thermal tights, then there is really only one thing to do - knit her some leg warmers!!  So I selected some gorgeous Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in her school uniform colours and set to work knitting.  Unfortunately I hadn't even got half way down one leg (she wants full length leg warmers . . .) when I had run out and then I worked out how much I would need, based on what I had used so far and came to the terrible realisation that these were going to be VERY expensive legwarmers.  Now the wool is very gorgeous and is incredibly soft and is the cosiest type of wool there is but I just couldn't justify over £20 on a pair of legwarmers, which she may not even wear once they had been made.  So I decided they would do for a pair of gloves instead and unpicked my knitting.   A quick trip to our local hardware store and some more (cheaper) grey wool was purchased.  It is definately not as soft - even a bit itchy I suspect, but over tights I hope that won't notice and not nearly as gorgeous but definately more cost effective - does that make me a terrible mother??!!!

PS Gorgeous wool on left, hardware store wool on the right!!!!

Now I've just got to get them knitted before spring arrives!

A quick knit

I had to do a quick bit of knitting at the weekend as a friend's baby arrived a little early . . .

When I first saw these bootees on Ravelry I just wanted to knit them, but alas my babies were both too big so I had to wait . . .  Luckily a friend obliged me and had her baby last week - whoopee an excuse to knit these gorgeous little shoes!  So cute and really easy to make.  I made one bootee in one evening so easily done in a weekend!  The only modification I made to the pattern was to improvise on the long tail cast on, which looked a bit fingers and thumbs for me and too tricky to work out at the time!  Still I managed to cast on and would say I got the same result!  The wool was left over yarn from another project and the buttons came from my button box - I love it when I get to use up some of my leftover yarn!

Ah babies, knitting these almost made me want another one . . . almost!

On the seventh day of Christmas . . .

There was some sillyness!

Yes, knitted paper chains, or should they be called knitted wool chains.  Rather silly I know and I'm not sure what came over me, except I saw some really lovely felt ones recently and thought felt, wool, knitting!!  I'll have a go.  I've never been one to see the point of knitted cupcakes and vegtables but I'm beginning to see the appeal  now- it's more in the fact that you are able to do it rather than for the finished object but then that's my take on it!  DH is slightly concerned that our house is going to resemble this!

The beauty of this chain is that it is mighty quick and easy to make and you can keep adding whenever the urge takes you.  One picture frame this Christmas maybe a whole room next year!!! (Sshhh - better keep that quiet!)

On the first day of Christmas . . .

. . . I finished my Cloche Hat

It is certainly getting Christmassy around here and not just here but in Blogland too.  I was reading SarahWoodonline today and loved her idea of an advent posting each day, giving us a lovely online tip - what a treat AND what a good idea!  So much so I've decided to pinch it, well sort of, it's a sort of challenge to myself and a Christmas deadline for all those things I want to make.  Instead of an advent posting I'm going for, wait for it, have you guessed yet?  Yes the 12 days of Christmas - might just be able to make 12 things before Christmas! 

Although hopping over to Soulemama today made me think now here's a woman who will be able to create more than 12 things before Christmas and they will be gorgeous and she has 5 children and one of them is a baby - how she manages to do it all is beyond me.  Anyway she has some absolutely gorgeous fabric in her stash and I'm looking forward to seeing her finished results.  Attic 24 is getting all Christmassy too and I've been inspired to buy the book she has recommended by Clare Youngs.

So enough of my Christmas ramblings and back to the hat.  This was meant to be my New York hat.  DH and I went for a sneaky weekend last weekend without the little ones and it was truely wonderful.  My first time in that amazing city.  Anyway, I had been gearing myself up, getting ready.  All my friends who had been said it would be cold, even if the temperature's not that cold, the wind really is, so I packed my snowboots, winter coat, gloves, scarf and was desperately trying to finish THIS hat.  Alas I ran out of time so the hat didn't get finished in time, which was just as well as it was scorching - in the 20's - I was sweltering!  Luckily the hat is now ready for the cold snap we are having at the moment.

The pattern for the pattern can be downloaded free from Ravelry if you are a member, it's called the Kim Cloche.  Great pattern, although I did modify it slightly as did other Ravelry members and excluded rows 2-5 which seem to give the top a better look.  I also had to use slightly smaller DPN's as I couldn't seem to buy 5mm ones anywhere!  Anyway, it seemed to work!  The hat was finished off by a lovely crocheted broach that a friend made, how I wish I could crochet - maybe one day . . . !