Buzzy Bee

Well, this is something I just have to show you as it's just so darn cute.

This is one of my latest finished objects. The pattern is Man's Bee Friend from Debbie Bliss's Woolly Woofers book and I think it's in the latest issue of the Debbie Bliss magazine too.

The very lovely recipient is Milly from A Good Yarn.

Milly quite likes the cosy jumper but not as thrilled with the antenna hat, which quickly came off.

Then back on again.

 

The yarn is Rico Essential Soft Merino Aran.

Catch Up #4

Think I've finally caught up.

This one is a little stocking filler I made my Mum. It’s a beaded coaster in Rowan Cotton Glace. The pattern is my own design and is part of a placemat / coaster set. The pattern is available as part of a kit from A Good Yarn.

Mum has set it to work as a coaster for a candle, which I think is a fab idea as it makes the beads sparkle.

The other project finished over Christmas was a Bandana Cowl which I have been promising Mr for awhile. It was started and finished on New Years Eve. Ravelry Project Page. The yarn is Adriafil Scozia which really softened up beautifully on blocking.

I managed to persuade a reluctant Mr to model for me.

He's worn it every day since - might have to make him another!

Catch Up #3

This time it’s shawls.

I’ve finished the 3rd Fine Donegal Shawl. I liked knitting with the yarn but 3 shawls meant over 3km of knitting the same thing. I'm glad I can have a bit of variety back in my knitting. I blogged about it last here. Ravelry project page.

The other shawl that I’ve recently finished is one I started last February and didn’t pick up again until December. It’s quite an intensive pattern – lace and twisted stitches on both sides. This make a beautifully intricate texture but not good for talking or watching TV. I think this might be the reason it's not been on the top of my to do list. The pattern is Rendevouz by Lily Go. The yarn was pure heaven - Gretchen Heavy Lace by Posh Yarn.

The only thing that I’d wished I’d done differently was make the next size up so I could have used the yarn up.

Catch Up #2

Ok, so the second instalment. Hands and feet this time.

The gloves have been on the go for awhile – on and off.

The pattern is Bobbie by Julia Mueller. When I started them, they were a paid for pattern (well worth every penny). I find it very sad that the new EU laws on VAT have forced her to make the decision to stop operating as a business. This means that all her patterns are now free.

The yarn is Toddy by Yarn Yard in a very zingy orange colour. They were a Christmas present for a good friend. Ravelry Project page.

The next ones were another Christmas present for my Mum. The pattern is Rumours by Lee Meredith, which I have to say is a genius pattern. It works for any weight of yarn and it’s all explained very well.

I did have one small issue in that I had only 1 skein of Quince and Co. Chickadee and had to squeeze the mitts into that. The first mitt I made came in a 27g and the skein is only 50g, so it got frogged and I made the hand portion shorter. It worked out perfectly after that. They didn’t take me long to whizz up at all, even though I made 3 mitts in the end. Ravelry Project Page.

I finished my long-time on the needles “travelling” socks. I wasn’t very happy with these. I have small feet but a very high instep. This was the first time I’d used the fish lips heel for myself and it didn’t work well. The socks were way too tight around the instep. There are recommendations in the pattern leaflet on how to work a heel for a high instep, so I ended up cutting out the heel and redoing it, then grafting it back into the sock. This made the instep fit better but the foot was then too long, so I ended up cutting that and removing an inch and a bit and grafting that back together. Frankensocks…

The photo was before all the sock surgery. They look fine now and fit well. Ravelry Project Page.

Catch Up

Sorry I’ve been a little quiet over the holiday period but been a bit hectic here. Hope you’ve all had a good time.

I’ll try and catch up. There was a lot of knitting going on over the Christmas break; plus I have a few projects I couldn’t show you as they were Christmas presents.

Starting off…. Hats

I initally made a Kernmantle hat for my Mum for Christmas. The pattern is a Woolly Wormhead one. Being a green kind of girl, she got Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in New Fern. Ravelry project page

It worked out perfectly and it suited me so I thought I’d make myself one in the recommended yarn.

Unfortunately, I learnt a lesson about swatching, even if you’re using the same hat pattern and needle size. The Malabrigo Merino Worsted behaved very differently to the Creative Focus. I thought since they both had a good proportion of wool there wouldn’t be much difference. I was wrong.

Upon blocking, the Malabrigo completely relaxed and grew hugely. I’ve added shirring elastic to the inside of the brim, so that it is wearable but it does make the hat far more slouchy than intended. Ravelry Project page.

The third hat off the needles was the Woolly Wormhead Mystery KAL 2014 which I finally got finished. Ravelry project page.

The yarn is Deeply Wicked by easyknits in Cranberry Kiss. I really, really love this yarn. The colour is just so vibrant and just so happens to go well with my Pop Spots shawl. Plus it seems to match nicely with my purple Christmas hair.

I have a fabulous new camera, which is just heaven to use. I can even connect it to my phone and use that as a remote control which helped a lot with this picture.

Well, that’s caught up with the hats. I’ll come back another day for the next instalment.