Happy Hallowe'en (not crafty related sorry)

My favourite day of the year is here...

This greets anyone who happens to pass by my house this evening (and last, may even spend tomorrow night in the window if weather too bad to get up to my dads grave)...don't get many trick or treaters round my area...
I've had a rather uncool favourite day blitzing my house clean (with more help from my mum than I can put into words), it was kinda atrocious lol but done now, even got junior bed out of storage to clean and build up, then buy a new mattress and try out, lets hope little man stays in it better than he did on holiday lol
Also, ordered a jar of rhubarb and custard sweets from sweet temptation. Gonna be yum (bet little man steals some though as he likes them too lol)! And got some sweeties for today, my little man got a hallowe'en sweet tub :) which he has enjoyed lots, and has some left over for tomorrow, you can just see the corner of my dip dab next to it. I tried a twinkie and I have to say I think they're over rated...taste kinda lemony (which isn't bad but not plain) and just not satisfying in my opinion.

Anyways, a very Happy Samhain! )0( I'm gonna chill with chocolate, milk and the nightmare before christmas!

Books, comics and a pumpkin

I've been buying again lol books this time, mostly sock based, kind of...

Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders: 101 Patterns That Go Way Beyond Socks! by Judith Durant

This is good for ideas of projects involving sock yarn but that are hats, cowls, mittens etc. Some good ideas but limited in sizing for some as not given multiple stitch counts etc.

Folk Socks: The History & Techniques of Handknitted Footwear Updated Edition by Nancy Bush

This book contains the history of socks and styles. It also has patterns in for socks from around the world, again limited in sizings given but good inspiration for socks if you can modify the patterns to fit. The sock instructions are given for 3 DPN needles and one working needle (4 total).

Toe-Up 2-At-A-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes 

This book uses the magic loop method rather than DPNs and as the title suggests builds socks two at a time rather than one at a time. I've never made toe up socks before so got this out of curiosity, some say this method is easier but I do so like my DPNs. This book is spiral bound so makes actually working form the patterns easier than the other two.

 

I also bought a (kind of) graphic novel that I've read before and loved.

But I Really Wanted to be an Anthropologist by Margaux Motin

It's a kind of biography of the day to day life of the author, I love all sorts of the stories she tells...referring to the difficulty of dressing nicely as a mother, the things that happen to your body post labour and best of all what happens to partners who film you dancing like a loon to 'I like to move it, move it'. A hilariously funny read with simple illustration that enhances every story :)

Last of all, it is hallowe'en tomorrow, my favourite holiday :) also know as Samhain to fellow Pagans such as myself. As is tradition I have carved a pumpkin to put in my window, and after that weather permitting put on my fathers grave. I'm not sure my back, wrists, elbows or shoulders will forgive me for a day or so as the carving takes its toll but I do so love to have one to show :)

So a happy hallowe'en and a blessed Samhain to all )0(
Happy crafting!

KAS and hat

 I've just been told I have tennis elbow and other tendon problems so having to take my crafting a bit easier which of course means slower :( But I'll do what I can to have work to show you.
I try to send some 8" squares off for knit a square (KAS) every year and have finally started for this year...having to go slow though. I've done three so far, the red one and grey one are both finished now and knitted and the blue/grey with orange is crocheted. I've also got my tattooist doing some which is nice of her :) She's rather busy so really appreciated. If anyone wants to do some themselves free patterns and postal instructions can be found on their website. Or if anyone wants to donate towards postage to South Africa it'd be much appreciated what with the postal charges going up. 

I've also finally finished the barley hat by TinCanKnits on ravelry. Had to slow down as pain in wrists and elbows been increasing. It can be worn as a beanie hat or a slouch hat, I prefer it as a slouch personally but only coz I look less bold with having short hair lol

I haven't been able to do much on the surprise knit as on 2mm needles it hurts a lot quicker than 4.5mm
And that's all I've got on the needles, though wanna get some nice cream or brown hats made for a local coffee shop that has offered to display them for me. Hate that things have to take longer now...grrr But don't wanna make my wrists and elbows any worse as my aunt needed an op when she had it.
Anyway...happy crafting :)

Suprise knit...mini post

I've cast on a suprise item today...it's gonna be a gift and don't wanna risk the recipient seeing what it is lol
But here's a sneak peek:

As you can see it involves fine needles (super fine for me lol), and my Angel project bag :) love this, any Buffy/Angel fans out there may know that Spike also gets turned into a puppet in the comic book series :) Nerd alert! Prob should have said that before the geeky info :)
I'm using my cubix DPNs, I like them...not sure if I prefer them to regular DPNs yet but not given up on them after a couple hours knitting sot hat's a good sign lol

Undercover Owl order +bits

My huge order from TheUndercoverOwl has arrived, very quickly and well packaged.

All wrapped up I thought, this can't be my whole order, but it was, just folded up into small wrappings.
I was very excited, I went a bit nuts as I keep using carrier bags and they get holes in, I loose DPNs and my notions pouch, the yarn gets all tangled and it's just a frustrating experience. Also, as I frquently have multiple projects going I find I have carrier bags all over and no easy way to identify which project is in which bag without rummaging around. Now each project will be able to have a different pattern and size bag depending on the project size, I'm very happy. If I could have afforded I'd have had one of the large pouches have been another giant pouch purely for easy of fit with the balls of yarn I buy being oval, though when I wind my own balls they fit in the large bags just fine (the oval balls get caught a lot due to being too wide one way).
So here's what I got:
let's start with the giant pouches...

I got this TARDIS print one as I'm a Dr Who fan and love new ways to show of my nerdiness when out and about :) this bag will be great for jumpers for my son, shawls and scarves.

I also got this sheep print one which I like to call black sheep as it has the odd darker sheep throughout. I liked this as I've kinda always though myself the black sheep of the family, though I guess less so now that I've normaled out a little for the sake of my son :) I suppose I could have had one of my custom orders be this size and just not got this but I didn't think of it till after I ordered.
On to the large pouches:

I saw this Blue Sun print on the website and just had to have it, I love Firefly and Serenity so much, I even bought my friend a tee with this logo on and so tempted myself so when I saw this it was a must buy even though it didn't have the strap on I like. The straps are handy to hook over your wrist or I find it good to hook on my pram handle whilst waiting for buses/trains etc.

Then I saw the Dalek sock sized bag and wanted it so bad, but I knew the size would be too small for the majority of my projects, plus I'd already bought my sock sized Angel print at Yarndale (see previous posts).
I love this Dalek print as it has a cross over with the Vitruvian man design by da Vinic.
I messaged Sarah and asked if she had enough of this fabric to make me a large pouch, luckily she did :) I'm very happy with it, again I asked for a strap as I find them very useful and the bag size is good for hats, mitts and even a small cowl :) I find I need to wind bough yarn into balls to prevent them from getting caught in the bag and taking the yarn out (which obviously is silly when I bought project bags to keep the yarn tidy and clean in the bag). This extra winding is slightly frustrating but not the end of the world.

I also got this large toadstool print bag as I love toadstools (not to eat) but as ornaments, lego, prints etc.
I like the green background with vibrant mushrooms and darker strap.

I love my order, I'm very happy with the postage time and packaging...I did buy a little something else but it's a gift so gonna keep that one hush, hush till it's given :)
I've finally finished the Gryffindor inspired scarf for my friend. It's the same construction as my cunning scarf but with just the two colours and wider stripes (also, no fridge as my friend didn't want it).

I also finially finished the amended granny square scarf for the same friend, I gave it him one square wide and he wanted it doubled up...and it took me ages to do as hate using smaller than a 4mm hook where possible lol but he can get both next time I see him.

I haven't done much knitting this week as I was tattooed at the weekend so bit tender, but picked up the needles again and am just under half way through a hat from Tin Can Knits which I find cute and quirky...taking my time though.
Happy crafting all, I'm off to sort my son out and go to my local knit and natter group :)

Totoro (Sanpo-ish) hat and Babylonglegs yarn

I've finished the sanpo hat with some differences...I did a plain colour brim in garter st, it's too short I don't like it, needs to be either ribbed or longer garter st with a gap so colour work on inside of the hat can not be seen when worn. I also only did the Totoro part of the chart deciding to leave the soot sprite part...may do that as a hat on it's own, I don't do well with colour work so don't wanna be too ambitious and fail epically lol Even after blocking as soon as I put the hat on my head the brim rolled up slightly, and does so a little more every time. It's a little big for the little one but would do in a pinch, though seeing the insides colour work is annoying more so on him that me.

 

Think they brown and beige colours work quite well but may try it more colourful too. The original pattern is in blue, green and cream for the base colour.

I've also wound my babylonglegs yoda merino sock into balls, would have been too but got a little tangled...Wanna start the project but won't be able to knit for a bit from Saturday and don't want it half finished on the needles while I heal...So it'll have to wait :(

I also ordered some more babylonglegs yarn in the still waters colour way at the weekend while the free postage offer was on, it's lovely...I'd say it's tranquil but the colours are so rich I think their too stunning to be tranquil lol

I have so many ideas and so much yarn to play with just not enough time to make everything I want to lol
I've gifts to make, a secret santa item to craft, plus things that I just wanna make for fun and my little one lol gonna be a busy couple months lol

Pom Pom Maker +

My new pom pom maker set has arrived...I ordered the larger set though not the extra large as cost is too high. I fail epically whenever I make a pom pom in the traditional cardboard way, they always fall to pieces unless I have them detachable (on a broach back), so thought I'd give this a go. Seems more sturdy for sure lol will make a few n see how they fair lol

 

Made one for the OCC hat I finished this week, thought it makes it look a bit extra festive lol couldn't have a broach back as not child friendly so have sewn it on, just hope it stays together lol feels like ti should.

I've also CO a Totoro hat, it's colour work which is not my particular skill set but so cute I had to give it a go :) making it adult size as off top of my head I know more adults than kids that have seen/love it lol making it in brown and beige. Will post pics when it's finished...or maybe before, when the colour work part is done so you can see the work in progress :)

I'm looking forward to my other orders arriving so I can show them off...got project bags, yarn and books all waiting to get to me :) exciting but expensive times lol

OCC and Black Cat hat

I've made a hat for an Operation Christmas Child box (OCC) in red and green chunky (on 6mm DPNs), I quite like it, even though it is festively cheerful lol I'm hoping to make some mitts to go in the box as well if I've time but lots of projects planned. It's a nice toddler fit as can be seen nice and snug.

I also made a 'baby yellow' cable brimmed hat I'm hoping a local shop may sell for me. It's a large one, looks almost cream but label says yellow, that's why I think of it as baby...like the pale pinks and blues you get for new borns (made using aran weight yarn and 5mm DPNs).

I also made a black cat hat today, a good idea for hallowe'en or your general feline fan :) I quite like it, though I gotta say the pink and purple one I made based on the Cheshire cat is rather cool too :) (etsy link)

They are my crafty creations for this week...along with some work on the Gryffindor inspired scarf. Hopefully next week I'll also have some new things to show off :) been ordering again lol
Happy crafting :)

New Fabric Sq's and Chunky Hats

Yesterday I popped over to Fishergate shopping center, there was a very small craft fair on. I picked up some small fabric quarters up: owl/tree print and animal print :) I think these are so cute, only a small amount but maybe to decorate a tote bag or something :) They're from Tilia Fabrics, available on Etsy according to the card but can't find her account to link for you, sorry.

I've finished the lime green and black chunky hat, the picture doesn't look very lime but it really is :) so hallowe'eny :) Get in the spooky spirit!

I've also cast on and cast off a dark green and red hat with cable brim...rather christmasy lol and I'm not overly festive, but figured some people would like it for the cold season, and adds a little colour to the dark season. This one has two cables for the brim, I like that part, twisty :)

 Being chunky these were really quick growing so didn't take long at all. I've some aran weight to make a couple hats and I really need to wind some sock weight babylonglegs yarn into balls as need to start a gift for christmas :) need someone to hold my skein for me though as the sock I think is more likely to tangle if not held but the aran weight is ok to get into balls on my own (but takes some time and patience). So nice to knit with though. 

Honey Cowl Completed

Well I've finished the cowl, it was quick to knit though I did CO 100 sts instead of 110 to make it a little more fitted (for warmth). The yarn was a delight to knit with and I look forward to making more with it :) babylonglegs aran weight

I love how the colours have knit up, kind of diagonal stripes with bleeds of colours crossing over :)
The pattern was free from ravelry and really easy to knit. I used slightly smaller needles so would have been even easier with looser gauge.
Not sure what else to say really: it's fitted and due to the construct of sts super warm, and to top it off vibrant and funky to boot :)
I've CO a lime green and black basic knit hat today, shouldn't take me long to finish but wanted to get the cowl up...really liking it :)
Happy crafting...