Knitting, crochet and squishy yarny loveliness

Hello again everyone, welcome to my blog.  I'm trying to put in a huge effort to blog more often and perhaps even once every two weeks, depends on how much crafting I've done and what I've bought!! I’ve got this idea from watching a few podcasts whilst I’ve been on lockdown I’m not one for videos so this is the next best thing.

I hope that you are all keeping well and managing to keep yourselves busy?  Its been hard, I know For many of you. I’m lucky that Mum and I get on so well. She is responsible for my love of knitting and yarn. Mum and I would have gone crazy if it not had been for the fact that we both knit and crochet, it has passed many, many hours.

Here’s mum modelling my half finished corner to corner blanket. 

My work came to an abrupt halt and I've spent most of my days since lockdown began knitting or crocheting with a bit of gardening in between.  At first I found it hard to settle and concentrate on anything but as our 12 weeks have worn on it has become a litte easier to relax.  Work has just started to pick up again which I'm really pleased with.  Its been a worrying time for everyone but hopefully now we are over the worst.

I’ve bought a lot of craft stuff since the middle of March, some rubber stamps from Creative Expressions, some gilding flakes amongst other things.

My best gadget has been my Knit Pro wool winder I don’t know how mum and I have managed without one. It’s wonderful knitting with yarn cakes.

I’m a member of the Winwick Mum’s Facebook groups and one of the prominent members called Janice sadly passed away suddenly and Christine organised a lovely fundraising event. There were project bags, some gorgeous hand died yarn and stitch markers on offer. Was a really lovely thing to be involved with. Janice helped so many of us including me on our sock journey.

Here’s the wool I bought I can’t wait to start something with it. I just have to decide what to do.

This yarn is just so soft I cannot wait to knit with it, just need to decide what to make with it.  Decisions, decisions.

I thought this personalised label was a fantastic idea.  Thank you Teri x

Here is my other yarn

This is a beautiful colourway.  I cannot wait to work with this either!  So many projects and so little time.

Other purchases recently have included this gorgeous Stylecraft Head Over Heels.  I couldn't help myself as it was reduced from The Knitting Network.

I’ve started watching podcasts. I know I’m a bit late in the game but I’ve been enjoying Crafhouse Magic and Crafternoon Treats.   I've found them so inspiring and made me want to do my blog again.

I’ve been doing a lot of knitting and crochet over the past few weeks. Mum and I are currently making hats for Queen’s Hospital Maternity Unit. Anything to keep us busy.

I have a few WIPs, a pair of socks, a ripple blanket, a jumper, I won’t be bored.

Here is one of my WIPs.  I'm on the foot now, then have to make its mate.

This is worked in West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply in Pink Flamingo, its striping up very nicely.

My finished object:

This is the pattern close up.

Ta da, this was so quick to work up.  Yarn is James C Brett Partytime.

Unfortunately this week has not been a good week.  We sadly had to say goodbye to our little Isla who had a short illness.  Its been totally devastating and is going to take us a while to get over.  I shall miss my little friend she loved to snuggle up on a blanket I was crocheting.

Anyway, enjoy your crafting, I will be back soon with more yarny loveliness.

Take care and keep crafting.

I'm Over the Moon with Hunkydory Moonstone Dies

Hello everyone, its been a while since my last blog but I'd like to share with you this amazing card I made using the Hunkydory Frame Creations die set which is part of the fantastic Moonstone die range by Hunkydory.

I hope you are all keeping well, Mum and I are on day one of isolation, its such a worring situation and a scary one to be in and if like me you find yourself isolating as you are a carer for a parent or loved one its not going to be an easy ride for any of us.  We have had phone calls and messages from neighbours offering to get us supplies if needed but thankfully we are ok for the moment, we haven't gone mad and stock piled, but I rely pretty much on shopping being delivered as Mum is prone to having falls so as we speak no slots available for deliveries for two weeks so I've had to think outside the box to come up with solutions to ensure Mum and I have what we need to survive the next three months.  I'm also diabetic so have my own issues to worry about but one thing I won't run out of is craft supplies.

Anyway to make this card you will need:

1. Moonstone Frame Creator die set - code MSTONE102
2.  Two sheets of coordinating Adorable Scorable.
3.  One sheet of gold mirricard.
4.  Topper set of your choice - for this card I've used one from Beautiful Birdsong.
5.  Coordinating gems of your choice.
6.  Coordinating ribbon of your choice.
7.  Red liner tape.
8.  Wet glue of your choice.
9.  3D foam pads.
10.  Hot glue gun.
11.  Bone folder.

Step One
Using the large die cut four of the panel pieces to make the frame.  Crease along the fold lines with a bone folder and then put a strip of red liner tape along the flat edge as shown in the photo below.  Remove the red film and carefully assemble the frame pieces sticking the flap with the red liner tape on to the outside of the top flap.  (This will make sense when you assemble).

You should then have four frame pieces looking like this:

Stage Two

Start assembling the frame as shown.  Hunkydory have produced a really great video showing you how to assemble this frame which I will add a link to at the end of my blog for extra assistance.

I found that using a strong adhesive like the construction glue by Hunkydory worked better than red liner tape as it gave a bit more wiggle room to ensure the pieces of the frame were together correctly.

Stage Three
Cut a coordinating square and stick the frame onto the square to provide a bit of strength to your frame.

Stage Four
Using your selected decoration part of the die set cut four decorative panels out of mirricard. Using your wet glue carefully stick these around the frame.

Stage Five
Using the topper set make up the square picture as shown in the photograph below remember to use foam pads to give some extra dimention and lift to the die set.

Stage Six
Finishing touches - I've used a tag, attached a pretty bow and some gold gems.

Ta da
And Voila the finished project.  I've been making a few cards using the Moonstone dies please see the photos below.  I love using dies, they are really so versatile and can be used in many different ways.

Hope you have enjoyed this blog, will be back soon with another project.

Here is the link to the Hunkydory video on how to put this frame together. 

Hunkydory Frame Creation

For any Hunkydory products please visit the website www.hunkydorycrafts.co.ukwww.hunkydorycrafts.co.uk

Keep crafting! 

Love

Tracy