Finished Object Friday

This week has been productive for finishing projects.

I completed the shawl I started in Finland using my wool I bought from Griffiths Mill on my hooky holiday in April.

It was my first attempt at proper lacework and it took a lot of concentration to follow the charts but I found that using stitch markers between each pattern repeat really helped.

I also finished my purple stripey socks.

These were knit on 2.25mm needles which is why they took me so long but I do love them now they are finished.

Other projects I've finished recently are...

More Clangers:

This time for 2 little girls who had seen the other Clanger I made and wanted ones of their own.

Campside Shawl:

I love this shawl - it's lovely and big - I can't wait to wear it.


And I'm nearly three quarters of the way through making my crochet blanket squares (315 out of 420 made).

Stash Enhancements

One of my friends mentioned that he wanted me to knit him a scarf a while ago.  Because I've finished a few things recently I thought it was time to start thinking about the scarf.  I wanted to buy some really nice wool so went to browse LoveKnitting.  I decided to go with Malabrigo Worsted in a lovely dark blue but because I had to spend over £25 to avoid postage costs I also bought some sock wool.

It's not that much yarn!  I had been wanting some purple sock wool for a while now - I quite like making socks.

So this is the wool for my friend's scarf.

The colourway is Buscando Azul.  I wanted a simple ribbed pattern to show off the lovely colour of the yarn so chose the New York scarf which is a free pattern on Ravelry.  This is my progress so far:

And here is the lovely sock wool - I got a few different colours - for delivery cost purposes of course...

Ooh and also a ball of Rico Essentials aran to make another Bankhead hat.

Last week I also cast on a project that I've wanted to make since it was released last year - Mr Bakery Bear by Kay F. Jones . I had bought some Robin Paintbox in the leopardskin colourway. I'm waiting for my Mum to visit to show me how to make the cabled jumper but I've already knit the bear and his shorts

It's such a lovely pattern to knit.  This bear is called Rufus.  I think I'll be making more of this bear in the future.

I said that I enjoy knitting socks - I did manage to finish the socks I was knitting in the last post. They are so good!

And then cast on another pair of socks using West Yorkshire Spinners signature 4ply in the Bullfinch colourway.  These have grown so quickly - while I've been sat watching films and Sherlock on Netflix.

I used the same pattern as my previous socks - the Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes and they are nice and simple.

The Zoo Story and my knitting week

On Friday I went to see a play called The Zoo Story.  It was a performance by an amateur theatre group - the Without Walls Theatre Company.

Before seeing the play I wasn't sure what to expect - from the summary on Wikipedia it sounded a bit weird but it was a great performance and I really enjoyed it.

This week I managed to finish the hat KAL for the Bankhead hat pattern - it's so quick to make and could prove quite addictive.

Ravelry project page here

I've also made lots of progress on my second sock - due to a conversation with a friend about Studio Ghibli films (mostly Spirited Away) that led us both to start a weekend film binge.  Yesterday I watched The Wind Rises, Howl's Moving Castle, and The Cat Returns so today I will watch Kiki's Delivery Service, The Castle of Cagliostro, Spirited Away, and My Neighbour Totoro (which is my favourite).  Anyway, this gave me plenty of time to knit my socks

I've just got to knit the foot now - about 30 rows before I decrease for the toe.  Ravelry project page here.

And just because my weekend would be boring without playing with the hamsters (who are sleeping as usual at the moment) here is a photo of them eating raspberry pieces.

Happy New Year and Project Update

Hello again!  Happy New Year.  Hope your 2015 is going well so far.

I'm having a very quiet day today and just sitting in my flat knitting and watching knitting podcasts.

I've managed to get lots of projects finished since my last post including this lovely jumper which I finished only this morning.  Ravelry project page here.

The pattern is Snug by Kim Hargreaves and the yarn is Sirdar Escape Chunky in colour 0197

I crocheted a tiny little monkey as a present a while ago using 2 different crochet patterns.  Ravelry project page here.

I also made a Honey Cowl using the yarn from Wild Wood Wool I bought at Yarndale.  Ravelry project page here.

The last WIP I mentioned (a long time ago) was my Age of Brass and Steam shawl which I was speeding through so finished soon after.  Ravelry project page here.

I received a request to make a knitted clanger from the old childrens TV show using the original pattern from 1972.  Ravelry project page here.

I got around to making the colourful armwarmers I had been planning to make for ages.  Ravelry project page here.

I knitted myself a toy robot using the Louie the Lovebot pattern by Rebecca Danger.  Ravelry project page here.

I am currently working on a few knitted WIPs.  The first is something I started a while ago but stopped halfway through.  My first pair of socks!  Ravelry project page here.

Yup I have second sock syndrome but I cast on the second sock on Friday

I started another Trillian shawl project which will be my handbag project as it was last time.  This time I'm using the Laalbear yarn I bought at Yarndale in the colourway Gandalf. Ravelry project page here.

My final WIP was cast on on Thursday night as part of a live knit-a-long on Instagram.  Dan from the Bakery Bears podcast decided to start a knit-a-long for the Bankhead hat pattern because he loves it and I couldn't resist joining in. Ravelry project page here.

Here's to a productive 2015 - already off to a good start!

FO Friday - Clearing some WIPs

I love the feeling of showing off my finished projects.  I managed to lose my crafting motivation over the last few months - I had so many big projects on that I felt overwhelmed and that I was getting nowhere so it's a thrill to be able to show off three projects I've completed recently.

Firstly, I finished the mittens I was working on last week.

They were super-quick to make and are nice and toasty to wear.  The pattern is: Super Chunky Mittens by Hannah Storms

I also managed to complete the granny square cushion I was making before I moved into my flat over a year ago (and I'm leaning on it as I write this post).  The cushion is made up of 50 granny squares and it joined together using the join-as-you-go method.

And finally, I finished my first shawl project, Trillian by Martina Behm - also the first thing I've made in 4ply yarn.

I actually miss working on this project - it was perfectly portable and lived in my handbag for any time I had a spare second to knit.  Now I need to find a new project I can carry around with me.

Prettifying my Desk

My desk at work was looking a bit boring - not at all pretty and colourful like my flat.  Admittedly it is mostly covered in paper when I'm working on drawings.

I decided that it needed some crochet treatment, namely a bunting because it is my favourite simple decoration and it brightens rooms up so much (I have 3 in my living room now).

After browsing Ravelry for a while I found this cute little pattern for a bunting which I modified a bit to make smaller flags.

Yesterday I attached the bunting to my computer screens (with some funny looks from my line manager) and I'm thrilled by how cute it looks.

It makes the desk feel like it's really mine now.

WIP Wednesday (and some finished projects too)

I thought it was about time I admitted to how many projects I'm working on at the moment and gave an update on my progress.

Trillian Shawl:

Still going on this one - and it feels like it'll take forever but it is growing nicely

Rob's Scarf:

I tend to take this one when I'm travelling because it's low maintenance - again growing nicely

Ripple Blanket:

This has been hibernating a bit but I've just added another colour

I've also decided to take apart the sleeves of my crocheted cardigan to make them smaller so I'm busy re-crocheting them

And now for a couple of finished objects:

Tiny Knitted Minion:

• Craft: Knitting
• Pattern: Tiny Minion by Kelly Vu
• Yarn: Stash DK
• Weight: DK
• Needle Size: 3mm
• Ravelry Project Page

Crocheted Fox:

• Craft: Crochet
• Pattern: Little Fox by Samantha J. Montgomery
• Yarn (Leaves): Stash DK
• Weight: DK
• Hook Size: 3mm
• Ravelry Project Page

FO’s 2014 = 0+2 = 2

WIP’s = Need a proper count

Queued = 17 - need to be ruthless and remove some of these

My Best Friend's Birthday

Last Saturday was my best friend's birthday and so I went and visited him.  We spend the day wandering outside in the sunshine, watching films, playing darts, and eating cake.  I managed to win at darts - despite being out of practice - by hitting the bullseye twice:

For his present I decided to crochet a pattern I've had my eye on for a while - 'Fierce Little Dragon' by Lucy Ravenscar as we both play an online fantasy game called Legend of the Green Dragon.

I love how the dragon turned out - think I may have to make myself one at some point!

I also bought him some jelly beans as they are his favourite sweets and I crocheted a bag to put them in to make it a bit special:

The bag is a free pattern called 'Crocheted Treasure Bag' by Erin Kortering.

For my best friend's card, I was inspired by a geometric block card but instead of all squares I decided to change 2 of the blocks to be iconic images from the artwork of Magritte, as we went to a Magritte exhibition together a long time ago.  

I'm pleased to report that my best friend loved his presents and card.