February 2012
9 posts
1 tag
Moving Home!
Blog home that is! Although I quite like tumblr, I’ve been playing around with blogger, and I really prefer the blogger interface. It’s much easier to like up tags for example, and the dashboard is a lot nicer than the one on tumblr. I also had a lot of fun playing around with the templates on blogger, which are much easier to customise than the tumblr ones. There’s also other...
5 tags
WIP Wednesday 28
Well Wednesday is here and I have a new project to show you! I finally finished off the lace edge for Magrathea and it’s ready to be blocked! I have some new blocking mats - the interlocking ones on the way, but I don’t think they’ll come before tomorrow, or Friday, and I really want to get Magrathea blocked so I’ll probably get out spare towels and my yoga mat and use...
7 tags
Year of Projects: Week 29 Summary
Here we are at another Monday, and another whole week till the weekend! It was sort of light on my way to work this morning, so it’s starting to feel like spring is actually on the way at last! I’m looking forward to warmer days soon. I’ve been pretty busy this week. We’ve got a new TV - a flat screen at last, instead of our old huge bulky one - so we rearranged the living...
9 tags
FO Friday 25
Well, it’s Friday at last, and this week it couldn’t come fast enough! I’m normally at work by ten to eight (and finish at four) so I’m really looking forward to having a lie in tomorrow! I’ve got really behind on my blog reading this week - sorry everyone - hopefully I’ll be able to catch up tonight/tomorrow!
My FO this Friday is a nice little quick pattern....
7 tags
WIP Wednesday 27
Well this week, I haven’t got too much done. I had a disasterous time with my second New Era glove, which you can read about here. They’ve been banished to the bookshelves for a while, until I can face frogging them - they could be there till autumn! I did manage to finish the hairpin lace strip I was working on last week, as well as a second one, but I haven’t started the third...
6 tags
One a Day: Week 1
Well, today is time for my first One a Day update, and I can safely say I’m on track! My aim is to do 50 - 100 loops a day, and last week I did 614 loops. I think that’s preety good going! Hopefully I can keep it up. I made my first strip 500 loops long, then took it through and laid it on the bed to find a length I was happy with. I decided the bast way to keep the loops from getting...
6 tags
Year of Projects: Week 28 Summary
Well, this weekend has not been the most successful one for me, knitting wise. I started the weekend looking forward to making my second glove. In fact I was looking forward to starting so much, that I forgot I’d swapped to my 4.5mm tips for the thumb of the last pair, and didn’t swap back to my 5mm tips. I did discover the mistake eventually. But only after I’d finished all of...
4 tags
FO Friday 24
Well, it’s Friday at last and I’m having a short day today. My office has a flexi-time system. We can start anytime before 10, have lunch between 11 and 2, and leave after four. You can either work extra hours and save up for 6 extra days off a year, or you can just use them as you go. I had six hours saved up, so I decided to make use of them. Instead of starting at 8am, I’m...
9 tags
WIP Wednesday 26
Well, this week I’ve been busy, but I don’t have very much to show you. I cast on for a fingerless glove at the weekend, but the first one is finished now - although I still need to sew in ends and put a button on. It’ll be ready for you to see on Friday. I’m not going to cast on a second one until the weekend. Just now I’ve been working on my hairpin lace blanket....
January 2012
14 posts
4 tags
One a Day - Hairpin Lace Blanket
I’ve just joined the One a Day group, and this is my first post, so since there’s nothing to update, I’ll tell you what I’m working on. My big project is a blanket using hairpin lace. Hairpin lace is a really interesting technique which uses big loops of yarn held in place with single (double in UK terms) crochet stitches. It’s a really cool technique but it does take...
9 tags
Year of Projects: Week 27 Update
For a second time, I’ve lost my whole post when I pressed submit. I’m going to have to go back to writing these in notepad and copying them over. I can’t believe how fast January has gone. I’m still not used to it being 2012 and we’re almost in February! I think I’ve made pretty good progress this week, although I have had a falling out with Magrathea. I kept...
8 tags
FO Friday 23
I already wrote this all out once, but then Tumblr had a fit, and eerything disappeared, so here we go again! I have an FO to show you this week, as I finished my Long Nights Cowl on Wednesday! It was actually really easy to finish - instead of binding off like normal, you bind off a couple of stitches at each end, then whip stitch the live stitches to near the start, to make it into a tube. It...
14 tags
WIP Wednesday 25
Well, it’s Wednesday again, and I always look forwards to Wednesday lunchtime as it marks halfway though my week, and means I’m halfway to the weekend! I managed to get quite a bit done this week, and I’m happy with how my projects are doing, although I am getting a bit bored with so much garter stitch in both my projects. I really want to use my stash addict yarn so I might...
7 tags
Hairpin Lace
I decided that since I had lost all motivation for my Realta Blanket, I had to find another way to use up all the yarn I had for it. After looking around Ravelry for a while, I fell for Hairpin Lace. It’s a really nice tchniques, while being fairly simple, and it’s also feels different to crochet and knitting, so I hope I’m less likely to get bored with it!
I’m using this...
9 tags
Year of Projects: Week 26 Summary
Another week is over, and we seem to be getting through January quickly. It’s even still a bit light when I leave work now, so it feels like we’re on the way to spring. I’m starting to think about my birthday and Christmas presents for people this year. One thing I’m considering, is letting my best friends choose a few scarf or shawl patterns they like on Ravelry, then...
7 tags
FO Friday 22
I’m so glad it’s Friday at last! This is a very long week for me - it’s the first time I’ve worked a 5 day week in nearly two months and I’ve been missing the extra knitting time. This is also my 100th post on my blog! So I want to say thatnk you to everyone who reads and those who comment.
I haven’t finished anything I’ve been working on this week, but I...
9 tags
WIP Wednesday 24
Well Wednesday is here again, and I’ve been doing very well with my blogging this week. I’ve had a post on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, so today makes four in a row. I’m not sure what I’m going to post about tomorrow though! This week I’ve been quite busy. I’ve done a bit more on my Magrathea and I think it’s about a third of the length I want now. The...
5 tags
My Yarny Journey Continues
I was around May last year when I first started to play with yarn. I had just started using Google Reader, and one of the few things (those were the days!) on it was Craft. One day they posted up this article, of a floral coaster. I thought it was gorgeous, and set about finding out more about crochet, and started with amigurumi. You can see more about how I started off my yarny journey here. I...
3 tags
Christmas Presents
This is the post I was supposed to do last week, about what my husband got me for Christmas. He is quite awesome, and this will probably be a pretty photo heavy post! My main present was a gorgeous knitting bag. It’s huge and I can fit a lot of yarn in it, which is awesome. It has long pockets which are perfect for my crochet hooks, a couple of small pockets and two big pockets....
4 tags
Year of Projects: All Change
It’s Sunday night and I’m being good and writing my blog post on time! I have no idea which week I’m on right now, I’ll have to count up sometime.. This week, I’ve been completely reworking my list. I still have some decisions to make, but for the most part the list is done. When I buy yarn, I usually buy it for a certain project. But sometimes they don’t work...
11 tags
FO Friday 21
Friday at last on my first working week after Christmas. The weekend can’t come fast enough! I had some stitch markers to show you today, but I forgot to photograph them, so they’ll have to wait for next week. One of my biggest challenges this week, is trying to get through my Google Reader! I had over 500 things on it because I hadn’t read any over Christmas. I knocked off quite...
8 tags
WIP Wednesday 23
It’s WIP Wednesday, and I’m back at work, so I’m getting back into my normal blogging routine again at last. During the holidays I started a couple of new projects. The first is Magrathea. The pattern is designed for fingering weight yarn, but I’m using some gorgeous aran weight yarn my husband got me for Christmas (I’ll be posting about all his yarny presents...
4 tags
Year of Projects: Christmas is Over!
Oh dear. My blog has been very neglected during my holidays! I was having too much fun knitting, crocheting, playing games and visiting people. Unfortunately, the holidays are over now, and I’m back to work, and getting back into my normal routine. I didn’t manage to post my seven knit bunnies before the holidays, but I did get them all finished in time they were all named after plants...
December 2011
12 posts
10 tags
Christmas is Nearly Here
And I want to show you the last of the gifts I’ve made for the girls on my list! I’m sure I’ve mentioned before that I like to get them a selection of little gifts all packed into a box or bag. I usually pick things like bath bombs, small teddies, notebooks, jewellery, candles, chocolates and anything else I see that takes my fancy when I’m shopping! I normally make...
2 tags
WIP Wednesday 22
It’s the last Wednesday before Christmas, and I haven’t finished my gifts! I’m confident I will though, so there’s no need to panic. I have four more bunnies to finish, so I can have a photo of the seven together before they all go seperate ways, although three aren’t likely to go to their new homes until late January. Three of the bunnies are squares waiting to be...
9 tags
Year of Projects: Week 21 Summary
Well this weekend has been busy! I finished my notebooks and origami boxes (which I’ll be sharing tomorrow) and I finished my Snowbaby hat! I loved working on the hat! The colourwork was a lot of fun. I was holding both colours of yarn in my left hand, which I guess is continental style? Because I knook (knit with a hook) instead of actually knitting, I tend to hold things as I do when I...
11 tags
FO Friday 20
I have managed to finish my knit bunny! This one is a little bit of a giant! I couldn’t remember how many stitches to cast on - I thought it was twenty, but when I’d done them, it looked a little small, so I cast on twenty five. I should have stuck with twenty, he towers over his friends! I love that he’s a different colour to the other two, and I can see the next colour change...
5 tags
WIP Wednesday 21
I was going to prepost this, but I was sleepy last night and I didn’t! I’ve been working on my Snowbaby Hat and I’ve been getting on quite well so far. I’m using a 3.5 mm hook for the ribbing, because I’d like it to be a little bit tighter. When I finish the ribbing I’ll go back to using the 4 mm hook. I’ve just finished the two inch brim that...
5 tags
Year of Projects: Week 20 Summary
I seem to be failing at posting on Sunday’s just now. Never mind, there’s always hope fore the future! Anyway, the Windschief hat is finished and has been tested and approved! This is a horrible picture, because of the flash, but you can at least see the ribbing and how it looks on top. I was trying to find a photo like this when I was making it, but I couldn’t so I’ve...
4 tags
FO Friday 19
I always post so late when I’m at home all day. I think it makes me lazy! I also had to wait for my model to be ready to be photographed today, because I finished the Windschief hat! I’m really happy with how it turned out. So luckily is he! He’s gone off to the shops wearing it to keep his ears warm, and although I think I finished it a day late. With all the storms here...
7 tags
WIP Wednesday 20
It’s a very sleepy Wednesday for me today! I should have had an early night last night, but I was excited to work on the Windschief hat a little more. I’m now about to start the decreases. I have all the stitch markers in the right place now, but I was starting to fall asleep last night as I was counting the stitches, so I decided it was time to stop! I love how the hat is looking...
13 tags
Charm Bracelets
This weekend I spent more time on my Christmas crafting. The advantage of having no one on my Christmas crafting list read the blog, is that I can blog about the things I make, unlike a lot other blogger who are working their way through many secret projects. I’ve mentioned before that for the girls on my list, I make up stocking type boxes of gifts. I’ve already made them candle...
6 tags
Year of Projects: Week 19 Summary
It’s Sunday (just) and I’m writing my blog post so I’m improving on the last couple of weeks at least! This week I’ve been comfortably busy - not rushed off my feet but not getting bored either. Yesterday was mostly spent on making bracelets for my Christmas presents - I’ll be posting more about them tomorrow. And other than that, I’ve been working on my...
9 tags
FO Friday 18
Yay Friday! I love having a lazy start to the day when I’m not working. I’m currently sitting at my deck, still in my dressing gown, with my two cockatiels keeping me company while I write this. Just now they’re behaving, but at any point one or both could come running across the keyboard, typing random letters, and opening shortcuts I never knew existed and will never find...
6 tags
The Wonderful Thing about Yarn...
Is that it’s so easy to fit into my life! I love all sorts of crafts and I’ve done a lot of different ones in my life. Most recently I’ve done cross stitch and jewellery making in a lot of different styles. I also like paper crafts, and I’ve spent a lot of time making bird toys too. But the thing that sets knooking and crochet apart from all the rest is how easy it is to...
November 2011
20 posts
15 tags
WIP Wednesday 19
Wednesday means I’m already over halfway through my working week. Only one more early morning before I can have a lie in! I’m using up the last of my holiday for the year by taking every Friday off, so just now I have four days of work, and three days of relaxing, crochet, knooking, jewellery making, origami and notebook decorating leading up to Christmas. After last weekend’s...
3 tags
A Special Treat
I’ve been looking for some nice yarn recently for my Magrathea shawlette, and last week I found some that I think will be perfect for it. It’s from A Stash Addict, whose blog I love reading, and the colourway is called Grey’s Pacific. It is a gorgeous colour and I can’t wait to see how the shawlette will turn out. There’s just the perfect amount here to make it. It...
9 tags
Year of Projects: Week 18 Summary
I’m late again! But this time I have a much better excuse because we were very busy. We were at my parents over night for my dad’s birthday, and my mum gave us a lift home. Then she spent the last two hours of daylight helping us out in the gardenand took us down to B&Q for a new starter motor for the kitchen light. By which time I was shattered and stuggling to stay awake past...
5 tags
FO Friday 17
It’s Friday and I had the day off so I’m late posting today! Normally I have to finish things and take photos the night before, but this time I decided I could leave sewing on buttons and sewing in till this morning. Then I didn’t get round to it till four o’clock! But the buttons are on, ends are sewn in and the photos are done. I’ve finished my Shawl Collared...
4 tags
Stitch Markers
I have to admit that this should have been Tuesday’s post, but I forgot to take the pictures on Monday night, and the pictures are definitely necessary for this post! When I bought the charms for the bracelets I’m making as gifts, I also got a mixed pack of Tibetan silver charms and findings. So when I needed a stitch marker for my Shawl Collared Cowl, I decided it was a good time to...
6 tags
WIP Wednesday 18
It’s Wednesday again and the cowl is nearly finished! After having to rip out several inches of the main part of the collar at the weekend, I’ve made it all back and the end is in sight. The decreases are all done now, and I just have two and a bit inches, plus four rows of garter stitch and it’s done. Once the short rows were done and the decreases started every row just got...
5 tags
Year of Projects: Week 17 Summary
Seventeen weeks gone already! Where does the time go? This week, I managed to finish my second Betula Ring cowl, with a few changes. I love it! I wore it to work all week, and it’s very cosy and comfy. I find it a little bit tickly, but it’s not itchy so I can live with it. I also love how versatile it is! I just pull it ovver my head most days as it’s not that cold here yet,...
7 tags
FO Friday 16
Friday at last! I’ve been very good this week, getting into work before eight, meaning I can leave at four. Which is great as it gives me a longer evening (and therefore more yarn time), but it does mean I’ve barely seen daylight all week, and I’m more than ready for my lie in tomorrow! On the recommendation of a friend at work, I’ve found that the key to getting up early...
7 tags
Something a Little Different
For Christmas, for the seven girls on my Christmas list, I like to do stocking type gifts - lots of little things together in a box. And because it’s me, I like to try to be crafty with them where I can. Last year I made everyone a pair of earrings and put them in origami boxes. This year, with more planning, I’m making quite a few things - I’m making a knit bunny each, charm...
11 tags
WIP Wednesday 17
It’s Wednesday so that must mean WIP time! Yesterday I showed you all the unfinshed projects I currently have on the go, and last night I was hard at work on my Shawl Collared Cowl. I’m really enjoying working on this one. The yarn is squishy, soft and lovely, the pattern is easy but interesting with the short rows providing variety, and the colours are great, I love seeing...
17 tags
How Many WIP...
Is too many? Some people like to work on mulitple projects at a time, and I am definitely one of them. But just now, I think that even I have far too many things on the go! Personally I like to have a couple of things on the go, especially if one is long and repetative, then having a change is a great break. I currently have eight things on the go, according to my Ravelry projects page!
First are...
5 tags
Year of Projects: Week 16 Summary
I’m getting very bad at posting on a Sunday! Next week I have to try harder, I think. So this week, I’ve continued to work on my Shawl Collared Cowl, although I haven’t made much progress on that and it’s still slightly less than halfway done. Since I clearly haven’t worked on my cowl this weekend, what have I done? I started a new one! I really like the Betula Ring...
10 tags
FO Friday 15
Today is Friday, which can only mean FO’s all round! It’s also Rememberance day, so spare a though for all the soldiers who have fought and died over the last century.
Today I’m showing off my Betula ring cowl, that I’ve been teasing you with this week! I love it, but it is a bit too big - I went up a hook size or two to try and get gauge, but I’m quite small, so I...
6 tags
More Knooking - a Couple of Tips
This week I’ve been learning new things, which I love! I found a couple of cowl patterns that I wanted to make, both of which used short rows - something I’d only heard of before. So I went off to youtube and found a video for knitting short rows (no link sorry, I’m on the wrong computer) - I don’t think there are any for knooking yet. Then I had to work out how to adapt it...
WIP Wednesday 16
Wednesday seems to have come really fast this week, but I guess that’s because I only did my Year of Projects post yesterday. I don’t have that much more to report and since I miss counted my rows, then had to rip back a few rows, I didn’t get as much done yesterday as I’d hoped to. I have to say, I love working with bulky yarn, it goes so fast! I’m now around...
