New-ish things and brief update

A while ago I ordered The Great British Sewing Bee books, I forgot to photograph them and show you so here they are in their new home...a very full book case lol There are some really nice patterns in (although only the sew your own wardrobe has a pattern pack with it), though even the most simple patterns still have me nervous (I'm kinda terrible at sewing lol), but hopefully I'll get the nerve to make something, I'd love to make a waistcoat for both myself and my son :)

Also a while ago I ordered a couple new smile row counters, I mentioned them but here is a pic of mine (it's pink but it cost less than the other colours lol) along side my new magnetic, retractable tape measure :) and what better background than Dr Who themed TARDIS print project bag lol ..?

I ordered some 80cm (approx 32") tiny circs for making socks (hopefully two at a time), I knew that I'd need smaller than a 2mm (based on my tension for a previous fingerless mitt project made form Babylonglegs sock yarn in Yoda), so I ordered 1.5mm, 1.75mm and 2mm (this could be used with a thin DK they have in my local haberdashery). I'm hoping the 1.75mm should be ok but as p+p combined I thought I'd be safe and get the 1.5mm too...let's hope I don't need to go any smaller!

I ordered some yarn from Polly Jane Yarns, and it arrived really quickly :) and really well packaged. I love the colours, especially The Litttle Prince and the Geographer, I think this will make a great shawl for everyday wear with things like jeans, and it's not too girly even with the hints of pink.

I also ordered some of their new Love Story Opal yarn, I loved the On Cloud 7 dye lot and just couldn't resist, if done as a shawl it's nice and feminine, as socks they'd be bright and bold and as mitts they'd be eye catchingly cute. Although pink I still think this could be year round rather than a seasonal colour because the oranges add the hint of autumn, and because of christmas people tend to like vibrant colours in winter as well as spring/summer.

Last but not least, though admittedly I'm not as in love as with the others, is the Veridian Rainforest. It's bright and colourful so could again be multiple projects, but the colours are much more spring/summer themed so less year round (in my opinion). There are flecks of black but I just think overall it's more limited because of it's mixed look.

And after all that new to you stuff I'll let you know I've done a couple of rows on the super chunky b/w shawl (for my mum) on 12mm needles (do you remember that lol been a while) and have been loving my new shawl made from lace weight (held double on 6mm needles) Malabrigo 100% baby merino wool :) sooo soft! I was going to do the Blackcurrant Shawl but the prospect of so many increases per row was rather daunting, so wimp like I decided to stick to a triangular shawl (basically just following the beginning of the pattern till I want to do the last section). It won't have the smaller triangles on the ends, but should still look fabulous.

I also bought a pattern (that I technically already own from an issue of knit now) called the Ayli (as you like it) hat, it was on offer for the designers birthday at just 42p and it means I don't need to do a photocopy (using the very little ink I have left) to circle the numbers I need. Also, anybody who knows me, knows my patterns get folded to oblivion (and almost falling to pieces, sometimes literally falling into separate pieces, they get carried around a lot and sometimes my son gets at them which never ends well) and having a digital copy means I can print it as and when I need it, as often as I need it (if I want to make multiple hats). It's an awesome looking hat that I'd love to give a go, even looked up the special cast on which involves a crochet hook and think I can do that. I know we're getting out of hat season in most places but where I live last year it was still cold till the end of May and was chilly again from end of October, so we need lots of warm things...I already have a few but no harm in trying something new :)
And on that crazy long explanation I think I'm off lol lots to knit :) and my friend is coming round tonight (hopefully we'll get some The Great British Sewing Bee or Hair watched lol I talk too much sometimes).
Happy crafting!