Snow-bound

These past couple of weeks I’ve been pretty much house-bound due to the treacherous weather conditions. Probably the only positive thing that has come out of this is the time it has created for crafting! I picked up one of the books I bought for my birthday back in December, and decided to have a bash at learning to crochet. It only took a couple of evenings to master the basic stitches I couldn’t really get to grips with crocheting in rows (kept losing stitches at both ends), but then I hit on the Granny Square!

They’re so simple, and a great way of using up the yarn stash (well, the bits I don’t have reserved for special projects!). I think it was fate that the day I taught myself (okay with the help of this tutorial if I’m honest) to crochet Granny Squares, that Australian blog ‘Meet me at Mike’s‘ should launch their ‘Granny a Day 2010′ craft challenge! The blog is featuring lots of tutorials, and there’s an associated Flickr photo pool for added inspiration. I’ve signed up for the challenge… though I don’t for one minute think I’ll be crocheting at the rate of one Granny per day But it might just spur me into action!

Elijah

This little cutie is Elijah, designed by Ysolda Teague. I’ve made him for a friend’s baby, but she doesn’t know this yet I started out making some booties, but got bored very quickly. Then, a search on ravelry for items knitted from the same yarn (Sirdar snuggly DK) led me to Elijah. I realise he’s not a very realistic elephant colour, but hey ho. The pattern was really straightforward to follow, but included plenty of different methods to maintain my interest. The only slight problem I encountered was in making the eyes. Ysolda recommends embroidering French knots..but as far as I can tell, there’s no way of securing them on the wrong side. So, Elijah is currently wearing temporary eyes for this photo op! If anyone has any bright ideas for how I could create some baby-safe eyes your suggestions would be most welcome!

Knitting and Stitching Show

I really have left it rather a long time to mention this, but I feel it’s not too late to tell you about the Knitting and Stitching Show which I attended in Harrogate back in November. Sadly, my crafting partner in crime was too poorly to make the trip, so I had to brave my first K&S outing on my own. Despite having been warned, I was pretty overwhelmed by the size of the event, and never really found my bearings! I was focusing primarily on shopping, so hadn’t booked on to any of the workshops available throughout the day. However, I did enjoy wandering around the many exhibits. I was particularly taken with the textile work of Rosie James, and the ‘Knitted Lives‘ exhibit, where 40 older women from Newcastle had worked with artists to tell their life stories through knitting.

I’m not sure I was supposed to be photographing the exhibits (oops), so instead I will post here some pics of the goodies I acquired on the day. These will certainly keep me busy in 2010!

The above is a selection of beautiful fat quarters from Euro Japan Links, which will be just perfect for small craft prjects.

Yet more yummy fabric! The large spotty one is a heavy canvas, which I’ve earmarked for making a tote bag or 2. Hiding at the back is a stripy blue seersucker fabric. I’ve been looking for a suitable fabric to make one of these dresses for some time, and I think this one fits the bill

And last, but my no means least, the yarn! L-R: Malabrigo sock yarn in Aguas, a gorgeously soft Debonaire (50% baby alpaca, 50% extrafine merino) in Aloof, and an artist’s Palette Smoothie sock yarn in a lovely green/purple colourway.

Zip it

I’m always on the look out for craft projects that can serve the dual purpose of using up some of my fabric stash whilst making a lovely gift. I’m particularly drawn to bags and purses, and this cute little box pouch caught my eye some time ago. It only took me a few hours (and I’m slow!) to run this one up, and I’ve already cut and pressed fabric for another-watch this space! It’s big enough to use as a pencil case, makeup bag, or for transporting a small craft project. The only slight niggle I have with this particular pattern is that the inner seams are exposed This rather spoiled the nice fabric I had chosen as lining. I’ve since tracked down this alternative version, which would require a bit more work, but has a much more professional finish.

Not a pair of socks

Thats right…I have finally branched out! Albeit only to a shrug (the smallest, chunkiest version I could locate)…. but the imortant thing is that it isn’t a sock, mitten, hat or scarf I used this straightforward pattern Anthropologie inspired capelet, and a Rowan chunky yarn in Wild Berry, which I think was a good choice for the autumn. I only had juuuust enough yarn to complete this. Probably could have done with being a couple of rows longer, but I think I just about got away with it. In the first of these photos, you can see how I’ve pinned it with a brooch at the opening, it’s a lovely little one I picked up from a vintage fair recently

Monkey business

Following a recent request from a friend for a ’sock monkey’ I tracked down these simple instructions, and ‘prototype monkey’ was this week born. The lucky recipient of monkey will be my friend’s baby, who is today celebrating her first birthday. She (and her Mum) are possibly learning of monkey’s iminent arrival through this blog post

I love monkey’s rainbow stripes. I was so pleased to find such a jolly coloured pair of socks that I bought 3 pairs, so monkey cloning will commence shortly! He was dead easy to make. All that was required was a bit of toy stuffing, some thread and some buttons for the eyes. Yesterday, monkey had black beady eyes, but I found them a bit menacing, so today I performed a careful transplant for a blue pair. I don’t want the birthday girl to cry! Prototype monkey is far from perfect. His limbs are a bit wonky, and his arms a touch too skinny. I like to think this adds to his charm…but next time I will try not to sew him up in such an excited hurry.

Birthday knits

The main focus of my knitting over the last few weeks has been the following pair of not-so-secret birthday socks for my Mum’s 60th (which is today…Happy Birthday Mum!). Underestimating my Mum’s web activity, and powers of observation, I posted a couple of mid-project pics on Flickr to link up with my Ravelry profile. Whoops! Anyway, here they are all finished and modelled by my good self. Thankfully I hear reports that they fit Mum just as well. I was a little nervous they wouldn’t. They were my first pair of  ‘toe-up’ socks, and I accidentally cast-off a little too tightly on the first one. Think I will attempt further toe-up projects in the future. It seemed to knit up quicker than usual..though I’m sure this was just my imagination, or the simplicity of the pattern. It took me a fair few attempts to master the short rows method for turning the heel, and I still wasn’t overly impressed with my results. However, I really enjoyed the magic cast on, courtesy of Judy Becker via Cat Bordhi. The yarn I used for this project was rather special too, a lovely malabrigo in caribeno. It was a dream to knit with, and I shall definitely have to acquire some more for the stash!

Crafty treats

While I should have been busy adding to my list of completed projects, I seem to have been far too busy checking out the crafty wares of the talented folks on etsy. This weeks treats included (yes, there was multiple treating) some of this gorgeous screen printed fabric by Summersville. Now, my head is awash with crafting ideas!

Pair of Monkeys

Finally, something to show you! Last night I put the finishing touches to my first pair of Monkeys. I’m really pleased with them, and wore them to bed in celebration This is definitely a pattern I could see myself repeating… if there weren’t a lifetime’s worth of other socks already lining up to be knitted! I didn’t really run into too many problems with these ones. There was just a little unravelly yarn at one point, which I’m hoping doesn’t result in a weak spot that requires darning. My main triumph with this project was finally mastering the toe grafting. I know, this is simple, but for some reason I must have been getting my knits and purls all mixed up, resulting in a little ridge along the toes. This time, I referred to a trusty old YouTube Tutorial, and hey presto! Perfect toes at last Oh, and I really must try and be more patient and wait until I have good enough light for crafty photography. Tonight’s photoshoot involved hanging upside down on the sofa in order to get the tootsies close enough to the lamp. So, I enjoyed the unexpected bonus of an abdominal workout. Who’d have thought knitting could be quite so energetic! 

 

 

Knitmares

Arrrgh! When knitting goes bad! I am currently mid-projects, hence the lack of posting. The Monkeys are coming along nicely. Good Monkeys. However, am also knitting my first pair of ‘toe-ups’, and experiencing horror after horror! First I had infi-problems with getting started, then in an attempt to avoid the ghastly stitch wrapping method on the heel turn I decided to give this method a go. It got good reviews… Anyhow, it has left me with a nasty gappy heel turn, and seeing as I apparently have forgotten how to count.. a wonky heel too. To try and compensate for wonkiness, I started making and knitting together stitches in a rather amateur fashion in a vain attempt to close the gap. Hmmm. I seem to have created a lace effect which is not part of the pattern I would frog them, if I hadn’t started them about 4 times already. Grrrr. And grr again for good measure. Tonight I fear I will have knitmares.