It's all about the edge!!

So I'm completely aware that this isn't the neatest, or the most amazing thing to ever happen in my crafty world, but I'm so proud of this crochet edge! 

I've been working (very very slowly) on this blanket for months now, well no that's not right... I made a ton of garter stitch squares while happily watching my fav television shows back at the end of last year, and then they sat for ages because all that sewing and finishing just didn't appeal. Then the crochet click of understanding happened, and just like that it had to be done, because I just had to try out this edge. 

I think it completely transforms it, and for a change something of mine which is actually people sized rather than newborn, looks properly finished. 

I love it, she loves it, blanket ideas are swirling in my head!!! 

Joining in with Ginny and Nicole today so please pop over and see lots of other crafty goodness.

Yarn Along: The Knitter's Dilemma

I have the same yarn love that most of us do, so I know full well not to go wandering into those Aladdin's caves called Yarn Shops. A while back I was lured in with a need for a pair of needles. All was going well until my eyes fell on the Manos section. Then I saw the silk blend, and I was lost to beautiful colourways, and the softest textures. 

With no patterns or even rough ideas in mind for what I wanted to create, I narrowed my choices down as much as possible, but was still left with four skeins. I bought them and eyes down, left as quickly as possible. 

Now they sit, hopelessly beautiful, calling out to be handled and transformed. But the dilemma is... in to what? Any recommendations, any one worked with the silk blend before and would care to share a finished project? I need help, or I know they'll just continue to sit there, petted every so often but still just waiting.

In my book world I am just finishing the third of the Giver series I mentioned before, and it is just as good as the first. I also started re-reading Buddhism for Mothers, an amazing book which I'm in need of a bit at the moment. 

This will be the first of the hat season for me. A yoda hat has been requested to go along with the doll so I'll be sure to post the finished item, hopefully next week. 

 Joining in with the lovely Ginny today for the weekly Yarn Along.

Yarn & Art

I've always loved books, and at some point during primary school I added knitting, but only recently has art been added to my list of things I can't make it through a week without. The influence of many beautiful women through the Red Tent community has encouraged me to do it not for any reason other than I love it, and to take it as seriously as I would my children's. It doesn't have to be 'good' and it might just be a doodle session (I am in love with zentangles), it just needs to be made time for. Not easy, but definitely an attitude I intend to try and hold.

In my yarn world, this week was all about present knitting for a friend's birthday. The burnt orange colour is one of her favourites but also just such a gorgeous colour for Autumn. It is the Debbie Bliss Stella in colour : 38006. The pattern for the handwarmers was from Purl Bee and the cowl is the Drop Stitch Cowl over on Ravelry.

If you haven't already tried the Drop Stitch do! It's so quick. I have a feeling I'll be making quite a few of these.

In my book world, there has been a whole lot of Enid Blyton's Enchanted Wood for my smalls, but not a lot for me.

In our art world, this week we encountered Kandinsky. First we looked at Composition VIII to how he used colour to both express and invoke emotions. Then using some brilliant colouring in pages I found here, we re-interpreted his work with our own colour choices.

Next we looked at his concentric circles and picked either pen or paint to create our own versions of that.

A fun session, but I especially love how neither of them could resist braking out from the circles by the 6th square.

 Joining in with the lovely Ginny today for the weekly Yarn Along.

Yarn, Robots & Autumn Leaves

There was a break in the weather and now there is no doubting that Autumn is here to stay. While I might not quite be ready for waterproof clothing and wellies everywhere, I am most definitely ready to sit with books and yarn. 

After seeing poster for the film, The Giver and being intrigued, but knowing I will never have the time to catch it in the cinema, I ordered the book and speed read it in a day. It is so well written, drawing you in immediately. I read the sequel Gathering Blue yesterday and I'm waiting on the library to deliver the third in the quartet. I love that each book is a companion to the others, all set in future Lois Lowry has conjured up for us, but so far each stands alone strong in its own characters and storyline. These might have been intended for older children but I definitely recommend them to all. 

In my knitting world, I finished this little Yoda doll as a last present for Orion's birthday.

And I am still slowly slowly finishing off a second hitchhiker.

The little people have been all about collecting and sorting autumn leaves, so there have been lots of conversation about chlorophyll.

We finally got round to some robot building yesterday morning which was fun. We had a motorised Meccano set and a DinoRobot set from the Science Museum. I think they are planning some races for this afternoon!

To end our day as the sun came out after a hours of dark clouds, we headed out for fresh air and leaf crunching.

 Joining in with the lovely Ginny today for the weekly Yarn Along.

Sock Fear!

Seeing as this is my week for trying new things, I've decided to confront my sock fear head on.

I have to admit this was prompted by a late night Ravelry session, which resulted in my finding the best and simplest pattern ever. It's Easy Peasy Socks For First Timers by Stacey Trock. A no brainer really.

Using this beautiful colourway from my favourite supplier of hand dyed yarn Arwen Makes, plus the only dpns I seem to have a full set of (3.25's), I have begun the task.

I took this picture yesterday as I knew I wouldn't have time this morning before I embarked on my taxi duties, and last night I achieved that mythical task of 'turning the heel'. And similarly to the butter, I'm still shocked at how much easier it was than I had imagined. It's got me wondering just how many other things there are that my mind has transformed into gargantuan and insurmountable tasks, which are in reality nothing of the sort. I'm going to attempt bread this weekend. 

The book has found it's way to me during the day for brief but lovely moments, as well as kept me up at nights. I remind myself that a mum with her head stuck in a book is no bad thing, I'm modeling a positive relationship to literature after all.

Joining in with the lovely Ginny today, pop over to see what others are knitting and reading.

Yarn Along

I'm taking advantage of a break in the shop's usual busyness to knit something for myself. I've chosen the Girlfriend Market Bag by Laura Spradlin over on ravelry. It's an easy knit and after making one for a friend I think it'll be perfect for beach days soon to come. In a bid to de-stash a little I'm using up my Freedom Echo Dk in a very oaty colour, I doubt I'll have enough so we'll see what catches my eye when it's time for the top cuff and strap. 

As I blazed through the library last week collecting a pile of Star Wars books for Orion, I spied this new Dean Koontz and grabbed it in the hope of finding a small window or a self-inflicted sleepless night. I've been reading Dean since I was 13 years old. He's changed so much since then, but then happily so have I. I'm just eternally grateful we've still compatible after more than 20 years!!

Joining in with the lovely Ginny today, pop over to see what others are knitting and reading.

Yarn Along

This week I have spent far far too much time on Ravelry and my lists of things for myself, things for the kids and presents for everyone for Christmas are growing and growing. It isn't possible to do it all but I'm loving the planning all the same. Another beautiful place is The Purl Bee and I started Whit's Ribbed Hand Warmers this week. The pattern is really easy and simply enough to read along to.

The book this week is a little romantic crime suspense from Tess Gerritsen to ease me back into the darker side of my fictional old friends. It's fast paced and just what the doctor ordered.

The other project that I am working along the warmers is a matching ribbed cowl in the same shade just chunky. I am using the Wurm pattern as the basis but the 110 sts I cast on may end up being too many, having said that it is a cowl so it might end up long and narrow and perfect for double looping.

Join me over at Ginny's to see what everyone else is up to this week!

Yarn Along

I'm a day late for this week's Yarn Along over at Ginny's but better late than never considering this is the first week I have knitted anything for myself, or for that matter non-shop related all year.

I've said recently that I'm making some changes and this is a big one - I have taken a break of sorts from my shop. I am halving my knitting time to 3 hours a day, and I intend to spend that time knitting for me and mine, and things I am excited about making rather than the same old boring hat after hat after hat.

Things haven't gone completely to plan so far (when do they ever) as my little Gabe has been very sick. It's a tummy bug but he hasn't left my hip or lap for two days even to sleep, and hasn't been able to eat anything either... thank goodness for breast feeding. So this is what my knitting has looked like so far, a row here or there but mostly just out of reach. I have however, plowed through this book which Tom choose for me from the library. He hadn't realised but I had just begun watching the series online so I was very grateful to find out it was a book which meant no need to wait a whole week for the next episode. Who knew I would like historical fiction.

The knitting is the Noble Cowl which can be found on Ravelry and which I am sure will find it's way into a few stockings this Christmas. It is my first project with circulars and they are so easy I wonder now what my fear was. The lacy pattern is also no problem, although it does mean I can't knit and read, but doing one thing at a time might be a good thing, plus it means that a few projects on the go would also be a good idea. Mmmm back to Ravlery I think.

Yarn Along

A little late but I am again joining in with Ginny over at Small Things for her weekly Yarn Along.

I have so many projects on various needles at the moment, a few rows here and a few rows there on each and hopefully everything will get finished in time for the big day. As most are gifts and the recipients are readers I'll have to do a big round up on Boxing Day once you've all opened them ;0)


So... as Tom is in Switzerland and not looking here is something in Lakers colours for him (why oh why is purple so hard to photograph?).

And a new set of Christmas gnomes as a stocking filler for the monsters.

Yarn Along

Today I am so excited to finally be joining in with Ginny over at Small Things for her weekly Yarn Along. I follow it every wednesday and now I've finally done something worth posting about... I can knit in the round!!!

Everyone says it's easy but I have always put it off, over thinking it instead of just getting on with it, but  no more. It's just a basic hat but it was knit in the round on a circular needle for the body and 4 dpn's for the decreases. It's silly but I am so proud.

On the needles : Sirdar Smiley Stripes DK in an orange colourway. It's a bamboo wool mix and ultra soft and beautiful to work with.

On my kindle : Another first for me - Pagan fiction. I came across the Stonewylde series this week and I have already finished the first two and I begin the third tonight. It is compelling and I'm hoping I've found a whole new 'guilty pleasure' genre for myself.