Planning Ahead

Well Christmas is now over, and I must say it was a good one.  I'm now planning ahead and thinking about New Year resolutions.  Obviously, the first resolution is to be better prepared for Christmas next year!  I also would like to do more embroidery next year and generally make more time for crafting.  And in 2014, I am most definitely, no doubt about it, going to be better organised!

So, making an early start on getting organised, here are some of the projects I've finished recently but not got round to sharing with you.

Firstly, I crocheted some covers for coat hangers for Grace and Eve for Christmas.  I used double knitting weight yarn for them all.

For the cherries, I used this free pattern.

For the daisies, I used my Daisy Daisy Earrings pattern.

For the flower, I used my Simple Flower Corsage pattern.

At some point I'll make some of these for myself.

I finished the top I was knitting in plenty of time for Christmas Day.

The pattern is called Thelma and it's by Martin Storey.  Full details of the project can be found on my Ravelry page, here.

Having finished the top, I had a day or two to spare before Christmas Day, so I made this bookmark.

Flat Rat Bookmark - not for the squeamish, but I think he's fun.  The pattern is free and I knitted from the nose down, all in one piece.  You can see the details of the pattern, here.

The flat rat bookmark only took a couple of hours so I decided to start a project which has been top of my queue for several months now.

This lovely snake pattern is also free and it's nice and easy.  It's actually striped but I was using up some old yarn so my colours don't show up that well.  I knitted until I ran out of yarn but it would have been nice to make it really long.  Maybe I could make another one - more colourful and extra long!  Full details of the project are here.

The snake was finished off on Christmas Day morning.  Which fitted in nicely with the receipt of my Christmas present - Jamieson and Smith 2 ply jumper yarn, all the way from Shetland.

A beautiful tweedy pink.

And this is what I've knitted so far.

It's going to be a cardigan and I can't wait to wear it.

So that's everything up to date.  I've still got an excessively long wish list and Pinterest never fails to inspire me on a daily basis, but I'm optimistic that my good intentions for being organised in 2014 will mean that there will be 25 hours in each day!

To You All

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

WITH BEST WISHES FOR THE COMING YEAR

Snowmen

I've decorated the doors of the girls bedrooms for Christmas...

Another great inspiration from Pinterest.

Bring It On

Yes, I'm ready.  I'm organised and well-planned.  I'm definitely ready for Christmas.

There's just the last minute food shopping to do tomorrow; the baking to be done on Christmas Eve and of course the knitted top to be finished and ready to wear on Christmas Day.  Apart from all that, I'm ready.

Grace's hamsters have come to stay for the holiday.

I have my pile of library books to keep me going...

Although it would be a bit optimistic to think I will be able to get through all those during the holiday, but at least I've got plenty of choice.

I've even started planning what I'm going to start knitting on Christmas Day with the wool that Father Christmas will be bringing me (after all I have been a good girl).

It's all so exciting, I think I need to go and calm down before I start squealing with delight.

Will It Be Finished?

An update on the Black Forest Log - despite looking like someone had sat on it, it was delicious.  I'd definitely make it again but I think I need to work on my construction techniques!

Moving on, I thought I'd let you know what I'm working on, knitting-wise at the moment.

A few weeks ago I couldn't resist buying this pattern book by Martin Storey.

I particularly love the pattern called Thelma.

This would be lovely to wear at Christmas.

Now, Angora Haze is a gorgeously, soft and cuddly yarn by Rowan - but rather pricey!  I also have issues with the idea of Angora as a yarn, not all Angora yarn is produced from happy bunnies.  Rowan have categorically stated that theirs is ethically sourced with a view to animal welfare but I'm still not comfortable with the idea. So in the end I settled for some 4 ply wool cotton by Rowan in a lovely jewel pink shade.  This gives wonderful stitch definition which shows up the pattern beautifully, with the Angora yarn I feel the pattern is a bit lost.

I've finished the back - just.  I've started the front and I'm conscious I'm running out of time.  So, forget the housework, I'm going to just have to sit and knit to make sure it's done!

I Tried...

The tree is up, the knitted figures have colonised the living room, so I'm all set for Christmas.

So how about baking something exciting...

Black Forest Log - sounds delicious...

... but sadly looks like road kill.

Never mind, I tried!

Carnegie Library

In the council district that I live, we have (had) thirteen libraries.  Our local library has been in existence for over a hundred years.

In 1902 the local council approached the American philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie for financial help to build a library in our area.  Generously, he donated £4,000 of the £5,750 building costs.  In total there were 2509 Carnegie Libraries built between 1883 and 1929, of which, 660 were in Britain and Ireland.

The foundation stone for our Carnegie Library was laid on 11th May 1904 and the library officially opened on 23rd June 1905.

The building is a Grade 2 listed building.

Yesterday, it closed its doors for good.  The council, due to major funding cuts has had to take the difficult decision to close over half of the libraries in our council district.  Ours was the fifth to close with two more to close before Christmas.

A tea party was held at the library yesterday afternoon and it was lovely to meet up again with the librarians past and present who I've known over the twenty six years I've lived in the area and frequented the library.

It was a rather sad afternoon, seeing the almost empty shelves and knowing that most of the books are being sent off for recycling.

A last chance to read the newspapers for free!

The deserted children's section.

We've lost an amazing resource.

Today's Distraction

I'm not feeling too guilty about today's distraction.  After all, Mary and Jesus are more relevant to this time of the year than pigeons, so not too much of a distraction from Christmassy matters.  

Eve is home from university at the weekend but she has an extended essay to write over the holidays.  The subject is something to do with representations of the Virgin Mary in Latin American culture.  

I can't help her with the essay, but I can crochet a Mary and Jesus from a Peruvian crochet website!!!

The pattern is available for free, here.  It's in Spanish, but with the help of the photos and Google Translate, I was able to get along very nicely.  

Hopefully Eve will be so inspired she'll pick up her pen and dash off her essay in a blink of an eye, leaving us with plenty of time to have fun.  

Easily Distracted

I was supposed to be getting organised, you know, tidying the house and making space for the Christmas tree and the overwhelming amount of decorations we've accumulated over the years.  But then I saw this book in the library.

I couldn't resist the cute little pigeon.

So I didn't tidy and make room, I knitted instead.  Which was far more fun.

I fancy making this little beauty next...

but I really should get organised!!

Christmas is Coming...

So December is upon us and despite the good intentions I had last year to be more organised this year, I find that Christmas has crept up on me from behind and taken me by surprise - again.

In order to keep the stress levels to a minimum, I'm not planning any major knitting or crochet projects - yet!  Obviously something new has to be made or there would be no fun.  So I've dashed out this rather charming  Christmas Pudding tea cosy.

The pattern is by Hilary Detmers and is available for free.  Details of the pattern can be seen on Ravelry, here.

So now I'm off to get myself organised - a seemingly never-ending task!

Scatness Tam

In a bid to get organised (again!) I'm trying to update my finished projects.

Today's finished item is the Scatness Tam by Kate Davies.  Having sorted out my needles issues, I raced ahead and finished this last week.

Now that it's cold and windy in the mornings when I go for my walk, this hat has already had quite a few outings and it is lovely and snug.
 
I do love Fair Isle, it's always enjoyable to knit.

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

I've been promising myself that I could start a new Fair Isle cardigan for some time, so now that I have a few projects out of the way, I've cast on for that.

I had intended to plan it carefully, selecting colours and patterns - but - I was too impatient so it's going to be a "let's see what happens" type of cardigan!!  Let's hope it doesn't end up a "let's frog the damn thing" type of cardigan!

Once I've completed the first pattern, I'll take some photos of the work-in-progress.

My Snuggly, Cuddly Blanket

Last year I started a crochet- a- long with Jules at Little Woollie, to make a blanket.

I've waited eagerly for each instalment to be posted.  In the last few days Jules has added the border.  Excitedly I picked up my crochet hook for the last time on this blanket and now I've finished it.

It's a wonderful jumble of stitches and colours.

So beautifully jolly, I can't believe that it will fail to keep me warm and cheerful over the long winter nights.

Just perfect for snuggling under.

A big thank you to Jules for creating this lovely project.

Why Didn't I Think of This Earlier?

All eager to start knitting my Scatness Tam by Kate Davies, I rounded up the wool I want to use and turned to my knitting needle collection.

Normally when I knit something with a small / medium diameter I prefer to use the two long circular needles method to knit in the round, rather than using double pointed needles.  I have a reasonable collection of 60 cm and 80 cm long circular needles in various sizes.  There are lots of tutorials for this method, here, here, and here, if you are interested.

Now according to my records on Ravelry I have two 3 mm circular needles, both length 80 cm - but oops I can only find one.  I've looked everywhere but think I may have given one to Grace - I'll have to check with her.  Not a major problem - I'll use my DPNs.

The DPNs were great for the brim but once I'd increased, the stitches kept falling off the ends of the needles.  I'd started off with the stitches divided amongst three needles and knitting with a fourth but soon changed to the stitches divided amongst four needles and knitting with a fifth.

Not ideal but I was getting there.

But then, I thought, wouldn't it be simpler to just get the right length circular needle for the hat - a 40 cm long needle.

So, having googled and browsed, compared and dithered, I finally pressed the buy button and here it is, my 3 mm 40 cm long circular needle.

What a cutie.

And look how much better the knittings looking already.

Now I'm thinking, I should have a selection of these little beauties in various needles sizes - my Christmas present wish list is starting to fill out quite nicely!

Celia Pattern

I seem to have a backlog of things to do, so I'm being a good girl and trying to be organised and get things done.

I have finally typed up the pattern for the cropped cardigan I made some time ago - my notes become more indecipherable the longer I leave it!

The cardigan is one of my favourites to wear.  It's very versatile and a great fit.  I'll probably knit it again in a darker colour for the winter months.

It is knitted in 4 ply weight yarn in one piece up to the armholes, and then knitted back and forth.  The shoulders are formed by short row shaping and a three needle bind off.  The sleeves are knitted flat and seamed to fit. 

It is available in one size only, to fit 32 inch chest.  The finished measurements are chest - 34 inches, sleeve seam - 18 inches and length - 15 1/2 inches.  

Full details of the pattern can be found over on Ravelry, here.

The free PDF for the pattern is available, here.