New needles and ordering plus rambelings lol

I have been sooo bad lately for ordering/buying things...
As I said in a previous post I ordered some Knit Pro 12mm (80cm) circular needles...they've arrived, though not cast on yet, I'll let you know how they feel...

I really want the hiya hiya interchangeable sets (both small and large 5" steel), but alas I still can't justify that kind of money.
I've ordered some replica jewellery (I'm kinda a nerd incase any of you haven't figured it out)...also some charms (I used to make jewellery and accessories but not much anymore, though sometimes when I want new jewellery I buy charms and make my own-mostly ear rings), jigsaw pieces to make autism awareness items (maybe on hats or ear rings) for me and my family to support my son, and some Mario mushrooms...I wanted ear rings and I loved it as a kid...also my friend crocheted me a red Mario mushroom for Xmas last year (1st thing she ever made and it is awesome!)

She later made me a Dalek too, I'm such a lucky geek :)

I've also been ordering more craft things to make gifts with my son (and by myself) and also to do a bit more painting (ordered metallic paints, awesome! they use it at his nursery), even though the previous order hasn't arrived yet...I was taking advantage of free p+p.
I've also been to the Manchester Christmas markets and bought our traditional yearly decorations :) mine and Bekkis are moons and my sons is a Santa boot :) we get different designs each year.

My new Qwertee has arrived :) Love The Nightmare Before Christmas so looking forward to wearing this.

I finally wore my new heeled boots (to a 50th) and my feet weren't killing so they seem like a good investment, I can keep my style but be slightly feminine by wearing heels lol (my family kinda want me to grow my hair and be more of a girl, it rarely happens).
I think that is it...until new items arrive or I actually get anywhere with my knitting...finally cast on the cream scarf for a friend and still going slowly but surely with the surprise knit. This pic shows my first 2 rows of the scarf (I knit length ways), my notions case and a book I'm currently reading (as well as a beverage lol) as these are my waiting activities while my son is in his appointment every week...This week I was determined to get that scarf cast on, though my joints disliked me for it...and as for this book, my cousin lent it to me an age ago, I liked it so much I have bought it (25p in a charity shop, get in!) and forgot how good a read it is :) I have to say I definitely recommend Cecelia Ahern novels, I've liked all I've read (though I admit I haven't read them all).

 And on that note...happy crafting :)

Thanksgiving

I'm not American but I'd like to wish my readers over the pond a Happy Thanksgiving. Sorry not made anything holiday related. Though I have started getting ready for Christmas, I'm not overly festive but having a child I have to try lol Cards are mostly written, gifts are bought (though not all are made), bought an outfit to wear on the day, just need to start wrapping lol and decorating...
Happy crafting!

Update...sorry kinda long

I've not done too much knitting as getting the secret santa shawl done fast took it's toll on my elbows, but I wanted to make sure it was finished and gift bagged up as soon as possible or I'd end up putting it down then super rushed to finish it and in a lot more pain.
The next item I wanna finish is my surprise knit that's is on 2mm cubics DPNs and it's killing my wrists. I love knitting with them, I'm kinda gutted I have pretty much all the DPNs I need as I'd totally buy more. They cost more than the normal round bamboo DPNs I usually buy, but I really enjoy knitting with them and I like the dark wood (think it's rose wood) material, more flex to them than the bamboo. I have had some issues with sts sliding off but I think that's more that am on such small gauge and sts are close together. Though I still love my bamboos the tips just aren't as pointed so can be difficult on first couple of sts on a needle (depending on the yarn). 

 

I've ordered some more knit pro needles (the cubics are knit pro) but these are 12mm circular, for a double chunky shawl I'd like to try, I'd like some 15mm circulars too at at least 80cm but can't seem to find any (comment below if you know of a seller please). I'd really love the Hiya Hiya interchangeable circular sets (both small and large, preferably in steel) but at £49.99 each I think am gonna have to pass for now...gutted but just don't have £99.98 to spend on circulars when I have most of what I need, I'd just really like all possible ones I might need lol call me over prepared lol You get multiple tips, plus 4 cables in a case...want so bad lol envious of my friend who has some. The tips can rotate in the cable without unscrewing from the cable so think this would be a really good feature for someone like me who seems to twist me needles a lot.

I've finished the simple square with chunky yarn, it's a little smaller than 8" (could do with blocking but am lazy and hate blocking) but it's not so bad that it won't fit in with a little stretch, and honestly not all my squares are exact anyway. Think they can manage to get them all in the blankets though, says don't need to be too precise on the website. For any new readers the 8" squares are for Knit a Square, a charity that helps keep cold AIDS orphans warm buy making them blankets (made up from 35 8" squares sewn together). (Square is a little curled at the edges.)

I've got a scarf to start for a friend too but keep putting it off, when I know I shouldn't, he's being very patient with me. I just know that with it being knit length ways (I now hate doing scarves width ways) that I'm gonna be in pain after just one row and it puts me off even casting it on for now. But I will start it soon, I have to or I'll get mad at myself.

I also want to make the lovely Pepo Pie waist coat for my little boy. He loves me making him things and he could really use the layers right now, the weather has turned rather cold. I keep buying him lovely knit jumpers but he doesn't get as excited as when he's seen me making it and tried it on and things. Unless it involves Lightening McQueen or Woody/Buzz, which right now none of his clothes do, though anything with them on grabs his attention from baking kits, stickers and wrapping paper to actual toys.
I also want to make the Millie tank top, not only for myself but a friend too...I do not have enough hours in a day, what a time for my joints to crap out on me...
And on top of all those to make items, my friend Joeli has released a wonderful hat pattern called Turtle Soup. It's awesome! The colours can be anything you want but she has used yellow & green for one son and red & white for her other son. I love the design, it's funky and bold, but still something that's not so out there that you'd get crazy looks as you walk around. the colour work looks quite simple (though I'm rather bad at it) but I'd really like to give it a go down the line. She also designed the Foxy Loxy hat I made my son, I'm thinking of making one of those in baby size as my cousin and friend are both expecting and are unsure of gender so I think it could be good for both boys and girls :) though I may make a traditional Heirloom Bonnet. I haven't quite decided yet. I'd love to make a green baby blanket for my cousin that they could keep but not sure if I could get it done in time as would have to really take it slowly (green because that's the neutral she's chosen to go with incase she has a boy or a girl). 
The weather has gotten so cold I've finally treated myself to a feather and down quilt :) Can't wait to see how much warmer it is than my really old falling to pieces quilt I've been putting up with in a freezing room with a broken window. Got it in the half price sale or I'd never have even considered it :)

I also got a bargain duffel coat for my son :) It's red and I love it, I was little concerned at first that he might look like a girl but my mum and the shop lady assure me he doesn't and that duffel coats are unisex, I knew that last part but just wanted to be sure, he likes to have a pink dummy so didn't want him too feminine lol Got it for £10, half the normal price which was an added bonus. It's age 2-3 years and he's 3 (so you'd think it a little small) but it fits him just fine :)

I also bought some rather sparkly buttons, hoping to make a badge or maybe shoe clips :) out of them, my sis mentioned she'd like some shoe clips a while ago and she's really into sparkles (she's team Edward who'd have guessed lol) and girly, glitzy, glamour type style...especially if she's going out.

 

I have so much to do...hope your lists are smaller...happy crafting :) 

Secret Santa Sorted!

Well I cast on the Offhand Lace shawl on the 18th and have cast off today (23rd), took less than a week but my elbow are still feeling it. I think if I was at full speed and not having the pain to keep stopping for that I could have had this done in a day or two (if I concentrated on just this, as I have done).
I did rows 1-8 13-16 repeated, missing out rows 9-12 as don’t like the look of the ribbed section, kinda too much going on, so much more effective-in my opinion-with just the 3 sections and here's the finished item...

Spread out you can see the lace pattern and the ridges between each lace repeat is a purl and garter st sections. I think it looks really good. It's worked top down starting with 10 sts and increase every other row to build up width. Really pleased with it, think it would be even better bigger.

Even folded up it's chunky so think it'll be quite warm (needed in the new weather we're having). Have attached the yarns washing instructions with a ribbon so the recipient knows how to take care of it.

This picture shows the shawl form the back (couldn't get far enough away to show the full back with the triangular tip at the base of the back). but think it'll look nice with the right outfit.

And finally, this is what it'd be like if worn as a scarf rather than a shawl, this would be ridiculously warm.
I think it could also be used as a blanket for babies as they're small and even though it has the lace sections it'd be warm. Could be used as a swaddle blanket to wrap baby in or when a little bigger in prams etc. Obviously not what it was designed for but I try to find multiple purposes for items if I can.
Hope she likes :)
(sorry pics are kinda crappy no one to take them for me when trying it on so did what I could in a room full of toys with a toddler trying to jump in all the pics or steel the camera lol)

Secret Santa Started and Sackboy

I've mention I have a secret santa to do...and I've finally started it...it's a quick knit with chunky yarn and 10mm needles. The pattern is called Offhand Lace and is a free ravelry download.
I love this designer, her items are individual but can be worn by all as not too wacky. She seems to like aran and chunky weight yarns (as I do) and because of this means I can actually give some of them a go at the minute. I chose this one as I love the purl, lace and garter sections. It actually has a ribbed section too, I don't know if I'm doing it wrong or just don't like it but in my opinion it looked a mess, so I've removed that part of the pattern :)
Think it must have been me doing it wrong as looking at some of the projects made by others of the same pattern it looks fine lol

Hard to see the pattern as knitted with black yarn but in person it looks really effective, can't wait for it to be off the needles so I can stretch it out and see what it looks like on :) (also, I might be able to get a better picture).
It's simple to do, and once you get into it you can basically tell where you're up to for each section so can work 4 rows at a time without needing to check the pattern. Another good thing about this pattern, I've finally managed to get the ssk stitch without keep giving up and just doing k2tog tbl.
So if you wanna try making a shawl, why not give this one a go? It's perfect for a first time shawl maker as it's made with chunky yarn and so grows fast, fast gratification (though not instant lol), rather than many of the shawl designs about which are made with sock weight yarns and take weeks to make.

I really need to make a chart for my Rocking Kitchen KAL socks to do duplicate stitch on them, but I have till Xmas.
I still need to get on with the surprise knit but with being on 2mm I'm struggling somewhat, may need to be a postponed Xmas gift or become a birthday gift.

In other news I found a gift for someone that is awesome (in my opinion), I wish I could have made it lol Who doesn't love the cuteness that is Sackboy from Little Big Planet :) ..?

And on that note am off, happy crafting :)

Simple Square

I've started a square done form the center for the first time, it's a practice as there's a hat pattern I'd like to make starting form the center.

It's kinda weird to do I have to admit but not too hard (other than the strain on my wrists/elbows). Increase at the beginning and end of each needle every other row. I just have to figure out how to keep track of the increase place when too big for DPNs and need to move to circular. I'm presuming you put st markers there, will see what happens.
The hat pattern I like is from Knit Now magazine issue 28 (latest issue on sale now) and is called the ingrid beret. It looks pretty and wanna give something new a go :) Though not sure when I'll get to do it as still have gifts and secret santa item to make as well as charity items...wish I could knit as much as I used to.

Divine

For a limited time only some of my crafty items will be for sale at excellently reduced rates at a local cafe, Divine on Warner Street. Love this cafe, great food, lovely staff and a relaxing environment (whenever my son isn't there lol).

Need to produce a poster for them and move some price tags around so more easily visible on back items but this is the selection so far...hopefully they'll sell well with the holidays growing closer. For information on item prices see my facebook page lilangelsg2.
On other news, I've dropped my OCC shoe box off at the local drop off point, hopefully that will bring a little light to a child in need at Christmas.

OCC box and KAS

My Operation Christmas Child (OCC) box is now packed and ready to go...wrapped it shut with purple cord as have no elastic bands...weirdly my mum only offered me one a few days ago and I said I don't use them lol

I've packed the box with: a toothbrush, toothpaste, jotter, crayons, short story books, haribo, rasens, wooden camel with wheels, stacka men, home made red and green hat with pom pom, blue hero mask with red ribbon...and that's it for this year, all I could manage (I actually spent more than I anticipated on it this year and there are a few sweets can't see on pic as added them last minute). How ironic that I give toothbrush and paste for hygiene then give sweets to rot the teeth lol My box is for a boy age 2-4 years, hopefully he'll like what he gets even thought not a lot in it, I suppose something is better than nothing though.

I've also done a few squares for the knit a square charity, totalled 7 so far, slower than usual with wrists and elbows but still managing them just not so fast. They are a mix of knit and crochet and are using up scraps of yarn (hence why some of them have kinda random colours or strange places to change colour, I ran out lol) but I'm sure the children will just be happy for the warmth and not too bothered by odd squares :)

I've done a little work on the surprise knit but still not finished, a long way off in fact lol and the Christmas KAL socks for my son are coming along but not finished (part of the Rocking Kitchen KAL for Nov/Dec). I still haven't done the Secret Santa item I need to do either, really need my joints to stop hurting so can make faster again (am slow even when at full speed lol).

Last year I did both an OCC box and a Support Our Troops box (pictured below).

 As you can see I managed a bit more last year but hopefully my smaller donation this year will still be appreciated. I even got a letter back off the soldier who received my box and an email saying my OCC box went to Romania. (Last years OCC box contained: the first pair of mittens I made, a hand made hat, some toys, dental hygiene items, soap, hand made flannel, crayons, jotter, sweets etc. The soldier box contained: hand made hat, santa hat, hand made tree decoration and flannel, soap, toothbrush and paste, paracetamol, sweets etc. Sorry can't remember everything lol)

ASD book and start of sock

First of all, my new book arrived:

I have an autistic son, he's a bit young for this book but I'm gonna read it now n it'll come in to help him as he grows up a bit. I've only read the first couple chapters but seems simply written and informative without dumbing it down too much for the adults to read too. It has two introductions, one for kids and one for adults, I think that's a nice touch. It explains how having ASD is not a bad thing it just makes you a  little different with regard to communication, behaviour and social skills. I think it'll come in really handy over the years, and think anyone with family who are on the spectrum would find this a useful read.
I've also ordered a book that is a story about ASD and how it can affect a family when there is a child diagnosed with the disorder, although I am a single parent I still think this will be an interesting read and informative as well: Daniel Isn't Talking.

In craft related news...I've cast on my sons wellie socks as part of the Rocking Kitchen KAL for Nov/Dec. I've altered them to be on 5mm needles with chunky yarn and had to change stitch counts etc. so hoping they turn out ok, I'd rather them a little big than small but see what happens.

It being a Christmas KAL I've gone for green and red (also I had some left over yarn from a previous project)...I haven't yet decided if going to do both red with green cuff or do them opposite (so second sock have green with red cuff). I'm also thinking of using duplicate stitch to do a small design on them...it being Christmas was going to do a snow flake but I'm considering doing a jigsaw piece to show support for autism awareness, maybe I could do one on each to make them even more odd lol ..?
Slow going but hoping to finish them to be in with a chance of winning a prize (looking forward to getting the two patterns I won for the hallowe'en KAL thread posts).
I still also have my surprise gift on the needles - really slow going (2mm) - and trying to still do some 8" squares for the the charity knit a square.
Happy crafting...

Sweetie treat time!

So I ordered a sweetie jar of some of my fave sweets a couple days ago, and today I got to pick it up...hell yeah! So here is a jar of my rhubarb and custards...

 And here is my son stealing my rhubarb and custards lol no fair he already stole my raspberry ruffles lol

Least he has good taste lol
If you want your very own jar of sweets go to Sweet Temptations and spoil yourself, or someone special...mine are all these coz I love them n they sell out fast but you can have mixed jars too...penny sweets, a selection of Lion brand sweets (wine gums, midget gems, fruit salad, sports mixture and liquorice gums), bon bons (three flavours: blue, pink and honestly I can't remember the third) and so much more...so why not get a jar of your favourites :) ..? A great idea for birthday or Christmas gifts too.

Mini scale and KAL post prizes

Whilst watching my friends blog (Joeli's Kitchen) she showed a portable digital scale for weighting yarn (though this of course is not what it was probably designed for lol). I didn't even know they made these, but I had to get one. I've been using my kitchen scales, which have a needle rather than a digital display so they are far from accurate, now I can have a better representation of ball weights after winding, and a better idea of weight of items once I've finished them too (well for small projects such as mittens, charity squares, socks etc.)

You can choose to weight in oz or g (as well as some others but think these two will be best used, if am honest I usually weight yarn in grams). It's compact enough to fit in my project bag with a project on the go, but I'll probably leave it in one of my yarn drawers so it's ready for when I'm winding.

I've also been part of a KAL in a group called Rocking Kitchen and there are prizes for finished items and posting in the threads. I won for my thread posts (random number generator picked two random posts for prizes and I was one of them, happy times), I won a design by one of the two administrators so I chose Pepo Pie by Joeli, think my son would look adorable in this, or if it can be modified in a pull over vest (or both if I can get two made), good for layering as the weather gets colder.
The other prize was any pattern off Ravelry for under $5 so I chose this Millie (Vest) for myself, I think it'd be good for the cold months when am wearing a shirt and a hoodie looks weird. I saw a few designs I've had my eye on for a while and some new ones but most were $6 or over so this was the one that fell in the what do I like enough to wear and is under the specified amount categories.
Look forward to getting them and reading the construction, can't start them right off as my wrists and elbows have been bad this week, hardly done anything. But will probably start the waist coat for my little one first when I can. Even typing is aggravating my joints at the moment so could be a while off.

Happy crafting to you all, feel free to comment with pictures of anything you're working on to cheer me up from my lack of knitting/crocheting...you don't realise how much you enjoy something till you can't do it. It's my destress, happy, productive activity and am stuck with about a max of half an hour a day (sometimes spread out if using smaller needles) when am used to doing about 4 hours a day (if not more, though usually spread across the day and in the evening after little one in bed).