Update: it's a long one lol

Knitting news!
I finished my Slytherin socks out of the yarn tree sparkle base, I made this pair with a deeper heel flap so look forward to wearing them n seeing how I like the fit. 

I decided the ten stitch blanket I'm making for my son will be made up of 20" squares (alternating the yellow and pink rounds). So here is a finished square 1 :) the sides to pick up were just getting too long for me lol I'd have given up if they got much bigger lol

I finally cast the gooseberry pie 2.0 jumper, it only needed 4 rounds of ribbing and a bind off lol but it's done and just needs a wash :) I love the colour (cascade eco + in the shire colourway).

I cast on a handbrake cowl with felt fusion rainbows and clouds merino aran, but didn't like how the purl bumps got lost so I ripped it out...

And cast on a honey cowl in the same yarn...loving it, the rainbow is spiraling around the cowl and it's gonna look epic when it's finished :)

Spinning news!
I plied the Shetland on my wheel and got 131m of a 2ply from 95g and it's been washed and is now drying.

Goodies!
My geeky order from the yarn tree arrived and it's gorgeous :) you all have permission to be jealous :)
Top: bow ties are cool on her MCN sock base (far too soft for socks lol)
Middle: don't blink on her sparkle sock base
Bottom: Batman vs Joker on her sparkle base

SPOILER ALERT!
I've made up a kit to start on 1st Dec, these opal minis will make socks that I hope I'll love lol they're in a festive bag from fondant fibre :)

SECOND SPOILER WARNING!
I can't decide how I'd like my socks to be (left) sort of matching but not; will this bug me and if so how much? Or would I like (right) opposite ish socks.
These six minis shown are from the opal advent calendar, too big to store so I opened them all and put the full 24 minis in a big project bag. I was going to pick one random mini each day but I'm not sure I could cope with completely unmatched and odd socks so decided to pick a few and group them together.

And on that note I think I'm up to date lol hope you're all feeling festive, if I'm honest I'm not a huge christmas fan, too commercial, and I celebrate Yule with my son, we do xmas for my family really. Strangely I do enjoy christmas films though, well some of them lol
Happy Crafting!

My finished tile!

I got my tile back, it's been through the kiln and I'm quite happy with how it turned out. It's not perfect, but not bad for a first try :)

Happy Crafting!

Little Victories!

I just uploaded my designer bootcamp pattern to ravelry, it's a free download called Little Victories, as it only has one size written up. Of course changing needle size/gauge could make them bigger or smaller. This pattern will be part of the Joeli's Kitchen designer bootcamp KAL in the new year.
Pattern information:
Long tail (or preferred stretchy) cast on, cuff down socks with a heel flap and gusset, plain stocking stitch foot and kitchener stitch (grafted) toe.

I'm happy with the finished socks and with the photos, taken by White Door Photography studio in Blackburn. A nice and friendly studio that cater for: baby bump, newborn, child and family photos, as well as weddings and fun cake smash sessions too, check out their website for full details.
Happy Crafting!

Maize mitts

Yay! I finally finished myself a pair of fingerless mitts. I used felt fusion BFL aran in her blackbow colourway on 3.75mm needles and knit the maize pattern by tincan knits.

They fit nice and I love the colours :)

Happy Crafting!

Something new!

I try go a to a weekly craft group, mostly we do our own thing and it's about the company and support of others, this week we had an instructor in to try a new skill...tile painting. I have to say it was more difficult than I would have thought, especially with the marker outline to go over, I figured out half way through to rub it off and free hand the design. It's far from perfect but I'm actually pleased with my finished design :) After I finished I noticed it has unconsciously been influenced by an artist whose work I admire a lot...do any of you see who my inspiration might have been...?
(The orange marker should burn away in the kiln, guess I'll find out when I get it back lol)

To our regular stuff...
Knitting news!
I cast off a gift knit and just did the heel on sock 2 with my Slytherin yarn. Yes I'm still avoiding the helical and gooseberry pie 2.0 and yes I know I'm being foolish lol
Spinning news!
I haven't gotten any more of the Shetland spun on my wheel or done anymore merino on my spindle.
Goodies!
My Alice in Wonderland box arrived from the yarn tree, it's so nice; though I admit I am a little envious of the second skein colourway lol both were stunning but I did like it a lot :) I'm happy as always with my themed box, think just the Christmas box left for this year :)
The single skein box contained:
a skein of merino/nylon sock yarn in the Everything Would Be Nonsense colourway
a physical copy of Alice in wonderland and through the looking glass
a Cheshire cat book mark
4 yummy biscuits (2 x hearts, 1 toadstool & 1 A)

Hope all your possible seasonal crafts are going well.
Happy Crafting!

Update: knitting, spinning and goodies

Knitting news!
I finished my hallowe'en socks :) I used the yarn tree sparkle sock base, with the vanilla latte sock pattern. I love them :)

Had a bit of a knitting fail; I knit a whole sock for my son before realising it was a bit too snug n needs a size bigger needle lol yarn is WYS dk and the pattern is toasty explorer.

Spinning news!

I finally wound off my Shetland from Fondant Fibre; 97g 215m of a 2ply

And I started some more Shetland :)

I finally have something on my spindle; using a 1oz spindle I'm working some merino I received in my magic swap package :)

Goodies!
My swap package arrived from Maddy in Ireland :) it's awesome! 25g of two colours of fibre (first seen above, to be plied together), dark side skittles, choc buttons, fruit tea, hallowe'en lego mini figures a bag and 2 knitted toys :) she used the theme the enchanted forest :)

I ordered a pom pom maker, it's a bit bigger than I realised lol my won fault as I didn't read the actual measurements.

Fondant Fibre yummies :) high twist merino/nylon yarn and a bag oh fun fibre too :)

In other news, we're apparently due snow soon :( I really hope not.
Happy Crafting!

Update: banish the winter blues

Just a short one...
Knitting news!
I'm on sock 2 with my hallowe'en yarn and have cast on some toasty explorer socks for my son. The helical hat and gooseberry pie 2.0 ares still being avoided but I have time lol
Spinning news!
Not got anything on the spindles currently.
I got to ply the stunning coloured Shetland this weekend, I've not yet managed to wind it onto a niddy noddy and measure yardage but it is plied lol I'll update with a skeined picture and info when it gets done :)

Goodies!
My Banish The Winter Blues (single skein) box (from the yarn tree) arrived! I'm so in love :) It contained handmade cookies, hot chocolate and marshmallows and a beautiful hand painted cup along with 100g of stunning, subtle sparkle sock yarn in the colourway cold and frosty morning (if you got the double skein box you got 100g of DK inspired by hot choc and marshmallows). 

I had a trip to the cinemas today, during school hours, not often they start early enough for me to see a film and get home but they did so I wasn't complaining lol I saw Hotel Transylvania 2 (I was the only childless adult in the screening lol) and am hoping to see Mocking Jay part 2 in a couple of weeks (finger crossed) :)
Hope you're all doing well and not getting stressed about christmas knits, the drivers are getting crazy frustrated (or so it seems) lately, thinking it might be in the run up to xmas, but hope it doesn't get worse.
Happy Crafting!

Packages!

It's goodies time!
My 'Buffy turns 18' box arrived from the yarn tree, it's lovely, included was:
a vampire bite necklace
I love Buffy badge
A Buffy 'B' shot glass
a skein of merino/bamboo yarn (Spike's shirt)
a double stranded cake of sw merino/nylon yarn (Buffy and Willow)

My final Guardians of the Galaxy club shipment arrived from penguin soup, stunning colours :) included was:
a 150g skein of sw merino/nylon (losers)
3x mini skeins
project bag

The guardians project bag has the characters on the outside and cassette print on the inside, it's brilliant:)

Very happy with them and look forward to making beautiful knits with the yarns :)
Happy Crafting!

Update: FOs, WIP and news

Knitting news!
I finished my countess ablaze, vanilla latte socks, and they have been washed and worn already :) I love them, warm and comfy in my boots :)

I did the slip stitch rib heel and gusset, with a wedge toe. The colours are most accurate on the picture below but no photo seems to be 100% true to colour lol lots of subtle variation and shades.

After this pair of socks my addi cable was a bit kinky so tried soaking it in hot water to help, it hasn't done much if I'm honest. 

My second finished abject is the quoin hat by woolly wormhead for my friends son as an xmas present. A fun and unusual construction to knit, but not so nice in acrylic lol my hand spun one was definitely more pleasant to knit lol

I cast myself on a pair of hallowe'en socks, a little late but I don't care lol loving the colours, and my first pair of sparkle socks :) Yarn is from the yarn tree on etsy and came in my hallowe'en box of goodies, again I'm knitting the vanilla latte pattern. 

Spinning news!
Still not plied my awesome Shetland yet but I will get to it soon, I hope. 
Advice!
I need to learn to say no and not feel the need to justify myself! If you do too, lets try work on it :)

I've been reading some of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (the yarn harlot) books and she is so funny, I highly recommend giving her a try :)

I've put a call out for sock test knitters (my navy socks for the #jkdesignerbootcamp) if anyone is interested message my on ravelry (lilangelsg2).

I've posted the magic swap package off and the recipient seems to like it :) I included a hand knit pouch with hand made runes inside, hand knit fingerless mitts, hand made stitch markers, some tea and sweets and Lady Cottington's pressed fairy book (pocket sized).

I'm just starting my xmas swap package which will post out in a few weeks :)
Hope you're all doing well and that the cooler weather means your hand knits are out and respite from the cold :)
Happy Crafting!