Hey baby

Well the bootees are finished (hurrah)...

Sparrow from Let's Knit - http://ravel.me/thefunkylibrarian/g0gvg

I've also finished my first ever cardigan...

Paris from Let's Knit - http://ravel.me/thefunkylibrarian/yi8f4

Again knit for my friends' baby when it arrives in January.  I've still to sew on four buttons but apart from that its ready to go.

I'm delighted with this, its so soft and squidgy and will keep the little one warm in cold January, hope he appreciates it!

The pattern was called Paris from a Let's Knit magazine supplement called Handknitted for Baby but I'm not sure of the date.  It was a super easy patterns to follow and can now add making a buttonhole with [yfwd, k2tog, k1] using stitch markers and picking up stitches to my arsenal.  I found picking up stitches quite tricky but making a buttonhole seems to be a mix of black magic and weird science.  I adapted the pattern slightly by not adding on pockets to the front as I wasn't overly keen on them.

Also if I were to knit this again I would go for a stronger colourway than the bluey/grey neutral colour, I think as its a basic garter stitch a strong colour will help the stitches stand out.







Continuing on the baby gifts next on the needles is a pattern called Little Imp from a Simply Knitting supplement called Hand knits for baby.  I've literally just cast this on using Deramores baby DK (gorgeous super soft yarn!) and already ran into trouble.  The first part of the pattern calls for a simple rib patterns then continue in stocking stitch then using a different colour yarn to create stripes.  I have somehow managed to mess up the simple rib at the start!

So tonight's mission is to find out how to undo around 6 stitches.  I refuse to rip it back a row or even to start again (its CO 80 stitches, yawn).  So that will add undoing stitches to the arsenal, if I can figure it out.  What's really annoying is its a rib pattern to I need to undo a purl and a knit stitch...argh!

To infinity and beyond

I don't know if you call it an infinity scary, or a cowl, or what but whatever you call it I call is smooshy and cosy and snuggly warm...roll on winter!

The infinity scarf made from Rowan Big Wool bought from Wool in Bath

Love the moss stitch pattern

I've been through the baby patterns and started on an easy peasy pair of bootees from Lets Knit magazine Issue 61 December 2012 called Sparrow using Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK I got from Deramores. The shade is 0003 Alabaster which is an ivory white colour.

As you can see I just need to sew it up but one down and another one to go!

I love knitting this and the yarn is so soft I'm wondering if it can be scaled up for Shari sized feet!

Another bonus is with this pattern I have learnt [K each stitch tbl], [s1, k1, psso], and refreshed on [kfb] and [k2tog]which is very exciting and I still found the pattern quick and easy to follow.  This builds my confidence for trying other patterns out without looking at the jumble of letters thinking I need to decipher some ancient code, nah its easy when you have You Tube.

Anyhoo on with the other bootee...

Chunky cowl and what's been happening dudes

Well I decided to try the exciting new cowl pattern (which you can view here) with the Rowan Big Wool, shade 00068, a gorgeous mustard yellow (which doesn't show up too well in the pic).  I'm about three quarters of the way there...

[I will post a pic in here but I'm writing this from the iPad and it won't let me upload, grrr]

I'm trying to get some more knitting done so I can start to clear out the stash and try new exciting baby knits for my friends James and Carrie whose baby is due in January and well they way I knit it'll be 21 before he or she gets it!

Also the anxiety has been near on unbearable lately.  I made it to the other side of the depressive episode but have been suffering with panic attacks and generally anxiety for a few months now. Even getting panic attacks in my sleep which is not fun.  I took some time off work to relax, even planned on knitting the whole week but ended up giving the house a spring clean instead.

Anyhoo, will post a pic of the scarf ASAP and details of the baby knit plans too.  Good ole Deramores gave me a discount, had a sale AND free delivery so I went a bit nuts, so much for clearing out the stash eh :)

Misses and Mrs

Well hello again reader, apologies for being off the radar lately but you see I was off getting married (yay) which was then followed by a gorgeous honeymoon in Scotland.  I won't go on but it was a beautiful day and we were able to get married in the sunshine in the garden of a lovely manor house near to where we live.  The hall was then filled with our even lovelier family and friends and we partied into the night.

Our scrummy cake made by the Mimosa Bakery

My sister-in-law, who also happens to run the Mimosa Bakery made our scrummy wedding cake with accompanying cookies ...

I made the bridesmaid bouquets,and it was a joint effort by me and the hubby to make the centerpieces for the tables which were five different planets in Star Wars (he did the planets I did the flowers).  This being a slight nod as we got married on Star Wars day, May 4th (get it).

We then had a fantastic honeymoon in a log cabin in Strathyre, Scotland where we explored all around including Loch Lomond, Loch Ness, Aberfoyle and Callander.  The only craftiness whilst on honeymoon was I completed a travel diary each day in a notebook I was given as a wedding gift.  

Not a bad spot to fill out a diary, drink tea or read a book :)

This gave me the idea to incorporate a little more technology in my life (like I need that) and complete a blog each time I go on hols...we'll see if this ever happens!

But on to crafty craftiness.  In amongst all of this I have managed to sew (yes, sew!) two cushion covers.  I followed the Craftsy Class and ta da...

Clicking on the photo takes you to the project page on Craftsy:
Source: French Seam Envelope Pillow/Cushion via Sharon Cook on Craftsy

I was chuffed to bits with the first cushion but the second one didn't come out as well.  the seams weren't the correct size and ended up showing in the final product which it shouldn't do with the french seam.  I've since discovered a bubble in my cutting mat and think that may be the problem so have ordered a new one, a 24" ruler to work alongside my 18" one (the cushion measures 21"x 21" you can see how annoyed I was with an 18" ruler), and a magnetic seam guide for the sewing machine.  I've also ordered more of the same fabric to give it another go and may rip out the stitches of the second cushion to use the fabric and make a smaller cushion or possibly napkins (we could really do with them!).

I have also knitted, but not yet sewn up the seams, for a pair of fingerless mitts from yarn I purchased in Bath.  I'm hoping to sew the mitts up over the weekend and get started on a matching cowl.  

I haven't started on the cowl yet and undecided whether to use this pattern which I use for all my cowls or this new exciting one.  I'll keep you posted on that.

Meanwhile I'm nursing Mr C back to health after a rotten trip to the dentist and hoping the sunshine stays so we can enjoy a hike in the countryside tomorrow, hope you're enjoying your weekend :-)

Mrs C  x

Wonderwool haul

I thoroughly enjoyed this years Wonderwool, could have been the wonderful weather (until the very end when it poured), the even more wonderful company or just to have a massive selection of yarns and other bits and bobs to choose from.

Introducing Monsieur Mouse

First things first my 'Learn to love short row shaping' class which started (when I booked anyway) as an 'Introduction to short row knitting.'  Either way it was fun, turns out I'm an average speed knitter I just needed more time to read the instructions correctly and I think I knit in a weird way; it would be lovely to have a beginners knitting class around these parts so I had some instruction rather than what I find on YouTube.  I learned how to wrap a stitch for invisible increasing, so no holes in the knitting and no lumpty bumpty bits.  

You can see where I have twisted the stitch

Turns out when I slip stitches I twist them, I don't know how but I do, so my finished creation didn't turn out as should (smooth no lumpty bumpties) and we didn't have enough time to finish them so later that night over a glass of wine I finished my mouse...henceforth known as Monsieur Mouse 'cause he looks French to me.

My friend Sarah kindly gave me a easy peasy (so she says) fingerless mitts pattern which is knit in the round (eek) and on Aran weight yarn so I had to buy some Aran weight yarn, I bought Laal Bear either called Thirft or Devon I can't tell from the label.  It feels gorgeous and will be nice as mitts.  I even managed to turn the skein into a ball with very little hassle this time, thank you Youtube!

I went a bit crazy with the old Super Chunky, but I do lovely super fast super chunky knits, purchasing Rico Design Creative Twist Super Chunky and Sesia Echos both in light grey colours.  I should talk about that.  As I have tried to purchase yarn in colours which remind me of a place I have visited (e.g. Bath I bought blue  for the spa and yellow for the buildings, New York orange as it was near Thanksgiving) I thought this years Wonderwool I should get the colours from the wedding (4 more sleeps by the way) pink and grey. I also bought Aragon Yarns Classic Romney which is an Aran/Chunky weight yarn (depending how its knit) in a lovely pink colour.

Zoom in to see the silver sparkle...gorgeous!

Saving the last for best though I think my absolute favourite purchase (aside from Love Patisseries' epic Lemon Tarts) has to be Silver Sparkle D K from Bluefaced.com or here as when I last checked the website was down.

So all round a good haul with more to add to the to do list...
1.  Learn how to slip stitches without twisting
2.  Learn to knit in the round and make those fingerless mitts
3.  Find out the weight of previous years purchases...this will involved a trip to the wool shop, ho hum
4.  Learn how to do thumbs before Sarah :)

Its WonderWool 2013

Thinking back I wish I had kept my blogs over the years rather than doing massive culls as I can still remember my first ever visit to the first ever Wonderwool.  In fact I may even still have yarn from then as being quite inexperienced I bought random things and either have no idea the gauge or what to do with them.

It is where I first learnt I had to turn a skein into a ball...

With varying degrees of success...

This year I have signed up for a course on short row knitting so that I can add to my knitting techniques.  I quite enjoyed making Sackboy a few years ago and do have in my head to make Amigurumi and other small toys so I thought this would be a good class to sign up for - also it had a cute picture of a knitted mouse on the signup page.

Sackboy...just chilling

So this year I'm looking forward to seeing my wonderful friends from all over Wales, eating my own weight in Lemon Tarts from La Patisserie, trying a scotch egg and hunting down any chunky yarn.  My friend and I might even try going along to the Ravelry Flock later in the evening.

I shall endeavour to take as many photographs as I can...and not delete this blog!

Anxious sewing

As some of you may or may not know I suffer from bouts of severe anxiety and depression. Have done all me natural but I am always exploring new ways to manage them (I call it my tool box...it's quite full) which is how I got into knitting.  

Recently I have discovered mindfulness as a way to manage anxiety and finding it really helps. That, Kalms and herbal teas! One of the mindfulness books I purchased on my Kindle was Journey Into Mindfulness: Gentle ways to let go of stress and live in the moment by Dr. Patrizia Collard and in it it says to keep a notebook of your journey. I have quite a few notebooks lying around but none of them felt particularly zen like so I decided to sew a cover for one out of the many fat quarters also lying around the place.

Using this website to give the notebook a base, (the original pattern was quite strong showing through most fabrics) and then this website to sew up a cover.

Glued on a white cotton base to try and hide the original pattern on notebook

I will be honest, try 1 failed miserably.  I'm not quite sure what I did wrong but I think it was a measuring and seam allowance issue. After finding some stuffing try 1 became a lumbar support cushion for my office chair.  Scraps from try 1 also became a small pin cushion, created from my own brain and filled with scraps of fabric.

Never has a failed attempt been so comfy

If in doubt - pin cushion!

Try 2 worked well but I missed out some steps by not measuring for the front pockets and not sewing two larger pieces together, the former 'cause I wanted to get creative and the latter 'cause I couldn't figure out how that would work.  I also gave the whole thing 1" seam allowance which was a ridiculous amount but hey it fitted and now the notebook feels a lot more zen....and pretty :)

Lessons learnt from my first sewing projects? 

• Be more patient, actually cut the material in a straight line and keep it neat rather than just cutting and thinking yeah it'll be fine nobody will see that bit.
• Press the material - I hate ironing but it really should be done, even for notebook covers and cushions
• Find a way of taking better photographs for the blog!

Paisley pretty

Front cover

Back cover