Yarn Along.....lots on the needles.

Hello my friends, how is your week going? I'm writing this hoping the rain will stay away this morning so we can take my niece and nephew to the park. Well, I seem to have cast on quite a few things this week, including something using these gorgeous mini skeins from Fivemoons Yarns.

I'll start with this project first, though these aren't my usual colour pallet but they jumped out at me at Unwind Brighton. They came in a little wooden box called A Big Box of Sweeties and had 10 x 10g mini skeins of Luna Plus 4ply, 75% superwash merino/25% nylon. I resisted at first and bought the Fade to Grey which I knit my Pebble Beach shawl in.

As I sat in the Pavillion Gardens, knitting on my shawl, Zena said those mini skeins would be perfect for the Leftie Shawl by Martina Behm. I'd had my eye on this pattern for some time and thought what a great idea and those colours I'd been looking at would be perfect, so later that afternoon I headed back to the Marketplace and bought them.

The main colour needs 150g of yarn so rather than having to buy 200g and having leftovers, I started looking for 50g skeins. I found some Artesano Alpaca Silk 4ply which is 70% alpaca/30% silk. It is beautifully soft and has a very slight halo, I love how it looks against the bright colours.

After speaking to Zena, we decided to cast on and knit it at the same time, I then found out Rachel from The Good Yarn Guide wanted to knit it too, so we are having a mini knit along together. We were all just about ready last weekend to start it and I cast my Leftie on Saturday evening, managing to get six leaves finished.

My only reservation with this pattern were the short rows, I've always had a problem picking up the wraps and making it look neat. I looked on You Tube to see if I could find any tips and after the finishing the first two leaves found it wasn't too bad. After avoiding short rows when I could, I'm now finding them not to be a problem. If I need any help with knitting, I tend to use the tutorials by Very Pink Knits, she is very clear and does great close up shots.

My next new project is by Mel, she has a brand new look blog with a new name and podcast, if you take a look at the first video, you can find out the reason for this new look and name, it's wonderful news, you can find the first video here.

Mel is such a warm, kindhearted person and loves to bring people together, she has come up with a great idea for knitting together. On the first episode she encourages us to pick up 100g of fingering/4ply, some 4mm needles and cast on a gorgeous, easy to knit shawl that she's designed especially for her podcast listeners.

She talks us through the intructions and also has them written on the video, so grab a note book too. It didn't take me long to finish the first part and was ready for the second episode.

As promised, Mel was back the following week with episode 2 and the next part of the pattern. I'd got 460 yds of yarn so I wanted to make mine bigger which Mel explains how to do that, leaving enough yarn for the border. She then goes on to tell you the instructions for the first part of the border which I'm just about to start. I just think this is a wonderful idea, the pattern hasn't been released yet, this is just for her podcast viewers at the moment, so go check it out.

I've also cast on a mini version of the Georgie Blanket by Helen Stewert, I've cast on 81 stitches rather than what's given in the pattern. It will be the perfect size for the carry cot and car seat. I'm using some leftover Rooster yarn which is one of my favourite commercial yarns, it's a dream to knit with.

We went up to see her on Sunday, here she is with just 8 weeks left to go.

We took all the baby things up that she'd been storing at ours until the nursery was finished including this sweet little Mose's basket we bought them, you can just about see the first Georgie blanket I knit for him.

Now on to the book I'm reading this week, it's a great thriller that I have on my Kindle called Abducted by T.R. Raglan, it's an on the edge read and I'm loving it. This week I'm linking to Yarn Along, WIP Wednesday and Keep Calm Craft On.

Thank you for stopping by have a great week.

xxxxDebxxxx

 

FO Friday......Pebble Beach Shawlette.

Hello my friends, how was your week? I've finished my Pebble Beach Shawlette by Helen Stewart as I've said before I love this pattern and this is the second one I've knit. This one is special though, I cast it on with a wonderful group of ladies at Unwind Brighton including Helen, the designer. I bought the yarn from the Unwind Market Place, we sat under a big shady tree in the Brighton Pavilion Gardens, cast on and just sat chatting and knitting for the afternoon. I also spent time on it all over the weekend, knitting on Brighton beach, it holds some special memories from a fabulous weekend,

I used two sets of Five Moons, Mini Phases in Fade to Grey, they also sell 20g mini skeins so you could make up any colour gradient you like. I made this slightly bigger by repeating some sections. I repeated rows 92-96 once and rows 105-108 once.

I also added beads to every other stitch on rows 91, 95 and 99 then every fifth stitch along the very last right side row and along the picot bind off edge. I buy my beads from The Bead Merchant, I use size 6 beads and a .75mm crochet hook.

Thank you for stopping by, have a great weekend.

xxxxDebxxxx

Sunburst Shawl.......

Do you remember this yarn from the other week? I was using it for a test knit, I can now show you the finished project.

 

It's the Sunburst Shawl by Helen Stewart, and is the August release for Dream Big 2014. If you haven't heard of Dream Big, it's a collection of ten patterns and you receive one a month over ten months or you can buy the patterns separate as they are released but by buying the e-book the patterns only work out at £1.20!!!!!

It's an elegant, beaded crescent shaped shawl with an Art Deco feel, perfect for summer evenings. I used Yarn Pony Show Pony 4ply in the colour Berry Surprised, it is a beautiful blend of 50% merino and 50% silk and was perfect for this pattern.

I used size 6 Miyuki bead in Aqua Transparent with Fushia lining which suited the colour of the yarn perfectly, when it catches the light, it looks really pretty. I bought my beads from The Bead Merchant, they have a super quick delivery service and great customer service. I prefer to use a .75mm you could use a 1mm but sometimes the 1mm won't go through the centre.

Here's a close up, you can see the beautiful starburst pattern. I really enjoyed this knit and it was the first time I'd added beads to my knitting, it was really easy and I have since added beads to another shawl I'm working on. If you fancy giving it a go, there's a good feature on Knitty.com but the actual pattern gives good instructions.

Have a good week.

xxxxDebxxxx

Creative Blog Hop

I'm back today with something a little bit different, I was tagged by the very lovely Sarah from Crafts from the Cwtch to take part in a blog hop going around at the moment. I know a few of my "bloggy" friends have taken part already and it's great to see all these different creative blogs from around the world.

So here goes.......

1: What am I working on?

As you all probably know, I've always got lots of things on the go at any one time. I always have a shawl on my needles, at the moment I'm knitting the Pebble Beach Shawlette by Helen Stewart.

This is the second one I've knit and just love this simple lace shawl pattern, this one is extra special though. I got to cast this one on with a group of wonderful ladies at Brighton Unwind including Helen who designed this beautiful shawl.

Here's my "crate of socks" that I've knit over the last year and the pair I'm knitting right now are Calla by Rachel Coopey. I saw this pattern in my favourite knitting magazine, Pom Pom Quarterly Issue 4.

Apart from shawls and socks, I also always have a baby knit on my needles as I'm going to be a Nana in about 9 weeks time. The latest one is Mini Cable Sweater by Rocket London.

The pile of baby knits are slowly growing, there are so many more patterns I would love to knit for him and the list keeps growing.

2: How does my work differ from others of it genre?

I don't think my work really differs from others, I have quite an eclectic taste and I like what I like from very modern to vintage. I love looking through books and magazines for inspiration and also social media such as Pinterest and Instagram. Instagram is my favourite though there are so many creative, inspirational people on there and I got to meet a few of them at Unwind Brighton including Sarah, who tagged me for this post. Ravelry is another great source for knitters and I always like to check out new patterns, my queue just keeps getting longer. I do sometimes slightly modify the pattern such as on the Pebble Beach I'm adding some beads or I might chose a different type of collar for a cardigan, just small changes.

I love collecting vintage patterns and enjoy rummaging through little vintage shops and charity shops, I've found quite a few now. I cast on one of the patterns a little 1950's matinee jacket, I've found it's always worth asking if you can't see them as before now they've been hidden in drawers or in the stockroom.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

I started writing my blog when I was a papercrafter in 2010, it was a friend who encouraged me to start writing one, where have those years gone???? I really didn't think anybody would be interested in reading my blog but as they say the rest is history!!!!

My blog has changed quite a lot over the years and has gone from papercrafting to a bit of everything and is predominantly knitting now and the odd family adventure. I originally started my blog as an online diary for myself, so I could look back at projects I'd made or look back at what I'd been up too.

As the years went on and more people started reading my blog as well as writing it for myself, I hoped I was inspiring and giving ideas to other people too. I enjoy visiting other blogs and I know I get lots of inspiration from them.

4: How does my writing/creating process work?

My big obsession, apart from knitting, is Instagram!!!! I love taking photos and even before Instagram I was always snapping away. All the photos I take now I upload to IG, whether it's day to day life or my crafty creations.

Here are a few of my latest posts on there, I know a few people have decided not to blog as often now and Instagram more as it's a lot easier and quicker. I would never replace my blog with IG but I think it goes hand in hand with blogging as you already have your photos ready, it's just a matter of putting some words to the photos. As you can see, I think most of these photos you've seen on my blog. I look back at the photos I've uploaded over the week, grab a notebook and make a few notes ready to blog about them.

Another hobby of mine is photography, not the technical side of it but the styling. When I'm ready to take a photo of my latest knitting project, I look around my craft room to see if I've got a matching photo prop, well there're actually all my little knick knacks I've collected over the years. I take all my photos on my iPhone 5, its a great little camera, just point and shoot. If I need to edit it I also use my phone, using the Jazz app, it's simple and has everything I need on there.

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading a bit about my creative process, all that's left to do now is tag another couple of creative bloggers. Here are two of my favourite, Helen of Curious Handmade, a talented designer, podcaster and blogger, her patterns are very much my style so you will see lots of her designs on my blog. Also Kepanie from Knitspiring Odyssey, a wonderful blogger who has a beautiful styled blog, she is a prolific beanie/hat knitter, you will see lots of yummy recipes and food photos and great recommendations for books.

Have a great week.

xxxxDebxxxx

Itty Bitty Baby Tank Top and Bootees.

Has everyone had a good week? I'm back with a very quick post today, I haven't been up to much, apart from having my friend Kerry around for some al fresco crafting and lunch and just have a couple of small FO's to show you.

I'm trying to use up some of my stash and whilst I was looking for something the other day, I found two balls of Drops Extra Fine Merino in Light Grey. I thought this would be enough for a small baby garment so I started flicking through my books and came across this cute baby tank top . It was from the Ultimate Book of Baby Knits by Debbie Bliss and only took 2 x 50g balls. If you're looking for a baby knit book I highly recommend this book as it has everything you need in just the one book from garments to blankets to toys.

The pattern calls for Debbie Bliss Cashmerino which is a sport weight but I used DK with 3.5mm needles, I knit the 0-3 months hoping it would turn out 3-6 months, it did and measures the larger size, I didn't swatch as I knew it would fit him at some point. This was a very quick knit, I started it on Friday afternoon and was finished by Sunday, it took me two afternoons and one evening.

I had a small amount of yarn leftover, so decided to knit some bootees, the pattern is in the same book. I wasn't sure if I'd have quite enough yarn and I ran out a few rows short of finishing the second one. I'd already got a plan if this happened so I ripped back the soles on both of them and knit them in a darker grey yarn that I found in my scrap basket. This was a great stash busting project and used every little bit of the two balls. I think this little set is so adorable and would make a gorgeous gift for a newborn baby.

Kerry picked up some lunch for us from the supermarket and I just laid it all out and supplied the Procecco, it was all very Mediterranean and delicious!!!!

Have a great weekend my friends and I'll be back on Monday with a special post.

xxxxDebxxxx

 

Yarn Along......a little bit of sock knitting.

Hello there, I hope you're having a good week. I've actually been knitting on my Calla Socks by Rachel Coopey this week, the pattern is from issue 4 of Pom Pom Quarterly, my favourite knitting magazine. I haven't knit on these for a while now but this week I picked them up and I'm very nearly at the toe. I'm using Artesano Definition sock yarn in Azure, I love the colour.

My Pebble Beach Shawlette by Helen Stewart is at the 50% point of the pattern, I need to work on this more this week to keep up with the KAL.

I might add some beads to my shawl, I've got these gorgeous grey beads that match, I will try adding them near the bottom of the shawl and see what it looks like.

On Friday afternoon whilst sitting in my garden under shady tree, I started this sweet tank top by Debbie Bliss. I had some yarn in my stash and wanted to knit something my soon to be grandson.

It was such a quick knit that I has it finished by Sunday, so I'll show you the finished item on Friday.

I also had a small amount of leftover yarn so knit a pair of bootees to match.

This week I'm reading In Broad Daylight by Seth Harwood, a fast paced, hard to put down thriller. Check out Tami's WIP Wednesday, Ginny's Yarn Along and Nicole's KCCO for more crafty WIPs.

I'll leave you with a few photos from our Saturday afternoon in Bewdley, a beautiful riverside town. The regatta was on so we sat by the river with a Pimms, live music and watched all the action.

Have a great week.

xxxxDebxxxx

 

FO Friday......A Wee Envelope Jumper.

Happy Friday, everyone. I've finished the Wee Envelope Jumper!!!!! It is so cute!!! After a few false starts, joining the back and front yokes, I whizzed through it. It is knit in the round and there is no seaming at all with this pattern, just picking up a few stitches.

If you decide to cast on this gorgeous baby sweater by Ysolda Teague, all I would say is read the instructions carefully and if it says join with first stitch, think about which exactly is the first stitch ( I joined the last stitch) or picking up stitches along a certain row not along the edge like I did, that's where I went wrong not reading instructions properly. The above photo shows you how the jumper is supposed to look like once you've started the back yoke. I'm sure everyone else won't have a problem anyway, it's just me, I'm going to blame my fuzzy head and warm weather ;-)

Once you're ready to start and join the right sleeve to the back yoke it will look twisted, that is correct, I knit it flat and obviously didn't get the envelope opening. This is how the front should look like once you start knitting the sleeve.

I hope I haven't made this knit sound complicated, it really isn't, it was just me not reading and following instructions correctly. I'd never knit this construction before and when I emailed the pattern support with a photo asking where I'd gone wrong, I had a reply within an hour putting me back on track. Once explained it clicked straight away where I'd gone wrong, I just need to go button shopping now to finish it off.

I know this pattern will be one I keep going back to time and time again, I've already decided the yarn and colours for the next one in a bigger size, the pattern goes up to an age four year old. I love that there is no seaming, it makes for a quick knit, once I'd finished the yokes and sleeves, the body didn't take long at all. I used Kettle Yarn Wimbledon Sport in Blue Pictcies, it's a beautiful, soft squishy yarn in 100% superwash merino, perfect for baby knits.

We've had another couple of birthdays this week, it was Paige's birthday on Monday, she's my youngest daughter and she turned 19, where do the years go??????

It was a beautiful sunny day, so we decided to take a picnic over to Bantock Park. She had a lovely time, it was nice as her sister and partner were still down visiting, her gran and grandad, Aunty and all her cousins were there to celebrate with her.

Wednesday, it was my sister's birthday, this time we took a picnic over Telford Park, we were going to take this cutie over to the play area but it was so hot, we found a spot under a big shady tree and didn't move. She was happy playing with her new frisbee or flying disc as she kept correcting us.

I managed to just sit and get some knitting done, I love to knit outdoors, it makes me happy and with this wonderful weather we are enjoying in the UK, I'm getting plenty chances of doing exactly that.

I had to share this photo with you, this is my dad and baby nephew, it was all too much for them and they zonked out. I love this photo, it makes me smile every time I look at it, my dad said he wasn't asleep, he was resting his eyes. Yeah right!!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend.

xxxxDebxxxxx

 

Yarn Along.....Wee Envelope Jumper.

Hello my friends, how are you all? I'm back to show you what's on my needles this week. I've mainly been working on a test knit so this is all I can show you at the moment. The pattern is released at the beginning of August so will tell you more about it then.

What I can show you though is my Pebble Beach by Helen Stewart, I'm using mini skeins from Five Moons in Fade to Grey and I've reached the 40% point of the pattern. There is a Pebble Beach Knit A Long going on at the moment in the Curious Handmade Group, you've still got plenty time to join in.

After a few false starts I've nearly completed the top half of the Wee Envelope Jumper, it is an easy pattern but I think because I've never done a construction like this before and wasn't sure how it was suppose to look, I confused myself. I emailed the pattern support and got a very quick response on what I was doing wrong. After that it all made sense and if I had read the pattern properly in the first place it wouldn't have been a problem. Do you ever do that, read something but not take it in properly and knit what you think it should be? Word of advice, trust the pattern, lol!!!

What I'm reading at the moment, I've just finished Secrets of the Lighthouse by Santa Montifore and have started The Zookeepers Wife again but I'm also reading The Paris Journal by Evan Robertson and Nichole Robertson. I originally bought it on my Kindle but after flicking through it on there, I wanted the linen cover edition. It's a fabulous book full of wonderful photography, I ordered it from the US and it took less than a week to arrive to the UK!!!

I'm linking to Yarn Along, KCCO and WIP Wednesday.

It was my birthday on Friday, I was very spoilt and received some gorgeous gifts. I'm still not well so havent taken photos of everything as I just don't have the energy but wanted to share these from two of my non-crafty friends. The yarn is gorgeous and I was so touched and surprised that she'd gone out of her way to find me this luxurious skein of yarn. My other friend knows me so well too, I love the locally handmade teacup pincushion and look at the wall hanging, so special. I have the bestest friends!!!!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your week.

xxxxDebxxxx