Happy New Year!

2014 has begun with a storm but I'm hoping for a calm year. I will look back on 2013 as the year I learned to crochet. A few hours spent on a bank holiday in May seems a distant memory as I can barely remember a time when I couldn't crochet. I have accumulated more than 10 magazines, 3 books and a growing collection of hooks all dedicated to my new skill. I don't think twice about how to make a double, treble, half treble and the like which makes me laugh when I think I used to have trouble with the humble slip stitch! I have mastered the granny square as well as working in the round and can follow a pattern without too much trouble. When I come across a difficulty there is always good old YouTube to help me out - I still have to use it to remind me about the magic loop.

Amongst my crochet projects in 2013 were:
A fig, 2 jammy dodgers, a pot holder, numerous washcloths, a variety of flowers and many stars (see previous post).

This year I am aiming to complete a granny square cushion and blanket and maybe even an article of clothing. I would also like to crochet something every day. So far I have been able to, even if it's just been an odd square or two or a heart.

Stash sort out time

It's that time of year - the stash sort in order to justify buying more at the sales but then realising you have far too much already and then promising not to buy any more yarn for a year but then buying some anyway.

Or something like that.

Whatever it is, I have sorted some of my stash and am feeling quite smug that I have put 4 lots for sale on eBay and have regained a little order over the unruly mass.  My baskets are looking neat and tidy, some wips have been unravelled and a huge knot of 3 colours of cotton has been untangled.

Now where did I put that ball of chunky dark green?

Star Crazy

Since discovering this fantastic pattern from Michelle on Ravelry I have become just a little star crazy.  I am seriously addicted to them.  I've made 2 Christmas garlands, some sparkly ones for gift tags and 12 in shades of blue.

There is no end to the variations.  I'm thinking of decorating my tree with a variety of these next year.

The sparkly ones on the presents were made from  Sirdar Ella using a 4mm hook.

For the blue ones I used Rowan 4ply cotton and a 3mm hook.

Multiplying garlands

Now that I have mastered the basics of crochet, I have ventured into teaching myself to follow a pattern.  After a bit of trial and error, I starting picking up the different stitches and quickly learned to crochet a heart, a flower or two and a butterfly.  These little projects are instantly satisfying and so, so addictive.

Before I knew what was happening, one heart turned into an entire garland and that garland turned into many more of every colour combination possible.

I just adore these little creations and the endless possibilities of combing colour, shape and yarn.

I am now very excited to announce that I have an etsy shop selling these pretty garlands.  They are roughly 150cm long and I will take orders for different specifications.

Please pop over to etsy and take a look: etsy.com/shop/LollipopKnits

My dining/knitting room

I have been in this house almost 2 years now and I am in the process of redecorating.  The first room I did was my dining room where I keep my stash (well, not including the hidden bits!) and all my knitting-related paraphernalia.  I adore colour so I have kept the decor mainly white so that the colour can come from my 'stuff'.

The light wasn't amazing and still waiting for my own camera.  I really love looking at my shelves and browsing through books and yarns.  I'm not sure when I will be able to bring myself to use any of the skeins as I miss them when they're gone.  I started using a skein of Rowan colourscape chunky this week.  Whilst I miss it from the shelf, it is turning itself into a lovely throw.  Is this an unnatural attachment to my stash?  I know I buy the yarn to use one day but I also like the look of it on my shelves, like having my very own shop to browse in, touch the yarns and admire the colours.

There is a distinct lack of blues so I need to bear this in mind when I next allow myself another purchase.  But am I buying yarn to make something or to look good on my shelf?!

I'm back!

Hello, I'm back.  Welcome to my blog if you haven't been before and welcome back to those of you who have!

Well, what have I been doing for 5 years?  5 years!  I now have an 8 year old and a 6 year old so I guess that's what I've been doing.  Oh, and working full time and adjusting to life as a single Mum.  Oh, and moving house twice. 

Yes that's what has kept me away from my cyber-life.  And the fact that my computer was hacked into which made me slightly computer-phobic for a while not to mention what it did to the actual computer.  Anyway, it is good to be back and you can be reassured that I have not stopped knitting during these last 5 years.  Oh no, most definitely not.  My stash has reached its all time record and I dare not admit the number of unfinished projects that are hiding around my house somewhere.  No, the knitting is what has been keeping me sane. 

I have so many new things to share with you that I hardly know where to begin.  It is tempting to blurt it all out now but I must restrain myself and slow down.  I also have a bit of camera problem at the moment so I can't share any photos.  Once the issue is resolved I will be able to share my new creations with you all.  At the moment I am just bursting with another secret that is so, so, so exciting!  I was going to save it for another day but I don't think I will be able to keep it in.  I'll just whisper it quietly...

(I can crochet!)

There, I said it.  If I start on crochet now, I don't think I will stop so I mustn't say another word. 

But I am totally hooked.

Felted bag pattern

I've been meaning to write up some more patterns recently so here is the pattern for my little felted bag. It takes no time at all and is ideal for a last minute gift!

Yarn: Debbie Bliss SoHo (1 ball)

Needles: 1 pair 6mm for bag and 1 pair 5.5mm for handle

Other materials: Button or toggle

Bag:

Cast on 30 sts.

Knit 6 rows

K14, YO, K2 tog, K to end of row (creates buttonhole)

Continue in garter stitch (Knit every row) until knitting measures approx 26 cm or desired length. NB make sure you have enough yarn left for the strap.

Handle/strap:

Using 5.5mm needles, cast on 3 sts. Knit until strap measures approx 50 cm.

To make up:

Fold up about 10cm from bottom of bag. Sew up sides and turn right side out. Sew ends of strap
to either side of bag.


Place inside a pillow case in the washing machine with an old towel or pair of jeans. Wash on short cycle at 40 or 50 degrees. NB felting is a trial and error process! This worked for me. It left some stitch definition but made the bag much more sturdy.
Attach button when bag has dried out. I placed newspaper inside the bag to help it dry.

Variation:

The blue bag was knitted using the same pattern but I omitted the buttonhole. Instead, I added a loop afterwards and attached the button this way. I also forgot to use different needles for the strap so the whole bag uses 6mm needles.

Hello again!

I'm back.

I have been so extremely, absolutely very busy (as Lola might say).

The month of October was crazy! Work was crazy - but things should be calming down now though so that's good. And I also went on holiday with my Brownies - very silly time of year but it was thoroughly enjoyed by all. A huge amount of work went into planning and organising the trip but I think it was all worth it. I am just SO glad it's all over with now! I caught up on sleep quite quickly (I am used to a certain amount of sleep deprivation these days) and have picked up the needles again.

I was doing brilliantly finishing off projects but have unfortunately cast on a couple more now. I can't seem to help myself! I even started and finished a scarf for my sister's birthday yesterday. I didn't even get time to take photos of it.

I also started a couple of halloween bags. One was a little pumpkin purse which I finished and the other was a black and green striped bag but I haven't finished that one.

I now have Christmas thoughts in my head but am not quite sure where to start. I really wanted to knit lots of little stockings for an advent calendar type thing so I suppose I should start on that first. There are a few presents I want to knit but I must remember not to get too ambitious because I will never have the time to get all my ideas done otherwise!

Anyway, apologies for the lack of photos. I hope to be back with more soon.

Oh yes, forgot to say I am thrilled with the responses to my bobble-less tea cosy pattern. It is now in 74 queues on Ravelry!

Another one down

I'm getting into the swing of this! Another WIP has been completed. This one is another of my felted bags but in blues. Instead of making a buttonhole in the flap, I added a loop afterwards and attached the button that way.

I'm also about 10 seconds away from finishing my mobile phone case. i just need to attach the handle.


I've been in the finishing off sort of mood this week. Sometimes I just want to start new things but recently I have felt like tying up all my loose ends which is good because I would never get anything finished otherwise. I like the sense of completion but I don't think I could ever be the sort of person who works on one project at a time and doesn't start a new one until the last one is finished. Is anyone like that?

Having said all that, I couldn't resist starting one new project this week! I cast on a jumper for my son. I just wanted to see what it would be like before I decide to go ahead and knit it.

2 down, ??? to go!

My WIPs are getting silly now so I've decided it's time to finish some off. Already this morning I've finished 2. They literally took a minute each which makes it all the more silly that I haven't finished them before.

According to Ravelry I have 8 more WIPs and 5 projects that are hibernating. I should be able to finish a couple more off quite quickly hopefully. Others will take a bit more time. I finally found an extra ball of Debbie Bliss SoHo to finish my cable bag off that I started in February! If I get a few more projects finished I won't feel so guilty about starting new ones either!


Check out my gallery to see pics of my FOs.

Disappointing!

As I mentioned last time, I was a little disappointed that not everyone likes my patterns! I entered two of my knitted creations in a local flower show. It was just for a bit of fun but unfortunately I didn't even get 3rd prize - boo hoo :(

My bag (re-lined as the first lining was awful) was in a category for any article that was sewn, knitted or crocheted. The item that won was a small teddy bear in some sort of little pocket. I didn't look too closely so didn't quite see what it was. A Jean Greenhowe clown came 2nd and I can't remember what came 3rd. I think there were only 6 entries altogether. There were 2 other teddy bears (not knitted). I think one of them came 3rd and there was also a blue fluffy thing. It may have been a scarf or a bag. I couldn't see and you were not allowed to touch the items. So my poor old bag sat there amongst the other items looking very lonely!

I also decided to enter a knitted brooch at the last minute. I had knitted some of this ages ago and decided to add the bottom layer and turn it into a brooch for the competition. This was in a class for a brooch made from any medium. I think there were only 3 or 4 entries. The brooches that won looked very intricate and well made but I'm not sure what they were made out of. I think one of them was heart-shaped but that's all I can remember.

Anyway, it was quite exciting entering a competition for the first time and I think I will have another go next year. My next event is a local craft show. I am hoping to exhibit some felted items and see what sort of response I get. Hopefully a little better than the flower show!

Exciting!

I was really excited last Tuesday when I typed my tea cosy pattern up and posted it on my blog. I also added it as a free pattern on Ravelry.

I was even more excited when I checked my pattern, to see that people had added it to their queues! When I last checked, it was in no less than 36 queues! I am amazed and will be very interested to see if anyone actually knits it. Being in 36 queues just means 36 people have put it on a list of things they want to knit and if they are anything like me, that list never gets any shorter - just longer. Oh well, I am just so pleased that fellow knitters have liked it enough to even do that. Which is more than I can say of 2 of my other knitted designs - more about that next time!

Tea Cosy pattern freebie

Here is the pattern for the tea cosy I made my friend. She asked me to knit her a tea cosy which was green and didn't have a bobble on the top! After searching among patterns, I couldn't find anything suitable so decided to create my own. The knitted fabric is lovely and thick and the lid is detachable. Here it is:



Size: to fit large tea pot. My tea pot measures approx 52cm round widest part and approx 34 cm round base.

Needles: 1 pair 5.5mm (straight)

Yarn: 1 strand of each of the following:

Sirdar Click chunky
Patons Studio Mohair (dk)

Other materials: 4 beads or buttons
Row counter

Abbreviations:

inc = increase (by knitting into front and back of stitch)

k = knit

p = purl

rep = repeat

sts = stitches

tbl = through back of loop

tog = together

Sides (make 2)

Using 1 strand of each of the yarns together, cast on 24sts

Rows 1 & 2: Knit
Row 3: k3, inc 1, k4, inc 1, k6, inc 1, k4, inc 1, k3 (28 sts)
Row 4: k3, p to last 3 sts, k3
Row 5: k3, inc 1, k5, inc 1, k8, inc 1, k5, inc 1, k3 (32 sts)
Row 6: As row 4
Row 7: k3, inc 1, k6, inc 1, k10, inc 1, k6, inc 1, k3 (36 sts)
Row 8: As row 4
Row 9: k3, inc 1, k7, inc 1, k12, inc 1, k7, inc 1, k3 (40 sts)
Row 10: As row 4
Row 11: knit
Row 12: As row 4
Rows 13 & 14: rep last 2 rows
Rows 15 & 16: knit
Rows 17 & 18: Rep rows 11 & 12
Row 19: k3, k2tog tbl, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, k3 (38 sts)
Row 20: knit
Row 21: As row 19 (36 sts)
Row 22: As row 4
Row 23: As row 19 (34 sts)
Row 24: knit
Row 25: knit
Row 26: As row 4
Next 4 rows: knit
Cast off

Lid (make 1)
Using 1 strand of each of the yarns together, cast on 15 sts
Knit 2 rows
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: k2, p to last 2 sts, k2
Repeat last 2 rows three times more
Next row: k6, cast off 3 sts, k6
Next row: k2, p4, cast on 3 sts, p4, k2
Rep rows 3 & 4 four times more
Knit 2 rows
Cast off
Make a loop on each of the 4 corners of the lid to fit over bead/button

To make up:
Using 2 sides of tea cosy and with wrong sides facing, sew row ends together for approx 3cm from cast on and cast off edges. Sew in ends. Turn right side out and place on tea pot with cast on edge at top. Place knitted lid on tea pot and mark positions to sew beads (or buttons). The knitted lid should be slightly stretched when loops are placed over the beads. Attach beads securely. Fit loops over the beads to secure lid in place.

Any queries, comments, errata, please email me. Address on right.

One year on...

I cannot believe I have had this blog for a year! I cannot believe I missed my blogiversary! Definition in Urban Dictionary here. It was on 19th August and I had no idea I started my blog so long ago. I had a vague memory that I started this blog towards the end of last Summer but it really doesn't feel like a year.

I always imagined I would have a big celebration with giveaways, competitions, freebies etc. but I don't think I have blogged enough for all that hype! I still feel quite pleased with myself for keeping going though, so I think I will type up a couple of patterns as freebies. It is always nice to discover a free pattern through someone's blog and I would feel amazed if even just one person used one of my patterns. I'll start with a tea cosy I designed for a friend's birthday last week. I would also like to type up the pattern for a bag I made in July but I'm not sure if I wrote it down anywhere.

Anyway, a belated happy blogiversary to myself and anyone else out there!

Back so soon!

I'm making the most of an evening to myself even though I really should get to bed early. I usually find that blogging seems like a waste of an evening's knitting but tonight I am at a bit of a loose end with the knitting. I have started way too many things and can't seem to finish any of them off. Spending time on the computer is a way of ensuring I don't go and start another project off on a complete whim.

I have started a new blog which I am calling my gallery. It's just a bit of a trial and at the moment seems to be just repeating information I have put on Ravelry. I think the logical, ordered side of me feels the need to display my knitted projects in some sort of sensible way. It is counteracting the chaotic side of my knitting which is a million items on the needles, a million more ideas in my head and a knitting basket that is getting stupidly out of control! It is good to see that I have completed 20 projects this year though. I have a bit of backtracking to do but I'll try and keep it up to date (I will try).

For some unknown reason I am having a knitted toy craving this month. I used to knit toys all the time - in fact I only knitted toys. It is only very recently that I got into knitting other stuff at all. Anyway, I have been digging my Jean Greenhowe books out again and browsing through them. I was bought Little Dumpling Dolls (the village men) for Christmas but haven't knitted any of them yet. I have just learnt on Ravelry that this pattern is out of print and pretty difficult to come by so I really fancy knitting one of these cute little men. I also treated myself to Part 1 (the village ladies) yesterday. I want to knit them all but I'm not sure who to start with. I'm also not entirely sure what I would do with them once they were finished.

Well, that's it for today (and maybe for the rest of the month, who knows?!). Let's hope that's it for rain this month too but I doubt it very much.

Behind

I feel so ridiculously behind with this blog that I just don't know where to start!


It is one of those times when I just need to sit down and get on with it - then it won't be so bad. I seem to be comparing writing my blog to eating vegetables which is not good! In truth I don't really know why I have this blog. I think I like the idea of it but haven't really got into it properly. I have thought about stopping it but in my usual stubborn way, I think I'll battle on and see if things improve.



Anyway, what have I been doing?


1. I have a new baby nephew and managed to finish his blanket.

2. I've been to Cornwall and had a lovely, if a little wet, time.





3. I've bought a book to learn how to crochet but have yet to start.





4. I've broken up from school - hooray!





5. I have used up nearly half of my holidays already.





6. I have done quite a bit of knitting.

7. I've taken up running (a slight exaggeration). I've been for a very short jog 4 times! It's horrible but I really need to do some exercise.

Ok, so I lied...

... but I am back in less than 2 months! A week to be precise. I just find it very difficult to find the time to blog. Any precious time I have for myself I prefer to spend knitting to be totally honest. I WANT to blog but the reality of it is a little different. My head is full of so many ideas for my knitting which I would love to share. I don't get around to ever starting most of them. Some people say they have a problem with starting projects and not finishing them (I have that problem too) but I also have the problem of thinking up a million projects and never getting them underway at all.

I have been constantly knitting though. I am in the middle of a blanket for my children's first baby cousin which is due to arrive next month. I thought I should start early to give me a bit of a chance to finish it on time.

I've also completed a pair of baby socks for a colleague at work who is expecting a little boy soon. They were actually my first ever socks I've knitted.

My next post will be catching up on the knit a bag a month project! I really need to sort out where I am!

Oh dear...

... I was aware I hadn't done much posting but almost 2 months? That's bad!

And today I came across a blog that had been participating in 'a post a day for May'. I think I was trying to achieve the opposite - 'zero posting for the whole of May'.

I'm going to vanish now as well! But I will definitely be back tomorrow...


or definitely by the end of the week...


possibly.

FO #8

Catching up on my FO list, number 8 is a pair of little Mary Jane bootees. I have made them twice before but am most pleased with this pair. I used Sirdar luxury soft cotton beofre but this time I used Rowan RYC cashcotton DK. It knitted up much sturdier this time. I made them for a relation of mine who has just had a baby girl.

Pattern: Sublime Mary Jane's, leaflet 6000

Yarn: Rowan RYC cashcotton DK

Needles: 4 mm

Size made: 3 - 6 months

More on my recycled bag

I have been wanting to knit something with recycled materials for quite a while. I saw a feature in Simply Knitting last year about knitting with plastic bags and tape from old videos but haven't got around to it yet. I also have a pile of old t-shirts waiting to be cut up and knitted into bags inspired by the wonderful bags like this one created by Sharon from Laughing Purple Goldfish designs.

I have got around to buying some recycled sari silk though. I got it from Angel Yarns and was initially surprised that it had so much black in it. However, I really like the way it has knitted up even though it has been tough on the fingers!

The pattern I am using is Unbiased from Knitty. I was going to give the bag as a present but I'm now thinking I may keep it myself - I'll wait and see what the finished bag looks like!