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.

Knitting Socks, British Yarn is the Best!

Hi everyone,

Well what a turnup, I've only gone and done it, after five failed attempts, I've finally gone and finished my first sock.  A very proud moment for me yesterday, I'm soo proud of myself for finishing such a hard project.  My new Bi-Focal's have worked a treat and I could see to pick up stitches if I had to undo any knitting, they are fantastic.  I have already started my second sock and ready have lots of stash. The chances are you have found me by chance, please do leave me a comment so I know you've stopped by.

I've decided that I'm going to stick with yarn produced right here in the UK, nothing beats home grown produce.  My first sock was produced using West Yorkshire Spinners (WYS) yarn, which I found to be really lovely to work with, I don't usually knit with 4ply, in fact, I've never knitted 4ply, so even that was a challenge, but to be honest I really enjoyed knitting 4ply.  I followed Winwick Mum's sock pattern, the link is here http://winwickmum.blogspot.co.uk/.  Christine is such an inspiration and so very helpful.  A big shout out to the Sockalong Facebook Group for their ongoing support and encouragement, without you all I would never have carried on, let alone finished my first sock.  

I really love my little sock, it makes me very proud, no longer will I have illfitting socks that are tight around my chunky legs and not made to measure and the heel ends up somewhere around my ankle as shop bought socks are just not made for a size four and a half foot.

I've got quite a bit of sock wool in my stash, next on the menu is some Stylecraft Head Over Heels.  Can't wait to start knitting that.

I have also managed to get my vegetable garden planted up, potatoes, carrots, peas, parsnips, cauliflower, little gem lettuce, beetroot, runner beans, french beans, courgette and tomatoes and cucumbers already in the greenhouse.  I love growing my own, there is nothing like it, the taste is just second to none.  Our flower garden is taking shape, lots of planting still to be done, I want to fast forward to next year to see the garden as it will be a riot of colour.

I have so many work in progress (WIPs), a Sunny Granny Stripe Blanket designed by Lucy at Attic24, a jumper knitted in Sirdar Denim Tweed, a couple of cross stitches.  My card making is on the back burner at the moment.

My poor Mum had another fall two weeks ago but thankfully didn't injure herself too badly.

Well, enjoy the sunshine and your knitting, crochet or card making, and anything else you dabble in.

I will report progress when I have a pair of socks!!!

 That's the cuff done...

 On with the leg

 The leg done

 Ta da....

 It fits!!

 A lovely delivery from Woolwarehouse!

 The start of my Sunny Granny Stripe Blanket

 Blue skys

My two Cairn's Isla and Millie 

Saturday - A day crocheting in front of the TV

Happy Saturday everyone, its finally the weekend, time I get to spend on my hobbies and crafting.  Some exciting things have been happening this week which I want to share with you guys.

As you know sadly The Craft Channel is no longer with us, but the most fantastic news this week is that the amazing Dawn Bibby the person responsible for getting me started on card making is joining Hochanda with her very on brand Dawn Bibby Creations Dawn Bibby Creations.  Please go and like the new page to keep up to date on what she is up to.  So pleased for her and I look forward to following her on another journey.

Also brilliant news is the amazingly talented Rebecca Seddon is also joining Hochanda with her brand Rebecca Seddon Designs.  Her facebook page is Rebecca Seddon Designs please also go and visit her page for further details of what will be up and coming this week.

I have also signed up for the Little Box of Crochet, as I read that Lucy at Attic24 had designed something.  These are due out for delivery this week,  I shall be reviewing this next week when it arrives.  Cannot wait to receive it.

I have been working on my ripple blanket love the pattern, was having a few issues with wavy edges on the sides and had to rip a lot undone at the beginning of the week but its now coming up much straighter.  Loving the colours of the Stylecraft Merry Go Round.

My Attic24 Ripple blanket is growing nicely.

I've also found Lucy's blog is great and her adventures with knitting socks has made me want to have a go.  The Sockalong looks great fun, I have purchased some double pointed needles (DPN) and some circulars and have some yarn from West Yorkshire Spinners, it looks like really luxurious yarn, I've not used such amazing yarn before, so will write about it when my sockalong starts.  You can find the link to the sockalong here Winwick Mum Sockalong and the West Yorkshire Spinners here West Yorkshire Spinners.

Whatever you are doing this weekend, have a great one, I shall be sitting curled up next to these two.

Isla on the left and Millie on the right, my two Cairn Terriers, my best friends.