Squishy, Squishy Cables

Can't believe Sunday has come by again! Well, this week I have two projects to show you, so lets get started :)

When I added my Swirling Gauntlets project onto my YOP list, I didn't think I'd ever get round (also translated: "be bothered") to finish them. Amazingly, though, I did finish them!!

Left Gauntlet

Swirling Gauntlets is a cabled fingerless gloves pattern by Susanna IC (zuzusus on Ravelry). Rizzle asked for a pair in Dark Blue, so I chose to knit them with James C. Brett Top Value DK in Royal Blue. I knitted the left gauntlet up very quickly, but things started to go badly wrong on the cable section of the right gauntlet, and that is how they came to be a hidden WIP.

Fast forward 9 months and here we are. A couple of days ago, when I had nothing to knit, I decided it was time to stop procrastinating and just get them finished! I had to completely frog the right gauntlet as there was no way I could work out where I had started to go wrong. After a lot of squash, wine gums and a few episodes of Larkrise to Candleford (I'm slowly working my way through the series, onto series 4 now!) the right gauntlet was finished.

Right Gauntlet

So, that's my fifth finished YOP project! I'm pretty pleased with that :)

Now, onto the best knit, A Very Braidy Cowl by Maryse Roudier. I fell in love with this cowl at the first glance. What was even better was that I had the perfect yarn for it - Lion Cashmere Blend by Lion Brand in Dusty Blue. Michelle was having a stash clearout (cannot understand how people do that!) and very kindly gave me four skeins of this delicious yarn. I used one skein for Mother's Irish Hiking Armwarmers, so that left me with three squishy skeins. 

I knitted this squishy cowl over the course of a day, and I can tell you it was such a fun knit. I decided not to do the provisional cast on, and then graft the two ends. Instead I decided to seam it, next time though I will give the grafting a try. 

All I can say is that this my favourite ever knit. Yes, I was proud of my first pair of socks, and I'm rather jealous of Abby's Blanket, but this Braidy Cowl beats them all. 

The cashmere makes it incredibly soft,and the merino makes it lovely and work, basically it's the perfect neck cuddler (cowl). 

And for a change, here I am modeling my knits rather than Rizzle! 

Yarn is darker than in this and the following photograph

So, that wraps up this weeks post. The yarn for Mother's Seven Seas blanket arrived this afternoon (think it got misdelivered to one of my neighbours at first), so come back tomorrow to see my yarn choices :)

Toodlepip! x

For more Year of Projects posts, either head on over to the Come Blog-a-Long group on Ravelry, or search 'YOP1213' on Google.

Black Horse & the Cherry Tree

I've had the Swirl Hat by Mandie Harrington in my queue for well over a year now, so when I was compiling my Year of Projects list for this year, I decided that it was finally time to knit the Swirl Hat and added it to the list.

I'd ordered the yarn for Mother's humongous blanket/throw thing that will eat me alive, on Wednesday evening, so as usual I was expecting it to be sent the next day and I'd receive it sometime on Friday (because the only option is First Class on Deramores, so you expect First Class delivery)... but it never turned up. The needles that I'd ordered from eBay, had arrived, just no yarn. So last night I was without a project, and you know I can never sit still without my knitting, as a result I decided to cast on a small project, and that small project was the Swirl Hat.

I'd already made my eldest niece, Tilly, a fair isle hat for this winter, which left her little sister, Daisy, without one. I didn't like the idea of knitting this in one colour, as I thought it would fall quite flat and feel one dimensional. So for this particular knit, I knew I wanted to be rather daring with my colour choices, which meant that pastels were completely out of the question. A quick hunt through my stash produced a ball of black DK. Now, I rarely ever see black used in baby knits, which made it quite a risk, but one I was willing to take. I decided to team it up with Raspberry Special DK (which seems like a never-ending skein of yarn!).

I knitted the 2x2 rib brim in black, and the body of the hat in Raspberry. The body of the hat only consists of  a one row repeat, making it a quick knit! When I was finished it felt as if it needed a little extra something, so I had a look through previous projects of the Swirl Hat and came across ashleybobbi who added a bow to her's. I stole the idea and whipped up a bow in black, to match the rim of the hat.

Without further ado, here is Daisy's Swirl Hat!

The colours for this hat remind me of the song, Black Horse & the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall, so that is why both the project and post have a rather strange title!

I have put the directions for the bow on my Ravelry project page, if you are interested :)

That's another YOP project ticked off the list, wahoo! Come back tomorrow for not one, but two more finished YOP knits :D 

If you want to find out more about Year of Projects, head on over to the Ravelry group, Come Blog-a-Long, where I am a moderator :) There you can also find more finished projects, but if you're not on Ravelry type YOP1213 into Google to find YOP blog posts :D

An Unblocked Cowl and a Finished Fair Isle Hat!

I was out all day last Sunday, so didn't get chance to blog about my finished Origami Cowl! I had about an inch of yarn left after I'd casted off, so don't have enough to sew the hem back like I was hoping to. I tried popping it on as soon as I'd finished, but couldn't get it on! So, yes, definitely needs blocking. I haven't had chance to do so yet, so here it is unblocked:

I'm not a big fan of it I have to say, but Rizzle loves it so perhaps it'll be going her way! You were all in love with the yarn I used, and made a point of telling me that I should knit something I love with it. But, what I neglected to tell you was that I have 2 skeins! So I can make myself something I absolutely love. I'm not sure what they'll be yet, perhaps another cowl, or mittens... the possibilities are endlesss! 

Hopefully next week I'll be able to model the blocked version for you, but we'll just have to see what this coming week has in store for me!

After I casted off the cowl, I was in need of a quick evening knit, so scrolled through my YOP list and found the pattern Scrappy Gems Fair Isle Hat by Tina Edgar. I decided to make it for my niece Tilly, who has just started school. The yarn I chose was Stylecraft Special Double Knit in Plum, Pale Rose & Pomegranate. If you've been reading my blog posts over the past week you'll remember me using them for Abby's Blanket & Molly's Scarf & Mittens set. 

I read through project notes for this pattern, and I noticed a trend of people mentioning that the hat turned out a smaller size than they cast on for. So I chose to play it safe and cast on for an adult hat, hoping it would turn out child-size, otherwise Rizzle gets her mitts on another hat!

Normally I'm not a fan of doing colourwork but I love doing Fair Isle. I find it quite therapeutic. About four hours later I casted off, it turned out Tilly size - woo! 

I reaaaaaally enjoyed knitting this hat, and the pattern is perfect for a quick knit to add to the present bundles I give to those expecting bubbas! One day in the future I'd like to edit the pattern so that it comes out as a slouchy beanie as I think Rizzle would love very cute in a blue ombre one!

So there we go, not one, but two projects to tick off on my YOP List! I can't decide what to knit next, either  the Very Braidy Cowl or, the Scallop Lace Hat. Decisions decisions!

To find more Year of Projects: Year 2! posts, search Google for 'YOP1213' or, head on over to the Ravelry Group and check out the 'October 28th - November 3rd' thread.

Knit One, Purple Two

I've been telling you that I'll be showing you my Jacket with Moss Stitch Bands and Moss Stitch Shoes for weeks now, and today I can finally show it to you (I've had to delay it until I gave them to Sara as she reads my blog)!

I bought Baby Knits for Beginners by Debbie Bliss as not only was my sister pregnant with her little girl, Daisy, at the time, but I also wanted a simple introduction to knitted garments. Which is exactly what I got. The two patterns that really stood out to me was the Jacket with Moss Stitch Bands & the Moss (seed) Stitch Shoes. So, I decided to add them to my Year of Projects list. And now I can officially say, they are finished!!

First up is the Moss Stitch Shoes. My normal go-to Baby Booties pattern is Baby Booties by Aneeta Patel, so I decided to go for something that requires some 'real' knitting. I chose to knit these booties in Peter Pan DK by Wendy, in the Purple (3003) colourway. The yarn is 60% Acrylic and 40% Nylon, so it's perfect for banging in the wash which is just want you need for baby knits. The yarn is plied with sparkly thread, which adds a bit of depth to the yarn. (If you remember, I used the yarn to make Abby's Faye Purse) Really nice to knit with, and will definitely buy it again in the future.

So, onto the pattern. It was pretty simple, I did have to learn a new technique called KFB (Knit Front Back) which is going to be really useful for the future. They knitted up really quickly, the only problem I had with them was the sewing up.... As you know, I am not known for my sewing up skills. But, I persevered and managed to create something slightly resembling a shoe.

I probably won't knit them ever again, but at least I took a stab at it.

So, I've saved the best 'til last. I am so proud with this one, I must admit. It is my first ever garment, and the pattern is called Jacket with Moss Stitch Bands. I stared at the pattern for a while, and thought I would never be able to knit it. But, once I started knitting it everything made sense. Which just proves that I shouldn't just give up simply because I 'think' I can't do something, I need to give it a go first.

I used Heart Buttons, which also had little Daisy's on them.

So for the cardigan, I used Peter Pan DK by Wendy, in the Purple (3003) colourway. The cardigan is really simple, just stocking stitch with moss stitch on the right and left hand side. Thanks to this pattern, I learnt how to pick up & knit properly. I'm not sure what I was doing prefer, but it was definitely wrong. Now, though, I can do it well, which just adds to the 'proper finish' that all us knitters are after.

We went to tea at my sister's house on Friday, so I took my little knitted gifts with me. Sara & I did a trade, I gave her Daisy's presents and she gave me home-made peanut butter cups (which were amazing). Which I thought was very fair.

My gorgeous niece, Daisy. 

I was really worried that it'd be too small (she has just turned 6 months, so I knitted her the 6-9 months size), or that the sleeves would fall off, or something awful like that. But, not only did Daisy look adorable, it fitted and nothing fell off in the process of putting it on. Hooray!

So now I can put a line through those two projects on my new Year of Projects page, I just have to decide what to knit next. I have had a fiddle round with my list, added and changed a couple of patterns. So feel free to have a look at my new and shiny list, and pop a suggestion on what I should knit next!!

For now though, head on over to the Year of Projects group for this weeks finishes. Enjoy the rest of your weekend folks!

P.S, thanks to my best friend Abby from Virtual Stitch, for coming up with the post title. Bagwoman to the rescue once again, saving the blogging world from bad blog titles. You rock dude ;) 

À La Mode

Yesterday I was trying to keep calm and carry on knitting. I decided to make some changes to my Year of Projects list, and I am really pleased I did. Goodpurlgonebad managed to sum it up in just one sentence, she said: "I agree too that changing one's mind is generally a good thing and the range of projects will mean that you'll always have something that appeals to cast on."

After writing that post I dived straight for my Yarn Box and pulled out a skein of Peter Pan DK by Wendy that I was given a few months ago by my Nan (come back on Saturday to see my yarn I've procured over the past couple of months, and what I plan to do with it). It's lovely and sparkly, and just the right shade of purple for my gorgeous niece, Daisy.

I'm knitting Moss Stitch Shoes by Debbie Bliss, the pattern is from the book Baby Knits for Beginners, by Debbie Bliss. I am planning on making the Jacket with Moss Stitch Bands in the same yarn as the booties, as soon as I can.


The yarn is nice to work with, very soft and it just glides across the needles. I had to unravel it once or twice due to increasing the wrong way, and it the yarn became very fuzzy, and the sparkly thread ( I think it is) came away from the yarn and kept getting in the way when I was knitting. But other than that, the yarn has been good. I will definitely use it again, and good job really as I have another 5 skeins in purple, and 6 skeins of white!


The pattern is pretty simple to do, had a bit of trouble of increasing 'in pattern' but after a couple of tries I've got the hang of it now. I was meant to use 2.75mm needles for the booties, but as our dear Daisy is growing very fast (as baby's seem to do) by the time I'm finished with these and the cardi (hopefully give them at the same time) she'll be able to wear the pair I am making with 3.5mm needles.

Unfortunately it lacks in instructions for sewing up the shoe, so I am going to beg for help from my Mum and all you lovely Ravelers. Hopefully on Sunday you'll find something that slightly resembles a shoe! 

Well, thats all for now. I'm going to try and get my TV Aerial working as I wait for Super Mario Galaxy to arrive. Woohoo!

For more crafty posts, head over to Tami's WIP Wednesday! 

Keep Calm and Carry On Knitting

While on my blogging break I was mulling over my Year of Projects choices. I had initially decided to knit my way through the book Mug Hugs by Alison Howard.

I've been thinking about this for a little while now, and I have decided to scrap my first list and start afresh. I am not in any way saying that Alison's book is a disappointment, it is very good and I'm pleased I bought it. The reason for changing my mind is that I'd like a bit of variety, and a smaller list. You may think, Mug Hugs oh pish posh. I could knit them in my sleep. And I'm sure you could, but I have found some of them too difficult and beyond my skill level for the moment.

In the future I would like to work my way through the book, but for now I would like to have a go at something a little easier.

For my new list, I have a few easier knits but I also have some that will demand not only my full attention but some new skills as well. I want to not only come out of this... 'experience' with some lovely projects, but I would like to come away with new skills that I can use in the future.

So, here is my shiny new list. It isn't particularly long, but that is due to the fact that it is January and I have only 6 months to go until the end of the project. I may add some more projects if I feel I can manage it, but for now I think this list will do me just fine. I will talk more about the patterns when I start knitting them, as I don't want this post to be too long and boring for you all.

In no particular order, here are my Year of Projects! (Or 6 Months of Projects, should I say?)

Moss Stitch Shoes by Debbie Bliss

Jacket with Moss Stitch Bands by Debbie Bliss

Emanelle by Nancy Ricci (completed - see here)

Lazy Days by  Val Pierce (Not yet on the Ravelry Database)

Tuck Stitch Helmet by Sirdar (Not yet on the Ravelry Database)

Beanie Hat by Kirstie McLeod

Monarch Shawl by Denise

Abyssal by Karen and Karyn

Honey Bear by Norma Cambell (read all about my history with my bear Henry, here)

© Helsbels3

I am excited about this new list, I  I'm going to cast on the swatch for the Moss Stitch Shoes this afternoon. I hope they look half as good as Helsbels3 pair!

If you would like to see more Year of Project posts, type YOP11-12 into Google, or head over to the Come-Blog-a-Long group on Ravelry.

Definitely An Accidental Knitter

You know how my blog is called 'An Accidental Knitter'? Well I am about to live up to that name.

About two weeks ago, before I went to stay with friends, I made my Aunt and Cousin a Mug Hug each from the book, Mug Hugs (Cozy). I made On the Edge and Waffle Weave. 

The Waffle Weave Mug Hug was a lot of fun to make. To set the pattern, you simply slip stitches. So on the first two rows, you knit with yellow, knit one slip one etc, a little different for row two, then on row three you swap the colour blue (carrying the yarn to the back, as if you were doing fair isle) and do the same. 

Simples!

Once you get the hang of it of course. It took quite a while to knit, an entire day in fact. But by the end, it looked fabulous, and I was really proud of myself.

Here is where the 'Accidental Knitter' part appears.

After making both the Waffle Weave and On the Edge Hugs, I packed them away in Mum's Suitcase, forgetting to take a photograph of them for my blog. Now there somewhere in the North of England, and I'm unable to get a picture of them.

*Ahem*

As I didn't photograph it, I felt as if I was cheating if I counted it towards my year of projects. So, I quickly knitted up another On the Edge Mug Hug! 

It's a really easy knit, and was a great way to ease myself into a Year of Projects. Instead of a button hole, you simply cast off, and join the two ends together at the top and the bottom! It makes it a lot easier to keep the Hug on the Mug, even if it is a little awkward to get on in the first place.

The post doesn't end here my friends, oh no, I have another Mug Hug to show you!

After I finished my Cable Bag on Friday, I found myself with two lovely, squishy skeins of Sugar N Cream Stripes: Modern. A quick flick through my book, and it was finally decided that I should try my needles at the Tiny Tags hug.

Making the button hole was a new learning curve for me, to make it you cast off three stitches in the middle of your row, then the row after cast the stitches back on. It was certainly a different technique, but not one I like to be perfectly honest. After you make the hole, your left with a big line of yarn in the middle, which will make it rather difficult to squeeze the button through.

Despite all the negativity though, it does look rather funky! 

I love how the yarn has pooled, and I think the 'tags' are really neat idea! Here is a closer look:

I'm looking forward to seeing the green come into the mix, and even though I'm not an avid tea/coffee/hot liquid drinker, I might keep it for myself!

So that wraps up my Year of Projects post for this week, if you'd like to see some more posts you can search for them on Google by typing in YOP11-12, or heading over to the Come Blog-A-Long group on Ravelry!

Have a good one! :) 

A Year of Projects

Beautiful graphic by Sarah from Crafts from the Cwtch

A Year of Projects was started by the wonderful Keri over at When Did I Become a Knitter. As the name suggests, all those involved pick a certain amount of patterns either from a book, magazine or Ravelry queue that they believe they'll be able to knit in a year, and blog about the highs and lows of knitting a certain number of projects in a fixed amount of time. If you'd like to find out more, head on over to the group on Ravelry called Come Blog-a-Long, we'd love to have you join us!

It was a real struggle to choose my Year of Projects, as there are so many aspects to take into account. Time, Money, Skill, whether I'm up to learning a new craft (like crochet!) etc. It took me a while to decide whether to use a book or make my own list, but after encouragement from the lovely Tink, I decided to work my way through the book Mug Hugs by Alison Howard.

There are 30 gorgeous projects in the book, which means I need to do 2 and a half Mug Hugs every month. Here is the complete list (in no particular order)! (click each one to see what they look like)

1. Simple Snug
2. On the Edge
3. Stripes
4. Bits and Bobs
5. Moss
6. Fits any Size
7. Tiny Tags
8. Frothy Coffee
9. Waffle Weave
10. Sideways Cable
11. Herringbone Cable
12. Eyelets and Ribbon
13. Tutu Frilling
14. Ears of Corn
15. Butterflies
16. First Base
17. Random Rib
18. Mistake Rib
19. Daisy Stitch
20. Cream and Coffee
21. Bluebells
22. Tulips
23. Rainbow
24. Culture Smock
25. Getting Personal
26. With Love
27. Llama
28. Regular or Grande
29. Felted (never felted before, so that shall be interesting!)
30. Big Bucks

As I'm not going to need 30 Mug Hugs (although I'm sure my family will protest), every month or so I will have a give-away!

Check back next Sunday for my first YOP post, have a great weekend everyone!