WIP: Different Lines

So its the first time in ages I've gotten round to posting about what I'm doing at the moment. And well I've finally learnt to knit, YEY. Its only taken I don't know how long but I was determined this time. 

I saw on one of the blogs I follow, Crafts from the Cwtch, that Sarah was doing a KAL for the Stripe Study Shawl. This is a shawl I've had in my Ravelry list of things to do for what seems like forever but as I never made myself sit down to learn to knit its never been made. Well Sarah's KAL made up my mind I was going to do it this time. 

So I bought the pattern...

and then chickened out as I didn't think I could do it :-(. 

Talking to my mum about it I said I wanted to learn but didn't think I could do the pattern and we came to a decision. We were going away for a weekend to Jersey, just the two of us, so why didn't I buy the stuff I would need and she would help me learn while I was away and if I ended up not liking knitting she would finish it for me. So I agreed but opted for the easier looking Different lines pattern also by Veera Valimaki rather than the Stripe Study shawl. I bought some lovely yarn from Nimu Yarns and headed off on holiday with my goodies all packed up. 

And so far its going well. I'm 12 stripes into it so not too much left to do. I've dropped a stitch a couple of times but think I've picked them back up ok (youtube was definitely my friend that day and I can't find where I did it now so taking it thats a good thing LOL) and hopefully it looks kindof like the patterns supposed too. 

I'm using the Mickleden sock yarn range from Nimu Yarns which is 100% superwash merino in colours shale and sea moss. It feels lovely and I like how its turning out anyway :-)

I've a few other things I'm planning on starting/finishing but am going to get this one done first. For more WIP posts please see Tami's Blog

Hello again sorry I went missing

Oh dear its been a while hasn't it since I've posted on here. Many apologies for the long absence. As it does life seems to have gotten in the way of posting on here for quite a while (though I'm sure that's a bit of a poor excuse)

So what has happened in the past few months. Well I've had pneumonia but thankfully recovered now, found out I was pregnant and am currently about 25 weeks along so passed most of the unpleasant yucky feeling bit, along with a period of being unable to look at a TV/computer screen/book etc for longer than a few minutes without feeling very sick for some reason. Unfortunately I'm now heading towards the oversized bump and painful hips bit but I'm sure I can live with it :-)

We have chosen again not to find out if we are having a boy or a girl as we think its nice to wait and see, though going by past numbers I'm leaning towards it being a boy again (not that I mind I'll be happy either way) Considering I've only got about 3 months to go we haven't done anything in the way of preparation for the new arrival. Hopefully I will get a new bed for darling son number 2 before the due date so I can have the cot back and otherwise am just planning on raiding the loft looking for stuff we've still got lurking around the place. Nothing like being organised eh.

On the crafty side I've had my ups and downs over the last few months in the amount I have been able to get done. I've taken part in another round of craft fairy and was very happy with the results I produced (sorry I can't show pictures really as I wouldn't want to give the game away) and learnt a few new techniques I'd not tried before. I've finally finished my Rippled wrap shawl and am pleased with how its turned out. I used rainbow coloured Kauni yarn and it works really well with this pattern.

I'm sure I've finished a few other things as well since I last posted on here so will have to work out which bits they are and add them on later. I'll come back and post about the things I have in progress on another day when I've taken a few pictures. I promise to make an effort to get back into regular posting on here over the next few weeks and get back up to date on everything I have been getting on with :-)

For more finished object posts please see Tamis Blog

Christmas Time

Heroes, giants, villains, wizards, true love

I bought a fibre club from storied yarns recently and decided its worth a post all of its own as I can definitely recommend it. I was interested in this club as you get to choose the theme of the club, (there are suggestions for general topics to help you think of something if your stuck.) For my fibre club I went with the favourite film option and chose The Princess Bride (who doesn't love that film) and I love how she has interpreted it.

I got in my package.

4oz BFL dyed in some lovely shades.

the note she sent explains her inspiration in the choice of colours.

- a farm boy, poor and perfect, with eyes like the sea after a storm
- a red dress and golden hair, enjoying a daily ride or a dip in eel-infested waters
- the sun setting behind the kiss that left them all behind

if you know the film the above will make perfect sense :)

Some chocolates, which after a little internet searching I believe they are (well were I've eaten them already) Hershey's mint Candy Cane Kisses, which were yummy and not something I've had before as you don't really get Hershey's over here.

And some princess bride themed badges.

The fibre has spun up lovely and I found some natural coloured roving in my stash that I think may also be BFL though I can't be 100% sure to ply with it.

Now to decide what to make with the finished yarn??

Wednesday again

I've been mainly spinning this week. I've finished off spinning up the Wesley and Buttercup BFL I started last week and found some undyed roving (that I think is also BFL but I'm not 100% sure as it wasn't labelled) that I have spun and plyed the dyed fibre with and has made a lovely yarn. I'm really please with it though I'm not asking DH what he thinks again as his comment was well done you've made string LOL.

I've also spun up another fibre club I had in my stash. Its the November fibre club from playatlife fibre arts. Its mixed BFL dyed up in shades of red, brown, purple and green.

It started as this

and is now (bottom bobbin and bobbin on table)

I think I may try and get a nice brownish shade to spin up and ply with it rather than a paler cream.

I've taken part in a secret santa on NM's and my gifts are on there way to their recipient at the moment but mine arrived yesterday. I got a clothkits purse which I'm planning on having a go at later this week hopefully and should be useful as the size looks like it will be good for my crochet hooks and maybe a small pair of scissors, might stop me loosing them.

I've also made a Joseph costume this week for my Eldest who was playing Joseph in the Nursery Nativity. I went to see it this morning and the whole class were fab and so cute in all their costumes. 

I've still got a couple of shawls to finish and a quilt and tablecloth to make before Christmas and am thinking on making DH a Kindle cover if I can fit it in too. All really to be finished in the next week as the last week before Christmas is already a right off for crafting. Eek not going to do it am I.

For more WIP projects please visit Tamis Blog

WIP Wednesday

I have managed to do quite a bit this week unfortunately some of it I can't share as its for Secret Santa gifts. But what I can share is since finishing the spooky quilt I have been madly cutting out fabric to finish off the kaleidoscope quilt and summer sampler quilt I started earlier this year as part of QAL's but never actually finished. 

The summer sampler one I want to get finished fairly quickly as I'm planning on giving it as a gift to my Gran for Christmas along with a shawl I'm also trying to finish in time for her.

I've also found out some fabric I bought last year for making a christmas table cloth (then we didn't actually have a table at the time) so I need to get that made this week really.

And finally I've also been spinning up some lovely dyed BFL I received this week from Storied Yarns. It came for the personalised fibre club roving I ordered last month (am going to post more about this later when I get the chance to write it out) and as the kids settled earlyish last night I thought I'd sit and do a bit of spinning while I caught up a bit with all the tele I've been recording (my sky planner was nearly full and I've managed to catch up on a massive amount of Castle, Vampire Diaries, Ringer, Alphas and Criminal Minds in the last couple of weeks to try and clear it down a bit). I record alot but don't actually sit down to watch it all that often then find I've got hours worth of tv series to get through as I'm about 8 weeks behind on everything LOL.

Now I just need to decide what I want to ply it with.

For more of the weeks WIP please visit Tamis blog 

Nearly a year to the day but its done.

Well its been a busy couple of weeks. My eldest turned 4 last week and we had a bit of a party for him on the weekend with family staying,. But I have still managed to get quite a bit of crafting in as well with my favourite finished thing this week being the blanket I started mid to late November last year.

So its taken pretty much a year to the day to actually get myself in gear and finish it but the spooky blanket is finished and my eldest loves it and it now has pride of place in his bedroom.

Upon request I made a dinosaur theme cake for the party

And I finished spinning up some bright coloured merino and plyed it with black welsh and tussah silk to make a very fireworks inspired yarn. A little over spun in places and I could have done with plying it a little tighter but not bad overall I think, I'm planning on making a scarf I think out of it otherwise not sure what I'm going to do with it.

I have also finished something for my secret santa gift but as its a secret I can't post pics of the finished object sorry.

For more finished objects please visit tamis blog and see what everyone else has been up to this week.