Creating Memories

Hippy happypotamous

This was the second of only two crochet projects I made in 2016 and this is the ONLY photo I have of it! Oh boy this was such fun to make. It was so exciting to watch it take shape from his back legs to the tip of the nose. The join as you go is the only way to make this, in my opinion, I would have been totally fed up after making all the 'flowers' to then have to join it up.

So here are the details:
The pattern was bought off Ravelry. There is also a rhino, giraffe, some dinosaurs and many many more. Such wonderful creations.
The pattern is very comprehensive with wonderful diagrams and detailed instructions. A lot of work has gone into writing them.
I used oddments of Scheepjes sunkissed and cotton 8.
And a 2.5mm crochet hook. You want it to be tight so the stuffing doesn't come out.

My only tip for this project is to really squeeze and 'play' with the toy before sewing in the last piece. I found that the stuffing shrank slightly and I had to unpick to stuff more in. I also didn't stuff his back legs and shoulders enough so he wasn't a good shape. After the work it took to make him, it was worth making sure he looked like a hippo!

He was a gift for my cousins little boy and I had a real job to parcel him up as I just wanted him for me :)

C xx

Nordic Wind Shawl Voila

This was the last project I completed in 2016. And perhaps my favourite.....no wait there were too many lovely makes to have just one favourite. But this is really one of the best. Maybe it's the colour. I do love a bit of grey!

Lets talk details:
The pattern is Nordic Wind by Cabinfour which I bought off Ravelry.
Made with Lettlopi, I used colours black heather, dark grey heather, light ash heather and ash heather.
I knitted until I ran out of each colour, thankfully I didn't need to play yarn roulette as it was obvious when I wouldn't have enough for another row.
I used a 5.5mm 32 inch ADDI premium circular needle. Definitely my favourite shawl needle.

This is a great addition to my wardrobe! A wear with anything item. And an item worn so much already in 2017.

C xx

Good vibes voila

Aaah hello good vibes shawl, how lovely you are! Another gorgeous creation from Nadia at NCL Knits. This shawl took me a while to finish thanks to a broken needle half way through and Christmas knits that took priority. Although I was itching to get it done, and I'm so glad that I did manage to finish it in 2016.

So here are some details:
I used BFL singles by The Uncommon Thread in colours Seascape and Chrome, a skein of each.
ADDI Premium circular needle size 4mm. This wasn't the needle I started with but I am slowly changing all my circs to ADDI. They are amazing!
The pattern is easy to follow but I do recommend reading it through including the abbreviations before you start. I thankfully didn't make a mistake with the short row turns, but I think that was pure luck and it could have gone wrong!
Another tip with this pattern is to write out and mark off the rows, especially if you swop and change between projects. I found it easy to put down and pick up because I knew exactly where I was in the pattern.

It blocked beautifully and is a perfect addition to my wardrobe.

Thanks for visiting and sharing my yarn journey!

C xx

A Whispering Island Gift

I think this could be my favourite knit when it comes to shawls. The Whispering Island Shawl by Helen Stewart is just a pleasure to knit. There is nothing over complicating in the pattern however that doesn't mean the result is anything but wonderful. I made this shawl in grey for myself in 2015 and when I was looking for a gift idea for my cousin this popped into my head straight away. I used Blacker Yarns again, in the most wonderful shade of red. For me the colour is most accurate in the last photo, but your screen may be different.

So a few details for you:
The pattern, as stated in my other post, is so well written with a handy tick list of rows and % of how far you are. The percentage is calculated on the total number of stitches not rows, which is so clever.
I used a 5.5mm needle (up on the pattern recommendation)
This took 5 balls of yarn.
Because of the change in needle size it is a bit 'drapier' than my original one.

It was tough to wrap it up and gift for Christmas!

C xx

 

The perfect knitting/crochet planner

Disclaimer: Links to sites I used are at the bottom of the post and are not affiliate. All opinions are my own.

My quest to find the perfect knitting/crochet journal has been a long one. I started with the My Knitting Journal which has lots of information pages (that didn't really apply as I was just doing crochet) and some project planner pages. With the addition of ball bands and yarn sample cards it swelled to bursting point and I had to tear out most of the information pages to make room. It's also quite big so didn't live in my project bag/basket and I kept forgetting to use it!
Then I tried a plain note book which I divided into sections for 'future projects, 'project pages', 'tools lists' etc, but was quickly frustrated at the confines of a bound book. 

When I started my Carpe Diem Planner journey last year I thought that I could perhaps incorporate a knitting/crochet journal but despite my best efforts I couldn't seem to make them gel. 

One day while looking though Instagram I came across a photograph from Webster's Pages. Now I see their posts as I follow them, but this one image jumped out at me and I knew their personal size planner was just what I needed. I managed to find one at Crafting.co.uk for £8.00! It's a 2015 starter kit but at £8.00 I really couldn't pass it up!

I was so excited for the planner to arrive and when it did I was not dissapointed. It's very nicely presented in a sturdy box with velum cover, that made me giggle.....hello pretty planner!
Although I had planned to swap out most of the inserts that come with the planner I've decided to keep them in and see if I can use them. I wasn't sure if the divider tabs would work either but actually they're really sturdy so it makes sense to keep them too.
I had read some mixed reviews about the quality and build of the planners but Webster's must have addressed these and made some improvements as I can't really fault it. The only one negative I have is that the pages aren't punched very well so they are stuck together, but it's a minor issue and at £8.00........goodness I really can't believe I got such a great bargain!!

I couldn't find stock of the 2016 Websters diary inserts in the UK (although I will probaby try harder to find them later in the  year to have them for 2017!) so I bought a few printables from PrintablePineapple on Etsy. The month on 2 pages is great for keeping track of what i'm making and gives me an idea of completion time when I blog a finished object. I also bought the 9 in 1 listmania package and have used all except the 2 grocery lists, although I'm sure i'll make use of them at some point! I love that there are 3 different blank list formats, which I have already used to keep track of sock yarn colour combos!

Misstiina has some really cute free printable journal cards and I printed loads for this planner and my CD planner.

I'm still looking for the perfect 'project page' and if I could get my head around designing my own I would. If you're a whizz on the old PC and fancy a collaboration, please shout!

As with the Carpe Diem planner, this one will evolve and change as I make it work for me, so keep an eye out for a update later in the spring. I'm so looking forward to popping it in my project bag :)

Ciao xx

Misstiina

Wendaful

PrintablePineapple

Webster's Pages

My Knitting Journal

Crafting.co.uk

Already making progress

I love a basket of yarn!

My TO MAKE list has changed shape since I last reviewed it on the 6th of January. I thought it was a good idea to add some structure to the order I want to make things in, taking into account the change of season.
This nice, neatly ordered plan went swiftly in the bin when it came to selecting my next project. You see even though I have a nice neat TO MAKE list, I may not be inspired to make the next thing on it. I might still need to work out what i'm in the mood to make at the time.
And you would think that with such a long list I would be inspired by a few, eh? Well no, nope, not at all. In fact I sat in my craft room um'ing and ahh'ing for a good 45 minutes! Taking a project bag out it's storage box, stroking the yarn for 5 minutes then putting it back. Deciding that the pattern I chose for my cardigan isn't quite right and I need to look again. Thinking that I really must get Stuart to choose a pattern and colour for his jumper/cardigan so I can buy the yarn. Wondering if making lap blankets is the best use of yarn after all.

Oh the messy ponderings of a yarn crafter. Anyway here is what the list looks like now. Did you notice I added one two things at the bottom!

Lap blanket - in Debbie Bliss and Rowan hand knit cotton. The pattern for this is from an out of print book, and is beautiful knitted squares with cable detail and intarsia. Had the yarn for ages!! Lots of learning on this blanket! ON THE NEEDLES
Beanie/hat - For me using what's left of my merino/possum blend New Zealand yarn. Using this pattern inspired by the one Soulemama made with yarn from her own sheep. (How frickin cool is that!) (have yarn, need a short circular needle)
Cardigan/Jumper for darling husband - Looking for a pattern on Brooklyn Tweed. I am longing to use their beautiful yarns. (need to buy yarn and pattern)
Granny poncho - in Scheepjes invicta extra. Going to make this poncho with squares, just need to find the right square. (have yarn)
Lap blanket - stylish squares pattern in Debbie Bliss baby cash yarn, dark grey. (have yarn)
Lap Blanket - Willow block from Jan Eatons 200 crochet blocks book in Origins Lait yarn. (have yarn)
Yolk pleat top - this one from Debbie Bliss. I have done it in pink and have the yarn to do a grey one. (have yarn)
Pebble Beach shawl - In yellow, for me, for summer. (have yarn)
Cardigan - Artesano Alpaca yarn, looking at this pattern. (have yarn)
Little Cotton Rabbits - I bought the boy cat pattern. (need yarn, although I have so many odds that i'm sure I have everything I need!)
Posie Gets Cosy rabbit - From kit which I bought a few years back. (have everything to make this)

Besides dear husbands cardigan/jumper, I really don't need to buy yarn for at least a year. Shit did I just say that out loud!

I've created a page (see the side bar) to keep a running list of projects completed (but not necessarily started) in 2016. I love to see FINISHED next to a project but I really can't keep them on my TO MAKE list. And it's going to be a great reference at the end of the year.

Ciao xx

My TO MAKE list update

My TO MAKE list is ever evolving, and this is how it stands right now.

Lap blanket -  stylish squares pattern in Debbie Bliss baby cash yarn, dark grey.
Lap Blanket - Willow block from Jan Eatons 200 crochet blocks book in Origins Lait yarn.
Cardigan - Artesano Alpaca yarn, looking at this pattern.
Yolk pleat top - this one from Debbie Bliss. I have done it in pink and have the yarn to do a grey one.
Lap blanket - in Debbie Bliss and Rowan hand knit cotton. The pattern for this comes out of an out of print book, and is beautiful knitted squares with cable detail and intarsia. Had the yarn for ages!! Lots of learning on this blanket!
Granny poncho - in Scheepjes invicta extra. Going to make this poncho with squares, just need to find the right square.
Rosewater Shawl - This one from Ravelry. I bought yarn for it at Festiwool, from the Native Yarns stall. ON THE NEEDLES
Cardigan/Jumper for darling husband - Looking for a pattern on Brooklyn Tweed. I am longing to use their beautiful yarns.
Cowl - No pattern found yet and not sure if I want to knit or crochet. The yarn, also bought at Festiwool is from Ananuca, and is delicious.
Pebble Beach shawl - In yellow, for me, for summer.

Of course I needed a holiday project so that grey yarn above came with me to Cape Town for another South Bay Shawl. I can't ever be too far away from a bit of yarn

No doubt I will have more to add to it after my South African yarn shopping!

Ciao xx