Lazy Summer Days

The weather is warm and the days are long and I'm feeling oh so lazy and relaxed.  There's definitely been a lull in activity in blogland, myself included.  I appreciate the efforts of those who have soldiered on and continued with their regular posts.  You have my admiration.  Every day I think to myself, I'll do a post today, but it never seems to get from my head to the blog.  So I'm making an effort today, to catch up with what I've been up to over the past two weeks or so.

Since I last posted, I've a few finished objects, plenty of works-in progress and I've had another weigh-in of the stash.

So let's get started, and here are my finished projects.  Firstly this shawl.

I just adore the colours.  I wear pink and grey more than any other colours, so this shawl is perfect for me.  I love the gradient colour changes.

The shawl is lovely and I used all of the 200g I had bought of this yarn, so it's a very generous size.  It's Ullcentrum 2 ply sport weight yarn and the colourway is Sky Pink.  It was the first yarn I bought at Yarndale last year and I'm surprised it's taken me this long to knit it up.  You can see details of this project on my Ravelry page, here.

Next up is the Block a Month Blanket I started back in January.  I decided to just crochet 16 squares for this one.

Each square is 10 inches square, so it makes a lovely lap blanket.  I added a fairly simple edging and I'm very happy with the result.  Details on Ravelry, here.

Another crochet project, a much quicker one, was these cute little flowers.

They are made from a free pattern by Ali Crafts Designs.  The pattern can be downloaded from Ravelry, here, and it really is a simple but very effective design.

My dressmaking is going well.  Yesterday I completed my pink dress.

I'm not sure that the mannequin is showing the dress off very well, so here's a badly taken picture of me wearing it.

The dress is very simple, it has princess seams, a side zip and a gently flared skirt.  It's New Look 6020 and I've made the pattern several times now - a very wearable dress.

I've treated myself to a new dress pattern, the Vintage Shirt Dress by Sew Over It.

It's the first independently designed pattern I've tried, the instructions look very detailed and helpful, so I'm looking forward to giving it a go.  Before then, I want to make a button through skirt (a bit of practice at buttonholes!).  So I need to make some time to get on with these.

And having finished my pink dress, I thought it deserved a pretty coat hanger, so I crocheted up this one, using my Floral Embellishment pattern.

It only took a couple of hours to complete and I think it looks great.

On the needles at present are my Fair Isle cardigan.

Some, but not a great deal of progress there.

A pair of socks.  No photos yet but they should be off the needles in the next day or two.

I also have my crochet Mandala Madness which hasn't made any progress and is in desperate need of some love and affection.

So plenty to keep me busy.

Finally, it's been six months since I decided to be brave and weigh my stash (inspired by Linda from Linda's Crafty Corner).  In February the stash weighed in at a bouncing 18.2 kg - wow!

After being on a crash diet for six months I'm pleased to say the stash now weighs a more healthy 11.6 kg, that's even allowing for the 850g of yarn that sneaked its way in when my back was turned!.

There's still a long way to go and with Yarndale coming up at the end of next month, I need to clear some more works-in-progress, but I feel satisfied that things are reaching a more manageable level.

Well that was a packed post!  I'll be back shortly (no more laziness) and hopefully with some more finished objects.  Enjoy your week.

Happy Sunshiny Days

Hello everyone and welcome to this week's blog post.  I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

I've had a great weekend.  Plenty of knitting got done and we had a lovely day out.  I have also been lucky enough to have two patterns gifted to me over the weekend.

First of all, I'd like to share with you my lovely finished shawl.

I can't begin to tell you how pleased I am with this.  The beautiful gradient yarn was a gift from Grace and it's called Antarctica (she picked it deliberately for me because she knows I'm interested in anything to do with the South Pole).  It's very hard to get a picture that reflects the true colours.  It starts as a deep teal, lightens and changes to dark grey, which in turn lightens to cream.

I used a pattern by Helen Stewart called Spindrift.  The pattern is a paid for pattern, but you can sign up by email for a free workshop and the pattern comes as part of the package.  The link to the pattern page on Ravelry is HERE.

It is a well written pattern and is great for assessing your yarn usage.  I particularly wanted to maximise my use of the yarn so that I got the full splendour of the gradients.  It's also a nice quick knit.

So now I really, really do need to get back on track with my other works in progress - until the next distraction!

Yesterday was such a lovely day, weather-wise, that my husband and I decided to have a day out, so we drove up the coast to Lytham (about an hour and a half away).  As my husband is retiring later this year, we called this our practice retirement day!

There isn't a great deal to do in Lytham, but it was lovely to just walk along the coastal path.  I hadn't adjusted the exposure on my camera, so my pictures are very bleached, I've used some pictures I found online so you can see what we saw.

pic from www.lythamtowntrust.org

We called into the windmill to see the museum run by the local heritage society.

pic from www.lythamheritagegroup.co.uk

And we had a picnic in Lowther Gardens (these are my pictures - it had clouded over a bit so the exposure isn't as rubbish).

A very relaxing day and it's always nice to visit somewhere new.

When I got home, I was watching one of my favourite podcasters, YarnderWoman, Melinda from Perth in Western Australia, whilst doing some sewing.  I was absolutely thrilled when my name was read out as a prize winner for her Hat Knit Along that ran last month. My prize is a beautiful shawl pattern and I'll show you the details when I receive the copy.

The same evening, Grace got in touch with me to say that she was gifting me a new pattern by the Sockmatician.  He has written a toe up sock recipe that incorporates a heel flap and gusset.  This is exactly the construction I want to try next.  So I'm really delighted to receive this.  Now I can't wait to cast on for my next pair of socks - but didn't I just say, no distractions!!!

So everything is wonderful here in Yellow Pink and Sparkly land.  I hope that the sun and happiness are shining down on you, wherever you are.  And if there are clouds, both literal and metaphoric in your life at the moment, I hope that they pass over as quickly as possible.

Have a good week. X

Fair Isle Hat Pattern

Just popping in today to share the pattern for my Fair Isle Hat.

I've completed the second version and written up the pattern, so I'm feeling very pleased with myself for getting it all done so promptly.

This version was knitted with Rowan fine Tweed - leftovers from the cardigan I knitted Eve for her birthday.  

It's lovely and bright and I enjoyed knitting the pattern just as much as the one earlier this month.

Version #1

Version #2

Details of this version can be found on my Ravelry page, here.

The pattern can be downloaded for free, of course, HERE.

Alternatively you can add the pattern to your Ravelry library by visiting the pattern page, HERE.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.  Bye for now.

Floral Embellishment Pattern

Sometimes, you just have to sit yourself down and get on with things.  So that's what I did yesterday - pattern writing.  Not my favourite activity. I'd much rather be making, but these things have to be done - eventually.  There are a number of patterns waiting for attention, but I started with a gentle one, to ease myself into the job.

And here it is the Floral Embellishment crochet pattern.

You can use the motif to embellish all your crafty goodness.  The pattern can be downloaded directly, here, or you can access it via Ravelry and add it to your library.  As always this is a free pattern, because I love sharing with you all and it's great to give something back to the  knitting and crocheting community.

You will need scraps of DK weight yarn in four colours and a 3.5 mm (Size E) crochet hook.  Any weight of yarn woud work for the pattern but the size of your crochet hook would need to be adjusted.  The pattern is written using both UK and US crochet terms.  The pattern PDF contains photos for each step of the way and I hope that you enjoy the pattern.

Right, that's one pattern done, now I'm back to some knitting before I tackle the next one.

Mini Sock Yarn Sweaters

Following on from my previous post, I'm pleased to say that the knitting pattern for my mini sock yarn sweaters has now been published on Ravelry. As with all my patterns, it is free for everyone.  

You can download the pattern direct from Ravelry and save it to your library.

You can also download the PDF without using Ravelry, HERE.

And I'm including the full pattern instructions in this post, below.

I hope that you find the pattern fun to make.  I'd love to see your finished objects on Ravelry.

Enjoy the pattern.

Mini Sweaters

These decorative sweaters are worked in one piece, top down.

You will need –

Approximately 5g of sock yarn

A set of 2.5 mm double pointed needles

A stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round

A small amount of waste yarn to temporarily hold stitches

Abbreviations used -

st(s) – stitch(es)

DPN – double pointed needles

k – knit

p – purl

p2tog – purl two sts together

m1 – make one st by picking up the loop between the two sts and knitting into the back of it

inc – increase

RH – right hand

Instructions

Cast on 28 sts with 2.5 mm DPNs, join for knitting in the round.

Round 1: knit all sts

Round 2: purl all sts

Round 3: [inc round] (k1, m1, k7, m1, k1, m1, k5, m1) x 2. (36 sts)

Rounds 4 & 5: knit

Round 6: [inc round] (k1, m1, k9, m1, k1, m1, k7, m1) x 2. (44 sts)

Rounds 7 & 8: knit

Round 9: [inc round] (k1, m1, k11, m1, k1, m1, k9, m1)x 2. (52 sts)

Round 10: knit

Split for body and sleeves

Round 11: k15 (for the back of the sweater), cast on 4 sts, place the next 11 sts from RH needle onto waste yarn (first sleeve), k15 (for front of sweater), cast on 4 sts, place remaining 11 sts from RH needle onto waste yarn )for second sleeve).  (38 live sts for body, 2 x 11 sts on waste yarn for sleeves)

Redistribute the sts evenly over your needles.

Rounds 12 & 13: knit

Rounds 14: [inc round] k16, m1, k19, m1, k3. (40 sts)

Rounds 15 – 24: knit

Round 25 – 27: (k1, p1) to end.

Cast off in rib.

Sleeves

Place the 11 sts from the waste yarn onto 2.5mm DPNs and pick up 4 sts from underarms, distribute evenly over the needles ready to knit in the round.

Knit 15 rounds.

Round 16: (k1, p1) x 6, k1, p2tog. (14 sts)

Round 17: (k1, p1) to end.

Cast off in rib.

Repeat for other sleeve.

Tidy all loose ends. 

Purple Edith Cardigan

Isn't it a wonderful feeling when a project is completed and has turned out how you wanted it?  This week, I have completed the purple version of my Edith Cardigan pattern.  

I made this version slightly longer, but other than that it follows the pattern.

The wool is gorgeous Jamieson & Smith 2 ply jumper weight in the most delicious shade of purple.

I'm really pleased with the cardigan.  I wear the original Edith all the time.  It's such an easy style to wear.

You can see full details of this project on my Ravelry page, here.

I intend to update the instructions for the Edith pattern, just to make it easier to follow.  In fact, I've set myself the job of updating all of my patterns, so that they get a fresh look - no rest for the wicked!

I also need to get on with making stuff for Christmas - as always I feel it is sneaking up behind me ready to give me a fright.  I know many of you are already organised and well on with your Christmas gift projects, I hope I'm not the only one who is dragging their feet again.

Handy Dandy Sock Yarn Bags

You will recall that I recently treated myself to a yarn winder, so that I could make lovely 'cakes' of yarn.  The novelty hasn't worn off yet!

I received lots of helpful ideas about using these 'cakes' as centre-pull balls.  With these ideas in mind, I decided to use my Jolly Little Goody Bags to hold the yarn.  These bags were made with DK weight yarn and proved a bit loose so I thought about making some new smaller bags.

Now that I'm making a monthly pair of socks, I find I usually have about 40 g of sock yarn leftover after the socks have been completed.  So putting the two things together, I came up with these Handy Dandy Sock Yarn Bags.

Made from leftover sock yarn, they snugly hold a 50 g ball of sock yarn that can be centre-pulled through the top of the drawstring.

The bags are even stretchy enough to hold a 100g ball of sock yarn.

They are great fun to make, only taking an afternoon or evening.

If you'd like to make a bag or two, the pdf of the pattern can be downloaded for free by clicking HERE.

Alternatively, you can download the pattern into your Ravelry library from the pattern page, HERE.

One bag takes approximately 15 g of sock yarn, that's about 65 metres.  I've tested them out already with the cardigan I'm knitting at the moment (I'm using sock yarn) and the yarn inside the bags stays tangle free to the very end.

So from my 100 g ball of sock yarn, I've made my May socks (the Watermelon socks), three Handy Dandy Sock Yarn Bags and I even had a tiny bit of yarn leftover that I used to make one of my Baby Mice.

Not bad going - no leftovers for me! I hope you enjoy the pattern.

Daisy Chain Bunting - Free Pattern

Writing up patterns never gets any quicker or more enjoyable, but I stuck at it (I'm conscious that I have two other patterns still waiting to be written up - but they'll wait for another day!).  So here it is, the Daisy Chain Bunting pattern.

The pattern can be downloaded as a free PDF, here.

Alternatively, you can visit the Ravelry pattern page where it is available as a free Ravelry Download to store in your library.

I hope you like the pattern.  It's quite simple and quick to make.

See you soon.

Little Mouse

I want to knit a mouse.  Not just any mouse, but a special, intricately designed mouse.  A mouse with little details and lovely clothes.

I lie awake at night imagining my mouse, how it will look, how I will construct it and how cute it will be when it's finished.

At night I have made numerous cute little mice, but I haven't actually got round to making my mouse in the cold light of day.

Making the mouse will take plenty of planning. It has to be special and so extra planning is needed.  Planning is not one of my strong points - I like to jump in there and just do it!

So, to satisfy my knitted mouse cravings I made this little cute chap.

The pattern is by Rachel Borello Caroll and it's called Marisol the Knitted Mouse - and, yippee, it's a freebie.  You can download the pattern from Ravelry, here.

Details of my project can be seen on my Ravelry page, here.

Joining in with the carolling

So now I'm back to imagining the mouse I will design - It will be so super cute - I just need to do the planning!