Update: Where you can find me...

Hello!
Just thought I would let you know where you can find me now:

--> Instagram

--> Twitter

--> Facebook

I'm finding it easier to post on the go from these apps these days, so please hop over if you can and follow me there :-)

It's been fun blogging here - who knows, I may come back to it one day...

Big hugs!

Friday Link Love!

Happy Friday!
I know I'm a week late, but I promise it's worth the wait! Bumper links for you this month :-)

If you wonder where I post more, it's Instagram - but is what we see really as it seems?

When all seems lost - some good advice.

Paris banned cars for a day, and it was beautiful!

Speaking of beautiful - twinkle lights! If I could every room in my house would have them!

Something to make you smile - aren't these adorable?

Also, something to make you laugh - loved this post from Amber!

Knitting - we all know it's true!

Related: Franklin Habit tells the truth.

Apparently knitting is cool... but we all knew that already, right? 

November is time for cozy things - not sure I could commit to making anything like this though!

Finally - 50 Happy Little Things.


Have a great weekend!

WIP Wednesday (On a Thursday...)

Time seemed to get away from me yesterday, but a date late isn't that bad, right? Especially when I have lots to show you! :D

First up is progress on the squares - I've decided a 6x6 layout is best as it's a preemie blanket. I've only got 9 squares left to go... I'll be sad when they're done as they're so fun! (Pattern from Bella Coco)

I won't be at a loss for crochet squares for long though! The lovely Emily at The Loopy Stitch has asked me to test crochet her new cushion pattern and I couldn't be more excited! It's a lovely pattern with step-by-step photos to guide you along the way and the cushion is so pretty! I've chosen my yarns - what do you think?

Finally, some Christmas knitting! I can't believe it's time to start gift knitting again - where did this year go?
Not going to say much about this one... never know who reads the blog, after all! :P

I'm sensing a theme at the moment - all my projects are pink!!
Are there any colours you're gravitating towards at the moment?

WIP Wednesday: Colour Blocking

Despite the autumnal hues outside my window, I've not been able to shake off the pink and purple yarns in my project basket just yet!

I finished off the last of the preemie cardigans - love the purple almost as much of the pink! (I think I just like the ombre effect!)

This week's project is thanks to Bella Coco... I watched her tutorial and now I'm hooked! (Pun totally intended!)

I've been churning them out whilst watching TV in the evenings - perfect now the season is really in full swing! Nothing better than curling up with hot tea, a warm quilt and the latest WIP!

I feel a case of start-itis brewing though... Christmas will be here soon so there are presents to start, and walking to work in the morning is cold so I'm feeling the need for some fingerless mitts... Hmm... plenty of ideas brewing!

What's on your needles/hook at the moment?

WIP Wednesday: Sweet Obsession

I think I have a problem. A preemie sweater problem - I can't stop knitting them! I'm beginning to think Marianna's All-in-One Baby Top should come with a warning label...
After finishing the pink and lilac ones, I have now gone on to finish the pink ombre version...

...and because ombre is so fun, I maybe have started a purple one too!

I don't think I'll ever tire of this pattern! It may just become one of those patterns - you know the ones - that you go back to over and over and over again (a bit like my favourite hat). It's just so sweet!

Speaking of sweet things, I couldn't help but share a pic of the cupcakes I made this weekend:

Lemon cupcakes with lemon buttercream - yum! Usually October is full of dark, warm, fall colours, but I can't seem to shake the pretty pastels and brights, even in baking! Ah well - even if outside is beginning to get gloomy, at least my knitting won't be.

Hope you're all having a great week :)

WIP Wednesday: Pastel and Ombre

I'm on a good run with the knitting these days! Thanks to many evenings watching Once Upon A Time (which leaves things on a cliffhanger so you have to watch just one more episode!) I've been quite prolific. The above is the third preemie cardigan in just as many weeks. Starting to get more adventurous with colours - the above is going to be ombre pink!

(Pardon the quality of the photos - they were snapped quickly right before they were donated...)

This pattern is so quick and simple to knit, and I've almost got it memorised - I'll probably churn out a few more to go towards Knit-A-Soc's Christmas donation to the neonatal ward.

After that comes (dare I say it?) Christmas knitting! Only a few knitted gifts on the cards this year... I won't say what just yet, but I can show you the yarn for them...

Both are children's knits, so I've chosen some Sirdar Snuggly - lovely and soft, but still machine washable. Of course, I never work on just one project at a time, so I'm likely to cast on one or two winter warmers as well!

WIP Wednesday: Knits and Stitches

Thank you to everyone for the wonderful feedback on the RainbowRainbow shawlette! It's been so encouraging to know that it's been well received - I may even design more patterns! 

Well, it's cold season again, and I don't just mean the cooler temperatures! Unfortunately I've been battling a rather horrible cold - boo! However, all that resting time has meant that I've got some exciting new WIPs! Although I originally said I wanted to finish all my other works in progress first, there have been too much inspiration on Instagram and on blogs not to cast on a few new things.

One such project (inspired by the jumper knit by @onecraftymumma ) is this lovely all-in-one preemie jumper! I have been meaning to knit some preemie things for the Nottingham QMC for a while, and this pattern seemed perfect!

Also on the needles - some preemie hats!

Recently I've also diverged from my usual yarny path and taken up some hand-piecing... I've had a few patchwork projects on the go for several years now, and felt it was time for me to dig them out of hibernation! This bear paw block is the latest one to be worked on - I have been saving up pretty batik fabrics, but now it's time for some sewing!

Now, I know I probably have enough WIPs, as those in this post are not the only ones I have on the go. But I couldn't resist starting another...

This is the first block from a sampler that my mom designed, and my friend and I have both decided to make our own and we are calling them our friendship quilts!

So that's all that I'm working on at the moment! What's on your needles?

FO Friday: RainbowRainbow Shawlette (+ pattern release)

Introducing... the RainbowRainbow Shawlette!
This pattern has been in the works for a while, and now it's time for it's great release!

This triangular shawlette is knit in DK yarn with 5mm needles, and works up quickly to make a lovely, squishy, winter knit! It works to showcase a variagated yarn - so perfect for those hand-dyes! 

It's suitable for beginners looking for a first shawl, or for more experienced knitters looking for a simple, relaxing project!
It's a free pattern, and can be found HERE.

Enjoy!

Wishful Wednesday...

This is what my life looks like at the moment! Full of life's little lovelies - reading good books, good magazines, drinking cups of hot chocolate, and a bit of knitting...

Okay, a lot of knitting.

Which is why this isn't your usual WIP Wednesday post - I've been completing more than I've been starting! I still have this pair of socks on the needles and they haven't gotten any bigger because I've been working on other things, and I'm pretty sure knitting doesn't grow unless you work on it. (Unless someone has come up with magic knitting needles? If you know if someone has invented those yet, let me know in the comments!)

But that's all there is! I'm thinking I need to start some new projects... you know, just so I have something to blog about... and also because my head is brimming with projects that I want to make. A couple of hats, some fingerless gloves, some preemie knits, innocent smoothie hats, and I may dig out some of my quilt projects just for good measure.

Where to begin? Stay tuned :)

WIP Wednesday: Catching Up!

People, I'm on a mission! This summer is the summer of WIPs.
I've had a growing mountain of projects, and they have been all been vying for my attention. It's been difficult to choose what to work on! So, I'm working through them one by one, and hopefully by the autumn I'll have a lovely little pile of FOs to show for it.

I've been working on a shawl...

...which may or may not get turned into a pattern! I have a few patterns in the works at the moment, just waiting for the right time to publish them. Hopefully one or two will be out soon! :)

See these? Yep - that blanket is still in progress! These are the last circles... they need just one more round each and then they can get attached to the blanket... then some half-hexies, and a border, and the end is in sight!!

Now... I know I said I was only working on WIPs... and that I maybe wasn't going to start any more projects... but I caved. There, I said it. The sock yarn got to me. It was just so pretty and I couldn't deny it any longer...

See? It models so well!

Yarn is from Scrumptious Purl in the colourway "It's My Party". I love this yarn - it's knitting up beautifully, and the colours are divine! 
I promise I won't start anymore projects... maybe. Just depends on how well my willpower against the Stash is!! :P

Oh, and you'll remember that for Christmas I made my sister a dragon... I finally took a photo! Everyone - meet Saphira!

Not sure I'll be making any more amigurimi toys anytime soon, but I'm glad that this one is well loved :-)

WIP Wednesday: 2 FOs and Blanket Progress!

Happy Wednesday!

Feeling like I've been quite productive on the crafting front recently! It's been nice to get some of those WIPs off the needles and onto the finished pile. Although there are plenty more WIPs where they came from! I can't seem to help but have a few projects here and there to flit between :-)

So, what are these finished items? SOCKS!

First were these simple ribbed pink ones...

These were a simple project which kept me going through all my essay and dissertation writing - seems fitting that they got finished just as I finished university. I think these will forever hold a special significance because of it :-)

Next were these Rose City Rollers by Mara Catherine Bryner...

 Yes, I know I only have one sock-modelling pose!! 

I loved  knitting these! Is it possible to have a crush on a sock pattern? :-P
They were quick, they were easy, and they are oh so comfy to wear! I love ankle socks, but they don't always stay on my feet nicely, but these ones do! I can definitely see myself making more of these in the future :-)

The next WIP to try and finish is my pink charity blanket. For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you'll realise I've been working on it for quite a while!

I'm about 4 rows in, and still only on the first ball of grey! I bought quite a bit of grey, so I can see myself having more than enough for some borders.

It's moving quite slowly, slower than join as you go squares (but then again, there are more sides!). Luckily, Wimbledon is on and keeping me amused! :-)

As always, full project information can be found on Ravelry.

WIP Wednesday: Sock Edition

Hello all!
I hope you've had a wonderful week so far!

My knitting needles have hardly been out of my hands in the past few days - it's really wonderful to be able to get back to doing what I love. There is something very soothing about being able to spend whole days creating... seeing progress being made on these long-neglected projects is really making me happy!

So, what have I been up to? Several different projects are on the go... a blanket for the hospice (another one!) which I will share pictures of when a bit more progress has been made... and of course, socks!

My socks have been my main focus over the past few days... I've finished the leg and have turned the heel on my simple ribbed pink ones! Yay! Slow progress on these lovelies, but are nice and simple to knit during my local Knit and Knatter evenings.

(More project details HERE.)

A new sock project has also been cast on! After seeing Mara's awesome ankle socks, I really wanted to try making some (Hello, summer socks!) and luckily she's just released the pattern for them HERE!

Several of us are knitting them as part of the #RoseCityRollersKAL on Instagram. It's such fun being able to see everyone else's progress and yarn choices as I've been working on mine!

The heel has been turned on these too, so just feet and heels to knit on both, which is lovely and simple. I've found myself leaning towards simplicity in my knitting and crocheting projects - back to basics :-)

Have you noticed any trends in your projects?

Little Knits...

In my previous post, I mentioned that I had been working on another few bits and pieces for charity...

First are these Innocent Smoothie Hats for their Big Knit... I know I'm far too late for this year's campaign, but I'm sure they will run it again, so I'm thinking I've just got a super head start for next time!!

They are so quick to knit, so adorable, and quite addictive! I never realised how fun pompoms were to make until I did these!

Also on the needles are a few ADAPT triangles... I was sent some pastel yarns, so I am thinking they will be split between the triangles and some preemie knits for the local hospital.

It has been mostly charity knitting recently... not much for myself. I'm finding charity knits are smaller and so easier to work on in between other things - they are portable too, which is a bonus!

The Replacement Hat...

For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you'll remember that I have been working on another hat... well, it's finished! :-D

Most of you are probably looking at the photo thinking "I'm sure that's an old photo, we've already seen that hat!" - I can assure you, my dear readers, that it is a new one! This is the fourth time knitting this pattern - the Cafe au Lait Tam - and the third time knitting it in this colour!
The first one was for my friend Steph for her birthday (which I didn't get photos of), and the second was gifted to my grandmother.

I thought that was it for the green hats, but a few weeks ago Steph came to me quite upset... she had lost her hat whilst rushing to an exam. Knowing the stress of an impending exam, and also how much she wore and loved the hat, I decided to make her another one :-)

(Well when a person is a fan of handknits, you can't let them go cold, can you?)

Off to John Lewis I went, and bought 2 balls of the exact same yarn and colour to make another hat - each hat only takes 1 ball, but I wanted to make sure I had enough, just in case!! (As it was there wasn't much - you can see what was left sitting next to the hat in the photo!)
I didn't see any more of this colour after this trip... I have just one ball of this colour now left in my stash to make another replacement hat if need be - I will keep it in my stash, and it will be Steph's ball of yarn. I know that if I use it, that would tempt fate, and so I'm keeping this last ball safe!

Project details HERE.

Are there any patterns that you keep going back to?

Sock progress!

As you've probably figured out now, I always have a sock on the go. Whether I actively work on it is another matter, but I always have one on the go :-)

I am quite enjoying having these ones on the needles...

Aren't the colours fab? Nice to be working on during grey, dreary winter days. There is just something about pink that cheers everything up, don't you think?

What colours do you turn to when you need cheering up?

I'm baaack!

 I seem to go through ebbs and flows with blogging... I keep knitting and crocheting (that never stops!) but writing blog posts tend to fall by the wayside when life gets busy. Luckily, I'm back! I have spent the morning taking photos of what I've been working on, so I can share my projects with you lovely people! :-)

And, if that isn't enough, I'm back on Instagram! You can find me HERE.
For some strange reason/technical difficulties, I had my account deleted. Which I was very mad about, and so caused a bit of a rift between me and IG (we have a love/hate relationship - apparently so does Justin Beiber, as the same thing happened to him, and some other celebs too) and so I refused to get myself back on IG straight away... but I couldn't resist any longer - it's such a great way of sharing what I'm up to, and I love seeing what you're up to as well!
So if you're on IG, let me know in the comments - I'd love to see what you're working on!

P.S. Above is the yarn I treated myself to yesterday when I went on a yarn crawl with my friend (Hi Emma!) - aren't they pretty? Two of the sock yarns are for a friend I'm doing a swap with, but the rest is for me to play with - yay! :-D

WIP Wednesday...

I've been in the mood for mindless knitting recently... easy work that I can enjoy in the evenings, or just knit a row or two when I have the time...

These socks have made a little progress...

My major project love at the moment though has been this shawl...

I'm using the simple shawl recipe from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Knitting Rules, and just increasing the width of the rows of brown as I go along...

I don't really have an intended size in mind... just until I run out of yarn. I'm hoping it will be quite large and cosy - something to keep me warm in the snow :-)

(Okay, so we haven't actually had any snow yet... but a girl can hope, right?)
(Also, can I just say how hard it is to photograph a shawl in progress??)

Happy 2015!

Happy New Year!

Did you have a good holiday season? Mine was busy, full of visits with family and lots of yummy food!
In amongst all the hustle and bustle I have managed to get quite a lot of knitting done! Although I have been a bit silly and forgotten to take some photos - I can let you know that the dragon was very much appreciated by my sister though!
One thing I did managed to snap a few pictures of was the plethora of Christmas decorations I seemed to knit over the course of the holidays.

There were first Christmas hearts...

Sticking with the heart theme, there was also this colourwork heart bauble (Inspired by these ones...)

And of course I couldn't just make one... (there was another one as well, but this was gifted before I had a chance to take a picture...)

Once I started the colourwork, I couldn't stop! These stockings by Little Cotton Rabbits were fun to make - one was knit flat, and then I challenged myself to knit the other in the round. The one knit in the round was a bit more difficult, but I love the result, and I will admit to doing a happy dance when it turned out right!

I'm hoping these will make me smile year upon year as they get put on the tree. :-)

Deck the Halls...

Hello! Well we're getting ready here for the festive season!
I seem to be in the mood for festive making this year - mostly decorations, but some edibles as well!

Of course the holidays wouldn't be complete without traditional paper snowflakes...

Although I did get a little carried away with the papercraft and turned our fridge into a snowman as well!

I've had some jelly stickers adorning my mirror too :-)

It was our house Christmas dinner on Thursday, and I was in charge of the cake... I chose to do my mom's traditional Buche de Noel, and was quite pleased with the results.

These are my latest decorating obsession... Knitted baubles!
 

It makes me happy to see them on the tree...

I can tell that these are going to become a bit of a thing... I want to make some like these fair isle lovelies, and like these adorable stockings as well!

What about you? Have you been making anything for the holidays?