And a hat for John.

This was supposed to have been his valentine's gift from me, but given as I didn't actually start it until Valentine's night then there was no chance really. This was one of those knits that starts off really slowly and then becomes unputdownable. In the sense that I wanted it over and done with quickly so that I could get back to other things. Its worked in double rib using a thinner pure merino DK by Stylecraft and with a cast on off 170sts, so you can see why it seemed to grow so slowly. Started sunday night, picked up every time I sat down throughout monday, again on tuesday and then finished off at 6am this morning after both Heather and Cain decided 4am was a great time to start the day!



Excuse the poor photo but John was doing one of his "pull a face for the camera" poses and this was the only decent shot I could get. The rest made him look more like a thug or psychopath!
So now I'm back to the cabled chunky socks that I started whilst pregnant which hopefully shouldn't take too long. Well not so long as they have so far!
Actually finding it quite cleansing to work my way through unfinished projects and promised makes in this way, although I still have a fairly long list to get on with. But the more I make a dent in my stash the more I look forward to replenishing at the Aintree stitch and craft fair in April.

A hat for me.

Knitted quickly in the very early hours and modelled by Cain the following day (Did you really think I was going to be model it after having six successive nights of little or no sleep?):


The wool is Twilley's Freedom and was knitted on 10mm needles. It is in single rib and very much made up as I went along, more as a diversionary tactic on the most worrying of nights rather than for the pleasure of wearing. I have tried it on though and it is amazingly soft and warm, just not sure it is me...........

Blanket.

OK, my brain isn't up to imaginative titles right now ;-)
This is the finished blanket/rug for Heather:


Again a very simple knit, nothing too taxing for the one brain cell that still hangs around in my dusty head. Three strips of knitting on 4mm needles in alternating blocks of colour, then joined together to give the effect of an 18 patch piece. Stitches picked up along the sides first and 12 rows of garter stitched worked to create a border. The same then done along the top and bottom. Then a few scraps used to crochet the little flower embellishment. The wool used was Paton's colour 4 me baby DK in shades 4967, 4987 and 4986, the last two of which appear to have been discontinued which is probably why they were a bargain when I got them. Altogether I used 2 balls of the red, 2 of the peachy pink, and 3 of the dusky pink.
All I need to do now is block it into shape and then attach the fabric I am going to cover the reverse with, just to tidy up any straggly threads and hide the colour change rows. Then it will be all ready for using in the car, or for sitting on when we venture out.

The chunky sweater.

We have a very poorly little person here at the moment so finding time to do anything other than hold her is a major problem. But............she does so want to be held in the sling which means whilst she sleeps I have two hands free to knit. OK that's not really how I like to spend my crafting time but as I am virtually confined to moving only slowly and gently for fear of waking or upsetting her then knitting and such are great time occupiers especially in the dead of night.
So I have finished the jumper for Cain. It's been done for a while actually but no chance to take photos and upload them here. Cain has a real dislike of having clothing pulled over his head, as do most small children I suspect, (never understand why shop bought clothing is always so fitted and so hard to get on?) and so I finished this jumper with a couple of lines of double crochet around the neckline rather than ribbing or any form of knitted trim. The crochet is a much looser finish and therefore much easier to pull over his head without problems. He tells me it is lovely and warm and feels soft too. The hem edges are all worked in double rib for a few rows on 6.5mm needles and then switched to 7mm needles for the stocking stitch main pattern. The back is just one rectangle from hem to neck, with the stitches for each shoulder left on holders. The sleeves are slightly sloped by increased 1st at each end every 6 rows until they are the length I wanted. The front is again one straight piece until I reached the centre parting when I just decreased at the neck edge of every other row for I think 6 stitches decreased on each side. The remaining stitches were worked straight each side and then the front and back shoulders were grafted together for the slightly raised ridge effect by using a 3-needle cast off. A lot of making up as I went along but very, very easy as there was no shaping or insetting for the shoulders at all. Then I just stitched the arms in place and joined the sleeve and side seams. Of course for this jumper I had to knit a tension square, which I HATE doing, but from that I worked out all the details I needed so well worth it. It was so quick and easy that I'm thinking of making another in a stripe pattern. And possibly one for John too in the future for his biking getaways. Anyway here's a picture of the gorgeous boy in his new mama made clothing:

By the way - what do you call it? A jumper? A sweater? A pullover? Never know which is the right word!

Making things........slowly!

Crafting time has been difficult to find lately. Sophie has been staying here more often, Heather is not settling until late, I have been reading more than usual, and life has just been rushing along. But I do have a few things to show.
First is a chunky sweater for Cain. I have been knitting it in plain stocking stitch as the stitches are so well defined and uniform and I think they look great and need no embellishments or creative stitchery. The pattern is from the top of my head and all guesswork but I think it is coming on nicely. Just the arm to finish and the neck to trim in some way and then it will be done. The colour is great don't you think?



Another thing I have been finding very relaxing is making these little needlefelted balls:


There's something about all that rolling and stabbing that is so therapeutic, especially at the end of a hectic day. Heather especially loves them and has a couple which she loves to pass between hands and follow around the floor. The boys just like to throw them at each other!

Also on the needles is a small blanket which I am making to cover Heather's legs when out in the car. Our car is not the best of its type and the heating is a bit hit and miss so she needs a little something to keep her comfortable. And I can't wrap her in a big outfit as she'd get too hot when I pop her in the sling when we get to where we are going. Hopefully this blanket should do the trick and keep her warm. It's being knitted in Paton's fairytale color 4 me DK which is a pure wool which comes in lots of lovely colours. I chose these three colours as they are so warm.


And finally............I still haven't bought any wool! I'm doing well aren't I? Even John is shocked as I turned down the chance to go to BlackSheepwools craft barn last week. This weekend might be a bit difficult though as John heard about the stitch and craft show in Manchester and asked if I wanted to go............... Must resist the urge to say yes. Besides, it's the Aintree craft and hobby fair in March and I do want to go to that one. Anyone else going to either?
Oh well, that's enough for now. Off to get on with the list on the right.
Happy crafting everyone.
xx

It's been ages!

Just a very quick post here today to let you all know whats happening. Or rather, not happening! No time for crafting as a certain little girl has decided that she simply MUST be held from mid afternoon until midnight every day and also that she mustn't sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time. And that means throughout the night. So nothing really to show and tell.
There is just one thing I have to write though.
My resolution.
I am definitely, definitely absolutely NOT going to buy any more wool this year until I have made a serious dent in the stash I already have. My cupboards are filled with beautiful yarns all waiting to be made into gorgeous items of clothing but I simply don't have enough time with the childrens needs right now so I really can't justify buying any more, no matter how lovely, or soft, or bargain priced. So at the moment I am simply loving the snow - if I can't get into town then I can't be tempted. And if the postman can't get here then there's no point in looking online is there?
So thats all for now. Will hopefully find some time soon to get creative again but we'll leave that to Heather to decide.
Happy new year everyone.
xx

Choo Choo Thomas.....

The hat is done. And I love it! Warm and thick and just like a proper woolly childs hat. What do you think?


Knitted in the same DK oddments as the mitts, the hat itself is simple and very quick to knit up. The only time consuming part was the intarsia for the lettering. I hope it's clear enough what it says, the "K" isn't the best.


Owen hasn't seen it yet as it is now hidden away until christmas. Cain is the model and size tester instead as they are both virtually the same size for hats and gloves.


On the needles now is the scarf to complete the set but I think this might take a few days. Also on the go is the crochet blanket for John but not sure I will have this done for christmas. I keep it upstairs and do a row or two each time I go up there. I'm sure the family think I have some sort of bowel complaint, I'm going up to the bathroom such a lot the past few days ;-) But I don't want John to see it so I'll just have to keep it this way.
Well off to prepare lunch for waking poorly little ones, and back in a day or two with the latest makings.
Oh, do you know it's only four weeks to christmas?
There'll be late nighting crafting going on in all your homes I'm thinking!
Take care.
xx