Eve's Birthday

Yesterday, my little baby girl was 18- where has all the time gone?  It seems like no time at all since she was so young and now she's an adult, ready to step out into the big wide world.

We had a wonderful day together.  We had great fun reliving memories and rediscovering the past (yes, I have saved every drawing she made, every story she wrote, every certificate she received and anything else worth saving).

Grace made some crochet gifts for her, which I'm sure she'll blog about shortly.  I knitted Eve a cardi.

It's a Kim Hargreaves design called Ali from the book called Breeze.

The finished article looks wonderful, a great fit and Eve is really pleased with it, however it wasn't a pattern I'd want to knit again in a hurry.  Although it was double knitting weight yarn, the needles used were very small, so it grew slowly.  The pattern wasn't well written and at times very confusing (highly unusual for a Kim Hargreaves pattern).  The basket weave pattern was not exciting but required stitch counting so concentration was required at all times.  Putting all that aside, I know Eve will wear the cardi as much as she can and she does look good in it, so it was all worthwhile.

As Eve's Teddy was also 18, I made him a matching basket weave sweater (this was a lot quicker to make!).

I also made her a phone cosy.

This was knitted using 4 ply yarn and has a lovely cable and lace pattern.  The pattern is available as a free Ravelry download, here.

And finally, here is the card I made her.

It was a special day for Eve, very emotional and full of love. May the coming year bring her all that she hopes for and all that she deserves.

Happy St Patrick's Day

Eve is off out this evening to celebrate St Patrick's Day and the fact that at midnight she will turn 18.  To help her and her friends celebrate I have crocheted them each a shamrock.

I saw the pattern featured on Tangled Happy's blog, here, and thought it would make a great little gift.  The pattern is by Tania Lamm and is free.

If you're off out tonight to celebrate St Patrick's Day, have a good time.

Swan Lake

I had a lovely afternoon out, yesterday.  I went to the Empire Theatre in Liverpool to see the ballet Swan Lake.

The production was by the Russian State Ballet of Siberia and was lovely and colourful.

I've seen Swan Lake so many times now, I've lost count exactly - it's my favourite ballet and no matter how many times I see it I love it more and more.  Each production offers a different interpretation and the costumes are always amazing.

Hopefully it won't be too many years until Swan Lake is back in Liverpool.  Until then I have my CD of the complete ballet music and my DVD of the ballet so that will keep me happy for the time being.  And when I grow up I want to dance the lead in Swan Lake!

An Unbirthday Party

Eve finishes school early on Tuesdays so as an early birthday surprise we had an Alice in Wonderland style unbirthday lunch.  It's half way between my birthday and hers so it seemed like a good time to do it.

So, with some crocheting, some baking and some crafting, here's what I came up with.

Mini teapot, cup and saucer

Mini pizzas

Mini chocolate muffins

Biscuits made with my new teapot cookie cutter (a birthday present from my girls)

A sleepy crocheted dormouse

Even Ada, the mannequin, joined in the fun

Cheshire cat smiles

A very smiley Eve

Great fun and Eve loved the surprise.

Wonderful Weekend

I was chatting to my next door neighbour this morning and she was telling me all about how time consuming her work is and what she had to get done around the house - she's always running around, very busy.  It makes me wonder why I always feel that I never have enough time. I don't go out to work - I get to stay at home all day - my daughters are grown up and mostly independent - so where is all the time going?  I'll have to sit down and work that one out!

I do know that lately all the time is being spent on preparing for birthdays- in particular Eve's 18th next weekend - and I'm so looking forward to it.  I've been so busy planning surprises for Eve's birthday that I almost forgot my own birthday on Friday!  Needless to say my darling family made me feel very special.  I've had a wonderful weekend.

Grace crocheted me some lovely bracelets, which you can see on her blog, here.  I received lots of lovely gifts and surprises.

And we had a delicious cake.

A big thank you to my family for making it special.

Peace Again

It doesn't feel as though I've got much knitting done lately - but most of my knitting is secret at the moment.  My 'un-secret' knitting has been another cardi.  I've been working on this in the evenings and managed to get it finished this week.

The pattern is called Peace and, yes, it's by Kim Hargreaves (you just can't beat her for great fitting cardis).  The pattern is from the book called Misty and this is the second time I've knitted up the pattern.  The original version can be seen here.  (See how much my hair has grown in between cardis!!)

It's such a classic style that it's so easy to wear and the fit is perfect.  The pattern knits up quickly and is easy to follow.

I used Sirdar Click double knitting yarn and it took 7 50g balls.  You can see full details on my Ravelry page, here.

This is the third time I've knitted up this yarn - previous incarnations have been frogged - but this pattern is so perfect there will be no frogging this time!

Happy March

First of March at last.  I love March - Spring is in the air; daffodils; warmer weather and birthdays.

I've had to play down my birthday this year (although last year's celebrations were something extra special) because it's Eve's 18th birthday this month - so obviously I'm concentrating on her special day.  18 needs more celebrating than 51!

This means that I've had to be secretive about my makes at the moment - and I've still got lots to do.  So Happy March everyone and I'd better get back to work!

Pebble Mouse

When Grace was staying at the weekend, she went down to the beach and collected more pebbles for us - she's keen to make her own pebble creatures.

Following my pebble fish, I have now made a pebble mouse.

I crocheted this cute little mouse last night - very quick to make.  I used 4 ply yarn and a 2mm hook and gave him a twisted cord for a tail.

Besides looking cute, he's also very practical - I can use him as a paperweight.  So now to start work on all the other pebbles!

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Just had a wonderful weekend - Grace came home to stay for a few days, so it was great fun to see her smiling face around the house again.

We went to the cinema last night to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

It was wonderful.  What a great line up of actors - many of them our favourites.

Loved it - a very charming film.

Needles Jar

I decided to decorate an old glass jar with some crochet so that I could store some of my knitting needles in it.  This is what I came up with.

It's a great way to use up old odds and ends of yarn and looks really jolly.  I may decorate some more jars - I have plenty of stuff  I can fill them with.

Pebble Fish

I've just joined a new group on Ravelry, called Pebble Dressing.  Feeling inspired by some of the finished projects of the other members, I grabbed a pebble (we have lots around the house - I seem to accumulate them) and crocheted up this little darling.

The pattern is called Merfish and it's by Knitalatte.  There's a photo tutorial available on how to make your own pebble fish, here.

I'll have to get down to the beach and accumulate some more pebbles - I'm feeling all inspired.

Petal Wristlets

A few blog posts ago I mentioned the adorable wristlets featured in Mollie Makes issue #10 designed by Monika Siwak.  Here are the objects of desire. 

Well I have now managed to make a version for myself.  The original pattern called for #50 crochet cotton thread - not easy to get hold off and very fine and labour-intensive!  My version of the wristlets is made using #10 thread, so although the final wristlets aren't as fine and dainty as Monika's, I think they still look pretty damn good. 

Obviously I made them yellow and pink!  I changed the lacy frilly bit - mine has more 'petals' and I didn't do a picot edging. 

It took quite a number of attempts to get it right but I am pleased with the finished results - well worth the effort. 

Happy Valentines Day

Have a lovely Valentines Day. 

I used my sweetheart earrings pattern with double knitting weight yarn to make these quick and easy cards for my Valentines. 

Valentine Hearts

As a little decoration for the approaching Valentines Day, I crocheted some little hearts to scatter love around the house!

I used double knitting weight yarn, a 3 mm hook and my pattern for Sweetheart earrings.  Each heart takes less than 10 minutes to make - couldn't be simpler. 

February Birthday Card

Here's a quick pic of the card I made for my friend, whose birthday it was yesterday. 

Ribbons, flowers and lacy bits - always look good. 

Wonderful Gloves

I've recently bought the latest copy of the magazine Mollie Makes...

And I've fallen in love with the wonderful crocheted gloves featured on the front cover. 

Last night I had four attempts at starting the gloves but my crochet cotton is too thick, it needs a really fine yarn - which I don't have at the moment, but I'm not sure my eyesight could cope with anything too fine. 

I've tried adjusting the pattern to suit my yarn but I can't get it right.  I shall have to rethink this because those gloves are utterly irresistable and my life is incomplete without them!!!