I am alive, honest!

Sorry again folks, it been a bit quiet on the crafting front as I have discovered my new passion, Watercolour painting.  Something else I enjoy but pretty much suck at.  Who cares though, I get to play with paint and call myself an artist!  I'll post some pics over the weekend of my creations.

For proper crafty related material I need to give myself a to do list.  First up is learn how to take up hems on curtains.  Our living room curtains are far too long and when I tried doing something like this before I made a right hash of it so I need to learn how to do this properly.

This is followed by taking up the hem on my wedding dress, something I wanted to do before the wedding but now I want to do it with an aim of being to wear it with other accessories.

In the knitting/sewing related category I need to sew buttons onto the cardigan I knitted for my friends son due in 8 weeks time and sew a little hat too.

I also have a tonne of yarn I just know I won't use so looking to sell some of it or give it to charity shops unless I can come up with a knitting to do list...if you're not on the list you're not getting knitted!

I did however manage to make a giant pom pom pumpkin for Halloween using orange yarn and some glow in the dark yarn I bought a million years ago on ebay.  I quite like him and he can come out to play every year, maybe next year I'll get around to making him some friends.

I've also been reading and listening to a lot of books lately...audiobooks, not just holding a novel to my ear...but haven't got through them either, specifically The Casual Vacancy or re-reading Salems Lot.  I went a bit Stephen King crazy after Doctor Sleep then Kindle Daily Deals gave me a load of King novels for £1.50, and I find it hard to knit and read at the same time.

So hence the to do list as even I am starting to lose track of what needs to be done.  Think I need to clear the decks a bit and get organised.  Oh and I have taken up running again, 3 times a week come rain, snow or shine.  Maybe I need to invent a running merged crafting sport although it already sounds dangerous!

Until next time...

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 :)