A good start

What a productive couple of days I have had. Its amazing what affect a New Year can have on my spirits.  I have finally  finished the hitchhiker scarf. I realised looking at my blog that I started it on 1st December, so I set myself a challenge to finish it before the end of the year, which I did.   Its very warm and I like it, though you wouldnt think it looking at the serious expression on my face!

Ive also started crocheting a  blanket.  I took advantage of the Drops Alpaca sale with 25% off, and topped up my stash of alpaca.

Love this wool, Love the colours, yummy. 

Im doing this pattern and these are my colours. A bright centre, light middle section, just using one colour (wasnt sure how that would work) and the blue/grey outer. Its a nice pattern, but I am finding it awkward joining the pieces as you go, its handling the weight of the blanket as I work it pulls on my crochet hook.

 Ive started already, thought I would make up a small group to see if the colours worked etc. Im happy with it, but its going to be along time in the making.    

 Ive worked out to make a blanket the size I want, I will need 11 more of these blocks of 24 squares, equalling  288 squares. 1 block like the above a month to finish in time for next Christmas, thats quite a commitment, hope I can achieve it.  Ive been doing my sums to find out if Ive enough wool, as I wast using the same ply wool as the pattern. Its so complicated working out the amount, there must be easy way. Its the main blue that I am most bothered about, I need to have all the same dyelots.  Ive weighed what Ivd used and I think I will need another 2 balls.

On the sewing front Ive shortened a pair of trousers, for a friend, that had been sitting around since before Christmas.  One of those projects the longer you leave it the more you dont want to do it. I also altered the 2 garments I wasnt happy with from my 2013 makes (pictures to follow)  So yes a good start to 2014.  Now I need a portable knitting project to carry around in my handbag something simple and small.  I must pop over to Ravelry.  

Cheerio   

 

Fuzzy Socks

Hello all, the 1st December here at No. 23 means Christmas advent decorations.  So the calendar is up and a few the other decorations adorn the room for the countdown to Christmas

Santa's waiting patiently  to make his journey down the chimney

The advent candle's waiting to be lit...
But as I look outside, the sun is out and the sky is blue, all is calm its a beautiful day. 
   

Looking outside Its hard to imagine we are approaching Christmas and Milly is running around the garden like a spring lamb

Now I couldnt have achieved these photos with my old camera, Milly is a fast mover.

The fire was lit and  DH and myself  made homemade bread. For a change my mixture was spot on, the bread was soft and fluffy, however  DHs mixture didnt turn out as good. Normally he makes excellent bread. I ordered some presents on the internet, and a did abit of knitting.

The Christmas bed socks for DD are completed. Oh how I wish there was a way you could all touch these lovely socks, they truly are incredibly soft and fuzzy. The wool was bought in a local charity shop, vintage Jaegar Angora Spun.

The pattern which is on Ravelry had a lacy panel but I couldnt see it because of the pile, so I left them plain. I didnt find this pattern easy to follow, too little information, I do like it when a pattern states how many stitches you should have left after decreasing,  just minor points like that, that were omitted.

So onto the scarf. After knitting such soft wool this sock wool feels like rope, I assure you it isnt. It is a great little pattern easy to knit. Im so enjoying knitting this scarf, its so different, and the colours in the wool are not disappointing me. Ive completed 15 points, the pattern says I should be able to make 40 with my 100gms.  I had to go onto 3.25mm needles as my tension was too tight, it will be interesting to see how many I get from my ball.

 As the day closes, the candle is lit,  and the knitting beckons.  

Hope you had an enjoyable Sunday

Something to smile about

 Firstly, I feel like Snoopy  as the hospital discharged me.

 What great news. Outcome... I still dont have all the answers because my scans didnt reveal anything. and it could happen again. Well Thats life, and onto something that fills my my heart with happiness.  Creating

This ball of wool, is calling me.  Its saying  "Knit me, Knit me," but I must resist as I still havent quite finished my second sock yet.
Its my own fault, I blame myself entirely   I have been drooling over my wool stash, looking over patterns and now I have made a decision I cant wait to start.  So let me tell you more. I shall be using this lovely sock wool. Such lovely soft colours. Its  Opal Vincent van Gogh  "The Trinquetaille Bridge"  sock wool. A range of yarns based on Van Gogh's paintings

 

I am going to knit a scarf with it.  The pattern is called hitchhiker  on Ravelry. 

It sounds so intriguing and fun. You start with just 2 stitches and you keep increasing to a certain point then stop when you run out of wool or when you have had enough.  How good is that, no panic of running out of wool (unless its not as long as you would have liked) The result being either a cowl or long scarf.  I have a 100gm ball so we shall see how far we get with it, this should be interesting.  
Do you get excited at the prospect of starting a new project be it a pattern or a piece of fabric just waiting to be cut into.  Part of the reason I am always thinking ahead with projects, especially knitting  is to spur me onto finishing whats on the needles, Im a slow knitter, sewing is so much quicker.  
I  only have one knitting project on the go at a time, it would be fatal starting something new.  
I wasnt always like this.  When I first started dressmaking  in my teens I remember having lots of bags of unfinished pieces, probably when I had either gone wrong or couldnt understand the pattern. They used to be stashed away behind my Mums sofa.  She did complain about them. Of course back then in the 70s there was no internet for research, tutorials so I just trundled along.
    
So readers do you knit or sew one piece at a time? Are you forever planning the next project, or do you have lots of projects on the go at once, and if so do they get finished? 
  

Yummy Buns

The other day something short of a little miracle happened.  I baked a perfect bun.  Now I can make fat-less sponge cakes, muffins  but not a Victoria Sponge mixture they always come out flat or peaky.  So much so I have given up trying. But the other day I tried once more using a recipe my friends mother uses, her cakes are wonderful so it was worth the try. Recipe -  Weigh the eggs, whatever they weigh use the same of margarine, flour and sugar (I put in a little less sugar.)  So I tried it and it worked. Boy am I proud. Soft fluffy cakes, Yummy 



Sadly my sewing mojo has disappeared just like the buns, and the needles are clicking away as I sit by the fire keeping warm. Our house is over 150 years old its cold and drafty.  No doubt after Christmas with thoughts of Spring I will return to the sewing table, hopefully sooner.

So I have finished one bed sock for dd, hopefully a Christmas present. The sock had a pattern but it wasnt visible due to the fuzziness of the wool, so I knitted in stocking stitch instead.  I am struggling with the second piece.  This always occurs  once I have completed one, which is why I love knitting 2 at once but I chose to knit these on sets of fours for a change.  Tomorrow I  have a follow up hospital appointment to find out why I was admitted to hospital in the Summer (hopefully they will have answers)  Its a long journey, probably long waits so I will take the knitting and hope I can make an impression on the sock.  I seem to be spending  too much time browsing ravelry for patterns and looking at my over flowing stash of wool, Im  so longing to start something new and exciting.    




Lastly, a fresh tablecloth and some dried flowers are making me smile at the moment. Given to me by one of our Mustard Seed customers.  I only know this as Honesty.  These paper thin white leaves catch the light from the french doors giving them a  lovely silver glow. Very pretty.

100 posts so let's celebrate with chocolate.. Of course

This is my 100th post. 
In all honesty I am surprised I got this far. At times I wondered if I was writing to myself, and sometimes I thought of giving up, especially when I had writers block. So lets celebrate with chocolate........


and one of my favourites. It so reminds me of Christmas Selection boxes and Easter Eggs.
Yummy!!




The top I made for my "garment a month challenge" is the exact colour of the foil paper on a Cadbury's chocolate bar  and its shiny too!! 

This is made from a piece of fabric that was left over sitting in my stash. I didnt  originally choose this fabric. My daughters choice when I made her a dress a few years ago, but it is a beautiful clear purple and polka dots are always a hit with me.  
The pattern is Butterick 5890.     
I had just enough to make  the shorter version minus the collar. (c)  I also omitted the front seam (why have a seam down the front, to me unsightly).
Do I like it?   Yes I do. Though I dont shy away from colour its very shiny, which I am not used to.  I think I just need to get used to it. I would have preferred the longer version which suits me better but there wasnt enough fabric  This top will give a good splash of colour under a cardigan for autumn/spring.     

The pattern says use a  22" zip.  I just dont see why you need such a long zip on this pattern. I can easily get this top on and off without undoing the zip. Even the  previous version I made which was more fitted I can manage with a zip half that length. 


There is plenty of room in it but it is rising up at the front which gives me the impression it needs to be bigger in the bust. No doubt I will make this again and will correct that next time.  I also made the neckline a little bit deeper as I dont like high round necks on me.  Overall I am happy with it and it will be a good addition to my pinks and greys that I wear a lot of.

A while back I mentioned I was thinking of upgrading my camera. Well I am so pleased to tell you that we have finally got a dlsr.  I have been eyeing these up for sometime.  Its a  Nikon D3100, its a beginner dlsr, I should be able to manage that. I love it, the pics are so much clearer. I need to get a tripod and case ordered for it.  So excited :-)  

We went to visit the in laws this week and took them to Lincoln. Of course I was clicking away like a tourist, considering it was late October when these pictures were taken the weather was incredibly warm, we didnt even wear coats.

I also mentioned that I wanted to finish dh socks , and yes (hooray!)  they are complete.  They were ribbed throughout so they were very time consuming.  At hubbies request he wanted them as long as possible, these socks go on forever.

Left: blue ribbed socks  Right:  daughters socks, made earlier in the year.  Both made from drops fabel sock wool, just different patterns in their wool.  I love their wool and have never been disappointed with the quality, and such a good price, especially when they have offers on. Do check them out.   Christmas pressies,  Dont they look lovely.


With the days getting colder and shorter, I find I struggle to  dressmake on a regular basis.  I am more likely to be sat curled up by the wood burner knitting.  I will still try to complete my challenge a month project.  In the stash is some vintage green wool crepe which will make a nice warm dress.  Just need to choose a pattern.  

On the knitting needles  at the moment is some vintage Jaeger angora Spun.  £2.00 from a charity shop.  A pair of bed socks for my daughter, who feels the cold all year round.  A lovely royal blue, this wool is so incredibly soft and fuzzy. I am so going to enjoy knitting this wool, I may not want to part with them.

Whats on your needles or sewing table at the moment. 

busy fingers

My faithful Bernina has been sat quietly taking a little holiday, I dont know about you but I just cannot concentrate on my sewing jobs in hand when it is half term and there are people around the house.  Of course it doesnt help that I am working downstairs and I dont have my little corner of the house to work from. 

My fingers have been busy though and I am so pleased with myself that I have finally managed to get to grips with knitting 2 socks at once on a circular needle.  I found how to with this video  from good old youtube.

I didnt use this ladies casting on technique but just followed the same proceedure.    To begin with it is very fiddly and it didnt help that the wool was the same colour as my needle, especially when keeping 2 balls of wool in order, as the rows increase it gets easier to work with.  I did have to work on one sock at a time when I got to turning the heel but later jiggled with them and put them back together.  Knitting 2 socks together is fantastic, because I kinda loose interest when I have seen the finished sock then have to start all over again. So working both together is ideal:->

Im on the home straight now. The wool I am using is Drops fabel, colour 330.  They have 30% off till the end of the month on this wool, so pop over and grab a bargain.  These are for my daughter, I shall put them away for that special time of the year when we give presents,C*******s.  Yes this girls starting early, because I love to give handmade presents, and I cant be raced.

  
Ive also taken delivery of 3 bridesmaid dresses that need altering, (when people know you sew, this always happens) for a wedding we are attending in August. Bought over the internet, Two ladies strapless dresses which at present have just 2 small pieces of boning to give support!! I have now put 6 boning channels all around one of them (the bridesmaid has tried it on and it feels and looks so much better) it just need taking up.  The second dress also needs shortening, boning and it fits on her back but big on the front bodice, so I am hoping I can just take the front bodice in on the sides. The material is not easy to work with so I am trying to do minimal altering, fingers crossed it works.   The child's white ballerina dress needs the sash anchoring and pleating, and it was easier to unpick the bodice and start again to make it smaller, the smaller size dress was too short.  These have taken priority over my own dressmaking. As you can imagine I want to get these finished and delivered, I am quite clumsy and accident prone,  so the sooner I return them the happier I will be.    


                                  

Its been a while

 Well what can I say time just flies by, 2012 is in its twilight years.  But I have been a busy girl.  My dressmaking has taken a back seat, as I have been busy creating Ch*****as pressies.  Forward planning but still too early for me to say that word yet.  

Slippers for my friend

A hat for DD using up leftover wool, first attempt at fair isle, really enjoyed making this.  Pattern  peerie flooers on Ravelry, will definitely make another.  Socks another first attempt.  These are also for DD  the colours go lovely with her Dr. Martins that Santa will bring!!

My other news is that I have been preparing my bears for their visit to the Art & Rose Art & Rose Gallery.  I had to make a return trip with some presentation  boxes that I also made, of course I cannot just make a simple box, and have to complicate matters. By the time Id made the fourth one I was regretting my design.  They did turn out very well though.  They went up for sale at the weekend when they had an exhibition, for their 1st year anniversary.  Im really pleased to say that two bears have been sold and are making there journey to pastures new.  So Exciting!!

Knitting Mitts

Many thanks for the comments on  the old back, it  seems to come and go.  After a visit to the docs  he was a young and very thorough student doctor who kept looking in his book,  (not reassuring).  I came away with no conclusion,  feeling 101 and told to take lots of painkillers.!!!

Mustard Seeds the small cafe I volunteer at  had a makeover, over the Christmas peiod.  How it shines.  We continue to go from strength to strength.  I thought I would share some photos.

This beautiful original fire looks wonderful

We sell a wide range of fancy coffees with free biscuits and toasted teacakes

My long awaited deliveries arrived.  Yippee!!!  The printer is marvellous, I have been printing off lots of free knitting patterns from Ravelry and Garnstudio, getting me motivated, including this one

The wool I am using is Lima  wool, which came with my other wool.  They are  for my mother in law.  I have altered the patterned throughout as I thought the hearts and pattern were lost in each other abit,  Im very pleased so far,  but I think I need to use shorter needles if Im to do some more of these.

Not bad for a first attempt at stranded work

This is the wool for my sons cardigan, its so soft.

 actual colour Royal blue

I know I harp on about Drops wool but it is such good value, Im not an acrylic fan at all, but wool can be quite costly.  The Drops range is very reasonable and good quality, please check it out, Id love your opinion and recommendation if you've used any of their range, Im always on the look-out for quality wool at the right price, so any links would be appreciated.

Ive also been bidding on Ebay again.  As usual I am never lucky with Ebay, and this recent win wasnt without its hiccups, but Im drawn to Ebay  like a wasp to an open jam jar.  I shall show and tell you more when my new baby arrives!!