spiced cocoa mitts

Finished a second pair of spiced cocoa mitts, I love how the change in colour worked so they don't match up properly :)

I've also cast on a villemo shawl as another secret santa, this one is random so going to whoever picks it out a box lol
I have so much I want to do, and ordered quite a few safety eyes for toys and decorations :)
Happy Crafting!

yarnaholic!

I ordered my first yarn from Nicole C. Mendez on etsy, it's lovely, think it may be my first stripy sock yarn lol Based in Germany but shipping wasn't slow so no long waiting period (to the UK at least).

Left: sockenwoole (sock yarn) in sommerwiese: 400m/100g 75% woole 25% polyamid (green and yellow)
Middle: ringel sockenwoole (stripy) in #100: 400m/100g 75% woole sw 25% polyamid (green and purple)
Right: ringel sockenwoole (stripy) in #115: 400m/100g 75% woole sw 25% polyamid (orange, purple, green and grey)
She has some really nice colour combinations, so I restrained myself, badly I know as I don't need more yarn but at least I didn't buy all the ones I wanted lol
I'm working on the first spiced cocoa mitt, I forgot my DPNs for the thumb at craft group so didn't get very far...but I'm doing them, and the yarn is knitting up nicely :)
Speaking of craft group, I still need to make the secret santa gift...
Happy Crafting!

Gnomes!

I've made a few different sized 'gnome is where the heart is' stuffies :)
The first was the one on the left, it's small and adorable, it's also DK on 2mm needles as for some reason the stuffing showed through 3mm needles and bugged me...so it also hurt my fingers and wrists to knit...(I used 10mm safety eyes).
The second is on the right and is chunky on 4mm needles and I managed to stab my left index finger up the nail a few times so it's now kinda sore lol basically I've not been having much luck with this pattern but it is super cute and passable as a christmas decoration, as well as a general cute ornament or childrens toy (I used 12mm safety eyes).

This was the last gnome, I used DK held double with 4mm needles and fewer stitches so smaller than the chunky gnome, I also crochet chained a loop so it's hang-able from a tree, door knob, hook etc (I used 10mm safety eyes). This one is for my secret santa package...

I think these are super cute and I'm definitely going to make more when my index finger stops being so sensitive lol
I've also cast on a second pair of spiced cocoa mitts for a friend :)
I also cast off my mums shawl, it's been soaked and is now dry and folded away for xmas :)
Other than that I've been feeling kind of unmotivated lately...I just want to knit (preferably without pain) and ignore the world, possibly while watching podcasts, or House...
Hope you're all getting your craft on in time for christmas, if you want to share any projects feel free to comment, or message me over on ravelry (my username is lilangelsg2).
Happy Crafting!

loadsa goodies + finished objects! & pattern links

I ordered loads of yarn in a mega sale over at kemps wool. It's mostly for my son, to make milo vests, or the griffin vest, maybe even the odd hat, scarf or even a small toy or two :)
This first yarn I bought coz I just loved the colours...not sure who or what it's for yet though :)
Sirdar folksong chunky

This second again I loved the colours and with how little it cost I'm sure I can think of something to make, even if it's another acht the octopus for my son :)
Patons romy chunky

This one is a bit more slate blue than it shows on the picture and is kind of tweedy, it could be a lovely baby cardigan/vest or jumper.
Woolcraft Nuvo DK

I bought loads of Montana yarns in different colours, and I could have bought so much more lol
I bought enough in this to be able to make a jumper for my son if I wanted, I was just drawn to this colour, even though it's not as dark as I'd usually go for, could be a nice griffin vest.
Montana Savannah DK

Loved the combination of blues, greens and pinky/reds, enough for a toy or hat, might get away with a milo but not sure if enough yardage for my son or a baby :)
Montana Monterey DK

Liked the blue, purple and grey together, enough for my son a milo for sure.
Montana Rodeo DK

Showing up a lot darker on the picture, it's mostly grey, with browns and bits of green etc. Again enough for a griffin vest or jumper maybe for my son :)
Montana Hideaway DK

I finished a shawl as part of the #giftalong2014 over on ravelry, this one is the villemo shawl and is for my grandma for xmas, hope she likes it :) I used a wool/acrylic blend from my deep stash, it's knit in DK so works up much faster than a 4ply shawl, I needed the pattern next to me but it was a fairly easy knit I just couldn't memorize the lace pattern, which luckily was both written and charted as I'm not very good at reading charts :)

I also made these spiced cocoa mitts as part of the #giftalong2014, but now I'm in love with them and kinda want to keep them lol or at least make myself a pair, they'd go nicely with my new navy coat :) knit in babylonglegs radiance aran in crushed candy on 4mm needles.

I won a seahorse pattern for one of my #giftalong2014 entries :)
I also bought more countess ablaze yarns as she had a free shipping weekend for her 3 year anniversary :)
from left to right:
nerds prefer their rainbows darker (merino/nylon/stellina), pond scum (merino/nylon/stellina), this ain't a scene from the Lady Persephone range (BFL/nylon), and toxicity from the Lady Persephone range (BFL/nylon).

I'm also up to the heel on my mums opal socks, though not started it yet as like to do it all in one go and not had chance really, plus joints been sore.
I need to get on with the just knit it shawl out of fondant fibre for my mum, now there are so many stitches on the needles it's taking a while per row lol also I'm thinking she'd have preferred some of the shawl patterns I now own but didn't when I started it, I mainly had asymmetrical and she really doesn't like them, but I now have a few nice symmetrical patterns. Basically I'm scared of having spent so much time on it and her not liking the fact that it's just a garter stitch shawl...
I've also been buying patterns lately as the #giftalong2014 designers offered some patterns with discount for a while (it's now finished) and Stephen West currently has a coupon code for his individual patterns, then I just couldn't resist some little Susan Claudino patterns that I've been eyeing up for a while and finally given in and bought :)
Indie #giftalong2014 designers list the sale is no longer on but you can use these patterns and join in to try and win loads of prizes.
Stephen West:
Windschief, MKAL 2014 exploration station, Batand these are just the ones I bought, but he has loads of amazing patterns and some free ones to try out too :)
Susan Claudino:
The BOO crew, Gnome is where the heart is, Snowball buddies, these are the only ones I bought but she has some really cute patterns I'd love; patch, and voodoo you love me? to name just a couple.
So as you can tell I've gone a bit crazy lately lol well a little more than usual, and I'm totally tempted to get more all the time, the knitting community is really friendly but are such enablers too :) I get all excited when I see all the wonderful yarns, and patterns people are using and fibre is lush too, though I haven't span for a few weeks now :(
My secret santa for the fondant fibre swap is all together, it just needs packing and posting at the end of the week :) I went a little over budget...ooops! It's so easy with fibre crafts though...hope she likes it all :)
Happy Crafting!

Goodies!

I'm a countess ablaze virgin no more :) My first order arrived today and I am amazed by the depth of colour in all my skeins. I can't wait to get knitting, though that's the case with many of my yarns, I wish I could knit as fast as I buy yarn lol

75% BFL 25% nylon sock in break me down
This feels a little more hard wearing than the merino bases, this could be because of the slightly higher percentage of nylon, but I've also heard BFL is a more durable sock yarn than merino, I think it's a longer staple length, but I'm no fibre expert so might be worth investigating if you want more durable knit socks. 

75% merino 20% nylon 5% stellina sock in bad girls club
This colour reminds me of my punky pirate yarn from fondant fibre, though this base has sparkle and the punky pirate doesn't. It's really soft and would be mega luxurious socks, or whatever else it may get knit up into, it's very pink for me but I think I like it because it's a dark pink with black.

75% merino 20% nylon 5% stellina sock in nerds prefer their rainbows darker
Again the same base as above so super soft, I'm now wishing I'd bought two of this and maybe made myself a shawl, though one would be possible from one skein just not as big. I'm liking the darker colours of this skein and look forward to seeing how it knits up :)

I was so excited when this came as I've never ordered with countess ablaze before, delivery was fast and the items were well packed and protected.
I was tempted by a few other colourways but didn't want to go too mad till I'd felt the skeins, I can now say I am definitely tempted by the other colourways, I'd love to see ice queen knit up, wishing I'd ordered it now.
Her p+p is reasonable and even more so as it's a set price based on country not weight, so the more you order, the cheaper your skeins work out overall, an incentive to buy more...thought every yarn addict reading this lol I was a little sad to realise I missed her Dec, Jan, Feb sock club.
Anyway I'm done with rambling admiration for her yarns and happily anticipating my third and final jazz club shipment this month from fondant fibre, excited to see the club project bag and what colours she's gone for this month :)
I've started a new shawl (villemo) as part of the GAL, probably for my mum or sis but a few people I know like purple. I also won a toy pattern (sea horse) for my octopus entry in the forums :) I'm hoping to get one knit up and shared soon(ish).
Happy Crafting!

Octopus toys! + GAL

I finished two octopus toys for my mum :) my son will likely play with them lots, they were meant for the little girl she child minds too but sadly she'll not be having her any more from the end of this week, so my son will get the majority of play with them.
One is eligible for the GAL on ravelry, but the other I cast on before it started so isn't, but one entry so far is better than none lol
The pattern is called acht the octopus and I find it really easy to understand, though lots of purling in the round is a little bit of a pain, and have to go slow as the toy tight tension is bad on my joints if I go too fast.

The gift along (GAL) has started on ravelry and runs till the end of December, the indie designers still have the sale on for their patterns, but that will be ending soon, so have a look and get savings while you can, plus the chance to win prizes if you participate in the GAL.

I've bought a few GAL patterns and hope to get a couple things made up in time for xmas, and hoping some will be selfish knitting for myself...I still haven't finished mums socks (the second one is going so much slower than the first), and I'm refusing to cast on socks for myself while a pair is still on the needles, if I start that game I may never finish pairs lol plus I have so much sock yarn in my stash now I have to decide which I wan for my own socks...some are so nice it'd be a shame for them to be on my feet lol
I'm pretty much caught up on podcasts, though the knit girllls have just uploaded so I'm gonna go watch them while working on some knitting :)
Happy Crafting!

stitch markers

I made some small stitch markers as part of a secret santa package :)

I made them using small split rings.
Charms used: 3 metal discs, 3 shell discs (two yellow, 1 pink) and a puzzle/jigsaw charm.
The jigsaw piece is a symbol for autism awareness so it's a nice small charm for knitting and a way to share the awareness on behalf of my son :)
Happy Crafting!

Laal Bear lovlies! + a single sock

The stunning colours of laal bear are going to be leaving us, due to retirement what is currently in her etsy shop is the last of her yarns...so naturally I had to buy some...as a fair well, though I only found her last year at Yarndale.

Top left: laal bear sock kit in cyan, teal and lime, with 2.5mm DPNs, stitch markers and jogless stripe sock pattern.
Top right: West Yorkshire Spinners signature 4ply sock in pheasant.
Middle left: West Yorkshire Spinners signature 4ply sock in owl.
Middle right: laal bear dunster base (sock weight - exmoor blueface/nylon) in albatross.
Bottom left: laal bear daydream base (aran weight - 100% merino) in yule.
Bottom right: laal bear daydream base (dk weight - 100% merino) in yule.
I was so in love with the yule colour (the aran is slightly richer than the dk as different dye lots) that I bought two weights, though I was tempted to buy the sock weight too lol
I've also bought some 2mm hiya hiya metal circs, hoping they don't bend like the bamboo lol though they still knit ok I worry if they snap I'll drop all my stitches lol
Mums socks are coming along well, in fact I've finished the first :)

Started the second and past the toe but not by much...They may even be finished for her birthday or xmas at this rate :)
Hope anyone crafting for the festive season is on the way :)
Happy Crafting!

Epic Fondant Fibre order!

I went a bit bad lol but it is two orders...one before and one after my hols lol
Order 1:
I got the last of the Frozen Sisters set :)
BFL in blues and whites (Elsa)

Grey merino and silk in blues, browns and burgundy shades (Anna)...absolutely love these colours together.

Extra fine merino and sparkle (the new base) in lovely colours, and so super soft.

Order 2:
Punky Pirate high twist sw merino/nylon sock (think this high twist is a new base too, less yardage than standard sock but really nice look to it and should in theory be more durable).

Wild Wild West high twist sw merino/nylon sock, been after this and the camp fire colourways for a while and finally got one of the two lol

My first Kent Romney fibre in a colourway I want all the things in lol I love the kingfisher colours so much...really want the yarn!

My first Falkland fibre in verdigree.

I may have gone a bit mad lol and the last installment of the jazz fibre club is due this month lol oops lol and ordered some yarn from laal bear as she has a discount code for her retirement sale, so I bought even more yarn lol
Hope you're all stash busting rather than enhancing lol I have too much yarn/fibre but I love it so much and it's not like I get out much haha I had to move 5 boxes of yarn/fibre so my friend could stay over this weekend lol and that's only maybe half my stash lol addicted! And  happy news, her socks fit and she likes them lol so that's a definite ok xmas gift lol
Happy Crafting!

holiday knitting! + dr who kit

I've spent the last few nights in Scotland, a wonderful little village with a gorgeous sea view, my son adored it so that made it even better :)
I worked on my mums opal socks :) I got past the heel (I used the fish lips kiss heel) and she asked for a ribbed leg so that's what I'm doing, and life lines are my friend lol think these look really happy and hope she likes them, and they fit when I'm finished.

While in Scotland my mum chose two yarns for octopus toys coz she's been asking me to make her some for a while lol
The first is bright multi coloured with brown safety eyes.

The second is shades of blue and green with green cat style safety eyes.

I also bought some of the same yarn in different colours, they're robin brand super chunky acrylic, I also got some cute pumpkin and wooden buttons :)

My 2mm bamboo hiya hiya needles (for the socks) are slowly bending...be interesting to see how bent they are by the time I'm finished coz they've bent more since this picture lol think I should invest in some metal ones lol

And extra excitement, my Dr Who kit from MistyDot was behind my door when I got home...a lovely TARDIS bag with a carabiner and strap.

...some super Dr Who themed stitch markers, and the bag has a TARDIS zipper pull :)

As well as some TARDISy blue sock weight yarn...all very yum :)

She also gave me an Erin Lane pattern roll as a gift to say thanks for paying international shipping, she got it from SAFF in America.

On holiday I also knit on the gothic lace cowl for a gift, and I finished it today, along with odd buttons, which I like quite a bit, hope the recipient does lol 

I'm also tempted to do the Stephen West KAL (making a shawl) coz the dancing geeks looked really nice and I love the shaping, and colour blocks...I'm too behind to keep up but it looks a nice pattern so far, I guess I could wait till it's finished and buy the pattern. In fact that would make more sense as I've not yet finished my mums shawl...or started the owl birthday hat (but only coz I still don't have her head measurements!).
In other news, my friend is coming to visit me tonight so I'm all excited and hoping my son settles for my mum so I can sleep past 5am and not worry about him waking us in the night :) happy times!
Happy Crafting!

rainbow octopus

Made another funky rainbow octopus, this one is for a friend.
Chunky yarn on 4mm needles with 10mm safety eyes.

I've also cast on another gothic lace cowl out of babylonglegs radiance aran, it's going in the secret santa package along with some other fibre goodies...
And my mums socks are coming on rather well, had to stop as coming close to heel and need to measure her foot.
Happy Crafting!