Hello my friends, I'm sorry for the unexpected break, it's been a long time and I've missed you all. It was a funny start to the year with lots going on, I got a part time job after many years of not working, I was really ill with a chest infection that I couldn't budge and lots of other things that all came at once. Thank you to everyone who got in touch with me to see if I was ok, I really appreciated your kind thoughts.
It's hard to know where to start, though for a couple of weeks I couldn't even pick up a pair of needles, I have made up for it though in the last few weeks.
As you all saw on my last post, I'd finished the purple "Fairisle" socks for my friend's birthday, I had some leftover yarn and had wanted to knit A Little Bird Of Happiness for sometime so decided to knit one as a little extra gift.
The original pattern, which is free on Ravelry, uses a worsted weight yarn but you can use whichever weight you want. I used 4ply on 2.25mm needles so it turned out a lot smaller than the original pattern but very cute.
After finishing the first one and filling it with lavender and a small amount of polyester toy filling, I decided to knit some more with the leftover yarn as they we're very quick to finish, almost instant gratification.
A little tip if you've never knit this pattern before, it suggests you leave an opening at it's tail to fill the bird but it's way too small in 4ply. I filled from the head just before I casting off for the beak and I didn't have a problem getting the lavender and filling to the bottom of his tail.
I knit three altogether and thought they would look good if I strung them together to make a hanging ornament which my friend loves and has many hanging around her house.
I found some wooden beads and started crocheting a chain and threading it through the birds adding beads at regular intervals and attaching a bell at the very end.
I took my friend out for coffee and cake for her birthday and she absolutely adored her gifts, she is very knitworthy.
I also finished my husband's socks which again were just Vanilla socks knit in Rico Surperba Santa Fe which is a really inexpensive yarn but is hardwearing and softens up beautifully once washed.
I cast on 72 stitches for men's socks and used Tessa' Basic Sock recipe for the rounded toe which I prefer for my socks. I've yet to use the whole sock pattern as I've always used How I Make My Socks by Susan B Anderson but I think I'll give it a go for my next pair.
Again my husband is very knitworthy and loves handknit socks now. The only thing is, he keeps asking for more pairs, he'll have to wait a while now though, I'm knitting myself some.
I'll leave it there for today but I definitely won't leave it as long next time, thank you for stopping by. I'm linking this post to Nicole's, Keep Calm, Craft On where I find lots of inspiration and also Ginny's Yarn Along. Two of my favourite things are knitting and reading, I've just started Daughter of Catalonia by Jane MacKenzie and looks like it's going to be an epic tale spanning over the decades, my favourite type of book.
Have a great week.
Deb x
