Tunes on Tuesday: Crazy Little Thing Called Love

In my attempt to start blogging daily, I am starting a brand new meme, or theme, on my blog. Every Tuesday I am going to click shuffle on my iPod (he's called Bertie - not that I'm completely insane for naming my iPod) and whatever song pops up, I must write about what that song title or lyrics makes me think of in regards to knitting. 

So this week, Bertie has chosen 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' by Michael Bublé. For me, this song instantly makes me think of my love for knitting.

At first, like all great relationships, I hated it. I thought it was silly, and would giggle if anyone under the age of 40 mentioned that they knitted. Then, when I developed M.E, I started looking into things that would help me pass the time. One evening, I was watching a documentary on pain. Throughout the programme I noticed that a few of those suffering with chronic pain were knitting. This was not commented on during the programme, so I decided to take it upon myself to try knitting as pain therapy.

Fortunately, my Mum had needles and yarn at the ready and she attempted to teach me to knit. I say attempted as I have no natural talent for crafts, or creative things for that matter, at all. I couldn't even put the needle through the yarn to make a stitch, I was that awful. I stuck with it though, repeating the famous Teletubbie line of 'Again, Again!'

I finally managed to get the hang of it, and a few hours later I found myself with my first square.  Those few hours I spent teaching myself to knit, was the most fun I'd had in a while, frustrating and stressful at times, but still fun.

That was the day I fell in love with knitting, and my love has never wavered since.

D is for... Drawing

For all those who don't know, both my Grandmother and Mum are artists, and very good ones at that. Despite art playing a big role in my life as I've grown up, I have never been able to draw like the rest of my family. I've tried, and tried but to no avail. 

Since getting into knitting, I have had the urge to start drawing again. It must be my creative juices flowing. So today, I thought I would share with you some of my drawings. Most of them are drawn, then scanned into the computer and I make them into cartoons. Don't laugh too hard though, you don't want to give yourself a stomach ache.

Click on the pictures to make them bigger. If you dare.

Toytown

Arnold

Blinky

Hatty

Do you like green eggs and ham ,  Sam I Am?

Darla

Once the giggling has subsided, head on over to the other ABC bloggers, and check out what they believe D is really for.

Roll Up - Roll Up!

I have to say, I have been pretty lame this week when it comes to blogging. I do apologise. Not only was my ABC post up late, but I didn't even write a WIPW post. All I can say is, I am very ashamed. And it won't happen again.

A couple of posts ago, I spoke about my attempt to blog daily. Well, after considering all the time I am going to need to spend on planning posts, preparing (e.g photographs, research etc) and actually writing the posts, I'm not going to have much time for the thing that this blog is all about. Knitting. So, after taking all this into consideration, I have decided to just blog through the weekdays. Of course, I may (like today) blog at the weekend, to share an update or tell you an hilarious story, but normally, the weekends will be blog free.

As you already know, on a Monday I blog my way through the alphabet, on Wednesday I write about my current Works-in-Progress and on Fridays, I show off my latest finished objects. So that leaves Tuesdays and Thursdays free. Well, not anymore.

Announcing 'Tunes on Tuesday with An Accidental Knitter'. Every Tuesday I let my trusty iTouch Bertie, choose a song through Shuffle mode. When the song appears, I have to think about how the title or lyrics of the song apply to the world of knitting and crochet. For example, the first post is entitled 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', and the post is based on the song 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' by Michael Bublé. This song made me think about my love of knitting, so that is what I am writing about. 

If you would also like to take part in Tunes on Tuesday, please leave a comment below, and if there is enough good response, I will make it into a meme like WIPW or FO Friday.

If you  haven't already heard through Ravelry, Thursday Chat is where every Thursday I interview a Knitting or Crochet blogger/pattern designer/shop owner. It has received some brilliant response so far, I'm not currently looking for any more people to interview (I have enough until October - yikes!) but if you fit the criteria and would like to be interviewed in the future, please leave a comment on this thread on Ravelry. Thank you!

Both of these items are starting this coming week, so don't forget to come and pay a visit!

C is for... Cables

I want to apologise for this post not being up on Monday. My life has been crazily busy the last couple of days. Been setting up websites, having sleepovers, being poorly and of course, knitting.

This week, is all about Cables. Soft, squishy, gorgeous cables. Big ones, small ones, I'll take them however they come. It had always been my goal to learn how to cable, and in May of this year I finally taught myself.

Learning to cable has opened so many knitted doors to me, its unbelievable. Cable hats, cable mittens, cable mug hugs, cable jumpers, the list could go on and on.

In this post, I thought I would share with you the patterns I really love, and that maybe one day, I'll be able to have a go at.

The first pattern I absolutely adore is Fetching by Cheryl Niamath. Fetching is a beautiful Fingerless Gloves pattern which was published in the Knitty.com Summer 2006 issue.

The second patten on my cable queue is the stunning Sixteen Cable Hat by Circé Belles Boucles. I don't normally like hats, but this one is gorgeous. As the patten calls for Aran weight yarn, it will not only be a stunner to look at but it will also be really warm to wear, making it great for the cold English winters.

I've always been into vest tops, but so far don't own any. My first vest top though, I have decided, is going to be hand-knitted by myself. There are so many gorgeous patterns out there, but to be honest, this has to be one of my all time favourites.

The pattern is Catriona by Debbie Bliss. The cables are simply divine in this pattern, and the red certainly shows them off brilliantly. The pattern is rated hard, but for the end result, it is definitely worth the effort.

I'm attempting my first pair of socks next week, and so I have been spending a lot of time looking at sock patterns. My favourite cable pait that I have found, is the uber funky Circle Socks by Anne Campbell. If and when I learn to knit these socks, I doubt I'll knit anything else.

So that is my, rather short, Learn Your ABC post for this week. Check back next week when 'D is for... Deadlines'. To check out more 'C' posts, click on the links in the Mr. Linky below! 

FO Friday: Running Late

I'm sorry I'm late to the party everyone - but I brought chips and dip!

This week I've stuck to small projects, as I've been busy writing, thrashing my mates at Mario Kart (20-1, who said girls were lame at driving?!) and being sick. Not that I'm giving you excuses or anything...

So this week I have four items to show you. Small, yes, but finished objects nonetheless.

The first is a pair of mittens for my friend Jo, who just had her first child, a beautiful baby girl called Emelia. I thought I would knit little Em her first Hat, Booties & Mittens. The two latter are done, and the hat is ready to be sewn up. So I will be able to give them to Jo on Sunday as planned, HURRAH!

Second, Third AND Fourth are mug hugs. Groan if you will, but I am practising knitting them, as hopefully in the summer I'll be able to start selling them! (Well, I need some income for my yarn addiction, don't I?)

The first one I'd like to show you is the cable mug hug I started last week. I finally finished on Wednesday, while watching Megamind for the upteenth time. I love it. It's so soft and squishy. And because the cables are so thick, it means the tea stays extra hot. Perfect.

My second mug hug is actually another trial run for the pattern I made, just to check it wasn't a fluke. Fortunately it worked out fine. If you would like to try the Simple Mug Hug out for yourself, you can download the pattern for free on Ravely. 

Lastly, is my favourite mug hug of all. It's called Spring Burst. It was initally made for my Mum, but as I write this I'm thinking of giving it to my older sister Sara. Hopefully Mum isn't too emotinally attached yet. This was again using my pattern, all I did was change the colour every 9 rows. 

The colours are so bright and happy, perfect to cheer you up in the morning!

Thought a contrasting button would work well - and it does!

So that's my post for today, hope you weren't too bored. Check back on Monday, where 'C is for... Cables'. Don't miss out!

Wip Wednesday: Busy, Busy, Busy!

This week is manic. And as usual its all self-imposed stress. Yesterday I brainstormed a million ideas for my blog, and have now decided on 4 new weekly post themes, which will mean that in a few weeks I will be blogging daily! Yikes! Heres a little title teaser, for my eventual blogging week:

ABC Monday, Tunes on Tuesday, WIP Wednesday, Thursday Chat, FO Friday, Speechless Saturday and finally, Dinner with the Knits (Which will be on Sunday!). 

So this weeks WIP post will be relatively short as I have to get a lot of posts written, very quickly! I hope you understand, but I promise you its all worth it :)

So this week I haven't had much done in the way of knitting, I'm still waiting to get the 3.25mm needles I need to finish the cable mug hug I've been working on, so at the moment thats hidden away in my knitting bag, waiting to see the light of day. I think we're off to Argos later this afternoon though, so hopefully I'll get it done in time for Friday! 

On my 5mm needles I have the purple baby hat I've been putting off for the past month.

The pattern is from the book Knitty Gritty: Knitting For The Absolute Beginner, and it is incredibly simple. It isn't knitting up as quick I'd like, but thats probably because I've been spending my time on planning rather than knitting. Shameless. I'm hoping to have the hat done by Saturday, so I can wrap it all up and give it away on Sunday. Well thats the plan, I doubt it will happen.

Last Friday I gave you a little teaser of the baby blanket I'm making for my sister. Here it is in all it's glory!

The pattern is from the book More Blankets and Throws, and it is incredibly simple! The Zig-Zag is made from just knit and purl, no confusing yo, k2tog, p2tog, nonsense! I'm using a light pink baby DK yarn, and it is nice and soft to work with. I've done 4 squares so far, and I reckon I'll need about 16 all together.

Fortunately the baby isn't due until September, so I have plenty of time to knit it :) I am thinking of lining the other side so that is lovely on soft on the skin on both sides, as sometimes the WS of blankets can be a bit rough. Luckily my Mum is a sewing whizz, so help is always at hand!

So that's my post for today, hope it wasn't too painful for ya! Check back on Friday to see some more finished projects I've been saving :D

B is for... Blogging

Today I thought I would share with you my favourite blogs. Before I start I would like to say that there are loads of blogs out there which I love, but if I were to list all 50 this post would be a good mile long. So this post is simply for my top blogs. The  blogs I can't live without, the ones that make me wake up in the morning and say 'I wonder if ... has posted today?'.

The first blog I thought I would share with you is Damn, Knit & Blast It. Susan's blog was the first knitting blog I had ever encountered. She's funny, has a gorgeous cat and is a knitting legend. I mean, look at those cables! It was thanks to Susan that I started my very own blog, and hopefully one day I will inspire someone else to start their own public ramblings. 

I have no idea how I came across Stitched Together, but boy am I glad I did. Like myself, Chrissy suffers  with daily pain and she is such an inspiration! She knits beautiful items, one of my favourite being The Recovery Sweater (if you're not in love with that colour green, something is seriously wrong with you!). She is so positive and encouraging, and can you believe it, she follows my blog! (I actually clapped when I found out... talk about starstruck!) She also introduced me to the next blog on my list.

If you've visited my blog before, you'll have heard about Tami's Amis and Other Creations. The wonderful Tami is the creator and hostess of WIP Wednesday and FO Friday, two memes I couldn't live without. If that isn't enough for you, she is a knitting supreme (take a look at Roger, and the first sock she ever made. If that doesn't yell 'SKILLZ' what else will?) and also runs an amazing shop called Candy Skein. Which I could just sit and stare at all day!

Lastly but certainly not least, is the Yarn Harlot. I think almost every knitter reads Stephanie's blog. I've heard people say it is 'over-rated' and people make 'too big a deal out of it'. For those who form such comments, they can't have read her blog properly. She is laugh out loud hilarious, is the writer we all inspire to be, knits like mad and takes gorgeous photographs. Oh, and did I mention she writes books, and hosts a little something called Sock Summit? 

So that wraps up my post for this weeks Learn Your ABC. If you would like to read some more 'B is for...' posts, simply click the links in the Mr.Linky below! Or, if you have written your own, submit the link to your B is for... post, overriding the link that Mr.Linky has saved. Please don't link to your blog's main page. Thanks :)

FO Friday: Finally!

I'm sure you're all well aware of the Blogger problems we've all had these past couple of days, but finally (!) Blogger stopped the tears and tantrums and allowed us to start blogging again :) I am afraid though that due to me not feeling well, and the urge to get this post up, this post will be relatively short.

So I only have one FO to share with you today (very embarrassed, yes but you will hear my excuses later), and that is the Zig-Zag Scarf.

After all those lovely comments y'all left me on Wednesday (I had 20 in all, but due to the blogger problems 12 of them were deleted, hopefully they'll be back) I sat down to an episode of ER got out my needles and knitted away.

While on the last two rows, I was wondering what I should cast on next. Should I wait for the Aran yarn and knit myself that Cable Bag I've been dreaming about for the past two weeks (yes, seriously) or should I start the matching hat? While I was contemplating these choices, thinking each one over and making a small but effective Pro/Con List in my head, my older sister rang. While on the phone to my Mother she explained that she would love me to knit her a pink baby blanket. I've not yet knitted a blanket so I quickly accepted the challenge. 

I speeded through the last two rows, just as I was about to cast-off I realised I'd made a mistake - doh! Fortunately I'd just slipped a stitch over, so it was easy repairable. A lesson was learnt though, I must watch what I'm doing.

Lesson learnt, I fixed the problem, cast off and here I am to tell the tale. Personally, I think Tilly will like it. Not love it, as I think the toys I'm slipping into the bag are going to steal the show, but like it nonetheless. But you don't want me to rattle on any longer, take a look for yourself!

As a thank you for all the encouragement and just plain loveliness you've all shown me these past few weeks, I thought I would give you a glimpse of the Baby Blanket. It is yet to have a code name, maybe you could give me a hand? (I've now on the third of the 16 squares required for the blanket since starting Wednesday Evening, hopefully I'l pick up the pace this weekend!)

It isn't as pale as that, but my camera won't behave itself.

Well, it looks like I was feeling well enough for a wordy post after all! But now I shall leave you, have a great weekend everyone :)

WIP Wednesday: Being Lazy

I've been rather lazy this week, in the way of knitting. Normally whenever there is an opportunity to knit, I grasp it with both needles. This week though, I've been taking my precious knitting time and using it on menial things like TV and the Internet. 

Things are going to change though, starting right now. So here we go.

After finishing Katy's Hat, I found myself with a nice sized ball of the meadow green yarn. I sat staring at it for a while before the perfect pattern popped into my head.

Celtic Plait from the book Knitted Mug Hugs (Twenty to Make) - Perfect!

I did have some problems with the straight cable needle I was using, but once I had a couple of rows under my belt it started behaving itself. I was very dubious about how the pattern was going to work out, but after I'd done the first two repeats it was all understood. And you could say I was in love.

Cable is officially my favourite stitch!

Katy, after seeing the mug hug, also fell in love and claimed it as her own. Which I think is a lovely compliment. 

My second WIP is another gift, this time though for my niece Tilly. I've decided to make her a gift bag, full of things a 3 year old will love and need. 

After frogging the Cable Project Bag I was knitting (due to me using DK instead of Aran, and the fact I didn't like the colour) I found myself with 2 skeins of Wisteria Double Knit Special . So after flicking through my Knitty Gritty: Knitting For The Absolute Beginner book I decided to cast on the Zig-Zag Scarf.  (Before doing this I did cast on for my Mum's mittens, but when I was 3/4 through one I realised I was using DK instead of Aran, so the mittens weren't warm, so I had to frog it) 

It is an incredibly simple scarf, so I'm knitting it up quite quickly. And the colour reminds me of grapes. Yum.

I've done 63cm of the required 80, so I think I'll get it finished today :) 

That's my post for today, so go and check out the rest of the wonderful WIP Wednesday posts! 

A is for... Ambition

Ambition. I have it and you have it. It provides the motivation and determination necessary to learn new skills and reach our goals in life. Some seek to be the best for the fame and the glory, honour and praise. Others to do it for power and superiority. Some just do it to inspire people. And then there are those who simply want to please themselves and their family.

I'm sure you're all wondering why on earth I am talking about ambition. Well its for one reason, and one reason only.

Knitting requires it.

As knitters we are always striving to knit the perfect gift for friends or family, something they'll love and cherish forever. We also aim to learn every stitch and technique under the sun - even if it takes us a lifetime.  Sometimes though we can be overambitious, such as taking on that ridiculous Shrug with ruffles from hell. 

And although during the process we may drive our other half's crazy and drive our family up the wall as we show them what we are knitting for the umpteenth time, they know we are just showing of our recent achievements to gain approval in some way. And when those magical words "I love it" are heard, we know we have hit a home run (and if you are anything like me, you proceed to knit 3 or 4 more), and our desire for perfection is complete. 

So, that kicks of 'Learn Your ABC'. If you'd like to check out the posts of other bloggers who are taking part, simply click on the names in the Mr.Linky. Or, if you have written a post, simply type your name into the box, and paste the link to your 'A is for...' post.

Have a great day everyone :)

EDIT:

Natalie is a little late to the party, but check out her post nonetheless! 

FO Friday: Hurray!

 

I'm sorry today's post is up so late but when you hear the excuse reason why, you'll cheer! (Well, my family cheered, you probably won't)

Katy's Hat is Finished!!

Yes, you heard me right. The meadow hat is finally done! This afternoon, after I finished sewing (you'll hear about that story next Friday, so stay tuned) I decided to knuckle down and finish the dang thing. 

It took me an hour and a half but I did it. I was knitting so quickly I was amazed that I didn't make any mistakes! 

You don't want to hear me yammer on about it, take a look for yourself!

I'm now a happy bunny.

Look at that Rib! o.0

And the best part is - She likes it! 

As you can tell, I'm pretty chuffed.

Now I must decide what I will cast-on next, Mittens for my Mum or Zig-Zag Scarf for my Niece? Looks like I'm going to need your help!

P.S

Before you pop off to check out the rest of today's Finished Objects over at Tami's, have a look at the new ABC Blogging meme I'm hosting, theres 16 of us taking part so far! 

Learn Your ABC - A New Meme

As you well know, I love taking part in memes. Especially Tami Klockau's WIP Wednesday and FO Friday. For the past week, I have been thinking about starting my own meme. After being inspired by Blogging Month (unable to find the link - sorry!). 

The idea behind the meme is this:

Every Monday, bloggers around the world write about a topic beginning with a letter of the alphabet (We will be doing this in order, so A for the first week, B for the second etc).

They can write about anything they want, as long as the topic begins with the letter of the alphabet for that week. As there are 26 letters in the alphabet, this meme will run for 26 weeks. (If it works and people enjoyed doing it, we can try it a second time!)The great thing about this meme, is that you can write the post in advance, and schedule it to be posted. 

The project will be starting on Monday the 9th May 2011, and the first letter is (obviously) A. 

My post will be entitled: 'A is for... Accessories'.

If you would like to take part, simply add your name, and blog URL to the Mr. Linky below. If you have any ideas about this meme, please leave a comment below! I would love to hear them :D

EDIT: The Mr.Linky is now closed. If you would like to take part, simply write your post for the right week, then post the link on the latest ABC Post. Click here to find the latest.

WIP Wednesday: Knitter's Travelling Syndrome

A couple of weeks ago, I told you about the meltdown I had over the hat I was knitting. It wasn't a proud moment for me. For days I have been looking guiltily at the frogged hat, wishing I hadn't got so upset. So yesterday, after giving myself a pep talk, I took out my 5mm needles, the meadow green yarn and cast on.

I am really pleased that I started it again. I've been really poorly the last couple of weeks, so it's nice to have a project which requires 18cm of GS before you have to even bat an eyelid at a pattern. Each row is 90 stitches, so I have only managed to do 8 rows of rib and 14 rows of GS so far (that's 1,980 stitches altogether). 

I think it's looking okay so far, I really am in love with that colour green. It is going to look absolutely fab on my sister. Lets just hope she likes it!

My second WIP is my Fingerless Wrist Warmers I blogged about last week. I intended to start them on the car trip last weekend but I found out I suffered from Knitter's Travelling Syndrome (KTS). It is a sad and debilitating disorder, where the sufferer is unable to knit while travelling due to motion sickness. This leaves the  sufferer upset and incredibly bored.

I managed to survive the 2 1/2 hour car trip by flicking through the radio channels. I managed to listen to the song Price Tag by Jessie J ft B.O.B, three consecutive times on three different radio channels. If I wasn't word perfect with it before, I certainly am now.

After a meal out, we headed back to our hotel and I finally managed to get started on the warmers. It wasn't much, but it was a start. Yesterday though, I managed to finish the first one. 

Excuse the cruddy photograph!

You can't really see on the photograph, but there is an extra eyelet on the left hand side of the warmer, which shouldn't be there! Once it is sown up though you shouldn't be able to notice it :)

So that's my WIPs for this week, if you'd like to see some more head over to Tami's blog! Tami has also opened the virtual doors to her new online shop, Candy Skein. I managed to have a look around yesterday, and within 5 minutes I had already seen to many things that I wanted needed! A couple of my favourites are:

Hand Dyed Worsted Weight Yarn - Green Apple. 

I have no idea what I would knit with it, but I want it!

Hand Dyed Worsted Weight Yarn - Cotton Candy Swirl. I've never described a yarn as yummy before, but this one certainly is!

Hand Dyed DK Weight Yarn - Blue Raspberry. 

I would love to make the Grace Lave Beret with this yarn.

Before I pop off to have my Pot Noodle (unhealthy I know, but so dang delicious!) I would like to say thank you to my best friend Abbie, without her wonderful exploding lemons joke this post would not have been possible.

P.S

I will be starting a new feature on my blog next Monday. So don't forget to come over and have a look!