tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47192213088725596172024-03-13T12:24:15.388+00:00Stripy sock madBexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12942192671172138019noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-24417830681138802532018-04-10T18:05:00.001+01:002018-04-12T00:12:49.337+01:00Clearing the airI have barely picked up my projects these past few weeks, combination of stress at home and visiting my sister, I just haven't had the inclination. I get the feeling however some people may be getting the wrong assumption about things, possibly even about how I funded my trip to Edinburgh.<br />
So to set the record straight, here you go. I saved up little bits here and there for months, I sold yarn I already owned, an exercise bike I wasn't using, and a book I had never used that is going for three times its original value on ebay and I am also helping to teach a young girl how to crochet every other week for an hour and I get a small sum for that too. Also the prices you may have seen on the sites I linked are most likely not the same ones that I paid on show day (for example the wollmeise yarn is technically seconds that isn't for sale on the general site and sells for much less) So does that clear things up and take away the behind my back comments? Did I do enough to save so that didn't make any impact on the family finances for that month? Every thing bill wise was paid on time. Job done.<br />
If you truly resent my one child free day I have had in YEARS, that I scrimped and scraped for, then you need to look at yourself.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My attempt at a yarn heart!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I don't think how people understand how much my yarn crafting means to me, all my life I have obsessed over yarn, even as a small child I remember being fascinated over the toy knitting machines they advertised on tv (80s child), I always wanted to have a go, I even learned to knit in primary school and I remember loving all the tiny balls of yarn in the crafting cupboard. It wasn't until I was much older did I manage to establish my self knitting and crochet, I had several aborted attempts over the years but eventually I cracked it and I have never looked back. It makes me happy, calm, even go as far as it saying it makes me feel safe. Yarn never judges me, never questions me, it just wants to be made in to some thing, all the happy colours just want to flow in to a project. I can stand and stare at my stash and never get bored.<br />
I don't smoke, I barely drink, I don't spend money on makeup, I hardly buy clothes or shoes beyond what I need, yarn is almost the only thing I buy for my self, its like a separate hobby in its own way as I buy yarn with no project in mind, just because! I rarely have any time to myself, I am on duty as a parent 24/7, any time I leave the house there is at least one child with me. I get no breaks, Edinburgh was the first day off I had in years, I honestly can not remember the last time I left the house alone, for some thing that was just for me. I think I might have earned my one day off. If it makes me a poor sort of person, then so be it.<br />
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ETA<br />
When I made this blog post I only had a feeling some thing was in the air, I could tell some thing was wrong and I took a stab in the dark, hoping to flush out any issues lurking in the background, I am sad to say I was right and instead of talking to me face to face, I had to make guesses at what the problem was, until it was confirmed, I had no idea that there really was some one with a problem, but apparently my 6th sense knew better. Was the blog post a good idea? I don't know, all I am sure of is that if any one has any issues with me, talk to me, don't talk behind my back about my personal life, dragging others in to the fray who are now upset at their involvement, who have now caused upset in their own way, be grown up about it and own your feelings, you may not like the fact I went public, but I didn't know if it was true until it was confirmed by others, it would never have gone this far had you not kept quiet. Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-15317800276668355812018-03-20T15:44:00.002+00:002018-03-20T15:44:49.123+00:00A day in Edinburgh <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Its all over, after weeks of saving and planning and stressing and fussing, I made it to Edinburgh and back all by my little self, well nearly all by my self, I was lucky enough to bump in to some one I had met several times, on the train heading up so I had some company which distracted me from most of my worries and I got to meet up with another friend who I had not seen in a long time at the other side which was great! It was a nice start to the day. Also meant we all shared a taxi to the venue so I didn't have to faff with buses, which is always a bonus.<br />
As luck would have it, the snow held off, beast from the east part two didn't hit our side of the country much and Edinburgh hardly at all, apart from it being bitterly cold, but hey thats no worry when you are heading to a yarn festival, decked out in your best woolly fineries! I was very glad however when I arrived at the Corn Exchange that there was no queue to get in at all, so I was able to get in to the warmth and not stand about in the cold, wool hat or not! I was also lucky enough to meet several people from one of my facebook
groups, always nice to put faces to names and it made me feel like I had
friends, never a bad thing<br />
It was time to shop, woo! Its very different wandering round on my own, no one whinging and moaning at me, saying they are hungry or tired or bored, and thats just my husband 😂 I had to tell myself at one point to slow down, there was no rush, I had 5 hours to wander and enjoy. And even then I ended up just sitting in the marquee enjoying the peace for a good hour! Of course I hit up all my favourite stalls, wollmeise being the ultimate one for me, I wanted to take it all home! Yarn is definitely my happy place. <br />
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My haul you say? Well those of a nervous disposition should look away now...<br />
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Its actually not too bad, all the top row is <a href="https://www.rohrspatzundwollmeise.de/en/wolle/" target="_blank">wollmeise</a>, I was like a kid in a sweet shop, finding all the colours I have lusted after online and just piling them up!<br />
I bought yet more <a href="https://www.theknittinggoddess.co.uk/" target="_blank">Knitting goddess</a> minis with some black yarn to contrast them, despite the fact I have an almost identical set at home, but there was a new pattern book out and I wanted the ones I had at home to do some from the last pattern book, and now there was a new one.. I couldn't help it, in my defence they are a difference wool blend!<br />
The bright neon yarn on the bottom left is a new yarn to me from <a href="http://www.coopknits.co.uk/" target="_blank">Coop Knits</a>, never had their yarn before but that bundle drew me across the stalls, 5 x 50g neon skeins of yarn with special set of stitch markers? Sign me up! I see a shawl in their future..<br />
The green/purple one in the bottom middle is from the ever lovely <a href="https://www.easyknits.co.uk/" target="_blank">easyknitter</a>, I am a long time fan of Jon's yarn, and he is always so lovely, as is his husband Roy, I get a hug and a chat, they asked after my kids, we discussed an upcoming club, its always a pleasure to visit that stall.<br />
And last but not least the grey yarn from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MothyAndTheSquid?ref=condensed_trust_header_icon_items" target="_blank">Mothy and the Squid</a>, I had seen this yarn online, its hard to tell from this picture but it is grey but covered in tiny rainbow neps (little fluff flecks), which just makes this a cute addition to my stash, far too nice for socks tho, will have to think of some thing suitable to make with it.<br />
The not yarn things are some bendy blocking wires to help me block my more curvy shawls instead of having to try and pin out a curve, pattern book from knitting goddess, some nice big buttons for my serged dream coat, and some brass rings to make dorset buttons from, which seems like an odd purchase but they were well priced compared to what I have seen online!<br />
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Before long it was time to leave, I made sure I gave my self plenty of time to get back for my train, and I was glad I did considering the maze that Waverley station feels like! I only took a couple of pictures to "prove" I had been there and if you look very closely you can see the snow coming down, thankfully it didn't amount to much, and indeed by the time I arrived back home, Wigan had had far more snow that I had seen all day, makes a change! Will I do it again next year? Perhaps! Although it is yarn dale in September hehe.<br />
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And yes, it is meant to be my second hexipuff week, I am doing them already? No, but tomorrow is another day!<br />
Until next time!Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-78444848439413118532018-03-10T17:07:00.000+00:002018-03-11T10:08:16.151+00:00Busy bee!Its none stop here I tell you, first week of march was my first hexipuff week, it was going well...until the outside pipes to our boiler froze solid during the cold snap we had and no amount of hot water from our kettle was going to solve the issues as the pipe in question was 20-30ft long! Argh! Its a good job I like making blankets so we could keep warm, my kids slept in sleeping bags reserved for camping and their quilts, blankets and what ever clothes they wanted it was that cold! Eventually I ended up putting a hole in a section of the pipe so we only had to defrost a small section of pipe and even tho it took all day, it eventually managed to reheat the house and we could go back to living in the house a touch more normally!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">42 hexipuff </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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But of course as you can expect it took a toll on my hexipuff making and I managed 42 out of 49, which is not bad being only a day down, I can make that up some other time. I've got my next week of making coming up on the 19th of March, lets hope we have no disasters this time!<br />
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So, next weekend is Edinburgh yarn festival, I especially like this one, its taken the place of Wonder Wool for me, for a start is a lot nicer to drive to as a passenger, going to Builth Wells on all the windy roads makes me sick to my stomach, and the kids, and I'm normally such a good traveller but its just too much, Edinburgh its a fairly straight forward journey on nice straight motorways! But Edinburgh has some interesting yarn stalls I haven't come across else where, Martins Lab is a fab stall, Stephen West actually goes! And most of all, Wollmeise tends to go (was disappointed last year they didn't get a stand and I said so on a feedback form but they are there again this year!) its like a mecca to me, updates online are still like a mad scramble for yarn and I like being able to browse at my leisure all the lovely colours. I am so excited its sad!<br />
But most of all during these festival, its you get to see lots and lots of hand made items, and its brilliant! I have made a few things this past year and I was struggling to pick some thing I wanted to wear, and for some reason my mind settled on some thing I hadn't finished yet and I didn't even know if I could finish with less than two weeks to go. I wanted to see if I could finish my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/serged-dream-coat" target="_blank">Serged Dream coat</a> I started last summer, for reasons I have long forgotten, I got as far as making the body of the coat and started a sleeve then I stopped. But I suddenly wanted this item to take with me. No I don't understand my mind either, but I set about giving it ago.<br />
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And with just 7 days to go until I board the train bound for Edinburgh alone, going the furthest I have ever been without any one with me, I have finished my coat! Its made from Stylecraft Special Dk, and loosely based on a colour pack from <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/" target="_blank">Attic24</a> called "<a href="http://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/attic24/attic24-cosy-stylecraft-special-dk" target="_blank">cosy</a>" but I made a few adjustments to it as I am not a fan of pink so I swapped them out for a plum purple and a nice teal, and I am very happy with the result!<br />
I shortened the sleeves because I have a real thing about cuffs around my wrists, these sleeves come to just below my elbow, and I added a few extra rows to the front panels (I started this before the designer added some extra instructions for plus sizes), an extra 2 rows to the extension panel (6 in total if doing extra according to the table in the pattern), did 7 rows on the main panel instead of 4, and an extra 2 rows either side on the button panels, and it has made for a nicely fitting coat, and the vertical stripes have quite a flattering effect on them which for a person as fluffy as me, thats a good thing!<br />
So on the 17th of March, if you see this coat wandering round Edinburgh yarn fest, come say Hi! I'll be glad of the company I am sure!<br />
Until next time! Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-49281899829030420042018-02-21T17:07:00.001+00:002018-02-21T17:07:52.841+00:00The beekeeper conundrum In 2011 a fab little pattern came out called <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-beekeepers-quilt" target="_blank">the bee keepers quilt</a>, the idea being you knit lots of little hexagons (called hexipuffs!) which represent a beehive kind of look, and join them together to make a nice thick blanket. I threw my self in to this pattern with great enthusiasm, but as seems to happen, my attention span waned and the project was put to one side, over the years I have had little spurs of hexipuff making, all with great intentions which came to nothing, most people might have given up by now, but I had tons of mini skeins and part balls to use in this project and I can't let it die!<br />
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This is what it looks like in its current state, its approximately half done, a few years ago I made some calculations based on its current size and how big my hexipuffs are (well they are technically flat as I decided in the end not to stuff each one with filling, its just as snug!) and worked out how many I would need to make a blanket about 5ft x 5ft, which is a total of 729 hexipuffs. I have 364 left to make.<br />
I haz a plan! (see this is how much thought I have put in to this!) I have worked out how many I can make in a day which is roughly 7, so 49 a week, which breaks down to roughly 7 weeks (and a few days) if I make enough.I asked my friends in an understanding crafting group to give me 7 random weeks this year in which I will make nothing but hexipuffs!<br />
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The first week is next week! I keep telling myself I will have the will power to do this, I have broken it down in to easy to manage pieces, I love the pattern, I love what I have made so far, I will get this project nailed this year! Let the hexipuff marathon (over 7wks!) begin! <br />
Until next time!Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-30710807573648880472018-02-14T15:58:00.001+00:002018-02-14T15:58:39.006+00:00Weather watchingTemperature blankets seem to be the very in thing the past couple of years, the idea being you take the temperature every day, convert that in to a colour (from a preset list) and you knit or crochet that colour in to a scarf or blanket. At first I was very reluctant to be drawn in to a project that required my attention every single day, what if I missed a day? What if I get my dimensions wrong and I end up with some thing thats far too big or skinny or unusable, a year is a long time to have some thing you don't like at the end of it.<br />
Last year I thought about it, then dropped the whole idea. As the end of the year closed in, the discussions surrounding people starting one up started again and I looked in to the idea once more, I found <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/" target="_blank">a website</a> that will give me high and low temperatures for at least 2 weeks so if I didn't do it every day its easy to catch up. And then I remembered this year is a big enough year that if I was going to do a blanket like this, it would be a year worth remembering. I have been with my husband for 20 years this October, we both have been fans of the band that brought us together, for 30 years, and this August, that band, Runrig will perform their last ever concert and we are lucky enough to be going. It makes me happy and sad all at the same time, happy as its the first concert we have been able to go to in a long while, but sad it will be the last one ever. The band mean a lot for us both, it will be a bittersweet day!<br />
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Enough maudlin! I decided to go for it, I picked my yarn, relying on my old favourite stylecraft special dk and its huge range of colours, I picked 8 and assigned them all a value, from purple to note temps less than 0c right up to lipstick for temps between 24-27c (I do have a standby colour just in case temps rise above 27c but its unlikely!) I of course didn't want a simple line blanket, I was worried about the proportions of doing a 365 row blanket! But I found a solution. Granny squares, two row tiny granny squares, the inner portion noting the lowest temp of the day, the outer row noting the highest temp. Also I will be using beads to mark birthdays, anniversaries etc as I thought it would make a nice record of the year. Plus I already know approximately how big the finished project will be. I like that kind of control!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every day until 11/2 </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice cold day bottom left!</td></tr>
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Don't they look fab? I am already fascinated by the range of temps we have had so far this year, I've already had to use my colour for mid teens temps (lime green), didn't expect that, also used my purple for sub zero temps, I am sure my husband is already bored of me going "oooo new temp combo today!" its going to be a long year for him. I'm already excited that this week I get to use my beads for the first time as today is my daughters birthday. I am easily pleased! The finished blanket is 18 squares wide and 21 long, I have grey squares to mark the start of each month, with an additional one at the end of the year to make up numbers. I am looking forward to seeing how the year pans out now, what colour combos will we see? Who knows..<br />
Until next time!Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-74504151628200814922018-02-07T14:31:00.000+00:002018-02-07T14:31:11.256+00:00Lets get this show on the roadSo, its Wednesday and I am starting as I mean to go on! I think I will pick either a show off Sunday or a work in progress Wednesday depending on how my week is going. Some weeks I'll just be working on stuff and some weeks I will finish things! This week is a bit of both I guess.<br />
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Last year I looked at my projects page on Ravelry and felt like I had
achieved nothing, or very few projects had been completed compared to a
few years ago, I had slowed right down and it made me sad, why did I not
do as much? Then I remembered I have a habit of either completing
projects on Ravelry and no declaring them as finished (so my list of
finished objects looks smaller) or I don't put them on at all, how can
that be?<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_5Xpg12iKc/WnsB9pGLFeI/AAAAAAAAO2U/I4DrGiJw9IQRjf_Htss4M3PE1V48AD87gCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_1029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_5Xpg12iKc/WnsB9pGLFeI/AAAAAAAAO2U/I4DrGiJw9IQRjf_Htss4M3PE1V48AD87gCKgBGAs/s320/IMG_1029.JPG" width="320" /></a> So upon this, I went and found all the things I had finished, but not blocked to make them finished, including ones I had never admitted to starting. I spent a week with my blocking boards taking a beating. In my bedroom I have some built in drawers under the window which is just about big enough to block most shawls, my neighbours most think I am crackers stood in my bedroom window fiddling away on things they can't quite see. <br />
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But all in all I got 6 shawls blocked and finished (including one I finished this year, but I didn't leave it hanging around!)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squish!</td></tr>
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What a lovely pile of rainbow-ness! And all now logged on to Ravelry as completed, phew, my total is a nice respectable 20 projects for 2017, not bad!<br />
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So I said this week is a bit of both finished and working on, this week I seemed to have picked up my briocheveron shlanket (blame Stephen West for the name!), its easy enough once you get in to it tho I am forever trying to find an easy way to track my rows without having to remember to press a button on my row counter because I get so engrossed with knitting, I forget to do it, so I try and count rows, which isn't always successful, so I am trying a fixed marker on the first row of the pattern repeat, I can count to 14 right? I hope so.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tale of two decreases</td></tr>
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I am having so much trouble with my brioche left slant decreases tho!They look so messy, no matter how careful I am being not pulling on the yarn too much, my right side in comparison look beautiful, I'm hoping it will block out straight, bah.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H4SeOnrHIHI/WnsLSlgR-dI/AAAAAAAAO3c/TWaHc042iiQmxpLJajBwzk2hMEPD5DPIgCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="847" height="239" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H4SeOnrHIHI/WnsLSlgR-dI/AAAAAAAAO3c/TWaHc042iiQmxpLJajBwzk2hMEPD5DPIgCKgBGAs/s320/IMG_0891.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that lovely fading yarn!</td></tr>
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The blue yarn is <a href="https://www.fleabubsbylala.co.uk/shop" target="_blank">Fleablubs</a> Mr Brightside, its a very bright and happy kind of yarn, just my thing, I have a set of 5 that go from dark blue to light, I didn't know what to make with it, until I saw the pattern I was making, but I needed more, so I decided to make my own fade set to compliment it, so the pink yarn is my own creation, it will go from pink to purple, as the blue yarn goes from dark blue to light blue, I think its going to look fab when it is done! Just need to keep knitting..<br />
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Ok so thats me for today, I have been scheming to try to come up with a way to help me finish my bee keeper quilt but I'll leave that for another post as its..complicated! Until next time! <br />
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Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-92043842755245481172018-02-05T10:38:00.001+00:002018-02-05T10:38:40.466+00:00Is this thing still on?Ok, so 5 years since a blog post is a long time, for ages I considered doing some thing here but kept putting it off, either I procrastinate too much or wondering if people are even reading blogs any more.<br />
But I have decided that I shall have a blog day, once a week, even if its just for me, to post about any thing crafty I have been doing that week, to help keep me motivated if nothing else. I won't tie my self to a day (But I do like the idea of show off sunday or work in progress wednesday) so I can see for my self the work I am putting in to my creations, and maybe if I feel like I have to have some thing to show for my blog, I might do more work, ha yeah I know, good intentions and all that, we shall see. But I have spring cleaned, given the blog a fresh look and removed the photobucket icons that had gone to pot after they changed it all, now if I could just get that finished object gallery widget to stay still I will be happy!<br />
Until next time..Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-11447358764658316742013-03-20T13:35:00.001+00:002013-03-20T13:35:58.490+00:00I won!Remember my easyknits comp? Ok, so it did turn in to a two horse race, but I had the edge with three finished items, so I won!<br />
Makes all the hard work worth it :) <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B5y4z27fTMQ/UUm7PLXRJ-I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/NSO7TiE0TAo/s640/blogger-image-1788565854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B5y4z27fTMQ/UUm7PLXRJ-I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/NSO7TiE0TAo/s640/blogger-image-1788565854.jpg" /></a></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-85693313911357197432013-03-03T18:32:00.001+00:002013-03-03T18:32:54.634+00:00If you have to ask...Well and truly off the wagon at the moment, it's not even worth making excuses, but I saw this pattern when it came on to rav and just needed to make her, it is just super sweet and for once worked out rather well.<br />
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So I give you, Molly Twist. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fxPMtpYr5w8/UTOXU7f8TKI/AAAAAAAAAVA/lI7H4BZCBhk/s640/blogger-image--942920114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fxPMtpYr5w8/UTOXU7f8TKI/AAAAAAAAAVA/lI7H4BZCBhk/s640/blogger-image--942920114.jpg" /></a></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-15946591909092749692013-02-24T12:59:00.000+00:002013-02-24T12:59:12.002+00:00Chained to the wheelYes, bad blogger, I missed posting last week, I do have a fairly reasonable excuse in that it was my daughters birthday on valentines day and my lovely mum as ever held a joint party for her and my nephew so was out all day and then it didn't seem right to post Monday, cause that would be just weird, partly it's guilt too, well not guilt but I hadn't worked on any old projects, as I'd been going hell for leather on my easy knits spin club stuff, which I'm pleased to say I did finish, yeay!<br />
200g of fibre and the task set was be creative, so I went and created! I spent almost a week, spinning, every evening after baby had gone to bed (as no way can I spin with her around,) and this is what happened!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CpuT9cgE1a4/USoKqwi_tvI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/URFnPJbcdQg/s1600/IMG_0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CpuT9cgE1a4/USoKqwi_tvI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/URFnPJbcdQg/s320/IMG_0377.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The one on the left is called ancient artefact and the right archaeologists dig. The ancient artefact was actually dyed in short colour bursts along its length, but I split it all in to individual colour groups, then blended them back together with my very handy blending hackle I got from ambermoggie at wonderwool last year, then spun the fibre in to a gradient yarn, left it as a single and knitting a little shawl with it!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BxBu9KRdLXE/USoKz9l8KgI/AAAAAAAAAUY/0YSmgMeB4V4/s1600/spinning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BxBu9KRdLXE/USoKz9l8KgI/AAAAAAAAAUY/0YSmgMeB4V4/s320/spinning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Was most pleased with how that turned out I must say! <br />
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So that was me at my most creative lol For the archaeologists dig I decided to just split it along it's length multiple times until it was the width I'd normally spin with and then just went for it and chained plyed the result, decent bulky yarn! Used it to knit a zomg cowl which was a pattern specially for hands spun yarn.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nWW_gQSDQbQ/USoNC0CAVjI/AAAAAAAAAUw/1Vp8GIVQIWI/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nWW_gQSDQbQ/USoNC0CAVjI/AAAAAAAAAUw/1Vp8GIVQIWI/s320/IMG_0388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
As I was knitting that, the colours reminded me of an owl, and seen as they are all the rage of late, I found a cute crochet baby owl pattern, grabbed my needle felting stuff for his details and success! Even if his eyes are slightly odd. Managed to nail the first one, but the second.. Well he's slightly crazy, can live with that!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZc_o2ttNBo/USoM9RdcI9I/AAAAAAAAAUo/oLfCYN1ANjk/s1600/IMG_0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZc_o2ttNBo/USoM9RdcI9I/AAAAAAAAAUo/oLfCYN1ANjk/s320/IMG_0386.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
So will this be enough to show I was creative? Will I win the comp? Knowing me, even if I was the only entrant, my chances are slim! Optimistic as ever I know!<br />
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After I'd done all this, was feeling so burned out and uninspired with all my projects, it took a few days off knitting an odd row of my pooling stole, before I cast on some socks, well technically not true as I started a clapochet shawl off ravelry, using my colour block yarn from knitting goddess, I was going to alternate between the two 50g balls to give a graduated mini stripes kind of effect, but wasn't liking it 7 rows in so gave up, and then I thought socks with some wollmeise, picked some twin out, wound it in to two balls (as I'm determined to do two at a time using the needles I bought specially to do this, over a year ago..) then spent another evening finding just the right pattern, then it took nearly another 24hrs to cast on, then nearly hurled it across the room as it was so fiddley and was struggling with doing magic loop despite the fact I'd done it many times before, but not with socks until it finally settled down and I made it past the cuff and to the pattern. <br />
Phew! I chose Sunday swing socks from knotty, and my wollmeise chose was a we're different libelle, which looks no different to actual libelle, so can't complain!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/madriggie/8503518348/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Untitled by cheekyimp, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8241/8503518348_f3cc1b74f5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So that was my week, might not be project busting, but I'm happy, must count for some thing! Now to avoid the temptation to cast on a scarf version of wingspan, just because... Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-37274620878584384002013-02-10T17:14:00.000+00:002013-02-10T17:46:08.854+00:00Wee Cluster hat!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/madriggie/8432067521/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Untitled by cheekyimp, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8432067521_33c4b4f5ab.jpg" width="300" /> </a></div>
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This hat fits my 7mth old daughter with room to grow, so 6-12mths is the size I'm writing for, but more crown increases, and more rows for depth would obviously result in a larger hat, I did 3 increase rounds and 5 normal rows for a hat big enough for my 8 year old daughter.</div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/dls/bex-bagot-designs/139761?filename=Wee_Cluster_Hat.pdf">Download PDF version here</a>
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You will need:</div>
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50g of DK yarn</div>
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3mm hook</div>
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Darning needle for weaving in</div>
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Dtr = Double Treble (US treble)</div>
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Dc = Double crochet (US single) </div>
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Pattern uses UK terminology</div>
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Chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to the first chain.</div>
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Round One:</div>
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Chain 4, and 2dtr in to the centre of the chain 4 ring, chain 2, (3dtr, chain 2) 5 times, join to first chain 4 with a slip stitch</div>
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Round Two:</div>
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Chain 6, ((3dtr chain 2) twice in the space left by the chain 2 on the previous round) 5 times, in the last space, 3dtr, chain 2, 2dtr and join with a slip stitch in to the 4th chain space from the starting chain. </div>
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Round Three:</div>
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Chain 4, 2dtr, chain 2, 3 dtr in to the chain 2 space of the previous round, chain two (3dtr, chain 2 in to next space, (3dtr chain 2) twice in the next space) repeat until end, slip stitch to first chain 4 with slip stich</div>
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Round Four to Eight</div>
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(3dtr, chain 2) in all the chain 2 spaces from previous round, alternating between chain 4 and chain 6 at the start of the round (eg round four is chain 6, round five) is chain 4) and joining to the first chain at the end of the round.</div>
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Round Nine-Ten</div>
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Chain two and Dc in all the dtr spaces, 2 dc in the chain 2 spaces round, slip stitch in to starting chain and at the end of round Ten fasten off yarn. </div>
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I added a flower to finish off, but can't for the life of me find the pattern I used! If I can remember what I used then I'll provide a link, but otherwise ravelry has lots of lovely flower patterns, or leave it blank!</div>
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Now I'm pretty sure I've probably messed up some where with this pattern, if you spot an error, or have trouble understanding the pattern, please get in touch!</div>
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As always, please do not copy my pattern and repost else where or otherwise distribute without my permission. You are free to use the finished item as you wish, but would appreciate being asked if you plan on making to sell. Thank you! </div>
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Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-6407595603568567472013-02-10T16:10:00.002+00:002013-02-10T16:10:55.991+00:00That road paved with good intentions..Well technically its not all that bad, but not much work went in to my wip, but on the bright side I haven't added to it!<br />
Started the week by finishing Immy's Knubbelchen, the skirt was very fiddly I thought, but more in a wrestling stitches kind of way rather than hard to do, but ever so cute, so not complaining, much!<br />
Next I did a super cute owl hat, in just one evening! <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ws2g4MQWR9w/URfERWi0jcI/AAAAAAAAAUA/mZl3faAbibE/s1600/owl+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ws2g4MQWR9w/URfERWi0jcI/AAAAAAAAAUA/mZl3faAbibE/s320/owl+hat.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Yes it really only did take me an evening to make, gotta love bulky yarn! But the idea was so simple, just a crochet tube, bound of at one end, two triangles for the ear flaps, add embellishments and voila, cute hat! <br />
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But that has been about it on the making front, but all bets where off when I got my spin love fibre club instalment from easy knits, who is having a little comp this time for most creative use of this instalments fibre, prize being more fibre and a spindle, yes I'm playing along! Not that I do uber creative, but I'm trying!<br />
I spent an entire day just prepping one of the 100g braids, splitting it up so all the colours went together and then used my blending hackle to blend the bits together, to make a gradient type yarn, I've finished spinning that up and its looking good, think I can show it off best as a cake tho, its still a single so a little twisty in a hank! The other 100g braid I'm just going to spin and chain ply, as I can't really do much else with it, unless I spin a contrast fibre, but think showing it off as is is for me! I actually hope I can knit some thing up from them both before the end of the month, so I think most of my knitting time is going to be taken up by that, once I've finished spinning! No pictures of that yet tho, don't want to show off my work until its time ;)<br />
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I may get chance to do my pattern this week, don't really know whats stopping me, apart from being bogged down in terminology! I'm so preoccupied trying to make sure I stick to one set of terms (US/UK) that I'm getting mixed up. Who's idea was it to change it all? Grrr! I will get it nailed down tho, some time! Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-83266694510644732372013-02-03T16:07:00.002+00:002013-02-03T16:07:35.484+00:00Less of a productive weekWell no, thats not strictly true, its been a less of a productive week when it comes to finishing off my wip, I've been working steadily on my another pooling stole which btw I love how its turning out, the colours are amazing (Easy Knits deeply wicked in carnival), and it just looks good. But that apathy thing is creeping in. I'm only very early in to the project with a long way to go, so getting distracted very easily!<br />
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But I'm not technically adding to my wip list as I'm doing small things, very quickly! Last week I mentioned I was backwards engineering a hat, based on one my mum crocheted for Immy, well I did that and it came out well!<br />
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I've yet to write the pattern up properly, thats my next job, but I did experiment with it slightly and it will nicely upscale to different sizes, so Neala got one in the same yarn (which I'm sorry to say I've no idea on the brand of said yarn as it was given to me by a friend with no label, its wonderfully soft tho, so will be keeping an eye out for some thing similar!) so both my girls really do match up! Its kinda sweet, I think! </div>
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Next came a shawl, no not for me! I had been thinking that Immy's coat left her neck really exposed, esp if she was in her carrier, but didn't quite know what to do, no to a scarf and a cowl seemed a bit odd to do for a baby. I was browsing looking for inspiration for a stole pattern for the yarn I frogged a couple of weeks back when a cute little pattern caught my eye, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scallo-pie" target="_blank">Scallo-pie</a>, a little shawl pattern for little madams! Oh well that was it then!</div>
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Really like it, and even had me doing some thing new in the form of the scalloped edging, which is actually functional as you can use the end scallop and feed it thru the eyelet of another to hold it together, so its practical when using it too. I def feel a second one coming on thats for sure!</div>
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To round off the week I've been doing the girl version of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knubbelchen" target="_blank">knubbelchen</a> which hands down is one of the cutest little snuggies ever, I did the boy version a few months back and picked out yarn to do a girl version, but its been sat waiting ever since, I did the head body and one leg all in one go, but its taken me another two days to do the other leg and an arm, but to be fair Immy isn't well, and have been out and about, but it should be done in the next day or so! </div>
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So all in all, bad for wip this week, but busy on new projects, not really the point but I have gotten alot done since the start of the year, and I will have a new pattern to show for it too. Can be that bad!
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Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-58384130937337855112013-01-27T22:00:00.001+00:002013-01-27T22:00:18.891+00:00A productive week!Had a good week, this knitting to blog deadline suits me well, plus not casting on some thing new is reason to knit faster!<br />
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Started off the week by blocking my Hypernova shawl I finished last week<br />
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I didn't pin it out along its entire length, just did the flared ends and its come out really nice, again, didn't take long once I set to it! </div>
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Next I set about finishing my trout river jumper from knitty, a cute pattern with detachable arms, so you can have both a vest and a jumper, and I added a hood to the original pattern as I felt it needed it! The coloured edges are my own handspun yarn which was nice to include!</div>
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Daft thing about it was tho, that all I had left to do on it was the top bit of one arm and weave in some ends, its been lying around for all this time and it took me two evenings to finish. Its daft!</div>
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Next I focused on a sock I've needed to make to complete a pair, so the rest of the week was taken up by that. </div>
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Not bad at all! I picked up my pooling shawl to be going on with, I did try and find the other socks I have to finish but they've been put away some where and I'm not sure where! They'll turn up.. I hope! I may tackle my glow gloves, if I'm feeling brave tho!<br />
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Slight confession tho, I have cast on some thing new, but its a crochet baby hat and in all honesty I'll prob have it finished in the next few hours, I'm reverse engineering a hat my Mum (Hi Mum!) made for Immy, whos Immy? Oh yeah this is Immy! My 7mth old nutter, in her baby sophisticate! <br />
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Alot can happen when you don't blog! Any way, yes, my mum made her a really cute crochet hat, using little treble clusters, and I found some yarn in my stash today, thinner than the one my mum used and I'm attempting to recreate the pattern (adjusted for different yarn). I'm not sure if my mum used a pattern originally or just made it up, and I know I could just ask her, but I was just in that mood to do some thing different, and I may even write up the pattern too as I'm sure I've not seen one like it on rav, its one I reach for to put on her in all this cold weather, people have even asked me where I got it from, so it can't be bad! We'll see!</div>
Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-68685954782962869002013-01-20T18:39:00.001+00:002013-01-20T18:39:56.818+00:00Nothing says knit faster like a looming deadline!Beginning to think this post every Sunday thing was a good idea, it's forcing me to knit some thing so I don't miss my spot!<br />
This week I mostly knitted my hypernova scarf, one of the few things I've declared wollmeise worthy! I had been about half way done at the start of the week but cast off late last night (photo to follow, I procrastinated all day, blame baby..) and hope to get it blocked at some point this week, can't be bad! <br />
Took the decision to frog another project as well, I'm being realistic in what I'm actually going to finish, and whilst I loved how it was going (convertible from knitty in malabrigo) I just couldn't see my self actually using the shawl properly once it's done. I use my ordinary shawls, gloves, socks yet but this one was meant to be worn in lots of different ways and what ever I might have had a vision of when I started it, it's not the same one I have now! So it's now several balls of yarn again, more stash hehe<br />
My wip list is starting to look more normal! I've a few projects I don't mind being long term, such as my hexipuffs or my crochet blanket, but every thing else I'm determined to get done, next on my hit list is a sock and a sleeve, sleeve first, I could probably get that done this evening if I stop fading around on here! Bests get on!Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-81158628971419032722013-01-13T18:08:00.000+00:002013-01-13T18:08:16.382+00:00Thingies completed!Well one week in to my must complete every thing campaign has gone well!<br />
After my blog post last week, I decided to tidy up my corner, yet again! I put alot of yarn away, bagged up all my wip properly, and sorted my patterns out.<br />
I rescued three wip from the wicker basket, one shawl, one hooded scarf (which had been intended as a new pattern..) and a circle cardigan for me.<br />
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The shawl was my memories of spring shawl that has been on the go for
nearly two years, but I was finding the pattern tough going, not because
it was overly difficult, it was the fact it has two stitch patterns of
different counts running concurrently and I was finding it hard to keep
both tracked, I usually make marks on a piece of paper but it was just
doing nothing for me, so I made the decision to frog what I'd done, I
wasn't even half way finished, so no big loss!<br />
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Washed and reskeined the yarn (it was one of those preknitted blanks) so its all ready to go for a new pattern, some day!<br />
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The hooded scarf, I had intented on making a new pattern, with some yarn I bought from aldi, but at some point I lost my focus and it lived in my basket for a while, didn't even count it as one of my wip, as I'd forgotten it was there! I was going to frog it back to salvedge the yarn but decided the length I had knitted before the hood increases would still make a good cowl, so sat on my kitchen floor (!) I ripped it back, returned stitches to a needle, bound it off and made a cute cowl for Neala!<br />
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That worked out better than expected! (Excuse the xbox controller, I had to interrupt minecraft..)</div>
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So on to the <a href="http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/us/pattern.php?id=5288&lang=us" target="_blank">cardigan</a>, I bought the yarn for this from Cold Springs mill in Yorkshire, I had gone hoping to get some thing better, but arrived to find lots of bog standard yarn, was slightly disappointed, but not wanting to go home empty handed I bought some bulky yarn in a colour I liked that reminded me of James C Brett marble chunky (still don't know what it is, but its so close feeling wise to marble chunky, it might as well be!), so bought it and immediately cast on for this when I got home, I did work on it rather diligently for a long while but it got lost in the bottom of my box, never to be worked on for months, when I dug it out, I looked at completed versions of the pattern on Rav and noticed it looked rather fab as a short sleeve, and when I measured it up, it was close to being actually finished, so with the addition of short sleeves, I cracked on and got it finished! </div>
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Don't think its some thing I'll wear out of the house, and it could still do with a soak and pulling in to shape, but its great for lounging on the couch, very snug! Just glad I found the inspiration to carry on with it! Still a lot of the yarn left too, so all in all, not a bad yarn trip!<br />
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Lanesplitter has returned to my hands for the time being, its coming along nicely, just wondering if I should tackle some thing smaller (I've got some socks and a glove waiting) instead of getting bigger stuff done. Not that it matters, but my lanesplitter is good for tv watching as its dead easy to rattle off, I've got a glove to do that are slightly more (read as really really more) complicated, should really thinking about doing that too!<br />
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Till next week..<br />
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<br />Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-354931509824196282013-01-06T14:50:00.001+00:002013-01-13T16:53:59.631+00:002013 Starting as I mean to go on!So it's been two years since I made a blog post, hmm not really good, doubt any one will catch this post but hey, I decided it can help me in my mission to finish projects I've actually started so I can knit more stuff I want to. <br />
My wip list is reaching epic proportions, I've single socks, half made blankets, short scarves and other things that if I spent just some of my time on (instead of browsing ravelry all day..) I could get them finished. But I don't, I browse all the stuff I,d love to make, dream about yarn I could use to make them, and I either cave in and cast on some thing new, or forget all my plans on what to knit! It's not like I don't want to finish my items, I do, I just lack incentive.<br />
So, new year, new start. Blog, once a week, Sunday is good, to talk about what I've done this week, and if I force my self to blog, I've got to do some thing during the week to show off right? Well it's a plan....<br />
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I've currently got 15 things to finish. That includes 3 I've not listed on rav, and my hexipuff blanket which is a long term thing any way which I shouldn't be too hard on my self about, but you know, getting mini skeins for it every month and not knitting them is a problem too!<br />
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My current project is one I've not out on rav, it's a lane splitter skirt from knitty, cast on at a whim, well not so much a whim, I actually unravelled my noro jumper that I don't wear at all to do it, as I thought I'd wear this skirt more, I don't think I'll have quite enough yarn to finish it from what I got from my jumper, but the colourway is still out there, and it's noro, so dye lots.. No one will notice! Good chance I'll stop knitting this when I run out of yarn as I'll stall on buying more, but if I get a good way in to it, its a good excuse to keep going!<br />
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So that's me for this week, let's see if I can keep this up! <br />
<br />Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-51872682816335082742011-02-07T18:44:00.003+00:002011-02-07T19:18:07.934+00:00The Rolly Bag!Yeah yeah, all I ever do here now is post patterns, but you don't want to listen to me blethering on about nothing all the time? Right? Any way, another free pattern for you, don't say I'm any thing but nice ;-)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rolly Bag</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/TVA-Hm9b02I/AAAAAAAAAO8/uMTOB5etpGE/s1600/100_3455.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/TVA-Hm9b02I/AAAAAAAAAO8/uMTOB5etpGE/s320/100_3455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571021039495533410" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/badges/redirect?p=rolly-bag"><img src="http://api.ravelry.com/badges/projects?p=rolly-bag&t=.gif" style="border: medium none;" /></a><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Inspired by a bag I saw at a recent craft fair, this bag is made from a new yarn called Hoopla, made from selvedge material from t-shirt making. Its a very stretch jersey type material and is surprisingly easy to work with and lends its self to crochet very well!<br /><br />Download the PDF version of this pattern <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/dls/bex-bagot-designs/57553?filename=Rolly_Bag.pdf">here </a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></span></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>You will need:</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">2 cones of <a href="http://www.hooplayarn.com/">Hoopla yarn</a> (I used Key Lime Pie and Purple Nurple) or any bulky yarn (approx 200 yards) in two colours</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">8mm and 6mm crochet hooks.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Stitch marker.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Two safety pins</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Instructions:</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">DC= Double crochet</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">(Please note this pattern uses British crochet terms (DC=SC in US terms))</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>Main body</u></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Using the 8mm hook, chain 50 stitches in your main colour</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Row 1) DC in 2<sup>nd</sup> stitch from end and continue to end, chain one and turn</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Row 2) DC in the back loop of the stitch (as you look at the V, dc in the leg furthest from you!) This will give the raised up edge you can see in the picture. Continue to the end, chain 1 and turn.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Repeat row 2 16 more times and fasten off at the end of the last row.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>End pieces (make two)</u></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Using the 8mm hook and your contrast colour, chain 4 and join to form a ring (use marker to note start of ring)</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Round 1) 2DC in every stitch (8 stitches)</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Round 2) *DC in next stitch, 2DC in the next stitch, repeat from * until end</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Round 3) *DC in next 2 stitches, 2DC in the next stitch, repeat from * until end</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Continue as set, increasing the space between the 2DCs until you have reached 6 spaces in between the 2DCs and fasten off.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>Bag Handle</u></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Using 6mm hook, chain 4 stitches</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Row 1) DC in second space, and work unil the end, chain 1 and turn.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Repeat until bag handle is desired length and fasten off.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>Making up</u></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The main body piece has a natural curl, so we are going to exploit this some what! Roll your body piece to make a tube, leaving an overlap of about 3 inches (this is for your bag flap) and pin in place on both sides. Take one of your end pieces and your contrast colour, use slip stitch to join both pieces together, but leave the overlap hanging free.<br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/TVA-IOoKQ5I/AAAAAAAAAPE/tR202KtVC5M/s1600/100_3461.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/TVA-IOoKQ5I/AAAAAAAAAPE/tR202KtVC5M/s320/100_3461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571021050143720338" border="0" /></a> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">One you have done one side, repeat on the other, attach the handle on either side of the tube in your desired place, weave in ends and you are done!</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is my first crochet pattern and the making up has been hard to explain, so if you have any questions or suggestions, please get in touch!</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /><br />Naturally this is a free pattern, and you are free to use it for your own personal use, but you are not allowed to sell any finished items, or distribute the pattern without prior permission or crediting the work to my self! </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="CENTER"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="CENTER"><br /></p>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-14886987319272086782010-02-16T13:35:00.006+00:002011-02-07T19:56:38.974+00:00Seed Stitch SocksHmm yes I know, we are now in to the New Year and I'm still not blogging much, but in my defence, I do home school three kids, and we got a dog, and my free time is taken up by knitting, so you know... I do want to blog, but its sitting down and doing it!<br />Any way, once again, I bring a new pattern to make up for it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Seed Stitch Socks</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/S3qgCjrDHgI/AAAAAAAAAMg/Msu_B5nFhbA/s1600-h/100_2686.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/S3qgCjrDHgI/AAAAAAAAAMg/Msu_B5nFhbA/s320/100_2686.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438835465799278082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/S3qgCzvDX8I/AAAAAAAAAMo/d5BJY2UWTWM/s1600-h/100_2687.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/S3qgCzvDX8I/AAAAAAAAAMo/d5BJY2UWTWM/s320/100_2687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438835470111039426" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/badges/redirect?p=seed-stitch-socks"><img src="http://api.ravelry.com/badges/projects?p=seed-stitch-socks&t=.gif" style="border: medium none;" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I got the idea from an old pair of slipper socks (you know the kind that have grippy bits on the bottom?) and decided to see if I could make a pattern similar and this is what I came up with.<br /><br />Download a PDF version of the pattern <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/dls/bex-bagot-designs/57560?filename=Seed_Stitch_Socks.pdf">here</a><br /><br />You will need:<br /><br />Fingering/4ply sock yarn, 100g solid colour (A), 30g contrasting variegated colour (B)<br />(yarn I used isn't available any more, but its Middlearthknitter yarn, in Not Just for Goths (B) and Jet (A) )<br /><br />2.5mm dpn needles<br /><br />Waste Yarn<br /><br />Tapestry needle<br /><br />Pattern will assume that you basically know how to knit socks, but I'll link to any thing unusual!<br /><br />Stitch pattern is in multiples of 8.<br /><br /><br />Cast on 64 stitches with colour B and divided over 3 dpns<br /><br />Knit 2 purl 2 rib for desired length, I usually do approx 1inch<br /><br />Switch to colour A<br /><br />Row 1 K4, P1, K1 ,P1, K1. Repeat to end of round<br /><br />Row 2 K5, P1,K1, P1<br /><br />(I arranged my stitches so I wasn't purling a stitch at the start of a row, by splitting up a K4 in to two knit stitches over two needles, but this is personal preference, I just don't like purling at the start of a needle, I get ridiculous ladders! You do what is comfortable!)<br /><br />Continue repeating Row 1&2 until leg length is desired length (pictured sock is 5inches.)<br /><br />When you have reached your desired length, you need to take your waste yarn and knit 32 stitches with it (or approx half of your total number of stitches) This is for your afterthought heel. Do not break your working yarn (A) as you'll be using it again in a moment<br /><br />The 32 stitches you have knitted with waste yarn, are now the bottom of your sock, you'll need to jig it a bit, but divide these 32 stitches up between two needles, whilst having the other 32 stitches on one needle. This is so you are keeping your pattern stitches and sole stitches separately, and makes decreasing at the toe stage easier!<br /><br />Go back to your working yarn (A) and carry on knitting as follows<br /><br />Needle 1 k16<br />Needle 2 k15, P1<br />Needle 3 Repeat rows as established in leg section<br /><br />Repeat until desired foot length is reached (for my size 6 (US9) feet, this was 36rows)<br /><br />Switch to colour B and start decreases for toes, continue until 28 stitches remain and graft toes using Kitchener stitch<br /><br />Now for the heel. Lets call in the expert with pictures, the <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2007/12/28/an_afterthought.html">Yarn Harlot </a>(in this she didn't use waste yarn and cuts the the yarn where she wants the heel, that scares me slightly and my waste yarn bit works just as well!)<br /><br />Basically, you unpick your waste yarn, catching the now live stitches on two needles (one top one bottom) and then using colour B, you knit another toe! I decrease as for a toe until I had 30 stitches remaining and then grafted together.<br /><br />Weave in ends, make another to match, and you are done!<br /><br />Even now there are things I would change about the sock I did, the purl stitch on needle two is to seperate the pattern from the foot, if I thought about it more, I would have jigged the pattern round so it looked better, but thats hind sight etc<br /><br />I do feel I could have written this a touch better, but if you come across any problems, please give me a shout and I'll do my best to help as much as I can.<br /><br /><br />Naturally this is a free pattern, and you are free to use it for your own personal use, but you are not allowed to sell any finished items, or distribute the pattern without prior permission or crediting the work to my self!<br /><br /></div></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-38357615252457892802009-10-09T19:41:00.013+01:002011-02-07T19:50:04.956+00:00The Neala HoodMy second pattern! So as soon as I'd finished my Riverbanks, Neala decided she wanted one her self. Which brought out my creative skills again! Well I can't help it lol I do have another pattern in the works but that will have to wait!<br />So I give you....<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Neala Hood<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/StBbWXg-vjI/AAAAAAAAAL8/pxa4g5u7GGU/s1600-h/neala+hood.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/StBbWXg-vjI/AAAAAAAAAL8/pxa4g5u7GGU/s400/neala+hood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390909193790078514" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/badges/redirect?p=the-neala-hood"><img src="http://api.ravelry.com/badges/projects?p=the-neala-hood&t=.gif" style="border: medium none;" /></a><br /><br /></div>This is designed to fit a 4/5 year old child, tho I did try it on my 6 year old and it fit him too, so it will fit a few, best thing is to try it on the recipient as you go along!<br />Download a PDF version of the pattern <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/dls/bex-bagot-designs/57561?filename=The_Neala_Hood.pdf">here</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You will need:</span><br />100g Sirdar Click Chunky in Bloom<br /><br />4.5mm 24inch circs (yes I know this is small for the yarn, it give a nice dense fabric and is actually quite a nice feel!)<br /><br />1 Stitch marker<br /><br />Tapestry needle<br /><br />Spare circ for grafting<br /><br />4.5mm Crochet hook (optional)<br /><br />Gauge er... well I tend to knit loose, so if you are a tight knitter go up a needle size lol<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Pattern:</span><br /><br />Cast on 80 stitches, place marker, join in the round, careful not to twist<br /><br />Row 1 Knit<br /><br />Row 2 Purl<br /><br />Row 3 K2tog 3 times, K1 (YO K1) 6 times, K2tog 3 times, K1<br /><br />Row 4 Knit<br /><br />Repeat these 4 rows twice more (3 times in total)<br /><br />Knit until piece measure 5inches from the cast on (from the bottom of a wave if you catch my drift lol)<br /><br />Cast off 24 stitches and knit to the end of the row<br /><br />You'll now be working the piece flat<br /><br />Row 1 K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, purl to last 5 stitches, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1<br /><br />Row 2 K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, knit to last 5 stitches, K1 P1, K1, P1, K1<br /><br />Repeat these two rows until the piece measures 14inches in total from cast on edge<br /><br />Place 28 stitches on a spare circ and graft the two sides together using Kitchener stitch<br /><br />Weave in your ends and you are done!<br /><br />For the sake of looking neat, on the cast off edge, I did two rows of double crochet (american single) with a 4.5 hook, to stop the edge from curling over and used a couple of stitches to attach it to the sides of the hood but this is entirely optional and purely for aesthetic reasons, if you don't mind the curling edge then leave it!<br /><br />If there are any problems in the pattern or you have any questions, give me a shout and I'll do my best to sort it out!<br />Hope you enjoy the pattern!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Naturally this is a free pattern, and you are free to use it for your own personal use, but you are not allowed to sell any finished items, or distribute the pattern without prior permission or crediting the work to my self!Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-436829049959675532009-10-06T15:57:00.006+01:002009-10-06T16:46:13.227+01:00Must be time for another blog post!Well at least I'm consistent with being infrequent! Its not too bad at the moment, one a month isn't a sin I'm sure!<br />I've actually been quite busy recently, I finished my wollmeise clapotis (which is going to be the subject of another blog post when I've actually taken decent photos of it, watch this space!), started another one involving beads (I swear its going to be worth it, even if it is lace weight and I have to stop every few stitches..) and done a bit of crochet for birthday pressies and my self, and done a pattern from the new <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall09/index.php">Knitty</a>!<br />The crochet first! Every few days I get one of those emails from Knitting Daily, most of the time I give it a cursory look over as mainly its patterns they are trying to sell, but some times it contains free patterns and useful hints and tips. <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/34128.aspx">This</a> pattern caught my eye. Hmm stripy! And I decided I must give it ago, and made one for my lovely friend Kirsty for her birthday.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SsteO356K3I/AAAAAAAAAKc/qghYc0SKS04/s1600-h/100_2064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SsteO356K3I/AAAAAAAAAKc/qghYc0SKS04/s400/100_2064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389504988696947570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">I never go hiking with out my knitting bag made in Patons sorbet<br /><br /></span></div>I really enjoyed doing it, and me being me and having a slight bag fetish, I stared at my sorbet yarn, wondering what colour combo to use, until it occurred to me, didn't have to follow their stripe pattern (yeah some times I'm not that quick off the mark!) and using the general bag construction, I made this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SstePRdqnuI/AAAAAAAAAKk/AydKwwojacA/s1600-h/100_2066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SstePRdqnuI/AAAAAAAAAKk/AydKwwojacA/s400/100_2066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389504995557809890" border="0" /></a>I love it, its so cool and cute at the same time! And of course, the perfect size for an on the go knitting project (tho currently it holds my beaded clapotis for safe keeping!)<br /><br />I mentioned knitting some thing from the new Knitty, now its not often I see some thing and I think omg I have to knit that right now this moment, but this one really inspired me!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SstgAuA4zZI/AAAAAAAAAKs/JHoRvZH7yu8/s1600-h/100_2079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SstgAuA4zZI/AAAAAAAAAKs/JHoRvZH7yu8/s400/100_2079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389506944546950546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Riverbanks from Knitty, in Noro vintage.<br />(and please meet my new model Martin hehe)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SstgBB_ODGI/AAAAAAAAAK0/6WmME0e9H-c/s1600-h/100_2082.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SstgBB_ODGI/AAAAAAAAAK0/6WmME0e9H-c/s400/100_2082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389506949908663394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SstgBsBBQ5I/AAAAAAAAAK8/2Y1SHH6BaRQ/s1600-h/100_2081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SstgBsBBQ5I/AAAAAAAAAK8/2Y1SHH6BaRQ/s400/100_2081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389506961190503314" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Callum wanted a go too..</span><br /></div>The Riverbanks from Knitty just really made me want to knit it, it was just the idea of it, its basically a cowl with a hood, but it just looked so unique. Of course, I didn't do it in the same colours as the one on Knitty but I did use the same yarn, Noro Vintage, and despite a few usual Noro hiccups of knots and an entire colour missing from one place, it feels really nice and I'm glad I went with it.<br />A word about the pattern tho, the way it is written on Knitty is that you start with a provisional cast on and start on the upper neck and go back and do the bottom later, which is a huge faff, and ultimately pointless, luckily I had a look at other project on Ravelry before I started mine and noticed people mentioning not doing it the way it was written, so I took a closer look, and if you swap the two row patterns from the lower neck around and cast on the 78 stitches and knit those two rows, it makes no difference to the over all look, and saves much messing around later! Can't argue with that! My only problem is that Neala wants one, so I've got to work on scaling it down for her. I'm too good to my kids..<br /><br />Oh oh and I've been fiddling with some script and came up with my finished object gallery! Check it out! Tis very cool :-D (obviously if you are viewing this from Facebook, you'll have to come and visit my actual blog to see it ;-) )<br /></div></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-54948821005358922832009-09-08T15:43:00.004+01:002009-09-08T16:22:52.149+01:00Crafting spaceGrowing up, I had a room to my self several times on and off, being one of 3, some times I shared a room with my sister, some times I had a room to my self, for a while, all three of us slept together! But naturally I never really had the chance to make it my own. Now I find my self as an adult with a very large room with a view, I can do as I please with it!<br />The room is very me, its full of little bits, trinkets, parts of my life, I recently had to hide a few things away after splitting up from Dave (his choice, not mine, and not a choice I would have made) and looking at these things just hurt to see, thats a problem of making the room part of my life I guess!<br />Thankfully it acts more as my little sanctuary, and because I'm such a crafty little soul, it looks like one big work room as well!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SqZvyhFPNQI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ZVxdqKCp-E4/s1600-h/100_1988.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SqZvyhFPNQI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ZVxdqKCp-E4/s400/100_1988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379109718605116674" border="0" /></a><br />This is the main part of the room, all my gorgeous (mainly) sock and lace yarn is crammed in to the ikea shelves, when I bought them I had no idea I'd be eventually filling it! It does act as a bit awe inspiring tho, I like to sit on my couch and just stare some times, alot of the time I'll reach out and stroke a bit of yarn sticking out and it has been inspirational too!<br />Naturally you notice the overflowing box of fibre next to the shelves, I've been meaning to either get a bigger box, or at least another one to try and contain it, but so far I just add to the top of it, I do attempt to spin alot of it, looking at the table at the front of the picture, thats all the yarn I spun during the tour de fleece, that I haven't managed to make room for yet (back to the more boxes talk..) its catching no harm there in the mean time!<br />Another thing is I tend to have my finished objects lying around, my stripey star on the couch, my blue jeans shawl on the arm, you can't see it very well but my cherry clapotis is on the footstool on the left, well what else am I supposed to do with them lol<br />Its just a nice area, I like it very much.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SqZxSILkTbI/AAAAAAAAAKU/4XQMvUymDk4/s1600-h/100_1989.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SqZxSILkTbI/AAAAAAAAAKU/4XQMvUymDk4/s400/100_1989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379111361188220338" border="0" /></a><br />I suppose you could call this the main focal point of the room, its the first thing you see when you walk in my door, my shelves with some of my fav books on there, cds, knitting needles, my sheepy money tin, Sims house and of course my knitting books! Its a strange arrangement I know, but it looks nice and nothing falls off the ends!<br />Underneath is my coat hooks, currently housing my booga bag, my general little knitting bag (complete with domiknitrix badge) and my woolfest bag, plus a few coats that just adorn my wall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SqZvzt9u2EI/AAAAAAAAAKE/_Z2M3cPPtMc/s1600-h/100_1991.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SqZvzt9u2EI/AAAAAAAAAKE/_Z2M3cPPtMc/s400/100_1991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379109739243165762" border="0" /></a><br />Ah my bed, best place in the world! Before you ask, yes I've read all the books in that pile, I just keep adding to it instead of putting away, naughty!<br />But as you can see, the yarn is spreading here as well, I have two of the same size tubs that holds my fibre full to the brim with assorted yarn underneath there, one is my "cheap" yarn and the other is the yarn that doesn't fit on my shelves, or assorted odd balls, great for quick projects type yarn! Also you see my blocking boards (need more of them £4 from tesco..) my sewing box and yarn that I haven't put in a box. I will do one day..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SqZvz7rUYWI/AAAAAAAAAKM/K9rd4aSLGIA/s1600-h/100_1992.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/SqZvz7rUYWI/AAAAAAAAAKM/K9rd4aSLGIA/s400/100_1992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379109742924030306" border="0" /></a><br />And finally, just to make sure every part of my room is crafty, this is where my swift and ball winder live! Teddies on the rocking chair I've had since I was a dot and they are looking after my Forest canopy shawl. I've actually tided the table up a bit as I've got several labels and yarn ends lying around on it, plus it could do with a dust! Its in a good place as I plonk my self down on the end of the bed and wind till my heart is content!<br /><br />So that was a brief whistle stop tour of my room! You really needed to see all that didn't you lol Well I think you can indulge me, I'm going through a very rough time at the moment, as I mentioned before I split up from my partner of 5 years which was extremely distressing, it wasn't through choice, and I wish it didn't have to be this way, but I don't have any choice but to live with whats happened. Daft thing is I still love him very much and the thought of starting all over again with some one else fills me with a cold horror. We have resolved to remain close friends, and I'm hoping that means more than the occasional chat on msn!<br />I'll be ok eventually, we actually spoke for the first time properly since it happened, and it made me feel alot better, probably more than he realises!<br />Oops I'm now going personal on my knitting blog, well I guess as long as I don't make a habit out of it! In the mean time, send love!Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-88775808449338290242009-07-27T10:42:00.002+01:002009-07-27T10:53:36.795+01:00Tour de Fleece finale!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/Sm13YcK9wII/AAAAAAAAAJM/kVP3llgTmzE/s1600-h/Spinning1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_obtCe2MiZbc/Sm13YcK9wII/AAAAAAAAAJM/kVP3llgTmzE/s400/Spinning1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363073993030877314" border="0" /></a><br />Not bad for some one who flaked out half way thru!<br />Yes I did manage my final yarn, it was being plyed as Mark Cavandish crossed the finish line to win his 6th stage of the tour (Go Mark!) and was all done and dusted as Alberto did his speech on the podium.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/madriggie/3758021369/" title="100_1852 by madriggie, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3512/3758021369_91e2733cdb.jpg" alt="100_1852" height="375" width="500" /></a></center><br />I love this alpaca silk, it bloody sheds every where, but is really soft! Still got a 50g bag left that I've yet to spin but felt I'd done enough with it (plus I was getting tired of scrapping hairs off every thing).<br /><br />So what am I going to do with all my newly spun yarn? Well with my shiney purple one (the fyberspates alpaca silk or at least thats what I think it is!) I see a pair of gloves with that, the jacobs humbug isn't really next to skin wearable so that will prob make a nice little bag, as for the rest of it, well it looks nice of my shelf for now, I'll think of some thing!<br />Now what to spin next...Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-6285739867771687432009-07-25T11:29:00.002+01:002009-07-25T11:40:58.786+01:00So we had a bit of a TDF fail...I tried! Honest I did, that pesky thing called life got in the way during week two, I felt like I didn't sit still for 5 mins and then this week, I felt "guilty" for not spinning last week and just didn't get round to doing much, but having said that, I'm pretty happy with what I've achieved over all, it wasn't about doing the most, it was about creating lovely yarn and to me, I've done just that!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/madriggie/3753971679/" title="100_1847 by madriggie, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3451/3753971679_cd4ea1f90d.jpg" alt="100_1847" height="375" width="500" /></a></center><br /><br />This is all that I've spun and finished, my fav has got to be the bottom one, the shine is just wonderful! My second fav is the one in the middle, as when it is knit up, it will have a complete colour change which will be cool!<br /><br />I have got one, possible two yarns I could finish by tomorrow, the one on my spindle from the previous post and this one<br /><br /><center><<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/madriggie/3753971853/" title="100_1851 by madriggie, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/3753971853_11daf7228c.jpg" alt="100_1851" height="375" width="500" /></a></center><br /><br />Which is a natural alpaca and silk, its really nice to spin with, but the alpaca hairs get every where! Does not help when I wear predominately black... But I'm hoping I can get in a last minute push and finish this yarn (and maybe the other one!) in time for the race finish tomorrow!<br />Watch this space..Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719221308872559617.post-73995803401443461782009-07-11T19:00:00.002+01:002009-07-11T19:37:46.524+01:00Tour De Fleece Day 8More progress!<br />Was no point posting yesterday as it would have looked the same as day 6, so left it till today, it was worth it I think!<br /><br />So I finished the yarn I was working on, I was rather pleased with it!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/madriggie/3709759983/" title="100_1800 by madriggie, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2668/3709759983_3453c23317.jpg" alt="100_1800" height="375" width="500" /></a></center><br />Started my next lot!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/madriggie/3621924562/" title="100_1706 by madriggie, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2425/3621924562_72ce813001.jpg" alt="100_1706" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/madriggie/3710571340/" title="100_1803 by madriggie, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2469/3710571340_359156a61e.jpg" alt="100_1803" height="375" width="500" /></a></center><br />Then I considered tomorrow and realised I'm going to be out for most of the day seeing as its Callums birthday, so if I want to spin, I need it portable! Enter my trusted spindle and some of the unprocessed naturally dyed yarn I got from woolfest (idea being its supposed to look rustic so I don't have to be as precise!)<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/madriggie/3710571432/" title="100_1804 by madriggie, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3423/3710571432_a8910d4ae8.jpg" alt="100_1804" height="500" width="375" /></a></center><br />How much I actually get done tomorrow remains to be seen, but at least I will have done some thing and kept up spinning roll!Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919088414683243620noreply@blogger.com0