It is working.

So this plan of mine to concentrate on about 3 things a month is working. I finished the Shawl.

And I finished the cigar gloves.

And I have made lots of progress on the cabled shorts. But I haven't finished them. Will keep going!


I also  finished a pair of mittens for the Babe, and a hat for the Meister.

Another resolution?

So it is a New Year (Hello 2012!) and occasional bloggers around the world are resolving to blog more regularly and be better bloggers. :-) Am I one of them? I don't think so. I do experience a general feeling of  'things will be better' and the whole new year / new start thing. But I don't know if I do actual resolutions.

As far as knitting goes, for the past couple of years I have resolved to finish on-going projects. Funny, but I have the same on-going projects. I have gotten better (more experienced and focused I think) at finishing things that I start, but I do have a handful of things from the past 4 years or so that I haven't gotten around to finishing, and I would like to find the time and energy and motivation to finish them.

At the moment, I have this idea, that I will have monthly goals, and this month I am working on 3 things. I have joined the Crochet Shoulder Wrappers group on Ravelry, and there are a few shawls and cowls that I would love to make, so I started this month doing the Anna Shawl, which is pretty basic, but nice. This is the first of my 3 January projects and I have finished the crocheting this morning. I have made it big and warm and chunky and comfy. I used James C Brett Marble Chunky, which I have never used before, and would have usually rejected as being 100% acrylic, but  I wanted chunky and cheap, and it was also the only colours that the Meister and I could agree on. We are supposed to be 'sharing' this one.

I think really that has more to do with me wanting to justify buying the yarn, ("But it isn't for ME!") than any practicality. I mean, she is 12 and about a size 8-10 (3-5 US) and I am, well.... NOT! I have made this huge thing, using 600 grams of yarn, and it is rather cuddly. The Meister was not too diplomatic when she said she was happy to use it as a blanket. Just have to sort out if I am going to block it. It needs something, but I have never blocked acrylic before. 

I am also working on a pair of nearly fingerless gloves for the Boy. He wants these  - Cigar Gloves. I made a pair for Al a couple of years ago, and now the Boy wants his as well. I have some King Cole Merino in a medium blue. I have started them, but then got carried away with the shawl. This is number 2 thing I plan to finish in January. I think the matching hat will have to wait until next month.

Number 3 thing is the cabled shorts I started a while back for the Changeling and mentioned briefly before. I really do have to finish these this winter. I will lose all motivation once the weather gets warmer, and next year she will most likely be away at university. I have been struggling with the pattern, and then I was on a roll for a while, and then got distracted by craft fair things and Christmas knitting.

Although, to be honest, I hardly did any Christmas knitting. I made a nice pair of socks for my father in law, a shawl for my Aunt Edith, a hat for Uncle Bob, and a pretty shawlette for my Mum. Do I have any photos of them? No, because I had to get them in the post to get to America for the holidays, and I was so efficient and organised (read headless chicken-like) that I forget to get photos.

The thing I did get photos of, are the ones that were late, and were a very nice New Year's present.  These are Susie's Reading Mitts but apparently you can't get the pattern any longer. There was some confusion about copyright, but I managed to download the pattern during the time when it was up on Ravelry. And I am glad, because they are lovely. They are knitted in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK on 3.25 mm dpns. And since my tension got tighter and tighter the closer we got to Christmas, I actually knitted three of these in order to get a pair that matched in size. ;-) But never fear, I will get some more yarn, and the Changeling wants a pair as well. That will have to be a February project!

And here is a little hat I made for the Babe. Because she doesn't have enough hats. (note sarcasm.) It is a slightly modified Brr Baby Beanie.  She actually keeps this one on her head occasionally. :-) The photo is a crap mobile phone camera photo but it does look sweet in real life. It was made using Sirdar supersoft Aran, which is another 100% acrylic, but great for making things for toddlers that are going to need machine washing regularly. And it is actually super soft, so makes good hats for all ages. I use the Sirdar a lot when making things for my craft fairs.

I think I am losing a bit of snobishness when it comes to acrylic yarns. I am finding that they are nicer than all the ones from the 70s and 80s that come to mind when I think of acrylic.  I really want to make a couple of baby blankets with this yarn.

Here is photo of some more Sirdar supersoft in the same colour. I combined it with the lace mohair to make a really cute little beret for a friend's 1 year old foster baby. But guess what?  Forgot to get a photo.  Maybe that should be my New Year's Resolution - to remember to photograph things?!

But my stated goal for this month is to finish three things.
1) The Anna Shawl
2) Cigar Gloves
3) Rebecca cabled shorts

Guess I better get to it!

Christmas is coming...

So I have been doing a handful of craft fairs and also trying to get Christmas knitting done. I am only doing a few things for family who live far away this year, but still I am behind schedule. And I don't really know what to do about the whole craft fair thing. I like doing it, but I don't have enough free time to dedicate to it as a proper business. And it takes away from recreational knitting and crochet. I am still working on things the kids want, which won't get done until after the holidays. Unless I get to spend lots of time crafting over the holidays when others are around to play with the Babe. :-) One can always hope.

I think I might like GREEN!

Here are some recently finished objects. It occurs to me that I do like certain colours. Although the Changeling did pick out the King Cole superwash Merino in the olive colour for her Owls jumper. And I have been doing lots of other crocheted things for craft fairs. So much so, that my right hand was beginning to develop a bit of a tremor. Have decided to take a break and do some knitting instead. I am trying to work on the Rebecca cabled shorts pictured at the bottom, but the pattern is rather confusing and I need lots of time to sort it out.  They are also going to be for the Changeling, although the Meister is asking for her own Owls and Shorts too. Oh dear.

Owls by Kate Davies



Diamond Ridges Hat by Kristy Ashmore



Lattice Hat by Sarah Arnold



South Bay Shawlette



In progress - Rebecca Cabled Shorts

Making the world a prettier place...

and not being silly at all because I am getting older and my eyes are failing me.
The new reading, crocheting, knitting glasses have arrived.

Update on the craft fair. I sold 3 hats. At least I paid for the stall. I am doing it again, to see if I can pay for all of the yarn I used to make the hats in the first place. And now making some fingerless mitts as well, and more girly headbands and chokers and bracelets and things like that for stocking stuffers.

I have not done much on the cabled shorts for the Changeling, but goodness me the pattern is difficult to figure out, and I need a good couple of hours slot to get going. So far, I have not managed the couple of hours. They need to be uninterrupted hours. When will that happen?

2 things...well, 3 really.

I am doing another craft fair. I think I may try to make a business out of this. Nothing grand, but £100 - £200 a month would be great to help with the Boy's music lessons, and all those things that girls need too. So I am crocheting lots of hats. It came about rather unexpectedly. I wrote to the organiser of the monthly Horse and Jockey craft fair, and asked for details, she sent me details, and booked me in. So I thought, "OK." I guess that is what I needed, for the decision to be taken away from me, otherwise, I would pontificate endlessly.

Number 2 thing is that I have started the Rebecca number 10 shorts. Dear me, I have never read such a confusing pattern. Am asking for help from those who have actually made them. I wonder if it is me, the translation of the pattern, the way Rebecca patterns are written, or just these shorts. Most likely a combination of all those things, but it feels like I have started something monumental, and worth mentioning.

And number 3 thing is that I have finally given in, and bought some reading (knitting) glasses.  The optician says I only just need them, and gave me a prescription a few weeks ago saying that I could get some glasses if I felt the need. Well, the nights are drawing in, the light is leaving, and I feel the need.

It was the very fine navy blue mohair that did it.

Knitting instead of blogging

So having a 22 month old who has learned that if she grabs your working yarn, she will get lots of attention is fun, even if it does prevent you from being that productive. I have practically given up on blogging for the time being, but when I do get free time, I am still making things.

Flowery headbands. :-)

Daisy purse. Actually made a few months ago. I have made another purse for a friend for a birthday present this summer, but failed to get a photo of it.

Baby knitting!

Yemma's dress test knit. Knitted yoke, sewn onto skirt. The skirt is actually a recycled dress that I made for my elder daughter about 10 years ago.

Beanie hat and flower made with left over bits. The hat is actually made with yarn that was given to me by another home edder years ago. It is at least 20 years old. So, does that make this vintage? ;-)

Jayne Cobb hat - Fave character from Firefly

Made with Drops Karisma from Purl City Yarns.

Crocheted halter to match the Ribbed Bolero. Bad photo - they look better in real life. Made with Paton's cotton twist.

Shalom cardigan in Rowan Cashsoft Chunky. The yarn was a bit of a disappointment as it was not very well spun and had lots of knots and slubby bits. :-( But the finished cardigan is appreciated.

I have some more baby knitting to do as well. Am nearly done with 2 sets of booties for Al's colleague who has had a baby girl - 4 weeks early! And there is a new baby on the street, who is in need of a brightly coloured vest. :-)  Then I have to get started on some knitted, cabled shorts for The Changeling.