Chunks!

I just wanted to pop by and tell you how much I absolutely LOVE chunky yarn - I mean seriously love!

My usual yarn is DK but I've always thought how great chunky yarn would be. Imagine how quickly you could knit up a scarf or a snood.... I was so right!

I only got hold of this yarn on Saturday (and didn't start knitting til Sunday) and look what I've got already!!


This is the beginnings of a new snood :-) I can't wait to be able to wear it, it's going to be so soft and cosy!

I bought some new 10mm bamboo circular needles from ebay (ooops, I need to leave feedback for that...) and they're amazing to use, so soft and the cable bit pulls through nicely. I realised today that somehow (I've NO idea how) I've managed to twist the snood so it's been a dilemma; do I start again or carry on?


So I've decided to carry on... My thinking is it will look interesting, and if it turns out not to work then this really hasn't taken any time at all to start again.

The yarn is "seriously chunky" by Cygnet in Barley shade 4884. I haven't paid for it yet as my mum picked it up, but I think it was about £1.99 a ball for 100g so pretty bargainous!

Oooh, it's finally stopped raining. At last :-)

Good night my lovelies!

x x x x

Another finished project. Really!!

I couldn't think of a good way to start this post, but it seemed that explaining that has done the trick! How handy ;-) Maybe it was because of the 24 hour flu I had yesterday! I went to bed on Friday feeling terrible and woke up feeling worse. Banging headache, fever, absolutely knocked out but apparently paracetamol, lucozade, sleep and good food cured me; woke up this morning absolutely normal. W.e.i.r.d!

I really wish I could show you my FINISHED (!!!) knitted bunting but I haven't taken any photos whatsoever and the place where it's hanging currently is really rubbish (not to mention unpractical) so it's just not happening. Yet.

Have a nice photo of a lazy swan baby instead!

I finished the snood I was making for my friend though - the problem is it's wayyyyyyy to small haha! I think I cast on about 100 stitches and 150 would have been much better, so rather than frogging it I've decided to pass it onto a smaller person (of soon to be 4 years) and make another one. I guess we can call this a prototype :D




Ta Dah


Never made a tension square in my life :)


My edging it totally made up but if anyone wants to know what I did let me know and I'll write out the very simple instructions :)


Some slightly dodgy joining going on here! I didn't use my circulars because they were too long.


Ted looking pretty unhappy (I think it was quite hot when I took this photo, no wonder!)
You should be able to guess by now that the yarns Stylecraft Special DK. This is my fave colour, Pomegranate, I have many balls of this yarn and it always runs out! I used 4mm needles for this snood and a 4mm hook for the crochet border. Snood number 2 is being cast on to much bigger needles so it's knitting up pretty quickly and is a lot looser so should be quite cosy.

I don't know where the days gone but it's bed time now :( Thanks for visiting, it's been lovely to have you :)

x x x x

Mostly sunny

When the sun is shining



x

Mini bunting flags

How about my little nodding Unazukin dolls!? They are cute, pointless and they nod or shake their heads! The perfect decision makers; should I buy more yarn? Nod. Should I go for a run? Head shake. Excellent.

I've been busy combining both of my loves; crochet and knitting!  Le perfect combination.  Someone (and upsettingly I can't remember who!) blogged about some bunting they'd knitted and I loved it so much so I obviously had to make to my own.  Had to.

Fortunately I book marked the pattern and it's called Knitted Bunting Party Flags by Audrey Wilson.

I started out and after only a few rows I decided it was looking quite cute as it was but I wasn't happy with the finished flags.



It took me a while to stop the edges from being so lumpy and bumpy after doing the kf&b stitches but practice really does make perfect (ok, near enough!).



I decided to do a round of double crochet to finish off each flag, and blocked them with my iron to get a flatter shape.



And because they are so quick to whip up I have quite a lot of little flags now!





Although I can't share the pattern here (you should go to Ravelry for that, it's free!) I can tell you I knitted until I had 12 stitches on my needles and then I knit 3 more rows before casting off. My needles are 3.75mm :-)

x x x x

Bye bye bank holiday

I can't believe another Bank Holiday has been and gone. Bring on June when we get two in a row - thank you Mrs Queen!!

I was being massively in awe over the weekend of other bloggers, in particular Matt (According to Matt) and his latest creation, a granny square cushion with buttons. Swoooon! It's made me realise I need to start finishing more little things, then I keep you guys entertained! So I've made some more mini bunting flags and as soon as I have enough I'll photograph them and hopefully decide how to string them together :-)

In the meantime I've been working on this for one of my best friends! She ordered a pink snood so a pink snood she shall have. She thinks it won't be done until at least Christmas but I'm hoping to finish for her birthday at the end of May... We'll see :-)

It's pretty simple, cast on enough stitches so when the ends are sewn together to form a tube it should be the perfect size to go over ones noggin. Oh and the yarns Stylecraft Special DK Pomegranate 1083

On Saturday me and J took a trip to a vintage / antique shop on our street that we have *never* visited before! Admittedly I don't think it's been open in it's current state before so we decided to take a look. I got this necklace for £5!

It was really interesting, wishing I'd taken some photos now! There were loads of old stone fireplaces, roll-top baths, stained glass windows from churches and tonnes of old things like typewriters, chairs, desks and clothes. Who knew all this was literally on my doorstep?

Quarterly round up :-)

Back in January I decided not to set myself any ridiculous New Years Resolutions; there would be no joining the gym, no expectations to do things I know that realistically I am never going to achieve! Instead I opted for a couple of goals, simple things I wanted to do and thought "that might be possible!"

So climbing was part of it, I wanted to do some outdoor routes and lead a 6a - both completed! I wanted to eat more healthily and have less meat in my diet the latter of which I've managed really well (I made a veggie lasagne a couple of weeks ago!) but I still have to admit to the odd KFC... THE SHAME!

I was really keen to finish all my 2011 projects and apart from my hexagon blanket and a few other little things I think I've done really well! Here's a quick round up;


Stripy snood, one of my favourite things to wear because it's so cosy!


My mums crazy fluffy caterpillar!


I haven't done much sewing in 2012 but this is one of my proudest productions


Ahhhh finally! This scarf took ages because moss stitch calls for a little more attention but I'm so happy it's finally completed


My favourite project of the year, I think it will take something really special to top this



Admittedly I've started a few other projects too but mostly they've also been finished :-)


Baby hats for little heads


I've started some mini bunting; I'm not sure what to do with it yet!


And this will eventually be my new laptops cover :-)


I'm also knitting up a snood for my friends birthday and that lovely pink bunting. I'm starting to think my 2012 unfinished projects are getting ahead of me again!

x x x x

Ripple blanket: Finished!

Who'd have thought so many of you had already tried Rumchocolate?! I'm really loving this :-) If you haven't then give it a go.

I've had another busy weekend down in London visiting J. I'm not sure if I ever said that he's been living there since January, if not then now you know! It means seeing a lot more of my family and 'home friends' and that is no bad thing.

It also gives me plenty of time on the train to knit and crochet although admittedly I get quite travel sick so I can't always manage it. When I do, I ignore the funny looks, stick my headphones on and away I go!

Something I have enjoyed finishing on the train is this...

I'm so sad to have finished but also so pleased with the result! I really hope little EP will be cosy in it!

Not the most amazing photo in the world but here goes for my 'ta-dah'!

:-D

The yarn I've used is Stylecraft Special DK, the same as my forgotten about Hexagon Blanket and finished Granny Stripe.

I'll list the colours from bottom to top as some are in the "Lucy Pack" and some aren't!

Lipstick 1246
Pomegranate 1083
Shrimp 1132
Sunshine 1114
Saffron 1081
Lemon 1020
Spring Green 1316
Aspen 1422
Turquoise 1068
Cloud Blue 1019
Lavender 1188
Wisteria 1432
Magenta 1084
Plum 1061
Cream 1005

The cream stripes have really made a difference to this blanket compared to the Granny Stripe which was solid blocks and I love it! It's a single row of trebles instead of two. I get my Stylecraft from Deramores and quite often they have a sale on so keep your eyes peeled...

I've been busy with new projects since completing my Bubble Gum Ripple (no this isn't another ripple)

And I finally got out onto the balcony to do some planting. I'll leave you with the fruits of my labour! Good night x

Going to try not to kill my herbs quite so quickly this year

x x x x

Why is the rum gone?

There is nothing quite like a hot chocolate to send you off to sleep but even better - try hot rumchocolate! I'm quite partial to a bit of Captain Morgans....

Last week J's sister had her baby, all 9lb 8 of him! I can't wait to meet him but in the meantime I've been furiously crocheting... On the train... At work... At my mums.... And here's where I was upto on Sunday!

I've done a lot more since then but as usual I haven't taken any photos since! I can't wait to show you the finished thing soon :-D

x x x x

I finally finished that scarf

Hello folks :-)  It's very much the end of the weekend now (3 minutes to midnight!) - where does the time go?  I've been spending a lot of time down at my parents in London so there's not been so much time for blogging, but *lots* of train time for knitting and hooking!

Time for a ta-dah post!

 

Yesssss!  I've finally finished my moss stitch scarf, what a relief I can tell you!  I've been knitting this on and off for longer than I care to remember (Ravelry says since August 11') but I tell you it feels a lot longer!

The yarn is king Cole Big Value Chunky - colourway Heather, which I bought last year in Ramsbottom and for roughly £2 for 100g it's brilliant stuff!

I've been wearing it this week (now that the colds settled back in again...) and I can happily report it's not a horrid itchy scarf.  A.w.e.s.o.m.e!

I'll tell you what else is awesome!  This fabric :D

 
I decided to treat myself in Hobbycraft (a trip I was easily able to convince my mum to take me on!) to some new shades of pink (all half price!) and this lovely flowery pattern (not half price but sooo worth it!)

 

 Truth be told this fabric will have a very specific purpose.  My friend CJ and I decided that what her kitchen needs most is bunting.  CJ isn't a particularly vintage or chintzy person so I might leave out the flowers but she's a  very pink person and my fabric stash was pretty lacking in pink...  What a poor excuse :-)

My mum barely let me leave the house with it so I think I'll have to sew something for her too.  I hope there will be enough left for me!

Right, I was just going to say it's 10 past midnight when I realised it's actually only 10 past 11.  Excellent!  It's still time for bed though.

Hippywitch!! - I haven't forgotten your cactus, I just haven't been near a post office yet :-o

x x x x

Thank you :-)

Hello! Give away time is over (whoops is it Wednesday already?) and I had a lot of fun reading all your comments. I hadn't anticipated how drained I'd feel coming back from climbing and I am SO glad I asked for something to make me laugh - it really cheered me up so thank you :-)

Climbing incidentally went very well - I did my first outdoor climb & multi-pitch (where you do several climbs in succession to get to the top!) and some terrific walks for hours up hill - not so fun!

That right there I climbed.

But I digress! To the giveaway at hand :-) I popped everyones names into a hat (actually it was a bowl!) and I can reveal that the winner of my little cactus is...



Hippywitch!

Congratulations :-D  Thank you again to all who entered x

Bye bye little cactus!

x x x x