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.

A Baby's cardigan...

Started on the 30th. Had to recast on the next day - 2 and a half more times actually. Don't ask me why, but I kept looping an extra stitch on using the long tail cast on. Finally got there in the end.


Am determined to accomplish some knitting! The Babe is taking up every minute of my day, and I think I am beginning to suffer withdrawal. I don't want to exercise, I don't want to go to the allotment, I don't want to cook, even eating is taking a back seat! I just want to knit, uninterrupted for a few hours...days. :-)

Anyway, I knitted happily until I got to row 7. Had to knit this one back a couple of times, not really sure what I was doing wrong. Partly because I was up at 6.30 am with a toddler on a Saturday, and trying to keep her happy with a Little Bear DVD while knitting. In the end, it took me 1.5 hours to do row 7!

But I am very happy with myself. I got to row 9 and thought, "They've left out a yf." But I didn't trust myself. Did it like it says in the book, THEN thought to check online. And there is it. The mistake in the published pattern.  I was right! So I think I am a proper knitter.

Next step...designer....in a few more years. :-)

Photos of craft fair stuff.

The photographer daughter has gone to work, so I am taking photos with my kodak. The colours look washed out in some of these, red looks orange in some, but oh well. It is too hot and muggy to worry about it. :-)

children's hats

toddler hats

chokers and headbands. Pink tie ones available in orange and purple.

adult baggy beanies and sun hats

baby hats

bracelets and wristlets by Martine

scarves/ tie belts by Martine

toddler sun hats

Babe in a tie on headband. :-)

Fund raising fail and fun away from home

The craft stall I did at Celebrate was a big fail. The festival is much smaller than in previous years, and I was one of three commercial stalls there, if you don't include food. I should have done the Didsbury one, but I didn't know it was on until I had booked this one. Poop. Oh well, I made about £40 if you count the hats that home edders bought when they saw me preparing. So I have about 40 hats to sell, as well as things contributed by Martine, and some crocheted chokers and hair bands. At least it was fun making them. I am much better at crocheting, and giving things away, than I am at selling them. :-)

Other than that, we have been on holiday. Well, most of us. Al and me and 3 youngest went to Penrallt, which is a magical place. The sea is so fun and healing.

Me in the caravan

The man in a wetsuit

The Babe enjoying the sand.

The Babe in a canoe. I went out in this later. :-)

The Meister in a Kayak.

The Boy spent most of his time with guitar in hand, making music in the caravan, by the fire, up a tree, or just walking about randomly in the fields. But here he is, enjoying the beach.

This was a return to a family camp that we went to for several years before the older girls' activities started taking precedence. It was so nice to be back, even without the two oldest kids. I hope we get to go back next year. But very glad we went this year, as we can't afford to go any place else this summer. It was pretty fab!

Didn't get much knitting done though. Started some socks for the Meister, and managed to crochet her a nice summer hat, but all of that sand was not condusive to knitty things. :-)