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.

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.

I'm on Ravelry!

Well, I finally got invited to join ravelry! After putting my name down on the waiting list back in August, I had kind of forgotten all about it. Anyway, I have spent the morning fiddling around on there. Will spend a bit more time properly later when the kids have gone to bed. Looking forward to sorting out my stash as I fear it has been getting out of control and I have no idea what I have been hoarding over the past year.

Other news is that I've finished two more projects. F.O. no. 3 is the felted kitchen set I made from Simply Knitting Issue 20. I've never done any felting before so was very nervous when opening the washing machine but I'm really pleased with the results. Will post a picture when someone brings the camera home!

F.O. no. 4 is a bonnet and pair of Mary Janes from a Sublime pattern. Again, will post pics when I get the camera.

The oven glove, pot holder and pot stand I felted using Rowan Big Wool.

Finished Object No. 2

Wow - another item finished! I usually have so many projects on the go that I rarely finish things. The feeling of completion is very satisfying - especially when the item in question is for a present as this one is. It's a purple lacy scarf I knitted in Sirdar blur. It's actually the third one I've done. The first one I did for my Mum at Christmas in a blue/green shade. The second was a light brown/fawn colour for my friend's birthday and this one is for another friend's birthday. Her favourite colour is purple so she will hopefully like it. I definitely found this one the easiest to do. I found the yarn quite fiddly on my first attempt and kept dropping stitches but this time I felt like a pro (well almost!)

Knitting and not knitting

The knitting bit:

I did finish my bag in time for the wedding. Quite pleased with the result although it was a bit rushed and I'm not the best with a sewing machine.

The not knitting bit:

It was my friend's birthday last week and I quite liked what I managed to do with a child's shoe box and some wrapping paper!

I think she enjoyed what was inside!